April 2017 | Fifty Plus

Published by The Beacon Newspapers, Inc.

Chris Thompson isn't afraid of heights (as long as his companion on the ground has a firm grip on his belaying ropes). He is shown here scampering up a steep climbing wall at Peak Experiences, an indoor rock climbing facility in Midlothian.

Photo courtesy of Peak Experiences

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APRIL 2017 • FREE

A matter of taste Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when cial, and more prone to anxiety than those first we practice to perceive. who are not.

Yes, I know. That last word, There appears to be a geif I was truly quoting Sir Walter netic element to this sensitivity, Scott, should be “deceive.” reflected in the number of But, I’m talking about percepfungiform papillae (what our tion, which evidently weaves no taste buds for bitterness sit on) less tangled a web. on our tongues.

I recently read about several The genetic link helps prostudies of flavor perception that vide an explanation for the relafound an interrelationship betionship: bitter tastes are often tween our personalities and our associated with toxic foods, so taste buds. They are small studpeople who possess a keener ies, certainly not definitive. But FROM THE awareness of potential poisons they seem to be onto some- PUBLISHER tend also to be more keenly atthing. tuned to other possible dangers

By Stuart P. Rosenthal For example, researchers in life. Thus, they will be more have found that people (and rats, for that mat- likely to survive and pass on their genes to ter) who are particularly sensitive to bitter offspring. tasting foods tend also to be jumpier, less soOther studies associate different personalNOTE TO READERS: You will notice a few changes in the format and content of Fifty Plus this month.

First, instead of a calendar in our center spread, this month we have a special fourpage section dedicated to information from Senior Connections, the Richmond Area Agency on Aging. That section has its own calendar of events coming up in May, which is Older American's Month.

To keep you informed about interesting programs and events in April, however, we are introducing boxes throughout the issue labeled “Mark your calendar.” These will replace our former center-spread calendar,

and will generally be placed in the appropriate section of Fifty Plus: health speakers and walks in our Fitness & Health section; financial seminars and career fairs in our Law & Money section; arts openings and plays in Arts & Style, etc.

We invite individual readers and local organizations to send us information about upcoming events, performances, speakers and volunteer opportunities that you would like to publicize in Fifty Plus. Please send information via email to info@fiftyplusrichmond.com.

Thank you for reading Fifty Plus. Please tell your friends about us as well!

ity traits with people who enjoy bitter flavors more than most. These folks are the most likely to admit they enjoy manipulating, and even tormenting, other people in pursuing their goals.

On a more positive note, one might say such people are also more apt to explore opportunities and take risks, which contributes to human survival in another way.

Here’s another astounding result from recent perception studies: What we’ve recently tasted appears to affect how (and how strongly) we react to ordinary events.

In 2011, a study found that volunteers who took a swallow of an extremely bitter drink judged others more harshly for various actions than did people who had simply drunk water.

Similarly, more recent experiments found that volunteers expressed a more aggressive response to nuisances when they had tasted grapefruit juice rather than water prior to being asked.

And just as our taste may affect our feelings, the flip may be true. An experiment last year found that men whose sports team had just won a game judged a lemon sorbet to be sweeter in taste than the men whose team lost.

And yes, researchers have an explanation here, too: our taste buds for sweetness also possess receptors for the primary stress hormones we produce. So when stress hormones flood a person’s body, his taste buds for sweetness tend to be dulled.

In contrast, when the “feel good” hormone serotonin is released, we become more sensitive to sweet taste and can detect it at much

lower levels than before the serotonin release, according to a study.

These observations raise a number of interesting questions, about both our abilities to perceive and our abilities to feel.

We know there are elements of subjectivity when we perceive objects or situations with our senses. But we generally assume our perception of reality should be consistent over time, and not change with our moods.

Similarly with our feelings: We tend to assume that the way we feel about others reflects our “true” inner reality — not something as superficial as what we had for dinner or whether our ball team won or lost.

But it appears that situations that “leave a bad taste in our mouths” might well affect not only our perception of foods, but our attitudes toward others and their behavior.

Can a person change his personality by changing his diet? Is it true that “we are what we eat” — in a psychological as well as physical sense?

It might be worth experimenting on ourselves a bit. If we’re in a “sour mood,” maybe it’s a good time for a piece of candy. If we want to enjoy an evening with our sweetheart, we probably shouldn’t choose grapefruit for a first course.

On the other hand, at least in my home, a good piece of dark chocolate — bitter though it may be — always brings a smile to my wife’s face. I’ll try not to think about that too much...

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Editorial Mission: Fifty Plus is dedicated to providing readers with accurate information, professional guidance, and useful resources. Our publication is intended to both reflect and enhance fifty-plus lifestyles, and to encourage reader dialogue and input.

Fifty Plus is published monthly and distributed free of charge. The advertising deadline is the 20th of each month for the upcoming issue. The entire contents of Fifty Plus are © 2017, The Beacon Newspapers, Inc. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means without the express written consent of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed by writers and columnists do not necessarily represent those of Fifty Plus or its staff.

Publisher/Editor: ........................Stuart Rosenthal Vice President of Operations:........Gordon Hasenei Sales Director: ..................................Alan Spiegel Managing Editor: ..........................Barbara Ruben Assistant Editor: ..........................Rebekah Alcalde Art Director: ....................................Kyle Gregor y Operations Manager:............................Roger King Advertising Representative: ................Wendy Bond

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APRIL 2017 — FIFTYPLUS

Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in Fifty Plus as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to Fifty Plus, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or e-mail to info@fiftyplusrichmond.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.

Dear Editor: Thank you so much for the wonderful article by Martha Steger that appears in the March 2017 issue of Fifty Plus Magazine, regarding the “Murry DePillars: Double Vision” exhibition currently on display at the Black History Museum here in Richmond.

You did a great job of succinctly capturing the essence of my late husband's works while recognizing his humanity and his passion for both art and education, as well as his dedica-

tion, resourcefulness, and lasting impact in this geographic region and far beyond.

Thank you for taking the time to look beneath the surface and draw attention to the hidden images that often require the viewer to look twice, and sometimes, thrice. We truly appreciate the support and hope your viewers will visit the Black History Museum for this rare showing of these extraordinary artworks.

Mary DePillars

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Feature Story This will have you climbing the walls

Many health benefits As you might guess from watching Knaggs and Pearsall, indoor rock climbing offers a number of health benefits.

A study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine reported that indoor rock climbing is a good activity to increase cardio-respiratory fitness and muscular endurance.

Another study in the Journal of Undergraduate Kinesiology Research reported that climbing meets the American College of Sports

Medicine guidelines for heart rate and energy expenditure.

Knaggs says her bone density has increased, staving off the osteopenia she feared would morph into full-blown osteoporosis.

Ryne Johnson, 56, said his arthritic hip has cleared up significantly since he started climbing several years ago.

After repeated injuries working out at a local gym, he decided to try climbing. He didn’t expect much, but loved the sport and now tries to climb almost every day.

“It’s like Tai Chi on the wall,” he said. “It’s slow, has no impact, works every muscle and is exhausting.

“It’s perfect.”

Jim Bell, instructor and climbing coach at Peak Experiences, said many people feel that way. It’s a great sport for older people, he said, because “you’re building muscle tone, and it’s good for flexibility. You get stronger and develop endurance.”

Some basics Indoor climbing has been popular for decades, both as training for outdoor climbs and as a sport unto itself.

Peak Experiences has about 14,000 square feet of climbing surfaces that can be configured into more than 100 routes marked with colored protrusions of different sizes and shapes that serve as foot- and handholds.

(These have intriguing names, such as jugs, slopers, crimps and pockets.)

There’s also a bouldering wall, with thick mats below, to simulate climbs close to the PHOTO COURTESY OF PEAK EXPERIENCE

Rock climbing is generally thought of as an individual sport, but this group of regulars at Peak Experiences frequently meet up to enjoy the camaraderie and support.

Shown left to right are Louise Shelton-Clark, Ryne Johnson, Tricia Pearsall, Chris Thompson, Helen Grice and Dee Knaggs.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF PEAK EXPERIENCE

By Lisa Crutchfield For years, Dee Knaggs watched her kids scale the walls at Peak Experiences’ indoor facility in Midlothian.

Then, at the age of 60, she got tired of watching and started doing it herself.

Now 63, she goes climbing several days a week, scurrying up walls more confidently than many people half her age.

Knaggs is just one of many grown-up climbers at Peak Experiences. One group likes to meet a couple mornings a week to push — and encourage — each other.

Tricia Pearsall, 72, is one of those morning climbers. Like Knaggs, she watched her kids climb while they were in high school, and even learned to be their belayer (the on-theground partner who tenses and looses the rope to keep climbers from falling very far).

“I was the fat lady at the other end of the rope,” Pearsall said of herself. Like most climbers, she still belays for others, but now she is the trim, athletic woman scampering to the top of a 50-foot wall.

ground. There, climbers don’t use belay ropes, just strength and balance.

Many people, Bell admits, are nervous about trying a new sport later in life. “But if you can climb a ladder, we’ve got a route in here you can do.”

The climbing routes are labeled according to difficulty using the Yosemite Decimal Rating system for terrain.

That system has five “classes.” Class one is for flat ground.

Class five is for rock climbing, which is further divided from 5.0 to 5.15. Most beginner rock climbers start around a 5.3.

Bouldering walls are rated on a V scale of V0 to V16, with pluses and Tricia Pearsall shows her technique as she scales a 50-foot minuses used for in-be- indoor rock climbing wall. Regular rock climbing builds entween rankings. Climb- durance and improves cardiovascular fitness. Climbers say ing lor e says the V it also builds bone density and reduces arthritis pain. originates from rating There are also speed climbing competicreator John Sherman’s nickname, “Vermin.” tions, which work pretty much the way you’d In top-rope climbing, ropes are secured to overhead anchors, with the climber attached think. Bouldering competitions judge to one end, and the belayer, who manages the climbers on the number of challenges they ropes, on the other. There also are auto-be- complete.

In 2020, sport climbing will make its debut layers for those without climbing partners.

There are other types of climbing, includ- in the Olympics. ing sport competitions which may include Just for fun (and exercise) lead, speed and bouldering challenges.

Peak Experiences does offer some climbA lead climber still uses a belayer, but also clips into a series of pre-set quickdraws at- ing teams for those motivated by competitached to bolts in the wall. Climbers who slip tion. But most clients are just looking for or miss a quickdraw could fall back to the previous clipped-in spot.

See ROCK CLIMBERS, page 5

What do you need to start?

Indoor climbers typically wear clothing that allows movement, but isn’t too baggy — such as something you might wear to yoga, but can hold up to chalk dust and scraping on rocks.

If you’re just starting, you can rent the equipment you’ll need. But if you continue, most likely you’ll want to buy the

following: • Harness • Locking carabiner, required to attach your belay device to your harness • Chalk bag and chalk, to keep fingers and palms dry • Climbing shoes • Ropes FIFTYPLUS — APRIL 2017

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Health Fitness &

INVISIBLE TRANS FAT Products can contain some trans fat even when labeled “trans fat-free” TWO HEADS ARE BETER THAN ONE Getting a second opinion can help clarify diagnoses and treatment DRINKING AND DRUGS Many medications, from sleeping pills to aspirin, don’t mix well with alcohol A SILENT INFECTION Baby boomers are at risk for Hepatitis C, which is initially without symptoms

Eye implant allows clear close-up vision

By Lauran Neergaard Squinting while texting? Always losing your reading glasses? An eye implant that takes about 10 minutes to put in place is the newest in a list of surgical repairs for the blurry close-up vision known as presbyopia, a bane of middle age.

But who’s really a good candidate to toss their specs?

“It’s not bringing anybody back to being 20 again,” cautioned Dr. Shilpa Rose, a Washington ophthalmologist who tests whether patients’ eyes are healthy enough to qualify.

“But it decreases the need to rush to get that pair of reading glasses every time you want to send a text or read an email.”

Nearly everybody will experience presbyopia at some point, usually starting in the mid40s. At first you may notice yourself holding restaurant menus at arm’s length. Eventually, even in good light, reading becomes a blur.

How well you see has to do with how light is directed through the natural lens to the back of the eye. That lens stiffens with age,

losing its ability to shift and bend light so that it becomes more difficult to focus close-up.

The usual options are magnifying drugstore reading glasses or, for people with other vision problems, bifocals, multifocal contact lenses, or what’s called monovision — correcting for distance vision in one eye and near vision in the other.

“I have glasses everywhere — the bedroom, the office, the kitchen,” said Christianne Krupinsky, 51, of Marriottsville, Md., who’d never needed them until presbyopia struck. “Getting ready in the morning, even to put on jewelry I can’t see the clasp. It’s so frustrating.”

A removable implant And while surgery always carries some risk, corneal inlays that are implanted into the eye’s clear front surface are getting attention because they’re removable if necessary.

“It’s not magic. It’s surgery. People have to remember this is not one-and-done,” but requires post-surgical exams and care, said Dr.

Deepinder K. Dhaliwal of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a corneal specialist who is watching studies of the inlays.

Krupinsky was a little nervous while lying on the operating table to receive the new Raindrop near vision inlay.

“The most you’re going to feel is pressure,” promised Washington refractive surgeon Dr. Mark Whitten, applying numbing drops to her left eye.

A gel-like device that looks like a miniature contact lens, the Raindrop is smaller than the eye of a needle. It’s the first implant to treat presbyopia by changing the cornea’s shape, making it steeper to alter how light passes through.

It’s placed in only one eye; both eyes still see at a distance. Patients can test-wear a single contact lens to be sure they’ll like the effect before choosing surgery.

For healthy eyes only Rose, the ophthalmologist, checked for dry eye, underlying diseases like glaucoma, and whether the corneas were thick and

healthy enough for the implant before turning Krupinsky over to her surgical partner.

“Just look straight up,” Whitten said as he used a laser to slice a flap in Krupinsky’s cornea. He centered the Raindrop inlay over her pupil and lowered the flap to seal it in place.

Minutes later, Krupinsky read lines on an eye chart she previously couldn’t make out without glasses, albeit still a little blurry.

She’ll need eye drops for several months as her cornea heals so vision can sharpen.

Maker ReVision Optics Inc. is gradually training eye surgeons to use the Raindrop properly, after the Food and Drug Administration approved it last summer based on a study of 373 people whose only vision problem was moderate presbyopia. Two years later, 92 percent had good near vision, 20/40 or better without glasses, in the implanted eye.

Potential side effects include infection, dry eye, glare or corneal problems such as scarring. About 7 percent of study participants See VISION, page 6

Gene therapy successfully fights cancer

By Marilynn Marchione An experimental gene therapy that turns a patient’s own blood cells into cancer killers worked in a major study — with more than one-third of very sick lymphoma patients showing no sign of disease six months after a single treatment, according to the pharmaceutical company that makes the treatment.

In all, 82 percent of patients had their cancer shrink at least by half at some point in the study.

Its sponsor, California-based Kite Pharma, is racing Novartis AG to become the first to win approval of the treatment in the U.S. Called CAR-T cell therapy, it could become the nation’s first approved gene therapy.

A hopeful sign: the number in complete remission at six months — 36 percent — is barely changed from partial results released after three months, suggesting this one-time treatment might give lasting benefits for

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FEBUARY 2017 — FIFTYPLUS

those who do respond well.

“This seems extraordinary... extremely encouraging,” said one independent expert, Dr. Roy Herbst, cancer medicines chief at the Yale Cancer Center.

The worry has been how long Kite’s treatment would last and its side effects, which Herbst said seem manageable in the study.

Follow-up beyond six months is still needed to see if the benefit wanes, he said, but added, “This certainly is something I would want to have available.”

The therapy is not without risk. Three of the 101 patients in the study died of causes unrelated to worsening of their cancer, and two of those deaths were deemed due to the treatment.

The treatment was developed at the government’s National Cancer Institute and then licensed to Kite. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society helped sponsor the study.

Results were released by the company and have not been published or reviewed by other experts. Full results will be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research conference in April.

The company plans to seek approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the end of March and in Europe later this year.

How it works The treatment involves filtering a patient’s blood to remove key immune system soldiers called T-cells, altering them in the lab to contain a gene that targets cancer, and giving them back intravenously. Doctors call it a “living drug” — permanently altered cells that multiply in the body into an army to fight the disease.

Patients in the study had one of three types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a blood cancer, and had failed all other treatments.

Median survival for such patients has been about six months.

Kite study patients seem to be living longer, but median survival isn’t yet known.

With nearly nine months of follow-up, more than half are still alive.

Six months after treatment, 41 percent still had a partial response (cancer shrunk at least in half) and 36 percent were in complete remission (no sign of disease).

“The numbers are fantastic,” said Dr. Fred Locke, a blood cancer expert at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa who co-led the study and has been a paid adviser to Kite. “These are heavily treated patients who have no other options.”

One of his patients, 43-year-old Dimas Padilla of Orlando, was driving when he got a call saying his cancer was worsening, See GENE THERAPY, page 6 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com

Rock climbers From page 3 exercise and fun.

Helen Grice, 54, is a regular. She’s got a respiratory condition with the complex name of Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (known as LAM), and is on supplemental oxygen.

But it doesn’t stop her from grabbing her climbing harness and heading up the walls. “With this lung disease, I’m supposed to exercise every day,� she said.

As Bell notes, “The only limitations are those people put on themselves.�

In fact, Sportable — a local organization that offers athletes with physical disabilities or visual impairments the opportunity to participate in a variety of sports — also offers rock climbing programs. Some participants are in wheelchairs; others are legally blind.

Staff at Peak Experiences is used to working with beginner and novice climbers, according to Bell. “Some climbers are terrified of heights,� he said, and going up high in a space where risks are managed helps them try to overcome those fears.

Besides physical strength, Bell said that climbing helps older athletes stay sharp mentally as they assess and problem solve.

There’s a trait he sees in climbers that he calls, “doing the dance,� where they plan out routes while sequencing their climb in the air.

As he puts it, “climbers talk with their hands.�

Moving on out Once comfortable with indoor climbing, many people go outside. Richmond is one of only a few cities that allows rock climbing inside its corporate limits (thanks to the James River Park System).

Popular climbs can be found at the 60-foot Manchester climbing wall and the 35-foot quarry wall at Belle Isle. In addition, there are bouldering options in James River Park, especially around the Buttermilk Trail.

There also are many routes in the Blue Ridge, less than two hours’ drive from Richmond. “I do think everybody should get outside to climb,� said Pearsall.

Many of Peak Experiences’ athletes were introduced to the sport by their children, and learned to belay to support them. Knowing that they could have someone’s life in their hands inspires respect for the sport — and also builds confidence. “We look out for each other,� Pearsall said, eyeing fellow climber Chris Thompson’s knots before he scurries up a 5.12-grade wall.

Social climbers?

The social aspect of climbing is a big draw of indoor climbing.

Louise Shelton-Clark, 50, tried it once without expecting much. But the experience was transformative, and she’s since introduced many friends to the sport, where she’s found a circle of like-minded athletes.

“This is a lot of fun,� she said. “When I first tried it, I had no intention of enjoying it. But I did, and now I bring people all the time to try it.�

Helen Grice agreed. “I’ve made a lot of new friends here,� she said. “Climbing is a sport that doesn’t lend itself to negativity,� Bell agreed. “It’s a very supportive community, and you don’t hear smack talk here. It’s very unlike a lot of team sports where everyone’s keeping score, and people are afraid of letting their team down.

“In climbing, you’re only competing with gravity. Nobody wants to see you fail. They want to see you succeed. “And I say, if you’re trying, you’re succeeding. And part of becoming a better climber is falling.�

In fact, Bell concluded, “the best climber is the one having the most fun.�

Peak Experiences is located at 11421 Polo Circle in Midlothian. A new location in Scott’s Addition will open this summer. For more information, call (804) 897-6800.

Other challenges to try Indoor climbing (or outdoor, for that matter) is just one of the “hardcore� fitness activities that’s great for those over 50.

Here are a few more ideas to get you started. While you should be in somewhat good shape to give these a try, you don’t have to be an elite athlete. Plus, these are great ways to meet like-minded athletes.

Chesterfield County Parks & Recreation offers several programs designed for those over 50, including stand-up paddleboard and kayaking taught by professional instructors. Prices vary depending on activity and include rental equipment.

See www.chesterfield.gov/parks or call (804) 748-1623.

The Virginia Boat Club offers Learn to

Row classes several times a year, and a competitive masters program. Learn to Row classes are offered at Rocketts Landing or Robious Landing boathouses. Cost: $325 for 12 sessions. See www.virginiaboatclub.org.

Central Virginia Trailblazers offers meet-up hiking and outdoor trips for all levels, from walks around town to multi-day trips in the woods. Prices vary, depending on the outing. See www.cvatrailblazers.org.

Riverside Outfitters teaches recreational tree climbing up some of the area’s tallest trees. Professionals teach skills used by arborists. Lessons start at $150 for a two-hour class. See www.riversideoutfitters.net or call (804) 506-0068.

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5

From page 4 had the implant removed, mostly because they weren’t satisfied with their vision or experienced a haze or clouding of the cornea.

Most returned to their pre-surgical vision, although one had lingering haze.

Other options available Another FDA-approved corneal inlay, the Kamra, is a doughnut-shaped device, also

Gene therapy From page 4 chemotherapy was no longer working, and there was no match to enable a second try at a stem cell transplant.

“I actually needed to park...I was thinking how am I going to tell this to my mother, my wife, my children,” he said. But after CAR-T

used in one eye and removable. It works like a pinhole camera, improving vision by focusing light through the center of the pupil.

A more invasive operation replaces the natural lens in each eye with an artificial one, named Symfony, that can focus both near and far. Approved for cataract surgery, it also is being offered as a presbyopia fix for the middle-aged who don’t yet have cataracts. Unlike inlays, artificial lenses can’t simply be removed.

Insurance doesn’t cover elective presbyopia surgery. Rose said the inlays average

about $4,000 to $5,000, while the artificial lens in both eyes can cost twice as much.

Patients should consult a surgeon experienced with all the options who can determine which best suits their eyes, advised Pittsburgh’s Dhaliwal.

Each has pros, cons and unknowns. For example, elective lens replacement isn’t for the very nearsighted, because they’re at higher risk for a vision-threatening complication, Dhaliwal said.

And the Raindrop hasn’t been studied in

people who years ago underwent LASIK surgery to correct nearsightedness. That didn’t deter Mike Gray, 52, of Haymarket, Va., who lost his reading glasses so often that he bought bulk packs.

To implant the inlay, Whitten had to avoid cutting the cornea in the same place as Gray’s long-ago LASIK, and advises such patients to pick a surgeon experienced in both procedures.

“Everything is very clear and getting better every day,” Gray said about a month later.

— AP

therapy last August, he saw his tumors “shrink like ice cubes” and is now in complete remission.

“They were able to save my life,” Padilla said.

cancer. That rate is lower than in some other tests of CAR-T therapy. The rate fell during the study as doctors got better at detecting and treating it sooner.

Roughly a third of patients developed anemia or other blood-count-related problems, which Locke said were easily treated.

And 28 percent had neurological problems such as sleepiness, confusion, tremor or difficulty speaking, but these typically lasted just a few days, Locke said.

“It’s a safe treatment — certainly a lot safer than having progressive lymphoma,” and comparable to combination chemotherapy in terms of side effects, said the cancer institute’s Dr. Steven Rosenberg, who had no role in Kite’s study. The first lymphoma patient Rosenberg treated this way, a Florida man, is still in remission seven years later.

There were no cases of swelling and fluid in the brain in this or any other study testing Kite’s treatment, company officials said.

That contrasts with Juno Therapeutics, which has had a CAR-T study put on hold twice after five patient deaths due to this problem.

Company officials would not say what the treatment might cost, but other types of immune system therapies have been very expensive. It’s also being tested for some other types of blood cancer.

To learn more about lymphoma, see http://bit.ly/LymphomaInformation. More information about CAR-T therapy is available at http://bit.ly/CAR-Ttherapy, and gene therapy information in general is available at http://bit.ly/GeneTherapyInfo.

— AP

More about risks Of the study participants, 13 percent developed a dangerous condition where the immune system overreacts in fighting the

M ARK YO UR CAL EN DAR

Apr. 29

PLANT SALE

Henricus Historical Park presents a plant sale of vegetable and herb seedlings on Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All proceeds of the seed sale support the development of new agricultural programs involving science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM Education). Henricus Historical Park is located at 251 Henricus Park Rd. in Chester, Va. For more information, visit www.Henricus.org.

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‘Trans fat free’ label ain’t necessarily so Dear Mayo Clinic: I’ve heard that some foods that are labeled as “trans fat-free” actually may contain harmful trans fats. Is this true?

Answer: Yes. Under labeling laws, a food can be labeled as “trans fat-free” or “containing no trans fat” if it has less than 0.5 grams of trans fats a serving.

This may seem like a minor issue, because the amount of trans fats is so small. But think realistically of how small a true serving sometimes is.

Do you always stop at a handful of crackers or a single cookie? If, for example, a type of crackers contains 0.4 grams of trans fats in a serving, and the package contains 10 servings, you still would be eating 4 grams of total trans fats if you eat the whole package.

Trans fats are created when hydrogen is added to vegetable oils through a process called hydrogenation. These processed oils are used to improve the texture, shelf life and flavor stability of foods.

Trans fats are common ingredients in commercial baked goods, such as crackers, cakes and cookies, and are often used to fry foods. Some vegetable shortenings and stick margarines contain trans fats.

Trans fats can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. They raise your low-density

lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels (the bad kind), and lower your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (the good kind). For these reasons, dietary experts advise that you avoid consuming trans fats.

The World Health Organization recommends limiting trans fats to less than 1 percent of your total calories. If you consume 2,000 calories a day that means no more than 20 of those calories should come from trans fats. This translates to less than 2 grams a day, which can easily be found in a small amount of sweets or treats.

To avoid trans fats, read all products’ list of ingredients, and choose foods that do not contain partially hydrogenated oils.

It’s also important to note that, since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration deemed partially hydrogenated oils no longer safe to be in foods, many manufacturers have switched to hydrogenated or saturated fats, such as palm oil.

When the term hydrogenated appears on the label, it means the fat is saturated. Both trans fats and saturated fats increase the risk of heart disease.

Dear Mayo Clinic: I have oatmeal for breakfast a few times each week. Are steel-cut oats healthier than rolled oats?

Answer: In terms of nutrition, steel-cut and rolled oats are pretty much the same.

Both are whole grains, which are good for your heart and overall health. Both are low in fat, cholesterol-free and good sources of fiber. Equal-size serving weights of steel-cut and rolled oats have identical calories and protein.

Steel-cut and rolled oats are both derived from raw oat kernels (groats). Their biggest difference is in the way they’re processed afterward.

Steel-cut oats are cut into smaller pieces with a sharp blade. You might also see these labeled as Irish oatmeal. Scottish oatmeal, on the other hand, is traditionally stone-ground, resulting in bits and pieces of various sizes.

Both steel-cut and stone-ground oats take longer to cook than do rolled oats — about 20 to 30 minutes — and result in a chewier texture. They also may take a bit longer to digest, which may make you feel a bit fuller than a similar portion of rolled oats.

Rolled oats — regular or old-fashioned — are oat groats that have been steamed and then rolled into thin flakes. This process gives the oats a longer shelf life and quicker cooking time — around five minutes.

Quick or instant rolled oats have been steamed longer or rolled into even thinner flakes, so they cook even faster — instantly, in fact.

Steel-cut and rolled oats can help incorporate whole grains into your diet. However, instant flavored oatmeal can contribute a lot of added sugar, so read the label before you buy.

If you’re watching your weight, the chewier texture and longer digestion time of steel-cut or stone-ground oats may promote a greater sense of fullness Adapted from Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.N., L.D., Endocrinology/Nutrition, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. © 2017 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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7

When to get a second (or third) opinion

By Scott J. Gilbert Getting a second opinion for a medical condition isn’t quite the same as cheating on your hairstylist. In fact, when it comes to complex or serious, life-threatening conditions, most doctors encourage second opinions.

“If you don’t have complete trust in your physician, or you have reason to believe that all options have not been presented, you should consider a second opinion,” said Barbara Miller, M.D., chief of pediatric hematology/oncology at Penn State Children’s Hospital.

Miller said most good physicians are confident in their skills and want their patients to have confidence in them, so if a patient asks for a second opinion, they are usually understanding and helpful rather than upset.

When a situation is urgent and decisions must be made at once — maybe a patient

comes to an emergency department with chest pains and is sent to have a clot dissolved — there is no time to seek out a second opinion.

And many straightforward conditions — such as a hernia that needs to be repaired or a gallbladder that must be removed — have standard treatment protocols with very little controversy about how best to proceed.

But sometimes, a doctor will even recommend that a patient seek out a second opinion; for example, if there are treatment options that he or she can’t offer.

“When you have a serious disease for which the therapies are controversial or changing very quickly, a second opinion may offer the possibility of new experimental drugs or therapeutic approaches,” she said.

Will insurance cover it?

Dr. John Messmer, a family medicine

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physician at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, said the most important thing is for the patient to have a primary care provider whom they know and trust, and who can make referrals and coordinate care and opinions from specialists.

If you do decide to get a second opinion, both doctors suggest checking with your insurance company to make sure it will be covered. Many health insurance plans will cover a second — or even third — opinion, as long as you can justify the reason for it.

“I think many of them realize there is not always one clear answer,” Messmer said.

“Now, if you get six opinions, they may start to question that.”

He adds it’s probably best not to go to one of your doctor’s partners for a second opinion. “Sometimes people who tend to approach things the same way tend to practice together,” he said.

Messmer also recommends thinking through the decision to go to a different institution.

“Sometimes it makes sense if someone is doing something somewhere that is unique; or maybe they have a special program set up,” he said.

“But if your condition requires recurrent

Up or Down

visits or, if you have complications, you [will] have to go back there because the people at your home institution may not have all the details to manage things, you have to make sure it’s worth it.”

Comparing options Two starkly different opinions might not mean one is right and one is wrong. “Different people may do things different ways, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that one is better,” Messmer said.

“As a physician, I would like to hear what another doctor considers to be a different option and why,” Miller said. “I think all of us want the patient to feel they have received the best therapy available.”

Messmer said many conditions are not clear-cut with an obvious best option.

“Sometimes you have to rely on your intuition and [choose] who you like best and feel most comfortable with,” he said.

“A lot of the outcome often depends on how much faith you have in your physician, and your belief that you have someone good taking care of you.”

More at www.awellnessupdate.com. © 2017 www.awellnessupdate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Sit up or recline

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Medications that can interact with alcohol Q. The older I get, the more medications Additionally, the kidney and liver are afI seem to be taking. How does that work fected as we age. These two organs filter when I want to have a drink? medications from our bodies.

A. It is no secret that our bodAs they lose function, medicaies change as we age. These tions can stay around in our syschanges not only influence the tems for longer. rate at which our bodies metabAlso, our brains become olize food, but also how we more sensitive as we age, and process alcohol. are less able to recover from Medications play an impormedication effects. These agetant role in controlling the efrelated changes may be troufects of long-term illnesses, blesome on their own. But including pain, blood pressure when combined with alcohol, and allergies. It is important to DR. RX they can be more problematic. understand how the body’s By Corrie Sanders Medications of concern changing response to alcohol NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammaover the years can affect medications for tory drugs) — such as aspirin, ibuprofen these conditions.

Here is some basic information to help you (Advil) and naproxin (Aleve) — often are get the most from your medications while used to treat pain and inflammation.

These medications are also known for avoiding harmful interactions. causing damage to the lining of the stomach Our bodies change with age and intestines, which can result in gastroinAs we age, there is an increase in fat and a testional bleeding. decrease in water within our bodies.

Short-term alcohol use can delay gastric When you drink alcohol, it travels to body emptying, and allow these medications to parts containing high amounts of water. With stay in the GI system longer. The longer they less water available, lower amounts of alcohol sit, the more irritation they may cause, and can cause higher blood alcohol concentra- the higher the risk of internal bleeding. tions.

If you are taking an anticoagulant, such as

warfarin, it can increase the risk of bleeding even more.

Sedatives — including Xanax, Klonopin and Valium — work in the brain to decrease motor activity and cause drowsiness and relaxation. Alcohol, when combined with any of these medications, can enhance their effects and lead to increased risk of falls and difficulty breathing.

Antihistamines, which are used to manage allergies, can also increase your risk of falls and of breathing difficulty when combined with alcohol. Benadryl, in particular, is problematic as it causes drowsiness on its own.

Nonprescription medications with “PM” on the label contain the active ingredient in Benadryl, which has a sedative-like effect.

Older adults should avoid these products, especially when drinking alcohol.

Alcohol also can enhance the effects of antihypertensives used to lower blood

pressure. Drops in blood pressure can cause dizziness and drowsiness. In extreme cases, fainting and changes in heart rhythm may occur.

“Drinking Guidelines in Older Adults,” a publication of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, recommends one drink per day and a maximum of two drinks on special occasions for anyone older than 65.

Timing is important, as alcohol can interact with medications even if they are not taken simultaneously.

However, with proper education and by asking the right questions of your doctor and pharmacist, you can get the most out of your medications without sacrificing your social life.

Corrie Sanders is a fourth-year Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) student at VCU School of Pharmacy. She earned her bachelor’s degree in human nutrition, foods and exercise at Virginia Tech.

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9

The screening you didn’t know you need

By Lisa Crutchfield Some things you know you need regularly for your health: a colonoscopy, mammogram or prostate exam, skin check, flu shot, among others.

But there’s another important screening that you may not know about: a one-time test for Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a viral liver disease. Most people infected with Hepatitis C develop a chronic infection that can cause serious health problems. Furthermore, it’s a leading cause of liver cancer and the chief reason for liver transplants.

The virus affects at least 2.7 million people in the U.S., and caused more than 19,000 deaths in 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many over 50 may have Screening for Hepatitis C is especially important for those born between 1945 and 1965, according to Dr. Richard Sterling, professor of medicine, head of Hepatology and

medical director for Viral Hepatitis and HIVLiver Disease at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Here’s why: “In 2009, almost 800,000 who had Hepatitis C were [eligible for] Medicare,” he said. “Over 1 million [more with the condition] will age into Medicare by 2024, resulting in 1.8 million people with Hepatitis C who are eligible for Medicare. If we don’t do anything and don’t treat those patients, it’s estimated that more than 600,000, or 36 percent, will die.”

Blood tests are used to screen for Hepatitis C. The first determines if you ever had the disease. If that is positive, patients get further blood tests to see if they have Hepatitis C now, and the amount of the virus in their blood.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, many baby boomers became infected from the 1960s through the 1980s.

Because the disease is primarily spread through contact with blood from an infected person, boomers could have gotten infected from medical equipment or procedures in the

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days before universal precautions and infection control procedures were standard procedure.

Still others could have gotten infected from contaminated blood and blood products before widespread screening virtually eliminated the virus from the blood supply by 1992.

It is also believed that those who participated in recreational drugs in their youth could have become infected through sharing needles with others.

An often silent illness The medical community didn’t even have a name for Hepatitis C for many years. Prior to 1989, the specific virus could not be identified and was known as “non-A, non-B Hepatitis.”

Hepatitis C is more prevalent than you might imagine. In the general population, Sterling said an estimated 1.5 to 2 percent of people are infected. More significantly, 8 percent of veterans, 30 percent of HIV patients, and an estimated 50 percent of all prison inmates are infected.

“The problem is that most people don’t know they have it,” said Sterling. “It is a silent killer. I still see people who end up having cirrhosis or liver cancer who didn’t know they had liver problems.

“It’s a shame when you see somebody and

say, ‘I wish you’d come to see me four years ago.’”

Even if they have symptoms (and many people don’t), some patients tell him that they postponed being checked because they heard screening was painful. That’s no longer the case, he said. “People need to be educated that we’ve come such a long way in the past few years.”

A device called a FibroScan can painlessly measure the stiffness of the liver; no painful biopsy needed. And for most people, treatment is a pill taken once a day for 12 weeks.

That’s it.

And once cured, the chances of recurrence are less than 1 percent, Sterling said.

“I don’t know of any other radical change in medicine that I’ve seen in 25 years like this,” he added. “We’ve gone from painful evaluation and difficult-to-take medication that didn’t work most of the time, to a non-invasive assessment and medicine that works 90 percent of the time and has no side effects.

“We’ve gone from a disease we didn’t even have a name for to something that we could eradicate.”

Dr. Sterling will share his research and experiences treating Hepatitis C in boomers and seniors at the Virginia Geriatric Society conference in Short Pump April 21 to 23.

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Your phone can safely become a wallet

By Lauren Schwahn Smartphones have replaced lots of other accessories — cameras, flashlights, calculators. But many people are still reluctant to swap the wallets in their pockets for their digital counterparts.

A key reason consumers are hesitant to use mobile payment services like Apple Pay and Android Pay, surveys say, is fear over security: High-profile retailer data breaches have made buyers wary of sharing credit card information.

But while there’s cause not to rely 100 percent on your mobile wallet just yet — lack of widespread acceptance by merchants, for one thing — security concerns shouldn’t be holding shoppers back, experts say.

“I think some people get nervous about the idea that ‘This thing is sending telepathic waves to that machine to say that I’m paying,’” said Mark Ranta, head of digital banking solutions at ACI Worldwide, a payment systems company.

But your mobile wallet is arguably the safest way to pay, and it offers a few benefits to boot. Here’s why this payment method is worth considering.

theoretically giving them the option to leave overstuffed wallets and purses at home.

At stores where shoppers can use their mobile wallets, it can also mean saving precious time at the register.

A common complaint among dissatisfied chip-card users is the slow transaction process, as shoppers wait for the terminal to complete the transaction.

Mobile payments can be a quicker alternative. Users open a payment app and hold their device over a terminal; a fingerprint or PIN verifies the purchase.

Shopping online can be faster, too. For example, Apple Pay and Android Pay are accepted on certain websites and in apps like Airbnb, allowing shoppers to make purchases without entering card information — or keeping card numbers on file, which may assuage data-breach fears.

And, like some bank apps, a mobile wallet saves your recent transaction history for reference, with the added benefit of allowing you to see all activity in one place even if your cards are from various banks.

You won’t miss out on rewards Greater convenience Services like Apple Pay let users add multiple cards to their phones or smartwatches,

Mobile credit card payments function just like regular credit cards. As long as your card is compatible with the service, you’ll continue

to earn your usual rewards, like travel points or cash back.

Mobile users can add certain retailer loyalty cards to Android Pay and Apple Pay wallets to seamlessly earn store-specific points. Samsung Pay accepts most membership cards.

Samsung also has its own loyalty program, Samsung Rewards. In addition to credit card rewards, members earn points for Samsung Pay purchases; the points are redeemable for rewards like gift cards and fitness trackers.

It’s safer than a credit card Mobile payment services also can offer more security than cash or traditional credit card use.

“You never have to take out your credit card or debit card, so there’s a lot less chance of someone seeing [your number],” said Jason Chaikin, president of biometrics security company Vkansee.

“For every transaction, (mobile wallets) create a random, one-time number — a transaction token — and even if someone was able to know that number, it’s not valid later.”

Samsung Pay, Android Pay and Apple Pay each use this process, called tokenization. Although you do upload your credit card number into the payment app, the actual card number is not shared with the merchant

when you pay. Rather, a temporary code is issued in its place, similar to the way EMV chip cards work.

EMV credit and debit cards have chips that create a unique code, or cryptogram, when inserted into a merchant’s payment terminal.

However, in this method, the card remains in view while the terminal reads the chip.

Mobile payments also provide security measures on top of existing bank protections that chip cards can’t match. Full card numbers are not displayed in mobile wallet apps, and users are able to authorize payments with their fingerprints, which can protect your card information in the event your phone is stolen (assuming you have a phone with a fingerprint reader).

Despite all these benefits, consumers don’t entirely trust mobile wallets, partly because availability is limited, Ranta said. Not all cards and loyalty programs are compatible with the payment services, and some stores are not equipped to take mobile payments. Establishments such as bars and restaurants may accept only cash or plastic.

Apple Pay has the highest retailer acceptance rate among the mobile payment services, at 36 percent, according to survey data from the retail consulting firm Boston Retail Partners.

— Nerdwallet via AP

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11

Fifty Plus Links & Apps

By Talia Denicoff

Stitch is both a website and an app, which can be used on iPhones and Androids. Costs range between $80 and $120/year, depending on services selected. You can also pay by the month. www.stitch.net

Apps

Links

Stitching people together

Astronomy picture of the day

As opposed to most dating sites or apps, Stitch is for adults who are 50 and over and who are looking for companionship, friendship or a relationship.

Members can choose to put their settings on romance only, friendship only, or friendship and romance in order to find the best match for them.

Members in the same geographic area can create group meetings to make it easy for people on Stitch to meet many friends at once and just have a good time. Activities that members have organized include dinners and going out to the movies.

This NASA site displays a fresh photograph of the cosmos every day, sometimes looking outward into space, and other days looking back from space toward earth. Along with the photo, each day there is a short paragraph describing what the scene of the day is. The website has been posting a picture a day since 1995.

There is an archive of all the photos the website has posted since its establishment.

There is also an index that sorts all the photos by categories, such as different types of stars, planets, space technology and comets. https://apod.nasa.gov/

To subscribe, see page 27.

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APRIL 2017 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; FIFTYPLUS

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A special supplement to Fifty Plus

Dear Fifty Plus Readers and Community Friends: We are extremely pleased to thank Stuart Rosenthal, publisher and editor of Fifty Plus, for this unique opportunity to highlight Senior Connections, The Capital Area Agency on Aging, during May Older Americans Month (OAM) 2017.

Like the late Mark Fetter, former publisher of Fifty Plus and highly respected leader in the Richmond community, Mr. Rosenthal has reached out to us to ensure that readers learn more about Senior Connections, the work that we do, and the valuable partnerships we maintain. We appreciate partnering with Fifty Plus.

This year’s theme for OAM, “Age Out Loud,” certainly speaks appropriately to the many activities that we have embarked on during the past 44 years. We continue to reflect on the lives we touch as we look ahead to the future. We touch the lives of more than 23,000 individuals (older adults, caregivers, individuals with disabilities) throughout the year.

We take this opportunity to extend greetings and special thanks to you as we celebrate OAM 2017. We reflect on the rich history of Senior Connections, an organization that has served the Richmond Metropolitan Region since 1973, and look towards the future. By the year 2030, our Region’s population of older adults will double to 340,000. This is a significant reason for celebration and recognition.

The theme for this year’s OAM, “Age Out Loud,” relates to the contributions that older adults provide to their families and communities.

For those of us who provide services and work in collaboration with community partners, we support this theme every day. We support the interests, goals and dreams of older adults, caregivers and their families. We encourage everyone to “Age Out Loud” as we celebrate the opportunity to support the needs of more than 23,000 older adults each year, and provide direct services to more than 4,000 individuals in the Richmond Metropolitan Region on an annual basis.

In 2017, we have many examples of people who “Age Out Loud.” The U.S. Administration on Community Living (ACL) shares the story of Barbara Hillary, for example. A nurse for 55 years who dreamed of travel, at age 75, she became the first African American woman to set foot on the North Pole. In 2011, at age 79, she set another first when she stepped onto the South Pole. www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com

Former president George W. Bush celebrated his 90th birthday by skydiving. Actress Betty White, now 95 years old, became the oldest person to host Saturday Night Live in 2010.

In the Richmond Metropolitan Region, we have many individuals who continue to contribute and serve as models. Two that come to mind hold Board Member Emeritus status with Senior Connections: Gloria Johnson of Henrico County and Dr. James Bowles, Sr. of Goochland County. We salute and recognize them both!

Since 1963, OAM has been a time to celebrate older Americans, their stories and their contributions. Led by the ACL, this annual observance offers a special opportunity to learn about, support and recognize our nation’s older citizens.

This year’s theme, “Age Out Loud,” emphasizes the ways older adults are living their lives with boldness, confidence and passion, while serving as an inspiration to people of all ages.

Senior Connections will use OAM 2017 to focus on the ways that older adults in our community are redefining aging — through work or family interests, by taking charge of their health, and staying involved with activities and participation with community and advocacy efforts. We can also use OAM as a time to learn how we can best support and learn from our older adults in our communities.

Throughout the month of May, Senior Connections will conduct activities and share information designed to highlight local people, programs, resources and stories. We encourage you to get involved by “Aging Out Loud” with us.

Join us, Fifty Plus and the nation as we speak up for #OAM17 and #AgeOutLoud this May. Thank you for your advocacy and support.

Sincerely,

John T. Robertson, Chairman, Board of Directors, Senior Connections

Thelma Bland Watson, Executive Director, Senior Connections

Joining the Board of Directors and Executive Director of Senior Connections are Marcia DuBois, Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services. (standing second from left) and Colleen Hall, Art Consultant.

Greater Richmond Age Wave Coalition: Building Social Connectedness

I

n many parts of the world today, older adults represent the fastest growing segment of the population.

This demographic shift holds true for the Richmond region. It’s projected that by 2030, there will be more adults over the age of 60 in our region than school-age children.

The Greater Richm o n d A g e Wa v e Coalition recognized this trend years ago, and has defined The Greater Richmond Regional Plan for Age Wave Readiness in order to guide preparation of our inSee AGE WAVE COALITION, page 14

CONTACT INFO Are you concerned about the well-being of an older parent, relative or neighbor? Are you looking for programs and services dedicated to helping seniors and persons with disabilities maintain quality of life and independence?

Senior Connections, The Capital Area Agency on Aging, provides community services, information and referral, education and advocacy for seniors, persons with disabilities, caregivers and families residing in the Counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, Powhatan and

the City of Richmond. We can serve as your primary source when planning for and making decisions later in life.

Senior Connections is a private, nonprofit organization governed by a Board of Directors with guidance from a diverse Advisory Council. The Agency receives funding from the Older Americans Act through the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). The Agency was established in 1973 as part of a nationwide network of over 650 area agencies on aging.

24 East Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23219-3796 (804) 343-3000, Toll Free 1-800-989-2286, Fax (804) 649-2258 www.seniorconnections-va.org LIKE our Facebook Page; FOLLOW US on Twitter FIFTYPLUS — APRIL 2017

13

Volunteer Opportunities at Senior Connections enior Connections, The Capital Area Agency on Aging, is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing services for older adults. Its mission is to “empower seniors to live with dignity and choice.” Our vision is to see “seniors with improved quality of life.”

Volunteers help provide one-on-one service in the greater Richmond Area. Community volunteers use the expertise derived through life experiences, and will develop new skills through volunteering with the Agency.

When you volunteer with Senior Connections, you will connect to the individuals you meet. You will positively impact the lives of people in your community, and you will benefit as well. You will widen your social network and meet new people.

By being involved in addressing the needs of your community, volunteering can give you a fresh outlook on the next phase of your life. It can also help to make you feel more confident and take pride in what you have already accomplished.

Senior Connections offers numerous ways for you to get involved in helping others.

Our volunteers: • Help others manage finances and pay bills in order to maintain financial stability, • Educate Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers about insurance options, • Provide friendly socialization calls or visits for those who are isolated, • Teach healthy nutrition and exercise

S

Age Wave Coalition From page 13 frastructure and resources. Their mission statement: “Collaborating to create a resourceful, livable community for all residents of the Greater Richmond Region.”

Through a partnership between Senior Connections, The Capital Area Agency on Aging, and the VCU Department of Gerontology, the Coalition membership of public and private organizations, businesses and citizens pursues initiatives defined by the Plan’s four areas of concentration: Engaged, Livable, Stable, Well. All of the Coalition’s initiatives support Social Connectedness, which is essential to maintaining optimal health and well-being at every stage of life.

The Business for Life Action Team combines the talents of many community

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APRIL 2017 — FIFTYPLUS

habits to older adults, • Provide programming and assistance to our Friendship Café Program, • Provide clerical support, • Serve as mentors for young children; teaching them to read, identify shapes and colors, • Offer patient assistance in hospitals, • Build ramps for those in need, and • Deliver meals to homebound older adults.

Here are some of our volunteers’ own impact stories: Mike Fager retired in 2009 and is now involved in community activities, including volunteering with VICAP (the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Mike Fager Program) at Senior Connections. He has spent many hours developing his counseling skills and helping people solve complex insurance issues.

Mike is also a classically-trained singer with a Bachelors and Master of Arts from San Jose State University. He was attracted to Senior Connections because “I want to give back to the community and to do so in a manner that is intellectually stimulating and rewarding to those in need.”

Mike also loves people. “I love the oppor-

stakeholders to spur the expansion of services and employment opportunities for the growing market of older adults. This group fosters Richmond’s Aging2.0 Chapter, celebrating and encouraging local entrepreneurs to develop products and services for elders and caregivers alike.

The Coalition’s Aging for Life Action Team has developed a series of sessions designed to help those preparing for retirement navigate gracefully into their new lifestyle, building supportive networks and embracing opportunities. It is the first evidence-based program of its kind in Greater Richmond.

Access to affordable, reliable and safe transportation is the No. 1 community identified need among older adults in our region. The Age Wave Coalition’s Neighborhood Livability Action Team is researching transportation resources in our

tunity to improve their lives. I like the challenge of finding useful solutions to their problems. I love to see the joy and hope that it brings to them.” Mike feels rewarded and appreciated for a job well done when “I can see and hear the relief in their faces and voices; their comments of gratitude. More importantly, I observe the actual improvement in their situations.”

Mike blends his analytic abilities and musical talents to improve our community through both his volunteer service and his performances. He makes the world around him a better and more beautiful place to live.

Dorothy Manuel has been a mentor in the Foster Grandparent Program for 11 years. Her days are full of hugs and smiles as she mentors young children at a local chilDorothy Manuel dren’s center. She provides support and encouragement to each child she is assigned to; teaching them the alphabet, shapes and colors. She enjoys eating lunch with the children, playing games and dress up.

She states, “Being with the children makes me happy,” and “being physically active each day has improved my overall health.” Furthermore, “Mentoring has taught me to be a better listener” and “I am always smiling and engaged in life.”

The Foster Grandparent program is a federally-funded site-based mentoring program for individuals age 55 or older who meet income requirements.

For 29 years, Raymond Turner worked for the U.S. Postal Service and, at the age of 51, decided to retire.

After a couple months of retirement, Raymond began looking Raymond Turner for volunteer opportunities in the local newspaper. He described his volunteer experiences as “giving me a sense of completeness. Each day is a good day, and if you can put your hand out and make another person’s life better, it’s well worth it.”

Raymond is involved in various volunteer opportunities with Meals on Wheels and Senior Connection’s Money Management program just to name a few.

The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) program is a network of volunteer opportunities for individuals 55 and older. Through RSVP we work to match individuals with volunteer opportunities, like the ones Raymond is involved in, that best fit your interests.

If you have some skills and interests other than what you see here, contact Shana Beverly at (804) 343-3024. We can work together to create a new volunteer opportunity for you.

area and around the U.S., seeking to support and advocate for improved options in all localities.

The Greater Richmond Regional Plan

for Age Wave Readiness can be accessed at the Age Wave Coalition’s website: agewellva.com

Remember Senior Connections In Your Estate Planning Perhaps you or a loved one have received service from Senior Connections (Caregiver Support, Meals and Health Support, Transportation Assistance, Care Transitions) that improved your quality of life and led to independence that allowed you to remain in your home or community. We graciously ask that you think of Senior Connections when deciding your estate plans. A bequest or legacy in your Will is a great opportunity to express your thanks to Senior Connections, The Capital Area Agency on Aging. www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com

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Complete the survey on back of this form and you may win tickets for two to a Blues & Jazz concert!

Older Americans Month

Free information and assistance

MAY EVENTS

Wednesday, May 3 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Senior Law Day (New Kent County) Human Services Bldg.

7911 Courthouse Way Through the partnership of the Williams Mullen Law Firm, University of Richmond law students and Senior Connections, Life Planning Documents (Wills, Durable Powers of Attorney, and Advance Medical Directives) will be provided for older adults and persons with disabilities. To sign up or for more information, please call Nancy Goodman (804) 966-1853, ext.

5123 or Beth Skufca (804) 343-3010.

Saturday, May 6 7:00 to 11:00 p.m.

Taste of Monte Carlo The Renaissance 107 W. Broad Street A charity event to help support the services and programs for the residents of Saint Francis Home, a nonprofit assisted living facility providing a permanent, safe home to 125 residents with little or no income. Featuring Vegas style dealers and gaming, live music, live auction, heavy hors www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com

Senior Connections, as the designated Area Agency on Aging for the Richmond Metropolitan Region, provides a range of services, activities, information and volunteer opportunities.

We offer the following options for Fifty Plus readers and community friends:

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Chesterfield Triad 18th Annual Senior Day “Dealing with the Cards Dealt” Victory Tabernacle Church 11700 Genito Rd., Midlothian Senior Day is an opportunity for seniors, their family members, caregivers and friends to visit with more than 65 businesses and nonprofit agencies to learn about programs and services available to older adults in Chesterfield. For more information, call (804) 768-7878 or email Leidheiserd@chesterfield.gov.

d’oeuvres and samples of local craft beer, cider and spirits. $75 per ticket includes two drink tickets. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Visit www.saintfrancishome.com for tickets and information or contact Pam Embrey pembrey@saintfrancishome.com

Wednesday, May 10 10:00 a.m. to Noon 34th Annual Older Americans Month Luncheon Second Baptist Church 3300 Broad Rock Boulevard Richmond Sponsored by the Richmond Chapter, National Caucus & Center on Black Aged (NCBA) Senior Connections, Richmond Office on Aging and Affiliated Seniors. Exhibits by local community resources will be on display from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. followed by lunch. Entertainment will be provided by the old school music group, “Bak “N Da Day.” Tickets are $17 per person.

Accessible parking available. For more information please call (804) 343-3000.

r Please add me to your mailing list for the quarterly newsletter, “Mature Life.”

r Please add me to your email list for the 14th Annual Empty Plate Luncheon.

r Please send me a copy of the Agency Brochure with Program Listings. r Please call or email me about volunteer opportunities.

r Please send me information about _____________________________________________

r We would like a speaker for an upcoming event on the topic of:________________________________ Please contact us about this.

Contact Information

May 10 - 13 Virginia Senior Games The Virginia Recreation and Park Society produces this annual open and athletic event offering competition in over 21 sports, ranging from Archery to Volleyball and most everything in between. Events will be held over the course of four days for participants age 50 and older. Please visit virginiaseniorgames.org. You may also call (804) 652-1411 or email vsg@henrico.us.

Name:_____________________________________ Mailing Address:_____________________________ ___________________________________________

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Wednesday, May 3 7:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.

Tuesday, May 16 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Senior Connections Annual Open House 24 East Cary Street

E-mail Address:______________________________ Telephone Number:__________________________

Thank you for your response. Don’t forget to complete the survey on the back of this form. Please return to: Senior Connections Attention Hannah Robinson 24 E. Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23219 or fax to (804) 649-2258

See MAY EVENTS, page 16 FIFTYPLUS — APRIL 2017

1 15

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Please answer our survey.

You may win Jazz & Blues tickets for two!

Senior Connections is gathering information to help us better address the needs of older adults in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

Please take a moment to answer these questions, then cut this form out from Fifty Plus and mail it back to us. All replies received

by April 28 will be entered into a drawing to win a pair of tickets!

Be sure to supply your contact information on the other side.

From page 15

Join us in celebrating Older Americans Month. This year’s focus is on housing support for older adults with special recognition of project:HOMES, celebrating 25 years of service to the community. Learn about Senior Connections’ programs and services provided to older adults, persons with disabilities and caregivers. Light refreshments will be provided. No RSVP required. For more information, please call (804) 343-3059 or send email to pgiesen@youraaa.org

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Please supply the info on the back of this form to receive complimentary information.

1. Which of the following technologies or devices do you have, and how regularly do you use them?

Smartphone r use daily r use occasionally r don't use Tablet or iPad r use daily r use occasionally r don't use Laptop computer r use daily r use occasionally r don't use Desktop computer r use daily r use occasionally r don't use Internet service r use daily r use occasionally r don't use 2. What resources would help you make more (or better) use of your digital devices? r Financial assistance to afford costs r One-on-one training in how to use the devices r Vision correction to better use the devices r Other (please describe: _________________________________) 3. If you have a smartphone, in which of the following ways do you use it? (check off all that apply) r Call friends and family r Text friends and family r Read email r Send email r Take photos r Send photos to friends/family r Contact Uber, Lyft or other ride services r Use map services for driving directions r Use social media r Watch videos r Search the Internet

Wednesday, May 17 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Senior Law Day (Charles City County) Union Baptist Church 5801 Old Union Road Through the partnership of the Williams Mullen Law Firm, University of Richmond law students and Senior Connections, Life Planning Documents (Wills, Durable Powers of Attorney, and Advance Medical Directives) will be provided for older adults and persons with disabilities. Please contact Ms. Michelle Johnson at (804) 652-4721; mjohnson@co.charles-city-va.us

Thursday, May 18 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

4. From which of the following do you usually obtain information about helpful resources? r Church or Faith Community r Civic or Social Group r Newspapers/Magazines (which ones?)_________________________ r Radio or TV (which stations?) _________________________________ r Websites (which ones?)______________________________________ r Social Media (which sites?)____________________________________ r Other (please specify)________________________________________

Senior Party in the Park and Wellness Fair Eastern Henrico Recreation Center 1440 N. Laburnum Ave, Henrico Sponsored by Henrico Recreation and Parks and Senior Connections. Activities for this free event will include health and wellness screenings, ven-

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2. What additional services or resources would help improve your quality of life? (check all that apply) r Transportation that is affordable and accessible r Housing that is affordable and accessible r Safe sidewalks r Additional recreational facilities r Additional and affordable health care services r Other (please specify) _____________________________________

Thank you for your response. Please mail to Senior Connections, Attention Hannah Robinson, 24 E. Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23219 or fax to (804) 649-2258

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APRIL 2017 — FIFTYPLUS

dors, carnival games, music and entertainment. Concessions will be available for purchase. Please call (804) 6521408 for additional information.

May events

May 22 -23 Virginia Governor’s Conference on Aging Hotel Roanoke Roanoke For more information on sponsorships, registration or programming please visit www.VGCOA.com or contact Martina James (804) 297-5163; martinajames@dars.virginia.gov.

Tuesday, May 23 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Senior Law Day (Powhatan County) Powhatan Rescue Squad 3290 Marion Harland Lane Through the partnership of the Williams Mullen Law Firm, University of Richmond law students and Senior Connections, Life Planning Documents (Wills, Durable Powers of Attorney, and Advance Medical Directives) will be provided for older adults and persons with disabilities. To sign up or for more information, please call Mrs. Pat Giesen at (804) 343-3059 or send email to pgiesen@youraaa.org

Thursday, May 25 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Powhatan Triad Senior Health Fair Powhatan National Guard Armory 276 Essayons Drive, Powhatan Free and open to the public. Activities include health screenings, vendors, lunch, entertainment and door prizes.

A canned food drive will also be held.

For more information, please contact Joan Doss (804) 556-4815; jdoss@youraaa.org.

“My philosophy on volunteering is, if you are able to help somebody, do it!”

– Mr. Raymond Turner

“My philosophy in life is to help someone as I pass through life so that they can pass it on.”

– Ms. Beverly Glover www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com

Money Law &

READY FOR RETIREMENT? Before you retire, give some thought to meaningful activities to fill your days SCREWED-UP MEDICAL BILLS Claims specialists can help you fight insurance denials by spotting errors

What to expect from your bonds this year

By Stan Choe The safest part of your 401(k) isn’t as safe as it used to be. But there’s still nothing safer, fund managers say.

Investors have long taken comfort in the steady returns their bond funds have provided, particularly when stocks go on another of their gut-wrenching drops.

But the bond safety blanket is getting more threadbare, a result of simple math.

Bonds don’t pay as much interest as they used to, following a decades-long drop in interest rates.

That means bonds pay less in income, and also raises the threat of a rise in interest rates. Higher interest rates mean prices for bonds — whether individual ones in your brokerage account or the ones in a bond fund you own — will fall, because their payouts look less attractive than those of newly issued bonds.

Even though bond funds provide less cushion than before, they still are the best defense for a 401(k) account, fund managers say.

Bond funds will still hold up better than stocks during downturns. And investors may be in need of some safety soon.

U.S. stocks are more expensive relative to their earnings, after more than tripling since early 2009, and Wall Street questions how much more they can rise without strong growth in profits. President Trump’s promise to shake up the status quo could also mean big swings for stocks.

Bonds will likely have positive returns in 2017, though smaller than in prior years, making for a boring year, said Colin Lundgren, head of U.S. fixed income at Columbia Threadneedle.

But that’s not a bad thing. “I think boring is OK in this environment, because other parts of your portfolio could be far more volatile,” he said. “In a world in which the equity market can go up or down dramatically based on the latest tweet or global event, this provides a stabilizing force.”

Here’s a look at what fund managers say investors can, and can’t, expect their bond

funds to do for their savings: How bad would a terrible year for bond funds be?

Critics have been warning of a bubble in the bond market for years, so it’s natural to ask how bad a bond-fund investment could go.

The worst year for high-quality U.S. bonds in the last four decades was 1994, when the Federal Reserve raised interest rates six times. Bonds lost a shade less than 3 percent that year. “And we think of that as a disaster,” said Lundgren.

Compare that with the 37 percent loss that the largest stock mutual fund by assets suffered in 2008, when the financial crisis was at full flame. And that’s just one of four times that stocks have lost more than 10 percent in a year since 2000.

Of course, rates are lower today than in 1994. So losses could potentially be bigger if the Fed begins raising rates sharply and at an aggressive pace. But fund managers say a worst-case scenario would still have annual

losses of below 10 percent for a high-quality bond fund.

“The math of bonds means that it’s difficult for bonds to go down more than 3 or 4 percent in a year,” said John Smet, fixed-income portfolio manager at Capital Group, parent of American Funds.

What kind of returns should I be looking for in 2017?

Start with how much interest bonds are paying out. For high-quality U.S. bonds, it’s close to 3 percent. Returns could be roughly there, or even better if interest rates fall, which would push up prices.

Most economists expect the opposite to happen, though, and a rise in rates would mean high-quality U.S. bonds would return less than 3 percent in 2017.

If rates rise enough, it could push bond funds to losses for the year. Last year, the average intermediate-term bond fund returned 3.2 percent, but only after a 2.5 percent loss See BONDS, page 19

Beware ‘whirlwind romance’ scams online

By Marguerita M. Cheng It was one of the worst calls I’ve ever received. I was informed by a social worker that my mom was a victim of a sweetheart scam.

The news made me realize that, even though my sister is a compliance officer and I serve on the Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Prevention Committee in our nation’s capital, our own mother isn’t immune to fraud.

The truth is, my mom isn’t alone. According to the IC3 Internet Crime Report in 2013, there were 6,412 reports of sweetheart scams costing victims close to $82 million.

Older people are especially at risk for fraud. Americans 65 and up are more likely to be targeted by con artists and more likely to lose money, according to a study from the Fraud Research Center.

I bought my mom an iPhone in April 2015, www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com

two months after my dad passed away. The goal was to help her connect with the world as she traveled to visit her cousin and some high school classmates. She’s always been active on Facebook and started meeting people.

I encouraged her to meet people through introductions and get together during the day in public places. After the death of my dad, I was supportive of her connecting with others through bereavement groups and social activities.

As a financial adviser and advocate for the aging population, I coached my mother about strangers. We had discussions about the danger of sharing personal information.

Unfortunately, she met someone online who tricked her. He said he was experiencing financial difficulty, and my caring, trusting mom wanted to help him out. It cost her sev-

eral thousand dollars.

Looking for the lonely Sweetheart scams can happen on the Internet or in person. Con artists scour online dating sites, social media accounts and chat threads searching for targets. Those recently divorced or widowed can be especially vulnerable.

The sweetheart scam seduces victims into thinking they are in a whirlwind romance.

Con artists pretend to want a romantic relationship to swindle the person. They use persuasion and emotional blackmail to hook and reel in a target.

Once the relationship is established, the criminal fabricates a crisis. A scammer might say he or she needs an operation, or cash to visit the victim.

Many victims are often embarrassed to

come forward. Fortunately, in my mom’s case a social worker spotted the fraud, and together they contacted me. Although my mom had already sent this con artist about $5,000, we were able to intervene in time to stop a $15,000 wire transfer.

Speaking from a financial adviser viewpoint, the sweetheart scam is a dastardly, cowardly act that could jeopardize a senior’s financial stability in retirement.

How to help From personal and professional experience, I offer a few tips: Silence is not golden. Be an advocate for loved ones, neighbors, church members and aging friends. Encourage open communication, because silence is a deadly weapon. Ask See ROMANCE, page 19 FIFTYPLUS — APRIL 2017

17

Thinking about retirement? What to expect

By Dayana Yochim We spend decades dreaming of the day when life won’t be dictated by alarm clocks, commute times, meeting schedules and office politics.

Then reality sets in: Retirement can be kind of a drag. And there may be 20-plus years of it ahead of you.

While traditional retirement planning covers financial essentials — expected returns, inflation, withdrawal rates, portfolio rebalancing, tax planning — most plans won’t prepare you for the emotional challenges of post-work life.

You may dread the drudgery of employment, but there’s something to be said for the structure it provides.

Work is where many people derive their sense of purpose. It can also provide framework for your days (projects, meetings, deadlines) and a sense of community (thanks to water coolers, slow elevators and happy hours).

Then one day you wake up and it’s all gone.

“I’ve had a number of clients who retire and feel a little adrift at sea, and it happens to people regardless of means,” said Lisa Kirchenbauer, president of Omega Wealth

Management in Arlington, Va. A good predictor of retirement dissatisfaction, she said, is if a person views retirement as an escape hatch. “It’s better to be retiring to something and not from something,” Kirchenbauer said. “Being intentional and having a game plan in place helps with the mental transition into retirement.”

Here are steps you can take to help protect your golden years from being tarnished by dissatisfaction.

Find a reason to set your alarm After you’ve taken those cruises, spoiled the grandkids, organized the sock drawer and descaled the coffee maker, what’s going to inspire you to get out of bed each morning in the decades ahead?

People who have pursuits outside of their professional life tend to fare better in retirement. If you’re not interested in taking up a new hobby, consider ways to use the professional expertise you’ve cultivated over the years. It’s even better for the psyche to apply your talents to serve a cause that you care about.

Don’t wait until you retire to explore new pursuits. Test-drive volunteer opportunities

in your community before retirement to plant seeds for future endeavors.

Pretend you’re still living off a paycheck The transition from building savings to drawing from savings can be stressful. Instead of receiving a regular paycheck, you’re sitting on one giant paycheck — a pile of money you’ve amassed by saving diligently in your 401(k)s and IRAs — that’s supposed to sustain you for the rest of your life.

“Psychologically it feels scary, even though you logically know that you’ve saved so that you can live off your investments,” Kirchenbauer said.

Planning can help you transition to spend-down mode. Start by creating a postretirement budget around anticipated expenses (including quarterly taxes, healthcare and potential emergencies).

Also think about which accounts you’ll draw from (Roth or traditional IRA, taxable brokerage account, cash savings?) in order to minimize the tax hit when you start taking income from your investments.

Kirchenbauer recommends simulating a paycheck-based cash-flow system in retire-

ment by setting up monthly transfers from an IRA (or other retirement account) into a checking account. This also helps prevent a retirement rookie error: blowing through your cash too quickly during the initial stages of retirement.

Discuss the transition with loved ones Retirement can be a major relationship disruptor. All that “me time” you and your partner had when one or both of you were at work is now potentially “we time.”

Kirchenbauer said it’s important to have a series of conversations with your spouse about whether you will retire at the same time. Retirement can be especially stressful if one partner retires before the other.

Expect that there will be an adjustment period, and perhaps spats over household duties (“You were home all day; why didn’t you mow the lawn?”) and scheduling conflicts (“I can’t take that week off work for a road trip”).

But if you’re prepared to be flexible, respectful and understanding of the other person’s perspective, you can achieve peaceful coexistence in retirement.

— Nerdwallet via AP

M A R K YO U R C ALE NDAR

May 16

SENIOR VOLUNTEER AWARDS

Chesterfield residents 60 and older with significant volunteer service to the community are being recognized for their work on Tuesday, May 16 at 2 p.m. The Senior Volunteer Hall of Fame awards ceremony will take place at Eanes-Pittman Public Safety Training Center, located at 6610 Public Safety Way in Chesterfield. For more information, visit www.chesterfield.gov/seniorvolunteerhalloffame, call (804) 768-7878, or email SeniorAdvocate@chesterfield.gov.

Apr. 19

CAREGIVING CONFERENCE

Soup for the Caregivers Soul, a free caregiving conference and workshop, will take place on Wednesday, April 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in North Chesterfield. The keynote speech is “Seeing Through the Fog of Senior Resources.” Workshops include transfer techniques; how to do a criminal records check on someone you hire as a caregiver; information on guardianship, Medicaid and senior adult services; depression and dementia, area support groups and more. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. RSVP to sign up for workshops. This event will take place at Southminster Presbyterian Church, located at 7500 Hull Street Rd. For more information or to RSVP, call (804) 7687878, email SeniorAdvocate@chesterfield.gov or visit www.chesterfield.gov/SeniorEvents.

May 12

SENIOR FAIR

A senior health expo and party celebrating the Virginia Senior Games will take place on Friday, May 12 at Deep Run Recreation Center in Richmond. The wellness expo with health screenings, health and wellness vendors and giveaways will take place from 3 to 7 p.m., and the athlete’s after party will take place from 4 to 7 p.m., featuring bluegrass music, classic car displays and refreshments. The center is located at 9900 Ridgefield Pkwy. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/VirginiaSeniorGames.

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APRIL 2017 — FIFTYPLUS

www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com

Bonds From page 17 in the fourth quarter trimmed returns.

Bonds issued by companies with weak credit ratings, also known as junk or highyield bonds, offer higher interest rates, which means a higher starting point for returns. But those 6 percent yields come with more risk: Junk-rated issuers are more likely to fail to make good on their interest payments.

That’s why many bond fund managers say to expect returns in the low single digits, possibly in the mid-single digits, for 2017.

Romance From page 17 about what is going on in their lives and ask about their day. Inquire if they have met someone new.

Be a detective. Once you find out about a new acquaintance, do some sleuthing by looking up the person online. Googling is a key weapon in discovering dishonesty online.

Go face-to-face. Encourage people to meet in safe places, such as a library or coffee house. Research potential social gatherings through a trusted organization, such as church or single’s group in your hometown.

Do some research. Visit the National Adult Protective Services Association’s web-

What about inflation and the Fed? This is the big threat. If inflation spikes and forces the Fed to catch up by aggressively raising rates, it would move the bond market toward its worst-case scenario.

Inflation is indeed on the rise, but fund managers say it still appears manageable.

And the U.S. economy doesn’t look likely to accelerate much in 2017, Smet said. That could mean the Fed raises rates fewer times than investors are expecting.

“If you think back to last year at this time, everyone was saying the Fed would raises rates two times, maybe three times, in 2016,” Smet

site: www.napsa-now.org. It has great resources about warning signs and what to do if you suspect someone you love is being taken advantage of.

I don’t want to scare the hopeless romantics out there. My mom did make some nice connections.

Unfortunately, there are people who pretend to be something they are not, and try to lure our loved ones into their web of lies.

Knowing a few key signs to watch for can protect the vulnerable people in our lives.

Marguerita M. Cheng is the Chief Executive Officer at Blue Ocean Global Wealth. © 2017 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

said. The Fed ended up raising rates just once.

“The surprise to the market this year may be that the Fed is not able to raise rates two times.”

Can bonds still be a stabilizer given the low yields?

They have been recently. A year ago, stocks tumbled on worries that a recession may be lurking, and the Standard & Poor’s 500 index lost 5 percent that January.

The average intermediate-term bond fund returned 0.8 percent during the same month, according to Morningstar. That’s not much, and it’s less than bond funds returned in similar down months for stocks in prior decades.

But it still provided comfort to investors who held a mix of stocks and bonds in their retirement accounts.

“Even in a terrible market for bonds, you still get much better protection than you would get in equity markets,” said Katie Nixon, chief investment officer at Northern Trust Wealth Management.

“It’s tempting to say, ‘Ditch your bonds’ because of interest rates, but we don’t abide by that. You need to have that diversification, to allow you to live to fight another day in the equity market.”

— AP

M A R K YO U R CAL EN DA R

Apr. 27

CAREER FAIR First Choice Employment Center is holding a spring career fair on Thursday, April 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participating employers

include Chesterfield County Police Dept., Chesterfield County Public Schools, Fort Lee, Care Advantage, Lowe’s, Richmond International Airport, Centimark, Teleperformance and more. There are current job openings from different service areas, including customer service, food services, government, childcare and healthcare. This event is free and open to the public. Job fair attendees should come professionally dressed, with copies of their resumes. Since most employers require online applications, there will be laptops available. The fair will take place at Meadowdale Library, located at 4301 Meadowdale Blvd. in North Chesterfield. For more information, call (804) 748-1100 or email employmentcenter@chesterfield.gov.

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How to fight medical insurance denials

By Kimberly Lankford When you or a family member experience a medical crisis, it can be hard enough to focus on getting the best care. The last thing you want to deal with is an overwhelming pile of medical bills.

Health insurance claims specialists can help. They serve as experts, advocates and detectives — knowing how to deal with the mysterious and complex insurance system, translate the jargon and codes, understand when you need to pay a bill and when to wait, and how to fix errors and build a case for an appeal.

Claims specialists tend to charge $75 to $95 per hour, and they’ll generally give you a free consultation with a cost estimate and some basic advice.

“It’s not a process [most people] get good at because hopefully you don’t go through it very much,” said Kathleen Hogue, president of Mediform Inc., in Twinsburg, Ohio, who has been a medical claims specialist for 37 years. Her job has changed a lot during that time, especially now that more people have high-deductible health insurance policies, complex out-of-pocket cost rules, and narrow provider networks.

Get help before you pay

ing an appeal. Pat Shea, a specialist in Green Bay, Wis., said about 80 percent of the denials he deals with are reversed once he resubmits the claim with extra information or coding mistakes fixed. Only about 20 percent go to a formal appeal.

Shea first studies the denial letter from the insurer. “You look at the reason for the denial, and that’s what gives you the way forward,” he said.

If payment was denied because the procedure was cosmetic, such as removal of a skin lesion, he asks the doctor to provide evidence that the procedure was medically necessary, for example. If the diagnosis or treatment was miscoded, Shea fixes it and resubmits the claim.

He tries to deal with insurers through email, so he has a paper trail. (His website at www.medicalclaimshelp.org offers more strategies.)

If you suspect there is an error in a medical bill, it helps to contact a claims specialist before making arrangements to pay.

“You don’t want to negotiate 50 percent off something you didn’t owe to start with,” said Pat Palmer, a medical claims specialist in Roanoke, Va. “You want to contact someone with experience to do a thorough investigation into those charges.”

Contacting a claims specialist soon after discovering a problem can help avoid hours of frustration and missed deadlines.

Specifics vary by plan, but you generally have 180 days to file an appeal.

“Many times people try to resolve [the matter] on their own, and they make a million phone calls and fight with the insurance company,” said Denise Sikora, president of DL Health Claim Solutions, which has an office in Monroe Township, N.J. “By the time they get to me, these claims are often more than a year old, and sometimes two and three years old,” said Sikora.

Get approval in advance Shea can also help people avoid claims trouble ahead of time.

Anne Richardson of Alexandria, Va., contacted Shea when she was helping her adult daughter get coverage for cochlear

Strategies to fight denials A claims specialist may be able to spot an error to get a claim paid quickly without fil-

implant surgery. Her daughter works in Atlanta, but the surgeons recommended for her complex case were in Chicago.

Before scheduling surgery, Richardson contacted Shea to find out if there was anything he could do to get coverage at the distant hospital.

Shea found that her daughter’s plan has a reciprocal arrangement with certain out-ofstate hospitals in the Midwest. He made sure that her surgeons, radiologists, anesthesiologists and follow-up therapy providers would all bill at in-network rates.

Richardson said the full price for the surgery and therapy would have been about $90,000. But with in-network coverage they paid just $6,000 (plus $225 for Shea’s help).

“If you are facing a complicated surgery, get someone to check on the coverage ahead of time,” said Richardson.

You can find claims specialists through the Alliance of Claims Assistance Professionals at www.claims.org. Some prefer to work locally; others have clients throughout the U.S. © 2017, Kiplinger. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Travel Leisure &

Olive groves and small towns punctuate the hills of Italy’s Umbria region.

See story on page 23.

Some peak attractions in the Blue Ridge

View from the top My husband, Tom, and I happened upon Peaks of Otter Lodge (Parkway Milepost 86) — with good value in food as well as accom-

modations — when we took advantage of a family weekend package years ago.

We soon learned the rustic resort provided the perfect hub from which to hike, recharge our batteries, enjoy National Park Service programs, and take day-trips to nearby attractions.

On that first visit, with a young son and daughter in tow, we read about (and explained before our hike) what the three Peaks of Otter are — Sharp Top, Flat Top and Harkening Hill mountains. The strenuous 1.5-mile hike up Sharp Top (three miles round-trip) culminates in ledges looking out on a spectacular 360-degree view of this part of the Parkway.

The kids were amazed by the house-sized boulders we encountered — made much easier to climb by stairs helpfully carved into some. But as Tom reached the summit (elevation over 3,800 feet), Michael and Katy yelled, “Come back! Don’t stand so close to the edge!” Our now-grown children still remember being anxious on that very windy day about Tom’s stepping out too far on a ledge at the top.

COURTESY OF THE BEDFORD AREA WELCOME CENTER

By Martha Steger The Blue Ridge Parkway is not only one of America’s favorite drives, but also home to some of the best hiking areas, historical attractions and cultural venues in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The only requirement for accessing these attractions — including more than 360 miles of trails off the parkway — is to park the car and fulfill your desire to explore the environment.

The Blue Ridge Parkway winds for 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina, connecting to Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park to the north.

The Parkway has limited entry points. Its northernmost point is at milepost 86 (the earlier miles are part of Skyline Drive) near Bedford, Va., about 140 miles west of Richmond.

As our family found decades ago, that is a great place to enjoy an overnight getaway coupled with a variety of possible daytrips.

There are six wineries that offer tastings near Bedford, Va. Here, visitors sample wines at the Ramulose Ridge Vineyards.

PHOTO BY SPENCER D. CASTEEL, SHUTTERSTOCK

A view of Sharp Top, one of the three Peaks of Otter situated along the Blue Ridge Parkway near George Washington and Jefferson National Forest. It makes for a strenuous climb, but there’s a frequent shuttle that will take visitors within 1,500 ft. of the summit.

We all survived the day, thanks to shoes with good ankle support. Michael and Katy remember, equally vividly, that at the time there was no television or telephone in our room at the lodge. So we played checkers, or read in the library a few steps down from the first floor.

Today, every room boasts a flat-screen TV and telephone (though Tom and I still enjoy the library with the glass doors overlooking the lake).

On a recent visit, instead of hiking up Sharp Top, Tom — who now has Parkinson’s Disease — and I were content to walk part of the one-mile Abbott Lake Trail around the lake behind Peaks of Otter Lodge.

Another visiting couple, Don Munday and his wife, Janet, have been traveling almost 1,200 miles round-trip to Peaks of Otter from Jekyll Island, Georgia, for years. Don says the Sharp Top Shuttle — which gets visitors to within 1,500 feet of the summit — “suits us fine.“ (The Sharp Top Shuttle starts the first week in May: $6 adults, $4 children.)

He adds with a chuckle that, as a retired couple, they enjoy “having no agenda, just www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com

hanging out at the lodge, waiting for the next meal. They’re very good to us there.”

Free historical and nature programs The Peaks of Otter enchanted even early Virginia historical figures. Thomas Jefferson left his nearby Poplar Forest plantation (see sidebar) in the fall of 1815 with two fellow travelers to measure the elevation of the peaks.

The next fall he wrote to a friend: “[O]n your return to Philadelphia, I would recommend your passing along the valley between the blue ridge & North mountain, that is to say by the Peaks of Otter, Natural Bridge, Staunton, Winchester, Harper’s Ferry, Frederictown & Lancaster. You will thus have seen the two by far most interesting lines of Country of this state.”

While visiting this area, explore the wilderness and culture of the Appalachian region up-close. Learn about Hunter’s Raid at the visitor’s center — the 1864 story of Confederates’ delaying tactics as Union General See PEAKS OF OTTER, page 22 FIFTYPLUS — APRIL 2017

21

Peaks of Otter From page 21 David Hunter’s force of 18,000 moved to attack Lynchburg. This was the fourth year of the Civil War, and families were struggling due to the absence of fathers, sons and brothers who had gone off to war, leaving mothers to care for families and farms.

Coming up on June 24 is a special event recalling Hunter’s Raid, with learning stations around the lake at Peaks of Otter, where you’ll hear the thunder of muskets and artillery demonstrations, and explore life on the home front with guides in period costumes. It won’t all be warlike: you can purchase a soldier’s lunch at the lodge’s restaurant, and

enjoy performances by the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Era Dancers.

Entertainment isn’t limited to special events. Live music over dinner is another weekend pleasure at the lodge — typically by Root2 Music and Rebecca Bryant, the Singing Cowgirl. Check out the Peaks of Otter’s calendar of events, as regular programs in season relate to astronomy, space missions and other interesting topics.

Rates for the Peaks of Otter Lodge start at $149 a night in April and May. The Friday Surf and Turf package deal is a good one, starting at $172 a night, including a buffet dinner and breakfast. In fact, it’s so good that it’s sold out for most of May and June, but has some April availability.

M ARK YO UR CALE NDAR

Apr. 29

HIGH TEA AND FASHION SHOW

The Altrusa Club of Capital City of Virginia presents a fashion show and high tea on Saturday, April 29 from 1 to 3 p.m. Proceeds from the event benefit public charity projects for veterans, the homeless, adult literacy, elder care, and abused women and children. The afternoon features music, door prizes, food, and contests for best table and best hat. The event will take place at Beulah United Methodist Church, 6930 Hopkins Rd., Richmond, Va. Tickets cost $20; hostess tables cost $160. For more information or to register, call (804) 426-4456 or (804) 794-5432.

Apr. 16

EASTER PARADE

Springtime birds and buds No matter where one ventures in the area, wildlife and blossoms are a major attraction. Just ask Bob Schamerhorn, the editor of the Richmond Audubon Society newsletter. (See many of his striking photos at www.iPhotoBirds.com.)

Schamerhorn moved from Bedford County to Richmond a decade ago, and he knows birders who have done annual counts of Cerulean Warblers in Sharp Top’s area.

He talks about the springtime thickets of mountain laurel, which make the Flat Top Trail particularly beautiful. Common birds on the trail are the woodthrush and chestnut-sided warbler.

He recommends the Johnson Farm Trail as the most moderate one for people who aren’t accustomed to “rugged footed” hiking. That trail is also a good place to see scarlet tanagers, vireos, cerulean warblers, Canada warblers, Acadian flycatchers and possibly cuckoos. (Beginning

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APRIL 2017 — FIFTYPLUS

birders daunted by this list can spot bluebirds, goldfinches and hummingbirds.)

In hiking much of the Peaks area, Schamerhorn said he’s also seen “a few pied-billed grebes, ring-necked ducks, and perhaps the most familiar of all ducks, mallards. Mink, otter, bobcat, foxes and deer all roam the area, especially as it’s a no-hunt area.” He recommends traveling to Milepost 96 in autumn for hawk watching at Harvey’s Knob.

As for flora, Tom’s and my favorites by mid-to-late May (given past weather patterns, that is) are the dogwood, redbud, rhododendron and trillium — with bluebells a bit later. Fall color can’t top this display.

Schamerhorn adds another to the list for early spring — the trout lily blooming at lower elevations. There’s always a new discovery waiting on the Blue Ridge Parkway!

— Martha Steger

Margarita: just add lime & salt!”). But we have had “Chili Dawg” — a peppery wine that’s good with pizza, pasta and cheese snacks. The family has also created a sweet apple Hunter’s Raid wine.

Beyond wine, the family offers a vacation rental house called “Elmo’s Rest” — a fully furnished, three-bedroom farmhouse, good for family reunions where you can prepare meals if you don’t want to drive five or more miles to eat out. Children will enjoy the assortment of animals: cattle, horses, burros, dogs, cats, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits, turkeys and others.

For more information about the Peaks of Otter Lodge, visit www.peaksofotter.com or call toll-free 1-866-387-9905. For more about the Blue Ridge Parkway, visit the National Park Service webpage at www.nps.gov/blri.

For information about Bedford, go to www.visitbedford.com, or call (540) 587-5681, and for winery tours, go to www.thebedfordwinetrail.com.

Interested in renting the Elmo’s Rest farmhouse? Go to www.elmosrest.com or call (540) 586-3707.

The hotel offers a shuttle to explore nearby wineries. Starting on May 13, participants can meet the Saturday morning wine shuttle at 10:45 at the lodge. The transportation fee ($20 per lodge guest, $25 for others) doesn’t include the $5 per-person tasting fee at each of the three wineries visited (payable at tasting), but it does include a box lunch.

Bedford’s Wine Trail encompasses six wineries, so the wineries visited vary with each shuttle tour.

Another option is to put together your own winery excursion as a day trip in your car. Of the six wineries nearby — Hickory Hill Vineyards, LeoGrande Winery, Peaks of Otter Winery, Ramulose Ridge Vineyards, Seven Doors Winery, and White Rock Vineyards & Winery — the closest is the Peaks of Otter Winery, the county’s first, situated at the foot of the peaks.

The Johnson family owners continue the farming and orchard tradition of their ancestors, who settled in the area in the 1700s. We haven’t sampled the Johnsons’ “Peach of Otter” or its “Salty Frog” (“Like drinking a

Additional day trips The National D-Day Memorial sits in Bedford (seven miles from Sharp Top) because that community suffered the highest per-capita D-Day losses in the nation. The memorial honors the Allied forces that participated in the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944.

Its sculptures by Jim Brothers, depicting five stages of Operation Overlord, illustrate a variety of actions from the fateful day: corpsmen mid-stride, weapons fallen on the beach, a medic advancing with no weapon. Through the sculptor’s skill, they each evoke an emotional response in visitors. Check out events for this year’s anniversary at www.DDay.org.

The third U.S. President Thomas Jefferson began building his retreat, Poplar Forest, during his second term of office. A meticulous restoration — along with the historical interpretation provided on a guided tour of the main level — sheds light on Jefferson’s considerations for his dwelling place in retirement, his private world.

In the artifacts displayed — from people who lived and worked at Poplar Forest — as well as in the restoration, you’ll see Jefferson’s creativity in meeting his needs, aesthetic as well as physical.

Leave lots of time for the self-guided exploration of exhibits in the lower level of the house, the Wing of Offices, the ornamental grounds, and the slave-quarters site — which includes the stove he de-

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL D-DAY MEMORIAL FOUNDATION

Venture Richmond presents Easter on Parade, a free annual Richmond tradition, on Sunday, April 16 from 1 to 5 p.m. The parade features residents dressed in their Easter Sunday best, walking up and down Monument Ave. on the blocks between Allen and Davis Ave. There will also be music, crafts, children’s activities, food, balloon artists and a petting zoo. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/RichmondEasterParade2017.

Wine tasting tours

The nation’s D-Day Memorial sits in Bedford, Va., because that community suffered the most losses per capita at the Normandy invasion on D-Day.

signed to enable the cooking of sauces that he enjoyed while serving as ambassador to France.

For details on Jefferson’s retreat and visitor information, see www.poplarforest.org, or call (434) 922-0699.

Depending on how much time you allot and how far you wish to venture, there’s almost no end to day-trips near here — whether to Lynchburg, Smith Mountain Lake, Lexington, Dixie Caverns and other destinations and attractions.

— Martha Steger

www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com

M

By Victor Block In 1996, a book titled Under the Tuscan Sun recounted how author Frances Mayes purchased and restored an abandoned villa in the Tuscany region of Italy. The best-selling volume, and the movie that was adapted from it, helped establish the area as a major vacation destination for Americans.

Umbria, Tuscany’s landlocked next door neighbor, has not been so celebrated and glorified. In fact, it is sometimes derisively dubbed “the poor man’s Tuscany.”

Yet that often-overlooked region encompasses a rich collection of artistic, scenic and other treasures that reward those who seek them out.

For starters, Umbria — pronounced Oom-bria by those who live there — boasts magnificent landscapes mirroring those that bedazzle visitors to Tuscany. The jagged Apennine Mountains lead to rolling hillsides that flatten into lush valleys along the banks of the Tiber River.

Fields of wild flowers vie for attention with the silver leaves of gnarled olive trees and rows of grape vines that change from summer green to vibrant reds and yellows as fall approaches.

Overlooking the scene are the true gems — towns that for centuries have perched on top of hills and spilled down toward the valleys below.

In many ways, time has bypassed these villages of stone buildings, winding cobblestone streets, and walkways so narrow it’s sometimes possible to reach out and touch the walls on both sides.

Umbria’s size, or rather lack of it, provides

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opportunities to check out a variety of inviting villages in a limited time. In an area about one-third the size of Maryland, nothing is very far from anything else, so it’s possible to visit more than one hilltop village in a day.

While these ancient enclaves often appear identical when viewed from afar, there are differences that set each one apart.

Granted, the initial introduction may focus upon similarities — a central square, the ubiquitous main church adorned with architectural touches outside and art treasures within, outdoor cafes where locals and visitors alike gather to enjoy food and drink. Yet each has its own unique claims to fame that are well worth exploring.

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Assisi and Spoleto The two best-known towns are Assisi and Spoleto, and for very different reasons. Assisi is famous as the birthplace of St. Francis while, since 1957, Spoleto has hosted a multifaceted feast of cultural events attracting a line-up of world-famous performers.

St. Francis of Assisi was born in 1182, and in his roles as a Roman Catholic friar and preacher he founded several religious orders. His birthplace retains much of its medieval character, and many structures still cast a rose-colored hue thanks to the limestone from which they were constructed.

The 13th-century basilica houses frescoes that depict chapters of St. Francis’ life and are considered to be among the most important works of art in Italy.

Spoleto tells a very different story. Unlike See UMBRIA page 24 PHOTO BY HENRYK SADURA

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Assisi is one of the best known of the hill towns that dot Umbria, in the countryside of central Italy. St. Francis was born here in 1182. Medieval castles and churches dominate the town’s skyline. UNESCO designated the Franciscan structures of Assisi as a World Heritage Site in 2000.

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From page 23 many historic municipalities in Italy, it lacks a distinct central square. Instead, a jumble of medieval streets and lanes connect a cluster of piazzas.

Every summer, those narrow roads and walkways are overwhelmed by people during the annual Festival of Two Worlds — this year taking place from June 30 to July 16.

This cultural buffet was founded in 1957 by composer and conductor Gian Carlo Menotti.

Since then, the potpourri of events — opera and jazz, ballet and modern dance, theater, visual arts and more — has brought the town to the attention of the world.

Spoleto also offers a treasure trove of reminders from its early Roman days, including the remains of a house with a mosaic floor, a restored first-century amphitheatre, and a first century temple.

In fact, most of Umbria reveals intriguing tangible evidence of Etruscan, Roman and Medieval influences — often in the same locale.

The Etruscans created a powerful civilization that included western Umbria, beginning around the 8th century BCE. It lasted until its assimilation into the Roman Republic beginning in the 4th century BCE.

Secret passageways While other villages are less well known, each has attractions that warrant a look-see.

You can’t go wrong by simply turning off a main road when you spot a sign to a town, no matter how small or how far off the usual tourist path it may be.

The approach to Orvieto alone is worth a side trip. It rises up from the almost vertical faces of volcanic cliffs. This soaring image is replicated in the ornate façade of the duomo,

a 13th-century cathedral that is one of the most elaborate in the country.

A very different experience awaits those who explore the vast underground labyrinth of tunnels, passageways and rooms that was dug out of the soft rock that lies beneath the buildings above.

This once-secret network, part of which dates back some 3,000 years, provided wealthy families with a means of escape outside the city walls during times of siege. The tunnel complex has recently been open to guided tours.

Perugia, the capital of Umbria, is home to several institutions of higher learning, including the University of Perugia, founded in 1308. It also is a cultural and artistic center, and hosts a number of annual festivals and other events.

Major evidence of Etruscan influence is found in both Orvieto and Perugia. In places, Etruscan, Roman and Medieval remains serve as reminders that all three cultures once held sway.

That’s true in the town of Todi, where walls constructed when each of those societies reigned are still visible. In fact, Todi is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Italy, and its Piazza del Popolo is regarded as one of the country’s most perfect squares from that period.

Another Medieval setting is encountered in Trevi, whose ancient center of alleyways, vaulted passages and churches is surrounded in part by the original 13th-century defensive walls.

Its hilltop position offers commanding views over the surrounding plains, and the groves that surround the village yield some of the country’s best olive oil.

Olives, truffles and wine Along with countless architectural and art

M ARK YO UR CAL EN DAR

May 6

RELAY FOR LIFE

The American Cancer Society presents the Richmond-Henrico Relay for Life on Saturday, May 6 from 4 p.m. to midnight. The relay is a team fundraising event, where team members take turns walking around a track or designated path. Nationally, there will be teams walking over a 24-hour period to signify that cancer never sleeps. This event will take place at Pocahontas Middle School, located at 12000 Three Chopt Rd. in Henrico. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/RelayForLifeRichmond.

PHOTO BY VICTOR BLOCK

Umbria

Olive groves sprawl across the undulating hills of Umbria. The area is so well-known for its quality olives that it was the first region in Italy whose olive oil was granted a coveted Designation of Origin by the EU.

treasures that abound throughout Umbria, being part of Italy, there’s no surprise that the region clings proudly to a well-deserved culinary reputation.

Simply pondering the list of specialties that fill restaurant menus can be a mouth-watering experience, and explain why the area is referred to as Italy’s cuore verde (“green heart”).

The olive oil produced in Umbria is considered among the best in a country that is known for the high quality of its olive oil. It was the first region in Italy whose olive oil was given the prestigious Designation of Origin classification.

Food here is typically hearty country cuisine, simply prepared to enhance the flavors of its top-quality ingredients. Meat and pastas are staples.

Prized locally grown truffles, more of the black than white variety, are added to a variety of dishes. Montefalco wine, which became the favored go-to beverage for my wife Fyllis and me, is named for the delightful little hill town surrounded by vineyards.

The hard-to-resist temptations of the table add to the sensory onslaught that envelops visitors to Umbria. They’re part — but just a part — of what makes a visit there as memorable as it is enjoyable.

Using a tour company

May 5

AN EVENING OF BLUES & JAZZ

The Lawrence Olds Band is a traditional Blues & Jazz ensemble performing classic repertoire and original material. They will be presenting a night of live blues and jazz on Friday, May 5 at 7 p.m. at The Cultural Arts Center, 2880 Mountain Rd., Glen Allen, Va. Over the past 20 years, the Richmond-based Lawrence has performed regularly from New York City to Key West, Florida. Dinner and wine/beer/beverages will be available for sale at the concert. Tickets for the performance ($15 in advance, $20 at the door) are available online at www.artsglenallen.com or by calling (804) 261-ARTS (2787).

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APRIL 2017 — FIFTYPLUS

Fyllis and I spent a week each in Venice and Umbria on a trip with Untours, which offers “independent travel with support.” It more than met our expectations. The coddling began with an avalanche of material that goes well beyond the basic information needed to, as the company promises, “live like the locals.”

In addition to details about sightseeing, shopping and getting around, we were provided with public transportation passes in

Venice and a rental car in Umbria. We also received insider tips about everything from the Umbrian culture and restaurants, to food shopping and recipes of local favorite dishes.

Our first morning each week was spent at a detailed briefing from the onsite Untours representative, which included information about optional activities with other group members.

Our accommodations — a two-story apartment above a gelato shop in Venice, and a lovingly furnished two-bedroom apartment at a centuries-old farm in Umbria — added to the feeling of immersion in the setting.

Prices for Venice land packages begin at $1,369 per person (double occupancy) for one week; $1,889 for two weeks. For Umbria, $979 for one week; $1,289 for two weeks. Untours can also assist in obtaining reasonable airfares. For more information, call (888) 8686871 or log onto untours.com.

Restaurant dinners are as outstanding and ample as they are reasonably priced.

Typical is the Trattoria al Palazzaccio near Spoleto. A selection of pastas is priced in the $6.50 to $9.50 range, depending upon the exchange rate, and the specialty of lamb with olive oil, wine and herbs costs $11. For more information, visit alpalazzaccio.it or call 0743520-168. You may use googletranslate.com to read the menu in English.

Fish is the focus at the Nuova Parco del Clitunno in Campello sul Clitunno, which overlooks a lovely pond. Fresh-caught seafood includes trout, shrimp and daily specials. Among the ways trout ends up is in mousse ($7.50) and with pasta ($9.50), while grilled sea bass costs $14. For more information, call 0743-521-052 or visit nuovoparcodelclitunno.it.

For general information about Umbria, visit www.umbriatourism.it. www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com

Style Arts &

Low-maintenance hellebores brighten gardens nearly year round. See story on page 26.

Shirley MacLaine sets the record straight

Fierce, even at age 3 She doesn’t attribute it to ambition, however, but to dance.

Her mother famously enrolled her in dance classes at age 3 to strengthen her weak ankles. It was there that MacLaine fell in love, she said, with “discipline, music, teamwork, pain, balance and strength.”

“If you can get through a ballet class every day of your life when you start at 3...I’m just putting this together as a matter of fact...If you can do that starting at 3, then you are confident,” she said. “I wasn’t like the other girls who were out there trying to be pleasing. I was in class trying to be strong and survive.”

Not unlike MacLaine and her journey, the character she plays in her new movie The Last Word, now in theaters, is a woman (Harriet) who also rose above societal gender constraints to become successful in business.

Now in her 80s, and lonely, Harriet is thinking about her legacy and impact on the world, www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com

and hires a local obituary writer (Amanda Seyfried) to write hers.

“I love playing bitches,” MacLaine said with a smirk. “I love the whole idea of being so impossible that it’s funny.”

MacLaine doesn’t like to reflect on the scope of her career, because, she said, “I think I’m going to live a long time.” Yet, she’ll tell stories for days about her films in the studio system and the icons she’s worked with.

She smiles proudly recalling how she taught Audrey Hepburn how to swear, and how Hepburn, in turn, taught her how to dress (“sort of”).

She remembers getting a call from Paramount production head Don Hartman scolding her for gaining weight during the production of The Trouble With Harry because of all the meals she was eating with Alfred Hitchcock.

“Look, I wasn’t tall, thin, blonde, ethereal, and all that stuff that was essential for men to jump on. Hitch wasn’t interested in me, but he was interested in me as a food partner.

“So, he insisted I have every meal with him. I think I gained 20 pounds,” MacLaine recalled. “I was just out of the chorus; I hadn’t had a full meal in years!”

The only director she’s ever had a problem with was Billy Wilder because, “he had a problem with women.” And she was horrified that he wrote her character in The Apartment, Fran, after observing her learning how to play gin with “Dean and Frank” and the Rat Pack crew.

“God, is that what he really thought of me?” she wonders.

“He terrified Marilyn. That’s why she was always late,” MacLaine added. “He was Austrian, and he wanted everything exactly his way.”

The actress much prefers the hands-off style of independent films like The Last Word.

She has also found that the indie world is the only place where she can find character-driven films.

Advocate for older actors

her way, but studio tent-pole franchises hold no interest for her.

She also wants to make films that service the senior community. “I love getting older, I truly do,” she said. “I like the wisdom of it, the complications of it.

“I do not like the invisibility. I notice with other people, who are not particularly famous, when they are old and no one notices they’re there. That’s awful. I want to do a movie about that. I’ve got one I’m thinking of.”

MacLaine is grateful for her health — she eats whatever she wants, she said, and gave up smoking last year, but thinks a lot of it has to do with her never having been a big drinker or doing drugs.

She remembers hanging out at Carrie Fisher’s house once and putting what she thought was sweetener into her coffee when it was actually cocaine. Fortunately, someone stopped her before she drank it.

“I didn’t even know what it was! I think of those times when my buddies would go in the bathroom, and I’m left alone in the living room. ‘What are they doing? Why am I alone?’ They were doing drugs.

“The word went around that I wasn’t interested,” she said. “I’ve smoked two joints. I’m a dumb-dumb when it comes to how you can enjoy yourself.”

PHOTO BY HELGA ESTEP

By Lindsey Bahr Shirley MacLaine is putting something together about her life for the first time.

Tucked away in the corner of a shaded patio at a sea view restaurant in Malibu, MacLaine, now 82, is thinking about the onetime expectations of women of her generation.

“I asked my own mother once, ‘What are we supposed to be?’” said MacLaine, who grew up in Arlington, Va. “She said, ‘You’re supposed to have nice hair and nice clothes and look pretty.’ She really said that to me.”

MacLaine defied those modest prospects at every turn. The gamine, natural beauty became a movie star when the popular look was lacquered glamour. She sued a studio when she knew she’d been wronged professionally.

She demanded the best of everyone she worked with, sometimes leading to less-thaneffusive assessments from co-stars.

And she has continued to remain relevant in the youth-obsessed industry at every stage of her career. As she matured, so did her characters.

Shirley MacLaine, who says she loves playing characters who are "so impossible that it's funny," is starring in a new movie, The Last Word. Now 82, she also says she is enjoying this stage of life, and tries to film about two movies a year on location.

All in all, MacLaine is content with life. She lives in Santa Fe, N.M. She has her “doggies” (three rat terriers), her friends, her writing, her publisher and her “An Evening With...” shows.

See SHIRLEY MACLAINE page 26

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So many reasons hellebores are heavenly

PHOTO BY LELA MARTIN

need dividing.

Fourth, hellebores bloom when other things in the garden are looking dreary and bedraggled. It’s bliss to see blooms in the winter and early spring. This year, the hellebores in my Midlothian neighborhood started blooming in mid-January.

Fifth, when not in bloom, the leathery, dark green foliage is attractive almost yearround, rarely marred by insects or disease.

The leaves stay green until late winter, when they die back, making room for new leaves and flowers.

For aesthetic reasons, some gardeners remove the old growth when it becomes unsightly. This is purely optional; however, if you choose to tidy up, wait to remove the old foliage until just before the flowers emerge or anytime thereafter. The foliage protects the developing flower buds, keeping them from blooming too early.

More reasons to love Sixth, because they don’t need much maintenance, hellebores are a great choice even for beginning gardeners. They will do fine without fertilizer, and are relatively long-lived.

Although hellebores prefer welldrained soil, once they are established, they are drought-tolerant.

For gardeners with limited space, hellebores also grow well in freedraining, frost-proof containers.

Seventh, hellebores are certainly not boring. Old-fashioned varieties are shades of muted green and pure white. But breeders have developed pink, plum, dark purple, red, yellow, and near-black varieties. In addition to those flowers that are clear colors, some are spotted, striped or bi-colored, with speckles either close to the edge or near the center.

If you want to purchase a hellebore that blooms a particular color, buy the plant while it is in flower, so you know you are getting exactly what you want. The plant will always bloom that particular color, but there

M ARK YOUR CAL EN DAR

Apr. 21+

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Virginia Repertory presents Disney’s musical Beauty and the Beast at the historic November Theatre in Richmond, on stage weekends from Friday, April 21 through Sunday, May 14. Evening performances begin at 7 p.m. on Fridays, and matinees begin at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets cost $48 to $60 for adults; $38 to $50 for children. Patrons 65 and over can save $5 on certain performances. November Theatre is located at 114 W. Broad St. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/BeautyandtheBeachRichmond or call (804) 282-2620.

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APRIL 2017 — FIFTYPLUS

PHOTO BY LELA MARTIN

By Lela Martin Commonly called “Lenten roses” because they often bloom during Lent, hellebores (Helleborus x hybridus) are one of my garden favorites. They will become your favorites too when you consider their heavenly attributes.

Their first positive quality is that they are deer-, rabbit-, and vole-resistant — something very important in my own garden.

Second, hellebores thrive in shade. Native to woodland edges in Europe, they are adapted to living in dappled sunlight or partial shade under deciduous trees.

Third, they are perennials, returning year after year, spreading into clumps two feet wide. So, although relatively expensive initially ($10-$20 per quart pot), you actually get a lot of plant for your money. Additionally, even though they spread, hellebores rarely

is no guarantee that its seedlings will be the same.

Most hellebores have five “petals” (actually modified leaves called “sepals”) and bright yellow stamens, the pollen-producing part of a flower. Because the sepals are less transient than petals, the blossoms last for up to three months.

In the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family, hellebores’ flowers are typically cup-shaped; however, there are hybrids that boast flat open flowers. New creations are double-flowered, and others resemble anemones with a second row of sepals.

Last, they make extremely long-lasting cut flowers. In fact, a Virginia supplier of cut flowers sells hellebores at a premium because they stay attractive in arrangements for such a long time.

The few downsides Although I’ve had a devil of a time thinking of downsides, there are a few, which are offset by related positive characteristics.

The lovely inside of the flowers is not always visible, since most hellebores have a bell-like habit, facing toward the ground. Gardeners can take advantage of this, however, by planting hellebores on a slope or hillside.

Also, newer varieties have been bred to face upward.

Shirley MacLaine From page 25 She sees films (her favorites of last year were Moonlight and The Edge of Seventeen).

She travels to New York for a few weeks a year to see shows, and tries to do about two films a year on location.

While hellebores are not native to North America, they grow well in metro Richmond.

Although hellebores are difficult to grow from seed, seedlings pop up naturally. In spring, you can transplant seedlings into small pots. Then in fall, move them to the ground in a desirable location, where their underground rhizomes will spread, and you should see blooms on three-year-old plants.

If ingested or touched, hellebores are mildly poisonous, but a pair of gloves should protect you.

Unfortunately, most hellebores have no fragrance.

Because of their price point and because they finish flowering before most people visit the garden center, hellebores are not often found at big box stores. However, hellebores should be available at nurseries and garden centers now.

With their host of positive qualities, it’s no wonder that the Perennial Plant Association named Lenten rose “Plant of the Year” in 2005.

Lela Martin is a Master Gardener with the Chesterfield County office of the Virginia Cooperative Extension.

For more about hellebores, see “Lenten Rose”

by Joey Williamson, Clemson Cooperative Extension, available for free download at bit.ly/LentenRose.

She also sees her younger brother, Warren Beatty, and his family sometimes. She said stories about them having been estranged are just not true.

“I have a very full life, and at the same time a life where nothing much happens,” MacLaine said. “It’s the best I’ve ever been.”

— AP www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com

Crossword Puzzle Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Property Elements 1

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2. Engagement ring measure 3. Thank the Academy, and the cast, and the family, and...

4. One waiting to say “cheese” 5. Endless 6. Lackluster 7. Fancy schmancy 8. How Goldilocks was found 9. New York racetrack 10. Carnac the Magnificent, for example 11. Reach adulthood 12. Planned destination for Gretel 13. Enclosure for an outdoor gala 21. Post-Thanksgiving event 22. “Oops!”

26. Docent’s sign 27. Of equal quality 29. Unflattering gossip 30. Greek god of war 31. Provider of coffee and wi-fi 32. Touched the Earth 33. Clever ploy 34. First body part into a room, generally 35. Even-year sports staging org.

36. Many millennia 41. Ready, willing, and ___ 42. Fall back into bad habits 43. First name and M.I. for “Bob the Builder” 44. Boise boy 49. Make reparations 51. Low card 52. “She’s ___ Have It” (A Spike Lee Joint) 53. Trial partner 54. Clothing colorers 55. Escaped the zombies 56. Namesake of the 49’ers stadium 57. He may sidle, advance, or retreat 58. Causing no increase in nose size 59. Bunch of bison

Answers on page 25. www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com

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