Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, January 25, 2020

10

 Mountain Views News Saturday, January 25, 2020 

 
Wednesday, January 29, 2020 
From: 10:30am - 1:00pm 
Lunch & Learn at The Kensington 
245 West Sierra Madre Blvd. 
Sierra Madre, CA 91024 
Please R.S.V.P. via email to 
SSciurba@KensingtonSL.com 
Or by calling 626.355.5700 
Recognizing & Understanding the Progression 
of Dementia Using the Senior Gems® 
Presented by Certified Educator Nathan Kirschenbaum 
Senior Helpers® Dementia Care Workshop Series 
©2019 SH Franchising, LLC. Senior Gems® is based on GEMS, techniques, strategies, and 
overall approach to care which was created and developed by Teepa Snow, Positive 
Approach, LLC teepasnow.com GEMS and POSITIVE APPROACH are Trademarks of 
Positive Approach, LLC. SENIOR GEMS® is a registered trademark of Senior Helpers. 
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• UUnnddeerrssttaanndd wwhhaatt aa ppeerrssoonn ccaann 
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• UUssee ssppeecciifificc ssttrraatteeggiieess bbaasseedd oonn 
ggeemm lleevveell ttoo ccaarree ffoorr oouurr lloovveedd oonneess 
SENIOR HAPPENINGS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …January Birthdays*

 Gerald Day, Mary Tassop, Judy Webb-Martin, John Johnson, Mary Bickel, Marlene 
Enmark, Shirley Wolf, Ross Kellock, Ruth Wolter, Sue Watanabe, Sandy Thistlewaite, 
Bobbi Rahmanian, Fran Syverson, Shirley Wolff, Judy Zaretzka and Becky Evans. 

 * 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. 

Free Legal Consultation: Wednesday, December 18th 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.


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


WHAT DID WE KNOW BEFORE FACEBOOK? 

To paraphrase one of my favorite humorist, Will Rogers, “All I know is what I read 
on Facebook.” 


I must admit that I also get information from Facebook. I can keep up with my family and friends, 
know what they are doing, and know what they are saying. The information there, whether true or 
not, is available to all who read. 


Quite honestly, I don’t always believe what I read on Facebook. Just saying! 


As you grow and get older, you adjust to the changing environment that you are in along with the 
technology. I well remember the day I transitioned from a manual typewriter to a computer. My first 
computer had no hard drive, and many, perhaps cannot relate to that. However, I thought I was in 
writer's heaven. 


I never thought much about this until one day a young person asked me, “How did you know anything 
before Facebook?” There was a young man born after the invention of Facebook.

At first, I did not quite understand what he was saying. I had grown accustomed to the developing 
modern-day technology. Not that I am an expert, I am just a user.

Looking at this young person, I said very simply, "Before Facebook, we had grandmas."

He did not understand, so I had to try to explain the Grandma-Factor.

My grandmother was a very sweet and wonderful woman. I only knew her when she was older because 
after all, she was my grandmother.

I remember all the wonderful dinners she cooked for us and especially the pies. However, there were 
some things about grandma I did not know until after she had passed.

Unbeknownst to me, she was known in the entire community as the Queen of Gossipers. This really 
caught my attention.

Everybody in the community knew my grandmother. More than that, my grandmother knew everybody 
in the community, especially their secrets.

How she got to that place of being the Queen of Gossipers is something I have never put together. All 
I know is, she was. 


According to some conversations I had with her friends, my grandmother knew what was happening 
two days before it actually happened. For the life of me, I don’t know what that means. Nothing happened 
in the community that escaped my grandmother’s attention.

Whether people needed my grandmother’s permission to do something or not, I’m not quite sure. 
Whatever happened, she knew about it long before it happened.

If you wanted a rumor started, just visit my grandmother and whisper a confidential secret to her. 
Usually, by the time they got home, that secret was all over the community.

Often I have wondered if my grandmother knew that some people were using her. Then I wondered 
if some people knew how much she was using them. 


At times, this was a little touchy. If a couple was getting engaged, everybody knew about it before they 
actually were engaged. How she managed that I don't know.

She read a person like Will Rogers read the newspaper. 


For her 90th birthday, some people in the community wanted to give her a surprise birthday party. 
They knew, however, it would be very difficult to surprise my grandmother.

Several of them met at a restaurant in the next town to work out some details. They came up with 
many different scenarios, but none seemed workable.

Then, one of the older women in the group came up with a plan that would out-gossip the Queen of 
Gossipers. 


The plan was simply this. On a certain night, a group would meet at the church to develop a plan to 
fire their pastor. Everybody knew that grandmother loved her pastor to pieces. Anything like this 
would have gotten her dander up, and you do not want to do that. 


The success of the plan depended upon the right person whispering this gossip to my grandmother. 
Otherwise, she would not really believe it. 


The woman who came up with this was my grandmother's closest friend, and so she was chosen. If 
Grandmother would believe anybody, it would be this woman. 


They made plans for the birthday party. How they got it to everybody without my grandmother 
knowing is in the same category as who killed JFK. 


At the right time, this woman went to my grandmother and confidentially whispered the plan to fire 
her beloved pastor. "Now, don't let this get out to anybody; this is top secret." 


Before the night ended, everybody in the community knew of the plan to "fire the pastor."

On that night, people came early because it was supposed to be a surprise. It was a wonderful surprise.

At the right time, my grandmother marched into that church, slammed open the door, and said as 
angrily as she had ever been, “How dare you fire my pastor?” 


At that moment, everybody, including the pastor, burst into singing, “Happy Birthday to You.”

It took a few moments for my grandmother to understand what was really happening. When she 
finally realized what the meeting was really about, she laughed and said, “How did I miss this?” 


As I listen to the woman telling me, the story I thought of what David said. “The secret of the Lord is 
with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant’ (Psalm 25:14). 


Some secrets, like God’s love for me, should be spread far and wide and not kept a secret. 


Dr. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, 1471 Pine Road, Ocala, FL 34472. He lives 
with his wife in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 352-687-4240 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. The 
church web site is www.whatafellowship.com.


DO I HAVE TO FILE TAXES? 


Dear Savvy Senior:

What are the IRS income tax filing requirements 
for seniors this year? I didn’t file a tax return last 
year because my 2018 income was below the filing 
requirements, but I got a part-time job late 
last year in 2019, so I’m wondering if I need to file this year.Semi-Retired

 

Dear Semi:

Whether or not you are required to file a federal income tax return this year depends not only 
on how much you earned last year (in 2019), but also the source of that income, as well as your 
age and your filing status.

 

Here’s a rundown of this tax season’s IRS tax filing requirement thresholds. For most people, 
this is pretty straightforward. If your 2019 gross income – which includes all taxable income, 
not counting your Social Security benefits, unless you are married and filing separately – was 
below the threshold for your filing status and age, you may not have to file. But if it’s over, you 
will.

• Single: $12,200 ($13,850 if you’re 65 or older by Jan. 1, 2020).

• Married filing jointly: $24,400 ($25,700 if you or your spouse is 65 or older; or $27,000 
if you’re both over 65).

• Married filing separately: $12,200 at any age.

• Head of household: $18,350 ($20,000 if age 65 or older).

• Qualifying widow(er) with dependent child: $24,400 ($25,700 if age 65 or older).

 

To get a detailed breakdown on federal filing requirements, along with information on taxable 
and nontaxable income, call the IRS at 800-829-3676 and ask them to mail you a free copy of the 
“Tax Guide for Seniors” (publication 554) or see IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p554.pdf.

 

Check Here Too

There are, however, some other financial situations that can require you to file a tax return, even 
if your gross income falls below the IRS filing requirements. For example, if you earned more 
than $400 from self-employment in 2019, owe any special taxes like an alternative minimum 
tax, or get premium tax credits because you, your spouse or a dependent is enrolled in a Health 
Insurance Marketplace (Obamacare) plan, you’ll need to file.

 

You’ll also need to file if you’re receiving Social Security benefits, and one-half of your benefits 
plus your other gross income and any tax-exempt interest exceeds $25,000, or $32,000 if you’re 
married and filing jointly.

 

To figure all this out, the IRS offers an interactive tax assistant tool on their website that asks 
a series of questions that will help you determine if you’re required to file, or if you should file 
because you’re due a refund. It takes less than 15 minutes to complete.

 

You can access this tool at IRS.gov/help/ita – click on “Do I Need to File a Tax Return?” Or, 
you can get assistance over the phone by calling the IRS helpline at 800-829-1040. You can also 
get face-to-face help at a Taxpayer Assistance Center. See IRS.gov/localcontacts or call 800-829-
1040 to locate a center near you.

 

Check Your State

Even if you’re not required to file a federal tax return this year, don’t assume that you’re also 
excused from filing state income taxes. The rules for your state might be very different. Check 
with your state tax agency before concluding that you’re entirely in the clear. For links to state 
tax agencies see Taxadmin.org/state-tax-agencies.

 

Tax Preparation Help

If you find that you do need to file a tax return this year, you can get help through the Tax Counseling 
for the Elderly (or TCE) program. Sponsored by the IRS, TEC provides free tax preparation 
and counseling to middle and low-income taxpayers, age 60 and older. Call 800-906-9887 
or visit IRS.treasury.gov/freetaxprep to locate a service near you.

 

Also check with AARP, a participant in the TCE program that provides free tax preparation at 
more than 4,800 sites nationwide. To locate an AARP Tax-Aide site call 888-227-7669 or visit 
AARP.org/findtaxhelp. You don’t have to be an AARP member to use this service.

 

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.

IMPORTANCE OF COLON 
CANCER SCREENING

Learn the importance of colon cancer screening. Dr. Ken D. Nguyen, gastroenterologist will 
discuss why you should be screened, what makes you at risk and different types off screenings. 
The free presentation will take place on Tuesday, January 28 at 1:30pm, Arcadia Community 
Center, 365 Campus Drive. Arcadia Senior Services provide this health seminar in partnership 
with Methodist Hospital. If interested in attending this informative health program or for 
additional information please call Arcadia Senior Services, 626.574.5130.This program is for 
individuals age 50 and over. 

 For more information, please visit ArcadiaCA.gov or follow us on Twitter by texting DISCOVER 
to 33222:

......................................
........... (626) 574-5455..............

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