AARP PRESIDENT UPDATES SENIORS ON TAX OPTIONS.

Byline: BETTIE RENCORET

PALMDALE - Palmdale Chapter 2195 of the American Association of Retired Persons is being kept aware of options being proposed as alternatives to the current federal tax system, according to President Al Doll.

``One of the goals of the AARP,'' he said, ``is to make sure that its senior citizen members remain among the most politically informed groups in the nation. In order to do that we have to discuss these and other issues in a public forum such as we did at our last meeting.''

Doll spoke at the chapter's meeting at the Palmdale Senior Center, addressing the flat tax on income as opposed to the present graduated rate.

He noted that the AARP legislative committee has not taken a stand on it, but that does not mean they oppose it.

``They merely feel it would not help seniors in any particular way.''

Doll does not especially agree with that and thinks seniors should give it consideration after being given all the available information on it.

``It has been a dead issue in the Legislature since Republican candidates Steve Forbes and Jack Kemp called attention to its possible benefits,'' he said.

He said the theory of the flat tax has nothing to do with how much money would be raised, but deals only with how one's income is assessed.

``Almost no one is opposed to a simpler income tax system,'' Doll said. ``The problem is, no one seems to favor it, either. There is very little support for it.''

He has made it his objective to help people understand it.

``It wouldn't favor any one segment of society over another and there would be no deductions,'' he continued. ``That's what frightens a lot of people. They don't want to give up that homeowner's mortgage interest deduction. I think that's what Congress is afraid of, too.''

The subject is timely now, he said, with the deadline for income tax filing just around the corner and those who are not eligible for refunds having ``to come up with a payment for the IRS.''

Guest speaker at the meeting was Barbara Linde of Mind Media Institute, located at 3166 E. Palmdale Blvd., whose topic was ``Alternatives to Medication.''

Linde, whose doctorate is in neuro-feedback, said she studies the brain waves of her patients using sensors in designated areas much on the order of obtaining an electro-encephalogram.

She challenged seniors and all other age groups to take responsibility for their own health and to consider other than chemical help in the treatment of ailments.

``All medicines have side effects,'' she said, ``and most doctors don't spend enough time explaining those side effects to their patients.''

Some of the alternatives she enumerated included good nutrition, counseling and chiropractic services.

The next Chapter 2195 meeting will be held at 1 p.m. April 18 at the senior center, 1002 E. Ave. Q-12.

LANCASTER - Seniors interested in radio-controlled model airplanes are invited to attend the next meeting of A.V. Tailwinds on Thursday in the Park View School cafeteria, 808 W. Ave. J.

The group, which meets at 7:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month, owns and operates its own flying site in Lancaster, where some members can be found on any day of the week.

LANCASTER - Chapter 549 of AARP will hold its general membership meeting April 8 at 1 p.m. in the multipurpose room of the Antelope Valley Senior Center, 777 W. Jackman St.

On April 15 at 1 p.m. at the center, the local chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees will meet.

On April 11 at 9 a.m., the Silver Lining Express (seniors helping seniors) will meet in Room 101 at the center. This group meets every second Friday.

LANCASTER - Menus for the week at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster, Palmdale and Pearblossom, have been announced. All meals include bread, margarine and coffee, tea or milk.

Monday: Juice, chili egg puff, chili beans, green beans, carrot/pineapple salad and peaches.

Tuesday: Lemon herbed fish, rice pilaf, mixed vegetables, marinated beets and orange.

Wednesday: Barbecued chicken, macaroni salad, cabbage, tossed salad and apple crisp.

Thursday: Hamburger on a bun, all the fixings, corn, cauliflower and cheesecake.

Friday: Pinto beans and ham, carrots, fiesta coleslaw, cornbread and pudding.