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www.fiftyplusrichmond.com MAY 2020 • FREE 2 Subscribe for half-price. See p. 19 MAY 2020 — FIFTYPLUS That’s when it hit us that we were sur- actual report and read the fine print on veying the wrong audience. If we were “methodology.” Turns out, the survey was Yes, another survey concerned that some people were not pick- offered online exclusively, and it took ap- You may have noticed in last month’s please fill out each survey only once.) ing up the Beacon because the name “se- proximately 15 minutes to complete. issue of Fifty Plus a full-page survey form, Putting together these two important nior” put them off, then why were we ask- If you’re trying to find tech-savvy peo- where we asked you to let us surveys has reminded me of ing the readers who very happily picked ple, it makes sense to look for them online. know how the coronavirus other surveys we have run up the Senior Beacon every month what But if you’re truly trying to learn what per- and our locked-down, socially over the years in our publica- we should change our name to? cent of Americans over 50 are comfortable distanced way of life are treat- tions. One in particular sticks It was non-readers we needed to survey. using technology, I think you’d get a truer ing you. in my memory. Duh! picture if you also surveyed people who I’m pleased to say we are The sister publication of In our defense, I will say that we sur- never or seldom go online, who would be getting a tremendous re- Fifty Plus in the Washington, veyed the audience that we had, not the unlikely to learn about a survey done on- sponse to this survey, with D.C. area was named Senior one we didn’t have. That was the easiest line, or would not be comfortable filling hundreds returning the page Beacon at its inception in thing to do, of course, even though in ret- out a 15-minute survey online. from our April edition or tak- 1988. In the early 2000s, we rospect it made no sense. But we learned By completely omitting all those people ing the survey online, and decided that the time had our lesson. from the survey base, they certainly got dozens more are coming in FROM THE come to drop the “senior” As a result, I am sensitive to this prob- results they could crow about, but they every day. PUBLISHER from our name because we lem with surveys, and I found it amusing don’t paint a very accurate portrayal of We can already tell that the By Stuart P. Rosenthal believed that many who recently when I saw that a national mem- technology use. results will be very interest- would have found our publi- bership organization of people over 50 ap- At any rate, we are making no mistake ing, and I will be sharing highlights from cation helpful were reluctant to pick up peared to make a similar mistake in con- in both printing this month’s new survey the survey with you in an upcoming issue. anything with that label in the title. ducting a recent survey. on page 5 of this issue and offering an op- (Note: The survey runs through May 29, So, we ran a full-page survey one month This organization periodically asks its portunity to complete it online as well (go so if you haven’t yet submitted yours, telling readers we were looking for a new members about the technologies they are to bit.ly/tbns2020). please go to our website at fiftyplusrich- name and asking for their vote on several comfortable using. Apparently, one of the Many thanks for reading Fifty Plus and mond.com and click on the “Attention possibilities, as well as their own sugges- chief goals of this survey is to show the for helping us with both our surveys. I Readers” banner. You may also access the tions. rest of the world (and potential business look forward to sharing results with you survey directly at this web address: Many of the respondents voted for one partners and advertisers) that people over soon. bit.ly/tbns2020.) or more of the suggestions we offered (my 50 are highly “tech-savvy.” Stay well and take care. But what about the survey on page 5 of personal favorite was “Healthy, Wealthy The organization crowed in a press re- NOTE: If you would like to receive this issue, you ask? Yes, that is another and Wise”), and a number proffered their lease about the most recent results, as they the Fifty Plus FREE via email each survey we would like you to complete! And own new name (ranging from serious pro- “found that 83% use mobile phones...and month, or if you’d like to subscribe to as an incentive, we will be having a second posals to tongue-in-cheek names like more than half (52%) own a tablet. Accord- the print edition at half price ($6/year random drawing for $200 cash from “Geezer Gazette”). ing to the survey, older adults are adopting + tax), please call our office at (804) among the completed surveys, just as we But to our surprise, the vast majority devices such as smartphones, wearables, 673-5203. are doing for the coronavirus survey re- voted to retain the name “Senior Beacon,” home assistants/smart speakers and smart- spondents. a number of them taking umbrage at the home technology at nearly the same rate as So, if you complete and return both sur- thought that we would even consider adults ages 18 to 49.” veys, you have two chances to win. (But changing it to appease younger readers. All well and good, until you turn to the Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter a publication of The Beacon Newspapers, Inc. addressed in Fifty Plus as well as on political and social issues of the day. Editorial Mission: Fifty Plus is dedicated to providing readers with accurate Mail your Letter to the Editor to Fifty Plus, P.O. Box 2227, information, professional guidance, and useful resources. Our publication is intended to both reflect and enhance fifty-plus lifestyles, and to encourage Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email to [email protected]. reader dialogue and input. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Fifty Plus is published monthly and distributed free of charge. The advertising deadline is the 20th of each month for the upcoming issue. The entire con- Dear Editor: will do nothing to stop violence. We have Fifty Plus tents of are ©2020, The Beacon Newspapers, Inc. No portion may Politicians favoring [gun control] laws laws against murder now, and these laws be reproduced in whole or in part by any means without the express written claim their opponents “refuse to pass com- do not stop violent acts. consent of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed by writers and mon-sense laws and do the will of the peo- Similarly, there are the “background columnists do not necessarily represent those of Fifty Plus or ple.” We need to define some “hot button” checks.” Experience shows that “back- its staff. terminology and have a rational discussion ground checks” do not work. Remember Publisher/Editor — Stuart Rosenthal to reach a solid and sensible decision. the Virginia Tech murders? The attacker President /Associate Publisher — Judith K. Rosenthal First, there is the “assault weapon” label. passed two background checks to pur- Vice President, Operations — Gordon Hasenei What constitutes an “assault weapon?” Can chase two handguns (NOT “assault ri- it be a specific model of a firearm, as I have fles”), which he used to murder more than Vice President, Sales and Marketing — Alan Spiegel heard some people claim? One nice lady 30 innocent victims when he should have Managing Editor — Margaret Foster sincerely insisted that the very popular been on the ineligible list in the National Art Director — Kyle Gregory AR/15 rifle and its variants could never be Criminal Information Center. Director of Operations — Roger King adapted for hunting and could only be used We need to try enforcing existing laws Editorial Assistant — Ivey Noojin for murdering lots of people. A mutual and avoid disarming law-abiding citizens. Advertising Representative — Lisa Benton-Hawkins friend explained to her that AR/15’s are Try arresting criminals and convicting the most popular type of game-hunting ri- them, and promptly. Then send them to se- Fifty Plus Richmond • P.O. Box 2227 • Silver Spring, MD 20915 fles in North America today. rious prison time for violence. Criminals PH: 804-673-5203 • [email protected] Then, there is the criminal mindset. are not really affected by more laws. Criminals ignore laws that are inconven- C. S. “Kess” Kessler © Copyright 2020 The Beacon Newspapers, Inc. ient. Given that, additional laws of any kind Henrico County FIFTYPLUS — MAY 2020 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com 3 Cover Story Feed More delivers much more than food By Glenda C. Booth cations a month on average. BY FEED MORE PHOTO Every week, a tractor-trailer full of Per- “Everyone’s stepped up. It’s incredible due frozen chickens arrives at Feed More to see the best in our community, people headquarters near the Diamond. really coming together,” Hickey said. “We’re the chicken food bank on the Of course, drivers have had adjust the East Coast,” quipped Doug Pick, Feed way they deliver food. With the Meals on More’s chief executive officer, adding, Wheels program, for instance, instead of “and I get a tractor-trailer load of fresh pro- making daily deliveries on weekdays, they duce per week.” deliver a box of five to 10 frozen meals Thanks to these truck deliveries and once a week, being especially careful to other donations, Feed More typically pre- execute a “no-contact” delivery.