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1Offer not available in all areas. Discount applied by retailer representative at time of contract execution and applies to purchase of 4 or more windows and/or patio doors. 3% cash discount for payment in full by cash or check applied at time of sale. Cannot be combined with other offers. To qualify for discount offer, initial contact for a free Window and Patio Door Diagnosis must be made and documented on or before 3/31/20 with the appointment then occurring no more than 10 days after the initial contact. No payments and deferred interest for 12 months available to well qualified buyers on approved credit only. Not all customers may qualify. Higher rates apply for customer with lower credit ratings. Financing not valid with other offers or prior purchases. No Finance Charges will be assessed if promo balance is paid in full in 12 months. Renewal by Andersen retailers are independently owned and operated retailers, and are neither brokers nor lenders. Any finance terms advertised are estimates only, and all financing is provided by third-party lenders unaffiliated with Renewal by Andersen retailers, under terms and conditions arranged directly between the customer and such lender, all subject to credit requirements. Renewal by Andersen retailers do not assist with, counsel or negotiate financing, other than providing customers an introduction to lenders interested in financing. VA CLASS-A2701010633. “Renewal by Andersen” and all other marks where denoted are marks of Andersen Corporation. ©2020 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved. ©2020 Lead Surge LLC. All rights reserved. FIFTYPLUS — MARCH 2020 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com 3 4 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com MARCH 2020 — FIFTYPLUS

thought the way a spouse might. great day; indulge yourself” cards. These examples of useful artificial intel- And yes, I usually have no trouble find- Wonder and creativity ligence (AI) come from companies that ing a card that perfectly expresses my We all want to be understood by our to know their taste (and your budget), can say they are simply trying to make our feelings for my wife. She, in turn, gives me close friends and, particularly, by our send your spouse a gift in the right size, per- lives easier, more convenient, less bur- cards that accurately convey her emotions mates. We want them to haps even with a card having dened. Personal assistants theoretically and thoughts. know what our preferences an appropriate message. have only our interests at heart. (After all, If I don’t have a problem giving my wife are, what we like to eat, with Publications that you fre- catering to our every whim is how they a heartfelt card written by someone else, whom we like (and don’t quent online know what top- make money.) And it’s true that many of why should it be a problem if I ask Alexa like) to socialize. ics you like to read and will us do appreciate the benefits we derive to “buy my wife something nice for her We want them to remem- “curate” their content for from such technology. birthday” or “send her the kind of flowers ber our birthday, what types you, showing you only the But there are other, similar artificially she likes, with a nice card”? of gifts please us, what music articles, op-eds and blogs intelligent bots that, you might say, have Well, somehow that seems unseemly, we like to listen to at different that reflect your political an ulterior motive. less personal. times of day. These are opinions (or, if you appear to For example, we all know and hate Is it just a matter of degree? Have we among the myriad ways in like getting upset, showing those daily, dastardly robocallers, who im- ended up here because we relinquished which people who love each FROM THE you the ones most sure to personate our neighbors and want to scam much of the personal touch long ago by other show they understand PUBLISHER raise your blood pressure). us. There are the emails that purport to be communicating with, and giving to, others and appreciate each other. By Stuart P. Rosenthal We don’t even need to ex- from our friends, but ask us to FedEx gift via Hallmark cards, Amazon “wish lists,” But today, a device can do plicitly ask these devices for cards ASAP, and the digital ads that are form letters and email blasts, and it’s just all of this for us and more, such favors. Unlike people, constantly inviting us to stray from our that the technology has gotten better? and probably do it better. A “smart refrig- they don’t need to be told or reminded diets as we pass by pizza and pastry shops. Perhaps it’s true that today’s AI com- erator” can reorder your preferred foods about our preferences. They figure them Now, I have to admit that people we puters understand us and those we inter- when they’re running low and have them out on their own and, seemingly, never for- know (and even love) can lie to us some- act with better than we do. delivered. get which clothing items we once lingered times, try to manipulate us in certain And if that’s so, what do we lose in ex- Digital assistants from Amazon, Google over while shopping online. ways, say one thing and mean another. We change for this greater efficiency? The op- and other know-it-all companies will remem- Better yet, they don’t try to change our humans are not above such behavior. portunity to make personal choices, to ber your spouse’s birthday and, once it gets opinions or expose us to different ways of But in interpersonal relationships, we be- spend a little time thinking about others, lieve we can usually detect — and even ap- and to make an effort to understand others preciate — the occasional white lie, well told. are among the things that make us human. ON THE COVER: It feels very different when we have no The movie The Matrix, which I saw Richmond artist Janet Saad-Cook is known internationally for her “sun idea where the deceptive phone calls, emails when it came out more than 20 years ago, drawings,” really art installations using objects that refract sunlight to reveal different colors of the rainbow at different times of the and digital ads are coming from, and when made little sense to me at the time, but I day and seasons of the year. we are certain that the responsible party did get the point: namely that human be- only wants our money or our vote or our ings in the future function solely as batter- STORY AND PHOTO BY DIANE YORK credit card number for nefarious purposes. ies, our purpose being to power the I went shopping the other day for a machines that really run the world. birthday card for my wife. I chuckled or In that futuristic dystopia, most human be- choked up over numerous cards in a huge ings are all but dead, lying in pods connected variety of styles. Some were clearly for the to wires, generating body heat that keeps the romantic young marrieds, others for the machines humming. “we’ve been through a lot together” couples, and some were perfunctory “have a See FROM THE PUBLISHER, page 13 a publication of The Beacon Newspapers, Inc. Attn: Amateur artists and photographers Editorial Mission: Fifty Plus is dedicated to providing readers with accurate Enter your best works in any of seven categories in the Celebration of the Arts — information, professional guidance, and useful resources. Our publication is an online art competition for people over 50. Professional judges will intended to both reflect and enhance fifty-plus lifestyles, and to encourage select winners, who will receive cash prizes and exhibit opportunities. reader dialogue and input. Enter photos of your work by March 20. For more information, Fifty Plus is published monthly and distributed free of charge. The advertising see page 7, or visit thebeaconnewspapers.com/COTA2020. deadline is the 20th of each month for the upcoming issue. The entire contents of Fifty Plus are ©2020, The Beacon Newspapers, Inc. No portion may be re- produced in whole or in part by any means without the express written consent of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed by writers and columnists Letters to the editor do not necessarily represent those of Fifty Plus or its staff. Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in Fifty Plus as well as on political and social issues of the day. Publisher/Editor — Stuart Rosenthal Mail your Letter to the Editor to Fifty Plus, P.O. Box 2227, President/Associate Publisher — Judith K. Rosenthal Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email to [email protected]. Vice President, Operations — Gordon Hasenei Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Vice President, Sales and Marketing — Alan Spiegel Managing Editor — Margaret Foster Dear Editor: only had my precious mother and father Art Director — Kyle Gregory Thank you for the great feature story for 17 years. They perished in the Holo- Director of Operations — Roger King on aging (“It’s time to disrupt ageism,” caust in 1941. Editorial Assistant — Ivey Noojin February). I felt that I was back in time when I read Advertising Representative — Lisa Benton-Hawkins I am now 98 years old and truly marvel Wolfgang Puck’s “Rustic bean soup brings at the wonder of it. My children are now back memories” in your January issue. Fifty Plus Richmond • P.O. Box 2227 • Silver Spring, MD 20915 past middle age and on the brink of retire- Like Puck, I hail from Austria, and like his PH: 804-673-5203 • [email protected] ment. mom, my mother was a great cook. Often, as the night sinks in my little © Copyright 2020 The Beacon Newspapers, Inc. house, I wonder why in such a long life I See LETTERS TO EDITOR, page 12 FIFTYPLUS — MARCH 2020 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com 5 Feature Story Ever-changing artwork, powered by the sun

By Diane York Following the sun out West artwork that they have PHOTO BY JANET SAAD-COOK A friend of mine recently sent me a Hoping to learn more about the sun and volunteered to pay to TED Talks video filmed in Vienna. It dis- paths of the planets, which was critical to upgrade the heliostat, played gorgeous light studies in vivid developing sun drawings that would be the device that oper- shades of green, blue, red and yellow — beautiful throughout the year, she con- ates the sun drawing, very fluid, alive and ephemeral. tacted the American Astronomical Society, so it can be visible for I was amazed to learn they were cre- where she met astronomer Peter Boyce. more hours of the day. ated from sunlight and that they changed Boyce visited her studio and suggested Saad-Cook has also throughout the day following the move- she travel to some sites in the American conducted numerous ment of the earth. I was also surprised to Southwest where Native American cul- collaborative projects find out that the internationally known tures marked the Solstices by tracking with scientists, archi- artist who created these has lived here in sunlight. tects and engineers, Richmond since 2003. And so began her study of archaeoas- along with independent Born in Ohio, Janet Saad-Cook, 79, tronomy — the interdisciplinary study of research in the field of spent much of her life in the Washington, how ancient cultures “have understood archaeoastronomy. D.C. area. Originally trained as a concert the phenomena in the sky...and what role Now she lectures pianist, she took up painting and sculpture the sky played in their civilizations,” such extensively in the in her early 20s. as for marking time and the changing sea- U.S. and abroad, and About a decade into her career, she sons, Saad-Cook said. has presented papers happened to pass through a department With Boyce’s encouragement, she stud- about her work at sci- store and was intrigued by the iridescent ied the cultures at sun sites such as Chaco entific institutions such film in a display. As the sunlight hit it, she Canyon, New Mexico; Chimney Rock Col- as The Royal Institu- saw brilliant patterns of light. Excited, she orado; Hovenweep Castle in Utah and the tion of Great Britain, rushed back to her studio and began to pyramids of Mexico, including Teotihua- the National Radio As- experiment with sunlight as an art form. can near Mexico City. tronomy Observatory, Today, nearly four decades later, Saad- She has become so knowledgeable on the Santa Fe Institute, This image is from Janet Saad-Cook’s sun drawing, Cook continues to create art in her Forest the topic of the sun and how cultures viewed and the International “The Hidden Emerald.” The art that produces the Hill home. Her now-famous sunlight-based it in the past that she has been asked to de- Astronomical Union, image is a private commission installed in Danbury, installations have been exhibited in galleries liver papers on the subject to the General As- among others. Connecticut. Her works will be displayed in London and museums throughout the world. This sembly of the International Astronomers It is a credit to the this April. “Together with the ancients and all future April, her work will be exhibited at the Royal Union at Johns Hopkins University and as- generations,” she said in a TED Talk, “we touch the College of Art, Kensington Gallery, London. tronomers at the Massachusetts Institute of See ARTIST, page 7 sky as one human race.” Technology’s Haystack Observatory. There goes the sun Saad-Cook now believes her sun draw- She first created several “Sun Draw- ings, which she patented in 1989, connect

ings,” as she calls them, in the early 1980s. human culture from the most primitive MAIL OR FAX FOR She soon learned that natural light is a times to the present. As she puts it, “My ✃ mercurial medium, constantly changing work occurs at the intersection of time, FREE INFORMATION as the earth orbits the sun. space and light.” For free materials on housing communities and At one point she left her studio for a real estate services, just complete and clip this month, only to find on her return, with the International and local exhibits changing seasons, that the light through Her art is now known throughout the coupon and mail or fax it to Fifty Plus. the windows no longer illuminated her art. world. In addition to the London exhibit in ❏ Avery Point (see ad on cover page) Saad-Cook was determined to make art- April, her works have been exhibited in ❏ works that would continue to be visible the Gladbeck Museum in Germany as well David Mize Real Estate (see ad on page 7) throughout the year. She also wanted to as galleries in Italy, France and Monaco. ❏ Dominion Place (see ad on page 12) be able to separate pure, individual colors Her European exhibitions brought ❏ ERA Real Estate, Woody Hogg & Assoc. (see ad on page 8) from the spectrum of sunlight and to dis- Saad-Cook to the attention of TED Talks ❏ Guardian Place (see ad on page 17) play them in her “drawings.” Vienna, which contacted her and asked ❏ Harmony at Hanover (see ad on page 14) Saad-Cook sought out scientists and en- her to come to that city and deliver a pres- ❏ gineers to help her understand how this entation on her work. Harmony at Ironbridge (see ad on page 14) could be achieved. Based on her work and Here in the United States, one of her ❏ Sandston Plateau (see ad on page 10) plans, she won the position of artist-in-res- most impressive installations is located in Name______idence at the Physics Department of the Photonics Center at Boston Univer- Address______Catholic University in Washington, D.C. sity, where her 20-by-10-foot sun drawing, She spent a year in that position and titled “Athanor,” has been situated on the City______State_____Zip______then studied at its Glass Research Center. curved atrium wall since 1997. Phone (day)______(evening)______There, she learned the sciences of optics Viewers are mesmerized as the sunlight E-mail______

and metallurgy. moves across its mirrored metals and FP3/20 She explored ways to bend and coat coated glass. As the day progresses, the Please tear out and mail this form to: glass, and learned how to change refrac- light breaks into different, pure colors and Fifty Plus, c/o The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, tion with various metals and coatings to af- ghost-like images that “walk” across the Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227 or fax to (804) 673-5308 fect light passing through. wall. Workers there so love this magical 6 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com MARCH 2020 — FIFTY P L U S

PAINKILLER WARNINGS To avoid addiction, use opioids sparingly; try non-prescription meds first

Fitness & MEDICAL CANNABIS CBD and other hemp derivatives may be coming to senior communities

NEED TO KNOW ABOUT KNEES Knee replacement surgery: the pros, the cons and alternatives to try first

MAYO CLINIC Q&A Dry skin or psoriasis? Learn the differ- Health ence. Plus, statins can lower risk of stroke Do face masks protect from coronavirus? By Carla K. Johnson some value, Denison said. CDC recommendations health conditions,” Messonnier said. People around the world are buying up Also, someone in a mask can’t touch The U.S. Centers for Disease Control “For seniors, preparedness may also protective face masks in hopes of keeping their own nose and mouth. That can help and Prevention does not currently recom- mean making sure you have adequate sup- the new virus from China at bay. Some prevent the wearer from picking up germs mend masks for the general public. In Feb- plies of routine medications, like medica- companies have required them for em- left on surfaces by someone who is sick, ruary, officials said the immediate risk to tion for blood pressure and diabetes. This ployees. Schools in South Korea have told he said. the general public in the U.S. remains low. is always part of what CDC recommends parents to equip their children with masks Masks are “a very sensible precaution” The CDC does recommend masks for for preparedness. and hand sanitizer. while scientists work to study exactly how people being evaluated for the new virus, “If you’re 65 and older — and particu- But do the masks work? It depends. the new virus is transmitted, University of people confirmed to have it, household larly if you live in areas where there’s on- All viruses are small enough to get Oxford researcher Trudie Lang said. members and caregivers. Airline crew going community spread — you need to through a typical strap-on medical mask, None of this, however, is based on rig- should offer a face mask to a sick traveler, think about what actions you can take to but the germs don’t generally spread orous research. Nobody has compared the CDC said. reduce your exposure.” through the air one at a time, said Dr. groups of masked and unmasked people Healthcare workers treating patients That may include, for instance, avoiding Mark Denison of the Vanderbilt Univer- by exposing them to the new germ, Deni- with the new virus are advised by the large public gatherings. “The goal of so- sity Medical Center in Nashville. Denison son said. CDC to take additional precautions such cial distancing is to limit exposure by re- studies SARS and MERS, which are coro- A 2017 review of studies in healthcare as goggles or face shields. ducing face-to-face contact and preventing naviruses, the same family as the new workers suggested masks offer some pro- In early March, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, Di-spread among people in community set- virus, which is now named COVID-19. tection against SARS, but the authors rector of the Center for the National Center tings,” Messonnier added. Instead, viruses ride from person to noted “existing evidence is sparse, and for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases For up-to-date information, visit person on droplets from a sneeze or findings are inconsistent.” (NCIRD), elaborated on some additional cdc.gov/coronavirus. cough. Those droplets land on hands and The best way to avoid getting sick from precautions appropriate for older adults, ac- AP journalists Tong-hyung Kim in Seoul; other surfaces, where they are touched by the new virus is to wash your hands with cording to the transcript of a press briefing. Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo; Havovi Todd in others, who then touch their own eyes, soap and water. If soap and water aren’t “Think twice before you expose your- London; Taijing Wu in Taipei, Taiwan; noses or mouths. available, use an alcohol-based hand sani- self to someone who is showing symp- Erika Kinetz in Shanghai and Karel Jan- Masks can block large droplets from a tizer. That’s the same advice for avoiding toms. This is especially important for icek in the Czech Republic contributed to sneeze or cough. That means they have regular cold and flu viruses. people who are older and have underlying this report. —AP Superfoods that can help fight off colds By Amanda MacMillan antioxidants when it decomposes. Garlic Yogurt and kefir gest that wild blueberries contain the They say you are what you eat. So, it packs the biggest antioxidant punch when Probiotic foods such as yogurt and most active antioxidants of any fresh fruit, makes sense that eating nutritious foods caneaten raw. kefir are a good way to replenish benefi- thanks to their high levels of anthocyanins help you maintain a healthy immune system. Anise seeds cial strains of bacteria, which promote di- — among the most potent antioxidants. “Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants — These licorice-flavored seeds, which gestive health and help prevent stomach Dark chocolate these are what keep your body strong, and have antibacterial properties, have been ailments and upper respiratory tract infec- Ounce for ounce, pure cocoa contains without them you’re not giving your body shown to ease coughing and help clear tions. more of the disease-fighting antioxidants the edge it needs to ward off infection,” congestion from the upper respiratory Red peppers known as polyphenols than most berries — said registered dietitian Karen Ansel, a tract. Like citrus fruit, red peppers are high and it’s loaded with zinc, too. To reap the former spokesperson for the Academy of Citrus fruits in vitamin C. In fact, one red pepper has immunity-boosting benefits without the un- Nutrition and Dietetics. Studies show that taking vitamin C at 150 milligrams of the nutrient. (A large or- healthy extras (like high sugar content), For the best defense against colds and flu,the first sign of illness may reduce a cold’s ange, by comparison, has about 100 mg.) stick with bite-size portions of dark choco- make these healthy foods part of your diet: duration by about a day. Eating lots of cit- Skinless turkey breast late with a cocoa content of 70% or higher. Fish rus — noshing on orange and grapefruit Lean proteins are high on Ansel’s list of Carrots and sweet potatoes Oily fish — including salmon, tuna and slices, or using lemons and limes in flu fighters. “We think we need protein to Orange fruits and vegetables such as car- mackerel — are rich in omega-3 fatty recipes — will provide a healthy dose of build muscle, and we do. But we need it to rots and sweet potatoes are rich in beta acids (compounds that help reduce harm- this powerhouse nutrient. build antibodies and fight infection in the carotene. Your body converts this organic ful inflammation in the body). Chronic in- Fennel body, as well,” she said. Chicken, turkey compound into vitamin A, which is essential flammation prevents your immune system Fennel is a natural expectorant and can and pork are all good sources of protein, for maintaining a strong immune system. from working properly and can contribute help clear chest congestion and soothe a as are beans, nuts and dairy. Health.com delivers relevant informa- to colds and flu. persistent cough. Make your own fennel Blueberries tion in clear language that puts health into Garlic tea with 1.5 teaspoons of the seeds and 1 These antioxidant powerhouses are context in peoples’ lives. These pungent cloves contain allicin, a cup boiling water. Steep for 15 minutes, bite-size immunity boosters, especially © 2020 Meredith Corporation. Distrib- sulfuric compound that produces potent strain and sweeten if desired. when they grow in the wild. Studies sug- uted by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. FIFTYPLUS — MARCH 2020 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com | Fitness & Health 7 Amateur art competition closes March 20 Amateur artists 50 and over are invited acrylic), Drawing (pen and ink, graphite, and their works will be published in a their own web page on the MFA site, to enter their best works in a variety of pastels, calligraphy), Sculpture/Carving, special Celebration of the Arts section to where they can share images of up to 20 media in the Beacon’s 2020 Celebration of Ceramics, Jewelry/Stained Glass, be printed in the May edition of the Bea- artworks with friends and family. the Arts, an online art competition, open Mixed Media/Textile Art and Digital con. Sponsors of the Celebration of the Arts now through March 20. Photography. Winners will also be honored at senior include Fifty Plus, AARP DC, the Mary- The Celebration of the Arts was in- Judging will be by professional artists, expos in Baltimore County and Mont- land Federation of Art, Brooke Grove Re- spired by moving stories from readers none of whom participated in the last com- gomery County, Maryland, and in Fairfax tirement Village, Pepco and Sommerset. who have returned to an earlier love of art petition, so all new eyes will be on this County, Virginia. The online competition is open now, after years away from it, or who developed year’s entries. While there is a modest fee of $10 for and will close on March 20. For a passion for it later in life. Winners will be announced in April, will each entry, all entrants will be entitled to complete rules of the competition or Amateurs may enter digital photos of receive cash prizes, and will be exhibited a one-year membership in the Maryland to enter, visit theBeaconNewspapers.com/ their original works created after the age of throughout May at the Pepco Edison Federation of Art (new members only; COTA2020. 50 in seven categories (up to three items per Place Gallery in Washington, D.C. value: $70). Among other things, the For more information or assistance up- category): Painting (watercolor, oil, In addition, photos of winning artists membership will enable artists to have loading entries, call (804) 673-5203.

into a techno-esthetic continuum to outlast of the earth around the sun. at the beginning of time, transcends the Artist any single day or lifetime.” “Despite our fractured world, we con- present, and can continue into the future From page 5 nect with each other in ways that are be- for as long as the sun shines. It is eternal complexity of her work that so many science- What’s next yond all barriers of time or space or race and classic. related institutions include her sun drawings One of Saad-Cook’s dreams is a build- or spiritual beliefs,” she said in her TED See Janet Saad-Cook’s art at janetsaad- as permanent exhibits in their facilities. ing that would house multiple sun draw- Talk in December 2019. “We touch the cook.com or watch her TED Talk at Some of these include the National Radio As- ings so that the moving pictures of sky as one human race.” ted.com/talks/janet_saad_cook_how_i_pai tronomy Observatory in Socorro, New Mex- sunlight could be seen year-round by visi- As Munro states, Saad-Cook’s art starts nt_with_light. ico, and the American Association for the tors. She obtained approval for this project Advancement of Science and the Smithson- from the National Science Foundation and MARK YOUR CALENDAR ian Institution, both in Washington D.C. located a site in New Mexico. A Sun Foun- MINDFUL SHOPPING As a breakthrough woman in the field dation was begun, but funding has never Mar. 26 Learn how to reduce waste and be more environmentally con- of art, Saad-Cook is included in the most reached the necessary goal. scious at the grocery store with dietician Erica Wells. The free recent edition of Originals: American She also hopes to create a trail of sun session will be held on Thurs., March 26 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Women Artists by Eleanor Munro. Her installations around the earth that would Ellwood Thompson’s, 4 North Thompson St., Richmond. To register, visit http://bit.ly/EnvironmentalGrocery. works, Munro writes, “link the three or- track the sun’s light, creating a global ders of nature: humanity, earth and sun chain of images following the movement

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I WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN! For nearly 30 years I have been selling the best First Floor Living Homes in the Richmond Region. I can sell the home you are living in too! I will save you money, time and stress. Call me today! 8 Fitness & Health | www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com MARCH 2020 — FIFTYPLUS When/how to use opioids for acute pain By Scott Weiner, M.D. tive way to treat pain. Yes, they are effective. opioid only when the pain is unbearable. There are lots of places to safely dis- Two recent articles have again high- But as evidenced by the vast increase in opi- Typically, this period of severe pain is card pills. In fact, the Drug Enforcement lighted how often opioid pain relievers — oid-related overdose deaths seen in the coun- in the first three days after a surgery or Administration has a website that lists the medications like oxycodone and hy- try over the past decade, they are not safe. trauma. For example, my colleagues eval- closest bin locations. drocodone — are excessively prescribed in uated opioid consumption in the days after If one of those is not accessible, mix the the U.S. for acute pain, sometimes for vul- OTC pain meds work, too suffering an acute fracture. Most patients medication with coffee grounds, kitty lit- nerable populations, and sometimes for On the other hand, medications like needed only about six oxycodone pills. ter or dirt, seal it in a plastic bag, and put conditions for which they are probably not acetaminophen and ibuprofen — over-the- We therefore subscribe to the recom- it in the trash. Don’t flush it down the toi- even indicated. counter pain medicines that you can get at mendations of the Opioid Prescribing En- let, as opioids and other drugs can con- The first paper, by authors at Boston any supermarket — actually work amaz- gagement Network (OPEN) program taminate the water supply. Children’s Hospital, evaluated visits to the ingly well for acute pain. in Michigan, which recommends rela- emergency department by adolescents As an example, a large survey study of tively small opioid prescriptions after sur- Use minimally, if at all and young adults (ages 13 to 22) over an more than 2,000 patients who underwent gery, such as 10 pills after having your My general recommendation for opi- 11-year period from a nationwide sample. a range of dental procedures discovered appendix removed or hernia repaired, and oid-naïve patients, regardless of age, is About 15% of patients — roughly one in that the vast majority experienced ade- just five for procedures like a breast this: If you have a simple problem, like a six — were prescribed an opioid, with high quate pain relief with over-the-counter or biopsy. sprain or a dental procedure, or even back rates seen for ankle sprains, hand fractures, non-opioid prescribed pain medications. Patients do fine with these smaller num- pain, do whatever you can to avoid an opi- collarbone fractures and dental issues, for Similar studies are abundant. Another bers of pills, and they’re at less risk of de- oid. which an incredibly high 60% of patients in looked at patients treated for low back veloping long-term opioid use. Ask your doctor about which over-the- this age group received an opioid. pain in the emergency department and counter pain treatments you can safely The second paper compared opioid pre- found no difference in pain after five days, How to discard leftover pills take, and maximize those. scribing by dentists in the U.S. and Eng- whether the patient was treated with an When the acute pain is gone, if there For more severe pain, such as from land in 2016, and the numbers are anti-inflammatory medicine (naproxen) or are leftover opioid pills, discard them fractures or after surgery, use the mini- shocking. U.S. dentists prescribed about 35 an opioid. It just didn’t make a difference, safely. mum number of opioids needed to toler- opioids per 1,000 people, compared to just so why take the risk? Although opioid misuse among teens is ate the pain, then back off once the pain is 0.5 opioid prescriptions per 1,000 people decreasing, it still is a major problem. About bearable. Then continue with non-pre- in England. When an opioid makes sense two-thirds of adolescents who misused opi- scription treatments. The pain experienced by people in Of course, there are times when the over- oids got them from friends or family for free. Scott Weiner, M.D., is a contributor the U.S. can’t be staggeringly different the-counter medications are not going to be These medications should ideally be to Harvard Health Publications. than in the U.K. So why the discrepancy? sufficient to treat acute pain. In those situa- stored securely and dispensed by a parent © 2020 President and Fellows of Har- In the U.S., prescribers were reassured tions, the goal should be to take non-pre- or guardian following the appropriately vard College. Distributed by Tribune Con- for years that opioids were a safe and effec- scription medications first, and then add an prescribed schedule. tent Agency, LLC. FIFTYPLUS — MARCH 2020 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com | Fitness & Health 9 Efforts to bring CBD to senior housing By Chip Lauterbach For health, not a “high” ing facilities when contacted said that cur- version of the bill carries a civil penalty of Virginia lawmakers continue to fine- CBD products are used to treat epilepsy rently the use of CBD or THC-A are not al- no more than $50. tune legislation that aligns with the state’s and to help with pain management for a va- lowed at their locations, and that there are HJ 130, currently in the Senate Commit- growing medical cannabis program by ad- riety of ailments. The product can be ex- no immediate plans to incorporate such use tee of Rules, would direct the Joint Legisla- vancing two Senate bills facilitating the tracted from hemp, a plant in the cannabis into the care of their residents or patients. tive Audit and Review Commission to study work of caregivers and lab employees. family that is typically low in THC. Marsden sees his bill as an opportunity options for the regulation of recreational The goal is to enable older adults who The non-psychoactive version of THC for further research and development of adult use and medical use of cannabis. have been certified for medical cannabis is THC-A; it does not produce a high. medical marijuana in Virginia. Both Dunna- —AP/Capital News Service to obtain and use the substances. THC-A has been used to treat seizures, vant and Marsden’s bills reported out of To express your views on this subject, con- Bill SB 185, sponsored by Sen. Siobhan arthritis and chronic pain. committee and are headed to the House tact Senators Siobhan Dunnavant at (804) Dunnavant, R-Henrico, would allow em- Fibers of the hemp plant are also used floor. 741-0440 or David Marsden at (804) 698- ployees at nursing homes, assisted living in making rope, clothing, paper and other Other cannabis-related bills moving 7537. Contact Sen. Jennifer L. McClellan, facilities and hospices to administer CBD products. Hemp recently became legal at through the General Assembly include District 9, at (804) 698-7509 and Jeffrey and THC-A oil to residents who have a the federal level, and its cultivation is still HB 972, which would decriminalize sim- M. Bourne, District 71, at (804) 698-1071. valid written certification to use the med- regulated. ple possession of marijuana down to a civil To find out the name of your state senator, ication. There is a distinction between hemp-de- penalty of no more than $25. The Senate visit virginia.gov/services/whos-my-legislator. Bill SB 885, from Sen. David W. Mars- rived CBD oil and marijuana-derived CBD den, D-Fairfax, would remove criminal li- oil — namely the level of THC present. MARK YOUR CALENDAR abilities for analytical lab workers who Dunnavant told a Senate panel that the Mar. 18 COMPUTER BASICS transport and possess both substances bill is needed so that staff at assisted living Learn how to use a mouse, explore the Internet and create during the course of their work. facilities can be included as those author- documents with Microsoft Word. The free class will be held on Marsden also introduced legislation to ized to store and administer both CBD Wed., March 18 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Ashland Library, 201 S. Railroad Ave., protect individuals from possession and THC-A to residents and patients. Ashland. To register, call (804) 798-4072. charges for having marijuana in the form of cannabidiol oil or THC-A oil, if they Nurses can already administer FREE YOGA CLASS have valid written certification for medical Registered nurses and licensed practice Apr. 11 If you’re looking to better your balance and manage your cannabis from a practitioner. nurses can legally administer the oils. Last stress level, then yoga is for you. Bring a mat, and wear com- In 2019, Dunnavant and Marsden year lawmakers passed legislation protect- fortable clothing. The free class will be held on Sat., Apr. 11 helped pass legislation signed by the gov- ing school nurses from prosecution for from 11 a.m. to noon at the North Avenue Library, 2901 North Ave., Richmond. ernor to reduce restrictions for patient ac- possessing or distributing such oils, in ac- To register, call (804) 646-6675. cess to the substances (SB 1557, SB cordance with school board policy. 1719). Several nursing homes and assisted liv- 10 Fitness & Health | www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com MARCH 2020 — FIFTYPLUS How the jojoba plant can help your skin There is a plant with beautiful foliage cal treatments, nutrients or medication. dealing with some eyebrow loss due to after just six weeks, 154 participants using that provides year-round food for deer, so I think jojoba is one of the healthiest, aging, dieting or hypothyroidism, jojoba a jojoba oil-based face mask experienced they call it the deer nut plant. most moisturizing, skin-heal- oil might be good to apply to your brows. a 55% perceived reduction in acne scars. But you might know it as jo- ing and wrinkle-reducing 4. Strengthen the barrier. Our skin’s The magic is from the high content of vi- joba (pronounced huh-hoé- oils one can use on the skin. barrier is termed the stratum corneum, tamin E in jojoba. ba). Full disclosure: I’ve put it in and it traps moisture inside, while keeping Jojoba oil is great for practically any skin Just like cactus plants, jo- a facial serum that I formu- out pollutants, environmental toxins, dirt type. You can simply buy a plain bottle of it to joba is a desert plant that can lated for anti-aging benefits. and pathogens. This barrier is important use for manicures, pedicures or even a mas- tolerate high heat, long hours Here are six benefits of jo- because it is what keeps your skin looking sage. You can also add any essential oil to jo- of sunlight and very little joba oil: clear and moisturized. Studies have joba for fragrance and additional benefits. water. It’s botanically known 1. Collagen synthesis. In proven that jojoba oil has major skin bar- One of my favorite things to do is rub as Simmondsia chinensis. several studies, jojoba oil has rier reparative powers. jojoba oil onto my dry, itchy or cracked Other delightful, hilarious been used to accelerate the 5. Nourishing. Jojoba oil contains a nat- heels. It keeps my feet looking pretty and names include goat nut, DEAR production of both ker- ural source of skin-benefitting nutrients such soft. Be well and pamper yourself with this pignut and quinine nut. Call PHARMACIST atinocytes and fibroblasts. as vitamin E, zinc, iodine, copper, selenium hydrating, natural oil. it what you will, the plant is By Suzy Cohen This could mean improved and chromium. Zinc is known to help with This information is opinion only. It is not still an exceptional ingredi- skin wound healing, reduced acne. Vitamin E protects us from sun dam- intended to treat, cure or diagnose your con- ent to find in your lotion, face scar formation and hair age and free radicals. Copper and selenium dition. Consult with your doctor before cream and serum. growth. may help with collagen formation. Iodine is using any new drug or supplement. It’s so similar to your own sebum (the 2. Anti-inflammatory. Jojoba-based a natural type of skin antibiotic. Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist oily secretions of our skin cells) that your products may be useful for rosacea, psoria- 6. Scars. Jojoba oil is known to be a and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist skin immediately absorbs jojoba, which sis, dermatitis, acne or sensitive skin. wonderful scar healer, especially for acne and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To can enhance the absorption of other topi- 3. Hair growth. If you are currently scars. There was a study showing that contact her, visit SuzyCohen.com. MARK YOUR CALENDAR MARK YOUR CALENDAR

REGISTER TO VOTE LEARN TO DO 3D PRINTING Mar. 16 Apr. 11 Have you ever wanted to try 3D printing? Learn how to use To cast your ballot in the upcoming primary and presidential the software, Tinkercad, to print your own design. The free election, you must register to vote. Receive help with this class takes place on Sat., April 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the process on Mon., March 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hull Street Library, Mechanicsville Library, 7461 Sherwood Crossing Pl., Mechanicsville. To regis- 1400 Hull St., Richmond. For more information, call (804) 646-8699. ter, call (804) 746-9615.

Are You A+ Veteran? Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center is a Long-Term Care & Short-Term Rehab Facility that opened in January 2008. This facility was built speciﬁcally for our Virginia Veterans. Located conveniently on the campus of the McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia, this state-of-the-art facility is owned and operated by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. FIFTYPLUS — MARCH 2020 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com | Fitness & Health 11 Knee pain? Options to try before surgery Courtesy of the University of Michigan tic bearing, or artificial joint, in between the improving their diet and exercise routine. sult in relief of symptoms and the patient When cartilage inside the knee joint bones where cartilage would normally Many Americans are overweight, and not needing surgery on the entire knee starts to break down, a person may begin exist. In some patients, a plastic cap is in- just losing a few pounds can improve joint, thus the “partial” title. to experience pain. serted over the kneecap (patella) as well. symptoms in the knee, which carries five All knee replacement surgeries involve “If you were to look inside a healthy Urquhart notes that the surgery times a person’s body weight when going some amount of resurfacing, or replace- knee joint, you’d see a thick cushioning of shouldn’t be taken lightly. up a single stair. ment of the knee’s cartilage. cartilage that covers and protects the ends “About 15 to 20% of patients that un- Targeted physical therapy and exercise Q: How long does it take to recover of your bones, as well as another type of dergo knee replacement surgery have can improve and strengthen the muscles after surgery? cartilage, called the meniscus, that acts like buyer’s remorse because they still experi- in the knee, which may result in less pain. A: Every patient’s recovery time is dif- a shock absorber between the bones,” said ence discomfort or a sensation of instabil- We also recommend patients try non- ferent, but most patients can expect to be Andrew Urquhart, M.D., a professor of or- ity in their knee, even after surgery,” steroidal medications such as ibuprofen or up and walking without a cane or walker thopedic surgery at Michigan Medicine’s Urquhart said. “That’s why we strongly acetaminophen to reduce swelling and pain. about four weeks after surgery. They can Comprehensive Musculoskeletal Center. encourage patients to try non-surgical op- For some patients, we recommend try- generally bend their knee to or beyond 90 “The meniscus keeps the knee joint sta- tions before electing surgery.” ing steroid injections, such as cortisone in- degrees by that point, but they may still ble and helps evenly spread out the weight Urquhart answers some common ques- jections, before electing knee replacement experience some pain or stiffness. the knee joint bears. tions he hears from patients about knee surgery. Q: Will I be able to get back to a “But when a person’s knee cartilage is replacement surgery: When all of the non-operative options physical, active lifestyle? deteriorating, the bones rub together and Q: What’s causing my knee carti- listed above do not work, patients should A: Most patients — about 80 to 85% — feel they may experience pain when walking lage to break down? consult with an orthopedic surgeon. Dur- their knee functions better after surgery than or weight bearing.” A: There are a number of conditions ing that consultation, a physician will before. These patients can get back to low- To treat a painful knee, Urquhart men- that can cause knee pain and the cartilage likely give strength and ligament tests, impact physical activity, such as walking, hik- tioned a few options. to deteriorate. Some of the most common take X-rays, and discuss symptoms as well ing, biking, playing golf or tennis, and other “Many patients jump to surgical op- are arthritis; an injury, such as tearing the as the benefits and risks of surgery. light recreational activities. We discourage tions, but we recommend every patient meniscus; and obesity. Q: What’s the difference between par- high-impact activities, such as basketball and start with diet and exercise or physical Q: Am I a candidate for total knee tial knee replacement and total knee re- running, as these can reinjure the knee. therapy before considering knee replace- replacement? placement? I’ve also heard of resurfacing A Wellness Update is a magazine de- ment surgery,” he said. A: Patients in their 50s or older who the knee; what does that mean? voted to up-to-the minute information on have a hard time walking, despite trying A: A partial knee replacement is per- health issues from physicians, major hospi- What surgery involves non-surgical treatments first, may be good formed on patients who have intact liga- tals and clinics, universities and health care Total knee replacement surgery involves candidates for knee replacement surgery. ments and pain isolated to the inside agencies across the U.S. capping off the thigh bone (femur) and shin Before considering knee replacement sur- portion of the knee. Performing surgery © 2020 www.awellnessupdate.com. Dis- bone (tibia) with metal, and inserting a plas- gery, I always recommend patients start with on that inside portion of the knee can re- tributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Do YOU Have the Drive?

drive seniors to choose when and where bring independence to a medical appointments you drive with our online senior’s life - discover why and grocery stores ride-scheduling program giving back is so rewarding!

The Shepherd’s Center of Richmond is a nonprofit, nondenominational service and education organization. Its mission is to encourage older adults to remain active and independent through enrichment programs and volunteer service to their peers.

Shepherd’s Center of Richmond 804-355-7282 TSCOR.ORG 12 Fitness & Health | www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com MARCH 2020 — FIFTYPLUS New cookbook aims to bring out flavors By Stuart Rosenthal selves are not so complex that they might kosher ingredients are either not used or Also, these latter two varieties need to be This month’s recipe comes from Deep put you off from trying them. kosher substitutes are suggested. fully cooked, while you need to be careful Flavors, a new cookbook described as “a Some recipes offer the cook options, The book has an international flavor as not to overcook ordinary cod or snapper. celebration of recipes for foodies in a such as mushroom soup made either with well, including a selection of Iraqi, Mexi- The final flavor of the dish will vary de- kosher style.” or without a roux. With either choice, there can, Italian, French and Indian recipes. pending on the spice mixtures used. It is The author is Ken Horwitz, an attorney are simple, but detailed, instructions. We’ve selected a curried fish recipe for easy to change the flavor of the recipe as and CPA from Dallas, Texas, with a pas- The book’s 15 chapters cover the food the following except from the book. Enjoy! desired. sion for cooking. He tells stories before landscape, from spice mixtures and pick- (and within) almost all his recipes, giving les, to meaty (and vegetarian) main Easy Indian fish Coconut-curry fish context and history, and he describes courses and decadent desserts (lots, but You may think that preparing Indian food Ingredients: step-by-step instructions to maximize the not all, with chocolate). is daunting and beyond the scope of your ca- Neutral-flavored oil or butter for sautéing flavor and presentation of the dish. The “kosher style” element means pabilities. This is simply not true, now that 2 large shallots or ½ sweet onion, finely While that means instructions can be there are some traditional “Jewish foods,” there are numerous Indian spices and mix- chopped highly prescriptive, the recipes them- many using family recipes, and that non- tures available from your normal grocery. 2-4 garlic cloves, finely chopped Or you can buy from online spice mar- 2 tablespoons ginger, finely chopped MARK YOUR CALENDAR kets such as Penzeys.com or a local Indian 3 pounds fish (see note above) BOOK DELIVERY or Asian grocer so that you do not need to 1 can high-quality, unsweetened, full-fat Apr. 14 Help kids learn to love literature by giving age-appropriate assemble multiple spices yourself. coconut milk books to them and recommendations to their parents. In this recipe, use a white-fleshed fish 1 tablespoon garam masala (Indian Volunteers must drive their own vehicle and sign a media release. The delivery such as Chilean sea bass, black cod (also spice mix) takes place on Tues., April 14 from 8 to 11 a.m. at the United Way of Greater known as sablefish), red snapper, grouper, 1 tablespoon sweet curry powder (or Richmond and Petersburg, 2001 Maywill St., Suite 201, Richmond. To sign up, cod, haddock or other similar mild-fla- another mixture, such as tandoori or tikka visit http://bit.ly/LiteracyDelivery. vored fish. masala spice blend) Do not use salmon, which does not 1 lemon or lime, zested and juiced LIFE OF WILLIAM FAULKNER meld well with these flavors. Also be sure 1 cup cilantro leaves, chopped Mar. 24 Author Carl Rollyson will discuss William Faulkner and his to remove the skin from black cod or Directions: recent biography of the 1949 Nobel laureate, The Life of William Chilean sea bass before cooking. Preheat oven to 350° F. Faulkner: The Past is Never Dead, 1897-1934. The reading is Also note that the type of fish used, and Lightly sauté the shallots, garlic and gin- scheduled for Tues., March 24 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Main Library, 101 East its thickness, will determine how long the ger in a small amount of butter or oil until Franklin St., Richmond. To register for the free talk, visit rvalibrary.libcal.com. cooking time is. For example, a thin snap- they have wilted and the aroma is incredible. per fillet will cook much faster than a thick If you are sautéing in an over-proof pan, fillet of black cod or Chilean sea bass. add the fish, spices, coconut milk and citrus zest. Otherwise, transfer all of the ingredients except the citrus juice and cilantro to an oven-safe Corning Ware or Pyrex dish. Need help hearing over the phone? Reserve the cilantro and citrus juice to be added a couple of minutes before cooking ends. Place the pan or dish into the oven and cook for 30 minutes or until the fish is just cooked (time will vary depending on its thickness and variety. See note above.) Serve with basmati rice and a salad or vegetable, and you will have a wonderful In- dian-style meal ready in less than an hour. Deep Flavors, published by Inspire on Purpose, is available from Amazon.com for $39.95 ($9.99 on Kindle). For more about the author and the book, visit www.deepfla- vorscookbook.com.

See what your callers say with Captioned Telephone Service. Letters to editor From page 4 Using the latest in voice recognition software, Captioned Telephone Service displays captions of your conversations as you listen. Call My early childhood fell in the lean or visit us online to see how it works and learn how to get a years just after World War I. Food supplies captioned telephone for you or your loved one. were short, and dried beans, with their nutritional balms and affordable prices, were just what the doctor ordered. Thank you, Fifty Plus and Puck, for this reminder of family life from long ago. I just told my daughter that a mess of navy beans will be bubbling in the pot this coming week! Frances Nunnally varelay.org | 866-894-4116 (Voice) | 866-246-9300 (TTY) Richmond FIFTYPLUS — MARCH 2020 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com | Fitness & Health 13 Questions on dry skin, cholesterol drugs By Howard LeWine, M.D. very patches of scaly skin on the elbows, or other drug was based primarily on the —Diabetes, if you are also 40 or older Q: My skin has become very dry knees, scalp and trunk. This skin condi- level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol For everyone else it’s a decision that and itchy over the past year. Could it tion isn’t as itchy as eczema. (LDL), the so-called “bad cholesterol.” you make with your doctor, depending on be some other skin problem, not just Psoriasis is the result of an overactive New guidelines have removed this “target- risk factors that include: dry skin? immune system that causes a rapid driven” approach. They don’t focus on the —A parent, brother or sister who had A: Our skin’s top layer, or epidermis, is turnover of skin cells and leads to cells pil- LDL numbers. Instead, they recommend coronary artery disease or stroke at an normally thick with naturally occurring ing up on the surface. using risk to decide when people should take early age (a man before age 55 or a fats and oils that act as a barrier to help re- a statin drug to lower LDL cholesterol. woman before age 65) tain moisture and prevent irritants from Over-the-counter remedy Statins are best because they do more —Tobacco use entering the skin. For simple dry skin, a concerted effort than just lower a number. They reduce —High blood pressure But as we age, the skin thins, and we to moisturize the skin throughout the day risk of developing heart disease and hav- —A low HDL (“good cholesterol”) level lose some of those fats and oils. This allows may be all it takes to get rid of itching and ing a stroke. (under 40 milligrams per deciliter) vital moisture to escape from the skin, al- dryness. New evidence suggests that an LDL cho- A statin dose tailored to the individual lowing it to become dry and cracked. But most people don’t moisturize often lesterol level much lower than 70 mg/dL is is more important than reaching a partic- While dry skin in itself is the most com- enough, or they use lotions that contain too probably beneficial for some people. So, ular target number. mon cause of itchy skin, sometimes it’s much water to be effective on very dry skin. even if you have an excellent LDL blood Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at tough to tell if the symptoms are caused Instead of liquid lotion, look for an oil- level, you likely should take a statin if you Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston by a different condition, such as contact based cream that’s so thick it comes in a have: and assistant professor at Harvard Medical dermatitis, eczema or psoriasis. jar, not a pump bottle. If moisturizing alone —Artery disease, including angina, a School. For additional consumer health in- People with contact dermatitis are isn’t working, it’s time to make an appoint- previous heart attack or stroke, or other formation, visit www.health.harvard.edu. more vulnerable to allergens and irritants ment with your doctor or a dermatologist. related conditions © 2020 President and Fellows of Har- such as fragrances that could cause in- Q: My cholesterol level has remained —A very high level of harmful LDL cho- vard College. Distributed by Tribune Con- flammation. When they come in contact about the same for many years, but now lesterol (generally at or above 190 mg/dL) tent Agency, LLC. with something that causes a reaction, my doctor suggests that I start taking a they develop a red, cracked, itchy rash. statin drug. What has changed? teracting with others, so we don’t even re- Eczema is another term for atopic der- A: There are two major reasons why From the publisher alize what has become of us. matitis, a condition that is mostly diag- your doctor could now be recommending From page 4 That movie scares me a lot more today nosed in children. In older adults, eczema a statin — the cholesterol guidelines con- We take no real action, cannot even than it did two decades ago. is a more general term for skin that’s tinue to evolve and/or you have developed move or eat or awaken from our condition. chronically dry, cracked and itchy despite other heart disease risk factors, such as But to keep us subjugated, AI computers the use of moisturizers. Type 2 diabetes or hypertension. give our brains a complete world of pleas- Psoriasis causes thick, raised, red or sil- In the past, the decision to start a statin ant thoughts that make us think we are in- 14 Fitness & Health | www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com MARCH 2020 — FIFTYPLUS Can a chiropractor treat low back pain? By Robert H. Shmerling, M.D. therapist right away. But many people with improvement in function young (average age 31) and male (77%). If you’ve ever seen a doctor for back pain, back pain see acupuncturists, massage —reported higher satisfaction with their All were generally healthy and fit enough you’re not alone. An estimated 85% of people therapists or a chiropractor on their own. treatment to pass military fitness testing. experience back pain severe enough to see Experts disagree about the role of chi- —needed less pain medicine —Study subjects knew which treatment a doctor at some point in their life. ropractic care, and there are few high- While no serious side effects were re- they were receiving. This creates potential Yet despite how common it is, the pre- quality studies about this approach. ported, about 10% of those receiving chi- for a placebo effect. Also, the added time and cise cause of pain is often unclear. And a Should it be a routine part of initial ropractic care described adverse effects attention (rather than the spinal manipula- single, best treatment for most low back care? Should it be reserved for people (mostly stiffness in the joints or muscles), tion) might have contributed to the response. pain is unknown. who don’t improve with other treatments? while 5% of those receiving usual care had Even within the two groups, the care var- “Standard care” includes a balance of Are some people more likely to improve similar complaints. ied — that is, not everyone in the usual care rest, stretching and exercise, heat, pain re- with chiropractic care than others? group received the same treatment, and this lievers and time. Some doctors also sug- Some concerns can also be said for the chiropractic group. gest trying chiropractic care. Evidence for chiropractic care While this study suggests that chiro- If any of these factors had been differ- The good news is that no matter what A 2018 study published in JAMA Net- practic care may be helpful for low back ent, the results might have been, too. For treatment is recommended, most people work Open is among the latest to weigh in pain, some aspects of the study make it example, it’s possible that if an older pop- with a recent onset of back pain are better on the pros and cons of chiropractic care hard to be sure. For example: ulation of people with chronic low back within a few weeks — often within a few for treating low back pain. —It only lasted six weeks. Most new- pain had been studied, “usual care” might days. Researchers enrolled 750 active-duty onset back pain is better by then regard- have been the better treatment. military personnel who complained of less of treatment. This new study lends support for chiro- A variety of treatments back pain. Half were randomly assigned to —The differences in improvement be- practic care to treat low back pain. But it’s Estimates suggest that low back pain receive usual care (including medications, tween those receiving chiropractic and important to recognize the limitations of costs up to $200 billion a year in the U.S. (in- self-care and physical therapy), while the usual care were small. It’s not clear how this trial, and keep in mind that side ef- cluding costs of care and missed work), and other half received usual care plus up to noticeable such a difference would be or fects were more common among those re- it’s a leading cause of disability worldwide. 12 chiropractic treatments. whether the cost of chiropractic care ceiving chiropractic care. With the backdrop of the opioid crisis, After six weeks of treatment, those as- would be worth that small difference. In addition, chiropractors aren’t free (al- we badly need an effective, safe, non-opi- signed to receive chiropractic care: —The study included a mix of people though, fortunately, insurance coverage is oid alternative to treat low back pain. —reported less pain intensity with new and longer-standing low back becoming more common). Some doctors refer patients to a physical —experienced less disability and more pain and a mix of types of pain (from a Robert H. Shmerling, M.D., is faculty ed- pinched nerve, muscle spasm or other itor at Harvard Health Publishing. Write a letter to the editor. reasons). So, it’s hard to generalize these © 2020 President and Fellows of Har- results to everyone with back pain. vard College. Distributed by Tribune Con- See page 4. —Most of the study subjects were tent Agency, LLC. HARMONY

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The Resource for Aging Well

Executive Director’s Message Visibility and Dr. Thelma Bland Watson Executive Director, Senior Connections, Marketing The Capital Area Agency on Aging Engage at Any Age

Impact Report for 2018-2019 In 2018 Senior Connections gave consider- tions partnered with The Beacon Newspapers, able attention to transforming the Agency’s a family-owned business dedicated to provid- Dear Readers: popular Mature Life newsletter that was first ing well-written, useful information of interest We are extremely pleased to share Senior Connections, The Capital published in November 1977. The Mature Life to people 50 and older and their families. The Area Agency on Aging’s 2018-2019 Impact Report with you as part of newsletter, mailed quarterly to over 15,000 Beacon’s award-winning content covers health, this month’s Engage at Any Age newsletter. As indicated throughout households, has kept community members up- financial, career, housing, travel and arts top- the Impact Report, the last two years have been very active and full to-date on issues important to older adults and ics, as well as local events and feature stories. of noteworthy achievements. We are grateful to have the opportunity their caregivers for over 40 years. In an effort In 2018, the Engage at Any Age newsletter be- to reflect on our work and activities that support the quality of life to continue our Transforming Perspectives came a four page pull-out section of The Bea- for thousands of older adults, caregivers and family members. theme of presenting the positive aspects of con’s Fifty Plus Richmond publication. The We are indeed proud of the numerous accomplishments that are a aging as part of the important work we do, the Engage at Any Age newsletter now reaches part of our ongoing Strategic Planning that addresses these focus decision was made to change the newsletter’s over 65,000 readers and is distributed to over areas: Visibility and Marketing to create recognition for Senior Connec- title to Engage at Any Age. In addition, to ex- 350 locations throughout the eight localities tions, our programs, the individuals we serve and the issues we rep- pand the newsletters reach, Senior Connec- served by Senior Connections. resent. Programs and Services to ensure the development and provision of comprehensive and collaborative activities that reflect individual needs and choices. Resources and Funding to develop diverse and long-range resources with effective stewardship. Help Support Older Adults Sustainability to improve our facility and to ensure sustainability of Senior Connections as the designated Area Agency on Aging for the Richmond Metropolitan Region. in Your Community! As you read the 2018-2019 Impact Report, you will notice that it fo- # cuses on a few of our programs that “empower older adults to live Did you know Senior Connections is a non-profit 501(c)3 with dignity and choice.” The success and impact of the programs fea- tured reflect the results of all of our services and initiatives. The Im- organization? Essential services such as food, in-home pact Report highlights the contributions of our Board of Directors, care, emergency services, transportation and social Advisory Council and Staff to support our finances, programs and services. engagement programs are provided through donated funds. As we publish the 2018-2019 Impact Report, we are also looking forward to many activities in celebration of the Agency’s 50th An- YES! I want to help support Senior Connections. niversary in 2023. For example, On May 19, 2020, we will convene our Open House from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. On that day, we will have a cel- Enclosed is my tax-deductible contribution of: ebration in recognition of the hundreds of volunteers who join our    dynamic staff every day to insure maximum service delivery and as- $100 $50 $25 Other $______sistance to older adults, caregivers and family members. These volunteers “make their mark” with ongoing service and dedication. Contributions will support the Empty Plate Campaign. Please join our Open House and help us celebrate. We hope the 2018-2019 Impact Report will add to your knowledge Name: ______and awareness of Senior Connections and of our many community partners. On behalf of our Board of Directors, Advisory Council and Address: ______Staff, thank you for your generous support. We know our success depends on you. City:______State:______Zip:______

Mail to Senior Connections, 24 E. Cary St. Richmond, VA 23219. To make a donation with a credit card, please visit our website at Thelma Bland Watson, Executive Director https://seniorconnections-va.org/giving/donate

B-2 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com Senior Connections, CAAA MARCH 2020 — FIFTYPLUS

Support to Manage Health Care Care Transitions Program Confidence in managing one’s own on behalf of VAAA Cares, managed by Impact Story called the pharmacy during the home healthcare after a hospitalization is es- Bay Aging. A Health Coach visited Barbara, a 68- visit and was able to get the answers to sential in having the best options for re- The program is introduced to the pa- year-old woman, in the hospital’s ICU. her questions. covery. Patients going home from the tient and family at hospital bedside, and Barbara was receiving care for complica- To ensure Barbara would be able to at- hospital may find themselves vulnerable includes a home visit shortly upon the pa- tions due to diabetes. A home visit with tend her follow-up appointments, her if they are not sure of next steps when tient’s return home. Over the 30 days fol- Barbara’s Health Coach was scheduled for Health Coach confirmed she had friends making the transition from hospital care lowing discharge, a health coach will the following day. who would be able to transport her to her to home. work with the patient by reviewing their During the home visit, Barbara and her schedule medical visits. Barbara’s Health Care Transitions Intervention® is an progress, answering questions, and en- Health Coach reviewed and developed a Coach also reviewed with her potential red evidence-based program proven to re- couraging confidence in managing their Personal Health Record. Barbara had a flags regarding her condition and advised duce hospital readmissions. Trained care. question regarding the proper dosage for her what to do in case she noticed one. Senior Connections Health Coaches are Health Coaches listen to patients re- one her medications and was unsure who Over the next three weeks, Barbara’s referred to older adult patients being garding personal needs, and make refer- to call or what to ask. Barbara’s Health Health Coach followed up with her sev- discharged home by area hospitals: VCU rals to community resources such as Coach helped clarify her questions and eral times, making sure she was recover- Health and Bon Secours Mercy St. home-delivered meals, phone checking, role-played with her on how the phone ing and taking the steps necessary to Mary’s. We also provide CTI® services and the Benefits Enrollment Center. call with the pharmacy might go. Barbara prevent another hospital stay. FIFTYPLUS — MARCH 2020 Senior Connections, CAAA www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com B-3 Finding Options Support To and Resources Stay Home Benefits Enrollment Home Delivered Meals Center (BEC) Senior Connections’ Home Delivered and ears providing social contact, volun- Meals program connects older adults teers extend the program beyond a sim- Launched in 2019, the Benefits Enroll- value over $1,200,000 in benefits. who are homebound and unable to meet ple meal. ment Center (BEC) was created to help low- BEC Locations: their basic nutritional needs to a healthy income Medicare beneficiaries access • Senior Connections — diet, a friendly face, and a safety check. Impact Story: programs that pay for healthcare, food and 24 East Cary St., The Home Delivered Meals program Elliott lacked the energy and stam- more. The Benefits Enrollment Center is Richmond, VA 23219 sponsors older adults who are unable to ina he needed to take care of his every supported by a grant from the National • Hanover Community Resources cover the cost of the meal service. By day needs when he was referred to the Council on Aging (NCOA). • VCU Health Hub at 25th providing nutritious, diet-specific meals Home Delivered Meals program. Be- Through this program Medicare bene- • Powhatan DSS and social interaction, the Home Deliv- fore enrolling in the program, Elliot ficiaries receive enrollment and applica- • Goochland Cares ered Meals program helps keep older was having his to him from various tion assistance with the following core • Chesterfield DSS adults independent and safe in their local restaurants. He was not following Impact Story: programs: homes for as long as possible. For over a healthy diet plan and incurring addi- • Low Income Subsidy (LIS)/Extra A client who moved to the Richmond 40 years, Senior Connections has part- tional expenses, such as delivery cost. Help area from out of state was referred to the nered with Feed More, our local Meals on Shortly after being enrolled in the pro- • Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) BEC by the Richmond Office on Aging Wheel provider. Through this partner- gram and maintaining a healthy diet, • Medicaid and Persons with Disabilities. The client ship, both agencies are better able to Elliot noticed a change in energy level. • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance had Medicare, Medicaid and SNAP from reach those in need within the commu- He found he had the energy to move Program (SNAP) the state he lived in previously. nity. Referrals and Information are ex- about more and to take better care of • Low-Income Home Energy Assis- Once he relocated to Virginia, he had changed between Senior Connections himself. Elliot’s overall health im- tance Program (LIHEAP) to reapply for Medicaid and SNAP. Within and Feed More through Virginia No proved, impacting his quality of life in The BEC at Senior Connections officially a few short weeks, a Benefits Outreach Wrong Door, giving both agencies the a positive way. Elliot’s family is thank- began accepting referrals in late March of Specialist was able to help him apply and ability to respond quickly and efficiently ful for the peace of mind that comes 2019. As of September 30, 2019, the BEC has get approved for both Medicaid and SNAP to individual needs. Program volunteers, with knowing their loved ones nutri- assisted 171 Medicare beneficiaries com- benefits, which allowed him to get settled who provide meal receipts with a friendly tional needs are being met and are plete 358 benefit applications with a total with minimal interruptions. smile and important safety check, are happy to see the improvement in his key to the program’s success. As the eyes overall well-being. Support to Ride Connection Our goal at Ride Connection is to benefits) are eligible for service. help older adults and persons with dis- Ride Connection: abilities have knowledge about, and • Provides information on mobility access to, transportation for medical planning, education and referrals. Stay Home and non-medical needs to help them • Provides transportation to a lim- age in place at home and live a healthy ited number of medical appointments and socially-connected life. each month. Mobility Management Adults age 60 and over (and adults • Provides assistance with access- under age 60 receiving SSA disability ing public transportation. and the Ride For more information, please contact the Connection Program Ride Connection Hotline at (804) 672-4495.

Access to safe, supportive and ride counselors offer transportation ed- reliable transportation services are fun- ucation, travel training, and access to damental building blocks of a public transportation options. healthy, connected com- Perhaps most critical, we munity and healthy, More than provide transportation connected individuals. “just a ride.” to medical appoint- Mobility Manage- ments. ment is an innova- We provide a caring tive person- response to someone who What our centered approach Riders Say: for managing and may be experiencing • 100% of our survey delivering coordinated social isolation. respondents said Ride transportation services Connection helps Im- to older adults, people with prove their access to medical disabilities, and individuals with care. lower incomes. Ride Connection helps • 100% of our survey respondents said older adults and their caregivers, and that without Ride Connection, they would persons with disabilities, have the miss medical appointments. knowledge of and access to transporta- • 92% of our survey respondents said tion to help them age safely at home that Ride Connection helps manage and live healthy, connected lives. Our their overall healthcare costs. B-4 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com Senior Connections, CAAA MARCH 2020 — FIFTYPLUS Human Services Transportation Coordination Entity

As a sign of Senior Connections’ munity partners, consumers, advo- critical role in transportation serv- cates and service providers to ices and leveraging our collabora- complete A Framework for Ac- “Opening tive spirit, Plan RVA designated us as tion, a self-assessment tool observation, it’s bold, greater Richmond’s Human Services for communities working to- ambitious and well Transportation Coordination Entity wards a coordinated human (HSTCE). The HSTCE works with services transportation sys- thought out. “ community partners to promote, fa- tem. From that symposium, cilitate, educate and help coordi- the HSTCE has begun work HSTCE Steering nate regional transportation efforts on a strategic plan to improve Committee Member to improve the quality of life in our access to transportation to re- area. In May 2019, we hosted com- duce health disparities.

Finding Options and Resources

Virginia No Wrong Door

Celebrating our 10-Year Anniversary as the lead agency for Virginia No Wrong Door in the Greater RVA where collaboration is key.

With Virginia No Wrong Door (NWD), there is literally no wrong door to Alzheimer's Association Greater begin the process of finding help when needed. NWD empowers individu- Richmond Chapter Bon Secours als to make informed decisions, to exercise control over their long term support needs, and to achieve their personal goals and preferences. Circle Center Adult Day Services CA The cornerstone of NWD is Person- VA Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services Centered Thinking. Treating people with Family Lifeline dignity and respect. Recognizing strengths FeedMore as well as needs. Supporting the person’s InnovAge Virginia PACE own goals and preferences. Jewish Family Services Open Door Resource Center Senior Connections and our NWD partners can help individuals Project Homes understand their options and access services quickly. If a caregiver Rebuilding Together Richmond calls after a loved one experiences a stroke, through NWD our care Resources for Independent Living coordinators can connect them to one of our many partners for home South Richmond Adult Day Care Center modification, in-home respite and legal services. Virginia Poverty Law Center

NWD: By the Numbers FY2018-19 2399 referrals were sent by Senior Connections staff to 189 unique services offered by our partner agencies. Connecting individuals to needed resources efficiently and ensuring that they only have to tell their story once. Reducing duplication of effort among providers. FIFTYPLUS — MARCH 2020 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com 15

RENT-A-DRESS TREND Clothing stores like Bloomingdale’s and Banana Republic are meeting a need by Law & offering their better clothes for rent. Will customers be hooked?

CENSUS 2020 SCAMS Is that email, or that person at the door, really from the Census? How to tell

SMARTER WAYS TO GIVE Three ways to maximize the tax benefits Money from your charitable contributions Should you or a pro prepare your taxes? By Riley Adams information from multiple accounts, finan- sources of income or deductible expenses. tainly within the realm of possibility, none For some people, tax season poses little cially speaking, you would be best served by of the DIY tax software options offers sup- worry, and the process occurs painlessly. For filing your own tax return. This is especially Hire a tax pro if: port for preparing Form 8594, Asset Ac- others, preparing taxes is a stressful situa- the case when you also only claim the stan- • You were self-employed or owned quisition Statement. tion. dard deduction to reduce your taxable in- a small business. As such, you will need to wade through Imagine handling numerous W-2s, 1099s, come. Tax reform brought significant change to the process of agreeing on a sales price navigating new rules and tracking a laundry Tax reform sought to reduce the com- the tax code, especially for those who with the seller, classifying your assets ap- list of write-offs related to your business, plexity of preparing tax returns for individu- worked for themselves or owned a business. propriately, and then ensuring the forms side jobs, real estate holdings or other in- als by doubling the standard deduction. In Of note, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act intro- match on both the buyer’s and seller’s tax come sources. tax year 2019 (filing returns in 2020), the duced the qualified business income (QBI) returns for the year. While certainly not impossible to do it standard deduction amounts come to deduction, allowing eligible self-employed Whether you file your taxes yourself or yourself (DIY) with the best tax software, $12,200 for individual filers and $24,400 for people and small-business owners to deduct hire a professional, set aside time to review this can still be a time-consuming activity. In those married filing jointly. To make it worth up to 20% of their QBI on their taxes. your tax return for accuracy. While a pro- some instances, it may make sense to out- itemizing deductions now, you will need to This and other self-employment deduc- fessional certifies accuracy, your return is source your tax preparation to a profes- have a lot of charitable contributions, mort- tions can be difficult to calculate on your only as good as the information you pro- sional simply to avoid the headache or gage interest or other deductible expenses own, given the litany of expenses you vide. In other words: garbage in, garbage mistakes. to itemize. need to track. out. When debating which path you should • You experienced no changes from Handing off these responsibilities can Therefore, pay close attention to the de- follow, ask yourself how comfortable you your previous tax situation. seem tempting because so much paperwork tails on your return, whether you handle feel doing your own taxes. Then, to help If nothing major occurred regarding is involved. However, even to do that you it yourself or not. Keep a copy of it and any gauge when it makes sense to DIY your your tax situation this year, relying on must still organize your files, receipts and supporting documents for your records tax return versus hire a tax professional, your work from last year with numbers proofs of income as well as any other sup- for at least three years in case of an audit. consider the following circumstances. from this year might make sense. This is porting evidence for positions you claim on This article was written by and presents especially the case where hiring a tax pro- your return. the views of Riley Adams, CPA, owner of Do it yourself if: fessional doesn’t fit in your budget. • You sold a business en route to Young and the Invested. Check adviser • You only have W-2 income and If nothing changed, in all likelihood you retirement. records with the SEC or with FINRA. claim the standard deduction. can roll forward most of the information If you sell your business, hiring a tax © 2020 The Kiplinger Washington Edi- If you only claim Form W-2 income on and elections included on last year’s return. professional becomes almost requisite. tors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content your return and do not need to enter income However, make sure to track any other While preparing the forms yourself is cer- Agency, LLC. What do you know about financial fraud? By Elliot Raphaelson signs of investment scams. b. Risk-free 3. In which situation are you taking Promissory notes and Ponzi schemes According to Gerold, the most common c. Guaranteed against loss the least amount of risk? are the leading products or schemes that telltale sign of an investment scam is an d. You must invest now a. Buying a certificate of deposit (CD) are likely to trap investors in 2020, accord- offer of guaranteed high returns with no e. All of the above in the U.S. ing to Christopher Gerold, the president risk. Answer: e. Beware of any salesperson b. Investing with someone you know of the North American Securities Admin- He also indicated that many of the who tells you an investment is risk-free and from your church or community association istrators Association (NASAA). threats facing investors involve private of- provides a guaranteed high rate of return. c. Investing offshore Also on the top five list (based on investor ferings, which are exempt from federal se- 2. Security laws protect investors d. Investing with someone who con- complaints and ongoing investigations) are curities registration requirements and are by requiring companies to: tacted you by phone real estate investments, cryptocurrency-re- not sold through public stock exchanges. a. Show profits before they can sell stock Answer: a. Although buying a CD is lated investments, and social media- and He recommended NASAA’s investor b. Provide investors with specific infor- low risk, you should investigate insurance Internet-based investment schemes. fraud quiz (nasaa.org/investor-education/in- mation about the company levels in the event of the bank’s failure. In NASAA is the oldest international organ- vestment-fraud-awareness-quiz). I took the c. Pay dividends addition, you should consider inflation risk ization devoted to investor protection in the quiz and found it to be informative. d. Repay investors who have lost money when you invest in low-return investments. United States, Canada and Mexico. It is the Here are some of the questions and an- Answer: b. Securities regulation is All your investments shouldn’t be in low- voice of 50 state security agencies responsi- swers (see the website for a detailed discus- based on a disclosure system: Laws re- risk investments if you need capital growth ble for efficient capital formation and grass- sion of the answers to the quiz): quire companies to provide investors with as part of your investment objectives. roots investor protection. 1. Which of the following phrases specific information. Companies don’t 4. A fellow book club member tells I spoke with Gerold and other NASAA should raise your concern about an have to show profits or pay dividends to you about an investment opportunity representatives to determine how investors investment? sell stock. There is no requirement to can protect themselves against common a. High rate of return repay investors who lost money investing. See FINANCIAL FRAUD, page 16 16 Law & Money | www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com MARCH 2020 — FIFTYPLUS Growing trend in clothes shopping: rent By Anne D’Innocenzio pride in owning something,” said Jennifer watch their fortunes erode. Last year, tailers — from added expenses for mar- Renting clothes could be the future of Hyman, CEO and co-founder of Rent the clothing retailers accounted for an out- keting, dry cleaning and shipping — pose fashion — or it could just be a fad. Runway, which in 2009 pioneered the busi- sized share of retail bankruptcies, accord- significant challenges. A growing number of traditional retail- ness model that many retailers are now ing to a recent report by consulting firm Some experts wonder whether it even ers are now offering customers the option trying to replicate. AlixPartners. makes sense for lower-priced clothing to rent clothes for a monthly fee instead of For clothing retailers, rentals offer a “Clothing retailers are dealing with pres- chains to get into the rental business, buying them. glimmer of hope at a time when they are sures on multiple fronts,” said Ken Perkins, since customers could just buy the clothes Bloomingdale’s, Banana Republic and dealing with mounds of unsold goods that president of Retail Metrics. “Heavy promo- used or get them at a deep discount. Also, Urban Outfitters are the latest to offer the often need to be deeply discounted. Sev- tions, chronic traffic declines, e-commerce the clothes may not hold up well after mul- services. Even footwear chain Designer eral have already gotten into the second- investment. And now they’ve got rental and tiple wears. Brands said it’s considering launching a hand business, led by companies like the resale services as well. The rental market is Elizabeth Kashin, 53, of Indianapolis, said shoe rental service. Real Real and ThredUp. small, but it’s going to grow, and they have she tried Urban Outfitters’ Nuuly rental Now a booming $1 billion business, the J.C. Penney and Macy’s, for instance, to invest in it.” service last month. She never received her clothing rental sector is expected to reach have partnered with ThredUp to sell gen- Christine Hunsicker, CEO and founder package of six items but was charged any- $2.5 billion by 2023, according to research tly-worn clothes in a couple dozen loca- of CaaStle, a startup that manages inven- way. After contacting customer service via firm GlobalData. When combined with re- tions. Nordstrom is testing resale at its tory and shipping for retailers, said rental social media, she got another package but sale, it will account for 13% of the total women’s flagship store in Manhattan and services have anywhere from a 20% to 25% said the clothes didn’t look clean. $360 billion U.S. clothing market within online. operating profit, compared with only 5% “I can go to a second-hand store to get the decade, up from 7.3% today. for traditional retailers. a better experience,” she said. “You no longer have to buy into the Better profit margins But unlike Rent the Runway, a dedi- Urban Outfitters said that it is listening myth of continuous consumption...There’s Many in the industry consider these cated rental service for high-end designer pride in wearing something as opposed to necessary steps as clothing retailers clothing, the economics for traditional re- See RENTING, page 18

a. Ask your friend for more information d. Both a and c the fraud center website. NASAA provides Financial fraud about the investment so that you can under- Answer: d. You should never make an a link to the interactive map of state security From page 15 stand the risks before you make a decision investment simply based on word of mouth, regulators in the U.S. at nasaa.org/contact- that has earned 20% during the past b. Invest only a small amount to see even if the recommendation comes from a your-regulator. It provides investor alerts year. Your investments have been per- how things go before you make a larger family member, friend or acquaintance. Ask at nasaa.org/category/investor-advisories. forming poorly, and you are interested investment for more information and call your securi- Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions in higher returns. This person is your c. Call your securities regulator to see ties regulator to see if the investment has and comments at [email protected]. friend and you trust him. What should if the investment has been registered or is been registered or exempted for sale. © 2020 Elliott Raphaelson. Distributed you do? properly exempted for sale For other questions and answers, visit by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Stand Up Straight and Feel Better Old Way Better Way Discover the Perfect Walker, the better way NEW to walk safely and more naturally It’s a cruel fact of life, as we age, gravity takes over. Our muscles droop, our bodies sag and the weight of the world seems to be planted squarely on our shoulders. We dread taking a fall, so we find ourselves walking less and less- and that only makes matters worse. Well, cheer up! There’s finally a product designed to enable us all to walk properly and stay on the go. It’s called the Perfect Walker, and it can truly change your life. Traditional rollators and walkers simply aren’t 24.5” designed well. They require you to hunch over and shuffle your feet when you walk. This puts pressure on your back, your neck, your wrists and your hands. Over time, this makes walking uncomfortable and can result in a variety of health issues. Easy That’s all changed with the Perfect Walker. Its upright design 10.5” Folding and padded elbow rests enable you to distribute your weight Compact FREE across your arms and shoulders, not your hands and Design 39” Utility Bag and wrists. Its unique frame gives you plenty of room to step, Cane Holder and the oversized wheels help you glide across the floor. Once you’ve reached your destination you can use the hand brakes to gently slow down, and there’s even a handy seat with a storage Comfortable compartment. It’s sleek, lightweight design makes it easy to use indoors and out and it folds up for Seat portability and storage. Perfect Walker II Why spend another day hunched over and shuffling Call now Toll-Free Supports up along. Call now, and find out how you can try out a 18.5” to 300 lbs. Perfect Walker for yourself... in your own home. You’ll be 1-888-597-3643 Please mention promotion code wheelbase glad you did. 112750.

for stability © 2020 ﬁ rst STREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc. 84509 FIFTYPLUS — MARCH 2020 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com | Law & Money 17 Beware of potential 2020 Census scams By Jim Miller While census participation is very im- ticipation in the 2020 Census. So, ignore top or cellphone, as well as a bag with a Unfortunately, scams have become a portant and required by law, you also need any emails you get that may direct you Census Bureau logo. persistent problem when to be vigilant of census-linked to a census website. It may look real, but Also, remember that a Census worker the U.S. Census Bureau scams. This is especially im- it is fake — and may be infected with mal- will only ask you the questions that appear does its once-a-decade count portant for older adults, who ware. on the questionnaire — your name, gen- of the U.S. population. tend to be prime targets. Also, don’t reply to the email or open any der, age, race, ethnicity, phone number, Here’s what you can ex- The Census Bureau warns attachment because they could contain type of residence and number of people pect from the 2020 Census against phishing email scams viruses that could infect your computer. living with you. They will not ask for sen- in the coming weeks, and as well as con artists mas- Forward the email or website address to sitive personal information, such as your how you can protect your- querading as census workers the Census Bureau at [email protected]. Social Security or credit card number. self from potential scams. who will try to solicit your per- Then delete the message. If you have questions about their identity, sonal financial information. you can call 1-800-923-8282 to speak with a Census forms coming Here are some tips that Check ID of census workers local Census Bureau representative. If it is soon SAVVY SENIOR can help you protect yourself: If someone visits your home to collect determined that the visitor who came to In mid-March, you and By Jim Miller a response for the 2020 Census, make your door does not work for the Census Bu- nearly every other U.S. Guard financial sure you verify their identity. A legitimate reau, contact your local police department. household will receive an invitation in the information census taker must present a field badge For more information on the 2020 Cen- mail to respond to the 2020 Census. It only Don’t give out your personal or finan- that includes a photograph of themselves, sus, visit 2020census.gov. takes a few minutes to complete the cen- cial information. The Census Bureau or a a Department of Commerce watermark Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC sus questionnaire. legitimate census worker will never ask and an expiration date. Census workers Today show and author of The Savvy Sen- This year, you will have the option of for your Social Security number, bank ac- will also be carrying a Census Bureau lap- ior book. completing the questionnaire either on- count number, credit card number, money line, by mail or by phone. The invitation or donations. And they will never contact MARK YOUR CALENDAR will include detailed instructions of what you on behalf of a political party. AARP TAX AIDE you need to do. If you’re asked for any of these, Ongoing Get help with your 2019 federal and state tax returns from If you don’t respond to this invitation whether it be via phone, mail, email or in IRS-certified volunteers. You must be at least 60 years old letter, you will receive several follow-up person, it’s a scam and should be reported and a low- to middle-income taxpayer. Appointments are avail- postcard reminders from the Census Bu- to [email protected]. able every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday through April 5 at Senior Connections, 24 East Cary St., Richmond. For more information, visit irs.trea- reau by mail. sury.gov/freetaxprep. To schedule an appointment, call Pamela Atkinson at If you still don’t respond by late April, a Don’t fall for email (804) 343-3023. census worker will come to your door to The Census Bureau will not send you collect your response in person. an unsolicited email to request your par- 18 Law & Money | www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com MARCH 2020 — FIFTYPLUS How to cut taxes when giving to charity By Jaime Eckels 70% of total giving to 68% that year. level by $3,200 (in 2020) and thus be able to age accounts inflated with unrealized gains. When it comes to tax planning, there are There are several options to donate in a reduce their taxable income by that amount. These profits are a great source of charita- few more emotionally charged decisions tax-efficient way, so long as you’re willing ble gifts, but the moment you sell the stock, than those around charitable giving. People to plan ahead. Here are three tax strategies Give from a retirement fund you’ll have to pay capital gains tax. tend to see their donations as a vital way to to help your charities and reduce your tax Since older adults often own their home For annual donations of $1,000 or more, give back to society and to feel connected bill: outright and thus don’t deduct mortgage you may be far better off to transfer the to a broader community, whether it be on interest, they’re even less able to achieve long-term appreciated stock directly to a a local, national or even spiritual level. Bunch your donations tax benefits through itemized deductions. charity. The gain simply disappears, leav- The task of deciding where and how to Most philanthropically minded taxpay- But they do have a powerful alternative ing neither you nor the charity on the give has become more important, and ers should be considering bunching two in qualified charitable distributions hook for it. more complex, as a result of the Tax Cuts years’ worth of donations into a single tax (QCDs). If you’re taking required mini- The one catch is that this doesn’t lend and Jobs Act of 2017, which reduced a key year and giving every other year rather mum distributions (RMDs), it can be ad- itself to a last-minute scramble to organize incentive for charitable giving. than giving the same amount annually. vantageous to donate directly from your your donations at the end of December. It The near-doubling of the standard de- This has always been a viable tax strat- IRA account via QCDs. generally takes time to make sure your duction for joint-filing married couples (it egy, but the drastic rise in the standard de- These distributions, which were made charity has a brokerage account, arrange stands at $24,800 in 2020) means that duction has made it relevant for a much permanent in 2015 as part of the Protect- the transfer, and allow time for it to go many families no longer benefit from item- broader swath of households. ing Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) through. izing their deductions, of which charitable Consider a family that has potential de- Act, allow retirees to avoid paying income Give yourself a few months or ask those giving has traditionally been a significant ductions of $10,000 in mortgage interest tax on distributions of up to $100,000 and questions now, when the people who run component. Only around 16 million house- payments, $8,000 in property taxes, and can satisfy their minimum distribution re- the charity might be in less of a rush, too. holds are estimated to have itemized their wants to give $5,000 to charity ($23,000 quirement. The donations get transferred If you’re giving consistently to charity, deductions in 2018, down from 37 million. total). On an annual basis, the family straight from the IRA to a qualified charity, it means you’ve given thought to who you There are early signs that charities are wouldn’t have enough deductions to break and the income never shows up on their want to support and why. It only makes suffering the effects of this change. Indi- through the standard deduction threshold 1040. sense, then, to give more thought to how vidual giving fell 1.1% in 2018 to $292 bil- and so would get zero tax benefit from This strategy has a secondary benefit of you support them as well. lion, or by 3.4% adjusted for inflation, their donations. reducing adjusted gross income (AGI), This article was written by and presents according to Giving USA 2019: The An- By bunching two years’ worth of their which can affect your Medicare premiums the views of Jaime Eckels, CFP, relationship nual Report on Philanthropy for the Year $5,000 in donations into the same tax year, and the taxability of Social Security benefits. manager at Plante Moran Financial Advi- 2018. Giving by individuals declined from they would exceed the standard deduction sors. Check adviser records with the SEC or Give appreciated securities FINRA. Tell them you saw it in Fifty Plus! The longest U.S. stock market bull run © 2020 The Kiplinger Washington Edi- in history has left a lot of people’s broker- tors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Renting From page 16 to feedback so that it can “make the experience even better for Nuuly’s subscribers.” It said it’s on pace to have 50,000 subscribers in the first 12 months of operation.

Returns can be a hassle Retailers face the same challenges that still dog Rent the Runway. Consumers complain about spotty customer service and a slew of added fees. For example, Rent the Runway charges $50 for every day that a customer is late returning an item, up to double the retail value of that item. Although retailers should have return kiosks in their stores in key cities, right now most don’t have any. Shoppers must drop off their garment bags at a UPS or the post office. Rent the Runway has had to adapt to in- creasingly demanding customers. It started out with special-occasion dresses but launched children’s wear last year, as well as pillows and home decor items through a partnership with West Elm. Vara Pikor, a 26-year-old insurance broker from Manhattan who’s been using Rent the Runway for many of her clothing needs, said she is hooked. “This could be my forever habit,” she said. “I have less stuff in my home.’’ —AP FIFTYPLUS — MARCH 2020 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com 19 PHOTO BY DANIEL HATTON Leisure &

Real tips for traveling with grandchildren. (Just kidding with the photo.) Travel See story on p. 20. Barcelona’s architecture, history, sports By Glenda C. Booth walks, plentiful cafés and comfy benches, © TOMAS1111 | DREAMSTIME.COM Antoni Gaudí, Barcelona’s renowned all ideal for people-watching. Budget-con- architect, once observed, “There are no scious visitors can easily explore Barcelona straight lines or sharp corners in nature.” on foot, by bus or subway. Straight lines are few in Gaudí’s home- Total immersion is the only way to fully town of Barcelona, a Mediterranean city feel the vibes of the mile-long La Rambla, a of 5 million in northeast Spain, sprawled broad, plane-tree-lined, pedestrian avenue between the mountains and the sea. traversed by 150,000 people a day. At times, A winding, narrow street connects with it seems like all of the city’s 7.5 million an- yet another winding street, which spills nual visitors are ambling along the road onto a bustling plaza of merry buskers — from the Placa de Catalunya to the sea. and from there, more narrow, winding Walkers can easily spend half a day pok- streets lead to other plazas. ing in and out of cafés, shops and flower Many buildings sport decorative iron- stalls (and dodging souvenir hucksters). At work, balconies, bay windows, turrets, the midpoint of Placa de la Boqueria is Joan painted tiles, flower boxes, carved relief, Miró’s sidewalk mosaic, his gift to the city, mosaics, frescoes and statues. centered by an anchor, a reminder of Inspired by nature, Gaudí’s one-of-a- Barcelona’s attachment to the sea. kind buildings throughout the city are fan- At the Mercat de la Boqueria, a market ciful amalgams of swoops, curves, wavy that opened in 1217, barrels bulge with lines, undulating roofs, pillow-like corners products like ham, snails, dried mush- Barcelona’s largest and most celebrated building, La Sagrada Família, is unfin- and ornate turrets. rooms, fish, fruit, vegetables and olives. ished but open to tourists. Construction began 137 years ago but was inter- Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, a rupted by the Spanish Civil War and lack of funding. The city hopes to region proud of its identity. Most locals Gorging on Gaudí complete the basilica by 2026, the centennial anniversary of the death of An- speak two languages, Spanish and Cata- Barcelona’s jewels are the Catalan tonin Gaudí, its primary architect. lan, and English is common. The Catalon- Modernism architectural wonders de- ian red and yellow flag hangs from many signed by the beloved Gaudí (1852-1926). cone-shaped towers, tree-like columns and Quarter, dates back to the Romans and is balconies — a reminder of movements to Exploring his creations feels like an ad- colorful tiles. Many towers and turrets have the historic core of the old city. Visitors can secede from Spain. venture on par with Dr. Seuss or Alice in imaginative “toppings.” explore the ruins of the Roman colony Wonderland. Gaudí’s masterpiece is La Sagrada Fa- called Barcino under the Museum of His- Rambling along La Rambla Gaudí’s flamboyant, imaginative designs milia Basilica, a fantastical, unfinished tory and learn how the ancients accom- The city’s boulevards have wide side- include parabolic archways, organic shapes, cathedral. Gaudí became its chief archi- plished everyday tasks, such as preparing

© OLGACOV | DREAMSTIME.COM tect in 1883, and planners hope it will be the Mediterranean condiment garum (fer- finished by 2026, the centenary of the ar- mented fish sauce), making wine, and stor- chitect’s death. (He is buried in its crypt.) ing food and drink in large Greek jugs called Another Gaudí masterpiece withing walk- amphorae. ing distance of the basilica is La Pedrera, Centered in the Barri Gothic’s heart is built between 1906 and 1912. The building the soaring Barcelona Cathedral. The combines geometry and nature in its flowing main part was built between 1298 and forms, undulating lines, wavy walls and 30 1460, with the facade added in 1870. chimneys that resemble medieval knights. One legend says Christopher Colum- In the center of Barcelona, Casa Batlló bus brought Native Americans there and — with its sinuous facade, wave-shaped converted them in the baptismal pool. window frames and dragon’s-back-shaped If you navigate the nearby cobble- roof — is another Gaudí spectacle of light stoned streets and alleyways, you’ll find and color. With its broken tiles resembling the Picasso Museum, where you’ll learn fish scales, it invokes the sea and its crea- about his formative years and long, cre- tures. Even the wooden handrail undulates. ative life by studying his paintings, Park Guell, a former estate that Gaudí sketches, lithographs, etchings, aqua planned, is another dramatic merging of tints and linocuts. architecture, fantasy and nature. A ride to the top of Montjuic, the “city’s green lung,” offers views of the city and Tourists and locals walk, shop and people-watch on La Rambla, Barcelona’s The original Roman city busy pedestrian walkway. The tree-lined esplanade stretches about a mile The labyrinthine Barri Gotic, or Gothic See BARCELONA, page 20 through the center of the city to its harbor on the Mediterranean Sea. 20 Leisure & Travel | www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com MARCH 2020 — FIFTYPLUS When you’re traveling with grandchildren By Jim Miller grandchildren. They plan everything for Road Scholar (RoadScholar.org): Tauck (Tauck.com): This is a large tour Dear Savvy Senior, you, with most activities for the two gener- This well-established not-for-profit organiza- operator that offers 22 foreign and domestic My husband and I are interested in ations together, but some just for adults so tion has offered educational travel to older multi-generational trips. Some of their most taking our two grandkids on a big trip you can get an occasional breather. adults since 1975. They currently offer 130 popular excursions are Costa Rica, Euro- this summer and are looking for some Available in various trip lengths and different programs geared to grandparents pean riverboat cruises, and Cowboy Coun- good ideas. Can you recommend some price ranges, these tours are designed for and grandchildren. try, which takes you through Wyoming and travel companies that offer special travel children, typically between the ages of About 75% of the grandparent trips are South Dakota. packages for grandparents? seven and 18, and are usually scheduled domestic; the rest are international. Some Austin Adventures (AustinAdven- —Doting Grandparents in the summer, or sometimes during of the most popular destinations include tures.com): This adventure travel tour Dear Doting, breaks when the kids are out of school. the U.S. National Parks, Costa Rica, the operator offers 119 family friendly trips There are a number of travel companies Here are some top tour companies to Galapagos Islands and Paris. The average ideally suited for grandparents and grand- today that offer specialized, multi-genera- check into that will take you and your grand- cost per person per night is $250 for do- tional trip packages for grandparents and kids on a fun, well-planned vacation: mestic trips; $360 for international. See TRAVELING, page 22

feet tall, covering Fútbol Club Barcelona in the beautiful basilica with a facade that calm and eat ham.” Barcelona games from 1902 to the present. features carvings of Christ and the 12 Lunch typically begins around 2 p.m., From page 19 Videos blast out historic game high- apostles. and dinner is late, served at 9 or 10 p.m. If the art of Barcelona native and surrealist, lights. Visitors who squeeze through The interior sparkles with white marble people show up at 6:30 or 7 p.m., “They Joan Miró at the Fundacio Joan Miró. hordes of teenagers taking selfies can see and gold. Above the altar sits the Black must be Americans,” one local quipped. Exhibits explain: “He tortured the can- the players’ room, sauna and press room Madonna, a statue of the Virgin Mary with vas with unconventional practices like per- and tour several levels of the stadium. a dark complexion. On the park’s trails, vis- If you go forating and burning it, almost ‘anti itors may spot nightingales, eagle owls, tit- Barcelona weather is pleasant year- painting.’” Miró believed that “one line, A day trip to Monserrat mice, bats and 1,250 plant species. For more round, thanks to steady sea breezes. The one color can make a painting.” Monserrat — the name refers to a information, visit monserratvisita.com. tourist agents under Placa de Catalunya Soccer fever infects Barcelonans, and mountain range, a monastery and an can be your best friends, from giving in- even soccer agnostics can catch it at Camp 8,900-acre national park — is 31 miles Affordable dining structions on using public transportation Nou, the city’s famed soccer (called foot- from Barcelona, an easy day trip by hourly In Barcelona, it’s easy to eat well for less. to arranging tours. ball in Europe) stadium. train and a funicular up the mountain. The One restaurant, Fernando Serato, brags, For planning information, visit This hallowed ground and museum is highest peak is 4,000 feet. “Our Bellota pigs live in freedom,” mean- barcelonaturisme.com. the most visited site in Barcelona, tourism Pressed against the imposing rock for- ing they are free range and forage for nuts Several airlines have $600 to $1,100 promoters contend. The museum’s walls mations is a Benedictine monastery estab- and whatever else they find outdoors. roundtrip flights in April from Richmond display medals and trophies, some five lished in 1025. Many tourists find respite Butcher Enrique Tomas’s motto: “Keep to Barcelona. FP320 FIFTYPLUS — MARCH 2020 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com | Leisure & Travel 21

DATE TOUR PER PERSON PRICE DATE TOUR PER PERSON PRICE Mar 14, Mar 21 Highland Maple Festival ...... 65 Aug 10-21 Great Lakes ...... 2780 Mar 16-22 Baseball Spring Training / Florida...... 1695 Aug 12-18 Elvis / Tupelo / Memphis...... 1425 Mar 29-Apr 6 Travel Like a Rock Star ...... 2260 Aug 15-22 Niagara Falls / Montreal / Quebec ...... 1435 Apr 3-11 Charleston / Savannah / Jekyll Island...... 2025 Aug 18-22 Wisconsin / Racine / Milwaukee ...... 1025 Apr 3-5 Washington DC / Cherry Blossom Festival...... 475 Aug 21-23 Smoky Mountain Railroad / Cherokee ...... 775 Apr 5-7 Wind Creek Casino & Resort / Bethlehem PA ...... 395 Aug 22 Museum of the Bible / Washington DC ...... 200 Apr 15-May 3 Southwest & California / Motorcoach ...... 3625 Aug 22-30 Pioneer Woman & Magnolia Market ...... 1910 Apr 17-18 “Esther” / Lancaster PA...... 435 Aug 24-28 Wind Creek / Foxwoods / Dover Downs ...... 750 Apr 17-28 Mississippi River Cruise ...... 6995 Aug 31-Sept 12 Germany's Cultural Cities / Oberammergau ...... 8955 Apr 20-May 1 Texas “The Lone Star State”...... 2330 Sept 1-7 Mystery Tour …We're Still Not Telling ...... 1150 Apr 30-May 3 Kentucky Derby / Louisville...... 2945 Sept 2-5 Creation Museum / Ark Encounter ...... 695 May 4-25 San Francisco CA / Pacific Northwest ...... 3870 Sept 4-5 “Esther” / Lancaster PA...... 435 May 5-8 Tulip Festival / Holland MI...... 935 Sept 4-6 Ohio Amish ...... 790 May 5-8 Cape May/New Jersey ...... 995 Sept 6-8 Wind Creek Casino & Resort / Bethlehem PA ...... 395 May 9 Tangier Island ...... 110 Sept 12-13 Atlanta Braves Baseball ...... 395 May 11-19 Texas Baseball ...... 1895 Sept 12-19 Trains of New England ...... 2085 May 13-16 Creation Museum / Ark Encoutner ...... 695 Sept 13-19 Agawa Canyon Canadian Train ...... 1295 May 15-17 New York City / Springtime ...... 1050 Sept 14-26 Nova Scotia & New England / Fall ...... 1975 May 18-20 Wind Creek Casino & Resort / Bethlehem PA ...... 395 Sept 17-20 Loretta Lynn's Homeplace / Pikeville KY ...... 635 May 19-27 Best of Ozarks/Branson/Eureka Springs ...... 1725 Sept 18-19 Tygart Flyer/Gandy Dancer Theatre ...... 405 May 21-25 Nashville TN / Music City USA ...... 1175 Sept 19-25 New England / Fall ...... 1295 May 30-Jun 15 Newfoundland /Labrador/Nova Scotia ...... 3325 Sept 24-26 “Esther” / Lancaster PA...... 595 June 1-6 The Walking Dead & Tombstones...... 1150 Sept 25-27 Neptune Festival / Virginia Beach...... 575 June 1-9 Castles, Capitols & Countryside ...... 1775 Sept 27-30 Resorts Casino & Hotel / Atlantic City NJ ...... 495 June 5-10 New Hampshire / Purple Moose Tour ...... 1325 Sept 28-Oct 2 National Quartet Convention / Pigeon Forge ...... 945 June 6-13 Niagara Falls / Montreal / Quebec ...... 1435 Oct 2-4 West Virginia Haunts...... 575 June 6-13 Michigan & The Grand Hotel...... 1935 Oct 2-5 Talladega Superspeedway ...... 995 June 7-11 Trapp Family Lodge / Vermont ...... 1750 Oct 2-20 Southwest & California / Motorcoach ...... 3625 June 11-14 Mystery Tour…SSSHH! It's a Secret...... 710 Oct 3 Graves Mountain Harvest Festival ...... 85 June 12-22 Nova Scotia & The Atlantic Provinces...... 1995 Oct 3 Cass Railroad / Cass WV ...... 105 June 14-17 Resorts Casino & Hotel/Atlantic City NJ ...... 495 Oct 5-11 New England/Fall ...... 1295 June 14-20 Florida's NE Shore / Amelia Island ...... 1170 Oct 5-13 Best of Ozarks/Branson/Eureka Springs ...... 1725 June 14-20 Plymouth Rock 400th Anniversary ...... 1550 Oct 7-11 Shipshewana / Indiana Amish...... 925 June 16-28 Americas Southwest Fly / Land ...... 3370 Oct 8-12 Nashville TN / Music City USA ...... 995 June 18-20 “Esther” / Lancaster PA...... 595 Oct 9-14 Albuquergue Balloon Fiesta ...... 3295 June 23-26 Pennsylvania's Caverns & Taverns...... 1010 Oct 10-14 Niagara Falls / Toronto ...... 950 June 25-27 Chincoteague Island ...... 640 Oct 13-16 Rockin’ the Boardwalk / Virginia Beach ...... 1025 June 28-Jul 7 Hawaii/Honolulu/Waikiki ...... 4435 Oct 19-23 Wind Creek, Encore & Dover Downs Casino ...... 750 July 1-5 Niagara Falls / USA / Erie Canal...... 905 Nov 6-8 Sunshine Tours Family Reunion ...... 710 July 3-11 Baseball/West Coast/Phoenix/LA/SF ...... 3485 Nov 12-15 Biltmore / Smoky Mountain Christmas ...... 880 July 4-11 New England Summer / Martha's Vineyard ...... 1525 Nov 15-18 Wind Creek Casino / New York City ...... 575 July 4-20 Canyonlands / Our Most Scenic Tour ...... 3150 Nov 25-28 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade...... 1450 July 4-Aug 2 Alaska & Canada Fly / Land ...... 6310 Nov 30-Dec 4 Blue Christmas at Graceland ...... 1425 July 11-25 Cowboy Country/South Dakota/Wyoming...... 2735 Dec 1-5 Christmas Mystery ...... 1495 July 19-22 Wind Creek Casino & Resort / Bethlehem PA ...... 575 Dec 2-6 Charleston / Savannah at Christmas ...... 1125 July 19-26 Canadian Rockies VIA Rail / Fly / Land ...... 5310 Dec 3-7 Norman Rockwell Christmas...... 1195 July 28-Aug 1 Amish Acres Festival / Indiana ...... 995 Dec 4-6 New York / Radio City Christmas Show ...... 1250 July 30-Aug 3 Explore Nashville Music City USA ...... 785 Dec 5-13 Branson MO / Ozark Christmas ...... 1450 Aug 3-24 San Francisco CA / Pacific Northwest ...... 3870 Dec 10-14 Nashville / Country Christmas / Opryland...... 1425 Aug 5-9 Baseball / Three Stadiums ...... 960 Dec 11-13 New York / Radio City Christmas Show ...... 1250 Aug 7-10 Crooked Road / Virginia Music Trail ...... 825 Dec 11-13 Christmas at Myrtle Beach ...... 535 Aug 8 Tangier Island / Monticello...... 110 Dec 26-31 Florida / Christmas at Disney World ...... 1675 Aug 9-13 Culinary Tour / Pigeon Forge TN...... 1270

All Pricing listed is for 2 guests per room – Double Pricing. Single, Triple and Quad pricing will vary. All tours include round-trip Motorcoach transportation by Modern, Air-Conditioned, DVD and restroom equipped Deluxe Motorcoach, Hotel acccommodations and Admission to all listed attractions. Baggage handeling is provided at each night’s lodging as indicated in the catalog. Please refer to our cancellation policy in the 2020 Catalog of Tours or on our website.

SUNSHINE TOURS 4430 Cleburne Boulevard * P. O. Box 2149, Dublin, VA 24084 VA DMV Permit No. 180

PICK-UP POINTS FOR TOURS LISTED: Staunton, Richmond, Waynesboro

FOR A FREE CATALOG OF TOURS, PLEASE CALL TOLL FREE:

1-800-552-0022 • www.GoSunshineTours.com 22 Leisure & Travel | www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com MARCH 2020 — FIFTYPLUS

ferent family journey trips to London and make sure everything goes smoothly. will need certified copies of their birth cer- Traveling Paris, Tuscany, Iceland, Galapagos Is- Most travel experts recommend you tificates. And if your grandkids are 16 or From page 20 lands, Botswana, Yellowstone and a Rhine bring a notarized travel consent form (let- older, or you’re traveling to these locations children. Popular packages include desti- River cruise. ter of permission from the parents), and a via air, passports will be required. nations such as Yellowstone National Journeys International (JourneysIn- medical consent form in case any emergen- If you’re traveling overseas, all children, Park, Alaska, Costa Rica, Austria and Hol- ternational.com): This group offers cus- cies arise. Also bring copies of insurance even infants, must have a passport. Some land. tomized multi-generational trips primarily cards. countries also require a visa for entry, and Adventures by Disney (Adventures- to Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pa- If you’re traveling domestically, you vaccinations may be required. ByDisney.com): This offers more than cific. should know that airlines and trains don’t Before booking a trip, check the U.S. 35 vacations all over the world, including require any form of ID for children under Department of State’s website at Travel. itineraries in Africa, Asia, Australia, Eu- Take the right travel docs 18. State.gov for country-specific information. rope, North America and South America. Depending on where you go and your But if you’re traveling to Mexico, Canada, Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Smithsonian Journeys (Smithsoni- mode of transportation, you’ll need to gather Bermuda or other areas of the Caribbean Today show and author of The Savvy Sen- anJourneys.org): They offer seven dif- some documents for your grandchildren to by land or sea, grandchildren 15 and under ior book. MARK YOUR CALENDAR MARK YOUR CALENDAR

RETIREMENT FOR WOMEN TAKING ON THE POLL TAX Mar. 26 Learn how to best prepare for your retirement as a woman at Mar. 17 Learn about Evelyn T. Butts, a Virginia seamstress who won this conference covering financial goals and tax changes this the U.S. Supreme Court case that abolished the poll tax that year. Wine, Women & Wealth will be held on Thurs., March 26 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Women’s Business Center RVA, 1510 Willow Lawn limited voting rights of African Americans. Charlene Butts Ligon will discuss Dr., #100, Richmond. The cost is $10. Registration required. To purchase a her mother and read from her new book, Fearless: How a Poor Virginia ticket, visit http://bit.ly/WomenRetire. Seamstress Took on Jim Crow, Beat the Poll Tax and Changed Her City Forever on Tues., March 17 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Virginia Museum of History and RESUME HELP Culture, 428 N. Blvd., Richmond. The cost is $10 for nonmembers and free for Ongoing Make your resume the best version of itself for your next interview. Free help will be offered on Wednesdays from 10 members. For more information, visit virginiahistory.org. a.m. to noon at the Hull Street Library, 1400 Hull St., Richmond. For more information, call (804) 646-8699. EDIBLE GARDEN Mar. 28 Learn how to incorporate edible plants, including blueberries, JOB FAIR figs and herbs, into your garden. The free discussion will be Looking for a job? Meet more than 100 local employers at a Apr. 16 held on Sat., March 28 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Cross Creek Nursery and job fair on Thurs., April 16 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Richmond Volleyball Club Stonebridge, 200 Karl Linn Dr., Landscaping, 501 Courthouse Rd., Richmond. To learn more, visit Richmond. For a list of employers, visit http://bit.ly/JobsApr16. http://bit.ly/GardenEating.

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Take steps this spring to prevent crabgrass from taking over your lawn. Style See story on p. 24. Enjoy belly laughs at Hitchcock parody

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© 2019 first STREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc. 41494 24 Arts & Style | www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com MARCH 2020 — FIFTYPLUS March into the battle against crabgrass By Lela Martin yellow blossoms. If you choose a crabgrass preventer to keep the herbicide from decomposing As the weather warms, outdoor war- Preemergent products also combat that also contains fertilizer, choose a prod- due to the effects of the sun. Hopefully, riors prepare for battle: us vs. weeds. other annual grass foes such as barnyard- uct with slow-release nitrogen, which Mother Nature will supply rain this spring, Spring lawn care for cool-season fescue grass and goosegrass, as well as a few an- should be indicated on the label. but a sprinkler is the next best method. lawns does not typically include seeding nual broadleaf weeds. Preemergent herbicides are typically ac- or fertilizing. However, spring is the right Organic option tive in the soil for six to eight weeks. Some time to prevent and control the gardener’s What are best herbicides? An organic alternative, corn gluten meal lawn care strategists recommend a second arch nemesis: stealthy crabgrass. For crabgrass prevention, look for prod- (CGM), works against crabgrass by releas- application around Memorial Day. If it’s hot It’s important to understand your adver- ucts that contain one or more of these active ing a protein that slows the development of and dry by late spring, the second round sary. Crabgrass is a warm-season summer ingredients: benefin, benefin plus trifluralin, weed seedling roots, leaving seedlings vul- may not be necessary. annual grass that germinates right before dithiopyr, pendimethalin or prodiamine. nerable to drought. Therefore, CGM is not the first growth period of lawn grasses in These chemicals are not specific; there- effective in periods of extended rainfall. Don’t mow too low the spring. Its seeds lurk in the soil until fore, desirable grass seed cannot be sown Some other weaknesses with CGM are Although crabgrass suppression is a the conditions are right (i.e., soil temper- when preemergent herbicides are applied. that it lasts only a few weeks, thereby re- battle, most weed problems in Virginia ature above 55°F and adequate moisture). However, there is one preemergent her- quiring two to three applications. As with can be attributed to a single mistake: mow- Because of its early spring lead, crab- bicide that can be safely applied prior to or most chemical preemergents, it cannot be ing the lawn too short. Keep your mower grass has a competitive advantage against at seeding of cool-season turfgrass in the used when seeding. set at a minimum height of three inches. cool-season lawn grasses (e.g., fescue, spring: siduron (i.e., TupersanTM). It’s It should also be considered a weed and For long-term success, the best strat- bluegrass and ryegrass). available to lawn care professionals, but feed product. If you want to try CGM, per- egy to control weeds in turf is to nurture Crabgrass has a horizontal growth pat- homeowners may have difficulty finding the haps use it once in early spring, and add a a healthy, dense lawn by following correct tern (unlike turfgrass, which grows verti- product in stores. It is available on websites. half rate of synthetic preemergence crab- cultural practices. cally). It is so vigorous that it chokes out You may find “weed and feed” products grass herbicide, making sure that the her- Remember to conduct a soil test every lush fescue turfgrass. available for sale in garden centers and bicide does not contain any fertilizer. three years to determine your nutrient The best tactic is to be preventative, big-box stores. But be cautious of adding needs, and diagnose insect and disease rather than try to fight crabgrass once it fertilizer (specifically nitrogen) to your Application advice problems correctly before treating. Your has taken hold. The key to success is to lawn in the spring. Once you have purchased the appropri- local Cooperative Extension office can help. apply preemergent herbicide before the Here in Virginia, nitrogen can overstim- ate preemergent herbicide, use a broad- Note: Always follow herbicide label direc- weeds emerge. ulate the shoot growth of cool-season tur- cast spreader to distribute the granules. tions and obey label warnings. Do not assume Virginia Tech’s turfgrass weed scien- fgrasses at the expense of the root system. It is necessary to water preemergent that more product is better; often more product tist, Dr. Sean Askew, determined that pre- This added fertility in spring can injure tall herbicides soon after application. Most may cause turf or environmental damage. emergent herbicides should be applied fescue and lead to decline in the turf dur- products must receive at least one-quarter when forsythia starts to drop its bright ing the summer months. inch of water within 48 hours of application See GARDENING, page 25 FIFTYPLUS — MARCH 2020 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com | Arts & Style 25

Audra Honaker (Clown 2). Sometimes due to the script, or if the director started committed to delivering physical humor 39 Steps they even play inanimate objects, as when to run out of steam. One can hardly blame and plenty of laughs all add up to a win- From page 23 Major appears as a Christmas tree. anyone for needing to catch a breath by ning formula. The audience was still Hannay. Wrongfully accused of murder, Major and Honaker, both of whom have the middle of the second act. laughing on the way to the parking lot. this Canadian living in London sets off on a proven track record in comedic roles, With this play, Nathanial Shaw, Virginia The 39 Steps runs through March 29, with a zany adventure involving a train ride to are responsible for the majority of the hi- Rep’s artistic director, makes his directo- evening performances at 8 p.m. every Thurs- Scotland to prove his innocence. En route, larity and hijinks. In an early scene in rial debut at Hanover Tavern. This is quite day, Friday, Saturday and some Wednesdays, he gets caught up in a nebulous conspir- which Hannay goes to the theater to as- a different pace and space than his previ- and matinee performances at 2 p.m. on Sun- acy involving British military secrets. suage his boredom, Honaker, as Mr. ous Virginia Rep directing credits for days and select Wednesdays and Saturdays. Beard is the only actor to play just one Memory, delivers an impressive, fast- Once, The Curious Incident of the Dog in See it at Virginia Rep’s Barksdale Sea- role, and the part of Hannay seems tailor- paced recitation of trivia. the Night-Time and West Side Story, all at son at Hanover Tavern, 13181 Hanover made for him. He has the handsome face That scene includes some inside humor: the November Theatre. Courthouse Rd., Hanover, Virginia 23069. and stature of a leading man, but easily In considering where to spend his evening, The design team for The 39 Steps includes Admission is $44. For tickets, go to vir- segues in and out of comedic elements. Hannay first considers and then dismisses Ruth Hedberg’s attractive period costumes giniarep.org or call (804) 282-2620. Similarly, Irene Kuykendall is the Woman a trip to the Altria Theater to see Cats. and Terrie Powers’ simple, functional scenic Julinda D. Lewis is a dancer, teacher and — actually, she plays the three glamorous There are also numerous references to design, consisting primarily of an armchair, writer who was born 50+ years ago in women in Hannay’s madcap life: the sultry Hitchcock movies, including several escapes table, doorframe, window frame and some Brooklyn, N.Y., and currently resides in and mysterious Annabella Schmidt; Pamela, through a window frame (Rear Window), boxes that do double and triple duty as seats, Eastern Henrico County. his unwilling accomplice; and finally Mar- several railcar scenes (Strangers on a Train) storage and anything else needed. garet, the oppressed wife of a rigid Scottish and explicit directions (North by Northwest). A special nod to the hardworking stage FROM PAGE 26 farmer. These three characters are so differ- Other favorites among the evening’s crew who, instead of remaining in the ent, it’s possible to forget that they are all many shenanigans include the construc- background, hold up signs (Applause, ANSWERS TO played by Kuykendall. tion of an automobile and an absolutely in- Bang!), deliver props and make scene genious plane crash. changes with premeditated humor. CROSSWORD Multiplicitous characters The whole kit and kaboodle is supported MAT TE A TOM HOBO BRAUN SARA OWE D The other characters — the maid, milk- Second act slow-down by Derek Dumais’ sound design and some AK I NG I SRENOWNED man, policemen, professor, professor’s With all the non-stop action and laugh- effective lighting by BJ Wilkinson. ALT POOR UPS SHE I AM SWAMPS wife, sheriff, farmer, train passengers, peo- ter, it came as a bit of a surprise that the Espionage, adventure, romance, a dash- TIX SLAB ATM ple at a political rally, a baby and more — second act seemed to wane and lose mo- ing leading man, beautiful and mysterious ANECHOHASREVERB are played by Paul S. Major (Clown 1) and mentum. I’m not sure whether this was leading ladies, and a powerhouse cast UDRA ANT I NTO BUTREADJECT I VED ORC OAHU ONE I SBOTH KIN YDS publication for informational purposes only. also may be suitable. GNU REEK NAT Gardening Virginia Cooperative Extension does not en- Lela Martin is a Master Gardener with ABSURDANDABSURD From page 24 dorse these products and does not intend dis- the Chesterfield County office of the Vir- LO I S OVER LANA I EXES NYET ERODE Commercial products are named in this crimination against other products which ginia Cooperative Extension. “To you, it’s the perfect lift chair. To me, it’s the best sleep chair I’ve ever had.” — J. Fitzgerald, VA

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Because each Perfect Sleep Chair is a custom-made bedding product, we can only accept returns on chairs that are damaged or defective. © 2020 ﬁ rstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc. 46528 26 www.FiftyPlusRichmond.com MARCH 2020 — FIFTYPLUS HOW TO PLACE CLASSIFIED ADS Crossword Puzzle All classified ads must be submitted and paid for online, via our website, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds Grand Slams. Stephen Sherr Deadlines and Payments: To appear in the next issue, your ad text and 12345 6789 10 11 12 13 payment must be entered by the 5th of the preceding month (for Baltimore and 14 15 16 Howard County editions); by the 20th (for Washington and Richmond editions). 17 18 19 Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad: • $25 for 1-250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length). 20 21 22 The website will calculate this amount for you. 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Note: Each real estate listing qualifies as one ad. • All ads are subject to publisher’s discretion. Payment will be refunded if unacceptable for any reason. 30 31 32 33

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Throughout the ages, there have been many important advances in mobility. Canes, walkers, rollators, and scooters were created to help people with mobility issues get around and retain their independence. Lately, however, there haven’t been any new improvements to Available in Green, these existing products or developments in this field. and Black (shown)

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