August 2016 | DC Beacon

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VOL.28, NO.8

Cop’s third career: TV star

Meeting the enemy The turning point for his career decision came when he was 9 and went to the Pittsburg Zoo. “I went to the primate house, and there was a huge sign that said, ‘Around this corner is the most dangerous animal on Earth.’ Wow! I ran around the corner along with everybody else, and it was a mirror from ceiling to floor, and everyone was very disappointed — except for me.

“I stood there transfixed and thought about what the sign said, and all these people [reflected] in the mirror. It was kind of an epiphany for me, and I thought about it for a very long time.”

Kenda went to college, earning a degree in political science, before moving to Colorado Springs, where his mother had grown up.

He joined the police department there, starting as an officer on the street and working his way up to become a burglary detective. Eventually, he became the head of the

PHOTO COURTESY OF INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY

By Barbara Ruben “In my adult life, everybody either hated me or was afraid of me or both,” said Joe Kenda of his 19 years as a Colorado homicide detective. But that reaction has turned on its head.

Kenda is now the star of a true-crime drama series on the Investigation Discovery (ID) network. In the show, which runs in 163 countries and is translated into 100 languages, he narrates re-enactments of some of his most intriguing — and often gory — cases. The show, “Homicide Hunter,” is seen by 27 million viewers and is the network’s most popular show.

“I don’t think anyone on the planet would have guessed where this would go,” said Kenda, who turns 70 later this month and now lives with his wife in Hampton Roads, Va., near an adult son.

Kenda will be the keynote speaker at the Beacon’s 50+Expos, taking place on Sept. 11 in Silver Spring, Md., and Sept. 25 in Springfield, Va. [For details, see story on page 17.]

While Kenda knew from a young age he wanted to be a cop, he never dreamed there would be so much interest in his astounding 92 percent success rate in solving cases. (Nationally, about 64 percent of homicides are eventually solved.)

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LEISURE & TRAVEL

A tour of the extensive flora and fauna of Maine’s Acadia National Park; plus, how home exchanges make it possible to travel for less page 41

ARTS & STYLE

On “Homicide Hunter” — the #1 show on the Investigation Discovery channel — Lt. Joe Kenda recounts some of the more than 350 homicide cases he solved as a police detective in Colorado. Kenda, who now lives in Virginia, will discuss his evolving career at both of the Beacon’s 50+Expos in September.

Olney Theatre has some fun with Gilbert and Sullivan; plus, Paul Simon’s adventurous new music, and Bob Levey on angry grandpas page 46

police department’s major crimes unit.

He’s best known for the deadpan, slowly uttered line, “My, my, my,” which he says when a suspect is being particularly untruthful.

Which of the nearly 400 cases he investigated stand out most to Kenda?

All of them.

“They are all absolutely awful. It doesn’t matter about what they are, who the victim is, the method in which it is done. I’ve seen [murder] by every means except a nuclear weapon. I’ve seen every other way you can kill someone — children, babies and adults.…It was disgusting.”

Changing gears But after 21 years on the police force, Kenda put the brakes on his career — at

the insistence of his wife, Kathy. He and Kathy were high school sweethearts; they’ve been together nearly 55 years.

She was worried about his job as a detective, but busy with her job as a nurse and raising their two children. Then one night, Kenda was working a particularly dangerous case.

“We had a kid who used an automatic weapon in a homicide, 32 rounds, shot into a car of kids. Killed one, wounded three, hit everything in the neighborhood. It took me five days to figure out who he was,” Kenda said. “I called Kathy and said, ‘I’m going to go get this jerk with the machine gun, and I’ll be late.’”

That was the last Kathy heard from him See KENDA, page 48

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A matter of taste Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when nation for the relationship: bitter tastes are first we practice to perceive. often associated with toxic foods, so peoYes, I know. That last word, ple who possess a keener if I was truly quoting Sir Walter awareness of potential poiScott, should be “deceive.” sons tend also to be more That was my topic last month keenly attuned to other possi— how the practice of lying is ble dangers in life. so central to socializing among Other studies associate difhumans. ferent personality traits with But this month, I’m talking people who enjoy bitter flavors about perception, which evimore than most. These folks dently (or should I say, apparare the most likely to admit ently?) weaves no less tanthey enjoy manipulating, and gled a web. even tormenting, other people FROM THE I recently read about several PUBLISHER in pursuing their goals.

By Stuart P. Rosenthal studies of flavor perception that On a more positive note, found an interrelationship beone might say such people tween our personalities and our taste buds. are also more apt to explore opportunities They are small studies, certainly not defini- and take risks, which contributes to tive. But they seem to be onto something. human survival in another way.

For example, researchers have found that Here’s another astounding result from people (and rats, for that matter) who are recent perception studies: what we’ve reparticularly sensitive to bitter tasting foods cently tasted appears to affect how (and tend also to be jumpier, less social, and more how strongly) we react to ordinary events. prone to anxiety that those who are not.

In 2011, a study found that volunteers There appears to be a genetic element who took a swallow of an extremely bitter to this sensitivity, reflected in the number drink judged others more harshly for variof fungiform papillae (what our taste buds ous actions than did people who had simfor bitterness sit on) on our tongues. ply drunk water.

The genetic link helps provide an explaSimilarly, more recent experiments

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found that volunteers expressed a more aggressive response to nuisances when they had tasted grapefruit juice rather than water prior to being asked.

And just as our taste may affect our feelings, the flip may be true. An experiment last year found that men whose sports team had just won a game judged a lemon sorbet to be sweeter in taste than the men whose team lost.

And yes, researchers have an explanation here, too: our taste buds for sweetness also possess receptors for the primary stress hormones we produce. So when stress hormones flood a person’s body, his taste buds for sweetness tend to be dulled.

In contrast, when the “feel good” hormone serotonin is released, we become more sensitive to sweet taste “and can detect it at concentrations that are even 27 percent lower than before the serotonin release,” according to an article in the Washington Post earlier this year.

These observations raise a number of interesting questions, about both our abilities to perceive and our abilities to feel.

We know there are elements of subjectivity when we perceive objects or situations with our senses. But we generally assume our perception of reality should be

consistent over time, and not change with our moods.

Similarly with our feelings: We tend to assume that the way we feel about others reflects our “true” inner reality — not something as superficial as what we had for dinner or whether our ball team won or lost.

But it appears that situations that “leave a bad taste in our mouths” might well affect not only our perception of foods, but our attitudes toward others and their behavior.

Can a person change his personality by changing his diet? Is it true that “we are what we eat” — in a psychological as well as physical sense?

It might be worth experimenting on ourselves a bit. If we’re in a “sour mood,” maybe it’s a good time for a piece of candy.

If we want to enjoy an evening with our sweetheart, we probably shouldn’t choose grapefruit for a first course.

On the other hand, at least in my home, a good piece of dark chocolate — bitter though it may be — always brings a smile to my wife’s face. I’ll try not to think about that too much...

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: Regarding your editorial, “Nothing but the truth?” in your July issue: Research on robots confirms your observation that people are uncomfortable interacting with beings that speak the absolute truth.

In the March/April 2016 issue of Robot, there is a short article from the University of Lincoln in the UK titled, “Flawed Robots are Better Equipped to Build Relationships with Humans.” They measured that people dealing with robots felt more comfortable with robots that seemed to have faulty memories and seemed to get emotional about things.

Ralph Lake Hyattsville, Md. Dear Editor: Thank you for your July cover article on 1776, the entrepreneurial incubator in Washington, D.C. As a newcomer to the over-50 crowd and to the Metro area, I was both surprised and encouraged to learn that our town, so steeped in history and tradition (and so often bound by the constraints of politics and policy), is also host to a bastion of invention and innovation.

How wonderful it is that right here in the nation’s capital we can find entrepreneurs of different generations and backgrounds

working together toward solving many of the world’s big problems in their areas of expertise. It is a uniquely American model of problem solving that I think the world still longs for, and for which there is no match.

Faith Ventura DeLong, DDS Arlington, Va. Dear Editor: In your June issue, an article by Kaitlin Pitsker described steps for recovering from tech-support scams. Those are reasonable instructions, but the article omitted some basics for avoiding being scammed this way.

First, Microsoft and other business do not call consumers with warnings about their computers being infected. These scams resemble scammers claiming to be from the IRS (“Pay taxes/penalties now or you’ll be arrested!”) and police (“Pay tickets/fines now or you’ll be arrested!”). It’s all nonsense.

Second, there are wonderful local resources for people learning about computers, the Internet, smartphones, and technology in general. In brief, people primarily using Windows systems should visit www.patacs.org, the site of the Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society, for information on this decades-old group that holds three meetings a month and is See LETTERS TO EDITOR, page 53

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Technology &

Innovations How to protect your phone from hackers

By Bree Fowler Recent news about cyberhackers — including the apparent Russian government hack of the DNC’s email and the U.S. government hack of an iPhone used by the San Bernardino killer — serve as a reminder that phones and other electronic devices aren’t impenetrable vaults.

While most people aren’t targets of the NSA, FBI or a foreign government, hackers are looking to steal the financial and personal information of ordinary people.

Your phone stores more than just selfies. Your email account on the phone, for instance, is a gateway to resetting banking and other sensitive passwords.

Like washing your hands and brushing your teeth, a little “cyber hygiene” can go a long way toward preventing disaster. Here is what you need to do:

Lock your phone with a passcode Failing to do so is like leaving your front door unlocked.

A four-digit passcode — and an accompanying self-destruct feature that might wipe a phone’s data after too many wrong guesses — stumped the FBI for weeks and forced them to bring in outside help to gain access to the San Bernadino shooter’s phone.

Using six digits makes a passcode 100 times harder to guess than a four-digit code. And if you want to make it even harder, you can add letters and other characters to further increase the number of possible combinations. These are options on both iPhones and Android phones.

The iPhone’s self-destruct feature is something you must turn on in the settings, under Touch ID & Passcode. Do so, and the phone wipes itself clean after 10 failed attempts.

But keep in mind: the 10 attempts apply to your guesses, too, if you forget your passcode, or if your grandkids start randomly punching in numbers. Android has a similar feature.

Both systems will also introduce waiting periods after several wrong guesses to make it tough to try all combos.

With phones that utilize biometrics, such as fingerprint scanners, you can use those as a shortcut, making complex passcodes unnecessary.

Use encryption Much to the FBI’s displeasure, iPhones

running at least iOS 8 offer full-disk encryption by default. That means that the information stored on the phone can’t be extracted — by authorities or by hackers — and read on another computer. If the phone isn’t unlocked first, any information obtained

would be scrambled and unreadable.

With Android, however, you typically have to turn full encryption on in the Settings menu. Google’s policy requires many phones with the latest version of Android, including its own Nexus phones, to offer

encryption by default. But according to Google, only 2.3 percent of active Android devices currently are running that version.

See PHONE HACKERS, page 7

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Beacon Links & Apps

By Barbara Ruben

Links DIY projects galore At the Instructables website, get instructions for making everything from furniture out of wooden pallets, to margaritas, to robots. Launched by MIT a decade ago, the site has grown from instructions for a couple hundred ideas to more than 100,000 projects — from crafts, to cooking, to costumes and much more. Site users can register and contribute their own instructions to the site as well. www.instructables.com

Virtual café for boomers On BoomerCafe, you’ll find personal stories submitted by those in their 50s, 60s and 70s about such diverse topics as racism in their communities and fun travel adventures. But wait, there’s more: you’ll also find advice from a variety of experts on everything from how boomer home sellers can fix up their houses to make them more appealing to millennial buyers, to the healthy benefits of walking. www.boomercafe.com

Catching the travel bug Where do you want to go on your next travel adventure? Donna L. and Alan Hull share their recent trips, from Antarctica to the Alaska Highway, on their site, My

A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Itchy Travel Feet. With a tag line of “The Baby Boomers’ Guide to Travel,” the 60something couple write about, and share photos of, adventure and luxury travel for those who want to travel independently. http://myitchytravelfeet.com

Apps Staying safe Virtual Halo is a personal safety app that alerts your loved ones of your whereabouts and circumstances at the press of a button.

It’s a good safety precaution for those who live alone or travel often. It only monitors your location when you want it to, so you’re not constantly being monitored.

The app provides a variety of modules and features, including an SOS button in the event of a serious emergency when Virtual Halo can automatically broadcast a

distress call from your position.

It also has a feature that checks in on you throughout the day, and if after a certain length of time you do not respond, it shares your last known location with a child, caregiver, neighbor or whomever you designate.

Taking a vacation to a foreign country?

Virtual Halo also enables you to let loved ones know you’ve arrived safely with the press of a button.

Virtual Halo can be downloaded for free on iPhones to provide up to four SOS alerts and one emergency contact. The premium Virtual Halo Plus costs $3.99 per month and includes unlimited actions and emergency contacts. Not available for Android.

History, one document at a time The millions of holdings at the National Archives make delving into the nation’s repository of historical documents and photographs pretty daunting.

To help people understand the breadth of the collection, the National Archives’ app, Today’s Document, features just one thing each day. For example, recently it was a photo of a clearing among trees taken in 1864, where Union General James B. McPherson was shot and killed during the Battle of Atlanta. The battle preceded a siege after which Atlanta would fall to the Union. App users can link to other Civil War photos.

A website is also available with the same images and documents at http://www. archives.gov/historical-docs/todays-doc/.

The app is available for iPhone and Android.

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some location in the world. You then navigate for clues from road signs or vegetation, then guess where you are. You can play alone or challenge friends.

The app, available for the iPhone, is free, but make sure you don’t spell it “GeoGuesser,” or you’ll get a similar game that costs $2. You can pay to focus the game on specific countries or cities.

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GeoGuessr is a game that sends you a random Google Street View image of

Software updates often contain fixes to known flaws that might give hackers a way into your device.

On iPhones, Apple prompts you to get the update.

It’s more complicated with Android because updates need to go through various phone manufacturers and wireless carriers first. But do install updates when asked.

— AP

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If you do have to remotely wipe your phone’s data, it’s comforting to know that you won’t lose all your photos and other important data — assuming you regularly back up your phone to your home computer. It’s helpful, too, if a toddler dunks your phone in a glass of water or you drop it in the toilet.

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Find My iPhone isn’t just for finding your phone in the couch cushions.

If your device disappears, you can put it in Lost Mode. That locks your screen with a passcode, if it isn’t already, and lets you display a custom message with a phone number to help you get it back.

The app comes with iPhones, but you need to set it up before you lose your phone. Look for the Find iPhone app in the Extras folder.

Meanwhile, Activation Lock makes it harder for thieves to sell your device. The phone becomes unusable — it can’t be reactivated — without knowing its Apple ID. The feature kicks in automatically on phones running at least iOS 7.

If all else fails, you can remotely erase your phone’s data. While your information in it will be lost, at least it won’t end up in the hands of a nefarious person.

There isn’t anything comparable built

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into Android phones, but Google’s Android Device Manager app (along with a handful of others made by third parties) will do this, and can be downloaded for free from the Google Play app store.

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WINDOWS® 10 & YOUR SMARTPHONE

Prerequisite: Computer experience & Windows 10 PC Registration: $20 1 session Limit: 10 # 534 Fri Aug 5 9:30am-11:30am

You have a Windows 10 PC and a smartphone using the Google Android or Apple iOS operating system. Would you like to see your Windows 10 email, calendar and contacts on your smartphone? This class shows you how using the Phone Companion Universal app that comes with your Windows 10. Please bring a fully charged smartphone to class.

(This class in not for people with an iPhone).

ONEDRIVE® & THE CLOUD

Prerequisite: Computer experience & Windows 10 PC Registration:: $20 1 session Limit: 10 # 535 Fri Aug 12 9:30am-11:30am

The Cloud is a new place to store files and do computing. Windows 10 provides you with free storage

space on the OneDrive service. This course shows you what you can do with OneDrive and how you can use the Cloud to do computing.

MASTER THE MICROSOFT EDGE® BROWSER

Prerequisite: Computer experience & Windows 10 PC Registration: $40 2 sessions Limit: 10 # 526 Mon Aug 1 – Aug 8 9:30am-11:30am # 591 Tue Sept 6 – Sept 13 9:30am-11:30am

Microsoft Edge is the new web browser provided with Windows 10. It contains a number of useful features that make browsing easier. This course shows you how to set up the browser to best meet your needs and how to take advantage of the new features.

CUSTOMIZE & CONTROL WINDOWS® 10

Prerequisite: Computer experience & Windows 10 PC Registration: $40 2 sessions Limit: 10 # 592 Fri Sept 9 – Sept 16 9:30am-11:30am

This course shows you how to use the settings app to customize your Windows environment to better suit the way you use your computer and to control many features of Windows. The options you have are easy to use once you understand what they can do for you.

MASTER THE WINDOWS® 10 START MENU

Prerequisite: Computer experience & Windows 10 PC Registration: $20 1 session Limit: 10 # 593 Mon Sept 12 9:30am-11:30am

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The Windows 10 start menu is a useful tool once you understand how to use it. The start menu provides access to things that have been a part of Windows for a while. Additionally, it provides easy access to the Uniform Windows Platform apps that are new to Windows 10. This course shows you how to customize and manage the menu to best suit your needs.

COOL, INTERESTING & FUN WEBSITES

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# 594 Mon Sept 19 9:30am-11:30am Do you always visit the same old websites? See websites you probably didn’t know existed. The World Wide Web can open whole new experiences for you.

EXPLORE WINDOWS® 10 APPS

Prerequisites: Computer experience & Windows 10 PC Registration: $20 1 session Limit: 10 # 595 Tue Sept 20 9:30am-11:30am Windows 10 comes with a number of Universal apps that provide useful features. This course explores several of the apps and shows you how to use the Windows store to obtain additional ones. You will also learn how to manage apps on the start menu.

continued next page

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HOW CORTANA® CAN ASSIST YOU

Prerequisite: Computer experience & Windows 10 PC Registration: $20 1 session Limit: 10 # 596 Fri Sept 23 9:30am-11:30am Cortana is the new digital personal assistant integrated into Windows 10. This course shows you how you can use Cortana to find information, answer questions, find things on your computer and do different computer tasks.

WINDOWS® 10 ESSENTIALS

Prerequisite: Computer experience & Windows 10 PC Registration: $90 6 sessions Limit: 10 # 597 Mon Nov 7 – Dec 12 9:30am-11:30am This course teaches the essentials you need to be use your Windows 10 computer effectively. It covers the start menu, desktop, taskbar and settings app and covers how to use File Explorer to manage your files. It also highlights the Universal Windows Platform apps.

GET MORE FROM THE WEB

Prerequisite: Computer experience & Windows 10 PC Registration: $90 6 sessions Limit: 10 # 598 Tues Nov 8 – Dec 13 9:30am-11:30am

You use the World Wide Web every day for email, information, shopping or financial matters. This course shows you how to make your web browsing experience more productive and to get what you want to be more efficiently using the Microsoft Edge web browser. Staying secure while online is emphasized.

HOW THE WEB WORKS

Prerequisite: None Registration: $20 1 session # 599 Fri Nov 18

Limit: 10 9:30am-11:30am

You use the World Wide Web every day. Ever wonder what goes on “behind the scenes” to make it all happen? This class explains from start to finish how the web page appears on your monitor screen nearly instantaneously. Come and learn. It is pretty amazing.

ORGANIZE YOUR FILES WITH WINDOWS® 10

Prerequisite: Computer experience & Windows 10 PC Registration: $60 3 sessions Limit: 10 # 600 Fri Dec 2 – Dec 16 9:30am-11:30am

Do you need to bring some organization to your computer-based life? This course shows you the features of the new Windows 10 File Explorer application and how to use them to organize your collection of documents and photos. File Explorer has a new “look” plus serval built-in features to assist you in crating and viewing folders, as well as moving, copying and renaming files.

DISCOUNT! STUDENTS RECEIVE A 10% DISCOUNT WHEN BILL IS PAID IN FULL 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE START OF CLASS. If you have questions, call 240-395-0916 or email seniortech@accessjca.org

Technology & Innovations

JCA SENIORTECH ASSISTED PRACTICE

Practice sessions are an integral part of your learning. You must be registered for at least one class to participate.

Wed Sept 7 – Sept 21 9:30am-1:30pm Wed Nov 9 – Dec 14 9:30am-1:30pm

JCA Bronfman Center 12320 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 240-395-0916

JCA IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION CENTER AT THE BRONFMAN CENTER HAS BEEN COMPLETELY

REDESIGNED AND WILL OPEN FOR NEW CLASSES IN SEPTEMBER. AMONG THE MANY IMPROVEMENTS ARE INCREASED CAPACITY AND THE ABILITY TO OFFER CLASSES ON MACINTOSH COMPUTERS.

COMPUTER BASICS WITH WINDOWS® 10 Prerequisite: Windows 7 Registration: $80 5 sessions # 601 Wed Sept 7 – Oct 5

Limit: 8 10:00am-12:00pm

This course is for students who want to refresh or expand their computer skills using Windows 10. It covers the mouse, keyboard commands, the start menu, taskbar, files and folders, the Internet and use of some built in applications, such as word processor. Much of the information is also applicable with Windows 7 and 8 and 8.1. Being familiar with a computer keyboard’s layout is helpful.

MICROSOFT WORD 2016/365: FROM THE BEGINNING AND BEYOND

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Registration: $60 3 sessions Limit: 8 # 602 Wed Sept 21 – Oct 5 1:30pm- 3:30pm Learn basic word-processing skills, including handson experience creating documents of varying levels of complexity plus more advanced skills, such as illustrating documents with graphics, using templates, creating tables and advanced formatting.

YOUR IPAD® AND YOU

Prerequisite: iPad needs to be updated to the ios9.1 and have an Apple® ID and password Bring fully charged iPad to class Registration: $70 4 sessions Limit: 8 # 603 Wed Oct 19 – Nov 9 10:00am-12:00pm Learn the basics about what you can do with your iPad and how using a tablet is different from using a desktop or laptop computer. Topics include basic navigation, apps and where to get them, setting up your email account, managing your contact list, taking and sharing pictures, listening to music, keeping your iPad safe and running efficiently and backing up data.

IPHONE®,

AN INTRODUCTION

Prerequisite: Bring fully charged iPhone to class Registration: $40 2 session Limit: 8 # 604 Tue Sept 6 – Sept 13 10:00am-12:00pm

Learn to navigate the iPhone, make phone calls, surf the web, send messages, manage apps and more.

IPHONE®

APPS

Prerequisite: Bring fully charged iPhone to class Registration: $20 1 session Limit: 8 # 605 Tue Nov 29 1:00pm-3:00pm

Learn to use and organize apps. Explore apps to create reminders, read or listen to books, find directions, track health and fitness activities, share photos and more. Share your favorite app.

IPHONE®,

9

PHOTOGRAPHY

Prerequisite: Bring fully charged iPhone to class Registration: $20 1 session Limit: 8 # 606 Tue Dec 6 1:00pm-3:00pm

Learn how to use the iPhone to take great pictures, organize them and share your photos with friends and family.

SMARTPHONES AND TABLETS USING THE ANDROID OPERATING SYSTEM WORKSHOP

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Registration: $ 20 1 session Limit: 8 # 607 Thurs Nov 17 10:00am-12:00pm

Learn what the Android operating system is and how to work with its direct manipulation interface. See demonstrations of popular applications (apps) that run on Android.

BROWSING AND SEARCHING THE WEB **NEW**NEW**

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Registration: $ 20 1 session Limit: 8 # 608 Mon Nov 7 10:00am-12:00pm

Learn how to use Internet Explorer®, Google Chrome® and Google® search to use the World Wide Web. We will teach the basics but go beyond, including setting up favorites and bookmarks, creating a bookmark bar, opening multiple tabs and adding extensions to the browser. Learn many techniques to more precisely find the information you want.

DO MORE WITH EMAIL

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Registration: $40 2 sessions Limit: 10 # 609 Thurs Nov 3- Nov 10 1:30pm-3:30pm

Learn to take full advantage of your web-based email service. This course covers all aspects of email, including attachments and contact management. You use your own mail provider for most lessons. You need your email User ID and password.

EXCEL: THE BASICS

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Registration: $40 2 sessions Limit: 8 # 610 Tues Nov 14 – Nov 21 10:00am-12:0pm

Develop and learn how to create a basic spreadsheet and enter data, edit the cells, adjust columns and rows, “crossfooting” spreadsheets, using formulas in spreadsheets.

FACEBOOK IS EASY- SETTING UP AN ACCOUNT

Prerequisite: Bring a picture of yourself and a picture you’d like to share in digital form (jpg).

Registration: $20 1 session Limit: 8 # 611 Thurs Dec 1 10:00am-12:00pm

Find out how to set up a Facebook account and keep it as private or public as you want. Share pictures, thoughts, or quotations with chosen friends.

FACEBOOK IS EASY - HOW TO USE YOUR ACCOUNT

Prerequisite: Must already have a Facebook account.

Registration: $40 2 session Limit: 8 # 612 Thurs Dec 8 – Dec 15 10:00am-12:00pm

This class is for people who already have a Facebook account and want to learn more. We will learn how to find friends, post status updates, connect with people using chat and messages, what it means to “like” a page or a post, and how to post photos and make photo albums, post links to websites and articles, use apps and more.

continued next page

10

Technology & Innovations

JCA SENIORTECH

INS AND OUTS OF DESKTOP PUBLISHING

INTRODUCTION TO THE MAC® OPERATING SYSTEM X

Ever wonder how to make flyers, newsletters, business cards or holiday letters look professional? This class will teach you a quick and easy way using Microsoft Office 2016/365. Bring a USB device to class.

Class size is limited to 4. If class is full, students with Mac laptops are welcome

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalentRegistration: $40 2 session Limit: 8 # 613 Tues Nov 1- Nov 8 10:00am-12:00pm

POWERPOINT®

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Registration: $40 2 sessions Limit: 8 # 614 Tues Sept 20 – Sept 27 10:00am-12:0pm

In this course you will learn to create your own Microsoft PowerPoint presentation by adding and deleting slides, creating different layouts, formatting your presentation and inserting images.

WINDOWS® 10: WHAT’S NEW Registration: $40 2 session # 615 Thurs Oct 20- Oct 27

Limit: 25 10:00am-12:00 pm

Microsoft is offering free upgrades to existing Windows users to go to the new Windows 10 operating system.

In this 2-hour lecture and demonstration, we will examine the new features that you will see in Windows 10 including the new start menu, desktop, the app store, tablet mode, using multiple desktops, looking at the upgrade process and new apps included in Windows 10.

MEET THE TECHNOLOGY GURUS! BRING US YOUR PROBLEMS!

Registration: $30 per individual session Limit: 8 # 616 Date and time to be determined by Tech Guru

Have a one-to-one lesson with our Tech Gurus. Experts are available to help with hardware or software issues. Topics: Windows® 10, buying a new computer, securing your computer, backing up the cloud, laptop/desktop Issues, photos/videos, PowerPoint® and more. Your session will last 2 hours. After you register, you will be contacted to select a date and time for your session and to discuss the questions or issues you will be working on with one of our Tech Gurus.

 NEW  NEW  NEW 

JCA SeniorTech is proud to present our NEW class given on the MAC Operating System!

MEET THE MAC® TECHNOLOGY GURUS! **NEW**NEW** BRING US YOUR PROBLEMS!

Registration: $30 per individual session Limit: 8 # 617 Date and time to be determined by Tech Guru

Have a one-to-one lesson with our Mac Tech Gurus.

Experts are available to help with hardware or software issues. Topics: iPhone®, iPad®, Apple® Laptops/computers. . Your session will last 2 hours. After you register, you will be contacted to select a date and time for your session and to discuss the questions or issues you will be working on with one of our Tech Gurus.

ATTENTION:

Instruction, course materials and all computer language settings are in

English.

Courses are taught with Windows computers.

Registration: $40 2 sessions # 618 Tues Sept 20 - Sept 7 # 619 Tues Nov 15 - Nov 22

Limit: 4 1:30pm-3:30pm 1:30pm-3:30pm

The Apple Mac Operating System (OS), known as OS X provides the interface to the Mac hardware and applications. In this class, we will cover the essential components that users need to know to operate their computers in a safe and productive manner. The class will combine lecture and hands-on exercises.

Topics include the desktop components including the dock and menu bar, system Preferences, finder, Safari browser, spotlight, Mission Control, ways to run Windows on your Mac, and backup with Time Machine.

TECH TALK!

PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ON HOT TOPICS IN TECHNOLOGY

WHAT SHOULD I BUY? Registration: $20 # 620 Wed

1 session Dec 7

Limit: 25 10:00am-12:00pm

As our desktops, laptops, phones and tablets come to the end of their useful lives, consumers are unsure what purchase of new technology makes sense.

Questions you might be asking are: Can my phone or tablet replace my computer? Should I buy one of the new hybrid laptops? Does switching to an Apple computer make sense for my needs? How has camera technology evolved? Should I upgrade to Windows 10? This two-hour discussion/class will consider the pros and cons of various hardware options and look at the application that runs on the various platforms.

INTRODUCTION TO THE CLOUD Registration: $20 # 621 Wed

1 session Nov 2

Limit: 25 1:30pm-3:30pm

There has been a lot of talk about “the cloud” recently.

Learn what the cloud is and how to use it for storage, backup and sharing of files, pictures and music.

CUTTING THE CABLE – TV WITHOUT THE PRICE OF CABLE Registration: $20 # 622 Wed

1 session Nov 9

Limit: 25 1:30pm-3:30pm

With the availability of high-speed broadband Internet, it is possible to enjoy television without the high price of cable TV. Learn about programs that are available online and how to watch on a standard HDTV set.

REFUND POLICY: Students who wish to withdrawl and receive a full refund must notify JCA at least 48 hours before the first class begins.

A 50% refund is given after the first class.

A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Crystal City

1750 Crystal Drive Shops, Crystal Square Arcade, Arlington, VA 703-941-1007

ORGANIZING, EDITING AND SHARING PHOTOS WORKSHOP

Prerequisite: Basic computer and mouse skills Registration: $50 3 sessions Limit: 8 # 575 Wed Aug 3 – Aug 17 10:30am-12:30pm

Learn to import digital photos from cameras, phones, and tablets and use Picasa, a free photo-editing program.

USING YOUR APPLE IPHONE® WORKSHOP

Prerequisite: Bring fully charged iPhone to class Registration: $20 1 session Limit: 8 # 581 Mon Aug 22 1:00pm-3:00pm

Learn how to use your iPhone to surf the Internet, take and share photos, play games, read books – and much more.

As of August 23rd JCA SeniorTech will be relocating to a new site in northern Virginia.

We are grateful for our time in Crystal City and would like to thank Vornado for its kindness and support, the many students who attended classes and our wonderful and dedicated volunteers!

While we relocate our Virginia site, we encourage everyone to come to our newly-renovated Bronfman Center site in Rockville, which is within walking distance of the Twinbrook Metro station.

Watch this space for a new SeniorTech Location in Northern Virginia to be announced soon!

VOLUNTEER TO TEACH OR COACH We are looking for volunteers who are computer savvy, willing to share their knowledge, and would like to help people age 50+ learn new computer skills.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

SeniorTech

DESCRIPTION AND GUIDELINES

Classes vary by site and include Windows® 7 and Windows® 10.

Classes are designed to help adults, 50+, refresh or advance their computer skills and learn to use social media.

Courses are taught by volunteer instructors and coaches.

Courses are almost always “hands on” in which students practice skills and techniques on a computer during class.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

✃

11

Technology & Innovations

JCA SENIORTECH

SENIORTECH REGISTRATION FORM

COMPUTER TRAINING

WAYS TO REGISTER:

BY MAIL:

Include your payment with form to JCA SeniorTech 12320 Parklawn Drive Rockville, MD 20852-1726

BY PHONE: Call 240-395-0916 with your credit card information

NOTE: ALL REGISTRATIONS ARE DUE 7 DAYS PRIOR TO START OF CLASS. Name: _________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________________________________________ City: ____________________________________________________ State: _______ Zip Code: _______________ Phone#: ______________________________ Email: __________________________________________________ I have taken a JCA SeniorTech class before: ____ Yes ____ No

Student ID (Office use only)_______________

I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER FOR: Class #

Class Title

Location

Start Date

Start Time

Registration

#

$

#

$

#

$

#

$

#

$

#

$

10% DISCOUNT WHEN BILL IS PAID IN FULL 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE START OF CLASS

-

TOTAL $ _________

PAYMENT METHOD:

WB8/16

❒ Master Card ❒ VISA ❒ American Express ❒ Check (Make Checks payable to JCA SeniorTech.)

Name as it appears on card: ____________________________________________________________

-

-

Card Number

-

____________ ____________ ____________ _____________

Each JCA SeniorTech center center follows the weather-related decisions of the public school system in its jurisdiction, except that if a school system is closed for even part of the day, the center will be closed the entire day. As soon as possible, your instructor will arrange to make up any classes cancelled due to inclement weather.

Exp. Date

______ /______

Sec. Code

__________

OFFICE USE ONLY Course #_____ Paid_____ Registration #_______ Date________

Course #_____ Paid_____ Registration #_______ Date________

Course #_____ Paid_____ Registration #_______ Date________

Course #_____ Paid_____ Registration #_______ Date________

Course #_____ Paid_____ Registration #_______ Date________

Course #_____ Paid_____ Registration #_______ Date________

NOTICE: WITHIN THE LIMITS OF ITS RESOURCES, JCA SERVES PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS AND FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. INDEED, WE TRY TO BE AS INCLUSIVE AS POSSIBLE IN ALL THAT WE DO. SOMETIMES, HOWEVER, JCA MAY DENY A PERSON OR GROUP THE OPTION TO ENROLL OR TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL OR PARTICULAR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO DO SO, AT OUR SOLE DISCRETION, SHOULD WE BELIEVE THAT OUR ACTION IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR PROGRAM OR FOR ANY OTHER REASON NOT PRECLUDED BY APPLICABLE LAW. Each contribution or remittance of payment by check is considered authorization to convert that particular check into an electronic fund transfer. If your check is unable to be converted, it may be processed as a Check Replacement Document drawn against your account. When we use information from your check to make an electronic fund transfer, funds may be withdrawn from your account as soon as the same day you make your payment, and you will not receive your check back from your financial institution. You have the right to opt out of Electronic Conversion. If you choose to exercise this right, write the words ‘Opt Out’ in the memo field of your check and JCA will process it as a draft against your account.

12

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Health Fitness &

A PAIN IN THE NECK Try exercises and over-the-counter meds to prevent and relieve neck pain NEXT TO NORMAL What to do when your blood work is on the edge of normal readings TOMORROW’S DRUGS TODAY Access investigational drugs through clinical trials and “compassionate” programs FOODS AS SUNSCREEN? Strawberries, tomatoes, carrots and coffee help protect you from the sun

Multiple medications can multiply risks Taking several types of medications can be challenging. But this is something you have to get right. If you don’t, you may have unwanted side effects, or you may not properly treat your chronic condition.

“I see people who average 15 medications, and it’s very difficult for them to juggle that many pills,” said Joanne Doyle Petrongolo, a pharmacist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

Polypharmacy — defined as taking five or more medications (including prescription medications, over-the-counter products and herbal supplements) or taking more medications than medically necessary — comes with a number of risks.

Drug interactions and side-effects Chief among the risks are harmful drug interactions.

“As the number of medications increases, the potential for drug interactions goes up, and there’s an increased potential for side effects that can lead to emergency room visits and hospitalizations. For example, if you take several blood pressure medications, you may develop low blood pressure that could cause you to faint and be hospitalized,” said Petrongolo.

Polypharmacy also makes it tough to tell if a particular drug is causing a side effect. For example, you may suspect that one of your medications is causing unsteadiness, fatigue or insomnia, but you’ll

have to do some detective work to figure out which one is the culprit.

Other risks include trouble taking your medications as prescribed, because the regimen may be too confusing to follow; unnecessary drug expenses; and avoidable hospitalizations.

If you’re having side effects, Petrongolo urges you to contact your doctor’s office.

And if you’re having a hard time managing your drug regimen, she suggests that you talk to your pharmacist.

“Don’t wait until you are drowning in a sea of pills. [Pharmacists] can provide medication counseling and make recommendations to improve your regimen. For example, a pharmacist’s recommendation

may enable you to take different or fewer medications,” she said. “You may be able to decrease your pill burden or save money.”

Use one pharmacy Petrongolo also suggests that you get all of your prescriptions filled at one pharmacy. “The pharmacist will be able to run a drug interaction check on your medications and will know if doctors are prescribing conflicting medications,” she said.

Every time you have a new prescription filled, ask your pharmacist what the drug is used for, how and when to take it with other medications, and whether it will inSee MED RISK, page 13

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

13

Added sugar isn’t so sweet for your heart

By Judy Thalheimer, R.D People who consume more added sugars have a higher risk of death from heart disease.

Researchers used to think it was the calories in sugary foods that were the problem: sugar made us fat, and obesity raised our risk of heart disease.

But a 2014 research review in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who consumed more added

sugars had more risk factors for cardiovascular disease no matter what size they were.

Eating lots of sugary foods or drinking sugar-sweetened beverages has been linked to high triglyceride levels, high total and LDL (bad) cholesterol, high blood pressure and more.

Med risk

needs of the patient to choose the best medication management system [for them],” said Petrongolo.

From page 12 teract with other medications.

Get to know the look of a pill, and talk to your pharmacist if a new batch looks different.

To manage medications, start with an up-to-date list that includes what each medication is used for, the proper strength, and dosing instructions. That will be helpful if you forget, or if a family member helps you with your regimen.

Use a pillbox with multiple compartments, perhaps labeled breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime. Many different types of pillboxes are available, from simple plastic boxes that you fill each week, up to high-tech electronic dispensers, complete with alarms and reminders sent to your smartphone.

Your pharmacy may also offer a handy dispensing method, known as bubble packing, which packages single doses of several medications in one plastic pack.

If you’re tech-savvy, tablet and smartphone apps can remind you to take your medications and can even track your adherence.

“One tool isn’t necessarily better than another. It’s best to assess the specific

Sugar and your liver The key to the link between sugar and

Include supplements It’s crucial to tell your pharmacist or physician if you take over-the-counter drugs, vitamins or herbs. “They increase the overall pill burden, and some of these products may interact with prescription medications,” warns Petrongolo.

For example, ginseng, ginger, ginkgo biloba and garlic can increase the potential of bleeding, especially if taken with the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin). St. John’s wort can interact with antidepressants like fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil). Calcium supplements can interact with thyroid medications like levothyroxine (Synthroid) and decrease their effectiveness.

Ask a pharmacist about interactions before starting any new nonprescription drugs. And remember to either bring a list of your medications and supplements to your annual doctor appointment, or simply bring the actual pill bottles with you. © 2016. President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed By Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

heart disease may lie in the liver. While one common sugar molecule (glucose) goes into the bloodstream after digestion to be used as fuel by our cells, another (fructose) goes to the liver to be processed.

Unfortunately for those of us eating a typical Western diet (high in processed foods), the liver is designed to deal with the amount of fructose in an apple or a sweet potato — not the large amounts we dump on it in the form of colas, confections and coffee-bar drinks.

Too much fructose can cause the liver to make fat, and a fatty liver can lead to increased triglyceride and cholesterol levels, inflammation, and maybe even higher blood pressure.

In 2009 the American Heart Association, already wary of the association between sugar and heart disease, published recommendations that women limit their added sugar intake to no more than 6 teaspoons (25 grams) a day, and men to no more than 9 (38 grams).

The average American currently consumes as much as 20 teaspoons of added sugars every day. About 50 percent of these sugars come from sweet drinks like sodas, sports and energy drinks, iced teas, lemonades and fruit drinks. Another 25 percent is from treats like candy, ice cream and baked goodies.

See ADDED SUGAR, page 14

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Relieving and preventing a pain in the neck Neck pain is a nagging ailment that affects nearly everyone at some time. In fact, approximately 80 percent of people experience neck pain during their lifetime, and 20 to 50 percent deal with it annually, according to Dr. Frank Pedlow, an orthopedic spine surgeon at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

Besides the obvious problem of physical discomfort, neck pain can trigger headaches, and cause numbness, tingling or weakness in your arms. You may have trouble sleeping and difficulty turning your head, which can make driving dangerous.

“Recurring episodes of chronic neck pain also can be associated with serious medical problems, including heart dis-

ease, rheumatoid arthritis or infection,” Pedlow said.

If you suffer from constant neck pain, you should consult your doctor to see if it is related to a medical condition. But for everyday pain that comes and goes, there are ways to keep your neck strong, healthy and pain-free.

Your neck performs many functions.

The neck muscles run from the base of the skull to the upper back, and work together to bend the head and assist in breathing.

Neck movements are divided into four categories: rotation (moving the head from side to side), lateral flexion (brings the ear toward the shoulder), flexion (moves the chin toward the chest), and hy-

perextension (tilts the head back).

Treating common problems Most neck pain comes from muscle strains and tension caused by everyday situations; for instance, slouching, poor posture or sleeping with your neck twisted.

The mainstays of conservative treatment are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which offer short-term relief. However, first check with your doctor, as these can have side effects, such as nausea and dizziness, and may interfere with other medications.

Added sugar From page 13 We’ve all heard that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is bad for us. But it might come as a surprise to find that regular table sugar (sucrose), honey and maple syrup have nearly the same amount of liver-damaging fructose as most formulations of HFCS. The only real outliers are regular corn syrup (which is 100 percent glucose) and agave nectar, which is close to 100 percent liver-clogging fructose. The trick, then, is not to switch sweeteners, but to stop eating so many sweetened foods.

Cutting back on sweets The best place to start when trying to cut added sugars is drinks. Try more water, milk, unsweetened tea and black coffee. Switching to diet drinks and artificial sweeteners is an option. But it seems like the more sweets we eat the more sweets we want, so the switch to non-

Besides this, Pedlow also suggests ice and heat therapy. “Ice after an acute injury like a strain helps control immediate pain, stiffness and inflammation,” he said. Apply an ice pack to the sore spot, 15 to 20 minutes at a time, several times a day, for the first 48 to 72 hours. If the pain lingers, switch to hot compresses or a heating pad, or take a warm shower.

Keeping the muscles strong and flexible by stretching the neck muscles can further help relieve soreness. Other possible See NECK PAIN, page 16

caloric sweeteners may not end up decreasing your overall sugar consumption.

Since most processed foods have added sugars, be sure to check Nutrition Facts labels. Even though this number is a total of natural and added sugars, it is still a helpful guide. (Just divide the grams of sugar listed by 4 to get an approximate number of teaspoons.)

The next trick is to rethink our relationship to sweets: Cookies, cakes and candy are supposed to be occasional treats, not everyday snacks and mealtime companions.

Try swapping some out for a naturally sweet piece of fruit or a square of very dark chocolate. Just as it’s possible to get used to less salty foods, it’s possible to wean yourself off sugar. Your heart is waiting.

Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC. 800-829-5384. www.EnvironmentalNutrition.com.) © 2016 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed By Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Tell them you saw it in the Beacon!

Legal Counsel for the Elderly helped 64-year-old Ms. T avoid eviction and found her a new wheelchair-accessible home.

If you’re facing eviction or foreclosure, please call us for free legal assistance.

202.434.2120 Part of the Senior Service Network Supported by the DC Office on Aging.

Legal Counsel for the Elderly is affiliated with AARP.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

August 2016

UPCOMING SEMINARS & EVENTS at Brooke Grove retirement village

As experts in senior care and memory support, Brooke Grove Re Retirement em nt Village il is pleased to offer seminars and events that promote physical, sspiritual p it and mental well-being. ll ein All seminars and events will be held at Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, ve R r located at 18131 Slade School Road on the Brooke oo Grove Retirement Village campus.

Toni Please register gi with Ton ni Davis Davis at at 301-388-7209 30 01-388-7 7209 or tdavis@bgf.org. dav g.

Alzheimer’s Alzheim A e m e r ’ s suppor support p rt g group August 17, 3:30-4:30 4 p.m.

August Sponsored Sponssoredd by the Alzheimer’s Association, Spo tthis his confidential fi al ggroup pro provides an op ppor portunity for individuals and d fa families opportunity to to find fi support, ort gain understanding und and an share caregiving tips. FREE. FR

S Support for the he Caregiver Care eg i ve v er Semina Seminar: em “Winning g Life’s T oughest ou s t Bat tles Toughest tles” August 23, 2-3 p.m.

Explore l the ch characteristics rist of those ho whoo ssurvive urvive t ng situations and focus oon n ways ay too resha sha traumatizing reshape s ng in order to flo ech ques tthat suffering flourish. Dis Discoverr techniq techniques w allow you to care for yourself as you experience expe per erien will Reggistter by Augu Aug ust 21. the stress oof caregiving. FR FREE. Register August

Independent living assisted living rehabilitation memory support long-term care 18100 Slade School Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860 • 301-260-2320 • www.bgf.org

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Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Neck pain From page 14 treatments are acupuncture and the Alexander technique, according to a study published last year in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Acupuncture uses hair-thin needles to stimulate specific points on the body to trigger physiological processes that relieve pain. The Alexander technique teaches you how to avoid unnecessary muscular tension by improving posture and alignment.

In the study, researchers recruited 517 patients who had suffered from neck pain

for an average of six years. They were randomly placed into groups: one group was offered up to 20 half-hour Alexander technique lessons; those in the second had up to a dozen 50-minute sessions of acupuncture.

After a year, pain was reduced by 32 percent for the acupuncture patients and 31 percent for those who had Alexander lessons.

Simple steps for prevention One of the best treatments for neck pain, though, is prevention. Lifestyle factors like obesity and stress can raise your risk, so addressing those issues though a

A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

proper diet and regular exercise offers protection, said Pedlow.

Here are some other strategies to follow: • When sitting for long periods, like at the computer or watching TV, avoid slouching or sitting with your head tilted forward. Sit straight, with your lower back supported by a pillow or lumbar support, feet flat on the floor, and shoulders relaxed. Stand every 20 minutes and stretch your neck muscles.

• Adjust the computer monitor so the top is at eye level. Use a document holder that holds your work at the same level as the screen.

• Position your driver seat to a more upright position that supports your head and lower back. Avoid having to reach for the steering wheel. Your arms should be slightly flexed.

• Cervical pillows may relieve neck stress by supporting your neck when you sit or sleep. Another option: fold a towel lengthwise into a four-inch-wide pad and wrap it around your neck.

• When you read in bed, use a wedgeshaped pillow to support your back and keep your neck in a neutral position.

Neck exercises These daily stretches can also help prevent pain: Relax your shoulders and tilt your head toward one shoulder until you feel the

stretch. Hold for 15 to 30 seconds. Repeat on the other side. Repeat two to four times in each direction. For an added stretch, use your hand to gently pull your head toward your shoulder.

Turn your head slightly toward the left and tilt your head diagonally toward your chest and hold for 15 to 30 seconds. Repeat to the right side. Repeat two to four times in each direction. For an added stretch, use your hand to pull your head forward on the diagonal.

Age raises your risk of neck arthritis, which affects more than 85 percent of people over 60. As you age, the cervical discs in your neck, which help to absorb shock to the spine, can slowly degenerate, become dehydrated and shrink, which can lead to neck pain. X-rays and CT scans can confirm a diagnosis of arthritis.

The good news: a study published earlier this year in Clinical Interventions in Aging found this change tends to slow after age 60.

Physical therapy is often used to help strengthen muscles in the upper back and neck, which may help with pain. Over-thecounter pain relievers, muscle relaxants and steroid injections also may offer relief. “Still, it is possible to have neck arthritis and not experience symptoms,” said Pedlow.

— Harvard Men’s Health Watch © 2016. President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved, Distributed By Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

17

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

50+Expos return to Maryland, Virginia beautiful Springfield Town Center.

The keynote speaker at both locations will be Lt. Joe Kenda, star of “Homicide Hunter,” the #1 TV show on the Investigation Discovery channel, now starting its 6th season. Kenda is a retired homicide detective who will share highlights from the cases he investigated and solved, as well as how he made two career changes after he retired from the force. He will also offer personal safety tips.

In addition to Kenda’s talk, there will be a “tech café” at the Silver Spring event, with free technology mentoring by trained high school students. Attendees are invited to bring their cellphones, laptops and/or tablets to the event and to sign up at registration for a free one-on-one tutoring session. Space is limited for this service.

The expos will also feature free health screenings — including blood pressure, bone density, balance, vascular and glauco-

BEACON BITS ElderTree Care Management presents a free seminar explaining how geriatric care managers, who act as guides and advocates for families who are caring for older or disabled adults, can be of help. It takes place on Friday, Aug. 19 from 11 a.m. to noon at the Virginia Hospital Center South Arlington Campus, located at 601 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington, Va. For more information or to RSVP, call (703) 558-6859.

GET THE FACTS

in China, luxury hotel accommodations, most meals, and an English-speaking tour guide — is provided by Nexus Holidays.

The Beacon Newspapers presents its 50+Expos each fall as a community service. Sponsors include CVS pharmacy, Comcast, Holy Cross Health, and CareFirst BlueCrossBlueShield, among others.

For more information — or to exhibit, sponsor or volunteer — call (301) 949-9766 or visit www.theBeaconNewspapers.com/50expos.

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ma screenings — exercise demonstrations, and flu vaccines, free with a Medicare card.

More than 100 exhibitors — including government agencies, nonprofits and local businesses — will offer information and answer questions about retirement communities, home remodeling, financial planning, healthcare, travel, fitness, senior services and more. Giveaways and door prizes will be plentiful.

This year’s grand door prize — a trip for two to China, including airfare to and with-

!

Who will be the lucky winner of a 10-day vacation for two to China?

One registrant at the 2016 Beacon 50+Expos, that’s who!

For the 17th year in a row, the Beacon Newspapers expects to attract thousands of attendees to its 50+Expos — free annual events featuring expert speakers, health screenings, informative resources, technology education, and entertainment for older adults and their families.

This year’s events will take place at two locations this fall: on Sunday, Sept. 11, from noon to 4 p.m., at the Silver Spring Civic Center in downtown Silver Spring, Md., and on Sunday, Sept. 25, from noon to 4 p.m., at Springfield Town Center in Springfield, Va. After several years at Ballston Mall in Arlington, Va., this fall the Expo returns to the site of the former Springfield Mall, now redeveloped and transformed into the

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

When blood work is on the edge of normal As a smart medical consumer, you know it’s important to look over the results of your routine blood work, even when the numbers are all within the normal range.

But what if you notice that some results are at the high or low end of that range?

Should you be concerned about this?

“It’s tricky, because in some tests, a bor-

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derline result makes no difference. In others, it might indicate an important change in health that we need to follow or act on,” said geriatrician Suzanne Salamon, M.D., assistant professor at Harvard Medical School.

Each lab establishes its own normal ranges for blood test results. The ranges are based on various factors, such as the makeup of the local population where blood is drawn, the instruments used to look at the specimens, and the technologies used to separate various components in your blood.

When you look at a printout of your lab results, you’ll find the normal ranges for each blood marker next to your personal blood test results. For example, if your routine blood work includes a test for calcium in the blood, your lab may list the normal range for calcium as 8.3 to 9.9 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). If your result is 9.1 mg/dL, right in the middle, you can feel confident that your calcium level is normal.

Interpreting the numbers What if a blood test result is at the very low or high end of normal, or even slightly outside the normal range? Is that a red flag?

“Don’t jump to conclusions,” Salamon said. “Blood test results can vary a little bit, depending on the lab. And many people are consistently on one side or the other of the normal range, and for them, that’s healthy.”

Take, for example, a routine measure of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), a waste product from the breakdown of protein you eat.

Excess urea is removed from the blood by the kidneys. High BUN levels can indicate that kidney function is declining.

So what if your BUN level is at the very high end of the normal range? “If I see that it’s borderline high, I might ignore it,” said Salamon. “It’s common for BUN to go up if you don’t drink enough, and that can happen when someone is fasting before having blood drawn.”

Minor fluctuations in test results may also result from recent infections, medication side effects, stress, gender, age or inaccurate lab procedures.

Salamon emphasizes the need to look at someone’s entire picture of health to interpret a blood test. In our BUN example, a number just above the normal range might be a sign of a bleeding ulcer in the stomach or small intestine, rather than failing kidneys.

“It depends on the person, the symptoms, and the other conditions that are present,” she said.

When to be concerned Instead of looking at a one-time test result in the high or low end of normal, SalaSee BLOOD WORK, page 20

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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 6

19

A shortcake that isn’t short on flavor

By Melissa D’Arabian Strawberry shortcake has always been a favorite dessert of mine — it reminds me of the carefree days of summer at my grandparent’s house, where we’d buy strawberries by the pound and eat them in just about everything.

Since we eat shortcake all summer, I’ve created a recipe that includes a little extra fiber and protein by subbing out half the white flour with whole wheat flour (whole wheat pastry flour is particularly great for baked goods if you happen to have some).

The flaky texture comes from just a little bit of butter, while low-fat plain Greek yogurt subs in for the traditional heavy cream and buttermilk.

The berries are made perfectly tangy and sweet with some balsamic vinegar and brown sugar, an homage to my grandma who used apple cider vinegar in just about everything, including her berries for shortcake.

The final touches of mint and orange zest add nuanced flavor, so the berries shine through without a ton of extra sugar.

And instead of whipped cream, I mix up a luscious vanilla cream from part-skim ricotta and Greek yogurt. We’ll be eating this recipe straight through to fall.

Cinnamon biscuit & berry shortcakes Start to finish: 45 minutes Yield: 6 servings For the berries: 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar (or apple cider vinegar) 1 tablespoon brown sugar 2 cups raspberries, blueberries, and sliced strawberries 1 teaspoon grated orange zest 2 teaspoons chopped fresh mint For the shortcake biscuits:

1 1/4 cup flour — half whole wheat, half all-purpose 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 2 tablespoons sugar, plus more for sprinkling 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 3 Tablespoons cold butter, cut into small cubes 1/2 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt 1 egg, lightly beaten, divided in half For the creamy filling: 1/3 cup part-skim ricotta cheese 3 tablespoons low-fat plain Greek yogurt 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon brown sugar Preheat the oven to 400. In a medium bowl, toss together the balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, orange zest and mint. Place in refrigerator while you make the biscuits.

Place the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt and cinnamon in a small food processor. Pulse once or twice to mix the dry ingredients. Add the butter, and pulse 7 or 8 times until mixture looks like wet sand.

Add half the egg into the yogurt and stir to combine, and then pour on top of the flour. Process until the dough comes together in a large clump, about 30 seconds.

Empty the dough onto the counter and form into a 6-inch disk. Slice the dough into 6 wedges and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment.

Brush lightly with a little remaining beaten egg and sprinkle with a little sugar on top. Bake until golden brown and fluffy, about 13-15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

Meanwhile, make the cream: in a small bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, yogurt, vanilla and brown sugar until smooth.

Chill until ready to serve. To serve, split the

biscuits in half, spoon some ricotta cream on the bottom half, top with macerated berries and the top biscuit half. Enjoy.

Nutrition information per serving: 255

calories; 80 calories from fat; 9 g. fat (5 g. saturated; 0 g. trans fats); 58 mg. cholesterol; 422 mg. sodium; 36 g. carbohydrate; 4 g. fiber; 13 g. sugar; 9 g. protein.

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Blood work From page 18 mon said she looks at trends.

“I get concerned if there’s a change from what’s been normal for years, for

you. If your test result is always in the high normal range, I’m not concerned. But if it’s always been in the low normal range, and today it’s high normal, that’s different.”

Get an annual check-up, and don’t skip the routine blood work. Even if you feel

A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

that you’re healthy, it’s still a good idea to have a continuous record of standard blood markers, so your doctor can look for trends.

What happens if you have some worrisome results at the high end of normal? “I might repeat the test,” said Salamon. “If it is still a concern, we can investigate the cause.”

And the great news is that staying on top of certain numbers on the edge of nor-

mal can help you keep from developing chronic disease.

For example, if your blood sugar numbers are rising within the normal range, you have plenty of time to start exercising and losing weight to bring them back down. And even if they’re in the prediabetes range of 100 to 125 mg/dL, you can still make lifestyle changes to keep from progressing to full-blown diabetes.

— Harvard Health Letter

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When your doctor orders routine blood tests, it may sound a little like a secret code: a CBC, a CMP and a lipid panel.

Each of these is a group of related tests, called a panel, that helps doctors interpret your health. Here are the basics of each: Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP). A CMP measures various chemicals in your blood, such as blood urea nitrogen and creatinine to test kidney function; blood glucose (sugar) to test for diabetes; ALT (alanine aminotransferase) and AST (aspartate aminotransferase) to test liver function; and calcium, which can indicate an overactive parathyroid gland or sometimes cancer that has spread to the bones. The CMP also measures other aspects of health, such as blood levels of protein, potassium, calcium, sodium and chloride.

Complete blood count (CBC).

The CBC measures the types of cells in your blood, such as the red blood cells, white blood cells (there are five main types) and platelets, as well as hematocrit (the percentage of blood that’s made up of red blood cells), hemoglo-

bin (a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen), and the size and shape of blood cells. Results can indicate numerous conditions — such as different types of anemia, infection, kidney disease, dehydration and blood cancers.

Lipid panel. The lipid panel measures each of several types of fat in your blood, including “good” HDL cholesterol, “bad” LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides. The levels of these fats help your doctor assess your risk for heart disease. People at increased heart disease risk or who have diabetes should get tested yearly. It may be less often if you have a normal risk.

Aim for a total cholesterol of less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), HDL of more than 60 mg/dL, LDL of less than 130 mg/dL and triglycerides of less than 150 mg/dL. Your targets may be lower if you have heart disease or risk factors for it.

— Harvard Health Letter © 2016. President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

21

How you feel should trump lab results How are you feeling today?

Can you see how messed up your treatIt’s such a simple question and yet, I bet ment regimen will be if you rely solely on your own opinion of how you labs? The numbers can be off feel matters little to your docby thousands! tors. It’s quite frequent that Sometimes the biomarkers you’re told not to worry about that doctors test you for are just your health if a lab test comes for screening, rendering them back as “normal.” The assumppretty useless (in my humble tion is made that nothing’s opinion). For example, thyroid wrong. testing and dosage changes are New research from Rice often based on your TSH blood University in Texas suggests test. But that test isn’t measurthat how you feel is a more reing your thyroid hormone! liable indicator of future illness DEAR And total cholesterol lab rethan your labs. I concur. If you PHARMACIST sults are useless because they were talking to me, I would By Suzy Cohen don’t tell you particle size or trust what you tell me more number. Yet millions of statin than I do any piece of paper from a lab. prescriptions have been written based solely That’s true for many reasons. on this number.

For one, the reference ranges on labs are So when I read the Rice University reoften bad because they were determined by search conducted by Dr. Kyle Murdock, Dr. a sick population. Or your blood samples Christopher Fagunde and the rest of their may not have been centrifuged long team, it made a ton of sense to me. The truth enough. Maybe your samples weren’t prop- is: Physicians should stop telling you everyerly refrigerated in transit. There are many thing is fine because your labs are “normal” other possible reasons to doubt lab results. when you are sitting there in tears trying to I did a one-man experiment recently, to explain that something feels wrong. see what happens when you use two differYou should not be ignored if you’re not ent labs to measure the same thing. We feeling any better on medication. They tested Sam’s c4a levels, an inflammatory should trust you. And you should trust biomarker. Quest determined the level to your instinct more. be 9,725 and Labcorp said it was 319.

This is not an excuse to go all hypochon-

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driac on me, okay? I’m just saying if you feel bad, keep digging at what the root cause is. I’m also hoping you don’t go order a cheeseburger and fries to celebrate your “normal” cholesterol.

According to Dr. Fagundes, a professor of psychology at Rice University, “When a patient says, ‘I don’t feel like my health is very good right now,’ it’s a meaningful thing with a biological basis, even if they don’t show symptoms.”

If you’d like to learn more about this, I

will email you a longer version of this article. Just sign up for my newsletter at www.suzycohen.com. How happy would you be to know that “it’s not in your head?”

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

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

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Health Studies Page

A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Do people burn more calories when cold?

By Barbara Ruben Some studies show that when you are cold, you burn more calories to keep warm. A special kind of fat — called brown fat — may use more energy (and calories) to keep your body warm. For many years, scientists have known that small animals and infants have this kind of fat. Recently, research shows that adult humans may also have brown fat.

If brown fat becomes active and burns calories in humans when exposed to cold, then these people would tend to burn off

more calories and might not gain weight easily. Learning more about the relationship between energy expenditure, brown fat, age, environmental temperature and body temperature may help explain why some people become obese and other people do not.

A study at NIH is seeking to get more answers about how the body burns energy at different temperatures. It is currently seeking healthy men from ages 55 to 75.

The study is also recruiting both men and women ages 18 to 35.

Inpatient study

Who can participate?

Participants will stay in the Metabolic Unit of the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md., as inpatients for up to two weeks. The length of the hospital stay will depend on how participants respond to the different study temperatures. All meals will be provided, as well as compensation for participating in the study.

Those in the study will first be screened with a physical exam and medical history.

Blood and urine samples will be collected.

Participants will stay up to five hours per day in a specialized room with different temperature settings. Temperatures will range from about 61 degrees to 88 degrees Fahrenheit. Body temperature, activity, calorie burning, and cold/hot sensations will be monitored. On the study day of the coldest temperature, participants will have an imaging study to look for brown fat activity.

Every afternoon, participants will walk for 30 minutes on a treadmill.

To control for ethnicity, participants must be non-Hispanic whites or African Americans. They must be very thin (BMI less than 18.5), slightly overweight (BMI 25 to 29) or very obese (BMI over 40).

They cannot have gained more than 5 percent of their body weight in the last six months or be trained athletes.

Participants cannot have an over- or under-active thyroid, clinical depression, bipolar disorder or claustrophobia. Those with high blood pressure, diabetes, history of cardiovascular disease, liver disease, iron deficiency and abnormal kidney function cannot take part in the study. Participants also cannot have a history of drug or alcohol abuse in the last five years, or currently smoke.

To learn more, including compensation for accepted participants, contact the NIH Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office at 1800-411-1222 or email prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov.

Refer to study NCT01568671.Z

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23

Two ways to obtain investigational drugs Dear Mayo Clinic: Do I need to be in a clinical trial to get access to an investigational drug?

If so, how do I find clinical trials that I may be able to participate in?

Answer: Investigational drugs are those allowed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be tested in clinical trials. Often, the drugs are somewhere in the process of being studied for safety, effectiveness and intended use.

By far, the most common way that people receive access to investigational drugs is by taking part in a clinical trial.

Your doctor may know about some clinical trials related to your specific circumstances. In addition, you or your doctor can search clinical trial databases at the National Institutes of Health (www.clinicaltrials.gov) or at the National Cancer Institute (www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search).

Less commonly, people may qualify for access to an investigational drug outside of a clinical trial in what’s known as expanded access, or “compassionate use.”

Expanded access is designed to allow

people with serious diseases or conditions and life-threatening problems — and usually no further treatment options — access to promising investigational drugs that aren’t unreasonably risky. The drugs are not yet approved by the FDA and aren’t proven to be safe and effective.

However, to gain expanded access there are a number of hurdles to clear. The drug manufacturer has to be willing and able to provide the drug. There may be numerous reasons why a drug company wouldn’t do this.

If the drug is available, your doctor will need to submit an application to the FDA for review and approval. The protocol to use the investigational drug will be reviewed by a review board to protect research participants. Your doctor may not agree to do this if the drug is unlikely to provide benefit, or if the drug can’t be properly administered or managed.

If you do obtain access to an investigational drug, an additional factor is cost. A drug company may or may not charge for the drug, but a healthcare provider is

likely to charge for administering and monitoring of the drug. Insurance companies often don’t cover costs of an investi-

gational drug.

Adapted from Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Christine Formea, Pharm.D., R.Ph.

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Aug. 10+

MEN’S SOFTBALL LEAGUE

The Wednesday Morning Men’s 58+ Fall Draft Softball League in Gaithersburg, Md. is looking for players. Registration closes Wednesday, Aug. 10. Games will be held at Morris Park, 520 Summit Hall Road, beginning Aug. 24, at 9 a.m. The registration fee is $50. Balls and umpires will be provided. For more information, e-mail Siobhan Halmos at shalmos@gaithersburgmd.gov or call (301) 258-6350.

Aug. 21

WELLNESS FAIR

Vitality Fitness and Wellness presents a free health and wellness fair on Sunday, Aug. 21 from 3 to 5 p.m. The event features a meet-and-greet with personal trainers, exercise demonstrations, light fare, wine and cheese and prizes. The event will be held on the second floor at Opus Yoga Kentlands, located at 257 Market St. West in Gaithersburg, Md. For more information or to RSVP, visit www.vitalityfitnwell.com or contact Aubrey at (240) 293-0982 or email aubrey@vitalityfitnwell.com.

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24

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

How nutritious are lettuce and tortillas?

Q: I’ve heard that lettuce varieties have different nutritional value, and that some aren’t worth eating. Is that true?

A: Yes. And no. There are many types of lettuce, and it’s hard to go wrong with any of them. All are loaded with water, and they have some fiber, which reduces the risk of colorectal cancer.

The popular iceberg lettuce makes a crunchy salad, and includes some vitamin K, folate, and beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A. But other types of lettuce provide even more vitamins and phytonutrients.

A cup of Boston or Bibb lettuce provides more than six times as much beta-carotene as iceberg, and dark green or red leaf let-

tuce contains even more — about the same amount that’s in half a small carrot.

These lettuces are also high in lutein, another carotenoid that links to eye health.

One cup of romaine gives you over 80 percent of the recommended amount of vitamin A and more than half of vitamin K. Romaine also contains the B vitamin folate that helps maintain healthy DNA and may play a role in protecting against cancer.

You may also have seen the mixture of field greens called mesclun. Some mixes include mainly mild-flavored greens, such as baby oak leaf and romaine, while other blends contain more peppery flavored greens, such as arugula and mustard. In general, nutrients in these greens are sim-

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ilar to that of romaine or leaf lettuce: high However, many flour tortillas used for in beta-carotene and folate. dishes like fajitas, large burritos and Whatever type of lettuce chimichangas are quite a bit you choose as your salad base larger, and may be thicker, too. or in your sandwiches, all are A 12-inch flour tortilla may conless than ten calories a cup, tain nearly 300 calories with and can help keep you full more carbohydrates than three without many calories. By slices of bread. mixing up your lettuce choicBeyond calories, nutritional es, you’ll keep your salads invalue depends on whether the teresting and pack in a variety tortillas are made with whole of vitamins and other cancer grains and healthy fats. Inprotective compounds. stead of flour tortillas made MONEY Q: Which is healthier, a from enriched flour (a refined MATTERS tortilla or a slice of bread? grain), look for whole grain opBy Kathy Kristof A: They are somewhat simitions (corn or whole wheat). lar, but how much depends Just as with bread, wholeupon the tortilla and the bread. Like bread, grain tortillas provide more fiber and a more tortillas are made from a grain — either complete package of nutrients and healthwheat or corn — so some nutrients are protecting plant compounds. Also, when buysimilar. But calories differ depending on ing flour tortillas, look for those made with the tortilla’s size, thickness and fat content. vegetable oils.

A one-ounce slice of bread typically conThe American Institute for Cancer Retains 75 to 100 calories. Corn tortillas, the search offers a Nutrition Hotline, 1-800-843traditional choice for tacos and enchiladas, 8114, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through generally have 60 to 65 calories in each six- Friday. A registered dietitian will return your inch circle. call, usually within three business days.

Flour tortillas are slightly higher in caloCourtesy of the American Institute for Canries because they contain added fat to cer Research. Questions for this column may make them softer and easier to roll. Small be sent to “Nutrition Wise,” 1759 R St. NW, six-inch flour tortillas usually aren’t much Washington, DC 20009. Collins cannot remore than 90 calories. spond to questions personally.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

25

Foods that protect your skin from the sun

By Brierley Wright, R.D. By now, you probably already know that you should be protecting your skin with at least SPF 30 sunscreen to keep it healthy and younger looking.

But here’s another tip: What you eat can also help protect your skin from the sun — and even help keep it looking smoother and more youthful. Here’s what to eat to help your skin glow.

Strawberries Eating more vitamin C-rich foods may help to ward off wrinkles and age-related dryness, suggests research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Vitamin C’s skin-smoothing effects may be due to its ability to mop up free radicals produced from ultraviolet rays, and also its role in collagen synthesis. Collagen is fibrous protein that keeps skin firm, and vitamin C is essential for collagen production.

Other research suggests that vitamin C may also protect skin cells by promoting the repair of DNA that’s been damaged by UV rays.

You can find vitamin C in a multitude of cosmetics, or go straight to the source for a tasty boost of vitamin C: strawberries, red bell peppers, papaya, broccoli and oranges are all excellent sources.

Coffee Good news for coffee lovers! In one study of more than 93,000 women, published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention, those who drank even a single daily cup of caffeinated coffee reduced their risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer by about 10 percent. And the more they drank — up to about 6 cups or so per day — the lower their risk. Decaf didn’t seem to offer the same protection.

These findings add to a body of research that suggests caffeine, in both coffee and tea, is the protective ingredient.

The effects of caffeine on skin are modest, so it’s not a reason to start drinking coffee.

It’s just one more reason to enjoy it if it’s already part of your routine.

And in another study, participants who were exposed to UV light had almost 50 percent less skin reddening after they ate 2 1/2 tablespoons of tomato paste or drank about

1 2/3 cups of carrot juice daily, in addition to their regular diet, for 10 to 12 weeks.

See PROTECT YOUR SKIN, page 26

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Tomatoes and carrots Consuming more lycopene — the carotenoid that makes tomatoes red, carrots orange and gives pink grapefruit and watermelon a pink-red hue — may keep your skin smooth and protect it from sunburn.

In a study published in the European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, researchers found that of the 20 individuals studied, those who had higher skin concentrations of lycopene had smoother skin.

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Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Grown sons are just that: not your boys Dear Solutions: My two grown sons, in their 20s, came to visit when their father was having surgery. They don’t get to see each other very often and spent a lot of time together having long private talks.

When I asked each one about the other, they each looked at me like I’m some kind of fool. I want to know about their lives, but they hardly talk about themselves to me. I thought if I asked one about the other, I could find out

how things really are for them.

Is it just because they’re males that they won’t talk, or am I doing something wrong?

— Rita Dear Rita: Imagine! Those two sons think they’re grown men! They don’t know that they’re still your little boys.

Let go, Mom. It’s hard, I know, but accept the fact that each will only tell you what they want you to know. Stay busy with your

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own life, and when they ask you for details no will, you have to find another way. about it, you can decide what to tell them.

First, though, give some thought to why So, ask them no questions he’s so resistant. It’s probably and they’ll tell you no lies, and his fear of death, and writing a you can still love each other. will may seem, superstitiousDear Solutions: ly, to bring that event closer.

My son-in-law, who recentSuggest that your daughter ly inherited a lot of money, speak to an estate lawyer refuses to write a will. My about ways to set up trust daughter and I both worry funds for the children. Howevbecause, should he die, er, for the sake of the marthere will be children who riage, I would advise your need to be supported. daughter to first speak to her But when we mention SOLUTIONS husband about doing this. this, he just waves us away By Helen Oxenberg, If he still resists, she should MSW, ACSW and says it’ll be okay bemove ahead with this herself, cause then she would have for the sake of the children, if all the money anyway. My daughter possible. Also, it might be a good idea for then says, “what if we both die togeth- her to try to get her husband to explore er and there’s no will?”, at which point his fears with a therapist. he just walks away. © Helen Oxenberg, 2016. Questions to be Do you have any suggestions about considered for this column may be sent to: how to handle this?

The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, Dear Worried: MD 20915. You may also email the author Well, we all know that where there’s a at helox72@comcast.net. To inquire about will there’s a way, but in this case if there’s reprint rights, call (609) 655-3684.

Protect your skin From page 25 Lycopene isn’t the only carotenoid that shields your skin from UV damage. Others, including lutein — found in corn, kale, spinach, summer squash and egg yolks — and beta carotene — found in pumpkin, sweet potato, spinach and carrots — also appear to have a protective effect.

Salmon The omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA (docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids) found in fatty fish (tuna, sardines,

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trout and salmon) may shield cell walls from free-radical damage caused by UV rays, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Those same fish may help keep your skin looking youthful, too, as EPA has been shown to preserve collagen.

Aim to eat two servings of fatty fish each week: Not only are the omega-3s good for your skin, they’re good for your heart as well.

EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at www.eatingwell.com. © 2016 Eating Well, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

Celebrating 40 Years

27

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFICE ON AGING

Spotlight On Aging VOLUME XXVII, ISSUE 8

A newsletter for D.C. Seniors

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

By Laura Newland Executive Director, D.C. Office on Aging It’s HOT! A heat wave has descended upon the District, bringing dangerously hot and humid conditions. This year, it took us a while to warm up, but it’s arrived with a vengeance — extreme temperatures and high humidity have District residents seeking refuge indoors.

To assist residents in staying cool, we have included hot weather tips and resources to make sure you can survive the heat at heat.dc.gov. If you need assistance, call 311 — someone will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to connect you to cooling sites and other useful information to beat the heat. If it’s an emergency, please call 911!

Since joining this agency, I’ve committed to listening more — to having more conversations with you and our network about what’s working and what’s not. In case you missed it, the New York Times called Washington, D.C. “the ideal place to grow older”! But we know we can do even better.

Last month, DCOA hosted retreats for the D.C. Commission on Aging and for our Senior Service Network. Both events allowed us to share information and continue ensuring that we are continuously improving service delivery for our older residents.

The Commission and our grantees are critical partners in helping us to shape the frame-

work for continuous improvement. We’re learning a lot, and we’re grateful that we have such commitment from the community in making D.C. a true agefriendly city.

DCOA is also working with George Washington University to conduct a needs assessment. The findings from this data collection effort will shape the agency’s policies and make improvements to key program areas. The needs assessment will help us better understand the needs of older adults and the gaps that may exist between existing and needed services. We need to better understand our customer experiences so DCOA can meet you where you’re at and where you want to go as you age.

Visit our agency website at www.dcoa.dc.gov for more information. We will also be conducting additional outreach to solicit feedback from stakeholders and constituents. We want to make sure we hear from as many of you as possible.

Thanks for your support and commitment to creating a community that’s age-friendly — a true community requires community investment and partnership with government, and I appreciate your willingness to engage with us in conversations as we work collectively to provide comprehensive services to you.

See you in the community!

August 2016

Staying Safe During Heat Waves It is important for residents to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and stroke, as well as be aware of the various ways to avoid heat-related illnesses.

Heat stroke is a serious illness characterized by a body temperature greater than 105 degrees. Symptoms may include dry red skin, convulsions, throbbing headaches, disorientation, chills, delirium and coma.

Onset of heatstroke can be rapid: a person can go from feeling apparently well to a seriously ill condition within minutes. Treatment of heatstroke involves the rapid lowering of body temperature, using a cool bath or wet towels. This is a true medical emergency.

Call 911.

Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heatstroke that may develop due to a combination of several days with high temperatures and dehydration in an individual. Signs of heat exhaustion include extreme weakness, muscle cramps, nausea, or headache, heavy sweating, paleness and dizziness.

Heat exhaustion is treated with plenty of liquids and rest in a cool, shaded area. Those on a low-sodium diet or with other health problems should contact a doctor.

The heat index is a measurement that combines the effects of heat and humidity. It tells how hot it really feels when the effects of humidity are added to high temperatures. When heat and humidity combine to reduce the amount of evaporation of sweat from the body, outdoor exercise becomes dangerous even for those in good shape.

In the District, the Heat Emergency Plan is activated when the heat index reaches 95 degrees.

In the event of extreme heat, you should take the following precautions: • Stay indoors as much as possible.

• Turn on the air-conditioner or fan.

• DO NOT leave children or pets in vehicles.

• Drink plenty of water.

• Wear light-colored, lightweight and loose-fitting clothes.

• Apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going outside. SPF 30 or higher is best.

• Limit exposure to the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when it is strongest • Watch for symptoms of heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

• Visit one of the District’s cooling centers located throughout the city, if you do not have access to a cool-temperature location.

• For information about water for the homeless, contact United Planning Organization at 202-399-7093.

Important Telephone Numbers • Senior resources, cooling centers and information: 202-724-5626 • Location of public cooling centers: 202-727-6161 • Seniors needing energy cost assistance: 311 • Hyperthermia hotline for the homeless and persons at risk: 1-800535-7252 D.C. Recreation Centers, D.C. Public Libraries and Senior Wellness Centers are all great places to beat the heat and are open to the public.

D.C. Water and D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) officials want to remind the public that unauthorized fire hydrant use is unlawful, dangerous and damaging.

28

A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

D.C. OFFICE

ON

AGING NEWSLETTER

DCOA Employee Wins Award

Government employees Cafritz award winners.

DCOA employee Aurora Delespin-Jones, shown beside a Seabury Connector Bus, resently won a Cafriz Award.

Dementia Training for Family Caregivers August 22, 2016 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

The D.C. Office on Aging’s Behavior Symptom Management (BSM) Training Program is offering free training workshops to local families, whose loved ones are affected by dementia. Come and learn about common behaviors and management techniques associated with this disease during this 2-hour educational session. Join us for an experiential, hands-on training for caregivers who are interested in understanding dementia care.

REGISTER TODAY! Contact:

LOCATION: D.C. Office on Aging 500 K Street N.E. Washington D.C. 20002 Room #114

Mamie Garret DCOA Assistant Phone: 202.535.1061 mamie.garrett@dc.gov Upon completion the learner will:

Understand reasons for challenging behaviors and approaches for managing them Build the confidence and skills to address issues that arise during the progression of the disease Learn about statistics related to Alzheimer’s and dementia prevalence in the District Understand how Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders impacts people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities ! Know best communication practices when interacting with people who have cognitive challenges ! Be able to identify programs and services in D.C. that can help clients and loved ones ! ! ! !

A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION WILL BE PROVIDED

Congratulations again to Aurora Delespin-Jones, who leads programs and grants for the D.C. Office on Aging. She was one of five individuals who received the Cafritz Awards for Distinguished D.C. Government Employees.

With more than 37 years of government service, she is lauded most recently for her vision and initiation for the ConnectorCard, a prepaid subsidized Visa debit card payment method.

Participants, primarily low-income seniors and people with disabilities ages 18 to 59, can use the ConnectorCard to pay for any public or private transit vendor that has debit card capacity.

ConnectorCard was named a best practice by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging in 2015, and received acknowledgment by the National Center for Senior Transportation. The program is slated to expand, thanks to a Federal Transportation Administration grant of $373,000.

Congratulations!

See Community Calendar on page 30.

29

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

D.C. OFFICE

ON

Senior Legislative Day

AGING NEWSLETTER

2016 DCOA Senior Needs Assessment Survey 1. Purpose The GW Center for Aging, Health & Humanities, in collaboration with the District of Columbia Office on Aging (DCOA), is conducting a Needs Assessment for older adults in DC. The purpose of the survey is to identify the unmet needs of seniors in Washington DC. to enable our team to: • make recommendations to DCOA and service providers to better meet your needs, • identify evidence-based, cost-effective practices in other communities, and • develop creative strategies within the wards.

As a senior and a member of the DC community, your input is valuable. With your participation, together we can create an Age-Friendly DC. If you care for someone 60 years of age or older who cannot fill out this survey, please fill it out according to your perception of their needs.

2. How to participate in the 2016 Survey a. In-Person: Pick up/complete a paper copy of the survey at any of the DCOA Senior Wellness Centers and Lead Agencies. When complete, please return it to the same location. b. Mail: You may call 202-994-6726 to have one sent to you. This can be returned by mail or dropped off at a DCOA Senior Wellness Center or Lead Agency by August 30, 2016. c. Electronically: You may take the survey online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/DCOA-Seniors. Please complete

by August 30, 2016.

3. Deadline More than 60 seniors joined Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on Capitol Hill as she hosted her annual Senior Legislative Day. Seniors were treated to a tour of the Capitol Visitors Center and Statuary Hall, and heard remarks from Congresswoman Norton from the House floor about important legislation affecting senior citizens.

Highlights of the tour included viewing the statues — representing the District of Columbia — of Frederick Douglass and Rosa Parks, for whom Con-

gresswoman Norton advocated for representation in the Capitol.

Entertainment was provided

by Ely, a folk guitarist who played several old tunes that brought back many memories.

Ely thought the group was one of the best audiences because they sang along and provided an accompaniment with their drum sticks.

Congresswoman Norton also joined in with the light workout to Jackie Wilsons’ “Baby Workout” led by William Yates, YMCA DC Fit and Well program manager.

Please turn in survey by AUGUST 30, 2016 through one of the options listed above.

4. Questions or Concerns Call Beverly Lunsford, research coordinator, if you have questions or concerns, at 202-994-6726.

5. Final Report will be available for review on the DCOA Website in late 2016.

30

A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

D.C. OFFICE

ON

AGING NEWSLETTER

Community Calendar AUGUST 2nd and 16th • noon Join the D.C. Caregivers Online Chat at Noon to discuss “Respite Care Spells Relief for Stressed Out Caregivers” on Aug. 2, and “Starting the Conversation: Approaches for Helping Your Loved Ones” on Aug. 16. Log on to http://dcoa.dc.gov/page/caregiver-chat at noon, or visit at your convenience and hit replay to see the chat. For more information, contact linda.irizarry@ dc.gov or call 202-535-1442.

4th • 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Mayor’s 5th Annual Senior Symposium will be held at Dunbar High School, 101 N. St. NW. For more information, contact Alice Thompson at 202-535-1321.

4th, 11th, 18th, 25th • 6 to 8 p.m.

Iona will host a four-session women-only discussion group that explores in a private setting how lives evolve as we age. Share insights and create new bonds with other women who want to explore topics such as intimacy, travel, spirituality, changing roles and responsibilities in the family, transition, and finding meaningfulness in this next stage of life. This group is facilitated by Lylie Fisher, founder and director of Iona’s Take Charge/Age Well Academy. The cost is $75. It will be held at Iona, 4125 Albemarle St., NW. Call 202-895-9448 for more information or to register.

ed at 1814 Central Pl. NE. Contact Mildred Banks at 240-750-3641 for more information.

Goldsmith at Senior Village I, 3001 Bladensburg Rd. NE. For more information, call Norma Hardie at 202-529-8701.

6th • noon to 7 p.m.

12th • 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Trinidad Day will be celebrated at the Trinidad Recreation Center, 1310 Childress St. NE. To learn more, call Keisha Shropshire at 404-245-6772.

The Fairmont Washington, D.C, holds the 7th Annual Sustainability Fair in the hotel’s Colonnade Room at 2401 M St. NW. The event showcases the eco-efforts of many D.C.-based organizations as well as the hotel’s own green program. For more information, contact Diana Bulger at 202457-5019.

9th, 10th, 17th • 11:30 a.m.

Sign up for the Seabury ConnectorCard, which helps pay for transportation, at Senior Village 1, 3001 Bladensburg Rd. NE on Aug. 9. You can also sign up on Aug. 10 at the Vicksburg nutrition site, 3005 Bladensburg Rd., NE. On Aug. 17, sign up at Green Valley Apartments, 2412 Franklin St. NE. Your income, date of birth and D.C. residency will be verified at the time of sign-up. For more information, call Norma Hardie at 202-529-8701.

10th • 10:30 to noon A presentation and workshop on glaucoma will be made at the Hayes Senior Wellness Center, 500 K St. NE. For more information, call Sherrill Briscoe at 202-727-0357.

11th The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE Local 1456) presents Peace in the Park 2016 in the 37th Street SE neighborhood.

For details, call Audrey Smith at 804306-6318.

6th • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

11th and 25th • 11 a.m.

Trinity Baptist Church will hold a community day. The church is locat-

Seabury Resources for Aging Ward 5 presents: FAITH Fitness with Darnell

13th • noon to 6 p.m.

The East Point D.C. Neighborhoods Festival will take place at Kelly Miller Field, 49th & Dix Streets NE. Contact Linda Fisher at eastpointfestival@ gmail.com for more information.

16th • 11:30 a.m.

AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly will present information on Medicare Patrol at Delta Towers, 1400 Florida Ave. NE. For more information, call Norma Hardie at 202-529-8701.

17th • 11:30 a.m.

United Healthcare presents information on diabetes and vision at Senior Village I, 3001 Bladensburg Rd. NE. For more information, call Norma Hardie at 202-529-8701.

18th • 10:30 a.m.

The Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired will hold a Family and Friends Day at the center, 2900 Newton St. NE. For more information, call Norma Hardie at 202-529-8701.

18th • 10 a.m. to noon

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

500 K St. N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002 202-724-5622 • www.dcoa.dc.gov Acting Executive Director Laura Newland Editor Darlene Nowlin Photographer Selma Dillard SABB Photography 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.

Train to become a DCOA Ambassador, an initiative to train community residents about the programs and services offered by the D.C. Office on Aging and its Senior Service Network. The ambassadors serve

Classic Woman of the Year Congratulations to newly crowned American Classic Woman of the Year Vene A. LaGon. Also pictured: First Runner-up Linita Eddy-Montgomery and Dona Farris-Jenkins.

as points of contact for distributing information in their wards and communities about the programs and services available to seniors, people living with disabilities and caregivers. To register, call 202-7245622 or email Darlene.nowlin@dc.gov.

23rd • 6 to 8 p.m.

Iona offers a one-time class called “Graceful Transitions,” focusing on lessening clutter and preparing to move. This class will provide inspiration and practical hints on how to tackle these tasks effectively. It is facilitated by Donna Eichelberger, a senior living specialist and senior move manager. The cost is $10 if you register by Aug. 16, $15 after that.

The class will be repeated on Sept. 15 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Early registration for that date closes on Sept. 8.

Both sessions will be held at Iona, 4125 Albemarle St., NW. Call 202-8959448 for more information or to register.

27th • 6 to 9 p.m.

The Honoring Our Seniors Banquet will take place at the Faith Tabernacle Unite Holy Church, 300 A Street, NE. Call Elder Shirley Johnson at 804-9948359 for more information.

30th and 31st • 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

A two-session class, called “Planning for Living Well,” covers planning for the future, especially with respect to medical care. The class also focuses on how to communicate with potential surrogate decision makers, like an adult child or a spouse, as well as how to pick someone who will advocate for your personal goals.

The cost is $20 if you register by Aug. 23; $30 after that. It will be facilitated by Niel Rosen, JD, PhD, program director for Professionalism, Ethics, and Humanities at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. It will be held at Iona, 4125 Albemarle St. NW. Call 202-895-9448 for more information or to register.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

31

ELEVATE YOUR JOB SEARCH Introduce yourself to potential employers with a concise “elevator speech” CUT FUNERAL COSTS Comparison shop and simplify burial to avoid funerals that break the bank SHARE YOUR EXPERTISE Two organizations enable experienced retirees to help new businesses LET’S MAKE A DEAL Don’t be afraid to ask stores for floor models, markdowns and coupons

How to make your retirement money last

By Doug Kinsey Probably the biggest single concern of retirees is running out of money. It doesn’t seem to matter how much money they have; the thought of not generating any outside income — living for many years off of an existing pool of assets and Social Security — strikes fear in the hearts of many mortals.

That’s where a financial adviser can help. It’s one of our primary jobs. We spend many hours studying and learning about how best to accomplish this goal. I personally find the topic very interesting since many tools and techniques have been developed over the years to better understand this issue.

Some of these tools are nothing but sales pitches in disguise. Others are so complicated that many planners don’t even understand them fully (for example, “Monte Carlo simulations”).

Effective retirement planning is not a “set-it-and-forget-it” discipline, either. A financial plan for someone who is in the distribution phase of their lives is one that calls for continuous monitoring and adjustment, as well as attention to the markets, economy and political environment.

Still, all good plans rely on a few key variables:

1. Getting the spending part right.

In a nutshell, how much will you be shelling out each year, both for normal and recurring items and for extraordinary or one-time expenses?

Perhaps your plan calls for an annual expense of $15,000 for travel, as you like to visit your children a few times every year and also take one or two personal trips.

Then, maybe every three to five years, you plan on a larger expenditure of $25,000 to spend three weeks in Europe.

Annual car expenses, including funds for an unexpected emergency, also must be factored in. You may have a normal expenditure of $5,000 in fuel and maintenance costs, and a periodic expense of $30,000 every 10 years to replace a car, for example.

When calculating the lifespan of your portfolio, we look at the net or after-tax withdrawals from your accounts after other sources of income, such as Social Security and pensions, are used.

2. Understanding the total value 3. Correctly estimating the ex- taxes and investment management costs.

Tax management can take on a large of your liquid assets. pected growth rate of your inrole in retirement, as asset sales can be Liquid just means you can quickly cash vestments. in an asset, such as cash, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc.

This is after taxes, inflation and investment management expenses. Two of these three variables are within your control —

timed, and gains and losses can be netted See NEST EGG VALUE, page 33

32

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Sum yourself up in an ‘elevator speech’ Question: Now that I’m looking for a job, I hear a lot of people talking about their “elevator speech.” What do they mean by that?

Answer: The concept of an elevator speech has been around for a long time.

It’s a succinct (approximately 30 second) business description of what you do and

Right now, someone is taking the job you want.

Return to work with The Career Gateway.

why someone should hire you. It’s called make him/her interested in hearing more an “elevator speech” because it describes about you within the first eight to 10 secthe need to be able to sell onds. (You can cover a lot of yourself to another individual ground in those few secin the time it takes to ride with onds.) them on an elevator from the 2. Professional accomground floor to the top floor. plishment. For example, However, that was then. El“My team and I designed a evators are much faster, and new process that ultimately attention spans are much increased revenue by 35 pershorter, now. (Statistics show cent.” that the average person today 3. An “emotional hook.” loses focus in about eight secKeep a smile on your face, CAREER COACH onds!) Therefore, an elevator offer a sincere statement of

By Judy Smith speech these days needs to be passion for your profession, or stepped up. “Hello, my name is” just won’t show your conviction for a cause (nonprofdo it. its, helping the elderly, etc.). For instance: As a job seeker, it’s essential to use an “I’m very pleased I can help so many senelevator speech whenever you want to in- iors age in place.” troduce yourself to a new contact. You 4. What you want to do next (what need to craft a strong elevator speech — you’re looking for). For instance: “Now one that makes a lasting first impression I’m eager to apply my skills in the field of and positions you in the listener’s mind.

X, in an agency that focuses on improving Here’s a short course on preparing a Y,” etc. good elevator speech.

5. A big finish. A sentence or two that 1. The introduction. Start with your tells about an action you took that brought name and what you do (i.e., your expertise something to a successful conclusion. and its value). For example, “I write comPeople like success stories. The story puter programs that make Internet search- doesn’t need to be something that hapes more targeted.” pened on the job, but it should illustrate a Remember, you have to keep the person you’re meeting with focused. You need to See CAREER COACH, page 34

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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 6

Nest egg value From page 31 against one another, distributions can be timed from taxable versus non-taxable accounts, etc.

Investment management fees should be evaluated and minimized where possible.

This includes fees at the mutual fund level and at the adviser level.

As an example, consider a balanced portfolio of 60 percent stocks and 40 percent fixed income and cash. The blended return on this portfolio will probably be in the 7 percent range.

Inflation today stands at around 1.1 percent (but with healthcare costs being a large factor for retirees, we’re going to use 3 percent). A typical investor will pay somewhere in the range of 1.5 percent for investment management, so our net growth rate is around 2.5 percent.

Taxes may bring that down closer to 2 percent. I am giving you this detail to impress upon you the impact of the various factors on your portfolio, and to emphasize that it truly can be the small things that make a difference.

How long will it last?

Ok, so now what? We know the portfolio value, the spending plan, and the expected growth rate. How do we find out how long the portfolio will last?

Moshe Milevsky, associate professor of finance at York University in Toronto, developed the following simple formula (simple if you have a financial calculator or use a spreadsheet program):

Source: Moshe Milevsky, Financial Analyst Journal, March/April 2016

What this says is that the EL, or expected

longevity of your portfolio is equal to 1 divided by the expected growth rate times the natural logarithm of the formula in parenthesis. “w” is your withdrawal amount in dollars, “M” your initial portfolio value and “g” is your expected growth rate.

It looks complicated, but it isn’t. I built a simple spreadsheet in Excel using this formula, and I’d be happy to send it to you if you would like a copy.

To get an idea of what the output looks like for a $1,000,000 portfolio, see Milevsky’s Table 1.

You can quickly see the relationship between net growth rate and withdrawal rate.

To go back to my earlier example, let’s say you have a $1,000,000 portfolio and expect a 7 percent growth rate, which after inflation, fees, taxes, etc. gives you a net 2.5 percent rate of return.

You could take as much as $60,000 a year out if you are a 65-year-old male and be reasonably certain that it will last for your lifetime (estimated mortality for a 65year-old male is about 18 years, and 20 years for a female of the same age). If you are younger, you would want to withdraw less each year.

There are more factors that should be considered, of course, such as the age of your beneficiaries (spouse, children, etc.), life insurance owned, etc., and that’s why a complete financial plan is invaluable to make sure no stone is unturned when making such important decisions.

The bottom line is that this simple tool can at least get you started thinking, and maybe give you a little guidance in conversations with your financial adviser. And remember, sometimes small adjustments can have a big impact.

Doug Kinsey is a partner in Artifex Financial Group, a fee-only financial planning and investment management firm based in Dayton, Ohio.

All contents © 2016 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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

The Longevity of an M = $1,000,000 Portfolio (in years) Real Annual Withdrawal and Spending Rate Investment Growth Rate w = $60,000 w = $55,000 w = $50,000 w = $45,000 g = 0.5% 17.4 19.1 21.1 23.6 g = 1.0% 18.2 20.1 22.3 25.1 g = 1.5% 19.2 21.2 23.8 27.0 g = 2.0% 20.3 22.6 25.5 29.4 g = 2.5% 21.6 24.2 27.7 32.4 g = 3.0% 23.1 26.3 30.5 36.6

33

Table 1.

w = $40,000 26.7 28.8 31.3 34.7 39.2 46.2

Source: Moshe Milevsky, Financial Analyst Journal, March/April 2016

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Career coach From page 32 skill of yours that you’re eager for the listener to know more about. Tell them about a problem you solved, colleagues you successfully mentored, a program you created, or a commendation you were given.

Rules for a good elevator speech • Your complete speech should be as close to 30 seconds as possible. If you don’t deliver your message quickly, people will stop listening to you.

• Your speech should use language that’s easy for the average person to understand. Don’t use technical words or jargon.

• Your speech should be well-rehearsed — but sound like it’s not rehearsed at all!

To help you get started, make a list of all the services you provide. Then, think of the benefits that a potential employer or client could derive from your services. You could use successful outcomes to illustrate benefits.

Here’s my sample speech: “Hi, I’m Judy Smith. I help people find satisfying new jobs and coach clients on how to become more successful at their work. For example, I helped a client change jobs with a 40 percent salary in-

crease. I helped a client develop the skills to deal with a difficult boss, and I helped a manager design training that measurably improved staff performance. I love giving clients the knowledge they need to move their lives forward!”

Edit and practice • Start writing. Prepare a rough draft of your speech. Edit it. Put it down for a while and come back to it later. See if it still rings true. If not, edit it some more. When you finally arrive at the elevator speech that best suits you, you’ll know it.

• Record yourself; listen to it. Do you sound confident? Is your speech engaging? Does it seem rehearsed?

• Run it by as many friends and family as you can. Ask for their feedback.

• Memorize the final speech.

• Practice your speech until it feels like it’s rolling off your tongue — until you “feel the vibe.”

Now you’re ready to take your compelling speech on the road. Watch as it consistently ramps up your listeners’ attention!

Judy Smith is a registered career coach.

Send your job search questions to Smith at smithjudit@gmail.com, or visit her website at www.judysmith.solutions.

BEACON BITS

Aug. 20

MASTER NATURALISTS TRAINING

Applications are now being accepted for the Fall 2016 Arlington Regional Master Naturalists Training. Learn the basics of ecology, botany, geology, herpetology, entomology, mammalogy, ornithology, climate, and forest and aquatic ecosystems. Trainees can gain certification through the Virginia Master Naturalist program, which prepares volunteers to provide education, citizen science and outreach to conserve and manage natural resources and public lands. Graduates must complete 40 hours of service and 8 hours of continuing education annually to become certified. Classes are held on Tuesdays, from 7 to 10 p.m., from Sept. 6 through Dec. 6 at Long Branch Nature Center, located at 625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington, Va. The cost is $175. Applications are due Saturday, Aug. 20. For more information or to complete an application, visit https://armn.org/basic-training or call (703) 525-3614.

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35

Seven ways to slash the cost of a funeral

By Bob Niedt In addition to the emotional toll, dying can take a heavy financial toll on the living.

The median cost of a funeral runs about $8,500, according to the latest figures from the National Funeral Directors Association, including embalming, viewing, a hearse, a metal casket, a vault and some other related services.

And there are two important points to keep in mind about the $8,500 figure. First, it doesn’t take into account some common cemetery expenses — such as a burial site, marker, paid obituary and flowers.

Second, it’s the median, or middle, price; some funerals can cost upward of $25,000.

The price tag, 29.3 percent higher than

it was a decade ago, could come as a shock to grieving heirs, and take a bite out of your estate.

Prepaying for your own funeral is one way to spare your survivors the hassle and expense, but generally speaking, Kiplinger recommends thinking twice about prepayment because there are better ways to set aside cash for a funeral.

A smarter approach might be to focus on reducing funeral costs. Here are seven ways to save: 1. Compare prices. Licensed funeral homes are required by law to give you a General Price List, or GPL, which breaks out funeral expenses. Ask for a copy if one isn’t offered, and get quotes from different

homes.

“It’s apples to apples and oranges to oranges,” said Stephen Kemp, a licensed funeral director with Haley Funeral Directors in Southfield, Mich. “Families can compare and contrast.”

Funeral homes are also required to provide pricing information by phone.

2. Stick to a budget. According to the Funeral Consumers Alliance, families in the throes of grief suddenly planning a funeral can “rush into making a decision, often resulting in unnecessary costs leading to even more stress down the road.”

The nonprofit group, which advocates for affordable funeral planning, advises families to develop a budget and hold firm.

Kemp said good funeral directors will either work within the budget or recommend a funeral home that can.

3. Think outside the box. The median price of a metal casket sold by a funeral home is around $2,400. High-end caskets can run into five figures.

But you aren’t required to buy a casket from a funeral home, and the funeral home must accept a casket purchased elsewhere — including online. Caskets at Costco start at $950, and the warehouse club ships to most states.

Other online sellers include Overstock.com and BestPriceCaskets.com.

See FUNERAL COST, page 37

BEACON BITS DAVID BOWIE TRIBUTE

Aug. 14

Wolf Trap presents a tribute to the late star David Bowie on Sunday, Aug. 14 from 8 to 10:30 p.m. The concert will feature his greatest hits like “Starman” and “Ziggy Stardust.” Wolf Trap is located at 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna, Va. Tickets cost $25-$45. For more information, visit www.wolftrap.org/f/081416.

MD BLOOD DRIVE

Aug. 17

Inova is hosting a blood drive on Wednesday, Aug. 17 from 2:30 to 7 p.m. at Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. Brooke Grove is located at 18131 Slate Rd., Sandy Spring, Md. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Nancy Ochsenreiter at (301) 570-7081 or nancy@bgf.org.

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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 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.

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Share your experience with entrepreneurs The cover story in the July Beacon focused on 1776, an incubator for entrepreneurs in downtown D.C. Now, a new organization is helping match experienced professionals with startup companies that can benefit from their expertise.

SAFE (Senior Advisors for Entrepreneurs) helps connect experts in fields as diverse as IT development, graphic design and federal proposal writing with people and organizations that need these kinds of assistance.

SAFE provides advisors who are retired professionals from government, academia and industry who occasionally want to use the skills they have gleaned over decades of work.

“The retired are the largest untapped source of information and skills for people who are beginning their businesses,” said SAFE founder Louis Solomon, who lives in Bethesda, Md. “The startups are often run by very enthusiastic young people, but they lack experience in creating or operating companies. That’s where we can help.”

SAFE’s only role is to introduce the firms to its advisors, Solomon said. After the introductions, the firms negotiate their own business and price arrangements directly with the advisors. Advisors pay

SAFE 10 percent of what they receive from startups. SAFE does not charge startups or venture capitalists for its “matchmaker” services.

SAFE currently has about 50 advisers.

Those who are interested in becoming an adviser, as well as those interested in using SAFE’s services, can get more information from their website, www.safeproblemsolvers.com, or by calling (240) 403-7603.

SCORE For many years, the U.S. Small Business Administration has matched up entrepreneurs with older experienced business advisors through its SCORE program. Services include one-on-one mentoring and online webinars, all free of charge. Additional workshops and events may have a nominal fee.

SCORE is headquartered in Herndon, Va., and has offices throughout the country, including five in the Greater Washington area.

To obtain assistance from SCORE, or to volunteer to become a SCORE mentor, visit www.score.org, or call the main D.C. office at (202) 619-1000 — Barbara Ruben

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Arlington County presents a Medicare seminar on Tuesday, Aug. 9 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Are you making the most of your benefit? Join certified Medicare counselors with the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program of Arlington County for a presentation and Q&A session.

The talk will take place at Lee Senior Center, located at 5722 Lee Highway. For more information, call (703) 228-0555.

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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 6

Funeral cost From page 35 A funeral home also can’t charge you a handling fee for receiving a casket purchased elsewhere.

4. Consider cremation. Cremation rates in the U.S. are approaching 50 percent, according to the Cremation Association of North America, and by 2019 the majority of Americans are projected to opt for cremation over burial.

One big benefit of the shift is cost. The median price of a funeral with a viewing and cremation is about $6,000, the National Funeral Directors Association found, versus $8,500 for a comparable funeral with burial.

Cremation expenses can be reduced even further by turning down the cremation casket (median funeral home price: $1,000). Funeral homes are required to offer inexpensive alternatives to cremation caskets, such as simple containers made of unfinished wood or fiberboard.

Supplying your own urn (median funeral home price: $280) will trim the bill, too.

5. Skip the embalming. Preserving the body through embalming isn’t a routine requirement for every death. However, many funeral homes will require embalming if there will be a public viewing.

If a service is held within 24 to 48 hours with no public viewing, said Kemp, embalming may not be necessary. Even if the

service can’t be held so quickly, refrigeration is an acceptable alternative to embalming in most states. The National Funeral Directors Association puts the median cost of embalming at $695.

6. Keep the service simple. The median charge for the use of funeral home facilities and staff for a viewing and ceremony adds up to $915, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. If you insist on a funeral home service but can’t afford the full production, Kemp said funeral directors will usually work with you to cut corners.

Remember, you aren’t required to purchase a funeral home’s complete package.

Instead, choose only the goods and services that fit your budget and needs.

7. Donate your body to science. Science Care is one company that acts as a go-between for whole-body donors and labs doing medical research. For donors accepted by Science Care, costs are covered for cremation, transportation and filing of the death certificate. Cremated remains are returned to the family at no cost within three to five weeks.

Another company that accepts wholebody donations is LifeLegacy. Certain factors including infectious diseases (hepatitis, HIV/AIDS and so on) can result in a donation being rejected.

All contents © 2016 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

37

BEACON BITS

Aug. 5+

MIDLIFE MUSICAL

Arts on the Green and Wildwood Summer Theatre presents Nine, a musical exploring the life and many loves of film director Guido Contini, as he faces a midlife crisis and dreads turning 40, at the Arts Barn in Gaithersburg, Md. The show will run from Friday, Aug. 5 through Saturday, Aug. 13, with evening performances on Aug. 5, 6, 11 and 13, which begin at 8 p.m.

Matinee performances will take place on Aug. 7 and 13, which begin at 2 p.m. Admission costs $22. Arts Barn is located at 311 Kent Square Rd. For more information, visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov/leisure/arts/theater-at-the-arts-barn or call (301) 258-6394.

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38

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

How to convince a store to give you a deal

By Kyle James The time and effort required to be an “extreme coupon” user is something that many of us would rather pass on. Instead,

learn the right questions to ask store employees in order to score the best deal possible.

Sometimes they’ll pass along an exclusive

coupon, sometimes they’ll drop clues on the best day of the week to shop, and some might even mark down products for you.

By knowing the right questions to ask, you can easily maximize your savings on your next shopping trip. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Ask about markdown days Most retailers, both small and large, have specific days of the week when they do their internal store markdowns.

Whether it’s adding new items to the clearance section, or reducing the price on already reduced clearance products, if you know the “markdown” day, you can shop when the selection is the greatest and still save some money.

I have found that most employees are very open to share this information if you have a friendly chat with them. For example, a Macy’s employee told me to shop on a Tuesday as they have all their markdowns done by then. Also, if you’re a Kohl’s shopper, I was told to shop on the 2nd and 4th Saturday every month.

If instead you end up shopping on the day before a store does their markdowns, you’ll find the clearance section picked over and will probably find little of value.

2. Ask about floor models and imperfect items When I worked at Home Depot, floor

employees were given the authority to markdown imperfect items, scratch and dents, and floor models in order to clear them out of the store quickly. This included marking down items whose damaged packaging did not affect the quality of the actual product.

I can remember having regular customers who would ask me specifically if we had any such items that they could get a deal on. I’d then happily point them to the products I could mark down for them, and they often got stuff for 25 to 30 percent off the original retail price.

Start asking employees at stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Best Buy and Walmart about deals on floor items and imperfect stuff. If you can’t find any specific items to ask for a discount on, just ask an employee, “Do you have any screaming deals on floor models or scratch and dents?” Then just follow them to the deals.

3. Ask for a coupon Many retailers arm their employees with special coupons and discounts to freely hand out to customers in an effort to build store loyalty and goodwill. So if you’re shopping in-store, and you can’t find a coupon via your smartphone, start a polite conversation with an employee and See GET A DEAL, page 39

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

Get a deal From page 38 ask if they might have a coupon to use. You have absolutely nothing to lose and significant savings to gain.

JCPenney, Macy’s, Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Cost Plus are a few of the stores where this has been known to work effectively.

4. Expired coupon? Use it anyway Have you ever been on a shopping trip and pulled a coupon out of your purse or wallet only to realize it expired last week?

For a frugal shopper, it can be a sickening feeling.

Next time this happens, try to use the expired coupon anyway, as often the cashier will say, “Oh sorry, this one is expired. But I have one here by the register that you can use.”

Stores where I have used this strategy successfully include Bed Bath & Beyond, Michaels, Jo-Ann Fabric, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Harbor Freight Tools.

5. Find out which items you can negotiate

It’s no secret that retailers have certain products that offer a larger profit margin than others. A Best Buy employee recently told me that they can negotiate a lower price on products with a higher profit margin. He went on to say that high-end TVs often have more wiggle room in price than those in the $250-$500 range.

Use this information to your advantage, and try to politely negotiate a lower price on higher-end electronics. If you’re worried about looking cheap, try the “bundling” technique. This is when you bundle a TV with a Blu-ray player and ask for a 15 percent discount if you buy both on the spot.

This will also often work at big-box home improvement stores. Think things like a lawn mower purchased with a weed eater, or chain saw with a carrying case and new chain.

6. Ask about upcoming sales When I worked retail, I always had some insider knowledge on upcoming

sales events or exclusive coupons and rebates. Most floor employees at big-box retailers have an idea of when prices will probably get better. So ask them when they recommend you should buy to maximize your savings.

They’ll often tell you to come back on a specific day or weekend when everything will be on sale, or when there will be a

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Folksingers Ellis Paul and Dan Navarro will perform at Jammin Java in Vienna, Va. on Sunday, Aug. 21 at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for generation admission; $22 for premier and premier plus seating. Jammin Java is located at 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna, Va. For more information, visit http://jamminjava.com/event/1003611-ellis-paulvienna or call (703) 255-1566.

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GARDEN TOUR AND ICE CREAM

Green Spring Gardens is hosting a tour of its gardens, following by an ice cream social, on Saturday, Aug. 13 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Stroll the gardens with the master gardener docent, then visit the Historic House for the social. The cost is $12 per person. Green Spring Gardens is located at 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria, Va. For more information or to register, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring or call (703) 642-5173.

Aug. 21

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Fairfax County offers a farmers market during the month of August on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The market is located at 10500 Page Ave. For more information, visit www.FairfaxSaturdayMarket.com.

Aug. 13

great coupon available. In either case, just by asking, you can easily get some insider knowledge that’ll save you some money.

This article is from Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website.

All contents copyright 2016 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Service.

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BEACON BITS

Aug. 6+

39

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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 Taylor 410-663-0363 Towson 410-828-7185 Woodlawn 410-281-1120

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY Bladensburg 301-699-9785 55 AND BETTER! Laurel 301-490-1526 Laurel II 301-490-9730

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Travel

41

Leisure &

Vacationers can exchange homes, like this one in London, for an inexpensive trip abroad. See story on page 43.

Acadia National Park’s eye-popping nature south to Long Island, New York. Glaciers (naturalist John Muir called them “silent sculptors”) molded the island’s landscape — its pink granite mountains, lakes, rivers, beaches, dense forests, bogs and meadows.

They left behind what geologists call “glacial erratics” — rocks of all shapes and sizes, some weighing up to 42 tons — as well as the only true fjord in the lower 48 states, today called Sommes Sound, which splits Mount Desert Island down the middle.

The park’s eastern boundary is the Atlantic Ocean, where waves crash and massage the rugged shoreline, and 12-foot tides come and go twice a day. The sea glistens, and on some days a gauzy blanket of fog descends, adding to the allure.

Acadia was the first national park created east of the Mississippi River, and today is the only national park in the Northeast.

It was the first to have land donated entirely by private citizens.

Frederic Church and Thomas Cole painted Acadia’s landscapes in the mid-1800s.

Twenty-four movies, including The Cider House Rules, were shot in the park. From the highest point on the U.S. East Coast, Cadillac Mountain (1,540 feet), you can be the first to see the sun rise in the U.S.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

By Glenda C. Booth In Maine’s Acadia National Park, you can go from soaring granite mountains to cobblestone beaches, from windy headlands to quiet tide pools, from subalpine creatures to sea urchins — and reward yourself with luscious popovers.

Popovers in a national park? Acadia is best known for its stunning natural resources. But since the 1870s, the park’s Jordan Pond House Restaurant has served baked popovers slathered with Maine strawberry jam and butter at afternoon tea — a tradition begun when teahouses catered to upper crust, summer visitors.

This year, over 350 partners are celebrating the park’s centennial with events all year — including Acadia-themed poetry and art, a science symposium, an exhibit in nearby Bar Harbor’s Abbe Museum about the native Wabanaki people, plus many guided hikes and ranger programs.

This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.

Acadia’s 6,000 acres in 1916 have grown to 49,000 today, taking up almost half of Mount Desert Island off the central coast of Maine, where the park is located.

Sculpted by glaciers Glaciers carved the lobster-claw-shaped island 15,000 years ago. The ice sheet was well over a mile high and stretched 200 miles seaward to the continental shelf and

Park origins Hunter-gatherers, who once plied the ocean in canoes, left behind clam shell middens, or dumps, and other clues about

KURDISTAN/SHUTTERSTOCK

Thunder Hole is a popular attraction in Acadia National Park. At high tide, waves roll into the granite channel, forcing out compressed air from the back with a thunderous roar. Water surges up to 40 feet high. Visitors can take steps down to an observation point next to the chasm.

Acadia National Park offers ranger-narrated boat tours that visit nearby islands and explore natural and cultural history.

their presence.

The Wabanaki greeted the first European explorers in the 1500s, when Giovanni da Verrazano named the area “L’Acadie.” The French and British battled over the region for 150 years, with the British finally winning. But the name of one Frenchman, Antoine de la Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, stuck, and the island’s tallest mountain is named after him.

In the late 1800s, America’s wealthy began to summer at nearby Bar Harbor in their mansions (which they amusingly referred to as “cottages”) — families like the Rockefellers, Morgans, Astors, Fords, Vanderbilts and Pulitzers. A group of them, also called “rusticators,” formed a land trust in 1901 to protect the island from development and logging, and donated land to the trust.

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson designated 5,000 donated acres as Sieur de Monts National Monument. As land donations continued to enlarge the park, Congress made it a national park in 1919, and in 1929, it was named Acadia.

Thanks to John D. Rockefeller, Acadia has an intricate network of “carriage roads,” 45 miles of crushed stone roads, and 17 stone bridges, built between 1913 and 1940.

Designers blended the roads with nature and preserved native trees and plants

along the way. On the roadsides are 43,012 rectangular chunks of granite, quarried locally and cut by hand, known as “Rockefeller’s teeth.”

Diverse flora and fauna Acadia is all about nature, the obvious and the obscure, from awesome landscapes to delicate ecosystems. A rich diversity of life thrives from the sea to the summits. Acadia is a place to get out of the car, open your eyes and explore.

Visitors, from casual walkers to tri-athletes, can venture out on 130 miles of trails to enjoy hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding. Most visitors soak in the scenery by driving the 20-mile park loop road, boarding the free Island Explorer shuttle bus, or taking a guided bus tour.

The park has at least 165 plant species, 60 land and marine animals, and over 150 breeding birds, including loons. People often see deer, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, otters, bobcats, black bears, moose and beavers.

Along the shore, under the kelp, are crabs, sea urchins, sea anemones, sea stars and jellyfish. The park has 23 different kinds of moss, with names like moose moss and reindeer moss, and is the southSee ACADIA, page 42

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Acadia From page 41 ern limit for many flowering boreal plants that grow in Canada and parts of Alaska.

Dazzling scenery never fails to impress, from the granite coastline to 17 mountain peaks, marshes, lakes, ponds, birch and aspen forests, and offshore islands.

Clearly, a highlight is ascending to the top of Cadillac Mountain on a corkscrew, white-knuckle-inducing road. In the summit’s subalpine environment, pink granite boulders are mostly bare except for tiny, stubby vegetation and spruce trees

gnarled by the wind. The 360-degree panoramas are breathtaking.

The offshore Porcupine Islands look like puffy green pin cushions. With binoculars, you might spot a seal or porpoise. At the top, it can be cool and windy, but on sunny days, the sun is intense and the ocean sparkles.

Some visitors hear Thunder Hole before they see it. At low tide, the granite channel can be deceptively quiet, merely gurgling.

But when the tide rises, the waves roll into the chasm, compressing air in the back.

When the air is forced out, it sounds like an ominous thunder clap. Roaring water

A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

can surge as high as 40 feet. As one Mainer put it, “Thundah Hole, there’s a lotta watah at high tide.”

A more peaceful spot is Little Hunters Beach, a sheltered cove lined entirely with cobblestones polished by the surf. On this rock-bound coast, Sand Beach is the only sand beach on the park’s ocean side. Technically, it’s a cold-water, calcareous beach — a sand of shell fragments carried from and crushed by the pounding ocean. Here, most visitors are content to sunbathe because the water rarely gets above 55 degrees.

For the park’s and National Park Service’s centennial, Acadia has named its own poet laureate, Christian Barter, who said, “It’s a place where you have the opportunity to be humbled, and you can seize it if you want to.”

It is a place with power. It is also a place of peace. Maureen Young, from Pittsburgh, found Acadia “soothing.” “It made me feel peaceful,” she said, “at one with nature.”

After popovers, you can find peace in some eye-popping nature, granular and grand, in Acadia.

When to go The park is open year-round, but some services are closed from late October to mid-May. Summer high temperatures average 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and fall to 50 to 60 degrees in autumn. Winter is

long, usually from November to April.

Seasonal highlights: In the spring, wildflowers bloom, loons and other birds mate, and young peregrine falcons take flight.

Hibernating animals awaken.

In the summer, the most crowded season, parking is competitive, and lines may form at popular sites. More wildflowers burst forth, warblers raise their young, and bird-watching peaks. There are many ranger programs.

Fall brings brilliant foliage, warm days and cool nights. Birds pass through en route to southern wintering grounds. In winter, adventurous types cross country ski.

Up to five feet of snow can coat the park.

There are many lodging and restaurant choices in the nearby towns of Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor (known as the “quiet side”), and Northeast Harbor.

The park has two campgrounds. See these sites for more information about these areas: www.BarHarborMaine.com, www.visitsouthwestharbor.com, and http://visitmaine.com/places-to-go/ downeast-and-acadia.

Bangor Airport is 45 miles away; Portland’s airport, 165 miles. American flies nonstop to Bangor from Reagan National Airport. The lowest roundtrip fare in midAugust is $343.

Visit these websites for more information about the park: www.nps.gov/acad/ index.htm, www.acadiacentennial2016.org and www.friendsofacadia.org.

BEACON BITS

Aug. 11

BINGO CRUISE

Spirit Cruises is offering a bingo cruise on Thursday, Aug. 11, departing from Pier 4, located at 600 Water St. SW, in Washington, D.C. Bring your senior group out to play bingo and trivia and listen to old time music. The $63.71 per person fee includes a lunch buffet. Boarding begins at 11 a.m., and the boat leaves at noon and returns at 2 p.m. For more information or to book passage, contact Kelsey Carey at (202) 264-3622 or KCarey@EntertainmentCruises.com.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

43

Travelers benefit from exchanging homes

By Rebekah Sewell Some years ago, Londoners Brian and Catriona Luckhurst were looking for an inexpensive way to vacation in Brittany, France. With young children, the cost of traveling and lodging was too high. Their solution? Swap homes with someone who wanted to vacation in London.

“We swapped our four-bedroom, semidetached house in Twickenham in west London for a six-bedroom detached house in a rural location in Brittany,” said Brian Luckhurst. They stayed for two weeks, and shared the home with another family during the third week, another potential option for exchangers.

Initially anxious, the London couple spoke at length to the French couple over the phone to make the situation more comfortable. “This helped alley our concerns and put our minds at rest,” Lockhurst said.

“Our other main concern was, would they like our home? Would it be good enough for them? But of course it was, and I remember them telling us how much they particularly liked the location of our house, as it is minutes away from the train station with direct access to central London,” he said.

Helping others now By 2009, the Luckhursts were nearing retirement age, and they wanted a project

to keep them busy. Since they had such a great experience years earlier, they decided to create an online portal for others to use for global home exchanges.

The couple hired a website designer who designed and launched the site later that year under the name Home Exchange 50plus. The service is only for older adults.

“The Internet has been a great boost to the home exchange community,” Lockhurst explained. “It allows people to easily and quickly view the homes available for swapping, and allows for better communication between all concerned — a perfect fit.”

Maintaining an online system also offered the couple working flexibility while they, too, were travelling. On average, they make two to three trips a year, and frequently use the exchange program to find their own lodging.

The most obvious benefit to exchanging homes is the financial freedom it offers.

Without the heavy fees of accommodations, the rest of the vacation budget can be spent on food and travel. Some participants also agree to swap cars, bicycles, sporting equipment and more to keep costs down.

Luckhurst said he has only come across two complaints from vacationers using HomeExchange 50plus. One was that a house was more “tired” than members

thought it would be from the photos and description. The other was about the attitude of their swap partner being less “friendly” than they expected.

Site users Linda and Philip Koniotes used the program during their threeSee HOME EXCHANGE, page 45

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Get free lodging, complete with pets If you have pets, finding pet sitters while you’re away on vacation can be difficult, especially if you’re planning on being away for prolonged periods of time.

Trusted Housesitters is an international website that finds vacationers a free place to stay, in exchange for taking care of the homeowners’ pets. Content manager executive Charli Moore said their aim is to bring “two sides of a network together for mutual benefit.”

The most obvious advantage for vacationers is a free home to use. Like home exchange, it also offers visitors the chance to live like a local. Homeowners may even have friends to entertain their housesitters and suggest the best local or tourist spots.

For pet owners, the company finds pets full-time house and pet sitters while they’re away. Many pet owners dislike leaving their furry friends in impersonal kennels, and even veterinarians suggest pets adapt better to new caretakers than to new environments.

The service keeps “your pets happy and healthy throughout the duration of

your trip,” explained Moore.

To ensure a good fit, users can chat and get to know their potential sitters ahead of time. Some sitters may have had background checks completed, but the website does not vet its users.

Sarah Fisher from San Francisco, Calif., has been successfully using the site for the past year. She and her partner have “house- and pet-sat for some amazing people so far, as well as in some absolutely gorgeous locations, including a rural Iowan farmstead, a lovely cabin within the Ohio woods, and a picturesque house overlooking the San Francisco hills,” she said.

Some site users even become friends.

“As responsible sitters, we’ve formed attachments to the animals and their owners we’ve come across, making firm friends while we travel across the country,” said Fisher.

Annual membership for the site costs $99; a month-to-month membership is $8.25/month. For more information, visit www.trustedhousesitters.com/us or call (213) 947-9732.

— Rebekah Sewell

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

From page 43 month trip to Australia in 2013. To make the trip last that long, they swapped homes with nine exchange partners and also gained use of their cars.

“We saved over £7,500 by not having to eat in restaurants every night, pay for laundry, or a hire a car,” they explained.

Live like a local Exchanging homes also offers the chance for a more immersive vacation. Living like a local often provides a closer and more authentic look at the community and culture. Your partners may even have tips on the best local spots for eating, visiting and shopping.

Another benefit is the potential for making new friends. The Koniotes have hosted site visitors several times, and even keep in contact after the exchange is done. We “love meeting people,” they said.

Another couple, Jane and Alan Shakesshaft, have exchanged over 20 times in order to visit the U.S., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Spain and France.

They have found an additional plus to exchanges: “We seem to ‘inherit’ their friends and families, getting invited for meals, trips out, picnics, etc.,” they said of their exchange partners.

The fact that the site is limited to older adults also has its benefits. Many of the site’s users are already retired or working part-time. They therefore have more time to go on vacation, and more flexible dates to travel, offering a larger pool of potential vacation dates and making it easier to schedule exchanges throughout the year.

User John Mensinger says he appreciates the site’s clientele because they “don’t need to take vacations in the summer.” He ended up swapping his California home for a spring vacation on the island of Cyprus. The island was filled with “wildflowers complementing the ancient Greek and Roman ruins and accompanied by the fabulous vistas of the Mediterranean,” he described.

“We enjoyed visiting small wineries, walking in the countryside, and eating tasty and fresh local food, both at home and at tavernas. Our exchange home had a pool and views of the Mediterranean. It was impeccably clean and comfortable,” Mensinger recalled.

For more information, visit www.homeexchange50plus.com. A one-year membership on the website costs $45; a two-year membership is $70, and five years costs $125. Members pay no fees to homeowners when they exchange homes. Registration is required before you can contact other members.

BEACON BITS

Aug. 31

BALTIMORE CRUISE Arlington Country presents a cruise along Baltimore’s Inner

Harbor on Wednesday, Aug. 31. The cost is $65 for residents and $75 for non-residents, and includes a boxed lunch (several options available). The bus will depart from Thomas Jefferson Center, located at 3501 2nd St. S. at 9:45 a.m. and will return at 3:30 p.m. For more information, visit bit.ly/ArlingtonTrips or call (703) 228-4744.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIAN LUCKHURST

Home exchange

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Londoners Brian and Catriona Luckhurst created the Home Exchange 50plus website to make it possible for older adults to travel inexpensively around the world by swapping homes with each other.

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Style Arts &

Paul Simon’s new album, “Stranger to Stranger,” utilizes both innovative and ancient instruments. See story on page 51.

Olney offers fun with Gilbert and Sullivan livan (1842–1900), products of their Victorian era time and place.

Kid-friendly productions What’s left is a loose — very loose — retelling of the Mikado’s mix of troublesome romances, exotic marriage conventions and capital punishment. The plot can generally be followed by the kids, and the abbreviated songs are recognizable through the swirl of activity.

The kids get so captivated by the sights and sounds, and the fact they are not confined to seats and can even pop a balloon or two, that they don’t even seem to notice such inadvertent kid-bait larded in by Gilbert and Sullivan as “Titti-Poo.” Ten performers act and sing — and also function as the orchestra, playing an eclectic range of instruments — in an engaging, anarchic show in which the audience plays an important role.

On a recent late Sunday afternoon, the Olney Theatre’s intimate Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab was packed with kids, singles of millennial age, parents and grandparents. Some of the kids were packed into a balloon pit; others jumped up and down

PHOTO BY ANNA DANISHA CROS

By Michael Toscano Grandparents alert! Here’s a way to accomplish two things at the same time. You can escape the August heat, while simultaneously spending time with the grandkids.

Actually, you can accomplish even more: laugh, smile, groan and tap your feet in time to de-constructed Gilbert and Sullivan tunes. And maybe even pop out of your seat as a character takes over your spot.

How is all that possible? Thank the Hypocrites, the groundbreaking Chicagobased theater company. They’ve been taking their pixilated productions of The Mikado and The Pirates of Penzance on tour, and have landed at Olney Theatre Center (through Aug. 21) to help us wile away the summer hours.

Artistic Director Sean Graney took two of Gilbert & Sullivan’s most beloved light operas, and stripped away the fussiness, The Mikado’s Japanese setting and cultural touchstones, and the theatrical strictures the two English creative geniuses contrived so long ago.

Also missing is the smug racial stereotyping employed by librettist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sul-

In the playful version of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado now at the Olney Theatre Center, the “three little maids from school” are played by Lauren Vogel (Pitti-Sing), Dana Omar (Yum-Yum) and Amanda Raquel Martinez (Peep-Bo).

from benches and overran the place — all at the urging of the cast.

The festive atmosphere is created before the show itself starts, with the colorfully-clad actors leading a sing-along of happy, folky tunes (“Happy Together,” the 1967 top-40 hit from the Turtles, as an example). The set (and many of the costumes) reflect a circus, with a ring centering the performance area.

Benches (prime seats for people who

want to be immersed in and be part of the show) surround the ring and balloon pit, while standard theater seating is in place for the rest of us. The folks seated on the set have to move here and there rather frequently, as actors move about the set.

Did I mention the cash bar? Yes, there’s a bar serving beverages, adult and otherwise, throughout the hour-and-15-minute See MIKADO, page 47

Say you saw it in the Beacon | 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 6

Mikado From page 46 show. Audience members are urged to move about the theater, including to visit the bar, at will. What is called an “Intermission” lasts literally only a minute.

“We’re not going to pretend you’re not here,” warns Mario Aivazian, as Frederic, the loose-limbed Pooh-Bah. He sings with a clear, strong voice and might have been a Marx Brother, had he been born a century earlier.

Reworked songs If the non-traditional set and pre-show celebration haven’t been enough of a clue for you that this is something different, you know for sure this is uncharted territory when the traditional opening chorus is played by accordion and guitar accompaniment.

As time moves on, we hear a flute, banjo, cymbals, violin, something like a cross between a mandolin and a lute, drums, washboard, a gong and even a saxophone.

A couple of songs, when the cloying rococo Victorian decorations are removed, are revealed to be much prettier than familiar renditions. “Three Little Maids from School Are We” is much less staccato here, sung with warm, natural voices.

Here, Chicago-based talent powerhouse Lauren Vogel uses her sweet soprano to

beguiling effect. She’s a charmer, radiating charisma and energy as she clowns, alternates between the violin and the banjo, and even belts a few musical passages.

The rapid-patter song “Here’s a How-dedo!” is also smoothed into ballad-like tempo and tones, featuring the hard-working Dana Omar (as Yum-Yum) and Shawn Pfautsch. Pfautsch is the glue holding the show together, alternating as Andy-Poo and Katisha, the latter a polka-dot dresswearing, bee-hived apparition with cat-eye glasses and a lurid limp.

Gilbert and Sullivan aren’t completely forgotten here, but with the contemporary references and sly asides, this is hardly an introduction to their cherished work.

Much like the 1970s smash TV hit “M*A*S*H” was set in Korea but satirized the Vietnam war when that wasn’t allowed, the fanciful Japanese setting of The Mikado allowed Gilbert and Sullivan to comment on British culture and society.

That’s all shorn away here. What’s left is infectious energy and fun, congenial music, and a show that several generations of a family can embrace and enjoy.

If you go The Mikado is running in rotating repertory with the Hypocrites’ version of The Pirates of Penzance. Unfortunately, time did not allow me the opportunity to see that production as well, but it’s hard to imagine it is

not as much fun as the one discussed here.

The Mikado (and The Pirates of Penzance) continue through Aug. 21 at Olney Theatre Center’s Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab, located at 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd. in Olney, Md. The Mikado is playing in rotating repertory with The Pirates of Penzance.

Performances are Tuesday to Saturday at 7:45 p.m.; matinees on Sunday at 1 and 4:45 p.m., Saturday matinees at 1 p.m. on August 6, 13 and 20; Wednesday matinee at 1 p.m. on August 3. An audio-described performance for the blind and vision impaired is scheduled for Wednesday, August 17 at 7:45 p.m.

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Ticket prices are $10 for children and $25 for adults in the promenade benches around the stage. Prices for other tickets range from $35 to $65. Patrons age 65 and over can take $10 off any regularly priced ticket. Call the Olney Theatre Center box office at (301) 924-3400 to make reservations, or visit www.OlneyTheatre.org for tickets and information.

There is free, on-site parking, and the facilities are accessible to patrons with mobility impairment. For listening assistance during performances, an infrared system, which amplifies the sound on stage, is available free of charge.

2016 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES THROUGH AUGUST 30 MONDAYS AT 8 P.M.

TUESDAYS AT 7:30 P.M.

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U.S. Navy Memorial 701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, D.C.

All concerts are FREE and open to the public. Tickets or reservations are not required. For more information about additional concerts in your area, please check our online performance calendar.

BEACON BITS WASHINGTON BALLET WANTS YOUR PHOTOS

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Kenda From page 1 until Kenda pulled the car into the driveway at 1 a.m. All the lights were on, and she was crying.

“She said, ‘Kenda — and she only calls me by my last name when she’s really upset — I can’t wait for you to come home anymore. You should have called me.’

“She was right. I’d reached my emotional limit. I loved the adrenalin rush of the job. Her, not so much. So I left. And when I did, I lost the venom. But it took a couple years. When I first left, I was not the friend-

A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

liest person.”

But even though Kenda wasn’t chasing criminals anymore, they haunted his dreams and even his waking hours.

“I suffer from PTSD. Of course, I do.

The best way I can describe PTSD: Imagine having a nightmare while you’re awake. Picture a face and you’re back in the moment. You’ve got a gun in your hand, and everything is going south, and it’s right back where you were years ago.”

Kenda finally regained some equilibrium with a job that was the polar opposite of his police career: driving a school bus for children with special needs, which he

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did for the next decade.

“I became a special needs bus driver because I really was attracted to those kids who needed somebody in their lives who cared about them. For the first time in my life, people were happy to see me. And that felt very nice,” he said.

A new career in TV But then a letter from a TV producer who had heard of Kenda’s reputation for solving murder cases arrived. Kenda ignored it. Kathy pestered him to respond.

He finally did, and was flown out to California to do a test shoot for the show.

“A guy hands me 50 pounds of papers. I said, ‘What’s that?’ and they said, ‘That’s your script.’

“I said, ‘No, I’m a policeman, not an actor, and I’m not going to read a script.’

They said, ‘You have to do this.’ I said, ‘No, I have to die, and I have to pay taxes, but I don’t have to read a script. And if that’s what you want, then perhaps you should get someone else.’”

But they didn’t, because Kenda’s “just the facts, ma’am” Joe Friday delivery

bowled over the producers, and they never mentioned a script again.

On “Homicide Hunter,” Kenda serves as a narrator outlining the cases, which he remembers in precise detail. He shoots his segments in Colorado Springs. Reenactments with a younger actor who resembles Kenda, Carl Marino, are shot in Knoxville, Tenn.

Kenda distills each case, compacting it greatly to fit into an hour-long TV show.

“A murder case is enormously complicated. If I made a show illustrating everything we did and heard, it would last for 16 weeks and nobody would watch it. It’s a rabbit warren of facts and mistakes and misinformation,” he said.

“I do it off the top of my head. I’m better on my feet than any other way,” he said of his narration of the show.

“Homicide Hunter” has now aired more than 60 episodes since 2011. Its sixth season starts on Aug. 24.

Kenda also contributed to ID’s “Detective” podcast, which delves into the files of See KENDA, page 49

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Aug. 11

YO-YO MA IN CONCERT

Wolf Trap is featuring famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma in the Silk Road Ensemble on Thursday, Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. Journey around the globe with him and his eclectic and multi-cultural ensemble. There will be a free pre-performance discussion that begins at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $30 to $80. Wolf Trap is located at 1645 Trap Rd., Vienna, Va. For more information, visit www.wolftrap.org or call (703) 255-1800.

Aug. 12

JAZZ CONCERT

Local jazz group 5 on Friday Jazz will play a free concert on Friday, Aug. 12 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Mulligan’s Grill, on University of Maryland’s golf course, located on University Blvd. East in College Park, Md. For more information, call (301) 779-0457.

Ongoing

COMPUTER TRAINING

D.C .Public Libraries offer free hands-on computer training to adults. Most classes are held at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, located at 901 G St. NW, Washington, D.C. and are walk-in and first come, first served. For more information or to see a list of upcoming classes, visit http://bit.ly/DCCalendar or contact Desire Grogan at desire.grogan@dc.gov or (202) 727-1298.

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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 6

Kenda From page 48 particularly disturbing cases. Each season, a different detective is featured, and Kenda was chosen for the inaugural season last year.

A 21st century hero Why the public’s appetite for Kenda’s dark and twisty tales?

“I have no earthly idea,” Kenda responded.

But Jim Seeley, a fan and organizer of an annual cruise featuring Kenda, has some thoughts. Seeley, 52, who lives in Falls Church, Va., said, “We live in world where there are so many travesties of justice out there in the news. And it’s such a relief to see justice being done, good winning over evil. In the real world, evil seems to be winning over good these days.

“Joe has an element of Clint Eastwood, kind of the ‘go ahead and make my day’ thing. People really respond to that, especially because he’s not acting. He’s telling the real story. People gravitate to these kinds of heroes.”

And doing the shows has been therapeutic for Kenda, much more so than the visit he once paid to a PTSD therapist.

“I’ve said more to that camera than I’ve said to anybody. It makes me feel better.

So that’s my motivation” for doing the show, he said.

In a summer in which police shootings and race continue to make headlines, Kenda is careful not to assign blame — except maybe to the media.

In response to a question about the recent violence, he said, “Police contact people one million times a year. Police violence is less than one percent of all those contacts.

“But media is competitive. They strive for an audience. If it bleeds, it leads. It has become the cause célèbre. They’re tired of talking about Donald Trump, so now they’re talking about this.

“Any time there is emotion in a situation, people don’t consider what the facts are.

They only consider their emotions. They’re angry, they’re distressed. There’s obviously guilt on both sides in those situations.”

And from his years of service, Kenda has some safety tips for people in addition to the usual “pay attention to your surroundings” — “Stay out of bars at closing time because nothing good happens after midnight.

“Do not buy or sell narcotics or associ-

BEACON BITS

Aug. 11+

FREE SUMMER CONCERTS Fairfax County’s Evenings on the Ellipse continue with free con-

certs on Thursdays, beginning with the Sixth Generation (‘60s Rock) on Aug. 11, the United States Navy “Commodores” (Jazz) on Aug. 18, and a Tribute to Simon and Garfunkel performed by Aztec Two-Step (Folk) on Aug. 25. The concerts take place in the backyard of the Fairfax County Government Center, located at 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, Va. from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Complimentary wine tastings. If it rains, the show will be moved inside. For more information, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets or call (703) 324-5390.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

ate with those who do.

“And try to marry well. Don’t marry a psychotic.

“The odds of you being a victim of violent crime are an inch tall. If you do those other things, they are 10 feet tall.

“Most murders are not random. There

49

is a reason. It may be an insane reason, but it’s a reason.”

The sixth season of “Homicide Hunter” premiers on Aug. 24 at 10 p.m. on Investigation Discovery Channel (Channel 899 Comcast, 623 Verizon, 792 Cox, 659 RCN, 285 DIRECTV and 192 DISH).

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Grandpa smarts from kids’ smartphones “Do you have any grandchildren?,” asks a man I know only slightly.

“No, none,” I reply.

I know what’s coming. A rhapsody about how great “grands” are. A recounting of their recent triumphs on a Little League field or in a dance class. That shopworn line about how cool it would have been to have had grandchildren first and children second.

But I turn out to be wrong, as usual. The man I know only slightly says: “I’ve got two

grandchildren I’ll be glad to give you.”

He obviously wants me to ask why, so I do. Out spills an indictment that could never have been delivered even 10 years ago.

The man’s grandchildren don’t engage with him at all — ever — he says. They are too deeply immersed in their electronic devices. They are face-first into those devices at just about every waking moment.

“That would be bad enough,” this grandfather says. “But my son and his wife, their parents, don’t do anything to stop them or

correct them.” Because they’re pretty much part in an endless, closed loop? face-first into electronic devices themselves.

And when adults buy into the idea that The grandfather describes a they must be connected at all recent family dinner at a restautimes — hey, you never know rant. The dramatis personae: when the boss might want Himself, his son, his daughtersomething — they are losing in-law, and the couple’s two the ability to breathe, to kids, ages 8 and 6. smile, to ponder.

“We’ve been sitting down Grandpa knows all this. He for about three minutes — just also knows that electronics long enough for the waitress have warped what used to be to bring the menus — when human-to-human moments. out come four smartphones,” HOW I SEE IT “A friend of mine — also a the man tells me. grandfather — told me about

By Bob Levey “I try to start a conversahis 20-year-old grandson,” this tion. No, check that. I try to start three Grandpa said. “The grandson wanted to conversations. The first about their plans break up with his girlfriend. So he sent her for the holidays. The second about how an e-mail! the kids like school. And the third — I was “Same guy has another grandson, somedesperate by now — about the weather!” thing like 25 years old. The grandson had All three overtures met the same fate. a job he didn’t especially like. So he quit by Click, click, swipe, swipe. text message!”

Not only did the conversations fail to Grandpa is even more critical — close to achieve liftoff, the four younger people apoplectic, actually — about the dishondidn’t even respond, beyond a few grunts. esty of his son and his daughter-in-law.

“I could see what each of them was “They say they got smartphones for their doing,” Grandpa told me. “The two kids kids so the kids can call them instantly if were playing some sort of game. My son they are in trouble.” But the kids never call was checking his investment portfolio. their parents unless they want a ride, or perAnd my daughter-in-law was reading some mission to sleep over at a friend’s house. sort of movie fan website.

“The phones are all about amusement, “It was as if I didn’t even exist.” which is all about not confronting real relaBut the problem certainly does, and cer- tionships and real problems,” Grandpa detainly will. It goes far beyond rudeness. clares.

Electronics addiction threatens basic He knows he cannot turn back the clock. human communication skills and impor- He knows that he wasn’t a perfect parent or tant sophistication. a perfect son. He knows that grandchildren When a boy watches red-and-white sol- and grandparents do not always “click.” diers annihilating each other for hours on “But my gosh,” says Grandpa, “when end, is he learning what real soldiers do, Dungeons and Dragons are more important and have to do? to them than their actual grandfather…”

When a girl sends endless text mesHe doesn’t finish the thought. He sages to the same playmates she has just doesn’t have to. spent all week with at school, is she learnBob Levey is a national award-winning ing about the wider world, or just taking columnist.

Share your opinion.

Send a letter to the editor.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | 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 6

Still adventurous after all these years Innovative instruments

Unexpected lyrics

For the percussive “Stranger to Stranger,” which was released in June, Simon was initially intrigued with flamenco music and the use of hand-claps.

Through his son, Simon met and collaborated with Italian producer Digi G’Alessio, who records under the name Clap! Clap!

Old recordings of the vocal group the Golden Gate Quartet are used to ghostly effect. But Simon’s most intriguing journey took him to Montclair State University in New Jersey.

At the time, Montclair housed a collection of instruments created by the late Harry Partch, a composer who worked with instruments that had smaller tuning differences than is typical. Simon brought a portable studio in to record instruments like the cloud chamber bowls — glassshaped bowls that hang from a wooden frame and produce a haunting sound, said Robert Cart, director of Montclair’s John J. Cali School of Music.

“I wasn’t surprised that if there were a pop musician who was interested in the instruments, that it would be Paul Simon,” he said.

Simon was the only popular musician to explore the Partch instruments in the 15 years they were housed at Montclair, Cart said. They’ve since moved to the University of Washington following a caretaker’s death.

Simon believes he has an unusual songwriting process, connecting sounds together to see if they fit and bringing in lyrics later. Here, his observational songs muse on mortality, mental health, insomnia, romance, and an overzealous security guard.

In “Wristband,” the narrator is a musician who sneaks out of a concert hall for a

PHOTO BY FULYA ATALAY

By David Bauder Look at the liner notes on Paul Simon’s new disc, “Stranger to Stranger,” and it seems like a laboratory of exotic instruments. Musicians use a mbira, a bamboo marimba, cloud chamber bowls, a chromelodeon, a zoomoozophone — and a cheap clock.

It’s an album as notable for its sound as its songs, without the feel of an academic exercise. Simon, at 74, is more adventurous musically at an age many peers are content to ride on their reputations.

“There’s no point in resting on laurels,” said Simon, whose Manhattan office displays both of his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame trophies side by side. “You’re either interested in an idea, in which case you pursue it, or you have no ideas or aren’t interested in pursuing ideas.”

Busting beyond his folk-rock roots is not new for Simon, an impulse that has become more pronounced in the past few decades following his work with African musicians on “Graceland” and Brazilians in “The Rhythm of the Saints.” It hasn’t always been smooth; the success of “Graceland” opened a debate about cultural appropriation.

“It’s not like I set out to explore,” he explained. “There’s a connection that I’m following that pushes me toward some pleasing sound that I can barely imagine. So I go looking for it.”

See PAUL SIMON, page 53 While Paul Simon is best known for playing the guitar, many other interesting instruments are part of his new album, “Stranger to Stranger.”

FROM PAGE 52 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD Z I T I I D E S P O L L A A H M A L O B E T T U P T O T H E H M A A S P S P E A T E R S R E E K O D D S

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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1. Tube-shaped pasta 5. Award for Word’s Greatest anything 8. Gentrification target 12. Mid-month days 13. Proverbial bonnet-dweller 15. ___graph (Edison invention) 16. Group exempt from the Do-Not-Call Registry 18. Containing ancient lettering 19. Legally independent 21. Top-10 Middle Eastern name 23. Naval specialist 24. Slow/snail separator 25. The eastern end of Buffalo 26. “Hitch your wagon ___ star” (Emerson) 28. ___ with faint praise 30. Cable company’s claim 36. “When you are ___ your neck in alligators, it’s time to drain the swamp” 37. Soldiers’ support group, first chaired

by FDR 38. Federal Housing Administration Insurance, briefly 39. A star’s brightest days 44. Rivals of the NBA’s Spurs 45. Is there ___ in the house? (extra-brief shout) 46. Apple option 47. Venomous snake 49. He did not patent his first “safety elevator” 52. They are signed, sealed, and delivered 54. Provide clarity (and this puzzle’s product) 57. Straight and to the point 58. Exceptionally slim 62. Makes a stink 63. Home-seller of Daring Definition Mascara 64. Vatican currency 65. 47% of the numbers on a roulette wheel 66. Times Square time (sometimes) 67. Use a bible

1. Code on an envelope 2. What the bride cried 3. It may be divested from AT&T 4. Earth’s second largest religion 5. Flag-waver 6. Taxi alternative 7. Non-paying day care attendees 8. Avoid, en masse 9. Careful ways to think 10. Lightyears and millimeters 11. Starbucks coffee flavor 14. Finesse finish 15. Undergrad’s concentration 17. Announce one’s birthplace 20. Angel actress who replaced Fawcett 21. Rightmost letter in the Hebrew alphabet 22. Having a short fuse 25. What New York does to New Jersey 27. Snug as ___ in a rug 29. Cause offense 31. AUTOHARP center 32. Cigar debris 33. ___ dry eye in the house 34. Makes a lion more like a lamb 35. Hightailed it 40. Bring to mind 41. This ___ (Samsung slogan) 42. Left-over piece 43. Less restricted 47. The Jetsons’ pet 48. Measure of sound or light 50. Its nickname honors Chief Black Hawk 51. Pyramid builder 53. Benzyl acetate, for example 55. Invites to a dance 56. Flying saucers 59. Paint can nuance 60. Nest egg fund 61. Agree silently

Answers on page 51.

Answer: Members of country clubs have these -- DUES AND DON'TS Jumbles: BUILT POISE MODISH ENDURE

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

Letters to editor From page 2

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick Detorie

very friendly to the Beacon readership.

Folks favoring Apple technologies, Macs, iPhones, iPads, etc., will find kindred spirits at Washington Apple Pi, www.wap.org.

In the July issue, yes, indeed, I agree with everything [Career Coach] Judy Smith said about networking.

I’d add two thoughts: First, use LinkedIn. It’s the most powerful online tool for career-related networking. Second, explore 40Plus, www.40plus-dc.org, a tremendously valuable resource for those of us over 40! It offers Monday morning presentation meetings, free to the public, networking, a LinkedIn group and special events. [Membership in 40Plus, which includes a comprehensive multi-week job search training course, is $650.]

Gabriel Goldberg Falls Church, Va. [Editor’s note: The Jewish Council for the Aging offers a five-session Career Gateway course to help older adults prepare to reenter the workforce. It costs $75.]

Dear Editor: Bicycles on sidewalks are a huge problem. If I had a dollar for each time I’ve come close to getting hit, I’d be rich. The D.C. Mayor’s office said they are allowed on sidewalks except in midtown D.C. This must change. The bicyclists come on the sidewalk at the speed of light. One young man knocked my husband to the ground. No concern, no apology. All he said is, “Oh mister. Do you think my bike’s damaged?” I swear!

Why can’t a law be passed to make bicycles stay in streets? Many pedestrians are at risk! Every day I walk along Wisconsin Avenue I have to look all around me every second. It’s a war zone, thanks to bicyclists.

Name withheld by request

Paul Simon From page 51 smoke and isn’t allowed back in because he lacks the evidence that he belongs backstage.

Together with “The Werewolf,” they contain a quality not always present in music: humor. The Milwaukee man he describes in “The Werewolf” had “a fairly decent wife,” he sings. “She kills him — sushi knife.”

“I’ve always had that in my music,” he said. “A lot of it has been in there, and people don’t know that I’m kidding. My mind works in comedy a lot but my voice is not a comedic voice.”

Later in the album, Simon guesses that it took dozens of takes for him to get the right read on a 12-letter obscenity that the song “Cool Papa Bell” even concedes is “an ugly word.” The very surprise of it alters the song’s mood.

Simon is heading out on tour, crafting a show with a mixture of the old and new.

He understands the need for crowd-pleasing favorites, even for something he doesn’t particularly like (“You Can Call me Al”). There are enough new songs from the past decade that go over well in concert, he said.

He’s toured with Sting and done a “Graceland” reunion tour over the past few years. Don’t expect any reunions with estranged partner Art Garfunkel. “I would have been happy enough to sing with Artie if it would have been pleasurable,” he said.

When he finishes a new disc, Simon wonders whether it will be his last. But then the cycle of creativity begins again.

“Six months later you have an idea, and you do begin,” he said. “That’s happened to me my whole life. From that, I infer that it’s part of my nature to do that. But it’s not an automatic thing that will happen forever.”

— AP

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Both inside and outside sales people needed. No prospecting, preset appointments. Minimum 2 years sales experience, basic computer knowledge, excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Salary, commission and bonus. $55K$75K. Call 703-672-0225.

BETHESDA METRO AREA VILLAGE seeks part-time Executive Director for aging in place community. See http://bmav.clubexpress.com for job description and address.

LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST AND COSMETOLOGIST WANTED for upscale Acupuncture and Wellness practice. Pay negotiable. Rockville/Potomac/Bethesda area.

Call Maureen at 646-552-0340 or e-mail myj886@hotmail.com.

Caregivers LICENSED CAREGIVER seeks private duty.

Over 25 years experience. Excellent references.

Available days, full-time. Please call Babeth at 240-351-7295.

LICENSED PROFESSIONAL CAREGIVER for your loved ones. 17 years experience, available full/part-time, cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping and owns vehicle. Excellent references. Call 443-383-5431.

“A” HOME HEALTH CARE – Experienced nurses, CNA, GNA are available 24/7. Cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping, driving. Full/Part-time or live-in. Flat rate for live-in care. 15 years experience. 240-533-6599.

ELDERLY CARE – FEMALE care provider, English speaking, with car. I cook, clean and take to all appointments. I’m experienced in caring for people with MS, Alzheimer’s and other health problems. Excellent references. 301-2757283.

CHEVY CHASE HOME CARE – reliable certified caregivers at time of illness, infirmity, loneliness. Personal assistance, ALL AGES, 4- to 24-hour shifts, homes, hospitals, nursing homes.

MD, DC, No. VA. Tel.: 202-374-1240. www.ChChHomecare.com.

LIVE-IN COMPANION/AID to share apartment with an elderly lady. The apartment is located in a secure and well-kept senior building in Silver Spring, MD. The arrangement includes free room, cable and internet. Contact: Sandra at 202-320-8003 for an appointment.

A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Computer Services

Health

Wanted

COMPUTER LESSONS – Personal Computer training at your home. Email, Internet, general computer use. Windows 10, Smartphone, tablet, digital cameras. Learn at your own pace with gentle & patient teacher. Troubleshooting & setup new computers. Since 1996. Senior Discount. Call David, 301-762-2570, COMPUTERTUTOR.

PAID STUDY: Participants needed for “brain training” study at the University of Maryland, College Park. Seeking healthy adults, ages 6585, with normal hearing. If you qualify and enroll, you will earn $10-$15/hr for ~12 hours of participation. For eligibility information, contact us at 301-405-8657, EffComLab@gmail.com, or go to http://ter.ps/BrianTrain.

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

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

Miscellaneous

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate LEISURE WORLD® – $345,000. 2BR, 2FB “QQ” Model in Vantage Point East. Spacious enclosed balcony, separate laundry room, 1353 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-9283463.

LEISURE WORLD® – $355,000. 2 BR 2FB + DEN + GARAGE “F” Model in Villa Cortese.

Table space kitchen, separate dining room, enclosed balcony. 1490 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463.

LEISURE WORLD® – $239,000. 2 BR 2FB “S” in Fairways North AS IS with GARAGE. 1st floor with patio. 1460 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463.

COMING SOON – LEISURE WORLD® – $159,000. 2br 2fb “J” Model, new paint and carpet, enclosed balcony with golf course view. 1317 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-9283463.

COMING SOON – LEISURE WORLD® – $TBD. 2 BR 2FB “B” in “OVERLOOK.” Enclosed balcony with golf course view. 1035 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463.

NEEDED: A COUPLE, OF RETIRED OR NOT, to rent a spacious, lovely 2-bedroom basement apartment or mother-in-law suite w/ private bath. Located in upscale neighborhood with lots of amenities! Has big kitchen, complete, with new appliances, including W/D. Large backyard and private walkout. No pets or smoking. Rent: $600/month per room including utilities. If interested, please call 301-310-9481 or leave a message.

LOOKING TO TAKE THE LEAP? I’ll take you on a tour of the community, show you floor plans, discuss campus amenities, & offer how to best coordinate your move. I will set up an automated online search for you, preview units, and contact you to arrange a showing when there is a match. I also offer exceptional service selling your home.

I’m a Seniors Specialist, Buyer Broker, Top 1% of Agents Nationwide, and a Leisure World resident!

You can see my current listings in this issue. Contact me: 301-580-5556, SueHeyman@aol.com, www.SueHeyman.com, Weichert Realtors.

GET A FAST OFFER ON YOUR NOVA HOUSE today! We buy your house as is. No need to repair. No commissions. Free no-obligation consultation. Female owned, references.

Call 703-969-5847 or email IBuyFairfaxHouses@gmail.com.

For Sale DISCOUNTED PRICE. Cemetery sites at Mt. Lebanon. Memorial Gardens in Adelphi, MD. 2 sites sold together at discount $1,700 or $900.

Contact Mr. Harris, hsaaba@aol.com. Cell, 301655-0606.

PURE-BRED SHIH-TZU PUPPIES for sale.

Born 06/03/16, available July 29. $1,200/obo.

Registered with first shots. Interested? Call Joanna, 240-603-1985.

THE GOLDEN NETWORK offers Jewish seniors and retirees a variety of engaging programs, including lectures, classes, one-on-one learning in person and by phone, concerts, singalongs and more! For more information and details about upcoming events, call 301-732-1773, email info@goldennetwork.org, or see goldennetwork.org.

Personal Services I PURCHASE GOLD AND SILVER JEWELRY and coins for my company Gold 4 Good. I will come to your home and provide a no-fee, noobligation estimate. If you decide to sell, I will transport you to and from my shop in Silver Spring. Local references. Montgomery County license #2327. Call Bob, 240-938-9694.

READY TO DE-CLUTTER? Sort, donate, discard. Reasonable rates. Call Jan, 301-933-7570.

ADVICE: “ROSEMARY’S INK ON PAPER” Got problems? With relationships? Work? Depressed? Lost? Need to vent? $5 for professional advice. P.O. Box 471008, Forestville, Maryland 20753.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN LEARNING a musical instrument in your home? Or eager to know more about music appreciation? If so, please contact Dilyana @ 202-352-4430, a multifaceted and talented instrumentalist, with years of experience teaching piano, flute, saxophone and clarinet at every level, ranging from beginning to advanced. Lessons will be carefully and purposefully designed according to the individ ual’s interests and needs, to make the experience interesting, fun, yet meaningful.

DOMINION MOBILE NOTARY SERVICE. We travel to you in Northern Virginia. Reasonable. Bilingual-Spanish fluency. www.DominionMobileNotary.com. Call 703-801-1012.

Wanted WE BUY GOLD AND SILVER JEWELRY. Costume too. Gold and silver coins, paper money, military, crocks, old bottles and jars, etc.

Call Greg, 717-658-7954.

WE BUY STERLING SILVER FLATWARE, tea sets, single pieces of silver, large pieces of silver plate. Attic, basement, garage. You have something to SELL, we like to BUY. Call Greg, 717-658-7954.

SELL YOUR GOLD AND SILVER JEWELRY and old coins. Licensed dealer in Silver Spring buys gold and silver. I will meet you at your home or bank, analyze your jewelry, or coins, and tell you how much I can pay if you should decide to sell. No fees or obligation. Call Bob, 240-9389694. Gold 4 Good. 8431 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring. License #2327. I have references.

STERLING SILVER. TOP DOLLAR paid for silver marked “Sterling,” “925” or “800.” Want flatware, bowls, plates, candlesticks, etc. Please, no silver plate. Call Richard, 301-646-0101.

CLOTHES AND SHOES. 240-672-8301, Christine, after 3, M-F. Antenna, $50. New Honda Headlights, Front Lights, and Fender Grill outside to meet.

GOT PENS? LONG-TIME COLLECTOR seeks fountain pens. Free appraisals of your pens, information about restoring them, and always looking to buy or trade for fountain pens, especially Sheaffer, Eversharp, and Waterman fountain pens. David, 301-221-6596.

FORT LINCOLN CEMETERY. Holy Trinity Section. Last two side-by-side plots overlooking landscape with mature trees. Current value $8,918. Sale price $6,500. Email for photo. fluxuart@yahoo.com. 301-233-1601.

BUYING MILITARY MEMORABILIA WW2, WW1, Civil War uniforms, weapons, photos and items associated with US, German, Japanese or items of other Military History. DAVE, 240-4640958.

2 BURIAL SITES, PARKLAWN MEMORIAL Park, Rockville. 2 sites with lawn crypts, beautiful, easily accessible location. $7,500. Retails at $10,800. Call 301-598-0018.

CASH FOR ESTATE BUYOUTS, estate clean-outs, jewelry to furniture, one item or whole estate. Free Estimate, Will Travel. 301520-0755.

2 SALVADOR DALI woodblock prints from Dante’s Divine Comedy. Signed and framed.

Asking $900 for the pair. Can email pictures if desired. Call Steve, 410-913-1653.

CASH FOR JEWELRY: Buying jewelry, diamonds, gold, platinum, silver, watches, coins, flatware, etc. We make house calls. Ask for Tom. Call anytime 301-654-8678 or 301-654-0838.

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.

HIGHEST CASH PAID FOR ANTIQUES, JEWELRY, ESTATES. I have been advertising in the Beacon for 20 years. Montgomery County resident – will travel to D.C., MD, VA. Buying following items: Furniture, art, jewelry, gold, sterling silver, old coins, vintage pocket and wrist watches, old tools, books, camera, military items – guns, rifles, knives, pocket knives, swords etc. Also buying: old toys, dolls, trains, comic books, photographs, autographs, musical instruments, guitars, violins, etc. Also old sports memorabilia and equipment – baseball, golf, football, fishing etc. Please call Tom at 240-4763441.

LADY WHO LOVES DISHES and figurines wants to buy yours. Especially Royal Copenhagen, Deco Noritake, Limoges, Herend and English bone china. Do you have a collection of cup and saucers, dog and cat figurines, Royal Doulton ladies or salt and pepper shakers? Also mid-century Scandinavian ceramics and glass, Asian items, silver, paintings and costume jewelry. Anything else old and interesting, please call me. 301-785-1129.

BUYING VINYL RECORDS from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201.

COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, rifles, shot guns, knives, swords, bayonets, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars and countries. Large quantities are okay. Will pay top prices for my personal collection. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-9100783.

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.

GET A FAST OFFER ON YOUR NOVA HOUSE today! We buy your house as is. No need to repair. No commissions. Free no-obligation consultation. Female owned, references.

Call 703-969-5847 or email IBuyFairfaxHouses@gmail.com.

CASH FOR RECORDS, CDs, DVDs AND TAPES. Best price guaranteed. Free appraisals.

All types of music, 33, 45, 78 & CDs. Call Steve 301-646-5403. Will make house calls.we

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

COMPUTER BASICS

Rockville Memorial Library provides free basic computer tutoring. Schedule an appointment with a volunteer to discuss the Internet, email and word processing. Rockville Library is located at 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md. For more information or to schedule a session, call (240) 777-0140.

Ongoing

SENIOR OLYMPICS PODCAST

Fairfax County offers a podcast, or digital audio recording, of Jim MacKenzie, chairman of the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics, as he discusses this year’s games, which take place from Saturday, Sept. 10 through Wednesday, Sept. 21.

The discussion can be accessed online at http://bit.ly/SeniorOlympicsPodcast.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

Say you saw it in the Beacon

BEACON BITS

Aug. 13

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES

FAIRFAX BREWFEST

Celebrate Fairfax, Visit Fairfax and Fairfax County Government present Workhouse Brewfest on Saturday, Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event will feature numerous food trucks, lawn games and nearly 100 craft brews by 30 breweries and a dozen bands performing on three stages Tickets cost $25 for general admission; $10 for kids and designated drivers.

There is a $10 fee for parking. Workhouse Arts Center is located at 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton, Va. For more information, visit www.workhousearts.org/event/workhouse-brewfest or call (703) 584-2900.

Aug. 16

55

GENEALOGY LECTURE

Mount Vernon Genealogical Society presents “What’s So Special about Special Collections?” with Leslie Anderson on Tuesday, Aug. 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. The talk will take place in Room 112 of the Hollin Hall Senior Center, located at 1500 Shenandoah Rd., Alexandria, Va. The talk is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.mvgenealogy.org or call (703) 768-4101.

Deadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 20th of each month.

Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question. Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards.

Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $15 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word.

Business Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing business enterprise. Each ad is $35 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word.

Note: Each real estate listing counts as one business text ad.

Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:

The Beacon, D.C. Classified Dept.

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

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Studies

NIH-Cholesterol Study . . . . . .22

Computer Classes

JCA SeniorTech . . . . . . . . . .8-11 TechMedic4U . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Dental Services

Friedman, Stephen, DDS . . . .34 Lee Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Oh, Judy, DDS . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Sklar, Andrew, DDS . . . . . . . .21

Events

Beacon 50+ Expo . . . . . . . . .2-3 Dementia and Alzheimer’s Validation Techniques . . . . .42 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics . . . . . . . . . .18 Silver Spring Jazz Festival . . .47

Financial Services

Children’s National Hospital . .33 Group Benefit Resources . . . . .6 NeighborWorks . . . . . . . . . . . .31 PENFED Credit Union . . . . . .35

Funeral Services

Fram Monuments . . . . . . . . . .32 Going Home Cremation . . . . .39

Government Services

DC Office on Aging . . . . . .27-30 Montgomery County Aging and Disability Services . . . . . . . . .23

Hearing Services

Auditory Services, Inc . . . . . .24 Mendelson Group . . . . . . . . . .13 Sound Hearing Centers . . . . . .18

Home Health Care

Best Senior Care . . . . . . . . . . .20 Daniel Pitta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Elder Caring . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Home Care Assistance . . . . . .19 Options for Senior America . .45

Home Services

Homefix Custom Remodeling 49 In Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Housing

Almost Home Senior Living . .50 Arden Courts . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Arleigh Burke Pavilion . . . . . .24 Ashby Ponds . . . . . . . . . . .17,52 Aspenwood Senior Living . . .18 Bonifant at Silver Spring, The . . . . . . . .32 Brookdale Senior Living . . . . .25 Brooke Grove Retirement Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15, 40 Buckingham’s Choice . . . . . . .36 Chesterbrook Residences . . . . 21 Churchill Senior Living . . . . . .6 Culpepper Garden . . . . . . . . . .17 Fairhaven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Friendship Terrace . . . . . . . . . .37 Gardens of Traville, The . . . . .13 Glover Park Senior Living . . .37 Greenspring . . . . . . . . . . . .17, 52 Homecrest House . . . . . . . . . .26 Olney Assisted Living . . . . . . .20 Park View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Potomac Place . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Quantum Property Mgmt . . . . .36 Riderwood . . . . . . . . . . . . .17, 52

Ring House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 RowanLark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Springvale Terrace . . . . . . . . .37 Tribute at the Glen . . . . . . . . .17 Tribute at Heritage Village . . .17 Village at Rockville . . . . . . . . .16 Waltonwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Legal Services

Law Firm of Evan Farr . . . . . .35 Law Offices of Paul Riekhof .33 Legal Counsel for the Elderly .14

Medical/Health

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation

Communicare Health . . . . . . .19 Greenspring Rehab Services . .22 HealthSouth Rehab Hospital . .24 Manor Care Health Services . .23 Vitality to You . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Subscriptions

Beacon Subscription . . . . . . . .53 Washington Jewish Week . . . .44

Theatre/ Entertainment

East Natural Therapy . . . . . . .16 Grace in Motion . . . . . . . . . . .26 I Hate Knee Pain . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Medical Eye Center . . . . . . . . .50 Montgomery Medical Clinic . .14 Silver Spring Medical Center .19

Senior Zone, The . . . . . . . . . . .50 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . .46 US Navy Band . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Wolf Trap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Pet Care

Tour & Travel

Sampson Smiles Pet Care . . . .20

Real Estate

Long & Foster/Eric Stewart 34,51 Long & Foster/Inderjeet Jumani . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Weichert/Sue Heyman . . . . . . .38

Restaurants

Original Pancake House . . . . .49

Retail/Pawn/Auction

Five Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Four Sales LTD . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Patriot Coins USA . . . . . . . . .38 Quinn’s Auction Galleries . . . .48

Eyre Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Festive Holidays . . . . . . . . . . .45 Nexus Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Smith Island Cruises . . . . . . . .43 Tripper Bus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 US Navy Memorial . . . . . . . . .46 Vamoose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Walper Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Utilities

Pepco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Volunteers/Careers

Career Gateway . . . . . . . . . . . .32 JCA Heyman Interages Center 38

56

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

See your credit on your next bill or online through My Account at pepco.com.

SAVE MONEY THIS SUMMER. Reduce energy use on Peak Savings Days to receive credits off your bill. On average, customers receive a $5 credit on each Peak Savings Day. With the Peak Energy Savings Credit, all it takes are a few small changes to make a difference on your monthly energy bill.

We’ll call you the day before with the hours you should save. Your whole family can help save with simple tips that take 2 minutes or less.

2-Minute Energy-Saving Checklist Start here to save on Peak Savings Days: Unplug unused chargers and electronics Raise your thermostat 1-3 degrees, if health permits Make sure all lights are turned off Lower blinds and shades to keep your home cool

To learn more about the Peak Energy Savings Credit or for more energy-saving tips, visit pepco.com/peak or call 1-855-730-PEAK. © Pepco, 2016