September 2020 | DC Beacon

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VOL.32, NO.9

Charity’s small gifts help kids

Safe and Connected Senior Living 14269625

SEPTEMBER 2020

I N S I D E …

PHOTO BY REY LOPEZ

By Glenda C. Booth When Ron Fitzsimmons was growing up in the 1960s in West Islip, New York, his father left his mother and their three children.

With just $250 a month in welfare benefits, barely enough to cover food and rent, his mother cleaned houses and took in ironing.

In middle school, Fitzsimmons had to wear the same shirt for days, enduring schoolmates’ taunts. One year, he missed 67 days of school because he didn’t want to be humiliated.

Fast forward to 2011. Ron was talking with his sister, Laura Fitzsimmons Peters, about their childhood.

“Remember when Mom went out and got a job and made $10? We were so excited because she could buy us a new pair of sneakers,” Peters recalled.

At the time, Ron was retired and working as a substitute teacher at Mount Vernon High School. One day he found a girl crying because she could not afford a prom ticket, so he bought it for her.

At that moment, an idea formed: Find a way to provide the small things youngsters need.

Spotting a niche in the world of charity, Fitzsimmons and Peters co-founded a nonprofit, Alice’s Kids, named after their mother.

The Virginia-based organization has helped children in 34 states and the District of Columbia. Its goal is to raise needy children’s self-esteem by providing what might seem “life’s little things.” But to these children, they are very big.

“Alice’s Kids fills unique needs that other agencies don’t,” said Stephanie Cruz, a social worker and liaison between Alexandria Public Schools and Alice’s Kids.

“It makes kids feel like kids, and helps

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L E I S U R E & T R AV E L

From whale watching to whitewater rafting, Antarctica to Oregon, these bucket list adventures are worth planning ahead for; plus, a roundup of the D.C. region’s best parks, gardens and trails page 32

ARTS & STYLE Nine years ago, Ron Fitzsimmons and his sister started a nonprofit, Alice’s Kids, named in memory of their mother, who raised them alone. The organization provides gift cards and gifts — from sneakers to prom dresses — to underprivileged children in the D.C. area and beyond.

them forget about the stressors in their lives, like Mom losing her job or not having enough to eat.”

How it works The organization takes requests from teachers, social workers, police officers and counselors to help children from kinder-

garten to high school. (They do not accept requests from parents or the public.)

The applicant describes the family situation and requests certain items. Fitzsimmons provides gift cards, often to Walmart or Target, to the liaison, explaining that the See ALICE’S KIDS, page 43

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A doctor who composes symphonic works in his spare time; plus, new books about WWII, and Bob Levey on today’s dangerous drivers page 38 TECHNOLOGY k Tips for online dating

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FITNESS & HEALTH 7 k A blood test to detect Alzheimer’s k Eat smart to keep brain sharp SPOTLIGHT ON AGING k Newsletter for D.C. seniors

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LAW & MONEY 26 k Beware of Beirut, other scams k Alert: financial notices going digital ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

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Seizing an opportunity I’ve never been one to keep a daily jour- was confused. Why was the train stopping nal or diary. I do find myself wishing some- here? Should he wait on the platform to catch the next train? times that I had done so in No, this train no longer the past, but not enough to continues downtown, I told get myself to start keeping him. You have to switch to anone now. other train and change to anHowever, there have been a other after that to get back to few days in my life when I the Red Line. have had such a meaningful (or traumatic) experience that Not only did he not have I feel compelled to write down any idea how to do that, he what happened and how I felt. was looking for an elevator, The other day, I was looking since he had great difficulty for a folder on my computer FROM THE walking. (It turned out the and came across one I had la- PUBLISHER spinner suitcase he pushed beled “Memorable Experi- By Stuart P. Rosenthal was actually his “cane,” as he ences.” I opened it up, and told me later. He needed it to there was one document there. It read more stay upright and walk.) or less as follows: So, I said I would show him how to get Interesting/amazing experience today, back to the Red Line by changing to the July 31, 2018 Green Line and then again to the OrI had an appointment at the Smithsonian ange/Blue Line.

But as I started to walk with him, not office on the National Mall, but since the Red Line is being repaired and several knowing where to find the elevator for metro stations are closed down, I had to him, I suddenly saw a uniformed Metro change trains twice to get there. employee just ahead of us and asked if he First, I took the Red Line to Fort Totten. could help.

When we arrived at that station, the driver The two of them began talking, and it announced that the train terminated there. turned out the gentleman needed to get to As I was getting off the train to make my Virginia, which was not the route I was first transfer, an older man with a suitcase taking, so at that point I just walked away,

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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.

Half-price subscriptions are currently available for only $6 a year. 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 – Dan Kelly, MK Phillips, Hubie Stockhausen Assistant Editor – Catherine Brown

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saying to myself, “Well, I got him someone helpful, and he’ll be OK now.”

I was also in a bit of a hurry to make my appointment, and seeing how slowly he walked, I was concerned that if I accompanied him for the rest of his journey, I might be late to my appointment. Still, I was feeling a little bad that I left him.

Fast forward about two hours. My meeting at the Smithsonian ended. I sat on a park bench and ate my lunch. Then I headed back on my three-train odyssey to get home.

I arrived at the Fort Totten station (this time on the lower level), and as I walked toward the staircase at the far end of the platform, I found myself walking right behind the SAME gentleman with the suitcase (apparently returning from his errand as well)!

I greeted him and asked how he was.

And he said, very matter-of-factly, as he did earlier that day, “I need an elevator, and I don’t know where it is.” I pointed out that there was an escalator right in front of us, but he said he was afraid to take it, given his gait.

I said I would take his suitcase on the escalator for him, so he could just hold onto the handrail, but he was still afraid to take that first step onto the escalator. I was carrying my jacket and a briefcase and didn’t have another free hand.

Just then, a younger man came up and asked if we needed help. I said yes. He took the gentleman’s arm, and we gently guided him onto the escalator.

As we got off that escalator, I pointed out we needed to go up yet another one, and the younger man said to me, “You take the suitcase, and I’ll hold his arm.” And we successfully got him up to the train on the upper level.

I was so happy that God gave me a second chance to do the good deed I had rather cavalierly jettisoned a couple of hours earlier. It was amazing to me that twice in the same day, at the same station, both going and coming back, I found myself at the arm of the same man in need of help. What a blessing! What a day!

I share this with you now, although it happened two years ago and I had nearly

forgotten about it, because I feel our current times have, in some ways, given us fewer opportunities to help others, but in other ways, given us more of them.

We don’t just “run into” people anymore (or if we do, we must be careful to remain socially distant and masked), making “random acts of kindness,” such as holding the door for someone, feel downright unpatriotic.

But if we think about it, we probably know people in our neighborhood who live alone or for other reasons might be having a particularly difficult time of it in this pandemic. If we know their name, hopefully we can pick up the phone and call them.

Sometimes just the conversation alone can make a difference for someone, and sometimes they really could use something from the store.

A Beacon reader sent us a poignant letter recently that gives another example of ways we might help others.

You see, she moved to Baltimore recently from another state, and said, “You have no idea how hard it is to get connected” to new people there.

The reason? Baltimoreans are so close with their fellow locals, particularly the ones they grew up with, that she couldn’t break in socially.

This seems to be true especially among people her age. “Seniors talk about high school and friends they have had since they were born.”

Is this problem unique to Baltimore, or do lots of us keep new arrivals out of our circles, perhaps unintentionally? As we get older, many of us wind up relocating for a variety of reasons and may find ourselves in a similar situation.

Are there any readers out there who can identify with our letter writer and would like to share stories? What worked for you? Please email us at info@thebeaconnewspapers.com.

And if you end up reaching out to others as a result of reading this, please let us know as well.

Thank you, and stay well.

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 wonderful newspaper has become a marker of history. While reading your ad about a virtual 50+Expo because of the pandemic in which we have found ourselves, my thoughts went back to 9/11 [the date of a Beacon Expo in 2001].

It was then when hundreds of vendors and seniors found ourselves in another never-before-experienced situation, much more like a science fiction movie than reality.

For those who make it to 2029, what do you have in store?

With gratitude for all you have done for so many seniors, their families and their providers.

Sister Kathy Weber, CSC Silver Spring, Md. [Editor’s note: Thank you, Sister. And congratulations go to you as well, for being See LETTERS TO EDITOR, page 45

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KEYNOTE SPEAKER

2020

Ken Dychtwald, PhD, a national expert on aging and author of the new book, What Retirees Want

Coming Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, through Jan. 31, 2021 Due to COVID-19, this year’s Beacon 50+Expo will be online rather than in-person YOU WILL ENJOY:

• A variety of EXPERT SPEAKERS on health and financial topics • A number of ENGAGING CLASSES and fun ENTERTAINERS • An even larger number of INFORMATIVE EXHIBITORS than usual PLUS: You’ll be able to “visit” all speakers, classes, entertainers and exhibitors AT ANY TIME during the three months the Expo will be open Look for more details in upcoming issues of the Beacon Register at bit.ly/beacon50expo to get updates sent to you GOLD SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

Attn. Businesses: Interested in exhibiting or sponsoring?

Contact Alan at (443) 285-9336.

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Technology &

Innovations Online dating: a guide for people over 50

Figure out what you want Keep in mind, many of us mature seniors have been single for a long time and have become accustomed to the solo lifestyle. This admittedly has some nice bonuses, such as making our own deci-

sions to come and go as we please. It’s important to know what we want and don’t want in a relationship — regardless of what our kids or friends think is best for us.

Also, for mature singles, the traditional relationship is a thing of the past. Now that we are older, with grown children, and we’ve probably been married once or twice, or widowed — we have different needs.

Many of us still have some of the same needs we had in our 20s. I can surely speak for myself.

There may be snow on the mountain, but there’s still fire in the furnace, as they say!

There’s a big difference in the activity level of the older population today compared to our parents’ era. Today’s silver population is more active and has the means and time to join the gym, travel and live in 55+ communities, where there is always a lot going on.

There are cruises for singles over 50.

Every type of card game, exercise and entertainment imaginable is offered at clubhouses and community rooms. Free Silver Sneakers — a Medicare benefit — makes it easier than ever to stay fit. We are living longer and having fun doing it.

BEACON BITS

Sept. 10

DIGITAL MUSIC Learn more about how to organize your digital music collection

without using streaming services or iTunes. A librarian will show you the ropes and how to organize your new collection. The free virtual class takes place on Thurs., Sept. 10 from 10 to 11 a.m. Register at http://bit.ly/DigitalMusicAlexandria.

Sept. 24

DIGITAL DECLUTTERING Do you have too many online accounts? Learn how to minimalize

them and declutter digital tools. The Alexandria Library’s free virtual session will be held on Thurs., Sept. 24 from 10 to 11 a.m. To register, visit http://bit.ly/DigitalDecluttering.

Some tips for online dating

PHOTO COURTESY SANDRA LINDBERG

By Sandra Lindberg When I was younger and in a different era, it was easy meeting single men, striking up a conversation and dating. Well, sorry to say, older single people today have a tough time meeting the right partner, someone who shares similar likes and dislikes and really wants a meaningful, long-term relationship where both feel mutual chemistry.

Having been married twice, my hope was to find someone with whom I can spend quality time and enjoy a movie or dinner. Meet someone who makes me laugh and with whom I can talk about life over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Someone to enjoy activities with me, travel together and share some romance.

Sounds easy, doesn’t it?

Yet many of my friends have given up looking for a partner in life.

At the same time, a social change has taken place. Sure, it’s possible to meet someone at the gym or on a cruise. But online dating has become the way to meet someone while sitting at home in our recliners with no makeup and frizzed-out hair.

I have been on and off many dating sites for so many years that I’ve lost count: Match, Plenty of Fish (POF), Date A Golfer, eHarmony, Tinder, Our Time and a couple others that I can’t recall.

If you’d like to try one of these dating websites, here are a few tips when Author Sandra Lindberg has tried many dating websites.

She offers her advice in a new book. creating your profile: —Your picture must be current, as in taken in the last six worthy partner, you must first be one months. Have at least one recent full- yourself. Dishonesty will show its ugly length picture of yourself. Make sure your head sooner or later.

—Keep comments about politics feature picture is of you alone and shows your best facial expressions. Use some hu- and religion out of your profile.

—Proceed safely. Being safe is more morous captions.

—Write a strong bio. On most dating than locking your car doors at night. It sites, you answer preset questions and means being aware. Remember, people then write a brief biography. After your aren’t always who they pretend to be onmain picture, your bio is the second most line and may take advantage of someone important piece of information about you. who appears to be vulnerable. If you’re This is where you have the opportunity to feeling uncomfortable about a situation, highlight and promote yourself. Write as if trust your gut and take measures to reit were a sales letter for your dream job. move yourself from those situations or Or dream partner, in this case. Your writ- don’t get into them in the first place.

After several years meeting people ing gives a peek into who you are, what you have to offer, and what you are look- through dating websites, I’m still looking for the perfect companion. Yet I’ve learned ing for.

—Be positive and optimistic. Even if so much more about myself from the online you are angry about some of the people dating mistakes I’ve made along the way.

I’m still an optimistic person. I believe you have dated in the past, refrain from making your profile into what you don’t there is someone out there who wants the want rather than what you do want. You same things I do and will still appreciate a must be upbeat and cheerful in your word partner who has all of my qualities…even choices. List activities you currently enjoy. one over 50 (or 70!).

This excerpt is printed with permission from —Be truthful. Honesty is the best policy. That includes your age and your an- Sandra Lindberg’s book 51 Shades of Online swers to the profile questions. If you Dating: A Guide for People Over 50, availsmoke, say you smoke. If you drink, say able for $15 on Amazon. For more inforyou drink. If you want an honest and trust- mation, visit sandralindberg-writer.com.

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According to the American SpeechLanguage-Hearing Association (ASHA), masks can make communication difficult for the approximately 48 million Americans with hearing loss. Masks muffle sound and take away a person’s ability to read lips and see facial expressions, which help people better understand what they’re hearing.

This “Communication Window Mask,� made by “Widespread mask use at this crit- ADCO Hearing Products, is designed to enable ical juncture in the pandemic is key lip reading by those who are hard of hearing. to protecting the public health, but Window masks retail for $15.99 to $19.99 on we want to make everyone aware the site. that masks can pose communication — Talk a little louder (but don’t shout) challenges for anyone — especially people and a little slower. who are deaf or hard of hearing,� said — Use your hands and your body lanASHA President Theresa H. Rodgers, MA, guage.

CCC-SLP. — Ask your partner if they understood To aid communication while wearing a you; if not, say it a different way or write it mask, ASHA offers everyone the following down. tips: — Move to a quiet place if you can. — Consider using a mask with a clear — If you’re talking with someone new, panel over the mouth (available from various ask if there’s anything you can do to make online sites) or using a clear face shield communication easier for both of you. (when appropriate).

For more information and tips, visit — Make sure you have your communica- http://bit.ly/ASHAtips. tion partner’s attention before speaking.

For window masks, visit adcohearing.com/ — Face your partner directly, and make collections/adco-brand-masks or call 1-800sure nothing is blocking your view.

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Seeing is

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Health Fitness &

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SWEET DREAMS Hospitals are notorious for nighttime interruptions; learn ways to limit them CLOSER LOOK AT LASIK Eyesight correction surgery using lasers has an excellent, long track record STRESS EATING Got an ice cream addiction? Tips to curb overeating during stressful times BUZZ OFF To prevent stings, don’t wear red and avoid fruit-scented products (and beer)

New blood test may diagnose Alzheimer’s

By Marilynn Marchione An experimental blood test was highly accurate at distinguishing people with Alzheimer’s disease from those without it in several studies, boosting hopes that there soon may be a simple way to help diagnose this most common form of dementia.

Developing such a test has been a longsought goal, and scientists warn that the new approach still needs more validation and is not yet ready for wide use.

But July’s results suggest they’re on the right track. The testing identified people with Alzheimer’s vs. no dementia or other types of it with accuracy ranging from 89% to 98%.

“That’s pretty good. We’ve never seen

that” much precision in previous efforts, said Maria Carrillo, the Alzheimer’s Association’s chief science officer.

Dr. Eliezer Masliah, neuroscience chief at the U.S. National Institute on Aging, agreed.

“The data look very encouraging,” he said. The new testing “appears to be even more sensitive and more reliable” than earlier methods, but it needs to be tried in larger, more diverse populations, he said.

The institute had no role in these studies but financed earlier basic research toward blood test development.

Results were discussed at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference that took place online because of the coronavirus

pandemic. Some results also were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

More than 5 million people in the United States and many more worldwide have Alzheimer’s. Current drugs only temporarily ease symptoms and do not slow mental decline.

The disease is usually diagnosed through tests of memory and thinking skills, but those methods are very imprecise and usually involve a referral to a neurologist.

More reliable methods such as spinal fluid tests and brain scans are invasive or expensive, so a simple blood test that could be done in a family doctor’s office would be a big advance.

Test measures tau protein Last year, scientists reported encouraging results from experimental blood tests that measure abnormal versions of amyloid, one of two proteins that build up and damage Alzheimer’s patients’ brains.

The new work focuses on the other protein — tau — and finds that one form of it, called p-tau217, is a more reliable indicator.

Several companies and universities have developed experimental p-tau217 tests.

Dr. Oskar Hansson of Lund University in Sweden led a study of Eli Lilly’s test on more than 1,400 people already enrolled in dementia studies in Sweden, Arizona and See BLOOD TEST, page 9

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Antibodies may treat, prevent COVID-19 bers how to do that if the real bug turns up.

But it can take a month or two after vaccination or infection for the most effective antibodies to form. The experimental drugs shortcut that process by giving concentrated versions of specific antibodies that worked best against the coronavirus in lab and animal tests.

“A vaccine takes time to work, to force the development of antibodies. But when you give an antibody, you get immediate protection,” said University of North Car-

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olina virologist Dr. Myron Cohen. “If we can generate them in large concentrations, in big vats in an antibody factory…we can kind of bypass the immune system.”

These drugs are believed to last for a month or more and could give quick, temporary immunity to people at high risk of infection, such as health workers and housemates of someone with COVID-19.

If they prove effective and if a vaccine doesn’t materialize or protect as hoped, the drugs might eventually be considered for wider use, perhaps for teachers or other groups.

They’re also being tested as treatments, to help the immune system and prevent severe symptoms or death.

“The hope there is to target people who are in the first week of their illness and that we can treat them with the antibody and prevent them from getting sick,” said Dr. Marshall Lyon, an infectious disease specialist helping to test one such drug at Emory University in Atlanta.

Having such a tool “would be a really momentous thing in our fight against COVID,” Cohen said.

May be ready before vaccines Vaccines are seen as a key to controlling the virus, which has been confirmed to have infected more than 23 million people world-

wide and killed more than 814,000. Several companies are racing to develop vaccines, but the results of the large final tests needed to evaluate them are months away.

The antibody drugs are “very promising” and, in contrast, could be available “fairly soon,” said Dr. Janet Woodcock, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration official who is leading government efforts to speed COVID-19 therapies. Key studies are underway, and some answers should come by early fall.

One company, Eli Lilly, has already started manufacturing its antibody drug, betting that studies now underway will give positive results.

“Our goal is to get something out as soon as possible” and to have hundreds of thousands of doses ready by fall, said Lilly’s chief scientific officer, Dr. Daniel Skovronsky.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., a company that developed an antibody drug cocktail against Ebola, now is testing one for coronavirus.

“The success with our Ebola program gives us some confidence that we can potentially do this again,” said Christos Kyratsous, a Regeneron microbiologist who helped lead that work.

Regeneron’s drug uses two antibodies to See ANTIBODIES, page 9

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By Marilynn Marchione With a coronavirus vaccine still months off, companies are rushing to test what may be the next best thing: drugs that deliver antibodies to fight the virus right away, without having to train the immune system to make them.

Antibodies are proteins the body makes when an infection occurs; they attach to a virus and help eliminate it. Vaccines work by tricking the body into thinking there’s an infection, so it makes antibodies and remem-

a community resident

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Antibodies From page 8 enhance chances the drug will work even if the virus evolves to evade action by one.

Lilly is testing two different, single-antibody drugs — one with the Canadian company AbCellera and another with a Chinese company, Junshi Biosciences. In July, Junshi said no safety concerns emerged in 40 healthy people who tried it and that larger studies were getting underway.

Others working on antibody drugs include Amgen and Adaptive Biotechnolo-

Blood test

gies. The Singapore biotech company Tychan Pte Ltd. also is testing an antibody drug and has similar products in development for Zika virus and yellow fever.

“I’m cautiously optimistic” about the drugs, said the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci. “I’m heartened by the experience that we had with Ebola,” where the drugs proved effective.

What could go wrong?

— The antibodies may not reach all of the places in the body where they need to act, such as deep in the lungs. All the antiwith the gene, p-tau217 blood levels started to rise “around 20 years before symptoms,” Hansson said.

From page 7 Colombia. They included people with no impairment, mild impairment, Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases.

The p-tau217 test outperformed a host of other measures for indicating which patients had Alzheimer’s as verified by brain scans. It also was comparable to the brain scans and some spinal tests in accuracy.

The Arizona portion of the study included 81 people who had donated their brains upon death, so researchers were able to show that blood testing while they were alive closely matched evidence of disease later.

The Colombia part of the study included people with a rare gene that virtually destines them to develop Alzheimer’s at a young age, typically in their 40s. In those

Multiple studies underway Two other research groups independently reported evidence for p-tau217 testing at the conference.

Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, found it helped distinguish people with Alzheimer’s from those with another neurological disease — frontotemporal lobar degeneration — with 96% accuracy in a study of 617 people.

Dr. Suzanne Schindler of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, also found p-tau217 better than some other indicators for revealing which patients had plaques in the brain — the hallmark of Alzheimer’s.

“When patients come to me with changes

body drugs are given through an IV and must make their way through the bloodstream to wherever they’re needed.

— The virus might mutate to avoid the antibody — the reason Regeneron is testing a two-antibody combo that binds to the virus in different places to help prevent its escape.

— The antibodies might not last long enough. If they fade within a month, it’s still okay for treatment since COVID-19 illness usually resolves in that time. But for prevention, it may not be practical to give infusions more often than every month or two.

Giving a higher dose also may help. If half

of antibodies disappear after a month, “if you give twice as much, you will have two months’ protection,” Lilly’s Skovronsky said.

— The big fear: Antibodies may do the opposite of what’s hoped and actually enhance the virus’s ability to get into cells or stimulate the immune system in a way that makes people sicker. It’s a theoretical concern that hasn’t been seen in testing so far, but large, definitive experiments are needed to prove safety.

“As best as we can tell, the antibodies are helpful,” Lyon said.

—AP

in their memory and thinking, one of the major questions is, what’s the cause? Is it Alzheimer’s disease or is it something else?” she said. If tau testing bears out, “it would help us diagnose people earlier and more accurately.”

Schindler has already launched a larger

study in a diverse population in St. Louis. Researchers have done the same in Sweden.

If benefits are confirmed, Masliah, Carrillo and others say they hope a commercial test would be ready for wide use in about two years.

—AP

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Tips to get better sleep in the hospital

By Melissa Bartick, M.D. If you or any of your loved ones has ever been hospitalized, one of the complaints you may have heard most is how hard it is to sleep in the hospital.

There are lots of things about hospital routines that can make things difficult for patients to sleep, besides noise and illness.

While some hospitals have taken steps to ensure that patients are not interrupted unnecessarily at night, this is not universal.

Some reasons you might be woken at night might be unavoidable. You might be on a particular medication, such as certain antibiotics, that must be given in the middle of the night, depending on when the first dose was given. Blood tests for levels of some antibiotics must be timed to their

dosing, resulting in blood draws in the middle of the night, too.

If you are admitted to check for a heart attack, you might also be ordered for timed blood tests that might involve having your blood drawn in the middle of the night. Vital signs, such as pulse and blood pressure, are required to be taken every four hours for some conditions, which would also awaken you.

One study shows the top thing keeping patients awake is pain, followed by vital signs and tests, noise and medications.

Studies have also shown that hospital routines can disrupt patient sleep, and having a designated quiet time, where nonessential tasks are minimized and lights and noise are lowered, may help.

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Here is a partial list of things that keep patients awake, and what you might be able to do about them: 1. Pain. Pain is easier to control before it gets bad. Don’t hesitate to ask for pain medicine at bedtime, even if your pain is not yet severe.

2. Vital checks. You are woken up to have your blood pressure taken. Vital signs are usually taken every eight hours. Often these are done between 11 p.m. and midnight, after the night shift starts, but that’s frequently just after you have fallen sleep.

Alternatively, the night shift could be taking your vital signs at 6 a.m., when you would be awoken for other hospital routines anyway. If you are given the opportunity to give feedback during or after your stay, it would be important to mention this — hospital administrators look closely at patient feedback.

3. The IV pump that keeps beeping.

This is usually because the flow of IV fluid is blocked (occluded), most often due to its insertion in the crook of your elbow.

Thus, every time you bend your arm, the pump alarm will start beeping. If this is the case, ask to have the IV put in a different place, like your hand.

4. You are woken to be given medications. Sometimes a medication or breathing treatment might be ordered “every four hours” or “every six hours,” which means the nurse or respiratory therapist is required to wake you to give it to you even if you are asleep.

You can ask if the order can be changed to four times a day instead of every six hours, or “every four hours while awake.”

5. Noise. Lots of things can be noisy in the hospital at night — staff voices, cleaning machines, your roommate if you have one. You can always ask to have your door closed, and you can ask someone to bring

you ear plugs.

6. You are up all night urinating. If this is not the case when you are at home, it might be because you were ordered for a diuretic to be given late in the day, after 6 p.m. or so, or you are ordered for IV fluids at a rate that is higher than you actually require. Your nurse can ask the doctor to change these orders.

7. Blood transfusions at night. If you need a blood transfusion, it is best not to do it during sleeping hours, because it requires the nurse to monitor your vital signs frequently and would keep you awake for hours. If you need a transfusion, ask if it can possibly wait until daytime.

Frequent nighttime disruptions can often cause patients to want to nap during the day, and these can also throw off their sleep schedules. Patients might already be weak and tired from their underlying illness.

If you’re hospitalized, it’s important to keep your normal sleep schedule and circadian rhythm. During the day, keep the window shades open for natural light and keep the room dark during sleeping hours.

An eye mask might be helpful if exposure to light at night is unavoidable. A favorite blanket, pillow, photos and music can help you relax and be more comfortable.

My colleagues and I at Somerville Hospital (since closed to inpatients) found that when we instituted a program to decrease disruptions during the night, such as purposely avoiding all the things described above, patients used as-needed sedatives about half as often in the hospital.

Most hospitals can do better to make nighttime routines friendlier for patients, but institutional change can be challenging. Knowing what to ask for is useful and will help move healthcare forward. © 2020 by Harvard University

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Pros and cons of LASIK eye surgery

By Darby Miller, M.D. Dear Mayo Clinic: What are the risks of LASIK surgery, and will my vision deteriorate again over time, even after surgery?

A: It is not typical for a person’s vision to regress after LASIK, or laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis, and complications that result in a loss of vision after LASIK are rare.

Although the procedure may lead to some side effects, they are uncommon. A thorough evaluation before surgery often can help avoid many of the potential problems that can happen after LASIK. LASIK is a form of refractive surgery — surgery that changes the shape of the cornea, the transparent window at the front of your eye. The surgery corrects vision problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, reducing or eliminating the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses.

LASIK is performed using a laser that removes tissue from your cornea to reshape it. To gain access to the cornea, a surgeon cuts a hinged flap away from the front of the eye. After reshaping the cornea with a different laser, the surgeon lays the flap back into place.

Vision is often good right after surgery, but it can take up to several weeks for it to stabilize. In some cases, the first surgery

may result in undercorrection. This is more common in people who have higher prescriptions. If undercorrection happens, another surgery may be needed to achieve the proper correction.

Long-term results from LASIK tend to be best in people who are carefully evaluated before surgery to ensure that they are good candidates for the procedure.

Medical history, family history and other existing medical conditions can affect the success of LASIK. The shape and thickness of your cornea also need to be thoroughly assessed to make sure that you can undergo the procedure safely.

the LASIK flap during or after surgery. All of these complications are uncommon.

Another serious complication is an eye disorder called post-LASIK ectasia. This condition changes the shape of your cornea years after surgery.

In people who have ectasia, it may seem as if their vision has regressed. Usually the vision cannot be fully corrected with glasses or contact lenses, and, in some cases, ectasia may require a cornea transplant. The main risk factor for post-LASIK ectasia is an

eye disease called keratoconus. If you have this disorder, or if you have a family history of it, you should not get LASIK. Another eye problem that can mimic vision regression after LASIK is a cataract — clouding of the eye lens. As a cataract develops, some people who have had refractive surgery become nearsighted again. This problem requires cataract surgery and not further LASIK. See LASIK, page 12

Potential side effects Potential side effects from LASIK include seeing glare and halos around lights, particularly at night. This generally lasts a few days to a few weeks.

Most people experience more dryness in their eyes after surgery. In some cases, dry eyes may become a chronic problem following LASIK. People who have dry eyes before LASIK are at higher risk for chronic dry eyes after surgery than those who have not had that condition.

More serious complications of LASIK include eye infections that lead to scarring of the cornea, an irregular surface of the cornea from the laser, and problems with

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Silent kidney disease can creep up on you Dear Savvy Senior, Do kidney problems run in families?

My mother died from kidney failure 10 years ago at age 74 but didn’t know she had a kidney problem until it was too late.

Just Turned 60 Dear 60, Anyone who has a family history of kidney disease, or who has high blood pressure or diabetes, is at increased risk and needs to have their kidneys tested.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 37 million U.S adults have chronic kidney disease (when the kidneys can’t properly do their job of cleaning toxins and wastes from the blood), and millions more are at risk of developing it.

Yet most people don’t realize it. That’s because kidney disease develops very slowly over many years before any symptoms arise.

But left untreated, the disease can eventually require people to spend hours hooked up to a dialysis machine or get a kidney

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transplant. Even mild kidney problems can double a person’s risk of heart attack and stroke, as well as cause anemia and bone disease.

kidney function normally declines somewhat with age.

Get tested

Because kidney disease has no early symptoms, the The reason kidney disease only way to catch it before it has become so widespread advances is to have a simple today is because of the rise of blood and urine test by your obesity, type-2 diabetes and doctor. high blood pressure, all of So, anyone that has diabetes, which strain the kidneys. high blood pressure or heart Another factor is the increas- SAVVY SENIOR disease, a family history of kiding number of people who take By Jim Miller ney disease, or is age 60 or multiple medications, which older needs to get tested. can also overtax the organs. People over age Also, since African, Hispanic, Asian and 60 are especially vulnerable, both because they tend to take more drugs and because See KIDNEY DISEASE, page 14

Risk factors

LASIK From page 11 Because several serious eye issues can masquerade as vision regression, it is important to have your eye care professional investigate any change in vision after LASIK to find the underlying cause.

To find out if you’re a good candidate for LASIK surgery, talk with an ophthalmologist who has training and experience in refractive surgery. He or she can discuss the pros and cons with you in detail and help you decide if

LASIK would be an appropriate choice.

But in general, complications from LASIK are uncommon, especially when people are screened and evaluated carefully to confirm that they are good candidates for the procedure. Most people have positive results and are satisfied with the outcome of the surgery.

— Darby Miller, M.D., M.P.H., Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. Email a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org.

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As our community progresses through the reopening process, we are committed to protecting our residents from the spread of COVID-19.

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Kidney disease From page 12 Indian Americans along with Pacific Islanders are at increased risk, they should also be tested.

If you’re diagnosed with kidney disease, you need to know that there’s no cure, but there are steps you can take to help contain the damage, including: Control your blood pressure: If you

have high blood pressure, get it under 130/80. If you need medication to do it, ACE inhibitors and ARBs are good choices because of their proven ability to protect the kidneys.

Control your diabetes: If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar as close to normal as possible.

Change your diet: This usually means reducing the amount of protein and phosphorus you consume and cutting back on

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sodium and possibly potassium. Your doctor can help you determine an appropriate eating plan, or you may want to talk to a dietitian.

Watch your meds: Dozens of commonly used drugs can damage the kidneys, especially when taken in high doses over long periods — most notably NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen. Herbal supplements can also be very dangerous.

Talk to your doctor about all the prescription, over the counter and herbal products you take to identify potential problems and find alternatives.

Exercise and lose weight: If you’re overweight and inactive, start an aerobic fitness routine (walk, swim, cycle, etc.) that gets your heart pumping. This will help lower

blood pressure, control diabetes and help you lose excess weight, all of which will help your kidneys.

Quit smoking: If you smoke, quit.

Heart disease becomes a much greater risk to the kidneys if you smoke. Smoking also doubles the rate of progression to end-stage renal failure.

Limit alcohol intake: Drinking too much alcohol can worsen kidney disease too, so talk to your doctor to see if it’s safe for you to drink, and if so, limit yourself to no more than one drink per day.

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

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15

To keep your brain sharp, eat smart

By Leslie Goldman Brain food is very real, helping to shape your ability to remember simple things (well, allegedly simple things) like where you put your darn keys, as well as fighting serious memory-related disorders.

Here are four food tips that may help boost your brain: Sip tea. Whether green or black, this brew is rich in micronutrients called polyphenols.

These compounds can travel into the areas of the brain involved in memory and learning, like the hippocampus. There, they scavenge free radicals, byproducts your body makes that cause brain cells to age faster, said Lisa Mosconi, Ph.D., associate director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medical College/New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

Researchers in Switzerland reported that brain scans of people who took a green tea extract showed increased connectivity between areas that control working memory (how we actively use and process information).

In another study, from the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, regular tea drinkers had 50% lower odds of developing

cognitive decline over the next three to five years than nondrinkers.

Plus, Johns Hopkins University research shows that caffeine can help transform short-term memories into long-term ones.

Get more vitamin D. Women face a heightened risk of cognitive decline with age, in part because estrogen decreases during menopause. This hormone dip is associated with memory fog.

Fortunately, vitamin D can exert an estrogen-like effect in the brain, Mosconi explained. That may be why Texas-based researchers found that falling short on vitamin D (as most of us are) was linked to a 25% increased risk of cognitive impairment in older adults.

Up your vitamin D with fortified dairy, fatty fish and certain mushrooms, including morel, oyster and maitake. And ask your doctor about a supplement to help you get to the recommended daily 600 to 800 IU (depending on age and gender).

Nosh on berries. Those gorgeous jewel tones found in blueberries, blackberries and raspberries come courtesy of anthocyanins — pigments that pack a serious memory-enhancing punch. Similar to tea’s polyphenols, these phytonutrients enter

the brain and protect cells from damage.

Snacking on ½ cup of berries daily is associated with less cognitive decline over time, according to a study published in Annals of Neurology.

Slash sugar. Specifically, cut out the added kind, whether you’re mixing it in yourself or getting it from foods like baked goods or sweetened drinks.

In a study of more than 3,800 people published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, those who consumed more sugary bever-

ages not only had poorer recall compared with those who eschewed them, they also showed reduced overall brain volume, especially in the hippocampus. The impact on memory of just one to two sugary drinks daily was equivalent to nearly six years of brain aging.

Experts recommend capping your added sugar at 25 grams per day for women and 36 grams for men. © 2020 Meredith Corporation. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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17

Ways to limit eating from stress, boredom

By Lainey Younkin You’ve had a bad day, so you grab a tub of ice cream, move to the couch and dig right in. You don’t feel physically hungry, but eating ice cream is comforting.

This is referred to as emotional eating or stress eating. These terms are often used interchangeably, and both refer to turning to food to cope with emotions.

This type of eating contrasts with wandering into the kitchen and grabbing some snacks because you’re bored. That’s boredom eating.

Why do people turn to food when stressed or bored? Biology and environment both play a role. Stress causes your body to release the hormone cortisol, which increases appetite and can lead to weight gain. Stress also increases ghrelin, the “hunger hormone,” which stimulates appetite too.

“Meanwhile, insufficient sleep is also linked to a reduction in satiety hormones and an increase in hunger hormones,” explained registered dietitian Didi de Zwarte.

The best strategy is to stop and ask yourself, “Why am I eating right now?” Then decide the best course of action based on that answer.

“Only you can tell the difference between when you’re stress eating or eating out of boredom. Take a moment to tune into your body to find out which it is,” Bri Bell, R.D., said.

“Either way, it’s perfectly normal and okay to occasionally eat due to stress or boredom or any other emotion. Beating yourself up about it only adds to the stressful emotions.”

According to Bell, you just don’t want eating to become your only way of coping with emotions. She recommends opting for coping strategies that are health-promoting.

Here are a few expert tips to try:

1. Take a deep breath.

“Focus on deep breathing for two to three minutes, or step outside for fresh air, allowing the outdoor light to hit your face,” Jamie Lee McIntyre, R.D.N., suggested.

“Your stress won’t disappear, but this can help create a buffer between the urge coming on and the act of eating, and buy you time in deciding the best way to react.”

2. Make an activity list.

“Write a to-do list filled with both productive and fun things,” McIntyre said.

“Pick two things to accomplish, then re-

Tell them you saw it in the Beacon!

assess if you need to eat. If you’re bored, you’ll be in a more productive or motivated mindset to move on to something else that doesn’t involve eating.”

It may sound silly, but research finds that keeping healthier food in plain sight and less-healthy treats out of sight can help you choose healthier options more frequently.

3. Opt for exercise.

5. Eat balanced meals and get enough sleep.

Physical activity is a great stress-buster and can assist with regulating hormones, too. If you’re bored and not physically hungry, work out first and then eat if you still feel the urge.

4. Set up your environment for success.

Put tempting foods behind closed cabinets or up high where you aren’t as likely to see them. Store healthy foods in seethrough containers.

Fill your plate with fiber, protein and healthy fats at each meal. This combo keeps hunger and satiety hormones working properly and keeps you full for several hours.

Sleep seven to eight hours each night to avoid cravings the next day.

EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at eatingwell.com. © 2020 Meredith Corporation. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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

Time to rethink how we study Parkinson’s

By Alberto Espay and Benjamin Stecher A decade ago, one of our colleagues was asked at a conference, “When will we have a cure for Parkinson’s disease?”

“It could happen at any time,” he replied.

“It could happen next year. It could happen in 10 years. It could happen tomorrow.”

Our colleague’s optimism was wellfounded. Talented researchers were hard at work in laboratories throughout the world, and money was pouring in from governments, the pharmaceutical industry, and foundations large and small. The Michael J. Fox Foundation had become a force that was determined to take down this progressive, degenerative disease.

Even better, we knew the targets we were aiming for (or so we thought).

Parkinson’s disease was caused by abnormal aggregation of proteins in certain parts of the brain, called Lewy bodies, and

the loss of brain cells that produced dopamine in a small part of the brain called the substantia nigra.

But after a global investment of over $100 billion, our optimism is tempered. We have no cure to celebrate. Worldwide, 7 to 10 million people suffer from Parkinson’s.

In the United States, about 1 million are thought to have Parkinson’s, more than those affected by multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) combined. The cost of Parkinson’s in the United States, including treatment and lost productivity, is an estimated $52 billion per year.

Every day people suffering from tremor, slowness, stiffness and balance problems come to us for care. We manage their symptoms with medication ($2,500 per year) or surgery ($100,000), but these are temporary fixes. We have yet to find an ef-

fective therapy that slows or modifies the steady march of disability.

It is time to rethink our approach.

Trials should be targeted We have spent decades explaining the failures of clinical and surgical trials to slow the disease by pointing to shortcomings on technical issues or assuming that we need to study people at earlier and earlier stages. At the same time, we have not questioned the target of those trials.

Overwhelming evidence suggests that Parkinson’s is actually a syndrome — a group of symptoms that cluster together but have different causes.

To make matters more complicated, not all patients have all of these symptoms.

And if there are many types of Parkinson’s disease, one therapy cannot cure them all.

It is time for the field of neurodegenera-

tive diseases to take a lesson from other fields of medicine and embrace precision medicine — the matching of treatments to biological disease subtypes and the rational use of a multidrug approach for each.

The treatment of a patient with breast cancer, for instance, cannot be determined until genetic mutations are identified and receptors are tested. Curing a child with leukemia would not be possible without the ability to use two or more chemotherapy drugs.

Understanding Parkinson’s diseases according to their molecular subtypes is to see the individual trees in the forest; to see that each subtype requires a different treatment, or even a combination of treatments; to see that one or more of these subtypes may cause symptoms characteristic of both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases; to begin to rethink autopsy studies that have found a high incidence of concurrent Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s pathologies in certain groups of patients, and to start the hard work of finding precise biomarkers that will enable us to finally properly define the various subtypes of Parkinson’s.

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It is humbling to report that, after all these years, we have biomarkers for only a few, rare genetic forms of Parkinson’s, but none for the subtypes that afflict the vast majority of patients.

The field has erred by trying to attach biomarkers to symptoms in patients who already have been diagnosed as having Parkinson’s. It is the reverse model — biomarker first, diagnostic subtyping second — that may best inform clinical trials that test new therapies.

Because we have used a one-size-fits-all approach to research, assembling clinical trials for all patients rather than for molecular subtypes, we have seen the failure of dozens of trials of promising treatments over the past three decades.

We can only acquire true biomarkers by studying large, aging populations. We need the equivalent of Framingham — the landmark study that revealed high blood pressure and high cholesterol as biomarkers of heart disease.

This new approach will require public– private partnerships and data sharing across the globe. It also will require the adoption of flexible clinical trial designs that allow a combination of drug treatments in smaller but well-defined subsets of patients.

Future clinical trials may be conducted not in hundreds or thousands of people with Parkinson’s, but rather in dozens of biologically homogeneous patients who share a specific biomarker. In this setting, a cocktail approach may also be needed, as in cancer treatment, to target more than one mechanism of disease.

The transition will require fortitude. We See PARKINSON’S, page 19

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

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

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Boomers and seniors no longer majority

By Mike Schneider OK, boomers: Millennials and their younger siblings and children now make up a majority of the U.S. population.

A new analysis by the Brookings Institution shows that 50.7% of U.S. residents are under age 40 as of July 2019.

The Brookings’ analysis of population estimates released this summer by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the combined Millennial, Generation Z and younger generations numbered 166 million people. The combined Generation X, baby boomer, and older cohorts represented 162 million U.S. residents.

“To many Americans — especially baby boomers themselves — this news may come as a shock. For them, the term ‘millennial’ has been associated with a youthful, often negative, vibe in terms of habits, ideology and politics,” William Frey,

a senior fellow at Brookings’ Metropolitan Policy Program, wrote in the analysis.

“Now, the oldest millennial is 39, and with their numbers exceeding those of baby boomers, the millennial generation is poised to take over influential roles in business and government.”

Those under age 40 are more diverse than the older cohorts, with almost half identifying as being part of a racial or ethnic minority.

Past surveys show that the younger generations split from the older generations on issues such as immigration reform, criminal justice reform and environmental protection, and the pandemic and recent racial justice protests are likely to galvanize the younger groups to promote an array of progressive causes, Frey wrote.

Millennials typically are defined as being born between 1981 and 1996. Baby boomers,

Parkinson’s

diseases of brain aging can someday be slowed and potentially cured — one subtype at a time.

This is an excerpt from the book Brain Fables: The Hidden History of Neurodegenerative Diseases and a Blueprint to Conquer Them, published by Cambridge University Press. For more information or to buy the book for $19.95, visit http://bit.ly/brainfables.

From page 18 will need to accept that the first proven therapy that protects brain cells may work for fewer than 5% of those assumed to be facing Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s.

The reward will be our ability to practice true precision medicine for our patients. And it will renew our optimism that

long considered a primary driver of demographic and social change in the U.S. because of their large numbers, were born between the end of World War II and the arrival of the Beatles in the U.S. in 1964.

Squeezed between the boomers and Millennials, Generation Xers were born in the late 1960s and 1970s. Members of Generation Z were born after 1996.

—AP

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Health Studies

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

INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

NIH study to track post-COVID recovery

By Margaret Foster So far, there have been around 200,000 known coronavirus cases in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, with more than 6,300 deaths.

If you are one of the unlucky people who falls sick, consider helping the National Institutes of Health learn more about the disease.

NIH’s Clinical Center is conducting a clinical trial to learn more about COVID19’s effects on the lungs, heart, brain and kidneys. The study also seeks to enroll people who have recently tested positive for the disease but do not have symptoms (i.e., are asymptomatic).

Researchers are seeking people ages 18

to 80 years old who are being treated for an acute case of documented COVID-19 as well as those who are asymptomatic and not seeking treatment.

Why do cases vary so much?

The study will attempt to determine why people’s reactions to the virus vary so widely. Some infected people have no symptoms, others lose their sense of smell, and others must be hospitalized.

“Why is Person X, who is pre-symptomatic, different from the person who will end up in the ICU? Characterizing that spectrum is what we’re trying to do,” said the study’s principal investigator, Dr. Anthony Suffredini of the National Institutes

of Health Clinical Center.

If symptomatic patients who require hospitalization enter the study at the beginning of their illness, they’ll stay in the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, for standard hospital care.

People who are asymptomatic, and others who have minimal symptoms from their illness, may stay in that hospital for one or two nights for tests.

All participants will have MRI and CT scans of their heart, brain and lungs, as well as ultrasounds of their heart and kidneys. Samples of blood and urine will be collected.

They’ll also have a bronchoscopy performed — a five-minute procedure in

which a flexible fiber-optic tube is placed through the nose or mouth into the airways of the lung while salt water is used to rinse the airways to collect lung cells and secretions for analysis. Researchers will repeat the tests up to a year later to compare results.

What are long-term effects?

“We’re also looking at the long-term effects” of the disease, Suffredini said. “Six months later, 12 months later, how do things look? Have you recovered entirely?

What does the imaging show?”

Researchers want to follow patients during the disease’s acute phase, recovery phase and convalescence phase, or the period after an illness in which a person gradually recovers their health and strength.

“We’re trying to understand…the consequences of getting this infection,” Suffredini said.

After all, infectious disease scientists have found that the 80% of people who experience a “mild or moderate” case of COVID-19 may not be entirely unscathed.

“Mild cases are not so mild,” Suffredini said. “For some people, even though they got over their loss of smell and taste, they still have some residual consequences that are not inconsequential.”

Compensation for the entire study will be provided, and additional compensation will be provided for additional study visits.

To find out more or to volunteer, call 1800-411-1222 or email PRPL@cc.nih.gov and refer to study # 20CC0113.

BEACON BITS

Sept. 25

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FIGHTING FAKE NEWS Determining what is

disinformation can be hard. Join a workshop with the NewseumED that will define what qualifies as “fake news” and the motivation behind certain articles. The Zoom session will be held on Fri. Sept., 18 from 1 to 2 p.m. Register at https://bit.ly/FakeNewsZoom.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

21

Kids, parents take DIY tests for science

By Lindsey Tanner In a comfy suburb just outside Nashville, a young family swabs their noses twice a month in a DIY study seeking answers to some of the most vexing questions about the coronavirus.

How many U.S. children and teens are infected? How many kids who are infected show no symptoms? How likely are they to spread it to other kids and adults?

“The bottom line is we just don’t know yet the degree to which children can transmit the virus,” said Dr. Tina Hartert of Vanderbilt University, who is leading the government-funded study.

Evidence from the U.S., China and Europe shows children are less likely to become infected with the virus than adults and also less likely to become seriously ill when they do get sick.

There is also data suggesting that young children don’t spread the virus very often, but that kids aged 10 and up may spread it just as easily as adults. The new study aims to find more solid proof.

“If we don’t see significant transmission within households, that would be very reassuring,” Hartert said.

participants in previous government research. In all, that’s 6,000 people. They have no in-person contact with researchers. Testing supplies are mailed.

They collect their own nasal swabs for COVID-19 tests, and less often blood and stool samples. The specimens are mailed to the study organizers. Participants get text messages asking about symptoms and reminding them to test and fill out questionnaires.

The study could help determine the safety of in-class schooling during the pandemic. But results aren’t expected before year’s end.

For Mendy and Joe McNulty and their two youngest sons in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, nasal swabbing at home is a family affair. Testing supplies are spread out on a carefully wiped down kitchen counter, where the four gather to perform what has become a ritual. Mendy McNulty helps the boys with their swabbing.

“We were excited to be able to feel like we could contribute somehow,” she said, explaining why the family chose to participate. “This virus is so unknown. Any little bit we can do felt like we were doing something to help.”

A nationwide study Some 2,000 families in 11 U.S. cities are enrolled in the DIY experiment, pulled from

Effect on children unknown It’s hard to pin down the exact number

of COVID-19 cases in kids. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says at least 175,000 cases have been confirmed in those aged 17 and under, accounting for less than 10% of all confirmed cases.

But the true number is likely much higher because many kids have silent infections or only vague symptoms and don’t get tested.

Data on kids and coronavirus spread is also murky. Hundreds of infections have been reported in children and staff members at U.S. day care centers, but whether kids or adults were the main spreaders isn’t known.

The family study is also investigating whether children with asthma or allergies

might have some protection against COVID-19. Anecdotal evidence suggests they might, but “we don’t know what the mechanism of that might be,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

The institute is paying for the research.

Mendy McNulty says so far her family has remained healthy. She and her husband are both 39 and don’t feel overly worried about getting infected.

She’s interested in what happens when her kids return to school — two classroom days a week with masks and social distancing, three days online.

See DIY TESTS, page 23

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

Mexican rice made with homemade salsa

By Matthew Wendel These recipes are reprinted with permission from Recipes from the President’s Ranch: Food People Like to Eat, by Matthew Wendel, White House chef to President George W. Bush and family, recently published by the White House Historical Association (WHHA).

Mexican rice with a twist My twist on Mexican rice is very simple.

For a base, I use my Prairie Chapel Ranch roasted ancho chili salsa (see below), which contains all the flavors I want in the rice dish.

Ingredients: Serves 6 ½ cup long grain uncooked white rice ¼ cup vegetable or canola oil

3 cups chicken broth ½ cup carrots, diced (fresh or frozen) ½ cup Prairie Chapel Ranch salsa (see below) ½ cup peas (fresh or frozen) Preparation: 1. Rinse and drain rice in a fine mesh strainer.

2. Place a large cast-iron skillet or heavy bottomed saucepan over medium–high heat. Add oil and let it heat up for 2 to 3 minutes.

3. Add rice and stir.

4. Reduce to medium heat, stirring frequently, until rice is lightly golden brown, about 10 minutes.

5. Stir in broth, fresh carrots and salsa.

If using frozen carrots, add them at step 7.

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6. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover.

Cook for about 20 minutes, until water is completely absorbed.

7. Add peas during the last 5 minutes of cooking.

8. Remove from heat and fluff rice with a fork before serving.

Prairie Chapel Ranch Roasted Ancho Chili Salsa The Bushes loved chips and salsa. I developed this easy salsa recipe as a go-to dish for the family. Because of its rich, earthy flavor, this salsa is perfect on grilled chicken or fish, or as a base for soup.

Ingredients: Makes 4 cups 2–3 dried ancho peppers Water 1 small white onion, roughly chopped 4–5 medium tomatoes, quartered 2–3 garlic cloves 1 small bunch (slightly less than ½ cup) of cilantro 1–2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped Salt Preparation: 1. In a hot skillet, dry-roast the ancho peppers for about 2 minutes on each side.

The peppers should start to puff up and release their flavor.

2. Place the peppers in a medium bowl and cover with hot water until the peppers are soft, probably about 5 minutes.

3. Once the peppers are soft, remove

the stems and seeds.

4. Place peppers and all the rest of the ingredients in a food processor and blend together until mixed well. Salt to taste.

The salsa will be a beautiful deep red. For added flavor, dry roast or char the onion, tomatoes, garlic, onion and jalapeños before adding to the food processor.

For a great variation, make a dip by combining 2 cups of cooked black beans and ½ cup salsa to food processor. Blend until well mixed.

Go to whitehousehistory.org to listen to WHHA’s podcast “Recipes from the President’s Ranch” and learn more about the stories behind the recipes. To order a copy of the cookbook ($45), visit http://bit.ly/whitehousechef.

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

23

Some good ways to avoid insect stings Nothing can ruin a perfectly nice picnic such as beige, khaki, maroon, black or grey. or hike like an insect sting. It could lead to Here are some of the best local discomfort, swelling, tips to avoid getting stung by redness and pain. It could an insect: even cause an anaphylactic —Wear long sleeves and reaction to those people who long pants to cover as much of are truly allergic to an insect’s you as possible. venom.

—Don’t walk up to their It’s not easy to train yournest; they will defend it with self to ignore insects. It’s their lives. more likely you’ll make sud—Avoid using fruit-flavored den movements and wave lip gloss and soaps. your arms or swat the air. I to- DEAR —Do not wear perfume or tally get it. This article can PHARMACIST scented deodorants. help you avoid a sting.

—Do not use scented shamBy Suzy Cohen First, don’t wear red! Red poo, conditioner or lotion. can appear to be very dark or —Dispose of soft drink cans and bottles black, a color bees and wasps associate because they attract bees. It’s sort of like with a predator, so they will go on the de- sugar water, and they love it. fensive and get angered.

—Bugs are partial to beer! Keep an eye If you wear bright-colored clothes, you out so one doesn’t crawl into your beer for could easily be mistaken for a flower. In a sip, and then you drink a mouthful. fact, do not wear a flowery shirt because —Make sure you’re clean. Some insects they’ll have to get up close to you to see get “angry” if they smell sweat. that you’re not actually a plant.

—Avoid bananas, which might attract Your best bet is to wear neutral earth bees. tones to blend in with the flora and fauna, —Watch out if you are near discarded

DIY tests From page 21 “Schools are like little petri dishes anyway,” said McNulty, also a former teacher.

“I am prepared to bring everyone home” if outbreaks occur, she said.

The boys — 7-year-old Andrew and 9year-old Hudson — were excited to take part in the study, McNulty said. She helps them do the nose swabbing, and they both say it doesn’t really hurt.

“Sometimes it tickles,” Andrew said.

Other times, “it feels like she’s sticking it up super far.”

Dr. David Kimberlin says he and other infectious disease specialists have been waiting for the kind of data the study will provide.

“Generally speaking, the virus behaves differently in children than adults,” said Kimberlin, a pediatrics professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“Why is that? We just need to know so much more.”

—AP

To subscribe for half price, see page 45.

food or dog feces.

—Wasps have a keen sense of smell and detest wormwood, peppermint, spearmint, eucalyptus and thyme. If you dab yourself with these essential oils, it might deter them from coming too close. For that matter, you could plant these herbs in your garden to act as a natural insect repellant.

What to do about stings If you get stung, move away to safety quickly. Don’t worry about getting the stinger out in that moment; just get away.

Bees can only sting a person once but will release a chemical that attracts other bees nearby. Wasps can sting repeatedly, so if you get bit, run away from the space as quickly as possible.

Bees will leave their stinger in the skin, but wasps don’t usually do that. It’s best to scrape the stinger away from you with a credit card, letter opener or something like that versus tweezers, which might squeeze more venom into you.

Usually hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion or aloe helps with immediate first aid; however, some people need an antihistamine or numbing agent.

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

Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit suzycohen.com.

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VOLUME XXXII, ISSUE 

A newsletter for D.C. Seniors

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

By Laura Newland, Director D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living We miss you! We miss seeing you at all of our events, connecting with you in the community, and celebrating with you. This month, I hope you’ll join us for the first ever Virtual Mayor’s Annual Senior Symposium scheduled for Tuesday, September 22, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. You can join us from your own living room by tuning in to Channel 16, watching online at http://video.oct.dc.gov/DCN, or join by phone at 1-844-881-1314.

Normally, we’d all get together inperson for a day of entertainment, great food, dancing, fellowship and information sharing, but this year has been anything but normal. So, my team has been working to recreate some of these great experiences into something we can still enjoy together while staying safe at home. We’re excited to celebrate, dance and share information with you. For more details, check out the flyer on the next page.

This month, we’re also celebrating the lives and legacies of our District centenarians. There are nearly 200 District residents 100 or older living in all eight wards of the city, according to the Social Security Administration.

We’ve had the privilege of making connections with more than 40 centenarians identified in the community. We’ve learned about their life stories, triumphs, lessons learned and advice, which I’ve found especially helpful during this unprecedented time.

For some, this isn’t their first time experiencing a global pandemic. Mrs. Marillee Asher, an active artist who moved to DC during World War II, was recently in the news for surviving the Spanish Flu in 1918 and surviving COVID-19 this year at 107 years old!

We also connected with Ms. Norine C. Berryman, who was the first woman taxi driver in the District!

She’s served her community and her church for most of her life and prides herself on teaching her grandchildren

how to do the electric slide!

Mrs. Dorothy Boggess, who moved to D.C. to work for the District’s War Department in 1941, once wrote an article for the Washington Post about the contributions made by African American women who came to D.C. to work during World War II. Mrs. Boggess’ early career is documented in American Dream Deferred: Black Federal Workers in Washington, D.C. 1941-1981, written

by Frederick W. Gooding.

Mr. Willie Covington always loved to sing, so in 1947 he joined the National Negro Opera Company (NNOC) and performed and traveled around the country.

And our oldest centenarian, Ms. Dora Sylvia Credle, born July 21, 1911, is known for her kind personality and amazing cooking! Even at 109, she stays very active working around the house and in the community.

We’re looking forward to celebrating the longevity and accomplishments of our centenarians this month, and invite you to follow along on social media at @dcagingnews on twitter and Instagram September 14 – 25 when we’ll be sharing information on all of our centenarians. You can also view all of the incredible stories online at dacl.dc.gov.

As my team continues to look for ways to engage with you, we also want to hear your ideas on new projects, services and programs to combat social isolation and loneliness during the Public Health Emergency. You can complete a short survey on our website at dacl.dc.gov.

Your feedback will help us create a Request for Applications to fund new and innovative programs in fiscal year 2021.

It’s been a challenging time for all of us, but being able to find new ways to connect with you, with our centenarians and our entire community has been a reminder that no matter our circumstances, we can all find new ways to live boldly — together.

September 2020

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Spotlight on Aging

Say you saw it in the Beacon

25

Tell DACL Your Priorities for Next Fiscal Year!

DACL is asking for your help with the development of new ideas, projects, services and/or programs to promote the well-being of DC seniors age 60 years and older, adults with disabilities, and caregivers during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Your ideas will help DACL prioritize its activities and funding in FY 2021, which starts October 1, 2020.

Submit your ideas by September 30, 2020 by visiting docs.google.com/DACL Survey.

Dr. Stowe joined WHUR’s “The Daily Drum” with Harold Fisher In case you missed it, DACL's Clinical Director, Dr. Heather Stowe, spoke with WHUR’s Harold Fisher on the impact of the Public Health Emergency on isolated seniors, and how DACL is continuing to provide critical services and resources to seniors.

To listen to the full interview, visit http://bit.ly/WHURInterview.

Director Laura Newland

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

DACL External Affairs

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

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Money Law &

CREDIT WHERE IT’S DUE Having good credit can save you money on insurance premiums and utility bills.

The best way to raise your credit score is to pay bills on time PRO BONO LEGAL ADVICE A Maryland nonprofit offers free help for people faced with credit card debt, medical bills or creditor lawsuits. Call its hotline to speak with volunteer lawyers

Candidates on Social Security, Medicare

By Kiplinger Consumer News Service Unless Congress acts, Social Security will deplete its $2.9 trillion reserve fund by 2035, which means the program would be able to pay only about 79% of promised benefits.

Medicare’s finances are even more precarious. Noting that seniors are a large voting constituency, both President Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden have resolved to protect Medicare and Social Security.

Here is a brief overview of their proposals.

Social Security Biden proposes shoring up the program by increasing payroll taxes on high-income taxpayers. He would keep the current cap on payroll taxes, which is indexed to wage growth (in 2020, workers pay payroll taxes on earnings up to $137,700), but would also apply the 12.4% tax on wages exceeding $400,000.

But Biden wants to expand benefits, which could put more pressure on the program’s finances. He wants to increase survivor benefits for low-income beneficiaries

and gradually increase benefits for seniors starting at age 78. Seniors who are 82 would receive a 5% increase over their basic retirement payout.

Biden has also proposed changing the way the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is calculated. He wants to use an index that places greater weight on items that account for a larger percentage of seniors’ budgets, such as housing and healthcare.

Trump hasn’t issued specific proposals to shore up Social Security, and critics say his proposed payroll tax cut to bolster the economy would further hurt the program.

In the past, he has opposed proposals from fiscally conservative Republicans to curb spending on the programs. But as the budget deficit has grown to more than $1.8 trillion, he has indicated that changes to Social Security and Medicare could be on the table during a second term.

Medicare Biden supports lowering the age of Medicare eligibility from 65 to 60. He has also called for repealing legislation that

bars Medicare from negotiating drug prices with pharmaceutical manufacturers, which he said would lower drug prices. In addition, pharmaceuticals would be required to limit price increases for most prescription drugs to the rate of inflation in order to be eligible for coverage by Medicare.

Biden also wants to allow U.S. citizens to purchase prescription drugs from other countries — where they’re often cheaper — as long as the Department of Health and Human Services has determined they’re safe.

If reelected, Trump is likely to continue to promote Medicare Advantage plans, which are offered by private companies.

The plans often offer lower premiums than traditional Medicare and cover dental, vision and other services.

However, they usually have a more limited network of providers than traditional Medicare, which can be a problem when beneficiaries develop serious illnesses, critics say.

In an executive order issued last October, Trump directed the Department of

Health and Human Services to take steps to ensure that traditional Medicare isn’t “advantaged or promoted” over Medicare Advantage.

Trump has supported proposed legislation that would limit increases in the cost of Medicare prescription drug plans to the rate of inflation and limit seniors’ out-ofpocket drug costs to $3,100 a year.

He also wants to allow U.S. citizens to buy prescription drugs from outside the country. In December, his administration issued a proposed rule that would allow states and other entities to import prescription drugs from Canada, provided certain conditions are met.

Trump’s 2021 budget proposes about $500 billion in net spending cuts to Medicare. Most of those would come from reducing payments to healthcare providers, not to beneficiaries.

Sandra Block, Lisa Gerstner, Nellie S. Huang and Anne Smith contributed to this story. © 2020 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Be sure to ‘opt out’ of paperless notices On July 27, a new anti-consumer Labor Under the new regulation, individuals Department regulation went into effect. will receive one initial notice on paper inThe new rule gives retirement forming them they have a plans the right to quit mailing right to opt out of the noticeworkers and retirees imporand-access delivery system tant disclosures on paper and and keep getting their docusimply send a notice by text or ments by mail. email, telling them that key After that, all future notices pension information is availwill arrive by email or text, inable on a website. Then it is up cluding information about their to workers and retirees to right to choose to receive paper hunt that information down. documents. Those who want The Pension Rights Center, their notices on paper will have which works to protect con- THE SAVINGS to explicitly ask for it. sumer rights, is strongly rec- GAME ommending that workers and By Elliot Raphaelson Info disappears after a year retirees opt out of this disclosure system, which goes by the moniker “noEqually important under the new regutice-and-access,” and insist that they continue lation, this information will generally only to receive paper copies of key retirement doc- be retained on the plan’s website for one uments, not just get a text or email indicating year. Accordingly, if you don’t request the that the information is available on a website. paper documentation and save it, you Otherwise, people may not get important in- could lose access to this valuable informaformation they need to plan for retirement tion, which you may need to protect your retirement plan rights decades from now. and prove their entitlement to benefits.

If you prefer everything to be electronic, then make sure you track down, print out and save all of the important documents about your plan rules and your benefits.

“We are astonished that, in the midst of an unprecedented health crisis and economic collapse, the Labor Department would issue a regulation that will leave so many workers, retirees and their spouses in the dark about their retirement plans and benefits,” stated Karen Friedman, executive vice president of the Pension Rights Center.

“At a time when people need information to protect themselves more than ever, this rule is a cruel game of hide-and-seek where workers have to run around and search for the information they will need to protect their future.”

The Pension Rights Center is participating in a call to action to encourage workers and retirees to “ask for paper” to protect themselves and their beneficiaries by insisting on a paper trail.

Their website, pensionrights.org, contains three fact sheets people will find helpful: a

guide for consumers; a detailed summary of the new regulation; and a list of the “top 10 worst things” about the new regulation.

The Pension Rights Center is also taking steps to educate members of Congress about the pitfalls of the new regulation, and is coordinating its activities with consumer and retiree organizations, unions and business groups.

Until this new regulation, the Labor Department followed a common sense rule: plans sent out information on paper, through the mail, unless people regularly worked with computers or asked to go “paperless.”

Although retirement plans are still allowed to use this option, it is unlikely that most plans will continue this policy. That is why it is essential that workers and retirees insist on receiving this information in paper form on an ongoing basis.

If you have problems If you encounter difficulties when you See NEW REGULATION, page 27

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Beirut explosion: avoid charity scams

By Kiplinger Consumer News Service After any disaster, many Americans open their hearts and wallets. During the pandemic alone, giving reached $10.2 billion by early May, with $6 billion of that coming from the U.S., according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

But scammers often prey on this generosity. For instance, if you’re planning to donate in the wake of the recent explosion that rocked the port of Beirut or pandemic-related charities, it’s important to do your due diligence.

New regulation From page 26 request the paper option, you can submit a complaint to the Employee Benefits Security Administration of the Department of Labor at 1-866-444-3272, or send an email to webmaster.ebsa@dol.gov.

If you continue to have problems, contact the U.S. Administration for Community Living’s Pension and Information Counseling Projects.

Finally, ask your congressional representatives to overturn the notice-and-ac-

Fake charities and victims tend to pop up overnight, waiting to take advantage of folks’ generosity. Here’s how you can protect yourself:

Vet the charity Check reviews on watchdog websites, such as Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance.

You can also check out GuideStar, which See SCAMS, page 28

cess rule and reinstate the prior Labor Department regulations with recurring automatic paper reporting unless a “paperless” option is requested by workers or retirees.

Bottom line: When you receive a notice from your retirement plan, don’t ignore it.

Insist on receiving paper statements and documents on a continuing basis, and keep those records in a safe place.

Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © 2020 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Scams From page 27 presents a snapshot, including balancesheet data, program descriptions and links to financial documents. On GuideStar, charities are asked to answer five questions to assess their potential impact and five questions about board oversight and performance.

But it helps to keep some perspective on the reviewers, too. Don’t rely solely on one review, and don’t immediately dismiss an organization with low ratings or one that isn’t profiled without doing more research on your own in the news, on the charity’s own website or through other review sites.

BBB also has a scam tracker system.

Type in “charity” in the keyword search bar, and you’ll see an index of the most recently reported scams sorted by Zip code.

You may also report a scam on the site.

Social media and crowdfunding If you’re seeing more relief requests via social media, be wary of handing over your cash. Check to see if the charity or cause listed has a working website.

Do not click on links sent to your email or in social media messages and comments. If there’s a name listed, search the name, and then go directly to the website.

Be particularly wary of new organiza-

tions or ad hoc fundraisers run through websites such as GoFundMe. While GoFundMe guarantees that funds will go to the beneficiary, not the campaign organizer, and will refund up to $1,000 to donors if there is evidence of misuse, the cause itself could be fake.

So, always cross check the information across various platforms.

Donating later and taxes If you’re unsure of how you want to deploy your funds right at this moment, you can set up a donor-advised fund (DAF) with money-management firms such as Charles Schwab and Fidelity. With a DAF, you make one large contribution to the fund (cash or assets) and can disperse the funds at a later time.

Remember to keep receipts of your donations to charities, as they are tax deductible. When charities confirm your gift, they should indicate how much of it is tax deductible. (Note that donations to GoFundMe campaigns, when collected for a private individual or company, are not deductible.)

And last but not least, don’t feel pressured to give if someone is badgering you.

Do not give cash, gift cards or do a wire transfer. It’s best to pay by credit card or check. © Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Having good credit can save you money

By Bev O’Shea Even if you don’t plan to borrow a dime, a good credit record is valuable. Think of it like a household fire extinguisher: It’s smart to have a good one even though you have no plans to use it.

And your credit can influence your life in ways beyond borrowing. Here’s why good credit is so valuable:

Flexibility in a crisis, more options If the coronavirus pandemic has taught us nothing else, it’s that we cannot count on things going as planned. Flexibility is key.

A good credit score can help you borrow at a reasonable cost. That in turn could help you buy groceries and other necessities even as your emergency fund is dwindling.

In addition, if you use investments to help pay living expenses, as many retirees do, access to credit may help tide you over when the markets are down.

Good credit can also be useful in leasing a place to live because landlords sometimes check credit to evaluate tenant applications. Similarly, some employers check credit reports during the hiring process (although some jurisdictions restrict using credit reports in this way).

Lowers other costs Good credit also can lower some bills.

Nationally, a good driver with poor credit would pay an average of $2,506 annually for car insurance. With good credit, the same coverage would cost $1,427. Only California, Hawaii and Massachusetts prohibit credit data from being used in setting car insurance rates.

Credit-based insurance scores are also used to set homeowners insurance premiums in most states, except for California, Maryland and Massachusetts.

Poor credit can increase the cost “10 to 15%, typically,” said Robert Hunter, director of insurance at the Consumer Federation of America. That works out to between $50 and $100 a year for most people, he noted. Renters insurance may also be higher for those with poor credit.

Utility companies often use information from credit reports to set security deposits.

Georgia Power, for example, uses credit scores to decide whether customers must pay a deposit, which can be up to two times the average monthly bill for the residence.

If you do borrow money, a higher credit score can earn you a lower interest rate, and thus lower payments. And a cash-back credit card (typically available only to those with good credit) can give you money back without you paying a nickel of interest if you pay the full balance each month.

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How to maintain good credit You don’t have to go into debt to maintain good credit. The two biggest factors in your credit score, accounting for about two-thirds of it, are on-time payments and the amount of your available credit you use.

That means simply paying all your bills on time goes a long way toward protecting your credit. On the other hand, paying 30 days or more past the due date can devastate your score.

If you do use credit cards, paying the balance in full is the best way to manage those bills. Zeroing out the balance doesn’t hurt your credit score, saves you from paying interest, and ensures you’re not using too much of your credit limit. If you can’t pay in full, try to stay below 30% of your limit.

Other strategies that may help: —Keep credit cards open unless you See GOOD CREDIT, page 31

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Consumer hotline offers free legal advice Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Service (MVLS) is a nonprofit legal services organization that connects Marylanders experiencing financial hardships with volun-

By Aja’ Mallory One Maryland nonprofit believes that there should be justice for all, not just for those who can afford to hire a lawyer.

teer and staff attorneys and community partners to provide free civil legal assistance and full representation.

From a panel of more than 1,800 volunteer attorneys across Maryland, clients receive support for a broad range of civil legal problems, including custody disputes, tax issues, child and adult guardianship, landlord/tenant conflicts, foreclosure defense, criminal record expungements and consumer cases.

Over the years, MVLS has evolved to develop special projects that supplement its core pro bono efforts, and one such project is the Consumer Protection Project (CPP).

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CPP helps Marylanders who are facing financial hardships and have been sued or threatened by a lawsuit from creditors in District Court collection actions.

Too often consumers respond to debt harassment, stress and anxiety by agreeing to make payments to the collectors without realizing that those payments are unaffordable or unnecessary.

MLVS can help consumers negotiate settlement agreements or reach a payment plan with creditors.

MVLS launched its CPP hotline at (443) 451-4083 to support Marylanders and their

consumer-related problems. The hotline assists with numerous consumer issues, including credit card debt, car repossession, management of hospital bills, identity theft, and constant calls and harassment from debt collectors.

There are several other consumer issues that MVLS and its volunteers are seeing on the rise, including:

Harassment by debt collectors Harassment by debt collectors comes in many forms, but the most popular form is repeated phone calls.

Many people receiving these calls are under a great deal of stress, often due to loss of income or medical expenses. Creditors know that their continuous phone calls compel people to agree to make payments on debts just because they want the constant phone calls to end.

It is very important to not allow debt collectors to pressure you and your family into making a decision.

Medical debt Medical debt is a leading reason why many families fall behind on bills. As we continue to live through this global pandemic, aligning medical needs with finances is so See LEGAL ADVICE, page 31

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Legal advice From page 30 important. The task of managing hospital bills and other medical expenses can be overwhelming especially if one is unsure of how to begin.

Identity theft Identity theft occurs when someone pretends to be you and uses your personal information for financial gain. Disputing identity theft can take weeks or months, and it is easy to lose track of with whom you spoke or what information they gave you.

If you are a victim of identity theft, the MVLS CPP hotline is a valuable resource, as volunteer attorneys will explain the

Good credit From page 29 have a compelling reason to close them.

Even unused credit cards help your score by raising your overall credit limit. The average age of your credit accounts also has a small effect on your credit score.

—Ask a friend or relative with excellent credit to add you as an authorized user.

That adds their credit history on the card to your credit profile. You don’t have to use or possess the credit card for this to help your score.

—If you are uncomfortable with a credit

need to place a fraud alert on your credit report, report the crime to the police, and obtain updated free copies of your credit report.

The best first step to take if you are being harassed by debt collectors, have rising medical bills, or experienced identity theft, among several other consumer finance issues, is to call the MVLS CPP hotline at (443) 451-4083. Trained and compassionate volunteer and staff lawyers are at the ready to help you navigate these challenges and set you on a path to financial freedom.

Aja’ Mallory is consumer staff attorney at Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. To learn more about the service and its free civil legal services, visit mvlslaw.org.

card, consider using it like a debit card by paying the balance as soon as a charge posts. The account adds to your credit history, but you prevent worries about balances piling up.

Credit scores could drop during the pandemic as people rely more heavily on their credit and increase their balances. Your score can rebound fairly quickly once you pay balances down, as long as you continue to pay at least the minimum on time.

If you need help paying creditors, contact them, preferably before you miss a payment.

—AP/NerdWallet

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Travel Leisure &

Theodore Roosevelt Island is open to walkers. See page 34 for our favorite local outdoor sites.

Put these adventures on your bucket list and flush toilets.

The lodges are beautifully sited — one on the edge of a broad lawn in a valley between two ridges; the other overlooking the river with a great outdoor deck. There is nothing like a hot shower and a comfortable bed after a day of paddling through churning rapids and getting slapped in the face by monstrous waves.

PHOTO BY DON MANKIN

By Don Mankin When we get back on the road after COVID-19 subsides, we’ll be “lookin’ for adventure,” as the rock band Steppenwolf put it.

In anticipation of this hopefully not-toodistant day, I’ve put together a list of my favorite adventure trips for active older adults. So, if you need something to look forward to in the months or years ahead, here are a few destinations to consider:

Whitewater rafting in Oregon

Adventure cruise in Panama and Costa Rica

Rogue River Rafting, 3 to 4 days from $895, ROW Adventures, rowadventures.com, 1-800451-6034 The Rogue River is one of the most famous whitewater rivers in the world, one of the first rivers in the U.S. to be run commercially, and one of the original eight rivers named in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968.

The Rogue has something for everyone: Class III and IV whitewater for adrenaline junkies; scenery similar to a Winslow Homer watercolor for artists; and eagles, ospreys and kingfishers for birders. Not to mention history ranging from thousandyear-old Native American artifacts to early 20th-century pioneer houses.

What makes this trip different from most other rafting trips is that instead of camping in tents on the shore, guests stay in comfortable lodges with hot showers

Pure Panama & Costa Rica Cruise, 12 days from $7,645, UnCruise Adventures, uncruise.com, 1-888-862-8881 How could such a small country, only about 30 miles wide at its narrowest point, offer such a variety of experiences?

There’s kayaking and snorkeling among tropical islands in two oceans, walking in the jungle to visit indigenous people, and, of course, one of the most spectacular engineering achievements in the world. It is this intersection of natural history and man-made wonders that makes Panama so special.

More than three million years ago, the Isthmus of Panama emerged from the sea, separating the Atlantic from the Pacific Oceans and eventually serving as a land bridge between North and South America, making Panama one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world.

The ship is small, only 34 cabins for 66 PHOTO COURTESY OF DON MANKIN

The author and his wife visit with a giant tortoise in the Galapagos Islands, known for protected and unique species of animals.

Ethiopia’s diverse topography includes landscapes resembling those of the American West. The country’s majestic scenery, stone medieval castles, churches carved into rock formations and delicious food make a thrilling trip for travelers of all ages.

guests, but offers a wide range of amenities, including an air-conditioned lounge with a 270-degree view.

Most important for older travelers is the launching platform at the rear of the ship, which lowers and raises to make it easy to get in and out of the skiffs and kayaks. As an added bonus, they have added several days in Costa Rico to the trip I took in 2017.

The 32 passengers are accommodated in spacious, recently renovated suites, and encounter wildlife far from the crowds, guided by naturalist guides with years of local experience.

I will be hosting a Galapagos tour on the Evolution in summer 2021. For details, call the number listed above and tell them you are interested in that cruise.

Galapagos Islands expedition

Ethiopian exploration

M/V Evolution Galapagos Cruise (luxury small boat cruise and wildlife tour), 8 days from $6,700, Quasar Expeditions, quasarex.com/galapagos, 1-888-502-9503 The Galapagos are arguably the most biologically diverse marine habitat on Earth. Charles Darwin did most of his groundbreaking work on natural selection and the theory of evolution there in 1835.

Today, the 13 major islands and dozens of smaller islets and rocks that make up the Galapagos are filled with extraordinary populations of unique species that have been protected from human impact.

On this trip you can experience the Galapagos in comfort and privacy aboard a yacht that retraces Darwin’s footsteps.

The style of the Evolution is roaring 20s, but the amenities and service are decidedly modern.

Paths of Ethiopia, 18 days from $7,480, Anastasia’s Africa, anastasiasafrica.com, 1888-303-2085 As the ancient crossroads between Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, Ethiopia absorbed customs, practices and ceremonies from all different peoples.

It’s one thing to read history; another to experience it. While the practices, dress and decorations reflect the religious roots of the West, the familiar is often counterbalanced by the strange in this evocative, mysterious land.

On this trip you will explore the stunning, rock-hewn, subterranean churches of Lalibela, encounter animistic tribes in the Great Rift Valley, and visit Axum, Ethiopia’s holy city and legendary resting See ADVENTURES, page 33

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

Adventures From page 32 place of the Ark of the Covenant.

Trips can be timed to include Ethiopian festivals such as Christmas, the annual Epiphany celebration of Timkat in January, or Meskal in September with its roaring bonfires, priests with ornate crosses, and thousands of worshippers in robes.

Trans-Siberian Railroad journey Moscow to Beijing via private train, 16 days from $6,140, Lernidee Trains & Cruises, trains-and-cruises.com It’s easy to see why Lernidee Trains & Cruises calls this railroad trip “one of the last great travel adventures in the world.”

Take a famous train from the capital of Russia, the world’s largest country, through Siberia, Mongolia and the Gobi Desert to the capital of China, the world’s most populous country.

Along the way, our group toured the Kremlin, skirted the edge of Lake Baikal, stopped in Ulan Bator, and visited Beijing’s Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China.

We even paused in the middle of the Gobi Desert for an early morning concert while camels grazed in the background.

The train is a comfortable way to explore this region. But more than that, it pulled together all of the stops along the way into a seamless, integrated whole that felt more like a movie than a sequence of photos.

One of my favorite experiences on the trip was the vodka tasting, which opened my eyes further to the wonders of the re-

gion — until the vodka and the swaying train lulled me to sleep. In a way, it was the perfect ending to an adventure movie.

Peaceful Laos Serenity, Spirituality, Scenery and Culture in Northern Thailand and Laos, 12 days from $5,850, Explorer-X, explorerx.com, (206) 212-0227 Laos — Luang Prabang, in particular — is one of my favorite destinations. Beautiful, serene and seductive, Laos has some of the most sacred Buddhist temples in the world.

Most important of all, it is not yet overrun by tourists. There are no beach resorts, discos or loud parties; just lush jungles, graceful mountains, varied architecture, ethnically diverse hill tribes and some of the best food in Southeast Asia, a region renowned for its cuisine.

A visit to Laos is all about peace, reflection and immersion in a world very different from our own.

I recently designed my ideal trip to the region and will be leading a tour next year.

The trip will begin in Chiang Mai, the historical and cultural capital of Thailand.

From there we will head to the notorious Golden Triangle where we will begin a leisurely two-day cruise down the most scenic section of the mighty Mekong to Luang Prabang.

After several days in Luang Prabang, exploring tree-shaded pathways and back streets leading to graceful, peaceful temples, we head to the capital city of Vientiane, stopping in Vang Vieng along the way for a balloon ride and to admire dra-

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

matic karst formations.

The emphasis throughout will be on authentic community-based tourism, with visits to local families and enterprises, and cooking classes, music and dance performances by members of the community.

Whale-watching in Antarctica Antarctica Whale Safari, 14 days from $9,995, Wilderness Travel, wildernesstravel.com, 1-888-895-5417 I’ve been to Antarctica three times, and I’d go a fourth, if I could. Antarctica is just that great a “bucket list” destination.

But this trip is different: It has whales.

Lots and lots of whales. The month of March, when this trip runs, is prime time for whale-watching in Antarctica. And there is no greater thrill than spotting a whale up close from a Zodiac inflatable boat or kayak.

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These huge creatures arch their backs and slide into the icy waters, flipping their tails in the air, rivulets of water dripping from the edges, before disappearing below the surface.

Antarctica has some of the most spectacular scenery in the world: mountains, glaciers and sculpted chunks of floating ice, some as large as city blocks. It’s a wonderland of shapes and texture, painted with the most intense blues and whites you have ever seen.

And, of course, there are the usual attractions — penguins, seals and birds. If Antarctica isn’t on your bucket list, why not?

Note: Don Mankin was hosted by the travel companies mentioned in this story. Most of these tour companies offer discounts to the readers of the Beacon. Call or email the operators for specifics. Read more at adventuretransformations.com.

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

Our region is filled with outdoor wonders

By Glenda C. Booth During the coronavirus pandemic’s quarantine and era of social distancing, many of us are finding comfort in nature.

Spending time outdoors can lower stress, boost the immune system and enhance our well-being. As Henry David Thoreau wrote, “We can never have enough of nature.”

The D.C. region has many parks, gardens and other places to enjoy the area’s natural biodiversity while staying safe.

Some are well known; others are a bit off the beaten path.

The Potomac and Anacostia Rivers and two different geological regions, called the Piedmont province and the Coastal Plain province, “help make our striking capital

city an urban ark for varied flora and fauna,” according to Howard Youth’s Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C. Here are some spots you might want to explore safely this fall:

Rock Creek Park President John Quincy Adams took brief respites from politics in this national park, calling it “a romantic glen.” In the park’s 2,100 acres in the District and 4,400 acres in Maryland, you can glimpse turtles, birds, chipmunks, deer, squirrels and foxes.

Many unmarked trails off 16th Street NW provide access to the park — and the opportunity for a quiet walk in the woods, a practice the Japanese call “forest bathing.”

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Anacostia Park Along the east side of the Anacostia River are 1,200 acres of parkland larger than New York City’s Central Park. Walkers and bikers can take in 11 miles of shoreline along the Riverwalk Trail and look for bald eagles, waterfowl, turtles and maybe even a muskrat.

In Anacostia Park, you’ll also find the country’s only national park devoted to cultivated water plants, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. In summer and early fall, its 45 ponds burst with water lilies and lotuses, including the impressive Great Victoria Amazonia water lily. When its round, platter-like leaves, some six feet in diameter, open, the blossoms smell like pineapples.

On footpaths and a boardwalk, visitors can see beavers, frogs, toads, fish, turtles, dragonflies and birds. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens reopened to the public in late June.

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Potomac Gorge Near McLean, Virginia, the Potomac River drops 150 feet, rushes through a narrow gorge and over a series of bedrock terraces to become the Great Falls of the Potomac, part of the 15-mile Potomac Gorge.

The gorge has one of the highest concentrations of rare species and natural communities in the mid-Atlantic region.

Accessible from several trails, it is one of

the most biologically significant natural areas in the eastern United States and in the national park system.

Theodore Roosevelt Island The 88-acre, half-mile-long Theodore Roosevelt Island in the Potomac River has dense woods, wetlands and shoreline, which means it has varied plants and wildlife. A trail winds through the woods and past a swamp’s cypress trees.

Lifelong naturalist Teddy Roosevelt is memorialized in a 17-foot statue on the island, which was the site of a camp for formerly enslaved people during the Civil War. Operated by the National Park Service, the island remains open to the public during the pandemic.

Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve Just south of Alexandria, the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve is a freshwater tidal marsh on the Potomac. It’s home to 300 known species of plants, 38 fish, 34 mammals and more than 270 species of birds.

Visitors can explore the marsh and woodlands by trail, boardwalk or on a canoe rented from the nearby marina. By adding it to the national park system in 1959, Congress directed that “fish and wildlife development See OUTDOOR SITES, page 35

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

From page 34 and their preservation as wetland wildlife habitat shall be paramount.”

Wildlife Refuge, at the confluence of the Potomac and Occoquan Rivers in Virginia, is small but packed with wildlife. Its onesquare-mile area contains grasslands, wetlands, forests, wet meadows, marshes and streams.

Huntley Meadows Park Lying in an ancient river channel, the “centerpiece” of this 1,500-acre Fairfax County park is a 50-acre, non-tidal wetland teeming with turtles, beavers, frogs, toads, wading birds, waterfowl, songbirds and raptors.

Visitors can see beaver lodges and dams from the boardwalk and observation tower, ramble along the woodsy trail, and explore the visitor center.

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary On the southern Patuxent River, 20 miles of trails slice through the woods leading to a freshwater tidal marsh. On a boardwalk, visitors can spot turtles, beavers, foxes, frogs, otters, water birds like the long-legged great blue heron, and other aquatic life.

Birdwatchers have spotted at least 250 species in the mixed hardwood forests, meadows, pine barrens and wetlands.

Mason Neck State Park and National Wildlife Refuge

McKee-Beshers Wildlife ManageThe Mason Neck State Park and Mason ment Area

Neck National Wildlife Refuge abut on a peninsula in Fairfax County with 12 miles of shoreline, dense woodlands and the Great Marsh.

The refuge was established in 1969 to protect the bald eagle, the first of its kind created to protect the then-endangered bird. Eagle numbers have rebounded with 27 nests in 2020, and up to 60 of them, along with tundra swans, typically winter on Mason Neck. The refuge also has one of the largest heron rookeries in the mid-Atlantic.

Occoquan National Wildlife Refuge The 644-acre Occoquan Bay National

P H OTO B Y F. D E L V E N T H A L

Outdoor sites

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McKee-Beshers in Poolesville, Maryland, is best known for its sunflowers. But visitors can also explore its 2,000 acres of forests, fields and manmade wetland impoundments to see turkeys, deer, waterfowl, reptiles, amphibians and more than 200 species of birds.

Adjacent to the area is a portion of the C&O Canal towpath, which stretches from downtown D.C. to Cumberland, Md.

Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge Although research is the focus at this refuge, visitors can explore 20 miles of public roads and trails here. The refuge

The sunflower fields of the McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area in Poolesville, Maryland, attract birds, bees and photographers.

has forests and an oak-pine savannah, a habitat unique to the mid-Atlantic. Lucky observers might see a brilliant red scarlet

tanager or an eastern red bat.

Check each location’s website for the most current public access information.

BEACON BITS

Oct. 3

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Reservations required. For reservations and directions contact Gemma Radko at gradko@yahoo.com.

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

Visiting friends and relatives comfortably VFR, the travel industry shorthand for tions against fraud, and they accept credit “Visiting Friends and Relatives,” will be the cards for some rentals. They also offer by first big segment of the travel far the widest selection of marketplace to recover from rental options, especially at the shutdown, according to the budget end of the price many of the country’s top travspectrum. el and airline mavens.

Two giants dominate the Business travel, which platform space: tanked during the shutdown, • HomeAway (homeaway. will continue to be replaced com) and its affiliated acquisiby virtual meetings and will tions offer more than a million return to physical travel only listings around the world. It’s slowly — and maybe never to about to revert to the name of TRAVEL TIPS previous levels. an older, acquired platform,

By Ed Perkins Leisure and vacation travel VRBO (vacation rental by will also recover, but it will concentrate on owner, at vrbo.com). shorter trips.

• FlipKey (flipkey.com) lists more than Meanwhile, the emotional need to re- 800,000 rentals worldwide. main close to friends and relatives does Beyond those, dozens of other platforms not diminish, and it will push growth in offer similar services, usually in a more lotravel — especially in family travel. calized region. I have some 20 in my “bookIf you choose to visit your loved ones, I marks” list, which I’ve posted on my personsuggest that you arrange a visit that maxi- al website (see edontravel.com). mizes comfort and minimizes stress. Yes, —A vacation rental agency actually you could just invade your friends’ or rela- represents the properties it handles. Your tives’ houses and pile everyone on sofas deal is with the agency, not the property and cots. owner, and the agency is responsible for But there’s a better way: Let your hosts solving problems and handling financial remain serenely in their homes, while you arrangements. book a nearby vacation rental for you and Typically, agency staff have personally your family. visited each property they list, so your Better yet: Rent a house or condo that’s chances of encountering a major disapbig enough to accommodate the entire pointment are minimal. group comfortably — preferably in a nearRentals through agencies are generally by vacation destination. Even if you’re just a bit less risky than rentals through plattraveling on your own, family travel is a lot forms, but they’re also usually more exeasier, and safer, if you have room to pensive. That’s because the agency takes a spread out in a rental. cut of the rental fee, which exceeds the fees owners pay for a platform listing.

Also, agencies tend to focus on larger, Finding a good rental If you’re doing a VFR trip this fall, finding more upscale properties; if you’re looking the right vacation rental is easy, through ei- for a budget rental, agencies aren’t likely ther of the two basic approaches: to provide many options.

—A vacation rental website links you No single outfit dominates the agency to a wide range of available properties. market segment the way HomeAway and Platforms operate like bulletin boards: FlipKey dominate the platforms. I have alProperty owners list their properties and most 60 agencies in my bookmarks, also provide detailed information, photos and posted on my website, most of which focus prices on the website. on a single region: the Caribbean, Hawaii When you decide to rent, you screen and Europe — especially London, Paris, the offerings. If you see something you Provence and Tuscany. For even more like, the platform links you to the property ideas, check Tripping.com, a vacation owner to complete the deal. rental search system.

The platform is not a party to the transWhichever path you choose, you’ll find action; it acts as a pass-through. That’s lots of attractive options. Give yourself and why it’s a bit riskier: Your deal is with a your family a break by finding the one that property owner, who might not be willing fits you best. to help with problems or issue refunds — Email Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net or even accept credit cards. or visit his website, rail-guru.com.

The big platforms employ some protec© Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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Sept. 15

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Style Arts &

Three books bring WWII’s Pacific theater to life. See story on page 40.

Doctor composes symphony on the side satisfaction [of composing] — to wait for that due to age? That’s counterintuitive,” he said.

A fateful decision Kirshenbaum grew up in Cranston, Rhode Island. His father was a musician who played in a dance band in his free time.

Kirshenbaum played flute and oboe in the school orchestra and marching band, performed with the youth philharmonic, and played keyboard in a dance band.

As he was considering colleges, and thinking about a pre-med course of study, the philharmonic conductor told him, “You’re going to have to choose between music and medicine.” There wouldn’t be time to do both well.

Kirshenbaum managed to keep up with some music in college, but medical school proved too demanding. And since he went to med school on a Navy scholarship, he had to spend four years in the service after graduating.

The Navy assigned him to the base in Quantico, Virginia, an hour’s drive from the home in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he

and his wife were raising their children. But the commute turned out to be a blessing.

“While on the long drive, something [musical] would pop into my head. Today, when that happens, I can easily record it on my cell phone. But in those days, I would have to pull over and jot down some notation on sheet music I kept in my car.”

When he retur ned See COMPOSER, page 39

When he’s not seeing patients, Dr. Arnold Kirshenbaum, an allergist and immunologist, composes music at a computer. He is nearly finished with a symphony that will reflect the arc of the pandemic.

PHOTO BY STUART ROSENTHAL

By Stuart Rosenthal The ster n por trait of Ludwig van Beethoven glares down from the wall over the computer screens set up in Dr. Arnold Kirshenbaum’s guest bedroom.

Kirshenbaum was a promising musician in his school days, but he did “the responsible thing” and went to medical school after college.

But that was then. Now, at the age of 66, he is making up for lost time even as he maintains his busy allergy practice in Glenn Dale, Maryland.

In between making and taking calls about current patients, Kirshenbaum works contentedly under Beethoven’s stern gaze, writing his own chamber, orchestral and choral works using computer software designed for the purpose.

“I didn’t want it to be said that I waited to retire before getting back to music,” Kirshenbaum said. “I never really left it. I put it on the back burner, but I wanted to return to where I left off.

“I would be way behind if I waited until I retired,” he added. “There’s so much to learn! Besides, to do medicine and at the same time get the emotional and spiritual

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

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

Composer From page 38 home at night, he would go to the piano and try to develop the musical thought.

As much as he didn’t want to retire before starting to compose seriously, he also knew that, while raising five children, he’d be “lucky to have 10 minutes a day” to compose.

Now that they’re all grown, he has been able for the past three years to devote nights and weekends to music.

“I spend, maybe, 10 hours a week” at it, he thinks. That includes time to study composition with Joshua Fishbein, an award-winning composer, conductor and teacher on the faculty of the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore.

With Fishbein, Kirshenbaum learns “college level” theory and composing. It’s serious stuff, with reading and composing assignments and even exams. He also works on developing the music themes he jotted down years ago on his commutes.

Fishbein said that “many people may have original music going on in their minds, but it takes skill to translate that to notes on paper. Arnie has made it his mission to learn to write for all the different families of instruments in the orchestra.”

Kirshenbaum said “I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot” with Fishbein. “I am writing music that has a message, feeling and emotional depth. It brings me a lot of pleasure. Without Josh, I couldn’t do this.”

The roar of the crowd In the late 1980s, Kirshenbaum had a fellowship in allergy and immunology at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda. His website proudly notes that he worked under the direction of Dr. Anthony Fauci.

He has continued over the years to volunteer in the same lab, continuing to assist with basic research on mast cells, which play a role in allergies and inflammation.

That work has led to 78 research publications on which he shares credit. “Research requires so much detail,” Kirshenbaum said. “You need solitude, quiet, time to think — as with composing.”

The two activities “share much in common. Including the pride of seeing something [you worked on] published or played,” he said.

This pride is at the core of what drives Kirshenbaum. “What I really want is to hear my music played,” he said, choking up, “and for people to like it.”

When he’s composing at his computer, he can hear what the music will sound like thanks to the synthesizer function of the software. But it’s a far cry from hearing it performed on real instruments.

It was three years ago that he first heard one of his orchestral pieces performed by musicians. It was his March Sousa, recorded in a studio by the Mighty Sound of Maryland Marching Band at the University of Maryland, College Park.

The next year, his Hanukah Medley was

performed by the Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra before an audience at Bel Air High School as part of their “festival of lights.”

The experience was a powerful one for him. Not only did hearing his music brought to life bring him “peace of mind,” but he got a standing ovation.

Composing under COVID For the past three years, Kirshenbaum has been working primarily on a fourmovement piece for orchestra he calls Millennial Symphony. He chose the title because the work is dedicated to the younger generations “as they aspire to make their future and think big.”

He had hoped that a performance or recording of some movements by a local orchestra might be in the cards this summer, but the pandemic put a stop to that.

On the other hand, COVID-19 has given new meaning to the work, in Kirshenbaum’s eyes. He now labels the first move-

ment, written last fall, “Pre-COVID 19,” as it is built on “themes reflecting love, strength and happiness.”

Much like the progression of the coronavirus, the next two movements turn progressively darker, as the extent of the devastation becomes more apparent.

The final movement, nearly complete, “will reflect our hopes and aspirations for the future, as we come out of the pandemic and rebuild.”

The first three movements can now be

39

heard (played by synthesizer, not full orchestra) on Kirshenbaum’s website, thejewishcomposer.com.

Most recently, he has started collaborating with Robert Nath, a “retiring lawyer,” on an operetta. Both are writing music and lyrics for different songs “and we’re having a great time,” Kirshenbaum said.

While Kirshenbaum said the extensive effort involved in composing has brought him deep pleasure, he also admitted, “standing ovations help.”

BEACON BITS

Sept. 13

AFTERNOON OF BLACK POETRY Peace Mountain Theatre Company is hosting “Spices,” a series of

monologues and poems by Black artists. The free performances will be held on Zoom on Sun., Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. For more information, visit peacemountaintheatre.com/spices.

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Books about World War II in the Pacific September 2 marks the 75th anniversary ning its deployment by a specially trained crew in a modified B-29. of the end of the Second World War. These books cover with Countdown 1945 delves clarity and intensity the conflict into those historic times with in the Pacific theater. an imaginative format. The Countdown 1945: The Exnarrative proceeds by date traordinary Story of the and is presented as a countAtomic Bomb and the 116 down to the fateful August 6.

Days That Changed the Period photos of people and World, by Chris Wallace and places add depth and dimenMitch Weiss, 320 pages, sion to this fast-moving acAvid Reader Press/Simon & count. An epilogue completes Schuster hardcover, 2020 the life stories of crew memTHE Two events that shook the BIBLIOPHILE bers, military brass, atomic sciworld — the death of President By Dinah Rokach entists, a Hiroshima survivor Franklin D. Roosevelt and the who emigrated to the United detonation of the atomic bomb over Hiroshi- States and other participants. ma — occurred between April 12 and AuSeptuagenarian Chris Wallace is a resigust 6, 1945. dent of Washington, D.C., where he anBetween these historic dates, other mo- chors the weekly Fox News Sunday; comentous events unfolded: Harry S. Tru- author investigative journalist Mitch Weiss man’s unexpected first inauguration after is in his 60s. his relative obscurity as vice president, the Indianapolis: The True Story of the surrender of Nazi Germany, the Potsdam Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval HisConference, the electoral defeat of Winston tory and the Fifty-Year Fight to ExonChurchill, the culmination of the Manhattan erate an Innocent Man, by Lynn VinProject with the successful testing of the cent and Sara Vladic, Simon & Schusatomic bomb, and the final stages of plan- ter paperback, 2019

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The sinking of USS Indianapolis and the subsequent court-martial of Captain Charles McVay III provide a riveting account that highlights the issues of the pursuit of truth, justice and accountability in our armed forces.

The cruiser-destroyer was torpedoed by an enemy submarine as she was en route, without escort, to training exercises. The harrowing story of the survivors left adrift for five nights and four days in shark-infested waters without the urgent commencement of search operations called for a vigorous accounting and punishment of those responsible.

The toll of more than 800 fatalities represents the greatest loss of life at sea from a single U.S. Navy ship. The military trial took place in the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., in November 1945.

The charges brought, the judgment rendered, the flawed reasoning, the faulty defense, the sentence meted out, as well as the use of testimony by the Japanese submarine commander Mochitsura Hashimoto added to the controversy, which took decades to resolve — beyond the lifespans of most of the participants.

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The Jersey Brothers: A Missing Officer in the Pacific and His Family’s Quest to Bring Him Home, by Sally Mott Freeman, 608 pages, Simon & Schuster paperback, 2018 Bethesda resident Sally Mott Freeman has lovingly reconstructed the story of her uncle Barton Cross, a POW in the Pacific during World War II. His half-brothers also served during the conflict, and Freeman brings their wartime experiences to life with descriptions of battles on land and sea, military strategy, service rivalries and ego-driven generals.

In The Jersey Brothers, Freeman deftly weaves historical details into a finely crafted tale filled with emotion, intensity and suspense.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

41

COVID doesn’t give speeders a pass There used to be three surefire ways to 9 a.m. on a weekday. distinguish the young from the old.

I’m in the second lane from the right. I’m Way One: We have gray hair; doing 55. I’m signaling if and they have none. when I change lanes. I’m allowWay Two: We have wrinkles; ing at least five car lengths bethey don’t even know what tween me and the vehicle in wrinkles are. front of me.

Way Three: They play rough Give me a pat on the head, and tumble sports; we remiplease. I’m being a good boy. nisce about playing them.

Suddenly, here comes a bad But thanks to the pandemboy. ic, Way Four has reared its He’s doing 85 — more when ugly head: We oldies drive HOW I SEE IT he can. He’s jumping from lane more sanely than ever; they By Bob Levey to lane like a demented jitterdrive as if all the world is sudbug. He’s cutting in front of denly the Indianapolis 500. other drivers where there’s barely enough Their behavior is a crime of opportunity, space to squeeze in. enabled by greatly reduced travel volume And whenever he has to slow down for to workplaces, shopping and amusements. any reason, he’s slipping the transmission According to one report I read recently, into neutral and going vroom-vroomtraffic is down between 40 and 60 percent vroom, as if to say he’d still be doing 85 if on all species of highway, varying only by only the rest of you pathetic suckers would time of day and day of week. That has pro- just get out of his way. duced lots of open road, where there used How do I know he was young? Well — to be precious little. divine comeuppance — a slowdown, then So, young drivers are filling the avail- a dead stop, developed just before the able pavement with driving behavior that I exits at Colesville Road. I came to rest to can only describe as illegal, crazy, danger- his right. I glanced over. ous and selfish. And that’s when I’m feelHe was no more than 18. By definition, ing charitable toward them. he couldn’t have had more than two years Picture the scene: I’m ambling along the of driving experience.

Beltway in my trusty boring Chevrolet. It’s I have nearly 60 years of it. I have never

had a serious wreck. He was well on the way to having one five minutes after I saw him.

OK, right, I know I’m generalizing.

Never fully accurate. And yet, the evidence continues to pour in.

I was talking to my car insurance agent the other day. Just tweaking our policy and trying (unsuccessfully, as usual) to save a couple of bucks.

I asked how business was. OK, said the agent. But their office is logging an unusual pattern of claims.

She explained that, in normal times, about 20 percent of all claims involve an accident caused by a young driver. Since the pandemic arrived, that number has grown to 50 percent.

I asked why. “Speed and stupidity,” said the agent.

Then there’s my pal, the doctor. He practices at one of the largest hospitals around.

I’m always treating him like an oracle (docs like that) because he’s at ground level for what’s really going on, not only with the pandemic, but everything else humans are doing (both well and badly).

“So, tell me, are you seeing as many cases as usual?,” I asked him.

“Somewhat fewer,” he said. Many middle-aged and older adults are deferring treatments for heart disease and cancer because they’re afraid of picking up the See BOB LEVEY, page 43

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

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Alice’s Kids From page 1 card is to be used only for the item requested.

The teacher or social worker then gives the gift card to the parent.

The average grant is around $100. The organization’s motto: “A little help can go a long way.”

For something like summer camp, Fitzsimmons writes a check to the appropriate entity. The children never know they are getting charity, which “preserves the kids’ dignity, and the parent has a chance to shine,” he said. “I feel like Santa Claus every day.”

The organization has continued to grow every year. In 2017, Alice’s Kids served 894 children, granting a total of $49,196. By 2019, they gave more than three times that amount to 2,424 children. So far this year,

Bob Levey From page 41 virus at the hospital.

But another unusual trend has developed, he said.

Most days, emergency rooms are full of non-emergencies — weekend warrior athletic injuries, kitchen accidents, tummy trouble that turns out to be too much ice cream.

But since March, the car accidents that ERs see are more serious.

“There can only be one explanation for

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

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

they’ve already helped 2,570 children.

Around 80% of funding comes from individual donations, with the rest from local service groups such as Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs.

Drawing big name support The organization got a huge boost in 2019, when the Washington Post’s Theresa Vargas published two articles about its work.

Word spread, and donations poured in.

A few celebrities have joined the effort, including comedian Patton Oswalt and talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, who made a pitch in May. Actress BeBe Neuwirth, from television’s “Cheers” and “Frasier,” also endorsed them.

Alice’s Kids has more than 20 partnerships with other nonprofits, such as the National Association of Social Workers, Communities in Schools, Ronald McDonthat,” he said. “People are speeding. And not wearing seat belts.”

I asked if the patients include older people.

“Almost always younger people,” he said.

So, I rest my case. But not my — and I hope not your — good driving habits.

I plan to keep a sharp eye on my rearview mirrors. If I see a comet approaching behind me, I will let it pass.

I hope to live a long time. I hope that the young pilot of the comet can do the same.

Bob Levey is a national award-winning columnist.

ald House and local groups like United Community and the Fairfax County Police Department.

The organization’s heart is the network of almost 500 teachers, counselors, social workers and others in the Washington, D.C., region who work with children in need. (Although 90% of their work is local, after the Post article, they got requests from all over the U.S., so they have tried to respond to those needs, too.)

In many cases, the children’s families are in crisis. They’ve lost their home, there’s domestic violence, or a parent is in legal trouble.

One family in Northern Virginia asked for an air mattress, so they wouldn’t have to sleep on the floor, using towels for blankets and pillows.

Other children needed appropriate clothes to wear to their parents’ funeral.

One teenager could not graduate because she owed money to the school cafeteria.

Boosting self-esteem, joy When children experience indignities or embarrassment, problems can mushroom into missing school, performing poorly academically, misbehaving and even suicide.

Providing these small items can improve their self-esteem and help them feel that they fit in, Fitzsimmons believes.

With schools closed this spring because of the coronavirus pandemic, teachers and social workers had less regular contact

with students. Some teachers worried that children would stop reading, so Alice’s Kids bought and mailed three books to each child.

“Alice’s Kids is a wonderful nonprofit,” said Virginia Delegate Paul Krizek, who runs Christian Relief Services.

“Thanks to their work, struggling families have been pleasantly surprised with financial support to boost the self-esteem of their children and have improved their children’s ability to learn and succeed.”

Astromelia Cadogan works with Alexandria’s immigrant and homeless families.

Some children she’s helped were living in a relative’s living room; others were in homeless shelters.

Cadogan is moved by parents’ gratitude and children’s reactions. When she gave a gift card to a single father of four who needed children’s clothing, he told her, “You just don’t know what you have just done for us.”

Latoya Hansford with D.C.’s Department of Human Services has seen similar reactions. She’s seen kids break down in tears or get jubilant over a pair of shoes.

“It’s overwhelming joy,” she said.

Fitzsimmons has worked for three members of Congress, lobbied for women’s reproductive rights, and worked for former Fairfax County Board of Supervisors member Gerry Hyland. But for him, running Alice’s Kids is the best work he’s ever done.

The small things, it turns out, are very significant.

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

Crossword Puzzle

Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Body Parting 1

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Across 1. Rapscallion 6. Ark reservation counts 10. “Goodness gracious!”

14. Vietnamese capital 15. Spy Mata ___ 16. Renaissance Fair instrument 17. Underway 18. Like IHOP and IBM 19. Yellow Brick Road animal 20. Go on the lam 23. Flavors a pretzel 24. Maker of Perrier and Nescafe 25. Derriere 28. Fashion accessory worn at Kahului Airport 29. Part (or all) of 4 Greek letter names 30. Accepts responsibility 36. Bird of prey 37. French pronoun 38. Dance seen in opening credits of Hawaii Five-O 40. Performs soccer juggling tricks 45. Video games rated for “Adults Only” 46. Jessica Timberlake ___ Biel 47. If you have it, you don’t need a clue for this answer 48. “It’s ___ from the past” 52. Shows some skin 54. Gets ready for the race (with 59 Across) 59. See 54 Across 60. Two of Caesar’s last three words 61. Clementine’s dad, of gold rush song 62. European supergroup formed in 1981 63. Sound at the start of most MGM movies 64. Far beyond the norm 65. Used Western Union 66. Energy, Natural Resources, and the Environment (abbrev.)

67. 2012 Rolling Stones song, Doom and ___ Down 1. Iranian emperor 2. Coffee shop

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Jumble answers on p. 46.

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3. Small buffalo 4. Dispositions 5. Hidden hazard 6. Milestone birthdays 7. Has a hankering 8. Start of a tooth-straightening doc.

9. There’s one in every tomb 10. Island that first welcomed Annie Moore in 1892, followed by 12 million more immigrants 11. “Repentant tears wash out the stain of ___” (St. Augustine) 12. Ring-shaped islet 13. Crowded 21. Organic light-emitting diode (type of TV) 22. Recuperate 25. Campfire souvenir 26. Shake Shack, to investors 27. Scattered, as seeds 29. Modern contract approval 31. Tiny name for Tiny Tim’s instrument 32. Return on Investment (to a CPA) 33. “I figured out who the killer is!”

34. Offspring of a horse and donkey 35. Letters formed with thumb and index fingers 39. Snake, named from the Greek word “aspis” 41. Direction from Eden to Nod 42. “Take that!”

43. Zeus’ better half 44. Cheers prop 48. Mapmaker’s publication 49. Largest city in Idaho 50. His statue in Kiev was toppled in 2013 51. ___ at the table 52. Second-tier actor 53. Photo snapped to promote a movie 55. Prep school attended by 20 British Prime Ministers 56. He’s Just Not That ___ You 57. Roman emperor whose name has the lowest Scrabble score 58. About 4% of an ounce

Answers on page 46.

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

Letters to editor From page 2 selected for the Leadership in Aging award from Seabury Resources for Aging, to be conferred on Sept. 16.]

Dear Editor: Unemployed workers could provide the extra manpower needed to ensure a trouble-free election process in November.

The Depression-era New Deal programs put millions of unemployed Americans to work on public works projects to build streets, bridges, schools, libraries, hospitals, sidewalks, zoos, community centers, post offices, city halls and parks.

At that time, there were about 15 million Americans unemployed. Today there are 30 million people unemployed.

Why not use the unemployed in each state to help count mail-in ballots and guarantee timely and accurate processing of ballots in November?

After the election, states can train that same people to weed out fraud in Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. There will never be enough government workers to keep up with criminals dedicated to defrauding the American government. Let’s use the unemployed to even the scale.

If waste is discovered in these important safety net programs, use the savings to reduce state tax revenue shortfalls or tackle other important projects like infrastructure.

Michael Artson Woodbridge, Va. Dear Editor: According to Webster’s dictionary, police typically are responsible for maintaining public order and safety, enforcing the law, and preventing, detecting and investigating criminal activities.

We have seen may cases of violence set upon citizens and police alike. Police fear for their lives or loss of authority while citizens fear those who are supposed to be protecting them.

Let’s get rid of this fear. Let’s change how police are viewed. They should be viewed as peace keepers who negotiate and prevent violence.

I experienced an event in New York City long ago. We were on a bus when two officers came aboard. A young man stood up and pointed his firearm at them.

What did they do? Have a shootout? No. One officer spoke to the young man. The officer knew how to successfully de-escalate the situation.

As a clergyman, I too learned the power of intelligent gabbing. Talk, walk in their shoes and respond.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick Detorie

Police and citizens need to learn what it is like to live in one another’s shoes.

Pulling a weapon should be a last resort.

The power of intelligent thoughts can transform a situation of potential violence into an act of peaceful good.

Our police need to be trained as peace keepers. The days of turning off body cams, taking a suspect downtown for a beating, and hassling someone because they are in a neighborhood not symbolic of their demographic must end.

Police seem to fear loss of their authority. But authority is not as powerful as respect. It is not Them and Us. It is Us. Steven Kaszab Via email

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ARLINGTON DURING COVID Contribute to the history books by submitting your personal expe-

rience during the pandemic to the Arlington Public Library. These include photos, journal entries, revised restaurant menus and more. To learn more, visit http://bit.ly/ArlingtonCOVID.

WB920

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

Subscribe for half-price. See p. 45

CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on page 47.

CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment.

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

Business and Employment Opportunities A CARE AGENCY - Been in business for more than 10 years. Experienced nurses, CNAs, GNAs. Any hours you need. Flat rate for live-in.

Duties include cooking, housekeeping, bathing, errands, etc. Tel: 667-231-8235 INSIDE SALES POSITION - Have sales experience? Love the Beacon? We're looking for someone like you to set appointments from home for our ad reps. You'll earn salary + commissions.

Call Alan at (443) 285-9336 or email your resume to alan@thebeaconnewspapers.com EEO

Caregivers “CARE YOU CAN TRUST & AFFORD” FLAT RATES, ONE DAY OF FREE SERVICE. Reliable, experienced, loving caregiver providing hygiene care, medication reminders, meal preparation, housekeeping, errands, appointments etc. Providing you responsible, cautious care to keep you safe during Covid-19. Full/PartTime, Live-In, Overnight or Weekend. Licensed and Insured. Call Today: 301-490-1146.

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 for live-in. 15 years’ experience. (2405336599) ELDERLY CARE - Female care provider with a car. I’m experienced in caring for people with Ms, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other health issues. I cook, clean, and take to appts. Excellent Reference 301-275-7283 I AM CERTIFIED LICENSED NURSING ASSISTANT looking to care for your loved ones in the comfort of their home. I do companionship, light housework, meal preparation, bathing, medication reminder, safety supervision. Call Florence 240-779-1984 MALE CARE PROVIDER WITH CAR. I’m experienced in caring for people with all types of health issues MS, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc.

Excellent Reference 301-633-1150.

Financial TAX RETURN PREPARATION. On extension? It’s never too late to file. Licensed CPA since 1986. All types of returns. Reasonable rates. Located in Gaithersburg MD. Diane Christen CPA. Call, text or email: 240-355-1135; dianechristen@aol.com.

For Sale

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WESTHAMPTON MEMORIAL AND CREMATION PARK. 10000 Patterson Ave. Richmond VA. 2 side by side Cemetery plots. $ 3500 per plot. Negotiable. Section 2, Garden of Meditation. Will sell separately. Call or text Jeanne 804 297 6076.

DISH NETWORK. $59.99 for 190 Channels!

Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo. (where available.) Switch & Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. Call today! 1844-560-5837.

SERIOUS COLLECTOR PURCHASING ANTIQUES and mid century items, including furniture, lamps, sculptures, paintings, anything unusual, rugs, toys, all era military, gold, silver items, costume and quality jewelry, tools.

Please call Chris, 301 262 1299.

FOUR CEMETERY PLOTS (2 double depth) in desirable Lilac Section of National Memorial Park, Falls Church, VA. Retail price $7,100 each.

Selling price $3,495 each OBO. A two-tier crypt is also available. Transfer fees will be paid by the seller and deed transferred through National Memorial Park.

TWO BURIAL LOTS FOR SALE. In the Beautiful PARKLAWN MEMORIAL PARK and MENORAH GARDENS, Veirs Mill Rd., ROCKVILLE, MD. Two Burial Lots, with Two Burial Rights Plus Two Custom Built Crypts and ‘C’ Bronze Memorial 44”x 14” with Vase and Granite. Current value of the Lots thru Cemetery is $7,295 each. We are asking $ 5,500 o.b.o. for Two Lots. Call 301-570-1924 or 301-675-6322.

PUT ON YOUR TV EARS and hear TV with unmatched clarity. TV Ears Original were originally $129.95 - NOW WITH THIS SPECIAL OFFER are only $59.95 with code MCB59! Call 1-833-934-0843.

Health LIFE ALERT. One press of a button sends help FAST, 24/7! At home and on the go. Mobile Pendant with GPS. FREE First Aid Kit (with subscription.) CALL 240-847-6732 FREE Brochure.

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Home/Handyman Services SLOWING DOWN AFTER 38 YEARS of contracting. Small to medium jobs, mainly residential. $42.50 an hour from arrival on job. Andy 703-906-5429.

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 ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-844-359-6933.

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Wanted ALWAYS BUYING OLD STUFF! Old Silverware and Holloware (even some silverplate) Very Old books, Costume Jewelry, Pinup magazines before 1970, Metal purses, Comic Books, Old School Rings, Pinup magazines before 1970, Old Coins U.S. & Foreign, Antique Metal Pens & Pencils, Posters, Dental Gold( Yellow & White) ,Pocket & Wrist Watches, Old Toys, Broken Jewelry, Coins, other “old stuff”. What do you have?

Call Now: Alex 571-426-5363 or send to: 8409 Lee Highway , Suite 825 Merrifield, VA 22116 TOP PRICES PAID FOR FINE ANTIQUES, artwork and decorative objects including decorated crocks and jugs, unusual antique clocks, music boxes and mechanical things, coin operated devices, furniture, rare antique dolls and toys etc. I am 67 years old , well educated, financially capable, and have over 40 years in this business.

Why pay outlandish auction house, estate agent or consignment store commissions when you can get a fair upfront price for your pieces with no hassle? If you have something interesting or unusual, rare and valuable and are prepared to sell it I would like to speak with you. Please call Jake Lenihan, 301 279 8834. No calls after 7 pm please.

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

USED & RARE BOOKS WANTED. Quality books in all subjects. We also buy old maps, menus, post cards, advertising & travel brochures, posters, road maps, old magazines.

Contact Dale 301-495-2732. Experienced seller since 1977 SEEKING FULL/SEALED BOTTLES of Vintage Bourbon & Rye (Pre-1990). Examples include, but are not limited to: Old Grand Dad, Pikesville Rye, Wild Turkey, Old Fitzgerald, I.W. Harper, Old Forester and more! Inquiries are welcome. Call Alex 443-223-7669 CASH FOR RECORDS, CDS AND DVDS. Best price guaranteed. Free appraisals. All types of music {33, 45, 78 & CDs.} Also buying turntables and stereo equipment. Will make house calls with CURBSIDE PICKUPS. Call or text Steve at 301-646-5403.

PAYING CASH merchandise pre 1980. Old toys, silver, records, books, photographs, smoking pipes and lighters, fountain pens,florsheim shoes. If you have old stuff to sell cal Carl 312316-7553. Sorry no furniture or glassware. Located Silver Spring MD. BOOK COLLECTIONS WANTED. Moving?

Downsizing? Estate? Together the Bonafide Book Buyers have over 85 years experience as professional buyers & sellers of quality books in the D. C. area. Best prices paid for good books.

Examples: Easton Press, Folio Society, First Edition Science Fiction & Mysteries, Military, History, Scholarly & Academic Press publications.

Call Nelson at 240-472-4615 for an appointment at your house. Also will consider DVDs & CDs. Curbside pickup possible, phone for details.

BUYING ESTATES Asian antiques, jewelry, gold, silver, old coins, watches, old toys, baseball cards, memorabilia, golf. Purchasing all collections. Call Tom for free evaluation. Montgomery Co. / VA / Washington, DC / PG Co. Thank you 240-476-3441.

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

CASH FOR ESTATES, moving etc; I buy a wide range of items. Buy out/clean up. www.atticllc.com Gary Roman; 301-520-0755.

CASH FOR JEWELRY; I buy a wide range of jewelry; gold, silver, costume, watches, turquoise, coins, school rings, etc. Gary Roman; 301-520-0755.

LADY WHO LIKES CHINA and other pretty things would like to buy yours. Favorites include Coalport, Herend, Meissen, Royal Copenhagen, Shelley and Villeroy & Boch. Some Lenox and Johnson Brothers. I love English bone china cups and saucers. Paintings and pottery. I’ve collected antique Christmas and Halloween for thirty years and am always looking to add to my collection. Sterling and jewelry. MD license no.

2753. Call, 301-785-1129.

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

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Oct. 2

JUST MERCY READING

Join the Arlington 55+ book club by reading Just Mercy by civil rights activist and lawyer Bryan Stevenson. The group discussion will take place over Zoom on Fri., Oct. 2 from noon to 1 p.m. For more information, contact jodlum@arlingtonva.us or (703) 228-5960.

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

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ANSWERS TO JUMBLE Jumbles: OMEGA PHOTO INNING SPRUCE Answer: The designers of the single-person blimps were experiencing — ONE-UPMANSHIP

D E N S E

G R A M

Say you saw it in the Beacon

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

BEACON BITS

Sept. 10

GOOGLE MY BUSINESS

If you have a business, you probably want yours to stand out in Google searches. Learn how to craft a profile for your business in Maps and Google Search to attract new customers. The free webinar will be held on Thurs., Sept. 10 from 2 to 3 p.m. Register at bit.ly/googlemybiz2.

Sept. 9

COMMON MONEY MISTAKES

Learn about 52 common money mistakes and how to avoid them at a free webinar on Wed., Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. Register at http://bit.ly/MoneyMistakes9.

Sept. 9

PLANNING FOR INCAPACITY

Make decisions about your medical care sooner rather than later.

Join attorney Niel Rosen in a Zoom session about living wills, medical orders and other advance care planning strategies. The workshop will be held on Wed., Sept. 9 from 3 to 4 p.m. Register at https://bit.ly/IncapacityPlan.

Sept. 10

UNDERSTANDING MEDICARE

Are you approaching the age for Medicare? Learn about its complexities before you enroll, and bring some questions to a free virtual event on Wed., Sept. 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. To join, visit http://bit.ly/MedicareSept10.

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 Homewood at Frederick.......12

Miscellaneous

Knollwood........................1, 11

City of Rockville Mansion...41

Ketone Supplement Study ...21

Home Health Care/Companion Services

Maplewood Park Place...........9 Quantum Property Mgmt .......37

Real Estate

Stroke Rehabilitation Study .21

Best Senior Care . . . . . . . . .35 Cherished Hands

Park View Apartments ............39

Clinical Studies Calorie Reduction Study......20

Computer/ Technology TheBeaconNewspapers.com...36

Home Health . . . . . . . . . .15 DMV Home Therapy . . . . . .8

Riderwood .............................1, 8 Shenandoah Senior

Long & Foster/ Eric Stewart.................28, 40

Retail/Auction

Living................................22

Cherry Blossom CBD..........12

America.............................31

Sommerset ...........................14

NuImages Hair Salon.............5

Housing

Springvale Terrace .........17, 23

Oakridge Auction Gallery....27

Demaine Funeral Home .......18

Abrams Hall Senior Apts. . . . . .5 AlfredHouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Legal Services

Going Home Cremation.......34

Farr Law Firm ......................27

Ashby Ponds ......................1, 8

Wonder Book .......................35

Murphy Funeral Home ........18

Law Offices

Brooke Grove Retirement

Zoomer Chair.......................34

Events Beacon 50+Virtual Expo .3, 30

Funeral Services

National Funeral Home........18

Government Services

Options for Senior

Village ...............................13 Charles E. Smith Lifecare Community .........29

DC Office on Aging .......24-25

Chesterbrook Residences.....10

DOEE...................................31

Chevy Chase House .............10

Montgomery County Aging

Churchill Senior Living .......23

and Disability

Culpepper Garden ................17

Services.......................16, 22

Enterprise Residential..........39

Montgomery County Public Library ...................33 Montgomery County Board of Elections ............33

Falcons Landing ....................6 Five Star Premier Residences ........................17 Friendship Terrace................19 Greenspring........................1, 8 Homecrest House.................19

of Lee Holdmann ..............30 Law Offices of Nancy Feldman .................29 Law Offices of Paul Riekhof .....................27

Medical/Health Acumedicine Health ............19 Adventist HealthCare...........15 Inogen ..................................48 Judy Oh, DDS ......................23

Perfect Sleep Chair ..............43 Perfect Walker......................42

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Manor Care Health Services14

Subscriptions Beacon Newspaper ..............45

Theatre/ Entertainment F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre ...38 Senior Zone..........................41

Medical Eye Center .............22

Tour & Travel

Steven Freidman, DDS ........31

Martinsburg, West Virginia ..33

Voice Your Choice................12

Volunteers & Careers

United Healthcare ............7, 11

Career Gateway....................30

47

48

Subscribe for half-price. See p. 45

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