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Buying into a 2nd (or 3rd) career

AUGUST 2011

I N S I D E …

PHOTO BY FRANK KLEIN

By Barbara Ruben Earl Reed’s wide-ranging career took him from flying fighter planes in Vietnam, to setting up a chain of drug stores in Moscow, to advising the Department of Homeland Security on how to prevent nuclear weapon components from entering the country.

But last year, at the age of 67 — a time when some other people might start counting the days until retirement — Reed took his entire nest egg and moved his career in a new direction.

Reed, who in his youth planned to be a physician until he started flying in the military, bought an urgent care franchise called Doctors Express.

“I enjoyed the challenge of my other jobs, but all you had to show for it was a paycheck. I wanted to build something that hopefully will be permanent,” Reed said of his new business in Alexandria, Va.

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LEISURE & TRAVEL

History comes to life on North Carolina’s Outer Banks; plus, SEALS, sun and squadrons in Virginia Beach, fall travel planning strategies, and a world of gardens on the National Mall page 40

Franchising 101 From Dunkin’ Donuts to the UPS Store to Embassy Suites, thousands of companies are franchised. Generally, a franchisee will pay a fee (ranging from about $10,000 to over $500,000 depending on the business) to own a branch of the company in exchange for using the brand and getting help from headquarters with everything from accounting to marketing.

Buying franchises is becoming more popular among those over age 50, said Matt Haller, spokesperson for the International Franchise Association, whose members includes more than 1,100 companies that offer franchises.

“Anecdotally, it’s definitely a trend,” he said. “A lot of folks are exiting the civilian workforce, who maybe have worked for a corporation for 20 or 30 years, have a nice nest egg, and want to get out of that 9-to-5 grind and get into something new. [Often] married couples decide to go into franchising as a sort of second phase of their career.”

Franchises have done better in the recession than other start-up businesses, Haller said. In fact, franchising grew by 40 percent over the last decade versus 24 percent for other businesses, according to Haller. And 90 percent of franchisees renew their contracts.

“The important thing to keep in mind is

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Audiologist Sandra Romano went from working for the Sonus Hearing Care office in Arlington, Va., to owning it when the company moved to a franchise model. More than 1,100 companies sell franchises of their operations, and a growing percentage of owners are middle-aged and looking for second or third careers where they can be their own boss.

it’s not ‘one size fits all,’ Haller said. “The same franchisee who would commit to a Subway may not be right for a Marriott or a healthcare franchise. That’s one of the great things about it, but also why it’s important to do an exhaustive amount of research.”

Finding a niche That’s exactly what Reed found. To be sure he made the right decision, he worked with a company that helps buyers select an appropriate franchise opportunity.

Reed knew he didn’t want to be involved with franchises selling food. And he couldn’t imagine himself in one that did mobile pet grooming.

But when urgent care was mentioned, his eyes lit up.

What caught Reed’s attention was the fact that although there were more than 100 doctors’ offices near Reed’s home, the only choice for injuries or illnesses that needed attention at night or on the weekends was the local emergency room.

“Having spent half my life in the emergency room as my children grew up, knowing it was about a six-hour turnaround, I said, ‘Hey, that’s exactly what we need here,’” Reed said.

Doctors Express is open 80 hours a See FRANCHISES, page 39

Oklahoma! is back and more than OK; plus, boomer author laments the passing of her formerly hot life, and Bob Levey remembers his erudite Aunt Nat page 46

FITNESS & HEALTH 4 k Not your father’s cataract surgery k B vitamins boost your brain LAW & MONEY 25 k What investment pros are buying k Keep pace with inflation SPOTLIGHT ON AGING k Newsletter for D.C. seniors

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VOLUNTEERS & CAREERS k Intergenerational learning

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Coming to our census I’ve long been on record as objecting to seen so far.) the use of terms like Age Wave, Senior Still, people’s jaws drop when you conTsunami and the like to defront them with the statistics. scribe the demographic So here are a few more, courchanges occurring across tesy of a recent report from America (and, indeed, the demographer William H. world).

Frey of the Brookings InstituI take issue with such tertion. I hope you find them enminology because it suggests lightening, particularly for the aging of our population their political and sociologiwill be a sudden and destruccal implications. tive event, and it is neither.

From 2000 to 2010, accordNo wave will come crashing FROM THE ing to the latest publicly availdown on us unexpectedly one PUBLISHER able U.S. census data, the day; no tsunami will wreak By Stuart P. Rosenthal population 45 and older inhavoc out of the clear blue. creased at a rate 18 times as Instead, I liken the shifting of our popu- fast as the under-45 population. Those 45+ lation to a tide — a gradual, predictable now constitute about 39 percent of all change that we can calculate in advance Americans. and, if we plan for it, turn to our advantage.

And while our 55+ population grew by And we don’t need a futurist to figure more than 50 percent during the last this out for us. Ever since the baby boom decade, the 35- to 44-year-old population generation was born during the years from declined by 9 percent.

1946 to 1964, we have had a clear view of Even more interesting, Frey says the them marching toward retirement at the 119 million Americans 45 and over now rate of about 1,000 a day. constitute 51 percent of the voting-age Yes, boomers have only now started to population, a majority for the first turn 65 at that rate, but we have no reason time. Those who are 55 and over constito be surprised at that. (Nor should we be tute about one-third of the voting age popsurprised if that generation turns out to be ulation. the longest-lived generation the earth has And if you take into account the fact that

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older people are more likely to vote, their clout at the polls will be even higher. Judging by voting patterns in the last presidential election, Americans 45 and over will constitute about 60 percent of likely voters in the next presidential election.

All of this is being reported as Americans find themselves preoccupied with the federal deficit and the ever-expanding costs of providing Social Security and Medicare to a generation of boomers who will be retiring even as our national workforce shrinks.

If voters choose to vote their pocketbooks, will we vote ourselves into financial oblivion? I, for one, hope we older voters can see beyond a narrow definition of selfinterest and support some reasonable financial and entitlement reforms that will put our country on a sounder footing going forward.

But as I write this column, despite the fact that polls show a large majority favor sharply curbing the deficit, members of Congress and the president are inching toward a first-ever national default — a potential Armageddon in financial terms.

Before signing off, I want to share another bit of interesting data from the census. For the first time since 1910, the U.S. male population has grown at a faster rate than the female population.

Women overall actually outnumber (and, of course, outlive) men, but men may be starting to catch up a little. From 2000 to 2010, the number of men in the U.S. grew by 9.9 percent overall, compared with a growth rate of 9.5 percent for women.

Among people 65 and over, the number of men increased by 21 percent, nearly double the 11.2 percent growth rate for women of that age.

Because the ratio of women to men increases with each passing year, the fact that older men are starting to catch up might be considered good news for the women reading this column. But I’m open to hearing from readers as to how they personally feel about such statistics!

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

Dear Editor: We had an almost identical experience with Verizon as described by Nelson Marans in his July letter to the editor in the Beacon.

After filing a complaint with the state and receiving a call from Verizon with an apology but no offer to reimburse us for the out of pocket costs ($200), the time spent without a telephone, and time spent trying to restore service, they had the audacity to bill us for the two weeks we had without phone service.

Bill Honore Via emai Dear Editor: I always learn something from your excellent newspaper. Your recent editorials on Social Security have been good, but you‘re still wrong when you write in the July issue that “even when Social Security collects more money from workers than it needs to pay current benefits, the excess is not saved for future years.”

That’s a common misstatement, usually put out by conservatives. It throws a cloud of dust over the real problem.

The Trust Fund contains $2.6 trillion now. Yes, of course it’s invested in Treasury securities — the only investment permitted to it.

The government has borrowed this money from Social Security. So what?

Complaining about that, as one pundit said, is like complaining that a doghouse

contains nothing but dogs. Those Treasury securities, as of today (July 15), are still triple-A investments. They’re a big asset for Social Security.

What else should the Trust Fund contain — dollars under the mattress? Do you think the fund should buy some corporate bonds? George W. Bush thought so, and liberals punished him.

The real problem is that the Trust Fund isn’t big enough. It would need another $10 trillion or so now to fulfill Social Security’s future promises. Social Security isn’t getting enough money for the fund.

The payroll tax, which goes into the fund, has been set too low to support the generous promised future benefits. This system isn’t sound actuarially. That’s why it’s often said that if Social Security were a private insurance company, regulators would shut it down as an illegal pyramid scheme.

All of this is well known. But Washington liberals refuse to learn economics.

James E. Felten Greenbelt, Md. Dear Editor: Once again you misrepresent Social Security and its “problem.” Social Security is an insurance program, the Federal Insurance Compensation Act, and as with all insurance programs current premiums are See LETTERS TO EDITOR, page 52

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Health Fitness &

A CLEAR ANSWER Cataract surgery should be based on vision problems, not ‘ripeness’ B VITAMINS EARN AN “A” B vitamins help maintain memory, boost mood and lower stroke risk A PAINFUL TRUTH The healthcare system often isn’t prepared to help chronic pain patients MINDFUL MOUTHFULS Slower, more thoughtful eating may help people conquer weight problems

Cancer risks abound. Should you worry?

By Marilynn Marchione You’re sitting in a freshly drywalled house, drinking coffee from a plastic foam cup and talking on a cell phone. Which of these is most likely to be a cancer risk?

It might be the sitting, especially if you do that a lot.

Despite all the recent news about possible cancer risks from cell phones, coffee, styrene, and formaldehyde in building materials, most of us probably face little if any danger from these things with ordinary use, health experts say. Inactivity and obesity may pose a greater cancer risk than chemicals for some people.

“We are being bombarded” with messages about the dangers posed by common things in our lives, yet most exposures “are not at a level that are going to cause cancer,” said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, the American Cancer Society’s deputy chief medical officer.

Linda Birnbaum agrees. She is a toxicologist who heads the government agency that just declared styrene, an ingredient in

fiberglass boats and Styrofoam, a likely cancer risk.

“Let me put your mind at ease right away about Styrofoam,” she said. Levels of styrene that leach from food containers “are hundreds if not thousands of times lower than have occurred in the occupational setting,” where the chemical in vapor form poses a possible risk to workers.

“In finished products, certainly styrene is not an issue,” and exposure to it from riding in a boat “is infinitesimal,” she said.

Possible vs. actual risk Carcinogens are things that can cause cancer, but that label doesn’t mean that they will or that they pose a risk to anyone exposed to them in any amount at any time.

They have been in the news because two groups that periodically convene scientists to decide whether something is a carcinogen issued new reports.

Recently, the International Agency for

Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, said there is a possibility cell phones raise the risk of brain tumors.

“The operative word is ‘possibility,’” said Lichtenfeld, who among others has pointed out the thin evidence for this and the fact that cancer rates have not risen since cell phones came out.

Soon after, the National Toxicology Program, part of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences — both of which Birnbaum heads — issued its report.

It adds formaldehyde to the list of known carcinogens. The substance is found in building materials and some hairstraightening products, though Birnbaum said on-the-job exposure is the main concern. The list also adds a plant substance in some “natural” arthritis remedies — aristolochic acid.

Six other things were dubbed “reasonably anticipated” to be carcinogens, including styrene and another herbal medicine

ingredient, riddelliine (rih-DELL-een).

Since 1971, the international cancer agency has evaluated more than 900 substances. Just over 100 have been deemed carcinogens, 59 are called probable carcinogens, and 266 others are possible ones.

Everyday products In this last category of possibles — besides the electromagnetic energy from cell phones — are coffee, engine exhaust and talc-based body powder.

Talc in its natural form may contain asbestos, though products sold for home use since the 1970s have been asbestos-free.

Again, most risk is thought to involve occupational or unusual exposure to natural talc.

The evidence on coffee has gone back and forth for years, with no clear sign of danger and some suggestions of benefit.

However, known carcinogens include alSee CANCER RISKS, page 6

Benefits of custom-made blood vessels

By Marilynn Marchione Three dialysis patients have received the world’s first blood vessels grown in a lab from donated skin cells. It’s a key step toward creating a supply of ready-to-use arteries and veins that could be used to treat diabetics, soldiers with damaged limbs, people having heart bypass surgery and others.

The goal is to one day have a refrigerated inventory of blood vessels in various sizes and shapes that surgeons could order up as needed, like bandages and other medical supplies.

The work so far is still early-stage.

Three patients in Poland have received the new vessels, which are working well two to eight months later.

But doctors are excited because this builds on earlier success in about a dozen patients given blood vessels grown in the lab from their own skin — a process too long and expensive to be practical.

“This version, built from a master donor, is available off the shelf and at a dramatically reduced cost,” estimated at $6,000 to $10,000, said Todd McAllister, chief of Cytograft Tissue Engineering Inc., the San

Francisco-area company leading the work.

The American Heart Association considers it so promising that the group featured it in the first of a new series of webcasts about cutting-edge science.

“This is tremendously exciting,” said Duke University’s Dr. Robert Harrington, a heart expert who had no role in the work, because the failure of blood vessels used in dialysis is “a huge public health problem.”

Could solve common problem Kidney failure, which is common in diabetics, requires dialysis to filter wastes from the blood through a connection between an artery and a vein called a shunt.

The shunt gets punctured several times a week to hook patients up to the dialysis machine, and complications include blood clots, clogging and infection. What’s more, patients often run out of suitable sites for these shunts as problems develop.

Each year, nearly 400,000 Americans undergo dialysis and half of them use plastic shunts. Plastic versions have high rates of failure and complications. Doctors have

long wished for a natural substitute.

In 2005, Cytograft reported success with its first attempt at dialysis shunts using patients’ own skin. Some of the early work was sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

The new work, using donor cells, makes this advance more practical for wide use, said Dr. Timothy Gardner, a heart surgeon at Christiana Care Health Services in Newark, Delaware, and former American Heart Association president.

“It provides the option or the opportunity for off-the-shelf graft availability as opposed to something that has to be built from the individual’s own cells,” he said.

Cytograft plans a study in Europe and South America comparing 40 patients getting the lab-grown vessels to 20 getting plastic shunts. Studies also are planned on a mesh version for people with poor leg circulation.

How they’re made The lab-grown vessels are free of artificial materials. They don’t involve stem cells, so they’re not controversial.

Researchers start with a snip of skin from the back of a hand, remove cells and grow them into sheets of tissue that are rolled up like straws to form blood vessels.

So far, these lab-grown vessels have been tolerated by the recipients’ immune systems; no anti-rejection medicine or tissue matching is needed. That’s not surprising because lab-grown skin is already used to treat many burn victims.

“There are literally hundreds of thousands of patients that could use this technology,” McAllister said.

More than 160,000 people lose limbs because of poor circulation that might be improved with lab-grown vessels.

About 300,000 people have heart bypass operations using blood vessels taken from other parts of the body to create detours around clogged heart arteries. Some heart patients say the leg wound from removing the long vein to create heart bypasses hurts more than the chest wound for the open-heart surgery.

For more about Cytograft and a video about how the vessels are made, see www.cytograft.com.

— AP

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Fitness & Health

Dehydration can lead to heat exhaustion and potentially deadly heat stroke.

During a heat wave, that can happen in a matter of hours in older adults if they overexert themselves, don’t drink enough water, or are frail and don’t get out of uncooled homes.

Heat exhaustion can cause muscle cramps, low blood pressure, rapid pulse and nausea. It can be treated at home, by drinking water, getting into an air-conditioned room or sitting in front of a fan and misting the body with cool water.

But affected people should be monitored for mental changes and to make sure their temperature does not rise above 102, because the condition can quickly lead to heat stroke.

A medical emergency, heat stroke involves temperatures of 104 or higher and See HEAT, page 6

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Scott Sheridan, who studies the effects of heat and climate on health at Kent State University, researched how people over 65 view heat warnings. In his 2006 study of more than 900 people, he found about 70 percent knew about advice to drink plenty of water on very hot days, avoid outdoor activities and stay inside with air conditioning. But only about half said they followed the advice. “People well into their 70s would say old people should watch out, but not them,� he said. “People just didn’t want to be thought of in that same category.�

As Dr. William Dale, geriatrics chief at the University of Chicago Medical Center explains why heat can become more dan-

Dehydration can be fatal

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Many ignore warnings

gerous with age: “Any older adult has less reserve and is more likely to become dehydrated than others, just because their overall body water goes down with age no matter how healthy you are.�

The amount of water in the body declines with aging, from about 80 percent in young adulthood to about 55 to 60 percent for people in their 80s, Dale said.

Temperature sensors in the brain become less sensitive as people age, so the body doesn’t get the same signals to drink water in hot weather, and older adults often don’t feel thirsty even when they need to replenish, Dale said. They also may not feel the typical symptoms of dehydration, such as headache or dizziness.

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Aging makes us more vulnerable to heat

By Lindsey Tanner This summer’s relentless heat may be uncomfortable, but you’re healthy, active and feel just fine. So what if you’re over 65?

Think again. Feeling good doesn’t mean you’re safe.

Changes occur as we age that raise the risk for heat stroke and other problems.

An older body contains far less water than a younger one. Our brains can’t sense temperature changes as well, and they don’t recognize thirst as easily.

Blistering summer heat is an underappreciated killer, claiming by some estimates as many as 1,000 U.S. lives each year — more than any other type of weather.

One federal study found 40 percent of heat-related deaths were in people 65 and older. Those numbers could be lower if more heeded heat warnings aimed at seniors. Yet research has shown many people over 65 don’t think the warnings apply to them, regardless of their age.

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Cancer risks From page 4 coholic beverages, estrogen treatments for menopause symptoms, birth control pills, certain viruses and parasites, and even some drugs used to treat cancer, such as cyclophosphamide and tamoxifen.

“Most people would probably be shocked to see the number of things they interact with every day” on these lists, Lichtenfeld said.

Here’s the problem: The agencies that pass judgment on a carcinogen don’t regulate it or determine what levels or routes of exposure are a concern and for whom.

“People immediately assume it’s going to cause cancer at any exposure level, and that’s simply not true,” said A. Wallace Hayes, editor of the scientific journal Food

A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

and Chemical Toxicology, and an industry consultant.

The rule is “RITE” — Risk Is equal to Toxicity times Exposure — and “they’ve left out half of the equation” by not saying how much exposure is a concern, Hayes said.

“The organizations that list these substances as possibly carcinogenic have to be conservative,” said David Ropeik, a consultant and author of How Risky Is It Really? Why Our Fears Don’t Always Match the Facts.

“That means if there’s any reasonable evidence, way before it’s a sure thing, they have to say, ‘Let’s be cautious.’ That’s their job — to raise the flag,” he said.

It’s human nature to fear risks we didn’t choose, such as hazardous chemicals, more than those we did, such as lack of exercise, poor diets or smoking, he added.

“A risk that is imposed on us scares us

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more than a risk we take voluntarily,” especially if it comes from companies we don’t trust, Ropeik said.

Minimizing risk Styrene is an example: The government says it is a component of tobacco smoke and that is the biggest way most people are exposed to it. Smoking, of course, is the most easily preventable cancer risk.

To minimize risk, people can take reasonable measures to avoid exposure to possibly harmful things, experts say.

“If you walk into a room and you can smell formaldehyde, you probably want to vent the room before you spend a lot of time in it. That’s just common sense,” Birnbaum said.

If you’re concerned about pesticides, you can peel fruit and vegetables or choose organics, though there is some evidence that organic products may be less safe in terms of germs like E. coli and salmonella.

Heat From page 5 can cause seizures, loss of consciousness and death.

Medicines increase risk Medicines can also make people more vulnerable to the heat. These include diuretics for high blood pressure, which increase urination and make it more important to drink plenty of water, Dale said.

Some types of drugs can interfere with sweating and raise body temperature, including some medicines for insomnia, nausea, prostate conditions, Parkinson’s disease and even Benadryl. Many list “dry mouth” as a side effect — a tip-off to drink more water.

People worried about cell phones can hold them farther from the head, text-message instead of talk, or use a headset or earpiece as Lichtenfeld does. He was returning from a major cancer conference in Chicago recently when a fellow traveler pointed at Lichtenfeld’s Bluetooth earpiece and said, “Do you know that thing can cause cancer?”

“I said, ‘Yes, ma’am, I’m very familiar with the data and I choose to use Bluetooth,’” said Lichtenfeld, who didn’t tell her he was one of the biggest cancer experts she’d ever meet.

“You can’t live life in fear,” he said. “You have to live life.”

For more information online, see the American Cancer Institute’s page on carcinogens at http://bit.ly/aJI6ht as well as IARC’s monograph at http://monographs. iarc.fr/index.php and NIH’s report on carcinogens at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/ roc12.

— AP There aren’t specific guidelines on how much water older people should drink in a heat wave. Dale said he generally tells his older patients to drink a quart of water throughout the day, and to drink even if they don’t feel thirsty.

Doctors also advise older patients to avoid alcohol and coffee during extreme heat because they can cause the body to lose fluid and contribute to dehydration.

For more on staying healthy during hot weather, see the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/extr emeheat/elderlyheat.asp and the American Geriatrics Society at www. healthinaging.org/public_education/hot_weather_ti ps.php.

— AP

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Cataracts don’t need to ‘ripen’ anymore lems can cause glare or blurriness.

There’s no objective test for when you need cataract surgery. It’s a question of how much the loss in vision is affecting you.

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light is hard on the eyes, so wearing sunglasses may help some, but the data on that are pretty inconclusive. © 2011 President and fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

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hind, and it helps hold in place the artificial lens that replaces the cataract. In about a third of patients, the back of the capsule clouds up, but that problem is easily treated by lasering a small hole in the capsule. The laser procedure is quick and painless.

✃

By Dr. Jeffrey S. Heier Q. I think I may have cataracts. I heard somewhere that they need to be “ripe” before I get surgery. Is that true?

A. The lens of the eye is normally clear and has a consistency that is a bit stiffer than Jell-O. A cataract is a clouding of the lens caused by degradation and clumping of various proteins in the tissue. When that happens, the lens also gets stiffer, and in extreme cases, a lens can get as hard as a rock.

It’s true that people used to have to wait until their cataracts hardened, or “ripened,” before they could get cataract surgery.

The operation involved removing the lens more or less intact through a fairly large incision in the eyeball. The results were better if the lens was solid, so it wouldn’t fall apart as the surgeon extracted it.

But since the early 1990s, most cataracts have been removed by breaking up the lens into small pieces and then suctioning them out.

Doing the surgery this way means that the lens doesn’t need to be hard to be removed. In fact, it’s more difficult to suction out the chunky pieces of a hardened lens.

So now cataract surgery can be based on how much the cataract is affecting a person’s vision, not on whether it is ripe.

There are other advantages to the phacoemulsification technique, as the suction procedure is called. The incision is much smaller, so stitches often are not needed and the eye heals faster.

The pocket-like lens capsule is left be-

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Health Shorts New drug for hospital infections The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new antibiotic to treat an intestinal infection that afflicts more than 700,000 patients each year in the United States and sometimes can prove fatal.

Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s Dificid tablets were approved to treat Clostridium difficile, an infection that usually affects older patients and can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to potentially lifethreatening inflammation of the colon.

A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

The condition is most common in hospitals and nursing homes, where the bacteria spores can be found in bed linens, bathrooms and medical equipment. In fact, Clostridium difficile recently surpassed a type of staphylococcus bug as the most common hospital-acquired infection, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center.

Optimer’s twice-a-day tablet is the first new drug approved for the infection in nearly 25 years, according to the company.

In recent decades, some varieties of germs have grown immune to popular antibiotics like penicillin, creating anxiety about the dwindling number of new antibiotics available. Vancomycin is currently used to treat the infection.

The new drug, known generically as fidaxomicin, is only the third antibiotic

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cleared by the FDA since 2006, according to Optimer.

In company trials, Dificid worked as well as vancomycin in treating the infection, and proved superior at preventing reinfection three weeks after treatment.

—AP

Artery screening not recommended The carotid arteries in the neck are the main supply route for blood to get to the brain. But atherosclerotic plaque can gum them up, just as it does the coronary arteries. If that plaque ruptures, blood clots can form that block the carotids or other, smaller arteries, resulting in an ischemic stroke.

Narrowed carotid arteries can be identified with an ultrasound before a stroke occurs. The examinations are noninvasive

and inexpensive. Some hospitals are charging the public as little as $45 for an ultrasound of their carotid arteries.

Yet for several good reasons, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force discourages routine screening of the carotid arteries.

First, only about 1 percent of the general population has significant narrowing, or stenosis, of the carotids, although the percentage does increase with age.

Second, less than 10 percent of first-time ischemic strokes are associated with carotid stenosis, so stroke prevention efforts based on ultrasound screening can only go so far.

Third, roughly eight in every 100 ultrasounds produce a false positive — a result that indicates the presence of significant stenosis that isn’t really there. False positives result in unnecessary tests and possiSee HEALTH SHORTS, page 9

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Health shorts From page 8 bly unnecessary treatment.

The plaque in a carotid artery can be surgically removed, and carotid endarterectomy, as the procedure is called, does lower stroke risk in some groups.

But the procedure itself causes some strokes and heart attacks, so some harm done has to be factored in as well.

Based on various assumptions, the task force calculated that if 100,000 people were screened for carotid artery stenosis with ultrasound, 23 strokes would be prevented over a five-year period, but 10 nonfatal heart attacks would be caused.

— Harvard Health Letter

Sunscreen standards finally updated After spending more than 30 years in bureaucratic limbo, new guidelines for sunscreens have been published by the FDA to enhance the effectiveness of sunscreens and make them easier to use.

Currently, standards of protection (and the associated sun protection factor or SPF ratings) apply only to one part of the sun’s spectrum, ultraviolet B rays, which cause sunburn. Under the new rules, they will also have to protect against ultraviolet A rays, which can penetrate glass and are associated with skin cancer and premature aging.

Products with at least an SPF rating of 15 that protect against both types of rays

BEACON BITS

Aug. 9+

MOURNING THROUGH ART

Montgomery Hospice professional counselors will lead a two-session workshop on creative ways of expressing grief Aug. 9 and 16 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The workshops are free for any Montgomery County resident and held at Montgomery Hospice, 1355 Piccard Dr., Rockville, Md. Registration is required; call (301) 921-4400.

Aug. 15

may be labeled “broad spectrum” starting next summer.

Sunscreens with less than an SPF of 15 or that aren’t “broad spectrum” will have to carry a warning label: “This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging.”

The SPF figure indicates the amount of sun exposure needed to cause sunburn on sunscreen-protected skin compared with unprotected skin. For example, an SPF rating of 30 means it would take the person 30 times longer to burn wearing sunscreen than with exposed skin.

Also under the new rules, the FDA will prohibit sunscreen marketing claims like “waterproof” and “sweat proof,” which the agency said “are exaggerations of performance.”

Most dermatologists recommend a broad spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher every two hours while outside.

— AP

BEACON BITS

Aug. 13

JOURNEY THROUGH GRIEF Attend a free Bereavement Workshop, Aug. 13 from 2 to 4 p.m.,

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

B vitamins boost the brain, improve mood

By Hara Estroff Marano New studies link B vitamins to preserving memory, mood and cognitive mastery at all ages.

There are nine B vitamins, and while all of them play a role in metabolism, some also protect the nervous system. Vitamins B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cobalamin), and folic acid (B9) are especially known to influence neural functioning.

The nine chemical entities that comprise the B complex often are found in the same food sources. Calf’s liver and yeast are especially rich in many of the B’s. Asparagus, spinach, bananas, and potatoes all contain B vitamins. But B12 is found only in meats and fish.

Although B12 appears to protect the brain against age-related problems, deficiency of the vitamin most often occurs among older adults, as the body’s ability to absorb it from food declines with age.

There are non-nutritional factors, such as smoking, that also reduce levels of B vitamins at all ages.

Help maintain memory Large doses of B6, B12, and folate given for two years slow progression of mild cognitive impairment in the elderly.

Normally, brain atrophy accompanies such impairment and progresses to dementia in 50 percent of cases. Brain scans showed that 85 people getting Bs had a 0.76 percent per year rate of atrophy, versus 1.08 percent among 83 people on placebos.

“This is a very dramatic and striking result,” the researchers said. The vitamins also lower levels of homocysteine, a risk factor for stroke.

What role do the low levels of vitamin B12 that are common among the elderly actually play in memory loss? Finnish re-

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searchers tracked 271 people ages 65 to 79 for seven years, measuring blood levels of homocysteine and the active form of vitamin B12.

None of the 271 had dementia at the start of the study, but 17 developed Alzheimer’s over its course. Small increases of homocysteine were linked to large increases in the risk of Alzheimer’s, while small increases in B12 levels reduced the risk.

Folic acid supplements may prevent the neurologic deterioration that occurs in the movement disorder Parkinson’s disease.

Brazilian scientists find that homocysteine levels are 30 percent higher in Parkinson’s patients than in those without the disease, and folic acid deficiency is the major determinant of that increase.

Both folate deficiency and homocysteine separately exert neurotoxic effects, highlighting the value of keeping up folic acid levels with foods such as liver, lentils, pinto beans, asparagus and spinach.

Mood boost Low blood levels of B6, B12 and folate are linked not only to cognitive decline in

older adults but to depression in people of all ages. In a large study in Spain, the prevalence of depression was linked with low folate intake among men who smoke and men with low anxiety levels.

Among women, whose folate levels were generally higher than men’s, depression manifested in those with low B12 intake. The vitamins are thought to be involved in the production of serotonin and other neurotransmitters.

Even among healthy males in the prime of life, a high-dose B-complex vitamin and mineral supplement has cognitive and mood benefits.

In a randomized, double-blind trial, men who got the supplement for 33 days rated themselves less subject to stress and did better on a range of tests assessing mood, mental well-being, and cognitive performance during intense mental processing.

The vitamins may protect against mental fatigue in tasks requiring high levels of attention and executive control.

— Psychology Today © 2011 Sussex Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

BEACON BITS

Aug. 9

CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP BY PHONE

Join a support group without leaving your home, and share your experience while gaining emotional support and helpful information. The meeting is the second Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m., and the Aug. 9 topic is “Keeping Organized as a Caregiver.” For more information or to register, call (703) 324-5484, TTY 711, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/caregiver.htm.

Aug. 22

RADIATION EXPLAINED

Radiologist Dr. Andrew Hines will explain radiation treatment for cancer, test results and his research on Monday, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m. at the Hope Connections for Cancer Support, 5430 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 100, Bethesda, Md. A light dinner will be provided. To register for this free program, call (301) 493-5002.

Aug. 23

STRESS AND THE SENIOR LIFESTYLE

Join Dr. Joan Vernikos, former director of Live Sciences at NASA, as she leads a discussion on the problems commonly faced by those over 50 and offers an effective tool kit to achieve a stress-free lifestyle.

The event will take place Tuesday, Aug. 23 from 11 a.m. to noon at LangstonBrown Multipurpose Senior Center, 2121 N. Culpepper St., Arlington, Va. Call (703) 228-6300 for more information.

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

When osteoporosis medications don’t work

By Dr. Bart Clarke Dear Mayo Clinic: I’m an 85-year-old woman who’s had osteoporosis for more than 25 years. I’ve been on numerous medications, but my bone density is dropping significantly. I’ve suffered many fractures.

Why aren’t medications working for me? Are there more natural ways to slow bone loss?

Answer: Osteoporosis makes bones weak and brittle, often resulting in multiple broken bones. Exactly why osteoporosis happens isn’t always clear. But women are almost twice as likely as men to develop the condition. Also, age is a significant risk factor.

The strength of bones depends on their size and density. Bone density depends in part on the amount of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals that bones contain.

For example, bones that contain fewer minerals than normal become weak and eventually begin to deteriorate and lose their internal supporting structure. Most medications for osteoporosis are geared toward slowing bone breakdown.

Several possible reasons could explain why your osteoporosis medications aren’t working as well as they should.

In some people, the medications aren’t absorbed into the body properly, so they can’t do their job of preserving and maintaining bone density.

In addition, many other causes of bone

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By far, the most common medications prescribed for osteoporosis are bisphosphonates.

Examples include alendronate (Fosamax), risedronate (Actonel) and ibandronate (Boniva). Bisphosphonates work by decreasing the rate at which bones lose density and strength, allowing the body to maintain bone density. These medications can be taken either in pill form, or injected directly into a vein.

To work correctly, bisphosphonates must be completely absorbed into the body. Problems with absorption may occur.

Conditions such as Crohn’s disease and celiac disease can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb bisphosphonates, as can stomach surgery and weight-loss surgery.

It is also possible that another condition, in addition to postmenopausal osteoporosis, is causing your bone loss. More than 50 other causes of bone loss exist, including thyroid disorders and conditions that affect the body’s production of estrogen or testosterone. Having one of these conditions may be part of the reason osteoporosis drugs aren’t preventing bone loss.

Considering the difficulty you’ve had with repeated fractures while taking osteoporosis medications, a reasonable step would be to ask your doctor to explore the possibility of an absorption issue or a secondary cause of bone loss.

Also critical to your medication’s maximum effectiveness is to take it on time, exactly as directed.

For example, in most cases, alendronate should be taken at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything else, because some food and beverages — such as mineral water, coffee, tea or juice — decrease the amount of alendronate absorbed by the body.

Also, make sure your doctor knows about all other medications and supplements you’re taking. Some, such as antacids, calcium or vitamin supplements, can also decrease the absorption of certain osteoporosis drugs.

If you’re taking the medication as directed, and no secondary causes of bone loss can be found, I would first recommend switching from oral to intravenous bisphosphonates. This can help ensure you’re getting the right dose at the right time.

If that doesn’t work, then another, more potent drug that can build bones may be necessary.

In addition to medication, lifestyle changes can help strengthen bones. Regularly engaging in weight-bearing physical activity, eating a healthy diet with the right amounts of calcium and vitamin D, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol can help fight the effects of osteoporosis.

Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. To submit a question, write to: medicaledge@mayo.edu, or Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic, c/o TMS, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY, 14207. For health information, visit www.mayoclinic.com. © 2011 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media.

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loss exist beyond osteoporosis. If you have another condition that’s causing bone loss but is not being treated, then medications for osteoporosis alone may not be enough.

Finally, for osteoporosis medications to be most effective, taking them exactly as prescribed is very important.

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13

New skin cancer drugs fight melanoma Two novel drugs produced unprecedented gains in survival in separate studies of people with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

In one study, an experimental drug showed so much benefit so quickly in people with advanced disease that those getting a comparison drug were allowed to switch after just a few months.

The drug, vemurafenib, targets a gene mutation found in about half of all melanomas. The drug is being developed

by Genentechand Plexxikon Inc. The study is a landmark and the results are “very impressive” in people who historically have not fared very well, said Dr. April Salama, a Duke University melanoma specialist.

The second study tested Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.’s Yervoy, a just-approved medicine for newly diagnosed melanoma patients, and found it nearly doubled the number who survived at least three years.

Known chemically as ipilimumab, Yervoy is part of a group of targeted cancer medicines that harness the body’s im-

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Aug. 11

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mune system to fight off cancer, rather than attacking the disease with outside chemicals like chemotherapy.

The drug works by blocking a molecule linked to melanoma called CTLA-4, which interferes with the protective activity of white blood cells. When the molecule is blocked, the cells behave normally and help fight off cancer.

Mike Brockey of Frederick, Md., was diagnosed with late-stage melanoma in 2008 and tried both conventional and alternative medicines before starting therapy with ipilimumab last September. Though the drug took time to work, he says his latest scans show that his tumors are inactive.

“This is the first time in two years I had a sense that anything was going in the right direction,” Brockey said.

“Melanoma has just seen a renaissance of new agents,” said Dr. Allen Lichter, chief

executive of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Melanoma is on the rise. There were 68,000 new cases and 8,700 deaths from it in the United States last year, the American Cancer Society estimates. Only two

drugs had been approved to treat it, with limited effectiveness, until Yervoy won approval in March.

The new studies were published by the New England Journal of Medicine.

— AP

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Retirement facilities come in a multitude of forms to meet many diverse situations, interests and incomes. Learn about the many housing options available to seniors from a licensed social worker on Thursday, Aug. 11 at 1 p.m. The free event will be held at Walter Reed Senior Center, 2909 S. 16th St., Arlington, Va. For information or to register, call (703) 228-0955.

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Health system fails at pain management

By Lauran Neergaard Nearly a third of Americans experience long-lasting pain — the kind that lingers for weeks to months — and too often feel stigma rather than relief from a healthcare system poorly prepared to treat them, according to the Institute of Medicine.

The staggering tab: Chronic pain is costing the nation at least $558 billion a year in medical bills, sick days and lost productivity, the report found. That’s more than the cost of heart disease, the No. 1 killer.

All kinds of ailments can trigger lingering pain, from arthritis to cancer, spine problems to digestive disorders, injuries to surgery. Sometimes, chronic pain can be a disease all its own, the report stressed.

Whatever the cause, effective pain management is “a moral imperative,” the report concludes, urging the government, medical groups and insurers to take a se-

ries of steps to transform the field.

“We’re viewing this as a critical issue for the United States,” said Dr. Philip Pizzo, Stanford University’s dean of medicine, who chaired the months-long probe.

For too long, doctors and society alike have viewed pain “with some prejudice, a lot of judgment and unfortunately not a lot of informed fact,” he said.

The toll isn’t surprising, said Dr. Doris K. Cope, pain chief at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, who paused between patients Wednesday to read the report. The population’s getting older and less fit, and more survivors of diseases like cancer live for many years with side effects from treatments that saved them.

Multiple solutions exist Too many patients think a pill’s the answer, she said, when there are multiple dif-

ferent ways to address pain, including physical therapy, stress reduction, weight loss and teaching coping skills. Patients who take control of their pain fare better, but too many have unrealistic expectations.

“Pain is not simple,” Cope said. “We as physicians need to be healers and educators as well as technicians. We certainly don’t want to be pill mills.”

Doctors do worry about overprescribing narcotic painkillers, and law enforcement steps to fight the serious problem of prescription drug abuse can be one barrier to pain care.

But the institute countered that it’s far more likely for a pain patient to get inadequate care than for a drug-seeker to walk out with an inappropriate prescription.

While newer, better medicines are needed, those narcotic painkillers are a safe and ef-

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fective option for the right patient, the report said.

But barriers to good care extend far beyond that issue, said the panel, which analyzed research and the reports of more than 2,000 patients and caregivers about pain’s toll.

A subjective sensation Because pain can’t be seen like bleeding, or felt like a lump, or X-rayed like a broken bone, or heard like a skipped heartbeat, health workers who wrongly believe the intensity of pain should correlate to a specific medical finding may diminish or even dismiss a patient’s complaint, the report found.

In fact, pain is highly subjective. Two people with the same injury may feel different degrees of pain depending on genetic factors that affect pain tolerance, what other illnesses they have, stress or depression, and even whether they feel support or criticism from health workers or their families.

Care must be tailored to each patient.

Yet too few doctors are trained in its management, the report said, citing a study that found stand-alone pain courses aren’t required in most medical schools.

Also, insurance may not cover time-consuming counseling in pain-management techniques, consultations with specialists or even non-drug care.

Pizzo called the finances sometimes perverse: Some insurance pays for an operation for low back pain but not for physical therapy, which can be much cheaper and often more effective.

And prompt care for acute pain, like that from surgery or a broken bone, is important as well. Serious pain that isn’t properly treated sometimes can hijack the nervous See CHRONIC PAIN, page 15

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Services focused on meeting physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual and environmental health needs, enabling the highest quality of life possible for each resident.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

Chronic pain From page 14 system and essentially rewire it for pain — leaving misery after the condition that caused the initial pain is resolved.

The report concluded that at least 116 million adults suffer long-lasting pain. It couldn’t say how many cases are severe or disabling.

The economic costs, however, are sure to attract attention in Congress, which mandated the report as part of the new heathcare law. The report found heathcare for pain costs $261 billion to $300 billion a year, while lost productivity adds another $297 billion to $336 billion. The federal Medicare program accounts for a quarter of those health bills.

The report’s recommendations • Health providers should perform and document formal pain assessments of pa-

tients, a step toward proper treatment.

• Medicare, Medicaid, workers’ compensation programs and private health plans should cover individualized pain care.

• Pain specialty groups should create collaborations with primary care doctors to improve patient care and counseling.

• The government and health organizations should better educate patients and the public about pain, to help eliminate stigma.

• The National Institutes of Health should increase pain research, including designating one of its centers as the lead institute for pain.

• Training programs for doctors, nurses, dentists and other health professionals should include pain education.

• By the end of next year, the Health and Human Services Department should create a strategy for dealing with pain as a public health problem and reducing barriers to care.

— AP

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

CALLING ALL VETERANS Tell your story and contribute to the U.S. Congress-created

Veterans History Project. All people who participated in any war efforts, from World War II to present day, are invited to share their experiences during a videotaped interview, which will be sent to the Library of Congress. USO workers, flight instructors, war industry workers, medical volunteers and more are invited.

Each participant receives a copy of their interview and free admission to the College Park Aviation Museum. To schedule an interview or for more information, call (301) 864-6029 or visit www.collegeparkaviationmuseum.com.

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UNDERSTANDING FOOD LABELS

Informed decision-making is critical to healthy eating. Public health nurse Marguerite Cockrell will present a free program on understanding nutrition labels on Thursday, Aug. 11 at 10:30 a.m. at the Langston-Brown Senior Center, 2121 N. Culpeper St., Arlington, Va., and Thursday, Aug. 18, at 10:15 a.m. at the Walter Reed Senior Center, 2909 S. 16th St., Arlington, Va. For more information on the Aug. 11 presentation, call (703) 228-6300; for details on the Aug. 18 program, call (703) 228-0955.

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201 Russell Avenue | Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Irradiated food is safer, but unpopular

By Lauran Neergaard Microwaving salad fixings with just a bit of radiation can kill dangerous E. coli and other bacteria — and U.S. food safety experts say Europe’s massive outbreak shows that wary consumers should give the long-approved step a chance.

The U.S. government has OK’d irradiation for a variety of foods — meat, spices, certain imported fruits, the seeds used to grow sprouts. Even iceberg lettuce and spinach can be irradiated without the leaves going limp. And no, it does not make the food radioactive.

But sterilized leafy greens are not on the market, and overall sales of irradiated foods remain low. A disappointed U.S. Grocery Manufacturers Association says one reason is that sellers worry about consumer mistrust.

“We need to do whatever we can to give us a wider margin of safety,” said Dr. Michael Osterholm, a University of Minnesota infec-

tious disease specialist who frequently advises the government. “Food irradiation for a number of produce items would give us not just a marginal increase, but give us probably the Grand Canyon increase of safety.”

While the E. coli outbreak in Europe has waned after officials discovered the culprit was sprouts, the U.S. has faced its own spate of tainted produce in recent years. E. coli, salmonella, listeria and other bugs have been linked to lettuce, spinach, hot peppers, sprouts, cantaloupes and more.

How irradiation works The outbreaks have renewed interest in higher-tech fixes like irradiation, used in certain foods in the U.S. and parts of Europe. Irradiation zaps food with electron beams, like the kind long used to run TVs, or with gamma rays or X-rays. It’s the same way numerous medical products are sterilized.

The Food and Drug Administration ap-

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proved irradiation for raw spinach and lettuce three years ago, saying it safely killed germs and lengthened shelf life without harming texture, taste or nutrients.

But it didn’t catch on, and the grocery producers group, which wants more salad ingredients approved for irradiation, blames both consumer wariness and a technical issue. Some of the bags the greens are sold in need approval to be zapped, too.

Irradiated meat has been around for years, particularly ground beef that is a favorite hiding spot for E. coli. Thorough cooking kills E. coli and other germs, but people don’t always cook their meat until it’s done enough.

About 15 million to 18 million pounds of U.S. ground beef are irradiated every year, said Ron Eustice of the Minnesota Beef Council. That is a tiny fraction of the hamburger meat sold in the U.S., and it must be labeled so consumers who don’t want irradiated food can choose to avoid it. On the other hand, some retailers advertise irradiated hamburger as a safety selling point.

Spices and imported produce zapped Actually, Americans get more irradiated foods than they realize. About a third of commercial spices — the kind added to processed foods — are irradiated, said Eustice, who’s also a consultant to the Food Irradiation Processing Alliance.

About 30 million pounds of imported produce, mostly fruits such as guavas and

mangos, get a low-dose zap — not enough to kill germs but to kill any foreign insects along for the ride.

As for those seeds used to grow recallprone raw sprouts, Eustice says irradiation has not caught on for them either, despite government research backing it. Some growers instead try washing seeds in a mild bleach solution.

The newest irradiated product is pet treats, about 40 million pounds and counting, Eustice said. It’s to combat the problem of salmonella-tainted dog chews.

Irradiation is not an excuse for dirty produce, Osterholm said. It is far better to prevent contamination on the farm or in the processing plant than to try to get rid of it later. But it’s impossible to prevent all animal-borne bacteria in open fields.

There is no reason to fear irradiation but there’s no easy solution, cautioned food-safety expert Caroline Smith DeWaal of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Irradiation does not kill viruses that also sometimes taint food, and it adds to the food’s price. She said consumers’ biggest desire is to make cleaner food in the first place.

Nor is irradiation the only high-tech option. Scientists also are trying high-pressure treatment to literally squeeze away germs. It’s been used for fresh guacamole and raw oysters. Earlier this year, beef giant Cargill Inc. announced it was using the technology for a longer-lasting hamburger patty.

— AP

See useful links and resources at www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Mindful eating makes each mouthful count Distracted, hurried eating may add pounds and take away pleasure.

You’re at your computer, facing a wall of emails. After composing a reply, you hit “send” and reach for the bulging tuna wrap on your desk.

After a few bites, chewing while glancing at the screen, you set the wrap down, grab a handful of chips, and open the next message. Before you know it, you’ve finished lunch without even noticing it.

A small yet growing body of research suggests that a slower, more thoughtful way of eating could help with weight problems and steer some people away from processed food to more healthful choices.

This alternative approach has been

dubbed “mindful eating.” It’s based on the Buddhist concept of mindfulness, which involves being fully aware of what’s happening within and around you at the moment.

Mindfulness techniques have also been proposed as a way to relieve stress and alleviate problems like high blood pressure and chronic gastrointestinal difficulties.

Applied to eating, mindfulness includes noticing the colors, smells, flavors and textures of your food; chewing slowly; getting rid of distractions like TV or reading; and learning to cope with guilt and anxiety about food.

Some elements of mindful eating seem to hearken back to the ideas of Horace Fletcher, an early 20th century food faddist who

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believed chewing food thoroughly would solve many different health problems.

The mind-gut connection Digestion involves a complex series of hormonal signals between the gut and the nervous system, and it seems to take about 20 minutes for the brain to register that you feel full. If you gobble down food too quickly, satiety may not occur until after you’ve gone overboard.

There’s also reason to believe that eating while we’re distracted by activities like driving or working at a keyboard may slow down or stop digestion in a manner similar to how the “fight or flight” response occurs. And if we’re not digesting well, we may be missing out on the full nutritive value of our food.

Lilian Cheung, a nutritionist and lecturer at the Harvard School of Public Health, laid out the rationale for mindful eating as a way to shed pounds in her 2010 book Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life, cowritten with Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.

The book, which fuses science and Buddhist philosophy, has spawned a lively Facebook page where people post recipes and healthful living tips.

Stephanie Meyers, a dietician at DanaFarber Cancer Institute, Boston, Mass., uses mindfulness techniques to help cancer patients with their diets.

For example, she’ll encourage survivors of head and neck cancer to meditate on food as they’re making the sometimes difficult transition from a feeding tube back to eating. One meditation might involve having patients bite into an apple slice, close their eyes, and focus on the sensory experience of tasting, chewing and swallowing.

Try these tips Experts suggest starting gradually with mindful eating, eating one meal a day or week in a slower, more attentive manner.

Here are some tips (and tricks) to help you get started: 1. Set your kitchen timer to 20 minutes, and take that time to eat a normal-sized meal.

2. Try eating with your non-dominant

hand; if you’re a righty, hold your fork in your left hand when lifting food to your mouth.

3. Use chopsticks if you don’t normally use them.

4. Eat silently for five minutes, thinking about what it took to produce that meal, from the sun’s rays, to the farmer, to the grocer, to the cook.

5. Take small bites and chew well.

6. Before opening the fridge or cabinet, take a breath and ask yourself, “Am I really hungry?” Then do something else, like reading or going for a walk.

A treatment for bingers Several studies have shown that mindful eating strategies might help treat eating disorders and possibly help with weight loss.

Psychologist Jean Kristeller, of Indiana State University, and colleagues at Duke University conducted a study of mindful eating techniques for treatment of binge eating, funded by the National Institutes of Health.

The randomized controlled study included 150 binge eaters and compared a mindfulness-based therapy to a standard psychoeducational treatment and a control group.

Both active treatments produced declines in binging and depression, but the mindfulness-based therapy seemed to help people enjoy their food more and have less sense of struggle about controlling their eating. Those who meditated more (both at mealtimes and throughout the day) got more out of the program.

Kristeller and others say mindfulness helps people recognize the difference between emotional and physical hunger and satiety, and introduces a “moment of choice” between the urge and eating.

The NIH is funding additional research

by Kristeller and Ruth Wolever of Duke University on the effectiveness of mindfulness-based approaches for weight loss and maintenance. Several other studies on mindful eating are under way around the country. © 2011 President and fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

For puzzles, see page 54.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

Health Studies Page

19

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Study targets Parkinson’s hallucinations

PARKINSON’S DISEASE? Have you or your loved one developed unusual behaviors like, seeing, feeling or hearing things that are not really there?

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Name_________________________________________________________________ Address________________________________________________________________ City______________________________________State______Zip________________ Phone (day)________________________ (eve)___________________________

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H E A LT H

Participants will be paid up to $1200 for completion of all study visits.

For more information, please contact:

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• Are between 70 and 90 years of age • Are in good general health with no memory problems or concerns •Are fluent in English • Are willing and able to undergo all test procedures (MRI and PET scans, lumbar puncture) • Have a study partner (friend or relative with whom you are in contact at least 10 hours/week and who can accompany you to all study visits)

Ongoing

I N F O

We are looking for people who:

Join Stitch ‘n Time, a volunteer-based textiles club that meets at the Accokeek Foundation, 3400 Bryan Point Rd., Accokeek, Md. You’ll learn about fleece cultivation, wool dying and colonial textiles, using wool from the farm’s sheep to card, spin and knit. Open to both novice and expert spinners, knitters and sewers, the club meets the fourth Saturday of each month, from 1 to 4 p.m. Call (301) 283-2113 to learn more.

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Georgetown University is participating in an NIH-sponsored research study to help stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in future generations. The goal of the study is to determine whether imaging of the brain can help predict the onset and monitor the progression of cognitive change.

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Aug. 27+

I N F O

To qualify for the eight-week study, patients must have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at least a year ago and have visual and/or auditory hallucinations or delusions that have occurred within the last four weeks.

Participants must be on a stable dose of Parkinson’s medication for at least a month prior to starting the study.

Parkinson’s patients who have undergone brain surgery for the disease must have had it at least six months before starting the study. A caregiver must accompany the patient to all study visits.

Those with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other significant psychotic disorders may not participate in the study, nor may those who have had a heart attack in the last six months or currently have other serious illnesses.

Once in the trial, patients will be randomly divided into two groups. One will be assigned to take a 40 mg. tablet of pimavanserin once a day for six weeks, while the other group will take a placebo, a pill with inactive ingredients. Neither the patients nor the researchers will know which study participants get which type of pill.

study period. They will be paid $100 for each visit. In addition, all exams and study medications are free of charge.

Alexandria Fairfax Neurology is located at 1500 N. Beauregard St. in Alexandria, Va. For more information or to see if you qualify, call (703) 453-8017.

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S T U D Y

Alexandria Fairfax Neurology and about 50 other locations across the country are now seeking Parkinson’s patients to try a new drug called pimavanserin. It works in a manner different from current antipsychotic medications like Seroquel and may be better for the heart.

If pimavanserin turns out to be helpful

Who can participate?

In previous studies of the drug, pimavanserin has had few side effects, but patients may experience fatigue and minor stomach problems, Cochran said.

Patients will come to the offices of Alexandria Fairfax Neurology for evaluations three times during the eight-week

H E A LT H

A new type of drug

in quelling hallucinations, it may have wider implications for older patients with a variety of conditions, from Alzheimer’s to mental illness, Cochran added.

“It would be nice if this works because it would open a window to something that would be much better to use in these kinds of fragile, older people who are already taking a million medicines,” Cochran said.

• H EALTH STU DY I N FO • H EALTH STU DY I N FO • H EALTH STU DY I N FO •

By Barbara Ruben In people with Parkinson’s disease, the nerve cells in the brain that make a muscle-controlling chemical called dopamine are slowly destroyed. This leads to loss of muscle function.

As Parkinson’s progresses, its hallmark tremors and difficulty moving may be accompanied by hallucinations. About 30 to 40 percent of patients start seeing, feeling or hearing things that aren’t really there.

Medications taken for Parkinson’s can exacerbate the hallucinations, but stopping the medications will worsen disease symptoms.

“Often you can improve the hallucinations by reducing the amount of medication, but then you have more Pakinsonian symptoms, like trouble walking, problems with balance or trouble with fine movement,” said Dr. John Cochran, a neurologist at Alexandria Fairfax Neurology.

Cochran, who is also medical director of Cerebrovascular Services at Inova Health System, calls it “kind of a typical Catch-22.”

Adding to the treatment difficulties, newer antipsychotic medications that might help carry warnings that they can cause or exacerbate cardiovascular disease in older patients.

20

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

How to find reliable health info online Q: When I want to check news about diet and health, I go online and type the topic in the search box. The top few websites that come up should give the most trustworthy information, right?

A: No. Internet search engines are set up with intricate formulas that raise a website higher on the list based on a variety of factors, including popularity as well as technical details about how the website is set up and run. This is no sign of the accuracy of a website’s information.

If you want to check on a study that you’ve heard reported on the news, you can go directly to the website of the journal in which it’s published or to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/) and search for it by topic.

However, remember that it’s never wise to make food or lifestyle decisions based on just one study. Make decisions based on the big picture of overall research.

Since it’s hard to keep up with all the studies, you’ll save time and get trustworthy information by keeping a list of a few sites you trust where information posted is written and reviewed for accuracy by qualified experts.

Check sites related to overall wellness, particular organizations devoted to specific diseases or health problems (like www.aicr.org or www.diabetes.org), and organizations of trained health professionals (like www.eatright.org, the web home of registered dietitians) that provide commentaries and evidence-based reviews of

important health issues. and five or six teaspoons of sugar apiece.

These days it can be hard to tell the difThe wide range is due to differences in ference between a true nutriportion size of the cake itself, tion news story and a press rethe amount of frosting piled lease put out by companies on top, and the richness of inwith something to sell, so it regredients in each. That puts ally does pay to check what cupcakes in the same neighthe experts you trust say. borhood as a piece of cake or A recent survey shows that pie, where the same factors many seeking health informainfluence calorie content. tion on the Internet don’t The bottom line is that all check where their information these are indulgences that comes from. Don’t let a search you might consider splitting engine decide for you whom NUTRITION with a companion, or at least WISE to trust. trying not to feel compelled to By Karen Collins, Q: A friend laughed at me finish on your own. recently when I said that I MS, RD, CDM Enjoy any of these as an ocwas trying to save calories casional treat, not a staple. by ordering a cupcake for dessert in- When purchasing, order one cupcake per stead of cake or pie. Are there more person (or per two people), not by the dozen! calories there than it seems?

Alternatively, you can find recipes for A: Yes, indeed, the popularity of cup- cupcakes that are under 300 calories that cakes does not reflect any help for weight use different kinds of puréed berries, chercontrol. ries, apples or other fruit to add moisture The bakeries in major cities that special- and sweetness; smaller pans to limit porize in cupcakes generally choose not to tion size; and toppings of a sprinkle of powprovide calorie and nutrient analysis. Fig- dered sugar or a small dollop of whipped ures from bakeries and chefs that do share cream. Even then, limiting the number the information range from 360 to over 800 you eat is important. calories per cupcake.

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21

Easy no-pasta lasagna with vegetables This easy-to-prepare Italian-style dish has all the layered flavors of lasagna without the pasta. It combines eggplant, tomato sauce, cheese and spinach in a convenient and satisfying dish.

Eggplant is a member of the nightshade family of plants, which includes tomatoes and bell peppers. They were probably brought to the West during the 16th century and are a favorite of home gardeners Slices of eggplant define the lasagna’s layers. By leaving the skin on the eggplant, you avoid any excessive mushiness. Medium sized eggplants work well, but you should avoid large eggplants because they tend to be more bitter than smaller ones.

The addition of Fontina cheese provides a creamy intense flavor. It is a classic Italian cheese made from cow’s milk and is very popular in northern Italian cuisine. It melts into a rich consistency, which is why it is also a favorite for fondue dishes.

If you don’t happen to have any Fontina handy, though, cheeses like Gouda or Gruyère also work well for this dish.

Spinach provides color and consistency — in addition to a healthy measure of nutrition.

The result is a dish you can cut and

serve like lasagna that provides a robust vegetarian variety to your menu. You can experiment with the number of layers that you like and the cheeses that appeal to you to create your own customized version of this recipe.

Eggplant, Tomato & Cheese Casserole Olive oil cooking spray 2 medium eggplants, washed, ends cut off (do not peel) 2 tsp. dried oregano 1 (16-oz.) jar reduced-sodium chunky marinara sauce 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil, divided 2 cups cooked spinach 3/4 cup shredded Fontina cheese (Gouda, Gruyère or Monterrey Jack may be substituted) Black pepper and salt (optional) 2 Tbsp. freshly grated Parmesan cheese Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Bring large pot of water to boil. Spray 7 x 11 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

Slice eggplant lengthwise in very thin slices, about 1/4 inch each. Add to boiling

water with a quick stir. Eggplant slices will float to top; push down into water. Cook for about two minutes from when it starts to boil again. Drain and set aside.

Mix oregano into marinara sauce and spoon 1/4 cup sauce onto bottom of baking dish. Place a layer of eggplant slices, as you would pasta, on bottom of dish.

Cover eggplant layer with more tomato sauce, some basil, a layer of spinach, and then sprinkle some Fontina cheese on top.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper if desired.

Continue to layer eggplant, sauce, basil, spinach and cheese until you reach almost the top of baking dish. The last layer should finish with both Fontina and Parmesan cheese.

Depending on the size of the eggplants you might have a little eggplant left over.

Cover baking dish with parchment paper and then aluminum foil and bake for about 35 to 40 minutes. Depending on the thickness of the slices, it might take a few more minutes in the oven.

Test with knife for doneness. If knife can be inserted with no resistance, uncover and bake for 15 more minutes until top is golden and bubbly. Remove from oven. Let rest for 10 minutes and garnish with remaining basil.

Per serving (if divided into 8 small portions): 150 calories, 7 g. total fat (2.5 g. saturated fat), 19 g. carbohydrate, 7 g. protein, 7 g. dietary fiber, 151 mg. sodium.

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

This herb speeds healing, fades bruises Dear Pharmacist: It seems my grandkids spend the summer getting bumped and bruised.

I develop bruises sometimes myself, too. Can you recommend a natural remedy to help them go away?

— P.E. Dear P.E.: Yes, I have just the thing. Not too long ago, a friend of mine took a nasty spill while riding her bicycle. She shared the details of what happened with me, and today, I will share her story with you.

My friend’s next-door neighbor asked politely how she was doing after the minor accident, and she confessed to her neighbor that everything hurt.

“I have just the thing,” the neighbor responded and ducked inside her house, emerging a moment later with a jar of calendula cream. Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is an herb that has been used safely all over the world for centuries, specifically for wound healing.

My friend decided to give her neighbor’s cream a try, since she trusted the source. She trusted her because the lady had raised five teenagers who played every sport, from soccer to volleyball. If this stuff came with the soccer mom’s seal of approval, it had to be effective.

As my friend relayed her story to me, I became excited to write about it, too, since there are no prescription drugs or salves

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that do all that calendula apparently can.

My friend dabbed the cream on her bruises and scrapes, took a nap and woke up significantly better. Within days, she was as good as new.

This inspired me to research calendula.

I wish I had known about it when my children were young. A few European studies have concluded calendula can help soothe wounds and improve healing. It has antifungal, antiviral, and even anti-tumor properties.

I think calendula would be fantastic for cradle cap and diaper rashes, or any rash for that matter. You can use it on minor burns, sunburn, bedsores, eczema and poison ivy.

A small study showed it can ease the pain of radiation-induced dermatitis. Calendula may improve acne, too.

Health food stores and online retailers sell calendula in cream, lotions, ointments or tinctures. You’ll see various brands and companies selling it, a few of which include Boiron, Weleda, California Baby and Hyland’s.

If you are creating a first-aid cabinet, I

recommend you include calendula. Put it next to your hydrocortisone and tea tree oil. Calendula is so safe you can literally eat the beautiful yellow flowers from which the cream is made, so long as you’re not allergic to flowers in the daisy or marigold family.

Calendula extract imparts a beautiful yellow color, so it’s used as a natural coloring agent in cuisines around the world. Lately, I’ve been buying the fresh, edible version of flowers from my natural grocer to garnish salads and soups. It makes for a delicious conversation piece at my dinner table.

Nutrition wise

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 20 search offers a Nutrition Hotline, 1-800843-8114, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This free service allows you to ask questions about diet, nutrition and

Did you know?

Quercetin is a natural antihistamine.

You can buy it in health food stores nationwide if you have seasonal allergies.

This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement.

Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit www.dearpharmacist.com.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

HELP FAIRFAX MEALS ON WHEELS

There is an urgent need for Meals on Wheels volunteers in the McLean, Springfield, Reston and Herndon, Va., areas. Meals need to be delivered between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Your commitment can be from once to several times a month. To sign up or for more information, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/volunteer-solutions.htm or call (703) 324-5406, TTY (703) 449-1186.

Ongoing

HELP — OR RECEIVE — MEALS ON WHEELS

Colesville Meals on Wheels is an independent group of volunteers that delivers meals in the northeast Silver Spring area to those that, due to an ailment, are no longer able to cook for themselves. To find out if you qualify for this service, call (301) 384-7440. In addition, Colesville Meals on Wheels needs volunteers to deliver the meals. If interested, call (301) 384-5735.

Ongoing

HOST INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Volunteer as a host family or assist with family screening and supervision for international high school exchange students.

Fairfax County Public Schools have partnered a U.S. Department of State Public Diplomacy initiative to host international students. Contact Natalie Whitlock by email at nwhitlock@edutrav.org or call 1-800-541-1639 for more information.

Ongoing

SUPERVISION AIDES NEEDED

Volunteer to monitor visitations between noncustodial parents and their children on evenings and weekends as a Supervised Visitation and Exchange Program aide for the Fairfax Country Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Volunteers ensure program rules are followed.

Volunteer Spanish interpreters are also needed. For more information, call (703) 246-2697, TTY 711.

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23

Dating challenges the second time around Dear Solutions: of this menage-a-trois. Before you turn it I’m a widow, and I met this very nice down, though, examine your motives. Are man, also a widower. I think you feeling insecure about his he’s interested in me. relationship with her? Are you We’ve gone out a couple jealous of her? of times, but in between If so, reframe your thinkdates he calls to make a ing. Focus on his relationship date to call me about poswith you, not on his relationsibly making a date. Then ship with her. If he tells you he calls at the last minute she’s just a friend, accept that. for that date.

It’s how he treats you that reWhy does he do this, veals the truth. and how can I change it?

You don’t have to tell him — Mary SOLUTIONS anything. Go along once in a

By Helen Oxenberg, Dear Mary: while, and as long as it’s not a MSW, ACSW When that last-minute call constant threesome, try to just comes, give him a busy sigbe a casual friend of hers also. nal. He may get hung up when you hang Dear Solutions: up, and start to rethink his strategy.

I feel as though I often let business Why does he do it at the last minute? It people or workers take advantage of may be very stressful for him to think me. If something goes wrong and I about actually dating again. He also may start to call them about it, I get be afraid of closing himself in with a com- tongue-tied and end up accepting mitment. whatever excuse they give.

Give him the benefit of the doubt. Talk My husband calls me a wimp, and I to him about his feelings about being a re- guess I am because I let them intimicent widower out in the dating world. date me. How can I change?

Dear Solutions: — Belle I’ve been going out with a man I met Dear Belle: recently. I like him, but he has a feRepeat after me: “I don’t need their apmale friend and he wants me to be proval. I don‘t have to please them. I’m entifriends with her also. I don’t know tled to get what I paid for.” Write it on a pad. what to say to him, but I don’t feel Underneath that, write exactly what is wrong comfortable when she’s around. and exactly what you expect them to do.

She’s known him a lot longer than I Keep the pad by the phone and review it do, and when we’re together, I feel like before making the call. No matter what the outsider. Do you think I should try they say, just read “your rights” back to to be friends with her, and what should them: you’re entitled to get what you paid I tell him if I don’t want to? for, and you expect them to do X. — Maddie They may think you’re a robot, but they Dear Maddie: sure won’t think you’re a wimp!

“Love me, love my friends” may be his Dear Solutions: motto, but you don’t have to become part My husband retired recently. He’s not

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sure yet what he wants to do. He says he wants to play golf, but makes very little effort to find people to play with. If I make a suggestion, he gets angry at me.

It’s the same with anything else he says he might do. As soon as I suggest a way to make it happen, he gets annoyed.

I’ve made a very busy, fulfilling life for myself while he was working. I’m afraid of him just hanging around all the time, and I just want him out of my hair right now.

— Kate Dear Kate: The only way you’ll get him out of your hair right now is to take your hair elsewhere. When he gets angry at you for making suggestions, the message is: “Let me alone — I’ll find my own way.”

When you keep suggesting ways to make things happen as soon as he mentions them, he feels your anxiety to get him busy so he won’t bother you!

It may take him some time and a lot of experimenting with different activities to figure out what he wants to do. In the meantime, go about your business and don’t make suggestions unless he asks you for them.

A reader responds to one of the ques-

tions in the July “Solutions” column: My advice to the gentleman whose wife passed away and his present wife told him to “get rid of” his old photos: Certainly your present wife has the right to her own home without constantly living in the past.

However, you need not “get rid of” your past life either.

Have copies made of all photos you want to keep. Identify persons, location and approximate date on the back of each photo and give copies to your children.

Purchase a nice photo album or, perhaps better, a nice photo box. Store in a discreet place, such as your side of the closet, your dresser or desk drawer. Or rent a small safe deposit box and place your mementos there.

Your wife should not be upset about this. After all, if you respect the memory of your first wife, then she can be assured you were and are a good husband to her.

There’s no competition involved, just a different time in both your lives. © Helen Oxenberg, 2011. Questions to be considered for this column may be sent to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915. To inquire about reprint rights, call (609) 655-3684.

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Money Law &

25

CUT GAS COSTS A tune-up can pay for itself quickly with increased gas mileage INFLATION POSES A THREAT How to protect your nest egg from losses due to inflation THE UPSIDE TO FOOD PRICES Soaring food prices and farm machinery orders = big ag stock returns BARGAIN BETTER Save money by negotiating cable bills, credit card charges and more

What investment pros are buying today

By Dave Carpenter A slumping stock market and economic difficulties make this a challenging time for investors looking for the best place to put their money.

No consensus emerged among the nearly 1,700 financial planners and fund managers attending the annual Morningstar Investment Conference. But many floated ideas for good buys and strategies in this difficult environment.

Several professionals offered up their single best investment ideas: Dividend stocks. Procter & Gamble (PG) and Abbott Laboratories (ABT) as dividend stocks to hold for the long term. Both have yields of more than 3 percent. “Their stocks haven’t moved in years, but both their dividends and revenues are moving.”

Both are businesses that are going to be around and still strong 15 years from now.

P&G’s rise in product sales is coming from emerging markets countries with good growth prospects. Abbott’s top-selling drug, Humira, which is used to treat inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, is “not going to fall off the cliff,” and the company keeps finding new uses for it.

— Josh Peters, equity income strategist for Morningstar Mutual funds. Large-cap funds in general, and Jensen J (JENSX) in particular.

It’s a large-cap growth fund, rated five stars by Morningstar.

And for cash, use an online bank for the best CD rates. We’re moving a lot of customers into Ally Bank, where they can get 2.3 percent for a five-year CD. — Ross Levin, founding principal of the financial planning firm Accredited Investors Inc. in Edina, Minn.

TIPS. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), should be the bedrock of any investor’s portfolio to help provide a hedge against inflation. (TIPS are a type of Treasury bond whose payout is adjusted every six months for inflation.)

They are “badly overpriced” at the moment but still a good buy if you believe that inflation is going to be 4 to 5 percent over the next year.

— Robert Johnson, director of economic analysis for Morningstar.

MLPs. Master limited partnerships (MLPs) are a publicly traded version of limited partnerships, which enables them to avoid paying corporate income taxes.

Most are oil and gas pipeline companies.

A master limited partnership called Energy Transfer Equity (ETE) has a 5 percent yield, and new pipelines coming on line enable it to achieve double-digit

growth in the next couple of years.

— Paul Larson, equities strategist for Morningstar.

Large-cap U.S. stocks. High-quality, large-cap stocks are the only U.S. stocks worth buying right now. “We’re underweight [on] stocks in general, but only moderately, because [the returns on] cash and bonds stink, too.”

— Ben Inker, head of asset allocation at investment management firm GMO. Growth stocks. Companies that are on track to double or triple their revenues in the next five or 10 years are good opportunities. “If you can wait for an opportunity today and buy them at a reasonable price, you can buy them and hold them and make a lot of money.”

— Morty Schaja, CEO and managing partner at Riverpark Funds, New York.

— AP

Become a tax savvy mutual fund investor

By Dave Carpenter Too many people pay the government too much in taxes because they don’t think enough about how their mutual funds are taxed. They focus on a fund’s return — but taxes can be the biggest drag on performance.

Many investors lose 1 or 2 percentage points of their fund returns every year because they don’t try to lower their taxes, said Tom Roseen, an analyst with fund tracker Lipper Inc. The first step is to start educating yourself about the tax issues that can affect mutual funds. That’s not as hard as it might seem.

Here are some key tax terms and strategies that fund investors should know: Tax-managed fund: These funds, sometimes called tax-advantaged funds, use a variety of techniques aimed at keeping taxes low. Their strategies include holding stocks for longer periods to defer taxable gains as long as possible.

They also invest in lower-dividend-paying stocks to minimize annual capital gains. And they offset those gains by selling other stocks at a loss.

Investors tend to be more interested in funds like this after the market drops and

they’re feeling the pain of being hit by taxable distributions even during losing years.

But tax-managed funds are worth a look at any point — especially because federal taxes are expected to go up after next year.

These funds by no means automatically sacrifice returns in exchange for their tax efficiency.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) also are generally tax-efficient, since they track indexes, and thus their expenses and turnover tend to be lower.

Tax-loss carry-forward: A carry-forward, also known as a capital-loss carryover, is an accounting technique used to reduce the tax burden from a profitable fund. Think of it as stockpiling losses.

Mutual funds are required by the IRS to pass virtually all their capital gains along to investors. This means that regardless of how bad a year it was in the market, investors will owe tax on distributions from the long-term holdings their funds sold at a gain.

Funds are not allowed to pass along losses. But they can keep them on their books for up to eight years to offset future gains. This can be a boon to an investor who buys one of those funds, Roseen said.

In other words, funds that stockpiled losses from bad times may be able to offset their taxable gains for years to come.

That will lower investors’ future taxes. If you buy one of these funds, you are using the fund’s past losses to your benefit.

To find out about a fund’s carry-forwards, check the annual report of any fund or fund family.

Tax-adjusted return: Looking beyond a mutual fund’s pretax return is wise. Its after-tax figure may be where you want to focus.

“People always look at performance — that’s what they want to see,” said Katie Rushkewicz, senior mutual fund analyst at Morningstar. “But sometimes taxes can be an issue.”

The Mor ningstar website, www. morningstar.com, offers a tax tab on each fund’s page that compares the fund’s pretax return with its tax-adjusted return. The tax-adjusted return accounts for capital gains, dividends and interest during the period.

Turnover ratio: A fund’s portfolio turnover ratio is the percentage of its assets that were sold during the most recent quarter or year. The more aggressive the fund, the higher the ratio.

For example, a turnover of 200 percent means a fund sold shares worth twice the total value of its portfolio during the year.

That raises the likelihood of capital gains taxes.

Unless the fund’s investing style justifies frequent trading, it’s a good idea to limit your tax consequences by avoiding funds that trade most of their holdings in a given year. That means being wary of turnover ratios above 50 percent.

Check fund reports or financial websites to find funds’ turnover ratios.

Potential capital gains exposure: If you are wary of a big tax bill from a fund you own or are considering buying, its “potential capital gains exposure” can be a valuable tool.

Potential exposure measures how much a fund’s holdings have grown in value. It tallies capital gains that haven’t been distributed to shareholders and divides that number by total net assets.

Morningstar developed the concept, and its tax tab crunches each fund’s number. A higher number than most other funds may suggest a tax hit coming, while a negative number probably signifies tax efficiency.

— AP

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Some housing stocks rise despite market

By Mark Jewell Real estate investing doesn’t have to be a losing proposition, whether home prices continue to slip or not.

Ross Meredith has a lot of money riding on that notion, and it’s worked out lately.

The retired bank examiner owns stock in companies called real estate investment trusts (REITs), which own commercial properties. Those six REIT stocks have returned an average of about 20 percent a year since the 2008 financial crisis.

He plans to hold on to the REITs. And he’s sticking with his suburban Salt Lake City home, even though it’s shedding value. He figures the resale price of the five-bedroom colonial he shares with his wife has dropped about 6 percent a year since the housing bubble burst, to about $250,000 now.

Meredith isn’t alone: Recent home price declines in many cities have left several markets in a “double-dip,” or second period of decline since the subprime mortgage crisis triggered the Great Recession.

Although Meredith’s mortgage is now paid off, he still has the ongoing expenses of property taxes and maintenance. But real estate still holds some appeal. “REITs pay me a return,” the 65-year-old said.

Commercial real estate holds up The potential stock returns are bol-

stered by their often-attractive dividends payouts. REITs generate income from properties they own and often operate.

They’re required to distribute at least 90 percent of their taxable income to shareholders in order to escape corporate taxes.

Meredith has been able to count on stable quarterly payouts from REIT stocks to supplement retirement savings and pay for niceties like travel and golf.

The recent resilience of REIT dividends is proof, Meredith said, that the decline for commercial real estate wasn’t nearly as bad as the residential market crash.

One reason commercial properties have held up well is that the market wasn’t overbuilt. The rapid pace of homebuilding before the bubble burst left a glut of housing when the economy skidded.

“Property developers weren’t building office complexes or hotels or apartments for clients who didn’t exist,” said Jon Cheigh, co-manager of Cohen & Steers Realty Shares (CSRSX), a REIT mutual fund with $3.7 billion in assets. “So the recent slump in the commercial market hasn’t been the 100-year flood that it has been for the residential market.”

In fact, many real estate categories that REITs invest in have held up well. For example, apartment complex REITs have benefited as many potential homebuyers

Joint Utility Discount Day (JUDD) Tuesday, September 27, 2011 from 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Hall A

- ATTENTION Significant Changes in 2011 If you receive an application for the Utility Discount Programs in the mail, you do NOT need to attend JUDD. Simply mail your completed application, with all necessary documentation, to DDOE at 1207 Taylor Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011.

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3) You must call 311 to schedule an appointment to apply for LIHEAP benefits.

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are either unwilling or unable to get a mortgage. The average return for apartment REIT stocks last year, including dividends, was a sizzling 47 percent.

Long-term care stocks also up Meredith’s favorite REIT, National Health Investors, gets steady income from the nursing homes, assisted living centers and medical office buildings that it owns.

The stock has returned an average 21 percent per year over the last 3-year period.

That’s way ahead of the 3 percent return for the Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

This year, REITs have been one of the stock market’s bright spots. Mutual funds that specialize in REITs have returned an average 9.4 percent. That’s nearly double the S&P 500’s 5 percent return.

After such strong gains, Meredith isn’t looking to add to his REIT holdings. He figures the stocks are no longer bargains.

Dividends fall, but still popular One downside is that the higher prices have pushed dividend yields down, meaning investors get less income relative to the price of the stock. The average yield for REIT stocks recently slipped below 4 percent. That’s less than half of what they paid when stocks bottomed out in March 2009.

The stocks have gained in part because they’ve appealed to investors unhappy with the recent near-record low returns for many less-risky investments. Ten-year Treasurys, for example, yield around 3 percent. That’s led many investors to search elsewhere for income, lifting demand, and prices, for REITs and other dividend-paying stocks.

That popularity means REITs have

found plenty of additional investors. REITs have raised a total $31 billion through May, from issuing additional stock shares and debt. That’s on pace to beat the fullyear record of $49 billion set in 2006.

Four REITs have completed initial public offerings this year, a further sign of market confidence in REITs. The cash influx leaves REITs with more money to buy property.

However, the opportunity for REITs to inexpensively raise money may be shortlived. If the economic recovery picks up speed, interest rates are likely to increase, raising REITs’ borrowing costs. That would make it more expensive to acquire new properties, which could crimp REITs’ stock prices. Higher rates would also lift bond yields, making them more competitive with REIT dividends.

The threats of higher rates and inflation recently led Cohen & Steers Realty Shares to buy more shares of apartment REITs. Apartment owners are in better position to raise rents annually in response to an improving economy than owners of office properties with multi-year leases, Cheigh reasoned.

He expects REIT dividend payments will rise around 10 percent a year over the next five years, which could bring yields back up. A key reason is his expectation that demand for commercial properties will exceed supply for years to come.

That could prove to be wrong if the economic recovery stalls.

“That would be bad for REITs,” he said.

“But it would also be bad for lots of other investments, too. I don’t see a lot of risks out there that are specific only to REITs.” — AP

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

Money Shorts Get a tune-up to cut gas costs Paying $4 for a gallon of gas may make you wish for a more fuel-efficient car. But if a new set of wheels isn’t in the cards, don’t give up on saving money at the pump.

There are plenty of ways to cut costs and maximize the efficiency of your car.

The first step to consider is a tune-up. It can pay for itself quickly if it coaxes more miles per gallon out of your aging vehicle.

A periodic tune-up should be a part of every car owner’s maintenance routine. A thorough job may involve any of the following: replacing the air and fuel filters, unclogging fuel injectors, changing the distributor cap and ignition rotor, changing spark plugs and possibly the spark plug wires, adjusting valves and belts, and replacing or replenishing necessary fluids.

Check your owner’s manual for recommendations on how often to address these items.

Prices vary depending on the age and model of the vehicle, exactly what work is done, how long it takes, and where it is serviced. A complete tune-up could cost several hundred dollars.

If you can’t afford the works, try getting just the spark plugs changed. That can go a long way toward improving your mileage, and will cost about $125 to $150.

Many auto repair chains, such as AutoZone and Jiffy Lube, offer tune-up packages or coupons that can lower the cost.

Check newspapers or search online to find your local options. Some shops may honor competitor coupons, as well.

Keeping your car well maintained can improve your mileage by an average of 4 percent, according to government estimates. That number will vary depending on the age of your car and how well it’s maintained, but you may be able to save in the neighborhood of 16 cents per gallon.

Routine maintenance can help detect small problems before they become big ones, which will lower your costs for more expensive repairs.

— AP

Don’t fall for traffic ticket scam If you get an email from the state police about a traffic ticket, don’t worry. Your driving record is clean. But don’t click to open the attachment, either.

A new email scam is landing in in-boxes across the country. The email looks like it’s officially from the New York state police and is labeled “Uniform Traffic Ticket.” It includes the date and time of a speeding violation and instructs the recipient to open an attachment to print out the ticket.

But don’t do it, even if you only want to reply to tell the sender the ticket is in error. The attachment contains what’s known as a “Trojan horse,” which will

download malware that can steal information from your computer and allow criminals to control it from afar.

Police departments are very unlikely to send people traffic violations via unsolicited emails, according to the Hoax

Slayer website.

And beware of a similar current scam, purportedly by the IRS, Hoax Slayer noted. Don’t open any attachments from emails that claim to be from the IRS. — Barbara Ruben

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Sept. +

BE A MARYLAND LEGISLATIVE LEADER Apply to be a volunteer aide for the 2012 Maryland General As-

sembly. Volunteers 50 and older will be placed in various senators’ and delegates’ offices in Annapolis, Md., to work at least two days a week beginning in January.

Ten weeks of classroom training, two days per week, begin in September on the University of Maryland College Park campus (a $100 fee applies; some scholarships are available). For additional information or applications, call Wesley Queen at (301) 405-2529 or email wqueen@umd.edu. The program is run by the University of Maryland’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and the Legacy Leadership Institute on Public Policy in partnership with the State of Maryland.

The AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford — designed exclusively for AARP members — is now available through your local Hartford independent agent.

For your free, no-obligation quote, call Deborah Taylor at

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Affordable Senior Communities Discover how great senior living is at one of our affordable apartment communities. Many of our communities feature brand-new apartment homes, 24-hour emergency maintenance, full activities programs, spacious floor plans, affordable rents, caring and dedicated staff, and much more. We are conveniently located near shopping, including grocery stores and pharmacies. Let us help you live life to the fullest. Call or visit these communities: 550 Shriner Court Union Bridge, MD 21791

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

New ways to help pay for long-term care

By Kimberly Lankford If you don’t want to buy — or can’t qualify for — stand-alone long-term care insurance, there are other ways to protect your retirement savings from the potentially devastating cost of long-term care. And if you don’t use the benefits for long-term care, the insurance goes toward a death benefit or an annuity.

Life insurance combo policies Several companies have introduced new policies that combine life insurance and long-term care protection. You invest a lump sum or pay premiums for a limited time, and you’re guaranteed to get either long-term care payouts or a death benefit.

For example, if a 55-year-old man invested $10,000 per year for 10 years in Lincoln Financial’s MoneyGuard Reserve Plus policy, he’d have a pool of $320,000 in benefits to pay for long-term care, available as a monthly payout of $6,669 for up to four years.

If he died without using the long-term care component, his heirs would get about half of that — $160,057 — as a death benefit. Or, if he used some of the money for care, the death benefit would be reduced by the amount that was used to pay for his care.

These policies may be appropriate for people in their 50s and 60s who still need life insurance but who also want protection against long-term care costs. Paying the premium all at once shields you from price hikes; some policies that you pay over 10 years also guarantee that the premiums won’t rise.

Annuity/long-term-care policies A few companies, such as Mutual of Omaha, offer a combination deferred annuity and long-term care policy that allows you to leverage your investment. For example, a $100,000 annuity could pay up to $300,000 in long-term care benefits.

These policies are attractive to people who already own a deferred annuity and want to exchange it tax-free for a combo policy. And it may be easier to qualify for one of these policies than for traditional long-term care coverage.

If you use the money for long-term care costs, the distributions are tax-free. Withdraw it for other reasons, however, and you’ll pay ordinary income tax on the earnings. Unused portions of the annuity (minus any long-term care payouts) may be left to heirs.

Longevity insurance This is a viable way to ensure that you won’t outlive your savings and to protect against long-term care costs that often occur at advanced ages.

Say you invest $100,000 in New York Life’s Guaranteed Future Income Annuity at age 65. Starting at age 85, you’ll receive payouts of $67,000 per year for the rest of your life. You can use the money for any purpose, including long-term care.

Kimberly Lankford is a contributing editor to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine and the author of Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, $18.95). Send your questions and comments to moneypower@kiplinger.com. © Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

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Aug. 15

ESTATE PLANNING Ameriprise Financial Adviser Alan Kolnik discusses money management in his lecture “Planning for the Future: Key Financial Is-

sues in Estate Planning.” The free event will include a question and answer session. Held at the Holiday Park Senior Center at 3950 Ferrara Dr., Wheaton, Md., the lecture will run from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 15. Call (240) 7774999 for more information.

Aug. 9

WHAT TO EXPECT OF AN EXECUTOR Laurie Siegel, CPA, will describe what to expect of and to consider when appointing an executor. The free event will be held at the

Walter Reed Senior Center, 2909 S.16th St., Arlington, Va., on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. Register in advance by calling (703) 228-0955.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

29

Inflation once again a threat to retirees

By Dave Carpenter Inflation is the long-term threat stalking every portfolio.

The effect may not be very noticeable in the short run. But by the time you’re deep into retirement, inflation can deal a devastating blow to your savings.

Inflation’s impact is like that of high blood pressure — that’s what Francis Fennie of LPL Financial in Redwood City, Calif., tells his clients. “You may not feel it, but if you don’t do anything to guard against it, it’s massively damaging to your financial health over the long run.”

Years of historically low inflation may have lulled consumers into underestimating the consequences. But higher rates have finally arrived.

Consumer prices have risen 3.2 percent in the past 12 months, the highest level in two and a half years. That brings inflation back to near its historical annual average of about 3 percent.

Many financial planners find it hard to impress upon their clients just how serious

a risk inflation can be.

Retirees are more affected The impact of inflation on retirees tends to be higher than that for others, too, especially in later years of retirement. A large chunk of their expenses tends to be from healthcare, and those costs are rising faster than overall inflation.

Consider the case of a 65-year-old couple with retirement savings of around $600,000.

Financial models show that they should be able to withstand annual inflation of 3 percent throughout their retirement, assuming they’re collecting Social Security and able to earn an average annual return of 6 percent on their savings.

But if inflation creeps up by just one percent, it’s likely they would run out of money before both reach full life expectancy.

What can be done to offset inflation besides spend less?

For starters, you should acknowledge

“If you’re planning to manage your portfolio in retirement the way your grandfather did, you’d better wake up,” said Christine Fahlund, a senior financial planner for investment firm T. Rowe Price. “Those retirements were maybe 10 or 15 years long.

And they had pensions.”

A $100,000 cash nest egg will be worth just $55,400 after 20 years with annual inflation of 3 percent, as calculated by T. Rowe Price. After 25 years, or age 90 for someone who starts with that amount at 65, it’s down to $41,200. Both scenarios assume a 6 percent annual return on investments.

That makes it very risky to leave your portfolio mostly in cash, CDs or other conservative investments with very low returns — a popular retirement strategy in years past.

Better to have 40 to 60 percent in stock

that inflation needs to be factored into retirement planning. About 45 percent of retirees fail to account for the effects of inflation, according to a recent study by the Society of Actuaries.

And only 5 percent of pre-retirees age 45 and older have a financial plan that extends to or beyond their life expectancy — a long time span that gives inflation more time to erode a portfolio.

Individuals need to take both inflation and longevity into consideration and plan for multiple scenarios.

How to keep pace Here are some moves that can help compensate for future inflation: 1. Invest for growth. You need to make sure your assets continue to grow and generate interest income so your purchasing power stays intact. Today’s retirements can easily last two or three decades, adding to the financial challenge.

See INFLATION, page 30

BEACON BITS

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Volunteer as a greeter at blood operations for the Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Region of the Red Cross. Greet donors and hand out snacks and refreshments. For more information, visit www.redcrossblood.org/gcp or contact Terry Karloff, at 1-800-272-0094 ext. 1, or email karlofft@usa.redcross.org.

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HELP THE HOMELESS

Volunteer with Bethesda Cares Inc., an organization that works to mitigate and prevent homelessness. Lunch servers are needed one hour per month to help set up, sign clients in, serve food and clean up. Come as an individual or in a group. Bethesda Cares Inc., is located at 7728 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, Md. For more information, visit Bethesdacares.com or contact Susan Kirk at (301) 907-9244 or susan@bethesdacares.org.

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Inflation From page 29 at retirement age; you can lower the percentage slightly as you get into your 70s and 80s. A balanced or blended mutual fund that also includes a large percentage of bonds will lessen the risk if you’re uncomfortable about being in stocks.

2. Delay taking Social Security. Inflation protection is built into Social Security; benefit amounts are revised annually to account for cost-of-living increases.

But there were no such adjustments the last two years even while food costs climbed. And taking steps to ensure that your monthly check is as large as possible will help in your battle against inflation.

BEACON BITS

Aug. 30

GARDENS AND TEA IN BALTIMORE Tour the 1897 Victorian mansion Inn at Buckeystown with classi-

cal gardens before enjoying an afternoon high tea. The meal includes scones, soup and tea sandwiches in a historic setting, followed by a trip to home goods store Chartreuse and Co. The trip is $51 for Arlington residents; $57 for non-residents, and picks up from both the Madison Senior Center, 3829 N. Stafford St., Arlington Va. and the Thomas Jefferson Senior Center, 3501 S. Second St., Arlington Va. The trip departs Madison at 9:10 a.m. and Thomas Jefferson at 9:30 a.m. It returns at 5:45 p.m. Call (703) 228-4748 to register.

A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

If you file for Social Security benefits as soon as you’re eligible at age 62, your payments are reduced by about 30 percent from what they would be at full retirement age — 66 to 67 depending on year of birth.

After full retirement age, the monthly check increases by 8 percent for each additional year you delay up to age 70.

3. Buy an inflation-indexed annuity.

Annuities — investment products in which you generally pay an insurance company a sum of money and get back a stream of payments for life — scare off many retirees and pre-retirees. They have a reputation for being complex and loaded with fees.

But more financial advisers are touting them as a way to receive the guaranteed lifetime income that pensions once provided. You need to analyze the terms carefully and choose a financially healthy insurance company that’s poised to be around for decades.

The initial annual payout rate for an in-

flation-indexed annuity should be about 5 percent of the purchase price if you retire at age 65, said consulting actuary Steve Vernon. It’s likely to be a bit more if you’re a single man, a little less if you’re a single woman or part of a married couple.

Consumer websites such as AnnuityAdvantage.com and DirectAnnuities.com provide rundowns of the various types of annuities and available rates.

4. If your pension does not adjust for inflation, create a side account.

The purchasing power of your monthly pension payment, if you are fortunate enough to have one, will shrink dramatically over the course of a long retirement.

To prepare for that, retirees and pre-retirees alike should set up a separate account that can be tapped periodically for additional income.

It could be a short-term bond fund with less volatility than a stock fund, Fahlund suggested, since it is not being counted on as your primary source of retirement income.

5. Supplement Medicare with other insurance.

Buy Medigap supplemental coverage that fills in benefit gaps in traditional Medicare. And consider buying long-term care insurance in your 50s or 60s to help ensure that significant medical expenses later in retirement don’t wipe out your assets.

Even without considering the additional costs that advancing age brings, healthcare costs for families rose 7 percent in the past year and have doubled in nine years, according to a recent report by actuarial firm Milliman.

Significant inflation is almost certain to continue for both health and long-term care expenses.

— AP

BEACON BITS

Aug. 11

BENEFITTING OUR TWO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN GERMANTOWN AND SILVER SPRING

SAVE THE DATE

2011 Holy Cross Hospital Gala RECEPTION AND SILENT AUCTION 6:30 p.m.

DINNER AND LIVE AUCTION 8:00 p.m.

RAFFLE TO WIN A 2012 LEXUS CT 200h HYBRID OR $25,000 CASH made possible by Lexus of Silver Spring

Saturday, September 24, 2011 Marriott Wardman Park 2660 Woodley Road, NW

Washington, D.C.

To purchase raffle and event tickets, donate auction items or for more information, call 301-754-7130 or visit holycrosshealth.org

PROUD MEDIA SPONSOR

SOFT SHELL CRAB CAPITAL

Visit Tangier Island on the Chesapeake Bay on Thursday, Aug. 11 for a boat ride, seafood lunch at the Chesapeake House and time to explore the picturesque island.

The trip fee is $77. For more information or to register, call the Montgomery Dept. of Recreation’s Senior Outdoor Adventures in Recreation (SOAR) program at (240) 777-6870.

Sept. 8

SHENANDOAH TRIP

Visit the Glen Burnie Manor House and Gardens, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, and take a walking tour of historic Winchester, Va. on Thursday, Sept. 8. The trip leaves at 8 a.m., returns at 5:15 p.m. and includes a buffet lunch. The fee is $57. For more information or to register, call the Montgomery SOAR program at (240) 777-6870.

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Get Ready to

TAKE CONTROL of Your Energy Use. To serve you better, Pepco is installing digital electric meters, commonly known as smart meters, in homes and businesses throughout their service territory. Smart meters are the foundation of the smart grid, a modernized electric system that will enhance customer service and reliability, and in the future facilitate the use of renewable power and electric vehicles.

Most importantly, your home’s new smart meter can help you take control of your energy use and help you save money today. That’s because your home’s smart meter records your daily energy consumption, and then that information is made available to you online through My Account. Armed with this detailed data and the tools on My Account, you will be well on your way to taking control of your energy use and energy dollars.

in your usual pattern. The new smart meter will provide you with detailed information and comparison reports to help you identify when you are using more or less energy during the day, the week or the month. This information will also help you make changes that let you take control of your energy bills.

WHY AM I GETTING ONE? WHAT IS A SMART METER? A smart meter is an electronic meter that allows for twoway communication between your home or small business and Pepco. Your new smart meter actually “reads” the energy used periodically throughout the day and provides that data to you online through My Account.

WHAT IS SMART METER DATA? What happens today when you receive a lower or higher than expected energy bill? You might wonder what changed

Pepco is working together with residents and businesses to help meet energy efficiency goals, and smart meters are a critical part of that effort. Information provided by smart meters helps Pepco customers take control of their energy use by identifying ways to be more energy efficient. Saving energy helps the environment, especially on hot, muggy days, precisely when the environment needs it most.

WHEN WILL I BE RECEIVING ONE? Pepco will be installing meters in Washington, D.C., and Maryland throughout 2012, and we look forward to working closely with our customers to help them leverage the benefits of this new technology.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? To learn more about smart meters, visit bit.ly/pepcosmartmeters or call (202) 833-7500 and speak with one of our Energy Advisors.

GET READY TODAY

by signing up for My Account at pepco.com Have questions?

Call (202) 833-7500 or visit pepco.com

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Retirement account loans get a bum rap

By Elliot Raphaelson According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, the percentage of individuals borrowing from their 401(k) accounts

has increased dramatically the last few years.

Some members of Congress feel that this is a dangerous trend, and they are pro-

posing legislation to make it more difficult for individuals to take out these loans.

They apparently feel that people who take them are jeopardizing their retirement.

Congress should not pass any legislation that restricts this type of loan. Individuals contribute to 401(k) accounts for two primary reasons: To save for retirement and to take advantage of a matching contribution from their employer.

If they decide to borrow from their 401(k), it is because they have a better short-term alternative for these funds. For example, when I worked full time, such loans were very useful to pay for my children’s education.

Most, but not all, employees enrolled in a 401(k) plan are allowed to borrow from it. Just as companies match employee contributions at different levels, or not at all, companies also impose varying interest rates on loans from their plans. Some companies don’t allow loans.

Meanwhile, federal law requires loans to be paid back within five years, or 15 years if the loan is used to purchase a primary residence.

Does loan rate matter?

One of my pet peeves regarding 401(k) loans is not with the loans themselves, but rather with the emphasis most pundits and columnists place on the loan rate that is imposed on these loans.

Whether you think the rate is favorable or poor is irrelevant because the individual who is taking out this loan is paying it back to himself rather than to a financial institution.

What is important is comparing what these funds could have returned in the retirement account to the return that the borrower receives on the funds withdrawn.

For example, assume a borrower has been receiving an average total return of 4 percent on the funds in his retirement account. If he uses the proceeds to pay off a credit card with a rate of 18 percent, he has saved 14 percent.

It is true that a higher rate on the loan means a larger annual repayment amount (to his own retirement account). However,

he is paying it back to himself. A high loan rate does not hurt him. What is relevant is how he uses the proceeds.

If you leave your job One potential disadvantage of the 401(k) loan is that if you leave your job for any reason and you are younger than 59 1/2, you have only 60 days to repay the loan.

If you fail to do so, you have to pay the IRS a 10 percent penalty on the unpaid loan amount (in addition to ordinary income tax). If you have other funds that you can use to pay off the loan, there is no penalty.

In some circumstances, taking the loan is still beneficial (even if you do leave your job and have to pay a penalty because you are unable to repay the loan).

For example, assume you contribute $3,000 a year to the retirement plan because you want the $1,500 employer match (again, this contribution varies from plan to plan).

You also borrow $3,000 from the plan each year. At the end of three years, your employer has contributed $4,500. You leave the company at the end of three years, with an outstanding loan of approximately $9,000. If you can’t repay it, you owe the IRS a $900 penalty.

However, your retirement account contains $4,500 more than you would have had without the $3,000 annual contribution. (The example assumes you are vested in the plan, and that you can keep all of the employer contributions.)

No tax is due when you borrow from your 401(k). If Congress makes it more difficult to borrow, some people will be forced to make withdrawals, which results in both income tax liability and a 10 percent penalty.

I recommend that you write your congressional representative, and tell him or her to leave the existing 401(k) laws in place. Congress has not shown us that it knows more than we do in handling resources.

Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at elliotraph@gmail.com. © 2011 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

BEACON BITS

Sept. 6+

DO YOU LOVE TO SING? Encore Chorale, the nation’s largest choral program for singers 55

and over, will hold several open house rehearsals. The open houses will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 11 a.m. at the Woodlands Retirement Community, 4320 Forest Hill Dr., Fairfax, Va., and at 2 p.m. at Langston-Brown Senior Center, 2121 Culpeper St., Arlington, Va.; Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 1:30 p.m. at Messiah United Methodist Church, 6215 Rolling Rd., Springfield, Va.; and Monday, Sept. 12 at Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Rd., Silver Spring, Md. For more information and reservations, call Jeanne Kelly at (301) 261-5747 or email jeanne.kelly@encorecreativity.org.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

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Rising food prices mean big stock returns

By Jennifer Schonberger Soaring grain and meat prices, robust orders for machinery, and heartier diets among the once-malnourished citizens of developing nations are feeding a global boom in agriculture.

The AgIndex of 21 blue-chip stocks, hatched by farm economists at the University of Illinois, has soared since the stock market bottomed in March 2009.

Food prices will continue to rise as long as populations and incomes grow briskly and the agriculture sector faces high production and distribution costs. Using corn for ethanol production is pushing up prices, too, as is grain traders’ relentless buying of futures contracts.

At the same time, high grain and energy costs are biting into the profit margins of food processors and packagers, such as General Mills and Corn Products International, making their stocks unappetizing.

Stocks positioned for profits Some ag-related stocks are reasonably priced, among them Deere (symbol DE; recent price, $79), the world’s largest producer of farm machinery.

Deere could double its annual sales, to $50 billion, by 2018 and keep piling up record profits now that the company’s fortunes are tied to economic growth worldwide. It is an active player in the fastestgrowing emerging markets, including China and India.

Its stock trades at 12 times estimated earnings of $6.36 per share for the fiscal year that ends this October, compared with an average price-earnings ratio of 17 for the farm-and-construction-machinery sector.

The Chinese eat half the world’s pork and serve it twice as often as all other meats combined. As food retailing in China transitions from local butchers to

BEACON BITS

Aug. 12+

A MARRIAGE’S END – ON STAGE Chronicling the pro-

gression and regression of a marriage in contemporary song style, The Last Five Years tells the story of the end of a relationship. The show, presented by the Arts Barn in partnership with Kensington Art Theatre, runs Aug. 12 to 28, with Friday and Saturday shows at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $16 for City of Gaithersburg residents, $18 for non-residents.

The Arts Barn is located at 311 Kent Square Rd., Gaithersburg, Md. For tickets or more information, visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov/artsbarn or

Western-style supermarkets, Zhongpin (HOGS; $11) is well positioned to profit.

Zhongpin supplies fresh and processed pork under its brand name to supermarkets.

Analyst Stephen Share, of Morgan Joseph TriArtisan, a New York City investment firm, said Zhongpin can boost sales and earnings by more than 20 percent annually over the next three to five years.

Zhongpin issues financial results in dollars but operates exclusively in China, so it won’t be hurt directly if China’s currency continues to rise against the dollar and squeezes China’s exporters. Zhongpin trades at six times estimated 2011 earnings of $1.85 per share.

Stocks of fertilizer companies have been on a roll for most of the past five years, but they have more room to grow. Record demand for potash, a key ingredient in fertil-

izer, will continue to boost potash prices and lift sales and profits of the big players.

Our favorite is the largest producer, Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (POT; $51).

Analysts expect Potash’s profits to soar 67 percent this year, to $3.41 per share.

Jennifer Schonberger is a staff writer at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. Send your questions and comments to moneypower@kiplinger.com. For more on this and similar money topics, visit www.Kiplinger.com. © Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

Our Mission: To secure the well-being of Montgomery County Seniors through the shared strength of diverse organizations and individuals.

Professionals working with seniors are invited to our Senior Service Network Meetings on the first Thursday of the month at 8:15 a.m.

Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Dr., Wheaton, Md.

Debbie DeChambeau speaks on Social Media: Navigating the Options.

Thurs., Sept. 1, 8-10:30 AM. FREE. Holiday Park, 3950 Ferrara Dr., Wheaton, MD

Affordable Apartments You· ll Be Proud To Call Home

Designed and managed for today· s seniors at these locations: ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY ‡ Furnace Branch 410-761-4150 ‡ Severna Park 410-544-3411 BALTIMORE CITY ‡ Ashland Terrace 410-276-6440 ‡ Coldspring 410-542-4400 BALTIMORE COUNTY ‡ Catonsville 410-719-9464 ‡ Dundalk 410-288-5483 ‡ Fullerton 410-663-0665 ‡ Miramar Landing 410-391-8375 ‡ Randallstown 410-655-5673 ‡ Rosedale 410-866-1886 ‡ Timothy House (Towson) 410-828-7185 ‡ Taylor 410-663-0363 ‡ Woodlawn 410-281-1120

EASTERN SHORE ‡ Easton 410-770-3070 HARFORD COUNTY ‡ Box Hill 410-515-6115 ‡ Bel Air 410-893-0064 HOWARD COUNTY ‡ Colonial Landing 410-796-4399 ‡ Columbia 410-381-1118 ‡ Snowden River 410-290-0384 ‡ Ellicott City 410-203-9501 ‡ Ellicott City II 410-203-2096 ‡ Emerson 301-483-3322 PRINCE GEORGE· S COUNTY NOW! * Bladensburg 301-699-9785 *55 or Better ‡ Laurel 301-490-1526 ‡ Laurel II 301-490-9730

www.ParkViewSeniorLiving.com Call the community nearest you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour or email seniorliving@sheltergrp.com.

call (301) 258-6394.

Professionally managed by The Shelter Group. www.thesheltergroup.com

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

To save money, learn to bargain better Consumers can negotiate better prices from some of them. for just about anything, but many don’t like • Ask to collect on obsolete offers. to do it because conflict is unLast year my wife, Carolyn, comfortable. Once you sucand I were given a generous ceed, however, it will be habitgift card for a local restauforming, profitable and much rant. We used the card, had more comfortable. an excellent meal, and filled Negotiating became second out a card for future promonature to me because for tions. We subsequently remany years I was a merchant, ceived a $50 gift card with an buying, selling and negotiatexpiration date at the end of ing at the Englishtown, N.J. November. flea market, one of the largest We’d forgotten about the THE SAVINGS in the Northeast. card until some friends sugGAME I have found that there are gested we dine there on New

By Elliot Raphaelson virtually no limits to the variYear’s Eve. We agreed, and ety of products and services remembered the gift card. you can successfully negotiate for, leading When we noticed the expiration date, to considerable savings. we were about to throw it out, but we deHere are some ways you can save money: cided that we had nothing to lose by ask• Negotiate lower fees for Internet ing the restaurant whether we could use and phone and cable service. the card even though it had expired.

An acquaintance mentioned she was We were pleasantly surprised when they paying $19 less than we were for monthly said yes. We had an excellent New Year’s Internet service — with the same provider. dinner at a top restaurant for under $50.

I called the provider to complain, and they • Complain about bad service, and immediately dropped the monthly cost. report good service.

Later, I called to cancel the service, and My son is a frequent restaurant custhey told me I could continue the service tomer. He never hesitates to write the comat no cost. It was apparently more impor- pany documenting any problems. Nor tant to them to be able to claim a large does he hesitate to pass along complibase of customers than to collect income ments. As a result, he almost always re-

ceives some sort of compensation.

What surprised me is that he even receives rewards when he is complimentary.

Never hesitate to make a legitimate complaint, or to compliment good service.

• Develop good relations with salespeople.

My wife has made strong relationships with salespeople at her favorite department stores. This habit results in many benefits. For example, she often finds an item she likes that is overpriced.

She then asks the salesperson to contact her when the item goes on sale. In most major department stores, salespeople work on commission. It is to their advantage to develop warm relationships with customers. It is common for a salesperson to call us announcing a sale on a specific item.

Sometimes, Carolyn will make a purchase a few weeks before an item goes on sale. Even then, she will receive a call telling her she will be receiving a credit because of the sale. It pays to develop relationships with salespeople when you show loyalty.

• Negotiate with credit card companies.

The credit card business is very prof-

itable for financial institutions. As long as you have been a profitable customer, these institutions do not want to lose your business. Therefore, they are willing to negotiate interest rates and fees.

Unfortunately, a significant percent of credit card users do not pay their balance in full each month, and end up paying interest on their balance. Try to pay your balance in full each month, but even if you can’t, you can still negotiate a better interest rate.

If your credit rating is good and you are receiving offers from many other institutions, your existing creditor may very well match other offers.

You can also negotiate the elimination or reduction of other fees. If you sent in a late payment, for example, most issuers will waive the fee if you have a good payment record. Don’t be afraid to negotiate.

You have nothing to lose.

Please send me innovative examples of how you saved money on products and services to share. I will share your good fortune with other readers.

Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at elliotraph@gmail.com. © 2011 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

BEACON BITS

Aug. 18+

JULIUS CAESAR FREE FOR ALL Shakespeare Theatre Company presents Julius Caesar this year,

for the annual Free For All held at Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St., N.W., Washington D.C. The free play runs Aug. 18 through Sept. 4 with various show times.

Tickets are available the day of the show or by online lottery. For more information and show times, visit www.shakespearetheatre.org or call (202) 547-1122, TTY (202) 638-3863.

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Stay Connected to the Life You Love to The Cottages at Brooke Grove, an W elcome independent living community in the heart of suburban Montgomery County. Join our active, vital residents who share a variety of interests and look to grow in health of mind, body and spirit. At Brooke Grove, you won’t be starting over. You’ll be getting a fresh start on the life you already enjoy.

THE GIFT OF TIME !"#$%&% (&)*+"&(, - ./!%("/0+!1 /!% 1)2$!%(3&&0+!1 - 4!25 /!% #&/6 )&72*/# - 827& 7/+!9&!/!"& - :+!+!1 (&)*+"&( - ;+5&&3#< =2$(&3&&0+!1 - 42"+/#> )&")&/9+2!/# /!% &%$"/9+2!/# 2002)9$!+9+&( - ?+9!&(( "&!9&) /!% 5&##!&(( ($002)9 - 4"=&%$#&% 9)/!(02)9/9+2! 62) 0#/!!&% &*&!9( - @7&)1&!"< )&(02!(& (<(9&7 - A/+% 0)20&)9< 9/B&( - A)+2)+9< /""&(( 92 ;)223& C)2*&D( /((+(9&% #+*+!1> E#F=&+7&)D( /!% !$)(+!1 "/)& "&!9&)(

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFICE ON AGING

Spotlight On Aging VOLUME XXVI, ISSUE 8

A newsletter for D.C. Seniors

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

By Dr. John M. Thompson I am not sure if the D.C. Metropolitan area was under the “Thermal Heat Cap” or not, but whatever the experts are saying, we did experience our share of record-breaking temperatures for the several days. The recent heat wave the area experienced was definitely not our normal summer conditions. We want to ensure that all of our nearly 100,000 older residents are taking the necessary precautions to remain safe during extreme temperatures.

I understand that the District did have one fatality as a result of the heat.

We send our condolences out to his family and hope that we all will be reminded how dangerous extreme temperatures are, especially those that continue when the sun has gone down.

The preliminary investigation has determined that the gentleman had gone out in the evening to water his yard and had become overcome by the higher than normal temperatures and high humidity that continued to plague the District late into the evening.

I urge each of you to please listen to the various warnings that you may hear over the media when planning your activities.

Please also make sure that your home has proper cooling and that you are drinking as many fluids as your health allows in an effort to remain hydrated.

D.C Office on Aging continues to plan for the future We have been talking recently about a needs assessment for the Office on Aging and all plans for the older population of the District of Columbia. We are now preparing for that assessment and have posted a survey for feedback from the community.

You may access the survey from the agency website, visit www.dcoa.dc.gov and click the red check mark on the top of the page to begin the survey. We would love to hear from you as we make plans to ensure that we are making the best use of agency funds for programming.

Are You in Danger of Losing Your Home Due to Unpaid Taxes?

Last month, the District of Columbia held its annual real property tax sale.

Thousands of District homeowners who are behind on paying their taxes had their homes auctioned at this year’s tax sale.

If your property was one of those sold at the tax sale, you are in danger of losing your home. The tax sale purchaser can file a lawsuit to obtain your home. It is very important that you seek assistance immediately. After a lawsuit is filed, you will like-

The D.C. Office on Aging is seeking community input on which specific issues, programs and services should be addressed in our upcoming Agency Needs Assessment. Please take a few moments to complete our brief survey to give us your feedback by August 17.

Go to www.dcoa.dc.gov and click the red box to begin the survey!

For questions about this survey, please contact DC Office on Aging 202-724-5622

ly have to pay several thousand dollars to the tax sale purchaser, in addition to the past due taxes, even if you are able to keep your home.

AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE) provides free legal help to qualified people 60 years or older who need assistance with property tax problems. If you are a D.C. senior and believe that your home was sold at the tax sale, call LCE’s Hotline at 202-434-2120 as soon as possible.

Nearly 1,500 seniors attended the One City Summer Fun event presented by the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation and the D.C. Office on Aging at Oxon Run Park, located in Ward 8.

Mayor Vincent C. Gray addressed the seniors and poses here with participants from the Asian Senior Services Center.

Aging in place in the District As our residents grow older, we would like to take steps to ensure that they remain in their homes as long as possible.

Certain communities that are popping up all over the country aid in that process.

Senior villages, as they are often called, provide supportive programming and resources to accomplish this goal. We would like to work with the community and organizations to develop more of these villages in the District of Columbia. See this issue for more information on the village concept.

Continue to be safe and active this summer!

August 2011

Executive Director John M. Thompson poses with Ms. Senior D.C. Emma Ward and members of her court at the Washington Seniors Wellness Center Caribbean event.

The intergenerational event featured dance, cultural food and information and was fun for all who attended.

Make Your Voice Heard in the Fight Against Alzheimer’s!

The federal government is developing a coordinated national plan to address the growing Alzheimer’s epidemic — and you can help shape it!

Join the Alzheimer’s Association’s National Capital Area Chapter at its upcoming regional input session. It needs to hear from individuals living with dementia, caregivers and friends, researchers, providers and other stakeholders.

Seating for the session is limited. Registration is required. Register at www.alz. org/nca or call 703-359-4440.

Thursday, August 18 George Washington University

Washington, DC 8 to 9:30 a.m. (Check in opens at 7:30 a.m.)

Moderator: JC Hayward, Noon anchor and vice president for media outreach, WUSA 9 Invited: U.S. Representatives Donna Edwards, Eleanor Holmes Norton and Chris Van Hollen Unable to attend? Find other listening sessions throughout the metro Washington region and around the country, or share your feedback online at www.alz.org/napa.

Together, we can make a difference to end Alzheimer’s.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

D.C. OFFICE

ON

37

AGING NEWSLETTER

Community Calendar August events 4th, 18th, 25th • 11:30 a.m.

Attend a presentation titled “Triumph Over Stroke” at several senior nutrition centers. The presentation will be at Edgewood Terrace Senior Nutrition Center, 635 Edgewood St., N.E., on Aug. 4 and at Ft. Lincoln 1 Senior Nutrition Center, 2855 Bladensburg Rd., N.E. on Aug. 18.

On Aug. 25 the talk will be given at Israel Baptist Church Senior Nutrition Center, 1251 Saratoga Ave., N.E. For more information, call Vivian Grayton at 202-529-8701.

8th through 12th • 11 a.m.

Enjoy eating watermelon and learning about its nutritional benefits at Ward 8 nutrition centers on the following dates: Aug. 8 at Dupont Park Center, Aug. 9

at Clairborne House/Matthew Memorial, Aug. 10 at Congress Heights Wellness Center, Aug. 11 at Knox Hill Nutrition Center and Aug. 12 at Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program. Call nutritionist Evelyn Minor at 202-562-6867 for reservations.

8th • 12:45 to 2 p.m.

Take part in a hands-on art workshop with Iona’s resident artists Gwen Aqui and Bernard Brooks.

Lunch will be provided. The workshop will take place at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Satterlee Hall, 3001 Wisconsin Ave., N.W. To register or for more information, call 202-895-9448.

13th • 8 a.m.

Take a day trip to Atlantic City with Seabury Ward

Senior Villages Allow Neighbors to Age in Place On the rise across the country and in the District are senior villages, which by design help older residents age in place.

A senior village is a concept designed to provide the support network necessary to enable seniors to live in their own homes for as long as possible, while maintaining social connections and civic involvement. The senior villages offer a retirement community setting within traditional neighborhoods.

In 2001, Beacon Hill Village pioneered this very concept in Boston, Mass. Residents who did not want to leave their community came up with the idea for a senior village. The concept, which has been very successful, offers a safe, comfortable and cost-effective alternative to leaving your home.

After residents pay an annual membership fee, members 50 years of age and older may access services that include household and home maintenance, transportation, meals and groceries, volunteer programs, concierge, social and cultural activities, home health and wellness programs. To find out more about Beacon Hill V illage, visit its website at http://www.beaconhillvillage.org.

Capitol Hill Village is the first community of its kind established in the District. Members must reside on Capitol Hill within the following boundaries: H Street, NE to M Street, SE and from 1st to 19th Streets, NE and SE. Like Beacon Hill, there is a membership fee that allows residents access to the following ser vices, provided by volunteers: • Transportation • Help with electronics • Light home maintenance • Minor plumbing • Assistance with projects • Help with organization of papers • Assistance with meal preparation • Well being checks and companionship • Gardening advice for small places Capitol Hill Village will also make a referral to vendors who often discount services if volunteers are not available.

For more information about the Capital Hill Village, visit them on the web at www.capitolhillvillage.org or call them at 202-543-1778.

We will be highlighting other villages in the District in future issues of the “Spotlight on Aging” newsletter.

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.

441 4th St., N.W., 9th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 202-724-5622 • www.dcoa.dc.gov Dr. John M. Thompson, Executive Director Darlene Nowlin, Editor Adrian R. Reed & Selma Dillard, Photographers 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.

5 Aging Services, and try your luck at Harrah Hotel & Casino. For more information, call Vivian Grayton at 202-529-8701.

20th • noon to 4 p.m.

Celebrate Trinidad/Ivy City Community Day with Seabury Ward 5 Aging Services. The event takes place at 1310 Childress St., N.E. For more information, call Vivian Grayton at 202-529-8701.

Early September event 6th • 11:30 a.m.

Celebrate National Senior Month with Ward 5 senior nutrition centers. Call Vivian Grayton at 202529-8701 for locations.

Keep Cool at a Wellness Center Senior Wellness Center locations that operate as cooling centers during extreme temperatures are listed below. These sites provide cooler surroundings for those who need shelter from the heat.

Bernice Fonteneau Senior Wellness Center (Ward 1) 3531 Georgia Ave., N.W. 202-727-0338 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center (Ward 8) 3500 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. 202-563-7225 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center (Ward 4) 324 Kennedy Street, N.W. 202-291-6170 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

IONA Day Health and Wellness Art Center (Ward 3) 4125 Albemarle St., N.W. 202-895-9448 x4 8:15 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Model Cities Senior Wellness Center (Ward 5) 1901 Evarts St., N.E. 202-635-1900 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Washington Seniors Wellness Center (Ward 7) 3001 Alabama Ave., S.E. 202-581-9355 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Careers Volunteers &

Does your organization use senior volunteers or do you employ a number of seniors?

If so and you’d like to be considered for a story in our Volunteers & Careers section, please send an email to info@thebeaconnewspapers.com.

Volunteer program links two generations

Joining forces with JCA This has been a big year for Interages.

The organization celebrated its 25th anniversary in May, and a merger between Interages and the Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA) became official July 1.

The group’s anniversary celebration, held at the VisArts Center in Rockville, commemorated Interages’ accomplishments since its founding in 1986.

“Back in the ‘80s, there was some concept of the competition between young people and old people for funding — something that seems to have risen to the top again more recently,” Interages founder Austin Heyman said.

Inspired to help bridge this gap, Heyman started Interages in 1986, and the program at JCA has been named, in his honor, the Heyman Interages Center.

The merger with JCA will continue to help join the two generations together as partners, rather than competitors, according to JCA’s Chief Executive Officer David Gamse.

“There are many natural synergies between JCA and Interages,” Gamse said.

“Given the number of current and emergent human needs and given tough economic realities, those synergies will enable us to accomplish more with less.

“We are planning to combine volunteer recruitment and training initiatives, mount a significant public outreach campaign, and expand programs that improve communication and understanding between younger and older persons, who far too often are segregated from one another.”

Of the merger’s effect on the 200 Interages volunteers, Bea said, “We don’t expect anything different, except that maybe we’ll get some more, or some different, folks in the program, and maybe there’ll be additional programs that we can participate in if we choose.”

Be Their Inspiration ReSET is an educational nonprofit that brings science and math enrichment opportunities to DC-area students. If you are a retired or working scientist or engineer, we invite you to join this innovative volunteer program, now serving PreK and grades K–6 in DC, MD, and VA.

GET INVOLVED . . . contact:

ReSET is grateful to the Toyota USA johnmeagher@cox.net Foundation for its financial support 703-250-0236 of environmental science education. www.resetonline.org

PHOTO COURTESY INTERAGES

By Jacob Schaperow For Linda Bea, things have come full circle. Twelve years ago, her adopted daughter Luda was a second grader at Georgian Forest Elementary School in Silver Spring, Md. Luda was new to the country and struggled with reading. A volunteer with a nonprofit called Interages came to the school regularly to help Luda with her reading skills.

Now, Bea is a volunteer for the same group at the same elementary school, helping students with their reading through the group’s Grandreaders program.

Interages brings adults over 50 together with youths in schools throughout Montgomery County in programs designed to benefit both parties.

In Grandreaders, for example, volunteers are paired with second grade students at elementary schools. They meet once a week and read books together to improve the children’s reading skills.

Linda Bea volunteers to help a grade school student with his reading skills as part of Interages’ Grandreaders program. The intergenerational nonprofit, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, matches older mentors with public school students throughout Montgomery County in a variety of programs.

A variety of opportunities One of Interages’ programs, Dialogue Across the Ages, engages adult volunteers and youth in conversation about current events as well as social and political issues.

“It’s very interesting. The kids will talk about how they relate to their grandparents, and the grandparents, quite often, are younger than we are,” said volunteer Michael Rothschild. The average age of an Interages volunteer is 72.

“So they’ll talk about how they relate to them, and then we’ll talk about how we related to our grandparents. The differences aren’t so great, except that our grandparents were born in 1874.”

Rothschild has been with Interages for four years and has participated in two other Interages programs in addition to Dialogue Across the Ages.

One was Global Wizards, which teaches elementary school children about geography. “I thought it was fun to teach geography to grade-school kids, who really eat it up, who are really interested in it,” Rothschild said.

“And I think it’s important and a lot of

fun, and it really helps mentor kids who have not been in this country very long and who struggle with their English,” he added.

The other program, Intergenerational Bridges, pairs children ages 8 to 14 in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes with mentors from Interages to ease the transition to a new country.

“With the aging — or the graying, I should say — and the browning of America, intergenerational programs are so important today to bring the generations together so our younger people can understand and learn about the aging process,” said Carol Croll, the Heyman Interages Center director.

For more information about volunteering, contact Tricia Wilson at (301) 9493551, ext. 30 or email her at wilson@interagesmd.org. The group’s website is www.interagesmd.org.

A volunteer open house will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 8 at JCA’s office at 12320 Parklawn Dr., Rockville, Md.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

Franchises

Being your own boss

From page 1 week and treats all but life-threatening injuries and illnesses. The average wait time at a Doctor’s Express is 15 to 20 minutes, according to company spokesperson Stacey Hilton.

While Reed didn’t want to cite an exact figure, it costs between $526,000 and $715,500 to invest in a Doctors Express franchise, according to Hilton.

“This is our retirement plan, if you will,” said Reed. “We ended up putting all of our retirement funds into this.”

Adding additional pressure to the gamble was the fact that Doctor’s Express is a relatively new company, founded in 2005 in Baltimore. There are currently 40 franchises of the company across the country.

Despite the dearth of competitors in his neighborhood, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing, Reed said.

The first challenge has been to bring in patients, many of whom aren’t familiar with urgent care or don’t know that the Alexandria Doctors Express opened in April. And he is also trying to find his way in the labyrinth of insurance reimbursements.

“You lose a lot of sleep in the early stages,” Reed admitted.

But he said, “Feeling good about doing something in the community and for the community, that’s a win-win for everybody.”

Audiologist Sandra Romano, 50, feels the same way. When the hearing aid company Sonus Hearing converted to a franchise model earlier this year, she decided to buy the office in which she worked, in Arlington, Va. “I said, ‘If I’m here doing all the work, I might as well own the place,’” Romano said.

She likes being her own boss and the fact that Sonus helps her out when she has questions.

“I think the challenges are financial, like the accounting aspect of it. I have my doctorate in audiology. I’m a whiz at hearing tests, hearing aids, patient interaction,” Romano said.

“But I really wasn’t taught too much business. That’s where I’m thankful I have my corporation that supports me. If I need any help in anything, they are there for me.”

Romano hired a person to run the front office and hopes to be able to employ another audiologist in the future.

Though she still works in the same office, it feels different being the boss. “It’s not just a job any more. I’ve always done the best I can, of course. But it’s not just ‘go home and don’t think about it.’ It’s now like a lifestyle,” she said.

Sonus franchises cost between $80,000 and $120,000 depending on the size of the office, Romano said.

Making the transition

a multi-faceted career. He owned his own advertising agency for 25 years, but decided he wanted to give back to the community. So he became an art teacher in the D.C. public schools.

One day while he was teaching, his cell phone kept vibrating insistently. He finally excused himself to check his phone and found a two-word text message: “Dad died.”

Fast, 61, was faced with the need to help his elderly mother move out of the New York City apartment she had lived in for 56 years with his father.

While in New York, his wife cut an article out of the Daily News about a company called Caring Transitions, which helps older adults downsize and prepare their homes for sale.

Not only was it relevant to the services he needed, but he became intrigued by the company itself. While he loved teaching, Fast felt he had little job security.

So after six months of research he decided to purchase the Montgomery County office of Caring Transitions.

“I felt a deep need inside me to do something meaningful the rest of my life and not just worry about the buck. I wanted to feel like I was contributing and making a difference,” he said.

“I felt that way teaching in an inner city school, and I feel it as well in this business — to really be able to contribute, to be able to help seniors and their families, often in dramatic times of need, often under very,

39

very stressful conditions.”

The initial franchise fee for Caring Transitions is $31,000 to $37,000, and franchisees generally need additional funds (from $10,000 to $33,000) to get the business off the ground, according to Jennifer Heilman, a Caring Transitions spokesperson.

Like Reed, he has had to find customers and build name recognition. He said that daunting task has been easier because of his background in marketing and demographics — and because he’s older.

“Starting all over again at 60 is very different than at 35,” said Fast, who lives in Clarksville, Md. “You’re smarter, you’re wiser, and I think you learn to cut to the chase a lot faster. It’s a little bit easier to make certain decisions because you’ve got a lot of experience.”

But the first few months were tough going. “Because you start a business at ground zero, day one means you don’t have any business…. So there’s a long stretch of time before you get business,” he said.

Fast does a lot of networking with groups that work with older adults. He also developed a pool of resources to whom he can refer clients. And he has no regrets about his decision.

“I consider myself blessed to have found a fourth career at this stage in my life and that I’m so excited about going to work,” he said.

Jared Fast, like Earl Reed, has also had

BEACON BITS

Sept. 2+

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Volunteers & Careers

MAKE BLANKETS FOR CHILDREN Knit, crochet or quilt blankets for sick and needy children with the

Montgomery County Association for Family & Community Education. Yarn & fabric are provided, but donations of acrylic yarn are appreciated. Stop by on Friday,

How Aging Sight and Hearing Loss Impact Cognition

Demystifying Sensory Loss

Sept. 2, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. or Tuesday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Extension Office, 18410 Muncaster Rd., Derwood, Md. For directions or more information, call Pat at (301) 460-5451.

Aug. 11+

TUTOR A CHILD Do you want to help a child learn? Tutor a child in kindergarten through fourth grade, one hour a week at the child’s school through

the adult education program OASIS. Training and supplies are provided at no cost.

Sunday, September 18 2 - 4 p.m.

Sibley Memorial Hospital Medical Building

Sign up to attend one of the upcoming information sessions: Aug. 11 from 11 a.m. to noon or Aug. 23 from 1 to 2 p.m. All sessions are held in the OASIS center at Macy’s in Montgomery Mall on Democracy Blvd. in Bethesda, Md. To register or for more information, call (301) 469-6800 and press 1, then 211.

All Pet Crematory, Inc. (410) 552-0703 or 1(888) 552-0703 (toll free)

• open directly to the public for private cremations only

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Travel Leisure &

Virginia Beach offers more than the usual boardwalks and water fun. Read about it on page 42.

More than beaches on N.C.’s Outer Banks often overlooked story of World War II sea action doesn’t turn you on, there’s an entire island transformed into a living history museum.

History lessons abound

PHOTO BY VICTOR BLOCK

Visitors today follow a long line of people who have been attracted to the region.

Croatan Indians found the excellent hunting and fishing to their liking as long as 10,000 years ago.

Italian, French and Spanish explorers set foot on the land during the 16th century. They were followed by an English attempt to settle on Roanoke Island in 1587, 22 years before colonizing Jamestown, Va. The history of the Outer Banks constantly comingles with life there today. Tiny family cemeteries stretching back generations are hidden behind some homes.

A number of houses contain timbers, sheathing and other materials that were salvaged from the hundreds of ships that fell prey over centuries to the shoals and treacherous waters off the coast.

Visitors may also occasionally have trouble understanding native “Bankers” who retain vestiges of a unique generations-old accent.

The Outer Banks began attracting vacationers in the 1830s, when families of wealthy Nor th Carolina planters found refuge there from the summer heat. They were followed by sportsmen drawn by the outstanding fishing and hunting that Native Americans had discovered many centuries earlier.

The same attributes continue to attract many visitors. Of course, beaches along the 130mile-long Outer Banks remain the major draw for most folks.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore, a 30,000-acre preserve, covers much of the Banks. Stretching over 70 miles, this national seashore — the first in the country, established in 1953 — encompasses some of the largest areas of undeveloped beaches in the United States. Even at the height of the summer tourist season, A blacksmith demonstrates his craft at the Roanoke some sections are occupied by Adventure Museum, which explores 400 years of history in the Outer Banks. more sea birds than people.

PHOTO BY VICTOR BLOCK

By Victor Block I stood frozen with fear, unable to run.

The terrifying pirate drew closer, his curved sword swinging wildly.

Just as he was about to separate my head and body, I snapped back to reality, left my all-too-real daydream about Blackbeard behind and moved on to the next exhibit in the museum.

The story of Blackbeard the Pirate is one display that makes the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras, N.C., fascinating, and possibly horrifying. That eclectic collection is among numerous attractions that transform the Outer Banks — the chain of narrow barrier islands that parallels the state’s Atlantic coastline — into much more than just another sun-andsand vacation destination.

Stretches of broad beaches and sand dunes, interspersed by marshes and pockets of woodland, comprise the barrier islands that shield the mainland from the ocean’s surging waves and ferocious storms. They also are home to an inviting variety of intriguing attractions that can fill many a day of activity and sightseeing.

If lighthouses and the story of a lost colony aren’t of interest, what about the first flights of the Wright Brothers? If an

Costumed interpreters on the Elizabeth II tell tales of the British sailing vessels that visited the Outer Banks in the 16th century.

Beachside towns Drivers heading south on state highway 12, or a stretch of US 158 that runs parallel to it for a while, have opportunities to check out villages along the way. In addition to similarities to oceanfront vacation towns, some have unique characteristics.

Many visitors rate Corolla (pronounced COH-roll-uh), the northernmost enclave, and Duck, several miles further south, as the two prettiest villages on the islands.

Both have a small town atmosphere, good restaurants and a number of rambling houses that would feel at home in an upscale neighborhood anywhere.

Duck is perfect for strolling. A new wooden boardwalk along the west side of town follows the edge of Currituck Sound, in some places passing woods where you’ll hear only bird calls, in other spots leading to locally owned boutiques and galleries.

According to Nancy Meyers, a Washingtonian who is a frequent visitor, “Duck is an established, and establishment, community. You don’t rough it in Duck.”

Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head form the commercial hub of the Outer Banks. Along with a strip-mall atmosphere, there are two major attractions.

It was at Kitty Hawk where, on December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright made the first controlled-power flight. The

prevailing winds, combined with gentle slops and soft landing spots provided by sand dunes, drew them to the area.

After hundreds of test glides, they made four successful powered flights that lasted from 12 to 59 seconds and covered from 122 to 852 feet. If those times and distances seem miniscule, consider the impact they’ve had on the world.

A museum and exhibit pavilions house a full-scale replica of the Wright Flyer, photographs of the event taken by Orville, and a wealth of other treasures.

Granite boulders mark the start and ending point of each flight. A plane flew overhead as I stepped off the distance, prompting me to wonder what the brothers would think about today’s jet travel.

Nearby Jockey’s Ridge State Park contains the tallest sand dunes on the east coast. In this mini-desert setting, winds reshape the sand, causing the dune for which the park is named to vary in height from 80 to 100 feet.

South of the commercial section of the Outer Banks, both traffic and the width of the islands thin. The road passes through several miniscule towns and, just past Hatteras village, ends at a ferry dock. Along the way are more opportunities to check See OUTER BANKS, page 41

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

Outer Banks From page 40 out enticing attractions, some on many people’s “must see” list.

A lost colony I would rate Roanoke Island, on the sound side of the Banks, worth a visit even if it were a stand-alone destination. Several chapters of history spring to life at this site of the first English colony in the New World.

A good place to start is Festival Park, where the life of Native Americans who originally inhabited the area is recreated. Longhouses, a dance circle, and planting and harvesting areas set the mood. Interactive exhibits scattered about the area are sure to interest generations of family visitors.

To relive the next chapter of history, clamber aboard the Elizabeth II, a sailing ship representative of the seven British vessels that visited the area during the 16th century. Costumed interpreters spin tales of perilous voyages in a brogue that echoes the speech of that time.

A visit to the Settlement Site provides an immersion in life at an early military outpost.

As soldiers stand watch against intrusions by hostile Indians, costumed blacksmiths, carpenters and other workmen ply their trades.

The history lesson continues at the Roanoke Adventure Museum, where 400 years of the Outer Banks’ past are explored. From early pirates to the Civil War,

from boat-building to shipwrecks, virtually every facet of life as it used to be, and in some ways still is, gets its due.

The Elizabethan Gardens is reminiscent of early English plantings. Statues both old and new gaze out over the setting, including a monumental bronze sculpture of Queen Elizabeth I. By far, the most famous attraction on Roanoke Island is the Lost Colony — a lavish, something-for-everyone drama with special effects, daring action, comedy, music and dance. It relates the true story of the disappearance — no one knows where or why — of 116 men, women and children who settled in the New World in 1587.

Even this list does not exhaust the possibilities. The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras village tells the story of more than 2,000 known shipwrecks that lie in waters off the Outer Banks. Many went down in the 18th and 19th centuries, victims of dangerous currents, shoals and storms.

Others were cargo vessels heading to England that were sunk by German submarines lurking off our country’s east coast during World War II. Parts of several shipwrecks are visible today on beaches or in shallow water at low tide.

Other well-done exhibits at the museum deal with pirates, including the notorious Blackbeard, who was killed in the area, and the Civil War ironclad U.S.S. Monitor.

Lighthouse buffs will think they’ve gone to heaven. Three towers mark the Outer

Fall Foliage

Skyline Drive and Shenandoah Caverns Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Banks, two of which are open from spring to fall for those — not I — who wish to climb to the top. Also available are remnants of what once were more than 20 lifesaving stations that were built along the Banks in the late 19th century.

Crews risked their lives to rescue people from wrecked ships. Story-telling and realistic beach drill reenactments during summer bring this bit of history to life in a dramatic way.

If climbing the 257 steps of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse isn’t your idea of enjoyable exercise, there’s always hiking and hang gliding, kayaking and kite boarding, fishing and crabbing, sailing and surf boarding.

Oh yes, and one of my favorite beach pastimes: relaxing on some of the finest sand anywhere, with a good book.

If you go It takes about five hours to drive from Washington to Duck and Corolla at the northern end of the Outer Banks.

I recommend buying and listening to three audio guided tours ($10 each) that I used, which provide historical and interesting tidbits about the area. For information, call (252) 441-3201 or log onto www.ourtourguide.net.

There’s a wide choice of motels along the Banks in every price range. Typical is Shutters on the Banks in Kill Devil Hills, with heated indoor and outdoor swimming

pools and a location near the Wright Brothers Museum and Roanoke Island.

Summer rates begin at $150. For more information, call 1-800-848-3728 or log onto www.shuttersonthebanks.com.

By contrast, my wife Fyllis and I spent only about $100 a night for much larger accommodations. By sharing our stay with friends, we enjoyed a three-story beachfront house including use of a kitchen, which saved money on meals. With an estimated 12,000 rental houses available, there’s plenty of choice for every budget.

Dining also offers a wide selection.

Seafood is fresh and excellent, including the catch-of-the-day sandwich at the diner-like Kill Devil Grill ($9). The eclectic menu ranges from grilled white pizza ($7.25) to half roast chicken ($13). Locals drop by for the pecan pie and apple crisp deserts ($6). It’s at milepost 10 on Route 12. For more information, log onto www.thekilldevilgrill.com or call (252) 449-8181.

Many restaurants offer views of the sea or sound, so you might as well have dinner at one of them. Dinky’s, overlooking a small harbor in Hatteras, serves excellent tuna tartare ($9) and crab ravioli ($11), followed by a long list of seafood entrees. It’s on the second floor of the Village Marina. For more information, call (252) 986-2020 or log onto www.villagemarinahatteras.com.

For more information about visiting the Outer Banks, call 1-877-629-4386 or log onto www.outerbanks.org.

Travel with us 4X & get the 5th ride FREE!

*

Experience one of the best fall foliage displays in the East as we travel scenic Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. You’ll want to bring your camera for the many spectacular photo opportunities. In addition, we’ll visit the Shenandoah Caverns, American Celebration on Parade, and other area attractions. This is a day you’ll long remember.

Additional Upcoming Trips: “I Love A Piano”–Music of Irving Berlin, Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre Sunday, August 28

$129 per person

The Hamptons—Long Island, NY September 18-21

$799 per person, double occupancy

New “Me and My Girl” Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre Sunday, November 12

$129 per person

“Winter Wonderland” American Music Theatre Sunday, December 4

$129 per person

Christmas in Nashville – Gaylord Opryland Resort December 11-13

$995 per person, double occupancy

Travel with Louise makes group travel easy and fun.

Call us for more information on these and our other trips.

Travel with Louise, Ltd. 3 0t r a1v e-l w5i t9h l 8o u-i s0e . 7c o 5m 7

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

SEALs, sun and squadrons in Va. Beach

Autumn’s appeal For a more leisurely pace, wait a month

or two for a visit.

“In the fall, we get our beach back,” said Ron Kuhlman, head of the tourism office.

Summer’s frenzy dies down, prices drop, the kids are in school, collegians are back on campus, air temperatures are in the 70s, and the water averages 67 degrees. Virginia Beach decompresses, but still has plenty going on.

The area’s Neptune Festival (www. neptunefestival.com) has events all summer long, and culminates with many activities throughout the month of September, including a seniors’ Big Band Gala on September 16.

Enjoy 20 blocks of art, sand sculpture, outdoor concerts and fireworks. A 10-day sand sculpting competition, one of the world’s largest, inspires 300 amateurs and pros to mold sand into works of art. Virginia vintners offer samples. The Naval Air Station puts on air shows, including a parachute jump onto the beach.

September 10-11 will feature Blues at the Beach, a weekend of free outdoor concerts, a model train show and sale, and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra by the boardwalk.

October’s events include a craft beer festival and the national women’s rugby championship. Billed as the “best beach party of the year,” the annual pig and oyster fest sponsored by the Old Coast Guard Station

PHOTO BY GLENDA C. BOOTH

sdBy Glenda C. Booth Trying to spot a SEAL is all the rage in Virginia Beach, the Old Dominion’s largest resort town. It is home to the nowfamous counterterrorism super-secret Navy team that raided Osama bin Laden’s Pakistani compound on May 1 and carried his corpse out to sea. Locals brag about their SEAL-spotting skills.

Virginia Beach, a 14-mile stretch of sand with a heavy military backdrop, is Virginia’s version of “Atlantic City” — Atlantic Ocean beach lined with hotels, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, arcades, souvenir shops and partiers of all ages.

It’s a popular destination for surfers, sunbathers, military buffs, families and outdoor types, as well as the bikini-challenged and sun shy. You can walk much of the resort area or rent rollerblades, bikes or two-passenger pedal “surreys.”

From your oceanside balcony, watch dolphins cavort, study pelicans flapping by, and track the cargo ships creeping across the horizon.

A leisurely amble up and down the three-mile, beachside boardwalk is a favorite de-stressor for all ages, especially in the evening.

A large statue of Neptune, Roman god of the sea, overlooks Virginia Beach’s threemile-long boardwalk.

in October has live music, hush puppies, fried fish, oyster stew and Mini Malbon’s internationally-acclaimed barbecue sauce.

Winter holidays are celebrated with jumping dolphins and porpoises in colored lights and a Christmas tree on the beach. Many hotels offer special fall and winter packages.

Beyond the beach Navy and Coast Guard tributes

September 17-28

Over 25 events including Track & Field, Swimming, Tennis, Pickleball, Racquetball, Bocce, Men’s Basketball, Golf, Bowling, Wii Bowling, Miniature Golf, Table Tennis, Card Games, Board Games & more.

New this year: Badminton, Cycling, Volleyball, 1600 Meter Run Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals Awarded REGISTER BY SEPT. 1 $10 Registration plus $1 per event Registration forms available at senior centers, senior residences or online at www.nvso.us

703-228-4721.

Check website for full schedule: www.nvso.us

Sponsored by Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William counties; cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church.

of its 14-inch-thick brick walls. Decoy carvers explain their craft as they whittle.

Museum officials say the native plants in the yard attract fall songbirds. The wooden rocking chairs and long porch offer the perfect perch for lazy ocean-gazing.

Whether it’s Strike Fighter jets zooming and booming across the skies, Blue Angels cracking the sound barrier, or aircraft carriers out at sea, Virginia Beach prides itself on the area’s military history and its prominent role in today’s national defense.

The Naval Aviation Monument Park at 25th Street and Atlantic Avenue honors the area’s rich naval heritage with sculptures of a family welcoming dad home and military personnel in action. (At 25th Street also is the Norwegian Lady statue, a gift from the people of Moss, Norway, commemorating an 1891 Norwegian shipwreck.)

The Old Coast Guard Station at 24th and Atlantic, built in 1903 as a U.S. Life Saving Station and now on the National Register of Historic Places, explores Coast Guard history, rescue methods and shipwreck stories.

King Neptune reigns at 31st Street and the boardwalk, a 16-foot tall statue with bronze, wave-inspired curls. It’s a favorite photo op stop.

For a water adventure, try ocean kayaking. Bottlenose dolphins come to your kayak, promoters claim, on excursions from April to October. Chesapean Outdoors (http://chesapean.com) runs dolphin-spotting trips and eco-tours using sit-on-top kayaks that are stable and easy to paddle.

Chances are you’ll also see brown pelicans, ospreys and maybe sea turtles. Departures are from several locations; reservations recommended.

Well worth a visit and a step back in time is the free Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum in the Victorian Dewitt Cottage, the oldest seaside cottage in Virginia Beach and one that has survived hurricanes because

For relief from sand and the beach hubbub, there are several spots worth visiting within an hour’s drive of downtown — more military, more history and the great outdoors.

Rare aircraft, beautifully restored and all in flying condition, recall the early days of aviation, World War II and the Korean conflict at the Military Aviation Museum.

You’ll see the Flying Tigers, a B-25 bomber, British Spitfire, the Russian Polikarpor and the Nazis’ Junkers (Ju52).

There are 1920s biplanes with fuselages made of wood and canvas. Check out the V-1 bomb, a “buzz bomb” and a German encryption machine.

The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center probes the life of the sea and shows off a live Egyptian cobra and Australian hedgehogs. The museum’s trail through a wetland offers a salt marsh experience.

The Cape Henry lighthouses are at the site where colonists made landfall in 1607 before going more inland to Jamestown.

You can climb the old lighthouse, a 90-foot tower with 191 stairs. The 1881 cast-iron lighthouse at 163 feet offers a “newer” lesson in lighthouse technology.

First Landing State Park nearby also commemorates the 1607 landing and is the state’s most visited park. It is the northernmost location on the East Coast where subtropical and temperate plants thrive together. You’re likely to see snakes dangling in the Spanish moss or slithering over the cypress trees “knees.”

The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge See VA. BEACH, page 43

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43

Your best strategy for planning fall travel By now, if you haven’t arranged a major Fall is also the slowest season of the summer trip, you probably won’t go, and year in the offshore beach destinations in instead plan to travel in the the Bahamas, Caribbean and fall. Overall, that’s often a Mexico, so hotel and resort good idea — traveling when prices there are at their lowworkaday folks are otherwise est. And fall-season cruises, tied up has some advantages. too, are usually a good deal — Here are my suggestions if you don’t mind a slightly infor planning that fall trip, and creased risk of encountering a when to make your decisions hurricane. and arrangements.

While U.S. domestic airIn the fall — Labor Day fares generally don’t show through mid-December — much seasonality in pricing, prices at most U.S. and Cana- TRAVEL TIPS airfares to Europe usually dian summer-season visitor By Ed Perkins drop precipitously in fall. Typicenters and attractions drop cally, they’re at off-season to their lowest levels of the year and rates by the end of August, although they crowding is less of a problem, while weath- may drop a bit more through September er is likely to be fairly good well into Octo- and October. ber in most of the country.

Hotel rates in Europe, on the other

Va. Beach From page 42 is 9,000 acres of coastal barrier island habitat, windswept dunes, wetlands and waterfowl. False Cape State Park, once considered a ship graveyard, is a good example of scrub maritime forests. Vehicles are barred from False Cape, but a tram called the Blue Goose Express offers trips to both (www.bbrf.org). In the fall, bird migration is in full swing.

Most first-time visitors want to check out the 17.6-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel spanning the mouth of the Bay. It is the largest bridge-tunnel complex in the world. On the way, there are four manmade islands, a fishing pier and a restaurant. On your stops, you can look for birds or battleships.

Depending on your religious point of view, you may want to take a side trip to the Christian Broadcasting Network Studio or the headquarters of the Association for Research and Enlightenment (ARE).

The Christian Broadcasting Network Studio (www.cbn.com) has daily tours and you can be in the audience of a live daily show, The 700 Club, “a program of music, prayer and ministry,” usually hosted by Pat Robertson. CBN was the first Christian television broadcasting station in the nation, on the air since 1966.

The ARE Center (www.edgarcayce.org) has a free daily orientation movie at 2 p.m. and lecture at 3:30 p.m. ARE was formed to “explore transpersonal subjects such as holistic health, ancient mysteries, personal spirituality, dreams and dream interpretation, intuition, and philosophy and reincarnation.”

They say their holistic massage is “like none other in the world.”

Maybe they give psychic tips on spotting SEALs.

If you go Visit www.vbfun.com for trip planning, lodging information and calendars.

Virginia Beach has a full range of lodg-

ing choices — cabins at First Landing State Park, a Wyndam resort, chain hotels, motels and B&Bs. The Cavalier Hotel on the north end offers a slower-paced stay than the mid-town hostelries. There are actually two: the original Grand Cavalier, opened in 1927, and the more contemporary Cavalier Oceanfront.

Rooms start at $149 in the summer. For more information, see www.cavalierhotel. com or call (757) 425-8555.

Also on the somewhat quieter south end, the boutique Art Deco 19 Atlantic Hotel is a good mix of character and convenience. It is half a block from the beach and near the Amtrak bus drop-off point.

The rooftop deck offers lounge-chair views of the ocean and soothing breezes in the evening shade.

Rates start at $119 in August, but drop to as low as $55 in October. For more information, see www.19atlantic.com or call (757) 428-4440.

Virginia Beach has 300 independentlyowned restaurants. See www.vbfun.com/ dining.

“There’s nothing better than a Lynnhaven oyster,” brags Mayor William Sessoms.

“They are salty and delicious.” The oysters are harvested from Virginia Beach’s Lynnhaven River.

Tautogs on 23rd Street features seafood with zingy accents in a traditional, shingled beach cottage.

Virginia Beach is a four-hour drive, but usually longer because of I-95 congestion.

Amtrak is the least stressful way to get there. The last hour of the trip is via an Amtrak-contracted bus from Newport News, which stops at 19th Street, one block from the main drag, Atlantic Avenue.

City buses travel regularly up and down Atlantic Avenue. If you want wheels to get beyond the resort area, try Enterprise Rental Car at Charles Barker Toyota, 1800-736-8227. The closest airport is in Norfolk.

Glenda C. Booth is a freelance writer in Alexandria, Va.

hand, are usually up from their summer lows by August.

Timing is everything You can decide where you want to go anytime. But the best time to buy varies depending on what you’re buying: Airfares. Keep up with whatever sources you use to notify you of air deals, and wait to buy until you see a good promotion that includes the period when you want to travel. I don’t see any major risks

in waiting for an airfare sale: Fares are already about as high as the market will allow, and you can almost count on doing better with a good promotion.

Hotels. Some good deals are already available, but major hotel chains seem to be following the airlines’ lead in mounting short-fuse promotions. Currently, for example, Hyatt’s promotion with AAA/AARP expires in early September, and Accor’s See FALL TRAVEL, page 44

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

A world of gardens on the National Mall

Rare and primitive plants The conservatory is the glass house at the foot of the Capitol building that is perhaps the most recognizable part of the USBG. Built in 1933 and reopened in 2001 after a four-year renovation, the conservatory has eight garden rooms with 13 permanent exhibits.

The glass paned roofs cover a world of plant life. These range from the oldest known plants from 150 million years ago in the Garden Primeval exhibit to gardens devoted to various climates, such as world deserts, jungles and the micro-climates of Hawaii and the Southern regions of North America.

There is a garden for children, one that

displays medicinal plants, a garden devoted to plants cultivated for commercial uses, and a garden devoted to rare and endangered species.

If you know orchid lovers, you must bring them to see the USBG Orchid room, where 200 of the Garden’s 5,000 different orchids are on display at any given time.

Since all of these fabulous displays are inside the Conservatory, it is a welcome break from the heat and bustle of Washington sightseeing. I love walking from one climate to another and from one era to another.

In addition to the almost magical world of the conservatory, the National Garden, next to the conservatory, includes a butterfly garden, rose garden, First Ladies’ Water Garden and a regional garden.

These gardens can be very inspiring to the average gardener because they are almost on a scale that someone could attain at home.

Of course, I am not saying that I have gardens anything like the ones in the National Garden. First of all, I don’t have a team of gardeners doing all of the work (wouldn’t that be nice!). While it is similarly unlikely that any of us will have a huge glass greenhouse, it is possible, on a smaller scale, to have butterfly, rose and water gardens.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE U.S. BOTANIC GARDEN

By Ruth Kling On the National Mall you can spend days visiting museums filled with great art, encounter remnants of the age of the dinosaurs, learn about American history, and see one of the world’s most famous gems, the Hope Diamond.

Or you could visit one spot where you can see the dinosaur’s habitat, learn about American history via plants, and visit great art and gems of the horticultural kind. I’m speaking of the United States Botanic Garden (USBG and its three components: the conservatory, the National Garden and the Bartholdi Gardens.

The U.S. Botanic Gardens’ conservatory, built in 1933, has eight rooms and includes plants that range from ones that lived during the time of dinosaurs to elegant orchids.

Bartholdi Park, which is located across Independence Avenue from the conservatory, is quite different from the National Garden. With the famous Bartholdi Fountain at its center, it is a formal garden with trimmed hedges and formal flower beddings. Bartholdi Park is a quiet spot for tourists to rest and reflect on the sights they have taken in that day.

Rotating exhibits I love to visit the USBG every year to see what interesting temporary exhibits they have. Currently on display is “Green Genes: Mapping the Plant World,” an exhibit on how new genetic research is changing our understanding of plant taxonomy.

Another exhibit is of large format photographs of plants by the artists Robert Llewellyn and Andrea Otteson. The ongoing exhibit located in the National Garden, “Heroes of Horticulture,” chronicles sites where plants have played a part in American history.

During the summer months, the USBG places tables outside for visitors to use for a picnic lunch or snack (bring your own

Fall travel From page 43 current promotion also focuses on summer travel.

As with airfares, I suggest you wait for a good promotion. As usual, however, you’ll find your very best hotel prices through the flash sale websites (for really upscale spots) and through Hotwire and Priceline.

On the other hand, it’s never too early to book a vacation rental. Although prices can be highly seasonal, rates for the year are set and published far in advance and vacation rentals seldom run any shortterm promotions. The earlier you buy, the wider choice you have.

Cruises. The fourth quarter of the year is generally the slowest in the cruise business. Even list prices are low, and the big online cruise agencies are already showing some really good rates for September through December in the Caribbean and Mexico. You can even catch a late Alaska sailing through early September.

food, as there is no restaurant or snack bar in the USBG).

Whether you and your visitors are interested in art, history or science, the United States Botanic Garden has something for everyone.

The USBG is located at 100 Maryland Ave., S.W., in downtown Washington, D.C., on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Parking is extremely limited, but fortunately the garden is not far from the Federal Center SW Metro stop, so taking public transportation is advised. There are some parking spaces for handicapped visitors, however.

Admission is free. The conservatory is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The National Garden is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the Bartholdi Park can be visited dawn to dusk.

Be sure to bring a cell phone so you can listen to their guided tour. Call (202) 7309303 to get started.

Ruth Kling blogs about gardening at ruthsgarden.blogspot.com. You can ask her questions about gardening at Gardenruth@gmail.com.

Fall’s very best cruise deals are traditionally transatlantic “positioning” cruises, usually in October: Rates already posted are as low as $40 per person per night.

Rail travel. Amtrak seldom runs significant promotions, so you might as well buy early to lock in the space you want.

VIA Rail Canada, on the other hand, does run promotions. The best are some fantastic “Express” deals, typically covering trips up to a month in advance, so “wait for a deal” strategy seems best here.

Similarly, Rail Europe and similar agencies often run promotions on rail passes, again with a fairly short purchase window.

Insurance. If you plan to buy travel insurance, be sure to buy within a few days after you make an initial payment. That way, you can avoid hassles over “preexisting medical conditions” and also be able to buy “cancel for any reason” coverage should you want it.

Send email to Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net. © 2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

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Style Arts &

Local ladies earn kudos in Ms. Senior America pageant. See story on page 49.

Arena’s Oklahoma! redux is more than OK

Newly energized show The Rodgers/Hammerstein chestnut was given something of a facelift when it first played the acoustically sweetened and technically improved Fichandler Stage, Arena’s original in-the-round theater. Director Molly Smith assembled a culturally diverse cast, promising but not quite delivering sharp new angles on this tale of the late American frontier.

Leading performances were stellar, but it’s hard to say the overall effort was as special as the hype surrounding the pro-

duction might have you believe. Just about the entire cast (of two dozen) is back for the rerun, and they seem to have received a jolt of fresh energy during their time off the show.

The sparks that were missing the first time around now radiate both light and heat. Parker Esse’s athletic choreography and George Fulginiti-Shakar’s vigorous, 13-piece orchestra are back in full power and Oklahoma! is more than OK. Sure, the show was quite pleasing in its first run, winning four Helen Hayes Awards, including Outstanding Resident Musical. Even before some critics swooned, the show was already filling the house to 99 percent capacity, a testament to the enduring appeal of Old Broadway.

It was a glossy, high-energy hoe-down supporting a lovely collection of songs and featuring eye-catching dance. But there was little of that unique energy, that chemistry between cast members, to make the show transcendent, at least to me.

It was good, but somewhat standard fare. Perhaps because the cast performed it for a complete run, had time off, and then re-assembled, the chemistry between them has significantly matured. The onstage ambiance is relaxed now, and the performers seem to be paying more attention to each other.

Down on the farm The story takes us back 100 years to when the Oklahoma Territory was on the

PHOTO BY SUZANNE BLUESTAR BOY

By Michael Toscano Rerun Summer ’11 continues through sultry August, as local theater companies entice audiences into their air-cooled, usually-empty-in-the-summer confines by bringing back blasts from the past.

For example, Wicked, the glittering musical telling the back story of the two witches at the heart of The Wizard of Oz, is still packing them in (through Aug. 21) in its second run at the Kennedy Center.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company has a hit the second time around with Clybourne Park (through Aug. 14), the Pulitzer- and Helen Hayes Award-winning play using barbed comedy to examine race and gentrification in a Chicago neighborhood.

And, of course, Arena Stage sparkles with the revived version of their production of Oklahoma!, which inaugurated their brand-new southwest campus last fall.

Courting couple Laurey (Eleasha Gamble) and Curly (Nicholas Rodriguez) light up the reprise of Arena Stage’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!

verge of statehood. The frontier ethos still prevails, even as the modern world looms.

Two sets of young lovers explore romance, surrounded by colorful characters and one surly farmhand. Local favorites E. Faye Butler and Eleasha Gamble dominate the show, just as they did last year.

Butler is Aunt Eller, the feisty and wise guardian of lovely Laurey, played by Gamble. They embody the energies and spirit of the rough-hewn American spirit.

Butler’s Aunt Eller displays wisdom born of bitter experience, but Butler’s in-

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nate sense of irony and humor make the character shine with optimism and her powerhouse energy fills the theater. [Ed’s Note: Shortly prior to press date, Butler was replaced in the role by Terry Burrell.]

Gamble layers bittersweet depth to young Laurey’s innocence, and we feel her unwillingness to cope with life’s ugliness.

Her powerful, textured voice is a storyteller’s tool, even as it soars to the big notes.

See OKLAHOMA! page 48

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When no longer ‘hot,’ boomers like to fret

By Carol Sorgen When did you first realize that you had suddenly morphed into someone else?

When you were walking with your daughter and noticed that she was the one getting all the looks? When your son trounced you in basketball…again and again? When your staff stopped inviting you to lunch?

For magazine writer/editor Stephanie Dolgoff, the “lightbulb moment” occurred

when a man on a train asked her for the time. “Eight-forty,” she replied tersely, trying to fend off what she thought was coming next.

But then…“Nothing. Nada. Bubkes,” she writes in her amusing memoir/exploration of growing older, My Formerly Hot Life: Dispatches from Just the Other Side of Young (soon to be a television series, as well).

“He may have said, ‘Thanks.’ I don’t remember…Apparently, the sexy stubbly guy who asked me for the time simply needed to know the time. He wanted information, not to have sex with me. Imagine!”

An awakening awareness

Stephanie Dolgoff’s recent book, My Formerly Hot Life, humorously expresses the angst felt by boomer women who are coming to terms with advancing middle age.

New York magazine publishing, a string of romances before settling down with her husband (whom she met on the subway), and having twin daughters.

Turning her observational skills to this newfound stage in her life, Dolgoff began a blog, www.formerlyhot.com, where she and other women she calls “Formerlys” (as in “formerly hot,” a moniker that gets a bit tiresome when used throughout the book), can compare notes on who they were then, who they are now, and the plusses and minuses of both.

The book isn’t all about looks, though Dolgoff is the first to admit that her appearance still matters to her — though not quite as much as it once did.

In that moment (though there had been others prior to that, she admits, but she just didn’t want to face up to them), it all became “blindingly clear.” She was no long who she always thought she was — the young woman whose attractiveness, in both looks and personality, was an intrinsic part of how she navigated the world.

But when Sexy Train Guy turned a blind eye to her charms, Dolgoff realized she was no longer “all that.” “I didn’t feel like me anymore because I wasn’t me, at least not the me I had always been.”

That “me” included a glamorous job in

“To shapewear or not to shapewear,” that is the question; i.e., how much discomfort are you willing to endure in exchange for looking smoother and thinner.

Dolgoff writes that, for the most part, the Spanx stay in the drawer, and she has opted for slightly looser clothing that still looks good but also enables her to digest her food.

Careers, relationships, popular culture, aging parents and more are all tackled in the book.

Looking at the upside While Dolgoff has plenty to say about See FORMERLY HOT, page 48

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Oklahoma!

with adoration and passion.

From page 46

Masterful music

Much has been written about the fact that both Butler and Gamble are AfricanAmerican, and that Nicholas Rodriguez, who plays Laurey’s suitor Curley, is Latino.

Of course, the script never mentions this, and it is doubtful that an interracial relationship would pass unnoticed in the time and setting of this tale.

But non-traditional, colorblind casting has been routine here for some time, and it did not make as much of an impression on me as it did with other critics.

What stood out last year was the vibrant talent of Butler and Gamble, which rendered their race totally irrelevant. Rodriguez seemed stiff and emotionally disengaged in that first run, even as his expressive voice soared. But now he shines

Oh, and what wonderfully effervescent music Richard Rodgers has given these singers to explore. The show opener “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” flows into “The Surrey with the Fringe on Top,” soon to be followed by such time-honored hits as “People Will Say We’re in Love” and the title song, an iconic anthem destined to echo in your mind.

Extended dance sequences, particularly the Act 1 closer, the “Out of my Dreams/ Dream Ballet” sequence, artfully mix muscle and mysticism in a display of traditional American dance motifs.

It takes a few moments for the show to heat up. The magic starts to fill the Fichandler with the second tune, “The Surrey with the Fringe on Top.” The undulating

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rhythms, the clever wordplay and rhyming lyrics, and the blended vocals meld into a softly sensuous sensation. The actors are so animated you can just about feel the sun on their faces.

There’s plenty of testosterone-fueled terpsichore here, with Western-dance foot stomping resounding on Eugene Lee’s stark, wood plank set. The rousing ensemble number “Kansas City” is a show-stopper.

Another number rousing the audience comes at the top of Act 2, with “The Farmer and the Cowman.” Here, the stage is alive with cornpone choreography and high spirits.

Unlike the first time around, the darker hues of the book from Oscar Hammerstein II are presented in vivid relief, the lurking danger and queasy suspense fully exploited. Much of that is due to the layered and unusually nuanced (for musical comedy) portrayal of Aaron Ramey as Jud, the sinister farmhand with the fevered soul and eyes set on Laurey.

This is no standard one-dimensional villain. Rather, Ramey gives us Jud as a Frankenstein monster — a murderous, tortured creature who nevertheless is grounded in a simple humanity. It is a chilling, powerful performance that is far superior to the tentative work he did the first time out.

Of course, this is musical comedy and we get plenty of that. Cody Williams and local high-schooler June Schreiner are both delightful as one pair of lovers, the lame-brained Will and the cluelessly flirtatious Ado Annie. Williams is guileless, while gamine-faced Schreiner is comically, radiantly piquant.

As randy peddler Ali Hakim, Nehal Joshi’s facial athletics and expressive body language send off comic vibrations to fill

the entire theater in each scene he’s in.

(Judging by the audience uproar that greets him at curtain call, he is clearly a favorite of the patrons.)

Smith efficiently moves her actors around the barren wood floor, giving audiences proper views on all four sides of the stage. The vigor never falters.

Tickets are expensive, and Arena is clearly hoping the big box office take from Oklahoma! will help them retire whatever they still owe on the $135 million expansion of its dazzling new home. Prices range from $61 to $106 plus fees, (but Arena ominously warns that prices “are subject to change”).

Is it worth it? Yes. Oklahoma! continues through Oct. 2 on the Fichandler Stage theater of Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, located at 1101 6th St., S.W., Washington. D.C. Show times are Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Special matinees are scheduled for Wednesday, Sept.

21 and Tuesday, Sept. 27 at noon.

There will be an audio-described performance Saturday, Aug. 27 at 2 p.m. and an open-captioned performance is set for Wednesday, September 7 at 7:30 p.m. Signinterpretation is scheduled for the 8 p.m. show on Thursday, Sept. 8.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.arenastage.org, by telephone at (202) 488-3300, or at the theater’s sales office. A limited number of half-price, day-of-performance tickets are available 30 minutes before each performance.

For more information, visit www. arenastage.org or call 202-488-3300 (TTY: 202-484-0247).

Formerly hot

lenge “formerly hot” men as well, the book will appeal primarily to a female audience.

Dolgoff admits that some of her older blog followers have chided her on her seeming obsession with leaving her youth behind. “All that frettin’ is terribly unattractive,” one woman in her 50s wrote on her blog.

And maybe, she says, when she has well and truly crossed the line into middle-age, and then old age, she too will look back and think how silly it all was.

On the other hand, people experience life changes in different ways — some more acutely than others — and Dolgoff thinks the shift in her life is worthy of the “magnifying glass” she has been applying to it.

But once she passes through the “Formerly” stage, Dolgoff hopes that all the positives she has come to appreciate at this time in her life — the groundedness, the confidence, the social ease and peace of mind — will outweigh some of the panic of the unknown.

My formerly Hot Life, published 2010 by Ballantine Books, is available at bookstores and online (hardback and e-book versions).

From page 47 the downsides of growing older, she also sees the upsides. You no longer feel the need to be out and about till all hours of the morning (of course, you don’t really have the time or energy for it anyway, she points out).

Your friends won’t accuse you of being a stick-in-the-mud because, let’s face it, they’re stuck in the same muck you are.

Whether in your personal or professional life, your self-esteem no longer is dependent on other people’s opinions of you.

And then there’s the matter of shoes. “I now realize you need your feet to function,” writes Dolgoff. So, after years of tottering and limping on four-inch heels, it’s flats for her — “a small fashion sacrifice to make in exchange for being able to walk.”

While Dolgoff is just shy of her mid-40s and asserts that she’s not old (just older), and not even middle-aged yet (though that may be debatable), the issues she is confronting will probably ring true for most baby boomers.

And while many of these issues chal-

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

49

Meet the local Ms. Senior America winners

Virginia winners share stories “I liked their philosophy about giving back, outreach to community, and encouraging and inspiring other seniors,” said Linda George, second runner-up in the 2011 Virginia pageant.

A retired chaplain living in Springfield, Va., George stays active performing Broadway classics at senior centers as well as volunteering in hospitals and with her church.

“There are no requirements for bathing suits, thank goodness. And everybody’s body size and type are perfect for this pageant…. It’s as much about inner beauty and outreach,” George said.

Arlington resident Patty Heenan, 62, earned the Virginia Ms. Congeniality title.

She said she loved meeting the other contestants and stays in touch with them.

“It was exciting, stressful, we were laughing and cracking jokes, and we really

bonded,” said Heenan, who runs 5 and 10Ks and is also pursuing her college degree while working.

In the competition, contestants are judged on four areas: an interview, a 35second statement of the contestant’s “philosophy of life,” evening gown and talent.

Louise Wade of Dublin, Va., took home the title of Ms. Senior Virginia 2011. Wade wrote a book, Melody’s Song, about her experiences with her daughter who has cerebral palsy, and continues to work with mentally and physically challenged individuals.

Maryland’s representative Jean Milazzo will take the stage in Atlantic City, N.J. in October as Ms. Senior Maryland 2011. She resides in southern Anne Arundel County, but travels all over Maryland as the state representative.

“I’m trying to get to as many counties in the state as I possibly can and show that you can be active. You can do things and you should,” she said.

Milazzo works with the South County Showstoppers, a group that performs variety acts in nursing homes and senior centers. In the past year, they traveled to six counties for over 30 shows.

“Even if you don’t win the pageant, the journey is just so rewarding. I guess I’m just really getting a lot back, interacting with people my age,” she said.

“Ms. Senior America is based on being a role model for volunteerism and a role model for people 60 years old. They can see ‘if you can do it, I can do it too,’” Milazzo continued.

As Milazzo prepares for this years’ pageant, the 2010 Ms. Senior Maryland, Terri Hazel of Bethesda, leads movement workshops tailored to older adults at senior centers.

Hazel modifies the dancing to be wheelchair friendly, having dancers waive scarves or beat maracas in time with multicultural music.

In addition to the classes, she runs a dance company she and her late husband started, On Stage America. She also has written a ballet syllabus, “Techniques by

Terri,” discussing an approach to teaching dance to young children.

Hazel said she acts as a role model by staying busy.

“I never stop. I just keep going,” she said.

“We’re trying to get that message out more than anything else, that just because See PAGEANT, page 51

Winners of the Ms. Senior Virginia America competition include (left to right) first runner-up Kathy Fanelli of Annandale, 2011 Ms. Virginia Senior America Louise Wade of Dublin, Va., and second runner-up Linda George of Springfield.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MS. SENIOR VIRGINIA AMERICA

By Emily Hatton The word “pageant” generally brings to mind big hair, big gowns and little swimsuits. The Ms. Senior America Pageant however, focuses more on big personalities.

Its philosophy is “based on the beliefs that seniors are the foundations of America,” according to its mission statement.

Since 1972, contestants and title holders, who must be at least 60 years old, have been responsible for motivating senior citizens to maintain an active lifestyle.

Washington, D.C. and Virginia each host a local pageant, whose winners go on to compete for the national title. While Maryland has not held a state pageant for several years, it is still represented by a woman chosen by the national office. The 2011 national pageant will take place in Atlantic City, N.J. from Oct. 2 to 7.

“It’s exciting. It’s certainly something different,” said Wendy Pinhey, Ms. Senior Virginia assistant state director. “It’s one way of at least putting in sight that senior citizens aren’t sitting in their rocking chairs. They’re out there, and they’re doing community service, and they’re performing, and they become parts of the community.”

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You’re on top of your medications.

But we make a good back up.

You know it’s important to stay on your medications exactly as prescribed.

However, if you miss a dose, want a lower-cost alternative, or experience any side effects, we can answer any questions. Speak to your local CVS Pharmacist to learn more.

Find a store near you at www.cvs.com

A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

014331RXX11

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51

Aunt Nat carried on (and broke) traditions The word came via email — a tool she that others around her were reading. She had never used. My aunt Nat, the last of her would often say that anyone who had lived generation, was dead at 94. through what she had lived There followed the usual through — World War II, the scramble of phone calls, hotel surge of television, internabookings and appointment tional travel — owed it to hercancellations. The next day, self to be informed. we all gathered for the funerThat did not necessarily al. mean that she needed to have Some at the older end of a career — and in fact, she the age spectrum came in didn’t. What it meant was that wheelchairs. Some, at the she read newspapers, and younger end, came in dress talked about what was in blue shirts that they obvious- HOW I SEE IT them, and surrounded herself ly hadn’t worn very often, if By Bob Levey with sophisticated people of ever before. both sexes.

The home state ledger said California, She was savvy without being a savant.

Virginia, New York, Massachusetts.

She was, as those kids in the dress blue The occupation ledger said computer shirts might say, “clued.” whiz, language teacher, insurance execuShe was also a very traditional woman. tive, college professor.

Mother of two and grandmother of five, I remarked to a distant cousin that said the obituaries. maybe we didn’t look much like one anothWhat they didn’t say: er, but we shared a deep respect for higher Nat was deeply into cooking breakfast, education. and making sure that socks matched Aunt Nat did, too. pants, and playing google-goggle with variBorn in 1917, she was the victim of gen- ous grandchildren in the shallow end of der expectations. Her parents — especially the swimming pool. her mother — didn’t expect her to go beShe loved a laugh and a martini, and she yond high school. It was standard stuff for understood very well how the first could women of that era. be the product of the second.

But she cruised into and through colBut she was never showy. The pictures lege, and spent the rest of her life support- in her home were of preening babies, not ing higher education and those who took the adults they had become. advantage of it.

She talked with great love and respect She was never without a book, and about all her relatives, even those who had never without a question about the book cold-shouldered her. And she loved to

Pageant From page 49 you hit a certain magic number, like let’s say 65, your life isn’t over,” said Pinhey.

“It’s just another way to bring to the forefront that there is an active community of senior citizens everywhere you look.”

See “Spotlight on Aging” in last month’s issue of the Beacon for an article about the Ms. Senior D.C. pageant, won by retired teacher and U.S. Agriculture Dept. employee Emma P. Ward.

For more information on the Ms. Senior A m e r i c a c o m p e t i t i o n , s e e w w w. senioramerica.org.

click directly into phone calls.

Whenever I would ring her up, she’d begin: “Robert! Talk to me!” And I would.

Nat had a rough final few years. Her health nose-dived and her adult children had to confront the now-classic decisions: Nursing home? (Yes). Round-the-clock care as well? (Yes). Manage her affairs even if Nat didn’t want that? (Yes).

Travel wherever work and pleasure took the adult children, even if it meant they’d be gone from their mother’s side? (Yes).

Try to maintain something like a normal relationship even if she could no longer respond to them? (Emphatic yes).

There were shipwrecks and crises — the time she fell to the floor of her room and wasn’t discovered for hours. The time she mistook her daughter for her longdead mother.

And then, in the final week, she simply coasted to a finale. It wasn’t like the movies. It seldom is. Nat just took a breath

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Aug. 24+

Win a

Alexandria representatives about programs and assistance available in Northern Va. to help seniors age in place. The presentation will be held at the Virginia Hospital Health Pavilion, 601 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington, Va., on Friday, Aug.

!

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$25,000 Cash!

Made possible by Lexus of Silver Spring

TICKETS ARE $100 EACH AND ONLY 2,000 TICKETS WILL BE SOLD! Benefitting Our Two Construction Projects in Germantown and Silver Spring

MSRP: $36,500

AGING IN PLACE Attend a free presentation by Arlington, Fairfax County and City of

ARTJAMZ

Enjoy wine, hors d’oeuvres and music while creating your own painting at a Chris Martin-inspired Corcoran event running from 7 to 11 p.m., Aug. 24 to 26. Paints and canvases are provided. The event is $55 for members and $65 for the public. Register at www.artjamzdc.com. The Corcoran is at 17th St, N.W., Washington, D.C.

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Aug. 19

and, on a May night at 4 a.m., she failed to take another. The email came an hour later.

About 15 years ago, Nat said something to me that I’ve never forgotten. She said: “Robert, it doesn’t matter what you do for a living, or how you live, or where you live. The only thing that matters is whether you take advantage of every opportunity you get — and you make opportunities that you wouldn’t get otherwise.”

I promised her then that I’d live up to that. I’ve certainly tried. But she did it better than most.

For a woman born into an age of diphtheria and wash-hung-on-the-line, a world where women were expected to be seen but not heard, a family where no woman before her had ever gone past grade school, I’d say Nat and realized opportunity were fast friends.

Bob Levey is a national award-winning columnist.

Drawing will be held on September 24, 2011 at the Holy Cross Hospital Gala at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, D.C. Winner need not be present to win.

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT:

Our Website: www.holycrosshealth.org/car " Foundation Office: 11801 Tech Rd., Silver Spring " Holy Cross Hospital Cashier: 1500 Forest Glen Rd., Silver Spring " By E-mail: foundation@holycrosshealth.org " By Phone: 301-754-7130 " By Fax: 301-754-7137 "

19 from 11 a.m. to noon. Contact the Health Promotion and Senior Health Department at (703) 558-6859 to register and learn more.

Aug. 10

WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S Those interested in participating in the Alzheimer's Association's Walk to End Alzheimer's on the National Mall on Saturday, Nov. 5 are

encouraged to attend the kickoff party at the Sharon Courtyard Brooke Grove

Make checks payable to Holy Cross Hospital Foundation and mail to: 11801 Tech Road, Silver Spring, MD 20904. __________________________________________________________________________________ Name: (only one name permitted per form —please print) __________________________________________________________________________________ Address City State Zip __________________________________________________________________________________ Telephone E-mail

Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. The free event on Wednesday, Aug. 10, from 4:30 to 7 p.m., will have music, dancing and refreshments. For more information, contact Director of Marketing Toni Davis at (301) 924-2811, option 3, or tdavis@bgf.org.

Brooke Grove is located at 18131 Slade School Rd., Sandy Spring, Md.

____________________________________________ Charge my: Credit Card #

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__________________________________________________________________________________ Signature Exp. Date Numbered tickets will be mailed upon receipt ___________________________________ of payment. Thank you for your support and good luck!

Please complete and return with payment by 9/24/11. # of Tickets $ Total

52

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick Detorie

Aug. 5

FREE SATURDAYS IN SUMMER

Stop by the Corcoran Gallery of Art any Saturday in August for free admission. On Aug. 6, 13 and 27, participate in “Sketching in the Atrium” from noon to 3 p.m. It’s a free opportunity to sketch a live model, with all materials provided by the museum. The Corcoran is at 500 17th St, N.W., Washington, D.C.

Aug. 10+

LIVE AT MONTGOMERY ROYAL THEATER

See the Drifters live in concert on Wednesday, Aug. 31 at noon, as part of the Montgomery Royal Theater Senior DooWop concert series. The $30 tickets go on sale after Aug. 10.

Call Kristopher Mickens at (240) 604-0668 or email kmickens@mickensgroup.com for more information. The theater is located at 11006 Veirs Mill Rd., Silver Spring, Md., near Bally’s Fitness Center.

Aug. +

GEORGE AULT AND 1940s AMERICA

View the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s “To Make a World,” an exhibition of George Ault and his contemporaries’ work. The collection captures the state of the nation after World War II and the Great Depression. Located at 8th and F Sts., N.W., Washington D.C, the museum is open from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call (202) 633-7970 for more information.

s a ft! e ak gi M eat gr

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used to pay current claims.

I‘m not sure why you find that a problem with SS. The only reason that there is a demand to cut SS benefits or raise the retirement age is to raise current premium receipts so they don’t have to start repaying the $2.5 trillion excess receipts from the past 25 years.

Let me ask you a question: How would you feel if you paid for a whole life insurance policy for 50 years and when you wanted to cash it in, or your beneficiaries wanted to claim it on your death, you/they were told that the premiums were used for bonuses and perks for their executive

management and there were insufficient funds to pay the claim?

That is what has happened to SS. The excess premiums were used to pay for pork and other activities as directed by Congress and now they want to say that the IOUs are worthless.

If you want to “fix” SS, then the first thing to do is take it off budget and make a real insurance program out of it, as it already has its own funding stream and doesn’t affect the general budget.

Second, fix the causal factor, which is the tremendously increased income inequity that is a major problem for our economy.

Raymond E. Meyer Falls Church, Va.

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Returning for its third annual Swing! Swing! Swing! concert, the Olney Big Band will play songs from the 30s, 40s and more on Saturday, Aug. 13. The show runs from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney Sandy Spring Rd., Olney, Md. Tickets are $20 for those 55 and older; $25 for others, and are available at www.olneybigband.org or by phone at (301) 593-7205.

*D.C. residents: add 6% for sales tax; Maryland residents: add 6% for sales tax.

Aug. 13

BIG BAND SWING

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

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 below.

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.

Business & Employment Opportunities PUBLISHER NEAR SILVER SPRING Metro seeks phone sales staff for national news service. 15-30 weekday hours. Friendly, “older” office. $10/hour +15-25% commission. 301-588-6380 x 281. jobs@cdpublications.com.

PERSONAL ASSISTANT (PART-TIME), Takoma Park. Women’s household. Trade free rent. For disabled homeowner. Requires car. September 1st.

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Caregivers

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate

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UCARE AGENCY A reliable home health care agency can provide you with certified and skilled caregiver for your loved ones. Call 240632-9420.

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PUT THE MUSIC YOU LOVE BACK IN YOUR LIFE! Enjoy live jazz and swing on the first Friday of the month at Hollywood East Café, Westfield Wheaton Shopping Mall, 7 to 10 p.m. Listen to the Night & Day Combo perform the classic standard songs of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, from Cole Porter, Gershwin, et al. Great music, great food, no cover charge! http://nightanddaymusic.com/clubpage.html.

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate LEISURE WORLD® - $269,000. 2BR+ Den. 2FB “G” in Turnberry Courts. Freshly painted, golf course view. Shows like a model. 1446 sq ft.

Stan Moffson, Weichert Realtors, 301-928-3463.

LEISURE WORLD® - $249,500. 2BR + Den, 2FB. Remodeled kitchen and baths, custom window treatments, Garage space. 1460 sq ft, Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors, 301-928-3463.

ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD A R E N A L I L A C A B O V E B R O S C A B B Y W A L I E V I N Y H O N T O P O Y E S N O D N A S T U D E N C O R S O L I E U H O V E R B R E R S T

From page 54.

T A O S

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P O A V E D R R E M E S E X O P E W O F S F E E N D T E E R T D R S A

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LEISURE WORLD® - $89,000. 1BR 1FB “A” in “Greens”. New paint and carpet, view of trees enclosed balcony, close to elevator. 850 sq ft.

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LEISURE WORLD® - $174,471. 2BR 2FB 1HB “Berkeley Condo. Upgraded throughout, golf course view. New windows, new HVAC. 1445 sq. ft. Stan Moffson, 301-928-3463.

LEISURE WORLD® - $159,900. 2BR +den 2FB. “One of a Kind” with garage. Table space kitchen, close to Club House, 1264 sq ft. Stan Moffson 301-928-3463.

LEISURE WORLD® - $289,000. 3BR 2-1/2BA “M” in the “Greens” with Garage, Table space kitchen with window, extra storage. 1530 sq ft.

Stan Moffson 301-928-3463.

LEISURE WORLD® - $409,000. 3BR 2FB “JJ” model in “Overlook” with lots of extras, marble foyer, crown molding, custom closets, upgraded kitchen. Golf Course view and Garage. 1560 sq ft. Stan Moffson 301-928-3463.

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Close to elevator, 9’ ceilings, enclosed sunroom, spacious living room, separate dining room.

Kitchen has pass-thru and granite counters. $182,900. Barbara Michaluk 240-506-2434, Weichert.

LEISURE WORLD VANTAGE WEST condo.

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COLONIAL BEACH. Beautiful home on river in quiet neighborhood. Golf cart community.

2BR, 1BA, finished attic, W/D, screened porch, garage, large yard. $1265. Call: 703-430-7988.

HOUSE-SHARE/JOB(S) TAKOMA PARK. Newly-forming “Golden Girls”. Homebody familytype group house, for 2-3 women (1-2 trading free/reduced rent for part-time “Personal Assistant” job(s) requiring car, for disabled homeowner).

Prefer 40’s – 60’s, church-goers, creative, unattached, politically left-leaning. Musts: extremely compassionate, community living experience, demonstrated advanced inner/inter-personal skills, financially stable, positive spirit. No: pets, smoking, drugs, drama. Low/no: alcohol, sugar, overnight guests. Charming large light-filled Gingerbread Victorian house with studio apartment, master bedroom suite, bedrooms ($950-$650) private/shared baths, quiet, decks, forest overlook, 6person hot-tub, fireplace, gardening, parking, CAC, W/D, safe residential area, walk to Red Line Metro through lively quaint village with fascinating shops. Free rent/job starts 9/1, others when able.

Share utilities, house chores, FIOS(3). References/credit check, deposit. Let’s create supportive, fun camaraderie! Job/house-share details on DC Craigslist. 301-270-2042 re: questions, applying.

ASBURY DWELLINGS – Newly renovated 62+ community – Newly Renovated 62+ community Section 8 waitlist is open for efficiency, 1 & 2 bedrooms. All utilities included. Computer lab, community center with daily lunch served.

Please come in to apply Tuesday – Thursday between the hours of 10AM and 3:30PM at 1616 Marion St, NW, EHO. SILVER SPRING – THE GREENS $219,800 Huge price reduction on spacious 2BR, 2BA + den, dining room, tablespace kitchen with walkin pantry, garage & storage area now available.

Relax on enclosed porch overlooking trees & golf course. Call JOAN BROWN, 240-277-3132 or 301-681-0550 x138 Weichert, Realtors.

ROOM FOR RENT in private home, shared facilities, only non-smoking female, fully furnished, no pets $495 per month plus utilities.

301-233-4722.

RENTAL: Leisure World, 55+ community.

Beautiful, light-filled 3BR, 2 Full Bath, 1,200 sq ft, 1 level quadroplex. Custom, tiled floor kitchen, new hardwood floors, patio with shed.

Exceptional inside & out. Includes ALL utilities (except phone) +cable + ALL maintenance & L.W. amenities (golf, pools, clubhouses, restaurants, etc.). $1,825/month. Available August 20th, but you can see now. 240-2714-1557, showmt@hotmail.com.

Classifieds cont. on p. 55.

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, offer a personal service, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $15 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word.

Commercial Party Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing commercial business enterprise. Each ad is $35 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word.

Note: Each real estate listing counts as one commercial ad.

The Beacon, Classified Dept.

P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227

Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:

For information about display advertising, or to request a media kit, call (301) 949-9766.

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Puzzle Page

A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 — 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 Looking Down On

by Stephen Sherr 1

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Scrabble answers on p. 53.

JUMBLE ANSWERS

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Across

Down

1. Madison Square Garden, for one 6. Baker’s meas.

10. Like Obama’s office 14. Light purple shade 15. Operatic solo 16. Debit card issuer 17. Absolutely legitimate 19. Julia’s Oscar-winning title role 20. List of 9 Down players 21. Impolite 22. Suffering from chicken pox 26. Unbeatable foes 28. Rare utterance from George Washington 29. Part of WPM 32. Pollster’s grouping 33. Like a Harvard wall 34. “We have met the enemy, and ___ us” (Walt Kelly) 36. Chose 40. Elated 43. Simple question 44. “___ little faith” 45. “... ___ man about a horse” 46. Evidence on CSI: Miami 48. It’s not quite as easy as ABC 49. Choosing word 50. Test taker 54. “Every science begins as philosophy and ___ art” (Will Durant) 56. Approximately 57. Pure 60. Stead 61. What the start of each of this puzzle’s theme answers means 66. Hop, skip or jump 67. ___ Day (vitamin brand) 68. Moved cattle 69. While lead-in 70. Comicc Foxx 71. Bisected a lady (temporarily)

1. Chicken king divider 2. Eve, originally 3. Prodigious acronymous 1970’s rock band 4. Part of USNA, in Annapolis 5. Not at all sweet 6. Artsy New Mexico town 7. Little monster 8. Seductress 9. National League team 10. Appearing in too many movies 11. Computer calamity 12. Comment to the audience 13. Bowling alley units 18. ... ___ Cried Wolf 22. Beatles’ culinary song “___ Truffle” 23. Conclusion to re-, in-, and de24. Grammatical gaffes 25. Surely 27. Persian word 30. Challenge authority 31. Positioned 35. Pump or clog 37. Oxygen producers 38. Supreme Court Justice Kagan 39. Attack times 41. Corn bread 42. Lacking vitality 47. Give berth 50. Fill in the last square 51. One who gives it a go 52. Addicts 53. Thou, possessively 55. Brainiacs 58. Mellowed, as wine 59. Seafood selection 62. La-la lead-in 63. Outcast from the Five W’s 64. Madison ___ 65. Homer’s next door neighbor

Answers on page 53.

Jumble Answers Jumbles: YOKEL ADULT DECADE PUZZLE Answer: When they attended the cruise ship dance they were - ALL "DECKED" OUT

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

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For Sale/Rent: Real Estate

Personal Services

Wanted

Wanted

***FREE FORECLOSURE LISTINGS*** OVER 400,000 properties nationwide. Low down payment. Call now 800-250-2043.

VAN MAN – For your driving needs. Shopping, appointments, pick-up and deliver – airport van. Call Mike 301-565-4051.

AVAILABLE NOW!!! 2-4 Bedroom homes Take Over Payments No Money Down/No Credit Check Call 1-888-269-9192.

MOTHER WILL DRIVE YOU to your appointments, do your shopping, clean your house, cooking, personal assistant. Do you need to plan an event? Also does Elder Care. Honest, reasonable rate, and references provided. 240-5957467.

CASH FOR RECORDS & CDs. BEST PRICE GUARANTEED. Free appraisals. All types of music, 33, 45, 78 & CDs. Call Steve 301-6465403. Will make House Calls.

HIGHEST CASH PAID FOR ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES– Old and good quality furniture, glass, pottery, china, paintings, art, toys, advertising, costume and high-grade jewelry, gold, silver, silver flatware, wind-up watches, clocks, dolls, musical instruments, music boxes, sports & paper memorabilia, sterling, fishing, hunting, rugs, lamps, Hummels, political, rock & roll memorabilia, posters, military items, helmets, guns, swords, bayonets, medals, weapons, guitars, banjos, prints, art, sculptures, Lladro, bronzes, trains, fishing rod reels & lures, cast iron outdoor furniture, higrade American made tools, presentation and other unusual items. Purchasing one piece or entire estates. I have over 30 years experience and I am a very ethical dealer located in Bowie, Md. Also a permanent vendor at Eastern Market in Southeast Washington, DC on Sundays.

Please call Mike Keller, (301) 731-0982 or (301) dc742-5031.

STOP RENTING Lease option to buy Rent to own No money down No credit check 1-877-3950321.

For Sale FOR SALE: 2 cemetery plots located in Headstone section of National Memorial Park, Falls Church, VA. Cemetery’s value is $17,300; will sell for $9,000. Located in popular Asian area where spaces are very limited. Call 703-6985175.

DIRECT TO HOME Satellite TV $24.99/mo.

FREE installation, FREE HD/DVR upgrade.

New customers - NO ACTIVATION FEE! Credit/Debit Card Req. Call 1-800-795-3579.

Health PAID RESEARCH STUDY: Participants needed for NIH-funded hearing experiments conducted at the University of Maryland, College Park. Seeking people ages 65-80 with normal hearing or hearing loss. Hearing evaluation included as part of the study. Participation time:~12 hours; $12/hour. Contact Chris or Erin (301-405-7454).

GENERIC VIAGRA 50mg 100mg 60 pills only $149 6 free pills Generic CIALIS (Tedalafil) 20 mg 40mg 90 pills only $199 15 free pills 888225-2146.

VIAGRA 100mg, Cialis 20mg. 40 pill +4 FREE, only $99.00. Save $500. Discreet Call.1-888-7979024.

Miscellaneous HATS BY HABER MEN’S HATS www. hatalog.com. Borsalino, Stetson, Dobbs, Biltmore felt, straw fedoras, caps, rainhats. All sizes and colors. Cleaning, blocking. Drop in: Sunday through Thursday 1 to 4 p.m. Other times and Fridays by appointment. 11226 Bybee Street, Kemp Mill, Silver Spring, MD 20902. 301-6492676. email: hatbaber@gildahaber.com.

ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE from home.

Medical, Business, Paralegal, Accounting, Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial aid if qualified. Call 800494-3586 www.CenturaOnline.com DISH NETWORK PACKAGES start $24.99/mo FREE HD for life! FREE BLOCKBUSTER® movies (3 months.) Call1-800-915-9514 GENERIC VIAGRA 50mg 100mg 60 pills only $149 6 free pills Generic CIALIS (Tedalafil) 20 mg 40mg 90 pills only $199 15 free pills 888225-2146.

PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? You choose from families nationwide. LIVING EXPENSES PAID. Abby’s One True Gift Adoptions. 866-413-6292, 24/7 Void/Illinois.

RESTLESS ROVER? We’ll be right over! Personalized, professional pet care in your home or ours. Experienced with all domestic animals.

Senior discount. PRECIOUS PALS 301-2370265.

VINYL RECORDS WANTED from the 20s through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections preferred. Please call John, 301-596-6201.

ATTENTION: BEACH PEOPLE, the Casey Delivery services Maryland/Delaware/ & New England beaches, 1st week of June thru Oct. 15th, 2011. Small or large loads. Our 32nd year.

Call Paul, 301-351-3840 cell.

HIGHEST CASH PAID FOR ANTIQUES, ESTATES. FREE evaluations and house calls.

We pay the most for your valuable treasures because we get the most money on eBay – the worldwide Internet. Serving entire metro area – Maryland, Washington, DC, Northern Virginia.

Buying the following items – furniture, art, paintings, silver, gold, old coins, jewelry, vintage wristwatches, military items, including guns, rifles, swords, daggers, knives, musical instruments, guitars, violins, banjos, old toys, dolls, trains, old golf clubs, baseball, football, tennis equipment and memorabilia, old fishing, tools, books, photographs, comic books. I am a resident of Silver Spring. 20 years experience.

Please call Tom 240-476-3441. Thank you.

HISTORICAL RESEARCH Civil War, War of 1812, U.S. Revolution, Military Records, Genealogy, Other. Call Jeff, 301-933-5790. Jmehall2@msn.com.

CLUTTER BUSTING/DOWNSIZING HELP – Know someone moving to an Independent/Assisted Living Facility who needs help sorting and organizing? Free Estimates, References Available, Reasonable Rates. Call Miriam 301-852-3330.

Personals *CORRECT EMAIL* WOULD LIKE TO MEET Caucasian lady, about 60-65 or so, nonsmoker, non-drinker, quiet type, low-key, easy going, not hyperactive, good quiet sense of humor. Home person, no bars or clubs, who likes quiet moments alone with two, walking in parks, around lakes, visiting museums, some malls, historic places, and scenic places, and who lives in the Takoma Park or Silver Spring area. I am mid-70’s, non-smoker, non-drinker, low-key, easy going, good quiet sense of humor, same likes as above. American, born in W.VA., retired Federal Government worker, own nice home. I am tall slim build, not handsome…but mirror only cracks about once a month while I am shaving. Love to do little things to make a lady happy and contented. One other thing, I am not Caucasian if that matters to you. Contact me at billhwv@aol.com.

Vacation Opportunities BEST AIRFARE TO ASIA. We are China Tour Specialists.Serving theWashington D.C.MetroArea; Phone 703-992-8990; email witspeter@yahoo.com; Website www.chinawidetravel.com.

Wanted WANTED: OLDER VIOLINS, GUITARS, BANJOS, MANDOLINS, ETC. Musician/collector will pay cash for older string instruments. Jack (301) 279-2158.

Personal Services

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.

DO YOU HAVE A NOVEL IN YOU? Awardwinning writer with 25 years experience will help you write, edit, and help find agents and publishers for your work of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or your memoir. Hourly rate reduced for senior citizens. Phone Jack Ryan at 703-5601015, or email to jryan12558@aol.com.

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.

P.F. CASEY’S TRANSPORTATION CO, frequent trips to N.Y.C. Moving work, Harvard Square, Maine, N.H. Small loads welcome, chandeliers, Tiffany, Remington, 12/20 PC. Settings.

Call 301-351-3850 Paul for details.

WILL TYPE YOUR MEMOIRS, manuscripts, etc. For info and rates, call 703-671-1854.

WOW! GREAT HAIRCUT at a great price!

Professional family hair salon conveniently located in Bethesda, MD. State board certified.

Call 240-432-7211.

PARALEGAL: Experienced in trusts, estates and will preparation and other letters and paperwork. Call 301-565-2917.

STAMP COLLECTIONS, AUTOGRAPHS purchased/appraised – U.S., worldwide, covers, paper memorabilia. Stamps are my specialty – highest price paid! Appraisals. Phone Alex, 301309-6637. Stampex1@gmail.com.

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 301-279-8834. Thank you.

CASH FOR JEWELRY: Buying jewelry, diamonds, gold, platinum, silver, watches, coins, flatware, etc. We make house calls. Ask for Tom or Katherine. Call anytime 301-654-8678.

HIGHEST CASH PAID FOR ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES. Compare my price before you sell! Serving entire metro area. Call for a free consultation, and professional service. I will purchase one piece or your entire estate. Including Furniture, Artwork, Glassware, Jewelry, Rugs, Costume, Gold and Silver, Watches, Sterling Items, Flatware, Lladro & Hummel Figurines, All Military Items, Guns, Swords, Helmets, Bayonets, Medals, Scout Items, Clocks, Music Boxes, Toys, Baseball Memorabilia, Trains, All String Instruments, Including Guitars, Banjos, Mandolins, Fishing Rods and Reels, Lures, Historical Items, American tools, Posters, Outside Iron Furniture. I am a very reputable dealer with two locations in Silver Spring and Bowie, MD. Please call Christopher Keller 301408-4751 or 301-262-1299. Thank you.

$$CASH PAID$$ DIABETIC TEST STRIPS. Sealed Unexpired Boxes Only. FREE SHIPPING. FASTEST PAYMENT! 1-888-529-0216 (24/7).

WANTED JAPANESE MOTORCYCLES KAWASAKI 1970-1980 Z1-900, KZ900, KZ 1000, H2-750, H1-500, S1-250, S2-250, S2-350, S3-400 CASH. 1-800-772-1142, 1-310-721-0726 usa@classicrunners.com.

TOP CASH FOR CARS, Any Car/Truck, Running or Not. Call for INSTANT offer: 1-800-4546951. $$OLD GUITARS WANTED$$ Gibson,Fender,Martin,Gretsch. 1920’s to 1980’s.

Top Dollar paid. Toll Free: 1-866-433-8277 WANTED DIABETES TEST STRIPS Any kind/brand. Unexpired up to $18.00. Shipping Paid Hablamos espanol 1-800-266-0702 www.selldiabeticstrips.com.

DONATE YOUR CAR. FREE TOWING. “Cars for Kids”. Any condition. Tax deductible outreachcenter.com, 1-800-597-9411.

Thanks for reading!

BEACON BITS

Aug. 23

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF RUBENS Learn about the “greatest colorist in the history of art,” Peter Paul

Rubens, on Tuesday, Aug. 23 at 11:30 a.m. Rubens is known for his female nudes.

This free event will be held at the Lee Senior Center, 5722 Lee Hwy., Arlington, Va. For more information or to register, call (703) 228-0555.

Aug. 13

SATURDAY ART WALK Wander through a campus-wide showcase featuring the work of more than 150 visual artists at the Workhouse Arts Center, 9601

Ox Rd., Lorton, Va. During this free event, from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13, guests can tour seven studio buildings and mingle with artists while enjoying refreshments and music. For more information, call (703) 495-0001.

Aug. 23

SCULPTURE ON THE NATIONAL MALL Learn about the statues adorning the nation’s National Mall from art historian Judy Scott Feldman. She explains why one of the

FDR Memorial statues is so controversial, where the memorial to the author of the U.S. Bill of Rights is, and more. Come learn how these statues tell the American story. Free, at the Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Dr., Wheaton, Md. on Tuesday, Aug. 23 from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. Call (240) 777-4999 for more information.

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