Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, August 21, 2021

12 Mountain View News Saturday, August 21, 2021 12 Mountain View News Saturday, August 21, 2021 
OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder 

AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR 

Over a year ago, I got out of 
bed, went to the kitchen for 

It was a very exciting day for me to realize that 
my morning cup of coffee and 

my little kitty would have another little kitty. This 
then I went to the back porch to see if I had any 

meant we could not get rid of the little kitty until 
visitors. 

she had her little kitties. 

I have foxes, possums, cats, and raccoons (who 

In due time Miss Kitty had her little kittens. She 
are politically correct and wear masks when they 

had for, only one survived. That one was white and 
come). I put food out for them, and they help 

very cute. 
themselves. Every morning the food dishes are 
empty and waiting to be filled. 

"If you are going to keep it, it will have to be neu


tered. I will make the arrangements." 
It's great at night to look out and see some of these 
critters coming in for their evening snack. 

When my wife makes arrangements, you can be 

sure those arrangements are made. 
This morning, as I looked out, I saw a little kitty on 
the porch. I had no idea where this little kitty came 

We had to wait until this little kitty had grown to 
from or how it got to our back porch. 

the place where she could eat for itself. Then, finally, 
we found someone who wanted the kitty and 
I opened the door, stepped out, and the little kitty 

so we gave it to them. 
ran and hid. She thought she was hiding, but I 
could see exactly where she was So I left her alone 

The appointment for the neutering had been made. 
and went and got some food for her. I put it in the 
dish and stood there waiting for her to come over, 

I went along with it, after all, what else could I do. 
instead, she sat there, looked at me, then looked at 
the dish and then looked back at me. 

Several days before the appointment, I looked at 
Miss Kitty and noticed that her belly was expand-
I knew what she was doing, and so I had to get out 

ing like before. Of course, I kept this as quiet as 
of the way so she could come and eat her breakfast. 

possible, but you know how that works. 

I tried keeping this information from my wife be-

Looking out onto the porch, my wife said, "Oh, no, 
cause she does not like animal pets. At least that's 

it can't be so." 
what she says. According to her, all of these animals 
have fleas, and she hates fleas. 

Not knowing what she was talking about, I inquired, 
and was informed she thought Miss KittyTrying to keep something secret from her is way 

was pregnant again. 
above my pay scale. She knows exactly what I'm 
thinking three days before actually thinking it. If 

After a few days of observation, she concluded that 
I was smart, and I ain't, I would have her pick the 

she was pregnant. Then she had to call the neuter-
winning horse in the next horserace. 

ing service and cancel the appointment. You can't 

neuter a pregnant kitty. 
In time she became aware of my porch friend, and 
in no uncertain terms, she wanted it gone. 

She looked at me with a sour grimace and said, 

"You better not be laughing." 
Contrary to her expectations, I kept feeding the 
little kitty, and like all little kitties, it grew into 

I often laugh on the inside and try to keep it from 
an adult, and I noticed that the older she got, the 

the outside. So I was, and I wasn't going to tell 
more she attracted other cats. But, of course, at the 

her, very happy that we will have some more little 
time, I thought nothing of it and just kept feeding 

kitties. 
her and her friends as they came. 
In due time she did have her kitties, and this time 
"We must," my wife said most emphatically, "get 

she had four kitties, and all of them lived. It must 
rid of that little kitty because it can't stay here." 

be the same father because one of them was all 

white. 
"Well," I said as patiently as possible, "I’ll get rid of 
it when it's old enough to leave." 

What we're going to do with all those little kitties, 
I'm not quite sure. But I'm going to enjoy them 
"When will that be?" 

while we have them. 

I couldn't tell her because I didn't have an exit plan 

As I was watching Miss Kitty nurse her little kit-
for the kitty. 

ties, I thought of a Bible verse. "When a man's ways 
please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to 
A few months past and I noticed the little kitty was 

be at peace with him" (Proverbs 16:7). 
growing, and her belly seemed to be expanding. I 
just thought she was well fed. 

Watching Miss Kitty and her little ones brought 
peace to me. I can forget what's going on out in 
It was my wife who noticed what was happening 

the world and concentrate on the peace right here 
at the time. 

with Miss Kitty and her little ones. 

"That kitty better not be pregnant," my wife stated 

Dr. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of 

most alarmingly. 

God Fellowship, Ocala, FL 34472, where he 
lives with his wife. Call him at 352-216-3025 or 

She looked at me and said, "Stop that smiling. I can 

e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. The church web 

see it." 

site is www.whatafellowship.com. 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS 


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …August Birthdays*

Nancy Beckham, Karlene Englert, Juanita Fernandez, Jeanette Francis, Joseph Kiss,
Jacquie Pergola, Pat Miranda, Jerry Burnett, Margaret Aroyan, Phyllis Burg, BeverlyClifton, Rosemary Morabito, Susan Poulsen, Joy Barry, Marcia Bent, Joan Spears,
Ruth Torres, Jane Zamanzadeh. Helen Stapenhorst, Chandy Shair, Heidi Hartman, 
Erma Gutierrez, Margaret Switzer

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

CHAIR YOGA 

Every Monday and Wednesday, 10-10:45 amChair yoga with Paul is coming back! Class be held in the Covered Pavilion in Memorial 
Park in front of the Senior Center. Please join us for some gentle stretching, yoga, balance exercise and overall 
relaxation. Classes will maintain a distance of 6 ft between participants. ALL participants must be wearing 
masks for the duration of the class. All equipment used will be sanitized after each use before it is stored. Each 
participant is responsible for providing their own water, masks and needed equipment or supplies for each class. 
Class size is limited so please call 264-8923 to reserve your spot. 

TEA AND TALK, SENIOR BOOK CLUB—2nd and 4th Wednesday at 9:00 am Staff has launched 
a new book club series, Tea and Talk, that will meet twice a month to discuss the fun, suspense, intrigue, 
love and so much more that each selection will have in store! This month we will be reading IWas Anastasia, Ariel Lawhon’s historical novel, Anna Anderson defends her attempt to prove herself 
to be Anastasia Romanov, a member of the last imperial family to rule in Russia. If you are interested 
in participating please call Lawren Heinz at 626-355-7394 or send an email to lheinz@cityofsierramadre.
com. 

IDEAS

 Do you have any ideas for programming? Is there a class 
or club you would like to see in our Senior Community?
Please call or email Lawren Heinz with ideas or questions. 
626-355-5278 x 704 lheinz@cityofsierramadre.com

 City staff are monitoring email communication daily, and 
although employees are minimizing direct engagement 
and interfacing less with the community, please note that 
voice messages, emails, and social media responses are being 
addressed in the most efficient and timely manner. If 
at any time additional information is needed, please contact 
City Hall Administrative Services at (626) 355-7135,
Monday-Thursday from 7:30a – 5:30p, as they are taking 
messages and e-mailing the appropriate per-son. For messages 
that may trickle in otherwise, please note our team 
is remotely checking voicemail daily at the CommunityServices Department, (626) 355-5278 x702. 


PPOOSSTTPPOONNEEDDHelp Lawren inmaking a colorful and artistic pieceto brightenup theHart 
Park House! We will have fun with tissue paper, coffee filters and foodcoloring. All supplies will beprovided for you and we will meet in the Hart 
Park House. Please wear clothes you don’t mind getting messy.
To reserve your spot or ask questions please callLawren Heinz at

(626) 355-7394 or email at lheinz@cityofsierramadre.com.
HOW TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS 

Dear Savvy Senior:
Are there any resources to help seniors find and payfor senior apartments? My aunt, who’s 75 years old, 
needs to find a new place to live but has very little 
money. What can you tell me? Searching Sarah 

Dear Sarah: 


Finding affordable senior housing options can be 

nior living sites like After55.com and SeniorHousing


difficult depending on where your aunt lives. Senior 

Net.com. 

apartments for some retirees are a good option, and 

If you or your aunt don’t have internet access or have 

you’ll be happy to know that there are a number of 

troubling maneuvering the internet, you can also 

government programs that can help out financially. 

locate nearby affordable housing options by calling

Here are some tips that can help you and your aunt 

your local housing authority – call 800-955-2232 to

find a low-income senior apartment that fits her bud


get your local number. If your aunt lives in a location 

get and living preferences. 

that spans multiple counties, check with the housing 
authority in each one to compare.

Start with HUD 

There are several different government programs 

How to Choose 

available today that can help individuals who qualify 

If you or your aunt find several apartment choices

to locate and pay for housing, including: 

that fall within her budget, she should consider what’s 
important to her. She may want housing that’s close

Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8): This 

to family, religious organizations, senior centers, or 

program allows you to find the housing you want. The 

places she visits regularly, like grocery stores, parks 

government provides the amount allowed by your 

or gyms. 

voucher to the landlord each month. 
Privately owned subsidized housing: HUD helps some 

Or, if she has a disabling condition, it may be especial-

apartment owners offer reduced rents to low-income 

ly critical for her to find a living space that has easy ac-

tenants. 

cess to important services like senior transportation

Public Housing: These communities are generally 

and health care centers. 

apartment buildings or complexes that are overseen 

In your housing search, you may also come across

by a city or county public housing agency, and are 

some red flags that indicate a retirement community

available to low-income families, the elderly and those 

wouldn’t be a good fit for your aunt. Keep an eye out 

with disabilities. 

for extra fees that may be applied to everyday items or

Low-Income Housing Tax Credit: This program pro-

perks you normally wouldn’t think about like laundry

vides housing to low income families and includes 

service, parking or pets. 

rents that don’t exceed a fixed amount.

 You should also make sure the apartment is in good

Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly: This 

condition and then scout out the neighborhood. Ask

initiative helps seniors and the disabled. It offers 

yourself if the community is clean and well main-

housing for individuals who are able to live mostly on 

tained and if there is any debris or messy landscap


their own but need assistance with certain daily tasks 

ing. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, fol-

like cleaning and cooking. 

low up with questions before your aunt signs a rental

For more information about these programs and to 

contract.

locate apartments in your aunt’s area that may offer 
them, visit the U.S. Department of Housing and Ur-

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box

ban Development rental assistance page at HUD.gov/ 

5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.

topics/rental_assistance. 

Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show

MYou can also search for low-income housing at se


and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. 

FAMILY MATTERSBy Marc Garlett 


LEGENDARY RAPPER DMX DIES WITH NO WILL; 
MILLIONS IN DEBT AND 15 CHILDREN 

Legendary hip hop artist DMX—born Earl Simmons—passed away onApril 9 at age 50 after suffering a massive heart attack a week earlier at hishome in White Plains, New York. The heart attack was reportedly triggeredby a cocaine overdose on April 2, which left the rapper hospitalized in a 
coma. After a week of lingering in a vegetative state, his family made the 
decision to remove him from life support. 
Despite selling more than 74 million albums and enjoying a wildly successful career in both musicand movies, DMX, who died without a will, left behind an estate that some estimates report beingmillions of dollars in debt. Even though DMX likely died deeply in debt, just weeks after hispassing, multiple members of his family, which includes 15 children from nine different women,
petitioned the court seeking to become administrators of the late rap star's estate. 

While DMX’s estate may currently be in the red, his loved ones are presumably fighting over theright to control the rap icon’s recording and publishing royalties, which will likely be a lucrative 
source of future income. In fact, following his death, Billboard reported that DMX’s total royalties,
which include the release of a posthumous album, master recording royalties, and licensingopportunities, are worth an estimated $17.7 million. 

With so much wealth at stake and so many children, DMX’s failure to create an estate plan willlikely mean his loved ones will be stuck battling each other in court for years to come. And perhaps 
no one stands to suffer more than DMX’s fiancée, Desiree Lindstrom. 

DMX and Desiree, who were engaged in 2019, had been together for seven years, and she gavebirth to his 15th child, a boy named Exodus Simmons, in 2016. However, because the two werenever married and DMX did not create any estate planning providing for her, Desiree will likelyinherit nothing from her late fiancé’s fortune. 

A Common Problem 

While DMX’s case is certainly tragic, the lack of estate planning is all too common amongfamous musicians—Prince, Jimi Hendrix, and Bob Marley all died without a will. More recently,
the legendary “Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin, who died in 2018, left behind four differenthandwritten wills, and more than three years after her death, her four adult sons are still fightingeach other in court over her estate. 

I cover DMX’s story and others like it in hopes that they will inspire you to create a proper estateplan. Death comes for us all, often when we’re least expecting it. And without any planning inplace, you are forcing your loved ones to endure a costly, possibly conflict-filled, and in all cases, 
an unnecessary legal process resulting in the loss of wealth and assets you’ve worked so hard to 
create. 

Furthermore, estate planning is crucial even if you have far less wealth than the late rap icon. Afterall, given DMX’s lucrative recording and publishing royalties, his children will likely still receivean inheritance, while similar estate planning failures would almost certainly wipe out a smaller 

estate. 


A local attorney and father, Marc Garlett is on a mission to help parents protect what theylove most. Schedule an appointment to sit down and talk about ensuring a legacy of love andfinancial security for your family by calling 626.355.4000 or visit www.CaliLaw.com for more 
information. 

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