Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, November 12, 2022

Mountain View News Saturday, November 5, 2022 12 Mountain View News Saturday, November 5, 2022 12 
HOW LEG PAINS COULD BE AN EARLY SIGN OF A HEART 
ATTACK OR STROKE 

Dear Savvy Senior:
I started a walking program a few months ago to help 
me lose weight but I've been having problems with 
my legs and hips hurting during my walk, although 
they feel better once I stop. I thought it was just because 
I’m getting old, but my neighbor was telling 
me about a leg vein disease she has called PAD and 
thinks I may have something similar. What can you tell me about this?
Limping Linda 


Dear Linda: 

The health condition your neighbor is telling you about is known as “peripheral arterial disease” (or 
PAD), which is an under the radar disease that affects approximately 8 to 12 million Americans. 

It happens when the arteries that carry blood to the legs and feet become narrowed or clogged over the 
years with fatty deposits or plaque, causing poor circulation. 

But you also need to be aware that because PAD is a systemic disease, people that have it are also much 
more likely to have clogged arteries in other areas of the body like the heart, neck and brain, which greatly 
increase the risks of heart attack or stroke. 

Few Symptoms 

Unfortunately, PAD goes undiagnosed and untreated way too often because most people that have it 
experience few, if any symptoms. The most common symptom, however, is similar to what you’re experiencing: 
pain and cramping in the hip, thigh or calf muscles, especially when walking or exercising but 
usually disappears after resting for a few minutes. 

Another reason PAD is under-diagnosed is because many people assume that aches and pains go along 
with aging and simply live with it instead of reporting it to their doctor. 

Other possible symptoms to be aware of include leg numbness or weakness, coldness or skin color changes 
in the lower legs and feet, or ulcers or sores on the legs or feet that don’t heal. 

Are You at Risk? 

Like most other health conditions, the risk of developing PAD increases with age. Those most vulnerable 
are people over the age of 50 who smoke or used to smoke, have elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, 
diabetes, are overweight, or have a family history of PAD, heart attack or stroke. African Americans are 
also twice as likely to have PAD as Caucasians. 

If you’re experiencing any symptoms or if you’re at increased risk of PAD, you need to be tested by your 
doctor or a vascular specialist. He or she will probably perform a quick and painless ankle-brachial index 
test, which is done by measuring your blood pressure in your ankle as well as your arm and compare the 
two numbers. Your doctor may also do imaging tests such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance angiography 
(MRA), and computed tomographic (CT) angiography. 

With early detection, many cases of PAD can be treated with lifestyle modifications including an improved 
diet, increased physical activity and smoking cessation. 

If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, your doctor may also prescribe medicine to prevent blood clots, lower 
blood pressure and cholesterol, and control pain and other symptoms. And for severe PAD, the treatment 
options are angioplasty (inflating a tiny balloon in the artery to restore blood flow then removed), the 
insertion or a stent to reopen the artery, or a graft bypass to reroute blood around the blockage. 

To learn more about PAD, visit the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at NHLBI.NIH.gov/
health-topics/peripheral-artery-disease. 

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. 


FAMILY MATTERS

 By Marc Garlett 

TRUSTS & TAXES: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 

People often come to us curious — 
or confused — about the role trusts 
play in saving on taxes. Given how 
frequently this issue comes up, I’m 
going to explain the basic tax implications 
associated with different 
types of trusts to clarify this issue. 
Of course, if you need additional 
guidance regarding specific tax issues 
related to your personal situation, 
consult with your accountant, 
or ask us for a referral to a trusted 
tax advisor. Okay, let’s dive in...
TWO TYPES OF TRUSTS. There 
are two primary types of trusts — 
revocable living trusts and irrevocable 
trusts — and each one comes 
with different tax consequences.
REVOCABLE LIVING TRUSTS. A 
revocable living trust, also known 
simply as a living trust, is by far 
the most used form of trust in estate 
planning. And if you are living, 
there is absolutely no tax impact of 
creating a living trust. 
A living trust uses your Social Security 
Number as its tax identifier, and 
this type of trust is not a separate entity 
from you for tax purposes. However, 
a living trust is a separate entity 
from you for the purpose of avoiding 
the court process called probate, and 
this is where the confusion regarding 
taxes often comes from. But before 
we get into the tax implications 
of a living trust, let's first look at how 
a living trust works. 
A living trust is simply an agreement 
between a person known as 
the grantor, who gives assets to a 
person or entity known as a trustee, 
to hold those assets for the benefit of 
a beneficiary(s). In the case of a revocable 
living trust, the reason there 
are no tax consequences is because 
the grantor can revoke the trust 
agreement or take the assets back 
from the trustee at any time, for 
any reason. In fact, throughout the 
grantor’s life, he or she can change 
the terms of the trust, change the 
trustee, change the beneficiaries, or 
even terminate the trust altogether.
However, upon the grantor’s death, 
a revocable living trust becomes irrevocable, 
and this is when tax consequences 
come into play. Following 
the grantor’s death, the named 
trustee will step in and take over 
management of the trust assets, and 
one of the first things the trustee 
must do is apply for a tax ID number 
for the trust. At this point, the trust 
becomes a separate taxable entity, 
and any income earned inside of the 
trust that is not distributed in that 
year would be subject to income taxes, 
at the taxable rates of the trust (or 
at the tax rates of the beneficiaries, 
if the income is distributed to those 
beneficiaries). 

IRREVOCABLE TRUSTS. 
An irrevocable trust is created when 

the grantor makes a gift to a trustee 
to hold assets for the benefit of the 
beneficiary and cannot take back the 
gift made to that individual.
When the grantor creates an irrevocable 
trust, either during life, 
or at death through a testamentary 
trust (a trust that arises upon death 
through a last will), or through a revocable 
living trust created during 
life, the irrevocable trust is a separate 
tax-paying entity, and it is either 
subject to income tax on the earnings 
of the trust at the rates of the trust or 
at the rates of the beneficiaries. 
Unlike a revocable living trust, an 
irrevocable trust is (as the name implies) 
irrevocable. This means that 
the trust’s terms cannot be changed, 
and the trust cannot be terminated 
once it’s been executed. When you 
transfer assets into an irrevocable 
trust, you relinquish all ownership 
of those assets, and your chosen 
trustee takes total control of the assets 
transferred into the name of the 
trust. Because you no longer own the 
assets held by the trust, those assets 
are no longer considered part of your 
estate, and as long as the trust has 
been properly maintained, the assets 
held by the trust are also protected 
from lawsuits, creditors, divorce, serious 
illness and accidents, and even 
bankruptcy. 
However, as mentioned earlier, irrevocable 
trusts also come with tax 
consequences. As of 2022, the income 
earned by an irrevocable trust 
is taxed at the highest individual tax 
bracket of 37% as soon as the undistributed 
taxable income reaches 
more than $13,450. To avoid this 
high tax rate, in some cases, an irrevocable 
trust can be prepared so that 
the tax consequences pass through 
to the beneficiary and are taxed at 
his or her rates, which are typically 
much lower. 
We often set up a trust in this way 
when creating a Lifetime Asset 
Protection Trust for a beneficiary. 
When set up like this, the trust can 
provide the beneficiary with protection 
from common life events, such 
as serious debt, divorce, debilitating 
illness, crippling accidents, lawsuits, 
and bankruptcy, without being 
taxed at such a high rate on such 
little income. 
If you have any type of trust set up, 
you should review the trust and 
make sure you understand its income 
tax consequences for your 
loved ones upon your death.
THE ESTATE TAX: WHAT IT IS 
& WHO PAYS IT. The estate tax is 
a tax on the value of a person’s assets 
at the time of their death. Upon 
your death, if the total value of your 
estate is above a certain threshold 
amount, known as the federal estate 
tax exemption, the IRS requires your 
estate to pay a 
tax, known as the estate 
tax, before any assets 
can be passed to 
your beneficiaries.
As of 2022, the 

federal estate tax exemption is $12.06 
million for individuals ($24.12 million 
for married couples). Simply 
put, if you die in 2022, and your assets 
are worth $12.06 million or less, 
your estate won't owe any federal 
estate tax. However, if your estate is 
worth more than $12.06 million, the 
amount of your assets that are greater 
than $12.06 million will be taxed 
at a whopping 40% tax rate. 
You can reduce your estate tax liability—
or even eliminate it all together—
by using various estate planning 
strategies. Most of these strategies 
are fairly complex and involve the 
use of irrevocable trusts, but such 
strategies are unquestionably worth 
it, if you can save your family such a 
massive tax bill. 
And please note, we are only speaking 
about the federal estate tax 
here. Currently 12 states have their 
own estate tax, which are separate 
from the federal estate tax. California, 
however, is not one of them. 
Although during life, the state of 
California taxes us like mad, at our 
deaths, our heirs are only in the 
estate tax crosshairs of the federal 
government.
THE FUTURE ESTATE TAX. The 
current $12.06 million estate tax 
exemption is set to expire on Jan. 1, 
2026, and return to its previous level 
of $5 million, which when adjusted 
for inflation is expected to be around 
$6.03 million. Here’s one thing we 
know for sure: We don’t know what 
the estate tax exemption will be at 
the time of our death, and we also 
don’t know what the value of our assets 
will be at the time of our death. 
Because of this, when planning, we 
must ensure that we put in place 
planning strategies to protect our estate 
from estate taxes, regardless of 
the amount of the current estate tax 
exemption or size of your assets.
WE’RE HERE FOR YOU. If you 
are trying to decide whether a revocable 
living trust, irrevocable trust, 
Lifetime Asset Protection Trust, or 
some other estate planning vehicle is 
the right solution for you and your 
family, let us know if you need any 
support or have any questions as you 
make that decision, so your estate 
can provide the maximum benefit 
for the people you love most, while 
paying the least amount of taxes 
allowable. 
Remember, estate planning is not 
just about drafting documents; it’s 
about ensuring you get more financially 
organized than you’ve ever 
been before and making informed 
and empowered decisions about life 
and death, for yourself and your 
loved ones. 
Best, 

Marc Garlett, Esq.
Cali Law Family Legacy 
Matterswww.caliLaw.com 
626.355.4000 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS 


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS*

 Flo Mankin, Alberta Curran, Carmela Frontino, Kathy Wood, Lena Zate, 

Joe Pergola, Janice Kacer, Valerie Howard, Lois Stueck, Jean Wood, Shirley 

Yergeau, Pat Krok, Irene Nakagawa, Anna Ross, Mary Steinberg, Mary 

Bowser, Susan Clifton, Mary Higgins, Kim Buchanan, Leigh Thach and 

Sue Quinn, Jill Girod, Pat Krok, Jeanne Martin* To add your name to this 

distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required 

SIERRA MADRE SENIOR CLUB Every Saturday from 11:30am-3:30 pm in the Hart 
Park House Senior Center. Join us as we celebrate birthdays, holidays and play BINGO. 
Must be 50+ to join. For more information call Mark at 626-355-3951. 

DOMINOES TRAIN GAME 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 11:00 am— 12:30 pm Hart Park 
House The object of the game is for a player to play all the tiles from their hand onto one or 
more trains, emanating from a central hub or “station”. Call Lawren with questions that you 
may have. 

PAINT PALS 

Thursday, 10/13 10:30 am—Hart Park House If you enjoy painting, sketching, water color, 
or making some other form of artistic creation please join our new program, PAINT PALS!!! 
Bring a project that you are working on to the HPH and enjoy some quality art time with other 
artists looking to paint with a new pal. 
TEA AND TALK SENIOR BOOK CLUB Tuesday Oct. 12 and Oct. 26 — 9:00 am 
Staff has launched a new book club series, Tea and Talk, which meets twice a month to discuss 
the fun, suspense, intrigue, love and so much more that each selection will have in store! 

FIBER FRIENDS Tuesday, 10/4 and 10/18 —10:00 am If you enjoy knitting, crocheting, 
embroidery, needlepoint, bunka, huck, tatting or cross stitch then we have a group for you! 
Bring your current project, a nonalcoholic beverage, then sit and chat with likeminded fiber 
friends. We meet in the Hart Park House 
CHAIR YOGA Every Monday and Wednesday, 10-10:45 am Please join us for some gentle 
stretching, yoga, balance exercise and overall relaxation with Paul. Classes are ongoing and 
held in the Memorial Park Covered Pavilion or the Hart Park House.. 

HULA AND POLYNESIAN DANCE Every Friday, 10-10:45 am Bring a lei, your flower 
skirt or just your desire to dance! Hula in the Park is back and waiting for you to join in on all 
the fun! Memorial Park Pavilion. 

BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC - Tuesday, Oct. 11 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Methodist Hospital will be holding a free to seniors clinic once a month in the Hart Park 
House. Walk in are welcome - no pre-registration required. 

LOTERIA: Oct. 20 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm 
Come down to the HPH (Hart Park House) for a lively round of Loteria (Mexican Bingo) 
Prizes await! 

OCTOBER CRAFT Tuesday, October 25 10:30am Hart Park House 
Have you ever had interest in balloon art? Well you are in luck! Join Recreation Coordinator 
Pardo as she instructs us on how to create a cat, bat or pumpkin balloon column. Space is limited 
so please call or email Lawren to reserve your spot. 

SENIOR CINEMA Wednesday, 10/12— 1:00 pm HUBIE HALLOWEEN PG-13 1h 43m 
Good-natured but eccentric community volunteer Hubie Dubois finds himself at the center of 
a real murder case on Halloween night. Despite his devotion to his hometown of Salem, Massachusetts 
(and its legendary Halloween celebration).
Wednesday, 10/26 – Beginning at 1:00pm THE BIRDS PG 1h 59m 

SPECIAL MEDICARE PRESENTATION NEW DATE! Thursday 10/20, 9:00 am


10:00 am Hart Park House Please join Duarte Councilmember Vihn for 
a Medicare presentation. Pastries and coffee will be served during this informative 
presentation. Space is limited, call Lawren to reserve your spot. 
OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder 

THE GREAT DIVIDE BETWEEN BRAIN & TONGUE 

As my Uncle Fred used to say, one of the great benefits of getting old is that you 

know everything. If you had ever met Uncle Fred, you would easily conclude 

that he certainly wasn’t getting old. Of course, there are things I have learned during my 

aging career that has been of great use to me. If I weren’t as old as I am, I wouldn’t know all 

I know now. 

Of all the things I have learned throughout my aging career, the most important one is that 
I have a great divide between my brain and my tongue. I would have thought that those two 
would be connected by this time in my life. I only wish Uncle Fred was alive so I could query 
him on the subject. 

It took me a long time to realize that there was this disconnect between my brain and my 
tongue. It’s been a slow process, and I’m not quite at the end of the tunnel yet, but I got my 
fingers crossed. 

When young, I didn’t have much problem along this line. I was quick on my tongue and 
thought I knew everything. The only thing I didn’t know was what I didn’t know. Oh, if only 
my brain were working today as I thought it was working when I was young.
I’m not sure what happened, but somewhere along the line, my brain retired, and I’m not 
quite sure where it is these days. But for some reason, my tongue has not yet retired.
The main arena of my trouble has to do with The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. Her 
brain and tongue are connected and work well together. Neither one has yet retired, according 
to her. 

Although she has given me many lessons along this line, I still have that great divide that has 
cost me a lot of frustration. If only my tongue would not work until my brain kicks in, things 
might be much better. Quite often, when we’re in some discussion, The Gracious Mistress of 
the Parsonage will stop, look at me and say, “Is that your brain talking or just your tongue?”
For the longest time, I had no idea what she was talking about.
Contrary to good old Uncle Fred, my experience in growing older is that my tongue works 
when my brain is in snooze mode. I’m not quite sure how this works, but I am in this dilemma 
for some reason. 

If only there was some way to get my brain and tongue connected and in good unity, I think 
my life would be better. At least, that’s the thinking of The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, 
and her brain is working. If I could think three times more than I speak, I’m sure my life 
would be much different, maybe even in line with my wife. 

The question I struggled with is, why does the brain slow down in life, but the tongue speeds 
up? What is the connection there? And, is there a way to control the tongue? These are 
things I’ve been thinking about as I get older. If I believed my good old Uncle Fred, I would 
have more control of my tongue than I do. But the older I get, the less control I have over my 
tongue. This is no more obvious than when The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I 
discuss some subject. During the discussion, her brain is in complete control of her tongue. 
Or, so she says. 

My tongue, on the other hand, is completely out-of-control. When we have some discussion, 
my tongue begins talking about something that is not even related to the subject.
My wife then looks at me with a questionable stare and says, “What did you just say? And 
what does that have to do with what we’re talking about?” I have no way to respond to any 
question along those lines. 

For years I’ve been trying to train my tongue to say, “Yes, dear. You’re right.” For some reason, 
my brain cannot remember those phrases. Although I’m struggling along this line I have 
learned one thing. My brain has not let me down on a rather important issue. 

That important issue is, always let your wife have the last word. That’s hard for someone like 
me to do. My tongue sometimes is completely out-of-control, and not listening to what my 
wife is saying. She somehow irritates my tongue, and my brain has no idea what’s going on.
Another important aspect is that my tongue is not connected to my ears. What I hear is not 
always what my tongue responds to. I think God gave me two ears on either side of my head 
to control my tongue in some regard. 

No matter what I hear with my ears, my tongue has a different story to tell.
I have noticed of late that my brain is focused on one subject, my tongue is focused on another 
subject, and the twain shall never meet. 

In my devotions this morning, I was reading 1 Peter 3:10, “For he that will love life, and see 
good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.”
I don’t know how much better that can be put. To refrain my tongue from evil is a great discipline 
in my daily life that offers great rewards throughout my life. 


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