Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 19, 2015

THE GOOD LIFE

14



SENIOR HAPPENINGS

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SERVICES 

FOR OLDER DRIVERS


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 birthnot required.

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

ACTIVITIES: Unless listed differently, all activities are at theHart 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 $3.00 
for those 60 and over and $5.00 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,

I would like to get my wife and I set up with some type of 
roadside assistance service in case we get a flat tire or our 
battery conks out. Can you recommend some good and 
affordable services for retirees on a budget? 

Too Old to Fix a Flat

Dear Too Old,

Getting set up with a roadside assistance service you can 
call on day or night if your vehicle breaks down is a smart 
idea, and can provide you and your wife some real peace 
of mind. Here are some different options to look into that 
help you find a plan.

Already Covered?

For years, auto clubs like AAA were the only option 
drivers had when it came to roadside assistance, but 
today you have lots of choices. Most roadside assistance 
plans provide services like towing, flat-tire changes, 
jump-starting a battery, lost-key or lockout services, fuel 
delivery and help with stuck vehicles. 

 Before you start shopping for a roadside assistance plan, 
you first need to find out if you already have coverage, or 
have access to inexpensive coverage that you’re not aware 
of. 

 For example, if you drive a vehicle that is still under 
warranty, there’s a good chance you’re already covered. 
Most auto manufacturers now include comprehensive 
roadside assistance coverage for free when you buy a new 
or certified used car. This typically lasts as long as the 
basic warranty, but not always. Be sure you check.

 Also check your auto insurance provider, your credit 
card issuers and cell phone service providers. Many of 
these services provide different variations of roadside 
assistance as add-on plans that cost only a few dollars per 
year, or they’re free. 

 But be aware that many of these services are limited 
in what they cover. When investigating these options, 
find out the benefit details including: Who’s covered 
(individuals and vehicles); how many roadside-assistance 
calls are allowed each year (three or four is typical); the 
average response time per service call; and the towing 
rules on where they will tow (to the nearest repair shop, 
or one that you choose) and how far (about 5 miles for 
basic plan is common, although some plans might cap the 
amount they pay for a tow at $100 or less). 

Auto Clubs

If you find that you aren’t covered, or you want a better 
roadside plan than what’s currently available to you, you’ll 
want to check out auto/motor clubs. Most of these clubs 
offer two or more levels of membership depending on 
how much roadside assistance you want and are willing 
to pay for, and they often provide a variety of discounts on 
things like hotels, rental cars and other services. 

One of the best known and longest running clubs, AAA 
(aaa.com) offers comprehensive services and has an 
extensive network of more than 40,000 roadside assistance 
providers, which usually means fast response times. Costs 
vary widely from $48 to $162 per year depending on where 
you live and the plan you choose, plus an additional fee for 
adding a family member.

 Some other clubs to consider that may be a little less 
expensive include Allstate Motor Club (allstatemotorclub.
com); AARP Roadside Assistance (aarproadside.com) for 
AARP members only; Better World Club (betterworldclub.
com); BP Motor Club (www.bpmotorclub.com); Good 
Sam (goodsamroadside.com); and GM Motor Club 
(gmmotorclub.com).

On-Demand Assistance 

Another new money saving option to consider is pay-on-
demand roadside assistance services like Urgently (urgent.
ly) and Honk (honkforhelp.com). If you use a smartphone 
and live in their service area, these non-membership app-
based services will let you call for help via smartphone, 
and will only charge you for the assistance you need at a 
low price. 

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:

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
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