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N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 2 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
Appreciation time It’s definitely feeling like fall around here. comes as the Vic Jose Award is prominently And with Thanksgiving not far away, autumn placed in the office of our managing editor, Barbara Ruben, whose efalways feels like a good time to forts have so much to do with think about appreciation. our winning that award. I have a number of things We have long submitted arto be thankful for this fall, not ticles in the National Mature the least of which is our staff Media Awards writing comhere at the Beacon. And appetition, perhaps the most parently I’m not the only one prestigious of the competiwho thinks they are doing a tions for publications in our wonderful job. niche. This is the competition In the last month, three nathat is often swept by AARP’s tional newspaper and publishBulletin and Magazine. ing organizations have held FROM THE Nearly every year we receive their annual meetings and in- PUBLISHER dustry competitions, show- By Stuart P. Rosenthal one or more Mature Media Awards, and this year we were casing the best-written, besthappy to win three: A Silver Award for our edited and best-designed publications. Because we did very well in those com- Washington February 2011 cover story, “Sex, petitions, I now have a chance both to drugs and HIV after 50” by Barbara Ruben; a show my appreciation for our talented staff Silver Award for Barbara’s August 2011 Washof writers and editors, and to crow a bit for ington cover story, “Buying into a 2nd (or 3rd) career,” and a Merit Award for Carol the honors that the Beacon won. This is the first year we have submitted Sorgen’s cover story, “When grown kids entries in the competition sponsored by move back in,” which ran in both our Baltithe Independent Free Papers of America more and Howard County editions. And most recently, we learned the re(IFPA), a group comprising all types of sults of the North American Mature Pubfree newspapers around the country. We were so pleased to have won two lishers Association (NAMPA) awards, awards in our size category: first place for which are judged by the University of MisFeature Writing, and second place in the souri School of Journalism. There, all four of our Beacon editions Vic Jose Award for General Excellence. The lovely engraved gold desk clock that had award-winning articles in their respec-
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The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Washington area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Greater Baltimore, Howard County and Palm Springs, CA. Readership exceeds 400,000. Subscriptions are available via first-class mail ($36) or third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. D.C. and Maryland residents: add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below. Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. • Publisher/Editor ....................Stuart P. Rosenthal • Associate Publisher..............Judith K. Rosenthal • Vice President of Operations ....Gordon Hasenei • Director of Sales ................................Alan Spiegel • Managing Editor............................Barbara Ruben • Graphic Designer ..............................Kyle Gregory • Assistant Operations Manager ..........Roger King • Advertising Representatives ........Doug Hallock,
tive circulation categories. Our Howard County edition won first place for feature writing with its August 2011 cover story, “He bought a town to preserve it.” Our Baltimore edition, which Sorgen helps write every month, won first place in its circulation category for General Excellence, with the judges saying it “covers all the bases” and that “each page is full of fresh, valuable information for the audience.” Our Greater Washington edition won in a number of categories. Our travel writer Victor Block won first place for travel writing, with the judges saying, “You’ve got to believe Victor Block would be a great traveling companion…It’s a pleasure to accompany him, even in print.” Our columnist Bob Levey won second place in the Senior Issues category because his “personal reflections seem like they’re coming from a trusted friend.” My column “No patience for politics,” which some of you may remember, won first place for Topical Issues, and my columns about my parents’ experiences moving from their home to assisted living won a second place award for Personal Essay. Barbara Ruben’s career story (already noted above) won in this competition as well, with a first place for “How-To Feature,” and another cover story of hers, “If if’s so much fun, is it work?” won third place in the Feature category. Like our Baltimore edition, our Washington edition also won first place in the General Excellence category for its circulation size, with the judges calling it, “an outstanding example of a publication that finds subjects with powerful connections to readers…the overall package is striking.” I was particularly thrilled that our newest edition, the Coachella Valley Beacon, which serves the Palm Springs area of California, also won two awards though it’s less than a year old. And www.theBeaconNewspapers.com won second place for websites, with the judges saying, “The variety and richness of the topics on this site make it inviting…It’s a strong resource for the community.” Of course, whatever awards we do or do not win, what always matters most to us is what our readers think. We value your opinion, always welcome your input, and ask that you share your comments and
suggestions with us via mail, e-mail, phone or fax. We love to hear from you. I want to conclude by expressing my thanks to, and admiration for, the entire Beacon staff, which works so diligently to produce our four editions every month. I’d like to thank them by name for their efforts and devoted contributions to the Beacon: Managing Editor Barbara Ruben, Contributing Editor Carol Sorgen, Director of Operations Gordon Hasenei, Director of Sales Alan Spiegel, Graphic Designer Kyle Gregory, Asst. Operations Manager (and webmaster) Roger King, Advertising Representatives Doug Hallock, Steve Levin, Cheryl Watts, Dan Kelly and Jill Joseph, and last but certainly not least, my wife and Associate Publisher Judy Rosenthal. We also are grateful for the many contributions of our talented freelancers, including Robert Friedman and Anne Ball in Howard County, Connie George in Coachella Valley, travel writers Victor Block and Glenda Booth, theater reviewer Michael Toscano, and freelance photographer Frank Klein. The Beacon would not exist without all of their efforts, or without your reading our publications. My appreciation goes out to all of you.
Corrections We apologize that the article on vaccines in our October issue failed to mention that a doctor’s prescription may be required for a pneumonia vaccine. We also apologize for a wrong digit in the phone number we printed for our Expo information line, and offer our greatest thanks to the kind gentleman whose number it turned out to be, as he researched our correct number and gave it out to all callers.
Attn: Advertisers The 2013 edition of the Montgomery County Seniors’ Resource Guide will be printed in December, with 50,000 copies distributed free of charge throughout the county starting in January. If you would like advertising information about this popular publication, please call (301) 949-9766 or email Alan@thebeaconnewspapers.com.
Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.
................................................Dan Kelly, Cheryl Watts
The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (301) 949-9766 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com Website: www.theBeaconNewspapers.com Submissions: The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 10th of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 15th of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 62 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions.
© Copyright 2012 The Beacon Newspapers, Inc.
Dear Editor: While I agree with Bob Levey that individuals over 70 years of age have much to offer in the way of wisdom and judgment when serving on juries (“Don’t exempt older jurors, use them more,” October), there is a downside to being forced to do so.
The location of many courts prove to be, if not a bar, a difficult journey, particularly when the hour required is early as is true in most cases. As an octogenarian, I would be hardSee LETTERS TO EDITOR, page 61