July 2017 | Fifty Plus Richmond by The Beacon Newspapers

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A look back, and forward The Trump administration issued a pre- older adults with appeals of insurance denials liminary “skinny” budget proposal a few and with cases of healthcare fraud or abuse. months ago, followed more reSHIP costs the federal governcently by its official 2018 ment about $50 million annually to budget request to Congress. train and manage the volunteer Of the many draconian cuts counselors. In a $3,650,000,000,000 the budget would impose, I want ($3.65 trillion) budget, $50 million to talk about two that would parrepresents less than .0014% of the ticularly affect older Americans total. It is, as some say, not even a were they to go into effect. rounding error. These aren’t by any means the But with this relatively neglilargest cuts, or even the cuts that gible amount of money, the prowould harm the greatest number gram leverages the intellectual of people. But they are significant abilities and devotion of more all the same, and worth some dis- FROM THE than 15,000 older adult volunPUBLISHER cussion. teers, enabling them to assist In the budget of the Adminis- By Stuart P. Rosenthal more than 6 million Medicare tration for Community Living (a beneficiaries each year. division of the Department of Health and Does it not seem to be shortsighted in the Human Services formerly known as the Ad- extreme to zero out a program that does so ministration on Aging, before it was merged much good for so little cost? with the Office on Disability), only one proI have a similar beef about another worthgram is zeroed out: the State Health Insurance while program, this one slated to be zeroed out Assistance Program, commonly called SHIP. in the Department of Labor budget. Called the This program operates throughout the coun- Senior Community Service Employment Protry. Using trained volunteers — who are, them- gram (SCSEP), it’s the federal government’s selves, older adults — it provides Medicare only job training and placement program beneficiaries with individualized assistance con- aimed at older Americans. cerning the intricacies of Medicare, prescription The program places unemployed, low-indrug coverage, medigap policies and long-term come older adults in part-time, on-the-job traincare insurance. ing positions in nonprofit, government and The free, confidential service also assists faith-based organizations, where they earn a

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Editorial Mission: Fifty Plus is dedicated to providing readers with accurate information, professional guidance, and useful resources. Our publication is intended to both reflect and enhance fifty-plus lifestyles, and to encourage reader dialogue and input. Fifty Plus is published monthly and distributed free of charge. The advertising deadline is the 20th of each month for the upcoming issue. The entire contents of Fifty Plus are © 2017, The Beacon Newspapers, Inc. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means without the express written consent of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed by writers and columnists do not necessarily represent those of Fifty Plus or its staff.

Publisher/Editor: ........................Stuart Rosenthal Vice President of Operations:........Gordon Hasenei Sales Director: ..................................Alan Spiegel Managing Editor: ..........................Barbara Ruben Assistant Editor: ..........................Rebekah Alcalde Art Director: ....................................Kyle Gregor y Operations Manager:............................Roger King Advertising Representative: ................Wendy Bond Intern: ..............................................Sununu Bah

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minimum wage salary paid for by SCSEP. The workers gain a variety of valuable skills, and are expected to find unsubsidized employment after a limited time in the program. Last year, about 70,000 older adults participated, training at more than 21,000 organizations, where they provided nearly 36 million hours of support. Nearly half of each year’s participants find gainful employment soon after their SCSEP stint. This program is more costly than SHIP: Its annual budget has been around $400 million a year (averaging about $5,700 per person). But that amount enables tens of thousands of low-income adults, who presumably qualify for other aid, to “get off the dole,” earn a livelihood for the foreseeable future, and probably spend every dime of what they earn, boosting their local economy. There are many other worthwhile programs similarly targeted for complete or partial elimination in the president’s budget request. Many dwarf these two programs. But I focus on these two because they seem to be such good examples of targeted, effective programs that leverage relatively small expenditures into significant benefits. The administration’s budget request is really just that: It tells Congress what the president wants to see happen. But Congress holds the power of the purse, and it will decide on the final budget. I don’t think any observers expect all of the Trump cuts to be approved. Still, if you would like to see programs like these retained, now is the time to speak to your congressional representatives. Truly, every constituent’s comment is important. Few people ever take the time to call, write or email their representatives, so the few that do tend to have an outsize impact. I urge you to take action. Before I close, however, I ask you to join me in a thought experiment. Imagine that our efforts fall on deaf ears, and these two programs are zeroed out of the final budget.

What happens next year? Do the 15,000 experienced SHIP counselors just find something else to do with their time? Do the 21,000 nonprofits that received 36 million hours of help from competent older adults just downsize their programs or dump more work on their already overworked employees? Can we not imagine that the ingenuity and drive of all these people could be harnessed to continue providing such worthwhile services without the relatively modest contributions of our federal government? I’d like to think a few of those highlytrained SHIP volunteers could find a way to manage the program, keeping their fellow volunteer counselors on the job. Or perhaps the excellent local SHIP managers who have hitherto been paid through the federal grant could do some of their own fundraising, and task other SHIP workers with helping to raise the rest of the money necessary to keep their local programs running. And maybe the nonprofits who need the help could find a way to continue offering onthe-job training to low-income adults. And maybe the adults who need that training — and have a 50/50 chance of finding paid employment after completing it — could find a way to get to those offices for a few months even without the minimum wage they would have been paid under SCSEP. Don’t get me wrong. I think these programs should continue to be federally funded. They accomplish a great deal with a small investment. And most of the larger programs that face huge cuts — like the $700 million cut from the National Institute on Aging’s research budget, or the $3.3 billion cut from the LowIncome Home Energy Assistance Program — could not continue to do what they do without federal assistance. See FROM THE PUBLISHER, page 8

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in Fifty Plus as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to Fifty Plus, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or e-mail to info@fiftyplusrichmond.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Dear Editor: I can see a significant content improvement since the Beacon Newspapers took over publishing FiftyPlus. I enjoyed one column the previous publisher dropped about a year ago, “Mr. Modem.” The column provided readers with answers to common computer problems seniors often face. Keep up the good work! William S. Hogate Henrico

Editor’s reply: We’re glad you’re enjoying Fifty Plus. We wanted to let you know that the author of the “Mr. Modem” column retired in 2015. The Beacon writes a column each month describing useful websites and apps we think our readers will enjoy. We are happy to begin running this column in Fifty Plus as well, starting with this issue. You will find it on page 12.

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Feature Story Maymont Mansion: Richmond’s ‘Downton’

England’s Highclere Castle Across the Atlantic, no tours with costumed figures hold court at the real Downton Abbey — that is, Highclere Castle, about 90 minutes west of London, where much of the TV series was filmed. But that hasn’t stopped tourists from more than 300 countries from visiting Highclere, Present Highclere owners — the Eighth Earl of Carnarvon and his wife, Countess Fiona Aitken Carnarvon — refer to “Downton” as “the television persona” of their home. They want visitors to understand this isn’t just the fictional English countryside setting for one of the world’s most widely viewed television dramas. It’s their real home (if somewhat grandiose at 30,000 square feet and 300 rooms).

On my visit to Highclere, whether I was thinking fact or fiction, I couldn’t help but notice my fellow tourists were speechless for a couple of seconds after their motor coaches drove past horses grazing on pastureland along the packed-earth driveway, stopping in front of the stately castle. There’s a reason Highclere’s exterior gothic elements, which date from 1842, bear a similarity to the grand Houses of Parliament at Westminster: Sir Charles Barry designed both structures. Stepping inside the privately owned home — which is the centerpiece of a 5,000acre farm on the lush border of Hampshire and Berkshire — I was struck by how uncastle-like the interior is. Inside, Highclere looks like a straightforward Victorian manor house, almost “homey” and easy to navigate (when there isn’t a long line of tourists, that is). A hundred years ago the castle was the seat of the Fifth Earl of Carnarvon. He famously discovered the Tomb of the Egyptian “Boy Pharaoh,” Tutankhamun, in 1922 with his archaeological colleague, Howard Carter. The Eighth Earl and Countess have opened an Egyptian exhibition in the cellars to tell that story.

Up- and down-stairs at Maymont Back in Richmond, Maymont Mansion, built in 1893, today conveys the history of the second generation of the Dooley family to live in the home — James and Sallie May (hence “Maymont”) — while explaining how the couple benefitted from the education and economic success of the first generation of Dooleys. Unlike many Irish immigrants of the day, James Dooley’s parents brought capital and sophistication with them to the U.S. — to Richmond — but lost their large hat-manufacturing operations in the final days of the Civil War. Thanks to its stately design and its history, Maymont has had visitors “from all over the world and every continent except Antarctica,” according to history program manager Nancy Lowden. Romanesque in its exterior style, Maymont reflects the prosperity of James Dooley, a leading Richmond attorney and philanthropist, who devoted half a century to developing railroad networks across the United States. He was also prominent in the New South’s industrialization after the Civil War. Maymont’s “Belowstairs” exhibit in the mansion’s basement tells stories of the lives

PHOTO BY WENDELL POWELL PHOTOGRAPHY

By Martha Steger We don’t need to leave our Richmond homes for a taste of England this summer (or anytime for that matter). United Kingdom-related sites such as Henricus Historical Park in Chesterfield County, and Agecroft Hall and Virginia House in Richmond’s Windsor Farms are accessible for visiting. And various area brewpubs offer English-style ales for swishing down refreshment after sampling the sites. But there’s nothing quite like Richmond’s 33-room Maymont Mansion. Visitors to the site often say, “This looks just like ‘Downton Abbey,’” according to Dale Wheary — Maymont’s curator and director of historical collections and programs for more than 35 years. “Downton Abbey,” of course, is the mostwatched television series in PBS history. It brings to life the fictional aristocratic Crawley family, set in early 20th century Britain. Fans of the television show have since immersed themselves in Virginia’s own Gilded Age — the era of Carnegie, Rockefeller and Vanderbilt — especially during special tours of the Dooley family’s Maymont Mansion. The Dooleys had it all — wealth, a beautiful castle-like home, lavish receptions, and a domestic staff in the house and on the grounds to maintain their lifestyle during the Gilded Age of the late 1880s through 1910. In special tours of their mansion, offered occasionally during the year, elegantly costumed ladies and gentlemen, and members of the household staff, acquaint visitors with the social rituals, fashions, family dramas and important tittle-tattle of the day in Richmond and beyond. (Regular tours are offered six days a week. See box on page 20 for details.)

Costumed interpreters help bring the dining room of the historic Maymont Mansion to life at the home’s special living history tours, which mostly take place at the Christmas season.

of the eight to 10 men and women who worked at any given time inside the Dooleys’ home. An annual February program, “View from the Backstairs,” focuses on the staff, most of whom were African American. Maymont’s English basement design — with windows allowing for light and air circulation — made conditions more comfortable for kitchen chores. A very modern Otis elevator took wine and other supplies upstairs for dinner service. (The wine cellar, with racks to store more than 600 bottles of wine, is the only room downstairs with a lock.) Visitors can clearly see what was involved behind the scenes in maintaining the lifestyle of the wealthy couple upstairs. The Dooleys entertained with teas, parties and formal dinners. “We know of receptions in 1898 and 1906 for hundreds of guests, and a luncheon in 1912 for governors and their wives who were in Richmond,” Lowden said. The kitchen on view in the basement looks as if the staff were in the middle of their work when they unexpectedly had to leave the room. Mrs. Walker, the last cook in the house, might have been creating something special for the Dooleys as well as food for staff. There’s a table where the butler might sit

to eat his dinner as he related an amusing story to Mrs. Walker. Nearby sits a baby doll, Gloria, which belonged to Mrs. Walker’s granddaughter, who would visit.

Comparing bedrooms When I visited Highclere, our guide Lizzy Howard emphasized that little was changed or rearranged in the castle for filming “Downton Abbey.” To satisfy the curiosity of tourists, bedrooms are conveniently labeled by characters in the series: the one at the top of the stairs is the one used as Lady Cora’s bedroom; the Portico Bedroom, Lady Sybil’s room; the Arundel Room, Lady Edith’s bedroom. The various bedrooms bring back favorite scenes among TV viewers, but the juxtaposition of personal items belonging to the resident earl and countess — such as a bedside copy of the novel A Man in Full by Richmond’s own Tom Wolfe — was a reminder that Highclere is a lived-in home, not a set designed for television. Regarding the separate bedrooms occupied by the Dooleys at Maymont, Lowden recalled a scene in an early “Downton” episode in which Lady Mary chastised her parents for sharing a See MAYMONT, page 20

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Fitness &

Health

TESTOSTERONE THERAPY Treatments for low-T are available, but they aren’t right for everyone STOP THE ITCH Home remedies for bug bites include black tea, vinegar and meat tenderizer HOW TO KICK THE HABIT It can be easier to quit smoking if you use nicotine-replacement options IN THE SWIM OF THINGS What to do when you experience painful water-clogged or swimmer’s ear

Some tips for those with low back pain By Monique Tello, M.D. Low back pain is the second leading cause of disability in the United States, and the fourth worldwide. It’s also one of the top five medical problems for which people see doctors. Almost every day that I see patients, I see someone with back pain. It’s one of the top reasons for lost wages due to missed work, as well as for healthcare dollars spent. Hence, it’s a very expensive problem.

What causes the pain? Let’s talk about the most common forms of back pain: acute (which lasts less than four weeks) and subacute (which lasts four to 12 weeks). Most of these cases (approximately 85 percent) are due to harmless causes. We lump them into the “mechanical back pain” diagno-

sis, which includes muscle spasm, ligament strain and arthritis. A handful (3 to 4 percent) will be due to potentially more serious causes, such as herniated discs (“bulging” discs), spondylolisthesis (“slipped” discs), a compression fracture of the vertebra due to osteoporosis (collapsed bone due to bone thinning), or spinal stenosis (squeezing of the spinal cord due to arthritis). Rarely, less than 1 percent of the time, we will see pain due to inflammation (such as ankylosing spondylitis), cancer (usually metastases) or infection. When someone with acute low back pain comes into the office, my main job is to rule out one of these potentially more serious conditions through my interview and exam. It is only when we suspect a cause other than “mechanical” that we will then order imaging or labs,

and then things can go in a different direction. But most of the time, we’re dealing with a relatively benign, and yet really painful, disabling and expensive condition. How do we treat this? The sheer number of treatments is dizzying, but truly effective treatment options are few.

Numerous treatments analyzed The American College of Physicians (ACP), the second-largest physician group in the U.S., recently updated guidelines for the management of low back pain. Its physician researchers combed through hundreds of published studies of non-interventional treatments of back pain and analyzed the data. Treatments included medicines such as acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and

naproxen), opioids (such as oxycodone), muscle relaxants, benzodiazepines (such as lorazepam and diazepam), antidepressants (like fluoxetine or nortriptyline), anti-seizure medications (like Neurontin), and systemic corticosteroids (like prednisone). The analysis also included studies on nondrug treatments — including acupuncture, mindfulness-based stress reduction, tai chi, yoga, motor control exercise (working the muscles that support and control the spine), progressive relaxation, biofeedback, lowlevel laser therapy, behavior based therapies, and spinal manipulation for low back pain. Researchers were interested in studies that measured the effectiveness (usually measured as pain relief and physical functioning) See LOW BACK PAIN, page 6

Botox is safe, effective for facial wrinkles By Alina Bridges Dear Mayo Clinic: Does Botox work on deep forehead wrinkles, or do you have to catch them early for it to make a big difference? Is long-term use safe? What happens if I have the injections regularly for a few years, but then quit? Will my forehead look worse than if I had never gotten Botox? A: Botox is safe to use long term, and you can stop using it at any time without your skin looking worse than it did before you started Botox. Botox injections use forms of botulinum toxin to paralyze muscle activity temporarily. This toxin is produced by the bacterium that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning. Botox injections are popular for reducing the appearance of facial wrinkles. The injections are used to treat other medical conditions, too, such as repetitive neck spasms, excessive sweating, overactive bladder and lazy eye. The injections also may help prevent chronic migraines in some people. When used for cosmetic purposes, however, medical

insurance does not cover Botox treatments. Botulinum toxin injections block certain chemical signals from nerves, mostly signals that cause muscles to contract. This temporarily relaxes the facial muscles that underlie and cause wrinkles, including forehead furrows.

Considerations for older users All forms of Botox injections approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for forehead wrinkles are intended for people 65 and younger. Age is a factor because studies show that people who receive the most benefit from the injections are 65 and younger. Beyond that age, the medication may not be as effective. That is not to say, however, that people older than 65 can’t or shouldn’t use Botox. For older adults to achieve the same results as younger patients, Botox should be used in combination with facial fillers injected into the skin to soften wrinkles. For Botox injections, your healthcare provider uses a thin needle to inject tiny amounts of botulinum toxin into your skin.

The number of injections you need will vary, depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the area being treated. Botulinum toxin injections usually begin working a few days after treatment. The effect may last up to three months or longer. To maintain the benefits of Botox, you need regular follow-up injections. Botox has been shown to be safe for both short- and long-term use. (Data for treatment of wrinkles with Botox only go back about 15 years, however.) Botox for wrinkles uses a much smaller dose than patients receive for other conditions, such as muscle spasticity. Significant safety concerns have not been identified in people who receive larger doses of Botox for those other problems — further supporting its safety for cosmetic use.

Potential side effects However, Botox can be dangerous if it’s given incorrectly. To ensure your safety, you should only receive Botox under the care of an experienced healthcare provider, such as a board-certified dermatologist, plastic surgeon,

eye plastic surgeon or otolaryngologist who has personally examined you. These subspecialists have the most expertise to minimize complications and treat them if a complication occurs. Although uncommon, Botox injections can produce side effects, including pain, swelling or bruising at the injection site, headache, flulike symptoms, and eye dryness or excessive tearing, among others. If you decide to stop using Botox, your forehead wrinkles will go back to the way they looked before you started the injections. Your face will not become more wrinkled as a result of Botox. Muscle strength and movement in your forehead also will return to normal when you discontinue Botox use. — Alina Bridges, D.O., Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to MayoClinicQ&A@ mayo.edu. For more information, visit www. mayoclinic.org. © 2017 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Testosterone therapy is helpful for some Dear Mayo Clinic: I’m a 56-year-old man without any health problems. Recently, I’ve noticed I don’t have the energy for physical activities that I used to. Working in the yard, riding my bike, and even just doing jobs around the house all wear me out much faster now than even five years ago. My sex drive is lower, too. I see ads all the time for testosterone therapy and what a difference it can make for men my age. Should I give it a try? Is it safe?

A: Recent research shows that testosterone therapy can be useful in some cases, but it’s not right for all men. To see if it could be helpful for you, start by making an appointment with your doctor to have your testosterone level checked. Testosterone is a hormone produced primarily in the testicles. Testosterone helps maintain men’s bone density, fat distribution, muscle strength and mass, red blood cell production, sex drive and sperm production. For most men, testosterone peaks during adolescence and early adulthood. Then, as men

get older, testosterone levels gradually fall. If testosterone drops below a certain level, it can cause symptoms. Fatigue and low sexual interest are common. Some men also see changes in beard and body hair growth. Muscle wasting and a decrease in muscle strength can be a result of low testosterone, too. Your doctor can use a blood test to check your testosterone level. Even if your testosterone level is found to be low, though, testosterone therapy is not automatically the answer. It’s also important to determine any potential causes or associated conditions of low testos-

Low back pain

therapy, such as superficial heat, massage, acupuncture or spinal manipulation. When nondrug therapy fails, consider NSAIDs or skeletal muscle relaxants. Because most mechanical back pain improves no matter what, we don’t want to prescribe treatment that can cause harm. Because some medications carry significant risks, we really shouldn’t be recommending these right off the bat. Rather, we should be providing guidance on heating pad or hot water bottle use, and recommendations or referrals to acupuncturists, massage therapists and chiropractors. These therapies were somewhat effective, and are very unlikely to cause harm.

Medicines like ibuprofen and naproxen can be helpful, but they can cause stomach inflammation and ulcers, as well as possible bleeding, and even kidney damage, especially in older adults. Muscle relaxants can be sedating, and can interact with other common medications. Benzodiazepines and opiates not only can cause sedation, making it hard to think clearly and function normally, they are also addictive. Basically, for acute and subacute low back pain, the risks of these medications outweigh the benefits. Other medications, like acetaminophen, steroids, antidepressants and anti-seizure medications, were not significantly helpful for

From page 5 as well as the harms of all these therapies.

Best solutions aren’t meds What the researchers found was surprising: For acute and subacute low back pain, the best and safest treatments are not medicines. The ACP made the following strong recommendation: Most patients with acute or subacute low back pain improve over time regardless of treatment, and can avoid potentially harmful and costly treatments and tests. First-line therapy should include nondrug

terone before moving forward with treatment. In some cases, medical conditions can contribute to low testosterone, including thyroid problems, obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, depression and excessive alcohol use. Some medications may cause testosterone levels to drop, as well.

Get an evaluation As part of your evaluation, your doctor should review your current medications and See TESTOSTERONE, page 7

acute and subacute low back pain at all. The study was missing a few potentially helpful low-risk medicines. Topicals such as the lidocaine patch or capsaicin ointment were not included, which is a shame, as these can provide relief for some people, and carry little risk. I would also be interested to know if overthe-counter topical therapies containing menthol and camphor are better than placebo for low back pain. Courtesy of Harvard Health Blog. Monique Tello, M.D., M.P.H., is a contributing editor to Harvard Health Publications. © 2017 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Some great home remedies for bug bites You know when you have one of those processor or coffee grinder to make a fine powawkward moments that you think could go der. Mix that with a small amount of water to make a paste. Apply this paste to viral on social media, if only your sting. You can also take a someone had a camera on you? bath with oatmeal for all-over itch Well, recently, my friend was relief. outside when a bug swooped from above and descended Black Tea down her V-neck shirt. Faster Put a cold tea bag on the bite than you can say “bugger,” she site for five minutes. The natuwas stung or bit on not one, but rally-occurring “tannins” in tea both of her breasts. It then are what make it bitter, but these dropped out the bottom of her tannins also draw the poison out shirt and flew away. and ease discomfort. English What followed was a lawn DEAR Breakfast Tea is high in tannins. dance the likes of which her PHARMACIST neighbors have never seen. The By Suzy Cohen Vinegar chaos that ensued could’ve gone Use white or apple cider vinegar. Mix it viral if someone had a smartphone handy. I asked her later if she applied meat tender- 50/50 with water and use a cotton ball to dab izer or ammonia, suggesting some excellent the mixture to your sore for instant itch relief. home remedies. She said no, but was grateful that she had taken some Benadryl at 3 a.m. that Meat tenderizer This contains papain which breaks up poimorning to help with insomnia. She suspects (and I agree) that the inflammation and pain sons from insect venom. Sprinkle about 1/2 teaspoon into a little cup and add some water, could have been much worse. So what do you do if you are stung or bit- perhaps a teaspoon or two just to make a paste, ten by a nasty little critter? There are a host and dab it directly onto the bite. The sooner of remedies for insect attacks and other sum- after you get stung, the better! mer “owwies” that you can find at your local Ammonia pharmacy or in your kitchen. Insect venom is usually acidic and ammoHere are some: nia is alkaline, so this neutralizes the poison. It is best applied as soon as possible to the Oatmeal Put quick-cooking or rolled oats into a food bee or wasp sting. Some people recommend

Testosterone From page 6 check for underlying medical problems that could be contributing to your symptoms. If your testosterone is low and a medical condition is identified, treatment for that disorder may be all you need to bring your testosterone level back into the normal range. A change in medications also could make a difference. If low testosterone isn’t due to medication or a medical problem, then taking prescription testosterone replacement may be beneficial. Numerous studies have found that testosterone may be helpful for men experiencing symptoms as a result of low testosterone. In many cases, however, the effects are modest. In men with normal levels of testosterone, taking prescription testosterone generally has no effect for most symptoms.

Benefits and risks In addition to easing symptoms of low testosterone, prescription testosterone may have other benefits, including reducing fat mass, improving lean muscle mass, strengthening bones and improving insulin sensitivity. Taking prescription testosterone does have

risks. It may cause production of more red blood cells (a condition known as polycythemia); increase prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, in the blood; enlarge breasts; or reduce sperm production. Testosterone therapy does not cause cancer, including prostate cancer. If your doctor recommends that you take testosterone, you need regular blood tests to make sure the prescribed dose is correct, as too much testosterone potentially can lead to other medical problems. Although most studies suggest that testosterone therapy does not increase the risk of heart attacks or stroke, and that it may even be protective in some cases, there is not enough information to prove its safety conclusively among older men with cardiovascular risk factors. To see if testosterone therapy may be right for you, make an appointment to see your doctor and assess your symptoms. He or she can do a thorough evaluation and help you decide what, if any, treatment you may need. — Landon Trost, M.D., Urology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. © 2017 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

to dab it on straight, others suggest to dilute 50/50 with water.

Ice cubes These are super effective at reducing inflammation and numbing the area. Just wrap a cube in a paper towel and apply for five or 10 minutes. Ice feels nice on bites!

Toothpaste The menthol in toothpaste makes for a nice cooling sensation while reducing swelling. Just apply a thin layer and let it dry.

If you’d like to read a longer version of this article with more natural and inexpensive home remedies, sign up for my newsletter at suzycohen.com and I’ll email it to you. 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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Nicotine replacements can help you quit Dear Mayo Clinic: I’m 47 years old and have been a smoker since I was 15. I’ve tried to quit more times than I can count. My wife says I should try nicotine replacement. But that doesn’t make sense to me. I want to be done with cigarettes and nicotine. How will putting more nicotine in my body help me kick this addiction? A: When you’re trying to get rid of a cigarette habit that’s rooted in nicotine addiction, it may seem odd to look to nicotine for help. But nicotine replacement products are safe and effective aids for people trying to stop smoking.

Particularly when paired with other smoking cessation techniques, nicotine replacement often serves as a bridge to a tobacco-free life. The nicotine in cigarettes is highly addictive. Nicotine is what hooks you on smoking and keeps you smoking. However, nicotine is not the component in cigarettes that puts your health at risk. The real danger is tobacco. Tobacco and tobacco smoke contain chemicals that cause lung cancer, as well as cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus and larynx. Using tobacco can lead to other serious health problems, too, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

M ARK YO UR CAL EN DAR

Ongoing

SENIOR COOL CARE The Capital Area Agency on Aging’s Senior Connections is offering

fans and air conditioning units to low-income senior residents as part of their annual “Senior Cool Care” program, formerly known as the Fan Care Program. Senior Cool Care helps qualified residents who live in in the City of Richmond and the Counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent and Powhatan fight through the heat and prevent health-related risks. For registration and more information, call (804) 343-3005.

Two-thirds of all tobacco users eventually die of a tobacco-related illness. The sooner you stop putting tobacco into your body, the better off you will be. Nicotine replacement products give you nicotine without tobacco. That helps relieve the withdrawal symptoms and cravings you may have if you try to quit smoking cigarettes without nicotine replacement. For many, going from tobacco to nicotine replacement is a critical and important step to a tobacco-free lifestyle. Nicotine replacement doesn’t reinforce a cigarette habit the way tobacco does. Also, you don’t get as much nicotine with nicotine replacement as you do with tobacco products, and nicotine replacement makes it significantly less likely that you will return to tobacco. Not using nicotine replacement reduces your chances of breaking free from tobacco. A range of nicotine replacement products are available without a prescription. You can buy nicotine gum, patches and lozenges at

From the publisher From page 2 But I would like to think that the programs that leverage small dollar investments into huge benefits through the efforts of older workers

most pharmacies and drug stores. Nicotine nasal spray and inhalers are available by prescription only. Although nicotine replacement can be useful as you quit smoking, breaking a smoking habit is still hard, especially if you try to do it on your own. The best way to quit is to seek help from your doctor or a counselor trained as a tobacco treatment specialist. He or she can help you decide on the overall approach that’s best for you. For example, along with nicotine replacement, other prescription medications may be helpful. Bupropion can help control nicotine cravings. Varenicline can reduce the pleasurable effects of smoking and lessen nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

Behavioral therapy also helps Most healthcare providers also recommend See NICOTINE, page 9

and volunteers could continue to operate, thanks to the ingenuity and abilities of those very people. In the meantime, write your representatives! These and many other worthwhile programs targeted for extinction are depending on it.

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FIFTYPLUS — JULY 2017

Nicotine From page 8 behavioral therapy in addition to medication. Behavioral therapy often involves replacing old behaviors with new routines that aren’t associated with smoking. For example: — Avoid places where you usually smoke. Instead, when you go out, visit places where smoking isn’t allowed. — Try to spend time with people who don’t smoke or also want to stop smoking. — Make it inconvenient to smoke by getting rid of your cigarettes. — Chew gum while you drive, or take new routes to your usual destinations to keep your attention focused on your environment and

away from smoking. — If you usually have a cigarette with a cup of coffee or alcohol, drink water, soda or tea instead. Nicotine replacement can be an integral step on the path to life without tobacco. But, to give yourself the best chance to stop smoking for good, seek help from a medical professional familiar with tobacco treatment. The effort will be well worth it, as the health benefits of not smoking are substantial, and they start accumulating almost immediately after you quit. — Jon Ebbert, M.D., Nicotine Dependence Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. © 2017 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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July 25

OPIOID EDUCATION PROGRAM REVIVE, a Virginia Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education pro-

gram, is hosting an event designed to teach individuals how to recognize and respond to opioid overdose emergencies. Participants will learn how to administer naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. This month’s event will take place Wednesday, July 25 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at LaPrade Library, located at 9000 Hull St. Road in North Chesterfield. For registration and more information, call (804) 717-6839

Can e-cigarettes help you quit safely? By Rebekah Alcalde One nicotine replacement product that is quickly gaining popularity is electronic cigarettes, also called e-cigarettes or vapes (short for vaping, or inhaling vapor). E-cigarettes work by heating a liquid mixture of nicotine and flavorings, which turn into a vapor that is then inhaled. Since nicotine is what keeps smokers coming back to tobacco, some believe that vaping nicotine, like using other nicotine replacement products, will help smokers wean off of cigarettes, thereby avoiding all the carcinogenic components they contain. Other experts believe vaping has not been proven safe and effective. They support only traditional nicotine replacement products, and believe e-cigarettes continue to reinforce the smoking habit. The United Kingdom appears to have

embraced e-cigarettes, with the U.K. Center for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies citing that they can be helpful. The British government’s drug regulatory authority cites research that e-cigarettes are much less harmful that tobacco cigarettes and may help you quit. Though a 2015 study suggested that “masked formaldehyde,” a harmful chemical, is present in e-cigarettes, the levels appear to be much higher in real cigarettes. Still, most U.S.-based health organizations, including the FDA — which has asserted regulatory authority over such products — have no official statements supporting e-cigarettes as a quitting method. The American Heart Association actually refers to them as “the next generation of cigarettes” and warns against their use.

EXPERIENCE LIVING…TOGETHER At The Towers, our residents enjoy a full life-enrichment calendar, wellness program, newly remodeled, spacious apartments and lifestyle options including Independent Living, Assisted Living, and our specialized Memory Care program, known as Inspiritás. Please call us today at 804-320-1412 to schedule a personal visit!

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JULY 2017 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; FIFTYPLUS

Understanding and treating ear pain Q: I love swimming at my community pool and going to the beach in the summer, but recently Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been experiencing ear pain. I think it might be swimmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ear. How do I treat it? A: External otitis, or â&#x20AC;&#x153;swimmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ear,â&#x20AC;? is an infection in the outer ear canal. This can occur when water becomes trapped in your ear after swimming, as the moisture and warmth from your ear become a breeding ground for bacteria. Or bacteria might DR. R X invade if you have a cut or even By Lily Jia a small break in the skin lining of your ear. Swimmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ear frequently occurs in swimmers; however, it can occur in anyone, even from showering. Though they may feel the same, swimmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ear is different from water-clogged ears.

Treating swimmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ear Swimmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ear presents with clear fluid leaking from the ear, itchy ears, a full or plugged-up ear sensation, pain that increases when the ear is moved, and redness and/or swelling of the outer ear.

If you have swimmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ear, your doctor will likely prescribe one or more of the following: â&#x20AC;˘ Ear cleansing to remove dead skin, pus and earwax, â&#x20AC;˘ antibiotic eardrops to kill the bacteria invading your ear, â&#x20AC;˘ corticosteroid cream to decrease inflammation and help with itching and pain, and/or â&#x20AC;˘ oral pain relievers to help with the pain. Most peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s symptoms improve within one to two days after treatment begins. Do not return to the water unless your swimmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ear has resolved. Seven to 10 days is an ideal amount of time to stay out of the water and allow your ear to heal. Do not wear hearing aids or earbuds until the pain and discharge have subsided.

Treating water-clogged ears Someone who has water-clogged ears might complain of wetness and/or fullness in the ears, gradual hearing loss, and itchy ears. Water-clogged ears can be treated at home by: â&#x20AC;˘ Gently tilting the ear downward and shaking the head softly,

â&#x20AC;˘ using a blow dryer on the lowest setting, keeping it 12 inches away from the ears, â&#x20AC;˘ using water-absorbing earplugs after swimming, and/or â&#x20AC;˘ using a drop of isopropyl alcohol in glycerin (Swim-Ear or Auro-Dri) in your ear to dry out the water if the ear drum is intact and no ear tubes are present. Call your doctor right away if your waterclogged ear starts to look infected, becomes painful with discharge, or begins to bleed. It is important to remember that the ear is

self-cleaning and should not be cleaned or probed with fingers, towels, cotton swabs or other foreign objects. It might be tempting to scratch your ear with a Q-tip, but you could damage the tiny parts of your ear and cause an infection! Take good care of your ears this summer to maximize your fun in the water. Lily Jia is a fourth-year Pharm.D. student at VCU School of Pharmacy. She majored in biology at the University of Virginia. Her focus areas are internal medicine and critical care.

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Ongoing

FUN AND GAMES

A series of 50+ Active Lifestyle programs are held at Huguenot Road Baptist Church, located at 10525 W. Huguenot Rd. in Chesterfield. On Mondays, indoor badminton is held from 2 to 4 p.m., and cards games are played from 9:30 a.m. to noon. On Wednesdays, there are bridge games from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and ukulele playing at 10 a.m. on July 18 and 25. For more information and a complete list of programs and times, call (804) 748-1623.

Aug. 17

HEALTHY HEART

Learn about effective strategies to combat heart disease on Thursday, Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. Learn how to lower your risk for the disease and how to improve your health through dieting. Space is limited, so RSVP by Thursday, Aug. 10. This talk will take place at Eastern Henrico Recreation Center, located at 1440 N. Laburnum Ave. in Richmond. For registration and more information, email tur060@henrico.us or call (804) 501-5065.

Are You A Veteran? +

Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center is a Long-Term Care & Short-Term Rehab Facility that opened in -DQXDU\ 7KLV IDFLOLW\ ZDV EXLOW VSHFLĆ&#x201C;FDOO\ IRU RXU 9LUJLQLD 9HWHUDQV Located conveniently on the campus of the McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia, this state-of-the-art facility is owned and operated by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services and is a recent recipient of a 5 Star Rating from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Greenfield Residences

at Monument Avenue

**SPECIAL SUMMER RATES** Experience a B&B style of senior living at the historic Shenandoah Building, located in the heart of Richmondâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s !"#$%!&'()*'+!"#%!&#,'-#'.%//*0/12' Residences at Monument Avenue, we provide total resident care in a way that 3!11'%/2/0*/')*2'#%)*"4$%5'#6/'"/*!$%' living experience. Call us today for your personal tour! 804-257-7949

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FIFTYPLUS — JULY 2017

Grilled salmon: tasty with miso and lime

By Melissa D’Arabian Salmon season has arrived, and the markets are brimming with gorgeous wild varieties like King Salmon and Coho, which are perfect for grilling, poaching, or even simply cooking in a lightly-oiled pan. With summer here, fire up the barbecue and master the grilled salmon — it’s an incredibly versatile blank canvas that you can use in everything from light salads, to heady curries, to spicy tacos. Coat salmon fillets with a little oil, salt and pepper, and cook until the salmon is almost opaque. “Cook until flaky” is bad advice that will leave your salmon overcooked and strong-flavored. One of our summertime favorites is Easy Summer Miso Salmon, which pairs miso with refreshing lime juice to create something between a creamy sauce and a citrus vinaigrette. Miso, or fermented soy bean paste, adds a ton of savory flavor (“umami”) and depth, while the lime juice keeps the recipe bright and summery. There’s garlic and ginger for flavor, but the shallot keeps the flavor more Californian than Asian, although you could certainly add soy sauce, Mirin (Japanese wine), and chopped cilantro if you wanted to.

Serve with brown rice, grilled veggies or a bunch of vegetable “noodles” for a filling and healthy summer supper. Miso paste comes in various colors, with white and yellow being the mildest varieties, and perhaps the most widely available ones at the local supermarket. Keep a container of miso in the fridge (it lasts for months), and you can try adding a spoonful to soups, stews, dressings and dips, or even just stir it into a cup of boiling water and add a splash of soy sauce and rice vinegar for a warming quick broth. Miso is low in calories, and offers a little protein and a smattering of minerals, including sodium, so you won’t likely need additional salt when using miso paste.

Easy summer salmon Servings: 6 Start to finish: 20 minutes For the salmon: 1 1/2 pounds wild Alaskan salmon fillet, such as King or Coho 1 teaspoon neutral oil, like olive or grapeseed 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper For the sauce:

1 tablespoon olive oil 2 shallots, minced 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 teaspoon fresh minced ginger 3 tablespoons white miso paste 1 teaspoon raw honey 1/4 cup lime juice (or lemon juice) 3-4 tablespoons water 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Heat the grill to medium and lightly oil the grates. Rub the salmon all over with the olive oil, and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Cook the salmon flesh side down first, (skin side up), until almost cooked through, about 7 to 10 minutes total, flipping halfway through. Meanwhile, make the sauce (or it can be made in advance). Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a small saute pan and cook the shallots until tender, about three minutes. (Sprinkle with a little splash of water

if needed to keep shallots from browning.) Add the ginger and garlic and cook another minute. Add the miso paste and mix with a wooden spoon for another minute or two, or until very fragrant and the miso paste begins to deepen a little in color. Remove from heat, cool a minute, and then place in the blender with the honey, lime juice, water, mustard and black pepper, and blend until smooth. Add extra water if needed. Spoon the miso sauce onto the hot salmon and serve with brown rice or veggies. Chef’s note: The sauce can also be made into a salad dressing by thinning with more water and lime juice. Nutrition information per serving: 220 calories; 94 calories from fat; 10 g. fat (2 g. saturated; 0 g. trans fats); 62 mg. cholesterol; 443 mg. sodium; 7 g. carbohydrate; 0 g. fiber; 3 g. sugar; 23 g. protein. For more recipes, see www.melissadarabian.net. — AP

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JULY 2017 — FIFTYPLUS

o ct N tra e n Fe Co No ly th on

Breakthrough technology converts phone calls to captions.

New amplified phone lets you hear AND see the conversation.

By Sununu Bah

Links

The Hamilton® CapTel® Captioned Telephone converts phone conversations to easy-to-read captions for individuals with hearing loss. Do you get discouraged when you hear your telephone ring? Do you avoid using your phone because hearing difficulties make it hard to understand the person on the other end of the line? For many Americans the telephone conversation – once an important part of everyday life – has become a thing of the past. Because they can’t understand what is said to them on the phone, they’re often cut off from friends, family, doctors and caregivers. Now, thanks to innovative technology there is finally a better way. A simple idea… made possible with sophisticated technology. If you have trouble understanding a call, captioned telephone can change your life. During a phone call the words spoken to you appear on the phone’s screen – similar to closed captioning on TV. So when you make or receive a call, the words spoken to you are not only amplified by the phone, but scroll across the phone so you can listen while reading everything that’s said to you. Each call is routed through a call center, where computer technology – aided by a live representative – generates voice-to-text translations. The captioning is real-time, accurate and readable. Your conversation is private and the captioning service doesn’t cost you a penny. Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) SEE what you’ve been missing!

Plan out your trip Roadtrippers is a web and mobile travel planning platform that takes you anywhere in the United States, from Point A to Point B, and allows you to explore the premium sites and attractions along the way. Once you have decided where you plan to go, the platform displays a list of places to visit within the area, ranging from points of interest, entertainment and nightlife, to outdoors and recreation, as well as places to stay near your current location or further along your route. The program will sync with your Apple or Google Maps application, deliver the optimum route, and tell you the estimated fuel cost for your trip. https://roadtrippers.com

is regulated and funded by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and is designed exclusively for individuals with hearing loss. To learn more, visit www.fcc. gov. The Hamilton CapTel phone requires telephone service and high-speed Internet access. WiFi Capable. Callers do not need special equipment or a captioned telephone in order to speak with you.

Technology for aging in place Love technology (or wish you did)? The Aging and Place Technology Watch is a blog designed for boomers and seniors that aims to inform them about the tech industry and about new technologies that will enhance their lives. Founder, Laurie M. Orlov, uses her experience as a tech industry analyst to advocate for and help older adults as a public speaker and through her writing. She tests and writes up the latest programs and apps, and evaluates their pros and cons. Her mission is to give her audience the “ability to live in one’s own home for as long, as confidently and comfortably as possible.” www.ageinplacetech.com

Finally… a phone you can use again. The Hamilton CapTel phone is also packed with features to help make phone calls easier. The keypad has large, easy to use buttons. You get adjustable volume amplification along with the ability to save captions for review later. It even has an answering machine that provides you with the captions of each message. See for yourself with our exclusive home trial. Try a captioned telephone in your own home and if you are not completely amazed, simply return it within 60-days for a refund of the product purchase price. It even comes with a 5-year warranty.

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Please mention promotion code 106729. The Captioning Telephone is intended for use by people with hearing loss. In purchasing a Captioning Telephone, you acknowledge that it will be used by someone who cannot hear well over a traditional phone. Hamilton is a registered trademark of Nedelco, Inc. d/b/a Hamilton Telecommunications. CapTel is a registered trademark of Ultratec, Inc.

Fifty Plus Links & Apps

In our lifetimes, most of us have known at least one person who has had a profound impact on our life by providing guidance and support. But not everyone is so fortunate, and those without this help may either fail to reach their potential or go the wrong way in life. If you possess the capabilities and have the desire to provide a helping hand to a young person who needs it, consider becoming a mentor. At mentoring.org, you can sign up and indicate the type of mentoring you hope to provide, and the age range you feel comfortable working

with. The National Mentoring Partnership will connect you. www.mentoring.org

Apps More organized travel Whether planning a domestic or international trip, we all know the stress involved and the long lists of items we need to remember. The Centers for Disease Control has come up with its TravWell app to ease the stress. It provides a checklist of tasks and items to pack for your trip, and allows you to easily edit, add or remove items from the list. TravWell also lets you store and manage your travel, medication and immunization documents. It also gives vaccine recommendations for your destination, and lets you set reminders to get your vaccines in advance and to take your medications while on the road. You can find TravWell on the Apple App and Google Play stores for free.

Score the best online deals We all love to save money. Rather than search for coupons, download the free Honey plug-in. When buying something online, Honey will automatically scan the Internet for any possible coupon codes for your purchase and apply them to save you money. You can decide to opt out of using it during checkout if you wish. Some items will not quality for coupons, but may offer a chance to earn “HoneyGold” points, which can be redeemed for money. Honey is a free browser extension that can used with the Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Opera browsers. For more information, visit www.joinhoney.com.

Save those pricey items Have you ever wanted an item that you can’t currently afford? The app Hafta Have allows shoppers to save the items they see in real life to an online list for later. The app will also notify you when the item has been put on sale or restocked. Just walk into a store and scan the barcodes of the pieces you desire to add them to your virtual “cart.” If you have anything else in mind, search, shop and add them to your cart as well. You can also select items from other retailers, and check them out all from within the app. Hafta Have is available free, but only in the Apple App store.

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FIFTYPLUS — JULY 2017

Money Law &

WHY BONDS CAN BE BETTER Invest in ETFs that specialize in convertible bonds to benefit from both interest payments and stock appreciation GET OUT OF JAIL FREE? Burdened with a growing population of older prisoners, Virginia’s Parole Board is considering releasing more convicts over 60 through its seldom-used “geriatric release” program

Let’s retire these five myths of retirement By Ali Swofford After decades of paychecks, you might be counting the days before you can leave your job for good. However, your idea of what lies ahead in retirement years may be far different from reality. You need to be prepared for the fact that life as a retiree may not follow the script you wrote in your head. Here are five myths about retirement that catch many retirees by surprise:

Retire-Myth No. 1 Ever y day is a free day. Waking when you like, drinking coffee in the sunroom, and puttering around the house to your heart’s content may be your retirement dreams. But the truth is that those visions are not what the retirement lifestyle usually turns out to be. Daily calendars quickly fill up with hobbies, family events, volunteering and travel. Today’s retirees also face the issue of longevity. They may experience as much time in retirement as they spent in their ca-

reer, and a long-term life of leisure doesn’t fulfill everyone. As a result, a third phase of life — balancing recreation, giving back to the community and work — is becoming the norm.

Retire-Myth No. 2 Retiring will be a breeze. Actually, some people find the prospect of leaving the workforce scary and disorienting. Retirement is a transition that is a complex and emotional experience for most, with complete shifts in not just your daily routines, but your identity as well. The titles and workplace roles that identify you as a productive person are gone, and self-esteem requires adjustment. Having a plan for how you will spend your time is one way to minimize the stress of settling into a new schedule. If you don’t plan for it, gliding through a happy retirement is not very likely.

Retire-Myth No. 3 I will retire at the magical age of 65.

This artificial benchmark was more accurate when traditional pensions and Social Security were paying full benefits at 65 and lifespans were much shorter. According to the 2015 Retirement Confidence Survey from the Employee Benefit Research Institute, retirement happens earlier than expected for half of retirees. Sixty percent of those leave due to health issues, and others leave because they were let go due to downsizing or had to quit to care for a family member. The earlier you begin planning your retirement, the more prepared you will be should life throw you a curve ball and your retirement dream date change.

Retire-Myth No. 4 Pensions and Social Security will fund my retirement. Today, 401(k)s — not pensions — are the norm. The big difference is where the burden of funding and investment risk lies. 401(k)s are largely funded by the em-

ployee and, unlike a pension, there is no guaranteed monthly income at retirement. Social Security benefits were designed to be a supplement to retirement plans and individual investments; not the primary resource.

Retire-Myth No. 5 I will spend less when I retire. A common adage is that you will only need 70 to 80 percent of your pre-retirement income during retirement. The truth is that estimating the percentage needed is complex and unique to each individual. Interestingly, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, 52 percent of retirees surveyed spent 95 percent or more of their pre-retirement income during retirement. The question becomes, will your nest egg support you through 25 or more years in retirement? © 2017 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Features that help sell your home faster By Andrea Browne Taylor Homeowners are sometimes hesitant to upgrade when it’s time to sell. After all, you won’t be living there much longer, and home remodeling efforts only increase home values by 64 percent of the average project’s costs, according to Remodeling Magazine’s 2016 “Cost vs. Value” report. But think again, sellers. The cost of inaction can be far greater than the small loss you’ll incur on any home-improvement projects. “It can mean the difference between getting multiple bids at once and driving up the selling price, or getting no offers,” said Brian Lewis, a real estate broker with Halstead Property, a New York City-based realty firm. And as your house lingers on the market, you’ll likely pay ongoing mortgage, maintenance and staging costs.

To make the most of your remodeling budget, focus on features that most home buyers really want to see. Here are home features sought by at least 80 percent of buyers these days.

Laundry room Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 92 percent Cost to install: $1,000 to $10,000 depending on scope of project More than anything else, homeowners want a room other than the guest bedroom to stack all the clean laundry in until it finally gets put away. A separate laundry room topped the National Association of Home Builders’ list of most-wanted home features for buyers of all ages — from millennials to seniors. If you don’t have an existing laundry room

and want to add one, the basement is usually the easiest (and cheapest) place to put it, according to Paul Sullivan, founder and president of the Sullivan Company, a remodeling and custom-building firm. The utility lines are already there, and in many cases the basement is unfinished, so you won’t have to demolish anything first. Adding a laundry room in the basement can cost as little as $1,000, he said. Homeowners who prefer a laundry room or laundry closet (which fits just a washer and dryer) closer to the bedroom level can expect to pay between $5,000 and $10,000 for installation, Sullivan said.

Exterior lighting Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 90 percent Cost to install: $63 to $135 per fixture

Illuminating a well-manicured lawn with exterior lighting can help grab potential buyers’ attention before they even set foot in the front door. In fact, exterior lighting is the mostwanted outdoor feature, according to the NAHB. Options include spotlights, walkway lights and pendant lights. Aesthetics aside, exterior lighting also serves as an added safety feature for your home, said Daniel Hurst, a certified remodeler and lead carpenter for Hurst DesignBuild-Remodel. Motion-sensor lights, for example, turn on automatically whenever there is movement outside your house.

Energy efficiencies (appliances and windows) Percentage of buyers who want this See SELL HOME FASTER, page 14

www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com

Sell home faster From page 13 feature: 90 percent (appliances), 87 percent (windows) Cost to install: varies (appliances), $270 to $800 each (windows) Would-be buyers looking to limit utility bills will likely be drawn to properties with energy efficiencies, such as Energy Star-qualified windows and appliances. “Buyers are most impressed with smart, energy-efficient choices that in no way limit their comfort, but in every way save them money in the long run,” Lewis said.

JULY 2017 — FIFTYPLUS

Energy-efficient windows can trim heating and cooling costs by 12 percent, while individual appliances, such as an Energy Star-certified washing machine ($500 to $1,500 at Home Depot), can each save homeowners $40 a year or more on their utility bills. An Energy Star-certified dishwasher (ranging in price from $342 to $1,900 at Lowe’s) uses soil sensors to assess how dirty your dishes are to minimize water use.

Patio Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 84 percent Cost to install: $961 per 120 square

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Aug. 10

MEDICARE 101

Learn about Medicare on Thursday, Aug. 10 at 1 p.m., at Libbie Mill Library, located at 2100 Libbie Lake East St. Medicare 101, will explain terms such as deductible, Medicare Part D, Medigap, Medicare Advantage, gap coverage and donut-hole, which can be confusing. Space is limited. RSVP by Thursday, Aug. 3. For registration and more information, email tur060@henrico.us or call (804) 501-5065.

Aug. 1

BEAT THE DECEIT

EngAGE and the Better Business Bureau’s Senior Fraud Program are holding a program that teaches how to detect the red flags of deceptive business practice, which can help you avoid falling prey to scams, fraud and identity theft. This free seminar will take place at Gayton Branch Library, located at 10600 Gayton Rd. in Henrico. Space is limited, RSVP by Thursday, July 27. For registration and more information, visit tur060@henrico.us or call (804) 501-5065.

feet for a concrete patio It’s important for homeowners not to neglect the backyard area when prepping for resale, said Mike McGrew, treasurer of the National Association of Realtors and CEO of McGrew Real Estate. In today’s housing market, outdoor living spaces are quickly becoming one of the most coveted home features. “When most buyers see a house with a really nice backyard, they start to envision themselves sitting outdoors with friends having drinks,” McGrew adds. Outdoor areas offer more living space without the cost of a large-scale home addition. Thanks to the popularity of renovation TV shows, such as DIY Network’s “Yard Crashers,” HGTV’s “Flip or Flop,” and PBS’s “This Old House,” buyers now envision everything from a traditional ground-level patio, to an elevated deck, to a backyard kitchen area.

Garage storage space Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 81 percent Cost to install: $2,025 to $2,363 for a 380-square-foot space Buyers with growing families need lots of storage space. “A seller should ensure that such bonus space is easily accessible and wonderfully organized,” Lewis said. Additional storage units located in the garage help keep clutter out of the main living areas of the home. Unlike an attic or a backyard shed, the

garage is accessible — generally, just a few steps away from the rest of the house — making it easier to transport items such as tools, patio chairs or boxes to and from other parts of the house. The installation cost includes adding cabinetry, a peg wallboard for tools, and improved lighting and electrical circuits.

Eat-in kitchen Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 80 percent Cost to install: $1,000 to $10,000 Eat-in kitchens are a must-have for many buyers, especially families with children. Removing a wall to create space for a small table and chairs in your kitchen is relatively inexpensive, but that price can quickly escalate if there’s additional repair work that needs to be done, said Neil Parsons, owner of Design Build Pros, a project design firm. First, determine whether the wall is load-bearing. Non-load-bearing walls are used merely to separate rooms, while load-bearing walls help hold up the weight of the house. Improperly removing the latter could cause rooms on upper levels of the home to cave in. Getting rid of a non-load-bearing wall can cost as little as $1,000; removing a load-bearing wall can run as much as $10,000. © 2017 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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FIFTYPLUS — JULY 2017

Several advantages to convertible bonds About 30 years ago, I joined a small consult- in value, the bond holder can convert the ing firm that needed to raise capital. We looked bonds to common stock, or sell the bonds in the market, since the value of into selling bonds, but for a stanthe bond would have increased. dard issue we would have had to (Convertible bonds trade in the pay over 10 percent in interest. market like other bonds.) Our underwriter suggested that, Even if the value of the comin addition to raising money by ismon stock does not go up signifsuing common stock, we could icantly, the bondholder will still also issue convertible bonds at a receive the coupon interest rate much lower interest rate. specified at the time of issuance, It is not unusual for corporaand would get back the bond’s tions without a long history of face value (the amount paid iniprofitability to issue convertible tially) at maturity. bonds, which offer the buyers a THE SAVINGS Generally, the price of conreasonable interest rate, and GAME vertible bonds increases in prothe future option to convert the By Elliot Raphaelson portion to the increase in the bonds into shares of common value of the underlying common stock. From the buyer’s viewpoint, convertible stock. On the other hand, when the value of the bonds offer a nominal interest return, as well as the potential of an increase in the value of common stock decreases, the value of the conthe investment if the company is profitable vertible bond generally takes a smaller hit than and the value of the common stock increases. the stock does because of the interest the bonds pay holders each year. How convertible bonds work In the situation I described earlier, when Generally, when convertible bonds are is- my company issued convertible bonds, I pursued, the conversion price is set at about 25 chased them because of the coupon rate and percent higher than the current value of the because I felt the corporation would be profcommon stock. If the corporation does well itable — which it was. Accordingly, I was able and the value of the common stock increases to sell the convertible bonds a few years later

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Invest through funds and ETFs Interest rates for conservative investments are still pretty low. You can purchase mutual funds and ETFs in corporate bonds or highyield securities, which can yield higher returns than those available for the most conservative investments. But another alternative is funds or ETFs that specialize in convertible bonds. Currently, the interest rates for many of these bonds are between 3.75 and 4.5 percent. The largest ETF in this sector is SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities (CWB). Current yield is 3.1 percent. Morningstar has given this ETF a five-star rating for the last three- and five-year periods. For the last year, the total return was 20.06 percent; for three years 6.06 percent; for five years 9.77 percent. Morningstar identifies other convertible bond ETFs and mutual funds that specialize in convertibles. I do not recommend that you invest in individual convertible bond issues. This is a market for professional investors. Most cor-

porations that issue convertible bonds don’t have excellent bond ratings. This is why you should avoid individual issues, because of the risk, and invest only in well-known, diversified funds or ETFs. One of the advantages of convertible bond investments is that even if a company runs into financial difficulty and faces liquidation, bondholders have a significant priority over common stock owners if the company is forced to restructure. Another potential advantage is that if Congress passes legislation that limits or reduces the deductibility of interest for corporations, holders of convertible bonds would benefit as a result. I don’t recommend that investors invest a large percentage of their assets in convertibles. However, for investors looking for modest income returns and the potential for capital gains from increasing common stock prices, this alternative has some advantages. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © 2017 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Should Virginia release older prisoners? victed of capital murder. But the Virginia Parole Board has only sparingly granted geriatric releases in the past two decades. Of the 1,417 cases that the board considered between January 2014 and March 2017, they released the inmate only 68 times. That’s a grant rate of 4.7 percent.

Aim: less recidivism Adrianne L. Bennett, the Virginia Parole Board’s newly hired chairwoman, said that

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July 14+

SELL LEMONADE FOR CANCER Richmond families are being called to organize “LemonAid” stands

to help support cancer research. Join Caroline Morris, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 and was successfully treated at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, in giving back by participating in a lemon stand fundraiser, from Friday, July 14 to Sunday, July 16. Participation is free, and participants are given lemonade mix, cups, a pitcher, a banner, sticker and sunglasses. All proceeds are donated to Children’s Hospital. The goal is $250,000, which was proposed by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. For registration and more information, visit AnthemLemondAid.com or call (804) 228-5934.

because of a burgeoning population of elderly prisoners, many younger inmates are serving their prison time in city, county and regional jails scattered across the state. The problem with that, she said, is that state prisons in Virginia are known for quality inmate programs that some credit for keeping down the state’s recidivism rate. “You’ve got people spending two or three years in a local jail because our prisons are now stuffed with old men taking up bed space,” Bennett said. “So we’ve got these young offenders — who are more likely to recidivate [return to crime] than old men whose criminal history is long gone — being released back into the community with no programming.” Bennett, appointed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe in January to lead the five-member Parole Board, said it’s time to consider geriatric release as a possible way to alleviate the problem. In other words, release more of the older inmates to make room for younger ones. Though only 580 such cases were before the board in 2016, Bennett said, the number of inmates eligible for geriatric release will balloon dramatically going forward. “Do we keep somebody warehoused who is no longer a threat to the community and has already served decades in prison?” she

asked. “A 60-year-old in prison or a 70-yearold in prison who committed an offense decades ago is a huge tax liability and is not making our community safer. We are warehousing old men who are no longer a threat. In fact, what it’s doing is making our communities less safe.” That thinking is in line with a recent recommendation in the final report of the Governor’s Commission on Parole Review, released in December 2015. Though that panel found no appetite for bringing back parole in Virginia, it recommended key changes that could have an impact. Among them: Telling the Parole Board to amend its policies to create “more equity and fairness” on geriatric release.

1 in 5 prisoners over 50 As a result of stiff prison sentences and people living longer these days, Virginia’s inmate population is growing long in the tooth. In 1990, 822 inmates — or 4.5 percent of the total prisoner population — were older than 50, the Virginia Department of Corrections said. By 2015, that jumped to 7,607 inmates, or 20 percent of the total. In 2015, a Department of Corrections PowSee OLDER PRISONERS, page 17

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By Peter Dujardin When Virginia abolished parole to great fanfare in 1995, a safety valve of sorts was put in place: “Geriatric release.” That is, inmates 60 and older are considered annually for release, regardless of their sentence, so long as they have been behind bars for at least 10 years. They are considered for release at age 65 if they have served at least five years. Even those serving life sentences have a chance, save for those con-

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FIFTYPLUS — JULY 2017

Older prisoners From page 16 erPoint presentation to the parole reform commission said there were 38,287 “state responsible” inmates in Virginia — or people who are supposed to be at state prisons. But more than 22 percent of them, or 8,414, were being held at local jails instead. When the Hampton Roads Regional Jail was facing intense scrutiny over jail deaths last year, its interim superintendent, thenNorfolk Sheriff Bob McCabe, routinely complained about the large number of state inmates being kept at the 1,100-inmate Portsmouth facility. McCabe pressed the issue with the state. In March, the jail was down to 157 state inmates, down from 254 a year ago, said Linda Bryant, the regional jail’s assistant superintendent.

Medical costs soar Spiking healthcare costs for older inmates is also an issue in the prison system. The Department of Corrections’ PowerPoint said that off-site medical care for prisoners increases sharply with age. And that’s significant, since medical care is now a sixth of the state prison system’s total budget. “Some geriatric prisoners require levels of

medical care equivalent to that offered in assisted living, nursing homes or hospice care,” the governor’s commission report said. “These expenses are likely to increase.” For example, inmates 60 and older accounted for only 9 percent of state inmates 2015 — but 22 percent of the $57 million bill for “off-site” medical care. But Hampton Commonwealth’s Attorney Anton Bell, for one, cautioned against any making any rash judgments that older people aren’t likely to commit crimes. “I prosecuted people in their 60s for being a child molester and doing other things,” he said. “The fact that you’re older doesn’t mean you’re incapable of committing crime. If you have an evil heart or evil intent, it doesn’t matter how old you are. That’s just who you are.” “Everything depends on a case-by-case basis,” Bell added. “It depends on their history, prior to the crime they committed. What is the likelihood of re-offending?...Because what happens to the next victim that we could have prevented? “That family member is not going to want to hear that they served decades in prison so they should be getting out — or that the prison system is stuffed with inmates who are older, so we should make room for the younger ones.” — Newport NewsDaily Press via AP

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July 20

FREE SAFETY DAY PROGRAM

Senior Center of Greater Richmond presents their third annual free Senior Safety Day on Thursday, July 20 at First Baptist Church at Monument from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Learn about home safety from the experts. Attendees can select up to three workshops. Lunch is provided. This event will take place at 2709 Monument Ave. in Richmond. Registration is required in advance. For more information or to register, call (804) 353-3171 or visit https://seniorsafetyday2017.eventbrite.com. You can also email SeniorCenterRVA@gmail.com and ask for the event flyer to complete and return.

Ongoing

ARE YOU AN ARTIST?

BuyRVAart announced an open call to artists working in all media to submit their artwork for their online and live exhibitions. Submissions in mixed media, watercolor, oil, acrylic, pen and ink, pastel, pencil, pottery, fiber, jewelry, sculpture, photography, and wood are preferred, but other media forms may be accepted. Cash and prizes up to $1,000 will be awarded. Entry costs $25 for up to three images, and artwork must be postmarked no later than Monday, Aug. 14 or submitted online no later than 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20. For more information, contact jennikirby@buyRVAart.com or visit www.buyRVAart.com.

July 28+

ARTSPACE GALLERY

Artspace has five new gallery shows that will open to the public on Friday, July 28. The organization will display paintings and ceramics by Clive & Virginia Pates, printmaking, installation and architecture by Michael Benedetti and Connor, paintings by Janly Jaggard, and watercolor paintings by Amy Smith. As Cool as That, a group show by local artists, will feature images and indications to turn down the heat. The opening reception will be July 28 from 7 to 10 p.m., and the exhibits will be on display until Sunday, Aug. 20. Visiting hours are from 12 to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. The gallery is at Zero East 4th St. in Richmond. For more information, contact artspaceorg@gmail.com or call (804) 232-6464.

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JULY 2017 — FIFTYPLUS

Travel Leisure &

Compare and contrast England’s Highclere Castle with Richmond’s Maymont. See continuation of our cover story on page 20.

Food, music and more in Little Washington

Inn is just the beginning Washington, Va., is about 110 miles, a twohour drive, from Richmond. Driving through this part of the county today — in the pastoral foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains — still

doesn’t give a clue as to what’s bubbling up within those hills. World-class offerings extend beyond food, though that’s always a good place to start. Like most visitors, Tom and I found ourselves there in 1983 to check out the Inn’s culinary reputation. We heard stories of how one of the two owners — self-taught chef extraordinaire, Patrick O’Connell — was a pioneer in working with local farmers and coaxing residents, many of whom had strong connections to the land and a heritage of self-sufficiency, to help him with menu items, such as the applesmoked trout that we oohed and aahed over as an appetizer. We’ve come to expect that the wait staff knows the provenance of a dish and how the kitchen has prepared it. For us, this is not only the best recommendation for a restaurant, but also the best guideline for judging a destination: How much do the locals really know about their product, and how have they capitalized on those qualities? Since that first anniversary getaway more than three decades ago, Tom and I have returned to Little Washington several times, among them for a bicycling gig. Rappahan-

By Martha Steger Before our 1983 trip to Washington — Washington, Va., that is — my husband Tom and I didn’t know George Washington had surveyed the town in 1749, though we did intuit it must have been dubbed “Little Washington” to avoid confusion with the nation’s capital, situated 70 miles east. No one would have ever confused the two had not the cuisine at the Inn at Little Washington put the sleepy little town on the world map when it opened in a former garage in 1978. Headlines caused would-be travelers to look for the “little.” Even littler than Washington in Rappahannock County is nearby Scrabble — dateline for James Jackson Kilpatrick, retired editor of The Richmond News Leader in the 1950s and early ‘60s. Kilpatrick informed me in the late ‘70s that the county stayed “un-suburbanized” through its minimum lot-size purchase of 25 acres.

The Inn at Little Washington was the first establishment in the world to earn 5 stars from the Mobil Travel Guide for both accommodation and restaurant. It has served award-winning cuisine since it opened in a former garage almost 40 years ago.

PHOTO BY MARTHA STEGER

Among the pastoral foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where horses outnumber people in some areas, lies the quaint town of Washington, Va., known as “Little Washington.”

nock County (population 7,373 as of 2010 census) has more than enough hills to give a good workout, but the right number of restaurants and wineries for refueling and making new friends. More recently, we returned last year for the Castleton Music Festival, which is on hiatus, however, for 2017. The festival was founded by famed music conductor and composer Lorin Maazel in 1997, and hosted on his private farmland estate with his wife Dietlinde.

B&Bs and bikes We’ve also seen the town’s Foster Harris House bed-and-breakfast grow from its renovation stage, when we stayed there in 1983, to its present graciousness under new owners-innkeepers Klaus and Giselle Peters. Each of the different owners-innkeepers has provided personalized service with good humor — including a three-dimensional paper cake sitting in the middle of our fully dressed, king-size bed. Breakfast has always offered a new treat. (See Paradise Bacon recipe on page 21 from previous owner, John

MacPherson.) Recreational bicyclists Marla and Mark Shreve of Midlothian loved their three-day bicycle trip to Rappahannock County several years ago. Their favorite part of the trip wasn’t the eating, though they admit that all of the meals were outstanding. That includes not only the gourmet breakfast at the Foster Harris House but also the food at Griffin Tavern and Twenty-Four Crows. “Our favorite thing was just being in the mountains on our bikes,” Marla said. “We stopped at Rappahannock Cellars for lunch, and a wine tasting and tour of the winery. The countryside was so beautiful — I could have been riding in Europe!” Six miles south of Washington lies Sperryville — a good fitness trip via bike from Little Washington — but also the site of the Inn at Mount Vernon Farm — 850 acres of conservation land that has been passed down through eight generations of the Miller family. When we stayed here, we rose early to walk around the property, then returned to a See LITTLE WASHIGNTON, page 19

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FIFTYPLUS — JULY 2017

Little Washington From page 18 breakfast featuring the farm’s distinctive lamb sausage and homemade breads. Later in the day, at Sperryville, we toured Copper Fox Distillery, where American spirits are concocted from locally grown grain — floor-malted and pot-stilled in small batches, one barrel at a time. Owner Rick Wasmund’s offerings include a single-malt whisky and rye whisky — but we’ve had the most fun with his barrel kits, which we’ve given as gifts and from which we’ve aged our own spirits. After wine tasting at Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery and Gadino Cellars, we ordered pizza from Rappahannock Pizza Kitchen (next to the very good Thornton River Grille in Sperryville), and brought it back with wine to enjoy on the farm’s picnic table behind the manor.

Listening in at Castleton Being in this part of the Virginia countryside brings more harmonious sounds than those of spring peepers, birds and crickets. Whether we were chatting with a graduate music student in Castleton’s Residency Program or enjoying a Castleton musical performance, Tom and I learned “listening” has more than one connotation. Dietlinde Maazel, accomplished actress and widow of Maestro Maazel, explained in

an interview that listening is the key to empathy: It teaches one “to learn about people and encourages self-reflection.” The music and surrounding environment at Castleton complement one another. “It’s nice to be somewhere so ultimately beautiful, so pristine, that you don’t have to leave to enjoy yourself,” said a Castleton conducting fellow, Brett Mitchell, who made his first public appearance as a conductor at age 16. “If you live in a big city, you have to pack up and drive several hours to get away from it all, but here — even though we’re working — we’re in this incredible environment.” The intimate, acoustically superb, on-site Theatre House is Castleton’s focal point. For music fans wondering how one learns to be a conductor, he offered this explanation: “Some of what you learn is technical in nature. There are times to be clear and times not to be clear, because if you are too clear, the musicians will rely too much on the eyes and not enough on the ears.” He moved his hands with the familiar conducting gestures that cut through the air from upper to lower and back up, and from right to left and left to right. “These,” he said, “are universal. But everything else is highly individualized. People see the hands, but what we’re really doing is listening. If the flute and oboe are supposed to come in and be balanced together with the rest of the orchestra, you can hear whether

or not that happens. “Orchestras that you think are in tune are no different from those that you don’t think are in tune — they just adjust faster. Playing in tune produces a wall of sound, not the sound of individual instruments.” Although Maestro Maazel died three years ago this summer, his legacy lives on with spring and summer performances that he called a “vista-opener.” That refers not to the area’s scenic countryside, but to the nurturing of young musicians alongside established artists such as Denyce Graves and Sir James Galway.

Three performances are coming up this summer and fall. The first, Galileo’s Torch, features John Lescault as Galileo and Judge David Tatel at the Grand Inquisitor in a multimedia theatrical event running Friday, July 28 at 8 p.m., Saturday, July 29 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, July 30 at 5 p.m. The second is a piano recital by Mariam Batsashvili, a promising young pianist, playing Bach, Chopin and Liszt on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 4 p.m. The third is a Smithsonian Jazz MasterSee LITTLE WASHINGTON, page 21

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July 20+

ARTIST EXHIBIT “COLORS OF HAITI”

The “Colors of Haiti” exhibit will open on Thursday, July 20 at the Cultural Arts Center. The exhibition will showcase renowned and promising Haitian artists. The opening reception is free and will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at 2880 Mountain Rd. in Glen Allen. Wine and refreshments will be provided. Attendees will be able to explore additional art galleries and the gift shop. The exhibit is open until Sunday, Sept. 10. For more information, call 1-800-261-2787.

July 26

MUSICAL HISTORY SHOW

The Press Gang will be performing at Huguenot Road Baptist Church on Wednesday, July 26 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The group will perform historical music, including sea shanties (1700’s to 1800), Civil War, Victorian Christmas and Celtic pub music in this free show. The church is located at 10525 W. Huguenot Rd. in Chesterfield. For more information, call (804) 212-8815 or (804) 751-4753.

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From page 3 bedroom. “She tells them ‘all of the really smart couples have separate rooms!’” Lowden said. And so it was at Maymont. Mrs. Dooley’s bedroom has several unique and memorable items — a suite of furniture comprising a bed, dresser, dressing table and chairs, all with carved swans; a Tiffany & Co. dresser and chair made of silver and tusks of narwhal; and an impressive Louis Vuitton traveling trunk. An Egyptian-style dressing table graces Major Dooley’s dressing room. And situated between their bedrooms is a very modern bathroom. Almost everything on Maymont’s first and second floors belonged to the Dooleys and was used at Maymont or at their summer home, Swannanoa, on Virginia’s Afton Mountain. First-floor rooms at Maymont, as at Highclere, are formal and designed to impress — which they do!

A tale of two libraries Both houses have libraries with a masculine feel and eclectic artwork. Maymont’s staff has inventoried 1,200 books belonging to the Dooleys — lots of European history, English authors including Shakespeare and Dickens — but also books of Richmond’s native son, Edgar Allan Poe. There’s also a bronze medallion of Poe above the mantelpiece in the library. The library at Maymont was not just for show. Mrs. Dooley wrote poetry, as well as a “moonlight-and-magnolia” book “typical of southerners before the [Civil] War,” Lowden said. “Major Dooley received at least a halfdozen sterling silver academic medals while he was at Georgetown University in the 1860s.” The scale of Highclere’s traditional library is much greater, of course. It utilizes the Dewey Decimal System to organize its 5,000plus books. The countess and present mistress of Highclere, like Sally May Dooley, is also an author in her own right. In 2011, she published Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey. She told me that “the library is one that began with my husband’s direct ancestor in 1679.” She said the two-room library is her and her husband’s favorite part of the house. She recalled the library game she used to play with her son and nephew: “I used to ask them to give me a number and then a shelf, and that was the book they had to find and tell me about.” As I moved along in my tour, Highclere’s house guide, Howard, answered my question regarding the small desk whose provenance indicates it was used by Napoleon. There is a slit in its top for mail to be slipped through for

franking (castles posted their own mail). “I visited here as a child,” Howard said, “and always remember this desk in the library.” One of several framed black and white photographs on a library table showed the present earl standing directly behind Queen Elizabeth II, his godmother. Although Sallie May Dooley traced her English lineage to Jamestown’s first settlers, few images exist of the May or Dooley families. “We have newspaper accounts of visits by governors and generals and diplomats attending social functions at Maymont — but no photos,” Lowden said.

Maymont

JULY 2017 — FIFTYPLUS

Lovely landscapes At both homes, immaculately manicured lawns are visible from almost every window. The Carnarvons and Highclere celebrated last year’s tercentennial of the birth of Capability Brown, the renowned 18th-century designer of landscapes on a grand scale. Brown’s passion for the beauty of landscape is evident in the gardens and 1,000-acre park at Highclere. The brochure language aptly describes “gently rolling lawns, precisely planted cedars, and stands of deciduous trees that lead the eye to grand perspectives.” Maymont’s visitors can see that the Dooleys — no doubt influenced by estates in the English countryside — wanted to produce a romantic, park-like setting for their estate as well. Details such as the wraparound porch, the mansion’s towers, and the stables and other outbuildings provide a grandiose escape for residents and visitors. Sallie Dooley, very interested in horticulture, took on the grounds as her special project. One of the original designs is a man-made waterfall, with water originating from the Kanawha Canal. The Dooleys actually purchased a section of the canal to secure the water rights. Much of today’s garden reflects the original design, though it was renovated and expanded in 1978 to feel more like a “garden stroll.”

The “Downton” effect At Maymont there’s no confusing fiction and reality, which often happens at Highclere as well as in the small, ancient market town of Bampton, where village scenes in “Downton Abbey” were filmed. When the series was concluding, Bampton guide Robin Shuckburgh, said, “We’re being told to expect 15 years of the Downton effect.” Bampton, a village in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, looked forward to using its newfound tourism dollars to help repair its church and archive building. St. Mary’s Church — renamed St. Michael and All Angels, as pictured in the series — hosted a number of dramatic “Downton” events, including weddings, funerals, christenings and even a jilting at the altar.

Highclere Castle in Hampshire, England is a private home that also served as the set for many scenes of “Downton Abbey,” the most popular show in PBS history. Visitors can tour the castle’s ornate and spacious rooms.

There will likely be renewed interest when a “Downton” movie, announced in early July, comes out in 2018. Shuckburgh was asked daily where the grave of Matthew Crawley, a character in the show, is. “I had to tell visitors the production people bring the headstone back each time they’re filming here. But when the series finished filming, I talked the company into giving it to us so we could use it for tourism purposes. Churchgate House, the Bampton rectory, features prominently in the series as Isobel Crawley’s house. The old grammar-school building, which now houses the Bampton Community Archive/gift shop, served as the ‘Downton’ hospital. Many items in the gift shop are locally made, with all profits going toward village repairs and restoration. Other grand English manors are hoping to

capitalize on the “Downton effect. The Duchess of Rutland, mistress of Belvoir Castle (which Brits pronounce as “beaver” Castle), has produced her own coffee-table book to promote tours. Caroline Stewart, secretary of the hunt at Belvoir, said that when Lady Carnarvon visited Belvoir last summer, she mentioned “Downton Abbey” “had taken off in China, too” — suggesting that the Downton effect could go on for a long time. At Maymont, Lowden hopes the Downton effect keeps rippling across the Atlantic for a long time, too. Midlothian writer Martha Steger traveled independently to the Nottingham area of the U.K. to see other British estates before traveling to London to join a group tour organized by Sterling Silver Tours for Community Idea Stations’ TV 23.

Touring the mansions Maymont Mansion was donated by the Dooleys to the City of Richmond, and is now run by the Maymont Foundation. It is located at 1700 Hampton St., in Richmond. Tours are offered Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. on the hour and half-hour (last tour 4:30), $5 suggested donation. Visiting the grounds and gardens is free. A $5 donation is also suggested for visiting farm and wildlife exhibits. For more information, including dates for special tours and children’s events, call

(804) 358-7166, or visit their website at www.maymont.org. Check Highclere Castle ticket availability online and read terms and conditions of ticket purchase at www.highclerecastle.co.uk. The castle is open through Sept. 6, Sunday through Thursday, starting at 9:30 a.m. with the last tour at 4 p.m. Ticket prices range from 22 pounds (approx. $28.50) to see the castle, grounds and Egyptian exhibition, to 7 pounds (2 pounds for children under 4) to visit the grounds only.

Little Washington From page 19 works Orchestra comprehensive jazz concert, which begins with a lecture by Dr. John Hasse on Sunday Nov. 5 at 4 p.m. All shows take place at the Theatre House at Castleton Farms, located at 664 View Rd. in Castleton Va. Tickets cost $40. For more information, visit https://www.castletonfestival.org.

An egalitarian emphasis Maazel emphasizes how different Castleton is from Salzburg, Austria, and New York’s Metropolitan Opera. “At the Met,” she said, “performers are segmented into different rooms, different floors, and only meet on stage for the last three rehearsals. Out here in the country, we’re all together, learning from each other, and it’s the nurturing aspect that makes us different. “It’s like comparing a director, who comes with a whip, to a gardener, who lets you bloom. We have no divas here. The intern who runs around backstage giving everyone a glass of water, and the guy who prepares the props, are as important as the performers. We all have to do our jobs well for it to be a success.” The mother of their three grown children, she was very successful in her own acting ca-

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FIFTYPLUS — JULY 2017

reer when she first met Lorin Maazel, 27 years her senior. “We were both on stage in Germany receiving awards, and he invited me for a drink at the bar,” she recalled. She didn’t want the international, two-star, fast-track lifestyle that many stars have, in which they fly home once in a while to check on how things are going for the family. “I was in the running as co-star in Indiana Jones,” she said, “but I wasn’t going to take a two-month-old baby and go off to Jordan or somewhere. “I always thought if I listened to this little inner voice, I would know what to do — and my inner voice has served me well.” Even Richmond’s curmudgeonly conservative — “Kilpo,” as many referred to Rappahannock’s J. J. Kilpatrick, who sparred with liberals on the TV program “60 Minutes” for three decades — would have praised where that “inner voice” leads.

Copper Fox Distillery, 9 River Lane, Sperryville, Va., www.copperfox.biz, (540) 987-8554 Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery, 154 W iner y Lane Leon, Va., http://www. princemichel.com, (540) 547-3707

ington, Va, (540) 675-3757, www.FosterHarris.com The Inn at Mount Vernon Farm, 147 Mount Vernon Ln., Sperryville, Va, (540) 9878115, www.theinnatmountvernonfarm.com

Paradise Bacon recipe ½ c. mango chutney 12 thick slices hickory-smoked bacon (about ¼ lb.) Preheat oven to 375. Arrange bacon in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment. Bake for 15 minutes until bacon begins to look opaque and the fat begins to render. Remove from oven, and blot top of bacon with paper towels to dry. Brush top of

bacon with sauce, return to oven, and bake for additional 12-15 minutes until browned. Cool, then refrigerate flat (use parchment paper between layers if stacking). To achieve a cylindrical shape for each slice of bacon after it’s removed from the refrigerator, wrap each slice around a 1” dowel and roll in parchment before reheating in a 180-degree oven for about a half-hour.

M A R K YO U R CAL EN DA R If you go Check the schedule of Castleton’s musical performances for additional dates and times: http://castletonfestival.org. Box office: (540) 937-3454. Instrumental recitals are also given at the theatre at 291 Gay St., Washington, Va. The Inn at Little Washington, Middle and Main Streets, Washington, Va., (540) 675-3800, www.heinnatlittlewashington. com Foster Harris House, 189 Main St., Wash-

July 11+

EXERCISE CLASSES

Huguenot Road Baptist Church is offering a range of fee-based classes from mid-July to mid-Aug. Classes include line dancing, which costs $38 per class and takes place every Tuesday from July 11 to Aug. 15 from 2 to 3 p.m. for beginners and 3 to 4 p.m. for intermediates; and gentle strength training, which costs $25 and takes place every Wednesday from July 12 to Aug. 9 from 2:15 to 3 p.m. The church is located at 10525 W Huguenot Rd. in North Chesterfield. For more information, call (804) 212-8815 or (804) 751-4753. To register, call (804) 748-1623.

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The last call for long-distance train trips? Trump’s budget proposes to cut all funding for Amtrak long-distance trains. The administration isn’t happy with Amtrak’s ongoing losses, and long-distance trains face an uncertain future. So if you’re interested in a long rail trip, you don’t have to worry for this year, but the future will be much cloudier.

Seattle/ Portland, with daytime segments in both directions passing close to Glacier National Park, and through the Columbia River Gorge eastbound from Portland to Spokane. • The Coast Starlight between Los Angeles and Seattle, with daytime segments from Emeryville or San Jose to Los Angeles along the coastal route of the famed Daylight. Most scenic trips Except for the one-day AdironFor most people, the main readack, if you’re doing a land cruise son to ride a long-haul Amtrak TRAVEL TIPS with one or two nights onboard, train is to enjoy the scenery in By Ed Perkins you’ll want a private compartcomfort. And rail buffs around ment. Although they’re expenthe country generally agree on Amtrak’s top sive, they’re selling out fast for the peak summer four scenic long-haul trips with good daytime season. viewing (which I list east to west): Long term, however, you might be inclined • The Adirondack between New York and to worry. Long-distance trains are money losMontreal, with great all-day Hudson River ers, costing taxpayers somewhere in the and Lake Champlain viewing in both direc- vicinity of $200 per passenger in coach, up to tions. double that in sleepers. • California Zephyr between Chicago and Furthermore, today’s long-distance trains Emeryville (near San Francisco), with top serve no essential transportation role. Air daytime segments westbound through the travel and buses are both faster and more effiRockies from Denver to Salt Lake City, and in cient: air for long hauls, buses for short trips. both directions between Emeryville and Those luxury trains are really “land cruises” Reno over Donner Pass. for people who like trains, and even the most • The Empire Builder between Chicago and vocal supporters have a tough time justifying

their heavy subsidies. Still, Amtrak’s current long-haul route system exists because of politics, not economics. And funding based on politics isn’t going away any time soon.

Consider Canada If you’re really interested in an extended train trip — but not quite ready for the transSiberian express — your best bet remains the Canadian, on VIA Rail Canada, between Toronto and Vancouver. You go through some terrific mountain scenery during the four-night trip, along with some fascinating semi-wilderness north of Lake Superior. With four nights on a train, you’ll want at least a sleeper and, more likely, a compartment. Sleeper/compartment fares include all meals — prepared fresh in a real dining car, not a microwaved “snack.” As with Amtrak, the Canadian’s popular single and double compartments are already sold out on many summer trips, so consider waiting for fall. Buy tickets at virarail.ca on any “discount Tuesday” for the best prices; kids and riders 60 or over get discounts.

In the longer term, many economists conclude that the future of passenger railroading lies in frequent, high (or at least “higher”) speed trains on routes of up to 400 miles to and from hub cities that suffer both highway and air traffic overloads. That’s why the Northeast Corridor will survive. That’s also where the Midwestern folks are placing their chips with incremental speed and frequency improvements on the corridors radiating from Chicago, and what California is trying to do with its high-speed project. But Amtrak still faces long-term problems. Even if it can keep its long-haul trains, Amtrak is perennially short of sufficient funding for maintenance and buying new equipment. And given the sorry revenue picture, the highly touted “public private partnership” funding system is likely to be ineffective. More than ever, if you want to experience modern train service, head for Europe, China or Japan. Send e-mail to Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net. Also, check out Ed’s new rail travel website at www.rail-guru.com. © 2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

M A R K YO U R C ALE NDAR

July

RICHMOND ART EXHIBIT

Richmond Public Library is hosting a free art exhibit through Tuesday, Aug. 1. The exhibit features mixed-media drawings and collages, photo contest winners from Scenic Virginia and more. You can also see works of renowned artists, including David Freed, Helen and Alvin Hattorf, and Anne Newbold Perkins. July’s art exhibit is located at 101 E. Franklin St. For more information, call (804) 646-7223.

Aug. 11+

FILIPINO FESTIVAL

Visit the annual Filipino Festival on Friday, Aug. 11 from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 12 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. There will be food, including lumpias, empanadas, turons, kebobs, and more; alcoholic beverages, including craft beer from San Miguel island and Virginia wine; live dance bands, including NO BS! Brass Band, Remnants Rock ‘N Soul, Cedar Creek, Pinoy Republik; line dancing; and hands-on-crafts and games for children. There will also be specialty vendors, health screenings, and more. Admission is free. The festival is being held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, located at 8200 Woodman Rd. in Henrico. For more information and full menu items, visit www.filipinofestival.org or call (804) 262-7315.

July 20

REFUGEES AND SLAVES LECTURE

The American Civil War Museum will host a lecture that compares and contrasts present-day refugee camps to Civil War contrabands. Attendees will discover how slaves who fled from their bondage to contraband camps impacted the emancipation, the war, and U.S. citizenship. The event will take place Thursday, July 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the American Civil War Museum, located at 500 Tredegar St. in Richmond. For more information, email skane@acwm.org or call (804) 649-1861, ext. 123.

July 25

GOLFING WITH REDSKINS

Join the city of Richmond on Tuesday, July 25 in welcoming the Washington Redskins at the fourth annual River City Golf Classic. Fans will get the opportunity to go head-to-head with Redskins alumni, coaches and personnel. The tournament will coincide with the start of Redskins training camp. Check-in is at 7:30 a.m. followed by breakfast and practice sessions of putting until tee-off at 9 a.m. For more information or to register, visit RiverCityClassic.com.

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FIFTYPLUS — JULY 2017

Style

Arts &

Growing your own vegetables takes work, but you can’t beat fresh and homegrown veggies. Learn how on page 24.

Reflections from Rolling Stone’s founder much as anybody moved rock and the lifestyle around it from the fringes to the mainstream. Rolling Stone not only chronicled music, politics and culture, but it also helped change it — whether through Wenner’s revelatory 1970 interview with John Lennon, the photography of Annie Leibovitz, or the “gonzo” reporting of Hunter S. Thompson. Among those getting early starts at Rolling Stone were Leibovitz, Thompson, the music critics Greil Marcus and Lester Bangs, screenwriter Joe Eszterhas and filmmaker Cameron Crowe. The common thread among the best Rolling Stone contributors has been “extraordinary talent,” Wenner said, along with a

“sense of purpose” and a distinctive way of “seeing our times.”

Highlights of 50 years The exhibit and accompanying coffee-table book capture some of the highlights: Thompson’s scathing coverage of the 1972 presidential campaign, the serialization of Tom Wolfe’s The Bonfire of the Vanities, and Michael Hastings’ scandalously candid 2010 profile of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, which led to his departure as commander of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Many of the photographs are indelible to at least one generation: Meryl Streep in greasepaint, tugging at her cheek; Bette Midler in a bed of roses; the men and women of

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Fleetwood Mac laid out on a single mattress; and most painfully, a naked Lennon clinging to a fully clothed Yoko Ono, a Leibovitz portrait taken just hours before Lennon was shot dead in 1980. Wenner was only 21 when he and his friend and mentor Ralph J. Gleason started Rolling Stone from a San Francisco warehouse in 1967, the first issue dating from November of that year. Youth tycoons are common now, but 50 years ago it was rare for someone Wenner’s age to be running any business, at least one that hoped to make money. His hope then was to bring attention to the

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By Hillel Italie Fifty years after he launched an underground newspaper that changed music journalism and a great deal more, Jann S. Wenner finds Rolling Stone being showcased in a once-unthinkable forum: a museum. “At least it’s a museum I own,” Wenner said with a laugh during a recent telephone interview, as he referred to an anniversary exhibition at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland — an institution that Wenner helped found in the 1980s. The three-floor “Rolling Stone/50 years” exhibit runs through late November. There might not have been a Rock Hall or museum without Rolling Stone, which as

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A peck of peppers and zillions of zucchini Mulching and netting Use mulch (dark plastic or organic) to conserve water, control weeds, keep the soil cool, and keep the veggies clean. Use netting to deter deer (six to 10 feet high), rabbits and other critters from enjoying the fruits of your labor before you have a chance to harvest.

Inspect plants regularly

PHOTO BY LEILA MARTIN

Vegetable plots

There are some basic “garden keeping” chores you should do every day or two: Examine plants, including the underside of leaves, for damage or disease. Remove dead and diseased plants, as well as weeds before they go to seed. Distinguish between beneficial insects and those that damage the plant. Destroy any fruits that have been in contact with animals or their droppings.

Identify common problems Learn how to identify the “usual suspects” — pathogens, poor cultural practices, or pests — as perpetrators of plant problems. Use the least toxic pest management strategy. Sometimes, this is as simple as removing caterpillars, such as tomato hornworms, by hand and placing them in a bucket of soapy water. If you do use pesticides, always read the label to ensure that they are safe for edibles.

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Specific plants are vulnerable to specific pests. For example, squash often get vine borers. Broccoli and cabbages can get cabbage loopers, while melons are prone to fungus. A gardener who knows the most likely pests and diseases for each crop can prevent these problems or intervene quickly if they appear. Based on veggies typically grown in the metro Richmond area, here are a few of those “usual suspects” and what to do about them: Early Blight or Target Spot is a fungus that affects tomatoes and potatoes. You may find brown to black spots on leaves and stems. The spots are angular to round with concentric rings (targets). Spots may merge to defoliate the plants. Tomatoes may sunscald and show sunken leathery spots near the stem. Use good cultural practices: crop rotation, destruction of plant waste, well-drained soil, good air circulation, and resistant varieties. Spray or dust with approved chemical controls. Bacterial Wilt (Pseudomonas) affects tomatoes, potatoes, and other species of Solanaceae such as peppers and eggplant. The youngest leaves often wilt first and the oldest may become chlorotic (pale or yellow). Bacterial Wilt may also cause browning of internal stem tissues. Select a well-drained site. Avoid planting susceptible crops in infected soil. Practice

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By Leila Martin It’s July, so perhaps you have warm-season vegetables planted in the ground, in raised beds, or in a large container. If so, your garden should be located in full sun, six to eight hours daily. If you do container gardening, you can place the pot on wheels to follow the sun. Make sure that the garden gets at least one inch of water per week. If nature doesn’t supply rain, you should use soaker hoses or drip irrigation to water the soil and root area; this keeps water from standing on the foliage, reducing foliar diseases.

Squash

weed control. Blossom End Rot is a calcium deficiency affecting tomatoes, peppers, watermelons and squash — usually due to fluctuations in water supply. The blossom end of fruit becomes dry, sunken, leathery and brownish black. In peppers, the end becomes light-colored and papery. Maintain even soil moisture by using mulch and watering during dry periods. Fertilize according to a soil test, checking for sufficient calcium. Foliar applications of calcium may be See VEGETABLES, page 25 Sit up or recline

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For many of us, nothing is more relaxing than a long, luxurious bath. Unfortunately, because of safety concerns, many people, particularly older people, have to forego this simple pleasure. Sure, you can spend big bucks to remodel your bathroom to provide a bathtub you can use, but who wants to do that? Now there’s a better way, and it lets you use the bath that’s in your home today.

Rolling Stone From page 23 music he loved and how it was changing the culture — changes he believed were ignored or belittled by the mainstream media. “The Beatles and Stones and Dylan are all working at the same time and all (are) bouncing off each other,” he said, calling it an “extraordinary alignment of the stars.”

Hip journalism Rolling Stone wasn’t the first serious rock music publication: Crawdaddy, led by Swarth-

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FIFTYPLUS — JULY 2017

more College student Paul Williams, began in 1966. But none have a comparable legacy. By the 1970s, Rolling Stone was so much a part of the music business — and its cover such a symbol of success — that it inspired Dr. Hook’s hit single “The Cover of ‘Rolling Stone.’” Rolling Stone become so synonymous with hip, alternative journalism that several movies have featured Rolling Stone reporters. These include the 1981 release Rich and Famous, and from 2015, The End of the Tour, starring Jesse Eisenberg as a Rolling Stone

reporter and Jason Segel as David Foster Wallace. Crowe made a whole film about his days with the magazine: Almost Famous. Rolling Stone continues to make news — some unwanted (its discredited report on an alleged rape at the University of Virginia) and some in the tradition Wenner prefers to uphold, like the political coverage of Matt Taibbi, perhaps best known for likening Gold-

man Sachs to a “vampire squid.” Wenner says he has no current goals beyond what he’s long wanted to do — cover what’s going in the country and what excites him, whether the latest band or trend in politics. The hot topic right now comes down to two words, President Trump. “Is there any other news?” he asked.

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 26

AP PHOTO/MARK DUNCAN

ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

I B V E E T S S L U S D R M A R A L A G T T E D O A F S C E N T T O R C H S P R E E

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S C U M O F T H E

L U N A R

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ANSWERS TO JUMBLE Jumbles: FUROR MAJOR SHAKEN COSTLY Answer: Easy to get from astronomers -NO MORE STARS Jann Wenner, co-founder of Rolling Stone magazine, speaks at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland. Wenner helped found the Hall of Fame and Museum in the 1980s. A current exhibit there honors the 50th anniversary of his influential magazine of music and culture.

Vegetables From page 24 helpful when the weather is hot and dry.

Harvesting and sharing Keep track of what you planted, when you planted, and how long until veggies reach maturity. Quick producers include okra, string beans, garden peas, cucumbers, summer squash and tomatoes. Harvest those fruits daily if necessary. Share your bounty with friends and neighbors. Although the title of this article implies the importance of quantity, veggie quality is typically paramount to the home gardener. Most vegetables are at the peak of tenderness and flavor when they are relatively small. Zucchini, for example, are best when they are no more than six to seven inches long. Generally, a tomato is fully ripe when it re-

leases easily from the stem. Peppers are ready to eat when full-sized but still green. If left on the vine longer, peppers will change color to red, orange, yellow, or brown, depending on the variety, and will deepen in flavor and become less crisp in texture. Planning the next crop is almost as much fun as harvesting the current one. When planning for next season’s or next year’s garden, use crop rotation to reduce soil diseases. Select disease- and pest-resistant seeds and plants by doing research before purchasing. For example, “VFN” on tomatoes identifies varieties that are resistant to verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt, and nematodes. Use the publications of the Virginia Cooperative Extension (https://ext.vt.edu) to prepare for your next edible garden. Lela Martin is a Master Gardener with the Chesterfield County office of the Virginia Cooperative Extension.

M ARK YOUR CAL EN DAR

Aug. 7

FALL VEGETABLE GARDENING

Learn how to prepare and grow a vegetable garden on Monday, Aug. 7 at 3 p.m. This event will take place at Ettrick-Matoaca Library, located at 4501 River Rd. in South Chesterfield. Space is limited. For more information or to register, visit http://bit.ly/ready2growVCE or call (804) 751-4401.

7 17FP

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Crossword Puzzle Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Unpretentious 1

21 25

24 31

40 45

32 35

Jumble answers on p. 25.

Scrabble answers on p. 25.

By Stephen Sherr

47 50

51 57 60

Across 1. Go off script 6. It is optional in some ‘net addresses 9. Mix of purple and green 14. “___ me alone!” 15. Triumphant shout 16. Changes salmon to lox 17. Still in flux 18. Lisa Simpson’s instrument 19. Prepare to use the toothpaste 20. Over 25 of its grads have won Nobel Prizes 21. Hunt flies 23. ___ Believer (first #1 hit of 1967) 24. Word which can be formed from the four corners of a weather vane 26. Blood grouping system 27. Sleazy 31. Protection from expulsion, on Survivor 32. ___ a Drag (second #1 hit of 1967) 34. 70’s sitcom planet 35. Be deep in thought 37. Bridal shower offering 38. Correctly identified the killer, weapon, and room 39. Golden Globes classification 41. Charged particle 42. Half donkey/half horse 44. Went from Marathon to Athens 45. Reach the moon 47. Finalized an e-mail message 48. Sixth word of the Gettysburg Address 49. Christmas tree sparkles 51. Lavish affection on 54. Muscle/bone connector 56. Old name for a wildebeest 57. Half a congressional term 58. Back at sea 59. Latvia’s largest city 61. ___-Bama Slama (“Fruit punch with a Southern kick”) 62. Car freshener option 65. Cribbage scorekeeper 66. Laundry grouping 68. Prop for juggling in a dark room

61 67

69. Shorten (as pants) 70. Rescue a damsel from train tracks 71. Shopping ___ 72. Source of ancestry.com’s testing 73. Six of one; half dozen of the ___ Down 1. High school reunion attendees 2. “Justice delayed is justice ___” 3. One with excellent dating prospects 4. It’s in forgive, but not forget 5. Final Jeopardy figures 6. Plant also knows as “Japanese horseradish” 7. Exclamation of surprise 8. Madame Tussauds’ medium 9. The worst type of people 10. Like a Chinese calendar 11. Some of a circle 12. The Mad Hatter’s favorite drink 13. Psychic’s ability 22. Univ. in a not-so-sleepy NC town 23. “Ability ___ little account without opportunity” (Lucille Ball) 25. Squalid district 28. Unpretentious (and where this puzzle’s theme answers all go) 29. Item on an FDA food label 30. Fashion line founded by Donna Karan 33. Loud, unpleasant noise 36. Paragon of morality 39. “Doggone it!” 40. Furious anger 41. Hotel, out in the country 43. Nickname for archaeologist Henry Walton Jones Jr. 46. It isn’t “is not” 47. Slow, lazy person 50. Puzzling situation 52. Post-1927 film, most likely 53. Tool for imperfect crossword solvers 55. Do The Charleston 60. Song from An American Tail about friendship 62. States, streets, or saints (stunted) 63. Police officer 64. Overthrow first base 65. Third degree 67. Kitchen pest

Answers on page 25.

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