March 2023 | DC Beacon

Don’t retire; reinvent yourself

By Glenda C. Booth

After Paula Coupe retired from her 30year government career, she spent her first six weeks organizing recipes. Once rested, the Fairfax resident set about finding a new life.

Now she’s making jewelry, pottery and lamps, even entering juried shows. “I became a new person,” Coupe said.

Another Northern Virginia retiree, Arina van Breda, who practiced medicine in Northern Virginia for 36 years, planned extensive travel after her retirement in 2019. But when the pandemic halted those adventures, she instead pitched in to administer vaccines — an experience that she says gave her the “volunteer bug.”

Most people nearing retirement look forward to freedom and downtime. After all, you can sleep in, have control over your time, and grocery shop during less crowded times.

But transitioning from a decades-long career can be daunting. While avoiding commutes and enjoying leisurely reads are luxuries, most retirees soon want to do something constructive.

Typically, in their early retirement, people try to complete their travel bucket list. But as they age, they travel less.

Prince George’s County resident Karen Morgan, a former attorney for the Maryland legislature, cautioned, “When your job’s suddenly gone, you need to fill that space and do more than just sit around.”

Before retiring, many people focus on financial planning but fail to plan for their personal fulfilment. An AARP study found that 57% of retired adults never thought about taking care of their post-career emotional health.

Some, fortunately, focus on reinventing themselves. At a workshop Coupe at-

tended before reitiring from the U.S. Department of Commerce, advisors told her, “‘You are not defined by your job. You can reinvent.’ I took this to heart,” Coupe said.

Work part-time or volunteer

Some people transition into retirement by working part-time, especially if they

Patagonia’s marble caves and turquoise lakes amaze; plus, Rick Steves on adding fine art to your travels, and Ed Perkins’ tips for travel to Europe page 24

A

musical comedy at Toby’s; plus, Poet Laureate Grace Cavalieri, and Bob Levey on pinching pennies

PHOTO COURTESY OF PAULA COUPE

Paula Coupe retired from a federal job and now spends her days crafting jewelry and pottery, attending book and movie clubs, and making new friends. Other retirees choose to volunteer or find part-time work, or become activists. The key to finding happiness after you retire, according to several locals like Coupe, is discovering what you love and reinventing yourself accordingly.

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The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center is setting a new standard in retirement living in the heart of Gaithersburg, one of the most diverse and highly intellectual communities in the country. The Carnegie is part of the Signature Community portfolio for Kisco Senior Living, with more than 30 years of experience in creating elevated retirement lifestyle communities.

The Carnegie will offer residents a curated selection of intellectually stimulating programming, like lectures developed through partnerships with educational institutions and experts in various fields. One unique featured amenity of The Carnegie is a Performance Center and Lecture Hall to host signature events and guest lectures. Even before The Carnegie’s doors officially open in 2024, the signature retirement community will advance its vision of culture, intellectual growth and enrichment through its Red Carpet Speaker Series®.

“As a Kisco Signature community, one of the most important commitments we will make to our residents will be to offer engagement in intellectual passions, including listening to and learning from the stories that renowned speakers, writers and leaders can share with them,” states Gene Smallwood, vice president of operations for Kisco. “Our Red Carpet Speaker Series will illustrate The Carnegie’s approach to intellectual programming and offer a glimpse into the type of opportunities our residents will have in pursuit of lifelong learning.” These events include entertainment and intellectual speakers, such as Rebecca Eaton (creator of Downton Abbey), Steve Gillon (New York Times best-selling author and historian) and Carl Bernstein (political journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist for The Washington Post), who share their life experiences and expertise. Further enhancing the retirement lifestyle for residents, The Carnegie incorporates Kisco’s Signature Art of Living Well® programming, a unique approach to tailored, wholeperson wellness for each resident through customized activities.

The Carnegie also offers an exclusive Renaissance Priority Membership opportunity that allows those interested in making the Carnegie their home to form a community even before they become neighbors. Renaissance Members are given the chance to attend unique events and experience VIP treatment. Another key benefit of Renaissance Membership includes an opportunity to select their preferred apartment location in advance to opening in Spring 2024.

To learn more about The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center or to become a Renaissance Priority Member, visit the Discovery Center at 129 Ellington Boulevard at Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg.

Multiple events are offered throughout March, including the next Red Carpet Speaker Series® event:

March 30 at the Lakewood Country Club in Rockville featuring Pulitzer PrizeWinning Journalist, Best-Selling Author, and Political Analyst Carl Bernstein

Bernstein will give a special presentation on his latest book, Chasing History: A Kid in the Newsroom.

Due to limited seating, RSVP is required by March 24: 240-213-7383 or lifeatthecarnegie.com/events

To learn more about The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center or to become a Renaissance Priority Member, visit the Discovery Center at 129 Ellington Boulevard at Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg.

Residents will enjoy intellectual programming for ongoing and lifelong learning at The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center.

Learn more at: lifeatthecarnegie.com

The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center will welcome residents in Spring 2024.

Performance Center and Lecture Hall at The Carnegie will feature ongoing educational lectures and entertainment.

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Critical thinking

As I’ve noted in earlier columns, I was rather critical as a youngster. (Some would say I haven’t changed all that much.) My parents and older brother weren’t always thrilled with my perfectionist attitude about, well, pretty much everything when I was growing up.

Fortunately, my family didn’t just sit there and take it. They argued back. Especially my brother, whom our father nicknamed “argumentative Arnie.”

Our back-and-forths were always leavened heavily with jokes and puns, so it’s not like we were always at each other’s throats. It was more of a competition to get the better of the argument.

write these days for the daily newspapers.

While they do have a felicity with words and often display a clever sense of humor that I appreciate, to me they also frequently appear to have not thought critically about the topic they are covering and the people they are interviewing.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

By Stuart P. Rosenthal

I think it’s fair to say these family debates probably had a lot to do with the fact that my brother has had a long career as a litigator and I became an editor/publisher.

We both feel strongly about the need to write and speak clearly, and in order to do that well, one needs to think (and argue) clearly, too.

My critical side has been a bit overactive lately thanks to some of the folks who

CORRECTION:

When you read a news story and feel you’ve gotten only one side of the story, or perhaps only a caricature of the other side, you know something’s amiss.

Of course, it’s not just the writers who are at fault. Their editors are equally responsible.

And the old codger in me wants to chime in here with “and their poor education!” It seems they were not taught much history, much less critical thinking skills.

And perhaps because they have risen as far in the media as they have, they don’t have a sense of humility that whispers into their ear, “Do you really know what you are talking about? Shouldn’t you do a little more research and talk to a few more people before writing about this?”

You will note that I have refrained from

In last month’s article “Local writer publishes new Jackie O bio,” we erroneously stated that author Oline Eaton interviewed Caroline Kennedy for the biography.

identifying any particular topic in this discussion, as my point is a general one that I think applies to multiple writers at many publications.

I’m not saying the Beacon is perfect, and it’s certainly true that we don’t cover breaking news with a less-than-24-hour turnaround. Daily reporters have a completely different (and much more difficult) job than do those of us who write or edit the Beacon, and I respect those who devote themselves to producing newspapers and websites in these times.

Still, it crossed my mind that all writers — indeed, all high school and college students — should be required to take a course in Critical Thinking. I’ve even come up with a game to play in such a class called “Poke a Hole in the Argument.”

I picture the class leader raising a new, often controversial, topic each week and starting by taking a poll: “What is your opinion on topic X?”

Then, the leader assigns thoughtful readings on all sides of the issue, and each day’s class is devoted to an unhampered discussion of one or more of the readings.

Questions to be raised would include: What are the elements of the arguments the writer makes? What is the logic behind those? What additional history or background are they assuming (or omitting)? How would you poke a hole in their argument?

After discussing all the readings, students would be asked to write a clearly reasoned analysis of the subject that looks at all sides and comes down wherever they personally feel most comfortable. Before moving on to another topic, the original poll would be retaken so the class learns if

anyone’s mind has been changed by the exercise.

I think there are plenty of topics in the daily papers to fuel a class of this sort for many weeks, and I would like to think the students would come out of it better thinkers, voters and citizens.

I also believe that any students who participated in such a class wouldn’t want to be “protected” from opinions they disagree with (or hold in disdain), the way many college students today seem to feel.

For example, in a national survey of college students conducted last fall, 43 percent agreed with the statement: “Political opinions that I find offensive from fellow students should be reported to school administrators,” and 51 percent agreed that: “There are certain issues that school administrators or professors should prohibit from being debated on campus.”

Rather than banning speakers with different views from campus, critical thinkers would be itching to hear “the other side” and to engage any speaker in debate in a serious and mature fashion.

In both college and law school, I had teachers who used the Socratic method. We deeply questioned arguments from all sides of an issue, analyzed them, and learned how to respond in an articulate, effective manner.

What do you think? Is it time to try to bring back this time-tested method of thinking?

I believe, over time, such an effort might even improve the work of those who take jobs writing for our daily papers.

Letters to the editor

FOCUS FOR PEOPLE OVER 50

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Submissions: The

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

Dear Editor:

[Responding to Bob Levey’s February column on the “food wars” concerning grandchildrens’ diets:]

The selection of “approved” food was not the problem of the day during my lunch with two young grandchildren at “Donald’s,” as they called it.

The dilemma was the order in which the food was to be eaten. According to my grandchildren’s family rules, the hamburger had to be eaten before the

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

ASTRONOMY TALKS

French fries.

My response was that I really didn’t care if the meal was eaten in the requested parental sequence, or if it was eaten at all! Our precious time together and the wonderful conversation, laughter and love at our table was all that mattered. Now, many years later, I still smile at the reminiscence of that afternoon.

Naomi

Dornfeld Platt Silver Spring, MD

The National Air and Space Museum sets up a telescope and hosts informal astronomy talks every Friday and Saturday through June 17 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, directly across Independence Ave. from the museum. Registration is not necessary.

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Health

MELLOW YELLOW

Studies suggest turmeric can relieve joint pain and inflammation; ask your doctor

BLOOD PRESSURE TIPS

OTC pain killers and decongestants can raise your blood pressure; seek alternatives

SMOKER SCREEN

Men over 65 who do or have smoked should get screened for aneurysms

HEALTHIER RECIPES

Bananas or applesauce can replace 25% of sugar and 50% of fat in baking

New technologies can keep food fresher

By Dee-Ann Durbin

Hate mealy apples and soggy french fries? Science can help.

Restaurants, grocers, farmers and food companies are increasingly turning to chemistry and physics to tackle the problem of food waste.

Some are testing spray-on peels or chemically enhanced sachets that can slow the ripening process in fruit. Others are developing digital sensors that can tell — more precisely than a label — when meat is safe to consume. And packets affixed to the top of a takeout box use thermodynamics to keep fries crispy.

Experts say growing awareness of food waste and its incredible cost — both in dollars and in environmental impact — has led to an uptick in efforts to mitigate it. U.S. food waste startups raised $4.8 billion in 2021, 30% more than they raised in 2020, according to ReFed, a group that studies food waste.

In 2019, around 35% of the 229 million tons of food available in the U.S. — worth around $418 billion — went unsold or uneaten, according to ReFed.

Food waste is the largest category of material placed in municipal landfills, according to the U.S. Environmental Protec-

tion Agency, which notes that rotting food releases methane, a problematic greenhouse gas.

Hi-tech sensors, packaging

ReFed estimates 500,000 pounds of food could be diverted from landfills annually with high-tech packaging.

Among the products in development are a sensor by Stockholm-based Innoscentia that can determine whether meat is safe to consume depending on the buildup of microbes in its packaging. And Ryp Labs, based in the U.S. and Belgium, is working on a produce sticker that would release a vapor to slow ripening.

SavrPak was founded in 2020 by Bill Birgen, an aerospace engineer who was tired of the soggy food in his lunchbox. He developed a plant-based packet — made with food-safe materials approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — that can fit inside a takeout container and absorb condensation, helping keep the food inside hotter and crispier.

Nashville, Tennessee-based hot-chicken chain Hattie B’s was skeptical. But after testing SavrPaks using humidity sensors, it now uses the packs when it’s catering fried foods and is working with SavrPak to

integrate the packs into regular takeout containers.

Brian Morris, Hattie B’s vice president of culinary learning and development, said each SavrPak costs the company less than $1 but ensures a better meal.

“When it comes to fried chicken, we kind of lose control from the point when it leaves our place,” Morris said. “We don’t want the experience to go down the drain.”

But will consumers pay?

Cost can still be a barrier for some companies and consumers.

Kroger, the nation’s largest grocery chain, ended its multiyear partnership with Goleta, California-based Apeel Sciences this year because it found consumers weren’t willing to pay more for produce brushed or sprayed with Apeel’s edible coating to keep moisture in and oxygen out, thus extending the time that produce stays fresh.

Apeel says treated avocados can last a few extra days, while citrus fruit lasts for several weeks. The coating is made of purified mono- and diglycerides, emulsifiers that are common food additives.

Kroger wouldn’t say how much more Apeel products cost. Apeel also wouldn’t

reveal the average price premium for produce treated with its coating since it varies by food distributor and grocer.

But Apeel says its research shows customers are willing to pay more for produce that lasts longer. Apeel also says it continues to talk to Kroger about other future technology.

A complex problem

There is another big hurdle to coming up with innovations to preserve food: Every food product has its own biological makeup and handling requirements.

“There is no one major change that can improve the situation,” said Randy Beaudry, a professor in the horticulture department at Michigan State University’s school of agriculture.

Beaudry said the complexity has caused some projects to fail. He remembers working with one large packaging company on a container designed to prevent fungus in tomatoes. For the science to work, the tomatoes had to be screened for size and then oriented stem-up in each container. Eventually the project was scrapped.

Beaudry said it’s also hard to sort out

Who should buy new OTC hearing aids?

By Tom Murphy

It’s now a lot easier — and cheaper — for many hard-of-hearing Americans to get help.

Hearing aids can now be sold without a prescription from a specialist. Over-thecounter, or OTC, hearing aids started hitting the market in October at prices that can be thousands of dollars lower than prescription hearing aids.

About 30 million people in the United States deal with hearing loss, according to the Food and Drug Administration. But only about 20% of those who could use a hearing aid seek help.

Here’s a closer look:

Who might be helped

The FDA approved OTC hearing aids for adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. That can include people who have trouble hearing phone calls or who turn up the TV volume loud enough that others complain.

It also can include people who have trouble understanding group conversations in noisy places.

OTC hearing aids aren’t intended for people with deeper hearing loss, which may include those who have trouble hearing louder noises, like power tools and cars.

They also aren’t for people who lost their hearing suddenly or in just one ear, according to Sterling Sheffield, an audiologist who teaches at the University of Florida. Those people need to see a doctor.

Hearing tests

Before over-the-counter hearing aids were available, you usually needed to get your hearing tested and buy hearing aids from a specialist. That’s no longer the case.

But it can be hard for people to gauge their own hearing. You can still opt to see a specialist just for that test, which is often covered by insurance, and then buy the

aids on your own. Check your coverage before making an appointment.

There also are a number of apps and questionnaires available to determine whether you need help. Some over-thecounter sellers also provide a hearing assessment or online test. [See “Free online hearing tests to take at home,” in our November issue.]

Where to buy them

Several major retailers now offer OTC hearing aids online and on store shelves.

Walgreens drugstores, for example, are selling Lexie Lumen hearing aids nationwide for $799. Walmart offers OTC hearing aids ranging from about $200 to $1,000 per pair. Its health centers will provide hearing tests.

The consumer electronics chain Best Buy has OTC hearing aids available online and in nearly 300 stores. The company also offers an online hearing assessment, and

store employees are trained on the stages of hearing loss and how to fit the devices.

New devices will make up most of the OTC market as it develops, Sheffield said. Some may be hearing aids that previously required a prescription, ones that are only suitable for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.

Overall, there are more than a dozen manufacturers making different models of OTC hearing aids.

Shoppers should expect a lot of devices to enter and leave the market, said Catherine Palmer, a hearing expert at the University of Pittsburgh. “It will be quite a while before this settles down,” she said.

What to watch for

Look for an OTC label on the box. Hearing aids approved by the FDA for sale without a prescription must be labeled OTC.

Food tech

From page 6

which technology works best, since startups don’t always share data or formulations with outside researchers.

Some companies find it better to rely on proven technology — but in new ways. Chicago-based Hazel Technologies, which was founded in 2015, sells 1-methylcyclopropene, or 1-MCP, a gas that has been used for decades to delay the ripening process in fruit.

The compound — considered non-toxic by the EPA — is typically pumped into sealed storage rooms to inhibit the production of ethylene, a plant hormone. But Hazel’s real breakthrough is a sachet the size of a sugar packet that can slowly release 1-MCP into a box of produce.

Mike Mazie, the facilities and storage manager at BelleHarvest, a large apple packing facility in Belding, Michigan, or-

BEACON BITS

Mar. 15

dered around 3,000 sachets this year. He used them for surplus bins that couldn’t fit into the sealed rooms required for gas.

“If you can get another week out of a bushel of apples, why wouldn’t you?” he said. “It absolutely makes a difference.”

The role of consumers

The science is promising but it’s only part of the solution, said Yvette Cabrera, the director of food waste for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Most food waste happens at the residential level, she said. Lowering portion sizes, buying smaller quantities of food at a time, and improving the accuracy of date labels could have even more impact than technology.

“Overall, as a society, we don’t value food as it should be valued,” Cabrera said.

Martha Irvine contributed from Belding, Michigan. —AP

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN DC

Attend a free forum, in person or virtually, and learn how to access mental health and addiction resources in the District. Federal law requires equal coverage of mental health needs. The forum is at the Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center on Wed., March 15 at 12:30 p.m., at 324 Kennedy St. NW in DC. To learn more, or if you want to access the one-hour event online, visit DISB.dc.gov/knowyourrights.

For free materials on housing communities and health studies, just complete and clip this coupon and mail or take a picture and email it to the Beacon.

Housing Communities

District of Columbia

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Maryland

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Virginia

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❏ Woodleigh Chase (See ad on page 13)

Turmeric might be beneficial for some

By Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.N.

Dear Mayo Clinic: I am a breast cancer survivor who still suffers from various aches and pains, including arthritis.

A friend told me that her arthritis pain improved after she started taking turmeric. Can you tell me more about this supplement? Is it something I can

add into my diet to feel better?

[Ed. Note: Studies have shown that use of turmeric/curcumin decreases the effectiveness of some drugs used to treat breast cancer, including tamoxifen. Consult with your oncologist before taking any supplements.]

A : Turmeric is becoming a common spice in many home pantries, especially since people are hearing of its many purported health effects, including reducing inflammation.

Turmeric, which is a plant related to ginger, is grown in many Asian countries, as well as other tropical areas. It’s a major ingredient in curry powders — common in many Indian and Asian dishes — and is often used as a coloring for foods, fabrics and cosmetics.

The underground portions of the plant can be dried and made into capsules, tablets, extracts, powders or teas. Or they may be made into a paste to apply to the skin.

Turmeric’s main active component — curcumin — is what gives the spice its yellow color. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties, making it a potential treatment for a number of health conditions — including pain, asthma and decreased movement in people with osteoarthritis.

Other research suggests that curcumin may reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In addition, it may lessen some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, such as joint swelling and morning stiffness.

Other areas of investigation include curcumin’s effect on Crohn’s disease, certain cancers, depression, diabetes, joint pain and irritable bowel syndrome.

There are various studies looking at the benefits of turmeric, including several that showed turmeric to be just as effective as ibuprofen for reducing inflammation, swelling and pain. However, more research is necessary to confirm these effects.

Some concerns about supplements

Although there are supplements available, the data is not conclusive, and supplements are not regulated.

Additionally, like many plants, it is not just one component that may have a beneficial effect. Non-curcumin compounds, such as turmerin, turmerone, elemene, furanodiene, curdione, bisacurone, cyclocurcumin, calebin A and germacrone, also have been shown in animals to possess anti-inflammatory properties.

When taken by mouth or applied to the skin, turmeric — and the curcumin it contains — appears to be generally safe when limited to less than 8 grams a day.

That said, different amounts often are recommended depending on the health condition being addressed, and higher doses have been used for limited periods of time.

High doses or long-term use may cause gastrointestinal upset for some people — even damage to the liver.

Turmeric, or curcumin, may be a complementary therapy that is valuable for you. I would recommend that you discuss with your medical team using it as a complement to mainstream medical treatment.

You also should talk to your healthcare team about turmeric if you take an anticlotting medication or at any point require additional chemotherapy, as the supplement may interact with your medication.

Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. Email a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org.

© 2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Hearing aids

From page 6

That will help you distinguish OTC hearing aids from cheaper devices sometimes labeled sound or hearing amplifiers — called a personal sound amplification product or PSAP. While often marketed to seniors, these are designed to make sounds louder for people with normal hearing in certain environments, like hunting. And amplifiers don’t undergo FDA review.

“People really need to read the descriptions,” said Barbara Kelley, executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America.

And check the return policy. That’s important because people generally need a few weeks to get used to them, and make sure they work in the situations where they need them most. That may include on the phone or in noisy offices or restaurants.

Does the company selling OTC devices offer instructions or an app to assist with setup, fit and sound adjustments? A specialist could help too, but expect to pay for that office visit, which is rarely covered by insurance.

Sheffield said hearing aids are not complicated, but wearing them also is not as simple as putting on a pair of reading glasses.

“If you’ve never tried or worn hearing

aids, then you might need a little bit of help,” he said.

The cost

Most OTC hearing aids will cost between $500 and $1,500 for a pair, Sheffield said. He noted that some may run up to $3,000.

And it’s not a one-time expense. They may have to be replaced every five years or so.

Hearing specialists say OTC prices could fall further as the market matures. But they already are generally cheaper than their prescription counterparts, which can run more than $5,000.

The bad news is insurance coverage of hearing aids is spotty. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer coverage of devices that need a prescription, but regular Medicare does not.

There are discounts out there, including some offered by Medicare Advantage insurer UnitedHealthcare in partnership with AARP.

Shoppers also can pay for the devices with money set aside in health savings accounts or flexible spending accounts.

Don’t try to save money by buying just one hearing aid. People need to have the same level of hearing in both ears so they can figure out where a sound is coming from, according to the American Academy of Audiology.

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Mar.

BEGINNERS LATIN DANCE

Join Arlington County Parks & Rec for Latin dance for beginners every Thursday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Lubber Run Community Center. Learn salsa, merengue, cumbia and bachata — and basic steps to start. This free class takes place at 300 N. Park Dr., Arlington, VA. Registration opens three weeks before each class. For more information, visit bit.ly/LatinDanceArlington.

SPRING BOOK SALE

News from the Montgomery County Recreation Department

Montgomery County Recreation is working hard to serve residents 55+ in the county with affordable and accessible programs.

We operate seven senior centers and 13 Active Adult Programs in Community Centers that offer dedicated programs specifically for you, ranging from exercise classes to art programs, learning opportunities, a lunchtime meal program, dance classes, specialty events, and much more.

Our centers strive to offer programs that have widespread appeal and are open to anyone 55 and over who may walk through our doors.

A new perk available to all county residents this year is our “Free In ‘23” center membership passes that can be used for free admission to facilities at any Senior Center or Community Center run by Montgomery County Recreation. That means memberships to our fitness rooms and gym access are free to county residents regardless of their age! All you need to do is visit your nearby Community or Senior Center with proof of address, and our front desk staff can sign you up and take your picture for your account.

Construction is nearing completion on our new facility in downtown Silver Spring

on the corner of Apple Avenue and 2nd Avenue. This facility will be located on the bottom three floors of the remodeled Elizabeth House.

Once opened, this new facility will offer a combination of aquatics, senior and community center programs all-in-one. The Recreation Department is currently developing programs to bring to this new facility. We are also collecting community feedback on what residents would like to see offered at this new location.

To learn more, visit our webpage at: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec/ facilities/SilverSpring/Index.html There you can watch our exciting introductory video, see a recent community presentation, and provide feedback by completing our community survey.

For programs specific for older adults, you can call 240-777-4925. We invite you to come visit one of our Senior Centers or Active Adult Program locations.

Senior Centers:

Damascus Senior Center (M-F 9 a.m.-4 p.m.) Call (240) 777-6995.

Holiday Park Senior Center (M-F 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesdays until 9 p.m. during the warmer months) Call (240) 777-4999.

Long Branch Senior Center (M-F 9 a.m.-4 p.m.) Call (240) 777-6975.

Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center (M-F 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.-3 p.m.) Call (240) 777-8085.

Nancy H. Dacek North Potomac Senior Center (M-F 9 a.m.-4 p.m.) Call (240) 777-4805.

Wheaton Senior Center (M-F 9 a.m.-4 p.m.) Call (240) 773-4830.

White Oak Senior Center (M-F 9 a.m.-4 p.m.) Call (240) 777-6944.

Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatics Center (Coming Soon) (Rendering, left)

Community Centers with Active Adult Programs:

Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center (Times and days vary.) Call (240) 777-6922.

Clara Barton Neighborhood Recreation Center (M & W 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.) Call (240) 777-4910.

Clarksburg Park Building (W 11 a.m.-3 p.m.) Call 240-773-4827.

Gwendolyn Coffield Community Recreation Center (Tues. & Thurs. 10 a.m.1 p.m.) Call (240) 777-4900.

East County Community Recreation Center (Tues. & F 10 a.m.-2 p.m.) Call (240) 777-8093.

Germantown Community Recreation Center (M & Thurs. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.) Call (240) 777-8098.

Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center (M & W 10 a.m.-2 p.m.) Call (240) 777-6855.

Longwood Community Recreation Center (M & W 10 a.m.-2 p.m.) Call (240) 777-6920.

Mid-County Community Recreation Center (Tues. & Thurs. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.) Call (240) 777-6820.

Plum Gar Community Recreation Center (Tues. & F 10 a.m.-2 p.m.) Call (240) 777-4919.

Potomac Community Recreation Center (Tues. & F 10 a.m.-2 p.m.) Call (240) 777-6960.

Marilyn Praisner Community Recreation Center (Tues. & Thurs. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Call (240) 777-4970.

Ross Boddy Neighborhood Recreation Center (Tues. & Thurs. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.) Call (240) 777-8050.

New center coming soon!

Qs & As on blood pressure and leaky gut

By Howard LeWine, M.D.

Q: I already take two different blood pressure medicines, but my top number is still too high. I would like to bring it down without taking an additional drug. What can I do?

A: You may need to ramp up healthy habits to maximize their blood pressure lowering effects. Start by eating a plantbased diet that’s low in salt; aim for less than 2,400 milligrams of salt per day.

You should also be getting at least seven hours of sleep per night, limiting alcohol, avoiding smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight.

And if you’re not exercising much, it’s time to start. Exercise boosts cardiovascular health in many ways. And a small, randomized trial published in JAMA Cardiology suggests that aerobic exercise (the kind that gets your heart and lungs pumping) may be another effective treatment for hypertension that’s tough to control.

In the study, people who walked, cycled, or both — for 40 minutes, three times per week, for 12 weeks — lowered their blood pressure by seven points in the top (systolic) number of their blood pressure measurement, and five points in the bottom (diastolic) number of the measurement, compared with people who didn’t exercise.

You may be taking an over-the-counter product or supplement that is raising your blood pressure. Bring your doctor a list of all the medications you are taking, or bring a bag with all the medication bottles. Include over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and supplements. The list, or bag, of medicines can help your doctor identify if any are contributing.

For example, taking nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) can raise blood

pressure. So can decongestants (such as phenylephrine found in many cold medicines). Alternative medications or physical therapy to relieve arthritis pain can decrease or eliminate the need for NSAIDs.

If these strategies don’t reduce your blood pressure, your doctor may feel it’s necessary to prescribe more pills. But don’t despair. No matter what you are taking now, your doctor should be able to make affordable changes in your blood pressure medications to bring down your numbers.

Q: What is meant by a leaky gut and why is it a problem?

A: It begins at the cellular level. The lining of the intestine is made of millions and millions of cells. These cells join together to create a tight barrier that acts like a security system and decides what gets absorbed into the bloodstream and what stays out.

However, when the gut becomes unhealthy, the lining can weaken, so “holes” develop in the barrier. The result is that toxins and bacteria can leak into the bloodstream.

This can trigger inflammation in the gut and throughout the body and cause a chain reaction of problems such as bloating, gas, cramps, food sensitivities, fatigue, headaches and joint pain, to name a few.

How do these “holes” form? Blame genes and diet. Some people may have a weaker barrier because they were born with it, or they follow an unbalanced diet low in fiber and high in sugar and saturated fats, which may be the trigger that weakens the gut lining.

Age also plays a role since, as you age, cells get damaged more easily and heal slowly, if at all, so the gut becomes more vulnerable.

It is still not clear how large a role leaky gut plays in overall health. Digestive conditions like ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease

and celiac disease share many of the same symptoms as leaky gut, and are all linked with chronic inflammation. But it’s not known how, or if, they are connected.

Some research suggests leaky gut is linked with a higher risk of autoimmune diseases (such as lupus and multiple sclerosis) or chronic fatigue syndrome. But this is still just an association, and studies have yet to identify any cause and effect.

The challenge is that it’s difficult to measure the strength of a person’s gut bar-

rier, so you can’t know for certain when a leaky gut is really present, or what influence it may have elsewhere in the body.

The best way to protect yourself from a leaky gut is to invest more in your overall digestive health. This means being more attentive about following a gut-healthy diet to help reduce inflammation, like limiting processed and high-sugar foods, and ingesting sufficient amounts of fiber.

© 2023 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

“I suffered with

knee pain for years. I was told only surgery would help. After only two weeks of care in your office I was back on my feet and feeling great again! Thanks!” — Walter P. Rockville, MD

A screening former smokers should get

By Young Erben, M.D.

Dear Mayo Clinic: My 70-year-old father-in-law smoked for more than 30 years. I read that men who used to smoke should be screened for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. What does this screening involve? What would be done if he is found to have an aneurysm?

A: Several factors can raise the risk of developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm. One of the most significant is tobacco use.

In addition to the direct damaging effects that smoking has on arteries, smoking contributes to the buildup of fatty plaques in the arteries and high blood pressure. Smoking also can cause an aneurysm to grow faster by damaging the wall of the aorta.

Other risk factors include a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysm, being male, and having atherosclerosis, which is a condition where fat and other substances build up in the lining of your blood vessels. The risk of an abdominal aortic aneurysm also goes up with age.

Because of his history of smoking and his age, you are correct that your father-inlaw should be screened for an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The screening that is recommended typically includes a physical exam and an ultrasound of the abdomen. Other imaging tests may be needed in some cases, too.

If an abdominal aortic aneurysm is found, treatment depends on the size of the aneurysm, its rate of growth, and

whether it is causing any symptoms.

The aorta is a large blood vessel about the size of a garden hose that runs from your heart through the center of your chest and abdomen. Two types of aortic aneurysms can occur in the wall of the vessel.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the aorta just above the area of your belly button that forms due to weakness in the blood vessel’s wall. A thoracic aneurysm also can occur along the part of the vessel that passes through the chest cavity.

The greatest risk of an aneurysm is that it may rupture. Because it provides the body with much of its blood supply, a rupture in the abdominal aorta can lead to lifethreatening internal bleeding.

Based on the various risk factors, many healthcare organizations, including Mayo Clinic, recommend that men 65 to 75 who are or were smokers get screened for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Men and women who have a family history of the disease may need to begin screening earlier. Some organizations recommend that screening begin at 55. Currently, the data to screen women with a previous smoking history is inconclusive.

Most abdominal aortic aneurysms can be detected through a physical exam combined with an imaging test, such as an abdominal ultrasound.

Screening is important because in most cases aneurysms grow slowly and do not cause any noticeable signs or symptoms until they rupture.

Though rare, an abdominal aortic aneurysm that has not ruptured may trigger persistent back pain; deep, constant

abdominal pain; or a pulsating feeling near the belly button.

Symptoms of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm include sudden back pain, abdominal pain or fainting. If your fatherin-law experiences any of these symptoms, it is critical that he receives emergency medical care right away.

If an aneurysm is found on a screening exam, surgery to repair the aneurysm typically is recommended if the aneurysm is 5.5 centimeters in size or larger, if it is growing rapidly, or if it causes pain or shows evidence of forming blood clots.

If an aneurysm is small, slow-growing and not causing any bothersome symptoms, a healthcare professional may recommend monitoring it regularly without immediate treatment.

Although having an abdominal aortic aneurysm is a potentially serious health condition, the outlook is good when these aneurysms are identified early. Even large aneurysms often can be successfully repaired.

Encourage your father-in-law to schedule an appointment with his primary healthcare provider or a vascular specialist to be screened for an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

— Young Erben, M.D., Vascular Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. Email a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org.

© 2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

need, while encouraging independence and purposeful living. From our LIFE INSPIRED activities program to our dining experience to our on-site exercise physiologist, Chevy Chase House offers opportunities to live stronger and with more joy.

Schedule a tour today at (202) 905-0708.

Some healthier alternatives to cook with

By Lori Zanteson

Eating healthier may seem overwhelming, but it shouldn’t be! It can be as simple as making a few simple changes to your diet. Rather than taking an “all or nothing” approach to tame a sweet tooth, cut back on salt, lose a few pounds, or eat more nutrient rich foods, try the “ol switcheroo” instead. Swapping out less healthy ingredients with those that pack a more nutritious punch can make a big difference in your diet that can lead to better health — without skimping on flavor.

Try these simple swaps to make your next recipe healthier:

Butter and oils

Butter, shortening and tropical oils (coconut, palm oil, and palm kernel oil) are high in saturated fat, which has been linked with heart disease. Substitute with healthier oils like olive, peanut, canola or any non-tropical oil. When cooking, replace all or some of these fats with healthier oils using a 1:1 ratio. In baking, substitute at a ratio of 1:3/4.

Furthermore, fruit and vegetable purées — such as avocado, pumpkin, applesauce, prune, fig, banana or date — may be substituted for half or more of the fat in recipes.

Sugar

Consuming too much added sugar is linked to increased risk of chronic disease, including heart disease. Start by cutting the sugar called for in a recipe by 25% and then look to the most natural substitution: fruit!

Not only do puréed or mashed bananas, dates, figs or applesauce provide sweetness, they pack nutrients like fiber, vitamins and minerals with far fewer calories than sugar. Honey, maple syrup and agave syrup or nectar are a sweeter swap, as they provide

a more similar sweetness to sugar. Substitute one cup of sugar in recipes with 2/3 cup of these liquid sweeteners and reduce the liquid in the recipe by ¼ cup.

Adding to recipes a teaspoon of “sweet” spice — like vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg or cardamom — makes the results seem sweeter too.

Salt

Going heavy on the salt shaker can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Try seasoning your food with bold flavors so you won’t need salt.

Replace salt with spices, like fresh or dried herbs. Cinnamon and cumin bring more robust flavors, while basil and thyme are more subtle.

Avoid the hidden salt in store-bought spice blends by mixing your own. For Italian seasoning, combine basil, oregano, rosemary, parsley, thyme, red chili flakes and garlic powder.

Other flavor boosters include fresh or powdered onion, garlic and chili peppers, as well as mustards, vinegars, and lemon and other citrus zest and juice.

Refined grains

White flour, white rice and white pasta are made with refined grains, which are grains that have been stripped of their nutrient-rich bran and germ. Refined grains lose three-quarters of their original protein and one-third to half of their nutrients.

Replacing some or all of the refined grain in a recipe with whole grains, or choosing products made with whole grains, delivers all of the fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals nature intended, along with several health benefits, including lower risk of diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.

Instead of white rice, choose whole

grain brown rice or wild rice or riced cauliflower. For ordinary pasta, swap in pasta made with whole grains, or choose legumes, spaghetti squash or vegetable noodles made from zucchini.

Replace refined white flour with whole grain flours like whole wheat, oat, millet or quinoa, or nut flours, like almond, hazelnut and flaxseed, or cooked black beans. Conversions from white flour to whole grain or nut flours when baking are not always 1:1, so it may take some experimentation to achieve desired results.

Red meat

High intake of red and processed meats is associated with higher risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and premature

death. Replace fatty red meats and processed meats with leaner cuts, or substitute poultry, like chicken or turkey, or fish or other seafood.

Whole food plant-based stand-ins for meat include mushrooms, tofu, tempeh or legume-based veggie burgers.

There are also many packaged plantbased meatless products, but they can be highly processed, so be sure to read the label to avoid unwanted ingredients, such as added sugar, sodium and additives.

Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC, 1-800829-5384, EnvironmentalNutrition.com.

© 2023 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Discover how great senior living is at one of

need more income or Social Security credits.

Coupe, for example, stocked plants in a garden shop for a while. She also worked as a Safeway secret shopper. Assigned a store, she asked employees for samples, or asked questions like “What is that weird fruit?” She checked the outside premises for trash, and tallied whether clerks greeted shoppers or noticed objects left in carts.

Between 10% and 15% of retirees feel bored, alone and lacking a sense of purpose, said Patty David, AARP’s vice president of consumer insight, citing its recent survey of more than 3,000 people ages 50 to 74.

David touts the value of volunteering: “Many studies show that volunteering can

lower blood pressure, improve brain health, fend off cognitive decline and improve memory,” she said. She recommends searching AARP’s Create the Good website (createthegood.aarp.org) for a list of local volunteer opportunities.

When attorney Cindy Lewin, of Arlington, Virginia, retired after a 40-year legal career, she said to herself, “It’s not ‘retire from. It’s retire to.’”

Although Lewin had no teaching experience, she saw a recruiting flyer in a library and now teaches conversational English to immigrants from Mongolia, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, China and Saudi Arabia.

Learning about their sacrifices “gives me perspective,” Lewin said. “Be open to trying new things,” she suggested.

Lewin also is a “walking school bus,” a

national program for seniors to walk elementary children to school, highlighted on the CBS Evening News last year. She likes the exercise, the intergenerational connections, and reducing auto pollution.

Enhancing “brain health and ego” is important, she believes. “You learn about yourself…Those are real issues as you leave the working world behind.”

Political activism

After leaving the working world in 2012, attorney Laura Loeb, who lives in Potomac, Maryland, joined the board of Join for Justice, a Jewish social justice organization.

She trains people, including rabbis and cantors, in community organizing for social change, promoting, for example, healthcare for all and making congregations more welcoming for people with disabilities. She also raises money for brain tumor research and helps elect women to public office.

“I wanted something else to give my life a little more meaning,” Loeb said. “I have found my groove.”

4435

VA Relay # 800-828-1120 admissions@culpeppergarden.org www.culpeppergarden.org

After radiologist van Breda retired, she met Congressman John Lewis and was so inspired by his voter registration campaigns that she started volunteering for the League of Women Voters’ Fairfax chapter. In 2021, the group registered 5,000 new voters in the county.

She takes registration materials to farmers markets, Metro stations, festivals and food banks, and attends new citizens’ swearing-in ceremonies.

Now the director of voter registration, van Breda matches volunteers with events. To her, registering people to vote is “constructive. It gives meaning,” she said.

Learn something new

Many retirees also take classes — from learning a new language to military history to knitting.

Capitalizing on her creative streak, Coupe studied metalsmithing, mosaics, ceramics, fiber art and flower arranging, all of which were new and challenging to her.

“I’m out of the house every day,” she said.

Learning new skills is a scientifically proven way to keep cognitive ability sharp.

“Our brains, like our other organs, must

be properly cared for and nourished…

Older adults with positive age beliefs, who might be inspired to learn to juggle, or participate in a square dancing class, or practice their high school French, might see a significant boost in neuronal growth,” observed Dr. Becca Levy in her 2022 book Breaking the Age Code.

Make new friendships

Maintaining social connections can help counter feelings of isolation that may arise in retirement.

In addition to meeting people in art studios and classes, Coupe attends two book clubs, a coffee group, and a Sunday night dinner-and-movie group that has screened 97 films since 2020.

Lewin has met new friends singing weekly in Arlington’s Community Chorus. Morgan made new friends volunteering with AARP and taking walks with a group called Girl Trek.

Friendships enhance well-being, say experts like University of Maryland professor Marisa G. Franco. Loneliness is associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and its incidence rises with age.

Do what makes you happy

Finding your niche is key. “Do the things you always wanted to do,” Coupe suggested. “You don’t have to cook every day. Do what you enjoy and makes you happy.”

As Loeb put it, “Find what makes you happy and gives you purpose. Then find organizations that do that. There’s no shortage of good work going on.”

Walks and exercise can be therapeutic. “Take care of your body and your mind,” Morgan advised. “Getting outside in nature is huge.”

Maintaining both the body and brain is vital in retirement, van Breda agreed. “I make sure to make time for both exercise and some relaxing down time every day.”

Every night, van Breda makes a list of tasks and meetings for the next day and includes personal priorities: play the piano, for instance, take a walk and meet friends.

“Never say, ‘There’s nothing to do.’ You can always help someone else,” van Breda said.

A simple, more velvety sauce for pasta

By America’s Test Kitchen

The egg yolks in this dish create a velvety sauce that coats each and every piece of pasta. Heat from the pasta cooks the yolks so that they’re safe to eat, but you need to warm them up slowly or else they’ll curdle and turn into scrambled eggs.

How to do it? Add hot pasta cooking water to the egg yolks, a little bit at a time. This slowly raises the yolks’ temperature, gently cooking them.

This technique is called “tempering,” and it also keeps the sauce smooth — save scrambled eggs for breakfast!

Creamy Egg-Sauce Pasta

Serves 2

Note: You can substitute 6 ounces of any short pasta shape for the farfalle; however, the cup measurements will vary. Use 2 cups of ziti, 2 cups of penne, or 2 1/3 cups of medium shells.

Ingredients:

1 quart water

2 large egg yolks

BEACON BITS

¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (half an ounce), plus extra for serving

½ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon mustard powder

2½ cups (6 ounces) farfalle pasta

¾ teaspoon table salt

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan, bring water to boil over high heat.

2. While water heats, in a medium bowl, whisk egg yolks, Parmesan, garlic powder and mustard powder until well combined.

3. Add pasta and salt to boiling water. Cook, stirring frequently, until pasta is al dente, 10 to 12 minutes. Turn off heat.

4. Use a ladle to carefully transfer 1/4 cup pasta cooking water to a liquid measuring cup. Drain pasta in a colander. Return drained pasta to the now-empty saucepan.

5. Add 1 tablespoon reserved cooking water to egg yolk mixture and whisk until well combined. Repeat 2 more times with 2 more tablespoons of reserved cooking water, whisking thoroughly after each addition.

HEALTH RESOURCES WEBINAR

Learn how to find and evaluate good health information online. This presentation will introduce you to the topics and tools offered on two reputable websites, MedlinePlus and Mayo Clinic. Join the free webinar on Wed., March 15, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Zoom. For more information, including the meeting link, visit bit.ly/OnlineHealthPresentation.

VIRTUAL TAI CHI

Find out more about Tai Chi, a unique form of health maintenance. You will learn basic breathing techniques and fundamental movements to increase strength, flexibility, balance, coordination and concentration. This free class takes place online on Fridays from 2 to 3 p.m. Movements may be done standing or sitting. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/VirtualTaiChiDC or call Around Town DC at (202) 895-9485.

6. Pour warm egg yolk mixture into a saucepan with pasta. Use a wooden spoon to stir constantly for 30 seconds. Cover saucepan with lid and let pasta sit for 1 minute.

7. Remove lid and stir pasta constantly again until sauce thoroughly coats pasta and is thickened, about 30 seconds. If needed, add from the remaining cooking water until sauce is loosened slightly and coats pasta well.

Serve immediately with extra Parmesan.

For 25 years, home cooks have relied on America’s Test Kitchen for rigorously tested recipes developed by professional test cooks and vetted by 60,000 at-home recipe testers. The family of brands — which includes Cook’s Illustrated, Cook’s Country, and America’s Test Kitchen Kids — offers reliable recipes for cooks of all ages and skill levels. See more online at www.americastestkitchen.com/TCA.

© 2022 America’s Test Kitchen. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

ACTING DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

By Charon P.W. Hines

Dear Seniors,

As the newly appointed Acting Director for the Department of Aging and Community Living, it is my pleasure to write my first Living Boldly column in the Beacon. My name is Charon P.W. Hines, and I am a proud third-generation Washingtonian who has been serving our city for many years. Before I share a little more about me, I want to express my gratitude to Mayor Bowser for this appointment and her unwavering commitment to our city’s prosperity. I am incredibly thankful for her leadership in ensuring our city continues to thrive and for entrusting me to serve all of you.

As I step into this critical position, I must honor the exceptional leaders who you have all come to know before me, including E. Veronica Pace, Jearline Williams, Dr. Clarence Brown, Donna Duntston, Dr. John Thompson, Brenda Donald, Laura Newland, and most recently, Jessica Smith. Their legacy is a testament to the importance of DACL’s work in our communities.

My career has been defined by a deep commitment to service, particularly for those who are often underserved or marginalized. For the past four years, I had the privilege of serving our city’s youngest residents as the Senior Advisor to the DC Public Schools Chancellor, Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee. Before that, I was the Director of the Mayor’s Office on Community Affairs, also affectionally known as MOCA, where I had the opportunity to serve all 700,000 residents of our city, including seniors.

As the daughter of a disabled Gulf War veteran, I have a personal connection to the programs and services DACL provides to our residents, and I want to ensure that older adults like you have access to information about senior housing, tax benefits/relief, transportation, nutrition, wellness and social events. We want to keep you connected and engaged.

I recognize that there is much work to be done, but I assure you that our commitment to older residents has not and will not change. We will continue to ensure your most critical needs are met daily, while working together to build stronger communities for tomorrow. Over the past several weeks, I have had the opportunity to meet many of you in your neighborhoods and at our senior wellness centers and community dining sites. In the weeks and months to come, I look forward to meeting more of you and learning more about your priorities, ideas, and how we can serve you better. Until then, thank you for your support, and I cannot wait to see all that we will achieve together.

Sincerely,

Charon P.W. Hines

DACL Celebrates Valentine’s Day with the 7th Annual Cupid’s Kids Initiative

Mayor Bowser Hosts Senior Budget Engagement Forum

Mayor Bowser kicked off the FY24 Budget Season by hearing from seniors at the annual Senior Budget Engagement Forum. During the forum, Mayor Bowser and her senior team had the opportunity to hear directly from DC older residents. Participants were able to share their budget ideas, priorities and hopes for DC’s future. To learn

more about the budget process, visit budget.dc.gov.

IONA Senior Services and their Weekly Art Classes

The 7th Annual Cupid’s Kids Initiative was a great success, bringing joy and love to seniors across the District. Acting Director Hines personally visited all six senior wellness centers on Valentine’s Day to handdeliver handmade cards created by DC Public and Charter Schools students. In addition, over 2,500 homebound seniors received a Valentine’s

Day card in their home-delivered meals during the week of Valentine’s Day. This initiative not only brought smiles to the faces of seniors, but also allowed the younger generation to show their appreciation and care for the older generation. The success of this initiative is a testament to the power of love and kindness in our communities.

Acting Director Hines visits Community Dining Sites, Lamond Recreation Center & Plymouth at North Capital

Last month, Acting Director Hines made a visit to two community dining sites, Lamond Recreation Center and Plymouth at North Capital, to meet with seniors and receive their valuable feedback about the nutrition services provided. During the visit, Director Hines took the time to get to know the seniors at each site, listening to their concerns and suggestions. The seniors were grateful for the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas, and Director Hines was pleased to re-

ceive their feedback. This visit underscores the DACL’s commitment to providing quality nutrition services and ensuring that seniors’ voices are heard and valued.

Each Thursday, freshly painted canvases drying on a St. Alban’s window ledge create an impromptu gallery. The artists step back to admire each other’s work and to marvel at their own. Although a few participants have had some prior training, most are new to painting. Guided by Dominique, their gifted and patient instructor, they are discovering latent talent and new opportunities for self-expression.

Studio art is Thursday’s afternoon activity at St. Alban’s Church, Iona’s community dining site located at the corner of Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues NW. The dining program provides DC residents with a free nutritious lunch each weekday, as well as opportunities for fitness each morning and creative expression every afternoon. Whether it’s improv or cooking, watercolor or Bollywood dancing, there’s an opportunity for everyone to explore their creative side in the company of neighbors and friends.

Dominique Hughes has been

leading art classes for Iona since 2019. A favorite among participants, Dominique is praised for her patience and dedication, gently guiding even the most novice of artists to creating their own masterpieces. At St. Alban’s, older adults retired from professional art careers sit next to people who are holding their first pastel. Learning from each other as much as the instructor, they bond over lunch and a shared joy from painting.

Rose, who bikes each day to St. Alban’s from Southwest, recently mused as follows: “I can’t believe I never painted in 60 years. But I don’t know whether I would have experienced it with so much joy if I had done so earlier. I was a workaholic and a perfectionist. Now, I’m creating without judgment. It’s like a new world has opened up for me.” This type of enthusiasm is contagious and keeps her and her fellow artists learning and growing into their later years.

Money Law &

Today’s best conservative investments

Many readers have indicated they are concerned about future returns on both stock and bond investments. Returns for both markets overall were poor in 2022, and many analysts are not enthusiastic about returns in 2023.

What are the alternatives for conservative investments this year? Because the Federal Reserve is likely to continue raising interest rates in 2023, albeit at a more moderate pace than it did in 2022, several options look more attractive. Here are a few:

are returning over 4% on a 30-day basis. Other financial organizations are offering similar rates.

There is no guarantee that the returns will stay at the current level, but as long as inflation persists, and the Fed continues to increase interest rates, it is likely that returns will stay at current levels.

4.84% for 6-month bills and one-year bills. Return for two-year treasury notes is 5.07%.

The interest is not taxable at state and local levels. Return of your principal is guaranteed.

Certificates of deposit (CDs)

THE SAVINGS GAME

By Elliot Raphaelson

Money-market investments

Not long ago, returns on these instruments were well below 1%. That situation has changed significantly, and brokerage firms and mutual funds are now offering money market investments at much higher rates.

For example, I recently invested in federal money market funds at Vanguard that

When you buy money-market funds, you have the flexibility to withdraw funds whenever you wish. And if you invest with a major financial institution, there is minimal risk to your principal.

There is no such guarantee with investment in bond funds, even those with short maturities. Most of these funds showed losses to capital in 2022.

Treasury bills/notes

T-bill returns have also increased significantly in 2022. As of February 2023, you can obtain a coupon equivalent return of

Just as rates have increased for moneymarket instruments and T-bills, returns on CDs have also increased significantly. In February 2023, for example, one-year CDs had returns as high as 4.5%. For two years, rates were as high as 4.85%.

Multi-year guaranteed annuities (MYGAs)

If you are willing to invest for more than three years, you can obtain higher returns from MYGAs than from CDs, with the same maturities. For example, for five-year maturities you can currently receive a return that exceeds 5%. [Note also that interest earned on CDs will be taxed every year, while returns from MYGAs are tax-deferred until withdrawn.]

Although you can purchase MYGAs for

longer periods, in a rising interest rate environment, you may want to restrict your time frame to no longer than five years, even though you can obtain a slightly higher interest rate for longer maturities.

There are surrender charges if you decide to withdraw the funds prior to the end of the specified contract period. However, even during the surrender charge time period, most MYGAs allow you to take some money out without penalty. Terms vary, and it is important for you to understand them.

MYGAs are insured by state guaranty funds, not by the FDIC. Make sure your MYGA is issued by a quality carrier.

If you are interested in MYGAs, I recommend you consult with Stan Haithcock (stantheannuityman.com), an annuity expert who can explain the pros and cons of investing in MYGAs. I have worked with Haithcock for many years. He only recommends MYGAs consistent with investor objectives.

Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com.

© 2023 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

How to create your retirement glide path

By Liz Weston

In investing terms, a “glide path” describes how a mix of investments changes over time. Typically, the mix gets more conservative — with fewer stocks and more bonds, for example — as the investor approaches a goal such as retirement.

You also can create a glide path into retirement by making gradual changes in your working and personal life in the months or years before you plan to quit work.

Retirement can be a jarring transition, especially if you haven’t set up ways to replace the structure, sense of purpose and socializing opportunities that work can bring, said financial coach Saundra Davis, executive director of Sage Financial Solutions, a nonprofit financial education and planning organization in San Francisco.

“People are excited to leave (work), but then once they leave, they feel that pressure of ‘How do I define myself?’” Davis said. “Am I important now that I’m no longer in the workforce?”

What do you want your life to look like?

Davis suggests people start by thinking about what they want from retirement. That could mean visualizing your ideal day: where you’re living, what you’re doing, who you’re spending time with.

Free tools such as YearCompass and Unravel Your Year can help you identify what “sparks joy” for you and what you want more of in your life, Davis said. These tools allow you to reflect on your recent past and plan for the future.

“What are the things that have been calling you? What gives you energy?” Davis asked.

Your ideal retirement may well face roadblocks: a lack of money, ill health or the need to provide care for someone else, for example. But understanding what you really want from this phase of your life can help you figure out ways to get what’s most important, she said.

“Just because you might have some limitations, either physical or emotional or fi-

nancial, don’t assume that that counts you out,” Davis said.

Discuss your vision of retirement with your spouse or partner to “see if you’re on the same page,” said David John, senior strategic policy adviser for the AARP Public Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. Your significant other may have different ideas about when to retire, where to live and what they want to do with their time, and those should be discussed before either of you quits work, John recommended.

“We tend to assume that people agree with us when we haven’t had a formal discussion about something, and that can prove to be a mistake,” John said.

What role will work play in your retirement?

Some employers have “phased retirement” programs that allow people to cut back to part-time work while retaining a paycheck and benefits.

Other companies don’t have formal plans but may be willing to accommodate

an employee who asks, particularly if the worker is a high performer, said Joe Casey, a retirement and executive coach in Princeton, New Jersey, and the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy.

Phased plans give employers time to look for a successor while allowing workers to ease into retirement, said Melissa Shaw, a wealth management adviser for financial services firm TIAA in Palo Alto, California.

“They still have more freedom to start to enjoy and plan for the next phase,” Shaw said. “It’s a good way to transition.”

If phased retirement isn’t an option, a part-time job or consulting work can help people keep a foot in the work world while they shape their post-work life, Shaw adds.

How will you stay connected and sharp?

Loneliness doesn’t just diminish the

Grab bars and swivel seats can make driving safer and easier. See article on page 23.

PHOTO BY STANDER, INC.

Beware scammers impersonating banks

By Ben Demers

Consumer scams are getting more and more creative with every year that goes by. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that consumers lost more than $5.8 billion to fraudsters in 2021, an increase of more than 70% over the previous year. And the data for 2022 is expected to be even higher when it’s released, as criminals experiment with more intricate and inventive scams.

One of the latest technology-aided gambits involves scammers contacting you, pretending to be your bank, in order to steal sensitive data and take over your accounts. So how do these scams work, and how can you protect yourself?

How they work

The Detroit Free Press reported on a recent surge in scammers targeting checking accounts and bank accounts, particularly during the last holiday shopping rush. The latest trend is to impersonate or “spoof” bank fraud departments.

Scammers and criminal gangs reach out to potential victims via fake text messages, phishing emails, or telephone calls — both live and pre-recorded.

Criminal gangs usually already have some of their intended victim’s personal details, often gained through a data breach, which they use to convince you

they really are from your bank.

Once they’ve successfully impersonated the victim’s bank, scammers hope to confuse their mark into believing fictional stories about crooks hacking into their bank accounts.

The scammer tries to convince you to reveal personal information or to click on fraudulent links to help “stop the crooks” when, in actuality, the scammer’s true goal is to take over your bank account themselves.

Ignore requests to use apps

Scammers use these fake, urgent warnings to panic you into acting before you have time to think, according to the FTC. This “fight or flight” feeling is what helps scammers achieve their goals — and it usually succeeds unless potential victims understand how to protect themselves.

The American Bankers Association reports that scammers also attempt intricate phishing attempts to trick consumers into using person-to-person payment apps to transfer money to the crooks, under the guise of a legitimate business or someone you trust.

PayPal, Venmo, CashApp and Zelle are the preferred money-transfer apps for scammers. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), consumers lost $130 million in 2021 by mistak-

enly sending money to scammers via these payment apps or similar services.

How to protect yourself

To guard against these types of scams, follow a few cardinal rules from the CFPB:

• Never trust Caller ID [which can be easily spoofed], especially when a caller asks you for private information. Banks will never call and ask you for that info over the phone to avoid this exact scenario.

• Worried that a call or message is fake?

Don’t use the number provided by the caller. Instead, reach out to your bank or credit card company directly via their mobile app or via their official phone number, which is usually located on bank statements and on the back of your credit or debit card.

• Never share passwords or numbers for Social Security, credit cards or bank accounts.

• Never send money to someone you don’t know [especially using a payment app]. If you think you sent money to a scammer, contact your bank or the payment app operator you used to report a potential mistake and hopefully recover your funds.

• Put your number on the National Do Not Call Registry to avoid robocalls from scammers. Go to donotcall.gov or call 1888-382-1222.

• Submit complaints about scammers and fraudulent activities to consumerfinance.gov/complaint.

© 2023 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Best places to find a financial adviser

By Kellie Kiemle

Last month, we wrote about “How to select the right financial adviser.” This month, we complete that article with some good places to look for one:

Certified Financial Planner Board (cfp.net). The CFP Board lists vetted advisers — you can sort by criteria such as location, gender, etc. Everyone on this list will have that CFP designation, which means regular training and updated education.

NAPFA.org. NAPFA (The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors) is a key resource for finding advisers who are vetted and fiduciaries. This is also a good option if you prefer to work with an

adviser only on projects or on an hourly basis — such as a one-time financial plan, an insurance review or maybe a 401(k) reallocation. NAPFA only has fee-only advisors available.

Rankings. Many reputable organizations provide rankings. For example, CNBC’s Top 100 Advisors List curates a list of the top advisory firms. They evaluate companies based on compliance record, years in business, assets under management, etc.

The firms that make the list can also be a little smaller and thus have less marketing and advertising budgets, but they can offer tailored services, company cultures and advisers.

The best thing to do is check out their

websites and see if their approach and type of planning/investing matches with what you are thinking.

Word of mouth. Talk to people you trust or deem successful. This can be a great resource if you’re looking for a local adviser whose office you want to visit. But remember, the adviser who worked with your brother through his divorce maybe not be the best person for you if you’re looking to start a business.

Not ready to commit?

If you aren’t ready to make a decision or want some extra time to get to know a company or an adviser, try getting on their mailing list. These newsletters usually contain advice on what to be planning for or thinking about now and in the future.

Glide path

From page 20

quality of your days — it also can diminish the quantity. Social isolation and loneliness significantly increase someone’s odds of premature death, and are associated with about a 50% increased risk of dementia as well as higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many people underestimate the social connections that work provides, Davis said. They also may not anticipate how much their social circles can shrink over time as people move away or die.

Davis recommends making friends of different generations to counteract that

Also, check out their websites, as new content might be produced there frequently — whether it be a new article, video or even information about an upcoming event.

These communications will enable you to know how an adviser thinks about planning and investing, what they do when markets get crazy and, overall, who they are as a company.

Choosing the right adviser is a critical step in your financial success. There are many more factors to consider other than just good returns or their familiar name. The more you know going into the process, the better your outcome will be.

© 2023 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

trend. Hobbies and volunteering are among the ways to find prospective friendships, she said.

But it can also help to find friends or mentors among people who have retired, Shaw said. Senior centers, gyms, social connection sites like Meetup and the AARP Foundation’s Connect2Affect service are other ways to find potential social contacts.

“Having others around you who have experienced retirement and who can provide support and tips and share ideas is extremely valuable,” Shaw said.

Liz Weston is a columnist at NerdWallet. She is a certified financial planner and author of five money books, including Your Credit Score

—AP/NerdWallet

Devices that make driving easier, safer

Dear Savvy Senior,

Do you know of any car gadgets that can help older drivers? I drive a 12-year-old car and have arthritis in my neck, back and knees that limits my mobility, making it more difficult to get in and out of the car and look over my shoulder to back-up.

—Almost 80

Dear Almost,

There are a number of inexpensive products you can purchase that can easily be added to your vehicle to help with many different needs. Here are some popular auto aids to consider:

By Jim Miller

Entry and exit aids

For mobility challenged persons who have a difficult time entering and exiting a vehicle — especially cars that are low to the ground or high vehicles such as SUVs or pickup trucks — there are a variety of support handles and special seat cushions that can help.

Some examples include the Stander (stander.com) “HandyBar” ($40), which is a portable support grab bar that inserts into the U-shaped striker plate on the doorframe, and the “CarCaddie” ($20), a nylon support handle that buckles around the top of the door window frame.

Stander also makes an “Auto Swivel Seat Cushion” ($40) that rotates 360 degrees to help drivers and passengers pivot their body into and out of their vehicle.

Rear vision improvements

To help those with neck and back rangeof-motion problems, which makes looking over the shoulder to back-up or merge into

traffic difficult, there are special mirrors you can add as well as back-up cameras.

To widen rear visibility and eliminate blind spots, Verivue Mirrors (verivuemirrors.com) offers the popular “Universal 12-Inch Panoramic Rearview Mirror” ($13) that clips on to existing rearview mirrors, along with a variety of “Blind Spot Mirrors” ($5 for two), which are small convex mirrors that stick to the corner of the sideview mirrors.

Another helpful device is the “Auto-vox CS-2 Wireless Backup Camera Kit” ($120, auto-vox.com). This comes with a night vision camera that attaches to the rear license plate, and a small monitor that mounts to the dash or windshield. When the vehicle is in reverse you can see what’s behind you.

Seat belt extenders

For plus-sized people or those with mobility problems, there are seat belt extension products that can make buckling up a little easier. For example, Seat Belt Extender Pros (seatbeltextenderpros.com) offers vehicle-specific “Seat Belt Extenders” ($13 to $26) that fit into the seat belt buckle receiver to add a few inches of length, making them easier to fasten.

They also sell a “Seat Belt Grabber Handle” ($8) that attaches to the seat belt strap to make it easier to reach.

Gripping devices

If you have hand arthritis that makes gripping difficult or painful, consider the “SEG Direct Steering Wheel Cover” ($17) that fits over the steering wheel to make it larger, softer and easier to grip.

And for help twisting open tight gas caps, the “Gas Cap & Oil Cap Opener by Gascapoff” ($17) is a long-handled tool that works like a wrench.

Many of these products can be found in your local auto supply stores, or online at the manufacturer’s website or at Amazon.com.

If you need more assistance, consider contacting a driver rehabilitation specialist who is trained to evaluate older drivers

and provide safety and driving equipment suggestions.

To locate a driver rehabilitation specialist in your area, visit ADED.net or MyAOTA.aota.org/driver_search.

Send questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

SAVVY SENIOR

Leisure & Travel Leisure &

Patagonia’s spectacular hidden wonders

By Don Mankin

As I guided my kayak through a narrow, twisting marble cave, I marveled at the swirls of turquoise-colored rock.

Although it was only my second day in the Aysén region of Patagonia — the remote, breathtakingly beautiful region that has inspired dreamers, adventurers and entrepreneurs for over a century — I understood why they came and why so many of them stayed.

I have traveled to the southern tip of Patagonia several times — to explore Torres del Paine National Park, to cruise through the Strait of Magellan and to Antarctica, and to stand in a blasting wind on Cape Horn. But the Aysén region, located in Chile’s southernmost third, is even more remote and beautiful.

To quote famed wilderness photographer, Linde Waidhofer, this is the “Unknown Patagonia” — the region that few know about and even fewer have visited. It’s that very “unknownness” that inspired me to visit the region and experience it for myself. This region was essentially inaccessible until 1995, when General Pinochet initiat-

ed construction of the Carretera Austral, the Southern Highway. From Puerto Montt in the north to Villa O’Higgins in the south, this almost 800-mile highway passes through some of the most magnificent scenery on earth.

After a night in Coyhaique, a one-hour drive from Balmaceda, the only airport in the region, my wife and I headed south to the lodge where we’d be staying. It’s tucked into a protected cove on the southern edge of the massive General Carrera Lake, the second largest lake in South America after Lake Titicaca.

It’s not an easy drive. Most of it is on an uneven two-lane gravel highway studded with bone-jarring potholes. Fortunately, we had an experienced local driver who was unfazed by the challenge, so I was free to gawk at the wall of mountains looming like sentries over the broad river valley and the broken clouds wrapped around pointy peaks.

Purple lupines lined the road, adding a touch of color to the monochromatic scene. The scenery got even better when we reached the lake.

Now we were looking at jagged peaks and glaciers across a wide expanse of turquoise-hued water. As the day wound down, the grey massifs across the lake glowed orange in the rays of the setting sun.

Lodge with a view

We stayed in the familyowned Mallin Colorado Ecolodge, a serene, peaceful place with outstanding views of General Carrera Lake and surrounding mountains.

Eduardo and Maria Artega, parents of seven, purchased the property decades ago to serve as a family retreat. Eduardo, a professional agronomist, cleared the overgrown weeds that blocked views of the lake, planted trees and, with help from other family members, designed and constructed all the

buildings on the property.

In the early 2000s, the family converted the property into a thriving business, renting rooms to adventuresome tourists.

We easily could have spent our four days at the lodge sitting on the porch outside our room, gazing at the panorama before us, but there was much more to see and do.

My favorite activity of our stay was the three-hour kayak to, around, and through the Marble Cathedral, Chapel and Cave — graceful, colorful, layered marble formations jutting out of the lake.

We also visited the dramatic confluence of the Baker and Nef rivers, where the waters, jade-colored from glacial silt, roared over rocks and falls.

Contemplative visits

Later that day, we toured a misty, drizzly Patagonia National Park. Free-roaming guanacos (a distant cousin to the camel and llama) nibbled on the grass surrounding the tiny cemetery where conservationist Doug Tompkins, the founder of the clothing companies Esprit and North Face, is buried.

Tompkins, who helped establish several national parks in Chile and Argentina, died from hypothermia on an ill-fated kayaking

trip in 2015 on the very lake we gazed at every day.

On our last full day, we visited Puerto Guadal, just a few miles away. Sometimes referred to as the “pearl of the lake,” this small village features great weather and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.

My favorite stop in the village was the small cemetery. This may sound morbid, but I love visiting cemeteries in foreign countries, especially in far-flung corners of the world. Each grave, often decorated with moving displays of grief and love, tells a story of a person, of their family, of the community and culture of which they were part.

I try to imagine their lives in a place and era much different than my own. Where did they come from, how did they live, how did they die?

The view from its cemetery is impressive, but it gets even better a couple of miles down the road with a full-on vista of the lake. The jagged peaks and glaciers of the southern ice fields loom

the scene.

If we had another day, we would have hiked four hours over the ridge behind the lodge to the best viewpoint to contemplate

over

Over the centuries, water has eroded the calcium carbonate cliffs on the edge of Chile’s General Carrera Lake, leaving twisted marble caves for kayakers to navigate. Patagonia’s ice-blue glaciers, turquoise lakes and chalky mountains enchant travelers to this distant land, located at the southern end of South America.

PHOTO BY DON MANKIN

Rick Steves encourages travelers to see masterpieces in person. See why on facing page. See PATAGONIA, page

The author’s wife, Katherine Mankin, hikes in the rainforest surrounding the resort where they stayed. Older travelers may find travel to Patagonia a bit easier with a touring company that arranges transportation and appropriate lodging.

PHOTO BY DON MANKIN

PHOTO COURTESY OF RICK STEVES’ EUROPE

Coming to appreciate Europe’s great art

By Rick Steves

To see great art is a joy. And to see it, while traveling, “in situ” — both physically (where it was meant to be seen) and historically (to understand the context in which it was made) — makes the experience richer yet.

I haven’t always loved art history. As a teenager, I struggled doggedly through Kenneth Clark’s epic art series, Civilisation. “Brilliant work,” I thought, “but let’s lighten up.”

And I remember, back in my college days, flipping through a course catalog with dorm friends and playing “name the most boring class of all.” My vote: Art History.

A few inspiring professors — and perspective-broadening trips — later, I had changed my tune. I’ve learned to recognize the value of great art as a window into the culture and people we travel so far to experience and understand.

As a travel writer and tour guide, I’ve spent the last 40 years teaching art history in the most wonderful classrooms imaginable: Europe’s great galleries, palaces, cathedrals and museums.

Through those years, just as some gain an appreciation of fine wine, I’ve gained an appreciation of artistic genius — and the times and places where that genius flourished.

It’s great travel to look at a Fra Angelico

fresco at his monastery in Florence and understand why, for this monk-artist, painting was a form of prayer, and that he couldn’t paint a crucifix without weeping.

It’s great travel to gaze upon an Albrecht Dürer self-portrait brimming with humanistic pride (at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich) and marvel at how, with his etchings and the new-fangled printing press, he was Europe’s first “best-selling” artist.

It’s great travel to stand before a Vermeer painting at Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum and let it capture tranquility so intimately that you can almost hear the trickle of milk as the maid pours it.

To visit one of Europe’s venerable music halls and realize how Baroque music — Bach with his interwoven melodies, Scarlatti with his trills — can be “Bernini for your ears” and is best played with ruffles on your sleeves.

And to circle the sun-dappled Musee de l’Orangerie gallery in Paris and look way too closely at Monet’s messy brushwork — a seemingly abstract collage of competing colors — then zoom out and, bam, to suddenly understand the genius of his Water Lilies

Domes through the ages

On Scotland’s Orkney Islands, I lowered my head — as people have for 5,000 years — to squeeze through a tunnel before

standing tall in a Stone Age tomb. Under that rock ceiling, I was reminded that the progress of Western civilization can be tracked by art and architecture — in this case the evolution of ever-grander domes.

That progress started about 1,300 BCE with a Bronze Age tomb constructed like a stone igloo, with stones fitted together like the “beehive” tomb I visited in Mycenae, Greece.

Then, in Rome, I dropped my jaw under the dome of the Pantheon, built 1,400 years later and still wowing travelers with the magnificence and splendor of ancient Rome at its zenith.

Two hours away by train, and about 1,400 years later again, I gazed up at Brunelleschi’s mighty cathedral dome

towering high above Florence. It was so beloved by the citizens that when Michelangelo set out to build St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, he said he would build a dome “bigger but not more beautiful” than its sister in Florence.

Some 500 years later, summiting St. Peter’s, I stood where sunbeams enter the grandest church in Christendom and marveled at how a Renaissance superstar could glorify God and celebrate humanism at the same time.

Art takes us back to experience it as if we lived when it was created. To be filled with wonder: like a prehistoric hunter with a torch under a dome of bison. Or like a

JOIN

What to expect traveling to Europe now

If you’re planning a trip to Europe this year, you’re not alone: Industry mavens are projecting a big year for transatlantic travel. For the most part, traveling to and within Europe is easy, but you need to know a bit before you leave.

Paperwork: Western Europe does not require any advance paperwork for visitors who aren’t looking for a job and plan to stay less than three months.

But that’s going to change before the end of the year, when a new requirement for an ETIAS Visa Waiver Application kicks in. Applying is easy: You can do it online and get an approval by email.

By Ed Perkins

denial if you have an unpaid bill in Europe from a prior visit.

Currently, the requirement is scheduled to go into effect in November, but postponement is possible. Check etias.us/application for details. The UK is cooking up a similar scheme, with details yet to come.

Destinations : Although the travel press and blogosphere are fond of touting new “hot” destinations, most of you will head for the traditional big four: UK, France, Germany and Italy.

Still, unless there’s an economic disaster somewhere, exchange rates usually don’t change very fast.

You can expect sticker shock, especially at restaurants in Switzerland, but it’s because of prices, not exchange rates.

Airfares: The consensus in the industry is that airfares will be high, although I’ve seen a few contrarian views lately. Two low-fare airlines will be flying from the U.S. to Europe:

—Norse Atlantic links Ft. Lauderdale, Los Angeles, New York/JFK and Orlando with various combinations of Berlin, London/Gatwick and Oslo, with Paris/De Gaulle and Rome coming later this year.

Getting around: Unless you plan some really long hops, figure on taking trains rather than flying to travel inside Europe:

—Eurail Pass is more attractive than ever. The primary gotcha is stiff copays disguised as seat reservation fees for some cross-border high-speed trains.

—For lots of shorter trips, look for discount cards — some for everybody, some just for seniors and youth, most notably in France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.

Although nominally a security measure, the more cynical suspect that the main objective is either to collect the fee you have to pay or to retaliate for a similar U.S. requirement.

ETIAS applies to the entire Schengen region (27 countries, most in the EU and Scandinavia). Your main worry is possible

If you’re an old Europe hand, you know what you want. My primary recommendation to first-timers is simple: Don’t try to do it all on a single trip; leave something for your next trips.

Inflation hasn’t spared Europe. As a simple comparison, a year ago a reservation I made in Italy for $849 now goes for $1,047.

The euro, currently at $1.09, is up a bit since my April visit, but it is still below the general pre-Covid rate, as is the pound, though both have been increasing lately.

—French Bee from Los Angeles, Miami, Newark and San Francisco to Paris/Orly, with service from Rome starting later this year.

In addition, Icelandair and Play will be flying a bunch of routes via Reykjavik. And, of course, the legacy lines and JetBlue will be competitive from dozens of U.S. gateways.

As I’ve been saying, grab a good deal when you see it, figure to cancel and rebook if fares go down, but buy the first ticket on an airline you will fly again.

Although the blogosphere has been predicting that slow business travel recovery will lead to low business-class fares, I haven’t seen any evidence yet.

You will see a lot more “open access” train services, with one country’s national system or independent operator running trains on foreign networks. Eurail Pass covers some but not all such operations; check its booking site.

Rental cars and gasoline see inflation, just like everything else, but these days you pay only a small premium for air conditioning and automatic transmission. You can also rent electric vehicles. Here’s a good reference: bit.ly/europeev.

Regardless of cost differences, touring the countryside and staying at country inns is a great alternative to city-centric visits. Consider a driving trip as one of your options.

Email Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net. Also, check out Ed’s rail travel website at rail-guru.com.

© 2023 Ed Perkins. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Older

Patagonia

From page 24

the ice fields in all their vast, gleaming glory.

Hiking in a humid rainforest

From the Mallin Colorado Ecolodge, we headed north, back to where we started, and beyond.

As we drove, the scenery changed dramatically. If the southern portion of the Carretera Austral highway reminded me of the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, the northern portion looked more like Southeast Alaska and the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State (without the bears and poisonous snakes).

In the humid north close to the ocean, the mountains are covered with trees, which cling to sheer rocks with their roots like the fingers of desperate climbers. The lush, vertical forest was shrouded in clouds and mist.

Our destination in the north was the Hotel Termas de Puyuhuapi, on the edge of a Pacific fjord, reachable only by boat. The main attraction of this posh hotel and spa are the thermal baths and pools, most of them outdoors overlooking the fjord. The hotel is also surrounded by thick, dripping rainforest.

On our one full day at the hotel, we hiked for an hour or so through the rainforest, working up a grand sweat in the humidity, then soaked in a secluded bath on

Europe’s art

From page 25

medieval peasant, stepping from an existence of hunger, shivering and fear into a church, to be surrounded by riches and the promise of a happy eternity.

To thrill at the appearance of a gothic spire on the horizon, as if a pilgrim who’s hiked a thousand miles to get there. To really believe that a “divine monarch” was ordained by God to rule without question, and then to be wowed by giant murals of his triumphs and his halls of mirrors slathered in gold leaf.

To understand why the great surrealist Salvador Dalí said, “I am the drug.”

Art transports us to other cultures and other times. It shows us both our foibles and our potential for greatness. It helps a society’s culture sparkle. And, of course, it gives us something to savor — exquisite beauty.

Travel writer and television host Rick Steves recently finished a two-year-long project — producing a six-hour public television miniseries called “Rick Steves Art of Europe” — that aims to make art accessible, meaningful and fun. This article was inspired by that series.

Rick Steves (ricksteves.com) writes European guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public TV and radio, and organizes European tours. You can email him at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook.

© 2022 Rick Steves. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

the bank of the fjord. Since most of the other guests were off on an excursion across the fjord, we had the bath entirely to ourselves.

The Hanging Glacier

It’s hard to imagine that the trip could get any better, but it did. On our last full day, we stopped in Queulat National Park to see the famed Hanging Glacier — a wall of ice “hanging” between two slopes on the edge of a precipice.

After an easy two-mile trail through the forest and across a footbridge suspended over a roaring river, we reached a large lake. We could see the hanging glacier across the lake, spanning two slopes and feeding a long narrow waterfall.

Through the telescopic lens of my camera, I could see chunks of ice tumbling from the glacier and splashing into the waterfall. In a trip that featured one spectacular vista after another, this was perhaps the best, especially when we cruised across

the lake in a Zodiac for an even closer look.

In many ways this was the ultimate road trip — a journey through a pristine corner of a remote country where the air is fresh and sweet, the vistas are wide and far, and the roads are largely empty.

If I were younger, I would have loved doing this road trip myself, stopping for the night in funky hostels and guest houses. Now I am happy to have someone else do the planning (and driving) and to stay in luxury spas, boutique hotels and secluded lodges, so I can just sit back and enjoy the spectacular views.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

If you go

Round-trip airfare from Washington, D.C. to Santiago, Chile, can be as low as $805. From Santiago to Balmaceda, the round-trip fare is about $200.

As for the other details, I strongly recommend letting a tour company like Adventure Life (adventure-life.com) organize everything for you, including the lodges, hotels and especially the driver.

Don and Katherine’s trip was hosted by Adventure Life. For more photos and information go to the blog on Don’s website, adventuretransformations.com.

MENTOR A CHILD (VIRTUAL)

Volunteer to be matched virtually with a third- through fifth-grade student for the CricketTogether eMentoring program. Read a fun online story and exchange letters with your student mentee on a safe, secure virtual platform. For more information and to apply, visit bit.ly/MentorVirtually.

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Arts & Style

Go behind the scenes of great movies with these entertaining books. See reviews on page 32.

Shakespearean spoof amuses at Toby’s

By Mark Dreisonstok

The musical Something Rotten, currently running at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, is both thoroughly Shakespearean and completely modern.

In the tradition of Cole Porter’s Kiss Me, Kate, this madcap 2016 Broadway musical pulls names and characters from the Bard’s most famous works and turns them on their head in very amusing ways.

For example, Nick Bottom, the blustering anti-hero from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is here a playwright jealous of his more successful rival, William Shakespeare.

Even more incredibly, Bottom meets the nephew of the famed prophet Nostradamus, who foretells a glorious new art form: the musical.

Adding to the humor are anachronistic references to musicals such as Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story and The Lion King

There are likewise clever musical homages to Broadway classics such as South Pacific, Gypsy and Annie, as the score “quotes” melodies from these works.

Jordan B. Stocksdale is irrepressible as Nostradamus, and Toby’s regular Jeffry Shankle is a charismatic Nick Bottom, especially in his show-stopping number “A Musical,” performed with a Broadwaystyle chorus.

A mishmash of popular characters

The other performers are also highly entertaining. Nick Bottom’s brother Nigel is portrayed with aplomb by Ben Ribler; Nigel’s love interest, Portia, is played with delightful slapstick by Marina Yiannouris. The name Portia, of course, is borrowed from The Merchant of Venice, but here Portia is the daughter of Brother Jeremiah, a bombastic Puritan (portrayed wonderfully by Adam Grabau)

whose goal is to shut down the theaters due to their supposed immorality.

Shylock, the Jewish moneylender from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice , also appears. Here he is tasked with financing Nick Bottom’s musical. Despite the unfortunate stereotype, Shylock is played with great sympathy by Robert Biederman, another Toby’s favorite.

Nick’s wife, Bea (whose name may be borrowed from the character Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing), is played to perfection by Janine Sunday, who assumes the role of supportive wife and sister-in-law (singing beautifully “Right Hand Man”).

Bea also dons men’s clothes to secure a job and bring in income to her struggling playwright husband. (Crossdressing is, of course, a classic Shakespeare move, especially in the comedies. Ironically, it’s not found in Much Ado.)

Shakespeare himself is represented by Justin Calhoun as arrogant and boorish in a depiction which is as humorous as it is unexpected.

Witty banter

In true Shakesperean fashion, the show abounds with both subplots and word-play.

Another Shakespearean aspect is its spare use of props and sets. Indeed, director Mark Minnick and scenic designer David Hopkins work magic in this regard through encouraging the audience members to use their imaginations. The few props present are quite evocative, such as the use of a skull on a desk to reference Hamlet’s “poor Yorick.”

The costumes of an Elizabethan bent, designed by Gregg Barnes, deserve high praise as well in creating a Shakespearean atmosphere on the Toby’s stage.

The choreography, also by Minnick, is

nothing short of brilliant (watch for the “dancing Omelettes!”), and the musical score is directed beautifully by Ross Scott Rawlings.

Shakespeare lovers will enjoy the Bard’s

quotes, which abound: “This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England” from Richard II; the song “To Thine Own Self Be

The full cast of Something Rotten performs the opening number, “Welcome to the Renaissance.” The musical runs through March 19 at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, Md.

PHOTO BY JERI TIDWELL PHOTOGRAPHY See

Teaching brings joy to poet, art instructor

By Tara Prakash

“When I teach poetry, I get more energy after the class than when I began. It’s the opposite of being drained — it’s being hydrated,” said Maryland Poet Laureate Grace Cavalieri.

At age 91, Cavalieri is passionate about teaching poetry to students at different universities and schools across the country. “Younger generations are where the energy is,” she said.

Cavalieri is the author of 26 books of poetry and fiction and 26 produced plays. She founded the public radio series “The Poet and the Poem” in 1977, now a podcast in which she talks with some of the country’s leading poets.

Named Poet Laureate of Maryland in 2018, Cavalieri is still broadcasting, teaching, writing and publishing. She said the poet laureate position “gave [her] a new key to the door, so [she] could access more people.”

Something Rotten

From page 29

True” from Polonius’ advice to his son Laertes in Hamlet; “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day” from the Sonnets; and even the show’s title, referencing Hamlet’s perceptive observation that “something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”

Cavalieri also co-founded the Washington Writers’ Publishing House in 1975, a nonprofit that has published more than 50 volumes of poetry, and holds annual writing contests for writers in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Cavalieri also enjoys introducing younger generations to her work through social media. She regularly posts poetry and art to her followers on Instagram, where younger people can view, engage with, and learn from her work. Cavalieri also leads a women’s writing group, where members share and collaborate on their poems.

“I believe poets are born wired a certain way, to see the world a certain way through language,” Cavalieri said.

She said mentoring young writers is vital. “If we do not pass on what we’ve experienced, civilization is at risk. You want the next generation to be the ones to hold the record up from the mud, because lan-

It is said of Shakespeare in Something Rotten that “he entertains, but he makes us think.” The same may be said of Something Rotten (with its message of “To Thine Own Self Be True”) and this outstanding production.

Something Rotten runs through March 19. Patrons should be cautioned that the play contains much risqué humor and may

guage is the way that we achieve knowledge and civility.”

Teaching at the heart of her art

Like Cavalieri, artist Sue Bikoff also derives energy from teaching art to younger generations.

Founder of Artwork Studio B, located in McLean, Virginia, Bikoff, 66, holds weekly art classes for children five and older. A retired elementary school art teacher, Bikoff said running the studio gives her a way to stay in touch with art.

Bikoff received her formal art training from Brandeis University and from the University of Iowa, the latter of which inspired her career as an artist and teacher.

She especially likes to work with youngsters. She directed the visual arts program at Hunter’s Woods, a Fairfax County arts

not be appropriate for young children.

Toby’s is located at 5900 Symphony Woods Rd. in Columbia, Maryland. Advance reservations are required. Performances are Tuesday through Sunday nights, with matinees on Wednesday and Sunday.

Tickets are $74-$79 for adults and $57$60 for children 12 and under. All tickets include an all-you-can-eat buffet (dinner or

brunch). Patrons are also expected to tip their servers (who are, by the way, the actors), who bring coffee, alcoholic drinks and special desserts to tables.

Those 65 and over may attend any Tuesday or Wednesday performance for $62.90. Tickets may be purchased online at tobysdinnertheatre.com or by phone from the box office at (410) 730-8311.

See OLDER ARTISTS, page 32 Grace Cavalieri is Maryland’s 10th Poet Laureate.

PHOTO BY DAN MURANO

Movies remembered on the printed page

The 95th Academy Awards will be presented March 12. Not up to speed on new releases? You may prefer a stroll down memory lane. These books add context to your favorites of years gone by.

Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli: The Epic Story of the Making of the Godfather, by Mark Seal, 448 pages, Gallery Books hardcover, 2021

Journalist Mark Seal has penned a rollicking and entertaining account of the making of The Godfather. The 1972 film directed by Francis Ford Coppola was based on the bestselling novel by Mario Puzo.

the hectic, ego-driven, money-fueled rollercoaster ride that generates great cinematic art. The behind-thescenes stories are riveting. Seal offers a fascinating glimpse into the collective creative process: the pushand-pull and give-and-take among producers, studio executives and the artists in front of and behind the camera.

THE BIBLIOPHILE

By Dinah Rokach

Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli reveals

Older artists

From page 30

magnet school, and taught in D.C. at the Fillmore Arts center, another magnet arts school.

Bikoff has also taught at the Corcoran School of Art, the Smithsonian Institution, the Kennedy Center, and was a visiting lecturer at American University.

Her art has been featured at several local galleries, including the Charles Sum-

The discovery of young, talented, unknown actors such as Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall and James Caan adds luster to the tale of Hollywood, the dream factory. So does the comeback of a fading star, Marlon Brando, who was considered washed out at the age of 47.

ner Museum, the Studio Gallery and the Mansion at Strathmore.

Bikoff’s passion for art began at a young age. “When I didn’t have paints, I’d take my father’s shoe polish and paint with it,” she remembered. She believes she “sees things differently as an artist.”

One of Bikoff’s biggest joys is watching her students go through a period of doubt during a project and then overcome that struggle to create an incredible piece. She

Sixteen pages of photos accompany the text. Be astounded by how this great film emerged from utter chaos.

Hollywood Victory: The Movies, Stars, and Stories of World War II, by Christian Blauvelt, 228 pages, Running Press hardcover, 2021

This highly engaging account from the archives of Turner Classic Movies tells the story of the intersection of history and art between 1933 and 1945. Members of the movie industry were inspired to aid the military effort by employing their unique talents to promote patriotism. Hollywood Victory examines moviemakers’ contributions to the war effort.

Hollywood had already become a welcoming haven for European refugees before the U.S. entered World War II. Films foreshadowed the eventual U.S. entry into the

finds that some of the best art comes with much labor and frustration.

In addition to a more developed toolkit of skills, Bikoff hopes to cultivate in students a deep, long-lasting love of art. “My biggest joy is seeing art come into my students’ lives,” Bikoff said.

For example, one of Bikoff’s longtime students recently created a curriculum to teach art to underprivileged girls in the Dominican Republic (DR).

war in December 1941. Movies had made heroes of the Resistance and portrayed as villains Nazis and their supporters.

Most remembered are the films of the era that framed the war in terms of a fight to eradicate evil. They helped boost morale and unite the country. The courage of those battling Hitler was highlighted in classic films such as Casablanca and Mrs. Miniver.

Stars enlisted in the armed forces and performed valiantly in combat. Directors employed their cinematic skills to further the aims of the military. Their films recruited volunteers, documented the war, and trained members of the armed forces. Others toured the country to sell war bonds and entertain military personnel.

See BIBLIOPHILE, page 35

The student approached Bikoff for ideas, and together they crafted a weeklong curriculum for a camp for more than one hundred girls, who painted a group mural. These are the kinds of ways Bikoff believes art can connect and unify people.

“I love seeing the vibrant work that’s done, but my main goal is instilling in students a respect and appreciation for art and aesthetics,” Bikoff said. “That’s what you’re going to live with.”

Shostakovich’s Concerto for Piano, Trumpet, and Strings

Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2

Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1 is a rule-breaking, Neo-baroque romp filled with rapid-paced rhythms and comic punch lines—and there’s no better duo to bring its humor to life than award-winning pianist Conrad Tao and NSO Principal Trumpet

William Gerlach. The charismatic Dalia Stasevska also conducts Sibelius’ great Second Symphony and a new co-commission by innovative composer

Jessie Montgomery

Jessie Montgomery: Hymn for Everyone** (NSO CO-COMMISSION)

Dmitri Shostakovich: Concerto No. 1 for Piano, Trumpet, and Strings

Jean Sibelius: Symphony No. 2

March 2 & 4 | Concert Hall

**First performance by the NSO

The Kennedy Center Chamber Players: Spring Concert

Comprising titled musicians of the NSO, this acclaimed ensemble presents classics from four centuries of chamber music.

Ricardo Cyncynates, violin

David Hardy, cello

Aaron Goldman, flute

Nicholas Stovall, oboe

Lin Ma, clarinet

Sue Heineman, bassoon

Abel Pereira, horn

Lambert Orkis, piano

Witold Lutosławski: Partita for violin and piano

Valerie Coleman: Tzigane for wind quintet

George Crumb: Vox Balanae for electric flute, cello, and amplified piano

Ludwig van Beethoven: Quintet in E flat major for oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, and piano op.16

March 19 | Terrace Theater

March Events

NSO In Your Neighborhood

EDGE OF THE CITY

Celebrating local communities through music

Join the National Symphony Orchestra for a week of FREE performances! This March, the NSO partners with community-based organizations, historic venues, and local artists to inspire learning and unite audiences through the power of live classical music.

The Basilica of the National Shrine

March 10

Turkey Thicket Recreation Center

March 11

Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique”

Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3

Named by The Economist as one of Twenty Living Polymaths, Stephen Hough performs Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto—one of the most fiendishly difficult pieces ever composed for his instrument. Then, “Pathétique” shows us a man on the edge as tensions erupt in Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s glorious, heartbreaking final symphony.

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 “Pathétique”

March 23–25 | Concert Hall

Midori plays Korngold

Kevin John Edusei conducts Ravel

Visionary artist, activist, educator, and Kennedy Center

Honoree Midori performs Korngold’s glamorous, glittering Violin Concerto—an extraordinary fusion of Hollywood and Old Vienna. Kevin John Edusei completes the program with kaleidoscopic works by Maurice Ravel and Samy Moussa.

Maurice Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin

Erich Wolfgang Korngold: Violin Concerto

Maurice Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte

Samy Moussa: Nocturne

Maurice Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé – Suite No. 2

March 31 & April 1 | Concert Hall

The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation

Tina and Albert Small, Jr.

Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather

Melanie and Larry Nussdorf

John and Martha Schwieters National Endowment for the Arts

Noseda Era Fund Supporters

A nod to my late penny-pinching friend

Which regular human activity reveals the inner truth about a person?

Some would say driving, which can uncover hostility and entitledness in surprising amounts.

Some would say the telephone, which can unmask just how friendly — or unfriendly — you really are.

But my vote goes to the grocery store, in memory of a friend who died a couple of months ago. He was in his late 80s.

By Bob Levey

This guy shopped with penny-pinching rigor that never quit. He weighed every

sack of walnuts. He inspected every fuji apple as if he were a technician working a crime scene.

If he asked the fish guy for a quarter pound of salmon and the guy handed over .27 pounds, there’d be hell to pay.

But my friend’s Greatest Hits took place in the produce aisle. It drove him crazy that the fresh vegetables were automatically sprayed with water.

Don’t tell him that water kept freshness alive. To my friend, it was all a corporate scam to increase the weight of a clump of broccoli rabe or a handful of string beans.

He had grown up at the end of the Depression, so he knew that money didn’t grow on trees. Now he was an old man on a fixed income. Could anyone blame him for refusing to underwrite H2O?

My pal became a legend at his local Safeway for selecting a head of lettuce and then shaking it free of water — often for a minute or more to be extra-sure — before he loaded it into his cart.

He would do this with great showmanship. Shake, shake, shake — and then inspect to be sure not a drop of moisture remained. He didn’t care who saw him.

He knew he was acting out a cliché about older people — that they lose their behavioral brakes as the years wear on. But why let Safeway rip him off? My friend was a study in droplet-shedding determination.

More than once, a fellow shopper — always younger — would notice. But if anyone ever reported my friend to management, I’d be surprised.

At the grocery, shoppers usually don’t worry about others. They just want to get in and out as soon as they can. If some weird old guy is shaking the lettuce, well, it takes all kinds, right?

Over the last 10 years or so, my friend would go grocery-shopping with his wife. Like so many older couples, they not only finished each other’s sentences; they antic-

ipated each other’s moves. And they bickered publicly.

When the couple would arrive at the vegetable aisle, and my friend would aim for the lettuce display, his wife would tell him to knock it off before he had administered his first shake.

They would argue. He would insist. She would give up. The shaking shook on.

How much money did my pal actually save with each shake-a-thon? I decided to conduct an experiment.

From our vegetable hopper, I exhumed a head of lettuce. I weighed it. Then I sprinkled it liberally with water. Then I weighed it again.

Net gain: About .05 pounds.

That works out to about four cents.

I smirked. Surely my friend had wasted four cents many times in his long life. Hadn’t he left the lights on in a room that he had vacated? Hadn’t he let the car engine run while he waited for his wife to emerge from a store?

Was lettuce shaking really worth it?

And yet…To hammer away at an injustice, even one so small, over decades…To strike a small blow for frugality…To stick with a belief even when it was inconvenient…

See BOB LEVEY, page 37

Bibliophile

From page 32

Bob Hope traveled overseas with the USO. Entertainment journalist Christopher Blauvelt has written a comprehensive and highly readable book illustrated with more than 165 photographs. He deftly integrates showbiz news with concurrent events in the war. Turning the pages takes readers back to the glory days of Hollywood and the iconic battles fought by the Greatest Generation.

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, by Steven Jay Schneider and Ian Haydn Smith, 960 pages, Sourcebooks hardcover, 2021

This encyclopedic compendium of movies is a treasure trove of material for those seeking to find the right flick to fit their mood and interest.

Each film is presented chronologically, starting with Georges Méliès Le voyage dans la lune (A Trip to the Moon) of 1902

BEACON BITS

Mar. 23

and ending with 2021’s Nomadland, starring Frances McDormand.

Twelve decades are color-coded on each page, visible on the fore-edge. At the beginning of the book is an alphabetical list of the films, and in the back are indices of movies by genre and director.

Each of the 1001 movies is described in an essay written by one of 90 contributors. The entry encompasses a synopsis that covers the plot line, significance, commentary and even insider gossip. Included in a sidebar are the length of the movie, cast members, studio, country, language, producer, photographer, screenwriter, composer and awards.

Promotional posters and publicity stills accompany the text. Movie buffs will enjoy the famous quotes from or about the movie. Editors Steven Jay Schneider and Ian Haydn are film journalists.

If you love movies, 1001 Movies will be of enormous help in curating your personal continuous film festival.

GALLERY TALK WITH SCULPTOR

Talk with a docent at the National Museum of African American History and Culture about its three bronze sculptures by acclaimed artist Elizabeth Catlett. Explore how they reflect Catlett’s long-standing interest in African American dignity, struggle, motherhood and uplift. This free event takes place on Thu., March 23, at 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. at 1400 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. Meet at the sculptures in Heritage Hall or call 1-844-750-3012 for more information.

BEACON BITS

WOMEN OF THE FREER GALLERY TOUR

March

The National Museum of Asian Art invites you to celebrate the women artists in their collection during Women’s History Month. New docent-led tours will introduce you to influential women and their littleknown stories. This free event takes place daily during March, from noon to 1 p.m. Meet at the Freer Gallery Information Desk, 1050 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC. No reservation is needed.

PLANNING FOR SOLO AGERS

Do you live alone? Solo agers have unique needs in later life. Join this free interactive online discussion with Sara Zeff Geber, Ph.D., the author of Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers, to learn more. The webinar takes place on Wed., March 15, at noon. Register at bit.ly/SoloAgingWebinar.

Mar. 15

FRIENDS OF CARTER BARRON FOUNDATION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Where Historic Preservation for The Carter Barron Amphitheatre and Education for DMV Performing Arts Youth Counts

Presents

Black-Tie Public Awareness and Awards Affair

An Intimate Evening w/ the Legendary TEMPTATIONS

In support of Reopening the Carter Barron Amphitheatre

Howard Theatre

620 T St., NW, Washington, DC

Monday, April 10 at 7 p.m.

For tickets, visit: TheHowardTheatre.com

Find

Crossword Puzzle

Easy Bake Stephen Sherr

Scrabble answers on p. 39.

Across

1. Additionally

5. Vinyl singles require 45

8. “Poppycock!”

13. Neighborhood in London or New York

14. “Chief Twit,” Musk

16. Show a good time

17. Medicine helper

20. Thrice, in prescriptions

21. Banishment

22. Ali strategy, rope-a-___

23. Tax File Numbers (Australian SSN equivalents)

25. Give an early end to a ‘70’s talent show act

27. Get shutout

33. At this very location

34. Chop off the last letter from 2 Down

35. “Strange things come ___ in troubled times”

37. Word on a shoppe sign

38. Civic start to Moines or Plaines

40. Queue after Q

41. Q: On what day of the ___ chickens hide?

A: Fry Day

44. Its main campus is in Troy, N.Y.

46. End ___ era

47. What April grains do

50. Poi source

51. Abbrev. for Online Only Fashion

Retailers

52. Deplaned

55. Baseball box-score column

58. Pecan or pistachio

61. What you can do with the ingredients at the end of 17, 27, and 47 Across

64. Entry in a daily planner

65. Requirement of an angel costume

66. Good hole cards

67. Volumize hair

68. News org. with the most Pulitzer Prizes

69. Last item in a top-ten list

Down

1. Kind of prof.

2. Bound along

3. Cook in a diner

4. New pedometer reading

5. Rejection letter, for example

6. Asset

7. Golden retriever : shed :: goldfinch : ___

8. Father figures

9. Like good lipstick

10. Author of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

11. Expeditiously (expeditiously)

12. Used to be

15. Have ___ (be humble)

18. Homophone for nun

19. Winter glaze

24. Animal shelter offering

26. Hero of The Matrix series

27. Conduct an open house

28. Tabloid topic

29. Odin or Eros

30. Bolshoi Theatre performance

31. It starts with a pilot light

32. Yellow dwarf, such as Alpha Centauri

36. The only NBA Pacific Division team not based in California

39. Secret agent

42. Modern forensic tool

43. Shrek and Fiona

45. “It must have slipped my mind”

48. Change from one form to another

49. Wager on the wrong team, with 52 Down

52. See 49 Down

53. Cleanse

54. Seller of the Ektorp sofa

56. Horse color

57. For one night ___

59. Hawaiian strings

60. Vision check-up

62. Chowed down

63. Uber alternative

Bob Levey

From

My friend deserved a nod of recognition, I decided, not a judgment that he was a cranky old cat who had gone around the bend.

So, the next time I grocery-shopped, I ambled over to the lettuce display. It was being duly sprinkled. The lettuce looked glisten-y and green.

I selected a head of romaine. I looked left, then right. I shook the head, vigorously, for about 15 seconds.

A fellow shopper saw me. “Saving a penny, huh?” she said.

“Keeping a memory alive,” I replied.

Bob Levey is a national award-winning columnist.

ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick

Detorie

WILL BUY MILITARY, WWII, WWI, Civil War memorabilia items. Uniforms, weapons, helmets, photos, war souvenirs, medals, photos or any other items associated with U.S., German, Japanese or other military history. Call Dave (240-464-0958) or email (david.obal63@gmail.com).

TOP PRICES PAID FOR FINE ANTIQUES, ARTWORK and unusual and rare things including decorated crocks and stoneware, antique clocks and music boxes, classic cars, coin operated devices, toys and dolls, furniture, lamps, art glass and pottery. I am 69 years old, well educated [ law degree ] financially capable and have over 40 years in the business. Why pay outlandish auction house, estate agent or consignment store commissions when you can get a fair upfront price for your valuables with no hassle? If you have something rare, unusual and valuable and are prepared to sell it I would like to speak with you. Please call Jake Lenihan 301 279 8834. Thank you.

CD OR DVD COLLECTIONS WANTED. House calls possible. Call Nelson at 240 472 4615. Thank you.

BUYING JEWELRY, COINS ALSO GOLD

SILVER, art, old toys, guns, military items, old baseball cards, memorabilia, older golf, football items, records, books, older Christmas/Halloween decorations, guitars, violins, antique Asian items, tom 240-476-3441

ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES/ESTATE

LIQUIDATION: We provide full estate liquidation/home cleanout services — and we’re always buying great stuff! Especially looking for collections of vintage toys, old signs & other advertising pieces, comic books, sports memorabilia, gold & silver coins, pre-1965 American coins, jewelry, historical objects, historical memorabilia, autographs, antique paintings, bronze sculptures, folk art, vinyl records, and valuable collections of all kinds. Based in Silver Spring MD, we serve Montgomery, Howard and Baltimore Counties, Washington D.C., NOVA and beyond. Also provide appraisal services for insurance/estates. We’re experts at clearing hoarder houses, too. Call Chris on cell (202) 731-9447. www.OrionsAttic.com.

I BUY OLD GUNS (Military/Civilian) and MILITARY MEDALS, uniforms, insignia, books & more from the Civil War, World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam to present. I have a Federal Firearms License to purchase firearms from estates and individuals. Located in MD -but will travel. I also buy West Point & Naval Academy memorabilia and items from Generals and Admirals. Client testimonials on my website: www.midatlanticmilitaryantiques.com Call, email or text. Tim Frank 703-447-7243 historian1975@gmail.com

WANTED: OLDER VIOLINS, GUITARS, BANJOS, MANDOLINS, UKULELES. Musician/collector will pay cash for older string instruments. Jack (301) 279-2158, leave message & phone number (please speak slowly).

LOOKING TO PURCHASE QUALITY BRIC-A-BRAC AND SMALLS. I collect Royal Copenhagen, Herend, Shelley, English bone china cups and saucers and antique Christmas and Halloween decorations. Have recently changed my look a little and developed an interest in Midcentury pottery and glass and Chinese antiques. Need to clean out a house in a hurry? I may be able to help.

Please call Susan (301) 785-1129.

BUYING VINYL RECORDS from 1950 to 1990 JAZZ, ROCK, BLUES, R&B, DISCO, SOUL, REGGAE, & GOSPEL, ANY VINYL FORMAT 33 1/3 RPM Albums, small 45 RPM’s & some 78 RPM, Also CD’s, Prefer LARGER COLLECTIONS AT LEAST 100 items, PLEASE CALL JOHN 301-596-6201

The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Obituaries; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on page 39.

CAVEAT EMPTOR!

The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment.

EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS:

We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

Business & Employment Opportunities

PT JOB OPPORTUNITY IN SMALL MEDICAL OFFICE working with a healthy population. Need an enthusiastic personality to handle front desk duties (phones/check-in/checkout/scheduling). Must be positive, a self-starter, able to multitask, with excellent customer service and basic computer skills. Shifts are Wed 117 and Fri 9-5. Friendly work environment with fellow seniors! $16/hr. VA Square Metro area in Arlington. Send cover letter and resume to Nadia at jobs@ctmedicine.com

Caregivers

A CARE AGENCY - Been in business for more than 10 years. Experienced nurses, CNAs, GNAs. Any hours you need. Flat rate for live-in. Duties include cooking, housekeeping, bathing, errands, etc. Tel: 667-231-8235

ASSISTED LIVING REFERRER

AGENCY. Lic. ALR0071. Let’s help you find an Assisted Living Home for your loved one. All you have to do is register for our service and leave the rest to us. We are licensed and have been in business for 21years. For more info call Joan:

301-792-9571.

WOODRIDGE ASSISTED LIVING

PLACE. Bed available for a female resident. Level two care, 65-79years, services provided incudes adult day program and all medical third party services. Call Joan for more information 301-792-9571.

A HOME HEALTHCARE- Experienced nurses, CNA, GNA are available 24/7. Cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping, driving. Full/Part-time or live-in care. 15 years’ experience. 2405336599

PROTECT YOUR INCOME WITH LIFE INSURANCE. Protect your legacy, prevent unexpected expenses and prolong your life. Get insured today. I will get you coverage call 202-3156333.

WESLEY FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts. Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 855-626-8703.

UP TO $15,000.00 OF GUARANTEED

LIFE INSURANCE! No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses. Call Physicians Life Insurance Company - 866-212-1092 or visit www.Life55plus.info/beacon

TAX PREPARATION: Licensed CPA for 36 years, reasonable rates, all types of returns. Located in Gaithersburg, MD near Quince Orchard Rd and Great Seneca Hwy. DIANE CHRISTEN CPA; 240-355-1135 cell; dianechristen@aol.com.

VIVINT. SMART SECURITY. Professionally installed. One connected system for total peace of mind. FREE professional installation! Four FREE months of monitoring! Call now to customize your system. 1-844-758-7925.

PUT ON YOUR TV EARS and hear TV with unmatched clarity. TV Ears Original were originally $129.95 - NOW WITH THIS SPECIAL OFFER are only $59.95 with code MCB59! Call 1-833-934-0843.

BURIAL PLOT FOR SALE. National Memorial Park on Lee Hwy in Falls Church, Va. TWO Choice Sites / desirable “Garden of the Last Supper”. Double Depth A&B Sites/ Reg $16,995 for both. Sale: $9,995 for both. Contact Jeff at jpolucci@mieleusa.com. I will call you to discuss when I get your email.

KING DAVID MEMORIAL GARDENS

(JEWISH CEMETERY) For Sale: 2 choice sites in very desirable block (Block 4, Lots 1 and 2). Valued at $7495 each. Will sell for $3995 each or best offer. Call Roberta 410-997-1970.

WHEELCHAIR VAN 2007 Dodge Caravan SE with only 70,500+ miles. Side entry automatic ramp. Lovingly cared for by third owner. Regularly serviced. Front passenger seat may be removed so wheelchair can be next to driver. Special roadside assistance plan available. $19,990. Contact Hank at 301-980-1991

NATIONAL MEMORIAL PARK - Falls Church. One choice lot in desirable Block G. Current value - $8,495. Sale price - $3,995. 703678-8621.

TWO CEMETERY PLOTS AT NATIONAL MEMORIAL PARK, Falls Church, VA. Retails for $6,495 each. Will sell for $2,995 each OBO. Contact David at (336) 508-6648 for more information.

PIANO FOR SALE - Mason & Hamlin. Excellent condition $800. Fairfax area. (703) 850-2426

NATIONAL MEMORIAL PARK, Falls Church, Va. Two choice cemetery sites. Valued at $10,995 each, asking $4,500 each. Contact: Lew Hankes (910)575-0258. Email: hankes@atmc.net

PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES

TODAY with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Money Down + Low Monthly Payment Options. Request a FREE Quote. Call now before the next power outage: 1-866-964-8106.

CONQUER PAIN MASTERCLASS MARCH

2023. This 5 week class will teach natural methods for reducing your pain, your dependence on pills, and methods to break the pain cycle. I am a Physical Therapist who formulates natural products. These will be available at an additional cost. Sign up today for only $97 – price will increase. For more information and to register go to: www.adinaverrett.com/cp-masterclass/. Q’s? Text Adina Verrett Myles, PT at 301-452-4261 www.restored-healthsolutions.com

ONE STEP MOBILITY - Home Mobility

Equipment Sales, Service & Repair! One Step Mobility Can Help You With All Your Home Mobility Needs 24/7: Stair Lifts, Power Chairs, Scooters, Ramps & More. Please call 301-7675070 or visit: onestepmobility.com

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-844-366-1003 www.dental50plus.com/320 #6258.

MOBILEHELP, America’s Premier Mobile Medical Alert System. Whether You’re Home or Away. For Safety and Peace of Mind. No Long Term Contracts! Free Brochure! Call Today! 1240-650-9189.

PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR

May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-851-0949.

STROKE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DIS-

EASE are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening. Special offer - 5 screenings for just $149. Call 1-844-485-7035.

YOU OR YOUR LOVED ONE CAN’T CLIMB STAIRS in your home any longer, contemplating installing a Stairlift? Call Frank for your free quote-703.615.3262

CONSUMER CELLULAR. Switch and save up to $250/year on your talk, text and data. No contract and no hidden fees. Unlimited talk and text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based customer service. Limited time offer - get $50 off on any new account. Use code GIFT50. For more information, call 1-833-742-1303

WANT TO STAY SAFE AND COMFORTABLE IN YOUR HOME as you age? Let a Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist assess your home to determine the best ways to modify it so that you may continue your independence and thrive where you live. Allyson 301-996-6199

IS YOUR SON READY FOR COLLEGE?

During our 3 weeks overnight program he will learn Financial Management Skills, Team Work & Empathy, Cooking & Organic Gardening. This may help him on his future path, knowing he has the trust and respect of mentors. For more info about this unique experience visit our website www.thementoringpath.org or call (240) 338-7049.

DOWNSIZING OR LIQUIDATING AN ESTATE? Doing it yourself? DON’T THROW YOUR MONEY AWAY! Our easy process determines what to keep, gift, sell, donate, or discard. Services include: estate liquidation, downsizing, whole house clean-outs; emptying storage units, junk removal, and estate sales. We buy estates, vehicles, and real estate. Call/text Philip at 301-219-3600 or visit DownsizingSpecialists.com for more information. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure, and we know the difference!

ADULT BEGINNER PIANO LESSONS.

COMPUTER, CELL PHONE & ELECTRONICS HELP For Seniors. We offer patient and thorough help for seniors with all matter of technology. Beacon Customers get 20% off first job! Call Senior Tech Pro at 301-337-0028. Ask for Philip.

PROBLEM WITH YOUR PC/MAC OR NETWORK? Computer Systems Engineer will come to you with help. Call David G. at: 3013282112 / 3016424526

IN-HOME PRIMARY CARE MEDICINE: Ikon Health is a leading provider of primary care medicine for the geriatric and home-bound communities in Montgomery County, MD. We provide patient care from the comfort of your home and accept Medicare and most supplemental insurance plans. Visit our website at www.ikonhealthmd.com or call us at 301-6644209 to learn more about how we can help you.

LIFE INSURANCE, WHOLE LIFE, No medical exams, Cash value, FREE Contract review, DON’T leave your family with debt, but with dollars, insures from 30 days - 85 yrs old, policy won’t decrease, premium won’t increase. Covers Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, etc. CALL TODAY! 202-258-6152

SLOWING DOWN AFTER 41 YEARS OF CONTRACTING. Small to medium jobs mainly residential but will do some commercial. Will work all over DC area. $45.00 an hour from arrival on job. Andy 703-906-5429.

THE GENERAC PWRCELL, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-866-944-0699

SAFE STEP. North America’s #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-866-478-2363.

DON’T LET THE STAIRS LIMIT YOUR MOBILITY! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-866-365-5170.

THE BATHROOM OF YOUR DREAMS for as little as $149/month! BCI Bath & Shower. Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Limited Time Offer - FREE virtual in-home consultation now and SAVE 15%! Call Today! 1-855-653-0087.

Home/Handyman Services Legal

APPLYING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY or Appealing a Denied Claim?

Call Bill Gordon & Assoc. Our case managers simplify the process & work hard to help with your case. Call 1-866-970-0779 FREE Consultation. Local Attorneys Nationwide [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.)]

CIRCLE OF LIFE ESTATE PLANNING WORKBOOK (188 pages) removes the stress and anxiety of Will and Trust preparation. All you need to do is to fill in the blanks that relate to you. When completed, you will have a complete inventory of your estate. Order by credit card to: Workbook, PO BOX 169, Kensington, MD 20895. All major credit cards accepted. (301)565-2917. Cost: $59.99 plus tax, s/h free

Learn to play classical and popular pieces by ear and from music. Classically trained teacher with 40 years’ experience. Price: $40/60 min. Home studio, 2 blocks from Cleveland Park Metro Station, DC. Call or text Neil, 202-6692962.

HOME ORGANIZER I look forward to working with you and helping to make your life more organized and pleasant. Whether you need to bring more order into your office or living space, or whether you are trying to decide what to keep or give away prior to a move, it can be useful to have some experienced help. I would enjoy creating custom solutions for your organizational needs. For more info, call Joanne at 301-5903050 or visit www.OrganizersOnTheMove.com

ORGANIZE, DOWNSIZE, DECLUTTER & MOVE MANAGEMENT. Feeling overwhelmed by paperwork, clutter or the thought of moving? Ask For Help! Maryland Senior Concierge Services - call Christine 301.452.5730 or email ccallahan@mdseniorhelp.com. Asking for help is the first step to true Independence.

DISH NETWORK. $64.99 for 190 Channels! Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo. (where available.) Switch & Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. Call today! 1844-560-5837.

GET DIRECTV for $84.99/mo for 24 months with CHOICE Package. NEW 2 YEAR PRICE GUARANTEE. First 3 months of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and Epix included! Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) Some restrictions apply. Call 1888-572-4953

Legal Services

HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

All classified ads must be submitted and paid for online, via our website, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds

Deadlines and Payments: To appear in the next issue, your ad text and payment must be entered by the 5th of the preceding month (for Baltimore and Howard County editions); by the 20th (for Washington edition).

Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad:

• $25 for 1-250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length). The website will calculate this amount for you.

Note: Maryland contractors must provide a valid MHIC number.

• Each real estate listing qualifies as one ad. • All ads are subject to publisher’s discretion. Payment will be refunded if unacceptable for any reason.