Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, August 24, 2019

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, August 24, 2019 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …August Birthdays*

Bill Nelson, Karlene Englert, Juanita Fernandez, Jeanette Francis, Joseph Kiss, Jacquie 
Pergola, Maury Whitaker, Pat Miranda, Phyllis Chapman, Jerry Burnett, Margaret 
Aroyan, Phyllis Burg, Beverly Clifton, Rosemary Morabito, Susan Poulsen, Joy Barry, 
Marcia Bent, Joan Spears, Ruth Torres, Jane Zamanzadeh.

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

HART PARK HOUSE MONTHLY PROGRAMS: 

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 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 
Join the class with Instructor Barbara Dempsey as she leads you in the art of Hula!

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

Free Blood Pressure Testing: 2nd Tuesdays Monthly from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary.

Brain Games: Every third Thursday of the month at 12:45-1:45pm Join us for Scattergories, a creative thinking game by 
naming objects within a set of categories; or Jenga, a block-building challenge that keeps you stacking and bal-ancing your 
tower. Everyone is welcome, and no experience is needed. A great way to strengthen your mind and make new friends... 
Games are facilitated by Senior Volunteers. Will Resume in September 2019

Free Legal Consultation: Wednesday, August 14th from 10:30 a.m. - Noon. Attorney Lem Makupson is available for 
legal consultation. Specializing in Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Estates and Injury. Please call the Hart Park House for an 
appointment, 626-355-5278 ext. 704.

Senior Club: Meets Saturdays, Weekly at Hart Park House Brown Bag Lunch, great company and bingo at 11:30 a.m.

Chair Yoga: Mondays & Wednesdays 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. with Paul Hagen. Classes include Yoga and balance exercises. All 
ability levels are encouraged and welcomed!

Birthday Celebration: Every 2nd Thursday Monthly at the Hart Park House. Share free birthday cake and ice cream 
kindly provided by the Senior Community Commission!

Game Day: Every Thursday Monthly 12:00 Noon come into the Hart Park House and join a lively poker game with 
friends!

Free Strength Training Class: Fridays 12:45 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. with Lisa Brandley.light weights, low impact resistance 
training and body conditioning. Class equipment provided.

Gentle Yoga for Active Seniors: Every Monday & Wednesday from 8:15 - 9:45 a.m. with Andrea Walsh at the Hart Park 
House. Classes include complete floor relaxation, standing and floor postures, balancing, and featuring extended 
meditations on the fourth Wednesdays of the month! Call (626)-355-5278 for more information.

August Craft with Lawren—August 19th 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.

Come on into the Hart Park House Senior Center and create one of a kind tea cup bird feeders. Paint a design of your 
desire or use one of several stencils that will be available for use. Then we will glue the two sections together and attach a 
chain or twin to hang from your favorite tree or display at your favorite outdoor seating area. 

8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Senior Cinema - 1st & 3rd Wednesday Beginning at 1:00 p.m. 

 LAKE ARROWHEAD QUEEN (Arrowhead) 

$20.00 

August 15, 2019 9:00 am – 4 pm Level of Walking: Medium

Lunch will be on your own and spending money optional.

A Visit to Lake Arrowhead isn’t complete without seeing the view from the water. The Lake Arrowhead 
Queen Paddleboat Tour lasts about an hour and takes you around the entire perimeter of Lake 
Arrowhead. The notoriously hilarious tour guide has a reputation for his jokes and one-liners and 
always has the entire boat in stitches as he points out celebrity homes and tells the fun facts of the area.

 Lake Arrowhead Village is the area’s main commercial hot spot for both visitors’ and the locals, with a 
variety of unique fashion boutiques, outlet stores, restaurants and their excellent shopping and dining. 
Resident Registration Now Open and Non-Resident Registration starts August 4th. 

Registration closes Wednesday, August 14, 2019.


HOW TO GET SOCIAL SECURITY 
DISABILITY BENEFITS 
WHEN YOU CAN’T WORK

Dear Savvy Senior:

What do I need to do to get Social Security disability 
benefits? I’m 60 years old and have some health problems that won’t allow me to work, but I’ve 
read that getting disability benefits is difficult.

Laid Up Lenny 

Dear Lenny:

Getting Social Security disability benefits when you’re unable to work can be challenging. Last 
year, more than 2 million people applied for Social Security disability benefits, but two-thirds of 
them were denied, because most applicants fail to prove that they’re disabled and can’t work. Here 
are some steps you can take that can help improve your odds.

Get Informed

The first thing you need to find out is if your health problem qualifies you for Social Security disability 
benefits.

You generally will be eligible only if you have a health problem that is expected to prevent you from 
working in your current line of work (or any other line of work that you have been in over the past 
15 years) for at least a year or result in death.

There is no such thing as a partial disability benefit. If you’re fit enough to work part-time, your 
application will be denied. You also need not apply if you still are working with the intention of 
quitting if your application is approved, because if you’re working your application will be denied.

Your skill set and age are factors too. Your application will be denied if your work history suggests 
that you have the skills to perform a less physically demanding job that your disability does not 
prevent you from doing.

To help you determine if you are disabled, visit SSA.gov/planners/disability/qualify.html and go 
through the five questions Social Security uses to determine disability.

How to Apply

If you believe you have a claim, your next step is to gather up your personal, financial and medical 
information so you can be prepared and organized for the application process.

You can apply either online at SSA.gov/applyfordisability or call 800-772-1213 to make an appointment 
to apply at your local Social Security office, or to set up an appointment for someone to 
take your claim over the phone.

The whole process lasts about an hour. If you schedule an appointment, a “Disability Starter Kit” 
that will help you get ready for your interview will be mailed to you. If you apply online, the kit is 
available atSSA.gov/disability/disability_starter_kits.htm.

It takes three to five months from the initial application to receive either an award or denial of 
benefits. The only exception is if you have a chronic illness that qualifies you for a “compassionate 
allowance” (seeSSA.gov/compassionateallowances), which fast tracks cases within weeks.

If Social Security denies your initial application, you can appeal the decision, and you’ll be happy 
to know that roughly half of all cases that go through a round or two of appeals end with benefits 
being awarded. But the bad news is with backlog of around 800,000 people currently waiting for a 
hearing, it can take 12 to 24 months for you to get one.

Get Help

You can hire a representative to help you with your Social Security disability claim. By law, representatives 
can charge only 25 percent of past-due benefits up to a maximum of $6,000 if they win 
your case.

It’s probably worth hiring someone at the start of the application process if your disability is something 
difficult to prove such as chronic pain. If, however, your disability is obvious, it might be 
worth initially working without a representative to avoid paying the fee. You can always hire a 
representative later if your initial application and first appeal are denied.

To find a representative, check with the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives 
(NOSSCR.org, 845-682-1881) or National Association of Disability Representatives 
(NADR.org, 800-747-6131). Or, if you’re low-income, contact the Legal Services Corporation 
(LSC.gov/find-legal-aid) for free assistance.

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


SENIOR CINEMA - 1st & 3rd Wednesday 1:00 pm

August 7th “Instant Family” PG-13; 1 hr. 57 min. 

Idealistic couple Ellie and Pete find themselves overwhelmed when they 
open up their home to foster teenager Lizzy and her two younger siblings, 
Juan and Lita. With the help of fellow foster parents and agency workers they learn to navigate 
the joys and pitfalls of parenting to become a modern family. 

Aug. 21st Fantastic Beasts the Crimes of Grindelwald 

 PG-13; 2 hr. 14 min. 

Magizoologist Newt Scamander agrees to help Albus Dumbledore thwart the plan of Gellert 
Grindelwald to raise pure-blood wizards who would reign over the muggles. Together, Scamander 
and Dumbledore face new threats as they try to take down Grindelwald


MEALS - ON - WHEELS PROGRAM

The Home Delivered Meals Program provides healthy meals to homebound Seniors 60 and above. Seven 
frozen meals, milk, bread and fruit are included and delivered once a week. $3 Donation per meal is 
suggested but remains completely anonymous and voluntary. Clients must be eligible and we invite you 
to contact YWCA Intervale Senior Services at 626-214-9467. SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT 
NOTICE SUGGESTED DONATION $3.00 1% LOW FAT MILK INCLUDED

OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder


IT’S HARD FOR ME 
TO CONCEAL A 
GIGGLE 

Throughout life, I have discovered 
many challenges. Some I have handled fairly 
well and others have handled me pretty badly.

That is what makes life so interesting. Every day 
there is a challenge to face and every day there is a 
victory to win.

Recently, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage 
and I celebrated our 48th wedding anniversary. I 
would not be truthful if I did not admit that those 
48 years have been rather challenging. Not so 
much in a negative way, but each challenge carried 
with it a life lesson.

At the end of these 48 years, I must confess my 
wife knows more about me then I know about myself, 
or her for that matter. How she has come to 
these conclusions, I do not know.

But, to be honest I do not know very much about 
myself compared to what she knows.

Not wasting those 48 years, I never contradict 
my wife on anything. Even, if I think she may be 
wrong about something.

There are spouses that try to correct their spouse 
when talking to other people. I am so thankful that 
while I am speaking to someone my wife will correct 
me so the person I am talking to has the facts.

After all, she knows more about me and my experiences 
than I do. I am not contesting that one iota. 
Why should I?

The biggest secret to a successful marriage is going 
along rather than being confrontational. It does 
not matter to me if she corrects me; I’ve come to 
appreciate that.

After all, I get so many things wrong these days. 
I cannot remember birthdays, anniversaries or 
special occasions. It’s not because I’m getting 
older because when I was younger, I had the same 
problem.

If I were not married, I probably would not remember 
my own birthday.

Thinking about this the other day a thought 
danced into my mind. If I wanted to be right all 
the time, why in the world did I get married? A 
married couple is to work together and it seems 
that we have the ideal connection in this regard.

I remember when I wore a younger man’s suit; I 
nonchalantly corrected my wife about a certain 
thing that happened when she got the day of the 
week wrong.

“Don’t you remember, Honey,” I interrupted her, 
“it was on a Wednesday not a Thursday.”

She gave me one of “those looks” and said, “Maybe 
it was a Thursday.”

That look alone was enough to graduate me from 
being the corrector of her conversation to being 
the quiet agreeable guy. Through the years, I discovered 
being agreeable is a great deal of blessings 
and I enjoyed each one of those blessings.

One thing I have a real difficulty and that is, not 
giggling.

I may be affected with giggle-itis, which is far as I 
know has no cure. Of course, when I start giggling 
it is very difficult for me to stop.

The only temporary cure I have found is when I 
start to giggle, I take a deep breath and then think 
of broccoli. If anything sobers me up and even 
makes me a little bit angry it is this vegetable.

Of course, when I begin thinking of broccoli, the 
giggle goes away, but a very deep sickness in my 
stomach begins to develop.

That sickness in my stomach is to be preferred 
over giggling aloud at a very inappropriate time. 
My giggles always seem to come out at an inappropriate 
time.

I remember my wife telling a story to some friends 
about one of our grandchildren. If she knows anything, 
she knows about the grandkids. She has a 
Masters degree in grandchildrenology. This time, 
however, she got the grandkids names mixed up. 
She had the one doing what another grandchild 
did.

Nobody knew the difference except me. As she 
continued developing this story, it got beyond my 
giggle control.

When my giggles start, my eyes begin lighting 
up like a laser beam. Following that, my lips start 
trembling out of which multiple giggles escape. 
Once my lips start trembling it is all over.

I knew the real story and the names and the way 
she told the story using the wrong name was so 
hilarious for anybody who knew the real story. I 
will not divulge the names now because it was too 
funny.

As she continued with the story, it got so bad I had 
to pinch my nose to stop any giggling.

At the time, I was beginning to smile and my wife 
happened to see me.

For me to keep from giggling, I had to think about 
something else. So, when she looked at me and 
said, “What are you thinking about?”

At this point, I was on automatic pilot. When I 
opened my mouth, I had a choice. Do I giggle or 
do I mention the word broccoli?

I had no control. I opened my mouth and said, “I 
was thinking about broccoli.”

The people knew me very well and as soon as they 
heard that word, they started laughing hysterically. 
When they started laughing my giggle-itis exploded 
like I haven’t seen it explode before.

I thought of what Sarah said after Isaac was born, 
“God has brought me laughter, and everyone who 
hears about this will laugh with me.” (Genesis 
21:6). Laughter, or a giggle, is recognition of God’s 
blessing in my life.

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE, MEMORY LOSS AND 
DEMENTIA

Arcadia Senior Services in partnership with Alzheimer’s, Los Angeles is having 
a special free health presentation for individuals age 50 and over on Tuesday, 
August 27 at 1:30pm. It will take place at the Arcadia Community Center, 365 
Campus Drive. 

The program will give you an overview of; Alzheimer’s disease, what causes 
memory loss, difference between normal aging and signs of dementia, when you 
should visit your doctor. For additional information and to preregister please call 
Arcadia Senior Services 626.574.5130 before August 22. 

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