THE FOOTHILLS PAPER - AUGUST 23, 2019

Wildlife Way Station Closes It’s Doors!

Summer in the Park 2019 with Hams

Summer is a season to make memories. With summer about half over, what have you done to cement the this season into your history? - SEE PAGE 8

Authorities closed the facility to the public in 2001 and barred it from taking in additional sick, injured or abandoned animals.- SEE PAGE 6

TELLING THE TRUTH FOR OVER 14 YEARS

FRIDAY AUGUST 23, 2019

Tatulian Cartel Hijacks Council Meeting!

VOLUME 15 • NUMBER 14 Click on photo to see video

Laura, the horse’s owner comforts him while the First Responders decide how to get him out of the mud.

The STNC is always looking for good hearted people to join the council. If you have the stomach for it.

By David DeMulle

E

ver since the STNC election when the supremely confident Tatulian Cartel lost every vestige of getting their slate elected onto the NC board, they have been working furiously behind the scenes to retake the board, or if failing to do that, destroy the existing leadership.

With the election came responsibility for the previous board members to take back the reigns of leadership and work towards bridging the animosity that the election

brought between them. It appeared to work - for a while.

We have to ignore the fact that the Tatulian Cartel publically boasted on Glendale TV that they were going to turn Sunland-Tujunga into a “Little Glendale.” And why not? We’re getting a lot of Armenians that want cheaper property and lower rents.

But that turned off a lot of the local voters. And on top of losing, the cartel lost all the money they collected from the Armenian community, made some new enemies, and Hrant Vartzbedian who was brokering ad-

Click on photo to see video

vertising amongst them, refused to pay his printing bills. The cartel sure knew how to lose friends.

Robert & Julie Ward who assemble and print the cartel newsletter, The Foothill Record became embroiled in a lawsuit of their own and although their company SUNLAND PRINTING sign fell on this reporters car, took Tatulian’s advice and lied to the judge.

Please see Tatulian Cartel Hijacks Council Meeting! on Page 3

And Yet Another Animal Rescue!

L

ast Saturday at approximately 1:30 pm, a horse became stuck on the outskirts of the Hansen Dam wetlands. As the LAFD fire crews matched up with the Hansen Dam Park Rangers and first responders, it became quickly apparent that this was the same area as the June horse rescue took place.

Only this time, there were less problems and an experienced crew of first responders on scene.

LAFD ground crews worked for nearly 2 hours to manually free the 14 year-old 1000 lb. male Peruvian Paso horse that was trapped up to his belly in thick mud. The mud looked solid but had an undercurrent of water that held the mud about 6” to 4 feet from solid ground. This remote area of the Hansen Dam Recreation Area is a popular area for hikers and equestrians that want to enjoy the beauty of the water plants. The horse appeared to be in minimal distress all through the rescue.

Please see And Yet Another Animal Rescue! on Page 2

Check out The Foothills Paper interactive website: thefoothillspaper.com

2

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

And Yet Another Animal Rescue! continued from page 1 LA Animal Services SMART (Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team) arrived on site within the hour with their specialized equipment and a local Veterinarian summoned by the rider to examine the horse arrived at about the same time. Firefighters brought in 6 sheets of ½” plywood to lay on the ground and winch the horse (named Chino) onto to ease the extrication.

It only took about 4 hours total from emergency call to picking up of their equipment, but additional time was required to “decon” as Firefighters prepared to decontaminate the mud-covered equine, rider and responders. Fire Station 98 was the first responder along with stations 74, 77, and 88. Three engines, two Rescue ambulances, two trucks and a Heavy Rescue and Urban Rescue 88 were dispatched along with the LA Animal Control SMART unit. Both rider and horse are doing well.■ THE FOOTHILLS PAPER is published bi-weekly. All content is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. All submissions to this newspaper become property of THE FOOTHILLS PAPER and may not be republished in whole or in part. The opinions expressed by contributing writers do not necessarily express the views of the publisher nor staff of this newspaper. TFP is available free of charge. No person may, without prior written permission from TFP, take more than one copy of each edition (stated value: $1). Only authorized TFP distributors may distribute THE FOOTHILLS PAPER. THE FOOTHILLS PAPER is a nonprofit newspaper produced by the OSS-Spectrum group.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR/PUBLISHER Dr. David DeMullé editor@thefoothillspaper.com WITH THANKS TO all our volunteers that make The Paper happen!

THE FOOTHILLS PAPER TheFoothillsPaper.COM P.O. Box 444 Tujunga CA 91043 (818) 951 0943 Associated Press

Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles

L.A. Press Club

International Combat Camera Association

thefoothillspaper.com • Volume 15 • Number 14

COMMUNITY NEWS

FRANKENSTEIN LIVES! At the Noise Within

By David DeMulle

J

oan Slater and I went to see the aNoise Within production of Nick Dears interpretation of Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein, and directed by Michael Michetti last Saturday. It had been a hard day with all the things happening in Sunland-Tujunga and we had a glass of wine to chill out and relax.

Relax was the key word…… Because as soon as the lights dimmed, the theater became electric as the set began to come together. Random movement with no rhyme nor reason until the set was created.

Large wooden timbers colored in grades of grey and black set the theme that the characters flowed through in their quest for understanding our human feelings through the eyes of “The Monster.” As Michael Manuel stars as the agonized creature which grabs your attention from the very first minute, and carries you through on the edge of your seat until the end.

Manuel takes total comand of the stage as the lights rise to expose a cocoon attached to a large wooden contrivance. And then the theater succumbs to an eerie silence that is shattered by the sounds of anguish when this form falls to the floor and begins crawling, scratching, screeching, within the pulsing fabric on the floor. For those who have only seen the movie version of Frankenstein, the gyrations slowly form to become a man-sized “something” that struggles for what seems an eternity as this creature struggles to stretch and stand.

Like a huge toddler trying to find control of his limbs to crawl then stand, then walk. A huge man-child emerges from the gossamer wraps to embrace the sunlight and the simple sounds of birds chirping.

Kasey Mahaffy grabs your attention with Victor Frankenstein’s air of superiority as he plays god and dismisses the monsters quest for knowledge and Victor’s superiority over him. As the play progresses for almost two hours.

Mahaffy plays against the monsters innocence as he tries to grasp what he is and why he can live without feeling. The two of

the monster he created is so much more of an individual than he is.

Then it all comes together when the monster cries out “I have learned from you father – and you taught me to lie! And for that I will take vengeance and take away from you that which you love most.” And that seals the fate for Victor’s new wife.

Everything about this production with all its shocks and surprises, horror and moments of great tenderness as what the play conjectures on the stage, we fight with the Victor at the moment he hears that reality it provokes within us ourhis brother is dead. selves.

It is really worth seeing, maybe them play against each other in a even twice. pas de deux of raw feelings, each August 11 – September 8, 2019 oblivious of their own pain. aNoise Within Playhouse The best part for us was when 3352 E. Foothill Blvd. the monster cries out in anguish Pasadena, CA 91107■ and Victor suddenly realizes that Click on photo to see video

2 – FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 15 • NUMBER 10 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

thefoothillspaper.com • Volume 15 • Number 14 FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER 3 does a lot of the things but by members of the The only unsullied elite Sunland-Tujunga, that get done here event left in SunA friend and I went to see If it was straightforward, creator has abandoned a lie, behind the scenes.

I’ve she Shadow Hillshis Rotary land-Tujunga is the the play Frankenstein thisClub’s I’d say what theClub. hell, good him, and as the gets ofowns had play the honor work- it.

Someone once Rotary Annual weekend. Son of 4th a gun, I for them.I But said embedded more thewith monster the S-TEverything Rothat our 4th of sinister,ing of July Parade. had forgotten how find poignant in the slime that the cartel says to his creator, “I elated tary Clubwas even rthough July Parade was like it really amazand relevant it is to has people spewed athoughout innocent you ataught the membertoof mating of the Doo andI was ingtoday’s how many society and in particular to our community, it is just me to lie!”

And that is Ta t u l i Dah Parade with May- the Crescenta-Canada a n from all walks of life club. But berry! And know, mingle wrong. what is happeningcome here out in todownright Ms. you what has happened hereitindoesn’t Cartel matter.

What matters I think whoever said with their neighbors Sunland-Tujunga. We had Tatulian is wherever there our little vortex. We have is a lie. is that ourthe friends and that money. was right.been Thistaught is this one dayis ofundocumented the some a circus of a neighborhood to lie by How much misled. LAFD neighbors get a chance the one time of year year. pretty old people in there any hope for the council meeting last week, Take this festival for Armenians that are trying money did the cartel get Is and the volunteer fire to let their hair down and the one place that Sure, we’ve had the it.

I’m looking for and most of the clowns example, she is collecting to take over our town. I took from the community for STNC? I water-truck don’t think so.opens It’s everybody gets togeth- and march or drive Watermelon$12,000 Festival, a Rascal of stayed home and poisoned from the city and Julie Ward, the co-owner of their National NightBrigade Out dominated by avalves small group their and spray or ride down Foothill er to have fun-funthe Easter Sunrise senior citizens doing the waters with their vitriolic county. There is no formal Sunland Printing that prints program? Does it matter of cartel members that know the kids (and adults Boulevard with thoufun! This year I think Service, the Petting wheelies and burning Facebook comments. organization that is licensed the cartel newsletter (the that Sandy Capps, a STNC that they can are bravethe enough) sands of people watch- doughnuts going down whointimidate will be one of the best Zoo and even the It’s really interesting, (I’ d to hold the festival.

There Foothill Record) to court. board member and their to get wet.

And yes, older white women that ing. we’ve had in a long WOW jam in Sunthe road. But what like to say funny, but it are no checks and balances Her husband showed up treasurer is also a liar that’s you can officially are the executive board. It’s say This is the Rotary time. The motto this land Park. But the the heck — it’s time “It’s Water!” isn’t) how our stay-at-home to where the instead.

HE LIED! cozied up tofor theeveryone cartel? And Club’s 39th Annual hard onThe community yearmoney is “Out of This AND 4th of July as Parade is to get to to vote councilwoman gives comes from, World” (vendors Obviously Tatulian taught she’s not even an Armenian.

4th of July Parade.

And boy, do OUR out EVENT. It’s not know each other and items when people like that means we seem like him that. well. And sponsored church money to all the other cities by have to buy spaces) and Hrant, the I that rememberhave hearing fun.stories TowardsArnie the Abramyan and Oscar we’re going to have Our Rotary president Club groups clubs, end to of help the parade, the are screaming at you. in her district, and not toor social no paperwork showing of the nonexistent of Jews trying the Alvarez us. Her affiliation with the where the money goes, chamber of commerce and I Nazis who were out to Yes boys and girls, the Tatulian Cartel is out of although we do know that went to court about his not destroy them. Is that what writing is on the wall, either control. Like the $6,000 the majority of unreported paying his cartel advertising we have with our old buddy we wipe out the lies and the she gave to Tatulian for funds is going overseas. bill. AND HE LIED. Roger Swart? Or maybe liars, or this community her unlicensed, unreported In the play Frankenstein, Tatulian created a tabloid Oscar Alvarez and Glen Belt won’t be worth living in, if Armenian Cultural Festival the monster is trying to that has her listed as SALES and Georgia Brown? They’re you’re white. Who knows, this year. figure what life is about, MANAGER. And that’s not stupid, but they sure are maybe it was the Water.■ THE FOOTHILLS PAPER is

COMMUNITY NEWS

Ryan Howard Helbing of Sunland-Tujunga Awarded of control as usual and continDegree from UAout ued injecting comments that didn’t

published bi-weekly. All content is copyrighted and may not be without written consent Tatulian Cartelreproduced Hijacks is not a good thing. Things got so of the publisher. All submissions to Council Meeting! bad that certain female board ofthis newspaper become property of THE FOOTHILLS PAPER and Ryancrying Howardand Helbing continued from page 1 ficers started left the may not be republished in whole of Sunland-Tujunga, room. Visitors hadn’t seenCA a specor in part. The opinions expressed (91040), has received his by contributing writers tacle do not as bad as this since past memnecessarily express the views of degree from The University Although neither theparty preber Tomi-Lyn Bowling was kicked publisher nor staff of this of Alabama: Bachelor of newspaper.

TFP is available free of vailed (how can you fight against out for stealing the “Best of& SunScience in Commerce charge. No person may, without a liar?) Tatulian and prior Robert land-Tujunga ballots. ” Business Administration. written who permission from TFP, take more than one copy of awardedconcern, some 5,716 were at the Sunland Park National What is UA of major is that each edition (stated value: $1). degrees during spring comNight Out, began chanting “LOSthe councilwoman’s informant and Only authorized TFP distributors mencement May 3-5. distributelittle THE FOOTHILLS ER, LOSER, LOSER!may Like DONE representative, Veronica With a beautiful camPAPER. THE FOOTHILLS PAPER children that had pooped Serrano, just sat there pretending is a non-profit their newspaper produced pus, dozens of challenging by the OSS-Spectrum group. pants and needed a distraction. it wasn’t happening. And that was

from the board.

This is our Democracy in Sunacademic ex- When he and land-Tujunga. By the way: The pertain programs, to anything. pert numerousbuddies didn’t STNC is always looking for good hisfaculty cartelandmember opportunities for service andto pass a mo- hearted people to join the council. get their way, he tried growth, The University of tion tois remove President Lilliana If you have the stomach for it.■ Alabama a place where legends are made. UA offers its students a premier educational, cultural and social experience with more than 200 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs.

But that was nothing to what the just for the first item. It got even EXECUTIVE crazier when Jennifer Trosper, a JPL cartel pulled at last Wednesday’s the item concerning EDITOR/PUBLISHER STNC meeting. representative tois the this Los year’s Dr. David DeMulléthe STNC engineer, There were two innocuous items Angeles Office of Emergency editor@thefoothillspaper.com Rotary Club OpGrand Marshall! on the agenda amongst the others. erations came up. Letters from the WITH THANKS TO volunteers that They were to vote on $100allaourmonth three candidates were read and the make The Paper happen! for the placement of news stories council members were informed THE FOOTHILLS PAPER and calendars that there TheFoothillsPaper.COM in both publicawould be a P.O. Box 444 What is of major concern, Tujunga CA 91043 tions.

Sounds “voice” vote, the councilwoman’s and the one simple doesn’t is that818-951-0943 it. UNTIL the informant and DONE with the most cartel went nutvotes would representative, Veronica so. Cartel memwin. And then Serrano, just sat there bers that until went Her work isthe “outcartel of this world” Wednesday had pretendingAssociated crazy.

Arit wasn’t Press hidden their nie Abramyan happening.

Sierrajumped Perez May Have Set true affiliations, up and L.A. Press Club started screamstarted yelling New World Record ing, ranting and raving. Even as “EVERYONE VOTE FOR SANDY from Page 1 Press CAPPS!” Continued the Department of Neighborhood Ignoring the fact that the Photographers Association Empowerment officer sat looking cartel members vote un- Pending the approval of the Whenmade the boatthe returned of Greater to the dock, the halibut wasthat International Game Fish Los Angeles stupid wringing her hands and fidlawful, they still forced a vote Association (IGFA), Perez hung on the scale where geting in her seat as cartel board Sandy Capps won.

International may have set a new womit was said to weigh 54.5 Combat members shouted each other down. the waves in the womocean, en’s all-tackle world record Camera And likepounds.

The previous Association Stakeholder and CD-7 councilthe hidden began for California halibut. en’scartel recordmembers was 42 pounds. woman’s “lickie” Roger Swart stag- to show themselves. Scientologist gered to his feet, waddled to the advocate Lallah Rowe was the first board members table and while to jump into the fray with council shaking his enfeebled fist in coun- member Carol Hutchinson followcilmember John Clausen’s face, ing right behind. And of course all yelled “YOU BETTER CHANGE the Armenian cartel members votYOUR VOTE!” Now for you read- ed with their buddies. ers that don’t know council proceAs Roger Swart was driven from dures, or even good manners, this the room with cat calls, Arnie was

4

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

thefoothillspaper.com • Volume 15 • Number 14

FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

There’s a new digital sign at the 1 Mile marker on the Big-T just past Camp Louis Roth. We don’t know when it will be operational.

thefoothillspaper.com • Volume 15 • Number 14

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

5

e

-

some LAFD pretty old people in FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER and the volunteer fire it. 6I’m looking for water-truck opens a Rascal Brigade of their valves and spray senior citizens doing the kids (and adults wheelies and burning tate officials on Tuesday said who are brave enough) doughnuts going down the long-struggling Wildlife to get wet. And yes, the road.

But inwhat Waystation the Angeles National is shutting the heckForest — it’s time down you can officially say “It’s The Water!” for good, and the center is collabofor everyone to get to rating with the California Departknow each other and ment of Fish and Wildlife to relohave fun.than Towards the cate more 470 exotic animals including lions, tigers, alligators, end of the parade, the

thefoothillspaper.com • Volume 15 • Number 14

Wildlife Way Station Closes It’s Doors!

S

wolves, owls and 42 chimpanzees.

On Aug. 11, the board of directors of the 43-year-old animal sanctuary voted to shutter the facility, surrender its CDFW permits and assist in finding new homes for its creatures with local and national animal welfare organizations across the nation, said Jordan Traverso, a spokeswoman for the agency.

“Some animals will be moving out as early as tomorrow,” Traverso said Tuesday, “but it’s going to be a long process because there are so many, and some of them are old and in primary care.”

Deanna Armbruster, a spokeswoman for the 160-acre Wildlife Waystation, was unavailable for comment. But Traverso said the facility, located just outside Los Angeles city limits, suffered extensive damage in the 2017 Creek fire near Tujunga, followed by severe flooding earlier this year.

“Wildlife Waystation leadership is unable to repair the facility to current standards,” she said.

For two decades, federal, state and Los Angeles County animal welfare authorities have been scrutinizing the waystation, one of the largest of its kind, for alleged environmental and animal-safety violations.

At the center of the crisis is Martine Colette, the waystation’s founder, who resigned in May as president and chief operating officer.

The executive shakeup was followed by a terse statement by the waystation, suggesting that the facility’s troubles extended beyond the care and housing of injured and abandoned exotic animals.

“The Board is conducting a comprehensive review of the fiscal and other impacts of non-approved and non-authorized activities and transactions by staff,” the board

NITY NEWS For two decades, federal, state and Los Angeles County animal welfare authorities have been scrutinizing the waystation, one of the largest of its kind, for alleged environmental and animal-safety violations. of directors said in a statement. It added that staff were “planning and executing activities unbeknownst and unauthorized” to the board, a claim that could not be immediately verified.

Over the years, Colette, a dedicated animal welfare advocate, charmed Hollywood celebrities such as Bruce Willis, Will Smith and Drew Barrymore into opening their wallets for her cause. For years, the waystation filled a need by taking in animals abandoned from private collections and roadside attractions, such as lions and tigers, as well as many other injured and orphaned animals, and housing them until they found a home.

Yet even some of Colette’s supporters described her as occasionally abrasive, with a fierce love of animals and a disdain for any rules but her own.

Colette, 76, the French-born daughter of a Belgian diplomat, lived most of her childhood in Nairobi, Kenya. As a teenager, she worked in trapping camps, where lions and other animals were taken before being shipped to zoos abroad.

Colette moved to Los Angeles with her then-husband, whom she described as a “famous American writer,” and became plugged into the Hollywood scene.

A mountain lion in a 5-by-5 cage

JUNE 28, 2019 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

drew her pity at a 1965 show at the Pan-Pacific Auditorium and became her first refugee. Within 10 years, she had accumulated a house full of beasts and a yard full of wild cats, spurring her move to Little Tujunga Canyon and the opening of the Wildlife Waystation.

Authorities closed the facility to the public in 2001 and barred it from taking in additional sick, injured or abandoned animals. A year later, the U.S. Department

of Agriculture suspended operations after inspections revealed that the waystation had not fixed long-standing crowded, unsanitary and unsafe conditions.

The waystation’s license was reinstated after it spent $2 million to bring habitation for animals into compliance. Repairs included improved cages, a new perimeter fence, upgraded kitchen and hospital facilities, and diversion of animal waste from waterways into a sanitary drain system.

At that time, the annual food, medical and cleaning bill for the waystation was roughly $3 million annually. Several times that amount would be needed to bring the facility into full compliance with county, state and federal regulations, state officials said.

Now, “the CDFW’s primary concern is for the health and welfare of the animals at the waystation,” Traverso said. “The property is closed until further notice and access will not be granted.

“We plan to stay at the facility,” she added, “until new homes are found elsewhere for all the animals. We’re not sure at this point, if that will include refuges in other countries.■

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 15 • NUMBER 10 – 5 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 •• THE FOOTHILLS PAPER10 – 77 www.thefoothillspaper.com VOLUME 15 • NUMBER ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– thefoothillspaper.com 15 • Number 14PAPER

FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019 •• Volume THE FOOTHILLS

019 •FRIDAY, THE FOOTHILLS JUNE 28, 2019 •PAPER THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 15 10 • NUMBE www.thefoothillspaper.com • VOLUME 15 • NUMBER – 3 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

ASK RUSTY Confused about Working, Medicare and Spouse ASK RUSTY How Is My Benefit Amount Determined?

Confused about Working, Medicare and Sp

USTY

Benefits

News From An Urgent Care Dear Planning: I admire at 66. Another question is Clinic: Itchy Insulation that you’re thinking ahead when I retire at 66 and my

Benefits

at what’s called your “pri- youage. claim than current levelSecurity until you reachwhen Social to start Anyany timeearlier any Social be considered creditable, mary insurance amount” FRA, your benefit will your she FRA, so at if 64, youshe work retires will benefit is claimed but you should check with yourSecurity towife your retirement years or “PIA.” The “bend point” be reduced about 29% less part-time starting at age 62 be automatically enrolled earlier than one’s your HR department to retires at age 64 at 1/2 Dr. Sam Samalin and I’m happy to clarify values change each year, if claimed at 62.

If you wait your benefit amounts will Security age. Any time any Socialin MedicareSocial bebeconsidered at 66. Another question is will she Parts A and makecreditable, sure. Assuming your my benefit, able this for you.

Your Social but for 2019 they are $926 beyond your FRA the benbe less than those shown in cause irritation.

Al-but you should B just prior she to herretires turning employer cov- with to sign up for Medicare at 6 Security benefit is claimed check when I retire at 66andand my Security benefit, when and $5583.

To compute efit will be more 8% more the current estimates. though uncomfortable, the SS 65 years of age, but if she erage is “credbecause she is drawing automatical than your HR department to formula forearlier wife retires at ageinsulation 64 atclaim 1/2 you it, will she be have based benefit, the each year youone’s delay, up the isn’tOr dangerous continuesFinally, tobe work and still itable,” you can benefits? will to your upon the highest earning will take 90% of the first to age 70 above applies (unless you inhale it) behas creditable employee (not Pa defer enrolling wait until 3 months before in Medicare make sure. Assuming your my benefit, will she be able 35she years of your lifetime $926 of your to your own cause your skin is constantly COBRA) healthcare covin Part B until turns 65? Signed: PlanB prior to employer covto sign up for Medicare renewing itself and will working career (not only AIME; individual SS erage from herjust employer your 32% employer ning Our Retirement

by AMAC Certified Social expel foreign particles. at that time and wishes theany last few years).

To deof coverage yourends. At r e t65 i r eyears m e n t to Dear Planning: Signof age erage is “credshe is drawing SS Security Advisor Russell By because AMAC Certified Social If the itching or the reddelay enrolling in Part B that time, you’ll ing up for Medicare when termine your benefit, SoAIME bebenefit from Gloor, Association of MaSecurity AdvisorOr Russell continues to w itable,” you can “special benefits? will she have to nesscial in your continues, (to avoid your the premium), enter a$926 you turneyes 65 iswill optional if Security take your tween own she ture American Citizens Gloor, Association of Ma- come over to Urgent or enrolling hashercreditable defer wait until 3 months entire before can do so lifetime until employer full retirement age it enrollment you have creditable emrecord ofCare lifetime and $5583; period” work ture American Citizens. to your local doctor.

Fibercoverage ends.

Then when is reduced.

Taken 2 years during which you can enroll ployer coverage.

If you earnings, adjust each yearB and 15% of record.

If heal Dear COBRA) in Part until sheRusty: turnsI will 65?reach Signed: Planglass is made of fibers of her employer coverage before her FRA, your wife’s in Medicare Part B (and Part enroll in Part A, and you for inflation, and select the any amount you are marDear I amage 60 years my full retirement Sam is aRusty: Physicians erage from glass. When you inhale themhad your employer ning Our Retirement ends, she should enroll in he spousal benefit will be about drug plan) without a late a Health Savings years in which you of D your AIME ried, and al Dr. (FRA) in September of 2020 old.

I have worked full time 35have Assistant into your lungs, they are not Medicare Part (and Part enrollment Account (HSA) you and atB that time an at agewe 66.

MyaIwife be the highest earnings.

After over $5583. your PIA coverage ends.

At penalty. You can 42% of yours, not 50%.

Dear Planning: Signsince age 22. am will thinking oday have letter easilyyour broken down must by your D plan) during her special Your wife cannot enroll enroll in Part B (and Part D) employer both 64 at that time and will start totaling those years they’ll The product is less than about working part-time a concerned delay enrollin that time,ofyou’ll ing upSS foratreader Medicare bodywhen if atcontributing all. If you don’t enrollment as to in Medicare simply because athose little before stop it the a- and from drawing her 1/2Iofstart my divide by 420 (thetonumber three your employer 50%period of so your ages 62-65.

When possible patient, and like the idea of getting wood avoid any future late enrollshe is collecting Social coverage ends so as to avoid month before you turn 65. avoid enter turn isbeoptional ifparticlesinin35your benefit because it65 will of months years) a to“special computations w h e n husband’s PIA,(to then you the p collecting my social security owing toyou patient-doctor conor metal ment penalties.

Security; she’s not eligible any lapse in health care Whether you should take more than hers, even if she determine your enrollment “average areperiod” added tomaximum is reached. Atagemight also be can eligible benefit after agelungs, dofor so until fidentiality, Isometime have left creditable out retirement you have emthen youPart shouldn’t should both forfull Medicare until she is 65 it Finally, you coverage.

Medicare B (coverreached her FRA. My quesindexed monthly earnings” gether to arrive at your age 70 your benefit will be a spousal boost from your 65, will my monthly amountinhale the person’s name. glass either.

For which Medicare Part can enrollTaken 3 months2 yearsbe enrolled in If your wife claims her age for fibers doctors and other coverage ends. is(she reduced. during ployer coverage. tionDoctor is, I know I will the needlastIf you ach Dear (AIME).

They then break PIA. you can enroll about 25% more than it husband. Or if you are the be based on only Sam, small amounts, you will be A (hospitalization coverearlier for coverage to start Social Security benefit at outpatient services) at age to sign up for Partandyour her employer c before yourhigher wife’s in Medicare Part Part would enroll inMedicare Part A, you AIME into several Your PIABis(and the amount be ather yourFRA, FRA. But husI’m concerned.

Iofwas workfew years my working? fine. 65 Youdepends can wear a cheap age)earner, becauseyour it is required the month she turns 65). age 64 when you claim your upon whether A this year at age 65 but do ing in the attic of my house parts (using what’s known you will get at your full rea note of caution: any benband might be eligible for Canhave you please explain Savings howdust mask to avoid this. ends, she shou benefit will be about to collect Social Security D drug plan) a own lateben- spousal If your wife retires from SS without at age 66, her aB through Health your healthcare coverage I need Part at this time?

2020 and my pulling wires asthrough “bend points”) tirement age, or your “FRA, ” efit work estimates you have now a spousal boost from you monthly amount will be The good news isemployer thatand it then benefits after age 65.

Medibefore she is eligible efit will be reduced, and her your is Both myself and(HSA) my wife youtake Medicare Part 42% of yours, not 50%. enrollment penalty.

You can Account and this pumped-in insulation. percentage of each which for you (born in 1959) from Social Security assume when you claim your Sonot acause cancer.

It Signed: Plan-does considered be determined? care Part A coverage is free for Medicare, she may use spousal benefit will also be a “creditable” work for the same company I didn’t start or part add upenroll to arrive is 66 years and months.

If you’ll keep earning atuntil your enroll cial Security benefit.■ does caseand skin, eye and lung ning Myitching Future D plan) during Your wife cannot in Part B (and Part employer must both for anyone who is eligible COBRA coverage reduced from1050% ofD) yours alternative toitMedicare Part andyour have through startcoughing and insurance my eyes didn’t irritation.

I have seen many to receive Social Security per reaches age simply 65 and herbecause because sheemployer is claiming coverage. Generally, if before them.

I will haveday. insurance to itB the enrollment insheMedicare ayear’s little your stop until thecontributing next patients over the plan yearswith myget red benefits.

Medicare coverage begins. the spousal benefit earlier it’s a group more for one year through It’s now beenmore a week and so far I have not noticed avoid any futu she is collecting coverage ends sofull as retirement to avoid month before youand turn 65.

If your wife claims herSocial than her than 20 participants it will e I’m still the company until I retire itching. Any suggesany continuing ill effects. ment penalties Security; she’s not eligible any lapse in health care take she tions? Whether you should If it is still itching, and Concerned: Finally, you for Medicare until she is 65 then come in to Urgentcoverage.

Medicare Part B (coverues- Dear Without seeing a sample Care or go see a doctor if it be– enrolled in M can enroll 3 months Monday(she 18-piece Big Band Sundays from 10 am 2 pm.

Katiewife O’Brienclaims her IfByyour age forI’ddoctors and other AMERICA! BIRTHDAY insulation, sugd of theHAPPY doesn’t go away. Fiberglass Swing Express featuring Frank The Big Band Swing Express thatoutpatient you were probably A (hospitalizat earlier for coverage to start Social Security benefit at services) at agenot that good is probably Partgest Sinatra solos by Peter Chinelli with Peter Chinelli and plays oin us at Post 377 every exposed to a fiberglass based for you just like many age other 64 when you claim your age) because it the month turnsfrom 65).7:15pm – 10pm 65The depends whether Salsa she and Folk 3rd Saturday for great din- and Wednesday doinsulation. first thing upon things you breathe in on a during sum- from The Handymen to is an excel- Socia ners and collect should do when exIf your wifetheretires SS at age 66, live herband ownmusic. ben- bands outside your healthcare coverage daily basis. I would recome? you Please call the Post for further mer months with full course lent band and play on Wednesposed to insulation is to take mend thatisnext time you benefits after a work before she is eligible efit will be reduced, and her through your employer e a cold shower because a hot work in your attic you wearinformation on upcoming dinners for a donation of $5. days, August 14 and 28, ofcare Part spousal will also be KaraokeforisMedicare, considered a “creditable” on Friday she eve- may feringuse great folk, country and A cov up your pores events.benefit 818 353-9856. long sleeves, a dust mask anyshower opens and the glass fibers can enter with Pot luck dinners, until classic rock musicfor from 7pm wh Post from 520 offers and goggles. anyone coverage reduced 50%a beautiful of yoursnings, COBRA alternative to Medicare Part ugh outside dog friendly patio with and Continental Breakfasts on – 10pm■

T

nce gh

Local American Legion Posts Offer Fun, Music, Food and Camaraderie

J

B coverage. Generally, if it’s a group plan with more

because she is claiming the spousal benefit earlier

she reaches age 65 and her Medicare coverage begins.

to receive Soci benefits.

8

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 • THE FOOTHILLS PAPER

thefoothillspaper.com • Volume 15 • Number 14

Summer in the Park 2019 with Hams

S

ummer is a season to make memories.

With summer about half over, what have you done to cement the this season into your history? For members of the Crescenta Valley Radio club (CVRC), June 2019 will be remembered, in part, for National Field Day exercises. On Field Day amateur radio operators (HAMS) across North American take their equipment literally to the field and try to make as many contacts as possible within a 24 hour period. While Field Day is a contest of sorts the deeper purpose is disaster preparedness as operators hone their communication skills under less than ideal conditions “in the field.” This year, members of CVRC established base camp at Verdugo Park in Glendale.

There were antennas to hoist, equipment to move and unpack, wires to run, and technical problems to solve. All typical of the kind of struggles expected when establishing communication links in an emergency. Generator power was provided by Gene Roske’s (AE6GR) well quipped emergency van. At 11:00am on Saturday morning, CVRC went on the air. For the next 24 hours, operators were on duty establishing contact with other stations across the continent.

Allie Peet (AI6ME) marveled at how much

fun it was to contact folks as far away as Alaska and British Columbia. Lindsay (N4AUM) Allie’s husband busied himself logging contacts for his wife on a computer. Lindsay likened Field Day to a “…ginormous game of ‘tag’ (that) was surprisingly fun! The fact it was also practical emergency training didn’t hurt it a bit.”

Joe Antczk (KM6ERG) was still impressed at how he could sit in a park with a radio and a wire strung between trees and make contacts all across the continent. Joe noted he especially enjoyed “… working with a group of friends who pull from a variety of different backgrounds, different philosophies, different faiths with a common goal of being able to help others.”

Pet Natividad (N6PET) CVRC President, noted that the club made more contacts this year than ever before. He said that the experience “increased my motivation to advocate for ham radio (both) as a hobby and for emergency communication.”

Plans are already underway to make next year’s Field Day even more successful. Make a new memory for yourself next June and join CVRC for Field Day. For information on how to earn your FCC Amateur Radio License, visit the club website at CVRC.com.■