April 2020 | DC Beacon

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VOL.32, NO.4

Keeping calm in turbulent times

APRIL 2020

I N S I D E …

PHOTO BY JOHN BENNER

By Margaret Foster A racing heart, sweaty palms, an incessant urge to check the latest news. It’s normal to feel anxious during the current coronavirus pandemic. Our lives have been disrupted; businesses are shuttered; the stock market has tanked; and no one knows when life will return to normal.

“The collective world is developing an anxiety disorder over this [pandemic], and we have to be careful that we don’t normalize what regularly would be clinical anxiety,” said Dr. Joanna Kaplan, director of the Washington Anxiety Center of Capitol Hill.

About a quarter of Kaplan’s patients are over age 50, and she has treated people as old as 92 for various anxiety disorders, such as fear of falling and agoraphobia.

“Just because we’re socially distancing doesn’t mean we’re socially isolating,” Kaplan added.

In our new age of anxiety, what do local psychology experts recommend for managing fear and worry and staying connected?

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SEE SPECIAL INSERT Housing & Homecare Options following page 24

Acknowledge your emotions First, accept your anxious feelings, suggested Jelena Kecmanovic, adjunct professor at Georgetown University and head of the Arlington/D.C. Behavior Therapy Institute in Arlington, Virginia.

“These negative emotions are going to show up more these days. These are objectively stressful times,” Kecmanovic said.

If you try to push your feelings away with distractions such as Netflix, ice cream or alcohol, it can make matters worse. Carl Jung pointed out this paradox in his famous quote, “What you resist, persists.”

It helps to acknowledge our fear, anger or confusion. Learn to feel those emotions

LEISURE & TRAVEL

Telemedicine in action: Arlington psychologist Jelena Kecmanovic now provides therapy to all her patients by video. With the help of such technology, local therapists and nonprofits are helping people manage anxiety during these challenging times.

and their effect on our bodies, and eventually they will pass.

“If we don’t fight with [negative] emotions or engage with them, they won’t stay long,” Kecmanovic said. “It’s about allowing them to pass.”

She suggests sitting quietly and sensing

your breath and heartbeat. Take note if your jaw is clenched or you have a lump in your throat.

Consider the feelings with a gentle curiosity, and notice if they change or ebb.

See ANXIETY, page 9

Get the facts about

ACTIVE RETIREMENT LIVING

page 32 TECHNOLOGY k Selling used items online

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FITNESS & HEALTH 8 k NIH hunts for a vaccine k Medicare covers virtual visits SPOTLIGHT ON AGING k Newsletter for D.C. seniors

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LAW & MONEY k The virus and your stocks k New scams to beware of

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ARTS & STYLE 38 k Country singer Karen Collins

near you!

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Take an armchair adventure to 400-year-old Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico; plus, what to do with those airline and hotel reservations

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How are you faring?

Many of us have lived through some matter of hours pretty much anything we strange and rough times, but I think it’s need or want, running the gamut from necessities, like groceries and fair to say, our lives today are paper goods, to frivolities. unlike anything we have exBut we have some very difperienced in our lifetimes. ferent challenges this time I heard firsthand reports around that, as I say, I believe from my parents and grandare unique. parents about the difficulties First, we are all, basically, of wartime, and I know those days were in many ways far living alone in our own bubmore difficult — both for bles. those on the front lines and for Ironically, people throughthe families left behind, living out the entire world share FROM THE on rations and worried sick. our pain (and the virus), and So, I don’t mean to suggest PUBLISHER are experiencing some verBy Stuart P. Rosenthal that what we’re experiencing sion of the same problems. today is worse than earlier And yet we have never been times of deprivation. more alone as individuals.

In fact, thanks to technology, we have it Because the current “enemy” is invisirelatively easy. We can speak with and see, ble, implacable and potentially anywhere via video, family members and friends any- at any time, we are told we must maintain where in the world, at the touch of a button “social distance” from all other people. We and (once we have the equipment) basical- are, for the most part, barricaded in our homes, many of us alone. ly free of charge.

And even for those who have partners, I That’s a huge benefit over snail mail (especially the old aerograms we used to mail know couples who are sleeping in separate overseas) and the tremendously expensive bedrooms and eating at opposite ends of long-distance calls we used to make once the dining room table because one of them was possibly exposed to a carrier. They in a while.

We can have delivered to our door in a must feel like they are trapped in the castle

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Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher.

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of Beauty & the Beast.

When my wife and I took a short walk recently to get out of the house on a pretty spring day, we and the few other walkers we encountered in the woods gave each other a wide berth.

We were also, oddly, reserved in even nodding hello to each other or giving and replying to a greeting, as if the mere tilt of our heads or opening of our mouths would let demons loose upon the world.

Because it’s vital that we all shelter in place and avoid public gatherings, all means of in-person entertainment have shut down. Again, thanks to technology, there’s hardly a movie we can’t see whenever we want, or a cuisine we can’t order for delivery to our front door, but there’s the undeniable loss of “experiences.”

Without dining out in public or sharing theatre, music and film with fellow audience members, the enjoyment is seriously lessened.

For those of us accustomed to attending synagogue, church or mosque, there is nothing stranger than praying alone on the Sabbath. There is strength in numbers, even in spiritual matters, and no longer hearing our voice join with others in singing a hymn or prayer makes us feel small and frail.

So, what is life like for you now?

Among the many answers I might expect to hear are, “I’m going stir crazy,” “I’m feeling depressed,” or perhaps, “I’m finally cleaning out my attic.”

I think it might be enlightening to all of us who read the Beacon, and to the professionals in the aging world whose careers revolve around our needs, to hear from you.

We have a survey form on the opposite page. Honestly, we had originally scheduled this month for one of our occasional

“reader surveys,” asking questions about your views of the Beacon and the purchases you plan on making in coming months.

But in light of how life has so drastically changed in the last few weeks, we have completely changed our focus.

Now we want to know how you are coping, how you feel about your current situation, what services you are in need of, whether you are lonely or depressed. Yes, these are very personal questions, and no one can make you answer them.

It may, however, be helpful for you and others in your situation if we can compile your responses and share them in aggregate with local leaders.

If you are reading this in a printed copy of the Beacon, that means you have picked up a copy either when visiting a grocery store or pharmacy for essentials, or you subscribe.

You can simply fill out the survey, put it in a stamped envelope and leave it for your mail carrier to return to our office. (Someone goes in weekly to collect the mail.)

If you prefer, or if you are reading this online, please complete the survey online at bit.ly/tbns0420.

I will share results with you in a future column.

In the meantime, stay safe, be careful, be well. And be in touch.

Also, if you would like to receive the Beacon FREE via email each month or if you are not currently a subscriber and would like to subscribe to the print edition at half price ($6/year + tax), please call our office at (301) 949-9766 and leave your phone number for a call-back.

Attn: Art contest deadline extended Enter your best works in any of seven categories in the Celebration of the Arts — the Beacon’s online art competition for people over 50. Professional judges will select winners, who will receive cash prizes and exhibit opportunities.

Enter photos of your work by April 30. For more information, see page 7, or visit thebeaconnewspapers.com/COTA2020.

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day.

Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or e-mail to info@thebeaconnewspapers.com.

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

Dear Editor: I am moving, and I have a huge amount of stuff to get rid of before I do. I have lived in my house for 52 years, and my late husband and I both saved piles of mementos over the years.

The things I find in boxes surprise me to no end! It’s fun to look at the items and remember the good times they represent, but I will probably never look at them

again, even if I keep them.

So out they go, to Goodwill or Catholic Charities or recycling or the trash bin. I’ve started a program of working 15 minutes a day to attack one area; it seems to be working.

Moving is no fun — but the hardest part is moving out of my chair!

Mary Irving Fantucchio Via email See LETTERS TO EDITOR, page 34

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r Telemedicine r Social media (which?________________________) r Streaming video r Video Chat (Skype, Zoom, etc.) r Other (please describe: _____________________) 10 .What changes have you made in your routine or plans since the recommendation was made to stay at home as much as possible? (Check all that apply)

r Cancelled travel plans r Started working at home r Started having meals delivered r Started having groceries delivered r Started having prescriptions delivered r Started shopping online (if you hadn’t before) r Cut back driving r Cut back taking regular walks r Cut back exercising 11. Which of the following describe how your feelings in general have changed since the recommendation was made to stay at home as much as possible? (Check all that apply)

r No change r More lonely r Less lonely r More depressed or anxious r Less depressed or anxious r Other (please describe: ____________________) 12. In what ways have you taken advantage of the slower pace of life to do more of the things you enjoy, or take care of things you need to do? (Check all that apply)

r Read books and magazines r Watch TV and movies r Listen to/watch videos of music r Play a musical instrument r Draw, paint or sculpt r Write poems or stories r Write letters/emails r Clean out a room or attic r File and sort important papers r Prepare and file tax returns r Learn new things/take online classes r Call old friends r Other (please describe: __________________)

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Technology &

Innovations Make money at home selling used items

By Ivey Noojin Especially with more of us spending time at home, and often looking for ways to raise some needed cash, what better way to “declutter” than by selling off items we no longer need?

For the past three years, Melanie Heltke, a 61-year-old realtor from Connecticut, has been making money online selling purses from her “very large collection” of Louis Vuitton handbags, along with other used knickknacks, including shoes, jewelry and glassware.

Heltke said she has made tens of thousands of dollars this way using Mercari, an app for selling gently used items online.

Websites and apps that allow individuals to post photos of products they want to sell — like Mercari, Poshmark and Etsy — are becoming almost as popular as older, more well-known selling sites eBay and Craigslist.

With Mercari and Poshmark, you post photos of your items for sale online and ship them directly to the buyer using pack-

aging and a label provided by the company. You get your proceeds in cash. Both sites take a cut of the sales price.

Poshmark is just for clothes, and Etsy is a marketplace mostly for selling original art and handmade crafts.

A different model is used by ThredUP. For this site, you ship all the clothes you want to sell directly to them, postage free.

They post them on their website and, once the items sell, give you an online credit to purchase other shirts, pants and shoes from the site.

Not exactly a career Almost half of the American population has a side hustle (a way to make cash in one’s spare time), according to a June survey by Bankrate of 2,550 adults. Three in 10 do it because they need the money to cover living expenses.

While Heltke doesn’t use the cash she earns from the app to pay for bills, it still has made a difference in her life. “The

money that I make on Mercari is my fun money,” Heltke said. “I do whatever I want with it.”

In the first year, Heltke paid for four plane tickets to Florida, along with a vacation condo and rental car. Now, she uses the extra cash from her side hustle to replenish her handbag collection.

Heltke, however, does limit her side hustle gains for tax purposes. While a person can sell their own used items — whether at a garage sale or online — and not owe taxes, if you sell 200 items through one of these sites in a year and take in $20,000 or more, you’ll be considered to be “doing business.”

The online marketplaces will then send the IRS a Form 1099, so you will need to report your online income and pay taxes on it.

The first year she used Mercari, Heltke didn’t know that, and she received a 1099 on which she owed taxes. “I blew it; I made too much money,” she said.

For others, getting a 1099 and owing some taxes might not be a big deal, especially if they’ve turned this side hustle into a business. “You can actually turn it into a full-time job,” Heltke said of selling on Mercari.

How do these new sites compare to eBay, the website that inspired these copycats?

Before turning to Mercari, Heltke used to sell her items on eBay. She didn’t like its monthly fees, which start at $8 but can easily go higher; using Pay Pal to accept payment (which also carries fees); and eBay’s liberal 180-day return policy for buyers.

Once, a buyer returned Heltke’s handbag after almost six months, claiming she didn’t want it anymore. “They got to use that bag for 175 days, and they still got their money back,” Heltke said. With Mercari, a buyer must make a return within three days.

See SIDE HUSTLE, page 6

Some tech terms everyone should know

By Margaret Foster Technology changes very fast, and new terms are coined all the time to describe it.

Here is a glossary of common terms that may prove useful to you: App: An app is short for the word “application.” It’s a program for your smartphone.

There are hundreds of thousands of different apps for many purposes — hence the saying “There’s an app for that” — from helping you learn how to exercise, to tracking weight loss, to depositing checks to a bank account by taking photos of them with your phone’s camera. You can “download” apps on your smartphone or computer (see below), usually for free. If you have an iPhone, use the Apple App Store; if an android phone, use Google Play. Once an app is installed, you press its icon, register with your name and password, and bingo, you’re able to call an Uber, read a book on your Kindle, even get updates on your grandchild at daycare. (Caveat emptor: Apps can invade your privacy, so read all the fine print before you download one.)

Browser: A browser, or Web browser, is a way to access websites on the internet.

Examples of browsers are: Explorer, Fire-

fox, Safari and Chrome.

Cloud: The cloud is a storage facility people can use for all their data instead of storing large digital files (say, larger than 1MB, or one megabyte) on their computer.

It is also where most programs today will back-up data from your phone or computer, so you won’t lose that information if your phone or computer die or are stolen.

Download and upload: You can “download” a picture, app or document from the internet, so you can save it to your computer or phone. (An easy way to do this is to click the right-hand side of your mouse, or “right-click.”)

Or you may be asked to “upload” items to a website. In that case, there is usually an arrow on the website to show you how to upload the photo or file.

Dropbox: Sometimes e-mail programs don’t accept large files. Dropbox is a website where you can put photographs or other large digital files to share with friends or colleagues. Similar websites are: OneDrive, Google Drive and CloudMe. Jpeg: This is the file format used for digital photographs. If someone says, “Send me a jpeg,” email them a photo

whose file name ends with jpg.

PDF: Short for Portable Document Format, a PDF is a document (usually multiple pages or even a book) that you can download from a website or email to others in seconds.

Ringtone: In the days of rotary-dial phones, there was only one type of ring: a bell. Now, everyone can choose the sound their cell phone makes when someone calls. From Mozart to a bark to electronic chords, the sky’s the limit in terms of variety. To change your ringtone, go to “settings” on your phone. You can also purchase ringtones online or even use a clip from a favorite song.

Social media: You may have heard of Twitter and Facebook, but your grandchildren may also use Tik Tok, Snapchat, Pinterest and Instagram. These are all apps or websites people use to share photographs or opinions with friends and family. They are free to use, but keep in mind, these companies may be gathering your personal information.

Tweet: A tweet is a sentence someone posts on the app Twitter. The statement gets broadcasted immediately to other

Twitter users, who can read it on their smartphone or on the Twitter website.

They can “re-tweet” the message to their own followers, thereby spreading the word. Anyone can have a Twitter account, from celebrities to politicians to the person next door.

Software and hardware: Hardware refers to physical computers or smartphones, while software is the programs and apps that run on them. An example of software is Microsoft Word (for word processing) and Excel (for databases).

Streaming video: Ever wonder what happened to movie rental stores? Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO and other companies offer video on demand instead — without pesky late fees. For a monthly fee of around $15 (each), you can watch any program or film in their library. On Amazon Prime, you can “rent” any movie you want for $3 and take a few weeks to watch it.

Video chat: You can “visit” with friends and family through your computer, tablet or phone using Facebook, Google Hangouts or WhatsApp. You will see and hear them speaking, and vice versa. Free, using apps such as Zoom or Skype.

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❏ Alzheimer’s Depression Study (See ad on page 19) ❏ Hearing Research Study (See ad on page 19) ❏ Heart Attack/Stroke Study (See ad on page 19) ❏ Imaging Machine Study (See article on page 19) Address_______________________________________________________________ City______________________________________State______Zip________________ Phone (day)__________________________(evening)_________________________ E-mail_________________________________________________________________

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We all want to preserve our brain’s plasticity as we age. Of course, we can stay sharp with daily crossword puzzles, exercise and social interaction.

It may also help to play “brain games” on our computers or smartphones. Free apps such as Lumosity, Elevate or the Scrabble knockoff Words With Friends provide daily challenges to improve mem-

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Recently, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) introduced a new way for families affected by dementia to get free, immediate help. Now people can “chat” with licensed social workers on the foundation’s website.

Callers can ask about signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, how to develop a care team and support network, how caregivers can care for themselves, and how to connect with local support services, among other things. The helpline will be available in 90 different languages.

For more information or to access the help, visit AFA’s website, alzfdn.org, and click on the blue chat icon. Or call the national toll-free helpline directly at 1-866232-8484. Questions can also be texted to (646) 586-5283.

The AFA Helpline is open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.

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

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If you have trouble seeing, did you know you can download an app that lets others help you read labels, match clothing or turn up the thermostat?

Be My Eyes is a free app powered by 3 million volunteers who answer calls around the clock. A live, one-way video allows volunteers to “see” what the user can’t — and to help them almost instantly.

The average wait time is 15 seconds.

“I love answering calls because it humbles me that low-vision or blind people go through a lot of extra work just to get through daily life,” one volunteer wrote.

Be My Eyes is only available on iPhones or iPads.

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Technology & Innovations | Subscribe for half-price. See p. 45

Side hustle From page 4 Of course, there are no fees or return policies if you sell your goods on Craigslist

or Facebook Marketplace. But don’t forget that they require a face-to-face meeting, which some people consider unsafe.

“I’ve heard too many horror stories on that,” Heltke said. “I’d rather pay the 10%

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CORONAVIRUS UPDATES Maryland residents 65+ can get a daily update about the coron-

avirus and its impact on your community with Senior Call Check, a program of the Maryland Department of Aging. To register for the free service, call 1-866502-4325 or register online at aging.maryland.gov.

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

fee and have it shipped.”

How to use the apps To sell an item on eBay, Etsy, Poshmark and Mercari, set up an account, snap a few photos of items you want to sell, and upload them. Add a description and set your price. (Hint: search for similar listings to set an appropriate selling price.)

Communicate with potential buyers on the app or website. Some sites can show you who has viewed or liked your item, and let you extend an offer. Once you and your buyer agree on a price, you will receive a shipping label via email.

Here’s an easy guide to basic facts about these online marketplaces, so you can

Links & apps From page 5 ory, attention and problem solving.

All three games are accessible anywhere, at any time of day. You can play Words With Friends on your phone, tablet or computer (via Facebook). Lumosity’s free games are available on its website and as an app.

choose the one that makes the most sense for you: • Craigslist: craigslist.org; listing fee: depends on item, at least $3; no selling fee • eBay: ebay.com; listing fee: $0.35; selling fee: 10 to 12% • Etsy: etsy.com; listing fee: $0.20; transaction fee: 5% • Mercari: mercari.com; no listing fee; selling fee: 10% • Poshmark: poshmark.com; no listing fee; selling fee: 20% for items more than $15 • ThredUP: thredup.com; no listing fee, but you receive only shopping credit if clothes are bought within 90 days; selling fee: 20% to 95%, depending on how much the item sells for.

Elevate, which offers 15 free games (more with a paid subscription), is only available as an app for your smartphone — in fact, it won App of the Year in 2014.

Both Lumosity and Elevate track your progress and tailor daily games to your cognitive level. You can download the free apps on Google Play or the iTunes App store.

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Health Fitness &

CARDIOCARE BIAS Stents or surgery? Cardiologists may be biased when it comes to patients’ age HEAL THAT HEEL Plantar fasciitis doesn’t always require surgery. First, consider ultrasound UNCOMFORTABLY NUMB When does numbness in the hands or feet signify a serious problem?

POWERFUL SPICE The orange-yellow spice turmeric may reduce inflammation and cholesterol

Many searching for a COVID-19 vaccine

By Lauran Neergaard A team of scientists jostled for a view of the lab dish, staring impatiently for the first clue that an experimental vaccine against the new coronavirus just might work.

After weeks of round-the-clock research at the National Institutes of Health, it was time for a key test. If the vaccine revs up the immune system, the samples in that dish — blood drawn from immunized mice — would change color.

Minutes ticked by, and finally they started glowing blue.

“Especially at moments like this, everyone crowds around,” said Kizzmekia Corbett, an NIH research fellow leading the vaccine development. When her team sent word of the positive results, “it was absolutely amazing.”

Dozens of research groups around the world are racing to create a vaccine as COVID-19 cases continue to grow.

Importantly, they’re pursuing different types of vaccines — shots developed from new technologies that not only are faster to make than traditional inoculations but

might prove more potent.

Some researchers even aim for temporary vaccines, such as shots that might guard people’s health a month or two at a time while longer-lasting protection is developed.

“Until we test them in humans we have absolutely no idea what the immune response will be,” cautioned vaccine expert Dr. Judith O’Donnell, infectious disease chief at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.

“Having a lot of different vaccines — with a lot of different theories behind the science of generating immunity — all on a parallel track really ultimately gives us the best chance of getting something successful.”

A multi-step process First-step testing in small numbers of young, healthy volunteers is set to start soon. There’s no chance participants could get infected from the shots because they don’t contain the virus itself. The goal is purely to check that the vaccines show no worrisome side effects, setting the stage for larger tests of whether they protect.

First in line is the Kaiser Permanente

Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle. It is preparing to test 45 volunteers with different doses of shots co-developed

by NIH and Moderna Inc. Next, Inovio Pharmaceuticals aims to begin safety tests of its vaccine candidate next month in a few dozen volunteers at the University of Pennsylvania and a testing center in Kansas City, Missouri, followed by a similar study in China and South Korea.

Even if initial safety tests go well, “you’re talking about a year to a year and a half” before any vaccine could be ready for widespread use, stressed Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

That still would be a record-setting pace. But manufacturers know the wait — required because it takes additional studies of thousands of people to tell if a vaccine truly protects and does no harm — is hard for a frightened public.

“I can really genuinely understand everybody’s frustration and maybe even confusion,” said Kate Broderick, Inovio’s re-

search and development chief. “You can do everything as fast as possible, but you can’t circumvent some of these vital processes.”

In a lab at NIH The new coronavirus is studded with a protein aptly named “spike” that lets the virus burrow into human cells. Block that protein, and people won’t get infected.

That makes “spike” the target of most vaccine research.

Not so long ago, scientists would have had to grow the virus itself to create a vaccine. The NIH is using a new method that skips that step.

Researchers instead copy the section of the virus’ genetic code that contains the instructions for cells to create the spike protein, thus letting the body become a minifactory.

Inject a vaccine containing that code, called messenger RNA or mRNA, and people’s cells produce some harmless spike protein. Their immune system spots the forSee VIRUS VACCINE, page 11

How Medicare is covering coronavirus

By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, Is Medicare covering testing for the coronavirus? My husband and I are ver y ner vous about this virus and would like to find out if or when we should get tested, and how Medicare manages it.

— Nervous Nelly Dear Nelly, Yes! Medicare is indeed covering the cost of testing for the coronavirus, or COVID-19. But be aware that getting a test isn’t as simple as going to your local pharmacy or doctor’s office and asking for one.

Here’s a breakdown of what Medicare is covering, along with how to get tested if you think you may have symptoms.

Medicare (Part B) will cover the lab test to see if you have coronavirus, but only when your doctor or other healthcare provider orders it. You will pay no out-ofpocket costs for these tests.

In addition, Medicare also covers all medically necessary hospitalizations. This includes if you’re diagnosed with COVID-

19 and might otherwise have been discharged from the hospital after an inpatient stay, but instead you need to stay in the hospital under quarantine.

And while there’s currently no vaccine yet to protect against COVID-19, when one becomes available, hopefully next year, it too will be covered by all Medicare prescription drug plans (Part D).

If you happen to get your Medicare benefits through a private Medicare Advantage plan, you will have access to these same benefits.

When to call your doctor Adults age 60 and above (especially those in their 70s and 80s), and people with chronic medical conditions like diabetes, heart, lung or kidney disease are at a higher risk of serious illness if they contract the coronavirus. So, everyone in these categories needs to be especially vigilant.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Severe cases can lead to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and death.

If you develop any symptoms that are concerning, you should contact your primary care provider by phone for guidance.

If your doctor believes you need testing, he or she will instruct you on what to do.

Unfortunately, there have been reports of test shortages across the country so, depending on where you live, you may have to wait a few days.

Prevention tips To help you steer clear of COVID-19 the CDC recommends that you avoid close contact with anyone who is sick.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being out in public, blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water isn’t available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.

To the extent possible, try to avoid touching your face, nose and eyes. And avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places, like elevator buttons, door handles, handrails and handshaking with people. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or

finger if you must touch something.

Also, clean and disinfect your home to remove germs: Practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks and cell phones.

You should also avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces. Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID19 may increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick.

The CDC also recommends that seniors and high-risk individuals stock up on supplies, such as extra medications and groceries. And, if there is an outbreak in your community, remain at home as much as possible. They also discourage non-essential travel.

For more information on COVID-19, visit Coronavirus.gov.

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

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Keep calm From page 1 Most likely, she assures her patients, they will fade in a short time.

Stay in touch with others Next, don’t eschew all social contact, even with some of the “shelter in place” orders in areas like California, New York, and Illinois and Maryland. “[This pandemic] doesn’t mean that socially we have to disconnect from our loved ones, from our family. Technology right now has advanced so greatly that we can keep connecting,” said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove of the World Health Organization in a press conference in March.

Now is the time to become familiar with video chat programs you can use on your smartphone, tablet or computer. Most of them — including Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger and WeChat — are free. Many churches are live-streaming services now, too.

Or simply pick up the phone and talk with a friend. If you want to receive a phone call from a neighbor, reach out to your local “village” or an area volunteer group whose goal is to help older adults who are living at home. Many such organizations are ramping up their phone call check-in programs.

Go on a news diet Dennis May, 73, a retiree in Takoma Park, Maryland, said he’s had to scale back his normally voracious intake of the news this spring.

“I skim the Washington Post for 10 or 15 minutes, and then I go do something else,” he said. He’s focusing instead on a new gardening project.

While information is important, watching the news all day may do more harm than good. If keeping up with the news

brings you too much worry, it may be a good idea for you to go on a “news fast,” or restrict your news-gathering time.

At the very least, try to notice what it feels like to crave the latest news, suggested therapist Mark Sullivan, who has a private practice in Northwest D.C. “Notice when you want to turn on the TV,” said Sullivan, a licensed social worker who has worked at the Washington Cancer Institute and at Sibley Memorial Hospital.

“That’s a totally natural, totally normal impulse. But pause right there and ask, ‘What need am I seeking to fill? Do I want information, or do I want connection?’

“If you leap at every impulse and you don’t know what need you’re trying to fill, chances are you’ll do it over and over again without ever feeling a sense of safety or closure or satisfaction,” Sullivan said. “It’s like a behavioral addiction.”

crowded street. Follow along with a free exercise video on YouTube.

“We’re encouraging fitness programs you can do at home through your online library system,” said Jennie Smith-Peers, spokeswoman at Iona Senior Services, based in Washington, D.C. “That hopefully will keep your mood up.”

If you don’t have an internet connection, pull out your favorite albums (or old Jane Fonda workout tapes) and dance in your living room.

Even gentle stretching can release endorphins and boost your mood. Tai Chi is a perfect exercise for this purpose.

How to get help If you are experiencing extreme anxiety or depression, reach out to a mental health professional.

Iona Senior Services has a help line that

older adults can call anytime. Call (202) 8958448 or email info@iona.org, and a staff member will return the call within 24 hours.

Many psychologists, including Sullivan, Kaplan and Kecmanovic, now offer telemedicine, or video appointments. Established patients can talk with their clinicians via Skype, Zoom or FaceTime.

So far, Kecmanovic said, “The ones who are willing to try [teletherapy] tend to like it.”

Medicare recently announced that it will be temporarily expanding coverage for telehealth services due to the pandemic.

Medicare Advantage plans will also be expanding their telehealth with doctors, nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists and licensed clinical social workers for the duration of the virus outbreak. For more information on the new coverage, see Medicare.gov/medicare-coronavirus.

Try for mindfulness When you feel anxious thinking about the future, try to stay in the present moment, known as practicing “mindfulness.” Pause for self-reflection. Notice what’s around you.

After all, at this instant, you are safe.

“The only thing we are certain of is what’s happening right now,” Kecmanovic said. “What we can control is our behavior.

Really mindfully be in the moment, and try to do the best you can while making a painting or writing or playing guitar or discovering some of those old recipes.

“What joy, this mindful act of cooking,” she said. “You have to participate with all your senses. When you participate in any activity with all your senses, that is very grounding.”

Exercise

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Above all, most psychologists suggest, remember the therapeutic physical and mental benefits of exercise. If your anxiety is rising, take a bike ride or walk on an un-

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Virus vaccine

ning of all of this coming full circle.”

From page 8

Other approaches

eign protein and makes antibodies to attack it. The body would then be primed to react quickly if the real virus ever comes along.

Corbett’s team had a head start. Because they’d spent years trying to develop a vaccine against MERS, a cousin of the new virus, they knew how to make spike proteins stable enough for immunization, and sent that key ingredient to Moderna to brew up doses.

How to tell it’s a good candidate to test in people?

Corbett’s team grew spike protein in the lab — lots of it — and stored it frozen in vials.

Then with the first research doses of vaccine Moderna dubbed “mRNA-1273,” the NIH researchers immunized dozens of mice.

Days later, they started collecting blood samples to check if the mice were producing antibodies against that all-important spike protein. One early test: Mix the mouse samples with thawed spike protein and various color-eliciting trackers. If antibodies are present, they bind to the protein and glow.

Corbett says the work couldn’t have moved so quickly had it not been for years of behind-the-scenes lab testing of a possible MERS vaccine that works the same way.

“I think about it a lot, how many of the little experimental questions we did not have to belabor” this time around, she said. When she saw the first promising mouse tests, “I felt like there was a begin-

Inovio’s approach is similar — again using genetic code, in this case packaged inside a piece of synthetic DNA that acts as the vaccine. One advantage Broderick cites for a DNA approach is that, unlike many types of vaccines, it may not need refrigeration.

A MERS vaccine that Inovio designed the same way passed initial safety studies in people, paving the way for testing the new COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

Inovio is doing similar animal testing to look for presumably protective antibodies.

While it gets ready for human safety tests, Inovio also is prepping for another piece of evidence — what’s called a challenge study. Vaccinated animals will be put in a special high-containment lab and exposed to the new coronavirus to see if they get infected or not.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is exploring a different approach: simply injecting people with coronavirus-fighting antibodies instead of teaching the body to make its own.

This method could provide temporary protection against infection, or work as a treatment for someone already infected.

Regeneron vaccinated mice genetically engineered to make human antibodies.

From small blood samples, researchers culled hundreds of different antibodies, and now they’re teasing out which seem most potent against that notorious spike

protein, said Christos Kyratsous, Regeneron’s chief of infectious disease research.

Regeneron developed this “monoclonal antibody” approach as a life-saving treatment for Ebola. Last year, it performed a successful safety test of experimental antibodies designed to fight MERS. The difference between using antibodies as a treatment or a vaccine? Low-dose shots in the arm every few months might give enough antibodies to temporarily ward off infection, while treatment likely would require far higher doses delivered intravenously, Kyratsous said.

Regeneron is pursuing both, and hopes to begin first-step safety testing in early summer.

“The antibodies are the same,” he said.

“We would like to have an antibody that is as flexible in administration as possible.”

Whichever of these approaches, or oth-

ers in the pipeline, pan out, NIH’s Corbett said scientists one day hope to have vaccines on the shelf that could be used against entire families of viruses.

One frustration when scientists have to start from scratch is that outbreaks too often are waning by the time vaccine candidates are ready for widespread testing.

“This is the fastest we have gone,” Fauci said of the NIH’s vaccine candidate, although he warned it might not be fast enough.

Still, he called it “quite conceivable” that COVID-19 “will go beyond just a season, and come back and recycle next year. In that case, we hope to have a vaccine.”

—AP. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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Reducing risk of anesthesia side effects

By Alberto Ardon, M.D. Dear Mayo Clinic: I’m scheduled to have surgery next month. I have never had general anesthesia before, and

I’m nervous about it. I’ve heard of people getting sick and having other problems as a result of anesthesia.

Is there anything that can be done

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to make sure that doesn’t happen to me?

A: To help ensure a smooth surgical experience, ask to meet with your anesthesiologist before your procedure. She or he can review your medical history and discuss your current health status and concerns.

By having this conversation, and following the guidelines you’re given about eating, drinking and taking medications before your procedure, you can significantly reduce your risk of complications and side effects due to anesthesia.

It’s natural to be nervous. But as you consider your upcoming surgery, keep in mind that anesthesia is safe overall. The risk of serious complications happening as a result of anesthesia is much less than 1%, and the overall mortality risk from an anesthetic is less than 1 in 100,000.

The risk of less serious side effects, such as nausea, vomiting or otherwise feeling ill, also is low, with only about 1% to 5% of people experiencing those issues when preventive measures are taken before surgery.

Many anesthesiologists want to meet with their patients in person before a procedure. That’s especially true for patients undergoing a procedure that presents higher risks for complications. Part of the purpose of that discussion is to make sure that there are no medical issues that will interfere with the patient’s ability to safely receive anesthesia.

Tell your anesthesiologist about any existing medical conditions you have now or have had in the past, as well as any medications or supplements that you take.

Using your medical history as a guide, the anesthesiologist can tailor the anesthetic you receive to your circumstances.

While the delivery of anesthesia in today’s medical practice follows a standard approach, it’s typically individualized for each patient.

The more information and details you can provide about your health history and current health status, the better.

Although it doesn’t apply to your situation because you haven’t had anesthesia before, it’s important for patients to tell their anesthesiologist if they have had unpleasant side effects or reactions to anesthesia in the past. If so, steps often can be taken to minimize or prevent any unpleasant side effects from recurring.

During the conversation with your anesthesiologist, you also should review the restrictions for eating, drinking and taking medication before your procedure. The general rule is to avoid consuming any solid food eight hours prior to the scheduled procedure, according to guidelines from the American Society of Anesthesiologists. But the specifics for your surgery could vary.

The amount of liquid you may have and whether or not you should take your usual medications the night before or the morning of your surgery will be determined in conjunction with your anesthesiologist and surgeon. In some cases, preparing to receive anesthesia may involve taking certain medications prior to your procedure.

By closely following all the directions that you receive from your care team about preparing for surgery, you’ll reduce your risk of experiencing complications and side effects as a result of anesthesia.

If you have questions or concerns, you should talk to your anesthesiologist. The anesthesia care team can ease your nervSee ANESTHESIA, page 13

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How to keep mind sharp, memory strong

By Andrew E. Budson, M.D. We all want to keep our minds sharp and our memories strong as we get older. So, what can we do right now to prevent cognitive decline in later years?

Engaging in regular aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week, probably has the biggest effect on people of many ages.

Convincing evidence also suggests that a Mediterranean-style diet of fish, olive oil, avocados, fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans and whole grains is beneficial.

But what about social and mental activities — do they help at all?

regarding their engagement in five common mentally stimulating pursuits — social activities, reading books, playing games, making crafts and using a computer — during midlife (between ages 50 and 65) and late life (ages 70 and above).

The researchers also performed face-toface evaluations every 15 months. These evaluations included a neurologic interview and exam, detailed history of their abilities at home and in the community, and neuropsychological testing for memory, language, visuospatial skills, attention and executive function.

pursued in both midlife and late life. However, crafts were beneficial only in late life.

—Reading books showed no benefit — a dismaying finding to me as both an author and an avid reader.

The bottom line If we want to keep our minds sharp and our memories strong, the evidence suggests that there is much we can do today.

We can engage in regular aerobic exercise. We can eat a Mediterranean-style diet.

We can work to learn new things and keep a positive mental attitude.

And lastly, with a nod to this new research, we can pursue social activities, play games and use computers from midlife onward, and engage in crafts in late life.

Books, on the other hand, should be read whenever we are seeking knowledge, wisdom, enlightenment or enjoyment. © 2020 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed

by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Interesting findings Be positive, engage and learn Previous research convincingly demonstrates that older people who engage in social activities, have a positive mental attitude, and work to learn new things maintain their cognitive abilities longer than those who are socially isolated, have a negative attitude, and do not try to learn new things.

However, several questions remain: When is the ideal time to do these activities: in middle age or later in life? Does it help to do multiple activities, or is a single activity as good as several?

And what about other common mental activities, such as reading books and playing games — do they help, too?

A study from researchers at the Mayo Clinic followed 2,000 cognitively normal men and women age 70 or older for about five years. Participants filled out surveys

Anesthesia From page 12 ousness and help you feel more comfortable. Their goal is to make the surgical experience as pleasant and safe as possible

When the study ended, the researchers looked at whether participants remained cognitively normal or developed mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

MCI is diagnosed when a concern about a person’s thinking and memory is confirmed by testing that shows impairment on one or more tests of thinking and memory. However, day-to-day functioning is essentially normal and the person does not have dementia.

The study yielded several important findings: —Engaging in two to five mentally stimulating activities in late life correlated with a lower risk for developing MCI. A trend suggests a greater number of activities is linked to a greater reduction in risk.

—Three activities — computer use, social activities and games — had benefits when for each patient.

Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to MayoClinicQ&A@ mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org.

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Age may bias heart care, study finds

By Marilynn Marchione People are more likely to buy things when prices end in 99 cents rather than rounded up to the next dollar, or cars with mileage under 1,000 instead of past that mark.

Now, researchers say something similar

might be happening with age perception and heart surgery.

A U.S. study out in January found that heart attack patients who turned 80 within the previous two weeks were less likely to get bypass surgery than those who were two

weeks shy of that birthday, even though the age difference is less than a month.

Guidelines do not limit the operation after a certain age, but doctors may be mentally classifying people as being “in their 80s” and suddenly much riskier than those “in their 70s,” said the study leader, Dr. Anupam Jena of Harvard Medical School.

The reason may be “left-digit bias,” or the tendency to focus on the first number.

“When you go to a store and the item is $4.99, you’re more likely to buy it than if it’s $5,” but there’s no similar effect when prices are $4.50 versus $4.51, Jena said.

“That penny matters more when you’re crossing a threshold” to a new dollar amount, he said.

Studying the bias The same behavior poses a serious con-

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BALTIMORE COUNTY Cove Point Apartments I: 410-288-2344 Cove Point Apartments II: 410-288-1660 Evergreen Senior Apartments: 410-780-4888 The Greens at English Consul: 410-789-3000 The Greens at Liberty Road: 410-655-1100 The Greens at Logan Field: 410-288-2000 The Greens at Rolling Road: 410-744-9988 Park View at Catonsville: 410-719-9464 Park View at Dundalk: 410-288-5483 • 55 & Better Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665 Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375 Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673

cern in healthcare.

Although a less invasive treatment, an artery-opening stent procedure is often the treatment for a heart attack. Bypass surgery is preferred when many arteries are affected or in some other situations.

To see if left-digit bias affects who is offered that option, researchers studied Medicare records from 2006 through 2012 on 70,000 heart attack patients, including about 10,000 within two weeks of their 80th birthday. They found that 5.3% of the just-turned-80 group had bypass surgery versus 7% of those slightly younger.

They also looked at other birthdays, such as 77 versus 79 and 81 versus 83 and saw no difference in rates, suggesting that crossing 80 was a key mark.

Death rates during the first two months after the heart attack were higher among those over 80, suggesting they might have been harmed by not being offered surgery, Jena said.

The New England Journal of Medicine published the study.

It can’t prove that mental bias is affecting surgery rates, but an independent expert, Dr. John Spertus, director of health outcomes research at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, Missouri, said it makes a strong case.

“I believe that these types of cognitive biases are rampant in medical decisionmaking, and this is a very clear demonstration of the phenomenon,” he said.

Spertus has developed risk assessment tools that rely on more objective factors to guide care.

—AP

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SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Patients with COVID-19 have experienced mild to severe respiratory illness.

Symptoms can include: COUGH If you have been in an area affected by COVID-19 or in close contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19 in the past two weeks and develop symptoms, call your doctor before going to a healthcare facility.

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When plantar fasciitis doesn’t improve Dear Mayo Clinic: I am in my 60s and active. Over the years, I have had plantar fasciitis off and on, but the most recent episode has lasted longer than usual, and physical therapy hasn’t helped much.

What are my options for treatment at this point?

A: Most people with plantar fasciitis improve with basic care steps or physical therapy. However, healing can be slow and require perseverance.

Newer, nonsurgical therapy options are helping with hard-to-treat cases.

The plantar fascia is a fibrous band of tissue on the bottom of the foot. It connects the heel to the toes and supports the arch of your foot, acting as a shock absorber when you put pressure on your foot.

Plantar fasciitis discomfort occurs at the bottom of your foot, typically near the heel bone. It can range from a dull sensation to

a piercing pain. Often, it comes on gradually and affects only one foot, though it can start suddenly and affect both feet.

Plantar fasciitis occurs when stress and strain cause microscopic tears in the fascia. There may be a temporary inflammatory reaction to the injury, but the true problem is degeneration of the fascia — not the inflammation.

Risk factors The risk of plantar fasciitis is increased by factors that put extra strain on the feet, such as obesity; high-impact activities, such as running or dance aerobics; and certain faulty foot mechanics, such as flat feet, high arches or an abnormal walking pattern.

Having a tight Achilles tendon or ankle muscles is also a risk factor. Risk rises if you suddenly increase your activity level, such as walking or standing a lot while on vacation.

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Going barefoot or wearing shoes with minimal support, particularly on hard surfaces, or routinely wearing high-heeled shoes also increases risk of injury.

To treat plantar fasciitis, the extra stress on the plantar fascia must be relieved so that the tears can heal.

For most people, these small tears can be treated successfully with physical therapy and special equipment that gives the foot extra support. A cortisone injection also may be considered.

But for some, this isn’t enough, and finding a solution to the chronic pain and loss of function due to plantar fasciitis can be frustrating.

Open surgery to remove the damaged tissue is an option, but recovery often is prolonged, and recurring pain is common.

Minimally invasive approaches If plantar fasciitis pain is disrupting your life and a thorough plan of care isn’t leading to improvement after several months, newer, minimally invasive interventions can be effective.

Ultrasonic fasciotomy and debridement, a technology developed in part by Mayo Clinic doctors, uses ultrasound imaging to identify degenerated tissues and guide the entire procedure.

Through a tiny incision, a needlelike surgical probe is inserted into the degenerated tissues. When activated, the probe tip vibrates rapidly, using ultrasonic energy to break up the damaged tissues, which

then are suctioned away. The procedure usually takes only a few minutes, and the incision is closed with surgical tape.

Complications are uncommon. After about 10 days of rest or restricted weightbearing, it’s usually possible to return to your regular activities. However, physical therapy still may be needed, and it usually takes longer to get back to more strenuous activities.

Another treatment is called needle fasciotomy with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection. Using ultrasound imaging and a thin probe, holes are poked in damaged and degenerated plantar fascia tissue. This is often followed by an injection of plateletrich plasma into the fascia.

Platelet-rich plasma is obtained from your own blood. Anti-inflammatory factors in platelet-rich plasma may help stimulate pain relief and healing in the area.

Talk with your healthcare provider to see if either of these treatments would be a good option for you.

— Arthur De Luigi, D.O., M.H.A., Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. Email a question to MayoClinicQ&A@ mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org. © 2020 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Should you worry about numb hands?

By Robert H. Shmerling, M.D. Q: I often wake up with numbness in my hand. After five minutes, it’s back to normal. Why does this happen? When should I worry that something serious is causing it?

A: Since it’s temporary, brief and goes back to normal, it’s probably due to pressure on a nerve near the wrist and unlikely to be due to anything serious.

Numbness and tingling are most commonly due to abnormal nerve function, or, as I like to tell patients, “The nerves are not happy.”

And when this is intermittent, temporary and related to holding one position for a long time, it’s rarely anything to worry about.

The cause in these cases is simply pressure on one or more nerves traveling into the hands or feet. When you remove the pressure (by changing position, for example), the problem goes away.

However, there are more than 100 other causes of nerve disease (or neuropathy) that cause similar, though more prolonged and persistent, symptoms.

An estimated 20 million people have a form of peripheral neuropathy that might make hands or feet feel numb or tingly.

or carpal tunnel syndrome.

Additional causes of neuropathy are infection, nerve trauma and inflammatory or autoimmune conditions that affect nerves.

It’s worth noting that nearly a third of cases have no clear cause, a problem known as idiopathic neuropathy.

The causes of peripheral neuropathy are many and range from the harmless and annoying to the intolerable and dangerous.

When in doubt, see your doctor. But try not to worry when your hands or feet fall asleep due to holding your arms or legs too long in one position, as long as this resolves within minutes and doesn’t happen often.

For additional consumer health information, visit health.harvard.edu. © 2020 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed

by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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When to see a doctor If your hands or feet fall asleep occasionally and normal sensation quickly returns, that’s fine. No need to contact your doctor.

But call your doctor promptly if you have persistent numbness, tingling or other unusual sensations in your hands or feet. This is especially important if these sensations cause trouble with walking or holding onto things.

Your doctor should investigate further and will likely consider possible causes of peripheral neuropathy, including the following: —Diabetes. This is the most common identifiable cause of peripheral neuropathy, accounting for nearly a third of cases.

—Diseases of the liver, kidney and thyroid —Nutritional deficits, such as vitamin B12 or other vitamin deficiencies —Alcohol or exposure to other toxins, such as mercury —Certain medications, including some chemotherapy drugs or antibiotics —Vascular disease, which occurs when the blood supply to a peripheral nerve is impaired, as with atherosclerosis —Compression. Good examples include pressure on a nerve (as described earlier)

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Turmeric offers variety of health benefits

By Julie Stewart What do mustard and curry powder have in common?

Their yellow hue comes courtesy of turmeric. This golden spice comes from the Curcuma longa or Curcuma domestica plant, which is native to South Asia.

The bold-tasting spice comes from the rootlike section that grows under the soil, called a rhizome. The rhizomes are boiled and dried to make turmeric powder, which is sold on its own and also incorporated into many curry powder blends. You can find the fresh version at some specialty grocery stores.

An anti-inflammatory Turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. One teaspoon of turmeric powder contains just nine calories, but the golden spice is truly a star because of its anti-inflammatory compounds, including one called curcumin. Turmeric powder is about 3% curcumin, suggests one study published in Nutrition and Cancer. “Turmeric and curcumin, the most active constituent of the spice, have been the subject of thousands of studies,� said Maribeth Evezich, a dietitian based in New York City. “This research shows that curcumin has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory

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properties as well as antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and immune-modulating activities.�

You could benefit from eating up to a teaspoon a day.

Reduces cholesterol, too Curcumin may have artery-clearing effects. In one study from Taiwan, people who consumed curcumin extracts daily significantly reduced their levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) in just 12 weeks.

Other research published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science links curry with eye health, saying people who frequently consumed curry were less likely to have high myopia, an eye condition that can cause vision loss.

Got gut problems? Turmeric might help here, too. In a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, curcumin reduced inflammation in the guts of people with inflammatory bowel disease.

What’s more, turmeric can act as a natural pain reliever. One study from Thailand found that curcumin extract worked about as well as ibuprofen to relieve pain among people with osteoarthritis.

Ways to use turmeric The first and easiest way to use turmeric is to cook with it: Sprinkle turmeric pow-

der on vegetables like cauliflower before roasting, recommended Evezich.

Simmer the spice into soup, or add it to the water you use to cook rice or lentils.

Add turmeric to smoothies or oatmeal or sautĂŠ with scrambled eggs or tofu.

If you prefer (and can find) the fresh root, use 1 tablespoon grated fresh turmeric as a substitute for 1 teaspoon dried, Evezich said.

To maximize the benefits of turmeric, combine it with fat, such as coconut oil, she added. This helps distribute the spice evenly into your dish.

Add black pepper for more flavor and power. The seasoning can boost your body’s absorption of curcumin.

Try this turmeric tea recipe:

Turmeric Tea Ÿ teaspoon ground turmeric ½ teaspoon honey Hot water Lemon 1. Mix turmeric and honey in a mug to make a paste.

2. Fill the mug with hot (not boiling) water. Mix well and add a squeeze or slice of lemon.

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Health Studies

19

INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Help test a new imaging machine at NIH

By Margaret Foster MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, is a safe, widely used scanning tool that allows doctors to see what lies beneath our surface. MRI uses a magnetic field to generate images.

During an MRI, patients are eased into a large, tube-like machine, given earplugs and told to lie still. The scanner is loud, cramped and expensive — but very accurate. It does not emit radiation like X-rays, PET and CT scans do.

However, people with metal hips, rods or other implants can’t get MRIs. And the magnetic-based machine can’t be used during surgery, obviously, since surgical tools are metal.

Another flaw: MRI can’t get a clear image of the lungs, so pulmonary patients must have CT scans.

But there may be a solution on the horizon: low-field MRI machines with high-performance MRI technology, a relatively new invention.

Volunteers needed Researchers at the National Heart,

Lung and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), have developed an MRI system that uses a lower magnetic field.

They’re now testing the new machine on up to 1,600 people to see if it’s as effective as — or, at least when it comes to detecting the lungs, better than — a conventional MRI scanner.

“This could have a big effect on healthcare by making [MRIs] less expensive,” said Dr. Adrienne Campbell, the study’s principal investigator.

“It could allow MRIs to be more accessible for patients with implants, and it could help us…diagnose lung disease.”

For the clinical trial currently underway, NIH is seeking healthy volunteers over age 18 to visit the Bethesda campus just once or twice. Adults with pacemakers or defibrillators are also invited to participate.

What the test entails As with any MRI, you’ll be occasionally asked to hold your breath for up to 20 seconds, and you will be inside the scanner

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Several grocery stores have designated shopping hours for older adults and vulnerable populations. Walmart has a senior hour at 6 a.m. every Tuesday. Target has designated the first hour, at 7 or 8 a.m. depending on the store, for older adults on Wednesdays. Safeway has announced senior shopping time every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 to 9 a.m. Whole Foods has senior time one hour before opening. For updated information, visit your local grocery store’s website.

for up to two hours.

Some participants can agree to have a dye called gadolinium, which enhances the images, injected into their arm. They can also agree to take a drug called a vasodilator to help detect areas of the heart with poor blood supply.

It will likely be years before these lower magnetic field MRI systems are rolled out to the public. But the system could make MRIs more affordable and could better help pulmonary patients.

“MRI offers us the ability to measure

lung function, which CT doesn’t allow us to do,” Dr. Campbell said. “MRI could have some advantages over CT to measure lung function.”

In addition, surgeons could use the MRI systems with low magnetic fields to help guide them during a procedure. “It has the ability to image patients during intervention with metal devices,” Campbell said.

Compensation is available. For more information, call 1-800-411-1222, (301) 4514383, or email PRPL@cc.nih.gov.

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Enjoy warm tastes and colors of spring

By Wolfgang Puck I’d like to share a recipe that highlights fresh ingredients: roasted chicken breasts stuffed with yellow and red bell peppers served atop a sweet scallion sauce.

While I especially like the ripened, sweeter yellow, red and orange varieties of bell pepper, any combination of which will taste delicious and look beautiful in this recipe, you could also use green bell peppers if you like.

Precooked — the peppers by roasting under the broiler, the scallion greens by briefly boiling — to make the textures tender and their flavors sweeter and milder, these vegetables are then rolled up inside pieces of flattened chicken breast, which are then browned on the stovetop and quickly finish cooking in the oven.

Sliced before serving on top of a simply made sauce of sautéed scallions flavored with rice vinegar and sherry, enriched with a little butter and cream, the vegetables

form a brightly colored pattern on each plate as cheerful as a summertime bouquet.

Roasted Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Yellow and Red Bell Peppers Serves 4 Ingredients: 4 large boneless chicken breast halves, cut crosswise in half 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus extra as needed Kosher salt Freshly ground white pepper 1 yellow bell pepper 1 red bell pepper 2 bunches scallions 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar 4 tablespoons dry sherry ½ cup heavy cream 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature Directions: Preheat the broiler. Coat the chicken

breast pieces with a little oil. Place 2 pieces, spaced apart, in a large, heavy-duty plastic bag. With a meat mallet or the bottom of a heavy small saucepan, gently flatten the pieces to a thickness of about ¼ inch. Repeat with the remaining pieces.

Lightly season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper.

Place the yellow and red bell peppers under the broiler and cook, turning, until their skins are completely charred. Set aside until cool enough to handle. Peel off the charred skins. Cut each pepper into 8 pieces and remove the stems, seeds and veins. Set aside.

Bring a saucepan of water to a boil and fill a bowl with ice cubes and water. Cut off the green parts of 8 scallions. Immerse the 8 scallion greens in the boiling water for about 15 seconds, then remove them with tongs or a wire skimmer, and transfer to the ice water. Drain and set aside.

Place 1 scallion green and a piece each of the yellow and red bell peppers lengthwise on top of each flattened chicken piece.

Starting at a narrow end, roll up to enclose the vegetables and securely tie each piece closed with 2 lengths of kitchen string.

Preheat the oven to 400° F. Heat a large, heavy ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the oil. When the oil is hot enough to swirl easily, carefully turn the skillet to

coat its bottom. Add the chicken breasts and cook, turning occasionally, until evenly browned on all sides, 5 to 7 minutes.

Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and cook the chicken for 15 minutes longer. Remove from the oven, use tongs to transfer the chicken to a plate, and cover with foil to keep warm.

Cut the remaining scallions in half lengthwise, then crosswise into 1-inch (2.5-cm) pieces.

Heat a large sauté pan over mediumhigh heat. Add the remaining oil. When it is hot enough to swirl easily, add the scallions and sauté, stirring continuously, for 1 minute. Add the vinegar and sherry, and cook until reduced in volume by about two-thirds, 1 to 2 minutes.

Add the cream and simmer, stirring, until it has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to very low and, a little at a time, add the butter, whisking continuously. Season with salt and pepper.

To serve, spoon the sauce into the centers of four heated serving plates or a heated platter. Snip off the strings from the chicken breasts, cut each piece crosswise into 4 to 6 slices, and arrange them attractively on top of the sauce. © 2020 Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Take a deep breath with virtual meditation classes through Zoom or Facebook Live. Classes are available multiple times a day from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. with the Insight Meditation Community of Washington. To register for a free class, visit http://bit.ly/MeditationOnline. For more information, call (202) 986-2922.

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Long-time caregivers’ caregiver honored

By Ivey Noojin Sister Kathy Weber of the Holy Cross Resource Center doesn’t want any praise for the work she’s done, but several organizations, including Seabury Resources for Aging, think she deserves plenty.

At an awards ceremony scheduled for September 16, Seabury, which provides affordable services and housing options for seniors in the D.C. area, will honor Weber with a Leadership in Aging award for her service at the Holy Cross Resource Center.

“There are so many people that really do something important,” Weber said. “I don’t really do much at all.”

But that’s not quite true. Since the age of 18, Weber has dedicated herself to helping others.

That’s when she joined the Sisters of the Holy Cross, a Roman Catholic congregation of women who respond to the needs of others, much to her mother’s chagrin.

At the Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Weber had promised her mother she’d go to college for two years, but at the end of her first year at Dunbarton College, an institution sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, she felt she couldn’t wait any longer.

Finding her path Growing up in a “tiny little town” near Buffalo, New York, Weber was excited to travel and have assignments in New York City, Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia. By 1986, Weber had settled in Montgomery County.

Weber noticed people who were caring for others and asked, “What’s happening with the [patients’] families?” When she discovered a lack of support for them, she worked to establish the Holy Cross Resource Center in Silver Spring in 1992. Since then, she has run their program for caregivers.

Weber leads seven caregiver support groups each week, involving more than 200 people over the course of a month.

One group has always met by phone, but in light of the coronavirus, all will be conducted that way for the time being.

Even though these sessions are scheduled to last an hour and a half, they often last for two hours or more.

“That’s really what I think I’m here for: to bring a group together that can listen to each other,” Weber said. “They can talk to people who have the same needs as they do, who understand what they’re saying.”

While most of the attendees are from Montgomery County, the caregiver sup-

port group is open to all.

Weber has supported people from Prince George’s County, Washington, D.C., northern Virginia and even Tahiti. She tries to be available for anyone at any time, made easier by the fact that she lives only a block away from the Center.

In addition, Weber maintains and expands the caregiver resource library, crafts a newsletter several times a year, and provides one-on-one advice both inperson and via telephone.

Weber acknowledges that convincing caregivers to take care of themselves is especially difficult, but she strives to do her best.

Her motto is “Let whatever you do today be enough.”

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essary care. Dialysis appointments will continue, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Visit kidney.org for more information about what you and your facility should be doing for your safety.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS

The New Date for 2020 Presidential Primary Election is June 2. Are you registered?

REGISTER TO VOTE! NEW DEADLINE TUESDAY, MAY 12 Text VOTE to 77788 or Call 240-777-8500

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VOTE Mar yland ter Online Voion: Registrat . . https:// .

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In the Primary Election, only registered voters DIÀOLDWHG ZLWK WKH 'HPRFUDWLF RU 5HSXEOLFDQ SDUWLHV may vote in that party’s primary election.

VOTE BY MAIL NEW DEADLINE TUESDAY, MAY 26 Promote Social Distancing

Text VBM to 77788 or Call 240-777-8550 To Request a Vote By Mail Ballot Application For more information, visit 777vote.org

Early Voting & Election Day Voting Information Coming Next Month!

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VOLUME XXXII, ISSUE 4

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

A newsletter for D.C. Seniors

April 2020

Thank You Volunteers

By Laura Newland, Director D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living

I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy as all work together to stop the spread of COVID-19. I know it’s been a trying time, and we’re all still adjusting to this new normal. Know that the Department of Aging and Community Living is still here for you. Even though we’re working a little differently these days, our commitment to you remains the same.

Thanks to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s leadership during this difficult time, we’ve been able to react quickly and close all of our dining sites and senior wellness centers where many of our seniors gathered daily for lunch and conversation. We’ve converted these services to meal delivery, virtual programming on Channel 16 and through AroundTownDC.org, and regular reassurance calls — minimizing potential exposure.

Our Information and Referral line also remains open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Please reach out to us at 202-724-5626 if you’re in need of services and supports. My team is standing by and ready to connect with you.

We’re also excited to provide a Call & Talk line. We’re working with staff, grantees and community volunteers to contact seniors on a regular basis — just to chat! We normally hold more than 200 outreach events during the year, but since we can’t see you in person, DACL’s Call & Talk gives us a chance to connect directly with you.

You can talk about anything! From sports to movies, from DC neighborhoods to music — whatever you feel like talking about during the call. We want to make sure you can still make meaningful connections and stay engaged, even from your home.

If you’re interested in signing up for our Call & Talk line, please call us at 202-724-5626, and we’ll set up a good time for you to have a call.

We can’t wait to talk with you!

Following guidance from D.C. Health and the Center for Disease Control, I want to emphasize how critical it is for you to do everything possible to minimize your exposure to COVID-19. Please stay home as much as possible. If you need to go out, please maintain a safe social distance of at least six feet. Keep away from others who are sick and practice good hygiene — wash your hands for at least 20 seconds several times a day, and wipe down frequently used surfaces, such as countertops and handles.

If you’ve been in an area affected by COVID-19 or in close contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19 in the past two weeks and you develop symptoms, call your doctor before going to a healthcare facility. Symptoms may include fever and shortness of breath and may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure.

For the latest information and resources on COVID-19, please visit coronavirus.dc.gov.

Just as the Mayor continues to remind us, we’re all in this together and we’ll get through this together. So even though we’re not holding outreach events in the community right now, our commitment is the same — we’re here for you when times are great, and when times are not so great. Reach out to us at 202-724-5626.

Be well, be safe, and let’s stay connected.

A special thanks to the religious institutions and volunteers that came out to help DACL deliver meals to the homes of frail and vulnerable adults since the beginning of the COVID-19 Public Health emergency.

Thanks for answering the call to serve.

Tax Filing Deadline Extended Mayor Muriel Bowser and Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey DeWitt announced that the deadline for taxpayers to file and pay their 2019 District of Columbia individual income tax returns (D-40, D-41, and D-40B), is extended to July 15, 2020. This means taxpayers will have an additional 90 days to file and pay from the original deadline of April 15, 2020.

The Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR)

encourages taxpayers who are able to file their returns electronically to do so.

Walk-in centers are closed, OTR is still processing tax returns, refunds and helping taxpayers through the Customer Service Center, at (202) 727-4TAX (4829), Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Taxpayers are encouraged to use OTR’s online portal, MyTax.DC.gov, for their tax matters.

Stay active!

Visit www.aroundtowndc.org for online activities, lectures and physical activities.

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

Spotlight on Aging

The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency has slowed down the hustle and bustle of everyday lives. In March, you received a mailing about the 2020 Census. This is a great time to fill out your census.

The census will ask basic information such as name, age, sex, Hispanic origin, race and ethnicity, relationship of household members, and homeownership status.

Only one person in a household needs to complete the form. The person completing the census form should include information about every person living in the household.

Director Laura Newland

Editor Spotlight On Aging is published by the Information Office of the D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living for D.C. senior residents. Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living or by the publisher.

Darlene Nowlin

Photographer Richard Williams 500 K St. N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 724-5626 | www.dcoa.dc.gov

ONLINE — Use the unique Census ID in your mailing and visit www.2020census.gov. Your Census ID is located in the box in the middle of your letter and has 12 characters (letters and numbers).

BY MAIL — Fill out the questionnaire you receive by mail in black or blue ink (do not use pencil) and return the question-

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naire in the return envelope.

BY PHONE — call toll-free 1844-330-2020.

REMEMBER: By law, the Census Bureau cannot release any identifiable information about you, your home, or your business, even to law enforcement agencies. That’s protected under Title 13 of the U.S. Code.

The Census Bureau will never ask you for: Your full Social Security number.

Your bank account or credit card numbers.

Anything on behalf of a political party.

Money or donations.

Please complete the 2020 Census today and do your part to ensure the District of Columbia receives federal funds to support public safety, education, meals and other programs for older residents and so much more.

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Join DC Water in hydrating the community.

Visit the Hydrate DC Hub to learn more. www.HydrateDC.org #HydrateDC

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How to select an active adult community

By Harriet Edleson Steve Thornton was driving along Interstate 75 in South Florida on a “scouting trip” for a place to live in retirement when he saw a billboard for Trilogy at Ocala Preserve. Stopping there, he was taken with the beauty of the place — and knew his wife would agree. “Lyndia would like it,” Thornton, 69, recalled thinking.

While their children were growing up, the Thorntons had vacationed in Orlando, an hour southeast of Ocala.

“We knew we wanted to be in Florida,” he said. “We had a few places on our list.”

The couple had gone online to do research at FloridaforBoomers.com. They narrowed their choice to three communities by following these steps:

Do in-person reconnaissance. As part of their research, the Thorntons visited the area as well as the communities they were considering. “We went to them all,” Thornton said.

They settled on Trilogy at Ocala Preserve because it felt “right” for them: It wasn’t too big, was newly constructed and had a golf course.

Plus, it was a 45-minute drive to their grandchildren and 30 minutes to an airport, and had “excellent” healthcare nearby. “This place is more intimate,” he said. “We have new friends from all over the United States.”

For retirees, living in an active adult community — whether age-restricted, agetargeted or no age restrictions — is an option for the 40% of retirees who relocate.

THE NEW

Five percent moved to an age-restricted community, according to 2014 surveys conducted by ProMatura Group, a market and consumer research organization focusing on those 55-plus.

“Active adult communities come in all shapes and sizes,” said Bill Ness, founder and chief executive officer of 55places.com, a Chicago-based website that focuses on such communities. “It’s not one size fits all.”

Some communities are budget-oriented, and others are high-end. Most have a 3,000-square-foot clubhouse, while others have 20,000-square-foot clubhouses or multiple clubhouses and pools.

Today’s active adult homebuyer wants to be closer to a metro area, Ness said. At the same time, the average community size has decreased, with some communities of just 25 homes near an urban center, for instance. About 75% have an age restriction of either 55 and older or 62 and older.

Visit the community and the surrounding area. Many communities offer two-night visits, typically at a special rate of $99 or $199 per stay or, in some cases, $149 per person per stay so that prospective residents can learn about them. (Rates vary by property.)

While you are there, ask to try the amenities and activities, walk through the clubhouse, and speak with as many residents as you can.

Know your budget. One key to finding the right active adult community is knowing what you are comfortable spending, now and in the future.

“What is your capability? What are you willing to spend?” Ness said. Consider the purchase price, whether you will need a mortgage, how much the real estate taxes are, and how much the monthly homeowners fees are and what they include.

The Thorntons traded their 5,000-square-

foot house for a one-level, 2,400-square-foot home at Trilogy at Ocala Preserve. Their new home has two bedrooms, a library, sunroom and a three-car garage.

The cost of living is lower in Ocala, Florida, than in the Dallas area. “It fits into our budget,” Thornton said. Houses in their community range in price from about $169,000 to about $304,000.

Monthly fees vary depending on the location, amenities, size of your home and age of the community. Monthly fees in other active adult communities can be $150 to $400 or more, depending on the amenities — which may include a clubhouse, pools, restaurants, tennis or pickleball courts, fitness centers and spas, walking trails and bike paths, libraries and art studios.

Fees also can cover services such as lawn care. Ask what the fee covers; fees can increase, typically with inflation (about 2% a year).

Ensure stability. Research the financial stability of any community you consider. Ask to speak to someone other than the marketing person to obtain detailed financial information.

Request a copy of the current financial statements and the operating budget, said Dawn Bauman, senior vice president of government affairs at the Community Associations Institute, in Falls Church, Virginia.

Two key questions to ask: Is there a reserve plan? And is it funded? The reserve plan describes the life expectancy of major components of the property, the cost of maintaining them and their replacement value.

You’ll want to find out if there is a line item in the budget for funding the reserve plan.

Funds can be placed in a separate account, See ACTIVE ADULTS, page B-4

Thank You, Team!

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During these uncertain times, there is one thing we can count on— our amazing team who is dedicated to taking care of our residents.

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Clutter and hoarding: not the same thing

By Margaret Foster and Harvard Women’s Health Watch As a longtime real estate agent in the Washington region, Eric Stewart knows that accumulation of possessions is a natural part of life.

“There are so many people who have too much stuff and don’t know how to get rid of it,” said Stewart, CEO of the Eric Stewart Group of Long & Foster, based in Rockville, Maryland.

As he helps homeowners prepare to sell their longtime homes, Stewart refers clients to professional organizers “almost all the time,” he said. These companies can help people sift through and give away what they don’t need.

But sometimes a person’s accumulation of stuff grows to the point that it signifies a deeper problem: hoarding.

Hoarding disorder, according to the American Psychological Association, is “a persistent difficulty getting rid of or parting with possessions.” It’s a widespread problem that affects between 2% and 6% of the population.

What’s behind hoarding?

Television shows such as “Hoarders” and “Hoarding: Buried Alive” increased public awareness of the issue by presenting a vivid picture of hoarding to millions

of viewers.

But TV shows — particularly those that emphasize cleanup services rather than therapy — can present a distorted picture of the serious work involved. Cleanup alone is almost never a long-term solution.

It’s unclear where compulsive hoarding comes from; research has shown that it isn’t correlated with material or emotional deprivation earlier in life.

Psychologists have identified a pattern of cognitive and emotional difficulties that underlie hoarding symptoms. They are as follows: Indecisiveness and fear of making mistakes. By never choosing to throw anything out and constantly accumulating things “just in case,” the hoarder tries to avoid making wrong decisions or having regrets.

Difficulty categorizing. A person who has a hard time sorting objects into categories can find it difficult to decide which drawer something belongs in. For a person who has difficulty distinguishing between valuable and worthless items, keeping old supermarket flyers may seem as sensible as keeping last year’s tax return.

Concerns about memory. A hoarder may have unjustified doubts about the reliability of her memory and therefore avoid putting things away for fear of not being

THIS IS YOUR BIG BREAK

able to find them again. Dresser drawers remain empty while clothes pile up on furniture and the floor. Old newspapers and magazines are saved for fear the information in them will be forgotten if they’re not kept on hand.

Emotional attachment to objects. A hoarder often comes to see beauty and value in clutter and develops a sentimental attachment to it. This heightens his or her enthusiasm for acquiring things and reluctance to discard them.

Need for control. The hoarder usually doesn’t want anyone else to make decisions about her possessions, so it can be difficult for the family to help.

Medication and therapy may help There are no specific anti-hoarding medications. Drugs that are used to treat OCD may help, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants or tricyclic antidepressants.

But compulsive hoarders often don’t respond to these medications. Studies show that people with OCD are less likely to respond to SSRIs if hoarding is one of their symptoms.

On the other hand, these drugs may be useful for treating the depression and anxiety that often accompany hoarding.

Traditional cognitive behavioral therapy

(CBT) can work, but hasn’t worked well either, often because patients are reluctant to participate.

To find a therapist with experience in the treatment of hoarding, check the treatment provider listing in the hoarding section of the International OCD Foundation website.

An escalating problem Over the years, compulsive hoarding takes an increasing emotional, financial and sometimes physical toll. The home becomes unsafe. Guests may be forbidden.

“Family members are much more likely to seek help than the hoarder. Hoarders are reluctant to change. And they’re usually upset about their hoarding only if people are putting lots of pressure on them to change,” said Dr. Michael Jenike, professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and founder of the hoarding clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Family interventions don’t always help.

The hoarder may resist to hiring a professional cleaner. Extra storage units may simply be filled up.

Relatives or friends may try to strongarm a hoarder into getting rid of her stuff, but that tactic often ends disastrously, See CLUTTER & HOARDING, page B-4

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Active adults From page B-2 Bauman said. Although that is not required in every state, it is a best practice, she said.

“Before you sign that contract, find out how long you have to evaluate the homeowners association’s finances, reserve fund and rules,” Bauman said. For example, some communities don’t allow you to park a motor home in your driveway.

Initially, developers manage most active adult communities, but generally after 10 years or less they transition to management by the owners.

Make sure the developer has adequately funded the reserve in advance of owners taking over management, so monthly fees won’t jump or to avoid a special as-

Clutter & hoarding From page B-3 causing lifelong resentments.

“You need someone to negotiate for you,” Jenike said. “In some cases, a person isn’t going to deal with this until the Board of Health gets involved.”

Some villages in the area, including the Village of Takoma Park, have trained volunteer staff who might be able to help hoarders. Call your local village to ask.

Just a pack rat?

If all this talk about hoarding has you wondering where you fit on the continuum

sessment. Check if a special assessment is pending in the upcoming budget.

Get the right fit. Active adult communities typically do not include meals or a central dining area. You’ll have your own home, and you can participate as much or as little as you want in community activities.

Do a self-assessment. “You have to take stock of choices you’ve made in the past and how you’ve reacted to them,” said gerontologist Mary Kay Buysse of the National Association of Senior Move Managers.

Find a place that has activities you like.

“Be an anthropologist for a couple of days,” Buysse said. “Try to figure out what the life is like there.” © 2020 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

of clutter, try to start a decluttering project.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether from friends or an organizing business.

You can read Marie Kondo’s bestselling book (The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, 2011) or watch her Netflix reality series, “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.”

Be consistent when you sift through your stuff, Eric Stewart suggested. “There are three questions to ask yourself: Do I love it? Do I need it? Do I use it?” he said.

“If you don’t need it or use it, take a picture of it and keep that.”

— Harvard Women’s Health Watch, © President and Fellows of Harvard College.

Distributed by Tribune Media Services, LLC.

How to help a hoarder Listen. Let the person tell his/her story. Respect the person’s perspective and attachment to the possessions.

Don’t tease or criticize.

Go slow. There’s no need to rush changes unless the person’s living situation is unsafe or it is necessary to move to smaller quarters or a nursing facility.

Engage. Involve the hoarder in decisions about where to put things and what to throw out.

Notice other changes. If there are signs of other cognitive or emotional problems, arrange for a professional evaluation. For example, hiding belongings or spending a lot of time rummaging

through stuff can be a sign of dementia.

Provide structure and emotional suppor t. During the de-cluttering process, keep the person company and help him/her stay focused on one area at a time.

Lift and tote. An older hoarder may need family, friends, professional cleaners or movers to help with handling the clutter.

Work with others. More than 75 communities have hoarding task forces that address psychiatric, legal, geriatric and housing concerns. One possible source of information is your local area Agency on Aging.

— Harvard Women’s Health Watch

“My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far, I’ve finished two bags of M&Ms and a chocolate cake.

I feel better already.” – Dave Barry “You know you’re getting old when you stoop to tie your shoelaces and wonder what else you could do while you’re down there.” – George Burns

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

Housing Notes

By Ivey Noojin

Redesign planned at Homecrest House Homecrest House, an affordable housing community, plans to redesign its three apartment buildings in June, with interior enhancements of lobbies, dining rooms, community rooms and residential spaces.

“We want residents to really feel the warmth in the physical aesthetics of [the buildings],” said Carol Cohen Wolfe, the executive director. “We’re increasing as much as possible the social aspects of our community.”

Homecrest House, with 235 independent apartments and 42 assisted housing units, has dedicated itself since 1979 to providing affordable housing for low-income seniors and disabled adults. Applicants are also eligible for rent and care subsidies, depending on their annual income.

With the upcoming redesign, residents will have more open spaces to socialize.

“There are a lot of long-term friendships and relationships that start here,” Wolfe

said. “[Residents] really enjoy the experience of meeting people from all across the world.”

Homecrest House is located at 14508 Homecrest Rd., Silver Spring, Md. To learn more about the living community, visit homecresthouse.org or call (301) 2443579.

Riderwood celebrates 20 years by adding new amenities Riderwood, a continuing care community on 120 acres in Silver Spring, is continuing its redevelopment plan to reposition the four club houses on its campus and add amenities.

“We’re celebrating 20 years in May,” said George Mishraky, the director of sales. “We have to continue to be attractive in the market and position ourselves for the future and the future customer.”

It completed the first building, Town Center, in July 2018. It will soon finish with the second, Lakeside Commons, and then move onto the last two, along with a new wellness center that has a pool, locker rooms and exercise equipment.

In addition, Riderwood is revamping its dining services with new décor, outside seating with fire pits, and one to two more

options that provide sit-down, to-go and formal atmospheres.

It is also dedicating itself to sustainability by becoming a wildlife habitat and potentially providing an electric vehicle for transportation around the campus. “We just feel it’s really important to preserve things, to be green,” Mishraky said.

With a population of around 2,500 and 270 available clubs, “we really and truly live out our mission to create this vibrant community that actually cares for others and supports others,” Mishraky said.

To learn more about the community and its redevelopment plans, visit eriksonliving.com/riderwood or call 1-877-5750231.

New memory care community open in Germantown At the end of February, Tribute at Black Hill in Germantown, Maryland, opened to residents looking for assisted living and memory care. The new building has 140 suites, of which 104 are for assisted living and 36 for memory care.

As a part of the Thrive Senior Franchise, an organization based in Atlanta, Tribute at Black Hill doesn’t call itself a facility (which its website calls “the f word”).

Instead, its emphasis is on community building.

B-5

“We really feel that our focus needs to be our relationships,” said Beth Sanchez, the community relations director. “Great care is a byproduct of that.”

Every staff member has received certification by the Nation Institute for Dementia Education to better understand the intricacies of memory care.

“Just about anyone who is living in assisted living at some point is experiencing some form of cognitive change or memory loss,” Sanchez said. “It’s important that we’re able to respond and to help our residents manage that.”

Tribute at Black Hill also offers a “staycation,” which lets potential residents try out its living spaces for a few days or even months to make sure the community is the right place for them.

The new community is located at 312 Baltusrol Dr., Germantown, Md. To learn more or submit an application, call Beth Sanchez at (410) 401-5262.

Affordable housing to honor late D.C. housing leader Todd A. Lee, former executive director and CEO of the D.C. Housing Financing Agency, died in January. Now, a new, afSee HOUSING NOTES, page B-6

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How the move to a community felt to me

By Alice G. Miller On the first day in my new retirement community, I was greeted by a neighbor in the hallway.

She remembered meeting other newcomers who had experienced difficult first days here without the necessary cookware to prepare a proper meal. So, she offered to lend me some of her own pots and pans.

Clearly, she was mistaking me for some kind of “kitchen goddess,” who could hardly wait to whip up a hot supper for her husband.

Actually, I was on my way to see what kind of meal had been whipped up in the café. I was so touched by her neighborliness that I was almost ready to accept the loaned pots and cook something. But I thought better of it and did not take advantage of her generous offer.

Because various mobility issues (walk-

Housing notes From page B-5 fordable apartment building for seniors will be named in his honor.

Todd A. Lee Senior Residences, located at 809 Kennedy St. NW, Washington, D.C., will be a five-story, 38-unit apartment building for people 55 and older with limit-

ing and balance problems) have increased my vulnerability, and Stan, my husband, is more than ready to embark on a freer lifestyle, we have taken the leap and opted to move into a lovely independent living senior residence. We chose this one because we were charmed by the strong, caring community.

A difficult decision This move has been a giant step, not without great loss. And, given a choice, I would have preferred to wait. We had always thought that our last home was going to be our forever home.

But in another few weeks that home of many years will be going on the market.

The spectacular acre of environmental habitat, dotted with secret gardens that have been our Eden and spiritual retreat, will no longer be ours.

ed incomes.

Thirty-five units will be designated for individuals with an annual income of $42,500 to $60,650, and three will be for those with incomes between $25,000 and $36,400. The building is expected to be ready for occupancy in the summer or fall of 2021.

The building of affordable housing for

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For now, I am learning to accept one of Buddhism’s “Noble Truths” — that impermanence itself is a part of life. I have come to believe that this truth represents a positive awareness that nothing lasts forever, and knowing this, we need to experience, and be grateful for, each of today’s joys.

The joys of today, for me, have been experiencing the welcoming friendliness of the residents and staff members here. Almost everyone stops by just to greet and exchange names.

Already, I have met fellow therapists and gardeners and heard many interesting stories. It’s starting to feel like I am becoming a member of a very large tribe, where everybody knows your name.

One resident I met commented that all the friendliness that she had encountered

was starting to feel like she had just been dropped into the Central Casting set for “The Stepford Wives.”

Actually, I think what she was experiencing, but not recognizing, is an environment where people are enjoying far less pressure, competition and stress in their lives and thus are able to respond to others with the kinder, gentler part of themselves.

It has been experiences like that, this past week, that are helping to heal the sad feelings of loss. I am again reaffirmed in my belief in the old Zen saying, “Leap and the net will appear.”

After making the leap that had to be made, I have been embraced by the net of community. I may have lost a garden, but I have gained a tribe Alice G. Miller, a psychotherapist in private practice, is the author of four books.

Read her blog at voiceoftheturtledove.com.

seniors, like the Todd A. Lee building, is supported by an allocation of $15.6 million from the Housing Production Trust Fund for Wards 4 and 7 by the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development, announced in February.

In addition, the D.C. Housing Financing Agency issued $8.2 million in tax exempt bonds and underwrote $5.6 million in low

income housing tax credits.

“The agency is very honored that [the new residence] has been named in honor of Todd A. Lee,” said Yolanda McCutchen, director of public relations. “[Affordable] senior housing is a need, and that was one of his goals as executive director.”

For more details about the project, visit dchfa.org.

Kinder, gentler side

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A new rental income tax break available

By Joy Taylor Renting out property can create a retirement income stream that is Uncle Samfriendly. The federal tax law is replete with breaks for landlords, and the 2017 tax law created a new write-off that many landlords can take for their Schedule E rental income.

The new tax break falls under the special 20% deduction for individual owners of “pass-through entities.” Self-employed individuals and owners of S corporations, partnerships and LLCs can now write off 20% of their qualified business income (QBI).

QBI is your allocable share of income less deductions from a trade or business.

Special rules and limitations apply to individuals reporting taxable incomes before the QBI deduction in excess of $321,400 on joint returns and $160,700 on single returns.

The QBI rules are one of the hardest provisions in the 2017 tax law to navigate, according to Joel Grandon, enrolled agent and president of the National Society of Accountants.

There is no hard and fast rule for determining whether your real estate rental activity is a trade or business, other than a safe harbor, which is difficult to meet. It’s best to seek out the advice of a good tax preparer, Grandon said.

Qualifying for the QBI break There are two ways to qualify rental income as QBI. The first way is if the rental activity rises to the level of a trade or business. This determination depends on a taxpayer’s specific facts and circumstances.

Some relevant factors are type of property (residential or commercial), extent of day-to-day involvement by the lessor or his agents, lease terms and number of rentals.

A second way to qualify rental income as QBI is to meet an IRS safe harbor. At least 250 hours a year must be devoted to the activity by the property owner, employees or independent contractors.

Time spent on repairs, tenant services, property management, advertising, collecting rents, negotiating leases and supervising workers counts. Hours put in for arranging financing, constructing long-term capital improvements, and driving to and from the property aren’t included.

Taxpayers who use the safe harbor must meet strict recordkeeping requirements and attach an annual statement to their returns, as detailed in IRS Revenue Procedure 2019-38. Meeting the safe harbor lets you treat the rental activity as a business for QBI purposes.

Best practices to follow

help to solidify the tax break. Because of the safe harbor’s stringent 250-hour minimum and strict recordkeeping requirements, Grandon said it may be easier to meet the case law’s trade or business standard, which doesn’t always require a lot of time spent on the activity. It depends on each taxpayer’s facts, so it’s possible to spend substantially less than 250 hours and still be in a business.

Grandon advises that those who want to treat their rental activity as a business adhere to these best practices: • Keep separate bank accounts for the activity.

• Track your time and the time of everyone whom you pay to do work on the property, plus a description of the work.

• Keep expense receipts, and insure the property.

• And send 1099 forms by January 31 to anyone you pay $600 or more in a year for services and isn’t a corporation; file copies of the 1099s with the IRS.

Can you qualify for the QBI break if you only own one rental home? Steve Fishman, author of Every Landlord’s Tax Deduction Guide (Nolo, $40), said yes, depending on the facts and circumstances.

Fishman said that if he owned a single rental property that generated income, he would take the 20% write-off. He concedes, however, that the more rental properties you own, the stronger your trade/business argument will be.

Treating the rental income as QBI and taking the 20% deduction won’t change the way you report rental income on your 1040 return.

Real estate rental income is usually reported on Schedule E. Also, the rental income generally isn’t subject to self-employment tax.

If you qualify, you take the 20% QBI deduction on line 10 of the 2019 Form 1040 and attach either Form 8995 or 8995-A, depending on taxable income. © 2020 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Did you know you can read a flip version of the Beacon online at www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com?

Following a set of best practices can

SENIOR LIVING WITH STYLE

Whatever your taste or budget, you’ll find your picture-perfect apartment home at Ashby Ponds, Greenspring, or Riderwood, the area’s most popular senior living communities.

13994474

Call 1-877-575-0231 for your free brochure or to schedule a personal community tour.

Ashby Ponds, Greenspring, and Riderwood are managed by Erickson Living,® one of the nation’s largest and most respected builders and developers of continuing care retirement communities.

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INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Knollwood Military Life Plan Community 202-869-1818 6200 Oregon Avenue NW Washington, District of Columbia 20015 www.KnollwoodCommunity.org In these uncertain times, one thing is certain: The way Knollwood cares for its residents. With restaurants closed and trips to grocery stores less likely, Knollwood brings the convenience home. Knollwood goes above and beyond, providing complimentary dining from its “Bistro”, during this time, with staff delivering at no charge. Extra housekeeping services are around the clock and community wide.

At Knollwood, connections are everything. To keep in contact with friends and family, there’s an abundance of video call sessions. Want to connect with nature? Knollwood’s picturesque pathways surround the campus, located adjacent to Rock Creek Park. Social distancing has never been so beautiful. Call today to schedule your virtual tour.

ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE

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

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Falcons Landing 703-404-5100 20522 Falcons Landing Circle Potomac Falls, VA 20165 www.falconslanding.org Common Bonds and Extraordinary Living is what you find when you move to Falcons Landing! Nestled near the Potomac River in scenic Loudoun County, Falcons Landing is a vibrant hub for residents who have retired from work, but not from life! Falcons Landing is embarking on an exciting new project with the addition of The Terrace Home Apartments, 24 new units that fuse the best aspects of apartment and cottage living. Residents will enjoy generous square footage in private corner units with social spaces to gather with neighbors.

The Terrace Homes provide a fresh and exciting new take on senior living and are ideal for those that enjoy natural lighting, open floor plans, indoor/outdoor living and entertaining family and friends.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Brooke Grove Retirement Village 301-260-2320

Seabury at Friendship Terrace 202-244-7400

18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 www.bfg.org

4201 Butterworth Place NW Washington, DC 20016 www.friendshipterrace.org

This community hums with warm-hearted camaraderie and a zest for life shared by residents and staff alike. Experience all that makes assisted living at Brooke Grove extraordinary. Cozy, homelike dwellings with easy access to beautiful courtyards and walking paths. Caring staff trained in using memory support techniques, building independence and lifting self-esteem.

Innovative LIFE® Enrichment Programming with meaningful activities and off-site adventures. Visit us to see why Brooke Grove Retirement Village is one of the most sought-after continuing care retirement communities in the state. Living here is simply different … because what surrounds you really matters.

Active, affordable senior living close to stores, restaurants, transportation and entertainment can be found at Seabury at Friendship Terrace! Located in a quiet, tree-lined northwest Washington neighborhood, Friendship Terrace is just two blocks from the Tenleytown Metro station. The community offers affordable senior living with subsidy assistance to those who are eligible, as well as exciting onsite events including performances, lectures, holiday observances, socials, and more. A rooftop deck, greenhouse, library, lounges, and a dining room overlooking an outdoor courtyard are highlights of the community. Your new home awaits. Remarkable in town value!

Applications now being accepted. Call for your tour today!

INDEPENDENT LIVING

ASSISTED LIVING

Seabury at Springvale Terrace (301) 587-8717 8505 Springvale Road Silver Spring, MD 20910 www.seaburyresources.org/springvaleterrace Discover Seabury at Springvale Terrace, inside and out. Enjoy the benefits of Independent Living just steps away from downtown Silver Spring. Within blocks, you will have access to the Silver Spring Civic Center, pharmacies, movie theaters, library, shopping, & restaurants.

Come join us to dine and experience one of our chef inspired,delicious meals that are served restaurant style each and every single day. Enjoy a comfortable private studio apartment with care services available. Rents from as low as $1,190 per month with a signed lease before June 1st. A three-course dinner is included.

Additional meals are available. Call Donald at (301) 587-0190 or email svtadmissions@seaburyresources.org for info and to schedule a virtual tour.

Chevy Chase House (202) 686-5504 5420 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington, DC 20015 www.meridiansenior.com/chevychasehouse

Come visit the newly renovated Chevy Chase House on Connecticut Avenue in a vibrant NW DC neighborhood.

Enjoy all the city has to offer ; while we provide the services and amenities you may want or need. On site physical and occupational therapy is provided by Legacy Healthcare Services.

Select a spacious apartment starting at a base price of $4,499 for a studio. Join us for lunch and a tour by calling 202-686-5504.

Everyone deserves a great life; continue your next chapter with us at the Chevy Chase House.

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FREE HOUSING AND OTHER INFORMATION For free information from advertisers in this special section, check off those that interest you and mail this entire page to the Beacon.

HOUSING COMMUNITIES: WASHINGTON, DC ❑ Chevy Chase House . .B-2 & B-8 ❑ Friendship Terrace . .B-8 & B-14 ❑ Knollwood . . . . . . . . .B-3 & B-8

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HOME CARE SERVICES: ❑ Best Senior Care . . . . . . . . .B-5

SKILLED NURSING & REHABILITATION ❑ Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . .B-12

Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this entire coupon to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227.

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LIFE PLAN COMMUNITY

Vinson Hall Retirement Community 703-536-4344 6251 Old Dominion Drive McLean, VA 22101 www.vinsonhall.org We are an active, vibrant senior living community located on 20 acres in a suburban setting where residents are encouraged to live life “their way.” Vinson Hall Retirement Community is in McLean, Virginia convenient to the theaters and restaurants of Washington, DC. Our community offers independent living, assisted living, memory support, nursing care, rehabilitative care, and respite care. Visit our website to learn more: www.vinsonhall.org.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Emerson House 301-779-6196 5999 Emerson Street Bladensburg, MD 20710 www.qpmgmt.com Our community features bright one- bedroom apartments in a ninestory elevator building for today’s active and independent seniors who are 62 or older. Emerson House is subsidized for low- to moderateincome households. Activities are yours to choose from: gardening, Bingo, Wii bowling league, movie night, parties, bus trips, exercise classes, learning to line dance — it’s all waiting for you and more!

Emerson House offers an in-house Resident Service Coordinator to assist with finding helpful resources. Please call today for an appointment to tour our community or request an application; 301779-6196 Monday-Friday from 8:30 to 5:00.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

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

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

Ease uncertainty with a reverse mortgage

By Steven J. Sless, CLTC U.S. and global economic volatility due to the COVID-19 pandemic have many retirees (and those close to retirement) worrying how to survive these turbulent times.

Will you have enough assets to maintain your lifestyle and meet retirement spending goals in the face of a possibly longterm bear market?

Traditionally, older adults fund retirement with a mixture of Social Security, pensions, 401(k)s and other retirement and saving accounts.

However, many could be sitting on (or rather, in) hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars they haven’t considered using: home equity. This source of wealth is often ignored in retirement income planning.

One of the most sensible ways of leveraging home equity in retirement age is through Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM), also known as reverse mortgages. With increased safeguards to protect consumers and lower costs than in the past, reverse mortgages are becoming mainstream financial instruments.

How does it work?

Simply put, reverse mortgages enable homeowners age 60+ to borrow up to roughly 50% of their home’s value, depending on their age and that of any spouse also on the loan. Borrowers are guaranteed the right to continue living in their home for the rest of their lives (or until they permanently move out).

Furthermore, while any funds borrowed against home equity continue to accrue interest, all reverse mortgage are non-recourse loans. That means borrowers can never owe more on the loan than what the house is worth when the loan is repaid. If the house has declined in value, the FHA or the lender bears the risk (in part with the help of mandatory mortgage insurance. See below).

On the other hand, if the home should increase in value by the time the owners move out, all remaining equity after paying off the loan belongs to the borrower or their heirs.

In addition, homeowners may pay back the loan without penalty or sell the home at any time (at which point the reverse mortgage lender will be fully repaid).

Higher net worth individuals and families often choose to use reverse mortgages as part of their overall retirement income strategy. It’s not uncommon for these borrowers to make regular payments on their reverse mortgage.

Some choose to make interest-only payments, so their balance doesn’t increase at the rate it ordinarily would.

Others treat a reverse mortgage similar to a traditional loan and make regular monthly payments. With rates on par with traditional mortgages, they are able to borrow money at a low rate of interest and pay

it back on their terms, as opposed to the structure of a fixed 15-, 20- or 30-year term.

And some may choose to defer payback until the last remaining borrower leaves the home.

Ways to make use of one Pay off an existing mortgage: A reverse mortgage can pay off and replace a traditional mortgage loan, reducing the burden of a mandatory monthly payment and resulting in immediate savings — especially helpful in today’s uncertain times.

Standby line of credit: Unlike traditional credit lines, reverse mortgage credit lines are federally insured and cannot be frozen or called due. The unused portion has a guaranteed growth rate of .5% over the current interest rate on the loan, allowing more funds to be borrowed over time.

Even if the home decreases in value, the line of credit remains and continues to grow.

This offers an excellent insurance policy against market fluctuation, and a taxfree source of money that can be used as a buffer in a down market.

The strategy in turbulent times would be to draw funds from the credit line instead of drawing on other assets (such as selling stocks when they’re down). Thus, a reverse mortgage credit line can limit the need to make portfolio withdrawals, protecting and preserving retirement accounts.

Multiple payout options: Reverse mortgage proceeds may be accessed in a lump sum, in the form of an annuity (a lifetime payout known as “tenure”), through equal payments over a fixed period of time (known as “term”), or through a combination of these options.

While reverse mortgages can be based on fixed interest rates, the line of credit, tenure and term payouts are available only on adjustable interest rate options.

Interest rates on reverse mortgages are on par with traditional mortgage interest rates. Rates are negotiable and vary from lender to lender.

The “index rate” is the standard rate that varies depending on market interest rates. It is not controlled by the lender.

The rate charged on your loan can increase or decrease depending on whether the index increases or decreases.

The margin rate is the interest percentage that is added to the index by the lender. This rate is not adjustable, meaning that after loan origination, the margin stays the same throughout the loan term, regardless of what the index may change to. It is also negotiable.

Costs of a reverse mortgage HUD counseling: To obtain reverse mor tgages, borrowers must undergo mandatory counseling with a third-party See REVERSE MORTGAGE, page B-12

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

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

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Should you move or be a perfect guest?

By Alice Shapin When we heard our 30-something daughter was pregnant with our first grandchild, my husband and I were ecstatic. Then came the bad news: Their family was moving to Portland, Oregon for her husband’s job.

Our daughter assumed we would move out there, too. But when we visited, the city’s hippie vibe didn’t seem to fit us. We don’t know anyone there, and the winters are rainy, damp and dreary.

Besides, our daughter would think nothing of picking up and moving again, leaving us stranded. We’ve all heard of parents moving to be near their children, only to have them move elsewhere.

Consider before moving How do you know if it’s right to uproot yourselves to be near your children and grandchildren?

If it’s likely that they’ll stay put, it’s worth considering if their choice of locale is right for you. Will the weather affect you; is there good healthcare nearby?

And, since you need a life beyond the kids and grandkids, are there activities that you like, such as theater, museums or hiking? If you like to travel, is an airport nearby?

Find out if there are places to volunteer and see if there’s an over-55 community near them, so you can make friends.

And if everything seems perfect, consider a trial run, ideally a few weeks in the summer and a few in the winter. You may find that the solution is getting a summer or winter place there instead of making a complete move.

Tips for visiting grown kids For now, we are staying in Maryland, especially since my husband is still working.

But with Portland being too far away for a long weekend, we’ve needed to focus on how to be the perfect guests when we stay for more than a couple days. After all, we all know the old saying about fish and company: After two or three days, they begin to stink.

The funny thing is that, 30 years ago, I wrote a how-to article for adult children titled “The Parents’ Visit: How to Survive and Even Enjoy the Ordeal.” Now that the shoe is on the other foot, hopefully I learned and remembered some things.

Here are a few bits of advice for being a good guest with your grown children: Don’t shy away from staying at nearby hotel or Airbnb. If your grown children don’t have a separate guestroom or more than one bathroom, consider a hotel or Airbnb nearby.

If you do stay in their house, offer to cook a few meals. Before you leave, strip the bed, ask where they want the linens, offer to put clean ones on and wipe down your bathroom. Light housekeeping may ease the burden of your visit and elicit an offer for a return visit.

Open your wallet. If you can afford it, offer to pay for lunch, dinner or take-out.

You might even pay for one grocery trip. If money is tight, maybe buy pizza or ice cream cones.

Or offer to babysit, so the young parents can get away. And try to look for some activities for yourselves — visit a museum or other place of interest on your own.

Break the visit up. A week-long visit just sitting around can be deadly; if possible, plan a mini-trip or long weekend together.

After visiting the Portland hot spots, we took our daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter to Bend, Oregon — a walkable, fun town with a beer festival, delicious

restaurants and cute shops.

Try not to take things too personally. I have to admit I’m overly sensitive, and have to work on this. When the baby was born, we did a lot of cooking for them. My son-inlaw, whom I’m crazy about, kept asking if I washed my hands before starting food prep, when I touched the refrigerator, and so on.

I’ve been married 37 years, raised two children and never gave anyone food poisoning, so his caution annoyed me. But when you’re in their house, just play by their rules.

Be flexible. Try hard to fit into their schedule. One of my friend’s in-laws would get up late even though the best time to take the kids out for an activity was in the morning.

Remember, you’re only there for a few days, so don’t disrupt their routine.

Respect their sources of information. Things are different from when we brought up our kids. We had books by Dr. Spock and Dr. Brazelton; they have the internet.

Besides so much online info, there are apps to keep track of when the baby pooped, when they were last breastfed and when they napped and how long.

Don’t be controlling. Don’t criticize or offer unsolicited advice on their parenting skills or anything else, such as how to live

a better life.

That includes the grandkids’ eating habits, even if their diet is bread and milk, as well as the amount of TV and other forms of screen time they are permitted.

The only thing you’ll accomplish is annoying the parents.

Resist disciplining the kids unless it’s a safety issue. My in-laws thought it was their right as grandparents to tell their grandkids when they didn’t like their behavior or how they dressed. As grandparents, all we want is for the grandkids to love us. Disciplining is up to the parents, thank goodness.

Temper your expectations. Don’t think everything will be perfect. When my mother visited, she expected our kids to be obedient little dolls. I’d plead with them to behave, so Grandma would think I was a good mother.

But no, on one visit, a fight broke out, and my daughter gave my son a bloody nose. Try to remember that kids will be kids — even your grandchildren — so relax.

And if you remember only one thing, remember the wise words of Queen Elsa in Frozen: Let it go.

Alice Shapin is a freelance writer in the Washington, D.C. area and a member of the Society of American Travel Writers.

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Housing Options | Subscribe for half-price. See p. 45

INDEPENDENT & PERSONAL CARE COMMUNITIES

B’nai B’rith Homecrest House 301-244-3579 14508 Homecrest Road Silver Spring, MD 20906 www.homecresthouse.org Homecrest House is a non-profit, affordable, subsidized community neighboring Leisure World. Our community offers 2 senior living options, and residents may qualify for rent & service subsidies based on eligibility. EDWARDS PERSONAL CARE BUILDING offers: onsite 24 hour staff, daily meals, weekly housekeeping & laundry services, assistance with bathing & optional medication administration. HOMECREST INDEPENDENT LIVING offers: dinner meals, full calendar of activities & scheduled trips. Our Computer Lab, Fitness Center, Salon & Convenience Store are just a few of the amenities our residents enjoy. Contact Princetta at 301-244-3579 or marketing@homecresthouse.org for a personalized tour or visit us at www.homecresthouse.org.

REHABILITATION

Brooke Grove Retirement Village 301-260-2320 18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 www.bfg.org Imagine an extraordinary staff and the best therapies and equipment—in a beautiful environment that rejuvenates and restores. Physical therapy spaces bathed in sunlight. The quiet comfort of a garden walk or relaxing massage. Imagine getting back to the activities that matter to you. Our new, state-of-the-art rehab addition at Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center offers innovative therapy services for seniors, including NeuroGym® Technologies mobility training, the Korebalance system and much more. Visit us to see why Brooke Grove Retirement Village is one of the most sought-after continuing-care retirement communities in the state. Rehab here is simply different… because what surrounds you really matters.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Riderwood Retirement Community 877-742-4390 3140 Gracefield Road Silver Spring, MD 20904 www.Riderwood.com Residents of Riderwood often refer to the community as a “small town under one roof” for the wealth of amenities, including a pool, medical center, and multiple restaurants—all connected through climate-controlled walkways.

And that “town” is growing! The community has undergone significant renovations—this includes an entirely new and luxurious look of the clubhouses, a coffee shop, restaurants, and more. Plus, a new standalone wellness center.

To stay active and independent, while enjoying peace of mind for the future—a continuing care retirement community like Riderwood may be right for you. Call 1-877-742-4390 for your free brochure.

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

Thinking of retiring?

Conduct a test-drive

By Alina Tugend Bev Bachel, 62, is trying retirement on for size.

For years, Bachel, a freelance communications professional in Minneapolis, took on highly demanding contract jobs that typically lasted more than a year. She put in long hours, often managed other writers and had to be available for on-site meetings.

“A friend of mine said that when you’re self-employed, you never really retire. You just wake up and realize all your clients are gone,” she said.

“I thought, ‘Oh my God, I need to exert control instead of experiencing a slow decline into nothing.’”

So, two years ago, Bachel decided to cut down on big projects, travel extensively — including lengthy trips to Panama during the Minnesota winters — and take on work that she could do anywhere, anytime.

She also watched her savings decrease instead of increase. “I have 40 years of ingrained patterns and being rewarded for saving versus spending,” she said. “Now I have to make a mental shift.”

How to do it right The idea of test-driving retirement — whether by cutting living expenses, staying for a few weeks at a potential retirement destination, or hanging out at home for a week without work — makes sense to a lot of people. But it’s not easy.

“Test-driving retirement gets more attention in the press than it does with clients,” said Mari Adam, president of Adam Financial Associates, in Boca Raton, Florida. “I’ve

Reverse mortgage From page B-10 HECM counselor approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Typically charged at $125, this counseling addresses the lending process, benefits, drawbacks and eligibility requirements.

Home appraisal: Appraisals run on average $450 to $550 and can vary depending on the size, age and condition of your home. They are ordered through an independent appraisal management company.

Third-party closing costs: Expect to pay typical mortgage fees for loan recording, credit report and title insurance.

These fees could vary and are negotiable.

Ask for an itemized fee breakdown.

Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP): There is an initial mortgage insurance premium of 2% of the home’s appraised value.

Over the life of the loan, you’ll also pay an annual MIP that equals 0.5% of the outstanding mortgage balance. (This federally-

had people do it in bits and pieces.”

The classic way for a couple with two incomes to try out retirement is to start completely banking one income, Adam said. She advises them to practice living on that amount of money.

“People getting ready to retire often have no idea what they really spend,” Adam said. “They make up a number in their head.”

Figure out what you’re realistically going to have coming in and going out, including Social Security and withdrawals from a retirement account or pension.

For nearly two years, Fritz Gilbert and his wife, Jackie, lived on the income they expected to have in retirement. Gilbert retired on the young side, at 55, from his job as a global commodities trader in Atlanta. Jackie never worked outside the house, first raising their daughter, then caring for her mother, who suffered from Alzheimer’s.

“We increased our savings, basically getting our net take-home pay down to what we expected to live on in retirement,” said Gilbert, who writes the Retirement Manifesto blog.

And a year before retirement, the couple decided to “track every penny we spent to get a baseline spending level,” he said. “We’d never done that before, and it was a pain.”

Gilbert, who said he may be more farsighted than most, mapped out as best as possible what their spending — from healthcare to travel — would look like over the next 40 years, year by year.

He and his wife also practiced staying at See TEST DRIVE, page B-13

backed insurance helps protect lenders in the event the value of the home drops over the life of the mortgage.)

Loan origination fee: Lenders may change a loan origination fee ranging from zero to $6,000 depending on your home value. This fee is negotiable and can vary among lenders. Most costs may be financed into the loan.

An important note on costs: Reverse mortgage borrowers must also continue to pay their property taxes, insurance and maintain the home to comply with loan guidelines.

As with any financial product or service, education is paramount. Discuss the options with a knowledgeable professional before committing.

Steven J. Sless (NMLS: #298581 MLO: #49963) is the national reverse mortgage division manager with PRMI and manager of its Owings Mills branch, which deals exclusively with reverse mortgages. For more information, visit www.TheStevenJSlessGroup.com, call (410) 814-7575 or follow @morewithsless on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

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

Test drive From page B-12 home for about 10 days. “Everyone focuses on finances. But once that’s in place, the non-financial stuff is key to getting it right.

The more we can do to think of the softer side of retirement, the better our retirement will be.”

The retirement staycation Joe Casey, a managing partner for Retirement Wisdom, a retirement coaching service in Princeton, New Jersey, has advised several clients to try out retirement by taking one week of a month-long vacation to stay at home. “You need to slow down first,” Casey said. “People have to set their expectations properly for a testdrive.”

The idea isn’t just to plop down on the couch in front of the TV, but to start figuring out how to structure your days if you aren’t working full-time.

For instance, what time should you get up? How much alone time should you have, and how much time doing things with others?

Of course, it’s only a week. But in that time, some of his clients have realized they want to pursue interests they currently don’t have time for, such as auditing classes.

And they all recognized that not working leaves far more time to exercise and

take care of themselves. The retirement rehearsal, Casey said, helps his clients shift “from fearing to anticipation.”

Try out a new location If your picture of retirement involves living somewhere warmer or quieter, don’t commit to moving without first staying in the area for longer than a few weeks — perhaps in an Airbnb, VRBO or other short-term rental.

Terry Feinberg and his wife, Carla Ruigh, learned that lesson the hard way.

Both are 62 years old. She is retired from her job as a municipal employee; he is semiretired from a career in marketing.

They live in Gilroy, California, on twoand-a-half acres, and five years ago they faced a mini-disaster: The main water line from their well broke.

“We thought, ‘What happens when we get to the point where we’re no longer able, or want, to maintain this property?’”

Feinberg said. “We decided we needed to think about an exit strategy.”

He and Ruigh love the desert and Southwest, so when he came across an ad for a brand-new 55-plus retirement community in Mesquite, Nevada, it seemed ideal.

They went out to look at the place “with zero intention of buying,” Feinberg said.

But they really liked what they saw, and a few days later they were the proud owners of a brand-new house on a quarter-acre lot.

They rented out their new house for the

first three years, then moved to Mesquite in March 2018 and rented out their Gilroy place. That’s when they realized that they should have spent a little more time in the desert and done a little more research.

“I looked at historical weather data, but didn’t go deep enough into how it would affect our lifestyle,” Feinberg said. “It hit 110 degrees in June and didn’t drop till late September. Often it wasn’t below 90 at night.”

It was so hot during the day that they had to start their biking and tennis around 5 a.m. And it was too hot at night to use their nice backyard or patio.

Look into healthcare, too The couple were also worried about their healthcare. Their HMO had recently changed its rules, and they could no longer use it after they moved to Nevada.

Plus, they became concerned about the

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shortage of doctors in the Mesquite community and the lack of access to specialized care if they needed it.

So, they put their new home on the market, reached an agreement with their Gilroy tenants for them to move out, and moved back to California.

In the end, they came out fine financially, Feinberg said. But psychologically, the hard work of moving took its toll. They have no plans to move again in the foreseeable future.

“If I were to give advice to someone looking to make a significant geographic move, it would be to do it temporarily, if possible, so you can really understand what it’s like to live there,” he said. “Experience the weather and lifestyle before completely pulling up roots.” © 2020 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

“We’ve begun to long for the pitter patter of little feet, so we bought a dog.

It’s cheaper, and you get more feet!”

– Rita Rudner “How come you never see a headline like, ‘Psychic Wins Lottery?’” – Jay Leno

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Arleigh Burke Pavilion Assisted Living z Nursing Care Short-term Rehabilitation

“Live Life Your Way”

With compassionate staff and a calendar of events, our residents “live life their way.”

ARLEIGH BURKE PAVILION AT

VINSON HALL RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

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States try to court retirees with tax breaks

By Sandra Block Maryland is known as the “Free State,” reflecting its tradition of political freedom and religious tolerance, along with its resistance to Prohibition. Talk to retirees, though, and they’ll tell you the nickname is a misnomer, at least as far as taxes are concerned.

While Maryland excludes from taxes up to $31,100 in income from pensions and 401(k) plans, state and local taxes on other types of income — including distributions from IRAs — can run as high as 9%.

Fortunately for Marylanders willing to relocate, a number of other states give retirees a break. For example, nearby Delaware and Virginia are both friendlier to tax-conscious seniors, according to Kiplinger’s state-bystate guide to taxes on retirees.

Alternatively, Marylanders can join the thousands of retirees that have stowed their snow shovels and moved to Florida, which has no income tax and is on Kiplinger’s list of most-tax-friendly states.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says high tax rates are driving out lifelong Marylanders who still have much to offer the state besides a steady stream of tax revenue.

Hogan, a Republican, introduced legislation this year that would eliminate state taxes on the first $50,000 of income for retirees making up to $100,000 in federally adjusted gross income. Retirees with income

of $50,000 or less would pay no state tax.

Hogan also wants to exempt from tax all pension and retirement income paid to veterans and first responders. The tax cuts, which would cost an estimated $1 billion, would be phased in over five years, beginning in fiscal year 2022.

[The legislation did not make it out of committee in the senate before the legislature adjourned early due to the pandemic.]

It had faced an uncertain future in the Democratic-controlled general assembly anyway, where lawmakers raised concerns about how the state would make up the revenue from the tax reductions.

Other states try as well Other states are also looking at ways to keep retirees from decamping to lower-tax states. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently signed legislation that will make it easier for seniors in Cook County — the state’s most populous jurisdiction, which includes Chicago — to apply for a property tax break of up to $8,000 a year.

Kiplinger has designated Illinois as one of the least tax-friendly states for retirees, primarily because of its sky-high property taxes.

West Virginia, which gets a “mixed” rating from Kiplinger for the way it taxes retirees, is phasing out taxes on Social Security benefits over three years, starting in 2020.

In New Mexico, which also gets a “mixed” rating, lawmakers are considering several bills that would repeal or reduce taxes on Social Security.

The states where the most retirees are moving, based on the number of people age 60 and older who moved into a state versus the number of people who moved out, are Florida, Arizona, South Carolina, North Carolina, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Idaho and Delaware.

Even states that already have low taxes are looking at ways to become more appealing to retirees. For example, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s proposed budget for 2020 would eliminate state income taxes on military pensions. Arizona is one of Kiplinger’s most tax-friendly states for retirees.

Tax cut trade-offs The independent research organization Think New Mexico contends that eliminating or reducing taxes on Social Security benefits would give retirees more money to spend, which would boost New Mexico’s economy.

But reducing taxes on retirees could force states to make costly trade-offs, some tax analysts say. States with a large number of retirees could see a significant reduction in their tax base, forcing them to cut services or raise taxes on their younger residents, said Kim Rueben, Sol

Price fellow at the Tax Policy Center.

“There are good reasons to want people who have spent their lives living and working in the state to stay there,” said Jared Walczak, director of state tax policy for the Tax Foundation.

But “as much as it’s great to know that you’re a state that retirees want to live in, it imposes a significant cost on the rest of the population,” Walczak added.

It’s also unclear how much state taxes influence retirees’ decisions when it comes to choosing a retirement destination. Proximity to family, the quality of healthcare and the cost of housing also play roles.

“People make decisions about where they’re going to live for a whole host of reasons, and taxes are not the major one,” Reuben said.

Whether you’re planning to stay put when you retire or move somewhere else, it’s important to include the cost of federal and state taxes when estimating your retirement budget.

Property, sales and gas taxes can also take a bite out of your budget. Some states also have estate and/or inheritance taxes, which could reduce the amount of money you leave to your children. © 2020 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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PERSONAL CARE/ASSISTED LIVING

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

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Discover Seabury at Springvale Terrace inside and out. Our Assisted Living offers a price and lifestyle you will love, with personal care subsidies for those who qualify. Affordable value that can only be found at our community, providing personal care, exercise, music, a host of daily activities and social events. Starting at only $3,901/month including private apartment with private bathroom, three nutritious meals a day, medication administration, nurse oversight, housekeeping and laundry services. Come take a look at Springvale Terrace. Assisted Living Apartments are available now (Medicaid accepted). Call Donald at (301) 587-0190 or email svtadmissions@seaburyresources.org for info and to schedule a virtual tour.

Make the move to Chesterbrook Residences and enjoy all the freedom that comes with residing in a caring assisted living community! Comfortable one- or two-bedroom apartments feature great views of the wooded area surrounding our neighborhood.

You'll enjoy chef-prepared meals, many on-site activities, outings to great DC area attractions, and relaxing community spaces that feel like home. On-site rehab services include physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Plus, an on-site wellness center, visiting physicians, and maintenance-free living offer convenience that you can't find at home. Call today to schedule your tour of our nonprofit community!

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At Sommerset Retirement Community, located in the heart of Sterling, Virginia, you’ll experience exceptional independent living at its best, with a comfortable, fulfilling, secure and active lifestyle. Sommerset’s unique amenities include restaurant style dining, housekeeping, 24-hour front desk personnel and private transportation. Enjoy the convenience of being just minutes from medical services, shopping, banking and entertainment.

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Covenant Village Senior Apartments 301-540-1162 18889 Waring Station Road Germantown, MD 20874 www.qpmgmt.com • Spacious 1 and 2 bedroom plans with washer/dryer in each apt.

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They always ensure that they have interesting and exciting things going on. Some of the fun includes: Garden Party Cookouts, Trips to Washington, DC to see the Cherry Blossoms, the Franciscan Monastery, and the National Zoo, Black Hills Pontoon Boat Ride, Low-Impact Fitness Classes, Resident Birthday Celebrations, Craft Classes and Potlucks. Also, many guest speakers are invited to speak to our residents on topics that are relevant to them.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon

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

Money Law &

25

LASTING LEGACY Some of the most common estate plan mistakes and how to avoid them AUTO ADVICE Should you buy a new or used car?

Surprisingly, sometimes newer is cheaper REGRETS, THEY HAVE A FEW Retirees share financial missteps: taking Social Security too early, lacking a plan CENSUS 2020 Who is “Person #1” on the census?

That’s something to decide together

How virus may affect your investments

By Anne Kates Smith Americans already worried about their health are now frightened about their finances.

Global financial markets spiraled into bear market territory in record time thanks to the virulent, cross-border spread of the coronavirus that causes the COVID19 infection.

As the number of U.S. cases surged in mid-March and President Trump declared a national state of emergency, the specter of a global recession quickly morphed from economists’ worst-case scenario to their base-case assumption.

For U.S. stock investors, the bear attack seemed to come out of nowhere. The broad stock market, measured by Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index, plunged to a 30% loss at one point in mid-March, closing on March 17 down 25% from a record high set only in mid-February.

Where the market bottoms depends on the course of the pandemic. But it’s important to remember that bear market bottoms are more of a process than a level on an index, and volatility may linger as the damage to companies’ bottom lines and to the

economy overall comes into sharper focus.

“Without any fundamental guideposts to ground investors in reality, they’re left establishing stock and bond prices on the basis of their worst nightmares,” strategist Jim Paulsen at the Leuthold Group said.

Strategists at Goldman Sachs have lowered their forecast for corporate profits in 2020 — twice. Goldman now sees a 5% drop in corporate profits this year compared with 2019, with earnings collapsing in the second and third quarters before reviving by year-end.

A recession is likely The virus first snarled supply chains from China, then whacked demand for goods and services as individuals and businesses hunkered down. The manufacturing sector was weak already.

And the collapse in oil prices as global demand weakens and Russia and Saudi Arabia feud does more damage to the energy sector and the economy than lower gas prices will help consumers.

To support the economy, the Fed lowered its benchmark short-term rate to 0% to 0.25% and launched a $700 billion bond-

buying program.

As of press time, lawmakers are working on legislation that would provide paid sick leave to some workers, strengthen unemployment insurance, and give tax credits and other relief to small businesses to lessen the impact of the virus.

And the Trump administration is shaping a monster stimulus plan that could reach $2 trillion and include aid for airlines and small businesses, as well as checks mailed directly to Americans.

Even so, Kiplinger expects an economic contraction in the second and third quarters — meeting the definition for recession of two consecutive declining quarters — with meager growth of 0.2% for 2020, and unemployment rising from a current low of 3.5% to more than 5%.

Optimists forecast rebound Sharp, swift stock-market drops are often followed by dramatic rebounds.

Goldman’s chief strategist David Kostin sees a mid-year low of 2000 on the S&P 500, a 41% drop from the high. But he forecasts a sharp rebound — a bit higher than the median six-month return follow-

ing previous event-driven bear markets — that could lift the S&P 500 to 3200 by yearend, a nearly 27% jump from its close on March 17.

Not all strategists are as optimistic, but most are urging investors to take advantage of a rocky market to gradually add to holdings at bargain prices.

“Investors should, in a disciplined, patient way, in line with their risk tolerance, add to certain sectors,” Sameer Samana, a global market strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, said.

Wells Fargo favors U.S. over international stocks, midsize and large-company shares over small-caps, and sectors including technology, communication services, consumer discretionary and — a dark horse pick as interest rates plummet and recession looms — financials.

As you assemble a stock market buy list, tilt toward high-quality and dividend-paying investments. Look for companies with consistent earnings growth, wide competitive “moats” and strong balance sheets, with little debt and plenty of cash.

See CORONAVIRUS HIT, page 26

Be a skeptical consumer during pandemic

By Eric Friedman Whether dealing with snake oil products, phishing scams, price gouging or cancelled travel arrangements, it is a difficult time to be a consumer. Scammers and their schemes change daily.

As a consumer, how can you protect yourself? Here are some of the more common scams circulating together with the virus.

First, know that there are no approved potions, pills or treatments to cure COVID19. That doesn’t stop online sellers and promotors using social media from advertising (and collecting money) for worthless “miracle” products — from colloidal silver drinks to “virus killing” toothpaste.

The Federal Trade Commission reports that pop-up websites claim to have useful products in high demand, yet never ship them. Research the name of the website with the word “scam” to see if other consumers are complaining.

Similarly, ignore online ads offering vaccinations (which don’t yet exist) or invest-

ments in coronavirus treating companies.

You may be asked to donate funds towards research or to help victims. Before sending money, you should research any charity using CharityNavigator.org, Guidestar.org or Give.org. In addition, you can make sure any charities have the proper license from your state by searching for them on your secretary of state’s website.

Online hackers may send unsolicited email messages offering supposed maps to coronavirus hot spots or health information. Clicking on these scam messages may allow online viruses or malware access to your computer to “phish” — that is, to steal your personal or account information.

Never click on unsolicited online offers, and only click on COVID-19 news from a trusted source like the CDC, WHO, your local hospital’s website or other authoritative entities.

Beware: Reports are surfacing that door-to-door scammers are posing as CDC, WHO or other government health

officials making “spot checks” for the virus. These agencies are too taxed to be making on-site health inspections. Those are not legitimate officials at your door.

There are also reports that robocalls are peddling scam work-at-home schemes once again and also unnecessary water filters.

emergency period.

Moreover, some counties, like Montgomery County, have consumer protection laws regarding “unconscionable” conduct or “price disparity” related to the sale of goods might be used to address price gouging.

Cancelled trips, events, etc.

Watch out for price gouging Price gouging is an unfortunate side effect of any natural disaster, including this pandemic. Unscrupulous merchants have been known to charge exorbitant prices for hand sanitizer, cleaning products and disinfectant wipes.

Amazon and eBay are taking steps to prohibit price gouging activity regarding certain products and have blocked certain sellers.

Not all states have specific laws on the books that address price gouging. The District of Columbia and Virginia do have such specific laws. In Maryland, the Governor recently signed a State of Emergency bill which banned price gouging during the

Many airlines, hotels and cruise lines are allowing consumers to cancel or postpone tickets without penalties. Cancellation, credit and refund policies vary greatly with tour groups, peer-to-peer shared housing and public events.

There are no consumer protection laws that regulate all of these consumer transactions. It’s best to contact each business directly to resolve these difficult situations.

Reporting violations If you come across price gouging, scam products or other unconscionable behavSee BE A SKEPTIC, page 26

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Coronavirus hit From page 25

Stocks to consider According to strategists at BofA Securities, high-quality stocks with defensible dividends include software giant Microsoft (MSFT, $147), yielding 1.39% and healthcare firm Baxter International, (BAX, $81), yielding 1.09%. Fifth-Third Bancorp, (FITB, $14) is another BofA pick, yielding a whopping 7.74%.

Companies that Goldman Sachs singles out for their stable earnings growth and strong balance sheets include Alphabet (GOOGL, $1,118) and Costco Wholesale (COST, $307), both of which stand to benefit in the face of the coronavirus.

Tactical investors looking for other stocks that should do well during the COVID Collapse can consider so-called

Be a skeptic From page 25 ior, or if you have questions about cancelling your travel plans, please contact the following resources: District of Columbia: File a complaint with the attorney general’s Office of Consumer Protection at oag.dc.gov or email consumer.protection@dc.gov.

Mar yland: File a complaint with the Maryland Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at marylandattorneygeneral.gov/pages/cpd/complaint.aspx or call its consumer hotline at (410) 528-

stay-at-home stocks. Zoom Video Communications (ZM, $111), which connects users across devices and locations in a single meeting. The stock has returned nearly 3% since mid-February.

In the week ended March 13, Teledoc Health (TDOC, $118), says it provided roughly 100,000 virtual medical visits, in the U.S., a 50% spike from the prior week.

Drug stocks that will benefit include Gilead (GILD, $75), currently testing a treatment for COVID-19, with results due in April. Moderna (MRNA, $28), is further along in creating a vaccine than any other drug company, according to research firm Morningstar. Quest Diagnostics (DGX, $86), is launching a COVID-19 testing service. © 2020 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 8662 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection has an online complaint form, too. You can call (240) 777-3636 or email consumerprotection@montgomerycountymd.g ov. Or call the anonymous tip line at (240) 777-3681.

Virginia: Call the Virginia Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Protection at (800) 552-9963 or email consumer@oag.state.va. us. Its website offers complaint forms for price gouging or general complaints.

Eric Friedman is the director of the Montgomery County, Maryland Office of Consumer Protection.

BEACON BITS

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VISIT FAMOUS MUSEUMS FROM HOME Not being able to travel physically doesn’t mean we can’t still

explore! Check out virtual tours of museums around the world, including South Korea’s National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, the British Museum, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, and Mexico’s National Museum of Anthropology. You can also view our country’s famous museums, including the National Gallery of Art in D.C. and the Guggenheim Museum in New York. To access these tours, visit http://bit.ly/EuropeanMuseum.

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Avoid some common estate plan mistakes

By Bud Boland A few years ago, I received a phone call from a woman understandably upset that she might not inherit any of her deceased father’s large 401(k) plan, even though he was divorced and she was an only child.

Unfortunately, about a year before, her father divorced for the second time and failed to remove his ex-wife as the beneficiary of his 401(k).

While the man probably never intended for his ex-wife to receive his assets and entirely cut out his only child, that is exactly what happened.

An estate plan consists of three primary documents that will provide clarity about how you would like your wishes carried out both during life and after you die: a will, a durable power of attorney and a healthcare power of attorney.

The latter two legal documents designate individuals to help make decisions involving your finances or health in case you cannot while you’re still living.

In my work helping families design estate plans that effectively reflect their wishes, here are five common mistakes I see: 1. No estate plan at all A will provides specific information about who will receive your money, property and other assets. It’s important even for people with minimal assets. Without a will, state law decides who will receive your assets, and it’s not likely they will be distributed the same way you would want.

Dying without a will, known as dying intestate, involves a time-consuming and costly process for your heirs that can easily be avoided by simply having a will.

A will provides the opportunity to appoint an executor to carry out the business of closing your estate and distributing your assets. In lieu of a will, these appointments

will likely be made by a probate court.

2. Missing or incorrect beneficiaries Many people are surprised to learn that some of their assets, such as retirement accounts and life insurance policies, are not controlled by their will.

To make certain the right person inherits these assets, a specific person or trust must be named as the beneficiary for each account. Without updating the beneficiary, the amount in that account will go to the person they named decades ago, instead of a spouse, their children or both.

3. Incorrect joint title Married couples can own assets jointly, but they may not realize that there are different types of joint ownership: Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship (JTWROS): If one person passes away, their spouse or partner will automatically receive the deceased person’s portion of the asset by order of law. This transfer of ownership bypasses a will entirely.

Tenancy in Common (TIC): Each joint owner has a separate transferrable share of the asset. Each person’s will dictates who inherits the share.

It is not uncommon to see improper joint asset titling become an issue if a deceased person’s share of a joint asset is intended to be used for a specific purpose, such as funding a trust, following their death.

For example, George and Mary are a married couple with a large amount of investment assets. Their non-retirement accounts are all owned together as Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship.

Assuming George passes away first, his wish is to use a portion of the investments to fund a trust created by his will for their four grandchildren. However, because all

A Gift That Gives Back

of the assets automatically go to Mary once he dies due to the JTWROS titling, there will be no assets available from George’s estate to fund the grandchildren’s trust.

4. Failure to fund a revocable living trust A living trust allows a person to place assets in a trust with the ability to freely move assets in and out of the trust while living. At death, assets continue to be held in trust or distributed to beneficiaries, all

of which is dictated by the terms of a trust document.

The major advantages of a revocable living trust are twofold: First, it reduces or eliminates the time and expense associated with the probate process, which is necessary with a will.

Second, it provides privacy and protection from the probate process. (A will, when submitted to probate, becomes pubSee ESTATE PLAN, page 28

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• • • •

Been double billed (billed twice) Been billed for products or services not received Been offered free services Had personal information misused

Call 202-434-2099 (All calls are confidential.) or email LCESMP@aarp.org This project was supported, in part by grant number 90MPPG0042 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201.

Legal Counsel for the Elderly is an affiliate of AARP.

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Law & Money | Subscribe for half-price. See p. 45

Estate plan From page 27 lic record, which makes it not only visible but able to be challenged.)

The most common mistake made with a revocable living trust is failure to retitle or

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

transfer ownership of assets to the trust.

This critical step is often overlooked after the “heavy lifting” of drafting the trust document is completed. However, the trust is of no use if it does not own any assets.

5. It may not make sense to name a trust as a beneficiary of an IRA.

The new SECURE Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2020, calls for the removal of a provision known as the stretch IRA. This provision allowed non-spouses inheriting retirement accounts to stretch out disbursements over their lifetimes. The stretch IRA allowed assets in retirement accounts to continue their tax-deferred growth over many years — a very powerful strategy.

But the new law requires a full payout from the inherited IRA within 10 years of the death of the original account holder, in most cases, when a non-spouse individual is the beneficiary.

Because of these changes, it may no longer be ideal for a person to name a trust

as the beneficiary of their retirement account. It is possible that either distributions from the IRA may not be permitted when a beneficiary would like to take one, or distributions will be forced to take place at an undesirable time and unnecessary taxes will be generated.

Speak with an attorney and revisit estate plans to ensure that the new SECURE Act provisions do not create unintended consequences.

This article was written by and presents the views of the author, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. Check adviser records with the SEC or FINRA. © 2020 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS 50+ EMPLOYMENT EXPOS POSTPONED The 50+ Employment Expos hosted by the Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington have been rescheduled. The Mon., May 4 event has been moved to Mon., Nov. 16 at the North Bethesda Marriot Hotel, 5701 Marinelli Rd., Rockville, Md. The Thurs., May 14 expo has been rescheduled for Fri., Dec. 4 at the Fair Oaks Marriott, 11787 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy., Fairfax, Va. For more information, call JCA at (301) 255-4200 or visit accessjca.org.

Nov.+

CONNECT-A-RIDE Free Transportation Information and Personalized Help

REMOTE VOLUNTEERING If you want to help in this time of need, volunteer remotely to help with tracking the virus, e-learning programs, offering emotional support and more. Check out a list of volunteer opportunities at helpwithcovid.com.

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Call 301.738.3252 E-mail ConnectARide@AccessJCA.org Monday thru Friday • 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m 24-hour voice mail • Translation service available Connect-A-Ride is a service of the Jewish Council for the Aging for adults age 50 and older and adults with disabilities living in Montgomery County. It is funded by Montgomery County Department of Transportation.

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Should your next car be new or used?

By David Muhlbaum At Kiplinger, we’ve hewed pretty closely to the same car-buying advice over the years: Used cars offer the best value. Not overspending on a depreciating asset fits well with our get-rich-slowly philosophy.

As designated car guy, I’ve repeated that mantra plenty of times. But recently a friend challenged me on it.

He was looking for something safe for his kids, with a stick shift and a hint of sportiness. Maybe a new Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla iM? No problem with your choices, I said, but why not buy used?

His counter: Carmaker subsidies made the interest rate he would pay for a loan on a new car much lower than the rates he was finding for used-car loans. Also, he argued, a three-year-old car would be that much closer to needing new tires, brakes and possibly major service.

“But...but...depreciation!” I sputtered. At the same time, I remembered that the models he was considering have superhigh residual values. Maybe he was right?

When new makes more sense I resolved to run some numbers and check with experts to see if it ever makes more financial sense to buy a car new

rather than used.

Note that I said financial sense. Some people, for any number of reasons, will never buy a used car. Others won’t ever buy new (price is often the reason). My friend was in neither of these camps, and I imagine there are others like him.

What’s the answer? According to Ivan Drury, senior insights manager for Edmunds.com, there are cases when it’s better to buy new than used.

“It isn’t even rare,” he said. “You need vehicles that are low-priced to start with and have high resale value.”

Some examples he provided: the Toyota Tacoma pickup, Toyota 4Runner (a popular old-school SUV), the Jeep Wrangler and the Subaru Crosstrek (a small crossover).

“With these,” he said, “the price differential is not enough to say, ‘Hey, go out and buy a used car.’”

Buy used luxury cars It’s the opposite case for luxury vehicles. For these, favorable financing and free maintenance can’t make up for the huge depreciation hit, Drury said. Buy used.

What about the cars on your short list, which might be somewhere in between

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these two groups?

I recommend starting with an online calculator, such as the Edmunds True Cost to Own tool, to consider all the costs (insurance, depreciation, maintenance and more) that go into car ownership.

If you want to get deeper into the financing costs, also check out State Farm’s New Car vs. Used Car calculator, which (for better and worse) lets you input your own values for almost all of the parameters.

And, of course, it’s important to make an apples-to-apples comparison. Eric Ibara, director of KBB’s 5-Year Cost to Own tool, notes that cars get better and safer all the time.

“There are a lot of features coming out on new cars that are not available on a three- or

five-year-old car,” he said. “The safety technology, for example — some of the older cars had it, but not all of them did.”

Fortunately for my buddy’s situation, there’s not much difference between a 2020 Honda Civic and one from three model years earlier. So, for a Civic LX with a six-speed, over five years, it will cost $228 less to buy a 2020 model than a 2017 one.

As expected, the new car costs more up front and depreciates more dramatically, but maintenance and repairs are higher for the used model. Not a huge difference, but don’t forget, you get that new-car smell along with your savings. © 2020 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

30

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

Top financial regrets of recent retirees

By Liz Weston In a previous column, I detailed retirees’ biggest lifestyle regrets, such as not traveling more before their health gave out and not communicating clearly with a partner about what they hoped retirement would be like.

Now we’ll cover the money moves retirees wish they hadn’t made. The big ones, of course, are starting to save too late and not saving enough, but there are other common regrets, according to certified financial planners from the Financial Planning Association and the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners.

“I wish I had started Social Security later” About 1 out of 3 Social Security recipi-

ents apply for benefits at the earliest age, which is 62. It’s often a mistake.

Benefits grow by a guaranteed 5% to 8% each year that the applicant delays. Starting early also can stunt the survivor benefit that one spouse will have to live on when the other dies.

Some people talk themselves into starting early with the promise that they’ll save or invest their benefits, said CFP Delia Fernandez of Los Alamitos, California.

“But of course they can’t earn on it what Social Security will pay them if they only wait,” Fernandez said. “They look back and say, ‘I should have waited. I would have had so much more Social Security coming in right now.’”

“I wish I had put more money in a

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Roth IRA” Making deductible contributions to 401(k)s, IRAs and other retirement plans can reduce your tax bill while you’re working, which is great.

But eventually that money has to come out of the accounts, thanks to required minimum distribution rules, and it’s taxed as ordinary income.

Diligent savers can find themselves pushed into higher tax brackets by these mandatory withdrawals, planners say. The disbursements also can cause more of their Social Security benefits to be taxed and raise their Medicare premiums.

To better manage tax bills in retirement, financial planners recommend saving at least some money in Roth accounts, which don’t offer upfront deductions but provide tax-free withdrawals.

“I wish I’d known about IRMAA” Speaking of Medicare, people are often surprised how much healthcare coverage costs in retirement, planners say. Those who had generous employer-provided coverage can find themselves paying significantly more out of pocket than when they were working.

Medicare has deductibles, co-pays and expenses that aren’t typically covered — including eye care, dental care and hearing aids. But Medicare itself also has premiums,

and those can rise with higher income, thanks to the income-related monthly adjustment amount — known as IRMAA. The standard premium for Medicare Part B, which covers doctor’s visits, is $144.60 per month for 2020. If your modified adjusted gross income is above $87,000 for singles or $174,000 for married couples, though, IRMAA can add anywhere between $57.80 to as much as $347 per person per month.

IRMAA affected 3.5 million Part B beneficiaries and 2.5 million Part D beneficiaries in 2017, according to the Medicare trustees.

“I wish I had more money in the stock market” As scary as the stock market can be, some exposure to equities is essential for most retirees, financial planners say.

Stocks are the only investment class that consistently outpaces inflation.

In some cases, a retiree may be able to take more risk with their investments than when they were younger, said CFP Marc B. Schindler of Bellaire, Texas.

For example, if all a retiree’s fixed expenses are covered by guaranteed income — from Social Security and pensions, for example — she may be in a good position to take more risk with her portfolio and potentially reap the rewards of higher returns.

—AP/NerdWallet

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

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

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As you fill out your 2020 Census form…

By Mike Schneider It’s a question spouses, domestic partners and roommates are going to be forced to confront in the next few weeks as they fill out their 2020 Census forms: Who gets to be the primary person in the household?

Everyone else who lives in the home has to be identified on the form by how they are related to so-called “Person 1.” It’s a question that even the most egalitarian homes are going to have to figure out — though it’s sure to spark some intriguing conversations.

For married couple Debbie Kleinberg and Frankie Huff, it’s a no-brainer.

“Me, because anytime Frankie has paperwork, I do it,” said Kleinberg, a credit administrator, who lives with her collegeprofessor wife in an Orlando suburb.

Kleinberg says the 2020 Census-answering process in their home will follow a familiar pattern.

“The notice will come in the mail. It will sit on the kitchen table for a couple of days, or weeks. It may even get lost, and we will find it after sorting through a pile of bills later,” Kleinberg said.

But she will eventually fill it out. “Being introverts, we don’t want anyone knocking on our door,” srehe said.

An unfamiliar conversation Deciding who fills out the questionnaire may force spouses or domestic partners to talk about power dynamics they might not have discussed for 10 years, since the last time there was a decennial census, said Diana Betz, an assistant professor of psychology at Loyola University in Maryland.

In some households, she added, the topic might never have come up.

That could mean contemplating whether having a bigger salary or a more important job title trumps the traditional gender

norms a couple may have settled into, or if doing more for a household through domestic chores or child-raising gives someone the claim, Betz said.

“You might be saying stuff that was previously left unspoken,” Betz said.

In Betz’s home, her husband, an economist, will be filling out the questionnaire when it first becomes available in midMarch, but that’s only because he wrote his dissertation about the Census. “So, that’s a complicating factor,” she said.

The 2020 form says “Person 1” should be someone who pays the rent or owns the home. If nobody meets that description, “start by listing any adult living here as Person 1,” according to the form.

Knowing how everyone else is related to “Person 1” helps the Census Bureau understand the different types of households there are and their numbers, such as family households with a grandparent living in the home.

Until 40 years ago, Person 1 was called “head of household or “head of family.”

But the U.S. Census Bureau stopped using those monikers as more women were entering the workforce and fewer men were the sole breadwinners.

“Householder” also is used to describe the person to whom the relationship of all other household members is recorded.

More options than last time The most recent American Community Survey offers a sneak-peak of how the genders of “Person 1” may break down in the 2020 Census — and it points to a fairly even divide.

In 2018, there were a total of 79 million households with families. In 41 million of those homes, the householder was a man, and in 38 million homes, the householder was a woman.

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This year, there are more options on the census form for describing how people are related to Person 1 since the Census Bureau has added categories like “oppositesex unmarried partner,” “same-sex husband/wife/spouse” and “same-sex unmarried partner.”

The change came after the 2010 Census when the form only had “husband/wife” and “unmarried partners” to describe romantic attachments.

Several studies have theorized that same-sex couples from the 2010 Census were inflated due to unintentional mismarkings by confused heterosexual married couples.

Complete online if possible Unlike in years past, most people won’t be filling out the form by hand and mailing it back. Instead, the Census Bureau is encouraging a majority of respondents to answer the questions online, although people

also will be able to answer by telephone or by mailing in their responses.

Census workers will be sent out to knock on the doors of homes of people who haven’t responded by May. The 2020 Census will help determine how $1.5 trillion in federal spending is distributed, as well as how many congressional seats each state gets.

The Census Bureau offers no guidance on how to sort out who is designated “Person 1.” When asked how people should decide who in their home gets to respond, Census Bureau director Steven Dillingham said he wasn’t going to venture an opinion, “just as long as someone is answering and we get a self-response.”

And who will be filling out the form in his home?

“That’s a good question,” Dillingham said.

“Hopefully, I’m home, and maybe it will be me. But if not, my wife will do a great job.”

—AP

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Subscribe for half-price. See p. 45

Travel Leisure &

Artisans sell original artwork in Santa Fe’s plaza. See story on page 35.

The many allures of Taos, New Mexico local told me, “Nothing in Taos is very far from anything else.” But what it lacks in size, it makes up in appeal and attractions.

Let’s pick up the story in 1540, when a Spanish expedition arrived to find magnificent structures in which the peaceful Tiwa Pueblo Indians lived. A period of co-existence between the two groups later gave way to decades of conflict.

Eventually a land grant to Spanish families led to the establishment of a town that would become Taos. The heart of that settlement was, and remains, a walled plaza enclosed by adobe buildings.

PHOTO BY NEW MEXICO TRUE

By Victor Block Editor’s Note: As of the time of publication, the COVID-19 virus has reached New Mexico and is spreading through the community. As with most areas of the country, there are widespread restrictions on personto-person contact, and many businesses are either closed or are limiting operations. This is not the time to travel there, or anywhere, for enjoyment.

Please enjoy this travel section as armchair entertainment and for planning your future travel in healthier times.

In Taos and Santa Fe, the ochre color of the predominant adobe buildings blends naturally with that of the surrounding desert of New Mexico. Historic houses, walls and other structures have gentle curves that replicate the natural world.

An almost countless number of art galleries line the streets of the two communities. Reminders of their origins as colonial Spanish outposts and frontier towns are everywhere.

Yet Santa Fe and Taos offer experiences that are as different as the sun-filled days and starlit nights of New Mexico.

For starters, Santa Fe claims special status as the state capital. It was founded by Spanish colonists in 1610, making it the oldest state capital in the United States. Its population of about 83,000 is some 14 times larger than that of Taos.

By contrast, Taos is compact. As one

Historic district walking tour The Plaza is the best place to begin an exploration of Taos’ historic district. It’s a short walk to a number of highlights that relate chapters of the Taos tale.

Four rooms in the Ernest L. Blumenschein Home and Museum form part of the protective walls that surrounded the original settlement. Later they were incorporated into a home where the artist, and his painter wife, lived and worked during the first decades of the 20th century.

In addition to original furnishings, the house displays a collection of paintings by its former occupants and other artists.

These include members of the Taos Society of Artists which, during that group’s existence (1915-1927), earned the tiny town recognition as a major art colony.

The wide-open spaces near Taos, New Mexico, can be explored on horseback or on foot. The town of 6,000 is known for its art galleries, museums and colorful chile peppers.

PHOTO BY JOHN MACKENZIE BURKE

Works by Taos Society members also hang on the walls of the Taos Art Museum at Fechin House, along with paintings by its namesake. Nicolai Fechin was a Russian émigré who came to town in 1927 and grew to be recognized as a leading portraitist.

Other museums, some located in the homes of former illustrious residents, also relate parts of the intriguing history of Taos.

The Harwood Museum displays works by outstanding 18th-to-21st century artists.

The Couse-Sharp Historic Site is named for two painters who worked there and were instrumental in creating the rich cultural fabric of Taos.

The story of the Millicent Rogers Museum involves the high-society scion of a wealthy industrialist who picked Taos as the perfect place to recover from a failed romantic affair with Hollywood actor Clark Gable. Her collection of fine art and antiques includes jewelry, textiles, pottery and other arts and crafts indigenous to the area.

Extensive shopping options

Built 1,000 years ago, the multi-story dwellings of the Taos Pueblo are still home to a vibrant Native American community of about 4,500 people. The pueblo, a National Historic Landmark, is the oldest continuously inhabited place in the United States.

Along with its claim to fame as a center for a fascinating fusion of artistic genres, Taos is a major shopping mecca. Much of the selling and buying is centered in and around the Plaza.

The scene is set by stores with names

like Taos Cowboy, Taos Trading Center and Mesa’s Edge. A number of museum gift stores also offer unusual and often unique merchandise that can cause visitors to open their eyes, and often their wallets.

Narrowing down what can be an overwhelming selection of places to shop and products to buy can be a challenge. The array of Western boots alone offers a daunting choice. In the words of one stylist, “We used to make boots to fit in saddle stirrups. Now we make them to step on the gas pedal of a Cadillac.”

There’s nary a familiar chain store name in sight. My suggestion: Narrow down the time you plan to spend shopping by arriving with some idea of what kind of mementoes or other items you’d like to take home.

Native American pueblos A different cultural experience greets visitors to the Taos Pueblo, one of 19 pueblos (Spanish for towns or villages) in northern New Mexico. The complex, multi-storied earthen structures are considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited place in the country.

While the community is only a short drive from town, it comprises a sovereign nation, governed by a traditional Native See TAOS, page 34

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A question for tourists today: What now?

By Ed Perkins The coronavirus situation has changed our world dramatically. Problems initially confined to Asia have expanded to Europe and beyond.

Travel within the U.S., overall, has tanked. Airlines are chopping not only their intercontinental flight schedules, but also domestic flights as well.

Cruise lines have suspended operations. As of press time, the travel marketplace is in chaos, with no immediate improvement in sight.

Within that context, here’s my current take:

If you’ve already booked a trip If you have already booked travel, the outlook — and your options — are limited.

Airlines are offering to allow you to reschedule a nonrefundable flight without a change fee, but the limits are fairly tight: They apply to trips in the near future, and you have to reuse the value of your original ticket within a year or less.

Most big hotel chains are offering nofee cancellation and rebooking up to 48 hours before your scheduled arrival, but again, so far, only through the end of April.

The net result is that if you can live with the limitations, you can retain the value of prepaid nonrefundable flights and accommodations without paying change fees.

But those limitations can be difficult.

There are many instances where rescheduling a trip, either within a few months or a year ahead, is not practical for many travelers.

If you haven’t booked a trip For travelers looking to visit places in late spring through fall, the best alternative for most is to stash credit cards in a se-

cure place and sit on the sidelines to watch the fast-moving developments.

Travel these days isn’t fun, with shutdowns of many prime visitor attractions.

Staycations look really good about now.

But if you really need to book future travel now, you can protect yourself a bit: —Unless you see a ridiculously low advance-purchase price, make all your advance accommodations bookings fully refundable. In most cases, the premium is small.

—Refundable airfares, on the other hand, are almost always several times the cost of a typical leisure traveler fare. Your best bet here is to buy “cancel for any reason” travel insurance — it costs more and covers less than regular policies, but you get to decide what to do, not an insurance company bean-counter.

—Don’t go anywhere you’d even remotely face quarantine.

In either case If an airline cancels your flight or tries to book you on a substitute flight, you have a legal right to a full refund, even on a nonrefundable ticket, if the airline offers you a replacement schedule that delays you for more than two hours.

But despite these protections, any time you book a nonrefundable and have to reschedule, the airline or hotel keeps your money.

And even with no-fee changes, you don’t get your money back. Instead, you get credit toward future flights or rooms with no change fees, within a year or so — which you may or may not find useable.

To keep track of your options, the website Airfarewatchdog.com posts and regularly updates a complete run-down by airline of current cancellation, rebooking and refund

policies for 42 major U.S. and foreign lines.

United Airlines is playing hardball on cancellations and changes. If it cancels your flight and can’t re-accommodate an arrival within six hours of your original schedule, it doesn’t give you your money back right away. Instead, it gives you a future credit good for a year, and will give you an actual refund only if you don’t use that credit within a year of issue.

And when United says you can rebook a flight with no change fee, if the fare for your new flight is less than the original, United keeps the difference. As a result, I’m very

cautious about booking with United.

Keep in mind that any refund you’re due must come from the agency where you made your arrangements. If you booked an air ticket, hotel or other service through a travel agency — either the bricks-and-mortar version or online — your refund must come through that agency. This is yet another reason to book directly with major suppliers.

Send email to Ed Perkins at eperkins@ mind.net and visit his rail travel website at rail-guru.com. © 2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Leisure & Travel | Subscribe for half-price. See p. 45

Taos From page 32 American hierarchy where life goes on much as it has for some 2,000 years.

Most of the residents live in more modern dwellings scattered about the sprawling pueblo acreage, but about 150 people continue to cling to the old ways in the original apartments. They make do without electricity or running water, and bake bread in outdoor beehive-shaped ovens, or hornos.

Some rooms of ground-floor apartments function as shops that sell handmade jewelry and paintings by Native American artists, which are authentic but sometimes a bit pricey.

A better deal, I decided, was paying $4 for a snack of fry bread, cooked to order and served with a choice of powdered sugar, cinnamon or honey. The chef was a charming 10-year-old girl working under

Letters to editor From page 2 Editor’s note: Thank you for your timely letter.

The cover story of this month’s Housing & Homecare Options magazine (inside) describes the difference between clutter and hoarding.

Glad you’re tackling for former, not the latter.

Dear Stuart: What a wonderful informative presentation you gave us last month [at Live and

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

the supervision of her grandfather.

A teenage boy proudly displayed a row of arm tattoos of famous Native American chiefs. Pointing to the face at the top, nearly shoulder high, he identified the image as Sitting Bull, a renowned tribal leader during the years of resistance against the United States government.

Along with the Taos Pueblo and other major must-see sites, I came across several other places that may lie beneath some visitors’ radar that are worth a look-see.

The Bent House Museum was where the first American governor of New Mexico lived. He died in 1847 when he was scalped during an uprising by Native Americans acting under the direction of Mexican conspirators. Tourists can see the hole in the wall through which some of its inhabitants escaped the attack.

You can also visit the low-slung adobe house of Kit Carson, a 19th-century fronLearn Bethesda]!

You and your wife should be so very proud of all the efforts you put into your “baby,” the Beacon. You started it over 30 years ago and look at it now! It has grown tremendously and has enriched thousands of people’s lives.

The Beacon is like the energy bunny. It keeps growing and growing, providing us with a smorgasbord of articles on many topics.

tiersman, trapper, scout, Indian agent and Army officer. He became a legend due to often exaggerated stories about him in news articles and dime novels.

His house, where he lived for almost a quarter-century, is a repository of artifacts that illustrate the various phases of his career.

Carson’s house, and Carson himself, typify the captivating tales, historical tidbits and cultural mélange that draw visitors to Taos.

The Hotel Don Fernando de Taos immerses guests in the ambience of the region. Murals, paintings and tapestries were provided by local artists. Hand-crafted bed frames, and cowboy and Indian statues that dot the landscape, add to the gallery atmosphere. Rates begin at $89. Call (575) 751-4444 or check tapestrycollection3.hilton.com.

When it comes to dining in New Mexico, know in advance that two colors of chile peppers can’t be avoided: red and green.

And understand what it means when a waitperson asks, “Do you want red, green or Christmas (mixed) chiles?” People are very passionate about their chile choices there.

Nonetheless, a casual atmosphere awaits diners at Orlando’s New Mexican Café, one of numerous restaurants favored by locals. Entree prices range from $9 (beans topped by chicken or beef and green chile) to $17 (grilled flatiron steak with chiles, tortilla and other accompaniments). Call them at (575) 751-1450.

Round-trip flights from Washington, D.C. area airports to Albuquerque start at $300; check cdc.gov for current travel advice. By car, Taos is a 28-hour drive from this area. For more information about Taos, call (800) 732-8267 or visit taos.org.

Thank you for all you do.

Bev Amsterdam Executive Director Live and Learn Bethesda Dear Editor: There are individuals who fall upon harsh times but live with a creative dream inside of them that could benefit many, even globally.

Making a difference to donate to or sponsor such individuals, who have a

proven idea or invention, who are in need of help to [develop it], would be a dream come true for many.

There are 16 billionaires here in the Washington, D.C. area, along with other wealthy individuals. Collaborating to establish a Silver Spring Community Dream Come True development could be a winwin life for all involved.

K. Furman Silver Spring. Md.

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Visiting Santa Fe, Taosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; larger neighbor

By Victor Block A first-time visitor to Santa Fe may initially view the city as Taos on steroids.

That observation does tell part of the story â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but only part.

New Mexicoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital city and its neighbor share many attributes, but also have their differences. Therein lies the appeal of seeing both places in a single visit; Santa Fe

is about an hour and a half south of Taos.

Santa Fe is known largely as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;big, little cityâ&#x20AC;? with multicultural roots and a focus on visual arts. More than 200 galleries represent artists whose works range from funky to fine, pre-Columbian to post-modern, European to Native American.

Like Taos, the heart of Santa Fe is its plaza, as it has been since 1610. The square PHOTO BY NEW MEXICO TRUE

is dotted with pushcarts from which vendors peddle snacks and various wares.

Native American artisans gather beside the Palace of the Governors selling jewelry and crafts. That adobe structure, which dates to 1610, is the oldest continuously occupied government building in the United States.

Churches also tell part of Santa Feâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story. The San Miguel Chapel was built between 1610 and 1626, and is regarded as the oldest known church in the United States. It is still open to the public (though probably not during the pandemic).

A short walk away is the Loretto Chapel.

When it was completed in 1878, its builders couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t figure out how to construct access to the choir loft, according to legend. Nuns

prayed to St. Joseph, patron saint of carpenters, for a solution. Shortly thereafter a man with a tool box appeared, built the elegant stairway that graces the church today, and disappeared without payment or thanks.

The staircase makes two 360-degree turns and has no visible means of support.

It has been the subject of television programs and movies, including one titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unsolved Mysteries,â&#x20AC;? a Lifetime series with 16 seasons.

Other historical and cultural tidbits come to light at Santa Feâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s museums. The Museum of International Folk Art houses the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest collection of that artisSee SANTA FE, page 37

The 1886 Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is the centerpiece of historic downtown Santa Fe. The church, established 400 years ago, has been rebuilt several times on the same site.

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Santa Fe From page 35 tic style. Among its unusual exhibits are early 19th-century European toy theaters and Ukrainian straw dolls.

Georgia O’Keeffe house A short drive away is the home and studio where the legendary artist Georgia O’Keeffe lived and worked for nearly 40 years. Sections of the single-story adobe structure are believed to date to the 1730s.

The house itself and the cottonwood trees outside are depicted in a number of O’Keeffe’s paintings.

Relegating O’Keeffe’s place to new-kidon-the-block status is the aptly named “Oldest House.” Its structure rests on the foundation of an Indian pueblo which stood at the site around 1200 A.D. Roof beams have been dated to about 1646, and the building briefly served as home to a

Spanish territorial governor.

Two other places that I visited became personal favorites.

The Santa Fe Botanical Garden displays both native and foreign plants and flowers that thrive in the arid New Mexican climate.

Sections are devoted to roses and perennials with a meadow environment. Fruit trees that were selected for their ability to withstand dry conditions adorn the garden.

Not far away is the National Park Service’s Santa Fe National Historic Trail. In 1821, traders, who were followed by pioneers and settlers, established a route between Missouri and Santa Fe. Riders on mule- and ox-drawn wagons, stagecoaches and Pony Express made the challenging journey, traveling some 900 miles across the Great Plains. Arrival of the railroad at the trail’s terminus in 1880 ended its usefulness.

A massive bronze sculpture, “Journey’s End,” captures what may have been a com-

mon scene from the period when the trail was used: Six tired mules strain to pull a heavy wagon up a hill as a puebloan woman looks on. The trail boss points toward the end of the route, and a boy running away from the town with his dog waves a greeting to welcome the caravan.

If you go To me, Santa Fe lacks some of the smalltown charm and laid-back ambience of Taos. Outside of the historic districts, it has a more citified, commercial facade. It also has more traffic, though it doesn’t rival the Greater Washington area.

But Santa Fe’s excellent places to stay and eat can enhance a visit. At the El Rey Court boutique hotel, adobe-style architecture on a five-acre landscaped campus echo the desert surroundings. Construct-

37

ed in 1930 along the original Route 66, its recently renovated rooms are decorated with original works by local artists. Rates begin at $140. For more information, call (505) 982-1931 or visit elreycourt.com.

Santa Fe residents seeking a special dining experience often head to Rancho de Chimayo, a destination restaurant located about a half-hour drive away in the town of Chimayo.

Housed in a century-old adobe hacienda, it serves traditional New Mexican cuisine like tortilla beef wrap ($14.50) and chicken fajita salad ($13). A selection of comidas nativas (native meals) is priced from $12 to $17.75. For more information, call (505) 351-4444 or check ranchodechimayo.com.

For more information about Santa Fe, call 1-800-777-2489 or visit santafe.org.

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“My mother always used to say: The older you get, the better you get, unless you’re a banana.”

– Rose, The Golden Girls

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Style Arts &

Isabel Allende, who has sold 75 million books, lives modestly. See story on page 39.

Country singer, songwriter Karen Collins

Always new things to learn Collins enjoys learning new styles of

PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN COLLINS AND THE BACKROADS BAND

By Gayla Mills Karen Collins loved singing along to records as a kid. Growing up a coal miner’s daughter in southwest Virginia, she struggled for years to get an instrument until her mom saved up enough S&H stamps to buy a guitar with Green Stamps.

Decades later, she has recorded five albums and leads three bands, including her own Karen Collins and the Backroads Band.

Now living in Takoma Park, Maryland, Collins still has some of that soft twang from her youth that comes out in her singing.

Retired from teaching computer programming in a magnet program, Collins has free time to plan her next recording project.

The hardest part of playing with her bands while teaching high school was that performing music goes late and school starts early: “I was sleep deprived for years,” she said.

Singer/songwriter, guitarist and fiddler Karen Collins and her Backroads Band play in locales in Virginia and Maryland.

music, repertoires and approaches.

She began work with a vocal coach to learn how to yodel, but has kept up her lessons for years: “I feel like there’s always new things I can learn about singing.”

Don’t let her lessons fool you — her

voice has a compelling country style that’s earned her a teaching gig at Augusta Heritage Center during Classic Countr y week. She’s taught a country gospel vocal class with varied electives for the last six years.

Collins played casually most of her adult life, first joining an old-time band, then learning Cajun music, before returning to her roots with traditional country.

See KAREN COLLINS, page 40

For teens and seniors in the dating game Alexis Bentz is a senior at Wootton High ence they can talk about with each other as School in Rockville, Maryland. She has been friends. writing this column encouraging intergenerational commuTeenage relationships nication since middle school.

According to Psychology On television or in cinema, Today, “In the U.S., teens romantic comedies are relativebegin dating around the age ly formulaic: Two people meet, of 13, and by the age of 16, instantly hit it off, go through more than 90% of teens have minor relationship drama that had at least one date.” may involve pouring rain or an These days, when you hear airport chase scene, and then ulthat 12-year-olds are “dating,” timately live happily ever after. it likely means they merely GENERATIONS In reality, of course, dating swapped phone numbers or isn’t that easy. This is especial- TOGETHER perhaps held hands in the ly true for teenagers and older By Alexis Bentz school hallway. However, by the adults. age of 15 or 16, relationships Teens are new to the dating game and tend to become deeper and more mature. have little romantic experience. As for senWhile many parents are anxious about iors, it may have been years since their last the idea of teenage children dating, romandate, making the prospect of “putting tic relationships can actually be quite posithemselves out there” daunting. tive for adolescents’ social development.

At the same time, dating can also be exConsidering that the average age of citing for both age groups, and an experi- marriage has significantly increased over

time (it’s currently 27 for women and 29 for men, according to Psychology Today), dating in the teen years can be great practice for more long-term, stable relationships in the future, as well as an opportunity to have fun.

That being said, dating in high school comes with its own set of difficulties. With many inaccurate, sugar-coated portrayals of romance in the media, many teenagers find it challenging to cope with unrealistic expectations of how dating ought to be.

It is also often difficult for teens to set boundaries with their parents over the balance between supervision and freedom.

Peer pressure also plays a major role.

Teens are at various stages of comfort with romance, and many feel pressured to take action before they’re ready. And regardless of age, dating abuse, whether physical, verbal or sexual, is always a potential concern.

For these reasons, it is important that adolescents and their guardians have candid conversations about dating. Teens

need to understand warning signs in relationships, how to communicate their feelings and desires, and the importance of respect and mutual trust.

Parents should work with their children to create agreed-upon boundaries that enable teens to have fun while still ensuring their health and safety, such as establishing a curfew.

In this way, teens will likely feel more comfortable communicating with their parents or guardians about their relationships as they take their first steps into the dating world.

Dating in later life For older adults, dating can be just as exhilarating and intimidating as it is for teenagers.

It might be assumed that, as we age, dating is no longer a concern. However, whether due to the tragic loss of a spouse, See ROMANCE, page 40

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

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Writer Isabel Allende still believes in love

By Sigal Ratner-Arias Over the last year, Isabel Allende has been coping with loss and grief after the passing of her mother, a stepfather whom she “adored,” and an ex-husband.

But not everything was bad, she said: “On the other hand, I also got married last year.”

At 77, the Chilean author still believes in love. “I am not afraid of it,” she said, laughing when talking about her third nuptials, to New York lawyer Roger Cukras.

She also published her 17th novel and 24th book, A Long Petal of the Sea. It follows Victor and Roser, a couple fleeing the Spanish Civil War. The writer places them among the 2,000 refugees aboard the real-life SS Winnipeg, an old cargo ship arranged by the poet Pablo Neruda to bring Spanish exiles to Chile.

It is the third novel about refugees, displacement and migration by Allende, who was born in Peru, raised in Chile, and lived in exile in Venezuela before settling down in California about 30 years ago.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Allende spoke enthusiastically about her life, work and her own unconventional loves.

AP: A Long Petal of the Sea tells a new generation what Neruda did to save 2,000 Spanish refugees in 1939. You have said that Neruda advised you to quit journalism and pursue literature. Did you want to honor him in some way with this novel?

Allende: It was impossible not to honor him, because all the Winnipeg odyssey was the workmanship of Neruda. Neruda followed the Spanish Civil War closely because he loved Spain; he had friends among the intellectuals and the artists of Republican Spain. And when the drama of half a million refugees at the frontier with France erupted, he convinced the Chilean government to let him bring immigrants to Chile, Spaniards

who were in concentration camps in France.

In Chile, the right wing and the Catholic Church opposed their coming because they were all leftists, many of them atheists, known for allegedly burning churches and raping nuns.

The narrative, the anti-immigration rhetoric in 1939 Chile, was exactly the same as the one we are seeing right now in the United States. So, Neruda not only convinced the government, he also went to Paris, raised the money, bought a cargo ship that was somewhat dilapidated, transformed it into a passenger’s ship and transported 2,000 people.

AP: In the notes of the book, it said that you first heard about Neruda’s “ship of hope” as a child. How did it affect you?

Allende: I heard about the arrival of Spanish republicans in Chile because, even though it happened before I was born, it was shortly before I was born, and some of those people were friends of my family. I would see them coming for lunch, or for dinner.

AP: You have been an immigrant for most of your life. Where have you found the greatest sense of belonging?

Allende: California is where I’ve lived the longest, but when you ask me where I am from, I tell you I am from Chile. And I wasn’t even born in Chile! I spent only part of my childhood there, but apparently those years marked me so much that I feel Chilean.

But if you ask me about my roots, I would say that my roots are in my memories, in the books that I’ve written, in the people that I love.

AP: Speaking of Chile, it seemed one of the most stable countries in Latin America.

Suddenly we’ve seen its streets covered in flames and tear gas. How do you explain this?

Allende: I think the Chilean situation, that seems so unexpected, could bring

very positive transformation.

Over the years, the indignation of the people has grown, and it exploded with the rise of the Metro [ticket] by the equivalent of 15 cents, more or less. But people were outraged, and they expressed it.

What is going to happen? Very good things can come out of this, or a terrible leader can rise and lead the country into chaos.

AP: What do you miss most about the Chile of your childhood and youth?

Allende: Look, the Chile of my childhood doesn’t exist. I wrote a book titled My Invented Country precisely because the country of my memory doesn’t exist anymore.

I don’t miss anything because I did not have a happy childhood by any means. But the years I worked as a journalist in Chile were the years when I had my two children, was just married — those were happy years in which I felt that I was participating, that I belonged.

All of that ended the day of the military coup [in 1973]. In 24 hours, the country changed. Forces that always existed but that we didn’t see coming emerged, and it became a fascist dictatorship. How did that happen without us notic-ing? I don’t know. That’s why today’s situa-tion in Chile scares me, because it can go either way

AP: The love story in A Long Petal of the Sea is somewhat unconventional, starting with a marriage arranged for survival reasons. What has been your most unconventional love?

Allende: I have had three husbands, but maybe my most unconventional relationship was when I fell in love with an Argentine musician and I left my family. I left my children, my husband, and went after him to Spain.

I mean, that was absolutely crazy, and I regret it very much. I regret it because I inflicted a lot of pain on my children. It took a lot for them to forgive me.

That was my least conventional love, but now I am also in an unconventional situation, having fallen in love at 74 and marrying at 77.

AP: What do you feel when you see all your achievements and love from your readers?

Allende: I am very moved by the affection from the readers, and the way they write to me fills me with emotion and warmth.

But when I’m told that I have sold 75 million copies, that happens in another circle, in a different dimension that doesn’t touch my private life…

I live in a tiny, one-bedroom house, I drive a small car, I have two ordinary dogs, [rescued] from the Humane Society, of course. My life is still the same.

—AP

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Romance From page 38 divorce or otherwise, many older adults find themselves single and thrust into the dating game once more.

This can be a remarkably positive experience. Not only does it keep them active and social, it may also introduce someone exciting and compatible into their lives.

Compared with teens, however, dating

Karen Collins From page 38 About 15 years ago, a voice teacher assigned her to write a song, and Collins discovered how much fun it was. She kept at it, and has written dozens of songs since.

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

in later life may take on a different meaning. While young adults seeking romantic partners may be picky about age, appearance, religious and political beliefs, and the like, many of these factors don’t matter as much to older adults.

In fact, many dating seniors say they want nothing more than a companion to spend time with. And, since they’ve already had dating and, often, marriage experience, older adults often feel more com-

fortable being honest with their partners about their wants and needs.

Still, dating as an older adult can be complicated. Many online dating sites are designed to meet the needs of 20-somethings, who prefer “messaging” potential partners before a first date rather than calling them — or even skip prior contact altogether.

This isn’t necessarily compatible with the desires of older adults, who are accustomed to more personal interactions. For-

tunately, there are dating sites and apps designed specifically for older adults, such as SilverSingles.com and SeniorMatch.com.

In truth, it doesn’t matter how old you are — dating is frustrating, terrifying, exhilarating and magical all at once.

When you’re next able to spend time with a younger friend, take advantage of this commonality. You can talk to each other about what you’ve learned about relationships and how to stay safe in them.

“After I started writing, I realized there was a community of songwriters around here. They’re a good group of people to hang with and exchange ideas,” she said.

“One thing with songwriting is to find people to run things by. That’s been real helpful.”

With a few streaks of silver now accenting her brown bangs, Collins wears cowgirl boots and an embroidered Western shirt when she performs.

Lyrics from an early song, “Guitar Queen,” show her humor and modern sensibility mixed with a honky-tonk approach: The pickin’ world for way too long Been running on testosterone . . .

I strongly feel that it’s a sin This lack of guitar heroines

music out there,” Collins said.

When Collins and her band record, like most ensembles they start with the rhythm section by laying down the drum and bass tracks.

The whole band does a scratch track, then each instrument and voice gets recorded individually. Afterward, she works with her “perfectionist” guitarist, Ira Gitlin, to do the mixing with the engineer.

It takes “more time than it should” to finish, but having a team with great ears helps add that needed polish for a great sound.

“Music has been really important to me — it’s part of my identity,” Collins said.

“I’m a musician, a singer, a songwriter.”

This is an excerpt from Mills’ book Making Music for Life: Rediscovering Your Musical Passion, published in 2019. To learn more, visit gaylamills.com.

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The hard work of recording Recording is a necessary way for her to get her songs out into the world: “I feel like I need to make these CDs. I send them out as promotions, sell them at gigs, give them out to people.”

Although online streaming is changing the industry and CDs don’t sell like they used to, “people aren’t going to hear my songs or know about me if I don’t have

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

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African-American stories in the spotlight D.C. Emancipation Day is celebrated on Onwuachi received help at the Harlem April 16, when, in 1862, President Abra- kitchen start-up initiative and mentored at ham Lincoln signed the act the Culinary Institute of that ended slavery in the DisAmerica. But he is fleeced by trict. charlatans, shady investor-anThese recent books reflect gels and kept from promised on different aspects of the promotions by a new boss. black experience: He experiences a modicum Notes from a Young Black of fame as a contestant on the Chef: A Memoir, by Kwame TV show “Top Chefs,” but is Onwuachi with Joshua David devastated by the failure of Stein, 288 pages, Vintage pahis dream restaurant, Shaw perback, 2020 Bijou.

THE Award-winning chef Kwame A dozen recipes, each at the BIBLIOPHILE Onwuachi has written a rivetconclusion of a chapter, reflect

By Dinah Rokach ing memoir about the first the vast array of cultures from three decades of his life. Onwhich this talented chef draws wuachi is currently executive chef of Kith his repertoire — Creole, African, soul, alland Kin at the InterContinental Hotel at American and French gourmet. This canthe Southwest Waterfront and owner of did memoir nourishes body and soul. the Philly Wing Fry franchise.

The World’s Fastest Man: The ExOnwuachi’s book focuses on the har- traordinary Life of Cyclist Major Taylor, rowing struggles that predate these ven- America’s First Black Sports Hero, by tures. He was abused physically by his fa- Michael Kranish, 384 pages, Scribner ther and learned to cope with neighbor- hardcover, 2019; paperback June 2020 hood gangs. He was thrown out of college There was a time in late 19th-century for dealing drugs.

America, before the age of the automobile, His mother struggled to lift herself into when travel by bicycle was beginning to the lower rungs of the middle class, her eclipse the horse and carriage as the popudreams for her son and her strict discipline lar means of transportation. complete the portrait of a young man who Bicycle races ensued, and the sport of must choose between right and wrong. cycling became the rage. Indoor velo-

dromes were built with oval racing tracks, some providing seating for more than 10,000 spectators. Cyclists also competed over rugged outdoor courses.

Sprinters and long-distance racers vied for local, national and international titles.

Competing for prize money were athletes who trained rigorously and were sponsored by bicycle manufacturers.

Into this exciting sport, which was arguably the most popular of its time, a black cyclist broke the color barrier before Jack Johnson, Jesse Owens and Jackie Robinson made history in their respective sports. Yet Major Taylor has been forgotten in the annals of civil rights history and American sports heroes.

Taylor reached the pinnacle of his cycling career in 1899, earning the world’s record for the fastest mile and becoming the world track champion. He was the national sprint champion in 1899 and 1900.

For most of his career, he declined to race on Sundays due to his strict Baptist upbringing, which cost him tens of thousands of dollars in potential prize money.

Washington Post reporter Michael Kranish brings this remarkable historic figure

to our attention. The author, who is in his early 60s, writes with attention to detail and a firm grasp of his subject. His beat at the Post is investigative political reporting.

Look for his prolific byline as the 2020 presidential race unfolds.

Heroes of the Underground Railroad Around Washington, D.C., by Jenny Masur, 192 pages, The History Press paperback, 2019 For 17 years, anthropologist, local historian and native Washingtonian Jenny Masur served as National Capital regional manager of the National Park Services’ National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

Masur has compiled dramatic tales of escapes — and attempted escapes — and the stories of courageous abolitionists and free blacks. An appendix enumerates 12 sites in D.C., 19 in Maryland and 17 in Virginia — complete with addresses — for those wishing to learn more.

Heroes of the Underground Railroad brings to our attention many individuals whom history has forgotten and should be remembered. Their heroic actions should be emulated in the fight to defeat injustice wherever and whenever it emerges.

Complete our survey on page 3.

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

Laughing at old age on the golf course Roto-Rooter has a great business model. name (no again).

Systems do need to be cleaned out now and What he resembles is a very intent, very then. focused golfer who can still Writers do, too (including play super-well. the guy typing this). After Frosty stalks the course like long hours poring over a keya bear. If you’ll pardon the board, they need a break, a remetaphor, he stalks eagles and set, a Roto-Rootering. birdies. He concentrates feroWhich is how I found myciously before and during self in Arizona for two days, each swing. watching older guys play proHe never berates himself fessional golf. after a mistake or a mis-hit. He No deadlines. No editors. HOW I SEE IT knows that golf is all about the No worrying over narrative By Bob Levey next stroke, not the last one. arc and lame adjectives. Just Frosty proved his mettle walk for a few miles, drink lots of water — about eight minutes into the tournament. and discover an athlete who should be a His second shot came to rest about 35 model to all of us who are gray or graying. yards from the first hole.

He’s David Frost, a 60-year-old South But “no prob,” as the kids would say.

African who has won 30 golf titles all over Frosty whipped out a wedge, cuffed the the world in the course of a 40-year pro ca- ball just right — and watched it dribble reer. into the cup.

Frosty (his nickname) competes on the Birdie!

Champions Tour. You have to be at least 50 For a fleeting, magic moment, Frosty years old to participate. In Tucson, 78 guys was winning the tournament. who were once very bright lights in the No, it didn’t last. He played for three golf world competed in the Cologuard days, and ended up tied for 24th place.

Classic at a snazzy country club.

Creditable, but not pulse-pounding.

I decided to follow Frosty mostly out of Yet Frosty — and his 77 fellow duffers curiosity. I wanted to see if he bore any re- — showed me that athletic glory does not semblance to Frosty the Snowman (no) or have to end when one turns 40. to the British talk show host by the same Obviously, that wouldn’t apply to foot-

ball or basketball players. Some baseballers still don their spikes when they’re turning gray, but not many.

But golf can still be played — and played well — when your age begins with a 5, a 6, even a 7.

One of the competitors in the Cologuard was a man named Hale Irwin. He has won more titles on the Champions Tour than any-

one else (45 of them). He is 74 years old.

I watched him hit a shot on the 15th hole. Irwin was about 100 yards out. He effortlessly lofted a ball that came to rest four feet from his target.

Who says that 74-year-olds should be concentrating on crossword puzzles and See BOB LEVEY, page 45

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 44 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

M E G A

A D A M

A L O F T F I F E S

S T H O Y O

R I F F S

S T O O P E F R I F I T S H E A E G M E U R

H E R R D O G G O N E A R M E S F F O S A

P A P A S

S C O R P I T O T H A S S E I X A U M A A L

D I E D T L I C E I V E R L A O S T F T H E A U I N D S H I S A V E R E R U P L O R N N O E A N

R I S A C O M E N T I B I A

S K U N K

I S E E

A P O R T

T E N S E

R Y E S

ANSWERS TO JUMBLE Jumbles: OFFER GRIPE FUNGUS APPEAR Answer: The fish that started their own rock band were — GROUPERS

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Arts & Style | Subscribe for half-price. See p. 45

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

Crossword Puzzle

Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Affective 1

2

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By Stephen Sherr 4

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Across

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1. Part of the lowlands 6. Portable Storage Device (compressed) 9. Flower that can symbolize wisdom 13. Like the 1% 14. Scored an A+ 16. Snack often discounted on Tuesdays 17. ___ broke (bet all your chips) 18. Members of “the thin blue line” 20. Have sufficient liquid assets for liquid 22. 1/48th of a cup 23. The middle of AEROSPACE 24. Back muscles, for short 27. Part of a Denny’s Original Grand Slam breakfast 29. iPhone software 32. Polynesian carving 34. Failure to wait for kids to cross, for example 39. Roman num. for Levi’s Taper Jeans 40. Chick-fil-A’s slogan: “___ Mor Chikin” 41. Sample the vowels from an AUDIT 42. Suffix with serpent 43. Validate connectivity 47. NL East team 48. What a priestess has, but a priest lacks 49. “Failure ___ good teacher” 50. ___ Always a Woman 52. 50% of the census of Eden 54. Chinese zodiac sign after Pig 57. One who pastes on the top stamp 62. Jurassic Park resident 65. Nonsensical 66. Mortgage collateral 67. ___ for All Seasons 68. Like Thor, and his dad Odin 69. “___ account has been disabled” 70. Bitter beer 71. Puts a chip in the pot 1. Super-sized

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2. Like the Wright Flyer for 59 seconds 3. Bits of jazz 4. Racetrack term for one who scans the ground for winning tickets 5. German mister 6. The largest bed in the Bear family house 7. Anyone born on Halloween 8. Pastrami purveyor 9. Do over and over and over and ...

10. He makes a ewe-turn 11. Decorate a cake 12. Thor, to Odin 15. Mathematical inverse of mult.

19. Animation frame 21. Fido, perhaps 25. The shinbone 26. Pepe Le Pew, for one 28. Party-__ (attendee) 30. Back ___ envelope 31. User of the library’s quiet room 33. “OK, that makes sense now” 34. 50% of the census of Eden 35. Military flutes 36. The piggy that went all the way home 37. Tension-type headaches, briefly 38. Imitate a balloon or a snake 44. Can hardly wait 45. Type of reproduction 46. Whaler’s weapon 51. Airport near OAK 53. The most translated French author 55. Leftward, nautically 56. Not relaxed 58. Flexible Spending Acct., to a CPA 59. “___ slow walker, but I never walk back” (Abraham Lincoln) 60. Arm bone 61. Jim Beam products 62. Bashful 63. ___ Legit to Quit 64. Flightless bird

Answers on page 43.

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

Bob Levey From page 43 naps? Not Hale Irwin.

The Champions Tour does not attract the huge, raucous crowds that inhabit the main pro golf tour. During Frosty’s first round, his entire gallery consisted of 11 people. Tiger Woods passes that many fans when he takes one step.

Yet Champions Tour fans (who are overwhelmingly seniors themselves) identify hugely with the Frosties and the Irwins.

After Frosty hit a drive that sailed more than 300 yards, one elderly gent said: “I couldn’t do that if my life depended on it.”

His pal said: “You couldn’t do that even when you were young.”

Guffaws and back slaps followed.

Thanks to Frosty, two 70-somethings were laughing at old age.

Please don’t think that the ravages of age avoid all senior golfers. Only about half the contestants I saw (Frosty included) have solid, athletic builds. The rest have bellies.

Sometimes major bellies.

Nor do they lope around 18 holes (about 4.5 miles) without rest. At several points along the way, Frosty and his playing partners would grab a quick sit on a nearby bench. Twenty-somethings do that only if they need to tie their shoes.

Biggest lesson of my two days in the sun: Senior golfers have mastered that thing called temperament.

On the last hole of the second round, one of Frosty’s playing partners, Larry Mize, hit his first shot into a lake. He took a penalty stroke. He found a new ball and dropped it onto some scrubby grass.

He was 200 yards from the hole.

“No prob,” as the kids would say. Mize pulled out a four-iron, took a practice swing, addressed the substitute ball and let fly.

It went directly into the hole.

Birdie!

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick Detorie

From 200 yards away.

Mize did not yell or jump for joy. He just said, “Not bad.” Obviously, he has made good shots (and bad shots) before.

The first person to congratulate Mize was David Frost.

“Great shot, old man,” he said.

They both know that they can still (occasionally) make miracles happen, even if they are no longer tigers in the woods.

Bob Levey is a national award-winning columnist.

BEACON BITS

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DONATE YOUR TICKETS If you planned to see a live theatre or music performance in the

upcoming weeks, it is most likely cancelled. Some theaters suggest you “donate” your ticket rather than asking for a refund, in order to help sustain the arts center and pay their employees during the pandemic.

Ongoing

DOODLE VIDEOS Pass the time with your grandchildren and Mo Williams, author and artist in residence at the Kennedy Center. Every afternoon at

1 p.m., he will lead kid-friendly doodles, simple enough for even non-artistic adults. To view the videos, visit http://bit.ly/2LunchDoodles.

Ongoing

PIANO LESSONS BY VIDEO If you want to learn to play piano while quarantined in your home, take lessons using Zoom, an application for video and audio con-

ferencing. A piano or keyboard and a laptop, iPad or phone are required, along with downloading Zoom. A $98 fee covers four 30-minute sessions within the next two weeks. To schedule a lesson, contact Mandy Wimmer-O’Brien at (202) 258-0419 or mandy_wimmer@yahoo.com.

WB420

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CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on page 47.

CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment.

EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

Caregivers CAREGIVER, I WILL CARE FOR YOUR LOVE ONES night or day. Great references and own transportation. Willing to work immediately. If interested, please call 301-502-2258.

RESPONSIBLE, MATURE FEMALE SEEKING to provide first-class care for your loved ones. My services include household chores, general housekeeping, and transportation as required. I have a varied background working with all types of issues and aging concerns.

Please contact Mrs. Paul @ 240-898-7956 or via email hands2help47@gmail.com A HOME HEALTHCARE- Experienced nurses, CNA, GNA are available 24/7. Cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping, driving. Full/Part-time or live-in care flat rate. 15 years’ experience. 240-533-6599 A CARE AGENCY - Been in business for more than 10 years. Experienced nurses, CNAs, GNAs. Any hours you need. Flat rate for live-in.

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

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

COMPUTER LESSONS AND SERVICES — Personal Computer training in your home at your convenience. Windows and Mac. Learn Email, Internet, and General computer use.

Print Digital photos, search with Google. Word processing. Troubleshoot PC issues. Shop for and Setup new computers, printers, internet.

Setup and train on all consumer electronics — Smartphone, Smart TV, Tablet, Digital cameras, and Alexa. Gentle & patient teacher using plain English. Since 1996. Call David, 301-980-5840.

COMPUTERTUTOR NEED ASSISTANCE IN SINHALA TYPING (Sri Lankan) to type an article. Call 301-4420581 or email rufusrandeniya@aol.com

Financial TAX PREPARATION SERVICES. Licensed CPA since 1986. I prepare individual, business, and trust/estate tax returns. Very reasonable rates. Located in Gaithersburg near Astra Zeneca and NIST. Call Diane 240-355-1135 or email dianechristen@aol.com.

For Sale

Home/Handyman Services

Wanted

THE DESERT MOTEL located at 483 W. 8th St. (U.S. Route 285) in Vaughn, NM is for sale at the price of $225,000. The owner is highly motivated to sell due to her desire to retire. Route 285 is very busy and connects with Interstate 40 and Interstate 10. The single-level motel has the potential to earn an annual gross income of $100,000. It earned an annual income of $98,954 in 2017. The motel has 16 guestrooms and a large onsite living area for the owner/manager and family. There is a guest laundry room and a large staff laundry room.

The property is approximately 8888 square feet in size. For more information and/or to view the property please call Mr. Ruben Griego at 575799-4044.

SLOWING DOWN AFTER 38 YEARS of contracting. Small to medium jobs, mainly residential $42.50 an hour from arrival on job. Andy 703-906-5429.

BUYING VINYL RECORDS from 1950 to 1990. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae, Punk, Blues, and Disco. 33 1/3 LP’s, 45’s and some 78’s, Some Groups Of CD’s Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201.

CEMETERY LOTS FOR SALE in National Memorial Park cemetery in Falls Church, Va. Lots are located in Block I, Section 258, Sites 3 and 4. Current value if purchased through cemetery is $15,800. Asking $14,000, but willing to negotiate. Will pay ownership transfer fees.

Call 703-989-6965.

RARE DEAL - CEMETERY PLOTS FOR SALE in National Memorial Park cemetery in Falls Church, VA. Regular price if you buy from cemetery is $7,100 per plot but we are selling our family plots for $4,000 per plot or $7,000 for 2 plots. Plots are in a nice and peaceful location.

Funeral prices are unbelievably high nowadays, so take advantage of this rare offer to reduce the cost on you and your loved ones and gain peace of mind. Plots expected to sell quickly. Contact: john.ck.pappas@gmail.com or 703-869-9705.

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

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate MID-ATLANTIC FUNDING GROUP — Pays cash for Owner Financed Mortgages. Professional Service / Fast Closing. Call Us Today! 1 (800) 641-9521 or visit midatlanticnotes.com

Health HOME HEALTH AID/PRIVATE CAREGIVER with over 15 years experience in elderly care. Certified CNA/MEDTECH/HHA. Worked in Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilitates, and Private Duties. I am U.S Citizen, own transportation for errands, available 24/7, negotiable fees. Please contact Comfort by email at: comfortaddo88@gmail.com or call 240-338-0550.

RESEARCH STUDY: Seeking adults helping a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia for research study. This study is trying to understand how dementia caregivers who have a chronic condition use technology (PI: Hae-Ra Han, PhD, RN; Johns Hopkins IRB00198665).

The study involves doing a phone or online survey. Help us understand how you use technology so we can build technology that helps caregivers. If interested, please contact the study team at 410-929-4327 or tech4caregiverhopkinstudy@gmail.com DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for [350] procedures. Call 1-844366-1003 for details. www.dental50plus.com/320.

[6118-0219] PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-851-0949.

PAID RESEARCH STUDY: Healthy 65-85yr olds with normal hearing needed for MRI study of speech comprehension at Univ. of Maryland College Park. Earn $10-15/hr in 2 sessions (34hrs total). Contact 240-630-0461, EffComLab@gmail.com, http://ter.ps/listen

Home/Handyman Services LAUREL SENIOR CLEANING SERVICES provides house cleaning for mature adults, adults with mobility issues, & adults with health problems. Call (240) 564-8682 or visit laurelseniorcleaning.com. Serving Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, and Howard Counties.

ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase.

10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-844359-6933.

STAY IN YOUR HOME LONGER with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation!

Call us at 1-877-240-2061 or visit www.walkintubquote.com/beacon **STOP STRUGGLING ON THE STAIRS** Give your life a lift with an ACORN STAIRLIFT! Call now for $250 OFF your stairlift purchase and FREE DVD & brochure! 1-855-850-3183.

Legal Services APPLYING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY or Appealing a Denied Claim? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc., Social Security Disability Attorneys, 1-866-970-0779! FREE Consultations. Local Attorneys Nationwide [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.)]

Personal Services TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME! Wish you could attend an upcoming Nationals or Orioles game but have no one to go with and no way to get to the park? Let us take to you! These are one-on-one companion excursions - no groups or buses. You select your game and seat. We pick you up, accompany you to the game, fetch concessions, and take you home when YOU want to leave. Packages start at $200 per person, per game and include transportation, game ticket, and parking. Call Philip at 301-219-3600 to book

TV/Cable DIRECTV - Switch and Save! $39.99/month.

Select All-Included Package. 155 Channels.

1000s of Shows/Movies On Demand. FREE Genie HD DVR Upgrade. Premium movie channels, FREE for 3 mos! Call 1-888-572-4953.

DISH NETWORK. $59.99 for 190 Channels!

Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo. (where available.) Switch & Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. Call today! 1844-560-5837.

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

WANTED: OLDER VIOLINS, GUITARS, BANJOS, MANDOLINS, UKULELES, ETC. Musician/collector will pay cash for older string instruments. Jack (301) 279-2158.

CASH FOR ESTATES, moving etc; I buy a wide range of items. Buy out/clean up. www.atticllc.com Gary Roman; 301-520-0755.

CASH FOR JEWELRY; I buy a wide range of jewelry; gold, silver, costume, watches, turquoise, coins, school rings, etc. Gary Roman; 301-520-0755.

LADY WHO LIKES CHINA and other pretty things would like to buy yours. Favorites include Coalport, Herend, Meissen, Royal Copenhagen, Shelley and Villeroy & Boch. Some Lenox and Johnson Brothers. I love English bone china cups and saucers. Paintings and pottery. I’ve collected antique Christmas and Halloween for thirty years and am always looking to add to my collection. Sterling and jewelry. MD license no.

2753. Call, 301-785-1129.

SEEKING FULL/SEALED BOTTLES of Vintage Bourbon & Rye (Pre-1990). Examples include, but are not limited to: Old Grand Dad, Pikesville Rye, Wild Turkey, Old Fitzgerald, I.W. Harper, Old Forester and more! Inquiries are welcome. Call Alex 443-223-7669

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

ALWAYS BUYING OLD STUFF! Old Silverware and Holloware (even some silverplate) Very Old books, Costume Jewelry, Pinup magazines before 1970, Metal purses, Comic Books, Old School Rings, Pinup magazines before 1970, Old Coins U.S. & Foreign, Antique Metal Pens & Pencils, Posters, Dental Gold( Yellow & White), Pocket & Wrist Watches, Old Toys, Broken Jewelry, Coins, other “old stuff”. What do you have?

Call Now: Alex 571-426-5363 or send to: 8409 Lee Highway, Suite 825 Merrifield, VA 22116 ESTATE LIQUIDATION/ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES: One call solves it all when you hire us to handle your estate liquidation, down-sizing and/or home cleanout. We sell your treasures, take care of charitable donations and provide junk removal. We also purchase partial estate contents/collections. Always buying antiques, jewelry, fine art, vintage toys, collectibles, advertising, sports memorabilia, military, vintage cars, Mid Century Modern furniture, vinyl records, gold and silver coins and more. Based in Silver Spring, we serve Montgomery, Howard and Baltimore Counties, Washington D.C., NOVA and beyond. Also provide appraisal services for insurance/estates. Friendly, conscientious staff. Call Chris on cell (202) 7319447. www.OrionsAttic.com.

WANTED BY 84 YEAR OLD who remembers when things were hand made... old VIOLINS and POCKET WATCHES have one thing in common... Time! Please call Ken. 240-731-0160 TOP PRICES PAID FOR FINE ANTIQUES, artwork and decorative objects including decorated crocks and jugs, unusual antique clocks, music boxes and mechanical things, coin operated devices, furniture, rare antique dolls and toys etc. I am 67 years old, well educated, financially capable, and have over 40 years in this business.

Why pay outlandish auction house, estate agent or consignment store commissions when you can get a fair upfront price for your pieces with no hassle? If you have something interesting or unusual, rare and valuable and are prepared to sell it I would like to speak with you. Please call Jake Lenihan, 301 279 8834. No calls after 7 pm please.

OLD TOYS, COINS, BASEBALL CARDS, memorabilia, pre-1970, antique golf, comic books, dolls, trains, ephemera, pre-1920 photographs, books, militaria, firearms, knives, fountain pens, men’s wristwatches, jewelry, original art, Montgomery County resident, will travel to District, Virginia, call Tom 240 476 3441, thank you.

BOOK COLLECTIONS WANTED. Moving?

Downsizing? Estate? Together THE TWO BONAFIDE BOOK DEALERS have over 85 years experience as professional buyers & sellers of quality books in the D. C. area. Best prices paid for good books. Examples: Easton Press, Folio Society, First Edition Science Fiction & Mysteries, Military, History, Scholarly & Academic Press publications. Call Nelson at 240472-4615 to set up an appointment at your house. Also will consider DVDs & CDs. PAYING CASH merchandise pre 1980. Old toys, silver, records, books, photographs, smoking pipes and lighters, fountain pens, movie posters. If you have old stuff to sell call Carl 312316-7553. Sorry no furniture or glassware. Located Silver Spring MD.

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

BEACON BITS

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VIRTUAL LIBRARIES HAVE WHAT YOU WANT Though all public libraries are currently closed, you can access all

their books online. A current library card and PIN are required. Take advantage of free eBooks and audiobooks at montgomerycountymd.gov/library, alexandrialibraryva.org or dclibrary.org.

Ongoing

TAKE TO THE TRAILS Get some fresh air. Fairfax County park trails are still open to the public; indoor facilities are closed. To learn more and find

updates, visit fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/coronavirus.

Ongoing

MUSIC LESSONS Are you interested in learning how to play an instrument or improve your singing? Receive online music lessons on the piano,

guitar, drums, ukulele and voice from Aleksis Bilmanis from Takoma Park, Md. The cost is $25 per half hour. For more information, contact him at (240) 9979214 or musiclessonswithaleksis@yahoo.com.

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

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ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Studies Alzheimer’s Depression Study .19 Hearing Research Study...........19 Heart Attack/Stroke Study .......19

Computer/Technology TheBeaconNewspapers.com ....40

Dental Services Friedman, Stephen, DDS .........20 Oh, Judy, DDS .........................18

Events Beacon 50+Expo......................30 Celebration of the Arts...............7 Seabury 2020 Vision ................21

Financial/Insurance Services Children’s National Hospital....27 Edward Jones/Mark Evanko ....27

Funeral Services Going Home Cremation...........40

Government Services DC Dept of Insurance ..............35 DC DOEE ................................31 DC Health ................................15 DC Office on Aging ...........22-24 Montgomery County Aging and Disability Services ................20 Montgomery County Board of Elections ...........................21

Montgomery County Consumer Protection.............31 Montgomery County Government...........................10 Montgomery County Public Library .......................12

Home Health Care/Companion Services Best Senior Care . . . . . . . . . .B-5 Options for Senior America .....16

Home Improvement LeafGuard ..................................6 Luxury Bath .............................18

Housing 555 E. Street...............................9 901 W. Street ..............................9 Abrams Hall Senior Apts. ..........9 AlfredHouse.............................16 Ashby Ponds.............1, B-7, B-15 Brooke Grove Retirement Village .......B-8, B-10, B-12, 48 Charles E. Smith Life Communities .................17 Chesterbrook Residences.................B-2, B-15 Chevy Chase House .......B-2, B-8 Churchill Senior Living ...........13 Covenant Village ..................B-15 Culpepper Garden ..............17, 20 Emerson House ....................B-10 Enterprise Residential ..............14

Falcons Landing ..........B-8, B-16 Five Star Premier Residences...13 Friendship Terrace........B-8, B-14 Greenspring..............1, B-7, B-15 Homecrest House .......B-11, B-12 Homewood at Frederick .......B-14 Knollwood......................B-3, B-8 Quantum Property Mgmt..........B-4 Park View.....................................14 Pointe View at Aspen Hill .........B-6 Riderwood................1, B-7, B-12 Seabury Resources for Aging .............................B-6 Shenandoah Senior Living .......12 Sommerset RetirementB-11, B-15 Springvale TerraceB-5, B-8, B-15 Vinson Hall ................B-10, B-13

Legal Services Farr Law Firm ..........................29 Law Offices of Lee Holdmann ..................28 Law Offices of Nancy Feldman .....................31 Law Offices of Paul Riekhof ...26 Legal Counsel for the Elderly .......................27

Medical/Health Acumedicine Health.................11 Allied Pharmaceutical Svcs .......6 Ascension.................................11 Lesner Hearing.........................13 Medical Eye Center..................16 Silver Spring Medical Center...21

Miscellaneous City of Rockville Mansion.......46 Connect-A-Ride. ......................28

Real Estate Long & Foster/ Eric Stewart.....................26, 35

Retail/Auction Cherry Blossom CBD ..............14 Nu Images Hair Salon................5 Oakridge Auction Gallery........41 Spectrum Floor Lamp ..............34

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Brooke Grove Rehab......B-12, 48 Manor Care Health Services ....12

Subscriptions Beacon Newspaper...................45

Theatre/ Entertainment F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre .......39 Senior Zone..............................39

Tour & Travel Eyre Travel ...............................33 Martinsburg West Virginia .......33 Shillelaghs................................33

Volunteers & Careers Beacon......................................28 Career Gateway ........................29

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Rehabilitation

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LIFE YOU LOVE Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center’s innovative place to heal and revitalize is simply different from any other option in the region. The best therapies and equipment— in a beautiful environment that rejuvenates and restores. Physical therapy spaces bathed in sunlight. Fireside gathering places and restaurant-style dining with sunset views over the lake. The quiet comfort of a garden walk or a relaxing massage.

A state-of-the-art Rehab CENTER Fully dedicated to short-term rehab • Two-story physical therapy gym • Innovative therapies for faster healing • Expansive guest rooms with luxury bathrooms • Covered porches, courtyard and walking trails • Salon • Spa with massage room and soaking tub

because what surrounds you really matters.

18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860

301-260-2320 or 301-924-2811 www.bgf.org

Independent living assisted living rehabilitation long-term care memory support