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Shaded views at Swains Lock in Potomac. Planned tree re- moval for this week has been delayed to allow more com- munication with advocates.

Waiting Before Cutting Trees At Swains Lock News page 2

93 Covid Cases in Real Estate Sales, Page 4 v Kenny Lourie, 7 Real Estate Potomac as of 4/21

News page 3

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Hadeed-ayoub Hadeed-HoNaR Potomac River view from the Swains Lock oriental rug cleaning & in-Home services oriental rug cleaning & in-Home services 4918 Wisconsin ave. Dc/mD 330 n. stonestreet ave. rockville, mD campground in Potomac. 301-982-1111 | JoeHadeed.com Tree at Swains Lock camp- †Available in MD, DC, & VA. Min. order required, some restrictions apply. Doesn’t ground, tagged for removal? 703-836-1111include breakables. | 301-637-7163 Call for details. Some | addit’l JoeHadeed.com fees may apply. All offers expire 5/3/20. Tree Removal at Swains Lock on Hold C&O Canal National Historical National Park Service planned Park manages 6.5 million trees with a comprehensive plan de- to remove “hazardous” trees and signed to protect people while pre- serving the towpath, structures, vegetation in Swains Lock area and a sustainable ecosystem. This work is planned even while April 21-May 15. communities adjacent to the C&O Canal are under “stay at home” ational Park Service is pose a danger to people or struc- orders to prevent the spread of warning visitors to stay tures. Other vegetation will be COVID-19. Nalert for work zones removed to protect historic struc- Preventing loss of, or damage during tree removal for the next tures and culverts. Where trees are to, property is an allowed activity several weeks. But because of alert removed, new trees will be planted for under Gov. Larry Hogan’s or- members of West Montgomery Cit- in the same locations, promoting a der. Many park facilities remain izens Association, the tree removal sustainable forest. closed to help prevent the spread has been delayed, allowing time “Routine maintenance of our of COVID-19. Up-to-date closures for discussion and communication. trees helps us keep our visitors safe and other advisories are available National Park Service-certified while promoting a healthy ecosys- on the park website at www.nps. arborists selected specific trees to tem,” Superintendent Tina Cap- gov/choh/planyourvisit/condi- be removed because they could petta said in a press release. tions.htm.

2 v Potomac Almanac v April 22-28, 2020 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News This Week in Coronavirus in Potomac Week of April 21 lation of inmates in correctional Local Coronavirus Cases facilities by releasing eligible in- By Ken Moore mates to mandatory supervision The Almanac 15000 Coronavirus (Covid-19) Cases Locally or home detention or accelerated 13684 parole if it will not compromise Tuesday, April 21 MARYLAND the health, welfare, or safety of the inmate, victims, or the public. Ho- Potomac 20854 Cases: 93 gan’s order was signed on Sunday, Montgomery County 12000 April 19. Cases: 2,768 Maryland Cases: 14,193 Montgomery County Deaths: 99 Saturday, April 18 8990 Potomac 20854 Cases: 88 confirmed, 17 suspected 9000 Maryland Deaths: 584 VIRGINIA Montgomery County Cases: 2,404 he Montgomery Coun- Maryland Cases: 12,308 ty Council is scheduled to hold public hearings 6000 Governor Larry Hogan’s execu- Tuesday, April 21 on the tive order requiring face coverings T to prevent the spread of COVID-19 following Special Appropriation and Expedited Bills (after the Al- goes into effect. Maryland resi- manac’s presstime): 3000 dents statewide must wear face Special appropriation to add coverings at all foodservice estab- $5 million to the county’s Public lishments; on public transporta- Health Emergency Grant Program tion, including ride-sharing and to provide additional funding for 0 taxi services; at all retail establish- local businesses that operate a ments, including grocery stores, 3/30 4/6 4/13 4/20 pharmacies, convenience stores, restaurant or a retail storefront es- 3000 tablishment. home improvement stores, at farmers markets and at laundro- Expedited Bill 18-20, Land- 2647 lord-Tenant Relations - Rent Sta- Graphics by Laurence Foong / Compiled by Ken Moore mats. Montgomery “The Governor’s order recogniz- bilization During Emergencies, 2500 County would prohibit the increase of rent es that while everyone should be during and after certain declared staying home as much as possible, states of emergency. when going out in public to buy 2000 1925 groceries or make other essential The Council will consider two Fairfax County separate supplemental appropria- trips, we should all be wearing tions to purchase or manufacture face coverings to protect others personal protective equipment and 1500 and protect ourselves,” said Mont- face coverings: A $100,000 grant gomery County Health Officer Dr. would support the creation of the Travis Gayles. new Local Production Fund, which Also, retail establishments 1000 would provide small and medi- should post signs at all entrances um-sized manufacturers/produc- alerting customers to the need to ers with the working capital grants 593 wear face masks; to try to mark necessary to make and provide 500 Arlington six-food spacing where lines may COVID-related items. A second Alexandria form, sanitize or give custom- appropriation for $250,000 for the 421 ers the ability to sanitize handles county government to purchase of carts or baskets and provide and distribute washable, reusable 0 staff and customers with clean face coverings and potentially oth- 3/30 4/6 4/13 4/20 restrooms stocked with soap or er PPE to the general public, and to sanitizer, and allow staff to wash supplement the County’s ongoing Sources: their hands at least once every 30 efforts to provide PPE to nonprofit Virginia Department of Health http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/ minutes. Maryland: Maryland Department of Health https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/ The CDC has issued detailed service providers (including MCPS Alexandria Source: City of Alexandria meal providers and families), med- guidance and instructions regard- ically vulnerable residents and ing homemade cloth face cover- those in senior living or nursing ings which can be found at corona- Maryland Deaths: 516 Unfortunately, we have also had to First Lady Yumi Hogan welcomed virus.maryland.gov. facilities, child care providers, res- compete with every state in Amer- a Korean Air passenger plane car- idents in affordable housing com- Maryland acquired 500,000 ica in our attempts to procure tests rying COVID-19 test kits from the Friday, April 17 munities, senior residents, and COVID-19 test kits from South Ko- from every domestic producer in South Korean company LabGe- Potomac 20854 Cases: 84 transit riders. rea. the U.S. and from sources around nomics. Montgomery County See www.montgomerycoun- “From the beginning of this the globe.” Cases: 2,280 tymd.gov/council. coronavirus pandemic, one of the Maryland has completed more Sunday, April 19 Maryland Cases: 11,572 biggest problems in America has than 71,000 tests so far. Last week, Potomac 20854 Cases: 88 Monday, April 20 been the lack of availability of test- Hogan secured 40,000 additional Montgomery County State Superintendent of Schools Potomac 20854 Cases: 91 ing. It remains the most serious tests and invested $2.5 million to Cases: 2,507 Karen Salmon and Governor Ho- Montgomery County obstacle to safely reopening our help the University of Maryland, Maryland Cases: 12,830 gan extended school closures to Cases: 2,647 states,” said Gov. Larry Hogan, on Baltimore lab use cutting-edge Montgomery County Deaths: 80 May 15. Maryland Cases: 13,684 Monday, April 20. “Here in Mary- robotics to build their capacity in confirmed, 16 additional suspected “While we are sad and frustrated Montgomery County Deaths: 89 land, we have been doing every- order to handle up to 20,000 tests that our students and staff won’t confirmed, 17 additional suspect- thing in our power to acquire more per day. The Commissioner of Correction ed tests from the federal government. On Saturday, the Governor and is authorized to reduce the popu- See Coronavirus, Page 6 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Potomac Almanac v April 22-28 2020 v 3 Potomac Photos by Deb Stevens/The Almanac REAL ESTATE February, 2020 Sales, In February, 2020, 43 Potomac homes sold between $1,135,000-$885,000. 8 12509 Exchange Court South — $885,000 7 10505 Streamview Court — $898,000

3 8613 Chateau Drive — $1,050,000

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4 v Potomac Almanac v April 22-28, 2020 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News School Buildings Closed, But Student Learning Continues By Peggy McEwan Potomac Almanac

he Maryland State Board of Education voted April 14 to waive the require- Tment that schools hold 180 days of instruction. The new Photos contributed minimum is 175 days, with five of the 10 emergency closure days taken March 16-27 also waived, according to the Montgomery County website. With the shifting and substitut- ing of days, MCPS announced last weekend that the last day of school for the 2019-2020 school year will Nela Sahady – Freshman, Class of 2024, Connelly School of be June 15. the Holy Child. How are teachers and students Jaden Faunteroy – Junior, Class of 2021, Connelly School of spending the remaining instruc- their advisors, work on projects gram. the Holy Child. tional days? Mainly, it seems to be collaboratively, and more. The MCPS plan for the last grad- determined by grade level. Bullis School, with students in ing period, which began April 20, ule would have received at school. Connelly School of the Holy kindergarten through grade 12, divided by grade level: Receive feedback from teachers “Our goal is to maintain key as- Child enrolls girls in grades six started remote learning Wednes- At the elementary level, stu- on assignments pects of the classroom experience: through 12. The first message on day, March 18 and will “continue dents will: Participate in math les- More from the MCPS website: engaging with content, collaborat- the school’s website reads: “Con- until further notice.” sons three days a week (Monday, “In general, secondary students ing with peers, receiving support nelly School of the Holy Child is “Maintaining normalcy was Wednesday and Friday) can expect to receive one to two from staff, and moving forward not closed. While our classrooms even more important for students Participate in literacy lessons meaningful assignments each in the learning process through may look a bit different these days, in Lower School. For students in two days a week (Tuesday and week in each course and can ex- assignments and feedback. The we are actively engaged in e-learn- kindergarten through fifth grade, Thursday), which includes daily in- pect to be working for up to four learning experiences are meant ing during this time.” the homeroom is the center of dependent reading time for Grades hours each day. to maintain a continuity of learn- “We know that student engage- the day,…” according to the Bullis PreK-1 (20 min) and Grades 2-5 Please note that the total time ing; facilitate and track progress; ment is the greatest challenge website, so teachers “…maintained (30-40 min) students are engaged in learning and encourage students to chal- when moving out of a face to face the routine of morning check-ins Participate in art, music and activities will be determined by lenge themselves and grow in their classroom to a virtual classroom,” where students saw classmates, physical education (P.E.) lessons course level and the full range of knowledge. The scheduled office said LeAnne Kannapell, Associ- introduced pets and siblings, and at a time that works best for each assignments that students receive hours are an important time to ate Head of School at Holy Child. began the day with a structured re- family (pre-recorded lessons are in all their subjects. connect with teachers, engage in “Frequent formative assessments imagined morning meeting.” available to families every other “Students can submit their as- additional learning, and receive and timely teacher feedback helps Monday) signments via Google Classroom, support as needed.” teachers plan and adjust lessons. MONTGOMERY COUNTY Public Middle and high school students myMCPS classroom or email. Al- Every school is trying to com- Through technology applications Schools, with over 160,000 stu- will: though teachers will introduce bine online learning, support to available through teams and other dents in preschool through grade Receive new content and assign- new content and assignments for students, and an attempt at nor- applications students can respond 12, has the largest job transition- ments in all their core courses and students to complete, it is import- malcy with a focus on academics. quickly and in motivating ways.” ing to remote learning of area electives each week ant to remember that the work stu- As Jamie Dickie, Bullis School Students at Holy Child meet for schools. Have opportunities to connect dents complete and the feedback Executive Director of Technology live lessons twice a week for each This week MCPS is beginning its with and receive support from teachers provide during this time said, “It’s not going to be normal, class. Fridays are for communi- fifth week of online learning and is teachers during office hours, ac- is not meant to replace the day- but we want to add a dash of nor- ty days when students meet with also providing a meal service pro- cording to the local school sched- to-day instruction that students mal to a crazy situation.” Silver Diner at Rio and Real Food for Kids Increase Weekday Meal Giveaway

ilver Diner at Rio in Gaith- ing to have to turn people away,” distribution sites and some school ersburg joined forces with said Silver Diner’s Executive Chef districts only provide meals on spe- SReal Food for Kids and the and co-founder Ype Von Hengst. cific weekdays. program Chefs Feeding Families, “Thanks to some angel contribu- Silver Diner at Rio continues to a program designed to meet the tors, we are now able to provide serve a single-serve, healthy meal needs of some of the many school at least 500 meals every weekday every weekday from 2 to 4 p.m. children in the area who are with- through June.” Silver Diner has a (while supplies last) at 236 Board- out meals due to school closures. history of giving back to the com- walk Place, Gaithersburg, Md.

The program kicked off on April munity, particularly through area 20878. Those seeking the meals Photo contributed 1 and handed out more than 250 schools, and has provided more can pull up to the curb and pick up meals in the first days to some of than 6,000 meals at its Rio loca- as many meals as needed for their those in line. As the program pro- tion for those in need. “While we’re family. Representatives from Silver gressed, the lines of those in need offering the meals only at our Rio Diner and Real Food for Kids will grew longer. Real Food for Kids location, our entire company is be- be on hand at the pop-up tent at has worked with the community hind the effort.” that address. They are all practic- in obtaining additional donations. Real Food for Kids and chef ing social distancing and all meals At Rio, the Peterson Family Foun- David Guas of Bayou Bakery in are prepared under strict CDC Cars drive up on Boardwalk Place in Rio in Gaithersburg to dation and the Pedas Family Foun- Arlington, Va. initiated the Chefs guidelines. receive free meals from Silver Diner and Real Food for Kids. dation stepped up with donations Feeding Families project on March “Although Silver Diner is also as did others. 17. While local school districts are struggling to survive, it gives us Hengst said. Silver Diner had to lay benefits through the end of April. “It was rewarding to hand out working around the clock to con- a great feeling to be able to give off 1,600 employees last week and Anyone wishing to donate to the meals to the children and tinue to offer meals, not all fam- back to the community and have is providing free meals to laid off Chefs Feeding Families, visit www. their families but also dishearten- ilies are able to access available an uplifting cause to give to,” Von workers for two weeks and paid realfoodforkids.org www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Potomac Almanac v April 22-28 2020 v 5 News This Week in Coronavirus in Potomac From Page 3 than 9,000 Marylanders keep their jobs. it businesses with 100 employees or fewer pecting deliveries of 4.5 million additional be able to be together in schools to learn and The Maryland Department of Commerce has during the current public health crisis. N95 masks, 290 oxygen concentrators, and work together in person for another month, received more than 9,100 applications for The County will host webinars to answer 252 ICU ventilators. we believe that this was the right decision the state’s $50 million COVID-19 relief loan questions and provide updates on the PHEG v The state’s efforts to increase hospital for the health and safety of our students and fund and more than 20,200 applications for program starting at 9 a.m. Mondays through surge capacity by 6,000 beds is weeks ahead community,” said Montgomery County Su- its $75 million COVID-19 relief grant fund. Saturdays, starting April 16. of schedule. With the U.S. Army Corps of perintendent of Schools Jack R. Smith. GRANTS FOR CRITICAL MANUFACTUR- Applications must be filled online. See Engineers, the state is converting the Hag- ING. The state created a $5 million fund to https://montgomerycountymd.gov/biz-re- erstown Correctional Facility and the former Hogan promises to unveil the state’s road- incentivize Maryland businesses to manu- sources/pheg/. Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma map to recovery next week. “We are begin- facture personal protective equipment (PPE) Park to serve COVID-19 patients. ning to see some hopeful and encouraging and other supplies to meet the current needs Hampden Lane Liquor & Wine store in v Sixty additional surge response tents signs which have allowed us to begin laying of the healthcare industry. Bethesda reopened more than two weeks are being set up in Germantown, Frederick, the groundwork to reopen, to rebuild, and after a store employee was sent home Jessup, Hagerstown, Annapolis, Baltimore to recover as soon as it is safe to do so,” said Thursday, April 16 Wednesday, March 25 and tested positive for and Randalstown, as well as one at Adven- Governor Hogan. The recovery plan requires Potomac Cases: 81 COVID-19. A specialized team was brought tist’s Fort Washington Hospital, located in expanding testing capacity, increasing hospi- Potomac Deaths: in over multiple days to disinfect every bot- Prince George’s County. tal surge capacity, increasing supply of PPE 56 confirmed, 14 probable tle, item and surface in the store. Addition- v A robust contact tracing operation will (personal protective equipment), and devel- Montgomery County Cases: 2,133 al store employees were sent home for two enable the state to investigate every positive oping a robust contact tracing operation. Maryland Cases: 10,784 weeks with administrative pay to self-isolate case and ensure that those patients are re- The Federal Pandemic Unemployment and monitor for symptoms. maining in isolation for the duration of their Compensation (FPUC) promises to provide Effective at 7 a.m., passengers on Mont- Liquor stores are listed as essential ser- illness. unemployment insurance benefit recipients gomery County Ride On buses will be re- vices as a part of the COVID-19 health emer- with an additional $600 per week payment quired to wear face coverings to board the gency. Alcohol and Beverage Services gen- Michael Miller, 60, died April 15, and on top of their current regular benefits. On bus. The county’s Department of Transporta- erates more than $35 million annually for is the first county employee to die from April 24, the Maryland Department of Labor tion had already encouraged riders to wear the county. covid-19. Miller was a member of the MC- is scheduled to launch a one-stop shop com- face coverings, but that is now mandatory. DOT Transit Services Division based in the prehensive online application for indepen- Hogan’s order on this measure became ef- Statewide strike teams have responded to Silver Spring/Bethesda Depot and helped dent contractors, self-employed Maryland- fective at 7 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, but outbreaks in 16 nursing homes and assisted manage the Ride On bus fleet, according to ers, and all other types of claims, including the county made the face covering require- living facilities and 15 group homes for med- county release. federal employees, multi-state wage claims, ment effective April 16. ically fragile children. In partnership with “He leaves behind a wife and two adult and members of the military. This will en- A face covering can be a homemade cloth FEMA and HHS, Maryland has augmented children. In his honor, I have asked that all sure that every Maryland applicant, whether mask, a scarf, bandana or other means of these strike teams with three federal Disas- County flags be lowered to half staff,” said they are a W2 employee or not, will have the snugly covering over the mouth and nose. ter Medical Assistance Teams (DMAT) made county executive Marc Elrich. option of filing online, which will decrease The steps are being taken to help riders per- up of physicians, paramedics, and safety of- call wait times, and it will also help more forming essential travel protect each other ficers. Tuesday, April 14 Marylanders get their checks. and bus operators during the COVID-19 Potomac, 20854 Cases: 70 Maryland’s contribution of $4 million dol- health crisis. All Ride On bus operators were The “gradual rollout of the state’s recov- Montgomery County Cases:1,883 lars to Maryland Food Bank and the Capital provided with County-issued face coverings ery phase,” Governor Larry Hogan said, Maryland Cases: 9,472 Area Food Bank will be matched by local earlier this week. The CDC has issued de- is dependent on the building blocks of ex- jurisdictions to support food banks across tailed guidance and instructions regarding panding testing capacity, increasing hospital Hogan enacted an emergency order to put the state. The Maryland Department of Hu- homemade cloth face coverings which can surge capacity, ramping up supply of PPE restrictions on the dispensing of drugs that man Services is also working with the U.S. be found at coronavirus.maryland.gov. and building a robust contact tracing oper- may be necessary to treat COVID-19, includ- Department of Agriculture to dramatically ation. ing hydroxychloroquine. Because of an In- accelerate the implementation of the state’s Wednesday, April 15 “Right now while our numbers are still terest has increased in possibly preventing online Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Potomac Cases: 73 climbing and we are still heading up that or treating COVID-19 with drugs commonly Program (SNAP) pilot initiative, which will Montgomery County Cases: 1,933 curve, not down, it is absolutely critical prescribed to treat malaria, lupus, rheuma- enable families to purchase meals online for Montgomery County Deaths: for Marylanders to stay home, to continue toid arthritis, HIV, bacterial infections and free delivery. 44 confirmed, 14 probable avoiding crowds and gatherings, and to ag- other medical conditions, a surge in demand Maryland Cases: 10,032 gressively practice social distancing.” has led to the increased prescribing and dis- SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE. The gov- But, according to Hogan: pensing. This has resulted in an inadequate v ernor announced that $8 million dollars of Montgomery County began accepting ap- Maryland is on track with an aggressive supply for their intended use to treat pa- Maryland’s COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund, plications for $25 million available for emer- plan to perform up to 10,000 tests per day. tients with chronic and acute conditions and a part of Maryland’s $175 million relief pack- gency grants to small businesses. The Public In the past week, the state received one for hospitalized patients with Covid-19 with age, has already been provided to 410 small Health Emergency Grant (PHEG) program million additional face shields and 1,000 facility-specific protocols while research businesses across the state, helping more is designed to help for-profit and nonprof- ICU beds. In the next week, the state is ex- studies are ongoing.

Letter to the Editor Help the Alzheimer’s Association

Dear Editor, made even more susceptible; and during this time – while not able calls were made to the Alzhei- sive fund to support nonprofit As a volunteer advocate for caregivers have become even more to take in organization-sustaining mer’s Association’s 24/7 helpline. employers with 500 to 10,000 the Alzheimer’s Association, I stressed. Their difficult situations dollars. This vital assistance is needed employees, including loan for- witness first-hand the critical are further compounded by over- We cannot abandon our support now more than ever. As Senator giveness. support we provide to families whelming isolation. of families in Maryland, especially Van Hollen’s Ambassador the Alz- More must be done to ensure in Potomac and Montgomery As COVID-19 wreaks havoc on now. That is why it is imperative heimer’s Association I urge him, that large nonprofits continue County living with demen- our families, our local businesses, non-profits like ours, be included Senator Cardin and Congressman serving the families of Mary- tia. With over 110,000 people our government and our medical in government relief efforts. The Raskin to support the Health Char- land. Thank you for your con- diagnosed in Maryland, the facilities, its impact also extends Association is an essential lifeline ities Rapid Response to COVID-19 tinued support. need for continued support is to nonprofits like the Alzheimer’s to those who rely on our support by expanding access to credit for vital. During this pandemic, Association, who continue provid- and services. nonprofits. Specifically we are ask- Sue Wronsky the particularly vulnerable are ing families with critical support During FY19, nearly 300,000 ing Congress to establish an exclu- Potomac, MD

6 v Potomac Almanac v April 22-28, 2020 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Senior Living POTOMAC Wholesale ALMANAC Change www.PotomacAlmanac.com By KENNETH B. LOURIE

Newspaper of Potomac Since I’m not doing the food and pharmacy A Connection Newspaper out-of-the-house shopping anymore, as I have for the last 40 years (as I may have mentioned in An independent, locally owned weekly last week’s column: “Money For What”) I am no newspaper delivered longer in control of what we buy and how much to homes and businesses. we spend. The pandemic and my upcoming

Photo Contributed thyroid cancer treatment have combined to 1606 King Street empower my wife, Dina, to set fairly strict guide- Alexandria, Virginia 22314 lines. Primarily that I am to stay put in the house ALL THE TIME and that during my isolation, she Free digital edition delivered to your email box. Go to will fill the purchasing vacuum. The effect being connectionnewspapers.com/subscribe that all my years of experience reducing our grocery expenses has led to this: we’re paying re, re, retail for nearly all of our purchases. Not EDITOR & PUBLISHER impoverished because of it but not very happy Mary Kimm about it either. Virtual classes and gatherings are keeping seniors engaged during this period of [email protected] I derived a certain pleasure in wandering social isolation. @MaryKimm around the stores, advertising circular and coupon book in hand, looking for sale items, EDITORIAL checking the 50% off/discontinued merchandise PHONE: 703-778-9415 rack, occasionally looking at the day-old bakery Staying Active in Social Isolation E-MAIL: [email protected] cabinet, using miscellaneous paper and digital coupons, buying in bulk/quantity, getting rain “Every one-in-7 individuals living in Fairfax PRODUCTION EDITOR checks when products were sold out, as well A variety of local as being open to any other in-store incentives County right now is 65 and over,” said Evan Jean Card [email protected] I might find. The process, as tedious as it may offerings allows for Braff of the Department of Neighborhood and sound, was not nearly so for me, especially con- Community Services in Fairfax County co-found- CONTRIBUTING WRITERS sidering that over the course of a year, according days filled with activity. ed the Senior Center Without Walls of Burke, Susan Belford, Carole Dell, to the stores’ own online tally, I saved the Lourie West Springfield and Great Falls. “We recognize Cissy Finley Grant, Carole Funger, family business upwards of $1,000. Now it Colleen Healy, Kenny Lourie, seems as if we’re paying it all back since product By Marilyn Campbell that this is a scary time for all of us especially for Peggy McEwan, Ken Moore The Connection availability — due to pandemic pressures, has older adults. “Since we’ve been in this situation, often laid waste to the stores’ shelves. And also we’ve gotten creative and innovative.” Contributing Photographers laid waste to stores’ interest in offering products ora Foley, an active 68-year-old of Burke, Part of that innovation is creating virtual ver- Harvey Levine, Deborah Stevens on sale. And why should they? Consumers are Virginia, has been able to maintain her sions of the activities that seniors enjoyed in buying anything they can get their hands on, Csocial life while coronavirus stay-at- brick-and-mortar settings. “It is truly a collab- Art/Design: price be damned. Moreover, the stores themselves, at least the home orders are in effect. She’s using her pre- orative effort to develop the virtual senior cen- Laurence Foong, John Heinly, Ali Khaligh ones where I have been a regular buyer, are dilection for innovation to help other seniors do ter,” said Amanda Rogers of the Fairfax County Production Manager providing fewer digital coupons on their sites the same. Foley co-founded the Senior Center Neighborhood & Community Services. “Every- Geovani Flores than ever before and the advertising circu- Without Walls of Burke, West Springfield and thing is being developed in coordination with lars, typically 10 to 14 pages, have now been Great Falls, which offers social programming other county agencies as well, such as Family reduced by one half or so. In addition, there are ADVERTISING also fewer coupon inserts in the Sunday news- to seniors in those communities. She created Services, Libraries, Housing, and the Health De- For advertising information paper editions. The net effect of this is that the a corresponding website to include online social partment.” [email protected] 703-778-9431 supermarket/pharmacy budget has been blown offerings. In addition to routine services such as deliver- to smithereens. And the outlook for the future “When the coronavirus ‘stay home’ lockdowns ing meals and providing transportation to medi- Display Advertising: (immediate future anyway) is more of the same, were imposed, “I expanded the website to in- cal appointments, local seniors have options for Kenny Lourie 301-325-1398 or rather less, if you catch my drift. clude other classes that are usually offered on- virtual opportunities for social and recreational [email protected] Now further combine the fact that yours truly, site, like line dancing and Zumba,” said Foley. activities. a strategic shopper of some repute is not doing Debbie Funk For example, the Caregiver Program in Mont- the in-store shopping anymore, and perhaps “From April 1st through the 17th, the website National Sales & Real Estate you can do the metaphorical math. Can you say has recorded 451 visitors and 1,789 views, so it gomery County now has two online sources of 703-778-9444 through the roof? Let me be clear; this situation has been a daily help to many residents, partic- information for seniors. “Rather than discon- [email protected] has nothing to do with control. It has to do with nect at home during the COVID-19 uncertain- cash flow. I feel as if we’re being taken advan- ularly seniors.” David Griffin tage of, like we’re sitting ducks almost, and The new normal of not leaving home except ty, it is important that we…develop new social Marketing Assistant for emergencies can leave many, including se- connections…and nurture personal health and 703-778-9431 there’s not a thing I can do about any of it other than to take solace in the fact that our stimulus wellness,” said Lylie Fisher, Caregiver Support [email protected] niors and others who are most susceptible to checks will most definitely have somewhere to contracting coronavirus, with a social void in Program, Area Agency on Aging, Montgomery Jerry Vernon go, even if I don’t. their lives. County Department of Health and Human Ser- Executive Vice President Still, I realize there are many others who Seniors can join classes and activities ranging vices. 703-549-0004 are not complaining about what they’re paying from yoga and fitness classes to concerts and That effort, says Fisher, includes the County’s [email protected] for groceries because they’re too busy trying to lunch with friends. Engage@HOME, YouTube channel as well as an make withdrawals from their local food bank. CIRCULATION I would imagine their challenge is identical to “Isolation and loneliness has been one of our e-newsletter and blog where seniors can find [email protected] mine, only much worse: hoping to find neces- ongoing concerns for older adults prior to coro- services including community support groups, sary items in limited supply without the proper telephone and online activities as well Covid-19 navirus and we remain committed to help older Potomac Almanac is published money and means to do so. Means, unfortu- adults establish and maintain meaningful social updates. by Local Media Connection LLC nately which are not leading to satisfactory connections during this time and beyond,” said For seniors who need technical assistance, ends. Ends which will either bust their budgets, Rachel Coates, Director of the Agency on Aging Fairfax County has technicians who are only a overwhelm public-type assistance or swell credit Five Time First Place card balances; thereby increasing future mini- Arlington Aging and Disability Services Division. phone call away to assist with needs ranging Award-Winner mum payments and exacerbating pressures to Arlington County is also working collabora- from downloading a video conferencing app to Public Service even make monthly payments. A vicious circle tively to keep the social lives of area senior in- understanding the basics of the Internet. “Tech- MDDC Press Association and cycle if there ever was one, or two. tact, says Coates. “In partnership with Arlington nology can be scary for older adults, but we’ve But I don’t have one or two so I am very Four Time Adult Day Program, Developmental Disability actually been teaching older adults how to use lucky. Now I do have two types of cancer but Newspaper of the Year that wasn’t the point of this column. The point Services and other County programs [includ- Skype and Zoom for a while” said Braff. An Award-winning Newspaper was more narrow than that. It was simply to ing] Parks 55+ programs and libraries, we are Those lessons have led to success stories that in Writing, Photography, Editing, Graphics and Design make a little fun at a predicament not of my own making phone calls, mailing activity kits…and have given seniors the skills necessary to weath- choosing but one that is impacting my life and hosting music and socialization skills classes vir- er the current storm of uncertainty. “What’s re- totally out of my control. I wouldn’t say that it’s tually,” she said. ally exciting to see was a 98 year old woman food for thought but it is something to chew on. Such initiatives offer options and an outlet posting on Twitter,” said Braff. “It’s great that from consuming the often-conflicting news of you have someone who’s 98 and who’s able to Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative for The Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers. coronavirus happenings in solitude. post on Twitter.” www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Potomac Almanac v April 22-28 2020 v 7 8 v Potomac Almanac v April 22-28, 2020 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com