Senior scene July/August 2013 by Tehachapi News

2013

JULY-AUGUST

Senior SeniorScene For Seniors & Their Families | Tehachapi & Southeastern Kern County

Fast Cars, not rocking chairs, not rocking chairs, for Tehachapi drag racing retirees

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Wednesday, July 12, 2013 — Senior Scene

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE VALENCIA FAMILY

GENERAL, COSMETIC & LASER DERMATOLOGY

Gil Valencia puts on a show as he wheelies his full-blown alcohol altered 1949 Fiat Topolino dragster named “Black Max”

Jeffrey Ross Gunter, M.D.

Drag racing is a way of life for senior who disregards the norm

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Is your hearing loss just earwax? Believe it or not, many times hearing loss is simply a symptom of too much earwax. Let the experts at WALL’S Hearing Aid Center assess the cause of your hearing loss with a free video otoscope screening.

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BY MATTHEW MARTZ TEHACHAPI NEWS

The smell of rubber fills the air as smoke sheds from screeching tires. Popping, crackling and a low roar reverberates through the chests of spectators as each nitro –burning road rocket bursts from the starting line. Kids cover their ears and watch in amazement as supped up cars whiz by. It’s the Valencia family’s favorite pastime. As a master builder of hot rods and a nostalgic drag racer, at age 64, retired corrections officer Gil Valencia has yet to hang up his helmet. That’s because Valencia has at least a few more races to run. And according to his wife (of 45 years), Kathy, who is every bit as passionate about fast cars, drag racing gets in your blood. Literally, as Valencia’s two sons James and Daniel have also taken to the sport, building and racing their own cars right along side their father. Every since he can remember, Valencia said he as been interested in cars. His father used to restore old Model-A cars, taking his son to the Pomona drag strip, which was just a short drive from the family residence in nearby Chino. It wasn’t long until Valencia transitioned from watching to wrenching on cars as a preteen with then nextdoor neighbor and legendary drag racer Frank Pedregon. He learned a lot about making fast cars from Pedregon, but it wasn’t until Valencia was in his 20s living in Arizona that he got out from under the hood and behind the wheel, using the family’s Opal Rally sedan as a weekend racer with his one-woman

pit crew, Kathy, who despite being pregnant could be found slapping on race tires in the blazing Phoenix sun. From there the Valencia’s got their feet wet racing speed boats, where going fast towing a water skier provided the need for speed. That is until Gil launched his flat bottom racer 15 feet out of the water at a neck-breaking speed of 90 miles

per hour. Fortunately, he walked away with nothing more than a severe case of whiplash. But even after his brush with death, Valencia said he isn’t scared to go fast. “I don’t really worry about it,” he said. “I just concentrate on doing See SPEEDY/Page 3

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE VALENCIA FAMILY

Gil Valencia's Nostalgia Eliminator I Roadster.

Senior Scene Wednesday, July 12, 2013

The Valencia family with their Nostalgia III open wheel hot rod. A 1929 Hi-boy body on a 454 stock Chevy gas engine that tops out at 120 mile per hour. The car cost about $14,000 to build and was named after the 28 ½ days it took the Valencias to build it in their Bear Valley workshop. It is driven by eldest son Danny Valencia, who was the American Nostalgia Racing Association champion two years in a row in 2010 ad 2011.

Speedy seniors build drag racing dynasty Continued from page 2 what I need to do when I am racing.” With that attitude, the Valencia’s eventually jumped from boats back to cars in 1981, and after two years and $14,000, Gil pieced together the couple’s first “real” drag car — a converted 1979 Opal GT. The car was Gil’s masterpiece. A sported a tricked out engine that cost $5,000 alone, and was more than capable of churning out 600 horsepower, and traveling at speeds up to 140 miles per hour. It was quite an accomplishment for Valencia, who built his racing machine from scratch in his garage, using up every bit of extra money he got from his job as a correctional officer at the California Institution for Men in Chino. “That car was a lot of overtime,” he said. A year later, the Valencia’s decided to relocate to Bear Valley to get away from the fast paced life of Chino. But their hobby became an obsession, and in 1998, after retiring from Tehachapi’s California Correctional Institute after 11 years, Gil pulled out all of the stops when he built a full-blown alcohol altered 1949 Fiat Topolina dragster. Affectionately know as the “Black Max” — the fiery coupe’s engine cost a whopping $30,000 all by itself, and could run at nearly 200 miles per hour. “When I ran that car I put on a show,” Valencia said. That is until one day while testing at Auto Club Famoso Raceway just outside

PHOTO BY MATTHEW MARTZ/TEHACHAPI NEWS

Drag racer and master hot rod builder Gil Valencia works in his shop behind his Bear Valley home, where he and his sons James and Daniel build the cars they race. Bakersfield, when Valencia rolled his car doing 150 miles per hour, just one week before the 2009 March Meet. Eight weeks later however, Valencia was back on the track, sitting behind the wheel of a battle scared "Black Max", which again catapulted its owner down the 1/4mile Famoso black top. Although retired from the NHRA Her-

itage tour, today Valencia races a Nostalgia Eliminator III class drag car, capable of a top speed of 140 miles per hour. In his spare time he likes taking photos of flowers or spending time with Kathy, in the couple’s “Sugar Shack” — a cool little beach-themed getaway located on their property and named after the song with the same title by Jimmy Gilmer.

But Valencia is no creampuff, and definitely hasn’t retired from life in the fast lane just yet. In fact, he plans on racing his latest creation this summer — a replica of 1933 Ford Coupe with a 509-cubic inch blower motor. Kathy also has plans to switch from the pits to behind the wheel of her own car — a 1959 AMC Rambler wagon, which she plans on using to lay down some serious rubber on the quarter-mile strip at Famoso in the next few years. Until then, she said she is content watching from the sidelines, while enjoying time with family and friends. “When you go to different types of racing events, a lot of times family is not allowed in the pit area,” she said. “Drag racing is one of the only forms of racing where your family can all be together.” Gil agreed. “Drag racing really mixed what I loved doing,” he said. “Being able to spend time building cars and racing, while spending time with my family.” And while it's true that retirement has its benefits like sleeping in and qualifying for the senior discount at participating restaurants, slowing down is not every senior’s idea of life beyond 60. When asked how long he plans on sliding behind the wheel, Valencia just grinned. “You only die once,” he said. “How many people die sitting in a chair.”

Wednesday, July 12, 2013 — Senior Scene

Senior Volunteer Spotlight

Susan Mueller: Volunteer extraordinaire BY ED GORDON TEHACHAPI NEWS

Susan Mueller provides just one example of how our senior citizens give back to the community. Muller said, “When my husband Paul died, I didn't like being alone. So I started getting more involved in the community. I had been involved with Relay [for Life] before that and they had asked me to be Survivor Chairperson. I was kind of thinking about it and [Paul] had said to me, ‘I really would like to

see you do that.’ So when he died I did it. He's been gone almost eight years. I love the community and I like everything I do.” Among those things, Susan organized the Stallion Springs Property Owners Association Welcoming Committee in 2000 and still works with it today. She is Publicity Chair and past president of the Horse Thief Women's Golf Club; Tehachapi Depot Volunteer and scheduler of Cashier Volunteers; Community Emergency Response Team

member in Stallion Springs; member of the Choir and calls on shut-ins at the Stallion Springs Community Church; and member and current President of the board of directors of the Stallion Springs CSD. Susan also has a long history with the Relay for Life. Currently, she is serving as Publicity Chair for Tehachapi, 2013 Relay for Life Mentor to Taft and Mountain Communities Relay Event Chairs and Team Member of the

Heroes for Hope team. She has also served on the Survivor Committee, as Survivor Committee Chair, Fight Back Chair, Event Chair, Entertainment Chair and Chair of the Cancer Prevention Study Number 3. CAN YOU RECOMMEND A SENIOR VOLUNTEER to be featured in Senior Scene? Please send suggestions along with contact information to Editor Claudia Elliott, celliott@tehachapinews.com or call 823-6360.

PHOTO BY ED GORDON / TEHACHAPI NEWS

Susan Mueller presides over the Stallion Springs CSD board of directors as its president.

Full of life: Senior Center keeps seniors moving, socializing BY EMILY BRUNETT TEHACHAPI NEWS

“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” — Mark Twain Inside the Tehachapi Senior Center at 500 E. “F” St., laughter poured out of a back room. About a dozen men and women, ranging in age from 58 to 88, bounced tennis balls back and forth within their circle. The group was gathered for the center’s free Club Stretch class. Down the hallway in the main room, long tables ran the length of half the room. In the far corner sat a small group hunched over rough-cut blocks of wood, carving the unshaped material into horses. A much larger gathering chattered over passing cards, keeping score and making jokes at the winners and losers of the Pinochle game. Senior Center manager Danielle Revelle summed up the environment in one sentence. “We are an active center,” she said. “Our goal is to get people out of their homes and come and be active with us.” The July calendar of events for the non-profit is packed with every type of activity and social event imaginable, from organized game times, to bingo, to Zumba and line dancing, to donation-based lunches on weekdays. Despite the staff’s best efforts to maintain an eclectic schedule, Revelle said the center faces some major obstacles. “I can’t pay people to come out here,” she said, expressing some frustration. “I think a lot of people

PHOTOS BY EMILY BRUNETT

A woodcarving class, led by long-time carver Durwood Thrasher, top right, gathers at the Tehachapi Senior Center, 500 E. “F” St., most Tuesdays at 10 a.m. The class costs $12, which covers only the cost of tools. are under the impression that they’re not old enough. We need more people to come in and have fun with us. “We are here for you,” Revelle said, continuing. “Our building is for the community, with an emphasis on seniors.” Occasionally, Revelle will open the facility or rent it out for a small fee to local organizations, like Little League. But she was careful to emphasize the center’s primary purpose as a gath-

For more information...

Tehachapi Senior Center 500 E. “F” St. Danielle Revelle, manager 822-5412 tehachapi_sr_center@yahoo.com Dianne Koski-King, local senior nutrition program manager 822-6255

ering place for senior residents to socialize. “I think people are under the impression that these people [in the center] are feeble,” Revelle said. “That this place is full of people laying in beds, drooling on themselves. That’s not the case.” The center manager said the place may be more aptly named “Senior Activities Center,” since there are a “gaggle of activities here,” she said. Not to be overlooked is the Senior Nutrition Program, headed in Tehachapi by Dianne Koski-King. Monday through Friday, seniors — and even their families — can eat lunch at the center. Koski-King said the suggested donation per person is $2, but even those who cannot pay will be turned away. The program is funded primarily through government funding from the

county Aging and Adult Services Department. A nutritionist draws up menus each month, ensuring that each meal meets one-third of seniors’ daily nutritional value. KoskiSee CENTER/Page 8

Alan Powell, 65, diligently and patiently carves away at the wood block he is forming into a horse. Powell has participated with the Tehachapi Senior Center, 500 E. “F” St., for seven years and his wife, Lori Powell, is president of the center’s board of directors.

During their morning Club Stretch routine Tuesday, July 2, participants bounced tennis balls back and forth at Tehachapi Senior Center, 500 E. “F” St. From left, Marlene Reed, 77, Jim True, 78, Betty DeLany, 76, and Alison Waters, 17. Waters is a volunteer.

Senior Scene Wednesday, July 12, 2013

FINANCE

Reverse mortgage: three success stories illustrate options BY TAMMY ENGEL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The television ads about reverse mortgage encourage you to “take control of your retirement.” Are you wondering what that really means? Here are actual stories about three recent reverse mortgage clients, and how they chose to use reverse mortgage to feel more secure financially. Mr. and Mrs. L own a beautiful home in the Valley, and have a $2200 monthly house payment. Their reverse mortgage will pay off the existing loan, so the house payments will

stop. Mr. L is an attorney. With no more house payments to worry about, now he has the choice to aggressively continue his private practice, or take time off to travel and spend more time with his family. Mrs. J lives more modestly, in a home she has carefully maintained over

the last 15 years. Her existing mortgage is small enough that not only can we extinguish the loan to eliminate her house payment, but she’ll also have a monthly income stream from her reverse mortgage for as long as she lives in the house. She’s delighted to have some breathing room, since her social security income has been stretched to the limit. All told, she’ll be better off to the tune of around $400 per month. Mr. T is a trailblazer. He’s used reverse mortgage for refinance in the past,

How you can make early retirement a reality METRO Retirement is a goal for nearly every working adult. Long considered a time to enjoy the fruits of a life's worth of labors, retirement has become something else entirely over the last several years, when the struggling economy has convinced many aging workers that their opportunity to safely retire may never present itself. But retirement does not have to feel like a wild goose chase with the end goal nowhere in sight. In fact, many men and women who develop a plan early on can retire early, reaping the rewards of their success at an age when many people are still wondering if they can retire at all, much less retire early. • Conduct an immediate audit of your finances. The road to early retirement begins, quite frankly, very early. If your retirement goal is to retire early, conduct an audit of your financial situation as soon as possible, even if you are a relative newcomer to the professional sector. Examine all of your debts and other liabilities, as well as your income and your potential earnings. It may be difficult to forecast potential earnings, but paint a realistic forecast with regard to your earning potential, and then use that to determine your standard of living and how much money you will need to maintain that standard upon retirement. This should give you an idea of how close or how far you are from early retirement and what you need to start doing

now so early retirement can be a reality later on. • Don't sell savings short. Men and women who retire at the traditional retirement age can count on certain benefits that early retirees aren't eligible for. Senior discounts can decrease the cost of living for typical retirees, who can also access retirement accounts like a 401(k) or an IRA without paying a penalty. Younger retirees are not eligible for senior discounts, and accessing a retirement account before a certain age can result in a substantial penalty. So men and women whose goal is to retire early should not underestimate the value of a healthy savings account. Retiring early will require a more robust savings account than if you were to retire at a more typical age, so calculate how much more you will need to save in order to retire early. Once you have calculated that figure, ask yourself if it's realistic that you can save that money and what effect this increased emphasis on savings may have on your quality of life between now and the day you've targeted for early retirement? If you cannot realistically save enough money or if you have to sacrifice too much to make early retirement happen, then you might want to reconsider this goal. • Accept sacrifices. Making sacrifices with an end goal of early retirement may be easier for younger men and women who have yet to grow accustomed to a certain standard of living.

Regardless of their age, however, those who hope to retire early will need to accept that they will have to make certain sacrifices to achieve their goals. These sacrifices can be considerable, such as downgrading to a smaller home, or relatively minor, such as canceling a cable television subscription, but for the average worker they will be necessary to make early retirement happen. The earlier you can make these sacrifices the easier they will be, as it won't be as hard to sacrifice something you're not used to having. In addition, the earlier you make these sacrifices the quicker you will be on the road to early retirement. • Periodically reassess how it's going. The road to early retirement will have its peaks and valleys, so periodically reassess how your plan is going and if you need to alter the plan in any way to make early retirement a reality. This reassessment should be conducted annually, and you must be completely honest with yourself. If the plan is going off course, determine the cause and if there's anything you can do to catch up or if you need to change your targeted retirement date. Early retirement is a goal for many people. And despite the uneasiness many people feel with regard to retirement, early retirement can become a reality for diligent men and women who develop a plan and stick to that plan in the years to come.

which is the traditional use. Now we’re using reverse mortgage to buy his next home. It’s pretty neat: Instead of taking a regular loan and making payments, he’s bringing in $130,000 to buy a house worth $435,000 — and he’ll never have a house payment for as long as he lives there. His family is excited to have him move closer, and everyone is relieved that the house will “pay for itself." He can use his retirement income to have a great quality of life, instead of spending it on house payments.

What’s the catch? There isn’t one. All these clients are using the federallyinsured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage. There are no house payments because every month the loan interest gets added to the principle. These loans are specifically designed to have a growing balance, and nothing is due until you sell, move out, or die. This feature is unique to reverse mortgage, and it’s what allows you to "use your home to stay at home." As long as they maintain the home, and pay the property taxes and

homeowners insurance, everybody wins. Most folks want to talk about how reverse mortgage could work for them, long before they actually make application. If you’ve ever been curious about reverse mortgage, make an appointment now to see if it might be just what you need to live happily ever after. TAMMY ENGEL is a Tehachapibased mortgage advisor and can be reached at 822-REAL with your questions about purchase, refinance and reverse mortgage.

Don’t miss the News@Noon, published daily, Monday through Friday at TehachapiNews.com

Wednesday, July 12, 2013 — Senior Scene

HEALTH

Importance of sleep underestimated by many seniors NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH We all look forward to a good night's sleep. Sleep allows our body to rest and to restore its energy levels. Without enough restful sleep, not only can we become grumpy and irritable, but also inattentive and more prone to accidents. Like food and water, adequate sleep is essential to good health and quality of life. It’s important for seniors to understand the importance of sleep and how the body changes in this regard as it ages. There are two types of

sleep: non-rapid eye movement — or NREM sleep — and rapid eye movement — or REM sleep. NREM sleep includes four stages, ranging from light to deep sleep. Then we go into REM sleep, the most active stage of sleep when dreaming often occurs. During REM sleep, the eyes move back and forth beneath the eyelids and muscles become immobile. We cycle through the NREMREM stages of sleep approximately every 90 minutes. Sleep needs change over a person's lifetime. Chil-

dren and adolescents need more sleep than adults. Interestingly, older adults need about the same amount of sleep as younger adults — seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Unfortunately, many older adults often get less sleep than they need. One reason is that they often have more trouble falling asleep. A study of adults over 65 found that 13 percent of men and 36 percent of women take more than 30 minutes to fall asleep. Also, older people often sleep less deeply and wake

up more often throughout the night, which may be why they may nap more often during the daytime. Nighttime sleep schedules may change with age too. Many older adults tend to get sleepier earlier in the evening and awaken earlier in the morning. There are many possible explanations for these changes. Older adults may produce and secrete less melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep. They may also be more sensitive to — and may awaken because of — changes in their environment, such as

noise. Older adults may also have other medical and psychiatric problems that can affect their nighttime sleep. Researchers have noted that people without major medical or psychiatric illnesses report better sleep. Not sleeping well can lead to a number of problems. Older adults who have poor nighttime sleep are more likely to have depressed mood, attention and memory problems, excessive daytime sleepiness, more nighttime falls, and use more over-the-

counter or prescription sleep aids. Poor sleep is also associated with a poorer quality of life. Many people believe that poor sleep is a normal part of aging, but it is not. In fact, many healthy older adults report few or no sleep problems. Sleep patterns change as we age, but disturbed sleep and waking up tired every day are not part of normal aging. If you are having trouble sleeping, see your doctor or a sleep specialist. There are treatments that can help.

Understanding Medicare

Inpatient or outpatient? It makes a difference BY DAVID SAYEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

LOCATIONS

TEHACHAPI FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS

Tehachapi Mojave California City Tehachapi Hospital Tehachapi Hospital 115 West E Street Rehabilitation Center 105 West E Street 2041 Belshaw Street 9350 North Loop Blvd PO Box 1900 116 West F Street Tehachapi, CA 93561 Mojave, CA 93501 California City, CA 93505 661.823.3000 661.824.4511 760.373.1785 Tehachapi, CA 93581 Tehachapi, CA 93561 661.823.0235 - Fax 661.824.2773 - Fax 760.373.1786 - Fax 661.823.3000 661.823.3070 661.823.3079 - Fax 661.823.3090 - Fax

TEHACHAPI IMPOTENCE & INCONTINENCE CENTER Eugene C. Rajaratnam, M.D., F.A.C.S DIPLOMATE of the AMERICAN BOARD of UROLOGY Fellow of the American College of Surgeons • Founder of the Antelope Valley Impotence and Incontinence Center

IMPOTENCE - INJECTIONS, PROSTHESIS, PENILE IMPLANTS, VIAGRA INCONTINENCE TREATMENT - FEMALE “STRESS” INCONTINENCE • MALE POST-PROSTATECTOMY • COLLAGEN INJECTIONS VASECTOMY/INFERTILITY - NO SCALPEL • VASECTOMY REVERSALS CANCER DETECTION - PROSTATE, BLADDER, KIDNEY STONE TREATMENT - SHOCK WAVE LITHOTRIPSY FOR KIDNEY STONES PROSTATE - ULTRASOUND • LASER TREATMENT OF THE PROSTATE • MICROWAVE TREATMENT PRIVATE INSURANCE - MEDICARE - CHAMPUS - MOST PPOS MEDICAL FINANCING AVAILABLE LANCASTER

RIDGECREST

TEHACHAPI

44241 N. 15th Street West, #101 Lancaster, CA 93534

1535 North China Lake Boulevard Ridgecrest, CA 93555

20211 Valley, Boulevard Tehachapi, CA 93561

661-945-0601

760-446-2023

661-822-2836

When you go to a hospital, does it make any difference if you’re considered an “inpatient” or an “outpatient”? Yes, it does. Your hospital status (whether the hospital classifies you as an inpatient or outpatient) affects how much you pay for hospital services like X-rays, drugs, and lab tests. It also may affect whether Medicare will cover care you get in a skilled nursing facility. You’re an inpatient starting the day you’re formally admitted to the hospital with a doctor’s order. The day before you’re discharged is your last inpatient day. You’re an outpatient if you’re getting emergency department services, observation services, outpatient surgery, lab tests, or X-rays, and the doctor hasn’t written an order to admit you to the hospital as an inpatient. In these cases, you’re an outpatient even if you spend the night at the hospital. (Observation services are tests and other outpatient services that help the doctor decide if you need to be admitted as an inpatient or can be discharged. Observation services may be given in the emergency department or another area of the hospital.) If you’re in the hospital more than a few hours, always ask your doctor or the hospital staff if you’re an inpatient or an outpatient.

What do you pay as an inpatient? Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) covers inpatient services including semiprivate room, nursing care, drugs, and meals. Generally, you pay a one-time deductible for all hospital services for the first 60 days you’re in the hospital. The Part A deductible this year is $1,184. Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers most doctor services when you’re an inpatient. You pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for doctor services after paying the Part B deductible ($147 in 2013).

What do you pay as an outpatient? Part B also covers outpatient hospital services. Generally, this means you pay a copayment for each individual outpatient service. The amount may vary by service. The copayment for a single outpatient hospital service can’t be more than the inpatient hospital deductible. However, your total copayment for all outpatient services may be more than the inpatient hospital deductible. Part B covers most of your doctor services when you’re a hospital outpatient. You pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount after you pay the Part B deductible. Generally, the prescription and overthe-counter drugs you get in an outpatient setting (like an emergency department), sometimes called “self-administered drugs,” aren’t covered by Part B. For safety reasons, many hospitals don’t allow patients to bring drugs from home. If you have Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D), these drugs may be covered under certain circumstances. You likely will need to pay out-of-pocket for these drugs and submit a claim to your drug plan for a refund. Call your plan for more information. Also, keep in mind that Medicare will only cover care you get in a skilled nursing facility if you’ve been a hospital inpatient for at least 3 days in a row (counting the day you were admitted as an inpatient but not counting the day you were discharged). If you weren’t an inpatient for three days but you still need care after your discharge, ask if you can get home health care or if other programs like Medicaid or veterans benefits will cover skilled nursing for you. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO), costs and coverage may be different. Check with your plan. DAVID SAYEN is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Territories. You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Senior Scene Wednesday, July 12, 2013

DISCOUNTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE — PLEASE CONFIRM BEFORE ORDERING IF YOUR BUSINESS offers a senior discount and you would like to be included in the next Senior Scene discount guide, call 822-6828. The following Tehachapi businesses offer senior discounts, as follows: 58 RESTAURANT, (55 yrs. +) 15% daily, 480 E. Steuber Rd., 822-9992. ALL AMERICAN TIRE, (62yrs.+) 10% daily, 787 W. Tehachapi Blvd., 822-4950. APPLE SHED, (65 yrs. +) free non-alcoholic beverage w/ purchase of food, 333 E. Tehachapi Blvd., 823-3333. BASKIN ROBBINS, (65 yrs. +) 10% daily, 785 Tucker Rd., 822-3496. BURGER SPOT, (60 yrs. +) 10%, 208 W. Tehachapi Blvd., 822-3145. CANINE CREEK, (55 yrs. +) 50% off just bathing on Wed. only, 538 E. Tehachapi Blvd., 822-0307. CITY SLICKERS, (62 yrs. +) 10% daily, 1001 W. Tehachapi Blvd., 822-4939.

GOLDEN HILLS SALON, (60 yrs. +) 10% daily, 20021 W. Valley Blvd., 823-0880. JAVA LOOP, (55 yrs. +) 10% daily, 20001 W. Valley Blvd., 822-9987. KELCY’S CAFÉ, (60 yrs. +) 10% daily, 110 W. Tehachapi Blvd., 822-4207. KELLY’S CAFÉ, (60yrs. +) 10% daily, 20424 Brian Way, 822-1608. KING OF SIAM, (55 yrs. +) 15% daily, 760 Tucker Rd., 823-9977. LAS PALMAS, (55 yrs. +) Sr. menu, 108 S. Green St., 822-5506. LINDA’S CAKES N’ THINGS (55 yrs. +) 10% on cakes and goodies (not including wedding cakes), 822-1122.

PETRA MEDITERRANEAN DELI, (65 yrs. +) 10% daily, 200 S. Green St., 822-1900. PRIMO BURGER, (55 yrs. +) 10% daily, 118 East F St., 823-7202. QUIZNO’S, (62 yrs. +) 10% daily, 1001 W. Tehachapi Blvd., 823-9886. RAVEN’S NEST RESTAURANT, (62 yrs. +) 10% daily, 16332 Harris Rd., 822-5267. RED CARPET GROOMING, (60 yrs. +) 5% daily, 20608 South St. #C, 823-1119. RED HOUSE BBQ, (60 yrs. +) 10% daily, 426 E. Tehachapi Blvd., 822-0772. SAVE MART (55 yrs. +) 5% Wed. only, 841 Tucker Rd., 822-6849. STUDIO J ask for LINDA, (55 yrs. +) $5 off cut/style, 114 East F St., 822-3669 ext. 227.

M&M FISH AND CHIPS, (60 yrs. +) 10% on Tues., 640 W. Tehachapi Blvd., 822-3411.

THAI PALMS RESTAURANT (60 yrs. +) 10% daily, 20909 South St. #3, 822-8121.

DENNY’S, (55 yrs. +) 20% daily, $1 coffee with AARP card, senior. menu, 9000 Magellan Dr., 823-7380.

McDONALD’S, (55 yrs. +) 75 cent beverages, 2000 E. Tehachapi Blvd., 823-8300.

TEHACHAPI COLLISION CENTER, 10%, 2601 Santa Lucia, 822-5997.

DOMINGO’S, (55 yrs. +) senior menu daily, 20416 W. Valley Blvd., 822-7611.

OLD TOWNE PIZZA, (55 yrs. +) 10% daily, 20430 Brian Way, 822-3558.

TEHACHAPI FITNESS CENTER, 20936 Sage Lane, 823.8205.

THE DRESSING ROOM, (62 yrs. +) 10% Wed., 20406 Brian Way Ste 3C, 822-4924.

P-DUBS GRILLE & BAR, (55 yrs. +) 10% on Wed., 27725 Stallion Springs Dr., 823-7777.

VILLAGE GRILL, (55 yrs. +) 10% daily, 410 E. Tehachapi Blvd., 822-1128.

EXPRESSIONS, (65 yrs. +) $5 off any service any day, 20608 South St. Ste. D, 823-7007.

PACINO’S SPAGHETTI FACTORY, (62 yrs. +) 10% daily, 1100 W. Tehachapi Blvd., 8229400.

TO BE INCLUDED on this list in the next edition of Senior Scene call 822-6828.

20936 Sage Lane 823-8205

Senior Class Schedule

SENIOR FIT - a low impact class designed to improve cardiovascular fitness, strengthen heart & muscles, increase flexibility and balance. JAZZERCISE - Dance exercise! GO-minute workouts are a fusion of Dance & Muscle Toning choreographed to a Mix of today's hottest music! PILATES - Tone up that wobbly middle! Designed to strengthen your core. YOGA & ZUMBA® classes also available.

10% Discount For Mention This Ad

15% King of Siam nior Discount

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T H A I R E S TA U R A N T

823-9977 760-B Tucker Rd.

Eat in or Take-out

Open 7 days a week 11am 11am to to 9pm 9pm Sun.-Thurs. Sun.-Thurs. 11am 11am to to 10pm 10pm Fri. Fri. && Sat. Sat.

Under new Ownership and Management

Wednesday, July 12, 2013 — Senior Scene

SIERRA GASTROENTEROLOGY GROUP

Edward T. Wong M.D. FACP

Trained at UCLA and USC and Board Certified In Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology

S.E. Moorthy M.D.

Trained at Boston University and Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology

We Treat All Gastrointestinal Diseases Involving: Esophagus, Stomach, Colon, Pancreas, Liver, Gall Bladder

We Perform Diagnostic and Therapeutic Endoscopy, Colonscopy, Polypectomy ERCP, Liver Biopsy, Laser Surgery We Accept All Major Medical Insurances.

20960 Sage Lane Suite #B, Tehachapi, CA 93561 (Tehachapi Surgery Center)

Tel (661) 945-1874 • Fax (661) 945-2584

Tri-Tip dinner at Senior Center on July 12 Enjoy a Tri-Tip dinner and help raise funds for the Tehachapi Senior Center on Friday, July 12. The 3rd Annual Senior Center Tri-Tip barbecue dinner begins at 5 p.m. (doors open at 4 p.m. but reservations are suggested or you might get turned away). There'll be live music, a 50/50 with prizes and plenty of fun. The cost is $10 per person. The center is located one block off Tehachapi Boulevard at the corner of South Hayes and East "F" Street. To make reservations call 822-5412.

Center: Helps to keep seniors active Continued from page 4 King said attendees must RSVP by noon the previous day to ensure a ready plate. With the help of volunteers — primarily churches in the Tehachapi area — the center is able to provide meal deliveries to shut-ins, according to Senior Nutritional Coordinator Luanne Jones. Jones does not work in Tehachapi, but oversees the program throughout portions of Kern County. “We want to make sure people get fed,” Revelle said.

To keep costs down but activities up, Revelle said the center relies heavily upon volunteers. While some come for one day and others come on a regular basis, Revelle said all the help is appreciated. Mountain Pathways, an adult day care at 311 W. “F” St., Tehachapi, partners with the Senior Center to provide volunteers. Most recently, 24-year-old James Mackie has been a regular with his job coach, Jennifer Atkinson.

“He has this way of folding plastic bags into triangles,” Atkinson said. “It’s great.” Revelle said she can’t emphasize enough her desire to have more seniors and other community members join in the activities. “If you need a good conversation and a good time, come in,” Revelle said. “There’s no age limit, just no little kids... Our main goal when seniors come in is that they will feel welcome, loved and accepted.”

HIGH DESERT GASTROENTEROLOGY, INC

For matters of the gut! What Does Your Gut Tell You? Stomach pain, Heartburn, Swallowing troubles, Bleeding, Constipation, Diarrhea, Gallstones Pancreatic problems & Management of Gastrointestinal Tumors.

“Depend on the Stomach Specialist”

Acid Reflux & Colon Cancer Screening Cutting edge diagnostic & therapeutic evaluations, including upper Endoscopy, Colonoscopy, EUS and ERCP

VIVAIK TYAGI, MD Board Certified in Gastroenterology & Internal Medicine

661-823-8350 • 20211 Valley Blvd., Tehachapi Offices also in Lancaster & Ridgecrest • All major insurance accepted including Tricare.