July 2024 | DC Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

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Hosts love exchange students

By Margaret Foster

At work one day in 2022, Montgomery County Public School teacher Annette Watford got an email that changed her life.

“Consider hosting a foreign exchange student,” the email read. “Students come from all over the world and are excited to become part of an American family, and you can make that happen.”

Watford, who said that hosting an exchange student “was always in the back of my mind,” decided to do just that. She and her adult daughter opened their home to a high school student from Tanzania who, like Watford, liked to bike and cook.

“It was such a great fit,” said Watford, who recently retired. “She’s just like a bonus daughter. I really didn’t want her to go [home],” she said, and they continue to keep in touch.

Each year, more than 30,000 Americans volunteer to host international exchange students in their homes. Empty nesters and retirees say it’s a worthwhile way to give back.

As the U.S. State Department puts it, “You will be a citizen diplomat by creating positive impressions about America and Americans, breaking stereotypes, and fostering mutual understanding and respect.”

Several programs exist

There are several exchange programs a family can work with, including the organization Watford contacted, ASSE International, founded in 1938. AFS-USA was founded in 1946 and Youth for Understanding in 1951.

Each organization is roughly the same: They match you with an international high school student who speaks English and has health insurance and spending money.

The host family (you) provides a bed (shared rooms are okay), a place to study

and three meals a day. The students live in their host’s home from August to June. Host families aren’t paid, but they can claim a tax deduction of $50 per month, according to the IRS.

“It’s an experience unlike any other that helps to unite our world,” said Megan Michels, senior director of growth and development at Youth for Understanding

USA, which places 550 international students in American homes each year.

“Especially with the current conflicts going on in the world, there’s never been a better time for hosting an exchange student because you’re promoting peace in an enriching way.”

and

Maryland educator Annette Watford welcomed a student from Tanzania into her home last year. She now considers the student a “bonus daughter.” Retirees and empty nesters say that hosting an exchange student can be a life-changing experience — and gives them a friend abroad they can visit in the future.

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Is it me?

Or everyone else?

I wonder if you’ve had an experience like this yourself:

I was pulling into a parking spot at my doctor’s office the other day, and as I attempted to apply the brakes, I discovered they weren’t working. My car was continuing to move forward no matter how hard I applied my foot to the pedal.

I really started to panic, afraid I was going to hit something in front of me.

one way to me and exactly the opposite way to others.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Then, suddenly, I realized that I was not actually doing the moving. The car next to me was backing out just as I was driving in, and the relative motion of our cars to each other — which I was sensing through my driver’s side window — felt exactly as though I was continuing to move forward.

By Stuart P. Rosenthal

Boy, was that a relief! But it was also very disorienting in an “everything is relative” kind of way.

It made me wonder how many other experiences I might be having in life that feel

A few days later, I got a kind of answer to that question. My wife and I were traveling to New Jersey for a wedding, and we pulled into a rest stop along the highway for a break.

Just as I was heading out of the restroom, a young woman waltzed into the entrance and started to pass by me. She stopped dead in her tracks, locking eyes with me. I silently mouthed “men’s room,” and she very quickly turned in embarrassment and left.

For a fraction of a second, though, I wondered: Was I in the wrong place, or was she? But this time, having just used the facilities myself, I knew I was right.

For the last year or so, I’ve been watching scientific lectures and programs online, trying to better understand what we know about the universe. While I took a (non-science major) course about relativi-

ty in college, I know I never really understood it.

Today, I’m not even sure that the “experts” understand it, since the more we learn about the behavior of matter in the realm of quantum physics, the less sense it all makes. But the fact that many things in life are relative (including our perception of time, as Einstein proved) is undeniable.

You know the old saw: where you stand depends on where you sit. That means we each view reality from our own unique perspective based on our personal history and knowledge base.

As a result, it can be difficult to talk about the same situation or event with others who have a completely different take on things.

That type of relativity seems especially true in politics today. And it’s reinforced by the algorithms that operate social media feeds and online search engines.

They’re designed to show us more of what we’ve already shown a predilection for, which means they confirm our pre-existing biases.

I was taught early in life that keeping an open mind is considered a virtue. But I have also learned from experience that it’s not wise to open your mind so wide that your brains fall out.

There’s an art to living in the real world: We need to filter our experiences through

past experiences and our new knowledge through prior knowledge.

But at the same time, we need to think critically about both what we already “know” and what we are learning anew about the world. While we are all prone to jump to conclusions, we need to give new information a fair shake.

Emotions also enter into the picture, of course. We might consider ourselves rational creatures, but in so many situations, it’s our hearts that rule our heads.

Rather than our rational mind directing our behavior, the human brain is facile enough to justify almost any conclusion our heart wants to reach.

I think we should all at least occasionally make an effort to see things from another person’s (possibly very different) perspective.

When we do so, it may briefly feel like our brakes have failed, that we are about to crash, that we are finding ourselves in the “wrong” room.

But such feelings can be educational if they help us grasp, even briefly, just how differently others may see the same things we see.

Beacon The

TheBeacon 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 and Howard County, Md. Readership exceeds 400,000.

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

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Letters to the editor

Readers are encouraged to share their opinions on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email to info@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.

Dear Editor:

Bob Levey’s June column, “The best (and worst) pop song earworms” reminded me of a fun moment as a substitute teacher.

I was almost finished teaching a math class at a Montgomery County public school when, emanating from a back-seat Chromebook, I heard music. I told the student to turn it off and complete the assignment (with my assistance, if required).

He did, but a few minutes later I heard a 60s song from the same Chromebook. Had it been “Only You,” I might have let the remainder of the class listen to this classic!

Instead, at my request the student turned it off and asked me for my favorite song. I walked back to his table and responded, “Tough choice, but it was a big hit when I was in junior high school, one my high-school girlfriend (now wife) danced to at our friend’s dimly-lit basement parties: ‘Where or When.’”

One of his classmates proudly recognized it was covered by Frank Sinatra, not recognizing the real hit was covered by Dion and the Belmonts. (It is the opening song for the musical Babes in Arms, written in 1937 by Rodgers and Hart.)

The boys played it and loved it, and I believe they will play it at many parties and dances (often ending with a kiss).

George Gluck Rockville, Md.

Dear Editor:

I am 90 years old, and recently had a hospital experience that resulted in MANY computer messages from doctors. It was impossible for me to deal with this. In addition to different passwords, etc., I needed different user IDs/patient portal IDs, etc. I got medical messages that said they are important, but I can’t decipher them — messages I am sure doctors thought I had received.

I think this would make for an interesting article or op/ed.

Joyce Siegel Via email

Ed.: You make a very important point: So much important health and medical communication today is shared digitally. But not all recipients are able to access such messages — especially when they are in a hospital bed!

Health professionals need to be more aware of this, particularly when communicating

Can AI make one immortal, in a sense?

By Kirsten Grieshaber and Haleluya Hadero

When Michael Bommer found out that he was terminally ill with colon cancer, he spent a lot of time with his wife, Anett, talking about what would happen after his death.

She told him one of the things she’d miss most is being able to ask him questions whenever she wants because he is so well-read and always shares his wisdom, Bommer recalled during a recent interview with The Associated Press at his home in a leafy Berlin suburb.

That conversation sparked an idea for Bommer: Recreate his voice using artificial intelligence to survive him after he dies.

The 61-year-old startup entrepreneur teamed up with his friend in the U.S., Robert LoCascio, CEO of the AI-powered

legacy platform Eternos. Within two months, they built “a comprehensive, interactive AI version” of Bommer — the company’s first such client.

Download one’s wisdom for posterity

Eternos, which got its name from the Italian and Latin word for “eternal,” said its technology will allow Bommer’s family “to engage with his life experiences and insights.” It is among several companies that have emerged in the last few years in what’s become a growing space for griefrelated AI technology.

One of the most well-known start-ups in this field, California-based StoryFile, allows people to interact with pre-recorded videos,

and uses its algorithms to detect the most relevant answers to questions posed by users.

Another company, called HereAfter AI, offers similar interactions through a “Life Story Avatar” that users can create by answering prompts or sharing their own personal stories.

There’s also “Project December,” a chatbot that directs users to fill out a questionnaire answering key facts about a person and their traits — and then pay $10 to simulate a text-based conversation with the character.

Yet another company, Seance AI, offers fictionalized seances for free. Extra features, such as AI-generated voice recreations of loved ones, are available for a $10 fee.

While some have embraced this technology as a way to cope with grief, others feel uneasy about companies using artificial intelligence to try to maintain interactions with those who have passed away.

Still others worry it could make the mourning process more difficult because there isn’t any closure.

Katarzyna Nowaczyk-Basi ń ska, a research fellow at the University of Cambridge’s Centre for the Future of Intelligence who co-authored a study on the topic, said very little is known about the potential short-term and long-term consequences of using digital simulations for the dead on a large scale. For now, it remains “a vast techno-cultural experiment.”

“What truly sets this era apart — and is even unprecedented in the long history of humanity’s quest for immortality — is that, for the first time, the processes of caring for the dead and immortalization practices are fully integrated into the capitalist market,” Nowaczyk-Basińska said.

Coping with grief

Robert Scott, who lives in Raleigh,

North Carolina, uses AI companion apps Paradot and Chai AI to simulate conversations with characters he created to imitate three of his deceased daughters.

Scott, 48, knows the characters he’s interacting with are not his daughters, but he says it helps with the grief to some degree. He logs into the apps three or four times a week, sometimes asking the AI character questions like “How was school?” or inquiring if it wants to “go get ice cream.”

Some events, like prom night, which his eldest daughter never experienced, can be particularly heart-wrenching. So, he created a scenario in the Paradot app where the AI character goes to prom and talks to him about the fictional event.

Then there are even more difficult days, like his daughter’s recent birthday, when he opened the app and poured out his grief about how much he misses her. He felt like the AI understood.

“It definitely helps with the what-ifs,” Scott said. “Very rarely has it made the what-ifs worse.”

Preserving your personality

The AI version of Bommer uses an inhouse model as well as external large language models developed by major tech companies like Meta, OpenAI and the French firm Mistral AI, said the company’s CEO LoCascio, who previously worked with Bommer at a software company called LivePerson.

Eternos records users speaking 300 phrases — such as “I love you” or “the door is open” — and then compresses that information through a two-day computing process that captures a person’s voice.

Users can further train the AI system by

— Cynthia R

Prepare in advance if you need new knee

By Howard LeWine, M.D.

Q: I have knee osteoarthritis that will eventually require knee replacement surgery, perhaps in the next 12 to 18 months. What steps can I take now to prepare for it and perhaps delay it even longer?

A: It’s great you are thinking about this well in advance. Here are some suggestions.

Consider pain-reducing options. A few things may enable you to go a little longer without a knee replacement.

For example, getting occasional injections of a corticosteroid (to reduce inflammation) or hyaluronic acid (to supplement fluid that naturally lubricates the joints).

These temporary fixes may reduce pain enough so that you can strengthen your leg muscles, which helps absorb pressure you place on the knee.

Wearing a medial unloader brace might also help if arthritis damage is on the inside of the knee.

Modify activities that aggravate knee pain. Some activities are harder on

the knees than others.

If you’re a runner, you might need to switch to walking or using an elliptical machine for aerobic exercise. If going up and down stairs is painful, try taking them one at a time.

Lose weight if necessary. Every pound of your body weight places 4 to 6 pounds of pressure on the knee. That means losing just 5 pounds can take 20 to 30 pounds of pressure off the joint.

But weight loss (if you need it) isn’t easy, and it won’t last if you try a crash diet. Instead, aim for gradual weight loss with exercise and a healthy diet. Start by getting rid of processed and sugary foods.

Exercise more. Among its many health benefits, exercise plays an important role in weight loss and weight control.

But knee arthritis can make exercising painful. One workaround is to modify your preferred activities, as mentioned earlier.

Consider exercising in a pool. You’re buoyant in the water, and your knees don’t take a pounding. And the pressure of the water may help reduce knee swelling.

Seek physical therapy. Physical therapists can tailor a program of cardio exercise, stretching and strengthening to meet your specific needs.

They can also do some manual therapy on the knee to help it move better. And when it is time for a knee replacement, you’ll want to be as strong and flexible as possible.

Get underlying health conditions under control. This is important for your overall health, and it also helps pre-

pare you to undergo anesthesia safely. Stabilizing underlying conditions can take time — but time is something you have if you’re expecting a knee replacement within the next couple of years.

Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, please visit health.harvard.edu. © 2024 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Pan-fried chicken with whole-grain Dijon

By Christopher Kimball

Pan-fried chicken cutlets are a convenient weeknight dinner, but they can be a little bland. Adding layers of flavor to each component of the dish ensures delicious results.

In this recipe from our cookbook Milk Street 365: The All-Purpose Cookbook for Every Day of the Year, whole-grain Dijon mustard is whisked into the egg mixture that coats the cutlets, providing a bright, pleasantly sharp and flavorful base for the breadcrumb coating to stick to.

Seasoned cutlets are dredged in a mixture of flour and cornstarch for an extra crunchy coating, then dipped into the egg mixture before being coated with panko breadcrumbs.

You can use regular Dijon mustard in place of the whole-grain, then add another splash of water when beating the eggs so the mixture has a consistency that lightly but thoroughly coats the cutlets.

The cutlets are fried in shimmering oil until golden brown, then served with a tangy cucumber salad. The freshness and crunch of the salad dressed simply with lemon and dill is the perfect foil for the rich cutlets.

Don’t skip pounding the cutlets to an even thickness. This allows them to cook through completely and quickly.

Crispy Dijon Chicken Cutlets With Cucumber-Dill Salad

Start to finish: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

1 English cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

Kosher salt and ground black pepper

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons whole-grain Dijon mustard

1¾ cups panko breadcrumbs

Four 5- to 6-ounce chicken breast cutlets, pounded to an even ¼-inch thickness

10 tablespoons grapeseed or other neutral oil, divided

Instructions:

In a small bowl, stir together the cucumber, lemon juice, dill, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Set aside.

Set a wire rack in each of 2 rimmed baking sheets.

or email

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In a pie plate or wide, shallow bowl, stir together the flour and cornstarch. In a second similar dish, use a fork to beat the eggs, mustard and 1 tablespoon water until well combined. In a third, stir together the panko and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper.

Season each cutlet on both sides with salt and pepper. One at a time, dredge the cutlets through the flour mixture, turning to coat and shaking off any excess, then coat both sides with egg mixture, and finally dredge through the panko, pressing so the crumbs adhere. Place the cutlets on one of the prepared racks.

In a 12-inch skillet over medium-high,

heat 6 tablespoons of oil until shimmering. Add 2 cutlets and cook undisturbed until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Using tongs, flip and cook until the second sides are golden brown, about 1 minute.

Remove the skillet from the heat. Transfer the cutlets to the second prepared rack. Repeat with the remaining 4 tablespoons oil and remaining cutlets, adjusting the heat as needed if the cutlets brown too quickly.

Serve with the cucumber salad.

Meds and supplements for Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people worldwide, progressively impairing memory and cognitive function. To manage this challenging condition, a combination of pharmaceutical treatments and natural remedies can be highly effective.

Medications like donepezil (Aricept), memantine and rivastigmine play a crucial role in improving cognition and slowing the progression of symptoms.

It’s a blood thinner, however, so be aware of that. Supplements are available nationwide.

DEAR PHARMACIST

These drugs work by targeting different pathways in the brain, enhancing neurotransmitter activity, and offering some relief from the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s.

By Suzy Cohen

Alongside pharmaceutical options, several natural remedies show promise in supporting brain health, including the following:

Ginkgo biloba: Ginkgo biloba is celebrated for its potent antioxidant properties and potential to enhance cerebral blood flow, which can be crucial in preserving cognitive function as we age.

This ancient herb also supports neurovascular health, potentially alleviating symptoms associated with cognitive disorders and improving mental performance, making it a valuable supplement for those seeking to maintain brain health over time.

BEACON BITS

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Omega-3 fatty acids, primarily derived from fish oil, also can boost brain health and development.

These essential fats are known for their anti-inflammatory effects and ability to potentially slow cognitive decline by preserving cell membrane health and facilitating neurocommunication.

Regular intake of omega-3s is linked to improved mood and cognitive function, underscoring their importance in a balanced diet. You can get your omega-3s by eating fatty fish or taking supplements.

Lion’s mane mushroom: Lion’s mane mushroom is increasingly recognized for its neuroprotective effects, attributed to its ability to stimulate the synthesis of nerve growth factor, thereby aiding the growth and repair of nerve cells.

This unique mushroom may enhance memory and cognitive abilities by promoting better neuronal health and plasticity.

Lion’s mane’s benefits extend to mood stabilization and cognitive enhancement, making it an exciting focus for further research in neurological health. You can cook

NOVA SENIOR OLYMPICS REGISTRATION

Are you 50 or older (or will you be by Dec. 31)? Registration opens for the 2024 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics July 1. Participants must live in a sponsoring Northern Virginia jurisdiction. Events will take place at 26 local venues from Sat., Sept. 14 to Sun., Sept. 29. For registration and the full schedule, visit Nvso.us. Email nvso1982@gmail.com for more information.

with it or consume it as a supplement.

Integrating these treatments with lifestyle changes can provide a comprehensive approach to managing Alzheimer’s.

It goes without saying that regular physical exercise (at your level) is beneficial for health, as it increases blood flow to the brain and promotes the growth of neurons.

Mental stimulation through activities like puzzles, reading and learning new skills can help keep the brain active and engaged, potentially slowing the decline in cognitive abilities.

Social interaction is equally important, as staying connected with others can improve mood and reduce the risk of depression and anxiety, which are common in Alzheimer’s patients.

By combining these pharmaceutical and natural treatments with healthy lifestyle choices, individuals with Alzheimer’s can optimize their cognitive function and improve their quality of life.

While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, these strategies offer hope and support for those affected by this debilitating disease. For more details, as well as cautions and other options, please read my comprehensive article at suzycohen.com.

This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement.

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

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Hello Seniors,

DIRECTORS MESSAGE

By Charon P.W. Hines

Happy Summer! Last month, we PROUDLY celebrated the vibrancy of Pride Month, showering our LGBTQ+ community with support. This show of living boldly is a clear example of resilience and living how one wants and chooses. Thank you to all seniors that joined us on the Senior Pride Trolley as we celebrated together at the Capital Pride Parade.

It was also a pleasure to see all of your faces at Mayor Bowser’s 13th Annual Senior Symposium. Having the symposium during Elder Abuse Awareness Month was a must! This year’s theme, “Empowerment through Awareness,” highlighted elder abuse and fraud prevention. You engaged in panel discussions, a resource fair, and received a warm welcome from Mayor Bowser! We hope you took away key points and facts to help better safeguard yourselves from scams and fraud. Your protection is our number one priority at all times. If you or someone you know is experiencing fraud or a scam, please call the Adult Protective Services (APS) Hotline at (202) 541-3950, available 24-hours 7-days a week.

The kick-off to this summer has been particularly hot already, and we want to ensure you are protected during a heat emergency. When the forecasted temperature or heat index in the District is 95 degrees or higher, the District Government implements the Heat Emergency Plan and activates cooling centers for community members to seek relief. If you find yourself in need of cooling down in hot temperatures, please visit: heat.dc.gov, to see where a cooling center near you may be located. If you or someone you know needs free, accessible transportation to a cooling center, please dial 311.

As we continue to stay cool, here are some tips on how to beat the heat this summer.

• Stay Indoors: Find places in the shade or with air conditioning to seek relief from the heat.

• Check on Your Neighbors: Young children, older adults, and those with disabilities or other access and functional needs are the most vulnerable in our community.

• Hydrate: Drink plenty of water and avoid liquids that contain alcohol, caffeine, or large amounts of sugar.

• Dress Appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing and use SPF 15 or higher sunscreen.

• Never Leave Children or Pets in Vehicles: Vehicles can reach dangerous temperatures within 10 minutes. Pet and service animal owners should keep animals indoors, walk them early in the morning, and give them plenty of water.

We have also often seen seniors suffer from heat exhaustion during heat emergencies. Here are some tips to identify the signs of Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion.

Thanks for Riding Along the Senior Pride Trolley

During June, we celebrated Pride Month with enthusiasm and joy! We kicked off the month by participating in the Capital Pride Parade! Every year, DACL invites seniors to join the Pride Trolley, and this year was no exception. Our team transformed the trolley into a vibrant and colorful part of the parade, creating a fantastic experience

for all participants. Seniors enjoyed singing, dancing, waving, and interacting with parade-goers. Thank you to all the seniors who made this event special. Our LGBTQ+ community shines with pride every day, not just in June. As we continue to honor inclusivity and diversity, we encourage everyone to LIVE BOLDLY and LOVE BOLDLY.

Director’s message

From page 14

Symptoms may include:

• Dry red skin

• Convulsions

• Throbbing headaches

• Disorientation

• Chills

• Delirium

• Coma

If you suspect that you or someone you know is experiencing a heat-related illness, call 911 immediately. During

Living Boldly

these times, we invite you to come visit a senior wellness center and escape the heat. We have plenty of activities taking place and an amazing amount of AC to keep you cool! If you have any questions about senior wellness centers, call my office so that we may assist you at (202) 724-5626. We hope that you are able to stay cool during this heated season. Stay safe and enjoy your summer!

In

Service, Charon P.W. Hines

Introducing Ms. Senior DC 2024, Janet Corbitt

In partnership with East River Family Strengthening Collective and the DC Seniors Cameo Club, DACL hosted the 2024 Ms. Senior DC Pageant at the University of the District of Columbia. This year, eight talented women from the District competed for the crown. Contestants ranged from former educators to professionals in the legal field, with one contestant gracing the stage at age 95! The title of Ms. Senior DC is awarded based on contestants’ talents, philosophy of life, interview and evening gown presentation. On Saturday, June 15, 2024, Janet Corbitt was crowned Ms. Senior DC 2024. Her court includes 1st runner-up Cheri Dews, 2nd runner-up Rosetta Davis, and 3rd runner-up Cynthia Smith. Congratulations to all the contestants on a fantastic pageant!

Director Charon P.W. Hines

Editor

DACL External Affairs

Photographer

Amanda J. Washington

Model Cities Senior Wellness Holds Ribbon Cutting for Highly Anticipated New Wing

Model Cities Senior Wellness Center seniors celebrated the ribbon cutting of a brand-new wing in their building! This exciting addition includes a dance studio, extra parking spaces, a new restroom, and a state-of-the-art conference room. Thank you to our partners, Seabury Resources for Aging, and our sister agency, the District of Columbia Department of General Services.

Everything You Want to Know About, Well, Everything!

How do I sign up for Montgomery County’s recreation and lifelong learning classes?

Where can my family find help if we need access to food, transportation or housing?

I’m caring for a family member at home. Are there resources to help me?

I suspect fraud against my grandmother. What should I do?

I want to volunteer. Where should I look?

How can I find legal advice?

Looking for information about local activities you can enjoy? Or do you want to help a family member stay safely at home? How about where to get the training you need to reenter the job market?

Montgomery County and various community organizations offer a wealth of programs and services geared to older residents — both those who are active and healthy, and those needing more support.

Resources are available to direct you to health, wellness and recreation programs, and provide answers to questions about safety, housing, consumer issues, caregiving, tax support, transportation, job search and tech support, as well as numerous opportunities for volunteering

Consider signing up for a regular e-newsletter (see Resources panel), and check out the monthly cable TV program, 50+ in Montgomery County, a program for and about older adults.

Regardless of what information you want to find, Montgomery County staff and information resources are here for you. Should you need it, staff can help arrange for information in a language other than English, or you can use the translation link on the County’s website.

Resources:

No m a tter your situ a tion, A g eFriendly Mont g omery County h a s resources dedic a ted to helpin g you thrive. Reach out to one or more of the resources below today and discover how they can make a p ositive difference in your life!

Montgomery County Information Resource Tele phone Line: For information on any aspect of County services, or to report abuse, call: 240-777-3000 (via Maryland Relay at 711), email ADS@ MontgomeryCountyMD.gov or visit bit.ly/MoCoResourceLine

Montgomery County Website for Residents 50+: For information about consumer issues, employment, health and wellness, recreation, safety, housing, caregiving, tax support, transportation, volunteering and much more, visit montgomerycountymd.gov/senior

Montgomery County Calendar of Events: montgomerycountymd. gov/mcg/calendar.html

Montgomery County Public Libraries: Check your local library for print, audio, large-type and e-books, as well as book clubs, computer help, tax preparation, music performances, and health and wellness programs. Most libraries have sections specifically for library users 50+ and the library website has a section specifically for older adults. Visit bit.ly/MoCoLibrary

50+ In Montgomery County: A cable television show for and about the County’s residents age 50 and older. For current and past programs, visit youtube.com/c/SeniorsToday

Senior News: An electronic newsletter that will update you about events and meetings of interest in your community, new or modified programs, benefits and services, changes in policies and/or laws, and other relevant information for older residents and caregivers. Subscribe at: bit.ly/MoCoSeniorNewsSubscribe

Maryland Senior Legal Helpline: A free telephone hotline for people 60 and over living in Maryland. Attorneys who staff the helpline provide brief legal advice to callers, or give callers a referral to another legal resource or an appropriate public or private agency. Dial 1-888-465-2468.

Communities offer educational programs

By Margaret Foster

We’re never too old to learn something new.

When retiree Bill Brown moved to Asbury Methodist Village, he started attending evening presentations in his new community in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

For just a dollar or two at the door, he could listen to experts from NIH, NASA or the NSA talk about gene editing, rocket science and codebreaking. Each lecture is arranged by the residents themselves, who also organize daily classes on site.

“It’s a way of keeping the mind alive. We remain curious and interested in what’s going on,” said Brown, who is now the president of Asbury’s continuing education program.

Twice a week, an average of 150 people

show up for a lecture on, say, the CIA under John F. Kennedy, or a review of Amelia Earhart’s life.

Entirely run by and for residents of Asbury Methodist Village, the program was established in 1978 by resident Dr. William A. Keese. The first year, Keese organized four presentations.

“Now we’re up to as many as 50 presentations a year, and 10 to 12 [ongoing] daytime classes,” Brown said.

Research has found that lifelong learning boosts self-esteem, happiness and overall well-being, and can delay the onset of dementia.

Much to choose from

Other local communities offer similar

in-house educational programs.

No need to go to Politics & Prose for a book signing. The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center, also located in Gaithersburg, Maryland, plans to bring authors directly to the property, scheduled to open next month.

Last March, it hosted none other than journalist and investigative reporter Carl Bernstein. The Pulitzer Prize-winner spoke as part of the community’s Red Carpet Series.

“As a Kisco Signature community, The Carnegie will provide our residents with opportunities like this that inspire intellectual stimulation and growth,” said Gene Smallwood, vice president of operations for Kisco Senior Living, in a statement.

A soon-to-open community in Dupont Circle will also offer programming to keep residents’ minds active.

Inspīr Embassy Row plans high-end, inhouse programming such as comedy shows, opera recitals, classical music concerts, trips to the Kennedy Center and Ford’s Theatre, and classes in partnerships with local universities.

ing property in Silver Spring, Maryland, a committee of residents organizes special presentations by experts. For example, a retired NSA official, himself a resident of the community, recently spoke about female codebreakers during World War II.

Residents of Falcons Landing, a Life Plan community in Potomac Falls, Virginia, have access to a continuing education program as well as online classes on history, science and literature through The Great Courses. They also can join an on-campus computer club, investment club, book club or the Great Decisions Group, a club that discusses global affairs.

In addition to their educational presentations, Falcons Landing’s board of directors awards $5,000 scholarships to a teenager from each of the 17 Loudoun County public schools.

Asbury Methodist Village has a similar scholarship program. Its committees raise funds for tuition assistance for people who work in the facility’s dining rooms.

“We’re really into live entertainment as well as lifelong learning,” said Laurie Thomas, Inspīr Embassy Row’s executive director.

Resident-run programs

At Riderwood, an Erickson Senior Liv-

Last year, residents gave awards of $2,200 each to 21 recipients. They raise the money from donations and excess class registration fees.

“We’ve had young people [employed

Housing options abound for older adults

By Dina Cheney

The search for the right living arrangements for older adults can be challenging, particularly as our needs regarding assistance and care evolve with age.

Fortunately, a variety of choices exist, ranging from simple adjustments in a current home to retirement communities and assisted living or nursing facilities.

Here are some effective strategies for gracefully navigating the often stressful — and sometimes emotional — task of locating appropriate housing options.

Aging in place

Many people prefer to remain in their homes as they age. This often requires renovations to make their home easier to navigate, as mobility decreases and things like stairs get harder to manage.

The costs of these modifications can vary wildly, from a few hundred dollars for

Continuing ed.

From page B-2

here] who have received education awards several years in a row and have been able to earn their degrees. Many of them are working part-time and are also going to school.

“If we can provide some support there,

grab bars in a bathroom to thousands for bigger projects or additions.

Plus, if these fixes are not aesthetically pleasing or look hospital-like, they could decrease a home’s value.

To avoid taking on these projects, you can investigate other real estate options, like purchasing a home that’s already been renovated.

To summarize, aging in place has:

Pros:

• No need to move

• Might be cheaper than other options

Cons:

• Requires renovations

• No community, help or care on-site

House sharing

Imagine aging in place, but with a roommate (and sometimes, even a roommate who pays rent).

With this option, people can live inde-

that’s a good thing. It’s also a way for us as residents to say thank you to these young people,” Brown said.

Brown says he’s fortunate to live among people who have so much to teach others.

One resident, a retired Shakespeare professor, offers daytime classes on the bard’s plays, for instance, and many others

•

pendently while having someone to talk to and assist them with daily living. Plus, people living together can slash their expenses significantly.

Online resources like HomeShareOnline.org can help you find a good housesharing match.

Pros:

• Companionship

• Cost-effective

Cons:

• Might need to spend money on renovations

• Risk of problematic tenant-roommates

Moving in with kids

Financially, this option could be ideal: Moving in with adult children means older adults and their families avoid the cost of assisted living. As with aging in place, though, home modifications might be necessary.

Homeowners planning to build an ac-

step up to give evening lectures on history and science — or urge former colleagues to do so.

“We are blessed that here on campus we have an extraordinary range of experience and talent,” Brown said.

For more information

Asbury Methodist Village: (301) 453-

cessory dwelling unit (ADU), or separate housing unit on their lot for their parent to live in, should check local laws first. ADUs, often called mother-in-law suites, are not legal everywhere.

[Ed. Note: Fortunately, they are legal in all of Virginia, most neighborhoods of Washington, D.C., and in Montgomery County, Md. Prince George’s County, Md., is currently considering changing its regulations to permit them.]

Pros:

• Cost-effective

• No need for assisted living facilities

Cons:

• Home renovations might be necessary

• Adult children must oversee care

Independent living communities

As the name indicates, these develop-

8101, Asbury.org

The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center: (240) 690-0726,lifeathecarnegie.com. Falcons Landing: (703) 404-5205, falconslanding.org

Erickson Senior Living: 1-900-917-8189, ericksonseniorliving.com

Inspī r Embassy Row: (202) 293-2100, inspirseniorliving.com

Housing options

From page B-3

ments allow their residents to live independently — they do not provide medical care or help with daily living.

However, they do offer plenty of amenities, often including pools, gyms, activities, transportation, and sometimes daily meals and laundry service.

As you might imagine, buying or even renting in one of these resort-like communities is not cheap. If you can afford it, this

is an ideal option for couples and singles who are still in good physical health and want a low-maintenance lifestyle and neighbors similar in age.

Pros:

• Community and activities

• Lots of amenities

Cons:

• No medical care or support

• May be expensive

Assisted living

Assisted living facilities can be similar to

TEACH ENGLISH TO REFUGEES

Join Washington English Center (WEC) and volunteer to teach English to immigrants and refugees this summer. Volunteers will meet once a week online or in person in downtown Washington, DC, for 1 to 3 hours a week for six weeks on Mondays through Wednesdays starting July 15. For a flexible schedule, volunteer to substitute teach. No teaching experience required. For more information and to sign up, visit bit.ly/Englishrefugees or contact Yaritza Abrego at (202) 800-4675 or yabrego@washingtonenglish.org.

HELP RESTORE WILDLIFE HABITAT

Join the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia and Dominion Hills Area Recreation Association (DHARA) to enhance the wildlife corridor between Upton Hill and Bluemont parks. The volunteer event is scheduled for Sat., July 27 from 10 a.m. to noon. Meet at 6000 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, and bring your own water bottle. Gloves, tools and bug spray will be provided. For more information or to sign up, visit bitly.cx/DHARArestoration or email browningwh@gmail.com.

independent living, but with an additional layer of medical care and offering assistance with daily necessities.

These facilities are ideal for those who require help with things like bathing and taking medications, but not the 24/7 skilled medical care that nursing homes provide. The care plans and levels differ by facility.

What is the difference between assisted living and a nursing home? Generally speaking, nursing homes provide more extensive medical care than assisted living facilities.

Assisted living is ideal for people who are able to take care of themselves for the most part, but might need some help when it comes to things like dressing, preparing meals, etc.

Nursing homes, on the other hand, are more for people who need round-the-clock care or highly skilled medical treatment. Both can be expensive, but nursing homes are more so due to the heightened level of care.

Pros:

• Help with daily needs and medical care

• Community and activities

Cons:

• Costs can be steep

• Might feel more like a nursing home

Subsidized housing

Public housing may be available for lowincome older adults — but receiving it often requires navigating a lengthy process and plenty of paperwork.

The financial requirements differ by area, so those interested should check with their local Public Housing Agency or ask a housing counselor from HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) for guidance.

HUD also offers a Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, which helps place older adults in affordable hous-

ing that meets their physical needs.

Alternatively, people can rent traditional apartments, offsetting their costs with HUD’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program or Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program.

How do you apply for such low-income housing? Contact your local Public Housing Agency or HUD to find out about what housing programs you may be eligible for.

Pros:

• Most economical

• Sometimes includes care and community

Cons:

• Applying can be time-consuming

• Receiving housing can take a while

Life Plan communities

These communities, formerly called continuing-care retirement communities or CCRCs, offer ascending levels of care, which people can transition through as they age.

A single campus might encompass independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing or memory care. Residents either pay monthly rent or an initial payment followed by monthly maintenance or service fees.

This is not a practical option for those living on Social Security, as costs tend to be high: According to the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care, the average monthly rental fee in the first quarter of 2023 ranged from $3,450 to $7,303.

Pros:

• Can age in place within one campus

• Tiered care levels

Cons:

• High costs

• May need to move from one building to another

Housing Ini e Partnership, Inc. (HIP)

Housing News

By Beacon Staff

Erickson community opens in Fairfax, VA

Erickson Senior Living opened its new independent living community, Woodleigh Chase, in March.

Located in Fairfax, Virginia, on Braddock Road, the 42-acre campus includes a 43,000-square-foot clubhouse and two fivestory independent living residence build-

ings with one- and two-bedroom apartments. The units offer a private outdoor space with a screened-in patio or balcony.

Residents have access to a swimming pool, fitness center, bocce court, dog park, game room, pub, theater, library, salon and barbershop. They can also join a wide variety of clubs ranging from woodworking to spiritual groups. In-home care is also an option.

Woodleigh Chase is located in a prime spot for residents to get out and about, either via the community’s shuttles or metro.

“We are located near parks, shopping and restaurants, so residents are going to have a lot of options at their fingertips,” said David Taylor, Woodleigh Chase’s

FREE TOUR OF THE PENTAGON

If you’ve never been inside the Pentagon, sign up for a free hourlong tour. A guide leads tour groups to the Sept. 11 memorial chapel, Hall of Heroes and other sites inside the vast office building. You must register as a visitor and pass a security check at least two weeks in advance. For more information and to register, visit defense.gov/pentagon-tours.

FREE ADMISSION TO PHILLIPS COLLECTION

On the third Thursday of every month, admission to the Phillips Collection is free. Admission is pay-what-you-wish every day after 4 p.m. The Phillips Collection is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The art museum is located at 1600 21st St. NW, Washington, DC. For more information, visit phillipscollection.org or call (202) 387-2151.

sales director.

“Plus, you get the convenience without sacrificing the beauty — and peace and quiet — of the natural surroundings.”

The community has a special draw for those already familiar with the area, Taylor noted. “People love the fact that Woodleigh Chase is right here in the neighborhood they know and love.

“Being in the heart of Fairfax — near George Mason University, Fairfax City and Fairfax Station — means something to the folks who will call Woodleigh Chase home. It’s perfect for anyone looking to enjoy an active lifestyle now and have peace of mind for the future.”

Woodleigh Chase is Erickson’s fourth property in Virginia and its 23rd managed property nationwide.

For more information about Woodleigh Chase, visit ericksonseniorliving.com/ Woodleigh-chase or call 1-877-211-6968.

Tori Cleveland

Affordable apartments open in Clinton, MD

After almost two years of construction, the Residences at Springbrook opened in May. Located in Clinton, Maryland, between Andrews Air Force Base and National Harbor, the 90-unit affordable community is for people age 62 and up.

“It’s a gorgeous building with significant amenity spaces and lots of natural light,” said Stephanie Prange Proestel, executive director of Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc., the property’s managing developer. “Residents are very excited about the space and the feel of the building.”

The Residences at Springbrook’s fourstory building includes 72 one-bedroom apartments and 18 two-bedroom apartments, along with a fitness center, café, pool table, lounges, computer stations, a porch and patio, and a large community room with a kitchen and other amenities. An apartment is available for overnight guests at no charge.

“There’s a lot of opportunity for social engagement,” Proestel said.

The independent living community was a joint effort, developed by Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc., Parallax Development Group, LLC, and Bank of America CDC.

Habitat America manages the property, providing an onsite Resident Services Coordinator to arrange transportation and activities and who is available for one-on-one assistance.

“The resident coordinator is there to be a point person,” Proestel explained. “As needs grow, we try to help [residents] connect with other resources in the community so they can continue to stay in place.”

For more information, call Habitat America at (301) 877-7000or visit residencesatspringbrook.com. —Margaret Foster

Health aides help at home or community

Courtesy of the Administration for Community Living

[Ed’s Note: In our April Housing & Homecare Options section, we wrote about in-home aides, including companions and hands-on personal care aides, such as CFAs.

Below is an article on aides who can provide various types of medical care, often called healthcare aides. They can be of help whether you remain in your home or move to a retirement community.]

Home healthcare helps older adults live independently for as long as possible, even with an illness or injury. It covers a wide range of services and can often postpone the need for long-term nursing home care.

Home healthcare may include occupational and physical therapy, speech therapy and skilled nursing. It may involve helping older adults with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and eating. It can also include assistance with cooking, cleaning, other housekeeping and monitoring one’s medication regimen.

It is important to understand the difference between home healthcare and home care services. Although home healthcare may include some home care services, it is medical in nature.

Home care services include chores and housecleaning, whereas home healthcare usually involves helping someone to recover from an illness or injury.

Home healthcare professionals are often licensed practical nurses, therapists or home health aides. Most of them work for home health agencies, hospitals or public health departments licensed by the state. Although most states require home healthcare agencies to perform criminal background checks on their workers and carefully screen applicants, actual regulations will vary depending on where you live.

Therefore, before contacting a home healthcare agency, you may want to call your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) or department of public health to learn what laws apply in your state.

Questions to ask an agency

As with any important purchase, it is wise to talk with friends, neighbors, and your local AAA to learn more about the home healthcare agencies in your community. Consider using the following questions to guide your search:

• How long has the agency served this community?

• Does the agency have a brochure describing services and costs? If so, take or download it.

• Is the agency an approved Medicare provider?

• Does a national accrediting body, such as the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, certify the quality of care?

• Does the agency have a current license to practice (if required by the state)?

• Does the agency offer a “Bill of Rights” that describes the rights and responsibilities of both the agency and the person receiving care?

• Does the agency prepare a care plan for the patient (with input from the patient, his or her doctor, and family members)? Will the agency update the plan as necessary?

• How closely do supervisors oversee care to ensure quality?

• Are agency staff members available around the clock, seven days a week, if necessary?

• Does the agency have a nursing supervisor available for on-call assistance at all times?

• Whom does the agency call if the

home healthcare worker cannot come when scheduled?

• How does the agency ensure patient confidentiality?

• How are agency caregivers hired and trained?

• How does the agency screen prospective employees?

• Will the agency provide a list of references for its caregivers?

• What is the procedure for resolving problems, if they occur? Whom can I call with questions or complaints?

• Is there a sliding fee schedule based on ability to pay, and is financial assistance available to pay for services?

Making a direct hire

When purchasing home healthcare

directly from an individual provider (instead of an agency), it is even more important to conduct thorough screening.

This should include an interview with the caregiver. Prepare for the interview by making a list of the older adult’s special needs. For example, the patient may require help getting into or out of a wheelchair. If so, the caregiver must be able to provide appropriate assistance.

You should also request references.

What caregivers need to know

Whether you arrange for home healthcare through an agency or hire an independent aide, it helps to spend time preparing the person who will provide care.

FREE HOUSING AND OTHER INFORMATION

Check off advertisers of interest and mail this entire coupon to the Beacon with your contact info. Or you may take a picture of your completed coupon and email it to housing@thebeaconnewspapers.com. All coupons received by August 9 will be entered into a random drawing to win two round-trip motorcoach tickets to New York City, plus two passes to the One World Observatory. You need not request information to win.

EVENTS

r Brooke Grove Seminars & Classes

r Chevy Chase House Brunch

r Ring House Free Events

r Smart Driver Course .

.B16

.B7

.B8

.B7

HOMEHEALTHCARE

r Best Senior Care

HOUSING

r Ashby Ponds/Erickson . .

r Brooke Grove Retirement Village

.B10, B12, B13, B16

r Charles E. Smith Life Communities

r Chesterbrook

r Leggett, The .

.B8

.B7

r Chevy Chase House . . . . . .B7, B13

r Grandview, The/Erickson .B5, B13

r Greenspring/Erickson .

r Falcons Landing

.B3

.B5, B10

. .B14

r Residences at North Hill . .B2, B12

r Residences at Springbrook . . . . .B3

r Riderwood/Erickson . . . . .B5, B10

r Ring House

r Vinson Hall .

.B5, B13

.B13

r Flats at Sandy Spring, The . . . . .B6

r Homecrest House .

.B2, B13

r Housing Initiative Partnership .B4

.B8

. .B6, B11

r Willow Manor at Cabin Branch . .B4

r Woodleigh Chase/Erickson . .B5, B12

REAL ESTATE SERVICES/MOVING

r Eric Stewart/Long & Foster . . .B11

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 return the free info form on page 7 together with this coupon.

Is real estate or stock best investment?

By Alexandra Svokos

These days, it feels like there’s not a lot Americans agree with each other on. But we do seem to have one consistent belief: that real estate is a great long-term investment.

Americans voted real estate as the best long-term investment, according to a new Gallup poll. And in fact, real estate has come out on top of this poll every year since 2014, beating out stocks or mutual funds, gold, and savings accounts or CDs.

This year, 36% of Americans put real estate on top. Next up was stocks, at 22%, followed by gold, 18%, and savings accounts or CDs, 13%.

Coming in at the bottom of the list was bonds, at 4%, and cryptocurrency, at just 3% — not a huge surprise, considering many people are still trying to figure out what cryptocurrency is.

Somewhat surprising

That real estate has been such a consistent winner this past decade is interesting, though.

Now, don’t get me wrong: Both real estate and the stock market have historically been great long-term investments. They have both exceeded the rate of inflation, meaning that if you were invested, you saw some great returns in the long-term.

They also both generally have higher rates of return than safer vehicles like savings accounts, CDs (even with the high CD rates these days) or bonds.

But lately, stocks have given a better return than real estate. And those returns have come as investing has gotten increasingly accessible thanks to tools like online brokers and trading platforms.

Real estate, meanwhile, has only gotten

less accessible, if you’re not already a homeowner, as prices have been rising and down payments are a bigger barrier to entry than, say, throwing $100 into a Vanguard account.

That’s particularly true now, when people like me are arguing it is the worst time to buy a house — between high mortgage rates and prices. [Ed. Note: Unless you’re in the sweet spot of selling a larger one and downsizing. See “Is this a good time to sell and downsize?” on page B-15.]

Less volatile than stocks

If you’re an older homeowner or real estate investor, though, it’s easy to understand why you’d say real estate is a better investment than the stock market. From 1990 to 2006, returns on housing were higher than stocks, according to Investopedia.

But since 2006, stock market growth has exceeded housing. Using the S&P 500 vs the Vanguard Real Estate Index, Sean Ross at Investopedia found that from December 2013 to December 2023, the real estate index had a 37% total return, while the S&P 500 had a 155% total return.

Even so, again, I can understand why people stick with real estate. It’s a simple idea, really, which is that real estate feels safer.

The stock market has bumps and volatility in short-term segments, while housing generally keeps a more slow but steady climb.

And you can’t disagree that on a rainy day, a roof over your head feels like a better investment than a share of Google stock in your brokerage account.

MEMORY CARE

The Sylvestery at Vinson Hall Retirement Community

571-556-4136

1728 Kirby Rd., McLean, VA 22101 www.vinsonhall.org

Make Every Moment Count - At Vinson Hall Retirement Community, we understand the stages of aging and the challenges families face when a loved one needs care for Alzheimer's or dementia. That's why our Sylvestery memory support neighborhood is here for you --to give you a warm and secure place to get the most out of every day.

The Sylvestery offers a cheerful, home-like experience with private suites, sun-drenched common areas, sensory rooms for relaxation and peaceful courtyards -- all in a 24/7 secured community. Our friendly nursing team is here to support our residents with around-the-clock care, the tasks of daily living, specialized therapies and, of course, lots of love.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Residences at North Hill

571-200-2537

7250 Nightingale Hill Lane

Alexandria, VA 22306

ResNorthHill55Plus.com

Don't miss your opportunity to live in Alexandria’s newest Active Adult (55+) community! The brand new, affordable apartments at Residences at North Hill feature open floor plans with bright, oversized windows, modern kitchens with dishwasher, large closets, ceramic-tiled baths, outdoor patios and more. The vibrant community also boasts top-notch community amenities, such as a wellness fitness room, community room, and ample outdoor space that includes being next to North Hill Park! The community is thoughtfully designed to create a safe, welcoming and independent living experience for residents. Visit our website to learn more or call 571-200-2537 Monday through Friday!

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Woodleigh Chase

1-877-211-6968

4595 Burke Station Rd.

Fairfax, VA 22032

WoodleighChase.com

Woodleigh Chase Is Now Open!

For distinctive retirement living, look no further than Woodleigh ChaseSM, the premier senior living community now open in Fairfax. Enjoy a variety of stylish floor plans, exciting amenities, and services to enhance your health and well-being—all in a location you love!

Stay active and enjoy countless opportunities to explore hobbies, entertainment, education, and more. The on-site medical center is just steps from your door and security staff trained in emergency response is just moments away.

Don’t wait to learn more!

Only a limited number of apartment homes remain. Call 1-877-211-6968 or visit WoodleighChase.com for your free brochure.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Brooke Grove Retirement Village

301-321-8707

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.

Easy updates

From page B-10

If that’s more work than you want to invest, choose from a wide selection of faux tile backsplash panels to add dimension and character to your kitchen.

For home or apartment dwellers

Cure dirty or crumbling grout. The wonderful thing about tile is not only its luxurious look but also its longevity. But filthy or broken-down grout can spoil the look. Make your tile floor or shower look new again by freshening the grout. If it’s just dirty, you can clean it. For instructions, visit bobvila.com.

If the grout is broken down and needs to be replaced, find grout removal instructions at thespruce.com.

Update switch plates & outlet covers. This is a super-easy way to update a room, and there are so many choices for every decorating style.

If you like the look of metal switch plates but don’t want the expense, buy some metallic spray paint in bronze, brushed nickel or silver. Just remove the covers, spray them, and in an hour they’ll be ready to put back on.

Replace ceiling fan blades. Do your ceiling fans look decrepit? The blades often deteriorate faster than the fixtures. Buy new blades to make your fans look new again.

Liven it up with paint. Fresh paint goes a long way toward updating and freshening a room. With hundreds of shades to choose from, there’s lots of room for creativity to achieve the designer look you want.

Pick up paint brochures at your hardware store for color scheme ideas, and notice how unexpected colors are paired to create fabulous designer looks.

Then play around with different colors against your room’s flooring and furnishings. You might be pleasantly surprised to discover beautiful new look.

Freshen trim & doors. Paint the trim and doors throughout your home in a single color. Not only will this freshen your home, but it’ll also give your home a cohesive look. If your home is small, white or light grey paint will keep it bright and make it feel more spacious.

If you have a larger home, you can go bold with a medium or dark color. This will add richness to your living space. Medium grays and tans or dark charcoal and coffee

colors are good choices.

But before you get your paint mixed, pick up plenty of sample cards with various undertones. Hold them against the walls (or new paint colors) in each room to find a color that blends well with every color scheme in your home.

Wallpaper a small room. Wallpaper is in again and can transform a small space, such as your bathroom or foyer. Choose from the latest patterns, textures and colors for a great new look.

Replace vent covers. Over time, bangedup and painted-over vent covers become an eyesore. New vent covers will go a long way toward making your home feel like new.

Freshen bathroom caulk. Old, stained and deteriorating caulk can make a bathroom unsightly. It can be removed and replaced relatively easily with a little patience. Visit houselogic.com to find simple removal instructions and the correct way to apply fresh caulk.

Remove hard water stains. Clean hard water stains off your toilet and tub. If you have hard water, your toilet bowl and bathtub may be hideous.

Fortunately, there are several options to remove hard water stains. CLR calcium, lime and rust remover does wonders on porcelain. If your bathtub is vinyl or acrylic, CLR must be diluted and can remain on the fixture for only a couple of minutes. So read instructions carefully. For more hardened buildup on porcelain, buy a handled pumice stone and sand off the accumulation. But don’t use pumice stones on vinyl and acrylic because pumice is too abrasive and will leave scratches.

Update cabinet hardware. New cabinet knobs and pulls can give your bathroom or kitchen a facelift, and there are tons of styles from which to choose.

Update doorknobs. Do your doorknobs look shabby or dated? This is another easy fix. Brushed nickel is the latest trend in hardware.

Doorknobs come complete with instructions and are easy to change with just a screwdriver. Also, consider replacing the hinges to match the doorknobs.

Kimberly Blaker is a freelance writer. She also owns an online bookshop, Sage Rare & Collectible Books, specializing in out-ofprint, scarce, signed and first editions; fine bindings; ephemera and more at sagerarebooks.com

FREE CLASSES

AARP’S Senior Planet offers free live classes to anyone 60 and up. Learn about money, health, technology or take an exercise class like tai chi, yoga or a Friday afternoon dance party. Find a list of classes at seniorplanet.aarp.org or call the free Senior Planet Hotline at 1-888-713-3495.

DONATE BLOOD, GET GIFT CARD

Want to help save a life this summer? Donate blood or platelets this August, and the Red Cross will say thank you with a $20 Amazon gift card. To schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767.

Falcons Landing (703) 293-5054

20522 Falcons Landing Circle

Potomac Falls, VA 20165 www.falconslanding.org

Located in scenic Loudoun County, Falcons Landing is a nonprofit, CARF-accredited Life Plan Community. The award-winning community is pleased to announce Independent Living eligibility now extends to any person who has served at least four years in the uniformed services or a U.S. government agency, as well as those connected to the national defense community. As always, direct admission to health services is available to those seeking a higher level of care, regardless of military or government service.

Offering an array of resort-style services and amenities, Falcons Landing provides older adults with a unique opportunity to retire in style among peers. Call to learn more about eligibility options and to schedule a tour.

ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE

Brooke Grove Retirement Village

301-321-8707

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.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Greenspring Retirement Community

877-589-9570

7440 Spring Village Drive • Springﬁeld, VA 22150 GreenspringCommunity.com

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Enjoy easy access to services like an on-site medical and multiple levels of care, should your needs ever change.

Get your FREE brochure today! Call 877-589-9570 or visit GreenspringCommunity.com

ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY

Chevy Chase House 202-905-0708

5420 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, DC 20015 www.chevychasehouse.com

Chevy Chase House provides boutique assisted living for older adults looking for personalized care without compromising lifestyle and active living. In addition to 24-hour nursing available, the community features Life Inspired, the daily activities program that promotes overall wellness, socialization, and a Chef-prepared dining experience. Unique to the Chevy Chase House is its partnership with FOX Rehab to not only provide on-site physical, occupational and speech therapies, but also employs a full-time exercise physiologist to help residents with improving balance and mobility, strength training, and fall prevention programming. Conveniently located on Connecticut Avenue in D.C. Call 202-905-0708 to schedule a tour or stop by Chevy Chase House to learn more.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

6701 Democracy Blvd., Suite 150-B Bethesda, MD 20817

TheGrandviewSeniorLiving.com

The Grandview: Distinctive Senior Living in the Perfect Location

The GrandviewSM is the stunning new senior living community coming to Bethesda, Maryland scheduled to open in the fall of 2025. Construction is well underway and they are now accepting reservations for apartment homes. Active living in the ideal location, The Grandview provides easy access to the area’s shopping, dining, entertainment, and cultural attractions.

Your future with The Grandview is just a phone call away. Call 1-844-366-4206 to learn more or schedule a visit to the sales center where you can view floor plans, virtual tours, renderings and more.

The Grandview is pending approval from the Maryland Department of Aging.

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 senior adult community nestled amidst 10 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds with its own lake, neighboring Leisure World. The three residential buildings on the B’nai B’rith Homecrest campus provide 235 apartments for Independent Living, some designed for adults with physical mobility challenges, and 42 apartments offering Enhanced Care Services. We are excited to have you come and see our elegantly renovated community buildings. You’re invited to tour this incredible transformation.

For a personalized tour now, call 301-244-3579 or visit us at www.homecresthouse.org

Conceptual Rendering

Is this a good time to sell and downsize?

By Kate Ashford

Your home is your sanctuary, but it’s also one of your biggest budget items. And after you retire, it may feel like more house than you need.

But in this housing market, when a smaller home with upgraded features may be about as expensive as the one you’re selling, is it still smart to downsize?

In some cases, downsizing is appropriate, but not necessarily money-saving. You may be able to sell your house and buy something cheaper, but it might also make sense to downsize to move closer to family or have less house to clean.

It’s important to be clear on what you want. “Goals are so crucial,” says Juan HernandezAriano, a certified financial planner in Houston. “There are multiple pathways people can take.”

Here are some situations that may match up with a “For Sale” sign.

You’re in a cash flow bind

In retirement, you might find that rising prices combined with a fixed income make you feel a little squeezed.

HernandezAriano notes that his clients in southeast Texas are bothered by high home insurance premiums due to severe weather events, plus high property taxes. “A lot of insurance companies are drop-

ping coverage on the southeast side of Texas,” he said.

If downsizing is a question of money, consider all your housing costs. Weigh the mortgage, property taxes and insurance, plus basic bills like electricity and water services for your current and future homes.

One client in Houston did the math and moved 90 minutes away, where they got a cheaper home and dropped their homeowners insurance by 60%.

“Property taxes also went down since they weren’t in a highly competitive school district,” HernandezAriano said. “They still spent more on gas and water and had to pay for relocation expenses, but overall, they saved monthly.”

You’re in a pricey area (like here)

If you live in an expensive city or suburb, you have a better chance of selling your home and finding something cheaper. “When you’re [currently] in a lowercost area, it’s going to be difficult to find something even lower cost,” said David Demming, a CFP in Aurora, Ohio.

Just do some looking before you leap. Inventory is low in many places and competition is steep for a smaller home with upgrades.

To save money overall, the value of the home you’re purchasing should be at least

20% less than the house that you’re selling, according to Diane Pearson, a CFP in Wexford, Pennsylvania.

You can’t live there safely anymore

Your health may require you to find a new home with fewer stairs, a first-floor primary bedroom or an accessible bathroom.

Michael Maye, a CFP in Gillette, New Jersey, notes that his clients who’ve seen parents go through long-term care or health issues are more likely to consider future mobility when planning their retirement.

“Recently, I proactively worked with a couple, and they knew that they didn’t want to age in place because they have a bigger house,” he said.

They wanted to buy into a continuing care retirement community, where they could take advantage of graduated levels of care as they needed it. “They could stay in their house, but they don’t plan to,” Maye said.

You want to be closer to family

While being closer to children or aging parents is a good reason to downsize, don’t count on this being the cheaper option, especially if you’re moving into a hotter market.

Consider one of Demming’s clients, who moved from one part of Ohio to an-

other part of the state. “It cost her $150,000 more to move there, to get a house that was acceptable to her,” Demming said.

Even with the higher cost, Demming said, it was worth it to be closer to her children and grandchildren. And her new city is booming.

“There is no looking back,” Demming says. “Her new home has appreciated quite a bit since moving.”

You’re prepared to create a new support network

If downsizing means a new city, keep in mind that you may have to rebuild your community. Even if you’re moving to be near family, you shouldn’t count on them to be your activities hub.

“Are you a social person who’s going to be able to get out and about and make your own way?” Maye asked.

You’ll need to make new friends, find new medical professionals, find a new gym. “Those are the trade-offs,” Maye said. “None of them are deal breakers, but I think people should really think about all these other things.”

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Kate Ashford is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: kashford@nerdwallet.com.

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Money Law &

Make a digital will to control who has access to your digital assets when you’re gone. Learn more on page 18.

Book covers every aspect of retirement

I frequently read and review books for readers of my column. I recently read Retirement Watch: The Essential Guide to Retiring in the 2020s (Regnery Capital) by Bob Carlson, a retirement expert. I recommend it.

Retirement Watch covers all the essential components of retirement planning, including the main reasons why some retirement plans fail, mistakes retirees make regarding healthcare expenditures, and ways to avoid tax ambushes.

tate plan. It should tell the executor and anyone else involved everything they need to know to manage your assets and estate.

Lacking the instruction letter, the executor will likely spend months putting together the records needed to pay bills and settle the estate.

Digital accounts

It is important that the executor/ spouse/family members have access to all your digital accounts, too.

By Elliot Raphaelson

Carlson covers long-term care issues comprehensively, and he devotes a chapter to making efficient use of home equity.

The chapter I found most valuable covered estate planning. Carlson emphasizes that estate planning is “much more than tax reduction and always has been.”

He discusses in detail the key documents that are required in a comprehensive plan, and the purpose of each. Examples include your will, revocable living trust, power of attorney, medical directive, and letter of instruction and inventory.

Letter of instruction

This letter is an essential element of an es-

Many problems are solved if you leave instructions for your spouse and other relatives regarding who should be contacted upon your death, the location of your will, funeral preferences and the like. You should also specify any outstanding debts, and provide contact information for all creditors.

Also include financial account statements, deeds, and records of proof of ownership of vehicles. Provide a list of your attorneys, financial advisers, executor, life insurance agent and bank representatives.

An inventory of assets should be available, including pensions, mutual funds, annuities, bank accounts, life insurance and Social Security benefits. There should be a record of the type of ownership for these assets.

You should also include recent tax returns and the location of account statements. Leave a record of beneficiaries associated with any financial assets, such as

You should have available a complete record of all your email accounts with passwords. You should also document all passwords associated with your financial accounts, including mutual funds, bank accounts and brokerage accounts.

An acquaintance of mine, who owned a great amount of assets, recently passed. He failed to provide the executor and beneficiaries with the necessary information regarding many of his assets and personal accounts.

Because of the insufficient records, it took the executor several months — and unnecessary expense — before she was able to identify all the assets and take the necessary steps required to liquidate those assets when required.

If this decedent had followed the actions Carlson recommends, he would have saved the executor and beneficiaries a great deal of unnecessary aggravation.

[For more on this topic, see “Why you most likely need a digital will,” on page 18.]

True success in retirement

The last chapter of Carlson’s book dis-

cusses the major causes of retirement failure. The main point is that although solid finances are an important part of being independent and secure in retirement, they are not sufficient.

The most important part of retirement is how you spend your time. Social interaction and a social life are very important for both mental and physical health. Having a purpose is important.

You don’t need one “big thing” to establish purpose and identity in retirement. Most successful retirees engage in multiple activities.

Personally, I have found volunteering in various activities has been very helpful to me. For example, for over 15 years, I volunteered as a court mediator. It was educational, and it even helped me win a significant personal court case. But it also allowed me to establish many new long-term social contacts.

Bottom line: If you read Retirement Watch, you will learn a great deal about the most important financial aspects of retirement, obtain good advice regarding estate planning, and learn important non-financial lessons that will help you achieve a successful retirement.

How to protect yourself from cybercrime

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

I spend a lot of time online. I love the convenience of paying bills, shopping and keeping up with my grandkids on Facebook and Instagram. But a few months ago, my computer was infected with malware, and I just found out some cyber crook opened up a credit card using my identity and went on a shopping spree. Do you have some simple tips to help me stay safe while online?

—Paranoid Patty

Dear Patty,

Unfortunately, cybercrimes against older adults continue to be a big problem in the U.S. According to the FBI’s 2022 Elder Fraud Report, cybercrime cost Americans over age 60 more than $3 billion last year,

a whopping 84% increase from 2021.

While anyone can be subject to cybercrimes, seniors are frequent targets because they tend to be more trusting and have more money than their younger counterparts.

But there are a number of things you can do to protect yourself from online fraud, hacking and scams. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Strengthen your passwords

A strong password should contain at least 12 characters and include numbers and a special character, like an exclamation point or asterisk.

Be sure to change up your password across different sites to ensure a hacker would not gain access to all accounts through one password. And keep a written

list of all your passwords stored in a safe, secure place.

On your smartphone or tablet, be sure to set up a four or six-digit PIN to protect your device. [Ed. Note: But be sure to share this information with a close family member and/or the executor of your will.]

Opt out of pop-ups

To protect yourself from computer viruses and other forms of malware, make it a habit to avoid any pop-up-style message when you’re on the web.

Sometimes hackers disguise their malware as pop-up advertisements or “special offers” when you’re shopping or reading online. Clicking on these pop-ups can lead to viruses or data breaches.

If you encounter a suspicious pop-up message, don’t click on anything in the

window. Simply leave the site or close out of your web browser.

When in doubt, throw it out

Sometimes online hackers will send you an email or text message and pretend to be someone they’re not in order to convince you to share valuable information with them, such as your Social Security number, address or credit card information. This is called phishing.

If you receive a message from an unknown sender, do not respond or click on any links or attachments. Instead, either ignore the message or delete it.

Share with care

There is such a thing as oversharing,

IRAs and 401(k)s.

THE SAVINGS GAME

Why you most likely need a digital will

By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior,

My wife and I had our estate plan

— including a will, power of attorney and advance directive — drawn up about 10 years ago, but we recently read that our plan should include a digital will too. What can you tell us about this?

—Almost 80

Dear Almost,

If you or your wife spend much time online, adding to your estate plan a separate digital will — which provides a list of your digital assets — would be extremely helpful to your loved ones when you die. It will also help protect your privacy.

Here’s what you should know:

What are digital assets?

The term “digital assets” refers to per-

sonal information that is stored electronically on either a computer or an online “cloud server” account that belongs to an individual.

Anyone who uses email, has PIN code protection on their cell phone, makes online purchases, or pays bills online owns digital assets.

Digital assets generally require a username, a password or a PIN to access. Therefore, they can be difficult — and frequently impossible — to retrieve information from if someone becomes incapacitated or passes away without having supplied that information to a family member or a close friend in advance.

Creating a digital will (also known as a digital estate plan) will help your loved ones access your electronic devices and online accounts more easily so they can manage your electronic affairs according

to your wishes after you’re gone. This in turn will also protect your digital assets from hackers or fraud, which can happen to dormant accounts after you die.

How to write a digital will

Your first step in creating a digital will is to make a list of all your digital assets, including everything from hardware to email accounts. Here are a few categories to help kick-start your list:

• Electronic devices (computer, smartphone, tablet, external hard drive)

• Digital files (photos, videos and documents)

• Financial accounts (bank and brokerage accounts, credit cards, cryptocurrency)

• Bill-paying accounts (utilities, mortgage accounts)

• Social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn)

• Email accounts (Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, etc.)

• Cloud-storage accounts (Google Cloud, iCloud, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive)

• Movie and music-streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, Apple Music)

• Online payment accounts (Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, etc.)

• Subscription services (magazines, newspapers, Amazon Prime, etc.)

• Reward programs (airlines, hotels, stores, etc.)

• Membership organizations (AARP, AAA, etc.)

When making your list, you’ll need to include usernames, passwords, PINs, account numbers, and answers to security questions (if any) for accessing each account.

Also, provide instructions on how you want your assets managed after your death. For example:

Which accounts do you want closed, archived or transferred?

Do you want specific files or photos to be deleted — or shared with loved ones?

Do you want your social media profiles memorialized (maintained in the state they were when you last used them) — or deleted forever?

Be clear and specific about your wishes in each case. You’ll also need to appoint a digital executor that you trust to carry out your wishes after you die.

From a legal perspective, you should know that most states have enacted the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA), which legally recognizes digital estates. This law gives your personal representative or executor legallyprotected access to your online accounts.

Once your digital will is written, store it with your other estate plan documents, either in a fireproof safe or file cabinet at home, on your computer hard drive, with your estate planning attorney, or online at a reputable digital estate planning service like Everplans.com or Clocr.com.

But make sure your executor knows the location or locations where it is and has access to it.

Also remember to update your digital will whenever you create any new digital accounts or change passwords.

Cybercrime

From page 17

and it definitely applies to online profiles. On social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, online hackers can easily gather information about you from what you post such as where you live.

Ensure that your privacy settings are up-to-date so that only people who follow

Letters to the editor

From page 2

with older adults and, really, with anyone who is recovering from surgery or another trauma.

For those undergoing elective procedures, be sure to let your doctors know if this might

BEACON BITS

July 15

JOB AND RESUME HELP

you or are your Facebook friend can see your posts.

Verify websites

Before you shop or access your bank online, double check the validity of the website you’re using.

Reputable sites use technologies such as SSL (Secure Socket Layer) that encrypt data during transmission. You will see a little padlock icon in your browser and usual-

be an issue for you during recovery.

Dear Editor:

So much in your May issue!

Regarding short naps: My hero Ben Franklin (scientist, inventor, competitive business person, revolutionary activist) was a short-nap person. He took naps holding a billiard ball. When it dropped noisily,

Get free resume advice and help finding a job from Montgomery County Public Library staff on Mon., July 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. Drop in the Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library, at 900 Wayne Ave., Silver Spring, MD. The 30-minute one-on-one appointments will be first come, first served and will take place in Meeting Room #2 on the third floor. For more information, visit bitly.cx/ResumeHelp or call (240) 773-9420.

BEHIND ON YOUR HOUSING PAYMENT?

Having difficulty paying your mortgage, condo/ HOA fees, utilities or property taxes? Housing Counseling Services and the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking know you’ve got questions—and we’ve got answers.

ly “https” at the front of your address bar to confirm it’s a secure connection. If you don’t see that in the web address that you’re on, you should not trust that website with your passwords, payment or banking information.

Have some backup

Practicing safe habits will protect you and your information, but you don’t have to rely on just yourself to stay safe. Anti-

it woke him up.

Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is an abnormal heartbeat condition leading to inefficient blood pumping and recirculation in the heart, making the blood more prone to clot formation. Eliquis, a “blood thinner,” reduces clot formation, but is not primarily an Afib medicine. Note: Warfarin/Coumadin is

virus software works in the background to protect your computer from a variety of malware, and helps to make it easier for you to avoid threats while surfing the web.

For more information on how to safeguard your personal technology devices and information, visit Consumer.ftc.gov and search for “Protect Your Personal Information and Data.”

To report fraud and identity theft, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and IdentityTheft.gov.

a different type of blood thinner. Vitamin K helps blood clotting.

Care must be taken not to counteract Warfarin with excessive vitamin K foods, such as green leafy vegetables. This also applies to your article on food-drug interactions. Ronald Sheinson Silver Spring, MD

Leisure & Travel Leisure &

Explore the Hudson River Valley’s roads

By Alice Shapin

Growing up in New York City, I loved my family’s drives along the Hudson River. But as an adult, even though I’m a sucker for jaw-dropping views, I was always in a rush to get somewhere and never stopped along the way.

Last spring, my husband Paul and I decided to finally explore the Hudson River Valley. We were blown away by what we learned, the treasures we saw, and, oh yes, the incredible views.

Home base for three days was a hotel on the outskirts of Poughkeepsie, New York. Even though our surroundings looked like a strip mall, it proved to be a convenient headquarters for our outings.

One of Poughkeepsie’s biggest local attractions is the 212-foot-high Walkway over the Hudson — the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge, at 1.28 miles.

Opened in 1889 as a double-track railway bridge and a major transportation artery, it reopened as a pedestrian walkway in 2009. As we walked across the span, we enjoyed the views of the Catskills to the north and the Hudson Highlands to the south.

FDR history

Our first stop out of Poughkeepsie was nearby Hyde Park, New York, and Springwood, the family home of President Franklin D. Roosevelt located there.

The original house on the Springwood

estate was built in 1793 and renovated in 1850 into an Italianate-style villa. FDR was born there in 1882.

Our expert tour guide, Roy, pointed out remnants of the original house, visible on the west façade. Eleanor and Franklin transformed the house into a Colonial Revival-style mansion and enlarged it to accommodate their growing family.

Inside the home, we saw ancestral portraits, political mementos, and many of FDR’s collections, including his collection of nearly a million stamps.

Roy led us into the president’s cozy study, where FDR met visitors, held press conferences, and did at least one radio address, a famous “Fireside Chat.”

While the house was lovely, it was certainly understated compared to the other mansions in the area. A few of the Roosevelts’ guests (which included Winston Churchill and Queen Elizabeth) were surprised by that, but then again, it started out as a farm.

Be sure to visit Sara’s Rose Garden, where Franklin and Eleanor are buried. Its centerpiece is one very large, unadorned Vermont white marble block designed by none other than FDR himself.

Also located on the grounds of Springwood is the FDR Library, which tells the story of his presidency through exhibits, short movies and interactive touch screens. FDR was the first president to propose building a presidential library.

In the library’s Map Room are six interactive tables that show key countries and meetings that took place during World War II. The library also houses his collections of ship models, prints and paintings, state gifts and family heirlooms.

The Vanderbilt Mansion

Just a couple of miles down the road from Springwood is one of the Vanderbilt mansions. And although it’s in a whole separate class from Springwood and was considered modest compared to the Vanderbilts’ homes in New York, Bar Harbor and Newport, that’s not a word I’d use to describe it. I’d go with “over the top” (okay, that’s three words).

With exotic wood paneling, imported marble, lush velvets and French tapestries, the Vanderbilts tried to emulate the kings and queens of Europe.

What I found interesting was how this impressive mansion became part of the National Park Service. With no children, the Vanderbilts left the mansion to a niece, Margaret Van Alen.

During the Depression, Van Alen tried unsuccessfully to sell it. Instead, her neighbor FDR convinced her to donate the house and furnishings along with 200 acres to the U.S. government. Of course, she got a big tax break.

West Point

About an hour north of Hyde Park is the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, established in 1802. Because its site is situated high above the Hudson River, George Washington thought it was the ideal location for a fort to prevent the British from taking control of the river during the Revolutionary War.

We took a 90-minute bus tour that combined history lessons and explanations of how West Point operates today.

We got to see the cadets going about their daily activities, including military drills and all 4,000 of them lining up for the mess hall.

We saw multiple cannons, a 65-ton iron chain that was strung across the Hudson River to block British invasions along the main transportation waterway (something that proved unnecessary since it never happened), and places of interest today: the parade grounds, football stadium and chapels.

General Douglas MacArthur led West Point from 1919 to 1922 and introduced sports there. Most astonishingly, his mother was probably the original “helicopter mom” because she lived in the West Point Hotel during his four-year stay.

George Patton spent five years at the

Springwood, a grand house located in Hyde Park, New York, was the home of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. FDR was born in the house in 1882. It opened to the public in 1946 as a museum that contains many of his personal effects. His presidential library is located on the estate grounds.

PHOTO BY CRUNCH

See Paris and Normandy on a Viking River Cruise. See story on p. 22. See HUDSON RIVER ,

The Hudson River’s newest bridge, the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge in Tarrytown, New York, includes a pedestrian walkway enjoyed by walkers, bikers and sightseers.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NYSDED

school because he failed math, and Dwight Eisenhower was said to be quite a jokester and a rule breaker, once showing up without his pants. His academic achievements were not outstanding, but he did manage to earn 100 demerits in his last year.

On our own we toured the museum, which has galleries showcasing the history of the U.S. Army, warfare and weapons.

Storm King Art Center

Only 20 minutes from West Point is the Storm King Art Center, America’s largest outdoor sculpture park.

More than 100 large-scale contemporary sculptures are set on 500 acres of rolling fields, wooded groves, meadows and wetlands, with the beautiful Storm King Mountain as the backdrop.

There are pieces by Alexander Calder, Mark di Suvero, and Isamu Noguchi. Two must-sees are Andy Goldsworthy’s “Storm King Wall” and Maya Lin’s “Storm King Wavefield.”

Beacon, New York

When it was time for food, shopping and some noshing, we stopped in Beacon, a Hudson River town with blocks of restaurants, art galleries, boutiques, collectibles shops and Victorian architecture.

We stopped by the Hudson Valley

Marshmallow Company’s store to sample some gourmet flavors: French toast and cookies ‘n’ creme. For everything chocolate, we headed to HAKAN Chocolatier.

Another draw to Beacon is its many hiking trails, from easy to difficult.

For our final night in the area, we decided to stop in Tarrytown for dinner and rest before our trip home. We’ll return to the area, directly to Tarrytown, this fall to see the foliage and celebrate Halloween.

If you go

For this road trip, expect about a fivehour drive from Maryland to Poughkeepsie. You could also fly to New York City or take Amtrak’s Northeast Regional to Stamford, Connecticut, and rent a car. Poughkeepsie is about two hours from NYC; 90 minutes from Stamford.

If you’re at least 62, consider buying a National Park and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass ($20 for one year/$80 for life). It gets you into the Roosevelts’ home and the Vanderbilt Mansion, each of which otherwise costs $15.

Take a tour wherever it is offered. You’ll learn many interesting facts. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Get them as soon as you can, since they fill up quickly, even mid-week.

Make reservations online for West Point at Westpointtours.com. Reservations must be made at least one hour before the tour starts and are only done online.

You can stay in Poughkeepsie, which is centrally located and has many national chain hotels and some B&Bs. Or you can stay at the Tarrytown House Estate

BEACON BITS

July 23

(rooms start at $240 per night), which has amazing views of the Hudson River and the Governor Mario Cuomo (formerly Tappan Zee) Bridge.

INTRO TO GRAPHIC DESIGN

Learn the basics of free, web-based graphic design tools like Canva, Google Slides and Photoshop Express in this free online class from AARP’s Senior Planet. It takes place on Tue., July 23 from 6 to 7 p.m. on Zoom. For more information, including the Zoom link, visit tinyurl.com/GraphicDesignTools. If you need help joining the class, dial 1-888-713-3495.

For estate planning, probate, trust administration, contested estate litigation and so much more, knowing where to turn for the right advice can make all the difference in preserving your legacy. When you need us, we’re here.

Riekhof P:

Exchange students

From page 1

Many families make such a strong connection that they host students every year. One family, for instance, has hosted 27 students, according to Michels.

“A huge reason why people love to host

BEACON BITS

July 16

is because it gives them travel opportunities and friends all over the world,” said Michels, who recently hosted a student from Germany.

“My host student goes home next week, and I’m already planning a trip to Germany next summer — and I’ll be staying with her parents.”

INTRO TO SIGN LANGUAGE

Learn the basics of American Sign Language (ASL) and get an introduction to the culture of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for free on Tues., July 16 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Go to the Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library, 3660 Alabama Ave. SE, Washington, DC. For more information, visit bitly.cx/beginnerASL or call (202) 698-6373.

INTERGENERATIONAL DANCE NIGHT

July 17

Get ready to groove, twirl and dance. Arlington’s 55+ program and teen program invites those of all ages. No 55+ Pass required. Meet fellow dance enthusiasts on the outdoor plaza at Arlington Mill Community Center, 909 S. Dinwiddie St., Arlington, VA on Wed., July 17, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Register for free by calling (703) 228-4747.

REAR WINDOW

July 28

See Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart in a free showing of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window on Sun., July 28 from 1:15 to 3:15 p.m. Come to the Lower-Level Meeting Room of the Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library, 3310 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC. For more information, visit bitly.cx/RearWindow or call (202) 282-3080.

Paying it back

While some people host exchange students for travel potential or companionship, many veteran exchange students see it as a way to give back to the program that hosted them when they were children.

Gena Norquist, a retired teacher in Fairfax, Virginia, said her warm memories as a 16-year-old exchange student in Norway in 1979 inspired her to host several international students through the same company, Youth for Understanding USA.

“My host family took me on their summer vacation, and I got to experience the Land of the Midnight Sun, where the sun never sets,” Norquist recalled.

“We went out fishing at 11:00 at night and got home at 1:00 in the morning…and had a fish fry. Those are the things you’d never experience here.”

Norquist started hosting students when her own children were still living at home, in part to broaden their horizons. Her children still keep in touch with one of her first live-in students, who attended her daughter’s wedding.

The family bonded with their students every evening at the dinner table. “Having someone at mealtimes is huge. Those are some of the best times, when you’re sitting around having dinner together,” Norquist said.

“It’s fun. There’s a lot of humor, too, with language mistakes or cultural mistakes. You quickly learn to laugh at language mix-ups.”

Patti Rounsevell of Alexandria, Virginia, said that hosting a high schooler from Turkey through AFS-USA made dinnertime with her spouse more fun.

“Having a third person at the table — we just talked more, and talked about what was going on in the world, so that we could help our student understand things from a U.S. perspective. But we also enjoyed learning about things from a Turkish perspective,” she said.

“We were in a cooking rut. Having a teenager to provide meals for helped me get back into the kitchen and enjoy cooking again. My student and I cooked together, so I learned a lot about delicious Turkish food.”

Like Norquist, D.C. architect Gus Pope wanted to host an exchange student since his own year abroad in 1983, when he lived with a family near Stockholm, Sweden.

Merry Wives

From page 24

lighthearted and a little spooky: “The night is dark,” says George Page, and “spirits will become it well.”

Indeed, toward the end of the play, we find ourselves in the midst of that dark forest. Falstaff, the merry wives and the Windsor community walk among the audience in the bucolic setting, The ruins of the Institute provide a nuanced atmosphere to what is already a deeply atmospheric play, and the forest scene staged in a wooded area after dusk adds to that ambience.

“It was one of the best experiences of my life, so [hosting a student] was 100 percent about wanting to pay it back,” Pope said.

A new routine

Some hosts notice an uptick in errands when a student is living in their home.

“It’s like having one more kid,” Pope said. “The exchange programs screen kids, and they’re probably more self-sufficient than most. But they’re still another kid.

“You’ve got to help them, you’ve got to enroll them in school, you’ve got to get them where they need to go.”

The students go to school, of course, and occasionally their exchange program takes them on field trips to, say, New York City. AFS-USA, for instance, organizes many activities so students can meet other Americans.

“As an older host parent, I wasn’t connected to the community of high school parents, so having all this support from AFS made hosting that much easier,” Rounsevell said.

“Our student was a terrific kid, very outgoing and self-motivated, which is a good thing for an older parent, because she wasn’t reliant on us for making friends or social activities.”

Watford didn’t mind the extra effort involved in hosting. Although she would occasionally drive her student to a nearby mosque for services, Watford taught her to ride the bus to and from school.

Cooking for one more was a breeze, since her student often helped in the kitchen.

“It wasn’t overwhelming. I didn’t feel like it was too much,” Watford said. “I’m an introvert, but I enjoyed every minute of it.”

Watford’s extended family enjoyed including the teenager in Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions as well as trips to Miami, Six Flags and the Maryland State Fair. (Of the Fair outing, Watford said, “She said it was the best day of her life.”)

Although hosts aren’t paid, the connection you make with a person from another country is well worth it, Watford said. “That’s something you can’t put a price on.”

For more information about ASSE International, call 1-800-333-3802, visit host.asse.com or email info@asse.com. For Youth for Understanding USA, visit yfuusa.org or call 1-800833-6243. AFS-USA can be reached at hosting@afsusa.org, afsusa.org/host-family or (646) 530-3088.

The Chesapeake Shakespeare Company’s production of The Merry Wives of Windsor is a pleasant encounter with a Shakespearean comedy that is not performed often — as well as a memorable time spent in a beautiful setting at the end of a summer’s day.

The play runs through July 21 at The Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park, located at 3655 Church Rd., Ellicott City, MD. Adult tickets are $50 or $65, depending on performance, and up to two children under 18 are admitted free with each paid adult ticket. Parking is free. To purchase tickets, visit chesapeakeshakespeare.com or call the box office at (410) 244-8570.

When a planner retires from all planning

It’s always great to run into an old friend you haven’t seen in an age and a half. So it went recently for me and my old pal Marcia.

The Big M (as I and her other close pals always called her) spent her career as a tax preparer. She did returns for the high and mighty, but also for hundreds of others. Because of her accuracy, her promptness and her sunny disposition, she was the go-to gal for more than 40 years.

By Bob Levey

But last year she turned 65. On that day, she abruptly retired. Told her partners she was done. Picked up her laptop and purse. Closed her office door one last time. Walked off into the sunset. Should she have?

Jubilee Voices

From page 25

popularized by Bessie Jones, a Gullah Geechee woman.

“It’s important to tell the story of people who have endured. The legacy of African Americans in this country is evident in all that we say and do. There’s no shame in that,” Blackford said.

Much of that history has been ignored or distorted, she pointed out, citing as examples the 1921 massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when white attackers destroyed the city’s Black Wall Street, as well as the largely forgotten story of how the U.S. Colored Troops turned the tide of the Civil War.

“The time is now to tell our ancestors’ stories, not just Black people’s stories. It is America’s story. We cannot understand our history until we understand

It’s not for me to say, obviously. If Marcia wanted to go from 60 to zero, bam, just like that, it was her decision to make.

But when I asked her what she’s been doing since that fateful day, she said: “Nothing much. Walking around the neighborhood. Cooking Mexican food. Sleeping as late as I like. Mowing the lawn.”

This is the Marcia I knew? This is the Marcia who saved her clients hundreds, who made the pain of paying taxes actually enjoyable?

Didn’t she owe it to the world, to her former clients and to herself to keep doing what she had always done?

“Bob,” she said, “this is what I want.”

all of it,” Blackford said.

Chief storyteller, star singer

One of the group’s star singers is baritone Jim Harkless, 93, who’s been with the group since its beginning.

A retired Harvard-trained lawyer who lives in Montgomery Village, Harkless was a labor arbitrator for more than 50 years. Singing is far less stressful than labor law, he quipped.

“It’s good for the brain. It makes you feel better,” Harkless said.

Berry saluted him and said, “He’s our griot [oral historian]. He knows everything about everything.”

On why she sings, Berry said, “Medicine is my vocation, but music is my passion. When the Angel of Death comes, she can take my stethoscope, but not my music.”

Jubilee Voices perform 10 to 12 concerts a year in the D.C. area, many of them free.

Marcia and I agreed to disagree, and we remain friends to this day. But as I told her, I profoundly disagree with her new approach to Marcia-ness.

She is violating Bob Rule One: Even when age creeps up on you — especially when age creeps up on you — you owe it to yourself and the world to go as hard as you can, for as long as you can.

Yes, I try to live according to the advice I gave Marcia. I’m always adding stuff to do, never subtracting. As I type this, I’m looking at my appointment book for next week. It’s already so crammed with entries that there’s no white space left.

For Marcia, the hard stop she has placed on her Career Self would be more

understandable if she had hated her career. But she loved it.

And for her clients, it would have been obvious if she hadn’t. She always had time for each person. She always wanted to hear about the kids and the grands.

Most of all, Marcia was good at what she did. Really, really good.

That doesn’t mean that other, younger accountants are not good. Lots are. But experience is a unique asset, and that’s what Marcia brought to the table.

When she said she was approaching a tax problem in a certain way, you knew that she had approached that problem in

www.growsmc.org

Scrabble answers on p. 31.

Crossword Puzzle

Don’t Play These Songs By Stephen Sherr

Across

1. Unit of measure in the Homestead Act of 1862

5. Wal or K, for example

9. Traffic calming options

14. When the clock raises both its hands

15. Tennis or computing server

16. Steel girder

17. “Should I come over there?” (X)

19. High-strung

20. Cotta and firma

21. Have a mean streak (X)

23. Mo. when beach rentals are expensive

24. Thai neighbor

25. Drunkard

26. Give up on yer hopes (X)

32. SoCal team on NL box scores

33. “Not funny ___ ‘haha’...”

34. Lure into a crime

38. Clickable symbol

40. Wizard’s assistant, at Hogwarts

42. “Who you are speaks so loudly I can’t ___ what you’re saying” (Emerson)

43. Gloomy

46. Dries laundry outdoors

49. “___ we there yet?”

50. Have some manic-depressive symptoms (X)

53. Med. exam named for George Nicholas Papanicolaou

56. “OK; I’ll give it ___!”

57. Bust a perp

58. “Cut it out!” (X)

60. Practices mindful eating

63. What does the A stand for in FAQ?

64. Fall short of my expectations (X)

67. Gazes at with malice

68. The first of the Great Lakes (alphabetically)

69. Isaac’s older son

70. His first appearance was in 1981’s Donkey Kong

71. Start to -ine or -onic

72. “I stayed in a really old hotel last night; they ___ me a wake-up letter. (Steven Wright)

Down

1. Start to “body”, “place” or “thing”

2. Eccentric old man

3. Licentious old man

4. Swaddle a baby

5. Supervises the staff

6. Hamlet has five

7. Losing My Religion band

8. Car stereo knob

9. It was first used as currency in 2009

10. It was first used for transport in 2011

11. At the Cheesecake Factory, they have over 20 pages

12. Toyota compact from the 90s

13. Extract base metal from an ore

18. Island south of the Dominican Republic

22. Roof overhang

26. Your chance of winning the lottery

27. Popular Tuesday dinner choice

28. Target of Dr. Scholl’s Probiotic Extract Spray

29. Major mistruth

30. Dental filling

31. Last in a long series

35. You ___ what you sow

36. Sr. advocacy group that sponsored the Rolling Stones’ US 2024 tour

37. The mouse in a game of cat and mouse

39. How ___, brown cow?

41. Minor mistruth

44. Unnamed person

45. Consequently

47. Changed from New Amsterdam to New York, for example

48. Use a Gillette Fusion

51. Jazz pianist Jimmy (and anagram for SLOWER)

52. Homes

53. Psacred psong

54. Between 18 Down and the Dominican Republic

55. Game played on the show High Stakes Duel

59. Prefix with -scope or -meter

60. Disappoint James Bond

61. One of the Golden Girls

62. Member of a flying V

65. It’s after the C in BCE

66. Common trail mix ingredient

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; Obituaries; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on page 31.

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EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS:

We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

Caregivers

AT EASE HOME CARE- Providing quality care that feels just like family. Our dedicated caregivers offer a range of services, including personal care, housekeeping, companionship, transportation and more! Available 24/7. Call 301-641-0804 today!

IS IT POSSIBLE? ARE THERE PROFESSIONAL CAREGIVERS out there that REALLY care about your personal needs? Try MorningStar Health Systems! We provide professional and compassionate caregivers that will assist you or your loved one with various daily activities including: housekeeping, medication reminders, grocery shopping, medical appointments, laundry tasks, etc. Go to www.morningstarhealthsys.com or contact us for more info at 240-424-5683 or 202-539-7274. We look forward to serving you!

A HOME HEALTHCARE- Experienced nurses, CNA, GNA are available 24/7. Cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping, driving. Full/Part-time or live-in care. 15 years’ experience. 240-533-6599

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A CARE AGENCY - Been in business for more than 10 years. Experienced nurses, CNAs, GNAs. Any hours you need. Flat rate for live-in. Duties include cooking, housekeeping, bathing, errands, etc. Tel: 667-231-8235.

CAPITAL HOME AND HEALTH CARE provides Caregivers, CAN’s, HHA’s, Drivers, Personal Assistants, Housekeepers or any other in home employee a mature adult may need. We provide long term live in or live out help. For more information call #240-432-8560.

GIVE YOURSELF A REST. An experienced retired nurse is ready to help caregivers and those they care for. Takoma Park/Silver Spring area only. $20 per hour. 301-445-3778.

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PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES

TODAY with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-301-960-3174 today to schedule a free quote. It?s not just a generator. It?s a power move.

FOR SALE NATIONAL MEMORIAL PARK, 2 choice sites in desirable Block A, a $14,000 value. Includes Vaults and Markers an additional $6,000 value. Total package of $20,000 discounted to $7,400 or OBO. Call Joe 703-969-5111.

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MT. LEBANON CEMETERY , 9500 Riggs Road - Adelphi, Md. 1-8 plots for sale $900 each. 847-644-6446

MEADOWRIDGE MEMORIAL PARK

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NATIONAL MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY SPACE. One Choice Burial space in the Desirable “JJ” section. Overlooks a beautiful pond and the open space of the cemetery. Asking $5,999 OBO. Contact Danny: dannyref17@gmail.com

NATIONAL MEMORIAL PARK Falls

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LARGE BOOK COLLECTION SALE at Freck’s Fiction in Rockville, MD. Selling thousands of Collectible Mysteries and Science-Fiction such as: Niven’s Ringworld and Heinlein’s Universe. Call Nelson Freck for details and appointments at: 240-472-4615

BURIAL SITES — GATE OF HEAVEN CEMETERY. Choice Section 10. Selling 5 sites (each double deep) in Lots 747, 748 and 749. Asking $2,200 each site. Discounts if buy more now. (Cemetery price $2,855 and increases annually). Call or Text 301-807-8919.

NORTH VA ELECTRICAL SERVICES. We

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MOVING OR LIQUIDATING AN ESTATE?

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APPLYING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY or Appealing a Denied Claim?

Call Bill Gordon & Assoc. Our case managers simplify the process & work hard to help with your case. Call 1-866-970-0779 FREE Consultation. Local Attorneys Nationwide [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.)]

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CASH FOR RECORDS, CDS AND DVDS. Best price guaranteed. Free appraisals. All types of music {33, 45, 78 & CDs.} Also buying turntables and stereo equipment. Will make house calls with CURBSIDE PICKUPS. Call or text Steve at 301-646-5403

BOOKS, DVD OR CD COLLECTIONS WANTED. House calls made. Call Nelson at 240 472 4615 to set up an appointment. I PERSONALLY COLLECT AND WANT TO BUY old Christmas and Halloween decorations, Herend and Royal Copenhagen porcelain, costume and fine jewelry and other pretty things. I also buy out estates, full or partial. Or, I can send items to auction for you. Please call Susan, (301) 785-1129. Maryland license #2753. ALWAYS BUYING OLD COSTUME JEWELRY, sterling silver flatware & hollowware, school rings, gemstones & broken jewelry, old comic books(pre-1980) & old baseball cards (pre1975), and other old items you have. Text or call Alex at 571-426-5363 DMV Area

WANTED: OLDER VIOLINS, GUITARS, BANJOS, MANDOLINS, UKULELES. Musician/collector will pay cash for older string instruments. Jack (301) 279-2158, leave message & phone number (please speak slowly).

PAYING CASH FOR MERCHANDISE PRE-1980s Old toys, records, antiques, and collectables, and much more. Located in Silver Spring Md. If you have old stuff to sell, call Carl: 312-316-7553.

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

CASH FOR ESTATES; I buy a wide range of items; art, antiques, jewelry, cultural items, furniture, collections/accumulations. Whole estate/single item. Visit theatticllc.com or call Gary: 301-520-0755. License #18-SH-004-233.

I BUY GUNS: Military/Civilian Rifles, Shotguns, Pistols & MILITARY MEMORABILIA from all wars. I am a licensed Firearms Dealer and can legally purchase from you. Call Tim Frank 703-447-7243. historian1975@gmail.com. www.midatlanticmilitaryantiques.com

WILL BUY MILITARY, WWII, WWI, Civil War memorabilia items. Uniforms, weapons, helmets, photos, war souvenirs, medals, photos or any other items associated with U.S., German, Japanese or other military history. Call Dave (240-464-0958) or email (david.obal63@gmail.com).

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NEED PATIENT HELP WITH COMPUTERS, Phones, TVs or other technology? Call Phil at Senior Tech Pro! No job is too big or too small. We also safely recycle old computers and other electronics. Maryland (301) 337-0028 Virginia (571) 202-1273.

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ES you call we clean offices houses condo move-in move-out (DMV) A Registered Business. Call Laverne, 301-996-1385. Thank you for your Business.

PERFECT HOUSEMATE COMPANION. I am a semi-retired physician seeking a rental or live-in situation with someone who is independent but likes occasional companionship and assistance with meals. Ideal person lives alone in NW DC adjacent to outdoor space like Rock Creek park and who has unused living space that includes a private bath. Willing to cook. Allergic to cats. Email Kat at missfitz67@hotmail.com.

Drop by the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian every Wednesday at 1 p.m. for a free 30minute performance. Listen to tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the atrium of the museum, located on the National Mall. No registration required. For more information, see americanindian.si.edu or call (202) 633-1000.

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Events

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Beacon 50+Expos

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Brunch

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Northern Virginia Senior Olympics

Ring House Free Events .

Smart Driver Course . . .

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.B7

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Churchill Senior Living . . .13

Culpepper Garden . . .

Grandview, The/ Erickson

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.10

.B8

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Going Home Cremation . . .27

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Home Improvement

.B3

USA Marble & Granite . . . . .8

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Ashby Ponds/ Erickson .

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Ring House

Sommerset

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

.B4

.B14

.22

.B2, B12

.B3

.B5, B10

.B8

Insurance

Montgomery County SHIP

Legal Services

Farr Law Firm

Law Offices of Paul Riekhof .

Medical/Health Services

.10

.19

.21

Chesapeake Hearing . . . . . .13 Ikon Health

.9 Judy Oh, DDS

Hearing Center

DDS

Real Estate

.12

Services/Moving

.B5, B10

Brooke Grove Retirement

Village .B10, B12, B13, B16

Charles E. Smith Life Communities

Vinson Hall

.B6, B11

Willow Manor at Cabin Branch

.B8

Woodleigh Chase/ Erickson

.B4

.B5, B12