January 2017 | DC Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

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VOL.29, NO.1

Still smokin’ after all these years

Early life and career Robinson had humble beginnings. He was born and grew up in a poor neighborhood in Detroit, Mich. At age 10, his mother

JANUARY 2017

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PHOTO BY SHAWN MILLER (LIBRARY OF CONGRESS)

By Rebekah Alcalde When William “Smokey” Robinson, Jr. was a young boy, his godfather Claude nicknamed him “Smokey Joe” since they both loved cowboy films. In his early teens, he shortened it to “Smokey.” Though his dreams of the Wild West had faded, he still loved the nickname. Now 76, the singer, songwriter and producer was recently in Washington, D.C. to receive the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Music. According to the Library of Congress, the prize “celebrates the work of an artist whose career reflects lifetime achievement in promoting song as a vehicle of musical expression and cultural understanding.” Getting this award is “one of the proudest achievements of my life,” he told the Beacon. “I grew up in a very musical home where the Gershwins’ music was played all the time. To think that, as a songwriter, I could be mentioned in the same breath as them is an amazing honor for me.” Over the years, Robinson has enjoyed an extensive and varied career in music and management. The public still remembers him for his contributions to Motown, his time as front man for the rhythm-andblues group the Miracles, his subsequent solo career, and his prolific songwriting. In fact, many consider him to be one of the greatest songwriters of our time. Writing songs is so personal for the artist that he often has a hard time picking a favorite. “Selecting a favorite song is like asking me to choose one of my kids as a favorite. I love all of them equally,” he joked. In 1987, Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his impact on music, and since then has been given many other accolades — ranging from placement in the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, to numerous nominations and Grammys wins, to honorary doctorates in music from both Howard University and Berklee College of Music. “I live a richly rewarded life,” he said. “A life I could have never imagined as a child.”

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L E I S U R E & T R AV E L

Smokey Robinson performs at DAR Constitution Hall during the ceremony where he was awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in November. Robinson was celebrated for over 50 years of writing, singing and producing music, from his early work with the Miracles to his numerous solo albums.

passed away, so his sister Geraldine looked after him and raised him alongside her 10 children. Their family was very close. Even as a child, he always had a love for music, listening to Nolan Strong & the Diablos and Billy Ward and his Dominos. Their dynamic inspired him to form a doowop group with his friends Ronald White and Pete Moore called the Five Chimes. Two years later, Bobby Rogers joined the Five Chimes, and they began experimenting with rhythm and blues as their musical focus. They also changed their name to the Matadors. Another group member, Emerson “Sonny” Rogers, joined the army, and his sister Geraldine became his replacement. In 1957, the Miracles met songwriter and budding impresario Berry Gordy. Robinson presented him with a notebook

filled with some songs he wrote in high school. Impressed with the group’s talent and Robinson’s songwriting ambition, Gordy agreed to help them. It was the beginning of a successful collaboration. It’s only fitting that the first single the Miracles released was called “Got a Job” — a musical response to the Silhouettes’ hit single “Get a Job.” Robinson dropped out of school when the group released its first record. He also fell in love with and married Claudette Rogers (Bobby’s cousin) in 1959. The Miracles did not achieve instant stardom. “Got a Job” came in at 93 on the Billboard Top 100 — enough to make a debut, but not enough to break through onto the music scene. See SMOKEY ROBINSON, page 36

Good times in Louisiana’s Cajun country; plus, a bucket list trip to exotic Bora Bora, and vacation bliss in the colorpage 28 ful Cook Islands TECHNOLOGY k Tech gadgets for pets

FITNESS & HEALTH 10 k Lower cholesterol without drugs SPOTLIGHT ON AGING k Newsletter for D.C. seniors

LAW & MONEY kSecurities fraud hotline

ARTS & STYLE 33 k A titanic triumph at Signature ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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Listen up, Washington As a new administration prepares to take insurance, program. power in Washington, I want to revisit a After paying into Social Security all our topic that long-time readers working lives, we might well know I like to address every think of those monthly retirefew years: Social Security. It’s ment or disability checks as an evergreen topic for me, benefits we have earned, persince I can count on Congress haps increased by interest and the White House continuover time. ing to refuse taking any steps Social Security could have to obviate the problems that been set as such a program, are growing worse by the day. with each worker’s payments And judging from the camearmarked for later disbursepaign rhetoric of both Presiment. dent-Elect Trump and Hillary But for very practical reaFROM THE Clinton, the incoming White sons, that’s not how the system PUBLISHER House would not have been works. Since benefits were By Stuart P. Rosenthal likely to take a different tack, paid out in the early years of no matter who won the electhe program to beneficiaries tion. who had paid hardly any payroll taxes prior Let me start by saying that I am a big fan to retiring, it was the taxes paid by those still of Social Security. I have no interest in working that paid for their benefits. “killing” it. Since it began in 1935, Social And that’s the way the system has conSecurity has been a tremendously valuable tinued to operate ever since. This works as program, greatly reducing poverty rates long as current workers are paying in sufamong retirees, those with disabilities, and ficient taxes to cover the benefits paid out their dependents. Today, more than 60 mil- to current retirees. But demographics are lion Americans (almost 1 in 5) receive ben- working against us. efits from Social Security’s programs. In 1940, there were 159 workers paying It’s a program that truly affects us all. taxes towards the cost of each beneficiary. Every worker (and employer) in the Unit- In 1960, there were 4.9 workers for every ed States contributes to the program recipient. Today, there are about 2.8 workthrough payroll taxes. This well-known ers per recipient. fact leads most of us to think of Social SeAnd by the time all the Baby Boomers curity as a kind of investment, or possibly have retired (and an estimated 91 million

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The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Washington DC area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Greater Baltimore, Howard County, Md. and Greater Palm Springs, Calif. Readership exceeds 400,000. Subscriptions are available via first-class mail ($36) or third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. D.C. and Maryland residents: add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below. Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. • Publisher/Editor ....................Stuart P. Rosenthal • Associate Publisher ..............Judith K. Rosenthal • Vice President of Operations ....Gordon Hasenei • Director of Sales ................................Alan Spiegel • Managing Editor............................Barbara Ruben • Art Director ........................................Kyle Gregory • Assistant Operations Manager ..........Roger King • Advertising Representatives ........Doug Hallock, ................................Dan Kelly, Rena Pensky, Chip Py • Editorial Assistant ......................Rebekah Alcalde

The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (301) 949-9766 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com Website: www.theBeaconNewspapers.com Submissions: The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 10th of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 15th of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 43 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions. © Copyright 2017 The Beacon Newspapers, Inc.

Americans will be collecting Social Security), there will be only about 1.9 workers per recipient. That’s clearly going to present a problem. Well, what about that Trust Fund we hear so much about whenever this topic comes up? Aren’t there trillions of dollars owed to Social Security that will cover any arrears? Unfortunately, no. First of all, the Trust Fund isn’t what you and I mean by “trust fund.” The trust fund represents the total of excess payroll taxes collected over disbursements. At present, they amount to about $2.5 trillion. But that excess money wasn’t put in a bank, or invested in stocks. It was borrowed by Congress and spent on the rest of the government’s bills (thus reducing the annual deficit in those years). In return, Social Security was given special interest-bearing Treasury Notes payable by the U.S. at a future date. I’m not suggesting T-bills are insecure investments, and surely this money will indeed be made available to Social Security when needed. But those notes (and the hundreds of millions in interest they have earned over time) will be paid off with money acquired in the same way the government acquires all its money: through higher taxes or further borrowing from domestic and foreign sources. In other words, each year the trust fund is tapped, the federal deficit (which I trust we will still be running) will be enlarged by that amount. Effectively, we have traded lower deficits in earlier years for higher deficits in future years. Whatever you think of that as an “investment,” it’s clear that the trust funds won’t make paying future Social Security beneficiaries any easier than it would have been without them. And it doesn’t address our problem in years to come of needing to pay out billions more than we take in.

Did I say billions? Oh, silly me. I meant trillions. The projected shortfall, assuming no changes are made to the program between now and then, will reach $1 trillion in 2045 alone, and nearly $7 trillion in the year 2086. Over the next 75 years (the period the Social Security Trustees are charged with securing the program’s liquidity), it’s estimated that the shortfall will total a staggering $134 trillion. A problem indeed. Now, is this a problem that is difficult to solve? No, not really. Economists and politicians have proposed a number of quite practical steps that could, individually or together, address the shortfall and turn the system back into a pay-as-you-go one without deficits. Here are just a few: How about increasing the payroll tax rate, gradually, by a percent or two? What about raising the cap on salaries subject to Social Security withholding? That was an idea Hillary Clinton championed. What about slowly raising the retirement age? Wait: aren’t we doing that now? Yes, but that will stop when the retirement age hits 67 (something that was decided back in 1983). We could continue that gradual rise to reflect our rapidly expanding longevity and increasingly healthy lifestyles — something not anticipated to this degree back in 1983, but clearly evident now. We could also impose a “means test” for recipients (that is, reduce benefits paid to wealthier retirees), or change the formula for the annual cost of living increases, or impose an across-the-board decrease in benefits, or... How much good would each of these potential steps do? Glad you asked. Last June, the Penn Wharton Public Policy Initiative, a nonpartisan research group, unveiled an online program that allows users to apply the six types of changes mentioned above, in any of 4,000+ combinations, See FROM THE PUBLISHER, page 41

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or e-mail to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Dear Editor: I commend Stuart Rosenthal on his common sense, on-the-mark article, “Being heard” (From the Publisher, Jan. 2016). He points out “how nearly half of all Americans must have felt when President Obama won reelection in 2012 with 51 percent of the vote.” Mr. Rosenthal further points out that “our system is not a pure democracy. It incorporates elements purposefully crafted by our founding fathers to elevate the influence of states and dilute the voting power of individuals.” I realize our condo community is an example of this democratic and republic dif-

ference. We may have different opinions — but we are subject to decisions made by board members we elected to represent us. Earlier this year, our residents received a letter stating we cannot have a table by our door due to fire regulations. At a recent meeting, we were also told we cannot have any Christmas decorations on our decks. I was told by our on-site management office that other condos in this community are allowed to have decorations this time of year. Perhaps if everyone in our building signed a petition asking for permission to See LETTERS TO EDITOR, page 41

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Say you saw it in the Beacon

The most meaningful words to describe Holy Cross Germantown Hospital are:

Your Very Own.

Robotic Chest Surgery Relieves Emily’s Severe Pain Emily Himelfarb was in misery. Acute pain prevented the 57-year-old from raising her arms to shoulder level; both hands were too weak to hold anything for long before dropping it. Worse, no doctor seemed willing, or able, to help her.

by the results, she had her other shoulder fixed six months later. “I admit I was scared at first,” she says today. “But the robotic surgeries really did help. I’m so thankful I found Dr. Steinberg and that I could have such a sophisticated procedure performed so close to my home.”

“My physician knew I needed to see a specialist and referred me to several big name hospitals,” Emily says. “But they wouldn’t touch me.”

As Emily discovered, Holy Cross Health’s lung care services provide expert care for a range of complex conditions.

Their reluctance was due to the suspected cause of her problem: thoracic outlet syndrome. Difficult to diagnose and tough to treat, thoracic outlet syndrome results when the bundle of nerves and blood vessels running from the neck through the armpit becomes compressed or entrapped in the space between the collar bone and first rib. Traditional surgery to remove the rib involves a long and tricky approach through the armpit, made more complex by the many critical and delicate structures that must be avoided along the way. “We visited many doctors looking for pain relief for Emily,” explains her husband Andrew. Fortunately, they found Bryan Steinberg, MD, a thoracic (chest) surgeon and a member of Holy Cross Health’s comprehensive lung care services. And for the first time in nearly a year, Emily had a glimmer of hope. “When I met Emily, she was in constant pain and desperate for some relief,” recalls Dr. Steinberg.

After surgery at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital for thoracic outlet syndrome, Emily Himelfarb now has full use of both of her arms and hands.

“I really wanted to help her and was even considering traditional, open surgery, despite its pitfalls and drawbacks.” Then he attended a symposium on robotic surgery. “I had a real ‘Aha!’ moment,” he says. “All of a sudden, here was a less invasive, more direct and more precise route to solve Emily’s problem.” So in February 2016, Emily became the first patient at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital to undergo minimally invasive robotic surgery to her shoulder for thoracic outlet syndrome. Thrilled

“Holy Cross Health combines leading physician expertise with a multidisciplinary approach and advanced technology to offer high-quality, comprehensive care that is tailored to each patient at risk of developing lung cancer or who has been diagnosed with other chest conditions,” says Joseph Ball, MD, Pulmonary, Holy Cross Health. “Holy Cross Health has done an amazing job at making sure our lung care services have the tools and support needed for top-quality care,” Dr. Steinberg says. “We can now offer options and hope to patients who thought they had neither.”

To find a physician or surgeon at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, visit HolyCrossHealth.org or call 301-754-8800.

‘ A S K T H E D O C T O R S ’ E V E N T S AT H O LY C R O S S G E R M A N T O W N H O S P I TA L All sessions listed are held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 19801 Observation Dr., Germantown, MD 20876. Light refreshments will be served. To register, visit HolyCrossHealth.org/AskTheDoctors or call 301-754-8800.

January 24 or March 21

February 9

February 21

April 25

NAVIGATING UROLOGIC AND GYNECOLOGIC HEALTH ISSUES

JOINTS: REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS

OVERCOMING BACK PAIN

IMPROVING LUNG AND PULMONARY HEALTH

Women’s health experts discuss issues that may be impacting your quality of life, such as incontinence, prolapse, abnormal bleeding, fibroids and other gynecologic or pelvic health concerns. Panelists include: • Shobha Sikka, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology (1/24 and 3/21 sessions) • James Barter, MD, Gynecologic Oncology (3/21 session only) • Kathleen Sterling, MD, Urology (3/21 session only)

Return to a full and active life by learning more about the risks and benefits of various treatment options for joint pain, including joint replacement. Panelists include: • Matthew Levine, MD, Orthopedics • Alan Nagel, MD, Orthopedics

Engage with a spine surgery expert for an overview of strategies for managing and treating back pain, including temporary relief, or surgery as a long-term solution. Panelists include: • Sanjog Mathur, MD, Orthopedics

Our experts discuss the latest advances in diagnosis and treatment of lung conditions. Panelists include: • Joseph Ball, MD, Pulmonary • Kunda Biswas, MD, Thoracic Surgery • Bryan Steinberg, MD, Thoracic Surgery

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Technology &

Innovations Tech lets you play with your pet from afar

Monitoring from afar The Petzi Treatcam lets Anne Ryan check on her dogs Oscar and Reggie at her Berkeley home when she’s working in San Francisco or traveling out of state. The Internet-connected device lets her see her dogs, talk to them, take photos, and even dispense treats — all by using an app on her phone. “I turn it on, get to see them, get to talk to

them, and it changes my mood and puts me back in a positive frame,” said Ryan said. “I didn’t know that I needed it. But now I don’t think that I could live without it.” The TreatCam was created by San Josebased Petzila, which was founded by two veteran technology executives who wanted to get their pets online. The startup also created a social media app that lets owners share pet photos. “All of the most current crazes and fads in technology were touching everything but the pet,” said CEO David Clark. Whistle, a San Francisco startup, sells a GPS-enabled Pet Tracker, which alerts owners when their pets have left their “safe zone,” and helps find them if they get lost. The device also lets owners track how much exercise and sleep their animals are getting. Ben Jacobs, Whistle’s CEO and cofounder, said the pet-tech market is expanding fast as pets move up the household hierarchy. “From the yard to the home to the bed — the dog is no longer out as part of the farm. They’re actually sleeping in bed with you as part of the family,” Jacobs said.

Virtual game of fetch For owners who want their dogs and cats to be more active during the day, the Petcube Camera lets them see and speak to their pets, and play with them with a laser pointer. Petcube’s Ukrainian founders started the company in Kiev, but moved its head-

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By Terence Chea Technology isn’t just for humans anymore. It’s also for their furry friends. In Silicon Valley and beyond, a growing number of startups are selling devices to keep pets safe, healthy, entertained and connected when their owners are away. “Pet tech” entrepreneurs and investors see a big opportunity as pet ownership grows and owners show a willingness to spend serious money on their four-legged companions. Already, there are devices that let your pets call you (PetChatz), play games and win treats when they’re home alone (CleverPet), and even speak with a human voice (Petspeak). But as more pet-tech gadgets come to market, experts caution owners against relying on them too much. “The technology can be useful as an adjunct, a way of enriching your relationship with your pet. But it’s certainly not a substitute for time spent with your dog,” said Pamela Wyman, who runs the DogEvolve training school in Oakland.

The Petcube camera (and speaker) allows pet owners to see and speak to their pets when they’re away from home. The camera’s laser pointer can also be manipulated to engage pets in a quick game of chasing the light.

quarters to San Francisco to reach a global market. “If we can connect all the pets to the Internet and basically digitize this space, it will be nothing short of disruption,” said Yaroslav Azhnyuk, Petcube CEO and cofounder. “It will be very big.” Nearly two-thirds of U.S. households, or 80 million homes, have pets, and Americans spent more than $60 billion on them

last year, according to the American Pet Products Association. “The number of pets in the world is growing extremely fast and that opens up the market,” said Peter Harrop, chairman of IDTechEx, a technology market research firm. “I’m sure five years from now there will be all sorts of things we can’t imagine.” — AP

Virginia ❏ Almost Home Senior Living (See ad on page B2) ❏ Ashby Ponds (See ads on pages B6, B12 & 40) ❏ Birmingham Green (See ad on page 11) ❏ Chesterbrook Residences (See ads on pages B6 & B12) ❏ Culpepper Gardens (See ad on page 4) ❏ Greenspring (See ads on pages B12, B16 & 40) ❏ Gum Springs Glen (See ad on page B4) ❏ Herndon Harbor House (See ad on page B4) ❏ Lockwood House (See ad on page B4) ❏ Morris Glen (See ad on page B4) ❏ Potomac Place (See ad on page 25) ❏ Tall Oaks Assisted Living (See ads on pages B9 & B20) ❏ Tribute at the Glen (See ads on pages B16 & B18) ❏ Tribute at One Loudoun (See ads on pages B2 & B8) ❏ Vinson Hall (See ads on pages B8 & B19) ❏ Waltonwood (See ad on page 12) ❏ Wingler House (See ad on page B4)

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Feel free to mail this together with the theatre ticket drawing form on p. B-5

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❏ Caregiver Survey (See ad on page 19) ❏ Gestalt Healthy Volunteers (See article and ad on page 18) ❏ MS, NOH and Dementia Studies (See ad on page 19)

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Health Studies

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❏ Aspenwood Senior Living (See ad on page 19) ❏ Bayleigh Chase (See ad on page 25) ❏ Brooke Grove (See ads on pages B6, B9, B10, B11 & 44) ❏ Buckingham’s Choice (See ad on page 25) ❏ Churchill Senior Living (See ad on page 20) ❏ Covenant Village (See ads on pages B4 & B15) ❏ Emerson House (See ads on pages B4 & B15) ❏ Fairhaven (See ad on page 25) ❏ Gardens of Traville (See ad on page 15) ❏ Homecrest House (See ads on pages B2 & B6) ❏ Kensington Park (See ads on pages B3 & B15) ❏ Olney Assisted Living (See ads on pages B8 & B14) ❏ Park View Bladensburg (See ad on page 32) ❏ Park View Columbia (See ad on page 32) ❏ Park View Emerson (See ad on page 32) ❏ Park View Laurel (See ad on page 32) ❏ Riderwood (See ads on pages B6, B12 & 40) ❏ Ring House (See ad on page 36) ❏ Springvale Terrace (See ads on pages B9 & B13) ❏ Victory Terrace (See ads on pages B16 & B19) ❏ Village at Rockville (See ad on page B-15)

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Maryland

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❏ Friendship Terrace (see ads on pages B6 & B13) ❏ Residences at Thomas Circle (See ad on page 14)

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See LINKS & APPS, page 6

F R E E

Jessica was an avid knitter and blogger when she created Ravelry, an online hub for knitters, crocheters, designers, spinners, weavers and dyers. She had been frustrated with other online knitting sites, so she teamed up with a friend to create a site that would be free, organized and user-friendly. All the content of the site is user-driven. Need inspiration for a project? Members can create a free log-in, then can see what other people are working on to get ideas. The site can even help you find the perfect pattern or material you’ve been looking for — with the added benefit of connecting to new friends all over the world. www.ravelry.com/account/login

District of Columbia

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Susan Stava and Jody Atkinson met when their youngest children were in nursery school. Over the years, they’ve had many adventures together that left them crying in laughter. For years, they’ve talked about writing it all down and making it into a show. They finally took a scene study (acting) class together and brought some original scenes in to get feedback from the other students. To their amazement, their classmates actually laughed, and said their scenes were like a web series. Stava and Atkinson looked at each other and said, “What’s that?” After researching web series, they discovered that the overwhelming majority of them were not very funny and were mostly about 20-somethings tr ying to

Housing Communities

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An online knitting club

For free materials on housing communities and health studies, just complete and clip this coupon and mail or fax it to the Beacon.

★

New midlife web series

MAIL OR FAX FOR FREE INFORMATION

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FREE INFORMATION ★ FREE INFORMATION ★ FREE INFORMATION ★

Links

★ FREE INFORMATION ★ FREE INFORMATION ★ FREE INFORMATION ★

I N F O R M A T I O N

By Barbara Ruben & Rehekah Sewell

make it in the big city. So they decided to turn their work into a show called “The Third Act” — a show about two friends in their 50s dealing with the absurdities of suburbia while redefining the midlife years. The six-episode series premiered in December, and new episodes are being added weekly through January. www.youtube.com/thethirdactseries

F R E E

Beacon Links & Apps

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

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Share your opinion. Send a letter to the editor.

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Links & Apps From page 5

Apps Old photos in the digital age Google wants to make digitizing your many boxes of old photos as easy as opening an app. The PhotoScan app for iPhones and Android phones uses the phone’s camera to capture an old photo in four sections and stitch them together, much like a panorama shot. Google says this approach helps eliminate glare that can mar attempts to digitize a print by simply photographing the whole photo. The app makes minor adjustments to restore color in faded photos and to aligned corners when the photo print is bent. The free app works with photos on a table, in a picture frame or in an album. It will also digitize slides when they are projected on a wall. The resolution of the digitized photo is comparable to that from a flatbed scanner. You can store digitized versions on your phone or through the online Google Photos service, which has unlimited storage for photos of up to 16 megapixels. PhotoScan, free for Android

No hassle rebates While many of the big online retailers offer a price guarantee, getting a refund can be a painful process. Retailers’ policies are often confusing, and you have to do a lot of leg work to track prices, figure out whether you qualify for a price adjustment, and then file claims one-by-one.

But the app Paribus gets you money when prices drop, practically effortlessly. If you buy something online from one of the dozens of retailers the app monitors and it goes on sale later, Paribus automatically works to get you the price adjustment. Link your mailbox, send your receipts there, and Paribus will track the prices of what you bought, detect coupons and price-match opportunities, and actually get you the cash you’re owed from the retailers directly. Sound too good to be true? Well, while the app itself is free, Paribus takes a 25 percent cut of all the refund money it collects for you. Paribus, free for iPhone and Android

A life goals checklist If you’ve ever had goals that fall by the wayside, you’re not alone. Keeping track of your life plan can be challenging, especially when your life constantly changes. The app iWish was created to help you figure out your life goals, and keep you on track for fulfilling them. Users can set goals on the app related to health and wellness, relationships, travel, as well as athletic and career goals. Goals can be labeled short- or long-term to help you prioritize, and you can also create a wishlist or bucket list of things to do. For visual representation, users can create collages and slideshows of goals. You can also share your dreams and successes with friends. For those struggling to stay on track, the app offers motivational advice from famous authors and speakers. You can even wake up to a motivational message every day. Free for iPhone and Android AP contributed to this column.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

FREE COMPUTER AND IT TRAINING

Byte Back is a nonprofit that provides free computer training and career preparation to underserved Washington, D.C. metro area residents. The program offers classes at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Beginners can take a six-week course that teaches about computers, typing, Internet, email and more. Classes are free for residents with qualifying income. For more information and a complete list of classes, visit https://byteback.org/students/classes or call (202) 529-3395.

Jan. 14

INTRO TO WORD

Rockville Memorial Library presents a free computer class focusing on the Microsoft Word word-processing software, on Saturday, Jan. 14 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. At the end of class, there will be time for questions on other technology-related topics. Rockville Library is located at 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md. For more information or to register, visit http://bit.ly/MicrosoftWordSeminar or call (240) 777-0140.

Ongoing

JOB SEEKER LABS

Arlington County Public Libraries offer weekly Job Seeker labs. Participants have access to uninterrupted computer reservations, free job-related printing, and assigned staff volunteers ready to help with resources and online job applications. Registration is required. The lab is offered at the Central library, located at 1015 N Quincy St., on Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and the Columbia Pike Branch library, located at 816 S Walter Reed Dr., on Sundays from 6 to 8:30 p.m. For more information and a complete list of classes and resources for job seekers, visit library.arlingtonva.us/explore/for-job-seekers.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | TTechnology & Innovations

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

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MASTER THE MICROSOFT EDGE® BROWSER

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Microsoft Edge is the web browser provided with Windows 10. It contains a number of useful features that make your browsing easier and more secure. This course shows you how to take advantage of the new features and how to setup the browser to best meet your online needs.

HOW CORTANA® CAN ASSIST YOU

Prerequisite: Computer experience & Windows 10 PC 1 session Limit: 10 # 626 Fri Jan 13 9:30am-11:30am # 627 Tue Feb 14 9:30am-11:30am

Cortana is the digital personal assistant integrated into Windows 10. Learn how to setup Cortana and see how you can use Cortana to find information, answer questions, and complete tasks, and find/search for things on your computer.

CUSTOMIZE & CONTROL WINDOWS® 10

Prerequisite: Computer experience & Windows 10 PC 2 sessions Limit: 10 # 628 Mon Jan 23 – Jan 30 9:30am-11:30am

ATTENTION:

Instruction, course materials and all computer language settings are in

English.

Unless otherwise noted, courses are taught with Windows computers.

This course shows you how to use the Settings app to customize your Windows environment to better suit the way you use your computer and to control many features of Windows. The options you have are easy to use once you understand what they can do for you.

ONEDRIVE® & THE CLOUD

Prerequisite: Computer experience & Windows 10 PC 1 session Limit: 10 # 629 Tue Jan 31 9:30am-11:30am # 630 Tue Apr 4 9:30am-11:30am

The Cloud is a new place to store files and do computing. Windows 10 provides you with free storage space on the OneDrive service. This course shows you what you can do with OneDrive and how you can use the Cloud to do computing.

MASTER THE WINDOWS® 10 START MENU

Prerequisite: Computer experience & Windows 10 PC 1 session Limit: 10 # 631 Fri Feb 3 9:30am-11:30am

The Windows 10 Start menu is a useful tool once you understand how to use it. The Start menu provides access to things that have been a part of Windows for a while. Additionally, it provides easy access to the Uniform Windows Platform apps that are new to Windows 10. This course shows you how to customize and manage the menu to best suit your needs.

WINDOWS® 10 & YOUR SMARTPHONE

Prerequisite: Computer experience & Windows 10 PC 1 sessions Limit: 10 # 632 Mon Feb 13 9:30am-11:30am

You have a Windows 10 PC and a smartphone using the google Android of apple iOS operating system. Would you like to see your Windows 10 email, calendar and contacts on your smartphone? This class shows you how using the Phone Companion Universal app that comes with your Windows 10. Please bring a fully charged smartphone to class.

EXPLORE WINDOWS® 10 APPS

Prerequisites: Computer experience & Windows 10 PC 1 sessions Limit: 10 # 633 Fri Feb 17 9:30am-11:30am

Windows 10 comes with a number of Universal apps that provide useful features. This course explores several of the apps and shows you how to use the Windows Store to obtain additional apps. You will also learn how to manage apps on the Start menu.

WINDOWS® 10 ESSENTIALS

Prerequisite: Computer experience & Windows 10 PC 6 sessions Limit: 10 # 634 Fri Mar 10 – Apr 14 9:30am-11:30am

This course teaches you the essentials you need to know to be able to use your Windows 10 computer effectively. You cover the Start menu, the Desktop and taskbar, using File Explorer to manage your files, highlights of the Universal Windows Platform apps, and how to use the Settings app to customize and control Windows 10.

ORGANIZE YOUR FILES WITH WINDOWS® 10

Prerequisite: Computer experience & Windows 10 PC 3 sessions Limit: 10 # 635 Mon Mar 13 – Mar 27 9:30am-11:30am

Do you need to bring a little organization to your computer-based life? This course shows you the features of the new Windows 10 File Explorer application and how to use them to bring organization to your collection of documents and photos. File Explorer has a new “look” plus serval built-in features to assist you in crating and viewing folders, as well as moving, copying and renaming files.

ASSISTED PRACTICE

FREE sessions: an integral part of your learning. You must be registered for at least one class to participate. No Fee Wed Jan 11 – Feb 15 9:30am-1:30pm Wed Mar 15 – Apr 19 9:30am-1:30pm

JCA Bronfman Center 12320 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 240-395-0916

EXCEL: THE BASICS

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent 2 sessions Limit: 12 # 636 Mon Jan 23 – Jan 30 10:00am-12:00pm # 637 Mon Mar 27 – Apr 3 10:00am-12:00pm Develop and learn how to create a basic spreadsheet and enter data, edit the cells, adjust columns and rows, “crossfooting” spreadsheets, using formulas in spreadsheets

continued next page

Technology & Innovations

GOOGLE APPS AND EXTENSION

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent 2 sessions Limit: 12 # 638 Tue Jan 17 – Jan 24 10:00am-12:00pm Ever wonder about those nine little boxes forming a square in the upper right corner of any google page? Well, those boxes are a portal into a whole new Google world that includes calendars, maps, photos, and anything else you can think of to make your time online more productive, useful and fun.

MOVING UP TO WINDOWS 10

Prerequisite: Have prior Windows 7 or 8/8.1 experience 7 sessions Limit: 12 # 639 Wed Feb 15 – Mar 29 10:00am-12:00pm

This course is for students who want to move up to Windows 10 and have computer skills using Windows 7 or 8/8.1. It covers hardware, mouse use, keyboard commands, the start menu, the taskbar, File Manager, the internet, and some of the built-in applications and utilities. Being familiar with PC’s keyboard layout, (including cursor control keys and function keys) will be helpful. This course is not for students who’ve never used a computer.

MICROSOFT WORD AND BEYOND

2016: FROM THE BEGINNING

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent/ Knowledge of the keyboard 3 sessions Limit: 12 # 640 Tue Mar 7 – Mar 21 10:00am-12:00pm

Learn word-processing skills for using Microsoft Word (versions 2010, 2013 and 2016). Learn to create documents of varying levels of complexity. Simple skills include document layout, simple formatting, keyboard commands, and use of the Ribbon. More advanced skills include illustrating documents with graphics, creating tables, advanced formatting, and using templates. Knowing the PC’s KEYBOARD is a requirement. Notice that you don’t need typing skills, per sé, but you do need to know where the keys are located on the keyboard and what they do. This is NOT a typing class.

YOUR IPAD® AND YOU

Prerequisite: iPad needs to be updated to the ios9.1 and have an Apple® ID and password Bring fully charged iPad to class 4 sessions Limit: 12 # 641 Thurs Mar 9 – Mar 30 10:00am-12:00pm

Learn the basics about what you can do with your iPad and how using a tablet is different from using a desktop or laptop computer. Topics include basic navigation, apps and where you get them, how to set up your email account, managing your contact list, taking and sharing pictures, listening to music, how to keep your iPad safe and running efficiently, and how to back up data. IPHONE®,

AN INTRODUCTION

Prerequisite: Bring fully charged iPhone to class 2 session Limit: 12 # 642 Mon Feb 6 – Feb 13 10:00am-12:00pm

Learn to navigate the iPhone, make phone calls, surf the web, send messages, manage apps and more! IPHONE®

APPS

Prerequisite: Bring fully charged iPhone to class 1 session Limit: 12 # 643 Mon Mar 13 1:00pm-3:00pm

Learn to use and organize apps. Explore apps to create reminders, read or listen to books, find directions, track health and fitness activities, share photos and more! Share YOUR favorite app! IPHONE®,

PHOTOGRAPHY: AN INTRODUCTION

Prerequisite: Bring fully charged iPhone to class 1 session Limit: 12 # 644 Mon Mar 20 1:00pm-3:00pm

JCA SENIORTECH Learn how to use the iPhone’s capabilities to take great pictures, organize photos, and share photos with friends and family.

SMARTPHONES AND TABLETS USING THE ANDROID OPERATING SYSTEM WORKSHOP

Prerequisite: Bring fully charged Smartphone or Tablet 1 session Limit: 12 # 645 Tues Jan 10 10:00am-12:00pm

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

the cloud, laptop/desktop Issues, photos/videos, PowerPoint® and more. Your session will last 2 hours. After you register, you will be contacted to select a date and time for your session and to discuss the questions or issues you will be working on with one of our Tech Gurus.

 NEW  NEW  NEW 

MEET THE MAC® TECHNOLOGY GURUS! B RING US YOUR PROBLEMS! Learn what the Android operating system is and how

to work with its direct manipulation interface and see demonstrations of popular applications (apps) that run on Android.

FROM MESS TO LESS: ON YOUR COMPUTER

ORGANIZING THE FILES

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent/ Knowledge of the keyboard 2 sessions Limit: 12 # 646 Mon Mar 13 – Mar 20 10:00am-12:00pm

You know how you sometimes put something away in such a safe place and you can never find it again? Well that can happen on a computer, too. Learn how to organize your documents, photos etc. so that you can find what you need when you are looking for it.

 NEW  NEW  NEW 

BROWSING AND SEARCHING THE WEB

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent 2 session Limit: 12 # 647 Thurs Feb 16 – Feb 23 10:00am-12:00pm Using Internet Explorer®, Google Chrome®, and Google® search to learn how to more effectively use the World Wide Web. We will teach the basics but go beyond including setting up favorites and bookmarks, creating a bookmark bar, opening multiple tabs, and adding extensions to the browser. Learn many techniques to more precisely find the information you want.

POWERPOINT®

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent 2 sessions Limit: 12 # 648 Mon Feb 27 – Mar 6 10:00am-12:00pm In this course you will learn to create your own Microsoft PowerPoint presentation by adding and deleting slides, creating different layouts, formatting your presentation and inserting images.

MEET THE TECHNOLOGY GURUS! BRING US YOUR PROBLEMS!

Unlimited # 649 Date and time to be determined by Tech Guru

Have a one-to-one lesson with our Tech Gurus. Experts are available to help individuals with hardware or software issues. Topics: Windows® 10, buying a new computer, securing your computer, backing up

SENIORTECH VOLUNTEERS WANTED TO TEACH OR COACH We are looking for volunteers who are computer savvy, willing to share their knowledge, and would like to help people age 50+ learn new computer skills.

Call 240-395-0916 for more information.

Unlimited # 650 Date and time to be determined by Tech Guru

Have a 1:1 lesson with our Mac Tech Gurus. Experts are available to help individuals with hardware or software issues. Topics: iPhone®, iPad®, Apple® Laptops/computers. Your session will last 2 hours. After you register, you will be contacted to select a date and time for your session and to discuss the questions or issues you will be working on with one of our Tech Gurus.

 NEW  NEW  NEW 

JCA SeniorTech is proud to present our NEW class given on the MAC Operating System!

INTRODUCTION TO THE MAC® OPERATING SYSTEM X

2 session Limit: 4 # 651 Thurs Jan 19 – Jan 26 10:00am-12:00pm # 652 Tues Mar 28 – Apr 4 10:00am-12:00pm Class size is limited to 4. If class is full, students with Mac laptops are welcome

The Apple Mac Operating System (OS), known as OS X provides the interface to the Mac hardware and applications. In this class we will cover the essential components that users need to know in order to operate their computers in a safe and productive manner. The class will combine lecture and hands-on exercises. Topics will include the Desktop components including the Dock and Menu Bar, System Preferences, Finder, the safari browser, user accounts, spotlight, Mission Control, ways to run Windows on your Mac, and backup with Time Machine.

TECH TALK!

PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ON HOT TOPICS IN TECHNOLOGY

INTRODUCTION TO THE CLOUD 1 session # 653 Wed

Limit: 25 Feb 15

1:30pm-3:00pm

There has been a lot of talk about “the cloud” recently. Learn what the cloud is and how to use it for storage, backup and sharing of files, pictures and music.

CUTTING THE CABLE – TV WITHOUT THE PRICE OF CABLE 1 session # 654 Tues

Limit: 25 Feb 21

1:30pm-3:00pm

With the availability of high-speed broadband internet, it is possible to enjoy television without the high price of cable TV. Learn about programs that are available online and how to watch on a standard HDTV set.

JCA must receive registration for classes at least 1 week prior to the beginning of the class. We will not be able to accommodate walk-ins.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

SeniorTech

DESCRIPTION AND GUIDELINES Classes are designed to help adults, 50+, refresh or advance their computer skills and learn to use social media. Courses are taught by volunteer instructors and coaches.

Courses are almost always “hands on” in which students practice skills and techniques on a computer during class.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

✃

gy & Innovations Say you saw it in the Beacon | TTechnology

JCA SENIORTECH

SENIORTECH REGISTRATION FORM

COMPUTER TRAINING

WAYS TO REGISTER: BY MAIL:

Include your payment with form to JCA SeniorTech 12320 Parklawn Drive Rockville, MD 20852-1726

BY PHONE: Call 240-395-0916 Donations gratefully accepted allowing JCA to help all seniors thrive.

YOUR TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION WILL ENABLE US TO CONTINUE TO OFFER THIS PROGRAM. PLEASE MAKE YOUR DONATION BELOW. NOTE: ALL REGISTRATIONS ARE DUE 7 DAYS PRIOR TO START OF CLASS. Name: _________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________________________________________ City: ____________________________________________________ State: _______ Zip Code: _______________ Phone#: ______________________________ Email: __________________________________________________ I have taken a JCA SeniorTech class before: ____ Yes ____ No

Student ID (Office use only)_______________

I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER FOR: Class #

Class Title

Location

Start Date

Start Time

Registration

$ FREE

YOUR TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION WILL ENABLE US TO CONTINUE TO OFFER THIS PROGRAM. PLEASE MAKE YOUR DONATION BELOW.

❒ Master Card ❒ VISA ❒ American Express ❒ Check (Make Checks payable to Jewish Council for the Aging.)

Amount $______________

Name as it appears on card: ____________________________________________________________

Card Number

Exp. Date

Sec. Code

SeniorTech follows the weather-related decisions of Montgomery County Public Schools, except that if the school system is closed for even part of the day, the center will be closed the entire day. As soon as possible, your instructor will arrange to make up any classes cancelled due to inclement weather.

WB1/17

____________ ____________ ____________ _____________ ______ /______ __________ OFFICE USE ONLY Course #_____ Paid_____ Registration #_______ Date________

Course #_____ Paid_____ Registration #_______ Date________

NOTICE: WITHIN THE LIMITS OF ITS RESOURCES, JCA SERVES PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS AND FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. INDEED, WE TRY TO BE AS INCLUSIVE AS POSSIBLE IN ALL THAT WE DO. SOMETIMES, HOWEVER, JCA MAY DENY A PERSON OR GROUP THE OPTION TO ENROLL OR TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL OR PARTICULAR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO DO SO, AT OUR SOLE DISCRETION, SHOULD WE BELIEVE THAT OUR ACTION IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR PROGRAM OR FOR ANY OTHER REASON NOT PRECLUDED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

Each contribution or remittance of payment by check is considered authorization to convert that particular check into an electronic fund transfer. If your check is unable to be converted, it may be processed as a Check Replacement Document drawn against your account. When we use information from your check to make an electronic fund transfer, funds may be withdrawn from your account as soon as the same day you make your payment, and you will not receive your check back from your financial institution. You have the right to opt out of Electronic Conversion. If you choose to exercise this right, write the words ‘Opt Out’ in the memo field of your check and JCA will process it as a draft against your account.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: JCA is registered with the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, P.O. Box 92300, Washington DC 200903020. FLORIDA: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR THE JEWISH COUNCIL OF THE AGING OF GREATER WASHINGTON, INC. (REGISTRATION NO. CH36992) MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE OR BY VISITING WWW.800HELPFLA.COM REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE, MARYLAND: Documents and information submitted to the State of Maryland under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are available from the Maryland Secretary of State’s Office, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401 for the cost of copying and postage. NEW YORK: A copy of our latest financial report may be obtained by contacting the New York State Attorney General’s Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10271. VIRGINIA: A financial report is available from the Virginia State Division of Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23209. As is true for all charities, registration by these governmental organizations does not imply their endorsement.

A copy of JCA’s 990 is available for public inspection at JCA’s Rockville office during normal business hours, Monday through Friday (except holidays), 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

RELIEVE BPH SYMPTOMS Limit intake of fluids, alcohol and decongestants to ease prostate symptoms

Health Fitness &

CELEBREX EXONERATED A study found Celebrex is no riskier for the heart than Motrin or Tylenol JOIN A HEALTH STUDY Take part in a paid study that seeks to unlock the secrets of human aging FIVE-MINUTE CURES Easy, inexpensive fixes for foot cramps, headaches, hangovers and more

New statin shrinks artery-clogging plaque By Marilynn Marchione For the first time, a new drug given along with a cholesterol-lowering statin medicine has proved able to shrink plaque that is clogging arteries, potentially giving a way to undo some of the damage of heart disease. The difference was very small, but doctors hope it will grow with longer treatment. And any reversal or stabilization of disease would be a win for patients and a long-sought goal. The drug, Amgen Inc.’s Repatha, also drove LDL, or bad cholesterol, down to levels rarely if ever seen in people before. Heart patients are told to aim for below 70,

but some study participants got theirs as low as 15. “There doesn’t appear to be any level at which there is harm” from too little LDL, and the lower patients went, the more their plaque shrank, said one study leader, Dr. Steven Nissen of the Cleveland Clinic. Too much cholesterol, along with other substances, can build up and form plaque in arteries. Statins such as Lipitor and Crestor curb cholesterol production. Repatha and a similar drug, Praluent, block PCSK9 — a substance that interferes with the liver’s ability to remove cholesterol from the blood.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 25

BREAST CANCER TALK

Hope Connections for Cancer Support presents a seminar on breast cancer on Wednesday, Jan. 25 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Rebecca Kaltman, M.D., of GWU School of Medicine will provide an overview of the latest findings in treatment and research from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. This talk will take place at Beaumont House, located at 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Md. For more information or to RSVP, email info@hopeconnectionsforcancer.org or call (301) 634-7500.

Jan. 10

AGING MATTERS SHOW

Aging Matters is a new weekly interview program on Arlington’s community radio station WERA 96.7 LP FM, featuring individuals with expertise about a broad array of aging-related topics. The show begins on Tuesday, Jan. 10 and will air on every Tuesday from 2 to 3 p.m. Host Cheryl Beversdorf interviews experts on timely topics affecting the lives of older adults and their loved ones. Each week her guests talk about subjects both informative and entertaining, and help educate listeners about living better and longer. For more information, visit http://aging-disability.arlingtonva.us.

55+ Inderjeet Jumani REALTOR® Senior Real Estate Specialist 703.472.8804 ijumani@LNF.com www.IJumani.com Alexandria / Old Town Historic District 400 King Street ~ Alexandria, Virginia 22314

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Expensive, injectable drugs The new drugs have drawbacks, though. Statins are pills sold as generics for as little as a dime a day. The new ones are biotech drugs that are expensive to make — Repatha costs $14,000 a year and insurers often won’t pay. They must be given as shots every two weeks or once a month. People can do it themselves with a penlike device. In the study, about 900 heart disease patients were given a strong statin and monthly shots of either Repatha or a dummy solution. Ultrasound images were taken of an artery with plaque at the start of the trial and 18 months later. The average for bad cholesterol stayed around 93 for people given only the statin, but dropped to 37 for those on both drugs. The amount of artery plaque stayed about the same for the statin-only group but shrank 1 percent in those also given Repatha. Some people with more dramatic LDL declines saw plaque shrink 2 percent. “It’s small, but it probably took patients 60 years to accumulate that plaque,” so to see any change after just 18 months of treatment is good, said a cholesterol expert, Dr. Raul Santos of the University of Sao Paolo. Dr. Vincent Bufalino, president of Advocate Medical Group, a large cardiology group in suburban Chicago, agreed. “It sounds small, but it’s a beginning” and still a win, he said. Amgen sponsored the study, and Santos has consulted for the company. Nissen

said his fees for doing the study were donated to charity. The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and discussed at a recent American Heart Association conference. The best test of the new drugs’ value will be large studies underway now to see whether drops in cholesterol will lead to fewer heart attacks and deaths. Results are expected later this year.

Another new drug also helps Also at the conference, doctors gave results of a safety study of an experimental treatment aimed at rapidly removing cholesterol after a heart attack to help prevent a second one. “When you have a heart attack, your ability to get cholesterol out of plaque is actually worsened. Your plaques grow more plump....the pipes are getting even more clogged,” said Dr. C. Michael Gibson, professor of medicine at Harvard University. He led a study in 1,250 people testing infusions of ApoA-1, the main component of HDL, or good cholesterol, which helps remove the bad kind. The substance is taken directly from human blood, not synthesized in a lab. An earlier version showed side effects on the liver; this one was modified to try to avoid that, and no safety roadblocks were seen, said Gibson, who consults for the treatment’s maker, CSL Behring. — AP

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Ways to improve your cholesterol levels By Joyce Hendley If one-third of Americans have unhealthy cholesterol levels, why did the U.S. recently change its advice to limit the cholesterol we eat daily? Well, for most of us, dietary cholesterol has almost no effect on the cholesterol that ends up in our arteries. But keeping your blood cholesterol numbers down is still key to preventing heart disease. Two types of cholesterol are found in the blood, LDL and HDL — and LDL is traditionally targeted as the bad stuff that you want to lower. But it’s now known that not all LDL particles are equally dangerous. Small, dense LDL seems to be able to sneak through artery walls more easily and oxidize more readily into a damaging form, compared to the larger, lighter particles. Fortunately, eating the right foods can help keep this cholesterol out of your arteries. Here’s what you should know. Cut saturated fats and refined carbs. Saturated fats do make LDL cholesterol in the blood, and many experts still urge limiting these fats — especially from meat — to less than 10 percent of your daily calories. But new research suggests that cutting carbs may be more important for heart health. “Highly processed carbohydrates — particularly sugary and refined carbs like white bread and cookies — are the main dietary influence on small dense LDL particles,” said Ron Krauss, M.D., director of atherosclerosis research at Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute. When people replace saturated fats with sugary, refined carbs, “good” HDL drops, while LDL and triglycerides rise — as does heart disease risk. The USDA says to keep added sugars to 10 percent of daily calories, but Krauss would go further and recommends limiting refined carbs as well. Yes, you can eat eggs. Dietary cholesterol is officially a nonissue for most healthy folks, so eggs’ cholesterol content — around 185 mg. apiece — shouldn’t pose a problem. (Same goes for shrimp.) That said, people with diabetes might want to keep to an egg a day. Research has shown that eating eggs raises the risk for heart disease in diabetics, so American Diabetes Association guidelines still recommend keeping daily cholesterol intake under 300 mg. For better cholesterol levels, exercise. Regular exercise helps boost levels of heart-healthy HDL cholesterol that serves to clean up your arteries. While any exercise is good, moderate cardio — like jogging — raises HDL lev-

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els. And more-intense aerobic exercise, like spinning, tends to up the ante further by lowering LDL and triglycerides. Eat an avocado. Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats, which boost “good” HDL cholesterol while lowering triglycerides and LDL. Also, avocado’s fiber and phytosterols may give its cholesterol-lowering power a boost. When overweight people ate an avocado daily, their LDL levels dropped significantly more than in those who didn’t eat an avocado. Sow your oats (and barley). These grains are rich in beta glucan, a soluble fiber and a great way to slash small, dense LDL. Benefits kick in when you get at least 3 grams of beta glucan daily. That’s the amount in 1 1/2 cups cooked oatmeal or 1 1/4 cups cooked pearl barley. Nibble some nuts. Eating between 1

and 3 ounces of nuts — including walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios — each day can help nudge small dense LDLs down. When people with high cholesterol added about 24 walnut halves a day to their usual diets for six weeks, their small dense

LDLs dropped 12.7 points. EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at www.eatingwell.com. © 2016 Eating Well, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Knee Arthritis - “Which Of These 7 Costly Mistakes Will You Make When Trying To Successfully Avoid Surgery...?” WASHINGTON, (DC) - If you or someone you know is suffering with knee pain or arthritis, tormented by daily, annoying, chronic pain or swelling, then reading this report could be the most important thing you do this year. It may even help you avoid the dangerous surgery that you currently think is your only option. What we’re talking about here is the type of “ache” and “sharp pain” where you get so nauseated that you feel your only option is to stop what you’re doing completely, reach for the painkiller drawer and wonder how long you’ll have to rest up for this time! The thing is, all of those painkillers are not good for your stomach - and the long periods of rest you’ve been told about are not likely to be doing your heart and lungs much good. And if you currently think that your only option is SURGERY, in the form of an even more painful knee replacement, then I urge you to read this report right until the end. Over the last 15 years I’ve been working on a daily basis to help people aged 50+ find relief from daily, annoying, and often severe, chronic knee pain – and I can tell you that the cocktail mix of more rest and more pills will do absolutely nothing to get to the root cause of most types of chronic knee pain... no matter what most family Doctors say! Because I’ve grown increasingly frustrated with the number of people suffering unnecessarily, I’ve written a 13 page report that details the 7 things any person can do to relieve knee pain naturally... and I want to send you this report at no charge. Now, I don’t know if these 7 things will relieve you of your knee pain completely - and I can’t promise that what has already worked for most of my patients and clients over the past 15 years, will work for you…

By Knee Pain Relief Specialist, Dr. Brian Paris However, reading my free report is sure better than spending another day “resting”, “accepting it”, thinking “it’s your age” or worse yet, risking surgery by masking it with harmful and costly pills. If your severe, daily annoying or recurring knee pain or arthritis is affecting your job and your ability to keep active and it threatens your independence or hinders your family leisure time, then you really need to read my free report. The 7 things I’m going to share with you in my report are not what “THEY” (the prescription pushers or surgeons) want you to hear - simply because all of my tips are mainly natural - and free. I want you to imagine how life will be years from now if you DON’T get a grip on your knee arthritis now. How will your knee pain affect your job? Your preservation of self worth and your mobility or independence? Will you be a fun person to be with? Or live with? Ok, you get my drift... It’s time to request my free tips report...by calling this free phone number now: (301)-804-2088. There are a limited number of free copies available - so please call today: (301)-804-2088 or visit www.iHateKneePain.com/free-knee-report to download your free report instantly. Sincerely, Dr. Brian Paris. I Hate Knee Pain P.S. No one will ask you for money for anything else when you call to request your free tips report written by one of the country’s leading experts on finding relief from knee pain. It’s perfect for people with knee arthritis hoping to avoid costly and dangerous surgery. Call now: (301)-804-2088 (you can leave a message 24 hours a day) or visit: www.iHateKneePain.com/free-knee-report to get your report sent to you right now.

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Simple steps relieve prostate symptoms By Dr. Howard LeWine Q: I have a frequent urge to urinate, and need to get up three times a night to empty my bladder. According to my

doctor, I have an enlarged prostate. Otherwise, I am healthy. He suggested medication. Do I need to start treatment immediately?

General and Cosmetic Dentistry • Senior Citizen Discount Available • We use ‘Low Radiation Digital X-Rays’ • Aesthetic Crowns, Implants, Bridges • Natural-looking Dentures, Partials, no adhesives needed

Judy Jo Oh, D.D.S. (UCLA School of Dentistry, 1992) 4607 Connecticut Ave., N.W. #109, Washington, D.C. 20008 (Within 4 Blocks North of Van Ness/UDC Red Line Metro Station)

202-244-2212 • 301-300-7579 www.judyohdds.com

Wine Tasting with Waltonwood Wednesday, January 18th 11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. for the Tasting, Luncheon, and Presentation; 1:30 - 2:15 p.m. for the Tour at Stone Tower Winery

19925 Hogback Mountain Rd., Leesburg, VA 20175 Chase away the winter chill with Waltonwood Ashburn as you enjoy an elegant wine tasting, presentation, lunch — and a tour if you like — at Stone Tower Winery. Opening later this year, Waltonwood will be the most luxurious rental senior living choice in Loudoun County. Join us for details on our Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care and EXPAND Programs.

Attendance is limited! Please call soon.

A SHBURN

RSVP today 571-982-6318

INDEPENDENT LIVING|ASSISTED LIVING|MEMORY CARE

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A: Doctors call it benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In some men, it is severe enough to require immediate treatment. But in most men, BPH progresses slowly. They can decide for themselves when and if they should be treated. Some simple adjustments in lifestyle may help enough to avoid starting medication now. • Reduce your intake of fluids, particularly after dinner. • Limit your intake of alcohol and caffeine, and avoid them completely after mid-afternoon. Both are diuretics that increase urine flow. • Avoid medications that stimulate muscles in the bladder neck and prostate, such as pseudoephedrine and other decongestants. • Avoid medications with anticholinergic properties that weaken bladder contractions. Antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) are the most common offenders. Various antidepressants and antispasmodics have similar properties. • If you are taking a diuretic for high blood pressure or heart problems, take it in the morning when you first wake up. Also ask your doctor if you can reduce the dose. • Never pass up a chance to use the bathroom, even if your bladder does not feel full. Take your time, so you empty your bladder as much as possible.

If you can live comfortably with BPH, do it. But if your symptoms are too bothersome, you have a few medications to choose from: • Alpha-blockers relax smooth muscle cells in the prostate and bladder. The two that doctors prescribe most often are tamsulosin and alfuzosin. They start working within a couple weeks. About 70 percent of men with BPH improve. Initially, you might feel lightheaded with standing, but this should subside quickly. Other potential side effects include nasal stuffiness, headache, dry mouth, and decreased amount of ejaculate. • Hormone blockers, such as finasteride and dutasteride, actually shrink the size of the gland. These drugs work slowly — over six months or longer — and they are only helpful for men with rather large prostates. Side effects may include decreased sexual function. • Low dose tadalafil (Cialis) is another possible option for men who have erectile dysfunction along with BPH. Howard LeWine, M.D. is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, visit www.health.harvard.edu. © 2016 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Age-Friendly Montgomery A Community for a Lifetime

“I’m inviting you to enjoy our County’s resources and programs.” County Executive Ike Leggett

Employment and Volunteering Whether you want to find employment, enrichment or volunteer opportunities – Montgomery County has lots to offer. “The Vital Living Networker” is a 27-page summary of options. Find it at www. montgomerycountymd.gov/senior or, call 311. Below are some of these options. Employment and Job Search Support (more information is available about all of these options at the County senior website, www.montgomerycountymd.gov/senior): • WorkSource Montgomery American Job Centers provides assistance to job seekers. Call 301-929-4350 (Wheaton) or 240-206-5485 (Germantown). • Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) offers free online courses in business skills, web design, job search and much more. Call 240-777-0035. • The Career Gateway! includes intensive training for computer-savvy jobseekers age 50 or older – for a modest fee. Call 301-255-4200. • The Senior Community Service Employment Program offers jobs to people age 55 and older with very modest incomes. Call 240-395-0918.

Enrichment (more at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ senior): • Computer Skills Training through the Jewish Council on Aging for people age 50 and older to learn about computers, social media, etc. Call 301-255-4200. • Montgomery College - Lifelong Learning Institute offers a variety of classes for Montgomery County residents age 50 and older. Call 240-567-1828. • University of Maryland offers free online classes to residents of all ages. Classes cover topics such as interviewing and resume writing, entrepreneurship, etc. • Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Johns Hopkins University offers a unique opportunity to continue learning at the university level. Call 301-294-7058. Montgomery County Volunteer Center -- Explore your options at www.montgomeryserves.org or call 240-777-2600. Some examples of opportunities include: • Help out during tax season with the Tax-Aide Program. • Learn about the Pro Bono Consultants Program. • Become a fitness volunteer with the Bone Builders Program. • Join the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

• Aging & Disability Resource Line 240-777-3000

• 3-1-1 or 240-777-0311 for County programs and services; 9-1-1 for emergency • www.montgomerycountymd.gov/senior

• “Seniors Today” airs on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. on Comcast/RCN 6, Verizon 30

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Three pain drugs equally safe for arthritis By Marilynn Marchione A new study gives some reassurance to arthritis sufferers who want pain relief but are worried about side effects. It finds that Celebrex — a drug similar to other Cox-2 inhibitors withdrawn 12 years ago for safety reasons — is no riskier for the heart than some other prescription pain pills that are much tougher on the stomach. “We do not want patients to suffer with pain, and we need to know what is safe to give them,” said Dr. Steven Nissen, the Cleveland Clinic’s heart chief, who led the study. Fear that Celebrex would be worse than alternatives proved unfounded, and “on almost every endpoint it actually comes out the best.” Some other doctors were less confi-

dent, partly because follow-up information was missing on one-fourth of the participants, and many others stopped taking their assigned drug. Still, several independent experts said the main results are believable. “I find this reassuring,” said Dr. Brian Strom, a drug safety expert and chancellor at Rutgers University in Newark. No new side effects emerged and Celebrex “seemed safer that way.” Results were discussed at an American Heart Association conference and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Here are some things to know about the study and options for soothing throbbing joints.

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Why the concern? Many of the 52 million Americans with arthritis need long-term pain medicines, and higher doses than over-the-counter ones. But some can cause serious stomach trouble. The drugs Vioxx and Bextra became blockbusters because they avoided this problem, but heart concerns emerged and the drugs were withdrawn from the market. Some research suggested that Celebrex, the lone drug left among Cox-2 inhibitors, might pose risks at high doses. So the government required its maker, Pfizer, to do this new study to prove it was safe enough to keep on the market.

All of these drugs are available as generics, but Celebrex is not sold over the counter. After more than two years in the study, about 2 percent of participants had suffered a heart attack, stroke, heart-related death or other heart problem, regardless of what drug they were taking. This was a surprise: Earlier studies suggested naproxen would be safest. Serious stomach problems were more common with ibuprofen and naproxen. Kidney problems were more common with ibuprofen. The study was not designed to compare the drugs for pain relief, but naproxen showed a small advantage on one measure of that over Celebrex.

Study results

Still some unknowns

The study tested daily use of Celebrex versus prescription-strength ibuprofen or naproxen in 24,000 arthritis patients with heart disease or a risk factor for it such as diabetes. The results only apply to these drugs and amounts — not to occasional use of lower, over-the-counter doses (ibuprofen is sold as Motrin, Advil and other brands; naproxen is sold as Naprosyn and Aleve), or to other painkillers such as Tylenol. The findings are not relevant to “somebody who takes an occasional ibuprofen or naproxen for a headache,” Nissen said.

The study doesn’t tell us whether any of these drugs is safer than no drug — there was no placebo group. All we can say is that if they raise heart risks, they do so equally. No information was available on how many participants also were taking aspirin, which can interfere with ibuprofen and naproxen. Two-thirds of participants stopped taking their assigned drug — a dropout rate typical of pain studies but still a problem for interpreting results. Discontinuation rates See PAIN DRUGS, page 16

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Health Shorts You can mitigate genetic heart risks Clean living can slash your risk for heart disease even if your genes are heavily stacked against you. A large study found that people with the most inherited risk cut their chances of having a heart attack or other heart problems in half if they didn’t smoke, ate well, exercised and stayed slim. The opposite also is true: You can largely trash the benefit of good genes with unhealthy habits. “DNA is not destiny, and you have control,” said the study leader, Dr. Sekar Kathiresan, genetic research chief at Massachusetts General Hospital. “Many people assume that if your father had a heart attack, you’re destined to have a problem,” but the results show that’s not the case, he said. The study was published online in the New England Journal of Medicine and discussed at a recent American Heart Association conference. It’s long been known that genes and lifestyle affect heart risk, but how much influence each one has, and how much one factor can offset the other, are unknown. Researchers combined information on more than 55,000 people in four studies around the world. One included imaging to check for plaque building up in heart arteries. Participants were checked for 50 genes related to heart risks and placed in five groups based on how many they had. They also were sorted into three groups by healthy lifestyle factors — not being obese, exercising at least once a week, eat-

ing a healthy diet and not smoking. The favorable lifestyle group had at least three of these four factors; the unfavorable group had one or none. The results: people with the most gene risk had nearly twice the chance of developing heart problems than people in the lowest gene risk group did. Roughly the same was true for those in the unfavorable lifestyle group versus the favorable one. But the interesting part was the difference in risk when gene and lifestyle factors were combined. “If you have an unfavorable lifestyle and high gene risk, your risk of having a heart attack over the next 10 years is 10 percent,” but with a good lifestyle, it was only 5 percent in one of the groups in the study, Kathiresan said. When researchers looked at the imaging results, genetic and lifestyle factors matched how much artery plaque was seen. Again, a healthy lifestyle mitigated the damage from flawed genes. Dr. Pamela Morris of the Medical University of South Carolina, who heads the American College of Cardiology’s prevention committee, said some patients with a strong family history of heart problems will say, “I’m doomed. Why should I bother?” But this study shows that “when you do the work, it makes a difference,” she said. “It’s not horribly complicated” to do either, she said. People don’t need to run a marathon, be vegans or “be a twig” in terms of weight, she said. — AP

Eat more nuts for a healthy weight For years, nuts — dense in calories and fat — were considered off limits for people

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looking to shed a few pounds. However, in the last two decades research has uncovered numerous health benefits of tree nuts — such as almonds, walnuts, pistachios, pecans, hazelnuts and cashews — for heart health and brain protection.

Now those benefits even extend to achieving a healthy weight, as research shows that consuming nuts can actually help people lose pounds and keep them off. See HEALTH SHORTS, page 16

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Pain drugs

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Ongoing

PICKUP SENIOR BASKETBALL

The North Potomac Recreation Center is looking for seniors 55 and older to play coed pickup basketball on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Players of all sizes with varying levels of skills and experience are welcome and can play whenever and as often as they like. However, players must purchase a gym pass, which costs $30 for the year. The pass enables participation in any drop-in program, including pickleball, volleyball, badminton and table tennis. The gym pass is accepted at any Montgomery County Recreation Community Center. “Senior Sneaker” passes cost $50 per year and offer weight room access as well. The North Potomac Community Rec Center is located at 13850 Travilah Rd., Rockville, Md. For more information, contact player Bruce Dearbaugh at brucetest@hotmail.com.

Jan. 17

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP

An afternoon grief support group meets on Tuesday, Jan. 17 from 1:30 to 3 p.m., for anyone grieving the death of a loved one. The six-week group meets each Tuesday at Faith United Methodist Church, located at 6810 Montrose Rd., Rockville, Md. Registration is required. For more information or to register, call (301) 921-4400.

From page 14 were similar for all three drugs, though. Still, researchers did what they could to account for these flaws, and the results are believable, said Dr. Bruce Psaty, a drug safety expert at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Big caveats The study was aimed at people at high heart risk. Yet only 20 percent of participants already had heart disease; the rest just had risk factors. Also, people on ibuprofen or naproxen had more room to escalate their doses than those on Celebrex did because that drug’s label limits it to what is considered safe now. “It’s a low risk group getting a low dose” of Celebrex, said Dr. Elliott Antman, a past president of the Heart Association and a cardiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hos-

Health shorts From page 15

The care you need to get you back to your life.

Results from research suggest that adults who consume nuts regularly may have a lower body weight compared to those who don’t regularly eat nuts. A 2014 Loma Linda University study found that high consumers of tree nuts had the lowest prevalence of obesity compared to those with low nut consumption. Another study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition compared the body weight of nut-enriched diets to similar control diets without nuts, and found that intake of nuts did not increase body weight, waist circumference or body mass index. Other research links nut consumption with less weight gain over long periods of time. Nuts are calorie-dense, but are com-

pital in Boston. “I remain worried about the patient with known heart disease,” and do not feel comfortable about any of these pain drugs for them, he said. Dr. Carl “Chip” Lavie of Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, said the results confirm what he has been telling patients: Celebrex seems safer than many alternatives, and can be combined more safely with blood thinners and other medicines many people need. Any vindication of Celebrex may be coming too late to benefit Pfizer. In 2013, the drug had U.S. sales of $2.2 billion, but that fell to around $185 million in 2015, the first full year there was a generic version, which sold $636 million that year, according to QuintilesIMS, a health research company. In 2015, about 8.3 million prescriptions were filled for Celebrex or its generic version in the U.S., versus 43 million for ibuprofen and nearly 20 million for naproxen. — AP prised of nutrient-rich components — including good fats, vitamins, minerals, protein and fiber — which make them high in satiety value, resulting in reduced overall calorie consumption. Studies also have suggested that nuts can boost metabolism. In addition, nuts have fewer calories than previously thought. Research on pistachios and almonds shows that the calories absorbed by the body are lower than once thought, because the complex matrix of whole nuts makes their fat content resistant to absorption. This means your body is not taking in the full amount of calories contained in the nuts you eat. Keep in mind that overindulging in nuts can still cause you to pack on pounds. So, practice portion control by keeping consumption to approximately a handful or an ounce (160 to 180 calories) daily. — Environmental Nutrition

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Understanding and treating hemorrhoids Dear Mayo Clinic: Every few months, I develop hemorrhoids that are quite painful, but after a few days, they seem to go away on their own. Is there a way to avoid getting them altogether? Do I need to see my doctor the next time they return? Answer: Hemorrhoids are quite common, and they often follow the pattern you describe. Making some lifestyle changes may lower your chances of developing hemorrhoids. But if those changes aren’t enough to keep them from coming back, and the hemorrhoids cause you considerable discomfort, then consider making an appointment with your doctor for an evaluation to see if treatment may be necessary. Hemorrhoidal cushions are part of the body’s natural anatomy in the anal canal. They help keep stool in and control continence. The problem with hemorrhoids develops when veins in those cushions become swollen and bulge. Hemorrhoids can occur inside the rectum. Those are called internal hemorrhoids. Or they can happen under the skin around the anus. Those are called external hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids don’t cause any pain and usually don’t require treatment unless they start to bleed. External hemor-

rhoids are the ones that typically lead to the pain and discomfort people often associate with hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids develop due to increased pressure on the pelvic floor. That pressure often comes from straining during bowel movements and sitting for long periods of time on the toilet. It also may be a result of chronic constipation or diarrhea, obesity or pregnancy. External hemorrhoids tend to occur in the pattern you mention, developing over a three- to four-day period and then slowly going away.

Self-help measures One of the key factors in preventing hemorrhoids is being able to pass stool regularly without straining. There are a number of lifestyle changes you can try to help make that happen. They include exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet that is high in fiber, drinking plenty of fluids, and avoiding sitting for long periods of time. When painful external hemorrhoids develop, self-care steps usually can relieve the discomfort. Over-the-counter creams, ointments, suppositories or pads designed to treat hemorrhoids contain ingredients such as witch hazel or hydrocortisone that can lessen pain and itching.

These products are often effective, but don’t use them for more than a week at a time. If used too often or for too long, they may cause side effects — such as a skin rash, inflammation or skin thinning. Soaking in a warm bath or a sitz bath with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes, two or three times a day may reduce hemorrhoid swelling. Ice packs or cold compresses also can ease swelling and pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, aspirin or acetaminophen, may

help relieve some discomfort, too.

When to see your doctor If hemorrhoids last more than a week despite home remedies, or if they cause pain and discomfort, then it’s time to make an appointment with your doctor. You also should see your doctor if you’re experiencing painless rectal bleeding, so he or she can rule out other more See HEMORRHOIDS, page 19

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Health Studies Page

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Help unlock the secrets of human aging By Barbara Ruben The long-running Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging (BLSA) has mapped out in detail many of the changes our bodies experience as we get older. Now researchers want to take this knowledge to the next level. “What we have not done is to describe why: Why our muscles shrink, why our skin wrinkles, why our memory declines, and why aging is the strongest risk factor for almost any kind of chronic disease,” said Dr. Luigi Ferrucci, scientific director of the National Institute on Aging, in an interview with the Beacon. Ferrucci leads both the BLSA and a newer study to help figure out some of the

reasons why aging progresses as it does. This new study is nicknamed GESTALT for Genetic and Epigenetic Signatures of Translational Aging Laboratory Testing. The GESTALT study is looking at biomarkers in blood and tissue that can help scientists understand diseases and signs of aging, and ultimately find ways to improve quality of life in old age. Ferrucci uses this analogy to explain what happens as cells age: “Let’s say you lose your job, and you get another job with less money. You think, ‘I need to survive on this lower salary. What should I cut out? What should I not do? “That’s what the cell does. The cell starts shutting down some essential things, like the

recycling of proteins. As cells become older, they start dysfunctioning, with an accumulation of damage that is not repaired. We believe that is the source of aging,” he said.

Long-term study The study is seeking healthy individuals age 20 and older (there is no upper age limit) to participate for 10 years or more so changes can be tracked over time. Researchers want to look at the process of aging on a cellular level, using white blood cells taken in samples from participants. Until recent advances in technology, there wasn’t a way to capture as many cells as are necessary for the study. Using a process called cytapheresis,

blood will be removed through a needle in the vein of one arm and run through a machine that separates out the white blood cells. The blood will be returned through a needle in a vein of the other arm, and white blood cells will be regenerated by the body in a few days. Those interested in the study will first make a short visit to the National Institutes of Health’s Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md., to make sure they qualify. If they do, they will return to the center for two full days of testing, including an overnight stay. In addition to cytapheresis, which takes about two hours, those in the study will have skin and muscle biopsies where very small tissue samples, about the size of a grain of rice, will be taken. They will also have a physical exam, treadmill, strength and balance tests, several MRIs, and cognitive tests. They will have additional blood tests that look at DNA and RNA. They will return every two years to repeat the tests, although cytapheresis might be done only every four years. In between, they may be contacted by researchers about their ongoing health. Participants will also be required to wear Fitbits to track physical activity in an objective way rather than self-reporting it.

Healthy adults sought To participate, adults must weigh at least 110 pounds and have a body mass index below 30. They must agree that their genetic samples can be collected, studied and stored. They must be able to perform daily selfcare without assistance, walk independently for at least 400 meters without assistance, and be able to perform normal activities of daily living without shortness of breath (walking or climbing stairs) or other severe symptoms. Because researchers are looking for healthy individuals, at least at the outset of the study, there are a number conditions that will preclude participation. They cannot have: • Genetic diseases such as sickle cell, hemochromatosis (iron overload), cystic fibrosis or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (conSee AGING STUDY, page 19

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Aging study From page 18 nective tissue disorder). • Autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, myasthenia gravis or rheumatoid arthritis. • Cognitive impairment based on men-

Hemorrhoids From page 17 serious conditions. If your symptoms are due to hemorrhoids, your doctor may recommend removing the hemorrhoids surgically. A variety of techniques can be used to accomplish this. Most of them can be done in your doctor’s office and do not require an overnight hospital stay. Incorporating changes into your exercise and diet routines now may help you avoid hemorrhoids in the future. If they do come back, try the self-care steps listed

tal status screening tests. • A history of cardiovascular disease or cerebrovascular disease including angina (requiring treatment), myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension, pacemaker, stroke or transient ischemic attacks (TIA). • A history of diabetes (requiring any

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medical treatment other than diet and exercise) and their fasting glucose is <126 mg/dL. • Any cancer in the last 10 years, except for locally limited basal cell cancer. • A history of kidney or liver disease • HIV, Hepatitis B or C, or high blood

pressure. • Been certified as legally blind. Participants will be paid $2,000 for each two-day testing visit in the study. To learn more, call (410) 350-3941 or 1800-225-2572, ext. 3941, or email NiaStudiesRecruitment@mail.nih.gov.

above. In most cases, no further treatment will be needed. But if hemorrhoids continue to cause significant pain, see your doctor. — John Pemberton, M.D., Colon and Retal Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to MayoClinicQ&A@ mayo.edu. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org. © 2016 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Jan. 23

EVENING SUPPORT GROUP

Montgomery Hospice presents an evening support group for Montgomery County residents grieving the death of a loved one. The group meets for six consecutive Monday nights from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, located at 6701 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, Md. Registration is required. For more information or to register, call (301) 921-4400.

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Five-minute cures for common problems Pimple: Put a dab of essential oil of tea tree on it. Or make a clay paste from a dab of bentonite clay mixed with water and put that on it. You can do both back to back

(tea tree then clay mask), and leave the paste on it overnight. Foot cramp or Charlie horse: If these occur only occasionally from over-stretch-

ing or dehydration, long travel, wearing of one drink), about 3 times a year. I just high heels too long and so forth, just drink don’t like feeling ‘messed up’ in my head, some coconut water (available and drinking causes insomnia at grocery stores and pharmafor me. cies). The electrolytes in it But lots of my friends drink, work to stop the cramp and and some get hangovers. I sugspasms. If you get them fregest you take two N-acetylcysquently at night, drink some teine supplements (approxiright before bedtime. Any mately 1200 mg. of NAC) and electrolyte drink will work, also a B1 (thiamine) tablet tobut many of them unfortugether with your drinks or in nately contain artificial colors. the morning. There’s a bioKitchen cuts and wounds: chemical reason why this DEAR Cayenne powder, the spice, is a works better than drinking raw PHARMACIST well-known hemostat, meaning eggs or sweating in a sauna. By Suzy Cohen it stops bleeding within secJust take my word for it. onds. Outdoor survivalists Dry, chapped lips: Drink know this and often carry it in their back- more, always infuse your water with pack. It’s amazing that you can pour this marshmallow root (keep it in the fridge), onto a cut and within 10 seconds, the bleed- and apply honey to your lips instead of lip ing will pretty much stop. gloss. You’re more kissable that way, too. I found this out when I cut some crusty Stuffy nose: Take a hot shower so it gets bread one day and the knife slipped, slic- really steamy in there, and breathe in the ing into my finger! The water from the moist air through your nose. Also drop a few faucet wasn’t helping, nor any of the drops of essential oil of Eucalyptus (a known shameful words I mumbled while hopping decongestant) on your shower floor, which from one foot to another…. So I poured helps the steam work even better. Also, some cayenne pepper on there and took a Basil essential oil is a good expectorant. deep breath waiting for a burn. SurprisingI have a much longer version of this artily, no pain! But it did control the bleeding. cle with more five-minute health solutions. Super cool for a hot pepper extract. It’s available free at my website: www.suzyHeadache: Sometimes a cup of coffee cohen.com. or black tea will help because of the cafThis information is opinion only. It is not feine it contains. You can also take two intended to treat, cure or diagnose your conibuprofen. If that doesn’t help, put a cool dition. Consult with your doctor before using pack on both your temples, and take 250 to any new drug or supplement. 350 mg. of chelated magnesium. Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist Hangover: Truthfully, I have no experi- and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist ence with this one, as my drinking habits and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To amount to probably one drink (or a few sips contact her, visit www.SuzyCohen.com.

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFICE ON AGING

Spotlight On Aging VOLUME XXVIII, ISSUE 1

A newsletter for D.C. Seniors

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE By Laura Newland Executive Director, D.C. Office on Aging Happy New Year and welcome to 2017! It was great to see so many of you last month at the Mayor’s Annual Senior Holiday Celebration. I hope everyone got some much-needed rest over the holidays, because it’s a brand new year, and we have a lot of work to do! You may have heard me say that in order for the Office on Aging to be the best in its class, we need your input. Last year, we asked you all to participate in our needs assessment study. I want to thank all of you who were willing to share your experiences with us. Your feedback is helping us shape our vision for an age-friendly D.C. and how DCOA can better meet you where you are. One of the biggest themes that came out of the assessment was that seniors want more input on programs and the services they receive. This is something we knew, but it’s reaffirming to have the data to back it up. Over the past year, I’ve really focused on listening more. I experimented with a new town hall format where seniors had the opportunity to present to me. The town halls are a great forum for us to connect with you in the community, and this year we will continue to focus on more dialogue and more opportunities for you to lead the conversation. Check out our website at www.dcoa.gov or give us a call at 202-724-5626 to find out when the next town hall will be in your ward. The needs assessment also highlighted a concern shared by so many seniors in our community — the risk of falls and other accidents. In fact, it was a top concern among all seniors surveyed. We know that healthy living and regular physical activity can help reduce falls risks, as well as being aware of physical hazards throughout your home and community. But there are so many more factors that contribute to falls, both individual and environmental.

Last year, we held falls prevention workshops in all eight wards, and we plan to build on this in the coming year. Mayor Muriel Bowser has been hard at work reducing hazards in the community through the Vision Zero initiative, which seeks to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities by making the city’s streets and sidewalks safer for all commuters. Continue to engage with us and keep us informed about the risks in your community, and let us know how we can work together to help keep you safe in your homes and in your neighborhood. There was also some encouraging news — seniors in the District want to engage more with the Office on Aging! I take this as a compliment because I thought by now you’d be tired of hearing from me! We know we need to do a better job getting the information you need to support you in taking charge of your long-term goals. My External Affairs team has been hard at work coming up with new and innovative ways to connect with you in the community to keep you engaged and informed. We want to make sure that we are amplifying your voices so that government, community organizations and service providers continue to work together to support healthy aging in D.C. I invite you to review the needs assessment available on our website at www.dcoa.gov and share your thoughts with us. Do the results reflect your personal experience? What ideas do you have for us as we continue to move towards an age-friendly D.C. for all residents? You can email your feedback to askthedirector.dcoa@dc.gov or call us at 202-724-5626. I’m excited for our future and looking forward to working with you to make D.C. the best place in the world to age!

January 2017

The Mayor’s Annual Senior Holiday Celebration Mayor Muriel Bowser greeted more than 3,500 seniors at her annual Senior Holiday Celebration at the DC Armory on December 8, and reaffirmed her commitment to making Washington, D.C. an inclusive, age-friendly city for all residents. Seniors from all eight wards of the city came together to celebrate the holiday season with Mayor Bowser and the D.C. Office on Aging, and were treated to live music, entertainment, free health screenings, immunizations, facials and manicures. Lunch was served by more than 150 volunteers from the community, PEPCO, the Armed Forces, Jr. ROTCs from local schools, and DCOA sister agencies, the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking and ServeDC. Mayor Bowser shared news of some of her achievements over the past two years of her administration towards becoming a world-class, age-friendly city. These included:

Housing — Invested $100 million every year in the District’s Housing Production Trust Fund to produce or preserve more than 1,200 affordable housing units, including senior apartments. — Launched the Safe at Home program, providing up to $10,000 for home adaptations allowing residents to remain safely in their homes. — Broke ground on Plaza West, which will provide 223 units of affordable rental housing, including 50 units reserved for grandparents raising grandkids. — Launched the Genesis intergenerational community — providing affordable residences to 27 young mothers aging out of foster care and seasoned residents. — Plan and implement assistance housing vouchers for LGBTQ seniors.

Health and Public Safety — Committed $4 million towards capital improvements to Senior Wellness Centers. — Conducted falls prevention workshops. — Provided new options for community dining with the Restaurant Community

Mayor Muriel Bowser snaps a selfie with the crowd at the Annual Senior Holiday Celebration.

Dining Pilot program in Wards 7 and 8.

Inclusion — Recognized 43 Age-Friendly local businesses, whose products, services and practices help make Washington, D.C. inclusive for older customers. — Expanded affordable and accessible transportation through programs like the Seabury ConnectorCard and TransportDC to include Metro Access customers, providing direct point-to-point transportation within the District. — Signed the Caregiver Advise, Record and Enable Act (CARE Act) into law, providing 75,000 family caregivers with the tools and guidance to care for loved ones transitioning back into the community.

Economic Stability — Increased the income limit for the Real Property Senior/Disabled tax deduction, reducing real property tax by 50 percent for more seniors ages 65+, who own at least 50 percent of the property. — Launched the Alternative Pathways to Employment Program to refresh the job skills of DC residents, ages 50 and above. — Launched LifeCents, providing approximately 1,300 seniors with financial literacy training and consumer protection information. The annual holiday celebration highlights the efforts that the Bowser Administration will continue to make for Washington, D.C. to be a sustainable, agefriendly city for all Washingtonians.

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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D.C. OFFICE

AGING NEWSLETTER

Community Calendar

Idriys Abdullah, consumer protection advocate for the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, and member of the Elder Abuse Prevention Committee, receives an award for exemplary service for his commitment to educating District seniors on how to protect themselves against financial exploitation.

January events 3rd, 17th and 31st • noon Join the D.C. Caregivers Online Chat at Noon to discuss “Care Plan 101: Set Yourself Up for Success as a Caregiver” on Jan. 3, “Separating Long Term Care Insurance Myths from Realities” on Jan. 17, and “Lessen The Squeeze: Caregiver Coping Skills” on Jan. 31. Log on to http://dcoa.dc.gov/page/caregiverchat at noon, or visit at your convenience and hit replay to see the chat. For more information, contact linda.irizarry@dc.gov or call 202-535-1442.

In one year, Abdullah trained more than 700 seniors in all eight wards through the Money Smart for Older A dults workshops. The Money Smart program provides awareness among older adults and their caregivers on how to prevent elder financial exploitation and to encourage advance planning and informed financial decisionmaking.

4th • 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The D.C. Office on Aging, in collaboration with the Hayes Senior Wellness Center, will hold a Community Health, Information and Wellness Fair at 500 K St. NE. For more information, contact Ms. S. Briscoe at 202-727-0357.

7th and 8th • 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The NBC4 Health & Fitness Expo will be held at the Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Pl. NW. The D.C. Office on Aging will be in booth 2744. For more information, see http://bit.ly/NBC4_health_and_fitness_expo.

10th • 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The D.C. Office on Aging, in collaboration with the G.W. Carver Senior Apartments, will hold a Community Health, Information and Wellness Fair at 4800 E. Capitol St. NE. To learn more, contact Ethel Hollins at 202-3885252.

12th • 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Presentations will be made by the D.C. Office on Aging and collaborating partners at the Residences at Thomas Circle, 1330 Massachusetts Ave. NW. For more information, call Nancy Piness, Community Life Services Director, at 202-626-5774.

A Celebration for Children The D.C. Seniors Cameo Club and Ms. Senior D.C. Billie LaVerne Smith hosted more than 200 children from the community for the Children of Promise Holiday Celebration. The children and their families made gingerbread houses, wrote letters to Santa, and wrote notes to explain what the annual event has meant to them over the years.

The children received gifts that included toys, coats, hats and gloves, as well as stockings and gift cards. Participating children are currently being impacted by the prison system. Special thanks to the Trinity AME Church for hosting the event, the Awesome Foundation, the D.C. Office on Aging, Marshalls, and Family Matters for their support.

18th • 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. A Community Health, Information and Wellness Fair will be held by the D.C. Office on Aging in collaboration with Colony House Senior Apartments at 930 Farragut St. NW. Contact Mr. Harris at 202-722-4048 for more information.

19th • 10 a.m. to noon Train to become a DCOA Ambassador. Learn information about DCOA programs and services, and help us connect to D.C. residents who are age 60+, people with disabilities who are 18+, and their caregivers. Call 202-7245626 to register for this or future training classes.

22nd • 4 to 6 p.m. Iona presents a free panel and discussion on group houses from the 1960s to ‘80s and alternative living in cities. The event features guest artist James Landry’s “In Bed” photography series. Former group house members and others will join the panel to discuss intentional communities, villages, and other alternative housing options for the future. Panelists include: Anne Becker, former Iona poet in residence, and Leslie Marks, Montgomery County Senior Housing. There will be a pay-your-way dinner after the event at a restaurant in the area. Iona is located at 4125 Albemarle St. NW. To register, call Patricia Dubroof at 202-895-9407.

25th • 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. A Community Health, Wellness and Informational Fair will be held by the D.C. Office on Aging in collaboration with NCBA Estates at 2801 14th St. NW. To learn more, contact Dwight Mays at 202-387-4367.

Ms. Senior D.C. Billie LaVerne Smith and D.C. Seniors Cameo Club members serve as Santa’s helpers at the Children of Promise Holiday Celebration.

SPOTLIGHT ON AGING Spotlight On Aging is published by the Information Office of the D.C. Office on Aging for D.C. senior residents. Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the D.C. Office on Aging or by the publisher.

500 K St. N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002 202-724-5622 www.dcoa.dc.gov Executive Director Laura Newland Editor Darlene Nowlin Photographer Selma Dillard

The D.C. Office on Aging does not discriminate against anyone based on actual or perceived: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, source of income, and place of residence or business. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination which is prohibited by the Act. In addition, harassment based on any of the above protected categories is prohibited by the Act. Discrimination in violation of the Act will not be tolerated. Violators will be subjected to disciplinary action.

The Office on Aging is in partnership with the District of Columbia Recycling Program.

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SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Residents who look beyond themselves By Robert Friedman Today, so many retirement communities take such good care of their residents, you might think they were waited on hand and foot, as my mother liked to say. Restaurant-style dining, a plethora of clubs and activities, pools, golf courses and state-of-the-art exercise facilities, movie theaters, beauty salons — you name it, and there are places that offer it. But a seldom-heralded benefit of many communities is, perhaps unexpectedly, the

fact that they offer their residents opportunities to help others; to give something back.

The joys of reading For example, over at the Greenspring retirement community in Springfield, Virginia, some 2,000 residents live in 12 apartment buildings. There, Elaine Sorenson makes sure that neighbors who can no longer make library visits still get books to read (or listen to).

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She coordinates book-by-mail services offered through Fairfax County’s public libraries for her fellow residents. “If one day you suddenly realize that, for one reason or another, you cannot go out of your home to go to the library, the library will come to you,” Sorenson said. “And the books can take you to many other places,” she added. She also helps schedule visits by county library staff to Greenspring three to five times a year to issue library cards to residents who need them. Usually, 25 to 50 residents show up at every visit to get new cards or have old ones reactivated. The access to a world of materials the cards provide allows them to brush up on their Shakespeare, or the latest Harlan Coban mystery, or whatever else comes in book form and can be sent through the mail. There is also a delivery service of “talking books” for residents with eyesight or other problems, Sorenson noted. And books can be put on digital tablets for those who like that new technology or have trouble holding books. She helps residents “deemed eligible” for these various services get enrolled in the free system. Why has the 90-year-old, 15-year Greenspring resident taken on the responsibility of keeping her neighbors reading? “At first, I said [of the library service], ‘Who needs this?’ “Then I got older, and I looked around and realized that a lot of us need this! When I gave up driving my car, I realized how wonderful to have books come to me. If you are limited in your mobility, you should not be without books,” she said. “I realized it was important to have such a service,” so she took it upon herself to

make sure it was there, and that her fellow residents knew about it.

For the birds? Some who live in communities like to focus their energies more on their furry or feathered friends. For the past five years, Mike Scalzi, 87, has spent time trying to make sure that bluebirds still fly — not just over the rainbow, but over the 220-acre campus at Brooke Grove Retirement Village in Sandy Spring, Md., where he lives. He helps keep the bluebirds flying by giving them comfortable nesting locations among the trees and fields of Brooke Grove. For Scalzi, it’s a way to show his feeling for the non-human living world. “They were here first, before we took over,” said Scalzi of his admiration for nonhuman beings. “”We have to take care of them,” he said. “If they fail, we fail.” About 30 birdhouses built for bluebirds are cared for by the eight or so Brooke Grove residents who, like Scalzi, make weekly visits to several sites to which they are assigned. The Eastern bluebird population was reduced by nearly 70 percent in the 1970s, according to the Maryland Bluebird Society. But an upsurge was reported in 2005, attributed largely to volunteers establishing and maintaining bluebird trails. Scalzi said his duties include making sure the nest in a house was actually built by a bluebird, rather than by other birds — most specifically sparrows, who “tend to take over,” he said. “You can tell a bluebird’s nest from that of a sparrow’s; it is higher and made of softer material, grasses, milkweeds.” See GIVING BACK, page B-3

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

From page B-2 The nests of sparrows, mice and other “intruders” are destroyed, leaving the houses available when the bluebirds move back in, usually in early spring, and lay their eggs, which have light blue shells, Scalzi noted. “If the eggs are hatched, then I close the box and don’t inspect it for two or three weeks,” said the retired IBM employee, who worked with computers in the early years when they were run by vacuum tubes. “When I check the box again, if the chicks have gone, I assume that they have fledged,” he said. Between 30 and 50 bluebird eggs are hatched in the houses each year, according to Susan Phillips, Brooke Grove’s life enrichment coordinator. The Bluebird Trail program was started in 2003. There’s another way Scalzi expresses his love for nature: by exhibiting at Brooke Grove his many photos of the foxes, deer, other birds and various insects he comes across doing his duties in the surrounding woods.

charge. They service the 400 to 500 former military officers and one-time high-level government officials, as well as their families, who live at the community whenever something needs to be fixed or spruced up. Schue said he spends about 10 to 12 hours a week doing volunteer woodworking — a “trade” he taught himself over the past 30 or so years. The former president of the Military Officers Association of America, Schue also arranges a monthly gathering to hear “speakers of interest” at the community. And not just any old speakers, either. The most recent visitor was former CIA Director Michael Hayden, who spoke about his recently published book, Playing to the Edge. A sample of Schue’s woodworking ability was on display last month at the Falcons Landing Chapel in a 10-foot-tall-by-fivefoot-wide crèche.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BROOKE GROVE

Giving back

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Betsy Read and Mike Scalzi check a bluebird house at Brooke Grove Retirement Village in Sandy Spring, Md., where residents help maintain nesting space in 30 bird boxes scattered across the grounds.

On-call for repair At Falcons Landing, a community for retired military officers and former senior government officials located in Sterling, Va., former Air Force Colonel Howard Schue, 75, is proud to be one of the Woodworkers. That’s a group of Mr. Fix-It volunteers who spend time in the community’s woodworking shop repairing, refurbishing and building chairs, tables, shelves, lamps and other home furnishings for their fellow residents, almost always free of

MAYCIE & MILLIE

BEACON BITS

Jan. 14

WINTER CANAL WALK

The Seneca Valley Sugarloafers Volksmarch Club is sponsoring a walk on the C&O Canal Towpath on Saturday, Jan. 14. This 10 km trail, with a 5 km option, is an easy walk on relatively flat natural surfaces (but is not for wheelchairs). The start/finish point is the third parking area at the Carderock Recreation Area at the C&O

A little bit of mischief and a whole lot of magic wo extraordinary women—born many miles apart but brought together by momentous life changes—are testaments to the transformational power of friendship. They met within weeks of moving in to Kensington Park and forged a fast friendship. Maycie came to us grieving the loss of her husband of 60 years and looking to widen her circle of friends. Millie came to us seeking a home close to her husband, who is living in our memory care community. Both share a mischievous twinkle in their eyes, a deep love of family, remarkable resilience and a warm sense of humor. The magical spirit of their friendship helps make change less lonely, and it brightens the mood of all who cross their path.

Come meet Maycie and Millie, and make a new friend at Kensington Park.

Canal Towpath, Cabin John, Md. The start time is between 10 and 11 a.m. You should finish the walk by 2 p.m. The walk is free unless you want Volksmarcher credit. Credit walkers must send a $3 check, payable to SVSVC, to Carolyn Thurber, 17616 Mill Creek Dr., Derwood, Md., to be re-

301-946-7700 3620 Littledale Rd, Kensington, MD 20895 • www.KensingtonParkSeniorLiving.com Independent Living • Assisted Living • Memory Care

ceived by Jan. 10. For more information, call (301) 385-0054 or (301) 946-5496, or email Jone.P@comcast.net or gammie0612@verizon.net.

Join Us for Wellness Wednesdays Explore how to live a properly balanced life on every 2nd & 4th Wednesday at 11am! RSVP or call for details: 301-946-7700 or hflattery@kensingtonretirement.com

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Housing Notes

Affordable Senior Communities

By Barbara Ruben

New Virginia assisted living

Discover how great senior living is at one of our affordable apartment communities. Many of our communities feature 24-hour emergency maintenance, full activities programs, spacious floor plans, affordable rents, caring and dedicated staff, and much more. We are conveniently located near shopping, including grocery stores and pharmacies. Let us help you live life to the fullest. Call or visit our web site to view these communities: 600 North Madison Street, Arlington, VA 22203

Atlanta-based Thrive Senior Living is opening two new assisted living communities in northern Virginia. Tribute at the Glen, located in Woodbridge, Va., is slated to open in January. Tribute at One Loudoun is being built in Ashburn, Va., and is expected to open later in 2017. Both communities have a similar resortlike design and features. Each offers assisted living and memory care, which are provided in two distinct “neighborhoods.” The communities are designed to be “walkable,” and feature a spa, salon, movie theater, rooftop terrace, and wellness center with senior-friendly fitness equipment. Residents also have access to a full-service restaurant, a 24-hour bistro for gourmet snacks, and multiple bars for coffee or other beverages. Transportation is available for off-site visits. Thrive’s communities utilize “specialized technology” to engage “each resident at their level of cognitive ability.” They also use motion monitors and activity trackers to report the residents’ anomalies and trends. Staff can access the information on a mobile device. Other technologies include wireless call systems, RFID cards (instead of keys) to access rooms, senior-friendly computers and wifi.

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New affordable apartments in Germantown Churchill Senior Living, in Germantown, Md., held a ribbon cutting in December for its new Phase II building. The independent living community offers affordable housing for those 62 and over with low to moderate incomes. The new building is connected to the community’s original building. It includes 134 one- and two-bedroom apartments. Some of the two-bedroom apartments also have two bathrooms. Rent ranges from $950 to $1,372 per month. The Phase II building has washer/dryer hook ups in all the units, a theater room, library/computer room, hair salon and separate laundry room facility. Churchill offers a complimentary van service to residents for medical appointments and local shopping. There is a 24hour on-call emergency maintenance service. To learn more, call (301) 528-4400 or see www.churchillseniorliving.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHURCHILL SENIOR LIVING

20900 Runny Meade Terrace Ashburn, VA 20147

Monthly pricing includes utilities, maintenance, three meals a day, snacks and drinks, housekeeping and laundry, transportation, medication supervision, assistance with dressing, grooming and bathing, and 24-hour staff supervision. Both communities are currently taking reser vations. For more information, visit http://tributeseniorliving.com, or call (571) 402-1870 for Tribute at the Glen, or (571) 252-8292 for Tribute at One Loudoun.

Churchill Senior Living, an independent living community in Gaithersburg. Md., held a ribbon cutting in December for their new building.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

D.C. OFFICE ON AGING AMBASSADORS

The District Office on Aging is looking for D.C. residents who are interested in becoming the office’s ambassadors. Ambassadors learn about the programs and services available to seniors, individuals with disabilities and caregivers, and share that information in the community. For more information, visit http://dcoa.dc.gov/node/556642, email dcoa@dc.gov or call (202) 724-5622.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

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FREE HOUSING AND OTHER INFORMATION For free information from advertisers in this special section, check off those that interest you and mail this entire page to the Beacon. Please do not request info if you are not interested. All replies have an equal chance to win. To be eligible for Ford’s Theatre tickets, your reply must arrive by February 1, 2017.

HOUSING COMMUNITIES: WASHINGTON, DC ❑ Friendship Terrace . .B-6 & B-13

MARYLAND ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

Brooke Grove .B-6, B 9 & B-10/11 Covenant Village . . .B-4 & B-15 Emerson House . . . .B-4 & B-15 Homecrest House . . . .B-2 & B-6 Kensington Park . . . .B-3 & B-15 Olney Assisted Living .B-8 & B-14 Riderwood . . . . . . . . .B-6 & B12 Springvale Terrace . .B-9 & B-13 Victory Terrace . . . .B-16 & B-19 Village at Rockville . . . . . . .B-15

VIRGINIA ❑ Almost Home Senior Living . .B-2 ❑ Ashby Ponds . . . . . .B-6 & B-12 ❑ Chesterbrook Residences . . . . . .B-6 & B12 ❑ Greenspring . . . . . .B-12 & B-16 ❑ Gum Springs Glen . . . . . . . .B-4 ❑ Herndon Harbor House . . . . .B-4 ❑ Lockwood House . . . . . . . . .B-4 ❑ Morris Glen . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-4 ❑ Tall Oaks Assisted Living . . . . . . . . . .B-9 & B-20 ❑ Tribute at the Glen . .B-16 & B-18 ❑ Tribute at One Loudoun . . . . . . . . . .B-2 & B-8 ❑ Vinson Hall . . . . . . .B-8 & B-19

❑ Wingler House . . . . . . . . . . .B-4

HOME CARE SERVICES: ❑ Best Senior Care . . . . . . . .B-17

HOUSING REFERRAL: ❑ Oasis Senior Advisors . . . . .B-13

REHABILITATION: ❑ Greenspring . . . . . . . . . . . .B-17 ❑ myPotential/The Village at Rockville . . . . . . . . . . . .B-7

REVERSE MORTGAGES: ❑ Mortgage Solutions . . . . . .B-14

Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this entire coupon to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227. You may also include the free info coupon on page 5. One entry per household please. Name __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________E-mail_______________________________________________ City _______________________________________________________ State ______________________ Zip ____________________ Phone (day) _______________________________________________ (eve) ________________________________________________ Please provide your telephone number and e-mail address so we may contact you promptly if you win the drawing.

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INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Riderwood 301-495-5700 3140 Gracefield Road Silver Spring, MD 20904 EricksonLiving.com Get the facts about active retirement living at Riderwood All in one fantastic FREE brochure. The comprehensive Riderwood brochure is packed with the crucial information you need—and the exciting details you want—about carefree senior living. Riderwood is Silver Spring’s premier continuing care retirement community, designed exclusively for seniors 62-plus who want an independent retirement lifestyle with peace of mind for the future. Don’t spend another moment without the facts about vibrant retirement living at Riderwood. Call 1-877-742-4390 or visit ericksonliving.com today to request your FREE brochure today!

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Seabury at FRIENDSHIP TERRACE 202-244-7400 4201 Butterworth Place NW Washington, DC 20016 www.friendshipterrace.org Active, affordable senior living close to stores, restaurants, transportation and entertainment can be found at Seabury at Friendship Terrace! Located in a quiet, tree-lined northwest Washington neighborhood, Friendship Terrace is just two blocks from the Tenleytown Metro station. The community offers affordable senior living with subsidy assistance to those who are eligible, as well as exciting on-site events including performances, lectures, holiday observances, socials, and more. A rooftop deck, greenhouse, library, lounges, and a dining room overlooking an outdoor courtyard are highlights of the community. Call for your tour today!

INDEPENDENT & PERSONAL CARE COMMUNITIES

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE

Brooke Grove Retirement Village 301-260-2320 18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 www.bfg.org This community hums with warm-hearted camaraderie and a zest for life shared by residents and staff alike. Experience all that makes assisted living at Brooke Grove extraordinary. Cozy, homelike dwellings with easy access to beautiful courtyards and walking paths. Caring staff trained in using memory support techniques, building independence and lifting self-esteem. Innovative LIFE® Enrichment Programming with meaningful activities and off-site adventures. Visit us to see why Brooke Grove Retirement Village is one of the most sought-after continuing care retirement communities in the state. Living here is simply different … because what surrounds you really matters.

CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

Ashby Ponds 1-800-564-0155 21170 Ashby Ponds Boulevard Ashburn, VA 20147 EricksonLiving.com Get the facts about active retirement living at Ashby Ponds. All in one fantastic FREE brochure. The comprehensive Ashby Ponds brochure is packed with the crucial information you need—and the exciting details you want— about carefree senior living. Ashby Ponds is Ashburn’s premier continuing care retirement community, designed exclusively for seniors 62-plus who want an independent retirement lifestyle with peace of mind for the future. Don’t spend another moment without the facts about vibrant retirement living at Ashby Ponds. Call 1-877-664-5445 or visit ericksonliving.com today to request your FREE brochure today!

ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY

B’nai B’rith Homecrest House 301-244-3579

Chesterbrook Residences 703-531-0781

14508 Homecrest Road Silver Spring, MD 20906 www.homecresthouse.org

2030 Westmoreland Street Falls Church, VA www.chesterbrookres.org

Homecrest House is a non-profit, affordable, subsidized community offering two options: Independent & Personal Care Services. PERSONAL CARE offers: assistance with bathing, daily meals, weekly housekeeping & laundry services with optional medication administration. Homecrest is nestled on 10 beautiful acres & neighbors with Leisure World. Residents may qualify approximately 30% of their adjusted income for rent & may qualify for personal care subsidies. Homecrest offers a full array of amenities, activities & scheduled weekday van service. Call Maria at 301-244-3579 for a personalized tour or visit us at www.homecresthouse.org.

At Chesterbrook Residences, you will be able to live with dignity, grace and security, close to the people and places you love in a comfortable, neighborhood setting. We offer an active assisted-living lifestyle for those 62 and over. A variety of one- and two-bedroom floor plans are available. Enjoy our community living room with fireplace, beautiful views, and chef-prepared meals in our gracious main dining room. Rehab services are available 5 days a week, offering physical, occupational and speech therapy, most of which are covered by Medicare Part B. We also have an on-site wellness center with visiting physician and podiatrist. We are a mixed-income nonprofit, so our rates are affordable and all inclusive.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

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Myths and realities of aging in place By Marianne Cusato It’s time to elevate the conversation about aging in place. Forget about grab bars and wheelchair ramps. Those are elements of last resort for “old” people. And who wants to be labeled “old”? Not me, and I suspect not you, either. The problem with aging is that there isn’t a single point at which we are officially “old.” All other major life events — graduating from college and starting a career, for instance, or getting married and starting a family — have a clear starting point. Not aging. It’s not only gradual, but also different for each of us individually. Long before our hips fail us, we might be a little shaky on our feet. Years before we need memory care, we could become unsure of our decisions or forgetful. Aging is relative. Some people are born “old.” Others are young into their 90s. Yet despite all of these vagaries, we do know several things for sure: America has an aging population with an increasing life expectancy, most of whom desire to stay in their homes indefinitely as they age. In fact, already 108.7 million strong, the population of Americans age 50 and older is expected to swell by another 10 million — nearly 10 percent — by 2020, according to AARP. The number of Americans age 85 and older, meanwhile, is expected to more

than triple by 2060, making them the fastest-growing age group in the country. Americans aren’t merely aging, however; they’re also living longer, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, which said a baby born in 2015 will live to an average age of 79.4, while one born in 2060 will live to an average age of 85.63. Someone born in 1950, on the other hand, has an average life expectancy of just 68.4. So how do we meet the housing needs of an aging population that plans to stay in their homes, but won’t admit that they are aging? Simple: We must change the discourse related to housing and aging. The dialogue must be about adding features that enhance our lives today by offering a return on investment through livability, yet also happen to support the process of aging gracefully. Let’s rebrand “aging in place” — an activity for old people — and start a discussion, instead, about “thriving in place”: a goal for all people. Drawn from two recent HomeAdvisor surveys — one, of 279 home service professionals, and the second, of 586 homeowners over the age of 55 — this report highlights current industry and demographic trends, while making the case for “thriving in place” solutions that home-

owners of all ages can implement today.

Boomers hesitant to upgrade With 61 percent of homeowners over the age of 55 planning to stay in their homes indefinitely, it’s surprising that few older homeowners are investing in agingrelated improvements. In fact, 65 percent believe their home’s layout is adequate without any aging-related improvement, and over three-quarters of homeowners (78 percent) have never completed an aging-related renovation. The report found there is a disconnect between the perception of aging in place — adding grab bars and installing wheelchair ramps — and the reality: namely, that many design features can enhance the livability of a home for all ages. Smart home technology can provide solutions for homeowners looking to increase their safety, accessibility and ease of living. Here, again, there is a disconnect: Two-thirds (67 percent) of homeowners over age 55 believe smart-home technology could help them age in place, yet fewer than 1 in 5 (19 percent) have actually considered installing it for such purposes. Myth: Aging in place is a conversation for ‘old’ people The most common reasons nearly twothirds of homeowners 55 and older plan to

stay in their home indefinitely are: that they feel independent in their current home (68 percent), their current home is conveniently located (66 percent), they feel safe in their own home (66 percent), they’re familiar with their neighborhood (54 percent), and they live close to family (38 percent). Interestingly, HomeAdvisor found that homeowners over age 70 (77 percent) are more likely to want to stay in their home than homeowners age 56 to 70 (56 percent). One explanation for the gap is that older homeowners already are aging in place, as homeowners who plan to move likely have done so by the time they reach their 70s. On the other hand, another explanation could be that homeowners don’t yet feel “old” enough to be having aging-in-place conversations. In fact, HomeAdvisor found only 22 percent of homeowners have completed an aging-in-place renovation, and nearly a third (31 percent) have never even considered one. Among the latter, the most common reasons homeowners gave for not considering an aging-in-place renovation are that they don’t have any physical disabilities requiring such renovations (40 percent) and See AGING IN PLACE, page B-8

“Shouldn’t my rehabilitation program help me reach my potential?”

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL

301-354-4600

After an illness, injury or surgery, you need someone by your side more than ever—a team of professional caregivers whose sole mission is to help you return to the life you love most. You tell us your rehabilitation goals and we’ll partner with you to create a holistic wellness plan that is tailored to you. Whether you want to get back to golf, gardening or the grandkids, we can help you do that confidently, efficiently and comfortably.

• Speech Therapy • Occupational Therapy • Physical Therapy

9701 Veirs Drive | Rockville, MD 20850 | 301-354-4600 | www.mypotentialrehab.org The Village at Rockville is sponsored by National Lutheran Communities & Services, a faith-based, not-for-profit ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, serving people of all beliefs.

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ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Aging in place From page B-7

Olney Assisted Living Memory Care by Design 16940 Georgia Avenue Olney, MD 20832 www.olneymemorycare.com A memory care specific community, Olney Assisted Living offers compassionate care in an environment designed specifically for those with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Design includes; interior “neighborhoods,” a central Town Center, and outdoor courtyards. Daily life enrichment programming is provided with the goal of enhancing cognition, feelings of accomplishment, and quality of life. Licensed, on-site nursing care is provided 24 hours a day by a team of experienced professionals. Families seeking memory care will feel right at home in our community. For more information, call 301-570-0525 today.

ASSISTED LIVING/MEMORY CARE

Tribute At One Loudoun 571-223-5766 20618 E. Hampton Plaza Ashburn, VA 20147 www.TributeAtOneLoudoun.com Looking for an assisted living & memory care community in Loudoun County? You don't have to look any further. Experience a level of luxury in senior living, featuring advanced care systems for accurate and accountable care. An excellent quality of life is an essential feature of our community. We have a director of excitement whose only job is to keep residents anticipating what activity tomorrow will bring. Whether it's activities on the third-floor open-air terrace or adventures on the luxury motor coach, residents stay active in meaningful pastimes. Call to schedule your exclusive hard hat tour to learn more today!

CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

Vinson Hall Retirement Community 703-536-4344 6251 Old Dominion Drive McLean, VA 22101 www.vinsonhall.org Celebrate the tradition at Vinson Hall Retirement Community! We're located in McLean, Virginia, near Washington D.C. and its surrounding suburbs. We are an active, vibrant senior living community, offering independent living, assisted living, nursing care, and memory support residences — all located on 20 acres in a suburban setting. Residents are encouraged to live life “their way.” Visit our website to learn more: www.vinsonhall.org.

they don’t consider themselves old enough to need them (20 percent). Reality: The best time to think about aging in place is now “Aging in place isn’t about special addon features that will only help you once you’ve fallen and incurred a disability,” said Rodney Harrell, director of Livable Communities at AARP’s Public Policy Institute. “It’s about making functional home improvements that make spaces more useful and more usable for anyone, anytime.” Myth: Aging in place is about aging Most homeowners over age 55 (67 percent) say they consider themselves to be proactive about making aging-in-place renovations, and a majority (86 percent) feel they are familiar with aging-in-place additions, remodels or products. Home service professionals tell a different story: More than half (57 percent) of the home service professionals HomeAdvisor surveyed indicate that aging-in-place projects account for less than 10 percent of the work requests they receive. Furthermore, only 20 percent of pros say most homeowners who contact them about aging-in-place projects reach out proactively, before they have immediate home improvement needs. Rather, most say homeowners reach out reactively because they or someone they know has a degenerative condition that will limit their independence over time (33 percent), because of a recent hospitalization or major medical event (25 percent), or because they’re concerned about a recent fall or minor medical event (19 percent). Finally, most pros say the primary reasons homeowners hire them to do agingin-place renovations are accessibility (50 percent) and safety (43 percent); only 6 percent say homeowners hire them to make “ease-of-living” improvements, like lowering countertops or installing lowmaintenance landscaping. All of this indicates that homeowners want to be proactive about aging in place, but are held back by misconceptions that aging-in-place projects will prematurely “senior-proof” their home. Reality: Aging in place is about livability Making homes safe and accessible for seniors is an important and primary objective of aging- in-place projects. Thriving in place, however, is about much more than adding grab bars and wheelchair ramps. In fact, many popular aging-in-place improvements — wider doorways, open floor plans, zero-step entrances, remote-controlled window coverings and motion-sensor lights, just to name a few — can enhance the quality of life in a home even as they make the home safer. Such improvements are often “invisible,” and can be just as beneficial to a homeowner in his 30s or 40s as they are to a homeowner in her 70s or 80s. “Think differently,” Harrell said. “If you’re renovating a kitchen or bathroom, do things in a way that makes sense. Mak-

ing your space more usable for yourself today will also make it more usable for your future self.” Myth: Smart home technology is simply for convenience Although a majority of homeowners over age 55 (67 percent) think it could be helpful as they age, just 19 percent say they have considered installing smart-home technology for that reason. This is likely because homeowners still think of technology as a luxury convenience rather than a practical necessity. In fact, homeowners who haven’t considered smart-home technology to assist them with aging in place cite as their most common reasons that they don’t need/are not interested in such technology (45 percent), that it’s too expensive to purchase (29 percent), and that it’s too expensive to install (25 percent). Reality: Smart home technology supports independence Smart-home technology — for example, Internet-connected thermostats, appliances and lighting — is a new frontier that holds significant promise for helping Americans age in place comfortably and safely while also adding significantly to their home’s present livability. Consider, for example, a connected refrigerator that automatically detects when groceries run low and orders new ones when needed; the same appliance that creates convenience for a young family can ensure nourishment for a homebound senior.

Top renovation projects Homeowners over age 55 say the bathroom (48 percent) is the top area in the home that they have considered modifying for aging in place; a minority have considered modifying an entrance or stairway (24 percent), the kitchen (20 percent), the exterior (16 percent) or their overall home, including bedroom (9 percent). Likewise, homeowners say the top aging-in-place projects they’ve considered are: installing grab bars around the tub or shower, or installing a shower seat (48 percent); increasing the height of their toilet (28 percent); installing adjustable/handheld showerheads (23 percent); installing base cabinets with rollout trays and lazy susans (15 percent); planting low-maintenance shrubs and plants (15 percent); and adding handrails on either side of stairways (12 percent). Home service professionals, meanwhile, say the top aging-in-place projects they’ve been hired to do are installing grab bars (71 percent), adding entryway wheelchair ramps (54 percent), and increasing the widths of doorways (43 percent). These findings reinforce the false perception that aging-in-place renovations are reserved only for situations where they are medically necessary, and highlight the need to change the conversation from aging-in-place projects that no one wants to thriving-in-place projects that everyone can embrace. See AGING IN PLACE, page B-9

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Convert a spare room into a dream closet By Melissa Rayworth Longing for a bigger closet? Rooms in your home don’t have to be used the way they were originally intended. Get creative and convert a small room into the ultimate walk-in closet, says Egypt Sherrod, host of HGTV’s “Flipping Virgins” and “Property Virgins.” Giving up a room can be a big decision. The trick is doing it on a minimal budget and retaining the flexibility to use the room differently in the future, says Kevin O’Connor, host of PBS’ “This Old House.” Ideally, use the bedroom closest to the master bedroom, says Sherrod: “That way you have the option of opening up the wall to go directly in.” Creating a doorway in a wall is relatively minor construction and can easily be undone, experts say. The simplest way to convert a small room is by lining the walls with clothing racks on wheels and with free-standing wire shelving units. You can customize the space by adding colorful bins and baskets. To fill the center of a room that Sherrod converted to a closet, she brought in two large bureaus of the same height and arranged them back-to-back. She had a sheet of granite cut to cover the tops, creating a work island that combines storage and a flat surface for arranging accessories or stacking folded laundry. The finishing touch: Prop up a framed, full-length mirror on one wall. For a finished look with no DIY effort, there are many closet systems that offer a mix of hanging space and shelves. Some

Aging in place From page B-8 The first step toward a national dialogue about thriving in place is education, suggests HomeAdvisor’s data. Nearly half (45 percent) of homeowners over age 55 say they are not at all interested in learning more about aging in place, and only 7 percent say they would be interested in receiving a free aging-in-place assessment from a home service professional. In fact, a majority of home service professionals (84 percent) already offer agingin-place services to homeowners. And while more than half (54 percent) say they don’t yet offer educational information

are free-standing and others are anchored to the walls. The more permanent systems are made to look like built-ins, Welch says, and “are a great way to maximize the space with a more customized look.” Additional pieces worth considering: “A great planning tool is a valet rod, which is a pullout rod that you can lay out your outfit for the next day on or use for staging for a trip,” says Sarah Fishburne, director of trend and design at Home Depot. “I use mine all the time.” If you have enough space, she suggests adding jewelry trays and racks designed for belts and ties: “Some spin, and some you can slide out with plenty of space,” she says.

Bonuses and obstacles A bedroom repurposed as a closet has ventilation and natural light that’s lacking in many closets. “For people who care about getting the tie to match the jacket,” O’Connor says, “there’s nothing better than natural light.” For the best possible lighting, Fishburne suggests adding dimmers to a walkin closet and choosing lightbulbs carefully (she likes LED daylight bulbs). One challenge: Closet doors are designed to swing out, but bedroom doors generally swing into the room. So the door to your new walk-in closet will swing in unless you decide to remove it. Adding sliding pocket doors can be expensive, O’Connor says, but they’re a nice luxury to finish off your ultimate walk-in closet. —AP

about aging in place to their customers, nearly half (46 percent) do. Those who do say the most common aging-in-place topics they educate their customers about are: the types of aging-inplace projects they can do (83 percent); aging-in-place safety (54 percent); options for aging in place, such as staying in your own home or moving in with a family member (38 percent); and technology for aging in place (21 percent). Marianne Cusato is HomeAdvisor’s housing expert and a professor at University of Notre Dame’s School of Architecture. Excerpted by permission of HomeAdvisor. To see the full report, go to www.homeadvisor.com/r/2016aging-in-place-report.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 25

VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION

ReServe, a nonprofit that matches professionals 55+ to work with other nonprofits, is looking for volunteers for its program. The next “First Impressions” orientation will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library, located at 4450 Wisconsin Ave., Washington, D.C. “Reservists” are paid a stipend for their service. To attend First Impressions, register online at www.reserveinc.org. For more information or to confirm your registration, call (202) 365-3440.

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INDEPENDENT/PERSONAL CARE/ASSISTED LIVING

Seabury at SPRINGVALE TERRACE 301-587-0190 8505 Springvale Road Silver Spring, MD 20910 www.springvaleterrace.org Located in the heart of Silver Spring, Springvale Terrace blends affordability with convenience, style and quality care. Residential apartments are available, and enhanced senior living is complemented with personal care services including three meals a day, housekeeping, laundry, and medication administration. And if additional care is needed, Springvale Terrace also has beautiful assisted living apartments. This range of services—combined with low monthly rates—provides just the right amount of assistance to meet your needs while allowing you to live in an apartment you’ll love. Call today to learn more, schedule your personal tour and reserve your apartment!

ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE

Tall Oaks Assisted Living 703-834-9800 12052 N. Shore Drive Reston, VA 20190 TallOaksAL.com

Tall Oaks Assisted Living has proudly served Reston and the Metropolitan DC area since 1991 by providing quality Assisted Living and Memory Care to seniors. From superb and delicious dining to engaging activity programming and 24-hour licensed nursing care, our goal is to exceed expectations in every aspect of community life. The friendliness and longevity of our leadership team gives families peace of mind knowing that their loved ones’ care is in experienced hands. Call Today to schedule your personal tour – new residents receive 25% off rent through March 2017.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Brooke Grove Retirement Village 301-260-2320 18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 www.bfg.org You’ll feel it as soon as you drive onto our 220-acre campus of lush pastures and hardwood forest—all that makes independent living at Brooke Grove different. Beautiful cottages in a truly picturesque setting. Maintenance-free living, with more time for what you really want to do. Personalized fitness programs, meals prepared by talented chefs, clubs and social events. Neighbors who share your interests and passions. Come for a visit and see why Brooke Grove Retirement Village is one of the most soughtafter retirement communities in the state. Living here is simply different … because what surrounds you really matters.

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

Rehabilitation

Return to the

LIFE YOU LOVE

New, state-of-the-art Rehab CENTER opening early 2017 Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center’s innovative, new place to heal and revitalize will be simply different from any other option in the region. Imagine the best therapies and equipment—in a beautiful environment that rejuvenates and restores. Physical therapy spaces bathed in sunlight. Fireside gathering places and restaurant-style dining with sunset views over the lake. The quiet comfort of a garden walk or a relaxing massage.

Because what surrounds you Really matters. Fully dedicated to short-term rehab • Innovative therapies for faster healing Expansive private rooms and companion suites • Covered porches, courtyard and walking trails Lounge and coffee bar with two-story fireplace • Open, sun-filled living and dining rooms with made-to-order meals • Salon • Spa with massage room and soaking tub

Independent living assisted living rehabilitation long-term care memory support

18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 301-260-2320 • www.bgf.org

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Use a gentle touch in helping hoarders By Joan Van De Moortel The moment the elevator doors opened, the stench was overpowering. Eyes watered, nostrils burned, fight or flight impulses activated. We hadn’t even gotten into the apartment yet — the trash was crammed so tightly floor to ceiling it was nearly impossible to open the door. Inside: Narrow paths from room to room. Boxes filled with junk mail, old newspapers, invitations to exhibitions that happened years ago. This is just one example of an apartment of a hoarder, far different from mere clutter. A hoarded home and a home with excessive clutter have one thing in common — excessive clutter — but that’s where the similarities end. Keeping a house clean and well-lighted requires time, energy, a level of physical health and, sometimes, other financial resources with which to hire help, rent a truck to take trash to the dump, and pay the dump fees. It can get away from us. Though it may take a while for it to get to the point where we can’t deal with it by ourselves, it happens.

A psychological issue A person who lives with excessive clut-

ter is happy to be rid of it, and frequently will take steps to deal with it. In contrast, a true hoarder finds it almost impossible to act. The process is too painful. Throw the broken chair, the moldy box spring, the 100 margarine tubs away? To hoarders, that’s like throwing away parts of themselves. Despite appearances, Compulsive Hoarding Syndrome actually isn’t about things — it’s about trying to fill a psychological need through acquiring and keeping things. As Sandy S., a compulsive hoarder put it: “You’re pulling everything in around you, building the hamster’s nest, building the wall. Part of it is for the high. It’s an addiction, sort of. But it’s also to fill a void. It fills a lot of void.” The difference, then, between the excessively cluttered and the hoarded home is — almost always — the person living there. It’s important to note: Hoarding is not a moral failing. It is a distinct mental illness recognized by the American Psychiatric Association, and it can indicate many additional problems. Some 60 percent of people who hoard are affected by depression, 30 percent by social anxiety disorder, 20 to 23 percent

Do You Remember Last Winter?

We Do. We remember playing in the snow, festive celebrations, and delicious meals served with flair. Despite the snow outside, our residents were safe and comfortable, living an uninterrupted life. With an emergency generator and care team on-site 24 hours a day, our residents are taken care of regardless of the season. Don’t wait for a storm to wonder if your loved one is safe. Call today to learn more about our vibrant community!

are in varying stages of dementia, as shown by Dr. David Tolin. An equal-opportunity disorder, hoarding syndrome affects those of all ages, races, genders, educational levels, nationalities and socio-economic statuses.

How to help Signs of hoarding Might someone you know have a hoarding problem? Here are some tell-tale traits: Hoarders don’t tend to let people into their homes. This doesn’t mean they’re anti-social. Often they are happy to meet you somewhere for coffee, take in a movie together, or visit you in your home. The shades are always down, the curtains are always drawn. The person who hoards won’t invite you in, and they don’t want you to see in, either. Things are outside that should be inside, such as appliances, upholstered furniture and knick-knacks spilling onto the porch or into the yard. Frequently, even the car is packed with stuff. They’re using an off-site storage facility (or two or three) to house belongings. Meanwhile, their home is so full that you’re not sure if the couch is even there anymore. Living spaces are so cluttered they cannot be used. Often, hoarders cannot cook in the kitchen, sleep in their beds,

See HOARDING, page B-13

about active retirement living at ASHBY PONDS, GREENSPRING, or RIDERWOOD. FREE 38-PAGE BROCHURE WRITTEN BY THE RETIREMENT EXPERTS!

Call 1-877-575-0231 or visit EricksonLiving.com to request your FREE brochure!

11558922

703-531-0781 | chesterbrookres.org

Coordinated Services Management, Inc. - Professional Management of Retirement Communities since 1981

If you’re seeing these signs, it’s time to initiate the remediation process. The alternative is to wait until an eviction notice is served and state agencies get involved. Bringing the home to a level that can be easily maintained is crucial but, good intentions notwithstanding, the “slash and burn” method is more likely to produce trauma than promote gratitude. During the project, the tasks will include everything from donating, recycling and trashing, to mold removal, heavy cleaning and construction. And sometimes more. Afterwards, ongoing support will be needed, as the underlying causes of hoarding do not go away. (Without regular support, the behavior reappears quickly after remediation.) But before the declutterers, exterminators, cleaners and appraisers can even begin, your job is to communicate with your loved one — to help them see that

GET THE FACTS

AFFORDABLE SENIOR LIVING IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

2030 Westmoreland Street | Falls Church, VA 22043

bathe in their bathrooms — they’re buried in clutter. Plumbing, electricity, heating, air conditioning may not function well, if at all. Insect and animal infestations are common.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Hoarding From page B-12 they have a problem and that it needs to be dealt with immediately. Here are 10 ways to make the process go as smoothly as possible: 1. Set boundaries. Communicate what you can and cannot, will and will not do — respectfully, but firmly. 2. Respect the person who hoards. You can judge the living situation; not the

individual. 3. Listen to the individual’s ideas and plans for their belongings. 4. Find a positive space to begin. Even if it’s just a one-square-foot space that’s not cluttered. It builds on hope, faith and ability, which is often lacking. 5. Encourage them to voice their hopes — realistic or not. 6. Then, help them be realistic. “You’re in violation of health and fire codes, and you’re being evicted. You won’t

be able to go home until we change that.” 7. Be firm in identifying the problem, even when you’re screamed at. One roach means hundreds. One mouse seen equals scores not seen. All carry disease. This is dangerous to health and safety — everyone’s. 8. Professional help is needed. Family and friends, landlords and boards, need help in order to be able to help people who hoard. Legally, physically, psychologically, the remediation is a complex project — a collaboration, not a confrontation. 9. Pace the work. Account for the time it takes to go through years of memo-

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ries, stories and fears. Steady progress in decluttering is most important. 10. How much is good enough? The space needs to be clean and safe, not perfect. No one wants to disrespect a parent, the sweet neighbor next door, the colleague. But is hoarding a threat to health and safety? Yes. The most respectful and caring thing one can do is take action. The sooner action is taken, the sooner that person is safe. Joan Van De Moortel is executive director of Care for You, a homecare services company.

Finding the Right P lace Just Got Easier! Oasis understands that changing homes – at any !"#$%&'%(&)$%*%& %+&),-.(!/%012% $'&12 3%!4& %521-$ % & %).2!4$2%-165(&-"!$+%78%!4$%'$9$2:$'+&'#% -41&-$ %"'+%-1 ! %" 1-&"!$+%;&!4%" & !$+%(&9&'#% 15!&1' /%<%;&((%6$$!%;&!4%81.%!1%-"2$).((8%" $ % 81.2% 5$-&,-%'$$+ 3%52$ $'!%81.%;&!4%"%2$,'$+% (& !%1)% .&!"7($%" & !$+%(&9&'#%-166.'&!&$ 3% -4$+.($%!1.2 3%"'+%"--165"'8%81.%1'%9& &! / Our services are absolutely FREE. There is no cost to you. Before

After

Care for You helped a client with a hoarding problem part with a multitude of possessions to make her dining room space usable again.

703.638.8629 Matrona Busch, CSA • 703.638.8629 • MBusch@YourOasisAdvisor.com FairfaxCounty.OasisSeniorAdvisors.com

Seabury Senior Living Communities Convenient Washington, DC Location C

Great Silver Spring, MD Location

Friendship Terrace makes affordable DC living possible for seniors. Independent living includes fun activities and opportunities to develop rewarding friendships. Residents love our park-like setting, on-site greenhouse, and convenient location—just two blocks from the Tenleytown Metro—close to shopping, restaurants, and more.

Springvale Terrace is a welcoming, caring community for seniors offering independent living as well as personal and assisted living care services. Many social events, seasonal activities, and exercise programs help keep residents active and engaged. Qualifying residents may receive vouchers/subsidies for personal care services.

Stay warm this winter at Friendship.

Experience safety and comfort at Springvale.

Call 202-244-7400 (TRS 711) to schedule a visit.

Call 301-587-0190 (TRS 711) to schedule a visit.

FriendshipTerrace.org 1-800-643-3769 DC RELAY SERVICE • 1-800-643-3768 TTY 4201 Butterworth Place, NW, Washington, DC 20016

SpringvaleTerrace.org 1-800-552-7724 MD RELAY SERVICE 8505 Springvale Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Why reverse mortgages are worth a look By Pete Woodring Until recently, the subject of reverse mortgages rarely ever came up in my consultations with clients. When it was discussed, it was the client who brought it up. I’d easily dismiss the idea of a reverse mortgage because it was an expensive form of borrowing, and posed unnecessary risk when there were other sources of income available. Besides, tapping home equity through a reverse mortgage was always viewed as a last resort for retirees who had insufficient capital to meet their income needs. I’ve since reconsidered my bias against reverse mortgages, and now view them as a viable tool in the context of a holistic retirement income plan in certain situations.

Here’s why: • First, recent rule changes by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) have reduced borrowing costs and lowered the risk to borrowers. It is still a more expensive form of borrowing, but not prohibitively so. • Second, considering the risks facing all retirees who rely on their own capital as a source of lifetime income — sequence of returns, longevity, inflation — it would be foolish not to consider one of their largest stores of wealth, their home, as part of their retirement income plan, even if it was never needed. • Finally, a significant body of research now shows that responsible use of a reverse mortgage can increase both the sus-

tainable withdrawal rate and the net legacy available for heirs.

Reviewing the basics The basic structure of a reverse mortgage allows homeowners over the age of 62 to borrow the equity from their home up to a certain limit based on the borrower’s age, the interest rate and the amount of equity in the home. The amount borrowed, either through a lump sum or monthly payments, is paid back to the lender when the youngest homeowner sells, dies or leaves the property permanently for any reason. The money received is tax-free, and the accrued interest is tax-deductible (up to applicable deduction limit) upon repayment.

Line of credit Another way to access the equity is through a reverse mortgage line-of-credit (LOC). As with any LOC, it can be established and accessed anytime funds are needed. Unlike a traditional LOC, the credit limit of a reverse mortgage LOC actually increases each year. The longer it is not used, the more cash becomes available. Adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) loans can be drawn and repaid indefinitely, and any funds repaid can be used in the future, and will again have the growth factor applied. For fixed-rate loans, they can be repaid, but no additional funds will be available (closed-end loan). It’s these unique properties of the reverse mortgage LOC that offer retirees more planning options that can help protect their assets and improve their quality of life. Here are some ways it can prove helpful:

When stocks falter One of the biggest risks retirees face when converting their capital into income is the so-called “sequence of returns.” If there is an expectation that a retiree can withdraw a certain percentage of their capital each year without the risk of outliv-

ing their income, a prolonged stock market decline early in retirement could require either that the percentage be reduced, or that stocks be sold at a loss to make up the difference. With a reverse mortgage LOC, retirees can tap their equity at a cost of 3 to 5 percent interest, rather than selling stocks at 10 to 30 percent loss. Then, when stock prices recover, some can be sold to repay the LOC. In this way, a reverse mortgage LOC can be the best tool to use to ensure the sustainability of a retirement portfolio.

To delay Social Security benefits For some retirees, delaying Social Security benefits to age 70 is the recommended course if they want to maximize their benefits. Each year benefits are deferred past age 65, the benefit increases 8 percent. However, if income is needed before age 70, retirees can use their reverse mortgage LOC, which charges a rate of 4 to 5 percent (and doesn’t have to be repaid), to meet their income needs. If there is money available when Social Security benefits commence, it can be used to replenish the LOC.

To convert to a Roth IRA For many retirees, receiving taxable income from a 401(k) or a traditional IRA can present problems when it lifts them into a higher tax bracket and subjects a larger portion of their Social Security benefits to taxation. These plans also create potential issues because they are subject to required minimum distributions (RMD) starting at age 70½. A reverse mortgage can help address both problems. Retirees can use their home equity to convert their 401(k) and traditional IRA plans into a Roth IRA. When converting to a Roth, the distributions from a 401(k) or traditional IRA become taxable, which must be paid at the time of conversion. The home equity loan can be used to pay the tax, and from that point forward, any distributions from the See REVERSE MORTGAGES, page B-17

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Why District residents love rent control By Barbara Cline I recently toured a new apartment building. Everything about it was stunning — its rooftop terrace and pool with a sundeck, its fitness center and resident club room. I briefly considered leaving my rentcontrolled frill-less apartment for this renter’s paradise. And then I ran the numbers. My twobedroom, two-bath, 1,250-square-foot rentcontrolled apartment currently rents for $2,500. The two-bedroom, two-bath, 1,175square-foot non-rent-controlled apartment starts at $3,955. And then there are utility costs. My rent includes all utilities — gas, electric, water, sewer and trash. The new apartment charges for water and electricity, and the cost depends on use. I’ve added $100/month for this additional cost in my figuring. The bottom line: $2,500 for rentcontrolled vs. $4,055 for non-rent-controlled apartment. This is a difference of $1,555 a month – or $18,660 a year.

Controlled rent increases The new apartment only offers a oneyear lease. What happens after the lease expires? At that point you must sign a new lease — and your new rent is completely at the landlord’s discretion. Anything goes. And anything does go — I know of renters who have received notice of rent increases in the hundreds of dollars. Rent-controlled apartments are not lowincome housing. My neighbors include a hospital administrator, nonprofit executives and federal government contractors. If you meet the apartment building’s leasing requirements, you can rent a D.C. rentcontrolled apartment. Unfortunately, only apartment buildings built before January 1, 1976 are covered by rent-control laws.

Under the law, what is “controlled” is how often, and by how much, D.C. landlords can raise the rent. Landlords are only allowed one annual standard rent increase to keep pace with inflation. The amount of my rent increase is based on the Consumer Price Index for urban workers (CPI-W), the Department of Labor’s measure of the average annual cost of living increase for wage earners in urban areas. The CPI-W is announced in February, and the rent control year starts on May 1 and goes through April of the following year. The 2016 rent control year began May 2016. My rent-control increase in 2016? ZERO!!

Cheapest for those 62+ There are two levels of rent control increases: Regular: CPI-W plus 2 percent for most rent-control renters. Reduced: CPI-W for seniors (62+) or the disabled (any age), but you must register to be eligible. I had no rent increase last year because the 2016 CPI-W was 0 percent, and I applied for the reduced increase once I became eligible under the age requirements. There are no income requirements for seniors or the disabled to register for this reduced rent increase rate. Other renters in rent-controlled apartments should have seen their rents rise no more than 2 percent last year. After my initial lease term expired, my rent-control lease automatically converted to a month-to-month lease. This lease will be in effect as long as I stay in my apartment — and allows me to continue to receive those low CPI-based rent increases. All D.C. rentals should be following the Tenant Bill of Rights. An explanation of See RENT CONTROL, page B-16

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INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Covenant Village 301-540-1162 18889 Waring Station Road Germantown, MD 20874 www.qpmgmt.com • Spacious 2-bedroom plans with washer/dryer in each apt. • Covenant Village shuttle bus for shopping and local trips • Fitness room, billiard room, game/crafts room, movie theatre • On-site beauty salon, garden plots It’s all about our residents, says Kathy the Property Manager. The staff ensures that the residents always have interesting and exciting activities going on. Some of the fun includes movie nights, new resident meet and greet, holiday parties, fashion shows, and community dinners. Attendance at the wine and cheese and ice cream socials is close to 100%. Covenant Village was recently awarded a trophy by the Property Management Association for being Maryland’s Best Affordable Community in their category! Please call today to make an appointment for a tour.

CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

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INDEPENDENT LIVING

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INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

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INDEPENDENT LIVING

Victory Terrace Apartments 301-983-9600 9440 Newbridge Drive Potomac, MD 20854 www.victoryterrace.com Nestled in a beautiful wooded preserve, Victory Terrace brings comfortable one- and two-bedroom apartment homes for Seniors 62 and better in the prestigious and established residential setting of Potomac, Maryland. These moderately-priced luxury rental apartment homes are convenient to nearby shopping and services. At Victory Terrace, you will enjoy social activities with new friends and the tranquility and peace of mind that comes when you know you have found the perfect home. Gorgeous 2 BR/2BA apartments available for immediate occupancy. Call for a tour. An Equal Housing Opportunity Community.

ASSISTED LIVING/MEMORY CARE

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Home downsizing tips from the pros By Katherine Roth For empty nesters and others who find themselves moving into a smaller space, downsizing can feel emotionally and physically overwhelming. But careful planning and perspective can make it easier. It helps to keep your eyes on the prize, experts say. Envision how great it will feel to be unburdened by excess, and achieve your goal of living happily with less, in a smaller but comfortable space, said Stephanie Sisco, home editor for Real Simple Magazine. For older adults, it may help to think of the process as a way to put things in order now so the burden of sorting through everything doesn’t fall to your family later. For families, downsizing is a great chance to teach kids organizational skills, she said. “Kids might not be able to help much in the garage or kitchen, but they are experts on their own toys, and know which things they care about and which can go,” Sisco said. Here are five suggestions to make downsizing easier:

Don’t guess, calculate Measure your new space to determine exactly what will fit (and what won’t), and precisely where each piece of furniture should go. It helps to draw a floor chart onto graph paper so that each square represents a foot, with furniture pieces cut out from Post-Its and placed appropriately on the grid. Or use one of many available smartphone apps that accomplish the same task, generally in greater detail. “I use the Sweet Home 3-D app, but there are many other apps out there,” said Diana Zagariello, owner and director of Caring Transitions of Long Island, based in Merrick, N.Y. Caring Transitions, which helps seniors downsize, has 170 of-

Rent control From page B-15

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leases — including the application process, signing a lease, discrimination, the meaning of lease clauses and prohibited clauses — and of DC rent-control is found in the Washington, DC Survival Guide, Eighth Edition, May 2013. The guide is available only in hard copy from the Harrison Institute for Housing and Community Development, 111 F Street NW, Suite 102, Washington, DC, 20001; (202) 662-4232. Any DC renter who rents an apartment, condo, coop or room(s) in a house, can get a free review of their lease by an Office of Tenant Advocate (ota.dc.gov) caseworker. Call (202) 719-6560 for an appointment.

Landlord issues All is not perfect in D.C.’s rent control

fices across the country, including one serving the Baltimore area. “It’s important to know exactly what will go where, so you can make the most of the muscle available to you on moving day, and aren’t stuck rearranging heavy furniture in a small space after the movers have gone home,” she said. When helping older people move, she said, get them and everything they’ll be taking with them moved into the new space first. Going through the rest of their things can be too physically and emotionally overwhelming for many seniors, and is often more efficiently accomplished once they have moved out.

Prepare, prepare, prepare Start paring down by making a list of everything you don’t love or need so that you can start selling or giving it away. Add to your list as you sift through your things, Sisco said. Identify appropriate charities. “Before you start a big purge, it’s good to know where you want to donate your items like books, clothes and furniture. Do a little research, and that way you have a plan to quickly get rid of things as you go,” said Sisco. Make sure you have plenty of boxes, Sharpies, zippered plastic bags and other materials for quickly packing. Once you get going, you won’t want to lose momentum because you don’t have enough of the right boxes, she said. In addition, said Zagariello, “Make a nice long list of who to contact about your change of address, what services need to be disconnected or transferred, where you want to donate things or to whom you want to give them. Everything.”

See DOWNSIZING, page B-18

world. The Washington City Paper recently reported on how some management companies use “rent concessions” to jack up the rents by more than their tenants would expect under rent control. A bill co-introduced by council members Mary Cheh, Anita Bonds and Elissa Silverman would regulate this practice. As council member Cheh told the City Paper: “Tenants expect, and we believe the law provides, that rent increases are increases on rent actually paid….What some landlords have been doing is offering lower rents to lure tenants in, but later charging increases based upon what they say was ‘real rent.’ To me, this is a form of cheating, and this bill addresses that.” Reprinted with permission from the “Forest Hills Connection/Home Front/HighRise Life,” an e-magazine for Northwest DC, www.foresthillsconnection.com.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

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Reverse mortgage can be a family affair

Reverse mortages From page B-14 Roth are tax-free. In addition, income from a Roth IRA is not included in the Social Security tax calculation. Here again, a reverse mortgage LOC would be the preferred option because it can be used only as needed and replenished with any excess cash flow.

To pay for long-term care Long-term care insurance is a great way for retirees to shift risk for potential care costs and preserve assets for heirs. But

lender to back out of the deal, leaving you without the cash you need.

Aging in place Despite the risks, intra-family reverse mortgages are gaining popularity as more people aim to “age in place,” and their children struggle to help them financially. “Baby boomers are trying to save for their own retirement and save for the kids’ college.” They want to help their parents, too, but need to be repaid, said Charlie Douglas, board member at the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils. National Family Mortgage, a peer-topeer lending company based in Belmont, Mass., launched an intra-family reverse mortgage in 2015. The company doesn’t disburse funds, but it helps families draft paperwork and track disbursements online. An intra-family loan can be a more accessible option than a federally insured reverse mortgage. The HECM requires that a homeowner be 62 or older, live in the home as their principal residence, attend a counseling session, and demonstrate the financial wherewithal to pay property many shy away because the premiums can be high and increase in the future. The reverse mortgage LOC can be a resourceful way to help pay long-term care insurance premiums without impacting retirement cash flow. Since the credit line is guaranteed to grow over time, it can offset LTC insurance premiums if they rise. For retirees that choose not to insure, or don’t qualify for insurance, the reverse mortgage LOC can be used to directly cover the costs of home care or a spouse’s facility care. When considered in the context of a holistic retirement income plan, a reverse mortgage should be considered with the

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taxes, insurance and other ongoing costs. An intra-family loan, however, has no age or counseling requirements or strict financial qualifications, and the loan can be obtained on a vacation home or other investment property.

An intra-family loan can also be far cheaper than a traditional reverse mortgage. With a HECM, origination fees can be as high as $6,000, and borrowers must pay a number of other fees that typically include the cost of an appraisal, title search, inspection and mortgage insurance premiums. But it may cost only $2,000 or $3,000 to have a lawyer set up an intra-family reverse mortgage. National Family Mortgage charges $2,500 for its service. You don’t have to pay mortgage insurance premiums, and your interest rate will likely be lower than the rate a mortgage lender would charge. In an intra-family loan, the interest rate must equal or exceed the IRS-set “applicable federal rate,” which is now about 2.75 percent for long-term loans.

But there’s a big risk for borrowers: The money may not be there when they need it. The family lenders typically have complete control over disbursing the funds, and can change the disbursement each month or eliminate it altogether. “The lender cannot be legally compelled to make the credit line available,” said Timothy Burke, National Family’s chief executive officer. Family lenders also face risks. Unlike the HECM — which has borrowing limits based on your age, home value and the current interest rate — an intra-family loan generally has no borrowing limit. That raises the risk that the lender may not be fully repaid, said Harry Margolis, a Boston elder law attorney who has set up intra-family reverse mortgages for clients. Before setting up any type of reverse mortgage, consider alternatives such as a home equity line of credit or downsizing. If your house needs many repairs or costly improvements, Douglas said, “it may be better to go ahead and sell the home.” © 2016 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by TCA, LLC.

guidance of an independent financial adviser specializing in retirement income planning. Woodring is founding partner of San Francisco Bay area Cypress Partners, a fee-

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By Eleanor Laise There’s a new question for anyone considering a reverse mortgage: Should you keep it all in the family? Many homeowners 62 and over obtain a reverse mortgage to borrow against their home equity, withdrawing cash to help cover everyday living expenses, pay unexpected medical bills or make home improvements. Typically, these homeowners obtain a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), which is insured by the federal government and issued by a governmentapproved mortgage lender. But a growing number of homeowners are bypassing the government’s program in favor of a cheaper, more flexible option: An intra-family reverse mortgage. With this type of loan, one or more of your adult children or other relatives play the role of lender. By making your reverse mortgage a family affair, you can keep your home in the family and sidestep some of the costs, borrowing limits and other restrictions that come with the HECM. But you also run the risk that a job loss or other financial hardship will prompt your family

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Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Preparing parents for a caregiver at home By Francine Parnes Wanted: licensed caregiver, to provide full-time, at-home care for elderly parents guaranteed to balk over a complete stranger invading the privacy of their home. Indeed, who ever thought their home would double as a caregiver’s workplace? People 65 or older increasingly are being persuaded, cajoled and otherwise prevailed upon by their children to open their doors to paid caregivers, whose presence redefines their home. In some cases, the health aides are welcomed and become part of the family. In others, seniors may see them as intruders, and lash out or curse while getting bathed or fed. Most older adults say they prefer stay-

ing at home to moving into a community or in with relatives or friends, according to numerous AARP surveys. Home seems to offer familiarity, privacy, independence. In some cases, people stay put because they can’t sell their house. But spending the golden years at home often means adapting both home and mindset to accommodate live-in caregivers. The initial hurdle is psychological. “Once we got my dear, sweet mother-inlaw in her 80s past the first battle — ‘I don’t need any help, I am doing just fine’ — she still didn’t want caregivers in her house who weren’t part of her family,” said Cheryl Phillips, a San Francisco-based doctor specializing in geriatrics, and past president of the American Geriatrics Society. “How many of us would want someone

we don’t know — and may not like — living in our space, creating a very intimate relationship not based on our choices?” she asked. “Do the health aides get to watch your TV? Can they park their car in your garage? Can their kids visit? Each point may get negotiated.” Experts offer these tips for ushering in an aide with minimum stress: • Introduce the health aide into the home gradually, in shorter shifts, advised Dr. Eric Rackow, a professor at New York University School of Medicine and president/CEO of Senior Bridge, an organization that manages at-home care. Be prepared, he said, for the older person to struggle at first with this new reality: “Not only is someone sharing my

home, but whether it’s four hours or eight or 24 hours a day, I’m dependent on a ‘stranger.’” • Don’t forget that aides have their own lives, too. “To demonstrate concern for an aide,” said Rackow, “consider showing her where she can comfortably put her personal things, and offer to add some foods that she might enjoy to the shopping list — especially if the aide will be working long days or living in.” • Track the older person’s important possessions. “I encourage seniors to think of their aide like anyone else coming to your home to provide a service,” said Shellie Williams, a doctor specializing in geri-

Downsizing

As bestselling author Marie Kondo writes in The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (Ten Speed Press, 2014), it helps to tackle things methodically, keeping only what you truly love or need.

tor, a friend, a neighbor or family member, Sisco said. It’s important to have support making the many decisions that come up before, during and after a move. Give yourself a 5- or 10-minute break every 45 minutes or so, Sisco said. And if it’s all too much, hire a relocating expert to do part or all of the job. In many cases, estate sales can help cover the cost of their services.

Make it quick

From page B-16

Take on your belongings Begin the process of discarding your possessions by tackling the least sentimental first, so you don’t get bogged down, said Sisco. Start with the laundry room or pantry, for instance, and work your way up to things like photos or mementos — the toughest things to get rid of.

Enlist help “It really helps having someone by your side, helping you stay focused,” Sisco said. It could be someone from a moving company, a professional re-loca-

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See CAREGIVER AT HOME, page B-19

Resettle as quickly as possible to keep your new, smaller home from feeling cluttered. “You want to get all the boxes unpacked and out the door, and everything in place in a matter of days. Otherwise boxes can linger unpacked for far too long,” Zagariello said. “If you’ve done things right in the planning stages, the resettling part should be pretty quick and easy, and the quicker you finish up, the better.” — AP

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

B-19

What hotels can teach us about design By Beth J. Harpaz You know that feeling you get when you walk into a hotel room and you just want to fall on that big white bedspread with the fluffy pillows? Here are some tips from major hotels on how to create that same serene and inviting atmosphere at home.

Surprise and delight Marriott’s Renaissance NY Midtown hotel in Manhattan sought to create moments of “surprise and delight” in public spaces like the lobby and dining areas, as well as in guest rooms. For example, open a closet door, and inside you’ll find bold graphics livening up a space that’s usually unadorned. Toni Stoeckl, vice president of Marriott’s Lifestyle Brands, offers these tips for a similar approach in home design: — Target all the senses, including “what you see, the music, the fragrance,” said Stoeckl. — Keep design elements “real and authentic. No fake flowers, no fake candles.”

Caregiver at home From page B-18 atrics at the University of Chicago Medical Center. “You should not leave out in open sight cash or sensitive legal, financial or medical information, or credit cards.” Of course, verify identity before admitting a stranger into your home, Williams said. • Establish ground rules. As Williams puts it, “This is your home,” not the caregiver’s. Remember: “Aides are employees; we hire them to provide care,” said Debra

— Change artwork periodically. “Have a few pieces of art that you rotate,” said Stoeckl. Consider using the seasons as a scheduling guide for when to change displays.

Painting with light Baccarat is not just a famous brand of French crystal. There’s also the Baccarat Hotel & Residences New York, across from the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan. Chandeliers, glassware and artwork made from Baccarat crystal are hallmarks of the hotel decor, but so is lighting. “The idea of illumination is one of the central reasons why we created the hotel,” said Kemper Hyers, head of design for Starwood Capital Group, which created the hotel. Yet lighting is sometimes overlooked in home design. Lighting your home isn’t just about finding the perfect lamp, Hyers said. It’s also about “painting with light. How do I bring this room to light?” Some tips:

Greenberg, a psychiatric senior social worker in geriatrics at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. “Becoming a part of the home may set up an unrealistic expectation if we think of aides as surrogate family.” Lines do blur: Some families bond with caregivers, breaking bread over dinner. But don’t lose sight of the work relationship, agreed Marki Flannery, executive vice president of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. “You don’t just want someone ‘nice.’ You want someone who has been trained in the many safety and care skills needed to pro-

Loews Hotels offers the following “hints and hacks” from housekeeping managers and other staff. — For “insanely fluffy bed pillows,” toss pillows in a dryer with a tennis ball.

— To dust “like a pro,” use a microfiber cloth (avoid terrycloth). Spritz cleaning solution on the cloth (not on the surface you’re dusting) and wipe in a circular motion from high to low. — To create a cozy ambience for a relaxing bath, light a candle, add essential oils and Epsom salts to the water, and provide accessories, both functional and decorative: sponges, stones, body wash and handmade soap. Place a drink and book tubside, with a fluffy robe and slippers. — To make a guest room welcoming, fold down covers, stand pillows up, put a bottle of water on one side and a glass of milk with cookies and sliced fruit on the other, close the shades and leave one light on by the bed. — To remove crayon from walls, spray WD-40 and scrub vigorously with a rag or paper towel. To remove coffee stains from fabric, blot with light beer, club soda, white vinegar or baby wipes, then scrub with a toothbrush. To remove a red wine stain, soak a cloth in white wine and blot gently. —AP

vide the client with the best possible care,” she said. “Don’t hire someone you think is going to be a good friend, but rather hire some-

one who is trained to act like a guest in the client’s home — friendly but professional,” Flannery said. —AP

— Experiment with tape embedded with LED lights. It’s inexpensive, easy to apply and remove, and widely available. The tape is not only handy for illuminating a shelf or dark corner, but it can also light a wall behind a piece of furniture or spotlight a work of art. — When you buy LED bulbs, “don’t go any cooler than 2700 warm white,” said Hyers, referring to the numerical scale used to measure bulb color. The higher the number, the whiter and cooler the light. — Bulb design improves every few months, so look for the latest options and “play with a mix of bulbs.” You can even buy LED bulbs shaped like classic “Edison bulbs with the long filament, perfectly done,” Hyers said.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

HELP WITH BUDGETING Track your income and expenses with an array of apps and websites that make it easier to stay on budget RESUMÉ REVAMP Refresh your resumé by highlighting actions and results rather than merely listing your jobs ANNUITIES FOR ILLNESS With a medically underwritten annuity, the sicker you are, the higher your monthly income

Securities hotline protects you from fraud It’s no secret that many people reach re- dispute resolution forum for investors and tirement with a nest egg inadequate to last firms. the rest of their expected life. Many will be looking for inImpartial portfolio review vestments with above-average FINRA operates the Securirates of return. ties Helpline for Seniors at 1But higher returns re844-574-3577. The helpline inquires assuming higher risk. forms investors how to review This can make retirees espetheir investment portfolio and cially vulnerable to fraud. account statements, and it adStudies have shown that dresses concerns about the people start losing mental cahandling of a brokerage acpacity after age 70. After 85, it count. can be much worse. The group’s website (www. THE SAVINGS Accordingly, it may be dan- GAME finra.org) provides several ingerous for older investors to By Elliot Raphaelson vestor tools and resources, such as BrokerCheck — a reinitiate new types of investments, and they may be especially suscep- search tool that provides investors valuable tible to promises of high returns from information about brokerage firms and individual brokers, such as recent work history, questionable financial salespersons. For all of these reasons, investors qualifications, state licenses, regulatory acshould take advantage of the support of in- tions, and violations and complaints. Since the helpline was initiated in 2015, dependent parties to help them make intelFINRA has received more than 7,000 quesligent investment decisions. FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulato- tions and complaints from people in all age ry Authority — the largest independent groups. These calls have resulted in more regulator for all securities firms doing than $2.6 million in voluntary reimbursebusiness in the U.S. — can help. Its activi- ments from firms to callers. Callers were concerned about products ties touch every aspect of the securities business, and it administers the largest associated with variable annuities, mutual

funds, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and energy-sector investments. Thanks to these calls, FINRA has been able to identify frauds associated with taxes, bogus lottery wins, fake check scams, and binary options. FINRA reports examples of these frauds on its website as “investor alerts.” Here are two examples: If you receive a call from the IRS, it is fraudulent — the IRS will never contact you by phone. Neither will they ask you to wire transfer funds. FINRA points out that binary options (a type of option, but considered by some regulators to be a form of gambling) are high risk. Often the product offered is fraudulent. When you initiate a complaint to FINRA on its helpline, it can result in an investigation. If FINRA discovers fraudulent activity that is not under its jurisdiction, it will report that information to the appropriate regulator or Adult Protective Services (APS) organization. FINRA has made 110 referrals to 16 APS agencies and to additional state agencies; 483 other issues have been referred to state, federal and foreign regulators.

Better investment information Many of the callers to the helpline are

looking for additional information about products they are being solicited to buy. FINRA provides additional sources to callers so they can do better research before committing to buy. Other agencies can also provide important information about possible fraud in financial and other products, for example: AARP, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office of Investor Education, NASAA’s Serving our Seniors, and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Unfortunately, most scams are reported after they have already ensnared many victims. If you are uncertain about the value of a product being offered to you — or the reliability of the organization or individual selling it to you — take advantage of the resources of FINRA and other independent agencies before you buy. If you have family members who you suspect may lose, or are losing, mental capacity, do what you can to make sure that they do not make any new financial transactions without input from you or an independent organization such as FINRA. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © 2016 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

When your kid is a financial train wreck By Liz Weston Financial planners and credit counselors see plenty of examples: The grown son who lost a job, moved home and stopped looking for work. The daughter who constantly mismanaged her checking account — and turned to payday lenders when parents stopped covering her overdrafts. The father working into his 70s to support spendthrift children in their 40s and 50s. Kristi Sullivan, a certified financial planner in Denver, once worked with an older couple whose offspring constantly turned to them for help. “The clients couldn’t understand why their grandchildren had all the latest iPads and phones, but when a car or home repair came up, their adult children always had to ask them for money,” Sullivan said. Giving adult children money is the norm in the U.S. Six out of 10 parents with adult children said they had given those

children financial help in the previous 12 months, according to a 2014 Pew Research Center survey.

Damaging results Parents usually give because it feels good. Eight out of 10 parents who help adult children — with money, child care, housework or home repairs — said doing so is rewarding, Pew found. But the toll can be steep, advisers say. Supporting able-bodied children, or repeatedly bailing them out of debt, creates dependency when parents should help them become self-sufficient. The unwise spending also can: • Delay or derail the parents’ retirement. • Fuel sibling resentment and family discord. • Enable dangerous behavior, including addiction or untreated mental illness.

The advice to “just say no” doesn’t get far with parents stuck in these patterns, advisers say. Many parents don’t understand the harm they’re doing, and the children certainly have no incentive to change, said Bruce McClary, a former credit counselor and spokesman for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling in Washington, D.C. Change is possible, though, when parents set limits and communicate those limits to their kids.

What planners advise Figure out what you can af ford, Delia Fernandez, a certified financial planner, uses retirement planning software to show what happens if clients continue spending on their kids at their current level. Often, the results are eye-opening. “They’ll say, ‘Why is the chart turning red?’” Fernandez said. “They thought they’d be retiring at 62, but now they’re

looking at 66 or later.” If parents can’t agree on a figure, a third party — such as a planner, accountant or even a therapist — may be able to help. Set expectations. Many parents who support adult kids have never talked about money with those children, planners say. Parents should be clear about when they will and won’t help. If the children aren’t trying to be selfsufficient, any help should have an expiration date. If the offspring needs basic budgeting help, credit counselors can offer advice, classes or debt-management plans. Plan for ‘emergencies.’ Those who are financially irresponsible often limp from crisis to crisis, so parents who set boundaries should expect to get pleas for emergency help. If possible, avoid kneeSee KIDS AND MONEY, page 24

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Websites and apps help with budgeting By Lisa Gerstner We admit it: Budgeting is drudgery, a pain, the pits among personal finance tasks. But at the start of a new year, when people are brimming with resolutions to get organized, accelerate saving and all that, it’s a good time to talk about the B word. Maybe you already track income and expenses. But if not, it’s a good idea to put yourself through the budgeting paces periodically. Developing a blueprint for how you intend to spend and save money is an important step to reach your goals, both in the short term and in the distant future. Plus, budgeting doesn’t have to be painful if you take advantage of websites and mobile apps that help you get organ-

ized. No matter how you prefer to budget, you can probably find one to match your style and perhaps automate the task. Some sites cater to detail-oriented types who want to know “how much they spent on Coke versus Pepsi over the past six months,” said Steve Shaw, vice president of strategic marketing for the digital banking group at Fiserv, a financial-technology company. Others take a broader approach, providing simple expense and income tracking. Here we describe options that fit a variety of users. Some require you to share user names and passwords for your bank, credit card and other online accounts for quick, automatic updates of where your finances stand.

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Mint Website: www.mint.com Best if: You want to budget the easy way Introduced a decade ago, Mint continues to be a go-to application because it offers attractive, easy-to-use tools for tracking financial accounts and creating budgets. Mint can link to your checking, savings, credit

Kids and money From page 23

Beverly L. Heckrotte, P.A. Personalized

A few let you enter transaction data manually — a plus if you’d rather not share your log-in credentials with a third party. But all of them use security measures, such as encryption and password protection, to safeguard your information. These websites and apps are free except where otherwise noted.

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jerk responses, planners say. Parents who decide to step in should set and communicate limits, Fernandez said. For example, they can offer to pay one or two months’ rent to stave off an eviction, but tell the offspring to find affordable shelter after that. Target your help. Very wealthy parents may hand over annual checks as a way to reduce their estates and avoid fu-

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card, loan and investment accounts to let you see how your finances stack up, including a snapshot of your net worth. You can see estimates of your home’s value from Zillow, and your car’s value from Kelley Blue Book. You can also set spending limits in various categories (such as shopping and entertainment), view how much you’ve spent in each area throughout the month, and receive alerts if you go over budget. Plus, you can monitor your progress toward savings goals, such as building a fund for emergencies or a vacation. Mint will slice and dice your finances into graphs over periods you select, displaying See BUDGETING, page 25

ture estate taxes. But giving cash to irresponsible adult children is a bad idea. Instead, parents should direct the money toward something specific, such as paying the mechanic for a car repair or taking over certain bills, planners say. Consider your other kids. Money shouldn’t equal love, but it often does in the siblings’ minds when financial help is doled out unequally, said Laura ScharrBykowsky, a certified financial planner. — NerdWallet via AP

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Budgeting

velopes and can connect as many accounts as you wish, plus you get access to debtmanagement tools and other features.

From page 24 how your net worth has changed over the past year, for example, or in which categories you’ve spent the most during the past month. You can also sign up to get a free credit score from Equifax, and alerts of significant changes to your credit report. Mint recommends credit cards, brokerage accounts and other financial products, but keep in mind that many of the suggestions are from “partner companies,” so you may be able to get a better deal elsewhere.

Mvelopes Website: www.mvelopes.com Best if: You budget the old-fashioned way With the classic budget-by-envelope method, you label envelopes by expense category and stash cash in each. Once an envelope is empty, you’re done spending in that category until the next refill. Mvelopes updates that system for the digital era, allowing you to link your bank and credit card accounts. As income and expenses flow through your Mvelopes in-box, you assign transactions to customizable on-screen envelopes and set up rules to have recurring transactions directed automatically. If you like, you can attach photos of receipts to your transactions, as well as create a savings envelope. You can earmark cash to an envelope up to a year in advance, applying the same monthly limit to the ones that hold regular expenses, and individually marking the rest. If you find that one envelope is too low on funds to cover expenses, or if you have extra money left at the end of the month in another, you can transfer money among envelopes. You’ll have to stick with somewhat broad budgeting categories if you use the free version of Mvelopes, which comes with 25 envelopes and lets you link four accounts. For $95 a year, you get unlimited en-

Personal Capital Website: www.personalcapital.com Best if: You’re an investor who wants the big picture Personal Capital’s strong suit is monitoring your whole financial picture. Link bank, credit card, loan and investment accounts to Personal Capital (or enter data manually) to see a dashboard with charts and graphs that show your net worth, cash flow, portfolio balance and allocation, and best- and worst-performing stocks. You can drill down into each section for more analysis. Within cash flow, for example, you can view how much of your income came from cash deposits, interest, investment income and other sources over a period of 30 days to a year, as well as a breakdown of expenses by category. The displays in each section are colorful, detailed and easy to navigate. And it’s broadening its budgeting capabilities. It will soon allow users of its web application (not just Apple users of the mobile app) to set a spending limit and track how they’re faring against it. Personal Capital’s tools for tracking investments are especially robust. Along with digging into your portfolio to view it from different angles, you can use the Investment Checkup tool to get a suggested target portfolio allocation based on your goals, and the Retirement Fee Analyzer to see an estimate of how much of your earnings in retirement accounts may be lost to fees over time.

an eye on overall spending. This tool’s strong suit is its ability to identify fraud. Regularly checking your bank and credit card accounts for unauthorized charges is a task that can easily fall through the cracks. After you link it to your accounts, Prosper Daily (accessible only through a mobile app) pulls in your transactions and prompts you to verify whether you made them. The app highlights duplicate charges as well as those that occur in unusual loca-

tions. You’ll also get an alert when a merchant with which you’ve done business suffers a data breach. You can choose to be notified when your credit or debit card is used out of proximity of your cell phone (under the assumption that you carry your phone with you most of the time). Free monthly credit score updates are available from TransUnion. © 2016 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by TCA, LLC

Prosper Daily Website: www.prosper.com/daily Best if: You have a fear of fraud Detailed budgeting is best left to other apps, although Prosper Daily’s moneytracking component is useful for keeping

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Focus your resume on actions and results Q: How can I refresh my old resume? A: Target one area at a time. You would get off to a good start by concentrating on the biggest section of a resume, the one typically labeled Professional Experience. I’ll point out a few places there where editing could serve to make your resume more powerful.

Underlying principles

ful in the position they want to fill. To that end, your resume is a marketing document. Consider, too, that effective advertisements tell the “buyer” (in this case, the employer) the specific benefit he/she will get from the “purchase” (in this case, the candidate). Therefore, your resume should be customized over and over again — to respond to the specific needs of each employer you contact.

Keep in mind that the purpose of a resume is to win an CAREER COACH Necessary data interview. Therefore, your re- By Judy Smith Most resumes are based on a sume should be written in a collection of facts about one’s way that convinces the prospective employ- past that relate to the job sought. The facts er that you have what it takes to be success- cover all the mandatory information: the can-

didate’s job titles, names of employers, lists of duties performed and dates of service. However, simply listing the jobs one had makes for a boring resume. The critical facts simply tell the reader the tasks you performed, but not how you performed them. Substantiated data stands out. Results of your efforts, plus how the company benefited from your performance, is the ‘juice’ in a resume. First, clarify what the prospective employer is looking for and what you have to offer in that regard. Ask yourself, “What would make someone the perfect candidate for that job?” Then write or type everything you’ve ever done that demonstrates you fit with what the employer in each case needs and wants.

Validated data

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Key words are key Companies use databases to manage the large number of resumes they commonly receive. These databases have builtin search engines to find key words in the resumes submitted. Key words are the words in a job description that collectively describe the job. Those words identify job duties that typically refer to things like technical expertise, management skills, industry know-how, etc. The first three bullet points in a job description usually contain significant key words. Use these key words appropriately in as many sections of your resume as you can. How to select the key words to incorporate in your resume: • Make a list of approximately 15 to 20 terms that describe your qualifications for the position you’re seeking. • Print the job post and highlight the key words you find there. • Match the key words in the job post with the relevant ones on your list of personal qualifications. • Use the matching words in your resume. The resume is an essential part of getting a new job. Taking the time to learn how to write a powerful one gives you the best chance of getting the job you want. Send your job search questions to Smith at smithjudit@gmail.com, or visit her website at www.judysmith.solutions.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 9+

CAREER ADVICE

40Plus of Greater Washington helps accomplished professionals navigate career transitions through an all-volunteer, peer-to-peer approach. A speaker offers advice each Monday, from 9:45 to noon, free and open to the public. On Jan. 9, the subject is “Experience is Your Competitive Advantage,” on Jan. 16, it’s “How to Apply Your Government/Small Business Experience to the Nonprofit Sector,” Jan 23 is “Trends and Opportunities for Marketing Professionals,” and Jan. 30 is “The Psychology, Science and Art Behind Your Style.” 40Plus is now located at the Foundation Center, 1627 K St. NW, Suite 300, Washington, D.C. For more information, see http://40plusdc.org or call (202) 387-1582.

Ongoing

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Think about how you performed the tasks listed on your resume better than anyone else. Then validate your actions in terms of accomplishments, such as: increased revenue, reduction in required time, new programs created, improved management outcomes, etc. Your accomplishments should not be generalized. To be believable, your performance has to include quantifiable terms. For example: • Oversaw agency fundraising campaigns; raised over $1.5 million annually • Designed, developed and administered broad range of regional events; some functions involving as many as (number of) participants Accomplishments expressed in measurable terms help you stand out. They clarify

your ‘brand’. (See “On the job search? How to market yourself,” June Beacon, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/select-stories/lawmoney/job-search-how-market-yourself).

MEDICARE HELP

Turning 65? Here are important questions you need to think about: Do you need to sign up for Medicare now? Can you work and still get Medicare? Do you know the Medicare alphabet, A,B, C and D? Join Montgomery County’s Senior Information Sessions. These free sessions are offered through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). For more information, visit www.medicareabcd.org or call (301) 255-4250.

Jan. 17

GENEALOGY TALK

The Mount Vernon Genealogical Society presents “Courthouse Treasures: Looking Beyond Deeds and Probate Records,” a free talk on Tuesday, Jan. 17 from 1 to 3 p.m. Most genealogists use deeds and probate records at the local courthouse, but courthouses often have many other records. What might your local courthouse have and how do you find them? Find out from Charles S. “Chuck” Mason, Jr., a certified genealogist, who will speak in Room 112 of the Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Rd., Alexandria, Va. For more information, visit www.mvgenealogy.org or call (703) 768-4101.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

Can’t qualify for insurance? Try an annuity By Eleanor Laise The vast majority of older adults don’t have long-term care insurance. For all but the wealthiest, deteriorating health or an imminent need for care can raise real concerns about running out of money. One solution: a medically underwritten single-premium immediate annuity (SPIA). Like traditional immediate annuities, these contracts offer a lifetime of monthly payments in exchange for a single up-front investment. But unlike plain-vanilla immediate annuities, which base payouts on your age and gender, a medically underwritten annuity throws your health into the mix: the sicker you are, the higher your monthly income. That feature can make these annuities critical tools for seniors with serious health conditions. “When you’re sick, you can’t qualify for long-term care insurance,” said Stan Haithcock, an annuity agent. If you are in that boat and need care, he said, a medically underwritten SPIA may be “the only hope you have of enhancing a payout to cover those expenses.”

No claims to file Unlike long-term care insurance, medically underwritten SPIAs don’t require any claims filing or ongoing assessment of your eligibility for benefits. And you can use the money for any purpose — whether it’s paying for care or covering other living expenses. But the annuities do have their drawbacks: You’re typically locking up a big chunk of money, and if you die shortly after buying the product, you may receive

far less in benefits than you paid in premium. Although medically underwritten SPIAs are niche products today, offered by just a handful of insurers, industry experts expect the market to grow as baby boomers age. One sign of fresh interest in the products: The insurance giant Genworth recently launched its first medically underwritten SPIA.

Assessing eligibility To qualify for the higher payouts offered by medically underwritten SPIAs, you’ll need to prove that your life expectancy is shorter than standard actuarial tables suggest. Some insurers, such as Genworth, require an in-person assessment by a nurse. Others may simply ask you to complete a detailed health questionnaire and provide medical records. At Mutual of Omaha, for example, applicants are asked to list all medications, and disclose any cigarette use, cancer, heart attacks, lung disease, diabetes, strokes and other conditions, said D.J. Kohlhaase, an actuary at the firm. The underwriting process may take 30 days or more. The payoff: People in poor health can get significantly more income than they would receive from a traditional SPIA. Consider a 75-year-old widower with heart disease, diabetes and dementia, who needs help with some daily activities such as bathing. He needs $30,000 in annual income to help cover his care expenses. If he opts for a traditional SPIA that pays income for his life only, with no inflation protection, he’d have to spend roughly

BEACON BITS

Jan. 23

DECLUTTERING TIPS

Dupont Circle Village presents its monthly Live and Learn Seminar on Monday, Jan. 23, featuring Joel Danick, owner of TAD Relocation. Danick will focus on how to attack the challenge of decluttering. The program is free and open to the public and will be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 23 at Foundry Methodist Church, located at 1500 16th St. NW. The facility is wheelchair accessible. For more information or to reserve a spot, contact Linda Harsh at (202) 234-2567 or lindajkh@mac.com.

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$336,000 to get that much income. But Genworth’s medically underwritten SPIA, the Income Assurance Immediate Need Annuity, would give him $30,000 in annual income for just over a $150,000 payment. Generally speaking, “if someone is in poor health, they can get a quarter to a third more from this annuity than from a traditional non-underwritten SPIA,” said Debapriya Mitra, senior vice president for product and business strategy at Genworth. While medically underwritten annuities aren’t for people in good health, they’re also not appropriate for the sickest seniors. If you have a very short life expectancy, it doesn’t make sense to pay the big up-

front premium for this product. Insurers offer optional features, such as inflation protection and enhanced death benefits. But these bells and whistles can take a big bite out of your monthly income. For example, a 75-year-old man with heart and lung disease investing $100,000 in Genworth’s annuity would reduce his monthly income by 12 percent by opting for a death benefit that would guarantee him at least three years’ worth of income. (The Genworth annuity comes with a built-in early death benefit if you die within six months of buying the product.) © 2016, Kiplinger. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Travel Leisure &

Resorts in Bora Bora offer private glass-bottomed huts above the crystal clear Pacific. See story on page 30.

Good times in Louisiana Cajun country This is also Creole country — home to people descended from settlers of French or Spanish origin. Some have African or Native American ancestry, too. Acadiana is truly an ethnic potpourri known for its unique culture and history.

Bayous and zydeco The region is a mushy, marshy maze of sluggish channels called bayous that connect sprawling floodplain forests, cypress-tupelo swamps, backwater lakes and wetlands. These hot and humid wilderness “saunas” exude mystery and enticement, qualities that inspire a savory cuisine, like famous slowcooking gumbos, shrimp étoufeé and crawfish stew. Many Cajun dishes merge multiple ingredients that gurgle and simmer like a smarmy swamp on a hot day. And there’s something about these wetlands that brings out the musical talents of the people, both professionals and amateurs. Remember the song that goes “Shrimp boats are acomin’. There’s dancing tonight”? Or that Hank Williams line, “Jambalaya, crawfish pie, filé gumbo”? It doesn’t take much to get most locals onto the dance floor twirling to fast-paced, zydeco tunes like “Lache Pas Pa La Pate” (Don’t Let Go of the Potato) or “Les Haricot Sont Pas Salés” (The Snap Beans Aren’t Salty). Zydeco bands, featuring guitars, accordions and apron washboards called frot-

By Glenda C. Booth Let the good times roll, they say. In French, “Laissez les bons temps rouler.” And roll they do in southern Louisiana’s Cajun Country. Locals love to sing, dance, cook, eat and party hard in year-round festivals that celebrate cracklin’s, catfish, crawfish, shrimp, boudin, gumbo, okra, frogs, ducks, alligators, zydeco, petroleum and sugarcane, for starters. And that’s all in addition to the big February blowout — Mardi Gras — with its orgy of beads, masks, parades, king cakes and extravagant balls. New Orleans’ revelry is renowned, but Mardi Gras also explodes in Cajun Country towns like Lafayette, Eunice, Jeanerette and New Iberia. Cajun Country is a part of southern Louisiana consisting of 22 parishes (or counties) in the 150-mile Atchafalaya Basin — the nation’s largest river wetland. Also called Acadiana, the region is named for L’Acadie, the Nova Scotia homeland of French-speaking settlers who were kicked out by the British when they refused to pledge allegiance to Britain and forsake Catholicism in the 1700s. The refugees were attracted to Louisiana’s French heritage (Louisiana is named for France’s king Louis XIV), and they adapted over time to the region’s watery landscape.

Each year, the town of Mamou, La., like many in the Cajun country of Louisiana, holds a colorful and raucous Mardi Gras celebration on the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent.

toirs, are as common as coffee pots.

Happy Lafayette

COURTESY OF LAFAYETTE CONVENTION & VISITORS COMMISSION

Acadian Village in Lafayette, La., depicts life in 19th century southwest Louisiana, showcasing historic homes alongside winding bayous, as well as a blacksmith shop and general store. Most of the buildings are authentic and were relocated to the village from nearby towns.

Lafayette is the unofficial “capital” of Acadiana, and the center of Cajun lore, the region’s rich mix of French, Spanish, African and Caribbean traditions. “If you want to know Cajun culture, this is the place to come,” said Dianne Monteleone, a retired history teacher and volunteer at the visitor’s center. The Wall Street Journal’s Marketwatch.com labeled Lafayette “the Happiest City in America.” The Acadian Cultural Center tells the Cajuns’ story through exhibits, ranger programs, films, wetland walks and boat tours. It recounts how, after decades of suppressing their heritage (speaking French in school was stigmatized as a sign of ignorance), Cajuns restored pride in their culture. This National Park Service site shows a film, The Cajun Way: Echoes of Acadia, documenting the Cajuns’ exile. It includes clips from a 1929 silent film, Evangeline — the story related in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1847 poem about an Acadian girl searching for her lost love, Gabriel, during the deportation. Vermilionville, a 23-acre living history folk life park, honors Acadian, Native American and Creole 18th and 19th centu-

ry cultures. In 19 Acadian-style structures, including traditional homes, artisans spin cotton, carve wooden decoys, make cornhusk dolls and weave palmetto leaves. Front and center is the dance hall, where jam sessions heat up every Saturday and dancers of all skill levels take to the floor in lively jigs, waltzes and twosteps. In the St. John the Evangelist Cathedral, a Dutch-Romanesque edifice, visitors seeking spiritual comfort are reminded of nature’s wrath in these parts by a flyer, the “Prayer for Safety in Hurricane Season.” It reads in part: “The Gulf, like a provoked and angry giant, can awake from its seeming lethargy...yearning for a stormless eternity.” Union soldiers once camped on the church’s grounds, under the now-500-yearold, 126-foot-high St. John oak, and among the churchyard’s aboveground tombs dating back to 1820.

Small towns and swamps Straying from America’s happiest city may be tough, but many gems await the curious in nearby small towns, eateries, historic churches, oyster bars, antique shops and dance halls. St. Martinville spotlights Evangeline See LOUISIANA page 29

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Louisiana From page 28 with a statue in the graveyard next to the Mother Church of the Acadians, St. Martin de Tours. At the Acadian Memorial, a bronze wall of names honors 3,000 Acadians who fled to Louisiana, and an eternal flame symbolizes human resilience. Next door, the African American Museum traces the diaspora from West Africa. Alligators are part of life here, central to the local culture. Confederate soldiers wore alligator shoes, and today, farmed alligators end up on dinner plates. Chances are you’ll see some on a boat tour in the Atchafalaya Basin’s 860,000 acres of swamps, bayous and backwater lakes. You’ll also likely see slithering snakes, great white egrets taking flight and basking turtles.

Passionate cooking, eating Whether it’s sauce piquant, gumbo, jambalaya, turtle soup, oyster pie, shrimp remoulade, catfish Orleans, oysters Rockefeller, crawfish étoufée or grilled gator tail, people in southern Louisiana live to eat, they say. In her Cajun cookbook, titled Who’s Your Mama, Are You Catholic and Can You Make a Roux?, Marcelle Bienvenu, the “Queen of Cajun Cooking,” says that cooking is a passion, and preparing and serving it are “an intimate form of communication.” The cuisine, like the people, is a rich mélange: tomatoes from the Creoles; the spicy herb filé from Native Americans; okra from Africans; rice from the Chinese;

the roux from the French. Gourmands might say that Cajun cooking combines multiple ingredients in a single dish that Cajuns created originally to feed large families. Creole dishes, with French and Spanish origins, often feature sauces. Today, these distinctions are blurred. Louisiana chefs maintain that Cajun and Creole dishes start with the “holy trinity”: sautéed celery, bell pepper and onion. And good food is a good reason to party. For example, Scott, Louisiana, the “Boudin Capital of the World,” just west of Lafayette, stages the annual Boudin Festival. Boudin? “Boudin is a unique Cajun specialty, a familiar recipe that has been passed down from one generation to the next,” explains the festival’s website. “It’s basically a combination of rice, a special blend of seasonings, and traditionally pork, but you may also find Boudin made with shrimp, crawfish or even some alligator, and rolled up in sausage casing.” This popping-eating-dancing fest made the top 20 events compiled by the Southeast Tourism Society in 2016. Speaking of zingy cuisine, tabasco sauce was invented on Avery Island, 28 miles south of Lafayette. The 70,000-square-foot Tabasco Pepper Sauce Factory, run by the founder’s great-grandson, spews out 700,000 bottles of the signature sauce daily — a tangy elixir that “excites the appetite, promotes digestion, and is pronounced by connoisseurs to be the finest condiment in the world.” It’s made from capsicum peppers using the founder’s patented 1868 recipe. Visitors can watch a conveyor belt of

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bottles jiggle along being filled and capped before heading off to 160 countries. The tasting bar tempts with flavors like garlic, chipotle and habanero. The tabasco name? A Native American word, it means “land of the hot and humid.” Friendly small towns, azaleas blooming year-round, crawfish boils, praline-flavored bacon, shrimp freshly plucked from the water, mysterious swamps, live oaks draped in dangly Spanish moss, zydeco spilling out of dance halls — it’s all in Cajun country, where the natural, cultural, culinary and musical combine into a really good time. Let the good times roll!

If you go Visit www.lafayettetravel.com for a trip planner, lodging, events, food and swamp tours and more. Lafayette is 153 miles east of New Orleans, a 2.5- to 3-hour drive. In late January and early February, round-trip flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to New Orleans range from $285 to $450; from Reagan National, $220 and up. Spring and fall are the best times to visit weather-wise, with average daytime temperatures in the 70s and 80s. In February and March, the average temperatures are from the mid-40s to 70s.

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

A bucket list trip to exotic Bora Bora By Jennifer McDermott Somehow, I convinced my husband that the fifth wedding anniversary is the Tahitian anniversary. (The traditional gift, actually, is wood.) For years, I had dreamed of going to Bora Bora in French Polynesia. The lagoon’s glimmering turquoise, jade and cobalt blue waters, the overwater bungalows, the seclusion — for me, it was the ultimate bucket list destination. Some of the world’s most famous celebrities vacation in Bora Bora. Jennifer Aniston honeymooned there. Pictures of Justin Bieber swimming naked in Bora Bora circulated far and wide online. Usain Bolt celebrated his Olympic victories there last September.

A real splurge That doesn’t mean normal couples can’t go too — if they can afford it, that is. Our trip for a week, including flights and our hotel stay (with breakfast), cost just under $10,000. My husband and I spent a week lounging on the deck of our bungalow at Le Meridien Bora Bora. We woke early to catch brilliant orange and pink sunrises. We got up-close-and-personal with sea creatures, from moray eels and trumpetfish, to sea turtles, sharks and stingrays. We discovered that the saying heard in pearl shops, “You don’t choose the pearl, the pearl chooses you” is surprisingly true. Most of all, we tried to relax and take it all in. Bora Bora, located about 160 miles northwest of Tahiti, was formed by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. Mount Otemanu, a remnant of the volcano, rises nearly 2,400 feet on the island and serves as the backdrop of many photos. About 9,000 people live in Bora Bora.

The temperature is a relatively consistent 80 degrees. The island is set in a lagoon and surrounded by a string of motus, or small islets, where luxury resorts are located. The colors are stunning. A friend said my photo looked like a watercolor painting. We flew to Los Angeles, where many U.S. flights to Tahiti converge. From Los Angeles, it’s about an eight-hour overnight flight to Papeete, Tahiti. It’s less than an hour by plane from there to Bora Bora. Then it’s a short boat ride to the main city, Vaitape, or to one of the luxury resorts. We didn’t need vaccinations or a visa. Our overwater bungalow faced outward to the lagoon, which we requested when booking. Others are turned in, toward the resort. It featured a glass floor for fish watching, and a spiral staircase for climbing directly into the lagoon. We splurged on massages early in the week, before our pale skin turned a reddish hue. And we fed baby sea turtles at the Turtle Center established at Le Meridien. We took the hotel’s boat to The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort to dine at the exclusive Lagoon restaurant by acclaimed French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and to check out the lavish bungalows with private swimming pools over the lagoon.

Aquatic adventures We tried paddle boarding. Then we tried snorkeling to find the sunglasses we lost while paddle boarding. Adventurous couples buzzed around the island on jet skis. Feeling adventurous ourselves, we signed up for a snorkeling trip to swim with stingrays and sharks. There are so many See BORA BORA, page 32

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Ongoing

FREE SENIOR CENTER SHUTTLE

Montgomery County Recreation provides a combination of curbto-curb and fixed-route transportation, Monday through Friday, to the county’s five senior centers. County residents 55 and over are eligible for this program if they are within the service area for one of the centers. For more information, call the Senior Programs Team at (240) 777-4925.

Ongoing

D.C. FREE TRANSPORTATION

Seabury Resources for Aging offers the Seabury Connector, a free transportation service for D.C. residents 60 years and older. The bus provides service to medical appointments and social service agencies. It also takes residents on group grocery shopping trips. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/SeaburyConnector or call (202) 727-7771.

Jan. 31

WIZARDS VS. KNICKS GAME

Arlington County presents a trip to the Verizon Center to see the Wizards play the New York Knicks on Tuesday, Jan. 31. The bus will depart from Lubber Run Center, located at 300 N. Park Dr. at 5:30 p.m., and will return at 10:30 p.m. (time subject to change). The cost is $54 for residents; $62 for non-residents. Register early. For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/ArlingtonTrips or call (703) 228-4744.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Vacation bliss in the colorful Cook Islands By Giovanna Dell’Orto Swaying in a hammock hung from coconut trees, floating down a cyan-blue channel, or swimming in a cloud of tropical fish, all I could think was, this place is too perfect to be real. Aitutaki consists of a handful of small islands encircled by a lagoon in the middle of the South Pacific. It’s the paradise you always dreamed of, but never quite believed could exist: uncrowded, inexpensive, safe and friendly, and stunningly gorgeous around, in and under the ocean. Here’s the catch on visiting Aitutaki: It’s not that easy to get to. First you fly to Rarotonga, the largest of the Cook Islands — 15 volcanic islands and atolls scattered over an area the size of the Mediterranean. There are flights to Rarotonga from Los Angeles, Tahiti, New Zealand and Sydney. From Rarotonga’s open-air airport, I walked into town for the quintessential Polynesian souvenir, black pearls, then hopped on the city bus that circles the island in an hour to snorkel off Aroa Beach. A 50-minute Air Rarotonga flight took me to Aitutaki, which has about 2,000 inhabitants and only 229 rooms for visitors, hidden among the palms. When three couples from the luxury hotel next to my

cabin took out kayaks, the miles-long white beach felt outrageously packed.

Huts on the beach For Bora Bora-style overwater bungalows at over $1,000 a night, check in at the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa. For 1/20th of that price, at Matriki Beach Huts, I got a cabin on the sand with private outdoor shower and deck exactly 19 steps from the lagoon surf. See www.matriki.com. Bright red petals were on the bed, but manager Lisa Green also shared a jar of peanut butter, drove me to three tiny grocery stores for picnic lunch provisions, and let me pick star fruit in the garden. For about $20, including cold beer, I had just-caught tuna steaks with homemade passion-fruit marinade at Puffy’s Beach Bar, and ika mata — raw tuna cubes in coconut cream — at the Boat Shed on the eastern tip of the island.

A safe destination I went to the Boat Shed on a rented bicycle from Matriki, and was told that if the half-hour after-dinner ride was too much, I could just park it outside the restaurant (no locks required) and any driver would get me home. © CHAMELEONSEYE

A Polynesian woman wears a crown of exotic flowers grown in her garden on the remote island of Aitutaki, part of the Cook Islands in the South Pacific.

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I decided to pedal instead along the pitch-black road through the fragrant night, but I cannot think of anywhere else I would have considered either option safely possible. Even in larger Rarotonga, an airport representative told me I could safely spend a short overnight layover napping on the terminal’s outdoor picnic benches after the building closed. “There may be some roosters though,” was the one note of caution he sounded.

Because the Cook Islands are independent but in “free association” with New Zealand, they use NZ dollars, speak English (and Maori), and drive on the left side of the road. Although I visited in early July, during the Southern Hemisphere winter, Aitutaki was bursting with palm fronds, in shades of mint to lime to shamrock green, and luxuriant blossoms of bougainvillea, hibiscus See COOK ISLANDS, page 32

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Snorkelers swim past a vacation bungalow built over the translucent turquoise water of the South Pacific off the island of Bora Bora. Many of the small lodgings feature a glass floor through which visitors can watch fish swim below.

Bora Bora From page 30 stingrays there, you feel their slick, rubbery bodies hitting your legs. One is an older, docile stingray the guides call “grandma.” Our guide from Teiva Tours lifted grandma and kissed it — on the mouth! But when the guides started “chumming” the waters with fish parts to draw blacktip sharks, we climbed back into the boat. The sharks were much more interested in the fish than in us, but we weren’t taking any chances of a misdirected chomp. In deeper waters, we snorkeled at the surface as 9-foot lemon sharks glided along the bottom. We also spent a day in Vaitape. There’s a center where locals sell their crafts, a small marketplace to stock up on sunscreen, juice and inexpensive French wine, and a cafe. The mountainside is home to cannons left behind by U.S. forces during World War II.

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The main thing we did, though, was shop for Tahitian pearls. We were leaving one of the stores when I caught a glimpse of a pair of green pearl earrings. I walked away but no other pearl could compare, so we returned at the end of the day to buy the pearl that chose me. There’s a must-visit spot along the coastline, about 3 miles from the city center: Bloody Mary’s, a funky restaurant known for its seafood and celebrity visits. I enjoyed the restaurant’s signature plate of teriyaki wahoo, and the house drink — a Bloody Mary of course — while my husband loved trying meka, a broadbill swordfish found in the South Pacific. By the entrance, there’s a long list of famous people who have dined there. At the hotel, we ended the week as we began. We lounged on the deck, telling each other how unbelievable it was that we got to see such beauty in person and check Bora Bora off our bucket list. Flights to Papeete in French Polynesia start at $1,800 roundtrip from area airports, and take 17 to 24 hours, depending on layovers. — AP

Cook Islands From page 31

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and frangipani. Many of the latter ended up around my neck in an elaborate ‘ei (what leis are called in the Cook Islands) after I passed by a health conference in a village hall. I was invited to stay for opening prayer, with a rippling polyphonic Maori hymn, and to return for that night’s party, when we washed down a gargantuan homecooked buffet with fresh coconut water.

Technicolor travel Within wading distance of my bed, I snorkeled among cobalt blue starfish and Pixar-worthy creatures in silver, black or yellow patterns with names like Moorish idol, threadfin butterflyfish and lemonpeel angelfish. During a daylong cruise to uninhabited motu — tiny reef islands — on Lisa’s husband’s fishing boat, I saw purple coral and football-sized, sapphire-blue clams. But the colors were even more surreal above water: transparent over the sand bars, periwinkle in the surf, swirls of turquoise, green and aquamarine in the lagoon, while the lapis-lazuli Pacific roared against the reef. It struck me that Aitutaki sits blissfully inside its reef like the best vacation amid real life: Sharks, capsizing waves, and cold abysses are still out there, but they can’t get at you here. For travel information on the Cook Islands, see www.cookislands.travel. Two to four flights daily on Air Rarotonga connect Rarotonga with Aitutaki. Air New Zealand flies from area airports. The lowest early February roundtrip fares to Rarotonga start at about $2,000, and take a total of 38 to 45 hours, including layovers. — AP

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Say you saw it in the Beacon

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Arts &

Smokey Robinson and his wife Frances collaborate on a line of skincare products. See continuation of the cover story on page 36.

A titanic, yet intimate triumph at Signature ters, and you know what they do not. And yes, there is enough theater magic here to give you a sense of what it’s like to be on a sinking ocean liner. And what you may not see with your own eyes, you certainly see through the eyes of the wide slice of humanity packed onto this iron behemoth.

PHOTO BY COLIN HOVDE

By Michael Toscano Signature Theatre has packed a big experience into a small space with their stunning production of Titanic, in performance at their 330-seat MAX Theatre through Jan. 29. The effect is to concentrate the impact of the familiar encounter with historic tragedy, to make it richer and dazzlingly vibrant. The focus here is on the human dimension of this tale of hubris, hope and heartbreak. The technical spectacle of the original Broadway version greatly helped to make the production a rousing success. But its requirements make mounting this musical too daunting, and too expensive, for most theater companies to even consider. Of course, they don’t have Eric Schaeffer. Signature’s founding mentor and artistic director took on the challenge of presenting a show about a sinking ship…without a ship. Forget the iceberg; there’s not even an ice cube to be seen. But you know what? You don’t even miss them. Schaeffer and company use the relatively intimate space in the MAX to let you feel this experience, not just witness it. It’s a challenge not to become involved emotionally when you are so close to the charac-

Going big Titanic’s thrilling, cinematic score is performed by a larger-than-usual orchestra. The sizable cast has been meticulously chosen, each member marvelously talented and seemingly perfect for each role. Mix in evocative lighting, tight and fluid movement, and dynamic pacing that allows a mix of empathy and foreboding to co-mingle, and you have a show that grabs and holds your full attention for the entire two-hours-and-20-minute run time. Schaeffer has configured the MAX black box as theater-in-the-round (square, actually) for the first time. You’re never more than four or five rows away from the stage. The spell is cast as soon as the story opens and we meet the boarding passengers. I don’t know exactly where the work between choreographer Matthew Gar-

Stephen Gregory Smith and Katie McManus portray passengers on the ill-fated Titanic in Signature Theatre’s performance of the Broadway musical. The show, featuring a large cast and orchestra, is on stage through Jan. 29.

diner and director Schaeffer overlaps, but the graceful parade of passengers has an elegiac element that makes us see ghosts. And it’s both chilling and exhilarating. The advantage Signature has is that we

bring to the theater with us a pretty complete set of mental images. We know Titanic’s look and its feel and its sounds already. See TITANIC, page 34

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Titanic From page 33 That allows our imaginations to fill in a fairly detailed picture as we experience those things vicariously through the passengers

and crew members. It is a gamble, and it really pays off. Credit Amanda Zieve’s meticulously imaginative lighting and Ryan Hickey’s lively sound design for a lot of that, too. This is not the Leonardo DiCaprio-Kate

BEACON BITS

Jan. 14+

FORTY+ DANCE SHOW

Forty+ is a group of performers past the age of 40 dedicated to the power of movement. Their next performance features a collection of short works on Saturdays, Jan. 14 and Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m. Choreographers Andie deVaulx and Sandra Atkinson contribute new works, and recent works by Emily Crews and Jane Franklin will be performed. This event will take place at Theatre on the Run is located at 3700 S Four Mile Run Dr., Arlington Va. General admission tickets cost $15. Tickets purchased at the door cost $20. For more information, visit www.janefranklin.com/performances/tickets or call (703) 933-1111.

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Winslet Titanic adventure. We don’t meet those fictional characters. We do meet a mélange of people, historic and fictional, who each have their own stories in this place and time. The long opening song-cycle is an invigorating paean to the human spirit, combining ingenuity and arrogant pride. There’s optimism and relief, for some, that a new and better life is about to begin in America.

Star power Many in the cast are Signature and regional favorites, their faces full of humanity, their voices both powerful and sublime. There’s the great Bobby Smith, redoubtable Erin Driscoll, reliable Christopher Bloch, Sam Ludwig, powerhouse Tracy Lynn Olivera, Christopher Mueller, Stephen Gregory Smith, versatile Lawrence Redmond, and on and on. All are flawless. I write that with full awareness that it seems a trite generalization. But it is, in fact, quite true. One of my favorite scenes takes place in the telegraph cabin. It’s a romanticized experience with the still-new technology. The starry night on the sea is alive with voices, communicating by dits and dots, a marriage proposal carried by a spark. Nick Lehan’s gentle baritone is achingly tender in “The Proposal,” as telegraph operator Frederick Barrett. In “Lady’s Maid,” Katie McManus, Jamie Eacker and Erin Driscoll project the unwavering certainty that life in America will be better for three Irish gals, blending hope and reality seamlessly. The trio makes it both poignant and affirming, and makes one hope we are still the country these immigrants are seeking. Act One glides to an end on the icy cold, calm night, the mighty ship knifing through the Atlantic’s still, deep waters. The idyll is in its final moments. No moon. No wind. Tension begins to worm its way into your

psyche. The strident bell. The seat-rattling rumble of a crash. Black. The lights come up on a shaken audience, each member aware of the harrowing experience still to come in Act Two. There’s not space enough to describe all the stirring songs and all the exceptional performances. Or to describe how it is to watch your fellow human beings try to cope with the knowledge they will soon have nothing solid left beneath them to anchor them to this world. Moments, though, come to mind. Never has a modest lurch of a chandelier seemed so shockingly ominous. There’s the painful, yet hauntingly beautiful, scene of passengers bathed in icy blue light, moving in slow motion, their faces etched with shock and horror, frozen in time. Titanic is a triumph.

Tickets and special events Titanic continues through Jan. 29 at Signature Theatre’s MAX Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, Va. Post-show discussions will be held Wednesday, Jan. 4 and Tuesday, Jan. 10. Pride Night is Jan. 6, and there are open captioned performances Jan. 15 at 2 p.m. and Jan. 17 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $40 to $114. Rush tickets are available for $30 at the box office an hour prior to the show, subject to availability. Tickets may be purchased online at www.signature-theatre.org, by calling Ticketmaster at 703-573-SEAT, or by visiting the Box Office during business hours, weekdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from noon to 6 p.m. The theater is accessible for people with disabilities, and it is recommended that special seating needs be mentioned when tickets are purchased. Free listening devices are available. Free parking is available in nearby public garages.

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Jan. 12

ARTIST LUNCH

The Fairfax Art League will host a free Art & Lunch event at Old Town Hall on Thursday, Jan. 12 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Bring lunch and enjoy the company of other artists. New members are welcome. Old Town Hall is located at 3999 University Dr., Fairfax, Va. For more information, visit www.fairfaxartleague.net or call (703) 587-9481.

Jan. 24

LATE-IN-LIFE ROMANTIC FILM

The Washington Jewish Film Festival presents a screening of The Second Time Around, a film about late-in-life romance on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Edlavitch DCJCC, located at 1529 16th St. NW, Washington, D.C. The film follows opera lover Katherine Mitchell while she convalesces at a seniors home after a broken hip. She finds love with the cranky Isaac Shapiro. Tickets cost $13. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.wjff.org/films/secondtime.

Feb. 3

LOVERS ART RECEPTION

Del Ray Artisans presents a free reception celebrating the opening of their Lovers Art Exhibit on Friday, Feb. 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. The exhibit showcases the artists’ interpretations of affectionate pairings and will be open until Sunday, Feb. 26. The gallery is located at 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va. For more information, visit www.delrayartisans.org/exhibits or call (703) 838-4827.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Snarky Puppy

Patti LaBelle

Jeremy Denk

Gianandrea Noseda

The Wonder of It All! Stravinsky’s The Firebird Ravel’s “Left Hand” Concerto

A Salute to Slava Shostakovich’s Eighth Symphony Kremer plays Weinberg

Sir Mark Elder, conductor Jeremy Denk, piano

Christoph Eschenbach, conductor Gidon Kremer, violin

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV

WEINBERG Violin Concerto SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 8

RAVEL STRAVINSKY

The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh Suite Piano Concerto for the Left Hand The Firebird

January 12 at 7 January 13 at 11:30 January 14 at 8

Jan. 13 at 11:30 a.m.

Snarky Puppy Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings Christoph Eschenbach, conductor Craig Mulcahy, principal trombone TCHAIKOVSKY C. ROUSE BEETHOVEN

Gianandrea Noseda, conductor Jon Kimura Parker, piano The Star-Spangled Banner Music from the film Lincoln Lincoln Portrait Fanfare for the Inauguration of John F. Kennedy Suite from the film JFK Rhapsody in Blue

January 19 at 7 January 22 at 3

February 14 at 8

COFFEE CONCERT

Portraits of America

J. WILLIAMS GERSHWIN

Spend Valentine’s Day night with the legendary, Grammy®-winning singer and the NSO Pops, a special one-night-only concert event led by Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke.

January 28: ForeWords free pre-concert discussion at 6:45

January 12: AfterWords free post-concert discussion January 14: ForeWords free pre-concert discussion at 6:45

STRAVINSKY J. WILLIAMS COPLAND BERNSTEIN

January 26 at 7 January 27 at 8 January 28 at 8

Valentine’s Day with Patti LaBelle

Serenade for Strings Trombone Concerto Symphony No. 8

February 2 at 7 February 4 at 8

Displaying a rare and delicate mixture of sophisticated composition, harmony, and improvisation, fusion-influenced jam band Snarky Puppy makes its Kennedy Center debut with the NSO Pops, Jules Buckley conducting, performing music from their 2016 Grammy®-winning Best Contemporary Instrumental album Sylva.

February 22 at 8

An Evening with Ledisi American R&B, neo-soul, and jazz recording artist and nine-time Grammy nominee Ledisi joins the NSO Pops for two inspired evenings spotlighting her unique sound and “soulful voice” (The New York Times). For the first half of the program, the NSO is joined by The Mellow Tones, an ensemble from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.

SUN. MATINEE Jan. 22 at 3 p.m.

Part of JFKC: A Centennial Celebration of John F. Kennedy

February 24 & 25 at 8

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! KENNEDY-CENTER.ORG (202) 467-4600 Tickets also available at the Box Office. Groups call (202) 416-8400. For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales Box Office at (202) 416-8540.

David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of the NSO.

Lead support for A Salute to Slava is provided by

The NSO Music Director Chair is generously endowed by Victoria and Roger Sant. The Blue Series is sponsored by United Technologies Corporation.

Support for JFKC: A Centennial Celebration of John F. Kennedy is provided by Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley and The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation. AARP is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2016-2017 NSO Pops Season.

Additional support for A Salute to Slava is provided by Blavatnik Family Foundation and BP plc.

Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Smokey Robinson From page 1 Gordy hadn’t earned much from his distribution of the group’s single, so Robinson convinced him to form his own label. He opened Tamla Records, which soon merged with Motown — the legendary and iconic record company we know today. The Miracles became one of Motown’s first signed groups. The group’s success began to pick up, but after a dismal reception at the Apollo Theater in 1959, Robinson knew something was missing. He recruited guitarist Marv Tarplin, who had been on tour with the teenage Supremes (then the Primettes). Tarplin turned out to be the missing element, and the group’s classic lineup was born.

Songwriting success

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A year after adding Tarplin, the Miracles finally exploded onto the music scene with the hit single “Shop Around.” The song’s catchy lyrics and pop sound appealed to mainstream audiences, and became the Miracles’ and Motown’s first million-seller record. It remained at number 1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart for eight consecutive weeks. Fun fact: Robinson told The Beacon that “Shop Around” “took about 30 minutes” to compose. When it comes to songwriting technique, Robinson explained, “I don’t have a process. I know some songwriters need to retreat to the mountains or something like that to write songs, but songwriting for me is an everyday process. “I could hear a phrase or see something, and be inspired to write a song. [Although] some songs take longer to write than others,” he added. Between 1960 and 1970, Robinson sang, wrote and produced 26 top-40 hits with the Miracles — including top-10 features like “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” and “Mickey’s Monkey.” He also did a lot of work behind the scenes for Motown and its other artists. His “everyday” style of songwriting led to hits for other artists as well, such as his classics “My Guy” for Mary Wells, and “The Way You Do the Things You Do” and “Ain’t That Peculiar” for Marvin Gaye. Robinson also wrote and produced the megahit song “My Girl” for the Temptations. The lyrics were inspired by his then-wife Claudette. In choosing David Ruffin, a background singer for the Temptations, for the lead on this song, Robinson also launched Ruffin to the forefront of that group. In 1962, Robinson became vice president of Motown Records, a job that came with increasingly heavy responsibilities. By 1968, when his first son Berry was born, he was ready to retire from touring. He only stayed with the Miracles a few more years after the success of his hit “Tears of a Clown,” and officially left the group in 1972. The Miracles remained together and kept touring. For a time, Robinson focused on his executive position at Motown, but soon realized he missed music and recording, so he

returned to the studio as a solo artist. His solo material departed from the upbeat stylings of his time with the Miracles, and it brought out a more mellow, thoughtful sound. By the 1980s, Robinson was rounding his third decade in the music business and was still well-regarded by critics. He even won his first Grammy for the single “Just to See Her.” But coping with pressure and fame wasn’t always easy for the star. In the mid-‘80s, he was crippled by an addition to cocaine, which he revealed in his 1989 autobiography Smokey: Inside My Life. He credits an intervention by his pastor with helping him overcome his drug use. Robinson also had several extramarital affairs during his marriage to Claudette, which led to their separation and subsequent divorce in 1986. In the ‘90s, Robinson’s contract with Motown Record expired, and he moved to SBK Records for the album Double Good Everything (1991). Motown had been sold to MCA, and Robinson had already given up his executive position to focus on music. Since then, he’s released Intimate (1999) — which represented a temporary re-signing to Motown, a gospel album Food for the Soul (2003), and standard albums Timeless Love (2006), Time Flies When You’re Having Fun (2009), and Now and Then (2010). His most recent album, Smokey & Friends (2014), is a compilation of duets featuring Elton John, Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor. It has become his second most successful album.

Adventurous spirit Nowadays, Robinson lets his heart take him wherever it wants. Every day, he practices Transcendental Meditation (TM) — a mantra-based meditation — and lives an active lifestyle. He and his wife Frances enjoy being outdoors, and are self-proclaimed “sun worshipers.” The couple met through mutual friends, and will soon celebrate their 15th anniversary. In addition to being his wife, Frances is his business partner in Robinson’s newest venture — Skinphonic, a skincare brand for people with pigmented skin. They founded the line after having trouble finding anything on the market aimed specifically at pigmented skin. Robinson’s outdoorsy life had unfortunately taken a toll on his skin. “We knew that there are biological differences in pigmented skin,” he explained. “We also knew that the skincare industry was largely ignoring this. This is why we set out to specifically formulate solutions to the unique biology of pigmented skin.” The brand currently has two lines, aptlynamed Get Ready (‘Cause Here I Come), for men’s skin, and My Girl. Both lines focus on hydration and protection against sun damage. You can find out more at www.skinphonic.com or call 1-866-280-3714. In 2017, Robinson also plans on reviving his “Soul in the Bowl” food products. The See SMOKEY ROBINSON, page 37

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Music’s power to unite young and old The universal language isn’t spoken, it’s listeners to learn new things or see life in a sung. A simple melody has the power to different way. unite individuals, cultures and Music impacts teens like societies, and to bring together me in a variety of ways. At an younger and older generations. age when it often feels like no Listening to music — one of one understands, music can the only activities that requires be an escape, with the ability usage of the entire brain — is to capture almost any emobeneficial to both the body and tion. soul. Music is a stimulant that Furthermore, studies have can alter one’s mood for the shown that songs with posibetter almost immediately. It is tive messages inspire kindalso a great way to relieve ness and increased social and GENERATIONS stress; ever wonder why lullateamwork skills in teens. TOGETHER bies are used to get babies to Not only that, but listening By Alexis Bentz sleep? to music also tends to enIn addition, music is a way hance grades. I find that I to express oneself and connect with oth- focus and study more efficiently when lisers. As a way to share ideas, it can enable tening to my favorite songs.

Smokey Robinson From page 36 popular Gumbo, Red Beans and Rice product hit shelves in 2005, and will be back due to “public demand,” he said. In the meantime, he still continues to be celebrated for his lifetime of achievement and contributions to music. His career helped popularize soul music, and his continued performances never seem to falter

in quality. Yet despite all his awards and accomplishments, Robinson still makes time for the little things. The surprising thing he thinks no one knows? “I make ice cream sodas at night,” he revealed. The awards ceremony for the Gershwin Prize will air on PBS on Feb. 10. In addition to a variety of performers paying musical tribute to Robinson, Berry Gordy also makes a special appearance.

Music and memory There is science to back up my observations: a study done by the Stanford University School of Medicine revealed that listening to music improves attention and memory. This is also true for older adults. Studies have shown that music improves the memories of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Another benefit for older music lovers is that, as mentioned before, music visibly reduces stress levels, leading to lowered heart rates and blood pressure. Other research indicates that playing an instrument at a young age leads to a sharper mind once older. For those of you who stuck with those childhood piano lessons: you’re in luck!

Better moods and higher levels of happiness are just a few other reasons why music is so powerful. As the universal language, music is also the universal connector. You and your teenage friend can bond over your favorite melodies — and there are so many to choose from! The other wonderful thing about music is that there are so many genres to try. Whether it is classical, hip-hop, rock, show tunes, or reggae, there is a type of tune for everyone.

Breaking genre biases I have noticed that my peers often asSee MUSIC, page 39

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Even seniors shouldn’t break the rules Amtrak has flubbed mightily and fre- fall. A monsoon arrived one recent day as quently since it was founded 41 years ago. Amtrak Train 67 was about to arrive in But our national railroad has Richmond, Va. given us one great, shining We were about 10 minutes contribution: from the Richmond station (the The quiet car. last stop on this train). PassenOn almost every Amtrak gers were beginning to gather train, for the last 20 years or so, up their belongings. The trip one coach is set aside as a place had been trouble-free, and right where cell phone yakking and on time. The quiet car had been loud conversations are not perits usual wonderful self. mitted. But then, from a row near It may not exactly be heaven the back, came a female voice: HOW I SEE IT on earth, but it’s pretty close. “Hello, dear. I’m almost By Bob Levey In the quiet car, you can there. I’ll be there in about 10 read without being jarred out of your com- minutes.” fort zone by someone else’s noise. You can Her fellow passengers shot this lady — muse. You can look out the window. You who was 70 if she was a day — a bunch of can wave hello to New Jersey. dagger-looks. But she went right on with Rare. Nice. Welcome. her cell phone conversation. But into each quiet car, some rain must “Yes, I had breakfast. Yes, it’s very com-

BEACON BITS

Jan. 17

CHARLES E. SMITH OPEN HOUSE Charles E. Life Smith Communities is holding an open house for

prospective residents at their community Ring House on Tuesday, Jan. 17 from 1 to 3 p.m. Tour the community and see a model apartment. Refreshments will be served. Ring House is located at 1801 E. Jefferson St., Rockville, Md. For more information or to RSVP, call (301) 816-5052.

fortable. I’ll meet you right in front of the station.” By now, the conductor had arrived at the scene of the crime. He told the woman, in a polite but crisp tone of voice, that this was the quiet car. No cell phones are allowed. “But I have to talk to my husband,” said the woman. The conductor said she could talk to her husband from another car. “But I have to tell my husband where to meet me,” she said. The conductor said she was breaking the rules. At which point the woman rose from her seat and glared hard at the conductor. “Sir,” said she, “I am a senior citizen!” In other words, Mr. Conductor, don’t bother me with your silly legalities. I am immune just because I’m older than most. The conductor let it slide, partly because she was old enough to be his grandmother, partly because he was obviously stunned into silence by the woman’s impertinence. I was pretty stunned myself. Being a senior citizen provides you with many privileges: People give you their seat on the bus. Restaurants offer you discounts. Friends help you on with your coat. None of those happened to any of us old birds when we were 25. But being a senior citizen should have

taught all old birds a key lesson. We shouldn’t be selfish or impolite. In fact, we should go out of our way not to be either. Who knows better than old birds how fractious the world is, and can be? We, of all people, shouldn’t add to that. We seniors are not islands unto ourselves. We never were. We aren’t now. The golden rule has served us pretty well, hasn’t it? We should honor it, especially when we might otherwise make the quiet car less quiet. Shortly after we arrived in Richmond, I found myself lumbering down the steps beside The World’s Most Entitled Senior Citizen. I came within an inch of saying something to her. But I held my tongue. I watched as she got into a waiting car. She pecked her husband on the cheek. They drove away. This woman surely wouldn’t have lit up a cigarette where smoking was forbidden. She would have thought at least twice about double-parking. So why did she whip out her phone in the quiet car? Because she cared more about herself than she did about others. Any child will tell you that that’s not the right way to behave. A 70-something woman on Amtrak 67 should have known it, too. Bob Levey is a national award-winning columnist.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Brian Wilson recounts his life and times Brian Wilson sounded enthusiastic, cheery, happy even. Wilson never sounds happy, except maybe when he’s singing certain Beach Boys songs. If you saw the acclaimed 2014 biopic Love and Mercy, you know Wilson is a tortured soul — a musical genius troubled by depression, drugs, mysterious voices in his head, bad therapy, and an abusive, demanding father. When you read his new memoir, I Am Brian Wilson, you’ll get an even deeper exploration into the mental illness and the rebound, the villains and heroes in his life. But if you talk to him by phone, he can come across as happy — even if only for a few minutes. On a 10-point scale, how happy is he? “I’m at 10,” Wilson said without hesitation. He’s happy because he’s on tour.

One of the greatest albums His shows include a re-creation in entirety of the album “Pet Sounds,” his masterwork from 1966. “It’s probably the very best achievement I ever did. So I’m very proud of it,” he said. “Pet Sounds” is one of the most acclaimed albums in popular music history. In 2012, Rolling Stone ranked it at No. 2 on a list of the 500 greatest albums. After “Pet Sounds” was released, John Lennon phoned Wilson to say how much he loved the album. Paul McCartney has

Music From page 37 sume that the music listened to by their elders is boring and slow, while many seniors believe that kids today just listen to noise. Both stereotypes are untrue. The songs released in a particular era, including those released today, reflect the world at the time. If teenagers ignore music from the past, they will be missing out on so much culture and history. Likewise, if older adults do not hear the popular melodies of today, they will not be able to see how young people experience the world around them. Each decade and genre of music offers something unique and special, and it is very important to at least give other generations’ music a try with an open mind. One of my favorite things to do when

often stated that “Pet Sounds” inspired the Beatles’ ambitious 1967 album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” One of rock’s first concept albums, “Pet Sounds” is a symphony on loneliness and alienation, employing an innovative-for-itstime wild array of instruments, including theremin, harpsichord and barking dogs, and a variety of styles, such as classical, jazz and psychedelic rock. In 2000, Wilson performed “Pet Sounds” on tour with a different large orchestra in every city. He thinks the current tour is better. “This one is more polished,” he offered. “The musicians are more accustomed to the music.”

Always stage fright Even though he started performing in high school, Wilson still gets stage fright before every gig. It starts about two hours before showtime. He tries to occupy himself by talking to people, eating dinner and doing vocal warmups. When does he get over it? “I don’t,” he said. “Till the music starts. As soon as I hear the band, I’m good.” “Many of my worst memories are from being nervous (onstage), and many others are from the things I did to keep myself from being nervous up there. “Some of the drinking was because of that. Some of the drugs were because of that. Some of the voices in my head I heard

just before I went onstage — and they didn’t have anything good to say about me.” Many times, the memoir references Wilson’s anxiety attack on a 1964 airplane flight to a Beach Boys concert in Houston. After that, he pretty much retired from touring, though he continued to write and record with the group into the 1970s.

about the Beach Boys, and some specifically about Wilson. He decided to write his own book “because I wanted people to know about my life.” Wilson said he has no regrets about anything that’s in the book, which details his insecurities, feuds and dark days, including how his dad abused him mentally and physically.

Not a tell-all There have been many books written

See BRIAN WILSON, page 41

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 40 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

W I N S A H A L A W I N L E D

S W I M

W E N C H

S W I N E

I N U R E

N A M E R

A K P E B Y A S I L T U M S M O S O M A L O G A N E M E L L B A E N D

C O N D O

O B O E S

B E L O W

A L A

C A O S M E E S

visiting my grandparents’ house is listening to artists from when they were growing up, and some of my favorite groups have stemmed from the musical influence of my family. There have also been many instances when I have gotten my grandparents interested in music from today. So, kick off the new year by meeting up with your younger buddy and jamming out! You can experience different types of music, discuss artists, and see how the songs make you feel in your daily life. If you want to add a spontaneous dance party into the agenda, feel free. Whatever you do, just make sure you are having a great time bonding with others and listening to something that makes you smile. Alexis Bentz is a ninth grade student at Thomas Wooton High School in Rockville, Md.

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Crossword Puzzle

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Scrabble answers on p. 39.

11558922

52 57

58 62

Across

Down

1. Envelope letters, smeared by lipstick 5. Create software 9. Study past midnight 13. Authorize a credit card 14. Follow orders 15. Jeans flaw (or improvement, to some) 16. Eke out a narrow victory 18. Passing notice 19. ___ and outs 20. Polygon’s edge 21. Track which spirals through vinyl 23. Vegetarian’s no-no 25. Fade over time 27. Performs vocal exercises 29. Daily Planet byline 30. Rental car company named for a Texas landmark 32. Streisand, in the tabloids 34. Early potato chip baron Herman 37. Be imperfect (like this puzzle) 41. Reached the quarter pole first 42. “There oughta be ___” 43. Responds to stunning news 44. Corporate image 46. Talk shop at a party 47. Do well on The Price is Right 52. Like most of the Pacific Northwest in May 1980 55. The hardest substance in a human body 56. Gelatin substitute 58. Grassland 59. Prepare a patient for a root canal 60. Gets all tuckered out 63. Native Canadian 64. Word of approval, stated 25 times in the Gospel of John 65. FDR had the most, at 3 66. Organize one’s sheep 67. Bird’s ___ soup 68. Enlivens

1. Flu strain since 2009 2. Earns all the poker chips 3. (Police band) radio call letters 4. Southernmost part of Florida 5. Vacation rental 6. Double-reed instruments 7. ___ Moines, Iowa 8. Personal light bender 9. Pick a side 10. Citizen of Westworld 11. Still breathing 12. It’s a little longer than a yard 13. Use the deep end 17. Is under the weather 22. Get away from the zombies 24. Antacid sold since 1930 26. River’s bend 28. Jersey “sure” 30. Piercing tool 31. Party icebreaker: Two Truths and a ___ 32. South of 33. Pie ___ mode 34. Stay up too late 35. Roadie’s responsibility 36. Word on the top-left of a Ouija board 38. He started (but did not complete) the first trip around the globe 39. Megalomaniac’s specialty 40. She played Darlene on Roseanne 44. Gave birth (according to ewe) 45. ___ hit wonder 46. Most clip in the back 47. Working girl 48. Become accustomed to 49. Informant 50. Dozens of cans of beer 51. Human phone operator 53. Untidy piles 54. Thanksgiving sidedish 57. Respond to an Evite 61. Cockney residence 62. Golf gadget that looks more like the letter l

Answers on page 39.

Answer: He remembered her birthday, but chose to forget this -- WHICH ONE Jumbles: NOISY CHAMP WHINNY LOCALE

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Letters to editor From page 2 display them, our Board members would reconsider, and allow their neighbors to decorate their decks for several weeks at the end of each year. Barbara G. Green Elkridge, Md. Dear Editor: The District of Columbia, following 16 other states including the state of Maryland, finally has criminalized elder financial exploitation by use of undue influence. At-large Councilmember Anita Bonds introduced the “Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults Amendment Act of 2015” for me because she knew that it was my mission in life to protect elderly D.C. residents from the neglect, abuse and elder financial exploitation suffered by my mother, the late Honorable Hilda H. M. Mason, and her husband, the late Charles N. Mason, Jr., during the last years of their lives. Specifically, the bill makes it a crime to financially exploit a vulnerable adult or elderly person, if the person intentionally and knowingly: 1. Uses deception, intimidation or undue influence to obtain the property, including money, of a vulnerable adult or elderly person, with the intent to deprive the vulnerable adult or elderly person of the property or use it for the advantage of anyone other than the vulnerable adult or elderly person 2. Uses deception, intimidation or undue influence to cause the vulnerable adult or elderly person to assume a legal obligation on behalf of, or for the benefit of, anyone other than the vulnerable adult or elderly person

Brian Wilson From page 39 However, one can sense that Wilson is reluctant to do a tell-all, refusing to address certain topics — such as his fractured and litigious relationship with cousin Mike Love, who performs under the Beach Boys name. The Beach Boys were a family band — brothers Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, their cousin Love and neighbor Jardine, all managed by Murry Wilson, the boys’ father.

From the publisher From page 2 to see how they would affect the 75-year solvency of Social Security. Not surprisingly, a little bit of a lot of different steps — each of which would gore a different ox — implemented gradually over a period of many years would produce a perfectly reasonable solution. See http://bit.ly/SocialSecuritySimulator But we’re talking about Congress and the White House here, which are very sensitive to the fact that many of those variously gored oxen are quite powerful politically and vociferous in opposing any harm to themselves. It seems to me that, while imposing

ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick Detorie

3. Violates any provision of law proscribing theft, extortion, forgery, fraud or identity theft against the vulnerable adult or elderly person, or to cause such a person to assume a legal obligation on behalf of, or for the benefit of anyone, other than the vulnerable adult or elderly person However, having a law on the books is

meaningless. The law has to be enforced to be meaningful. In the words of retired Metropolitan Police Dept. Lieutenant Vincent Tucci: “While I believe this bill signals a change in how we view the financial exploitation of the elderly, I think there is still more work that needs to be done...Without enforcement, we will be sending the mes-

sage to predators that we do not take those types of crimes seriously.” Enforcement of this new law is therefore the next challenge for each of us. Carolyn Dungee Nicholas Hilda and Charles Mason Charitable Foundation, Inc. Washington, D.C.

By all accounts, Murry was tyrannical. He hit Brian in the head, a blow that — coupled with a kid hitting Brian with a lead pipe — rendered him deaf in one ear. Brian’s life was filled with issues, including more than 15 years of therapy with a control-freak shrink named Eugene Landy who even insisted on writing songs with Wilson. In 1999, with both of his brothers deceased, he returned to the road to promote his fourth solo album, Imagination. Never one to totally rest on his laurels, Wilson talks about making a rock ’n’ roll

album next year. He has ideas for a couple of new songs, and he plans to include some of his favorite rock classics, including “Rock Around the Clock,” “Johnny B. Goode” and “Gimme Some Lovin’.”

What would the 74-year-old Wilson advise the 24-year-old Wilson? “My advice would be to not take quite as many drugs,” he said. “And if you start a song, finish a song, you know?” — AP

most of the burden on any one group (current workers, seniors, employers, the affluent, etc.) would justify loud objection, it should be much easier to accept if a small bit of pain were imposed on all potential beneficiaries. The longer we wait to act, the more painful those solutions will be for all of us. The sooner we solve this very solvable problem, the more we and our progeny will benefit. I urge you to encourage your congressional representatives to take this issue seriously — and to let them know you won’t vote them out of office if they do so.

WB 1/17

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CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on page 43. CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment. EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

Caregivers “A” HOME HEALTH CARE – Experienced nurses, CNA, GNA are available 24/7. Cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping, driving. Full/Part-time or live-in. Flat rate for live-in care. 15 years’ experience. 240-533-6599. CAREGIVER – EXPERIENCED NURSE, available 24/7. Cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping, driving. Full/part-time or live-in. Flat rate for live-in. 20 years’ experience. 301-803-9000 or 240-510-7125. I WILL CARE FOR YOUR LOVED ONES night/day. Own transportation. Good references. Lots of experience. 301-502-2258. I AM A LICENSED, CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT and a caregiver certified in CPR and First Aid. I am looking to care for your loved ones in the comfort of their home. I love what I do. I do the care with compassion, with love, and with care. I am reasonable and affordable. Please call Florence at 240-779-1984. CHEVY CHASE HOME CARE – reliable certified caregivers at time of illness, infirmity, loneliness. Personal assistance, ALL AGES, 4- to 24-hour shifts, homes, hospitals, nursing homes. MD, DC, No. VA. Tel.: 202-374-1240. www.ChChHomecare.com. ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A LOVING, CARING, compassionate, dependable and reliable caregiver with years of experience and references for your loved one? Has experience with MS, Alzheimer’s, diabetics and other health problems. Please call, 301-908-9134.

Computer Services PROBLEM WITH YOUR PC/MAC OR NETWORK? Computer Systems Engineer will come to you with help. Call: David G at 301-642-4526.

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate GORGEOUS 2-BEDROOM 2-BATHROOM CONDO available for lease now in Premier Community of Leisure World of Maryland for adults age 55 and over. This condo features brand-new wood floors, stainless steel appliances, granite counters, decorative glass backsplash, side-by-side large washer/dryer, closet organizer, crown molding, chair rail, and enclosed sunroom with a spectacular view. Call 301-312-3843 to schedule appointments to see this exceptional home. No smoking, no pets. Your own parking space, utilities and cable included in rent.

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate

Health

Wanted

$725 SILVER SPRING/ASPEN HILL(Leisure World) – Nicely furnished room in lovely townhome in gated retirement community in Leisure World. Female only. Must be 55 years or older. Nonsmoker. Available February 1st. $725 per month. Utilities included. Call Nancy at 301-598-4433.

PAID STUDY: PARTICIPANTS NEEDED for “brain training” study at the University of Maryland, College Park. Seeking healthy adults ages 65-85 with normal hearing. If you qualify and enroll, you will earn $10-15/hr for ~12 hours of participation. For eligibility information, contact us at 301-405-8657, EffComLab@gmail.com, or go to http://ter.ps/BrainTrain

STERLING SILVER. TOP DOLLAR paid for silver marked “Sterling,” “925” or “800.” Want flatware, bowls, plates, candlesticks, etc. Please, no silver plate. Call Richard, 301-646-0101.

CONDO IN LEISURE WORLD GREENS THREE: Spectacular view of golf course and fountain. Model M. 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath with garage space. 1530 sq ft. Asking $375k. Contact George Prince at 301-598-2104. NEEDED, RETIRED COUPLE OR SINGLE, mature, nice person to rent a spacious lovely 2bedroom basement suite with private bath located in upscale neighborhood, with lots of amenities! Has big kitchen, complete appliances, including W/D. Large backyard and private walkout. Not pets or smoking. Rent is $600/room with free utilities. 2 rooms available. If interested, please call 301-310-9481 or leave a message. Transportation close to I-95, 295, ICC, Marc train, bus stops, hospital, and shopping center. LEISURE WORLD® – $169,000. 2 BR 2FB “GG” in the Greens, 2 BR 2 FB, golf course view from enclosed balcony, mirrored wall in dining room. 1195 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $299,000. 2BR 2FB “QQ” in Vantage Point East. Open table space kitchen, new paint, master bath with separate tub and shower. 1335 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $280,000. 2 BR 2FB “EE” model in “Turnberry” with garage. Across from the elevator. Open kitchen, golf course view. 1244 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $329,000. 2BR 2FB “FF” in “Overlook”, close to elevator, open kitchen, pond view. 1335 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors, 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $195,000. 2BR 2FB “B” in “Overlook, fresh paint, golf course view, 1035 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $375,000. 3BR 2-1/2 BA “H” with garage in Villa Cortese. Table space kitchen, separate dining room, master suite with 2 walk-in closets, enclosed balcony plus outdoor patio. 1633 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $259,000. 2BR 2FB “F” in Turnberry Courts. Close to the elevator, table space kitchen with window, lots of closets. 1315 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $139,000. 2 BR 1FB 2 HB “Berkeley” Coop townhouse with covered patio open to “Broadwalk.” Open Floor Plan, lots of closets. 1600 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $159,000. 2 BR 2 FB “E” in “Fairways South.” Panoramic view from the top floor. Enclosed Balcony. 980 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $154,900. 1 BR ,1-1/2 BA “A” model in “Overlook.” Rare opportunity, window in table space kitchen, separate dining room, treetop view of golf course. 930 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. GET A FAST OFFER ON YOUR NOVA HOUSE today! We buy your house as is. No need to repair. No commissions. Free no-obligation consultation. Female owned, references. Call 703-969-5847 or email IBuyFairfaxHouses@gmail.com. LOOKING TO TAKE THE LEAP? I’ll take you on a tour of the community, show you floor plans, discuss campus amenities, & offer how to best coordinate your move. I will set up an automated online search for you, preview units, and contact you to arrange a showing when there is a match. I also offer exceptional service selling your home. I’m a Seniors Specialist, Buyer Broker, Top 1% of Agents Nationwide, and a Leisure World resident! You can see my current listings in this issue. Contact me: 301-580-5556, SueHeyman@aol.com, www.SueHeyman.com, Weichert Realtors.

For Sale 2 SALVADOR DALI woodblock prints from Dante’s Divine Comedy. Signed and framed. Asking $900 for the pair. Can email pictures if desired. Call Steve, 410-913-1653.

Home/Handyman Services GARDEN ANGLE LANDSCAPING SERVICE: Lawn and yard cleanups etc. Hauling anything. For all your household needs, please give Robert a call at 240-477-2158 or 301-987-1277. Free estimate.

Personals PRETTY WF 50s YOUTHFUL LADY, nonsmoker, down to earth, seeks SWM, 50s-60s, honest, sincere, handsome gentleman with hefty build, non-smoker, for old fashioned fun, friendship, possible relationship, who enjoys the great outdoors, dining out, cinema and dancing. 301-880-6977. Please leave a voice message with your phone number.

Personal Services TURN YOUR SILVER AND OLD GOLD jewelry into cash and do something good for yourself. Gold 4 Good buys gold and silver jewelry, including broken pieces, all sterling silver, gold watches and gold and silver coins. I will come to your house and give you a free evaluation of what I can pay. If you decide to sell, I can buy your items at that time, but there is no obligation. Licensed with both Maryland and Montgomery County (lic. #2327). Call Bob, (240) 938-9694.

COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, rifles, shot guns, knives, swords, bayonets, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars and countries. Large quantities are okay. Will pay top prices for my personal collection. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-910-0783. WE PAY CASH for antique furniture, quality used furniture, early American art, pottery, silver, glassware, paintings, etc. Single items to entire estates. Call Reggie or Phyllis at DC 202726-4427, MD 301-332-4697. GET A FAST OFFER ON YOUR NOVA HOUSE today! We buy your house as is. No need to repair. No commissions. Free no-obligation consultation. Female owned, references. Call 703-969-5847 or email IBuyFairfaxHouses@gmail.com. WANTED: OLDER VIOLINS, Guitars, Banjos, Mandolins, etc. Musician/collector will pay cash for older string instruments. Jack, 301- 2792158. HIGHEST CASH PAID FOR ANTIQUES, JEWELRY, ESTATES. I have been advertising in the Beacon for 20 years. Montgomery County resident – will travel to D.C., MD, VA. Buying following items: Furniture, art, jewelry, gold, sterling silver, old coins, vintage pocket and wrist watches, old tools, books, camera, military items – guns, rifles, knives, pocket knives, swords etc. Also buying: old toys, dolls, trains, comic books, photographs, autographs, musical instruments, guitars, violins, etc. Also old sports memorabilia and equipment – baseball, golf, football, fishing etc. Please call Tom at 240-476-3441.

HOUSE CLEANING SERVICE – Looking to clean house. Good references and experience. Please call Vio, 301-706-6317.

FINE ANTIQUES, PAINTINGS AND QUALITY VINTAGE FURNISHINGS wanted by a serious, capable buyer. I am very well educated [law degree], knowledgeable [over 40 years in the antique business] and have the finances and wherewithal to handle virtually any situation. If you have a special item, collection or important estate, I would like to hear from you. I pay great prices for great things in all categories fro m Oriental rugs to Tiffany objects, from rare clocks to firearms, from silver and gold to classic cars. If it is wonderful, I am interested. No phony promises or messy consignments. References gladly furnished. Please call Jake Lenihan, 301-2798834. Thank you.

MOBILE NOTARY SERVICE – Do you need a notary to legalize your documents? I will visit your home, office, assisted living, nursing or hospital room. Call for reasonable quote. Robert: (310) 709-5880.

BUYING MILITARY MEMORABILIA WW2, WW1, Civil War uniforms, weapons, photos and items associated with US, German, Japanese or items of other Military History. DAVE, 240-4640958.

HOUSE CLEANING SERVICES – Husband and wife team. Experienced, reliable, and responsible. Excellent references. Call Robert, 240-821-3500. CLEANING SERVICES. Reasonable rates. Friendly service. Reliable, responsible and experienced. Call “Lu,” 240-593-7829. MASSAGE THERAPY in your home. Prevent and alleviate pain, discomfort, muscle spasms, arthritis pain and stress of affordable price. Call 240-510-7125 for appointments.

Wanted CASH FOR RECORDS, CDs, DVDs AND TAPES. Best price guaranteed. Free appraisals. All types of music, 33, 45, 78 & CDs. Call Steve 301-646-5403. Will make house calls. TIRED OF POLISHING YOUR SILVER? Turn it into cash, which does not tarnish. I will come to your home and give you a free evaluation of what I can pay. I buy all gold and silver jewelry, including broken pieces, all sterling silver, gold and silver coins, gold watches, etc. I am licensed with both Maryland and Montgomery County (lic. #2327). If you decide to sell, I can buy your items at that time, but there is no obligation. Call Bob, Gold 4 Good, (240) 938-9694. WE BUY GOLD AND SILVER JEWELRY. Costume too. Gold and silver coins, paper money, military, crocks, old bottles and jars, etc. Call Greg, 717-658-7954. WE BUY STERLING SILVER FLATWARE, tea sets, single pieces of silver, large pieces of silver plate. Attic, basement, garage. You have something to SELL, we like to BUY. Call Greg, 717-658-7954. CASH FOR ESTATE BUYOUTS, estate clean-outs, jewelry to furniture, one item or whole estate. Free Estimate, Will Travel. 301520-0755. BUYING VINYL RECORDS from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201.

CASH FOR JEWELRY: Buying jewelry, diamonds, gold, platinum, silver, watches, coins, flatware, etc. We make house calls. Ask for Tom. Call anytime 301-654-8678 or 301-654-0838. STAMP COLLECTIONS, AUTOGRAPHS purchased/appraised – U.S., worldwide, covers, paper memorabilia. Stamps are my specialty – highest price paid! Appraisals. Phone Alex, 301309-3622. Stampex1@gmail.com. MILITARY ITEMS WANTED: Collector seeks to purchase military uniforms; flight jackets, patches, insignia, medals, etc. from the Civil War through Vietnam. Especially seeking U.S. Army Air Corps, USMC, Airborne, and German/Japanese/Italian items from WWII. ALSO BUYING old Boy Scout, Airline Items, Toys, Lighters. Call Dan, 202-841-3062. LADY WHO LOVES FINE CHINA and crystal would like to buy yours. Especially interested in figurines and dishes by the following makers: Herend, Johnson Brothers, Lenox, Lladro, Meissen, Rosenthal, Royal Copenhagen, Shelley, Spode, Wedgewood, Baccarat, Lalique and Waterford stemware and miscellaneous. Bone china cups and saucers, quality dog and cat figurines and sterling silver flatware and hollowware also. 301-785-1129.

Thank you for reading the Beacon!

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Say you saw it in the Beacon

BEACON BITS

Jan. 19

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES

SENIOR VILLAGES TALK

The Chevy Chase (D.C.) and Georgetown chapters of NARFE (National Active and Retired Federal Employees) will hold a panel discussion on “villages,” which help people stay in their homes as they age, on Thursday, Jan. 19, from noon to 1:30. The speakers will be executives from the Northwest, Georgetown, Dupont Circle and Cleveland & Woodley Park Villages. The panel will discuss the history of the village movement, how a village operates, the social activities villages sponsor, and how some villages are reaching out to the next generation of village members. The talk is free and open to the public and will take place at IONA Senior Services, located at 4125 Albermarle St. NW. For more information, contact Ann Sulkovsky at (202) 518-2519 or ansul2032@verizon.net.

Jan. 27

Deadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 20th of each month. Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question. Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards. Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $15 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word. Business Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing business enterprise. Each ad is $35 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word.

FUNNY ONE-ACT PLAY

The Shepherd’s Center of Annandale Springfield presents a Lunch N’ Life program on Friday, Jan. 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This month’s program will be A Shotgun Wedding, a funny one-act play featuring the Olli Players. This event will take place at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, located at 6800 Columbia Pike, Annandale, Va. The cost is $10, which includes lunch and entertainment. Reservations and pre-payment are required. For more information or to register, call (703) 941-1419.

Note: Each real estate listing counts as one business text ad. Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:

The Beacon, D.C. Classified Dept. P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227 For information about display advertising, or to request a media kit, call (301) 949-9766.

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Studies

Home Services

Alzheimer’s Caregiver’s Study .................................18 NIH Aging Study .................18

A Second Me .........................4 Homefix Custom Remodeling.........................6

Computer Classes

Housing

JCA SeniorTech..................7-9

Almost Home Senior Living ...............................B2 Ashby Ponds .........B6, B12, 40 Aspenwood Senior Living................................19 Bayleigh Chase ....................25 Birmingham Green ..............11 Brooke Grove Retirement Village..B6, B9, B10, B11,44 Buckingham’s Choice ..........25 Charles E. Smith Life Communities.....................36 Chesterbrook Residences ...............B6, B12 Churchill Senior Living .......20 Covenant Village ........B4, B15 Culpepper Garden ..................4 Emerson House...........B4, B15 Fairhaven..............................25 Friendship Terrace ......B6, B13 Gardens of Traville, The ......15 Greenspring......B12, B16, B40 Homecrest House .........B2, B6 Kensington Park .........B3, B15 Olney Assisted Living ......................B8, B14 Park View.............................32 Potomac Place......................25 Quantum Property Mgmt.......B4 Residences at Thomas Circle ....................................14

Dental Services Cavallo, Joseph P., DDS.......17 Friedman, Stephen, DDS .....20 Lee Dentistry .......................15 Oh, Judy, DDS .....................11

Financial Services Children’s National Hospital.............................25 Mortgage Solutions ...........B17 PENFED Credit Union ........24

Funeral Services Fram Monuments.................27 Going Home Cremation.......24

Government Services DC Office on Aging .......21-22 MC311 .................................39 Montgomery County Aging and Disability Services.......................13, 16

Home Health Care Best Senior Care . . . . . . . .B17 Elder Caring.........................20 Options for Senior America.............................39

Riderwood ............B6, B12, 40 Ring House ..........................36 Springvale Terrace ......B9, B13 Tall Oaks.....................B9, B20 Tribute at the Glen....B16, B18 Tribute at One Loudoun.....................B2, B8 Victory Terrace .........B16, B19 Vinson Hall.................B8, B19 Waltonwood .........................12

Legal Services Law Firm of Evan Farr.........24 Law Offices of Paul Riekhof .............................27

Medical/Health Grace in Motion .....................5 Holy Cross Hospital...............3 I Hate Knee Pain ..................11 Integrated Neurology Services.............................19 Medical Eye Center .............31 Silver Spring Medical Center................................15

Miscellaneous Caregiver Gateway, The .......26 Oasis Senior Advisors .......B13 Senior Zone..........................38

Real Estate Long & Foster/ Eric Stewart..................30,37 Long & Foster/Inderjeet Jumani ...............................10 Weichert/Sue Heyman .........27

Restaurants Original Pancake House.......37

Retail/Pawn/Auction Four Sales LTD ....................25 Partner’s Estate Sales ...........10

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Communicare Health ...........14 Greenspring .......................B17 HealthSouth Rehab Hospital.............................12 Manor Care Health Services.............................16 Village at Rockville, The ...........................B7, B15

Subscriptions Beacon Subscription ............41 Washington Jewish Week.....38

Theatre/ Entertainment Arts on the Green.................34 Ford’s Theatre ................B5, 33 Kennedy Center ...................35 Toby’s Dinner Theatre..........33

Tour & Travel Eyre Travel...........................29 Nexus Holidays....................29 US Navy Memorial ..............29 Vamoose...............................31 Walper Travel .......................31

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