December 2022 | DC Beacon

IN FOCUS FOR PEOPLE OVER 50

More than 200,000 readers throughout Greater Washington

A passion for teaching technology

By Margaret Foster

Say you call a loved one who lives alone, just to check in, but they don’t pick up the phone. As it rings and rings, you wonder if they’re okay. What if the worst has happened?

At times like those, technology may save the day, or at least save an in-person safety visit. A quick video call to a device called an Amazon Echo Show, for instance, can give you a live view inside your loved one’s house using its home monitoring function. It even swivels to show you a better view.

Many new devices — Echo Dots, Ring doorbells, GrandPads — can make life better for older adults and their families. But how to find out about them? Who can teach you what’s out there?

That’s where Joan Lipman Green comes in. A former speech pathologist based in Potomac, Maryland, Green now spends most of her time teaching older adults about technology, both in classes and oneon-one. Green, author of four books, calls herself an online tech coach.

“Older adults can be tremendously helped by all of this technology, and there’s nowhere to go to get that kind of help,” she said.

“So many of the tools that used to cost a lot of money people don’t have to pay a penny for now. You just have to know that it’s there and how to set it up,” Green said.

Spreading the word

Green grew up in Buffalo, New York, and her grandparents lived nearby.

“Growing up, I was always very comfortable around older adults,” said Green, now 58. “I was very close to my grandparents and I always helped them. It was just natural for me.”

She attended Northwestern University with aspirations of becoming a doctor or a

teacher. She ended up majoring in speechlanguage pathology and got her first job at what was then Fairfax Hospital, helping people recover from strokes or head injuries.

“I was always looking for ways to do things more efficiently,” Green recalled. “I got into technology, and I saw it as a tremendous tool.” She routinely passed along technology tips to her fellow speech therapists and clients.

When the first of her four children was born 30 years ago, Green established her own practice, Innovative Speech Therapy. Over the years, she started helping her parents and other older adults implement technology into their lives.

“There are very few places that they can go to learn how to use tech,” Green said.

LEISURE & TRAVEL

See Switzerland’s peaks and valleys from a train; plus, the benefits of Irish hillwalking, and which countries have drinkable tap water

ARTS & STYLE

Fairy tales magically intertwine in Into the Woods at Signature Theatre; plus, books to give as gifts, and Bob Levey on never retiring

FITNESS & HEALTH 4

k How to tame holiday stress

k Meditation as good as medication

LIVING BOLDLY 18 k Newsletter for D.C. residents

LAW & MONEY 20 k Most sales don’t offer real deals k Beware of flood-damaged cars

Joan Lipman Green started her career as a speech therapist, but now she enjoys teaching older adults how to use technology to improve their lives. Green offers group classes and one-on-one sessions that “can change the trajectory of somebody’s quality of life,” she said.

PHOTO BY MARK GREEN

A time for thanks

I want to thank all our Beacon readers and their guests who attended our two 50+Expo events in late October.

After two years in which we could host only virtual events, we were finally able to return to in-person Expos. I think all who came will agree that it was wonderful to see each other face-to-face and simply to be out and about on a beautiful day in a bustling building, visiting informative exhibits and hearing the hum of the crowd.

recreation and travel opportunities and government and nonprofit agencies that participated.

ence of the North American Mature Publishers Association, whose journalism competition we enter every year. The competition is judged by faculty from one of the top journalism schools in the country, at the University of Missouri.

Mahoney for her Washington profile, “He advocates for wronged WWII vets.”

FROM THE PUBLISHER

I was especially happy to see so many familiar faces and get a chance to speak with you, catch up on your lives, and hear your views on the issues of the day.

By Stuart P. Rosenthal

I want to thank our hardworking staff for putting together these fantastic events, and also want to thank our gold sponsors: AARP Maryland, AARP Virginia and Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center. Many thanks, too, to Giant Pharmacy for providing a variety of important vaccines, and the Prevention of Blindness Society for offering glaucoma tests.

This year, we won 13 awards for writing, as well as first place for General Excellence and Best of Show in our category.

Our managing editor, Margaret Foster, won awards for five of her stories: for her recent cover story, “Write your memoir — with help;” for two cover stories in the Baltimore Beacon, “H&S Bakery rises to the occasion” and “Ballplayer now autism activist;” for her Howard County Beacon cover, “Let them eat steak;” and for her guest column, where she filled in for me in lieu of my “From the Publisher” column one month.

One of our beloved travel writers, Victor Block , won for his travel column, which the judges said “make readers feel as if they’re enjoying the destinations he visits right alongside him.”

Our quarterly Housing and Homecare Options pull-out section won top prize for special section. The judges said it “hits all the right buttons…the broad range of topics is impressive…the articles are brisk and easy to understand.”

And I was honored with awards for two of my “From the Publisher” columns, “Alzheimer’s drug saga” and “Living with lemons.”

Of course, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that one of the best parts was hearing all the glowing compliments people shared with me about the Beacon, our writers, our sales staff and the events themselves. I was floating out the door at the end of both Expos.

Our exhibitors were equally happy with the event after meeting so many active older adults who were sincerely interested in the housing communities, health providers, financial and legal advisors,

If you were unable to hear our keynote speaker, John Kelly of the Washington Post, we have posted a video of his remarks on our website at www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/50expos.

We are already making plans for next fall’s Expos, and we intend for them to be even bigger and better than this year’s. I hope to see all of this year’s attendees again next year, and many more of you who were not able to attend in October.

Writing awards

I also want to share with you the kudos the Beacon received at the annual confer-

I have to share a lovely comment the judges offered on Margaret’s H&S Bakery story: “Launching a compelling company profile off a breaking news story is classic reporting at its best. When a local baker ended up supplying hundreds of stranded motorists with food, an uplifting story in the right hands became a history lesson and a comprehensive business report, as well as a very satisfying read.”

Our longtime freelance contributor, Glenda C. Booth, won recognition for her Washington cover, “Welcoming today’s refugees,” as well as for a Baltimore cover story, “Designing jewelry for 70 years.”

As we are entering the holiday season and the year draws to a close, I want to add here my thanks to, and admiration for, all of our staff, who work so diligently to produce multiple editions of the Beacon every month.

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 and Howard County, Md. 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.

The judges had this to say about her Washington cover: “Clear and purposeful, this feature about committed volunteers helping refugees make the transition to American culture is a winner. The writer smartly shapes the story around volunteers who are often immigrants themselves. It is an excellent example of using well-chosen subjects to shed light on a community achievement.”

Two other freelance writers won prizes as well: Ashley Stimpson, for her Howard County cover story “Lifelong carver prefers using chainsaws,” and Katherine

I’d like to thank them by name: Executive Vice President Gordon Hasenei; Art Director Kyle Gregory; Managing Editor Margaret Foster; Assistant Editor, Ana Preger Hart; Advertising Representatives Dan Kelly, Steve Levin, M.K. Phillips and Alan Spiegel; Marketing & Operations Manager Ashley Griffin; columnists Dinah Rokach and Bob Levey, and of course my wife, Judy Rosenthal, the Beacon’s President and Associate Publisher. We also wish the best to our former Director of Operations, Roger King, who has moved on after 17 years with the Beacon, and want to welcome our new Customer Solutions Specialist, Jaclyn Thompson.

The Beacon would not exist without all of their efforts, nor without you who read our publications each month. I offer my sincere appreciation to each of you.

Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season and new year!

Letters to the editor

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

Dear Editor:

The

P.O.

Through a series of unusual consonances, I received, via eBay, a DVD wrapped in pages from the Beacon and found your September “From the Publisher” column, “Music Lessons.” I was delighted by what I read, for I just now was practicing singing intervals at the piano, a result of an online course I am taking.

I missed the sex/drugs/rock-and-roll era by quite a few years. I am now 87 and a retired physician/pathologist and life-long pianist who keeps trying to get better at everything, including music. I worked my way

through medical school playing piano in a bar and for fraternity parties, despite inadequate lessons during my early years from a teacher who taught straight from a book.

So now I am trying to catch up. The ear training I just worked on at the piano revealed that I still have a long way to go. If only I had these kinds of lessons when I was susceptible to them!

Great article and good advice.

Jack

Leissring

Santa Rosa, CA

Fitness &

MEDS OR MEDITATION?

A recent study finds daily meditation works as well as anti-anxiety drugs

TWO VITAL MINUTES

Home fires are much more common in winter; how to avoid or escape one

SENIOR MOMENTS

Is it normal forgetfulness or something else? When to call your doctor

MESS OF POTTAGE

Lentils are full of protein, nutrients; try this great recipe for a winter soup

At holiday time: less stress, more bliss

By John Schieszer

There is a lot to love about the holidays, but when you’re in the 50-and-over club, you may be cooking, cleaning, decorating, shopping, traveling, volunteering or playing family psychologist and referee.

By embracing patience and kindness, you can remove a lot of stress from the season. If you want to make the holidays a bit merrier, try rethinking how you view stress, suggested psychologist Michael Rollock of the Medical College of Georgia.

“In the spirit of the holiday season, let’s give stress a fair shake by learning a bit more about it and how we can tame it or make it work for us,” Rollock said in an email.

Stress is simply our body’s response to anything that requires attention or action.

In the face of a challenge, we experience feelings of physical, emotional or psychological strain, from rapid breathing to constricted blood vessels, Rollock said.

A recent poll by the American Psychological Association found that we are experiencing significant stress about inflation, violence, crime, the current political climate and the racial climate.

“When we then add in the holiday-specific sources of stress — including entertaining, shopping, travel, finding gifts, money, parties, baking, family or the absence of these things — it is clear that we need some stress busters in our stockings this year,” Rollock said.

Calming breathing exercise

Some powerful evidence-based prac-

tices include the “relaxation response,” which slows your heart rate, relaxes your muscles, calms your mind, and helps you to make more values-based decisions instead of being driven by your stress.

Rollock recommends diaphragmatic breathing, or “belly breathing.” Sit or lay down in a comfortable place and close your eyes.

“Place one hand on your chest and one hand on your abdomen. The bottom hand should do the moving. The top hand should remain still or only move as the bottom hand moves,” Rollock said.

“Inhale through your nose for about four seconds, feeling your abdomen expand. You may feel slight tension the first few times you inhale.”

Hold your breath for two seconds and then exhale very slowly and steadily through your mouth for about six seconds. Repeat for 5-15 minutes as often as possible.

“Regular practice can actually retrain your nervous system and brain so that you become more resilient and calmer in the face of holiday stress,” Rollock said.

Reframe unhelpful thoughts

How we think about something can affect how we feel. Even if something is objectively stressful, challenging your negative thoughts can help keep your stress from spiraling out of control.

The first step in reframing is to identify

the negative thoughts. Then, interrupt and challenge those thoughts. Finally, come up with a more realistic or positive alternative.

Be compassionate — to yourself

This holiday season there will be moments when we fail to live up to our own expectations or just fail at a task. We may feel inadequate when comparing ourselves to others who appear to be doing better.

“We can be our own harshest critic, especially during the holidays,” Rollock said. Research suggests that self-compassion is one of the most powerful sources of coping and resilience a person has, radically improving their mental and physical wellbeing.

“Give yourself the same kindness and care you would give to a good friend,” Rollock said.

Exercise relieves stress

Exercise releases endorphins, which are stress-relieving biochemicals that improve your mood. It also reduces stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.

“Regular physical activity during the holidays is one of the best things you can do for stress management,” Rollock said.

“Also, if the activity you choose is one you truly enjoy and if you do it with someone you like, this will increase your motivation to keep a regular exercise routine.”

When necessary, say no

Mental health experts say it is okay to decline an invitation if you are reaching the limits of your time, stamina and emotional availability.

In addition, family dynamics can be complicated and fraught. If you do attend a gathering, don’t start an argument.

“Be willing to put these conflicts on hold. The discussion can take place at a later date,” said Dr. Elizabeth Ochoa, assistant professor of psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York.

Christa Coleman, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral health at Penn State College of Medicine, said during the holidays many of us take on more responsibilities and can become overwhelmed if we don’t set healthy limits. After all, some people might be stressed around the holidays by being around certain people or missing loved ones.

“Many of us have strong memories and emotions around special occasions. Don’t ignore your feelings. It’s important to acknowledge these situations and events.

“This can be done by having a special moment to remember a loved one who has passed, passing on a tradition, or even starting a new tradition,” Coleman said.

John Schieszer is an award-winning journalist and radio and podcast broadcaster of The Medical Minute. He can be reached at medicalminutes@gmail.com.

Housing Communities

District of Columbia

Chevy Chase House (See ad on page 26)

Knollwood (See ad on page 11)

Vida Senior Residences (See ad on page 17)

Maryland

Brooke Grove (See ad on page 8, 40)

Cadence Living Olney (See ad on page 7)

Charles E. Smith Life Communities (See ad on page 13)

Churchill Senior Living (See ad on page 12)

Covenant Village (See ad on page 17)

Emerson House (See ad on page 17)

Grandview, The (See ad on page 29)

Homecrest House (See ad on page 10)

Homewood at Frederick (See ad on page 27)

Landing of Silver Spring, The (See ad on page 5)

Park View Bladensburg (See ad on page 28)

Park View Columbia (See ad on page 28)

Park View Emerson (See ad on page 28)

Park View Laurel (See ad on page 28)

Riderwood (See ad on page 1, 4)

Ring House (See ad on page 13)

Virginia

Ashby Ponds (See ad on page 1, 4)

Brightview Senior Living (See ad on page 9)

Chesterbrook Residences (See ad on page 6)

Culpepper Garden (See ad on page 11)

Falcons Landing (See ad on page 11)

Greenspring (See ad on page 1, 4)

Harmony at Chantilly (See ad on page 15)

Harmony at Spring Hill (See ad on page 15)

Lockwood House (See ad on page 17)

Sommerset (See ad on page 14)

Tribute at the Glen (See ad on page 7)

Woodleigh Chase (See ad on page 29)

Home Builder

Backyard Homes (See ad on page 9)

Meditation can be as good as medication

By Lindsey Tanner

Mindfulness meditation worked as well as a standard drug for treating anxiety in the first head-to-head comparison.

The study tested a widely used mindfulness program that includes 2½ hours of classes weekly and 45 minutes of daily practice at home. Participants were randomly assigned to either the program or daily use of a generic drug sold under the brand name Lexapro for depression and anxiety. After two months, anxiety as measured on a severity scale declined by about 30% in both groups and continued to decrease during the following four months.

Study results, published last month in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, are timely. Numerous reports suggest global anxiety rates have increased recently, related to worries over the pandemic, political and racial unrest, climate change and financial

uncertainties.

In September, an influential U.S. health task force recommended routine anxiety screening for adults. Anxiety disorders include social anxiety, generalized anxiety and panic attacks.

Affected people are troubled by persistent and intrusive worries that interfere with their lives and relationships. In the U.S., anxiety disorders affect 40% of women at some point in their lives and more than 1 in 4 men, according to data cited in the Preventive Services Task Force screening recommendations.

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a form of meditation that emphasizes focusing only on what’s happening at the moment and dismissing intrusive thoughts.

Sessions often start with breathing exer-

cises. Next might be mental “body scans” — thinking about each body part systematically, head to toe. When worried thoughts intrude, participants learn to briefly acknowledge them but then dismiss them.

Instead of ruminating over the troubling thought, “you say, ‘I’m having this thought; let that go for now,’” said lead author Elizabeth Hoge, director of Georgetown University’s Anxiety Disorders Research Program. With practice, “It changes the relationship people have with their own thoughts [even] when not meditating.”

Previous studies have shown mindfulness works better than no treatment, or at least as well as education or more formal behavior therapy, in reducing anxiety, depression and other mental woes.

But this is the first study to test it against a psychiatric drug, Hoge said, and the results could make insurers more likely to cover costs, which can run $300 to $500 for an 8-week session.

How the study worked

The results were based on about 200 adults who completed the six-month study at medical centers in Washington, Boston and New York. Researchers used a psychiatric scale of 1 to 7, with the top number reflecting severe anxiety.

The average score was about 4.5 for participants before starting treatment. It dropped to about 3 after two months, then dipped slightly in both groups at three months and six months. Hoge said the change was clinically meaningful, resulting in noticeable improvement in symptoms.

Ten patients on the drug dropped out because of troublesome side effects possibly related to treatment, which included in-

somnia, nausea and fatigue. There were no dropouts for that reason in the mindfulness group, although 13 patients reported increased anxiety.

The study “is reaffirming about how useful mindfulness can be when practiced effectively,” said psychologist Sheehan Fisher, an associate professor at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study.

Works best for mild anxiety

Dr. Scott Krakower, a psychiatrist at Zucker Hillside Hospital in New York, said mindfulness treatments often work best for mildly anxious patients. He prescribes medication for patients with more severe anxiety.

He noted that many people feel they don’t have time for mindfulness meditation, especially the time it takes to participate in in-person sessions like those studied. Whether similar results would be found with online training or phone apps is unknown, said Krakower, who also had no role in the study.

Olga Cannistraro, a freelance writer in Keene, New Hampshire, participated in an earlier mindfulness study led by Hoge and says it taught her “to intervene in my own state of mind.” During a session, just acknowledging that she was feeling tension anywhere in her body helped calm her, she said.

Cannistraro, 52, has generalized anxiety disorder and has never taken medication for it. She was a single mom working in sales during that earlier study — circumstances that made life particularly stressful, she said.

She has since married, switched jobs, and feels less anxious, though she still uses mindfulness techniques.

How long to escape a fire? Two minutes

Two minutes is the amount of time that fire experts say you may have to safely escape a home fire before it’s too late.

Home fire responses are 30% higher during cold months than warmer times of year. On average, the Red Cross responds to around 1,300 home fire-related emergencies each year across the greater Washington area.

“Practice your two-minute home fire escape drill and test your smoke alarms monthly to help keep your family safe,” said Emily Aloto, Interim Disaster Officer for the Red Cross of the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region.

Practice your plan with everyone in your household. Also teach children what a smoke alarm sounds like and what to do in an emergency.

Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including a printable escape plan. You’ll also find safety tips for cooking and

home heating — the leading causes of home fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Include in your escape plan at least two ways to exit every room, if possible. [Ed. Note: If the second exit is a window, consider buying an escape ladder that fits the opening. In a basement bedroom, consider installing an “egress window” (though it can be very costly).]

Select a meeting spot a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or a landmark, like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows to meet.

Place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Test alarms monthly and change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it.

Check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years

or older, they likely need to be replaced because components such as batteries can become less reliable. Follow your alarm manufacturer’s instructions.

Tailor your escape plan to everyone’s needs in your household. If you or a loved one is deaf or hard of hearing, install strobe light and bed-shaker alarms to help alert you to a fire.

Visit redcross.org/ASL-disaster-resources for more information, including resources in American Sign Language.

Courtesy of the Red Cross of the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, visit redcross.org.

How meds and supplements can interact

By Michael Schuh

Dear

Mayo

Clinic: As I have gotten older, doctors have placed me on more medications, such as for high blood pressure and cholesterol.

Also, as I age, I have chosen to take some supplements that are supposed to improve my memory, reduce cholesterol and prevent cancer. Should I worry about these supplements interacting with one another or my medications?

A: With age come more chronic health

conditions. Also, some people may develop deficiencies in certain vitamins as they age.

Thankfully, an array of prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as dietary supplements and vitamins, are available to alleviate symptoms, slow the advancement of many age-related chronic health conditions, and help people maintain good health.

Over the years, though, store shelves have become crowded with hundreds of herbal supplements and other nutritional enhancers that make various claims about supporting physical and mental health and function.

The word used by many to describe tak-

ing multiple prescription and over-thecounter medications, as well as dietary and herbal supplements, is “polypharmacy.” Although it has many definitions, the broadest definition of polypharmacy is the simultaneous use of multiple medications or supplements to treat one or more medical conditions in one patient.

As people take more and more medications and supplements, the chances for interactions increase.

The challenge is that having more medical conditions requires having more healthcare providers to treat them. Unless patients ensure each of their providers has an up-todate medication and supplement list, providers may not accurately know what patients take or communicate about risks related to those medications and supplements.

Inadvertent over- or underdosing

For example, consider a patient who was prescribed a statin to lower cholesterol. However, after seeing an advertisement that promotes red yeast rice as being good for managing cholesterol, she began taking it as well.

Red yeast rice naturally contains lovastatin, a naturally occurring statin. Without realizing it, this patient began duplicating the therapy her healthcare provider had prescribed via the drug atorvastatin. She began experiencing leg cramping, muscle soreness and elevated liver function tests

from this drug interaction.

While it is important to talk with your provider and pharmacist about what you take to avoid too much medication, it is also important to avoid a deficit.

Consider vegetarian or vegan patients who are newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Often these people take a B-12 supplement because they do not eat meat and need this nutrient.

However, standard therapy for a Type 2 diabetic is a medication known as metformin, which can deplete B-12 in some patients. So now having started the metformin, these people require more B-12 supplementation than before.

To complicate matters, if they were already taking or start an anti-reflux, antiulcer medication such as omeprazole, which lowers stomach acid production, B-12 deficiency can further worsen, since B-12 depends on stomach acid to assist absorption.

Potentially serious side-effects

There are other examples of supplement or prescription interactions. For instance, taking calcium with a vitamin D supplement for osteoporosis, along with a multivitamin containing vitamin D, may raise calcium in the urine enough to increase the risk of forming kidney stones.

Taking a narcotic pain reliever for acute

Questions about memory, using weights

By Howard LeWine, M.D.

Q: When should a person start worrying about becoming more forgetful? How can you tell if it’s normal memory loss, or something more serious?

There are three things you can start doing right now to preserve mental function as you age:

you live a more independent life.

proper form and speed.

A

: For many of us, memory blips become more common as we get older. Our brains form fewer connections now, so our memory is not as strong as it used to be.

As we get older, the processing speed of our brain slows down, so we can’t recall information as quickly as we used to. It may take us longer to remember basic information, such as names, dates, or where we left our car keys.

Memory lapses are unsettling, but they don’t necessarily herald impending dementia. The key is in how often these slips occur. You really need to figure out the pattern.

Is it happening several times a week, or is it happening once or twice a month? Is it a change compared to five or 10 years ago? Is it getting gradually worse?

Forgetfulness can be a normal part of growing older. Memory lapses can also stem from several other conditions, including lack of sleep, stress, medications, alcohol or depression.

Any of these conditions can be treated. For example, you can adjust your sleep schedule, try deep breathing or other techniques to reduce stress, change the dose or type of medications you take, cut down on your drinking, or get treated for depression.

Don’t be alarmed by everyday forgetfulness. The time to call your doctor is when you have more persistent or worsening memory loss that’s interfering with your daily activities and routine and starting to affect your daily functioning.

The Housing Authority of the City of College Park is requesting proposals for the purpose of selecting a qualified financial institution to provide banking services for the Authority. Interested respondents should obtain the complete RFP by emailing Michelle Johnson at mcjohnson@haccp.agency.

Copies of the Request for Proposals will be available on December 2 ,2022 by request.

Deadline for submission of proposal is 4:00 p.m. on March 2, 2023.

1. Exercise. Exercise promotes the release of a powerful molecule called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which repairs brain cells, strengthens their connections, promotes new brain cell growth, and enlarges the size of your hippocampus (a part of the brain involved in the storage and retrieval of memories).

Exercise also increases blood flow to your brain and may protect the brain’s system for flushing out toxins.

2. Eat a healthy diet. To protect yourself, generally avoid processed and sugary foods and animal fats (other than from fish). They’re associated with poor cardiovascular health.

Opt instead for a Mediterranean-style diet, which is tied to lower risks for cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. The diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts, seeds, olive oil and fish, as well as moderate amounts of poultry and dairy.

3. Get more sleep. We should aim for seven to eight hours of sleep each night to help the body rest and the brain conduct important duties. During sleep, the brain’s glymphatic system flushes out waste produced by the brain, including Alzheimer’s disease-related toxins (such as the protein amyloid-beta).

Q: For a person in his 70s who never did resistance training, what’s a good way to get started?

A: Old-fashioned resistance training — lifting heavy weights multiple times — is the best way for people to slow and even reverse age-related muscle loss, known as sarcopenia. It can also increase your strength, protect against falls, and help

Resistance training (also known as strength training) consists of doing upperand lower-body exercises using free weights (like dumbbells, kettlebells or barbells), weight machines, resistance bands, or just your own body weight.

The constant challenge with resistance training is finding the Goldilocks zone between doing too little and too much. You want to stress your muscles enough to see and feel a difference, but not overdo it, where you risk injury.

Ideally, see a certified trainer before you embark on a resistance training program. It’s worth the time and investment, as he or she can create a routine unique to your needs, and more importantly, teach you

However, if you want to get started on your own, here are some resistance exercise basics:

Type: Do one to two multi-joint exercises per major muscle group. There are six main muscle groups: chest, back, arms, shoulders, legs and calves. So, this means doing six to 12 exercises per workout.

Weight: Use enough weight or resistance so you can perform 10 repetitions (or reps) with good form. The last two should be tough to complete. Alternatively, start with 70% of your maximum one rep. Maximum one rep is the amount of weight you can safely lift just once.

LET

B r i g h t Bright LIFE SHINE

WITH PREMIER SENIOR LIVING CLOSE TO HOME

OPENING EARLY 2023

Brightview Fair Oaks 571.495.5907

Independent Living Assisted Living | Dementia Care

Brightview Great Falls 703.759.2513 Assisted Living | Dementia Care

Brightview Innovation Center 571.786.5800

Independent Living | Assisted Living Gallery Assisted Living | Dementia Care

Brightview Woodburn 703.462.9998 Assisted Living | Dementia Care

Michelle Johnson, Executive Director HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE PARK

Get tested if your legs hurt while walking

Dear Savvy Senior,

I started a walking program a few months ago to help me lose weight. I’ve been having problems with my legs and hips hurting during my walk, although they feel better once I stop.

I thought it was just because I’m getting old, but my neighbor was telling me about a leg vein disease she has called PAD and thinks I may have something similar. What can you tell me about this?

Dear Linda,

The health condition your neighbor is telling you about is known as peripheral arterial disease (or PAD), which is an under-theradar disease that affects approximately 8 to 12 million Americans.

It happens when the arteries that carry blood to the legs and feet become narrowed or clogged over the years with fatty deposits or plaque, causing poor circulation.

teries in other areas of the body, such as the heart, neck and brain, which greatly increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Few symptoms

Unfortunately, PAD goes undiagnosed and untreated way too often because most people that have it experience few, if any, symptoms.

The most common symptom is similar to what you’re experiencing: pain and cramping in the hip, thigh or calf muscles, especially when walking or exercising, but it usually disappears after resting for a few minutes.

need to be tested by your doctor or a vascular specialist.

He or she will probably perform a quick and painless ankle-brachial index test, which is done by measuring the blood pressure in your ankle as well as your arm and comparing the two numbers.

Your doctor may also do imaging tests such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and computed tomographic (CT) angiography.

Options for treatment

By

—Limping Linda

But you also need to be aware that because PAD is a systemic disease, people that have it are also much more likely to have clogged ar-

Another reason PAD is under-diagnosed is because many people assume that aches and pains go along with aging, so they simply live with it instead of reporting it to their doctor.

Other possible symptoms to be aware of include leg numbness or weakness, coldness or skin color changes in the lower legs and feet, or ulcers or sores on the legs or feet that don’t heal.

Are you at risk?

Like most other health conditions, the risk of developing PAD increases with age. Those most vulnerable are people over the age of 50 who smoke or used to smoke, have elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, are overweight, or have a family history of PAD, heart attack or stroke. African Americans are also twice as likely to have PAD as Caucasians.

If you’re experiencing any symptoms or if you’re at increased risk of PAD, you

With early detection, many cases of PAD can be treated with lifestyle modifications including an improved diet, increased physical activity and smoking cessation.

If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, your doctor may also prescribe medicine to prevent blood clots, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and control pain and other symptoms.

And for severe PAD, the treatment options are angioplasty (inflating a tiny balloon in the artery to restore blood flow), the insertion of a stent to reopen the artery, or a graft bypass to reroute blood around the blockage.

To learn more about PAD, visit the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute website at NHLBI.NIH.gov/health-topics/ peripheral-artery-disease.

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

SENIOR

Jim Miller

From

or chronic pain when already taking an anti-anxiety medication like alprazolam can result in a loss of consciousness. Even worse would be if people drink an alcoholic beverage having both alprazolam and a narcotic in their system.

Herbals also can interact

Herbal supplements can pose a risk in polypharmacy patients because they also may affect the metabolism of a medication or other supplements.

Resveratrol, which is found in grape skins, is often taken as an antioxidant supplement. Some evidence suggests that it can slow the metabolism of certain com-

Using weights

From page 9

Reps: Do anywhere from six to 12 reps per exercise. I suggest beginning with 10 to 12 reps. Then as you progress, you should aim for six to eight reps with increased weight or resistance.

Sets: Start with two sets per exercise. Always rest in between each set for 30 to 60 seconds to help you recover.

Frequency: More is not always better when it comes to resistance training. Two or three workouts per week can produce the desired muscle tone and strength.

mon medications and cause side effects.

Gingko biloba, which is taken for memory, can have an anti-platelet effect, increasing the risk of severe bleeding in those patients already taking anticoagulants such as warfarin or apixaban.

When taking multiple prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs, as well as supplements, review them at least annually. Seeking out a specialty pharmacy or a polypharmacy pharmacist is ideal, as they can identify possible drug interactions or adverse drug reactions caused by the various components and can partner with your healthcare providers to avoid future issues.

Also, speak to your pharmacist any time you are prescribed a new medication so you can identify any potential interactions with other things you are taking.

Keep in mind that it can take time to see increased muscle mass and feel stronger. Consistency is essential, but if you don’t notice changes after about eight weeks, you are not training hard enough and need to mix up your routine by increasing your weight or sets or the number of exercises.

Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, visit health.harvard.edu.

© 2022 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Mayo

BEACON BITS

Dec. 17

icQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org.

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

Visit the Chinn Park Library for this free course on how technology can be used to keep you independent. This event takes place on Sat., Dec. 17 from 12:45 to 2:45 p.m. at 13065 Chinn Park Dr., Woodbridge, VA. For more information, call (703) 792-4800.

SANDY SPRING BLUEGRASS JAM

Ongoing

Bring your instrument to the Sandy Spring Museum and join the bluegrass jam on the fourth Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. at 17901 Bentley Rd., Sandy Spring, MD. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Tickets are $5. For more information, visit bit.ly/MonthlyBluegrassJam.

4435 Arli 703

703V VA A R

Michael Schuh, Pharm.D., Department of Pharmacy, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida

Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to MayoClin-

Although libraries and senior centers have classes, few of them offer one-on-one counseling, as she does. That’s why Green wants to establish a certification course for elder tech advisers.

This year Green launched a five-week session to train technology coaches. Dubbed the ElderTech Advisor and Teacher Cohort program, the course attracted 75 people who shared ideas about inexpensive or even free programs and devices to improve the lives of older adults.

“My mission is to get a lot of people doing what I’m doing,” she said. “You need somebody to go to for help when it doesn’t work, because it’s easy to give up and just say ‘forget it.’”

Showing what’s out there now

Every day, it seems, there’s a new term or invention. What’s a tweet? Who’s Siri? What’s a smartphone — and do you know how to use all its bells and whistles?

“It’s overwhelming, so a lot of people just don’t try because they don’t know where to start,” Green said. “You don’t know what you don’t know. What I try to do…is show people what they might not know exists.”

You may have heard of a GrandPad — a simplified tablet to play games on or make video calls, which costs $89 per month. But there are many ways tech you already own can make life easier.

Did you know, for instance, that instead of trying to text people on your smartphone, you can talk into it instead? The phone automatically transcribes your speech, usually faster and with fewer typos than clumsy fingers can.

Or, if you have difficulty reading small text in a newspaper or magazine, you can usually find the same article online via your computer, then at the click of a button have the story read aloud for free in a pleasant voice of your choosing.

If you’re on a video call and having trouble understanding what people are saying, you can turn on the captions or automatic transcription so you can read on the screen what they say in real time and keep up with the conversation.

Music lovers who don’t want to wait for their favorite songs to air on the radio can buy a $25 Amazon Echo Dot, set up a free account, and then tell the device to play whatever song you like.

You can also find a performance of almost any musical piece or song ever written (often dozens of versions, for that matter) on YouTube.

Some of these technologies are just plain fun, but others can be life-changing, Green pointed out. “You can enable a couple of features, or set up a couple devices, and you can magically change somebody’s quality of life,” she said.

Free 15-minute consultation

Green teaches both group classes and individual coaching sessions. She offers free 15-minute phone consultations, but she asks those who become clients to commit to at least two 90-minute sessions with her.

In cases where an older adult is reluctant to adopt new technologies, Green tries to “find out what makes them tick,” she said.

“You have to figure out what’s important to them. So, if they have grandchildren or great grandchildren…most people start with video calls — Zoom or FaceTime.”

Case study

Recently Green had a client who wanted to help her homebound, lonely mother. In a few short sessions, Green introduced

mother and daughter to a few websites, including GetSetUp (for live classes and interactive events) and Senior Planet from AARP (for book clubs and other social groups), which help older adults connect with each other from their own homes.

[For more about Senior Planet, see “Technology program catches on locally” in the July Beacon.]

With Green’s help, the older woman found a bridge club and now looks forward to playing with them every week. Even though they’ve never meet in person, the bridge players have become a close-knit group.

“You can really get to know people and form meaningful relationships online if you’re stuck at home,” Green said. Plus “it’s a way to ease the burden of transportation for people as they get older.”

Keeping up with the times

Learning about technology, Green said, is “as important as exercise class.” She believes that all senior living communities should hire a technology concierge, as they do an activities director.

Most people need guidance when it comes to technology, she said. “Because how do you know what you don’t know? How do you even know where to begin looking? And [technology] changes so fast,” she said.

Most people may ask their children to troubleshoot their technological problems. Not Green.

“I try to stay ahead of [my kids]. I pride myself when I know things that they don’t know,” she said. “I love it when they come to me with questions now.”

In January, Green will teach a class about how to use free Google apps. A webinar about “top tech tools for older adults” is available for free on Green’s website at innovativespeech.com/they-may-not-know-webinar. Email Green at joan@innovativespeech.com or call 1-800-478-2550 or (301) 602-2899.

Olive oil lowers one’s risk of early death

By Katherine D. McManus

For many years we have heard that olive oil helps lower the risk of heart disease, but its connection to decreasing risk of death has been less clear.

A recent study of approximately 92,000 Americans examined whether olive oil is associated with total and cause-specific mortality (death from a particular illness).

During 28 years of follow-up, the research showed that participants who consumed the highest amount of olive oil (greater than ½ tablespoon, or 7 grams, per day) had a 19% lower risk of early death compared to people who never or rarely used olive oil.

For cause-specific death, those with higher olive oil intake had a 19% lower risk of heart disease death, 17% lower risk of cancer death, 29% lower risk of dying from neurodegenerative disease (such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s), and an 18% lower risk of dying from respiratory disease.

When the study authors looked at using olive oil to substitute for certain fats, results showed that, by replacing 10 g. (about 2 teaspoons) of margarine, butter, mayonnaise or dairy fat with the same amount of olive oil, there was an 8% to 34% lower risk of total and cause-specific death.

Reduces cholesterol, inflammation

Why does olive oil work to reduce the

risk of many diseases? One reason is that it’s high in monounsaturated fatty acids. When substituted for saturated fat, monounsaturated fats help lower your “bad” LDL cholesterol.

Extra-virgin olive oil can also reduce inflammation, which may be one of the main reasons for its health benefits. Olive oil’s main anti-inflammatory effects are from its antioxidants, one of which is oleocanthal. This antioxidant has been shown to work like ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory drug.

Research has also shown that oleic acid, which is the main fatty acid in olive oil, can reduce levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP).

In addition, the antioxidants in olive oil can reduce oxidative damage due to free radicals, believed to be one driver of cancer.

Will olive oil cause weight gain?

No, fat itself does not make you fat. Eating or drinking more calories than you need from any source, whether it’s fat, protein or carbohydrates, can result in weight gain.

Data over the past 40 years has shown that the percentage of calories that Americans eat from fat has decreased, while overweight and obesity rates have significantly increased. Sugary soft drinks don’t contain any fat, but they have been associated with the obesity epidemic in our country.

Tips for using olive oil

• Extra-virgin olive oil can be expensive. So, for cooking and baking, use virgin olive oil. Save the extra-virgin olive oil to use in making a salad dressing, dipping bread or preparing a sauce.

• Serve olive oil at the table. Instead of using butter or margarine on your bread, dip it in plain or seasoned olive oil.

• Use olive oil as your base in salad dressings. Try this recipe: ¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil, ¼ cup red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp. grainy mustard, 1 crushed garlic clove, 1 tsp. honey, ¼ tsp. salt, ¼ tsp. pepper. Combine all ingredients in a small jar and shake well.

• Use olive oil in stir-frying, pan-frying, and roasting vegetables, fish and chicken.

• Use olive oil as a finishing oil: drizzle into creamy soups, mix into homemade hummus, add to whole-grain bowls or whole-grain dishes.

• Make a pesto sauce with it to enjoy with whole-grain pasta or to spread on whole-grain crackers or bread.

The bottom line: There’s strong research to demonstrate the health benefits of olive oil — but most importantly, it tastes delicious and can enhance the flavor of many family dishes.

Katherine D. McManus, MS, RD, LDN, is a contributor to Harvard Health Publications.

© 2022 Harvard Health Blog and Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Should you worry about lead exposure?

By Marissa Hauptman, M.D., MPH, and Ryan Brewster, M.D.

Through much of the 20th century, lead was a common part of American life. It was used in paint, plumbing fixtures, water pipes and many consumer goods. Automobiles guzzled leaded gasoline to improve engine performance.

Meanwhile, the medical community increasingly recognized the toxic effects of lead on the body, particularly in children. Since the 1970s, sweeping regulations have dramatically reduced lead exposure in our homes, products and environment.

Unfortunately, the lead poisoning epidemic is far from behind us. A recent study in JAMA Pediatrics found that more than half of children tested around the

country had detectable levels of lead in their blood.

Continued concerns have recently led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce the blood lead reference value, which is used to identify the highest-risk patients.

Here’s what you should know about the new guidelines, the sources and dangers of lead exposure, and how to protect yourself and your family:

How could I be exposed to lead?

Although consumer uses were banned by the federal government in 1978, leadbased paint remains the most significant source of lead exposure.

In homes built before 1978, peeling,

cracking or otherwise deteriorating lead paint can be hazardous, along with the dust created from frequently touched surfaces such as doors, windows and stairways.

This exposure commonly arises from normal hand-to-mouth behavior in an environment with dust that is contaminated with lead. Young children are more likely to have elevated blood lead levels because of how they interact with their environment.

Nutrition also plays a role: If children have iron deficiency, they are going to absorb more lead from their gastrointestinal tracts than children without iron deficiency.

Other potential sources of lead include:

Drinking water: Lead can enter the water supply through corrosion of leadcontaining plumbing and fixtures.

Workplace : Jobs in manufacturing, construction and mining may involve working with lead that can be carried home on hands and clothing.

Consumer goods: Lead can be found in toys, jewelry and cosmetic products, especially antique items or those imported from other countries.

Importantly, the burden of lead exposure is not uniform. Black, low-income and immigrant populations are most likely to have elevated lead levels compared to the national average.

What are the health effects?

There is no safe level of lead in the body. Children under 6 years old are the most vulnerable because their bodies are rapidly growing and developing.

Symptoms may not be present immediately, but exposure to even low amounts of lead can damage the brain and nervous system. Long-term effects on learning, hearing, attention and behavior can occur.

In pregnant women who have been exposed, lead can cross the placenta, impacting the fetus’s nervous system and growth. There is also a risk of premature delivery or miscarriage.

Steps taken by the CDC

The blood lead reference value represents the highest 2.5% of blood lead concentrations in children ages 1 to 5. Lead levels above the reference value may prompt follow-up investigation or testing.

In October 2021, the CDC announced that the blood lead reference value would be reduced from 5 micrograms per deciliter to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter, the first change in nearly 10 years.

Lowering the value means that more children will be identified as having exposure to the potentially negative effects of

Nature and nurture affect our resilience

By Lindsey Tanner

There’s an old saying that adversity makes you stronger. Real life shows that’s not always true, but the adage highlights an evolving debate among scientists about resilience.

After traumatic events and crises such as child abuse, gun violence or a pandemic, what explains why some people bounce back, while others struggle to cope? Is it nature — genes and other inherent traits? Or nurture — life experiences and social interactions?

Decades of research suggest both play a role, but that neither seals a person’s fate.

What is resilience?

Although scientists use different definitions, resilience generally refers to the ability to handle severe stress.

“It involves behaviors, thoughts and actions that can be learned and developed in anyone,” according to the American Psychological Association. That effort is hard-

Lead exposure

From page 14

lead. It also lets public health and environmental officials focus lead reduction efforts on the highest-risk communities.

Steps to make a home lead-safe Lead exposure is ubiquitous in our environments, and remediation is costly. If not done safely, renovations can worsen pediatric lead exposure by generating leadladen dust.

Families with concerns for lead exposure should have their homes evaluated by a certified lead inspector. Based on these findings, the lead-hazard remediation work should be conducted by a leadcertified contractor, or by those who have received proper training.

In the interim, temporary mitigation measures can be helpful to reduce lead exposure. These include minimizing ongoing exposure (such as by covering chipping interior paint using contact paper or duct/masking tape), frequent hand washing, frequent dusting/wet mopping of the home (several times per week), leaving shoes at the door, and eating an iron- and calcium-rich diet.

While exposure to lead has decreased significantly in recent years, it remains an important public health problem. More funding is needed to help families and property owners mitigate lead-based paint and other hazards in their homes.

These steps, along with the work of the public health and medical community, can help make the lead poisoning epidemic a thing of the past.

Marissa Hauptman, M.D., MPH, is a contributor and Ryan Brewster, M.D., is a guest contributor to Harvard Health Publications.

© 2022 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

er for some people because of genetics, biology and life circumstances, evidence suggests.

Landmark U.S. research in the mid1990s linked adverse childhood experiences with poor mental and physical health in adulthood. It found that every additional adversity added to higher risks later on.

Scientists have conducted numerous studies trying to answer why some kids are more vulnerable to those experiences than others.

California pediatrician and researcher Dr. Thomas Boyce decided to dig deeper into that question because of his own family history. He and his sister, who is two years younger, were extremely close amid sometimes turbulent family circumstances. As they grew into adulthood, Boyce’s life seemed blessed by good luck, while his sister sank into hardship and

mental illness.

In laboratory tests, Boyce found that about 1 in 5 kids have elevated biological responses to stress. He found signs of hyperactivity in their brains’ fight-or-flight response and in their stress hormones.

Real-world evidence showed kids like these have higher rates of physical and mental troubles when raised in stressful family situations. But evidence also shows these hyper-sensitive kids can thrive with nurturing, supportive parenting, Boyce said.

‘Genes are not destiny’

Ananda Amstadter, who studies traumatic stress and genetics at Virginia Commonwealth University, said her research suggests that stress resilience is roughly half influenced by genes and half by environmental factors. But she emphasized that many genes are likely involved; there

is no single “resilience gene.”

In other studies, Duke University researchers Terrie Moffitt and Avshalom Caspi have linked variations in genes that help regulate mood with increased risks for depression or antisocial behavior in kids who experienced child abuse or neglect.

But “genes are not destiny,” said Dr. Dennis Charney, academic affairs president at Mount Sinai Health System in New York, who has studied ways to overcome adversity.

Trauma can affect the development of key brain systems that regulate anxiety and fear. Psychotherapy and psychiatric medication can sometimes help people who’ve experienced severe trauma and hardship.

And Charney said a loving family, a strong network of friends and positive experiences in school can help counterbalance the ill effects. —AP

Tasty lentils contain fiber, protein, vitamins

By Lisa Milbrand

If you’re looking to eat healthier, lentils — whether black, brown, yellow, green or red — should be among the top foods in your meal plan. Fortunately, learning how to cook lentils isn’t too complicated.

Lentils have nutritional benefits to cover all of your bases:

Lentils are rich in fiber: One of the biggest benefits of legumes like lentils is their high levels of fiber, which most people don’t get enough of in their diets.

“Lentils are a complex carbohydrate that are super high in fiber, especially soluble fiber,” said Jennifer Hanway, a nutritionist and certified personal trainer. “Soluble fiber dissolves in water to form a gellike substance that moves through the GI

NEEDLEWORK SOCIAL

system and can help remove some substances related to high cholesterol.”

For example, brown lentils can provide nearly a day’s worth of fiber (26 grams) in just a single half-cup serving, according to Hanway.

Lentils can help regulate blood sugar: The fiber in lentils can do more than help with digestion. “The soluble fiber in lentils can help balance blood sugar by slowing the glucose release into the bloodstream and preventing spikes in insulin,” Hanway said. That’s one of the big benefits of lentils for people with diabetes, as it helps keep blood sugar levels on an even keel.

Lentils are a good source of protein: Lentils pack in more than 20 grams of protein per half-cup serving — about

Bring your needlecraft project to the Hyattsville Library and meet people in your community with similar interests. This free event takes place on Tue., Dec. 20 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at 6530 Adelphi Rd., Hyattsville, MD. For more information and to register, call (240) 455-5451.

WINTER SOLSTICE FOREST BATHING

Join Ward 8 Woods Conservancy to mark the arrival of winter with a sunset walk in Oxon Run Parkway, followed by a campfire and refreshments. This event takes place on Wed., Dec. 21 from 4 to 6 p.m. at 1204 Mississippi Ave. SE, Washington, DC. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit bit.ly/SolsticeForestBathing.

the same amount as 4 ounces of salmon. That makes them a perfect addition to any meatless meal.

Lentils have plenty of vitamins and minerals: One of the health benefits of lentils is that they’re like a very tasty multivitamin: you can get calcium, potassium, zinc and iron by eating them, along with plenty of B vitamins.

Here are ways to enjoy more lentils (and their many benefits):

1. Swap your starches for lentils.

“I might replace starchy carbs — like rice or pasta or potato — with lentils,” Hanway said. “You still get the complex carbs, but a ton more fiber and protein.”

Alternatively, consider getting the best of both worlds by enjoying the many health benefits of red lentil pasta or other lentil-based pastas.

2. Get colorful with your lentils. Each type of lentil has a slightly different protein, fiber and vitamin profile, so to get the full benefits of eating lentils, mix it

up a little.

For instance, black lentils are packed with potent antioxidants. “Black lentils are full of anthocyanin, an antioxidant usually found in purple and blue foods, such as berries and red cabbage,” Hanway said.

Also, lentils have different textures — yellow and red lentils are more likely to break down and are great for soups, while black lentils hold their shape and are great for lentil burgers.

3. Don’t overcook them.

Hanway recommends turning off the stove a few minutes early when you’re making lentils. “You don’t want to boil them within an inch of their life,” she said. “Cook two or three minutes less than you think, turn the heat off, leave the lid on, and let steam help cook them through.”

Real Simple magazine provides smart, realistic solutions to everyday challenges. Online at realsimple.com.

© 2022 Meredith Corporation. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Lisa’s Monastery Stew (Lentil Soup)

Ingredients: 3 tablespoons olive oil 4 carrots, sliced 3 onions, chopped 1 tablespoon dried marjoram 1 tablespoon dried thyme 2 28-oz cans tomatoes 2 cups dried brown or green lentils 6 chicken bouillon cubes 6 cups water

Garlic powder, to taste ½ cup chopped fresh parsley ½ cup sherry or cooking sherry Swiss cheese for topping (optional)

Directions:

Sauté carrots and onions in oil until tender. Add dried herbs and sauté briefly.

Chop up the canned tomatoes slightly, retaining juice, and add to pot. Add other ingredients except parsley and sherry.

Bring to a boil and simmer covered for at least 90 minutes, adding the parsley and sherry about 20 minutes before serving.

Top with grated Swiss cheese before serving, if you like.

Leftovers can be frozen in individual or multiple portions.

— Courtesy of the Beacon’s president

Foods that do best when not refrigerated

By Hilary Meyer

One of the best ways to eat a healthier diet is to eat more fruits and vegetables. And one of the worst things about buying fresh fruits and vegetables is watching them go bad in your produce drawer and throwing them away. No one wants to throw their food and money in the garbage.

One way to help ensure you’re eating your produce is to make a plan. Having a few meals and snacks planned out means you’re more likely to eat up.

Another key is to store your fruits and vegetables the right way to keep them fresh. As it turns out, the refrigerator is not the go-to storage unit for all your produce. Below are four types of produce you shouldn’t keep in your fridge.

Tomatoes

If you’ve ever grown tomatoes, then you know that they love the heat and hate the cold. Turns out even after they’re plucked from the vine, they still hold their aversion to cold.

The fridge is not the ideal place to store tomatoes. Store them there and your per-

fect tomatoes turn into a mealy disappointment. They’ll still be good for cooking, but not the best for eating fresh.

Instead store them on your counter (not in direct sunlight) and enjoy them when they’re ripe.

Fresh herbs

Fresh herbs like basil, parsley and cilantro actually don’t belong in the fridge. Spending extended periods of time in a cold environment like a refrigerator causes them to wilt prematurely.

Fresh herbs do best when stored on your counter and treated as you would fresh cut-flowers. A fresh bunch of basil can be stored in a cup of water (change it every day or two) away from direct sunlight. Covering it loosely with a plastic bag will help keep it moist, but make sure the bag has an opening to allow for some fresh air to seep in.

Potatoes

Potatoes like cool, not cold temperatures. They do best at around 45 degrees Fahrenheit, which is about 10 degrees warmer than the average refrigerator.

Most of us don’t have a root cellar (a cool, dark place to store root vegetables like potatoes), so keeping them in a paper bag in a coolish spot (like a pantry) is best.

Why paper? It’s more breathable than plastic, so the potatoes won’t succumb to rot as easily.

And why not the fridge? Storing potatoes at cold temperatures converts their starch to sugar more quickly, which can affect their flavor, texture and the way they cook.

Onions

Onions don’t come out of the ground with that protective papery skin. To develop and keep that dry outer layer, they need to be cured and then kept in a dry environ-

ment like a pantry, which is not as damp as the refrigerator.

Also, lack of air circulation will cause onions to spoil, as will storing them near potatoes, which give off moisture and gas that can cause onions to spoil quickly.

Store onions in a cool, dry, dark, wellventilated place. (Light can cause the onions to become bitter.)

Scallions and chives, however, have a higher water content, bruise more easily and have a shorter shelf life, so store these alliums in the fridge.

EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at eatingwell.com.

© 2022 Meredith Corporation. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Happy holidays, seniors!

While it’s always true, the holiday season is a reminder of just how important it is to be around the ones we love. Loved ones are often more than just our family and friends — they are our neighbors, our care providers, and new friends we have yet to meet. Many of those same neighbors, care providers and new friends will be at the Mayor’s Senior Holiday Celebration! This annual celebration is the perfect place to be surrounded by love, friendship and fellowship. It’s the place many of you have made lifelong friendships, got enrolled into programs to help you age the way you choose, reconnected with services you haven’t engaged with in a while, and of course danced the afternoon away!

As the Interim Director, I’m particularly excited for this year’s celebration. We’re going back to the DC Armory and we have so much in store for you. With more than 80 community and government services and a variety of entertainment, this year’s celebration will be nothing short of amazing. And if you’ve never had the experience of hundreds of people lined up cheering and thanking you for coming, I can promise you it’s one experience that’s unforgettable and not to be missed.

To register, give us a call at 202-727-8955 or visit mayorbowsers24thannualseniorho.splashthat.com. While vaccinations and masks are not required, we strongly encourage you get to vaccinated and bring your masks. And if you’re not fully vaccinated or in need of a booster, we’ll have a vaccination clinic on site for your convenience, so be sure to stop by to keep you and your loved ones safe this holiday season.

As we head into the winter season, we’re reminded of what this time of year means for some of us. It can be a time that feels lonely and isolated. But I want you know that DACL and the entire District Government are here for you and there’s no better time to get connected. To learn about all the activities and events that are available to you, visit us at dacl.dc.gov or call us at 202-724-5626.

See you December 6!

Jessica Smith

Mayor Bowser releases the DC Racial Equity Plan

On November 16,

released the District’s first-ever Racial Equity Action Plan, a three-year roadmap outlining actions that the District will take to close racial equity gaps and measure progress toward a more equitable DC. Residents can provide feedback on the plan until January 2, 2023. To review the full plan and provide feedback, visit ore.dc.gov/actionplan.

Living Boldly is published by the Information Office of the DC Department of Aging and Community Living for DC senior residents. Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the DC Department of Aging and Community Living or by the publisher.

500 K St. NE, Washington, DC 20002 | (202) 724-5626 | www.dacl.dc.gov

Interim Director Jessica Smith Editor DACL External Affairs Photographer Richard Williams

Mayor Muriel Bowser and Amber Hewitt, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Racial Equity (ORE),

Money Law & Few stores’ sale prices are really deals

By Kevin Brasler and Andrea Densmore

“SALE! 60% OFF!”

“This weekend only: Save an extra 40%!”

“List: $299 Our price: $199”

Consumers’ Checkbook’s researchers spent 33 weeks tracking sale prices at 25 major retailers and found that most stores’ discount claims aren’t really discounts at all, but rather are attempts to mislead. And the shady sales practice is worse than ever before.

Checkbook discovered that most stores’ sale prices — even those that advertise big savings — are bogus discounts, with retailers offering the same “sale price” more than half the time.

Often, these fake sales never end: For

eight of the 25 retailers, our shoppers found more than half the items we tracked for each were offered at false discounts every week or almost every week we checked. In other words, at many retailers the “regular price” or “list” price listed is seldom, if ever, what customers actually pay.

Checkbook found these retailers’ sales were usually misleading: Amazon, Banana Republic, Dick’s, Foot Locker, Gap, Nordstrom, Old Navy, Wayfair and Williams Sonoma.

Checkbook found these retailers’ sales were often misleading: Best Buy, Dell, Home Depot, JC Penney, Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Macy’s, Michaels, Office Depot, Overstock, Staples and Walmart.

Checkbook found Target’s sales were sometimes misleading.

And Checkbook found that only three of the 25 retailers offered legitimate sales: Apple, Bed Bath & Beyond and Costco. For the full report, see checkbook.org/washington-area/sale-fail.

Attempts to mislead

By constantly offering items at sale prices — and rarely if ever offering them at regular prices — retailers are engaging in deceptive advertising. The stores are running those special-but-not-really-special discounts to manipulate you into buying items right away.

Although customers may think the “sale”

More than 300,000 cars were damaged by Hurricane Ian. Be sure you don’t end up buying one. See story on opposite page.

offers them a fantastic deal, the opposite is usually the case: We discovered that most items can be purchased for lower prices elsewhere.

It’s all designed to make you feel so good about what you pay that you’ll snap up more stuff while you’re at it. If stores can make you feel like you’ve saved a bundle, you might keep right on buying because you can “afford to spend more.”

How prices were checked

Beginning in February 2022, once per week for 33 weeks Checkbook’s researchers tracked the prices offered by 25

Beware of buying a flood-damaged used car

After hurricanes with large-scale floods — such as happened in Florida recently with Hurricane Ian — flood-damaged vehicles often end up at salvage auctions and are bought by rebuilders.

The vehicles should be marked as “salvage” or “total-loss” on the title, but every year, thousands of severely water-damaged vehicles are resold to unsuspecting consumers — often in different market areas.

The Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) is warning local residents seeking to buy a used vehicle that they should take precautionary steps to avoid unknowingly purchasing one.

The OCP says unscrupulous sellers know how to “wash” the titles and hide the damage. However, the damage caused by water will eventually impact the life of the vehicle.

OCP recently added to its staff automotive specialist Dave Elswick, an Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)-certified investigator with 17 years of automotive technician experience. The ASE certification covers 28 areas of expertise and three master designations.

Elswick is available to help residents

who think they might be buying, or have bought, a vehicle that was water damaged.

“The effects may not be immediate, but they are disastrous and dangerous when they appear,” Elswick said. “Issues such as mold, corroded and damaged wiring, corroded control units, damaged airbags and rusted interior components present serious safety issues.”

Then there’s “the cost of repairing them later. Rust and corrosion tend to take time to develop, and mold also takes time to spread. What may seem like a great deal now could lead to a never-ending string of repairs, which makes detection the best protection.”

How to check before you buy

There are some steps OCP recommends used-vehicle purchasers should take before buying — especially if it seems they would be getting an extraordinary deal.

“It is estimated that more than 350,000 vehicles were damaged by the recent hurricane Ian,” said OCP Director Eric Friedman. “There is no telling how many of those will end up being resold across the country, but nonetheless, there are tools available to help purchasers avoid these

well-disguised traps.”

OCP advises consumers to check online databases that identify flood-damaged vehicles. Free checks for flooded vehicles are available from Carfax, Inc. at its “Carfax Flood Check” website. Other available resources can be found at the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) website and at Experian’s service “AutoCheck.”

In using each of those services, OCP advises that it is important to have the vehicle identification number (VIN) to ensure you are obtaining the history on the actual vehicle being purchased. The VIN can be found on the left corner of the vehicle’s dashboard. It is visible through the windshield and can also be found on the panel inside the driver-side door.

Consumers who are purchasing used

cars in Montgomery County who feel like they are being deceived in purchasing a flood-damaged vehicle can reach out to OCP for additional advice by calling (240) 777-0311 or by sending an email to consumerprotection@montgomerycountymd.gov. An OCP investigator can provide assistance.

Residents of other counties may call with questions, but the OCP can only investigate transactions occurring within Montgomery County, Md.

For more information on how OCP helps Montgomery County consumers, visit its website at montgomerycountymd.gov/consumer or view videos on its YouTube channel at youtube.com/user/ConsumerWise.

Courtesy of the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection.

Don’t Get Taken During the Season of Giving!

For most of us, the holidays are full of giving, getting and goodwill.

But some bad actors use the holidays to take advantage of people’s generous spirits. They frequently target older members of our community, who may be more vulnerable to scammers and con artists.

To help ensure you don’t get taken during the season of giving, organizations across Montgomery County are joining together to raise awareness about common holiday scams, and to share information that can help protect you from getting scammed.

When we buy and mail gifts over the holidays, scammers see opportunities:

shipping company will often send us a text or email update regarding

the status of our order. Scammers will send “phishing” emails pretending to be from companies like FedEx and UPS. Look closely at delivery notifications and email updates before you click on links or provide any information. It’s always safest to go to the shipping company’s website to track deliveries. And remember, UPS and FedEx won’t ask for your personal information via email.

Porch poachers might steal packages from your doorstep. Always get a tracking number for your package. You can also set up a different delivery address with a neighbor or have your package held at the post office if you don’t expect to be home when a delivery is expected.

Holiday Shopping Scams

Protect your personal information. Avoid sharing personal or credit card information over public Wi-Fi. Only make purchases when you are connected to a secure network.

There may appear to be deals galore over the holidays, but remember to carefully read reviews, look for security credentials on websites, and research unfamiliar retailers.

Always pay by credit card and keep receipts so you can request a refund if there is an issue. Never wire money or pay with a gift card.

For more information on recent scams, or if you believe you’ve been a victim of a scam, contact the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection at consumer@ montgomerycountymd.gov, (240) 777-3774, or visit www. montgomerycountymd.gov/OCP.

If you’re a victim of a scam, the Office of Consumer Protection may direct you to contact the Federal Trade Commission to file a complaint at ftc.gov.

You can also keep an eye out for common scams in your area with the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker (https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker).

For more information on frauds targeting older adults, visit the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office at Montgomerycountymd.gov/sao.

Feeling charitable? Make sure your charity of choice is legitimate by visiting give.org or charitynavigator. org first.

national chains for 25-plus items at each store.

This research expands on similar projects we performed in 2015 and 2018, when we spent 40 or more weeks tracking major retailers’ prices.

We found that in the last four years fake sales have become far more prevalent.

Some retailers still have more egregious pricing practices than others. Amazon, Banana Republic, Dick’s, Foot Locker, Gap, Nordstrom, Old Navy, Wayfair, and Williams Sonoma were the naughtiest fake-sale offenders. At these stores, most of the items we tracked were always or almost always on sale.

But nearly all of the 25 stores we tracked were guilty of some sales-price chicanery, advertising sales for the majori-

BEACON BITS

FREE CHORAL CONCERT

ty of the items we checked more than half the time.

Only Apple, Bed Bath & Beyond and Costco consistently conducted legitimate sales. Target was a borderline case.

The other 21 retailers marked their items “on sale” about 70% of the time, on average, meaning that far more often than not they promoted prices as discounts that weren’t really special.

“List” prices often meaningless

Most retailers we studied poorly disclose how they determine all their crossed-out “list” prices. Those offering explanations typically buried them in the “Terms and Conditions” sections of their websites.

But Amazon, Dell, Macy’s, Target and Walmart provide more transparency: With each, you can hover over list prices or click on nearby icons for definitions of how

Join the Rockville Chorus on Sun., Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m. for their “Celebrating the Light” concert at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 603 Edmonston Dr., Rockville, MD. Musical selections include Vivaldi’s Gloria as well as other holiday favorites. Free, no ticket required. For more information, visit rockvillechorus.com or call (240) 314-8690.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY JOBS

During this virtual information session, a recruiter from the Office of Human Resources provides an overview of Montgomery County’s job application process. This free event takes place on Wed., Dec. 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Zoom. Join the meeting at bit.ly/MoCoJobsZoom or dial in by calling (301) 715 8592 and using meeting ID 853 6755 8432.

ROCKVILLE CHESS CLUB

Ongoing

Join chess enthusiasts who meet regularly to learn and play. All levels, from beginners to masters, and all ages are welcome. This group meets on Mondays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Rockville Science Center, 36C Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD. Free. For more information, email hjlichtman@lichtman.ws or call (301) 580-7190.

they determined their (usually crossedout) “list” or “regular” prices.

Some retailers that provide explanations give silly justifications. Kohl’s takes the prize for most ridiculous; its disclaimer reads, in part, “The Reg. or Orig. price of an item is the former or future offered price for the item or a comparable item by Kohl’s or another retailer. Actual sales may not have been made at the Reg. or Orig. prices, and intermediate markdowns may have been taken…”

In other words, Kohl’s is claiming its discounts are based on prices that it or one

of its competitors might have charged in the past or might charge in the future. Does Kohl’s have a time machine?

Excerpted with permission from Washington Consumers’ Checkbook, a nonprofit organization with a mission to help consumers get great service and low prices. It is supported by consumers and takes no money from the service providers it evaluates.

Beacon readers can view Checkbook’s ratings and advice free for 30 days via Checkbook.org/promo/beacon. Also, check out the Consumerpedia podcast for more consumer news you can use at bit.ly.com/consumerpedia.

(virtual or in-person) meet from 9 AM until 4 PM daily. Call or Email to learn if future sessions will be in-person or virtual.

How to find a good daily money manager

By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you recommend any services that can help my mother with her financial chores? My dad always used to handle the bill paying and paperwork, but he passed away last year, and mom struggles to keep on top of things. And I don’t live close enough to help her on a regular basis.

—Concerned Daughter

Dear Concerned,

It sounds like your mom could use a good daily money manager (or DMM). These are financial savvy professionals that can help older adults who have difficulty managing their own day-to-day personal financial affairs.

The types of services they provide typically include paying bills, maintaining financial records, balancing checkbooks and negotiating with creditors.

DMMs can also prepare checks for clients

to sign, help older people organize bank and financial records, prepare and deliver bank deposits, gather and organize documents for tax returns, help decipher medical bills, and review bank statements in order to detect potential financial abuse or fraud.

Nonprofit and for-profit providers

Depending on where your mom lives, DMM services may be available through private nonprofit elder assistance organizations or government agencies. These agencies often use volunteers to provide basic DMM tasks, such as bill paying at no cost.

To find out if this is available in your mom’s area, contact her local Agency on Aging. Visit ElderCare.acl.gov or call 1800-677-1116 for contact information.

In addition to the nonprofit DMMs, an increasing number of individuals and private for-profit companies have started offering DMM services for a fee. Cost for these services varies by region but it often ranges between $25 and $100 per hour.

Most clients need approximately four hours of services per month, but this too varies according to the complexity of the person’s financial situation.

The best place to look for a professional DMM in your mom’s area is through the American Association of Daily Money Managers (AADMM.com), which lets you

search by ZIP code.

All the pros listed there have signed the group’s code of ethics. Some have passed a certification exam to earn the designation of Certified Daily Money Manager.

Check references

Before hiring a daily money manager, however, get references from two or more of their clients and check them. Also, find out what they charge and what type of insurance coverage they have.

Keep in mind that neither federal nor state governments regulate the DMM industry, so there is little oversight of these services. So before turning over your mom’s bills, make certain it’s someone you can trust.

One other highly rated bill-paying service you should know about that’s specifically designed for older adults and caregivers is SilverBills (SilverBills.com). This bill management service will manage your mom’s bills and pay them on her behalf for a flat fee of $50 per month.

If you opt for this service, your mom will be paired with an account manager who will work with her over the phone, or through email, text or mail (her preference). SilverBills reviews all bills for errors and fraud, and provides monthly statements showing the date, amount and payment.

Leisure & Travel Leisure &

Visiting Switzerland via Grand Train Tour

By Don Mankin

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “It’s not the destination; it’s the journey.” On the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland, it’s both.

This past October, my wife and I had the opportunity to enjoy both the ride and the country on a train tour through Switzerland.

Our trip started in Lugano, where I was attending the Adventure Travel World Summit — the first in-person summit since the pandemic began. I can’t think of a better place to break out of a pandemic: a beautiful lake, historic hotel, and a lovely lakeside promenade linking our hotel and the modern convention center, where the summit was held.

For variety during the weeklong stay, I sometimes walked down the winding pedestrian streets through town, lined with ritzy shops and restaurants and leading into hidden plazas. You could also catch a funicular up a steep hill to reach the shops near the lake, where most residences are located.

Lugano is very close to the Italian border, so the language and food is Italian. The pasta was a revelation. Unlike the robust, chewy pasta I am used to eating here, it was silken, delicate, velvety. All in all, southern Switzerland is like Italy with more efficient trains and less graffiti.

A World Heritage Site on rails

At the conclusion of the summit, we boarded a bus for a three-hour scenic ride along Lake Lugano, then past Lake Como (I peered through the bus windows for a glimpse of George Clooney, but to no avail) to Tirano, where we boarded the Bernina Express to St. Moritz. That was the first of three iconic train rides over the next few days.

The Bernina Express is listed as a World Heritage Site, one of the few railroads to be so designated. It is also the steepest narrow-gauge railway — and provides one of the most scenic train journeys — on the planet.

The train sure beats Amtrak. It is comfortable and roomy with huge windows, the better to gawk at the jagged peaks, plunging waterfalls and gleaming glaciers of the southern Alps, with farms, tiny villages and church steeples nestled in the broad valleys.

The color palette was wide and vivid: blue skies, green fields and trees tinged with the reds and yellows of autumn. Everywhere you looked was a postcard. Think of The Sound of Music and Heidi and you get the idea.

Our first destination, St. Moritz, is known for its skiing as well as for the beautiful, rich and limber people who populate

the slopes and shop in its expensive stores. It wasn’t ski season, so we spent our one evening wandering among stores selling products we couldn’t afford.

Glacier Express to Zermatt

The next day we boarded an even posher train, the Glacier Express, to Zermatt. During the seven-hour train ride, we were served a three-course meal on white linen with fancier glass and silverware than we use at home for special guests.

Zermatt is best known for its crosscountry skiing, hiking and mountaineering, as well as the Matterhorn, which looms over this rustic but upscale town.

The weather was mostly overcast for our two-night stay, precluding a gondola or cogwheel train ride up the slopes for a closer look at the Matterhorn and the usually breathtaking views of the surrounding 13,000-foot-tall mountains.

But it cleared enough on our second morning for some stunning photos of the rays of the rising sun shining off the slopes and the peak of the mountain.

Montreux, masterpiece on a lake

From Zermatt, we took two trains to Montreux. Neither of them was luxurious or iconic, just the usual comfortable, clean,

punctual and efficient components of the deservedly famous Swiss rail system.

Montreux was my favorite stop on our train tour. I first heard about Montreux when I was a teenage jazz fan and fantasized about attending the Montreux Jazz Festival, then one of the premier jazz festivals in one of the most beautiful settings in Europe.

Now, the festival leans heavily toward pop music, but the town is still incredibly beautiful, sitting on a huge, sparkling lake ringed by mountains.

We were only there for one night, just enough time to take a long walk on the wide lakeside promenade, dotted with whimsical sculptures, colorful patches of flowers, and grand old Belle Époque homes and hotels.

We stayed in one of these grand old hotels, the Suisse Majestic, in a room overlooking the lake. If we didn’t have a train to catch, we would have stayed there for days.

The Golden Pass to Lucerne

From Montreux, we headed to Lucerne on the Golden Pass, a Belle Époque-era train with red-velvet seat cushions, wood paneling and bronze fixtures. It was oldworld, regal and elegant, a leftover from the

Switzerland’s Bernina Express whisks passengers through 55 tunnels and 90 miles of Alpine countryside. The 800-mile Swiss Grand Train Tour provides panoramic views of turquoise lakes, glaciers, waterfalls and famous mountains.

PHOTO © AZURECHINA | DREAMSTIME.COM

Hillwalking is part of Ireland’s culture. See why it’s so popular on page 27.

On the Bernina Express, one of the eight railroads on the Swiss Grand Train Tour, people can eat, talk or just watch the spectacular scenery on the four-hour journey between Switzerland and Italy.

PHOTO BY DON MANKIN

days when train travel was the thing to do.

The Golden Pass was only the first of four trains we had to take that day, illustrating the precise choreography of the

Swiss rail system. Switching trains was literally like clockwork. I knew exactly where to go, how much time I had between trains, and when the train would pull out of the station.

Like Lugano and Montreux, Lucerne is a charming town located on a large, scenic

lake surrounded by mountains. Besides its stunning setting, Lucerne is also known for its well-preserved medieval architecture, including a wooden bridge built in the 14th century.

Our plan was to ride the gondola to the top of Mt. Pilatus just outside town, ride the cog railroad down and take a boat back to town, but the skies were leaden with clouds. Since we figured the views wouldn’t be great, we opted instead for a round-trip, six-hour boat ride to the opposite end of the lake.

A cruise back in time

Because the shape of the lake is irregular, with many bends and turns, the boat trip is more like cruising down a winding, scenic fjord than crossing a large, open body of water. The lake is surrounded by steep mountains, so the views throughout the trip were magnificent, at first silvery and moody from the low clouds, then sparkling and bright when the clouds and mist lifted in the afternoon.

The boat, a classic paddle wheeler built in 1926, stopped in several picturesque and historic lakeside villages and towns along the way. Stops included where the Swiss Confederation was established in 1291, the site of Wilhelm Tell’s heroic exploits in the 14th century, and a town where Mark Twain lived for several months in 1897.

We disembarked at Flüelen, the town at the far end of the lake, took a short walk, and stopped at a café for a takeaway lunch. We found a place to sit and eat our lunch while admiring one of the best views of the trip, toward a mountain across the water while a lone sailboat floated in the light breeze in the distance.

Before heading back to Lucerne on the

Letters to editor

From page 2

Dear Editor:

We often don’t know the impact of what we do and realize what good we do.

Thank you for the October Beacon health study article on the Pfizer flu vaccine trial. This new vaccine technology promises to improve health for generations to come.

I heard about the clinical trial before seeing the Beacon and received my shot yesterday. The clinic staff in Annandale were so pleased with the article when I mentioned it. The response to it has been considerable, and they now have over 600 people who have volunteered. And they were so enthusiastic about being interviewed and seeing the article.

next boat, we tried to absorb the scene and burn it into our memories. It will have to do until our next trip to a destination as beautiful as Switzerland and as easy to get to via the most efficient and comfortable transportation system in the world.

If you go

Economy round-trip flights from D.C.area airports to Zurich range from less than $1,000 for connecting flights to around $2,000 for non-stop flights. Check Kayak.com for current fares.

A Swiss Travel Pass, which is good for travel on trains, buses and boats, plus access to many museums and other attractions, costs about $700 for a first-class, 15day pass. Seats on the Bernina Express, the Glacier Express, and the Golden Pass are extra. Go to bit.ly/SwissTravelPass for more information or to purchase.

Contact The Swiss Travel Centre at switzerlandtravelcentre.com to arrange a tour. For general information, go to MySwitzerland.com.

In Lugano, we stayed at the Hotel International au Lac (hotel-international.ch/ en/home). Rooms are about $200/night, including breakfast. In St. Moritz, try the Hotel Steffani (steffani.ch/en) for about $300/night with breakfast.

A Zermatt splurge is the Hotel Julen (julen.ch/en/romantik-hotel-julen) at about $350/night. And in Montreux, try the Marriott’s Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic for about $250/night.

In Lucerne, Hotel Continental Park (continental.ch/en) is about $200/night.

Don and Katherine’s trip was organized and hosted by the Switzerland Travel Centre. For more photos, go to Don’s blog on his website, adventuretransformations.com.

It may not seem like much, but you and your staff have done a good thing to make the world a better place.

Jim Frison Arlington, VA

Dear Editor:

Bob Levey’s November column, “Oh, the wonders of yesteryear’s libraries,” brings back wonderful memories. In a library, the excitement is in the search. You don’t have to know exactly what it is that you are searching for. You just have to be open to what you may discover.

What a loss that everyone no longer has the opportunity to be excited with wonder while weaving one’s way in and out of the stacks of books and opening books at random for new adventures to begin!

Naomi Dornfeld Platt Silver Spring, MD

A cultural adventure: Ireland hillwalking

By Ashley Stimpson

To the American eye, hillwalking and hiking have a lot in common. Both involve lacing up a pair of boots and heading somewhere on foot.

But in Ireland, hillwalking is more than an aerobic activity; it’s a cultural tradition. Hillwalking may involve few trails and no particular destination. The focus is on wandering — and wonder. That said, there are plenty of hillwalks where the trail has already been blazed.

On a recent trip to Ireland, I tried my hand (er, feet) at hillwalking and found no shortage of places to practice.

A day on the Mournes

A two-hour drive from Dublin, the Mourne Mountains are a Northern Ireland-designated “Area of Outstanding Beauty.” Under the tutelage of tour guide Peter Rafferty from Walk the Mournes, I completed my first hillwalk to the peak of Wee Binnian, just 1,500 feet high. It’s the little sibling of sorts to Slieve Binnian, one of the tallest peaks in the Mournes, at 2,450 feet. (“Slieve” is a Gaelic word that means mountain.)

Along the way, Rafferty pointed out native flowers, expounded on local history, and paused often to let me take in the seemingly endless views of Ireland’s fa-

mous green hills below.

Nestled between the Mournes and the Irish Sea — with a stunning view of both — Slieve Donard Resort and Spa was an ideal place to rest after a long and windy walk in the hills.

Glenveagh National Park

After fewer than three hours in the car, I arrived at Glenveagh National Park on the northwest side of the island in County Donegal.

To fuel up for my hillwalk, I stopped for lunch at the visitors center, which offers a more sophisticated take on typical park concessions — and, of course, tea. After a falafel wrap and fries, I was ready for Glenveagh’s most popular walk, a two-mile trek from the visitors center to the park’s eponymous castle.

The paved, flat trail winded through peat bog and wetlands before emerging into a more open landscape where the park’s moody blue lake, Lough Beagh, reflected the steep, green mountains that rise above it.

The 19th-century Glenveagh castle, located at the end of the walk, looks like something out of Beauty and the Beast. But it’s all beauty here, especially the castle’s carefully-tended gardens, where plants like dahlias and rhododendrons grow.

A seaside saunter on Cruit Island

Another County Donegal gem, Cruit Island (pronounced “Critch”) offers the hillwalker a chance to take a windswept, seaside walk and explore endless rocky coastlines, fields of wildflowers, and busy tidepools.

Only about 85 residents live on this four-

square-mile island, and their charming, thatched-roofed cottages are mostly built behind grassy dunes to protect them from the elements.

Although there aren’t any official trails on Cruit Island, per se, it’s easy to find

PHOTO

ROMRODINKA |

Some interesting travel developments

Over the weeks, I receive or see releases, promotions and news items that don’t warrant individual treatment in a column but might still be of use or interest to you.

FTC hearing on junk fees

Last month, the Federal Trade Commission posted a docket open for consumer comments on a possible ruling against “junk fees.” And even in the first days, it’s clear that the fees consumers resent the most are “resort,” “destination” and similar mandatory fees that hotels exclude from the rates they post initially but hit you for when you check out.

hotel rate look lower than it really is in price comparisons and advertisements.

For several years, the FTC has pussyfooted around this issue, but President Biden’s recent nudge about junk fees seems finally to give the issue some urgency.

Best ski deals

The folks at Home ToGo just posted a compilation of the “most affordable” ski destinations. The compilation rates designations by a combination of the costs of ski lift tickets and accommodations, per person in peak season.

stone, Montana; Whistler, BC, and Breckenridge, Colorado, also offer lift tickets at less than $100, but accommodation costs put totals at $236 to $314. Top total costs at Vail and Park City run $345 to $368.

Check the full report at hometogo.com /inspiration/ski-vacation.

TRAVEL TIPS

By Ed Perkins

Even now, however, the FTC seems to be more concerned with disclosure than outright prohibition. That’s misguided, because disclosure is not an adequate remedy for deception: Deceptive practices should be banned, not just disclosed.

Lift ticket prices are a straightforward basis of ranking, but accommodation costs are tough: Home ToGo is a vacation rental search system, so its accommodations cost figured for rentals and may not reflect relative costs for travelers who choose commercial accommodations.

Drink the tap water?

As I’ve covered previously, these fees are pure deception: devices to make a

Whether or not you agree, you can make your voice heard by uploading a comment at regulations.gov/docket/FTC2022-0069/comments.

The compilation found Mount Hood Meadows, Oregon; Gore Mountain, New York; Whistler, BC; Kimberly, BC, and Mission Ridge, Washington, to offer daily ski lift costs under $100 and total daily costs less than $150.

Among the most popular areas, Key-

ENTERPRISE RESIDENTIAL

MOST COMMUNITIES ARE 62 AND BETTER

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

The Greens at Hammonds Lane: 410-636-1141

Park View at Furnace Branch: 410-761-4150

Park View at Severna Park: 410-544-3411

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

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 Consul: 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 • 55 & Better

Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665

Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375

Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673

BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.)

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

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

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

Many travelers from the U.S. hesitate to drink tap water anywhere else and instead pay for expensive bottled water. And many residents of 37 countries with safe tap water still insist on ordering the bottled stuff at restaurants.

To help you decide whether to drink the tap water, the folks at the Family Vacation Guide compiled data from the CDC Travelers’ Health Destination Guides into a handy summary.

The takeaway is mostly what you’d expect: The list of the 53 countries where tap water is safe includes all of Western Europe plus the Baltics, Croatia, Czechia, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, but not in the other Balkans.

In Asia and the Pacific, tap water is okay in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea. In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Israel and the United Arab Emirates offer drinkable water, but not Egypt.

All of Africa is on the “don’t drink” list, as is all of South America except Chile, all of Central America except Costa Rica, and most Caribbean countries except Martinique.

Check the full listings and associated maps at thefamilyvacationguide.com/travel-guides/where-can-you-drink-tap-wateras-a-tourist.

Medical tourism

Many U.S. residents travel to other countries for big-ticket medical and dental procedures that aren’t covered by their medical insurance and that they could not afford at home.

A new release from HealthCare.com shows why. It compiled typical costs for a long list of common procedures in the U.S. along with their costs in Mexico, Thailand and Turkey — three of the most popular medical tourism destinations. Overall, Turkey fares best, with prices 39% to 92% less than U.S. costs, but Mexican and Thai prices are close behind.

Medical tourism involves a whole bunch of issues and risks, which I can’t begin to explore fully. And I can’t vouch for the provenance of HealthCare.com’s data. But if you’re at all interested, the tables and links at bit.ly/medicaltravelsites are a good place to start.

Email Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net or check out his website at rail-guru.com.

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

recognizable foot paths made by hillwalkers who have come before. They traverse stretches of heather and thistle — and many of the island’s 12 sandy beaches.

As I wandered about, I couldn’t help but wish I’d brought a picnic, an excuse to stay even longer to marvel at the foamy sea.

For a completely different kind of walking adventure, Cruit Island is also home to one of Ireland’s most scenic golf courses.

Rails to trails

The next day I woke up in a well-appointed room at the Sandhouse Hotel in Rossnowlagh, a dignified estate that overlooks the gray Atlantic Ocean. After a hearty breakfast in the hotel’s Glasshouse

BEACON BITS

Restaurant, I headed south to Achill Sound in County Mayo to check out the Great Western Greenway — Ireland’s version of a rail trail.

The Great Western Greenway — which follows the right-of-way of the old Midlands Great Western Railway — runs for 27 miles, from Achill Sound to the bustling village of Westport.

I opted to try about eight of those miles from Achill Sound to Mulranny, where I would reward myself with lunch. The paved trail offered gentle gradients and breathtaking views. Soaring cliffs towered above spongey peat bogs and sparkling estuaries.

While the Great Western Greenway is an ideal walking path, many choose to see it by bike. Clew Bay Bike Hire offers regular and e-bikes for those looking for more

wind in their hair.

At the end of the trail, Mulranny Park Hotel served up enough Irish food to keep me sated until my next journey to the Emerald Isle: brown bread, black pudding, and, of course, fish and chips.

If you go

Aer Lingus offers two daily direct flights from Dulles to Dublin — a breezy six-hour (or two-movie) trip.

On the way home, travelers will appreci-

ate Dublin International Airport’s U.S. preclearance facility, allowing all U.S.-bound passengers to clear immigration and customs prior to departure. Upon landing stateside, you’ll get to skip the passport line.

It’s a great perk, but do plan ahead; arrive at the airport three hours early to ensure enough time to make it through check-in, security and immigration control.

For more information about Ireland’s hillwalks, visit walkthemournes.com or hillwalktours.com.

Coming

LIVING IN THE PERFECT

Erickson

The Grandview

Woodleigh Chase

PICKWICK SINGERS

The Pickwick Singers will perform fun choral numbers in Dickensperiod clothing for the Christmas season. Their free concert takes place on Fri., Dec. 30 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors Center, 9900 Stoneybrook Dr., Kensington, MD. For more information, visit bit.ly/PickwickSingers.

MENTOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS

Volunteer your professional skills and make a meaningful connection with a small business owner. The schedule is flexible, and the commitment is as little as three hours a month for three months. For more information and to register, visit www.micromentor.org.

Along parts of the scenic Irish coast, sheep are more plentiful than people.

PHOTO BY NIKOLAUS BADER

You can’t always lie down in bed and sleep. Heartburn, cardiac problems, hip or back aches –and dozens of other ailments and worries. Those are the nights you’d give anything for a comfortable chair to sleep in: one that reclines to exactly the right degree, raises your feet and legs just where you want them, supports your head and shoulders properly, and operates at the touch of a button.

Our Perfect Sleep Chair® does all that and more. More than a chair or recliner, it’s designed to provide total comfort. Choose your preferred heat and massage settings, for hours of soothing relaxation. Reading or watching TV? Our chair’s recline technology allows you to pause the chair in an infinite number of settings. And best of all, it features a powerful lift mechanism that tilts the entire chair forward, making it easy to stand. You’ll love the other benefits, too. It helps with correct spinal alignment and promotes back pressure relief, to prevent back and muscle pain. The overstuffed, oversized biscuit style back and unique seat design

will cradle you in comfort. Generously filled, wide armrests provide enhanced arm support when sitting or reclining. It even has a battery backup in case of a power outage.

White glove delivery included in shipping charge. Professionals will deliver the chair to the exact spot in your home where you want it, unpack it, inspect it, test it, position it, and even carry the packaging away! You get your choice of Luxurious and Lasting Brisa, Genuine Italian Leather, stain and liquid repellent Duralux with the classic leather look, or plush MicroLux microfiber, all handcrafted in a variety of colors to fit any decor. Call now!

Fairy tales intersect in Into the Woods

By Mark Dreisonstok

Into the Woods, playing at Signature Theatre in Arlington and directed and choreographed by Mathew Gardiner, is an excellent production of the Stephen Sondheim musical. Running through January 29, 2023, it brings together four fairy tales: Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Rapunzel and Little Red Riding Hood, intertwining them in clever ways.

Act I presents more-or-less traditional renderings of these fairy tales, including some of the “grim” elements from the original Brothers Grimm tales (the source of three out of the four stories). These include the horrific blinding of Rapunzel’s prince and the mutilation of the feet and eyes of Cinderella’s wicked stepsisters.

Act II then explores how the fairy tales might move forward beyond the traditional “happily ever after” ending. Will Cinderella’s life as a princess run smoothly? Will Jack be punished for stealing the hen that lays the golden eggs and for killing the giant? This musical explores whether fairy tales really end so happily after all.

Set in an abandoned nursery

A striking feature of this production is the stage set and its props. Instead of representing the woods, the reimagined setting is, according to Signature’s informative program notes, … set in an abandoned Victorian nursery. Once it was a safe cocoon where a nurturing parent read fairy

tales to a young child before tucking them in at night. Now, all that is left are the ruins of the one-time home with swiftly growing weeds and broken treasures. However, the words once shared from those beloved stories hang in the air like ghostly apparitions from long ago — then our Narrator stumbles upon this forgotten world and awakens the stories. And we begin anew, once upon a time…

Signature Theatre’s splendid production of Into the Woods is enhanced by a 15piece orchestra conducted superbly by Jon Kalbfleish.

Lighting is used to great effect in the production, as when the stage is lit in red in the confrontation between Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf. The special effects used in the “Last Midnight” sequence are also impressive.

Strong comedic actors

The actors and actresses sing magnificently and are gifted in comedic timing, popping in and out, dashing across the stage and, of course, “into the woods.”

Maria Rizzo’s performance is particularly strong. While she usually plays Cinderella’s stepmother in the production, on a recent evening she played the witch, singing and presenting the delightfully terrifying as well as comic sides of the character.

Rizzo created a rare sense of empathy for the witch in her poignant song to Ra-

punzel (the beautifully voiced Simone Brown) entitled “Stay with Me.”

The Narrator/Mysterious Man is played by Christopher Bloch, who main-

tained a masterful presence throughout the play. Bloch’s role is especially impor-

These coffee table books make great gifts. See reviews on page 34.

The cast of Into the Woods weaves comedy, adventure and song at Signature Theatre in Arlington. The Stephen Sondheim musical runs through Jan. 29, 2023.

PHOTO BY DANIEL RADER

tant in this production, as it is he who finds the book of fairy tales in the dilapidated nursery.

Humor is provided by the two comically pompous princes — one smitten with Rapunzel (Paul Scanlon) and one in pursuit of

Cinderella (Vincent Kempski). The latter also does a wonderful turn as Little Red Riding Hood’s nemesis the Wolf, singing a traditional-style Broadway showtune, “Hello, Little Girl,” with panache.

Other excellent performances include Katie Mariko Murray as Cinderella, David Merino as Jack, Erin Weaver as the Baker’s Wife, and Jack Loewenthal as the

Violence, volume too intense for young children

In this holiday season in which parents will be searching for options and activities for children and grandchildren, the question arises whether this is good entertainment for the little ones.

While they will naturally be familiar with many of these stories, the intensity of this production of Into the Woods might not make it a good choice for young children. There are a number of violent scenes in the show, including one which caused the adult audience to gasp.

The scenes with the Wife of the Giant’s booming voice also include effects in which the whole theater vibrates, providing an experience that may be too intense for the very young.

All in all, however, this is fabulous enter-

tainment, succeeding in engaging the audience with well-known stories, but presenting these stories anew. The show introduces audiences to the original, often much rougher, versions of the Grimm fairy tales that are usually softened for today’s children.

This version allows the audience to ponder the haunting ethical meaning of these tales long after the show, with its wonderful music and performances, has ended.

Into the Woods runs until Jan. 29 at Signature Theatre, located in the Village of Shirlington at 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, Virginia.

Performances include weekend matinees at 2 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m.; and Sunday evenings at 7 p.m.

Ticket prices range from $30 to $109, and some performances require the audience to wear masks. For tickets, visit sigtheatre.org or call the box office at (703) 820-9771.

Baker. Phylicia Rashad, by way of recording, provides an excellent Voice of the Giant’s Wife.

David Robertson conducts Mackey, Barber & Bernstein

David Robertson conducts Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, a lively score featuring the musical’s most memorable moments—from shouts of “Mambo!” to the wistful final chords of “Somewhere.” Also on the program: Barber’s dreamy, nostalgic Knoxville – The Summer of 1915 featuring extraordinary soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha and Steven Mackey’s Mnemosyne’s Pool, dubbed “the first great American symphony of the 21st century” by Musical America

December 1–3 | Concert Hall

December 9 & 10 |

December Events

December 15–18 |

He’s often viewed as an older, heavily bearded Viennese maestro, but Brahms was once a dashing young man in love…with the wife of his mentor Robert Schumann! Feel the composer’s yearning as award-winning young dynamo Seong-Jin Cho performs Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1, written in the throes of forbidden love. Closing the program is a masterwork by Schumann himself: the “Rhenish” Symphony. Be moved by its free-flowing, euphoric depiction of Germany’s mightiest river.

January 12–14 | Concert Hall

DAVIDROBERTSONMASABANECECILIARANGWANASHA

CHRIS

LEE

Seong-Jin Cho plays Brahms Noseda conducts Schumann’s “Rhenish” Symphony

GIANANDREANOSEDASEONG-JINCHO

STEFANO

PASQUALETTI

CHRISTOPH KOESTLIN

THANKS TOOUR SPONSORS

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

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

Noseda Era Fund Supporters

Our sparkling holiday celebration returns with carols, sing-alongs, and more! Warm your spirit with fresh takes on comforting classics and sing-along favorites in the festively decorated Concert Hall! This year, the NSO welcomes Tony Award® winning actress and singer Laura Benanti—joined by her mother Linda Benanti— performing holiday hits like “Jingle Bell Rock,” Winter Wonderland,” “Santa Baby,” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” and so much more.

Concert Hall

Pops Presenting

Celebrated Baroque authority Fabio Biondi and four

make their NSO debuts at our joyous holiday tradition! Experience all of

redemption, and grace of Handel’s masterwork in the festively decorated Concert Hall as Biondi conducts an intimate performance of Messiah the way it was premiered in Dublin, 1742.

Concert Hall

De D cember ClbtdBthit FbiBidi

Gift books that take you round the globe

These lavishly illustrated travel books make great gifts:

Go Here Instead: The Alternative Travel List , by DK Eyewitness, 224 pages, DK Eyewitness Travel hardcover, 2022

Choose your itineraries with the input of 40 travel writers, editors and tour guides who can direct you to less crowded sites that replicate the experience of more congested destinations.

reserves, carnivals and festivals, hikes, scenic drives and railway journeys.

At least one site is recommended as an alternative to each well-known tourist magnet, while 26 of the listings offer two or more alternatives.

go Calatrava in Valencia, Spain, rather than the Sydney Opera House in Australia.

BIBLIOPHILE

The book’s 108 entries are organized by category: historic places, cities to visit, museums, architectural wonders, national parks and wilderness

By Dinah Rokach

Illustrated with more than 200 color photographs, the book includes suggested itineraries, how to get there and, if available, websites for research. You’ll also find tips on how to avoid crowds at popular tourist attractions.

See the Montevideo Carnival in Uruguay instead of Rio’s Carnival. Visit the opera house designed by Santia-

Sicily’s temples of Selinunte and Agrigento are surrounded by calm, spectacular sea views, and the experience is more serene than at the crowded Acropolis. Paris’ Notre Dame is closed for repairs, but France’s largest and tallest cathedral, Notre-Dame d’Amiens, is open; it’s just two hours from Paris.

DK Eyewitness Travel was voted top guidebook series in the 2020 Wanderlust Readers Travel Awards contest. Go Here Instead is a large-format book perfect for gift giving. It will be most appreciated by anyone compiling a bucket list.

Coastlines at the Water’s Edge, by Emily Nathan, 283 pages, Ten Speed Press hardcover, 2022

Dreaming of travel to beaches, seashores, islands and waterways around the globe?

This stunning coffee-table book weaves together three elements: a travel guide, lavish photography, and practical pointers on how to reverse man-made damage to oceans.

Find suggestions for hundreds of destinations that range from esoteric far-flung waters to more popular resorts here and abroad. The 250 breathtaking images by more than 100 photographers provide a dazzling armchair-travel experience.

Closest to home, read about Long Island, New York’s Greenpoint Hotel; Provincetown, Massachusetts; and Maine’s Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor and Nash Island.

Needless to say, the California-based author features many entries from the Golden State. These include: Morro Bay Estuary, Mt. Tamalpais State Park, Half Moon Bay, Timber Cove Resort, the Channel Islands and the Lost Coast.

Exotic destinations include Tahiti, Samoa, Tanzania, Malta, Greenland, Iceland, Senegal, Sri Lanka and Belize. However, there is no index of places. Coastlines at the Water’s Edge is meant to be read at your leisure.

Emily Nathan is a professional photographer who also creates travel experiences for her elite clientele.

In a serious vein, she describes environmental issues that plague coastlines such as the insidious effects of plastics, overtourism and rising seas. Nathan provides practical and specific actions that individuals can take to mitigate and reverse the damage.

Find places to research for future travel or just turn the pages and imagine the sound of the surf. This gift is a perfect antidote for the winter blues.

THE

Make way for younger folk? No, thank you

She’s 83 years old and still the dynamo she has always been.

She works full time. She volunteers for countless causes. She jogs three miles every morning.

She’s right there to care for her husband, her grandchildren, her pets, her petunias. She’s what all of us should hope we still are in our ninth decades.

Except for her attitude about making way for the next generation. She doesn’t think she should.

gotten out of our way when we were young, our careers would have been slower to develop, and might have been stymied completely.

A second argument: If the golden years are going to be golden, we can’t keep hammering away at tasks the way we once did. Those roses need to be smelled, don’t they?

hang up their cleats. But they hang on for as long as they can, to the point of embarrassment or past it, because they think that they’re exceptions.

The cringes this produces can be ugly.

A massive error on a computer that loses an entire month’s work (been there, done that).

A refusal to seek help on a project that leads to a major stumble (yup, more than once).

sibility, don’t we? Even if we don’t entirely vacate the stage, shouldn’t we begin to shuffle off so that younger people can see how hot the hot seat is and learn to adjust?

The world will go on without us. Shouldn’t we help prepare for that?

My friend wasn’t having it. “What you’re arguing,” she said, “is that young people deserve a shot simply because they’re taking up space.

HOW I SEE IT

By Bob Levey

We were debating this issue at a party recently, where she was — no surprise — the liveliest guest.

She was describing her latest research project. Midway through, she told me about a 30-something co-worker “who’s trying to eat my lunch.”

This young man “wants and expects me to move aside because I’m as old as his grandmother,” my friend said.

“But why should I do that? I have the credentials. I have the experience. I have the desire. He doesn’t have any of those.

“I think that any job should go to the best qualified person. And if you’ll excuse me, my 60 years of experience make me the best qualified person.”

I’ve run into much the same phenomenon myself, I told my friend. Much younger colleagues/competitors seem to treat me with respect. They hear me out. They credit what I say.

But they are also lurking in the weeds, waiting for me to forget someone’s name (guilty, sometimes) or to fumble a fact (guilty, more than sometimes).

Does that mean I should be put out to pasture, like some wayward colt? My friend says I should resist that with all my might. I’m torn about the question, and I told her so.

The easy counter-argument: If no one had

BEACON BITS

Dec. 22

A third: The older we get, the more likely it is that we will need to carve out time to care for an ailing spouse, or our own health woes. There are only 24 hours in a day.

And a fourth: Maybe, just maybe, we aren’t still as good as we think we are.

You’ve heard the old saw about athletes. They always say they’ll know when to

And the one that bites hardest, in many cases: The habit of sticking with old methods and old ideas, when newer ones are obviously needed (repeatedly guilty, your honor).

Now, I told my friend, I’d never argue that shinier is necessarily better. There’s a reason why Shakespeare is still studied, for example.

But we oldies have some social respon-

“What if they don’t have a good education? What if they haven’t learned how to work in groups?

“Where I come from, you earn your spurs, and you keep on earning them, for as long as you can.”

I had to agree with one aspect of what my friend was saying. She obviously loves her work. If she didn’t, she’d have fled it at

BIG BAND AT THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

Visit the Washington D.C. Temple Festival of Lights for a special free performance by The Northern Lights Dance Orchestra. Their dance music repertoire includes modern, foxtrot, waltz, Latin, funk and swing. This event takes place on Thu., Dec. 22 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 9900 Stoneybrook Dr., Kensington, MD. To reserve tickets, visit dctemple.org/event/northern-lights.

Coppercanstop ge e

a

g

rermsbeffoore e

r etheey y spre e

ad

Germs,suchasvirusesand

Germs, such as viruses and f bacteria, can multiply faast When unwanted germs get in your nose they can spread and r cause mise y unless you stop them early

people around her show signs o ed germs, she use morningandnight

morning and night da me last holi ayys,” “The kids had cru round and round, but

of f unwant es copper a “It savved she said. ud going t not me.”

f tried copper foor he am shocked!” she s head cleared, no m ache, no more conge A man with troub ingthroughhis nos per kills germs by touch.

In the last 20 years, hun of dreds f studies by govern ment and university scientists show the natural element cop per kills germs just bytouch

clared copper to be antimicrobial, which meansitkills microbes, including viruses, ndf bacteria, a fuungus a h of The NationalInstitutes f Health sayys, of t i “The antimicrobialact vi y f copper is a now well estabblished.”

r sinus. “I M said. “ y ore head estion.” a ble breatth a e at t night effoore bed.

AncientGreeks and Egyptiansused coppertopuriffyywaterandhealwounds

Naturaldeviceputsc r ndf elatives a frriends to t y ted the same thing, so he perZap® and put it on the of reds f peoplehad tried it. was99%positiveif they

copperrightwhereyoune

He asked r it. They report paattented Copp market.

eedit. copperto puri y waterand heal wounds.

a They didn’tknow abbout microbes, but now we do.

Scientistssay the high conductanceof copperdisrupts theelectricalbalancein a microbecellby touch and destroys it in seconds.

f Some hospitals tried copper foor touch f surfrfaaceslike faaucetsand doorknobs. This cutthespread ofMRSA, and otherilla f nesses, by over half and s ved lives.

inventor r Doug Cornell an idea. He made of om the bott f his nose.

a f The next timehe feelt ticklein his a f nose that feeltlikeacold abbout to start, he f l r ruubbed the copper gent y in his nose foor 60 seconds.

“Thecold nevergotgoing,”heexclaimed“ThatwasSeptemmbber2012I

claimed. Thatwas Septe r 2012. I r use copper in the nose eve y time and I d a haave not ha a single cold since then.”

Soon hundr f The feeedback

edback used the coppe a germs, like the nose or a throat.

Early use Pickrellsaid, believehow g f nose feeels.”

was 99% positiveif hey af er r within 3 hours ftter the ticklein scraattchy

r r Ma y “I can’t good m my y

“Whataw thing!”exclaim sician’s Assis lie. Anotherc asked, “Isit s f to work that fa a

ing through his nose tried copper just be he said. a n a I lab b test, te

f CopperZaapp. No viruses were fo o f oon a aftter.

Somepeoplepress copper f a a ight awway y i a warning tingle unwantedgermsgatheringthere

C s r u

unwanted germs gathering there ur Thehandleis c rvved and te increasecontact. can killgerms pick

touch things othe haavve touched.

echnicians i ound al ve on a lip e suggests e extured to Copper ked up on er people

wonderffuul

PatMcAlli Christmas and presentsever. works.”

a PA The EPA sayys c worrkks even when t Made in Am purecopper90 med PhytantJucustomer supposed st?”

Dr.BillKeevil:C quicklykillsvir

f ister, 70, received one foor of dcalled it “one f the best Thislittlejewelreally

pure copper. 90 money back g

opper still tarnished. merica of y f da a fuull guarantee.

f da a tical, shetried copperon travvel ayys foor

Copper ruses.

c a h

each CopperZap w MDSB9 www.CopperZa f call toll-frree 1-888-411-6114. not ntSttaateme ts s herein are t t rpr nt dnot and shoul t be i teerpreeteed a not healtth h claimsandhave t been

claims, and have N FD t ed by thhe FDDA A Noot claimed to nt at t trre t, , cure, or preve t any disea

with code ap.com or intended as product n evaluat diagnose, ase

“WWe e don’t claims,”he said bial.”

( (ppa

a t makke product health a d, “so I can’t say y causeand

Crossword

Conclusions

Stephen Sherr

ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick Detorie Bob Levey

From page 35

the first opportunity.

“We’ve both known dozens of people who were mid-career and could always tell you how many months/weeks/days/ hours they had left until they could retire,” I said.

“That’s not me,” she replied.

“And we’ve both known people who retire and then say, ‘Now I can do what I always wanted to do.’”

“Not me,” she replied.

“And we’ve both known people who think that going to work is like going to the dentist. Painful drudgery.”

“Not me,” she replied.

I decided to fold my hand. This woman is so full of beans that she’ll outlast everyone within 300 miles.

She is the exception that proves the rule. As long as she can “bring it,” she should keep doing that.

If the rest of us can’t measure up, no shame in that. But let’s salute one woman who thinks she’s as good as ever, and keeps on trucking to prove it.

Bob Levey is a national award-winning columnist.

Bibliophile

From page 34

You Are Here: Hikes: The Most Scenic Spots on Earth, edited by Geoff Blackwell & Ruth Hobday, 209 pages, Chronicle Books hardcover, 2022

Be enchanted by photographs of more than 70 hiking vistas in 33 countries, including Argentina, Serbia, Montenegro, Lesotho, Indonesia and Namibia.

Eighteen of the vistas are in the U.S. The view closest to home is on the Appalachian Trail at Cosby, Tennessee. Most of the panoramic views include a solo hiker, the better to contrast with the aweinspiring scenery.

Ruth Hobday and Geoff Blackwell, founders of a New Zealand-based media firm, compiled the images taken by more than 60 photographers. Hikes is the size of a tourist guidebook. The text at the bottom of each photograph identifies its name, location, geographic coordinates, the pho-

BITS

ACOUSTIC CAFÉ

tographer and Instagram handle. There is no additional copy because the views speak for themselves.

The book is printed with soy vegetable inks on material certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Give a gift friendly to the environment and stunning to behold.

Visit the Walter Reed Community Center to enjoy the vibe of a 1960s coffee house and hear live performances by local musicians. The next show takes place on Tue., Dec. 20 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at 2909 16th St. S, Arlington, VA. For more information, email registration@arlingtonva.us or call (703) 228-0935.

TEACH UKRAINIANS ENGLISH ONLINE

ENGin pairs you up with a Ukrainian student to video chat each week at times convenient for you. They match students and volunteers based on interests and schedules. All students have a basic knowledge of English. Volunteers commit to at least one hour per week. For more information, email info@enginprogram.org or visit enginprogram.org.

The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Obituaries; Personals; Person al Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on page 39.

CAVEAT EMPTOR!

The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not in vestigate any advertisers or their prod ucts 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 dis crimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

FT IN-PERSON RN/ individual pursuing Bachelor-level degree in Nursing to assist medical practice in Potomac. Duties include assisting physician in clinical management of patients, design/implementation of research protocols, including patient acquisition, processing and postresearch analysis. Successful candidate will have experience in pediatric neurogenic bladder/bowels, hydrocephalus, and demonstrated knowledge/expertise in Cortical Visual Impairment. Minimum 2 yrs experience with neurological pediatric case management. Candidate must be fluent in English, and one of the following languages: Portuguese, Italian, German. Salary commensurate with experience. Send CV and salary needs to braincareclinic@gmail.com

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

NATIONAL MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY. 4 Choice Sites in Desirable Block DD, Regularly $7995/ea. SALE: $2995/each, or best offer Contact 917-754-3355.

NATIONAL MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY. 3 choice sites CC 85-87 Reg $8495 each, sale $4995 each. All 3 $ 12,995 OBO Contact Eddie 540-645-1845 or Emahoney@gmail.com

PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES

TODAY with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Money Down + Low Monthly Payment Options. Request a FREE Quote. Call now before the next power outage: 1-866-964-8106.

25 HESS TOY TRUCKS new in original box. $800 703 941 5930

I AM SELLING A BURIAL PLOT #5164 at Fort Lincoln Garden of Reflection price asking for $7,000 or best offer. Please contact me at 202 766 1165 for the burial plot at Fort Lincoln Cemetery.

VIVINT. SMART SECURITY. Professionally installed. One connected system for total peace of mind. FREE professional installation! Four FREE months of monitoring! Call now to customize your system. 1-844-758-7925.

SLOWING DOWN AFTER 40 YEARS OF CONTRACTING. Small to medium jobs mainly residential but will do some commercial. Will work all over DC area. $42.50 an hour from arrival on job. Andy 703-906-5429.

THE BATHROOM OF YOUR DREAMS for as little as $149/month! BCI Bath & Shower. Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Limited Time Offer - FREE virtual in-home consultation now and SAVE 15%! Call Today! 1-855-653-0087.

LIQUIDATING AN ESTATE OR DOWNSIZING? Doing it yourself? DON’T THROW YOUR MONEY AWAY! Our specialists know the current trends in today’s market! Our easy process determines what to keep, gift, sell, donate, or discard. Services include: estate liquidation, downsizing, junk removal, estate sales, and consignment of collectibles. We buy estates, vehicles, and real estate. Call/text Philip 301-219-3600 DownsizingSpecialists.com. One person’s trash is another’s treasure, and we know the difference!

THE GENERAC PWRCELL, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-866-944-0699

I BUY OLD GUNS (Military/Civilian) and MILITARY MEDALS, uniforms, insignia, swords, models, gear, & books from all time periods. I have a Federal Firearms License to legally purchase firearms. Trusted for over 30 years in the DC area. I am located in Silver Spring, MD and will travel. I also buy West Point & Naval Academy memorabilia. Testimonials from veterans and their families on my website: www.midatlanticmilitaryantiques.com Call or email Tim Frank 703-447-7243 historian1975@gmail.com CASH FOR JEWELRY: Buying jewelry, diamonds, gold, platinum, silver, watches, coins, flatware, etc. Ask for Tom. Call anytime, 301654-8678 (Reg. 883).

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

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

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

MOBILEHELP, America’s Premier Mobile Medical Alert System. Whether You’re Home or Away. For Safety and Peace of Mind. No Long Term Contracts! Free Brochure! Call Today! 1240-650-9189.

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.

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-844-366-1003 www.dental50plus.com/320 #6258.

STROKE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening. Special offer - 5 screenings for just $149. Call 1-844-485-7035.

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

ADULT BEGINNER PIANO LESSONS. Learn to play classical and popular pieces by ear and from music. Classically trained teacher with 40 years’ experience. Price: $40/60 min. Home studio, 2 blocks from Cleveland Park Metro Station, DC. Call or text Neil, 202-669-2962.

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

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

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

A HOME HEALTHCARE- Experienced nurses, CNA, GNA are available 24/7. Cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping, driving. Full/Part-time or live-in care. 15 years’ experience. 2405336599)

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

PROBLEM WITH YOUR PC/MAC OR NETWORK? Computer Systems Engineer will come to you with help. Call David G. at: 301-6424526. Or 301-328-2112

SAFE STEP. North America’s #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-866-478-2363.

DON’T LET THE STAIRS LIMIT YOUR MOBILITY! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-866-3655170.

CERTIFIED AGING IN PLACE SPECIALIST with over 10 years in interior design here to guide you in the best ways to modify your home to safely and comfortably age in place so you may thrive where you live. Allyson 301-996-6199

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

BOOK, CD OR DVD COLLECTIONS WANTED. House calls possible. Call Nelson at 240 472 615.

WESLEY FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts. Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 855-626-8703.

UP TO $15,000.00 OF GUARANTEED

LIFE INSURANCE! No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses. Call Physicians Life Insurance Company - 866-212-1092 or visit www.Life55plus.info/beacon

EARN 15% ANNUALLY OR 3.5% QUARTERLY while owning gold bars. Substantial Quarterly/ Annual Income with Gold as the Asset. Build an additional safe retirement income. Call 301-4522444 or http://imxgoldtrading.com

HOME MOBILITY EQUIPMENT SALES, SERVICE & REPAIR! One Step Mobility Can Help You With Your Home Mobility Needs 24/7: Stair Lifts, Power Chairs, Scooters, Ramps & More. Please call 301-767-5070 or visit: onestepmobility.com

NEW LOOK SYSTEMS — 301-750-4432 Complete Home Repair Service: Carpentry - PaintingDrywall - Tile - Bathroom & Kitchen RemodelingWindows & Door Repair & Installation - Electrical & Plumbing Repairs - Fixtures - LightingHandyman Service. Exterior Restoration & Solutions: Deck Repairs & Restoration - Exterior Painting with Lifetime Coatings - Roofing, Siding, Gutter Repair - Water Damage - Wood Rot, Flashing & PVC Trim - Insulation, Drainage & Sump Pumps - Sidewalk Repair - Ramps. Tim Bussey Owner Operator: MHIC:41207 - INSUREDREFERENCES. Serving Northern Montgomery County. NEWLOOKSYSTEMS@yahoo.com - 301750-4432.

DIRECTV for $79.99/mo for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Watch your favorite live sports, news & entertainment anywhere. First 3 months of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and Epix included! Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) Some restrictions apply. Call 1-888-572-4953. DISH NETWORK. $64.99 for 190 Channels! Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo. (where available.) Switch & Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. Call today! 1844-560-5837.

CASH FOR ESTATES; I buy a wide range of items; jewelry, silver, art, rugs, furniture, cultural items, collections, etc. Buy out/clean up. I have trucks, a crew & insurance. Website; theatticllc.com. Gary Roman; 301-520-0755

Employment/ Volunteers

JCA 50+ Employment Expos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

JCA Career Gateway . . . . . .23

Seniors Helping Seniors . . . .6

Funeral Services

Going Home Cremation . . .26

Home Health Care/Companion Services

Best Senior Care . . . . . . . . .14

Radiocw Health Care . . . . .13

Seniors Helping Seniors . . . .6

Housing

Ashby Ponds/Erickson . . .1, 4

Backyard Homes . . . . . . . . . .9

Brightview Senior Living . . .9

Brooke Grove Retirement Village . . . . . . . . . . . . .8, 40

Cadence Living Olney . . . . .7

Charles E. Smith Life Communities . . . . . . . . . .13

Chesterbrook Residences . . .6

Chevy Chase House . . . . . .26

Churchill Senior Living . . .12

Covenant Village . . . . . . . . .17

Culpepper Garden . . . . . . . .11

Emerson House . . . . . . . . . .17

Falcons Landing . . . . . . . . . 11

Grandview, The/Erickson . .29

Greenspring/Erickson . . . .1, 4

Harmony Senior Living . . .15

Homecrest House . . . . . . . .10

Homewood at Frederick . . .27

Knollwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Landing of Silver Spring, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Lockwood House . . . . . . . .17

Park View Apartments . . . .28

Riderwood/Erickson . . . . .1, 4

Ring House . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

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

Tribute at the Glen . . . . . . . .7

Vida Senior Residences . . .17

Woodleigh Chase/ Erickson . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Legal Services/ Notices

College Park Housing Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Farr Law Firm . . . . . . . . . . .21

Law Offices of Nancy Feldman . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

All classified ads must be submitted and paid for online, via our website, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds

Deadlines and Payments: To appear in the next issue, your ad text and payment must be entered by the 5th of the preceding month (for Baltimore and Howard County editions); by the 20th (for Washington edition).

Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad:

• $25 for 1-250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length). The website will calculate this amount for you.

Note: Maryland contractors must provide a valid MHIC number.

• Each real estate listing qualifies as one ad. • All ads are subject to publisher’s discretion. Payment will be refunded if unacceptable for any reason. To

Law Offices of Paul Riekhof . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Medical/Health

CopperZap . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Judy Oh, DDS . . . . . . . . . . .14

Medical Eye Center . . . . . . .8

Mobility City . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Silver Spring Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Stephen Friedman, DDS . . .16

Memory Care

Brightview Senior Living . . .9

Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . .8, 40

Tribute at the Glen . . . . . . . .7

Retail

Perfect Sleep Chair . . . . . . .30

Senior Resources

DC Living Boldly Newsletter . . . . . . . . .18-19

Jewish Council for the Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Montgomery County Age-Friendly Newsletter .22

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

Montgomery County SHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation

Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . .8, 40 ProMedica . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Subscriptions

Beacon Newspapers . . . . . .37

Theatre/ Entertainment

F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre . . . . . . . . . . .31, 32

Kennedy Center, The . . . . .33

Senior Zone Radio Show . .34

Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . .32

Transportation/ Travel

Montgomery County

Transit/Ride-On . . . . . . . . .12

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

Utilities

Montgomery County Home Energy Program . . . . . . .16

Pepco DC Plug . . . . . . . . . .24

Pepco Storm Prep . . . . . . . .20

TIS THE SEASON FOR Warmth & Cheer

Assisted Living at Brooke Grove offers comforts that feel like home along with a vibrant lifestyle that encourages residents to remain physically and socially active throughout the cold winter months.

OUR AMENITIES

Private rooms filled with natural light from over-sized windows and skylights

Live-in pets

Secure courtyards and walking paths 24-hour on-site clinical support from licensed and caring nurses

Warm, friendly staff members to assist with the activities of daily life

MEMORY SUPPORT PROGRAM

For residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia, we offer a special assisted living option with:

Specially trained memory support staff

An interactive lifestyle that maximizes choice and independence Tailored LIFE enrichment programming that connects each resident to his or her past Pianos, fireplaces, and game and craft rooms promote invaluable social experiences that stimulate memory

18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 301-637-8928 www.bgf.org