December 2023 | DC Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

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LEISURE & TRAVEL

Rick Steves on Portugal’s hidden treasures; plus, take a mystery trip or send one to a friend, and how to opt out of unnecessary fees page 26

Murray Horwitz, host of “The Big Broadcast” each Sunday night on WAMU, is well known for the Tony-award-winning Broadway musical he co-wrote about the life of Fats Waller, Ain’t Misbehavin’.

gia show.” That is, its listeners tuned in because they remembered the programs from their earlier years. “Now,” Horwitz said, “there are relatively few” who tune into the programs for old times’ sake. That’s because current listeners are much younger. In fact, some might be confused by sound effects in the old programs, such as

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the plink of coins being dropped into a pay phone or the whir of a rotary telephone. Last fall, Horwitz presented his annual airing of “The War of the Worlds,” the program featuring Orson Welles that first aired 85 years ago. See BROADCASTER, page 14

ARTS & STYLE

Volunteers power model train display; plus, Ragtime at Signature Theatre, and Bob Levey on the power of cash page 30

FITNESS & HEALTH 4 k Detecting “silent” heart attacks k Ways to overcome loneliness LIVING BOLDLY 18 k Newsletter for D.C. residents

ASHBY PONDS Ashburn, VA GREENSPRING Springfield, VA RIDERWOOD Silver Spring, MD 964563_SB

It was started, Horwitz said, “as a nostal-

PHOTO COURTESY OF WAMU

Not only nostalgia

DECEMBER 2023

PHOTO BY RICK STEVES

From circus to Broadway to jazz By Robert Friedman In the beginning, at the age of 20, “The Big Broadcast” emcee Murray Horwitz spent three years as a circus clown. No, Horwitz didn’t run away from home to join the circus. During his senior year at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, while majoring in English and drama, Horwitz won a spot in a five-week Ringling Brothers circus course and convinced the school and his parents to let him train in Venice, Florida. After graduation, he started working as a clown. “I wasn’t very funny at first,” Horwitz admitted in a recent interview with the Beacon. “But as time went on, I was very lucky to discover who I was — that my essential nature was to offer a public service, to bring laughter.” After three seasons, Horwitz left the circus, moved to New York, and eventually went on to win a Tony for co-writing the hit Broadway musical Ain’t Misbehavin’. Now 74, Horwitz hosts the weekly radio show “The Big Broadcast” on WAMU 88.5, which airs classic radio programs like “Gunsmoke,” “Dragnet” and “The Jack Benny Show.” Horwitz’s listeners tune in every Sunday night from 7 to 11 p.m. to participate in what has been called the “theater of the mind.” As he puts it, the listener of old-time radio shows “provides the lighting, designs the set — even does the casting by ‘seeing’ what the actors look like.” “The Big Broadcast” took to the WAMU airwaves in 1964 and is the station’s longest-running show. Horwitz, its third longtime host, took the reins in 2016.

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

A time for thanks I want to thank the thousands of Beacon for putting together these fantastic readers and their guests who attended our events, and also want to thank our gold sponsors: AARP Virginia and two 50+Expos in October. Brandywine Living at PoI think those who came will tomac. We so appreciated agree that it was wonderful to Giant Pharmacy for providbe together with other peoing a variety of vaccines and ple, and simply to be out and health screenings, and the about on a beautiful day, visitPrevention of Blindness Soing the informative exhibits, ciety for offering glaucoma getting essential vaccines and tests. health screenings, and enjoyIf you were unable to hear ing a fun, public event. my interview of Tony Perkins I was especially happy to FROM THE of NBC News4 Today and see so many familiar faces PUBLISHER MAJIC 102.3, we have posted and get a chance to speak By Stuart P. Rosenthal a video of it on our website at with you, catch up on your lives, and hear your views on the issues of www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/50expos. We are already making plans for next the day. Of course, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit fall’s Expos, and intend for them to be even that one of the best parts was hearing all bigger and better than this year’s. I hope the glowing compliments people shared to see all of this year’s attendees again with me about the Beacon, our writers, our next year, and many more of you who were sales staff and the events themselves. I not able to attend this year. was floating out the door at the end of both Writing awards Expos. I also want to share with you the kudos Our exhibitors were equally happy with the event and with meeting so many active the Beacon received in the 2023 Mature older adults who were sincerely interested Media Awards competition, which “honor in the housing communities, health the nation’s best materials and programs providers, financial and legal advisors, for older adults.” recreation and travel opportunities, and The Beacon won both a Silver and a Merit government and nonprofit agencies that award in the Newsletter/Newspaper categoparticipated. ry. (The other Silver winners were both I want to thank our hard-working staff AARP publications.)

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The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Washington DC area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Greater Baltimore 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. Publisher/Editor – Stuart P. Rosenthal President/Associate Publisher – Judith K. Rosenthal Executive Vice President – Gordon Hasenei Managing Editor – Margaret Foster Art Director – Kyle Gregory Vice President of Operations – Roger King Advertising Representatives – Dan Kelly, M.K. Phillips, Alan Spiegel Marketing & Operations Manager – Ashley Griffin Assistant Editor – Ana Preger Hart Editorial Intern – Margaret Scala

The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (301) 949-9766 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com Website: www.theBeaconNewspapers.com Submissions: The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 10th of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 15th of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 39 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions.

We also won numerous awards in the annual journalism competition of the North American Mature Publishers Association. Once again, we won “Best of Show” and first place for “General Excellence” and “Special Section” (for our quarterly Housing and Homecare Options pullout), as well as individual writing awards for selected features, profiles, arts reviews, travel stories, topical issue columns, editorials and personal essays. Staff writers and freelancers so honored include: Catherine Brown, Dan Collins, Mark Dreisonstok, Glenda Booth, Bob Levey, and yours truly. 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 Congratulations to Mrs. Phyllis T. Sipes of of our staff, who work so dili- Halethorpe, Maryland, whose response to a gently to produce multiple edi- national reader survey placed in our April issue by the North American Mature Publishers Association tions of the Beacon ever y was randomly selected as the winner of a $500 month. gift card. She said she loves to read the Baltimore I’d like to thank them by Beacon, which she picks up each month at the name: Executive Vice Presi- Lansdowne Senior Center. Sipes said she’s been dent Gordon Hasenei; Art reading the Beacon for 12 years, that our Fitness Director Kyle Gregory; Man- & Health section is her favorite part, but that she loves to read it “cover to cover…It’s just perfect.” aging Editor Margaret Fos- Thank you, Mrs. Sipes, and congratulations on ter; Assistant Editor Ana your prize. Preger Har t; Adver tising The Beacon would not exist without all Representatives Dan Kelly, Steve Levin, M.K. Phillips and Alan Spiegel; Market- of their efforts, nor without you who read ing & Operations Manager Ashley Griffin our publications each month. I offer my and, of course, my wife, the Beacon’s Pres- sincere appreciation to each of you. Wishing you and yours a happy and ident and Associate Publisher, Judy healthy holiday season and new year! Rosenthal. We also are thrilled to welcome back our former Director of Operations, Roger King, who returned this year to become our Vice President of Operations.

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: I enjoyed reading your cover story about teaching prisoners [“A second chance behind bars,” November 2023]. You open the mind of readers with hope for those who have been crushed but made whole again. Margaret McDermott Silver Spring, MD Dear Editor: I just wanted to drop you a line to let you know that our ad looking for alumni to help maintain the Western High School Alumni Association worked, and the Association will continue under new management. Thanks for your assistance. We invite any other Beacon readers who are alumni of Western High School to join us. Jorge M. Castrogiovanni Western High School Alumni Assn.

Dear Editor: My friend star ted tr ying dif ferent Alzheimer’s medications four years ago at the age of 69. He continued to slide downwards until a year ago, when the doctor told us that there are no more new drugs to try. Without outside influence, he started improving. He started thanking me for taking him around and feeding him, for example. I would estimate that after dropping medications, he went from [the speaking skills of] a 3-year-old to a 6-year-old. Ed Hsu Gaithersburg, MD Dear Editor: [In reference to our November article “Leave leaves on yards to aid biodiversity”] See LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, page 35

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DON’T BE LONELY Take classes, volunteer, join a club or meet with friends this holiday season

Health Fitness &

ANYTIME, ANYWHERE Try to exercise at least 2.5 hours per week, whenever works best for you EYEDROP RECALL Check your medicine cabinet for potentially dangerous eyedrops DEALING WITH DEMENTIA Learn about the best ways to communicate with dementia patients

Know the signs of a ‘silent’ heart attack By Julie Corliss Most people don’t know that you can have a heart attack without realizing it. In fact, these so-called silent heart attacks account for an estimated 30% to 60% of all heart attacks. Recognizing and responding to a silent heart attack is important, as it can be a harbinger of a more serious, potentially deadly heart attack. “Heart attacks can be silent for a variety of reasons,” said cardiologist Dr. Peter Stone, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Just like a regular heart attack, a silent one occurs when the heart muscle doesn’t receive enough blood — usually when a clot blocks blood flow inside a narrowed heart artery.

The quality, duration and intensity of the resulting pain can vary quite a bit. Some people describe the sensation as a dull ache or crushing pressure, which may be mild or short-lived and, therefore, unnoticed or ignored. Typically, the reduced blood flow must last about 15 to 30 minutes to result in a detectable heart attack (that is, part of the heart muscle becomes damaged or dies). Sometimes, symptoms come and go, which doctors refer to as stuttering symptoms. “When a clot obstructs an artery, the body’s natural clot-busting process is instantly set in motion,” Stone explained. If the clot dissolves, symptoms may abate — but then return if the clot-forming forces win.

Radiating and referred pain Various quirks related to pain perception may also play a role in a heart attack going unrecognized. “People often think the discomfort has to be on the left side of the chest because that’s where the heart is located,” Stone said. But nerves within the heart can send signals to the surrounding nerves, causing pain that may radiate to the stomach, back, neck, arm or jaw. For example, if an artery blockage occurs near the bottom of the heart, it may affect nerves in the diaphragm — the muscular membrane that separates the chest from the abdominal cavity. This can be perceived as abdominal discomfort or nausea. Or people may experience shoulder

pain, a classic example of referred pain. This phenomenon — when pain is felt in a location other than the actual source — happens because of overlaps in the network of nerves in the spinal cord.

Mistaken attributions Problems with the lungs and the esophagus are sometimes mistaken for a heart attack, but the opposite can also occur. Sometimes, people assume their chest pain is caused by a respiratory infection or other lung disease when they’re actually having a heart attack. Another possible misattribution is heartburn, which happens when stomach See HEART ATTACKS, page 5

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Varied heart attack symptoms During a heart attack, about threequarters of both men and women experience the classic symptom of chest discomfort that spreads through the upper body. But some people experience other symptoms. These less-common symptoms might be slightly more frequent in women and in older people, but they can also happen in men and younger people. Classic symptoms: • Pressure, aching or tightness in

the center of the chest • Pain or discomfort that radiates to the upper body, especially shoulders or neck and arms • Sweating Other symptoms: • Shortness of breath • Weakness • Nausea or vomiting • Dizziness • Back or jaw pain • Unexplained fatigue

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Heart muscle damage from a heart attack creates a distinct signature on an electrocardiogram (ECG), a recording of the heart’s electrical activity. A heart ultrasound (echocardiogram) can also detect a prior heart attack. If either test suggests heart damage, it should be a wake-up call to prioritize efforts to avoid more damage. Follow healthy lifestyle habits (and take medications, if necessary) to make sure your weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar are within normal ranges. © 2023 by Harvard University

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Who can benefit from a cochlear implant? By Joseph Breen, M.D. Dear Mayo Clinic: I’m 70 years old and have worn hearing aids for about a decade. Over the past several years, my hearing seems to be getting worse. Although I have tried several different kinds of hearing aids, I feel as if they are not effective any longer. A friend suggested I ask an audiologist about cochlear implants. I thought those were just for people who are deaf. Could a cochlear implant help someone like me? How does it work? A: A cochlear implant could be a good alternative to hearing aids in your situation. It’s true that when they were introduced in the 1980s, cochlear implants mainly were used for people who had complete hearing loss. Today, however, they often are used to help people who have more advanced hearing loss that cannot be cor-

rected with hearing aids. Our ears have three areas: the outer, middle and inner ear. Sound waves pass through the outer ear and cause the eardrum to vibrate. The eardrum and three small bones of the middle ear transmit the vibrations as they travel to the inner ear. Within the inner ear, the vibrations pass through fluid in a snail-shaped structure, called the cochlea. Inside the cochlea are thousands of tiny sensors, called hair cells, that turn the vibrations into electrical signals that are sent to your brain through your auditory nerve. The vibrations of different sounds affect these tiny hairs in different ways, causing the nerve cells to send different signals to your brain. That’s how you distinguish one sound from another. In most people who develop hearing loss, the hair cells in the cochlea are dam-

aged or missing, usually due to aging, exposure to loud noise, or for genetic reasons. That means the electrical signals can’t be transmitted efficiently to the brain, and the result is hearing loss. A cochlear implant replaces the function of the hair cells by sending electrical signals directly to the hearing nerve and giving the brain the ability to perceive sound once again.

Simple outpatient procedure How cochlear implants work The implant has two main pieces: an external processor that fits behind your ear and an internal receiver implanted under the skin behind your ear. The processor captures and processes sound signals and then sends those signals to the receiver. The receiver sends the signals to tiny electrodes that are placed directly into the cochlea when the device is implanted.

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Those signals are received by the auditory nerve and directed to your brain, and your brain interprets those signals as sound. All parts of a cochlear implant are small, and the processor that fits behind your ear looks similar to a hearing aid. Because of the small size of these devices, they are relatively inconspicuous, particularly for people with long hair.

Cochlear implantation requires a consultation with an otolaryngology surgeon who would perform a relatively short outpatient surgical procedure. A small incision is made behind the ear to insert the device. Most people experience little discomfort from the surgery, and its overall risk is low. Once a patient has had a chance to heal — usually several weeks after surgery — an audiologist connects the processor to the implant for the first time. The patient should be able to hear immediately, but many cochlear implant users report that they needed to adjust to the sounds that they hear with their implant. This adjustment process often takes at least six months, with many patients reporting that the sound quality and their ability to understand speech continue to improve for a year or more. Cochlear implants are a well-established technology. At first, physicians and researchers only recommended them for people who had total hearing loss. Over the years, though, research has shown that cochlear implants can be useful for people who still have some hearing or who have useful hearing in only one ear. They can be particularly helpful for people who have difficulty understanding speech in everyday listening situations, despite using good hearing aids. Talk to a healthcare professional who specializes in hearing loss to find out if you would be a good candidate for a cochlear implant. Most people who receive a cochlear implant find that they can communicate better with the people around them, and more fully participate in conversations and other daily activities that require the ability to hear clearly. Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. Email a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org. © 2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Feeling lonely? You’re not alone in that! Here are some ways to move beyond it By Julie Corliss That old Hank Williams song “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” evokes the wistful sadness of loneliness that everyone feels at times. But this emotion is far more prevalent — and potentially detrimental to heart health — than most people recognize. Earlier this year, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released an 82-page advisory about the country’s epidemic of loneliness, which he called an underappreciated health crisis. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, about half of adults reported feeling lonely. Being lonely or socially isolated has been linked to a 29% higher risk of heart disease and a 32% higher risk of stroke. In terms of mortality, the repercussions are similar to smoking up to 15 cigarettes per day — and are even greater than the risks associated with obesity and physical inactivity, according to the report. The underlying mechanism is believed to be similar to what happens when people feel depressed or stressed. Nervous system changes activate hormones that boost blood pressure and trigger an outpouring of inflammatory substances in the blood that lead to a buildup of fatty plaque inside arteries.

Social connections are key Social isolation and loneliness certainly increased during the pandemic, but this trend had a small silver lining: a heightened awareness and appreciation of the importance of human connection. “Covid’s consequences sharpened our focus on loneliness, and the isolation we felt was a reminder of how precious it is to see people in person,” said Dr. Jacqueline Olds, a psychiatrist at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital and the co-author of two books on loneliness. Not only did people long to see their friends and families, but they also missed small everyday interactions with neighbors, their mail carrier, and people at their local coffee shop. Loneliness tends to be more common in older people, especially those who are widowed or divorced. The winter holidays sometimes heighten feelings of loneliness, Dr. Olds noted. “People often imagine idealized holiday scenes with lots of happy faces around the table,” she said. Seeing photos on social media sites of people having fun can also exacerbate feelings of isolation. But keep in mind that these curated images aren’t

the everyday reality for most people.

Simple steps to take Initiating and keeping social plans can be challenging, especially if you live alone, Dr. Olds acknowledged. “It’s true that it’s much harder to do things by yourself, but it’s not impossible,” she said. Maybe you feel a little shy or anxious, or

you’re concerned about issues like coping with unpredictable weather, traffic or staying out too late. Try to push yourself outside your comfort zone, and know that you’ll be fine if you get a little wet in the rain or don’t wear the right shoes, she added. Start by reconnecting with an old friend or See LONELINESS, page 9

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Ways to overcome heartburn discomfort Dear Savvy Senior, Heartburn symptoms show up in a variIs regular heartburn or acid reflux ety of ways: as a burning pain behind the anything to worr y about? I breastbone, indigestion, chew a lot of Rolaids throughor a sour or burning taste out the day to help manage it, in the back of the throat. but it’s gotten worse with age Other symptoms may inand keeps me up at night, too. clude chest pain, exces—Belching Bob sive belching, a long-term Dear Bob, cough, sore throat or Almost everyone experiences hoarseness. heartburn or acid reflux from time If you’re plagued by to time, but frequent episodes can heartburn two or more signal a much more serious probtimes a week, and it’s not lem. It’s estimated that more than SAVVY SENIOR responding well to over60 million Americans experience By Jim Miller the-counter antacids, you heartburn at least once a month, need to see your doctor, with around 15 million people who suffer who may refer you to a gastroenterologist. from it daily. Frequent bouts may mean you have gas-

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troesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, which can severely irritate and damage the lining of your esophagus, putting you at risk of Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer if it’s not treated.

Lifestyle adjustments Depending on the frequency and severity of your heartburn, there are a number of lifestyle adjustments you can make that can provide relief and avoid a more serious problem down the road. These include: • Avoid trigger foods: Some foods can trigger heartburn symptoms, including citrus fruits, tomatoes, fatty foods, chocolate, garlic, onions, spicy foods, mints, alcohol, coffee and sodas. You should keep a food diary to track which foods cause you the most problems and avoid them. • Eat smaller, slower and earlier: Smaller portions at mealtime and eating more slowly can help reduce heartburn symptoms. You should also wait at least three hours after eating before lying down or going to bed. • Lose weight: Having excess weight around the midsection puts pressure on the abdomen, pushing up the stomach and causing acid to back up into the esophagus. • Quit smoking: Smoking can increase stomach acid and weaken the valve that

prevents acid from entering the esophagus. • Sleep elevated: To help keep the acid down while sleeping, get a wedge-shaped pillow to prop yourself up a few inches. If that’s not enough, try elevating the head of your bed six to eight inches by placing blocks under the bedposts or inserting a wedge between your mattress and box spring. Wedges are available at drugstores and medical supply stores. Sleeping on your left side may also help keep the acid down.

Treatment options If the lifestyle adjustments don’t solve the problem, or if antacids (Tums, Rolaids, Maalox, Mylanta or Alka-Seltzer) aren’t doing the trick, there are a variety of overthe-counter (OTC) and prescription medications that can help, including: H-2 Blockers: Available as both OTC and prescription strength, these drugs (Pepcid, Tagamet, Axid and Zantac) reduce how much acid your stomach makes, but may not be strong enough for serious symptoms. Proton-Pump Inhibitors (PPI): If you have frequent and severe heartburn symptoms, PPIs are long-acting prescription medications that block acid production and allow time for damaged esophageal tissue to heal. See HEARTBURN, page 9

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Loneliness From page 7 acquaintance, Dr. Olds suggested. Spending time with familiar people can shore up your social skills, which can help you feel more confident about creating new connections. Say yes to social invitations, and make sure to take turns initiating and following through with plans to get together with people.

Ways to make new friends Being around people who have similar interests is a good way to make new friends since you already have something in common. Look online or at your local library for classes, in-person clubs, or volunteer opportunities that match your interests — or maybe something new you’d like to try. One helpful source is Meetup, an online social community that coordinates both inperson and virtual activities of all kinds, in-

Heartburn From page 8 They include Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Zegerid, Protonix, Aciphex and Dexilant. Prevacid, Nexium, Prilosec and Zegerid are also available OTC. But be aware that long-term use of PPIs can increase your risk for osteoporosis and chronic kidney disease.

cluding many targeted to seniors (see meetup.com). There are hundreds of meetup groups, including those focused on outdoor activities (for example, hiking, canoeing or mini-golf) or hobbies (photography, Vietnamese cooking, motorcycle riding, music), as well as groups that meet to discuss books, movies or just share a meal. Volunteering in your local community is another nice way to connect with new people, with the added potential bonus of giving you a sense of purpose and satisfaction. Volunteer Match (volunteermatch.org) connects people with local volunteer opportunities that suit their interests and expertise, with such choices as fighting climate change, tutoring children, assisting immigrants and refugees, working with computers and technology, and numerous others. Having a pet — especially a dog — can give you company at home, and also help you meet people when you’re out on walks

or at the dog park. Animal lovers might also consider volunteering at an animal

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If the medications aren’t enough, there are also surgical procedures that can tighten or strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter so gastric fluids can’t wash back up into the esophagus. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

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Exercise is key; it doesn’t matter when By Julie Corliss The standard advice about exercise is to do about 30 minutes a day, most days of the week. But in terms of heart-related benefits, does it matter if you rack up most of your exercise minutes over just one or two days — as a “weekend warrior” — instead of spreading them out over an entire week? Earlier research has suggested that both patterns are equally beneficial. But those findings relied on people to self-report their exercise, which can be unreliable.

Now, a study of nearly 90,000 adults who used wristband monitors to record their physical activity has reached a similar conclusion. “The findings add to the body of literature showing that it doesn’t matter when you get your exercise, as long as you get the recommended amount each week,” said Dr. I-Min Lee, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and an expert on the role of physical activity in preventing disease.

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Volume matters more than pattern The study, published this July in JAMA, doesn’t define the term “weekend warrior” in quite the same way as most people do, said

Dr. Lee. “Usually, weekend warriors are seen as people who don’t exercise on weekdays, See EXERCISE, page 12

Is there a best time of day to exercise? Are there any pros or cons associated with exercising at certain times of the day? Research results are all over the map, said Harvard Medical School professor Dr. I-Min Lee. The best strategy is to exercise when it’s most convenient and comfortable for you, whether first thing in the morning, early evening, or anytime in between. If you exercise early in the day, you can check it off your to-do list and take advantage of the “feel-good” brain chemicals, serotonin and dopamine, that are released during exercise. But afternoon workouts also have some benefits. Your joints and muscles may be more limber later in the day, which may make exercise feel less taxing. If you experience a midafternoon lull, exercise can be

a good way to reinvigorate yourself. If you can, find a buddy who likes to exercise at the same time you do so you can go together and hold each other accountable. Likewise, there’s little evidence to suggest that coordinating your exercise with respect to mealtimes has any good or bad effects. Some people find that vigorous exercise right before a meal curbs their appetite, while others find the opposite is true. A pre-breakfast workout works well for certain people. But having a small, carbohydrate-rich snack (like a banana or a slice of whole-grain toast) at least half an hour before exercising may provide a helpful energy boost, said Dr. Lee. © 2023 by Harvard University

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Lifestyle choices reduce vision loss risk By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: My mother has macular degeneration. How can I avoid getting it myself? A: Scientists have made progress in understanding what causes age-related macular degeneration (AMD) — the leading cause of vision loss for people ages 50 or older in the United States. We’ve learned that certain genes and lifestyle factors increase the risk for developing AMD, and we’ve discovered treatments that often slow the disease’s progression. Yet for all our advances, we still don’t have a guaranteed way to prevent AMD. You are at greater risk if one of your parents had the condition, but it doesn’t

mean you’re destined to get it. AMD destroys the macula — the central part of the retina, the layer of tissue in the back of the eye that changes light into electrical signals. The signals are sent to the brain, which converts them into images. There are two types of AMD. Both types reduce the clarity of central vision, blurring or even erasing the image in the center of a person’s vision. In dry AMD, the most common form, deposits of fat and protein called drusen slowly accumulate behind the retina, causing it to thin and leading to the destruction of the macula’s light-sensitive (photoreceptor) cells. The result is vision loss. As AMD progresses, drusen can cause new, abnormal blood vessels to grow

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under and into the macula. The blood vessels leak and bleed, rapidly causing photoreceptor cell damage, scarring and vision loss. This is called wet AMD. For now, the only advice to ward off AMD is to follow healthy lifestyle habits that help reduce your risk for the eye disease — and for many other health problems as well. These include the following: Don’t smoke. Smoking has many

damaging effects on the body, including increased oxidative stress in the retina. Oxidative stress may affect the way the blood vessels respond, and there seems to be some interaction between smoking and genes that can increase your risk for developing AMD. Control your blood pressure. High

Exercise

essarily doing the types of high-intensity activities or sports often associated with muscle sprains and related injuries, Dr. Lee said.

From page 10 but then take a long hike or play two hours of tennis on Saturday or Sunday,” she said. Instead, researchers used participants’ physical activity data, recorded over seven consecutive days, to categorize them into groups. About two-thirds of them met the federal physical activity guidelines. About 42% were deemed “weekend warriors,” meaning they met the guidelines but got half or more of their total physical activity — not just exercise — on just one or two days. Another 24% were “regularly active,” meeting the guidelines with activity spread out over the week. The remaining 34% didn’t meet the guidelines. After roughly six years, the researchers found that participants who followed either activity pattern had a similarly lower risk of heart attack, stroke, atrial fibrillation and heart failure compared with people in the inactive group. Historically, experts have encouraged people to be regularly active, mainly because anecdotal reports suggest that weekend warriors may be more prone to injuries. But this study found no difference in injury rates between the two active groups. That’s likely because of the definition used in the study: the “warrior” group wasn’t nec-

See VISION LOSS, page 13

Short bouts of activity count Wristband devices enable researchers to capture all the short bouts of activity people do throughout the day that they may not remember. “If you do jumping jacks occasionally while watching television, you won’t necessarily recall that activity the way you remember that you play tennis three times a week,” said Dr. Lee. Similarly, people whose daily commutes include a few 10-minute bouts of walking may not consider that as counting toward their moderate-intensity activity minutes. But these small spurts of activity — sometimes referred to as exercise “snacks” — seem to be beneficial. If you’re sitting for a long stretch, stand up and move around for a few minutes every hour. Activating your muscles, even just briefly, can help improve your body’s ability to keep your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol in check. It’s also worth noting that if you don’t meet the physical activity guidelines, you’ll still benefit from doing even small amounts of exercise — and every minute counts. © 2023 by Harvard University

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Health Shorts Several eyedrop products recalled U.S. health regulators are warning consumers to set aside more than two dozen varieties of over-the-counter eyedrops because of the risk of infections that could lead to blindness. The Food and Drug Administration advisory applies to a limited group of lubricating eye drops, gel drops and artificial tears sold by six companies, including CVS Health, Tar-

Vision loss From page 12 blood pressure damages the blood vessels that feed oxygen and nutrients to the retina and increases the risk for AMD. Exercise. Exercise keeps your blood vessels healthy. Aim for at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise, such as cycling, swimming or brisk walking. Eat a heart-healthy diet. Coronary arter y disease, high cholesterol and obesity all increase your risk for developing AMD. Eat a heart-healthy Mediterranean-style diet that includes

get, Rite Aid and Cardinal Health. [Ed Note: The affected products’ expiration dates range from November 2023 to September 2025.] For a complete list of recalled products, many of which contain carboxymethylcellulose sodium, propylene glycol and/or polyethylene glycol, visit FDA.gov or go directly to the list at bit.ly/eydroprecall. [Ed Note: The manufacturer in India has issued a voluntary recall, so the affected products should no longer be on pharmacy shelves.] Consumers who have already purchased the affected products should stop using them immediately and return them to the place of purchase. No injuries related to the products had lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds and olive oil; moderate amounts of fish and poultry; and a little bit of low-fat dairy. Make sure you include green, leafy vegetables in your diet. They’re rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, which have antioxidant properties and have been shown to improve pigment density in the macula, which protects the cells from free radicals. 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. © 2023 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Marijuana raises heart and stroke risk A pair of studies have found that older adults who use marijuana have more risk of heart attack or stroke when hospitalized than non-users, and are more likely to develop heart failure if they are daily users.

The two studies, which have not been published, were presented in November at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia. Both studies excluded cannabis users who also smoke tobacco in order to focus solely on the cardiovascular effects of marijuana consumption. The AHA recommends against smoking tobacco or marijuana because of the potentially damaging effects on the heart, lungs and blood vessels. “The latest research about cannabis use See HEALTH SHORTS, page 15

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Broadcaster From page 1 The fake news broadcast of a Martian invasion by “reporter-eye witness” Welles caused panic among many listeners who tuned in while the program was in progress and missed the introduction that the program was based on the novel by H.G. Wells (no relation). Although Welles won three Academy Awards for the 1941 movie Citizen Kane, and directed and starred in many other films, “Orson Welles considered his radio broadcasts [for The Mercury Theater] his best work,” Horwitz noted. A native of Dayton, Ohio, Horwitz has lived for the past 35 years in Chevy Chase, Maryland. But he and his wife, Lisa Miller, an

opera singer, previously lived in New York for more than a decade. While there, Horwitz created and participated in many cultural endeavors. He wrote a short-lived Broadway musical, Haarlem Nocturne, acted in productions of the one-man show An Evening with Sholom Aleichem (about the late Ukrainian Yiddish writer, whose stories gave birth to Fiddler on the Roof), and directed TV soap operas (“Guiding Light,” “As the World Turns,” etc.).

Making a mark in D.C. Horwitz moved to D.C. in the late 1980s because, he said in the interview, his director salary of $75,000 a year wasn’t enough to support a family of five in Manhattan. He took a position as assistant director

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of the Opera Musical Theater program in D.C., a National Endowment for the Arts program that tried to challenge what audiences expected from opera. Horwitz wasted no time making his mark in D.C. In 1987, he backed the new opera Nixon in China, which blended Big Band, jazz and other music. The next year, he was instrumental in the creation of the Mark Twain Prize in American Humor. Determined to establish an award for comedy in the same vein as the Academy Awards or Tony Awards, in 1988 Horwitz proposed his idea to several media executives and the White House. Today, the Kennedy Center presents the prize to a well-known comedian every year. Richard Pryor was the first recipient, and Horwitz’s Ohio buddy Jonathan Winters copped the prize in 1999, the second year it was offered. Among other endeavors, Horwitz initiated for NPR the weekly comedy quiz show “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me,” which has run every Saturday morning since 1998. The program won a Peabody Award in 2008. Horwitz was also managing director, from 2002 to 2009, of the National Film Institute’s Silver Theater and Cultural Center in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, where he often introduced the movie classics and events held there.

Love of jazz Horwitz’s appreciation for film and comedy was preceded by his love of jazz music. “Comedy was something that I always loved and started doing professionally at the age of 20. But I’d always, always loved jazz,” Hor witz told Opera America in 2022. As a child, he accompanied his parents to jazz concerts, catching performances by Dave Brubeck and Louis Armstrong. Horwitz said he “fell in love” with the

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music of Thomas “Fats” Waller when, at the age of about 18, he took out a recording of the pianist-vocalist-composer from the Dayton Public Library. “It was the music I had been waiting for my whole life,” Horwitz said. Years later, Horwitz co-wrote the musical Ain’t Misbehavin’ with Richard Maltby Jr. about Waller’s life and music. Waller, who died in 1943 at age 39, composed jazz standards such as “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” “Honeysuckle Rose,” “Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now,” and “Black and Blue.” Starring Nell Carter, the musical opened in 1978 and “electrified Broadway,” according to The New York Times, racking up prestigious awards for the next decade. Ain’t Misbehavin’ not only won a Tony for best musical in 1978, but also an Obie, a New York Drama Critics Circle award, a Grammy for the album, and an Emmy for its 1982 NBC broadcast. Horwitz agreed that today’s younger generation doesn’t seem as enraptured by jazz music as were those living in earlier decades. Nowadays, he noted, jazz has become like classical music: “People don’t appreciate it until later in life,” he said. The playwright-lyricist-broadcaster may still take another Broadway turn. He said he is currently “working on three or four plays at the same time.” Horwitz remembers his circus years as a time when he discovered who he was and what he wanted to do with his life. Connecting with an audience — as he continues to do every week — was a way to convey hope, he said. “I was able to let people know, through comedy, that we are all in this together.” Tune in to “The Big Broadcast” from 7 to 11 p.m. on Sundays at WAMU 88.5. For a preview of each week’s lineup of shows, visit bigbroadcast.org.

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Health shorts From page 13 indicates that smoking and inhaling cannabis increases concentrations of blood carboxyhemoglobin (carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas) and tar (partly burned combustible matter), similar to the effects of inhaling a tobacco cigarette, both of which have been linked to heart muscle disease, chest pain, heart rhythm disturbances, heart attacks and other serious conditions,” University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences professor Robert Page II said in a statement. —New York Daily News © 2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

How to avoid caffeine withdrawal Drinking as little as 100 milligrams of caffeine per day (roughly the amount in 12 ounces of coffee) can lead to symptoms of caffeine withdrawal when consumption is stopped. When doses of caffeine are higher (the average adult caffeine consumer in the U.S. ingests about 280 milligrams per day), the symptoms of withdrawal are likely to be more severe. Caffeine withdrawal syndrome is marked by three or more of the following symptoms: • headaches

• marked fatigue or drowsiness • dysphoric mood, depressed mood or irritability • difficulty concentrating • flu-like symptoms (nausea, vomiting or muscle pain and stiffness) If you’re considering stopping your caffeine intake, you can take steps to minimize or avoid symptoms of caffeine withdrawal. The most important thing to do is to gradually reduce your caffeine intake over a period of days or weeks. Research shows that tapering off your caffeine intake by 25% every two days will work best to avoid caffeine withdrawal symptoms. © 2023 Environmental Nutrition/Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

of men and women. The minimum number of daily steps needed to lower the risk of dying from heart disease was just 2,337. But every additional 500 steps per day lowered the risk even more. And researchers noted no upper limit to the benefits, even among people who

walked as many as 20,000 steps per day (although few people fell into that category). In addition, the findings were consistent across varied climate zones in countries that included the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia. —Harvard Health Letter, © 2023 by Harvard University

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Walking lowers risk of heartrelated death The more steps you take, the lower your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, with the benefits starting with as few as 2,300 steps per day, a new analysis suggests. Published online in August by the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, the study pooled data from 17 studies from around the world involving nearly 227,000 people in total. Their average age was 64, with nearly equal numbers

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Tips for coping with a dementia patient By Heidi Godman Dementia poses many challenges both for people struggling with it and for those close to them. It can be hard to witness and cope with common behaviors that arise from illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia or frontotemporal dementia. Caring for a person who has dementia may be frustrating, confusing or upsetting at times. Understanding why certain behaviors occur and learning ways to handle a variety of situations can help smooth the path ahead.

Some common behaviors People with dementia often exhibit a combination of unusual behaviors, such as:

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Why do these behaviors occur? Inside the brain of a loved one with dementia, picture a wildfire shifting course, damaging or destroying brain cells (neurons) and neural networks that regulate our behavior. What drives this damage depends on the underlying cause, or causes, of dementia. For example, while the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not known, it is strongly linked to proteins that are either gunking up or strangling brain cells. In contrast, someone with vascular dementia has experienced periodic insufficient blood flow to certain areas of the brain, causing neurons to die. “As dementia progresses, the person loses brain cells associated with memory, planning, judgment and controlling mood. You lose your filters,” said Dr. Stephanie Collier, a psychiatrist at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital.

Six coping strategies Dealing with dementia-related behavior can require the type of tack you’d take with a youngster. “Due to declines, older adults with dementia can seem like children. But people are generally more patient with children. You should consider using that approach with older adults,” suggested Lydia Cho, a McLean Hospital neuropsychologist.

• Don’t point out inaccurate or strange statements. “It can make people with dementia feel foolish or belittled. They may not remember details but hold onto those emotions, feel isolated, and withdraw. Instead, put them at ease. Just go with what they’re saying. Keep things light,” Cho recommended. • Don’t tr y to reason with the person. Dementia has damaged your loved one’s comprehension. Attempting to reason might be frustrating for both of you. • Use distraction. This helps when the person makes unreasonable requests or is moderately agitated. “Acknowledge what the person is saying, and change the activity. You could say, ‘I see that you’re upset. Let’s go over here for a minute.’ And then do an activity that engages the senses and relaxes them, such as sitting outside together, listening to music, folding socks, or eating a piece of fruit,” Collier said. • Keep unsafe items out of sight. Put away or lock up belongings the loved one shouldn’t have — especially potentially dangerous items like car keys or cleaning fluids. Consider installing cabinet locks. • Super vise hygiene routines. The person with dementia might need a reminder to bathe or might need to have the See DEMENTIA, page 17

Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3

Sauce for chewy, savory-sweet noodles By Kelly Song, America’s Test Kitchen Scallion oil noodles, a popular Shanghainese dish, are springy wheat noodles dressed with scallion-infused oil, savory soy sauce, and sugar for balance. We slowly simmered scallion whites and thinly sliced shallot in peanut oil to draw out their aromas, with thin strips of ginger added for freshness. Dark soy sauce, light soy sauce and sugar added to the scallion mixture helped form a glossy, savory-sweet sauce. Fresh wheat noodles, which have a tender, chewy texture, were tossed to coat in the sauce. The dish can be served plain or enhanced with a range of toppings, including blanched bok choy, stir-fried ground pork, or crispy fried eggs. We opted for the traditional route of garnishing with crispy scallion greens, which are shallow-fried until nearly blackened

Dementia From page 16 day’s clothes laid out on the bed. Or you might need to assist them with bathing, shaving, brushing teeth or dressing. • Spend time together. You don’t have to convince your loved one of your identity or engage in fascinating conversation. Just listen to music or do some simple activities together. It will help keep the person from withdrawing further.

Safety should come first Sometimes, simple strategies aren’t enough when a loved one has dementia. For example, if the person frequently tries to leave home, you might need to add child-proof covers to doorknobs, install additional door locks or a security system in your home, or get the person a GPS tracker bracelet. If the person is frequently upset or even violent, call the doctor. It could be that a new medical problem (such as a urinary tract infection) is causing agitation. “If the agitated behavior isn’t due to a new health problem and is predictable and severe, we might prescribe a medication to help regulate mood,“ Collier said.

Seek help and support for yourself No one expects you to know how to interact with someone who has dementia. There’s a learning curve for all of us, and it continues even after you get a feel for the situation. “The process keeps changing,” Cho noted. “What works today may not work next week or the week after that for your loved one. So, keep trying different strategies.” And get support for yourself, such as group therapy for caregivers and their families. You can also find information at the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) or Family Caregiver Alliance (caregiver.org). © 2023 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

and shatteringly crisp.

Shanghai Scallion Oil Noodles Serves 4 to 6 Ingredients: 1/4 cup light soy sauce 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce 5 teaspoons sugar 15-18 scallions (6 ounces), white and green parts separated 1-inch piece of ginger, peeled 1 pound fresh Chinese wheat noodles 2/3 cup peanut or vegetable oil 1/8 teaspoon table salt 1 shallot, halved and sliced thin Directions: 1. Combine light soy sauce, dark soy sauce and sugar in a small bowl; set aside. Halve scallion whites lengthwise, then slice into 1½-inch segments. Slice green parts into 1½-inch segments; reserve

white and green parts separately. Slice ginger crosswise into thin rounds. Stack rounds and slice into thin matchsticks. 2. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in a large pot. Add noodles and cook, stirring often, until just tender. Drain noodles, rinse well, and drain again; set aside. 3. Meanwhile, heat oil and scallion greens in a 14-inch wok or 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and cook, stirring constantly, until most scallions are browned and crispy, 8 to 10 minutes. Off heat, use a slotted spoon to transfer scallion greens to a small bowl; sprinkle with salt and set aside. 4. Add shallot, scallion whites and ginger to oil remaining in wok and cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until scallion whites and shallot are golden and wilted, 11 to 13 minutes. 5. Stir soy sauce mixture to recombine

and add to scallion mixture in wok. Cook, stirring often, until sugar is dissolved and sauce is rapidly bubbling, 1 to 2 minutes. Add noodles and toss until evenly coated in sauce and heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. Top with scallion greens to serve. © 2023 America’s Test Kitchen. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

You’re invited to discover how Washington, DC has become an easier city in which to age! Five years ago, Mayor Muriel Bowser appointed a Task Force of DC residents and District agency leaders to examine what could be done to make DC into an easier city in which to live, work and play. Their 2018-2023 Strategic Progress Report will be released in January.

Please join us at TWO VIRTUAL MEETINGS to learn what has been accomplished. Tuesday, January 23, 2024, from 9 to 11 a.m. Virtually attend the Age-Friendly DC Task Force meeting where members of the task force will discuss the progress that has been made in these major areas: Lifelong Health, Changing Attitudes About Growing Older, Security, and the Built Environment.

To register for the program on January 23, Go to bit.ly/DCAgeFriendlyProgress Or use this QR code: Mayor Muriel Bowser, right, her mother Joan Bowser, left, and daughter Miranda Bowser, in stroller pushed by D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, attend the 2019 Emancipation Day Parade.

You may have been among the 1,090 residents who completed the DC Livability Survey published in the Beacon earlier this year. Or you may have participated in a listening session in your Ward or joined an event hosted by the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations. All of these were focused on gathering your opinions and reflections on how your lives have changed over the past five years. Your views — together with data acquired from DC government agencies and community organization partners — will appear in the Age-Friendly DC Strategic Progress report to be unveiled at this meeting.

Tuesday, January 30, 2024, from 9 to 11 a.m. Virtually attend the final meeting of the 2018-2023 Task Force, where Mayor Bowser will release its Strategic Progress Report to the public, as well as to the World Health Organization (WHO) and AARP, its U.S. representative. WHO initiated Age-Friendly actions worldwide to transform lifelong aging into a better experience for all of us.

To register for the program on January 30, Go to bit.ly/DCAgeFriendlyReport Or use this QR code:

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

DIRECTOR S MESSAGE By Charon P.W. Hines Dear Seniors, Happy Holidays! As we gracefully step into the month of December, we’re delighted to extend the warmth of the holiday spirit to our cherished senior community in the District. This time of year is filled with anticipation, excitement, joy, and the creation of special memories for many. However, we recognize that, for some, the season may be filled with loneliness or sadness due to various circumstances, such as distance from family or the absence of loved ones. No matter your situation, DACL is here for you. In that spirit, we warmly invite you to join us for Mayor Muriel Bowser’s 25th Annual Senior Holiday Celebration! This milestone event is not just a festive gathering; it’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with others, embrace the holiday spirit surrounded by friends and loved ones, and discover the many services available to you throughout the District. As the newly appointed DACL Director, I am personally honored to experience this momentous occasion with you. The celebration, held at the DC Armory on Wednesday, December 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will feature a delightful array of entertainment, with more than 70 local vendors in attendance. To ensure you don’t miss out on the holiday festivities, we kindly ask you to register at www.tinyurl.com/25thAnnualSeniorHoliday or call us at (202) 724-5626 at your earliest convenience. Let’s make this season extraordinar y by coming together, creating lasting memories, and reveling in the joy of being part of our vibrant DC community. As we bid farewell to the current year and eagerly anticipate the new year with its promise of fresh beginnings, I encourage you to explore new opportunities. Whether it’s joining a class at one of our Senior Wellness Centers or picking up a new hobby, DACL remains committed to supporting DC seniors in every way possible. Wishing you a December filled with warmth, laughter and the magic of the season! We look forward to seeing you on December 13th at the DC Armory. In Service, Charon P.W. Hines DACL Director

DPR’S Senior Spa Day at Fort Stanton Recreation Center

Join the Department of Parks and Recreation on Friday, December 8 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. for a day of pampering at the Fort Stanton Recreation Center. The Spa Day will include, haircuts, facials, hairdressing and more.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3

Makes a great gift!

Feast of Sharing Recap

Last month, DACL Director Charon P.W. Hines was able to join Mayor Muriel Bowser at Safeway’s Annual “Feast of Sharing,” presented by Events DC. This pre-Thanksgiving feast allowed District seniors and families to come together and enjoy a beautiful holiday and local entertainment.

Seabury Resources for Aging Celebrates Model Cities 5-Year Anniversary

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.

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Money Law &

Plan a meaningful retirement focused on wellbeing. See story on page 22.

No, your Social Security isn’t going away By Jamie Feldman The Social Security Administration (SSA) is making a concerted effort to quell fears over dwindling reserves in the trust fund. In a new episode of the SSA Talks podcast, SSA chief actuary Steve Goss offered some much-welcomed reassurance that, while there is still a risk that benefits will lessen as the reserves are depleted, there’s no need to believe Social Security will run dry. “People should not worry about the trust fund ‘running out of money,’ as is sometimes said, and (SSA) having an inability to pay any benefits,” he said. “Sort of the probably worst-case scenario here is that we, within 10 years, reach a point where we can only pay about 80% of the level of benefits that are scheduled or intended into law by Congress as of that point in time and going forward.” Goss concedes that while that number

is obviously not 100%, “it’s a long way from not having any money to pay for any benefits.” His commentary follows the SSA’s announced cost-of-living adjustment last month that increased benefits for recipients by 3.2% — or on average about $54 per month — starting in January. Many Americans fear that the program faces financing shortfalls, however. A recent Harris Poll of 1,806 adults on behalf of Nationwide shows that three-fourths (75%) of those over the age of 50 worry that Social Security will run out of funding in their lifetime. One in five of these adults (21%) said they have no other source of retirement income.

Congress is stalemated Congress has not been much help on the reassurance front, either. While there are usually numerous bills circulating on various aspects of Social Security, the fate of

benefits seems to lie stagnant between congressional Republicans and Democrats. Though both parties have denied that cuts to benefits are on the table, they have yet to offer any clear, bi-partisan reassurance that there is a path forward to prevent a crisis for future retirees. Lawmakers’ proposals on potential remedies to the program include increasing payroll taxes, raising the retirement age (last raised from 65 to 67 in 1983), and increasing taxation on Social Security benefits. Among the bills fairly recently introduced is one from Rep. John Larson (DCT), ranking member of the House Social Security Subcommittee. Introduced in May, Larson’s Social Security 2100 bill seeks to increase Social Security payroll taxes, as well as add an additional net investment income tax for people earning more than $400,000. The bill, which has companion legisla-

tion in the Senate, has received widespread support from Democrats but has been met with criticism by Republicans. Like most bills this session of Congress, it is unlikely to move out of committee.

What you can do As for taking action yourself, there are steps you can take, including delaying applying for Social Security so that you increase your payments. [Ed. Note: The closer you get to the age of 70 to claim benefits, the more you will earn per month for the rest of your life.] You can also write to your Congressional representatives to urge action. For help in planning for retirement and figuring out your personal retirement Social Security payments, Goss recommends visiting the SSA’s website, ssa.gov. © 2023 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Consider gifting stock to grandchildren By Dan Burrows If you have never given a child shares in a publicly traded company as a holiday present, that’s probably just as well. Presents are supposed to be fun. Investing in equities — as remunerative over the long haul as they have proven to be —isn’t fun a lot of the time. That said, the impulse to give stocks as a gift to a youngster is understandable, even noble. We want children to develop critical life skills around money as early as possible. The more they learn about saving and investing — to say nothing of compound interest, dividends, the economic cycle — the better. We know how important this stuff is going to be for them in ways they can’t yet imagine. Stocks even have a singular appealing quality as a gift. They’re dynamic. A child can follow a company and its stock. Hopefully, the stock will appreciate in value. Perhaps you and your grandchild will bond as you follow corporate developments and stock charts together. A gift that allows the two of you to spend time together, while learning something and maybe even making a little money, too? Sounds lovely.

Consider indexing The vast majority of full-time professional investors can’t do it, so why should you? The simple fact is that most investors can’t beat the market because most stocks can’t beat the market. Between 1990 and 2020, more than 55% of all U.S. stocks underperformed risk-free one-month U.S. Treasury bills, according to Hendrik Bessembinder, a finance professor at Arizona State University. These stocks didn’t just fail to beat the market, they failed to beat cash. Even more damning, the professor found that the entirety of the $76 trillion in net global stock market wealth created between 1990 and 2020 was generated solely by the topperforming 2.4% of stocks. Finding winning stocks is like finding needles in haystacks. That’s why Vanguard founder and indexing evangelist Jack Bogle always advised clients to “buy the haystack.” So, if part of the purpose of giving stocks as a gift is to teach your grandkids about investing, you should probably start by discussing the advantages of indexing and the miracle of compounding. If you can achieve an annualized return

— also known as a compound annual growth rate — of 7.18%, your initial investment will double every 10 years. Happily for all of us, the S&P 500 has generated an annualized return of at least 7.1% over the past 30, 20, 15 and 10 years — and that’s after inflation. The market has basically been doubling our money or better in real terms for decades. You could explain these facts to your grandchildren as you give them some S&P 500 ETFs, such as the SPDR S&P 500 (SPY, about $455 per share) or the Vanguard S&P 500 (VOO, $418). An ETF is probably an even more disappointing present for a kid than stock (or underwear), so it’s bound to make an impression. The important part is that the child learns that indexing is generally the best way to go for most retail investors.

Best stocks to buy for children If the point of this holiday gift isn’t to teach your grandchild about the wonders of indexing, then here are some general guidelines for picking individual equities. If you give shares in some company to your grandkids as a gift, they probably don’t care about dividend yields, or

price/earnings multiples, or trailing-12months levered free cash flow. Rather, if you feel you must buy individual stocks as a gift, be sure to invest in high-quality companies your grandchild recognizes and maybe cares about. High-quality blue chip stocks with fortress-like balance sheets and a decent chance of beating the market over the next, say, five to 10 years, are easy enough to screen for. Have a look at what industry analysts believe are buy-rated blue chips with interesting businesses. Apple (AAPL, $190), Microsoft (MSFT, $379) and Walt Disney (DIS, $95) are all buy-rated components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average with excellent longterm track records — and they can all be fun to follow. Nike (NKE, $108) is another buy-rated Dow stock that likely holds relevance for your grandkid. Wall Street also happens to be bullish on Dow stock McDonald’s (MCD, $282) these days. Perhaps your grandchild would like a side of fries with her shares in the Golden Arches? If you really want to teach your grandSee STOCKS, page 23

Makes a great gift! | Law & Money

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3

Some pros and cons of Roth conversion Because of retirement-related federal legThere are other reasons not to convert, islation passed in the last few years, many in- as IRA expert Ed Slott has addressed in a dividuals are considering conrecent monthly column on his verting some or all of their trawebsite, IRAhelp.com. Here is ditional IRAs to Roth IRAs. a summary: One major reason is that —Inability to pay the tax most beneficiaries of tradibill: All Roth conversions are tional IRAs other than survivsubject to immediate income ing spouses are no longer altax liability in the year of conlowed to “stretch” distribuversion. Before you convert, tions from their traditional you should estimate your inIRA inheritances over their come tax liability for that year. lifetime. Under current tax regulaTHE SAVINGS Moreover, if the owner of tions, you can’t change your GAME the IRA has begun taking mind after you convert. If you By Elliot Raphaelson yearly required minimum disare under 59 1/2 years old and tributions (RMDs), then not plan to pay the tax bill from an only does the beneficiary have to withdraw IRA account, you will be incurring a 10% all of the IRA balances within 10 years after penalty as well. the inheritance, but he/she must also take Don’t convert if there is a high possibiliRMDs for years 1-9 based on the owner’s ty that emergency financial needs will single life expectancy. arise, necessitating the use of the funds For any distributions from a traditional you would otherwise use to pay your inIRA, the beneficiary is required to pay or- creased income tax bill. dinary income tax. If the inheritance is —Exposure to stealth taxes: When high, at the end of the tenth year, the bene- you convert, you are increasing your taxficiary can face a large income tax bill. able income in the year of conversion, For all these reasons, an owner of a tra- which can impact other taxes. For examditional IRA who wants to minimize the fu- ple, your Social Security taxes could inture income tax liability for his/her heirs crease. You could lose valuable tax credits might consider converting traditional IRA and deductions as a result of higher infunds to a Roth IRA. In addition to the tax come. advantages for heirs, the owner of the IRA, Another consideration is the possibility especially if he/she expects to live a long of higher premiums for Medicare Part B time, will receive the benefit of tax-free in- and Part D two years after the year of your come and no capital gains tax on the Roth conversion. —Loss of college financial aid: Any assets. On the other hand, all conversion additional income must be reported on fiamounts are taxable at ordinary income nancial aid forms such as FAFSA and CSS, tax rates in the year of the conversion, so and it could reduce or even eliminate the owner has to weigh the benefits sources of financial aid. against the immediate tax liability associat—Losing future tax breaks: If you ed with the Roth conversion. have been using qualified charitable distri-

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butions (QCD) to reduce your taxes, you will lose that advantage if you convert all of your traditional IRAs to a Roth account. The QCD option is not available from Roth accounts. —Charity as beneficiar y: Qualified charities do not pay income tax on gifts from IRAs. If your objective is to leave some IRA funds to a charity, don’t convert these assets to a Roth. Why pay taxes on a Roth conversion if the charity would not pay taxes on a contribution from a traditional IRA account? —Waiting time: After you convert from a traditional IRA to a Roth, there is a fiveyear waiting period before you can withdraw earnings tax-free from your Roth account (assuming you have reached 59

1/2). You can withdraw the principal amount you converted at any time tax-free without penalty, even if you have not reached 59 1/2. The bottom line: There are definite advantages to you and your beneficiaries associated with Roth conversions. But there are some potential disadvantages that you have to consider. It may be to your advantage to do partial conversions each year to avoid the higher taxes associated with higher marginal tax brackets, as well as other disadvantages. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. ©2023 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC.

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

How to make retirement more meaningful By Heidi Ardis A purpose-driven retirement is all about finding meaning and fulfillment in your postwork years. It is more than just relaxing and enjoying leisure time; instead, it involves actively seeking activities and interests that align with your values and passions. Much of our identity in life is tied to work, but retirement gives us the opportunity to rethink our purpose and to rediscover who we are, using the extra time to focus on who and what is most important to us. Retirement, in many ways, can be a new age of discovery for us as we find new pursuits that interest us. Or we can view retirement as an opportunity to make up for lost time, doing the things we’ve long wanted to do but didn’t have time for. Many retirees take on new roles and responsibilities, such as providing childcare for grandchildren, shopping for higherrisk neighbors, and providing emotional comfort to family and friends. In return, these stepped-up roles have given retirees a greater sense of purpose and connection. There are even health benefits associated with having purpose: Studies show that those with a higher sense of purpose have greater cognitive functioning, better overall health, higher life satisfaction and longer lifespans. The possibilities are endless. Let’s explore different ways to infuse purpose into your retirement and make it truly extraordinary: • Find your passion. Start by exploring activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. Try new hobbies and join clubs or groups. Reflect on your past experiences and think about what made you feel most alive and fulfilled. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try new things. Remember, retirement is a time to discover and pursue what truly makes you happy. • Volunteer or give back. This is a fulfilling way to make a positive impact in your community. One of the most meaningful aspects of life is making a difference in the lives of others.

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Jan. 9

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Retirement is a chance to use your skills, knowledge and time to help someone. That could mean mentoring, assisting at a local charity or participating in community events. The joy and fulfillment you receive from giving back is truly priceless. So go ahead — lend a helping hand and spread kindness wherever you can. • Set goals. Setting goals helps you stay motivated and make the most out of this new chapter in your life. Start by reflecting on what you want to achieve and what brings you joy: learning a new skill, traveling to new places, or spending more time with loved ones, for instance. Break big goals down into smaller milestones to keep yourself motivated along the way. Dream big and go after what makes you happy. • Focus on continuous learning. Embrace the joy of learning without the pressure of grades or exams. Keep intellectually engaged by taking classes, attending workshops, or even pursuing online courses. Dive into subjects that have always intrigued you, or explore new areas of interest. • Consider a part-time job. Just because you’re retiring doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ruling out working. Along with the financial benefits of having a parttime job in retirement, other plusses include social interaction, a renewed sense of purpose and identity, physical activity and mental engagement. By aligning your retirement with your passions and values, you can create a meaningful and purposeful life that continues to inspire and motivate you. Start with what makes you happy, be open to new possibilities, and embrace the blessing of being able to live each day to the fullest. Dan Dunkin contributed to this article. This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. © 2023 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC.

Jan. 9

SSA DISABILITY BENEFITS PRESENTATION

Learn about Social Security Administration disability benefits, eligibility requirements and the application process during this virtual presentation with a Q & A session afterward. This free event takes place on Tue., Jan. 9, from 1 to 2 p.m. on Zoom. Register at bit.ly/DisabilityBenefitsZoom

Makes a great gift! | Law & Money

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3

Address possible scams before they call By Adriana Morga This summer, Daniel Goldstein’s 86-yearold mom got an email that looked like it was from her bank. She was alarmed because she hadn’t spent the money it mentioned, so she called a help number on the email. The person on the other end of the line asked for her bank account information and made her believe she would get her money back. Instead, she lost $600 to a scammer. Last year, consumers of all ages were scammed out of $8.8 billion. And older adults lost the most money compared to other age groups, according to the Federal Trade Commission. While everyone wants to protect their parents and grandparents from scammers, sometimes these conversations can be complicated to navigate. “We encourage people to think in multigenerational approaches. Everyone is getting scammed, it’s just a different way that scammers go after [older adults],” said Genevieve Waterman from the National

Stocks From page 20 kids about investing, start with indexing. If you want to have fun playing around with individual stocks, go ahead. Just know that you’re going to have lots of ups and downs. Of course, it’s true that unless you plonk down a serious chunk of starting capital, a small gift of stocks is unlikely to make anyone a member of the 1% one day. If 20 years ago you had invested $1,000 in Apple, pretty much the best stock of the past couple of decades, it would today be worth about $500,000. (To be fair, adjusted for inflation, $1,000 in 1993 equals $2,153 today.) That’s a fabulous return, but it’s

Council on Aging. From having a lot of empathy to knowing how to report a scam, experts shared their recommendations for talking about scams with older family members:

Learn about common scams Knowing which scams are most commonly used to target older people can help. Two of the most common are the “grandparent” scam and romance scams, said Kathy Stokes, director of fraud prevention at AARP. The grandparent scam is when someone gets a phone call from a person impersonating a grandchild and asking for money to get them out of trouble. To avoid falling for this scam, call other family members before taking any action, the FTC recommends. [The scammers, of course, fight this by urging you not to let anyone else know of the trouble the “grandchild” is in.] When it comes to romance scams, the

hardly Mega Millions money. The same amount invested in the S&P 500 would be worth about $6,300 today. If you can find the next Apple, go for it. Most importantly, make sure the stocks you pick are relevant to the person receiving the gift. If you want this present to hold the recipient’s attention longer than most, that’s the only hope you’ve got. Note: This item first appeared in Kiplinger Retirement Report, Kiplinger’s monthly periodical that covers key concerns of affluent older Americans who are retired or preparing for retirement. © 2023 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Are you a Jobseeker who is age 50 or better? Join us January 9, 2024! Montgomery County, MD Virtual 50+ Employment Expo 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. via Zoom™ Registration is FREE for Everyone

and “I can teach you how to invest.” Other common scams are investment scams, tech support scams, and impersonation scams. You can read more about these on the FTC’s website, ftc.gov/scams.

Discuss how to avoid them One of the best ways to raise awareness about scams is to talk to each other about them. To keep your older family members safe, Waterman recommends that families talk about scams more often in their dayto-day lives. “I love the idea of sitting around the table and talking about (scams) and making it more common,” Waterman said. See SCAMS, page 24

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FTC reported that people lost $1.3 billion in 2022. Scammers usually contact people through social media and then move the conversation to other messaging apps such as WhatsApp or Google Chat. “A lot of older adults are now going into the online dating world. They’re having a lot of online conversations, having [virtual] dates, but that leads them to scammers who are then convincing them to give them money and send it overseas,” Waterman said. What starts as a simple conversation turns into a sudden romantic connection. But then the scammer asks for money because something happened in their lives and they need help. According to the FTC, common lies by scammers include “I or someone close to me is sick, hurt or in jail”

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Scams

D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

scams with your family members, it’s important to highlight the rushing aspect of scam practices.

From page 23 Goldstein said his mom knows how to use technology fairly well and they`ve had many conversations about email scams. However, she had never encountered the type of scam she was targeted by over the summer. Because she felt a sense of urgency, she didn’t contact her son before calling the scammer. Goldstein believes calling him before acting could have prevented her from losing money. It’s a common practice for scammers to make victims feel like they need to act right away, which makes them more vulnerable to falling for a story that might not seem plausible if they weren’t under pressure. If you’re having a conversation about

Inform, don’t impose When you are navigating complicated conversations, it`s better to take an informative approach rather than an authoritative tone. Because your parents or grandparents have a lot of expertise in other life topics, if you approach a conversation by imposing your ideas, it might not have the best effect. When Stokes has conversations with her mom about scams, she approaches the conversation by saying that she heard about a new type of scam and asks questions such as, “What do you think about this?” instead of using language like, “Hey mom, there’s this scam, don’t fall for it.”

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Waterman also recommends that you have conversations as a family, including younger members of your family, and make sure you make it clear that scams target everyone regardless of age. “It’s about staying vigilant together as a family unit…not to challenge that older adult but just to explain that (scams) are becoming more sophisticated,” Waterman said. If you’re looking for guides to avoid scams for older adults, you can find a variety of them on the National Council on Aging’s website, ncoa.org.

Be empathetic of those scammed If your family member has already lost money to a scam, Stokes recommends that you approach the conversation with a lot of empathy. “We tend to blame the victim,” Stokes said. “When you are faced with another adult in your life who has experienced a scam loss, understand that [they are victims of] a crime.” Stokes encourages people to think about scammers as organized groups with many resources, rather than a random person calling from their mom’s basement. Stokes says that people should think of these crimes at the same level as others and therefore have empathy for the victims.

information, email community@iona.org or call (202) 459-9634.

Discuss what to do after a scam A few days after the scam took place,

Goldstein’s mom told him about it. “She was really unhappy and I’m like ‘Mom, why didn’t you call me?’” said Goldstein, who felt frustrated by the situation. Part of Goldstein’s frustration came from the fact that he had an agreement with his mom where she would call him if she ever felt like something was wrong. However, he also felt bad for his mom because she was embarrassed that she was a victim. While being online is now part of most people’s lives, older adults have a harder time adapting to some aspects of the internet, which can make them more vulnerable, Waterman said. “Older adults have been thrown into the virtual world during Covid without any digital literacy training or navigation in general,” Waterman said. To combat the anxiety and provide information about scams, the AARP has a Fraud Watch Network Helpline. This helpline guides people worried about being scammed, and offers emotional support for those who have experienced fraud. It’s free and available to everyone at 1-877-908-3360. If you or a family member is a victim of a scam, it’s good practice to report it. You can report a scam on the FTC’s website, ftc.gov/scams. © 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Getting Older With Eric Stewart Finally! A radio show where we explore together how to navigate the transition we are all facing. Get good advice for how to age with grace, and make the best financial and housing decisions for your future.

Tune in every Sunday morning from 10 to 10:30 a.m. on WMAL 105.9 FM or go to WMAL.com/Eric-Stewart-Show to listen anytime. I’m Eric Stewart. When you are considering aging in place or rightsizing your home to an apartment or retirement community, our Seniors Solutions Team is here to provide you with everything you need. I look forward to speaking with you! Beacon readers may call me on my personal cell phone at (301) 252-1697 For more information about the Eric Stewart Group of Long & Foster Real Estate, visit www.EricStewartGroup.com 301.424.0900

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Holiday Mail Scams After we order a package, the

shipping company will often send a text or email update regarding the status of your order. Scammers will send “phishing” emails that look legit, pretending to be from companies like FedEx and UPS, saying “a package is on the way.” Be safe and go to the shipping company’s website to track expected deliveries. 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.

Avoiding Scams at the Holidays (and Always) For most of us, the holiday season is full of joy, warmth, excitement and goodwill. Sadly, scammers use the holidays to take advantage of people’s generous spirits. Fortunately, organizations across Montgomery County are joining together to share the following information that can help protect you from scams:

Be a Defensive Shopper Protect your personal information

when online. Never share personal or credit card information over public Wi-Fi. Only make purchases when you are connected to a secure network. Scammers will send emails posing

as a company you know and include PDF attachments stating that “your account will be suspended” or is “on hold.” These attachments ask you to

click on a (fraudulent) link to “update your account.” These links will lure you to provide personal information such as credit card information or passwords. Don’t click on any links or provide personal information. Go directly to the company’s website, or call the customer service number shown there, to verify whether the message you got is legitimate. 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. Be skeptical of deals “too good to be true.” They usually are! Always pay by credit card and keep

receipts so you can request a refund if there is an issue or the product doesn’t arrive. 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 (OCP) at consumer@montgomerycountymd. gov, (240) 777-3774, or visit montgomerycountymd.gov/OCP. If you’re a victim of a scam, the OCP 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 at 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 putting donations to good use by visiting give.org or charitynavigator.org first.

www.montgomerycountymd.gov/senior

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

PHOTO COURTESY OF RICK STEVES

Travel Leisure &

Rick Steves reveals his favorite town in southern Portugal. See story on page 29.

No plan needed: Take a mystery day trip

How it works Just type in your ZIP code on the Guess Where website, choose your interests,

such as wineries or outdoor activities, and one-day trip options will pop up. The “guess” in Guess Where is the “mystery” element. You won’t get the detailed itinerary until you pay $65, which does not cover gas, food or admission fees. The website hints at destinations with trip names like “Winding Roads and Historic Gems,” but you do not get specifics until you pay. The trip materials recommend driving to four places in one day, with optional stops. They even suggest how much time to spend at each place. All stops are free. Guess Where provides some facts, often a little history and some tips, like restaurants to try. They provide a map and recommend using a GPS device to navigate. The website suggests the best time of year to go and rates the activity level, accessibility, and pet- and kid-friendliness of each stop. Guess Where experts have researched and vetted all stops. Nevertheless, reading the “before you go” packet and checking online updates can help avoid snafus.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LONG & FOSTER

By Glenda C. Booth The brown cardboard box that arrived in my mailbox labeled “Ready for a Road Trip?” instantly made me want to hit the open road. Inside were five booklets: “Before You Go” and four more describing stops for a six-to-eight-hour road trip to explore “Tiny Towns.” The box was from Guess Where Trips, a unique travel planning company founded in 2020. “Guess Where Trips will show everyone something new,” according to its website. “And because no one will have to spend hours planning, everyone can sit back and enjoy the ride.” Last summer, the company, which offers more than 50 trips in the U.S. and Canada, introduced five new itineraries in the Washington, D.C. region, including Tiny Towns; Hikes, Haunts and History; and Waterside Bliss. The self-guided tours are suitable for anyone who wants to explore new places without a guide. “Families, seniors, young adults — our trips are designed for everyone,” said founder Jessica Off. “People also love to give our packages as gifts, and we’ve even had several marriage proposals during trips.”

Middleburg, Virginia, has many unique stores to keep shoppers busy for hours. Guess Where Trips includes Middleburg in its Tiny Towns tour.

My trip: pros and cons I live in Northern Virginia and chose the trip called “Tiny Towns,” not knowing which direction I’d be going or to what state. When my box arrived in the mail, I disPHOTO COURTESY OF GUESS WHERE TRIPS

Guess Where Trips mails you everything you need to know about your self-guided road trip. Locations and directions are revealed one at a time, to maintain the air of mystery. These packages make good gifts for people with a sense of adventure.

covered that the towns turned out to be four Virginia hamlets along route 50 west of Dulles Airport: Aldie, Upperville, Middleburg and Boyce. These towns have a range of attractions, including a 19th-century mill, wineries, a stone bridge with Civil War connections, trendy shops and the state arboretum. My first stop was Aldie Mill Historic Park. The Guess Where packet gave some history — President James Monroe ground his grain there — and a sign said it is the “last standing grist mill in Virginia with tandem overshot waterwheels.” I found myself wanting to know more about the mill’s mechanisms, the architecture and building materials, but with no one around, I left there wondering. For some, the historic town of Middleburg, founded in 1787, is appealing because it offers many upscale shops and restaurants. Guess Where recommended spending an hour to an hour and a half here, but for me, that was far too short. A deli lunch alone took 30 minutes. Sampling four recommended shops along the main street’s four blocks took another hour. Guess Where did not recommend visiting either of two local museums. The Middleburg area is known as “horse and hunt country,” so horse and

fox imagery seem ubiquitous — in statuary, in art galleries and on street flags, dishes and T-shirts. Horse trailers rumble through town. To get a better feel for the locale, I opted to deviate from the itinerary and visit the National Sporting Library and Museum, which promotes the culture of equestrian, angling and field sports. Omitting this stop, so central to the region’s mystique and culture, seemed like a big gap in the trip materials.

Consider Googling for more info The last stop, the State Arboretum of Virginia, could easily have taken half a day, but Guess Where recommends one to two hours. The materials describe the site’s history, including its days as a plantation that enslaved 72 people. While that’s interesting, most visitors go to an arboretum to see trees and vegetation. Guess Where’s materials devote two sentences to the extensive tree and plant collections there and nary a mention of wildlife. Presumably, one could go to a website and get more information while on site, but when I travel, I want to absorb the places See GUESS WHERE, page 28

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3

Domestic travel prices are trending lower By Sam Kemmis Dining out is more expensive than ever. The cost of gas is fluctuating. And the price of travel — including airfare and hotels — has kept pace. Right? Not exactly. Airfare costs declined by 13% between September 2022 and September 2023, according to September 2023 Consumer Price Index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Far from being an inflationary force, travel prices have actually helped cool overall prices this year. Yet this seems to fly in the face of many travelers’ expectations. “I keep hearing the narrative that it’s so expensive to travel,” said Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper, a travel booking platform. “In reality we’re seeing lower prices, for domestic trips especially.” Travel prices have fluctuated so often since 2019 that it makes sense if recent price drops haven’t registered for many travelers. And while airfare has decreased in recent months below 2019 levels, other expenses such as dining out and renting a car remain above their pre-pandemic baseline. Put simply: It’s been complicated, yet prices are moderating.

International flights still pricey Part of this complication comes from the divergence in price swings for domes-

tic and international airfare. Overseas travelers have seen starkly higher relative prices than those flying within the U.S. “On the international front, prices for most destinations are higher than pre-pandemic,” Berg said. Typical roundtrip fares from the U.S. to Europe hit nearly $1,200 this summer, according to Hopper data, which was the highest price in six years. Tickets to Asia reached almost $1,600. And while Berg said prices have moderated since then, they remain high by historical standards. On the flip side, domestic prices are down compared with 2022. What’s driving this difference in price trends? The supply of aircraft seats is one issue. Although airlines are now operating at 2019 capacity domestically, they have been slower to add international flights, according to Berg. Indeed, American Airlines added only 11% more international capacity in the first half of 2023 compared with the same period in 2022, according to its second-quarter financial results, yet revenue increased on those routes by 41%. Clearly, supply hasn’t kept pace with demand, and prices have risen. Another reason airlines have been able to keep international prices high: a relative lack of competition from low-cost airlines. “If you think back to 2019, it was the hey-

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day of flying to London for $300 with a stopover in Iceland,” Berg said. “Fast forward to today, many of those airlines are not operating or operating at lower capacity.” All this points to the same conclusion for budget-minded travelers: Airfare is relatively cheap for U.S. travel and expensive for those flying abroad.

Other prices fluctuating Lodging prices have fluctuated less dramatically than airfare over the past two years, though current prices overall are elevated over 2019 and 2022 levels. Average daily rates for U.S. hotels rose by 2% year-over-year in August, according to STR, an industry analyst. Short-term rental prices over the same period were largely flat based on data from AirDNA, a short-term rental analytics company. The cost of renting a car, which skyrocketed in the past few years, has normalized somewhat. Prices were down 9% in September 2023 compared with the same month last year. And Berg suggests that these trends, too, vary by region. “In Florida, which is one of the most popular markets, prices are incredibly low,” she said. “Where the supply is, prices are very low.” Still, car rental prices have much farther to fall before they reach pre-pandemic

norms. It now costs 37% more to rent a car than it did in 2019, according to September’s Consumer Price Index.

Back to normal demand The surge of “revenge travel” in summer 2022 and early 2023 caused prices to spike. Yet these prices peaked in March of this year, according to the NerdWallet travel price index, and have been trending downward ever since. And while international flights remain expensive, these prices are lowering, according to Berg. The U.S. dollar’s strength against foreign currencies such as the euro and Japanese yen also bodes well for international travel budgets. Altogether, this means readjusting (once again) to the new realities of travel costs, and letting go of the idea that prices remain elevated. These trends could change again in the face of volatile oil prices and changing consumer demands, but experts expect prices to stay low in the short term. “Some of the pent-up demand was exhausted this summer,” Berg said. “Regular demand is what we’re seeing going forward.” This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. © 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Opt out: The trap that keeps on trapping An old golf joke describes a guy poised to and the actual risk so low that many credit hit a drive, but just standing there and not cards offer collision coverage free when moving. After a few minutes, you use the card for a rental. an exasperated partner shouts, My column has pointed out “For Pete’s sake, hit the ball!” a different opt-out trap for At which point the guy says, travelers renting cars: rental “Yes! That’s it — the 50th thing companies’ daily rates for auI was supposed to remember.” tomatic toll collection sysWhy a lame golf joke? Betems. The trap is that if you cause travel is the same — buy into the system, and use everybody has a list of it even once, you pay the stiff “musts” for you to do when daily rate for every day of the you’re arranging a trip. I know rental. I’ve been guilty of posting TRAVEL TIPS Avoiding this toll-collection such lists, and today I’m look- By Ed Perkins trap requires homework, being at just one such item. The “opt-out” choice you often see can be a trap that never stops trapping. If you don’t make a conscious choice, you could wind up paying over and over for something you didn’t want even once. The trap is not confined to travel; you see it everywhere. But it’s a feature of plenty of travel purchase scenarios. The most common opt-out option is some form of insurance. When you buy an air ticket or book a hotel room, the website often adds insurance unless you specifically say you don’t want it. That insurance isn’t always a bad deal, but it can be. The last time I arranged an air ticket, the opt-out insurance showed a reasonable price, and it didn’t ask for my age, which meant I wouldn’t get hit with a super-high senior rate. But when I checked the fine print, I found the insurance covered only the plane ticket, not any other part of my trip. Clearly, if I wanted to insure the trip, this was not the right policy.

Rental car gotchas

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Opt-out collision damage waivers have historically been a problem with rental cars. I haven’t seen it often lately, but when you rent a car, sometimes a rental agent can hand you a contract to sign that is prefilled to indicate you want to buy the “insurance.” Unlike the airline case, this is almost always a bad buy. The price is high — coming close to doubling the rental cost — and the profit margin at those prices is so high

Guess Where From page 26 fully and get questions answered, not fiddle with a phone or navigate websites. Still, I appreciated Guess Where’s perks; it does the planning for you and can introduce you to new adventures. Since no

cause these days old-fashioned toll-booth cash collection is on the way out. Instead, when you rent a car, find out (1) whether you’re likely to encounter toll highways and bridges driving around your destination, (2) what sort of toll collection system you’ll encounter, and (3) how to arrange to pay tolls independently without involving the rental company. For the U.S., start by checking each state where you plan to drive at worldpopulationreview.com; for Europe, check tolls.eu.

What to insure and how Regular readers know my general take on travel insurance: Buy enough to cover whatever prepayment and deposit money you have at risk if you have to cancel or postpone a trip. And buy it through a thirdparty travel insurance broker such as Quotewright.com or Squaremouth.com, where you can tailor coverage to meet your exact needs. My general take on rental car insurance is similar: Avoid the rental company’s insurance. Your credit card may automatically cover you at no extra fee. Ideally, if you rent often, get a card that offers primary collision coverage, as many now do. And if your card doesn’t cover you at all, buy coverage from a third-party car rental specialist such as Bonzah.com or RentalCarCover.com. Email Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net. Also, check out Ed’s website at rail-guru.com. © 2023 Ed Perkins. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

reservations or tickets are involved, you can be flexible. The trips nourish one’s sense of adventure while providing some structure. The “mystery” part is an enticing tease. Would I do it again? Yes! I’m ready. To find out more or send a mystery trip to a friend, visit guesswheretrips.com.

Write a letter to the editor. See page 2.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3

Escape to Portugal’s coastal hideaway are the most fun, with the best service, food and atmosphere. The Atlantico is popular and right on the beach. It’s especially atmospheric when the electricity goes out, and faces flicker around the candles. The Boia Bar, at the base of the residential street, is simple and friendly, with huge portions and a few tables a splashing distance from the surf.

To the edge of the world From Salema, it’s a short drive to the rugged and historic southwestern tip of Portugal. This was the spot closest to the edge of our flat earth in the days before Columbus. Prince Henry the Navigator — determined to broaden Europe’s horizons — sent sailors ever farther into the unknown. He ran a navigator’s school at Cape Sagres. It was from here that Henry carefully debriefed the

many shipwrecked and frustrated explorers as they washed ashore. Today at Sagres, tourists surf, fishermen cast from its towering crags, local merchants sell homemade and seaworthy sweaters, and daredevil windsurfers skitter across the windy stretches of water. Here, travelers like me gaze, mesmerized, out at the horizon, where medieval Europe The uncrowded beach of Ponta da Piedade, at the figured the sea dropped into southern tip of Portugal, is one of the Algarve region’s still-kept secrets. mysterious oblivion. In the Algarve, tourists and fishermen pean guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public sport the same stubble. This hideaway is just TV and radio, and organizes European tours. the place for some rigorous rest and inten- This article was adapted from his book, For sive relaxation. It’s where globetrotting ex- the Love of Europe. Email him at rick@rickperts in lethargy mix with the locals, work on steves.com and follow his blog on Facebook. © 2022 Rick Steves. Distributed by Tribtans, and enjoy some very fresh octopus. Rick Steves (RickSteves.com) writes Euro- une Content Agency, LLC. PHOTO BY RICK STEVES

By Rick Steves Since Phoenician times, octopi have been the main catch for the villagers of Salema, located on a still-sleepy patch of the Algarve, Portugal’s popular south coast. And the fishing process has changed little in several thousand years. At the crack of dawn, I wait at the beach for my local friend, Sebastian, who’s agreed to take me out to check the pots. As Sebastian pushes his boat into the sea, he helps me board. His hands are thickly calloused; mine are mostly used for a laptop. My white and tender feet are slathered with sunscreen; his tough bare feet grab the crackled wooden surface of his garishly colored and well-worn boat. Vivid contrasts make vivid travel memories. The barnacle-encrusted pottery jars stacked around town are much more than rustic souvenirs: They’re octopus traps. They’re tied about 15 feet apart in long lines and dropped offshore. Octopi, thinking these are a cozy place to set an ambush, climb in and get ambushed themselves. When the fishermen hoist them in, the stubborn octopi hang on — unaware they’ve made their final mistake. Sebastian hauls in the line as the old pots are noisily welcomed aboard. Water splashes everywhere, but there’s no sign of an octopus. From the boat, I survey this stretch of Portugal’s Algarve. It’s long been known as “Europe’s last undiscovered tourist frontier,” but — as is the case with any place famous for being undiscovered — it no longer is. Most of the Algarve is going the way of the Spanish Costa del Sol: paved, miserably packed and pretty stressful. It’s overdeveloped, with giant condo-type “villas” hovering over just about every beach with road access. But one bit of old Algarve magic still glitters quietly in the sun: Sebastian’s hometown, Salema.

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BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.)

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HOWARD COUNTY

Little Salema

BALTIMORE COUNTY

You’ll find Salema at the end of a small road, just off the main drag between the big city of Lagos and the rugged “land’s end of Europe,” Cape Sagres. This simple fishing village has a dozen or so restaurants, a few hotels and bars, timeshare condos up the road, English and German menus and signs (including bullfight ads for “Stierkampf”), and lots of sun. Lying where a dirt road hits the sea, little Salema is blessed with a long, broad, gorgeous beach — luxurious with powderfine sand, framed off by steep vivid-yellow cliffs, and relatively untrampled by rowdy tourists. For my money, it may be the most purely enjoyable beach in all of Europe. Travelers and locals alike ignore an evergrowing circle of modern condo-type hotels, apartments and villas up the hillside. Skip the hotels and go for the quartos (they’re like B&Bs, but without the breakfast). The town’s handful of small, family-run restaurants specialize in one thing: fresh seafood. Happily, those that face the beach

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Call the community of interest to you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour.

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Style Arts &

Make your home more warm and welcoming with help from these books. See page 34.

Miniature trains delight kids of all ages Hidden details Society members meticulously crafted and hand painted all the miniatures. Some, built from model kits, resemble familiar buildings, while others represent local icons that no longer exist. “The car dealership is something I created,” Drymalski said, pointing to a green brick one-story building with large glass windows showcasing slick two-toned cars. “There was a company called Maryland Motors in Rockville. But I decided on a simple design that would actually fit into this layout.” Hidden, imaginative surprises abound for those who take the time to immerse themselves in the Garden Railway storyline and inspect it closely. A dragon nests amid the boulders and pines under one of the iron train bridges, and Santa towers over Snow White and several dwarfs on the balcony of Glen Echo’s Baltzley Castle replica. Even the notorious Exorcist stairs, although hidden slightly out of view, are included in the layout that represents the now-defunct trolley line that once ran through Washington D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood to Cabin John, Maryland. The Garden Railway runs dozens of engines, both steam and diesel, but Thomas remains the favorite. “If we don’t run Thomas, the kids start asking, ‘Where’s Thomas? Where’s Thomas?’” Drymalski said.

Volunteers make it happen It seems appropriate, then, that many of

PHOTO BY STUART ROSENTHAL

By Ana Preger Hart Thomas the Tank Engine chugs past a tiny Kensington Train Station, curves around a pond and a farm, and finally reaches the Brookside Gardens Conservatory buildings. If you peer into the miniature conservatory’s glass roof, you’ll spot a further miniaturized replica of this same railroad display, the Garden Railway at Brookside. Every winter for more than 20 years, Ggauge model trains circle the magical display created by the Washington Virginia Maryland Garden Railway Society (WVMGRS) in partnership with Brookside Gardens in Silver Spring, Maryland, which provides the lush greenery that enlivens the nostalgic scenery and completes the illusion. The society’s vision is to recreate what Montgomery County was like during the era of big steam trains, said Peter Drymalski, a longtime WVMGRS member and one of the many volunteers who built this year’s layout. “We played fast and loose with that, but some of the scenes are real,” he said, like the recreation of the train station in Kensington, which still exists, or the model of an old white and red general store near Olney and the copy of a cider store in Germantown. While some buildings are reused, the scene is reimagined and built anew each year by the volunteers. Great care goes into every detail of creating the display, including researching the history of the Cabin John Trolley, which began running in 1892.

Model trains chug through the intricate, whimsical Garden Railway exhibit at Brookside Gardens in Silver Spring, Maryland. The free annual display, built and run by volunteers, runs until Jan. 1.

the society members got involved with model trains when their own children were young enough to be enchanted by intricate layouts like the one at Brookside. But even with the kids long grown, these dedicated volunteers continue putting in long hours and commuting from all over the DMV area to create magic for 40 days a year at Brookside. “We will have logged about somewhere between 500 and 600 hours,” said John Waters-Heflin, who is coordinating this year’s

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effort at the Gardens. Most volunteers say nostalgia and a love of trains powers their hard work. “When I was little, we still had steam trains,” Drymalski said. “We had to cross the tracks every day to get to school, to get to church, to get to the grocery store….A steam train makes all kinds of noises. It puts on a show.” And the Garden Railway at Brookside

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NOW THROUGH JANUARY 7 “ YOU DON’T WANT

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SigTheatre.org | 703 820 9771

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3

Ragtime sings of tumultuous early 1900s By Mark Dreisonstok Travel back in time with Signature Theatre’s outstanding production of Ragtime, superbly directed by Matthew Gardiner. The musical, based on the 1975 novel by E.L. Doctorow, narrates the lives of three different families in the early 1900s and the problems each family faces. One large upper-class family must adapt to the enormous social changes taking place around them. The members of this family are identified only by their titles: Mother, Father, Mother’s Younger Brother, etc. The second, smaller family consists of Tateh (Yiddish for father) and his Little Girl, Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe who struggle to succeed in turn-of-

the-century America. Finally, there is the story of ragtime pianist Coalhouse Walker Jr., and the tragic story of his beloved Sarah. Both of them encounter the intense racism of the era. This third story is modeled in part after Heinrich von Kleist’s classic novella “Michael Kohlhaas,” in which the eponymous character “sets about the business of revenge.” Indeed, the thirst for revenge and the destruction it can bring becomes a dominant theme in the second half of the musical.

Historical figures in cameos

Nesbit, portrayed coquettishly and memorably by Maria Rizzo. Both serious and fun at the same time, Dani Staller plays her character of Emma Goldman with vivacity and exuberance.

Strong musical performances Ragtime has such an involved plot with heady historical themes that at times it is easy to forget this is a musical. Not to worry; that side of the show is also executed beautifully by the cast and musicians. The company is in perfect rhythm and harmony for the titular song “Ragtime.” Mario Rizzo and Edward L. Simon perform a lovely duet as Evelyn Nesbit and Harry Hou-

Maria Rizzo plays Evelyn Nesbit, a New York City actress and model, in Ragtime, a musical that mixes historical figures like Nesbit with fictional ones. The show runs at Signature Theatre in Arlington until Jan. 7.

12 M

See RAGTIME, page 32

Make Grea s a t Gif t !

PHOTO BY DANIEL RADER

Historical personages such as Booker T. Washington, Emma Goldman, President McKinley, Henry Ford, J.P. Morgan, Harry Houdini and socialite Evelyn Nesbit interact with the fictional characters of Ragtime, providing a portrait of early 20thcentury America. In the production, ragtime music is not simply the music in vogue but a symbol of the broad changes taking place in family roles and class. The music is catchy, but often in a minor key, representing the friction brought about by these changes.

The standout actor is Nkrumah Gatling, who plays Coalhouse in an emotive way as he experiences love, hope, joy, success, failure and loss. His performance leads the audience to experience these emotions vicariously. Bobby Smith as Tateh also seems not merely to act but to live his part, bringing the audience to the heights of his enthusiasm for a new life in America, and later to despair when the American dream seems unattainable. Jake Loewenthal imbues Mother’s Younger Brother with a believable character transformation from a man with no ideas to a terrorist with frighteningly misguided actions. In this very somber production, a fun character emerges in the person of Evelyn

The BSO Passport is our most flexible option for music lovers to experience the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra all season long. For just $120 (or two for $240), get access to 30+ concerts throughout the season at both the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore and The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda. Add on an extra ticket for a friend for only $20 per concert!

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

NASA offers new, free streaming service By Joey Solitro The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is launching more than just rockets these days. Last month, its

new streaming service, NASA+, took off. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, NASA said the ad-free, no-cost and family-friendly streaming service will fea-

The City of Rockville presents

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Winter Jubilee

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Friday Morning Music Club Concerts in December 2023 and January 2024 — All free and open to the public ST. GEORGE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

THE MANSION AT STRATHMORE

915 N Oakland St, Arlington, VA Chamber Music Series, 1st and 2nd Fridays of the month at noon Friday, December 1: works by Franck and Mendelssohn Friday, December 8: works by Stanford Chopin and Faure Friday, January 5: works by Borodin, Spohr and Debussy Friday, January 12: works by Beethoven, Heggie and Barber

10701 Rockville Pike, N. Bethesda, MD Works by FMMC composers: Leslie Bennett, Li-Ly Chang and Paul Leavitt Thursday, January 4 at 1 p.m. 2715 Q St. NW, Washington, DC Thursday, January 11 at 7 p.m.: works by Mozart and Crusell

WOMAN’S CLUB OF CHEVY CHASE

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7931 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase, MD Works by FMMC composers: Leslie Bennett, Li-Ly Chang, Mark Simon and An-Ming Wang. Friday, December 15 at noon

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DUMBARTON HOUSE

LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE REFORMATION

Musicians and music lovers are welcome to join FMMC. Interested in singing or playing at our concerts? Virtual auditions accepted anytime for voice, piano and instruments, or schedule an in-person audition on March 22, 2024.

See fmmc.org for more information on our concerts and auditions.

ture Emmy-award winning live shows and original series. The service “embeds you into our missions through new original video series and puts the universe at your fingertips,” the agency said. The official announcement came about three months after NASA teased out the release of the service on its website. It will be available on most major platforms including the NASA App on iOS and Android devices, streaming media players including Roku, Apple TV and Fire TV, and on the web across both desktop and mobile devices. The agency also said it is revamping its flagship NASA and science websites and upgrading the NASA App. Additional agency websites and multimedia libraries will also be connected to the platform. “We’re putting space on demand and at

your fingertips with NASA’s new streaming platform,” Marc Etkind, NASA associate administrator of the Office of Communications, said in a statement. “Transforming our digital presence will help us better tell the stories of how NASA explores the unknown in air and space, inspires through discovery, and innovates for the benefit of humanity.” News of free streaming services comes when people need it most. In the last three months, consumers have been hit with price hikes at many of the major streaming services, including Apple TV, Netflix, Discovery Plus, Disney+ and Hulu. © 2023 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

Miniature trains

asts have in common is creativity, Drymalski said. “When you create a railroad like this, you’re a little bit like God. You know, you’re creating something from nothing. And it can be very attractive, and it’s unique to you. Nobody else would do it the same way.” The Garden Railway operates daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Jan. 1. The free exhibit is located in the conservatory at Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland. For more information, call (301) 962-1400.

From page 30 puts on a show, too. The G-gauge (for garden) is the largest model train gauge, running on a brass track powered by electricity. Two volunteers are on standby in case of a derailment, and they run a motorized track cleaner that keeps the rails clean. Society members have even rigged a tablet that allows little hands to get the trains chugging around their imaginary neighborhood — a huge hit with kids. What many miniature railroad enthusi-

Ragtime From page 31 dini in “Atlantic City.” Teal Wicks, as Mother, performs “What Kind of Woman?” poignantly and in magnificent voice; her strong performance brings much cohesion to the show. Bill English as Father has his moment in singing “What a Game” at a baseball game while noticing social change around him. The most memorable singing occurred with Awa Sal Secka as Sarah in “You Daddy’s Son,” and then in her duet with Nkrumah Gatling as Coalhouse in “Wheels of a Dream.” The orchestra, assigned to bring ragtime back to life and conducted exquisitely by Jon Kalbfleisch, was superb. Ashleigh King’s choreography and Erik Teague’s

costume design gave further period authenticity to the show. Ragtime is wonderful, thoughtful entertainment with much to teach us about U.S. history, but this show is not recommended for young children. With a performance time of approximately three hours, including one 15-minute intermission, Ragtime runs Tuesday through Sunday evenings, with matinees on Saturdays and Sundays, through January 7, 2024. Tickets range from $68 to $140 depending on seat location and performance. Tickets are 25% off for all first responders, frontline workers, veterans and educators. Signature Theatre is located at 4200 Campbell Ave., in Arlington, Virginia. For tickets, visit sigtheatre.org or call the box office at (703) 820-9771.

BEACON BITS ENERGY-RELATED SCAMS Ongoing AVOID Pepco reminds customers to be vigilant and look for imposters using energy-related scams to steal money and personal information. There is generally an increase in attempted scam reports during the holiday season. If you ever question the legitimacy of a call or visit to your home regarding disconnection of service, contact Pepco at (202) 833-7500. To learn more about preventing scams, visit pepco.com for tips and information.

MONTHLY WALKING GROUP

Ongoing This one-hour walk on Sligo Creek takes place on the 3

Thursday of each month at 11 a.m., except in inclement weather. Meet at 7500 Maple Ave., Takoma Park, MD. No registration required. For more information, contact Susan Rogers at gjpgroup@yahoo.com or (202) 243-9230.

Makes a great gift! | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3

Winter Events GIL SHAHAM

SEONG-JIN CHO

HILARY HAHN

GIANANDREA NOSEDA

Scott Suchman

Dana Van Leeuwen Deca

Harald Hoffmann

Chris Lee

MUSICAL ROOTS: NOSEDA & FRIENDS FEATURING SPECIAL GUEST NOVA Y. PAYTON STEVEN REINEKE, PRINCIPAL POPS CONDUCTOR HERITAGE SIGNATURE CHORALE

Fazil Say plays Stravinsky Noseda conducts Haydn

Get ready to sing along, laugh, and embrace the magic of the season at the hottest holiday bash in town! Warm your spirit at our sparkling celebration as Norm Lewis lights up the festively decorated Concert Hall with holiday showstoppers, selections from his best-selling Christmas album, and Broadway favorites that make him one of today’s most sought-after leading men.

Turkish sensation Fazil Say and Gianandrea Noseda unite in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall for the very ﬁrst time, continuing a distinguished collaboration and close friendship. Say, a pianist “with a maverick reputation” and “virtuoso brilliance” (Gramophone) brings palpable energy to the music of WF Bach and Igor Stravinsky. Then, Haydn’s Symphony No. 95 ignites a ﬁre of irresistible vigor and wit.

Dec. 8 & 9 | Concert Hall

H A N D E L’ S

Washington, D.C.’s favorite holiday tradition returns! Laurence Equilbey makes her much-anticipated debut conducting the NSO, the University of Maryland Concert Choir, and an all-star lineup of soloists in Handel’s greatest oratorio celebration. Composed in 1741, Messiah is as potent today as it was more than 280 years ago, inspiring joy and wonder from both ﬁrst-time listeners and those who return every year. LAURENCE EQUILBEY, CONDUCTOR ROBIN JOHA JOHANNSEN, SOPRANO CHRISTOPHER LOWREY, COUNTERTENOR AARON SHEEHAN SHEEHAN, TENOR JONATHON ADAMS, ADAMS BARITONE UNIVERSITY OF MARY MARYLAND CONCERT CHOIR JASON MAX FERDINAN FERDINAND, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Dec. 14–17 | Concert Hall

Kennedy-Center.org The ONLY OFFICIAL WEBSITE of the Kennedy Center (202) 467-4600 For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales Box Oﬃce at (202) 416-8540. Groups of 20+ call (202) 416-8400

Jan. 11–13 | Concert Hall

Gil Shaham plays Dvořák’s Violin Concerto Noseda conducts Schubert’s Ninth Symphony Grammy®-winning violinist Gil Shaham, proclaimed “the outstanding American violinist of his generation” by Time Magazine, bring flawless technique and spirited warmth to every note of Dvořák’s Violin Concerto— from its powerhouse opening and lyrical slow movement to the lively finale infused with Slavic cheer. Noseda closes the program with Schubert’s final Symphony No. 9, “The Great.”

Jan. 18, 20 & 21 | Concert Hall

Seong-Jin Cho plays Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 Noseda conducts Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony & Carlos Simon Following his concerts last season, The Washington Classical Review reported that an “aura of classical music celebrity hung about the Kennedy Center Concert Hall… when a capacity crowd turned out to hear the return of Seong-Jin Cho.” Now, he reunites with Noseda for a performance of Beethoven’s moving Piano Concerto No. 4.

Jan. 25–27 | Concert Hall

Hilary Hahn plays Korngold’s Violin Concerto Noseda conducts Beethoven’s “Eroica” Three-time Grammy® winner and Musical America’s 2023 “Artist of the Year” Hilary Hahn performs Korngold’s glamorous, glittering Violin Concerto—an extraordinary fusion of Viennese romance and Old Hollywood. Then, brace yourself for the immortal “Eroica” Symphony, Beethoven’s vast ode to heroism, revolution, and freedom.

Feb. 7–9 | Concert Hall THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

NSO Pops Presenting Sponsor

The Leonard and Elaine Silverstein Family Foundation Fund for the National Symphony Orchestra The NSO Music Director Chair is generously endowed by the Sant Family Noseda Era Fund Supporters The Amici di Gianandrea Kathryn and J. Stephen Jones MD

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Books on home design for reading, gifts These three books are meant for more is the author of four books. than display. They will inspire you with In 2022, Harper’s Bazaar reported, “It’s ideas on how to decorate your important to Crossley that her home in time for the holidays. house is comfortable and They make great gifts, too. inviting. [S]ince having three Inspire: The Art of Livboys…she no longer allows ing with Nature: 50 Beauherself to get too emotionally tiful Projects to Bring the attached to objects.” GrandOutside In, by Willow parents can relate to that senCrossley, 176 pages, CICO timent. Books hardcover, 2023 Country Living FarmCreate a warm, welcoming house Style: Warm and festive environment for your Welcoming Rustic Homes, home this holiday season. THE by Caroline McKenzie, 160 Learn how to make home dec- BIBLIOPHILE pages, Hearst Home hardorations using flowers, ferns, By Dinah Rokach cover, 2023 pinecones, branches, driftDo you want to live in surwood, seashells and what Mother Nature roundings that are stylish yet welcoming provides free of charge. and comfortable? Many of us would like Inspire offers step-by-step instructions pointers on how to properly display our for 50 projects. They are divided into five personal mementos and flea-market finds. chapters: woodland, flora, fauna, beach Countr y farmhouse style is the anand edibles. More than 150 color photo- swer. It’s home décor that passes the nographs accompany the text. Each project coaster test, a term coined by author Carincludes a list of tools such as paints, oline McKenzie, former editor of Country brushes and fabric. At the back, you’ll find Living. online shopping websites to purchase The terms country and farmhouse are them. quite broad in interpretation and encomWillow Crossley, who lives in the pass an informal, casual style incorporatCotswolds in the British countryside, has ing traditional furnishings. In August, been called the UK Queen of Flowers. She Axios.com reported, “Modern farmhouse

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style dominates [the] DMV suburbs. Modern farmhouses have dethroned McMansions as the suburban dream home.” The book illustrates 20 homes. Find inspiration browsing the more than 140 color illustrations, over half of which are full-page. Half of the projects show the interiors of newly built homes; the rest are renovations. See how Tennessee empty-nesters transformed a dilapidated barn into their retirement home. Nearby homes featured are in Hollywood, Maryland; St. Mary’s County, Maryland; Loudoun County, Virginia; Virginia’s village of Waterford, and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Lived-In Style: The Art of Creating a Feel-Good Home, by Ki Nassauer, photographed by Edmund Barr, 160 pages, CICO Books hardcover, 2023 Does living in a home inspired by glossy magazines make you recoil? Do you cringe at the thought of hiring an interior designer to stage a museum-like setting for your private living space? For those of you who would like to live in a comfortable home inspired by your travels and personal taste, Lived-In Style is a book you’ll treasure. More than 180 lavish color photographs

in this large-format book explore the Lived-In style look. Alongside each pictorial essay is a list of pointers on how to replicate this concept in your own home. The book includes a dozen homes that embody this design. They run the gamut from suburban and country to urban and loft spaces. The homes’ owners cover every demographic: retirees, young families with children, singles and couples. They explain, in sidebar comments, specifics of the LivedIn style. Their Instagram handles are provided so you can continue to follow their design projects. Vintage objects can be incorporated into every room. Discover these treasures at estate sales, neighborhood sidewalk castoffs, flea markets, Etsy, Ebay and Facebook Marketplace. Learn how to refurbish and transform them into fashionable home furnishings. At the back of the book, you’ll find 95 resources, including information on 11 major flea markets and prominent antique shows, as well as lists of brick-and-mortar and online stores. Los Angeles-based Ki Nassauer is founder and editor of the online magazine Lived-In Style. She has been called the Martha Stewart of vintage.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3

A curmudgeonly defense of using cash Brunch for the two couples was done. It — treats a credit card as if it’s an advanced was time to settle the bill. form of civilization. The male of the other couple Oh, hey, you get airline plopped down a credit card. miles, they chirp. Oh, hey, you This male reached for his walget one neat statement at the let and produced a wad of cash. end of each month. Oh, hey, I handed it to him. He treatyou don’t have to worry about ed it like a rare species of poimisplacing your cash or getsonous mushroom. ting relieved of your money by “What am I going to do with a robber. it?” he asked. Cash, they say, is so yester“Uh, spend it?” I replied. day. He gave me a look someBut so am I, and I’m not where between amazement HOW I SEE IT about to bend. At brunch, I and stomach upset. So it goes By Bob Levey didn’t rehearse the many reawhen you’re an old guy and sons why I prefer actual you greatly dislike plastic. money. But you, dear reader, are not going This is definitely an age-related attitude. to be so lucky. Anybody who’s younger than I am — Reason One: Not every credit card transheck, everybody who’s younger than I am action is seamless (although cash always is).

Letters to the editor From page 2 I like to leave leaves on the yard, but when do I have to rake them up? In the spring? Will it not kill the lawn if they are not eventually removed? Fidelita Levy Alexandria, VA

[Ed. Reply: A modest amount of leaves left on the lawn or in garden beds will naturally decompose over the winter and enrich the soil for spring. But if you have a thick layer of leaves on your lawn or garden beds, it’s best to rake most of them into piles this fall for pickup by county services for composting.]

BEACON BITS

Ongoing FREE TUITION AT NOVA COMMUNITY COLLEGE Legal residents of Virginia ages 60 and over are eligible for a senior citizen tuition waiver at Northern Virginia Community College. The waiver can be applied toward taking classes for credit, auditing credit classes, or taking non-credit courses through Workforce Development. To learn more about this program, visit nvcc.edu/admissions/apply/senior-citizens.html or call (703) 323-3000.

Montgomery Countyʼs leading organization of senior service professionals dedicated to improving senior living through networking, education, advocacy and public awareness. For information and resources, visit

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About 15 years ago, in New Orleans, I treated our son and several of his pals to dinner. The tab was something like $350. I paid with a credit card. The next morning, I was waiting to board a 6 a.m. flight when my phone rang. It was my dearly beloved. No “Good morning.” No “I love you.” “OK, buster, what have you done this time?” she began. Seems that the credit card company wasn’t sure that my $350 charge was legitimate. So, they called our home number — at 5:30 in the morning! — to see if our card might have been stolen. May I point out gently that there would have been no such phone call — and no fu-

rious, awakened spouse — if I had paid with cash? Reason Two: It’s really easy for a thief to copy down, or skim, any credit card number. Yes, I know that no credit card holder is liable for more than $50 of illegal charges. But I also know that if a criminal misuses one’s credit card, the company reacts in only one way. It cancels the card and issues you a new one. But that new card often doesn’t arrive for a week or more. If you’re an anti-casher, this will cause big delays and big headaches. You’ll need to re-enroll in all your automatic payments and you’ll run See BOB LEVEY, page 37

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Crossword Puzzle Find a new crossword every day on our website at www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com/puzzles. Write Right 1

By Stephen Sherr

13 16 19

44 48

53 58

50 54

Across 1. Standard, half the world from the intl. date line 4. Puts in the secret ingredient 8. Friends’ Central Perk, and Seinfeld’s Monk’s 13. “Go, team, go” 14. River fish 15. Place to shout 13 Across or 49 Down 16. Cracker spread 17. Mideast ruler 18. Like Anthony Michael Hall in 80’s movies 19. A literal flea market, for example 22. Show a need for a CPAP machine 23. ___ of the Roses 24. Piehole 27. It brings to mind some of Ringo Starr’s instruments 32. Second player on Family Feud, perhaps 35. Oracle 36. Recipient of 2,912,523 votes in Florida in 2000 37. Green and abundant 39. Adagio and allegro 42. Spy ___ Hari 43. Gambling term that sounds like your mom’s sister 44. 1977 film with subtitle The Killer Whale 46. Nickname for some Theodores 47. A good place to show off your ass 52. Bodycare boutique 53. Neither hide ___ hair 54. NFL’er who participates in “The Brotherly Shove” 58. Officer in Mr. Peanut’s army 63. “I wasn’t even there,” for example 65. It is infused into Kleenex Soothing Lotion tissues 66. Half a ___ is better than none 67. Bakers often make it 13 68. Three tsps. 69. “Mommy” has them; “Daddy” doesn’t 70. Daisy that appears to be looking at you 71. Best coast to see sunrises 72. “You ain’t seen nothing ___”

Down

1. Silo contents

43 47

36 39

Jumble answers on p. 39.

23 27

Scrabble answers on p. 39.

2. Flat bread 3. “___ of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice” (ML King) 4. Powerful tennis server 5. Knight’s widow 6. Small amount 7. Result of poor urban planning 8. Songbird 9. 1.32 acres (on a football field) 10. Transport to San Francisco Giants home games 11. Epilogue 12. ___ Yes to the Dress 16. Network of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos 20. Jedi, later than Obi-Wan K or Mace W 21. Little Caesars offerings, colloquially 25. Largest blood vessel 26. Say “not guilty” 28. “A stranger’s just a friend you haven’t ___” 29. Honey producer 30. There is a lot of it in Camelot closets 31. One of the “big five” of film’s studio era 32. Lets the cat out of the bag 33. The time before the big event 34. Kick one out of the cool kids’ table 38. “Behind every great man is a woman rolling __ eyes” (Jim Carrey) 40. One in a pay-to-play scheme 41. Scene loc. in Nurse Jackie 45. Pulitzer-winning writer James 48. Connected to the ‘net 49. Greet the visiting team 50. Lavish 51. Engineer, and member of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame 55. Garden protector 56. “If you can’t make it good, at ___ make it look good” (Bill Gates) 57. One of Santa’s neighbors 59. Toe the line 60. Island 10 kilometers from Italy 61. Decrease in net income 62. Didn’t share 63. Commotion 64. Smoked salmon

Answers on page 39.

Makes a great gift! | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3

Bob Levey From page 35

ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick Detorie

the risk of late fees. May I point out gently that there’s no such aggravation if you pay with cash? Reason Three: the annual enrollment fee. If you’re lucky, it will be only $99. That’s “only” uttered with a grimace and a strangled voice. Where I come from, 99 bucks is real money. Reason Four: Security that isn’t so secure. If you read the fine print, you will discover that your credit card isn’t activated until and unless you sign it on the back. That’s supposed to be an added layer of protection for all concerned. But no clerk ever looks to be sure that you’ve signed. Therefore, if you forget or fail to sign your card, you are setting the table for a major fraud spree if the card is stolen. Please don’t tell me that this is a victimless crime. How do you think the defrauded business makes up its loss? By raising its prices, of course, which nips you, me and everyone else. I could go on about the social cachet of certain credit cards (“Oh, how cool, your credit card has endangered baby pandas on the front of it!”). I could mention that addicted shoppers threaten their credit ratings every second via credit card binges. I could even tell you about a friend who applies for any card whose background is silver. Why? Because she likes silver. She has 24 of them. Go figure. In the meantime, my concession to the modern world of commerce is to visit an ATM about twice a month. Click, bip, boom, and I have all the cash I need. As I shove it into my wallet, you’ll forgive me if I allow myself a slightly smug smile. I have once again proven that not everything modern is necessarily better. Bob Levey is a national award-winning columnist.

BEACON BITS

Dec. 16

MAKE A SHADOW BOX

Learn the tricks and tips to create a miniature world with paper cutouts and found objects, using your own materials or the ones provided by the library. This free workshop takes place Sat., Dec. 16 from 3 to 4 p.m. at Kensington Park Library, 4201 Knowles Ave., Kensington, MD. Register at bit.ly/ShadowBoxWorkshop. For more information, call (240) 773-9515.

Dec. 16

FREE JAZZ CONCERT

Join Dominique Bianco, a renowned jazz vocalist, for a holiday evening of jazz standards and original songs on Sat., Dec. 16 at 5 p.m. at Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center, 14715 Good Hope Rd., Silver Spring, MD. The concert is free, or you can pay what you can. RSVP at bit.ly/GoodHopeJazz or by calling (301) 581-5100.

DONATE OR BORROW MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

Ongoing If you would like to borrow or donate medical equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, canes, hospital beds, crutches, shower stools and more, the Damascus Lions Club maintains a medical lending library for the local community. For more information, contact Tessie Gladhill at (301) 2532141 or Jack Peters at (301) 253-2589.

BEACON BITS

Dec. 19

NATIVE AMERICAN PERFORMANCE Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) per-

forms tribal songs from Alaska to Florida in the Potomac Atrium of the American Indian Museum, 4th St. and Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC. This free event takes place at 1 p.m. on Tues., Dec. 19. No registration required.

Jan. 29

STORYTELLING SWAP Whether you are a listener or a storyteller, visit Quince Orchard Library on Sat., Jan. 20, from 3 to 5 p.m. for a story swap to cele-

brate the Lunar New Year. This free event, in collaboration with Voices in the Glen, is appropriate for all ages and takes place at 15831 Quince Orchard Rd., Gaithersburg, MD. No registration required. For more information, visit voicesintheglen.org or call the library at (240) 777-0200.

AARP FRIENDLY VOICE PROGRAM

Ongoing Hearing a friendly voice on the phone helps us feel less isolated. AARP’s free Friendly Voice Program volunteers are standing by to chat with you or to listen. Request a call by dialing 1-888-281-0145 for English or 1-888-497-4108 for Spanish, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Subscribe online! See how on p. 34

CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Obituaries; Personals; Personal 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 investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment. EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate. Business & Employment Opportunities CONTINENTAL MOVERS - Local long distance. Free boxes. $100 x 3 men plus travel time. Packing hauling available dumping. 202-428-1489 / 301-340-0602. Www.ContinentalMovers.net. Cmora53607@msn.com PART-TIME HORSE FARM HELP NEEDED SE Montgomery County (near Burtonsville, Silver Spring 20904, 20905). Saturdays in particular, turn out and bring in 20 horses, clean stalls, fill hay bags, water. Miscellaneous tasks. $20/hour. Telephone 301-421-1252.

Caregivers 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. 240-533-6599 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 MOBILE HAIR & NAIL SERVICES - WE COME TO YOU. Professional Licensed Hair Stylist. Women and Men’s Services - All Hair Types. Cuts, Styles, Roller Sets, Color, Perms, Men’s Cuts & Facial Grooming, Manicures & more. Call 301-338-8251 for info. IS IT POSSIBLE? Are there professional caregivers out there that REALLY care about your personal needs? Try MorningStar Health Systems! We provide compassionate caregivers that will assist you (or your loved one) with various daily activities including: housekeeping, medication reminders, grocery shopping, medical appointments, laundry tasks, etc. Go to www.morningstarhealthsys.com or contact us for more info at 240-424-5683 or 202-539-7274. We look forward to providing your gracious service! KIND, LOVING, HONEST, COMPASSIONATE, TRUSTWORTHY, RELIABLE CAREGIVER. Individual, hard worker is looking for a position caring for your loved one. Over 31 years’ experience, seeking position in VA, DC, MD. Excellent references. Call Julie (301) 2217695 COMPASSIONATE HOME CARE COMPANION - 20+ years experience, available part time serving Montgomery County, A+ references. Hospice trained. Please call Sadie (240) 522-9591

D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Computer Services

Health

Miscellaneous

NEED PATIENT HELP WITH COMPUTERS, PHONES, TV’S or other technology? Call Phil at Senior Tech Pro! (301) 337-0028

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.

SWITCH AND SAVE UP TO $250/YEAR on your talk, text and data. No contract and no hidden fees. Unlimited talk and text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based customer service. For more information, call 1-833-742-1303.

SENIOR WISHING TO DOWNSIZE seeks someone to assist and handle online sales. Text to 828-280-2636 PROBLEM WITH YOUR PC/MAC OR NETWORK? Computer Systems Engineer will come to you with help. Call David G. at: 3013282112 / 3016424526

Financial 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

For Sale 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 $69.95 with code MCB59! Call 1-833-934-0843. TROUBLE HEARING YOUR TV? Try TV EARS’ Voice Clarifying Wireless TV Speaker. Better than a soundbar and/or turning the TV volume way up. Special, limited time $50 off offer. Call TV Ears. Use code MBSP50. Call 1888-626-0847. NEW WINDOWS FROM WINDOW NATION. Special money saving offer - zero down, zero payments, zero interest for TWO years AND buy 2 windows and get 2 FREE! Offer is valid for select models. Labor not included. Other restrictions apply. Call Window Nation today! 855-909-2278. USED DEVILBISS IFILL OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR with 12 tanks (various sizes). $750.00. Please contact Erick at 202-815-6683. TWO CEMETERY PLOTS FOR SALE at Judean memorial gardens in Olney Maryland. These are close to the front entrance. Price is $5,000 for both contact, Steve 301-933-6804. BOOK SALE AT FRECK’S FICTION in Rockville, Maryland. Selling Mysteries, Science Fiction, Military Histories, Collectible Paperbacks, plus thousands more… Call Nelson at (240) 472-4615 for more information. PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES TODAY with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 7-Year warranty with qualifying purchase * Call 1-301-960-3174 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move. MOVING SALE; Sterling Jewelry, Pocket Watches, Crocks, Crystal. Paintings, Glassware, Hummels, Antiques, and much more. 301-774-1750 NATIONAL MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY. 4 choice burial sites in desirable block BB. Near George Washington Gardens North. Currently sell for $6995/ea Asking $3495/ea. or $12,000 for all 4. Located in Falls Church. Call or text Gail @ 541-698-0473 HONDA ACCORD 2008 175,000 MILES in good running condition AS IS NO WARRANTY. Asking price $4,800 (Four Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars) please contact me if interested price can be negotiated: (240) 350-9392

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. GYNECOLOGY: Gynecology Services: ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS. Comprehensive Gynecology Physicals, Menopause Management, Pap screening, Gynecology Surgical Procedures, Contraception Consultation, Abnormal bleeding and vaginal symptoms. ~Healthy Women Healthy World.~ We accept commercial insurance and selfpay. Cynthia Austin MD MPH FACOG. Healthy Women’s Care. 3543 W Braddock Rd, Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22302. Telephone: 571-492-7636 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! 1-844366-1003 www.dental50plus.com/320 #6258.

Home/Handyman Services 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! 1-866-365-5170. THE BATHROOM OF YOUR DREAMS in as little as 1 day. Limited Time Offer - $1000 off or No Payments and No Interest for 18 months for customers who qualify. BCI Bath & Shower. Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Call Today! 1-855-653-0087. AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL HEATING & COOLING. As temps outside start to climb, the season for savings is now. $49 cooling or heating system tune up. Save up to $2000 on a new heating and cooling system (restrictions apply.) FREE estimates. Many payment options available. Licensed and insured professionals. Call today 1-877-691-0273. EFFORTLESSLY DOWNSIZE OR LIQUIDATE YOUR ESTATE! Our easy process helps you decide what to keep, gift, sell, donate, or discard. Services include: estate liquidation, downsizing, clean-outs, emptying storage units, junk removal, and estate sales. We buy estates, vehicles, and real estate. Contact Philip at 301-219-3600 or visit DownsizingSpecialists.com. Free estimates. Licensed. Insured. Family owned. REMODELING BY NEW LOOK SYSTEMS. Carpentry - painting - drywall - insulation tile bathrooms & kitchens - flooring. Deck restoration - exterior painting. Complete home repair / handyman service. Call: (301)676 - 5535 or newlooksystems@yahoo.com. ***All work performed by owner*** ***Calls answered same day*** Owner operated - MHIC:41207 insured. *Serving northern Montgomery County* SLOWING DOWN AFTER 41 YEARS OF CONTRACTING. Small to medium jobs mainly residential but will do some commercial. Will work all over DC area. $45.00 an hour from arrival on job. Andy 703-906-5429. JACUZZI BATH REMODEL can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day. For a limited time, we’re waiving all installation costs! (Additional terms apply. Subject to change and vary by dealer. Offer ends 12/31/23 Call 1-833-994-0538.

KING DAVID MEMORIAL GARDENS (Jewish Cemetery), 4 burial plots, in G block, Falls Church VA. 4 choice sites available. 2 of the sites come with vaults, a memorial for 2 and 2 internments. Must purchase pair. $24,995. Additional 2 sites are situated with the previous 2 but are just plots‚ $7990. Must purchase pair. Text Nancy at: (440)537-9287.

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.

Health

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.)]

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.

Legal Services

Personals SEEKING ROOMMATE. Seeking quiet and friendly woman (between 60-75 years old) who enjoys spending her evenings at home. Medium sized bedroom available. Vegetarian household that may include a cat companion. If interested, please call Carol between 5 pm - 7 pm. Phone: (301) 754-1289. Please leave a message.

TV/Cable DIRECTV SPORTS PACK - 3 MONTHS ON US! Watch pro and college sports LIVE. Plus over 40 regional and specialty networks included. NFL, College Football, MLB, NBA, NHL, Golf and more. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-572-4953. SWITCH TO DISH and get up to a $300 gift card! Plus get the Multisport pack included for a limited time! Hurry, call for details: 1-844-5605837.

Wanted CASH FOR ESTATES; I buy a wide range of items. Art, antiques, jewelry, cultural items, furniture, rugs, collections/accumulations. TheAtticLLC.com. Gary Roman; 301-520-0755 ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES/ESTATE LIQUIDATION: One call solves it all when you hire us to liquidate and clean out your home. We remove everything! We sell what can be sold (you get the money), donate what can be donated (you get the tax receipts), and haul away the trash. Don’t keep making mortgage payments or delay selling your home and making the big money because you’re wasting time with estate sales and yard sales. See a great 2.5minute explainer video in the Our Services section of www.OrionsAttic.com. No job too big, including hoarder houses. We also buy high-end collectibles of all kinds. Based in Silver Spring MD, we serve the greater DC region. Also provide appraisal services for insurance/estates. Call Chris on cell 202 731-9447. I BUY OLD GUNS (Military/Civilian) and MILITARY MEDALS, uniforms, insignia, books & more from the Civil War, World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam to present. I have a Federal Firearms License to purchase firearms from estates and individuals. Located in MD -but will travel. I also buy West Point & Naval Academy memorabilia and items from Generals and Admirals. Client testimonials on my website: www.midatlanticmilitaryantiques.com Call, email or text. Tim Frank 703-4477243 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). 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). CASH FOR JEWELRY; Gold, silver, costume. Watches, coins, turquoise, dental gold, etc. TheAtticLLC.com. Gary Roman; 301-520-0755. 18SH-004233 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 (

Thank you for reading The Beacon!

Makes a great gift

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3

FROM PAGE 36 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD G M T A D D S C A F E S R A H C A R P A R E N A E M I R N E R D Y P A T E B I Z A R R E B A Z A A R S N O R E W A R Y A P C Y M B A L S Y M B O L S E E R G O R E B R O L U S H T E M P I M A T A O R C A T A D A N T E B U R R O B O R O U G H S P A N O R E A G L E C O L O N E L K E R N E L A L I B I A L O E L O A F T B S P E M S D O Z E N O X E Y E E A S T Y E T

ANSWERS TO JUMBLE Jumbles: AVOID EAGLE GOVERN MOTIVE Answer: People thought Mary Shelley’s new Frankenstein character was a — NOVEL IDEA

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 place your classified ad, visit www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds

We thank our advertisers who make our publication possible. Please patronize them and let them know you saw their ad in the Beacon! Employment & Volunteers Free Job Training . . . . . . .23 JCA Career Gateway . . . .22 JCA Employment Expo . .23 Seniors Helping Seniors . .8

Events Charles E. Smith Life Communities . . . . . . . .15 JCA Employment Expo . .23

Funeral Services Going Home Cremation .35

Home Health Care Best Senior Care . . . . . . .14 Seniors Helping Seniors . .8

Housing Ashby Ponds/Erickson .1, 3 Brooke Grove Retirement Village . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Carnegie at Washingtonian Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Charles E Smith Life Communities . . . . . . . .15 Chevy Chase House . . . . .8 Churchill Senior Living . .12

Covenant Village . . . . . . .16 Culpepper Garden . . . . . .14 Emerson House . . . . . . . .16 Falcons Landing . . . . . . . .9 Flats at Sandy Spring, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Grandview, The/Erickson .3 Greenspring/Erickson . .1, 3 Harmony Chantilly . . . . . .6 Harmony Spring Hill . . . . .6 HIP Home Sharing . . . . .21 Homecrest House . . . . . .27 Leggett, The . . . . . . . . . . .11 Lockwood House . . . . . . .16 Park View Apartments . . .29 Riderwood/Erickson . . .1, 3 Spring Ridge Apts . . . . . .13 Sommerset . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Vida Senior Residences . .16 Westminster Canterbury at Chesapeake Bay . . . . . .7 Woodleigh Chase/ Erickson . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Legal Services Farr Law Firm . . . . . . . . .21 Law Offices of Paul Riekhof . . . . . . . .22

Medical/Health/ Insurance Ikon Health . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Judy Oh, DDS . . . . . . . . .15 Medical Eye Center . . . . .10 Mobility City . . . . . . . . . . .9 Stephen Friedman, DDS .14 United Healthcare . . . . . .13

Memory Care Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . .40 Charles E. Smith Life Communities . . . . . . . .15

Real Estate Services Eric Stewart/Long & Foster . . . . . . . . . . .24, 28

Senior Resources Age-Friendly DC . . . . . . .17 DC Living Boldly Newsletter . . . . . . .18-19 Getting Older/Eric Stewart . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 GROWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Maryland Senior Concierge . . . . . . . . . . .9

Montgomery County AgeFriendly Newsletter . . .25 Senior HelpLine . . . . . . .22

Technology TechMedic4U . . . . . . . . . .5

Theatre/ Entertainment Baltimore Symphony Orchestra . . . . . . . . . . .31 Encore Creativity . . . . . . .30 F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Friday Morning Music Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Kennedy Center . . . . . . . .33 Senior Zone Radio Show .35 Signature Theatre . . . . . .30 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . .31

Transportation/ Travel Mont. Co. Transit/Ride-On Buses . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Vamoose Bus . . . . . . . . . .27

Utilities DC Discount on Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Subscribe online! See how on p. 34

D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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