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Women take to the air in races PHOTO BY AIR RACE CLASSIC
By Glenda C. Booth Their teams have names like “Flying Flashes,” “Estrogen Express,” “Dakota FlyGirls,” “Liberty Belles” and “White Lightning.” For a week in June, 109 women pilots grouped into 49 teams flew 2,538 miles across nine states and one Canadian province in a variety of planes. The women, who range in age from 21 to 90 years old, are members of an exclusive club. Only 7% of airplane pilots are female. And these women are not just experienced pilots who love to soar above Mother Earth. They race airplanes for fun.
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There’s much more to Panama besides the canal; plus, an adventurous whitewater rafting trip in California page 38 BY MATTHEW MURPHY
Channeling Amelia Earhart The 43rd Air Race Classic was the ninth race for Debi Dreyfuss, a Potomac grandmother of six. With 30 years of flying experience, Dreyfuss is now a flight instructor, having retired from 20 years in advertising. She owns three airplanes and flies around 250 hours a year. “It’s kind of addictive,” Dreyfuss said. “I enjoy being with women who like to compete, and it’s a way to get to know your airplane intimately.” Dreyfuss and Morgan Mitchell of Alexandria, Virginia, dubbed Team DC3(-1), flew a Cessna Skylane 182T and placed 13th place in June. (They came in fourth last year.) Dreyfuss recalled her naiveté in her first race. “We did not know what the heck we were doing,” she said. They placed 23rd that time, though they came in first in the last leg. But awards matter less than the thrill. “We went 209 knots. Our normal speed is 140 knots. It encouraged me to do it again. It’s a rush — 200 feet off the ground, going full throttle at the flybys, zooming past the timing judge.”
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Disney’s Aladdin enchants audiences of all ages; plus, art exhibit gives immigration a new impact, and Bob Levey finds a better way to look at retirement Co-pilot Morgan Mitchell of Alexandria, Virginia, left, and pilot Debi Dreyfuss, a grandmother of six from Potomac, Maryland, placed 13th in the 2019 Air Race Classic. The annual event sends women pilots, ranging in age from 21 to 90, zigzagging 2,500 miles from Tennessee to Ontario over four days.
Carol Christian of Baltimore and co-pilot Jane Toskes of Bel Air, Maryland, raced in a Cirrus SR22 and called themselves the Cirriusly Amazing team. In June, they
clocked in at 29th place. “We had a great time and learned a lot,” See AIR RACE, page 40
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TECHNOLOGY k How to identify fake news
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No one to trust Every year, when the Medicare and So- today’s paychecks meant to cover those cial Security Trustees issue their annual expenses and then some? That used to be the case. report on the status of those But as Americans are living programs, there’s a flurry of longer, and having fewer chilinterest in one question: At dren, the payroll deductions what point in the future will of our shrinking workforce the programs no longer be are no longer sufficient to pay able to meet their obligations even current Social Security in full? and Medicare benefits, much The 2019 report estimated less sock some away for the that Social Security would be rapidly growing costs that will unable to cover full benefits face these programs as baby as of 2035, just 16 years from boomers continue to retire. now. Medicare’s day of reck- FROM THE (About 10,000 Americans oning is much sooner: 2026, PUBLISHER or seven years from now. By Stuart P. Rosenthal reach the age of 65 every day, and that will continue to be Neither program becomes completely broke then. Social Security, for the case every day for the next 10 years.) And let’s be honest: we never really example, would still be able to pay about 79% of benefits -— cold comfort to those “saved” any of the funds raised by excess who will be depending on those benefits payroll deductions over the last couple of for a significant chunk of their retirement decades anyway. There is not really any mechanism for the U.S. government to do income. But there’s another fact buried in the that. Instead, literally trillions of dollars over Trustees’ report that is of more interest to me. How many current taxpayer dollars are those years were spent as they came in, spent on meeting current Social Security and paying for programs at the time or reducMedicare obligations over and above the an- ing the federal deficit. To represent the future obligation of the nual withholding amounts paid by workers? The question might surprise you (and government to make good on that money the answer even more so). After all, aren’t for the benefit of Social Security and the payroll deductions that come out of Medicare, the government issued itself
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The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Washington DC area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Greater Baltimore, Howard County, Md. and Richmond, Va. Readership exceeds 400,000. Subscriptions are available via first-class mail ($36) or third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. D.C. and Maryland residents: add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below. Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. Publisher/Editor – Stuart P. Rosenthal President/Associate Publisher – Judith K. Rosenthal Vice President of Operations – Gordon Hasenei Vice President, Sales & Marketing – Alan Spiegel Managing Editor – Margaret Foster Art Director – Kyle Gregory Director of Operations – Roger King Advertising Representatives – Doug Hallock, Dan Kelly, Hubie Stockhausen Editoral Interns – Ivey Noojin, Erin Yu
The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (301) 949-9766 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com Website: www.theBeaconNewspapers.com Submissions: The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 10th of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 15th of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 55 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions. © Copyright 2019 The Beacon Newspapers, Inc.
IOUs in the form of special interest-earning U.S. Treasury Bills that are held in a misleadingly named “trust fund.” But when Social Security and Medicare need the money from that fund — as they are starting to do now to pay for benefits not covered by current payroll deductions — the funds represented by the bonds (as well as the interest owed on them) must come either out of the current year’s federal budget or be borrowed elsewhere, raising the federal deficit. What it all amounts to is a generationshifting transfer, with earlier governments gaining hundreds of millions of dollars each year, while later governments are saddled with paying it all back, plus interest. So how much are current taxpayers contributing each year to make up for the shortfall? In 2018, it was $411 billion, and this year it is estimated to be $431 billion. Yes, that’s with a “b,” $431,000,000,000. Are the Trustees concerned about this? You bet. Have they been concerned for a while? Indeed. Many readers of the Beacon may remember that the keynote speaker at our 50+Expo back in 2011 was one of the public trustees at the time, an economist named Charles Blahous. He gave us an earful about how the current problems came to be, and described many options that Congress and the White House could exercise to gradually put Social Security and Medicare into better financial shape with less impact on current budgets. [I repeated a sampling of those in last October’s “From the Publisher,” available at thebeaconnewspapers.com/lack-oftrust-part-ii/] So who is rousing the public to be in-
censed enough to force Congress and the administration to take steps that will put Social Security and Medicare on a sounder footing? No one. In part, that’s because the two “public representative” positions on the Board of Trustees — one Democrat and one Republican — have been vacant for four years now. The remaining Trustees are all members of the administration: the secretaries of Labor, Treasury, Health & Human Services and the commissioner of Social Security. As a result, years have gone by with no action. I contacted Blahous for this column, and here’s what he had to say: “For decades, it’s been the public trustees’ job to inform lawmakers, press and public about Social Security’s financial realities, performing not only a vital bipartisan educational role but acting as a check on government irresponsibility. “It’s probably not a coincidence that we’ve seen a collapse of responsible stewardship of Social Security and Medicare finances during these same last few years that these vital messengers have been absent from the process.” Can we expect any movement in the next year or two? Highly unlikely. On the contrary, it seems everyone campaigning for president today is committed either to “preserving” Social Security and Medicare (meaning leave it exactly as it is), or vastly increasing benefits and offering them to more people, exacerbating the financial problems. Just so you know: in many cases it’s your taxes they are spending and committing to See FROM THE PUBLISHER, page 53
Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or e-mail to info@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Dear Editor: Your July article about spouses sharing passwords is important and timely. I’d like to offer an addendum. Many financial sites now ask for answers to secret questions or two-factor authentication in order to access an account, in particular from a different computer. However, the answers may not be known by your spouse, or the address where a reminder code is to be sent may be an inaccessible email address or phone number. I just went through that ordeal. So don’t forget to share that information, too. Morris N. Saks, CPA Owings Mills, Md. Dear Editor: I recently learned that AARP has $75 million to invest in their Dementia Discov-
ery Fund, which provides “financial capital to companies working on drugs to cure dementia.” It would be wiser to invest these funds in basic research. We really don’t understand the cause of dementia, and it seems a waste of money to give it to drug companies unless they are associated with a research center or university. We need an all-out effort to solve this problem, which not only costs us billions of dollars each year in caring for those afflicted (Medicaid, etc.), but causes endless suffering to millions of affected individuals and their families. I suggest that NIH and AARP establish new divisions to study the causes of dementia. Hedy Peyser, MSW, ACSW Silver Spring, Md.
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Innovations Identify fake news; don’t send it to others By Jim Miller Q. I recently read that older adults are the number one purveyor of fake news on the Internet. Is this true, or is it fake news, too? If it’s true, how can we go about spotting fake news? A. Yes, it’s true. According to a recent study published in the journal Science Advances, people 65 and older are almost four times more likely to share fake news on social media than younger people. Why do older users share fake news more often? There are two theories. The first is that seniors, who came to the Internet later, sometimes lack the digital literacy skills of their younger counterparts to identify false or misleading content. The second is that many older people experience cognitive decline as they age, making them more likely to fall for hoaxes.
What is fake news? Fake news is nothing new, but it is more prevalent than ever before because of the
Internet and social networking, which enables it to spread like wildfire. Fake news refers to false news stories, hoaxes or propaganda created to deliberately misinform or deceive readers. Usually, these stories are created to either influence people’s views, push a political agenda, or cause confusion. It can often be a profitable business for online publishers. Also note that some fake stories aren’t completely false, but rather distortions of real events. These deceitful claims can take a legitimate news story and twist what it says, or even claim that something that happened long ago is related to current events.
How to spot it Here are some tips from the International Federation of Library Associations, Harvard University and Facebook that can help you spot fake news stories. Be skeptical of headlines. False news stories often have catchy headlines in all
caps with exclamation points. If shocking claims in the headline sound unbelievable, they probably are. Look closely at the link. A phony or look-alike link may be a warning sign of false news. Many false news sites mimic authentic news sources by making small changes to the link, for example “abcnews.com.co” (an illegitimate site) versus the actual “abcnews.com.” Investigate the source. Ensure that the story is written by a source that you trust with a reputation for accuracy. If the story comes from an unfamiliar organization, check their “About” section to learn more. You can also find a list of websites that identify deceptive and fake content at FactCheck.org — type “misinformation directory” in their search feature to find it. Watch for unusual formatting. Many false news sites have misspellings or awkward layouts. Read carefully if you see these signs. Inspect the dates. False news stories
may contain timelines that make no sense, or event dates that have been altered. Check the evidence. Check the author’s sources to confirm that they are accurate. Lack of evidence or reliance on unnamed experts may indicate a false news story. Look at other reports. If no other news source is reporting the same story, it may indicate that the story is false. If the story is reported by multiple sources you trust, it’s more likely to be true. Is the story a joke? Sometimes false news stories can be hard to distinguish from humor or satire. Check whether the source is known for parody, and whether the story’s details and tone suggest it may be just for fun. Do some fact checking. There are many good websites, like PolitiFact.com, Snopes.com and FactCheck.org that can help you verify a story. These sites have most likely already fact-checked the latest viral claim to pop up in your news feed.
Apple Watch may help ID heart problem By Lauran Neergaard A study suggests the Apple Watch can detect a worrisome irregular heartbeat at least sometimes — but experts say more work is needed to tell if using wearable technology to screen for heart problems really helps. More than 419,000 Apple Watch users signed up for the unusual study, making it the largest ever to explore screening seemingly healthy people for atrial fibrillation, a condition that if untreated eventually can trigger strokes. Stanford University researchers reported in March that the watch didn’t panic flocks of people, warning just half a percent of participants — about 2,100 — that they might have a problem. But even among those flagged, “it’s not perfect,” cautioned Dr. Richard Kovacs of the American College of Cardiology, who wasn’t involved with the study. People who received an alert were supposed to consult a study doctor via telemedicine and then wear an EKG patch measuring cardiac activity for the next week to determine the watch’s accuracy. Some skipped the virtual check-up to
consult their own doctors; overall, about 57 percent sought medical attention. Among those who got EKG monitoring through the study, a third had atrial fibrillation, according to preliminary results presented at an American College of Cardiology conference in New Orleans last spring. A-fib tends to come and go, and a week of monitoring might have missed some cases, said Stanford lead researcher Dr. Mintu Turakhia. But if the watch detected another irregular heartbeat while someone was wearing the EKG patch, 84 percent of the time it really was a-fib, he said. “This study we believe provides very encouraging evidence that a device, the Apple Watch, can be used to detect a-fib and to point out to people when additional monitoring or testing may be needed,” said Dr. Lloyd Minor, Stanford’s dean of medicine. Other cardiac experts said the study, which was funded by Apple, suggests screening with wearable technology might be technically feasible eventually, but needs lots more research. “I would not advise this to the overall general population,” said Dr. Valentin
Fuster, director of Mount Sinai Heart in New York and a former American Heart Association president, who wasn’t involved with the study. Instead, he’d like to see it tested in older adults with risk factors like high blood pressure.
ed for people without symptoms. Studies haven’t yet proved that early detection from screening would prevent enough strokes to outweigh risks from unnecessary testing or overtreatment.
How does the watch work? What is atrial fibrillation? A-fib occurs when the heart’s top chambers, called the atria, get out of sync with the bottom chambers’ pumping action. Sometimes patients feel a flutter or a racing heart, but many times they’re not aware of an episode. Sometimes the heart gets back into rhythm on its own. Other patients get an electric shock to get back into rhythm, or are prescribed blood thinners to counter the stroke-causing blood clots that untreated a-fib can spur. A-fib causes 130,000 deaths and 750,000 hospitalizations a year in the U.S.
How do doctors check for it? A-fib is most common in older adults, and other risks include high blood pressure or a family history of arrhythmias. But routine screening isn’t recommend-
A mobile app uses the optical sensor on certain versions of the watch to analyze pulse rate data. If it detects enough variation from beat to beat over a 48-hour period, the user receives a warning of an irregular heart rhythm. The latest version of the Apple Watch also allows wearers to push a button to take an EKG and share the reading with doctors. The study didn’t include watches with that capability. Did the study show that mass screening a good idea? No. The study was designed to tell how the watch compared to a week of standard EKG monitoring — not to learn if the wearer’s health improved because the screening uncovered the arrhythmia. To prove if detecting a-fib early lowers See APPLE WATCH, page 5
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heartbeat problems, giving a false sense of security, Kovacs said. The puzzling low numbers of alarms might be because most participants were young or middle-aged, not older adults who are most at risk for a-fib, he said. —AP
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risk of stroke would require years of study. And since the study didn’t have a comparison group getting routine EKGs, there’s no way to know if the watch missed
To use it, download the Safe365 app onto your mobile phone. (It is available free of charge at the App Store and on Google Play.) Then, add the mobile phone numbers of those you want to keep track of. They will receive a link to download the app onto their phone, and will have to give you permission to track their whereabouts. Without their acceptance, the app will not give you location information for another person’s phone. Tracking can occur at three different levels: exact location in real time, approximate location, and route. Both the tracker and the trackee can select and modify the level of tracking or turn it off entirely. In addition to tracking services, the application provides a way to communicate with each other. That way older adults don’t have to use a different function on their phone to send messages or emoticons. In only a year, Safe 365 has attracted more than a million users in 193 countries. It is available in eight languages, including English and Spanish. To learn more about the app, or to download it, visit the App Store or Google Play.
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provide these services for free. Life360, a popular family tracking app in the United States that shares the locations of friends and family members, charges for alerts and emergency response. “We wanted to replace expensive solutions,� Tobias said. Safe365 hopes to bridge the gap between technology and older adults, who often feel disconnected due to today’s hyper-digitalized world.
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Tracking app aims to help users feel safe By Ivey Noojin It can be difficult for older adults to continue living on their own if their family members are constantly worried about them. Now there’s an app specifically designed to provide peace of mind to independent older adults and their loved ones: Safe365. Safe365 is a free, downloadable application for mobile phones that tracks the location of other people in real time. It also can notify family members of any apparent emergencies. The app was created in 2012 in Spain under a different name: Alpify. It was originally meant as a security measure for outdoor excursionists, enabling them to share their exact location with emergency responders. Last year, however, the company rebranded the app to provide assistance to older adults rather than skiers and hikers. “By reading a lot of articles and speaking to a lot of people, we found out there was something missing in [older adult] care,� said Delphine Tobias, spokesperson for Safe365. “It’s a huge market that we could help.� Through the application, family members receive notifications every time their loved one leaves or enters a frequently used location (home, office, neighborhood, etc.). They also get an alert when the older adult’s phone battery is low. Additionally, they can receive exact coordinates of the older adult during an emergency at just the click of a button. That way they can make a decision as a family as to whether the financial burden of an ambulance or hospital visit is necessary. Tobias says Safe365 is the only app to
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Age-Friendly Montgomery “I invite you to take part in all the resources our County has to offer.” County Executive Marc Elrich
Volunteer to Help Youth – and Others! Montgomery County has many appealing volunteer opportunities. While some volunteers choose to tutor and mentor local youth, others use their skills and experiences to help in additional ways. For example, JCA Heyman Interages® offers highimpact volunteer programs for people age 50+ to mentor and tutor youth, ages 3 to 18, to help them succeed in academics and build self-confidence. In one such program, volunteers read with children in Pre-K classrooms to help them build literacy skills. One teacher described the volunteers’ impact this way: “The help they provided in the classroom was vital to [the students’] routine and provided more time for individual and small group instruction. Students and teachers alike enjoyed working with them.” In other JCA Heyman Interages programs, teen volunteers engage in activities with frail older adults. Others help older residents learn communication technologies. Volunteers with JCA Heyman Interages make a positive impact in the lives of others and participate in building intergenerational connections. Volunteers at JCA Heyman Interages can make a difference in as little as an hour a week or, choose to give more time. JCA Heyman Interages provides
training and works with interested volunteers to find an opportunity that fits their interests, skills and schedule. To learn more, contact JCA Heyman Interages at 301-255-4239 or Interages@ AccessJCA.org.
Find more ways to help! To access more possibilities, go to the Montgomery County Volunteer Center website at www. montgomeryserves.org. It allows you to search for many volunteer opportunities that enable you to share your wisdom and experience in guiding young people or to go in another direction.
Need Personal Assistance to Find the Best Volunteer Fit? Consider the 50+ Volunteer Network, a unique initiative offered by the Montgomery County Volunteer Center. Through face-to-face interviews and ongoing relationships with agencies, it connects County residents age 50+ with meaningful volunteer opportunities that leverage a lifetime of professional skills and personal experiences to help others. To learn about volunteer options available through the 50+ Volunteer Network, email 50plus@montgomerycountymd.gov or call 240777-2600.
Contact Us Today • Aging & Disability Resource Line 240-777-3000 (8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. T, W, Th/5 p.m. M & F) • 3-1-1 or 240-777-0311 for County programs and services; 9-1-1 for emergency • www.montgomerycountymd.gov/senior • “Seniors Today” airs on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m. on Comcast/RCN 6, Verizon 30
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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations
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Hearing essential to health, well-being
Denial can be damaging Surprisingly, many of us wait seven to 10 years before acknowledging we are having trouble hearing and getting a hearing aid. Why? For some of us it’s denial, or fear of looking old; for others the hearing loss is so gradual we might not be aware of the insidious progression of it. Yet failing to get hearing tested and corrected early may actually contribute to aging faster. Hearing loss is associated with earlier onset of dementia, earlier mortality, and six times the rate of falls compared to those with normal hearing. A recent study found that for Americans 65 and older, hearing loss had a greater impact on life than cardiac disease, stroke, osteoporosis, sciatica, cancer, and many other common conditions. Contributing to these negative health consequences is the isolation, the loss of interactive communication with others due to inability to hear clearly. This results in loneliness, which is known to have a negative health impact equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Moreover, when auditory input
is diminished, the brain loses the ability to distinguish sounds, which means having to “re-learn” to hear when she or he finally gets a hearing aid. One in three people 60-plus and twothirds of people 70-plus have hearing loss. Among baby boomers, 15 percent are already affected. Sixty-one percent of AARP members indicated that hearing loss made it hard to follow conversations in noisy settings, while 44 percent noted the impact hearing
difficulties can have on relationships with friends and family. Roughly two-thirds said they would get a hearing test if hearing loss hurt their relationships. Hearing loss is something many of us will experience sooner than we expect. But remember that early screening, early testing and early intervention mean you won’t lose your all-important relationships with friends and family. © President and Fellows of Harvard College. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.
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profound impact that hearing well can have. We should be talking about what is gained by hearing well: social interaction, family connection and workplace productivity. Hearing loss is not a stand-alone disability. It is linked to everything we do every single day.
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By Charlotte S. Yeh, M.D. For many years, it was clear that my father was becoming hard of hearing. Normally the life of the party, he became increasingly withdrawn because he couldn’t hear well enough to partake in conversation. He began to walk with a shuffling gait. He was declining in front of my eyes. And yet, when we communicated by email, his intellectual curiosity and warm storytelling skills were intact. But in person, he seemed to be fading away. After considerable prodding, I convinced him to get a pair of custom hearing aids. The transformation was amazing. At a family reunion a month later, there was my father sitting at the breakfast table, regaling everybody with stories of his mischievous childhood. He was, once again, the center of attention. Gone was the shuffling walk, replaced by a strong, confident stride. From the withdrawn, quiet man emerged my funny, animated father who told stories, laughed and joked around. The dad I remembered as a child came back to us. This story, and so many just like it, is about changing the public conversation on hearing to show how people who experience hearing loss can move from fear and denial to aging gracefully, with resilience, joy and health. We should be talking about what I saw: the
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Health Fitness &
CUPPA JOE GETS A REPRIEVE California decides coffee’s cancer risk is not “significant” after all MEN AND BONE DENSITY Osteoporosis affects men as well as women. How to find out your risk DO YOU DRINK ENOUGH? Water can boost your mood, your brainpower and help you lose weight DON’T WASTE THAT! We waste more food than we think. Here are some tips to cut back, save money
Surprise medical bills are a national issue By Kimberly Lankford Even if you carefully select a healthcare provider in your insurance plan’s network, you could still end up with an unexpected bill for thousands of dollars. A study by the Health Care Cost Institute found that one in seven patients received a surprise bill even though the care was delivered at an in-network hospital. These surprise medical bills tend to happen when one member of the care team — such as an anesthesiologist or radiologist — isn’t in your plan’s network, even if the surgeon and hospital are. Unexpected bills from out-of-network emergency room doctors and independent labs are also common. This problem isn’t new, but it’s happening more often as in-
surers offer narrower provider networks.
Cost can be significant Surprise medical bills are frequently in the $500 to $1,000 range, but sometimes they top $20,000, according to Adam Fox of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, a consumer advocacy group. Consumers “may have done everything right, but they’re treated by someone who is not in their network, and it’s often a situation where they have no real control to choose who their provider is,” said Kevin Lucia of the Georgetown Center on Health Insurance Reforms and co-author of a Commonwealth Fund study about surprise medical bills. Your insurer may pay a limited amount for the out-of-network care, and then the
provider charges you the difference, a practice known as “balance billing.” Because out-of-network providers haven’t negotiated a rate with the insurer, they tend to charge a lot more than the insurer pays. “This is really a dispute between insurance companies and providers, and consumers get stuck in the middle,” Lucia said.
Help from the states, Congress At present, 27 states have laws offering some balance-billing protection, but only 18 prohibited providers from sending these bills, according to the latest Commonwealth Fund study from July. (Maryland offers some limited protections; no laws have been passed in Virginia or D.C. at this time.) Colorado recently strengthened its laws.
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND DEMENTIA
CARE CONSULTATIONS One-on-one assistance from Diane Vance, programs and services manager of the Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter
2 nd Wednesday of each month Complimentary 50-minute sessions Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center 18131 Slade School Road • Sandy Spring, MD 20860
This service is designed to help caregivers — as well as those who are newly diagnosed — cope with the impact of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, enabling participants to better understand the disease, manage care and make informed decisions regarding services and treatments. Consultant Diane Vance can assess current needs, help develop a care plan, address behavioral and communication concerns, share coping techniques, discuss care options, provide resources and more. Care consultations may be scheduled at any time during the dementia journey. To schedule your appointment, contact Toni Davis at 301-388-7209 or tdavis@bgf.org.
Under the previous law, providers and insurers were supposed to negotiate payments and hold consumers harmless for any additional charges, but providers continued to send balance bills to consumers. Some people were still paying the bills “without realizing they weren’t responsible for them,” Fox said. The new law, which was signed in May, prohibits providers from sending balance bills to Colorado consumers. Recently, lawmakers in both chambers of Congress have advanced various proposals. A lobbying war has broken out between insurers and employers on one side and hospitals and doctors on the other over how to deSee MEDICAL BILLS, page 11
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A second look at MSG corrects the record By Carrie Dennett It’s commonly accepted as fact that MSG, a.k.a. monosodium glutamate, is something we should avoid. It’s the culprit behind socalled “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” and contributor to myriad health problems, right? But is there any substance behind MSG’s bad reputation?
What is MSG? Glutamate is one of 20 amino acids — the building blocks of protein — but it’s also an important neurotransmitter. Your body synthesizes about 50 grams of glutamate each day. Glutamate is also found in human breast milk and makes up 8 to 10% of most protein foods. The cells lining your intestine use almost all of the glutamate you get from food to fuel their constant regeneration. In 1908, Japanese chemistry professor Kikunae Ikeda noticed that certain foods had a savory taste — including Parmesan cheese, ripe tomatoes, dry-aged beef and kombu dashi, a broth made from dried kelp that’s essential to Japanese cooking. Ikeda named that flavor “umami” and started investigating what caused it. He cooked dashi down until it formed crystals, which turned out to be made of sea salt and glutamate. In other words, monosodium glutamate.
hydration caused by excessive salt. What followed was a number of research studies that claimed to confirm that MSG caused the symptoms. However, these studies didn’t consider how people actually consume MSG. For example, researchers in one 1969 study injected participants with MSG or fed them large doses on an empty stomach. In numerous animal studies, researchers repeatedly injected young rodents with doses of MSG equivalent to injecting a 150pound person with 136-545 grams of MSG. For perspective, in a single day the average American ingests one-half gram of MSG — far less than the average 4.6 grams consumed in Taiwan — along with 13 grams of naturally occurring glutamate from food. In spite of that, these studies were presented as proof that MSG causes headaches or worse, and many researchers continue to cite
these studies and conduct similar research. At the 2018 World Umami Forum, Lisa Watson, M.S., a science advisor for The Glutamate Association, pointed out that our bodies don’t distinguish between glutamate that’s naturally present in food and
glutamate that’s been added to food. “We get far more glutamate from our food than from MSG, and do we say that the Parmesan cheese on our pasta gives us See MSG, page 11
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“Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” In 1968, the New England Journal of Medicine published a letter titled “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome.” The author was a doctor who had experienced a number of symptoms — including numbness in the back of the neck, weakness and heart palpitations — after eating at a Chinese restaurant. He speculated about possible culprits — soy sauce, cooking wine, MSG, or mild de-
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Lifestyle may offset Alzheimer’s genetic risk By Marilyn Marchione A large study has found that, regardless of how much genetic risk someone had for Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, a good diet, adequate exercise, limiting alcohol and not smoking made dementia less likely. About 50 million people worldwide have dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type. Genes and lifestyle contribute to many diseases, but researchers only recently have had the tools and information to do large studies to see how much each factor matters. One such study a few years ago found that healthy living could help overcome genetic risk for heart disease. Now researchers have shown the same to be true for dementia. Dr. Elzbieta Kuzma and colleagues at the
University of Exeter Medical School in England used the UK Biobank to study nearly 200,000 people 60 or older with no signs or symptoms of dementia at the start. Their genetic risk was classified as high, medium or low based on dozens of mutations known to affect dementia. They also were grouped by lifestyle factors. After about eight years, 1.8% of those with high genetic risk and poor lifestyles had developed dementia versus 0.6% of folks with low genetic risk and healthy habits. Among those with the highest genetic risk, just over 1% of those with favorable lifestyles developed dementia compared to nearly 2% of those with poor lifestyles. One limitation: Researchers only had information on mutations affecting people of
European ancestry, so it’s not known whether the same is true for other racial or ethnic groups. The results should give encouragement to people who fear that gene mutations alone determine their destiny, said Dr. Rudy Tanzi, a genetics expert at Massachusetts General Hospital. Less than 5% of the ones tied to Alzheimer’s are “fully penetrant,” meaning that they guarantee you’ll get the disease, he said. “That means that with 95% of the mutations, your lifestyle will make a difference,” Tanzi said. “Don’t be too worried about your genetics. Spend more time
being mindful of living a healthy life.” One previous study in Sweden and Finland rigorously tested the effect of a healthy lifestyle by assigning one group to follow one and included a comparison group that did not. It concluded that healthy habits could help prevent mental decline. The Alzheimer’s Association is sponsoring a similar study underway now in the United States. Healthy living also is the focus of new dementia prevention guidelines that the World Health Organization released in February. —AP
BEACON BITS
Ongoing
GENTLE YOGA
Yoga has many health benefits, from stronger muscles to better metabolism. But it can be challenging, especially if you have limited flexibility. Join a Gentle Yoga class every Tuesday at the Georgetown Neighborhood Library at 10 a.m. Instructors will guide you through simple, easy yoga poses. The library is located at 3260 R St. NW, Washington, D.C. Call (202) 727-0232 for more information.
Aug. 7
LEARN TO COOK HEART-HEALTHY
Min Krishnamurthy, a nutritionist with Giant Foods, will offer a free workshop on how to cook heart-healthy food. This class will take place on Wed., Aug. 7 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Dr., Reston, Va. For more information, call (703) 689-2700.
Aug. 14
SUMMER FITNESS CLASS
Wondering how to stay active during the sweltering summer? Attend a free hour-long Senior Fit class at the Nancy H. Dacek North Potomac Community Recreation Center on Wed., Aug. 14 at 1 p.m. Classes will also be offered in September. (The center is closed Aug. 18 to Sept. 2 for maintenance.) These classes will help you improve your strength, endurance and flexibility. The center is located at 13850 Travilah Rd., Rockville, Md. For more information about the center’s open gym hours, nutrition courses and other fitness classes, call (240) 773-4805.
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MSG From page 9 a headache?” Accordingly, in 2018, the International Headache Society removed “MSG-induced headache” from its Classification of Headache Disorders.
Later studies find it safe In the mid-1990s, after years of receiving reports of MSG-related symptoms such as headache and nausea, yet being unable to confirm that MSG was the true culprit, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took further steps. They asked the independent scientific group Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) to examine MSG’s safety. FASEB found that some sensitive individuals who consume three grams or more of MSG without food may experience shortterm, temporary and generally mild symp-
Medical bills From page 8 termine payments once patients are no longer liable for out-of-network care. “The detail and time going into this discussion [in Congress] gives us a good feeling that we could have legislation passed by the end of this year,” said Claire McAndrew of Families USA. In the meantime, your best defense is a
toms — such as headache, numbness, flushing, tingling, palpitations and drowsiness. However, the report said consuming more than three grams of MSG without food at one time is unlikely, because a typical serving of a food with added MSG contains less than half of a gram. The conclusion? MSG is safe. At the World Umami Forum, registered dietitian Mary Lee Chin, M.S., R.D., who has used MSG her entire life, pointed to MSG’s safety record but acknowledged that the small number of people who are sensitive to MSG should simply avoid it. “If you eat MSG or any other food or food ingredient that causes (or contributes to) an adverse effect, then eliminate it from your diet,” she said.
MSG boosts a food’s flavor without hiding or overwhelming it. For example, a simple vegetable broth lightly seasoned with salt will taste a little bland. If some of the same broth is seasoned with MSG, the flavors of the vegetables become more pronounced, and the broth develops a satisfying mouthfeel — all without increasing the total amount of sodium. In 2010, the Institute of Medicine said that MSG could be an effective way to reduce sodium. Because MSG is 12% sodium and table salt is 39% sodium, cutting salt by one-third and replacing it with MSG reduces sodium by 25% without compromis-
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ing taste. Additionally, new research suggests that MSG enhances food satisfaction in a way that helps improve food intake in people who struggle to eat enough, without encouraging overeating in general. These two examples show how MSG might be more than just safe — it might even be beneficial. Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC. www.EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2019 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Some unexpected benefits Since the 1960s, the main source of MSG in America has been processed food, which is ironic because MSG’s original purpose was to make healthy food taste better. good offense. Before scheduling a procedure, ask your health plan and providers whether everyone involved will be covered in-network. “Be explicit on the call, keep your notes and who you talked with,” said Ted Doolittle, state healthcare advocate for the Connecticut Office of the Healthcare Advocate. © 2019 Kiplinger. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Additional information on Congress provided from AP.
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California changes its mind about coffee By Brian Melley After raising the prospect last year of requiring a cancer warning on coffee, California officially gave its blessing to coffee in June, declaring the beverage does not pose a “significant” cancer risk. The rule, proposed a year ago by regulators, means coffee won’t have to carry ominous warnings that the beverage may be bad for you. The state took the rare move after a Los Angeles judge found Starbucks Corp. and other companies failed to show that benefits from drinking coffee outweighed risks from a chemical byproduct of the roasting process. That ruling put the industry in jeopardy of hefty civil penalties, and in the position of either developing a process to remove
the chemical or warning consumers about the risk of cancer.
Studies find pros and cons The chemical in question, acrylamide, is on a list that California says causes cancer, though other groups classify it as a “probable” carcinogen. [Note: Acrylamide is a common byproduct of cooking certain foods at high heat and is found in potato chips, breakfast cereals and cookies as well as coffee.] Under a law passed more than three decades ago by California voters, products that contain chemicals that cause cancer or birth defects must warn consumers about those risks. The Office of Environmental Health Haz-
ard Assessment, which implements the law, concluded there was no significant risk after a World Health Organization review of more than 1,000 studies found inadequate evidence that coffee causes cancer. Further, it concluded coffee reduces the risk of some types of cancer. “Coffee is a complex mixture of hundreds of chemicals that includes both carcinogens and anti-carcinogens,” said Sam Delson, a spokesman for the agency. “The overall effect of coffee consumption is not associated with any significant cancer risk.” It was the first time the state has declared such a brew of chemicals safe despite the presence of carcinogens, Delson said.
Lawsuits may continue The coffee industry cheered the rule. “This is a great day for science and coffee lovers,” said William Murray, president
and chief executive of the National Coffee Association USA. “With this news, coffee drinkers around the world can wake up and enjoy the smell and taste of their coffee without hesitation.” The Council for Education and Research on Toxics, which successfully sued the coffee industry in a case that has dragged on more than eight years in Los Angeles Superior Court, will challenge the validity of the state’s regulation in court, said attorney Raphael Metzger. Metzger, who represents the small nonprofit in its lawsuit against Starbucks and about 90 coffee companies, said the regulation was adopted in violation of state law and disregards the statutes the agency is supposed to implement. He said the regulation can’t be applied retroactively to nullify the judge’s ruling. —AP
BEACON BITS
Aug. 9
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Men get osteoporosis, too; how to fight it Dear Savvy Senior: Prevention and treatment Can men get osteoporosis or is it priA good first step in preventing and treatmarily a problem for women? ing osteoporosis is to get When I fell and broke my screened. All men over age 70 wrist last winter, the doctor should have a bone density that treated me told me I test, and those who’ve had a might have osteoporosis, but fracture or have other risk facI never got it checked. What tors should be tested after age can you tell me? 50. —Bony Bill Screening for osteoporosis Dear Bill: is a simple, painless bone denMany people think osteosity test, which takes about porosis is a woman’s disease, five minutes. Many health inSAVVY SENIOR but men can get it too, espesurance companies will cover By Jim Miller cially in their later years. bone density tests, as does Here’s what you should know: Medicare. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes the Here’s what else you can do to protect bones to become weak, brittle and more your bones: susceptible to fractures. Though women are Boost your calcium: The best way to four times more likely to acquire it, around 2 get bone-building calcium is through your million American men have osteoporosis diet. Dairy products (low-fat milk, cheeses today, and another 12 million have “pre-osteoporosis,” or osteopenia.
Risk factors for men Unfortunately, men are much less likely than women to get the health of their bones checked even after they break a bone. That’s because doctors are often unaware of the many factors that put men at risk of osteoporosis. While menopause is a major component that accelerates bone loss in women, some of the key risk factors for men developing osteoporosis include: being over age 70; being thin or underweight; smoking; consuming more than three alcoholic drinks a day; having a parental history of osteoporosis and having a previous fracture. Certain health conditions — such as rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, testosterone deficiency, hyperthyroidism, COPD, kidney or liver disease, and mobility disorders like Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis or stroke — can also increase your risk. In addition, so can taking certain medications, like anti-inflammatory steroids, prostate cancer drugs, proton pump inhibitors for GERDs, antidepressants, immunosuppressants and anti-seizure drugs. To help you determine your risk of osteoporosis, the International Osteoporosis Foundation has a quick, online quiz you can take at RiskCheck.IOFBoneHealth.org.
BEACON BITS
Aug. 3+
FREE PING PONG LESSONS
Learn the art of the serve and the slice. Receive a lesson from professional ping pong champions on Saturdays throughout Aug. from 1 to 3 p.m. Whether you are a ping pong devotee or a newbie, the pros will teach you the basics and special tricks. Lessons take place at SPIN D.C., 1332 F St. NW, Washington, D.C. Space is limited. To reserve yours, visit http://bit.ly/SPIND.C.PingPong to register.
and yogurt), dark green leafy vegetables (broccoli, kale, collards), sardines and salmon, cooked dried beans, soy foods, almonds and fortified cereals and juices are all good sources of calcium. Vitamin D is also important to help your body absorb calcium. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends 1,000 mg. of calcium daily for men under 70 and 1,200 mg. for those over 71. They also recommend 800 to 1,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D if you’re over 50. If you’re not getting enough vitamin D through sunlight or food, consider taking a supplement. Most daily multivitamins contain at least 400 IU. Exercise: Doing weight-bearing exercises — like walking or strength training with weights or resistance bands — three or four times a week can significantly im-
prove your bone health and reduce the risk of a fall that could cause a fracture. Control these vices: Avoid smoking, limit alcohol to no more than two or three drinks per day, and limit caffeine (coffee, tea or caffeinated soda) to three cups a day. Consider medications: The same drugs to treat osteoporosis in women have also been approved for men. The most widely prescribed for osteoporosis are bisphosphonates, a class of drugs designed to slow or stop bone loss. Talk to your doctor about these and other medication options, as well as potential side effects. Send your senior questions to P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.
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A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
We all probably need to drink more water By Kristen N. Smith Do you drink enough water each day? If not, your overall health may be taking a toll. Drinking water regularly can help you to lose weight, think better, be in a better mood, prevent disease and more.
How our bodies use water Water makes up about 60% of our body weight. It’s vital for almost every function in the body. Water acts as a building block, a solvent for chemical reactions, and a transport material for nutrients and waste. Water also helps maintain blood volume and allows proper circulation. It helps regulate our body temperature and acts as a
shock absorber for our joints and our brain. It even helps lubricate the linings of our inner organs and maintains healthy kidney function.
How much should you drink? The amount of water you need to drink will depend on several factors, including your age, gender, activity level and more. However, here’s a good general guideline when it comes to recommended daily water intake: Women should drink at least 2.21 liters per day, and men should drink three liters per day. Increase your daily water intake as you increase your activity level. Drink filtered water to avoid potential toxins in tap water,
depending on where you live. As you age, you will likely feel less thirsty and thus be prone to drinking less fluid. Be sure to keep water on hand and drink regularly throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Need help drinking more water? Keep track of your water intake by measuring your progress with a cup or water bottle placed in a spot you will see throughout the day. Set goals for yourself at time points throughout the day to make sure you are drinking enough.
Numerous benefits Drinking plenty of water can help keep your body healthy and functioning at its highest capacity. Staying hydrated will help you to: 1. Improve physical performance. During physical activity, our bodies use up a lot of water. Staying hydrated before, during and after exercise helps you perform better and protects your body from harm. Proper hydration can reduce fatigue, improve endurance and lower your maximum heart rate. It can also help you to be less sore after exercise. 2. Help you to lose weight. Studies show that people who are on diets lose more weight when they also increase their water intake. In one study, people on
weight loss diets who drank 500 milliliters of water before each of their three daily meals for 12 weeks lost 4.6 more pounds on average than people who did not drink the additional water. 3. Boost your mood. People who drink more water also tend to have better moods. One study found that when people who regularly drank less than 1.2 liters of water per day increased their intake to 2.5 liters per day, the participants experienced significantly less confusion, bewilderment, fatigue and sleepiness. On the other hand, for people who regularly drank two to four liters of water per day who were then restricted to one liter per day, the reduced water intake led to negative effects on mood, including decreased contentedness, calmness and positive emotions. 4. Boost your brainpower. Several studies have shown that people drinking water during cognitive tasks performed much better than those people who did not drink water during the tasks. These results have been found in both adults and children. Studies suggest that even mild dehydration can impair cognitive function in the short-term. So next time you need to See WATER, page 17
vol • un • teer It’s a person who changes a child’s life forever Join Us. Experience Corps volunteers – people age 50 and older – help children in Pre-K through third grade learn to read. Join us at one of the following information sessions to learn how you can become a reading tutor and transform the lives of students in the DC Metro Area.
Upcoming Sessions:
August 8, 2019 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. August 22, 2019 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Information sessions held at 601 E. St. NW Washington, DC 20049 Register online at: aarpfoundation.org/ecdcmetro or contact Denise Fraction at 202-434-6349
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Should X-rays be avoided due to risks? Dear Mayo Clinic: At what level does radiation exposure from X-rays and other medical imaging increase the risk of getting cancer in the future? A: While there are wide-ranging benefits to modern X-ray imaging technology, you are correct that there also are risks. The answer to your question isn’t clear-cut, so it’s important to weigh the potential risk against the known benefits of medical imaging. Medical imaging uses radiation to generate images of the inside of your body. It can provide a quick and painless diagnosis or guide treatment, such as determining artery-opening stent placement. The use of X-ray imaging has increased dramatically over the past 30 years, mainly due to technical advances and an increased use of CT and positron emission tomography (PET) scans. As a result, the average amount of lifetime radiation exposure also has increased. [Ed. Note: MRIs, which use magnetic resonance imaging, do not carry radiation risk.] The downside is that radiation can cause damage to, and mutation of, DNA. This might lead to the development of certain cancers.
Some radiation is unavoidable Radiation is naturally present in the environment, coming from sources such as
the sun and radon in rocks and soil. The average annual exposure in the U.S. from all sources of natural radiation is estimated to be about 3 millisieverts per person. However, you may be exposed to more or less depending on where you live. Exposure from natural radiation varies from 1 to 20 millisieverts in the U.S. It’s estimated that the average annual amount of radiation exposure — a combination of natural and medical exposure in the U.S. — has roughly doubled since the 1980s to about 6.2 millisieverts. This value is an average over the entire population. If you haven’t had any medical exams that use radiation, your radiation exposure has not increased.
is a small amount considering the benefits of medically needed imaging tests.
Lower risk at older ages Because the potential for an increased risk of cancer due to medical exams using radiation is small, there’s no reason to forgo an imaging test or X-ray-assisted procedure that could better your health or prolong your life. This is especially true for older adults, as potential radiation-caused cancer development may not occur for
decades. Also consider that CT and PET scanners in use today use a much lower radiation dose than was used even just a few years ago. Radiation doses are further kept to a minimum when the dose is tailored specifically to body size and diagnostic requirements. Still, radiation experts generally err on the side of caution. They assume that See X-RAY SAFETY, page 17
How much is too much? It’s not known at what levels radiation begins to significantly increase cancer risk. Below 100 millisieverts, an increase in risk has not been shown to exist. However, by scaling the risk at higher doses down to lower doses, it has been estimated that 10 millisieverts of radiation exposure could increase the lifetime risk of an adult dying of cancer by about 0.05%. With a 21% overall lifetime risk of dying of cancer, 10 millisieverts of radiation exposure theoretically could raise the lifetime risk of dying of cancer to 21.05%. This
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Which colorectal screening do you need? By Penn Medicine Each year, more than 140,000 people in the U.S. receive a diagnosis of colorectal cancer, and about 50,000 die from the disease. It’s the second-leading cause of cancer death among U.S. men and women combined. Yet it’s highly preventable. “With colorectal cancer screening, we can detect precancerous lesions [and polyps] and get them removed,” said Kofi Clarke, M.D., chief of the Division of Gastroenterolo-
gy at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. “We’ve begun to notice the incidence of colorectal cancer decreasing in the past few years, and we believe that is partly due to screening.” While all types of colorectal cancer screening are more effective than no screening, the right test for an individual depends on their risk factors. If a person has no family or personal history of polyps, colon cancer or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), no history of abdomi-
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nal radiation as a child or radiation treatment for prostate cancer, they are typically at average risk for colorectal cancer. This category represents the majority of people. “People at average risk should start getting screened at age 50 with the exception of African Americans, who should start screening at age 45,” Clarke said. People at average risk have numerous screening options, including: — Colonoscopy. This test allows doctors to view the inside of the colon and remove any polyps or abnormal findings for further testing. It’s the gold standard and is recommended once every 10 years for patients at average risk. If a patient’s doctor finds precancerous polyps, he may ask them to increase the frequency of colonoscopies depending on the size, number and type of polyps found. — Virtual Colonoscopy. People at average risk who decline a colonoscopy can have this less invasive test — a CT scan of the colon — once every five years. “But if the test detects polyps, you will still need a colonoscopy to have them examined,” Clarke said. — Stool DNA Test. This newer option includes tests like Cologuard, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2014. In simple terms, it measures stool DNA from a single sample
and can be as effective as a colonoscopy for people at average risk. These tests should be done once every three years. — Other fecal tests. A Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) checks for blood in samples from a single stool. A High-Sensitivity Guaiac-Based Fecal Occult Blood Test (HSgFOBT) preferably should be done at home. It involves testing for blood from three separate bowel movements. Either test is recommended once a year for people at average risk. People at high risk for colorectal cancer should have a colonoscopy once every five years and preferably should not use other screening options. “For those with a family history of colorectal cancer, we recommend they start screenings at either age 40 or five years before their family member was diagnosed,” Clarke said. People with IBD should begin screening after eight years with the condition. People who are uncertain about their risk level should talk with their healthcare provider. A Wellness Update is a magazine devoted to up-to-the minute information on health issues from physicians, major hospitals and clinics, universities and healthcare agencies across the U.S. Online at awellnessupdate.com. © 2019 www.awellnessupdate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Let’s Talk Assisted Living
A SWEET HISTORY LESSON THURSDAY, AUGUST 22 2:00 - 3:30 PM 8100 Connecticut Ave. Chevy Chase, MD 20815
301-907-8895 It’s a conversation we’ve been having with seniors and their families for over 30 years. At Victory Housing, you’ll discover our simple and straight-forward approach to assisted living. From all-inclusive rates to individualized care, our award-winning communities offer the ideal setting to call home. Call or visit us today, let’s talk. We all scream for ice cream – but do you know the story behind our favorite summer dessert? Join cookbook author and food historian Sheilah Kaufman, along with Susan Soorenko, owner of Moorenko’s Ice Cream, to learn the inside scoop.
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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health
WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 9
Water From page 14 focus, keep a glass of water next to you and keep sipping. 5. Prevent headaches. Water deprivation is a common cause of headache. In most cases, rehydrating can provide relief from a headache. For some people, dehydration can also trigger a migraine, so be sure to keep your water intake regular if you are prone to getting migraines or headaches.
X-ray safety From page 15 there’s no risk-free level of radiation exposure and recommend only medically necessary imaging tests. To keep medical radiation exposure to a minimum, ask if the results of a scan or test are likely to change the course of your treatment. If not, it may not be necessary. If you switch healthcare providers, have image files transferred over to your new provider to avoid repeat X-ray exams.
6. Protect against disease. Proper hydration may be a useful tool in preventing a variety of health conditions and diseases. Staying hydrated may protect against kidney stones, constipation, asthma, urinary tract infections, coronary heart disease and even possibly some cancers. Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC. 800-8295384. www.EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2019 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
BEACON BITS
Aug. 10
HOW TO ORGANIZE AND PRESERVE MEMORIES You have old photos, papers and home movies stored all around
your house. How can you best organize and preserve them? Stop by the Memory Lab on Sat., Aug. 10 at 1 p.m. at the Francis A. Gregory Library, where staff will teach you how to digitize your personal archive using library resources. The library is located at 3660 Alabama Ave. SE, Washington, D.C. The Memory Lab has pop-up locations at various libraries, too. Call (202) 698-6373 for more locations and information.
Finally, if the test is medically necessary, have the imaging done at a nationally accredited imaging center when possible. Patricia Mergo, M.D., Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla. Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to MayoClinic Q&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org. © 2019 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
BEACON BITS
Aug. 17
WORLD FOOD FESTIVAL
Want to sample cuisine from all around the world? The 2019 Around the World Cultural Food Festival brings traditional food, dances, arts and organizations to Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C. on Sat., Aug. 17 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free; food is available for purchase. Visit http://bit.ly/2019WorldFoodFestival for more information.
Aug. 7+
ONE-ON-ONE COMPUTER HELP
Get free, personalized, one-on-one computer help at the Mount Pleasant Library on Wednesdays during library hours, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. From navigating the web to downloading PDFs, you will be guided on how to use both the simple and advanced tools that computers provide. Mount Pleasant Library is located at 3160 16th St. NW, Washington, D.C. Call (202) 671-3121 with any questions.
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A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
Questions, answers on leg pain issues By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: My legs used to swell occasionally. But now it’s happening every day. Should I be worried? A: It sounds like you have “edema,” swelling in your legs due to fluid in the soft tissues beneath your skin. This usually occurs because the pressure of the fluid inside your veins is high, which forces water out of the blood vessels and into the surrounding tissues. The most common cause is leaky valves in your veins. Doctors call it venous insufficiency. There are one-way valves in your veins that help keep the blood flowing back to-
ward your heart. Ordinarily, as you walk around, the muscles in your legs squeeze the veins, which pump the blood through these valves up toward the heart. When the muscles relax, the valves prevent blood from draining down the vessels. If these valves become leaky, the blood gets propelled upward, but much of it drops down again when the leg muscles relax. The result is an accumulation of blood — and an increase in pressure — within the veins. The higher pressure pushes fluid out of the veins, causing leg swelling.
Check with your doctor It’s less likely your edema is due to some
BEACON BITS
Aug. 11
TRY VEGAN FOOD
Do you know what vegan means? Think plant-based food without any animal products. Sample gourmet cashew cheeses, baked goods and other treats, listen to live music, and learn how to cook like a vegan at the annual DC VegFest on Sun., Aug. 11 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The free event will be held at Nationals Park, 1500 South Capitol St. SE, Washington, D.C. Local comedian Sean Savoy will emcee the festival, with more than 120 vendors and exhibitors. For more information, visit dcvegfest.com.
Aug. 12
SCRABBLE FUN
Play Scrabble with others at Iona Senior Services at 4 p.m. on Mon., Aug. 12. Everyone is welcome, and coaches will be on hand to help. No need to bring a dictionary; just your brain will do. Iona Senior Services is located at 4125 Albemarle St. NW, Washington, D.C. Please RSVP to (202) 459-9634.
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other medical problem. But you should make an appointment with your doctor to be sure. Your doctor will ask if you have shortness of breath, fatigue, pain in your legs and whether one leg is more swollen than the other. Depending on your symptoms and your doctor’s physical exam, he or she might order some tests. These could include an echocardiogram to look at how your heart is functioning, blood and urine tests to evaluate your kidney and liver health, and ultrasound testing of your legs to look for blood clots. A number of medications can cause fluid retention in your legs, such as high doses of ibuprofen, naproxen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Also, leg swelling is a common side effect of certain calcium channel blockers, especially nifedipine and amlodipine.
Relieving swelling To help minimize the swelling, raise your legs whenever you sit down. Even better, try to schedule 20 or 30 minutes during the day when you can lie down with pillows under your feet to get your legs above the level of your heart. In doing so, gravity becomes your ally, not the enemy. You might consider compression stockings that squeeze the legs. By resisting the pressure from within the veins, they help prevent fluid from seeping out of the blood vessels. Usually the knee-high versions are sufficient. Q: I have peripheral artery disease. I try to walk as much as possible. But I stop frequently because of leg pain. What else can I do? A: In peripheral artery disease (PAD), not enough blood flows to the legs. The condition usually is caused by fatty deposits called plaques that build up inside the artery walls.
This buildup shrinks the size of the passageway and reduces the amount of blood that can flow through. The result is cramping and pain in one or both legs, even on a short walk. You likely are trying to follow your doctor’s advice to walk as much as possible. But with PAD, it’s common to need frequent stops to let the pain resolve. People with PAD usually modify their walking. They slow down and stop often. They also tend to take smaller steps, and use their calf and ankle muscles more than thigh and hip muscles to push off with each step. With PAD, circulation is slowest in the lower parts of the leg. Using calf and ankle muscles creates more oxygen demand. Not enough oxygen-rich blood gets to these muscles. That’s what causes the pain with walking. So, it makes sense to do exercises that will strengthen thigh and hip muscles. The more those muscles take over when walking, the less pain you will have.
Specialized exercise training One of the most effective therapies for leg pain due to PAD — an approach called supervised exercise training — has become more widely available and affordable. Medicare and some other insurance companies now cover supervised exercise training for PAD. The therapy, which requires a doctor’s referral, also includes education and counseling about healthy lifestyle habits. But the main focus is on the exercise, which is typically done on a treadmill with coaching from an exercise therapist. Meeting with a trained therapist to exerSee LEG PAIN, page 20
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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health
WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 9
Health Shorts Medicare moving toward covering some acupuncture Medicare says it’s moving toward potentially covering acupuncture for chronic low back pain as an alternative to opioid painkillers that can become addictive. The agency announced its initial decision on July 15. For now, access will be limited to those signed up in government-approved clinical studies. Medicare says more evidence is needed before broad approval can be considered. A cornerstone of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is believed to be thousands of years old. Trained practitioners insert thin needles at predetermined trigger points in the body to relieve pain and treat various conditions. Acupuncture has gained acceptance in the U.S., but insurance coverage remains limited and patients generally pay for it themselves. Many clinicians in Western nations remain skeptical of acupuncture, but the National Institutes of Health says research shows some pain-management benefits.
U.S. expands growth of marijuana for research The U.S. government is growing the largest crop of research marijuana in five years, responding to interest in varieties with high levels of THC and CBD. (The compound THC causes pot’s mind-altering effect; CBD doesn’t get people high but conveys some health benefits.) Because it still considers marijuana to be an illegal substance, the government is the only source of pot for nearly all research in the U.S. Scientists have asked for weed that more closely matches what’s sold in states that have legalized medical or recreational marijuana, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The federal agency said it plans to grow 2,000 kilograms (4,409 pounds) this year at the University of Mississippi, which holds the sole federal contract for producing marijuana. That’s enough for 5 million joints, although the government provides the marijuana in different forms. The crop will be divided between high THC and high CBD varieties with “recent interest (in CBD) as a potential medicine for a number of medical conditions,” NIDA said.
Last year, a CBD-based drug was approved by federal regulators for two rare seizure disorders. Some scientists are pursuing research on it for other conditions. Others are focused on THC. “We want to study what our patients are using,” said University of Colorado Assistant Professor Emily Lindley, who is investigating marijuana with high THC as an alternative to opioids for chronic back pain. Lindley and other researchers want others besides the University of Mississippi to get federal authorization to grow research pot. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration created an application process for growers, but has not acted on more than two dozen applications. In June, Scottsdale Research Institute in Arizona asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to order the
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DEA to process the applications. “We are still working through the process and those applications remain under review,” said DEA spokeswoman Katherine Pfaff in an email. She declined to comment on the litigation. In response to questions from the AP, NIDA said there had been no major increase in demand for cannabis by researchers in recent years. Last year, 20 researchers got shipments of government marijuana, much of it from frozen cannabis grown in 2014. Since 2010, the number of researchers receiving government marijuana has ranged from eight to 21. Researchers should be able to obtain material from the new crop in the fall after harvest and analyses are completed, NIDA said. —AP
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A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
Daily showers aren’t great for our health By Robert H. Shmerling, M.D. Q: I grew up thinking that people should take a shower every day because it’s healthier. But is it that true? A: For many — perhaps most — the daily shower is more about habit and societal norms than health. Perhaps that’s why the frequency of bathing or showering varies so much from country to country. Besides considering it healthier, people may choose to shower daily for a number of reasons, such as concerns about odor, help waking up, or a morning routine that includes working out. Each of these has merit, especially considering that personal or work relationships can be jeopardized by complaints about body odor or personal hygiene. When it comes to concerns about health, however, it’s not at all clear that a daily shower accomplishes much.
Showers can even do harm In fact, a daily shower may even be bad for your health. Normal, healthy skin maintains a layer of oil and a balance of “good” bacteria and other microorganisms. Washing and scrubbing removes these, especially if the water is hot. As a result: Skin may become dry, irritated or itchy. Dry, cracked skin may allow bacteria and allergens to breach the barrier skin is
Leg pain From page 18 cise several times a week tends to be more effective than home exercise because people are more motivated and tend to work harder. Medicare will cover up to 36 sessions of 30 to 60 minutes each over a 12-week period, with the possibility of approval for an additional 36 sessions over time. To help you walk longer distances, your doctor might prescribe a medication called cilostazol (Pletal). It doesn’t stop the blockages from getting worse. Instead, the drug
supposed to provide, allowing skin infections and allergic reactions to occur. Antibacterial soaps can actually kill off normal bacteria. This upsets the balance of microorganisms on the skin and encourages the emergence of hardier, less friendly organisms that are more resistant to antibiotics. Our immune systems need a certain amount of stimulation by normal microorganisms, dirt and other environmental exposures in order to create protective antibodies and “immune memory.” This is one reason why some pediatricians and dermatologists may recommend against daily baths for kids. Frequent baths or showers throughout a lifetime may reduce the ability of the immune system to do its job. While there is no ideal frequency, experts suggest that showering several times per week is plenty for most people (unless you are grimy, sweaty or have other reasons to shower more often). Short showers (lasting three or four minutes) with a focus on areas prone to body odor may suffice. If you’re like me, it may be hard to imagine skipping the daily shower. But if you’re doing it for your health, it may be a habit worth breaking. © 2019 President and Fellows of Harvard College. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. helps increase blood flow to the muscles. People with PAD almost always have blockages in other arteries, including those that supply blood to the heart and brain. So it’s important to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by not smoking and usually taking aspirin and a statin drug. Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, visit health.harvard.edu. © 2019 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
BEACON BITS
Sept. 16
ELEVATOR SPEECH Practice your elevator speech for future employers at this free
workshop. It takes place on Monday, Sept. 16 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Columbia Pike Branch Library, 816 South Walter Reed Dr., Arlington, Va. To register, call (703) 228-5993 at least one week in advance.
Sept. 7
SUPPORT GROUP FOR NEUROPATHY Do you have numbness in your fingers or toes? Other people do, too. The Peripheral Neuropathy Support Group for Greater
Washington meets the first Saturday of the month from 2 to 4 p.m. at Mason District Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale, Va. All are welcome. Call (301) 263-0616 for more information or visit dcpnsupport.org.
WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 9
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health
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Rise of legal pot harms medical users By Gillian Flaccus and Angeliki Kastanis When states legalize pot for all adults, long-standing medical marijuana programs take a big hit, in some cases losing more than half their registered patients in just a few years, according to a data analysis by Associated Press. Much of the decline comes from consumers who, ill or not, got medical cards in their states because it was the only way to buy marijuana legally and then discarded them when broader legalization arrived. But for people who truly rely on marijuana to control ailments such as nausea or cancer pain, the arrival of so-called recreational cannabis can mean fewer and more expensive options. There is limited scientific data backing many of the health claims made by medical marijuana advocates, and the U.S. government still classifies cannabis in any form as a controlled substance like LSD and cocaine. Still, the popularity of medical pot is rising as more states legalize it. There are 33 such states, including the politically conservative recent additions of Oklahoma and Utah.
Some costs triple Robin Beverett, a 47-year-old disabled Army veteran in California, said she resumed taking a powerful prescription mood stabilizer to control her anxiety and PTSD when the cost of her medical marijuana nearly tripled after the state began general sales. Before last year, an eighth of an ounce of dry marijuana flower cost her $35. Now it’s approaching $100, Beverett said. “It’s ridiculous. The prices are astronomical,” said Beverett, who moved to Sacramento from Texas because medical marijuana is illegal there. “Going to the dispensary is just out of the question if
you’re on any kind of fixed income.” It’s a paradox playing out nationwide as more states take the leap from care-centered medical programs to recreational models aligned with a multibillion-dollar global industry. States see a “massive exodus” of medical patients when they legalize marijuana for all adults — and then, in many cases, the remaining ones struggle, said David Mangone, director of government affairs for Americans for Safe Access. “Some of the products that these patients have relied on for consistency — and have used over and over for years — are disappearing off the shelves to market products that have a wider appeal,” he said. Cost also rises, a problem that’s compounded because many of those who stay in medical programs are low-income and rely on Social Security disability, he said.
Fewer products for pain In Oregon, where the medical program shrank the most following recreational legalization, nearly two-thirds of patients gave up their medical cards, the AP found. As patients exited, the market followed: The number of medical-only retail shops fell from 400 to two, and hundreds of growers who contracted with individual patients to grow specific strains walked away. Now, some of the roughly 28,000 medical patients left are struggling to find affordable medical marijuana products they’ve relied on for years. While the state is awash in dry marijuana flower that’s dirt cheap, the specialized oils, tinctures and potent edibles used to alleviate severe illnesses can be harder to find and more expensive to buy. “Lots of people have started trying to figure out how to make these concentrates and
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edibles themselves,” said Travis MacKenzie, who runs TJ’s Gardens, which provides free medical cannabis to children with epilepsy. “There are things that we don’t really want people to do at home, but the market conditions are such that people are trying to do more at home.” As more states legalize marijuana for all adults, some who have been using it medically are feeling disenfranchised. Los Angeles dispensary owner Jerred Kiloh sells medical and recreational marijuana and said those markets are quickly becoming one, since few companies are going to produce products for a vanishing group of customers. He said his medical business has dipped to 7% of overall sales
and is dropping month to month. “It’s going to be gone,” said Kiloh, president of the LA trade group United Cannabis Business Association. In Oregon, regulators are struggling to find a path that preserves the state’s trailblazing low-cost medical pot program while tamping down on a still-thriving black market. A special state commission put out a report earlier this year that found affordability and lack of access are major hurdles for Oregon’s patients. “Patients have needs. Consumers have wants,” said Anthony Taylor, a medical marijuana advocate who sits on the Oregon Cannabis Commission. “Patients are in crisis right now.” —AP
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A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
Is true recovery from addiction possible? By Peter Grinspoon I am now 11 years into recovery from my battle with opiate addiction, and I have always been fascinated with two related questions: Is there truly such a thing as an “addictive personality,” and do people substitute one addiction for another?
The addictive personality myth The writer and television personality Anthony Bourdain, who killed himself last year, was criticized by some for recreationally using alcohol and cannabis, in what was seemingly a very controlled and responsible manner, decades after he quit heroin
and cocaine. Was this a valid criticism? Can a person who was addicted to drugs or alcohol in their teens safely have a glass of wine with dinner in their middle age? It depends on which model of addiction and recovery you subscribe to. If you are a traditionalist who believes that addictions last a lifetime, that people readily substitute addictions, and that people have ingrained “addictive personalities,” the answer is: absolutely not. This would be playing with fire. During my 90 days in rehab, it was forcefully impressed upon me that addic-
BEACON BITS
Aug. 30
BLOOD DRIVE
Help others by donating blood to the American Red Cross. The blood drive will be held on Fri., Aug. 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library, 5005 Duke St., Alexandria, Va. For more information, call (703) 746-1702 or email spalmieri@alexlibraryva.org.
Ongoing
FARM VOLUNTEER
Weed the beds, harvest produce, water and maintain the compost bins at the Farm at Kelly Miller Middle School every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. Wear clothes that can get dirty, and closed-toe shoes. The farm is located at 301 49th St. NE, Washington, D.C. To volunteer, email violet@dreamingoutloud.org.
tions are routinely substituted, and that if one is ever addicted to any substance, then lifelong abstinence from all potentially addictive substances is one’s only hope of salvation. (Many hold that an addiction can be to either a substance or a process: gambling, eating, video game playing, Internet use, sex, work, religion, exercise or compulsive spending.) The avoidance tactic seemed to make sense, as a person would have the same lifelong predispositions to an addiction: Genetic makeup, childhood traumas, diagnoses of anxiety or depression — all of which could plausibly set them up to become addicted to, say, alcohol, once they have put in the hard work to get their heroin addiction under control. In medical terms, different addictions can have a common final pathway in the mesolimbic dopamine system (the reward system of our brain), so it is logical that the body might try to find a second pathway to satisfy these hungry neurotransmitters if the first one is blocked — a “cross-addiction.” While in rehab, though, I was told a lot of other things that turned out to have no basis in scientific evidence. For example, I was told on a daily basis that “a drug is a drug is a drug.” This mentality doesn’t allow for a difference between, for example, the powerful opiate fentanyl, which kills thousands of people every year, and buprenorphene (Suboxone) which is a widely-accepted treatment for opioid use disorder. I have come to believe that an uncompromising “abstinence-only” model is a holdover from the very beginnings of the recovery movement, almost 100 years ago, and our understanding has greatly evolved since then.
The concepts of addiction and recovery that made sense in 1935, when Alcoholics Anonymous was founded, and which have been carried on by tradition, might not still hold true in the modern age of neurochemistry and functional MRIs. That said, mutual help groups today do have a place in some people’s recovery and they can encourage the work of changing and maintaining change.
Ways to avoid new addictions No one definitively knows the answer about whether people substitute addictions. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “A previous substance use disorder is a risk factor for future development of substance use disorder (SUD).” On the other hand, “it is also possible that someone who once had an SUD but doesn’t currently have one has a balance of risk and protective genetic and environmental factors that could allow for alcohol consumption without developing an AUD [alcohol use disorder].” One study published in JAMA in 2014 showed that, “As compared with those who do not recover from an SUD, people who recover have less than half the risk of developing a new SUD. Contrary to clinical lore, achieving remission does not typically lead to drug substitution, but rather is associated with a lower risk of new SUD onset.” The authors of this study suggest that factors such as “coping strategies, skills and motivation of individuals who recover from an SUD may protect them from the onset of a new SUD.” In other words, by making the life-affirming transition from addicted to recovSee ADDICTION, page 25
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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 9
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Several ways to reduce your food waste By Rachael Moeller Gorman A study examining whether people could reduce how much food they wasted found that providing a flood of information — Use veggie scraps to make stock! Preserve produce before it goes bad! — wasn’t helpful. What did help: targeted, personalized recommendations based on people’s biggest sticking points. Use these scenarios to help identify and reduce your food-waste footprint. 1. If you don’t know how much you waste in a day Most people don’t; in fact, 75 percent of us believe we waste less than the average American. Jot down all the food you throw away for a few days to get a sense of what and why you waste — from the food your kid flings on the floor to the leftovers left too long in the fridge. Then you can address those specific issues one by one. 2. If you tend to overbuy Shop several times a week instead of once. Make it easier by ordering ingredients online from grocers with same-day delivery or a supermarket that offers drivethrough pickup. Or keep a cooler in your car and shop during your lunch break. 3. If you love trying new recipes
Stick to a specific type of cuisine — Thai, Mexican, Indian — for several meals a week, since they tend to use the same ingredients. Shop the grocery store salad bar if you only need a small amount of an ingredient. And plan for a clean-out-the-fridge stir-fry, soup or pasta at the end of the week to use whatever odds and ends you have left. 4. If you often forget about leftovers Pack them in single-serving containers for lunches that night. If you freeze them, label and date the leftovers and put them on your list of planned meals for the week. 5. If you frequently bargain-shop Only buy it if it’s nonperishable, like pasta or cereal, and something you would normally buy anyway. Otherwise, keep walking. 6. If you always make too much food Freeze the leftovers in individual-size portions. For dinner parties, send guests home with the extras. Also handy: a portion planner (like the one at savethefood.com/guestimator) can help you more accurately figure out how much food to make. 7. If you frequently chuck the mystery meal in the freezer Label everything. Keep a marker and
masking tape right next to the fridge and jot the date you made that chili, when you opened that carton of stock, or when you put those shrimp in the freezer. Also, organize your fridge with the newest stuff in the back and the oldest in the front where you can see it. 8. If your family doesn’t eat everything served Be realistic, not optimistic — and give them smaller portions. They can always have seconds. Or take less yourself, knowing you may be nibbling whatever they leave behind. 9. If you often buy things on the fly Plan meals carefully and try not to deviate from the items on your list. Research
shows that shoppers who stick to their grocery lists are less susceptible to impulse buys, spend less on groceries and — you guessed it — don’t waste as much. 10. If shopping at bulk stores makes you load up Be strategic. Stuff that can stick around a long time (boxed broth, kosher salt, steel-cut oatmeal) gets a green light, but that giant sack of grapefruit? Maybe not. Or try splitting purchases with another family. EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at eatingwell.com. © 2019 Meredith Corporation. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
BEACON BITS
Sept. 12+
INTRO TO MIXED-MEDIA ART Learn about the materials, tools and techniques used to create a
collage and experiment with colors and design at an introductory course on mixed-media art. All supplies are included (including a glass of wine!). The cost is $150 for Smithsonian members and $180 for nonmembers. The class will be held for three sessions on Thursdays, starting on Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m., at the S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW, Washington, D.C. To purchase a ticket, call (202) 633-1000.
Assisted Living and Memory Care that’s fit for a … well, you know. Isn’t it about time you were treated like royalty? You bet it is. Come see for yourself just what assisted living and memory care with A Whole Lotta Heart is all about. Please call 301.200.0928 for more information or to schedule your complimentary lunch and tour.
NOW OPEN, TOUR TODAY!
13908 New Hampshire Avenue • Silver Spring 301.200.0928 • TheLandingOfSilverSpring.com
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Health Studies Page
A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS
Study offers free annual memory checks By Margaret Foster Do you forget common words or names? Or are you simply interested in
doing your part to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia? Either way, you can contribute to scien-
tific research and also get periodic cognitive checks by enrolling in a new longterm study. Georgetown University’s Memory Disorders Program is conducting a longitudinal study to track changes in cognitive ability over time. Just a few hours in its memory clinic can make a difference. If you prefer a oneshot deal, you can make just one visit to the Georgetown Medical School campus on Reservoir Road in Northwest Washington, D.C. Or you can choose to be part of the longitudinal study, which requires one visit every year or two for 10 years. At each three-hour visit, participants
will take a cognitive test and lifestyle survey and have their blood drawn. They may or may not choose to give an optional spinal fluid specimen. Anyone age 45 or older is eligible to participate in the longitudinal study. Those who are cognitively normal will visit just once every other year. On the “off year,” researchers will call to do a brief cognitive check over the phone. People who have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or a neurodegenerative disease must visit once a year. “A lot of people use this study if they are cognitively normal but they have a family history [of dementia] so they want more of a robust memory check,” said Jessica Mallory, clinical trial manager at Georgetown University’s Memory Disorders Program. “We can’t give them a diagnosis based on research testing, but if we noticed that if there was reason for concern, we would refer them to their physician.” Georgetown has been collecting blood samples for this study for a decade, but last year the Memory Disorders Program staff decided to revamp the data, adding more cognitive testing and the lifestyle survey. “Exercise, sleep and mood are three things that we are looking closely at,” Mallory said. The more participants in the study, the better, she said. “We want to be continuously enrolling new people. We hope to get about 50 new participants each year.” Parking validation and free lunch will be provided. The Georgetown University Memory Disorders Program is located at 3800 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC. For more information or to enroll in the longitudinal study, call Benjamin Edwards at (202) 687-1597 or email bae42@georgetown.edu.
BEACON BITS
Aug. 21
IMPROVE YOUR FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE
Are you ready to take your finances to the next level? Learn more about financial technology, financial planning and investing in real estate. The free workshop and networking session takes place on Wed., Aug. 21 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. It is located at WeWork, 80 M St. SW, Washington, D.C. To register, visit http://bit.ly/2LpygoR.
WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 9
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health
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Dementia risk raised by cancer treatment By Lindsey Tanner Alzheimer’s disease may be a risk for older prostate cancer patients given hormone-blocking treatment, a large, U.S. government-funded analysis found. Previous evidence has been mixed on whether the treatment might be linked with mental decline. But experts say the new results stand out because they’re from a respected national cancer database and the men were tracked for a long time — eight years on average. Among 154,000 older patients, 13% who received hormone-blocking treatment developed Alzheimer’s, compared with 9% who had other treatment or chose no therapy, the study found. The risk for dementia from strokes or other causes was higher: It was diagnosed in 22% of those who got hormone-blocking treatment, versus 16% of the other patients. The results, using perhaps one of the largest and most reliable databases, sug-
gest there truly may be a connection, said Dr. Sumanta Pal, a prostate cancer expert with the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Pal was not involved in the study. The analysis from University of Pennsylvania researchers was published in July in JAMA Network Open.
Addiction
People grow and change
From page 22 ered, we gain a recovery “toolbox” that helps us navigate life’s challenges and stresses in a healthier way. We learn to connect with people, push our egos aside, and to ask for help if we need it. We might respond by exercising or calling a friend. As such, we substitute addictions with healthier activities that perform the function that the drink or drug used to.
Weigh risks and benefits The results aren’t proof, but experts say they underscore the importance of discussing potential risks and benefits when choosing cancer treatment. The researchers analyzed data from a National Cancer Institute database of cancer cases and treatment that covers almost 30% of the U.S. population. The study focused on men in their 70s, on average, with local or advanced prostate cancer diagnosed between 1996 and 2003. They were followed until 2013. Medicare records indicated dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
We continue to add to our coping skills toolbox throughout life, so the unhappy 18-year-old who is struggling is not the well-adjusted 50-year-old who has worked through many of their problems, or who has improved their life circumstances. People aren’t static, which is what reminds us to never give up hope when dealing with an addicted loved one, no matter how dire the circumstances appear to be. © 2019 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved.
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Hormone-blocking treatment can include testes removal to reduce levels of testosterone, which fuels prostate cancer growth. But it more typically involves periodic drug injections or implants that achieve the same result. Most U.S. men who receive this treatment are in their 70s or older. It’s sometimes used in men who might not be healthy enough to tolerate other cancer treatments, including surgery to remove the prostate and radiation. It’s unclear how the treatment might be linked with mental decline. The researchers noted that it can lead to diabetes, which also has been linked with dementia — perhaps because blood vessel damage from diabetes
can restrict blood flow to the brain. Hormone treatment also raises risks for heart disease and depression, which both have been linked with dementia. Researcher Grace Lu-Yao of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center in Philadelphia said the potential dementia risks from hormone-blocking treatment may outweigh any benefit for younger, healthier patients with longer expected life spans. While the study doesn’t prove that the treatment causes dementia, she said, it is important to tell patients “because of the potential impact of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia on the quality of life of patients and their family.” She was not involved in the study. —AP
HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED • Healthy adults ages 65 & up are needed for a RSV research study. • Compensation may be provided.
Call 1-844-RX-STUDY or visit www.RSVResearch.com
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A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
Enjoy the sweet benefits of watermelon By EatingWell.com Experience a classic summer pleasure: take a big bite from a slice of watermelon, let the sweet juices drip down your chin and then spit the seeds as far as you can. Redolent with tangy sweetness, watermelon is refreshing without being filling and is surprisingly good for you. This fruit — 92 percent water, hence the name — is a good source of vitamin C and, when it’s red, the antioxidant lycopene (some types are orange or yellow).
This sweet melon’s iconic status in American culture often overshadows its culinary potential. Watermelon, usually eaten without fuss in North America, enjoys much more varied culinary treatment in other parts of the world. Sandia (Spanish for watermelon) is a popular flavor of aguas frescas in Mexico, drinks made with pureed fruit, water and sugar. In China, the coatings of the seeds are removed and the inner flesh of the seeds is eaten. In West Africa, watermelon seeds,
BEACON BITS
Aug. 9
CALLING DO-IT-YOURSELFERS
At the “Fab Lab,” a do-it-yourself space, you can learn to sew, repair jewelry or use technology like 3-D printers. To attend these free workshops, you must first attend a Safety Orientation on Fri., Aug. 9 at the Fab Lab, located in the Franklin D. Reeves Center, 2000 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. Bring your D.C. library card and photo identification. Call (202) 727-1275 or email fab.lab@dc.gov for more information.
Aug. 24
JOB HUNTING WORKSHOP
If you are looking for a career change or just tired of the office, join this free workshop that will help you identify viable career choices. Improve your resume and learn how to network on Sat., Aug. 24 at 10 a.m. The workshop takes place at the Quince Orchard Public Library, 15831 Quince Orchard Rd., Gaithersburg, Md. To learn more, call (240) 777-0200.
called egusi, are cooked in salt, fermented, roasted or ground. Watermelon’s crispness and granular texture can stand up well in many unexpected dishes, so be adventurous and try using it in a recipe.
should feel heavy for its size and have a creamy yellow spot on the one side of the melon where it sat on the ground to ripen in the sun. Precut melon flesh should be dense, firm and appear moist.
Peak watermelon season
How to store watermelon
Though you can often find watermelon year-round in the grocery store, this summery fruit is best June through October.
Wash a whole watermelon in clean, running water to remove surface dirt; dry before cutting. When purchasing cut watermelon, wash and dry the rind of the watermelon. Watermelon’s temperature should be maintained — if it is purchased at room temperature, it should be stored at room temperature. If the melon was refrigerated at the supermarket, do so at home as well. Sliced melon should be refrigerated immediately, either in a covered container or wrapped in plastic wrap to prevent the flesh from becoming mushy.
Watermelon nutrition Watermelon averages 40 percent more of the cancer-fighter lycopene per serving than tomatoes. Furthermore, lycopene in watermelon is easily absorbed without cooking, unlike that in tomatoes, and is relatively stable when the fruit is stored and refrigerated. A cup of watermelon also provides 10 percent of the daily value for vitamin A, 12 percent of the daily value for vitamin C, along with vitamin B6, beta carotene, thiamin and potassium — all for just 46 calories.
How to buy watermelon A watermelon should be firm and symmetrical, without bruises, cuts or dents. It
Fun watermelon fact Early explorers used watermelons as canteens. EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at eatingwell.com. © 2019 Meredith Corporation.
Easy Watermelon Salad 1 ripe watermelon, washed and cut into bite-sized pieces 1 cucumber, peeled and cut into half-inch pieces ½ cup crumbled feta cheese 1 lime 3 tbsp. Balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp. honey Mint leaves, chopped Mix juice from lime, vinegar and honey and coat watermelon and cucumber pieces. Stir in feta and mint leaves and serve chilled.
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health
WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 9
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The many protective properties of fruits Some people eat nothing but fruit. They ty to help with diabetes as well as hypertenare called fruitarians. While I do not advo- sion. They are high in potassium (and low in sodium), which means they cate this diet for everyone, I can reduce blood pressure. do see the virtues in fruits! Figs contain abscisic acid, I highly recommend you inwhich has been studied for its clude fruits in your diet. They ability to help with carbohytaste great, give you natural drate metabolism and blood fiber and contain antioxidants sugar. and anti-inflammatory comStrawberries pounds. This will tamp down Strawberries are red from some of the pain cytokines that their anthocyanins. These your body can run amok with. Here are some fruits of the gorgeous fruits contain ferDEAR ulic acid and have been shown season, and why I recom- PHARMACIST to have a remarkably high mend them. By Suzy Cohen Apricots scavenging activity toward Apricots’ yellow-orange color comes from chemically generated radicals, thus makbeta carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin ing them effective in inhibiting oxidation A. They also contain lutein and zeaxanthin, of human LDLs (the “bad� form of cholesuseful for good vision. Apricots have been terol). Blackberries studied for their beneficial role in fatty liver. These contain antibacterial compounds Pomegranates These fruits contain compounds that natu- that are thought to help with gum disease. rally lower your blood pressure. If you drink They also contain quercetin and ellagic acid, more than, say, a shot glass of pomegranate which taken together act as free-radical juice each day, and you’re also taking blood scavengers and protect your cells from pressure medications, your numbers may go DNA damage. This could be helpful if you too low! Pomegranate juice has another help- have a history of cancer. Grapefruit ful effect on the body in that is a natural, mild blood thinner. This fruit can help with appetite suppresFigs sion and may be useful as an adjunctive to Figs are now being studied for their abili- your weight loss program and exercise regi-
men. It can spark more production of cholecystokinin, which is a “stop sign� for eating. Grapefruit rind (and orange rind) contain a lot of naringen, a compound that causes a bitter taste in the fruit. This compound is the one that interacts with some antihistamines and statins (which is why those on some types of these drugs are not supposed to eat a lot of grapefruit). That said, naringen is also known for its cough-suppressant action and ability to help out with asthma. Apples These could help reduce stroke, compliments of the high amount of quercetin. This effect was confirmed by a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, which evaluated 9,208 men and
women and concluded, “The intake of apples is related to a decreased risk of thrombotic stroke.� Raspberries The fruit contains vitamin C, quercetin and ellagic acid antioxidants that fight cancer and inflammation. The leaves of raspberries contain fragarine, which is a strong inhibitor of uterine contractions. In other words, a cup of raspberry leaf tea can help with cramps. 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. To contact her, visit SuzyCohen.com.
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VOLUME XXXI, ISSUE
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE By Laura Newland, Director D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living The D.C. Commission on Aging recently held their annual retreat where they planned for the upcoming year. The Commission on Aging is a 15-member citizens advisory group appointed by the Mayor “to advise to the Mayor, the D.C. Council, the D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL), and the public concerning the views and needs of the aged in the District of Columbia” (DC Law § 7-504.01). Commissioners represent all eight wards of the city and serve as your voice in the community, advising D.C. government on aging issues and concerns. In addition to meeting monthly, your commissioners are out in the community, working with residents, listening to concerns, and bringing information back to help us as we work to make D.C. a city where you want to be — at every age. They also work with mini-commissions in each ward. Mini-commissions are made up of residents and advocates who serve as the eyes and ears in your community and advise the Commission on Aging on senior concerns in your neighborhood. Since starting in my role, I’ve looked to the Commission on Aging for guidance on how DACL can truly represent the needs of the community. They’ve counseled me on a range of issues — from health and wellness, elder abuse and fraud protection, to what the agency’s relationship should be to the community. I’m so grateful for their guidance and support. They helped me navigate my transition as a new director, and today, they continue to advise me on the role of DACL as a department and how we can work together to best serve the community.
They also advise the Mayor and Council and help to ensure that when the big decisions are made for the city, the concerns and the needs of our older Washingtonians are included. I encourage all of you to get to know the Commissioners representing your Ward. DACL is committed to listening to the community — whether we’re engaging with you in your neighborhood, chatting with you on the phone, or working with our Commissioners, we are constantly looking for more opportunities and better ways to meet you wherever you’re at. To apply to become a member, visit the Mayor’s Office of Talents and Appointments website http:// motaboards.theresumator.com/ap ply/Ut1kD1/Commission-OnAging. Your 2019-2020 Commission on Aging members are: Guleford Bobo, Commission on Aging Chair, Ward 8 Carolyn Matthews, Commission on Aging Vice Chair, Ward 1 Nancy Miranda, Ward 1 Jo-Anne Hersh, Ward 2 John Giacomini, Ward 3 Marguerite Pridgen, Ward 3 Lystra Hinds, Ward 4 Maria Wilson, Ward 4 Barbara Lee, Ward 5 Grace Lewis, Ward 5 Hattie Pierce, Ward 5 Charles Hicks, Ward 6 Alice Love, Ward 6 Mary Taylor, Ward 7 Barbara Hair, Ward 8 Find out more about how to get in contact with your Commissioner by calling my office at 202-7245626. Be well, and remember — Aging is Living!
A newsletter for D.C. Seniors
August 2019
Get Involved Thursday, Aug. 1 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 17 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Department of Aging & Community Living Joins the Mayor’s Office of Returning Citizens Workshop for “Soon to be released DC Residents age 50 and up” 7805 House of Correction Rd. Jessup, Maryland 20794
Penn Branch Community Civic Association: Community Day The Department of Aging and Community Living will staff an informational table at this outdoor event at the 3600 Block of Texas Ave., SE – Ward 7
Saturday, Aug. 3 Noon – 6 p.m. New Samaritan Baptist Church Family, Fun, Faith Festival The Department of Aging and Community Living & Partners will staff informational tables John Burroughs Field, 1820 Monroe Street, NE – Ward 5
Tuesday, Aug. 6 3 – 7 p.m. National Night Out 2019 Kick-Off The Department of Aging and Community Living will staff an informational table at Benning Park Community Center, 5100 Southern Avenue, SE – Ward 7
Thursday, Aug. 15 10 a.m. – Noon
Saturday, Aug. 17 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Places of Worship Advisory Board Community Day Health Fair: Building Healthy Relationships, Friends, Family Anacostia Park, 1500 Anacostia Park Dr., SE Contact: Regina Jefferson (202) 671-5063
Saturday, Aug. 17 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. All Hands on Tech Initiative will provide FREE Tech Support Lamond-Riggs Neighborhood Library 5401 South Dakota Ave., NE – Ward 5
Friday, Aug. 23 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Train to Become a DACL Ambassador 500 K Street, NE Contact: (202) 727-0374 or sadia.ferguson@dc.gov to register.
The 11th Annual Olmstead Community Integration Conference The ARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave., SE – Ward 8 Contact: Jonathan Brooks (202) 299-5748
Saturday, Aug. 17 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 30 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Ridge Road Community Center’s 3rd Annual Community Day The Department of Aging and Community Living will staff an informational table at this event. Ridge Road Community Center, 830 Ridge Rd., SE – Ward 7
Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development Summer Events Series – Jazz at the Pavilion 2700 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., SE – Ward 8 Contact: Malik Williams (202) 741-8809
WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 9
Spotlight on Aging
Say you saw it in the Beacon
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District Crowns Ms. Senior D.C. The excitement was high after the eight contestants completed their evening gown and philosophy of life segments at the Ms. Senior D.C. Pageant 2019, everyone wondering who would be crowned, and all having their favorites. Ultimately the decision rested with the panel of judges for the crowned winner and runners-up, while Ms. Congeniality is chosen by the contestants. The MC Steppers performed their final number, a medley of Aretha Franklin songs that included “I Will Survive,” “Freeway of Love,” “Deeper Love” and “Angel.” Emcee Carroll C. Hynson called all the contestants to the stage one by one, the envelopes were opened and after a drum roll, the winner — Trinette Chase — was crowned! “This has been one of the greatest highlights of my life,” said the 68-yearold mother of six after her crowning. The creative artist and community activist also sews and makes handmade quilts and dolls, which she displayed during her talent segment. Best Interview was also awarded to Chase, who is active in her community. Mayor Muriel Bowser provided greetings during the event and presented Phyllis Jordan, Ms. Senior D.C. 2018, with flowers after she completed her farewell address and final
walk. The Mayor also took photos with each of the contestants wishing them the best in the contest. First Runner-up was Vanella Jackson Crawford, who also won for Best Evening Gown, wearing a stunning black flared fishtail gown with a V-neck, trimmed with three rows of rhinestones. She also won Best Talent and performed a comedy skit on growing older. She is a former businesswoman and a social worker who has worked in the field of mental health. In addition, she trained in personal fitness, was a twotime bodybuilder trophy winner, and studied comedy. Second Runner-up and Best Salesperson was Olimpia Lopez, a native of Guatemala, who made it her mission to live the American Dream. A political activist, she has worked in the government in the Office of Latino Affairs, and currently works at the Department of Parks and Recreation. Besides getting out the vote, Olimpia works with families in cases of abuse and homelessness. The contestants voted Trayci Darlene Campbell as Ms. Congeniality because of her interaction with other contestants during the pageant process. Other contestants included Shirley Powell Ricks, Cynthia Gayle Reddick, Deborah Clark and Sheila Austin-
Eight contestants competed in the 2019 Ms. Senior D.C. Pageant. Contestants pictured (l to r) are Cynthia Gayle Reddick, Shirley B. Powell Ricks, First Runner-up Vanella Jackson Crawford, Ms. Senior D.C. Trinette Chase, Second Runner-up Olimpia Lopez; Ms. Congeniality Trayci Darlene Campbell, Deborah Clark and Sheila Austin-Jones.
Jones. Each of the contestants shared their elegance, poise, talents and stories during the contest, which rates them on a personal interview with the judges, their philosophy of life, talent and evening gown presentations. Ms. Senior D.C. and her court will travel to Atlantic City, NJ where, from October 21 to 25, she will compete for the title of Ms. Senior America 2019. If anyone is interested in supporting Ms. Senior D.C. as she competes in the Ms. Senior America Pageant, you may call Delores Powers or Monica Carroll
at 202-635-1900. The Senior America Pageant is in its 40th year of highlighting the age of elegance of the mature women of America. The reigning Ms. Senior America is Gayle Novak from Colorado. Each year, nearly 40 women from across the country compete for the chance to serve as Ms. Senior America. The Ms. Senior D.C. Pageant is presented by the D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living, its Senior Service Network and the D.C. Seniors Cameo Club.
What to Do in a Heat Emergency When the temperature or heat index in the District reaches 95 degrees, District government, through the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA), will implement the Heat Emergency Plan and activate cooling centers for residents to seek relief.
Spotlight On Aging is published by the Information Office of the D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living for D.C. senior residents. Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living or by the publisher.
500 K St. N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002 202-724-5626 www.dcoa.dc.gov
Director Laura Newland
Editor Darlene Nowlin
Photographer Selma Dillard
Residents and visitors should take extra steps to beat the heat by staying in the shade or air-conditioning, drinking plenty of water and visiting a cooling center. Periods of high heat and humidity can cause medical problems such as heat exhaustion and stroke. DC Recreation Centers, DC Public Libraries and Senior Wellness Centers
The D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living does not discriminate against anyone based on actual or perceived: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, source of income, and place of residence or business. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination which is prohibited by the Act. In addition, harassment based on any of the above protected categories is prohibited by the Act. Discrimination in violation of the Act will not be tolerated. Violators will be subjected to disciplinary action.
The D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living is in partnership with the District of Columbia Recycling Program.
are open to the public and are good places you can go to beat the heat. For more information on where to go, call 311 or text 311 to 32311. Use the following tips to protect yourself and your family during an extreme heat event: Stay indoors as much as possible. Watch for symptoms of heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat cramps are muscular pains and spasms that usually occur in the legs or abdomen. Heat cramps are often an early sign the body is having trouble with the heat. Heat exhaustion is a more severe condition than heat cramps. Heat exhaustion often affects athletes, firefighters, construction workers and factory workers. It also affects those wearing heavy clothing in a hot, humid environment. Signs of heat exhaustion include cool, moist, pale, ashen or flushed skin, headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness and exhaustion. Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition that usually occurs by ignoring the signals of heat exhaustion. Heat
stroke develops when the body systems are overwhelmed by heat and begin to stop functioning. Signs of heat stroke include extremely high body temperature; red skin which may be dry or moist; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; rapid, shallow breathing; confusion; vomiting and seizures. Limit exposure to the sun, and avoid hard work between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Apply sunscreen (SPF 15 to 30 is recommended) at least 20 minutes before going outside. Drink plenty of water. Avoid drinks with caffeine. Eat well-balanced, light meals. Postpone outdoor activities. Turn on the air-conditioner or fan. Check on your pets frequently and encourage them to drink water. Wear light-colored, lightweight and loose-fitting clothes. Visit one of the District’s cooling centers located throughout the city, if you do not have access to a cool-temperature location. Do not leave children or pets in vehicles.
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A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
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Money Law &
TOO MANY PAYMENTS ON AUTO? Consider putting Amazon Prime, Netflix and other monthly subscriptions on one credit card to track costs TUITION TIPS Pay for your grandchildren’s college and save on taxes at the same time with savings bonds BANK FROM HOME Save yourself a trip with the right online bank. Choose a trusted one with the best no-fee savings or money market accounts
Don’t let your kids wreck retirement plans By Eleanor Laise Are your kids putting your retirement at risk? Parents of adult children give their kids about $500 billion annually — double the amount they contribute to their own retirement accounts, according to recent research by Merrill Lynch and Age Wave. And roughly half of parents in a recent Bankrate survey said that paying their adult children’s bills was jeopardizing their own retirement security. Nearly 80% of parents give their adult children some form of financial support, Merrill Lynch found, whether it’s footing everyday bills such as cell-phone service, or helping with mortgage payments and other big-ticket items. A “stunning number” are willing to make major financial sacrifices for their adult kids, such as yanking money out of their retirement accounts, said Lisa Margeson, head of retirement client experience at Bank of America. One in four said they’d take on debt to support their kids, Merrill found. Financial advisers say they’re battling to
protect clients’ retirement savings from their adult children.
Most do help their kids “Most of my clients are helping adult children in one way or another,” said Lynn Ballou, senior vice president and partner at EP Wealth Advisors, in Lafayette, California. In the best cases, she said, parents can afford it, and the assistance helps the kids move toward financial independence. But in the worst cases, the financial help is just enabling the kids to live beyond their means and depleting the parents’ nest egg. Parents’ support of adult children has grown amid rising education costs and weak wage growth. Last year, Nick Kovach helped his older adult daughter, who had been paying down student loans, with a down payment on a house, and he plans to do the same for his younger daughter. “Neither kid asked for help,” said Kovach, 62, a retired oncologist. But “our motto has always been that we had their backs so long as they are moving forward.” While he’s reasonably confident that
he’s not jeopardizing his retirement security, Kovach said, “who the heck knows what tomorrow brings?” If markets head south or he makes some poor investment decisions, he said, “we could be in a world of hurt.”
When and how to pull back How do you know when your financial support of an adult child has gone too far? One red flag is when “parents can’t see the end” of these expenditures, said Jim Ciprich, an adviser at RegentAtlantic, in Morristown, N.J. — in other words, your support isn’t putting the kids on a path to independence. And if you find yourself significantly altering your lifestyle or pulling money from your retirement accounts, it’s time to start examining your level of support, advisers say. First, start talking. If you want to help your children, ask how you can be supportive without discouraging their independence, advisers say. Writing a check may not be the answer. Maybe you could help look after the
grandkids in the evening, for example, so that your child can work a second job, Ballou said. If you do provide financial support, set limits. Make it clear that you have a budget and you’re sticking to it. If you have multiple children, Ciprich said, just be aware that the assistance you provide one child may set expectations among the others. If you’re having trouble closing the bank of mom and dad, consider involving a mediator. In a family meeting, for example, a financial adviser can do the math for your children and say, “see how everybody runs out of money at age 80? This has to stop,” Ballou said. That way, she said, “there’s no finger-pointing, no ‘Hey, you don’t love me anymore.’” And if all else fails, you can send a notso-subtle message. One client, Ballou said, sold her four-bedroom home to make her kids move out. “She moved into a two-bedroom condo, told them the date the house would close, and said, ‘See ya.’” © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Taking Social Security too early is costly By Sarah Skidmore Sell It’s tough to decide when to start taking Social Security benefits, and it appears many people are shorting themselves with their choice. A new study finds that only 4% of retirees start claiming their Social Security benefits at the most financially optimal time. Current retirees collectively will lose $3.4 trillion in potential income to fund their retirement because they started drawing benefits at a less than ideal time. That’s roughly $111,000 per household, according to the research from United Income, an online investment management and financial planning firm. The researchers analyzed the information of more than 2,000 households in a Social Security Administration-sponsored survey. Using information respondents provided about health, longevity, finances and other details, they used forecasting technology to simulate how much households would be worth throughout retirement based on various timing options. The
study did not assume any additional job income in calculating the optimal age. Americans typically can start claiming their Social Security benefits as early as age 62, and most adults do so by the time they turn 63. But the size of the monthly benefit grows for each year they wait, maxing out at age 70.
Many factors to consider It’s not just a financial equation, though. Deciding when to draw benefits depends on a myriad of personal factors such as age, health, other savings, marital status and plans for retirement. But the report’s authors say people aren’t spending enough time sorting through this process and policymakers could do more to encourage it. “If you have the discussions, you can optimize your decisions,” said Jason Fichtner, former chief economist at the Social Security Administration and one of the report’s authors. “These discussions aren’t
necessarily happening for everyone.” Those conversations are important because Americans are increasingly in charge of their own retirement planning and Social Security is a major component. It accounts for about one-third of all income annually received by U.S. retirees. And many Americans are underprepared to supplement their retirement with their own savings. For about one-third of retirees, Social Security is their primary source of income. “It is not just about increasing your income, it’s about increasing your chances you’ll be able to afford retirement,” said Fichtner.
The later, the better (for most) The researchers also estimate that elderly poverty could be cut by 50% if all retirees claimed Social Security at the optimal time. They suggest policymakers make changes to encourage people to claim at a more financially advantageous age, such as
improved education for those eligible for Social Security or changing the terminology to indicate that benefits may increase with time. For example, researchers suggest that instead of calling 62 the “early eligibility age” it could be labeled the “minimum benefit age.” While there is no one optimal age, the researchers found that 92 percent of retirees would be better off waiting to claim Social Security until at least their 65th birthday. The exact timing is tough to pinpoint, even varying within households depending on age and who earned more. That said, there are people who are better off taking the benefits as soon as they can, such as those in poor health who have less time to enjoy their benefits. For others, waiting for the ideal time to claim would mean losing wealth in their 60s, as it would require them to live off savings or investment account withdrawals instead of Social Security benefits. See SOCIAL SECURITY, page 32
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More work past age 65 in D.C. metro area By Andrew Soergel Workers in major metropolitan areas, especially in the Northeast and around Washington, D.C., are more likely to continue working past age 65 than are those in other areas of the country, according to an analysis of Census data by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. “Those are the areas where all of the jobs are, really,� said Anqi Chen, assistant director for savings research at Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research. “The coastal areas recovered well from the recession, while other areas have not.� Falls Church and Alexandria, Virginia, are among the nation’s leaders in terms of older worker labor force participation, with rates of nearly 37% and nearly 30%, respectively. This area is also home to one of the fastest growing over-65 labor forces in the country — three of the 11 counties that saw senior participation rates climb the fastest between 2009 and 2017 are located within 70 miles of Washington, D.C. It’s the types of jobs in these areas — government, finance, law and academia — that keep people working longer, analysts say. Older workers can be a boon to regional economies, increasing tax revenues, stimulating growth with more consumer spending, and providing additional talent and expertise at a time of low unemployment, said Paul Irving, chairman of the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging. Among counties with at least 6,000 residents, about 12% have at least 21% of their 65+ residents working or actively looking for jobs, according to an analysis of the Census’ 2017 American Community Sur-
vey report. Of that group, nearly 25% are located within the Northeast or in Maryland or Virginia. And nearly 15% are within 70 miles of New York, Boston, Philadelphia or Washington, D.C.
Rural, farming areas also excel But large, populous counties don’t have a monopoly on senior participation in the labor force. Vermont, one of the least populous states, holds two counties that rank among the top 100 (Windham and Washington counties) and eight among the top 329 in terms of senior participation. “Despite whatever misnomers might exist, there is a great demand out there for mature workers,� said Mary Branagan, director of program and partner affairs at Associates for Training and Development, a workforce training and development outfit headquartered in Vermont. Branagan helps oversee the state’s Senior Community Service Employment program, which matches qualifying unemployed state residents at least 55 years of age with paid internships that can help them update their skills and remain in the workplace longer. She said her company’s offices in Washington and Windham counties are among its largest statewide. In other areas of the country, Colorado has six of the top 50 counties both in terms of senior labor force participation in 2017 and participation growth between 2009 and 2017. And rural counties heavy in agricultural employment, especially in Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa, boast a considerable senior labor participation rate. Though the jobs are often labor intensive, agricultural professions maintain some of the highest median ages in the country, according to Bu-
reau of Labor Statistics data. That’s due in part to much of U.S. agriculture being concentrated in family farms, the Department of Agriculture said. People can continue living and working on these operations well into their “retirement� years by scaling things down and renting land to other farmers. At the other end of the spectrum, senior labor force participation in 2017 was less than 12% in nearly 14% of counties with at least 6,000 residents. Kentucky, Michigan, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and West Virginia collectively accounted for more than 50% of those bottom-ranking counties in terms of senior labor participation. Senior participation contracted in more than 24% of counties between 2009 and 2017. Nearly 33% of those counties are located in Georgia, Texas, Missouri, Kentucky or North Carolina. Experts say it’s these lower-ranking counties that are missing out on the poten-
tial benefits of a stronger senior labor force. These areas also stand to benefit most from targeted skills training investments and other initiatives that would spur seniors off the sidelines. “It’s good for GDP growth overall and it’s generally just good for the health of the overall economy,� said Andrew Chamberlain, chief economist at employment hub Glassdoor, referring to senior participation in the workforce.
Blue-collar workers less likely Chen notes manufacturing-heavy areas within the Rust Belt and in states including Alabama and Georgia are among those with the lowest senior labor participation. Manufacturing payrolls have plummeted over recent decades amid automation and globalization challenges. Labor-intensive jobs that are prominent See WORKING LONGER, page 32
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Sept. 11
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Learn more about financial literary and money management, such as working with a budget, improving your credit, predatory lending and identity theft. The free workshop takes place on Wed., Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. It is located at Housing Counseling Services, 2410 17th St. NW, D.C. To learn more, call (202) 462-5305 or email info@housingetc.org.
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A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
Social Security From page 30 “This shouldn’t be about ‘claim early’ or ‘claim late.’ It should be a discussion,” Fichtner said. “If anything, just claim as late as you financially can.” Why don’t people wait to claim later? There are many reasons, including personal dynamics within a marriage, finan-
Working longer From page 31 in those areas often preclude folks from working later into life, and the types of white-collar jobs that are more prevalent in larger cities are in shorter supply. “It’s partly just how grim the job prospects are in a lot of micropolitan, or small city and rural, areas,” said Gary Burtless, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. “A lot of them are one-industry towns. And if that industry has been hit hard, that’s going to be a problem for younger workers and older workers.”
cial advisers who would lose out if you draw from investments early, a desire to boost income as many older Americans work low wage jobs, and difficulty in estimating how long you have to live. While not a complete solution for insufficient savings, the study’s authors say that optimizing Social Security would improve the lives of millions of retirees. —AP Burtless notes post-65 labor force participation tends to be higher in urban areas where older workers are better educated, better compensated, and less reliant on labor-intensive blue-collar industries. “The thinking as to why highly educated people tend to work longer is that they may enjoy better health. They may enjoy better working conditions,” said Jen Schramm, a strategic policy adviser for the AARP Public Policy Institute. “They are likely to be paid more, so that’s more of an incentive to keep working.” —AP
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Aug. 27
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Are you starting to plan your retirement? Learn more about longterm care in this monthly series. The free event takes place on Tues., Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Chevy Chase Public Library, 8005 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase, Md. For more information, call (240) 773-9590.
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Costs add up with subscription services By Sarah Skidmore Sell Sure, it’s nice to have your groceries delivered now and then. Ditto dinner. Want to stream your favorite movies? Why not? Curated clothes and books sent to your home? Yes, please. Subscription services are attractive because they’re easy to sign up for and come with a minimal monthly financial commitment. But the small costs can add up, and prices can increase over time. “It’s very easy for consumers to lose track of what they are purchasing,” said Kate Ryan, a director with TIAA Financial Solutions. There has been a proliferation of subscription services in recent years. Throw in auto-billing and the ease of mobile payments, and you can see how some expenses can fall under a consumer’s radar. About 15% of online shoppers have signed up for one or more subscriptions to receive products on a recurring basis, according to a study released last year by McKinsey & Co. More than half of U.S. consumers streamed video content via subscription last year, according to NPD Group. And nearly two billion foodservice deliveries took place for the year that ended in March, according to NPD. Here are a few tips on how to get a grip on it all:
Do an audit Pay close attention to all the payments you make — recurring or not — and to the forms of payment: credit cards, apps such as Venmo, etc. Research by Waterstone Management Group found that 84% of consumers underestimate how much they spend on subscriptions. Waterstone looked at 2,500 American budgets and found that while consumers estimated they paid almost $80 a month on certain subscriptions, they actually paid closer to $240. Sticker shock can often be a good call to action.
Consider the value Deciding if all these costs are worth it is a highly personal decision. Grant McOmie of Portland, Oregon said that he and his wife began to cut back last year. They decided ridesharing didn’t have a spot in their aggressive budget, and they ditched Amazon Prime, Netflix and various music streaming services as well. “Ultimately none of these services were worth it,” he said. He estimates that over
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the past 18 months — through taking the bus instead of Lyft or Uber, and cooking a meal instead of ordering delivery — they’ve saved around $5,000. In some cases, however, convenience can pay off. Sarah McLaughlin relies primarily on Instacart for her groceries and estimates she’s cut her monthly grocery spending by $200 by curtailing her impulse spending. Instead of picking up extras like magazines, makeup and prepared meals, she buys only what is on her list and is able to use online coupons to maximize her savings. Consider other benefits too: A timestarved parent may be thrilled to pay extra for food delivery. A pricey at-home workout subscription might be worth it to a fitness junkie. Ask yourself: If I didn’t have this service
today, would I buy it again? Then consider whether you would pay cash each time these charges occurred. There’s plenty of research to show that a consumer is likely to spend more if they use a credit card, versus the inconvenience that comes with paying cash. So ask yourself whether you would hand over $50 cash for that last Uber ride and see how that feels.
How to make changes There are some actions you can consider to adjust your habits: — If you know you are ready to ditch something, unsubscribe or delete your account. Be prepared; they will try to lure you back. — Add some friction. Even small steps to make payments less easy may curb your spending, such as eliminating auto billing
or deleting an app on your phone. — Put all your subscription or convenience spending on one card to better monitor it. Or change your credit card number, forcing you to update billing only for the services you truly want. — Set an alternative goal. If there is something else you are saving for — such as a new car or a down payment on a house — think about that when you are tempted to make another purchase. That can help keep your spending focused. — Go on vacation or do something else to disrupt your life. The best way to break a habit is to change the context in which the habit was developed. So if you get meal kits each week, a vacation may change your routines and help shake your reliance on them. In the end, it all comes down to you. —AP
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Paying for schooling with savings bonds By Lisa Gerstner Q: Can I use my series EE or I bonds to pay for a grandchild’s college — and save on taxes? A: Yes, you can redeem savings bonds to help cover the cost of college — and in some cases the interest the bonds earn won’t be subject to federal income tax. But as a grandparent, you’ll likely have to jump through some hoops and meet income limits to avoid the tax. Under the Education Savings Bond Program, taxpayers can exclude bond interest from income if they use bond proceeds to pay qualified education expenses for themselves, or for their spouse or a dependent. If your grandchild is not a dependent that you list on your tax return, you won’t
meet that standard. Several other restrictions apply, too. EE bonds must be issued after 1989 (all I bonds are eligible). The bonds must be issued either in your name or in both your name and your spouse’s name as co-owners (a dependent may be listed as a beneficiary but not as an owner). Plus, you must have been at least 24 years old at the bonds’ issue date. Furthermore, the tax exclusion begins to phase out for those with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) exceeding $81,100 ($121,600 for joint returns) for the 2019 tax year, and it disappears when MAGI reaches $96,100 ($151,600 for joint returns). And if you’re married, you have to file a joint return to exclude bond interest from
income. And education expenses have to be incurred in the same tax year that the bond is redeemed.
How to get around the limits That said, grandparents who are not eligible for the tax break described above can use a workaround that complies with IRS rules, according to Mark Kantrowitz, publisher and vice president of research of Savingforcollege.com. Qualified education expenses under the Education Savings Bond Program include tuition and fees (but not room and board or books) at a post-secondary institution, as well as contributions to a Coverdell education savings account or a 529 collegesavings or prepaid-tuition plan. A grandparent could list himself or herself as the beneficiary on a 529 plan — the
grandparent doesn’t have to be the plan’s owner, so you could use a 529 that the child’s parents own — then redeem the bonds and contribute the proceeds to the 529 within 60 days of the redemption. After that, you could change the beneficiary on the 529 plan to the grandchild’s name. Not only could the grandparent take advantage of the tax exclusion this way, but the grandchild would be able to use the money for a broad range of education expenses. Withdrawals from a 529 are tax-free for college tuition and fees, as well as room and board, books and computers. (Plus, in most states, up to $10,000 yearly is tax-free to pay K-12 school tuition.) © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
BEACON BITS
Aug. 20
WRITING BUSINESS PROPOSALS Learn how to write a competitive pitch for your business model.
This workshop will teach you about proposal writing in general and the grant process for nonprofit organizations. It will be held on Tues., Aug. 20 at 10 a.m. at the Wonder Bread Factory, 641 S St. NW, Washington, D.C. The cost is $50. To purchase a ticket, visit http://bit.ly/30EMsO1.
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How to find the right online bank for you By Miriam Cross Q: I want to open an online highyield savings or money market account. But because these are new to me, I’m trying to perform due diligence somehow. Is there anything I need to know or beware of before signing up? A: Start your search at Bankrate.com or Depositaccounts.com. Online banks don’t have branches you can walk into to ask for help, but you can find one that offers round-the-clock customer service, such as Ally Bank or Discover Bank. Test out the website of any bank you’re interested in to make sure it’s user-friendly. Some online banks maintain clunky, bare-bones websites that are difficult to navigate. Transferring funds from the savings account at your brick-and-mortar bank to a new account at an Internet bank can pay off big-time. According to DepositAccounts.com, interest rates for savings accounts at online banks averaged 1.52% at the end of 2018, compared with 0.26% at brick-and-mortar institutions. Consider both savings and money market deposit
accounts, which can have comparably high yields. “Online banks have made leaps in how easily someone can open and transfer accounts,” said Aaron Graham, a certified financial planner at Abacus Planning Group, in Columbia, S.C. Don’t be tempted solely by the highest yields. Sometimes banks will open new accounts with enticing but short-lived promotional rates for new customers. Choose an institution that has been around for many years and has a history of paying competitive rates. These days, well-established online banks are offering savings account rates between 2.1% and 2.3%, with no minimum balance or monthly fees, said Ken Tumin of DepositAccounts.com.
If you anticipate making frequent transfers between your online savings account and your checking account at a traditional bank, look for an online institution that doesn’t have a low daily or monthly cap on the number of outside transfers. And if you value easy access to your cash, search for an account that offers a debit or ATM card (such as Synchrony Bank’s High Yield Savings) or check-writing privileges (such as Sallie Mae Bank’s money market account). Last but not least, make sure accounts at the bank you choose are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). (Online banks typically state that they are covered by the FDIC at the bottom of their home page.)
The FDIC will insure up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category. For example, an individual savings account is insured up to $250,000; a couple with a joint account is insured up to $500,000. If your balance teeters at the edge of that limit, you can open another account at a different bank, or use the tool at MaxMyInterest.com, which will spread your cash among high-yield savings accounts at reputable banks, keeping the balances below FDIC limits. But you’ll pay a quarterly fee of 0.02% on your cash balance for the convenience. © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Other things to consider To check out a bank’s rate history, visit depositaccounts.com and select “Savings Accounts,” then “Personal Savings Accounts.” Scroll past any sponsored accounts, and click on the “Details” arrow for each bank to see a rate history chart.
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What to do with yourself after retirement I recently read an interesting article from all walks of life and have befriended about retirees who become depressed and many of them. There has been a financial benefit as well. bored — even ones on sound For example, I learned how financial footing — because to initiate a profitable small they haven’t found enough acclaims case against an insurtivities to keep them busy. ance company, which resulted I have been retired now for in several thousand dollars’ benover 20 years, and I am fortuefit to me. nate to have found enough acI have also volunteered for tivities to keep me very busy AARP, helping individuals and not bored at all. No doubt, with their income taxes. The the things I do won’t interest a lot of retirees, but they might training is free, and it will help you learn to do your own generate some ideas for read- THE SAVINGS taxes efficiently. ers who find themselves dis- GAME By Elliot Raphaelson satisfied in retirement. I have also volunteered for my State Health Insurance AsThe first thing I’d advise is volunteering in a field that interests you. sistance Program (SHIP). This organizaThere are many advantages: You can learn tion is funded by the federal government new skills, meet new and interesting people, and is available in every state. SHIP provides free counseling to indiand even earn income or other financial adviduals concerning Medicare, long-term vantages. Shortly after I retired, I saw a volunteer care insurance and other health-related filisting in the newspaper for court media- nancial issues. Training is free, and by voltors, no experience or legal background unteering you will become better educated required. My wife, also retired, and I took and able to handle your own health issues more competently. a three-day intensive training course. I also volunteered for several years at With some guidance from experience mediators, it didn’t take long to be on our SCORE, a small business mentoring orown. I have been happily mediating now ganization with 10,000 volunteers, also opfor more than 15 years. erating in each state. SCORE volunteers I have met many interesting retirees generally have had prior experience run-
ning their own business. SCORE provides free counseling to entrepreneurs starting their own business. In addition, at nominal cost, they offer individual courses such as how to market your business or establish a business plan. As a volunteer, you will receive free training and will meet many knowledgeable retirees. Another activity I have enjoyed in retirement is bridge. Card-playing is not for everyone, but if you enjoy it, consider bridge. It will keep you mentally sharp. I know many good players in their 90s who are still excellent players. You can learn to play at low cost with lessons at a bridge club. At most clubs, you can play for three hours for a nominal fee, and they provide refreshments. You’ll
likely meet many new people who are, by and large, very friendly and sociable. If you become experienced, you can become a bridge director on cruise ships and obtain either free or heavily discounted fees on major cruise ships when you direct bridge games. For example, my wife and I paid $400 for a seven-day cruise on a major cruise line during which I directed bridge games for a short period of time. To paying customers, the cost of the cruise was several thousand dollars. The bottom line: There is no reason to be bored during retirement. Try out a few volunteer activities and pastimes and you’re sure to find something that suits you. ©2019 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
! CONSUMER ALERT
BEWARE OF GRANPARENT SCAM The District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) warns residents to be on the alert for the “grandparent scam.” Elderly residents fall victim to the scam when scam artists pose as their grandchildren and call asking for money, often to address urgent needs. Avoid the grandparent scam: Q Never send money to individuals before verifying that the calls are coming from legitimate sources. Q If a caller claims to be a grandchild, hang up the phone and call the actual grandchild or the grandchild’s parents immediately. District of Columbia residents who believe they, or someone UIFZ LOPX IBWF CFFO B WJDUJN PG B mOBODJBM TDBN TIPVME contact DISB’s Enforcement and Consumer Protection Division at 202-727-8000. Learn how to avoid other scams by visiting disb.dc.gov/page/consumer-scams.
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Travel Leisure &
A whitewater rafting adventure on California’s American River brings a family together. See story on page 41.
Diverse Panama offers more than a canal New and old Panama City Panama City combines the glitz and glitter of New York and Las Vegas with a colorful overlay of Latin American life. A frenzied period of development that began in the early 2000s, related to the city’s role as a center of international banking and trade, has transformed the capital city into an architectural showcase. Its skyscrapers create a dreamlike setting of steel and glass in a myriad of shapes and colors. At the same time, Panama City is home to inviting reminders of its Colonial past. Panama Viejo (Old Panama) is an archaeological site where the first Spanish city on the Pacific coast of the Americas was founded in 1519. It was from this location that expeditions embarked to conquer the powerful Incan Empire, and through it that most of the gold and silver found in the New World passed on its trip back to Spain. Reflecting the poor relations between England and Spain, the Welsh buccaneer Captain Henry Morgan sacked the city in 1671, and today only sprawling ruins hint at its former grandeur. Stroll past the stone remnants of a cathedral, prison, customs house, small Jesuit churches and stately homes built by wealthy citizens. Following the destruction of Panama Viejo, a new city was constructed nearby.
PHOTO BY DENNIS SYLVESTER HURD
By Victor Block An American traveler, adventurer and author named Richard Halliburton swam the length of the Panama Canal a few years after it opened in 1914. He was charged 36 cents for the trip. Today, ships that follow in his footsteps — or, rather, his wake — pay $200,000 to $300,000 for the privilege. The average toll for the largest vessels, which use wider locks that began to operate in 2016, is about $500,000. Yet shipping companies pay the price because they save up to 10 times as much by eliminating the two-week journey around the tip of South America. In addition to its utility for shipping, the canal is a major reason that tourists visit this South Carolina-sized country in Central America. The waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans is ranked first on the Society of Civil Engineers’ list of major modern engineering feats, and during my recent trip there I soon understood why. Massive ships squeeze through the canal with just inches to spare. But Panama has many more manmade and natural sites to see. From animal life to archaeological treasures, enticing cities to beautiful beaches, Panama’s compact diversity attracts a million visitors each year.
Panama City has a modern skyline, a cobblestone historic district, and a World Heritage Site, where visitors can wander through the ruins of a 1519 city. Of course, not to be missed is a visit to the Panama Canal. Beyond the capital city, tourists will find rainforests, mangroves and beaches.
Casco Viejo encompasses about 800 buildings in a mixture of architectural styles. In recent years the site of cobblestone streets has turned into a chic neighborhood where boutique hotels and trendy bars contrast with crumbled remnants of the original setting.
Visiting the canal PHOTO BY KENT MACELWEE
A Kuna woman displays handmade molas, traditional cotton artwork used in clothing. The Kuna, who live in Panama and Colombia, believe that evil spirits can occupy empty spaces, so they weave dense, intricate patterns into their molas.
Then there’s the canal, which continues to intrigue and impress visitors. One of the best places from which to watch ships pass by is on the decks outside the fourstory Visitors Center. Exhibits in the museum located inside the building depict the planning, construction and operation of the canal. You can even board a tourist boat to traverse part of the world-famous waterway. Its route generally follows a trail that indigenous people used to cross the narrowest part of the isthmus. An effort by the French to build a canal spanning the 50mile land bridge in the late 19th century was doomed by an unfortunate combination of bad planning, mudslides and illnesses. The task was ultimately completed by U.S. engineers and workers. Today, close to 15,000 vessels make the voyage annually, passing through three sets of locks that lift them a total of 85 feet. Many people are surprised to learn that
the direction of the canal is northwest to southeast, rather than due east to west, because of the layout of the isthmus at that location. Some also don’t realize that the waterway includes lakes along its route.
Beaches and islands Just west of Panama City, sunbathers can find more than a dozen beaches. The black sand of Playa Barqueta is a popular weekend destination among locals. The palm-fringed beach Playa Las Lajos is more than seven miles long, and is known for its good surfing. A number of the most inviting whitesand beaches rim the 250 San Blas Islands off the Caribbean coastline. The islands also happen to home to the Kuna Indians, one of seven distinct indigenous groups that comprise about 12 percent of Panama’s population of approximately four million. Their unique culture and customs have changed little over time. Other smaller cities include Colón, home to Panama’s major sea port; La Palma, surrounded by undisturbed nature; and both Santiago and Portobelo, which are treasure troves of graceful colonial architecture.
See PANAMA, page 39
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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 9
Panama From page 38
Exotic wildlife Given its location as the last link in the land bridge between North and South America, the Panamanian isthmus played an important role in the migration of plant and animal life in both directions. Its varied ecosystems of tropical rainforests, mountain cloud forests and lowlying mangrove wetlands among nearly 500 rivers have provided a welcome environment for many species. During a small boat cruise on Gatun Lake in the Gamboa Rainforest Preserve, I saw a crocodile and several iguanas dozing in the sun. Tamarin and howler monkeys peered at us from the treetops, while more social white-faced capuchins swung down to land on the front of our dinghy to peel and devour bananas that we placed there. Jaguars, pumas, ocelots and panthers also make Panama their home, although humans are more likely to see their paw prints rather than the elusive animals themselves. Easier to encounter are sloths, who lead their sedentary lives hanging upside down from the branches of trees where squirrel and spider monkeys also hang out. Killer and humpback whales, sharks and bottlenose dolphins swim off both coastlines. Panama is also one of the best birding sites in the world, with more species than are found in Europe and North America combined. Resident populations include parrots, toucans, quetzals, macaws and the harpy eagle, the nation’s national bird.
An example of a tour Caravan Tours has been offering trips “at an affordable price” since 1952, and it lives up to that claim. The rate for the eight-day Panama trip we took is $1,634 per person plus airfare
($1,295/dbl). That includes accommodations that range from a modern Marriott Hotel in Panama City to a comfortable rainforest retreat. The itinerary packed a full variety of experiences into a busy schedule, with one day set aside for R&R at a Pacific Ocean beachfront resort. It also included two canal cruises, one through dual sets of locks that offers closeup views of the massive steel gates, and the other on Gatun Lake, which forms part of the channel. Tour participants also spent time at the Museum of Biodiversity (Biomuseo), which turned out to be a surprisingly intriguing diversion during a trip that was chock full of them. For starters, there’s the ultra-modernistic building that was designed by the worldrenowned architect Frank Gehry. The multicolored structure is intended to depict how the isthmus of Panama rose from the sea, uniting two continents with a land bridge. Its exhibits describe the lasting impact that event has had on the planet’s biodiversity. Another tour highlight was the opportunity to meet, and briefly mingle with, members of two indigenous groups. We spent part of one day at a Kuna tribal marketplace, where people from that community take turns spending several weeks making and selling their handicrafts before returning to their village in the San Blas Islands. Most prized are mola embroidered cloth panels, which the women use to decorate their clothing and that also can serve as decorative pieces. The scenes on many of them depict rainforest animals and marine life, with which the Kunas are familiar. A more immersive introduction to the indigenous cultures involved a visit by boat to a small Embera village, which began with a description, through an interpreter, of the life and traditions of that ethnic group. It was followed by brief dance and music
presentations, the opportunity to purchase handmade baskets, wood carvings and other items, and — best of all — to interact with residents of all ages. For more information about Caravan Tours, call 1-800-227-2826 or visit caravan.com.
If you go Temperature isn’t a major factor when planning a trip to Panama. Highs hover around 85° F throughout the year, falling as much as 15 degrees only at elevated altitudes. Rain is more of a consideration. More rain usually falls on the Caribbean side of the country, but most often only as short afternoon downpours. The dry season, about mid-December to mid-April, offers the best weather, but also the highest prices for those traveling on their own. Those willing to put up with some wet
weather during the rest of the year find that their travel budget is likely to stretch further. Besides Caravan Tours, several other companies offer specialized tours of Panama; very few include airfare. A two-week nature tour is available for $2,580 at Evaneos.com, a website that connects travelers with local experts. Adventure Life offers many options, including a seven-day tour for $1,546. See adventure-life.com/panama. For day excursions, consider Real Panama Tours, which offers river trips and other customized outings, including kosher tours. See therealpanamatours.com for more information. A nonstop flight from the D.C. area to Panama City takes about five hours. The least expensive nonstop flight from Dulles International Airport to Panama City in September costs about $550 on Copa Airlines.
BEACON BITS
Aug. 21
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LEARN NEGOTIATION SKILLS
Learn how to take advantage of everyday negotiation opportunities. Take part in a simulation and receive feedback from two instructors. The free event takes place on Wed., Aug. 21 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the George Mason University Arlington Campus, 3351 Fairfax Dr., Arlington, Va. To register, visit http://bit.ly/2YXwNZO.
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Air race From page 1 Toskes said after the race. “Weather, as always, is a major factor that affects all racers. Next time, we may wait for better winds.” The Air Race Classic started in 1929 as the Women’s Air Derby, in which 20 women, including Amelia Earhart, raced from Santa Monica, California, to Cleveland, Ohio. Racing continued through the 1930s, was interrupted by World War II, and then resumed in 1947 as the All Women’s Transcontinental Air Race, nicknamed “the Powder Puff Derby.” The last derby took place in 1977, and the Air Race Classic continued the tradition of women’s racing.
The race route The race route changes every year. The
one prescribed for the 2019 race stretched from the race’s start in Jackson, Tennessee, to its terminus in Welland, Ontario. It consisted of nine legs of 280 to 320 statute miles each, and racers were given four days to complete the trip. Race organizers designate certain airports on the route for “flybys” where officials record the aircrafts’ times. At these checkpoints, pilots can either land or continue on. As Mitchell explained, “Pilots must hit every checkpoint. How you get there is up to you.” Rules require racers to fly only in daylight with three miles of visibility and a 1,000-foot ceiling. Planes must be fixed wing and nonturbocharged, non-supercharged pistonpowered airplanes with between 100 and 600 horsepower. Each airplane must have at least two pi-
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A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
“It is even less common to be a woman mechanic than pilot,” she said. Growing up, Christian wanted to be astronaut. “It’s all about up, going into space, getting away from the nonsense in one’s regular job,” she said. Christian realized in her college years that she wanted to fly planes. Once, when she was a passenger in an airplane doing reconnaissance over an erupting Hawaii volcano, the plane experienced partial engine failure during takeoff. “I was frustrated. I knew if I could talk on the radio, I could help. Instead, I had to sit quietly,” she said. “That experience convinced me I should be a pilot.” Christian’s teammate Toskes, a grandmother of two and great-grandmother of two, has 40 years of flying experience. “I grew up wanting to be an astronaut, but with poor eyesight, it was never going to happen,” she said. Over the last 20 years, Toskes and her husband Joe have run a company that provides private jet services and manages other people’s jets. Her customers typically own airplanes but do not know how to fly or maintain them. So, for example, they flew an airplane owner to the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament. For Toskes, flying is both a job and pure fun. “Every time you go up, there’s always something to learn, always challenges.” For more information about the Air Race Classic, visit airraceclassic.org.
lots with 100 or more hours of experience as the pilot-in-command. One of them must have at least 500 hours of experience. The trip requires meticulous strategic planning and analysis of factors like wind, rain, visibility, terrain and airplane performance. Pilots must decide, for example, how many legs to fly each day and at what elevation. And yet, the racers aren’t truly competing against each other. Officials assign a handicap speed specific to each individual airplane so that planes can compete on an equal footing. This means that each team races against its own handicap. The winning team is the one that beats its handicap speed by the most. There are cash prizes: first place wins $6,000; second, $4,000; third, $3,000; and a smaller prize goes to each leg’s winner. Other prizes included the fastest by aircraft brand, and the SOS Claude Glasson “Turtle” Award for the lowest-scoring team with no penalties. Team DC3(-1) won four race segment prizes and what Dreyfuss dubbed “a small wad of cash.”
The pilots Christian, who has been flying since 1985, is an astronomer for one of the contractors that helps operate the Hubble Space Telescope for the National Aeronautics and Space administration (NASA). In her free time, she’s a flight instructor.
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Riding the rapids of the Sierra Nevadas
A family trip I had expected something tamer when I signed up for this trip with my cousin Dan, his 40-something son, Matt, and 30-something daughter, Alissa. Dan and I have been taking these annual family adventures for several years now, and Matt and Alissa decided to join us for this year’s adventure with their dad. Dan, in his early 70s and a relative newcomer to adventure travel, is tackling a
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movement-related health issue by testing his limits in paddle rafts on whitewater rivers and kayaks on windy, rolling seas. In deference to our age and his kids’ relative lack of adventure experience, I recommended what I thought would be an easy but fun two-day whitewater rafting trip on the American River in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in central California. The tour operator and my host for the trip was OARS, one of the first whitewater rafting companies in North America (oars.com).
PHOTO BY HOTSHOT IMAGING
By Don Mankin You’re never too old for adventure, but on a spring trip on the American River in California, I was thankful for my younger traveling companions. As my fellow rafters and I whooped and thrust our paddles in the air to celebrate a successful run through the roaring rapids, our raft snagged on a rock, sending me flying into the water. I bounced off the river bottom, popped to the surface and grabbed the rope on the side of the raft before I was pulled out of the water to safety. We were quickly approaching the next rapid, though, so I didn’t have time to resume my paddling position in the front of the raft. I just laid down in the bow. From my perspective, sprawled on the floor of the raft, I felt like I was watching an action documentary, with water spraying, arms flying and determined faces screwed into looks of concentration and concern. I wish I would have had a movie camera or a Go Pro to capture the action. In just a few seconds — it seemed an eternity — we were past the rapid. I crawled out of the bottom of the raft and onto the side, grabbed my paddle, braced myself and prepared for the next stretch of churning water.
More rigorous than expected Several aspects of the trip made it especially appealing — easy to get to, easy camping and easy paddling. The reality was pretty close, save for a couple of significant exceptions. It was indeed easy to get to, with the start and end point less than 150 miles from San Francisco. The camping was also easy. The OARS campsite was just off the highway and featured flush toilets, showers and an outdoor dining area. Most important, it was also adjacent to a small shopping center where we could buy beer and frozen yogurt. Dan and I shared a large tent with beds. Alissa and Matt set up a tent and slept on the ground. Age does have its privileges. However, the “easy” rafting was anything but. One of the attractions of the trip was that all the rafts were paddle rafts. That is, we paddled, sometimes frenetically, under the direction and verbal commands of our excellent guide (“right, forward two strokes,” “left, back one stroke,” etc.). The participation was definitely a plus. All four of us wanted something more challenging and active than just kicking back while the guide used oars to steer us through the rapids.
The author (left) and his family brave the rapids. Located northeast of Sacramento, California, the South Fork of the American River is a popular spot for whitewater rafting and kayaking. Many professional guide companies offer excursions for beginners of all ages.
What I didn’t realize is that the South Fork of the American River features one Class 3 rapid after another, usually in rapid succession (pun intended). At times it seemed as if we were in one continuous stretch of whitewater. I have been on trips with bigger rapids, but I have never been on a river with such a density of whitewater, especially where it was up to us to get through the rapids upright and relatively dry. We usually had just enough time to catch our breath before getting set for the next run. This was the most exciting whitewater rafting I have ever experienced.
Intergenerational bonding My biggest takeaway from the trip, besides the rapidly spreading purple bruise on my backside, was the family connection. For most of our lives, Dan and I have
been pretty close. Neither Dan nor I had brothers, so we grew up like brothers. Our mothers were sisters, our families lived near each other when we were young, and we are close in age. These recent adventure trips have been a way to renew that bond. While Dan’s kids were growing up, I was like Uncle Tonoose from the old Danny Thomas Show, occasionally passing through with tales of distant, exotic places like upstate Pennsylvania and California. I thought Matt and Alissa were cute but never thought twice about them. After this trip, I now see them as adults: funny and smart with distinct personalities, opinions and well-developed senses of humor. They may not be quite as cute, but given the choice, I prefer them as adults — especially because they can pull me out of a churning rapid. For updates on Dan Mankin’s travels, visit adventuretransformations.com.
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When you need to change an airline ticket Many of your best airfare deals are tention at all on voluntary cancellations. “nonrefundable.” Once you pay, you don’t get your money back if you Cancellation insurance have to cancel. Sometimes stuff happens Although the very cheapest that require you to cancel advance-purchase tickets startyour trip. ed out as completely nonrefundThe one surefire way to able, most big U.S. airlines avoid a cancellation loss is to switched to a policy that when buy trip-cancellation insurance you cancel a nonrefundable (TCI). Typical TCI covers all ticket for any reason, the airline cancellations, not just air tickwill allow you to apply the cash ets. And it usually includes a value toward a future ticket, TRAVEL TIPS bunch of other benefits, includminus a fee. ing trip interruption and usualBy Ed Perkins Those fees were originally ly medical and miscellaneous set a reasonable level of $25 to $50, but most small-ticket benefits. airlines have upped them to the point that Most travelers pay between 5 and 15% of the fee can often exceed the cash value of the insured value, depending on the scope the ticket. of benefits. But travelers 70 and over typiHere’s how the airlines compare: cally are charged a lot more. — Southwest alone allows you to apply The main problem with TCI is that it the full dollar value of a cancelled nonre- covers only specified reasons for cancellafundable ticket toward a future ticket. tion — specific accident and sickness — American, Delta, Hawaiian and Unit- problems you and close family members ed charge a $200 change fee for most non- face, plus specific problems at your destirefundable fares and up to $700 for inter- nation. You can buy extra “cancel for any national tickets. And the new, very lowest reason” coverage, but it usually costs more “base” fares are truly nonrefundable. and pays only a fraction of your losses. — Air Canada, Frontier, JetBlue and Alternatively, as you buy your ticket, alWestJet charge sliding scales based on tick- most all airlines offer to sell TCI covering et price and how far in advance you cancel. the amount of your airfare. It’s less com— Spirit does not provide for value re- prehensive than ordinary TCI, but it’s not
age-rated, meaning older travelers can buy it at the same price as anyone else. American, Delta and United offer full refunds in the event of your death or death of a traveling companion or close family member, call to jury duty or military service, and a few other cases. You must submit extensive documentation to support these claims. I could not find similar language in other lines’ contracts of carriage, but some lines do offer refunds in those cases.
A loophole You can also sometimes game the system to get a full refund on a nonrefundable no matter the reason. Once you have a ticket, if your airline
cancels a flight or changes its schedule, in almost all cases it owes you a full cash refund. And that can work for even a minor schedule change that, on its face, wouldn’t substantially impact your trip. Individual airlines apply different rules on how small a schedule change triggers a refund option: Frontier says three hours, Air Canada and Spirit say two hours, Delta and Hawaiian say 90 minutes, American says 61 minutes, and United says 30 minutes; Allegiant says “significant” delay without defining a specific time; Alaska, Southwest, and WestJet do not specify a time. Email Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net or check out rail-guru.com. © 2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Style Arts &
Artists highlight the personal impact displacement and migration can have. See story on page 46.
Aladdin & Genie conjure a winning show
The basic storyline Poor orphan Aladdin and his three buddies have survived life in the fictional city of Agrabah by stealing, but Aladdin is determined to change his ways and lead a good life. He soon encounters Princess Jasmine, indulged and educated by her doting fa-
ther, but now under pressure to be married off, since women can’t rule kingdoms. In the meantime, her father’s advisor, the funny and scheming Jafar, and his even funnier and more scheming assistant Iago, played by Reggie De Leon from the Broadway cast, plot to take over the kingdom. In a scene where dark forces steer them to a cave as well as a magic lamp and the hapless Aladdin, Iago keeps the scary manageable for all but the very youngest, calling out, “Thank you, scary voice!” (The performance is recommended for ages 6 and up.) In fact, viewers might be more startled by streamers that shoot into the orchestra seats during an upbeat number later on. (Children who have only experienced the 1992 animated Disney movie may be perplexed that Iago is a person rather than a parrot, and wonder what happened to Aladdin’s monkey in this animal-free version.) Aladdin’s mission is to take only the lamp, none of the myriad jewels in the cave. Fortunately for us, he’s not able to resist plucking a treat for his ladylove —
AUGUST 1 - SEPTEMBER 8
410-730-8311
TobysDinnerTheatre.com Due to the nature of theatrical bookings, all shows and dates are subject to change. • Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Columbia, MD
PHOTO BY DEEN VAN MEER
By Lynda Lantz If you love your musicals full of glitz, over-the-top dance numbers and wisecracking genies, then the exuberant Aladdin from Disney, now at the Kennedy Center Opera House through September 7, is for you. This year Aladdin is everywhere — in the movies and onstage. The musical, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Chad Beguelin, is set in an Arabian desert kingdom that’s heavy on western fairytale. So, don’t expect to learn about authentic Middle Eastern cultures. Instead, as in other Disney productions, Aladdin features smart-alecky, plucky characters with modern attitudes, catchy songs and a happy ending.
Kaenaonálani Kekoa plays the spunky Princess Jasmine and Clinton Greenspan stars as the thief-turned-prince Aladdin in Disney’s Aladdin, a musical spin on the Middle Eastern folktale, now at the Kennedy Center.
and thus the Genie makes his grand entrance. One thing that the Kennedy Center production has that the movie doesn’t is the amazing, charismatic Major Attaway, who created the role of the Genie on Broadway. Attaway dominates every scene he’s in,
perfectly embodying the larger-than-life genie, while also remaining all too human. With the cast, he treats us to the showstopping tune “Friend Like Me” that channels one bright, fabulous era of Hollywood See ALADDIN & GENIE, page 45
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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 9
From page 44 musicals after another in a whirlwind of choreography, costume and even fireworks. It elicited a roar from the crowd.
A deeper message The musical is lighthearted, but as the Genie and Aladdin spar, they discover a common bond over their desire for freedom. Aladdin immediately promises to use his third wish to bestow freedom on the enslaved Genie. Although Tony-winning Director and Choreographer Casey Nicholaw doesn’t overly focus the production on what’s at stake for the Genie, at the moment of the promise, the narrative gained a beating heart: The Genie seems to wield much power, but he’s compelled to endlessly fulfill the wishes of others. Also, there’s tension in his relationship with Aladdin because he doesn’t know if he can trust him. This is especially true after Aladdin is transformed into a prince and seems to lose all sense in the process. Clinton Greenspan as Aladdin embodies the innocent hero, his voice yearning in his struggles to make the right decisions.
He would like to be freed not only from poverty but his feeling of unworthiness. Tour newcomer Kaenaonálani Kekoa as Jasmine would like to keep her father’s love and respect while being free to be herself, whether that be married or not, and to whom she pleases. She brings a brash physicality to the character that’s more Pippi Longstocking than royal princess. Although it lasts two and a half hours, this beautifully designed production goes by quickly. Sets and costumes are a riot of colors, textures and designs that create a rich world on stage. Jasmine’s ethereal carved bedroom window frame expands, literally, to encompass a dark sky crowded with stars, where the young lovers fly on a magic carpet, singing “A Whole New World.” In contrast, the cave where Aladdin finds the Genie and the lamp is set with a spiky gold stalactite ceiling and pillars dripping with golden jewelry. Tickets for Aladdin range from $39 to $189. Performances run Tuesday through Sunday nights at 7:30 p.m. Matinees are Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m., with one additional matinee on September 4. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.
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Aladdin & Genie
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The Kennedy Center’s colorful production of Aladdin differs from the 1992 animated film and 2019 live-action movie by including more dance numbers (and avoiding talking animals).
CELEBRATING 244 YEARS OF SERVICE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 8 P.M. The Music Center at Strathmore 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Md. FREE tickets will be available starting Aug. 26 at www.strathmore.org or 301-581-5100.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW! LYLE LOVETT & HIS LARGE BAND WITH SPECIAL GUEST MAVIS STAPLES AUG 1
ABBA THE CONCERT AUG 4
ROSSINI’S THE BARBER OF SEVILLE WOLF TRAP OPERA LIDIYA YANKOVSKAYA, CONDUCTOR
HERBIE HANCOCK AND KAMASI WASHINGTON JUL 30
STEVE MILLER BAND MARTY STUART
AND HIS FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES MATT ANDERSEN
RINGO STARR & HIS ALL-STARR BAND AUG 10 + 11
JUL 31
AUG 9
STRAY CATS
40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
JAMES HUNTER AUG 13
SHANGHAI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LONG YU, CONDUCTOR AUG 14
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON MARSALIS AUG 16
TONY BENNETT AUG 17
JENNIFER HUDSON
NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
SEP 5
GIPSY KINGS FEATURING NICOLAS REYES AND TONINO BALIARDO SEP 8
THE BEACH BOYS AUG 25
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A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
Exhibit conveys suffering of immigrants
Multi-media exhibit The new exhibition features nearly 280 works. They include a wide range of media
from photography to painting to installation pieces to video art, all of which explore immigration, migration and displacement. When planning the exhibition, curators sought to include works that would guide audiences to a deeper understanding about the current state of immigration. “Art can be a vehicle for promoting a richer understanding and empathy,” Bell said. “What does it mean to assimilate to a new place? How does that work?” The exhibition dynamically sprawls across three floors — almost the entirety of The Phillips Collection’s new building — as various melodies from audio recordings drift from level to level. The visitor is encouraged to start on the second floor, proceed to the third floor and
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF JAZZ SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 3 P.M. The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center 4915 East Campus Drive, Alexandria, Virginia Concert is FREE, no tickets required.
finish on the first floor.
19th-century boat people The exhibition starts with a familiar narrative of immigration: the steam liners that brought more than 20 million European immigrants to America during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Early 20th-century photographs by Lewis Wickes Hines feature the haunted eyes of mothers, fathers, children and grandparents. Their weathered faces are full of hope but also convey fear and loss.
These images hang on the walls, encircling Adel Abdessemed’s scrap-metal reproduction of a luxury liner titled Queen Mary II, La Mère (The Mother). Turning to more recent experiences, Erkan Özgen’s video Wonderland features a 13-year-old deaf and mute Syrian boy, Muhammed, describing through powerful movements the violence that he witnessed in his hometown of Kobanî, which was overtaken by the Islamic State. Without See EXHIBIT, page 48
PHOTO © FRANCIS ALŸS AND DAVID ZWIRNER
By Noelani Kirschner What does the past, present and future of immigration look like? The Warmth of Other Suns: Stories of Global Displacement, an exhibit on view at The Phillips Collection through September 22, seeks to answer this question through the work of 75 contemporary and historical artists. The show was guest curated by Massimiliano Gioni and Natalie Bell, both of the New Museum in New York, and was brought to The Phillips Collection to center around and expand upon its panels from Jacob Lawrence’s The Migration Series.
Children from Tangier, Morocco, and Tarifa, Spain, wade into the Strait of Gibraltar in a still image from the seven-minute video installation Don’t Cross the Bridge Before You Get to the River, by Francis Alÿs. His film, and works from 75 other artists and photographers, are included in the Phillips Collection’s exhibition on the immigrant experience and refugee crisis, The Warmth of Other Suns: Stories of Global Displacement, now through Sept. 22.
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style
WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 9
September 7–22, 2019 AUR 8R[[RQf 0R[aR_ V` PRYRO_NaV[T aUR \]R[V[T \S aUR ?2.05 Va` _`a RcR_ Re]N[`V\[ AU_RR NO\cR T_\b[Q ]NcVYV\[` Wb`a `P_NaPU aUR `b_SNPR°NP_\`` aUR ?2.05 N[Q b[QR_ Va` `^bN_R S\\a T_RR[ _\\S f\b dVYY [Q PYN``_\\Z` open studios, outdoor spaces, a lecture hall, cafÊ, and more, all open to the public. This brand-new campus of innovative indoor and outdoor spaces put YOU at the center of the art—where you can chart your own course and connect what moves you to creative experiences beyond imagination.
Join us for 16 full days and nights of creativity in action! FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS With almost 400 events planned, there’s something for everyone! RenÊe Fleming showcases our Sound Health initiative, exploring the connections between the arts and wellness in discussions and performances. Discover the life and legacy of Marian Anderson in the new documentary Once in a Hundred Years. Get an up-close look at our namesake through a series of 7\U[ 3 8R[[RQf Q\PbZR[aN_f ½YZ`.
Keali’i Reichel
Opening Day
Embrace a full spectrum of indigenous performances including the art of hula with Keali’i Reichel, hoop dancing with Ty Defoe, aboriginal sounds of the didgeridoo by Australia’s David Williams, and storytelling from Rose Powhatan.
Saturday, September 7 At Opening Day, experience the colorful spectrum of what the full festival, and the future of our expanded campus, has in store. Help us activate the power and potential of the REACH by joining forces with local, national, and international artists all throughout the day. This includes dancers, actors, singers, musicians, writers, composers, visual artists, culinary experts, teachers, DJs, emcees, diverse arts & culture groups, local personalities — RcR[ N UbTR V[ŸNaNOYR ]VTR\[ A\TRaUR_ dR´YY collectively engage all of our senses and start making our mark on D.C.’s new home for creativity in action.
Feel the power of a 300-voice chorus, soloists from Washington National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists, and the National Symphony Orchestra in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. RenÊe Fleming Celebrate songs from your favorite musicals when Broadway and Hollywood composer Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast) is joined by Broadway stars, the National Symphony Orchestra, and conductor Steven Reineke for an open-air concert.
Step into new worlds in our Virtual Reality Lounge, where you can put on an Oculus headset that brings to life colorful adventures near, far, and beyond imagination in three dimensions! Go for hands-on fun in our new Moonshot Studio, where visitors of all ages can spend time delving into various art forms and create their own works of art.
All events are free; timed-entry passes required for entry. Free passes and a complete day-by-day schedule of events at Kennedy-Center.org/REACH AUR ?2.05 V` ZNQR ]\``VOYR Of YRNQR_`UV] `b]]\_a S_\Z 1NcVQ : ?bOR[`aRV[ /\RV[T 7NP^bRYV[R /NQTR_ :N_` :VPUNRY 3 N[Q ;\zZV 8 ;RVQ\_Ăœ N[Q AUR 0R[aR[R 0UN_VaNOYR 3\b[QNaV\[ Stephen and Christine Schwarzman, and hundreds more individuals, corporations, and foundations from around the world. Help us open the REACH by making your fully tax-deductible contribution—double-matched until the Opening of the REACH—at Kennedy-Center.org/future
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Exhibit From page 46 using words, he tells a story of war and displacement, separation and death. In the museum’s famed Rothko Room, a pair of shoes and an embroidered doily that were found near the Arizona-Mexico border sit atop a wooden shelf. Audio recordings of interviews with migrants by the Undocumented Migration Project play in the background. Simply and profoundly, the Room — which evokes the Rothko Chapel in Texas — is transformed into a somber memorial for those who have died while trying to cross hazardous borders into this country. But perhaps the most arresting and sobering piece of the exhibition appears on the third floor. Kader Attia’s La Mer Morte (The Dead Sea) is composed of dozens of secondhand children’s clothing and shoes, all in shades of blue, spread across the floor. Like silent tombstones, the clothing presents a physical reminder of children who lost their lives at sea while trying to flee to safety in other lands. This recalls the Vietnamese boat people and more recent immigrants fleeing North Africa for European shores across the Mediterranean. In the next room, visitors hear sounds of children playing in the ocean. Francis Alÿs’s Don’t Cross the Bridge Before You Get to the River (Strait of Gibraltar, MoroccoSpain) broadcasts sounds of laughter and
joy, but also shrieking and the deafening crash of waves. The effect is one of horror and grief at the unknowable numbers of children lost in transit trying to cross the Strait of Gibraltar. If anything, the exhibition feels like it is attempting to say more than it could. The visitor is thrown into a melee of multimedia sensory overload, as if the constant hum of the 24-hour news cycle were made tangible. Perhaps this is exactly the point. As Gioni stated, “It is better to leave the audience wanting less than more.” If the exhibition feels overwhelming, that is because the story of migration, played out across the world, is infinitely complex. “I hope it’s a show that brings people closer to issues through the eyes of artists, and allows them to have a more nuanced understanding,” Bell said. A reminder of this ethos sits in plain sight near the entrance to the museum. A quote from Duncan Phillips, the founder of the collection, adorns the wall: “Art is a universal language…that is part of the social purpose of the world.” Immigration is a central part of all of our stories, past and present. The Warmth of Other Suns brings this message close to home, right onto our doorsteps. The Phillips Collection is located at 1600 21st St. NW, Washington, D.C. Admission to the ticketed exhibit is $12 for adults; $10 for students as well as visitors 62 and over; free for visitors 18 and under.
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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style
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Books in translation widen our horizons Stories of suffering and loss, heroism Now a primary entry point for migrants The tale progresses rapidly with many The translators of these works of fiction twists and turns. The climac- heading to Europe, Lampedusa had been and heartlessness fill the pages of Tears of and nonfiction have made fortic scenes are the product of a known for fishing and farming; its beaches Salt in nuanced translation. eign authors and their perThe Joy of Missing Out: The Art of Selfvivid imagination and written were a magnet for tourists. spectives accessible to us. In Tears of Salt, a nonfiction work, the real Restraint in an Age of Excess, by Svend with relish, a touch of irony, The Coronation: A Fanand a nod to European events world has intruded on the sleepy idyllic Brinkmann, translation by Tam McTurk, dorin Mystery, by Boris in the headlines just a few home of Dr. Pietro Bartolo, who runs the 128 pages, Polity paperback, 2019 Akunin, translation by AnSvend Brinkmann, a Dane, has written a years ago. It’s a fantastic tale only medical clinic on the 7.8-square-mile isdrew Bromfield, 362 pages, land. Bartolo writes movingly of his new life concise, refreshing book on the imporwith a core of truth. First Grove Atlantic hardcovTears of Salt: A Doctor’s on the island, tending to the needs of the suf- tance of self-restraint and the folly of moder, 2019 Story, by Pietro Bartolo and fering immigrants who fled their hopeless ern society’s emphasis on consumerism, Andrew Bromfield, a British Lidia Tilotta, translation by lives by boat, some with dire consequences. boundless acquisition and never-ending literary editor who has transInterspersed are tales of Bartolo’s up- personal growth. Chenxin Jiang, 208 pages, lated numerous Russian au- THE He lauds the ideal of making do, and W.W. Norton & Company pa- bringing as the son of a fisherman in a famthors, explains that his job is to BIBILOPHILE ily of seven siblings. He, and later his own praises the comforts of habit and ritual. perback, 2019 provide readers “with an expe- By Dinah Rokach Older adults may have already reached The small Italian island of children, leave the island to study on the rience which is as close as posthe conclusion that the pursuit of wealth sible to…the author’s authentic voice. Also, Lampedusa, an isolated dot in the Mediter- mainland. He returned to practice medicine with does not lead to happiness and that owning the translated text should, ideally, read just ranean, has been confronting waves of as naturally as the original.” He has suc- refugees from Libya and Tunisia, just 70 his wife, a classmate in medical school. Co- expensive, high-status possessions does miles south. In 2015, 1,600 migrants died author Tilotta is a journalist who has receeded admirably. See TRANSLATED BOOKS, page 51 ported on the refugee crisis. Boris Akunin, the most popular crime en route from Libya to Lampedusa. fiction author in Russia, is the pen name of Grigory Chkhartishvili, a Russian academic expert on Japan. Chkhartishvili left his MOST homeland in 2014 and now lives in WestCOMMUNITIE ern Europe. S The Coronation, written in 2000, is the A R E 6 2 A ND seventh of 16 mysteries centered around B ETTER the exploits of detective Erast Fandorin. This fascinating work of historical fiction takes us back to the world of the Tsars. Its narrator is chief butler for the uncle ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.) of the new tsar, Nicholas II. As the royal The Greens at Hammonds Lane: 410-636-1141 Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673 family converges in splendor in Moscow Park View at Furnace Branch: 410-761-4150 Park View at Rosedale: 410-866-1886 for the coronation, the butler describes in Park View at Severna Park: 410-544-3411 Park View at Taylor: 410-663-0363 mesmerizing detail the unique etiquette and lavish lifestyle of the court. Park View at Towson: 410-828-7185 BALTIMORE CITY Days before the coronation, the tsar’s Park View at Woodlawn: 410-281-1120 Ednor Apartments I: 410-243-0180 visiting young cousin is kidnapped and held for ransom by an infamous criminal Ednor Apartments II: 410-243-4301 EASTERN SHORE mastermind, Doctor Lind. The Greens at Irvington Mews: 410-644-4487 Park View at Easton: 410-770-3070 By the time the action commences in Park Heights Place: 410-578-3445 earnest, you’ll be ensconced in the late 19thHARFORD COUNTY century Russia of the Romanovs — its class Park View at Ashland Terrace: 410-276-6440 Park View at Bel Air: 410-893-0064 divisions and social mores. Modern readers Park View at Coldspring: 410-542-4400 may find the latter offensive, but the characPark View at Box Hill: 410-515-6115 terizations accurately depict that milieu. BALTIMORE COUNTY HOWARD COUNTY Historical facts are interwoven into the Cove Point Apartments I: 410-288-2344 dizzying cloak-and-dagger doings as the Park View at Colonial Landing: 410-796-4399 Cove Point Apartments II: 410-288-1660 plot unfolds over 15 days. Readers will find Park View at Columbia: 410-381-1118 Evergreen Senior Apartments: 410-780-4888 themselves imagining the days of yore in a Park View at Ellicott City: 410-203-9501 completely new light. The Greens at English Consul: 410-789-3000 Park View at Ellicott City: II 410-203-2096 Inhuman Resources, by Pier re The Greens at Liberty Road: 410-655-1100 Lemaitre, translation by Sam Gordon, Park View at Emerson: 301-483-3322 The Greens at Logan Field: 410-288-2000 384 pages, MacLehose Press paperPark View at Snowden River: 410-290-0384 The Greens at Rolling Road: 410-744-9988 back, 2019 This fast-paced thriller is deftly comPark View at Catonsville: 410-719-9464 PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY posed by award-winning novelist Pierre Park View at Dundalk: 410-288-5483 Park View at Bladensburg: 301-699-9785 • 55 & Better Lemaitre, a 68-year old Parisian famous in Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665 Park View at Laurel: 301-490-1526 his native country for his crime novels. Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375 Inhuman Resources will touch a nerve Park View at Laurel II: 301-490-9730 among older readers on both sides of the Atlantic. The French protagonist has been laid off in his 50s from an executive position. He suffers the humiliation of searching for comparable employment while compelled to accept menial work to pay the bills. The tactics to which he resorts, in pursuit of a job, to regain his dignity and provide a nest egg for himself and his loved ones are creatively conjured up by this prolific author. MOST COMMUNITIES ARE PET-FRIENDLY
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Retirement: It’s all in how you look at it Once upon a time, retirement was about Maybe he or she isn’t so delighted to gold watches, golf and trundling see you, all day, every day. off into the sunset. Maybe you haven’t planned You served your time. Now as well as you should have for you can kick back and do everya second career or an engagthing your way, on your scheding hobby. Maybe retirement ule. is seriously short on hunky No more awful bosses. No and dory. more commuting. Just endAnd maybe it’s all a quesless smiles and jelly doughtion of attitude. nuts, all day, every day. The proof is in a pudding Of course, the reality of renamed Betsy. tirement is a lot more complicat- HOW I SEE IT She is a friend of more than ed, and always has been. If By Bob Levey 40 years (the best kind). We health issues don’t sidetrack have one of those relationyou, financial issues might. If 9-to-5 seemed ships where we are sometimes in very like drudgery at the time, you might miss the close touch and sometimes totally out of camaraderie and the water-cooler debates. touch. But (cliché alert) she’s the kind of And what if your spouse trots out that friend with whom you can pick up a conoldie about “for better or worse, but not for versation right where you left it. lunch?” Betsy was born in Honduras. She is flu-
ent in Spanish and English. I ran into her the other day, and after the usual how’syour-family, I asked if she was retired yet. “Yes,” she said. “I’m loving it. And you, Bob?” I replied, a bit defensively, that I would never retire and would never welcome it. If I had to be out of the flow, out of the game, I’d hate it, I said. Whereupon Betsy taught me a lesson. It has to do with the language she learned as a girl. “Bob,” she said, “do you know what we call retirement in Spanish?” “No clue,” I said. “We call it jubilación,” she said. “Wait a minute, Betsy,” I said. “You
mean everyone who speaks Spanish is jubilant about retirement?” I ticked off for Betsy all the concerns that you just read at the beginning of this column. Plus more: loss of self-esteem, loss of stamina, loss of teeth, loss of engagement. Betsy launched into a long defense of jubilación-to-describe-retirement. She said the Spanish word implies that you have to maintain a positive attitude when you’re not a wage slave any more. She said that your friends and family will be jubilant with you and for you, because you’ve reached such an important moment. See BOB LEVEY, page 53
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Translated books From page 49 not necessarily heighten one’s self esteem. Reading The Joy of Missing Out will validate these ideas from the pen of a 43-yearold. The author-philosopher contends that cherishing one’s identity and core beliefs
brings one to a state of peace and fulfillment. The endless pursuit of material goals, he argues, can counter and upset mindfulness and satisfaction. To be free means to resist “groupthink.” By relishing your routine, you can take time to smell the roses, watch the sunrise, open a book and cherish your time. To many, that is bliss, whatever the language.
BEACON BITS ALL WOMEN ART SHOW
Aug. 22
Celebrate the power of women at the opening night of Hen House, an art show of female artists. There will be a live performance as well, with food and drinks available to purchase. The free event takes place on Thurs., Aug. 22 from 6 p.m. to midnight and is located at Jackie Lee’s 116 Kennedy St. NW, Washington, D.C. For more information, call (202) 882-4000.
Ongiong
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Crossword Puzzle
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Across 1. Florist’s suggestion 6. The Orkin Man’s targets 10. The only element with a 3-letter name 13. Bryant, Good Housekeeping’s most admired woman 1978-1980 14. Participate in a long jump 15. Stink bug’s defense 17. Reach second base quickly 18. Item in Mother Teresa’s closet 19. Not guilty, for example 20. Feeling of bored melancholy 23. Pieces of the International Peace Institute 24. Old wives’ story 25. Fed. agency for human resources 28. “Things are seldom what they ___” 31. XLIII times VII 33. Boring pharmaceutical side-effect 37. Princess Diana’s beau, Fayed 38. Isaac, to Abraham 39. U.S. News’ top-ranked Southregional university for 2019 41. State of bored indecision 46. Colorful part of an apple 47. Charlie Brown sound 48. Cheerios grain 49. Long-lasting quarrel 51. 2018 FIFA World Cup host nation 53. Lack of personal goals 61. Boat with square-rigged masts 62. Cancel an Excel formula update 63. Preparer of vegetable soup 64. Payment option 65. Moves closer to retirement 66. Islamic ruler 67. Undeveloped parcel of land 68. Run out of Monopoly money 69. Takes a breather
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2. Born ___ wealth 3. Futon user 4. Creator of Pong in 1972 5. Harry Belafonte: King of ___ 6. “And, another thing...” 7. Non-alcoholic, to a brewmaster 8. Cards of destiny 9. Green veggie 10. Highly classified 11. Unemployed 12. Leon ___ (palindromic Parisian politician) 16. UK military branch, since 1918 21. Land granted from a lord to a vassal 22. Inside portion of a GELCAP 25. Code for the Midwest’s busiest airport 26. Subatomic particle composed of a quark and antiquark 27. Pre-Windows PC operating system 29. “What ___ can go wrong?” 30. Cat calls 32. Alaskan white house 34. Type of combat sport 35. Abbrevs. for the only two states whose names end in double-letters 36. Grand Master of the Jedi Council 40. “___ on my watch!” 42. Cheats at Truth or Dare 43. Out of the ordinary 44. The beginning of “culture” 45. Storm sound 50. Wild Australian dog 52. Snail trail 53. Days of Our Lives network 54. Unwritten, as a contract 55. Japanese soup 56. Lyric poems 57. Carrot, to a snowman 58. Tops off a cupcake 59. Pool depth units 60. Lowers one’s fielding percentage
Answers on page 51.
WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 9
Bob Levey From page 51
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style
ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick Detorie
She said that people in her native country hate Grumpy Gusses. So, they are always looking on the bright side, and encouraging retirees to do the same. Being a word guy, I poured myself a fresh coffee later that day and pondered our well-worn word for after-employment. “Retirement” accentuates the negative, doesn’t it? It suggests that we walked away from something, rather than toward something. It suggests that we shrank from a challenge. It implies that we were no longer tough enough to take a punch. There’s also an implication-within-animplication. “Retirement” suggests that those of us with highly energetic, highly driven personalities should suddenly become wet noodles. As in docile. As in retiring. As in go sit in the corner and don’t make waves. Then there’s the question of being an engaged citizen. Too often, retirement in America means that we over-65s cease to care about social and political issues. To say the least, I and thousands like me would resist that as much and as long as we could. Yes, there are other ways to describe retirement in English. But those expressions are either loaded or mawkish. Please spare me from “the golden years” and from “your next act.” But Betsy has given me — and now you — a better path. The next time someone asks me if I’m retired yet, I will simply smile and say: Hoo-bee-lah-see-own. If I’m met with a “huh?,” or with a puzzled frown, I will explain that Betsy, and all Spanish speakers, have the right term for those later years. Bob Levey is a national award-winning columnist.
From the publisher From page 2 expand. The candidates’ suggestions may or may not be good policy, but either way, they should be upfront about where the money is coming from. I recommend you raise this point when you have an opportunity to meet or speak with candidates or their surrogates. You can tell them exactly what Charles Blahous told the Beacon:
“We are running out of time to repair Social Security’s finances. If we want Social Security to perform in the future as it has in the past, the time to act is now.” Only when more of us at the grassroots level express concern and exasperation with what’s happening with Social Security and Medicare will anyone start to take action.
BEACON BITS
Ongoing
FREE MOVIES ON WEDNESDAYS
Watch a free movie the first Wednesday of every month at ArcLight Cinema at Westfield Montgomery (formerly Montgomery Mall) through November. Stop by for a 10 a.m. film and listen to a brief presentation about safety tips and crimes that target older adults. See Robert DeNiro in Stardust on Aug. 7, Meryl Streep in the musical Mamma Mia! on Sept. 4, and Tom Hanks in Big on Oct. 2 and in Forrest Gump on Nov. 6. The theater is located in the mall at 7101 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, Md. For more information, contact Montgomery County Police at (240) 773-6727 or Dana.Stroman@montgomerycountymd.gov.
WB819
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A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
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CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on page 55. CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment. EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate. Caregivers ELDERLY CARE - Female care provider English speaking with car. I’m experience in caring for people with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other health issues. I cook, clean and take to doctors appointments. Excellent references 301275-7283 LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO HELP YOU while you get back to your life? Need some assistance with appointments, scheduling, errands, medication reminders, meal-planning and preparation, decluttering, or organizing? I have more than 18 years of experience in non-medical companion care. Currently in school studying Universal Design and Home Modification for Aging in Place. Have a clean background, don’t drink or smoke, have an excellent driving record, and get along with most pets. Instructor in CPR/AED and First Aid. Reliable, punctual, and have a great attitude. Bonded and Insured. www.gatekeepercompanioncare.com (301) 371-2210 HELPING HANDS I provide first class care for your loved one. My services include household chores, general housekeeping and transportation as needed. I have a varied background working with all types of issues and aging concerns. Please contact Mrs. Paul (240)898-7956 or email hands2help@gmail.com SENIOR HELPING HAND. A compassionate care giver to provide non-medical daily living assistance to seniors. Call Pam, 301 891 0001. A HOME HEALTHCARE - Experienced nurses, CNA, GNA are available 24/7. Cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping, driving. Full/Part-time or live-in care flat rate. 15 years’ experience. 240-533-6599
Computer Services PROBLEM WITH YOUR PC/MAC OR NETWORK? Computer Systems Engineer will come to you with help. Call David G. Computer Services at 301-642-4526. COMPUTER LESSONS — Personal Computer training in your home at your convenience. Windows PC and Mac. Learn Email, Internet, and General computer use. Print Digital photos, search with Google. Word processing, Excel, Outlook. Troubleshoot PC issues. Setup new computers, printers, internet. Setup and train on all consumer electronics — Smartphone, Smart TV, Tablet, Digital cameras, and Alexa. Gentle & patient teacher using plain English. Since 1996. Call David, 301-980-5840. COMPUTERTUTOR.
Financial
Home/Handyman Services
Wanted
HAVING TROUBLE FINDING A FINANCIAL ADVISOR because your 401k or IRA is under $200k? Receive retirement planning and investment management from a Certified Financial Planner focused on low fees and helping others. For appointment call 240-8477081.
ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off and 0% financing for those who qualify. PLUS Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-844-359-6933
LADY WHO LIKES CHINA and other pretty things would like to buy yours. Favorites include Herend, Meissen, Royal Copenhagen, Shelley and Villeroy & Boch. Some Lenox and Johnson Brothers. I love English bone china cups and saucers. Baccarat and Lalique too. Paintings and pottery. I’ve collected antique Christmas and Halloween for thirty years and am always looking to add to my collection. Sterling and jewelry. MD license no. 2753. Call, 301-785-1129.
For Sale KING DAVID CEMETERY. We are selling two adjacent grave sites located in Block 4. It is below the cemetery price of $5100 each. Asking $2500 each (plus $200 transfer fee). Out -oftown owners are anxious to sell. Call 301-9474140 or 954-993-0212. AVAILABLE AT FT. LINCOLN CEMETERY; two traditional in-ground burial plots, located in the Garden of the Apostles. Original (90’s value) $10,900. Asking $7,500. If interested, contact Ken at (863)604-8578 TWO CEMETERY PLOTS with crypts in Parklawn Memorial Park, Rockville. Beautiful location. Call 301-598-0018. COLLECTIBLES FOR SALE. Large collection of military patches and pins. Books about American wars and conflicts, Civil war to Vietnam. Scout, police, college and high school patches. Political buttons and memorabilia. Toby and shaving mugs. Western magazines from 1960s and 70s: Guns, American Rifleman, Guns and Ammo. Lawyer scales. Cigar and school boxes. Vinyl Records: 78s and albums (LP). Baseball cards. Antique dining room set in excellent condition. Contact: Jerry Hall at 301367-7630.
For Sale/Rent: Real Estate IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO TAKE THE LEAP to a retirement community, try our newly announced Real Estate Partnership: Sue Heyman, Rick Winkler, and Sudha Baxter. Rely on our combined strengths: Top Weichert Producers, plus backgrounds in Teaching, Tax, and Business. We are located at the Leisure World Plaza Weichert Office and have personal knowledge of the Community from the investor and resident perspective. We will take you on a tour of the Community, show you floor plans, discuss campus amenities & offer how best to coordinate your move. We will set up an automated search for you, preview units, and contact you to arrange a showing when there is a match. We also offer exceptional service selling your current home. Call for your free Community booklet. You can see our current listings in this issue. Office 301-681-0550, Sue 301-580-5556, Rick 301-404-3105, Sudha 202368-8536. RESIDENCES AT THOMAS CIRCLE senior efficiency, washer/dryer connections, continental breakfast, evening meal provided. Numerous amenities all for $3,260 per month. Inquiries 904-309-3018. HARRY FANG, REALTOR, Evergreen Properties (a broker of 30 years in metro area) 240478-0250. EISDOM@GMAIL.COM Commission 1.5%, buy or sell. Like to help seniors in Maryland / Virginia to locate (purchase) or sell your properties. Senior helps seniors. Harry is a senior, and like assist other seniors in regards of real estate. If you purchase, Harry will collect 1.5% of commission paid by the seller and return rest to you. If you sell, Harry will charge only 1.5%. (Separately, you need to pay to the buyer’s agent.) Harry also handles rental properties. Harry is specialized in Rockville, Potomac, Gaithersburg, and entire Montgomery Cty. Plus Hyattsville and College Park. 3018408061(ofc) Phone 240-478-0250 Harry Fang EISDOM@GMAIL.COM
STAY IN YOUR HOME LONGER with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation! Call us at 1-877-240-2061 or visit www.walkintubquote.com/beacon EHRLICH PEST CONTROL EXPERTS: providing pest control solutions since 1921. Protect your home from termites, ants, spiders, fleas, roaches and more?365 days a year! Call 1-855338-8198 to schedule your FREE Pest Inspection.
Legal Services APPLYING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY or Appealing a Denied Claim? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc., Social Security Disability Attorneys, 1-866-970-0779! FREE Consultations. Local Attorneys Nationwide [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.)] PARALEGAL/RESEARCHER — will run positive interference with your personnel or professional paperwork; knowledge of local and federal government agencies, public and private libraries, as well as trade associations. Will make house /office calls. Call 301-565-2917 or e-mail Rushresearch@comcast.net
Personal Services SELL YOUR SILVER AND OLD GOLD JEWELRY. Gold 4 Good (8241 Georgia Ave., Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910) buys gold and silver jewelry, including broken pieces, all sterling silver and silver flatware, gold watches and gold and silver coins. I will come to your house and give you a free evaluation of what I can pay. If you decide to sell, I can buy your items at that time, but there is no obligation. Licensed with both Maryland and Montgomery County (lic. #2327). Call Bob, (240) 938-9694. Gold 4 Good pays an additional 5 percent to all sellers who are military veterans (or spouses of veterans). Gold 4 Good is a Maryland licensed precious metals dealership, not a pawnshop or private home-based business. FREE DRAWING CLASSES: Volunteers in pilot program propose free at-home drawing classes for seniors over 75 in groups of 1 to 3 participants. Materials provided. Contact our coordinator for details: lex_ever@protonmail.com
Personals ENCHANTING LADY, 50s - young looking, voluptuous woman seeks to meet/date an attractive gentleman, SWM, 50s or 60s, with husky build, 200+ lbs, who is sincere, compassionate, dependable, affectionate. Enjoys the great outdoors, movies, dancing, dining out. Seeks friendship, possible relationship. 240-316-6152. Please leave a nice voice message for reply. AN EASY ON THE EYE Black female 72+ desires male friendship/dating/and travel. Males 65+ respond. Be physical fit, single, spiritual, sports & adventurous. Enjoy conversation, love nature, walks, etc. Leave message 301.847.0423
TV/Cable
Health
Get DIRECTV! ONLY $35/month! 155 Channels & 1000s of Shows/Movies On Demand (w/SELECT All Included Package.) PLUS Stream on Up to FIVE Screens Simultaneously at No Addtl Cost. Call 1-888-572-4953 or satellitedealnow.com/TBN
PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-851-0949.
DISH Network $59.99 For 190 Channels! Add High Speed Internet for ONLY $14.95/month. Best Technology. Best Value. Smart HD DVR Included. FREE Installation. Some restrictions apply. Call 1-844-560-5837
DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for [350] procedures. Call 1-844366-1003 for details. www.dental50plus.com/320. 6118-0219
Spectrum Triple Play! TV, Internet & Voice for $99.97/mo. Fastest Internet. 100 MB per second speed. Free Primetime on Demand. Unlimited Voice. NO CONTRACTS. Call 1-888-3667573
WANTED: OLDER VIOLINS, GUITARS, BANJOS, MANDOLINS, UKULELES, ETC. Musician/collector will pay cash for older string instruments. Jack (301) 279-2158. CASH FOR JEWELRY: Buying jewelry, diamonds, gold, platinum, silver, watches, coins, flatware, etc. Ask for Tom. Call anytime, 301654-8678 (Reg. 883). TOP PRICES PAID for fine antiques, artwork and high-quality decorative items including decorated crocks and jugs, rare antique clocks, music boxes, unusual lamps, slot machines and great old toys and dolls to name a few. I am 66 years old with over 40 years in the antique business, welleducated and financially capable. Why pay expensive auction house, estate sale, or consignment store commissions when you can get a fair upfront price for your pieces immediately? If you have something unusual and interesting, rare and valuable and are prepared to sell it I would like to speak with you. Please call Jake Lenihan 301 279 8834. No calls after 7 pm please. Thank you. BUYING VINYL RECORDS from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201. COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, knives, swords, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars & countries. Also Lionel Trains, & slots/coin operated machines. Will pay top prices. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-910-0783 $$$ CASH $$$ FOR MILITARY USMC ARMY USAF USN ITEMS - Buying Military Uniforms, Patches, Medals, Insignia, Flight Jackets, Weapons etc. from the Civil War through Vietnam. Especially seeking U.S. Army Air Corps, USMC, Airborne and German/Japanese/Italian items from WWII. Call or Text Dan at 202-8413062 or email MILITBUFF@AOL.COM. TURN YOUR SILVER AND OLD GOLD jewelry into cash. Gold 4 Good (8241 Georgia Ave., Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910) buys gold and silver jewelry, including broken pieces, all sterling silver and silver flatware, gold watches and gold and silver coins. I will come to your house and give you a free evaluation of what I can pay. If you decide to sell, I can buy your items at that time, but there is no obligation. Licensed with both Maryland and Montgomery County (lic. #2327). Call Bob, (240) 938-9694. Gold 4 Good pays an additional 5 percent to all sellers who are military veterans (or spouses of veterans). Gold 4 Good is a Maryland licensed precious metals dealership, not a pawnshop or private home-based business. BUYING VINYL RECORDS from 1950 through 1990. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae, Punk, Blues, and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201. BUYING OLD COMIC BOOKS, old magazines, Presidential Inaugural material, antique Asian items and more. Polite and professional. Call anytime. Keith 240 994-0941. ESTATE LIQUIDATION/ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES: One call solves it all when you hire us to handle your estate liquidation, down-sizing and/or home cleanout. We sell your treasures, take care of charitable donations and provide junk removal. We also purchase partial estate contents/collections. Always buying antiques, jewelry, fine art, vintage toys, collectibles, advertising, sports memorabilia, military items, rare books, Mid Century Modern furniture, vinyl records collections and more. Based in Silver Spring, we serve Montgomery County, Howard County, Baltimore County, Washington D.C., NOVA and beyond. No home, barn or warehouse is too packed for us! Friendly, conscientious staff. Call Chris on cell (202) 731-9447. www.OrionsAttic.com.
Classifieds cont. on p. 55
Say you saw it in the Beacon
WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 9
Classifieds cont. from p. 54 Wanted
Wanted
PAYING CASH merchandise pre 1980. Old toys, silver, records, books, photographs, smoking pipes and lighters, fountain pens. If you have old stuff to sell call Carl 312-3167553. Sorry no furniture or glassware. Located Silver Spring MD. CASH FOR ESTATES; moving, etc. I buy a wide range of items. Buy out/clean up. TheAtticLLC.com Gary Roman 301-520-0755. BUYING MILITARY MEMORABILIA WW2, WW1, Civil War uniforms, weapons, photos and items associated with US, German, Japanese or items of other Military History. DAVE, 240-464-0958.
I BUY MILITARY ANTIQUES. I have an MA in History & buy American and foreign military medals, documents, uniforms, insignia, books & historic firearms - Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam. I offer fair prices for single items or collections. Trusted for over 30 years in the Washington, DC area. Call me first or for a second opinion. My biography and testimonials from veterans and their families are on my website. www.midatlanticmilitaryantiques.com Tim Frank 703-447-7243.
Thanks for reading!
BEACON BITS
Aug. 24
LEARN HOW TO FIX YOUR COMPUTER
Do you have a damaged computer or laptop that you want to fix on your own? Come to the Damascus Library on Sat., Aug. 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to be guided by a Microsoft Certified Professional to repair your computer. The library is located at 9701 Main St., Damascus, Md. Call (240) 773-9444 for more information.
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HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD All classified ads must be submitted and paid for online, via our website, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds Deadlines and Payments: To appear in the next issue, your ad text and payment must be entered by the 5th of the preceding month (for Baltimore and Howard County editions); by the 20th (for Washington and Richmond editions). Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad: • $25 for 1-250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length). The website will calculate this amount for you. Note: Maryland contractors must provide a valid MHIC number. • Each real estate listing qualifies as one ad. • All ads are subject to publisher’s discretion. Payment will be refunded if unacceptable for any reason.
To place your classified ad, visit www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds
ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Studies Gestalt Study............................24 Healthy Volunteer Study ..........25 Hearing Research Study...........24 RSV Research Study................25 Speech Comprehension Study .....................................25
Computer/ Technology BeaconSilverPages...................36 TheBeaconNewspapers.com ....36
Dental Services Friedman, Stephen, DDS .........26 Oh, Judy, DDS .........................12
Events Beacon 50+Expo..................3, 35 JCA Grandparents Day Walk ...43
Financial/Insurance Services Children’s National Hospital....31
Funeral Services Going Home Cremation...........51
Government Services DC Dept of Insurance ..............37 DC Office on Aging ...........28-29 MCDOT ...................................40 Montgomery County Aging and Disability Services ............6, 22
Home Health Care/Companion Services
Ring House...............................27 Sommerset Retirement.............19 Springvale Terrace..............10, 21 Victory Housing.......................16
Perfect Sleep Chair...................42 Quinn’s Auction Galleries ........15 TV Voice Pro..............................7 Zinger Chair .............................50
Best Senior Care . . . . . . . . . . .26 Bright Hope Home Care . . . . . .9 Family & Friends Home Care .10 Options for Senior America .....31
Legal Services
Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation
Housing Alfredhouse..............................17 Armed Forces Retirement Home ..................32 Ashby Ponds.........................1, 15 Brooke Grove Retirement Village ...............................8, 56 Chesterbrook Residences.............................18 Chevy Chase House .................19 Churchill Senior Living ...........23 Culpepper Garden ......................7 Falcons Landing ......................17 Five Star Premier Residences...............16 Friendship Terrace....................18 Gardens of Traville, The...........41 Greenspring..........................1, 15 Hillside Apartment Homes.........5 Homecrest House .....................37 Homewood at Frederick ...........40 Landing of Silver Spring, The .................23 Quantum Property Mgmt............20 R Homes Communities...............49 Riderwood............................1, 15
Farr Law Firm ..........................33 Law Offices of Lee Holdmann......................34 Law Offices of Nancy Feldman .....................32 Law Offices of Paul Riekhof ...31
Medical/Health
Manor Care Health Services ....14
Subscriptions Beacon Newspaper...................53 Washington Jewish Week.........46
Theatre/ Entertainment
Allied Pharmaceutical Svcs .....17 Arya Wellness Center...............21 Health For Life Dispensary......21 I Hate Knee Pain ......................13 Lesner Hearing.........................11 Medical Eye Center..................16 Providence Urgent Care ...........11 Silver Spring Medical Center...23 United Healthcare ......................9
City of Rockville......................27 F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre .......44 Kennedy Center .......................47 Senior Zone..............................48 Smithsonian Associates............46 Toby’s Dinner Theatre ..............44 US Navy Band ...................45, 46 Wolf Trap .................................45
Miscellaneous
Tour & Travel
AARP Foundation....................14 Green House H St. .....................9
Almost Heaven Vacations ........41 Eyre Travel ...............................39 Festive Holidays .......................39 Global Wanderer Travel ...........41 Martinsburg, WV Travel ..........39 Shillelaghs................................40
Real Estate Long & Foster/ Eric Stewart.....................34, 48 Weichert/Sue Heyman..............22
Retail/Auction Healthy Back Store ..................12 McKay Used Books .................10
Volunteers & Careers Beacon, The .............................32 Career Gateway ........................35 Interages...................................43
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A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com
THIS SUMMER ...
Start a New Journey Whether it’s strolling winding paths or socializing in sunny courtyards, residents of Assisted Living at Brooke Grove experience a warm, vibrant lifestyle and delight in our charming setting of open meadows and airy trees.
OUR AMENITIES Private rooms filled with sunshine from over-sized windows and skylights 24-hour on-site clinical support from licensed and caring nurses Secure courtyards and walking paths Ornamental koi pond Manicured flower and sensory gardens Playground for visiting kids
MEMORY SUPPORT PROGRAM For residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia, we offer a special assisted living option with: Specially trained memory support staff An interactive lifestyle that maximizes choice and independence ®
Tailored LIFE enrichment programming that connects each resident to his or her past Group activities that allow residents to enjoy the outdoors and a thriving social life
18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 301-260-2320 or 301-924-2811
www.bgf.org