Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 5, 2015

15

THE GOOD LIFE

 Mountain Views News Saturday, September 5, 2015 

ADJUSTED FLU VACCINE OPTIONS AVAILABLE 

TO SENIORS THIS YEAR

SENIOR HAPPENINGS


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …September Birthdays*

Clem Bartolai, Pat Hall, Donna Anderson, Teresa Chaure, Cathy Gunther, Esther 
Macias, Sheila Pierce, Nancy Sue Shollenberger, Yvonne Osti, Patti O’Meara, Judie 
Cimino, Mary Steinberg, Geri Wright, Parvin Dabiri, Denise Reistetter and Nehama 
Warner.

 *To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth 
not required.

..................................................................

ACTIVITIES: Unless listed differently, all activities are at the 
Hart Park House (Senior Center) 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre

 

 YMCA San Gabriel Valley Intervale Senior Café: Monday-Friday at 
12:00 Noon 

(Participants are urged to arrive no later than 11:45 A.M.) 

All seniors 60 and up can take part in the lunch program. There is a suggested donation of $2.00 
for those 60 and over and $3.75 for non-senior guests. Daily reservations are necessary as space is 
limited. Please call 24 hours in advance...626.355.0256

Tech Talk: Held on Monday, September 21st and 28th from 1:30-2:30pm. Learn how to use 
your new technology devises. Please reserve your space with the Hart Park House by calling 
626-355-7394.

Hawaiian and Polynesian Dance Class: Every Tuesday morning from 10am to 11am. Join 
instructor Barbara Dempsey as she instructs you in the art of hula. 

Bingo: Every Tuesday beginning at 1:00pm. Cards are only $0.25 each! Everyone is welcome to 
join. May be canceled if less than 5 people. 

Free Blood Pressure Testing: 2nd Tuesday of the month from 11am to 12pm. No appt. is 
necessary. 

Brain Games: Thursday, September 17th, 10:30am - 11:30am, improve your memory and 
strengthen your brain. Activities facilitated by Swati Puri, Community Liaison for New Wave 
Home care of Pasadena.

Free Legal Consultation: Wednesday, September 30th from 10:30am to Noon. Attorney Lem 
Makupson is available for legal consultation. He specializes in Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Estates, 
and Injury. Appointment are required by calling 626-355-7394. 

Chair Yoga: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 to 11:45 am, except on the third Monday of 
the month. A suggested donation of $5 at one of the classes is requested, but is not required. 

Case Management: Meets the 2nd Thursday of the month. Case Management services are 
provided by the YWCA and provide assistance in a variety of areas. Appointments are required 
and can be scheduled by calling the HPH Office at 626-355-7394.

Birthday Celebrations: Every second Thursday of the month at the Hart Park House. The free 
birthday cake is provided by the Sierra Madre Civic Club.

Game Day: Every Thursday starting at 12:00pm. (Please note the time change.) A regular group 
of seniors play poker. Other games available for use. 

Free Strength Training Class: Every Friday from 12:45pm to 1:30pm with Lisa Brandley. The 
class utilizes light weights for low impact resistance training. All materials for the class are 
provided. 

Senior Club: Every Saturday at the Hart Park House Senior Center. Brown bag lunch at 11:30am. 
Club meeting at noon. Bingo 12:30-3:30pm. Annual Membership is only $10.00.

THE GETTY CENTER (WEST LOS ANGELES)
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Time: 9:00am to4:00pm
Meeting Location: Hart Park House Senior Center Cost: $10 (Does not 
include lunch)

Discover the museum’s historic collection and the Getty Center’s architecture and gardens 
by participating in a rich selection of engaging talks and tours that bring the Getty Center’s 
unique setting and the visual art to life. There are several gardens and fountains and 
landscaping for the public enjoyment. Lunch will be on your own. Chose from elegant dining 
in the Restaurant (reservations are recommended, 310-440-6810), to casual meals, coffee, and 
snacks at the Café, Garden Terrace Café, or the Coffee Carts. Participants should bring money 
for lunch and souvenirs. Last day to register is September 15th. Level of Walking: High. Please 
call the Hart Park House 626-355-7394.

OKTOBERFEST (HUNTINGTON BEACH)
Date: Thursday, October 1, 2015
Time: 10:00am to 3:00pm
Meeting Location: Hart Park House Senior Center Cost: $16 
Description: Old World Oktoberfest Celebration includes live bands playing the most 
popular German Oom Pa Pah Music. The crowd is further entertained with a variety of 
dancing, singing, music and our ever popular Heidi, and her contortionist act. Oktoberfest 
menu includes fresh baked bread, your choice of either potato salad, red cabbage or coleslaw. 
The main entrée includes bratwurst, chicken, spaetzli (German Egg Noodles) with mushroom 
gravy, sauerkraut and red cabbage. Dessert and drinks include apple streusel cake, coffee and 
water. Alcohol is also available for purchase. Guests get to tour the European market, offering 
great selection of meats, cheeses, and deli items. Also German bakery, producing the best 
breads, bakery and dessert items. Participants should bring money for souvenirs. Last day to 
register is September 24th. Level of Walking: Low to Medium. Please call the Hart Park House 
626-355-7394.

EXCURSION REFUND POLICY

Notification of the cancellation must be made at least 3 business days before the excursion. 
A refund will only be issued 1) for a medical excuse or 2) if the Department is able to fill the 
patrons spot from a waiting list. This refund will be issued in the form of a credit which will be 
applied to the patron’s account with the City, less a $11 cancellation fee. The credit will remain 
on your account for one year from the date issued and the credit may be used for any program 
or service offered by the Community Services Dept. 


Dear Savvy Senior:

What can you tell me about this year’s flu shot? 
Last year’s vaccine was ineffective at preventing 
the flu, especially among seniors. What options are 
available to me this year? 

Seeking Protection

Dear Seeking:

You’re right. Last season’s flu shot was not very 
effective at preventing the flu. In fact, according 
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC), people who got the shot were just 19 
percent less likely to visit the doctor for flu than 
people who did not get the shot. In good years, flu 
shot effectiveness is in the 50 to 60 percent range.

 The reason for the shot’s ineffectiveness last 
year was because the vaccine was mismatched to 
the circulating flu viruses, which can genetically 
shift from year-to-year.

 This year, U.S. health officials have tweaked the 
flu vaccines to include last year’s missing strain, 
which will hopefully provide better protection. 
But a flu shot is still your best defense against 
the flu. So, depending on your health, age and 
personal preference, here are the flu vaccine 
options (you only need one of these) available to 
older adults this year.

 

 Standard (trivalent) flu shot: This traditional 
flu shot has been around for more than 30 years 
and protects against three different strains of flu 
viruses. This year’s version protects against two 
A strains (H1N1 and H3N2), and one influenza B 
virus. 

 

 Quadrivalent flu shot: This vaccine, which was 
introduced two years ago, protects against four 
types of influenza – the same three strains as the 
standard flu shot, plus an additional new B-strain 
virus. 

 

 High-dose flu shot: Designed specifically for 
seniors, age 65 and older, this trivalent vaccine, 
called the Fluzone High-Dose, has four times 
the amount of antigen as a regular flu shot does, 
which creates a stronger immune response for 
better protection. However, note that the high-
dose option may also be more likely to cause side 
effects, including headache, muscle aches and 
fever. 

 

 FluBlok vaccine: Created for adults 18 and 
older who have egg allergies, this is a trivalent 
flu vaccine that does not use chicken eggs in its 
manufacturing process.

 Intradermal flu shot: For those who don’t like 
needles, the intradermal flu shot uses a tiny 1/16-
inch long micro-needle to inject the vaccine just 
under the skin, rather than deeper in the muscle 
like standard flu shots. This trivalent vaccine, 
however, is recommended only to adults, ages 18 
to 64.

 To locate a vaccination site that offers these 
flu shots, visit vaccines.gov and type in your 
ZIP code. You’ll also be happy to know that if 
you’re a Medicare beneficiary, Part B will cover 
100 percent of the costs of any flu shot, as long 
as your doctor, health clinic or pharmacy agrees 
not to charge you more than Medicare pays. 
Private health insurers are also required to cover 
standard flu shots, however, you’ll need to check 
with your provider to see if they cover the other 
vaccination options.

Pneumonia Vaccines

Two other important vaccinations the CDC 
recommends to seniors, especially this time 
of year, are the pneumococcal vaccines for 
pneumonia. Around 1 million Americans are 
hospitalized with pneumonia each year, and 
about 50,000 people die from it.

 The CDC is now recommending that all seniors, 
65 or older, get two vaccinations –Prevnar 13 
and Pneumovax 23. Both vaccines, which are 
administered just once at different times, work in 
different ways to provide maximum protection.

 If you haven’t yet received any pneumococcal 
vaccine you should get the Prevnar 13 first, 
followed by Pneumovax 23 six to 12 months 
later. But if you’ve already been vaccinated with 
Pneumovax 23, wait at least one year before 
getting the Prevnar 13. 

 Medicare Part B covers both shots, if they are 
taken at least 11 months apart.

 

 Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. 
Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.
org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today 
show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.


UPCOMING EXCURSIONS:


KATIE Tse..........This and That

NOT “BUSINESS AS USUAL”

When I started writing for the 
paper, I just wanted to keep it 
light, funny, and inoffensive. 
I haven’t always achieved the 
funny part, but that was my 
goal. It’s easy to infuriate people, but hard to 
make them laugh. Over the years I’ve pretty 
much stuck to this philosophy, with a few (I hope) 
pithy exceptions. However, looking at the way 
the world’s going lately, I think it’s important to 
let you know that, although I’ll still try to keep it 
light and funny for the most part, I don’t think we 
should have a “business as usual” attitude.

 What do I mean by that? Simply that too much 
is happening on the national and global scene to 
ignore. I used to think that it’s just because I’m 
older now. I didn’t pay much attention to political 
and social events when I was younger. But 
conversations with other people have assured me 
that I am right in my conclusion about the present 
situation --things are getting worse. 

 Nationally, the country is succumbing to racial 
tensions that are tearing up communities and 
pitting law enforcement against the populace. 
The public is polarized over the presidential 
campaigns to the point that people in both parties, 
who would have been considered extremists in 
years past, are actually winning over the masses. I 
remember the days when candidates at least tried 
to appear to be “middle of the road.” But now it’s 
as if the stops have been pulled out and everyone 
is just letting it rip. You have the feeling that the 
thin layer of civility masking our primitive nature 
is being violently stripped away.

 Socially, we have sold our freedom of speech 
for political correctness. The other day a 
friend of mine from Russia was describing his 
astonishment at seeing Americans casting furtive 
glances before whispering their true opinions on 
matters. “Who are you looking for? The secret 
police?” he questioned incredulously. I think 
one reason Trump and Sanders have become 
so popular is due to their penchant for bold, 
unapologetic statements. 

 Globally, much of the world appears to be just 
fine with innocent people getting murdered on a 
grand scale. It’s true that at no point in history 
were innocent people not being murdered, but 
it seems to have hit a new high. And what’s 
really sad is that many countries seem to be too 
afraid of the murderers to call them what they 
are --murderers! One of my biggest pet peeves is 
the media’s habit of calling murder “execution.” 
Execution is what we do to convicted criminals 
after they’ve been given a fair trial. Murder is 
what is happening to Yzidis, Kurds, and other 
victims of persecution.

 Which brings me to Iran. Call me old 
fashioned, but when someone’s chanting for my 
death and the death of my friends, I’m not going 
to be inclined to be friends with them! But these 
days it’s progressive and hip to call evil good and 
good evil. Watching this whole mess unfold has 
impressed upon me the power of spin when it 
comes to the media. Anyone can sell anything if 
they spin it the right way. 

 Besides just being a bad deal all around for 
everyone except Iran, the Iran deal is particularly 
bad for Israel. Why should we care about Israel, 
you ask. Christians are called to love and defend 
God’s people, the Jews. Apart from that, if you 
have any respect for Scripture at all, it is in your 
best interest to support Israel. God told Abraham, 
“I will bless those who bless you and I will curse 
those who curse you” (Genesis 12:3). That’s pretty 
straight forward, and God hasn’t changed His 
mind in all these thousands of years.

 Unfortunately there’s not much we can do 
about the Iran deal or any of the social-political 
woes I’ve mentioned. But it’s times like these 
that remind us that although we are weak God 
is strong! If you’re a Christian today it’s time 
to seriously pray for our nation, Israel, and the 
world. We are pilgrims passing through this 
world on our way to Heaven. But while we’re here 
we are to be salt and light as good witnesses to 
God who will deliver us out of this mess one way 
or another. 

 And if you’re reading this today and you 
don’t know Jesus, it may very well be that God 
has brought you here to be saved. If you choose 
to accept Jesus as your Savior you can pray this 
prayer and He will come into your heart and give 
you peace with God --today and forever!

 “Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, 
and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died 
for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from 
my sins and invite You to come into my heart and 
life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord 
and Savior. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.” 

SENIOR CINEMA AT THE HART PARK HOUSE SENIOR CENTER

September 16th - The Imitation Game (2014)


During the winter of 1952, British authorities entered the home of mathematician, 
cryptanalyst and war hero Alan Turing to investigate a reported burglary. They 
instead ended up arresting Turing himself on charges of ‘gross indecency’, an 
accusation that would lead to his devastating conviction for the criminal offense 
of homosexuality. Little did officials know, they were actually incriminating the 
pioneer of modern-day computing. Rated PG-13. Start time: 1:00pm (run time 114 
minutes)


626-355-5700245 West Sierra Madre BlvdSierra Madre, CA 91024www.TheKensingtonSierraMadre.comRCFE License198601953Join Us WhenJohnny Crawford ofThe Riflemanvisits The KensingtonWednesday, September 16, 2015 from 6:00pm-7:30pmat The Kensington, 245 West Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre, CAHors d’oeuvres and refreshments servedRSVP to SSciurba@KensingtonSL.com or 626-355-5700YOUR INVITATION TO AN EVENT AT THE KENSINGTONPleaseRSVP
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com