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VOL.31, NO.7

Carol Burnett’s Q&A roadshow

A blast from the past The spontaneity of the evenings is similar to her famous television comedy series, “The Carol Burnett Show,” which aired from 1967 to 1978, netting 25 Emmys. Each show began with an unscripted Q&A session and ended with Burnett singing her theme song, “I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together,” which was written for her by her second husband, Joe Hamilton. Countless comic skits from the show have become classics, such as her silent charwoman character and her parody of Scarlett O’Hara, where she’s dressed in brocade curtains (including the curtain

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By Margaret Foster Although beloved American comedian Carol Burnett grew up in poverty in the 1940s with two alcoholic parents, she never felt poor or unloved, thanks to her grandmother. With their scrounged pennies, the two would retreat to the cool darkness of movie theaters in California as often as possible. The optimism of the films, coupled with her grandmother’s love, left a lasting impression on the future Emmy Award-winning performer. “She was unfailingly in love with me, which made me feel very secure in spite of the fact that we were poor,” Burnett said of her grandmother in an interview with the Beacon. “I grew up with the imprint of the movies on me. I thought nothing was impossible, so I was never discouraged,” she said. “I was raised thinking positively.” Of course, Burnett’s optimism paid off and she ultimately did strike it big. At 86, she continues to entertain audiences around the country with her one-woman show. On Thursday, July 25, she will sit down with an audience in Bethesda for An Evening of Laughter and Reflection — a live, 90minute question and answer session. Burnett has spent the past decade traveling the country doing these shows, which also feature clips from her career in comedy. “I fly without a net,” she said. “I don’t want any planned or planted questions. Doing these shows keeps the old gray matter ticking because you can’t think about what you did yesterday or what you’re going to do tomorrow.”

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Art for people with dementia and their caregivers; plus, new book about slavery at Mt. Vernon, and Bob Levey laments the end of cash Carol Burnett has a repertoire of funny stories about Hollywood stars, from Jimmy Stewart to Lucille Ball to Jennifer Aniston. In her 90-minute show at Strathmore on July 25, Burnett will answer questions from the audience and reflect on her life in comedy.

rod). Today, that dress is part of the Smithsonian collection. Burnett continued to act and sing after her eponymous TV show ended. She starred in the 1982 movie Annie as the evil orphanage headmistress, Miss Hannigan (playing her not only as a villain, but as an alcoholic). She had recurring roles on the television sit-com “Mad About You” and the soap opera “All My Children;” gueststarred on two seasons of “Glee,” the award-winning Fox television series; and most recently, was the voice of a chair named “Chairol Burnett” in Disney’s upcoming Toy Story 4.

As for her accolades, Burnett has amassed every possible award. She won a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2013, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild in 2015 and was the inaugural recipient of a new Golden Globe Award named for her this past January: the Carol Burnett Award for Lifetime Achievement in Television.

From Texas to Hollywood A shy child, Burnett moved with her grandmother from her native San Antonio to Hollywood after her parents were no See BURNETT, page 39

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Diverse perspectives People who have a passion for traveling meant to blend together to form a more hoabroad often say they relish the opportuni- mogenous product known as “Americans.” Today, however, I think our ty to learn about different culsociety would be better chartures, hear unfamiliar lanacterized as a bouillabaisse — guages, meet people from a rich soup in which all the varied backgrounds — in varied ingredients retain short, to have mind-broadentheir basic form and taste, but ing experiences that change altogether create a new and the way they see the world. While there’s nothing like more interesting mix. international travel to accomThat mix of races, cultures plish those goals, I think and more is today called Dimost of us could have similar versity, and the term is not eye-opening experiences FROM THE only a description of how varright here, wherever we hap- PUBLISHER ied America has become. It’s pen to live, if we just visited a By Stuart P. Rosenthal a battle-cry in many areas, different part of town. calling for greater acknowlThat’s because America has long been a edgement and respect for our differences, haven to those throughout the world who and urging greater inclusion of those from want to live in freedom. As a result, more different backgrounds in our schools, than 350 different languages are spoken in workforce, marketplace and legislature. U.S. homes today, and neighborhoods reIn a way, promoting diversity is a way to flecting different nationalities and cultures put a positive spin on what we used to call anti-discrimination laws. Rather than trycan be found in every major city. But the way we view our pluralistic soci- ing to eliminate prejudice through legislaety has changed. In the early to mid-20th tion, the diversity movement, if I can call it century, our country was considered a that, promotes the value of having all “melting pot” in which the individual ingre- races, sexes, genders, ethnicities, nationaldients — those already here plus new im- ities and religions represented in the pubmigrants from all over the world — were lic sphere.

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

The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (301) 949-9766 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com Website: www.theBeaconNewspapers.com Submissions: The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 10th of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 15th of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 47 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions.

Recently, I attended a day-long workshop at the AARP headquarters in Washington, D.C., where the topic was “The Future of Work for All Generations.” I expected the program to address ageism in employment, as that has long been a key issue for AARP. It did, of course. But it was more than that. The conference, which attracted representatives from business, the media and government, made the case for the benefits to both employers and fellow workers of treating worker age as an element of diversity. AARP Executive Vice President Debra Whitman noted that there are as many as five generations of workers in today’s companies, and that studies show a mix of ages and intergenerational mentoring within a workforce “drives engagement and performance, increasing the bottom line” for business. Age discrimination in hiring (and firing) is still pervasive. Many companies continue to have negative attitudes toward older workers that have proven difficult to root out. And that’s despite many studies that show older workers bring a variety of benefits to employers, including experience, networks, reliability, a strong work ethic, superior customer service and flexibility. So I think it’s a great idea AARP has to reframe the discussion so that age becomes part of society’s focus on the value and importance of diversity and inclusion. Then, making accommodations that help

workers of all ages can be seen as a sound business decision, not simply a way to avoid a lawsuit. For example, BMW made modifications in its plants to meet the needs of workers with various ailments or restrictions. They brought in ergonomic seating, more comfortable flooring and enhanced lighting to help them retain skilled workers. The result was a 7% increase in productivity and below-average absenteeism. Whitman also pointed out that “a culture of inclusion helps all ages.” For example, she noted that “one in four family caregivers today is a Millennial. So policies that help caregivers help all generations.” Viewed from the perspective of older workers themselves, this attitude adjustment might make them more willing to learn from bosses who are young enough to be their grandchildren. Keynote speaker Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State and now a professor of foreign policy at Georgetown University, concluded her remarks by paraphrasing a line from Robert Frost’s poem “What Fifty Said” — “The older I get, the younger are my teachers.” We’re all in this bouillabaisse of a society together, and our overall success requires as many of us as possible to contribute our best.

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 recently read the letters to the editor section of your June edition, including Joyce Siegel’s letter objecting to a favorable mention of the state of Alabama (“Alabama’s Gulf coast popular year-round,” May Beacon). Unless Ms. Siegel has been to that state on a “search and destroy mission,” unfortunately not unheard of, it is doubtful she has been there. Even if one were to adopt her obviously bigoted definitions of Alabamans, persons exhibiting the characteristics she complains of probably occur in most locations. John Murphy Alexandria, Va. Dear Editor: At a gun auction in June, I tried to buy a semi-automatic pistol. I was informed I am not allowed to purchase the pistol without permission of the state. At 70, I am less a citizen than I was at 15, when I purchased a .22 revolver for $5 and later a 12-gauge shotgun. I served in Vietnam for 15 months. You can take your salutes and your

“thank you for your service” and shove them. Where are the freedoms I fought for? What greater slap in the face can a vet face than have the very freedoms we fought for taken away? Ken (last name withheld by request) Baltimore, Md. Dear Editor: In response to your editorial “Saving faces” (“From the Publisher,” June 2019), software that could use technology for facial recognition is not only possible; it is expanding in sophistication and capability. Technically, there is no way to prevent its growth and possible use in a large variety of circumstances. The only method that can protect society worldwide from application of photographic methodology is in the legal area. Laws must be passed with appropriate penalties to control and limit the use of this technology. You state it very well: We must set legal limits and apply them with vigor to make sure that the technology does not intrude See LETTERS TO EDITOR, page 47

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Technology &

Innovations Share your passwords with your spouse By Janet Bodnar About a year ago, my friend Susie’s husband of 46 years died unexpectedly. John, a dedicated techie, left Susie with wonderful memories, an estate to settle, and a technology nightmare: an Apple computer, four iPads, four iPhones, a stack of hard drives — and no passwords. That left her unable to get access to critical information (think tax records) and accounts in his name that were on autopay, including Amazon Prime and the cell phone bill. To help her crack the codes, Susie hired someone from her IT department at work. They were never able to get into the computer, but thanks to a combination of logic and “wild guesses,” they managed to open the iPads and iPhones. The entire process took almost a year, “and it all occurred during a time when, as a grieving widow, you are most vulnerable,” Susie said. Getting access to key financial and estate information has always been a critical issue for women, who are statistically more likely than men to be widowed or have a spouse

who suffers from a serious illness. “The problem has gotten more pronounced as we’ve gone more digital,” said Jody King, director of financial planning at Fiduciary Trust Co. in Boston. “With digital records and passwords, there’s no paperwork to help you find accounts no one knew existed,” she said. A further complication is that women of all ages often delegate key financial and estate responsibilities to their spouse. “Younger women may have a better awareness of the family’s financial situation than older generations, but they still may not choose to be involved,” King said.

Make a checklist To address that problem, Marilee Fitzgerald and Robyn Wagman co-founded Estate of Mine Organizers, a system for helping women organize both personal and financial records. Their system includes checklists of musthave documents — a will, powers of attorney for financial and health affairs, bank and

investment accounts — but it also covers facets of life other than financial. Where is the warranty for your new stove? The titles to your cars? The name of the furnace repair person? (Susie had to scramble to find a plumber on New Year’s Eve when her ice maker broke, gushing water onto the floor.) Fitzgerald and Wagman have found that a number of issues tend to trip people up — for example, beneficiary designations on life insurance policies or retirement accounts. “People don’t understand that beneficiaries take precedence over anything you have in your will,” said Wagman, “and they often forget to update them.” She and Fitzgerald suggest other ways to avoid unpleasant surprises: Be sure your joint bank account really is in both your names. Have a credit card in your own name, and get a copy of each spouse’s credit reports. Keep a copy of your will outside the safe deposit box. If getting organized sounds overwhelming, start small. When Fitzgerald and Wagman wanted to get their own affairs in

order, Fitzgerald began by compiling a list of emergency contacts, and Wagman started by opening the mail and looking at bills and insurance paperwork. Then, said Fitzgerald, “practice being on your own by taking over the finances for a couple of weeks to minimize surprises.” And what about keeping tabs on those devilish passwords? The women I interviewed for this column use digital password managers (Kiplinger’s often recommends LastPass) — but as backup, they also keep a written record and store it in a place that’s secure yet accessible to family members. They consider the risk that written passwords might be stolen less serious than making sure everyone can find them in an emergency — and avoiding a situation like Susie’s. Even in this digital age, paper still rules. Said King, “Any documentation you have is always the best thing.” © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Find a laptop that fits you and your needs By Kaitlin Pitsker For all the convenience and computing power that smartphones and tablets offer, sometimes a full-fledged computer is still the best tool for completing tasks at home or even on the go. Today’s laptops typically have faster processing speeds, more storage capacity and longer battery life than their recent predecessors. Many have also taken cues from tablets to become more versatile, with touchscreens and designs that let you turn

a clamshell laptop into a tablet. The best laptop for you depends on how you spend your screen time. But no matter how you use a computer, you can find a solid choice for $600 or less. For a child or teen, a Chromebook — a basic laptop with fewer features that relies on the Chrome web browser — is a solid option with an attractive price tag of about $200. Adults who mostly surf the web, check e-mail and social media and use word pro-

BEACON BITS

July 11+

COMPUTER CODING AND CONCEPTS

In this two-session course, you will better understand computers and learn how to code your own creation. The class will be held on Thursday, July 11, and Friday, July 12, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Rockville Senior Center, 1150 Carnation Dr., Rockville. To learn more about the free class, call (240) 314-8800.

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NTERNET GOVERNANCE FORUM

Participate in a free conference that discusses the intersection of technology with the U.S. government. Learn about Techlash, cyber safety and tech innovation from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1616 Rhode Island Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. Registration required. For more info and to register, visit igfusa.us.

cessing and spreadsheets can pick up a mid-range machine for $300 to $500. And if you’re looking for an all-purpose workhorse, you can find models that pack enough power and speed to run multiple applications without delays, come with higher-resolution displays and use solidstate drives starting at about $600. One thing that hasn’t changed: Shopping for a laptop still requires wading through an alphabet soup of terms, such as RAM, SSD, GB and other specs, to compare memory and speed.

sider one of the many Windows 2-in-1 models that you can use as a traditional clamshell or as a handheld tablet (or in other screen positions). Some models offer a screen that fully detaches from the keyboard. Others use flexible hinges that allow the screen to open 360 degrees (these laptops generally boast better battery life than the ones with fully detachable screens). A so-called convertible laptop generally costs about $50 to $100 more than a similar traditional laptop.

Check the specs Narrow the field Start by considering style and size. Before you look at specific models, decide how big a machine you want and the key features you need. A laptop with a 13- to 14-inch screen offers a balance between portability and usability while still weighing in at less than four pounds. Shaving about two inches off the screen size typically lightens the load by at least half a pound. If you’re looking for the power of a laptop but want the versatility of a tablet, con-

To make sure your laptop will meet your needs, take a closer look at the main components. Here’s a good baseline for shoppers who want to strike a balance between performance and price: an eighth-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor with 8 to 16 gigabytes of RAM and a 256GB solidstate drive (SSD). Here’s why it works well: The processor, which serves as the brains of your computer, has a huge influence on performance. But for users who don’t run See LAPTOPS, page 5

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❏ Alfredhouse(See ad on page 18) ❏ Brooke Grove (See ads on pages B-7, B-8, B-14 & B-16) ❏ Charles E. Smith Life Communities (See ad on page 15) ❏ Churchill Senior Living (See ad on page 14) ❏ Covenant Village (See ads on pages B-4 & B-8) ❏ Emerson House (See ads on pages B-4 & B-15) ❏ Five Star Premier Residences (See ad on page B-13) ❏ Gardens of Traville (See ad on page B-4) ❏ Hillside Apartment Homes (See ad on page 10) ❏ Homecrest House (See ads on pages B-7 & B-15) ❏ Homewood (See ad on page 20) ❏ Kensington Park (See ads on pages B-7 & B-10) ❏ Lakeview Apartments (See ad on page 9) ❏ Landing of Silver Spring, The (See ad on page B-14) ❏ Landow House (See ad on page 15) ❏ Olney Assisted Living (See ad on page 17) ❏ Park View Bladensburg (See ad on page 30) ❏ Park View Columbia (See ad on page 30) ❏ Park View Emerson (See ad on page 30) ❏ Park View Laurel (See ad on page 30) ❏ Riderwood (See ads on pages B-3 & B-12) ❏ Springvale Terrace (See ads on pages B-7 & B-13) ❏ Victory Housing (See ads on pages B-2 & B-12)

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Find out which smartphone applications are the most useful and best for you at an information session on Wednesday, July 24. Let the director of community relations at Brandywine Living, Sonja Creech, help you wade through the tens of thousands of options for apps. The free event will be held at 11 a.m. at the Langston-Brown Senior Center, 2121 N. Culpeper St., Arlington, Va. To register, call (703) 228-5210.

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July 24

DISCOVER THE BEST APPS FOR YOU

❏ Armed Forces Retirement Home (see ad on page 31) ❏ Chevy Chase House (see ad on page B-6 & B-11) ❏ Friendship Terrace (see ads on pages B-5 & B-6)

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Learn how to craft a better email in a four-week class every Tuesday in July. Knowledge about typing, using a mouse and navigating the computer screen is a prerequisite. This free course starts on Tuesday, July 9, at 10 a.m. at the Silver Spring Public Library, 900 Wayne Ave., Silver Spring. To register, call (240) 773-9420.

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power-hungry programs, such as demanding video games, a top-of-the-line Core i9 usually isn’t worth the premium price tag. A laptop equipped with an i5 or i7 can handle everyday tasks, such as web browsing and word processing, as well as jobs that require more muscle, such as streaming high-definition video and editing photos. Spending more for a little extra RAM — which is short for random access memory and affects your computer’s speed and ability to multitask — makes sense if you’re a big multitasker. For most users,

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From page 4

8GB is enough. But for those who are guilty of leaving too many web browser tabs open at once or who like to listen to music while drafting e-mails, browsing Twitter and reading the news, springing for 16GB will keep things running more smoothly. As for hard drives, size matters less if most of your files and applications live in the cloud. But choosing an SSD, which is light and power-efficient, instead of a traditional mechanical hard drive will make your computer faster and more reliable. © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Age-Friendly Montgomery “I invite you to take part in all the resources our County has to offer.” County Executive Marc Elrich

Don’t Become a Victim of Scams and Crimes On Thursday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Montgomery County will hold its 9th annual Senior Safety Forum. It will take place at the Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Drive in Silver Spring. The forum provides useful information to prevent elder abuse and scams. All are invited to attend. You’ll meet representatives from County government and other businesses and organizations in a social and fun setting with live music, door prizes and free bag lunches. The forum is being held in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which is on June 15. The Senior Safety Forum is coordinated by Montgomery County’s Elder/Vulnerable Adult Abuse Task Force members: State’s Attorney’s Office, Police, Health and Human Services, Fire & Rescue, and the Office of the County Attorney.

For Additional Help: Have a concern about senior abuse (physical/sexual or financial)? Call Adult Protective Services, 240-777-3000 or the County Crisis Center, 240-777-4000. You do not need to prove that abuse is occurring. Professionals will investigate, as appropriate. If there is immediate danger, call 9-1-1.

Telephone Scams Often Target Seniors/Tips to Protect Yourself: Do not provide information over the phone. Scammers often ask leading questions to retrieve information from you. You may not realize that you are giving them valuable information. Scammers create a sense of urgency; they state that they are in distress and need money immediately. Slow down and ask the caller for detailed information and a contact number. Tell the caller you will call back after you verify information. Attempt to verify the caller’s story by calling family and/or friends. Scammers will often tell the loved one not to tell anyone because he/she is embarrassed about being in the situation. Remember that scammers often use a technique called “spoofing.” Spoofing provides a fictitious number that looks familiar to you on your caller ID. Do not send money. Beware of anyone asking you to wire money or buy gift cards and provide them with information from the card. Contact police immediately at 301-279-8000 if you believe you are a victim of a telephone scam. You can also call the Office of Consumer Protection at 240-7773636 or visit montgomerycountymd.gov/ocp

• Aging & Disability Resource Line 240-777-3000 (8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. T, W, Th/5 p.m. M & F) • 3-1-1 or 240-777-0311 for County programs and services; 9-1-1 for emergency • www.montgomerycountymd.gov/senior • “Seniors Today” airs on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m. on Comcast/RCN 6, Verizon 30

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

More new cars can monitor their drivers even more sophisticated. The one on Cadillac’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous system makes sure the driver is paying attention and will even pull to the side of the road if they aren’t. Mercedes’ Attention Assist system tracks more than 70 variables including time of day, elapsed driving time and steering movement to determine if a driver is tired or not paying attention. When a certain threshold is reached, it issues audible and visible warnings. Karl Brauer, executive publisher for Kelley Blue Book, said the devices are proliferating as vehicles make the transition from human drivers to full automation. Systems like Tesla’s Autopilot and Super Cruise — which control steering, braking and speed under certain conditions — are steps toward autonomous cars, but they can’t drive themselves. Humans must be

ready to take over, he said. “If you’re going to have systems like that, you need these driver monitoring systems to make sure that humans aren’t abusing the technology,” Brauer said. But not everyone will be interested in being monitored. Chris Cerino, 49, of

Wadsworth, Ohio, near Cleveland, said he’s old enough to know that he has to pay attention while driving. “There’s a time and place for a lot of things, but I don’t need to be told when to hit the brakes or when to swerve or everything else,” he said. —AP

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By Tom Krisher Would you pay more for a car or SUV that warns you if you’re falling asleep or not paying attention behind the wheel? Auto companies are figuring that, because your life could depend on it, you will. As safety features such as automatic emergency braking and lane-centering make their way from luxury vehicles down to lower-cost rides for the masses, distracted driver alert systems are coming with them. Every day at least nine people are killed in the U.S. and 100 are injured in distracted driving crashes, according to the National Safety Council. Drivers who are preoccupied by cellphones, dashboard touch screens and other distractions caused 3,157 fatal crashes in the U.S. in 2016, the latest year that government statistics were available. That’s 9% of all fatal crashes in the country. Distracted driver alert systems started showing up in luxury cars about a decade ago. Over the years they’ve become more sophisticated and made their way into mainstream vehicles, usually on pricier versions. For instance, Subaru’s “DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System” uses a dashboard camera to watch the driver’s eyes and face. If it sees the driver is looking away from the front of the vehicle for an extended period, it will beep and show the message “Keep eyes on road” on the dashboard. The system also watches for heads nodding or someone talking on the phone, texting or even looking into the back seat, said Subaru spokesman Ron Kiino. On the newly redesigned 2020 Outback SUV, the system will be standard on the three priciest versions, the Touring, Touring XT and the Limited XT, and it will be an option on the Limited, the lowest cost version with leather seats. The Subaru system made its debut as standard equipment on the luxury version of its Forester SUV for the 2019 model year. To get it, you have to buy the priciest version, the Touring, which starts at $35,270.

Even on entry level cars Hyundai’s system is standard on the Venue, an entry-level SUV that will start under $19,000. It doesn’t watch the driver’s face. Instead, it uses the same front-facing camera as the standard automatic emergency braking and lane assist. If you swerve, the Venue’s software will sound a bell, and the dash display will show a coffee cup and the words “Take a Break.” Hyundai’s market research found that people want the feature, said Mike Evanoff, senior manager of product planning. “It’s just another layer that’s a ‘got your back’ kind of thing,” he said. The warning system is already on Hyundai’s Veloster sports car and will make its way to the entire lineup as vehicles are updated and outfitted with standard automatic emergency braking by September of 2022 due to an industry agreement with the U.S. government, Evanoff said. Other systems on luxury vehicles are

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Health Fitness &

BEZOS’ BET Liquid biopsies that hold promise of early cancer warning draw investors POWER OF THE PEN Medical scribes are there to take notes while your doctor focuses on you POT’S POTENTIAL Medical research has lagged behind growing pot use; what we know and don’t DRUGS ON THE WEB Getting prescriptions online has its drawbacks, including insurance snags

FDA to boost experimental drug access By Marilynn Marchione Sally Atwater’s doctor spent two months on calls, messages and paperwork to get her an experimental drug he thinks can fight the lung cancer that has spread to her brain and spine. Nancy Goodman begged eight companies to let her young son try experimental medicines for a brain tumor that ultimately killed him, and “only three of the companies even gave me a reason why they declined,” she said. Thousands of gravely ill cancer patients each year seek “compassionate use” access to treatments that are not yet on the market but have shown some promise in early testing and aren’t available to them through a study. Now the government wants to make this easier and give more heft to the requests. In June at a cancer conference in Chicago, the Food and Drug Administration announced a project to have the agency become the middleman. Instead of making doctors plead their case first to companies and then to the FDA if the company agrees to provide the drug, the FDA will become the initial step and will assign a staffer to quickly do the paperwork. That way, when a company

gets a request, it knows the FDA already considers it appropriate. The project only involves drugs for cancer, not other diseases. “We are here to help. We are not here to make a drug company give a specific drug to a patient. We don’t have that authority,” said Dr. Richard Pazdur, the FDA official leading the effort. But the agency gets little information now on how many requests are turned down and why.

But the new FDA project is “absolutely going to change things” and push more companies to say yes, Goodman said. She founded an advocacy group, Kids v Cancer, after her son Jacob Froman died in 2009 at age 10. The FDA has not been the problem, she said. It keeps a website with links to companies’ policies and contact information for patients, and has quickly approved the vast majority of these requests whenever a company has granted access.

Easier access for all The current system also is cumbersome and sometimes unfair, he said. Patients in rural or inner-city areas, or at community hospitals that lack staff to work on special requests, may be disadvantaged. Social media campaigns can add to the inequity. “We do not want to have the situation where somebody who screams loudest gets the drug” and other worthy candidates don’t, Pazdur said. The project has nothing to do with the federal Right to Try law passed last year, which many have called “right to ask” because it only allows patients to request a drug from a company under certain circumstances and does not mandate that it be provided.

A burden on doctors That’s what happened when Dr. Chul Kim, a lung specialist at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, made his first attempt to get compassionate use for a patient, in this case to help Atwater, whose cancer was spreading despite usual treatments. “I felt there was an urgent need to switch therapy,” and early results suggested the experimental drug could get into the brain, which many therapies can’t do, and fight the cancer there, Kim said. He started the process in early February and ultimately got Atwater the drug in late March. “I have other patients and I needed to

carve out time for this,” and was fortunate to have staff that had been working with the company on a study who could help, Kim said. Once the company agreed, it took the FDA only a day to do the same. “It requires quite a bit of work,” usually at least 24 hours over several weeks, said Dr. Ajai Chari at Mount Sinai’s Tisch Cancer Institute in New York, where dozens of patients have gotten compassionate use access over the last decade. “A lot of people have to drop what they’re doing to get all that done.” Chari just did it for Michael Walsh, a 58year-old musician from New York City, who has had myeloma since 2011. “He’s exhausted all approved FDA therapies,” including 13 types of chemotherapy, Chari said. Within a few weeks of starting on the experimental drug, however, Walsh had a dramatic reduction in his cancer. Atwater, the 68-year-old Washington woman treated at Georgetown, is hoping for the same from her experimental drug. She said she asked her sister who had breast cancer how she might be able to tell if the treatment was working. “She said, ‘You’re still here, aren’t you?’” Atwater said. “I think it’s worth the risk. At least I hope it is.” —AP

Genetic tests can quickly ID infections By Marilynn Marchione Brian Jetter, a previously healthy 40year-old, was on life support, suddenly battling pneumonia and sepsis, and a slew of tests had failed to find the cause. Mystery illnesses like this kill thousands of people each year when germs can’t be identified fast enough to reveal the right treatment. Now genetic tests are helping to solve these cases. One finally was used to search Jetter’s blood for bits of non-human genetic material from viruses, fungi and the like. It detected unusual bacteria that probably got into the Connecticut man’s lungs when he choked and accidentally inhaled bits of a burger weeks earlier. With the right medicine, he recovered and went home to his 5-year-old son. “I realized how fragile life is,” Jetter said. “No matter how healthy you are, the smallest microbe can destroy you.”

A new use of the tests Doctors routinely use genetic tests to spot inherited diseases and guide cancer treatment. But using them to detect infectious diseases is so new that few doctors and even fewer patients know they’re available. A study of one test was published in June in The New England Journal of Medicine. They are modernizing a field long overdue for an overhaul. To identify bacteria, labs still rely on century-old techniques from Louis Pasteur — putting a few drops of blood or other sample in a lab dish and waiting days or weeks to see what germs grow. To test for a virus, a doctor usually has to guess what the patient is sick with. Testing for a fungus or some other things can take a long time. Several companies and university labs now offer gene-based tests on blood or

spinal fluid. Once fragments of foreign DNA or other genetic material are found, their code is analyzed, or sequenced, to identify bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites causing sepsis, meningitis, encephalitis and other deadly illnesses. “The key advantage of sequencing is it can look for everything at once” rather than doing separate tests for each virus or other microbe that’s suspected, said Dr. Charles Chiu, a microbiologist at the University of California, San Francisco. He led the New England Journal study that tried a spinal fluid test on 204 children and adults with meningitis or encephalitis — dangerous illnesses that aren’t always caused by an infection. The gene test wasn’t perfect. It missed some cases, but also found others that standard tests missed. In all, 58 infections were diagnosed. The gene test matched standard lab findings in

19 cases, found 13 more that standard testing missed and missed 26 that the standard tests eventually found.

Quick, but expensive Doctors say the gene-based tests could be a fast, non-invasive first step for serious or unusual cases. “For infectious disease, you need to know the answer today,” because a patient’s risk of dying goes up the longer the cause isn’t found, said Dr. Asim Ahmed, medical director at Karius Inc. The Redwood City, California, company sells a blood test developed by Stanford University scientists that searches for 1,200 bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites at once and gives a result within two days. The test showed high agreement with standard lab testing in a study in the jourSee GENETIC TESTS, page 10

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Progress on blood tests to detect cancer By Marilynn Marchione A California company said its experimental blood test was able to detect many types of cancer at an early stage and gave very few false alarms in a study that included people with and without the disease. Grail Inc. gave results in a news release in May and reported them at a recent American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago. They have not yet been published in a journal or reviewed by other scientists.

be in 94% of cases and was right about that 90% of the time. That’s the most encouraging part because you don’t want to tell people they may have cancer and then need to do a lot of other tests to figure out where, said Dr. Richard Schilsky, chief medical officer of the oncology society. “They still have a long way to go” to prove the test’s worth as a screening tool, but these results are encouraging, he said.

More studies underway Non-invasive diagnostic tools Many companies are trying to develop early detection “liquid biopsy” tests that capture bits of DNA that cancer cells shed into blood. Last month, Johns Hopkins University scientists launched a company called Thrive Earlier Detection Corp. to develop its CancerSEEK test, which yielded results similar to Grail’s more than a year ago. Grail is closely watched because of the extraordinary investment it’s attracted — more than $1 billion from Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates and other celebrities. The new results included 2,300 people, 60% with cancer and 40% not known to have it. The test detected 55% of known cancers and gave false alarms for 1%. Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, interim chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, called the low rate of false alarms “remarkable.” The detection rate was better — 76% — for a dozen cancers that collectively account for nearly two thirds of cancer deaths in the U.S., including lung, pancreatic, esophageal and ovarian. The test found only about a third of cancers at the very earliest stage but as many as 84% that had started to spread but not widely. It also suggested where the cancer may

“I have little doubt that in the next several years we’re going to have what is probably a true early detection test,” Lichtenfeld said. But the technology still needs to improve and to be tried in large groups of people without known cancers where the detection rate may not be as good, he added. Grail and Thrive already have larg-

er studies underway. Grail’s test has not been compared to mammography, colonoscopy or other screening tools, and is not intended to replace them, the company said. On the other hand, many deadly can-

cers that the Grail test detected have no screening tests now, he noted. The biggest question, Lichtenfeld said, is “will it make a difference in outcomes” such as helping people live longer — the ultimate measure of a screening test’s worth. —AP

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Medical scribes let doctors focus on you By Adam Landman, M.D. You have a medical appointment, perhaps with a new doctor. The physician enters the examination room, introduces herself, and then introduces the medical scribe, who moves to the corner of the room in front of the computer. As the doctor starts asking you questions, the scribe begins typing. Scribes are becoming increasingly common in doctor’s offices. But what do they do, what type of training do they have, and

why are they gaining in popularity? Scribes are assistants to physicians and other healthcare providers. Their primary role is entering electronic documentation (notes) into the computer, including patient history, physician examination findings, test results and other information pertinent to your care. Scribes may also check for test results and assist with assigning diagnoses and billing. The physician is then responsible for carefully reviewing the scribe’s notes,

correcting any misinformation or omissions and signing the notes.

Who works as a scribe? Scribes are often college students or recent college graduates seeking additional exposure to the healthcare field before applying to medical school or other graduate training programs; however, scribing can also be a full-time career. They receive training on how to document as well as on medical coding and billing rules. In general, scribes do not have health-

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nal Nature Microbiology. “The biggest issue is the cost” — around $2,000 for the Karius test — said Ali Torkamani, a San Diego scientist who directs a genetics conference that featured these tests in March. More competition may lower the price and lead to wider use, he said. Karius has its own lab for its test. Other companies offer software and tools that hospitals can use to develop their own gene-based tests. One of them, Arc Bio, based in California and Massachusetts, offers virus testing from blood and gives an answer in less than two days. IDbyDNA, based in San Francisco, uses a Utah lab that works with 3,000 U.S. hospitals. It gives an answer within about 48 hours after a sample arrives, said its chief medical officer, Dr. Robert Schlaberg, a University of Utah pathologist. So far, hospitals are using these tests for the worst cases — long, unexplained illnesses or very vulnerable patients such as children and people with cancer or weak immune systems.

care provider training or certification. Unless your scribe is also a nurse, medical assistant or other certified medical professional, they should not be providing medical advice or delivering care to you. Scribes are members of the healthcare delivery team and are therefore accountable to all applicable institutional policies and are expected to act professionally. For example, scribes are held to the same standards to protect patient privacy as other See MEDICAL SCRIBES, page 13

Dr. Asha Shah tried one for the first time last year, when Jetter was rapidly getting worse at Stamford Hospital in Connecticut. “He had multiple blood tests, chest Xray, CAT scan, you name it,” she said. “I thought, this doesn’t make sense, why aren’t we getting any answers?” The Karius test revealed unusual oral bacteria in his lungs, suggesting he’d inhaled some while choking on the burger. An even more unusual story emerged when Dr. Amir Khan, an infectious disease specialist at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Illinois, ordered a Karius test for 47-year-old Ryan Springer, who doctors first suspected of having cancer. “Breathing made my lungs feel like they were on fire,” said Springer, a radio station program director in Champaign, Illinois. He turned out to have tularemia, sometimes called “rabbit fever,” which can come from inhaling bacteria from infected rodents or running over their droppings with a lawn mower. With the right treatment, he recovered. “This is the future of medicine,” Khan said. When patients are very sick, “every minute and hour counts.” —AP

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grow your savings this summer Save Money on Peak Savings Days This summer, you can relax and save money by saving energy. On Pepco’s Peak Savings Days, the less energy you use the more money you could save on your bill. Learn more at pepco.com/peak © Pepco, 2019

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Scientists studying marijuana’s potential By Carla K. Johnson Marijuana has been shown to help ease pain and a few other health problems. Yet two-thirds of U.S. states have decided pot should be legal to treat many other conditions with little scientific backing. At least 1.4 million Americans are using marijuana for their health, according to an

Associated Press analysis of states that track medical marijuana patients. The analysis is based on data from 26 states and the District of Columbia. The number of medical marijuana cardholders more than tripled in the last five years as more states jumped on the bandwagon. States that expanded the use of med-

ical pot for common ailments such as severe pain, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety saw a boost in enrollment, the AP found. The U.S. government, meanwhile, considers marijuana as both an illegal drug and a therapeutic herb worth more study. Here’s a look at the health claims and research on medical marijuana to date:

The proof Besides chronic pain, there’s strong evidence marijuana, or its ingredients, can ease nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy and help with symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Several European countries have approved Sativex, a mouth spray containing THC and CBD, for multiple sclerosis symptoms. British drugmaker GW Pharmaceuticals is seeking U.S. approval for Sativex. (Note: THC is the natural ingredient that causes marijuana’s mind-altering effect. CBD, which is also found in regular hemp, doesn’t get people high.) Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Epidiolex, made from CBD, to treat two rare seizure disorders. As a result, other companies are pursuing FDA backing for products based on marijuana ingredients. Prescription drugs already on the market use synthetic THC to treat weight loss, nausea and vomiting in patients with AIDS or cancer. And researchers continue to study whether marijuana helps with PTSD, back pain and other problems.

An opioid alternative? New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New Mexico allow medical marijuana for opioid addiction despite little evidence that it works. But marijuana may be helpful in reducing

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the use of opioid painkillers. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, better known for its research on herbs and yoga, has set aside $3 million for studies to determine which of marijuana’s 400-plus chemicals help with pain. THC was excluded, however. Its mood-altering effects and potential for addiction and abuse make it less useful to relieve pain, said Dr. David Shurtleff, the agency’s deputy director. And THC has been studied more than the lesser-known compounds.

Cure for cancer? Despite online claims, there’s only weak evidence that marijuana’s ingredients might one day be used to fight cancer. Most studies have been on animals or in the lab, and results have been mixed. In one study, nine patients with an aggressive form of brain cancer had THC injected into their tumors; any effect on their survival was unclear. Another study found worrying evidence that marijuana might interfere with some cancer drugs, making them less effective.

Research is stymied by laws The U.S. government grows marijuana for research at a farm in Mississippi and generally bans grant-funded studies of real-world products. With increased demand by researchers for pot to be used in testing, the Drug Enforcement Administration created an application process for growers but has not acted on more than two dozen applications. Such challenges are common for scientists studying an outlaw medicine, said Dr. Igor Grant, who directs the oldest marijuana research center in the U.S. at the UniSee MARIJUANA, page 13

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Medical scribes From page 10 healthcare professionals. Scribes should be introduced to the patient when they enter the room. If you are uncomfortable with a scribe being present during your visit, you should request to be seen by the healthcare provider privately.

Why are scribes so common now? The practice of medicine requires a large number of administrative tasks, including thorough documentation of all patient visits. As the majority of U.S. hospitals and physician offices have now transitioned to electronic documentation, physicians are spending an increasing amount of time on the computer instead of with the patient. Adding a scribe to the team enables physicians to spend more time directly talking with patients, while the scribe documents the visit. Scribes are being used in all care settings, including the primary care office, specialist offices, urgent care, emergency departments and inpatient hospitals. A recent study in the primary care setting found reductions in the amount of time spent with electronic documentation and improvements in physician productivity and work satisfaction associated with the use of medical scribes.

Marijuana From page 12 versity of California, San Diego. There, scientists are studying marijuana chemicals for autism and brain disorders. Established by state law in 2000, UCSD’s Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research once relied solely on California for funding. The center now has support from private foundations, a sign of growing public acceptance of the research.

Studying cancer pain Minnesota medical marijuana patients must regularly fill out surveys about their symptoms and side effects. That allows researchers to study how people with cancer react to marijuana. In one study, a third of cancer patients made only one purchase and didn’t come back during a four-month period. They may have died, or decided marijuana was too expensive or didn’t work. Of the rest, most reported improvements in vomiting, pain, disturbed sleep, anxiety and depression with few side effects. Marijuana can ease many symptoms “all at one time,” but more study is needed, said study co-author Dr. Dylan Zylla of the healthcare system HealthPartners. He has no financial ties to cannabis companies. Zylla is studying whether cancer patients can decrease their prescription opioid use while using marijuana. Marijuana “does seem to help patients,” he said, “but so much is unknown about the risks, side effects and drug interactions.” —AP

In-person and virtual scribes Today, scribes typically accompany the physician and patient in the room. In-person scribes are also being supplemented by virtual scribes who aren’t physically present in the room with the patient. For example, physicians may use a recording device to capture their interview and examination of the patient. The electronic recording can then be sent to scribes who are offsite, and then transcribed and entered into the computer. Newer video teleconferencing software and “smart” glasses are also being used to allow the scribe to view and transcribe the visit into the computer from an offsite location. The latter technology has the benefit of allowing the scribe to work in real time, asking clarifying questions to the providers and entering the notes faster. Importantly, with both these scenarios, physicians are still responsible for the content of the notes and must review and sign off on the notes.

The U.S. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, which oversees federal health insurance programs, is currently working to reduce documentation requirements for billing, which may help decrease physician workload. In addition, advances in technology may one day completely automate documentation of patient visits. In the meantime, scribes provide the

ability for physicians to focus more on the patient relationship and interaction and less on computer data entry. Adam Landman, M.D., M.S., M.I.S., M.H.S., is a contributor to Harvard Health Publishing. © 2019 President and Fellows of Harvard College. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Delirium and dementia differ, but overlap Dear Mayo Clinic: My mother is 78, and over the past two weeks, she has become really confused off and on. Before this, she seemed fine, other than having some problems with short-term memory loss. Could this be delirium? How is delirium different from the beginnings of dementia? A: It is possible that your mother has delirium, which is a common condition that occurs when people become ill. It also

can be a side effect of some medications. Unlike dementia, which develops gradually over a long period of time, the start of delirium usually is rapid. Symptoms of delirium require prompt medical evaluation to determine the underlying cause and start treatment.

Symptoms of delirium Signs and symptoms of delirium usually begin over the course of a few hours or a few days.

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Delirium is a serious disturbance in mental abilities. Its hallmarks include changes in attention, such as becoming extremely confused or withdrawn, and having that condition shift throughout the day. For example, some people affected by delirium will be fine in the morning and then become confused at night. Other symptoms of delirium may include restlessness, agitation, hallucinations, anxiety and unpredictable mood changes, as well as sleep problems, sluggishness and abnormal drowsiness. Delirium often is triggered by an acute illness, such as an infection or a condition that affects the body’s metabolism, like low sodium or low calcium. Delirium also can be caused by heart or lung problems, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a pulmonary embolism or a heart attack. Many medications can cause delirium when they are first introduced. Those most frequently associated with delirium include some types of medication prescribed for pain, sleep problems, mood disorders, allergies, asthma, Parkinson’s disease and spasms or convulsions.

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It sometimes can be hard to tell the difference between delirium and dementia, but there are several distinguishing factors. The most obvious is the onset of these disorders, with delirium developing quickly and dementia developing slowly. In addition, dementia often begins with memory loss that involves daily activities, such as forgetting appointments or bills, or having difficulty with planning. Unlike those affected by delirium, people with early-stage dementia typically don’t have problems with their ability to

maintain attention, and they generally remain alert and engaged with what’s going on around them. Finally, symptoms of dementia don’t fluctuate as much as those of delirium. People who have dementia may have times of the day that their symptoms seem somewhat better or worse. But, overall, their memory and thinking skills stay fairly constant throughout the day. It is possible to have both dementia and delirium. Delirium frequently occurs in people with dementia. But having episodes of delirium does not always mean a person has dementia. In a situation like your mother’s, where a family member or friend notices symptoms of delirium, it’s important that the affected individual receive a medical evaluation. Delirium usually can be diagnosed based on a person’s medical history and symptoms, along with tests to assess mental status and identify underlying health problems. Input from a family member or friend during the evaluation often helps the healthcare provider arrive at an accurate diagnosis. If a new health concern is uncovered during the medical assessment, treatment for that condition often relieves delirium symptoms. When delirium is caused by medications, adjusting the dose or switching to an alternative medication may be all that’s needed to eliminate delirium. — Paul Takahashi, M.D., Community Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. Email a question to MayoClinic Q&A @mayo.edu. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org.

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Obtaining prescriptions online a concern By Matthew Perrone How do you get men excited about decades-old pills for hair loss and other potentially embarrassing health conditions? Online prescription startups including Hims and Roman are banking on a mix of convenience, viral marketing and glossy packaging to turn generic prescription drugs and other pharmacy staples into a profitable new business model. But some in the medical establishment are raising concerns about their marketing and the quality of care they provide. “There are both opportunities to improve access to care but also risks to patients, and I think regulators are having to address that,” said Lisa Robin, an executive with the Federation of State Medical Boards, which represents the organizations that license and discipline physicians. The group has been advising U.S. physicians to carefully consider “their professional and ethical duties” before signing up to work for the companies. Hims and Roman each said in separate statements that their doctors are required to deliver the same standard of care on their platforms as they do in person.

How online services work The on-demand services promise consumers quick, convenient access to what

they want. That means customers essentially self-diagnose, selecting the medication of their choice and — pending approval by a doctor — receive the prescription by mail or through a local pharmacy. In place of a traditional exam, patients answer questions about their symptoms, medical history, allergies and other details. Similar companies specialize in contraceptives, sleep medications and pills for anxiety. Dr. Adriane Fugh-Berman, who studies pharmaceutical marketing, worries the companies are minimizing the role of health professionals in carefully diagnosing and treating patients. “These are lifestyle drugs, and they have potentially serious adverse effects. This seems like too casual a way to be obtaining them,” said Fugh-Berman, a professor at Georgetown University.

FDA hasn’t weighed in In some cases, the websites promote prescription drugs for unapproved uses, such as blood pressure drugs to reduce anxiety. While that kind of “off-label” prescribing is common for many physicians, drugmakers are barred from advertising such uses because they have not been federally approved. The online startups, echoing Uber and other Silicon Valley startups, say they are

technology companies and are therefore not subject to those rules. The FDA didn’t comment on the websites but said in a statement that off-label drug use “should be a conversation between the consumer and the healthcare provider.” Prescription drugs sold by Hims and Roman — both founded in 2017 — are available at most pharmacies nationwide. And retail giants like Walmart and CVS Health also offer medical consultations through apps and websites.

So, what’s new here? Hims’ 30-year-old founder, Andrew Dudum, said his company is revamping the process “so people can have an amazing experience” and get “extremely beautiful products.” Hims — which also sells shampoo, vitamins and other consumer items — puts its products in discreet, minimalist packaging stamped with the company name. Its feSee ONLINE Rx, page 16

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Online Rx From page 15 male-focused site, Hers, similarly offers custom-wrapped medications for low-sex drive alongside hair and skin products. Roman CEO Zachariah Reitano, 28, said his company offers customers a chance “to talk about these things that can be highly stigmatized.” But real-time communication between doctor and patient doesn’t always happen. Telemedicine laws vary by state, and in many cases, physicians can write prescriptions after simply reviewing a patient’s re-

J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

sponses to online questionnaires. Sometimes doctors must seek extra details via text messages or a phone call. Roman’s website gives an example of a typical transaction in which the patient spends 20 minutes providing information and the physician spends two minutes reviewing it. That’s about the same length as a traditional U.S. office visit, according to data published two years ago.

Most don’t accept insurance But customers looking for savings might be disappointed. Hims, Roman and most of their counterparts don’t take insur-

ance and instead charge a cash fee. Most of the drugs they sell can be found for less using prescription discount apps like GoodRx, which identifies the best prices at local pharmacies and applies coupons. As consumers increasingly migrate to the web for health services, experts say telemedicine will become more common. But even proponents of the technology stress the importance of maintaining conventional standards of care. Many large hospitals and insurers offer online consultations, while also giving physicians access to patients’ full medical records. In the case of someone seeking a beta

blocker for anxiety, a physician might notice that the patient had an irregular heart reading at a previous checkup. That might signal a potential safety issue since beta blockers can sometimes cause a dangerously slow heart rate. Dr. Jonah Feldman, a medical technology specialist at New York University’s Winthrop hospital in New York, said that kind of detail might be missed by an online service relying solely on patient-provided information. The new websites “are really moving backward to a more fragmented version of care,” Feldman said. —AP

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July 15

HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE INFO Learn about how to pay for hospice and palliative care services at

an information session hosted by Amanda Consovoy, LCSW, and nurse practitioner Dwayne Barton. The free event takes place on Monday, July 15, at 1:30 p.m. at the Aurora Hills Senior Center, 735 S. 18th St., Arlington, Va. To register, call (703) 228-5722.

Ongoing

FREE OUTDOOR FITNESS CLASSES Enjoy an outdoor fitness class with a certified instructor every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening this summer. Meet at

Farragut Square for yoga on Tuesdays, Wednesdays are for body sculpting, and Pilates on Thursdays. Please bring a mat. All classes take place at 5:30 p.m. at Connecticut Ave. and K St. N.W., Washington, D.C. For more information and to register, see www.goldentriangledc.com.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

New drugs are improving cancer survival By Marilynn Marchione Newer drugs are substantially improving the chances of survival for some people with hard-to-treat forms of lung, breast and prostate cancer, doctors reported recently at the world’s largest cancer conference. Among those who have benefited is Roszell Mack Jr., who at age 87 is still able to work at a horse farm in Lexington, Kentucky, nine years after being diagnosed with lung cancer that had spread to his bones and lymph nodes. “I go in every day, I’m the first one there,” said Mack, who helped test Merck’s Keytruda, a therapy that helps the immune system identify and fight cancer. “I’m feeling well and I have a good quality of life.” The downside: Many of these drugs cost $100,000 or more a year, although what patients pay out of pocket varies depending on insurance, income and other criteria. The results were featured in June at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago, and some were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Companies that make the drugs sponsored the studies, and some study leaders have financial ties. Here are some highlights:

Lung cancer Immunotherapy drugs such as Keytru-

da have transformed the treatment of many types of cancer, but they’re still fairly new and don’t help most patients. The longest study yet of Keytruda in patients with advanced lung cancer found that 23% of those who got the drug as part of their initial therapy survived at least five years, whereas 16% of those who tried other treatments first did. In the past, only about 5% of such patients lived that long. “I’m a big believer that it’s not just about duration of life; quality of life is important,” said Dr. Leora Horn, of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee. She enrolled Mack in the 550-person study. Mack said he had manageable side effects — mostly some awful itching — after starting on Keytruda four years ago. He went off it last winter and scans showed no active cancer; he and his doctor hope it’s in remission. Last year, a smaller study reported fiveyear survival rates of 16% for similar patients given another immunotherapy, Opdivo. “From both studies we’re getting a similar message: When these drugs work, they can have a really durable effect,” Horn said.

is, the cancer’s growth is fueled by estrogen or progesterone and not by the gene that the drug Herceptin targets. In a study of 672 women with such cancers that had spread or were very advanced, adding the Novartis drug Kisqali to the usual hormone blockers as initial therapy helped more than hormone therapy alone. After 3½ years, 70% of women on Kisqali were alive, compared to 46% of the rest. Side effects were more common with Kisqali. This is the first time any treatment has boosted survival beyond what hormone blockers do for such patients.

with prostate cancer that has spread beyond the gland. Standard treatment is drugs that block the male hormone testosterone, which helps these cancers grow, plus chemotherapy or a newer drug called Zytiga. Now, two other drugs have proven able to extend survival when used like chemo or Zytiga in men who were getting usual hormone therapy and still being helped by it. One study tested Xtandi, sold by Pfizer and Astellas Pharma Inc., in 1,125 men, half of whom also were getting chemo. After three years, 80% of those given Xtandi plus standard treatments were alive,

Prostate cancer The options keep expanding for men

See CANCER DRUGS, page 18

Breast cancer The risk of breast cancer rises with age, but about 48,000 cases each year in the U.S. are in women under age 50. About 70% are “hormone-positive, HER2-negative” — that

vol • un • teer It’s a person who changes a child’s life forever Join Us. Experience Corps volunteers – people age 50 and older – help children in Pre-K through third grade learn to read. Join us at one of the following information sessions to learn how you can become a reading tutor and transform the lives of students in the DC Metro Area.

Upcoming Sessions:

July 17, 2019 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. July 31, 2019 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Information sessions held at 601 E. St. NW Washington, DC 20049 Register online at: aarpfoundation.org/ecdcmetro or contact Denise Fraction at 202-434-6349

Unfamiliar terrain requires a surefooted guide. When a loved one has memory loss, each step can feel like an uncertain one. The Artis Way leads with experience in memory care to help you on your unique journey. With Olney Assisted Living as your partner, we’ll forge a path that is clear — arriving at a destination where respect, integrity and dignity surround your loved one.

Join us for this insightful event: Ask the Expert: Successful Transitions Presented by Mikki Fiore, Trovato Dementia Services Thursday, July 18, 2019 12:00-1:00 pm !"#$%&%'#$()'!($'*+'#+(,%&-(.+*+#&%"("!+(')&+#(/%)0123&4( -%$(5!+$+#&"&%'#(/%$12$$+$(&-+(1-"#6+$(%#(&-+(7!"%#(&-"&( *"8+(&!"#$%&%'#$($'(/%)0123&("#/(-',(,+(1"#(2$+(&-+("1&%9+( 5"!&$(')(&-+(7!"%#(&'(+"$+("(5+!$'#(%#&'("(&!"#$%&%'#:(&-+( )"*%3;<$(!'3+$:("#/(-',(&'(,'!8(1''5+!"&%9+3;(,%&-(&-+( 1'**2#%&;(&'(%*5!'9+(&-+(&!"#$%&%'#(+=5+!%+#1+4

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Health Studies Page

J U L Y 2 0 1 9 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

On meds for RA? Volunteer for this study By Margaret Foster Enbrel, Humira and Remicade can successfully treat painful, swollen joints due to rheumatoid arthritis, but the medications carry risky â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and potentially fatal â&#x20AC;&#x201D; side effects. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The biggest side effect we worry about is infection because these drugs are immunosuppressants,â&#x20AC;? said Dr. Michael Ward of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People may have bronchitis and it may turn into pneumonia,â&#x20AC;? for example. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a link between long-term use of RA medications and an increased

risk of lymphoma and leukemia. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why Ward and other scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are launching a clinical trial to determine whether people whose RA is in remission can stop taking their medication. About 300 people 18 and older will be enrolled in the randomized, blind trial. Participants will make six visits in one year to NIH in Bethesda, Maryland, and then a seventh and final visit a year later. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most of the visits are about a half hour. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a quick joint exam and questionnaire about symptoms and a blood test,â&#x20AC;? Dr. Ward said. The second visit, which lasts four

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Ongoing

GROUP MEDITATION

Join a free guided meditation session every Sunday. The group meets at 7 a.m. at the Rollins Congressional Club, 1621 Martha Terrace, in Social Room 1, Rockville, Md. For more information, email dcmetro.hfn@gmail.com or call (301) 984-1621.

hours, will include an x-ray and sonogram.

Who is eligible? Patients are eligible for the study if their RA has been in remission for at least six months and if they are taking some RA medication in addition to Enbrel, Humira or Remicade (most patients also take methotrexate or Plaquenil). Participants will be compensated $30 per visit (more for the ultrasound visit), and free parking is provided in addition to free lab tests, x-rays and medication. Free taxi service is available for D.C. metro residents. After the first year of the study, patients can re-evaluate their medications with their rheumatologist to determine whether or not they should continue taking them.

Cancer drugs From page 17 compared to 72% of men given the other treatments alone. The other study involved 1,052 men who were given hormone therapy with or without the Janssen drug Erleada. After two years, survival was 82% among those on Erleada and 74% among those who werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. Men now have a choice of four drugs that give similar benefits, and no studies yet have compared them against each other, said Dr. Ethan Basch, a prostate specialist at the University of North Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center who has no financial ties to any drugmakers.

Two study goals The study has two main goals, Ward said. First, it will determine whether or not RA flares up without medication. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once people have been in remission a while, are we overtreating them? Can they get by just as well without medication?â&#x20AC;? Ward said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are trying to fine-tune the levels of treatment to the levels that their arthritis warrants.â&#x20AC;? In addition, the study will analyze the immune system makeups of its participants to track patterns in remission and flare-ups, Dr. Ward said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Are there subsets of people with a certain immune system makeup that can successfully come off the medication?â&#x20AC;? For more information or to volunteer to enroll in the study, call (202) 877-6274 or (301) 451-4383.

Cost and side effects may help patients decide, he said. Chemo can cause numbness and tingling in the hands and feet and may not be good for men with diabetes who already are at higher risk for this problem. Zytiga must be taken with a steroid; Xtandi and Erleada can cause falling and fainting. Chemo has more side effects but costs much less and requires only four to six intravenous treatments. The other three drugs are pills that cost more than $10,000 a month and are taken indefinitely. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have patients who refuse to take these drugs because of cost,â&#x20AC;? Basch said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Patients have more choice, but it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t clear more benefit is being providedâ&#x20AC;? beyond what chemo gives, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;AP

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

Drugmakers must reveal prices in TV ads By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar Those ever-present TV ads for prescription drugs will soon carry prices, too, the nation’s top health official said recently, responding to a public outcry for government action to restrain medication costs. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said the Trump administration has finalized regulations that will require drug companies to disclose list prices of medications costing more than $35 for a month’s supply. “What I say to the companies is, if you think the cost of your drug will scare people from buying your drugs, then lower your prices,” Azar said. “Transparency for American patients is here.” Upping the pressure on industry, Azar also said the administration is willing to consider allowing Americans to import lower-priced prescription drugs from abroad if it can be shown to be safe and actually delivers savings to patients.

Trying to lower drug costs Prescription pricing disclosure was part of a multilevel blueprint President Donald Trump announced last year to try to lower prescription drug costs. As a candidate, Trump also favored allowing importation from abroad. The pricing details are expected to appear in text toward the end of commercials, when potential side effects are being disclosed. TV viewers should notice the change later this year, perhaps as early as this summer. Democrats say measures like price disclosure won’t force drugmakers to lower what they charge, and they want Medicare to negotiate on behalf of consumers. Other ideas from the Trump administration include regulations affecting Medicare

BEACON BITS

July 13

AFRICAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL

Celebrate diversity in the Maryland community at the African Cultural Experience Festival on Saturday, July 13. Shop, eat, drink and dance throughout the day. This free event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Carroll Baldwin Hall, 9035 Baltimore St., Savage, Md. To register, visit acefestival.eventbrite.com.

July 13+

CRAFT FOR A CAUSE

Create hats, necklaces and more at a volunteer event that benefits children in hospitals, care facilities and special education centers. It takes place on Saturday, July 13, at 10 a.m. and Thursday, July 18 at 5 p.m. at 716 Monroe St. N.E., Studio 7, Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.onlymakebelieve.org.

and requiring hospitals to reveal prices for tests and procedures. [See “Hospitals ordered to reveal costs up front” in the Law & Money section of this issue.] With the cost of medicines a top concern for voters, Trump and lawmakers of both major political parties want accomplishments they can point to before the 2020 elections.

Drug companies object The drug industry opposed the price reveal, saying companies would rather provide the information on their websites. But Johnson & Johnson, based in New Brunswick, New Jersey, announced this year that it would start disclosing the cost of its blood thinner Xarelto in TV advertising. That drug is used to treat and prevent blood clots that can cause strokes. Among drug industry complaints is that

the government would be infringing on First Amendment free speech rights by forcing companies to disclose prices. Azar points out that the government has for decades required carmakers to post their sticker prices on vehicles. “Prices of

automobiles are vastly less important to your health and affordability than drugs,” he said. According to the government, the 10 See DRUG PRICES, page 21

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J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

How cooking helped me cope with Mom By Miriam Green The following is excerpted from the new book, The Lost Kitchen, by Miriam Green. In it, the author shares family recipes and discusses her mother’s Alzheimer’s and how it affected her family. Those early months were difficult. I didn’t want to believe the diagnosis. If I was being honest with myself, though, I knew with certainty that Mom had Alzheimer’s. I was not prepared for the disarray that Alzheimer’s brought into our lives. I didn’t realize the extent to which every emotion I displayed would be amplified in Mom’s behavior. I couldn’t grasp fully that Mom had entered an alternate reality where her

unchecked and discordant emotions often burst out indiscriminately. I had to keep reminding myself that Mom was blameless, that it was the disease affecting her… It took a slow while, but eventually I found ways that helped us minimize the confusion. It had to start with my own behavior. It meant acknowledging Mom’s reality, listening patiently to her often incoherent statements, bringing her into conversations instead of talking over her head, assuaging her anger, tamping down my own anger, finding ways to make her laugh, being in the moment and loving her unconditionally. The effect was like shining a bright light in a dark place and finding that the room

was filled with hidden blessings… Through it all, as a way to cope, I have stationed myself in my kitchen and focused on cooking. I have become a more adventurous cook, incorporating family recipes that I learned from Mom into our daily cuisine and borrowing from the culture around me. Mom, my greatest teacher, has taught me how to love and laugh in a world that is often confusing and painful. She has unknowingly encouraged me to give of myself and to express as best I can the advice I’ve learned about Alzheimer’s. I hope that it can help others who are caring for loved ones no longer in their prime but still loved, still wanted and still needed. Whatever you do, however you approach this illness, be it your spouse or parent who is affected, give them as much love as you can even when they’ve forgotten who you are. Do it for them. Do it for yourself. One meal at a time.

Kitchen Sink Soup When the kids ask me what’s in the soup, I reply like Mom taught me: “Everything but the kitchen sink.” I make variations of this soup all the time, depending on what I have in the house. The basics are a can of crushed tomatoes, a plentiful amount of vegetables and a cup of lentils. I’ve been known to add cabbage, spinach, broccoli, even peas. Ingredients: 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, crushed 2 carrots, diced 3 stalks celery, diced (with leaves) 1 cup pumpkin, chopped ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped

1 tsp dried oregano 1 tsp dried basil 2-3 bay leaves 1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes 1 cup green lentils ½ cup barley or brown rice (optional) 6 to 8 cups water Salt and pepper to taste Directions: In a large pot, sauté onions and garlic in olive oil until onions become translucent. Add vegetables and spices. Cook an additional five minutes. Add the lentils and barley (if using). Add water. Bring soup to a boil, then cover and simmer on low heat for at least an hour.

Saigon Chicken Mom had given me this recipe many years ago written out in her own hand. When I read the recipe, it reminds me of her fragility. Ingredients: 2 chickens, cut into 8 pieces 1½ tsp curry powder 1½ tsp granulated garlic or 2 cloves fresh ½ cup honey 1 30 oz. can crushed pineapple with juice 1 cup flour for dredging Directions: Coat each chicken piece in a thin layer of flour by dredging it in a small bowl of flour. Place in baking pan. In separate bowl, mix pineapple and other ingredients, including juice from the pineapple. Pour over chicken and bake covered at 350 degrees F for one hour. Uncover and bake another fifteen minutes until browned. Copies of The Lost Kitchen are available on Amazon for $13.49 paperback; $3.99 Kindle.

BEACON BITS

July 13

GARDENING HELP Ask any question you have about growing vegetables in Northern Virginia on Saturday, July 13. A master gardener will be available

to give you advice. The free event takes place at the Organic Vegetable Garden in Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 Marcey Rd., Arlington, Va. For more information, email mgarlalex@gmail.com or call (703) 228-6414.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

Drug prices From page 19 most commonly advertised drugs have prices ranging from $535 to $11,000 per month or for a usual course of therapy. The disclosure requirement will not apply to print or radio ads for the foreseeable future. It covers all brand name drugs covered by Medicare and Medicaid, which is nearly all medications. “Over $4 billion of pharma spend is in TV ads...That is their most impactful form of advertising,” Azar said. “That is where the patient has the most need of being informed.” The government is hoping that patients armed with price information will start discussing affordability with their doctors, and gradually that will put pressure on drugmakers to keep costs in check. In a twist, enforcement of the disclosure rule will rely on drug companies suing each other over violations under a longstanding federal law that governs unfair trade practices. “There are very large legal practices built on pharma companies suing each other,” said Azar, calling it a “quite effective mechanism.” Most people count on lower-cost gener-

ic drugs to manage their health problems, but the advent of revolutionary medications for once-fatal or intractable diseases has put consumers on edge. Some genetic and cellular-based treatments can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, which has put a strain on the budgets of insurers and government programs.

Many can’t afford needed drugs A recent poll from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation found that one in three Americans said they haven’t taken medications as prescribed because of costs. People who take four or more medications, those who spend $100 a month or more on meds, patients in fair to poor health, and middle-aged adults are more likely to report affordability problems. Although most patients do not pay the full list prices that will be included in ads, experts say those prices are still important. They’re the starting point for negotiations between drugmakers and insurers. Also, copays that patients face are often based on list prices. And many people who have high-deductible insurance plans pay list prices for medications because their insurance does-

BEACON BITS

July 11

PINS AND NEEDLES CLUB

Hoping to learn how to crochet? Join the Pins and Needles Crocheting Club, which will meet at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, at the New Carrollton Library, 7414 Riverdale Rd., New Carrollton, Md. Adult beginners welcome and materials provided. Register in advance by calling (301) 459-6900.

July 20

HOMELESS BREAKFAST

Help distribute clothes and provide food for homeless people in the D.C. community. Volunteers welcome on Saturday, July 20, from 6:30 to 9 a.m. at the Calvary Episcopal Church, 820 6th St. N.E., Washington, D.C. To learn more, call (202) 546-8011.

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n’t start covering until patients have spent several thousand dollars of their own money. In other economically advanced countries, governments negotiate drug prices to keep medications more affordable for patients. But except for some government

programs like the Veterans Affairs health system, the U.S. has held back from government-set prices. The regulations were published in the Federal Register in May and will take effect on July 9, 2019. —AP

J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

VOLUME XXXI, ISSUE 7

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE By Laura Newland, Director D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living We’ve started working with a communications firm to help us complete our transition from the Office on Aging to the Department of Aging and Community Living, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with. In our kickoff meeting, they asked us a lot of questions: like what’s important to us as an agency, how do we want people to view us, and what makes us excited about our work? We think about these things a lot, but now is such a great time to reflect on where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’d like to go. You’ll be part of those conversations as we get going, and I’m looking forward to hearing from you. Becoming a department has made me especially reflective of my time at the agency. At our Senior Symposium last month at Ballou High School, I sat down at a table for a conversation with an old friend and a new one. We talked about how far we’ve come as an agency supporting LGBTQ programs. The truth is that just a few years ago, I didn’t really understand why it was so important to have separate LGBTQ programming. I wanted to make sure all of our programs were welcoming and inclusive to everyone, and that’s where my focus was. But that changed when I went to an LGBTQ discussion sponsored by the Age-Friendly Task Force. The moderator of the discussion told me that he wanted me to just listen. For those who have seen me out in the community, you might appreciate how hard that was for me. I’m a good listener, but I like a conversation — a back and forth. I was a debater in high school and trained rigorously in building and supporting arguments in college, which was refined during law school. So just listening was a challenge. But it was the best thing I could’ve done. “Just listening” meant that I heard person after person speak to their experiences, their hopes, their fears. Towards the end of the meeting, I leaned over to my chief of staff and told him we needed to reconsider our position. So we did. One year later, we sponsored LGBTQ programming for the first time. This month, I’ll be announcing the recipients of LGBTQ grants for fiscal year 2020, and I couldn’t be prouder of how far we’ve come. So, when I told the communications firm that DACL is an agency that makes a commitment to listening — I meant it. Listening makes us all better, because true listening means we open up to each other, and to the possibility that we might not know everything we thought we knew. And sometimes, if we’re lucky, we can see the best in each other. So, we’ll keep listening — thanks for continuing to share with us!

A newsletter for D.C. Seniors

July 2019

Ms. Senior D.C. Contestants

Contestants for the Ms. Senior D.C. Pageant 2019 will compete for the title of Ms. Senior D.C. on Sunday, June 30 at UDC. Contestants (left to right) are Vanella Jackson-Crawford, Sheila Austin-Jones, Olimpia Lopez, Cynthia Gayle Reddick, Shirley Powell Ricks, Deborah Clark, Trayci Darlene Campbell and Trinette Chase. The winner of the pageant will compete at the national pageant in Atlantic City, NJ from October 20 to 25.

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.

500 K St. N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002 202-724-5626 www.dcoa.dc.gov

Director Laura Newland

Editor Darlene Nowlin

Photographer Selma Dillard

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

The D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living is in partnership with the District of Columbia Recycling Program.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

Spotlight on Aging

Mayor’s 8th Annual Senior Symposium “Connect, Contribute, Create” was the theme for the Mayor’s Eighth Annual Senior Symposium held at Ballou Senior High School in June. Nearly 1000 seniors were greeted by Mayor Muriel Bowser, who reminded attendees how great the District is doing, and how the city will continue to take steps to become more age-friendly so that older residents can age in place. Those in attendance also participated in the many workshops that were held, were entertained in the Main Hall, and visited over 100 exhibitors during the day’s events. Workshop topics included Ways to Make Ends Meet; Sex and Aging; Art Therapy; Money Smart for Older Adults: Financial Scams Against Seniors; Volunteering in the Community, Senior Entrepreneurship; Live the Dream–Starting Your Own Business, and Lifelong Learning: Don’t Miss Opportunities. Attendees were able to learn more about sex after age 60, what elder abuse is (and scams that are designed to steal money from older adults), learn ways to make more income (and restrictions on how much they can make while receiving benefits), connect with volunteer opportunities, business opportunities available to older adults, and even to practice their creativity through art. Rayceen Pendarvis, LGBTQ radio host and entertainer, was the emcee for the event and kept the audience laughing while bringing to the stage musical acts from the Washington Performing Arts featuring the vocals of Ms. Lori Williams, the sounds of DJ Heat, and a performance from vocalist

Aaron Myers. The exhibit hall featured continuous activity, including the streaming from the main stage, health screenings, interactive activity, information and re-

sources. From a massage, the rowing machine, hands-on heart demonstrations, make-up and head wraps, to government resources and services, there was something for everyone!

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Get Involved Wednesday, July 10 Noon – 1 p.m. Presentation on the Dept. of Aging and Community Living (DACL) Resources and Services Lunch and Learn Series Office of Unified Communications 2720 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE – Ward 8 Contact: Wanda Gattison (202) 730-0524

Friday, July 12 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. The Office of Tax and Revenue will facilitate a Real Property Tax Relief Workshop Nineteenth Street Baptist Church 4606 16th Street, NW – Ward 4 Contact: Ronald Taylor, ronald.taylor1604@verizon.net

Monday, July 15 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Mary Taylor, Commissioner on Aging from Ward 7 (left), poses with DACL Director Laura Newland and Veronica Ingraham, Mini-Commissioner on Aging at the Symposium.

A Day of Service Providing Resources and Services for Families Central Union Mission 3194 Bladensburg Road, NE – Ward 5 Contact: Shirley Johnson (202) 745-7118

Wednesday, July 17 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. A Day of Service Providing Resources and Services at the Men’s Shelter Central Union Mission 65 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Contact: Shirley Johnson (202) 745-7118 Connect.Contribute.Create. was the theme for the Mayor’s Eighth Annual Senior Symposium held at Ballou Senior High School. Nearly 1000 seniors were greeted by Mayor Muriel Bowser, who reminded attendees how great the District is doing, and how the city will continue to take steps to make the city more age friendly so that older residents can age in place. Those in attendance also participated in the many workshops that were held, were entertained in the Main Hall and visited over 100 exhibitors during the day’s events.

Thursday, July 18 10 a.m. – noon Train to Become a DACL Ambassador To register, contact dacl.communications@dc.gov or call (202) 724-5626

Saturday, July 20 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Annual Health Fair New Image Community Baptist Church 1839 Alabama Avenue, SE – Ward 8 Contact: Ingrid McMillan (202) 889-3067

Monday, July 29 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Mayor Muriel Bowser (left) greets Symposium attendee Lori Williams and entertainer Rayceen Pendarvis.

DACL & Collaborating Partners Community Workshop for soon-to-be-released Inmates age 50 and up DC Jail and DC Correctional Treatment Facility 1300 D Street, SE and 1301 E Street, SE – Ward 6 Contact: Alice Thompson (202) 535-1321 A number of participants at the Senior Symposium participated in an art class.

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J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

What’s your retirement housing strategy? By Jamie P. Hopkins One of the most important aspects of retirement planning is making housing plans. You will need a place to live in retirement, and there are a lot of different options. Even if you decide to just keep the status quo and “age in place,” there are a lot of factors to consider. Your home is often your largest asset, with the median wealth in homes for a 65year-old couple at $192,552, according to U.S. Census data. This represents about two-thirds of the median retiree’s assets. Furthermore, the home is often the largest expense for retirees, at nearly $20,000 a year. So let’s look at 10 different retirement housing options, ranging from aging in place all the way through nursing home care at the end of life.

Aging in place What is it: Roughly 83% of retiree homeowners want to stay in their current home for as long as possible. Pro: The homeowner gets to keep consistency in their life. They know their house, understand the costs associated with it, have an emotional attachment to it and know the surrounding area. In many cases, this can be the most enjoyable and stress-free way to live in retirement. Con: Often retirees have outgrown

their current homes. Perhaps they raised a few kids and have a lot of extra maintenance, rooms and costs associated with keeping up the house. While it might work early in retirement, it could become a burden as they age. The current home also might not be friendly for aging in place. The home could have too many stairs, not a lot of senior amenities, and be far away from important services like healthcare.

Home sharing What is it: For some homeowners, the desire to age in place is there, but the finances just don’t make sense, especially if the person is single. So, one option is to take on a roommate. Home sharing is mostly engaged in by women in retirement, with more than four million senior women sharing a home with at least two other women (remember “The Golden Girls”?). There are home-sharing services that help pair up homeowners with potential roommates, both from a financial and compatibility standpoint. [See the January 2019 Beacon Housing & Homecare section for more about home sharing options in the area.] Pro: Home sharing can be a great way for a homeowner to age in place, add com-

panionship to their life and improve their finances. The homeowner is able to charge rent and likely split utilities, which can add much-needed cash flow. Additionally, it allows the homeowner to have someone else live with them who may either be in a similar stage of life or be younger and able to help out around the house. Con: Not everyone wants to share their home with a stranger or another person. Furthermore, the decision to bring someone into your home carries risks. For one, you might not get along. Additionally, there can be a lot of headaches from renting a room if the renter is unable to meet their payments. It can be hard to evict someone, especially an older adult.

Relocating/downsizing What is it: When you are working, living close to work is important. However, once you retire, that need is gone. Additionally, the house you were living in might no longer fit your needs, so relocating to a better one might make sense. Pro: Relocating can help free up home equity and reduce expenses if the homeowner downsizes. It is also possible to move to an area with a lower cost of living or to a state that has lower taxes. Additionally, a benefit of relocating in retirement can be to move closer to family, recreation-

al activities or warmer weather. Con: Relocating means getting used to a new area and home (and new doctors). Moving always has costs associated with it also, whether it is hiring movers, closing costs or just travel costs. Lastly, if the decision to relocate eventually does not work, it is very hard to undo.

Renting What is it: If you are already renting, this would be the status quo. However, for homeowners, one option is to sell the home and rent. In some cases, you can engage in a sale-leaseback agreement and sell your current home and continue to rent it back. In other cases, you can sell and move to a new rental location. Pro: By selling and renting, you can free up home equity for other needs and possibly reduce your expenses. Renting also provides more flexibility in that you can move more freely than if you owned. Additionally, renting can take some of the home upkeep and maintenance off the table. This can be very valuable to people as they age. While it might have been enjoyable to mow the lawn and take care of the property at an earlier age, as one ages it can become difficult and expensive to See RETIREMENT, page B-3

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

Retirement From page B-2 hire out. Renting can be a way of controlling the costs of living. Con: One of the biggest downsides of renting is just that most homeowners don’t want to do it. A survey of retirement age homeowners found that only 5% wanted to sell their home and rent. For many Americans, owning their home is part of the American dream, so renting just doesn’t fit their vision of a successful retirement, even if it is the best financial outcome for them.

Join a “village” What is it: The Beacon Hill community in central Boston is often credited as being the first official “village model,” but communities taking care of seniors together have been around forever. The village model is about allowing seniors to age in place in their homes but with the support they need. In many cases, the village model is set up similar to a homeowners’ association where dues are paid to the “village” or “community,” which in turn provides services like transportation, events and some basic care. Pro: The village model can help reduce costs as seniors share services and fees with others needing similar assistance. By allowing residents to age in place for longer, they can avoid having to move into

more expensive housing like assisted living facilities before they need to. Con: While there are a few hundred village models in the country, for many seniors there is no village model option in their area. Additionally, services are limited, so the retiree might still need to move as their need for services grows. Furthermore, there is a cost associated with the village model, so that could impact cash flow.

Age-restricted (active adult) communities What is it: Generally, in the United States you cannot discriminate based on age, gender or race when it comes to housing options because of the Fair Housing Act of 1968. However, The Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995 allows for communities to restrict housing options to older individuals as long as certain parameters are followed. Essentially, there are two forms of agerestricted housing options. The first requires that at least 80% of the occupied units have at least one person who is 55 or older living in the home. The other type is a bit more restrictive, as it requires all residents to be at least age 62, including both spouses. Pro: One of the biggest benefits is companionship. People decide to live near and around those going through a similar stage of their lives and retirement. The communities often provide a variety of services,

clubhouses and recreational activities. Con: There can be additional costs associated with living in such communities, so it is not always the cheapest housing option. Furthermore, with a 62-and-over community, adult children cannot move in if they don‘t meet the age requirement. Additionally, for spouses with large age gaps, the requirements can be prohibitive.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities, or Life Plan Communities What is it: Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), now more often called Life Plan Communities, offer a continuum of care throughout retirement, often starting with independent living. Most of these communities require residents to move in when they are in good

health and can live independently. Over time, the person can stay in the same community but receive different levels of care and senior housing, ranging from assisted living to long-term care to end-oflife care. Pro: CCRCs allow a senior to age in place in the same community but receive services and long-term care as their needs change. This is also a way to control and, in some cases, prepay your long-term care costs. The communities often provide food, transportation and recreational activities. Con: The biggest concern with CCRCs is whether the entity will be able to fulfill its promises over time. CCRCs are typically for-profit businesses that can run out of money and go out of business. See RETIREMENT, page B-4

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J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Retirement From page B-3 Additionally, many require buy-in payments in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, sometimes refundable in whole or in part when one leaves or passes. So, if the entity goes bankrupt, residents could lose those potential refunds.

Assisted living What is it: Assisted living offers a combination of housing and care services. Typically, when someone moves into an assisted living facility, they need help with some daily activities and are in the early stages of needing long-term care services. However, the person can still live mostly independently. Pro: For many, assisted living facilities offer the care required to maintain a standard of living desired by the senior. This may include help with bathing, dressing, mobility, cooking, medications and more. Con: Cost. According to 2018 numbers in Genworth’s Cost of Care Study, the average assisted living cost is roughly $48,000 a year (and frequently more in the Baltimore/Washington area). Furthermore, Genworth predicts that this cost will balloon to roughly $86,000 a year by 2038. Additionally, it can be hard to choose the right facility. Plan ahead to determine how you will pay for assisted living and the type of facility and care that you want.

Nursing homes What is it: Nursing homes provide housing and full-time care for individuals needing significant levels of long-term assistance. Nursing home care is less about making a housing decision and more about receiving the level of care you need. Pro: Care can be significant and help the person live a better lifestyle than they would if they tried to manage alone at home. Additionally, nursing homes can

provide skilled care services that might be difficult for family members to provide or expensive to hire out for at home. Con: Nursing home quality ranges significantly and so does cost. Furthermore, most people do not look forward to or choose to move into a nursing home, but instead, it is typically driven out of necessity. According to Genworth, a private room in 2018 cost over $100,000 a year on average (again, more in this area). Plans for how to fund your care should start well before retirement.

Charity housing What is it: Charity housing can mean a few different things. First, there are charities and religious organizations that provide free or reduced-cost housing options for low-income seniors. Another form of charitable housing can come from family members. Many will take in relatives to help them out. Pro: Charity is going to be in many cases the cheapest form of retiree housing. For family members taking in a senior, it can also be a great way to spend time with family. Con: Most people do not want to rely on family members or charities for their housing or other needs. The desire of most people is to live independently. However, living with family and using charitable housing is a viable option for millions. Jamie Hopkins, Esq., LLM, MBA, CFP®, RICP®, serves as director of retirement research at Carson Wealth and is a finance professor of practice at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business. His most recent book, Rewirement: Rewiring the Way You Think About Retirement, details the behavioral finance issues that hold people back from a more financially secure retirement. © The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

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Selling your stuff? Consider tax effects

Selling miscellany If you occasionally sell something online, there’s little to worry about, especially if you’re selling it for less than you paid for it. Even if you occasionally sell one of your old Beatles albums for a decent sum, it’s not critical for you to report this income to the IRS. But if you decide to go into business bargain-shopping at yard sales and flea

markets and flipping what you find for a profit, then you’re technically running a business. You’ll need to report this income on IRS Form 1040 Schedule C. This form is used by sole proprietors to report business-related income. You’ll want to keep records of what you paid for the items (the cost basis) so you can report the net profits (rather than the full sales price) from these transactions. You may also be able to offset income by deducting business-related expenses, such as gas and tolls for the vehicle you use to amass your inventory. If you operate this business out of your home, you may even be able to deduct the costs of computers, smartphones, office supplies and Internet and cellular services, although we recommend you consult with an accountant to make sure you’re reporting these expenses correctly. In any case, make sure you keep detailed records of these costs in case the IRS ever decides to audit your business. Online sales aren’t reported to the IRS if the total amount is relatively small. However, if you’re an eBay seller who uses PayPal, keep in mind that PayPal issues 1099K forms (for payment card and third-party network transactions) to sellers who have more than 200 transactions and earn $20,000 or more in a tax year.

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK

By Joelle Spear [Editor’s note: In our last Housing & Homecare section, appearing in the April Beacon, we wrote about ways to declutter and downsize. In this issue, we address the tax implications of selling some of the more or less valuable items you choose to let go.] The anti-clutter mantras of Marie Kondo and others are convincing thousands of people to empty their attics of the stuff they’ve collected over the years and sell the more valuable items on eBay or Facebook Marketplace. In general, the IRS doesn’t require you to report money you earn from these sales. But in certain situations, you should, such as: — If you’re essentially running an online auction house or garage sale; or — If you’re selling valuables, such as fine art or collectibles. Let’s look at each situation separately.

If you find yourself selling off some valuable items, be aware of the tax implications. Some items sell tax-free. Others can be subject to a 28% capital gains tax. It’s also important to know what you originally paid for the item, or what it was worth when you inherited it.

Selling more valuable items The IRS is not so lenient when it comes to reporting the sale of fine art, collectibles and even precious metals. When you sell any of these valuables at a profit, you’ll generally have to pay capital gains taxes. What counts as valuables? Just about any item whose market value has signifi-

cantly risen since it was first purchased. Obvious items include paintings and sculptures, jewelry and gemstones, antiques and gold. But, depending on market trends, just about anything could be a collectible, inSee SELLING STUFF, page B-6

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ASSISTED LIVING

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J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Selling stuff From page B-5 cluding, but certainly not limited to: coin and stamp collections; vintage comic books; rare books; fine wines; glassware; historical military items like Civil War uniforms and weapons; and political campaign buttons and posters. Yes, even your rare Beanie Babies could be classified as collectibles if you sell them for many multiples of what you originally paid for them.

Calculating taxes Whether you purchase valuables or inherit them, the IRS treats these items as investments, and their tax treatment depends on how long you’ve kept them. That’s why it’s important to document the value of the item when it came into your possession, whether it’s the price (cost basis) for an item you purchased or the fair market value (FMV) of an item you inherited. For particularly valuable items, you should have their FMV estimated by a professional appraiser. If you don’t know the FMV or the cost basis, you’ll generally have to pay capital gains taxes on the entire amount of the sale, rather than the net profit (i.e., how much you sold it for minus the FMV or cost-basis). If you sell a valuable item after holding it for less than a year, the profit will be treated as a short-term capital gain, which will be taxed as ordinary income. This could become a problem if this added income lifts your total adjusted gross income into a higher tax bracket. If you hold the item for more than a year, the profit is considered to be a longterm capital gain. Normally the long-term capital gains tax rates on investable assets are either 0%, 15% or 20%, depending on your taxable income and filing status. But not for the profits from the sale of valuables and collectibles! For these items, the capital gains tax rate soars to 28%.

Some examples ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY

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Your Uncle Jake bequeaths you his 1968 Shelby Mustang GT500 that has been sitting in his barn for 40 years. Because it has 190,000 miles and the body is rusted out, a professional appraiser assigns it a fair market value of “only” $70,000. You spend two years and $10,000 to re-

store it and then sell it for $105,000. Your total cost basis would be $80,000, so your net profit is $105,000 - $80,000 = $25,000, and you’d pay $7,000 in capital gains taxes on that ($25,000 x 28%). When it comes to investing in precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum, what you invest in can make a huge difference in what you’ll pay in long-term capital gains taxes. Physical metals: Since physical metals are classified as collectibles, if you buy gold, silver or platinum in the form of bullion, coins, bars or other “hard” assets, you’ll pay the full 28% long-term capital gains tax rate on any profits you make from selling it. Precious metal ETFs and mutual funds: Surprisingly, when you sell shares of investment funds that directly purchase precious metals, you’ll also be taxed at the 28% long-term capital gains rate if you sell shares at a profit. However, these rules don’t apply if you invest in these funds through a qualified IRA. If you believe that the price of precious metals may rise but don’t want to pay the 28% long-term capital gains tax rate when you sell them, consider investing instead in the stocks of companies that either produce these metals (mining companies) or fashion them into products (jewelers, semi-conductor manufacturers). Any profits you make when you sell these stocks after a year will be taxed no higher than the 20% long-term capital gains tax rate.

Protect your assets Whether you run an online auction house or want to finally cash in on the collection of rare Hummel figurines you inherited from your grandparents, your best protection against an IRS audit is to document both the initial value and the selling price of everything you put on the market. If you have any questions about the tax implications of these transactions, seek advice from a qualified accountant or tax attorney. Joelle Spear is a CFP® and financial adviser at Canby Financial Advisors. This article was written by and presents her views, not those of the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA. © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

July 18

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AFTER 60

Are you at least 60 years old and looking to start or maintain a business? Learn about corporate registration, business licensing and the regulatory process at this information session. It will be held on Thursday, July 18 from 10 a.m. to noon at the DCRA Small Business Resource Center, 3001 Alabama Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. To register for the free event, call (202) 442-8170.

July 28

ENTREPRENEUR MARKET

Celebrate diversity with entertainment and food from small businesses in the area. The free outdoor event, UniFEST, will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 28, at Veterans Plaza, 1 Veterans Pl., Silver Spring, Md. For more information, visit www.themodernmrkt.com.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

Home prices expected to rise with aging By Alex Veiga Becoming a homeowner is likely to get more costly and competitive over the next decade as millions more Americans enter the age range where people typically seek to buy their first home. Nearly 45 million Americans will enter their mid-30s over the next 10 years, or 3.1 million more than in the last decade, according to an analysis by real estate information company Zillow. That potential surge in would-be buyers could drive up demand, pushing prices higher, particularly in the more affordable end of the market.

Rents also expected to rise The trend could also mean higher costs for renters. “If this coming wave of buyers have to compete fiercely for homes to purchase, that could drive up rent prices as well as home values,” said Skylar Olsen, Zillow’s director of economic research. As it is, first-time buyers in many parts of the country have been struggling to find affordable homes amid a stubborn shortage of properties on the market that’s helped push prices higher. Nationally, homes priced in the bottom third of the market, the tier most likely to be eyed by first-time buyers, have increased 57.3% in value over the past five years, according to Zillow. At the same time, the inventory of homes in this price range has fallen by 23.2%. “The potential first-time buyer bulge, without inventory to meet it, suggests that

the typical age of first-time buyers will continue to be pushed further and further out,” Olsen said. The median age of the typical first-time homebuyer is now 34 years old, according to Zillow. There are about 45 million Americans between 24 and 33 who will be turning 34 over the next 10 years. That’s a 7.4% increase from the 41.8 million Americans who turned 34 over the last decade, according to Zillow.

Who are the millennials? Millennials, which the Pew Research Center defines as people born between 1981 and 1996, are driving this demographic surge. Their generation is bigger than the two generations that preceded it. Many millennials have had to put off buying a home as they grapple with student loans and rising rents, which make it harder to save up for a down payment. First-time buyers now typically need another 1.5 years to save for a down payment than they did 30 years ago, according to Zillow. More millennials are expected to vie for homeownership as they age, get married and begin having kids. But they’ll have a tougher time finding homes they can afford unless home construction increases and more baby boomers trade in their homes for smaller dwellings in retirement, Olsen said. “A large set of them are going to find that almost impossible,” she said. “So they’re going to linger in the rental market for longer. They’re going to continue to put pressure on the rental market, too.” —AP

Tell them you saw it in the Beacon! 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.

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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/PERSONAL CARE/ASSISTED LIVING

Seabury at Springvale Terrace 301-587-0190 8505 Springvale Road Silver Spring, MD 20910 www.springvaleterrace.org Discover Seabury at Springvale Terrace, inside and out? Our Assisted Living offers a lifestyle you will love! Affordable value, that can only be found at our community, providing wonderful care, exercise, music, art, a host of daily activities and social events, as well as special entertainment for all residents. 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, Library, AFI Silver, Whole Foods, CVS pharmacy, movie theaters, shopping, restaurants, and more! Come take a fresh look at Seabury at Springvale Terrace. Assisted Living apartments are available now, but space is limited. Call to schedule your visit today.

INDEPENDENT/ASSISTED LIVING/MEMORY CARE

Kensington Park 301-946-7700 3620 Littledale Road Kensington, MD 20895 www.kensingtonparkseniorliving.com Friendship and fun. Activities and companionship. Family and support. You'll find it all at Kensington Park, a senior living community that features Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care on one beautiful campus. The variety of lifestyle options makes it easy for residents to live the way they want and need in an environment that reflects deep understanding of seniors. Independent Living offers a lively calendar of events, a sophisticated dining experience and cocktail hours. Assisted Living provides enhanced care programs that include a full spectrum of clinical support and end-of-life care. Three levels of Memory Care address challenges unique to each phase of progressive change. Please call us at 301-946-7700.

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Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

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.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

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. • Shuttle bus for shopping and local trips • On-site fitness, game, and craft rooms, movie theatre, library, beauty salon, and courtyard garden plots. It's about our residents, said Management staff, Debra and Trisha. 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.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Sommerset Retirement 703-450-6411 22355 Providence Village Dr. Sterling, VA 20164 www.Sommersetretirement.com 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. Sommerset has been voted by the readers of Virginia Living Magazine as one of the best retirement communities in Northern Virginia! Call us or visit our website to request more information or to schedule your tour and complimentary lunch.

J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Housing Notes By Margaret Foster

Assisted living community to open in Bowie Bald eagles tend to their nests on the county line between Prince George’s County and Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The birds will get some new neighbors this summer. Tribute at Melford, a lakefront community in Bowie, Maryland, will open with 140 suites, including 104 assisted living units and 36 memory care units. The facility, located at 17300 Medford Boulevard in Bowie, Md., includes amenities such as secure walking trails and a bistro. In addition, the entire memory care staff, from housekeepers to nurses, is certified by the National Institute for Dementia Education (NIDE). The new community’s welcome center is located at 16800 Science Drive in Bowie and can be reached at (301) 329-5565. Tribute Assisted Living and Memory Care locations are developments of Thrive Senior Living. In early 2020, Thrive will open Tribute at Black Hill, located in Germantown, Maryland. The community will have 140 suites for 106 assisted living units and 34 memory care. It will be located in the Black Hill area of Germantown, a 110-acre mixed-use development that includes offices, 355 apartments, stores and a hotel. Amenities include a meeting room, garden, library, fitness center, café and an art studio. For more information about the two Tribute communities or to schedule a tour, go to Thrivesl.com/communities.

New on-demand bus service in MoCo No more waiting for a bus or checking schedules. Starting this summer, you can use a smartphone to reserve a ride “curbto-curb” on a fleet of new Ride-On Flex vans operating in two test areas of Montgomery County. Last month, the county launched a one-

year pilot called “Ride On Flex,” which allows residents to schedule same-day rides within two limited districts. The on-demand vans, which seat just 11 passengers, will operate in two zones, one in Rockville and one that covers much of Wheaton and Glenmont. Just download the mobile app to your smartphone and start scheduling pickups where and when you want. Fares are the same as Ride-On fares at the same time of day, which means seniors ride free from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Trips will cost no more than $2 each way, and riders can pay in cash, passes, tokens or SmarTrip cards. For more information, visit rideonflex.com. As we noted in an earlier issue, Washington, D.C. offers the Transport DC program, which makes $5 cab rides available to people who have been “Metro Access Approved.” D.C. residents who have been approved to use this ride system can call 1844-322-7732 to schedule a pickup at least 30 minutes in advance. For more information, call (202) 962-1100 or email access@wmata.com.

Tysons Tower celebrates renovation In June, 150 people gathered for a ribbon-cutting to unveil the completed renovation of Tysons Tower Apartments, a rent-assisted retirement community in Vienna, Virginia. Guests were welcome to take a tour of one of the 40-year-old building’s remodeled apartments. The renovation, which began in 2016, required the temporary relocation of 280 residents. Dennis Phennig, president of the Fairfax Education Association Retirement Housing Corporation’s Board of Directors, which oversees the building, cut the red ribbon at the June 8 event. With a $19 million federal loan, Phennig’s group was able to “upgrade our building and ensure rent subsidies for the next 20 years,” he said in a statement. Tenants will continue to pay 30% of their rent; the federal government provides the other 70%. Tysons Towers Apartments is a 274-unit building for people age 62 and older. The complex has its own library, barber shop and fitness room, among other amenities.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

VOLUNTEER AT GALLAUDET

Volunteer at Gallaudet University’s gardens every Saturday. Bring a water bottle, sunscreen and appropriate clothes for outdoor activities. Meet at Hansen Plaza in Gallaudet University, 800 Florida Ave. N.E., Washington, D.C. For more information, email Gallaudet@cultivatethecity.com or call (202) 627-0761.

July

CAREER DEVELOPMENT MENTORING

Guide students who are learning about career development by sharing your own professional development and by teaching them about your industry every Wednesday in July. Mentoring sessions take place at 10 a.m. at 4430 Benning Rd. N.E., Washington, D.C. To register to volunteer, email jowens@some.org or call (202) 797-8806.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

FREE HOUSING AND OTHER INFORMATION For free information from advertisers in this special section, check off those that interest you and mail this entire page to the Beacon. Please do not request info if you are not interested. All replies have an equal chance to win. To be eligible for Wolf Trap tickets, your reply must arrive by August 2, 2019.

HOUSING COMMUNITIES: WASHINGTON, DC ❑ Chevy Chase House . . . . .B-6 & B-11 ❑ Friendship Terrace . . . . . . .B-5 & B-6

MARYLAND ❑ Brooke Grove Retirement Village . . . . . .B-7, B-8, B-14 & B-16 ❑ Covenant Village . . . . . . . . B-4 & B-8 ❑ Emerson House . . . . . . . .B-4 & B-15 ❑ Five Star Premier Residences . . .B-13 ❑ Gardens of Traville, The . . . . . . . . .B-4 ❑ Homecrest House . . . . . . .B-7 & B-15 ❑ Kensington Park . . . . . . . .B-7 & B-10

❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

Landing of Silver Spring, The . . .B-14 Riderwood . . . . . . . . . . . .B-3 & B-12 Springvale Terrace . . . . . .B-7 & B-13 Victory Housing . . . . . . . .B-2 & B-12

VIRGINIA ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

Ashby Ponds . . . . . . . . . .B-3 & B-14 Chesterbrook Residences . .B-6 & B-11 Greenspring . . . . . . . . . . .B-3 & B-15 Gum Springs Glen . . . . . . . . . . . .B-4 Herndon Harbor House . . . . . . . . .B-4 Lockwood House . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-4 Morris Glen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-4 Sommerset Retirement . . . .B-2 & B-8

❑ Vinson Hall . . . . . . . . . . . .B-5 & B-12 ❑ Wingler House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-4

HOME CARE SERVICES: ❑ Attenda Home Care . . . . . . . . . . .B-3

SKILLED NURSING & REHABILITATION ❑ Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-7

THEATRE/ ENTERTAINMENT ❑ Wolf Trap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-9

❑ Sylvestry, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-5

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

WB719

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Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Most Americans have too little insurance By Gary Ran In October, I took my family on a trip to Europe. While waiting for our return flight from Paris to Detroit, I received a frantic call from our housekeeper. “I just walked into your house,” she said, “and there’s a river running through it.” The pipe providing water to our refrigerator broke. Located in the ceiling above our kitchen, it had run unabated for the entire weekend, pooling down through the ceilings, the walls and underneath our wood floors. Our house is a 20-year-old, large modified ranch, and most of the main level was a total loss. We lost floors, cabinets, appliances, carpeting and furniture to the tune of $350,000. Imagine if I had the wrong insurance and this disaster was wrongly or not covered.

One year ago, that would have been the case. In 2016 — after reading a piece about being wrongly insured — I did an extensive review of my insurance coverages with my colleague and our insurance specialist, Ari Fischman. In doing so I discovered that, generally speaking, I was overpaying to be wrongly insured. I had too low of a deductible (which bumped up my premiums unnecessarily), had poor overall coverage if something major happened, and was with the wrong carrier. The insurance change I ended up making did mean an increase in the cost of my coverage. However, I had been with my old insurance company, basically under the same policies, for almost two decades, ever since I bought my home. Thankfully, I made the switch when I did, or else I

would have been in bad shape. The surprising thing about my inadequate coverage is that I was among the nearly two-thirds of homeowner insurance payers lacking in quality coverage. Blanket coverage — which is bundled coverage for a variety of valuables under one policy — may be adequate to cover most people’s needs, but it does not include the levels of coverage that best suit those with more complex risk associated with wealth accumulated over decades of earning.

Get an insurance audit For anyone who accumulates wealth over a lifetime, their insurance needs change. What is adequate coverage in your 20s, with a starter home, young kids and an inexpensive car, will be different than the coverage you need in your 50s,

with an expensive home, wine collection and expensive cars. Insurance audits are important to make sure you have the coverage that meets your current, and ever-changing, needs. So, how do you choose the right insurance agent? First, take a realistic look at your circumstances and what you have accumulated over the years. Does your current insurance agent have the reputation, expertise and capabilities to effectively provide the insurance that meets your net worth? Or do they provide general coverage without taking a look at your specific coverage needs? Finding the right coverage that suits your lifestyle is crucial and is worth shopping around for. Most of the time, the agent does not need more than the information on your current policy and some of your time to conduct a brief interview. The insurance agent should ask about your various assets to ensure that you have accurate coverage and go over the policies so you know what’s included.

Understand your coverage

The arts offer seniors many benefits beyond pleasure and enrichment

hether a composition for the eyes, a melody for the ears, a two-step for the feet, or textures for the fingertips, the arts are good for seniors. Creative experiences and activities are not only joyful but are also therapeutic. They encourage social interaction, autonomy and a sense of purpose. They provide alternative ways of expression, reinforcement of problem-solving skills and a boost in self-esteem. They keep the mind engaged, the hands or feet moving and the senses stimulated. They can even ignite a forgotten but meaningful passion. All of these promote healing, which contributes positively to well-being of the mind, body and soul.

Join us for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 6, 2019 from 6-8pm. Call Betsy at (301) 946-7700 for more details.

(301) 946-7700 | 3620 Littledale Road | Kensington, MD 20895 | www.KensingtonParkSeniorLiving.com I N D E P E N D E N T

L I V I N G

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L I V I N G

M E M O R Y

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According to a J.D. Power and Associates study, more than half of homeowners do not have a clear understanding of their insurance coverage. Make sure you do. It’s common to scoff at insurance; it often goes unused and doesn’t seem like something you need. But that’s the thing with insurance — you don’t need insurance until you actually need it. And at that point, you really need to be properly covered. Don’t wait 20 years to review your insurance policies like I did. It’s recommended to have someone conduct an insurance audit every few years to ensure your policies align with your assets, living situation and lifestyle. This way you are properly covered and spending wisely for coverage in all the most logical places, such as limits and deductibles. This article was written by and presents the views of Gary Ran, investment adviser and chairman of Telemus Financial Life Management, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA. © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

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A move that offered surprising changes By Carolyn Ellis As a native Washingtonian, when my husband moved our family to Texas in 1995, and then worse yet, to rural Texas in 2002, I was speechless. I was opposed to both moves, but we and our children ended up on what looked like the edge of the world on 26 acres outside a town of 1,000, an hour from Dallas. With six children to homeschool, I prepared myself for boredom, loneliness and despair. What actually happened stunned me then — and no less now.

and mud, were a lot more than I bargained for. For some reason, no one else in my family seemed to notice any of this. My husband worked in Dallas, so his experience of our new setting was a weekend issue. As for the kids, they were so busy exploring, swimming in the ponds, learning to fish, keeping chickens, guinea fowl, ducks, raising a calf, milking the goat, playing with their dogs and riding the horses that they just kept telling me, “Oh, get over it, Mom!”

Surprises all around

Surprises within, too

The first thing I noticed about living in a rural community was the deafening silence. No sirens of any kind, no planes, no traffic, no neighbors. We had privacy, clean air, huge horizonto-horizon skies and open pastures. In fact, from Day One at what we soon named “Family Acres,” I could feel the knot of tension and stress, which I didn’t even know was there, begin to relax within me. It took me over a year to adjust to the new reality of endless peace and quiet — and nature. Cattle, horses, goats and chickens were one thing, but wild hogs on the road, coyotes howling at night, herons, cranes, raccoons, skunks, snapping turtles and snakes galore, not to mention bugs

With virtually nowhere to go but Walmart (17 miles away), in order to survive I was basically forced to go within myself and recover interests from my youth. First, I went back to music. We bought a piano and I started playing classical music for hours a day. Yeah, Chopin! Then I got back into freelance writing. Small magazines and rural papers were eager for writers so I found lots of opportunities for my writing. I didn’t get paid much, but money wasn’t what I was after anyway. Then in 2012, at age 62, I went back to abstract painting, something I hadn’t done since my 20s. That, as it happened, turned into something much bigger than I expected. Who knew that color in and of itself,

BEACON BITS

Sept. 8

without any reference to objective reality, would be so powerfully moving? The joke in all this is that leaving D.C. for rural Texas ended up benefiting me more than anyone else in the family. To my surprise, rural life caused me to bump into parts of myself I don’t think I would ever have discovered if we had stayed in the city. I was way too busy there to ever get bored and desperate enough for the kind of self-discovery that happened to me in rural Texas. This past October, when we sold Family Acres and moved to a town of 40,000 just five miles south of Dallas to be closer to our children, I quickly readjusted to urban life. Right away I approached the small local

paper which serves six area towns, landed a weekly column (“Art & Soul”), and began marketing my artwork to all manner of shops and businesses in Dallas. After six months at our new house, I am already beginning to find my niche, something that never happened when we lived at Family Acres. In our 16 years in rural Texas, the way I dress and speak stood out like a sore thumb. I was regularly pegged as being Australian! Here in the Dallas Metroplex, I fit in because of the diversity of the population. I expected nothing but misery when we left D.C. To my joy, at 69, a thousand miles from home, I feel like I’m just being born. Follow Carolyn Ellis Art on Instagram or Twitter or visit her website, carolynellisart.com.

THE NEW

NAT’L GRANDPARENTS DAY WALK

Enjoy JCA’s first annual walk and family fun day from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Sept. 8 at Glen Echo Park. Half-mile walk, plus activities for all ages, including face-painting, crafts and more. The event supports the Jewish Council for the Aging and its many services for metro area seniors. Register in advance ($18/person, $36/family of 4) and get a free T-shirt. For more information or to register, visit www.AccessJCA.org or call Micki Gordon at (301) 255-4231.

Spacious, Full-Sized Apartments Exceptional Dining by Executive Chef Great Location on Connecticut Avenue In-House Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Daily Social and Life Enrichment Programming

SCHEDULE A TOUR TODAY (202) 905-0708

Choosing Chesterbrook Residences

Opens a Whole New World of Possibilities

Join Us!

Bastille Day Celebration Discover a community that not only provides the support you need, but also creates excitement for daily life! Delicious dining, on-site entertainment and activities, and new friendships and adventures await around each corner. Schedule your tour today! Call 703-531-0781.

Enjoy French wine and delicious food from our Executive Chef.

A Caring Assisted Living Retirement Community

Sunday, July 14 from 11:30-2 p.m. RSVP required to (202) 905-0708

2030 Westmoreland St. | Falls Church 703-531-0781 | chesterbrookres.org Coordinated Services Management, Inc.—Professional Management of Retirement Communities since 1981.

5420 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20015 www.meridiansenior.com/chevychasehouse A MERIDIAN SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

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Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Riderwood Retirement Community 877-575-0231

J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

This D.C. building is a haven for residents

3140 Gracefield Road Beltsville, MD 20904 EricksonLiving.com Riderwood is Silver Spring’s most popular retirement community— and for good reason! Few senior living destinations have such a wide variety of apartment home options. The community offers cozy one bedroom floor plans, spacious two bedroom options, and deluxe apartments with special features like sunrooms, dens, and extra storage. Regardless of the home size and style you choose, your Riderwood apartment home includes quality fixtures and finishes, like granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Our custom interiors team can also help you create your ideal living space with custom window treatments, closets, built-ins, and more. Call 1-877-575-0231 today for your free Riderwood brochure.

ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY

Victory Housing 301-493-6000 Six Maryland Locations www.victoryhousing.org Assisted living begins with a conversation. For more than thirty years, Victory Housing has been a leader in this discussion. Together we will have an upfront talk about lifestyle at our community including resident needs and wants, resident suite options, and the peace-ofmind that comes from individualized care. We’ll also address financial considerations including our no-surprise pricing. Unlike other providers, we do not charge extra for additional care services—ever. We understand that considering assisted living is an important decision. Discover Victory Housing’s straight-forward approach and our non-profit, award-winning communities. Call or visit us today, let’s talk.

LIFE PLAN COMMUNITY

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

The Samuel Kelsey Apartments share space with a bank in the historic Riggs-Tomkins Building in the Columbia Heights area of Washington, D.C. The property keeps rents low so older adults of limited means can remain in the rapidly gentrifying neighborhood.

By Ivey Noojin In the middle of gentrified Columbia Heights in Northwest D.C., Samuel Kelsey Apartments stands as a safe haven for older adults and people with disabilities. It’s one of the only apartment complexes in Columbia Heights that refuses to hike up the rent. At first glance, Samuel Kelsey Apartments, located a block from the Columbia Heights Metro station and Target, seems to be just another attractive apartment building in a rapidly changing neighborhood. There’s a gym, a resident café and a computer center. The complex, however, is a rarity. With rent fixed at 30% of each resident’s income, Samuel Kelsey Apartments protects the city’s most vulnerable population — seniors, especially those of color — in the midst of rapid gentrification. Built in 1920, Samuel Kelsey Apartments is “a historic building that stands for the neighborhood,” said Matt Philbin, regional vice president of the residential division at WinnCompanies, which created the apartment complex in 1985. Its preservation is especially important to long-term residents of the area as Columbia Heights is quickly becoming unrecognizable to them. Since the opening of the Metro station in 1999, Columbia Heights has become one of the fastest-gentrifying neighborhoods in the country. After the city government invested $138 million in the area in the early 2000s, people and businesses flooded the once-quiet

neighborhood. Family-owned establishments closed and chain restaurants like Starbucks and Chipotle were quick to take their places. Today Columbia Heights has two upscale grocery stores, five banks and four apartment buildings, all within two blocks. “What we were seeing was a lot of properties being run down on purpose — not receiving maintenance — and then [afterward] the buildings would be changed,” said Daniel del Pielago, the organizing director of Empower D.C., a nonprofit advocacy group for people of low and moderate income. “It forced residents out so new residents could move in.” Often the residents most affected by this displacement are people of color. In the last 10 years, Columbia Heights has lost more than a quarter of its black residents and almost 20% of its Latino residents.

Protecting its community Samuel Kelsey Apartments, however, is bucking this trend: most of its residents are older people of color. There are several protections in place to ensure the ability of these residents to stay in Columbia Heights. The federal government has committed to subsidize the Samuel Kelsey Apartments through 2031, and WinnCompanies has promised to extend this deadline by another 10 years. “It’s not just somewhere to rest your head,” Philbin said of the Samuel Kelsey Apartments. “It’s really a community.”

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

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How to ensure a successful estate sale By Belinda Byrd On any given weekend in the Washington, D.C. area, there are hundreds of estate sales competing with one another, and the market is being flooded with items that people who are cleaning house or downsizing no longer need. The resulting tsunami of “stuff” has given rise to a virtual explosion of businesses ready to help you sell, donate or dispose of it. Because of the avalanche of formal dining room and bedroom furniture and “collectibles” now on the market, many beautiful old pieces are truly not drawing buyers’ attention and should probably be appraised and donated for a tax deduction. On the other hand, don’t think everything you own should go to a thrift shop or the dump. People of all ages are often stunned when I tell them that certain items they assumed to be worthless are actually valuable and will sell for a good price at a properly prepared and presented estate sale. Dishonest companies exist in every industry, and the estate sales business is no exception. To avoid joining the ranks of those who have been disappointed or ripped off by a firm, you must plan ahead and do thorough research. Here’s some advice, based on my years

in the estate sale business, to minimize your stress and maximize your earnings.

Choose the right company Do not throw or give anything away before you get expert advice. Most people do not know exactly what they have, the current market value of their possessions, or the many options they have for de-accessioning. The best advice is to first hire a trusted and knowledgeable expert to take a look and inform you. Word of mouth is often the best way to find expert help. Look everywhere and ask friends for recommendations. You want to find the right match for you, so take as much time as you need in this initial search process.

Interview candidates Feel free to ask many questions when you talk to estate sales firms. Make sure you talk to the person who will be planning, staging, marketing and running your sale. If you talk to the salesperson who only gets contracts signed, your sale might just be one of many they are doing on a given weekend. Smart questions to ask: • How long has the company been in business? How was it started and what types of services does it offer?

YOUR CHOICE FOR AN EXCEPTIONAL RETIREMENT

• Has the same person owned it from the start? If it has a new owner, ask about his or her experience and qualifications, not that of past owners. • How will the sale be set up? Perhaps they can show you photos from previous sales. • Who sets the prices? How are price negotiations and reductions handled? What about customer service? • Where and how will your sale be marketed? Ask to see ads from other sales. If you have not been able to attend any of their sales, ask to speak with some of their past clients and regular customers. Use the interview to assess the professional’s knowledge. Consider it your own “Antiques Roadshow” — whether you have antique items or not. An experienced and intelligent professional will be able to give you a good idea of a price range. Be suspicious of vague language such as, “Oh, I’m sure someone will like that lamp.” Find out what all the costs will be, including sales commissions, advertising, security and how what doesn’t sell will be handled. Never make a decision based on the commission percentage alone. Then, carefully review the contract and ask questions before signing it. One of the big red flags in contracts is a section that says the estate sale company can keep

everything that isn’t sold. In many contracts now, the estate sale company declares that at the end of the sale it will pay a small amount (often just $200 or $300) for everything that was not sold. That’s not always a fair agreement. Especially important: Do not hire anyone to appraise or sell your possessions if they will also be buying from you. As you can imagine, there are many true stories about people being (falsely) told that their items have no value, only to be purchased by the expert.

Designing the sale If you live in a community governed by an HOA board and/or a management company, get written and verbal confirmation of all rules and procedures: fees, access, parking, restrictions on signs, etc. It’s smart to do this before you talk to estate sale companies. Don’t forget to consider the challenges of weather, special events and traffic issues. Successful sales often require two weekends, with start and end days just before and after the weekends. Any de-accessioning plan should be personalized to your situation. If you have time, you are at a great advantage. After See ESTATE SALE, page B-15

We Put the Value in assisted living No wonder our residents are smiling!

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Make the move to Springvale Terrace and enjoy a private studio apartment and licensed nursing care, plus personal services that will help you relax, activities to keep you moving, and people who bring a smile to your face. Assisted Living starting at $3,901/month! (Rate includes studio apartment, three meals daily, and Level I care.)

Thursday, July 25 • 1:00 - 3:00pm PREMIER RESIDENCES OF CHEVY CHASE IS PROUD TO OFFER: • No buy-in fees • Convenient location next to Columbia Country Club and minutes to DC, downtown Bethesda, and Silver Spring • Large, newly renovated apartments with stunning views of the golf course • On-site wellness center with consult nurse, visiting physicians, and personal home care www.FiveStarPremier-ChevyChase.com

No community or entrance fee! Call 301-587-0190 (TRS 711) to schedule a visit. SpringvaleTerrace.org 1-800-552-7724 MD RELAY SERVICE 8505 Springvale Road • Silver Spring, MD 20190

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You need a plan to pay for long-term care By Liz Weston Many people are frightened of longterm care costs — for good reason. Most people over 65 eventually will need help with daily living tasks, such as bathing, eating or dressing. Men will need assistance for an average of 2.2 years, while women will need it for 3.7 years, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Aging. Many will rely on unpaid care from spouses or adult children. However: — More than one-third will spend time in a nursing home, where the median annual cost of a private room is now over $100,000, according to insurer Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care Survey. — Four out of 10 will opt for paid care at home, and the median annual cost of a home health aide is over $50,000.

— Overall, half of people over 65 will incur long-term care costs, and 15% will incur more than $250,000 in costs, according to a study by Vanguard Research and Mercer Health and Benefits.

Medicare won’t help Medicare and private health insurance typically don’t cover these “custodial” expenses, which can quickly wipe out the $126,000 median retirement savings for people 65 to 74. People who exhaust their savings could wind up on Medicaid, the government health program for the indigent that pays for about half of all nursing home and custodial care. People who live alone, are in poor health or who have a family history of chronic conditions have a greater-than-average likelihood of needing long-term care.

Women face special risks, since they tend to outlive husbands and thus may not have anyone to provide unpaid care. If your husband needs paid care that wipes out your savings, you could face years or even decades living on nothing but Social Security. Certified financial planner Margarita Cheng persuaded her parents to buy longterm care insurance when her dad was 68 and her mom was 54. Five years later, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The policy paid for $225 of the $260 daily cost of his 24-hour care in the final months of his life, she said. “My dad’s disease could have been devastating financially for my mom,” Cheng said. “Her mom lived to be 94, so my mom could easily have 30 more years in retirement.”

A variety of plans INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Ashby Ponds 877-575-0231 21170 Ashby Ponds Boulevard Ashburn, VA 20147 EricksonLiving.com Ashby Ponds is Loudoun County’s most popular retirement community—and for good reason! Few senior living destinations have such a wide variety of apartment home options. The community offers cozy one bedroom floor plans, spacious two bedroom options, and deluxe apartments with special features like sunrooms, dens, and extra storage. Regardless of the home size and style you choose, your Ashby Ponds apartment home includes quality fixtures and finishes, like granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Our custom interiors team can also help you create your ideal living space with custom window treatments, closets, built-ins, and more. Call 1-877-575-0231 today for your free Ashby Ponds brochure.

Everyone approaching retirement age should consider their potential risks and have a plan to deal with long-term care expenses, financial planners say. “The earlier they start planning, the more choice and control they have,” Cheng said. The options include: — Long-term care insurance. The average annual premium for a 55-year-old

couple was $3,050 in 2019, according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. Premiums are higher for older people, and those with chronic conditions might not qualify. Policies typically cover a portion of longterm care costs for a defined period, such as three years. In the past, big annual premium hikes forced many people to drop their policies after they became unaffordable. Financial advisors say the insurance is now more accurately priced, although people should still plan on premiums that could rise 50% to 100% over time. — Hybrid long-term care insurance. Life insurance or annuities with long-term care benefits now outsell traditional longterm care insurance by a rate of about 4-to1. With these products, money that isn’t used for long-term care can be left to heirs. These products typically require you to commit large sums: $100,000 upfront, for example, or paid in installments over five to 10 years, although some now have “lifetime pay” options that average about $7,000 a year. — Home equity. People who move permanently into a nursing home may be able to sell their houses to help fund the care. See LONG-TERM CARE, page B-15

Assisted Living and Memory Care with a whole lotta heart.

ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE

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

NOW Ĝ

In other words, The Landing has a whole bunch of heartfelt help and care. And, grammar aside, you’ll feel a whole lotta at home here, too. But don’t take our word for it, come see for yourselfę Please call 301.200.0928 now to schedule . And bring a friend. Or come meet a few new ones.

13908 New Hampshire Ave • Silver Spring 301.200.0928 • TheLandingofSilverSpring.com

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

Estate sale From page B-13 all, some unique items might warrant special attention and advance marketing. Lastly, realize that a good partnership and teamwork mean that you and your estate sale company must work in good faith with each other. Confidence, trust, integrity, ethics, collaboration and hard work get results. Estate sales and moving sales offer fabulous opportunities to find new owners for

Long-term care From page B-14 Reverse mortgages may be an option if one member of a couple remains in the home. These loans allow people to tap home equity while remaining in the home. The loans do not need to be repaid as long as the owner remains in the home and maintains it. But the house may go to the lender once the resident dies or moves out. — Contingency reserve. People with substantial investments could earmark some of those assets for long-term care.

everything from fine art and antiques to regular household furnishings and decor. Those who frequent them love the thrill of the hunt. If you plan carefully and make well-informed and smart decisions, you, the estate sale company and your customers will all be happy. Belinda Byrd is an art historian, collector and entrepreneur. She consults and conducts business under the name Adams-Byrd Fine Arts & Antiques and can be reached at adamsbyrd@gmail.com.

The investments can produce income until there’s a need for long-term care and then be sold to pay for a nursing home or home health aide. — Spending down to Medicaid. People who don’t have much saved or face a catastrophic long-term care cost that wipes out their savings could end up depending on Medicaid. There are ways to protect at least some assets for spouses, but those typically require planning ahead with an elder law attorney’s help. You can get a referral from the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. —NerdWallet/AP

Check out our next housing/ homecare special section in October!

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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

Emerson House 301-779-6196 5999 Emerson Street Bladensburg, MD 20710 Our community features bright onebedroom apartments in a nine-story elevator building for today’s active and independent seniors who are 62 or older. Emerson House is subsidized for low- to moderate-income 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; 301-779-6196 Monday-Friday from 8:30 to 5:00.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Greenspring Retirement Community 877-575-0231 7410 Spring Village Drive, Springfield, VA 22150 EricksonLiving.com Greenspring is Springfield’s most popular retirement community— and for good reason! Few senior living destinations have such a wide variety of apartment home options. The community offers cozy one bedroom floor plans, spacious two bedroom options, and deluxe apartments with special features like sunrooms, dens, and extra storage. Regardless of the home size and style you choose, your Greenspring apartment home includes quality fixtures and finishes, like granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Our custom interiors team can also help you create your ideal living space with custom window treatments, closets, built-ins, and more. Call 1-877575-0231 today for your free Greenspring brochure.

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Housing Options

J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

PULL OUT AND KEEP THIS SPECIAL SECTION

Rehabilitation

return to the

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

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

MEDICARE SNAFU Have you received a back Medicare bill through the government’s error? WALK THE WALK More investors are choosing companies that reflect their values and ethics MAKE YOUR MONEY LAST Learn a variety of ways you can stretch your retirement savings TIME TO REFI? Mortgage interest rates are down, but is it wise to refinance? It depends

Consider a side hustle to earn extra cash By Kathy Kristof Can you make a decent living in the gig economy? The odds are against you if you rely on the best-known job platforms, such as Uber and DoorDash, which offer miserable net pay to drivers. A dozen other well-known sites — including HomeAdvisor, Mechanical Turk and TaskRabbit — treat workers equally poorly. Their specific sins vary from site to site, ranging from charging workers for worthless “leads,” paying pennies per hour and penalizing workers for turning down bad jobs. But dozens of sites you may have never heard of offer great moneymaking opportunities. Some promise fun experiences, too. The website SideHusl.com has more information on each one, including the expected pay, a rating and a detailed review. Rent your house. Consider Giggster, a site that allows you to rent your house by the hour for movie and photography shoots. I personally tested the platform to see if it worked as well as it appeared. Result: I earned $1,455 in one day renting out my house to an advertising firm that was charged with trying to discourage kids from smoking. The 12-hour shoot was fascinating to watch, and I got to eat catered food with the “talent.” Giggster has a limited geographic reach, operating primarily in Los Angeles,

New York and San Francisco, but there are a half dozen other sites that do the same thing. PeerSpace, for instance, operates in Virginia and Washington, D.C. Be a tour guide. You can make $50 to $100 per hour conducting tours in your own city. You determine the itinerary, schedule, maximum (and minimum) tour capacity and price. ToursbyLocals, Viator and Vayable will advertise your offerings on their sites, charging a commission on each booking. Best of all, you can design your tours around your own passions — movie locations, historic sites or restaurants. And you’ll spend the day with people who are interested enough in those passions to pay you to lead them around. Host a dinner party or cooking class. A website called Eatwith allows home cooks to host dinner parties with paying guests. Eatwith operates worldwide, so you might host local couples looking for an unusual night out or adventuresome tourists looking to sample authentic local cuisine. You choose when you cook, what you offer and how much you charge. The site takes a commission for arranging bookings and collecting payment. However, you need to have a food handler’s license to sign up. And you must be willing to undergo regular inspections of

your kitchen. Cozymeal offers a similar service but also allows home chefs to offer cooking classes. You’ll pay a 20% to 30% commission on each booking. Be a teacher. Thinkific and Teachable allow you to put a class online and charge whatever you see fit. You could teach people how to build things, speed-read or manage a website. Both sites have easy-to-use platforms that coach you through setting up your class. They also give users the choice of paying a monthly fee or a commission on sales, which allows you to start for free. Fix hair and makeup. People with a background in cosmetology can sign up for a fun side hustle that involves going to clients’ homes to fix hair, nails and makeup for special events, such as weddings and television appearances. A site called beGlammed will set up appointments and collect payment for you (for a hefty 40% commission). Hourly rates range from $30 to $90 per hour. Walk and watch dogs. Animal lovers can make decent money by signing up to take care of dogs. Typically, dog walkers at Wag! get $12 per half-hour walk and a bit more if there are two animals. If you sign up with Rover, you can watch dogs overnight and set your own rates,

paying the site a 20% commission for booking and collecting payment for you. Consult. A site called WAHVE (for Work-At-Home Vintage Experts) looks for people in their 50s and 60s in the accounting, insurance and human resources fields. If you’re at a point in life when you’d rather work flexible hours and telecommute, the site will find jobs with smaller companies that are willing to work around your schedule. Other sites offer similar opportunities in a wide array of fields — from law to marketing. FreeeUp, for instance, is an online marketplace for web developers, designers and content creators. Pay ranges from $10 to $75 per hour, depending on your skill level. Fairygodboss specializes in finding professional jobs for women, rating employers on flexibility and maternity-leave policies. If the site you’re considering isn’t rated on SideHusl.com, scroll to the bottom of the site’s landing page and look for its terms and conditions. This is a legal document that spells out your contract with the site. Site terms may be long and full of legalese, but they should be required reading. © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Hospitals ordered to reveal costs up front By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month that calls for upfront disclosure by hospitals of actual prices for common tests and procedures to help keep costs down. The idea is to give patients practical information that they can use to save money. For example, if a hospital charges your insurer $3,500 for a type of echocardiogram and the same test costs $550 in a doctor’s office, you might go for the lower-price procedure to save on copays. But insurers said the idea could backfire, prompting hospitals that now give deeper discounts to try to raise their own negotiated prices to match what high earners are getting. Hospitals were also skeptical of the move.

In addition, Trump’s order requires that patients be told ahead of time what their out-of-pocket costs, like deductibles and copays, will be for many procedures.

Specifics are months away Little will change immediately. The executive order calls for a rule-making process by federal agencies, which typically takes months or even years. The details of what information will have to be disclosed and how it will be made available to patients must be worked out as part of writing the regulations. That will involve a complex give-andtake with hospitals, insurers and others affected. Consumers will have to wait to see whether the results live up to the administration’s promises.

“For too long it’s been virtually impossible for Americans to know the real price and quality of healthcare services and the services they receive,” Trump said at the White House. “As a result, patients face significant obstacles shopping for the best care at the best price, driving up healthcare costs for everyone.” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters earlier that the order “will put patients in control by increasing choice and competition.” Lack of information on healthcare prices is a widespread problem. It’s confusing for patients, and experts say it’s also one of the major factors that push up U.S. costs. The same test or procedure, in the same city, can cost widely different amounts depending on who is performing it and who is

paying the bill. Hospital list prices, which are available, don’t reflect what they are paid by insurers and government programs.

Industry predicts higher prices The health insurance industry said disclosing negotiated prices will only encourage hospitals that are now providing deeper discounts to try to raise their rates to match the top-tier facilities. “Publicly disclosing competitively negotiated proprietary rates will reduce competition and push prices higher — not lower — for consumers, patients and taxpayers,” Matt Eyles, head of the industry group America’s Health Insurance Plans, said in a statement. See HOSPITAL COSTS, page 27

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J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Resources to help cover Medicare costs Dear Savvy Senior, premiums and out-of-pocket costs for Are there any sources you know of that Medicare Parts A and B. It’s called the can help me save on my Medicare Savings Program Medicare coverage? I’m 65 (MSP), and it has several difand live primarily on my Soferent benefit levels for people cial Security, and I’m having based on their income and a hard time paying my asset level. Medicare out-of-pocket costs. At its most generous, the —Need Some Help program will pay your Part A Dear Need, and B premiums and pretty There are several financial much all your Medicare deassistance programs that can ductibles, coinsurance and cohelp lower-income Medicare payments. At its least generbeneficiaries who are having a SAVVY SENIOR ous, the program will pay just difficult time paying their out- By Jim Miller your Part B premium. of-pocket health care costs. To qualify for an MSP, the Here’s what’s available, along with the minimum standard set by Medicare is that eligibility requirements and how to apply. your income be under 135 percent of the federal poverty level, which at the moment Medicare Savings Program works out to around $1,426 a month for inLet’s start with a program that helps pay dividuals ($1,923 for married couples).

Everything counts towards income, including payouts from 401(k) plans, pensions, Social Security and help from family members. Medicare also allows states to impose an asset test, which can be as little as $7,730 per individual ($11,600 for married couples), not counting your house or car, but counting retirement savings and bank accounts. But some states have made their MSP programs a lot more generous, with much higher income limits and in some cases no asset tests at all. The program may also be called something else in your state. To find out if you qualify or to apply, contact your state Medicaid program. Maryland residents should visit http:// bit.ly/MSPMd or call (800) 638-3403. In Virginia, visit http://bit.ly/MSPVirginia

or call your local Social Services department. The phone numbers for each department are listed at http://bit.ly/MSPVaLocal. For Washington, D.C. residents, visit http://bit.ly/MSPWashington or call (202) 442-5988.

Extra Help with meds For help with Medicare Part D prescription drug plan costs, there is a completely separate program called Extra Help. To get it, you’ll need to apply through your local Social Security office. Depending on how low your income is, this program will pay part or all of your Part D prescription drug plan’s monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. In 2019, individuals with a yearly income below $18,735 ($25,365 for a married couple), and assets under $14,390 ($28,720 for a married couple) can qualify for Extra Help. And if you’re eligible to be in the Medicare Savings Program described above, you will automatically qualify for Extra Help. But because the requirements are slightly different, even if you don’t qualify for a Medicare Savings Program for Part B you might be able to get Extra Help for Part D. For more information or to apply, Marylanders should visit http://bit.ly/ExtraHelpMd or call (800) 243-3425. Virginians should go to http://bit.ly/ExSee MEDICARE COSTS, page 27

BEACON BITS

July 18

PITCH COMPETITION

Practice pitching your businesses in front of a live audience. In this competition you will have “play money” to invest in business ideas, and the top three businesses will win real money as a prize. The competition will be held on Thursday, July 18, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the DC Women’s Business Center, 740 15th St. N.W., Washington, D.C. The cost to attend is $10. To purchase a ticket, email info@dcwbc.org or call (202) 3938307.

Ongoing

CALLING ALL GARDENERS Play (work) in the

garden on Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon at the Smile Herb Shop, 4908 Berwyn Rd., College Park, Md. Volunteers who work for two hours receive a 30% discount at the store. For more information, call (301) 474-8791.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

Hospital costs From page 25 The Federation of American Hospitals, representing for-profit facilities, warned that if the Trump administration regulations take the “wrong course,” they may “undercut the way insurers pay for hospital services, resulting in higher spending.” While the prices Medicare pays are publicly available, private insurers’ negotiated rates generally are not. Industry officials say such contractual information is tantamount

Medicare costs From page 26 traHelpVa or call your local aging department with phone numbers listed at http://bit.ly/ExtraHelpVaContact. D.C. residents may visit http://bit.ly/ MSPWashington or call (202) 442-5988.

Other assistance programs Depending on your income level, needs and location, there are many other financial assistance programs that can help, such as Medicaid, SSI (Supplemental Security Income), PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly), SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), (LIHEAP) Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and many others.

to trade secrets and should remain private. Azar pushed back against that argument, saying insurers do ultimately disclose their payment rates when they send individual patients an “explanation of benefits.” That’s the technical term for the form that patients get after they’ve had a procedure or seen the doctor. “Every time any one of us goes to a doctor or a hospital, within a couple of weeks in our mailbox arrives an explanation of benefits. [It] contains the list price...the negotiated rate...and what your out-of-pocket

To help you find out what types of assistance programs you may be eligible for, and learn how to apply for them, go to BenefitsCheckUp.org. This is a free, confidential Internet tool designed for people 55 and older that contains information about more than 2,500 programs. It’s also possible to get help in person at one of the 87 Benefits Enrollment Centers scattered across the U.S. Call 1-888-2686706 or visit NCOA.org/centerforbenefits/becs to locate a center near you. There are multiple sites in the Greater Washington area. Some centers also offer assistance over the phone. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

is,” Azar said. “This is not some great state secret out there.” He added that patients should have that information ahead of time to help them make decisions, not only after the fact when the bill comes. Trump’s executive order also calls for: — expanded uses for health savings accounts, a tax-advantaged way to pay healthcare bills that has long been favored by Republicans. Coupled with a lower-premium, high-deductible insurance plan, the accounts

can be used to pay out-of-pocket costs for routine medical exams and procedures. — a plan to improve the government’s various healthcare quality rating systems for hospitals, nursing homes and Medicare Advantage plans. — more access by researchers to healthcare information, such as claims for services covered by government programs like Medicare. The data would be stripped of details that could identify individual patients. —AP

BEACON BITS

July 15

SMALL BUSINESS/NONPROFIT WORKSHOP

Learn how to better finance your small business or nonprofit at a workshop on Monday, July 15. This workshop covers finding grants, securing individual donors, loan options, and creating alternative revenue streams. It takes place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at WeWork Apollo, 810 7th St. N.E., Washington, D.C. General admission costs $35.50; $20 for students or people of low income. To purchase a ticket, visit http://bit.ly/2Kfr1zb.

July 17

INVESTMENT CLUB

Share ideas about investment practices and learn from others in the BetterInvesting Montgomery County Model Investment Club. Join this group of people who are passionate about stocks on Wednesday, July 13, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Rockville Memorial Public Library, 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md. For more information about the free event, call (240) 777-0140.

Do Well By Doing Good Create a Charitable Gift Annuity You’ll get an immediate tax deduction for your gift and a yearly annuity payment* for life!

Call Today! Francena Phillips Jackson

301-565-8513 www.childrensnational.org/planagift *The

rate is based on your age.

Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Computer error results in unexpected Medicare bills By Eleanor Laise It seems like the simple, hassle-free way to pay your Medicare premiums: Have them withheld from your Social Security benefits. But now, about 250,000 people who opted to have their Medicare premiums taken out of their Social Security checks are getting bills for as much as five months of unpaid premiums. Because of “an isolated software issue,” the Social Security Administration says it failed to withhold Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription-drug plan premiums from some beneficiaries’ checks starting with January 2019 benefits, which were paid in February. So the plans didn’t get their money — in some cases, from February through June — and will bill enrollees directly instead. People who enrolled in an Advantage or Part D plan for 2019 and asked to have their premiums deducted from their Social Security payments may be affected. The glitch may sow confusion, financial stress and, in some cases, even coverage lapses among affected seniors, consumer advocates say. “The system’s issue has been corrected,” a spokesperson for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said, and

the agency is working with plans to reach out to affected enrollees. Premiums should be properly deducted from beneficiaries’ Social Security payments as of June or July. If you’re not certain whether you’ve been affected, “call the plan proactively” to find out, advised Lindsey Copeland, federal policy director at the Medicare Rights Center. If you get a bill that you can’t afford to pay, be aware that plans must allow enrollees to stretch past-due premium payments over a period at least as long as the delay in billing. Plans must also offer a grace period of at least two months before disenrolling members for failure to pay. Some affected beneficiaries lost coverage but resolved the issue through their state health insurance assistance program, said Leslie Fried, senior director of the Center for Benefits Access at the National Council on Aging. To find your local SHIP, go to shiptacenter.org or call 1-877-839-2675. Seniors who need help can also call Medicare at 1-800633-4227 or the Medicare Rights Center at 1-800-333-4114. © The Kiplinger Washington Editors. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N â&#x20AC;&#x201D; J U L Y 2 0 1 9

Investing with a conscience is catching on By Kelly LaVigne Socially responsible investing has really blossomed in the past few years. What used to be viewed as a niche investment philosophy is now firmly planted in the mainstream, with everyday consumers using their dollars to support companies that align with their personal values around sustainability and social progressiveness. But beyond the day-to-day choices â&#x20AC;&#x201D; like what stores to frequent and what products to purchase â&#x20AC;&#x201D; consumers are turning to environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards to help inform their investment decisions. In a recent study by Allianz Life, nearly 80% of people said they â&#x20AC;&#x153;love the idea of investing in companies that care about the same issuesâ&#x20AC;? they do, and 73% feel itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a way to reward a companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good behavior. On the flip side, 71% said they would stop investing in a company if it behaved in ways they consider unethical. While a lot of the buzz around ESG tends to focus on the environmental aspect (climate change activism, the move toward renewable energy, eliminating single-use plastics, etc.), the Allianz Life study found that people care just as much about social and governance issues. When asked about the importance of a variety of ESG topics in making a decision to invest in a company, 73% cited environmental concerns like natural resource conservation or a companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s carbon footprint/impact on climate change as important factors. The same percentage emphasized social issues, such as working conditions or racial or gender equality, and a similar amount (69%) noted governance topics â&#x20AC;&#x201D; such as transparency of business practices and finances or level of executive compensation â&#x20AC;&#x201D; as influential elements in their decision of whether to invest in a company.

short answer is no. After all, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easier to say something than to commit to doing it â&#x20AC;&#x201D; especially when it comes to money. For example, 84% of people in the study said that a companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to provide safe working conditions for its employees was important in their decision to invest, but only 42% said they have actually taken action and chosen to invest or not invest based on that business practice. Why? Some may face challenges doing research and actually finding out more about ESG factors, with over three-quarters of Americans (76%) saying they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how to evaluate if the companies included in an ESG investment are good corporate citizens or not. Over half say they think it would be difficult to find information on issues like the transparency of a businessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; practices, its record on racial equality, and the working conditions of their employees. Others cite a lack of uniform standards on how a company qualifies for ESG investing. However, as the demand for ESG increases, companies may respond by increasing their transparency efforts or increasing communications on corporate social responsibility efforts. When it comes to socially responsible investing, some discrepancies still exist. And while not everyone is on board the ESG train, over half of people who do not currently have money in ESG investments say they would be interested in having at least some money in them. Nearly three-quarters of people believe an ESG investment strategy is not only one that you can feel good about, but one that makes long-term financial sense. This is another aspect of ESG investing â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the idea that companies with strong ESG practices generally are more sustainable and align with longer-term investing.

How to get involved Walking the walk While people say they care about all these issues, when it comes to investing, are they actually walking the walk? The

Everyday investors looking to join the ranks of impact investors have an increasing number of resources available to learn more about these initiatives and take the

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next step, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Knowledge Platform or the Principles for Responsible Investment. People also can start by speaking to their financial professional and expressing their interest in ESG investing. Discuss goals and what issues might be most important â&#x20AC;&#x201D; environmental, social or governance bucket, or some combination â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and together create an ESG strategy that makes sense for a specific finan-

cial situation. As demand grows, more companies will feel the pressure to accommodate consumer demand and keep shareholders happy. This article was written by and presents the views of the author, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. Check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA. ÂŠ 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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How to make your retirement money last By Liz Weston Many people worry about running out of money in retirement. That’s understandable, since we don’t know how long we’ll live, what our future costs might be, and what kind of returns we can expect on our savings. There are several ways, however, to boost the odds that your money will last as long as you need it. Among them:

erty taxes, utilities and insurance. Getting rid of a car could save you nearly $9,000 a year, which is the average cost of car ownership according to AAA. Eliminating debt before you retire is often a good way to reduce expenses, but consult a fee-only financial planner before withdrawing retirement funds to pay off a mortgage. Such withdrawals can trigger a big tax bill and leave you without enough cash for the future.

Reduce ‘must have’ expenses Lowering your fixed expenses — shelter, food, transportation, insurance, utilities and minimum loan payments — can help you withdraw less from your savings, which in turn can help your money last longer. One powerful way to reduce expenses is to downsize to a smaller home if you can reduce or eliminate your mortgage payment and shrink other costs such as prop-

Keep earning A study for the National Bureau of Economic Research found that delaying the start of retirement from age 62 to 66 could raise someone’s annual, sustainable standard of living by 33%. Even if you can’t continue working full time, income from a part-time job or side business could help you withdraw less from your savings.

Maximize Social Security Most people will live past the “break-even point,” where the larger checks they get from delaying the start of their Social Security benefit will total more than the smaller checks they bypass in the meantime. More importantly, though, bigger Social Security checks serve as a kind of longevity insurance. The longer you live, the greater the chances you’ll run through your savings and depend on Social Security for most, if not all, of your income. It’s particularly important for the higher earner in a couple to delay as long as possible to maximize the survivor benefit that one of them will get after the first spouse dies.

Consider annuities Many retirement experts say it’s a good idea to have enough guaranteed income to cover your basic, must-have expenses. If

We Turn Addresses

into homes

MOST COMMUNITIE S ARE 62 AND BETTER

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Park View at Bel Air: 410-893-0064 Park View at Box Hill: 410-515-6115

Protect your health

The Greens at Hammonds Lane: 410-636-1141 Park View at Furnace Branch: 410-761-4150 Park View at Severna Park: 410-544-3411

Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673 Park View at Rosedale: 410-866-1886 Park View at Taylor: 410-663-0363 Park View at Towson: 410-828-7185 Park View at Woodlawn: 410-281-1120

EASTERN SHORE Park View at Easton: 410-770-3070

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 Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665 Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375

Big withdrawals or bad markets at the start of your retirement can dramatically increase the risk you’ll run out of money. Financial planners typically recommend that people take no more than 4% of their nest egg in the first year of retirement, increasing the withdrawal by the inflation rate in subsequent years. That means a retiree with $200,000 in retirement savings could withdraw $8,000 the first year. If inflation is 3%, the retiree would add $240 (3% of $8,000) and withdraw $8,240 the second year, and so on. People who retire early or who want to be more conservative might start at 3% rather than 4%, or skip inflation adjustments in years when markets are bad.

HARFORD COUNTY

BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.)

Ednor Apartments I: 410-243-0180 Ednor Apartments II: 410-243-4301 The Greens at Irvington Mews: 410-644-4487 Park Heights Place: 410-578-3445 Park View at Ashland Terrace: 410-276-6440 Park View at Coldspring: 410-542-4400

Withdraw carefully

Your tax situation can become more complicated in retirement, especially if you were a good saver. You could be thrown into a higher tax bracket by required minimum distributions from retirement funds that typically must start at age 70½. The higher income also can cause more of your Social Security to be taxable and raise your Medicare premiums. Sometimes it can make sense to start distributions earlier or to do Roth conversions to reduce future taxes. The math involved can get intense, so consult an experienced tax pro.

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those expenses exceed what you expect to get from Social Security and traditional pensions, consider buying additional guaranteed income by purchasing an immediate annuity. Unlike other types of annuities that can be complicated and expensive, an immediate annuity can provide a stream of income for life in exchange for a single lump-sum payment upfront.

HOWARD COUNTY Park View at Colonial Landing: 410-796-4399 Park View at Columbia: 410-381-1118 Park View at Ellicott City: 410-203-9501 Park View at Ellicott City: II 410-203-2096 Park View at Emerson: 301-483-3322 Park View at Snowden River: 410-290-0384

Many chronic health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis and heart disease are associated with higher medical costs in retirement, according to a study by Vanguard and Mercer Health and Benefits. Regular screenings, proper medical care and a healthy lifestyle may help you reduce some of those costs. —AP

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July 18

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Call the community nearest you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour. www.rhomecommunities.com

plication process on Thursday, July 18 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Olney Public Library, 3500 Olney-Laytonsville Rd., Olney, Md. To register for the free event, call (240) 773-9545.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

With interest rates down, time for a refi? By Sarah Skidmore Sell Interest rates for mortgages are low — really low. As of the first week of June, long-term mortgage rates were down for the sixth consecutive week. The 30-year fixed rate average was below 4%, its lowest point since September 2017. If you’re a homeowner, you may be wondering if now’s the time to refinance. Here’s what to consider:

Reason It’s important to know why you want to refinance. Some people simply want to take advantage of lower rates so they pay less over the course of their loan or to pay it off faster. Others want to lower their monthly payment. Some desire a better product, such as getting out of an adjustable rate mortgage into a fixed loan. Others may have seen their financial situation improve since they bought their home and now qualify for better terms. And some may want to cash out some equity from their homes. Before you agree to refinance, make sure it meets your goals.

low in the years following the recession, too. So some homeowners may have already refinanced once already. If you are considering another round, remember that unless you move into a shorter-term loan, you are essentially starting the clock anew on paying off your home, warned Sarah Mikhitarian, a senior economist at Zillow. So if you are years into your mortgage, you might be increasing your total interest payments considerably. However, she notes that people who bought in the past year or two when rates started to climb may want to run the numbers on refinancing. Another note on rates: It’s tough to know where things are headed, so you may want to act quickly if it makes sense for you. “These rates and this moment are fleeting and unpredictable,” said Rick Bechtel, head of US Residential Lending at TD Bank. Bechtel said that lenders are busy with both an uptick in refinancing and completing loans for the home-buying season, so make sure your lock-in period allows enough time to complete the process, around 45 to 60 days.

typically between $2,000 and $3,000 in various closing costs. You can pay those out of pocket or have them rolled into the balance of the new loan. Some banks may waive the cost of the fees in exchange for a slightly higher rate on the loan itself. You may also face added costs for certain state taxes that might not be factored into all mortgage calculators, Bechtel noted. It’s up to you how to pay for it, but con-

sider your break-even costs. This is basically how long it would take for the savings from the refinance to pay for the cost to refinance itself. For example, if you paid $2,000 to refinance but saved $200 a month, it would take you 10 months to break even. If you aren’t going to be in the house longer than that, it doesn’t make sense. “Ultimately it’s a very personal finance decision,” Mikhitarian said. —AP

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for more info call 311 or visit doee.dc.gov/udp

Rates Yes, rates are low, but they were very

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Travel Leisure &

A Pennsylvania resort will host a WWII nostalgia weekend of classic films, reenactments, music and more. See story on page 34.

Roadtrips worth taking with grandkids

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort So, where can you go? Perhaps the easiest vacation is at a resort where everything is in one place. Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in western Pennsylvania offers just that, with a variety of accommodations, activities and places to eat. Located about three hours from D.C., the resort has several hotels on site at different price points and styles, ranging from casual (The Lodge) to opulent (Chateau Lafayette) to sophisticated luxury (Falling Rock, the only Forbes Five

Star, AAA Five Diamond property in Pennsylvania). Townhouses and luxury vacation homes are also available for families who want to be under one roof. Luckily, entrepreneur Joe Hardy built this resort as the ultimate playground for all ages, so you don’t have to over-think how to satisfy those hard-to-please teenagers and even 20-somethings. Outdoorsy daredevils should test their courage at the Adventure Center, with two 3,000-foot-long zip lines that reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour; a 50-foot free fall; the 40-foot-high canopy tour; and an off-road adventure in an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). All family members can enjoy the nearby 18-hole miniature golf course. Or visit the Wildlife Academy, swim indoors or out, or just relax around the adult pool that features a Jacuzzi, a fire pit and a bar area. Need a little time without the kids? For children ages 4 to 15 there is Kidz Klub, and a program called Little Tykes for ages 6 weeks to 3 years. Both offer full and half-day sessions, as well as “night out” sessions until 10 p.m. All require advance reservations. Professional babysitters are also available. Sans the kiddos, play on one of the two championship golf courses (Mystic Rock hosted a PGA tournament). Take a tour of the multi-million-dollar art collection. Schedule a massage or pedicure at the spa. And I highly recommend going off property to Fallingwater, one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s

PHOTO BY NEMACOLIN WOODLANDS RESORT

By Alice Shapin If you’re like many grandparents who can’t get enough of their adorable grandchildren, nothing could be better than an overnight trip with them. But vacations can also be tricky and even stressful, especially when traveling with a wide range of ages. There can be meltdowns, fights and temper tantrums. (And the grandchildren can have them, too!) When friends ask me about intergenerational travel, I have a few suggestions: First, make sure everyone knows up front who’s paying for what. Second, plan but be flexible. Third, choose a destination with age-appropriate activities for everyone in your group. Finally, spend some time apart; nothing can ruin a vacation more than being together 24-7. And most importantly, grandparents, don’t try parenting. Your turn is over, so just enjoy.

People of all generations can find interesting things to do indoors and out at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, located about two hours from Washington, D.C.

PHOTO BY HERSHEYPARK

There’s more to Hershey, Pennsylvania, than chocolate and roller coasters. Kids and grandparents can make their own candy bars, take a trolley tour, or relax in the Hotel Hershey’s butterfly garden.

true masterpieces, only 20 miles away. With an eclectic collection of places to eat, it’s easy to find the right one for your family no matter how large a group. Don’t worry about the kids getting up and being rowdy. You can enjoy a casual meal minus the dirty stares at some of the more casual venues. Or leave the kids in the club and savor Aqueous, a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired restaurant with modern cuisine and a nod to the sea, or the Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond rated Restaurant Lautrec.

Hersheypark Who doesn’t love chocolate, especially now that dark chocolate is (finally!) deemed good for you? Indulge and immerse yourself in “The Sweetest Place on Earth” — Hershey, Pennsylvania, where you can smell chocolate in the air. It’s about a 2 ½-hour drive from the D.C. area. If you really want to make the trip easy, book either the Hotel Hershey (old world charm with modern amenities at splurge prices) or Hershey Lodge (casual, family friendly with Water Works, an indoor pool complex). Staying “on property” means you’ll get VIP benefits, including: the best price on Hersheypark tickets; free shuttle bus

service to the park; one-hour early access to the park; free admission to Hershey Gardens; and access to the Hershey Golf Collection, including the private courses at the Hershey Country Club. Both hotels provide a long list of recreational facilities, have events during the summer and help plan family activities. Hersheypark — which has more than 70 rides, a full water park and a zoo with more than 200 animals — is a perfect spot for the little tykes, teens and way beyond. Be it something mild or hair-raisingly wild, you’ll find it here. If grandparents are thrill seekers, they might join the kids on one of 13 roller coasters. If they are more like me and want something tamer, ride the 100-year-old carousel with the littler ones. Chocolate lovers of all ages will enjoy Hershey’s Chocolate World, a free ride located just outside the amusement park. Think of it as a Disney ride that tells you how chocolate is made — with a free Hershey kiss at the end of the ride. To learn more about Milton Hershey, America’s most prolific chocolate maker, visit the Hershey Story Museum downtown. For the grandparents, old Hershey See ROAD TRIPS, page 33

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

Road trips From page 32 tins and other Hershey packaging will bring back fond childhood memories. For an extra fee of about $12, visit the Chocolate Lab to create and decorate your own personalized candy bar. Or take the Hershey Trolley Works ($13 to $16), where you can choose a family-friendly tour of the town or a separate history tour that’s best suited to parents and grandparents. Need a break from chocolate? Visit the gardens, great for the older folks or kids that need to burn off all that chocolate energy. And don’t miss The Butterfly Conservatory in the garden. Both hotels offer kids’ clubs and nighttime activities. Parents and grandparents can take advantage of this time to play golf or have a treatment at the spa. Keeping with the chocolate theme, enjoy such treatments as the Whipped Cocoa Bath and Chocolate Fondue Wrap. Perfect for any family history buffs or architecture lovers, take a tour of Pennsylvania’s State Capitol in close-by Harrisburg. Add a visit to Broad Street Market, founded in 1860.

Myrtle Beach, S.C. Myrtle Beach is a true hybrid vacation destination. It runs the gamut from long stretches of sandy beaches, to championship golf, to rides for all ages, to shows and boardwalk delights such as fries and funnel cake. It’s about a seven-hour drive down I-95 from this area. North Myrtle Beach area is less con-

gested and frenetic than the original Myrtle Beach. Its permanent show venues, such as The Alabama Theatre and The Carolina Opry, have great shows. At the Opry we saw a variety of musical acts from country to pop to Broadway tunes, a comedian and a high-energy finalist dance troupe from “America’s Got Talent.” Another great option there is “Broadway at the Beach,” an amusement park area with rides for young kids and daredevils. They include a zip line, Beach Rider Jet Boat, wave pool, The Simpsons 4D film, helicopter rides and a Grand Prix raceway. Most attractions require tickets that range from $10 to $25 each. Be sure to visit at night, when all the neon and LED lights make the place magical. If you really want “classic beach crazy,” go down to Myrtle Beach and stroll along their boardwalk for the super-charged energy you would expect. Myrtle Beach has no shortage of miniature golf. I’m not talking about your average mini-golf. I’m talking extravaganzas, mountains, waterfalls and volcanoes. The names say it all: Mayday Miniature Golf, Hawaiian Rumble and Professor Hacker’s Lost Treasure Golf. If mini-golf makes some family members yearn for the real thing, you’re in luck. The Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach areas are known as The Golf Capital of the World for a reason: they have more than 100 courses. You’ll have no trouble getting a tee-time. If you want something entirely different from anything else at Myrtle Beach, visit Brookgreen Gardens. Located south of Myrtle Beach, this 9,127-acre floral jewel

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If you go

is a combination of beautiful gardens and spectacular sculptures. Myrtle Beach’s accommodation choices are wide-ranging. We stayed at the North Beach Plantation in a two-bedroom, two-bath terrace apartment with a kitchen and, thankfully, a washer/dryer. There are even fivebedroom units. Our 19th-floor apartment overlooked the ocean, a view I never tire of. Besides the beach, our resort had several pools, including an adult-only one for some quiet time. And the area has an endless array of restaurants that serve everything from tater tots to tapas. When you’re on vacation, don’t forget to bring your digital camera or snap pictures on your phone. That way you and your grandchildren can create a slideshow or photo book together (at Shutterfly.com or other sites) to remember the trip.

Rooms at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort range from $459 at Chateau Lafayette to $419 for a night at Falling Rock. The Lodge’s rooms are $439 per night. To make a reservation at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, visit Nemacolin.com or call 1-877-724-5165. In Hershey, you’ll pay about $460/night at the historic Hotel Hershey and $379 for the Hershey Lodge. To book a room at the Hotel Hershey, visit hotelhershey.com or call 1-844-330-1711; contact the Hershey Lodge via hersheylodge.com or 1-844-5333311. Myrtle Beach hotels can range from $130 to $350 per night in the summer season. For more information about Myrtle Beach sites and hotels go to visitmyrtlebeach.com or call 1-800-356-3016.

A DAY IN WINE COUNTRY, Sept 4......................................................................................... $169pp Includes wine tasting at Breaux Vineyards & Creeks Edge, 3 course luncheons at the Bavarian Inn & Motorcoach transportation.

WOLF SANCTUARY, PA Sept 12 – 13 ................................................................................$349pp Also includes 1-night hotel, 2 meals, Yuengling Brewery, Colebrookdale Railroad and Farm for aged Equines.

Price based on double occupancy

THANKSGIVING CRUISE TO THE BAHAMAS from Baltimore, Nov 23 – 30 ..... $344pp plus taxes 7 nights on RCCL’S Grandeur of the Seas, includes all meals & Entertainment.

Price based on double occupancy

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Classic resort offers nostalgia weekend with each of the guests,” he said. This summer, Schwartz is especially excited to share with guests the important role Bedford Springs played during World War II. From August 2 to 4, the resort will host its third history-packed WWII Weekend, featuring reenactments, exhibits, classes and 1940s-style entertainment.

Trained cadets during the war Much of the resort’s wartime history was discovered by Jared Frederick, a historian from State College, Pennsylvania. After Pearl Harbor, the Pittsburgh-based Keystone Radio Institute received military contracts to open two naval radio training schools in Pennsylvania. The war had caused a slowdown in tourism, so the hotel owners agreed to lease the property to the U.S. government. On May 1, 1942, Bedford Springs opened its doors to 200 naval cadets. Nearly three weeks later, 600 cadets were enrolled. Keystone trained these Navy cadets to become deployment-ready radio operators by condensing its traditional seven-month program into an intensive four-month course. That’s not to say the cadets didn’t have

PHOTO BY OMNI BEDFORD SPRINGS

By PJ Feinstein The 200-year-old Omni Bedford Springs Resort, a luxury hotel in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains, is well known for its state-of-the-art golf course, mineral springs spa treatments and scenic hiking trails. But what guests discover upon arrival is that Bedford Springs offers more than just a relaxing getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The hotel lobby provides a fascinating glimpse into American history. Century-old black-and-white photographs of resort guests enjoying outdoor activities line the hallways, and an oversized American flag with 36 stars — plus three additional stars in anticipation of Nebraska, Colorado and Dakota’s statehood — hangs behind the front desk. There’s even a beautifully preserved desk in the lobby where President Buchanan, who spent 40 summers at Bedford Springs, used to sit as he worked. George Schwartz, director of banquets and special events, was captivated by the unique history of Bedford Springs when he joined the resort staff in 2007. “I’ve never worked at a place that has so much history. That for me is something I want to share

Located about two and a half hours from Washington, D.C., Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Pennsylvania has hosted presidents and celebrities for two centuries. During World War II, the hotel was a school for Navy cadets. The hotel will celebrate its WWII history with special events from Aug. 2 to 4, including a Big Band dance, reenactments and a vintage tank on display.

time for fun. According to Frederick, students often played games and sports on the lawn, held boxing matches, and participated in theatrical productions and local parades during their stay. By the time Keystone closed its Bedford Springs location on December 20, 1944, the school had graduated nearly 7,000 radiomen.

Japanese prisoners arrived on August 8, 1945, two days after the bombing of Hiroshima, and stayed until November 15 of that year. They were housed in the hotel annex and guarded by U.S. Border Patrol. Finally, on June 1, 1946, the hotel officially reopened to the public.

Step back in time A place for POWs, too However, guests had to wait another year before they could book a room. In 1945, the government once again rented the property, this time to house Japanese diplomats and their families who had been captured by the Allies in Germany. Many citizens and local government officials protested the choice of Bedford Springs to hold prisoners, believing the hotel was the opposite of American POW treatment abroad. “The town went into an uproar,” Schwartz said.

“Most people that come to Bedford Springs want to know a little something about history, something that’s not written in the books,” Schwartz said. “It just makes Bedford Springs as a resort so much richer.” History tours are available daily at the resort, but they don’t usually cover its WWII history to the extent that the upcoming weekend will. Two living history groups will present reenactments and share memorabilia including uniforms, old radio sets, documents and “anything related to the immediate area,” Schwartz said. Boy Scout local troop 4481 will assist with the daily children’s program, and lead a flag-raising ceremony with a vintage 48star flag from the era. “We’re also bringing a tank,” Schwartz said. “The ‘Lady Lois’ is coming to visit. She is a WWII tank that was made in Pennsylvania and has had a long history both in Europe and Brazil and now has made it back to Pennsylvania.”

Weekend highlights Friday, August 2: Grab a seat for a free showing of the 1942 film Casablanca, with an introduction by Frederick. Saturday, August 3: Enjoy exhibits, historical resort tours, Navy signal flags demonstrations and a children’s program. Register in advance for a 1940s mixology class ($40 per person) at 3 p.m. and a nostalgic evening of swing dancing in the Colonnade Ballroom ($35 in advance; $40 at the door) starting at 7 p.m. Sunday, August 4: Catch any of the activities you might have missed on Saturday. Visit omnihotels.com/hotels/bedfordsprings for more information or call 1-888444-6664 to make a reservation.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

How to get a good last-minute travel deal By Pat Mertz Esswein Budget-minded travelers often plan their vacations months in advance so they can find the best deals. But if you’re yearning for a last-minute summer or early fall getaway, there’s good news: Fuel prices are relatively low, and you can find good deals on airfares, as long as you know where to look. You have more options for places to stay, too. Kiplinger expects gas prices to run about the same this summer as last — fluctuating between a national average price per gallon of $2.80 and $2.85 through the summer months and declining a bit after Labor Day. Wild cards in the forecast include a hurricane disrupting refineries on the Gulf Coast or OPEC and Russia failing to agree to maintain their current oil production quota. To plan your trip, budget for gas and find current gas prices along your route, use AAA’s TripTik Travel Planner or the AAA Mobile app (both are free, with a couple of features available to members only).

Finding low airfares Despite the temporary grounding of Boeing’s 737 Max planes, you can find deeply discounted airfares this summer, thanks to lower-cost jet fuel, according to Tracy Stewart, content editor of airfaredeal site Airfarewatchdog.com. Stewart has seen round-trip fares from the U.S. to Barcelona as low as $280 and to China for less than $400. Don’t rely solely on the big travel sites —

To subscribe, see page 45.

such as Expedia, Google Flights, Kayak and Orbitz — to get the best deal. Airlines have enhanced their websites and apps in an effort to sell directly to customers, said Brian Sumers, senior aviation business editor at Skift.com, a travel industry news site. You also risk overlooking some good fares: Southwest lists only on its own site, and United Airlines has threatened to stop doing business with Expedia Group on September 30. To get the best fares, sign up for fare alerts, compare prices on the search sites, and then book directly through airlines’ websites. Be flexible on dates and destinations. Midweek flights can cost hundreds of dollars less than weekend flights. If you’re flying to Europe, you could save money by focusing on getting across the ocean as cheaply as possible — say, to London or Barcelona — then book a sec-

ondary flight on a budget regional carrier to your destination.

Hotels and home stays Though you can find good deals on international airfares, you may get the best deals on lodging by staying closer to home. Lodging prices domestically are expected to rise only 2% to 2.5% from last year, according to Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst with Atmosphere Research Group. Whereas Global Business Travel Association and Carson Wagonlit Travel expect lodging prices in the Asia-Pacific region to rise by 5.1% and Western Europe by 5.6%. If you like the idea of staying in a home rather than a hotel, but want more amenities than the typical home-sharing services like Airbnb or VRBO offer, you have a new option.

In April, Marriott launched Homes & Villas by Marriott International, with 2,000 premium and luxury homes in the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America and the U.S. Book through HomesandVillasbyMarriott.com. Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program members will earn points and can redeem them, too. [Ed. Note: To book a hotel last-minute, try Hotwire.com, a free website that allows you to book a hotel in a particular area for a deeply discounted rate. Although you won’t know exactly which hotel you got until you pre-pay, you can choose the exact area and category, e.g., a four-star hotel in Times Square. Of course, you can also call the front desk of any hotel and ask for lastminute rooms by phone.] © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

VOICE LIFELINE AND BROADBAND LIFELINE Did you know? You may qualify for assistance in paying your home phone or Fios Internet bill. Discounts for basic telephone or Broadband Lifeline service are available to eligible District of Columbia low-income residents.

Verizon Washington, D.C. Voice Lifeline Plans: Verizon Washington, D.C.’s Lifeline service, known as “Economy II,” offers reduced rates on Verizon’s monthly telephone bill and one- time discounts on the cost of installing phone service. Additionally, toll blocking is available to Economy II customers at no charge. Economy II Service*: $3.00 per month for unlimited local calling. Value-added services are not included (e.g., Call Waiting, Caller ID). No connection charges apply. Also, customers will not be charged for the federal subscriber line charge. Economy II customers who are 65 years of age or older can have this service at a further reduced rate of $1.00 per month.

Broadband Lifeline: Verizon Washington, D.C also offers a monthly Lifeline discount to qualified customers who subscribe to Fios Internet service. Eligible customers will receive a $9.25 monthly discount. * Full terms and rates for these services, including terms of eligibility, are as set forth in federal regulations and in Verizon’s tariffs on file with the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia. All rates, terms and conditions included in this notice are subject to change and are current at the time of printing. * Full terms and rates for these services, including terms of eligibility, are as set forth in federal regulations and in Verizon’s tariffs on file with the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia. All rates, terms and conditions included in this notice are subject to change and are current at the time of printing.

Eligibility: District residents who have been certified as eligible may apply for the Economy II program or Broadband Lifeline service for customers who subscribe to Fios Internet. Households in which one or more individuals are receiving benefits from one of the following public assistance programs or have an annual income that is 135% or below the Federal Poverty Guideline may be eligible. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) Medicaid Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Veteran’s Pension Benefit Veteran’s Survivors Pension Benefit Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)

Restrictions: ✓ No other working telephone service at the same location ✓ No additional phone lines ✓ No Foreign Exchange or Foreign Zone service ✓ No bundles or packages ✓ No outstanding unpaid final bills ✓ Bill name must match eligible participant ✓ No separate Lifeline discount on cellular or wireless phone service ✓ Business lines are not eligible ✓ Phone number must match eligible participant ✓ Must be a current Verizon customer or establish new service with Verizon

An Application for Verizon Voice Lifeline or Broadband Lifeline service can be obtained by contacting Verizon at www.verizon.com/lifeline or by phone at 1 800 VERIZON.

To find out more information, you may also call the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), which administers Voice Lifeline and Broadband Lifeline for the FCC, by calling (800) 234-9473 or by accessing its website at www.LifelineSupport.org.

Economy II and Broadband Lifeline are Lifeline supported services. Voice Lifeline and Broadband Lifeline are government assistance programs. Only eligible consumers may enroll. You may qualify for Voice Lifeline or Broadband Lifeline service if you can show proof that you participate in certain government assistance programs or your annual income (gross and from all sources) is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guideline. If you qualify based on income, you will be required to provide income verification. Proof of participation in a government assistance program requires your current or prior year’s statement of benefits from a qualifying state or federal program; a notice letter or other official document indicating your participation in such a program; and/or another program participation document (for example, benefit card). Proof of income requires your prior year’s state or federal tax return; current income statement from an employer or paycheck stub; a statement of Social Security, Veterans Administration, retirement, pension, or Unemployment or Workmen’s Compensation benefits; a federal notice letter of participation in General Assistance; a divorce decree; a child support award; and/or another official document containing income information. At least three months of data is necessary when showing proof of income. In addition, the Lifeline program is limited to one discount per household, consisting of either wireline, wireless or broadband (internet) service. You are required to certify and agree that no other member of the household is receiving Voice Lifeline or Broadband Lifeline service from Verizon or another communications provider. Voice Lifeline and Broadband Lifeline services are non-transferable benefits. Voice Lifeline customers may not subscribe to certain other services, including other local telephone service. Consumers who willfully make false statements in order to obtain the Lifeline benefit can be punished by fine or imprisonment, or can be barred from the program.

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J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

Which are the best hotel chains today? The best U.S. multi-brand hotel chains are the bottom at 63. Individual winners inHilton and Marriott, tied at a score of 80 out clude few surprises: Luxury: J.W. Marriott, at of 100 in the latest American 84, is the only brand included Customer Satisfaction Index in this category. (ACSI). Hyatt at 79 and InterUpper Upscale: Embassy Continental at 78 follow closely, Suites, number 2 overall at 83, and Best Western scores above tops this group, which includes the industry average at 77. Marriott Hotels (81), Hilton Chains scoring below averHotels and Resorts (79), Hyatt age run from Choice at 74, La Regency (79), Sheraton (77) Quinta at 74, Wyndham at 70, and Westin (76). Relatively low down to Motel 6 at 64. scores for stablemates SheraAggregate scores for each TRAVEL TIPS ton and Westin may come as a chain are based on weighted By Ed Perkins bit of surprise to veteran travelaverages of customer satisfacers. tion with 10 individual quality elements. Upscale: Top-of-group Hilton Garden Half of the elements refer to essential experience features of any hotel stay: staff Inn, at 82, outscores every upper upscale courtesy and helpfulness, room quality, in- brand except Embassy Suites. Other scores room features, in-room entertainment and in this group include Crowne Plaza (81), in-room Internet. The other five deal with Courtyard by Marriott (81), Best Western the reservation process, loyalty program, Premier (81), AC Hotels (79), Residence Inn (79), DoubleTree (78), Hyatt Place (77), restaurant and such. Overall, ratings for those essential expe- and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts (78). Upper Midscale: Fairfield Inn and rience factors are generally good, with the possible exception of in-room internet, Suites, at 83, outscores all but two brands which scores well below the other factors. in the upper upscale and upscale groups. This is in sharp contrast with airline scores, Clearly, Fairfield is doing something right where the actual essence of the product — — a lot of things, actually. Other scores in this diverse group inthe seat — scores well below all other eleclude Holiday Inn Express (80), Hampton ments of the customer experience. Inn (79), Hilton Hotels and Resorts (79), Best Western Plus (77), Comfort Inn and Get what you pay for In many ways, the most interesting re- Suites (76), Holiday Inn (75) and Quality sults deal with individual brands, rather Inn and Suites (73). Midscale: The top midscale brand is than chains. ACSI published separate scores for 31 individual brands, as Best Western, which ties its upper midgrouped into six price categories: luxury, scale Plus partner at 77. The second-best upper upscale, upscale, upper midscale, scorer in this group is La Quinta, now part of Wyndham and top scorer among all midscale and economy. In general, satisfaction scores tend to Wyndham brands at 74. The rest of the follow price levels, with luxury J.W. Mar- group includes Wyndham stablemates riott on top at 84 and economy Motel 6 on Baymont (72) and Ramada (71).

Economy: The four economy brands are the lowest scorers in the compilation: Days Inn (68), Econo Lodge (67), Super 8 (65), and Motel 6 (63). To me, the big take-away is that travelers favor real value — the steak, not the sizzle — at all price levels. I’ve been impressed by both the facilities and service I’ve encountered at J.W. Marriott. Embassy Suites offers great space, with door-separated living and sleeping areas and outstanding free breakfast and happy hour. Hilton Garden Inn offers great rooms and an attractive breakfast proposition. I’ve never stayed at a Fairfield, but reports are favorable. And Best Western has been busy upgrading its core properties. As for

the economy segment, this report shows “you get what you pay for.” The seven megabrand chains cover a big chunk of the U.S. hotel marketplace and also rate pretty well against the unaffiliated remaining field. “All others” shows a score of 73, outdoing only Wyndham and Motel 6. But that unaffiliated marketplace includes a wide range of players — from small boutique chains and independent properties, to mom-and-pop motels on highways bypassed by the Interstate. Always check TripAdvisor reviews when you stray from the big chains. Email to Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net and check out rail-guru.com. © 2019 Tribune Content Agency LLC.

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J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Style Arts &

A new book explores George Washington’s deepest regret: slavery at Mount Vernon. See story on page 40.

Engaging dementia patients through art said. “But Just Us forces people to get out and socialize and exercise their memory...When I come here, it’s rejuvenating.” While similar programs exist at the Kreeger Museum and The Phillips Collection, Just Us is the first of its kind among the Smithsonian Institutions along the National Mall. In Washington, D.C., nearly 8,900 people have Alzheimer’s disease, and many more live with a different form of dementia. They often have a hard time remembering vocabulary, focusing on a task when there is extraneous noise or crowds of people, and visually processing information. In collaboration with Carolyn HalpinHealy from the New York nonprofit Arts & Minds, Lorena Bradford, head of accessible programs at the National Gallery, designed Just Us with proven techniques to improve the emotional wellbeing and quality of life of those with dementia. “[The program] brings in new audiences who haven’t, historically speaking, been out in the public as much,” Bradford said. “I thought it was important that we become a leader for that demographic here in D.C.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

By Noelani Kirschner Twice a month, tucked away in tranquil galleries less frequented by tourists, older adults gather to discuss paintings and sculpture at the National Gallery of Art. As their laughter reverberates throughout the halls, the individuals with memory loss flex their visual processing and verbal skills. The Just Us program at the National Gallery of Art (NGA) hosts a small group of individuals with early stages of dementia together with their caregivers for a guided tour through both the West and the East Gallery buildings on the first and third Monday of every month. Each session is led by an NGA educator, who guides the groups through visual analysis of two to three paintings centered around a genre or theme. “Even in the early stages of dementia, the world becomes a very difficult place to be,” said Diana Blackwelder, a retired engineer who was diagnosed with early dementia and is a regular participant in the Just Us program. “Getting a diagnosis can be hard and depressing, and sometimes people react by shutting themselves inside,” Blackwelder

Attendees of the National Gallery’s Just Us program observe and react to the museum’s works of art. The program is for people diagnosed with dementia and their caregivers, offering them a chance to connect with art and with each other.

Private, focused tours The goal of each 90-minute session is to eliminate outside distraction and focus on analyzing the art, which strengthens verbal fluency and episodic memory in dementia patients, according to a 2012 study.

Bradford intentionally picks two or three works of art that are in less-busy galleries, so that participants can access the pieces in front of them with relative ease. See NATIONAL GALLERY, page 39

T H R O U G H J U LY 2 8

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TobysDinnerTheatre.com m Due to the nature of theatrical bookings, all shows and dates are subject to change.

A UGUS S T 1 - SEPTEMBER BER 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

Burnett From page 1 longer able to care for her. During her freshman year at UCLA in 1951, she signed up for a theater class. One evening, she belted out a line in a funny way (“I’m baaack!”), and the audience’s laughter gave her “the sensation of all that warmth wrapping around me,” as she later put it, changing her life. Burnett also remembers two donations from total strangers that helped alter her future. An anonymous donor gave her about $50 to help pay tuition at UCLA, and others gave her $1,000 so she could move to the Big Apple. These gifts inspired Burnett’s lifelong commitment to “pay it forward.” She has formed a foundation, established a scholarship at her alma mater and donates to many charities, both national and in her current hometown of Santa Barbara. Arriving in New York City in 1954, Burnett took a job as a hat check girl and moved into the Rehearsal Club, a boarding-

National Gallery From page 38 Bradford connects the art to a broader genre, like American landscape or political portraiture, and she has not yet repeated a theme. Beyond the classics, past themes have also included lighthearted witticisms, like “Men in Black,” which focused on paintings of men dressed in dark colors. “I’m not too precious about [the themes],” Bradford said. Before each session, participants — who register online beforehand — filter into a meeting room on the second floor, where they have the chance to socialize. The group of 15 to 20 people is then split into two smaller groups, led by Bradford and another rotating educator from the museum’s education department. The smaller group sizes allow participants to engage with each other, too, and feel comfortable enough to have a conversation about the paintings and sculpture. When each group arrives in their selected gallery, chairs are already set up in front of the painting and the participants file in. Once everyone is settled, Bradford

house for aspiring actresses. She and five roommates each chipped in $5 to buy an orange dress from Bloomingdale’s that they would share for auditions, she remembers. “It was kind of like a movie, living in the house with all these girls. We really bonded. Everybody got along, and when somebody got a job, we all applauded.” Burnett’s big break came in 1955 with her television debut on a children’s variety show hosted by ventriloquist Paul Winchell (she played the puppet’s girlfriend). That’s when she invented her signature gesture: tugging her ear at the end of the show. The now famous motion was a signal to her grandmother; a way to say, “Hi, Nanny. All’s well.”

Slings and arrows Her early childhood and adulthood were marked by struggles — both of her parents died when she was in her 20s — and Burnett’s adult life also hasn’t been without heartbreak. She lost a daughter to lung cancer in 2002, which she wrote about in her 2013 memoir, Carrie and Me: starts her session with a meditative breath, directing everyone to let background noise pass over them without paying it too much mind. Then, she looks at the painting. “What’s something that draws your attention?” she asks the group. “Where does your eye go after that — does it wander around?” The session is not a lecture but a guided discussion of the group’s visual analysis. As the participants observe the art, they are encouraged to call out opinions and ask questions. They discuss the colors or the figures in the painting. “My favorite thing about the program is that it forces us to be in the moment,” Bradford said. “When you’re an educator at the National Gallery of Art, you want to make sure that you have all the information about a work of art, that the furniture is set up in the right way. “But when you’re sitting in front of a work of art, our only obligation is to the participants. It’s incredibly liberating.” Bradford will occasionally call on more quiet members of the group to make sure that everyone has a chance to participate,

A Mother-Daughter Love Story. This spring she lost dear friend and television co-star Tim Conway. His death on May 14 was announced just before Burnett was scheduled to appear on stage in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was a difficult moment for her. “I told a couple of funny stories about him, and the audience was very gracious. I got through the show,” she said. “He was as nice as he was funny, and that’s something.” After decades of making people laugh, Burnett has learned how to stay positive and enjoy life. She credits a writer on “The Carol Burnett Show” with teaching her how to take things one day at a time with a bedtime ritual she remembers to this day. Every night, think of “three ‘gratefuls’ and three ‘did-wells.’ “It can be, ‘I did well because I drove to the grocery store and smiled at the other customers.’ That’s a did-well. You can be grateful for good health, grateful for your friends — you just try to pick something out of the special day that you just lived.”

Have a question for her?

but she asks open-ended questions, always aware of the participant’s comfort level. If the art does not immediately spark discussion, she breaks the group off into pairs to talk among themselves. “We let them guide the conversation,” she explained. “I’ve learned with this group to focus more deeply on fewer pieces.”

In addition to potentially aiding short term memory and verbal skills, the Just Us program engenders a palpable sense of community among the participants and the staff. “Many of them get to know each other inside the programs,” Bradford said. “They’re wonderful. They really become like family to us.”

In the past decade of live Q&A sessions like the one she’ll host in July, Burnett still thrives on her interactions with the audience. And thanks to her growing popularity with younger fans on the Internet, they’re not all white-haired, she pointed out. “Because of YouTube and Netflix, I’m getting audiences that range from eight years old to 100 — all ages — and that’s really fun,” she said. A few years ago, Burnett noticed a 9-yearold boy sitting in the second row of one of her audiences. She asked him if he knew who she was. “There was a pause and he said, ‘Surprisingly, yes.’ The audience loved it. That’s just pure gold when you get that. I thought, ‘I’m going to take him on the road.’” Carol Burnett: An Evening of Laughter and Reflection is scheduled for Saturday, July 20, at Richmond’s Altria Theater; (804) 5923368. She will be in Baltimore on Tuesday, July 23, at The Lyric, (410) 900-1150. She will appear in the D.C. area on Thursday, July 25, at 8 p.m. at Strathmore, in North Bethesda, Maryland, (301) 581-5100, strathmore.org.

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CAROL BURNETT AN EVENING OF LAUGHTER AND REFLECTION WHERE THE AUDIENCE ASKS QUESTIONS

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J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Book tells story of Mt. Vernon’s slaves

A close look at slavery The 500-page tome is “the first comprehensive account of those who served in bondage at Mount Vernon,” according to its publisher, the University of Virginia Press.

One of Thompson’s goals was to illuminate the daily lives — and the emotions — of the Washingtons’ slaves, who made up 90 percent of the plantation’s population. They worked six days a week, from sunup to sunset, and most lived in crowded log cabins with dirt floors. Although enslaved people had minimal control over their lives, they were able to assert power in several ways, Thompson stressed in a June interview with the Beacon. Many had garden plots to supplement their rations and sold vegetables “under the table” in Alexandria. And they resisted in subtle and not-sosubtle ways, such as slowing down work, pretending to be sick, breaking tools, sabotaging crops and attacking overseers. Some practiced Christianity or Islam, while others retained some African languages and practices. Several successfully ran away.

Washington’s change of heart Slaves kept Mount Vernon running while Gen. Washington fought the British. During the Revolutionary War, while in the northern states, he saw hired workers farming and realized they had more incentive to work that did his unpaid “workforce.” He encountered capable African and

African-American soldiers, and was impressed by articulate abolitionists on his on staff. Washington came to realize his own hypocrisy in fighting for liberty while enslaving people. Thompson maintains an arms-length objectivity about our revered founding father. Washington was “one of the greatest — but still not perfect,” she wrote. She ends the book with the hope the book will help heal the wounds of America’s “racially difficult past.” “We still have not gotten over slavery in this country,” she said in June. “Slavery is not over. There are still millions around the globe enslaved or otherwise doing unfree labor, being coerced.”

PHOTO BY GEORGE WASHINGTON’S MOUNT VERNON

By Glenda C. Booth In the preface of her new book, The Only Unavoidable Subject of Regret, Virginia historian Mary Thompson describes herself as an “often obsessed, exhausted and frazzled historian.” In the book, Thompson details the lives of the people enslaved by George Washington on his 18th-century plantation, Mount Vernon. As Mount Vernon’s research historian for nearly four decades, Thompson has spent years combing through Washington’s diaries, letters, journals, financial ledgers, weekly work reports from the farm manager and visitors’ accounts. “[Washington] was a very fine record keeper,” Thompson said. She calls the book “a difficult and painful story.” But it also describes the founding father’s revelation that led him to free his slaves in his will. Washington told one of his early biographers, David Humphries, that being a slaveholder was “his only unavoidable subject of regret,” inspiring Thompson’s book title.

A Mt. Vernon expert A self-described “Army brat,” Thompson lives in the Mount Vernon area with her husband. She attributes her See SLAVES, page 41

In a reconstructed cabin at Mount Vernon, visitors can learn more about the enslaved families who worked there in George Washington’s day. Historian Mary Thompson’s new book, The Only Unavoidable Subject of Regret, describes the daily lives of Mount Vernon’s residents and Washington’s changing views on slavery.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

Slaves From page 40 passion for history to her Army chaplain father who “dragged me to museums and cemeteries growing up.” She received a Bachelor of Arts in history from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, and a Master of Arts in history from the University of Virginia. “I never intended to become an expert on George Washington,” she said. But Thompson started working at Mount Vernon in 1980 as a historic interpreter, and the rest is, shall we say, history.

In her critical behind-the-scenes role as historian, Thompson prepares materials for interpreters and programs. For example, when Mount Vernon’s curators decided to re-enact Washington’s 1799 funeral on the 200th anniversary of his death, they turned to Thompson for accurate details. Every December, when visitors see Martha Washington’s Christmas cake on the dining room table, it’s because Thompson provided the details from her research. The Only Unavoidable Subject of Regret is Thompson’s second book. In 2008, the University of Virginia Press published her first book, In the Hands of a Good Providence:

Religion in the Life of George Washington. Thompson is considering writing more books, perhaps on the animals at Mount Vernon, or about Martha Washington and the Revolutionary War. After nearly 40 years, her work at Mount

Vernon is never dull, Thompson said. “I’m still learning every day.” The Only Unavoidable Subject of Regret is available from the University of Virginia Press, Barnes and Noble, Amazon and the Mount Vernon Gift Shop.

BEACON BITS

July 15

SINGING WITH DEMENTIA Visit the open house for the Sentimental Journey Singers, a choir

for people diagnosed with early to moderate Alzheimer’s and other memory impairments together with their caretakers. To learn more about the fastest growing choral program for seniors in the country, attend this event at the Insight Memory Care Center, 3953 Pender Dr., Room 100, Fairfax, Va., on Monday, July

BEACON BITS

15, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. For more information about the free event, call (301)

July 28

261-5747.

FREE PIANO CONCERT The Washington Piano Society presents a free summer concert

on Sunday, July 28 at 3 p.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church, 9545 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, Md. The classical and romantic program will include the music of Schubert among others. For more information, call (301) 793-1863 or visit dcpianosociety.org.

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TRAILBLAZER Dorothy Butler Gilliam, the first black female journalist, presents her memoir Trailblazer and discusses her career with freelance

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J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Books by local authors for summer reading As Shakespeare put it, “Summer’s lease great effect dodging bullets and approachhath all too short a date.” Before summer ing fearlessly knife-wielding and gun-toting assailants, petty crooks and ends, these works by local aumembers of the local drug thors can be invigorating syndicate. The role of CIs companions during this sultry (confidential informants) and season. descriptions of street-smart Trigger: A Novel, by David behavior give this fictional tale Swinson, 352 pages, Mula strong dose of realism. holland Books, 2019 The DC-neighborhood venAuthor David Swinson is a ues make following the plot of retired decorated D.C. Metrospecial interest to local readpolitan Police detective. He lives with his family in North- THE ers. The proximity of crime and poverty, holdups, prostituern Virginia. BIBILOPHILE tion rings and drug dealing to Swinson has plumbed his By Dinah Rokach real-life knowledge in this edgy the vaulted monuments of our and revealing tale of crime in our nation’s national government is stark. The action capital. The action is realistic, the dialogue follows along with speed and clarity from taut, and the personalities vividly portrayed. the pen of one with inside knowledge. Touching the Dragon: And Other The protagonist, private investigator Frank Marr, lost his badge for conduct unbe- Techniques for Surviving Life’s Wars, coming of a police officer. Yet his friendships by James Hatch and Christian D’Andrea, 336 pages, Vintage paperback, 2019 with his former colleagues are unbreakable. Virginia residents Navy Special Ops vetMarr attempts to help his one-time partner, Al Luna, and in so doing crosses paths eran James Hatch and co-author Christian with his ex-girlfriend, defense attorney Leslie D’Andrea have written an important addiCostello. He confronts his past failings and tion to the literature on the psychological tries to become a better man. The impor- challenges that face wounded warriors. Touching the Dragon means coming to tance of second chances is an underlying motif. grips with the sources of pain, guilt and Marr’s reliance on his police training is emotional angst that produce destructive portrayed with panache. He employs it to behavior by members of the armed forces.

Removing that stigma and healing the psychological trauma have become one of James Hatch’s causes. Hatch describes his own determined efforts to be accepted into the Navy SEALs. He writes about his quarter-century career. The courage, grit, tedious planning and bloody terror-filled encounters of his years in special ops are depicted. His fellow warriors and the canines he led into perilous top-secret missions in Iran and Afghanistan are brought to life. Most significant is the story of his own encounter with depression and attempted suicide in the aftermath of serious injuries sustained in the line of duty. Proceeds from his book go to the nonprofit Spikes K9 Fund that Hatch founded to provide protective gear and medical attention to working and wounded dogs. His charitable work with canines serves to make whole the losses in battle of his beloved four-legged warriors. Strange and Obscure Stories of Washington, D.C.: Little-Known Tales about Our Nation’s Capital, by Tim Rowland, 196 pages, Skyhorse Publishing paperback, 2018 Our nation’s capital has seen more than its share of oddballs and villains over the years. Countless of the venal, the corrupt, the self-promoters, the arrogant and the

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powerful who held public attention back in the day have been relegated to the dustbin of history. But so have a few pioneers and insightful individuals once considered radical whose ideas are mainstream today. Enter Tim Rowland, columnist for the Hagerstown, Maryland, Herald-Mail Media. He has compiled, in this slim book, nine true entertaining tales of Washington D.C. from the late 1700s to the present decade. Several of the subjects are familiar, most are not. Some of the individuals, such as Francis Scott Key, have achieved fame, but not for the episodes described. Reading about these figures gives us a more complete picture of their personalities — warts and all. Worth the Wait: The Washington Capitals’ Memorable Journey to the 2018 Stanley Cup, by The Washington Post, 128 pages, Triumph Books paperback, 2018 Caps fans disappointed in the outcome this season are sure to cherish this keepsake of last year’s Stanley Cup championship. The introductory essay by Washington Post sports columnist Thomas Boswell describes the astounding playoff See SUMMER READING, page 45

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

What’s the (cashless) world coming to? Some signs of aging are very obvious what I encountered in my search for Cup and very expected. Knees that ache. Hair Three. As I held a five-dollar bill out to the barista, she acted as if I’d that disappears. Names that flashed some sort of rabid royou can’t quite recall. Pounds dent instead. that you can’t wish or walk “Oh, no, sir, we don’t accept away. cash,” she said. But what in the world are “Really?” I asked. we oldies going to do about “Really,” she said. the latest in retailing? “And what if I don’t have a Cash not accepted. credit card?” I smacked face first into “Then, sir, I won’t be able to this utterly 21st-century trend the other day when I popped HOW I SEE IT help you.” “And how about the laninto a local coffee place for my By Bob Levey guage right here on this fivethird cup of the day. I have made an uneasy peace with the dollar bill? Legal tender for all debts, pubdamage that baristas have done to our lan- lic and private?” “I’m sorry, sir.” guage. No longer can I get my customary I fished out a credit card with a sigh, and “small cup of black coffee.” Oh, no. Their smallest cup is called “tall.” I have given up was soon sipping to my gullet’s content. But I kept returning mentally to that evertrying to understand. And I have gotten more and more an- so-old saw. The one about how the cusnoyed by the cultishness that now sur- tomer is always right. Has that, too, gone the way of the Edsel rounds my simple, well-rehearsed request. I don’t care whether the coffee beans and “American Bandstand?” I asked to see the manager. He bounded were grown in Chile or Kenya. I don’t care if the barista leaves room for cream. I don’t brightly up to my table. I explained what want my coffee fancified into a latte or a had happened. He apologized (nice), and proceeded to make excuses (less nice). cappuccino. I. Just. Want. A. Small. Cup. Of. Black. Cash is hard to handle, he said. Baristas Coffee. Please. often make mistakes when giving change. But these struggles pale in the face of And some baristas “skim.” That’s a 21st-

century word for “steal.” There’s also the risk of holdups, the manager said. But not at this store. If a robber enters this place, the first thing he or she will see is a sign that says NO CASH ON PREMISES. If similar signs work on buses and delivery trucks — and they do — why not at a coffee place? I was ready with my counter-arguments.

“Don’t you realize that baristas can skim credit cards, too?” The manager said he did know that. But it happens very rarely, he told me. “Don’t you realize that repeat business is the name of the game, and you’ve just run the risk of my never coming back See CASHLESS WORLD, page 45

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 44 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

S C A L D

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I R I S

T R U E

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P A R T Y M O E A F I D N D I N S T E S E N T I D N S S

A C T N I O N W I G E N T O S T Y S O O U S R O

B O R N

B R I G

A P O S T M A L U R E S T H E G Y A E S I X P Z E O C D S

F I T R I E L E I T U T N Y C O I I D L E S A

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ANSWERS TO JUMBLE Jumbles: ODDLY MUNCH UNFAIR HOLLOW Answer: Cities might one day be built on the lunar surface, which could result in a -- FULL MOON

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J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — 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 Second Frame 1

Stephen Sherr

36 39

45 47

25 31

Jumble answers on p. 43.

Scrabble answers on p. 43.

Across

Down

1. Assign the chessmen to their initial squares 6. The first band in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (alphabetically) 10. QB’s targets 13. Magna ___ 14. Any 1 of the Fortune 500 15. Get a grade below 60 16. Go on ___ 17. Huey, Dewey, and Louie, for example 18. “Ignorance of the law ___ excuse” 19. Rare (but illuminating) event 22. 23andMe input 23. Over there 24. Wedding cake section 25. Do some summer yard work 26. Teen hangout 28. Word heard many times on Disney’s “Small World” ride 31. Prepare a rope for rock climbing 36. Like Luke Skywalker’s home planet 37. Thanksgiving time at Plymouth Rock, MA 38. “___-Team” 39. Propensity to obscenity 44. Curviest letter 45. All up in someone’s business 46. First word before “last words?” 47. Evaluation of a new driver’s skills 49. Top left key on many computers 50. “___ only as directed” 53. Second frame score after throwing the three balls featured in this puzzle 58. Late-night kitchen visit 59. Move like The Blob 60. Moron 61. Mausoleum contents 62. It’s main training facility is in Colorado Springs, CO 63. Sierra ___ 64. UFO crew 65. Carbon and Carew 66. Having fewer bats in one’s belfry

1. Hurt with hot soup 2. Avoid restaurants 3. GREAT mix-up 4. Where the golden spike was hammered in 1869 5. ___ the first part 6. Join the cast of 7. Gravestone heading 8. Naval jail 9. One of a biblical dozen 10. Question revealing one is having second thoughts 11. I, Tonya filming location 12. Gin flavoring 15. Notre Dame cathedral tragedy of 4/15/2019 20. “___ have seen everything” 21. Mosaic piece 25. Safety org. founded in 1980 26. Overly sentimental 27. Johnson of “Laugh-In” 29. You, in some bibles 30. Constellation corner 31. Like animals in a park 32. Flower painted by van Gogh in a mental asylum 33. Brainiacs 34. Understands the joke 35. ___-bitty 40. Research univ. 41. “___ father’s Oldsmobile” 42. Perform a “water tank escape” trick (or observe one) 43. Disables a Slinky 48. Reaches the coda 49. Big wigs 50. Blue side in the Civil War 51. One was skipped a record 88 times in 2013 52. Fragrant compound 53. About half the answers on many quizzes 54. Witch’s feature, usually 55. A quite mediocre adjective 56. Polo shirt maker 57. Brainchild

Answers on page 43.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

Summer reading From page 42

ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick Detorie

run culminating in victory over the Las Vegas Golden Knights. Read contemporaneous coverage by beat reporter Isabelle Khurshudyan. The six-game first and six-game second rounds, the seven games of the conference finals and the five-game Stanley Cup finals are recapped with box scores. Alongside are color photographs of the action of the games. Scan the season statistics of every Caps player and goaltender. Check out a chart of the team’s yearly playoff history since 1982. Concluding the book are profiles of goalie Braden Holtby, former coach Barry Trotz and captain Alex Ovechkin. Full page drawings by sports illustrator Cristiano Siqueira depict stars Holtby, Ovi, John Carlson, T.J. Oshie, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom. A balm for the broken-hearted, a remembrance to keep hope alive, and a memento to have handy until the Caps capture another Cup.

Cashless world From page 43 here?” The manager said he sincerely hoped I’d be back, but he couldn’t bend or break the policy. “And don’t you realize that accepting cash is better for your bottom line? It goes right into your bank account at the end of each day. Credit card sales don’t get posted for at least two days.” The manager replied, lamely, that this was just one of the costs of doing business. Of course, he didn’t mention that the cost got passed on to me and every other coffee addict. I would never try to blur the danger of robberies or internal thefts. And I’m sorry if I was (choose at least one) rude, annoying or high-handed to that barista. She didn’t create the policy. She was only doing what she was told. But, gosh, I so clearly remember saving my allowance when I was 8 years old so I could buy a candy bar for a dime. And raiding my piggy bank for enough change to buy a pack of baseball cards. And treating my little brother to an ice cream with a shiny quarter when he wasn’t being ob-

noxious (very rare). There was no such thing as a credit card in those days, much less some fancy machine that swiped it. And the world spun on its axis just fine. I think I must be getting old. Or I need another coffee. Or both. Bob Levey is a national award-winning columnist.

BEACON BITS

July 21

CARIFESTA FESTIVAL

Join the largest celebration of English-, Spanish-, French- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean culture on the East Coast. This free music and arts festival will include Caribbean cuisine, a beer garden, and modern and traditional souvenirs. It takes place on Sunday, July 21, from 1 to 9 p.m. at Veterans Plaza, 1 Veterans Pl., Silver Spring, Md. For more information, visit www.carifesta.com.

July

SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL

Enjoy McLean Community Players’ adaption of Seussical every weekend in July. The musical, based on beloved Dr. Seuss books, will be performed on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the Alden Theatre, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, Va. Tickets cost $23 for seniors, students and residents of the McLean tax district. To purchase a ticket, call 1-866-811-4111 or visit mcleanplayers.org.

WB719

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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.

Business and Employment Opportunities RETIRED ADVERTISING SALES REP? Read & love the Beacon? Have an advertising sales background? Want to work 15-20 hours/week selling advertising for The Beacon as a straight commission outside sales rep in northern Virginia? Contact Alan at 443-2859336 or Alan@TheBeaconNewspapers.com. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

Caregivers A HOME HEALTHCARE - Experienced nurses, CNA, GNA are available 24/7. Cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping , driving. Full/Part-time or live-in. Flat rate for live-in care. 15 years’ experience. 240-533-6599. A MATURED CAREGIVER is able to take care of your love ones. I help with all activities of daily living. Groceries, light house keeping and I handle transportation as well. I have experience with people with Alzheimers, strokes and I also help with companionship. I can be reached at 202-294-9432 . HELPING HANDS for your loved one. Will do household chores and meals. Flexible hours, varied background with all types of issues and aging concerns. Please contact Mrs. Paul (240)898-7956 or email hands2help@gmail.com

Computer Services COMPUTER LESSONS — Personal Computer training in your home at your convenience. Email, Internet, Search, Digital photos, Google, General computer use, MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Windows PC, Mac. Troubleshoot PC issues. Setup new computers, printers, internet. Setup and train on all consumer electronics — Smartphone, Smart TV, Tablet, Digital cameras, Alexa. Gentle & patient teacher using plain English. Since 1996. Call David, 301-980-5840. COMPUTERTUTOR. 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.

Financial HAVING TROUBLE FINDING A FINANCIAL ADVISOR because your 401k or IRA is under $200k? Receive retirement planning and investment management from a Certified Financial Planner focused on low fees and helping others. For appointment call 240-847-7081. GOT AN OLDER CAR, VAN OR SUV? Do the humane thing. Donate it to the Humane Society. Call 1-844-230-2952.

J U L Y 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

For Sale

Personal Services

Wanted

I AM SELLING A BURIAL PLOT at National Memorial Cemetery in Falls Church, Virginia in the Evergreen Garden. It is a Double Depth Site (Tier Vault (2 vaults with shelf in between) including the opening and closing for 2 burials. This site and services are currently retailing for $12,000.00. I am selling the site for $8,000. You will receive the deed once you have paid in full and can reach me by email at benbibb@yahoo.com.

SELL YOUR SILVER AND OLD GOLD JEWELRY. Gold 4 Good (8241 Georgia Ave., Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910) buys gold and silver jewelry, including broken pieces, all sterling silver and silver flatware, gold watches and gold and silver coins. I will come to your house and give you a free evaluation of what I can pay. If you decide to sell, I can buy your items at that time, but there is no obligation. Licensed with both Maryland and Montgomery County (lic. #2327). Call Bob, (240) 938-9694. Gold 4 Good pays an additional 5 percent to all military veterans (and their spouses). Gold 4 Good is a Maryland licensed precious metals dealership, not a pawnshop or private homebased business.

WANTED: OLDER VIOLINS, GUITARS, BANJOS, MANDOLINS, UKULELES, ETC. Musician/collector will pay cash for older string instruments. Jack (301) 279-2158.

FT. LINCOLN CEMETERY. Garden of Reverence 2, Lot 167. Two double-depth, side by side sites. One site $4,200, both for $8,000. If interested, please call 240-643.1767 and leave a message. We will return your call.

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate LEISURE WORLD® - $169,000. 2 BR 2FB “Warfield” model. Fresh paint, new laminate floors, kitchen updates, patio open to green space, 1043 sq. ft., Stan Moffson, Weichert Realtors, 301-301-254-5825. LEISURE WORLD® - $179,900. 2 BR 2 FB “F” in the GREENS. New paint and carpet, Sunny enclosed balcony. Lower floor. 1120 sq ft., Stan Mofffson, Weichert, Realtors, 301-254-5825. LEISURE WORLD® - $264,900. 2 BR 2 FB in Turnberry. T/s kitchen plus separate Dining room, golf course view. 1256 sq ft, Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors, 301-254-5825. LEISURE WORLD® - $287,500. 3 BR, 2-1/2 Baths “M” in “Fairways”, close to elevator, Table space kitchen, replacement windows. Enclosed Sunroom. 1480 Sq Ft., Stan Moffson, Weichert Realtors, 301-254.5825. IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO TAKE THE LEAP to a retirement community, try our newly announced Real Estate Partnership: Sue Heyman, Rick Winkler, and Sudha Baxter. Rely on our combined strengths: Top Weichert Producers, plus backgrounds in Teaching, Tax, and Business. We are located at the Leisure World Plaza Weichert Office and have personal knowledge of the Community from the investor and resident perspective. We will take you on a tour of the Community, show you floor plans, discuss campus amenities & offer how best to coordinate your move. We will set up an automated search for you, preview units, and contact you to arrange a showing when there is a match. We also offer exceptional service selling your current home. Call for your free Community booklet. You can see our current listings in this issue. Office 301-681-0550, Sue 301-580-5556, Rick 301-404-3105, Sudha 202368-8536.

Personals ENCHANTING LADY, 50s - young looking, voluptuous woman seeks to meet/date an attractive gentleman, SWM, 50s or 60s, with husky build, 200+ lbs, who is sincere, compassionate, dependable, affectionate. Enjoys the great outdoors, movies, dancing, dining out. Seeks friendship, possible relationship. 240-316-6152. Please leave a nice voice message for reply. ISO “OPEN” FWB LIFESTYLER. Seeking new close and private friend. Me: Attractive, patient, kind and considerate. Adult man, plus average size, open-minded, poly-thinker, love women. Love different things; travel, music, parties, group activity. Very active and physically fit, mixed gray hair, brown eyes, and chocolate brown complexion... You: attractive, open-minded, unicorn thinker, troilism and candaulism; yes! Love BBW exhibition and art. Send message and photo. gentleblackman6969@gmail.com.

TV/Cable DISH Network. 190+ CHANNELS. FREE Install. FREE Hopper HD-DVR. $49.99/month (24 months) Add High Speed Internet - $14.95 (where avail.) CALL Today & SAVE 25%! 1-844560-5837. SPECTRUM TRIPLE PLAY! TV, Internet & Voice for $29.99 ea. 60 MB per second speed. No contract or commitment. More Channels. Faster Internet. Unlimited Voice. Call 1-888-366-7573. DIRECTV. CALL AND SWITCH NOW — Get NFL Sunday Ticket for FREE! Every Game. Every Sunday. CHOICE- All-Included Package. Over 185 Channels. $60/month (for 12 Months.) CALL 1- 888-572-4953.

Wanted

Health 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.

SEEKING FULL/SEALED BOTTLES of Vintage Bourbon and Rye. Do you have full/sealed vintage bottles of bourbon or rye collecting dust in your cabinet. Do any of your bottles have an old red or green tax strip? Call Alex, 443-2237669.

DENTAL INSURANCE. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company for details. Not just a discount plan, real coverage for 350 procedures. 844366-1003 or http://www.dental50plus.com/320 Ad# 6118.

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

Legal Services PARALEGAL/RESEARCHER — will run positive interference with your personnel or professional paperwork; knowledge of local and federal government agencies, public and private libraries, as well as trade associations. Will make house /office calls. Call 301-565-2917 or e-mail Rushresearch@comcast.net SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY? Up to $2,671/mo. (Based on paid-in amount.) Free evaluation! Call Bill Gordon & Associates. 1866-970-0779. Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington, D.C. Office: Broward Co. FL., member TX/NM Bar.

Miscellaneous ENJOY 100% GUARANTEED, DELIVERED to-the-door Omaha Steaks! Save 75% plus get 4 more Burgers & 4 more Kielbasa FREE! Order The Family Gourmet Buffet — ONLY $49.99. Call 1-844-302-3754, mention code 51689JCT or visit www.omahasteaks.com.

TURN YOUR SILVER AND OLD GOLD jewelry into cash. Gold 4 Good (8241 Georgia Ave., Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910) buys gold and silver jewelry, including broken pieces, all sterling silver and silver flatware, gold watches and gold and silver coins. I will come to your house and give you a free evaluation of what I can pay. If you decide to sell, I can buy your items at that time, but there is no obligation. Licensed with both Maryland and Montgomery County (lic. #2327). Call Bob, (240) 938-9694. Gold 4 Good pays an additional 5 percent to all sellers who are military veterans (or spouses of veterans). Gold 4 Good is a Maryland licensed precious metals dealership, not a pawnshop or private home-based business. LADY WHO LIKES CHINA and other pretty things would like to buy yours. Favorites include Herend, Meissen, Royal Copenhagen, Shelley and Villeroy & Boch. Some Lenox and Johnson Brothers. I love English bone china cups and saucers. Baccarat and Lalique too. 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.

CASH FOR JEWELRY: Buying jewelry, diamonds, gold, platinum, silver, watches, coins, flatware, etc. Ask for Tom. Call anytime, 301654-8678 (Reg. 883). TOP PRICES PAID for fine antiques, artwork and high quality decorative items including decorated crocks and jugs, rare antique clocks, music boxes,unusual lamps, slot machines and great old toys and dolls to name a few. I am 66 years old with over 40 years in the antique business, well educated and financially capable . Why pay expensive auction house , estate sale, or consignment store commissions when you can get a fair upfront price for your pieces immediately? If you have something unusual and interesting, 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. Thank you. BUYING VINYL RECORDS from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201. $$$ CASH $$$ FOR MILITARY USMC ARMY USAF USN ITEMS - Buying Military Uniforms, Patches, Medals, Insignia, Flight Jackets, Weapons etc. from the Civil War through Vietnam. Especially seeking U.S. Army Air Corps, USMC, Airborne and German/Japanese/Italian items from WWII. Call or Text Dan at 202-8413062 or email MILITBUFF@AOL.COM. COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, knives, swords, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars & countries. Also Lionel Trains, & slots/coin operated machines. Will pay top prices. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-910-0783 PAYING CASH merchandise pre 1980. Old toys, silver, records, books, photographs, smoking pipes and lighters, fountain pens. If you have stuff to sell cal Carl 312-316-7553. Sorry no furniture or glassware. Located Silver Spring MD. I BUY MILITARY ANTIQUES. Trusted for over 30 years in MD, DC and VA. I have a Masters Degree in History and specialize in military memorabilia. I buy medals, documents, uniforms, insignia, historic firearms, & books from the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam single items or collections. I offer fair prices. View my biography and testimonials from veterans and their families on my website. Call me first or for a second opinion. Tim Frank 703-4477243 www.midatlanticmilitaryantiques.com CASH FOR RECORDS AND CDS. WE HAUL IT ALL! Don’t waste time with cherry pickers! Best price guaranteed. Free appraisals. All types of records & CDs. Also buying turntables and stereos. Will make house calls. Call or text Steve at 301-646-5403. 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 items, rare books, Mid Century Modern furniture, vinyl records collections and more. Based in Silver Spring, we serve Montgomery County, Howard County, Baltimore County, Washington D.C., NOVA and beyond. No home, barn or warehouse is too packed for us! Friendly, conscientious staff. Call Chris on cell (202) 731-9447. www.OrionsAttic.com. CASH FOR ESTATES; moving, etc. I buy a wide range of items. Buy out/clean up. TheAtticLLC.com Gary Roman 301-520-0755.

Thanks for reading the Beacon!

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 9

Letters to editor From page 2 into the public domain beyond what is appropriate. Louis P. Solomon Bethesda, Md. Dear Editor: The Beacon’s front-page headline in its June 2019 issue (“Get fit for free if 65 or better”) was misleading. The contents of the article only mentioned the Silver Sneakers program, a program which is free only with some Medicare supplement insurance. How about an article entitled “Seniors Get Fit for Free” followed by a piece mentioning

Say you saw it in the Beacon

free senior fitness programs throughout Greater Washington that are truly without cost for seniors? For example, Montgomery County has free fitness programs for residents in senior and recreation centers. Many senior centers have free fitness equipment available. Pools are free for D.C. residents, and area hospitals sponsor free fitness programs such as Senior Fit. My point is, make the content of the article not “kinda sorta” match but truly match — provide researched examples and shared resources to justify the word “free” in the headline. Pat Edward Via email

BEACON BITS

July 30

FREE ART TOUR

Do you want to see art that isn’t displayed in museums? On Tuesday, July 30, from 6:15 to 8 p.m., enjoy a free tour of 137 original works on display at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Pl. N.W., Washington, D.C. To learn more, email robin.f.moore@gmail.com or call (202) 249-3000.

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ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Studies Gestalt Study............................19 Healthy Volunteer Study ..........18 Hearing Research Study...........19 Speech Comprehension Study .....................................18

Computer/ Technology BeaconSilverPages...................48 TheBeaconNewspapers.com ....48 TechMedic4U.............................5

Dental Services Friedman, Stephen, DDS .........28 Oh, Judy, DDS .........................21

Events Beacon 50+Expo..................3, 29 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics....................37

Financial/ Insurance Services Children’s National Hospital....27

Funeral Services Going Home Cremation...........41

Government Services DC Dept of Insurance ..............27 DC Office on Aging ...........22-23 DOEE.......................................31 MCDOT ...................................33 Montgomery County Aging and Disability Services ............6, 10 Montgomery County Public Library .........................7

Home Health Care/Companion Services Attenda Home Care . . . . . . . .B-3 Best Senior Care . . . . . . . . . . .31 Bright Hope Home Care . . . . . .9 Family & Friends Home Care . .20 Options for Senior America .....37

Housing Alfredhouse..............................18 Armed Forces Retirement Home ..................31 Ashby Ponds.................B-3, B-14 Brooke Grove Retirement Village .....B-7, B-8, B-14, B-16 Charles E. Smith Life Communities .................15 Chesterbrook Residences.................B-6, B-11 Chevy Chase House .....B-6, B-11 Churchill Senior Living ...........14 Covenant Village ....................B-8 Culpepper Garden ....................14 Emerson House ....................B-15 Falcons Landing ............B-15, 10 Five Star Premier Residences...........B-13 Friendship Terrace..........B-5, B-6 Gardens of Traville, The.........B-4 Greenspring..................B-3, B-15 Hillside Apartment Homes.......10 Homecrest House .........B-7, B-15 Homewood at Frederick ...........20 Kensington Park...........B-7, B-10 Lakeview Apartment Homes......9 Landing of Silver Spring, The .............B-14

Landow House .........................15 Olney Assisted Living..............17 Quantum Property Mgmt..........B-4 R Homes Communities...............30 Riderwood....................B-3, B-12 Sommerset Retirement...B-2, B-8 Springvale Terrace........B-7, B-13 Sylvestry, The.........................B-5 Victory Housing...........B-2, B-12 Vinson Hall ..................B-5, B-12

Legal Services Farr Law Firm ..........................26 Law Offices of Lee Holdmann ..................27 Law Offices of Nancy Feldman .....................29 Law Offices of Paul Riekhof ...29

Medical/Health Allied Pharmaceutical Svcs .....16 Arya Wellness Center...............12 Carter’s Amazing Products.......13 Health For Life Dispensary......12 Herbology ................................12 I Hate Knee Pain ........................9 Lesner Hearing.........................20 Medical Eye Center..................15 Rise ..........................................12 Silver Spring Medical Center...17

Miscellaneous AARP Foundation....................17 Green House H St. ...................13 Verizon Lifeline .......................35

Real Estate Long & Foster/Eric Stewart..28, 41 Weichert/Sue Heyman..............14

Retail/Auction Healthy Back Store ....................7 “Just My Height” Adjustable Bed ......................16 McKay Used Books .................21 Perfect Sleep Chair...................24 Perfect Walker II ......................42 Quinn’s Auction Galleries ........39 Zinger Chair .............................36

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Brooke Grove .........................B-7 Manor Care Health Services.................................21

Subscriptions Beacon Newspaper...................45 Washington Jewish Week.........40

Theatre/ Entertainment Carol Burnett............................39 City of Rockville......................37 F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre .......38 Senior Zone..............................40 Toby’s Dinner Theatre ..............38 Wolf Trap ...............................B-9

Tour & Travel Almost Heaven Vacations ........35 Eyre Travel ...............................33 Festive Holidays .......................34 Global Wanderer Travel ...........34 Martinsburg, WV Travel ..........34 Shillelaghs................................33

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