December 2018 | DC Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

The I N

FREE

F O C U S

F O R

P E O P L E

O V E R

More than 200,000 readers throughout Greater Washington

VOL.30, NO.12

Reaching out to older Muslims

DECEMBER 2018

I N S I D E …

PHOTO BY BARBARA RUBEN

By Barbara Ruben Nargis Rehman worries about her father, who is ill and lives alone. Over 50 herself, she has limited energy after work to help him, and has had a difficult time finding someone to drive him to the mosque for prayers. “He sits in the house and can’t travel; has no money. He’s very ill. Nobody comes to visit. He’s lonely. I have to work, and when I get home, I’m just exhausted,” said Rehman, who lives in Rockville, Md. So she was excited to attend a November meeting at the Islamic Center of Maryland for older adults to discuss their needs and find resources to help them. “This is like my second home,” she said of the center, located in Gaithersburg, Md. The meeting was one of four “Healthy Aging, Community Services and Supports Dialogues” held by a new nonprofit, the American Muslim Senior Society (AMSS), this fall.

5 0

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

Visiting temples and markets in low-cost Cambodia; plus, enjoying winter’s beauty from aboard a train, and memorable meals from around the world page 40

Connecting communities

Learn about senior living at Ashby Ponds, Greenspring, and Riderwood.

ARTS & STYLE Mona Negm, in the center of the first row, founded the American Muslim Senior Society (AMSS) last year to help underserved Muslim elders learn about and obtain community services. She is shown here at a community dialogue event at the Islamic Center of Maryland, where “ambassadors” trained by AMSS, together with Montgomery County officials, met with older area Muslims to share information about healthy aging and local resources. Gabe Albornoz, former director of Montgomery County’s Recreation Department and newly elected to the County Council, is at the rear of the photo.

learn about such topics as Social Security, brain health and affordable housing. The nonprofit Montgomery County Muslim Foundation’s Senior Program offers trips, a weekly social hour, and rides on Fridays to the Islamic Center of Maryland for prayer services.

Montgomery County offers information and programs dealing with long-term care and caregiver support, healthy aging, coping with dementia and more. AMSS’s role is to help connect these See OLDER MUSLIMS, page 22

There’s no risk in learning more! Call 1-877-575-0231 to request your FREE brochure.

A de-lovely production of Anything Goes at Arena Stage; plus, colorful books to give this holiday season, Cicely Tyson’s honorary Oscar, and Bob Levey on disciplining grandkids page 46 TECHNOLOGY 4 k Ways to save on shopping, travel FITNESS & HEALTH 9 k Eye scan may detect Alzheimer’s k Laparoscopy not always best SPOTLIGHT ON AGING k Newsletter for D.C. seniors

LAW & MONEY 32 k Maximize your interest income k Pros, cons of preferred stock ADVERTISER DIRECTORY 12630253

The program was led by “ambassadors” from within the community, who were trained by AMSS to help older Muslims throughout Montgomery County access services provided by both the Muslim community and local government. It is the first coordinated effort to help older Muslims in the Washington area, and one of the first in the country, according to Mona Negm, a resident of Silver Spring, Md., who founded AMSS here last year. The 76-year-old Negm is known to many in the community as Mama Mona, both because of her longtime role working with Islamic seniors and her nurturing nature. Many Islamic centers have programs for seniors, such as the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Va. Its Friends Over 50 group meets every Thursday morning to

PLUS CROSSWORD, BEACON BITS, CLASSIFIEDS & MORE

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Let’s be more critical No one likes a critic. Criticism is often salmon, herring and mackerel) have lower shared in harsh ways, in which case it can rates of heart attack and stroke, and that this is attributed to the fishes’ be destructive rather than fatty acids, EPA and DHA. constructive. And let’s face But LeWine was not willing it, even constructive critito say that putting fish oil in cism is seldom appreciated capsules necessarily provides at the time it’s given! the same benefit. On the other hand, perInstead, he said there is evihaps we should all be a bit dence that fish oil is effective at more critical in how we read reducing high levels of triglycand understand things. Readerides in the blood (which ing and thinking critically are more important today than raise the risk for heart attack and stroke), and at somewhat ever, living as we are in an FROM THE reducing the risk of a second age of tweets, sound bites PUBLISHER By Stuart P. Rosenthal and screeds. heart attack among those with a history of heart attack or As a case in point, I’d like to share with you an exchange I had the heart failure. So he suggested that people with these other day with a reader who felt a Q & A column we published last month was mis- conditions speak with their physician, and furthermore, that they ask whether they leading. We headlined the story, written by Dr. should take a prescription fish oil rather Howard LeWine of Harvard Medical than an over-the-counter supplement. His conclusion was that “for everyone School, “Most of us don’t need fish oil supplements.” The column answered a read- else...even those prone to cardiovascular er’s question about whether people should disease...there is no evidence that taking take fish oil supplements if they don’t eat fish oil supplements offers any benefit.” Our reader took exception to the colmuch fish. To summarize, the doctor took note that umn because he had been reading about a those who regularly eat fatty fish (like recent study that seemed to show fish oil

Beacon The

I N

F O C U S

F O R

P E O P L E

O V E R

5 0

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

The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (301) 949-9766 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com Website: www.theBeaconNewspapers.com Submissions: The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 10th of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 15th of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 55 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions.

supplements were highly beneficial to people in general. Even though we had published our Q & A column before that study had been announced at the American Heart Association conference in November, and before the study results had been published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the reader criticized us for ignoring “well-reported” results that a particular fish oil product (Vascepa) produced by a small company (Amarin) “showed a 25 percent reduction in cardiovascular events with placebo-like side effects.” He noted that “it is already being called a ‘Wonder’ drug,” and suggested our Harvard doctor should attend more meetings and “be updated on recent findings.” He also chided the Beacon for doing our readers a disservice, and added, “your readers have been given incorrect info about a product that significantly reduces their cardio risk because the Dr. did not do basic research.” We appreciate readers keeping us honest, and informing us of oversights and errors we no doubt will make on occasion. In this instance, however, the reader was overstating his case, perhaps because he was reading second-hand reports on the results before the study was officially published. In actuality, the study the reader was referring to credited a high dose of Vascepa, a purified, prescription fish oil, with a 25 percent reduction in heart problems and heart-related deaths among people with high triglycerides who were already taking a statin drug for high cholesterol. That jibes closely with what our columnist stated. The reports our reader read about the study apparently did not identify these important facts, so he inaccurately generalized the study’s results to people in general. Why do I devote an entire column to this exchange? Because a number of articles we publish in the Beacon every month

report on the latest health studies. We consider this information to be important for those trying to keep abreast of the latest developments. But it concerns me that readers might be reading too much into these articles. We do our best to include all the necessary facts so that readers will understand exactly who was tested, what was/wasn’t proven, and what relevance (if any) the study may have to us in our daily lives. In many if not most cases, the studies we report on are of small samples of the population. They may examine how a particular dosage of a drug affects people of a certain age range, or a particular ethnicity or sex, or otherwise meeting a number of other conditions that made them eligible for that study. The results of these studies may not hold true in a larger population, and certainly not in a different population. That’s why, in almost every case, you will find our reports indicate “more study is needed” and “consult your physician” before readers take any action based on the article. And in particular, whenever you read reports of new studies (whether in the Beacon or elsewhere) about something hailed as a “wonder drug” or “breakthrough,” you probably should remain somewhat skeptical until all the facts come out. That’s why we also try to indicate in our stories whenever the researchers doing the study are paid by, or get grants from, drug manufacturers whose fortunes may be influenced by the results. I certainly don’t wish to discourage readers from challenging us when they believe there is reason to do so. But I do want to encourage you to read everything, including the Beacon, with a critical eye, and to focus on the sometimes subtle, but often most important, facts.

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or e-mail to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Dear Editor: I was thrilled to see that the cover story of the December Beacon was on medical marijuana. I thought the article was comprehensive, well-written, and incredibly important to the Beacon audience. However, I was very disappointed to see that despite that this was about a medical topic, not one physician was asked for comment. Of the three experts quoted, none were MD’s (all were PhD’s or PharmD’s) and none were local. I am one of the very few physicians in our area who is listed on the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission’s website as certifying patients for medical marijuana,

and one of the only physicians that does this as part of my regular medical practice. Also, there was a slight error in the article regarding the one mention of physicians. While it is true that “some dispensaries have a physician on premises,” these physicians only serve as consultants. The law (at least in Maryland) does not allow dispensaries to have certifying providers as part of the dispensary, as this would constitute a potential conflict of interest. If a patient wants to get certified, they need to see a separate certifying provider. Matthew Mintz, MD, FACP Bethesda, Md.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon

H AV E YO U S E E N T H E

New C H E V Y C H A S E H O U S E ? ASK ABOUT O U R U N B E ATA B L E GRAND OPENING SPECIALS!

H O L I DAY O P E N H OUSE Saturday, December 15 from 2-5 p.m. Experience our beautiful renovation! Interested in learning more about luxury senior living where residents enjoy spacious accommodations, fine dining, and the level of care they need without compromising independence? Join us! RSVP RECOMMENDED BY DECEMBER 13 TO

(202) 9 05070 8

(202) 905-0708 | 5420 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20015 www.meridiansenior.com/chevychasehouse A MERIDIAN SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

Everyone Deserves a Great Life!

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Technology &

Innovations Tech startups focus on caregiver needs innovative products and services for older adults, winning $5,000. All the competing companies offer “intergenerational solutions for health, wealth and self,” according to AARP spokesperson Tara Dunion. “These companies won regional competitions and earned a spot for the grand finale here in D.C.” Embodied Labs founder Carrie Shaw was thrilled with the win. “What an honor and great signal that the work we are doing for caregiver education and training is resonating with the community,” she said. The judging system for AARP Innovation Labs’ 2018 Grand Pitch Finale was unique, with the audience of about 500 attendees voting based on their interactions with and ob-

servations of the presenters. The audience “was by invitation only and included a mix of local technology executives, industry influencers, and the local entrepreneur community,” said Dunion.

year. It aims to engage startups throughout the country to identify challenges and transform the market for older adults. This year’s grand pitch event was the culmination of a competition that generated hundreds of entries nationwide.

Innovation for older adults AARP opened its Innovation Labs last

See STARTUPS, page 5

PHOTO BY JACOB LUND

By Rebekah Alcalde Want to learn how a loved one or patient with macular degeneration sees the world, or what navigating the day is like for someone with dementia? Then you might want to try the virtual reality (VR) simulations created by Embodied Labs to help you experience key problems and issues facing older adults and their caregivers. With the software and a VR headset, family members, caregivers and healthcare professionals can come to better understand a patient’s perspective. The company recently placed first in a national AARP “Grand Pitch Competition” for startup companies to showcase their

Startup company Embodied Labs has developed a virtual reality platform to help caregivers better understand the challenges, from dementia to macular denegation, their patients face. The company recently placed first in an AARP competition of creating innovative technology to help older adults.

❏ Healthy Volunteers GESTALT Study (see ad on page 25) ❏ Normal Hearing Research Study (see article on page 24 and ad on page 25) ❏ Memory Loss TANGO Study (see ad on page 24) ❏ Opiate User Study (see ad on page 24) Name_________________________________________________ ____________ Address_______________________________________________________________ City______________________________________State______Zip________________ Phone (day)__________________________(evening)_________________________ E-mail_________________________________________________________________ WB12/18

Please mail this form to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227 or fax to (301) 949-8966

✃

I N F O R M A T I O N F R E E ★ I N F O R M A T I O N F R E E I N F O R M A T I O N F R E E ★

Clinical Trials

I N F O R M A T I O N

❏ Ashby Ponds (See ads on pages 1, 7) ❏ Chesterbrook Residences (See ad on page 23) ❏ Crossings, The (See ad on page 15) ❏ Culpepper Garden (See ad on page 19) ❏ Falcons Landing (See ad on page 56) ❏ Greenspring (See ads on pages 1, 7) ❏ Gum Springs Glen (See ad on page 23) ❏ Herndon Harbor House (See ad on page 23) ❏ Lockwood House (See ad on page 23) ❏ Morris Glen (See ad on page 23) ❏ Potomac Place (See ad on page 29) ❏ Sommerset Retirement (See ad on page 27) ❏ Waltonwood (See ad on page 18) ❏ Wingler House (See ad on page 23)

F R E E

Virginia

★ ★

FREE INFORMATION ★ FREE INFORMATION ★ FREE INFORMATION ★

www.varelay.org | 866-894-4116 (Voice) | 866-246-9300 (TTY)

❏ Aspenwood Senior Living (See ad on page 21) ❏ Brooke Grove (See ad on page 13) ❏ Charter House (See ad on page 4) ❏ Churchill Senior Living (See ad on page 28) ❏ Covenant Village (See ad on page 23) ❏ Emerson House (See ad on page 23) ❏ Five Star Premier Residences (See ad on page 17) ❏ Gardens of Traville (See ad on page 35) ❏ Homecrest House (See ad on page 39) ❏ Homewood (See ad on page 35) ❏ Landing of Silver Spring, The (See ad on page 19) ❏ Landow House (See ad on page 26) ❏ Olney Assisted Living (See ad on page 19) ❏ Park View Bladensburg (See ad on page 6) ❏ Park View Columbia (See ad on page 6) ❏ Park View Emerson (See ad on page 6) ❏ Park View Laurel (See ad on page 6) ❏ Riderwood (See ads on pages 1, 7) ❏ Ring House (See ad on page 26) ❏ Sanctuary, The (See ad on page 17) ❏ Springvale Terrace (See ad on page 27) ❏ The Village at Rockville (See ad on page 29) ❏ Victory Housing (See ad on page 38)

I N F O R M A T I O N

Using the latest in voice recognition software, Captioned Telephone Service displays word-for-word captions of your conversations, as you listen. Call or visit us online to see how it works and learn how to get a captioned telephone for you or your loved one.

Maryland

F R E E

See what your callers say with Captioned Telephone Service.

❏ 1221 Van (see ad on page 27) ❏ Chevy Chase House (see ad on page 3) ❏ Friendship Terrace (see ad on page 16)

★

Need help hearing over the phone?

District of Columbia

I N F O R M A T I O N

See STARTUPS, page 7

Housing Communities

F R E E

Tech UR Elders, a service that recommends technology that can help make a caregiver’s job easier, placed second in the event. Founder Renee King is another millennial caregiver, who has taken care of both her mom with ALS and alcoholic father for the past two years. After her mom collapsed from cardiac arrest, King’s life changed drastically, she said. Her days were filled with doctor’s appointments, lawyer meetings, managing the family finances, grocery runs, and

For free materials on housing communities and health studies, just complete and clip this coupon and mail it to the Beacon.

★

Connecting caregivers with tech

MAIL OR FAX FOR FREE INFORMATION

I N F O R M A T I O N

Shaw heard about a regional pitch event from Mary Furlong, founder of the Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit and Business Competition, where Embodied Labs also presented. “I attended her summit and pitched in the regional event alongside four other regional finalists,” Shaw said. Embodied Labs placed first there and was invited to the D.C. finals. For Shaw, the grand finale event was an excellent opportunity to network with other companies “working across different facets of aging care.” She describes meeting “academics that had immersive technology programs at their institutions, folks from United Healthcare, a lawyer who works as a patent officer for the U.S. Government, and business owners who operate home care and senior housing organizations.” There were also potential investors among the audience. For the actual pitch, Shaw drew on her personal experience as a millennial caregiver for her mother, who had early Alzheimer’s. “I think most products [being developed today] have helped elders, but few products have been geared towards caregivers,” she said. Her company’s technology is specifically designed to help caregivers and healthcare professionals become more effective through the immersive experience of virtual reality.

★ FREE INFORMATION ★ FREE INFORMATION ★ FREE INFORMATION ★ F R E E

From page 4

“With VR you can transport yourself into the perspective of another, embodying what it is like to be an age, race, culture or gender different than your own,” Shaw continued. “We help caregivers understand the perspectives of those they are caring for, as well as give them an opportunity to roleplay difficult scenarios in VR before encountering them in real life.” Embodied Labs offers a subscriptionbased service with regular updates and new simulations. Among the simulations currently available are ones for vision and hearing loss, progressing through Alzheimer’s disease, and being a cancer patient. The company hasn’t announced plans to expand for next year yet, but Shaw says she’s “looking forward to doing so soon,” so there may be big changes.

★

Startups

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Technology & Innovations | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Best money-saving software, websites By Pat Mertz Esswein If you’re looking for ways to cut costs on everyday spending, you can do so from the comfort of your home. Several online sites and software programs allow you to save big on everything from preparing your next tax return, to household items, to prescription drugs. Here are a few of our top picks.

Free tax software Only about 13 percent of taxpayers are expected to itemize on their federal tax returns under the new tax law, so you may no longer need to buy a premium tax software package. Credit Karma Tax is a free program that allows you to prepare and file one federal and one state tax return. You can import information from prior years’ tax returns from TurboTax, H&R Block and TaxAct, as well

as W-2 forms from major payroll providers. If your payroll provider isn’t supported, you can take a photo of your W-2 with your smartphone to import your data. Credit Karma Tax also offers an app that allows you to prepare and file your taxes on your smartphone. If you determine, after launching the program, that you need to itemize after all, no worries: Credit Karma’s free program supports all tax forms, not just those for taxpayers with simple returns.

Coupons and travel deals Finding a good deal on items can be time-consuming when every retailer bombards you with sales pitches, but these sites can cut through the hype. For your everyday wants and needs, leave the search to Honey, a browser extension available for Chrome, Safari and Firefox.

Honey searches for coupons while you’re on a store’s website and applies them automatically at checkout. The extension also searches Amazon.com for the lowest price. For gift givers with a hard-to-shop-for someone on their list, GiftCardGranny.com offers discounted gift cards. And before you book your next vacation, go to AutoSlash.com and Booking.com for your rental car and hotel reservations. AutoSlash finds the best rental-car rates based on discounts you qualify for and tracks prices to alert you when they drop. Frommer’s, the travel guide publisher, ranked Booking.com as the top hotel search and booking site in 2017 because of its high number of properties and transparent pricing.

Discounts on Rx Keep your prescription costs down by

We Turn Addresses

into homes

MOST COMMUNITIE S ARE 62 AND BETTER

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.)

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

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

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

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

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

BALTIMORE COUNTY Cove Point Apartments I: 410-288-2344 Cove Point Apartments II: 410-288-1660 Evergreen Senior Apartments: 410-780-4888 The Greens at English Counsul: 410-789-3000 The Greens at Liberty Road: 410-655-1100 The Greens at Logan Field: 410-288-2000 The Greens at Rolling Road: 410-744-9988 Park View at Catonsville: 410-719-9464 Park View at Dundalk: 410-288-5483 Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665 Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375

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

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY Park View at Bladensburg: 301-699-9785 • 55 & Better Park View at Laurel: 301-490-1526 Park View at Laurel II: 301-490-9730

Call the community nearest you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour. www.rhomecommunities.com MOST COMMUNITIES ARE PET-FRIENDLY

searching for and printing coupons for brandname and generic drugs at GoodRx.com. The coupons are accepted at more than 70,000 pharmacies, including CVS Pharmacy, Rite Aid, Walgreens and Walmart. You can’t use the coupons with your insurance because that would be considered an out-of-network purchase, GoodRx says. But your insurer may let you apply what you paid out-of-pocket when using the coupons toward your deductible, so save your receipts.

Health savings accounts Your best option is usually the HSA offered by your employer because contributions made through payroll deduction avoid Social Security and federal income taxes, plus you may get an employer contribution. If you need to sign up for an HSA outside of an employer, contributions are taxdeductible. Look for an HSA with low fees and saving options that match how you’ll use the account. If you plan to tap the HSA to pay current medical expenses, the HSA Authority is a good choice. It offers an insured account that pays a small rate of interest, charges no monthly service fee, and comes with a debit card. If you’ll keep the money growing for the long term, consider HealthEquity, which offers a self-directed account with a choice of 23 low-cost Vanguard mutual funds. The monthly fee is 0.03 percent of the invested balance.

Auto insurance site To shop for better rates, start at www.insurance.com. Fill out a form with your address, claims history and driving record and get instant rate quotes (in all states but Massachusetts, Michigan and Rhode Island) from insurers serving your area. Companies may include Allstate, Erie, Esurance, Farmers, Geico, Liberty Mutual, Mercury, Nationwide, The General, The Hartford and Travelers. © 2018 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

BEACON BITS

Dec. 16

TECH CAFÉ

Learn from local teens how to use popular forms of technology, including smartphones, iPads, tablets, email, social media like Facebook, and more at the free Tech Cafe at Young Israel Shomrai Emunah synagogue, 1132 Arcola Ave., Silver Spring, Md., on Sunday, Dec. 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Open to all. Bring your charged device and charger with you as backup. For more information or to register, visit www.yise.org/techcafe or contact Miriam Friedman at mfriedman2@yahoo.com or (917) 2829617, or Stacey Relkin Winkler at relkin@awsllc.com.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Startups From page 5 more. It was more than a little overwhelming at times. “It is easy during tough times like this to just wallow in self-pity,” King notes on her website. “I did that, and I still do at times. But now I prefer to wallow in solutions — technology solutions!” Tech UR Elder is a website that matches users with the right caregiving technology to help make their job easier and more effective. As second place winner, Tech UR Elder was awarded $3,000. More than just money though, the awards offer winners the chance to collaborate with AARP’s Innovations Lab and benefit from the organization’s influence and scope.

Other winners In third place was Zogo Finance, a new mobile banking app that aims to improve the financial relationship between parents and teens. The startup won $2,000. Co-founders Bolun Li and Simran Singh are young students who met at Duke University. They created Zogo together with students David Neyhart and Varun Nair, who combined their expertise in entrepreneurship, engineering and finance to invent the technology. Through the app, parents can automate a teen’s allowance, set up tasks to reward

them, and provide funds in the form of a regularly scheduled paycheck. “And teens have to complete certain exercises, such as reflection on previous purchases and learning knowledge, in order to get that allowance,” explained Li. There is no cost associated with using the app. At first glance, the app may not seem as relevant for the older generation, but “seniors give money to teenagers all the time,” he said. “Zogo is a tool to help [people] not only transfer money, but also transfer financial knowledge and habits to their teenagers, and from the result of the competition, I think the seniors really resonate with our mission.” Li attributes his team’s youth and innovation with setting them apart. “When most of the other pitches are about services specifically for senior caregiving, we are the only one that offers a solution to connect seniors with the next generation,” he said. It’s an excellent learning tool for seniors to use with their grandchildren, he added. The app is currently available only to select schools in North Carolina, though Zogo is accepting users for its waitlist. Li said Zogo will be available in this area in January to lower-income youth through the company’s partnership with D.C.based America Saves. “It’s a great stepping stone for us to continue conversation with AARP on potentially working together,” said Li.

The other five startups who won at their regional pitches and competed in D.C. include: • Loop, a family communication device that allows people to share video and photos, and video chat (joinloop.com). • Mobile Serve, a website and app designed to help organizations of all types and sizes track, manage and report their social impact (mobileserve.com). • My Wound Doctor, a website that provides caregivers and patients with clinical wound care treatment protocols and per-

sonalized supplies (mywounddoctor.com). • OhmniLabs builds motorized robots with two-way communication that can be remotely adjusted to allow family members and healthcare professionals to communicate with patients anywhere (ohmnilabs.com). • VoxeLight Sunscreenr, a special viewer that shows you missed a spot when applying sunscreen or when you need to reapply it (sunscreenr.com). For more information about the winners, visit their websites: embodiedlabs.com;

Please tell our advertisers, “I saw you in the Beacon!”

MORE FOR YOUR MONEY

We offer than other senior living options.

One monthly check covers maintenance, repairs, and most of your regular living expenses—and 90% of your entrance deposit is refundable!*

MORE AMENITIES AND SERVICES Restaurants, a pool, fitness center, and more are a short indoor stroll from every apartment home.

MORE PEACE OF MIND Higher levels of care are offered in our on-site continuing care health services neighborhood. You and your family can rest easy, knowing the “what ifs” of life are already handled.

Learn MORE reasons to choose retirement living at Ashby Ponds, Greenspring, or Riderwood. Call 1-877-575-0231 or visit EricksonLiving.com for your FREE brochure. 12204647

*Carefully read the Residence and Care Agreement for the conditions that must be satisfied before the Provider is required to pay the Entrance Deposit Refund. Entrance fee in Maryland.

Technology & Innovations | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Age-Friendly Montgomery “I’m inviting you to enjoy our County’s resources and programs.” County Executive Ike Leggett

Stay Active and Engaged This Winter Montgomery County Recreation provides many opportunities for active adults, 55 and over, to stay engaged and to get fit this winter. Whether you are still working, semi-retired, or fully retired, Montgomery County Recreation offers a wide variety of activities, classes, events and programs for you. For a complete list of these activities, visit www.MoCoRec.com and search seniors. Senior Centers: Our six senior centers are full-service facilities that host fun activities, interesting programs and important services. Inside these senior centers you will find educational seminars, entertainment, fitness and dance classes, health and wellness programs, travel and volunteer opportunities, individual and team sports, a weekday lunch program, a variety of drop-in programs, lectures, seminars and more. 55+ Active Adult Programs: Located at 13 of our community and neighborhood recreation centers, 55+ Active Adult Programs feature activities ranging from lectures to sports to socials, including games and parties. These 13 centers provide a great place to connect with friends and make new ones. Join us for lunch: Our senior centers offer nutritious meals for just $5.72 for individuals 55 to 59 years old. For individuals age 60 or older, a voluntary contribution is requested. For details, call 240-777-4925. Transportation: Door-to-door transportation service is available to most senior centers Monday through

Thursday, and to some of the 55+ Active Adult Programs. Simply call 240-777-4925 to find out if you live in one of the service areas. Senior Olympics: Did you know that Montgomery County Recreation is the host agency for the Maryland Senior Olympics? We are excited about the upcoming 2019 season and look forward to your participation! Call 240-777-4930 for more information. Gym Memberships: Keep fit with our Senior Sneaker Exercise program. For just $50 a year, you can work out at any of Montgomery County Recreation’s weight/ exercise rooms at recreation and senior centers around the County. Remember, there’s a Montgomery County Recreation facility near you. • Senior centers are located in Damascus, North Potomac, Silver Spring and Wheaton. • 55+ Active Adult Programs are located at recreation centers in Brookeville, Burtonsville, Cabin John, Chevy Chase, Germantown, Potomac, Rockville, Sandy Spring and Silver Spring. • Indoor aquatic centers are located in Germantown, North Bethesda, Olney and Silver Spring. For more information about Montgomery County Recreation, visit www.MoCoRec.com or call 240-777-4925.

• Aging & Disability Resource Line 240-777-3000

• 3-1-1 or 240-777-0311 for County programs and services; 9-1-1 for emergency • www.montgomerycountymd.gov/senior

• “Seniors Today” airs on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. on Comcast/RCN 6, Verizon 30

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Health Fitness &

WEIGHT AND ARTHRITIS Losing weight can help prevent further damage, but joints may still ache THE NEW MEAN GIRLS Bullying doesn’t always end after high school; how to respond to it at any age KEEP THAT APPENDIX Mild appendicitis can be treated with antibiotics rather than surgery DEFYING DEPRESSION Ketamine may help quickly lift depression, but it can be a costly treatment

An eye scan may detect early Alzheimer’s Results from two studies show that a new, non-invasive imaging device can see signs of Alzheimer’s disease in a matter of seconds. The researchers show that the small blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye are altered in patients with Alzheimer’s. Even patients who have a family history of Alzheimer’s but have no symptoms show these telltale signs. Researchers also showed that they can distinguish between people with Alzheimer’s and those with only mild cognitive impairment. Results from these studies were presented at the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

A window to the brain A new kind of precise and non-invasive imaging called optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has assisted much of the recent research on the eye’s connection with Alzheimer’s. It enables physicians to see the smallest veins in the back of the eye, including the red blood

cells moving through the retina. Because the retina is connected to the brain by way of the optic nerve, researchers believe that the deterioration in the retina and its blood vessels may mirror the changes going on in the blood vessels and structures in the brain, thereby offering a window into the disease process. Diagnosing Alzheimer’s is a currently a challenge. Some techniques can detect signs of the disease but are impractical for screening millions of people: Brain scans are expensive and spinal taps can be harmful. Instead, the disease is often diagnosed through memory tests or observing behavior changes. By the time these changes are noticed, the disease is advanced. Even though there is no cure, early diagnosis is critical as future treatments are likely to be most effective when given early. Early diagnosis would also give patients and their families time to plan for the future. The goal of this latest research is to find a quick, inexpensive way to detect Alzheimer’s at the earliest signs.

Researchers at Duke University used OCTA to compare the retinas of Alzheimer’s patients with those of people with mild cognitive impairment, as well as healthy people. They found that the Alzheimer’s group had loss of small retinal blood vessels at the back of the eye, and that a specific layer of the retina was thinner. Even people with mild cognitive impairment did not show these changes. “This project meets a huge unmet need,” said Dr. Sharon Fekrat, a professor of ophthalmology at Duke. “It’s not possible for current techniques, like a brain scan or lumbar puncture (spinal tap), to screen the number of patients with this disease. “Almost everyone has a family member or extended family affected by Alzheimer’s. We need to detect the disease earlier and introduce treatments earlier.”

Confirmed by Israeli study Because genes play a significant role in

how Alzheimer’s disease begins and progresses, another team of researchers, from Sheba Medical Center in Israel, examined 400 people who had a family history of the disease but showed no symptoms themselves. They compared their retina and brain scans with those who have no family history of Alzheimer’s. They found that the inner layer of the retina is thinner in people with a family history. The brain scan showed that their hippocampus, an area of the brain that’s first affected by the disease, had already begun to shrink. Both factors, a thinner inner retina layer and smaller hippocampus, were associated with scoring worse on a cognitive function test. “A brain scan can detect Alzheimer’s when the disease is well beyond a treatable phase,” said lead researcher Dr.Ygal Rotenstreich, an ophthalmologist at the Goldschleger Eye Institute at Sheba Medical Center. “We need treatment intervention sooner. These patients are at such high risk.”

Why dog lovers have better heart health By Steve Calechman Are you a “dog person”? You know, one of those people who talks about their dogs all the time, shares photo after photo online (or, worse, in person), and considers their dog as a semi-human member of the family? (In the interest of full disclosure, I am a dog person.) If you are, here’s a medical news story that may confirm what you’ve suspected all along. And if you aren’t a dog person, this may confirm your suspicion that researchers can prove just about anything they want. According to a recent study, your risk of having a cardiovascular event (such as stroke or heart attack) and your risk of death are lower if you have a dog. Some of the proposed explanations for this might surprise you. This study reviewed the health and death records of more than 3 million people in Sweden ages 40 to 80 over more than a decade, and found that: Compared with people in multi-person households without dogs, people living in multi-person households with dogs had a risk of death that was 11 percent lower,

and risk of death due to a cardiovascular cause that was 15 percent lower. These findings were even more dramatic for those living alone. Risk of death was 33 percent lower among dog owners, cardiovascular deaths were lower by 36 percent, and the risk of heart attack was 11 percent lower. The benefit was greater for owners of certain breeds of dogs, such as retrievers and terriers.

What’s the connection? The most obvious explanation for why dogs might provide their owners with certain health advantages is that dog owners tend to be more active. For many people, taking their dogs out of the house or apartment several times a day to “do their business,” and walking their dogs, is far more physical activity than their dogless neighbors get. And this could explain why more active dog breeds (such as retrievers) are associated with the greatest benefit, and why single people (who must shoulder the entire “burden” of walking the dog) benefit the most.

But there are other potential explanations that researchers have considered, including: — Improved immune function. Believe it or not, having a dog that brings dirt and germs into the home could improve how the immune system functions, and reduce harmful inflammation in the body. — Modifying the microbiome. The huge number of bacteria in our digestive tracts changes not only with changes in diet, but also with pet ownership. It’s possible that having a dog alters the types of bacteria we harbor, which in turn could affect inflammation in the body and resultant cardiovascular risk. — Social impact. Dog owners must, to at least some degree, focus outside themselves, which can promote social interaction. In addition, dog owners tend to bond with one another as their dogs play together and check each other out. Past research has found that social contact is linked with lower cardiovascular risk and rates of death. — Improved mood. Some have proposed that the unconditional affection and companionship of dogs can improve mood, and through this effect improve health.

Will a dog extend your life? Not so fast. This study only found that dog owners tend to live longer and have fewer heart attacks than those without dogs. But that does not prove dog ownership itself is the reason. Maybe healthier, more active people get dogs more often than sedentary people, and it’s that self-selection that accounts for the observations of this latest research. It’s also possible that economic factors play an important role. Dog ownership can be expensive, and those who can most afford to own a dog might receive better healthcare, have better health insurance, or have healthier lifestyles. While the researchers tried to account for some of these possibilities, excluding some contribution from other “non-dog” factors is challenging. We’ll need to have a better understanding of whether dog ownership itself truly provides health benefits and just how it works. Naturally, similar questions will arise regarding cats and other pets. See DOG LOVERS, page 10

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Arthritis pain continues after weight loss Dear Mayo Clinic: Nine months ago, I lost a significant amount of weight after being told doing so should help with pain from osteoarthritis. I now have a healthy body mass index, but my joints still hurt. Why is that? What else can I do to lessen my symptoms? Answer: By losing weight, you have definitely improved your overall health, and you’ve decreased the risk that your arthritis symptoms will worsen. Unfortunately, weight loss doesn’t reverse the effects of osteoarthritis on your joints. That means weight loss alone usually isn’t enough to completely eliminate pain and other symptoms caused by osteoarthritis.

But, along with maintaining your weight loss, exercising regularly, taking medication and participating in physical therapy all can help you manage arthritis pain. Osteoarthritis is sometimes called wearand-tear arthritis because it often develops over time as the cartilage within joints breaks down. Cartilage is the hard, slick coating that cushions the ends of your bones and allows them to move freely. In time, the cartilage may wear away completely, so bone grinds directly on bone, causing pain and making it hard to move the joint. Other common symptoms of arthritis — in addition to pain and loss of flexibility — include joint stiffness, redness and swelling.

Added stress on joints Being overweight or obese significantly raises the risk of developing osteoarthritis in the hips, knees and spine. That’s because extra weight places added pressure and strain on those joints, putting the cartilage at higher risk for damage. In addition, fat tissue produces proteins that may cause harmful inflammation in and around your joints that contributes to osteoarthritis. Losing weight decreases stress on the joints. That makes it less likely the cartilage will break down further. Weight loss also may help lessen inflammation, and that can reduce arthritis symptoms. However, weight loss can’t fix the damage that’s already been done to cartilage. And once cartilage begins to break down, that process cannot be reversed. So, while weight loss is an excellent step in helping to manage arthritis symptoms, it typically needs to be coupled with other therapies to most effectively minimize the inflammation and pain caused by osteoarthritis.

Physical therapy can help Physical therapy, in particular, can be useful for easing arthritis symptoms. A physical therapist can work with you to create an exercise program that strengthens the muscles around your joints, increases your range of motion and reduces pain. Regular, gentle exercise that you do on

Medicare health coverage for the whole you Enroll by December 7

Starting at

monthly plan premiums

Call me today to learn more AUSTIN KIM

1-703-256-0300 (TTY: 711)

9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET, Mon. – Fri. A licensed agent will answer your call.

nskimfss@gmail.com

Innovation Health is a HMO, PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal. See Evidence of Coverage for a complete description of plan !"!#$%&'!()*+%,-"%&'*,.,$/$,-"%'/"0')-"0,$,-"%'-1')-2!3/4!5' Plan features and availability may vary by service area. © 2018 All rights reserved. © 2018 Innovation Health Insurance Company and Innovation Health Plan, Inc. Y0123_4002_13010_M Accepted 08/2018 71.12.335.1 VA (8/18)

Dog lovers From page 9 Until we know more, the apparent health benefits of dog ownership should be encouraging to dog people every-

your own, such as biking, swimming or walking, also can help. Your physical therapist can give you suggestions for the activities that will work best for your situation. Some people find that movement therapies, such as yoga and tai chi, help ease osteoarthritis pain and increase their range of motion. These therapies involve gentle exercises and stretches combined with deep breathing. If you’re interested in trying tai chi or yoga, ask your physical therapist to recommend an instructor. It’s important to work with someone who understands how to provide guidance to people with arthritis, so the exercises don’t harm your joints. You also may need medication to control arthritis symptoms. Nonprescription pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, usually can help ease pain. Prescription drugs, including stronger nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, also can reduce inflammation. In addition, if you smoke, quit. Smoking is related to accelerated damage of connective tissues, and developing arthritis and pain from arthritis. Talk with your healthcare provider about creating a treatment plan to help you deal with arthritis. With your weight loss, you’ve already tackled one of the more difficult parts of controlling this disease. Working with your provider, you can find ways to reSee ARTHRITIS PAIN, page 12

where. And if you aren’t a dog person, this latest research might convince you to become one. © 2018. President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Health Shorts New drug shortens, eases flu symptoms U.S. health regulators have approved the first new type of flu drug in two decades. The approval of Xofluza for people age 12 and older comes just ahead of the brunt of this winter’s flu season. Xofluza is a pill that can reduce severity and shorten duration of flu symptoms after one just dose. It was developed by the Roche Group and Shionogi & Co. It works about as well as Tamiflu, Roche’s older flu treatment, which is also available in cheaper generic versions. Tamiflu is taken twice daily for five days. Health officials have said an estimated 80,000 Americans died of flu and its complications last winter, the disease’s highest death toll in at least four decades. The severe flu season increased demand for Tamiflu and led to spot shortages. Roche’s Genentech unit launched Xofluza in November. It costs $150 without insurance. The need for only one dose is an advantage since patients don’t always take all their medicine, said Dr. Mark Eisner,

Genentech’s head of development of infectious disease medicines. “With thousands of people getting the flu every year, and many people becoming seriously ill, having safe and effective treatment alternatives is critical. This novel drug provides an important, additional treatment option,” said U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said in a statement. In company testing on 1,064 people, Xofluza ended coughing, sneezing and fever, or greatly reduced symptoms, in just over two days on average. A comparison group given Tamiflu fared similarly. While Xofluza didn’t work faster than Tamiflu, it did reduce the level of the virus in patients’ noses and throats quicker. Further testing is planned to determine whether Xofluza is better than Tamiflu for preventing spread of the flu to others, and for treating patients at high risk for hospitalization and pneumonia, such as people with diabetes or lung disease, pregnant women, young children and the elderly.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

patients with diabetes, new research suggests, reinforcing evidence that benefits extend beyond weight loss. The study tracked about 20,000 severely obese patients with Type 2 diabetes. Those who had weight loss surgery had a 40 per-

cent lower chance of developing a heart attack or stroke in the five years following surgery compared to those who got usual care with diabetes medicines or insulin. See HEALTH SHORTS, page 12

Weight loss surgery may lessen diabetics’ heart attack risk Obesity surgery may dramatically lower the danger of heart attacks and strokes in

BURGER MONDAY $ 5.99 CLASSIC BURGERS

W/ SEASONED FRIES

TACO TUESDAY $ 5.99 TWO TACOS

W/ CHIPS & SALSA

RIB WEDNESDAY $10.99 HALF PORTION, CORNBREAD & SEASONED FRIES

NACHO THURSDAY $ 5.99 HALF ORDER OF CHILI NACHOS

FRIDAY FISH FRY $ 9.99 DINE IN ONLY

$ 5 OFF $ 25 WITH THIS COUPON. NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS, DISCOUNTS OR PROMOTIONS. ONE COUPON PER TABLE, PLEASE. VALID AT ALL LOCATIONS IN NOVA, MD AND WV. EXPIRES 3/31/19. G002

SEE WWW.GLORYDAYSGRILL.COM/LOCATIONS FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF LOCATIONS.

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

RESPITE TRIPS FOR CAREGIVERS

Road Scholar offers a special grant for caregivers, which provides financial assistance for unpaid family caregivers who are 50 and older to experience an enriching learning adventure — a way to gain some muchneeded respite. The program will pay for an entire trip that costs $1,300 or less. Eligible caregivers should be U.S. residents age 50 and older, unpaid, and the primary caregiver of a loved one. (They may live in a senior care community or be receiving additional assistance as well.) For more information or to apply, visit http://bit.ly/RoadScholarCaregiverGrants.

Dec. 7

HOW TO GET MORE ZZZZ’S

Learn practical strategies for developing better sleep habits from Gwendolyn Beck, a gerontologist with Virginia Hospital Center, on Friday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. at Aurora Hills Senior Center, 735 S. 18th St., Arlington, Va. Beck will discuss the most common sleep problems, how to identify behaviors that may signal a problem, common self-care skills for insomnia, and professional resources for when self-care isn’t enough. For more information or to register, call (703) 228-5722.

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Health shorts From page 11 For every 1,000 patients in the study who had surgery there were roughly 20 heart attacks or strokes, compared to 40 such events per 1,000 who got regular care. More than 30 million Americans have diabetes, mostly Type 2 where the body loses the ability to produce or use insulin to turn food into energy. Other research has shown obesity surgery can reverse and even prevent diabetes. Taken together, it means doctors should discuss weight loss surgery more often, said study co-author Dr. David Arterburn of Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle. Doctors usually mention insulin and pills, “but it’s not always brought up that weight loss surgery is another available treatment option,” Arterburn said. The study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, can’t prove cause and effect because patients weren’t randomly assigned to get surgery.

Arthritis pain From page 10 duce your symptoms and control your osteoarthritis now and in the long run. — Eric Matteson, M.D., Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational re-

The researchers tried to match patients for gender, age, blood sugar levels and other factors. But other things they didn’t account for could have contributed to the surgery patients’ better results. Of the more than 5,300 who had surgery, most had gastric bypass, the most common type of stomach-shrinking operation. Some had gastric sleeve or gastric band procedures. The rest, nearly 15,000 people, had usual care. Obesity surgery can cost $20,000 to $25,000. Insurers are increasingly covering it, but some impose strict limits. The new findings suggest insurance coverage should be expanded for the right patients, Dr. Sayeed Ikramuddin of the University of Minnesota wrote in an accompanying editorial. Surgery is thought to help by affecting hormones, gut bacteria, and other substances that affect how the body handles insulin and blood sugar. Weight loss without surgery also helps, but is difficult for many people to achieve. — AP

source and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to MayoClinicQ&A@ mayo.edu. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org. © 2018 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Dec. 11

CAREGIVER CALL Fairfax County’s free Family Caregiver Telephone Support Group meets by phone on Tuesday, Dec. 11 from 7 to 8 p.m. The topic is

“Open Discussion and Wrap Up on 2018 Topics.” Register beforehand at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/OlderAdults and click on “Caregiver Support/Respite.” For more information, call (703) 324-5376, TTY 711.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N â&#x20AC;&#x201D; D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Bullying can affect older adults, too What do you think of when you hear the havior is quite common among youth. term “bullying?” Perhaps you envision a According to surveys, 28 percent of U.S. small child being beaten up students in grades 6 to 12 have experienced bullying. Even in by an older boy on the school high schools, when you might playground, or a group of think people have matured middle school girls gossiping somewhat, one in five U.S. stuabout the “nerdy” kid in class. dents say they have been vicBut bullying isn’t limited to timized. these types of scenarios as Child or teenage bullies may much as stories in the media may suggest. In fact, bullying choose to behave in this manis not experienced solely by ner due to a desire for power, the younger generation; it can popularity, or in response to an impact a person of any age, at GENERATIONS arbitrary prejudice or peer presTOGETHER any time, and in a wide variety sure. They may bully others by By Alexis Bentz of ways. excluding them, spreading rumors, and verbally disparaging, In part this is because bullying can take many forms of unwanted, ag- or even physically hurting, them. gressive and repeated behavior. Besides the obvious physical and verbal forms, there are Older adult bullies Still, the immaturity of a bully doesn’t relational bullying (attempts to destroy the reputation or relationships of the individual), necessarily fade with age. Surprisingly perhaps, many older adults have also been and damage to another’s property. In addition, cyberbullying — in which peo- victims — or perpetrators — of bullying. Information collected from various nursple target their victims via social media and cell phone correspondence — has also come ing homes, assisted living facilities, and senior centers throughout the nation corto be seen as a serious form of bullying. roborates this notion. Nearly 7,000 comToo common in schools plaints of resident-to-resident conflict in A large part of the reason we initially visu- nursing homes and assisted living facilities alize a child or teenager as both culprit and were reported by the National Ombudsvictim of a bullying encounter is that the be- man Reporting System in 2013 alone.

And Robin Bonifas, a social work professor at Arizona State University and author of the book Bullying Among Older Adults: How to Recognize and Address an Unseen Epidemic, found that studies suggest about 1 in 5 seniors encounters bullying from their peers. “There’s the clique system just like everywhere else,” Betsy Gran, a former San Francisco senior center assistant director, told the Associated Press earlier this year. “It’s like Mean Girls, but everyone is 80.” Some older adults may find themselves reverting to this immature behavior due to physical pain, fear, loneliness or vulnerability. The bullying exhibited by these older adults generally takes on the form of exclusion, rumors and verbal abuse. But in extreme cases, even physical abuse occurs. Sound familiar? Clearly, not much has changed since high school for many of these individuals.

What you can do Regardless of age, bullying can have a severely negative impact on victim’s lives. It can lead to enhanced feelings of isolation, terror and anxiety, and could even lead to suicidal thoughts or actions. This is why it is so essential that those being bullied — as well as those who are doing the bullying — get help…from you. Despite the prevalence of bullying in today’s

society, there are a myriad of things that people, younger and older, can do to keep bullies at bay. First, if you observe someone bullying another, intervening on behalf of the victim can dramatically improve conditions. The most effective way to do so is as follows: Do not provoke the bully, but look them directly in the eye and politely ask them to stop. This method is simple, but it works; bystander intervention has been shown to stop bullies about half the time. In response to bullying toward kids, parents and grandparents can participate in preventing hostility by having discussions with their children and grandchildren about the negative impact of bullying, their responsibility to speak up if they witness bullying, and the importance of spreading love rather than hate. In fact, having these kinds of discussions can be just as useful among older adults. Encourage open conversations among visitors to senior centers and residents of retirement communities about the topic. Additional helpful steps include working to develop a code of conduct intolerant of bullying, providing confidential bullying reporting processes, and offering counseling to victims. See BULLYING, page 17

TECHNOLOGY SIMPLIFIED – BIGGER AND BETTER

Wow! A Simple to Use Computer Designed Especially for Seniors! Easy to read. Easy to see. Easy to use. Just plug it in! There is finally a for help. Until now, computer that’s the very people who designed for simplicity could benefit most and ease of use. It’s from E-mail and the WOW Computer, the Internet are the and it was designed ones that have had with you in mind. This the hardest time computer is easy-toaccessing it. Now, use, worry-free and thanks to the WOW literally puts the world Computer, countless at your fingertips. older Americans From the moment you are discovering the open the box, you’ll wonderful world of realize how different the Internet every the WOW Computer is. The components are all day. Isn’t it time you took part? Call now, and connected; all you do is plug it into an outlet and you’ll find out why tens of thousands of satisfied your high-speed Internet connection. Then you’ll seniors are now enjoying their WOW Computers, see the screen. This is a completely new touch emailing their grandchildren, and experiencing screen system, without the cluttered look of the everything the Internet has to offer. Call today! normal computer screen. The “buttons” on the Call toll free now and find out how you screen are easy to see and easy to understand. can get your own WOW! Computer. All you do is touch one of them, from the Web, Email, Calendar to Games– you name it… and a new screen opens up. It’s so easy to use you won’t have to ask your children or grandchildren Mention promotional code 110551 for special introductory pricing.

NEW Now comes with... Larger 22-inch hi-resolution screen – easier to see 16% more viewing area Simple navigation – so you never get lost Intel® processor – lightning fast Computer is in the monitor – No bulky tower Text to Speech translation – it can even read your emails to you! U.S. Based Customer Service

FREE Automatic Software Updates

84101

1-888-822-9251

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Antibiotics an alternative for appendicitis By Dr. Howard LeWine Q: A friend was recently treated with antibiotics for appendicitis. I thought appendicitis required an operation. What’s changed? A: For more than 100 years, appendicitis was considered an emergency that required immediate surgery to remove the appendix (an appendectomy). Today a course of antibiotics offers a safe alternative in many cases. Before we had CT scans and ultrasounds, doctors had to diagnose appendicitis based on the patient’s symptoms and the physical exam. Good diagnosticians got it right about 85 percent of the time. So it was very acceptable to remove a normal appendix once out of every seven surgeries. That’s because surgeons were most worried about missing a severely infected appendix or one that had ruptured. Nobody would consider running a study to compare antibiotics alone to surgery for symptoms of acute appendicitis. But when CT scans came into common use, doctors had a great tool to help diag-

nose the cause of abdominal pain. With the detailed pictures CT scans provide, doctors can determine who has “mild” inflammation of the appendix that has little chance of developing into an abscess or rupturing. This opened the door to consider antibiotic treatment as an alternative to immediate appendectomy. Doctors began offering antibiotics to some patients with simple appendicitis. Nine years ago, researchers launched a formal study comparing the two strategies. The study included 530 adults with simple appendicitis diagnosed by CT scan. They were randomly assigned to have surgery right away or to take antibiotics. The researchers just reported the longterm study results in the Journal of American Medical Association. For those that were assigned to antibiotic treatment, 39 percent had recurrent appendicitis over the next five years. Most recurrences occurred within the first 12 months. The surgery patients in the study had a traditional open appendectomy. Today it’s more common to have a laparoscopic proce-

dure. This is done through small incisions. Recovery is much faster than with the larger incision needed for open appendectomy. When I had appendicitis three years ago, I was offered antibiotics or surgery. I chose immediate laparoscopic appendectomy. I didn’t want risk a recurrence, especially since I like to travel, and I was able to adapt my work schedule without much hassle. Someone else with appendicitis might have different priorities. He or she may find it very inconvenient to have immedi-

ate surgery, and would rather postpone an operation, or not have one at all unless appendicitis recurs. Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, please visit www.health.harvard.edu. © 2018 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Tell them you saw it in the Beacon!

GIF FT

OUR T O YOU THIS T

HOLID AY SEASO ON...

PE AC CE

OF F MIND

Whether your o wish list is fo or a worry-f ree retirem ment or fo or the care an nd comfo ort of profe es ssional caregivers.... THE CROSS SINGS CA AN MAKE YO YOUR WISHES COM ME TRUE. YOU’RE IN V ITED T O E XP L ORE OUR C OMMUNITIES O & EN JOY L UNCH ON US! U

SPRING HILL

CHANTIL LLY Y

Lorton, VA A | 571.348.4970

H ndon, VA Her A | 703.9 994.4561

TheCrossingsA g tSpringHill.com

INDEPENDENT LIVING

ASSISTED LIVING

TheCrossingsAtChan ntilly.com

MEMORY CARE

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Advice for millennials with aging parents By Kaitlin Pitsker Even if your parents are active and healthy, there comes a time when you realize they may need a little help as they age. While Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m hopeful that my parents, who are in their early 60s and in good health, wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need much assistance from me for another 10 or 15 years, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve already started asking about their retirement plans and what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll expect of me in the years to come. Growing up, I saw my mother and her siblings care for my grandmother for decades, which was both rewarding and challenging. And as an only child, I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but think how much harder those tasks could be without siblings to consult with and share responsibilities.

Many millennial caregivers An estimated 10 million millennials are already acting as caregivers for a parent, in-law, grandparent or other adult, according to a recent report by AARPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Public Policy Institute. In time, more of us will step into this role. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Economic factors, including the student loan crisis, stagnant wages and the rising cost of elder care, are combining in a dangerous way that makes caring for aging parents different for millennials than it was for previous generations,â&#x20AC;? said Grace Whiting, president of the National Caregiving Alliance. The AARP report found that millennial caregivers spend an average of 21 hours a week caring for older adults. Those with outof-pocket caregiving expenses spend nearly

Regardless of the Weather Outside,

It's Always Cozy Here.

$7,000 a year on caregiving-related transportation, home modifications, legal fees and medical costs, which can put a significant strain on your career and financial goals. Have the talk. Even if your parents are still relatively young, it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t too early to ask them what they might need, and what they expect of you as they age. Start with their retirement goals and finances â&#x20AC;&#x201D; when they hope to retire (or cut back on work) and where they want to live. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no need for them to divulge every detail of their finances and plans. Instead, aim to get a sense of both their financial and physical health, said Jeremy Torgerson, founder of nVest Advisors, in Brighton, Colo. Also ask your parents what their expectations are for later in retirement, when they may need help on a daily or weekly basis â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who they hope will provide that assistance and how theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll pay for it. The cost of paid long-term care adds up quickly. Medicare typically wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cover home healthcare, adult day care or nursing homes. The median cost of a home health aide nationwide is $22 per hour, or almost $46,000 a year for 40 hours a week, and a private room at a nursing home averages $267 a day, according to Genworth Financial. Costs are higher in the Washington area, where home health aides are about $23 per hour, and a nursing home private room averages $387 a day.

What to ask about Do your parents have a long-term-care

insurance policy to cover at least some of these expenses? Or do they plan to rely on other sources, such as savings or the sale of their home, to cover the costs? Find out whether they expect to live near you or one of your siblings â&#x20AC;&#x201D; perhaps they would move to a retirement community in your city. Or they may be counting on you to visit them frequently, or even hope to move in with you. To avoid legal and financial problems if an illness or accident occurs, ask your parents where they keep estate-planning documents, including a will and powers of attorney for finances and healthcare. Such topics arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t easy to discuss, and families often need to start small, said Carol Craigie, a certified financial planner in Denver who runs online classes for adult children and their parents. Talk about general concerns at first and get more specific over time. As for my family, we have penciled in a time to chat during my visit with them next month. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll pour some wine and talk about their recent trips to potential retirement destinations. I also plan to ask how their retirement savings are shaping up, and what role theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hoping Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll play as they get older. With any luck, there will be good news, a few laughs, and a general agreement about plans that I hope we wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to use anytime soon. ÂŠ 2018, Kiplinger. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

New! Submit classifieds online. See box on page 55.

Stay warm and comfortable, regardless of the season! Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what Friendship Terrace is forâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;we eliminate the hassles of winter, allowing you to do the things you enjoy! No more shoveling snow or driving on icy roads to get to the grocery store. Our maintenance-free apartments, experienced team members, and on-site dining options allow you to stay safe and secure, regardless of the weather. And if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re concerned about â&#x20AC;&#x153;cabin fever,â&#x20AC;? youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll !"#$%&'!"()#!'&*+,-%.#/!"#/#0&"'#1/%&'2)#-$#/32&1&2&'.#/1/&(/,('#2-# keep you entertained.

BCAT $&35*'*&%

ALFREDHOUSE Learn more about affordable, independent senior lliving! Call 202-244-7400 (TRS 711) to schedule a visit. FriendshipTerrace.org 1-800-643-3769 DC RELAY SERVICE â&#x20AC;˘ 1-800-643-3768 TTY 4201 Butterworth Place, NW, Washington, DC 20016

ASSISTED LIVING M E M O RY C A R E

0GGFSJOH CPVUJRVF BTTJTUFE MJWJOH DPNNVOJUJFT TQFDJBMJ[JOH JO NFNPSZ DBSF NFOUBM IFBMUI TVQQPSU BOE NPSF

Schedule your tour today.

XXX BMGSFEIPVTF DPN

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Caregivers: don’t neglect your own health By Lauran Neergaard Skipping your checkup but not your mom’s? Caring for an older loved one is a balancing act, and a new poll shows that too often it’s the caregivers’ health that’s neglected. The survey, by the Associated PressNORC Center for Public Affairs Research, found about a third of caregivers have gone without a routine physical or dental care, skipped or didn’t schedule a test or treatment, or even forgot to fill a prescription or failed to see a doctor for their own illness or injury because they were too busy with their caregiving duties. Doctors miss opportunities to help. Most caregivers go to medical appointments with the seniors they care for, yet the poll found they’re less likely to get information about self-care, support pro-

Bullying From page 14 If you are victimized, never be afraid to speak to a trusted adult. For kids, this may mean a parent, teacher or counselor, while for older adults it could be someone like a staff member or boss. You and your grandchild (or younger friend in the community) can work together to advocate for anti-bullying in your commu-

grams, or other services during those visits than if they make time to see their own physicians for advice. “We have a long, long way to go until this is a routine part of practice,” said AARP long-term care specialist Lynn Feinberg. “This survey really points out the need to look at both the person and the family.”

Full-time job for many Four in 10 Americans have provided long-term care to an older relative or friend, a volunteer workforce that’s growing as the population ages. The AP-NORC survey found that for nearly a quarter of them, especially caregivers who are over 40, the amount of time spent on caregiving duties is equivalent to a full-time job. Most informal caregivers view their role as key to their identity. But it can be diffinity. Brainstorm strategies about how to handle cruelty from peers. Learn about the psychological aspects of bullying, including why some individuals may feel the need to talk down to others, and whom they target. Bullying is not something to be taken lightly. We can all do something to help prevent it. Alexis Bentz is an 11th grade student at Thomas Wootton High School in Rockville, Md.

cult to meet their own physical and mental health needs. Nearly 40 percent of caregivers have a health problem, physical disability or mental health condition that impacts their daily life or limits their activities, the poll found. More than a quarter of caregivers say it’s difficult to manage their own health along with the caregiving duties. Even more who have chronic conditions, 40 percent, find it a struggle. Deborah Ecker and her husband recent-

ly moved her fiercely independent elderly parents into their Pennsylvania home, spurred by some frightening hospitalizations. Ecker’s father, at 89, requires fulltime oxygen for emphysema and had contracted pneumonia. Her mother, 88, was hospitalized with congestive heart failure and severely high blood pressure. “I’ve thrown myself into this, and I’m not sorry,” said Ecker, 61, who with her husSee CAREGIVERS, page 18

The Sanctuary a Mount Jezreel Senior Housing Community

Affordable senior housing just built in Silver Spring, MD **MOVE-IN SPECIAL: Move in by 12/31/18 receive 1 month FREE**

Feel a sense of home at The Sanctuary. Live among other seniors in a brand-new, safe and affordable community. Your new apartment home has a spacious !!"#$%&'#()*+#,!-."'#-./)0'#&'-# appliances. Apply now! Call (301) 960-0341. Income restrictions apply.

426 University Boulevard East, Silver Spring, MD 20901 01 www.TheSanctuaryatMountJezreel.com

RELAX WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT STANDING BACK UP The Ascent Lift Chair is a comfortable and elegant recliner. It features a discrete lift mechanism that helps you stand up when you are ready. We proudly carry both Healthy Back and Golden Technologies brand lift chairs

Sale Ends 12/31 Save up to $800 on the Ascent lift chair

LIFT CHAIR

25% OFF

LIFT CHAIRS

You’re Invited! Holiday Open House Saturday, Dec. 8 | 1pm-4pm

Celebrate the holidays with live entertainment and festive fare from our own Chef Brandon Williams. Take a tour and peek inside our model apartments decorated with all things merry and bright! RSVP: (301) 915-9217 or Email: jberkman@5ssl.com 8100 Connecticut Avenue | Chevy Chase, MD 20815 www.FiveStarPremier-chevychase.com A F I V E S TA R S E N I O R L I V I N G C O M M U N I T Y

BACK HEALTHY

HOLIDAY SALEE STORE WID OFFERS

OFFICE CHAIRS

MATTRESSES

HealthyBack.com

INVERSION

888-469-2225

PILLOWS

LUMBAR SUPPORTS

/HealthyBack

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Caregivers From page 17 band is a missionary. but for now isn’t accompanying him on their ministry travels. “They deserve to be taken care of. They’re so loving and generous.” But a few months ago, Ecker realized she needed to pay more attention to her own health. She’d undergone successful cancer

treatment in 2016 but is overweight, and the hours of exercise that once were routine have fallen by the wayside. A post-hospitalization monitoring program from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center gave Ecker more confidence in caring for her mother, and she was able to carve out time to see her own doctor. Insulin resistance was putting on pounds, Ecker learned, and she started medication

BEACON BITS

Dec. 19

THYROID CANCER TALK

Hope Connections for Cancer Support presents a discussion with Dr. Jill Paulson from George Washington University on thyroid cancer, including how it’s treated and what’s new in treatment on Monday, Dec. 19, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Md. RSVP required at (301) 634-7500. Program is free for anyone affected by cancer. For more information, email info@hopeconnectionsforcancer.org.

Waltonwood Welcomes You Home for the Holidays

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

and a dietary program. Next she’s planning how to work in exercise time. “I feel like I’m on track,” Ecker said. “At the end of this I want to be strong enough and healthy enough to have a life of my own.”

Ask their docs for advice The AP-NORC poll found only a quarter of caregivers talk with their own doctors about their caregiving responsibilities — but among those who did, half received information about caregiving support services and three-quarters learned important information about self-care. In contrast, the vast majority of caregivers accompany the person they assist to medical appointments, usually going into the exam rather than staying in the waiting room. Yet fewer than 40 percent gleaned advice on caregiver resources during those visits. Caregivers and their charges “should be treated simultaneously,” said University of Pittsburgh aging specialist Richard Schulz. “They should be looked at as a unit,” because if the caregiver burns out, the patient may have no one left. The health system marginalizes care-

givers partly because there’s no way to bill for assessing caregivers during someone else’s visit, but also because doctors don’t always know what community resources are available to recommend, Schulz said. Ralph Bencivenga, of New York City, lost so much weight while caring for his terminally ill wife and undergoing his own cancer treatment that he finally sought help from a nutritionist at the Mount Sinai Health System — advice that also paid off as he assumed the couple’s grocery shopping and cooking duties. “I had no idea the kind of stress that put me under,” he said of the overall caregiving duties. The new poll found many caregivers find healthy ways to cope, such as praying, meditating, spending time outdoors or talking about their situation. But 44 percent sleep less, and 17 percent increase alcohol or tobacco use. Read more information from the poll at www.longtermcarepoll.org. An AP-NORC Center video interactive explores the perspectives of informal caregivers at https://interactives.ap.org/ltc-perspectives. — AP

BEACON BITS

Dec. 7

LEARNING INSTITUTE FAIR The Lifelong Learning Institute presents an open house with free

mini lectures, a resource fair, and activities for prospective and current students on Friday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Center for Training Excellence, 900 Hungerford Dr., Rockville, Md. There will be multiple workshops on art, brain fitness, careers, computers, history, politics, wellness and more. To help Montgomery College students in need, bring a non-perishable food item (can or package). Spring registration is available at the event. RSVP strongly recommended. For more information or to RSVP, email Lynda.Schrack@montgomerycollege.edu or call (240) 567-7809.

Waltonwood Ashburn is the premier active adult community in Loudoun County. We provide a carefree lifestyle for seniors who desire social opportunities, luxury amenities, and access to personal care services when needed. With friendly neighbors and attentive associates on site, you’ll feel right at home the moment you step inside.

Ask about our end-of-year specials.

The sooner you move, the more you save!

A SHBURN

Call and schedule a personal tour today.

(571) 982-6318

Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care 44141 Russell Branch Parkway, Ashburn, VA 20147 Waltonwood.com | SinghJobs.com

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N â&#x20AC;&#x201D; D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

Hopes and hype for a drug for depression Fast-acting help Ketamine has been around since the 1960s and is widely used as an anesthesia drug during surgery because it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t suppress breathing. Compared to opioids such as morphine, ketamine isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as addictive and doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cause breathing problems. And some studies have shown that ketamine can ease symptoms within hours for the toughest cases. Its potential effects on depression were discovered in animal experiments in the late 1980s and early 1990s showing that glutamate, a brain chemical messenger, might play a role in depression, and that drugs including ketamine that target the glutamate pathway might work as antidepressants. Conventional antidepressants like Prozac target serotonin, a different chemical messenger, and typically take from weeks to months to kick in â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a lag that can cause severely depressed patients to sink deeper into despair. Ketamineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s potential for almost immediate if temporary relief is what makes it so exciting, said Dr. Jennifer Vande Voort, a Mayo Clinic psychiatrist who has used ketamine to treat depression patients since February.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a lot of things that provide that kind of effect. What I worry about is that it gets so hyped up,â&#x20AC;? she said. The strongest studies suggest itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most useful and generally safe in providing shortterm help for patients who have not benefited from antidepressants. That amounts to about one-third of the roughly 300 million people with depression worldwide. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It truly has revolutionized the field,â&#x20AC;? changing scientistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; views on how depression affects the brain and showing that rapid

relief is possible, said Yale University psychiatrist Dr. Gerard Sanacora, who has done research for, or consulted with, companies seeking to develop ketamine-based drugs.

More study needed But to become standard depression treatment, he said, much more needs to be known. Last year, Sanacora co-authored an AmerSee KETAMINE, page 21

Award-Winning Senior & Assisted Living Community

Where Quality Meets Affordability

C G

proval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating depression, though doctors may use it for that purpose.

ulpepper arden

By Lindsey Tanner It was launched decades ago as an anesthetic for animals and people, became a potent battlefield pain reliever in Vietnam, and morphed into the trippy club drug Special K. Now the chameleon drug ketamine is finding new life as an unapproved treatment for depression and suicidal behavior. Clinics have opened around the United States promising instant relief with their â&#x20AC;&#x153;uniqueâ&#x20AC;? doses of ketamine in IVs, sprays or pills. And desperate patients are shelling out thousands of dollars for treatment often not covered by health insurance, with scant evidence on long-term benefits and risks. [See the Beaconâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Studying drugs for persistent depression,â&#x20AC;? about a local health study on ketamine from 2017 at www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/studyingdrugs-for-persistent-depression.] Chicago preschool teacher Lauren Pestikas long struggled with depression and anxiety and made several suicide attempts before trying ketamine earlier this year. The price tag so far is about $3,000, but â&#x20AC;&#x153;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth every dime and penny,â&#x20AC;? said the 36-year-old. Pestikas said she feels much better for a few weeks after each treatment, but the effects wear off, and she scrambles to find a way to pay for another one. For now, ketamine has not received ap-

4435 N. Pershing Drive Arlington, VA 22203 703-528-0162 VA Relay # 800-828-1120 www.culpeppergarden.org

Coordinated Services Management, Inc. Professional Management of Retirement Communities since 1981

Assisted Living Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2020; Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D;Â&#x203A; Â&#x192;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fit for aâ&#x20AC;Śwell, you know.

Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it about time you were treated like royalty? You bet it is. Come see for yourself just what assisted living Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2020; Â?Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D;Â&#x203A; Â&#x2026;Â&#x192;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021; with A Whole Lotta Heart is all about. Please call 301.200.0928 now to schedule a personal visit Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018; Â&#x2018;Â&#x2014;Â&#x201D; Â?Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D;Â?Â&#x192;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â? Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2013;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D;.

OPENING 201Ĺ â&#x20AC;˘ INFO CENTER NOW OPEN

By appointment only. Call 301.200.0928 to schedule. 13908 New Hampshire Ave â&#x20AC;˘ TheLandingofSilverSpring.com

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Ketamine From page 19 ican Psychiatric Association task force review of ketamine treatment for mood disorders that noted the benefits but said “major gaps” remain in knowledge about long-term effectiveness and safety. Most studies have been small, done in research settings and not in the real world. When delivered through an IV, ketamine can cause a rapid increase in heart rate and blood pressure that could be dangerous for some patients. Ketamine also can cause hallucinations that some patients find scary. “There are some very real concerns,” Sanacora said. “We do know this drug can be abused, so we have to be very careful about how this is developed.” Dr. Rahul Khare, an emergency medicine specialist in Chicago, first learned about ketamine’s other potential benefits a decade ago from a depressed and anxious patient he was preparing to sedate to fix a repeat dislocated shoulder. “He said, ‘Doc, give me what I got last time. For about three weeks after I got it I felt so much better,’” Khare recalled. Khare became intrigued, and earlier this year began offering ketamine for severe depression at an outpatient clinic he opened a few years ago. He also joined the American Society for Ketamine Physicians, formed a year ago representing about 140 U.S. doctors, nurses, psycholo-

gists and others using ketamine for depression or other non-approved uses. There are about 150 U.S. ketamine clinics — including some in the Greater Washington and Greater Baltimore areas — compared with about 20 three years ago, said society co-founder Dr. Megan Oxley. Khare said the burgeoning field “is like a new frontier” where doctors gather at meetings and compare notes. He has treated about 50 patients with depression including Pestikas. They’re typically desperate for relief after failing to respond to other antidepressants.

Costly IV treatments Typical treatment at his clinic involves six 45-minute sessions over about two weeks, costing $550 each. Some insurers will pay about half of that, covering Khare’s office visit cost. “Booster” treatments are also offered. Patients must sign a four-page consent form that says benefits may not be longlasting, lists potential side effects, and in bold letters states that the treatment is not government-approved. At a recent session, Pestikas’s seventh, she leaned back on a reclining white examining-room chair as a nurse hooked her up to a heart and blood pressure monitor. Khare reached up with a syringe to inject a small dose of ketamine into an IV bag hanging above the chair, then dimmed the lights, pulled the window curtains, and asked if she

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

had questions and was feeling OK. “No questions, just grateful,” Pestikas replied, smiling. Pestikas listened to music on her iPhone and watched psychedelic videos. She said it was like “a controlled acid trip” with pleasant hallucinations. The trip ends soon after the IV is removed, but Pestikas said she feels calm and relaxed the rest of the day, and that the mood boost can last weeks. Studies suggest that a single IV dose of ketamine far smaller than used for sedation or partying can help many patients gain relief within about four hours and lasting nearly a week or so. Exactly how ketamine works is unclear, but one idea is that by elevating glutamate levels, ketamine helps nerve cells re-establish connections that were disabled by depression, said ketamine expert Dr. Carlos Zarate, chief of experimental therapies at the National Institute of Mental Health.

A small Stanford University study published in August suggested that ketamine may help relieve depression by activating the brain’s opioid receptors. Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Allergan are among drug companies developing ketamine-like drugs for depression. Janssen leads the effort with its nasal spray esketamine. The company filed a new drug application in September. Meanwhile, dozens of studies are underway seeking to answer some of the unknowns about ketamine, including whether repeat IV treatments work better for depression, and if there’s a way to zero in on which patients are most likely to benefit. Until there are answers, Zarate, of the mental health institute, said ketamine should be a last-resort treatment for depression after other methods have failed. — AP

YOUR TICKET TO AN EXCEPTIONAL LIFE 14400 Homecrest Road Silver Spring, MD 20906

301-598-6424

At Aspenwood Senior Living, you don’t have to give up the lifestyle you love to get the care you need. In fact, through our Lifestyle360 program, we’ll bring your favorite entertainment to you. Join us for an upcoming event and see how we make every day exceptional.

Saturday, December 8th 3:30 PM Performance by Renowned Classical Pianist, Thomas Pandolfi

Tuesday, January 1st 3:30 PM Ring in the New Year with a classy jazz concert

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Older Muslims From page 1 programs for older adults with those who need them, reaching out to underserved communities in a culturally sensitive way. The 37 AMSS Health and Long TermCare Outreach ambassadors are generally older than 50 themselves, selected from the county’s 11 Islamic centers. They have attended 18 training sessions not only to become familiar with issues of aging and local services, but to help them better understand the needs of the diverse population of older Muslims.

Unique needs Older Muslims may have a hard time accessing services because they do not speak English well. Meals in the hospital or at senior centers may not be halal (food permissi-

ble by Islamic law). And many may feel adrift because their children aren’t able, or live too far away, to provide care. “Part of Islamic culture is that parents are holy, and serving them is not only a beauty, but will gain you a reward in heaven,” Negm said. “Therefore, a lot of our tradition is to take care of our parents and serve them in every way possible.” As a result, when older Muslims need help beyond their families, it’s hard for them to reach out. “It’s like airing your dirty laundry, saying I can’t depend on my kids, and I don’t have enough money,” Negm said. She said an older adult called her recently and said, “Please, please don’t tell anyone I need help.” “The tradition is, ‘I can’t say I need help. That will reflect badly on my kids.’ Then kids feel tremendous guilt,” Negm added. From this, Negm deduced the need to

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

train fellow Muslims to identify isolated seniors and their caregivers, and reach out and offer assistance to their peers. “Ambassadors are known in their community. That is so important. [For example,] they know me. I’ve done outreach, corresponded for years. They know Mama Mona. If they get a stranger to say the same words [of help], they’re going to block them out,” she said. AMSS also intends to offer intergenerational and interfaith educational programs of interest to diverse communities. The interest in AMSS’s early programs has confirmed that it is identifying and addressing a need, Negm said. At the October community dialogue, 125 older adults and family members showed up at the IMMAM Center in Silver Spring, which serves primarily Indonesians. They had to turn 25 people away as the room was only large enough for 100. At the November dialogue in Gaithersburg, 70 people crowded into the room. They divided into smaller groups, each led by an ambassador, to determine the most pressing needs for themselves and their families. Ranking priorities, the attendees said that transportation, home healthcare, recreation and respite care were the most important areas in which they needed help. County officials at the program discussed such options as free Ride On bus rides for seniors, and a new program that

offers daily phone calls to older adults who request them. These needs echo those found in a 2016 national survey of Muslim seniors by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. As in the Washington area, Muslims come from a diversity of cultures, from Arab Americans to African Americans, and needs vary to some degree by population. Those of Arab and Middle Eastern descent reported the highest need for support, while South Asians reported the highest need for home care. Overall, men tend to support traditional family roles for caregiving, while women have a more pragmatic approach to both care and social needs, and are more willing to seek long-term care options outside the home.

Ambassadors reach out Salma and Farouq Musa became ambassadors together. The Silver Spring couple has cared for Farouq’s mother, who has dementia, for seven years. They said Negm helped find a program for her. “We didn’t know about so many programs the county offers for seniors. We wanted to pass this [information] on to other seniors in the community,” Salma said. Gihan Tammam is one of the younger ambassadors. She said she joined because, See OLDER MUSLIMS, page 23

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

VOLUNTEER TO WORK FROM HOME Meals on Wheels Group is looking for coordinators in Chantilly

and Centreville, Va. Enjoy doing administrative work from home and talking with fellow volunteers? This position is for you. For more information, contact Volunteer Solutions at (703) 324-5406 or VolunteerSolutions@fairfaxcounty.gov, or visit http://bit.ly/FairfaxCoVolunteerSolutions.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Older Muslims From page 22 “I like to help people. I have been volunteering in many places and found that it would be good to help seniors because one day I will be a senior. “Especially in this country, when you are from a different culture, with people from many different countries, you need to feel whole,” said Tammam, who immigrated from Egypt and lives in Rockville. “Something like this makes you feel good, especially with Mama Mona. She is very good, and we all feel like her daughters. She inspires us all. My parents are not living here yet, but I see seniors in the community you can help who don’t have families.” Ambassador Aizat Oladapo said she cares for her parents in Nigeria from afar. She is a program manager with Montgomery County’s Dept. of Health and Human Services, so she is familiar with the resources available to older adults. “But it’s really difficult to get that [information] out into the community, she said. “Now that senior programs have started springing up in all the mosques, it’s easier

to give out the information. “[The AMSS dialogue] was a good example, giving voice for the first time about the needs people have. So now we take that back to our own senior programs,” Oladapo said. In the coming year, the ambassadors will help implement priorities determined at the dialogues, and more may be trained to help. AMSS would also like to hold an interfaith dialogue to reach out to churches with primarily Hispanic and African American congregations, as well as to synagogues. Other priorities listed on the group’s website include offering cultural sensitivity training for health and long-term care providers, advocating on behalf of those most in need, and identifying gaps in research and services. “And then we want to take it nationwide,” Negm said. “It’s a partnership. It’s an innovative design. People bought into it. People welcome it and started adopting it. “I couldn’t do it by myself. It had to be done by the whole community.” More information about the American Muslim Senior Society is available at www.amssmd.org.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

KENNEDY CENTER VOLUNTEERS

The Kennedy Center is looking for “Friends of the Kennedy Center” volunteers to provide administrative support, work as tour guides, assist in gift shops, provide information to customers and more. Rewards include discounts at the KC Café and gift shops, and occasional free tickets. For more information, visit www.kennedy-center.org/pages/support/volunteers or call (202) 467-4600.

Ongoing

HELP ANIMALS IN NEED

Love animals? The Washington, D.C. Humane Rescue Alliance is looking for volunteers to assist medical staff, provide training and caring for dogs, cats and small mammals, take adoptable dogs for a jog at a local park, help pets find their forever home, and support events. For more information, visit www.humanerescuealliance.org/volunteer or call (202) 723-5730.

Get Excited! New

Residential Living Chesterbrook Residences is excited to offer a new option that seniors have been asking for: residential living. An affordable option for those who desire the support of a community, but don’t yet require assisted living, it’s the best of both worlds. Call today to schedule your visit! 703-531-0781

Assisted Living Community

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

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Health Studies Page

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

How well do we think when we can’t hear? By Barbara Ruben When you strain to hear a conversation in a noisy restaurant, what’s happening inside your brain, and how does that affect your thinking skills? Those are the questions a University of Maryland study is asking in hopes of better understanding complicated hearing issues and ultimately what can be done to help. Researchers in the Center for Advanced

Study of Language are now looking for volunteers with normal hearing ages 65 to 85 to help them learn about how even those without hearing loss may be adversely affected by the extra effort required to hear in noisy environments. (Younger adults have already been tested.) “At the end of an evening having difficulty following conversations, you might be completely drained and not able to per-

BEACON BITS

Jan. 6

ORCHESTRA CONCERT The Amadeus Orchestra will perform with Amos Talmon and Gil

Garburg on Sunday, Jan. 6 at 4 p.m. at Saint Luke Catholic Church, 7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean, Va. A pre-concert lecture by Music Director A. Scott Wood will begin at 3:15 p.m., followed by the concert at 4 p.m. Concert music includes Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro,” and Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 1” and “Piano Concerto No. 2.” Tickets cost $40, but students 17 and under and active military are admitted for free. A reception will follow. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.amadeusconcerts.com.

form your daily life functions,” said Stephanie Kuchinsky, the study’s principle investigator. “There are implications about how people engage with their communities. To remain socially engaged is important, and it’s problematic if you have to withdraw from events because you can’t participate fully.” The study, called the Effortful Communication Study and funded by the National Institutes of Health, takes place on the University of Maryland campus in College Park. The study involves two visits for a total of three to four hours. During the first visit, potential participants will have their hearing tested to make sure it is in the normal range, and be given several cognitive tests.

Functional MRI tests At the second visit, hearing and cognition tests will take place inside a functional MRI scanner. This machine is the same as a traditional MRI, but can measure how blood flows in the brain. “We’re looking at how parts of the brain function; how the brain uses up its resources. When one area of the brain is working hard it needs more oxygen, so more blood will flow into it,” Kuchinsky said. During the study in the MRI, participants will be asked to recognize words amid varying levels of background noise. They will also be asked to do that while multitasking, which is something often encountered in everyday life, Kuchinsky said. “When communicating, it’s very rare that’s the only thing we’re doing. We might be driving and talking at the same time.

This is another level as to why older adults might have problems,” she said. In addition to gaining objective data about how the brain functions in these situations, the participants will report their subjective reactions. Pupil size will be measured during the tests to help gauge listening effort. The results will help pinpoint what listening conditions are challenging for older adults and why it takes so much effort. And while the test might sound daunting for older adults, even the younger participants had some trouble, according to Kuchinsky. The question is: How much more difficult do the tasks get with age?

Compensation offered Those eligible for the study will receive $10 per hour for participating in behavioral tasks, such as computer-based tasks and surveys, and $15 per hour for tasks done in the MRI. There will be approximately one hour of behavioral tasks and 2.25 hours of neuroimaging, for a total of approximately $45. Additional qualifications to participate include being right handed, and having vision that is normal or can be corrected to normal. Those in the study cannot have speech/ language, neurological or psychiatric conditions, or learning disabilities. Because of the strong magnetic field used in the MRI machine, those with pacemakers and older implanted devices are not eligible for the study. To learn more about the study or to volunteer, call (240) 630-0461 or email EffComLab@gmail.com.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

Less-invasive surgery less effective too By Carla K. Johnson New evidence about a cancer operation in women finds a higher death rate for the less invasive version, challenging standard practice and the “less is more” approach to treating cervical cancer. The unexpected findings are prompting changes at some hospitals that perform radical hysterectomies for early-stage disease. The more rigorous of the two studies was conducted at more than 30 sites in a dozen countries. It found women who had the less invasive surgery were four times more likely to see their cancer return compared to women who had traditional surgery. Death from cervical cancer occurred in 14 of 319 patients who had minimally invasive surgery and 2 of 312 patients who had open surgery. Results were published online by the New England Journal of Medicine. Radical hysterectomy is standard treatment for women with early-stage cervical cancer. Rates are declining because of widespread screening. The number of operations has fallen, too, to several thousand a year in the United States. Some women with early-stage cervical cancer are choosing fertility-sparing techniques, treatments not included in the new research. In both studies, researchers compared two methods for radical hysterectomy, an operation to remove the uterus, cervix and part of the vagina. The surgery costs around $9,000 to $12,000 with the minimally invasive version at the higher end.

Differences in surgeries Traditional surgery involves a cut in the lower abdomen. In a newer method, a sur-

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

LIGHTS FESTIVAL LightUP Fest, the

largest lights festival on the East Coast, is currently available through Wednesday, Jan. 2, seven days a week from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. at One Loudoun, 20626 Easthampton Plaza, Ashburn, Va. The festival combines traditional Chinese lanterns with modern lighting technology, and the eight-week long exhibition will span 20 acres, marrying the old and the new. Admission costs $29.99 for an adult; $19.99 for kids ages 3 to 12. Children under 3 are free. A portion of the proceeds go to Arc of Loudoun. For more information, visit www.thelightupfest.com

geon makes small incisions for a camera and instruments. Patients recover faster, so laparoscopic surgery, which has been around for more than a decade, gained popularity despite a lack of rigorous long-term studies. It’s not clear why it failed to measure up. Experts suspect there may be something about the tools or technique that spreads the cancer cells from the tumor to the abdominal cavity. Some hospitals went back to traditional hysterectomy after the results were presented at a cancer meeting in March. “We immediately as a department changed our practice and changed completely to the open approach,” said Dr. Pedro Ramirez of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Ramirez led the more rigorous study, which randomly assigned 631 patients to

one of two surgeries. After 4 1/2 years, the rate of those still living without disease was 86 percent with less invasive surgery and 96 percent with traditional surgery. The experiment was halted early in 2017 when the higher death and cancer recur-

rence rates showed up. The original plan was to enroll 740 patients in the study, which was funded in part by surgical device maker Medtronic. See CANCER SURGERY, page 26

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Cancer surgery

Experience Matters.

From page 25 For 33-year-old Alicia Ackley, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in July, the recommendation for traditional surgery came as a surprise, but she followed the advice of her doctor at MD Anderson after hearing about the research. Tests following her September operation show no signs of cancer. “I’m very glad I went that route,” Ackley said. “The open hysterectomy got everything.” The other study looked at 2,461 women with cervical cancer who had radical hysterectomies from 2010 through 2013. It found a 9.1 percent death rate after four years among women who got minimally invasive surgery compared to 5.3 percent for traditional surgery.

‘Surprising’ and ‘alarming’ findings “We’re rethinking how we approach patients,” said study co-author Dr. Jason Wright of New York-Presbyterian Hospital. “There’s a lot of surprise around these findings.” The research is “a great blow” to the technique, and the findings are “alarming,” said Dr. Amanda Fader of Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. She said Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore has stopped doing less invasive hysterectomies for cervical cancer until there is more data. While some patients with small tumors might do as well with minimally invasive surgery, “surgeons should proceed cautiously” and discuss the new information with patients, Fader wrote in an accompanying editorial. — AP

BEACON BITS

Dec. 10

EMILY DICKINSON TRIBUTE The O.B. Hardison Poetry Series at the Folger Shakespeare

Library presents its annual tradition of celebrating Emily Dickinson’s birthday on Monday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. with a conversation between poet Jen Bervin and Dickinson scholar Martha Nell Smith. A wine reception will follow with

Experience a tradition of excellence in senior living since 1910. Experience award-winning leisure and lifestyle programming. Experience a higher standard in dining.

Dickinson’s famous black cake. Tickets cost $15. Folger Library is located at 201 E Capitol St. SE, Washington, D.C. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.folger.edu/poetry or call (202) 544-7077.

Ongoing

LIGHTS EXHIBIT Craig A. Kraft, a light sculptor who has gained national recognition for his innovative neon light works, is holding an art exhibit,

now on view through Friday, Dec. 28 at Susan Calloway Fine Arts, 1643 Wisconsin Ave NW., Washington, D.C. For more information, call (202) 965-4601, email gallery@callowayart.com or visit callowayart.com

Experience unmatched on-site medical care.

RING HOUSE - LANDOW HOUSE Your experience starts here. Lock in 2018 rates.

Less This More This

Call for your tour today 301-770-8448.

Nexus Montgomery is a partnership among the six hospitals

in Montgomery County, that connects people with services to help them remain healthy and independent. Learn More at NexusMontgomery.org

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

Roasted salmon with a honey-lime glaze Pairing perfectly roasted salmon with a spiced-up honey-lime glaze required a cooking technique all its own. Slashing the skin encouraged it to render and crisp quickly, but we also needed to give the flesh a strong, flavorful crust that would stand up to (as well as hold on to) a thick coating of glaze. Applying a rub of cornstarch and brown sugar to the flesh and searing it in a hot skillet provided that browned crust and firm texture on the double. Once flipped, the skin side needed just a minute to crisp. We spooned the thickened glaze over the fillets and transferred the skillet to a moderate oven where our salmon hit its target temperature in less than 10 minutes. Glossy and appealingly sweet-tart, these fillets were an easy, satisfying upgrade. To ensure uniform pieces of fish, buy a whole center-cut fillet and cut it into four pieces. If your knife is not sharp enough to cut through the skin easily, try a serrated

knife. You will need a 12-inch oven-safe nonstick skillet for this recipe.

Honey-lime glazed roast salmon Servings: 4 Start to finish: 40 minutes Honey-lime glaze: 1/4 cup honey 1 teaspoon grated lime zest plus 2 tablespoons juice 1 teaspoon chili powder 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper Salmon: 1 teaspoon packed light brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon cornstarch 1/8 teaspoon pepper 1 (1 3/4- to 2-pound) center-cut skin-on salmon fillet, 1 1/2 inches thick 1 teaspoon vegetable oil For the honey-lime glaze: Whisk all ingredients together in small saucepan

BEACON BITS

Dec. 12+

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP

Widowed Persons Outreach at Sibley Memorial Hospital offers a free grief support group that meets on Wednesdays, Dec. 12 and 26 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The hospital is located at 5255 Loughboro Rd. NW, Washington, D.C. For more information or to register, call (202) 537-4942 or email Marti Bailey at mbaile35@jhmi.edu.

We Put the Life in senior living Expanding Our Market and Changing for the Better! Yearly Incomes of $49,260 and Above are Now Accepted! Y SStill the Most Affordable Senior Living Community in the Area SSteps Away from Downtown Silver Spring Wellness and Life Enrichment Programs W Assisted Living Studios, Level II and III, are available now, but limited and going fast! Call Gina or Tracy today at 301-587-0190 to schedule your visit.

Residential Living • Enhanced Living • Assisted Living

SpringvaleTerrace.org • 1-800-552-7724 MD RELAY SERVICE 8505 Springvale Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910

and simmer over medium-high heat until thickened, about 1 minute; remove from heat and cover to keep warm. For the salmon: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 300 F. Combine sugar, salt, cornstarch and pepper in bowl. Cut salmon crosswise into 4 fillets. Make 3 or 4 shallow slashes diagonally, about 1 inch apart, on skin side of each fillet, being careful not to cut into flesh. Pat salmon dry with paper towels, and rub sugar mixture evenly over flesh side of salmon. Heat oil in 12 inch oven-safe nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Lay salmon flesh side down in

skillet and cook until well browned, about 1 minute. Carefully flip salmon and cook on skin side for 1 minute. Off heat, spoon glaze over salmon fillets. Transfer skillet to oven and roast until center is still translucent when checked with tip of paring knife and registers 125 F (for medium-rare), 7 to 10 minutes. Serve. Nutrition information per serving: 364 calories; 123 calories from fat; 14 g. fat (2 g. saturated; 0 g. trans fats); 109 mg. cholesterol; 254 mg. sodium; 20 g. carbohydrate; 0 g. fiber; 19 g. sugar; 39 g. protein. For more recipes, cooking tips and ingredient and product reviews, visit www.americastestkitchen.com. — America’s Test Kitchen via AP

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Don’t enable abuse; stand up for yourself Dear Solutions: and that I gave the idea to the others. I hope you can help me find a better He carries on this way every time way to react to my husband something goes wrong and when he blames me for blames me. When this hapthings and yells and screams pens, I start shaking and at me. crying and feel sick. We went to dinner with I don’t say anything betwo other couples, and I cause a day or so later he wanted to order a clam appebrings flowers and apolotizer. The other two women gizes, but I know it will hapwanted to share it, so we orpen again. dered it for the three of us. It’s happening more and When the other two men saw more. What should I do? it, they wanted it also and de- SOLUTIONS — Donna cided to order it for the three By Helen Oxenberg, Dear Donna: MSW, ACSW of them to share. Don’t clam up — speak up! My husband hates clams, Your husband will not take rebut he said nothing, let them order it, sponsibility for his own actions or inaction made a gesture of eating some, and then as long as he can bully and scream at you sat in a glum, silent mood all evening. and get away with it. When we got home, he exploded at He has temper tantrums like a spoiled me, yelling that I had no right order- child or, more threateningly, like an abuing clams when I know he hates them, sive husband.

WHAT'S IN YOUR ATTIC?

Quinn's got $5,500 for this coin! Free Appraisal Day December 19 1-3 p.m.

(One item per person only) 360 South Washington St. Falls Church, VA 22046

(703) 532-5632

www.quinnsauction.com

Tell him, before another incident happens, that you will not accept blame for anything you didn’t do, and you will not hang around to watch or listen to his tantrums. Abuse, unless stopped in its tracks, does not get better. It often erupts into physical violence. Insist that he go for therapy. If he refuses, get out — there’s no gain in this pain. Dear Solutions: Very soon after my good friend died, her husband remarried. Now he’s becoming more and more disabled and is having a lot of trouble walking. At a meeting the other night, we saw him having a hard time while this new wife just sat there and didn’t even try to help him. I wanted to poke her and tell her to help him. I think we — the old friends — should say something to her about how inconsiderate she’s being, but my husband says no. I thought I could just say nicely, “Doesn’t he need help? I think you should help him.” He limps and wobbles when he walks. What do you think? — Old Friend Dear Old Friend: No matter how he “limps and wobbles” it’s his limp and his wobble, and therefore his independence. Many handicapped people would rather struggle than accept help because that struggle still allows them to hold onto a feeling of control. Give “this new wife,” as you describe her, the benefit of the doubt and assume that she knows whether he wants help or not.

Don’t ask her. That would sound as if he’s a child and she’s his mother. You can only ask him if he wants help, and then respect his wishes. It’s hard to lose a good friend and then see someone else taking her place. But if this man is also a friend of yours, be happy for him that he’s found a companion. Too fast? For mature adults, even fast can sometimes feel too slow. Dear Solutions: I met a man at a program that I attended recently. He was very, very attentive and flattering to me, and kept insisting that we should see each other in the future. He lives in a different state, though, and instead of making arrangements, he just keeps calling and talking on the phone. Should I volunteer to travel to his state to meet with him since he doesn’t say anything about coming to me? He’s still very flattering, but I’m a little cautious now because people at the program who knew him warned me that he’s what they called “an operator.” — Gladys Dear Gladys: Trouble is, he’s a long distance operator! Suggest once that he come to your state or that you meet halfway. If he says no, hang up. He’s the wrong number. © Helen Oxenberg, 2018. Questions to be considered for this column may be sent to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915. You may also email the author at helox72@comcast.net. To inquire about reprint rights, call (609) 655-3684.

Enjoy the Beacon? Tell your friends.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

Consider adding dandelions to your diet You might well consider dandelions to be you with better health. — Can aid weight loss a pesky weed, but this potent wildflower conThough the facts are still tains an impressive arsenal of forthcoming, there is evidence nutritious compounds that you that consuming dandelions can may want to add to your diet. support weight loss by improvI’m referring to dandelions as ing your fat-burning rate and in Taraxacum officinale. metabolism, and simultaneousThis notoriously bitter ly reducing fat absorption. It’s weed is packed with protein, due to the presence of chlorominerals and more vitamin C genic acid — a compound also than spinach. The entire plant found in coffee. is actually edible, though I’ve — Helps fight inflammanever eaten the whole thing, DEAR tion just the leaves. PHARMACIST Could eating flowers help Some people harvest the yelBy Suzy Cohen you with arthritis? Probably low flowers before they open not, but it’s fun to think that and fry them up in a pan with garlic, butter and other seasonings. Then, of way. I like herbal remedies that reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 and course, there’s dandelion wine... Dandelion is very easy to harvest. Re- TNF alpha. Dandelion does this very member, it’s kind of like a weed, and it thing, helping you reduce risk for heart atgrows everywhere! And interestingly, this tack, cancer and diabetes. — Can help control blood sugar inexpensive plant is also sold at health Two biologically active phytochemicals food stores, especially in the produce section where it’s usually near the collard in dandelions (specifically, chicoric and chlorogenic acids) show evidence of congreens and kale. Here are six reasons to consider dining trolling blood sugar by regulating your pancreas’s insulin production. on dandelion: — Useful as a skin treatment — Aids the digestive system Applying a leaf and flower extract immeThe plant is a mild diuretic, making you urinate more than normal. It can improve diately before or after intense sun expothe functioning of the pancreas, stomach, sure seems to reduce overall skin damage. Dandelion-containing creams or poulkidneys and spleen without depleting your body’s potassium stores. Diuretics are tices also reduce skin irritation and may known to reduce blood pressure. With dan- help with acne. delions, the two compounds that work in this capacity are chicoric and chlorogenic acids. How to eat — Good source of antioxidants Fresh dandelion greens can be used in You can thank the dandelion’s bitter taste fresh salads, sandwiches, smoothies and for its antioxidant properties. If you can get teas. If they’re too bitter for you, make a used to consuming more bitter foods (and fifty-fifty mix of dandelions with a subtler less sugary ones), then your detox path- green like spinach or Swiss chard. ways that operate in your liver will thank You could make a tea, or buy a commer-

Are you interested in the benefits of medical cannabis? MEDICAL CANNABIS CANNABIS. ELEVATED CARE.

RISE Bethesda (301) 571-0420

do you have questions about how it works?

Wildwood Medical Center 10401 Old Georgetown Rd. Suite 210 Bethesda, MD 20814

RISE silver spring

-WALK-INS ARE WELCOME!-

WE’RE here for you!

Mention this ad... TAKE

Come see why so many choose to RISE WITH US.

(301) 565-8100 7900 Fenton St. silver spring, MD 20910

$15 off any $100 purchase! * First-time patients only. Can not be combined with any other discount. (EXPIRES 12/31/2018)

ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS IN: WWW.RISEDISPENSARIES.COM

Email: HELLOMD@RISEDISPENSARIES.COM

cially prepared teabag. You could also sauté the dandelion greens with some sweet fruits like pineapple. While dandelions are considered a safe plant for most people, there are a few reported incidences of adverse reactions. People with ragweed allergies are sensitive to dandelions, so please avoid if that’s the case.

This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement. Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit www.SuzyCohen.com.

Please patronize our advertisers.

Ring in the New Year AT P OTO M AC P L AC E

Save $2019 a month for three months! (A total savings of $6057.) New leases only through December 31, 2018. Savings apply to rent only.

Call 703-494-3817 today for all the details.

703-494-3817 PotomacPlace.com 2133 Montgomery Ave. Woodbridge,VA 22191

Coordinated Services Management, Inc. - Professional Management of Retirement Communities since 1981

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

VOLUME XXIX, ISSUE 12

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE By Laura Newland Executive Director, D.C. Office on Aging I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! The holiday season is officially in full swing, and here at the Office on Aging we’ve been hard at work planning the biggest event of the year — the Mayor’s 20th Annual Senior Holiday Celebration! I hope you’ll join us on December 12th at the D.C. Armory for a day of fun, food and fellowship. This will be my third time celebrating with all of you at the Armory. Every year, I promise it will be the best one yet — and this year will be no different. Seniors from across the city remind me why it’s so important that we constantly strive for the absolute best when it comes to bringing our community together in celebration. Last September, when more than 160 of our neighbors were displaced by the devastating fire at the Arthur Capper Apartments, seniors from across the city reached out to offer support, clothing, entertainment, time, and anything they could afford to give. Today, as we continue to work with our residents, we still hear from all of you asking how to help. You have been there from the start, and you continue to be there. I’m proud to live in a city where our neighbors look out for one another. Washington, D.C. is a big city (soon to be a state!) with small town values — where our neighbors are neighborly, and complete strangers will drop everything to lend a helping hand. At DCOA, we are privileged to serve a population who teach us these values every day. So every year, we’re all looking for bigger and better ways to celebrate the community that you’ve built, and the Mayor wouldn’t have it any other way. From the moment you arrive, we’ll be ready to cheer you, entertain you, connect with you, break bread with you, and experience the joy of the season with you. As Mayor Bowser has said, the strength of our city rises and falls on its people. We know that government can’t create community — you create community. But we can support and join you in keeping our communities strong and vibrant. The Mayor’s Annual Senior Holiday Celebration brings all of us together, in celebration of all that you’ve done, and all that you continue to do for this city. So reach out today to get your ticket to the best event of the year by calling 202-535-1372 or emailing dcoa.communications@dc.gov. Whether it’s your only holiday party, or one of many, we want you to know that this is for you. I can’t wait to see you on December 12th!

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

A newsletter for D.C. Seniors

December 2018

The Annual Feast of Sharing

The Annual Safeway Feast of Sharing was a great event, and we were pleased to be there once again providing information about our programs and services for the District’s older adults, adults with disabilities and their caregivers. For many people, old and young, this event provided lots of opportunities and a great Thanksgiving meal. If you would like us to come out to your event, or want us to bring our community partners for an event specially organized for your group or organization, contact 202535-1321 or alice.thompson@dc.gov.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Spotlight on Aging

Become a DCOA Ambassador! Since 2012, we have been holding training sessions to make ordinary residents more familiar with the services that the D.C. Office on Aging provides for D.C.’s older adults, adults with disabilities and their caregivers. Community partners present during the trainings help tell the story of the direct services that are available to D.C. residents. DCOA Ambassadors use this knowledge gained through the training to connect others with services they may be able to benefit from, or services that can assist them in their daily life. Residents receive the help they need, and DCOA is connected to more residents in need of servic- Cedric Burgess serves as a DCOA Ambassador. es. If you are interested in doing your Many ambassadors enjoy helping others, and they are able to stay con- part, contact the Ambassador Regisnected. Cedric Burgess, a great am- trar Sadia Ferguson and sign up for bassador who calls to get more materi- the next training on Jan. 17, from 10 als to share with others and is always a.m. to noon by emailing sadia.ferguinterested in volunteering, says “I love son@dc.gov or calling 202-727-0374. If to help others and stay informed as a you are interested in having a group DCOA Ambassador. I feel I am doing training session for ambassadors, let my part.” He adds, “Other volunteers us know that as well. We hope to see you soon at an upinspire me to volunteer where I am coming training or workshop. needed.”

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

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

Executive Director Laura Newland

Editor Darlene Nowlin

Photographer Selma Dillard

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

The Office on Aging is in partnership with the District of Columbia Recycling Program.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Get Involved Monday, Dec. 3 1 to 3 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 7 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

D.C. Senior Resource Group Workshop — Innovative Intergenerational Housing in the DMV Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church 3400 Newark St. NW – Ward 3 Contact: Steve Gurney Cell/Text: 703-966-6182

Terrific, Inc. Lead Agency Senior Holiday Party Nineteenth Street Baptist Church 4606 16th St. NW – Ward 4 Contact: Edwinta Jenkins: 202-882-1824

Wednesday, Dec. 5 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Mayor’s 20th Annual Senior Holiday Celebration D.C. Armory 2001 E. Capitol St. SE – Ward 6 Tickets are free but required for entry. Contact: Your senior site or call 202-535-1372

Office of Tax and Revenue D.C. Seniors Real Property Tax Workshops Riggs LaSalle Recreation Center 501 Riggs Rd. NE – Ward 4

Wednesday, Dec. 12 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Senior Telephone Town Hall Join us for the next Senior Telephone Town Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 11 a.m., where special guests will discuss winter activities and winter preparedness for seniors. It’s free and open to all D.C. residents age 60 and older. Who: D.C. Office on Aging, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services,

Mayor’s Office of Community Relations Services, Special Guests, and Residents like you! When: Wednesday, Dec. 5, 11 to 11:30 a.m.; Call-in number: 855756-7520, code: 30984# How: To RSVP or to request reasonable accommodation, call 202-442-8150 or email engagement.dc@dc.gov

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Money Law &

BENEFITS TO DIE FOR Veterans are eligible for a variety of burial and funeral benefits DON’T IGNORE CREDIT SCORE Even if you’re not expecting to need credit, it’s smart to keep your score up PREFERRED TO BONDS? Today’s rising interest rates make preferred stocks look quite attractive ANNUITY MISTAKES Annuity types and terms can be complex; what to know to avoid mistakes

A year that most of the markets struggled By Stan Choe Even the most balanced investors have gotten knocked on their heels this year. Typically, spreading one’s bets across several different types of investments (diversifying) has helped deliver steadier returns. When U.S. stocks slide, say, bonds and gold can hopefully help offset the losses. Or maybe stocks abroad will hold up better than their U.S. counterparts. Not so this year. U.S. stocks have endured some breathtaking drops the last several months, slicing the S&P 500’s yearto-date return to 1.9 percent after including dividends. But markets in Germany, South Korea, Hong Kong and elsewhere are solidly in the red year to date. Even worse for investors who carefully built up balanced portfolios to protect themselves from potential downturns: The investments that are supposed to offer safer returns have also struggled at the same time.

A rare occurrence It’s a rude reminder that one of the bedrock tenets of investing — don’t keep too much of your portfolio concentrated in any one thing — doesn’t guarantee success by itself. But it’s also important to remember that this year’s struggles have been a relative anomaly. If conditions hold, this may be only the seventh time in the last 46 years that investors would have lost money if they had divvied up their portfolio equally among seven investment groups, including stocks, bonds and commodities, according to the Leuthold Group. Since 1973, investors would have gotten a 10.2 percent annualized return if they had a portfolio that split evenly each year across commodities, large U.S. stocks, small U.S. stocks, real-estate investment trusts, 10-year Treasurys, gold, and foreign developed-market stocks. That’s nearly as big a return as the S&P 500 itself, at 10.4 percent, with sig-

nificantly less volatility. “Given this strategy’s required skill (none) and trading frequency (minimal), the results border on the remarkable,” Leuthold’s chief investment officer Doug Ramsey wrote in a recent report. That’s what makes this year’s widespread pain so much more painful. Stocks around the world have struggled amid worries about slowing economic growth, the threat of the global trade war, and the impact of higher U.S. interest rates. Emerging-market stocks in particular have struggled, and stocks in Shanghai have sunk 24.3 percent in 2018.

Bonds and gold dropping Bonds, meanwhile, have been hit by rising interest rates. When rates climb, it makes the smaller interest payments paid by older bonds less attractive, and their prices correspondingly drop. The largest U.S. bond mutual fund, Van-

guard’s Total Bond Market index fund, has lost 2.4 percent this year. If it continues to drop, the fund could surpass its 2.7 percent loss in 1994 for its worst performance since it began trading in 1986. When markets around the world are suddenly shaky, investors often turn to gold for safety. But that, too, has struggled this year, and the GLD exchange-traded fund is down 7.3 percent in 2018. Gold often trades in the opposite direction of the U.S. dollar, and the dollar’s value has climbed against rivals as a result of higher U.S. interest rates. Given that rising interest rates have contributed to struggles for all kinds of investments this year, it’s tempting to think that the value of diversification will stay diluted as rates rise further. But even during the 1970s and early 1980s, when interest rates were rising, balanced portfolios were still able to deliver mostly positive returns. — AP

Shop around to find good savings interest By Sarah Skidmore Sell Savers rejoice — you can finally earn a little more on the money you’ve been setting aside. To draw in customers, banks — particularly online institutions — have been getting more competitive with the rates they are offering on savings, CDs and even checking accounts. That means a savvy consumer may be able to earn far beyond the norm if they are willing to shop around. Take the humble savings account: The average interest rate in the U.S. is 0.09 percent, according to the FDIC. And that is just an average — some banks are offering rates as low as 0.01 percent while many others are at or above 2 percent. To someone with $5,000 sitting in an account, that means the difference between earning 50 cents a year in interest versus $100. In the low-interest rate environment that followed the Great Recession, banks routinely paid little to nothing on many personal accounts. The Federal Reserve began to raise its rates in 2015, but traditional banks were slow to do the same for customers. They had little incentive — customers had

grown complacent after years of low interest rates. And traditional banks were large enough that they had huge deposits and other business lines that served them well.

Options online and off A number of online banks spotted an opportunity and began offering much higher rates to attract more customers. They could afford to because they didn’t have the cost of maintaining a storefront on every corner. But also, not having the benefit of size, they needed to offer more attractive rates to survive. Some bigger banks took notice and, wanting to better serve a more online-focused customer base, began to respond with higher rates themselves. While interest rates are still low historically speaking, they are on the upswing. Experts say more banks are getting into the rate race and consumers should take note. So while lesser-known players, like Bank5 Connect, offer a 2.05 percent annual percentage yield, or APY, on a savings account, bigger banks have some nice offerings as well. Marcus, the online bank of Goldman

Sachs, also has a 2.05 percent rate on its savings account, and HSBC Direct offers a 2.01 percent rate. “The outlook for savers is very positive, and the opportunity cost of not moving your money is only going to grow,” said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com. That’s because money earning little to no interest is losing its purchasing power over time if the rate earned on it does not keep pace with inflation. Here are a few things for consumers to consider: Complacency isn’t going to earn you anything, and experts say many consumers are missing out simply because it takes effort. “One of the biggest mistakes we make is getting into a product that is not right for us,” said Paul Golden, spokesman for the National Endowment on Financial Education. “I think consumers should shop around.” It won’t take long: Take a look at your existing accounts and find out what you are getting paid. Then do a quick search online to get a sense of comparable rates. (Many websites, such as bankrate.com, compile and sort the data for you.) Online banks are leading the way on

rates. Community banks and credit unions may offer competitive rates as well. And many big banks are rolling out options with highly competitive rates. Want to stick with your traditional big bank? Even switching to a different type of product may earn you more. Or if you’re an established customer of a bank, try to negotiate a better rate.

Look closely at terms It also pays to look at all the features of any existing or new accounts to make sure things are as good as they seem. Can you access the money easily? How easy is it to transfer among accounts? Is there a balance requirement? What kind of fees might you face? Will the rate change over time? And are there any other restrictions that might limit how you earn or access the funds? Golden also suggests making sure there have not been any security or data breaches at that institution recently. You may want to take a look at online reviews to see what other customers say. And always make sure your account is FDIC inSee SAVINGS INTEREST, page 33

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Savings interest From page 32 sured, which means there is federal backing that your money will be there — up to a certain level — if there were a bank failure. You can make money on a variety of accounts these days, so consider what best suits your needs. A traditional savings account is a great fit for money that you need access to but don’t plan to tap often. The money is liquid and can be easily transferred into other accounts. But beware, Federal Reserve rules limit these accounts to no more than six

withdrawals or transfers a month. A money market account traditionally pays a higher rate than a savings account. The average national rate for a money market account is 0.15 for deposits under $100,000 and 0.24 for those over. Compare that to 0.09 for a savings account. These accounts vary, though, because they typically offer some check-writing and ATM access. But money market accounts usually require a higher balance in exchange for those benefits, and face the same withdrawal rules as a savings account. CDs, or certificates of deposits, also offer higher rates than a savings account

Five best moves for your portfolio By John Waggoner These portfolio moves will help boost the income you get from your portfolio, shield it from inflation, and make it less volatile, too. Dial down volatility. Stocks with low volatility should weather dips better than jiggier peers. Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (symbol SPLV, $48) holds the 100 stocks in the blue-chip index with the lowest volatility; iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol USA ETF (USMV, $55) tracks low-vol stocks by sector. Fight inflation. The principal value of Treasury inflation-protected securities adjusts according to changes in the consumer price index. Buy them from Uncle Sam at www.treasurydirect.gov, or consider Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities Fund Investor Shares (VIPSX). Plump up your yield. SPDR S&P

Dividend ETF (SDY, $93) holds the highest-yielding stocks of large companies that have raised their dividend payouts for the past 25 years. The fund yields 2.5 percent. First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index ETF (TDIV, $36) buys tech’s biggest dividend payers and yields 2.5 percent. Play rising rates. Higher rates mean lower bond prices, but they hurt short-term bonds least. Consider lowcost Schwab Short-Term Bond Index (SWSBX). Or cash in on higher rates with Fidelity Floating Rate High Income (FFRHX). Cut costs. Fidelity Zero index funds charge no fees and require no minimum investment. You must be a Fidelity brokerage customer. © 2018 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

A Gift That Pays You Income! Charitable Gift Annuity Age: 75 $25,000 Fixed Annual Payments at 6.2%* $1,550 8.5% Eﬀective Annuity Rate** *Rate as of December 2018 based on age. **Includes all tax savings.

www.childrensnational.org/planagift

Call today! Rita S. Corwin 301-565-8524

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

— the national average is as high as 1.18 percent — but these lock up your money for a specific amount of time. When you open a CD, you essentially agree not to withdraw the money until its maturity date. If you do before that time you face an early withdrawal penalty that may wipe out anything you earned. That makes these a good choice if you have a long-term savings goal and you are confident you won’t need the cash in the meantime. You may even want to consider an interest-bearing checking account if you

don’t want to limit access to your money but still want to earn a little on it. The rate may not be as high as other options though: The national average is 0.06 percent, according to the FDIC. But again, competition has bred some innovation. Simple, an online bank that only offers checking accounts, came up with a unique option. It is offering customers a 2.02 percent APY if they keep their daily balance at $2,000 or above. However, the rate is variable, and if you dip below $2,000, you don’t earn that same high rate. — AP

Please patronize our advertisers. They keep the Beacon free!

Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Veterans benefits continue after death Dear Savvy Senior: clude a free government headstone or Does the VA provide any special burial marker, or a medallion that can be affixed benefits to old veterans? My dad, who has to an existing privately purchased headlate-stage Parkinson’s disstone or marker; a burial flag; ease, served during the Vietand a Presidential memorial nam War in the 1960s. certificate. — Only Child Funeral or cremation Dear Only: arrangements and costs are Most U.S. veterans are eliagain the responsibility of the gible for burial and memorial family (some burial allowances benefits through the Departmay be available; see below), ment of Veterans Affairs (VA) and no benefits are offered to National Cemetery Adminisspouses and dependents that tration. Veterans who were are buried in private cemeterSAVVY SENIOR discharged under conditions ies. By Jim Miller other than dishonorable are eligible. Military funeral honors To verify your dad’s discharge, you’ll Another popular benefit available to all need a copy of his DD Form 214 “Certifi- eligible veterans buried in either a national cate of Release or Discharge from Active or private cemetery is a military funeral Duty,” which you can request online at honors ceremony. This includes an honor www.archives.gov/veterans. guard detail of at least two uniformed miliHere’s a rundown of some of the differ- tary persons, folding and presenting the ent benefits that are available to veterans U.S. burial flag to the veteran’s survivors, that die a non-service-related death. and the playing of Taps by a bugler or an electronic recording. National cemetery benefits The funeral provider you choose will be If your dad is eligible and would like to be able to assist you with all VA burial reburied in one of the 136 national or 111 grant- quests. Depending on what you want, cerfunded state and tribal VA cemeteries (see tain forms may need to be completed, and www.cem.va.gov/cem/cems/listcem.asp for it is always better to have done so in ada list), the VA provides a host of benefits, at vance. no cost to the family. For a complete rundown of burial and These include a gravesite; opening and memorial benefits, eligibility details and closing of the grave; perpetual gravesite required forms, visit www.cem.va.gov or care; a government headstone or marker; call 800-827-1000. a United States burial flag that can be used to drape the casket or accompany the urn Burial allowances (after the funeral service; the flag is given In addition to the burial benefits, some to the next-of-kin as a keepsake); and a veteran’s survivors may also qualify for a presidential memorial certificate. $300 burial allowance (or $780 if the veterNational cemetery burial benefits are an was hospitalized by VA at time of also available to spouses and dependents death), as well as $780 for a plot, to those of veterans. who choose to be buried in a private cemeIf your dad is cremated, his remains will tery. To find out if your dad is eligible, see be buried or inurned in the same manner www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/factas casketed remains. sheets/burials/burial.pdf. Funeral or cremation arrangements and To apply for burial allowances, you’ll need costs are not, however, taken care of by to fill out VA Form 21P-530 “Application for the VA. They are the responsibility of the Burial Benefits.” You need to attach a copy veteran’s family. of your dad’s discharge document (DD 214 If you’re interested in this option, the VA or equivalent), death certificate, funeral and offers a pre-need burial eligibility determi- burial bills. They should show that you have nation program at www.cem.va.gov/prepaid them in full. You may download the need, or call the National Cemetery form at VA.gov/vaforms. Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117. Send your questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit Private cemetery benefits SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor If your father is going to be buried in a to the NBC Today show and author of “The private cemetery, the benefits available in- Savvy Senior” book.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

MOCO TAX HELP

Montgomery County Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) will begin scheduling appointments for its 2018 tax season in mid-December. Appointments are available in Rockville, Silver Spring, East County, Gaithersburg and Wheaton, Md. For more information and a complete list of locations, visit http://bit.ly/MoCoVITA2018 or call (240) 777-1123. (TTY: 711)

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N â&#x20AC;&#x201D; D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Can you finally ignore your credit score? By Liz Weston At some point, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll buy your last car and refinance your last mortgage. Surely then you can stop worrying about your credit scores. Well, not really, although there are situations when credit scores shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be anyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main concern. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s start with some reasons why credit scores still matter, even when you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t plan to borrow money. Lenders arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the only ones checking your credit Most insurers use credit-based insurance scores, which use information from credit reports to help set premiums for auto, homeowners and renters policies. A drop from excellent to poor credit can more than triple homeownersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; premiums in some states. Credit can have a bigger impact on auto insurance premiums than any other factor, including someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s driving record, according to an investigation by Consumer Reports. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not all. Cellphone companies often reserve their best deals for those with the best credit. Many employers check credit reports, which could be an issue should you want to work or return to work in retirement. Utilities and landlords also typically check credit scores, which might become an issue if you move. Senior housing, assisted living and continuing care retirement communities also may use credit histories or scores to evaluate applicants. Your borrowing days may not be over Life happens. You may need to borrow money to pay medical bills, replace a car, help a family member, make home repairs, or remodel your home to allow you to age in place. If you have to move, you may need a new mortgage. If money gets tight, you may want to access some your home equi-

ty with a reverse mortgage. Reverse mortgages allow homeowners age 62 and older to tap their home equity without having to repay the loan until they sell, move out or die. Reverse mortgage lenders typically donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have minimum credit score requirements, but a credit check is part of the financial assessment needed to get the loan. Keeping good scores isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that hard A single credit card is enough to maintain good credit scores. Any card will do, as long as it reports to all three credit bureaus (most do). The card should be used lightly but regularly, and balances paid in full, since thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no credit score advantage to carrying debt. When credit scores shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be your top priority A lifetime habit of responsible bill payment can be hard to break. But financial well-being sometimes requires putting concerns about credit on the back burner, especially as you get older. Some examples: â&#x20AC;˘Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re struggling to pay your bills: It makes little sense to keep sending money to credit card companies and most other lenders if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re having trouble paying for necessities: shelter, food, utilities, medications. You also need help if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re being sued over debt or hounded by collectors. Consider talking to a credit counselor affiliated with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, and to an experienced bankruptcy attorney about your options. â&#x20AC;˘You need to file bankruptcy: If bankruptcy is the best option, you have plenty of company. The rate of Americans over 65 filing for bankruptcy has tripled since 1991, according to the Consumer Bankruptcy Project. But bankruptcy is not the credit score killer itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s often reputed to be. Credit scores typically plunge in the months before a

bankruptcy filing, but then start to rise soon after. With responsible credit use, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible to get back to near-prime credit scores within a few years after bankruptcy. â&#x20AC;˘Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to escape an onerous timeshare: There is often no easy way out of a timeshare, a kind of vacation ownership that requires paying annual fees and other costs. Sometimes owners can give the timeshare back to the resort developer, or sell or give it away. Other times, the only way

to get rid of it is to stop paying and experience the consequences, which can include foreclosure and credit score damage. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impossible to predict the potential costs of lower credit scores, but older people with less reason to borrow may well decide the hit to their scores â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which can linger for up to seven years for most negative marks, and up to 10 years for bankruptcy â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is better than continuing to struggle for the rest of their lives. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; AP

ESTATES & TRUSTS

Resolved to plan this year? Now is the time to make a new will or trust, make major gifts, or develop a succession plan for a business, farm or other important family asset. Ĺ&#x2DC; \HDUV RI H[SHULHQFH Ĺ&#x2DC; Planning for individuals, families, or businesses Ĺ&#x2DC; &RQVXOWDWLRQ LQ RXU RIĹľFH LQ \RXU KRPH RU E\ SKRQH

PAUL F. RIEKHOF Estates & Trusts 240.399.7899 Rockville, MD priekhof@jgllaw.com jgllaw.com

Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

The pros and cons of preferred stock In many of my articles, I have recom- change-traded funds (ETFs) rather than inmended a balanced portfolio consisting of dividual bonds. In that way, I have a diversiboth common stocks and fied portfolio and avoid the risk bonds, especially in or near of, perhaps, selecting any comretirement. In retirement, I pany that may undergo unforehave maintained a 50-50 ratio seen financial problems. of stocks to bonds, in order to In addition, this minimizes avoid significant fall in portfofees, since mutual funds and lio value during a bear market ETF management are able to in stocks. obtain lower fees than small Bond investors have many individual bond investors. options. When the Federal Reserve raises interest rates freWhat about preferred stocks? quently, the value of long-term THE SAVINGS bonds will fall significantly in GAME In previous articles, I disBy Elliot Raphaelson price. In my portfolio, at such cussed the option of investing in preferred stocks as part of a times, I adjust my portfolio so that a significant part of my bond portfolio bond portfolio. Preferred stocks combine is not in long-term bonds, but in intermedi- elements of common stocks but are more like bonds. ate-term and short-term bonds. They lack voting rights, but have a relaI prefer investing in mutual funds or ex-

tively high dividend, and they have precedence over common stocks. Investors receive a fixed payment stream. They are commonly issued by major banks. Prices of preferred stocks are generally less volatile than common stock prices. In a recent Barron’s article, Andrew Bary discussed some of the advantages of preferred stock investment at this time. Because interest rates have increased recently, many preferred stocks of major banks are now yielding close to 6 percent. Some preferred stocks issued by Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are yielding about 7 percent. The largest ETF specializing in preferred stock, iShares Preferred (PFF), now offers a yield of approximately 5.7 percent. I own some shares in PFF, which I purchased several years ago. PFF pays a dividend each month, which can be reinvested, which I do.

Bary pointed out in his article that one of the reasons why preferred stock is attractive now is because there is a widened gap between the interest rate for bank preferred stock versus Treasury securities with similar maturities. However, preferred stocks are riskier than Treasury securities. No bank can guarantee interest payments equivalent to the guarantee of the U.S. Treasury. Nobody can predict when the Fed will stop raising interest rates. If the Fed does continue to raise rates, interest rates will increase for many types of bond investments, including preferred stocks. In the short-run, an increase in rates will result in a fall in the net asset value of PFF and other preferred stocks. [Ed.’s note: This is referred to as “interest rate risk.”] There is no guarantee that, in the short-run, your total return in PFF will be as high as 5.7 percent.

Less volatile, but some risk

FEARLESS IS EXPLORING A NEW PERSPECTIVE With the card that opens doors in all 50 states, you can start your next adventure.

Although a preferred stock investment will not be as volatile as common stock prices, there will always be interest rate risk associated with preferred stocks and other forms of bond investment. The only way to avoid the interest rate risk associated with bonds is to invest only in short-term investments, such as Treasury bills, CDs and short-term bond funds. [Investments held to maturity are not subject to interest rate risk.] However, that strategy has the risk of not earning enough interest to stay ahead of inflation. Many investors are understandably nervous about the recent volatility in the stock market. No one can predict whether we will be facing a bear market in the nearterm, and how long will it last. Prudent investors will maintain a balanced portfolio that includes some forms of bond investment. It makes sense to avoid investing too high a percentage in long-term bonds, and to maintain a portfolio that includes intermediate term holdings that will provide enough income to keep up with inflation, and not be subject to extreme interest-rate risks. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © 2018 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Dec. 19

www.carefirst.com

FAIRFAX COMMISSION ON AGING

The Fairfax Commission on Aging meets on Wednesday, Dec. 19 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Helen G. Wilson Community Room at the Franconia Government Center, 6121 Franconia Rd., Alexandria, Va. The public is welcome to attend and join in the comment period that begins each session. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/FairfaxCommissionOnAging or call (703) 324-5403, TTY 711.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Is earnings growth as good as it will get? By Stan Choe Here’s the challenge when something’s as good as it gets: What comes next? Companies across industries are in the midst of reporting another quarter of gargantuan profit growth, driven by lower tax bills and a growing economy. Amazon said its net income surged more than tenfold during the summer from a year earlier, for example. Yet stock prices are not getting the boost that they usually do when companies report better-than-expected earnings. On the flip side, investors have punished stocks much more severely when companies have fallen short of profit expectations. Altogether the S&P 500 is still down about 4 percent since the start of October. That’s despite the index being on track to deliver roughly 25 percent growth in earnings per share for the third straight quarter. More than four-fifths of companies in the index have reported results.

Slowing growth The reaction can be tied to the gnawing concern among investors that this may be the peak for corporate profit growth. Analysts say growth may slow to a roughly 15 percent rate in the last three months of the year. In conference calls with analysts following their earnings reports, CEOs have been citing several challenges, including rising

expenses, President Donald Trump’s tariffs, and slowing economic growth in countries around the world. When Amazon reported its results in October, it gave a forecast for revenue this quarter that fell short of analysts’ expectations. Part of that was due to the expected effect of a strengthening U.S. dollar, which can dilute the value of sales made abroad. The weaker-than-expected revenue forecast helped sink Amazon’s stock by 7.8 percent the day after its profit report, even though its net income far exceeded analysts’ expectations. Next year, profit growth is likely to fall off even more sharply for Corporate America because companies will no longer be getting the big boost provided by a sharp drop in their income-tax rates. That is, unless Washington approves yet another tax cut, which is unlikely now that Democrats have gained control of the House of Representatives. Earnings growth may run at about 9 percent next year for S&P 500 companies. That would be a good showing during normal times, particularly about a decade into an economic expansion, but it would also be less than half this year’s rate.

Are stocks overpriced? The growth expectations are key be-

cause stock prices tend to track corporate profits over the long term. When profits are surging, it gives investors more reason to pay high prices for stocks. The S&P 500 index set a record on Sept. 20. Most professional investors say stocks look either fairly valued or still a bit expensive relative to how much profit they produce. The S&P 500 is trading at 16.1 times

its expected earnings per share over the next 12 months, for example. That’s a more expensive price-to-earnings ratio than its average of 14.7 over the last 15 years. For stocks to look more attractive, either prices need to drop or earnings need to rise more. That’s why investors are putting so much emphasis on what comes next. — AP

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

D.C. TAX ASSISTANCE

The D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue offers free tax preparation assistance for walk-ins, Monday through Friday, from 8:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 1101 4th St. SW, Suite W270, Washington, D.C. Taxpayers must bring a copy of their most recent completed federal tax return, applicable schedules, and W-2s or statements showing DC withholdings. No appointments necessary. For more information, visit https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/page/free-tax-preparationassistance.

Jan. 22+

FRUSTRATED BY YOUR JOB SEARCH?

JCA’s Career Gateway Program can help you hone your resume, polish your networking and interviewing skills, use Internet job search resources more effectively, and turn your age and experience to your advantage. Each session of the Career Gateway, designed for those 50+, features 30 hours of small-group classroom instruction over five days, takehome materials, practical exercises and a long term mentor. Our next session will meet on Jan. 22, 23, 25, 28 and 30. Additional sessions will begin March 4, April 22 and June 11. All sessions are held at JCA, located at 12320 Parklawn Dr., in Rockville, Md. For more information, call Jodie Rasch at (301) 255-4215 or email jodie.rasch@accessjca.org.

Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Five mistakes not to make with annuities By Abigail Havermann Recently, we learned an elderly client had unexpectedly cashed out of an annuity that was part of her portfolio, and moved her money to another product. In the process, she accepted a $13,000 surrender charge, increased the amount of time her funds will be tied up with a dif-

ferent annuity, and guaranteed herself a lower rate of return. When I called her, she said an insurance agent had advised her to make the change. It’s frustrating to see someone taken advantage of that way — but I know why it happens. Although annuities get a bad rap, there are ways to use them to complement

BEACON BITS

Dec. 11

ASSISTED LIVING CONTRACTS

Matthew Whitfield of Northern Virginia Legal Services will conduct a general discussion on assisted living contracts on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 1 p.m. at Lee Senior Center, 5722 Lee Hwy., Arlington, Va. Selecting an assisted living community is an important personal and financial decision, and contracts for senior living facilities may contain a variety of fine print that could impact your life tremendously. For more information or to register, call (703) 228-0555.

Ongoing

FAIRFAX TAX HELP

Fairfax County offers free income tax preparation to families throughout Northern Virginia who earned $54,000 or less in 2017. IRS-trained and certified volunteers are available at 15 local sites. Bring Photo ID of you and your spouse (if filing jointly), Social Security card or Tax Payer ID Number (ITIN) for everyone in family, all income statements for those filing (including dependents), voided check for direct deposit, expense documents and proof of health insurance. For more information or to make an appointment, visit http://bit.ly/FairfaxCoTaxHelp.

Exclusive Living for Seniors 62+

Victory Terrace SENIOR APARTMENTS 209 Monroe Street Rockville, Maryland 20852 Call Today!

301-294-1111

TTY: 711

www.VictoryCourt.com EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

9440 Newbridge Drive Potomac, Maryland 20854 Call Today!

301-983-9600

TTY: 711

www.VictoryTerrace.com

Ask about our short-term leasing options!

an overall financial plan. Unfortunately, the types and terms are complicated. I find that even some insurance agents don’t understand all the moving parts, or they don’t seem motivated to clear up the confusion for their customers. Here are five things you should know about annuities to avoid making an expensive mistake: 1. You can’t just back out. In exchange for the income guarantees an annuity offers, you’ll likely have to agree to a surrender period — a designated amount of time you’ll wait before withdrawing more than a predetermined percentage of your money. (Usually, 10 percent per year.) If you break that agreement and cash out early, you may have to pay a hefty fee. To be clear, there are cases in which the structure of an annuity is so dismal that taking a reasonable surrender penalty might make sense. But any agent encouraging you to pay a penalty should show you the math behind why it makes sense to do so. 2. Don’t confuse interest rates, withdrawal rates and cap rates. I have yet to meet a person who doesn’t mix these up. And for good reason: Annuity contracts are often complex, and even the people selling them can get lost in the language. • An interest rate is the percentage that will be credited to your principal (the money you originally put in the investment). This rate may change depending on the type of annuity you purchase. With a fixed-indexed annuity, for example, if the market is up 8 percent for the year, you may see 4 percent; but if the market is down, your principal is protected and you won’t lose any money. A fixed annuity, on the other hand, has a

set interest rate regardless of what the market does, and these days you can’t expect that rate to be more than 2 to 3 percent. If you think you’re getting a guaranteed 5 percent interest on your investment, you probably misunderstood something. • A guaranteed annual withdrawal rate is the amount an annuity company will guarantee you can take from your investment for the rest of your life. Here’s a simplified example: If you put in $500,000 and the contract says you can withdraw 6 percent annually, that means you can take out $30,000 per year for the rest of your life, even if your $500,000 principal has been spent. The mistake I see so many people make when they leave a broker’s office is they believe their account is going to go up by a guaranteed 6 percent per year. That 6 percent is the amount you can pull off your investment; it is not the amount by which your investment will grow. • To further confuse matters, many annuities offer cap rates. A cap is the highest amount of interest you can make in any given year. For example, we had a client who — before working with us — invested in an annuity that had a 2 percent cap. The maximum he could make every year was 2 percent, no matter what the market did. The market could soar 50 percent, and this annuity would only return 2 percent. In addition, his adviser added an unnecessary feature to the contract that cost 1 percent per year. So, the most the client could earn was 1 percent per year — a terrible investment. 3. Beware of bonuses. Insurance companies aren’t in business to lose money. If they’re offering a bonus to consumers — such as extra interest in the See ANNUITIES, page 39

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Annuities From page 38 first year — they likely are making up the money with a lower interest rate for the life of the investment. While bonuses can be useful, it’s a mathematical equation to decide whether the overall product is more advantageous than another one without a bonus. 4. Be mindful of how your money is moved. When you move from one annuity to another, the money should go directly from institution to institution. The professional with whom you’re working must check a box on the application that says you are replacing an existing annuity, and this triggers an audit for your protection. The annuity company then researches whether switching annuities is appropriate. In the case of our elderly client, the insurance professional had her cash out her annuity with us and move the money to her bank account. The new annuity was then purchased with a check.

Neither annuity company did an audit because they didn’t know they were dealing with a replacement. An audit would have revealed the move was not in the best interest of the client, and the investment would have been denied. Another important point: When you do need to write a check, always write it to a third party, such as TD Ameritrade, Fidelity Investments or the insurance company. Remember Bernie Madoff? He had everyone write checks directly to his company name so he had direct control over the funds. 5. Know how the person selling your annuity is licensed and paid. An insurance agent usually takes a lump-sum commission after the sale of an annuity — and usually, the longer the annuity’s term, the more he or she will make. Financial professionals who are licensed to sell both securities and insurance have less incentive to choose one investment over another. They should be looking out for your best interests, not the bigger paycheck, which decreases conflicts of inter-

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

AFFORDABLE HOUSING PODCAST

Host Jim Person talks with two guests from the county’s Department of Housing and Community Development on Fairfax 50+ — a podcast series featuring discussions on issues, services and activities of interest to residents 50 and over. Santiago Sanchez is a homeownership project manager, and Grace Highman is the chief of the department’s Homeownership Division. For more information and to listen to the podcast, visit http://bit.ly/AffordableHousingFairfaxPodcast.

Ongoing

THE NOT OLD — BETTER SHOW

The Not Old — Better Show covers life, culture, literature, health, business, the arts and more with a new podcast every week. Just added: “Podcast from the Publisher,” a monthly conversation with Beacon publisher Stuart Rosenthal. The Not Old — Better Show is available at https://notold-better.com and on many podcast directories, including iTunes, Spotify and iHeart Radio. Check out some recent shows on exercise, Tai-chi, balance, and cognition, as well as the history of the artificial heart and an author interview about espionage and British spies.

Two Unique Affordable Housing Communities Both with available Subsidies based on eligibility Stein & Moskowitz Independent Living:

Edwards Personal Care:

·4-Course Dinner Meals

·Weekly Housekeeping &

·Full Calendar

·Engaging Activity Program

·Daily Meals

of Activities & Van Trips ·Computer Lab & Fitness Room ·On-Site Beauty Salon & Convenience Store

Laundry

·Bathing Assistance ·Optional Medication Administration ·24-Hour On-Site Staff

Call (301)-244-3579 or email marketing@homecresthouse.org For video tour and application: www.homecresthouse.org TTY MD Relay 7-1-1 2018 PACE Award Winners

14508 Homecrest Road Silver Spring, MD 20906

est and supports more consistent service. I’ve seen annuities do amazing things for people (including helping avoid what happened to so many investors in 2008). But all annuities are not created equal. Fol-

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

SKILLED VOLUNTEERS

Montgomery County RSVP is looking for senior volunteers to join its network of 55+ members who provide assistance based on their unique skills. Automobile, liability and injury insurance are provided. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/MontgomeryCountyRSVP, email rsvp@montgomerycountymd.gov or call (240) 777-2610.

Ongoing

TOYS FOR TOTS

The National Museum of the Marine Corps is an official collection point for Toys For Tots. Drop off a new unwrapped toy in the Medal of Honor Theater lobby during the month of December. The museum is located at 18900 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Triangle, Va. For more information, visit www.usmcmuseum.com.

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Travel Leisure &

Food can be one of the most memorable parts of a trip. Read about memorable meals, from the Caribbean to Myanmar. See story on page 44.

In low-cost Cambodia, there’s much to see

Know before you go You’ll run across the word “Khmer.” It has multiple meanings. It’s the official language of Cambodia. A Khmer is a native of Cambodia. It’s also the name of the ancient kingdom that reached its peak of power in the 11th century. Cambodia is about the size of Oklahoma. Most of its 16 million residents practice Theravada Buddhism. With an average annual income of about $1,500 per capita, it’s the second poorest country in Southeast Asia. So far, it remains one of

the least expensive countries to visit. Luxury hotel rooms can cost less than $100 a night, and the country has plenty of accommodations in all categories, including guest houses and hostels. Meals in moderate restaurants rarely cost more than $5. Weather is warm year-round. Little rain falls from November to May. March to May is the hot season. Days in June through October see daily afternoon monsoon deluges, and it is the quietest time for tourism. There are no direct flights from North America to Cambodia. You must take connecting flights from major destinations elsewhere in Southeast or East Asia, such as Bangkok, Singapore or Ho Chi Minh City. You will need a visa ($30, plus an extra passport photo). Fill out the paperwork provided on your flight, and obtain a tourist visa upon arrival at the Siem Reap or Phnom Penh airport. Currency is the Riel, about 4,000 to $1, with Riel currency coming in denominations from 50 to 100,000. The U.S. dollar is accepted everywhere, and all ATMs dispense U.S. dollars. Roads have improved in the past few years, but many are still narrow and bumpy. If you are on your own, buses are the cheapest and most convenient way to travel between towns. Shared taxis are another possibility, but they are stuffed with passengers, and the

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

By Jamie Lee Pricer Once the site of one of Asia’s most significant early civilizations, Cambodia today presents a rural society far less populated and economically developed than its neighbors, Thailand and Vietnam. And that is the crux of the country’s charm and appeal. Visitors throng to the country’s premier tourist draw, Angkor Wat, but you will find much to see and do on the road to this ancient temple, now a World Heritage Site. A popular tourist trail starts in the south at the country’s capital, Phnom Penh, and heads north on modestly maintained Highway 6 to Tonle Sap, a lake so large it looks like a sea. The six- to eight-hour drive ends at the city of Siem Reap, the launching point for exploring Cambodia’s temple country.

PHOTO BY BANANA REPUBLIC IMAGES

The Temple City Angkor Wat, over 400 acres in size and surrounded by a moat, is one of the largest religious monuments in the world. It was built in the 12th century, and today attracts more than 2 million tourists a year. Some of the Buddhist shrines on the site, such as this one being entered by a monk, are encased in huge tree roots.

In Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, modern motor scooters ride past Wat Ounalom, a temple compound built in 1433 that serves as headquarters of Cambodian Buddhism. The grounds include 44 structures.

drive is notoriously heart-pounding. The choice of self-driving is littered with government obstacles, so it’s better to hire a car and driver. In town, the best choice is a tuk-tuk — some form of covered seating pulled by a scooter. Another option is a moto, a scooter taxi where a passenger rides behind the driver. Rides go for $1 to $2. Scooters are the transportation mode du jour. It’s not unusual to see mom, dad and two kids plus their groceries amazingly packed on a scooter. Goods that you might expect to be hauled by truck are roped onto scooters.

Chow down Cambodian food is a mishmash with influences from France, Vietnam, China and Thailand. It is more delicately spiced, with less chili and sugar than Thai food. The national dish is amok, a thick soup cooked with fish, meat, vegetables, eggs and coconut milk, often with hints of lemongrass or light curry. Chicken, pork, fish and rice are staples. The markets offer a wide range of vegetables. That’s also where you will find trays of fried grasshoppers, beetles and crickets. Sold by the bag, they are eaten like sweets. The cheapest food is street food prepared

on portable stoves or barbecues. Favorite offerings are fried noodles, baguettes, fresh fruit and ice cream. Cheaper restaurants simply place their pots in front, you lift the lid and point to what you’d like. It will be served with a plate of rice. In the larger cities, you can find more upscale restaurants with international cuisine. Tourist restaurants with English-language menus and Western cuisine are found in larger towns and traveler hubs. Cambodians eat early. Restaurants tend to close by 9 p.m., although some stay open longer in tourist areas. Important note: Don’t drink the tap water. To be safe, use only bottled water, even when you brush your teeth.

Phnom Penh Evacuated and left to ruin by the Khmer Rouge (the communist rulers of Cambodia from 1975 to 1979) a generation ago, Phnom Penn is now flourishing and experiencing rapid development. Situated at the confluence of three rivers, including the Mekong, the city is crisscrossed by broad tree-lined boulevards and dotted with colonial villas, modern architecture, and boutique hotels, hosSee CAMBODIA, page 41

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Cambodia From page 40 tels and restaurants. Still it’s not totally recovered. Side roads are in poor shape, some of the villas are ruined beyond repair, and the old drainage system backs up whenever it rains. Poorer people live in shanty villages on the city’s outskirts. Phnom Penh offers the country’s most happening nightlife with late-night bars and clubs along the waterfront. Choices range from girlie bars, karaoke, dance halls and local discos to high-end options. One stop hardly ever missed by visitors is the enormous, hot, noisy and crowded shopping mecca, Psar Toul Tom Poung (Russian Market). It’s “the place” to buy textiles, antiques and silver, motor bike parts, bootleg DVDs, fake designer bags and handicrafts. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The best cultural highlights are the Royal Palace, probably the city’s most memorable sight; the Silver Pagoda, home to a sacred emerald Buddha; the National Museum, with a top collection of sculptures from Cambodia’s temples; and, sadly, the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, which recalls the many Khmer Rouge atrocities. Continuing north, a popular stop for tourists is the little town of Skuon, less than an hour’s drive on the highway from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. It is famous for its edible spiders. They are a type of Asian tarantula about 2 inches across, that are served deep-fried with a hint of salt and garlic. At 4,000 square miles, Tonle Sap is the largest lake in Southeast Asia. It stretches along for about half the distance between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Thousands of families live along or on it, supported by fishing. Most live in primitive conditions. Those along the shore have built homes

on stilts; at the height of the wet season in September water levels can rise well above 30 feet. Others live in floating villages that move seasonally to keep floating in the shallow lake. Vendors offer various boating tours of the area.

Markets and museums Siem Reap is the gateway to Cambodia’s temple area. More modern than the rest of the country, it’s packed with hotels, restaurants, bars, boutiques, tourists and tour operators. Nonetheless, it retains a bit of small-town colonial charm. As in Phnom Penh, shopping is not to be missed. Here, the most popular spot is the Angkor Night Market, with hundreds of closely packed stalls that offer every kind of craft and collectible produced in Cambodia. Hours are from about 5 to 10 p.m. daily. The Angkor National Museum tops the list of best cultural highlights. If possible, it’s best to visit here before the temples. Pieces of ancient Khmer sculpture are exhibited in wide galleries. Multimedia presentations provide background on Cambodian history, heritage and religion. Another choice is the Artisans d’Angkor, where you can see students hone skills in wood and stone carving, lacquer-work, gilding and silver-working. The end products can be bought in a boutique at the center. A stroll along the riverside walkway, running along both sides of the Siem Reap River, lands you at the formal Royal Gardens, flanked by two venerable hotels.

Temples of Angkor The temples of Angkor are a monument to the greatest ancient civilization of Southeast Asia. Angkor was the heart of the great Khmer Empire spiritually, politically and geographically. More than 100 temples to various deities

Caring for your aging parent or loved one? It’s not all up to you. Call us. 240-777-3000

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

are scattered over 150 square miles. They were built between the late 6th century through 1200. In the great days of the empire, each temple was the center of a busy community. As they were typically built of wood, they are now entirely vanished. At its height, the region boasted a population of 1 million at the time London was a small town of 50,000. Today, 2 million tourists clamber through the crumbling ancient monuments each year. Tickets are required to enter what is loosely called the Angkor Archaeological Park. Admission is $20 for one day. Tickets are printed with your photo, and they are checked at various stops. The fine for entering without a ticket is $100. The most popular of the temples built by god-kings is Angkor Wat. Other best-visited stops are the walled city of Angkor Thom, where you’ll see dozens of towers

plastered with faces, and Ta Prohm, with its semi-ruined shrines and statues smothered by giant tree roots. Angkor Wat is the national symbol and the highlight of any visit to Cambodia. Dominated by five lotus flower towers, it was built in the 12th century to honor the Hindu god Vishnu. It is the largest, best preserved and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples. On approach, you first cross a vast moat on a broad causeway. Once you enter the main building, you climb through a series of galleries and courtyards before reaching the central sanctuary, which gives views back to the causeway and across the surrounding countryside. Intricate stone carvings adorn nearly See CAMBODIA, page 42

PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW, March 7 ......................................................................... $105pp "Flower Power". Visit the largest indoor flower show in the world!

NEW ORLEANS, March 9 – 17 ........................................................................................ $1399pp Includes: Motorcoach Transportation, 8 nights hotel, 12 meals, Guided tour Price based on double occupancy of the French Quarter, Riverwalk & Jackson Brewery, Plantation & garden tour, WWII Museum & MUCH MORE!

HARRIET TUBMAN & HISTORIES AROUND THE BAY, Apr 23 – 25 ............................ $759pp Wind through rural landscape of Maryland’s Eastern shore as we explore the life of Price based on double occupancy Harriet Tubman & the journey to freedom. Includes: Motorcoach, 6 meals, 2 nights hotel, sightseeing and taxes & meal gratuities.

BUS DIRECT

TO NYC

ARLINGTON * BETHESDA * PENN STATION

WIFI AND ELECTRICAL OUTLETS ON BOARD

TripperBus.com 718-834-9214 Follow us on

ADS@ MontgomeryCountyMD.gov

Aging & Disability Services Mon and Fri: Tue, Wed, & Thur:

8:30am – 5:00pm 8:30am – 7:30pm

A free service of your County Government

Operated by Gunther Charters, Inc. USDOT #110308 MC #128577

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Cambodia

BEACON BITS

Dec. 9

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR

From page 41

Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church is holding its annual Ukrainian Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 9 from 1 to 3 p.m. The bazaar features Ukrainian food, gifts and ornaments. The church is located at 16631 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, Md. For more information, contact Melania Karmazyn at melkarmazyn@yahoo.com.

Dec. 12

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

AARP HOLIDAY LUNCHEON

The Southwest Waterfront AARP chapter invites members and friends to their annual holiday luncheon on Wednesday, Dec. 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bolling Club-Spaatz Room on the second floor of the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, 50 Theisen St., Washington, D.C. The venue is wheelchair accessible. Reservations cost $35. For participants without military IDs, include the following information for base entrance: copy of photo ID, first and last name, date of birth, driver’s license number or passport number, state of issue of driver’s license, expiration of driver’s license (MM/DD/YYYY) and country of citizen. Also include phone number, name of guests and check made payable to Betty Jean Tolbert Jones. Mail all information to 1311 Delaware Ave. SW, #South 843, Washington, D.C. 20024. For more information, contact Betty Jean Tolbert Jones at bettyjeantolbertjones@yahoo.com or (202) 554-0901.

every surface, with more than 1,000 Apsaras, or celestial dancers, sculpted into the walls. Along the outer gallery walls run the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which narrates stories from Hindu mythology. Be ready to climb steps to reach different levels, as well as a steep ladder-like staircase to the top. Due to its popularity, Angkor Wat can be crowded. The best time to visit to avoid the mass of bus parties is 7 to 9 a.m.

If you go Cambodian hotels can be very inexpensive. The ones below have English-speaking staffs and websites in English and represent the range of prices.

Phnom Phen You Khin, a three-story guest house with pool. Rates range from $39 to $59.

www.youkhinhouse.com The Quay, a 32-room boutique hotel overlooking the Tonle Sap River and Mekong Rivers. Rates range from $75 to $95. www.thequayhotel.com Raffles Hotel Le Royal is a luxury hotel with rates from $230 to $292. www.raffles.com

Siem Reap Low-price Ivy Guest House has non-airconditioned rooms for $6 to $8. Rooms with air conditioning are $15. www.ivyguesthouse.com The moderately priced Villa Medamrei offers free pickup from the airport or bus station. www.villamedamrei.com Rambutan Hotel has some rooms with private rooftop terraces and apartments that range from $126 to $152. All come with complimentary foot massages. www.rambutans.info For further tourist information, contact: • Cambodian Ministry of Tourism, country’s highlights, information on accommodations, history and Khmer culture. www.tourismcambodia.org • Canby Publications, convenient online extracts from Cambodian city guides. canbypublications.com • Cambodian Information Centre, information on everything from clubs and organizations to the legal system. www.cambodia.org The least expensive roundtrip flight to Phnom Phen from the Washington area in early January is $1,243 on ANA, a Japanese airline, but that fare requires flying out of Dulles and returning to Reagan National with an 18-hour layover in Tokyo. Cathay Pacific offers a flight for $1,593 leaving and returning from Reagan National and transferring in New York and Hong Kong that is about 10 hours shorter in travel time.

BEACON BITS

Dec. 11

Darryl Taylor, at center, photographed with AARP representatives and Andrus Award nominees. Photo by Reggie Campbell

CONGRATULATIONS TO DARRYL TAYLOR 2018 AARP DC ANDRUS AWARD FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE RECIPIENT Named after AARP’s founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, the award honors outstanding individuals whose volunteer work has improved the community, supported AARP’s vision and mission, and inspired other volunteers. Darryl is an AARP Foundation Experience Corps volunteer at Van Ness Elementary School in SE DC, where he serves as a literacy tutor and mentors the next generation of readers. Thank you, Darryl, for making a positive difference in our community!

Learn more at aarp.org/DC Facebook.com/AARPDC

@AARPDC

FASHION HAPPY HOUR

(NMWA) presents “NMWA Night: Fashion Forward” on Tuesday, Dec. 11 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tap into your fashionable side during the National Museum of Women in the Arts “Fashion Forward” event. In this crafty happy hour event, try your hand at crafts inspired by the materials and textures in the special exhibition “Rodarte,” enjoy drinks and snacks, and explore the museum’s galleries. Admission costs $25; $15 for members, those 65 and older and students. All proceeds benefit Dress for Success, a nationwide nonprofit that empowers women through access to professional clothing and career training. Reservations are required. The museum is located at 1250 New York Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. For more information, visit nmwa.org or call (202) 783-5000.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

Enjoy winter’s beauty from aboard a train You can easily enjoy great winter snows- the Appalachians.) The Lake Shore Limitcapes without fighting the drifts and the ed through the Berkshires, between Boston and Albany, and the ice: Just take a train. Enjoy the Cardinal through West Virsights from a comfortable, ginia are also candidates. wide seat, through a panoraNorth America’s top winter ma window, maybe while siprail trip used to be the Canadiping something cold or warm. an, between Toronto and VanExcept in unusual circumcouver, especially the segment stances, railroads keep their between Edmonton and Vantracks open through snowfall couver. Unfortunately, congesheavy enough to shut down tion on the Canadian National the highways. And many travhas caused a schedule reviel on routes with better sightsion that no longer covers the seeing than you can find from TRAVEL TIPS By Ed Perkins top mountain scenery during any highway. daylight. Some beautiful routes are VIA Rail is fixing that problem, but not on regular trains, at regular fares, not special excursions. Amtrak’s two top winter until next spring. As far as I can tell, the scenery trains operate through the west- Rocky Mountaineer between Vancouver and Banff surprisingly doesn’t operate in ern Rockies and Sierras: — The California Zephyr, between the winter. Chicago and Emeryville (for San Francisco), provides daytime sightseeing over the On the rails in the Alps If you want really great snow scenery, Rockies and Sierras on successive daytime segments. Daylight sightseeing through you can’t beat Switzerland. Although my the Rockies is better westbound. If you recent (sponsored) train trips there were just want the mountains, start or end your in snow-free late summer, I’ve also done trip in Denver rather than Chicago. them in winter, and you just can’t beat the — The Empire Builder passes next to Swiss panorama trains for scenery any Glacier National Park in Montana on its time of the year. trip through the Rockies, and it also passes I particularly recommend three: through the Cascade Range in Washing— My favorite is the Bernina Express ton. The best daytime Glacier Park sight- from Alpine Chur over the Bernina pass seeing times are on the eastbound trip. and down a spectacular line to semiBut in winter, you don’t get much daylight Mediterranean Tirano, Italy. through the Cascades in either direction. This route is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it’s the one most often pictured on Trains in the East posters and ads. Winter or summer, it’s Among other Amtrak trains with the po- one of the world’s great scenic rail jourtential for winter snow is the Pennsylvan- neys. ian, through the Alleghenies from PittsTrains operate all year, although at burgh to Philadelphia. (Note: the west- some times you have to change at Ponterbound schedule isn’t good for daylight in essina, near St. Moritz. The schedule fa-

vors southbound trips for best daylight viewing. — The Glacier Express is probably the best known Swiss panorama train. It runs between St. Moritz and Zermatt all year, with the exception of a break from October 23 to December 10. Winter trains with panorama cars operate once daily in both directions. If you prefer, you can take less than the full trip, but don’t miss the section between Chur and St. Moritz over the UNESCO World Heritage Albula route. A full eight hours in the spectacular Alps — what more do I need to say? — The new Gotthard Panorama Express takes you over the former mainline that has been bypassed by the new 35-mile Gotthard Base Tunnel. The new tunnel cuts the travel time substantially, but 35 miles in a tunnel under the Alps isn’t a big sightseeing event.

Instead, take the panoramic train over the steep grades, curves and spiral tunnels along deep river valleys and gorges. The Panorama Express trip runs between Lucerne and Lugano, combining a boat trip on Lake Lucerne with the train. All three Swiss trains are covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. But if one is enough, you can buy individual tickets. All three require reservations, with an extra fee. Buy either way online at www.sbb.ch/en or raileurope.com. You can find good snowscape trains in many other countries with high mountains, from Austria to Japan to New Zealand. Check out the rail options wherever you’re heading. Send e-mail to Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net. Also, check out Ed’s new rail travel website at www.railguru.com. © 2018 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

• Eye Care for All Ages • Specialists in Cataracts, Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy and Macular Degeneration • Contact Lens Specialists • Plastic & Reconstructive Eye Surgery

Full In-House Optical Department Outpatient No-Stitch Cataract Surgery • Laser Surgery MEDICARE ASSIGNMENT ACCEPTED LENARD H. HAMMER, M.D., F.A.C.S. GORDON LUI, M.D. SCOTT B. BECKER, M.D. BRIAN J. WINTER, M.D.

VANESSA LIMA, M.D. CRISTINA F. ROUILLER, O.D..

410-997-9900

8860 Columbia 100 Parkway, Suite 101, Columbia, MD

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Memorable meals from around the world By Victor Block and Fyllis Hockman Enjoying our first dinner during a group tour of Sicily, we turned to the guide and told him that the meal was excellent. His reply was as delightful as it was surprising. “People can steal my money, but not my food,” Alessio remarked. He followed that remark by claiming, “If lunch or dinner doesn’t have at least five courses, it’s just a snack.” Those words told us a lot about Sicily, and indeed about all of Italy. Food plays an important role in the lifestyle of Italians. Growing, harvesting, cooking and eating (often gargantuan portions) hold a place of near reverence in the daily lives of Italians. Our travels to more than 75 countries have taught us that the same holds true throughout the world. National, regional and local dining customs tell much about various cultures.

Of countless repasts we have enjoyed at home and abroad, some stand out because of what they demonstrate about the destination and the people who live there. They range from gourmet spreads set out in a romantic setting, to everyday fare consumed by the locals. Readers may recognize the locations of these meals from our previous stories published in the Beacon.

Making your own meals Of the outstanding meals we enjoyed in Sicily, the most memorable was billed as A Day in the Life of a Sicilian Farm Family, and it put the members of our tour group to work. The farm’s owners, their parents and assorted aunts and cousins taught us the finer techniques of kneading bread and rolling pasta. Those chores were accompa-

nied by singing, dancing and sipping wine that seemed to flow as plentifully as the nearby river. By the time we left, we were satiated with both food and warm feelings for our new-found friends. (That experience, and the trip, were arranged by Overseas Adventure Travel, www.oattravel.com.) Another do-it-yourself dining experience took place in a very different setting. The Village Restaurant is located in Thit Ael Pin, a tiny town inhabited by farmers and fishermen in Myanmar (also known as Burma). The area is home to the Danu people, one of some 135 ethnic groups that comprise the country’s population. Members of each community have their own customs, traditions and food preferences. As a chef presided over the activity, personal assistants helped us to add ingredients, including vegetables grown in the

New device stops a cold before it starts New research shows you can stop a cold in its tracks if you take one simple !"#$%&!'$($)"%$*"+&,"$%'")$-./$01 !$2""3$ a cold coming on. Colds start when cold viruses get in your nose. Viruses multiply fast. If you don’t stop them early, they spread in your airways and cause misery. But scientists have found a quick way to kill a virus. Touch it with copper. Researchers at labs and universities agree, copper is “antimicrobial.” It kills microbes, such as viruses and bacteria, just by touch. That’s why ancient Greeks and Egyptians used copper to purify water and heal wounds. That’s why Hippocrates, the “father of modern medicine”, used copper to heal skin ulcers, and why Civil War doctors used it to prevent infection of bat!3"0"3*$%./)* 4$5'"-$*&*)6!$7).%$(8./!$ viruses and bacteria, but now we do. Scientists say the high conductance of copper disrupts the electrical balance in a microbe cell and destroys the cell in seconds. Tests by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show copper surfaces kill germs that are left on them. That way the next person to touch that surface does not spread the germ. As a result of this new knowledge, some hospitals switched to copper for various touch surfaces, like faucets and doorknobs. This cut the spread of MRSA and other illnesses by over half, and saved lives. 5'"$ !1.)9$ ,&")!&0,$ "+&*"),"$ 9(+"$ inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When he felt a cold coming on he fashioned a smooth copper probe and rubbed it gently in his nose for 60 seconds. “It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold went away completely.” It worked again every time he felt a cold coming on and he hasn’t had a cold since. He asked relatives and friends to try it. They said it worked for them so he patented CopperZap™ and put it on the market.

Soon hundreds of people had tried it and given feedback. Nearly 100 percent said the copper stops their colds if used within 3 hours (2!"1$!'"$01 !$ &9)4$:+")$ up to 2 days, if they still get the cold it is milder than usual and they feel better. Users wrote things New research: Copper stops colds if used early. like, “It stopped my cold right away,” and “Is it supposed to work ($%'(,7$I.8DE$$J/!$'"$0)(33-$!1&"*$&!$()*K$ to his surprise, the copper cleared up his that fast?” Pat McAllister, age 70, received one sinuses right away. Judy and their daughfor Christmas and called it “one of the ter both said, “It has changed our lives!” Some users say copper stops nighttime best presents ever. This little jewel real!/L)" K$ !..K$ &2$ !'"-$ / "$ &!$ I/ !$ 8"2.1"$ ly works.” Now thousands of users have bed. One man said, “Best sleep I’ve had simply stopped getting colds. ;.##"1$<(-$"+")$ !.#$=/$!'(!$ !(1! $&)$ in years.” People have used it on cold sores the nose if used right away and for several days. In a lab test, scientists placed 25 and say it can completely prevent ugly <&33&.)$ 3&+"$ =/$ +&1/ " $ .)$ ($ ;.##"1>(#4$ outbreaks. You can also rub it gently on wounds, cuts, or lesions to combat infecNo viruses were found alive soon after. People often use CopperZap preven- tions. 5'"$ '()*3"$ & $ ,/1+"*$ ()*$ 0)"3-$ !"F!&+"3-4$?1"@/")!$=&"1$A(1")$B(/,&$/ "*$!.$ 9"!$ ,.3* $ (2!"1$ ,1.%*"*$ =&9'! 4$ 5'./9'$ tured to improve contact. It kills germs skeptical, she tried it several times a day #&,7"*$/#$.)$0)9"1 $()*$'()* $!.$#1.!",!$ on travel days for 2 months. “Sixteen you and your family. Copper even kills deadly germs that =&9'! $()*$).!$($ )&C"DE$ '"$"F,3(&<"*4 Businesswoman Rosaleen says when have become resistant to antibiotics. If people are sick around her she uses Cop- you are near sick people, a moment of perZap morning and night. “It saved me handling it may keep serious infection last holidays,” she said. “The kids had away from you and your loved ones. It colds going round and round, but not me.” may even save a life. The EPA says copper still works even Some say it also helps with sinuses. Attorney Donna Blight had a 2-day sinus when tarnished. It kills hundreds of difheadache. When her CopperZap arrived, ferent disease germs so it can prevent seshe tried it. “I am shocked!” she said. rious or even fatal illness. CopperZap is made in the U.S. of pure “My head cleared, no more headache, no copper. It has a 90-day full money back more congestion.” G)"$ <()$ '(*$ /H"1"*$ "( .)(3$ &)/ $ guarantee when used as directed to stop a problems for years. It was so bad it ru- ,.3*4$M!$& $NOP4PQ4$B"!$NRS$.H$"(,'$;.#ined family vacations and even dinners perZap with code MDSB3. Go to www.CopperZap.com or call out with friends. His wife Judy bought CopperZaps for both of them. He was so toll-free 1-888-411-6114. Buy once, use forever. skeptical he said, “Oh Judy, you are such (paid advertisement)

garden just outside, to the cooking pots. The nine-course luncheon began with vegetables tempura prepared in the local style, went on to steamed fish wrapped in cabbage leaves and tea leaf salad, and titillated our taste buds with a desert of crispy fried banana with honey. (Trip arranged by www.mythsandmountains.com.)

Caribbean feasts Three centuries ago, the tiny Caribbean islands of Nevis was a center of the lucrative sugar producing industry, and wealthy planters built imposing Great Houses as the centerpiece of their plantations. The Hermitage continues a tradition dating from that time with its weekly pig roast. We helped to truss up and skewer the night’s main course, a practice not for the faint-hearted, before it was spit-roasted for eight hours. Accompaniments included local dishes ranging from plantains to rabbit pie, BBQ chicken to curried chick peas, and the customary cornmeal flatbread called Johnny Cakes. (Arranged by www.hermitageneveis.com.) Montpelier Plantation is less than a mile away from the Hermitage, but in ambience it offers a different introduction to the life of prosperous sugar planters. Among structures from that time still standing is a stone windmill tower that today serves as the setting for a romantic candlelit gourmet dinner. After canapés and cocktails are served in the plantation house, guests climb the stairs into the history-laden spire to relish a seven-course meal. The feast progresses leisurely, on “island time.” Our dinner menu included crispy salt fish puree, poached mahi mahi and lamb loin, and ended with a dessert that set a new high standard for tiramisu. (Contact www.montpeliernevis.com.) Guests at the five-course Chef’s Showcase dinners served at the Sunset at the Palms resort in Negril, Jamaica, have no idea what they’ll be eating. Each day, the chef and culinary team develop and test recipes that will be presented in a delightful outdoor setting. The emphasis is on indigenous Jamaican fare, and some dishes are reproduced from cooking that takes place in the homes of staff members. There also are hints of cultures that have added their influences to the island over time, including Spanish, French and British. Calalloo pesto snapper and pumpkin puree greens are typical starters. Entrees might be grilled beef tenderloin topped with fresh-from-the-garden herbs, accompanied by green banana hash. Sweet potato and yam pudding is one of a number of deserts that provide a fitting end to the meal. (Contact www.thepalmsjamaica.com.)

Dining on the water The words “moveable feast” take on a See MEMORABLE MEALS, page 45

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Memorable meals From page 44 whole new meaning during a leisurely barge trip along a narrow canal in the Burgundy region of France. The French know how to wine and dine, and both activities achieve an epitome when French Country

Waterways, which arranged our trip, gets into the act. Every bite and sip aboard their luxuriously appointed vessels is planned to please the palate of the most discriminating gourmet. Fresh breads and buttery croissants are brought on board each morning, still warm from a nearby bakery. PHOTO COURTESY OF VICTOR BLOCK

Lunch and dinner are exquisitely prepared and presented using the freshest products from local farmers’ markets. Each bottle of wine is lovingly described prior to serving, and comparable homage is paid to the selection of cheeses. After returning home, we almost found it difficult to sip from a glass of wine or taste a wedge of cheese without wanting to know its entire history. (For trip details, see www.fcwl.com.) After gallivanting and gourmet-dining around the world, we end with a tiny snack shack in the United States. The Pine Tree Frosty has been serving light bites and ice cream in the tiny western Maine town of Rangeley since 1964. The setting alone — perched at the edge of a small lake with a view of mountains in the distance — is worth a visit. But

it’s what we rate as the best lobster rolls we have enjoyed in Maine, where that tasty treat is a traditional favorite, that keeps us coming back. For the unfamiliar, the dish consists of a New England-style hot dog roll split at the top instead of the side and filled with delectable lobster meat. At the Frosty, the rolls are buttered and toasted, and overflowing with five ounces of claw and knuckle lobster meat (more than the standard three to four ounces) dressed very lightly with a touch of mayonnaise. Adding to the down-home experience are the fact that owner Ali Fraser’s mother worked there when she was a teenager 50 years ago, and the resident ducks that gather and wait patiently (sometimes not so much) for a sweet hand-out. (For more info, call (207) 864-5894.)

Going Home Cremation Service Beverly L. Heckrotte, P.A. Personalized

Professional

Dignified

Affordable

• Specializing in direct cremation • Return of the urn and memorial merchandise to your home • Serving Maryland, Washington, D.C., and N. Virginia

(301) 854-9038

or 1 (866) 728-4663 (toll free)

Authors Victor Block and Fyllis Hockman help prepare a nine-course lunch at the Village Restaurant in Myanmar. The meal was made all the more memorable by the diners’ participation in its preparation.

call for your FREE information package

Visit us at www.GoingHomeCremation.com

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Style Arts &

Cicely Tyson talks about winning her honorary Oscar — and defying her mother to become an actress. See story on page 50.

A de-lovely production of Anything Goes Gene Kelly always did) is Corbin Bleu, who the audience can’t wait to have appear on the ship’s deck (or in a cabin or the brig) for his musical numbers. Bleu, who has numerous film and TV acting credits and who plays stowaway Billy Crocker (more on the over-the-top plot later), surely is “the top” as a musical performer. Not coincidentally, he sings that pop classic (“You’re the Top”) with Soara-Joye Ross, who plays nightclub entertainer Reno Sweeney (Ethel Merman’s role in the original). Co-star Ms. Ross gives a more jazz feel than a belting wail to her other numbers (“I Get a Kick Out of You,” “Blow, Gabriel, Blow”) as she carries with good humor and warm feeling her crush on Billie.

Zany, convoluted story The wacky plot: Billy Crocker, the lovesick assistant to wealthy Wall Street banker Elijah Whitney (a blustery Thomas Adrian Simpson), sneaks aboard the luxury liner (which also carries his boss to London) in his ongoing effort to woo his crush, Hope Harcourt (a sweet Lisa Helmi Johanson). Hope is soon to be

Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas Now until Jan 6, 2019 Directed by Stevie Zimmerman All performances held in Glen Echo Park Recommended for all ages

& ATMTC ACADEMY

BUY TICKETS http://bit.ly/fancynancybeacon | 301.634.2270

PHOTO COURTESY OF VICTOR BLOCK

By Robert Friedman The plot is ridiculous, the jokes are mostly cornball, the acting and staging are very good, the songs are often great, and the singing and dancing are wonderful — which more or less sums up the production of Cole Porter’s Anything Goes now at Arena Stage. The revival of the original 1930s musical features several songs from the Great American Songbook, including “I Get a Kick Out of You,” ”You’re the Top,” “Easy to Love,” ”It’s De-Lovely” and, of course, the rousing, wow-zing title song performed by the entire cast of sailors, passengers, gangsters, gamblers, molls, stowaways, entertainers, stuffy Englishmen, uptight matrons and sort-of loose showgirls aboard the SS American as the liner makes its New York-to-London ocean crossing. Actually, the 19 cast members — and one small dog — that move and groove on Arena’s in-the-round Fichandler Stage make it seem like a Busby Berkeley cast of, well, dozens in that wonderful “Anything Goes” ensemble number. Tap dancing up a storm and calmly singing the true meaning of the words (as thin-voiced Fred Astaire and soft-voiced

Lovesick Billy Crocker, played by Corbin Bleu, woos his crush, Hope Harcourt, played by Lisa Helmi Johanson, in a revival of the 1930s musical Anything Goes, running through Dec. 23 at Arena Stage

married to stuffy British Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (a very winning Jimmy Ray Bennett). Billy masquerades as a celebrity criminal after he obtains the passport of Public Enemy Number 1 from fellow traveler —

Moonface Martin (disguised as a priest), who happens to be Public Enemy Number 13 (a wonderfully hammy Stephen DeRosa). See ANTYHING GOES, page 48

DAR CONSTITUTION HALL Saturday, Dec. 15, at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, at 3 p.m. We will be streaming each concert live online! The link to watch the show will be available on our website prior to the start of each show.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

Colorful books to give this holiday season By Dinah Rokach taken to protect her. Thoughtfulness in selecting gifts is a A reminder of the shining days of sign of a sensitive and attenCamelot, this book makes a tive friend. Consider the recipthoughtful gift for anyone ient’s interests when choosing with an appreciation of histoa book. You’ll be thanked prory, the arts or the White fusely for matching your gift House. with the proper reader. The book may be purchased Mona Lisa in Camelot: on the WHAA website How Jacqueline Kennedy shop.whitehousehistory.org. & Da Vinci’s Masterpiece Proceeds are returned to the Charmed & Captivated a publications program and used Nation, by Margaret Leslie to acquire furnishings and Davis, 274 pages, three 16- THE memorabilia for the White page inserts of photographs, BIBLIOPHILE House. White House Historical Asso- By Dinah Rokach Gates of the Arctic Naciation, 9 x 1 x 6 inches, tional Park: Twelve Years hardcover, second edition, 2018 of Wilderness Exploration, by Joe The loan of the “Mona Lisa” from the Lou- Wilkins, 328 pages, Brown Books Pubvre for display at the National Gallery of Art lishing Group, 11 x 0.8 x 8 inches, hardand New York’s Metropolitan Museum of cover, 2018 Art in 1963 is the subject of this magnificent Let veteran outdoorsman Joe Wilkins book. Two million Americans braved long take you on a fantastic trip to the Arctic lines for a few seconds’ glimpse at the mas- wilderness inside Gates of the Arctic Naterpiece. tional Park. Follow along as he hikes in the The aura of the New Frontier and the shadow of mountains through the Artenor of the times are rigetch Creek Valley, and brought back to life in vivid as he observes the myriad detail by Davis, who has inwildlife and waterfalls, corporated new research in flowers and forests alongthis second edition. side the Noatak River. Mona Lisa in Camelot inRead about the treks cludes a reproduction of and expeditions he’s taken the brochure that accompa— alone and with compannied the exhibition. See the ions — between 2005 and glamorous President and 2017 into this National First Lady elegantly attired Park situated within the at White House State DinArctic Circle. It’s inaccessiners. Explore the history ble by road even during and provenance of the woman with the be- the summer thaw. Encounter along the guiling smile. Read about the tension and trails bears and wolves, caribou and concern lest “Mona Lisa” be harmed en moose, Dall sheep and musk oxen. route, and the extraordinary measures For the adventurous, this book may

!"#$%

DISCOUNT CODE:

BEACON

plant a seed for future travels. Wilkins, a former volunteer backcountry patroller at the park, Vietnam combat veteran and retired college professor, has provided helpful information and practical advice for planning your trip. Gates of the Arctic National Park brings the faraway into reach in a coffee-table book format that can be enjoyed again and again. For those who anticipate only a vicarious trip north, this book will be a cherished keepsake or treasured gift.

All net proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to a veterans scholarship fund assisting students at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Martha’s Flowers: A Practical Guide to Growing, Gathering, and Enjoying, by Martha Stewart and Kevin Sharkey, 288 pages, over 200 color photographs, Clarkson Potter, 9.3 x 1 x 11.3 inches, hardcover, See BOOKS, page 48

R E N TA L S AT

Rockville Civic Center Park Theatre and Events 240-314-8660 • www.rockvillemd.gov/Glenview • Glenview@rockvillemd.gov ♥♥ All are welcome.

603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville, Maryland

DECEMBER at DECEMBER 9, 2018 MAINSTAGE

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE RADIO THEATER | 6 PM | !"# $%$&#

!"#$%&'(#!)*#$+,-.$/0123$456'$789$:*;(5$*<!5'#$&*,-$='*,-;$!&-$=>(??*';$!5$ @-'A5')$!&*!$-,-B(BC"#$='5*;<*#!$5A$It’s a Wonderful Life.$D--@$!&-('$#!*E5B$ *F5*!.$*B;$='-*!&-$B-G$>(A-$(B!5$!&-$@5(CB*B!$#!5'H$5A$I-5'C-$J*(>-H$*B;$ J-;A5';$4*>>#3

KL#$-BC*C(BC.$(A$B5!$)5'-$#5.$!&*B$)6>E)(>>(5B$;5>>*'$M5>>HG55;$-N!'*,*C*B?*#O — Mountain Xpress

DECEMBER 12–16; 20-22, 2018 MAINSTAGE &| &' !&()(*! D

SSTRIKING 12 A NEW HOLIDAY MUSICAL

?#2=$@A6$BC$,($7:30 PM | ?#2=$@D$,($3 PM | ?#2=$@E6@F6B@6BB$,($8 PM P

T G!HIJIKL$@B$)'$,-$)--&9,<9#6$:)M8$%1')2,3$:"&'#$,2(&+'$/&1N3#$,'$ %1')2),-'$,'$("#8$(#33$("#$'(&+8$&0$,$.+1%*86$&9#+:&+O#/$K#:$P&+O#+$:"&$ ) C.#('$'&%#$%12"5-##/#/$2"##+$&-$K#:$P#,+;'$0+&%$,-$1-#Q*#2(#/$9)')(&+=$ !"#$%&'($)%*&+(,-($)-.+#/)#-($0&+$,$'122#''013$%1')2,3$)'$,$4+'(5+,(#$'2&+#6$ ,-/$(")'$&-#$)'$(#++)427("#$38+)2'$,+#$,3)9#$:)("$:)($,-/$"1%&+6$,-/$ ("#8$/&-;($'"8$,:,8$0+&%$'1+.)-.$#%&<&-=> – Charles Isherwood, New York Times

DECEMBER 21, 2018 STUDIO THEATRE DAVE KELLER | 8 PM | ' !&()(*! R-#$&0$("#$4-#'($'&13$,-/$N31#'$%#-$&0$")'$.#-#+,<&-6$:)("$#,2"$,3N1%6$ ?,9#$J#33#+$(1+-'$")'$*#+'&-,3$#Q*#+)#-2#'$)-(&$1-)9#+',3$&-#'=$ S$'1*#+N$'&-.:+)(#+$,-/$'(&+8(#33#+=$?STU$JUVVUH$)'6$:)("&1($W1#'<&-6$("#$+#,3$ /#,36$*&1+)-.$)($&1($:)("$"#,+(6$'&13$,-/$,$*&:#+$(",($#%,-,(#'$0+&%$("#$/##*#'($ +#.)&-'$&0$("#$"#,+(=$> — Billtown Blues

12901 Town Commons Drive Germantown, MD 20874 blackrockcenter.org | 301.528.0132

November 27 - December 30 TheNationalDC.com

Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Anything Goes From page 46 Moonface is accompanied by his moll (a tough, brassy Maria Rizzo). Also on board are Reno Sweeney and her backup singers (I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t remember why, maybe a nightclub date overseas) and she woos Billy, then gracefully lets him go to gather his Hope, who realizes she has loved Billy all along. Reno manages to find love and wealth with the jilted-stilted Brit, who realizes in the second act that he is not so stuffy with a rousing song and dance rendition of â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Gypsy in My Soul.â&#x20AC;? Hopeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gold-digging mom (a scheming Lisa Tejero) has to console herself for her daughterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s real love by hugging her incredibly well-behaved Cheeky (a role shared on

Books From page 47 2018 This coffee-table book with magnificent color photographs is a bouquet that never wilts. The advice is sensible while the presentation is lavish. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not your typical gardening guide, albeit the advice is practical as the title suggests. Rather Marthaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Flowers is a visually arresting folio of beautiful gardens as well as floral arrangements in distinctive vases, vessels and containers. Six chapters each are devoted to flowers of spring and summer and two chapters on

different nights by real life canines Maximillian Moonshine and Olly, both reportedly making their stage debuts). The passengers and crew also include two Chinese gamblers posing as Christian converts (Julio Catano-Yee and Christopher Shin), and the shipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s celebrity obsessed captain (a joyfully inane Jonathan Holmes), who appears on deck every now and then to assure everyone that the ship is still afloat. Molly Smith directs with creative aplomb the comings, goings and seldom standing stills, while managing the top-notch collaboration of choreographer Parker Esse, costume designer Alejo Vietti (some slick, satiny gowns), set designer Ken MacDonald (cabins and brigs and ship decks giving way to one another by sliding up and down on stage), and several other stage crafters. Music director Paul Sortelli pops his early autumn varieties. Stewart begins each section with a personal essay followed by specific, detailed instructions on growing and arranging the blooms, concluding with a Q & A with Kevin Sharkey (executive director of design of Martha Stewart Living) on the best ways to display cut flowers in your home. Tips from professional florists are shared. Learn which flowers are deer-resistant. Read about a simpler technique to plant bulbs en masse. Stewart and Sharkey have found inspiration in her gardens that they have collaborated in planning and cultivating. Any gardener will surely appreciate this eye-catching resource.

Please patronize our advertisers. They keep the Beacon free!

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

A little background for musical history buffs: Anything Goes debuted on Broadway in 1934. One of the original bookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s authors was famous British humorist P.G. Wodehouse; the current book is by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman. The play has gone through several revivals and rewrites, two film versions and a TV production. As noted above, the original Reno Sweeney was all-time Broadway belter Ethel Merman (she also did several revivals, one of the movies and the TV special), while Bing Crossly played Billy Crocker in both movies. The role was played on TV in 1954 by Frank Sinatra.

The current cast is scheduled to be aboard until the Dec. 23 docking. Show times vary, but include Tues. through Sat. nights, Sun. matinees at 2 p.m., and some weekday noon matinees. Tickets are $41 to $105, with a 20 percent discount for veterans. To purchase tickets, call (202) 554-9066 or visit www.arena.org (handling fees apply). A limited number of half-price tickets (Hottix) are sold for most performances. They go on sale 30 minutes before curtain and must be purchased in person at the sales office. Limit of two per person. Arena Stage is located at 1101 6th St. SW, Washington, D.C. Parking at the theaterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s garage is $20 in advance and $24 on a space-available basis the day of the performance. Metroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Waterfront station on the Green Line is a block from the theater.

If your idea of romance is a gift of fresh flowers delivered to your loved one each day, this book could well serve as a practical alternative. Air Force One: The Aircraft of the Modern U.S. Presidency, by Rober t F. Dor r and Nicholas A. Veronico, 160 pages, 180 photographs, Motorbooks, 9.5 x 0.8 x 11.2 inches, hardcover, revised edition, 2018 Sixty-five years of presidential aircraft are celebrated in this wonderful large format book. It is the story of military and aviation history as told through the aircraft that have served the President. Air Force One is loaded with iconic photographs (most of them in color and 35 full page in size), technical data, minutiae and trivia, anecdotes and reminiscences. Portraits of presidents boarding, deplan-

ing and in flight are complemented by photographs of the cockpit, the lush interior and details of the defensive capabilities protecting the president in case of attack. Inside stories of the personalities and inflight habits of our presidents are retold by the crew. Appendices detail the succession of presidential aircraft and their disposition, including final destinations in museums across the country. Read the inside story of the next plane that will join the ranks. Climb on board; meet your crew, aircraft historian Robert Dorr and writer Nicholas Veronico. Passengers are guaranteed to enjoy the flight of fancy as they take the ultimate luxury ride while learning about decades of air transportation at its finest. As you deplane, take note of the list of suggested reading with which to pursue your enthusiasm on terra firma.

head up on stage from time to time as he leads nine never-seen musicians in the overture and song-and-dance numbers.

A show with great pedigree

JA N UA RY 1 7 - M A R C H 1 7 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Great Performances in the Neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Rockville Civic Ballet presents

City of Rockville presents

The Nutcracker

Holiday Festival

6 Performances | Saturdays, Dec. 1 and 8 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sundays, Dec. 2 and 9 at 2 p.m. Tickets: $17; $13 Seniors (60+) and Children 12 and under

Saturday, Dec. 15 from 1-4 p.m. Free and open to the public. Enjoy performances, decorations, food, Santa and Mrs. Claus, plus arts and crafts.

Tickets Online: www.rockvillemd.gov/theatre Box Office: 240-314-8690

Theatre F. Scott Fitzgerald

Makes a Great Gift for the Holiday Season!

AT RO C K VI L L E CI VI C CE NTE R PA R K

Rockville Civic Center Park â&#x20AC;˘ 603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville, MD

Let Mee E En ntert in nterta i Y Yoou!!

410-730-83111

TobysDinnerTheatre.coo m Due to the nature of theatriccal booking okings, DOO VKRZV DQG GDWHV DUH VXEMHFW WR FKDQJH Â&#x2021; 7RE\ÂľV 'LQQHU 7KHDWUH &ROXPELD 0'

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

December Events Britten’s War Requiem Gianandrea Noseda, conductor Karina Flores, soprano Ian Bostridge, tenor Matthias Goerne, baritone The Choral Arts Society of Washington: Scott Tucker, Artistic Director Children’s Chorus of Washington: Margaret Nomura Clark, Artistic Director

Dec. 1 Dec. 1: ForeWords#45''#65'1&!7&'5)#)(89#()#0:.3

Noseda conducts Mahler’s First Symphony Gianandrea Noseda, conductor Mason Bates: Art of War (World premiere, NSO Hechinger Commission) Mahler: Symphony No. 1

Dec. 6, 8 & 9 Dec. 6: AfterWords free post-performance discussion Dec. 8 & 9: ForeWords#45''#65'1&!7&'5)#)(89#()#0:.3

Handel’s Messiah

Holiday Pops!

Nicholas McGegan, conductor Yulia van Doren, soprano Meg Bragle, mezzo-soprano Miles Mykkanen, tenor William Berger, baritone University of Maryland Concert Choir Edward Maclary, director

Dec. 21–23 Music for Young Audiences

Timbalooloo Live!

National Symphony Orchestra Pops

Steven Reineke, conductor Warm your spirit with fresh takes on comforting classics in this singalong tradition with the NSO and The Washington Chorus, a perfect holiday treat for the entire family!

Explore the thrilling language of instruments! Grammy Award®–winning clarinetist and composer Oran Etkin and his band use games, stories, songs, and movement to teach children rich musical and cultural heritage. Age 3+ Note: the NSO does not perform in this concert.

Dec. 26–31

Dec. 14 & 15

Kennedy-Center.org

Groups call (202) 416-8400

(202) 467-4600 David M. Rubenstein is the Presenting Underwriter of the NSO. The NSO Music Director Chair is generously endowed by Vicki and Roger Sant. AARP is the Presenting Sponsor of the NSO Pops Season.

Bank of America is the Presenting Sponsor of Performances for Young Audiences.

For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales !"#$%&'#()#*+,+-#./0123., Additional support for NSO Music for Young Audiences is provided by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; the Kimsey Endowment; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Park Foundation, Inc.; and the U.S. Department of Education. Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David M. Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Cicely Tyson wins first (honorary) Oscar “It is the last thing in the world that I ever expected,” Tyson said, thinking, “I hadn’t done a major movie since The Help.” Tyson has worked since that 2011 film, with roles in Last Flag Flying and the television show “How to Get Away with Murder,” this year, but The Help was the last film that had anyone mentioning her name alongside Oscar. Oprah even called her and predicted she’d get a nomination, to which she responded: “My role was two seconds!” “I am extremely grateful to the Board that they even know my name,” Tyson added with a hearty laugh. She was honored along with publicist Marvin Levy and composer Lalo Schifrin.

Proving her mother wrong Born in Harlem, Tyson started out as a model and theater actress, eventually landing a role in the film The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter in 1968. Her pursuit of acting caused a rift with her mother, who disapproved, but Tyson said she was her “motivating force.” “I was determined to prove her wrong,” Tyson said. Plus, she learned quickly that she had a larger purpose than just acting. On the press tour for Sounder, which took her to parts of the United States that she hadn’t yet been to, she remembers a man in a press conference

telling her that watching the film made him realize that he was prejudiced. “He said, ‘You know, I could not accept the fact that your older son was referring to his father as daddy. That’s what my son calls me,’” Tyson recalled the man saying. “And I thought to myself, ‘My God. My God.’ It was those kinds of experiences as I went across the country promoting Souder that made me realize that I, Cicely Tyson, could not afford the luxury of being an actress. There were some issues that I definitely had to address, and I chose my profession as my platform.” See CICELY TYSON, page 53 At the November ceremony where she received an honorary Oscar for her decades of work in films, Cicely Tyson wore one of her trademark eyecatching dresses. Tyson, 93, got her only Oscar nomination for her work in 1972's Sounder. She continues to act and was most recently seen on the TV show "How to Get Away with Murder" earlier this year.

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

By Lindsey Bahr Cicely Tyson received her first and only Oscar nomination in 1972. It was for best actress for her work in Sounder, which she thinks of as her first major role. She wasn’t called to the stage that year — Liza Minnelli was for Cabaret — but now 45 years later, Tyson is finally getting her Oscar. “It is an emotionally wrenching matter to me,” Tyson said. Tyson, 93, is no stranger to awards and honors. She’s won three Emmys (two in the same year for The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, and one for The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All), a Tony award (for The Trip to Bountiful), been a Kennedy Center honoree, and was given a Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in 2016. Now she has added one more award to that list, an honorary Oscar, awarded to her at the 10th annual Governors Awards in November in Hollywood. “I come from lowly status. I grew up in an area that was called the slums at the time,” Tyson said. “I still cannot imagine that I have met with presidents, kings, queens. How did I get here? I marvel at it.” When film academy president John Bailey called her to inform her that the Board of Governors voted unanimously to give her the award, she “went to water.”

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

On the question of disciplining grandkids By appointing himself to the Supreme Court of Discipline, Grandpa not only made the situation worse, but he undermined Mom and Dad. What he forgot, or overlooked, is that the issue wasn’t just that one Warhol mess on that one evening. It was whether the parents have unquestioned authority in the child’s mind over the long haul. When

Grandpa intervened, he invited the child to be confused, and wary of all adults. But grandparents can also undermine the authority of parents with their default weapon: Spoiling. Many grandparents don’t want to discipline their grandchildren at all. They trot

FROM PAGE 52 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

See DISCIPLINE, page 53

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD S M O K I O W A B E E R A E S T R A T O G R E B E O N E R N I G D S A P I G O T G A I A M I N X A N T I

E W I N F S U N I E E D I N G E T H E D E A Y S R O S Y O U H I O T O S

I N I T S

S T R E E T A R S A I C E E R B R E O S L O

P S L T E A D F R G A E R R C U M E S E T C O C R A A C K H I I T D E

H O M O S A P I E N S

A R E N A

M I N T Y

I D E A S

D E N Y

D E R E M S B U T

ANSWERS TO JUMBLE Jumbles: FISHY HOARD CHROME KNIGHT Answer: Offering their seats to seniors was a -FORM OF "CHAIR-ITY"

“

A GUT-BUSTING HIT!”

PHOTOS BY MATTHEW MURPHY

Family reunions in crowded restaurants respondent). And of course, the grandfather’s attempt are usually happy affairs. Cousins catch up to end the trouble only with each other. New spouses caused more of it. get to know one another. MemThe boy’s mother started ories and jokes fly. Smiles in on Grandpa. “I don’t want abound. you disciplining my son,” she Except when a 5-year-old said. “Only I can discipline boy decides that he’s not havmy son.” ing fun. Grandpa said he might be The issue: Who should disyour son, but he’s my grandcipline that child if he misbeson, and I can discipline him haves? The parents only? Or can grandparents leap in? just as much and just as well HOW I SEE IT as you can. The boy was sitting near the By Bob Levey It looked as if we witnesses end of a long table. He was feeling moody and ignored, as kids often might have been about to watch a nasty do. So he decided to turn his dinner into family feud. But the mother and the grandfather quickly agreed to disagree. an Andy Warhol painting. Another woman — maybe an aunt? — He poured ketchup all over it. Then he poured mustard all over the ketchup. He soothed the boy with a hug and a piece of was about to add a few tons of salt and pep- candy. He stopped crying, rejoined the party, and even ate a few mouthfuls of the per when his grandfather noticed. In a booming voice, Grandpa ordered the work of art he had created on his plate. Despite the more or less happy ending, boy to stop. Then he got up, picked up the boy and the chair in which he was sitting, the issue of who should discipline a child very much remains. and moved it all the way across the room. I’m voting strongly for parents — only. He set chair and boy down with a noisy I have no doubt that in that restaurant, kerplunk. “You’re in time out, buddy,” he anGrandpa’s motives were positive. But he is nounced. Of course, the boy started crying. Of not — and cannot be — the primary adult course, the entire restaurant was watching authority in his grandson’s life. That job beand listening (including your faithful cor- longs to Mom and Dad, and only to them.

“HILARIOUS! NONSTOP PANDEMONIUM.”

December 18, 2018–January 6, 2019 Kennedy-Center.org (202) 467-4600

Theater at the Kennedy Center is made possible by

Groups call (202) 416-8400 or email groupsales@kennedy-center.org

Kennedy Center Theater Season Sponsor

Groups receive up to 25% oﬀ!

For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales !"#$%&'#()#*+,+-#./0123.,

Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Crossword Puzzle Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus In Agreement 1

ByStephen StephenSherr Sherr

21 25 28

29 34

46 52

47 53

48 54

49 55

Across

Jumble answers on p. 51.

Scrabble answers on p. 51.

1. Coal plant output 6. A Just a bit of 1 Across 10. Hoax 14. Hawkeye 15. Like BWI or IAD airports 16. Actress Spelling 17. Heineken and kin 18. Use a rifle 19. It might be the end of hymn 20. An alliance against common foes 23. Joseph Lauder’s life and business partner 25. Video game company, originally called Service Games 26. “___ it ain’t so, Joe” 27. One incompatible with a Horse, according to the Chinese zodiac 28. Loud clamor 30. Roman goddess of Earth 32. Fairy tale villain 34. Bicycle adjuster 36. “I’m with ___” (Valentine’s day T-shirt) 39. Demonstrate cooperation 42. Muppet originally voiced by Jim Henson 43. Most of a Yahtzee game set 44. Quinceanera celebrant 45. Aussie greetings 47. Environmentalist’s prefix 49. Thumbs down vote 50. Gradually weaken 52. Flower or wine, depending on the accent 54. Boorish 56. Words of support 59. Greek goddess of Earth 60. Put on the payroll 61. Seeker’s foe 65. Flirty girl 66. Oklahoma tribe 67. Agenda entries 68. Second to speak at the debate

69. Norway’s most populous city 70. First performance

Down 1. Bro or sis 2. Bro of Curly (but not Larry) 3. Finance a car 4. In gold, 24 is pure 5. Opposite of “preceded” 6. ‘net connection, at Starbucks 7. Letters OK’ing a contract change 8. Illegal speed contest 9. Brand that promises to remove dust 10. Get top billing 11. All the people 12. Venue for indoor football games 13. Like most Mentos 21. Horse’s comment on a See ‘n Say 22. Madcap comedy 23. ___ to please 24. Worst place to attach a fort 27. Part of a Star Wars costume 29. Is unprepared for job interviews 31. Deteriorate 33. City in Northern Oklahoma 35. “___ expected” (smug selfcongratulation) 37. Brainstorms 38. Disavow 40. Visibly sad 41. City 210 miles south of Medina 46. Chocolate drink, since 1926 48. Flower used in perfumery 50. Spreadsheet icon meaning “sum up” 51. “You can say that ___” 53. Swashbuckling Flynn 55. Go fly ___ 57. Emmy winner for Best Comedy 1979-1981 58. “How can anyone ___ mean?” 62. Society newcomer 63. Big flightless bird 64. Last of “FIRST”

Answers on page 51.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Cicely Tyson From page 50

A lifetime of activism It led to a lifetime of activism and humanitarianism off screen. Tyson even has a performing arts school named after her in New Jersey, and frequently goes on tour to speak to children. On screen, Tyson has portrayed women like Coretta Scott King and Harriet Ross Tubman. She decided early that she would only take jobs that “speak to something,”

which is also why she ends up saying “no” a lot. “My honorary Oscar proves to me that I was on the right track, and I stayed on it,” Tyson said. And while most of the time “no” works, sometimes it doesn’t. Tyson tried to say no to wearing a terrifically large hat to Aretha Franklin’s funeral only to be overruled by

her designer. The hat would become a viral highlight. “I never thought in my career that I would be upstaged by a hat! And I did not want to wear it,” Tyson said. “I said, ‘I can’t wear that hat. I will be blocking the view of the people behind me, they won’t be able to see, and they’ll call me all kinds of names.’ He just looked at me and said, ‘Put the hat on.’”

She came around, eventually, thinking of the hat as homage to Franklin’s appearance at Obama’s inauguration. During the ceremony for her honorary Oscar Nov. 18, while she wore a long shimmering silver gown, she eschewed wearing a similarly spectacular piece of art on her head. — AP

ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick Detorie

Discipline From page 51 out the cliché about the common enemy — the generation between them and the grandkids. They are always full of chocolate before meals and overlooked bedtimes. They think their role is to be buddies to their grandchildren, and endless sources of money, gifts — and no moral judgments. For example, even if Mom and Dad say no TV before dinner, Grandma will often turn the set on, just so she can see the little one smile. This might seem benign. But it’s just as pernicious as what the grandfather did in that crowded restaurant. I well remember a repeated struggle in our own family. It had to do with dessert. We almost never eat it, and almost never served it to our kids when they were growing up. This wasn’t some holier-than-thou crusade. We just try to shave calories where we can, and we wanted our kids to do the same. That policy was destined for heavy weather, and it regularly found plenty via the grandparents. But because our kids knew that Mom and Dad were Boss 1 and Boss 2, they always told their grandparents that they couldn’t have cake or ice cream without Mom’s or Dad’s permission. The grandparents learned to say OK, and various world wars were averted. I have another bone to pick with the grandfather in the restaurant. He was right to try to solve the Warhol problem. But he missed the chance to solve it in the right way. Instead of sentencing his attention-seeking grandson to a spot across the room, he should have walked over to the boy, put his arm around him and said: “Is something bothering you, buddy?”

Not only would a power struggle between adults have been avoided, but the boy might respect his grandfather much more in the future. You can’t earn respect, Grandpa, by throwing your weight around at a fiveyear-old as if you were a Marine drill sergeant. You can earn it by meeting a child where he is. And you can earn the respect of the child’s parents by letting them be the only justices on the Supreme Court. Bob Levey is a national award-winning columnist.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

ARTISTS IN FICTION — A BOOK CLUB

Strathmore hosts Artists in Fiction Book Club, an art-themed book club that explores the lives of Vincent van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keeffe and Frank Lloyd Wright. Join fellow readers and art enthusiasts one Wednesday night a month to discuss forgotten painters, mysterious art heists, and miraculous recoveries of masterpieces. Each evening provides an examination of the factual background along with the fiction. Free. Strathmore is located at 5301 Tuckerman Ln., N. Bethesda, Md. For more information or to RSVP, visit http://bit.ly/ArtistsFictionBookClub.

WB1218

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on page 55. CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment. EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

Business and Employment Opportunities IMMEDIATE NEED: private school located in Rockville, Maryland needs FT/PT professional bus driver to join transportation team. Must have a CDL with S endorsement, good driving record, able to pass background check, drug screening. Competitive salary and benefits. Candidates should apply: bartont@mjbha.org or call Terrence Barton, 301-962-9400, ext. 5171. THE CANAAN BAPTIST CHURCH in Washington, DC, is seeking a Choir Director/Musician to oversee their Children’s Choir (Ages 5-12). The candidate must be able to produce a recent background report and/be willing to submit to the Church’s background investigation and child welfare training. In addition the candidate must be available to play for the 10:00 am service on the 3rd Sundays of each month and conduct a minimum of two rehearsals per month. Interested candidates should submit their resume to Team1600@outlook.com. If you have any questions please call the church office at (202) 2324-5330.

Caregivers AT HOMEHEARTS HOMECARE we are committed to providing high quality, client-centered and affordable home care services to our clients to assist them to lead dignified and independent lives in the comfort and safety of their own homes. Visit our website at www.homeheartshomecare.com or contact us 301-263-5923 for more information. “A” HOME HEALTH CARE — Experienced nurses, CNA, GNA are available 24/7. Cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping, driving. Full/Part-time or live-in. Flat rate for live-in care. 15 years’ experience. 240-533-6599. I WILL CARE FOR YOUR LOVED ONES night/day. Own transportation. Good references. Lots of experience. 301-502-2258. SENIOR HELPING HAND: A compassionate caregiver to provide non-medical daily living assistance for senior. Call Pam, 301-891-0001. A LOVING, CARING, COMPASSIONATE, dependable and reliable caregiver with years of experience and references for your loved ones. Has experience with MS, Alzheimer’s, diabetics and other health problems. Please call 301-908-9134.

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Computer Services

Health

Personal Services

COMPUTER LESSONS — Personal Computer training at your home. Email, Internet, general computer use, Windows 10. Setup and train on all consumer electronics — Smartphone, Smart TV, tablet, digital cameras, GPS. Troubleshooting & setup new computers. Gentle & patient teacher. Since 1996. Call David, 301980-5840. COMPUTERTUTOR.

PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR — May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-851-0949.

HOUSE CLEANING SERVICE. LOOKING to clean houses. Good references and experience. Please call Vio, 301-706-6317.

Financial DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR BOAT to Heritage for the Blind. Free 3-Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. CALL 1-844-855-7670. GOT AN OLDER CAR, VAN OR SUV? Do the humane thing. Donate it to the Humane Society. Call 1-844-230-2952.

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate ROOM FOR RENT TO MATURE and quiet female preferred. $595 monthly rent, included utilities, parking and access once per week for laundry. Available immediately. CALL 301-2334722. IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO TAKE THE LEAP to a retirement community, try our newly announced Real Estate Partnership: Sue Heyman, Rick Winkler, and Sudha Baxter. Rely on our combined strengths: Top Weichert Producers, plus backgrounds in Teaching, Tax, and Business. We are located at the Leisure World Plaza Weichert Office and have personal knowledge of the Community from the investor and resident perspective. We will take you on a tour of the Community, show you floor plans, discuss campus amenities & offer how best to coordinate your move. We will set up an automated search for you, preview units, and contact you to arrange a showing when there is a match. We also offer exceptional service selling your current home. Call for your free Community booklet. You can see our current listings in this issue. Office 301-681-0550, Sue 301-580-5556, Rick 301-404-3105, Sudha 202-368-8536. LEISURE WORLD® — $84,000. 1 BR 1 FB Raleigh Coop, separate dining room, enclosed balcony, central air. 990 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® — $249,900. 2 BR + Den, 2 FB “K” with garage in the “Greens.” Table space kitchen, separate dining room, step-in shower, enclosed balcony. 1520 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® — $259,000. 2 BR 2 FB “C” with garage in “Overlook.” Open table space kitchen, step-in shower in master bath, enclosed balcony. 1090 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® — $154,900. 2 BR 2FB Warfield model, table space kitchen, separate dining room, separate laundry, utilities included in monthly condo fee. 1116 sq ft. Stan Mofffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® — $78,500. 1 BR 1 FB “Burgess” model coop. Ground-level patio, separate dining room, move-in condition. 800 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert Realtors. 301-928-3463.

For Sale MINK JACKET, LONG, BLACK DIAMOND, female skin, very light from designer Scasi (Rome, Italy). Size large. Gorgeous, only 2 years old. Paid $4,800, sell $1,800. In Virginia. 703591-6321. CEMETERY LOTS, 2, KING DAVID MEMORIAL Gardens premium location, together, list $5,100 each. Now $3,200 each. 301-530-8112.

CHEVY CHASE HOME CARE — reliable certified caregivers at time of illness, infirmity, loneliness. Personal assistance, ALL AGES, 4- to 24-hour shifts, homes, hospitals, nursing homes. MD, DC, No. VA. Tel.: 202-374-1240. www.ChChHomecare.com.

FORT LINCOLN CEMETERY — Historic Holy Trinity Section. Last two side-by-side single plots on a hill with trees overlooking landscaped cemetery. Not sold separately. Two plots value $9,000. $7,000 firm. No offers accepted. fluxusart@yahoo.com.

Computer Services

6 BURIAL SITES FOR SALE in Fairfax Memorial Park, Fairfax, VA. Call Betty Olson at 703-978-4613 for information.

PROBLEM WITH YOUR PC/MAC OR NETWORK? Computer Systems Engineer will come to you with help. Call David G. Computer Services at 301-642-4526.

2 SALVADOR DALI woodblock prints from Dante’s Divine Comedy. Signed and framed. Asking $900 for the pair. Can email pictures if desired. Call Steve, 410-913-1653.

STOP OVERPAYING for your prescriptions! SAVE! Call our licensed Canadian and International pharmacy, compare prices and get $25.00 OFF your first prescription! CALL 1-888-9817657 Promo Code CDC201725. DENTAL INSURANCE. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company for details. Not just a discount plan, real coverage for 350 procedures. 844-366-1003 or http://www.dental50plus.com/320 Ad# 6118.

Legal Services WERE YOU AN INDUSTRIAL OR CONSTRUCTION TRADESMAN and recently diagnosed with lung cancer? You and your family may be entitled to a significant cash reward. Call 1-888-351-0312 for your risk free consultation. SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY? Up to $2,671/mo. (Based on paid-in amount.) Free evaluation! Call Bill Gordon & Associates. 1-866-9700779. Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington, D.C. Office: Broward Co. FL., member TX/NM Bar.

Miscellaneous ENJOY 100% GUARANTEED, DELIVERED to-the-door Omaha Steaks! Save 75% plus get 4 more Burgers & 4 more Kielbasa FREE! Order The Family Gourmet Buffet — ONLY $49.99. Call 1-844-302-3754, mention code 51689JCT or visit www.omahasteaks.com. SENIOR CITIZEN SEEKING senior guitar teacher. 301-879-9515.

Personals A PRETTY WF, 52, YOUTHFUL, voluptuous lady, non-smoker, down to earth, seeks SWM, 45-65, attractive, large build gentleman nonsmoker for old fashioned fun, friendship, cherished relationship. Share romance, dates, movies, country slow dancing, cozy campfires, outdoor events, etc. Inquire, 301-442-7442. Win my heart with your voice message. CUTE, ATTRACTIVE FEMALE, FIFTIES — Looking for single white male, fifties/early sixties, attractive, robust, medium/large build, reliable, warm-hearted, romantic. Enjoy dates, companionship, devoted relationship. If interested, call 240-418-4124, leave voice message/ph#. DEAR SIR: IF YOU HAVE A COLLEGE degree, are a senior and would like a committed relationship with a retired educator and former model, call (904) 777-9616.

Personal Services TURN YOUR SILVER AND OLD GOLD jewelry into cash and do something good for yourself. Gold 4 Good (8241 Georgia Ave., Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910) buys gold and silver jewelry, including broken pieces, all sterling silver, gold watches and gold and silver coins. I will come to your house and give you a free evaluation of what I can pay. If you decide to sell, I can buy your items at that time, but there is no obligation. Licensed with both Maryland and Montgomery County (lic. #2327). Call Bob, (240) 938-9694. Gold 4 Good pays an additional 5 percent to all sellers who are veterans of the US Army, Air Force, Navy or Marine Corps. And we extend the same courtesy to their spouses. We honor our servicemen (and their spouses). Gold 4 Good is a Maryland licensed precious metals dealership, not a pawnshop or private home-based business. NEED HOUSE CLEANING? Professional service at Affordable price! Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or one time. Call for a free estimate at 240-644-4289. NEW LEVEL AUTO SERVICE. EUROPEAN, DOMESTIC, Asian cars. 716 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850. Complete auto repair, electrical problems, computer diagnostic. ASE certified technicians with more than 15 years of experience will prepare your car for the winter at a reasonable cost for service. Call us today (301-762-1200). Ask for Christian. We have senior discounts and a free shuttle to Metro station. www.newlevelautoservice.com.

DIRECTV. CALL AND SWITCH NOW — Get NFL Sunday Ticket for FREE! Every Game. Every Sunday. CHOICE- All-Included Package. Over 185 Channels. $60/month (for 12 Months.) CALL 1- 888-572-4953.

TV/Cable DISH Network. 190+ CHANNELS. FREE Install. FREE Hopper HD-DVR. $49.99/month (24 months) Add High Speed Internet - $14.95 (where avail.) CALL Today & SAVE 25%! 1-844560-5837. SPECTRUM TRIPLE PLAY! TV, Internet & Voice for $29.99 ea. 60 MB per second speed. No contract or commitment. More Channels. Faster Internet. Unlimited Voice. Call 1-888-366-7573.

Wanted TIRED OF POLISHING YOUR SILVER? Turn it into cash, which does not tarnish. I will come to your home and give you a free evaluation of what I can pay. I buy all gold and silver jewelry, including broken pieces, all sterling silver, gold and silver coins, gold watches, etc. I am licensed with both Maryland and Montgomery County (lic. #2327). If you decide to sell, I can buy your items at that time, but there is no obligation. Call Bob, Gold 4 Good, 8241 Georgia Ave., Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910, (240) 938-9694. Gold 4 Good pays an additional 5 percent to all sellers who are veterans of the US Army, Air Force, Navy or Marine Corps. And we extend the same courtesy to their spouses. We honor our servicemen (and their spouses). Gold 4 Good is a Maryland licensed precious metals dealership, not a pawnshop or private homebased business. CASH FOR RECORDS, CDs AND TAPES. Best price guaranteed. Free appraisals. All types of music, 33, 45, 78 & CDs. Call Steve 301646-5403. Will make house calls. MONEY, TIME TO SELL! Make the right choice. Call Greg, 717-658-7954. We buy jewelry, coins, silver, antiques, watches, gold, art, paper money, toys, bottles, comic books and records, etc. No middleman, no fees, no overhead means more money for your stuff. Give me a call, and let’s do business. 717-658-7954. FINE ANTIQUES, PAINTINGS AND QUALITY VINTAGE FURNISHINGS wanted by a serious, capable buyer. I am very well educated [law degree], knowledgeable [over 40 years in the antique business] and have the finances and wherewithal to handle virtually any situation. If you have a special item, collection or important estate, I would like to hear from you. I pay great prices for great things in all categories from Oriental rugs to Tiffany objects, from rare clocks to classic cars. If it is wonderful, I am interested. No phony promises or messy consignments. References gladly furnished. Please call Jake Lenihan, 301-279-8834. Thank you. MILITARY ITEMS WANTED: Collector seeks to purchase military uniforms; flight jackets, patches, insignia, medals, etc. from the Civil War through Vietnam. Especially seeking U.S. Army Air Corps, USMC, Airborne, and German/Japanese/Italian items from WWII. ALSO BUYING old Boy Scout, Airline Items, Toys, Lighters. Call Dan, 202-841-3062. LADY WHO LOVES FINE CHINA and crystal would like to buy yours. Especially interested in figurines and dishes by the following makers: Herend, Johnson Brothers, Lenox, Lladro, Meissen, Rosenthal, Royal Copenhagen, Shelley, Spode, Wedgwood, Baccarat, Lalique and Waterford stemware and miscellaneous. Bone China cups and saucers and quality dog and cat figurines. 301-785-1129. CASH FOR JEWELRY: Gold, silver, costume. Buying whole estates. Gary Roman, 301-5200755. Theatticllc.com. CASH FOR ESTATES, PARTIAL ESTATES, DOWNSIZING. I buy a wide range of items. Buy-out/cleanup. Gary Roman, 301-520-0755. BUYING OLD STERO/AUDIO COMPONENTS from 1930s-1980, speakers, receivers, amplifiers, turntables, etc., working or not, also interpreted in parts. 540-999-1486.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Wanted

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Wanted

SEEKING FULL/SEALED BOTTLES of Vintage Bourbon and Rye. Do you have full/sealed vintage bottles of bourbon or rye collecting dust in your cabinet. Do any of your bottles have an old red or green tax strip? Call Alex, 443-223-7669. BUYING MILITARY MEMORABILIA WW2, WW1, Civil War uniforms, weapons, photos and items associated with US, German, Japanese or items of other Military History. DAVE, 240-464-0958. ESTATE LIQUIDATION & COLLECTIBLES: One call solves it all when you hire us to handle your estate liquidation, down-sizing and/or home cleanout. We sell your treasures, take care of charitable donations and provide junk removal. We also purchase partial estate contents/collections. Always buying antiques, jewelry, fine art, vintage toys, collectibles, advertising, sports memorabilia, military items, rare books, MidCentury Modern furniture and more. Based in Silver Spring, we serve Montgomery County, Howard County, Baltimore County, Washington, D.C., NOVA and beyond. No home, barn or warehouse is too packed for us! Friendly, conscientious staff. Call Chris on cell, 202-731-9447. www.OrionsAttic.com. WANTED: OLDER VIOLINS, Guitars, Banjos, Mandolins, etc. Musician/collector will pay cash for older string instruments. Jack, 301279-2158.

BUYING VINYL RECORDS from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201. CASH FOR JEWELRY: Buying jewelry, diamonds, gold, platinum, silver, watches, coins, flatware, etc. Ask for Tom. Call anytime, 301-654-8678 (reg. 883). COLLECTOR SEEKING: ANTIQUES, mid-century furniture, paintings, gold, silver items, quality jewelry, sewing, military, etc. One piece or estate. Cash paid and quick removal. Chris, 301-262-1299. WE PAY CASH FOR ANTIQUE FURNITURE, quality used furniture, early American art, pottery, silver, glassware, paintings, etc. Single items to entire estates. Call Reggie or Phyllis at DC 202-726-4427, MD 301332-4697. COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, knives, swords, bayonets, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars and countries. Also Lionel Toy Trains, and coin operated machines. Will pay top prices for my personal collection. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-910-0783.

Thanks for reading the Beacon!

NEW PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CLASSIFIED ADS As of 11/12/18, all classified ads must be submitted and paid for online, via our website, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds Deadlines and Payments: To appear in the next issue, your ad text and payment must be entered by the 5th of the preceding month (for Baltimore and Howard County editions); by the 20th (for Washington and Richmond editions). Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad: • $25 for 1-250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length). The website will calculate this for you. Note: Maryland contractors must provide a valid MHIC number. • Each real estate listing qualifies as one ad. • All ads are subject to publisher's discretion. Payment will be refunded if unacceptable for any reason.

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

Dec. 31

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY BlackRock Center for the Arts presents a New Year’s Eve party

on Monday, Dec. 31 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dance in the glittering Thunderball Disco, take your chances at blackjack, roulette, poker and craps tables, win

BEACON BITS

Dec. 26

grand prizes and BlackRock tix!, and relax in the Quantum of Solace Corner with

FREE HOLIDAY CHORAL CONCERT

a casual cocktail ‘round the piano sounds of Terry Marshall. There will also be a

Encore Chorale presents a free Holiday Choral Concert on Wednesday, Dec. 26 at 6 p.m. at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 2700 F St. NW, Washington, D.C. Encore Creativity for Older Adults is the nation’s largest choral program for singers 55+, and will present the combined talents of more than 250 Encore Chorales and Encore ROCKS singers in this concert for a program of seasonal standards and holiday rock n’ roll. No tickets are required. For more information, visit www.encorecreativity.org.

screening of the 007 classic From Russia with Love, refreshments, a cash bar and a midnight toast. Dress is casual classy. Tickets cost $90 per person or $150 per couple, in advance only. The center is located at 12901 Town Commons Dr., Germantown, Md. For more information, visit www.blacrockcenter.org or call (301) 528-2260.

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Studies

Government Services

GESTALT Study .................................25 Hearing Research Study .....................25 Memory Loss Study............................24 Opiate Study .......................................24

DC Office on Aging ......................30-31 Maryland Department Of Aging ..........................................11 Montgomery County Aging and Disability Services.......................8, 41

Computer/ Technology Help TechMedic4u ........................................4

Dental Services Friedman, Stephen, DDS ....................28 Oh, Judy, DDS ....................................11

Employment Salesperson Wanted ............................37

Events GROWS ..............................................38 Parkinson Foundation .........................12 Washington Innovation in Longevity Summit ...........................37

Financial/Insurance Services AccessJCA..........................................39 Aetna/Inova.........................................10 CareFirst .............................................36 Children’s National Hospital...............33 United Healthcare ...............................16

Funeral Services Going Home Cremation......................45

Home Health Care/Companion Services Ameristar Healthcare Services . . . . .10 Best Senior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Fairfax Home Health Care . . . . . . . . .22 Options for Senior America ................38

Housing 1221 Van .............................................27 Alfred House.......................................16 Ashby Ponds .....................................1, 7 Aspenwood Sr. Living ........................21 Brooke Grove Retirement Village.......13 Charles E. Smith Life Communities ............................26 Charter House .......................................4 ChesterbrookResidences.....................23 Chevy Chase House ..............................3 Churchill Senior Living ......................28 Crossings, The ....................................15 Culpepper Garden...............................19 Falcons Landing .................................56 Five Star Premier Residences .............17 Friendship Terrace...............................16 Gardens of Traville, The .....................35 Greenspring.......................................1, 7 Homecrest House................................39

Homewood..........................................35 Landing of Silver Spring, The ............19 Landow House ....................................26 Olney Assisted Living.........................19 Potomac Place.....................................29 Quantum Property Mgmt........................23 R Homes Communities.............................6 Riderwood.........................................1, 7 Ring House .........................................26 Sanctuary, The.....................................17 Sommerset Retirement........................27 Springvale Terrace ..............................27 The Village at Rockville .....................29 Waltonwood Ashburn .........................18 Victory Housing..................................38

Legal Services Farr Law Firm .....................................33 Law Offices of Paul Riekhof ..............35

Medical/Health Copper Zap .........................................44 Herbiculture ........................................21 Herbology ...........................................18 Lesner Hearing....................................15 Medical Eye Center ............................43 Nexus Montgomery ............................26 Rise ....................................................29 Silver Spring Medical Center ...............7 Virginia Relay .......................................5

Miscellaneous AARP District of Columbia................42 Beacon Silver Pages............................20 Senior Zone.........................................51 TheBeaconNewspapers.com...............20

Real Estate Long & Foster/Eric Stewart ..........34, 45 Weichert/Sue Heyman ........................12

Restaurants Glory Days Grill .................................11

Retail/Pawn/Auction Healthy Back Store .............................17 Quinn’s Auction Galleries...................28 WOW! Computer ................................14

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Manor Care Health Services...............22

Subscriptions Beacon Newspaper .............................53 Washington Jewish Week....................50

Theatre/ Entertainment Adventure Theatre ..............................46 Blackrock Center for the Arts.............47 City of Rockville.................................47 F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre ..................48 Kennedy Center ............................49, 51 National Theatre..................................47 Toby’s Dinner Theatre.........................48 US Navy Band ....................................46

Tour & Travel Eyre Travel..........................................43 Shillelaghs, The Travel Club...............41 Tripper Bus .........................................41

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

INDEPENDENT RETIREMENT LIVIN G

If it is true that love v is patient and love is kind, k then there is no morre obvious an example than the story of Wa anda and Oliver Carter. Their tale is a journey fr f om tragedy to a true ±ĹÚ åĹÚƚųĜĹč ųŅĵ±ĹÏåţ FƋ ĜŸ ± ĬŅƴå ƋĘ±Ƌ ĀĬĬŸ ƋĘå Ęå±ųƋŸ ±ĹÚ Ę±ĬĬŸ Ņü 8±ĬÏŅĹŸ X±ĹÚĜĹčţ We invite you to experience a connection n that can be found through ugh the common bond of service to coun ntry.

To learn more about this extraordinary story visit falconslanding.or falconslanding.org/love-story. WWW.F FALCONSLANDING.ORG – 20522 F FALC ALCONS LANDING CIRCLE POTOMAC F FALL ALLS, VA 20165 – (703) 293-5054