November 2022 | DC Beacon

IN FOCUS FOR PEOPLE OVER 50

Granny nannies who love their jobs

By Margaret Foster

Call it good timing. Seven years ago, Silver Spring resident Margaret McDermott was expecting her first grandchild. At the same time, her longtime job as an event planner fizzled out.

When she realized she could spend her empty days with her baby grandson, McDermott jumped at the chance, much to her surprise.

“I thought, ‘I’ll just try it for a day,’ and I was hooked,” said McDermott, now 70 and taking care of her two grandchildren, ages 7 and 3, three days a week, down from five.

“It really gives me purpose. I’ve been offered job opportunities, but I say, ‘I have the best job I’ve ever had, and I’ve never been paid so much.’ I am paid in love.”

In recent years, more and more grandparents are filling in for gaps in childcare, some helping out part-time, some full-time.

In fact, more than 2.7 million grandparents are live-in, primary caregivers to their grandchildren. That’s a 12% increase from 2000, according to Pew Research Center, which noted “a precipitous rise” after the 2007-8 financial crisis.

“Grannies stepping in to help with the grandkids is becoming as American as taking selfies,” wrote Lesley Stahl in her 2016 book Becoming Grandma

“You see it in the projects as well as the suburbs, with single working moms in Pittsburgh who can’t afford a nanny and with well-to-do working couples on Park Avenue who don’t trust a nanny.”

Reasons to help

Circumstances are different for every family. “There are a number of reasons why a grandparent would step in to help,” said Donna Butts, executive director of Generations United, a D.C.-based nonprofit that works to strengthen practices and poli-

cies to benefit children and older adults.

“Often the families are working more than one job,” Butts pointed out. “Often it’s because they can’t find childcare — or they can’t afford childcare.

“Often it’s a choice, too. The parents realize the value of the connection between grandparent and grandchild,” she said.

The ancient arrangement, in which grandparents mind the children while parents

work, hasn’t changed much over the years.

“My mother was a granny nanny for all [four] of my children, and her mother was, too,” McDermott said. “But I always thought to myself, ‘I’ll never do that. I have a career.’”

Grandfathers change diapers, too

When some grandmothers hold their

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Working after 65

Margaret McDermott takes care of her granddaughter, Gretta, and another grandchild three days a week. It’s “the best job I’ve ever had,” she said. “It gives me purpose.” Some grandparents even relocate or retire in order to take care of their grandchildren full-time or part-time.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARGARET MCDERMOTT

Life At The Carnegie At Washingtonian Center: Embodying The Art Of Living Well

Many seniors aspire to age or live well, but some wonder exactly what this entails. Traditionally, industry experts maintained that aging well meant that people simply continued living healthy lives as they aged. However, aging experts now frequently suggest that aging is more than just maintaining physical health – it is also about living life fully and to its maximum potential. The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center, an upcoming Kisco Signature senior living community being developed in the heart of Gaithersburg, will embody both claims and offer an elevated and vibrant lifestyle that emphasizes the difference between simply living and living well.

Set to welcome residents in spring 2024, The Carnegie will epitomize inspired and elevated senior living. As a Kisco Signature community, The Carnegie will encompass wellness as a multidimensional and evolving process of discovering one’s full potential. This concept is engrained into a company-wide programming philosophy, The Art of Living Well, which embodies the nine dimensions of wellness – emotional, financial, social, spiritual, physical, intellectual, environmental, cultural, and purpose. The intent is to encourage the ongoing development and fulfillment of residents to empower them to live healthy, purposeful lives.

“The Art of Living Well is our trademark wellness program,” said Andy Kohlberg, founder, president, and CEO of Kisco Senior Living. “We view wellness through a whole-person lens and focus on a balanced approach that touches on all dimensions of wellness. Our residents are exceptional, and this holistic approach to wellness provides them with opportunities to pursue those interests that they find invigorating and satisfying.”

The Art of Living Well® will be the foundation of various wellness programs available to all residents of The Carnegie. Whether pursuing current interests or nurturing new passions, the wellness team at The Carnegie will ensure that residents have access to extraordinary experiences that allow them to be fully engaged in life. The community will offer a broad range of activities cultivated for both physical well-being and intellectual stimulation. An ultramodern fitness center, yoga studio, and a heated indoor saltwater pool are just a few of the signature amenities that will be available to residents seeking physical activities.

Stimulating intellectual programming, including the pursuit of new hobbies like painting, or learning a new skill or language, will offer fulfilling opportunities for personal growth and mental satisfaction. Gaithersburg is known for its cultural diversity and a rich, artistic environment that fosters and generates inspirational topics and stories that are ripe for sharing with future residents.

From ongoing educational lecture series to immersive literary and culinary programs, The Carnegie will be a hub for exploration and personal growth, both within the community and in the city of Gaithersburg. The Carnegie will offer a fresh perspective to retirement living. The community’s Signature level services will create an experience inspired by today’s seniors, who have high expectations and desire a worry-free lifestyle that allows them to pursue their passions and live with purpose. Kisco Signature communities like The Carnegie reward residents with five star living curated by some of the finest interior designers, renowned culinary artists, health and wellness experts, and concierge-level customer service teams.

For more information on The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center, call 240-213-7383 or visit the community’s Discovery Center at 129 Ellington Boulevard in Gaithersburg and tour the full-size two-bedroom model — open daily to the public. Be sure to check out the choice of complimentary events throughout November to see how you can experience a sample of life at The Carnegie for yourself: lifeatthecarnegie.com/events RSVP in advance due to limited seating.

Curated intellectual programming is part of the signature Art of Living Well wellness program.

Five-star dining in a choice of multiple venues.

Walking trails on site lead to Malcolm King Park.

Th C i t W hi t i C t ill l id t i S i 20024 4

e Carnegie at Washinngtoniaan Ceent n er e wil welcome e reesi s dent n s in n prrinng g .

Legislating drug prices

Those of us on Medicare may feel like rejoicing at the recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which, among many other provisions, took some unprecedented steps to reduce Medicare’s drug costs as well as costs for the 50 million people who purchase optional Medicare Part D prescription drug insurance.

While I can’t cover all the provisions in this column, here is a summary of some of the more significant ones:

Next year, holders of Part D insurance won’t pay anything towards the cost of recommended vaccines, and those who need insulin won’t pay more than $35 per month for it. Furthermore, drug manufacturers that raise their prices more than the rate of inflation will have to rebate the difference to the government.

to negotiate with drug manufacturers the price of 10 of the most costly medications it covers. By 2029, 20 drugs will be subject to negotiation.

in order to front-load profits before the negotiations start.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

By Stuart P. Rosenthal

Some of these changes will directly result in less money earned by drug manufacturers, which is, of course, the point of the legislation. Drug prices have risen so much faster than inflation for so long, Congress finally decided to crack down on the pharmaceutical industry’s perceived excesses.

But there remain ways in which drug companies and Part D insurance plans will be able to compensate for their lower expected future revenue.

Something else I seldom see mentioned in the glowing descriptions of these new benefits is that some of the “cost savings” of the legislation are the result of shifting responsibility for payment from Medicare enrollees to taxpayers generally.

For example, making vaccines “free” for those with Part D insurance doesn’t mean vaccine makers and providers won’t get paid. It just makes Medicare responsible for the full cost. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates this one change will increase federal spending for vaccines by $7 billion over the next 10 years.

Congress in 2006, the carrot that got the major drug manufacturers on board was a provision forbidding Medicare from using its huge clout to negotiate drug prices.

Instead, individual insurance companies and their much smaller pools of customers would do the negotiating, resulting in higher drug prices than would have been the case had Medicare as a whole been able to negotiate.

We know that to be true because Medicaid and the Veterans Administration are allowed to negotiate drug prices, and they are lower than what Medicare pays.

Starting in 2024, premiums for Part D plans will not be allowed to rise more than 6% a year.

The following year, total out-of-pocket drug costs for a person with a Part D plan will be capped at $2,000. (Today, there is no cap at all.)

And in 2026, Medicare will be required

For one thing, manufacturers could significantly raise drug prices and Part D plan insurers might well raise premiums in the years before these limits are phased in. Plans could also refuse to cover certain brand name drugs entirely, requiring wider use of generics.

Also, the prices that drug companies set for newly created and approved drugs (that is, the expensive ones that will probably be chosen for negotiation) might well start out higher than they otherwise would

Similarly, capping the cost of insulin at $35 per month doesn’t mean manufacturers can’t charge more; only that the patients who need it won’t be paying the full price. The CBO estimates this provision will raise federal spending more than $5 billion over the next 10 years.

So, thank you, taxpayers. Not only does Medicare already draw on general tax revenues for about half its total annual cost (see my July column), but some of these nice new drug benefits will also be paid for by them (us).

Overall, it is true, the package of changes is expected to save Medicare and the government significant amounts of money over time (compared to what costs might be without them).

But probably the most important change is Medicare’s new power to negotiate at least a few drug prices going forward.

When Medicare’s Part D Prescription Drug program was first authorized by

Interestingly, Medicare controls its costs for doctor and hospital expenses in a different way: by regulating exactly how much they can charge for thousands of different services based on a complex analysis of factors (including local costs of living).

By telling doctors and hospitals that, if they want to treat Medicare patients, they have to accept Medicare’s reimbursement rates, healthcare practitioners are ostensibly given a choice. But it’s an all-or-nothing choice (for the most part).

All of which proves there is strength in numbers: in the case of doctors and hospitals, the strength to set prices without even bothering to negotiate!

One hopes the pharmaceutical industry has gotten the message and now understands that the camel’s nose is under their tent as well. Well, at least it’s supposed to be — in 2026.

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Dear Editor:

When my daughter lived in the D.C. area, I used to pick up copies of the Beacon and always enjoyed reading it. So much information — not only for D.C. seniors but for any older person! I was happy to learn that I could subscribe and have it sent to me here in New Hampshire. Keep up the good work.

Also, tell your publisher that I enjoyed his September column “Music Lessons.” I’ve loved music all my life, was also a “diligent student and editor of the school newspaper and a classical music buff.” I also disliked “music theory.” Well, his article had me laughing. I like jazz too, and have always admired how pianists could play such great chords.

I still do play the piano AND enjoy reading the Beacon. Thanks for being entertaining as well as informative!

Jackie Linder Exeter, NH

issue of the Beacon to me recently. I find myself reading your paper cover to cover and enjoying the articles on the arts, travel, health, finances, but especially your “From the Publisher” column.

Music has been an important part of my life even though I don’t play any instrument or read music. About your “piano camp” at Peabody, you state that it is hard work “to make music sound and look effortless.”

I have heard that said before, so when I hear live music and watch the performers, it seems like I am witnessing a miracle. To have so many players come together to make beautiful music is to experience perfection.

Instead of waiting for my friend to pass along her copy, I am enclosing a check for a subscription.

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With Covid in decline, telemedicine is too

By Tom Murphy

Telemedicine exploded in popularity after Covid hit, but limits are returning for care delivered across state lines.

That complicates follow-up treatments for some cancer patients. It also can affect other types of care, including mental health therapy and routine doctor check-ins.

Over the past year, nearly 40 states and Washington, D.C., have ended emergency declarations that made it easier for doctors to use video visits to see patients in another state, according to the Alliance for Connected Care, which advocates for telemedicine use.

Some, like Virginia, have created exceptions for people who have an existing relationship with a physician. A few, like Arizona

and Florida, have made it easier for out-ofstate doctors to practice telemedicine.

Doctors say the resulting patchwork of regulations creates confusion and has led some practices to shut down out-of-state telemedicine entirely. That leaves followup visits, consultations or other care only to patients who have the means to travel for in-person meetings.

Patients forced to travel

Susie Rinehart is planning two upcoming trips to her cancer doctor in Boston. She needs regular scans and doctor visits to monitor bone cancer that has spread from her skull to her spine.

Rinehart doesn’t have a specialist near her home outside Denver who can treat

her. These visits were done virtually during the pandemic.

She will travel without her husband to save money, but that presents another problem: If she gets bad news, she’ll handle it alone.

“It’s stressful enough to have a rare cancer, and this just adds to the stress,” the 51-year-old said.

Rinehart’s oncologist, Dr. Shannon MacDonald, said telemedicine regulation enforcement seems to be more aggressive now than it was before the pandemic, when video visits were still emerging.

“It just seems so dated,” said MacDonald, who recently co-wrote a piece about the issue in the New England Journal of Medicine.

To state medical boards, the patient’s location during a telemedicine visit is where

the appointment takes place. One of MacDonald’s hospitals, Massachusetts General, requires doctors to be licensed in the patient’s state for virtual visits.

It also wants those visits restricted to New England and Florida, where many patients spend the winter, said Dr. Lee Schwamm, a vice president for the Mass General Brigham health system.

That doesn’t help doctors like MacDonald who see patients from around the country.

Cleveland Clinic also draws a lot of patients from out of state. Neurosurgeon Dr. Peter Rasmussen worries about how some will handle upcoming travel, especially because winter can bring icy weather.

A fall “literally could be life-ending” for someone with a condition like Parkinson’s disease who has trouble walking, he said.

Mental health coverage

Psychiatrists have a different concern: Finding doctors for patients who move out of state. This is especially difficult for college students who temporarily leave home. Most U.S. counties have no child and adolescent psychiatrists, noted Dr. Shabana Khan, chair of the American Psychiatric Association’s telepsychiatry committee.

“If we do try to transition patients, often there is no one there,” Khan said.

Helen Khuri’s mother found a specialist to help her when the 19-year-old’s post-traumatic stress disorder flared up last spring. But the Emory University student had to temporarily move from Atlanta to Boston for treatment.

She rented an apartment with her father so she could be in the same state for telemedicine visits, a situation she deemed “ridiculous.”

“It didn’t necessarily make sense to kind of uproot my life, just to receive this threeweek treatment program,” Khuri said.

Silly rules hurt patients

Even people seeing doctors close to home can be affected. Dr. Ed Sepe’s Wash-

ington, D.C., pediatric practice has patients in Maryland who have started driving a few miles across the border into the city to connect by video. That saves them a 45-minute trip downtown for an in-person visit.

“It’s silly,” he said. “If you are under a doctor’s care, and you are in the U.S., it doesn’t make any sense to have geographic restrictions for telemedicine.”

Sepe noted that low-income families tend to be in jobs that don’t allow time off for in-person visits. Some also have a hard time getting transportation. Video visits were helping with these obstacles.

“It’s bigger than just telemedicine,” he said. “There’s a missed opportunity there to level the playing field.”

States can play an important role in telemedicine’s growth by guarding against fraud and protecting patient safety, according to Lisa Robin, an executive with the Federation of State Medical Boards.

But the federation also recommends that states loosen some telemedicine restrictions. That includes permitting virtual follow-ups for someone who has traveled out of state to seek care, or for people who temporarily move but want to stay with a doctor.

States could also form regional compacts with their neighbors to ease crossborder care, noted Dr. Ateev Mehrotra, a Harvard health policy professor who studies telemedicine.

“There’s so many ways that these issues can be addressed,” he said AP

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Why (and how) to change Medicare plans

By Kate Ashford

Medicare’s open enrollment period runs from October 15 to December 7, but 7 in 10 Medicare beneficiaries say they don’t compare Medicare plans during this period, according to a 2021 analysis by KFF, a health policy nonprofit.

That’s not great, since Medicare Advantage plans — which operate much like the private insurance you may have had through an employer — change from year to year.

One of your doctors may have fallen out of network, or your prescription drug prices may have gone up. And people with Original Medicare should compare their Part D prescription drug coverage.

Here’s how to approach switching Medicare plans:

Take advantage of enrollment periods

If you have a Medicare plan, Medicare open enrollment is your opportunity to change coverage. You can switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or vice versa, or enroll in or change Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.

If you have Medicare Advantage, you can also use Medicare Advantage open enrollment from January 1 to March 31 each year to switch plans or go back to Original Medicare and sign up for a Medicare Part D drug plan.

Review prescription drug plans

If you’re on any prescription medications, it’s important to understand how your cur-

rent plan will cover them in 2023 and whether another plan might be more affordable.

“It can be as simple as putting your drugs into Medicare.gov,” said Scott Maibor, a Medicare advisor based in Boston. The website will display all the drug plans available to you and their costs.

Part D prescription drug plans can change each year. You may find that one of your prescriptions will cost more in 2023, or that your plan will stop covering it. Or you may have started a new medication and you can find a plan that charges you less for it.

And don’t forget to browse your drug plan’s preferred pharmacies. It’s not just a matter of cost. Their location and convenience may also be important to you.

Think hard before giving up your Medigap plan

You’re first eligible for a Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Medigap, plan once you’re 65 or older and you sign up for Medicare Part B.

The six-month Medigap open enrollment period happens only once, and during it you can buy any policy you want, regardless of your health. After that, you may not be able to get a Medigap plan — or it might cost more.

Medigap pays many of the out-of-pocket

costs of Original Medicare. If you have a serious or chronic health condition, that can lead to significant cost savings.

Some people switch to Medicare Advantage plans (which are basically HMOs that combine Medicare Parts A, B and usually D) during open enrollment, not realizing they might not be able to switch back to a Medigap plan later if they want to return to original Medicare.

“Our clients are sitting at home, they’re seeing these commercials on television talking about the free gym membership, zero premiums, and they go ahead and make changes on their own,” said Emily Gang, owner of The Medicare Coach. “They realize early in the year that they made a mistake and can’t go back.”

Complete the process

To sign up for a new plan, you’ll need your Medicare number and the date your Part A and/or Part B coverage started. (Look on your Medicare card.)

You may be able to enroll online, but you might also have to make a call or two:

— If you’re moving from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, you’ll be disenrolled from your previous plan automatically once your new coverage kicks in.

Is tracking your heart rate worthwhile?

By Howard LeWine, M.D.

Q:

your “target” heart rate, or the heart rate you’re supposed to reach during exercise.

A

: Checking your heart rate at rest and with exercise can provide information about your fitness level, and may suggest a heart problem if your pulse is too slow, too fast or irregular.

Three good times to check your heart rate are soon after you wake up in the morning, during exercise, and in the immediate post-exercise recovery period.

To get a good sense of your resting heart rate, check it every few mornings over the course of several weeks. In general, a lower resting heart rate translates to better fitness and cardiovascular health.

A resting heart rate that is too low (less than 50 beats per minute) or also one that is 100 or higher could be a sign of trouble and should prompt a call to your doctor.

You can check your heart rate or pulse using just your fingers. With your index and middle fingers, press lightly on the opposite wrist, just below the fat pad of your thumb.

Or press gently on the side of your neck, just below your jawbone. Easier yet, use a smartwatch or wrist-worn fitness tracker to display your resting heart rate.

To track your heart rate with exercise, you will need a smartwatch or fitness tracker. These devices automatically calculate

But target heart rate zones aren’t necessarily accurate for many people. Here’s why: These devices calculate your target heart rate as a percentage of your maximum heart rate, which in turn is an estimate based solely on your age. (One standard formula is 220 minus your age; another is 200 minus half your age.)

The estimated maximum heart rate of a 70-year-old is 150. But that figure might be too low for a 70-year-old who is lean and runs five miles several times a week — or too high for a 70-year-old who is overweight and whose only exercise is a daily walk around the block.

If you’re working on improving your cardiovascular fitness, one metric you might want to measure is your heart rate recovery. It’s a gauge of how quickly your heart rate drops or recovers after intense exercise.

To check it, simply measure your heart rate immediately after exercising, then again two minutes later. The difference between those two values is your heart rate recovery.

A value below 20 suggests poor fitness. As with your resting heart rate, multiple measurements over time provide the most reliable information.

If you’re starting or ramping up an exercise routine, your resting heart rate may gradually drop and your heart rate recovery value may slowly rise — two trends that

age (Part D) to avoid paying a penalty.

bode well for your heart and overall health. Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical

School. For additional consumer health information, visit health.harvard.edu. © 2022 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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From page 8

— If you’re switching from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare, call 1-800MEDICARE to make the change or call your plan provider to disenroll. Don’t forget to sign up for prescription drug cover-

— If you’re switching from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, your new plan will transfer your benefits from Medicare.

— If you’re staying with your current plan, do nothing. Your coverage will renew automatically.

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How does tracking your heart rate provide information about your heart health?

Irregular? What to do and what not to do

By Matthew Kadey

Chances are most of us have experienced constipation, a condition that becomes more prevalent with advancing age.

In fact, constipation is one of the leading gastrointestinal complaints in America — about 63 million people in the United States experience the condition, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

In layman’s terms, constipation is the inability to empty your bowels fully or regularly — when fecal matter (stool) moves through the large bowel (colon) too slowly.

Having three or fewer bowel movements a week is an indicator of constipation. Left unresolved, constipation can lead to increased discomfort and pain, as well

as the development of hemorrhoids. Yes, that’s definitely not fun.

While there are myriad causes of constipation, which include stress and the use of certain medications, in many cases the origin may be diet-related.

Sometimes, this condition can be improved by adding certain foods to the diet or by eliminating or reducing the intake of others. The following dietary steps may help clear that internal traffic jam:

Eat and drink more of these

Rye bread. Take a cue from the Scandinavians and stuff your sandwich between slices of hearty rye bread. A study in the Journal of Nutrition found that people experiencing constipation who con-

sumed rye bread daily had improvements in frequency and ease of stool passage compared with those eating white bread.

“The added fiber helps to form the feces, giving them weight to help them to get out of your system easier,” said Sandra J. Arévalo Valencia, MPH, RDN, Director of Community Health & Wellness at Montefiore Nyack Hospital.

She warns that a diet that is low in dietary fiber, which is common in America, could be a trigger for constipation. This makes reaching for higher fiber options like rye bread important. For even more added fiber, look for options listing whole rye flour/meal as the first ingredient.

Dried plums . Yes, it’s true, eating dried plums (aka prunes) can help. One study in the journal Clinical Nutrition discovered that healthy adults with reported infrequent stool habits and who typically consumed low amounts of dietary fiber experienced increased stool weight and frequency by consuming 80 grams of prunes — about 8 dried fruits — daily.

Prunes likely help to treat constipation because they are high in fiber and sorbitol. The latter is a type of indigestible sugar that pulls water into the bowel to help things flow through easier.

Sauerkraut and yogurt. “It is good to increase the number of good bacteria in

your digestive system to have more regular bowel movements,” noted Arévalo Valencia, who added that fermented foods such as sauerkraut and yogurt are rich in these beneficial probiotic bacteria.

Interestingly, an investigation in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition discovered that consuming fiber-rich rye bread alongside a probiotic-rich yogurt helped relieve gastrointestinal complaints like bloating which are often associated with boosting fiber intake as a method to relieve constipation.

Chia seeds. These tiny seeds are a good source of gel-forming soluble fiber. By resisting fermentation and remaining relatively intact during the passage through the large bowel, this soluble fiber increases stool water content, resulting in soft, easy-to-pass stools.

Chia seeds are very versatile and can be added to many foods, considerably boosting the fiber content without too much effort. They work well sprinkled onto cereal, oatmeal or yogurt.

Kiwi. According to a 2021 paper in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, people with chronic constipation who were provided with two kiwi fruit daily experienced increased spontaneous bowel movements, improved stool consistency, and less straining.

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infant grandchildren, they experience the same surge of oxytocin, the brain’s “love enzyme,” that new mothers do. But men can feel a bond, too.

A 40-year career at the Library of Congress didn’t stand a chance when Eric Needle’s granddaughter was born. He decided to retire a few years early to take care of the baby, commuting daily from his Maryland home to Northern Virginia.

“I retired in 2015 on a Friday, and the following Monday I started taking care of her three days a week for 11,12 hours a day — the first time I started changing diapers in 30 years,” said Needle, now 71. “It was really wild. My hours were actually longer than when I was at work.”

Although Needle’s granddaughter is in elementary school now, she loves to look at photographs and movies of her years going to parks, museums and library story time, and watching planes take off from National Airport with Pop Pop.

“I was her favorite for a long time,” Needle said proudly. “Those were probably some of the best years of my life.”

Many grandparents report it’s easier the second time around because they don’t have to juggle work, kids, meals and cleanup and bedtime.

“It was a lot different than being a parent. At the end of the day, you gave the child back, and that was it,” Needle said.

In the hours between, though, Needle formed a bond that survives today. “I saw a lot of firsts. She said my name, Elmo, ‘outside,’ ‘light’…it was really amazing to see that development every day.”

Then came Covid

The arrival of Covid ended the arrangement. “The pandemic blew a hole in everything,” Needle said.

Like most of us, he was locked down in 2020. He didn’t see his granddaughter for three months. Then, when she started kindergarten on Zoom, he helped out again.

“I was coming over a couple days a week to make sure she stayed on task, which was almost impossible,” he recalled.

Even though grandparents were risking infection, some stepped up, even moving in to help parents who had to work fulltime jobs from home.

“With Covid, as parents had to start to work remotely and children had to learn remotely, we know of many grandparents who uprooted themselves and moved in with their grandchildren to help manage that environment,” Butts said.

For some families, though, the pandemic was more than a temporary interruption. More than 250,000 American children lost one or both parents to Covid, according to a September 2022 report published in JAMA Pediatrics

When grandparents or extended family take over, though, those children have a shot at healing, Butts said.

“Studies have proved that children who can’t be raised by their parents fare better when they’re raised by grandparents or other relatives, because they keep them

close to their roots,” she said.

“They’re more likely to report feeling loved and staying connected with friends and community.”

Some nanny great-grandchildren

D.C. grandmother Cassandra Gentry, 71, is currently raising her “second set” of grandchildren. In 1992, Gentry became the primary caregiver of her first two grandchildren, age 6 months and two years, after her daughter was murdered by her partner.

Now Gentry is raising a great granddaughter, 12, and another grandson, 14, in an affordable apartment building in D.C. with 50 other grandparent-run households.

Called Plaza West, the city and a nonprofit developer opened the 223-unit building in Mount Vernon Square in 2018. (To read more about Plaza West, see the Beacon’s April 2019 article, “D.C. expands intergenerational housing,” at beaconnewspapers.com.)

“I tell the grandparents here that they are heroes. You’ve taken on the job of someone else, and you’re making the best of it,” said Gentry, who is one of Generations United’s team of Grand Voices, part of the National Center on Grandfamilies.

“This summer, out of 50 grandfamilies, we had seven graduates from high school,” Gentry said. “I’m just so proud of the grandparents for hanging in there and getting them through.”

From

Kiwi’s fiber and high-water content may help get things moving.

Water. When dehydrated, the large intestine cannot provide enough water to properly form stools, which leads to hard stools and more constipation.

Note: when adding more fiber-filled foods

to your diet, be sure to drink plenty of fluids.

“The added water combines with fiber to make feces soft and easier to pass,” Arévalo Valencia said.

High-water foods, like fresh fruits and veggies, can also improve hydration status.

Eat and drink less of these

Highly processed foods. Processed foods tend to be high in fat and low in fiber

— a combination that is rough on the colon.

Alcohol. Beer, wine and spirits have diuretic effects (that is, draw water out of the body) and can contribute to constipation.

High-fat meats. If you are prone to constipation, go easy on the sausage and marbled steaks. Some research suggests that too much saturated fat can contribute to constipation.

Note: Constipation may indicate a more

serious gastrointestinal disorder, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other health issues, like cancer. If your constipation lasts for several days, or if it doesn’t respond to dietary remedies, call your doctor.

Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC, 1-800829-5384, EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2022 Belvoir Media Group. Distrib-

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Moving in with the family

Some grandparents, like Anjana Parikh, temporarily relocate to be a live-in granny nanny. When her daughter-in-law’s maternity leave expired, Parikh left her career in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and moved to Takoma Park, Maryland.

She lived there for six months, “made friends with all the babysitters,” she said, and re-learned how to care for a baby (“Everything came back.”).

She would walk her grandson (and later his siblings) to library story hour, the coffee shop, and the Metro station to meet their mother after work.

In deciding to move, Parikh concluded, “It’s more valuable to spend time with the grandkids than work. This was a great opportunity to bond with my grandbaby — and I can bond with my daughter-in-law, too.”

McDermott admits that sometimes her parenting style clashes with that of her daughter. For instance, she insists that her grandchildren say grace before eating, and she doesn’t allow them to watch TV or iPads.

But at 6 p.m., their parents take over. “One of the most crucial parts of this arrangement is, once the mother is in the room, you’re not in charge,” McDermott said.

A bond that lasts

As for Parikh, although her grandchil-

dren are 16, 14 and 12 years old, she and her husband, Nalin Parikh, still have a close relationship with them, and visit frequently.

“That’s what we live for now — our grandkids,” Nalin Parikh said.

“We don’t care if they become doctors, lawyers — we say, whatever you do, do your best and give back to society.”

Taking care of the grandchildren when they were small “brought us very close to them,” Parikh said.

“We have beautiful memories.”

ENTERPRISE RESIDENTIAL

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BALTIMORE COUNTY

Cove Point Apartments I: 410-288-2344

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Evergreen Senior Apartments: 410-780-4888

The Greens at English Consul: 410-789-3000

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Is a genetic test for metabolism worth it?

By Michael Schuh

Dear Mayo Clinic: I’ve been hearing a lot about lab tests that can look at my genetics to see how I metabolize medications. How does this work and why is it important for me to know how my body metabolizes medicine?

A: Testing for how a person metabolizes medications is called pharmacogenomics testing, or PGx testing for short. This is a prime component of individualized medicine — selecting specific medications for each person based on personalized information.

Pharmacogenetic testing can help determine how a person metabolizes potentially hundreds of common medications, de-

pending on how many genes are tested on a particular laboratory panel.

This specific testing can give pharmacists and healthcare providers better insight into adverse drug reactions and drug interactions as they review the medications patients take.

Knowledge can improve results

These reviews help identify potential and current medication-related problems, especially in patients who take multiple prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, along with herbal and dietary supplements, including cannabis products.

Also, testing can guide therapy, optimizing medications to achieve the best outcomes. Your healthcare provider can use

test results to guide medication selection and dosing.

Pharmacogenetic labs also can help certain patients identify medications that they should never take to avoid serious, adverse drug reactions that could be fatal, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a rare but serious skin disorder.

Testing is relatively simple. A cheek swab is sent to a certified medical lab to be processed to determine how a patient metabolizes various medications. The processing takes anywhere from two to five weeks.

Mayo Clinic routinely processes pharmacogenetic panels. Results from directto-consumer labs cannot be used for clinical decision-making, as the results may not have been reviewed by a licensed physician, so it is important to know the type of lab taking and processing the sample. [See “Want to get genetic testing? First ask why,” in the June Beacon.]

At Mayo Clinic, a physician or another Mayo provider must order pharmacogenetic testing. Mayo Clinic also requires a review appointment after the results are available to explain the meaning of the results.

Pharmacogenetic testing results become a permanent part of a patient’s electronic health record for future use by

providers to guide medication therapy long term.

When a provider inputs a future prescription, notices of drug-gene interactions pop up on the computer screen in real time to indicate interactions that may result in an adverse drug reaction or ineffectiveness of therapy. Then, a healthcare provider can choose an alternative medication therapy that is more suitable.

Pharmacogenetic panel testing costs a few hundred dollars, and few insurance plans cover it. But the cost for a panel has decreased from thousands of dollars just a few years ago, and you only need to be tested once.

Another benefit of pharmacogenetic testing is that it can influence future development and use of medications.

May learn about family risks

One example of how pharmacogenetic testing has changed medication therapy is codeine use in young children. For codeine to relieve pain, it must be converted to morphine by an enzyme known as CYP2D6. This enzyme is commonly tested in pharmacogenetics panels.

People can metabolize CYP2D6 enzyme medications at different speeds. It was de-

Free online hearing tests to take at home

Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you recommend any good online hearing tests? My husband has hearing loss, but I can’t get him to go in and get his hearing checked, so I thought a simple online test could help him recognize he has a problem.

Loud-Talking Linda Dear Linda, There’s actually a growing number of very good online and app-based hearing tests available that will let your husband check his hearing on his own.

should test their hearing. Similarly, if you need a higher volume of music or TV than other people, set aside a few minutes to take a test.

Free hearing tests

Online and app-based hearing tests can serve as a great screening tool. They are not meant to be a diagnosis, but rather to give you an idea of how bad your hearing loss is and what can be done about it.

Mimi Hearing Test app. Both apps are free to use and are available through the App Store and Google Play.

HearWHO allows users to check their hearing status and monitor it over time using a DIN test, while Mimi uses pure-tone and masked threshold tests to give you a detailed picture of your hearing abilities.

There are also a wide variety of online hearing tests your husband can take on a computer.

Some top online tests — all offered by

hearing aid manufacturers — for speech-innoise or DIN tests can be accessed at ReSound (resound.com/en-us/online-hearingtest) and Miracle Ear (miracle-ear.com/ online-hearing-test).

And some good online hearing tests for pure-tone testing are available by Signia (signia.net/en/service/hearing-test); Eargo (eargo.com/hearing-health/hearing-check); and MD Hearing Aid (md-

By Jim Miller

These tests are a quick and convenient option for the millions of Americans that have mild to moderate hearing loss but often ignore it, or don’t want to go through the hassle or expense of visiting an audiologist for a hearing exam.

Who should test?

Hearing loss for most people develops gradually over many years of wear and tear, which is the reason many people don’t realize they actually have a hearing problem.

Anyone who has difficulty hearing or understanding what people say, especially in noisier environments or over the phone,

For most do-it-yourself hearing tests, you’ll be advised to wear ear headphones or earbuds and sit in a quiet spot.

You also need to know that there are two different types of tests available. One type is known as pure-tone testing, where tones are played in decreasing volumes to determine your specific level of hearing loss.

The other type is known as speech-innoise or digits-in-noise (DIN), where you’ll be asked to identify words, numbers or phrases amid background noise.

Where to test

If your husband uses a smartphone or tablet, two of my favorite app-based hearing tests are the hearWHO app created by the World Health Organization, and the

SAVVY SENIOR

Home and Community Based Services

Respite Care for Caregivers

Caregiving is a demanding job and caregivers need occasional breaks so they can return to their duties refreshed. These breaks are called “respite.”

The Arc Montgomery County coordinates short-term respite for unpaid, primary caregivers who live in the same household as children or adults with functional or intellectual/ developmental disabilities; children with challenging behaviors; or frail senior citizens. Respite care can be provided for a few hours, a day, a weekend, or sometimes longer.

The many faces of Caregiving

sof Caregiving

Caregiving Support in Montgomery County, Maryland

Caregivers are a vital part of the community—they are unpaid family, friends, partners, colleagues, neighbors, members of faith communities and volunteers. Research has proven when caregivers receive support, they can better maintain their own health and be more effective as a care partner.

County and community-based services are available to help caregivers, these include:

Support groups

In-home assistance

Relief with day-to-day chores

Enrichment activities

Education Connection with other caregivers Whether caring for someone living in Montgomery County or outside the county, practical and emotional help is available that can make a difference! The County can provide assistance

for unpaid family/friend caregivers through County services and those provided by local organizations.

Montgomery County’s Minority Health Initiatives

The County has three minority health programs focused on the well-being of culturally and language diverse communities. The African American Health Program, the Latino Health and the Asian American Health Initiatives are excellent resources for caregivers. Each organizes health education activities in community locations, with language assistance.

African American Health Program 240-777-1833

AAHPmontgomerycounty.org

Asian American Health Initiative 240-777-4517 AAHIinfo.org

Latino Health Initiative 240-777-3221 LHIinfo.org

Respite care is not a substitute for ongoing care. It’s just a way to support families who take care of their loved ones at home. Families can choose from many respite venues, including the family home, community and recreational programs, camps, and approved respite facilities.

https://thearcmontgomerycounty. org/what-we- do/respite/ Phone: (301) 984-5777

The County helps caregivers find supports to make each day a little easier. Please contact the County’s Aging and Disability Services Resource Unit at 240-777-3000.

(Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the unit takes calls until 7:30 p.m.)

Staff can access the County’s language line for high-quality translation and interpretation. This allows residents to communicate in their preferred language.

www.montgomerycountymd.gov/senior

Genetic test

From

termined that, if children are ultrarapid metabolizers, they convert codeine to morphine too fast, resulting in morphine overdose that can be fatal.

As a result, federal guidelines were changed for the use of codeine in children under 12 and in certain adolescents 12 to 18 who have breathing problems, or following tonsillectomy or adenoidectomies.

Soon after Mayo Clinic started providing pharmacogenetic testing, one patient discovered multiple relatives either had reactions to certain medications or medications did not work well for them. Ultimately, with testing, the patient learned the CYP2D6 gene was prevalent in the family.

After the results confirmed suspicions, the family members now can decide in advance which medications are optimal for their needs.

One misconception is that pharmacogenetic testing about medication metabolism is the same as allergy testing. Although

Free hearing tests

From page 15

hearingaid.com/hearing-test).

All of these hearing tests are free to use and take less than five minutes.

What to do with results

If the tests indicate your husband has significant hearing loss, it’s best to think of that as a starting point. He should take results to his doctor or an audiologist for further evaluation.

Many insurance providers and Medicare Advantage plans cover routine hearing exams; however, original Medicare does not.

If his hearing loss is mild to moderate, he should look into the new over-the-

there is some overlap, the body systems involved overall differ.

Allergy testing looks at the immune system’s reaction to a foreign substance. It is important to speak to your healthcare provider about concerns if you believe you are allergic to a medication, but there still may be value in additional testing.

Pharmacogenetic testing has an exciting future in helping healthcare providers prescribe the best medications for each patient. Speak with your healthcare provider or local pharmacist to learn more and determine if it can help based on your healthcare needs.

— Michael Schuh, Pharm.D., R.Ph., Pharmacy, 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.

© 2022 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

counter (OTC) hearing aids, which are available now online and at retailers like Best Buy, Walgreens and CVS.

OTC hearing aids don’t require a prescription or medical examination for purchase, and they’re much more affordable than traditional hearing aids you buy through an audiologist or a licensed hearing instrument specialist. [That’s largely because they do not come with the examination and fitting services an audiologist or specialist would provide. See “Over-the-counter hearing aids here soon,” in the September Beacon.]

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

BEACON BITS Nov. 14

HEALTHY LONGEVITY SUMMIT

Join the National Academy of Sciences and AARP for a free oneday symposium discussing the Global Roadmap for Healthy Longevity report. Speakers and panelists include experts from news and media, policy, research and business. Attend in person on Mon., Nov. 14 from 8:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 2101 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC, or watch virtually. For more information and to register, visit nam.edu/event/global-roadmap-summit.

TAI CHI CLASS

Nov. 20

This beginner’s Tai Chi class emphasizes posture, relaxation and smooth, continuous motion. It’s an excellent method of meditation and relaxation. Meet at the Sherwood Library on Sun., Nov. 20 from 1 to 2 p.m. at 2501 Sherwood Hall Ln., Alexandria, VA. For more information, call (703) 765-3645 or email libSH@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Rice noodle bowls: simple, kid-friendly

By America’s Test Kitchen

Rice noodles are, of course, noodles made out of rice. They come in all shapes and sizes and are made to float in soup or soak up sauce.

Some of the most common types are rice vermicelli (super thin and delicate), rice sticks (straight and flat, used in this noodle bowl recipe), and chow fun (wide, flat and chewy).

Rice noodles are especially popular in Vietnamese, Thai and Chinese cooking. They’re gluten-free and found in every supermarket.

They also come together nicely in this

simple dish designed so grandkids can help you prepare it.

Rice Noodle Bowls with Peanut Sauce

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 ounces (¼-inch-wide) rice noodles

1½ cups frozen edamame (green soybeans)

½ cup creamy peanut butter

3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

3 tablespoons lime juice, squeezed from 2 limes

1 tablespoon honey

¼ cup hot water, plus extra for cooking noodles

2 carrots, peeled and shredded (about 1 cup)

¼ cup dry-roasted peanuts, chopped 8 fresh Thai basil or sweet Italian basil leaves, torn into pieces

Directions:

1. Fill a large saucepan halfway with water. Bring to boil over high heat. Carefully add noodles and edamame and stir to combine. Return to boil and cook for 3 minutes.

2. Turn off heat. Stir to separate noodles and let sit until tender, about 10 minutes.

3. While noodles and edamame sit, in a large bowl, whisk peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice and honey until smooth, about 1 minute. Whisk in ¼ cup hot water until fully combined.

BEACON BITS Nov. 18

4. When the noodles and edamame are ready, drain noodles and edamame in a colander in sink. Rinse with hot water and drain well.

5. Add noodles and edamame to the bowl with the peanut sauce. Use tongs to toss noodles and edamame until evenly coated with sauce.

6. Divide noodles and edamame among serving bowls. Top each bowl with shredded carrots, peanuts and basil.

For 25 years, home cooks have relied on America’s Test Kitchen for rigorously tested recipes developed by professional test cooks and vetted by 60,000 at-home recipe testers. See more online at www.americastestkitchen.com/TCA.

© 2022 America’s Test Kitchen. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BIRD-WATCHING AT CABIN

Nov. 21 Nov. 28+

CHAIR YOGA

Practice poses that reduce stress, maintain mobility and increase flexibility in this free gentle chair yoga class. Meet on Mon., Nov. 21 from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. in the Longfellow Room of Westover Library, 1644 North McKinley Rd., Suite 3, Arlington, VA. Registration is required at bit.ly/CHAIR_YOGA. For more information, call (703) 228-6327 or email aschulz@arlingtonva.us.

TEACH REFUGEES ENGLISH

Volunteers are needed to teach English to speakers of other languages once or twice per week. BEACON for English Language and Literacy, an award-winning literacy organization, will provide teaching materials. No teaching experience is required, and free training will be provided. Email Jmorazuniga@osbva.org for more information or call (703) 368-7491.

A scratch-and-sniff test for Parkinson’s

By Margaret Foster

A seasonal cold or case of Covid can cause people to lose their sense of smell temporarily. But people whose sense of smell has disappeared for good may be at risk for brain disease. In fact, people with enduring smell loss have a 30% chance of having brain changes associated with Parkinson’s disease.

Now, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research is using a screening tool for smell loss. It’s a free “smell test” for people over age 60, developed by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania.

“Many people don’t know they have smell loss,” said Maggie McGuire Kuhl, vice president of research engagement at the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

“In addition to helping further brain disease research, taking the smell test is something people can do to monitor their

own brain health.”

The test arrives in the mail: 40 scratchand-sniff multiple-choice questions, e.g., Does this page smell like a rose, mint or coffee?

“It’s an opportunity to help others, to partner together toward this end goal of prevention. It’s also a little fun.”

Volunteers over 60 can request a free test at mysmelltest.org/beacon and then enter answers to the 40 questions via the website.

“This scratch-and-sniff test could be a good screening tool,” Kuhl said.

Possible invitation to other studies

Later, you may be invited to participate in the foundation’s landmark study, the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI).

Currently under way at 50 sites in 12 countries, the longitudinal study is taking

note of the link between smell loss and brain health. One study site is Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. If you are invited to participate, the foundation will cover all travel expenses for volunteers and a companion.

“You could be enrolled in the PPMI study, and you could be eligible for prevention trials we’re planning,” Kuhl said.

Interested volunteers can visit mysmelltest.org/beacon and answer a couple of short questions. If you’re over 60 without Parkinson’s, you’ll receive a smell test in the mail.

In addition to smell loss, Kuhl pointed

out, another condition linked to Parkinson’s disease is REM Sleep Behavior Disorder. People who act out their dreams are at risk for Parkinson’s disease. If you or someone you love is sleepwalking, gesturing or otherwise acting out during dreams, call your doctor.

PPMI is recruiting people with this sleep condition and people recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s. To find out more about this longitudinal study, call 1-877-525-PPMI. To request a smell test, visit mysmelltest.org/ beacon or call 1-888-830-6299.

INTERIM DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

By Jessica Smith, Interim Director DC Department of Aging and Community Living

Dear Seniors, As you’ve heard us say in the past, addressing senior food insecurity in the District is a top priority for Mayor Bowser and DACL. And while we’re focused on this all year round, we know food, and access to food, is at the front of many people’s minds during the holiday season. So, as we look to Thanksgiving, we want to take this opportunity to highlight one of our newest partnerships in the nutrition space – the National Foundation to End Senior Hunger (NFESH), who’s at the forefront of ensuring states across the country have access to quality data to inform their nutrition programming decisions.

Jessica Smith

From Enid Borden, CEO, the National Foundation to End Senior Hunger (NFESH)

At NFESH, we’re laser focused on working with states and localities to engage in research methods and practices to find causes and consequences of senior food insecurity, and then to initiate and employ innovative methods that address possible solutions. We are once again proud to be working with DACL in this space. Our academic research team has been charged with conducting a study to examine food insecurity in the District, and to specifically look into the underlying risk factors that changed disproportionally for DC seniors as a result of the Great Recession.

In partnership with DACL, we will be looking at trends specific to senior food insecurity in the District, analyzing the factors associated with the issue, and getting a better understanding of the instabilities in housing, family structures, and other factors related to food insecurity. As a partner in DACL’s work, I’ve been able to see how the agency is using research as a guide in their daily practices and programming to continue to implement innovative practices and methods that address underlying factors that contribute to food insecurity. Our research produces numbers. That data, however, represents real people. Our work with DACL begins and ends with seniors like you. And our work is performed on a national level, as food insecurity is not solely an issue in Washington, DC. It is a nationwide problem that is being addressed both locally and around the country. And while it is not a new phenomenon anywhere, I must say that we’re inspired by how DACL has continued to take the issue seriously and has made a commitment to combatting senior food

insecurity through the creation of some of the most innovative programs in the country. Their Food4Choice project is just one such example — a program that is giving select seniors’ choice in their nutritional decisions through grocery card distribution. And I’m proud to note that our work with them on the ageWELL pilot project will be a national model of senior nutrition and wellness as we work to address food insecurity with the many community partners that are coming together on this project.

The current state of senior food insecurity in the District has shined a light on an issue that we must all be cognizant of and concerned about. There are many factors that contribute to food insecurity and many, sad to say, are beyond anyone’s control. But throughout our country, and specifically here in the District, organizations like DACL are working diligently to move the needle forward. The senior nutrition programs that are run here in the District and throughout the country are models of public-private partnerships at their best and at NFESH we look forward to working with DACL to use every tool possible to address

insecurity in the District and across the nation.

Join Safeway for the 2022 Feast of Sharing

Two of Six Senior Wellness Centers Celebrate Milestone Anniversaries

Last month, both the Hattie Holmes and Hayes Senior Wellness Centers celebrated milestone anniversaries! Hattie Holmes celebrated 15 years since the wellness center opened in Ward 4 and Hayes celebrated 10 years since its Ward 6 opening. Both events honored the seniors who’ve participated in programming at their centers since the beginning while encouraging other older adults to continue to join the centers for fun activities, nutritious meals, and lifelong connections. Congratulations to both Hattie Holmes and Hayes Senior Wellness Centers! DACL looks forward to celebrating both centers for years to come.

Just last month, DACL joined Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George and Ward 4 seniors for their Senior Jubilee. This year’s jubilee featured music, dancing, prizes, and a resource fair where seniors had a chance to get connected to DC resources from across the city.

Director Smith joins Councilmember Lewis George for the Ward 4 Senior Jubilee!

Money Law &

Best ways to invest in the current market

Investors in both the stock and the bond markets are understandably nervous. The Federal Reserve has indicated that, until inflation is under control, it will continue to increase interest rates.

As long as that happens, it is likely that both bond prices and stock prices will remain under pressure and may continue to fall in value. Most investors are not sure what action, if any, is best.

In late September, Burton Malkiel wrote a column in the Wall Street Journal with sound advice for investors both years away from retirement and currently in retirement.

Early this year, he recommended that investors seriously consider investing in Series I inflation-protected savings bonds because of the safety of the investment and the high interest rate. This investment still has these features. [See “How to protect your portfolio this year,” in the July Beacon.]

century, and he believes this will continue to be true.

THE SAVINGS GAME

By Elliot Raphaelson

In the Wall Street Journal, Malkiel pointed out that, even with the recent fall in stock market values, the cyclically adjusted price-earnings ratio, known as CAPE, is still pretty high historically. He indicated that, historically, with CAPE values at this level, 10-year returns have been well below average.

Malkiel recommends diversified index mutual funds and ETFs with low costs. He points out that even during periods in which the returns on common stock investments are below average, when investors invest a specific dollar amount each month over an extended time frame (known as dollar-cost averaging), the overall results will be above the inflation rate.

He does not recommend dollar-cost averaging of equities in this situation. He believes that the appropriate approach is holding a diversified portfolio, including limited-duration fixed-income instruments, such as short-term bonds.

Malkiel has a stellar reputation in the investment field. He wrote the excellent book, A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing, which he regularly updates. A revised edition will be published in 2023.

Malkiel believes, as I do, that most investors in the stock market — on a long-term basis — should be investing in low-cost mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) using dollar-cost averaging.

Common stocks best for long-term

However, he doesn’t believe that this is a time to give up on equities. He believes that long-term investors saving to build a retirement nest egg should be investing in a portfolio heavily weighted with common stocks.

He believes that common stocks representing the ownership of real assets have been an inflation hedge for more than a

In his article, he provides positive historical results during time frames in which common stock returns were below average. For example, in the period between the beginning of 1968 and the end of 1979, when the stock market was in a downturn with stagflation and a volatile stock market, those who invested in a low-cost S&P index fund received a return of 5.2% per year.

The bottom line is that even during periods of below-average common stock returns, those who invest steadily in a diversified lowcost index fund can still come out ahead.

What to sell to pay RMDs

Malkiel makes an important point for retirees who need to sell some of their investments.

He recommends liquidating these fixedincome investments in order to meet Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). He also believes that in order to provide inflation protection, one’s other investments should be tilted toward common stock holdings that pay high dividends.

I have been following this approach. In my portfolio, I have concentrated my bond portfolio to those of shorter duration. That’s because when interest rates increase, longterm bonds fall in value more steeply than shorter-term bond holdings.

I am required to take RMDs from my portfolio and, rather than sell equities, I generally take my withdrawals from shorter-term bond holdings.

In my stock portfolio, I have concentrated the majority of my investments in equities with a history of increasing dividends.

Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com.

© 2022 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Situations where you might need a trust

By Roxanne Alexander

Some simple estate planning techniques that you can use to avoid probate include adding beneficiaries to your retirement accounts and adding transfer-on-death (TOD) designations to after-tax accounts.

When you pass away, these assets will avoid probate and can be transferred directly to the listed beneficiary. Once the beneficiary receives the proceeds, they can do whatever they like with the funds. However, if having assets distributed outright to a beneficiary could cause potential problems, there are several reasons to think about creating a trust.

Limiting distributions

If you are leaving money to young grandchildren, you might prefer to place specific conditions on the funds, and in that case, you should have a trust in place.

Many trusts specify that distributions can only take place at future ages; for example, one-third of the inheritance received at age 30, one-third at age 35, and the rest at age 40.

Some clauses require that the beneficiary pass a drug test or have stable employment before the trust will pay out.

Trusts can be especially important with second marriages where one spouse wants to leave their assets to their kids and not their stepchildren.

For example, a client with a large IRA may want to pass the account to his wife for use during her lifetime, but do so through a trust, which ensures that the remainder of the assets go to his kids or whichever beneficiaries he has chosen prior to his passing.

If he leaves the account outright to his wife, she has the ability to add whomever she chooses as beneficiary and ultimately bypass his wishes.

Creditor protection

If your profession has a high probability for liability, having assets passed down in trust (once the trust becomes irrevocable) may shelter funds from being subject to payout in a lawsuit. This can be very specific with respect to state law and the type of lawsuit, so discussing this with your attorney before making any decisions is advisable.

Passing funds outside the estate

For large estates that are expected to grow even larger, creating trusts during your lifetime and gifting assets can remove the growth from your estate and lower future estate taxes.

If your estate is likely going to be higher than the exemption (currently at $12.06 million per person for federal estate taxes, but often much lower than that for some states) and you have more funds than you need to live on, funding an irrevocable

trust now may be beneficial.

Also remember, revocable (or living) trusts become irrevocable on your passing, so anything in the revocable trust will be out of the beneficiary’s estate.

Complex beneficiaries

If you have many beneficiaries in different proportions and want to specify who gets what — for example, if you have four children and you want to leave 25% to each child, but if a child passes away their share goes to specific charities — you may need to use a trust.

Also, if you want to leave one beneficiary a specific amount, this can get complicated. Sometimes custodians will review and accept complex beneficiary requests, but they usually have to be reviewed and modified by their legal department.

A new website makes it easier to search thrift deals from Goodwill and to order online. See story on opposite page.

Goodwill is moving some thrifting online

By Anne D’Innocenzio

Goodwill is expanding its online presence, promising high-tech features from digitized receipts to personalized alerts.

Last month, the 120-year-old Marylandbased nonprofit organization launched GoodwillFinds.com — a shopping venture that is making roughly 100,000 donated items available for purchase online.

It’s expanding Goodwill’s internet presence that, until now, had been limited to auction sites like ShopGoodwill.com or individual stores selling donations online via eBay and Amazon. GoodwillFinds aims to offer a million items online in the next year or two.

Spearheading the venture is Matthew Kaness, newly appointed CEO of the online shopping arm, who has 20 years of retail experience.

GoodwillFinds is a separate entity from Goodwill Industries International Inc., but it will support the larger organization by helping fund its community-based programs across the U.S. It will also provide professional training, job placement and youth mentorship.

Its launch should also increase donations, while helping to expand Goodwill’s base of customers.

The Associated Press spoke to Kaness about the online experience and why the venture’s timing is right. The interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Q: What makes this venture different from the existing Goodwill online experience?

A: Access to shopping and thrifting on Goodwill will be [easier] online, compared to going to your one store location or trying to go through a sea of items on Amazon and eBay.

The second thing is that because of technology, we’re going to be able to personalize the discovery, the recommendations, the notifications, the email alerts, everything that you’re accustomed to when shopping at other brands.

Q: How will a greater presence online amplify Goodwill’s mission?

A: We are going to be elevating the global story around the impact that Goodwill has. Last year, Goodwill provided so-

cial services to 2 million individuals across the country.

Also, last year all the Goodwills diverted 3 billion pounds of goods away from landfill based on the donations received and sold.

Q: Why is the timing right?

A: There’s a reason why secondhand sales are growing eight times faster than the overall industry. Consumers, in particular younger consumers, Gen Z, generally love thrifting from a fashion perspective and from a retail store shopping perspective.

They really care about the impact that their dollars have on the environment — that, coupled with the incredible value that families for 100 years have found [at Good-

will stores], especially during times of economic hardship.

Q: Will this increased shift to online hurt Goodwill’s physical stores?

A: When you are a store-based company and you’re only selling a little bit online through marketplaces, you don’t know who your customer is. You have to reacquire that customer over and over again.

There are so many online competitors that are keeping your customers from getting to your store because they’re making it so convenient for shopping secondhand online.

[Our new site] is going to massively expand the audience and the customer base for each one of our Goodwill members.

Trusts

From

Minor children

Trusts are important when minor children are involved because you are also going to require a legal guardian for the child, who may be in charge of the funds.

Since minors cannot own assets outright, you would want to make sure the funds are protected. The trust should specify your intentions for the funds and the conditions for use so that the child (or the guardian) cannot be frivolous with the funds.

If you leave funds outright to the minor, the guardian can easily spend those funds or list their own beneficiaries.

Provide for grandchildren

If your intention is to provide for grandchildren on your passing, or you don’t trust the parents to set inheritance funds aside for their kids, creating a trust for the grandkids (or future grandkids) is an option. If you leave assets outright to their parents, there is no guarantee that the funds will trickle down.

Protect against fraud

There have been multiple stories of

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elder abuse and fraud. Older people can be coerced or tricked into updating their beneficiaries when they are in the hospital or under hospice care. If the individual is able to sign a form and their signature matches what is on file with the custodian (bank) — and they have no immediate family to catch the update — this can be a problem.

Updating a beneficiary is much easier paperwork than updating an entire trust, which requires the help of an attorney. If an older person is not of sound mind, the attorney will likely be able to notice something is wrong compared to submitting a beneficiary form to a custodian directly.

Special needs beneficiaries

If you have beneficiaries who are incapacitated or require special care due to mental or physical disability, setting up a special needs trust may make sense. These trusts — if set up correctly — should not interfere with government benefits or disability payments.

Speak to your estate attorney about your individual situation and your intentions so they can guide you on how to protect your assets and your wishes.

© The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

MEDICARE 101

FINANCIAL TIPS FOR CAREGIVERS

FREE FINANCIAL SEMINAR

What to know about working after age 65

By Kate Ashford

Continuing to work past the traditional retirement age gives many the opportunity to add more money to their nest egg — and to delay Social Security, which will bump up their eventual benefits check.

In May, 21.9% of Americans ages 65 and older were working, compared with 19.5% in May 2020, according to a study released in June by MagnifyMoney, which analyzed U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey data.

It’s important to know how working affects your Medicare benefits, Social Security and tax situation. Here are some things to understand about staying in the workforce later in life.

You may be able to delay Medicare enrollment

If you’re still working at 65 and have access to health benefits through your employer — or your spouse’s employer — you may be able to delay enrolling in Medicare.

If your company has fewer than 20 employees, however, you should sign up for Medicare. If it has 20-plus employees, you may be able to put it off.

If you have the choice, compare what you would pay for group benefits with what you’d pay for Medicare, including any supplemental coverage and prescription drug benefits you’d need with Medicare.

“If the group coverage is less, then it may make sense to not get Medicare Part B and wait until you retire,” said Julie Hall, a certified financial planner (CFP) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Part A is free for most people, so there’s no point in delaying that unless you have an HSA — more on that below.)

Contact your benefits department before delaying to make sure your employer doesn’t require you to enroll in Medicare.

An HSA and Medicare don’t

to pay for eligible medical expenses.

If you’re collecting Social Security, you’ll be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A when you turn 65; if you want to save to an HSA, you’ll have to delay Social Security benefits.

If you plan to enroll in Medicare and you have an HSA, both you and your employer should cease contributions at least six months before you apply for Medicare to prevent tax headaches.

Your earnings affect your Social Security payments

If you claim Social Security during the last few years of your working life, your income can affect your benefits.

For instance, in 2022, your Social Security benefits will be reduced $1 for every $2 you earn over $19,560.

In the year you hit your full retirement age, the calculations are different: Your benefits are reduced $1 for every $3 earned over $51,960 up to the month before the one you hit full retirement age. Once you reach full retirement age, there’s no benefit reduction, no matter how much you earn.

Additionally, your Social Security benefits may be taxed. In 2022, people filing an individual tax return with a combined income of more than $25,000, or filing jointly with a combined income of more than $32,000, will pay taxes on up to 85% of their Social Security benefits. (Social Security defines “combined income” as the total of your adjusted gross income, nontaxable interest and half of your Social Security benefits.)

“It doesn’t take a whole lot of income to get people to the point where they pay tax on a portion of their Social Security,” said Barbara O’Neill, a CFP in Florida.

Your income affects your Medicare premiums

mix

If you have a high-deductible health plan along with a health savings account, or HSA, be aware that you can’t save to an HSA once you’ve enrolled in Medicare.

An HSA can be a valuable retirement savings tool, so it’s worth weighing your options if you have access to employer benefits that allow you to delay Medicare.

“I see [an HSA] as a triple tax benefit,” said Diane Pearson, a CFP in Pennsylvania, about the fact that money can be saved pretax, grow tax-free, and be withdrawn pretax

Medicare Part B and Part D are subject to the income-related monthly adjustment amount, known as IRMAA. The more you earn, the higher your premiums will be.

In 2022, you’ll pay more for Part B and Part D if your modified adjusted gross income from two years ago was more than $91,000 as a single tax filer or more than $182,000 if you filed jointly. The extra costs can add up, and experts recommend factoring this into your work plans.

“People might say, ‘I’ll work, but I can only earn so much,’” O’Neill said. “You’ve got to be careful of triggering the IRMAA.”

—AP/NerdWallet

or virtual.

Mellow out in Santa Barbara and environs

By Don Mankin

If you asked Americans where they would live if money were no object, Santa Barbara would be near the top of the list.

With a mild Mediterranean climate, wide beaches and excellent wineries just over the mountains, this coastal California city has been called the American Riviera. But visitors don’t have to spend a bundle to enjoy the region’s many charms. In August my wife, Katherine, and I spent several days sampling its affordable side on a break from our everyday lives in Venice Beach.

I hadn’t visited Santa Barbara in years, not since my young, single, hippie days in the 1970s. This was a tamer, more mature visit, but I did my best to recreate the feelings from those days by driving up the coast in my 1997 Mustang convertible.

The scenery along the way, best viewed from a convertible with the top down, is just as spectacular as the city, with sandy beaches and sparkling waves to your left and mountains to your right. In fact, a number of the vistas are recognizable from the many car and insurance commercials that have used this iconic backdrop.

Slower pace plus ocean views

Once you reach Santa Barbara, you can choose to be active, visit historic and cul-

tural sites, or just eat, drink and shop. Or combine all three, soaking up the gorgeous views regardless of what you do.

After checking into our hotel, the Mason Beach Inn, located just a block from the Pacific Ocean, we walked along the beach to Stearns Wharf, a 150-year-old wooden wharf with shops, places to eat, and some of the best views in the lower 48.

As we watched the ocean sparkle from the wharf, I felt two and a half years of pandemic stress and worry melt away. I could take in the city, sailboats, ocean, sand and mountains in just one view. The light breeze added to the experience. At the risk of dating myself, I was as mellow as I’ve been in quite a while.

From the wharf we walked up State Street, which runs through the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. State Street is lined with bars, restaurants, an axe-throwing emporium (!), and a couple of spas. We passed on the axe-throwing, but treated our weary feet to an excellent massage at the Little Rainbow Foot Spa.

The next morning, I borrowed a bike from the inn and headed out on an hourlong, mostly flat bike ride along the Cabrillo Bike Path to Butterfly Beach in Montecito.

I didn’t see any butterflies, but I did pass a bird refuge on the way. It was a relaxing

way to start the day, as if I needed anything else to mellow me out.

My mellow meter peaked on our last morning. My favorite activity of the trip was a two-hour kayak paddle off the Goleta coast, just north of Santa Barbara, run by the Santa Barbara Adventure Company. This section of the coast is relatively undeveloped, so the views were epic, including many pelicans and cormorants.

Eating and (wine) tasting

Food options abound in Santa Barbara, from funky taco stands to elegant fine dining. The two cuisines that dominate the culinary scene are Mexican and seafood, not surprising given the Southern California city’s location on the ocean. We indulged in both.

Our first meal — a pound of mussels, a pound of clams and a large crab — was at Moby Dick’s on Stearns Wharf, with views of the harbor as we chowed down. Our last meal featured outstanding local fare with a Mexican twist at La Paloma Café, located downtown.

But the culinary highlight of our visit was a wine tasting in the historic Presidio section of the city, near State Street. The Santa Ynez Valley, just a short, scenic drive over the mountains, is home to excellent

wineries. One can drive from one vineyard to another in the Valley, or simply walk a few yards from one tasting room to another in the city.

The wines rival those of Europe, particularly when sipped amid beautiful outdoor patios, cobblestone pathways and historic Spanish Colonial and Mission-style buildings.

We visited two tasting rooms: Jamie Slone, which included a chocolate pairing, is in the historic El Paseo, one of California’s oldest shopping centers. The other, Grassini’s, serves its wines in a quiet, secluded outdoor patio. The vibe, as well as many of the wines, was very chill.

After the tastings, we were able to walk (stagger, weave?) just three blocks to the La Paloma Café for dinner. If we were so inclined, we could have walked another block or two to State Street and all its eateries.

Besides the beach, the Wharf and the Presidio, we also checked out a few of the other sites that make Santa Barbara a great place to visit.

Among our favorite historic places was the Santa Barbara Courthouse, built in 1929 in Spanish Colonial style with a dis-

Jutting out into Santa Barbara Harbor is Stearns Wharf, a historic wooden wharf lined with lively restaurants and a natural history museum.

PHOTO BY CHRIS BELL FOR VISIT

SANTA BARBARA

There’s so much more than apples to enjoy in Winchester, Virginia. See story on page 29.

PHOTO

A guest relaxes on his hotel balcony overlooking Chase Palm Park, a city park in Santa Barbara. Many of Santa Barbara’s hotels are a short walk from the water.

PHOTO

Travel around Europe is back to normal

If you’re considering a trip to Europe, you’ll find almost everything about as you remembered it pre-Covid.

You may have seen those blurbs touting Europe’s “bargain prices” due to the lowest values of the euro, franc and pound against the dollar in at least a decade.

The ugly truth is that good exchange rates are nice, but inflation has more than compensated. Europe is certainly not a “bargain paradise.” It remains, as always, as expensive as you want it to be, depending on how you choose to travel.

By Ed Perkins

previously booked long-haul train, but with a Eurail Pass, no problem: Just catch the next train an hour later. That’s one of the advantages.

On the other hand, point-topoint train fares are pretty high per mile, and although you can sometimes find low non-refundable fares weeks in advance, planning trips on the fly can be very expensive. Still, even standard class rail is roomier and more comfortable than “main cabin” airline seats.

time urban rail developments of interest to visitors this year.

A new, deep-level tube runs from Paddington in the west to Liverpool Street and eastward, with three intermediate stops, one still unfinished.

It’s useful as is, but the big deal will be later this year, when a connection near Paddington will allow regional trains to run through the city center from Heathrow Airport. If you’re staying anywhere east of Paddington, it will be a great improvement.

tels, everywhere, is that you don’t often find a desk setup that makes typing on a laptop easy and comfortable. Of course, if you don’t schlep a laptop on vacation, you won’t care.

One aspect of Switzerland might surprise you: Restaurant costs at all levels are high, compared with the rest of Europe. Items in my Swiss hotel restaurant cost 50 percent to 100 percent more than virtually identical items in my German hotel.

Germany’s Romantic Road

Trains are the way to go

I’ve been a big fan of rail travel for a long time and had planned this trip mainly by rail from the beginning. Specifically, I’m using a Eurail Pass, and it delivered on the experience I expected.

Trains in Europe are fast. Even those that aren’t high speed can cruise along at 125 mph or so on main lines.

They’re also frequent: On a prior pass trip, I had checked out and was walking to the train station, when I remembered something important left in my hotel room and went back to retrieve it. I missed my

I’ve long been averse to European short-haul flying, and my trip from Basel to London did nothing to change my view. The flight itself isn’t the problem (except for the unpleasant hour or two being stuffed into one of those tiny seats).

The real problems are getting to and from the flight: schlepping to and from airports, successive long lines for check-in, security, and — where applicable — customs and immigration.

London’s new rail line

One of my objectives in visiting London was to check out the new and finallyopened Elizabeth line (yes, she got to get on it before she died). It’s one of three big-

(FYI, the other two big deals arriving in subways are the Long Island Railroad East Side Access in New York City, and Washington Metro to Dulles.)

Switzerland makes a great trip

It’s hard to beat the Alps for great scenery, and Switzerland’s got the Alps, big time. Swiss cuisine is excellent, the train system is great, nearly everybody speaks English, and running a sharp hotel operation is in the Swiss DNA.

One of the great glories of visiting Switzerland is staying in one of the many small family-owned independent hotels. In Grindelwald, I stayed at the Alpina, which is close to the train station and has great views and a fine kitchen, as well.

The only problem I’ve faced at those ho-

I file this report from Rothenberg ob der Tauber, a beautiful and well-known old town on the “Romantic Road.” Yes, it’s touristy, but I’m in that business, right?

My hotel, the Reichskuchenmeister, is a gem in the middle of the Altstadt, with pleasant rooms, great service and excellent food. Like the Alpina, it’s a welcome change from the mid-market chain hotels in which I spend a lot of time.

I haven’t seen any obvious preparation for what everyone expects to be a winter crisis in energy. But nobody expects the Russians to re-open the gas pipelines anytime soon, so an energy crunch will eventually hit. But you can’t see it yet.

Email Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net. Also, check out his website at rail-guru.com. © 2022 Ed Perkins. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

TRAVEL TIPS

Santa Barbara

tinctive clock tower, red-tile roof and lush grounds. The clock tower offers a 360-de-

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Nov. 15+

gree view of the city, ocean and mountains.

We also visited the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, with many trails winding through 76 acres of native plants, including a grove of redwoods; and the historic

LINKEDIN JOB SEARCH BOOT CAMP

Join Montgomery County Public Library for this free virtual twoday workshop for 45+ job seekers. LinkedIn trainer Dr. Elisse Barnes, J.D., Ph.D., will discuss the mechanics and strategy of using LinkedIn to conduct a successful job search. Log in on Tue., Nov. 15 and Thu., Nov. 17 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. via Zoom. A laptop or desktop computer is required. Register at bit.ly/LINKEDIN_BOOTCAMP.

NOV. 15 JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES

Nov. 15

This free virtual workshop by the Montgomery County Public Library will discuss best practices for conducting a job search in the current (pandemic) job market, including researching, networking virtually, identifying growth sectors and utilizing social media platforms. Join on Tue., Nov. 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. via Zoom. For more information, including the Zoom link, visit bit.ly/JOB_SEARCH.

Santa Barbara Mission, established in 1786, which includes a museum, historic gardens, cemetery and mausoleum.

Easy day trips

If we had more time, we would have explored other nearby destinations. Montecito, a ritzy town just outside Santa Barbara, is home to lavish estates and celebrities so famous that only a first name need suffice (Oprah, Ellen, Meghan and Harry).

The Santa Ynez Valley, as noted earlier, is home to several wineries, as well as quaint, small towns and a former stagecoach stop, Cold Spring Tavern, now a restaurant that hosts rowdy rock ‘n’ roll shows.

The valley was home to many celebrities, past and present, including Ronald Reagan and Michael Jackson. The views of Santa Barbara, the ocean and the Channel Islands in the distance are spectacular from Highway 154, a scenic bypass.

The Channel Islands are among the newest additions to the U.S. National Park system. Two of those islands, Anacapa and Santa Cruz, are only a one-hour boat ride away from Santa Barbara.

From a boat, you can spot dolphins, and (very) occasionally you might even catch a glimpse of a whale. You can hike on Santa Cruz as well as take a sea cave kayak tour run by the Santa Barbara Adventure Company.

Find out for yourself why this city and the region surrounding it is one of the most desired places to live. A short trip here is guaranteed to mellow you out.

If you go

Flights from the D.C. area to Santa Barbara start at $375 in December; check Kayak.com for current fares.

Hotels near Santa Barbara’s harbor, wharf and beach district tend to be pricier than those inland. At the Mason Beach Inn, a Mission-style hotel with a heated pool, rooms start at $200 per night.

Nearby, the Marina Beach Motel has more affordable yet charming rooms, some with kitchenettes, for as low as $176 per night on the off season. If you don’t mind staying a few miles inland, several chain hotels have rooms with mountain views for $97 per night.

Many of Santa Barbara Adventure Company’s kayak tours include a lesson and lunch (sbadventureco.com); tours start at $59, but its Channel Islands National Park tours are four times that price, due to ferry ticket costs.

Condor Express (condorexpress.com) offers whale-watch tours via catamaran with a guarantee: a free future trip if you don’t spot any whales. Celebration’s cruises (celebrationsantabarbara.com) start at $30 for a one-hour sunset tour and $50 for a two-hour whale-watching seasonal tour.

Admission to Old Mission Santa Barbara, open seven days a week, is $15 ($13 for those 65+). No reservations are required. However, you must make a reservation to visit the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (sbbotanicgarden.org; $18, $14 for those over 60).

Don and Katherine Mankin were hosted on this trip by Visit Santa Barbara. To read more stories by Don, go to adventuretransformations.com and click on Articles.

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Nov. 17

MONEY MATTERS

VIRTUAL LECTURE

This free technology lecture, presented by Senior Planet and Montgomery County Public Library, introduces online banking and ways to keep your financial information safe, as well as online shopping and resources for saving money on entertainment, prescription drugs and more. Join the Zoom meeting on Thu., Nov. 17 from 4 to 5 p.m. For more information, including the Zoom link and dial-in instructions, visit bit.ly/MONEY_TECH.

Take a day trip to Winchester, Virginia

By Victor Block

My drive from Washington, D.C., to Winchester, Virginia, took only about two hours. But when I arrived there, I felt as if I had traveled back centuries in time.

When I approached the miniscule city (population about 28,000), after crossing the Shenandoah River, there was little hint of the treasure trove of history that lay ahead.

I passed through a phalanx of familiar chain stores and fast-food restaurants. Then, as suddenly as this mass of modernity had appeared, it disappeared and I found myself in another world — a historyrich setting that envelops visitors in the past without fuss or fanfare.

I was beaten to the location by Shawnee and other Native American tribes who lived for thousands of years in what today is Frederick County, Virginia. and more recently by European explorers who came as early as 1606.

Arriving at Winchester is like entering a time capsule. This is no ersatz commercial attraction. Rather, it’s a real place where important chapters of American history were written, offering a glimpse of those memories to those who seek them out.

Yes, GW slept here

George Washington’s life is closely intwined with the story of Winchester. There are so many references to, and touches of, the presence of George Washington that by the time you leave town, you have new insight into the man behind the fame.

Washington arrived in 1748, at the tender age of 16, to help survey land. During the next 10 years, he became commander of Virginia’s militia forces, planned and oversaw construction of more than 80 forts to protect settlers from attacks, and was chosen to serve as a delegate in the

House of Burgesses, representing Winchester and Frederick County.

Remnants of Fort Loudoun, which was Washington’s headquarters from 1756 to 1758, are among numerous traces of his time in the area. So is the tiny log-andstone George Washington’s Office Museum, whose displays include his orders to soldiers concerning “tippling” and Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior, which he wrote at age 14.

Other notable men and women, historic structures and mesmerizing museums add to the appeal of Winchester and its surroundings.

More than 1,100 significant sites dating from the 18th to mid-20th centuries stand in the Winchester Historic District. They range from log buildings and early stone houses, to Federal-style town homes and elegant Victorian residences.

Civil War sites

The heart of the district is marked by the stately Greek Revival Frederick County Courthouse. It was completed in 1840, just in time to serve as a hospital and prison for both the Union and Confederate armies. Graffiti on some walls dates back to the time of military occupation of the building, which today houses the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum.

Reminders of that conflict are scattered about the Winchester area like shotgun shells. That’s not surprising, because the town and county’s location as a transportation hub made it a highly contested prize. Six major battles raged there, and control of Winchester changed hands more than 70 times.

Visitors may relive those skirmishes at three Civil War museums, battlefields, remains of forts and other sites.

One of those, the home used by Stonewall Jackson as his headquarters during the winter of 1861-2, contains a large collection of his personal objects and memorabilia.

After admiring Jackson’s imposing office desk, and a smaller traveling version, I turned my attention to an unfamiliar Confederate flag. I learned that it’s the battle banner from which the more recognizable Confederate pennant evolved.

More intriguing to me was Jackson’s sword, which earned the nickname “Rusted Blade.” It turns out that Stonewall was not the most fastidious of groomers and his lack of care extended to the ceremonial rapier. It rusted so badly that eventually he could not withdraw it from the scabbard.

Apple orchards and wineries

After delving deeply into the Revolutionary and Civil War history of the Winchester area, I turned my attention to the variety of other attractions the destination offers. Food and beverages rank high on that list.

For many people, Frederick County, Virginia means apples. The Shenandoah Valley was the largest apple-growing region in the country in the early 1800s. While that distinction is no longer true, apples continue to hold an important place in the region’s rich agricultural heritage.

Family-owned farms and farmers markets offer a cornucopia of locally grown fruit, vegetables and meats. Pick-your-own

Fall travel: Deals are nearly nonexistent

By Ed Perkins

As suppressed demand surges, fall travel this year is likely to near, or even exceed, pre-pandemic levels.

One of the results of high demand is that deals will be harder than ever to find. I’ll do the best I can to point out some of your best bets, but don’t expect to find any “secret” miracle pricing tools.

No matter where or how you travel, your trip will be constrained by two overarching challenges:

—Covid isn’t over. We’ve apparently decided to forget about special precautions and accept it as an ongoing fact of life, but a new flare-up remains a potential disruption.

—Inflation is hitting almost everything and everywhere. You can still have fun, but you’ll pay more for it than ever before.

In addition, the fallout from the Ukraine invasion poses an energy crunch with consequences still to be seen.

Airfares

Airfares have come down from their initial demand-surge peak, but they’re still — and will remain — higher than pre-pandemic. And beyond “keep searching,” I have no magic formula for finding deals.

Last month, the folks at Google Flights dug into historical price data and concluded that the “best” times to buy tickets are about

45 days in advance for domestic flights, 59 days for Mexico and the Caribbean.

The consensus is to book ASAP this fall.

In addition, Google Flights data show that one-stop connecting flights cost an average 20% less than nonstops, and that Tuesday and Wednesday flights are cheapest; Sunday the most expensive.

Don’t expect any dramatic new surprises from the low-fare airline bunch. Avelo has opened a new base in Binghamton, N.Y., to provide more service to Florida, and Breeze is adding more nonstops east from Las Vegas. That’s about it.

As for JetBlue’s pending takeover of Spirit, that will eventually mean fewer, not more, low-fare flights. There’s no way JetBlue won’t hike fares, one way or another, on any former Spirit routes it decides to fly.

Hotel rates rising

Even though the travel community keeps a focus on airfares, this year, hotel accommodations, not airfare, will be your primary cost-cutting concern. Inflation has rates up sharply just about anywhere.

I’ve recently rebooked trips I planned pre-pandemic then canceled, and found rates for identical stays up sharply.

As far as best places to make your reservations, the travel blogosphere seems in general agreement:

Local Medicare Help!

—Always check hotel or chain official sites where you will find some loyalty-program perks as well as the best official rates, including senior and AAA rates.

—No one search system consistently finds the best rates anywhere. My favorite is Kayak.com, where you can filter your search to display all-up rates, including taxes and resort/destination fees, from the first screen. But others sometimes have access to discounts not available elsewhere.

—Some of the best deals aren’t in the rates; they’re in the extras. A few upscale chains maintain sites where booking gets you regular rates plus upgrades, “free” meals, spending credits, early checkin/late checkout, and other perks worth hundreds of dollars.

And live-person travel agents affiliated with a luxury network, such as Virtuoso (virtuoso.com), can arrange similar deals at top properties — and they typically don’t charge a fee for hotel bookings.

Rental car prices

You already know about high gas prices, but whether you rent a car for destination driving or to find an economical option for an extended road trip, rental rates will give you sticker shock.

One surprise: I found that hybrid and electric rentals are not available at all at many locations, and where they’re available, rates are close to double gas-guzzler rates. Clearly, the rental companies haven’t yet figured out what to do about the shifting popularity of electric vehicles.

Overall, you can expect this fall’s trip to be among the most expensive you’ve experienced. The best strategy for any booking seems to be the same one Airfare Watchdog’s George Hobica first pronounced 30 years ago: “Keep searching. But when you see a good deal, pounce,” coupled with my obsessive advice, “Pay as little in advance as possible.”

© 2022 Ed Perkins. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Winchester

From page 29

orchards and micro-farms sell goods ranging from fresh produce and homemade baked wares, to local crafts, goat milk soap, wine, cider and mead.

Outstanding wine, along with other libations, add to the tastebud treats available in the area. My tasting at the familyowned, award-winning Briede Family Winery included its wine ice cream.

A very different experience awaited at Misty Mountain Meadworks, which concocts the world’s oldest alcoholic beverage using Virginia honey.

Where there are apples there is cider,

and the English-style hard version is created from locally grown fruit.

Speaking of locally grown, that applies to hero Patsy Cline, the Winchester native who became a leading country and pop music singer whose professional career (1954-1963) was cut short when she died in a plane crash. Her modest house (now a museum) depicts the hardscrabble life she led before she became a local hero.

Heroes of various kinds have been part of the story of Winchester, Virginia. Accounts of their lives are among a number of reasons to visit there — and, as I quickly learned, there are many more.

For more information, go to visitwinchesterva.com.

Sandy

Silver

Wheaton

White

Three

Former prison now an active arts center

By Glenda C. Booth

Once a prison, the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia, today is a beehive of artists’ studios, galleries, theaters, classes, community events, a museum and more.

Plans are in the works for an outdoor amphitheater, event venue, education center, Fairfax County Museum, more art studios and outdoor arts areas — even a new café and brewery.

Coming soon are two enticing performances. First, “Women Playing Hamlet,” an all-female comedic adaptation of the famous Shakespeare tragedy, by William Missouri Downs, will run from December 3 to February 5, 2023.

Then, the Workhouse theater will feature “Urinetown” from March 18 to June 3, 2023, a musical that satirizes capitalism, bureaucracy, corrupt corporations and even Broadway musicals. The play won Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Original Score.

Conceived as a reformatory

The Occoquan Workhouse, later called the Lorton Correctional Complex and the Lorton Reformatory, housed its first prisoners in 1910.

The prison’s architect, Snowden Ashford, seeking to “dispel the notion of a penal institution,” designed Colonial Revival buildings and covered arcades with arched porticos surrounding a central green. The structures were made of bricks that inmates manufactured on site.

Founders wanted prisoners to have an employable trade after their release and to make prisons self-supporting. Thus, the prison had an agricultural work camp, cannery, orchards, poultry farm, dairy,

sawmill and blacksmith shop.

Over the decades, though, “the facility evolved from one of Progressive Era reform to an overcrowded prison of guard towers, bars and cellblocks,” the center’s website states. So, in 1997 Congress mandated that the prison be closed and inmates moved to other jails.

The last prisoner left in November 2001, and the federal government sold the 55acre property to Fairfax County for $4.2 million. In 2008, after a four-year restoration project that retained the main campus and some original guard towers, the arts center opened to the public.

“We embrace the prison history,” said Leon Scioscia, president and chief executive officer of the Workhouse Arts Foundation. Scioscia, who arrived in 2021, is passionate about expanding the facility’s useful spaces and arts programs for its 100,000-plus annual visitors.

“Arts help provide the fabric of life,” Scioscia said. “Everyone cannot become an artist, but the experience can give one an important outlook on life. It makes people think. Art is about thinking.”

Visit active studios

More than 65 professional and emerging artists work and display their paintings, pottery, glassworks, textiles and other creations at the center.

Visitors can amble through their open studios five days a week (Wednesday through Sunday) to chat with the artists about their work. In addition, the center holds art walks with open studios every second Saturday.

The center also has supporting infrastructure for artists, such as kilns, pottery wheels and a flameworking room.

Michele Montalbano, an artist from Burke, Virginia, paints invented landscapes from her on-campus studio.

“We need the arts,” Montalbano said.

The Workhouse is “a place where people can use their imagination to create some-

cookbooks offer up new Thanksgiving, vegetarian and smoothie treats. See reviews on page 34.

The Workhouse Arts Center offers art classes, above, as well as Pilates, tai chi, cooking, music and more. The 55-acre former prison campus was converted into classrooms, office space, a theater, artists’ studios and art galleries, and attracts more than 100,000 people every year.

PHOTO BY APRIL GREER, VISIT FAIRFAX

thing bigger than themselves and make people see things in a different way.”

In addition to visual arts, the Workhouse is home to the W3 Theatre performing arts program, the Lucy Burns Museum, an art program for veterans, music classes for preschoolers, and the Art of Movement program (yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, belly dancing and other exercise classes). It hosts large-scale community events such as a fireworks celebration every July 4.

The center also offers more than 300 arts education classes and workshops in many art disciplines, including ceramics, photography, open life drawing and glass fusing.

Audition for performances

Director of Performing Arts Joey Wallen has beefed up the center’s performing arts program in recent years, with more than 100 offerings pre-pandemic and almost back up to that number. Performers come from all over the country.

For theater productions, Wallen holds an

“open call,” inviting anyone to audition. Most performers are locals who will perform with professional producers and directors.

Broadway and off-Broadway musicals are their most popular shows. The “biggest name” to perform there was ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov in 2007.

“The Workhouse is a magical place to visit any time of year — and [worth visiting] frequently, with continually changing exhibits and performances,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors member Dan Storck, who represents the area.

Tours of prison cells

Tucked in a former barracks building in a corner of the campus, the Lucy Burns Museum traces the 91-year history of the former prison. Visitors can enter an actual prison cell and shower stall.

The museum recounts the story of the 72 suffragists imprisoned there in 1917. Dozens of women were treated brutally for peacefully picketing on the White House sidewalk as they tried to persuade President Woodrow Wilson to support a Constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote.

When news of the wardens’ harsh treat-

ment of the women —including beatings, solitary confinement and force feeding — leaked out, Wilson eventually relented. Historians consider the women’s ordeal to be the “turning point” in the suffragist movement.

The Turning Point Suffragist Memorial, which opened nearby in 2021, relates the movement’s history with life-size statues, a rotunda, a garden and a section of the actual White House fence from 1917.

A museum sign describes the progres-

sive thinking behind the former prison’s origins: “Provide a wholesome, uplifting environment,” it reads. The Lorton Workhouse Arts Center uplifts once again today.

The Workhouse Arts Center is located at 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton, VA 22079. Its galleries are open to the public Wednesday through Sunday. The Lucy Burns Museum is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

For a list of all events and classes, visit workhousearts.org or call (703) 584-2900

The Future Depends on Us

DC PLUG is a multi-year project that is designed to protect the District’s most vulnerable power lines by placing them underground and improving grid resiliency where you work, live and play.

Visit dcpluginfo.com for more information

Laying the groundwork for a brighter and cleaner tomorrow

Originally designed to be a humane prison, the Arts Center features colonnaded walkways and a large central green space.

PHOTO BY WORKHOUSE ARTS CENTER

Nov/Dec Events

Karina Canellakis conducts Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra

Cédric Tiberghien plays Ravel

Acclaimed maestro Karina Canellakis makes her anticipated NSO debut conducting Bartók’s immensely popular Concerto for Orchestra—which artfully allows each section of instruments to shine. Cédric Tiberghien, a “brilliant” French virtuoso with a “rich, rounded tone” and “crisp articulation” (The New York Times), performs Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand.

November 17–19 | Concert Hall

Noseda conducts a Symphonic Surprise

!

The Washington Classical Review calls Gianandrea Noseda’s surprise concerts with the NSO “a musical trivia night with an exceptionally charming Italian host.” Join us for this special concert, curated and conducted by Noseda, with musical selections announced from the stage! The program is secret—only to be revealed during the event in engaging interaction with the audience. Can you name that tune?

November 3–5 | Concert Hall

The Kennedy Center Chamber Players: Fall Concert

Comprising titled musicians of the NSO, this acclaimed ensemble presents classics from four centuries of chamber music.

November 20 | Terrace Theater

Wind & Wave: Meyers plays Blue Electra

Noseda conducts La Mer

Superstar violinist Anne Akiko Meyers gives flight to the world premiere of Blue Electra, Grammy®-winning composer Michael Daugherty’s new work inspired by American icon Amelia Earhart. Noseda closes the program with Debussy’s La Mer—a depiction of dawn’s early light upon the sea… the frolicsome play of the waves… and the dynamic dialogue between wind and water.

November 10–12 | Concert Hall

For

From Memory: David Robertson conducts Mackey, Barber & Bernstein

Immerse yourself in Mnemosyne’s Pool, dubbed “the first great American symphony of the 21st century.” Extraordinary soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha makes her NSO debut in Barber’s dreamy, nostalgic impression of nighttime in Knoxville. Maestro David Robertson concludes the program with West Side Story’s most memorable music.

December 1–3 | Concert Hall

Handel’s Messiah

Celebrated Baroque authority Fabio Biondi and four exceptional singers make their NSO debuts at our joyous holiday tradition! Experience all of the hope, redemption, and grace of Handel’s masterwork in the festively decorated Concert Hall as Biondi conducts an intimate performance of Messiah the way it was premiered in Dublin, 1742.

December 15–18 | Concert Hall

KARINA CANELLAKIS

MARCO

ANNE AKIKO MEYERS

DAVID KENTZ

GIANANDREA NOSEDA

DAVID ROBERTSONMASABANE CECILIA RANGWANASHA

FABIO BIONDI

CHRIS LEE

EMILE ASHLEY

RICARDO CYNCYNATES, DANIEL FOSTER, DAVID HARDY, LIN MA, AND LAMBERT ORKIS

SCOTT SUCHMAN

The NSO Music Director Chair is generously endowed by the Sant Family

The Leonard and Elaine Silverstein Family Foundation Fund in Honor of Ronald D. Abramson

Noseda Era Fund Supporters

Blue Series Sponsor

Cookbooks make time in the kitchen fun

A 2019 survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation revealed that a majority of Americans prepare their entire Thanksgiving meal at home. Here are three cookbooks that can help you prepare innovative as well as traditional meals.

The Complete Autumn and Winter Cookbook: 550+ Recipes for Warming Dinners, Holiday Roasts, Seasonal Desserts, Breads, Food Gifts, and More, by America’s Test Kitchen, 458 pages, America’s Test Kitchen softcover, 2021

This cookbook with more than 500 recipes is a treasure for Thanksgiving meal-planners. It’s a primer for nervous novices and a resource replete with new ideas for experienced cooks.

Each recipe includes information on serving size, whether it can be prepared ahead of time, and total prep time. Calorie counts and nutritional values for all the recipes are listed in the back of the book.

There’s a recipe index and a metric conversion chart. Kitchen tools are recom-

mended by brand name.

The recipes are organized into 15 chapters. Complete course menus and accompanying recipes are included for 14 occasions including Thanksgiving, meatless Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve and game day spread.

The emphasis is on seasonal foods. More than 400 color photos of the completed dishes, in addition to step-by-step illustrations of techniques, make The Complete Autumn and Winter Cookbook a feast for the eyes.

More than 250 vegetarian recipes are easy to find. They are flagged in the text, the introduction to each chapter and the index.

America’s Test Kitchen consists of a staff of 60 recipe-testers who employ a scientific approach to the art of food preparation. You may be familiar with the eponymous PBS series, which has been broadcast since 2001.

Veggies & Fish: Inspired New Recipes for Plant-Forward Pescatarian Cooking, by Bart van Olphen, translated by Laura Vroomen, 256 pages,

The Experiment hardcover, 2021

This cookbook provides recipes for pescatarians — those who don’t eat meat but do eat fish. They are creatively constructed with an emphasis both on nutrition and on using sustainably-sourced seafood species.

Whether you want to prepare ravioli or potato salad with a new twist, conjure up a watercress and cilantro salsa verde for two in 20 minutes, or wow your guests with Malaysian laksa, you’ll find the instructions easy to follow. The recipes are organized into 12 chapters.

Veggies & Fish boasts more than 180 photographs and illustrations. A full-page color photograph accompanies each of the 95 recipes.

The vast majority of the recipes are apportioned for two. They all indicate prep time and total calories. A complete listing of nutritional values, measured in grams, is provided. There’s a handy index as well.

Bart van Olphen is co-founder of Bart’s Fish Tales, a YouTube channel highlighting the chef’s worldwide travels and presenting his recipes for fresh, sustainably-caught fish.

Feel Good Smoothies: 40 Smoothies to Power Your Body and Mind, by Sandra Wu, illustrations by Rocio Egio, 121 pages, Chronicle Books hardcover, 2022

A smoothie is a creamy, thick cold beverage made of fruit or vegetables blended

with milk, ice cream, yogurt or fruit juice.

You might choose to eat more fruits and vegetables for their nutritional benefits if they were easy and quick to prepare and great tasting. Or you may be curious to try exotic produce you’ve seen in the market but are clueless on how to proceed.

Feel Good Smoothies will show you how to transform just a few ingredients into a delicious drink. Forty smoothie recipes are organized by chapter. The serving size is two. An introduction explains the more exotic ingredients and their nutritional values.

Each recipe is labeled with its health benefits. There is a helpful index of ingredients. Alas, there is no calorie count.

Smoothies may aid in weight loss because they keep you full. However, the calories add up quickly, so beware of too much indulgence.

Ingredients include papaya, açai, goji berries, spirulina powder, chia seeds, hemp hearts and pepitas. Wow your family and company as you serve them a magenta dragon, hazelnut mocha shake, or black forest cherry shake.

Sandra Wu is a food writer based in San Francisco. The charming and sunny illustrations are by Rocio Egio, who lives in Switzerland.

Grab your blender. Get ready to embark on a culinary adventure.

Oh, the wonders of yesteryear’s libraries

The flight attendant was making the usual pre-departure announcements. She urged everyone to put their rolling bags in the overhead compartments, wheels first, “and then turn them to the side, like books in a library.”

This frequent flyer had never heard that line before. I was nodding my head at the cleverness of it when the very young man sitting next to me said: “I have never been in a library.”

Without thinking, we have…well, we have a seatmate on an airplane who spends four hours playing some sort of dopey, animated video war game.

I tried — honestly, I tried — not to scowl at him as we deplaned.

Today, libraries have become heavily automated. If you want to check out a book, you present a plastic card with an embedded chip. The clerk swipes. Bingo, bango, you’re done.

were where you went to feel a special shiver of anticipation.

Also, a special respect for silence. Today, you can enter a public library and people at the desks are talking(!). Sometimes patrons are even playing music on their laptops.

Way back when, silence was not only golden in libraries. It was absolutely required.

A much younger version of this writer was once evicted from his local public library for cracking his knuckles. Young Bob did not protest. He knew he had sinned against everything that was holy.

consulted — people on earth.

In high school, I was assigned a history term paper that buckled my knees. William the Conqueror? I knew zero about him. But maybe, just maybe…

I consulted the school librarian. She marched me to the right shelf, exhumed three dusty tomes and told me to start with these.

I read all three. I conquered William. I got an A on the paper.

Gratefully, I showed the grade to the librarian. “I’m not surprised,” she said.

I never have been again. In a library,

By Bob Levey

If you want to stay bummed out for the next four hours in the sky, that’s a pretty good way to do it.

I said nothing to the young man, but I did fight back by opening a book. And ignoring him. And silently shaking my head in sorrow.

Never been in a library!

Never had the intense pleasure of wandering the aisles, not knowing what wonders you might encounter. Never rediscovered and re-read a classic. Never looked around and marveled at all those authors and all those ideas.

And never realized what we oldsters learned long ago: A library is an irreplaceable refuge for educated people. It’s where thinking is on every shelf.

But I still fondly recall the old method of checking out.

You would open your book to the inside back cover. A little envelope would be glued there. A card would be inside the envelope, bearing the return dates for every previous borrower.

The clerk would trot out an ink pad and a rubber stamp. He or she would twist the dials of the stamp to the correct date.

Bop — the clerk would hit the ink pad with the stamp. Then bop again — the clerk would carefully apply your due date to the next open line of the card. Bingo, bango, you were done.

But you were really just beginning. As you walked to the exit, you couldn’t wait to open your choice and sink into it. Libraries

He also knew that librarians were among the most helpful — and the most

THE DECATUR HOUSE

Trial Mix

Stephen Sherr

ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick Detorie Bob Levey

answers are everywhere. You just have to look.

And not rush yourself. I am often asked what I dislike most about modern life. “How hurried we are,” I always say.

Not in a library. You can fish a novel from an out-of-the way shelf, find a seat and dive in — for an hour or more, if you like.

No one will charge you. No one will give you the fish eye. Libraries are for flights of fancy, for discovering that you are 15 pages into something great and have never even paused.

Of course, libraries have never been immune to vandalism. I still recall how shocked I was during my first year of college. I was deep into a history of World War II when I turned the page….The entire next chapter had been ripped out.

I showed the damage to a librarian. “Happens every day,” she said. The only thing worse than never entering a library is destroying what’s in it.

Nor can I forget the extracurricular benefits of those old-fashioned college reading rooms.

Students went there to study. But students were also people.

Across the vast room, a certain student (he looked a lot like me) would spy a pretty female person. He would amble over and ask if the seat next to her was taken. If she said no, well, libraries have benefits far beyond what’s in the stacks.

Flight done, seatmate pitied, I marched through my front door. My wife greeted me and asked how the trip had been.

“Fine,” I said. “But I need to get some sleep. The public library opens tomorrow morning at 9.”

Bob Levey is a national award-winning columnist.

Letters to editor

From page 4

Dear Editor:

Your October story about “The top U.S. city to visit” failed to mention how much of a tourist trap Charleston, S.C. is.

My husband and I stayed at The Meeting Inn in downtown Charleston. It was the worst vacation that I have ever had. Hotel personnel stole a handmade knit hat I had left on the unmade bed. When I confronted the hotel, they acted like it was a joke.

The personnel making up our room were rude and inconsiderate. They would

open up the door to our room even though I had a Do Not Disturb sign on the door, and we were confronted with “You’re still here” in a haughty tone. When I mentioned that the sign said that we didn’t wish to be disturbed, I was told that they could read.

Meals everywhere in the city were overly and unrealistically priced. We didn’t get a reasonably-priced dinner until we drove off to another part of South Carolina, where we enjoyed a huge all-you-could-eat buffet for a fraction of what we would have paid in Charleston.

Carolyn Jackson Gaithersburg, MD

TechLab

participants

library’s

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I BUY OLD GUNS (Military/Civilian) and MILITARY MEDALS, uniforms, insignia & books from all time periods. I have a Federal Firearms License to legally purchase firearms. I also buy old West Point & Naval Academy memorabilia. I have an MA in history and have been trusted for over 30 years in the Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC area. Testimonials from veterans and their families on my website: www.midatlanticmilitaryantiques.com Call or email Tim Frank 703-447-7243 historian1975@gmail.com

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

CERTIFIED AGING IN PLACE SPECIALIST with over 10 years in interior design here to guide you in the best ways to modify your home to safely and comfortably age in place so you may thrive where you live. Allyson 301-9966199

DECLUTTER, ORGANIZE, FILE, PACK, MOVE - Services especially for seniors. Get your life and your home under control. Maryland Senior Concierge Services, 301.452.5730 or ccallahan@mdseniorhelp.com. Visit our website www.mdseniorhelp.com

DOWNSIZING OR LIQUIDATING AN ESTATE? Doing it yourself? DON’T THROW YOUR MONEY AWAY! Our specialists know the current trends in today’s market! Our easy process determines what to keep, gift, sell, donate, or discard. Services include: estate liquidation, downsizing, junk removal, estate sales, and consignment of collectibles. We buy estates, vehicles, and real estate. Call/text Philip 301-2193600 DownsizingSpecialists.com. One person’s trash is another’s treasure, and we know the difference!

WE ARE A TO Z PERSONAL ORGANIZERS, bringing order to your life and to the life of your loved ones. We specialize in relocation services for seniors. Check us out on the web at A2Zorganizers.com, or give us a call at 240.432.4920.

STAMP COLLECTIONS PURCHASED AND APPRAISED. U.S., Foreign, and Worldwide, stamps, covers, - anything philatelic! Also autographs, paper memorabilia (except sports cards); Longtime APS member; E-Mail ARogolsky@gmail.com or phone Alex at 301-309-3622.

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

COINS, PRE-1970 BASEBALL CARDS & comic books, also buying jewelry men’s wristwatches, old toys, military items, antique Asian items, old books, serving MD, VA, DC, long time beacon advertiser, Tom 240-476-3441. Thank you.

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).

TOP PRICES PAID FOR FINE ANTIQUES, ARTWORK and unusual and rare things including decorated crocks and stoneware, antique clocks and music boxes, classic cars, coin operated devices, toys and dolls, furniture, lamps , art glass and pottery. I am 69 years old, well educated [ law degree ] financially capable and have over 40 years in the business. Why pay outlandish auction house, estate agent or consignment store commissions when you can get a fair upfront price for your valuables with no hassle? If you have something rare, unusual and valuable and are prepared to sell it I would like to speak with you. Please call Jake Lenihan 301 279 8834. Thank you.

TIRED OF BEING ALONE? Meet Your soulmate today. We gladly invite you to join SoulmateConnexions.Com

DISH NETWORK. $64.99 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.

DIRECTV for $79.99/mo for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Watch your favorite live sports, news & entertainment anywhere. First 3 months of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and Epix included! Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) Some restrictions apply. Call 1-888-572-4953.

THE SILVER SPRING STAMP CLUB meets 4th Tuesdays. You’ll see stamps from US, Gt. Brit., Israel, Germany and MORE. Come to buy, sell, trade or just visit. New members and VISITORS most welcome. For info contact: peterkff@gmail.com or 301.622-0231.

LADY WHO LOVES PRETTY THINGS would like to buy yours. Dishes, figurines, pottery and similar. Favorites are bone china cups and saucers and old Christmas and Halloween decorations. Especially love Herend, Meissen and Shelley. Also, midcentury smalls of all kinds. Have to clear a house in a hurry? Would be happy to take a look at anything you have. Please call Susan, (301) 785-1129.

BOOK FEST

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Clinical Studies

Hearing Study (UMD) . . . . . .19

Computer Help

Tech Medic 4U . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Elections

Montgomery County Board of Elections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Employment/ Volunteers

JCA Career Gateway . . . . . . . .25

Senior Connection . . . . . . . . . .23

Seniors Helping Seniors . . . . .14

Events

What’s Next Innovation Summit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Funeral Services

Going Home Cremation . . . . .34

Home Health Care/Companion Services

Best Senior Care . . . . . . . . . . .10

Radiocw Health Care . . . . . . . .9

Seniors Helping Seniors . . . . .14 Housing

Ashby Ponds/Erickson . . . . . .15

Backyard Homes . . . . . . . . . . .13

Brightview Senior Living . . . . .9

Brooke Grove Retirement Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Cadence at Olney . . . . . . . . . . .8

Carnegie at Washingtonian Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2, 3

Charles E. Smith Life Communities . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Chesterbrook Residences . . . .18

Chevy Chase House . . . . . . . .29

Churchill Senior Living . . . . .18

Covenant Village . . . . . . . . . . .14

Culpepper Garden . . . . . . . . . . .8

Emerson House . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Enterprise Residential . . . . . . .13

Falcons Landing . . . . . . . . . . .40

Grandview, The . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Greenspring/Erickson . . . . . . .15

Harmony Senior Living . . . . . .1

HIP Home Sharing . . . . . . . . .29

Homecrest House . . . . . . . . . .34

Homewood at Frederick . . . . .27

Lockwood House . . . . . . . . . .14

Park View Apartments . . . . . .13

Providence, The . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Riderwood/Erickson . . . . . . . .15

Ring House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Sky Bridge at Town Center . . . .5

Sommerset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Tribute at the Glen . . . . . . . . . .8

Woodleigh Chase . . . . . . . . . . .6

Legal Services

Farr Law Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Law Offices of Nancy Feldman . . . . . . . . . .25

Law Offices of Paul Riekhof .24

Medical/Health

Judy Oh, DDS . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Medical Eye Center . . . . . . . . .15

Silver Spring Medical Center .17 Stephen Friedman, DDS . . . . .18

Memory Care

Brightview Senior Living . . . . .9

Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Kensington Club . . . . . . . . . . .25

Providence, The . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Sky Bridge at Town Center . . . .5

Tribute at the Glen . . . . . . . . . .8

Real Estate

Long & Foster/Eric Stewart .24, 28

Senior Resources

DC Living Boldly Newsletter . . . . . . . . . . .20-21

JCA Kensington Club . . . . . . .25

Montgomery County Age-Friendly Newsletter/Caregiving . . . . .16

Montgomery County Aging & Disability Services . . . . .17

Montgomery County SHIP . . .30 Senior Connection . . . . . . . . . .23

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation

Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 ProMedica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Subscriptions

Beacon Newspapers . . . . . . . .37

Theatre/ Entertainment

Glenview Mansion . . . . . . . . .31

Kennedy Center, The . . . . . . . .33

Senior Zone Radio Show . . . .35

Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . .31

US Air Force Band . . . . . . . . .35

Transportation/ Travel

Montgomery County Transit/ Ride-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Vamoose Bus . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Utilities

Montgomery County Home Energy Program . . . . . . . . .12

Pepco DC Plug . . . . . . . . . . . .32

(no alarm necessary)

Your years of service taught you the importance of physical fitness and keeping your body ready for action. At Falcons Landing this idea lives on, but we replaced the obstacle course with walking trails, drill sergeants with personal trainers and PT in the dirt with a state-of-the-art fitness center, including a Junior Olympic indoor swimming pool. You’ll still break a sweat, but now it will be with a smile on your face.

CALL 703-293-5054 TO SCHEDULE A TOUR TODAY!