april 2011 dc beacon edition

By Barbara RubenIn 1975, Jackie and Charlie Reed bought

a large Victorian rowhouse in the LoganCircle neighborhood of Northwest Wash-ington. By the time they finally finishedrenovating it eight years later, their oldestchild was a senior in high school.

Charlie advocated selling the seven bed-room house, which was built in 1877. ButJackie hated to part with the stained glasswindows and the original wood panelingthey had restored.

“I realized our house would make agreat bed and breakfast. I said that to myhusband, and he said, ‘Over my deadbody,’” she recalled.

But a neighbor had relatives visitingfrom France and not enough room to ac-commodate them. The Reeds took them in,and more houseguests followed over time.

Soon, Jackie and Charlie discoveredthey loved having lively conversations andmaking friends from around the world.“Washington is just a great place to meetpeople from all over,” Jackie noted.

They soon officially dubbed their bur-geoning business the Aaron Shipman Innafter the house’s builder, and it has becomethe longest operating bed and breakfast(also known as a B&B) in Washington, D.C.

“Our guests become like our family,”said Jackie, now 63. That’s more than a fig-ure of speech. Two guests who met eachother at the inn later married each other.

And another guest who lives in Africareturned to Washington to have her chil-dren, using the Aaron Shipman Inn as ahome base. The Reeds were recently invit-ed to the wedding of one of the children.

An easy business to startThere are about 30 to 35 bed-and-break-

fast inns in the District of Columbia, ac-cording to Steven Lucas, manager of Bedand Breakfast D.C., a reservation service.“There’s less than a handful in the Mary-land suburbs such as Bethesda,” he said.

The Alexandria and Arlington Bed andBreakfast Network lists 22 bed and break-fasts in the northern Virginia area, a numberof which having as few as one guest room.

There are no exact figures on the numberof B&Bs in our area or nationally. “It’s alwaysa number in flux because it’s a very easy

business to get in and out of,” said Jay Karen,the executive director of the Professional As-sociation of Innkeepers International.

Despite the recession, the number ofbed and breakfasts has stayed fairly con-sistent, he said. That’s because people aretaking more weekend trips regionally,where they are more likely to book a B&Binstead of a hotel.

Many B&B owners today are over 50,Karen said. That’s because “opening bedand breakfasts was a very hot thing to doin the late 80s and 90s, and a lot of thosefolks have been doing it for 10 to 15 years.”

Paulette Siegrist is one of them. In fact, at88 (and one-half, as she likes to point out) she

may be the oldest B&B owner in the area.Siegrist opened Corcoran Street Bed

and Breakfast in her 1873 rowhouse nearLogan Circle 16 years ago after retiringfrom a job as a court reporter in Chicago.She moved to Washington, buying thehouse next door to her daughter.

But she discovered that being retiredmeant “the money you have now is not themoney you had then,” Siegrist said. Hav-ing a business based on her home is “agreat addition that you can use to keepyour house up and live the way you want.”

Siegrist opened two of her unused bed-

The F R E E

VOL.23, NO.4

I N F O C U S F O R P E O P L E O V E R 5 0More than 200,000 readers throughout Greater Washington APRIL 2011

Charlie and Jackie Reed decided to turn their 19th century row house near Logan Cir-cle into a bed and breakfast rather than sell it. Today, the Aaron Shipman House hasthe distinction of being the District’s longest running B&B. A number of the area’s 60or so guesthouses have had similar starts and are operated by owners over 50.

See B&Bs, page 36

I N S I D E …

FITNESS & HEALTH 4k Do you need that medical test?k Drug slows prostate cancer

LAW & MONEY 24k Investing in the next big thingk “Worthless” stock may not be

VOLUNTEERS & CAREERS 34

SPOTLIGHT ON AGING 38k Newsletter for D.C. seniors

PLUS CROSSWORD, BEACONBITS, CLASSIFIEDS & MORE

L E I S U R E & T R A V E LA natural beauty beyond wordsin Alaska; plus, volunteers mixaltruism with global travel toenjoy “voluntourism”

page 47

A R T S & S T Y L ERevisit Richie and the Fonz ina musical based on the “HappyDays” television show; plus,Helen Mirren relishes arevitalized career, Cirque duSoleil plays under the big top,and Bob Levey reveals the prosand cons of white hair

page 40

The ins and outs of innkeeping

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Are we under attack?Are powerful forces in the country and

Congress out to eliminate, orat lease decimate, the most ef-fective and efficient federalprograms that feed, transportand preserve the health andwellbeing of America’s sen-iors?

Well, yes and no.The word “cut” can be ap-

plied in many ways. I think wecan all agree that a 64 percentreduction in the budget of along-time program that trainsthousands of low-income sen-iors and temporarily employs them consti-tutes a cut.

But what about a program that’s beensupplemented by stimulus funds for twoyears? Is it “cut” when the extra moneydries up?

It is if you ask any of the people whowere able to get off long waiting lists andobtain services thanks to the stimulusfunds. But it’s not a true cut if you look atthe program’s base spending levels overtime.

Is a program that has received annual

increases for so many years that it simplybudgets for modest growth “cut” when it

doesn’t receive its expectedappropriation?

It feels like it, especiallywhen you take into accountthe effects of inflation andthe growing wait lists fornearly every program.

Or ask the millions of So-cial Security recipients whodidn’t receive a COLA (costof living increase) for thepast two years (and may wellnot see any increase in theirchecks for a third year, either

— see this month’s Money & Law sectioninside).

Call me a heretic — I’m sure many willdo that and worse — but I can see bothsides of the current federal budget battle. Ifind our exploding federal deficits — $1.65trillion this year alone — to be alarming.But I’m also terribly upset by the likely ef-fects of steps to reduce the deficit.

That means I see the situation as a clas-sic dilemma: whatever steps we take, evenno steps at all, will be painful. There’s nogetting around it, this won’t be easy.

Whether Congress ends up cutting $10billion or $30 billion or $60 billion from thecurrent year’s budget, millions of peoplewill find they lose valuable benefits.

And yet, as painful as the cuts will be tothe individuals and groups that lose fund-ing, the effect looks pitifully weak com-pared to the size of the deficit. Even $60billion in cuts would reduce this year’sdeficit by only around 4 percent; $10 bil-lion by less than 1 percent.

So, can’t we just keep things as they are?Would our [fill-in-the-blank] program’stiny contribution to the deficit really be no-ticed?

That raises the question of why wearen’t acting to modify the programs thatreally affect the federal budget in a bigway: Social Security, Medicare and Medi-caid.

I have written about Social Security fre-quently in this column. I’ve tried to explainhow this ostensibly pay-as-you-go program— and yes, one into which most Ameri-cans have paid into considerably over mostof our lives — has begun to add to our fed-eral deficit. And these additions to thedeficits will grow tremendously over thenext 20 years as 68 million baby boomersretire while our workforce shrinks.

This problem is real despite (or really be-cause of) the “trust fund” we hear so much

about. But that’s for another column.I have also written before about

Medicare, and how our recent efforts to“reform” healthcare will actually reduceMedicare’s necessary funding for seniorsby $500 billion over the coming decade.We haven’t begun to see the effects of thatmove on the deficit, but we will soon.

Yes, it’s difficult to feel the pain from ourdeficit spending, but we mustn’t fool our-selves. When outlays exceed revenue bytrillions (even mere hundreds of billions)year after year, the piper will eventuallyhave to get paid. And then we — and ourchildren — will all suffer. It can’t really beany other way.

The time has come — truly, it cameyears ago — to start reining in our expens-es or to compensate by raising taxes orlimiting many programs to those in trueneed.

Those of us who are senior advocatescannot continue to unequivocally supportnew and existing programs while askingfor more tax breaks and fighting modestrevisions to Social Security. If we aren’tpart of the solution, we’re part of theproblem.

Out on a limb, again

Dear Editor:I thank you for the feature article on the

Arlington Ladies (March cover story).What a wonderful group! They are truly inservice to our brave servicemen andwomen and their families.

However, the Army escorts for theLadies are from the 3rd Infantry Regiment(The Old Guard), not the 3rd Infantry Di-vision. The Old Guard is the oldest regi-ment in the Army and conducts all theburials at Arlington.

Michael BerginAlexandria, Va.

Dear Editor:Any proposed gasoline tax increase is

uncalled for and will create a unnecessaryburden on the citizens of MontgomeryCounty that are already overtaxed, as thiscounty is one of the highest tax payingcounties in the United States.

The proposed 23.5 cent a gallon tax in-crease will spell a disaster for the citizensof this county and state who depend ontheir automobile to get around.

With gasoline going up almost everyday toward the $5 a gallon mark and possi-bly higher, a tax increase will cause onlyundue hardships and contribute to upcom-ing inflation.

Such an unwise move will cause a high-er unemployment rate as well and hurtsmall business trying to survive in thisbleak economy

Al EisnerSilver Spring, Md.

Dear Editor:I hope Bob Levey’s friend (“Father asks,

share the wealth now or later?” March) de-cides to give money to the daughter withthe special needs child so she can buy ahouse soon. He doesn’t say why the otherdaughter lacks funds to start a business.

If he’d given the first daughter $13,000on December 31, 2010, and more wasneeded to buy a house (likely), he couldhave given her up to another $13,000 taxfree on January 1, 2011. They won’t get abetter deal on buying a house than theycould this year.

Maybe I overestimate the cost of nursesand equipment for the child—maybe Leveyunderestimates the emotional strain on theparents of having such a child. Maybethey’ve had to forego another child.

Surely this couple in their 30s is alreadybehind the lifestyle (besides homeowner-ship) that most of us enjoyed at that age,

2 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com A P R I L 2 0 1 1 — WA SH I NG TON BEACON

FROM THEPUBLISHERBy Stuart P. Rosenthal

Letters to the editorReaders are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in theBeacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter tothe Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or e-mailto [email protected]. You may also submit letters via the“Contact us” link on our website: www.theBeaconNewspapers.com. Pleaseinclude your name, address and telephone number for verification.

See LETTERS TO EDITOR, page 52

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WASH I NG TON BEACON — AP R I L 2 0 1 1 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com 3

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By Lauran NeergaardCall them brain pacemakers — tiny im-

plants that hold promise for fighting toughpsychiatric diseases, if scientists can justfigure out where to put them in all thatgray matter.Deep brain stimulation, or DBS, has

proved a powerful way to block the tremorsof Parkinson’s disease, working immediate-ly to deliver relief.Blocking mental illness isn’t nearly as

easy a task. “It’s not [like flipping] a lightswitch,” cautioned Dr. Michael Okun of theUniversity of Florida.But a push is on to expand research into

how well these brain stimulators tackle themost severe cases of depression, obses-sive-compulsive disorder and Tourette’ssyndrome — to know best how to usethem before too many doctors and patientsclamor to try.Unlike with Parkinson’s patients, the

psychiatric patients who respond to DBStend to improve gradually, sometimes totheir frustration.And just because the tics of Tourette’s

fade or depression lightens doesn’t meanpatients can abandon traditional therapy.They also need help learning to function,

much as recipients of hip replacements un-dergo physical therapy, said Dr. HelenMayberg of Emory University.“Once your brain is returned to you,

now you have to learn to use it,” she toldthe annual meeting of the American Asso-ciation for the Advancement of Science.

How brain stimulation worksRoughly 70,000 people around the world

have undergone deep brain stimulation forParkinson’s or other movement disorderswhen standard medications fail, saidOkun, among leading researchers whogathered at the meeting to assess the field.How does it work? Surgeons implant a

wire deep in the brain. Tiny electrical jolts— running from a pacemaker-like genera-tor near the collarbone up the neck to thatelectrode — disable overactive nerve cellsto curb the shaking.Scientists figured out which spot to tar-

get based on surgery that sometimeshelps worst-case Parkinson’s patients bydestroying patches of brain tissue.But with deep brain stimulation, the

electrodes don’t destroy that tissue. Theelectrical signals can be adjusted or eventurned off if they don’t help, or if they

cause neurological side effects. (The im-planting surgery, however, does some-times cause dangerous brain bleeding orinfections.)Psychiatric illnesses require a similar op-

eration — but surgeons must implant theelectrode into a different spot in the brain.There’s the rub: It’s not clear which spot

is best for which psychiatric disease. Infact, two manufacturers — Medtronic andSt. Jude Medical — have begun majorstudies of DBS’ effects on depression.Each places the implant in a different re-gion, based on promising pilot studies.In 2009, the Food and Drug Administra-

tion approved Medtronic’s version for asmall group of obsessive-compulsive pa-tients who get no relief from today’s treat-ments. The approval came under a specialprogram that lets devices for rare conditionssell before there’s final proof that they work.Dr. Joseph Fins, medical ethics chief at

New York Presbyterian Hospital, worriesthat speedy FDA action may hurt efforts toobtain needed proof. The more availablethe electrodes are, the more people mayseek to try the $30,000 surgeries withoutenrolling in strict studies where they mayreceive a placebo.

Helps depression, OCDHow good is the evidence so far? The re-

searchers are pushing for a registry totrack DBS recipients to better tell, butoverall they’re cautiously optimistic.Just over 60 people with intractable ob-

sessive-compulsive disorder have under-gone DBS since 2000, said Dr. BenjaminGreenberg, a Brown University psychia-trist who is heading a major study fundedby the National Institute of Mental Health.About three-fourths of the first few dozen

patients studied significantly improved,some for as long as eight years. “You stillhave a burden, but you have a life,” is howhe described the improvement.These are people who try to relieve

fears or anxiety with obsessive behavior,such as washing their hands or checkinglocks repeatedly. Many of them never gotout of the house because their daily ritualsconsumed so much time, Greenberg said.They’d failed behavior therapy designed toteach that whatever they fear doesn’t hap-pen if they skip the ritual.But with the brain pacemaker, somehow

that behavior therapy starts working,


By Marilynn MarchionneOrthopedic CT scans, MRIs and other

pricey imaging tests are often performedmore for the doctor’s benefit than the pa-tient’s, new research confirms.Roughly one-fifth of tests that bone and

joint specialists order are because a doctorfears being sued, not because the patientneeds them, a first-of-its-kind study in Penn-sylvania suggests. The study comes on theheels of a push to overhaul state medicalmalpractice laws as a way to reduce unnec-essary tests that drive up healthcare costs.“This study is a glimpse behind the cur-

tain of what’s happening in a doctor’smind,” said Dr. John Flynn of Children’sHospital of Philadelphia, who led the study.If doctors sense you might second-guessthem or cause trouble, “you could potential-ly be risking more tests being done.”

Worrisome radiation exposurePatients expect the highest level of care

and think this means the most advancedtechnology, Flynn said. Many patients feelbetter when a doctor orders lots of tests —until they get the bill.Besides hurting your wallet and adding

to healthcare costs, unnecessary or “de-fensive” tests can expose people to radia-tion that accumulates over a lifetime andcan raise the risk of cancer.Ordinary X-rays are rarely a concern, but

an MRI, or magnetic resonance imagingscan, can cost $1,000 or more. And super-sharp, three-dimensional images called CTscans are even more expensive and can in-volve radiation doses equal to 100 X-rays ormore, depending on body part.Yet doctors often order tests they don’t

really think a patient needs because theyfear being sued if the diagnosis is wrong orthey miss detecting a problem.Previous studies of how often this hap-

pens have relied on doctor surveys. This isthe first one to enlist doctors in advance to

track their decisions over time.It involved 72 orthopedic surgeons

throughout Pennsylvania who tracked teststhey ordered on 2,068 patients, mostlyadults, in ordinary office visits, emergencyrooms and other settings. Doctors checkeda box saying a test was either required forclinical care or done “for defensive reasons.”Defensive imaging accounted for 20 per-

cent of total tests — 11 percent of X-rays,38 percent of MRIs, 33 percent of CTscans, 57 percent of bone scans and 53 per-cent of ultrasounds.Defensive medicine also accounted for 35

percent of costs, nearly all of it fromMRIs.One example: a torn meniscus— a knee

cartilage injury that is a leading reason forknee surgery. Studies have shown that adoctor’s judgment based on symptoms andan exam is even better than an MRI to di-agnose the condition. Yet patients hardlyever go to surgery without having the im-aging test, Flynn said.

Newer docs order fewer testsSurprisingly, the study found that newer

doctors were less likely to be defensive.

SLOWING PROSTATE CANCERDrug that slows cancer growth may bealternative to aggressive treatment

DIFFERENT STROKES…Stroke rates drop for those over 65, butrise alarmingly for the young

KEEPING AN EYE ON DISEASEHigh-tech contacts may help keep tabson glaucoma and diabetes

COFFEE, THE NEW HEALTH DRINKCoffee is packed with antioxidants andcan also inhibit diabetes

HealthFitness &

Is that test really necessary, doctor?

Brain ‘pacemakers’ to treat mental illness

See UNNECESSARY TESTS, page 5

See BRAIN PACEMAKER, page 5

What to askbefore a

medical test• Is it truly needed? How will it

change my care?• Have you or another doctor

done this test on me before?• Does the test involve much ra-

diation, and is there an alternativethat does not?• How many images are needed?• Do you have a financial stake in

the machines that will be used?

WASH I NG TON BEACON — AP R I L 2 0 1 1 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Fitness & Health 5

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“That’s counterintuitive,” Flynn said.“You would expect when you’re new inpractice, not as trustful of your clinicaljudgment, you’d order more.”Doctors who have been sued in the last

five years were more likely to order testsdefensively, said Robert Miller, a TempleUniversity medical student who helpedlead the study and presented the results ata recent orthopedic conference. The au-thors said similar studies are needed ondefensive imaging in other specialties.Dr. Lawrence Wells, a Philadelphia sur-

geon who participated in the study, saiddoctors learn to develop “a radar” for prob-

lem patients. “It’s disheartening” to besued, he said.“Someone’s accusing you of a bad out-

come or a wrong,” and that can affect how adoctor behaves the next time he sees a simi-lar case. Patients need to trust their doctor’sjudgment on what is needed, Wells said.In February, President Obama made a

budget proposal that includes money tohelp states rewrite their malpractice lawsso doctors don’t feel the need to act so de-fensively. Possible measures include capson damage awards.The administration also has proposed

health courts where specially trainedjudges rather than juries would decidesuch cases.

— AP

Unnecessary testsFrom page 4

Greenberg said —maybe by enabling theirbrains to better remember the lessons.One big hurdle: The battery, tucked

near the collarbone, tends to last less thantwo years. Changing it entails outpatientsurgery, one reason that about a third ofstudied patients stop getting zapped.Greenberg just began testing a newer ver-sion that patients can recharge every fewdays.

Results on about 100 DBS patients withsevere depression have been published sofar, and roughly half improve regardless ofwhich of the two targeted brain regions iszapped, said Emory’s Mayberg, whoshares a patent licensed to St. Jude.Separately, she’s now studying what the

successfully treated brains have in com-mon that might help predict the best can-didates, hoping to ease “a tremendous bur-den on the patients” as they decidewhether to try these experiments.

— AP

Brain pacemakerFrom page 4

DISCUSSING END-OF-LIFE ISSUES

Montgomery County Coalition on End-of-Life Care invites you to

Consider the Conversation, a documentary film and panel discussion on Thursday,

April 7 at 6:30 p.m. The free event will be held at the Silver Spring Civic Building

at One Veteran’s Plaza (at the intersection of Fenton St. and Ellsworth Dr.) in

Silver Spring, Md. For more information about the coalition and/or the event, con-

tact Shawn Brennan at (240) 777-1350 or visit www.mccelc.org.

BEACON BITS

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Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this form to:The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227

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Win a $50 CVS gift card!Complete the address info below and return this coupon to the

Beacon to enter a random drawing for a CVS gift card.Please only request housing information if you are interested.

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One entry per person, please.

More are eligiblefor shinglesvaccine

Last month, the Food and Drug Admin-istration extended its approval of the shin-gles vaccine to those age 50 to 59. The vac-cine, called Zostavax, is already approvedfor people 60 and older.“The likelihood of shingles increases

with age. The availability of Zostavax to ayounger age group provides an additionalopportunity to prevent this often painfuland debilitating disease,” said Karen

Midthun, director of the FDA’s center forbiologics.Shingles causes blisters and severe pain

that can last from several weeks to years.The illness is caused by the same virusthat causes chicken pox. The virus liesdormant for years in the nervous systemof those who once had chicken pox, butcan reappear in the form of shingles forreasons that are not entirely understood.The FDA said in a statement that it ap-

proved the drug based on a 22,000-patientstudy in which Zostavax decreased the riskof shingles by 70 percent. Side effects withthe vaccine were minor, including redness,pain and swelling at the injection site.Shingles affects roughly 200,000 people

in the U.S. each year between the ages of50 and 59.

[For more information about shingles andthe vaccine, see “Explaining shingles, andhow to avoid it” in the January Beacon.]

— AP

Pep up workoutswith scents, musicLooking to power up your workout?

Rather than buying new tennis shoes or aheart-rate monitor, you can use your sens-es to add exercise oomph — withoutspending a cent.Next time you hop on your bike, try dab-

bing a few drops of peppermint essentialoil on your wrists. Smelling peppermintcan help you ride harder and faster, uppingyour caloric burn by 15 percent. A study

conducted at Wheeler Jesuit Universityfound that athletes who sniffed mint ranfaster, gripped stronger, and pumped outmore push-ups.The scent of jasmine can boost perform-

ance, too. When bowlers in a study wore amask emitting the scent of jasmine, theirscores improved.“We think these two scents jolt the retic-

ular activating system, a part of the brainthat makes you feel more alert,” said AlanHirsch of the Smell and Taste Treatmentand Research Foundation in Chicago.A pep-o-mint Lifesaver might salvage a

lackluster workout session. “Chewing onminty gum or a Lifesaver can have thesame effect, since taste and smell are so

6 Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com A P R I L 2 0 1 1 — WA SH I NG TON BEACON

Health Shorts

See HEALTH SHORTS, page 7

SUPPORT FOR BLADDER CANCER PATIENTSThe Wellness Community is now providing support for bladdercancer patients with a new monthly support group and education-

al workshops. Anyone interested in attending the monthly support group mustfirst attend a “Welcome to Wellness” orientation session. These sessions areheld every Monday at 11 a.m. and every other Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. Aneducation program on bladder cancer surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, May 3 at6 p.m. To register for an orientation session or the education program, [email protected] or (301) 493-5002. The Wellness Communityis located at 5430 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 100, Bethesda, Md.

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closely connected,” said Hirsch.Why do so many gym rats wear ear-

phones? The sound of music blocksnerves from signaling body fatigue andperception of effort, said Costas Kara-georghis of Brunel University in London.You can boost your effort by up to 10 per-cent and your endurance by up to 15 per-cent by listening to upbeat tunes, particu-larly songs with 120-140 beats per minute.Get the sense of touch into the act by

taking your routine outside. “Thanks towind and terrain changes, which you feelagainst your body and under your feet,your heart rate is on average 5 to 10 beatsper minute higher,” said John Porcari ofthe University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse.“You burn 10 to 15 percent more calories.”Exercising outside has other potential

benefits. Not only are several senses ac-tively engaged in a natural environment,but your mind is also diverted by the con-stant change of scenery — leading to lessboredom, more enjoyment and, conse-quently, a better workout.

— Psychology Today

Disasters affectelders the mostThe oldest segment of Japan’s popula-

tion will likely be the hardest hit as a resultof the recent earthquake and subsequenttsunami, based on data from previous cata-strophic events. Approximately 23 percentof Japanese citizens currently are age 65and above.“Japan’s population — with the highest

proportion of older people in any country— gives us an indicator of where the worldas a whole is headed,” said James Appleby,

executive director of the GerontologicalSociety of America. “The significance ofthis demographic shift and the severity ofthe tsunami’s effects are highlighted bythe numerous reports showing that sen-iors suffer disproportionately during natu-ral disasters.”For example, the May 12, 2008, earth-

quake in Wenchuan, China, was associatedwith a twofold increase in the one-yearmortality among a group of nonagenariansthat lived nearby, according to a study pub-lished in March 2011 issue of The Journalof Gerontology Series A: Biological andMedical Sciences.Similarly, the spring 2006 edition of Pub-

lic Policy & Aging Report reported thatthree quarters of those who perished inHurricane Katrina were over the age of 60.There also is a growing field of litera-

ture that outlines steps for elder disasterpreparedness in the face of an emergency.The Public Policy & Aging Report demon-strated that geographic information sys-

tems are able to map patterns of vulnera-bility in advance, allowing policymakersand first-responders to intervene both ef-fectively and efficiently when disasterstrikes.Additionally, multi-tiered evacuation

plans, pre-existing social networks, and“go-kits” can be used to assist elders atcritical moments.

These kits may include detailed contactinformation for family members; contactinformation for relevant healthcareproviders; high-nutrient foods; and aweek’s supply of all prescription and over-the-counter medications, including a list ofmedications, the required dosage, andtimes of administration.

— Gerontological Society of America


Health shortsFrom page 6

INTIMACY AFTER 60Understand the bene-fits of maintaining

intimacy, learn how to re-approachbuilding a relationship, and get infor-mation on safety measures at a freelecture, sponsored by VirginiaHospital Center on Friday, April 22from 11 a.m. to noon. The event willbe at 601 S. Carlin Springs Rd.,Arlington, Va. Call (703) 558-6859to RSVP.

ANTI-AGING SKINCAREPublic health nurseAleena Trueheart will

discuss ways to care for skin and takea critical look at some exaggeratedclaims on Thursday, April 14 at 10:30a.m. at Langston-Brown Senior Center,2121 N. Culpeper St., Arlington, Va.,(703) 228-6300. The free program willbe repeated on Thursday, April 21 at10:15 a.m. at Walter Reed SeniorCenter, 2909 S. 16th St., Arlington,Va., (703) 228-0955.

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By Marilynn MarchionneA new medical study suggests a way to

help men with early, low-risk prostate canceravoid being overtreated for a disease that inmost cases will never threaten their lives. Itfound that a drug can slow the growth ofthese tumors in men who opt to be moni-tored instead of having treatment right away.This is the first time that a drug for

treating enlarged prostates also has beenshown to help treat prostate cancer in arigorous study.It may persuade more men to choose ac-

tive surveillance, or “watchful waiting,” in-stead of rushing to have treatments thatcan leave them with urinary or sexualproblems, doctors say.However, the results also show that

most of these men do very well with notreatment at all. “We’re identifying menwho are not likely to need even a pill,” saidDr. Maha Hussain, a University of Michi-gan cancer specialist.But Americans fear cancer so much that

they want some kind of treatment and un-derestimate the financial and medical risksof treating low-risk cases, she added.

Half of cases are low-riskRoughly half of the 218,000 men diag-

nosed each year in the United States withprostate cancer have low-risk disease —PSA blood levels under 10 and low tumoraggressiveness scores.“The American view of cancer” is that it’s

always best to treat, so about 80 percent of

these men with low risk choose to havetreatment right away, said Dr. Otis Brawley,a prostate cancer expert who is chief med-ical officer of the American Cancer Society.In Europe, though, most choose watch-

ful waiting — close monitoring, moving totreatment only if the cancer progresses orcauses pain or other problems.Doctors know that drugs that shrink the

prostate — GlaxoSmithKline PLC’s Avo-dart and Merck & Co.’s Proscar — canhelp prevent prostate cancer. But federalhealth advisers recently recommendedagainst taking them for this purpose be-cause of other potential risks.The new study tested Avodart “not to

prevent cancer, but to prevent the progres-sion” of it in men who already have the dis-ease, which may be a much better use ofsuch drugs, said the study’s leader, Dr.Neil Fleshner of Princess Margaret Hospi-tal in Toronto.“We know the vast majority of these men

are not destined to die from that cancer,”and wanted to see if Avodart could make“watchful waiting” safer, Fleshner said.The study enrolled about 300 men in the

United States and Canada with low-risk can-cer that was confirmed by a biopsy. Theywere given daily Avodart or dummy pillsand new biopsies 11/2 and three years later.Prostate cancer got worse in 38 percent

of men taking Avodart and 49 percent of

those on dummy pills. Final biopsiesshowed no signs of cancer in 36 percent ofmen on Avodart versus 23 percent of thoseon dummy pills.Doctors say this last result shows how

tiny many of these cancers were to startwith — that they couldn’t even be foundwhen new biopsies were done.

Not a cureDoctors don’t think Avodart can cure

cancers, but it seems to suppress it, saidDr. Howard Sandler, a prostate cancer spe-cialist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center inLos Angeles.Researchers gave no details on Avodart’s

side effects, but said no new ones appearedin the study. Avodart and Proscar are knownto cause sexual problems for somemen, butmany men over 50 have this anyway andonly about 5 percent more do when takingthese drugs, said Brawley, who helped testAvodart for cancer prevention.The new study was sponsored by Avo-

dart’s maker, GlaxoSmithKline. Avodartand Proscar cost about $4 a pill; genericversions of Proscar are available for about$2. Proscar is similar to Avodart but hasnot been tested for treating early cancer asthis study did.Sandler said Avodart might relieve some


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HEALTH FAIR WITH FREE SCREENINGSMontgomery General Hospital will host its annual health fair onSaturday, April 30 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be free

bone density and blood pressure screenings, body mass measurement, a limitednumber of spaces available for cholesterol and vascular screenings, and muchmore. The hospital is located at 18101 Prince Philip Dr., Olney, Md. Call (301)774-8881 to register.

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men’s anxiety about monitoring their dis-ease, and may make them more comfort-able not having immediate treatment.“If it was me, I’d choose active surveil-

lance,” he said. Avodart “has the potentialto be an important help.”For more information on prostate can-

cer see www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/prostate and http://tinyurl.com/ASCOanswers. A risk calculator: is avail-able at http://tinyurl.com/riskcalculator.

WA SH I NG TON BEACON — AP R I L 2 0 1 1 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Fitness & Health 9

A poor prostatecancer predictor

A rising PSA level isn’t such a goodpredictor of prostate cancer after alland can lead to many unnecessarybiopsies, says a large new study.Most men over 50 get PSA blood

tests, but they’re hugely problematic.Too much PSA, or prostate-specific

antigen, only sometimes signalsprostate cancer is brewing — it maysimply point to a benign enlargedprostate or an infection. And screen-ing often detects small tumors that willprove too slow-growing to be deadly.Yet there’s no sure way to tell in ad-vance who needs aggressive therapy.On the other hand, some men have

cancer despite a “normal” PSA count of 4or below. So for PSAs that are rising, yetstill in the normal range, some guide-lines urge doctors to consider a biopsy.How quickly the PSA number rises

is something “that patients and doc-tors worry a lot about,” said Dr. An-drew Vickers of Memorial Sloan-Ket-tering Cancer Center. “Men show uphere with a PSA of 2 and we say, `Whyare you here?’ And they say, `Well, Iused to be a 1 and my doctor’s wor-ried. Am I going to die?”‘So Sloan-Kettering researchers

studied whether considering PSA ve-

locity adds value to the biopsy-or-notdecision in those otherwise low-riskmen — and concluded that it doesn’t.“This is a really important study,”

said Dr. Otis Brawley of the AmericanCancer Society, who wasn’t part of theresearch. “A lot of doctors are going tostop looking at a PSA rise of 1 and or-dering biopsies.”Vickers’ team tracked 5,519 men

who’d taken part in a huge prostatecancer prevention study and who’d re-ceived a biopsy at the study’s end re-gardless of their PSA level.Just having a rising PSA — if noth-

ing else was considered — was associ-ated with a slightly higher risk of hav-ing cancer, although not the moreworrisome aggressive kind. But thePSA level alone, not its rise, was amuch better predictor of a tumor, re-ported Vickers, a statistician who spe-cializes in prostate cancer.Focusing on PSA’s rise instead trig-

gered many more biopsies, with closeto 1 in 7 men who would get one, con-cluded the study, published in the Jour-nal of the National Cancer Institute.That compares with 1 in 20 men whoare biopsied for a high PSA level alone.

— AP

Prostate drugFrom page 8

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Admit it. We all take forgranted the simple things inlife— going shopping, cook-ing, playing with the grandkids,even a walk on a Spring day.But for the approximately 27million Americans1 who eachday deal with the symptomsof osteoarthritis, these activi-ties are not always so simple.For some people, joint painand stiffness may becomesevere enough to makegetting through the daydifficult.2

Cartilage: The crux ofthe issueOsteoarthritis is a chronic, orongoing, disease characterizedby the breakdown of cartilagein the joints.3 This means thatas cartilage wears away, bonesbegin to rub together.3 The re-sult may cause pain, stiffness,or even loss of movement.3

We don’t know what causesosteoarthritis, but we doknow that factors suchas being overweight, ag-ing, or having a joint injurycan make you more likely toexperience OA symptoms.2

“There is no known cure forosteoarthritis,” said MichaelYaffe, M.D., medical directorof the McConnell ExecutiveHealth & Wellness Programin Columbus, Ohio. “However,painful osteoarthritis symp-toms can be treated in vari-ous ways, including exercise,healthy weight loss and medi-cation. Talk to your health careprofessional to discuss pos-sible symptoms and availabletreatment options.”

Making Smart Moves toManage OsteoarthritisA new website (www.Arthri-tisSmartMoves.com) is nowavailable to provide inspirationfrom real people, who are man-aging osteoarthritis symptoms,and advice from experts whooffer encouragement along theway.

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SMART MOVES FOROSTEOARTHRITIS

1 Helmick, C., Felson, D., Lawrence, R., Gabriel, S., et al. Estimates of thePrevalence of Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Conditions in the United States.Arthritis & Rheumatism 58(1), 15-25. 2008.

2 Mayo Clinic. Osteoarthritis: Causes. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/osteo-arthritis/DS00019/DSECTION=causes. Accessed February 2009.

3 Arthritis Foundation. Osteoarthritis: What is it? http://www.arthritis.org/disease-center.php?disease_id=32 Accessed April 16, 2010.

By Marilynn MarchioneStrokes are rising dramatically among

young and middle-aged Americans whiledropping in older people, a sign that theobesity epidemic may be starting to shiftthe age burden of the disease.The numbers, reported at an American

Stroke Association conference, come fromthe first large nationwide study of strokehospitalizations by age. Government re-searchers compared hospitalizations in1994 and 1995 with ones in 2006 and 2007.The sharpest increase — 51 percent —

was among men 15 through 34. Strokesrose among women in this age group, too,but not as fast — 17 percent.“It’s definitely alarming,” said Dr. Ralph

Sacco, American Heart Association presi-dent and a neurologist at the University ofMiami. “We have worried for a while thatthe increased prevalence of obesity in chil-dren and young adults may take its toll incardiovascular disease and stroke,” andthat appears to be happening, he said.Stroke still takes its highest toll by far

on older people. For those over 65, therewere nearly 300 stroke cases among10,000 hospitalizations in the more recentperiod studied.For males 15 to 34, there were about 15

stroke cases per 10,000, and for girls andwomen in that age group there were about4 per 10,000.Several small studies had recently sug-

gested an ominous rise among the youngand among middle-aged women. “We wereinterested in whether we could pick thatup in a much larger, nationwide dataset,”said Dr. Mary George, a stroke researcherat the U.S. Centers for Disease Controland Prevention.

Age and gender differencesThe researchers examined federal

records from a sample of hospitals in 41states, covering about 8 million cases eachyear. They looked at the percentage of all

hospitalizations for stroke by gender andin six age groups.For every 10,000 hospitalizations in

1994-95 compared with 2006-07, strokesrose:• 51 percent, from 9.8 to 14.8, among

males 15 to 34 years old• 17 percent, from 3.6 to 4.2, in females

15 to 34• 47 percent, from 36 to 52.9, in males

35 to 44


10years

Stroke SymposiumPathways of innovation, hope and recovery

Thursday, May 19, 20118:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Johns Hopkins University, Montgomery County CampusCommunity & Clinical Tracks

Keynote Speaker:Jacquelyn Mayer, Miss America 1963 and Stroke Survivor

Other presentation topics will include:

Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland andMontgomery County Stroke Association Present

visit www.AdventistRehab.com or call 240-864-6060.

Strokes drop after 65, rise among young

The largest study ever on stroke re-habilitation found that doing physicaltherapy at home improved walkingjust as well as a high-tech treadmillprogram.More surprising, patients who start-

ed rehab late — six months after theirstrokes — still improved. It’s longbeen thought that there was little togain from rehab after half a year.“We now have evidence, for the first

time, that a prolonged course of thera-py will have benefits,” said Dr. JeffreySaver, director of the stroke center atthe University of California, Los Ange-les. “For virtually everyone, we shouldbe doing more intensive therapy thanwe are.”He had no role in the federally fund-

ed study, which was led by Duke Uni-versity researchers and discussed atan American Stroke Association con-ference in Los Angeles.The new study included 408 stroke

survivors who had trouble walking.On average, they took 1,700 steps aday; normal is 10,000 steps a day.They either traveled to a facility to

get high-tech rehab or received physi-cal therapy at home. Some began ther-apy two months after a stroke; othersstarted six months after the stroke tosee if there was a difference.In high-tech rehab, patients exer-

cised on a treadmill while their weightwas supported by an overhead har-

ness. As they gained speed and en-durance, they could practice walkingon their own.In the home program, a physical

therapist helped patients do exercisesto improve strength and balance, andto walk every day.After a year, both groups made sim-

ilar improvements in how far and howfast they could walk. However, thetreadmill exercisers were more likelyto feel dizzy or faint during trainingand had a higher risk of falling.What’s more, fewer patients

dropped out of the home therapy — 3percent compared to 13 percent inhigh-tech rehab.“There’s a tendency in our country

to go to high-tech machines,” but thisstudy shows they’re not always better,said Dr. Walter Koroshetz, deputy di-rector of the National Institute of Neu-rological Disorders and Stroke, thestudy’s main sponsor.The bigger message, said study

leader Pamela Duncan of Duke Uni-versity, is that longer treatment andmore treatment is best. She said manyinsurance companies allow 20 visits,while this study gave 36.The care that stroke victims usually

get now — less intense therapy forthree to six months — “does not getthem to the point where they couldbe,” Koroshetz said.

— AP

Surprises aboutstroke rehab

See STROKES, page 11

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want for your parents.”

• 36 percent, from 21.9 to 30, in females35 to 44“The increases seen in children are very

modest, but they are [higher] in the youngadult age groups, and we feel that de-serves further study,” George said.Better awareness of stroke symptoms

and better imaging methods for detectingstrokes in young people could account forsome of that change, but there is no way toknow, she said.Trends went the opposite way in older

people. Strokes dropped 25 percent amongmen 65 and older (from 404 to 303 per10,000 hospitalizations), and 28 percent

among women in this age group (from 379to 274).

Blood pressure a likely reasonDoctors think better prevention and

treatment of risk factors such as highblood pressure in older people may be con-tributing to the decline.On the other hand, doctors at the Uni-

versity of California at Los Angeles areseeing more strokes related to high bloodpressure and clogged arteries in youngerpeople, said Dr. Jeffrey Saver, director ofthe stroke center there.Early estimates from 2007 death certifi-

cates suggest that stroke is now the na-tion’s fourth leading cause of death insteadof the third, partly because of better treat-

ments and prevention among the elderly.“But at the same time we’re seeing thisworrisome rise in mid-life,” Saver said.Allison Hooker, a nurse who coordi-

nates stroke care at Forsyth Medical Cen-ter in Winston-Salem, N.C., said her hospi-tal also is seeing more strokes in younger

people with risk factors such as smoking,obesity, high blood pressure, alcohol over-use and diabetes.“I’d say at least half of our population [of

stroke patients] is in their 40s or early 50s,”she said, “and devastating strokes, too.”

— AP


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RETIREMENT COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSESSt. Mary’s Court and Seabury@Friendship Terrace in Washington,D.C., Seabury@Springvale Terrace in Silver Spring, Md., and

Collington LifeCare Community in Mitchellville, Md., will hold open houses at theircommunities on Sunday, May 1 from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, visitthe website of Seabury Resources for Aging at www.seaburyresources.org or call(202) 414-6314.

SAMPLE NEW ARTS PROGRAMSample workshops in creative movement, watercolor painting,cabaret and drama, engage in a performance by ClancyWorksDance Company, listen to a talk by area photographers exhibiting

in the BlackRock gallery, and enjoy a catered lunch. All at the Arts for Life andLearning open house on Wednesday, April 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Advancetickets are $10, which includes the lunch and all events. Admission at the dooris $15. BlackRock Center for the Arts is located at 12901 Town Commons Dr.,Germantown, Md. For a schedule, go to www.blackrockcenter.org or contactRene Schecker at (240) 912-1053.

ACTIVE AGING EXPOGaithersburg hosts its third annual Active Aging Expo on MondayMay 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park,506 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, Md. The free expo will include

educational talks, interactive demonstrations and preventive screenings. No registra-tion is necessary. For more information and directions, visit the City of Gaithersburgwebsite at www.gaithersburgmd.gov/activeaging or call (301) 258-6380.

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May 1

Apr. 13

Free electronic hearing tests will be given fromMonday, April 11 through Friday, April 15 at selectlocations in Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Tests have been arranged for anyone whosuspects they are losing their hearing. Such personsgenerally say they can hear but cannot understandwords. Testing with the latest computerized equipmentwill indicate if you can be helped.

Everyone, especially adults over 55, should havean electronic hearing test at least once a year. If there isa hearing problem, hearing tests may reveal that newlydeveloped methods of correction will help, even forthose who have been told in the past that a hearing aidwould not help them.

If you suspect you have hearing loss, call for a freehearing test appointment. Our licensed specialists aretrained in the latest auditory testing methods and willbe the first ones to tell you if you don’t need a hearingaid. If you do have a hearing loss, we will explain yourresults and provide you with a list of options.

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By Lindsey TannerMany breast cancer patients can skip

aggressive lymph node surgery withoutincreasing their chances of a recurrenceor death if their disease shows limitedspread, according to a study that hasprompted changes in practice.Under current guidelines, the often-de-

bilitating surgery is done if the cancer hasspread outside the breast to any lymphnodes.In the study, rates of survival and of pa-

tients’ remaining cancer-free were just asgood whether the women with limitedspread — in one or two nearby nodes —had many more underarm nodes removedor skipped that major surgery.At least 24,000 of the 180,000 U.S.

women diagnosed every year with breastcancer have limited spread to lymphnodes. Under the standard approach, theywould have a chunk of underarm tissue re-moved to check for further cancer spread,said Dr. Thomas Julian, a breast cancerspecialist with West Penn AlleghenyHealthcare System in Pittsburgh. He wasnot involved in the study.That operation often leaves women with

lasting arm swelling, stiffness and pain.The results suggest that tens of thousands

of women could be spared aggressive nodesurgery and those troubling side effects,said study author Dr. Armando Giuliano,cancer surgery chief at the JohnWayne Can-cer Institute in Santa Monica, California.“This is really a move toward less radical

surgery” for breast cancer patients, he said.That move began several years ago whendoctors stopped routinely removing entirebreasts and surrounding tissue, except forwomen with more advanced disease.

Refutes prior researchThe study refutes previous research

suggesting a greater chance for recur-rence when cancer is found in one or twonodes.The difference may be the overall treat-

ment given to the women in the study.All had relatively early disease, with

spread to no more than two nodes. Theywere treated with lumpectomies to removetheir tumors and a common type of radia-tion that covers the breast and underarmarea. Most also had chemotherapy, hor-mone treatment, or both.American Society of Surgical Oncology

guidelines recommend aggressive nodesurgery for such women. The group isdoing a periodic guideline review, and thestudy results likely will lead to somechanges, said Dr. Gary Lyman of DukeUniversity, co-chair of a panel involved inthose guidelines.“This certainly is a pivotal study and an

important additional piece of informationin an area that we’ve been waiting for,”Lyman said.

The study appeared recently in the Jour-nal of the American Medical Association.Some details were presented at a medicalmeeting last year and led many doctors toadopt the new approach. That includesbreast surgeons at New York’s MemorialSloan-Kettering Cancer Center and theM.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston,according to study co-authors from thoseinstitutions.The results confirm the approach is

safe, and doctors can feel confident recom-mending it, said Dr. Nora Jaskowiak, surgi-cal director of the breast center at Univer-sity of Chicago Medical Center.

Same survival; fewer complicationsThe study involved about 850 women

who had initial biopsies showing cancerhad spread to one or two nearby lymphnodes.Lymph nodes are tiny structures linked

by a network of vessels throughout thebody that are part of the disease-fightingimmune system. When cancer spreads, ittypically travels first to nearby nodes.About half of the women were randomly

assigned to receive the more invasivenode surgery; the remainder skipped thatsurgery.


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By Duncan Graham-RoweThe next time you gaze deep into some-

one’s eyes, you might be shocked at whatyou see: tiny circuits ringing their irises,their pupils dancing with pinpricks of light.Their smart contact lenses aren’t in-

tended to improve vision. Instead, they willmonitor blood sugar levels in people withdiabetes or look for signs of glaucoma.The lenses could also map images direct-

ly onto their field of view, creating head-updisplays for the ultimate augmented realityexperience, without wearing glasses or aheadset. To produce such lenses, re-searchers are merging transparent, eye-friendly materials with microelectronics.In 2008, as a proof of concept, Babak

Parviz, at the University of Washington,Seattle, created a prototype contact lenscontaining a single red LED. Using thesame technology, he has now created alens capable of monitoring glucose levelsin people with diabetes.

It works because glucose levels in tearfluid correspond directly to those found inthe blood, making continuous measure-ment possible without the need for thumbpricks, he said. Parviz’s design calls for thecontact lens to send this information wire-lessly to a portable device worn by diabet-ics, allowing them to manage their diet andmedication more accurately.Lenses that also contain arrays of tiny

LEDs may allow this or other types of digi-tal information to be displayed directly tothe wearer through the lens.This kind of augmented reality has al-

ready taken off in cell phones, with count-less software apps superimposing digitaldata onto images of our surroundings, ef-fectively blending the physical and onlineworlds.

Help for glaucomaMaking it work on a contact lens won’t be

easy, but the technology has begun to take

shape. In September, 2010, Sensimed, aSwiss spin-off from the Swiss Federal Insti-tute of Technology in Lausanne, launchedthe very first commercial smart contactlens, designed to improve treatment for peo-ple with glaucoma.The disease puts pressure on the optic

nerve through fluid build-up, and can irre-versibly damage vision if not properlytreated. Highly sensitive platinum straingauges embedded in Sensimed’s Trigger-fish lens record changes in the curvatureof the cornea, which correspond directlyto the pressure inside the eye, accordingto CEO Jean-Marc Wismer.The lens transmits this information

wirelessly at regular intervals to a portablerecording device worn by the patient, hesaid.Like an RFID tag or London’s Oyster

travel cards, the lens gets its power from anearby loop antenna — in this case tapedto the patient’s face. The powered antenna

transmits electricity to the contact lens,which is used to activate the sensors,process the signals and transmit the read-ings back.Each disposable contact lens is de-

signed to be worn just once for 24 hours,and the patient repeats the process once ortwice a year. This allows researchers tolook for peaks in eye pressure, which varyfrom patient to patient during the course ofa day. This information is then used toschedule the timings of medication.“The timing of these drugs is impor-

tant,” Wisner noted.

A version for diabeticsParviz, however, has taken a different

approach. His glucose sensor uses sets ofelectrodes to run tiny currents throughthe tear fluid and measures them to detectvery small quantities of dissolved sugar.

Roughly 92 percent in both groups werestill alive five years later, and 83 percent inboth groups had no cancer recurrence.Seventy percent of women in the surgerygroup had complications, including under-arm swelling and wound infection, versus25 percent in the group that skipped it.Julian, the Pittsburgh breast surgeon,

said there were limitations to the research,including how women were recruited.The researchers approached women

who already knew their initial lymph nodebiopsy results, and only about half asmany women as anticipated agreed to bein the study. Higher-risk women who want-

ed conventional node surgery may havechosen not to participate, which couldhave skewed the results.The study authors acknowledge that

limitation but said even high-risk studyparticipants, those with breast cancer thatdoesn’t respond to hormone treatment,had good long-term survival rates evenwithout the node surgery.Julian said lack of extended follow-up is

also a concern. “You need to have 10 yearsto really know that it’s going to holdwater,” he said.He said he has cautiously adopted the

study approach with older patients, butonly on a case-by-case basis with women50 or younger, who have longer to live andmore time for cancer to recur. —AP


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Aurie’s days at Country Meadows are filled with friends, family, volunteering,travel and community activities. She keeps a busy schedule!

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Cancer surgeryFrom page 12

Contacts that fight glaucoma, diabetes

See CONTACTS, page 14

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These electrodes, along with a comput-er chip that contains a radio frequency an-tenna, are fabricated on a flat substratemade of polyethylene terephthalate(PET), a transparent polymer commonlyfound in plastic bottles. This is then mold-ed into the shape of a contact lens to fit theeye.Parviz plans to use a higher-powered

antenna to get a better range, allowing pa-tients to carry a single external power de-vice in their breast pocket or on their belt.Preliminary tests show that his sensorscan accurately detect even very low glu-cose levels.“There’s still a lot more testing we have

to do,” Parviz said. In the meantime, hislab has made progress with contact lensdisplays. They have developed both redand blue miniature LEDs — once they de-velop green ones, they’ll have full color ca-pability — and have separately built lenseswith 3D optics that resemble the head-up

visors used to view movies in 3D.Parviz has yet to combine both the op-

tics and the LEDs in the same contactlens, but he is confident that even imagesso close to the eye can be brought intofocus.“You won’t necessarily have to shift

your focus to see the image generated bythe contact lens,” he said. It will just ap-pear in front of you. The LEDs will bearranged in a grid pattern, and should notinterfere with normal vision when the dis-play is off.For Sensimed, the circuitry is located

entirely around the edge of the lens. How-ever, both companies have yet to addressthe fact that wearing these lenses mightmake you look like the robots in a Termi-nator movie. False irises could eventuallysolve this problem, Parviz said. “But that’snot something at the top of our prioritylist.”© 2011 New Scientist Magazine. Reed

Business Information Ltd. All rights re-served. Distributed by Tribune Media Serv-ices, Inc.


ContactsFrom page 13COMPUTER CLASSES

PC Seniors offers a number of computer classes, including how to

repair old family photos, saving and finding files, e-mail and Internet, and using a

digital camera. Classes are repeated monthly. The cost is $25 per course. PC

Seniors is located at 10450 Lottsford Rd., #4102, Mitchellville, Md. Call (301)

925-7571 to find out more and register for classes. Details are also available at

http://www.pcseniorcitizens.org/

INVESTIGATE HISTORYThe Ford’s Theatre Society presents its History on Foot walking

tours “Investigation: Detective McDevitt,” and “A Free Black

Woman: Elizabeth Keckly” through August. Led by costumed actors playing his-

torical characters from Civil War Washington, the tours guide patrons from his-

toric Ford’s Theatre (511 10th St., N.W.) to different sites throughout downtown,

Washington, D.C. Both tours transport visitors on a 1.5 mile interactive historical

journey through the city during the era of President Lincoln. Tours are $15 and

are offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 6:45 p.m. and on Saturdays at

10:15 a.m. in April and May and more frequently in the summer. For more infor-

mation, call (202) 347-4833.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

Ongoing

PAIN MANAGEMENT AND NUTRITIONLearn how to improve your health with good nutrition and herbsthat help support other pain treatments. This free seminar by the

Pain Connection will be held on Monday, April 11 at 1:15 p.m. at Holiday ParkSenior Center, 3950 Ferrara Dr., Wheaton, Md. For more information, call (240)777-4999.

MACULAR DEGENERATION MEETINGThe Macular Degeneration Network will host low vision specialistLexi Malkin in a program called “Learning a New Way of Seeing”

on Saturday, April 9 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The program will be held inRenaissance Building 2 of Sibley Memorial Hospital, 5275 Loughboro Rd.,Washington, D.C. For more information, call (202) 234-1010.

DO YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL MIND?Entries are being sought for the Center for Creative Aging’sBeautiful Mind contest. The organization is looking for people 55and older who exhibit these four dimensions of brain health: diet,

physical activity, social well-being and mental engagement. Ten finalists will beselected, and the winner will receive a prize package worth $500 as well as$500 to donate to a charity of their choice. For an entry form, go towww.beautiful-minds.com. Entries are due by Friday, May 13.

BEACON BITS

Apr. 11

Apr. 9

May 13

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Bravo Health plans are offered by subsidiaries of Bravo Health, Inc. A Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. This plan isavailable to anyone who has both Medical Assistance from the State and Medicare. Enrollment is open year round. All cost-sharing is based on yourlevel of state medical assistance - premiums, copays, coinsurance, and deductibles may vary based on your income. The benefit information providedherein is a brief summary, not a comprehensive description of benefits. For more information contact the plan. Benefits, formulary, premiums, andcopayments may change on January 1, 2012.

H2108_11_0034 File and Use 12142010

I want more thanI am getting fromOriginal Medicareand Medicaid.

If your Medicare Advantage plan has reduced yourbenefits or become more expensive, Bravo Healthmay be able to help. Offering Medicare Advantage plans is our

main focus, and that’s what allows us to do it well. See how Bravo

Select (HMO SNP) can help you save and get the benefits you need.

A few of Bravo Health’s benefits:

+ $0 monthly premiumwith full state medical assistance

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+ $99 allowance forover-the-counter items

+ 24 one-way trips per year to andfrom doctor appointments

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You’re ontop of yourmedications.But we make agood back up.You know it’s important to stay on yourmedications exactly as prescribed.However, if you miss a dose, want alower-cost alternative, or experienceany side effects, we can answer anyquestions. Speak to your localCVS Pharmacist to learn more.

Find a store near youat www.cvs.com

014331RXX11

By Laura JaneckaThere’s something inexplicable about

our relationship with coffee. It percolatesthrough our day from the moment wewake, enlivening our senses and galvaniz-ing us into action. It’s an affair that’s beengoing on for over 500 years, since the firstcafes set up tables in the Middle East.And it’s now gathering steam as quality-

obsessed kiosks add conviviality and con-noisseurship to the psychoactive sub-stance for America’s chronically sleep-de-prived hordes, more used to medicinallygulping down a cup on the go than stop-ping to savor the experience.This new, more appreciative approach

to the coffee bean and its handling —fresh-roasting, on-site grinding, custom-brewing, and sipping at communal tables— comes just as a whole new array of sci-entific findings are turning coffee, espe-cially in its darkest, most aromatic roasts,into something of a health food.Once demonized for its stimulant pow-

ers, coffee has also long been appreciatedfor its ability to improve alertness, en-hance concentration, and ameliorate theeffects of sleep deprivation on cognitiveperformance.But stopping to savor the brew and trans-

form it into a social tool was left to the kavehkanes — coffee houses of 15th century Ara-bia and, starting in the 17th century, Europe.

Fanning out from the West Coast, thenew reverence for coffee bears a strikingresemblance to appreciation of wine andcheese. And, as with wine connoisseur-ship, it starts with terroir, the particularpatch of land the coffee is grown on.

An artisanal approach“Specialty” coffee purveyors — as dis-

tinguished from mass-marketed brandsusing beans of unspecified provenanceand age — pride themselves on an arti-sanal approach and seek out small, some-times family-run, farms where each handthat plucks a raw coffee berry could be-long to a relative or community member.With their small crops, such farms can

maintain a high standard of quality control— and provide a back story about the cul-tivation and craftsmanship that goes intothe beans.But unlike wine or cheese, java does not

improve with age. Once the ripe, red,grape-size “coffee cherry” is plucked fromthe bush-like tree, the skin and pulp re-moved, and the inner bean soaked, dried,rested — yes, rested! — shipped, androasted, decomposition begins.James Freeman, owner of San Francis-

co’s noted Blue Bottle (named for CentralEurope’s first coffeehouse), prints theroast date on each bag so consumers canavoid beans gone stale by oxidation.

Grown in 50 countries, coffee is the sec-ond most traded commodity in the world,after oil. And although specialty coffeemakes up only 10 percent of java con-sumed, it’s still an $8 billion business.Depending on the country, coffee is har-

vested once or twice a year, although incountries like Kenya, straddling the equa-tor, growers harvest coffee year-round.Farms cultivate either the Arabica or Ro-busta species of bean.Most specialty coffee utilizes the finer

Arabica, while mass-produced brands favorthe slightly bitter Robusta, which is less se-lective about its habitat and can be harvest-ed large-scale. It also has more caffeine.Part science, part art, coffee roasting

takes the green coffee beans and

caramelizes them to varying degrees, re-leasing their natural oils and aroma. Andthen they are ground and ready for brewing.A pressurized brewing process like

espresso (the basis for cappuccino andlatte, as well) concentrates the flavors andextracts all the beneficial compounds incoffee. It has more caffeine per ounce thanany other beverage, but it takes a doppio— a double shot, to you, grazie — to sup-ply you with as much caffeine as a cup ofdrip-brewed coffee.It’s no secret that caffeine boosts mental

performance. It keeps attention focusedand elevates mood. Studies conducted bythe military show that it improves reaction


Brewing up a healthier image for coffee

See COFFEE, page 19

Stomach-friendly coffeeHere’s what may be the most coun-

terintuitive news about coffee.It’s well-known that, for some peo-

ple, java can be hard on the gut, caus-ing indigestion or heartburn. Re-searchers at the Technical Universityof Munich, who sought to pinpoint theirritant in coffee, made a surprisingdiscovery: Indeed, caffeine, along witha couple of other compounds, canstimulate production of hydrochloricacid in the gut. But the effect is most

pronounced with weak coffee.Dark-roast coffee has components

that actually block stomach cellsfrom producing hydrochloric acid.The longer cof fee is roasted, themore gut-friendly N-methylpyridini-um (NMP) it contains. There’s twiceas much NMP in a darker roast as ina light one.So if you want to protect your gut,

your best bet is...yup, espresso.— Laura Janecka

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202-244-7400(TRS 711)

By Barbara RubenOne out of three people 65 and older falls

each year, and in that age group, falls arethe most common cause of fatal injuries, aswell as hospital admissions for trauma.While doctors know how devastating

falls can be, they don’t understand the bestways to prevent them in the first place.

“When you talk to the person on thestreet, they say, ‘What’s the problem? You[just] stand up,’ said John J. Jeka, PhD, aprofessor in the Dept. of Kinesiology at theUniversity of Maryland.“But when you get older or have some

sort of trauma, you realize standing is avery complex behavior that takes a lot of

resources of the brain and nervous systemto control. And we don’t have very goodways to rehab that,” Jeka said.

Monitor gives feedbackResearchers at the university are testing

a treadmill connected to a camera and TVmonitor that they hope will help train olderadults to have better balance and walkingskills. The camera monitors a person’s gaitand stance on the treadmill, and the TVmonitor provides feedback.In one exercise, the TV displays a cursor

in the middle of the screen representing per-fect balance. A dot shows the person’s posi-tion on the treadmill, and the person adjustshis or her balance to align with the cursor.Ultimately, the University of Maryland

researchers want to develop a balancetraining device that can easily be used athome or a health club, Jeka said.“As people get older they don’t want to

walk on treadmills because they’re afraidof falling off. Why is this so hard? Becausetheir sensory systems have degraded.“Vision, your inner ear, even your mus-

cles have sensors in them. Those all worktogether to give you a sense of where youare as you’re moving. When those de-

grade, your balance suffers,” Jeka said.

Volunteers neededThe researchers have done a small

study of the program, and are now recruit-ing volunteers for a larger one.During the study, participants will train

on a treadmill three times a week for four toeight weeks. They will be randomly divided,with half being assigned to a treadmill con-nected to the special TV monitor, while theothers will not have any balance training.At the beginning and during the study,

participants will be given balance tests offthe treadmill to monitor their progress.To take part in the study, participants

must be over the age of 65 and have a his-tory of falling or loss of balance in the lastsix months. They cannot have cardiovas-cular or respiratory problems. They alsocannot have had any orthopedic injuries inthe last year.Participants will be paid a total of $150,

in three $50 increments, one at the start,one midway through, and one at the end ofthe study.For more information or to volunteer,

contact Eric Anson at (301) 405-2572 [email protected].


Health Studies PageTHE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

A health study to keep you on your toes

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SHINGLESJoin in a round table discussion of shingles with a specialist from

Adventist Healthcare at Long Branch Senior Center, 8700 Piney Branch Rd.,

Silver Spring, Md. The free event will be held on Tuesday, April 12 from 11 a.m. to

noon. For more information, call (240) 777-6975.

BEACON BITS

Apr. 12

e Department of Kinesiology at theUniversity of Maryland announces anew research study investigating balanceand walking.

We are currently recruiting subjectsover the age of 65 to participate in thisstudy. All subjects must have a historyof falling or loss of balance in the last 6months. Subjects must not participatein any other balance trainingor rehabilitation during this study.

Subjects selected for participation will berandomly assigned to either a treatmentgroup or a control group. Participationin this study will require you to walk on atreadmill at typical walking speeds. Youwill view a special image on a TV screenwhile walking on the treadmill. estudy will last between 4-8 weeks, withtraining sessions 3 times weekly.

All subjects can not haveany of the followingmedical problems:

a. Cardiovascular(Heart) problems

b. Respiratory(Breathing) problems

c. Recent orthopedicinjuries (in theprevious 12 months)

If you are interested inparticipating in this study,please contact Eric Ansonat 301-405-2572, orby email [email protected].

Name_________________________________________________________________Address________________________________________________________________City______________________________________State______Zip________________

Phone (day)________________________ (eve)___________________________

Clip and return to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915or fax to (301) 949-8966

Check off the healthstudies you’d like to receiveFREE information about.

� Alzheimer’s Drug Study (See ad, p. 18)� Balance & Walking Study (See article and ad, p. 18)� Memory & Exercise Study (See ad, p. 19)

WB4/11

HEALTHSTUDYINFO•HEALTH

STUDYINFO

•HEALTHSTUDYINFO•HEALTHSTUDYINFO•HEALTHSTUDYINFO•HEALTHSTUDYINFO•HEALTHSTUDYINFO

• HEALTH STUDY INFO • HEALTH STUDY INFO • HEALTH STUDY INFO •

ALzHeIMeR’S DISeASeHAS THeM NeeDING YOu

MORe THAN eveR.We NeeD YOu, TOO

If you care for someone with Alzheimer’s, look intoour research study.Our clinic is taking part in a clinical research study to test the safetyand effectiveness of two different doses of an injectable investigationaltreatment (ACC-001) against placebo (looks like the injectableinvestigational treatment but does not contain the active ingredient) inpatients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. ACC-001 is beingdeveloped to determine if it can slow the rate of Alzheimer’s diseaseprogression. You or someone you care for may be able to help.

To be eligible, participants must be:• 50-89 years old• Diagnosed with probable Alzheimer’s disease• Living at home, or in a community dwelling, with an appropriate

caregiver able to accompany participant on all study visits as well asvisit participant at home at least 5 times a week.

Our study staff will review additional study criteria at the first studyvisit. People who are currently on stable regimens of certainAlzheimer’s treatments will be able to stay on them during the study.e study lasts approximately 2 years. All study-related office visits,medical examinations, and injectable investigational treatment will beprovided to qualified participants at no cost.

Marc Hertzman, M.D.Call today, 301-984-8800

or visit, www.ACCTIONADstudy.com11404 Old Georgetown Rd., Suite 203 • Rockville, MD 20852

�

time, vigilance, and logical reasoning, es-pecially when you’re tired. Neuroscientistsattribute caffeine’s effect on alertness toits ability to bind to adenosine receptorsand to stimulate dopamine release.

Antioxidant benefitsBut there’s much more to coffee than

caffeine. Researchers have found that cof-fee boosts a sense of well-being independ-ent of its caffeine content, and that thereare many other pharmacologically activesubstances in the brew.Coffee is the number one source of cell-

protecting antioxidants in the U.S. diet.Green coffee beans contain about a thou-sand antioxidants; roasting adds some 300more, most of them unique to coffee.Many of the compounds have biological

effects, from minimizing inflammation tofavorably affecting glucose metabolism.

The health effects of antioxidants covera broad range, as oxidation is a major fac-tor in brain aging, cardiovascular disease,cancer and many other diseases. Coffeecompounds also deter Parkinson’s diseaseand offset Alzheimer’s disease.In a recent study of nearly 70,000

French women, conducted by scientists atthe University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, re-searchers probed the ability of coffee todeter diabetes. They looked at the impactof coffee on insulin metabolism in relationto the amount of coffee and the time of dayit was consumed.Consumption of both regular and decaf-

feinated coffee with meals, and especiallywith lunch, was inversely related to dia-betes incidence. Only black coffee had aneffect; not coffee with milk.Coffee inhibits iron absorption, and

body iron stores are known to increase therisk of diabetes. However, the researchersfound, the inhibition of iron absorption oc-curs only when coffee and the iron source

are consumed at the same time, as at lunchor dinner. (Having coffee at dinner doesnot have an additional benefit beyond thatprovided by sipping at lunch.)But coffee delivers at least a one-two

punch against diabetes. While thepolyphenol antioxidants in coffee blockiron absorption, researchers found thatother antioxidants in coffee — like chloro-

genic acid — slow the release of glucoseinto the bloodstream after a meal.So sit back, relax, chat with the other

folks nearby, and down that espresso withimpunity. Just skip the latte.

— Psychology Today© 2011 Sussex Publishers. All rights

reserved. Distributed by Tribune MediaServices, Inc.


CoffeeFrom page 17

BEAD BAZAARThe Bead Society ofGreater Washington

presents its Bead Bazaar onSaturday, May 7 (10 a.m. to 5p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)at Bohrer Park Activity Center, 506S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, Md.Explore and enjoy an eclectic collec-tion of antique and contemporarybeads, designer jewelry and relatedbooks. There will also be bead-mak-ing demonstrations. Tickets are$7. For more information, go towww.bsgw.org and click on bazaar orcall (202) 624-4500.

BEACON BITS

May 7+

HOLY CROSSHOME CARE/HOSPICE

11800 Tech Road • Suite 240Silver Spring, MD 20904

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

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

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

Attend the GROWS SilentAuction & Breakfast,Thurs., June 2, 8:30 – 11 a.m.

at Brooke Grove. To donate to the auction, call Robin at (301) 318-1923.

A Study to Evaluate the Effectsof StandardizedAerobic

Exercise-Training on Memory

HUHHOWARDUNIVERSITYHOSPITAL

Are you:• Age 60 years or older?• Concerned about your MEMORY?• Interested in free exercise training?

Who Can Participate?• Men or postmenopausal women• Sedentary (no regular physical activity)

• Fully supervised andindividualized aerobicexercise-training• General physical andcardiovascular exam• Blood pressure monitoring

• Free cholesterol anddiabetes blood tests• Free memory assessment• Free brain imaging• Nutrition education& more

For more informationCall: 202-865-3776

This study is fundedby a grant from the

NIH/National Instituteson Aging

Q: When the label of a food or supple-ment says that it supports the immunesystem, does that mean itwill help prevent cancer, ordoes it refer only to fightingoff colds and flu?A:Here’s the confusing part

for shoppers: It doesn’t neces-sarily mean the food or supple-ment will do either one.A food or supplement com-

pany might be able to make a“structure/function claim”like this one because a prod-uct contains vitamin A, C, B-6,D or E, for example. But thefood might contain as little as10 percent of the recommend-ed daily amount of one of these nutrients.Actually, our immune systems require a

host of nutrients, including enough proteinand calories to produce antibodies, inorder to function well.Try not to get distracted by claims like

this on the front of food packages. Focus onchoosing plenty of unprocessed wholegrains, vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts andseeds, and check the Nutrient Facts panelfor sodium, fiber or fat content information.

Don’t let front-of-package claims thatmay have questionable support convince

you to pay more for some-thing that’s not really better orto buy something unhealthyhoping it could actually begood for you.Q: Easter candy is every-

where now. Can I avoid gain-ing weight by choosing jellybeans, marshmallow candiesor other low or no-fat sweets?A: The most important step

for keeping candy, whetherhigh in fat or not, from causingunwanted weight gain is por-tion control.A quarter-cup of jelly beans

(a portion the size of a golf ball or egg) or aserving of five marshmallow chicks hasabout 160 calories. Even though there’s nofat added, these candies have as muchsugar as a 12-ounce can of regular soda.A small one-ounce piece of chocolate

contains slightly fewer calories, but somepeople fool themselves by just eating a bitehere and there without paying attention tohow much it adds up.In the end, whether you eat it all at once

or mindlessly nibble a bit at a time, whenyou polish off a seven-ounce solid choco-late bunny, you’ve consumed more than1,000 extra calories.As with all treats, limit portions, substi-

tute it for some other higher calorie treat,and eat it when you can sit down and reallytaste and fully enjoy it.Behavior researchers also advise us to

limit how much candy we bring home, be-cause the odds are that once it comeshome with you, it may disappear fasterthan you planned.Q: Can the plant-based diet you so

often recommend really provide enoughprotein?A: Yes, people sometimes think of pro-

tein as only coming from meat and dairyproducts, but we also get protein fromplant foods.Beans, nuts and seeds are the most con-

centrated sources of plant protein, andthey provide fiber, magnesium, potassiumand natural protective phytochemicals.Grains and vegetables also supply small

amounts of protein that add up when youmake them a major part of your meals.As you eat less of the animal sources of

protein, keep in mind the need for balance.If you eat very little meat, you can’t just eata rice cake and plain salad and assume

you’ve met nutrient needs.As you shift the balance of plant and ani-

mal foods on your plate, look for placesyou can include beans (in salads, soups,casseroles and more), as well as nuts andseeds.A mostly plant-based diet that includes

five to six ounces a day of lean poultry, fishor meat and three servings of dairy prod-ucts or alternatives will meet the proteinrequirements of most adults.If you prefer to omit or minimize meat

or dairy products, you will also get proteinwell above the Dietary Reference Intake(RDI) if each day you include about threeservings of vegetarian sources of protein— such as beans, nuts and seeds. Oneserving of beans is ½ cup; seeds and nutsare 1 ounce each.The American Institute for Cancer Re-

search offers a Nutrition Hotline, 1-800-843-8114, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondaythrough Friday. This free service allows youto ask questions about diet, nutrition andcancer. A registered dietitian will returnyour call, usually within three business days.Courtesy of the American Institute for

Cancer Research. Questions for this columnmay be sent to “Nutrition Wise,” 1759 R St.,N.W., Washington, DC 20009. Collins can-not respond to questions personally.


Ignore most health claims on food labels

NUTRITIONWISEBy Karen Collins,MS, RD, CDM

WOMEN AT WARThe exhibition “American Women Rebuilding France, 1917-1924”will open at Woodrow Wilson House, 2340 S St., N.W.,Washington, DC on May 5 and be on view until July 31. This exhi-

bition consists of vintage photographs and rare silent film footage that bring tolife the extraordinary work undertaken by 350 American women – all volunteers –who left comfortable lives in the United States to help the war-ravaged civilianpopulation of northeastern France. Admission is $10 for adults; $8 for seniors.The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. For moreinformation, call (202) 387-4062 or visit www.WoodrowWilsonhouse.org.

BEACON BITS

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Ruby-red cherries, rich blueberries andwhole-wheat bread combine to make thisbread pudding recipe a palate-pleasinghealthy treat based on an ancient form.Indeed, bread pudding has probably

been prepared since about the 13th centu-ry. Earlier versions were generally madewith water instead of milk. Today’s breadpuddings tend to be more rich and creamy.The tangy sweet taste of cherries has

been enjoyed for centuries, and in theearly 1600s they were brought to America.Cherries’ nutritional benefits are hugecompared to their small size.Some of these benefits stem from the

natural plant chemical called anthocyaninthat gives them their pleasing red color.Cherries also pack a nutritional punchwith vitamin C, beta-carotene and fiber.Luscious blueberries feature nutritional

benefits similar to cherries, and these re-markable and versatile berries are nativeto North America. Native Americans usedthem for everything from medicinal pur-poses to fabric dye.The whole-wheat bread in this recipe

provides health promoting fiber and theperfect texture. The vanilla enhances thetaste of the fruit by boosting your percep-tion of sweetness, while the almonds addnutty taste and texture.You can top it all off, if you wish, with a

fruit sauce that complements the pudding.Usher in spring by waking up your tastebuds with this bright and warm treat.

Very Berry Whole-Wheat BreadPuddingServes 61 cup frozen or fresh cherries (tart or

sweet), pitted

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries1/4 cup sugar1 tsp. ground cinnamon5 oz. fresh whole-wheat bread, cubed

(about 3 cups)2 eggs3/4 cup low-fat milk1/2 tsp. vanilla extract1/4 tsp. saltCanola oil cooking sprayTopping:1 oz. sliced almonds1 tsp. powdered sugar, garnishCombine cherries, berries, sugar and

cinnamon in mixing bowl. Stir well to coatberries; add bread cubes.In another bowl, whisk together eggs,

milk, vanilla and salt. Pour egg/milk mix-ture over berry/bread mixture and stir tocoat bread thoroughly. Let mixture standfor 15 to 30 minutes to enable ingredientsto combine and the bread to soak up theegg mixture.Preheat oven to 325 degrees.Spray a 9-inch baking dish.Pour pudding mixture into baking dish.

Bake 20 minutes. Remove from oven andevenly distribute almonds over pudding. Re-turn to oven and continue baking until pud-ding starts to set, about 25 to 30 minutes.Remove from oven and let rest for 10

minutes. Garnish with powdered sugar.Serve warm.

Optional fruit sauce topping1 lb. bag frozen unsweetened mixed

berries1/2 tsp. cornstarchThaw berries; save drained juice and

mix with cornstarch. Cook berries overmedium-low heat for about 3 minutes. Add

juice mixture to berries and heat untilthickened. Serve over or alongside pud-ding.Per serving: 183 calories, 5 g. total fat (1g.

saturated fat), 27 g. carbohydrate, 8 g. pro-tein, 3.5 g. dietary fiber, 248 mg. sodium.— Courtesy of the American Institute for

Cancer Research


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Bread pudding with cherries, blueberries

SENIOR EXPO

A free expo showcasing resources for seniors and caregivers in

Loudoun County will be held on Thursday, May 5 from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at the

Community Church – Ashburn, 19790 Ashburn Rd., Ashburn, Va. Call Susan

Balinger at (703) 777-9300 or see www.loudounseniors.org for more information.

BEACON BITS

May 5

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Heart disease runs in my family, sonaturally I’m worried. A friend toldme that brushing your teeth can pre-vent heart disease. I was polite, but Idon’t believe him. Can this be true?

— K.M.Dear K.M.:You’re friend is right. Oral hygiene is

very important to heart health. In 2005, re-searchers at Columbia University MedicalCenter found that the bacteria that grow inyour mouth — promoting the formation ofplaque on your pearly whites and causinggum disease — are the same germs thatcontribute to plaque forming in your arter-ies to cause heart disease.Sounds to me like a darned good reason

to brush and floss each day. (By the way, if

you avoid bacon because of cholesterolconcerns, I actually found bacon-flavoreddental floss on the Internet!)Earlier this year, researchers in London

published a study that lends major supportto the recommendation to keep the mouthclear of plaque. The researchers looked atresults from the Scottish Health Survey,which collected health data from more than11,000 men and women, a representativesampling of the general population of Scot-land.Over a period of eight years, the re-

searchers recorded 555 cardiovascular“events” (including heart attacks, strokesand similar problems), 170 of which werefatal.Now here’s where the study gets really

interesting from a tooth-brushing point ofview. Even allowing for things like smok-ing, obesity and poor diet,the London researchersfound that those who report-ed that they seldom or neverbrushed their teeth were 70percent more likely to expe-rience a cardiovascular eventthan those who paid greaterattention to dental care.It’s so easy to brush and

floss your teeth, and now youknow it impacts the health ofyour most important muscle.Even people with dentureshave to be vigilant aboutplaque formation.Everyone should visit a dental hygienist

twice a year for a thorough exam andcleaning. I’m shy about X-rays, so I just optfor the cleaning when I go. A good dentistoffice will respect your wishes and notpressure you for X-rays each time.Here’s another idea to make your

mouth healthier and less of a host toplaque forming bacteria. Scrape yourtongue. You can buy a tongue scraper atany pharmacy and all you have to do is useit after you brush your teeth.Draw the scraper gently down your

tongue a few times, and rinse it after eachscrape. That brownish white gunk thatcomes off your tongue? That’s mostly bac-teria. Flushing that down the sink is muchbetter than swallowing them. This is greatfor people with bad breath, too.Dear Readers:I could probably write a regular “I Told

You So” column because new researchkeeps showing up that backs up advicethat I’ve been giving for years. If you areamong the 21 million people in this coun-

try who take a PPI (proton pump inhibitor)used for blocking acid in the stomach,

then read on.These medications are pre-

scribed for treating ulcers, se-rious heart burn, and other di-gestive problems. The mostpopular medications in thisclass are Nexium, Aciphex,Prevacid, Protonix, Zergeridand Prilosec.These drugs shut down acid

production 24/7 and they getthe job done — but at a price.The FDA is now going to re-

quire warning labels on all ofthese drugs stating that they

rob your body of magnesium (hypomagne-semia) and that it could lead to severe ad-verse effects. Finally!I’ve been sounding the warning for

years about magnesium depletion fromtaking acid blockers and dozens of otherdrugs. I actually wrote a book on what Icall “drug muggers.” Thousands of drugsare mugging you of essential micronutri-ents, minerals and vitamins, and this iswhat causes many side effects.To learn more about this and what to do

about it, please check out my book DrugMuggers: Which Medications Are RobbingYour Body of Essential Nutrients — AndNatural Ways to Restore Them. You canread more about it on my website,www.dearpharmacist.com.This information is opinion only. It is not

intended to treat, cure or diagnose your con-dition. Consult with your doctor before usingany new drug or supplement.Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and

the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist andReal Solutions from Head to Toe. To contacther, visit www.dearpharmacist.com.


Brush your teeth to protect your heart

DEARPHARMACISTBy Suzy Cohen

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Se Habla EspañolOn Parle Français

Dear Solutions:My son is getting married for the sec-

ond time. He had a largewedding and reception thefirst time. He wants to invitemy relatives and best friendagain.I am from the old school

and feel that this is not theproper thing to do, but Idon’t know what to say tohim about it.

— KDear K:It’s graduation time! Out of

the old school and into thenew world, where childrenwho are marrying again often design, hostand pay for their own weddings.If you are not the host of this wedding,

then it’s his wedding and his decision. Sincehe’s your son, I assume that your relativesare also his relatives. The invitation willcome from him, not from you, and they cancertainly accept or refuse as they choose.You may feel that since they’ve already

attended his first wedding and given a gift,enough is enough. But that’s their decision.Without being critical, you can tell your

son how you feel and perhaps suggest thathe just send announcements of his newmarriage after the wedding, especially ifit’s a small wedding this time. That wouldallow people to wish him well in whateverway they like.As for your best friend, you should be

able to talk frankly to her and tell her howyou feel about this. That’s what best

friends do best. After that, try to just relaxand enjoy.

Dear Solutions:What is the right thing in

this case? When someonegave me a gift, I thanked herverbally at the time. Thenwhen I saw her at anothertime, I thanked her again inperson.Do I still have to send a

written thank-you note?Thank you in advance

for your advice.— Rose

Dear Rose:Well, in this case, since

you’ve thanked me in advance you don’thave to send me a note. But that’s not therule.The rule is: put it in writing! You can

thank people verbally, but they still want awritten record of their generosity, not justthe sound of it.Just why writing thank you notes is such

a chore is a mystery to me, since the notedoesn’t have to be great literature, athrilling romance novel or even politicallycorrect.If spelling confuses you and grammar

sends you into a panic, relax. The simplewords “thank you” are always spelled justthat way, and are grammatically flawlessand socially acceptable.Dear Solutions:My husband is beginning to lose his

hair, and he’s becoming obsessed withtrying to stop it from falling out. He’sready to try everything that’s adver-tised, and it scares me because Iknow some of this can be harmful.I love him, and I don’t care if his

hair falls out. How can I stop him fromtrying everything? We’re arguing nowbecause he says all I tell him is don’tdo this and don’t try that, and I’m notbeing helpful. What to do?

— NanDear Nan:Here’s one more “don’t:” Don’t quote

Will Rogers, who said “The only thing thatcan stop hair falling is the floor.”Do help him find a really good dermatol-

ogist who can tell him what is good and notharmful and which new products can pos-sibly help. Do assure him that you lovehim with or without hair.© Helen Oxenberg, 2011. Questions to be

considered for this column may be sent to:The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring,MD 20915. You may also e-mail the authorat [email protected]. To inquire aboutreprint rights, call (609) 655-3684.


SOLUTIONSBy Helen Oxenberg,MSW, ACSW

Son’s second wedding goes by new rules

Puzzled?See p. 54

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24 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com A P R I L 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Qs & As ON MEDICAREForecasting next year’s premium, andwhy some people pay more for MedicarePart B

TAKE STOCK OF CERTIFICATESOld stock certificates may still havevalue even if the company is no longerin existence

AN INFLATION-PROOF PORTFOLIOInflation is expected to rise. Invest inI-bonds and TIPS to help stem its effecton your portfolio

MoneyLaw &

By Dave CarpenterStocks that rocket out of nowhere are a

dangerous temptation for the average in-vestor.

If only you could catch the next Netflix,Apple or Google before it takes off, you’dreally make some serious money, right?

The problem is that line of thinkingmixes investing with gambling. And youshouldn’t dip into savings or jeopardizeyour financial security in the hope you’llhit a stock market home run.

But if you’re meeting your financial needsand not taking undue risks, it’s OK to take asmall flier on a stock that could hit it big.

“You can’t go without dessert all the time,”said Charles Rotblut, vice president of theAmerican Association of Individual Investors.A small portion of your portfolio can have anexcess of risk. “You just don’t want [theequivalent of] Boston cream pie every day.”

Watch out for a nosediveThere are plenty of recent precedents to

fuel stock fantasies.Netflix Inc.’s stock has quadrupled in

barely a year. Shares in the movie sub-scription service have gone from under$50 a share in January 2010 to above $235.

And it’s not just tech stocks that can sky-rocket. Shares of CME Group Inc., whichoperates securities exchanges including

the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, rosemore than 20-fold in its first five years aftergoing public. The price shot from $35 to$714 between 2002 and 2007. And GreenMountain Coffee Roasters Inc. has soaredabout 1,400 percent in five years.

High fliers, however, can turn into deepdivers.

The stock of Krispy Kreme DoughnutsInc. tripled in less than a year. It reached ahigh of nearly $50 in 2003 before crum-bling to under $5 within two years.

Before that was eToys, the Internet re-tailer whose shares went from $20 to $84to 9 cents in less than two years during thedot-com bubble.

For that reason, many financial advisersfrown on the idea of buying stock “lotterytickets.” Investors need to be prepared tolose that money because it’s very hard topick such stocks, said Eleanor Blayney,consumer advocate for the nonprofit Certi-fied Financial Planner Board of Standards.

“I’d rather see people look at a small-capgrowth fund and enjoy the bounce up thatmay be expected,” Blayney said.

Some companies to considerIf you have that appetite for extra risk

and some extra money, however, there aresome under-the-radar stocks with well-runbusinesses and promising futures.

As with any stock, you want one withstrong management, demonstrated poten-tial, and a business you can understand. Andyou should look for one with a unique prod-uct or service that can benefit from a broad-er trend — as Netflix did with its movies-by-mail service and then streaming video.

Here are three companies that have thepotential to see significant jumps in theirstock prices:Financial Engines Inc. (FNGN)Sector: Financial servicesHeadquarters: Palo Alto, Calif.Mid-March stock price: $23.20Financial Engines provides portfolio

management services and retirement plan-ning help to participants in 401(k)s andother employer-sponsored retirementplans. Customers include individual in-vestors, large companies and financial ad-visers.

The company is well-positioned to bene-fit from the continuing transition from tra-ditional pension programs to more self-di-rected retirement accounts, according toChris Retzler, manager of the top-perform-ing Needham Small Cap Growth fund,which holds the stock.

Its fee-based business model — earningfees based on assets under management— should help it grow significantly, partic-ularly as inflation increases, Retzler said.

The stock price has doubled since thecompany went public last May at $12 ashare, lifting its market capitalization toover $1 billion.Imax Corp. (IMAX)Sector: LeisureHeadquarters: TorontoMid-March stock price: $26.58Imax, which provides the technology for

giant-screen movies, already has taken off.Shares have gone from $4 to $27 in twoyears and doubled just since July, pro-pelled partly by rumors that Sony or Dis-ney could take it over.

Still, the stock is poised to rise evenhigher thanks to the company’s joint-ven-ture expansion strategy and the improvingeconomy, which is encouraging moviego-ers and moviemakers alike to spend moreon higher-priced Imax films. As an earlyadopter of 3-D technology, it also will bene-fit as filmmakers pile into that trend.

The company shares its earnings withfilm companies and theater owners, whichhas accelerated the installation of newImax theaters and motivated studios tomake more Imax-compatible films.

With fewer than 500 theaters nation-wide, it is still relatively early in the adop-tion phase, according to Rob Lutts, chief

Should you invest in potential high-flyers?

Scammers wasted no time in taking ad-vantage of the outpouring of compassionfollowing Japan’s earthquake and tsunamidisaster. Let it be a warning for charity-minded individuals to be on the lookout forphony aid appeals.

One fraudulent scheme involves an e-mail claiming to be from the BritishRed Cross that asks recipients to makeJapan aid donations via wire transfer, saidFBI spokeswoman Jenny Shearer. Legiti-mate charities don’t make requests forwire transfers.

Further evidence that fraudsters areseeking to profit from the tragedy is theproliferation of websites purporting to rep-resent charities.

Roughly 350 Internet addresses relatedto Japan were registered in a 24-hour peri-

od in the week following the tsunami, ac-cording to Internet security expert JohnBambenek. The names reference Japanand such terms as “earthquake relief,”‘’aid” and “help.” Many ask for money.

“Some are probably legitimate,” saidBambenek, who works for the Bethesda,Md.-based Internet Storm Center, whichtracks viruses and other security problems.“But nobody can set up a charity that fast.”

Still another con artist used search-en-gine optimization techniques to make abogus site appear at the top of Googlesearch results for Japan quake informa-tion. The site pretended to be advertisinganti-virus software but actually was mali-cious, Bambenek said.

Here are a few tips to help you steerclear of scams and donate wisely to legiti-

mate charities:1. Be wary of online solicitations.Spam and e-mail solicitations from char-

ities claiming to be linked to relief groupsare common after natural disasters. It’sbetter to go to your favorite charity’s web-site or call in your donation to ensure yourmoney doesn’t go to the wrong place.2. Do your homework.Check out the organization at sites for the

Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) orCharity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org), an independent nonprofit organizationthat evaluates charities based on effective-ness and financial stability.3. Watch out for phony names.Some bogus charities use names that

sound or look like those of legitimate or-ganizations to mislead you. For example,

“foundation” in an organization’s namemight be replaced with “association” or an-other word to confuse donors.4. Examine Web addresses.Avoid sites that end in a series of num-

bers, and be aware that most nonprofitshave sites that end with .org, not .com.5. Don’t pay in cash.Pay by check or money order rather

than cash, both in the interest of securityand for your tax records. Make sure to ad-dress it to the full name of the charitableorganization, not anyone acting on behalfof the charity.6. Check with the charity.If you are dealing with a telemarketer

who claims to be working on behalf of an

Avoid the scams when donating to JapanSee HIGH-FLYERS, page 25

See SCAMS, page 25

organization, check with the charity itselfto verify that it has authorized the solicita-tion.7. Resist pushy demands.

Do not send any money if the personseeking a donation uses high-pressure tac-tics, asks for cash or wired payment, or in-sists on sending someone to pick up yourdonation. These are all characteristics of ascam.

— AP

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 1 1 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Law & Money 25

Make a gift to Holy CrossHospital and receive an

income tax deduction alongwith fixed payments for life

for you or someone you love.

Charitable gift annuityrates now range

from 5.3% to 9.5%.

To learn more contact Megan CarnellHoly Cross Hospital Foundation

[email protected]

that give back.Gifts

HOLY CROSS HOSPITALFOUNDATION

investment officer of Cabot Money Man-agement in Salem, Mass. His firm hasowned the stock since 2009 and boughtmore last fall, with Lutts citing its “killer”business model and huge opportunitiesboth in the rural U.S. and abroad.

“You can’t underestimate the Americanappetite for high-quality entertainment,and Imax theaters certainly deliver that,”he said.SodaStream International Ltd. (SODA)Sector: Consumer goodsHeadquarters: Airport City, IsraelMid-March stock price: $42.65Long established in Israel, the maker of

home carbonating systems held a publicoffering here in November and now sellsin U.S. retail chains including Bed Bath &

Beyond, Macy’s and Williams-Sonoma.SodaStream’s soda-making machines,

which cost $80 and up, turn tap water intosparkling water and soft drinks. During thethird quarter of 2010, the company reported$57 million in revenue from selling 449,000soda makers in 41 countries. As evidence ofwhat could happen if it catches on here, ithas sold a million of the kits in Sweden.

The company has potential similar toGreen Mountain Coffee and its single-cupbrewing business, according to Dave Dis-pennette, founder and president of TheStock Playbook, a Florida-based stock ad-visory service.

“Just as many people drink soda as cof-fee, maybe more,” he said. “It’s a productthat has phenomenal growth in front of it.”The stock has doubled since its first day ofU.S. trading in November.

— AP

High-flyersFrom page 24

ScamsFrom page 24

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

MAKING SENIORS COUNT

The Aspen Hill Chapter of NARFE (National Active and Retired Fed-

eral Employees Association) will meet on Wednesday, April 27 from 2 to 3 p.m., to

hear Jenaye Flamer, of the U.S. Census Bureau, speak about how the results of

the last census will affect seniors. The talk will be given at the Holiday Park Multi-

service Senior Center at 3950 Ferrara Dr., Wheaton, Md., and is open to all. For

additional information, contact Nancy Leonard at (301) 871-2995.

BEACON BITS

Apr. 27

Don’t BecomeaVictimof Fraud!!

REPORT QUESTIONABLE MEDICARE ANDMEDICAID CHARGES AND PRACTICES

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By Kimberly LankfordQ: I just received my first Medicare

Part B bill of the year, and my monthlypremium is $115.40, rather than the$96.40 that most people are paying.Why am I paying so much more than

everyone else? I don’t earn enough to behit by the high-income surcharge, andI’ve been covered by Medicare for sever-al years. I’m 68, but I haven’t startedcollecting Social Security benefits.A: You are correct: Most people are still

paying $96.40 per month for MedicarePart B benefits, which cover doctors’ visitsand outpatient care. That’s because themajority of Medicare beneficiaries are pro-tected by the so-called hold-harmless pro-vision, which prohibits their Social Securi-

ty benefits from going down in any year.Here’s how it works: There was no cost-

of-living adjustment in Social Security ben-efits for 2011 because inflation has been solow. Because most people have theirmonthly Medicare premiums deductedfrom their Social Security check, applyingthe increase in Medicare Part B premiumswould have resulted in a reduced benefit.

Therefore, most existing Medicare ben-eficiaries are exempt from the premium in-crease. But because you do not yet collectSocial Security benefits, you’re not protect-ed by the hold-harmless provision and youhave to pay the increased premium forMedicare Part B.

There are other exceptions. People whoenroll in Medicare Part B for the first time

in 2011 are not protected by the hold-harmless provision because they have notreceived Medicare benefits in the past.

Likewise, retirees who aren’t part of theSocial Security system — for example,some former public-sector employees —are not protected by the hold-harmlessprovision. Both groups must pay the$115.40 monthly premium.

A few other groups will also pay morethan $96.40 a month for Part B. Retireeswho enrolled in 2010 will pay $110.50 permonth, which is the same premium thatthey paid last year.

And individuals with modified adjustedgross income of $85,000 or more (or$170,000 or more if married filing jointly)will pay a high-income surcharge on both

their Part B and their Part D premiums.For more information about who pays

what Medicare premiums in 2011, see theKiplinger article “How Much You’ll Pay forMedicare in 2011” at http://bitly.com/MedicareCosts.Q. What is expected to happen to

Medicare and Social Security premi-ums in 2012?A. Millions of retired and disabled peo-

ple in the United States had better bracefor another year with no increase in SocialSecurity payments.

The government is projecting a slightupward cost-of-living adjustment for SocialSecurity benefits next year, the first in-

26 Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com A P R I L 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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By Joyce B. Siegel“No value,” my stockbroker said to me.

“You might just as well use ‘em for wallpaper.Just toss them.” He was talking about thepile of stock certificates my husband and Ifound more than 20 years ago when we werecleaning out my father-in-law’s house.

This was just after I’d found a stash ofmint condition U.S. postage stamp blocksI’d put aside, hoping one day they’d bevaluable. I took them to a philately storefor evaluation. “Lick ‘em and stick ‘em,”the stamp expert said. “They are onlyworth the face value.”

Lick ‘em and stick ‘em is just what I did.Every letter I sent out was a display of thehistory of American postage stamps. So Ididn’t find any amazing treasures there.

After my disappointment with thestamps, I had a hard time accepting thatthe stock certificates were worthless. Theonly way I could research the companiesthat I was told were “belly up” was throughmy broker and some publications on com-pany history he provided, so I had to ac-cept his judgment. We didn’t have comput-er search engines back then.

But as certain as he was that the stockswere worthless, I couldn’t bear to throwthem away. They were attractive productsin their own right, carefully engraved workof craftsmen. I filed them away. After all,they didn’t take up much space.

Tracking down old companiesThen, a few years ago, traveling on Am-

trak between D.C. and New York, I looked

up from a book I was reading. It was a sec-ond’s worth of serendipity.

There, somewhere in New Jersey, werenewly painted oil tanks clearly labeledMeenan Oil. Wait a sec! I had a stock certifi-cate for several thousand shares of MeenanOil, but I was told the company was defunct.

By the time this happened, I had a com-puter and access to online search engines.As soon as I got home I hunted for Meenan,and sure enough, it was still in existence. Ithad simply gone from a public to a privatelyheld company.

I contacted the company’s finance officerat its Long Island New York headquarters.He told me a fund had been established topay off old stockholders. My husband sentin the necessary paperwork and we re-ceived a check for several thousand dollars.

Inspired, I took out the pile of my father-in-law’s “valueless” stocks and startedlooking into what had happened to thecompanies whose shares were supposedto be worthless. I found four more that hadgone from publicly held to privately held.We reaped a few thousand dollars more.

Last resort — collectorsTwo companies absolutely no longer ex-

isted, but there were two small businesseswith the exact name as the defunct compa-nies. Both small business owners were in-trigued and asked if they could buy thestock certificate to display in their offices.No problem, I said. We earned $100 more.

If you have old stock certificates youmay have the same luck. You may have

some certificates of interest to collectors.There are businesses that buy and sell

old stock certificates, and individualshawking them on eBay, Amazon, etc. Thebuying, selling, displaying and collectingof old stock certificates is called scripophi-ly. Does that make me a scripophilist?

Why do these old certificates fascinateso many people? For starters, just as Ifound out with my Meenan moment, theymay actually have some retained value.Some currently profitable companies wereonce organized under different names, butthe old certificates are still valid.

Xerox, for instance, was first calledHaloid, then Haloid Xerox and in the1960s, it became just plain Xerox. If youhad a share of Haloid and held on to it,you’d find it’s now worth a bundle.

American Oil Company became AMOCOand then was bought by BP. Who knowswhat that’s worth these days?

Some certificates may have some spe-

cial, historic value, representing an espe-cially interesting aspect of our nation’spast. Some may be signed by an “impor-tant” person like J.P. Morgan, Rockefeller,Eastman of Eastman Kodak or HenryFord. Who knows? Some are valuable be-cause of the quality of the engraving.

Gone are the days when stock certifi-cates are held in “bearer form” by individ-ual investors. Now they’re in electronicform and held “in street name” on brokers’computers. The use of paper stocks endedaround the 1990s.

Old stock certificates are getting in-creasingly rare, so while they may have noredeemable value as a security, they mayhave value to collectors (as long as they’rein pretty good condition). Either way, itmay be fun — and worth a little detectivework to find out if you have some treas-ures….or just wallpaper.Joyce B. Siegel is a freelance writer in

N. Bethesda, Md.


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Old stock certificates may still have value

FREE LAST-MINUTE TAX HELP

Free tax return preparation assistance will be offered to those

with low to moderate incomes by Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) on

Thursdays, April 7 and 14 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Wheaton Regional Library, 11701

Georgia Ave., Wheaton, Md. For more information or to find other sites where VITA

will offer tax preparation, call 1-800-906-9887.

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crease since 2009.But for beneficiaries whose Medicare

premiums are deducted from their SocialSecurity, the increased cost of Medicare isexpected to wipe out any increase in SocialSecurity benefits, leaving them without araise for a third straight year.

As explained above, when Medicare pre-miums rise and Social Security benefitsdon’t, most beneficiaries don’t see theirbenefit check go down because of the hold-harmless provision. But even in years whenSocial Security payments rise, if Medicarepremiums rise as much or more, beneficiar-ies won’t see their checks go up, either.

David Certner of AARP estimates thatas many as three-fourths of beneficiarieswill have their entire Social Security in-crease swallowed by rising Medicare pre-

miums next year.Q: How does Medicare Part D’s new

50 percent discount on brand-nameprescription drugs work for seniors af-fected by the so-called doughnut hole?Doesn’t it just mean that we end up inthe doughnut hole for longer?A: The prescription-drug coverage gap,

known as the doughnut hole, has been thebig downside of the Medicare Part D pro-gram since it was launched in 2006.

But beginning in 2011, the gap will startto shrink. Once your total drug costs reach$2,840 for the year (including your shareand the insurer’s share of the costs), youwill get a 50 percent discount on yourbrand-name drugs.

Your pharmacy will apply the discountautomatically when you purchase the med-ications. After your out-of-pocket costsreach $4,550 for the year, you qualify forcatastrophic coverage and your Part D

plan picks up most of the tab.As you mention, this discount would

have merely left you in the doughnut holelonger if they hadn’t changed the way thedoughnut hole is calculated, too.

To avoid this problem, the entire cost ofthe drug — before the 50 percent discount isapplied — counts toward the amount neededto fill the coverage gap. If the drug costs$100, for example, and you pay $50, the en-tire $100 will count toward your out-of-pock-et costs that trigger catastrophic coverage.

The discount comes off the price thatthe Part D plan has negotiated with thepharmacy for that specific drug, said Jim

Turner of Humana. The dispensing fee(often $2 to $5) isn’t discounted, but it isadded to the discounted amount of the pre-scription and does count toward the $4,550in out-of-pocket costs.

Also starting this year, you’ll only pay 93percent of the cost of generic drugs, withthe government picking up the remaining7 percent. But in this case, only the 93 per-cent of the cost that you pay yourselfcounts toward leaving the doughnut hole.© 2011 Kiplinger. All rights reserved.

Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.The Associated Press also contributed to thisarticle.


MedicareFrom page 26

SENIOR LAW DAYThe 34th annual Senior Law Day in Arlington will be held Mon.,

May 2 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the new Dept. of Human Services building,

2100 Washington Blvd. (Sequoia Plaza), lower level, Arlington, Va. The theme is

“Connecting the Community to the Court System.” There is no fee; parking is free.

For more information, call (703) 228-1700 or (703) 228-0948.

WINE TASTING FUNDRAISEROur Savior Lutheran Church, Arlington, Va., is hosting its annual

wine tasting benefit on Saturday, April 9, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. to

benefit the Arlington Free Clinic and the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League.

The evening includes wine, cheese, appetizers, desserts, door prizes and live

music. Ticket prices are $35 per person for a tasting ticket or $25 per person for

a designated driver ticket. Non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. The event

will be at the church, 825 S. Taylor St., Arlington, Va. Reservations can be made

at www.osva.org; select the Wineology Registration link. For more information,

call (703) 892-4846 or email [email protected].

BEACON BITS

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Apr. 9

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By Dave CarpenterWarnings of high inflation ahead have

been around so long it’s easy for investorsto take them for granted. Heavy govern-ment spending was supposed to have driv-en inflation sharply upward. Some expertspredicted it would hit 8 percent by now.

So far, inflation is still tame. However, thelong era of low inflation likely is nearing anend. Prices have accelerated abroad due tosuper-heated economic growth in China,Brazil, India and other emerging markets.

The U.S. consumer price index rose by.4 percent in January and .5 percent inFebruary, increasing prospects that wewill eventually have significantly higher in-flation at home. Over the past year theindex has risen 1.6 percent.

“Investors ignore inflation at their ownperil,” said Christine Benz, director of per-sonal finance at Morningstar Inc. Eventhose who normally leave their mutualfunds on auto-pilot would be well-advised toconsider inflation-proofing their portfolios.

Ways to protect yourself include over-hauling your mix of funds, paring back onriskier international funds, and adding of-ferings that focus on inflation-protectedbonds such as Treasury Inflation-Protect-ed Securities (TIPS) — a type of Treasurybond whose payout is adjusted every sixmonths for inflation. Investing in com-

modities funds and dividend mutual fundsalso may help.

Benz discussed the options and bestmoves for individual investors in an inter-view with the Associated Press. Here areexcerpts:Q: Why can’t investors rely on fund

managers to mitigate the effects of in-flation?A: Not many managers spend a lot of

time thinking about the macroeconomicenvironment, whether it’s inflationary, de-flationary, recessionary or whatever. In-stead, most hew to a specific style (such asgrowth, value, small cap, large cap).

For example, it’s not typical for most corebond funds to buy TIPS. That means that in-vestors who want to ensure that their portfo-lios have insulation against inflation shouldtake steps to put it in place themselves.Q: There aren’t any mutual funds

composed of I-bonds — inflation-linked government savings bonds —so isn’t it better for inflation-wary in-vestors to invest in TIPS?A: Both TIPS and I-bonds are fine op-

tions. I-bonds make good sense for in-vestors’ taxable accounts in that they won’towe federal income taxes from year to year— only when the bond matures or they sell.

But with TIPS, investors are not limitedto purchases of $10,000 per year as they

are with I-bonds. By buying a TIPS fundyou also get the advantage of professionalmanagement.

For plain-vanilla, low-cost possibilities,both the conventional mutual fund VanguardInflation-Protected Securities (VIPSX) andiShares Barclays TIPS Bond (TIP), an ETF,are solid. For an actively managed fund, in-vestors might consider PIMCO Real Return(PRTNX) or Harbor Real Return (HARRX).

For investors concerned that inflation isa global phenomenon, our analysts also

like the exchange-traded fund SPDR DBInternational Government Inflation-Pro-tected Bond (WIP).Q: How effective are commodities in

fighting inflation?A: In theory, buying an investment that

tracks commodities prices is a good way tohedge against inflation. As you’re payinghigher prices for food, gas, and other stuffyou need, an investment in commodities


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should also be going up, helping offsetthose higher costs.

Unfortunately, the best way to obtainpure exposure to commodities is to takephysical delivery of the stuff — whetherit’s pork bellies, cotton or oil — and that’ssimply not practical for mutual funds.

Instead, most commodities funds obtainexposure by buying commodity index fu-tures, which don’t perfectly reflect com-modity prices at any given point in time.Q: With those shortcomings in mind,

do you still recommend any particularcommodities funds?A: If investors are OK with that impreci-

sion, they could look to an exchange-trad-ed note like iPath DJ-UBS CommodityIndex (DJP) or to actively managed com-modity futures funds such as Harbor Com-modity Real Return (HACMX) or PIMCOCommodity Real Return (PCRAX).

Traded on major exchanges, exchange-traded notes are a type of debt securitythat combines the aspects of bonds andETFs.Q: Why should investors see divi-

dend-stock funds as an inflationhedge as opposed to, say, bonds?A: Stocks should be part of most in-

vestors’ inflationary toolkits because theirlong-run potential to beat inflation is muchgreater than is the case for bonds, and cer-tainly cash.

And dividend-paying companies offer animportant advantage that fixed-rate invest-ments like bonds don’t: If business isgood, they can actually increase their divi-dends. Those higher payouts, in turn, canhelp offset higher prices.

Among our favorite dividend-growthfunds are Vanguard Dividend Growth(VDIGX), a traditional actively managedmutual fund, and Vanguard Dividend Ap-preciation (VIG for the ETF and VDAIXfor the traditional index mutual fund).Q: Who should be thinking the most

about adding inflation-fighting invest-ments?A: Retirees. Only a portion of the income

that most retirees earn, such as their SocialSecurity income, will automatically step upwith inflation. The income they draw fromtheir portfolios, by contrast, will be worthless and less as inflation increases.

— AP

Inflation-proofFrom page 31

TRANSITION WORKSHOP FOR NEW RETIREESA two-part workshop designed to help new retirees with decisions af-fecting the next phase of their lives will be held Tuesdays, April 26

and May 3 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Langston-Brown Senior Center, 2121 N. CulpeperSt., Arlington, Va. The cost is $10 for materials. Call (703) 228-4759 to register.

FOUNDATIONS OF INVESTINGNick Martinez of Edward Jones will discuss key features of bonds,stocks, mutual funds, asset allocation and the impact of inflation.

The free program is on Wednesday, April 28 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Holy CrossHospital Caregiver Resource Center, located at 9805 Dameron Dr., Silver Spring,Md. Call (301) 754-7152 to register.

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By Barbara RubenDavid Gamse’s grandmother died of

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After graduating, Gamse served as an ad-

junct faculty member at the University ofSouth Florida’s Aging Studies Program andthen worked as a senior manager at AARP.

In 1990, he assumed his present posi-tion as executive director of the JewishCouncil for the Aging (JCA). The localnonprofit has grown much since then, andGamse now manages a staff of more than60, plus 500 volunteers.

Together they serve more than 30,000

older adults and family caregivers eachyear, supplying information, assisting withtransportation, helping workers find em-ployment, and providing adult day care.

Gamse is being recognized for his ac-complishments with a Leadership in Agingaward from Seabury Resources for Aging,formerly known as Episcopal Senior Min-istries.

“David Gamse has provided vision andleadership for the Jewish Council for theAging for more than 21 years and helpedimprove the lives of older adults through-out the greater Washington area throughhis leadership in the community,” saidJoseph Resch, Seabury’s executive direc-tor.

Helping is its own rewardGamse said he was surprised and hon-

ored by the award. “It certainly is a feelgood, I’ll tell you,” he said.

“The award, or reward, I get from work-ing really comes about from the smilesand hugs I get from seniors. That really isa terrific feeling when you’re in a direct-service charity. So this is really icing onthe cake.”

Over the years, Gamse has led work-shops on aging and nonprofit managementfor a wide range of public and private or-ganizations, including the American Man-agement Association, the White HouseConference on Aging, and the U.S. Depart-ment of Labor.

Internationally, he has represented U.S.

policy on aging at United Nations confer-ences and programs of the Israeli Geronto-logical Society.

Gamse also serves on a variety of policyand research boards and commissions,and has authored many articles about pro-ductive aging and delivering services ef-fectively.

Also being honored at Seabury’s annualbenefit is the Morris and GwendolynCafritz Foundation, the largest private

Does yourorganization usesenior volunteers

or do you employ anumber of seniors?

If so and you’d like to beconsidered for a story in our

Volunteers & Careers section,please send an e-mail to

[email protected].

CareersVolunteers &

Local leaders in aging to receive awards

Gerontologist David Gamse has been ex-ecutive director of the Jewish Council forthe Aging for over 20 years. He is beinghonored for his service to the communi-ty by Seabury Resources for Aging.

Two years ago, questions about em-ployment were the fifth-most populartype of query received by the SeniorHelpLine operated by the Jewish Coun-cil for the Aging (JCA). Last year, em-ployment was the second-most frequenttopic among the 14,000 calls received.

“That’s a sign of the times, and it isn’tabout to change any time soon,” saidMicki Gordon, JCA’s Assistant Execu-tive Director.

JCA’s 50+ Employment Expo on May 17will help answer some of these questions— and assist jobseekers in finding work.

Last year, 25 percent of the expo’s3,200 attendees landed a job within sixmonths of attending, while 84 percent ofthe 48 employers that exhibited saidthey had met candidates there whowere suitable to hire.

The expo will be held at the MarriottBethesda North Hotel and ConferenceCenter and is free of charge. No pre-registration is necessary.

Job searching in hard times“Our success is all the more com-

pelling because older workers have hadsuch a terrible time in this economy,Gordon said.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)found that 2.2 million Americans age 55and older were unemployed in Novem-ber 2010. That is the highest level ofolder worker unemployment since DOLbegan collecting data in 1948.

Compared with their younger coun-terparts, older workers face longer peri-ods of unemployment. They are more

likely to face age discrimination and tobecome “discouraged workers,” want-ing a job but nevertheless exiting thelabor force because they do not believethey will ever work again.

An analysis by the Pew EconomicPolicy Group found that nearly 30 per-cent of unemployed men and womenage 55+ were jobless for an entire yearor more, a rate that exceeds that ofevery other age group.

Help with interviewing, resumesThe expo will feature dozens of em-

ployers, including non-profits, govern-ment, healthcare, retail and technologycompanies. Attendees can also attendseminars on resume writing, interview-ing skills, finding jobs online and chang-ing careers.

The keynote speaker will be BobRyan, lead meteorologist for the 11 p.m.news on ABC7.

The 50+ Employment Expo will beheld on Tuesday, May 17 from 10 a.m.to 3 p.m. at the Marriott BethesdaNorth Hotel and Conference Center,5701 Marinelli Rd., Bethesda, Md., oneblock from the White Flint Metro sta-tion on the Red Line.

The expo is a collaboration betweenJCA, the Montgomery County Health &Human Services Department, the Bea-con Newspapers and other local organi-zations.

For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call (301) 255-4231.

— Barbara Ruben

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Susan Sipprelle has taken on a thank-less task: documenting the pain inflictedby the Great Recession onolder workers.

An independent journalistand photographer, last fall Sip-prelle launched Over50andOutofWork.com, a website dedicat-ed to telling the stories of joblessAmericans from a wide array ofbackgrounds through video in-terviews.

Their stories are supple-mented with interviews withsome of the country’s top ex-perts on older workers, joblessness andthe challenge of job-hunting over age 50.

“I embarked on this project because Isaw the devastating impact the recessionwas having on many of my peers,” Sip-prelle said.

In their own words“These are boomers who had expected

to be secure in their careers, but whenthey found themselves unemployed, thevalue of their homes and savings had alsodeclined, and they could not find jobs.

“I wanted to use new media tools cou-pled with old-school journalism to give out-of-work older Americans a chance to telltheir own stories and expose the issuesthey confront as they seek re-employment.

“Their stories are not only about thehardships they are currently facing and theresilience they possess, but also about thepast 50 years of seismic social and econom-ic change in the United States,” she added.

“If boomers can get back to work and re-group financially, their individual futureswill improve, as will the economy and thelong-term outlook for the country.”

Over50andOutofWork.com already hascollected more than 60 video interviewswith jobless workers all over the country,and has a goal to collect 100. The site alsohas started a blog series focused on olderentrepreneurs.

Less likely fired — or hiredSo, storytelling aside, how are older

workers actually faring in the recession?Unemployment data paints a mixed pic-ture. Older workers have been less likelyto get laid off, but they’re having a muchharder time finding new work than are

younger jobseekers.A recent report by the Urban Institute

shows that seniority helpsprotect older workers fromjob loss — the average joblessrate for workers over 55 in2010 was 7.7 percent for men,and 6.2 percent for women.That’s considerably lowerthan the national unemploy-ment rate, which stood at 9.0percent in January.

Overall, workers age 50 to61 were 34 percent less likelyto lose their jobs during the

downturn than younger workers, theUrban Institute researchers found.

But workers in that age group who havelost their jobs in the recession are one-thirdless likely to find new work than their coun-terparts age 25 to 34. And workers over age

62 were half as likely to be re-employed.What’s more, workers who do find new

jobs are accepting lower pay. Median hourlywages for displaced men age 50 to 61 whobecame re-employed from 1996 to 2007 fell20 percent below the median figures fortheir former jobs. By contrast, wages felljust 4 percent for men age 25 to 34.

A role for federal governmentThe findings point to the difficulty of

keeping workers on the job longer — anaim of policymakers hoping to reducepressure on federal spending for entitle-ment programs such as Social Security.

“We need to get people to work longer sothey can help produce the goods and servic-es necessary to promote economic growthand help pay taxes to fund public services,”said Richard Johnson, a senior fellow at theUrban Institute and a co-author of the report.

“But that can’t happen unless seniorscan find work. We need to devote moremoney to training and employment servic-es for older workers.

“The federal government has only onesmall employment program targeted toolder people — we need more. We shouldalso consider extending unemploymentbenefits for older people, since it takes themso long to find work when unemployed.”

[In recent steps to reduce the federal deficit,the House of Representatives passed a bill thatcut the older worker employment program by64 percent and abolished the Senior Corpsprogram, among other cuts affecting seniors.]

And age discrimination claims filed withthe Equal Employment Opportunity Com-mission have spiked in recent years.

“Employers are clearly reluctant to hire

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 1 1 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Volunteers & Careers 35

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HALL OF FAMENOMINATIONSDo you know active

volunteers 60 or older who have madeoutstanding contributions to improvethe lives of others? You can nominatethem for the Maryland Senior CitizensHall of Fame. Nomination forms areavailable by calling Parker Koons at(410) 828-5852. The deadline forsubmission of the form is April 30.

BEACON BITS

Apr. 30

local foundation focused exclusively on theWashington, D.C., area. The foundation isthe legacy of Morris Cafritz, one of Wash-ington’s leading commercial and residen-

tial builders from the early 1920’s to themid-60’s, and his wife, Gwendolyn.

Over the last decade, the foundationinvested more than $3 million in agingservices for Washington, D.C.-area. Thefoundation also helped organize theWorking Group on Aging, which has in-

creased the visibility of aging issuesamong other area philanthropists andcommunity leaders.

“The Foundation has been at the fore-front of innovations, service delivery sys-tem improvements, and provided a back-bone of support for valued programs forolder adults,” Resch said.

To share in the benefitThe Leadership in Aging awards will be

presented at a celebration on Thursday,June 9 at 6 p.m. at the Fannie Mae Build-ing, 3900 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washing-ton, D.C.

The evening will include a cocktail re-ception, award presentation and auction,and will be attended by leading businessesand industry professionals in the field ofaging, clergy, lay leaders of local congrega-tions, and committed individual donors.

Proceeds from the evening will benefitSeabury Resources for Aging’s servicesand will help low income older adults whoneed care management, meals, housing,care and help with home maintenance.

For additional information about theevent or to make reservations or a contri-bution, call (202) 414-6313 or visitwww.seaburyresources.org.

rooms to guests, basically leaving themfurnished just as they were. She still doesthe day-to-day work herself, although shehas housecleaners who come in everyother week to help.

“I have to get up really early in themorning. That’s my only regret,” Siegristsaid. “For the most part, everybody isvery, very nice and honest. I’ve had noproblems. I love people.”

Restoring a fixer upperSometimes opening a bed and breakfast

becomes the best way to acquire and/or

hold onto a valuable property whose costsof upkeep would otherwise get out of hand.

Anne Pomykala, the 72-year-old ownerof the Gramercy Mansion Bed & Breakfastin Baltimore, became an accidentalinnkeeper in that way.

Pomykala and her husband Ronald, 76,are born and bred Washingtonians whoknew little about Baltimore before pur-chasing the Gramercy 25 years ago. Theywere visiting a friend at Johns HopkinsHospital and saw an ad for the sale of themansion at auction.

The house and grounds had a long andstoried past that appealed to thePomykalas. In 1902, Alexander Cassattbought the heavily wooded property as a

present for his daughter, Eliza.Cassatt himself was well-known for his

role as president of the Pennsylvania Rail-road. In later years, his fame became over-shadowed by that of his sister, Mary Cas-satt, an Impressionist painter who depict-ed the social and private lives of women,and whose work can be found in the Na-tional Gallery of Art.

“We took one look [at the house] andfell in love with it,” said Pomykala. “We de-cided to buy it and make it our home.”

Because of the state of disrepair of thehouse and estate, neither developers norindividual homeowners were flocking tothe auctioneer. “Every roof leaked, theseptic system leaked, only one of the three

wells was working…there was a lot to do,”Pomykala recalled.

Undaunted, they purchased the proper-ty for $670,000. “Of course, we put a lotmore money into restoring it,” Pomykalasaid mildly. “We knew we had a lot to do,but not quite how much or how expensiveit was going to be.”

Neither of the Pomykalas — she was afull-time homemaker and mother of sixchildren and he was, and still is, a practic-ing dentist — had ever restored an historicproperty before.

It didn’t take long before the Pomykalasrealized that making the Gramercy their

36 Volunteers & Careers | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com A P R I L 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

B&BsFrom page 1

See B&Bs, page 37

INTERAGES CELEBRATES 25 YEARSInterages will celebrate 25 years of intergenerational volunteeringon Thursday, May 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. Donna Butts, executive direc-

tor of Generations United, is the keynote speaker. Congressman Chris Van Hollenand Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett will honor Interages founderAustin Heyman during the event, which will be held at VisArts Center, 155 GibbsSt., Rockville, Md. For ticket information, call (301) 949-3551. For more informa-tion about Interages, see www.interagesmd.org.

INTENSIVE JOB SEARCH TRAINING CLASSESAre you 50 or over, looking for a job, and a Montgomery Countyresident? The Career Gateway is an innovative program that willhelp you turbo-charge your resume, hone your interviewing skills,

network effectively, discover the hidden job market, and develop a personal job-search plan. The program offers small classes, a long-term mentor, 30 hours of in-tensive training over two weeks, and take-home materials. The cost is $75. Newclass sessions begin on April 4 and May 9. Call JCA University at (301) 255-4200or e-mail [email protected].

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full-time residence wasn’t feasible. “Thebills started coming in, and we decided itjust couldn’t stay a private home,” she said.

A year after purchasing the property,they opened as a one-room bed and break-fast. Pomykala was the reservationist,greeter, housekeeper, chef and more.

At the start, it was difficult to get guests.“You had to sign up with a reservationsservice and hope people found you,” shesaid.

But the Internet has changed all that.She no longer relies on such services oreven advertises. Through their website, e-mail newsletter and blog, the Gramercy —and the B&B industry overall — are enjoy-ing unprecedented success.

Today, the Gramercy has 11 gue-strooms and a staff of 20 that handles theday-to-day operations (includingPomykala’s daughter, Cristin, who servesas manager).

“I still ‘meet and greet’ but I don’t haveto do the hard work anymore,” Pomykalalaughed.

Difficult but rewardingDespite her success, Pomykala gently

offers these words of caution to those con-sidering opening their own B&B: “It’s a lotof work. It’s not as romantic as you think.”

Other local innkeepers agree.“You can’t do this alone,” said the Aaron

Shipman House’s Charlie Reed, 75. “Thiswould have lasted three weeks if I had tomake the beds.”

In addition to their housekeeper, he andhis wife use a service that handles reserva-tions and financial matters. Also, it can beimportant to have other sources of regularincome. Charlie continued his work as anattorney and his wife, Jackie, managedtheir investment property after theyopened their B&B.

Innkeeper Yoshie Haga knows theworkload all too well. She had worked inhotels in her native Japan. So when shebought a run-down turn-of-the centuryGeorgian mansion in the Kalorama

Heights neighborhood of Washington 17years ago, Haga “thought this is some-thing I can basically run with my eyesclosed.”

She soon discovered otherwise, howev-er. “You have to have so much energy todo this 24/7,” she said. “In order to do itwell and give guests the attention theyneed, you have to have an awful lot ofstamina.”

In the early years she shouldered all thework alone for her 12-room Taft BridgeInn. But over time, Haga, 60, has hired aninnkeeper and part-time housekeeper.

Like the Reeds, she has enjoyed hostingguests from numerous countries, butlaments that it’s difficult to take a vacationherself.

“It’s a hard business,” Haga said. “I amthinking about retiring within five years. Butthis is my life. It’s my baby. I made this busi-ness from scratch, and it’s hard to let go.”

Bill Rouchell, 57, closed his Capitol HillB&B Maison Orleans in 2010, after 24

years in business. Three years earlier, hehad undergone triple bypass surgery aftera guest, who was a doctor, rushed him tothe hospital.

“Those guests [who were at the inn at thetime] still call every week to see how I am.We have become great friends,” he said.

But that health crisis led Rouchell to re-evaluate his three-guest room B&B and

take in housemates rather than temporarylodgers. Rouchell is still consideringwhether he will reopen as a bed and break-fast in the future.

“Unfortunately, with just three roomsthere isn’t any wiggle room to hire some-one to help out. There is only so muchmoney one can make,” he said.

Additional reporting by Carol Sorgen.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 1 1 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Volunteers & Careers 37

B&BsFrom page 36

older workers,” said Johnson. “Many areconcerned that older workers are moreexpensive than younger ones; that theylack up-to-date skills; that they won’t bearound long enough to justify the cost ofhiring and training them.

“These concerns are mostly unfounded,but they’re widespread. If that’s not outrightage discrimination, it certainly comes close.”

Mark Miller is the author of The HardTimes Guide to Retirement Security: PracticalStrategies for Money, Work and Living (JohnWiley & Sons/Bloomberg Press, 2010). Sub-scribe to Mark’s free weekly eNewsletter athttp://retirementrevised.com/enews. Contact:[email protected].

© 2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

JoblessFrom page 35

50+ EMPLOYMENT EXPO

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SEMINARS:Online ApplicationsChanging Careers

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RESUME HELP:Resume Assistance and Critiques

INTERNET SEARCHES:How to surf the Net for a jobWebsite Lists

Over 50 & Looking for a New Job?

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Tuesday, May 17, 10am-3pmMarriott Bethesda North Hotel and Conference Center5701 Marinelli Road, Bethesda, Maryland

Easy access via the metro redline – White Flint metro stop.

Montgomery County is home to one of the most educated andexperienced workforces in the country. Filling your vacancieswith these mature workers can raise your productivity andreduce expenses.

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VOLUME XXVI, ISSUE 4 A newsletter for D.C. Seniors April 2011

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFICE ON AGING

Spotlight On Aging

Spring is here! Some begin spring with cleaning and othersbegin leading a healthier lifestyle, taking advantage of the extrahours of daylight and walking more.

Spring is also known as a time for renewal. Renew your promiseto yourself to stay active and involved. Let’s all shed the poundsgained through hibernation during the wintermonths and domore.

Our First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, haslaunched a campaign against childhood obesity called Let’s Move,which encourages 60 minutes of activity each day. Share that goalwith yourself. Remaining active should not just be for the young.

We encourage all residents age 60 and older who have beencleared by their medical doctor to join a wellness program in thecity. We opened the Ward One Senior Wellness Center, located at3531 Georgia Avenue, N.W., on Feb. 28. Take advantage of thecenters and the wellness programs that are provided by the Of-fice on Aging Senior Service Network.

The Office on Aging Senior Service Network has grant appli-cations available. This is the agency responsible for directingcommunity-based services for the elderly in each ward and oper-ating grants for each of the six wellness centers in the city. If youknow of a community-based organization or other entity thatwould be interested, please make sure they call 202-724-5622 orvisit us on the Web at www.dcoa.dc.gov to see the Request for Ap-plication (RFA). The deadline for submission is April 22.

The deadline for applications for the upcoming Ms. SeniorD.C. Pageant is April 11. If you or someone you know are inter-ested in applying, please make sure an application has been sub-mitted. For more information, please contact 202-724-5626.

If you haven’t already filed your taxes, it is not too late to do so.The filing deadline for D.C. and federal taxes this year has beenextended until April 18 because of the Emancipation Day Holiday.If you need assistance with filing, call the Office on Aging at 202-724-5626 for available resources.

INTERIMEXECUTIVEDIRECTOR’SMESSAGEBy Donna S. Dunston

Office on Aging Senior ServiceNetworkWellness Programs

BODYWISE .............................................. 202-274-6697Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center.... 202-563-7225Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center........ 202-291-6170Model Cities Senior Wellness Center .......... 202-635-1900Ward One Senior Wellness Center.............. 202-727-0338Washington Seniors Wellness Center .......... 202-581-9355

The Ward 1 Senior Wellness Center officiallyopened its doors on February 28, with an openhouse for new registrants and an orientation forenrolled members.

Activities began on March 1 with a weekly cal-endar of activities throughout the month. Amonthly activity calendar will be available for themonth of April.

Participants are excited about fitness activities,such as the walking club, chair aerobics, indoorbeach volleyball and tennis, and line dancing, ofcourse.

The nutrition program has offered a diabetesmanagement class over a six-week period, nutritioneducation classes on cholesterol and heart disease,

and a breakfast food tasting and demonstration.To round out the program and to ensure en-

hancement of the mind and spirit, along with theenhancement of the body, participants are en-gaged in brain games and puzzles, tai chi andBible study.

Look for an exciting monthly calendar to in-clude trips around the Washington, D.C. area andmany speakers with health promotion and con-sumer information.

Tuesday, April 19 is nationally recognized as“Humor Day.” We expect to have a humor thera-pist visit the center on that day. Come enjoy themany activities on the calendar, and laugh with us!

Call 202-727-0338 for more information.

Ward 1 SeniorWellnessCenter Opens

Local Grammy Award-nominatedartist Chuck Brown stopped by theDeanwood Recreation Center andsigned autographs for the seniorsat the program. The Godfather ofGo-Go was nominated this year fora Grammy for the song ”LOVE,”featuring Jill Scott with MarcusMiller and produced by ChuckyThompson. This marked the firstGrammy nomination for Brown,who has performed locally for morethan 40 years. The seniors at therecreation center received theartist with nothing but Love.

The U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA)announces the Connecting GenerationsVideo Challenge in celebration of OlderAmericans Month 2011.

The challenge willbring together multi-ple generations to cre-ate videos featuring the roles ourseniors play in con-necting us all. Anyonecan participate by join-ing an intergenera-tional team — includ-ing at least one personage 60 or older and one person youngerthan 60 — to produce a video.

In the videos, teams will share their per-spectives on how older Americans maintainand strengthen connections in our commu-nities. From videos about seniors using

technology to connect with others to olderadults assisting in schools, any video thatdemonstrates what seniors are doing to

maintain and strengthencommunity connections is acandidate for this contest.

The AoA will postcontest entries on-line, where partici-pants can viewand commenton all the videos.A panel of judges

will select the top 10entries, and the general public will then votefor the winner from the finalists. Entriesmust be submitted by May 2.

To find out more or to enter the Connect-ing Generations Video Challenge, visitwww.olderamericansmonth.org.

WA SH I NG TON BEACON — AP R I L 2 0 1 1 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com 39

D.C. OFFICE ON AGING NEWSLETTER

Community CalendarApril events5th • 10:30 a.m.Seabury Resources Senior Nutrition Sites will visit

Macy’s Cherry Blossom Show, held at the MetroCenter store. For further information on the trip, con-tact Vivian Grayton at 202-529-8701.

7th • 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.Attend the concert “Folk Music @ Its Best” with

Bruce Hutton from the Performing Arts Society at theWashington Seniors Wellness Center, 3001 AlabamaAve., S.E. Call 202-581-9355 for more information.

9th • noonJoin the East River Weekend Nutrition Program to

decorate eggs for the holiday and learn about eggsafety. It will be held at 3001 Alabama Ave., S.E. CallEvelyn Minor, program director, at 202-581-9355 toreserve your spot.

19thSeabury Resources will celebrate Volunteer Recog-

nition Day at its nutrition centers and offices. Thetheme is “Thanks for All You Do”. For information,call 202-529-8701.

19th • 11 a.m.Ward 8 Nutrition Center seniors will be tested on

their knowledge of egg safety and nutritional benefitsof eating eggs. It will be held at Access Housing Serv-ices, 114 Wayne Pl., S.E. For more information, callEvelyn Minor at 202-562-6860.

29th • 10 a.m. to noonEast River Family Strengthening Collaborative

KEEN Seniors Program is sponsoring a Ward 7Senior Town Hall Meeting. Share your thoughtson the state of Ward 7 and learn about what thecity has planned for the community. The meetingwill be held at the New Macedonia BaptistChurch, 4115 Alabama Ave., S.E. For more infor-mation, contact Alia Manshio at 202-397-7300,ext. 246.

29th • 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.Washington Seniors Wellness Center will spon-

sor a lunch and poetic reading of The 5th Inningwith poet E. Ethelbert Miller at 3001 AlabamaAve., S.E. Call 202-581-9355 for more informa-tion.

May events

1st • 3:30 p.m.Meet artist Gail Rebhan and view “A Cultural His-

tory of My Neighborhood,” photo collages of historicand present day Tenleytown at Iona, 4125 AlbemarleSt., N.W. Call 202-895-9416 for more informationabout this free program.

13th • 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.Washington Seniors Wellness Center presents its

second annual Senior Awareness Workshop andHealth Fair “Connecting the Communities.” The cen-ter is located at 3001 Alabama Ave., S.E. Call 202-581-9355 for more information.

19th • 4 to 8 p.m.KEEN Seniors Program presents, “East River

Swing, A Celebration of Stars,” a “senior prom” forWard 7 older adults. Enjoy dinner, dancing and ahand dancing performance. The cost is $15 ($20 forcaregivers). Advance tickets only. None will be soldat the door. To buy tickets, contact Robin Gantt at202-534-4880, ext 110. The event will be held at St.Luke’s Center, 5923 E. Capitol St., S.E.

Enter the ConnectingGenerations Video Challenge

Spotlight On Aging is published by the In-formation Office of the D.C. Office on Agingfor D.C. senior residents. Advertising con-tained in the Beacon is not endorsed by theD.C. Office on Aging or by the publisher.

441 4th St., N.W., 9th Floor,Washington, D.C. 20001

202-724-5622 • www.dcoa.dc.govDonna S. Dunston,

Interim Executive DirectorDarlene Nowlin, Editor

Alice Thompson, Photographer

The D.C. Office on Aging does not discrimi-nate against anyone based on actual or per-ceived: race, color, religion, national origin,

sex, age, marital status, personal appearance,sexual orientation, familial status, family re-sponsibilities, matriculation, political affilia-tion, disability, source of income, and place ofresidence or business.Sexual harassment is a form of sex dis-

crimination which is prohibited by the Act.In addition, harassment based on any of theabove protected categories is prohibited bythe Act. Discrimination in violation of theAct will not be tolerated. Violators will besubjected to disciplinary action.

The Office on Aging is in partnershipwith the District of Columbia

Recycling Program.

SPOTLIGHTONAGING

America I AM: The AfricanAmerican Imprint Seniors Day

Walmart, the title sponsor of theAmerica I AM: The African AmericanImprint exhibition, has partneredwith the National Council on Aging(NCOA), the D.C. Office on Aging,the National Hispanic Council onAging, and the National Caucus andCenter on Black Aged (NCBA), tohost Seniors Day at the National Geo-graphic Museum.

America I AM is a four-year touringmuseum exhibition that celebratesnearly 500 years of African-Americancontributions to this country.

Adults ages 50 and over in theWash-

ington, D.C. area will receive free ac-cess to experience this one-of-a-kind ex-hibition on April 21 from 9 a.m. to 5p.m. Complimentary lunch will be in-cluded in the day’s festivities.

To register for Seniors Day or to learnmore about this event, contact Gina Hillat the National Council on Aging at 202-479-6970 or [email protected].

Walmart is also offering specially-priced tickets for the public at selectWalmart stores in the Washington,D.C. area: $10 for adults and $5 forchildren. The discounted prices are17 percent off standard ticket prices.

Join us for lunch and activities atDupont Park Adventist Senior Apartments896 Southern Ave., S.E.Serving mid-day mealMonday thru Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Enjoy a nutritious, hot lunch with your neighborsand new friends or old.For more information, call 202-562-1363

D.C. Residents 60 and older are invited


By Michael ToscanoIt’s fitting that, prior to the performance

of Happy Days, A New Musical at Toby’s

Dinner Theatre in Columbia, a buffet ofsteaming entrees and vegetables occupiesthe same middle-of-the-room space as the

actors later fill.That’s because the show, based

on the old TV sitcom “HappyDays,” is the theatrical equivalentof the comfort food served up byToby’s chefs. It’s warm and famil-iar, there’s lots of cheese, and itgoes down easily, if not memo-rably.Somebody in the kitchen must

have noticed, as names from theshow have been affixed to some ofToby’s standard fare. For example,that’s not just any spinach you’re

eating; that’s “Spinach Fonz Casserole” onthe plate next to the roast beef! And look,it’s “Richie’s Redskin Mashed Potatoes.”That’s right, the Fonz and Richie Cun-

ningham, and all the other guys and galswho populated a Milwaukee high schoolaround 1959, are back. Only now they singand even dance. Devoted fans of the TVshow, which ran on ABC from 1974 to1984, will probably find Happy Days, ANew Musical to be joyfully nostalgic.The rest of us can enjoy a dynamic cast

turning in high-energy performances.Under Toby Orenstein’s rigorous direc-tion, they strut and sing and wring allthat’s possible from the thin material.

From Garry Marshall, Paul WilliamsGarry Marshall, creator of the TV se-

ries, teamed up with songwriter PaulWilliams to develop the musical version afew years back. It’s easy to see why itnever made it to Broadway.Marshall took the easy route, eschew-

ing character development or even newplot progression. He merely has all thecharacters trot out their favorite catch-phrases and ticks, introduces a negligible

storyline about saving Arnold’s, the maltshop hangout, and hopes it holds togetherwith what turns out to be a disappointinglybland score from Williams.The composer may be an Oscar winner

(“Evergreen” from A Star is Born), but he’sbest remembered for his 1970s pophits, suchas “Rainy Days and Mondays” and “We’veOnly Just Begun.” And in this show,Williamsbarely stretches beyond generic light pop.The show is supposed to remind us of

the 1950s, or at least the sanitized, clean-cut kind of 1950s with fresh-faced whitekids enjoying sock hops and malt shopsand going home to an apron-wearing mom.But Williams’ music offers little 50s-

style rock-and-roll or authentic doo-wopsound. The best song remains the memo-rable theme song from the TV show,which is presented several times.The worst song is the wretched “What I

Dreamed,” as homemaker Marion Cun-ningham (Esther Covington) exploresearly feminist stirrings with such over-wrought lyrics as “I never expected apronstrings to be chains.” Mom Marion isjoined in the song by daughter Joanie(Amy Sonntag), who seems to be yearningfor traditional domestic bliss in a kind oftortured cultural counterpoint.

Enthusiastic fans of the show probablywon’t care. Not when they can experiencethe Fonz saying “Aaayyy” and Richie call-ing somebody “Bucko” and Ralph declar-ing “I still got it” once again.

Poking fun at the TV showMarshall does exhibit some sense of

self-deprecation as he injects a few zingerslampooning the TV show. There’s a jokeabout Chuck, the older Cunninghambrother who disappeared without explana-tion early in the series’ run, and even a ref-erence to “jumping the shark.”The latter is a term that has come into

wide use, referring to a moment whensomething or someone descends into self-parody. It’s based on an episode when asurfing Fonzie literally jumps over a sharkin Pacific waters.The digs cut a little closer to the truth

when Richie (Jamie Boyle), Potsie (DanSonntag), Chachi (Chris Rudy), and RalphMalph (Dan McQuay) attempt some a

Arts &StyleActress HelenMirren stars in a multitudeof recent films. See story on page 44.

Revisit Richie and the Fonz in Happy Days

See HAPPY DAYS, page 42

The Fonz, played by Greg Twom-ey, shares a dance with PinkyTuscadero, played by Lauren Ball,in Happy Days, A New Musicalnow at Toby’s Dinner Theatre inColumbia, Md. The musical is acollaboration between Garry Mar-shall, who created the TV show“Happy Days,” and composerPaul Williams.

Featuring America’s premier balalaika soloist,Andrei Saveliev with sensational soprano, Olga Orlovskaya

Washington Balakaika Society OrchestraSvetlana Nikonova, conductor

THE ART OF THE BALALAIKA

Saturday, April 30 at 7:30 pmT. C. Williams High School • 3330 King Street, Alexandria, Va.

Tickets: www.balalaika.org 703-644-9151

Sunday, May 1 at 3:00 pmF. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre • 603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville, Md.

Tickets: www.rockvillemd.gov/theatre240-314-8690

Regular admission $25 | Advance purchase $20Seniors $18 | Students $15

Age12 and under free with adultFree parking

Information and group sales: 703-644-9151

www.balalaika.org

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WASH I NG TON BEACON — AP R I L 2 0 1 1 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Arts & Style 41

ARTS ADVENTURES FOR ALL AGES!BRING THE GRANDKIDS!SATURDAYS, 2–3PM

Discover SeriesDiscover the roots of American music! Bring your family andenjoy this new set of classes for parents and children age 6and up to learn the history of three musical genres that haveshaped popular American music—the storytelling of folk music;the trials and tribulations experienced in the blues; and theever-evolving improvisational creativity of jazz. Trace how thesepioneering forms of music have evolved over generations andinspired and influenced the music we hear today. Musicians andmusic lovers alike will have the opportunity to participate inthese family shows led by professional musicians.MANSION, SHAPIRO MUSIC ROOMDISCOVER FOLK, APRIL 2, taught by Bruce HuttonDISCOVER JAZZ, APRIL 9, taught by Vince EvansDISCOVER BLUES, APRIL 16, taught by Daryl DavisTuition $10 per class (Stars Price $9)

MONDAY, APRIL 4, 11AM–12:30PM

When Jazz Came to Symphony HallAniko Debreceny explores music by American composers such as William Grant Still,George Gershwin and Duke Ellington, who moved out of the jazz clubs and into theconcert halls with jazz-infused classical music.MANSION, SHAPIRO MUSIC ROOMTuition $15 (Stars price $13.50)

MONDAY, APRIL 11, 11AM–12:30PM

When the Symphony Learned to ShimmyAniko Debreceny guides you through the jazz influences in symphonic music by suchcomposers as Copland, Bernstein, Stravinsky, Debussy and others.MANSION, SHAPIRO MUSIC ROOMTuition $15 (Stars Price $13.50)

FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 10AM–3PM

Silk Painting WorkshopLeave your cares at the door and step into the wondrous world of silk painting!No previous painting or art background needed, and even experienced artistswill benefit from the master instruction of Diane Tuckman, founder of Silk PaintersInternational and author of three books on the art of silk painting. Learn manyexquisite silk painting techniques including stretching, diluting, resisting, spottingand salting.MANSION, SHAPIRO MUSIC ROOMTuition $125 (Stars Price $112.50)

MONDAYS, APRIL 18–MAY 9, 7:30–9PM

So You Think You Can’t SingJohn Horman guides unsure singers throughthe basics of vocal production. In a relaxedatmosphere, students build their skills throughvocal warm ups, proper posture and breathing,pitch matching games to improve in-tune singing,exercises for good tone and rudimentary sheetmusic reading. Register early, since this popularclass always sells out!MANSION, SHAPIRO MUSIC ROOMTuition $135 for 4 sessions (Stars Price $121.50)

www.strathmore.org Strathmore Ticket Office (301) 581-51005301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD M/T/TH/F 10AM–5PM, W 10AM–9PM, SA 10AM–2PM

GROUPS SAVE! (301) 581-5199

MUSIC CENTER PERFORMANCESAPRIL 8–10

The Stravinsky ProjectCO-PRODUCED BY STRATHMORE AND POST-CLASSICAL ENSEMBLEThis city-wide festival celebrates the groundbreaking composerIgor Stravinsky. Events include concerts, educational programs,post-concert discussions and an exhibition at Strathmore as wellas events at Georgetown University and the National Gallery. Seewww.strathmore.org/stravinskyproject for a complete schedule ofconcerts and events.

Featuring pianists: Alexander Toradze, George Vatchnadze,Genadi Zagor, Vakhtang Kodanashvili and Edisher SavitskiThe Washington Bach Consort ChorusPost-Classical Ensemble, Angel Gil-Ordóñez, conductorJoseph Horowitz, artistic director

Supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, Andrew W. Mellon Foundationand Asbury Methodist Village.

Strathmore’s Guitar Festival celebrates the most influential instrument of the 20th century.

STRATHMORE® COMPLIMENTARY PARKINGCLOSE TO HOME

NO TICKET FEES!

FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 8PM

Nancy WilsonCO-PRESENTED WITH BLUES ALLEYAfter a sold-out performance last spring, Nancy Wilsonreturns to Strathmore for a one-night engagement. Hercareer has led her through jazz-influenced pop and R&B,with a triumphant return to her roots with her Grammy-winning 2004 release R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal).Tickets $28–$78 (Stars Price $25.20–$70.20)

MUSIC IN THE MANSIONTHURSDAY, APRIL 7, 7:30PM

The Vertigo String QuartetCORIGLIANO String Quartet No. 1, “Farewell”MENDELSSOHN String Quartet No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 44, No. 2Original compositions by the ensembleMANSION, SHAPIRO MUSIC ROOMTickets $28 (Stars Price $25.20)Sponsored by Asbury Methodist Village

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 7:30PM

Los Angeles Electric 8Strathmore presents the East Coast premiere of thiselectric guitar-based chamber ensemble, in an inspiredprogram that explores the connections between traditionalIndonesian music and American minimalist music.MANSION, SHAPIRO MUSIC ROOMTickets $28 (Stars Price $25.20)Sponsored by Asbury Methodist Village

SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 8PM

Arturo SandovalThis Grammy-winning trumpeter is fluent in at leastfour musical languages: he can burn through an Afro-Cuban groove, tear up a bebop tune, soar over aMozart concerto and soothe you with a luscious ballad.“Unabashedly spectacular” (The New York Times).Tickets $20–$55 (Stars Price $18–$49.50)

Bruce Hutton

Daryl Davis

John Horman

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capella singing. While the harmonies arepleasant, Williams’ song, “Romeo Mid-night” sounds a lot more like a barbershopquartet number than doo-op, promptingFonzie to blurt out, “That’s the kind ofmusic my dentist likes.”Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli,” is the

center of the show and is played here byGreg Twomey. Twomey is not really aFonz type, physically. Still, he possesses arich baritone that serves him especiallywell in the catchy, upbeat “Heartbeat,” acontemporary-sounding tune, and in thethoughtful act one ender, “Maybe It’s Timeto Move On.”But the real star of this production is the

effervescent Jessica Lauren Ball, whoplays Fonzie’s lost love, the tough Pinky

Tuscadero. She blazes through “ThePink’s in Town” and the scintillating “Mes-sage in the Music,” a robust dance numberwith a big band sound.Her voice soars in the souped-up ballad

“Legend in Leather,” while showing us vul-nerable sensuality beneath the tough exte-rior. Twomey joins her in that song, a pair-ing that provides the strongest vocals ofthe show. Both shine again in their tenderduet “Dancing on the Moon.”As always, Orenstein makes efficient

and effective use of the crowded in-the-round performance area, and the unac-credited choreography keeps the showpumped with high energy.A cartoon-like wrestling match is a high-

light of act two, and the female ensemblemembers get a shout-out for managing tosing and move about on roller skates whilebalancing trays during a scene at Arnold’s.

Just like the TV show, all the issues areresolved by show’s end, and the audienceexits to the sounds of the small but vibrantband pumping out that infectious themesong, which will likely rattle around insideyour head for the entire ride home, andmaybe beyond.

Happy Days, A New Musical continuesthrough June 12 at Toby’s Dinner Theatre,5900 Symphony Woods Rd., Columbia.The show runs seven days a week withevening and matinee performances.The doors open at 6 p.m. for evening

shows Monday through Saturday and at 5

p.m. on Sundays. Doors open for matineeperformances at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdaysand Sundays. Following a buffet, theevening performances begin at 8:15 p.m.except Sundays, when the show time is7:15 p.m. Matinee performances begin at12:30 p.m.Reservations are required. Ticket

prices, including an all-you-can-eat buffet,range from $47 to $52, depending on per-formance time. There is ample free park-ing on the premises.For reservations and information, call (301)

596-6161orvisitwww.tobysdinnertheatre.com.

42 Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com A P R I L 2 0 1 1 — WA SH I NG TON BEACON

Happy DaysFrom page 40

RAISE YOUR VOICE IN SONG

Singers 55 and over are invited to attend a five-day singing “camp”

at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where they will rehearse daily with conductor

Jeanne Kelly, founder of Encore Creativity. The program includes rehearsals and per-

formances of challenging classical and secular pieces. Also offered will be daily

movement/yoga classes, vocal technique classes and sectionals. Singers will

attend concerts and other events in the evenings. A public grand finale Encore

Chorale concert will be performed on June 25. For pricing information and more

details, visit Encore’s website at http://encorecreativity.org or contact

[email protected] or (301) 261-5747.

RADIO DAYS

Enjoy radio classics and favorites from the airwaves, along with

timeless standards sung by Cathleen Kenny, at the Margaret

Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Rd., Silver Spring, Md. The free

event takes place on Monday, April 11 at 1 p.m. Call (240) 777-8085 for more

information.

STRAVINSKY SYMPOSIUM AND CONCERT

Attend a free Stravinsky concert and symposium at Georgetown

on Friday, April 8. The concert begins at 1:15 p.m., followed by a

symposium from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. with university professors that looks at

Stravinsky as a theatrical artist and his tradition of reusing old material — both

his and others’ — in inventive ways. Both programs are open to the public and

take place in McNeir Hall (New North Building) at Georgetown University, 3700 O

St., N.W., Washington, D.C. For more information, go to

http://performingarts.georgetown.edu or call (202) 687-ARTS (2787).

BEACON BITS

June 21+

Apr. 8Want to meet other seniors

and enjoy yourself?

Would you or your loved onebenefit from having help orsupervision during the day?

Come learn new skills, share interests and develop friendshipsat our two supervised adult day programs.

Misler Adult Day Center(301) 468-1740

located at Ring House in Rockville

Gorlitz Kensington Club(301) 255-4204

located in Kensington

Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA)®

www.AccessJCA.org 8127 52847

®

• transportation to Misler fromyour home and back

• personalized attention• fun and stimulating activities

• lunch and snacks (kosher atMisler)• a welcoming atmosphere• financial assistance for thosewho qualify

We provide:

Apr. 11

By Carol SorgenCirque du Soleil will bring its unique

blend of music, dance, acrobatics and visu-al effects near to Washington when its newtraveling show, Totem, sets up under ablue and yellow big top on April 7 at West-port Waterfront.The waterfront, which is located about 2

miles south of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, isunder development. The show will runthere through April 24.

Totem premiered in April 2010, in Mon-treal, home of Cirque du Soleil, and hassince played in Quebec City, Amsterdamand London. It had its U.S. premiere inCharlotte last month, and will move on toPittsburgh after it closes in Baltimore.One of the company’s five big-top

shows, Totem traces the journey of thehuman species from its original amphibianstate to its ultimate desire to fly. The char-acters evolve on a stage that evokes a giantturtle — the symbol of origin for many an-cient civilizations.Inspired by many founding myths, Totem

illustrates, through a visual and acrobaticlanguage, the evolutionary progress ofspecies. Somewhere between science andlegend, Totem explores the ties that bindhumans to other species, our dreams andour potential.

A circus without animalsTotem is made up of 11 acts, with cast

members performing with bars, rings,hoops, trapeze, roller skates and more. It’slike a circus, but without animals, saidCirque spokesperson Amelie Hamel.

Totem is director Robert Lepage’s sec-ond Cirque du Soleil show. “Inspired bythe foundation narratives of the first peo-ples, Totem explores the birth and evolu-tion of the world, the relentless curiosity ofhuman beings and their constant desire toexcel,” he said.“The word ‘totem’ suggests that human

beings carry in their bodies the full poten-tial of all living species, even the Thunder-bird’s desire to fly to the top of the totem,”Lepage said.While all Cirque shows are different

from one another because they each havedifferent creators, Totem is unique, ac-cording to Hamel, because this show is“very realistic and natural.”

“Unlike other shows, Totem is not set ina fantasy world,” she said, adding thatwhile the production traces human evolu-tion, it is not promoting any philosophy orbelief system. Instead it incorporatesmyths, symbols, signs and dreams to tellthe story of mankind.

Spectacular visual effectsAnother distinguishing characteristic,

according to Hamel, is the production’s vi-sual effects, which give audience mem-bers the distinct sensation of traveling todifferent worlds, be it in a volcano, underwater, and so on.

“The main objective is to simply experi-ence the magic…to be amazed and enter-tained. That is what a Cirque show is allabout,” she said.

Totem took a team of 12, led by directorLepage, about three years to create. The

team worked together on notonly the original concept, butdetails such as make-up,lighting and set design. “Itevolves, both creatively andlogistically, from these brain-storming sessions,” saidHamel.Cirque du Solei’s “raison

d’etre,” she added, is the cre-ation of shows, to be present-ed under Big Tops, in the-aters or arenas around theworld. Nearly 200 creatorshave contributed to the 21shows created since 1984.Tickets for Totem range

from $55 to $190 for adults.Senior discounts of about 9percent are available for those65+ for non-peak performanc-es (Sunday to Thursday, andFriday at 4 p.m.). Seniors willbe required to provide verifi-cation of age through validI.D. at the time of the show.Tickets are available online

at cirquedusoleil.com/Totemor by phone at 1-800-450-1480.Tickets are also available atthe box office at 2001 KlomanSt., Baltimore, starting April 6.

WA SH I NG TON BEACON — AP R I L 2 0 1 1 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Arts & Style 43

returns to theKennedy Center stage inIphigénie en Tauride

May 6-28, 2011

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www.dc-opera.org • 202.295.2400Offer subject to availability and not valid on previously purchased tickets. Limit 4 tickets;expires April 30, 2011. Wheelchair accessible seating is available in all price categoriesfor all operas. Call 202.295.2400 or email [email protected].

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Cirque du Soleil plays under the big top

Cirque du Soleil’s Totem, in Baltimore from April 7 to24, tells the story of the evolution of humans usingacrobatics and spectacular visual effects.

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See useful links and resources atwww.TheBeaconNewspapers.com

By David GermanHelen Mirren is a shape-shifter, says di-

rector Julie Taymor, and the actress hasextended her metamorphosing talents tochanging the gender of not one, but two,well-known authority figures.First, Mirren starred in Taymor’s film

adaptation of The Tempest, released in De-cember, playing sorceress Prospera ratherthan the traditionally male Prospero ofShakespeare’s play.This month, Mirren steps into Sir John

Gielgud’s shoes in a remake of Arthur, play-ing the tough old nanny and substitute parentto a rich, drunken, womanizingman-child.At 65, most actresses are resigned to

fringe roles as grandmas and spinsteraunts. Mirren followed 2006’s The Queen,which earned her the best-actress Acade-my Award, with a stretch of work as busyand varied as any in her 45-year career.Mirren reprised her long-standing TV

role as police detective Jane Tennison inPrime Suspect 7: The Final Act. She hur-tled into the action game with roles inNicolas Cage’s National Treasure: Book ofSecrets, Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck’sState of Play and Bruce Willis’ hit from lastfall Red, a caper about aging spies.

Staying in the actionHer upcoming Holocaust-vengeance tale

The Debt, set to be released in August, fea-tures what Mirren calls her “geriatricfight,” a close-quarters death match with anold man in a nursing home, defying Holly-wood convention that action roles are forthe young.“The perception of being older is chang-

ing,” Mirren said in an interview at theToronto International Film Festival last fall,where The Debt premiered. “It’s a lot to dowith the fact that the so-called baby boomersare coming into that age, and they’re refus-ing to let go of life, or you know, they’re re-fusing to let go of being in the center of life...“They will not step aside. We’ll have to

eventually, because we’ll be too old not to,”Mirren said. “But people used to consignthemselves to old age quite early, and Ithink people don’t do that anymore.”Certainly not Mirren. She had a second

film at the Toronto festival, the crime storyBrighton Rock (opening in the U.S. thissummer), and last year also starred as abrothel owner in husband Taylor Hack-ford’s Love Ranch and did a voice role forthe animated Legend of the Guardians: TheOwls of Ga’Hoole.That all followed another best-actress

Oscar nomination for 2009’s The Last Sta-tion, in which she played Leo Tolstoy’s im-perious wife.“I keep saying to my husband, ‘It’s all

going to stop very soon,you know, Taylor,’” Mir-ren said. “It will inevitably.But you know, while it’snot stopping, I’m happy togo along with the flow.”

The Tempest proved astar-crossed meeting ofminds. Mirren had beenwatching a stage versionwhen it occurred to herthat Prospero — a singleparent raising a daughteron a remote island whileorchestrating revengeand redemption for oldenemies — could beplayed as a woman with-out changing a thing.She mentioned the idea

when she met Taymor,creator of the Broadwayadaptation of The LionKing. Taymor, who had di-rected stage productionsof The Tempest, alreadyhad been thinking about afilm version with a womanin the lead.“It was hers as soon as

it came out of her mouth,”Taymor said. “There’s a vulnerability shebrings to the maternal part of this in a wayyou’ve never seen with Prospero. And youbelieve in her intelligence, as well. What’sbehind those incredible eyes.“She can do anything. Looking at the

range of her work — she’s played personsof power, persons of magic….She’s playeda couple of queens, so she’s definitely aformidable presence.”It was not Mirren’s first gender-bending

Tempest role. As a child at her all-girlsschool, Mirren played wild man Caliban, arole done by Djimon Hounsou in Taymor’sTempest.The film also features Chris Cooper,

David Strathairn, Alfred Molina, AlanCumming and Russell Brand, who has thetitle role opposite Mirren in the remake ofArthur.

Starting with ShakespeareMirren began her career with Shake-

speare, playing Cleopatra in a 1965 produc-tion of Antony and Cleopatra for Britain’sNational Youth Theatre.She later joined the Royal Shakespeare

Company and made her film debut in a1968 adaptation of the playwright’s A Mid-summer Night’s Dream.She worked steadily in British film and

TV through the 1970s before breaking outinternationally in the 1980s in such filmsas Excalibur, 2010, The Mosquito Coast andWhite Nights, directed by future husbandHackford.The first of her four Oscar nominations

came for supporting actress in 1994’s TheMadness of King George, with a second sup-porting-actress nod coming for 2001’s Gos-

44 Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com A P R I L 2 0 1 1 — WA SH I NG TON BEACON

Helen Mirren relishes revitalized career

Prolific actress Helen Mirren, 65, stars in the remake ofthe film Arthur this month, as well as several otherscoming out later this year. Since winning the 2006 BestActress Oscar, Mirren has found her talents in especiallyhigh demand.

See HELEN MIRREN, page 46

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My knees and eyes are only shadows oftheir former selves. But my ears can stillpluck sounds from farawaycorners.So, from across a crowded

room the other night, I caughtthese pearls: “See thatman overthere? That’s Bob Levey. Yes,the one with the white hair.”I’ve been graying, gray or

white for more than threedecades.I’ve always thought that my

deep voice or dopey sense ofhumor were my strongest as-sets. But the truth is in-escapable. I wear a Human Business Cardon top of my head. It reads: Bob Levey,Beacon. Indeed, my silvery locks literallymake me findable.Years ago, when our daughter was small,

I took her and a friend to an amusementpark on a sunny summer Sunday. The worstparental nightmare landed soon after we ar-rived. We got separated in a large crowd.But the authorities soon located me be-

cause my daughter had said: “My daddyhas white hair.”Snow on the roof can lead to wonderful

cases of mistaken identity. Once, whilepreparing to board a flight at a local air-port, I stopped to buy mints at a news-stand. The man behind the counter had athick accent and was obviously from an-other country.He stared at my face, stared at my hair,

and then asked: “Excuse me, sir. Are youSenator…?”I’ve never been so lucky — or so foolish.

But like senators, I am often assumed toknow lots about many subjects. And like sen-ators, I am often assumed to be able to helpanyone with anything at the drop of a hat.Recently, a woman I don’t know walked

up to me and asked me to help her patentan invention. When I told her I knew noth-ing about the process, she replied:“But you look as if you should.” She was

staring straight at my hair as she said this.It’s a cliché to say that a man with white

hair always gets the check in restaurants— a cliché that happens to be invariablycorrect. It’s a cliché to say that a man withwhite hair never gets offered a seat on thebus — another cliché that happens to beinvariably correct.Yet it’s invariably incorrect that white

hair gives you a pass with the long arm ofthe law. One recent morning, I was speed-ing on an interstate highway in Virginia. Astate police officer pulled me over andgave me a ticket.“You should have known better,” he

said, solemnly. He was looking straight atmy hair as he said this.And what about the time I was having

dinner with seven people in a restaurant?The others were all in their mid-20s. Narya white hair among them.Everyone at the table ordered a cocktail.

The waitress dutifully asked each young

person for an ID. I was surprised — no,amazed—when she asked to see mine, too.

“Regulations,” she said. Itold her I hadn’t felt so youngin years and I tipped her 25percent. When she slippedme the bill, of course.Being a beacon can have its

minuses. Surely it’s harder toget a job — especially fromsomeone a generation younger— if you walk in looking like anAlp.Surely it’s harder to be cho-

sen in a pick-up basketballgame.

Surely it’s less convincing when you tella 35-year-old doctor, “Hey, doc, why areyou sweating the small stuff? I’ve got allthe time in the world.”But these are mere blips on the screen

of life. White hair says you have weatheredthe storms. It says you are worthy of re-spect (if not necessarily reverence). It saysyou know how to navigate the shoals.So why do so many white-haired men

dye their hair?

Recently, I was in a meeting with a guyabout my age. I have known him for morethan 30 years. Like me — like all of us —he has entered the ranks of white-headed-

WA SH I NG TON BEACON — AP R I L 2 0 1 1 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Arts & Style 45

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ness gradually. He seemed content withwhat he had become.And then, one Wednesday in his 66th

year, he was chocolate brown again. Itlooked jarring. It looked unnatural. It

looked especially strange because his facestill bore the same creases and crevassesthat it had borne the week before.Far better to do what another white-

topped buddy did. He decided not toworry so hard about being immaculatelygroomed. He decided to go three monthsbetween haircuts.

He began to look like Albert Einstein ora soft-serve ice-cream cone — as if he hadjust emerged from a wind tunnel and didn’tcare what the world thought.Of course, the world loved it. Men (in-

cluding this one) said he looked healthierthan ever. Women smiled at him. He hasn’tbeen cast in any lower-your-cholesterol TVads, but I figure this can’t be far away.Neither can the most inevitable progres-

sion of all. The gradual disappearance ofall those white hairs. One pal calls it The

Three Phases of Man: From brown, towhite, to pink.I am happy to report that I am not there

yet. But pink is beginning to peep. Soon, Imay resemble a cue ball more than a beacon.So I am embracing my outer Einstein,

and letting the wind sweep my coiffureinto fluffiness. I may not know a thingabout inventions, but I sure know how tochannel a senator.

Bob Levey is a national award-winningcolumnist.

ford Park.The Tempest gave Mirren the opportuni-

ty to play a truly meaty Shakespeare rolefor an older actor, a rarity for women. “Asyou get older, as an actress specifically, theroles in Shakespeare as everywhere elsetend to sort of die away,” Mirren said.“It actually takes you a long time to

learn how to do Shakespeare. You’re notgood at it when you’re young. You getmuch better at it when you get older, butthe annoying thing as an actress, as you’resuddenly getting into your powers withyour Shakespearean abilities, the roles dis-appear.“You’ve got Cleopatra, you’ve got

Gertrude [Hamlet’s mom], which is not agood role, you’ve got Lady Macbeth,which is not a good role,” Mirren said.

“Queen Margaret [a central figure in someof Shakespeare’s historical dramas]. Butnone of them, they’re not the roles like themen have. It’s not King Lear.”Since Mirren is breaking gender bound-

aries, how about a Queen Lear?“That’s very different. You’d have to

change so much. King Lear is such a malecharacter, getting drunk with his all his fol-lowers. Women don’t do that,” Mirrensaid.

“Lear is such a paternalist sort of male,and that’s his downfall, his feeling theneed for domination, control. When hefoolishly gives that away and is powerlessand then is mistreated, that’s when hegoes mad.“I think a woman would be far more

adaptable than Lear. A woman wouldn’t gomad. A woman would be practical and finda way ‘round it.”

— AP


Helen MirrenFrom page 44

Bob LeveyFrom page 45

FREE ORGAN CONCERTFaure’s “Requiem” and Rheinberger’s “Organ Concerto” will beperformed with the St. Martin Lutheran Church choir on Sunday,

April 10 at 6 p.m. The concert will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, 3601Russell Rd., Alexandria, Va. For more information, see www.gracealex.org or call(703) 549-1980.

MOTHER-DAUGHTER ART EXHIBIT“Connected,” artwork by Lisa Brotman and Erica Leigh Orgen, isa mother-daughter show presented by the Jewish CommunityCenter of Northern Virginia through Tuesday, May 3. Both are figu-

rative painters with an affinity for bold color. The free exibit can be viewedSunday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.and Saturday, 12:30 to 6 p.m. at 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax Va. For moreinformation, call (703) 323-0880.

MEET LOCAL AUTHORSTwo local authors, Natalie Wexler and David Stewart, will discusstheir books at an event at noon on Saturday, April 23 sponsoredby the Opera Guild of Northern Virginia. Wexler’s historical novel,

A More Obedient Wife, is about two women married to early Supreme Court jus-tices during the federal government’s first decade. Stewart’s looks at the Senatetrial of Andrew Johnson. The event, which starts with a luncheon and costs $15,is at 4301 N. Taylor St, Arlington, Va. To make a reservation, contact MiriamMiller at [email protected] or (703) 536-7557.

MOZART CONCERTThe New Dominion Chorale will perform two Mozart works at 4p.m. Sunday, April 10 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Halland Arts Center, 3001 N. Beauregard St., on the Alexandria cam-

pus of Northern Virginia Community College. Tickets are available online atwww.newdominion.org and may be purchased at the door. Tickets are $30; $25for seniors; $5 for students and children. More information is available atwww.newdominion.org or (703) 442-9404. Parking is free.

A FANTASTIC SHOWThe story of young love and heart-wrenching distance is exploredas the Arts Barn Theater presents a Rockville Musical TheaterProduction of The Fantasticks. The show runs April 1 through 17,

with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.Admission is $18, $16 for Gaithersburg residents. The theater is located at 311Kent Square Rd., Gaithersburg, Md. For more information and tickets, call (301)258-6394 or visit online at www.gaithersburgmd.gov/artsbarn.

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Apr. 1+


By Victor BlockThe most immediate, and dramatic, im-

pression Alaska is likely to make on youcomes from its sheer size. Alaska hasmore than twice the area of Texas, and isrimmed by more coastline than all of theother states combined. No wonder theAleutian people named it “the Great Land.”

Mount McKinley — the tallest peak inNorth America, at more than 20,000 feet —looms over Denali National Park and Pre-serve. The park itself is larger than Massa-chusetts, helping to explain how Alaskacontains more than two-thirds of the Unit-ed States’ total national park acreage.

Not only is Alaska huge, it is magnifi-cent. The unbelievable scenery is whatfirst catches the eye. Row after row of gla-cier-garbed mountains stretch to the hori-zon. Some are reflected in the water oflakes dyed a bluish hue by the silt of melt-ing ice and snow.

Braided rivers, which find new routesaround ice dams that form during winter,meander through U-shaped valleys thatwere gouged out eons ago by advancingglaciers.

Whether flying over, driving through,walking in, or viewing it from the deck of a

ship, the sheer drama of Alaska’s sceneryis difficult to express in words.

Bountiful outdoor pursuitsApart from struggling to write about it,

there are numerous ways to enjoy one ofMother Nature’s most splendid settings.Those who prefer to spend their time justbasking in the beauty may think they havefound the ultimate in dramatic landscapes—until they round the next turn of the road.

Visitors who prefer engaging in sportsand other activities as they take in theviews have a seemingly endless choice ofalternatives. Popular warm-weather pas-times range from hiking and biking, to fish-ing, rafting, sea kayaking and much more.

In winter, downhill and cross-countryskiing, snowmobiling, snow-shoeing anddog mushing are among activities that in-duce people to brave the cold.

Opportunities to observe wildlife in itsnatural setting, sometimes at close hand,are virtually everywhere. Many Alaskaitineraries include a stop in Denali, a worldof Arctic tundra and soaring mountainsknown for sightings of the “big five” —grizzly bear, caribou, moose, wolves anddall sheep. This vast wilderness is also

home to a menagerie of othercreatures.

But those who don’t makeit to Denali need not despair.Towns throughout Alaska arenever far from the wilderness,and in many places they over-lap. Parks often begin withincity limits and extend to back-country landscapes.

Moose, bear and other crit-ters looking for food some-times wander into urban set-tings, eliciting little surprisefrom two-legged residents usedto such intrusions. For exam-ple, the Far North BicentennialPark at the eastern edge of An-chorage provides inviting habi-tat for bears and moose.

People gather along riverbanks there and elsewhereduring spring and summer toobserve the spawning run ofsalmon. As the fish uncannilyreturn to their birthplace,after spending several years

at sea, they battle their way up rushingwater, leaping to surmount low falls alongthe way.

Another obstacle they face is the pha-lanx of hungry bears that congregate togorge on their favorite food as they stokeup for the long, frigid winter that instincttells them lies ahead.

Whale-watching cruises offer close-upviewings of those behemoths, if you time itright. Between April and November some600 humpbacks congregate in waters nearJuneau.

Anchoring in Anchorage andJuneau

Population centers in Alaska share aunique rough and rugged history. With apopulation just under 300,000, Anchoragehas an urban setting that resembles otherU.S. cities of comparable size, along withits share of chain stores and traffic jams.

But there also are welcome differences.For one, untamed nature is never far away.Chugach State Park, at the edge of the city,has huge stretches of alpine terrain thatare visited by more animals than humans.

The Far North Bicentennial Park/Campbell Tract provides habitat for bears,moose and spawning salmon. People hikingor biking on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trailcan spot beluga (white) whales swimming

nearby and come face-to-face with as manyas a half-dozen moose during a brief outing.

A favorite stop of mine is the Alaska Na-tive Heritage Center to delve into Nativecultures, part of the state’s mystique. Thecustoms and traditions of the 11 major cul-tural groups are presented through dance,music, art, storytelling and other mediumsat this living history museum.

Outside, encircling a pond, stand au-thentic Native dwellings representing sixindigenous groups. Each is staffed by peo-ple from villages around Alaska who clear-ly delight in relating stories of their people.

The population of Juneau, the state capi-tal, is slightly more than 30,000, but thatnumber swells during mid-summer touristseason when cruise ships disgorge hordesof passengers.

Gold was responsible for the town’s loca-tion when it was discovered there in 1880,about 15 years before the Klondike GoldRush began. Visitors todaymay relive thoseheady days during visits to several miningsites, or by trying their hand at panning.

Another claim to fame is that the termi-nus of the most readily accessible of the10,000 or so glaciers in Alaska, theMendenhall, is not far outside town. Loom-ing above the suburbs of Juneau, bearing

TravelLeisure &

Places where you can volunteer whileon vacation. See story on page 49.

Kayaking outside of Juneau offers views of the bluish-white Mendenhall Glacier. Theglacier is 12 miles long, ending in this lake studded with icebergs that have “calved”from the glacier.

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A bear catches a leaping salmon as it swims up-stream to spawn in an Alaska river. From moose andbear to dall sheep, visitors can take a gander at awide range of wildlife in the nation’s 49th state.

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A natural beauty beyond words in Alaska

See ALASKA, page 48

the typical bluish-white glacial hue, it flowsabout 12 miles from the ice field where itoriginates. At the lake where the glacierends, large chunks dramatically break offto become icebergs, in a process called“calving.”

Ketchikan occupies the site where Tlin-git natives set up summer fishing campsnear salmon-rich waters, and it lays claim tothe title “Salmon Capital of the World.” Italso boasts the largest display anywhere ofstanding totem poles, in three formal collec-tions as well as in front of private homes.

Another popular attraction is CreekStreet, a wooden boardwalk over thestream that runs through the heart of town.For about three decades beginning in theProhibition era, some buildings perched

above the water served as brothels.That time is recalled by a sign welcom-

ing visitors to Creek Street, “Where fishand fishermen go up the creek to spawn.”Those structures now house restaurants,galleries and gift shops.

The setting is very different in Sitka,where evidence remains of Russia’s incur-sion and effort at colonization, which endedin 1867 with the sale of the territory to theUnited States. The Russian Bishop’s House(built 1842-43), onion-shaped domes of St.Michael’s Cathedral, and a replica of a Russ-ian fort blockhouse are among remindersof that chapter of history.

Remnants of Russia’s brief influencemerge comfortably with constant re-minders that the Tlingit, and to a lesser ex-tent Haida and Tsimshain (sim-shee-an)people, have lived in what now is thesoutheastern corner of Alaska for thou-

sands of years. Everywhere, the rich Na-tive cultures are close at hand.

Native influencesAlong with Alaska’s breathtaking natu-

ral beauty, constant opportunities to inter-act with wildlife and colorful history, itspeople also leave an indelible impression. Ifound this to be so in part because of therespect accorded the cultures of the Na-tive people, and the extent to which theyhave been woven into the fabric of life.

One example is that both many Nativeand other Alaskans continue to use theword Denali — Athabascan Indian for “TheGreat One” — as their name for MountMcKinley. Another is that representationsof totem poles and other traditional imagesadorn many T-shirts worn by locals.

I was moved by the pride with which anAleut guide at the Alaska Native HeritageCenter described how men from his vil-lage hunt for whales from kayaks usingpoison-tip spears, and how the womenweave baskets that are among the finest inthe world.

Non-Native residents manifest pride andindependence in their own ways. This isevident in the motto on state license plates,“Alaska — The Last Frontier,” and on asign I came across in a small town claim-ing, “Where the road ends and life begins.”

It was voiced by Elizabeth Arnett, a 40-something nurse who said she came to Alas-ka 15 years ago, then added, “It takes an in-

dependent spirit to live this far from familyand friends.” This spirit was expressedmoresuccinctly by a shop keeper in Ketchikanwho, when I inquired why she had moved tothe state, replied simply, “adventure.”

Travelers seeking an adventure vaca-tion couldn’t do better than to think Alas-ka. Others who prefer simply to observewild animals and equally wild sceneryfrom a distance, combined with a lifestyledifferent from theirs, also are likely to findmuch to like about the 49th state.

If you goTrips may be timed for viewing the

wildlife that holds the most interest for you.Because many animals bear their youngduring June, newborn sightings are mostlikely then. July and August are the besttimes to see bears congregating alongrivers to catch salmon swimming upstreamto spawn. During August, animals that goon an eating binge in preparation for wintertend to be more visible than at other times.

Alaska is a destination best explored byair, land and water. Airline flights betweentowns provide stunning views of flat tun-dra, glacier-carved valleys, and snow-capped mountain peaks stretching to thehorizon. “Flightseeing” in small planesbrings passengers up close and personalwith majestic, must-see sites like MountMcKinley and sprawling glaciers.

48 Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com A P R I L 2 0 1 1 — WA SH I NG TON BEACON

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The Finger Lakes, NYSunday-Thursday, July 10-14 (5 day/4 nights)

Explore one of America’s most beautifulregions with breathtaking lakes,waterfalls, rolling hills, and canyons;charming towns and villages; andhundreds of wineries and idyllic farms.It is also a region steeped in history andculture, where the Women’s Movementbegan. You’ll stay at the RamadaGeneva Lakefront on picturesqueSeneca Lake. This is a perfect mid-summer trip that promises to be one ofour best trips ever.$999 perperson,doubleoccupancy$1199 single occupancy

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AlaskaFrom page 47

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My wife Fyllis and I chose to join a tourgroup as the best way to pack as many at-tractions as possible into a limited time.We selected the eight-day Escorted AlaskaExplorer trip, one of a number offered byGray Line of Alaska.

It combines train and motorcoach trav-el, tours of Denali park, Anchorage andother cities, and additional sites. Ratesbegin at $2,439 per person. For more infor-mation, log onto www.graylinealaska.comor call 1-888-452-1737.

The tours do not include airfare. UnitedAirlines currently has the lowest roundtrip

fare for June, with flights starting at justunder $500 from Dulles.

To experience the Inside Passage — thestrip of protected waters between Alaska’ssoutheastern coast and the string of is-lands that run parallel to it — we chose theAlaska Ferry System over more glam-orous, and costly, cruise line vessels. Its 11ships connect 31 communities in an areawhere water serves as the highway.

While ferry facilities are not luxurious,they are comfortable and clean. Otherbonuses are frequent sightings of both seaand land creatures, and opportunities tomeet and chat with Alaska residents, includ-ing Native people, who frequent the ferries.For information, go to www.ferryalaska.com

or call 1-800-642-0066.For information about visiting Alaska,

see www.travelalaska.com or call 1-888-

655-4020.Victor Block is a Washington, D.C.-based

travel writer.

By Dave CarpenterOpportunities to lend a hand in other

countries are catching on among those near-ing or in retirement as a way to see the worldwhile contributing in at least a small way.

International volunteerism can be a lessexpensive travel option for the budget-con-scious. Costs are often tax-deductible asout-of-pocket charitable expenses. Theprice of lodging and meals, usually builtinto the fee, is generally less than on typi-cal overseas vacations.

But this isn’t all about bargain travel, es-pecially with airfare added to costs that cantotal $3,000 or more. Participants in interna-tional service programs tend to want to in-vest in humanitarian efforts at a communitygrassroots level, said Michele Gran, seniorvice president of the St. Paul, Minn.-basednonprofit group Global Volunteers.

That profile fits an increasing numberwho in another time might have retired tothe golf course but now seek altruistic ad-ventures.

“Voluntourism” took a hit during the eco-nomic downturn after growing explosivelyearlier in the decade. But business from re-tirement-age travelers has proven virtuallyrecession-proof for several organizations.

More older volunteersThe Earthwatch Institute, a global non-

profit that sends volunteers on conserva-tion field research projects, has seen thenumber of volunteers age 60 or older dou-ble in the last decade. Last year, nearly onein five of its 1,100 U.S. volunteers was 67 orover.

“Older volunteers want to contribute toorganizations that offer the greatest returnon their time and money, especially thesedays,” said Kristen Kusek, spokeswomanfor Boston-based Earthwatch.

Rob Kendig, 66, of Denver, character-izes his recent three-week experience inSiedlce, Poland, as an unpaid working va-cation. He taught conversational Englishto two classes of middle-school studentsevery afternoon and loved every minuteof it.

The retired dentist spent $2,600 on theGlobal Volunteers program plus another$1,100 for airfare. He considered the ex-penditure something of a philanthropicgift. But he also wanted to explore teach-ing as a possible second career, so hefound it gratifying on multiple levels.

“The Polish children were adorable andappreciative,” he said. “Best of all, therewas real work to do and the job was clear-cut.”

About 30 percent of the group’s 2,000-plus volunteers every year are over 60, ac-cording to Gran, who co-founded Global

Volunteers in 1984. Several who participat-ed in the early years are now returningwith their adult children and grandchil-dren, she said.

The oldest volunteer, age 92, spent twoweeks teaching English in Ghana last yearand is considering going to the Cook Is-lands with the group in 2011.

Hone language skillsPatti Cooper-Smith, 64, of Carson City,

Nev., wanted to go somewhere for a monthto both improve her Spanish and con-tribute something. So last year she went toUrubamba, Peru and taught Englishthrough a Projects Abroad program.

She spent $2,400, which covered accom-modations with a host family, three mealsa day, insurance and the organization’slocal support services. Airfare and week-end travels pushed her total expendituresto about $4,000.

Cooper-Smith chose Projects Abroadeven though she couldn’t deduct costs (be-cause it is a for-profit company). Missingout on a write-off, she concluded, was wellworth the opportunity to teach Peruvianhigh school students four days a weekwhile immersing herself in a non-English-speaking family.

“It was much more enriching and a littlemore altruistic than me just paying some-

one to teach me,” she said. “You can’t ac-complish much in a month, but I did feelthat I was contributing.”

Other offerings through ProjectsAbroad, which places 8,000 volunteers ayear in 25 countries, include working at anorphanage in Cambodia, participating inan archaeological dig in Romania, or doingforest conservation work in Costa Rica.

“We provide somewhere good for you tolive, an introduction to local life and fulfill-ing work,” said founder and CEO PeterSlowe. “Above all, it’s fulfilling because it’s(providing) what local people want.”

Road Scholar, formerly known as Elder-hostel, targets seniors specifically. Its in-ternational service programs are pricierthan others at an average cost of $260 anight. That reflects a transformation fromthe organization’s roots in dormitoriesand cafeterias to more luxurious “adven-tures in lifelong learning,” as its tag linesays.

Joining the Peace CorpsAt the opposite end of the cost spectrum

is the Peace Corps, although it requires amuch longer commitment. The govern-ment-run program pays volunteers a mod-est living allowance and then $7,425 at the

WA SH I NG TON BEACON — AP R I L 2 0 1 1 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Leisure & Travel 49

Volunteers mix altruism with global travel

AlaskaFrom page 48

See VOLUNTEERS, page 51

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50 Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com A P R I L 2 0 1 1 — WA SH I NG TON BEACON

LifeChecksm

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Internet RefillsWith Internet Refills, you can order your pre-scription without ever leaving the house. Justgo to www.riteaid.com and click “Refill Now”,select Store Pick-up or Mail Delivery andsimply enter prescription information.

Rite AdviceWith every prescription, you will receive written information on the dosage, sideeffects and potential drug interaction.

Vitamin ProgramOnly Rite Aid pharmacists are speciallytrained to know vitamins. Ask your Rite Aid pharmacist for a personal vitamin profile.

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close of 27 months of service to assist withthe transition back home.

The number of Peace Corps volunteersage 60 or older has more than doubled inthree years, according to spokeswomanKelly McCormack. Last year, 376 were atleast 60, including 42 in their 70s and one86-year-old serving in Morocco.

Many are putting decades of careerskills to use. For example, a mental healthnurse practitioner is doing counseling in a

village in Botswana, and a health servicesresearcher is working at a university inTonga.

Others go in completely different direc-tions but bring powerful credentials tonew tasks: a retired IBM executive whoworks at an orphanage in Swaziland, a col-lege dean who works on agricultural ef-forts in Macedonia.

They share an interest in experiencesthat enrich the towns and villages wherethey donate their services as well as them-selves.

— AP

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Here’s a sampling of organizationsthat offer international service or volun-tourism opportunities, with their levelof participation by older volunteers:

Cross-Cultural SolutionsHeadquarters: New Rochelle, N.Y.International volunteer opportuni-

ties: The nonprofit’s programs are avail-able in 12 countries, last from two to 12weeks, and cost $2,923 and up. Work isin orphanages and child care centers,schools, health clinics and hospitals,homes for the elderly, centers for thedisabled, and other community organi-zations.

Seniors: From 10 to 20 percent of par-ticipants are age 50-plus, often repeatvolunteers. Through a partnership withAARP, members get a 25 percent dis-count on one upcoming trip to spend aweek volunteering at a senior care cen-ter in Lima, Peru. The cost is $1,482 andincludes meals and lodging, not airfare.

More information: www.crossculturalsolutions.org; 1-800-380-4777.

Earthwatch InstituteHeadquarters: BostonInternational volunteer opportuni-

ties: Nonprofit sends about 4,000 volun-teers a year on conservation field re-search projects worldwide. Expeditioncosts range from $450 to $5,750, averag-ing $2,662 for a duration of three to 22days.

Seniors: The number of volunteersage 60 or older has doubled in the pastdecade. Last year, 19 percent of U.S. vol-unteers were 67 or over.

More information: www.earthwatch.org; 1-800-776-0188

Global VolunteersHeadquarters: St. Paul, Minn.International volunteer opportuni-

ties: Nonprofit’s offerings in 18 coun-tries outside the U.S. include teachingEnglish, caring for at-risk children, pro-viding healthcare services, workingwith community elders, and painting,constructing or repairing buildings.

Seniors: About 50 percent of volun-teers are at least 50, and roughly 30 per-cent are over 60. 2,251 volunteers in 2009.

More information: www.globalvolunteers.org; 1-800-487-1074

Peace CorpsHeadquarters: Washington, DCInternational volunteer opportuni-

ties: The government-run organizationplaces volunteers in countries from Asiato Central America and from Europe toAfrica. They get a living allowance com-parable to local pay, then $7,425 at theclose of 27 months of service to assistwith the transition back home.

Seniors: Retired professionals can put

their skills to use on projects such asworking on HIV/AIDS and malaria pre-vention in Africa, addressing teachershortages worldwide, improving thetechnical knowledge of farmers in Cen-tral America, or developing strategicmanagement or marketing plans forsmall sustainable businesses. Of the8,655 volunteers in fiscal 2010, 376 (4percent) were 60-plus, including 42 whowere 70-plus.

More information: www.peacecorps.gov; 1-800-424-8580

Projects AbroadHeadquarters: Sussex, EnglandInternational volunteer opportuni-

ties: About 1,300 Americans participat-ed in this for-profit company’s programsin 25 less-developed countries last year.Teaching English is a common volun-teer job; more physical work also isavailable on nature reserves.

Seniors: 9 percent of the 8,000 volun-teers worldwide last year were 50 orover, roughly half of them retired.

More information: www.projects-abroad.org; 1-888-839-3535

Road Scholar (formerly Elderhos-tel)

Headquarters: BostonInternational volunteer opportuni-

ties: Only a handful of its 8,000 educa-tional programs involve service abroad.They include recording archaeologicalsites on Easter Island, assisting inhumpback whale research in CostaRica, and helping to build new class-rooms in rural Bolivia. Costs average$260 a night, including accommoda-tions, meals, lectures, activities, trans-portation within the program, taxes,gratuities and insurance.

Seniors: Almost all of the 100 peoplewho enrolled on international serviceprograms last year were in their 60s orolder.

More information: www.roadscholar.org; 1-800-454-5768

Volunteers for PeaceHeadquarters: Burlington, Vt.International volunteer opportuni-

ties: Nonprofit sends 500 to 800 volun-teers a year to overseas projects operat-ed by partner organizations. For a $30membership, a $300 registration fee andairfare, participants might spend two tothree weeks building latrines, puttingroofs on houses, clearing brush fortrails, or doing HIV-AIDS education inthe developing world. Longer-term proj-ects are also available.

Seniors: About 10 percent are over50; less than 5 percent over 60.

More information: www.vfp.org; 1-802-540-3060

— AP

A world of opportunitiesVolunteersFrom page 49

A Community Built Around YouEnjoy all that life has to offer. At Forest Glenwe combine the comforts of home with theretirement lifestyle you have always wanted.Sit back, relax and let us take care of the details.

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as the father realizes. Why bring up the in-applicable anecdote about the spoileddaughter from another family?

Now consider the investment account(owned or just managed jointly). Even$300,000 now will make only $6,000 per yearat 2 percent interest (bonds/dividends) afterfees. That wouldn’t go far to help thesedaughters. Sell stocks/funds with significantgains (good luck)? Don’t forget the taxes.Manage jointly? Could get dicey.

Back to the second daughter. Why doesthe father fear jealousy? No sympathy forher sister? Their needs are not equal. Evenif she hasn’t started saving or can’t, surelyshe needs less to start a business than thefirst daughter does to buy a house.

Give her some — or invest. Then nextyear, if there are more needs, and dad’s in-vestments and retirement income allow,give more — to both. Make up any differ-ence in the will. To paraphrase Levey,“Where there’s a will (as well as plenty ofcash on hand), there’s a way.”

Paul CrumrineSilver Spring, Md.

Dear Editor:Congratulations on the Beacon taking

home so many of the NAMPA awards.Well deserved recognition.

Judy T. MassabnyOffice of Senior Adult Programs

Arlington, Va.

ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick Detorie

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Letters to EditorFrom page 2

HISTORIC ST. MARY’S CITY

Take a walking tour of St. Mary’s City, located in Southern

Maryland on the western shore of the Potomac River, near the Chesapeake Bay.

Visit a tobacco plantation, the reconstructed State House of 1676, go aboard a

re-created square-rigged ship, and tour the Woodland Indian Hamlet with

Montgomery County Dept of Recreation. Lunch at St. Mary’s College is included.

The fee is $55. The trip leaves at 7:15 a.m. and returns at 5:30 p.m. Register

online at www.recweb.montgomerycountymd.gov or in person at 4010 Randolph

Rd., Silver Spring, Md. For more information, call (240) 777-4926

GARDEN GETAWAY

Immerse yourself in springtime splendor at Longwood Gardens, a

DuPont estate in Pennsylvania in this Fairfax County Parks trip on

Wednesday, April 20 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Enjoy formal plantings and fountains on

the estate grounds and the grand conservatory, which houses vast collections of

exotic plants and the Easter display of lilies, orchids and hydrangeas. The $99 cost

of the trip includes transportation, driver tip, entrance and guided tour fees. Register

by calling (703) 642-5173 or at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/gsgp/education.htm.

BEACON BITS

May 11

Apr. 20

Send yourletter to

the editor.


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CATHERINE’S HOME HEALTHCARE It isnow possible to keep your loved one in theirhome. We can assist you with aides, nurses, &companions.We also have doctors, physical ther-apists & laboratories that will come to yourhome. Part-time & around the clock care avail-able. Kelsie, 301-428-0562.

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PUT THE MUSIC YOU LOVE BACK INYOUR LIFE! Enjoy live jazz and swing on thefirst Friday of the month at Hollywood EastCafé, Westfield Wheaton Shopping Mall, 7 to 10PM. Listen to the Night & Day Combo performthe classic standard songs of the 30’s, 40’s and50’s, from Cole Porter, Gershwin, et al. Greatmusic, great food, no cover charge!http://nightanddaymusic.com/clubpage.html.

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LOOKING TO TAKE THE LEAP? I’ll take youon a tour of the community, show you floor plans,discuss campus amenities, & offer how to best co-ordinate your move. I will preview units & contactyou with a match. I also offer exceptional serviceselling your home. I’m a Seniors Specialist, BuyerBroker, Top 1% of Agents Nationwide, and aLeisure World resident! You can see my currentlistings on page 44. Contact me: 301-580-5556,[email protected], www.SueHeyman.com,Weichert, Realtors.

LEISURE WORLD® - $119,500. 2BR 1FB“Hampton” model with access to Broadwalk.Wood floors, upgraded carpet, recent updates.1200 sq ft. Stan Moffson,Weichert Realtors, 301-928-3463.

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ROOMS FOR RENT in a private home, sharedfacilities, only non-smoking female, fully fur-nished, no pets. $495 per month plus utilities.301-233-4722

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ESTATE SALE 16/17 APRIL 10am to 3pmKensington, MD – 4103 Spruell Drive. TakeConnecticut Avenue (Exit 33) Take left (North).Veer left onto Connecticut Avenue extended.Make left at Denfeld Ave. (Rock View ES). Veerright to Dewey Rd. Left on to Spruell Drive.Many old items, brick-a-brack, 1,000+ records,books, furniture, many packaged items, old po-litical items/sports/odds and ends. Call 703-799-5932.

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CLASSIFIEDS

The Beacon prints classified advertisingunder the following headings: Business &Employment Opportunities; Caregivers;Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale;For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health;Home/Handyman Services; Miscellaneous;Personals; Personal Services; VacationOpportunities; and Wanted. For submissionguidelines and deadlines, see the box below.

CAVEAT EMPTOR!The Beacon does not knowingly accept

obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulentadvertising. However, we do not investi-gate any advertisers or their products andcannot accept responsibility for the integ-rity of either. Respondents to classified ad-vertising should always use caution andtheir best judgment.

Caregivers

Computer Services

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate For Sale/Rent: Real Estate

For Sale

Health

Computer Services

Entertainment

Financial Services

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATESDeadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 20th of each month.Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’sissue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached inthe event of a question. Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nordo we accept credit cards.

Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, offer apersonal service, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $15 for 25 words, 25 cents for eachadditional word.

Commercial Party Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing commercial businessenterprise. Each ad is $35 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word.Note: Each real estate listing counts as one commercial ad.Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:

The Beacon, Classified Dept.P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227

For information about display advertising, or to request a media kit, call (301) 949-9766.

Classifiedscont. on p. 55.

A T A L L L O B E D A N SL O V I E E X E C O B I TS W E E T T O O T H A O N EO N S G A S T O A G R E E

G O T T E E T O T A LA M E R T E A S R OR U L E E S P I D A H OA L L E A R S C R A D L E DB L A N C W O E E G A D

N E S A W E E A T SR E P O R T E R B E DA C R O B A T S O X A R TV O I D B O O K K E E P E RE L A L A N N O R E E S ED I M E T S A R T E S T Y

ANSWERS TOCROSSWORD

From page 54.

ANSWERS TOSCRABBLE


Puzzle Page

Scrabble answers on p. 53.

JUMBLE ANSWERS

Jumbles:LUNGEWHEATBANDITNUDISM

Answer:Whatthelightweightboxerturnedintowhenheretired-A"MIDDLE"WEIGHT

CrosswordNEW! Daily Crosswords

on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.comClick on Puzzles Plus

Answers on page 53.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16

17 18 19

20 21 22 23

24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

32 33 34 35 36 37

38 39 40 41

42 43 44

45 46 47 48

49 50 51 52 53 54

55 56 57 58 59

60 61 62 63

64 65 66

67 68 69

Down1. “And another thing...”2. Burg3. Parallel lines on a Manhattan map(abbrev.)

4. Commit perjury5. Release6. Some summer babies7. Unsuccessful tic-tac-toe column8. She was Baby Jane9. Returns from the mountains10. Emulate a Samaritan11. Cancel the mission12. ___ day (ambitious fruit and vegetable

goal)13. Type of guitar or drum18. Create confetti23. Heart parts24. A bit of tri-colored pasta salad25. Select to run for political office26. Kuwaiti or Jordanian27. Consider carefully28. Singer Fitzgerald30. Snake head35. Aquatic organism36.Miami team37. This entry, and the next one39. Sour40. Chicago fire starter41. Puma rival43. Simple card game46. “From hell’s heart I ___ thee” (Ahab’s

declaration)49. Gave top marks50. Bacteria that may cause a food recall51. King of Troy52. Jackets with wide lapels54. Apply, as pressure56. Hershey candy with butter toffee57. Ruling class in a 1968 sci-fi film58. Use a 53 Across59. Low card62. ___ roll63. Shoe width

Triple Doubles by Stephen Sherr

Across1. ___ dark stranger6. Brain portion10. Dapper and Desperate14. Chicago Bears’ charming head coach

Smith15. Head honcho16. Parting words17. Longing for lollipops19. Top quality20. Switch ups21. Grill type22. “... ___ to disagree”24. Came down with (as a cold)25. Abstain from alcohol26. Portion of the U.S.A.29. The world’s second most popular drink31. Sign of a hit play32. Govern33. It may be well done by a medium

(abbrev.)34. The 43rd state38. Attentive40. Held closely42. Voice of Pepe Le Pew43. “___ is me”44. “Good grief!”45. Compass letters, clockwise from the top47. Astonish48. Visits a diner49.Washington Post employee53. King or queen, perhaps55.Well balanced individual56. They may be Red orWhite (but not Blue)57. Paul’s partner on Mrs. Robinson60. Null neighbor61. Accountant (or librarian)64. Israeli airline65. Part of 2011 AD66. Pee Wee, whose number was retired by

the Dodgers67. It could get you a stamp in 197468. Autocrat69. Cantankerous


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VAN MAN – For your driving needs. Shopping,appointments, pick-up and deliver – airportvan. Call Mike 301-565-4051.

CHERYL’S ORGANIZING CONCEPTS. Spe-cializing in residential and small business or-ganizing, paperwork management and seniormove management. Member National Associa-tion Professional Organizers (NAPO). Bonded,insured. www.CherylsOrganizing.com. 10% sen-ior discount 301-916-9022.

DO YOU HAVE A NOVEL IN YOU? Award-winning writer with 25 years experience withhelp you write, edit, and help find agents andpublishers for your work of fiction, non-fiction,poetry, or your memoir. Hourly rate reduced forsenior citizens. Phone Jack Ryan at 703-855-2501, or email to [email protected].

MOTHER WILL DRIVE YOU to your appoint-ments, do your shopping, clean your house, cook-ing, personal assistant. Do you need to plan anevent? Also does Elder Care. Honest, reasonablerate, and references provided. 240-595-7467.

WILL TYPE YOUR MEMOIRS, manuscripts,etc. For info and rates, call 703-671-1854.

WOW! GREAT HAIRCUT at a great price!Professional family hair salon conveniently lo-cated in Bethesda, MD. State board certified.Call 240-432-7211.

CABIN JOHN ORGANIZING Household or-ganizing, billpaying, and paperwork for seniorsand those with ADHD or chronic disorganiza-tion. Member NAPO, GROWS, AADMM,www.cabinjohnorganizing.com. 301-263-9482 [email protected].

ELDER SUPPORT L.I.G.H.T. Outreach Pro-gram (Living-Independently-Generationg-Hope-together). Let us help you! Assistancewith:Reading and preparing forms; Schedulingappointments; Fitness; Nutrition; Shopping;Grooming; Housekeeping; Relocation. REA-SONABLE RATES. Call todlay 202-355-8412 /www.aidofnumanity.org/outreach.html.

WILL DRIVE YOU to your appointments,shopping, errands and assist you as you needhelp in many areas. Honest, hardworking, over-50 female. 301-222-7937.

MAKE A SPOKEN MEMOIR! A CD keepsakefor you and your descendents. You know how youwant to be remembered. Pass on your life story toyour descendents in your own voice. It’ll be almostlike having you in the room! Make it as you relaxat home. Memories flood back in an easy way. Noextra preparation is needed. There’s expert assis-tance, high quality recording equipment, and ed-iting to make sure your keepsake CD is just howyou want it to be. GETA FREE INFO CD: “MAK-INGA SPOKENMEMOIR.” Please contact DaveCheckman PhD, Memoir Keepers, 703-821-7666,[email protected], McLean,VA.

WRITE A MEMOIR YOUR GRANDKIDSWILL READ! Professional writer/memoir-spe-cialist will help you organize and polish yourfamily memories. Info and rates: 301-221-5494.

OLD FASHIONED 63-YEAR-OLD Whitemale seeking old fashioned female 65-100 yearsold, for fun, walks, movies, TV and cuddling.703-751-1037.

ACTIVE WIDOWED CHRISTIAN LADY,white, seeking active Christian gentleman, 78-85, non-smoker. Likes going to the EasternShore and eating out occasionally. Please replyto P.O. BOX 12154, U.S. Post Office, LeisureWorld Plaza, Silver Spring, MD 20908.

IN SEARCH OF MURPHY? Lost your phonenumber. Please call. Let’s Talk 703-597-9015.Thanks! Connie.

RESORT OPPORTUNITY – BETHANYBEACH, DE. 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms.Townhouse close to shopping, restaurants, andboardwalk. $399,000. 301-565-4051.

SELL/RENT YOUR TIMESHARE FOR CASH!!!Our Guaranteed Services will Sell/ Rent Your Un-usedTimeshare for CASH! Over $95 Million Dol-lars offered in 2010!www.sellatimeshare.com Call(800) 882-0296.

WANTED TO BUY old magazines, books, post-cards, posters, etc., pre-1975. Also bookends, an-tique bookcases with glass fronts. Please call301-946-0941 anytime.

WANTED: OLDER VIOLINS, GUITARS,BANJOS, MANDOLINS, ETC. Musi-cian/collector will pay cash for older string in-struments. Jack (301) 279-2158.

HIGHEST CASH PAID FOR ANTIQUES ANDCOLLECTIBLES. Compare my price before yousell! Serving entire metro area. Call for a free con-sultation, and professional service. I will purchaseone piece or your entire estate. Including Furni-ture, Artwork, Glassware, Jewelry, Rugs, Costume,Gold and Silver,Watches, Sterling Items,Flatware,Lladro & Hummel Figurines, All Military Items,Guns, Swords, Helmets, Bayonets, Medals, ScoutItems, Clocks, Music Boxes, Toys, Baseball Memo-rabilia, Trains, All String Instruments, IncludingGuitars, Banjos, Mandolins, Fishing Rods andReels, Lures, Historical Items, American tools,Posters, Outside Iron Furniture. I am a very rep-utable dealer with two locations in Silver Springand Bowie, MD. Please call Christopher Keller301-408-4751 or 301-262-1299.Thank you.

WE PAY CASH for antique furniture, qualityused furniture, early American art, pottery, sil-ver, glassware, paintings, etc. Single items toentire estates. Call Reggie or Phyllis at DC 202-726-4427, MD 301-332-4697.

MILITARY ITEMS WANTED: Collector seeksto purchase military uniforms; flight jackets,patches, insignia, medals, etc. from the CivilWar through Vietnam. Especially seeking U.S.Army Air Corps, USMC, Airborne, and Ger-man/Japanese/Italian items from WWII. ALSOBUYING old Boy Scout, Airline Items, Toys,Lighters. Call Dan (202) 841-3062.

CASH FOR JEWELRY: Buying jewelry, dia-monds, gold, platinum, silver, watches, coins,flatware, etc. We make house calls. Ask for Tomor Katherine. Call anytime 301-654-8678.

OLD HIFI, STEREO EQUIPMENT Pre-Amps, Amplifiers, Tuners, Large Old Speakers,James B Lancing, Altec, Tannoy, Quad, Base-ment-Garage-Attic. Honest Pricing. Please CallAlan 240-478-1100.

FINE ANTIQUES, PAINTINGS AND QUAL-ITY VINTAGE FURNISHINGS wanted by aserious capable buyer. I am very well educated[law degree] knowledgeable [over 40 years inthe antique business] and have the finances andwherewithal to handle virtually any situation.If you have a special item, collection or impor-tant estate I would like to hear from you. I paygreat prices for great things in all categoriesfrom oriental rungs to Tiffany objects, from rareclocks to firearms, from silver and gold to classiccars. If it is wonderful I am interested. Nophony promises or messy consignments. Refer-ences gladly furnished. Please call Jake Leni-han 301-279-8834. Thank you.

WANTED: ANTIQUE ELECTRONICS, radiotubes, ham radios, tube HIFI amps; huge oldspeakers, vinyl records, scientific curiosities, an-tique computers, calculators. 202-527-9501.

CASH FOR RECORDS & CDs. BEST PRICEGUARANTEED. Free appraisals. All types ofmusic, 33, 45, 78 & CDs. Call Steve 301-646-5403.Will make House Calls.

STAMP COLLECTIONS, AUTOGRAPHSpurchased/appraised – U.S., worldwide, covers,paper memorabilia. Stamps are my specialty –highest price paid! Appraisals. Phone Alex, 301-309-6637. [email protected].

VINYL RECORDS WANTED from the 20sthrough 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm& Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or78s, Larger collections preferred. Please callJohn, 301-596-6201.

ESTATE BUY-OUTS ESTATE CLEAN-OUTSSingle piece or entire estate, real estate prep,trash hauling. The Attic, LLC. Licensed, Bond-ed, Insured. MD/DC/VA. 301-520-0755.

HIGHEST CASH PAID FOR ANTIQUES,ESTATES. FREE evaluations and house calls.We pay the most for your valuable treasuresbecause we get the most money on eBay – theworldwide internet. Serving entire metro area– Maryland, Washington, DC, Northern Vir-ginia. Buying the following items – furniture,art, paintings, silver, gold, old coins, jewelry,vintage wristwatches, military items, includ-ing guns, rifles, swords, daggers, knives, musi-cal instruments, guitars, violins, banjos, oldtoys, dolls, trains, old golf clubs, baseball, foot-ball, tennis equipment and memorabilia, oldfishing, tools, books, photographs, comic books.I am a resident of Silver Spring. 20 years expe-rience. Please call Tom 240-476-3441, Thankyou.

DONATE YOUR VEHICLE ELDERLY NA-TION DONATIONS is seeking vehicle dona-tions running or not.With your donation we areable to give financial support to our local elderlyfor medicine, medical devices, food, etc.We are alocal non-profit organization. You will receive atax deduction for you donation. Donate byphone at 410-865-3002 or 877-370-3002. On ourwebsite www.elderlynationdonations.org.

COLLECTOR BUYING MODERN FURNI-TURE, lighting, art & accessories from the1940’s – 1970’s. Danish/Scan, Knoll, HermanMiller, Dunbar, Paul Evans, Thayer Coggin,Harvey Probber, Vladimir Kagan, Nakashima,etc. Also buying abstract modern art, ceramics,glass and records. Please call 202-213-9768.

CASH PAID for unexpired, sealed DIABETICTESTSTRIPS - up to $17/Box! Shipping paid.Sara1-800-371-1136.www.cash4diabeticsupplies.com.

TOP CASH FOR CARS, Any Car/Truck, Run-ning or Not. Call for INSTANT offer: 1-800-454-6951.

WANTED DIABETES TEST STRIP Unexpired&ADULT Diapers up to $16.00. Shipping Paid 1-800-266-0702 www.selldiabeticstrips.com.

WANTED JAPANESE MOTORCYCLESKAWASAKI,1970-1980, Z1-900, KZ900,KZ1000, H2-750, H1-500, S1-250, S2-250, S2-350, S3-400. CASH PAID. 1-800-772-1142. 1-310-721-0726.

Wanted WantedPersonal Services

Personals

Vacation Opportunities

Wanted

Health

Home/Handyman Services

Miscellaneous

Personal Services

VIRGINIA HISTORY TOURWalk through history in Roanoke and Bedford, Va., home of the

National D-Day Memorial and Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson’s personal retreat.

The trip includes several museums, a luncheon cruise, and overnight accommoda-

tions at the Grand Old Lady Roanoke Hotel. The trip leaves Sunday, May 22 and

returns Tuesday, May 24. It costs $446 for Arlington County residents and $459

for non-residents. For more information, call (703) 228-4748.

EXPERIENCE THE JAZZ AGE IN PARISImagine yourself cruising the Seine with a glass of wine, great

friends and the sweet, sensual notes of jazz filling the air. Or per-

haps ducking into the small jazz establishments that are the hidden gems of this

romantic city. These experiences and more await you on the seven-day, six-night

Strathmore tour of the Jazz Age in Paris from May 20 to 27. Hear Wynton Marsalis

at the celebrated Salle Pleyel, visit the Galerie du Jeu du Paume, and take in a

performance at the St. Germain des Préz Jazz Festival. The cost is $4,995 per per-

son, double occupancy. To learn more call 1-800-556-7896, ext 7373.

BEACON BITS

May 22+

May 20+HELP THE RED CROSS

The American Red Cross Greater Chesapeake & Potomac Blood

Services Region is seeking volunteers to assist staff at blood drives in Maryland,

Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Volunteer responsibilities include greeting

donors, providing them with reading materials, and offering refreshments. The hours

are flexible and training is provided. Call 1-800-272-0094, ext. 1, or e-mail

[email protected] for more information.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

april 2011 dc beacon edition

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