Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, March 4, 2017

THE GOOD LIFE

10

Mountain Views-News Saturday, March 4, 2017 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

HOW TO FIND AFFORDABLE HIGH-SPEED HOME 
INTERNET SERVICES


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …March Birthdays*

Clare Marquardt, Karen Blachly, Carla Duplex, Ella Guttman, Viky Tchatlian, 
Mary Cooper, Sun Liu, Helen Wallis, Joan Crow, Nancy Fox, Martha Cassara, Rita 
Johnson, Mercedes Campos, Dorothy Webster,Terri Elder, Carol Cerrina, Amy 
Putnam, Sally Contreras 

* 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

 

 

Hawaiian & Polynesian Dance Class: Every Tuesday morning from 10a.m. 
to 11a.m. Join instructor Barbara Dempsey as she leads you in the art of 
Hula. 

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

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

Brain Games: Thursday, January 19th, 10:30a.m. - 11:30a.m., improve your memory and 
strengthen your brain. Activities facilitated by Senior Volunteers.

Free Legal Consultation: Wednesday, January 25th from 10:30a.m. to Noon. Attorney Lem 
Makupson is available for legal consultation. He specializes in Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Estates, 
and Injury. Appointments are required by calling 626-355-7394. 

Sing-A-Long: Music brings joy to the soul! Come join us Thursday, January 12th, 10:30a.m. to 
11:30a.m. No music skills needed! 

Senior Club: Every Saturday at the Hart Park House Senior Center. Brown Bag Lunch at 
11:30a.m. 

Chair Yoga: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 to 11:45a.m. with Paul Hagen. Third Monday 
of each month, a variety of balance exercises are practiced. All ability levels are encouraged and 
welcomed. A suggested donation of $5 at one of the classes is requested, but is not required. 

Case Management: 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 Hart Park 
House Office at 626-355-7394.

Birthday Celebrations: Every 2nd Thursday of the month at the Hart Park House, share some free 
birthday cake provided by the Sierra Madre Civic Club.

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

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


Dear Savvy Senior,

Do you know of any resources that can help me 
find affordable high-speed home Internet services? 
I’m retired and live primarily on my Social Security 
and would like to find something cheaper than the 
$40 per month that I currently pay. 

Searching Senior

 

Dear Searching,

There are two great resources you can turn to, to 
help you locate low-cost or discounted Internet 
services, but’s what’s available to you will depend 
on where you live and/or your income level. Here’s 
where to begin.

 

Low-Cost Internet

Your first step to locate cheaper high-speed Internet 
is EveryoneOn, a national nonprofit organization 
dedicated to making affordable Internet services 
available to all Americans.

 Through partnerships with Internet providers 
like Comcast, Cox, AT&T, T-Mobile, Mediacom 
and others, EveryoneOn can help you search for 
services in your area that provide high-speed (4G 
LTE) Internet at a very low cost. Most participating 
companies charge around $10 per month, with no 
contract and no equipment fee. However, for non-
income qualifiers, there may be a one-time setup/
equipment fee of $62. Data plans will vary too.

 To start your search, go to EveryoneOn.org 
and type in your ZIP code and click on the “Find 
Offers” button, or you can call 877-947-4321. You’ll 
then need to answer a few questions regarding 
you household financial situation so the Internet 
services you’re eligible for can be located.

 Some providers offer their services only to people 
with limited financial resources, however there 
are others that offer low-cost deals to everyone 
regardless of income. What’s available to you will 
depend on where you live. 

 Also note that in addition to the low-cost 
Internet services, EveryoneOn also provides 
referrals to affordable computers and free computer 
classes. Most of the companies they work with 
offer refurbished tablets usually for under $100, 
and computers for under $160 that are available 
to everyone. And, they provide referrals to free 
computer classes, which are typically offered in 
public libraries across the U.S.

 

Discounted Internet

If you don’t have any luck finding a low-cost service 
through EveryoneOn, and your income is low 
enough, another option is the Lifeline Assistance 
Program. This is a federal program that provides 
a $9.25 monthly subsidy to help pay for broadband 
Internet service, or for a home or wireless phone. 
Only one benefit is available per household; either 
phone service (home or wireless) or Internet (home 
or mobile), but not both.

 To qualify, you’ll need to show that your annual 
household income is at or below 135 percent of 
the Federal Poverty Guidelines – which is $16,281 
for one person, or $21,924 for two. Or, that you’re 
receiving certain types of government benefits, 
such as Medicaid, food stamps, SSI, public housing 
assistance, veterans pension or survivors pension 
benefit, or live on federally recognized Tribal lands.

 To apply, you’ll need to contact an Internet 
provider in your area that participates in the Lifeline 
program and ask for an application form. To locate 
providers in your area, visit LifelineSupport.org or 
call 888-641-8722. Once the provider verifies your 
eligibility, they will begin service. (NOTE: The 
Internet companies that partner with EveryoneOn 
do not currently accept the lifeline subsidy.)

 

 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.


I’M ALL OVER “CRAZY WEEK!”

I’m not a morning person, and 
I’m especially not a morning 
person on Monday mornings. 
This past Monday was no 
different. My outfits for work are determined 
primarily by what’s the most comfortable I can 
get away with while still appearing 
somewhat professional. My make 
up consists of eye liner, which has 
the staying power of industrial 
paint, so I apply it once at 6:30 and 
never touch it again until I take it off 
around 10 pm. My hair is tamed, not 
styled. Overall, if my look can’t be 
achieved in 15 minutes or less, it’s not 
happening. 

 When I got to work on Monday, 
one of the first students I saw was a 
peppy sixth grader we’ll call Linda. 
Linda often dresses somewhat loudly, 
but that day she was actually wearing 
mismatched socks. “Nice socks,” 
I told her, not sarcastically. Heck, 
she’s more fashionable than I am and 
knows all the latest trends. “This is 
Crazy Sock Day.” she replied matter-
of-factly. 

 “What?” I asked, momentarily 
stirred from my morning mental 
fog. I reached down to pull up my 
jeans above my ankles, exposing my 
well-worn Split Pea Anderson’s socks, 
complete with Hap-Pea and Pea-Wee 
splitting peas on a table with a mallet. 
“Ha! This is the first time I’ve ever 
been in sync with the school theme!” I told her. 
Linda politely smiled, clearly not as excited about 
this as I was. “And tomorrow’s Crazy Hat Day,” 
she said. I thought about all the hats my mom has 
knitted me in recent years. While not “crazy,” they 
are definitely unique. “I’m on it!” I exclaimed to 
Linda, “What’s after that.” “Crazy Hair Day,” she 
answered. “Hey, that’s everyday for me!” I beamed. 
“And the next day?” I asked. “Hmm, I forget.” 
“Maybe Crazy Sweat Pants Day,” I mused, thinking 
I could get used to this. Linda furrowed her brows 
in concentration, “No, I don’t think so.” Oh well, 
can’t have everything...

 It turned out that Thursday was Striped Shirt 
Day, and Friday was College Attire, which worked 
for me because I collect comfy shirts 
from various colleges, even ones I’ve 
never attended. Why, you ask, devote 
a whole week to wearing odd things? 
Because yesterday was Read Across 
America Day, a.k.a. the birthday of 
Theodor Seuss Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss. 

 Now, I love Dr. Seuss as much as 
the next person. In fact, somewhere 
there’s a photo of me with my mom 
and grandma in the dead of summer 
in the 80’s, sweating it out in line at 
Vroman’s in Pasadena waiting to have 
a book signed by the legend himself. 
I even admire the lesser-known art of 
Dr. Seuss, his paintings, and the 1953 
film “The 5,00 Fingers of Dr. T,” which 
rivals any Vincente Minnelli piece in its 
surreal beauty and dreamlike quality. 
But I think we’ve gotten a bit carried 
away in our elevation of him to the same 
sacred literary status as Shakespeare, 
Emerson, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. If 
I have to hear “Oh, The Places You’ll 
Go” quoted during another graduation 
speech I think I’ll puke. “Green Eggs 
and Ham” is creative and memorable, 
but it isn’t divinely inspired. I wonder 
what Dr. Seuss himself would say if he 
knew the depth of reverence paid to his memory 
in primary and secondary schools nationwide. 
I expect he’d blush and tell them not to take 
themselves so seriously. 

 That being said, it was kind of nice to have an 
excuse to wear a special mom-made hat to school 
and to dress comfortably this week. I can’t wait to 
see what they have in store for St. Patrick’s. I have my 
leprechaun sweat pants and shamrock hoodie ready!


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