March 2022 | DC Beacon

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VOL.34, NO.3

Carrying on Rachel Carson’s work PHOTO COURTESY OF RACHEL CARSON LANDMARK ALLIANCE

By Margaret Foster Those who contemplate the beauty of the Earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.

—Rachel Carson th This year marks the 60 anniversary of the publication of Silent Spring, writer Rachel Carson’s groundbreaking book about the devastating effects of pesticides on the environment.

Largely as a result of that book, which she wrote at her home in Silver Spring, Maryland, and her activism in the remaining months until her death, she is remembered as a founder of the environmental movement in the United States.

Prior to Silent Spring, Carson was primarily known as a marine biologist and award-winning writer of books and documentaries about the ocean. Her book The Sea Around Us won the 1952 National Book Award for Nonfiction, and earned her admirers throughout the country.

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A lifelong writer Born in 1907 in Springdale, Pennsylvania, Carson enjoyed exploring the outdoors and writing. She published her first story at age 10.

She graduated from what is now Chatham College outside Pittsburgh, then attended graduate school at Johns Hopkins, earning a master’s degree in zoology in 1932.

She then began a long career as a writer and editor at what is now the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In her spare time, Carson published articles about the ocean in the Atlantic Monthly and about the Chesapeake Bay’s polluted oyster beds in the Baltimore Sun. Concerned for decades about the toxic chemicals that state and federal government routinely sprayed on public and private property, Carson one day received a

In this modest home in Silver Spring, Maryland, science writer Rachel Carson, inset, wrote her groundbreaking book on pesticides, Silent Spring. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the book’s publication, which inspired the environmental movement that ultimately led to a ban on DDT and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.

letter from a suburban Boston housewife asking, “Where have all my robins gone?”

The letter, along with the encouragement of E.B. White, her editor at The New Yorker magazine (and the author of Charlotte’s Web), inspired her to write a book about pesticides.

“We have subjected enormous numbers of people to contact with these poisons, with-

out their consent and often without their knowledge,” she wrote in Silent Spring.

Carson’s book, and the three-part series she published in The New Yorker based on her research, caused a stir throughout America — from the suburbs to the chemical industry.

See CARSON, page 16

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Who, me? A racist?

Born in 1950 in Washington, I grew up boards I saw. in a mostly integrated Northeast D.C. The stores where we shopped were neighborhood. Despite the also all white. In other words, “white flight” of that time, my as a child the world I lived in all-white family stayed in the and experienced was almost city, where my four siblings exclusively white. and I attended integrated It took the tragedy of schools.

George Floyd’s murder at Throughout my teens, I was the hands of a white cop in not aware of any racist lean2020 to wake me up and ings in myself at all. In fact, begin (emphasis on “begin”) when I gave the valedictory to understand the depth of speech at my high school, Imdenial and suppression, the maculata Preparatory, in 1968, GUEST humiliation and indignities, just weeks after the recent so- COLUMN endured for generations by called race riots, I clearly ref- By Carolyn Ellis people of color due to the naerenced both Martin Luther tional lie of white supremacy.

King Jr. and the equality of all.

By seeing African Americans as secondSo how could I be a racist? class citizens, white society — of which I Through ignorance and complacency. am definitely a part — not only did its best I was a teenager when the Civil Rights to rob a whole people of the dignity and reMovement started but was completely spect which is every human being’s right, oblivious of it. Sad to say, my mind was but “my” white society put a ceiling on the completely focused on myself. dreams, enterprises and accomplishments My first awakening to Jim Crow inequal- of all non-white Americans. ities didn’t happen until the 1970s, when, Watching “I Am Not Your Negro” — a for the first time in my life, I began to real- 2016 documentary based on a manuscript ize that, when I was growing up, people of by James Baldwin — completely blew the color were not represented on TV, in the windows and doors off my entire undermovies, nor in the magazines and bill- standing of racism.

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As Baldwin puts it in the film, “It comes as a great shock to discover that your country, which is your birthplace...has not, in its whole system of reality, evolved any place for you [African Americans].”

That is what I call a WOW quote. Hundreds of years of documentation of horrible, bloody American history — history which continues even today — prove its veracity.

For far too long, the constitutional right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness was only applied to white society. The cruelty and suppression that African Americans have endured at the hands of white American democracy, as administered daily by white society (me) — especially by the police — is beyond unjust; it is totally inhuman.

When someone recently remarked on the ridiculousness of having a Black History Month when people of color have been working and contributing to the development and establishment of America from the beginning, I was stunned. In my whiteness, I had never even thought of that!

“The story of the [African American] is the story of America,” Baldwin said.

Because America is well on its way to becoming a majority of minorities, the era of the white majority is obviously on its way out for good.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt weighed in on this very topic 82 years ago: “We must scrupulously guard the civil rights and civil liberties of all citizens, whatever their background,” he wrote. “We must remember that any oppression, any injustice, any hatred, is a wedge designed to attack our civilization.”

What keeps us from ending racism? The answer is painfully simple: us!

If there is any hope, Baldwin said, “It is up to the American people and their representatives whether or not they are going to face and deal with and embrace the stranger they have maligned so long.”

To survive the future, with all its complex issues and problems, it’s going to take all of us.

Count me in.

Carolyn Ellis is a Beacon reader, freelance writer and abstract artist.

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 email to info@thebeaconnewspapers.com.

Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.

Dear Editor: I came across your January “From the Publisher” article, “New year, new project,” and was inspired to check out your website. You became my “dinner music” this evening, and I thoroughly enjoyed your pieces. Thank you for sharing your talents and love of music/composing.

The four pieces I heard were truly wonderful.

Our grown daughter is an accomplished pianist who once filled our home with music and joy. She has moved on, living her own life, as we hope they do, but has left us with a very quiet home. We miss hearing her play. Listening to you this evening brought back wonderful memories of her musical talent.

Thank you for sharing your talents that offered beautiful dinner music this evening! Glad you are pursuing your goals and inspiring others to do the same.

Carol Messerly Via website Dear Editor: I just finished listening to your publisher’s four musical selections. Congratulations!

I love hearing about folks who get to fulfill their lifelong dream as you have done so beautifully.

Reminds me, sort of, of my desire to play the piano. As a child, the only instrument available to me was a trumpet, as I took to unenthusiastically. Fast forward 40+ years. I told my husband I wanted to

take piano lessons. He said, “Go for it.”

I rented a piano, took lessons, and even though I have the hands and desire, I never got any better. After a year and a half, the only tune I could play with confidence was “Ode to Joy,” so I folded up my music sheets, cancelled the piano and moved on to line dancing.

I think every child should learn to swim and learn to play an instrument.

Judy Massabny Arlington, VA Dear Editor: I enjoyed your virtual expo even more than in-person expos because I could take more time reviewing the resources, and at my own convenience. I didn’t have to watch the time and worry that I would miss something if I didn’t hurry through it.

I sat through some of the programs several times, and watched others over multiple sessions. And it was so helpful that you kept it available during all of November through January, since that is a busy time.

It was actually relaxing to take some time away to review the information.

So, thanks again; I needed that! I hope you will do this again.

Evelyn Marie Via Expo website Dear Editor: Your January cover article extolling the virtues of Alan Miller (“Teaching kids to See LETTERS TO EDITOR, page 27

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Health Fitness &

SCRATCHING THE SURFACE Medications, hot showers and dry air can cause or exacerbate itchy skin CORE VALUES Three easy exercises can help strengthen your trunk muscles SMOOTH AS STATINS New drugs can lower cholesterol as well as statins, minus side effects AGING QUESTIONS Why we lose height, become forgetful or wake up often as we age

Gene therapy: evidence of a cancer cure

By Laura Ungar In 2010, doctors treated Doug Olson’s leukemia with an experimental gene therapy that transformed some of his blood cells into cancer killers. More than a decade later, there’s no sign of cancer in his body.

The treatment cured Olson and a second patient, according to the University of Pennsylvania doctors, who said it was the first time the therapy had been studied for such a long period of time.

“I’m doing great right now. I’m still very active. I was running half marathons until 2018,” said Olson, 75, who lives in Pleasanton, California. “This is a cure. And they don’t use the word lightly.”

His doctors describe the two cases in a

study published recently in the journal Nature. They say the two examples show the treatment, called CAR-T cell therapy, can attack cancer immediately, then stay inside the body for years and evolve there to keep the disease at bay.

Such so-called “living drugs” are now used by thousands around the world to treat certain blood cancers.

Based on the 10-year results, “we can now conclude that CAR-T cells can actually cure patients of leukemia,” said Dr. Carl June, one of the authors of the study.

One-time treatment The one-time treatment involves collecting the patient’s own T cells — white blood cells

key to the immune system — and genetically changing them in the lab so that they will find and attack cancer cells. The modified cells are given back to the patient intravenously.

By the time Olson got the treatment, he’d been fighting cancer for years. When doctors diagnosed him with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 1996, he said, “I thought I had months to live.”

He eventually underwent chemotherapy and, at one point, his physician, Dr. David Porter, suggested he may need a bone marrow transplant.

Porter also raised the idea of joining a CAR-T therapy study. Olson, CEO of a New Hampshire lab products company, said he was excited by the science and

eager to avoid the transplant.

A couple weeks after getting the treatment, he felt sick for about a week and was hospitalized for three days.

“It was the very next week [when] he sat me down and he said, ‘We cannot find a single cancer cell in your body,’” Olson recalled.

The other patient, retired corrections officer Bill Ludwig, had similar results.

Over time, researchers said, the modified cells evolved, many turning into “helper” cells that work with the cancerkilling cells. Helper cells eventually became dominant in both patients.

Study author J. Joseph Melenhorst said See GENE THERAPY, page 7

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A 2018 study of more than 150,000 people published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that nibbling about 2.5 ounces of chocolate per week was associated with a 10% lower risk of Type 2 diabetes — and that was even after factoring in the added sugar.

Chocolate appears to act as a prebiotic, feeding the beneficial bacteria that live in your microbiome. These good gut bugs

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Speaking of your heart, among people with hypertension, daily chocolate consumption helps lower systolic blood pressure (the top number of the reading) by 4 mmHg, according to a recent review of 40 trials. (Not bad, considering that medication typically lowers systolic blood pressure by about 9 mmHg.) The researchers posit that chocolate’s flavanols signal your body to widen blood vessels, in turn dropping blood pressure.

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Research in the American Heart Journal found that eating three to six 1-ounce servings of chocolate a week reduces the risk of heart failure by 18%.

Another study published in the journal BMJ suggests the treat may help prevent atrial fibrillation (aka a-fib), a condition characterized by irregular heartbeat. People eating two to six servings a week had a 20% lower risk of developing a-fib compared to those consuming it less than once a month.

Researchers believe cocoa’s antioxidant properties and magnesium content may help improve blood vessel function, reduce inflammation and regulate platelet-

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Four health benefits from dark chocolate

By Julia Westbrook You’ve seen the chocolate-is-healthy headlines — and who wouldn’t want to buy into them?

Looking for license to eat decadent goodness? Here are some facts on the health benefits of dark chocolate backed by research: nothing here funded by chocolate companies and no small, one-off studies without a larger body of research backing them up. Take a look.

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Gene therapy

Used for several blood cancers At this point, June said, tens of thousands of patients are being treated with CAR-T cell therapies, which have been approved for certain blood cancers by health authorities around the world, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA first approved a CAR-T therapy treatment in 2017 developed by Penn and the drugmaker Novartis for childhood leukemia.

The Nature study was paid for partly by the Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research and partly by National Institutes of Health grants.

Scientists hope to see wider use of CART therapies in the future for other cancers.

Last year, a CAR-T cell therapy was approved for multiple myeloma, the most common malignancy of bone marrow in

From page 4 they were able to isolate and analyze the cells using new technologies, which gave them “very good insight” into how they persisted in the patients’ bodies.

Dr. Armin Ghobadi of Washington University in St. Louis, an expert in gene and cellular immunotherapy for cancer, called the findings “incredible.” Though the word “cure” is rarely used in cancer, he said it appears these patients were “most likely” cured.

He was intrigued by the persistence of the CAR-T cells and the way the living drug evolves. “That’s just really beautiful to see,” said Ghobadi, who was not involved in the study.

Dark chocolate

adults. According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma were expected to make up just under 10% of the 1.9 million new cancer cases in the U.S. last year.

“But the big scientific challenge — and it’s a big one — is how to make this work in solid cancers,” like those in the lung, colon and other places, June said.

Even in blood cancers, there are challenges. The therapies are expensive, running into the hundreds of thousands of dollars just for the drugs.

And there’s the risk of significant side effects, including an immune overreaction

called “cytokine release syndrome” and nervous system-related problems such as brain swelling.

Both of the Penn patients did extremely well after the treatment. Ludwig traveled the country with his wife in a motor home and celebrated family milestones before dying early last year of COVID-19 complications.

Olson said he’s extremely grateful for the decade of life since doctors used cutting-edge science to save him.

“What’s changed is the dimension of hope. The pace of discovery takes your breath away,” he said. “It’s a brand new world.”

—AP

compounds in chocolate called methylxanthines (which include caffeine), that have been shown to improve concentration and mood. (When you feel good, your brain also performs better.)

And a Spanish study found that adults eating 2.5 ounces of chocolate a week have better scores on tests used to screen for cognitive impairment, like dementia.

EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life.

Online at eatingwell.com. © 2022 Meredith Corporation. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

From page 5 produce compounds that improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation.

4. Boosts mental sharpness Older adults who repor ted eating chocolate at least once a week scored higher on a number of cognitive tests compared to those indulging less often, according to a study published in the journal Appetite.

The researchers point to a group of

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Q&A: Fight itches; strengthen your core

By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: My father keeps complaining about itching in different parts of his body. Is this common and what can he do?

A: Generalized itching has many potential triggers. One is aging. The skin barrier doesn’t work as well as it used to, and things that may not have irritated a person before may now be absorbed in the skin and cause itching.

The skin also develops a somewhat impaired immune response, a reduction in fat and blood flow, and altered sensory perception, making it more prone to itching.

Here are some other causes of generalized itching without obvious signs: Environment. Very hot, dry environ-

ments or lots of hot showers can make the skin dry and itchy, as can excessive exposure to sunlight.

Lifestyle. Poor sleep, smoking or an unhealthy diet may make the skin drier or more reactive to irritants.

Neuropathy. Nerve damage (neuropathy) that causes numbness, tingling, weakness or pain can also cause itching.

Medication. Itching may be a side effect of one of his medications. Even if he takes a drug that didn’t bother him before, he may now be taking a generic version with different inactive ingredients, such as the dye coloring the pill, and that may cause the itch.

Underlying conditions. Itching may be a symptom of an undiagnosed medical

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problem, such as liver, kidney or thyroid disease; or iron-deficiency anemia.

Psychological conditions. High stress, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder are common causes of generalized itching.

Allergens. Detergents, fabrics, cosmetics, dust and plant pollen can cause itching from irritation. One can acquire an allergic reaction to anything that comes in contact with the skin.

How to treat itching Getting rid of generalized itching starts with looking at a person’s lifestyle. Taking too many hot showers? Reduce the number to a few per week. Make the water warm, not hot.

If his home is hot and dry, consider lowering the temperature and getting a humidifier. Aim for a goal of 40% humidity indoors.

If he is not already moisturizing his skin, it’s time to start. Have him use an emollient (a mixture of water and oil) every day, especially after washing his hands and after getting out of the bath or shower (to lock in moisture).

If these measures don’t help, it’s time for him to see his doctor. Teasing out the cause requires investigation.

He should be prepared to describe his

symptoms, where they occur on his body and at what time of day, and how long he has been experiencing them.

Q: I am in my 70s. I keep hearing about the importance of a strong core. What are some easy exercises I can do?

A: Your core is the stable part of your body that’s more than just your abdominal muscles. It also involves your hips, back and even your shoulders.

A strong core helps make everyday movements more efficient and safer — like whenever you reach, carry, walk, bend or twist.

Core strength is also crucial for fall prevention. Our bodies constantly have to adapt not only to different surfaces, but different weighted loads. Adequate core stability and strength can prepare you to better react to these changes and keep you from losing your balance and stumbling.

Some floor exercises like the plank and “superman” poses are great for engaging your core muscles. A plank pose is where you hold a push-up position with straight arms or resting on your forearms. You might only be able to hold it for 15 seconds at first, but over time you will increase the duration of the plank.

See CORE, page 10

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 2 2

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Alternatives to statins for high cholesterol

By R. Scott Wright, M.D. Dear Mayo Clinic: I have high cholesterol, but I can’t take statin drugs.

Are there any new medications that I should consider?

A: Cholesterol is a waxy substance that’s found in the fats in your blood.

When you have too much cholesterol, you can develop fatty deposits, or lipids, in your blood vessels that can make it difficult for blood to flow through your arteries. An estimated 29 million adults in the U.S. have high cholesterol.

While medications known as statins are common for people with high cholesterol, many people find they cannot tolerate statins, so don’t feel like you are alone.

The good news is that there are several alternatives to statins that may lower your blood lipids.

timibe also has been shown to reduce the risk of recurrent heart attack, stroke or death from heart disease when added to a statin drug in patients who have suffered a recent acute coronary syndrome.

Ezetimibe works by blocking certain receptors in the intestine where cholesterol is absorbed. It lowers the cholesterol content in the liver, which prompts the liver to remove cholesterol from the bloodstream to re-establish its own stores of cholesterol.

As a result, the LDL value is lowered, typically by 15% to 25%. It is well-tolerated and has few side effects.

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a second nonstatin — bempedoic acid — to lower LDL and overall cholesterol. Bempedoic acid is an oral agent taken once daily with or without food. It works by blocking the synthesis

pathways that allow cholesterol to develop, but does so at a different point in the process than statins.

Bempedoic acid has been shown to lower LDL by about 15% in patients studied in clinical trials. The drug is approved only

for patients with a family history of high cholesterol or who have established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease that requires LDL to be lower.

See STATINS, page 10

Daily pills Ezetimibe is an oral agent that has been approved in the U.S. for many years. It can lower low-density lipoprotein, which is known as LDL or “bad” cholesterol. It is taken once daily with or without food.

Although not relevant in your case, Eze-

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Core From page 8 With “superman,” you lie face down with arms extended overhead, and you lift legs, shoulders and arms off the floor simultaneously and hold for two to three seconds.

Another type of core workout involves walk-and-carry exercises, also known as

M A R C H 2 0 2 2 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

“loaded carries.” You hold weights, such as dumbbells or kettlebells, while walking.

Carrying a heavy object while you walk engages much of your entire core musculature. Loaded carries can improve everyday movements like holding and carrying groceries, moving furniture or rising out of bed.

Here are three easy-to-do loaded carries to try:

Farmer’s carr y. Stand tall and hold either a dumbbell or kettlebell in each hand.

(Begin with a moderate weight, like the amount you use to do biceps curls.)

Keep your arms down at your sides. Engage your core muscles by taking in a deep belly breath and then blowing it out while you tighten your abs. Walk for a minute. (You mimic a farmer carrying pails of milk, hence the name.)

Continue to breathe throughout, maintain proper posture, and try to keep the tension in your abs as you move. Rest for 30 seconds and repeat until you’ve completed two or three sets.

Cross-body carry. This is performed like the farmer’s carry, except you keep one arm straight overhead with the other hand

down at your side as you walk. After you have completed your walk, rest for 30 seconds, switch hand positions and repeat. This completes one set. Do two or three sets.

Suitcase carr y. This is also done like the farmer’s carry, except you hold a weight in only one hand while your other hand is free. After you have completed your walk, rest for 30 seconds, switch the weight to the other hand, and repeat the walk to finish one set. Do two or three sets.

Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, visit health.harvard.edu. © 2022 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Statins

ministered as injections instead of daily pills. These agents alter a protein called PCSK 9 that interacts with the LDL receptor on the surface of the liver.

Two options, evolocumab and alirocumab, are available for patients who have a family history of high cholesterol or existing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease that requires LDL to be lower.

These medications are injected, typically once every two weeks, although one can be infused subcutaneously monthly, if desired.

These therapies are monoclonal antibodies — manmade proteins that are similar to the PCSK 9 protein — and they basically bind the protein so that it is not allowed to interact with LDL. This dramatically lowers LDL values, typically greater than 50% from baseline.

These therapies have been shown to be well-tolerated and have few side effects.

The FDA is reviewing a third therapy that may offer benefit. It would be available via injection every six months and would be part of a new class of medications known as RNA silencing agents.

Though it can feel like an uphill battle some days, finding and staying on a cholesterol treatment is important. Data consistently show that lowering LDL as much as possible can reduce your risk for heart attack and stroke.

Schedule time with your healthcare provider to discuss your concerns and share the side effects that were most bothersome to you while using statins.

Ask your healthcare provider about the best available options to treat your cholesterol beyond statin agents. Together, you should be able to select a therapy that is acceptable to you both.

— R. Scott Wright, M.D., Cardiovascular Disease, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 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 mayoclinic.org. © 2021 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

From page 9

Monoclonal antibody injections There are also therapies that can be ad-

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11

Virtual reality makes therapy like a game

By Alina Tugend Joe O’Connor, 62, who lives near Worcester, Massachusetts, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease six years ago. Exercise is one of the only things that slows the progress of the chronic disease, so he works out avidly — often in a virtual reality (VR) world.

He dances. He plays tennis. He enjoys games that help him work on his shortterm memory and hand-eye coordination.

“VR has been a very big help with Parkinson’s, both in slowing the progression and in helping me calm down,” O’Connor said.

Virtual reality has been around for years to help treat physical ailments and improve mental health. But it took lighter, less expensive headsets that could be used without a computer for VR to really take off. The headsets can now cost hundreds instead of thousands of dollars.

Primarily used in hospitals and clinics, virtual reality is quickly segueing into the home and senior center market, where VR programs enhance physical therapy, help combat acute and chronic pain, and potentially address a variety of mental health challenges, including post-traumatic stress disorder.

Headset-wearing patients play games through hand-held controllers or eyetracking devices, and the technology has

become more lifelike and interactive.

“This is by no means a substitute for humans, but 99% of your life is far away from the examination room,” said Brennan Spiegel, director of health services research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and a leading expert in the use of VR to treat pain. “We’re trying to augment the 99% of your life spent away from therapists.”

Used for pain management Unlike simple video games, virtual reality immerses the player in a 3D world, nudging the brain in a way other audiovisual media can’t, Spiegel said.

Some VR programs can lessen acute pain by distracting a patient and reducing the person’s perception of time. Patients who are transported virtually to glacial lakes, forests or outer space become calmer when their attention is diverted.

Some games are custom-made for pain relief. For example, players of SnowWorld, which features a snowy scene, score points by throwing snowballs at snowmen, penguins and other animals. Studies of burn victims undergoing wound treatment found that these patients reported significantly less pain while playing the game.

One study that allowed patients to reduce their own painkillers and sedation during colonoscopies found that those

using VR needed substantially less sedation than those who didn’t, Spiegel added.

Programs that distract the patient are good for acute pain. For chronic pain, “it’s about building skills,” including how people experience and perceive pain, he said.

“We can’t cure arthritis or cancer, but we can profoundly change how you think about it.”

Because chronic pain often leads to depression and anxiety, VR treatments train patients to regulate discomfort through

breathing exercises, mindfulness, relaxation and education about how pain is processed in the body, said Matthew Stoudt, CEO and founder of AppliedVR, a Los Angeles-based company that supplies therapeutic virtual reality.

His company is working with several health plans to have insurance cover their eight-week program to address chronic lower-back pain. “For VR to be successful, See VR TECH, page 12

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VR tech From page 11 it has to be easy for the patient to use, engaging and affordable,” Stoudt said.

A form of physical therapy VR games are also useful for getting players to move in beneficial ways while, for example, bursting balloons with a sword or tracking a dragon as it flies around a medieval city.

Someone who needs help with gait training might explore a mountain town virtually. Although the patient is just walking in place, it feels as if they are going up and down, said Veena Somareddy, CEO of Neuro Rehab VR, a company in Fort Worth, Texas, that builds immersive software for physical and occupational therapy.

The idea is for the VR game or activity to

be far more engrossing than ordinary physical therapy so that people are more likely to do it regularly at home.

Plus, while playing, patients may reach up or twist in a way they were afraid to before because they are so intent on the activity that they forget their fear of pain.

M A R C H 2 0 2 2 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

must search for and grab items from higher and lower shelves.

“You have to do something functional, but it keeps it fun and engaging,” Rizzo said. “We’re doing what people have done forever with paper and pencil, but it’s game-ified and it gives performance feedback.”

Post-stroke treatment Patients who have suffered a stroke or brain injury can use virtual reality to practice specific tasks, said Skip Rizzo, director of medical virtual reality at USC Institute for Creative Technologies in Los Angeles and a research professor in psychiatry and gerontology.

Through VR, users can be placed in a restaurant-like scenario, where their cognition is tested based on their responses to orders for certain items. Another scenario is “buying” at a virtual store, where users

Best results in older adults Although adults 65 and older may be reluctant to try VR, once they do, “they have the largest reduction in pain compared with younger individuals,” Spiegel said.

One reason is that older people may have lower expectations of the technology than young adults, and are more wowed when immersed in a virtual world.

Boston-based XRHealth is one of the few companies that currently provides VR occupational and physical therapy to patients at home. Initially, the company worked with AARP to design programs suitable for older participants, and now the average age of its customers is 72.

Health insurance now covers the cost of the therapy in XRHealth’s home state of Massachusetts, but Medicare also pays for a certain number of sessions nationwide, said Eran Orr, the company’s

founder and CEO. He hopes that by the end of the year insurers in 10 states will cover the company’s FDA-approved programs. Otherwise, the cost, including the rental of a headset, ranges from $69 to $119 weekly, depending on how frequently you see an online therapist.

If you complete the prescribed number of sessions and want to continue on your own, you can rent the headset for $29 a month.

O’Connor, the VR user with Parkinson’s and a former XRHealth customer, said the programs helped him with balance and gait.

Bringing VR therapy into senior centers, which is just beginning to happen, Somareddy said, could not only boost new types of therapy and pain relief but also new ways to stimulate the brain. Rizzo said his 89-year-old mother, who lives with him, used one of his VR headsets to visit a foreign city she remembers fondly.

“It whisked her right back to when she and my stepdad went to Rome,” he said. “It pulled up all these positive memories.” © 2022 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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How to treat sudden low blood pressure When I was a practicing pharmacist at a a pair of compression hose if you are on a large retail chain, I’d get this type of phone blood pressure drug because you never know when you’ll experience call a lot: “What do I do? My this problem. husband took his blood pressure pill, and now he feels faint! Is 5. Fludrocortisone is a prethat normal?” scription medication that raisAlmost every pharmacist es blood pressure. It works by has received a similar call after controlling the sodium and dispensing any one of the popthe fluid balance in your body. ular anti-hypertensives like 6. Do not get up fast! Even losartan, lisinopril, nifedipine, if you have been on a medicaatenolol and others. tion for years and you feel The answer depended on confident of its effects, still I DEAR the severity of the situation, caution to never get up fast.

PHARMACIST of course, and we were al7. Licorice tea will elevate

By Suzy Cohen ways mindful of having the blood pressure too. If somepatient’s doctor informed and one is around to help you notified. steep a cup of it while you lie down with your legs up, it would be ideal. These teabags are sold everywhere. They are Variety of causes, symptoms A person often experiences low blood used most often for liver disease and, more pressure because they have high blood pressure and they’re supported on blood pressure pills to bring it down. The problem is that it can go down too fast and too much! Hence, a hypotensive crisis can occur.

Kidney dysfunction, heart disease, sleep apnea as well as thyroid disease are other causes for a hypotensive crisis.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is known to cause pernicious anemia, and it’s quite common. This is an overlooked but common cause of chronic low blood pressure.

Symptoms include the sensation of dizziness or feeling faint and lightheaded.

There could also be nausea, weakness and inability to focus or concentrate. Vision can also be affected.

If it’s serious, of course, call 911, and get help. Smelling salts aren’t a bad idea while you’re waiting for help.

Steps to take For simple, occasional bouts of sudden low blood pressure, I recommend the following: 1. Lie down and put a thick pillow under your legs so your head gets more blood flow. The reason you feel faint is because the blood left your head, so this positional change should be done first.

2. Munch on something very salty like potato chips, or drink salt water if you can sit up. To make it, combine ½ cup water and ½ teaspoon sea salt, and stir it well.

3. Generally speaking, drink more water. The more fluid you drink, the more pressure there is inside your blood vessels, and that’s the goal.

4. Put on compression stockings, which are great if you have them. You should buy

Write a letter to the editor.

See page 2.

recently, for respiratory infections.

If you’d like to receive a more comprehensive version of this article with more tips, please sign up for my newsletter at suzycohen.com.

This information is opinion only. It is

not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement.

Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe.

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M A R C H 2 0 2 2 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Andalusian garbanzo beans with spinach

By America’s Test Kitchen Espinacas con garbanzos is a hyperregional dish native to Seville, Spain, with strong Moorish influence. It’s substantive and full of flavor.

Briefly simmering canned chickpeas (uniformly tender, well-seasoned and convenient) in a combination of chicken broth and chickpea canning liquid tenderizes them and infuses them with savory flavor.

A picada (a paste of garlic and bread cooked in plenty of olive oil) thickens and seasons the sauce. Smoked paprika and Moorish spices such as cumin, cinnamon and saffron imbue the picada with heady aromas, and tomatoes and vinegar boost its tang.

Thawed frozen chopped spinach is perfect here; already fine and tender, it dis-

perses beautifully throughout the dish and provides plenty of surface area to hold the juices in place.

Espinacas con Garbanzos (Andalusian Spinach and Chickpeas) Serves 4 as a main dish Ingredients: 1 loaf crusty bread 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas (1 can drained, 1 can undrained) 1½ cups chicken broth 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 6 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon smoked paprika 1 teaspoon ground cumin

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¼ teaspoon table salt ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 small pinch saffron 2 small plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise, flesh shredded on large holes of box grater and skins discarded 4 teaspoons sherry vinegar, plus extra for seasoning 10 ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry Directions: 1. Cut a 1 1/2-ounce piece from loaf of bread (thickness will vary depending on the size of the loaf) and tear into 1-inch pieces.

Process in a food processor until finely ground (you should have ¾ cup crumbs).

Combine chickpeas and broth in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat.

Adjust heat to maintain simmer and cook until the level of liquid is just below the top layer of chickpeas, about 10 minutes.

2. While chickpeas cook, heat 1/4 cup oil in a 10-inch nonstick or carbon-steel skillet over medium heat until just shimmering. Add bread crumbs and cook, stirring frequently, until deep golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic, paprika, cumin,

salt, cinnamon, cayenne and saffron and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Stir in tomatoes and vinegar; remove from heat.

3. Stir bread mixture and spinach into chickpeas. Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thick and stew-like, 5 to 10 minutes longer. Off heat, stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons oil.

Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Season with salt and extra vinegar to taste. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve with remaining bread.

Recipe notes: For a vegan version, substitute vegetable broth or water for the chicken broth. If using chickpeas that you’ve cooked from dried, use 3 1/3 cups of cooked chickpeas and 2/3 cup of the cooking liquid. Use a fruity, spicy, high-quality olive oil here. Red wine vinegar can be substituted for the sherry vinegar.

For 25 years, confident cooks in the know have relied on America’s Test Kitchen for rigorously tested recipes developed by professional test cooks and vetted by 60,000 at-home recipe testers. See more online at americastestkitchen.com/TCA. © 2021 America’s Test Kitchen. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Carson From page 1 Carson testified before a Senate committee on the overuse of synthetic pesticides months after the book’s publication. The environmental movement was growing, and Carson became one of its primary voices.

By then, however, Carson was suffering from breast cancer that had spread to her liver. She retreated to her home, which she shared with her adopted son, and died there in April 1964, at age 56.

Six years after her death, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was established. Two years later, the EPA banned DDT, one of the pesticides Carson had called attention to.

Home a national landmark In 1991, the U.S. Department of the Inte-

rior designated Carson's house a National Historic Landmark. Five years later, Diana Post and her husband, Cliff Hall, purchased the house and later established a nonprofit, the Rachel Carson Landmark Alliance.

Today Post is the alliance's executive director and Hall secretary/treasurer, and the couple opens the home to the public occasionally, receiving about 300 visitors each year.

“Some of the people who come in have quite an emotional reaction,” said Post.

Last September, for instance, a family stopped by the house for a mini-tour.

“The girl reminded me of Rachel Carson; she was maybe 13 and reserved, poised and thoughtful. And the boy…was like 17 crickets, the way he was jumping around.”

“The grandmother wrote to us and said they never stopped talking about Rachel Carson that night. Rachel still has a power

M A R C H 2 0 2 2 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

to inspire even young children and people of all ages,” Post said.

Montgomery History (formerly the Montgomery County Historical Society) offers its members “enormously popular” tours of the Rachel Carson House, located on Berwick Road, according to its executive director, Matthew Logan.

Although an annual open house is held in May, the month of Carson’s birthday, this year the home will open to the public in September to coincide with the original publication date of Silent Spring.

Several schools, parks and trails in the D.C. area are named after Carson, including an elementary school in Gaithersburg, a hiking trail in Silver Spring, and a 650acre park in Brookeville, Maryland. A middle school in Herndon, Virginia, also carries her name.

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In another of Carson’s books, Sense of Wonder, she encouraged parents and grandparents to spark a love of nature in children, just as her mother did for her.

To that end, Post’s group holds an annual Intergenerational “Sense of Wonder, Sense of the Wild” contest, inviting children and their parents or teachers to write poems and essays about nature.

“They have to consult with older people, and that’s one of the great benefits because the children say, ‘I’m so glad I had time to talk with my mom or my grandmother about this,’” Post said. “They see the world through Rachel Carson’s eyes.”

“One of the most beautiful entries was from a 16-year-old girl and her mom who went along the Billy Goat Trail [near the C&O Canal in Potomac, Md.] to get their cardio,” Post said. “She wrote about how the [Potomac] river spoke to her…how vulnerable the river was to our human carelessness.”

Connecting with younger people in the scientific community is part of the mission

of the Rachel Carson Council, formed in 1965 by the writer’s friends and colleagues. In addition to working with policymakers on Capitol Hill, the council links 57 colleges with its campus network.

That focus on the future is critical, said Robert K. Musil, president and CEO of the Council.

“Because I’m now a mature citizen, I want to use the Council and its network on campuses to find the next generation of Rachel Carsons and Sylvia Earles that we’re going to need,” Musil said.

“I’m optimistic that there continues to be growing awareness, action and involvement by a broad swath of the public that is now concerned about climate change, environmental justice and other issues.”

Power of average people Carson suggested that average people who were concerned about chemicals should form “citizen’s brigades” to prevent companies and governments from dousing private land with pesticides.

In Maryland in 2013, a group of parents did just that. Takoma Park mothers Julie Taddeo and her neighbor, Catherine Cummings, were concerned to see many yellow flags on grass, indicating pesticide application.

“We would see them throughout the county — at parks, at doctor’s offices. Yellow flags everywhere. It was shocking,” said Taddeo, a history professor at the University of Maryland.

“The schools, playgrounds, HOAs were just being bombarded by these pesticides every spring.”

So, Taddeo and Cummings formed a group, now called Safe Grow Montgomery, and in 2014 convinced the local city council to vote to ban pesticides for cosmetic use on public and private property in Takoma Park.

See CARSON, page 17

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17

Common questions about aging bodies

By Steven Perkins, D.O. Throughout life, there are some surprising changes that can occur within our body and mind. As we age, some of those changes become more obvious, like wrinkles or forgetfulness.

Learning what to expect as you get older can help alleviate some anxiety over aging.

Below are some common questions from patients about aging: Q: I used to be 6 feet tall. Now I

am 5 feet, 11 inches tall. Why am I shrinking?

A: When looking at height loss, some changes are normal, and some are not.

You have 24 bones, or vertebrae, in your spine with discs in between each vertebra.

These discs begin to lose strength and thin as you age. This thinning process causes you to start to shrink.

Also, new bone is made and old bone is broken down all the time in our bodies, but this remodeling process becomes more

disordered after age 25. This causes you to break down your bones faster than you rebuild them.

You can help prevent bone breakdown to a substantial degree through weightbearing exercise, such as walking, jogging, aerobics or resistance training, and through a healthy diet containing calciumand vitamin-rich foods.

Also, speak to your primary healthcare provider about appropriate screening for your risk of osteoporosis. Though screen-

ing recommendations differ, most organizations suggest screening universally at age 65 for women and 75 for men.

However, other risk factors, such as premature menopause, fractures and hormone deficiency, can warrant earlier testing.

Q: I leak urine when I laugh. What can I do?

A: Urinary incontinence, or urinary leakage, is a common problem, especially for

Carson

lawns and apartment complexes. “I hope [Rachel Carson] would be proud. We certainly took inspiration from her.”

stance, or give money to a group like the Sierra Club.

“People who take action, however slight the difference, we can say we were there.

We tried. We were in the arena. That leads to people being more engaged and happy.”

“You may not be able to save everybody and everything, but you can do your best.”

From page 16 The Safe Grow Act allows homeowners to use certain pesticides on gardens and weeds, but outlaws those that are known or likely to cause cancer, endocrine disruption and other illnesses.

Several years later, Montgomery County passed a similar law, the Healthy Lawns Act, as have Portland, Maine and several other towns.

Have the laws widely changed behavior?

According to Taddeo, parks and fields are still routinely sprayed with chemicals, some of which are “linked to all sorts of illnesses from infertility to cancer to diabetes.”

Still, Taddeo said, their efforts led to a sharp decline in pesticide use on private

See AGING BODIES, page 19

Hope for the future Like Taddeo, Musil believes that every effort to preserve a local pond or protect pollinators (bees, birds and other creatures that help pollinate plants) can make a difference.

Musil, who describes himself as a “happy worrier,” said he’s “cautiously optimistic” about the future of the planet.

“The earth is not going to end. The human species is not going to disappear.

Will my grandchildren face a more difficult, turbulent time? Yes.” Instead of despairing, he suggested, get involved — clean up a nearby creek, for in-

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Make the most of winter fruits, veggies

By Matthew Kadey If you take a closer look at the produce aisle right now, you’ll find some standout cold-loving options that will surely increase your appetite for winter and also the nutritional value of your diet.

“When in season, fruits and vegetables likely have a higher concentration of vitamins and minerals,” said Jill Nussinow (a.k.a. The Veggie Queen), registered dietitian, culinary educator and cookbook author.

From beets to parsnips, many of these subterranean wonders are now available yearround, but Nussinow said they’re at their best when the local weather turns chilly.

As a bonus, Nussinow noted, seasonal root vegetables can be very budget-friendly and benefit from a long storage life.

Here is the cream of the crop: Beets: Notable for their sweetness, beets have some of the highest natural sugar levels of any veggie.

They also contain betacyanin, an antioxidant that may help combat certain cancers, as well as nitrate that can improve blood flow to aid in lowering blood pressure numbers.

Try this: Add a splash of color to hummus by blending in 2 medium-sized cooked beets.

Blood orange: Their flavor tends to be

sweeter and less tart than typical oranges.

The color of these blood oranges signals not only vitamin C but the increased presence of anthocyanins, potent antioxidants that appear to help lower the risk for cognitive decline.

Try this: Toss together 1 peeled and chopped blood orange, 1 chopped orange bell pepper, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, 1 seeded and minced jalapeno, ¼ cup cilantro, juice of ½ lime and a couple pinches of salt.

Use as a salsa for cooked chicken or fish.

Butternut squash: This curvy winter stalwart is jam-packed with beta-carotene, which in greater intake levels has been linked to improved brain functioning.

“Beta-carotene also helps boost your immune system and is good for the eyes and skin,” Nussinow said.

Try this: Add pureed squash to baked goods batter, including muffins and pancakes, to add natural sweetness and moisture.

Brussels sprouts: This veggie is loaded with vitamin K, a nutrient which a study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found can lower the risk for certain types of heart disease.

Try this: Shred raw sprouts and use as you would cabbage in slaw recipes.

Fennel: Crisp and crunchy with a pleasant licorice flavor and aroma. All parts including the white bulb, green stalks and wispy dill-like foliage are edible.

Fennel contains appreciable amounts of quercetin, a flavonoid antioxidant that may lower the risk for some cancers.

Try this: Toss thinly sliced raw fennel with orange sections, baby spinach, sliced red bell pepper and 1 tablespoon each extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice. Garnish salad with fennel fronds.

Parsnip: Just one cup of nutty and slightly sweet tasting parsnips packs in a

whopping seven grams of fiber — three more grams than carrots.

A recent study in BMJ, a peer-reviewed medical trade journal published by the British Medical Association, determined that people with higher intakes of fiber are at a lower risk of premature death from various diseases, including Type 2 diabetes.

Pear: Nutritionally, pears’ claim to fame is stellar levels of dietary fiber, at 6 grams in a medium fruit. “Most people need to be eating more fiber to promote better gastrointestinal health,” Nussinow noted.

Try this: Blend a pear into a seasonal smoothie with milk, yogurt, almond butter, cinnamon and vanilla.

Rutabaga: The yellow-tinged creamy flesh has a slight sweetness that’s combined with a peppery edge. It supplies good amounts of vitamin C, hunger-fighting fiber, and potassium to keep blood pressure numbers in check.

Try this: Use in pureed soup recipes, or shred raw rutabaga and make it into fritters.

Sunchokes: Sometimes called Jerusalem artichokes, this crunchy tuber is an unexpectedly good source of energy-boosting iron and is also well-endowed with the soluble fiber inulin. “This feeds the good bacteria in your gut which can improve your immune system,” Nussinow said.

Try this: For a much healthier take on French fries, slice sunchokes into matchsticks (no need to peel them), toss with oil, salt and pepper, and bake at 350° F for roughly 15 minutes.

Try this: Cube and add to potato mixtures and hash recipes.

Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC, 1-800-8295384, www.EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2022 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Aging bodies From page 17 older women. This can result from many causes, including pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, overactive bladder muscles, weakened pelvic muscles and nerve damage.

The right treatment will require a proper diagnosis of the cause. Making the right diagnosis will include a full history of symptoms; a physical exam; urine testing; and possibly more advanced studies, such as urodynamic testing, or ultrasound and X-ray imaging.

Treatments can be helpful, and they include behavioral modifications, dietary changes, pelvic muscle strengthening, medications and surgery.

Incontinence or voiding difficulties in men can be a sign of an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer. Generally, I would recommend talking with your healthcare provider about these symptoms.

Q: Why am I in the bathroom again?

A: Nocturia, or getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, is a common problem for many people. About onethird of men over 30 make at least two trips to the bathroom after they’ve gone to bed.

This is usually caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which means an enlarged prostate. However, there can be other causes, including medications, alcohol, caffeine, nighttime drinking and dietary habits, diabetes, heart conditions,

and sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea.

Treatment for nocturia requires a proper diagnosis by your healthcare provider.

This visit will involve a history, an exam, and simple laboratory testing to start.

Treatments include behavioral modifications, dietary changes, medications or surgical intervention.

Q: Why do I have so many wrinkles?

A: Wrinkles are a natural part of aging that can be caused by several factors.

Some common factors include stress and sun exposure — both of which break down the elastin fibers and collagen in skin. Exposure to air pollutants and tobacco smoke also can play a significant role.

As you age, skin becomes less elastic, and the natural oil production in skin decreases, causing it to dry out. You start to lose the fat in the deeper layers of your skin, and the crevices and lines become more prominent. Wrinkles are also genetic.

You can slow the effects on the skin by using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing (including hats), using moisturizers, eliminating smoking, and eating a diet full of natural antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables.

If you are interested in treatment beyond these tips, talk to your healthcare provider or a dermatologist who can suggest more specific cosmetic options.

Q: Ever y day I seem to lose my reading glasses. Why can’t I remember the simplest things anymore?

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A: Just like your joints, muscles and skin, your brain ages too. While it may seem like your glasses are misplacing themselves, your brain is simply having a harder time with recall.

You may notice that you forget names or can’t remember a loved one’s birthday.

You also may find it takes longer to learn new things. All of these are usually signs of normal aging.

Just as staying physically fit is important as you age, so is keeping your mind active.

You’re encouraged to keep active physically, mentally and socially to the best of your ability.

Certainly, there are other causes of memory loss, including medication interactions, vitamin deficiencies, depression, anxiety, ongoing infections, and metabolic conditions, such as a thyroid disorder.

If you or your loved ones have noticed that memory is a problem for you, talk with your healthcare provider to determine if it is normal aging or something more significant.

Aging can be challenging, so continue to maintain regular contact with your healthcare provider so you can address any concerns in a timely fashion. Being prepared for the future will make it easier for you to enjoy your upcoming birthdays.

Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. Email a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org. © 2022 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

By Laura Newland, Director D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living A little over a month ago, I testified before the Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization for our annual Performance Oversight hearing. I always enjoy hearing your thoughts, ideas, and experiences and the ways we can improve how we serve you. And just that quickly, it’s time for us to come together again for one of the most important seasons in our city – budget season.

Budget season in the District is a time where we get to put our DC Values into action. It’s time for us to turn the biggest challenges we’re facing into even bigger solutions and investments for all Washingtonians. My Budget Oversight hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 23 and I invite you to be a part of this process. Over the next two weeks, I’ll be meeting with seniors at our wellness centers to talk more about the budget. This is an opportunity to learn about how Mayor Bowser’s proposed 2023 investments will go towards ensuring every District resident has a fair shot at opportunity here in the District — especially our seniors, adults with disabilities, and those who care for them. If you’re unable to stop by one of our wellness centers, please feel free to email me at dacl@dc.gov to share your thoughts and ideas.

If you joined me for the Mayor’s Annual Senior Budget Engagement Forum, then you know just how much your input means to our Mayor. The Mayor continues to remind us that all the investments made in our city are driven by you. Investments like $3 million for neighborhood-based senior socialization hubs, and expanded senior village programming to combat isolation and increase outreach in all eight wards. Or $1 million investment for expanded transportation access through the District’s Connector Card programs, providing more choice in transportation options for qualifying seniors. These and so much more are all possible because you know what it takes to make DC a city where we can all live boldly. And that’s why I need you to keep telling us your stories – tell us your experiences, your needs, and your priorities so we can ensure Washington, DC remains the best city in the world to age.

I know these past two years have been incredibly challenging, but what they have taught us is just how much we can accomplish together. And this budget season and beyond, I’m looking forward to us accomplishing even more – together.

Director Laura Newland To Testify at Annual Budget Oversight Hearing

On Wednesday, March 23, Director Laura Newland will testify before the Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization for the Department of Aging and Community Living’s Annual Budget Oversight Hearing. To submit written testimony, please email housing@dccouncil.us. Testifying live is on a firstcome, first-served basis. If you’d like to sign up to testify live, please email housing@dccouncil.us your name, address, phone number, organizational affiliation, and title (if any), preferred email address, and that you’re testifying about DACL.

If you’d like to testify by phone, please call 202724-8064 and leave your name and phone number. The committee will call you before the hearing to make sure that you’re connected. The Committee will contact all witnesses by phone or email on the day before the hearing to confirm that they have received a slot. Seniors are encouraged to sign up to testify no later than Monday, March 21 at 5:00 p.m. Witnesses will be limited to three minutes. For more information, please contact the Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization at housing@dccouncil.us or 202-724-8064.

Director

Living Boldly is published by the Information Office of the DC Laura Newland Department of Aging and Community Living for DC senior residents.

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Living Boldly

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This Valentine’s Day, DACL Partnered with DC Schools to Spread Love

Thanks to DC Public Schools, DC Public Charter Schools and, with the help of the DC Public Library, the entire DC community, DACL distributed more than 4,600 handmade Valentine’s Day cards! These cards were delivered to homebound seniors who receive home delivered meals, and were given to older residents visiting our senior wellness centers during COVID test kit distribution.

Rapid Antigen Tests Are Still Available at Senior Wellness Centers District residents ages 65 and older are now able to pick up rapid antigen tests and KN95 masks at six senior wellness centers.

Seniors are able pick up two rapid tests per person, per day. On days that centers have rapid tests, free tests are available from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. For more information, please visit coronavirus.dc.gov.

Senior Wellness Centers are Now Open!

Beginning March 1, all senior wellness centers will reopen.

For more information on center hours and COVID guidelines, please contact your local senior wellness center.

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Money Law &

GOOD GUIDANCE New book suggests you pay off your mortgage, rebalance your portfolio often, and stay married DEBT MYTHS Adult children aren’t responsible for their late parents’ bills, with some notable exceptions LAST WRITES For an effective, pithy and affordable obituary, use a template from the newspaper or funeral home, or refer to a guide

Ways to benefit from rising interest rates

By Rivan V. Stinson The economy is strong, unemployment is low and inflation is worrisome, hitting a 40-year high of 7.5% in January. So, the Federal Reserve has moved up plans to wind down its bond-buying stimulus program and start lifting short-term rates.

Kiplinger forecasts four hikes in 2022, with the first one in March.

Rate hikes are a blessing and a curse for consumers. You’ll pay higher interest rates on credit cards, home equity lines of credit, private student loans and more. And although you may not notice a rate bump in the beginning, if the Fed continues to raise rates over the next couple of years, your plans to repay any debt could get tougher.

The good news for savers is that savings and money market rates tend to nudge up across the board, albeit slowly. Deposit levels are at record highs, so banks are less inclined to boost rates sooner.

Manage your debt Think of the rate-hike process as similar to the seasons changing — it happens gradually, said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate.com. If you have debt you are determined to pay off, he adds, you want to get a handle on it now, while rates remain relatively low.

For those carrying credit card debt — especially if it has a high interest rate — take advantage of a card with a 0% or lowrate introductory offer on balance transfers. If you can pay the entire balance during the interest-free period, you’ll pay off your debt and avoid interest rate creep.

For example, the Wells Fargo Reflect Visa doesn’t charge interest for the first 18 months, and the 0% window can be extended up to three additional months if you’ve made on-time minimum payments. You’ll have to pay a balance-transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the amount transferred (whichever is greater).

If you have a home equity line of credit and your lender allows rate locks, consider “fixing” or locking in a lower rate on some or all of your outstanding balance. HELOCs established in the past 10 years typically allow borrowers the option of creating a loan within their credit line. As you make payments on the loan, the credit line is replenished.

You may want to refinance your current HELOC or refinance your mortgage and roll your HELOC balance into it, which may be more feasible given the increased limits on conforming loans for 2022. Don’t delay if you want to refinance your mortgage — rates are still relatively low, but the long-term yields tied to mortgage rates have started to creep up.

A boon for savers Savers will get the best rates from savings and money market deposit accounts

that are already providing top yields. You’ll typically find those accounts at online banks or other online financial institutions.

Savers could be earning a rate close to the federal funds rate by the time the Fed is done raising rates. And if the Fed hikes rates nine times in quarter-point installments, as it did between 2015 and 2018, that number could hit 2.25%.

One high-rate account worth checking out is Bo Savings, which yields 0.65% and requires a $250 minimum opening deposit.

Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union offers a money market account yielding 1% on balances up to $25,000. To earn the full rate, you must have a $500 minimum monthly direct deposit into an Affinity Plus deposit account (for example, Social Security) and opt to receive digital statements. © 2022 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Life insurance with long-term care rider

By Chris Harlow Did you purchase a life insurance policy years ago to protect your loved ones? Just over half of adult Americans have a life insurance policy, and more say they’re interested in purchasing one.

However, needs can change later in life when the kids are grown up and a retirement nest egg seems big enough to absorb financial shocks.

Those nearing and in retirement may see less reason for their life insurance policy than when they first purchased it, and may see the premiums they still pay as burdensome.

But for many, there are potential benefits to continuing a life insurance policy or even purchasing certain types in retirement, when it comes to taxes, estate planning and long-term care.

Here are some ways to use a life insurance policy that you may not know about.

quired minimum distributions) over the course of their lifetime.

Now, most non-spouse beneficiaries must drain tax-deferred retirement accounts within 10 years of the original owner’s death. Depending on how much is in the account and the beneficiary’s tax situation, this could mean an increased tax burden and a faster end to the tax benefits of the inherited account.

In contrast, life insurance proceeds paid to beneficiaries are generally income taxfree. In fact, some individuals should consider using life insurance to help transfer wealth to the next generation.

Life insurance policies can provide business owners additional opportunities, such as paying off business debt, funding buysell agreements related to someone’s business or estate, or funding retirement plans.

Add long-term care benefits Tax savings The tax benefits of a life insurance policy are potentially even more valuable now that the “stretch IRA” is no more. In 2019, the SECURE Act (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) eliminated the option for most non-spouse beneficiaries to stretch out RMDs (re-

It’s estimated that 70% of Americans age 65 today will need long-term care at some point, and the costs can be staggering: The median annual cost for an assisted living facility is $51,600, and the median annual cost for a private room in a nursing home is over $105,850. Yet many Americans nearing and in retirement do not have

long-term care insurance.

Many people who do want to plan for long-term care costs may not want to invest in traditional long-term care insurance because premiums can rise significantly and there are typically no benefits if the owner ends up never needing long-term care. As a result, traditional long-term care insurance has become less popular in the last decade.

An alternative option is to use a life insurance policy with long-term care benefits. These policies combine the benefits of long-term care insurance with those of permanent life insurance through the purchase of an optional rider.

They can still provide a death benefit if the owner passes away without having needed long-term care. If the owner does need long-term care, a certain amount of money or time is allotted to cover costs.

If this amount isn’t used up, some policies can offer a “return of premium” guarantee upon death or termination of the policy. If a remaining amount is passed on, beneficiaries may be able to enjoy it taxfree, depending on the policy.

Unlike with traditional long-term care insurance, the premiums of this type of life insurance policy don’t rise. However, some require lump-sum payments at the start,

which can make purchasing a policy difficult for some.

The bottom line While your financial planning needs may change as you near and enter retirement, that doesn’t necessarily mean your life insurance policy is obsolete.

There are many potential benefits to life insurance beyond its traditional use to consider when creating a retirement or estate plan. A professional can help you understand how your particular policy works and if any of these strategies could apply to your financial plan.

Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing company. Life insurance riders may be available for an additional annual premium; riders may not be available in all states. Life insurance policies are subject to medical underwriting, and in some cases, financial underwriting. Optional LTC benefits are NOT a replacement for long term care (LTC) insurance. Living benefits and LTC riders are not available on all index universal life products. Accelerated death benefits and LTC riders are subject to eligibility requirements. © 2021 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Some can file their income taxes for free

By Sandra Block Tax software can alert you to moneysaving tax deductions and credits, help you avoid costly errors, and file your tax returns electronically, which will reduce the wait for your refund.

But depending on the complexity of your return, tax software can cost you $100 or more.

Before you shell out any money, though, find out whether you can file your federal tax return — and in some cases, your state tax return, too — for free.

If you had adjusted gross income of $73,000 or less in 2021, you can prepare and e-file your federal tax return for free through IRS Free File, even if your return is complex. Each Free File participant is permitted to impose its own criteria. To find a program, go to the IRS Free File Online Options webpage.

If you don’t qualify for IRS Free File but have a fairly straightforward return, consider Free File Fillable Forms. This program allows you to fill out your tax return electronically and either e-file it or print it and mail it in. The program will do the math but does not offer guidance or advice. The free fillable forms are also avail-

able on the IRS website.

Some tax software providers also offer free programs, but make sure you qualify before you start plugging in your numbers. For example, you can use TurboTax Free Edition if you had wages from a job (W-2 income) and limited interest and dividend income. But if you received unemployment benefits or had a health savings account, you must upgrade to TurboTax Deluxe ($39 at press time for a federal tax return).

H&R Block’s free online version allows users to report unemployment income, but if you had a health savings account last year, you must upgrade to H&R Block Deluxe ($29.99 at press time for a federal tax return).

FreeTaxUSA will prepare even complex federal tax returns for free. The company makes money by charging to file your state tax return, but the cost is reasonable: $14.99 for each state tax return.

Credit Karma Tax, which offered free federal and state tax programs, was acquired by Square, a financial technology company that developed Cash App, a mobile payment service, in late 2020. The program is still free, but you’ll be asked early on if you

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quest, however. © 2022 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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M A R C H 2 0 2 2 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

This book will help you meet your goals If you are contemplating retirement, or Here are some of the book’s highlights: are in the early stages of retirement, I Social Security: Kotlikoff points out highly recommend a new that waiting until 70 to file book published last month: for Social Security benefits is Money Magic: An Economist’s one of the most important reSecret to More Money, Less tirement moves. It’s a point Risk, and a Better Life by Lauhe made in his best-selling rence Kotlikoff.

2015 book, Get What’s Yours: The author, a professor of Secrets to Maximizing Your economics at Boston UniversiSocial Security. ty, has written 20 books and The difference in monthly inhundreds of articles in major come between filing early at 62 publications, and this ranks as THE SAVINGS or waiting until age 70 is 76%. one of the best books on the GAME After you reach your full retiresubject. The book covers a By Elliot Raphaelson ment age, your benefits inrange of issues such as cacrease 8% per year up to age 70. reers, college education, housing, investGiven this huge difference, Kotlikoff aring, retirement accounts and divorce. gues it’s to your advantage to make withYou will find that Kotlikoff’s suggestions drawals from your IRAs or other retiredo not align with the conventional advice ment plans in order to postpone taking offered by many financial advisers. Howev- your Social Security benefit. As I have er, when he offers his unconventional ad- pointed out in many of my columns, waitvice, he offers sound explanations. ing until 70 to claim your benefit provides

your ability to diversify your full resources.

In other words, rebalance your portfolio on a regular basis.

He also believes that investing in safer assets such as TIPS and I-bonds serves to reduce your risk. [See “A good time for inflation-protected bonds,” in the February Beacon.]

He believes that retirees should invest more heavily in stocks the older they are, reasoning that most older individuals spend down their assets as they age. However, their “bond-like” Social Security benefits will remain fixed. This approach will help maintain a constant ratio of risky to safe assets.

Divorce: Kotlikoff recommends, as I have said repeatedly, that if you do divorce, “do so after 10 years.” There may be sizable divorced spousal and divorced widow(er) benefits at stake.

He also comments that marriages aren’t necessarily built to last. “They need constant minding,” he writes. “Don’t take yours for granted or you may end up like almost half the country — divorced.”

In this book, Kotlikoff offers a lot of sound advice, much of it at odds with what you will read from other authors who don’t match his expertise. You will learn a great deal from it.

Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © 2022 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

a much higher survivor benefit.

Housing: You should consider downsizing when you retire. In addition, you should consider moving from a highercost to a lower-cost area. Kotlikoff believes you should use some of your retirement account assets to pay off your mortgage before you retire. The book covers the pros and cons of reverse mortgages.

College education: Kotlikoff does not favor borrowing money to attend college.

He points out that 40% of students who enter college don’t finish. He discusses actions to take if you have a great deal of student debt. He addresses what he calls “real student aid,” such as grants, scholarship and work study programs.

Retirement: Kotlikoff believes that too many individuals retire prematurely. He points out that every year you delay retiring is a year that you don’t have to draw from your savings or retirement accounts.

Because, on average, people are living longer, workers who retire early may spend more years living in retirement than they did working.

Investment: Kotlikoff points out that one of the biggest mistakes individuals make is failing to invest enough in their employer’s retirement plan to get the employer match.

He believes you should establish a global lifetime portfolio balance. Then adjust your asset allocation over time in light of

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25

company you’re calling? When you call, do they respond with “Acme Locksmiths” or just “Locksmith”? If they say “Acme Locksmiths” is that the company you thought you were calling?

If they answer “Locksmiths” ask them to identify the business name, as the call center representative may not recall which line he answered.

Research the business and complaint history: Are there favorable reviews for the exact same business name? Does it have a website with a good address? Does it have a “Google Guarantee” badge? CHECKBOOK Magazine is a nonprofit publication and may be the single best source of information for selecting reputable repair shops and other service businesses. Visit checkbook.org

Get worker identification: When a technician shows up, ask for their business card, ID or other identifier that proves they work for the company you think you’ve hired.

Get estimates: Get three written estimates, each of which includes the preprinted business name and identifies any required state or local license number.

Do you really know who you just hired?

When you need to repair or service appliances, plumbing or your HVAC system, or need a locksmith or a moving company, you might search online for local businesses. But what if the “local” merchant you call isn’t local, but is a scam out-of-state call center?

Here are some ways you can protect yourself:

Fake merchants, fake websites and fake reviews are a growing problem for consumers. The Wall Street Journal estimated that 11 million false business listings exist on Google Maps, with more sprouting up each month.

Scammers try to trick consumers by creating fake business names and even websites that are similar to those of real companies.

Research the address: When you map the address, does it show an empty lot or a completely different business? Is the address noting a “suite” number but you found a Post Office, UPS Store, or other mail drop, like executive suites?

While many legitimate small businesses will use their home address or a maildrop center to do business, when added to other signs of fraud, this may be an additional concern.

Research the phone number: Does it show up in a search? If so, does it belong to the

For more information about this or other consumer questions, contact the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection at consumer@ montgomerycountymd.gov, (240) 777-3774, or visit www. montgomerycountymd.gov/OCP.

www.montgomerycountymd.gov/senior

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M A R C H 2 0 2 2 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

How your parents’ debt could outlive them

By Liz Weston Many people believe one of two common myths when a parent dies in debt, said Chicago estate planning attorney Michael Whitty. The first myth is that an adult child will become liable for their parents’ debt.

The second myth is that they can’t.

Adult children typically don’t have to pay their parents’ bills, but there are exceptions. And even when a child doesn’t have to pay directly, debt could reduce what they inherit.

Debt doesn’t simply disappear when someone dies, Whitty explained. Creditors can file claims against the estate, and those claims usually must be paid before anything is distributed to heirs.

Creditors also are allowed to contact relatives about the dead person’s debts, even if those family members have no legal obligation to pay.

If you’re concerned that your parents’ debt might outlive them, consider talking to an estate planning attorney for personalized legal advice. Here are some issues to explore.

When you can and can’t be held personally responsible Generally, family members don’t have to use their own money to pay a dead relative’s debts unless they: — Co-signed a loan, were a joint account holder or otherwise agreed to be held responsible for the debt.

— Are the surviving spouse and live in a community property state or a state that requires surviving spouses to pay debts such as medical bills.

— Were legally responsible for settling the estate and didn’t follow state law.

For example, if you’re the executor of your parent’s estate and distribute money

to yourself or other heirs before paying off creditors, the creditors could sue you to get the money back.

Should you fear ‘filial responsibility’ laws?

More than half of states still have “filial responsibility” laws on the books that technically could require adult children to pay their impoverished parents’ bills, said estate and elder law attorney Letha McDowell.

These laws are holdovers from a time when debtors’ prisons existed, said McDowell, who is president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Their use has faded since the 1965 creation of Medicare (the health coverage program for people 65 and over) and Medicaid (the health coverage program for the poor).

Filial responsibility statutes are rarely enforced, although in 2012, a nursing

home chain used Pennsylvania’s law to successfully sue a son for his mother’s $93,000 bill.

Some legal experts have predicted more of these types of lawsuits as long-term care costs rise, but so far that hasn’t materialized, McDowell said.

[Ed. Note: Maryland repealed its version of the law in 2017; Washington, D.C.’s and Virginia’s filial responsibility laws are still on the books.]

How creditors get paid, including Medicaid If someone dies with more debt than assets, their estate is considered insolvent and state law typically determines the order in which the bills get paid.

Legal and other fees for administering the estate are paid, as well as funeral and burial expenses. A temporary living allowance may be provided for dependent spouses and children, depending on state law.

Secured debt such as mortgages or car loans must also be repaid or refinanced, or the lender can claim the property. Federal taxes and other federal debts have a high priority for repayment, followed by state taxes and debts, Whitty said.

If Medicaid paid for someone’s nursing home expenses, for example, the state can file a claim against the estate or a lien against the person’s home, according to McDowell.

Medicaid eligibility and recovery rules can be complex and vary by state, which is why it can help to consult an elder law attorney if a parent may need Medicaid to cover nursing home bills, McDowell said.

She urged planning appropriately “to make sure that your family doesn’t wind up without a house.”

The last debts to be paid include unsecured debt, such as credit card bills or personal loans. If there’s not enough money to pay those debts, the creditors get a share of whatever is left.

Only after creditors are paid in full can See FAMILY DEBT, page 27

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 2 2

Family debt From page 26 any remaining assets be distributed to heirs.

What to expect when collectors call Often, creditors won’t even file a claim against an insolvent estate if there’s little hope they’ll collect, Whitty said. But that doesn’t mean they won’t ask surviving family members to pay.

Legally, debt collection agencies are allowed to contact a surviving spouse or executor to request payment, and to contact relatives to ask how to reach a spouse or executor.

However, collection agencies aren’t al-

Letters to editor From page 2 read critically”) boggles the mind. I suspect that this guy is a woke socialist who would like nothing better than to target our children with lies that they are innately guilty of oppression due to their skin color, or by fueling media-driven hatred against those who respect our constitution and laws.

In the future I will skip articles that tend to want to tell me how to spot fake information, as I think I have already found it.

Gilbert Guss Via email Dear Editor: The Golden Rule is most likely applied by individuals with empathy toward others (“A few what-ifs,” February 2022). Seeing others’ viewpoints allows for understand-

lowed to say that the debt is legally owed by a survivor if it isn’t, Whitty said.

“One of the reforms that has been noticeable over the time I’ve been practicing is that collection agencies now must affirmatively state that the surviving family members are not obligated on the debt,” he said.

Of course, collection agencies aren’t known for always following the law. If you’re contacted by an unethical or abusive collector, consider filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

You can do that, and learn more about your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, at the CFPB website, consumerfinance.gov.

—AP

ing and compassion. Not doing so can lead to treating those you detest cruelly.

Lack of empathy by many ordinarily nice gentiles for Jews labeled “criminals”

by Hitler in Nazi Germany promoted hatred [and murder] of Jews, as an extreme example.

Some of this goes on here when it comes to attitudes toward unauthorized immigrants crossing America’s southern border. They may be classified as “criminals” instead of innocent people trying to escape gun violence and utmost destitution.

Equating them with true criminals — murderers, thieves, rapists, etc. — makes it easier to support merciless immigration policy. Empathy would encourage kindness toward them, if not sanction for their trespass.

Gerald Schneider Kensington, Md.

See back issues and resources at www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com

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M A R C H 2 0 2 2 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

How to write an obituary for a loved one Dear Savvy Senior, uaries are hurriedly written at the time of Can you provide any tips on how to death. write an obituary? My dad, Here’s what you should who has terminal cancer, know, along with some tips has asked me to write his and tools to help you write it: obituary, which will be published in the funeral proContact the newspaper gram and run in our local Before you start writing newspaper. your dad’s obituary, your first —Not a Writer step is to check with the newsDear Not, paper you want it to run in.

I’m very sorry to hear Some newspapers have specifabout your dad’s prognosis. ic style guidelines or restricWriting your dad’s obituary SAVVY SENIOR tions on length, some only acnow would be a nice way for By Jim Miller cept obituaries directly from you to honor him and sum up funeral homes, and some only his life, not to mention avoid any possible publish obituaries written by newspaper mistakes that sometimes occur when obit- staff members. [Ed. note: The Beacon does

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hobbies, accomplishments and any awards he received; his church or religious affiliations; any clubs, civic and fraternal organizations he was a member of; and any charities he feels strongly about that he would like people to donate to either in addition to or in lieu of flowers or other gifts. You’ll also need to include a photo of your dad.

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If you need some help writing your dad’s obituary, there are free online resources you can turn to like Legacy.com, which provides tips and articles at Legacy.com/advice/guide-to-writing-an-obituary.

Or consider the 25-page e-book Writing an Obituary in Four Easy Steps, available at DearPersonObits.com for $5. This guide will help you gather the details of your dad’s life so you can write an obituary that will reflect his personality and story.

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If your newspaper accepts family-written obits, find out if they have a template to guide you, or check with your dad’s chosen funeral provider. Most funeral homes provide forms for basic information and will write the full obituary for you as part of the services they provide.

You also need to be aware that most newspapers charge by the word, line or column inch to publish an obituary, so your cost will vary depending on your newspaper’s rate and the length of your obit — most range between 200 and 600 words.

Also note that many newspapers offer free public service death listings too, which only include the name of the person who died along with the date and location of death and brief details about the funeral or memorial service.

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Depending on how detailed you want to be, the most basic information in an obituary usually would include your dad’s full name (and nickname if relevant), age, date of birth, date of death, where he was living when he died, significant other (alive or dead), and details of the funeral service (public or private). If public, include the date, time and location of service.

Other relevant information you may also want to include: cause of death (optional); place of birth and his parents’ names; his other survivors including his children, other relatives, friends and pets and where they live; family members who preceded him in death; high school and colleges he attended and degrees earned; his work history and military service; his

Online memorials Many families today also choose to post their loved one’s obituaries online and create digital memorials. Some good sites that offer this are MyKeeper.com, GatheringUs.com and EverLoved.com, which provide a central location where family and friends can visit to share stories, memories and photos to celebrate your dad’s life.

Or, if your dad used Facebook, you could also turn his profile into a memorial where family and friends can visit and share anytime. (You’ll need to show proof of death.)

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

Send a letter to the editor.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 2 2

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Leisure &

To avoid vacation frustration, plan ahead. See story on page 31.

Aruba surprises, far beyond its beaches pirate cruises, deep-sea fishing expeditions, and snorkeling and diving experiences.

Further inland, the scenery changes dramatically. There Aruba presents an arid, extraterrestrial landscape of volcanic rockstrewn desert pocked by towering cactus.

Goats graze in fields surrounded by stone fences, while not far away some of their cousins roam free. They’re joined by hens pecking at edible scraps on the ground, and roosters that provide early morning wake-up calls.

PHOTO BY JASON BUSA, SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

By Victor Block If you like to loll on magnificent whitesand beaches, visit the tiny Caribbean island of Aruba.

When you’re seeking immersion in a fascinating multi-racial culture, think Aruba.

Want to combine flashy casinos and a long-list of activities with an other-worldly moonscape setting? Yes, head to Aruba.

With an area no larger than that of Washington, D.C., the island makes up in variety for what it lacks in size. No wonder the miniscule enclave is a magnet for vacationers from the United States, attracting more repeat visitors than any other Caribbean destination.

Stretches of white sand shaded by towering palms and wind-sculpted divi-divi trees cover the island’s western and southwestern shorelines. Those in the know rate Aruba’s beaches among the most outstanding in the Caribbean, which means they rank highest throughout the world.

The water that laps the beaches ranges in color from light green to turquoise to deep blue, and serves as the playground for a something-for-everyone list of activities.

Jet skis and motorboats zip back and forth offshore, some towing people in rubber rafts, on water skis or parasails above the waves. Sailboats catch the constant breeze, and excursion vessels offer ersatz

Aloe museum, national park While resorts are where many visitors spend the most time, the interior of the island — what I call the real Aruba — offers much more to explore and enjoy.

Attractions range from commercial tourist sites for people of all ages, to historical remnants that trace the story of the island and those who have called it home.

My introduction to the off-the-beach places to visit began at the Aloe Museum and Factory, which turned out to be more interesting than I expected. After watching men use machetes to remove leaves of aloe plants in the fields surrounding the museum building, I joined a tour group and learned about their uses in medicines and cosmetics.

Aloe has been cultivated and processed in Aruba for 160 years. After a free tour, stop in ©GAIL JOHNSON, DREAMSTIME.COM

Inside the cool caves of Arikok National Park, which covers one-fifth of the island, tourists can take a break from the sun and gaze at ancient Indian rock drawings.

The colorful Dutch Colonial architecture in Aruba’s capital city of Oranjestad has been restored and turned into shops, government offices and homes.

the store for lotion, soap and other products.

Much older chapters of Aruba’s past come alive in Arikok National Park, an ecological preserve that encompasses nearly one-fifth of the island.

Among its attractions are Jamanota Hill, the highest point on the island, which offers spectacular views from its peak; the Conchi pool, a tranquil inlet encircled by volcanic stone; and Dos Playa (“Beach Two”), a nesting site for sea turtles.

The park terrain is inviting to some of the 230-plus species of birds that reside on the island, or those that pass through for rest and refueling during their migratory journeys to North or South America.

While I’m far from a serious ornithologist, I enjoyed keeping my eyes peeled for glimpses of high flyers with quirky names like Ruddy Turnstone, Bare-eyed Pigeon and Black-faced Grassquit.

Shallow ancient caves dotted about Arikok recall the time when indigenous people lived there. Brownish-red drawings that they made on the walls and ceilings are said to date back to about 1,000 B.C.E. The Arawak people were still living on Aruba when the Spanish claimed it in 1499.

Great Britain and Holland later gained control, and it has remained a relative of the Netherlands for most of the time since 1636.

Melting pot of ‘one happy island’ Aruba’s background, and its close proximity to South America, account for the melting pot of people who make up its population. Many of its 110,000 residents speak the official Dutch language, as well as the native Papiamento, Spanish and English.

Their proficiency in English — along with the fact that Aruba has a well-deserved reputation as welcoming and safe for visitors — helps explain its popularity among Americans. The locals truly exemplify the country’s motto: “One happy island.”

The capital of Aruba is Oranjestad (locals say orahn-yuh-stod). With fewer than 30,000 inhabitants, it ranks more as a large town than a small city. It tends to get crowded when the docks are lined by cruise ships — towering multi-storied vessels that loom over the low-rise buildings.

The hotels, restaurants, casinos and shops that line the two main streets along the harbor display the whimsical shapes and subtle pastel colors of Dutch colonial architecture.

Other hints of the island’s close connection with that country include signs identifying the names of streets (Bilderdijk Straat, Copernicus Straat), and items on the menus of restaurants that would be at See ARUBA, page 30

30

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Aruba From page 29 home in the Netherlands.

The oldest structure on Aruba is Fort Zoutman, which was built in 1796-1798 to ward off pirates. Oranjestad then evolved around the solid fortification. A turret that was added to the fort later to serve as a

M A R C H 2 0 2 2 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

lighthouse is called the Willem III Tower, in honor of a 19th-century king of the Netherlands.

Another lighthouse, perched on a seaside elevation overlooking Aruba’s northwestern tip, provides 360-degree views over the island. It’s known as the California Lighthouse in memory of a steamship that was wrecked nearby in 1891.

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One lofty landmark has an even more colorful history. The Old Windmill (De Oude Molen) was built in the Netherlands in 1804 and used first to drain water from that country’s lowlands and later to grind grain.

After suffering damage from storms, the windmill was disassembled and shipped to Aruba, where it was reassembled and serves today as another reminder of the Dutch connection.

A good way to take in much of the sites, and sights, of Aruba is to join a guided excursion. De Palm Tours (depalm.com) is the proverbial king of the island in terms of variety and quality. Its offerings range from half- and full-day trips in comfortable buses, to self-driven, off-road Utility Terrain Vehicle outings, and from catamaran snorkel itineraries to sunset sails.

The company even has its own island.

There, a water park, “body drop slides” and banana boat rides delight young visitors, while salsa lessons, guided snorkeling tours and pleasant beaches appeal to

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their parents and grandparents.

Add-on activities include Sea Trek underwater walks wearing a diving helmet for face-to-face meet-ups with sea life and “Snuba” swims. Snuba is a combination of snorkeling and Scuba diving — swimmers breathe through a regulator to avoid having to surface to take a breath.

For those who wish to relax on some of the most inviting beaches anywhere, Aruba has much to offer. But a visit to the island can include much more.

Whether getting close up and personal with fish, exploring a diverse and different landscape, or delving into the enticing history and multicultural lifestyle of the people, visitors are left wondering how so many alternatives share such a small plot of land.

If you go The weather in Aruba doesn’t vary much throughout the year. Fall and early winter are the rainy season, but that usually means a shower that stops after a few minutes.

A round-trip flight from Reagan National Airport to Aruba in March starts at $599 on American Airlines. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test is required for entry to the country.

Accommodations run the gamut from high-rise hotels and small luxury resorts to all-inclusive properties and villas.

I chose to rent a privately owned threestory condo through Vacation Rentals by Owner (vrbo.com). The four-bedroom property, located close to outstanding beaches, had air conditioning, a full kitchen, two pleasant outdoor decks and other amenities for a reasonable $170 per night.

The culture of a destination may be experienced when dining at restaurants.

That certainly applies to Aruba. Along with fresh-from-the-sea fish, many menu items merge Caribbean, Dutch and South American cuisine with local touches.

Dining is often outdoors, and portions are large, so my wife and I usually shared an entrée. Our favorites: Papiamento (Washington 61; 297-586-4544) has a fairyland setting and lengthy menu. A shrimp scampi appetizer ($18) can be a full meal.

The menu at Madame Janette (Cunucu Abou 37; 297-587-0184) is expansive, and somewhat expensive. It features several fish entrees ($39) and a selection of gourmet hamburgers adorned by an assortment of toppings ($29).

For more places to stay and dine, visit aruba.com/us.

BEACON BITS

March 22

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Makes a great gift! | Leisure & Travel

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 2 2

Plan your arrival at destination airports An old-time major league pitcher once said • If you can’t avoid an early morning arhe worried about only two types of batters — rival, and you’re eligible for an airport lounge righthanders and lefthanders. program, you might be able to Similarly, only two kinds of use a post-immigration “arairports present hostile envirivals lounge” located at a few ronments: origin and destinabig airports. Use a lounge findtion. Origin airports are often er like loungebuddy.com to see the worst, but destination airif you can use one. ports present their challenges, 2. Getting to where you’re as well. Here’s how to avoid going. Unless someone is some of the worst problems. meeting you, solving the “last 1. Schedule. Even before mile” transport riddle can be a you get there, you can ease problem at any unfamiliar airdestination airport problems TRAVEL TIPS port. Do it before you get there, by scheduling your trip to By Ed Perkins not after you arrive.

• The gold standard for minimize hassle.

• In a multi-airport city, try to book the last-mile transport is a taxi or Uber, taking most convenient airport — closest to your you directly from airport to your hotel, offinal destination, the smallest and easiest to fice or house door, with no intermediate navigate, the one with the best access to schlepping. But cab and ride rates vary downtown, or some combination. tremendously, depending both on distance • Try to avoid arriving at local rush and local rates.

In the U.S., distance is the primary fachours. It’s especially important to avoid morning rush hour arrival on overnight tor, with rates that soar from remote airflights. You’ll fight the worst of the day’s ports. A cab from airport to city center traffic getting to your final destination, and ranges from about $17 in San Diego to $60 your hotel room probably won’t be ready. I at Washington/Dulles. can’t tell you how many times I’ve passed Cab or ride rates are much higher at through London hotel lobbies at about 10 some remote foreign airports, such as $160 in the morning where a bunch of jetlagged from Tokyo/Narita or London/Gatwick. travelers sat around the lobby, with their On the other hand, cabs are inexpensive in baggage, waiting for a room to open.

China — for example, $25 in Shanghai.

Check current rates at taxi fare locators such as Ride Guru (rideguru.com), Taxi Fare Finder (taxifarefnder.com), or World Taximeter (worldtaximeter.com).

• Next, check public transit options. The best way to locate them is to look at the airport’s website. Every airport website includes a page or two about local access, usually with links to appropriate transport services.

• Often, the next-best option to a cab is a shared-ride door-to-door shuttle. Unless you’re headed for the first stop, a shuttle takes longer than a cab, but at a fraction of the cost. Airport websites list shuttle operators and usually link to their websites for fare information.

• Rail access can often be your best option, especially at the more remote airports.

In the U.S., 24 airports feature rail service.

But light rail and metros can be very crowded at rush hours, and few provide facilities for baggage.

Keep in mind that transport other than cabs/rides is priced per-person: A stiff taxi/ride fare could be a non-starter for a single traveler, but divided by two, three or four, it’s often low enough to tip the scales.

Send email to Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net or check out his rail travel website at rail-guru.com. © 2021 Ed Perkins. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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M A R C H 2 0 2 2 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Subscribe online! See how on p. 28

Style Arts &

Remember Look magazine? See reviews of books about the good old days on page 34.

How to cope with loss and find new love Seeing a need for a guide to widowhood, Dempsey and her co-author, Marti Benedetti, wanted to help those who have lost spouses “find their footing,” mostly on dating, Dempsey said.

When they first started researching the book, Dempsey, a freelance journalist, had been dating a widower for more than a decade; Benedetti had lost her husband of 28 years.

In March 2021, after they had finished the manuscript for Finding Love After Loss, Benedetti passed away from metastatic breast cancer. Selections from Benedetti’s blog, in which she wrote about her life after the death of her husband, are included at the end of each of the book’s 13 chapters.

Dempsey’s contributions to the book include many interviews with people in the D.C. area who have lost spouses. They were younger than she expected. She noted that, according to the Census, the average age of an American widow is 59 years old.

“Widows [today] are living longer and have broader views about sex and money” than in the past, she said.

During her research, Dempsey was sur-

prised to find that most people she interviewed seemed open to new kinds of relationships the second time around.

“I thought that widows who had been married a long time would be looking for similar relationships.

That’s not the case. They want something different,” Dempsey said.

“Widows are carving out these unorthodox pathways to romance. Some are married and not living together, or living together and not married.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR

By Robert Friedman “Love is one of the most joyous things that anchors the human experience. That’s why it’s so hard to give it up.”

Those are the opening sentences of Finding Love After Loss, a book published last fall about the challenges of widowhood that addresses how to cope, survive and maybe find love a second time around.

According to the 2020 Census, there are 11.37 million widows and 3.48 million widowers in America. More than 200,000 of those marital survivors (169,000 woman and 40,400 men) live in the D.C. area, according to the Census Bureau.

Local widows and widowers can look to a bevy of groups for counseling and dating, including Widows/Widowers of Montgomery County, Widowed Persons Outreach, and Washington Baby Boomer Widowers.

Despite these groups, many widows feel disoriented and uncertain about how to find love again.

“Many are confused by the new rules [of widowhood] since COVID-19, especially on dating and touching,” said the book’s co-author, Mary Dempsey, 65, a D.C. resident for the past 14 years.

Dating challenges Of course, not everyone in a widow or widower’s life will embrace those new D.C. writer Mary Dempsey, co-author of Finding Love After Loss, interviewed dozens of anonymous widows pathways.

Another common theme for her book, published last fall. in Dempsey’s interviews Younger women who lose their husbands was “how judgmental friends and relatives are about senior dating,” she said. Loved must juggle “grieving children, financial turones can have “strict ideas on how long moil and career interruption. Their road is widowed seniors should be in mourning an especially rocky one,” she wrote.

“Often, they were the only widow in and wait before trying to move back to a their social circle, and their friends, new to fuller life.”

Several widows “were surprised to dis- death, were careless and clumsy in hancover how problematic their return to ro- dling that. Yet these women, too, held fast mance proved for friends and families, in- to the idea they might find love again.” cluding in-laws,” she said.

In the book, the authors also delve into ‘The beginning of a new story’ If someone loses a spouse and is ready the economic devastation that some widto date again, where do they find potential ows face.

“We hadn’t realized how deeply widow- matches?

“We talked to women who found new hood can compromise a woman’s health or finances,” Dempsey wrote in the Lily, a See LOVE AFTER LOSS, page 35 Washington Post publication, last November.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 2 2

March Events

Noseda conducts a new Carlos Simon work James Ehnes plays Beethoven Under the direction of Gianandrea Noseda, the National Symphony Orchestra presents Tales A Folklore Symphony by new Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon. Also on the program: two-time Grammy Award®-winning violinist James Ehnes performing Beethoven’s famous Violin Concerto.

March 3–5 | Concert Hall

Thomas Wilkins & Jan Lisiecki “Jan Lisiecki. Remember the name.”

—The Financial Times At 26, Lisiecki’s “pristine, lyrical and intelligent” (The New York Times) technique gives him a musical voice far beyond his age. The PolishCanadian pianist joins the NSO to play Chopin’s glorious Piano Concerto No. 1 in a program led by renowned maestro Thomas Wilkins.

March 17 & 19 | Concert Hall

Michael Tilson Thomas Mini-Residency Join us this month as the National Symphony Orchestra presents a Mini-Residency with 2019 Kennedy Center Honoree and 12-time Grammy Award®-winning composer Michael Tilson Thomas—a champion of American music and of Gustav Mahler. First, he leads a spirited program spotlighting American masters Aaron Copland, Carl Ruggles, and MTT himself. Thomas returns to the podium to conduct Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection.”

Michael Tilson Thomas Art © Mo Willems

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Michael Tilson Thomas appears as both conductor and composer in his jazzy post-apocalyptic party Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind, featuring a dynamite vocal trio along with bar band and chamber orchestra. The program closes with Appalachian Spring, Aaron Copland’s Pulitzer Prize–winning ballet depicting hopeful scenes of pioneer life in 19th-century Pennsylvania—from a house-raising to a sermon to a festive celebration!

Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Mahler’s rousing, five-movement “Resurrection” Symphony. A champion interpreter of Mahler’s work, MTT has recorded all nine of the composer’s symphonies and his major orchestral works—earning him seven (of his 12) Grammy® Awards.

March 25 & 26 | Concert Hall

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33

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Arts & Style | Subscribe online! See how on p. 28

M A R C H 2 0 2 2 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Read these books for a dose of nostalgia One of the prerogatives of aging is lookLook, the book, lauds the talented photoing back through rose-colored glasses at journalists and reporters who graced the the world inhabited by our magazine’s pages. Politicians, younger selves. These books historians and best-selling auwill reinforce your perceptions thors contributed thought-prothat the good old days were voking articles. Cutting-edge just as great as you remember. issues such as civil rights and Look: How a Highly Influemerging trends like femiential Magazine Helped Denism were presented in a posifine Mid-Twentieth-Century tive light to a wide audience.

With its vast circulation, America, by Andrew L. author Andrew Yarrow conYarrow, 384 pages, Potomac tends, the publication shaped Books hardcover, 2021 a consensus that kept extremFor nearly 35 years, between THE BIBLIOPHILE ism at bay and forged a nation1937 and 1971, Look magazine

By Dinah Rokach al unity. He bemoans the fragchronicled the events, personmentation of our culture since alities and lifestyles that shaped this country at the height of its superpower the magazine’s demise. status. The biweekly large-sized periodical, The book’s 61 illustrations, culled from which emphasized photography, boasted 35 the 60 million that appeared in the periodimillion readers at its peak. cal’s pages, will take you down memory

lane. You should readily spot, in a 1950 photograph, the misidentified crooner standing alongside Judy Garland.

Prolific author and former journalist Yarrow earned his PhD from George Mason University. He resides in the Greater Washington, D.C. area.

100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet, by Pamela Paul, 288 pages, Crown hardcover, 2021 Pundits lament the deterioration of good manners, the loss of civility and the hectic 24/7 nature of modern life.

Contemplating the world from the quiet solitude of a comfortable chair and a large window has become passé. Seniors carp about the loss of deep friendships cultivated in a less stressful society. Many blame the smartphone.

Lo and behold, here comes a Gen X-er who validates those observations. Pamela

Paul, editor of the New York Times Book Review, writes from the vantage point of a professional woman and parent who has no choice but to follow along with the trend.

Paul delineates positive aspects of life that have been lost to being wired to the world wide web, such as turning the pages of the morning newspaper; exchanging hand-signed greeting cards through the mail; enjoying an uninterrupted meal at a restaurant; and watching a live performance without upraised phones snapping photos and obstructing the view.

Many older adults have adapted to the digital universe but have resisted transitioning exclusively to the new online obsession.

This book will reaffirm that choice.

Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir, by Eddie Muller, 272 pages, Running Press hardcover, revised and expanded edition, 2021 Survey the genre of film noir in this comprehensive and lavish large-format book.

Dark City is written with panache and vast erudition by film aficionado Eddie Muller, who is on a mission to resuscitate and gain recognition for this art form, which reached its height of fame between 1948 and 1952.

Muller writes cogently and imparts an overarching perspective that weaves the stories behind hundreds of movies into a cohesive and fascinating narrative. While some critics may dismiss their artistic merit, Muller lauds noir movies as realistic depictions of American civilization in the post-World War II era.

The films are grouped into 13 categories, each with its own chapter. In-depth biographies and filmographies of stars of that era are inserted into the narrative.

Reprise the careers of Joan Crawford, Barbara Stanwyck, Lizabeth Scott, Robert Mitchum, John Garfield, Robert Ryan and other luminaries. More than 200 images, including stills and publicity shots and more than 30 color posters, accompany the text.

Muller, who is in his mid-60s, transformed his youthful obsession with film noir into a dazzling franchise. He is founder and president of the Film Noir Foundation, which finds, preserves and restores lost noir classics. He is host of the weekly Turner Classic Movies cable channel’s “Noir Alley.”

Muller has also presented films at the AFI Cinema Noir City DC Film Festival in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland.

BEACON BITS

March 15

VIRTUAL SCIENCE CAFÉ

The Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum presents a free virtual science café about planes, parasites and paleontology on Tues., March 15 from 5 to 6 p.m.

To learn more and register, visit s.si.edu/3GW48JR.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 2 2

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

35

Loving a frumpy car — and proud of it When two old-ish people buy a new car, heads. It cannot hope to jackrabbit away they fall into one of two camps. from any red lights.

Camp One: Let’s buy someWe will keep it till death do thing zingy and silly, to prove us part. Our Bu is our boo. that blood is still coursing And it is a monument to the through our veins. value of research.

Camp Two: Let’s buy someWhen we were shopping, thing dowdy and reliable, a bit my wife Googled “Car Least like us.

Likely To Be Stolen In United Eleven years ago, my wife States.” You can guess which and I did not have to ponder make and model turned up. for very long. We chose Camp We signed on the dotted line Two. less than a day later.

HOW I SEE IT Thus was born our Bu. The By Bob Levey So, our Bu was the practical Chevrolet people call it a Malpick from the first second. ibu, but I have shortened it to its final sylla- Also, cheaper to insure (for the reason she ble, because it’s so…family. discovered). And cheaper to operate (its It has weathered grape juice spills and a four-cylinder engine doesn’t slurp gas like nasty gash in one door produced by Yours a Charger or a Mustang).

Truly, when he tried to park in a too-tight And absolutely bereft of sex appeal. space.

Once, in a parking lot, when the attenIt still runs just fine. It never turns any dant retrieved our Bu, he asked how

quickly it accelerated from zero to 60.

“Takes about a week,” I told him. I wasn’t exaggerating that much.

Of course, this being the 21st Century, Chevrolet had to gussy up our Bu to make it seem exciting, even when it clearly wasn’t. Therefore, we don’t own a light brown Chevrolet Malibu. We own a Malibu that’s “champagne brown.”

I have never quaffed a flute of brown champagne, and I never expect to. But I quibble. Our brown Bu conceals dings and dents much more comfortably than some candy-apple red speed machine.

Speaking of speed…

Three years ago, there was a daylight bank robbery at a branch near where we live. The scenario was familiar. Guy demands money from teller. She complies.

He flees in a getaway car.

A Chevrolet Malibu!

For years, I have endured disdain about

the Bu from my friends and my children.

But that day, as I emailed them the getaway-car news, with the heading “Ah Ha!,” I felt atop the world.

Bu Worship has even extended to out-oftown trips.

A few years ago, I landed at some airport and rented a car. I could have chosen any of about 30 makes, but I chose a Malibu.

Later that day, during a phone call with our son, I told him what I had done. A brief pause on the line, and then: “What’s wrong with you?”

I explained that I knew where the windshield wiper switch was without thinking about it. But not for the first time and not for the last, The Old Man was awarded the door prize for stodginess.

Two years ago, as the pandemic landed, the Bu was well on its way to being worth

Love after loss

popular matchmaking services in our area.

As the book notes, “To discuss love and death together is not easy. Widowhood dating is an unusual beast in that it flips the usual pattern: Instead of death being the end of the game, it is the beginning of a new story.”

As one widow still living alone told Dempsey, “I have changed. I’ve gone deep-

er into who I am. I like myself better now than ever.”

To contact Widowed Persons Outreach, call (202) 537-4942 or visit wpodc.org. Washington Baby Boomer Widowers lists its events on Meetup.com; also see bit.ly/dcwidowers.com.

Montgomery County Widows/Widowers lists events, including a weekly Zoom meeting on Thursday evenings, at bit.ly/mocowidows.

From page 32 partners in the library, in the grocery store, at church. We interviewed many widows who jumped onto dating apps,” Dempsey explained in the Lily.

The most popular dating apps (and websites) for older adults, according to Forbes,

are SilverSingles.com, OurTime.com, Match.com, OKCupid.com, Tinder and Bumble. All are accessible on a smartphone.

One interviewee was living in a rural community where she wasn’t likely to meet anyone, so she paid five figures to a professional dating service. DC Matchmaking or It’s Just Lunch (ItsJustLunchDC.com) are

See BOB LEVEY, page 37

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M A R C H 2 0 2 2 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Crossword Puzzle Find a new crossword every day on our website at www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com/puzzles.

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1. Mortgage add-ons 5. Attack a Goliath 10. Big Gulp flavor 14. “Your best teacher is your ___ mistake” (Ralph Nader) 15. Wedding vow verb 16. Enthusiastic 17. Guesstimate words 18. Hawaiian for “mountain” 19. Host of the 2013 All-Star Game 20. SU (or a long day) 23. Less brash 24. SCIENCE center 25. Authoritarian 28. Misfortunes 30. “Happiness ___ warm puppy” 32. First of the Five W’s of journalism 33. Teeming with slimy creatures 36. Result of a chemical equation 37. Like underbrewed coffee 38. WHE (or the boonies) 41. Finish a new workout 42. Photo and special 43. Went on a rampage 44. “... and my pronouns are ___ , ...”

45. Suffix with meth46. Room in the big house 47. Bird with pale blue eggs 49. Its southernmost team is the Miami Heat 51. Plans the scouts’ activities 55. OW (or a golden opportunity) 58. Events of The Sting and The Sting II 60. Consolidated cut flowers 61. 1970’s gymnast, Korbut 62. Initial stake 63. Was in the drama club 64. Seasonal worker 65. Member of a plague 66. Lecher’s looks 67. Components of an eon

1. Follow the dentist’s advice 2. Planet of the Apes planet 3. Component of an English class grade 4. Including all of the departments 5. Jerk 6. “Half a ___ better than none” 7. “Occupied!”

8. Workers with less bargaining power 9. Nutrition label unit 10. Small part for a big star 11. Cloying 12. Fired up the grill 13. Superbowl curiosities 21. Internet mischief maker 22. Degree for Bush 43 26. Get appetizers for the table 27. Connected to the other ox 29. “Keep your ___ the ball!”

31. Annoy a sleepy spouse 33. Powerful tennis shot 34. Professional specialization 35. Dedicated supporters 36. Stipulations 37. Four beats, often 39. Like some sandwiches (or motorcycle helmets) 40. “___ be able to bring my baby?”

45. High/dry divider 46. “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my ___” (Michael Jordan) 48. Early stage 50. Moisten meat 52. Less inept 53. Set of beliefs 54. Replaces books in a Little Free Library 56. Basic Hot Wheels track shape 57. Calculates a final golf score 58. Part of a graduation uniform 59. Binary digit

Answers on page 39.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 2 2

Bob Levey From page 35 next-to-nothing in resale. Just for kicks, I asked a salesman-friend to give me an idea of what it might fetch at the age of nine.

You know how friends sometimes wait a beat, so they can decide how to give you bad news wrapped in cotton?

This guy was all cotton: “Well, Bob, if you can get a thousand dollars, I’d be surprised.”

Ah, but today? The car market has turned upside down. Because new cars are hard to come by, the used car market has surged.

I haven’t called my pal recently, but I suspect that the Bu might actually be worth quite a bit now.

But sell it? The vehicle where I can click on a radio station button without looking because I’ve done it so many times? Whose baritone horn I would recognize anywhere?

No, the Bu has parents who love it, who check the oil regularly, who keep the trunk as clean as a whistle.

If a car reflects the age of its owners, the Bu is right up there, as we are. It still starts on cold mornings — vroom, like clockwork. Just like us. For many more years. We hope.

Bob Levey is a national award-winning columnist.

BEACON BITS

March 23

WOMEN IN PHOTOGRAPHY

Join the National Museum of Women in the Arts for a free virtual conversation about women’s contributions to photography on Wed., March 23 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/NMWAPhotography or call (202) 783-5000.

ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick Detorie

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

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M A R C H 2 0 2 2 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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Caregivers CAREGIVER CARE FOR LOVED ONES live their best life in the comfort of their own home EXP Good Ref: Day or night shift call 301-5022258 A HOME HEALTHCARE- Experienced nurses, CNA, GNA are available 24/7. Cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping, driving. Full/Part-time or live-in care. 15 years’ experience. 2405336599) A CARE AGENCY - Been in business for more than 10 years. Experienced nurses, CNAs, GNAs. Any hours you need. Flat rate for live-in.

Duties include cooking, housekeeping, bathing, errands, etc. Tel: 667-231-8235

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.

Or 301-328-2112

Financial

Home/Handyman Services

Wanted

WANTED: PRIVATE FIRST MORTGAGE. The note will be secured by a first mortgage issued on a three bedroom brick farmhouse, build around 1890 and renovated in 2020. The property consists of 2 acres+/_ . The note would be for Two hundred, ten thousand dollars ($210.000.00) and be for twenty-four months. The note would bear an interest rate of Seven percent (7.0%) simple interest.

This represents approximately Eighty-five percent of the properties value. Please contact James Bull 703 597 4628 only if you are a principle interested in issuing this mortgage. A MD Licensed Attorney, agreeable to both parties, will be the intermediary.

DOWNSIZING OR LIQUIDATING AN ESTATE? Doing it yourself? YOU ARE THROWING MONEY AWAY! Our specialists know the current trends in today’s market! Our easy process determines what to keep, gift, sell, donate, or discard.

Services include: estate liquidation, downsizing, junk removal, estate sales, and consignment of collectibles. We buy estates, vehicles, and real estate. Call/text Philip 301-219-3600 DownsizingSpecialists.com. One person’s trash is another’s treasure, and we know the difference!

I BUY OLD RIFLES, PISTOLS & SHOTGUNS (Military/Civilian). I have a Federal Firearms License & MD Regulated Firearms Dealer License. I safely/legally purchase from estates & individuals in MD/VA. Tim 703-4477243 or www.midatlanticmilitaryantiques.com

WESLEY FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts. Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019.

Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations.

Over 450 positive reviews. Call 855-626-8703.

TAX PREPARATION SERVICES. Licensed CPA for 35 years. All types of tax returns. Reasonable rates. Located in Gaithersburg MD near Quince Orchard Rd & Great Seneca Hwy. Diane Christen CPA, 240-355-1135 cell; dianechristen@aol.com.

For Sale TWO CHOICE MAUSOLEUM SITES in King David Memorial Gardens in desirable Court of Christ, Building 0ne. Regular $15,000 each. Will sell for half, $7499. OBO. Call Velma Clark 3364292846 cell or 2767300104.

FOR SALE: Cemetery sites at National Memorial Dignity. Lee Hwy, VA. To see site call 703560-4400 (ask for Cemetery Connector). Or email Davidgeller@dignitymemorial.com. All inquires, please contact Carol via email: CarolKetch8@yahoo.com. 4 choice sites in desirable area. Block HH 349 1-2-3-4. Valued at $40,000.

Will sell for $20,000 PUT ON YOUR TV EARS and hear TV with unmatched clarity. TV Ears Original were originally $129.95 - NOW WITH THIS SPECIAL OFFER are only $59.95 with code MCB59! Call 1-833-934-0843.

GENERAC STANDBY GENERATORS provide backup power during utility power outages, so your home and family stay safe and comfortable. Prepare now. Free 7-year extended warranty ($695 value!). Request a free quote today!

Call for additional terms and conditions. 1-866964-8106.

NATIONAL MEMORIAL PARK CEMETARY. 4 Choice Sites in Desirable Block DD. Reg $7995/ea. Sale $3995/ea OBO. Contact 917-7543355

For Sale/Rent: Real State FOR RENT: Basement apartment with own private bathroom in new development in the Germantown Maryland area, Close to all amenities, that is: Top Golf, Restaurants, Transit Center, Montgomery College and more. Looking for single working professional. (301) 717-7696

THE BATHROOM OF YOUR DREAMS for as little as $149/month! BCI Bath & Shower.

Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Limited Time Offer - FREE virtual in-home consultation now and SAVE 15%! Call Today! 1-855-653-0087.

HOME MOBILITY EQUIPMENT SALES, SERVICE & REPAIR! One Step Mobility Can Help You With Your Home Mobility Needs 24/7: Stair Lifts, Power Chairs, Scooters, Ramps & More. Please call 301-767-5070 or visit: onestepmobility.com DON’T LET THE STAIRS LIMIT YOUR MOBILITY! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-866-365-5170.

Legal Services APPLYING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY or Appealing a Denied Claim? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc. Our case managers simplify the process & work hard to help with your case. Call 1-866-970-0779 FREE Consultation. Local Attorneys Nationwide [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.)] WE ARE A TO Z PERSONAL ORGANIZERS, bringing order to your life and to the life of your loved ones. We specialize in relocation services for seniors. Check us out on the web at A2Zorganizers.com, or give us a call at 240.420.4920

Personals VERY PRETTY SINGLE WHITE LADY would like to meet gentleman age 65 for Christmas and New Years Eve. I am 65 and have marigold hair (red) and I am 5 feet 3 inches tall.

My name is Patricia and I can be reached after 6 p.m. at 443-845-7802.

TV/Cable DISH NETWORK. $64.99 for 190 Channels! Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo. (where available.)

Switch & Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. Call today! 1-844-560-5837.

DIRECTV for $69.99/mo for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Watch your favorite live sports, news & entertainment anywhere. One year of HBO Max FREE. Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) Call for more details! (some restrictions apply) Call 1-888-572-4953.

Health Vacation Opportunities MOBILEHELP, America’s Premier Mobile Medical Alert System. Whether You’re Home or Away. For Safety and Peace of Mind. No Long Term Contracts! Free Brochure! Call Today! 1240-650-9189.

PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-851-0949.

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-844-366-1003 www.dental50plus.com/320 #6258.

Home/Handyman Services SLOWING DOWN AFTER 40 YEARS OF CONTRACTING. Small to medium jobs mainly residential but will do some commercial. Will work all over DC area. $42.50 an hour from arrival on job. Andy 703-906-5429.

CRUISES NOW BOOKING! All major cruise lines, all cabin categories. Sail from any port you prefer, including Baltimore. Destinations to Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean and beyond. Also handling resorts and tours. Independent local agent focused on good service and great value. See our website at www.walpertravel.com. Call Sandy or Ed at (301)880-7203, or email ed@walpertravel.com.

HIGHEST CASH PRICES PAID for entire estate or single item. Buying quality antiques and mid century furniture, art, silver, gold, jewelry, flatware, military camera’s, music instruments, vintage signs, anything unusual. Please be ready to sell and pick up same day. Please call Chris 3012621299. License 0849.

LADY WHO LOVES PRETTY THINGS would like to buy yours. Dishes, figurines, pottery and similar. Favorites are bone china cups and saucers and old Christmas and Halloween decorations. Especially love Herend, Meissen and Shelley. Also, midcentury smalls of all kinds. Have to clear a house in a hurry? Would be happy to take a look at anything you have.

Please call Susan, (301) 785-1129.

CASH FOR JEWELRY: Buying jewelry, diamonds, gold, platinum, silver, watches, coins, flatware, etc. Ask for Tom. Call anytime, 301654-8678 (Reg. 883).

WANTED: OLDER VIOLINS, GUITARS, BANJOS, MANDOLINS, UKULELES. Musician/collector will pay cash for older string instruments. Masks & safe distance. Jack (301) 279-2158, leave message.

WILL BUY MILITARY, WWII, WWI, Civil War memorabilia items. Uniforms, weapons, helmets, photos, war souvenirs, medals, photos or any other items associated with U.S., German, Japanese or other military history. Call Dave (240-4640958) or email (david.obal63@gmail.com).

CASH FOR ESTATES. I buy a wide range of items; Jewelry, Silver, Art, Rugs, Cultural Items, ETC., ETC. BUY OUT/CLEAN, 301-520-0755 WEBSITE: TheAtticLLC.com. I have my own trucks, my own crew & insurance.

TOP PRICES PAID FOR FINE ANTIQUES, artwork and unusual and rare things including decorated crocks and stoneware, antique clocks and music boxes, classic cars, coin operated devices, toys and dolls, furniture, lamps, art glass and pottery. I am 69 years old, well educated [ law degree ] financially capable and have over 40 years in the business. Why pay outlandish auction house, estate agent or consignment store commissions when you can get a fair upfront price for your valuables with no hassle? If you have something rare, unusual and valuable and are prepared to sell it I would like to speak with you. Please call Jake Lenihan 301 279 8834. Thank you.

STAMP COLLECTIONS PURCHASED/APPRAISED- U.S., Foreign, Worldwide, Regular Issues, Commemoratives, and Back-of-Book; Anything Philatelic!; Long-time APS Dealer/Member; Phone: 301-309-3622 or E-Mail: arogolsky@gmail.com PAYING CASH MERCHANDISE PRE 1980 old toys, sterling silver, records, antiques and collectables and much more. If you have old items to sell call Carl 312-316-7553. Located in Silver Spring. No Furniture or glassware.

Thank you for reading the Beacon!

BEACON BITS

March 10

ONLINE DATING 101

Are you interested in online dating? Learn the ins and outs in this free virtual workshop hosted by AARP on Thurs., March 10 from noon to 1:30 p.m. To learn more and register, visit bit.ly/Dating101AARP.

Ongoing

FRIENDS CLUB

Friends Club, located in Bethesda, Md., offers an opportunity for active gentlemen in the early-to-mid stages of Alzheimer’s/dementia to meet in a safe and secure environment. They are a nonprofit, non-sectarian organization operating under Brady Hills Presbyterian Church. For more information, call (301) 469-0070 or visit bit.ly/FriendsClubMD.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 2 2

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 36 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

F L O S S

E A R T H

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S T O R E W S N A I M I D D A C H E S H E H E R O E N C O N S A N T E P E S T

S H M T O R O E L Y L E O A N N D O V A L

L O A F I S

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N O N U N I I O O F N P S E C N B A F A R A S E C T E E E R

G R A M M B S A N O W R I E L L A I D D S

C A M E O

O V E R S W W E H E O T L E A N B O L T E E R

HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD L A I D T S S H A R E

Y O K E D

D O G M A

S W A P S

ANSWERS TO JUMBLE Jumbles: CELLO VISOR FERRET UNWIND Answer: When Thor invented the wheel, he started a — REVOLUTION

All classified ads must be submitted and paid for online, via our website, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds Deadlines and Payments: To appear in the next issue, your ad text and payment must be entered by the 5th of the preceding month (for Baltimore and Howard County editions); by the 20th (for Washington and Richmond editions).

Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad: • $25 for 1-250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length). The website will calculate this amount for you.

Note: Maryland contractors must provide a valid MHIC number.

• Each real estate listing qualifies as one ad. • All ads are subject to publisher’s discretion. Payment will be refunded if unacceptable for any reason.

To place your classified ad, visit www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds

We thank our advertisers who make our publication possible.

Please patronize them and let them know you saw their ad in the Beacon!

Clinical Studies UM Hearing Aid Study . . . . . . .9 UM Hearing Study . . . . . . . . .10

Elections David Blair for County Executive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 John McCarthy for State’s Attorney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Events Blood Cancer Conference . . . . .6

Funeral Services Forever Faithful Pet Cremation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Going Home Cremation . . . . .28

Government Services DC Living Boldly Newsletter . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 MCDOT Free Taxi Service . . .11 Montgomery County Age-Friendly Newsletter . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Montgomery County Aging & Disability Services . . . . .18

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Home Health Care/Companion Services

Sommerset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Springvale Terrace . . . . . . . . . .13

Best Senior Care . . . . . . . . . . .14 Options for Senior America . .28 Radiocw Health Care . . . . . . .13

Farr Law Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Law Offices of Nancy Feldman . . . . . . . . . .27 Law Offices of Paul Riekhof .24

Housing Acclaim at Belmont Bay . . . . . .4 Ashby Ponds/Erickson . . . .1, 17 Brooke Grove Retirement Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Cadence Living Olney . . . . . .19 Chesterbrook Residences . . . .16 Chevy Chase House . . . . . . . .16 Churchill Senior Living . . . . .18 Culpepper Garden . . . . . . . . . .17 Enterprise Residential . . . . . . .30 F1RST Residences . . . . . . . . .23 Falcon’s Landing . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Friendship Terrace . . . . . . . . . . .8 Greenspring/Erickson . . . . .1, 17 Homecrest House . . . . . . . . . .27 Homewood at Frederick . . . . .19 Knollwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Maplewood Park Place . . . . . .10 Quantum Property Mgmt . . . .14 Park View Apartments . . . . . .30 Providence Fairfax, The . . . . . .7 Riderwood/Erickson . . . . . .1, 17

Legal Services

Medical/Health Judy Oh, DDS . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Living Well Programs . . . . . . .15 Medical Eye Center . . . . . . . . .11 MedStar Health Lung Screening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Silver Spring Medical Center . .7 Steven Friedman, DDS . . . . . .18

Memory Care Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Cadence Living Olney . . . . . .19 Kensington Club . . . . . . . . . . .27

Real Estate Long & Foster/ Eric Stewart . . . . . . . . . .26, 34

Retail Mobility City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Perfect Sleep Chair . . . . . . . . .31 Potomac Collector . . . . . . . . . .23 Zinger Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Senior Resources JCA Senior Helpline . . . . . . . .27

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 ProMedica Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation . . . . . . . .12

Subscriptions Beacon Newspapers . . . . . . . .28

Technology BeaconSilverPages.com . . . . .37

Theatre/ Entertainment F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre . . .32 Kennedy Center, The . . . . . . . .33 Senior Zone Radio Show . . . .35 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . .32

Travel Shillelaghs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Volunteering/Job Opportunities Career Gateway . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Virtual 50+ Employment Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

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M A R C H 2 0 2 2 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Subscribe online! See how on p. 28

The Invention of the Year The world’s lightest and most portable mobility device Once in a lifetime, a product comes along that truly moves people. Introducing the future of battery-powered personal transportation . . . The Zinger.

Throughout the ages, there have been many important advances in mobility. Canes, walkers, rollators, and scooters were created to help people with mobility issues get around and retain their independence. Lately, however, there haven’t been any new improvements to these existing products or developments in this field.

Until now. Recently, an innovative design engineer who’s developed one of the world’s most popular products created a completely new breakthrough . . . a personal electric vehicle. It’s called the Zinger, and there is nothing out there quite like it.

“What my wife especially loves is it gives her back feelings of safety and independence which has given a real boost to her confidence and happiness!

Thank You!” –Kent C., California The first thing you’ll notice about the Zinger is its unique look. It doesn’t look like a scooter. Its sleek, lightweight yet durable frame is made with aircraft grade aluminum. It weighs only 47.2 lbs but can handle a passenger that’s up to 275 lbs! It features one-touch

Now available in a Joystick model (Zoomer Chair)

Available in Green, Black (shown) and Blue 10”

folding and unfolding – when folded it can be The Zinger folds to a mere 10 inches. wheeled around like a suitcase and fits easily into a backseat or trunk. Then, there are the steering levers. They enable the Zinger to move forward, backward, turn on a dime and even pull right up to a table or desk. With its compact yet powerful motor it can go up to 6 miles an hour and its rechargeable battery can go up to 8 miles on a single charge. With its low center of gravity and inflatable tires it can handle rugged terrain and is virtually tip-proof. Think about it, you can take your Zinger almost anywhere, so you don’t have to let mobility issues rule your life.

Why take our word for it. You can try the Zinger out for yourself with our exclusive home trial. Call now, and find out how you can try out a Zinger of your very own.

Zinger Chair® Call now and receive a utility basket absolutely FREE with your order.

1-888-227-2015 Please mention code 116706 when ordering.

The Zinger and Zoomer Chairs are personal electric vehicles and are not medical devices nor wheelchairs. They are not intended for medical purposes to provide mobility to persons restricted to a sitting position. They are not covered by Medicare nor Medicaid. © 2022 Journey Health and Lifestyle

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Joystick can be mounted on the right or left side for rider’s comfort