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VOL.26, NO.9

SEPTEMBER 2014

His inventions help millions 4

Technology & Innovations | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Technology &

Innovations Learning technology’s benefits hands-on

Blank slate, blank screen While the participants speak with confidence now, they didn’t start out that way. Before beginning the program, Verdina Smith, a 66-year-old veteran with disabilities, said she felt “left behind in the world,” and like she could “never catch up.” And Elliott said, “I didn’t know anything

at all [when the class started]. Where I worked…they used to use the iPad for different things when we had events, and they used to get so frustrated with me because when the screen disappears I didn’t know what to do.” But while the “young folks” lost patience with him at work, Elliott noted he didn’t have that problem in this course. “Mr. Danley’s not like that.” Elliott was speaking of Terrell Danley, 82, one of the instructors. Danley attested to the progress the students have made through the program. “There’s a big difference between the people we have now and the people we started with,” he said.

PHOTO COURTESY AARP DC

By Kate Petersen “I don’t think I can live without an iPad now.” No, that’s not a teenager talking, but 66year-old Claude Elliott, speaking earlier this year about a six-month program designed to teach older adults in the District how to use new technology. “You couldn’t pry it out of my fingers.” “I wouldn’t take a million dollars for it,” Eva McLean, 72, agreed. The two were participants in the AARP Foundation “Connecting to Community” program. The Foundation, AARP’s affiliated charity, partnered with Family Matters of Greater Washington on a pilot program geared at combating social isolation in older adults by teaching them technologies they can use to connect with others like themselves. The participants received an iPad and six months of volunteer-led training in biweekly classes, with optional labs offered on Fridays. Comcast provided discount Internet service, and NETGEAR provided Wifi routers (to enable use of the Internet while people were out and about).

Patience required According to Gwendolyn Moseley Coleman, program director at Family Matters, only 2 percent of the participants had ever used an iPad before this course. But now, the participants seem not only comfortable with the technology, but with asking for help when they need it. During the class, many questions were repeated and steps were missed, but the instructors calmly explained and re-explained until everyone felt that they could move forward. “Our trainers are committed, and they will stay as long as it takes for you to get something,” said Coleman. “Great, understanding and patient teachers!” Smith confirmed. Similarly, the instructors were pleased

Terrell Danley, 82, (foreground) teaches other older adults how to use iPads and navigate social media sites in an AARP-sponsored pilot program designed to help make participants more tech savvy and less socially isolated.

with the students. “In my 82 years, I can’t think of an experience that I’ve had that’s been more rewarding than working with this class,” said Danley. The results speak for themselves. The students are confident with social media sites, navigating Pinterest and Facebook with ease, and comfortably using these sites for their specific needs. McLean used Pinterest to find a recipe that a waitress neglected to give her. Elliott has used Facebook to find art exhibits.

Even the instructor started to use his iPad more routinely. “I discontinued getting the Washington Post [delivered],” Danley said. “I get the Washington Post on my iPad. And the New York Times.”

Making friends many ways But while the jump in technological comprehension is evident, what about the issue of social isolation the program was See iPAD PILOT, page 5

Learning the benefits of tablets; plus, how shopping is changing, useful links and more page 3

Pacemakers and stents That’s only the latest in a string of problem-solving inventions. In 1962, Fischell developed the first widely-accepted rechargeable pacemaker. The device, implanted in heart disease sufferers, had lifetime batteries and was one-tenth the size of competing designs. He then invented the implantable insulin pump, which delivered the drug internally to diabetics, rather than requiring patients to inject themselves. Fischell devised flexible coronary stents that open clogged arteries to keep blood flowing from the heart. The Fischell invention accounts for most of the coronary stents now used worldwide. More than 10 million of them have been placed, he noted. He and colleagues have come up with a device that can stop or diminish epileptic seizures. The device is implanted in the cranial bone, wired to that part of the brain that senses an oncoming seizure, and prevents it from happening. And then Fischell created a device implanted like a pacemaker with a wire into

NEW SECTION

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT FISCHELL

By Robert Friedman It was just another 11-hour workday for Robert Fischell, 85, who was putting in time recently on a medical device that he says will lower blood pressure by at least 30 points. After having brought relief to sufferers of heart disease, epileptic seizures, diabetes and migraines, among other ailments, physicist-inventor Fischell is now focusing on hypertension. Fischell, who lives in Dayton, Md., has been credited with improving the health of millions, and saving the lives of countless others through the medical instruments he has invented or perfected. He will speak about his work at the Beacon’s 50+ expos in October. In his innovative 15-minute procedure to lower blood pressure, “three steel needles will each deliver a drop of alcohol into the nerves surrounding the renal artery…which will dramatically reduce both the systolic (the top number) and the diastolic (bottom number)” readings, Fischell said. The procedure will “decrease pill usage and dramatically improve the lives of hypertension sufferers,” he said.

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

Robert Fischell’s medical inventions, from pacemakers to insulin pumps, are credited with improving the health, and saving the lives, of millions of people. His device to zap away migraines was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

the heart that vibrates like a cell phone to warn of a heart attack. “The warning will be provided even before the patient has any symptom …which is really vital to the 25 percent of all patients who never get any warning that they are having a heart attack,” Fischell said.

Conquering migraines And that’s not all, folks. The work on life-changing instruments continues. Fischell has put the final touches on an invention that stops migraine headaches at their inception. The portable device is held against the back of the head, a button is pressed, and two magnetic pulses, 15 seconds apart, tell the neurons of the brain to hibernate and forget about caus-

ing the migraine. “The patients feel a not unpleasant tingle in their scalp,” he said, from the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) produced by the Spring TMS device. The Food and Drug Administration, not known for rushing its approval on new drugs or medical devices, has been looking at the invention for the past five years. The agency recently gave the device its final approval. It is already available in Europe, Fischell said. What this will mean, he said, is that migraine headaches will be a scourge of the past for many, and current sufferers will no longer have to buy expensive pills. And, See INVENTOR, page 8

The Berkshires — like living in a Norman Rockwell painting; plus, five free things to do in Virginia Beach, and what to expect at New York’s 9/11 memorials page 49

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A very special woman Editor’s note: Just five months ago, my After high school, she attended Stanford dear father passed away at the age of 93. In University, where she excelled in Latin this space in the April Beacon, American studies, was choI printed the eulogy that I gave sen for the Cap & Gown at his funeral. honor society, and was presiLittle did we know that the dent of Vocom, a women’s castubborn cough my Mom had reer guidance club. at Dad’s funeral was apparAt Stanford, she was also a ently the same pneumonia popular, if naïve, girl whose that he died of, and she recentfetching ways attracted many ly succumbed to it and its comyoung men to her side. In one plications as well. of our last conversations, I did not expect to be writing while waiting for a doctor in another eulogy so soon, and no FROM THE the emergency room, she doubt you were not expecting PUBLISHER started to tell me some amusto read one. Nonetheless, I By Stuart P. Rosenthal ing, and somewhat embarhope you don’t mind if I share rassing, stories of those days. it with you now. Suffice it to say, she learned how to be less My mother was born in Chicago in 1929 naïve rather quickly. and spent her early childhood in ShreveThe truth was, throughout her life, my port, Louisiana. That may be where she ac- mom had a certain je ne sais quoi. Within quired her charming Southern accent, but seconds of meeting a person or entering a her family moved to Fort Worth, Texas room, she would convey that she was out when she was 7, so that may also have of the ordinary, with her warm smile, played a role. cheerful manner and friendly greeting. I don’t know much about her youth, exEven upon stepping into an elevator full of cept that she attended the same Fort strangers, she would manage to make inWorth high school my brother and I later stant friends through a pleasant comment, went to, and that she won the Latin prize starting a conversation, or offering a compliher senior year. (We recently found a photo ment to someone standing next to her. of her holding the huge trophy, which She was also the kind of person to whom brings to mind the Stanley Cup.) people would turn when they needed a

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

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friend. Late one night when I was in high housewife who, for fun, played classical school, one of my friends called and said his music on the piano and practiced for her mother would like to speak with mine. The jazz piano lessons with a local band leader. She went back to school woman, who had never for her master’s degree in been particularly friendly sociology only after I startor close with my mom, was ed elementary school. feeling afraid, alone and That was still a pretty uneven somewhat suicidal usual thing for a young after a fight with her husmother to do in those band. days, as was her becoming She felt she had no a college instructor. One friends to whom she could of the reasons she chose turn to talk about it, so we drove over to my friend’s that career was so she house, and my mom sat could still be home to send and talked with her for me and my brother off to hours, and continued to school in the morning and Arlene Goldstone Rosenthal assist her afterwards. welcome us back after6/14/1929 - 8/4/2014 That ability to listen, wards. comfort and advise people made her an esWhen my parents moved to Austin, Mom pecially beloved sociology teacher at the went back to school again, this time for a cerUniversity of Texas at Arlington. tificate in gerontology. As I mentioned in No one would call my mom a classic “aca- my father’s eulogy, both my parents served demic.” She didn’t go into teaching out of a on the advisory board of the Senior Beacon desire to develop new theories, or conduct there, and later started a nonprofit that social experiments, or write books, but helped retirees learn the computer skills and rather to convey important life lessons to interviewing techniques that would enable impressionable college students and to help them to reenter the work force. For most of the 63 years my parents them in their personal lives and careers. As a result, she was always the most popu- were married, Mom took care of the shoplar teacher in her department, and has a fold- ping, cooking and other household chores. er full of testimonials from students whose But as her arthritis grew worse, their roles lives she affected. started to change, until eventually my Dad, When my older brother and I were See FROM PUBLISHER, page 59 young children, our mom was generally a

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Dear Editor: Thank you very much for writing the article on Ronald “Smokey” Stevens in the August issue. I was delighted to discover such a historical resource dwelling in Southeast Washington. You are to be commended for drawing his past and present realities to our attention. As a local dramatist, I wanted to express sincere appreciation. Newell Carter Jones Via email Dear Editor: First, to Mr. Rosenthal’s column in the August issue. I hope you won’t focus too much of the paper’s attention on technology and its requisite hardware — a majority of seniors don’t own them (or perhaps have only a simple cell phone), and actually manage quite well most of the time. The contracts required by a lot of the gadgets cost money that many seniors don’t have — and even if they do have some discretionary funds, they choose to spend the money elsewhere. What about presenting some info on

area book groups and book-related events (e.g., the monthly calendar at Politics & Prose), and even having a regular book review column on books that might be of interest to seniors? Now to Ms. Bentz and her project to get older and younger folks together — admirable! There are a lot of programs doing that, so I hope she’ll take advantage of the resources already available. Her idea for a book club that focuses on titles featuring generations together is a good one. I wish her luck! Diane Haddick Via email Dear Editor: Awesome is a word I rarely use, but it seems right when describing your work on The Beacon. I knew of no other source — print or otherwise — that consistently gives such useful and excellent information to a mature readership. We appreciate your awesome work! Shirley Von Reichenbach Silver Spring, Md. See LETTERS, page 61

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Technology &

Innovations Learning technology’s benefits hands-on

PHOTO COURTESY AARP DC

Making friends many ways But while the jump in technological comprehension is evident, what about the issue of social isolation the program was See iPAD PILOT, page 5

catalogue will be published in the Beacon’s new “Technology & Innovations” section. Look for it!

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created to combat? “I [had] really lost contact with people, and [now] I’m able to reach out through Facebook and email and contact folks,” said Elliott. “A friend of mine who lives in Japan, we were able to reconnect.” And while participants are using their iPads to connect with friends far and wide, they are also finding them useful to meet people next door. Some of the class participants lived in the same building as one another but had never met. The class was a chance for them to meet and get to know each other. “It’s really not about the iPads,” said Coleman. “It was really all about the isolation and communication. The iPad was just a conduit with which we were going to get it done.” Even when participants stepped away from their iPads, they were still moving away from social isolation. Many relationships were formed simply because participants walked to class together. “Loneliness has no place in my life now,” said Smith, who was initially anxious about the program due to her disabilities. “The world has not passed me by.” Some participants have even formed a group that gets together where there is free WiFi so they can hang out on a weekly basis, even though the course has long ended. Coleman marveled over the impact the program has had on the participants, citing “the relationships that have been built, the sustainability of everything, and the

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From page 4

friendships that will go on when this class has ended,” as particular successes of the program. But she further prompted, now that the second group of classes is almost finished, “What are the next steps?” When the program ends, the improvements in social connectedness and reduction in perceived loneliness among the participants will be measured and, if the changes appear significant, the pilot could be expanded to a national program. “What this program has left them with is a communication avenue to be able to do and go anywhere,” said Coleman. When asked if the participants recommend that other seniors take this program, the response was a resounding chorus of “yes!” “I have no negatives. I only have positives,” said Elliott. “Take the class,” insisted McLean. Smith summarized what the class has done for her quite succinctly: “The greatest love is connection and the answer for self-worthiness.” AARP’s new TEK program will be offering a free hands-on workshop on digital tablets or smartphones at the Beacon’s 50+Expos taking place October 19 at the Silver Spring Civic Center in Silver Spring, Md., and October 26 at Ballston Mall, in Arlington, Va. To reserve your place at a seminar at either location, call the Beacon at (301) 949-9766. Seating is limited, as tablets or smartphones will be provided for each attendee’s use during the workshop.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

What shopping will look like in the future By Mae Anderson When it comes to shopping, more Americans are skipping the stores and pulling out their smartphones and tablets. Still, there’s more on the horizon for shopping than just point-and-clicking. No one thinks physical stores are going away permanently. But because of the frenetic pace of advances in technology and online shopping, the stores that remain will likely offer amenities and services that are more about experiences and less about selling a product. Think: Apple Inc.’s stores. Among the things industry watchers are envisioning are holograms in dressing rooms that will allow shoppers to try on clothes without getting undressed. Their

homes will be equipped with smart technology that will order light bulbs before they go dark. And they’ll be able to “print out” coffee cups and other products using 3-D technology in stores. “Physical shopping will become a lot more fun because it’s going to have to be,” retail futurist Doug Stephens said. Forrester analyst Sucharita Mulpuru said stores of the future will be more about services — like day care, veterinary services and beauty services. Services that connect online and offline shopping could increase as well, with more drive-thru pickup and order-online, pick-up-in-store services. Checkout also will be self-service, or with cashiers using computer tablets.

Self-service dress stores Some stores are taking self-service further: A store in Seattle called Hointer displays clothing not in piles or on racks but as one piece hanging at a time, like a gallery. Shoppers just touch their smartphones to a coded tag on the item and then select a color and size on their phone. Technology in the store keeps track of the items, and by the time a shopper is ready to try them on, they’re already at the dressing room. If the shopper doesn’t like an item, she tosses it down a chute, which automatically removes the item from the shopper’s online shopping cart. The shopper keeps the items that he or she wants, which are purchased automatically when leaving the store, no checkout involved. Nadia Shouraboura, Hointer’s CEO, said once shoppers get used to the process, they’re hooked.

Custom coupons Some stores, like British retailer Tesco and drugstore Duane Reade, now are testing “beacons” — Bluetooth-enabled devices that can communicate directly with your cellphone to offer discounts, direct you to a desired product in a store, or enable you to pay remotely. For example, you can walk into a drugstore where you normally buy face cream. The beacon would recognize your smartphone, connect it with past purchasing history, and send you a text or email with a coupon for the cream. “The more we know about customers ... you can use promotions on not a macro level but a micro level,” said Kasey Lobaugh, chief retail innovation officer at Deloitte Consulting. A store could offer a mother 20 percent off on Mother’s Day, for example, or offer frequent buyers of paper towels a discount on bulk purchases.

Make it yourself at home Within 10 years, 3-D printing could make a major disruption in retail, Deloitte’s Lobaugh predicts. Take a simple item like a coffee cup. Instead of producing one in China, transporting it and distributing it to retail stores, you could just download the

code for the coffee cup and 3-D print it at a retail outlet or in your own home. “That starts a dramatic change in terms of the structure of retail,” Lobaugh said. And while 3-D printing today is primarily of plastic items, Lobaugh said there are tests at places like MIT Media Lab and elsewhere with other materials, including fabric. Right now a few stores offer rudimentary 3-D-printing services, but they are very limited. He predicts the shift will come in 10 to 20 years.

Shop with zero effort Steve Yankovich, head of innovation for eBay, thinks someday buying household supplies won’t take any effort at all. He said a connected home could be able to use previous customer history and real-time data the house records to sense when a light bulb burns out, for example, and order a new one automatically. Or a washing machine will order more detergent when it runs low. “A box could show up on porch with this disparate set of 10 things the connected home and eBay determined you needed to keep things running smoothly,” he said. “It’s called zero-effort commerce.”

Doppelganger shopping EBay recently bought PhiSix, a company working on creating life-size 3-D models that can be used to instantly see how different colors of clothing or different styles would fit a particular shopper. You can see 30 or 40 items of clothing realistically without physically trying them on. EBay’s Yankovich said the technology can be used in a virtual dressing room as well, showing what the clothes look like when you are, say, walking down the street or hitting a golf club. Some companies have been testing this already. British digital agency Engage created a Virtual Style Pod that scanned shoppers and created a life-size image onto which luxury clothing from brands like Alexander McQueen and DKNY were projected. The Pod was displayed in shopping centers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. — AP

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

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Inventor From page 1 unlike so many medications advertised on TV, there are no side effects from its use. Fischell expects medical insurers to cover the cost of the device, which would require a doctor’s prescription. Fischell said the annual leasing cost for the device will be about $2,800, approximately the same price as for yearly Botox injections to relieve migraines. In another recent effort, Fischell and a University of Maryland colleague are working on a way to significantly reduce brain concussions among football players by connecting the helmet to the shoulder pads. He said the National Football league and Under Armour Corp. are considering funding development of the design.

A brilliant mind For a person to think up one of these devices and bring it to market would be a major accomplishment. How does Fischell produce so many, and retain his creative abilities into his 80s? His answer may at first sound impertinent or egotistical: “When I see a medical problem, my mind often sees the solution, often in less than a minute,” he said. But it takes much more time and effort to turn the idea into a working prototype that can be mass produced and commercialized. William Bentley, chairman of the Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland, shared his view of Fischell with the Baltimore Sun. “Bob has an amazing mental acuity that allows him to just parse the noise and cut to the chase,” Bentley said. This unique ability has not only made

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

him a highly sought after inventor, but also a wealthy man. He and his family reportedly earn a $12 royalty on the sale of each stent based on his designs. With more than 10 million sold, that amounts to more than $120 million. Not surprisingly, Fischell uses much of his money, like his brain power, to help others. In 2006, he and his family contributed $31 million to endow the University of Maryland department now named for him. He and his wife, Susan, also recently donated $1 million to Howard County General Hospital. “You can even make some money by helping people,” Fischell noted. “This gives you the ability to be philanthropic.”

now holds more than 200 U.S, and foreign patents, and has started up 10 medical device companies. Among his many honors: in 1984, named by the Intellectual Property Owners Association as the Inventor of the Year in the USA; in 2002, inducted into the Space and Technology Hall of Fame; in 2005, he won the first $100,000 (now one million dollar) TED Prize, “awarded to an extraordinary individual with a creative and bold vision to spark global change.” So, as he is happy to point out, despite the lack of a role model and parental predictions otherwise, the poor boy from the Bronx has turned out more than OK.

Rough start

Retirement not an option

Fischell didn’t begin life in a world of privilege. He started out as a “poor kid, growing up in the Bronx,” who worked hard and got “lucky.” He didn’t even have much in the way of role models or support from his family. His father, he said, didn’t think that he would ever be successful. In fact, his parents mostly ignored him when he was a child. “So I set out to prove I was going to be OK,” Fischell recalled. After earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Duke University in 1951, he got his master’s in physics from the University of Maryland (which later awarded him an honorary doctoral degree in 1968). After graduation, he spent eight years as a civilian engineer for the Navy, then moved to the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, where he worked for 32 years. There, as chief engineer and associate director of the space department, he helped devise some 50 satellites, including the Global Positioning Satellite, now used on devices all over the world as a direction finder. He left the lab in 1997 to devote all his time to inventing medical devices. Fischell

Health-wise, Fischell said he feels almost the same as when he was 35, except that when he gets up from a long stint at his desk, his legs stiffen up somewhat. He plays doubles tennis about three times a week and works out in his home gym with a personal trainer, who visits twice a week. His three sons — a physicist, a cardiologist and a business executive — work with him on developing and marketing his many medical devices. When he has spare time, he mostly concentrates his reading on books about history. “It’s interesting to see how humans have acted over the centuries. The same things compel people in all ages: the desire for power, money, sex, control,” he noted. Fischell may go out to the movies “about twice a year,” but he is a steady TV viewer, especially of crime shows like “Law and Order,” which he likes to watch in bed with his wife, Susan. Well, isn’t it about time for him to retire? Not on your life, which he still may save one day. “If you have the ability to improve the See INVENTOR, page 9

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N â&#x20AC;&#x201D; S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Simple changes ease computer eyestrain The eyes have it â&#x20AC;&#x201D; strain, that is. As our enthusiasm for using computers, tablets and phones grows, our eyes are paying the price. Upwards of 90 percent of computer and device users experience a problem so common thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a name for it: computer vision syndrome. It comes with symptoms such as decreased or blurred vision, burning or stinging eyes, sensitivity to light, headaches, and back and neck pain. If these symptoms affect you, check out these tips to ease the strain and avoid the pain from specialist Dr. Rishi Singh of the Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute. 1. Adjust your viewing angle The angle of your gaze plays a key role in developing the syndrome. For the best angle, the center of the monitor, tablet or phone should be 20 to 28 inches from your eyes and 4 to 5 inches below eye level. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking back and forth between a screen and reference materials, keep

those materials where you can see them with minimal head movement. 2. Reduce glare Letters on a screen are not as clear as letters on a printed page. Too little contrast between letters and background, or glare on the screen, makes your eyes work harder. The result: sensitivity to light. Position your screen to avoid glare from overhead lights or windows. Close the blinds on your windows or switch to lowerwatt bulbs in your desk lamp. If you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t change the lighting to minimize glare, buy a glare filter for your screen. 3. Rest your eyes When using a computer or device for an extended period of time, take regular breaks to prevent eyestrain. Every 20 minutes, look away from your computer and look at a distant object for 20 seconds. This will give your eyes a chance to refocus. After two hours of continual computer use,

Inventor

being, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m obligated to [develop it]. Besides, working makes me happy.â&#x20AC;? If Robert Fischell could write his own epitaph what would it be? He laughed, thought a few seconds â&#x20AC;&#x201D; about as long as it took him to come up with some inventions â&#x20AC;&#x201D; then said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;He did well by doing good.â&#x20AC;?

From page 8 health of tens of millions of people, do you have a right to stop working?â&#x20AC;? he asked rhetorically. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel that when I get an idea that could dramatically improve the life of a human

rest your eyes for 15 minutes. 4. Blink often People normally blink about 18 times a minute, but computer users tend to blink only one-fourth as often. This increases the chance of developing dry eye. To reduce this risk, remind yourself to blink more often. And refresh your eyes periodically with lubricating eye drops. 5. Get your eyes checked Uncorrected vision problems â&#x20AC;&#x201D; farsightedness or astigmatism, problems focusing or coordinating the eyes, and eye changes associated with aging â&#x20AC;&#x201D; can contribute to eyestrain and musculoskeletal pain. Even if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need glasses or contacts for daily activities, you may need

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them for computer or device use. If you do wear glasses or contacts and need to tilt your head or lean toward the screen to see it clearly, your lens prescription may need to be adjusted. Get an eye checkup to make sure your prescription is right. Doing so can help prevent pain in the neck, shoulders or back that results from contorting your body to see the screen. WhatDoctorsKnow is a magazine devoted to up-to-the minute information on health issues from physicians, major hospitals and clinics, universities and healthcare agencies across the U.S. Online at www.whatdoctorsknow.com. ÂŠ 2014 Whatdoctorsknow.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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How to do anything

Each month, this column will describe a handful of interesting, helpful websites.

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World War II in photos Originally published as a 20-part series by The Atlantic, this collection of 900 photos profiles the lives of people who served on the front lines as well as those who supported the war effort from home. You can start at the beginning with the

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Before the War section, then continue chronologically, section by section, through After the War. Photos that may be considered disturbingly graphic are blacked out but can be viewed by clicking them, if you wish. www.theatlantic.com/infocus/pages /ww2/#

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The Walter Reed Senior Center presents Mobile Technology Day on Wednesday, Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Topics include, computers, cell phones, smartphones, tablets, keeping your electronics secure, social networking sites like LinkedIn and Facebook and more. There will be live speakers and hands-on demonstrations. Walter Reed is located at 909 16th St. S, Arlington, Va. For more information or to register, call (703) 228-0955.

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Holiday Park Senior Center presents one-on-one workshops demonstrating how to use your computer. These sessions are not for computer repairs. Sessions take place on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the center’s computer lab. Purchase the $2 entry coupons at the reception desk. Holiday Park is located at 3950 Ferrara Dr., Wheaton, Md. For more information, call (240) 777-4999.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Health Fitness &

BEYOND OUR CONTROL Our 12-year-old columnist observes young and old share a lack of control OUCHLESS ALLERGY HELP New daily pills for several kinds of allergens may replace allergy shots TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING Some dietary supplements, like vitamins A and E, may be harmful EXERCISE 101 How to get started with aerobic exercise, weight training and stretching

Before docs check your vitals, check theirs About half believe better care is more expensive, even as the government, insurers and health specialists are pushing for new systems to improve quality while holding down costs. Doctors who listen are important, but “some of the nicest doctors are the least competent,” cautioned Dr. Elliott Fisher of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. Higher-quality care actually tends to be less expensive, by keeping people healthy and out of the hospital, and avoiding errors and the complications of unneeded care, he said.

Compare doctors’ “report cards” It’s hard to imagine buying a car without checking rankings, but checking out a doctor is much more difficult. Many specialists say standardized measures of health outcomes are key, though very little is available. It’s getting a little easier to compare multi-physician offices, if not individual doctors. Online report cards in a few states have begun offering some information on quality outcomes from group practices. In Minnesota, for example, consumers can compare how many people have diabetes, high blood pressure and some other chronic conditions under control in different practices, plus how satisfied patients are. Report cards in California and Massachusetts add how well certain group practices follow guidelines on cancer screening and avoiding unneeded X-rays and MRIs for back pain. By year’s end, Medicare plans to have released quality measurements for more than 160 large group practices, with more information on smaller clinics set for 2015. Called Physician Compare, the online star

ratings also will include patient feedback. The goal is to spur better care as doctors check out the competition. The arrival of large amounts of quality information “is a big deal. It’s a huge shift in terms of transparency and driving quality improvement,” Dr. Patrick Conway, Medicare’s chief medical officer, told the AP. Consumers think it would help. More than 7 in 10 say quality would improve if doctors had to publicly report their patients’ health outcomes and how satisfied they are. The AP-NORC Center poll found about 1 in 5 Americans recall seeing information comparing the quality of health providers in the last year. Nearly half aren’t confident

they even could learn if their doctor had been disciplined.

Costs and wait times In choosing a doctor, not surprisingly the top factor is insurance coverage, the poll found. For the uninsured, it’s cost. Eight in 10 look for the doctor’s experience with a specific procedure. A nearly equal number say bedside manner — their impression after a face-to-face meeting and how much time is spent with a patient — is crucial. About three-quarters say a helpful office staff and how long it takes to get an apSee CHECK DOCS, page 12

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By Lauran Neergaard and Jennifer Agiesta Americans consider insurance and a good bedside manner in choosing a doctor, but will that doctor provide high-quality care? A new poll shows that people don’t know how to determine that. Being licensed and likable doesn’t necessarily mean a doctor is up to date on best practices. But consumers aren’t sure how to uncover much more. Just 22 percent of those questioned are confident they can find information to compare the quality of local doctors, according to the poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Today, 6 in 10 people say they trust doctor recommendations from friends or family, and nearly half value referrals from their regular physician. The poll found far fewer trust information from online patient reviews, health insurers, ratings websites, the media, even the government. “I usually go on references from somebody else, because it’s hard to track them any other way,” said Kenneth Murks, 58, of Lexington, Ala. His mother suggested a bone and joint specialist after a car accident. “I guess you can do some Internet searches now,” he added, but he questions the accuracy of online reviews. The United States spends more on healthcare than most developed nations, yet Americans don’t have better health to show for it. A recent government report found we miss out on 30 percent of the care recommended to prevent or treat common conditions. At the same time, we undergo lots of unneeded medical testing and outmoded or inappropriate therapies. Yet people rarely see a problem. In the poll, only 4 percent said they receive poor quality care.

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Check docs From page 11 pointment are important. A majority, 62 percent, also factor how long they sat in the waiting room. Asked the characteristics of a high-quality doctor, a good listener is by far the top answer. Others value the right diagnosis, a caring attitude, a good bedside manner and knowledge, in that order. “Some don’t even give you the time of day. They just look at you and write you a prescription,” said Vince Jimenez, 51, of Albuquerque, New Mexico. When his primary care physician retired, Jimenez got a reference for a new doctor but checked online for complaints. “You can’t believe one person, but if there’s a bunch of people, if there’s a lot of complaints,” he said he’d pay attention.

FRIENDS

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COMFORT

What will !"#$%

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Dartmouth’s Fisher said consumers should ask how the office — the doctor’s team — supports safe and effective care: Are patient outcomes tracked? Do they check on patients with chronic diseases between visits? Does the person taking after-hours calls know what medications you take? “We tend to think, ‘Oh our friend had a great experience with this doctor.’ But I’d encourage people to think about the systems around that as well,” he said. The AP-NORC Center survey was conducted with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which has financed projects to publicly report data on care quality. It was conducted by telephone May 27 to June 18 among a random national sample of 1,002 adults. Results for the full survey have a margin of sampling error of

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plus or minus 4.0 percentage points. It is larger for subgroups. How can you check out your doctors? The Federation of State Medical Boards offers reports based on a search of their national database for $9.95 per doctor. Visit https://s1.fsmb.org/docinfo. Some state licensing boards offer free online searches. In this area, Maryland offers a

free search at https://www.mbp.state.md.us/ bpqapp. Free searches of Virginia physicians can be made at www.vahealthprovider.com/ search.asp. Disciplinary actions of physicians in the District of Columbia are available at http://doh.dc.gov/node/420872, but they are listed by year and type of action, rather than by doctors’ last names. — AP

Tips for choosing a doctor • Check if the doctor is board-certified, which indicates particular expertise in an area such as internal medicine, gynecology, allergy or immunology. You don’t want plastic surgery from a primary care physician, said Doris Peter, director of Consumer Reports’ Health Ratings Center. • If you need surgery or a specific procedure performed, ask how often the doctor provides that treatment to patients like you. Studies show volume makes a difference. • Interview the doctor. Do you want someone who discusses the pros and cons of tests and treatments upfront? Avoid physicians who discourage seeking a second opinion, said Dr. Elliott Fisher of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. Also, ask if the doctor has any financial relationships with drugmakers or device manufacturers, said Consumer Reports’ Peter. • Ask about specific health conditions. What percent of their diabetic patients have their blood sugar under control? Do they follow national guidelines on cancer screenings? That’s the kind of information many quality programs are seeking. Fisher said physicians can’t work to improve patients’ outcomes if they don’t track them. • Team-based care makes a difference,

he said. Is there a nutritionist to help diabetics control blood sugar? Someone who calls to tell the blood pressure patient he’s overdue for a check? • Ask how a primary care physician and specialist will coordinate care, perhaps via electronic medical records, so you’re not prescribed conflicting medications or duplicative tests. • Ask about after-hours care. Will the person who answers the phone have access to your medical record? • Does your doctor accept gifts, meals, payments, travel or other services from companies that make the drugs and medical products they prescribe? Nearly 95 of U.S. doctors do, and studies show it affects what medicines doctors prescribe. Patients will be able to learn about these payments starting September 30, thanks to a new online database hosted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Under a section of the healthcare overhaul passed in 2010, most makers of drugs and medical supplies are required to report all payments, gifts and other services worth $10 or more that they provide to U.S. physicians and hospitals. The information will be available on the database, which can be found at http://bit.ly/open_payments. — AP

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Lack of control: what old and young share [Editor’s note: Last month, we introduced “Please! Pretty, pretty please! Please with a new column written for the Beacon by Alex- a cherry on top!” These words are all too fais Bentz, a 12-year-old student at miliar because we have all said Robert Frost Middle School. them. At one point or another, A number of Beacon readers we have all desired something responded enthusiastically to a enough that we have used the survey we printed last month “beg and plead strategy.” asking if they are interested in But even with our best participating in fun walks, interpuppy dog eyes and quivering generational exercise, discussion lips, there are times when the groups, book clubs and other proanswer is just plain “no.” This grams that Alexis suggested in is when you just aren’t allowed her opening column. We will be to do something or decide helping facilitate such activities GENERATIONS things for yourself no matter in the months to come as school TOGETHER how much you plead. Others By Alexis Bentz programs get underway. make decisions for you. This If you did not respond to the lack of control is an issue that survey but would still like to, please go on- affects both generations. line to http://bit.ly/generationsurvey. Or Think about it: Kids don’t have many call the Beacon at (301) 949-9766 to ask privileges. They can’t drive, go places by for a printed copy. themselves, stay at home alone, own cerWe hope you enjoy Alexis’ perceptive com- tain things, or handle specific content until ments in this month’s column, too.] they mature and become older. The older and younger generations For older adults, as they age they often have nothing in common. At least that’s lose many of their privileges, too. They what some people think. may no longer be able to drive or get But the truth is that these generations around by themselves. They also may not have more in common than meets the eye. be able to work, live alone, or do certain Sure, they may have different interests and things because of their age, just like kids. goals in life, and their experiences are also However, even though this huge and unique, but there are still several things frequently occurring issue creeps its way that older and younger age groups share. into the lives of both kids and seniors,

many of us still fail to recognize that it is one of a number of major things that we, as generations, have in common. Now that we can recognize we share this experience, it is time to act on it. A great way to do so is to set up a time to chat with a younger buddy — a relative, a kid from a local school, a neighbor etc. — or to participate in a multi-generational discussion group. During your discussion, you can talk about the lack of control you each feel, and then brainstorm ideas on how to react positively in these frustrating situations.

Maybe you could try some calming techniques, such as counting to 10 or taking deep breaths, recognize that the person who is telling you no is only doing so for your safety or well-being, and then do something you enjoy that you are allowed to do to make you feel better. This is a great way both to solve a bothersome problem as well as to bond with your younger pal. In short, keep in mind that when you face a lack of control over your life and want to yell, “This isn’t fair! You don’t understand!” — well, the younger generation just might.

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Causes, treatments for common dizziness By Paul Takahashi, M.D. Dear Mayo Clinic: I am 68 and have periodic spells of dizziness. They don’t last long, and I don’t seem to have any

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from relatively minor issues, such as a certain medication triggering dizziness, to more serious underlying medical problems. When dizziness persists, as in your case, it is a good idea to see your doctor and have the condition evaluated. Although the term “dizziness” sounds quite specific, there are actually several kinds of dizziness. One involves feeling a loss of balance, as if you’re unsteady on your feet or feel like you may fall. Another includes a sensation of being lightheaded or feeling faint, as if you might pass out. A third is feeling as if you’re spinning or that the world is spinning around you. This type of dizziness is called vertigo. It is helpful for you to be able to describe to your doctor exactly what you’re experiencing during episodes of dizziness. Your description can offer clues to the potential source of the problem. For example, conditions that affect the balance mechanism in your inner ear frequently lead to dizziness with a feeling of vertigo that happens when you move your head. One such condition is called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV. One of the most common causes of vertigo, BPPV is characterized by brief episodes of mild to intense feelings of spinning. The spinning sensations are triggered by specific changes in the position of your head, such as tipping your head up or down, or by lying down, turning over or sitting up in bed. When you keep your head still, symptoms of BPPV improve. Another frequent cause of dizziness is reduced blood flow to your entire brain. This can be triggered by a common condition known as orthostatic hypotension or postural hypotension. The disorder is a form of low blood pressure that happens when you stand up from

sitting or lying down. It often causes brief episodes of lightheadedness just after you stand and improves after you’ve been upright for a minute. Dehydration can also lower blood flow to the brain and lead to dizziness. More serious conditions related to reduced blood flow to the brain include cardiovascular disorders, such as hardening of the arteries, or arteriosclerosis, and heart rhythm problems. A tumor or mass in the brain also can lead to dizziness. If left untreated, these conditions tend to get worse over time.

May be caused by drugs Some types of prescription drugs can cause dizziness. Some of the common ones include antidepressants, medications that control high blood pressure, sedatives, anti-seizure medications and tranquilizers. A thorough physical evaluation, as well as additional tests and exams based on your situation can help your doctor determine a diagnosis. Reviewing your symptoms, medical history, family history and current medications with your doctor may offer some clues. When dizziness keeps coming back, it’s important to have the condition evaluated. If left unchecked, dizziness puts you at risk for falling and that can lead to serious injury. So make an appointment to see your doctor. If you develop other symptoms along with your dizziness — such as chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, changes in your vision or speech, leg or arm weakness, or seizures — seek emergency medical care right away. These could be symptoms of a serious medical problem, such as a heart attack or stroke. © 2014 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Living Well Series Resumes with Fall Seminars Brooke Grove Retirement Village (BGRV) will resume its Living Well Community Seminar Series in September, according to Director of Marketing Toni Davis. Designed to help participants navigate a variety of health and wellness challenges, each of these free, monthly presentations will be held from 7 to 8:15 p.m. in the terrace level conference room of Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing, located at 18131 Slade School Road on BGRV’s Sandy Spring, Maryland, campus. Each seminar will be preceded by a complimentary light supper beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dr. Majid Fotuhi, founder and chief medical officer of NeurExpand Brain Center, will take the podium on Wednesday, September 17, to discuss how to “Grow Your Brain at Any Age.” Dr. Fotuhi is one of the world’s foremost authorities on memory, cognitive performance and aging. He will review the latest research, explain what happens to the brain with aging, and share information on how to reverse age-related brain atrophy while literally

growing your brain, including simple changes that can make a lasting difference for years to come. On Wednesday, October 15, Chef Bonita Woods, executive director of the Bonita Woods Wellness Institute, will present a multimedia program and cooking demonstration on “The Story of GMOs: What to Do If Food Becomes the Enemy.” If you wonder Davis at 301-388-7209 or doesn’t pay for everything, what impact genetically tdavis@bgf.org by the modified (GMO) foods have so what else do I need?” For reservations or more Monday prior to each on you and your family, seminar. information, contact Ms. Chef Bonita can answer your questions! Participants will learn about the science, nutritional comparisons, social ethics and global effect of the GMO food industry while also sampling tasty, healthy snacks. ❒ I would like to know more about Brooke Grove's independent Popular speaker Leta living, assisted living, rehabilitative, long-term care, memory Blank, program director of support or respite services. the Senior Health Insurance ❒ Reserve my seat for the September 17 “Grow Your Brain at Any Age” seminar. Assistance Program, returns ❒ Reserve my seat for the October 15 “Story of GMOs” seminar. on Wednesday, November 5, ❒ Reserve my seat for the November 5 “Medicare 2015” seminar. to present “Medicare 2015: What You Need to Know to Name: Get the Best Benefits.” Address: Guests will discover the City, State, Zip: answers to questions such Daytime Phone: WB9/14 as: “What do Medicare A Please mail this coupon to: Brooke Grove Retirement Village, and B cover? How does Attn: Community Relations, 18100 Slade School Road, Medicare Part D work? Do I Sandy Spring, MD 20860 need Part C? What state and Phone: 301-260-2320 federal programs am I Fax: 301-924-1200. Web: www.bgf.org eligible for? Medicare

✃

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

New daily tablets may replace allergy shots By Linda A. Johnson For decades, seasonal allergy sufferers had two therapy options to ease the misery of hay fever. They could swallow pills or squirt nasal sprays every day for brief reprieves from the sneezing and itchy eyes. Or they could get allergy shots for years to gradually reduce their immune system’s over-reaction. Now, patients can try another type of therapy to train their immune system — new once-a-day tablets that dissolve quick-

ly under the tongue and steadily raise tolerance to grass or ragweed pollen, much like the shots. “It’s been several decades since the last big breakthrough,” Cleveland Clinic allergy specialist Dr. Rachel Szekely said. The downside: The pills must be started a few months before the grass or ragweed pollen season, which began in August, so it’s too late for this year. In April, the Food and Drug Administration approved two tablets from drug maker

Merck & Co. — Grastek for grass pollen and Ragwitek for ragweed — plus a grass pollen tablet called Oralair from Stallergenes SA, a French manufacturer. The tablets could become popular with people who dislike pills, which can make them drowsy or don’t provide enough relief. They’ll likely appeal even more to patients with severe allergies who fear needles or can’t make frequent trips to the allergist — key reasons that only about 5 percent of U.S. patients who would benefit from allergy shots get them. Meanwhile, new treatments for other types of allergies, including to peanuts and eggs, are in various stages of testing and could turn out to be big advances.

Dust mites, tree pollen and cats Merck has a tablet for house dust mite allergies in final patient testing that could hit the market in two or three years, and it’s considering other therapies. Stallergenes is testing a tablet for birch tree allergies and, with partner Shionogi & Co. Ltd. in Japan, tablets for allergies to dust mites and Japanese cedar pollen. Britain’s Circassia Ltd. has a cat allergy treatment in final testing and six others in earlier testing. A handful of companies also are looking at possible new ways to administer im-

A lot more than you thought. For a lot less than you think.

munotherapy, including drops under the tongue, capsules and skin patches, said Dr. Linda Cox, former president of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and an allergist in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The new tablets are not right for everyone, particularly patients with allergies to multiple substances, Szekely cautioned. That was the case with one of her patients, 10-year-old Samantha Marshall of Mentor, Ohio, who has been getting allergy shots since last fall. “She’s not loving the [shots],” said her mother, Rachel, who recently asked Szekely about switching to the tablets. Szekely explained that shots are more effective because Rachel is also allergic to weeds and dust mites, and the shots she receives are a customized mix of extracts to all those substances.

Differences between treatments Treatment can be tricky because of body chemistry differences and the complexity of the immune system, which is still poorly understood. “You can’t just have one size fits all,” Szekely said. For people with mild hay fever, inexpensive pills that suppress immune chemicals See ALLERGY PILLS, page 17

Upcoming Events

The Village at Rockville— the area’s greatest value in Continuing Care Retirement

Wine & Cheese with Current Residents

You probably didn’t realize that The Village at Rockville included a friendly neighborhood of one- and two-bedroom cottage homes within a beautiful 30-acre enclave. You get all the benefits of home ownership without the burden of upkeep and maintenance—we take care of all of that for you, inside and out. An additional benefit: You have access to our highly-rated continuum of care, including our new Assisted Living suites (expanding in September 2014), Long Term Care, as well as myPotential Rehabilitation in newly-renovated private rooms.

Protecting & Enhancing Your Memory

Cottage Tour Provided Wednesday, October 8, 2014 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Lunch & Community Tours Wednesday, October 22, 2014 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. To RSVP, visit our website or call.

Would you like to learn about The Village at Rockville? Call 301-354-8487 to schedule your personal tour of our community. 9701 Veirs Drive | Rockville, MD 20850 | 301-354-8487 | www.thevillageatrockville.org The Village at Rockville is sponsored by National Lutheran Communities & Services, a faith-based, not-for-profit ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, serving people of all beliefs.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Allergy pills From page 16 called histamines work well. Allegra, Benadryl, Claritin and Zyrtec are available without prescription, often competing with store brands. Other patients fare better on prescription pills or nasal sprays. But for patients with severe allergies, those aren’t enough. They suffer — though hardly in silence — or try allergy shots. Rarely, the shots cause systemic allergic reactions, from hives and itching to dangerous airway narrowing, because small amounts of allergen circulate in the bloodstream. That’s why patients must be observed by a nurse for a half-hour after each shot. Allergy tablets are less likely to trigger a dangerous allergic reaction than shots, which have been used for a century, Cox said. In Merck’s testing, about 5 percent of patients experienced tingling, itching or swelling in the mouth or tongue, said Dr. Sean Curtis, Merck’s head of respiratory and immunology research. Less than 1 percent had serious reactions, nearly all after the first dose. With the new tablets, as they dissolve, the grass extract inside drains into lymph

nodes in the neck, which produce protective antibodies against the effects of pollen that’s inhaled or gets in the mouth. Since the extract is unlikely to enter their blood, patients need only be watched the first time, then can take the pills at home.

Pricier than shots However, the tablets are expensive compared with shots: Merck is charging about $8.25 per daily tablet and Stallergenes about $10. Insurers are expected to cover most of the cost, as they usually do with allergy shots. Shots generally cost only $15 to $25 per visit without insurance, because they’re given by a nurse. Typically, patients get allergy shots of gradually increasing dosage two or three times a week initially, then once a week for up to nine months, then monthly. After three years, at least two-thirds have minimal symptoms, while most of the rest have reduced symptoms. With the tablets, patients start at the top dose, at least three months before allergy season, and continue through the season or even year-round.

Large potential market Prevalence of hay fever in the U.S. has declined slightly since 2000, according to

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data from the National Center for Health Statistics. In 2012, about 17.6 million adults, or 7.5 percent, reported having hay fever, as did about 6.6 million children, or 9 percent. Millions more don’t see a doctor and get by with nonprescription medicines like Benadryl or Claritin. Longtime hay fever sufferer Kim Steen of Sidman, Pennsylvania, participated in one of Merck’s studies of the new pills last year. “After the second, maybe third week, I started noticing a difference in the symptoms,” said the 41-year-old contracts administrator. “It was pretty significant, not

feeling like you have a cold all the time.” Merck has followed study participants through three years of treatment and then two years after that, when patients still reported significantly reduced symptoms. But Cox, the Florida allergist, expects that benefit to last at least eight years after treatment ends, nearly as long as with allergy shots. It won’t be clear whether the tablets will be a hit with patients or big moneymakers for their manufacturers until next spring, when patients and more doctors will be familiar with them. — AP

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Some dietary supplements may be harmful Americans spend more than $32 billion on 85,000 different dietary supplements every year. These products contain various combinations of vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts and other substances.

The manufacturers claim that their products enhance health, but the scientific evidence ranges from slim to none in most cases. Furthermore, people perceive dietary supplements as inherently harmless

BEACON BITS

Sept. 17

AARP LUNCHEON

The Southwest Waterfront AARP Chapter #4751 presents a fall luncheon Wednesday, Sept. 17 at noon. There will be a presentation about AARP’s D.C. programs, including updates on Age Friendly DC. Current AARP members and new prospective members are welcome. The cost is $5. The luncheon will take place at River Park Mutual Home’s Community Room, 1311 Delaware Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. For more information, contact Chapter President Betty Jean Tolbert Jones at bettyjeantolbertjones@yahoo.com or (202) 554-0901.

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— but that’s not always true. “A lot of people are spending unnecessary sums for things that in most cases will do nothing,” said Dr. Pieter Cohen, a dietary supplement safety researcher and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. “If they buy something from the wrong people, it could do a lot worse than do nothing. It could be dangerous because it might be spiked with actual pharmaceuticals.” Dr. Cohen urged those who use dietary supplements to discuss them with their physicians. “Your doctor needs to know what you’re taking,” he said. That’s especially important if you’re already on multiple prescriptions, since dietary supplements interact harmfully with certain prescription drugs.

Vitamins to avoid Some vitamins could be harmful if taken in excessive amounts, meaning above the small Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) required for good health.

Here are two to avoid: Vitamin E: In research, vitamin E has largely failed the test as a heart-health booster. In fact, in one large clinical trial, people who took 400 international units (IU) were more likely to have heart problems than those who didn’t take vitamin E. The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) found that men who took daily supplemental vitamin E were at greater risk of prostate cancer. Vitamin A: Taking vitamin A supplements can raise blood levels of retinol, which in some research is associated with a greater chance of hip fractures. The link isn’t proven to be cause-and-effect, but there is not any strong evidence that vitamin A supplements help you, either. Why take the risk? “Unless your doctor said you should be taking a vitamin or mineral supplement — be it calcium, iron, or others — don’t worry about it,” Dr. Cohen said. “Just eat a See SUPPLEMENTS, page 19

BEACON BITS

Sept. 19

MAXIMIZE YOUR MEDICARE

Medicare and its Part C Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug Program providers are allowed to make changes every year. The Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program of Arlington offers a free, brief presentation about benefits and upcoming changes, followed by a Q&A session at Arlington Mill Senior Center, 909 Dinwiddie St., Arlington, Va. on Friday, Sept. 19 from 10 to 11 a.m. For more information, call (703) 228-7369.

Sept. 27

FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION

Museums across the country will offer free admission on Saturday, Sept. 27. D.C.’s participating locales include the Crime Museum, 575 7th St. NW; National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW; Dumbarton House, 2715 Q St. NW; the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW; and the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Download a Museum Day Live! ticket at www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/tickets. For a full list of participating venues, visit Smithsonian.com/museumday/venues.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Supplements From page 18 well-balanced, healthy diet and stay away from supplements.”

Herbal supplements of concern In a study of 3,000 adults middle-aged and older, one in 25 (4 percent) was found to be taking prescription drugs and dietary supplements that could interact harmfully. The supplements can also cause side effects on their own. Here are some herbal supplements Dr. Cohen warns against: St. John’s Wort: St. John’s Wort is often pitched as an herbal remedy for depression, anxiety, fatigue and sleeplessness. However, it can have a range of bad side effects. These include dry mouth, dizziness, stomach or intestinal discomfort, fatigue and headache. St. John’s Wort can alter blood levels of prescription drugs by speeding up or slowing down their metabolism. In several documented cases, the herb interfered with immune-suppressing drugs people were taking to prevent organ transplant rejection. Blood-thinning herbs, vitamins: Ginkgo biloba and vitamin E can thin the blood. This could be risky if you’re already taking a blood thinner, like warfarin (Coumadin), to prevent clots. “The number of herbal ingredients that interact with warfarin is endless,” Dr.

Cohen said. “Make sure you tell your doctor or pharmacist, whoever is managing your warfarin, what you’re taking.”

BEACON BITS

Dec. 27+

TRAVEL WITH GRANDKIDS

Ongoing

FREE LEGAL COUNSEL

Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Minnesota presents an opportunity, in partnership with the Road Scholar program, for grandparents and their grandchildren to connect and share environmental awareness. It consists of one week of connecting with nature, hands-on activities including canoeing, indoor rock climbing, crafts, building campfires and hiking. On the final day of camp, there is a family folk dance. The next session begins Saturday, Dec. 27 and runs through Thursday, Jan. 1. Pricing starts at $579. Grandchildren must be between 8 and 12 years old. For more information or to register, visit http://wolf-ridge.org/camp/road-scholar or call (218) 357-7414.

How to identify quality products The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not require dietary supplements to be tested before marketing to prove they are safe and they work, as is the case with prescription drugs. As a result, products may contain unlisted ingredients and contaminants. Some products have tested positive for prescription drugs not listed on the label. One thing you can do is make sure the product is certified by the United States Pharmacopeia or NSF International, which independently assess supplement ingredients. If you want to know what’s really in your supplements, look for those that have been tested by the following independent nongovernmental organizations: United States Pharmacopeia. A supplement manufacturer can submit its products for analysis by USP to verify its ingredients’ identity, strength, quality and purity. Look for the “USP verified mark” on the product. NSF International. This organization also tests dietary supplements. The NSF stamp on a dietary supplement product means it was tested for quality and safety. — Harvard Men’s Health Watch. ©2014 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The Legal Counsel for the Elderly partners with Iona Senior Services in D.C. to offer free legal counsel to seniors over 60 (by appointment only) at Sibley Memorial Hospital, 4125 Albemarle St. NE, Washington, D.C. They can answer questions, complete a claims report, write a consumer complaint letter, check for benefits and more. To make an appointment, call (202) 895-9448.

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W e’ve got the blueprint for quality memory care.

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The plan to construct a specialized memory care community in Olney is almost complete. But you don’t have to wait to meet our experienced team of caring professionals. Call either Melissa or Christina today to learn more about their plan to create a personalized, engaging environment for your loved one.

You’re Invited

Alzheimer’s Research: What’s the Latest Information?

Presented by Ann Morrison, PhD, RN, CLNC

Jenerations Health Education, Inc.

Wednesday, September 17 • 6:30 ! - 7:30 !

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

SEPTEMBER IS FALLS PREVENTION MONTH! Join GROWS (The Grassroots Organization for the Well-being of Seniors in Montgomery County) and their partners in wiping out falls! Attend one of the FREE programs listed below. SPRINGHOUSE SENIOR LIVING OF SILVER SPRING

Tuesday, Sept 2 • 12:00 – 1:00 pm

2201 Colston Dr, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Register: 888-559-0635 Brains Don’t Bounce: What You Should Know about Falls and Memory Susan I. Wranik, MS,MA,CCC-SLP SpeechLanguage Pathologist Complimentary Lunch

CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

Tuesday, Sept 2 • 2:00 - 3:30 pm

Ring House Social Hall 1801 E. Jefferson St, Rockville, MD 20852 301-816-5048 Balance Workshop

CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

Thursday, Sept 4 • 10:45 – 11:45 am

Ring House Social Hall 1801 E. Jefferson St, Rockville, MD 20852 301-816-5048 Fall Safety Awareness Lecture

SPRINGHOUSE SENIOR LIVING OF BETHESDA

Thursday, Sept 4 • 12:00 – 1:00 pm

4925 Battery Ln, Bethesda, MD 20814 Register – 888-559-0635 Brains Don’t Bounce: What You Should Know about Falls and Memory Susan I. Wranik, MS,MA,CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist Complimentary Lunch

CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

Friday, Sept 5 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm

Wasserman Social Hall, 6121 Montrose Rd., Rockville, MD 20852 301-816-5048 The Fear of Falling Lecture

GAITHERSBURG SENIOR CENTER Tuesday, Sept 9 • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

80-A Bureau Dr, Gaithersburg, MD 20878 301-258-6380 Home Modification to Prevent Falls Steve Hage, Strategies for Independent Living

FOREST OAK TOWERS

Tuesday, Sept 9 • 2:00 – 3:00 pm

101 Odenhal Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 301-740-1414 Who Will Catch You When You Fall Nelson LeRoy, Pushbutton Emergency Help

FRIENDSHIP TERRACE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY Wednesday, Sept 10 • 1 pm

4201 Butterworth Pl, N.W., Washington, DC 20016 202-244-7400 Falls Prevention Ashley Vonado and Kiyara Harlee, Right at Home, Washington DC

ADVENTIST REHABILITATION HOSPITAL OUTPATIENT CLINIC Wednesday, Sept 10 • 11 am – 1 pm

cont. next column

9909 Medical Center Dr (first floor), Rockville, MD 20850 To register call 240-864-6060 or email ARHMSpecial_Events @adventisthealthcare.com Free Information and Balance Assessment Clinic

THRIVE YOGA

Wednesday, Sept 10 • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

1321 Rockville Pike, (downstairs) Rockville, MD 20852 301-294-9642 Yoga For Balance and Clarity No previous yoga experience required (dress for comfortable movement)

ADVENTIST REHABILITATION HOSPITAL OUTPATIENT CLINIC Thursday, Sept 11 • 11am – 1 pm

831 East University Blvd Suite 14, Silver Spring, MD 20904 To register call 240-864-6060 or email ARHMSpecial_Events @adventisthealthcare.com Free information and Balance Assessment Clinic

ELIZABETH HOUSE

Thursday, Sept 11 • 12:30 – 1:30 pm

1400 Fenwick Ln, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-585-6192 Who Will Catch You When You Fall? Nelson LeRoy, Pushbutton Emergency Help

BETHESDA HEALTH AND REHABILITATION CENTER Friday, Sept 12 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm

5721 Grosvenor Ln, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-530-1600 Balance Counts Priti Prabhu, MSPT, Mobility and More Inc.

INGLESIDE AT KING FARM Friday, Sept 12 • 2:00 – 3:00 pm

701 King Farm Blvd, Rockville, MD 20850 240-499-9036 Balance, Brain Health, and Fall Prevention Dr. Majid Fotuhi, NeurExpand Brain Centers

JCC OF GREATER WASHINGTON Tuesday, Sept 16 • 12:00 - 1:00 pm

6125 Montrose Rd, Rockville, MD 20852 301-348-3760 Falls Prevention and Balance Tips Adventist Health Care

VICTORY TERRACE

Tuesday, Sept 16 • 2:00 pm

9440 Newbridge Dr, Potomac, MD 20854 301-983-9600 Falls and Safety in Your Home Rovenia Mutcherson, MPTA, MA

WYNGATE CITIZENS ASSOCIATION (BETHESDA) Tuesday, Sept 16 • 7:30 - 8:30 pm

Ayrlawn Program Center 5650 Oakmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-530-8500 Home Modifications for Fall Prevention Isabelle Schoenfeld, Aging in Place Design Solutions, LLC

GROWS would like to thank Emily Glazer, Montgomery County Aging and Disability, for her assistance

SCHWEINHAUT SENIOR CENTER

Wednesday, Sept 17 • 10:30 am – 1:00 pm 1000 Forest Glen Rd, Silver Spring, MD 240-777-8066 Falls Prevention Rachael Miller, ED of ProAction Physical Therapy

HOLLY HALL APARTMENTS

Wednesday, Sept. 17 • 12:30 – 1:30 pm 10110 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20906 301-460-1003 Fall Prevention, Medication, and Balance Fariborz Zarfeshan, R.Ph.

KENSINGTON PARK SENIOR LIVING

Wednesday, Sept 17 • 3:30 – 5:00 pm 3620 Littledale Rd, Kensington, MD 20895 301-946-7700 Brains Don’t Bounce: What You Should Know about Falls and Memory Susan I. Wranik, MS,MA,CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist

ASBURY METHODIST VILLAGE

Thursday, Sept 18 • 9:30 – 11:30 am Wilson Health Center 301 Russell Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 Register by Sept 16 call 301-216-5000 or email whccreservations@asbury.org Brains Don’t Bounce Susan I. Wranik, MS,MA,CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist Complimentary Breakfast

FIVE STAR PREMIER RESIDENCE OF CHEVY CHASE

Thursday, Sept 18 • 2:00 – 3:00 pm 8100 Connecticut Ave, Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-907-8895 Preventing Falls at Home Kathleen Andreone, PT

ARCOLA TOWER

Thursday, Sept 18 • 2:30 – 3:30 pm 1135 University Blvd. W., Silver Spring, MD 20902 301-469-3590 Who Will Catch You When You Fall? Nelson LeRoy , Pushbutton Emergency Help

FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS VILLAGE CENTER

Friday, Sept 19 • 12:30 – 2:00 pm 4433 S. Park Ave, Chevy Chase, MD 20815 Call to register 301-656-2797 Preventing Falls – One Step at a Time Lisa Branick, MS – Sibley Memorial Hospital Complimentary Light Lunch

WAVERLY HOUSE

Friday, Sept 19 • 3:00 – 4:00 pm 4521 East West Hwy, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-986-0054 Who Will Catch You When You Fall Nelson LeRoy, Pushbutton Emergency Help

HOLY CROSS HOSPITAL SENIOR SOURCE

Tuesday, Sept 23 • 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

This announcement made possible by:

cont. next column

8580 Second Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910 To register call 301-754-8800 Screenings, Falls Prevention and Recovery Education, Exercise Demos and interactive Activities

TOWN CENTER APARTMENTS

Tuesday, Sept 23 • 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

90 Monroe St, Rockville, MD 20850 301-424-5450 Who Will Catch You When You Fall? Nelson LeRoy, Pushbutton Emergency Help

HOLIDAY PARK SENIOR CENTER Tuesday, Sept 23 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm

3950 Ferrara Dr, Wheaton, MD 20906 240-777-4999 Stay Firm on Your Feet Deborah Werner, PT

ROCKVILLE SENIOR CENTER Tuesday, Sept 23 • 1:00 – 2:30 pm

1150 Carnation Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 Register at 240-314-8810 Falls and Safety in Your Home Rovenia Mutcherson, MPTA, MA

FIVE STAR PREMIER RESIDENCE OF ASPENWOOD Tuesday, Sept 23 • 2 – 3 pm

14400 Homecrest Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20906 301-598-6424 Preventing Falls at Home Priya Das, MSPT, MSEd

HOLIDAY PARK SENIOR CENTER Wednesday, Sept 24 • 6:30 – 7:30 pm

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Exercise and meditation for beginners By Howard LeWine, M.D. and Michael Craig Miller, M.D. Q: I’m a 66-year-old man. My doctor told me I need to exercise more to maintain good health. What’s the best exercise for a man my age? How often should I do it? What symptoms should I watch out for? A: Great to hear that you’re taking your doctor’s suggestions to heart! Physical training should include three parts: aerobic exercise, resistance (weight) training and stretching. I also recommend balance exercises for anyone in their 60’s. Tai Chi is an excellent choice. Aerobic exercise is what you will do most days of the week. So choose something that’s appealing. No matter what you choose, start at a low pace. Walking and jogging are easiest because you don’t need to go to a gym or buy expensive equipment. My favorite is riding a stationary bike. I personally enjoy it more than running, and it’s easier on my joints. You should do resistance training two to three times per week, and never two days in a row. Start with low resistance (light weights). Don’t increase the weight until

you can comfortably do three sets of 8 to 12 repetitions. Always warm up before any exercise, even after you become more advanced. Take 5 to 10 minutes while you slowly bring your heart rate up. I recommend stretching after exercise. This way your muscles are warm. Stretching should feel good. Be gentle and gradually increase how far you go with each stretch. The goal is to start slowly. Work up to higher intensity gradually. That way, you’re less likely to injure your muscles, joints and tendons. Symptoms to be concerned about during exercise include: a) Chest pain. b) Severe shortness of breath. c) Feeling like you might pass out. d) A sudden, drenching sweat or cold sweat. (Sweating is good, but it should come on gradually during exercise.) If you experience any of these symptoms, stop exercising immediately. Don’t restart any exercise without first talking to your doctor. Howard LeWine, M.D., is a practicing internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital,

Boston., Mass., and Chief Medical Editor of Internet Publishing at Harvard Health Publications, Harvard Medical School. Q: How do you pull yourself out of a

funk or slight depression? A: Mood shifts frequently result from See MEDITATION, page 22

BEACON BITS

Sept. 10+

HOW TO COMPILE A HEALTHCARE RECORD Virginia is hosting three free events that will teach you how to

compile an accurate personal healthcare record. The first takes place at George Mason Regional Library, 7001 Little River Turnpike, Annandale on Wednesday, Sept. 10 from 1 to 2 p.m.; the second at Sherwood Regional Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Ln., Alexandria on Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.; and the third at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Rd.,

The care you need to get you back to your life.

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first two, call (703) 383-9300. For the last event, call (703) 281-0538.

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Meditation From page 21 minor or trivial disappointments. So, much that gets us down is inconsequential. Yet it can be quite difficult to let meaningless matters go. A small funk can turn into a persistent depressive episode. Therefore, early detection is vital. Often, a mood shift starts as an automatic reaction to a small disturbance. You can prevent or interrupt a funk by becoming a better observer of your thoughts. Pay attention to reactions that you usually allow to happen mindlessly. The simple act of paying attention can help you control your reactions. Some experts recommend practicing mindfulness meditation to become a better observer of your thoughts. Sitting quietly, focus on your breath. You’ll probably notice your mind running away with itself. Refocus on your breath. Upsetting, irritating or anxiety-provoking thoughts may continue to bubble up. Try to cultivate a less critical attitude toward them. Notice instead what, if anything, is triggering them. There are proven benefits to this kind of practice, but you don’t have to meditate to

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GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY MEETING

The Prince George’s County Genealogical Society will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at the New Carrollton Municipal Center, 6016 Princess Garden Pkwy., New Carrollton, Md. at 7 p.m. Sharon Hodges will discuss “Searching for District of Columbia Ancestors.” Refreshments will be served. For more information, visit www.pgcgs.org.

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Saturday Sept. 20 is Lifelong Takoma Day, a free event from 1 to 4 p.m. planned by and for those age 55+, featuring presenters, workshops, health and wellness screenings, fitness demos and recreation department info. For more information or to volunteer, contact Karen Maricheau at (301) 891-7232 or kmaricheau@takomaparkmd.gov.

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be mindful. Your goal can be simpler: — Recognize the patterns that make you feel sour. — Don’t just give yourself over to the bad feelings. — Ask whether the triggers are really worth the distress you feel. It’s at this point that you can try to refresh yourself or press your own reset button. Take a break. Connect with a friend or family member you like. Exercise. Do something you enjoy. Use a relaxation technique. If it appeals to you, meditate. You may continue to be stuck. Your bad feelings may persist or recur. The trigger may be something important rather than trivial. If that’s the case, then you may want to seek help from a professional who can help you evaluate the problem. Michael Craig Miller, M.D., is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an associate physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Mass. He is a senior medical editor at Harvard Health Publications. For additional consumer health information, visit www.health.harvard.edu. © 2014 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Health Shorts ER trips rise for Ambien and similar drugs Bad reactions to psychiatric drugs result in nearly 90,000 emergency room visits each year by U.S. adults, with anti-anxiety medicines and sedatives among the most common culprits, a study suggests. A drug used in some popular sleeping pills was among the most commonly involved sedatives, especially in adults 65 and older. Most of the visits were for troublesome side effects or accidental overdoses, and almost 1 in 5 resulted in hospitalization. The results come from an analysis of 2009-2011 medical records from 63 hospitals that participate in a nationally representative government surveillance project. The study was published in JAMA Psychiatry. Overall, the sedative zolpidem tartrate, contained in Ambien and some other sleeping pills, was involved in almost 12 percent of all ER visits and in 1 out of 5 visits for older adults. The Food and Drug Administration last year approved label changes for those pills

recommending lower doses because of injury risks, including car crashes from morning drowsiness. Head injuries and falls in adults using zolpidem-containing drugs were among reasons for ER visits in the new study. Drs. Lee Hampton and Daniel Budnitz of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s healthcare quality promotion division led the study. The authors cited previously published national data showing that ER visits for bad reactions to zolpidem increased 220 percent from 2005 to 2010. “The FDA’s recent efforts to modify recommended dosing regimens hold promise” for reducing zolpidem-related problems, the authors said. But they also said doctors can help by recommending that patients use other insomnia treatments first, including better sleep habits and behavior therapy. Bad reactions to other psychiatric medicines in the study included mental disturbances, heart-related symptoms and intestinal problems. The study notes that nearly 27 million U.S. adults used prescription drugs to treat mental illness in 2011, so only a small fraction of them had bad reactions resulting in ER treatment. Still, the authors say doctors need to weigh the benefits and risks before prescribing psychiatric medicines. — AP

Friends share DNA similarities You may be more similar to your friends than you think: A study suggests that the DNA code tends to be more alike between friends than between strangers. That’s beyond the effect of shared ethnicity, researchers say. And it could be important for theories about human evolution, said James Fowler of the University of California, San Diego. He and Yale researcher Nicholas Christakis recently presented their results in a paper at the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. How much more alike are friends than strangers? Not much. Imagine the small similarity between fourth cousins — people who

share a set of great-great-great grandparents. The study included 1,932 participants in a long-running health study in Framingham, Mass. Researchers knew who was close friends with whom from the 1970s to the early 2000s because of information gathered for the study. From this group, they identified 1,367 pairs of close friends and about 1.2 million pairs of strangers. Then they examined information about nearly 467,000 locations in the DNA code of each participant. They looked for how similar the friend pairs were, and compared that to how similar the stranger pairs were. The researchers found that genes affecting sense of smell were especially likely to be similar in friends. See HEALTH SHORTS, page 25

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Health Studies Page THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Get paid to test smoking cessation website By Barbara Ruben Just 4 to 7 percent of people who try to give up smoking cold turkey are able to kick the habit on any given attempt, according to the American Cancer Society. Studies show that about a quarter of smok-

ers who use medications can stop smoking for at least six months. And counseling and other types of emotional support can boost success rates higher than medications alone. That’s the hope of a new online quit-smoking pro-

gram now being studied. The WebQuit study, funded by the National Cancer Institute, is testing two online quit-smoking programs to learn which one is most useful to help people stop smoking.

Nationwide study for smokers WebQuit is being conducted by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, but because the program is online, it is open to anyone in the U.S. “WebQuit provides online tools with the goal of helping you quit smoking, and experiencing all the personal benefits that come with [quitting],” said Jonathan Bricker, Ph.D., the study’s principal investigator and a scientist who specializes in smoking cessation. The free program offers a step-by-step guide to quitting, tools to help deal with urges to smoke, help staying motivated while quitting, and 24/7 online access. Participants are encouraged to work with their doctors to explore whether medications and nicotine replacement would be helpful if used in conjunction with WebQuit. However, medication is not provided by the study. WebQuit is studying two different formats of the website to determine which works best for smokers who want to kick the habit.

“Both interventions provide tools and tips for how to quit smoking, 28 days worth of tips sent via text, and information on medications. However the exercises are different in each group, as is the underlying approach to quitting smoking. This is the heart of what we are testing,” Bricker said. The goal is to provide the best website to the general public in the future, he said. WebQuit is looking for U.S. smokers over age 18 who smoke daily, can read English, have Internet access, and want to quit in the next 30 days.

Complete five surveys To take part in the study, visit WebQuit.org and fill out a short online survey to find out if you are eligible. If you are, you’ll be asked to fill out another online survey about you and your smoking. Then you’ll be randomly assigned (like tossing a coin) to one of the two groups. Over the next year, you’ll be asked to fill out three more surveys either by phone or mail. Your survey information will be entered on a secure website and kept confidential by WebQuit staff. In addition to getting support in quitting smoking, you’ll be paid up to $105 for filling out the surveys. For more information, email WebQuit@fhcrc.org or visit WebQuit.org.

BEACON BITS

Sept. 26

FALL RISK ASSESSMENTS Virginia Hospital Center and Marymount University will provide

comprehensive examinations measuring your risk for falling on Friday, Sept. 26 at the Carlin Springs Health Pavilion, 601 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington, Va. from 1 to 4 p.m. A physical therapist will review the results of your appointment to provide personalized recommendations. To schedule an appointment, call (703) 558-6861.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Health shorts From page 23 Why would friends have more DNA similarities than strangers? Fowler said it’s not clear. One possibility is that similar genes nudge people toward similar environments, which then gives them a chance to meet. Another possibility is that people who share certain genes also share skills that become more valuable when the people work together, he said. This could have been important over evolutionary time, and so set up a pattern that people still follow, he said. Fowler also said it’s not clear whether the finding pertains to groups outside of the Framingham study group, which is overwhelmingly Irish and Italian. In any case, findings of DNA similarities between friends could help explain how behaviors like altruism developed over evolutionary time, he said.

NIH creates mystery diagnosis network The government is expanding its “mystery disease” program, funding a network at six universities around the country to help diagnose patients with diseases so rare they’ve been told they’re undiagnosable. The National Institutes of Health has evaluated hundreds of these cold-case patients in its campus research hospital as part of a pilot program since 2008. De-

mand is so great, there’s a waiting list. Recently, the agency announced the NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Network, a fouryear, $43 million initiative to bring more doctor-detectives on board in the quest to at least put a name to more patients’ puzzling symptoms and eventually find treatments. The centers include: Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Duke University, Stanford University, University of California, Los Angeles, Vanderbilt University and the Harvard University teaching hospitals Brigham and Women’s, Massachusetts General and Boston Children’s. The network “will focus on the rarest of disorders, often those affecting fewer than 50 people in the entire world,” said Dr. Eric Green, director of NIH’s National Human Genome Research Institute. It’s a field that can be “bleak and frustrating” for patients and doctors alike, said NIH program director Dr. William Gahl. More than 3,000 patients have applied to the pilot program, which so far has enrolled about 600, NIH said. Gahl put the “solve rate” at about 25 percent. Scientists say newer, more powerful genetic technologies give hope for unraveling the cause of more of these mystery diseases. Louise Benge of Brodhead, Ky., and her siblings suffer debilitating pain in their hands and legs. After she enrolled in the pilot program, researchers discovered they inherited a rare genetic defect that makes calcium build up just in the arteries that feed those limbs, making walking and other movements difficult. Now re-

BEACON BITS

Sept. 13+

RIDE TO CONQUER CANCER

On Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13 and 14, thousands of dedicated men and women will embark on a two-day, 150 mile cycling journey through the capital region’s picturesque countryside to benefit the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Center, Sibley Memorial and Suburban Hospitals. For event schedule and route information, visit http://bit.ly/1kWyvFi.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

searchers are testing a medication. How the network will operate: The NIH will continue evaluating about 130 to 150 patients a year. The universities will gradually add additional ones until, by the summer of 2017, each should be admitting about 50 patients a year.

Participating patients spend a week in the designated center for head-to-toe examinations and testing. NIH said no patient would be turned away from the program because of lack of insurance, although each center would decide how to handle coverage. — AP

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Are there benefits to eating more often? Q: Is it true that eating several small amounts of food throughout the morning could rev up my metabolism and help me lose weight better than eating one breakfast? A: Despite how often you may hear people say that eating more frequently boosts metabolic rate and increases the calories we burn, well-controlled studies do not show that eating more often promotes weight loss. If you cut your calorie consumption to the same total, the amount of weight you’ll lose does not seem to change based on whether you eat those calories all at once or spread throughout the morning in several “mini-breakfasts.” Some studies do suggest that compared to eating your whole breakfast at once, the

same food choices spread out over a few hours could offer some other health benefits, including a smaller rise in blood sugar and insulin in the hours after eating. But the key questions are which eating pattern best allows you to consistently include foods that meet your nutritional needs and support overall health, and keeps calories at a level that helps you reach and maintain a healthy weight, sustains your energy, avoids excess hunger and fits into your lifestyle? For some people, spreading eating out over the morning reduces total calorie consumption by avoiding late morning hunger that could prompt them to grab candy or pastries, or to overeat at lunch. However, for other people, spreading

out their eating means they are more like- calories from these machines is for comparly to quickly grab less-healthy options, or ing information from your workouts on the provides more occasions to same equipment over time. eat portions beyond what is According to the American needed to satisfy hunger, with Council on Exercise (ACE), an end result of increasing treadmills have been around total calorie consumption. longer and are more tested Depending on your habits, than other equipment, and so either choice can fit with your treadmills may have more regoal of weight loss, so choose liable formulas than other equipment, such as ellipticals. whatever breakfast pattern Accuracy also depends on you can sustain and implecorrect use of the equipment: ment in a way that supports NUTRITION if you lean on side rails or your total health. bars, you allow them to supQ: How accurate is the in- WISE port some of your weight. formation treadmills and By Karen Collins, This burns fewer calories and step machines provide about MS, RD, CDM adds another reason that the calories burned? A: The listing of calories used during ex- calories you see listed may over-estimate ercise on equipment like treadmills, steppers what you have actually burned. In addition, different people doing identiand ellipticals is calculated based on formulas unique to each equipment manufacturer. cal exercise burn different amounts of caloThe formulas use time and speed, combined ries. Heavier people tend to burn more calowith any relevant resistance settings and the ries than lighter people doing the same acpersonal information you input. tivity. People who are less fit or less accusAccuracy of the calculations varies, de- tomed to a particular type of equipment pending on how well the formula was test- burn more calories than people who are ed on a large number of different people, more fit and trained on the equipment. Even your stride length, amount of lean how well-calibrated the equipment is kept, and the amount and accuracy of the infor- muscle tissue, individual metabolism and mation you provide. The most accurate use of information on See NUTRITION WISE, page 27

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Crunchy, healthy oven-baked fried chicken By Dana Jacobi When I offered a recipe back in 1999 for making oven-baked fried chicken, the Holy Grail for healthy eating was cutting fat and calories from popular dishes. At the time, decreasing them were so important that versions where the crust was limp and the chicken dry were widely accepted. When my recipe produced fried chicken with a crunchy crust over deliciously moist meat and only 16 percent of calories from a mere 6 grams of fat per serving, it was a hit. Recently, I set out to improve this recipe even more by including whole grain while still keeping the result crisp and delectable. To achieve this, I used whole-wheat panko for the outer coating instead of crushed fatfree soda crackers that were key to my earlier success. In fact, panko’s nubbly crunch makes this new version even better. I did try, and rejected, using whole-

wheat flour in the seasoned coating, because it turned gummy. Absorbing more moisture than white flour, it also made the chicken drier. Since the amount of flour that actually clings to the chicken is minimal, I feel that using white flour for the first coating is no big deal. What has remained the same in this new version is the yogurt and egg white wet coating. It makes a good base for the panko, and the yogurt, like buttermilk, assures the chicken’s tender moistness. You are more likely to have it on hand, too. Do coat the chicken generously with either canola or olive oil cooking spray. Today, while still watching calories, we also appreciate that fat is not automatically bad, so you can do this without guilt. Please be sure to spray the wire rack, as well. Another tip: Flouring the chicken in a paper bag instead of a plastic one lets the

Nutrition wise

8114, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This free service allows you to ask questions about diet, nutrition and cancer. A registered dietitian will return your call, usually within three business days. Courtesy of the American Institute for Cancer Research. Questions for this column may be sent to “Nutrition Wise,” 1759 R St. NW, Washington, DC 20009. Collins cannot respond to questions personally.

From page 26 medications can affect calorie-burning. To increase the calories you burn, work toward gradually increasing your speed, resistance/incline or amount of time you spend exercising. The American Institute for Cancer Research offers a Nutrition Hotline, 1-800-843-

coating move more freely and gets more of the seasoning in the flour onto the pieces. The next day, leftovers of this fried chicken will still draw compliments.

Crisp Oven-Fried Chicken 1/2 cup unbleached all purpose flour 1 ¼ tsp. dried basil 1 ¼ tsp. mustard powder 1 ¼ tsp. dried oregano 1 ¼ tsp. dried or rubbed sage 1 ¼ tsp. dried thyme leaves

1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper 1 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1 large egg white 1 container (6 oz.) low-fat, plain yogurt 1 1/2 cups whole-wheat panko 4 skinless chicken breast halves with rib, about 6 oz. each Canola or olive oil cooking spray Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray wire baking rack, place it on foil-covered See FRIED CHICKEN, page 29

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Natural antidepressants can help long-term Dear Pharmacist: I am saddened by the suicide of Robin Williams. I’ve dealt with depression on and off for years, and I was wondering if you have any natural anti-depressants for me to ask my doctor about? — L.C. Dear L.C.: When I hear a person say they’ve battled depression “on and off” for a long period of time, I ask the question why it is on and off? Something you are eating, doing or taking is impacting you so much that your mood is affected. Hormone imbalances are frequently the problem, especially estrogen and testosterone. If your thyroid hormone level drops too

low, you get depressed. When it moves into a healthy range, you feel happy and content. When I say “normal range,” I don’t mean the normal reference range indicated on your lab test. My opinion is that the so-called normal range is based upon a sick and hypothyroid population. This may explain why you feel terrible but your levels are “normal.” I don’t go by labs, I go by clinical presentation. I adored Robin Williams, he was brilliant, and behind his smiling eyes and hysterical jokes, he battled depression for years. You may feel the same way as you read this today, and I am glad you’re still holding on. Depression is one of those

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conditions that people judge. they crash your ability to activate vitamin D? Here are some reasons for depression Ever heard of seasonal affective disorthat you might explore with der or SAD? That is often rethe help of your physician: lated to low vitamin D levels, Hypothyroidism and hypoaso you might need vitamin D drenia — I’ve mentioned this one supplements if you take choalready, however, I want you to lesterol reducers. get a copy of my Thyroid Healthy Medications — Many drugs book so you learn how to test deplete you of life-sustaining properly. Testing and treatment is nutrients (I call them “drug the key to your happiness. muggers.”) Ibuprofen steals Also, do not take thyroid folic acid, and diabetic drugs medicine until your adrenal steal B12. Read my Drug Mugglands are strong and healthy. DEAR gers book for more drug-inPHARMACIST You may need to be supported duced nutrient depletions. By Suzy Cohen by adaptogenic herbs, a healthy If you take medications peridiet, relaxation and other stress odically, then you can’t make reducers. neurotransmitters. Then you deal with that The Pill — Synthetic hormones for birth ”on and off” situation you describe. control or menopause reduce your body’s Infections — Last on my list, but huge levels of B vitamins and minerals to the news: Certain infections that we carry in point where you cannot manufacture happy our body can affect the brain. You can have brain chemicals. A reduction in key neuro- bipolar, depression, insomnia and/or anxitransmitters, such as norepinephrine, ety because of Bartonella, Lyme, syphilis, dopamine and serotonin, causes depres- HIV, fungal infections (and their mycotoxsion. It could be on and off as you describe. ins), herpes and many others. Clearing the Statins and binders — We know these infection improves mood better than any drugs reduce CoQ10, but do you realize prescribed antidepressant. This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement. Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist GREENBRIAR TOWN CENTER and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist 13005-R and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To Lee Jackson contact her, visit www.dearpharmacist.com. Memorial Hwy.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

When humor hides hostility, jokes hurt

Fried chicken From page 27 baking sheet and set aside. In brown paper bag, combine flour, basil, mustard, oregano, sage, thyme, cayenne, salt and pepper by shaking bag; set bag aside. In shallow, wide dish, use fork to beat egg white until frothy. Mix in yogurt, and set dish aside. Place panko in another shallow, wide plate. One at a time, using paper towel, pat a chicken breast dry, drop it into bag and shake to coat evenly with seasoned flour. Dip floured chicken in yogurt mixture, turning to cover it completely, then shake gently to remove excess. Place chicken in panko, rib side up and using your fingers, press panko to cover chicken all over. Place panko-coated chicken rib side down on prepared rack. With your fingers press on additional

panko to cover any open spots. Repeat with remaining chicken pieces, leaving at least 1 inch between them on rack. Coat tops of chicken breasts with cooking spray. Discard remaining flour, yogurt mixture and panko. Bake chicken until crisp and golden brown with darker edges, about 45 minutes. Instant read thermometer inserted into thickest part of breast should register 165 degrees F. The chicken is crunchy when served within one-half hour. It keeps, wrapped in foil in refrigerator, for 2 days, though breading will be soft.

“finance and lunch” day together. I received the following comment from Melody, a reader: “I’m sorry, but I think you were way of f base in your answer to Millie. Frankly, unless Millie has shown signs of not being able to handle something, her finances are none of her son’s business. What she and her husband had remains hers until such a time as she sees fit to share this information.”

Dear Melody: Thank you for your input. What you say is true. I do think, however, that it is also important for Millie and her son to find ways to improve their relationship. © Helen Oxenberg, 2014. Questions to be considered for this column may be sent to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915. You may also email the author at helox72@comcast.net. To inquire about reprint rights, call (609) 655-3684.

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Dear Solutions: When you do that, your friend can’t anI have a certain kind of humor, which swer because you deny what’s really being my woman friend calls “little said. digs” at her. She thinks when If you have criticisms, say I kid around about somethem openly and honestly bething she’s done or not done fore this relationship bethat it’s a dig. comes terminal. How can I convince her Dear Readers: that I’m just teasing, and that In July, I responded to a they’re just little jokes? I want letter from “Millie,” whose this relationship to continue. son wanted to help her — Richard with her finances now that Dear Richard: she’s widowed. She didn’t Too many “little digs” and SOLUTIONS need or want his help. you’ve dug the grave where By Helen Oxenberg, I told her that she this relationship will be MSW, ACSW should accept his help buried! with some of the work, What you call jokes are probably per- both so she’ll feel more confident, and ceived as hostile remarks and criticism, he would feel needed now that his fawhich you try to cover over with humor. ther is gone. I suggested they have a

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFICE ON AGING

Spotlight On Aging VOLUME XXV, ISSUE 9

A newsletter for D.C. Seniors

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE By John M. Thompson, Ph.D., FAAMA In this issue of “Spotlight on Aging,” I believe that it is fitting that we discuss depression and chronic diseases in light of the tragic death of Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams. Mr. Williams was a very brilliant man who knew how to keep us laughing through movies and standup, and now many of us are mourning his untimely death. From the news, we learned that he died from an apparent suicide, and that he experienced severe depression and anxiety leading up to his death. We also learned that his depression was connected to his early stages of Parkinson’s disease, and that he was not ready to share that information with the public. According to data posted on WebMD’s website, those with Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis can experience a 40 percent likelihood of experiencing depression. Other statistics reveal that people with chronic illnesses face a 25 to 33 percent greater likelihood of experiencing depression. Those who have had a stroke experience a 10 to 27 percent likelihood of experiencing depression, while those who have had a heart attack experience a 40 to 65 percent greater likelihood of experiencing depression. People with cancer and diabetes are 25 percent more likely to experience depression, while those with coronary artery disease who have not had a heart attack can experience an 18 to 20 percent likelihood of experiencing depression. If you know someone who has experienced a major illness, chances are that he/she may also be suffering from depression. However, it takes a

psychologist or psychiatrist to diagnose a person with depression. As I reflect on my experiences of being around family members who were “not themselves,” I eventually learned that they were diagnosed with depression. They were sad, withdrawn, and had very little energy. This was not the person that I knew from the years past. The changed behaviors caused me to shy away at times, thinking that I was the problem. However, this is the wrong approach. The correct thing to do is to assist the person in seeking professional help. According to WebMD, “Depression is a condition that generally is associated with being ‘stuck’ in a mood of sadness or grief.” Inevitably, we all have experienced sadness, whether it is from losing a job, family member and/or friend, or for some other reason. However, those with clinical depression experience sadness/grief for a longer-than-normal duration. Symptoms of clinical depression include persistently sad mood or “feeling blue,” feelings of hopelessness and a negative outlook on life, loss of libido, fatigue and low energy. There are numerous types of clinical depression, which include major depression, chronic depression, atypical disease, bipolar depression (manic depression), seasonal depression, and psychotic depression. Depression does not only impact one’s mental health, but it can cause or exacerbate other health issues, such as heart disease and cancer. People with depression can experience unexplained headaches, neck pain, and/or abdominal pain. Depres-

September 2014

Senior Wellness Participants Send Note of Thanks to DCOA

A Big Note of thanks from seniors at Model Cities Senior Wellness Center for the new addition of a salad bar.

Model Cities Senior Wellness Center recently sent DCOA a thank you card to show their gratitude for the newly installed salad bar. Last month, DCOA added salad bars to the food options for participants at each of the wellness centers across the city. Wellness participants that eat the meal offered at the cen-

sion can negatively impact sleep, sexual desire and performance, and may cause some people to experience social isolation. In extreme cases, some people with depression, like Robin Williams, can commit suicide. As you can see, depression is very complicated, and it does not only impact the individual with the issue, but also those who are connected with the individual. Therefore, it is in the best interest of everyone that those with depression, or those who have any of the symptoms described

ter now can create their own fresh salad and fruit or enjoy the hot meal. Model Cities, located in Ward 5, is one of six senior wellness centers that are now featuring the new salad bar. For more information, or to locate the center nearest you, visit www.dcoa.dc.gov or call 202724-5626.

above, seek medical attention. If you identify any of these symptoms in a family member or friend, this is your opportunity to provide one of the best gifts to that individual. Get them help! Yes, it can be difficult for people to talk about depression, but let them know that they are not alone, and help is available. At the District of Columbia Office on Aging, we are here to assist you and your loved ones, as we have a very See DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE, page 33

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

D.C. OFFICE

AGING NEWSLETTER

Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency Launches Revamped Emergency Alert and Warning System AlertDC has been upgraded with new features allowing for personalized and targeted communications As of August 25, the District of Columbia emergency alerting notification system, AlertDC, has transitioned to a new software platform. The new system is customizable, and allows you to pick and choose what kind of alert notifications you want to receive and how you would like to receive them. This new Everbridge system replaces the old Roam Secure Alert Network alert system that had been in place since 2004. Being forewarned about dangerous weather, a neighborhood evacuation or an emergency road closure has never been easier with AlertDC. Now

alerts will be available by text, email, cell phone, instant messaging or fax. “It’s important that we keep our citizens informed, but we also want to give citizens a say in what information they receive and when,” says Chris Geldart, director of D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management agency. “The AlertDC system is the perfect solution for that.” If you commute, you can set your cell phone to receive traffic alerts that impact your route. You can set those alerts for just your cell phone and not your computer or other device. If you are at work, you can set different alerts to arrive via email and your cell phone, but not other devices. When we say

“personalized and targeted communication,” we really do mean just that. AlertDC is available to those who live, work, attend school and visit the District of Columbia. To gain access to the new system and enhanced features, visit AlertDC.dc.gov. Current subscribers must log-in to update their existing account. New subscribers simply click “Register” to sign up to receive information that can help you protect yourself and loved ones. The following is a list of some of the notification topics available through the District’s state-of-the-art alerting system: • Major Emergency Alerts (terrorism or natural disasters)

• Severe Traffic Incidents • Amber and Silver Alerts • Activation of Snow Emergency Routes • City Government Delays and Closings • School Closings Those that live and work in different jurisdictions within the National Capital Region (NCR) can sign up to receive alerts from multiple areas along their commute route. To find out about all of the available jurisdiction alert systems in the NCR, please visit www.capitalert.gov. If you have problems, questions, comments, or need more information, go to www.AlertDC.dc.gov.

Generations Community Festival Will Be Held on Sept. 6 The District of Columbia Office on Aging is proud to announce the 2014 Generations Community Festival: Celebration of Life. This Celebration of Life will take place Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Gateway D.C. Pavilion, located at 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE, Washington, D.C. The festival will deliver entertainment, empowerment and education to all generations. Created as a way to bring families together, the Generations Community Festival will also provide resources for older adults and persons living with disabilities in the District’s Community. Attendees of the festival will enjoy live music, health and fitness activities, seminars, a beauty and grooming lounge, kid activities, a food pavilion, vendors and so much more. The 2014 Generations Community Festival is fun for the entire family. Admission for the 2014 Generations Community Festival is FREE. Transportation will be provided for District residents age 60 and older. Those interested in transportation should con-

tact the D.C. Office on Aging at (202) 724-5626. • Health & Fitness activities provided by David Rachal III of Fighting Trim Fitness • Aging in Place Interior Design Seminar hosted by Trystin Kier Francis of The Trystin Kier Company • Ageless Grooming Lounge provided by Lisa S. Barnes of Celebrating You, The Spa • Sustainability Fair with Jay Cooper of Freedom Farms DC • Kid’s Activity Zone • Food Trucks and more

Main stage performances include: • DJ PoetixAfuw • Split This Rock DC (Youth poetry slam group) • BJ, Jazz Artist • Prophecy and Christopher M. Stevenson (Go/Go band) • Proverb (Reggae/ World band) • Carolyn Malachi (Soul/RB artist) • Lady Alma (Soul/RB artist) This is just a small taste of what is to come. We hope to see you there!

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

D.C. OFFICE

AGING NEWSLETTER

DDOT Seeking Applicants for ADA Transition Plan Advisory Group The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is developing the framework for its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)/Section 504 Transition Plan. The plan will outline how DDOT intends to remove barriers for persons with disabilities who use various features in the public right-of-way: such as sidewalks, curb ramps, pedestrian street crossings, pedestrian signals and other pedestrian facilities in the District. The draft ADA Transition Plan will identify needs, plan improvements, and enhance compliance with all feder-

Director’s message From page 31

solid system of resources that are beneficial for those with depression. Our Aging and Disability Resource Center is a valuable resource for linking people with depression to providers in Washington, D.C. who can address their condition. The Center can also connect seniors to other services, such as meal programs, transportation, recreational and social programs. We can be reached at 202-7245622. I have listed our partners and their contact information below. They can assist you or a loved one with depression. 1. Department of Behavioral

al, state and local regulations and standards. To ensure that DDOT addresses users’ concerns, DDOT is organizing a Transition Plan Advisory Group to participate and offer feedback on the draft Transition Plan framework. It is anticipated that the advisory group will meet approximately three times during the next 10 months. The purpose of the committee will be to learn what DDOT is doing to create its transition plan, and provide a forum to discuss and share information and insights that will help establish a strong and effective Transition

Health a. Access Helpline (1-888-7934357) b. Mobile Crisis Unit (202-6739319) 2. Washington Hospital Center’s Senior Outpatient Program (202877-6321) 3. Psychiatric Institute of Washington (202-885-5600) Please partner with me in ensuring that those who need help with depression get the necessary care. It is the right thing to do, and you will be surprised at how you can help to improve their quality of life. My colleagues are waiting for your call and stand ready to assist you, your loved ones, and friends.

Felicia Cowser, program analyst of Options Counseling, shakes hands with Rosa Taylor, lab specialist at Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA). DCOA has partnered with CSOSA to educate consumers about long-term care services available in the District of Columbia for older adults and persons living with disabilities. There is a growing need for more education about long-term care services and assistance with decision-making for long-term care planning.

Plan for the District. The public’s input, especially from people with disabilities, is invaluable to ensure that DDOT arrives at the best possible plan of action. The advisory group will hopefully include: • People with disabilities • Senior citizens • Other individuals and members of groups that struggle with barriers and access related to transportation, such as parents of minor children with disabilities If you would like to become a member of the advisory group, we would appreciate a brief write-up outlining

your interest and how you feel you can contribute to this process. This would include contact information (that is: your name, address, telephone and email address); your experience with people with disabilities; two references with their contact information, and any current organizations in which you are participating. Please mail or email your qualifications by Sept. 26 to: Cesar Barreto – DDOT ADA Coordinator 55 M St. SE, 5th floor Washington, DC 20003 202-671-2829 info@ddotadaplan.com

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

D.C. OFFICE

AGING NEWSLETTER

Community Calendar September events 8th • 11 a.m. Get immunized at a flu shot clinic at the Petersburg Senior Nutrition Site, 3298 Ft. Lincoln Dr. NE. For more information, call Vivian Grayton at 202-5298701.

Congregational Church, 4704 13th St. For more information, contact Donna Graham-Harris at 301-5854759 or grahamharris@earthlink.net.

20th • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attend a health fair at Mount Sinai Baptist Church, 1615 Third Street, NW. Call Jacqueline Nelson or Paula Lassiter at 202-667-1833 for more information.

24th • 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

9th • 2 to 4 p.m. Learn more about energy efficiency, get updates on D.C. utilities providers, and find out about legal issues with new alternative energy suppliers from representatives from the Office of People’s Council. This Rights and Resources in D.C. seminar will take place at Iona Senior Services, 4125 Albemarle St. NW. To register, call 202-895-9448 or email registration@iona.org.

16th • 11 a.m. Itching to learn more about bedbugs? Attend a presentation at the Vicksburg Senior Nutrition Site, 3005 Bladensburg Rd. NE. For more information, call Vivian Grayton at 202-529-8701.

17th • noon

20th • 1 to 5:30 p.m. The Iona Senior Services’ Take Charge/Get Well Academy presents “What, Me Move? Creative Housing Alternatives.” Get information from Iona’s Care Management Group, Mid-Atlantic Co-housing, Legal Counsel for the Elderly and more. The fee is $25 and scholarships are available. Refreshments will be served. The program will take place at Iona Senior Services, 4125 Albemarle St. NW. To register, call 202-895-9448 or email registration@iona.org.

22nd • 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The D.C. Office on Aging and the D.C. Public Library, Deanwood Branch, are sponsoring a community health and wellness fair at the Deanwood Recreation Center, 1350 40th St. NE. Contact Matadin Agarwalla at 202-698-1175 for more information.

John M. Thompson, executive director of the District of Columbia Office on Aging, will be the keynote speaker at the meeting of Shepherd Park AARP Chapter # 2667. It will take place at People’s

SPOTLIGHT ON AGING Spotlight On Aging is published by the Information Office of the D.C. Office on Aging for D.C. senior residents. Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the D.C. Office on Aging or by the publisher. 500 K St., N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002 202-724-5622 • www.dcoa.dc.gov John M. Thompson, Ph.D., FAAMA Executive Director Darlene Nowlin Editor Krystal Branton Photographer The D.C. Office on Aging does not discriminate against anyone based on actual or perceived: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, source of income, and place of residence or business. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination which is prohibited by the Act. In addition, harassment based on any of the above protected categories is prohibited by the Act. Discrimination in violation of the Act will not be tolerated. Violators will be subjected to disciplinary action. The Office on Aging is in partnership with the District of Columbia Recycling Program.

Mason Recreation Center, 3600 Calvert St. NW, cohosted by Glover Park Village and the D.C. Office on Aging. A light lunch will be served. There will be screenings, presentations and information from many community and governmental groups. For more details, email Events@GloverParkVillage.org or call 202-436-5545.

23rd • 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attend a free health and wellness fair at the Guy

Come to a community health and wellness fair sponsored by the D.C. Office on Aging in collaboration with Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church & Penn Branch AARP Chapter # 3473. Contact Deacon Mary Douglass at 202-581-1500 or Gloria Clanton at 202-582-1985 for details.

24th • 11 a.m. Learn about mail scams at a presentation at the Vicksburg Senior Nutrition Site, 3005 Bladensburg Rd. NE. For more information, call Vivian Grayton at 202-529-8701.

24th • 1 to 2 p.m. Have a visual impairment? You can still enjoy art. Take a described art tour through the National Gallery of Art West Building, 6th and Constitution Ave. NW. The event is sponsored by the Prevention of Blindness Society. For more information, call the museum at 202-737-4215.

DCOA Senior Service Network to be Surveyed on Services The Administration for Community Living is undertaking the Ninth National Survey of Older Americans Act Participants. DCOA Senior Service Network participants will be randomly selected to provide their feedback on Older Americans Act services, including: • Case Management • Congregate Meals • Home-Delivered Meals • Homemaker Services • Transportation Services

• National Family Caregiver Support Program Your participation will be vital in ensuring that District of Columbia data is included in the national results. These results will be sent to Congress to evaluate the outcomes of services received by District residents. Your identity will remain anonymous, but information about the services and your feedback will be included. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Senior Chorus Seeking Additional Members Are you interested in singing with an informal group of other seniors? You are invited to join the NorthEast Senior Singers, an affiliate of Washington’s 27-year-old Congressional Chorus. The two musical organizations, along with the American Youth Chorus, are conducted by artistic director David Simmons. The Senior Singers rehearse every Wednesday afternoon from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Delta Towers, at 1400 Florida Avenue NE. The building is at the in-

tersections of H Street, Maryland Avenue and Benning Road, near the Atlas Performing Arts Center. The chorus performs at the Atlas and in venues all over the city. Recent performances have been at the Intersections Festival at the Atlas Theater, the Levine School of Music, and the Lutheran Church of the Reformation. No auditions are necessary. For information or to join the chorus, call 202-399-7993, ext. 182 or e-mail info@congressionalchorus.org.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVES Alternative funds are becoming more popular, but have high fees PROFIT IN A DROP Market “corrections” are inevitable; how to make the most of them FUNDING LONGEVITY Ensure enough income for a long life from deferred income annuities LATER DISTRIBUTIONS A new tax rule postpones required distributions from certain annuities

How you can profit from the merger surge By Anne Kates Smith Every week, it seems, brings news of a corporate coupling (or at least an invitation). Buyouts are brisk in industries ranging from technology to healthcare, from finance to consumer goods. Halfway through 2014, U.S. companies had announced more than 9,000 deals (counting minor ones, including those for parts of businesses), with a collective value of more than $771 billion. “We’re on track for the first trillion-dollar year since 2007,” said Richard Peterson, who tracks merger activity for S&P Capital IQ. A number of factors are behind the boom. Firms have an abundance of cash on corporate balance sheets — some $2 trillion for nonfinancial companies in Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index. Credit is easy, with interest rates low and demand for corporate bonds robust. And with stock prices at record highs, companies can pay for acquisitions with inflated shares.

High U.S. tax rates play a role Taxes are also playing a part. Some U.S. companies are bidding for overseas firms so they can change their country of incorporation in a quest for more-favorable income tax rates. For instance, Minneapolis-based Medtronic recently announced that it’s buying Covidien, another medical device maker, for $43 billion in cash and stock. Covidien has offices in Mansfield, Mass., but the company is registered in Ireland. In addition to the tax advantage, the companies have complementary product lines. Shareholders, sometimes spurred by activist investors, support the takeover trend. Companies that made an acquisition in 2013 saw their stock increase by an average of 48 percent for the year, said Bank of America Merrill Lynch. [Editor’s note: President Obama and some members of Congress are criticizing the mergers, noting they seem primarily de-

signed to reduce the companies’ U.S. tax bill, which in turn will add to budget deficits here. Others point out that U.S. corporate tax rates are the highest in the developed world and that corporate income is taxed twice, both at the company earnings level and when paid to stockholders as dividends.]

Trends of success Investors looking to cash in on the merger boom might consider investing in stocks of companies with a track record of successful acquisitions. For example, Valeant Pharmaceuticals (symbol VRX, $126) recently garnered headlines for its hostile bid for Allergan (AGN, $169), the maker of Botox. The firm has executed an aggressive acquisition strategy, almost flawlessly, for years, said Morningstar analyst David Krempa, thus boosting profit margins and reducing the risk of expiring patents. Danaher Corp. (DHR, $79), which man-

ufactures everything from industrial tools to dental supplies, is a master at consolidating businesses, achieving synergies and maximizing productivity. Danaher acquired 14 businesses in 2013; roughly 75 percent of its sales growth during the past five years has come from acquisitions. Deal adviser Lazard (LAZ, $52) could see double-digit-percentage revenue growth this year as its investment-banking unit profits from a pickup in dealmaking, said S&P Capital IQ, which rates the stock a “strong buy.” Finally, consider Merger Fund (MERFX), a member of the Kiplinger 25. The fund invests in stocks of announced takeover targets. Anne Kates Smith is a senior editor at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. Send your questions and comments to moneypower@kiplinger.com. And for more on this and similar money topics, visit Kiplinger.com. ©2014 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Sun and wind energy empower portfolios By Jonathan Fahey You can now fit a wind or solar farm into your portfolio, even if your portfolio isn’t exactly vast. Energy companies are wrapping renewable energy projects and other power-related assets that generate steady cash into new companies they hope attract investors hunting for dividends. In an unfortunate victory for corporate speak, they are called yieldcos. They’re the electric power industry’s answer to real estate investment trusts, which distribute rental income to investors, and master limited partnerships, which distribute income from oil and gas pipelines to investors. Yieldcos aim to distribute most of the proceeds from generating or delivering electricity to shareholders through a steady stream of dividends. They try to grow the dividend by buying more power projects. Analysts say they are a relatively safe way to invest in renewable energy — much safer, for example, than buying shares in notoriously volatile solar panel makers. Warren Buffet agrees. He’s invested $15

billion in the same type of wind and solar projects that yieldcos own, and he plans to double that amount.

Promising, but risky, too But analysts caution there are risks for yieldco investors because their popularity has inflated share prices and the concept is so new. “They are new types of companies, so we have very little visibility into what they might evolve into in the future,” said Mihoko Manabe, an analyst at Moody’s, the credit rating agency. So far, many are doing quite well. NRG Yield (NYLD), which was created by the power producer NRG Energy, went public in 2103 at $22 a share and is now trading at $54. Next Era Energy Partners (NEP), which was created by the electric utility Next Era Energy, went public in July at $25 and is now trading above $34. TerraForm Power (TERP), created by SunEdison, also went public in July at $25 and now trades near $30. These yieldcos own power plants that have entered into long-term power purchase agreements at set prices with local utilities. For example, Next Era Energy’s

Tuscola Bay wind farm in Michigan will sell all of its power over 20 years to DTE Energy. And assets go beyond wind or solar projects, or even ones that generate power. Abengoa Yield owns power transmission lines in Peru and Chile along with solar farms in Arizona and California. NRG Yield owns a coal-fired plant in Delaware. Because these companies own assets operating under long-term agreements, they aren’t subject to wild swings in the price of wholesale electricity the way traditional power producers are. The idea is that while some investors would like to pay for the risk and upside of a traditional power producer, many others would rather have a steady flow of cash. For the companies, these new businesses have created a new and cheaper source of funding to buy or build new power projects. “It’s the biggest thing going on in energy finance,” said Peter Davidson, executive director of the Energy Department’s loans programs office, which lent money to projects that are now in yieldco portfolios. “We think it’s the next great step in the evolution of clean tech.”

Other concerns to consider One big concern for investors is that share prices could fall, perhaps sharply, if interest rates rise. That’s because comparable yields will then be available from safer investments, such as bonds. Another is that investor enthusiasm in these companies has pushed yields down so far that some barely justify the name yieldco. NRG Yield now pays out just 2.7 percent, not much more than the 2.2 percent that the components of the Dow Jones industrial Average pay, on average. Investors are banking on fast dividend growth, which all the companies project. NRG has told investors it hopes to grow the dividend an average 10 to 15 percent per year over the next five years. But that requires buying more projects at good prices. With more and more yieldcos chasing these projects, there might not be enough to go around, or they might get too expensive. Manabe, of Moody’s, recommends sticking with yieldcos controlled by large, stable companies that have many projects available to sell to the yieldco, such as See ENERGY STOCKS, page 36

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Alternative funds draw dollars, questions By Stan Choe They’re hot, yet many investors have no idea what they do. These mutual funds go by a few names, and it doesn’t help that some are inscrutable like “liquid alts,” but they generally fall under an umbrella known as alternative mutual funds. Managers of alternative funds pitch that they can offer smoother returns than traditional stock and bond funds because they have access to more trading tools and mar-

kets. And their popularity is surging, though they come with their own risks and generally higher fees. Investors plugged a net $35 billion into alternative mutual funds over the last 12 months, according to Morningstar. That’s more than went into bond mutual funds, and nearly as much as into diversified U.S. stock funds. The growth is more striking in percentage terms because many alternative funds are still relatively young and small. Over

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the last year, total assets of alternative funds have grown by 30 percent, not including investment gains. But the spurt of money doesn’t mean widespread acceptance. Mention alternative funds even to savvy investors like financial advisers, and the default response is often a shrug. Matt Straut should know. He’s a sales manager for Wells Fargo Funds Management, who is traveling around the country to talk with investment advisers about alternative funds. But instead of trying to make a sale, he’s focused more on helping them understand just what alternative funds are and if their clients would want them. “We’re almost in education-only mode,” he said. “We’re not placing any gauge on sales” because many advisers are in such an early stage of getting familiar with alternative funds.

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Economy II is a Lifeline supported service. Lifeline is a government assistance program. Only eligible consumers may enroll. You may qualify for Lifeline service if you can show proof that you participate in certain government assistance programs or your annual income (gross and from all sources) is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guideline. If you qualify based on income, you will be required to provide income verification. Proof of participation in a government assistance program requires your current or prior year’s statement of benefits from a qualifying state or federal program; a notice letter or other official document indicating your participation in such a program; and/or another program participation document (for example, benefit card). Proof of income requires your prior year’s state or federal tax return; current income statement from an employer or paycheck stub; a statement of Social Security, Veterans Administration, retirement, pension, or Unemployment or Workmen’s Compensation benefits; a federal notice letter of participation in General Assistance; a divorce decree; a child support award; and/or another official document containing income information. At least three months of data is necessary when showing proof of income. In addition, the Lifeline program is limited to one discount per household, consisting of either wireline or wireless service. You are required to certify and agree that no other member of the household is receiving Lifeline service from Verizon or another communications provider. Lifeline service is a non-transferable benefit. Lifeline customers may not subscribe to certain other services, including other local telephone service. Consumers who willfully make false statements in order to obtain the Lifeline benefit can be punished by fine or imprisonment, or can be barred from the program.

Here’s a look at questions investors should ask as they consider whether alternative funds are for them: What do they do? Many alternative fund managers use tools that are typically the province of hedge funds. Brian Singer, for example, invests in everything from stocks to bonds to currencies with his William Blair Macro Allocation fund (WMCNX). And he invests not

Energy stocks From page 35 Next Era Energy Partners. It’s controlled by Next Era Energy, the biggest wind power producer in the U.S. and one of the largest solar power producers. Nathan Kubik, a principal at a Colorado

only when he expects an investment to rise in price, but also when he’s forecasting a drop. He does that through short-selling. Now, for example, he isn’t excited about U.S. stocks, which are more expensive after nearly tripling since early 2009. But he believes some parts of the market are pricier than others, particularly small-cap growth stocks. Late last year, he positioned the fund to benefit from a drop in their share prices. But he also made a trade that would profit if another part of the market, large-cap value stocks, rises. Singer also invests in bonds — his fund is shorting many types of bonds — and in currencies, which he sees as some of the most fertile ground available. He expects gains for the Indian rupee and Malaysian ringgit, and he has investments set up to profit if the Australian dollar falls. What kinds of returns expected? Alternative funds aren’t supposed to match the stock market, said Will Kinlaw, head of portfolio and risk management research at State Street Global Exchange. Their main purpose is to offer diversification to investors — something that can hold steady or rise when stock markets are falling. “If stocks are a car, these products are like bikes,” Kinlaw said. “A biker is never going to outrun a car on an open highway, but in a traffic jam, a bike can weave through and be See ALTERNATIVE FUNDS, page 37

Springs financial advisory firm, said he thinks yieldcos could have a place in his clients’ portfolios along with REITs and MLPs — someday. “I like what they are doing,” he said. “But right now it’s probably a little premature for us to get in. It needs to be proven a little more.” — AP

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Survive, even thrive, in market correction By Anne Kates Smith Stock market “corrections” are an inevitable part of investing. Since 1932, declines of 10 to 20 percent (the traditional definition of a correction) have occurred an average of every two years, according to InvesTech Research. Are we due for a big drop? Probably. The current bull market has brushed off unfavorable economic news, but there’s no guarantee that it will brush off future disappointments. Still, if you believe the bull market has more room to run, don’t panic when it stumbles. Here’s how to put a downturn to good use. Beef up your buying power. While

stocks continue to hit record highs, take some profits from your winners and build a cash reserve. When the market finally sinks, scoop up bargains. Prepare a shopping list. Jot down a list of stocks you’d like to acquire at lower prices. Wasatch Funds chairman Sam Stewart said he likes healthcare and would start to nibble at Walgreens (symbol WAG, $71) if it fell to the high $50s. Scott Klimo, director of research at Saturna Capital, which manages the Amana funds, would use a 10-percent correction to add to a stake in search engine giant Google (GOOG, $585) and BorgWarner (BWA, $66), a leading maker of turbochargers. Don’t miss a stealth correction.

Alternative funds

But they’re still more expensive than traditional mutual funds, and higher fees mean an immediate disadvantage that a fund must surmount through better performance. The average expense ratio for an alternative mutual fund is 1.84 percent. That means $184 of every $10,000 invested in the funds go toward covering operational expenses. Across all stock mutual funds, investors incurred an average expense of $74 last year for every $10,000 invested. Actively managed stock funds have higher expense ratios than index funds, but they also tend to be cheaper than alternative funds. What other risks are there? Officials at the Securities and Exchange Commission have voiced some concerns. Some alternative funds invest in narrow segments of the market where finding a buyer can be difficult during tumultuous markets. That could exacerbate losses. Other funds can use borrowed money to amplify returns, which can also accelerate losses. — AP

From page 36 more consistent in its speed.” Given that many alternative mutual funds are less than 5 years old, many don’t yet have a track record to show how they perform during sharp down markets. What role should they play in a portfolio? Managers of some of the largest pension funds and university endowments have been using alternative investments for years, but usually only in a supporting role. The nation’s largest public pension fund, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, has less than 2 percent of its total assets in hedge-fund strategies. Yale University’s endowment, a famous advocate, has about 18 percent. What about the high price tag? Alternative mutual funds are cheaper than hedge funds, which can charge a 2 percent fee on assets and an additional 20 percent of profits.

Broad measures such as Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index have been marching to new highs, but a closer look at the market shows that some sectors have already taken big hits and are starting to recover. Two examples: Internet services and biotech stocks. Turn off the TV. If a decline starts to

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snowball, you’ll hear about it — over and over. “Don’t become your portfolio’s worst enemy by allowing yourself to get caught up in the negative hysteria,” said Sam Stovall, chief stock strategist at S&P Capital IQ. Instead, remind yourself that the market

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Secure for long life with a longevity annuity The life expectancy for both men and women in the United States continues to increase. This is obviously good news, yet it raises a prospect many fear: that they will outlive their assets. Interest rates are low and will likely remain so for some time, so many people nearing or at retirement age are looking for financial products that will preserve their resources through their remaining years. One worth looking at is a deferred income annuity (DIA), also known as a longevity annuity.

How it works The buyer of a DIA, in its simplest form, invests a lump sum with an insurance com-

pany and in return is guaranteed a lifetime income stream beginning at a designated future date. (An immediate annuity, by contrast, guarantees an income stream beginning immediately.) Just how large are the payments in that lifetime income stream? That depends on a lot of different factors: current interest rates, life expectancy, the amount of the premium(s) deposited, the length of the deferral period, and the various income options. Consider this example, based on typical rates as of May 2014, taken from the website ImmediateAnnuities.com (which, incidentally, is a good source of information, as well as rates and quotes from insurance companies): If you were to invest a lump sum of

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$100,000 at age 55, specifying in your con- cuss with your insurer. These include riders tract that you want your income stream to that protect you from inflation, that protect begin at age 65, you would begin receiving beneficiaries if you die before receiving payments (e.g., by returning to $10,609 a year at that time. With them the initial lump sum you an immediate annuity, you invested plus nominal interwould receive $5,621 annually, est), or that give you access to beginning immediately. As exsome of your initial premium in pected, the longer the interval case of an emergency. Naturalbetween your initial investment ly, adding any such rider will eiand the date you elect to begin ther increase your upfront cost receiving your income stream, or decrease your future inthe larger your income will be. come stream. With DIAs, you have several DIAs need not be purchased options regarding your income THE SAVINGS only with a one-time lump sum. stream. For example, you can GAME You can buy one over time in a choose lifetime income for you By Elliot Raphaelson “flexible premium purchase.” If only, or you could select a jointyou will be able to make addilife option that allows another party (such as a spouse), if you predecease tional purchases prior to retirement, considhim or her, to continue to receive the same er this option. No one can predict interest rates, but if monthly income. Naturally, a joint-life option comes with a you expect them to increase in the near cost: The monthly income will be smaller term, you can postpone investing some of than the self-only option (given the same your capital. However, if you use this stratpremium). The insurance company will egy, it will reduce the subsequent deferral base the monthly stream of income not only period, which might offset the advantage on your age but also the age of the joint of higher interest rates. There are two basic disadvantages of party. Another option is a guaranteed income for DIAs. The first is that you may die before a specified period, such as five, 10 or 15 years. your time, actuarially speaking. Riders can The longer the specified period, the lower the mitigate this risk, of course, but an annuity income stream. If you die during the speci- is a lot like a bet with an insurance compafied interval, the remaining income pay- ny that you will live long enough see a faments will be made to specified beneficiaries. vorable return on your investment. The other risk is loss of liquidity. You should invest in this type of policy only if Options, disadvantages

to consider There are other options that you can dis-

See ANNUITY, page 39

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Profit in a drop

Consider a correction-market twist: Invest periodically, but use decline thresholds instead of time intervals to determine when. For example, you might put a set amount into stock funds in your 401(k) after every 5-percent dip. Anticipate better days: The effects of corrections don’t last long. After a drop of 10 to 20 percent, it typically takes just four months to break even, said Stovall. ©2014 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

From page 37 has experienced 20 drops of 10 to 20 percent since World War II (plus 13 bear-market tumbles of at least 20 percent). Even so, large-company stocks have returned 11.1 percent annualized since the war’s end. Have a strategy. You’ve probably heard of dollar-cost averaging, a strategy of investing a set amount in the market at periodic intervals.

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New tax rule adds to value of annuities By Kimberly Lankford Question: I understand that the Treasury Department just changed the tax rules so people can now invest IRA money in deferred income annuities without worrying about required minimum distributions. Should I invest in this kind of annuity? Answer: If you’re starting to plan for retirement income, it’s worth considering. A deferred income annuity lets you invest a lump sum now and lock in a guaranteed lifetime payout that starts at a later date. [See “Secure for long life with a longevity annuity” on page 38.] Knowing you can count on a guaranteed income stream after a certain age can help you plan withdrawals from the rest of your savings. And the longer you defer payouts, the bigger the bang for your buck.

Annuity From page 38 there is a low probability that you will need access to the initial premium prior to the date when your income stream starts. An investment in DIAs may not do as well as a long-term diversified investment, such as a target fund. However, you can take some comfort in knowing you are re-

The required minimum distribution rules in effect before the Treasury’s ruling made it difficult to make the most of these annuities. Because you need to start taking money from traditional IRAs and 401(k)s at age 70 1/2 and pay taxes on the withdrawals, some insurers would only let people invest in deferred annuities with money from taxable accounts. Other insurers let people invest IRA money in deferred income annuities, but required them to start receiving payouts before age 70 1/2. The short deferral period limited the value of their investment. For example, MetLife allowed customers to invest in deferred income annuities in their 401(k)s, but required payouts to begin at age 70 1/2. Or you could invest traditional IRA money in an annuity as long as you agreed to take RMDs from

another IRA account.

What the new rule does The Treasury Department’s new rule would permit people to invest up to 25 percent of their IRA or 401(k) account balance (or $125,000, whichever is less) in a longevity annuity without having to take RMDs on the money. Insurers are now expected to extend the deferral age to 80 or 85. The average buyer of deferred income annuities is about 59 and defers payouts for seven or eight years, said Joe Montminy, LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute annuity research director. Removing the RMD

issue creates an opportunity for people to get higher payouts by deferring longer. Montminy expects that more companies will enter the market and more advisers will start recommending these products. To keep in mind: It may take a few months for state regulators to approve changes to new products from insurers. Insurers are also determining what this means for people who bought deferred income annuities before the rules were changed. Kimberly Lankford is a contributing editor to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. ©2014 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

ceiving a guaranteed positive return. If you decide to purchase a DIA, buy it only from a company with top rating, such as A, A+ or A++. Ratings from A.M. Best, Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s are reliable. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at elliotraph@gmail.com. ©2014 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Our warmest wishes for a peaceful and healthy new year, 5775 Find a favorite recipe for holiday apple cake on page 4.

September 2014/No. 34

A creative ideas guy by Emily Tipermas

To explain his creative process, let’s move to a large drafting table in his apartment; measuring instruments, colored pencils, and other tools are within easy reach. Each of Mr. Pellish’s designs takes up to three months to complete and is painstakingly crafted as a collage of hundreds of tiny pieces of crisp paper. A clear layer of thin, tightly-spaced parallel lines is then placed over the collage to produce a fluctuating moiré effect. View a Original designs by David Pellish. selection of his designs in motion on YouTube in a video titled, The Art of David Pellish. Intricate geometrical compositions Prior to beginning his prolific career as an architect at the Department fill the walls of David Pellish’s of Energy in 1977, Mr. Pellish, an expert in housing architecture, served comfortable Landow House apartment; as technical advisor for the President’s Commission on Urban Problems his designs appear to twist and sway. “I take contemporary art to (appointed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968). He also helped write the The perceived sense of micro-movement the next level, with movement,” Housing and Community Development Act, which established the National stems from Pellish’s unique artistic says artist, architect, and energy specialist David Pellish Institute of Building Sciences in 1974. This organization brings together approach, a blend of his expertise in art, of Landow House. representatives of government, industry, labor, and consumer interests architecture, technology, and science. “You were always a creative ideas guy, Dad,” says daughter Madeline with regulatory agencies to resolve issues that hamper construction. As an architect, Mr. Pellish’s goal was to generate innovative Pellish with admiration. Her father David, 91, has been recognized for approaches to efficient energy usage in buildings. He would come up with his work in the field of energy sustainability, as well as for his own a basic idea and then bring together scientists to study what he proposed artistic pursuits. and to devise cost-effective ways to implement it. One example is the Majoring in art and art history at Brooklyn College, Mr. Pellish energy-conserving “Smart Window” that can capture and absorb sunlight in advanced to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earning graducold weather and do the reverse in hot weather. ate degrees in architecture and city planning. Inspired by the Bauhaus Assisted living at Landow House has provided a warm, supportive movement’s focus on the interplay of art, technology, and science, environment for Mr. Pellish to enjoy life and to continue his creative and influenced by MIT Professor György Kepes, a leading theorist in pursuits. Call 301.816.5050 to learn how Landow House may be the avant-garde design, Mr. Pellish began tinkering with methods to conperfect residence for the “creative ideas guy” or woman in your family. n struct stationary patterns that produce a sense of micro-movement. HEBREW HOME OF GREATER WASHINGTON • SMITH-KOGOD & WASSERMAN RESIDENCES COHEN-ROSEN HOUSE • HIRSH HEALTH CENTER • LANDOW HOUSE • REVITZ HOUSE • RING HOUSE

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Photo by Randy Sager

Ring House celebrates 25 years

Filled with the sunlight of summer This issue of LifeTimes includes news that is filled with the sunlight of summer as well as news that addresses the very serious issue of elder abuse. What an amazing range of subject matter. And, what better way to illustrate the dynamic range of services and programs that Charles E. Smith Life Communities encompasses, as our organization works to meet the needs of a diverse group of older adults in a very person-centered and individualized way. This summer saw residents gardening in raised containers, cheering at local baseball games, enjoying barbecues, and taking excursions to nearby parks. While these programs helped to enrich lives, at the same time, we were also helping residents and their families to cope with the more challenging side of aging: recovering from accidents and surgery, making the best health-care decisions with the support of our onstaff physicians, and finding specialized memory care in an attractive setting. I invite you to learn more about us by touring our new model apartments at Ring House, joining us for a day of Mah Jongg, or attending a special event — all mentioned in the pages of this newsletter. See for yourself what we, with the help of our philanthropic supporters, accomplish. With my best wishes for the coming season, L’shana tova, a year of peace, health, and success in all your endeavors.

Warren R. Slavin, President/CEO, Charles E. Smith Life Communities

Page 2 | September 2014

On Thursday evening, November 6, at 7:30 p.m., Ring House will celebrate its 25th anniversary with champagne, cake, and entertainment. Ring House residents, families, and guests from the community are welcome to join the celebration, which will include an art exhibit showcasing residents’ creativity. Please call 301.816.5009 to let us know you plan to attend. Valet parking will be available. Over the past 25 years, Ring House has been home to more than 2,100 residents who have enjoyed 2.4 million days of great service, tasty kosher meals, engaging programs, and friendships. Events being held as part of the silver anniversary include Mah Jongg for Fun on September 17. We welcome players from the community. This game day offers a special diversion: players are invited to take a break at 2:00 p.m. to help judge our holiday Kugel Kontest. Kugels prepared from residents’ treasured recipes will be available for tasting – and voting – in the dining room. To RSVP for Mah Jongg for Fun and the Kugel Kontest call 301.816.5052. n

Anne Gordon’s watercolor and ink drawing exemplifies the creative spirit flourishing at Ring House.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Dragon

Spend the daywith a

Ring House

1801 E. Jefferson St., Rockville, MD

September 17 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Campus news

Greetings from...

...and help judge our

holiday Kugel Kontest

We’ll be happy to match you with other players. All levels of experience welcome; $5 includes Mah Jongg for fun and a delicious kosher luncheon. Kugel judging at 2:00 p.m.

Reserve at 301.816.5052

r e w o l FPower

Postcards filled with the summer sunshine from residents at Charles E. Smith Life Communities.

d n u o r A making a splash g n i l d Noo

ut Take Me O to the

Ball Game!

Sid Levy poses with a baseball cap. Trips to ball games are a summer favorite, from the Nationals to Bethesda Big Train, where it is easy to get up close to the action. Shirley Klaven, Ronnie Abrams, Sidney Levy, Dietra Rogers, and Jerry and Ruth Frieden enjoyed summer barbecues at Revitz House. n

Ring House resident Celia Packer (above) tends one of her plants in a monthly class led by master gardener volunteers from Montgomery County. There is also an intergenerational garden at Ring that youth groups from the community help residents maintain. At summer’s end, Ring and Revitz garden lovers will share their experiences at a Gardeners’ Gathering.

Wish yo u we re

h e re

At Revitz House, Ronnie Abrams (above) has helped make flowers and vegetables a magnet for visitors. “It’s really been therapeutic for residents and families alike,” observes staffer Marie Ford. “People flocked to the outdoors more than ever this year.” The Robinson Youth Philanthropy H2YP program helped fund the raised beds.

Photo by Rich ard Greenhou se Photograph y

y se Photograph ard Greenhou Photo by Rich

Photo courtesy Andi Kronzek, Jewish Community Center

Rose Grossman (left) and Susan Young use their noodles at the neighboring Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington pool. Ring House residents and Center members enjoy a thrice-weekly water aerobics class.

LifeTimes | Page 3

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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Enjoy this holiday favorite from Apple Coffee Cake

4-5 apples, peeled and thinly sliced In a medium bowl, combine apples, T sugar, •and cinnamon,HOUSE and set aside. HEALTH CENTER HEBREW HOME OF GREA TER W5ASHINGTON COHEN-ROSEN • HIRSH • REVITZ HOUSE • RING 5 tablespoons sugar In a large bowl, beat togetherLANDOW eggs, 2 HOUSE C sugar, oil, and vanilla untilHOUSE smooth. 2 teaspoons cinnamon Combine flour, baking powder, and salt, and add a little at a time to egg mixture. 4 eggs Pour into a greased and floured tube pan in layers, beginning with a third of the cake batter, 2 cups sugar then half the apple mixture, and alternating batter and apple mixture for a total of five layers. 1 cup oil Bake at 350 for 1 hour, 20 minutes. 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla You may add confectioner’s sugar on top of cooled cake. 3 cups flour, sifted Cake freezes well; wrap in foil securely before freezing. Serves 10. 3 teaspoons baking powder HEBREW HOME OF GREA TER W ASHINGTON • COHEN-ROSEN HOUSE • HIRSH HEALTH CENTER ½ teaspoon salt Source: A Tasteful Collection published by theHOUSE Women’s Auxiliary theHOUSE Hebrew Home about 1984. LANDOW • REVITZ HOUSE •ofRING

Generation to Generation

Dr. Williamowsky knows his history – of the Home’s Dental Clinic Safeguarding seniors from abuse Elder abuse is a far-reaching issue affecting nearly five million Americans each year. It is not always easily identified as many people who commit the abuse are trusted family members, friends, or caretakers. Elder abuse can take many forms, including physical assault, emotional abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. Would you recognize the signs? Types of elder abuse Elder abuse is the mistreatment of older adults in one or more of the following ways: • Physical: Use of force (such as hitting or pushing) causing pain, harm, or physical injury; inappropriate use of medications or physical restraints. • Sexual: Any type of non-consensual sexual contact. • Psychological: Mistreatment that affects emotional or mental health, including intimidation, threats, harassment, humiliation, belittlement, or isolation. • Neglect: Willful deprivation of basic needs, including food, clothing, shelter, medicine, or personal hygiene. • Self-neglect: The inability to provide for one’s own physical or psychological needs which causes risk to health or safety. • Financial exploitation: Misuse of the older adult’s money, property, or resources. Warning signs Is the older adult...? • Fearful of caregiver • Not receiving necessary assistance from caregiver • Prevented from interacting privately with family, friends, or other professionals • Crying, agitated, trembling, confused, or in emotional distress • Withdrawn, depressed, lacking emotion • Showing signs of self-destructive behavior • Socially or physically isolated • Displaying poor hygiene, such as dirty clothing, body odor • Lacking in basic necessities, or home is in disarray • Suffering from unexplained bruises, burns, cuts, or welts • Experiencing unauthorized withdrawal of funds or use of credit cards What you can do? If elder abuse is suspected, call 911 or the local Adult Protective Service (APS) office in your community. In Montgomery County, Maryland, call APS at 240.777.3000. n

Page 4 | September 2014

Initiatives In the Jewish tradition, the fall holiday of Sukkot is marked by constructing temporary structures reminiscent of shelters built in Biblical times to protect farmers harvesting crops in the fields. In this same spirit of providing temporary shelter, Charles E. Smith Life Communities will launch a new program this fall, the ElderSAFE Center, the first program of its kind in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The initials SAFE stand for Shelter, Advocacy, Freedom from abuse, and Education. In addition to Tovah Kasdin, J.D. providing short-term shelter for older adults referred Director, ElderSAFE Center by community agencies, the Center will offer a range of services including: • Confidential counseling • Medical services • Physical and/or psychological therapeutic services • Case management • Community referrals and coordination with partner agencies Charles E. Smith • Legal referrals Life Communities • Spiritual support • SAFE discharge The ElderSAFE Center will also work to prevent future abuse by raising awareness, educating our community, and encouraging early intervention. The ElderSAFE Helpline for professionals to call when shelter is warranted is 301.816.5099. Charles E. Smith Life Communities is grateful to the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Center for Elder Abuse Prevention at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, New York, for their guidance in establishing this program, and to the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation and Montgomery County, Maryland, for grants to support it. Tovah Kasdin, J.D., will direct the ElderSAFE Center. An attorney with more than 15 years of experience in domestic violence law, Tovah formerly served as a prosecutor with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office handling domestic violence cases. She currently serves as president of the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence and has testified on domestic violence policy. Tovah has also provided consultation to the World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund and the Inter-American Development Bank on best practices for domestic violence prevention and response. n

Elder SAFE

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

I Voted

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Please take a moment to cast your vote for Charles E. Smith Life Communities as Best Senior Living Community in Bethesda Magazine’s “Best of Bethesda” I Readers’ Poll. Vote by Sept. 15 Voted at http://bit.ly/1nz9jAj.

Sharing our Expertise 1. Find doctors with a passion and expertise in caring for older adults. The medical staff at Charles E. Smith Life Communities cares for residents throughout the campus and also accepts appointments from patients from the community at the Harold and Jane Hirsh Health Center. This center on the Terrace Level at Ring House, offers an opportunity for the community to find care focused on the older patient, and it accepts Medicare assignment and most insurance plans.

Photo by Richard Greenhouse

Five tips for living well

The newest furnished model apartment at Ring House has an especially spacious living-dining area and built-ins in the closets. Call 301.816.5012 to take a tour.

3. Make your home one that adds convenience, not chores, to life. Look for meals, transportation, housekeeping, and other services. Kelly Jenkins of Capitol Décor and Events designed the model apartments at Ring House with such flair that one new resident bought the entire package of furniture and moved right in. How easy is that!

From left, podiatrist Richard Jacobs and physicians Zoovia Aman, Anthony Pellicane, Linda Benson, and Usha Gollapalli; seated, nurse practitioner Pauline Muoneke and Vice President, Medical Affairs/Medical Director Elisa Gil-Pires. Our full-time, on-site medical staff makes our campus unique.

4. Take advantage of wellness programs. Free fitness center membership, “tune up” clinics for mobility devices, educational programs to help reduce falls and make healthy lifestyle choices, and personal trainers are all available to seniors living on our campus.

2. Surround yourself with people who truly want to be helpful. “No matter how many times you ask them for something, there’s always a smile,” says Shaine Spolter, center, praising the student volunteers who helped her during her successful stay at the Hebrew Home’s Post-Acute Care Center. Volunteer opportunities — for students and adults alike — are year-round at 301.770.8332.

Shaine Spolter is surrounded by helpful volunteers at the Hebrew Home.

Ruth and Jerry Frieden enjoy a stroll at Revitz House.

5. Never stop learning. A full schedule of programs, speakers, and bus excursions can fill your days with pleasurable activities, friendly companionship, and challenges to keep you sharp. n

LifeTimes | Page 5

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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Did you know that in addition to medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place male and female finishers in the 10k and 5k, and masters 10k first place male and female finishers, the Home Run presents age group awards, including 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for ages 50-59, 60-69, and 70+.

On-site registration opens 6:30 a.m. Race start, 8:30 a.m., 301.770.8329.

Special “Menschen”

“Whatever we have, we wanted to use for a good purpose”

10K, 5K, Fun Run Benefiting Charles E. Smith Life Communities

At 88, Richard “Dick” Cohen is trim, upbeat, and engaging as he describes his experiences as an Army scout in Germany during World War II. Shot in his left arm in enemy territory, an injury that continues to affect Lois and Dick Cohen him, he received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He met his wife Lois while he was being treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Richard continued to win medals and citations for superior service during a distinguished career in the US Department of Commerce and in the State Department’s Senior Foreign Service. Dick spoke about his career, his role with the Selby Bay Yacht Club, and why he and Lois, a talented artist who passed away in 2012, chose to include Charles E. Smith Life Communities in their estate plan. Dick offered a simple explanation, “We were lucky to have this organization available to us when our relatives needed it and pleased with the care they received.” They arranged to leave a residual bequest. “We wanted to help people who lack the support that we had. Whatever we have, we wanted to use for a good purpose,” Cohen said. The relatives Dick referred to include his mother, Minerva Cohen, who profited from rehabilitation at the Hebrew Home following a stroke, and Lois’s parents, Jacob and Goldie Zulin, who lived at Revitz House for six years and then moved to the Smith-Kogod Residence. Dick summarizes the message underlying his and Lois’s bequest: “We were here, and we did some good.” Learn how you can do the same by contacting Elana Lippa, director of Gift Planning, at 301.770.8342. n

LifeTimes is published quarterly by the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, Inc. The Hebrew Home is a registered charity in Maryland and Virginia. A copy of the Home’s financial statement is available from the Maryland Secretary of State or the Virginia State Office of Consumer Affairs. We are an equal opportunity employer and we provide access to community programs without regard to race, age, national origin, familial status, religion, sex or disability. Our services and programs are open to all in the community.

Marc F. Solomon, Chair Warren R. Slavin, President/CEO Abbey S. Fagin, V P, Development and Public Affairs Marilyn Feldman, Editor © 2014 by Hebrew Home of Greater Washington 6121 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852 301.881.0300 www.smithlifecommunities.org

While Charles E. Smith Life Communities partners with The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington on community issues, we are not a beneficiary agency.

Support us through a gift to United Way

Page 6 | September 2014

3 check 8111 or CFC n 3 check 49705. n

Race details and registration at www.hebrew-home.org

2014 Guardian Campaign supports seniors Our family needed that special touch that only people who really care can give. We never could have done what you did by ourselves. — Resident’s Family Member Every day we are responsible for the well-being of more than a thousand older adults who call Charles E. Smith Life Communities home. Since 1958, donors to the annual Guardian Campaign have helped us provide the best in senior living options and skilled medical and nursing care in a community that honors Jewish values and traditions. As Charles E. Smith Life Communities continues to innovate to meet the changing and expanding needs in our community, contributions to the 2014 Guardian Campaign will help provide $1.25 million to support our many programs and services. 2014 Guardian Campaign Chairs David Samuels and Alan Freeman and the 30 dedicated Guardian Campaign Committee volunteers will help us achieve this goal by the end of the year. You can make your Guardian Campaign gift online at www.hebrew-home.org/2014Guardian. Thanking donors Save the date: we will be thanking donors of $500 or more at Starlight on Thursday evening, December 11, at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel. This year’s event will feature a performance by actor and comedian Kevin Pollak. Donors of $6,000 or more to Charles E. Smith Life Communities will be thanked at the President’s Circle Dinner on Thursday evening, November 20, at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC. Hosted by the Jonathan S. and Patricia G. England Foundation, this event ofKevin Pollak fers guests an exclusive visit to view the Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights, and the Public Vaults. This special evening will begin with a cocktail reception in the Archivist’s Reception Room followed by dinner in the magnificent Rotunda Gallery. For more information about participating in the Guardian Campaign, Starlight, or President’s Circle, please call 301.770.8329. n

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Charitable gift annuities benefit the charity of your choice…and you!

Please send me a personalized gift annuity illustration without obligation:

• Unchanging retirement income for life • Pay-out rates of 5.1% - 9% • Immediate tax deduction

To learn more, call 301.770.8342 or mail this form to Elana Lippa, Director of Gift Planning, 6121 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852.

Name/s_ ______________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________ City/State/Zip___________________________________________ Phone_ _______________________________________________ E-mail ________________________________________________ Birth date LT 09/14

People in the news Isiah “Ike” Leggett (right) was among the political candidates who spoke to residents on campus. Aisha Braveboy, Brian Frosh, Doug Duncan, and Jim Shalleck also talked with active citizens at Ring House.

Photos by Randy Sager

Revitz House Administrator Diane Stern and resident Sid Levy check out the cover of the newest Charles E. Smith Life Communities annual report – featuring Sid. Find the report at www.smithlifecommunities.org, on the Newsroom page.

Resident Muriel Fine enjoys a beautiful orchid, a gift from thoughtful donors, Angela and Joel Glazer. Adam Mason of The Beat Goes On leads a drum circle at the Brain Health Fair in June at Ring House.

Board of Governors Chair Marc Solomon and Chair-elect Joseph Hoffman at the 104th annual meeting in May.

Housing Administrator Kyle Hreben chats with Cohen-Rosen House family member Marlene Goldschmidt, who spoke at the 104th Annual Meeting.

Dr. Anthony Pellicane has recently joined our full-time medical staff.

..................

Bethesda Big Train Baseball mascot Homer proudly shows off his Charles E. Smith Life Communities shopping bag.

Harold Collins

Fatoumata Traore

Kudos to Harold Collins, front desk manager at Ring House, and to GNA Fatoumata Traore in our Post-Acute Care Center for receiving multiple “Shining Star” commendations from residents, families, and colleagues. Fatoumata’s expansive smile and helpfulness, and Harold’s special rapport with residents and visitors truly make these staff members shine.

LifeTimes | Page 7

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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In our mailbox

Calendar of events SEPTEMBER

17 17

Mah Jongg for Fun Ring House, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Reserve at 301.816.5052. Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon Featuring Dr. Barbara Alving Smith-Kogod Residence, 11:00 a.m., by invitation.

Dear Mr. Slavin,

Home Run 10k/5k/Fun Run On-site registration opens 6:30 a.m. Race start, 8:30 a.m., 301.770.8329

Rosh Hashanah

Sincerely yours, Sally Ann Baynard

OCTOBER

Yom Kippur

Fall “Thanks to You” Tea Leisure World, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. hosted by Marcia J. Hahn. Call 301.770.8329

Dear Landow House,

NOVEMBER

Ring House 25th Anniversary Celebration Ring House, 7:30 p.m. RSVP at 301.816.5009

President’s Circle Dinner National Archives Museum, 6:30 p.m., by invitation. Call 301.770.8329

OTHER EVENTS Robinson Youth Philantrophy H2YP registration Opens November 1 For information, visit hebrew-home.org/h2yp

I spent five days at the Hebrew Home for a brief period of rehab after surgery. I chose the Hebrew Home from a list my surgeon gave of what he considered reputable institutions. I want to tell you how wonderful your staff was to me during my stay. The nurses in particular, and some of the GNAs, went so far beyond what was required of them; they cared for me as if I were a member of their own families. The spirit of compassion is so pervasive in your establishment that it was hard to pick out a few individuals to mention because just about everyone was extraordinarily kind. I am encouraged simply knowing that such a place exists. Please find a way to convey to your staff how much it means to people who come there. I was so sad, dispirited, homesick and full of pain when I came, and I left five days later packed with the loving kindness of your staff.

1st Sunday of the month – Jewish War Veterans Ring House, 10:00 a.m., Veterans and interested persons welcome. 2nd Monday of the month Family Caregiver Support Group Presented jointly by Ring House and JSSA Senior Services. Free, open to the community. Ring House, noon – 1:30 p.m. Call 301.816.2635

For more information about community events, resident programs and news for families, visit hebrew-home.org and smithlifecommunities.org.

The definition of a house versus a home can often be debated. Landow is called a house, but it was for our mom, Pearl Reis, a home in the very fundamental sense of the word. Mom was at Landow for the past thirteen months and in my estimation it was the best of times for her. Because I was a very frequent visitor I was able to observe and appreciate the caring environment that is Landow House. It is evident that the director maintains a professional and nurturing environment with every attention to detail. She was readily available for questions, assistance or simply a friendly chat. The nursing staff was to a person caring and sincere. They were at our side both literally and figuratively up until Mom passed away. Because my husband, Bruce and I visited so frequently, we were privy to numerous activities planned by Susan Riese and her staff. I became a regular attendee to the Shabbat sing-a-longs, always accompanied by my grandson Zach. My husband became quite the trivia expert. What was striking to us was that the primary staff involved themselves in the activities, particularly during the sing-a-longs. I had the pleasure of dancing and singing not only with residents, but with staff members including the maintenance staff. We had the very great fortune of having Yvonne assigned as a primary caretaker for Mom. Yvonne was ever diligent and attentive while always being cognizant of the need for dignity and warmth. We were with Mom to the end, and we felt the presence and love of the entire staff as we traversed that last path. We thank the staff of Landow for their care and for their evident appreciation of our most delightful Mother. From the moment she moved into Landow it was apparent that she was “home.” Most sincerely, Ann Goodman

How to Reach Us

Email us at: hhinfo@hebrew-home.org

Page 8 | June 2014

n H ebrew Home 301.770.8476 Post-Acute & Long-Term www.hebrew-home.org

n C ohen-Rosen House 301.816.5050 www.cohen-rosen.org

n H irsh Health Center 301.816.5004

n Landow House 301.816.5050 www.landowhouse.org

n R evitz House 301.770.8450 www.revitzhouse.org

n R ing House 301.816.5012 www.ringhouse.org

facebook.com/ceslc

twitter.com/ceslchhgw

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Travel

Leisure &

An overview of the 9/11 Memorial Museum and other NYC commemorative sites. See story on page 52.

Live it up like the rich in the Berkshires Tanglewood and Jacob’s Pillow, as well as theater, art, yoga retreats and fine cuisine. A little over two hours from New York City and Boston, the Berkshires were a favorite summer retreat and playground for the aristocracy in the Gilded Age, when the barons of business erected multiroomed behemoths that they called “cottages.” Think Carnegies, Vanderbilts and Westinghouses. These lavish, late 19th century manses today offer a glimpse into how the rich got away from it all — all except conspicuous consumption, that is. Today, you too can get away by exploring picturesque towns, visiting the mansions, hiking verdant trails, imbibing mountain air, and mellowing out on a local gin, named Ethereal.

Great Barrington Great Barrington, population, 7,000, exudes small town charm. It’s a compact, walkable village of cafes, boutiques and eclectic architecture, including a Gothic Revival church, a Queen Anne-style mansion, a 19th century storefront and a saltbox house. Friendly staff at the visitor center, at 362 Main St., will load you up with a walking tour brochure and local lore. A marker in front of the courthouse honors the first open resistance to British rule in America. Here in 1774, 1,500 unarmed men obstructed court business to protest British edicts, according to the Great Barrington Historical Society (www.gbhistory.org). The town was also the first in the world to enjoy electric streetlights and electric lights in homes, another historic marker

PHOTO BY GLENDA C. BOOTH

By Glenda C. Booth LENOX, Mass. — A century ago, writer Edith Wharton wrote of this town in Massachusetts, “Lenox has its own tonic effect on me, and I feel like a new edition, revised and corrected.” Wharton’s guest at the time, novelist Henry James, concurred: “I am very happy here, surrounded by every loveliness of nature and every luxury of art, and treated with a benevolence that brings tears to my eyes.” Lenox, in the heart of the Berkshire Mountains in western Massachusetts, has long attracted writers, artists, performers and vacationers. The Berkshires, part of the Appalachian mountain chain, still intoxicate and rejuvenate, whether you are meandering along the Housatonic River, climbing 3,491 feet up Mount Greylock, poking around 32 quaint towns, admiring fall foliage or enjoying the arts. The Berkshire region stretches from Connecticut’s northern border to Vermont’s southern border and 40 to 50 miles from west to east. If you drive without stopping, you can travel from bottom to top in an hour and a half — but you’ll want to stop. Here you’ll find a gentle melding of the bucolic and the cultural. En route as I rounded a curve on Route 23, I was startled by a black bear standing on its hind legs, front paws planted on the guardrail, evidently poised to cross the road. Only seven percent of the region is considered to be developed, and half of that is residential. The area is particularly famous for its outstanding performance venues, like

Writer Edith Wharton designed her home in Lenox, Mass., built in 1902 and called the Mount, using the principles in her book, The Decoration of Houses. It features hardware imported from France and marble baseboards from Italy. The house and gardens are open for public tours.

STOCKBRIDGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

states. In 1886, William Stanley demonstrated how to use alternating current for commercial purposes and proceeded to light 20 businesses on Main Street. His electrical products manufacturing business evolved into General Electric. Another first: a statue fronting town hall honors Mum Betts, the first slave to successfully sue for her freedom. She was awarded 30 shillings in damages in 1781 and helped end the slave trade in Massachusetts. Her great-grandson, William Edward Burghardt (W.E.B.) Dubois (1868-1963), the famous civil rights activist, scholar and cofounder of the NAACP, is honored by a midtown garden near his birthplace. He was the first African American to graduate from Harvard. The Housatonic River Walk along the west bank of the river offers a touch of the wild right in town. Dubois wrote that the Housatonic was “the lifestream of the town.” He also wrote, “That river of my birth was golden because of the woolen and paper waste that Norman Rockwell lived the last 25 years of his life in the quintessential New England village of Stocksoiled it. The gold bridge, MA. This wintertime panoramic photo of main street (also painted by Rockwell) shows the Red Lion Inn (just to the right of center), which dates back to 1773. was theirs, not ours;

but the gleam and glint was for all.” It still gleams and glints today. Passenger trains once brought New York performers to the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, a 1905, restored vaudeville theater known for good acoustics. It’s hosted Broadway shows, silent movies, “talkies” and concerts.

Stockbridge Stockbridge, another picture postcard town, is immortalized in the 1965 Arlo Guthrie song, “Alice’s Restaurant.” You may remember the 18-minute musical monologue about a hippie and his friend, who dump a Volkswagen minibus-load of trash off a cliff near Stockbridge before falling prey to Officer Obie. The actual Alice’s Restaurant is now in a new incarnation called Theresa’s. Trinity Church, where Alice and Ray actually lived and hosted the Thanksgiving meal in the song, is now known as the Guthrie Center. Arlo performs there several times a year. He says he sings his famous song every 10 years, and he’ll sing it again in 2015, the song’s 50-year anniversary. Today, Stockbridge is more artsy-preppy than counterculture. But it still lacks stop lights and strip malls. It’s an iconic New England village — steeples, picket See BERKSHIRES, page 50

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Berkshires From page 49 fences and all — truly Rockwellian. In fact, Norman Rockwell was himself a local. He painted Main Street in 1967, and the town looks just as it did then. Rockwell lived in Stockbridge for the last 25 years of his life, and died in 1978. The Norman Rockwell Museum (www.nrm.org) houses the world’s largest collection of his original art, including 321 Saturday Evening Post covers, 100,000 photographs, letters and other mementos. A chronicler of 20th century Americana, Rockwell produced 60 years of art depicting the everyday and the ordinary with painstaking attention to detail — a youngster’s shoelace is untied, a six-year-old is missing a tooth, a toe is bandaged, an elderly woman

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

has a wrinkled neck, a couple in counseling grimaces. Visitors can learn more by visiting his studio behind the museum. For some outdoor recreation, visit the Berkshire Botanical Garden (www.berkshirebotanical.org), open until Oct. 13. It showcases 15 acres of native and non-native plants, a wetland garden, willow wattle fencing, a solar greenhouse and a children’s garden, complete with chickens and a coop. To learn how the wealthy vacationed in the Gilded Age in those summer “cottages” — some with 75 to 100 rooms and acres of manicured gardens — take a house (and/or garden) tour of Naumkeag. It was the elegant summer home of the Choate family. Joseph Choate was Ambassador to England and built the house in 1885. It and features rare Chinese porcelain, family portraits by John Singer Sargent, a decorative

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entrance to the Chinese garden called the Moon Gate, and eight acres of landscaped gardens. “Stockbridge is the best of America, the best of New England,” observed Rockwell.

Source of literary inspiration The scenic beauty and tranquility of the Berkshires inspired several American literary giants, including Herman Melville, William Cullen Bryant and Edith Wharton. Touring their homes invites you into the psyches of those engaged in “a disquieting profession,” as Wharton described it. At Wharton’s home in Lenox, the Mount, you’ll learn that in the summers from 1901 to 1911 Edith Wharton wrote by hand, perched up in bed all morning, before becoming sociable around the mansion and grounds she designed. Born into wealth, she created what she called “a spacious and dignified house,” incorporating hardware from France, marble baseboards from Italy, and electricity from George Westinghouse next door. Her three acres of gardens reflect her passion for European landscape design — a series of outdoor “rooms,” which, as she directed, possess “a charm independent of the seasons.” The Mount is one of the few National Historic Landmarks dedicated to women. On Sundays and Thursdays, visitors can learn about those who made the mansion tick on “backstairs tours” a la “Downton Abbey.” Herman Melville finished Moby Dick at Arrowhead, an 18th century farmhouse in Pittsfield (www.mobydick.org). “I have a sort of sea-feeling here in the country,” he wrote “...I look out of my window in the morning when I rise as I would out of a porthole of a ship in the Atlantic.” Ever wonder how and where Daniel Chester French designed and built the 19foot statue of President Abraham Lincoln in Washington’s Lincoln Memorial? The answer: at Chesterwood (www.chester-

wood.org), the sculptor’s country home and studio near Lenox and Stockbridge, a place he described as “heaven on Earth.” The final Lincoln monument was shipped in 28 pieces to Washington, D.C., for assembly. At Chesterwood, you can see a miniature Lincoln monument, models and tools of the artist and his clever invention — a trap door in the floor and railroad tracks to move big sculptures outside so he could work in the sunlight. Chester (1850-1931) also sculpted the allegorical figures on the fountain in Washington’s Dupont Circle. Also worth visiting in the region: Tanglewood (www.bso.org), in Lenox, is the region’s famous outdoor musical venue, home to the Boston Pops in the summer. The last performance this year was Tony Bennett on August 31. You can still drop by and imagine throngs captivated by world-famous performers. Ventfort Hall, in Lenox, now houses the Museum of the Gilded Age. J.P. Morgan’s sister, Sarah, vacationed in this Jacobean Revival-style, 28-room mansion. Hancock Shaker Village (www.hancockshakervillage.org) in Pittsfield, honors the 350 brethren and sisteren who lived there in the 1870s and practiced “hands to work, hearts to God.” Today, it’s a living history museum of crafts, heritage breeds of livestock and historic buildings (20 in all). Think big when visiting MassMOCA (www.massmoca.org) in North Adams. A museum of contemporary art in a 19th century factory, it features very large art works in spacious galleries. The Clark (www.clarkar t.edu), in Williamstown, has a world-class collection of European and American paintings, sculpture and decorative arts from the Renaissance to the early 20th century, including French Impressionists, Winslow Homer and John Singer Sargent. See BERKSHIRES, page 51

Berkshires From page 50

If you go Driving distance to the Berkshire region is about 375 miles from downtown Washington. The closest airports are in Albany, N.Y. (45 miles), and Hartford, Conn. (90 miles). In early October, roundtrip flights from area airports to Albany start at $215; rates to Hartford start at $106, both on US Airways. The Berkshire region was one of the first to promote farm-to-table cuisine and offers world-class dining, but not at New York City prices, said Lindsey Schmid, tourism official. Berkshire locals love to tout their culinary “trails”— beer and cider, cheese and charcuterie (www.berkshirefarmandtable .com/taste-trails). You can sample hormone-free chevre, Berkshire blue cheese, nose-to-tail sausages and solar-brewed beer. Other foodie adventures: • Soco Ice Cream, made in Great Barrington, claims it has “mended broken hearts, curbed tantrums and helped end days on a sweeter note.” • Robin’s Candy in Great Barrington, makes vintage candies, some classic, some whimsical, even Boston Baked Bean candy, all served with a free toothbrush. • Catherine’s Chocolates (Motto: “One Sweet Deal”) in Great Barrington, has been selling sumptuous treats since the 1920s, like fudge, truffles and cordial-stem cherries. • The Berkshire Mountain Distillers in

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Great Barrington handcrafts spirits like Ethereal Gin, Berkshire Bourbon and Ragged Mountain Rum. In Great Barrington, the Castle Street Café specializes in small plates, local cheeses and calves liver glazed with pearl onions. The Neighborhood Diner serves notable lamb burgers, eggplant fries and fried green beans.

Lodging To experience the decadence of life in the Gilded Age, consider staying at Blantyre (www.blantyre.com), in Lenox. The 117-acre, former summer estate was built to resemble a castle. Promoters say you can “experience the life and service of a bygone era.” The least expensive room is $600 a night. In Stockbridge, consider the Red Lion Inn, a prominent town fixture since 1773, and host to six U.S. presidents. The inn has 100 individually-decorated rooms, a collection of Staffordshire china, colonial pewter, and some 18th century furniture. The long front porch lined with rocking chairs is a relaxing spot to watch small-town life unfurl. Room prices in October start at $155 for two. Visit www.redlioninn.com. Other options: • Rookwood Inn (http://rookwoodinn .com, Lenox, B&B in a Victorian house, a former tavern. Rooms, $185 and up. • Racebrook Lodge (www.rblodge .com), Sheffield, a rustic getaway. Rooms, $110 and up. • Days Inn, Great Barrington, basic, ad-

equate and very convenient for walking about town. Rooms are $101. For information on each town or area: • Berkshires Visitors Bureau, www.berk shires.org • Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, www.southernberkshirechamber.com • Pittsfield, www.discoverpittsfield.com • Great Barrington, www.greatbarrington.org, www.townofgb.org, www.greatbarringtonhistoricalsociety.org • Stockbridge, www.stockbridgecham ber.org

Upcoming events • Gilded Age Weekend, Lenox, Sept. 1314, celebrates the mansions of the late 1800s, www.lenox.org • Fresh Grass, North Adams, Sept. 19 to 21, bluegrass music, http://massmoca .org/event_details.php?id=871 • 35th Annual Apple Squeeze, Lenox, Sept. 27-28, harvest festival, www.lenox.org

• Hancock Shaker Village’s Country Fair, Pittsfield, Sept, 27-28, www.hancockshakervilllage.org • Berktoberfest, Pittsfield, Oct. 5, local brews promoted, www.downtownpittsfield .com • Housatonic Heritage Walk at Chesterwood, Stockbridge, Sept. 20 and Oct. 4; Oct. 13, pumpkin carving, www.chesterwood.org • Fall Foliage Festival, North Adams, Oct. 6, www.fallfoliageparade.com • Historic House Tour, Great Barrington, Oct. 11, www.gbhistory.org • Harvest Festival, Stockbridge, Oct. 10 to 12, Berkshire Botanical Garden (www. bershirebotanical.org ) • Williamstown Film Festival, Williamstown, Nov. 5-9, http://www.williamstown filmfest.com/ • Musical tribute to Woody Guthrie, by his son, Arlo Guthrie, Nov. 22, Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, www.mahaiwe.org

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

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BEACON BITS

Oct. 15+

PHILADELPHIA TRIP

Ingleside at Rock Creek and Northwest Neighbors Village present a cultural tour of Philadelphia from Wednesday, Oct. 15 to Thursday, Oct. 16. Visit Independence Hall Visitor’s Center, the Liberty Bell Center, the Reading Terminal Market, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Rodin Museum and the Barnes Museum. For more information, contact Benita Lubic at (202) 362-6100 or blubic@aol.com.

Sept. 26

HARPERS FERRY ARTS AND CRAFTS

The Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center presents a daytrip to Harpers Ferry for its Arts and Crafts Festival on Friday, Sept. 26. The buses will depart from the center, 1000 Forest Glen Rd., Silver Spring, Md. at 9 a.m. and will return at 3 p.m. The cost of the trip is $12, and the entry fee for the festival is $5. For more information or to register, call (240) 777-8085.

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

The Big Apple’s 9/11 sites pack a punch By Beth J. Harpaz Out-of-towners and locals alike have shown enormous interest in New York City’s sites connected to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. More than 700,000 people from all 50 states and 131 countries have been to the National Sept. 11 Museum in New York City since it opened May 21. More have come from New York than any other state, but the museum also hosts so many international tourists that you can’t even identify all the languages being spoken. In addition, nearly 15 million people have visited the Sept. 11 Memorial since it opened three years ago on the footprints of the twin towers. That’s 1 million more a

year than visit the Statue of Liberty. And yet the very idea of 9/11 tourism remains controversial to some. Some New Yorkers are still so traumatized they’ve avoided the area. Others think 9/11 tourism is unseemly, however respectful the intent. Indeed, the memorial plaza could now be mistaken for a leafy urban park, with visitors taking smiling selfies or leaning on bronze parapets that bear the names of the dead. And yet, one could argue that recreating a sense of normality downtown is part of the 9/11 story, too. “There’s this tension between a nice park where you can come out and have your lunch, but you might be sitting next to a family member paying respects to a

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The memorial’s waterfalls and twin reflecting pools are set deep in the twin towers’ footprints. The pools are surrounded by panels inscribed with the names of the nearly 3,000 people who perished in the attacks, including those who died at the site, on the planes and at the Pentagon. Also listed are six who died in the 1993 Trade Center bombing. Hundreds of oak trees line the plaza, but be sure to find a tall, callery pear tree called the Survivor Tree, grown from an 8-foot stump found in the rubble of the fallen towers. The memorial is free and open daily, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; http://www.911memorial .org/visit-911-memorial. Visitor passes and security checks are no longer required.

In contrast to the large, formal exhibits of the Memorial Museum, the 9/11 Tribute Center is a small, intimate, low-key place. The walls are covered with victims’ photos and missing posters; handmade paper cranes — a symbol of peace — hang over a stairwell. It’s like looking through someone’s scrapbook and sharing memories. The Tribute Center also offers terrific guided tours of the memorial led by individuals with a connection to Sept. 11th — first responders, survivors, those who lost loved ones. The tours offer personal memories and insights as well as an informed appreciation of the memorial’s design and symbolism. “We try and bring you to that day based on what we witnessed,” Berkman said. The Tribute Center at 120 Liberty St. is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sundays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with walking tours at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Center admission, $15; tours, $10; combined admission plus tour, $20; http://tributewtc.org.

One World Trade Center The observatory at One World Trade Center won’t open until next year. But the gleaming skyscraper itself, with its trademark spire and graceful angles, can be seen from all over the city. Two free, official apps can help you explore the memorial and museum in person or virtually: the 9/11 Memorial Guide and 9/11 Memorial Audio Guide. Access the 9/11 Museum via Liberty and Greenwich streets, or Fulton and West streets. Nearby subways include the Chambers and Fulton Street stations, which are served by many lines. The E train has a World Trade Center stop — AP

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The museum tells the definitive story of the World Trade Center, from construction to destruction to rebirth. Artifacts large and small include tower beams, the Survivors’ Stairs used by hundreds to escape, a wrecked fire truck, and shoes worn by a photojournalist who was injured that day. You’ll hear phone messages left by people trapped in the towers, and if you dare peek behind an exhibit labeled “disturbing,” you’ll see photos of those who jumped. Numerous videos and photos show Lower Manhattan before the attacks, as the planes hit, while the towers burned, and after they fell, as enormous debris clouds covered downtown. Tissue boxes around the galleries testify to the museum’s visceral, emotional impact. But some of the simplest exhibits are among the most memorable. Blue squares represent an artist’s effort to remember the sky color that day. And a massive wall

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loved one,” said Brenda Berkman, a retired fire lieutenant who was there on Sept. 11, 2001, and worked on the recovery effort. Berkman now leads guided tours from the 9/11 Tribute Center. For those who do want to visit, pay respects or learn more about the events of 13 years ago, here are some options.

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The 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York City powerfully tells the story of the World Trade Center attacks. Exhibits include surviving steel beams from the center, messages from those trapped in the towers, and photos of the nearly 3,000 people who died in the terrorist attack.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Five free things to do in Virginia Beach By Brock Vergakis Virginia Beach is no generic beach town. It’s the largest city in Virginia, which means there are plenty of things to do throughout the year for free. The city caters to tourists at the oceanfront resort area, but the cost-conscious traveler can find a variety of activities to do without opening a wallet, both at the oceanfront and elsewhere in the city.

The beach Virginia Beach, about 200 miles from downtown Washington, is home to two distinct sets of beaches. The city has beaches at the oceanfront and beaches at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The oceanfront beaches are wide, but become packed with tourists in summer. The bay beaches are narrow and attract locals who live nearby and prefer calmer waters. Parking can be a challenge at both sets of beaches, but free spaces are available on side streets and in residential areas on the

north end of the city, away from the oceanfront resort area. A 34-foot statue of King Neptune, the mythical sea god, stands watch over the oceanfront and is a popular selfie spot.

park and multi-use paths. The main mountain, Mount Trashmore, is 60 feet high and is a popular spot to fly kites. Play equipment that can be checked out for free includes badminton sets, footballs, Frisbees, horseshoes, rubber playground balls, soccer balls, volleyballs and volleyball nets, and boards and bags for corn hole (played by tossing bags in a hole).

Town center Town Center is Virginia Beach’s version of a downtown. The city is mostly suburban in nature, but in recent years it has created a downtown vibe in the heart of the city with a concentrated set of new offices, apartments, shops, bars and restaurants. During the summer, there are frequent outdoor musical performances here at no cost. Parking in one of Town Center’s garages is free.

Naval Aviation Monument Park Virginia Beach is a proud Navy town that is home to Naval Air Station Oceana, where the Navy’s East Coast-based fighter pilots do their training. F-18s regularly fly overhead at the oceanfront, and just off the city’s boardwalk is a monument commem-

orating the history of naval aviation.

Cape Henry Memorial Park You can visit the place where English settlers first landed in Virginia in 1607 at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Upon landing, settlers erected a wooden cross and gave thanks for their safe voyage. A replica of the cross sits on a park commemorating the landing. Also on the site is the oldest government-built lighthouse in America, although climbing to the top of it requires paying an admission fee. Today, Cape Henry is behind the gates of a fortified military installation at Fort Story, but visitors can easily gain access with identification and a vehicle search. — AP

Mount Trashmore Virginia Beach took a former landfill and turned it into one of its most popular parks. Mount Trashmore is just off Interstate 264 and has two man-made mountains, two lakes, two playgrounds, a skate PHOTO COURTESY OF VIRGINIA BEACH TOURISM

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Spicing up the old marriage with humor Marriage is a marathon, not a sprint, and no one knows that better than couples who have been hitched for ages. They’ve been through many wars together, including a few with each other. They’ve put on pounds and wrinkles. They’ve dealt with children, with flooded basements, with career bottom-outs. They’ve tolerated each other’s horrendous second cousins. They are still together, generally with smiles on their faces. But their marriage could use a jolt of electricity. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my pals John and Jolene (not their real names — they’d break my kneecaps if I used them). They are into Year 31 as a legally wedded couple. They decided, recently and mutually, that their marriage needed some sort of reconfirmation. Yes, they could re-take their vows, “but lots of people do that,” Jolene said. Yes, they could each go to a fat farm, but skinniness isn’t everything. Yes, they could sign a pact that barred any future discussions of pro football or cooking, but taste in TV programs isn’t everything, either. This needed something a little more antic, a little more memorably stupid.

So they remarried. In Las Vegas. At one of those incredibly tacky mini-chapels that dot that (usually tacky) city. Yes, a roadside fake church where an Elvis look-alike crooned “Love Me Tender” (badly) as the vows were being recited. John and Jolene spent $199 to get rehitched, or less than two lavish Las Vegas dinners. They say they haven’t had as much fun in years. Oh, yes. Their marriage is more fun now, too. “The key here is that this wasn’t an idea that one of us had and the other reluctantly agreed to,” said John. “This is the kind of thing we used to do when we were a lot younger. You know, snorkeling in the Bahamas even though neither of us had ever done that before. Or climbing the Washington Monument on foot without planning to do it. “It was impulsive, silly. It had all the earmarks of great.” “It was kind of an anti-wedding in a way,” said Jolene. “No invitations. No fussing over flowers for a month and a half. No drama about which grandmother was going to sit where, and which of my friends would and wouldn’t get to be a bridesmaid.

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“The whole point was that it was just us, him to be beloved.” John and Jolene were holding hands. He and we were laughing all the way. At began to laugh — deep rumbles of mirth. Vegas. At Elvis. At ourselves.” “I was studying the gold Before they bought their chain around Elvis’s neck,” he plane tickets, John and Jolene told me. “The chain still had agreed that they’d just arrive, the store tags on it. Either he check into their hotel, take had stolen it or he had never showers, dress in their frumpbothered to detach the tags. Eiiest worst, ask the concierge ther way, this was a HUGE gigfor a recommendation, take a gle.” taxi to the chapel and do the John’s giggle fit gave the pasdeed. tor a chance to get his bearings. It proved to be an exercise He said he understood that the in dark comedy — and in rank HOW I SEE IT couple had voted against a salesmanship. By Bob Levey videotape. They were greeted at the But gosh, people, that was SUCH a bad door by a woman who looked as if she hadn’t drawn a breath of fresh air in six months. She decision. They’d always want as many explained that the place accepted credit keepsakes of this sacred moment as they cards, but preferred cash. She also explained could possibly have. Wouldn’t they like to reconsider? For only fifty bucks? that there were “tiers” to the ceremony. John and Jolene looked at each other. Bare bones was simply raise-your-righthand-and-repeat-after-me. The scale slid Indecision hung in the air. The pastor had obviously been through up from there. Another $50 got you piano accompaniment — by the woman who was this negotiation many times. “Thirty-five,” doing the explaining. Fifty more got you he said. “My final offer.” They bit. semi-Elvis and his semi-voice. Three sayFor those of you who respect certain cheese photos were part of the basic deal, but for yet another additional $50, you niceties — like the law, for example — no one demanded evidence of a blood test. No could have a videotape. John and Jolene were grinning by now. one asked if either member of the couple had ever been married before. No one They chose piano, Elvis and no video. The woman nodded. She escorted them asked if either member was still married to to the rear. There waited a worn man in a someone else. No one asked a bloody worn black suit who was fingering a worn thing except how they wanted to pay. Vows shared, kiss shared, the newlyBible. He asked about denomination. They weds were escorted to the door by the said, thanks, but none. The woman wheeled out a spray of flow- piano lady. She wished them all the best in ers — in a grocery cart. The cart was plas- their future lives together. “I couldn’t resist. I told her that we’d altic. So were the flowers. She went into a back room and called for ready been together for 31 years,” Jolene Louie, loudly. He trudged out, buttoning said. “Well, it sure took you long enough to up his Elvis-ish white suit as he emerged. The “pastor” said the whole thing ask her,” the piano woman said, as she wouldn’t take very long. “Couples want to fixed John with a glare. John and Jolene realize that their Rx for roget on with their business, you know what mantic rejuvenation wouldn’t work for every I mean?” he smirked. “The whole scene was so totally tacky couple. But it continues to work for them. “Every time we see a chapel, we smile,” that we could hardly keep a straight face,” said John. “Every time I hear ‘Love Me John recalled. As the woman played a few chords of Tender,’ I can’t wait to tell her about it.” “At least he hasn’t brought me plastic “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” the pastor began the age-old refrain: Dearly flowers in a grocery cart,” Jolene said. “If he ever did that, all bets are off, no matter beloved, we are gathered together... “Except that there weren’t any dearly how many times we’ve said the vows.” Bob Levey is a national award-winning beloved,” Jolene said. “Unless you count Louie. And it would take an awful lot for columnist.

BEACON BITS

Sept. 13+

MUSEUM DOCENTS NEEDED

The National Museum of Health and Medicine (NMHM) is home to an extensive repository of objects and artifacts related to American military medicine dating back to the Civil War. It is seeking volunteer docents to assist with activities and provide tours, in addition to representing the museum at special events. You must be open to a flexible schedule, including weekends. A volunteer open house will be held at NMHM, located at 2500 Linden Ln., Silver Spring, Md. on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 1 to 2 p.m. Volunteer training will run from Oct. 6 to 10 from 9 a.m. to noon, and on Oct. 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.medicalmuseum.mil or call (301) 319-3312.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Style

Arts &

At age 90, singer Ella Jenkins continues to enchant children. See story on page 58.

Sunday in the Park connects all the dots Broadway and local stars Signature’s Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner helms this one, bringing in a pair of Broadway veterans for the leads and backing them up with some of Signature’s current crop of regulars. Gardiner seems unafraid of the significance of this show in musical theater history, and the fact that Sondheim says it is his most personal work. While remaining true to the show’s pedigree, he allows the cast to develop a bit more emotional depth than I have seen in other productions, especially with regard to James Lapine’s somewhat spare book. While Claybourne Elder, as George, remains a bit aloof and emotionally isolated, the rest of the cast layers varying shades of the conflicting swirl of hope, melancholy, regret and joy that makes us human. This aids Sondheim’s music in evoking deeply powerful sentiment as the story unfolds. That story is a fictionalized look at the artist and his two-year creation of his seminal work, “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,” which he started in 1884. Four dozen people and a few animals are sharing a leisurely afternoon in a park, and yet Seurat notices no one is looking at another person. Writer James Lapine gives some of those figures a story, exploring their link to immortality in this now-famous painting. Lapine’s artist is so absorbed in his work that he becomes rather detached

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER MUELLER

By Michael Toscano About 130 years ago, Parisian painter Georges Seurat had a talent and personal vision that led to the Neo-Impressionism movement. In recent years, American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim has used his vision and talents to refresh and stretch the boundaries of musical theater. Those two premises come together in Sondheim’s musical Sunday in the Park with George, the glorious opener of the 25th season at Arlington’s Signature Theatre. This show pays tribute to creation — seen here through the prism of an artist’s attempt to bring order to the emotional disarray of life. If our lives begin as a blank sheet or canvas, the challenge is to bring order to it, as we hear in the first moments of this fascinating and haunting musical. Seurat used dots of color, meticulously put on canvas one at a time. When seen at a bit of remove (emotional distance?), the tiny marks melt into a new, blended color and shape. The staccato nature of the pointillist technique…dot…dot…dot…lends itself to a style of music and lyrics of which Sondheim is a primary force. Art and music and life: step back and let it all sink in as a thing of beauty. And Sunday in the Park with George is truly a thing of beauty, never more so than in the capable hands of Signature Theatre, nationally known as one of the principal interpreters of Sondheim’s work. (This is the 23rd Sondheim show Signature has staged.)

Stephen Sondheim’s musical Sunday in the Park with George tells the fictional story behind the characters painted by George Seurat in his famous painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” The musical, featuring both local and Broadway talent, continues at Signature Theatre through Sept. 21.

from the real world, causing his personal relationships to wither.

Magical music The brilliance of the show and this production are evident in the very first song,

the title tune “Sunday in the Park with George.” It is sung by Elder and the lusciously talented Brynn O’Malley as his lover, archly called Dot. (Just another See SONDHEIM, page 56

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Sondheim From page 55 point of his complicated life’s landscape?) It is a bravura performance as they take on this challenging number, with its atonal bursts of song and rapid, lung-challenging patter. George is dotting his canvas in sync to the staccato score, with Dot as his model. Elder’s voice seemed a bit weak opening night, but O’Malley’s voice is a radiant, shimmering vehicle of expression. She is able to blend comedy and yearning seamlessly, managing to cross her eyes to high comic effect at a particularly grueling musical passage. She all but steals the show with this opening song, and never really lets it out of her grasp for the next two and a half hours. O’Malley has a luminous stage presence combining emotional vulnerability with intellectual strength and courage. Her voice rings out in radiant colors of tone. In the second song, titled “No Life,” Mitchell Hébert and Valerie Leonard, as

ensemble members Jules and Yvonne, allow us to fully experience an example of Sondheim’s genius. The song is about life and color in art. The music itself seems to be presented in dots, accompanied by sharp vocal jabs with lyrics. Magically, it wafts out over the audience and holds us in a warm embrace. It is almost as if Sondheim is answering his critics here — those who have not developed an ear for his scores because they think they can be cold and “not hummable.” Writer Lapine understands his friend Sondheim. If you have any doubt about that, look for the artistically penetrating documentary he produced, a flattering portrait of the artist called Six by Sondheim, currently playing on cable TV. Lapine gives us a Georges Seurat very much like Stephen Sondheim — a man who may have been isolated emotionally, but who expressed himself through work that stretched boundaries and reformed the milieu in which he worked. But this is not merely an intellectual experience. It is deeply satisfying to just sit

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

back and let the beauty of the music and the richly visual staging wash over you. The effect is truly spellbinding. The singing is entrancing, backed by 11 musicians and lush arrangements conducted by Signature’s John Kalbfleisch. Scenic Designer Daniel Conway exquisitely evokes old Paris with minimal fuss, combined with Frank Labovitz’s carefully detailed costumes and Jen Schriever’s kinetic lighting that embraces the pointillism of Seurat’s painting. At the end of the Act One, and the singing of the poignant “Sunday,” the painting comes to life before our eyes in one of musical theater’s most richly emotional moments.

Fast forward a century Now, the play could really end there. But there is an Act Two, which takes us a century forward in time to the 1980s, and a view of the modern art “scene.” Despite some innovative use of electronic media, it is pretty rote stuff, even if it does contain one of the show’s best songs, “Putting it Together,” sung by the company. A reprise of “Sunday” closes the show, re-creating the emotional tapestry from Act

One, so we leave the theater fully satisfied. When Signature does Sondheim, attention must be paid. When Signature does Sondheim this well, it is thrilling and emotionally enriching. Sunday in the Park with George continues through Sept. 21 at Signature Theatre’s MAX Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., in Arlington. Performance schedule: Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from $47.55 to $109.60 and may be purchased online at www.signature-theatre.org, by calling Ticketmaster at (703) 573-SEAT, or by visiting the box office during business hours, weekdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends noon to 6 p.m. The theater is accessible for people with disabilities, though it is recommended that special seating needs be mentioned when tickets are purchased. Free listening devices are available. Free parking is available in nearby public garages. For general information, contact the theater at (703) 820-9771 or visit www.signature-theatre.org.

BEACON BITS

Sept. 16

12 YEARS A SLAVE SCREENING

Publick Playhouse presents a free screening of the AcademyAward winning film 12 Years a Slave on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 11 a.m. This screening is for those age 60 or older. Publick Playhouse is located at 5445 Landover Rd., Cheverly, Md. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/PublickPlayhouseEvents or call (301) 277-1710.

Sept. 11+

Another Regional Premiere Coming to Toby’s! OPENS SEPTEMBER 5!

From the underground dance clubs of 1950’s Memphis, Tennessee comes a hot new Broadway musical that bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and romance. TOBY’S DINNER THEATRE OF COLUMBIA • CALL 410-730-8311 Based on availability. Due to the nature of theatre bookings, all shows, dates and times are subject to change.

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RESERVE YOUR SEATS TODAY!

DC SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL

This year’s DC Shorts Film Festival will be held in the U.S. Navy Memorial Theater, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. from Sept. 11 to 21. Many films discuss the topic of aging, including The End of the Line, the story of a past-her-prime actress and her final chance to score the limelight; Shadow, a film that follows an aging former flamenco dancing trying to relive her career; and Fondly, Maggie, in which the 89-year-old Maggie offers wisdom on life-long happiness. Tickets cost $12 online plus a service charge; $15 at the door. The box offices will open at noon on Sept. 11. Many of the films can be watched on computers and most mobile devices (after purchasing online ($40) or at the box office ($20). For more information, visit www.dcshorts.com or call (202) 393-4266.

D A N I E L CATÁN

GIACOMO PUCCINI

FLORENCIA

LA BOHÈME

IN THE AMAZON

“One of the world’s most popular operas” (NPR), Puccini’s La bohème follows a group of six friends in Paris’s Latin Quarter as they struggle to fulfill their dreams through a winter of jealous breakups, rowdy celebrations, and rekindled romances—all the while hoping spring cures a tragic illness looming in their midst. An engaging cast of young artists, many in their WNO debuts, bring a fresh perspective to this brand-new WNO production.

Two-time Grammy Award®–winning American soprano Christine Goerke stars as a famous opera singer who embarks upon an enchanted riverboat journey in Daniel Catán’s mesmerizing opera inspired by the magical realism of Nobel Prize–winning Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez (Love in the Time of Cholera). The first-ever Spanish-language commission by major U.S. opera companies, Florencia in the Amazon was an instant smash when it premiered in 1996 under the direction of Francesca Zambello.

Nov. 1–15, 2014 Kennedy Center Opera House

Sep. 20–28, 2014 Kennedy Center Opera House

In Italian with projected English titles

In Spanish with projected English titles

La bohème is a production of the Clarice Smith Opera Series.

Generous support for WNO Italian opera is provided by Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Major support for WNO is provided d by Jacqueline Badger Mars. David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of WNO. General Dynamics is the proud sponsor of WNO’s 2014–2015 Season.

Tickets at the Kennedy Center Box Office or charge by phone (202) 467-4600 Order online at kennedy-center.org/wno

Groups (202) 416-8400 The Kennedy Center welcomes patrons with disabilities.

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Singer’s special connection with children By Herbert G. McCann Ella Jenkins has been recording children’s songs for at least 58 years, and she’s been entertaining and educating kids even longer. Not that the woman dubbed the “first lady of children’s music” pays too much attention to dates anyway, even as she celebrated her 90th birthday. “As long as I can function and contribute and still [be] in a situation where I’m eager to learn from others, I will do this,” she said. “I don’t count the years too much. If I have something to give and others have something to give me, we have a fair exchange.” Jenkins reached her personal milestone in August as she celebrated a professional one — the release of her 40th album of sing-along songs for her favored audience:

preschool and elementary age children. “More Multicultural Children’s Songs” (Smithsonian Folkways) is a compilation of works done in the spirit of the people she’s met around the world, Jenkins said. “I wanted songs for people who haven’t heard everything I’ve done,” she said. “They know what I’ve done over the years. I just said we are going to have more of those type songs. Something new and something old. People will be able to sing the songs from the beginning as well as learn new songs.” Jenkins’ style, which has garnered numerous accolades over the years — including a 2004 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award — has seldom strayed from her 1957 debut album, “Call and Response:

Rhythmic Group Singing.” In that work, she channeled the calls of African-American slaves. It encouraged audience participation, and allowed her to build a relationship with her young listeners. Her audience often sits close enough to touch her, watching, listening and responding to her multilingual, multicultural music. She incorporates instruments that influenced her own childhood — the harmonica, ukulele, piano and percussion among them. Anthony Seeger, an emeritus professor of ethnomusicology at UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music, says teachers love Jenkins’ music. “It’s fun. It teaches rhythm. It teaches

children how to collaborate, because they have to sing together. And it gives them something to do other than to sit quietly,” he said.

Early influences Born in St. Louis on Aug. 6, 1924, Jenkins was raised in Chicago, where one of her early musical memories includes listening to an uncle play the harmonica as the sounds of spirituals and gospel music drift in from a nearby church. Her family moved frequently, and she says each neighborhood offered different rhythms, rhymes and games, which she credits with enriching her music. See SINGER, page 59

AP PHOTO/M. SPENCER GREEN

Children’s songwriter and performer Ella Jenkins continues to produce music for children — her favorite audience. Last month, she released her 40th album, titled “More Multicultural Children’s Songs from Ella Jenkins.”

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

From Publisher From page 2 nine years her senior, ended up doing most of those things for her. When my Dad passed away five months ago, my brother and I implemented the plan we had promised our father before his passing, moving Mom to the Greater Washington area so we could look after her. Though we had no idea she already harbored the infection that was eventually to take her life, it is also true that her strength to fight it off, and even her will to live on without Dad, were further sapped by the impact of the sudden changes to her life due to the move. Losing her lifelong mate, their network of old and new friends, and her comfortable Texas surroundings was devastating to her, notwithstanding her uncanny ability to make new friends quickly. My brother and I tried our best to fill in some of those gaping holes for her. In-

deed, I believe I spent more time with her in her last 20 weeks than in the past 20 years put together. And while it was ultimately not enough, I have to say — and I think she would agree — that we had some enjoyable times these past few months: watching her favorite movies together (and, when I was able to join her for lunch, the soap opera she has followed for decades), sitting outdoors and catching some rays, even suffering through five ER visits and hospitalizations due to her recurring fights with pneumonia and other serious infections. I don’t mean to say being sick and in the hospital was enjoyable, but that our many hours together — talking over old times, and, yes, learning new things about each other and about our feelings — were hours I think we were both glad we shared. Mom, I am sorry these recent days, which have brought us closer, have come to an end. I really thought we’d have more time together — years, in fact, to enjoy

each other’s company and develop a more adult relationship. That was not God’s plan, as it turns out. I know you are now back together with Dad, and that both of you are no longer

hobbled by pain or illness. I pray that you are both bound up — together — in the bond of eternal life, and that you have found peace. I miss you already.

BEACON BITS

Sept. 9

INTERGENERATIONAL VOLUNTEERING

Adults age 50+ are invited to attend Interages’ volunteer open house to learn about its mentoring programs for this school year. There are a variety of opportunities to help students from pre-K through high school, including literacy programs, cross-cultural groups, math clubs, discussion circles and more. Drop by the JCA office located at 12320 Parklawn Dr., Rockville, Md. on Tuesday, Sept. 9 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to meet program staff and sign up. For more information, visit www.interagesmd.org or contact Tricia Wilson at (301) 949-3551 or twilson@AccessJCA.org.

Ongoing

NEED HELP REPAIRING YOUR HOME?

Low-income seniors interested in free home repairs and modifications can apply to Rebuilding Together Alexandria. Obtain an application at www.RebuildingTogetherAlex.org or call (703) 8361021. Volunteers to help with making repairs are also needed.

Singer From page 58 Before earning a sociology degree and being trained in child psychology and recreation at San Francisco State College in 1951, Jenkins worked as a camp counselor and as a program director for teens at a Chicago YMCA. She incorporated music in her jobs, which brought her to the attention of Chicago’s public television station, which invited her to host a children’s show. Her work on television led to her introduction to a Folkways music director, who signed her to a recording contract in 1956, and the release of her first album the following year. She has been with the label her entire career. She has appeared on a variety of children television shows since, among them, “Sesame Street,” “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” and “Barney and Friends.” There have been several anthologies of her music, including the tribute album “cELLAbration,” featuring Tom Chapin, Tom Paxton and the pop-gospel group Sweet Honey in the Rock. It won the 2005 Grammy Award for best musical album for children. “She is an amazing person,” Seeger said. “What stands out about her is that she gets people onstage with her. She gets the children to sing and gets the parents to participate. They often appear uncomfortable, but she treats them with respect and they all seem to enjoy it.” Jenkins says she never expected to grow up and have children’s music be a great part of her life. However, she says that over the years it’s been nice teaching songs, rhythms and rhymes to children. “To serve children well, you have to like them and feel they have something to share,” said Jenkins. “You respect them. You respect their thoughts and aspirations and their accomplishments.” — AP

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Puzzle Page

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Crossword Puzzle Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Ape-Man by Stephen Sherr 1

10 15

25 30

35 41 45

44 48

Scrabble answers on p. 63.

21 23

42 46

47 50

65 68 70

Across 1. Setting in 2001: A Space Odyssey 5. Unstable 10. “Kapow!” 13. Senator’s assistant 14. Copter’s spinners 16. In the style of 17. Execute the escape plan 19. ___ leaf (Eve’s first wardrobe decision) 20. Arab nation with two stars on its flag 21. Catches flies 22. Fed. org. with motto “Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity” 23. Relaxation location 25. Like most of the clue to 1 Across 27. Quick as lightning 33. ___ and crumpets 34. Passenger ship 35. ___ Park (Home of the Thomas Edison Center) 38. Babe’s bed 40. Bath store supplies 42. Borscht or bisque 43. Golfers’ goals 45. Funnel-shaped 47. Distribute pink slips 48. Receive a guilty verdict 51. Background noise 53. “Yes, ___!” 54. Fedora or Fez 55. Alternative to home fries 59. Stellar explosions 63. Slugger’s stat. 64. Ape-man (or the condition of each of this puzzle’s key phrases) 66. Long, looong, loooooog time 67. Burning 68. Byline in The Daily Planet 69. Used, as a book (with 70 Across) 70. See 69 Across 71. Picnic side dish

Down 1. Gather together 2. Slick 3. It’s down at the dumps 4. Fairly recent 5. Make onion rings 6. Setback 7. Its largest city is named for a lake 8. Its largest city is named for a river 9. Present something unpleasant (as a cat) 10. Board the ark out of sequence 11. Plausible excuse 12. Witchcraft 15. Gambler’s strategy 18. Boutonniere target 24. “To the left ___” 26. Approvals 27. Constant desire 28. Roman Emperor for XIII years 29. Throwing a pre-game party 30. Standing by 31. Serious criminal 32. ___ we so clever 36. Elegance 37. Cartel founded 1960 in Baghdad 39. Paragon of redness 41. Prepares the agenda 44. Black mark 46. Getting off the couch 49. Note-taker 50. Stupid creatures, in Harry Potter’s world 51. Tiny bit of evidence 52. Prohibited 56. Cuba, por ejemplo 57. Russian ruler 58. Key decision at Ben and Jerry’s 60. Potion bottle 61. Palindromic girl 62. Manipulate the results 65. Homer’s nextdoor neighbor

Answers on page 63.

Answer: The mortician's wife visited the beauty parlor because it was a -- PLACE TO "DYE" Jumbles: PAYEE DICED SLEEPY AVOWAL

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Letters From page 2 Dear Editor: I was amused when Mr. Rosenthal stated that he was overwhelmed by the technological advances that have occurred in his lifetime and in particular since his graduation as a liberal arts major (“Awesome subjects,” August). Let me assure him that he is not alone, and the awe is not restricted to liberal arts majors but even to former scientific professionals. Having spent 40 years as an industrial research chemist, I have been gratified and daunted by advances that were not even dreamed of during my academic, or my professional, career. Incidentally as background, I have a Ph.D. in organic chemistry, 25 technical publications and 55 U.S. patents, and am still amazed at the complexity of scientific research that is currently occurring. Science has accelerated to the extent that even those formerly conversant with their field have been left far behind by recent advances. Nelson Marans Silver Spring, Md. Dear Editor: In “The facts about genetically modified foods (GMOs)” (August Beacon), Dr. Michael Mahr provides general information but, as is often the case, the devil is in the details. Dr. Mahr describes the engineering of GMOs as “tinkering” with genes, something which has been done for centuries. According to him, by “tinkering” in the lab we can speed up the natural process. This explanation is misleading if not entirely false. GMOs are engineered in labs by splicing genes from different species and creating new mongrel “products.” He also says GMOs appear “generally safe” so far, and no “significant hazard” has been “directly connected” to them. His concern is for the future, when “new” GMOs could “somehow become allergic or toxic through the engineering process.” Dr Mahr ignores the indirect effects of the GMOs of which we are already aware. After two decades, farmers are reporting the presence of super-bugs and superweeds, which have become resistant to the mega doses of herbicides and pesticides sprayed on our corn, canola, cotton and soy crops. In an effort to create even stronger herbicides, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is considering allowing herbicide 2,4-D, an agent orange derivative, to be used on our food. The “future” is now. Dr. Mahr takes comfort in the fact most GMOs are fed to industrially farmed animals. How naive to think there is no effect on humans when we ingest the plants, animals and/or by-products which are/have been fed GMOs. Dr. Mahr cites a French study which found a connection between GMOs and tumors in rats as being criticized for weak evi-

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick Detorie

dence. He goes on to say the article was retracted but does not inform the reader it has since been published in Environmental Sciences Europe. Dr. Mahr’s “facts about GMOs” are misleading. Even if GMOs are safe, which is his opinion, why continue opposing the labeling of food which contain GMOs? Let an informed consumer be the judge of whether they believe GMOs are safe and want to ingest them. Carla Tevelow Dear Editor: Thank you for that engaging article on my friend and colleague, Ronald “Smokey” Stevens! I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Smokey being featured in such a positive manner that highlights his impressive accomplishments. He is definitely talented, serious, and energetic for the next adventure! I also appreciate the Beacon, as this is my age group! I am a first-time reader. This is just the beginning... Rafiah Jones Via email

WB0914

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Research Studies

Dempsey & Rodbard Medical Practice .24 IDEAL Healthy Aging Study . . . . . . . . .24

Dental Services

Cavallo, Joseph, DDS . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Fairfax Dental Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Friedman, Stephen, DDS . . . . . . . . . .58 Oh, Judy, DDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Events

Beacon 50+Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Falls Prevention Month/Sponsored by Brooke Grove & GROWS . . . . . . .20 JCA - Career Gateway . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Financial Services

Children’s National . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Four Sales LTD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 G&G Pawnbrokers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 HC Custom Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Quinn’s Auction Galleries . . . . . . . . .56

Funeral Services

Fram Monuments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Going Home Cremation Services . . .52

Government Services

D.C. Office on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Montgomery County Aging and Disability Services . . . . . . . . . . .8 Montgomery County Health and Human Services . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Montgomery County Information & Services/311 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Montgomery County Senior Nutrition Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Classifieds cont. from page 63. Personal Services FOR THE GIFTED AND TALENTED. Math and more for GT.com. jim4nv92@verizon.net. CHERYL’S ORGANIZING CONCEPTS LLC – Professional Organizing Services. Help with all aspects of home organizing. Experienced – References – Member NAPO. All work confidential. Licensed – Bonded. $25 discount on initial appointment. www.CherylsOrganizing.com. 301916-9022. WILL TYPE YOUR MEMOIRS, manuscripts, etc. For info and rates, call 703-671-1854. JUNIOR/SENIOR ERRAND GUY – for any reasonable errand. Walk dog, feed cat, pick up prescriptions, grocery shop, house watch while you are away, dept. store returns, wait in line at MVA, take care of oil change, wash, shop, schlepp, serve. Joe Rice. H: 301-947-4933. C:301-9444924. Gaithersburg/Kentlands resident 17 years.

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Hearing Services

Auditory Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Sonus Hearing Care Professionals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Sound Hearing Centers . . . . . . . . . . .18

Home Health Care

Best Senior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Elder Caring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Espirit Home Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Holy Cross Home Care . . . . . . . . . . .14 Old Dominion Home Care . . . . . . . . .27 Options for Senior America . . . . . . . . . .25 Philia Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Hospice

Community Hospice . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Housing

Asbury Methodist Village . . . . . . . . .53 Ashby Ponds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1, 11 Aspenwood Senior Living Community .28 Brooke Grove Retirement Village . . .15 Charter House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Chesterbrook Residences Assisted Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Churchill Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . .18 Culpepper Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 ELA Interior Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Forest Hills of DC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Friendship Terrace . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Greenspring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1, 11 Homecrest House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 LifeTimes/Charles E. Smith Life Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Oaks at Olde Towne, The . . . . . . . . . .51 Olney Assisted Living . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Park View Apartments . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Potomac Place Assisted Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Quantum Propertry Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Residences at Thomas Circle . . . . . . . . .10 Riderwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1, 11 Solana of Olney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Sommerset Retirement Community . . . . . . . . .10 Springvale Terrace . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Victoria Park Senior Apartments . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Village at Rockville . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Vinson Hall Retirement Community .26

Legal Services

AARP Legal Counsel for Elderly . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Law Firm of Evan. H. Farr . . . . . . . . .37 Law Offices of Paul Riekhof . . . . . . . . .36

Medical/Health

2 Fitt Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Advanced Spine & Wellness Systems . .7 Doctors First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Freedom Walk In Tubs & Showers . . .4 HealthQare Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 IDC, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Low Vision Specialists of Maryland & Virginia . . . . . . . . .17 Medical Eye Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Silver Spring Medical Center . . . . . . . . . .8 Stem Cell Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Vascular Institute of Virginia . . . . . . . .4

Movers

Pack ‘N’ Move . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Pharmacy

CVS/pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Rite Aid Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Real Estate Services

Eric Stewart - Long & Foster Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Keller Williams - Lisa Langlais . . . . .24

NEW!

Swan Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Weichert Realtors - Sue Heyman . . . .52

Restaurants

Original Pancake House . . . . . . . . . .50 Wrap2Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Retail

Boone & Sons, Jewelers . . . . . . . . . .37 SAS Shoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Senior Clubs

Shalom Signature Club . . . . . . . . . . .21

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation

Manor Care Health Services . . . . . . . . .21 Village at Rockville, The . . . . . . . . .27

Subscription Services

Beacon Subscription . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Washington Jewish Week . . . . . . . . .38

Theatre/Entertainment

Ford’s Theater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Kennedy Center/Opera . . . . . . . . . . .57 Publick Playhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . . . .56

Tour & Travel

Eyre Bus, Tour & Travel . . . . . . . . . .50 Tripper Bus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 US Navy Memorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Vamoose Bus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Utilities

PEPCO Energy Wise . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 PEPCO Take Control of Energy Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Verizon DC Lifeline Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Wanted

WANTED TO BUY: COINS – Both United States and foreign. Also paper money, postcards, military items, antique cars/car-related items. Lifelong collector. Senior citizen. Confidential. Cash paid. Kenny, 703-369-0520. Best after 7 p.m.

WE PAY CASH for antique furniture, quality used furniture, early American art, pottery, silver, glassware, paintings, etc. Single items to entire estates. Call Reggie or Phyllis at DC 202726-4427, MD 301-332-4697.

STAMP COLLECTIONS, AUTOGRAPHS purchased/appraised – U.S., worldwide, covers, paper memorabilia. Stamps are my specialty – highest price paid! Appraisals. Phone Alex, 301309-3622. Stampex1@gmail.com.

HIGHEST CASH PAID FOR ANTIQUES, JEWELRY, ESTATES. I have been advertising in the Beacon for 20 years. Montgomery County resident – will travel to D.C., MD, VA. Buying following items: Furniture, art, jewelry, gold, sterling silver, old coins, vintage pocket and wrist watches, old tools, books, camera, military items – guns, rifles, knives, pocket knives, swords etc. Also buying: old toys, dolls, trains, comic books, photographs, autographs, musical instruments, guitars, violins, etc. Also old sports memorabilia and equipment – baseball, golf, football, fishing etc. Please call Tom at 240-476-3441.

FINE ANTIQUES, PAINTINGS AND QUALITY VINTAGE FURNISHINGS wanted by a serious, capable buyer. I am very well educated [law degree], knowledgeable [over 40 years in the antique business] and have the finances and wherewithal to handle virtually any situation. If you have a special item, collection or important estate, I would like to hear from you. I pay great prices for great things in all categories from Oriental rugs to Tiffany objects, from rare clocks to firearms, from silver and gold to classic cars. If it is wonderful, I am interested. No phony promises or messy consignments. References gladly furnished. Please call Jake Lenihan, 301-2798834. Thank you.

WE BUY OLD AND NEW JEWELRY, Coins, Silver and Gold, Paper Money Too. Watches, Clocks and Parts, Military Badges and Patches Old and New. Call Greg, 717-658-7954. BUYING MILITARY MEMORABILIA WW2, WW1, Civil War uniforms, weapons, photos and items associated with US, German, Japanese or items of other Military History. DAVE, 240-4640958. VINYL RECORDS WANTED from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201. OLD AND NEW WE BUY Sterling Silver Flatware, Tea Sets, Single Pieces, Fountain Pens, Lighters, Tools, Cameras, Glassware, Art Work. Toys From Trains to Hotwheels to Star Wars. Call Greg, 717-658-7954. STERLING SILVER – I WILL PAY TOP DOLLAR for your silver marked “sterling,” “925,” “800.” Please, no silver plate. Want flatware, bowls, plates, candlesticks, etc. Call Richard, 301-646-0101.

MILITARY ITEMS WANTED: Collector seeks to purchase military uniforms; flight jackets, patches, insignia, medals, etc. from the Civil War through Vietnam. Especially seeking U.S. Army Air Corps, USMC, Airborne, and German/Japanese/Italian items from WWII. ALSO BUYING old Boy Scout, Airline Items, Toys, Lighters. Call Dan, 202-841-3062. CASH FOR JEWELRY: Buying jewelry, diamonds, gold, platinum, silver, watches, coins, flatware, etc. We make house calls. Ask for Tom. Call anytime 301-654-8678 or 301-654-0838.

WANTED: ANTIQUE ELECTRONICS, engineer’s estates, Hi-Fi Stereo, huge old loudspeakers, ham radios, records, professional quality musical instruments, antique computers, scientific curiosities. 202-527-9501, vcvdc@msn.com. CIVIL WAR SOLDIER’S LETTERS, autographs, documents, images, archives wanted by local historian for use in research and feature articles. Free consulting and research, no obligation. Ron, 301-869-2623, 240-498-3535.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

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

Business and Employment Opportunities GET FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE today! www.myfes.net/MMccollum1 or 202-734-2555. Watch Video (Career Opportunity). Select Products. FES Protection Plan. Enroll.

Caregivers “A” Home Health Care – Experienced nurses, CNA, GNA are available 24/7. Cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping, driving. Full/Part-time or live-in. Flat rate for live-in care. 15 years experience. 240-533-6599. CALL TINA – I’m a Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) with over 10 years of combined experience in both Nursing Homes and Private duties. I’m also familiar with and capable of handling all kinds of cases. References available upon request. Please call, 301-346-4068. HOME HEALTHCARE – Cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping, pet-friendly. Full/part-time or live-in. Call 202-294-4726. COMPASSIONATE CAREGIVER – LADY companion available for elderly or adult with disabilities. Very reliable, experienced, own car with excellent references. CPR/First Aid/Hospice/Mental Health Aide Certified. I can provide respite care, concierge, plus more services for your loved ones. Please call, 240-426-3548 and kindly leave me a message. A FRIENDLY NURSING ASSISTANT, CNA, CPR, First Aid, is looking for a companionship, or caregiving for the elderly. Call me at 202-5785158 or sguigma@aol.com. COMPANION – LOOKING FOR A PARTTIME position. Have experience and references. Please call, 301-984-4422. COMPANION/SITTER – WILL HELP WITH housekeeping, prepare meals, and run errands. Experience and very good references furnished. Call 301-758-5159. COMPASSIONATE CAREGIVER, ENGLISH SPEAKING LADY with 20 years of experience. Has own transportation, excellent references. Very reliable and punctual. Available now for day or night. Full-time or part-time. Petfriendly. Call 301-803-9000. KIND, DEPENDABLE, EXPERIENCED caregiver for live-out care or live-in care for a flat rate. Hygiene care, Meal preparation, Housekeeping, Errands, Appointments, Medication reminders. Call 301-490-1146.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Computer Services COMPUTER LESSONS – Personal Computer training at your home. Email, Internet, general computer use. Windows 8, Smartphone/tablet, digital camera. Learn at your own pace with gentle & patient tutor. We also troubleshoot problems & setup new computers. Teaching Seniors since 1996. Senior Discount. Call David, 301-762-2570, COMPUTERTUTOR.

Entertainment THE SHALOM SIGNATURE CLUB: If you like Bagels and Lox, Matzah Balls and Kugel, then you need to try our activities. We’re a dynamic social club geared to folks 50 and up. Many of our activities have a Jewish theme; most are free of charge and take place in the Friendship Heights neighborhood of Chevy Chase. Currently, our regular monthly schedule features two afternoon activities (at 1 p.m. and includes lunch) and two evening activities (usually 7 p.m.), plus a monthly Friday-eve Shabbat Dinner. For further info, visit www.ShalomSC.org or call 240-200-4515. PIANIST, VOCALIST, DANCER provides fun and interactive music programs, sing-a-longs, ballroom dancing and more; all with a touch of humor. See brief videos and info at MarkHanakMusic.com or call 301-293-2933.

Events ST. MICHAELS, MARYLAND Land and Sea tour – September 27 – $129. Depart from Greenbelt Metro at 8 a.m. for a guided tour of St. Michaels. Lunch at Harrison House on Tilghman Island. One-hour cruise on the Choptank River and Chesapeake Bay. Shopping and free time in St. Michaels before returning home 5 p.m. To register, call 301-613-6229/240-273-8612 or email wendy@eldoradotripsandexcursions.com or cara@eldoradotripsandexcursions.com. www.eldoradotripsandexcusions.com.

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate RENTAL – LEISURE WORLD. 55+. Beautiful large highrise apt: 2BR, den, 2BA, sunroom, built-ins, garage. New paint, countertop & carpet. 1480 sq ft. $1750/mo. 301-299-4546. NEW IN TAKOMA PARK: SPIRITUAL, PROGRESSIVE “Golden Girls” Household. In historic, activist, friendly village of Takoma Park, MD (at DC edge) – in our 3-story house overlooking circle woods. Share great common areas + amenities – choose your private room/suite ($595 / $695 / or $995 /mo. + utilities). Unfurnished bedrooms, each w/ private full bathroom, + some storage. One modest rent reduction barter available. We are seeking two women: 45-75yo, single, deep, fun, reliable, w/ integrity + true kindness... who are sensitive, seasoned communicators, left of center politically, + belief in God (as each defines). (Sorry, no smokers/pets.) Vision: caring friendships. Start when able: mid-Sept mid Nov. First lease to 8/31/15, then renewable annually. See detailed ad + photos at http:// washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/roo/4634862254. html. Then, please respond if interested (asap) to mailto:circlewoodshome@gmail.com. (Or, post these ads + tell others!) Thank you! LEISURE WORLD® – $146,000. 2BR 2FB 1HB “Dartmouth” model townhouse. Separate dining room with Bay Window overlook sunny patio. Dual master suites. 1359 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $379,000. 3BR 2FB 1HB “H” model with garage in “Villa Cortez”. Separate dining room plus table space kitchen with window, enclosed balcony, laundry room, new paint and carpet. 1629 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $179,000. 2BR 2FB “CC” model in “Turnberry Courts.” Open floor plan with enclosed balcony, new paint, close to the elevator. 1092 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463.

Computer Services

LEISURE WORLD®– $159,000. 1BR 1-1/2 BA “A” model in “Overlook” with garage. Wood floors, enclosed balcony, golf course view. 930 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-9283463.

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

LEISURE WORLD® – $189,000. 2BR 2FB “C” model in “Overlook” 1090 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES Deadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 20th of each month. Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question. Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards. Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $15 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word. Business Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing business enterprise. Each ad is $35 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word. Note: Each real estate listing counts as one business text ad. Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:

The Beacon, D.C. Classified Dept. P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227 For information about display advertising, or to request a media kit, call (301) 949-9766.

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate

Miscellaneous

LEISURE WORLD®– $274,900. 2BR +DEN, 2FB “K” in “Greens” with garage space included. Large enclosed balcony, new paint. 1480 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463.

THE GOLDEN NETWORK offers Jewish seniors and retirees a variety of engaging programs, including lectures, classes, one-on-one learning in person and by phone, concerts, sing-alongs and more! For more information and details about upcoming events, call 301-338-4810, email info@goldennetwork.org, or see goldennetwork.org.

LEISURE WORLD® – $359,000. 3BR 2FB 1HB “L” in “Villa Cortez,” table space kitchen, separate dining room, enclosed balcony. 1520 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – RENTAL $1,750/Mo. Beautifully furnished 2BR, 2FB in midrise “Creekside.” Available September, call 301-4049000 or email Lolo10s@yahoo.com. NEWLY-RENOVATED BASEMENT apartment in the cozy Brookland and CUA area. Quiet, safe neighborhood close to metro, bus line, and local hospitals. $900/month (utilities included). Non-smoking/no pets allowed. Available immediately! If interested, please contact Ms. Habermehl after 4pm for details at 202-276-4958. I BUY HOUSES ANY CONDITION – Fairfax County, VA. Save time, money and worry. Not an agent, no commissions. Female owned. 703-9695847, ibuyfairfaxhouses@gmail.com. LOOKING TO TAKE THE LEAP? I’ll take you on a tour of the community, show you floor plans, discuss campus amenities, & offer how to best coordinate your move. I will preview units & contact you with a match. I also offer exceptional service selling your home. I’m a Seniors Specialist, Buyer Broker, Top 1% of Agents Nationwide, and a Leisure World resident! You can see my current listings on page 52. Contact me: 301-580-5556, SueHeyman@aol.com, www.SueHeyman.com, Weichert Realtors.

For Sale

Personals PETERAGGA@OUTLOOK.COM. The most affectionate man is single. 63, 5’ 6”. No smokers. WM, 68, 5’5” 160 LBS. NICE GUY, average looks searching for affectionate and caring woman 65 to 73 for dating relationship, 301-390-4879. HUSBAND OF BRAIN-INJURED WOMAN seeks Long-Term Relation with Marriage in Mind. In my late 60s, DC area, active and fit, gentlemen. Wife in accident 2 years ago with major brain injury, mental and physical abilities poor, no communication or companionship. Relation reduced to caregiver. No immediate divorce now, but want relation with good lady. Marriage likely. Race irrelevant. Please contact Paul at saver7777@aol.com. I AM A WIDOWER IN THE 80s, moved to Silver Spring, MD next to my family, looking for a pen pal for friendship with lady, write about life as seniors, future, current topics, what one could have and didn’t. I will acquaint you about myself and my Weltanschuung for you to see that I am above board. Email is Bebe5906@aol.com.

Classifieds cont. on p. 62

MULTI-FAMILY GARAGE SALE at the Parker House Condo Community. Saturday, Sept. 13th, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parking area behind 4700 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., between Chesapeake and Cumberland Streets. Rain date on Saturday, Sept. 20th.

FROM PAGE 60

ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

DOM PERIGNON VINTAGE 1973, $250. Dom Perignon vintage, $220. Paul Bocuse Beaujolais vintage 1982, 1984 $120. Cash only. 301881-7079. PIANO, KIMBALL BABY GRAND – Recently tuned, minor dings. $950 bargain. Barnete Oil painting, Alhambra Patio De Los Leones, $500. 703-379-8866. 2 SALVADOR DALI woodblock prints from Dante’s Divine Comedy. Signed and framed. Asking $900 for the pair. Can email pictures if desired. Call Steve, 410-913-1653.

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

Health SUPPLEMENT YOUR WELLNESS and be in better health! Stress – Pain, Inflammation – Weight Loss - Prevention. Ask about the Stateof-the-Art, Worldwide Wellness Centers. TRY TGLOBAL & Feed A Child! T-Global Health – (844) TRY-TGLOBAL (879-8456), www.wellnesswelldone.com (reps needed – FT/PT – will train).

Home/Handyman Services MICHAELS HAULING Clean-outs, scrap & debris removal yard waste, etc. Mulch, dirt & stone delivery, lite dump truck, 20’ trailer & bobcat. Fully insured. 240-388-1898.

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

FORMERLY THE METHODIST HOME

A new name... ... an enduring tradition of care.

From our earliest days of caregiving in 1889 to today, we have pursued a vision of providing a community to seniors with all the resources they might need for a safe and comfortable life. As we celebrate our 125th year, we are changing our name to better represent our inclusive philosophy while sustaining our tradition of excellent care.

To learn more, please visit our website or call.

4901 Connecticut Ave, NW Washington, DC 20008 (202) 966-7623 www.foresthillsdc.org

ASSISTED LIVING

M EMORY CARE Not for Profit

REHABILITATION Continuum of Care

SKILLED N URSING