Gaz seniors 041515

2 Gazette SENIORS | April 2015 Gazette.Net

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Gazette.Net April 2015 | Gazette SENIORS 3

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Tiffany Arnold

Lorraine Walker

Karen Finucan ClarksonJim MahaffieKate McDermott

Dennis Wilston

Anna Joyce

Celeste Polster

Ellen Pankake

Ashby Rice

GAZETTE

SENIORS

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TRAVEL

BY JIM MAHAFFIE

G ail andTomThornburgh make time to ex-perience what the world has to offer. “Trav-eling is the easiest way to learn about otherways of seeing things as well as yourself,”

saidTomThornburgh, 73.Last fall, theThornburghs, psychiatrists who live in

Bethesda, went to Tahiti on the luxury ship the PaulGauguin.They enjoyed the five-star service, but theyalso enjoyed having famed oceanographer and environ-mentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau as their onboard lec-turer onTahiti's waters and ecology.They ate breakfastand lunch outside, and the smaller, shallow-draft boatallowed passengers to swim, snorkel and enjoy watersports right off the back of the vessel. “Tahiti looks justlike 'Bali Ha'i,'” said GailThornburgh. “'South Pacific'has always been my favorite musical, and I've wantedto see where it was based since I was young.”While Tahiti was Gail Thornburgh's choice, the

couple's upcoming trip to China isTomThornburgh's.He has been to China, but always wanted to go back.The couple is looking forward to visiting Hong Kong,Shanghai, theYangtze River, the terra cotta warriors inXian and the Great Wall, among other sights. “I likeseeing how the people live, work, have fun, transportthemselves, express humor, go to school, enjoy what-ever sports they have, go to market, and relate to us,their families and each other,” said TomThornburgh.“Things like that really intrigue me. It's kind of likebeing adopted for a little bit.”That curiosity took the Thornburghs to Cuba in

2012 with Grand Circle Foundation, whose missionis to give back to the places they travel.The People-to-People visit included Havana, but also ecological re-planting and reforestation sites, smaller villages, stores(with very little merchandise, noted the couple), andfacilities for older adults. “It was lovely. We sang toeach other and then we all cried,” recalled GailThorn-burgh. The country offers lots of music and art, andthe Thornburghs attended lectures on jazz and base-ball, two pastimes for which Cuba is well known.Several years ago, theThornburghs had heard from

a friend who had just returned from Machu Picchu,the 15th century Inca site in the high mountains ofPeru.The friend told the Thornburghs that, no mat-ter where he went, a company called Overseas Adven-tureTravel (OAT) always seemed to get there first. So

Thornburghs did some digging into the company, andliked what they found.“Our first trip with OAT was to India,” said Gail

Thornburgh. “I figured if I survived India, I couldsurvive anything,” she laughed.TheThornburghs saidOAT was relatively inexpensive and a little more ad-venturous and more off the beaten path that other tourcompanies. “Trips are more social and cultural, and westay very busy and active on the ground,” Gail Thorn-burgh said.Between their in-depth trips and more traditional

cruises, they've been to India twice,Vietnam,Thailandand Burma and through South America.They enjoyeda memorable trip along the Dalmatian Coast and theAdriatic Sea and also have cruised from Indonesiathrough Malaysia and Singapore. On those trips, theyprefer Celebrity Cruises. “They don't seem to caterlots of revelers,” said GailThornburgh. “There's plenty

to do, but you're not running up against spring break-ers and hard-partying crowds.”This past fall, they tooka Celebrity Cruise up to Quebec in Canada.TomThornburgh took grandchildren to New Or-

leans and Chicago, and took their grandson to Van-couver, British Columbia in March. “I think the tripwas about hockey,” said GailThornburgh. “It's usuallysomething to do with sports.”After the China trip in May, the Thornburghs said

they were planning on taking a grandchild toYellow-stone National Park in July.“We keep thinking, 'Well, we're going to slow down

a bit,' said GailThornburgh. “But then we want to seemore national parks.We love traveling with our family.There are so many interesting places in the world. Sowhile we have time, we're going to get there.”

Bethesda couple trots the globe

GAIL AND TOM THORNBURGH

Gail and Tom Thornburgh of Bethesda have travelled the world. Here, Tom Thornburghposes for a photo with a few people he met during a trip to Burma.

OFF THE BEATEN PATH


LIVING

BY FRANK A. AUKOFERMOTOR MATTERS

Small crossover utility vehicles, or CUVs, arethe hottest vehicles on the market. At theintroduction of the 2015 Mercedes-BenzGLA250, a Mercedes official noted that

sales of compact CUVs had passed those of mid-size sedans for the first time. Increasing numbers ofconsumers appear to be willing to pay higher pricesfor luxury models.The Acura RDX, MINI Country-man, Buick Encore and Lincoln MKC are examplesof newer luxury CUVs.Crossovers are car-based, with unit-body construc-

tion, usually with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

Essentially, they are tall hatchbacksor station wagons. That describesthe new Mercedes GLA250, a lux-ury CUV that is reasonably pricedgiven its level of content and per-formance. As usual, Mercedes likesto add a halo to most of its cars byturning them over to its hot roddivision, AMG. Sure enough,there's also the GLA45 AMG, with a 355-horse-power, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engineand all-wheel drive.

More of the attention will be focused on theGLA250, which starts out with the Mercedes 4MaticAWD system. A lower priced four-wheel drive arrives

soon.The 4Matic version tested for this review had abase price of $34,225 and, with options that includeda navigation system, rear-view camera, power liftgate,AMG 19-inch wheels and body cladding, blind spotassist, dual-zone climate control and SiriusXM satel-lite radio, checked in at $44,220.

Mercedes-Benz GLA:Mercedes-Benz GLA:HotTrend of SUVsHotTrend of SUVs

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MERCEDES-BENZ

The 2015 GLA-Class is the first Mercedes-Benz SUV with the all-wheel-drive system4MATIC, which features a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that generates

208 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque.


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Make a FriendMake a FriendMake a DifferenceMake a Difference

“Barbara and Mamie – best friends happily matched by theFriendly Visitor program.”

For more informationon becoming aFriendly Visitorvolunteer contact:Emily Kamin(301) 424-0656, [email protected]

Do you know anDo you know anIsolated Senior?Isolated Senior?

For more informationabout referring asenior to the FriendlyVisitor Programcontact:Tammy Schmidt(301) 424-0656, [email protected]

Give just 1 hour per week toGive just 1 hour per week tovisit a senior in needvisit a senior in need

With one hour a week our volunteerWith one hour a week our volunteercan make all the difference.can make all the difference.

It's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylin-der engine delivers 208 horsepower and258 lb.-ft. of torque to all four wheelsthrough a seven-speed dual clutch auto-mated manual transmission.The combi-nation is enough,Mercedes specificationsassert, to accelerate to 60 mph in 7.1 sec-onds, with a top speed of 130 mph andcity/highway/combined fuel economy of24/32/27 mpg.The engine and transmission combi-

nations in both the GLA250 and GLA45AMG are identical to the new entry-levelMercedes CLA sedan.Though the CLAhas its own charm, the GLA would be abetter choice for almost anyone. It seatsfour comfortably, with plenty of head andknee room in the back seat.The fifth pas-senger in the center rear suffers with ahard cushion, restricted head room andlarge floor hump.The interior is practical and func-

tional, with wood grain trim, easy-to-read

instruments and, on the test car, a 7-inchcolor screen to display navigation andother functions. Like other German carsof late, the upholstery is an artificial mate-rial called MB-Tex, which is high qualitybut not breathable. Real leather costs anadditional $1,500.There's 22 cubic feet of space behind the

rear seat for cargo and the seatbacks fold flatto increase the volume to 42 cubic feet.Thetailgate is conveniently motorized.On the road, the GLA250 feels tight

and composed, and it exhibits flat corner-ing around curves as well as a supple sus-pension system that absorbs road irregu-larities. The ride is comfortable despitethe run-flat tires that eliminate the sparewheel. Electric power steering has goodfeedback and tracks true in a straight line.On price, practicality, performance,

convenience and comfort, the newGLA250 gets multiple thumbs up.


AFTER

BRYAN BURRIS

Takuro Kimura and Akiko Kimura remodeled their split-level home in Bethesda toreflect the architectural styles they came to know while growing up in Japan.

LIVING

BY JOHN BYRD

I t is enlightening, as one gets older, to exploreone's roots. This urge to self-discovery may bea long time coming. It is seldom a first priority,like establishing a career or raising a family. But

over time, it can be fruitful and rewarding to lookinto your origins, to discover and articulate morefully who you are.Such are the thoughts of Takuro Kimura and his

wife Akiko Kimura, who, over the past 18 months, havegradually converted their 3,000 square foot Bethesdasplit-level into an international-style residence that de-liberately explores the architectural sensibilities theysaw growing up in Japan during the 1950s.“We think of the design as the spirit of Asian

style,” said Takuro Kimura. “Yes, there are manystrictly Japanese elements, but it's the balance in-fluences that we have found especially effective increating a peaceful environment.”Takuro Kimura said that when he bought the

house in 1997—having moved to the U.S. from Japanfour years earlier—there were already Asian influenceson the grounds, despite the fact that the house was aconventional circa-1960s split level. “There were Japa-nese maples.The backyard garden was landscaped inan Asian style.That's what caught my eye,” he said.But it wasn't until Takuro Kimura leased out the

house, moved back to Japan for several years, and thenreturned that he decided the house had latent potentialas a permanent family residence. “I had re-absorbeda lot of design ideas in Japan, which was very fulfill-

ing personally,” Takuro Kimura said. “By designinga place which draws more fully on Asian traditions, Isaw that my wife and I could really make it our own.It would be a way of saying, 'We've settled down in atranquil place that is our home.'”The Japanese word for this peaceful home is waga-

ya, Takuro Kamura said. Unfortunately, the stepsneeded to convert the mid-century split level into apersonal residence that expressed the couple's culturalsensibilities weren't immediately clear.Thus, after re-turning from Japan in 2007, the Kimuras met with LizLee of Sun Design Remodeling.“We were starting with a completely clean slate,”

said Lee. “There wasn't much about the existing in-terior the Kimuras wanted to preserve as is.What weshared from the outset was an enthusiasm for simplici-

WAGAYA REMODELEXPLORES ASIAN SENSIBILITIESBEFORE

HOME FRONTS NEWS

Takuro Kimura says that despite its conventional, circa-1960s style, this home already had Asian influences.


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ty and clean lines. In many respects, Jap-anese architecture is a kind of minimal-ism that incorporates natural materialsand seeks to connect with nature, so it'sbecome a kind of international style.”Several Japanese traditions would

be profiled. The front elevation wouldbe balanced and symmetrical, stressingcontinuity with surrounding garden el-ements. A new foyer would be added,designed as a genkan—the front vesti-bule in a Japanese home where shoes areexchanged for slippers.The plan would make use of sliding

doors, or fusuma, as space dividers.Theima, or primary living space, would bean open area with a strong visual contin-uum in all directions.The kitchen inte-rior would have smooth surfaces in con-trasting lights and darks. There wouldeven be a traditional Japanese bathroomwith an ofuro, a two-part platform witha cleansing shower next to a deep-soak-ing tub.The most technically difficult step

involved raising the roof in the rear-fac-ing living area. Consistent with Japanesedesign priorities, the Kimuras wanted astrong visual connection to the now ful-ly-developed Asian garden in the back-yard. They also wanted to maximizenatural light availability.“The existing living room had a low,

eight-foot ceiling with spacious windowwall on the rear elevation,” Lee said. “Tobring in views and light, I designed anelevated ceiling cavity for a two-panel

transom window.” Lee said this involvedinstalling a ridge beam higher than theoriginal pitch and re-framing a portionof the roof. “It's not a cathedral ceiling,but a partially elevated roof reminiscentof designs found in some pagoda andother Japanese structures,” Lee said.Already having directed a viewer's

eyes upwards, Lee replaced the topcomponent of existing floor-to-ceilingcabinetry with a glass-facing, back-litdecorative frame whose design motifshares the size and shape of a transomwindow. For greater efficiency, thecabinetry is part of an L-shaped inte-rior wall configuration that extends intothe open, formal dining room—wherethere's a view of the garden.Another corollary to Japanese inte-

rior design is less reliance on fixed inte-rior walls. In a traditional household, abedroom may be used for other purpos-es during the day. Sliding shoshi screensare used to alter the size and purpose ofinterior rooms, as needed. Along theselines, the Kimuras sought more open in-teraction between the dining room andthe kitchen, and the kitchen and an ad-jacent family room.The wall that separated the kitchen

and the family room was removed. Apartition with an accordion door anda sliding pocket door replaced the wallbetween the dining room and kitchen.When the doors are open, there's a visu-

BRYAN BURRIS

Clean lines and openness are hall-marks of Japanese architectural style,according to Liz Lee of Sun Design

Remodeling.

HOME FRONTS NEWS

Takuro Kimura and AkikoKimura of Bethesda didn'twant to keep much of theirhome's old look. “We werestarting with a completelyclean slate," says Liz Lee ofSun Design Remodeling, thefirm they hired to remodel

their home.

AFTER

BEFORE

See REMODEL, 26


LIVING

BY ELLEN R. COHEN

W hen seniors have had enough of thesnow shoveling, grass cutting andother maintenance headaches associ-ated with home ownership, they begin

to consider alternatives. Many residents praise TheGardens of Traville, a rental community located in aquiet area of Rockville, for being comfortable, conve-nient and pleasant. “It's a very nice place to live, andI've been there long enough to know,” said ShirleyWindear, 76, who moved there in 2004.Property manager Alexa Lopez said the communi-

ty, built in 2002, has 230 apartments. “Approximately97 percent of the units have balconies,” said Lopez.There also is a library, crafts area and computer area.The fitness center in each of the community's four

buildings has basic equipment, such as a treadmill andbicycles. Dogs and cats up to 30 pounds are permitted.“All areas are handicapped accessible,” Lopez said.There are no dining facilities at The Gardens of

Traville. “This is an independent community, justlike any multi-family community,” Lopez said. “Manypeople cook for themselves. Others gather in the greatroom, order in, and eat together.” Lopez said a shuttleis available to take residents to nearby grocery storesand restaurants.While many residents come to The Gardens of

Traville from out-of-state to be near family, othershave lived in the region for a long time. “We werehomeowners in Germantown for years,” saidWindear,who opted to stay in a familiar area when she and herhusband moved to the senior community. In a wheel-chair since October,Windear said she appreciated her

handicapped-accessible apartment, and the conve-nience of having an elevator and access to the shuttlevan for errands. She said she liked the security and thefact that you need a code to enter the community.Windear also said she enjoyed the ice cream socials

and playing games like Rummy Cue.The Gardens ofTraville has been managed by Pin-

nacle Management since 2009. Affordable housing isavailable for qualified residents under a tax credit as-sistance program, depending on household size andincome. “We have approximately 187 units under thisplan,” Lopez said.One-bedroom, one-bath floor plans range from

663 square feet to 878 square feet.The two-bedroom,two-bath floor plans range from 990 square feet to1,191 square feet. All apartments have fully equippedkitchens and full-size washers and dryers. Upgraded

GARDENS OF TRAVILLEBOASTS LOCAL CONVENIENCE

Independent Rockville community offers variety

Built in 2002, The Gardens of Traville is close toRockville shopping centers and restaurants, accord-ing to property manager Alexa Lopez.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GARDENS OF TRAVILLE

Residents say they enjoy the comfort and convenience of The Gardensof Traville in Rockville.


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The Gardens of Traville in Rockville has 230 one- and two-bedroomunits with many amenities.

bathrooms have grab bars and adjust-able showers.There is an emergency re-sponse system in each apartment.“We especially liked the layouts of

the apartments,” said Sheila Ryans,61, who lives with her husband, JimmyRyans, 67. “We were homeowners inGermantown for years. Because myhusband is disabled, we felt it was timefor us to move where we could get morehelp.We researched senior apartmentsin the Rockville-Gaithersburg-German-town area and chose Rockville becauseof its closeness to the hospital,” she said.CeJai Brooks, 54, and her sister,

Mary Holloway, 65, have lived at TheGardens of Traville for about threeyears. “We selected the community be-cause it was handicapped conducive,”said Brooks, “because we are bothhandicapped, both on canes, and we dowell living there.”Originally from Washington, D.C.,

the sisters said they liked the attitudeof the staff, especially the managementteam members, who “make you feellike family.” Brooks said she liked theaccessibility of the shuttle van and theHalloween festivities, at which she wona gift card last year. “This is a very won-derful place,” she said. “I would recom-mend it to everyone, and I do.”Priscilla Johnson, 77, is a former

nurse at Shady Grove Adventist Hospi-

tal. Having worked “across the street,”Johnson said she noticed that The Gar-dens of Traville was being built whenshe was researching senior housing.Johnson, who came to the communityin October 2003, said she liked the con-cept of independent living for seniors.She praised the office, leasing, mainte-nance and housekeeping staff memberswho have what she called “people skillsfor seniors.”Johnson said her favorite activities

were games like Trivial Pursuit, moviesand the many parties. “This is home forme,” she said. “I know this area and I amcomfortable here. I love to read, knit, etcetera. I can always find something todo, and I like having people around totalk to.”Lopez said there was a mix of singles

and couples at The Gardens of Traville.The oldest resident is 95.Other community amenities include

a hair salon, a wellness center withphysical therapy, a movie and televisionroom, and a games and billiards room.A podiatrist and family physician keepperiodic office hours. A priest and arabbi visit regularly.The community also offers a variety of

activities, from weekly bingo to wine andcheese hours and other social events.“We're like a big family,” Lopez said.

The Gardens of Traville Senior Apartments14431 Traville Gardens Circle, Rockville 20850

Phone: 301-762-5224Email: [email protected]

Web: thegardensoftraville.com


BY KAREN FINUCAN CLARKSON

W hat he lacks in furniture, Gil South-worth makes up for in guitars.Whilemost of his collection – about 100 inhis Bethesda condo and 300 in his Vi-

enna,Virginia house—are carefully labeled and neatlystowed, several dozen are casually displayed, a testa-ment to this man's nearly life-long passion.From his sparsely furnished corner condo, South-

worth can see the building—right next to the DrycleanClub in downtown Bethesda—in which he operated avintage guitar store for 15 years. “When I closed the shopin 2007, it was just dumb luck. I didn't see it coming,”said the 59-year-old guitar aficionado about the financialcrisis that would impact dealers nationwide. “Many wereforced to close up their brick and mortar shops.”

Bymoving his guitar shop to the Internet,Southworthwas uniquely poised to weather the economic storm.“My expenses were just over $20,000 per month in thatstore and yet almost all my business was mail order,” hesaid. So, he got himself a website (southworthguitars.com) and saved close to a quarter-million dollars a year.A good thing, as he ended up selling upwards of 100 gui-tars at a loss—anywhere from several hundred to severalthousand dollars—when the economy went south.Southworth was in elementary school whenThe Beatles

ignited his passion for electric guitars. “I can rememberlying on the floor watching Ed Sullivan in 1964 and see-ing people in the audience going nuts over them,” he said.“That's when I first became aware of electric guitars.”By his 13th birthday, he was desperate for a guitar

of his own. His parents pushed acoustic but South-worth wanted electric.With $30 in his pocket, most of it

LIVING

GUITAR CHRONICLESVintage collector and dealer Gil Southworthopens up about his love for the electric guitar

KAREN FINUCAN CLARKSON

Vintage guitar collector Gil Southworth,59, says his love for the electric guitar

began when he was inelementary school.

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birthday cash, Southworth convinced hisfather to drive him to a store in DistrictHeights, where he bought a two pickup,solid body Kimberly electric guitar for$29.95.The date of purchase is ingrainedin his memory—March 8, 1969.While he took a few lessons, South-

worth quickly determined that theyweren't essential. “For the kind of stuffwe were playing, you didn't need to readmusic. I, like plenty of others, am selftaught,” he said. Southworth hasn't beenin a band since the year after he graduatedfrom high school but he does still playfrom time to time. He frequents UnionJack's—a British-inspired alehouse acrossthe street from his condo—mostly to lis-ten. “One of the bands was terrifyinglygreat.You wonder, what are these guysdoing in (a) joint in Bethesda?”A Bethesda native, Southworth started

dealing guitars as a student atWaltWhit-man High School. “I'd read the Wash-ington Star's teen-to-teen swap and sell,”he said. “It came out on Saturday only.The truck would drop off the newspaperaround 1:15 or 1:30 in the afternoon atthe People's Drug Store on Sangamore(Road) and I would be waiting for it.”The first guitar he flipped—a 1963

Gibson ES 330—was listed in the swapcolumn for $100. “But, I knew it tradedfor $150 or $175,” he said. “It took mea while to get $100 together in 1971. Ihad some of my own money, and the restI borrowed from friends. Once I boughtit, I put an ad back in the Star and soldthe guitar for $135.”That's when South-worth put away his lawn mower and snowshovel, up until then his tools of choicefor earning money, and began buying andselling guitars.Not inclined to pursue an undergrad-

uate degree—“I spent one year flunkingout of Montgomery College, all the timethinking why bother?” he said—South-worth took up guitar trading full time. Forthe first year or so, his inventory generallyconsisted of a single guitar. By the mid1970s, he could afford to carry severalvintage guitars at a time. Business beganpicking up in 1976 when Southworthborrowed $1,600 from his mother—“Shegot a loan from the credit union to helpme out,” he said—and headed to Bostonto buy a 1958 Gibson Les Paul Sunburstguitar. On the return trip, Southworthstopped in NewYork City. “I had heardthatWest 48th Street was a mecca for rare

guitar dealing.” And it was true. South-worth discovered that his guitars wouldcommand a higher asking price in Man-hattan than they would locally.Gradually, Southworth grew his inven-

tory.“When I built up to 70 guitars,whichI kept in a hippie house on Nebraska Av-enue—what a great set up that was—Iopened my first store on MacArthurBoulevard by the MacArthur Theater inD.C.,” he said.That was 1983.Today, Southworth considers him-

self not just a dealer but a collector.Thatcollection, however, ebbs and flows. “I'vesold countless guitars over the years thatI swore I'd never (sell). Some I'd held forover a quarter of a century,” he said. “But,when the money gets too tight, I set 'emfree. It does half kill me sometimes. …When I birth a truly cherished one, I justtake the money and, you know, take themoney.”The most highly valued guitar, atleast in terms of price, currently in South-worth's personal collection is a 1960 Gib-son Les Paul Standard in original cherrysunburst with a repaired and refinishedneck.He appraised it at $100,000.“I haveabout 20 guitars in the $2,500 to $25,000range that I like better and prefer to play,”he said.It is another guitar—a 1959 Sunburst

Les Paul Standard, which appeared onthe cover of “American Guitars: An Il-lustrated History” byTomWheeler—thatqualifies as the most highly valued guitarSouthworth ever has traded. He put thatinstrument's value at $850,000.When itcomes to pure profit, Southworth oncemade $150,000 flipping a 1958 GibsonFlyingV that he bought from amember ofAprilWine, a Canadian band. After pay-ing $52,500 for the guitar and $22,500for a period-original case, Southworthsold them three years later for $225,000.While income is a necessity, South-

worth finds it increasingly difficult to partwith his guitars, though he's not certainwhy.His website currently lists only about20 percent of what he has to sell. “I'm myown worst employee,” he said, noting thathis best clients understand that, “Gil doesthings on Gil time.” For those looking tobuy or sell a vintage guitar, SouthworthGuitars is still considered by many to beone of the premiere dealers, he said. Justbe patient. 1909082

14 Gazette SENIORS | April 2015 Gazette.Net Gazette.Net April 2015 | Gazette SENIORS 15


SIGN ME UP


T hey are shareholders. But their returnon investment is far more nourishingand flavorful than what one mightexpect from Nasdaq or the NewYork

Stock Exchange. “With community support-ed agriculture (CSA), you pay money upfront so that the farmer has the resources tobuy seed, prepare the land and hire staff. Inexchange, you get a share of whatever comesup during the growing season. But, you alsoaccept some risk,” said Jean Hochran, aRockville resident who serves on the boardof RedWiggler Community Farm, a CSA inGermantown. “If it's a bad year for cucum-bers, you don't get many. If it's a good yearfor tomatoes, you share in the bounty andgood fortune.”Hana Newcomb likens CSA member-

ship to being a magazine subscriber. “Youpurchase a subscription not knowing whatsomeone is going to write about but feel-ing confident that what you end up readingwill satisfy you,” said Newcomb. She andher 80-year-old mother Hiu Newcomb runPotomac Vegetable Farms in Tysons Cor-ner,Virginia.Each Tuesday afternoon, June through

October, Margie Orrick stops by a neigh-bor's house in the Carderock Springs sectionof Bethesda to retrieve her weekly share ofproduce from Fresh and Local CSA. “Thefood is harvestedTuesday mornings in Shep-herdstown,West Virginia and delivered thatafternoon, so Tuesday dinner is incrediblyfresh,” she said. “The quality is amazing.Who knew that carrots can literally burstwith flavor in your mouth?”While freshness and flavor are top rea-

sons people join CSAs, nutrition is another,according to Eris Norman, co-owner of Nor-man's Farm Market. “We're so used to gro-cery store produce that has been picked twoweeks before and refrigerated,” she said.

With vegetables like eggplant, that can killthe flavor … .When you are getting producefrom local farmers, they are able to allowthe fruit to ripen on the vine.The longer it'son the vine, the more nutrients and flavorit has.”Sarah Cahill's Cabin John home is a host

location for Spiritual Food for the NewMillennium CSA. “Belonging to a CSAchanges your relationship with food,” Cahillsaid.“You learn to eat seasonally. In otherwords, you are eating the food you're sup-posed to be eating at the time of year youshould be eating it.”That means eating produce such as

greens, garlic scapes, spring onions, straw-berries and asparagus in the spring, accord-ing to Norman, whose Howard Countyfarm has several CSA pickup locations inMontgomery County. Because spring's har-vest may not be as plentiful as summer's,Norman supplements with items such asgranola or jam, even plants. Summer fea-tures blueberries, blackberries, corn, cu-cumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, beans andpeas, among others. Come fall, squash, cau-liflower, Brussels sprouts, pears and sweetpotatoes are being harvested.While the variety of produce, farming

methods and pricing may differ from oneCSA to another, they all share a commitmentto building a more local and equitable agri-cultural system, according to theU.S.Depart-ment ofAgriculture website.The first CSAs inthe U.S. began operating nearly three decadesago. By 2012, 12,617 farms reported market-ing products through a CSA, according tothe USDA. Because some CSAs tap multiplefarms for their produce, the actual numberof CSAs is lower, though no official numbersexist.The website LocalHarvest reports hav-ing more than 4,000 CSAs in its grassrootsdatabase at localharvest.org/csa.Farming methods locally include or-

ganic, certified organic and biodynamic.

FROM FARM TO FORKCOMMUNITY SUPPORTED

AGRICULTURE DIGS UP FRESHNESS

RED WIGGLER COMMUNITY FARM

David Ruch, a grower at Red Wiggler Community Farm inGermantown, takes a break to show off carrots he harvested.


Fresh and Local CSA is biodynamic, as is SpiritualFood CSA, which has an office in Bethesda and farmsin Pennsylvania. “Biodynamic takes organic and addssoul to it,” said Cahill. “The premise is that the farmis a living being, so farmers do things like nourish thesoil and attract bees.They treat the farm as an organ-ism with pieces and parts that must all work together.”Working together is at the heart of Red Wiggler

Community Farm's mission, which includes providingmeaningful employment for adults with developmen-tal disabilities. “It is the inclusion—the opportunity forme to be friends with and learn from those with dis-abilities, who really are the experts on the farm—thatmakes RedWiggler special,” said Hochran.The CSA,which began operations in 1996, claims to be the lon-gest continually running CSA inMontgomery County.It has grown from 12 shareholders to 120. And, eventhough its summer session is sold out, spring and fallremain available.While some CSAs have a limited number of shares,

others enroll new members throughout the season,prorating the price. “Anyone can jump into our seasonin the middle of it,” said Norman. “Because we operateboth stands and a CSA and work with other farmers,we can be flexible that way.”Collaborating with other farmers has an added

benefit, according to Newcomb. It diminishes the risk

due to poor weather, disease or insects. “Just becausemy tomato season may be a flop doesn't mean theirswill be,” she said. “We have two farms with some du-plication and that provides a good safety net.”Local CSAs tend to offer shares in several sizes,

which generally equate to small, medium and large. “Alot depends on how much you like to cook and howmuch produce you like to eat. For a couple, a smallshare is a great place to start,” said Norman. “You canalways upgrade during the season but not downgrade.”With Spiritual Food CSA, families may sign up for

biweekly pickups while others may choose to share, ac-cording to Cahill.

“They'll take a box home and split it.” Sharinghelps eliminate waste. “I may not like turnips, but per-haps you do,” she said. And, if one family is on vaca-tion, the other family can take the entire share for theweek. “A full share is $40 a week. I split my share andfind it's a very economical way to get healthy food.”The distribution of produce differs from one CSA

to another.While Orrick walks down the block to pickup her box, Hochran drives to RedWiggler farm eachweek to retrieve her produce. “Some years we haveshared with another family and would take turns visit-ing the farm.The truth is we treasure being there andtreasure the food,” said Hochran, who always bringsalong a basket and clippers. “There are large pick-

your-own flower and pick-your-own herb gardens. Ifyou need cilantro this week, you can help yourself.”At Norman's Farm Market, shareholders select

their own produce at the pickup site. “We are not justgiving them a box.They are choosing things they knowthey'll use,” said Norman. “We break it into steps.They go from table to table, and we let them know thata small share means two and a large is three.”For some, such as Cahill, it's fun to try something

new. “I eat stuff I've never had before, such as rutabagaand winter radishes. I've learned to cook a wide varietyof vegetables and become a real soup maker,” she said.“When you are in a CSA, you eat what's in sea-

son. Some who are new may not know what to do withthings like a Jerusalem artichoke. So we try to easethem into it,” said Newcomb. “We send out recipesand links to websites.There's usually a weekly theme,such as cold soups or roasting.”A CSA membership can be an adjustment, accord-

ing to Hochran. “I didn't eat greens before joining RedWiggler.They weren't in my family's diet growing up.Now I'm more inclined to explore new vegetables, likekohlrabi,” she said. And, she's learned to preserve. “Imake pasta sauce with the tomatoes and herbs that Iget over the summer and put it in the freezer. ComeJanuary, I have this wonderful taste of summer.” A re-minder of what was and what is yet to come.

1930893


1930881

SIGN ME UP


M ore than an hour passes be-fore the word “check,” spo-ken in a hushed tone, breaksthe silence. Only two of the

10 men gathered in Clubhouse II at Lei-sureWorld seem to hear it. The rest focusintently on the pawns, rooks, knights, bish-ops, queens and kings in front of them,contemplating their next move.With skill levels ranging from novice to

advanced, the members of this Silver Springchess club come together Monday,Wednes-day and Friday afternoons for camaraderie,conversation and a friendly game of chess.“We all have something in common—aninterest in chess—and become friends au-tomatically,” said Bernie Ascher, the club'spresident. “As a result, I've been invited to50th wedding anniversaries and 90th birth-

day parties. And, just chatting before andafter games, I've gotten to know people's in-terests and problems,who has relatives in thearea, where the best places are to eat or findthe cheapest TVs, and how to solve issueswith cell phones.”While Leisure World's chess club is

open to all residents, there currently are nowomen members. Over the past 27 years,since resident Hal Kern helped reinvigoratethe defunct club, a woman would make anoccasional appearance. “The few ladies thatstopped by didn't play with us very long,” hesaid, “though I'm not sure why.”The group gathered for Macon Shibut's

Monday morning chess presentation atthe Madison Community Center in Ar-lington, Virginia is all male, though thereare women members. “Women are still adistinct minority, not only at this club butthroughout chess,” he said.

Channeling the Spirit of Friendship Through ChessCHECK

KAREN FINUCAN CLARKSON

Bob Bragdon of Arlington, Virginia, enjoys a game of chess at theMadison Community Center, where the games are timed.


Shibut is a three-timeVirginia state chess championand author of two chess-related books.He revisits a gamebetween two world-champion players, Garry KasparovandVeselinTopalov. As Shibut moves chess pieces on alarge display board, he speaks to the players' intent andexplores options that were passed up.“Every move openscertain doors and closes certain others,” he said. His au-dience of eight follows closely, asking occasional ques-tions and responding to his prompts.It is Shibut's presentation that brings David Novak

back week after week. The Vienna, Virgina resident,who learned to play 55 years ago, has belonged to otherchess clubs but, he noted, none had this type of edu-cational component. “It is a wonderful feature,” saidNovak, who said he appreciates Shibut's skills. “Not alllecturers are excellent players, but Macon is. And, notall players are excellent lecturers, but Macon is.”Following the presentation, Novak and Thomas

Yerg, an Annandale, Virginia resident, set up a chessboard. “Chess is very absorbing,” said Novak. “Whileyou're playing, it's as if nothing else is going on.Thechess board becomes your entire focus.”Yerg, who has played with other groups, enjoys the

informality of the seniors club. He began playing thegame in 1967 as a Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia.“It was a small town of less than 1,000 people and the

lights went out at 9 p.m.,” saidYerg. “We would playby candlelight and the game was over when the candleburned out.”At a table across the room,Marcel Monfort of Fair-

fax,Virignia and Bob Bragdon of Arlington make theiropening moves. Montfort is one of the club's longesttenured members, having joined in 1999 at age 48.“When I was working on Capitol Hill, my boss wouldlet me play hooky one Monday out of four and this iswhere I'd come,” he said.While both the Arlington and Silver Spring chess

clubs provide boards and pieces, some memberschoose to bring their own. The biggest difference inthe two clubs is timers. Players at the Madison Com-munity Center use clocks while those at LeisureWorldgenerally do not. A chess clock measures and allocatesthe time available to each player. So, for example, ifplayers agree to a one-hour game, each must completeall of his moves in 30 minutes or less. Should a playeruse more than 30 minutes before the game is decided,he loses on time.While most of the members in the two chess clubs

have previous experience, they welcome those new tothe game. “Anyone of us will sit with someone new,”said Ascher. “The best way to learn is by playing.”Kern, who likes to play three times a week, supple-

ments his play with reading. “It takes work to play de-cently.You have to study, at least you should if wantto play well,” he said. “We have a large collection of amagazine called Chess Life, which I like to look at.”One of several chess club members in their 90s, Kerncredits the game with keeping him mentally sharp.Ascher agrees. “I think of chess as mental exercise. It's

good for people who are worried about their memory,”he said. “It's relaxing, too. Once you start playing, youforget all your worries. And, there's the social element.It gets you out of the house and allows you to meet newpeople. One of the gentlemen I played, a newcomer tothe group, has a different style, which forced me to reallyfocus and think about the game.”As president of the chess club, Ascher works to at-

tract new players. His regular columns in the commu-nity's bimonthly LeisureWorld News take topics seem-ingly unrelated to chess, such as patriotism or whatit means to be a NewYorker, and creatively connectthem to the game. Each column includes a chess puz-zle that invites readers to consider the best next move.In Ascher's opinion, the best next move is a visit toMeeting Room 2 in Clubhouse II at 1 p.m. any Mon-day,Wednesday or Friday of the week for a friendlygame of chess.

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HEALTH

BY KATE MCDERMOTT

A ggressive public information campaigns overthe last 30 years have been highly successful inraising awareness of Alzheimer's disease, withmany Americans now believing the illness is

synonymous with what used to be simply known as de-mentia.Yet neurologists are quick to point out that de-mentia, like cancer, can take many forms and have manydifferent origins.In particular, some families of patients who have pre-

viously been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or Parkinson'sdiseases are learning that another form of dementia maybe the cause of their loved ones' cognitive decline: Lewybody dementia.

According to the Lewy Body Dementia Association,LBD is the most misdiagnosed form of dementia, affect-ing nearly 1.4 million Americans. Named after scientistFriedrich H. Lewy who discovered abnormal protein de-posits that disrupt the brain's functioning, LBD remainsa difficult condition to diagnose because its symptoms—at least initially—can closely mirror those of Alzheimer'sand Parkinson's diseases.“Unfortunately, not many clinicians are able to di-

agnose this disease because its presentation is subtle,”said Dr. Anne E. A. Constantino, a practicing neurolo-gist with Comprehensive Neurology Services of SilverSpring. Symptoms such as a slowing of cognitive abilities,difficulty assessing spatial relationships and fluctuationsin alertness can be present in all three diseases, but often

what tips practitioners off to a LBD diagnosis is the pres-ence of hallucinations or acting out during sleep.“If a patient presents with parkinsonian symptoms

and is treated with medications for Parkinson's disease,they have a lower threshold for developing hallucina-tions,” Constantino explained. “So if they begin to expe-rience hallucinations, this suggests that it is LBD morethan Parkinson's disease.”Another clue to a diagnosis of LBD versus Alzheim-

er's or Parkinson's disease is the order in which symptomsbegin to present themselves. “Not everyone who has Par-kinson's disease will get dementia,” said Dr. Jim Bicksel,medical director of Inova Hospital's Memory Center inFalls Church, Virginia. “So if movement problems (aslow gait, shuffling of feet, etc.) present themselves first, it

WHAT ISLEWYBODYDISEASE?

Understanding the mostmisdiagnosed form of dementia

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could be Parkinson's. But if dementia oc-curs first and movement problems ensue,we tend to suspect LBD.”Some patients who are diagnosed with

LBDmay live with the condition for sometime, and with proper treatment, canmanage to cope effectively with the symp-toms, even the hallucinations, accordingto Bicksel. “Sometimes they simply learnto ignore them,” he said.Unfortunately, however, LBD is a pro-

gressive disorder with no known cure, soover time, the symptoms will get worse.Doctors often treat it with many of

the same medications used for Alzheim-er's and Parkinson's diseases—includingdrugs designed to increase the level ofchemicalmessengers in the brain—knownunder brand names such as Exelon andAricept.These may help improve mem-ory, but Bicksel pointed out that unlikeAlzheimer's patients, patients with LBDoften do not have short-term memory is-sues. “If you ask them what month it is,it may take them a long time to give theright answer,” he said.Carbidopa-levodopa medications

such as Sinemet, which are often usedto treat parkinsonian movement symp-toms, may also provide some relief. Andalthough anti-psychotic medications,known to many under brand names suchas Seroquel or Zyprexa, can help somepatients reduce their delusions, otherLBD patients may have a severe sensitiv-ity to them that can actually trigger pro-nounced hallucinations.Age and gender seem to play a signifi-

cant role in the onset of LBD.Most casesoccur after age 60, although some caseshave been reported much earlier. A 15-year study funded by the National Insti-tute on Aging published in 2013 revealedthat the incidence of LBD was twice ascommon in men as in women.There are currently no tests to defini-

tively diagnose LBD. Only an autopsy ofthe brain after death can confirm withcertainty that a person had the disease.But thanks to patients and families whoare willing to donate suspected LBDbrains to science after death, Bicksel said

researchers are learning that Lewy bodyproteins are often found in the deep partof the brain that controls movement andthat they affect thinking by interferingwith the brain's ability to send signals todifferent areas involved in cognition.Armed with this knowledge, research-

ers can now attempt to answer questionssuch as how and why the Lewy body pro-teins deposit in those areas.Even though we know LBD is the sec-

ond most common cause of progressivedementia after Alzheimer's disease, Con-stantino said that there is still much to belearned about it.“There are several papers that suggest

a genetic predisposition, but this has neverbeen conclusive,” she said. “Environmen-tal toxins have also been implicated.”Until a cure is found, neurologists en-

courage LBD patients to follow many ofthe same recommendations given to Al-zheimer's and Parkinson's disease patients.“It is important to continue to engage

in mental, physical and social activities,”Bicksel stressed.Because of its similarities to Alzheim-

er's and Parkinson's diseases, families whosuspect their loved ones may have LBDshould share their concerns with their pri-mary care physicians and request a refer-ral for evaluation by a neurologist who isfamiliar with the disorder and the subtle-ties that distinguish it from Alzheimer'sand Parkinson's diseases.“Anytime you see movement symp-

toms, things like the shuffling of feet,muscle rigidity, a masked face, et cetera,you should request referral to a neurolo-gist,” Bicksel said.Despite uncertainty about how the

disease forms or why some medicationsaffect some patients more negatively thanothers, the experts are sure of one thing:Early identification and early manage-ment provide the best hope for patients,since the Lewy Body Dementia Associa-tion reports that a diagnosis by specialistswho are very familiar with the disease canbe accurate in 90 percent of cases, leadingto more targeted and effective treatment.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

The Lewy Body Dementia Association (lbda.org) offers numerouseducational materials as well as information on clinical trials and supportforums for patients and families who suffer from the complexities of LBD.

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HEALTH


T hey are known to be painful and to interfere with themovement of a joint. But bone spurs—common in olderadults—often are benign. If you are over 60, chances aregood that you have a bone spur, though you may not yet

realize it, according to local orthopedic surgeons.A bone spur—the creation of extra bone—is the result of in-

flammation, stress, pressure or damage.“It's caused by tractionof ligament—imagine a piece of taffy pulling—on bone,” saidDr.Mark P.Madden, an orthopedic surgeon at OrthoVirginiain Reston,Virginia with privileges at Reston Hospital Center.When the ligaments pull, they become inflamed and the bodyreacts by putting down more bone in that area, he said.“It's the body's response to wear and tear on the joints,” said

Dr. Loiy Mustafa, an orthopedic surgeon at Capital Ortho-paedic Specialists, P.A. with privileges at Doctors CommunityHospital in Lanham. Bone spurs are found in joints as wellas in places where tendons and ligaments attach to bone. Inseniors, a bone spur most often occurs when there is degenera-tion of a joint due to osteoarthritis,Mustafa said.“What happens is that over time the cartilage breaks down

in a joint, and the body deals with that by growing bone in orderto provide more stability and surface area,” said Dr. SridharM.Durbhakula, an orthopedic surgeon at OrthoBethesda and co-medical director of the Joint Center at Adventist HealthCareShady Grove Medical Center.Osteoarthritis may account for the greatest number of bone

spurs, but there are other factors that contribute to their cre-

This natural responsecomes with someunintended consequences

BATTLINGBONE SPURS

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ation. A build up of bone on the under-side of the heel—the most common placein the body for a bone spur, according toMadden—often is associated with plantarfasciitis. The plantar fascia, the fibrousband of tissue that connects the heel withthe ball of the foot, is designed to absorbstress and strain. But, on occasion, thatpressure damages or tears the tissue. In-flammation of the plantar fascia may leadthe body to create more bone.While heelspurs affect about 10 percent of the popu-lation, only about 5 percent of those witha heel spur experience foot pain, accord-ing to the American Academy of Ortho-paedic Surgeons.Bone spurs are found elsewhere in

the body—in the knees, hips, spine, neck,shoulder and hands, said Durbhakula.The extra bone can be painful and inter-fere with the movement of the joint. “Theknee is where bone spurs commonlybreak off and become loose bodies,” hesaid.As loose bodies float in the knee, theycan cause intermittent locking or a sensa-tion that something is preventing the jointfrom moving properly.The growth of extra bone is an uncon-

trollable natural response that can haveunintended consequences. In the shoul-der, for example, bone spurs can pinchrotator cuff tendons. Pain, stiffness andreduced range of motion can occur.Thepersistent impingement of rotator cufftendons can lead to tears, exacerbatingthe condition, said Mustafa.The lower back is the second most

common place for bone spurs to occur,according to Madden, followed by theneck.When bone spurs pinch the spinalcord or its nerve roots, pain can travel tothe extremities and weakness or numb-ness in the arms and legs can result.An X-ray is most commonly used to

diagnose a bone spur, according to Mad-den.Treatment may vary by the locationof the bone spur, although there are someapproaches that are generally applicable.Staying hydrated, taking over-the-

counter anti-inflammatory medication,

and doing stretching exercises are effec-tive in treating 95 percent of bone spurcases, according to Madden, who putan emphasis on stretching. “Our tissuesbecome less compliant as we gain lifeexperience. We become less flexible. Ithappens naturally. Unfortunately, peopleare disinclined to participate in a stretch-ing program. If they would spend just 10minutes a day stretching, they'd see a realbenefit,” he said, noting that theAmericanAcademy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' web-site, orthoinfo.aaos.org, offers a variety ofstretching exercises for specific parts ofthe body.If pain or diminished range of motion

persists, a visit to an orthopedic surgeon isin order, said Madden. Stronger anti-in-flammatory medication, a cortisone shotor physical therapy could be prescribed.According to Durbhakula, other non-

surgical treatments include a supplementknown as TripleFlex, which contributesto joint comfort, mobility and flexibility,and Synvisc injections, which supplementfluid in the knee and help lubricate andcushion the joint.“Synvisc gives the knee more 'hy-

draulic suspension' so that bones are notrubbing against each other as much,” hesaid. Lifestyle changes, including weightloss and stress reduction, also can be ben-eficial, relieving pressure and tension onjoints and muscles.“When conservative measures are not

successful and a patient's quality of life isadversely affected, then surgical interven-tion may be indicated,” said Mustafa. “Inthe hip and knee, we can do joint replace-ment surgery. In the spine,we can decom-press the pinched nerve. It all depends onthe location of the bone spur.”Early diagnosis of a bone spur is critical

to prevent additional damage to a joint andmaintaining or regaining one's quality oflife, the orthopedic surgeons said.“The besttreatment takes into account many factorsand is the one that the physician and patientcome up with together,” saidMustafa.

In seniors, a bone spur most oftenoccurs when there is

DEGENERATION OF A JOINTdue to osteoarthritis.

1930942

Wednesday, April 15th, 2015 - Thursday, April 30th, 2015

Call 1-800-701-3573 Today for an appointment.

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Area Residents Age 55+Free electronic hearing tests will be given from Wednesday, April 15th -Thursday, April 30th at selected locations.

Tests have been arranged for anyone who suspects they are losing theirhearing. Such persons generally say they can hear but cannot understandwords. Testing with the latest computerized equipment will indicate if you can behelped.

Everyone, especially adults over 55, should have an electronic hearingtest at least once a year. If there is a hearing problem, hearing tests may revealthat newly developed methods of correction will help, even for those who havebeen told in the past that a hearing aid would not help them.

If you suspect you have hearing loss, call for a free hearing testappointment. Our licensed specialists are trained in the latest auditory testingmethods and will be the first ones to tell you if you don’t need a hearing aid. Ifyou do have hearing loss, we will explain your results and provide you with alist of options.

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HEALTH

W hen you face surgery, youmight have many concerns.One common worry isabout going under anesthe-

sia.Will you lose consciousness? How willyou feel afterward? Is it safe?Every day about 60,000 people nation-

wide have surgery under general anesthe-sia. It's a combination of drugs that's madesurgery more bearable for patients anddoctors alike.General anesthesia dampenspain, knocks you unconscious and keepsyou from moving during the operation.“Prior to general anesthesia, the best

ideas for killing pain during surgery werebiting on a stick or taking a swig of whis-key,” said Dr. Emery Brown, an anesthesi-ologist at Massachusetts General Hospitalin Boston. Things improved more than150 years ago, when a dentist in Massa-chusetts publicly demonstrated that theanesthetic drug ether could block painduring surgery.Within just a few months,anesthesia was being used in Australia, inEurope and then around the world.“General anesthesia changed medi-

cine practically overnight,” said Brown.Life-saving procedures such as open-heartsurgery, brain surgery or organ transplan-tation would be impossible without gen-eral anesthesia.General anesthesia affects your en-

tire body. Other types of anesthesia affectspecific regions. Local anesthesia—suchas a shot of novocaine from the dentist—numbs only a small part of your body fora short period of time.Regional anesthesianumbs a larger area—such as everythingbelow the waist—for a few hours. Mostpeople are awake during operations withlocal or regional anesthesia. But generalanesthesia is used for major surgery andwhen it's important that you be unconscious during aprocedure.General anesthesia has three main stages: going

under (induction), staying under (maintenance) and re-covery (emergence).The drugs that help you go under are either breathed

in as a gas or delivered directly into your bloodstream.Most of these drugs act quickly and disappear rapidlyfrom your system, so they need to be given throughout

the surgery. A specially trained anesthesiologist or nurseanesthetist gives you the proper doses and continuouslymonitors your vital signs—such as heart rate, body tem-perature, blood pressure and breathing.“When patients are going under, they experience a

series of deficits,” said Dr. Howard Nash, a scientist atthe National Institute of Mental Health. “The first is aninability to remember things.A patient may be able to re-peat words you say, but can't recall them after waking up.”

Next, patients lose the ability to re-spond. “They won't squeeze your fingersor give their name when asked,” Nashsaid. “Finally, they go into deep sedation.”Although doctors often say that you'll

be asleep during surgery, research hasshown that going under anesthesia is noth-ing like sleep. “Even in the deepest stagesof sleep, with prodding and poking we canwake you up,” said Brown. “But that's notthe case with general anesthesia. Generalanesthesia looks more like a coma—a re-versible coma.”You lose awareness andthe ability to feel pain, formmemories andmove.Once you've become unconscious, the

anesthesiologist uses monitors and medi-cations to keep you that way. In rare cases,though, something can go wrong. Aboutonce in every 1,000 to 2,000 surgeries,patients may gain some awareness whenthey should be unconscious. They mayhear the doctors talking and remember itafterward.Worse yet, they may feel painbut be unable to move or tell the doctors.“It's a real problem, although it's quite

rare,” said Dr.Alex Evers, an anesthesiolo-gist atWashington University in St. Louis.After surgery, when anesthesia wears

off, you may feel some pain and discom-fort. How quickly you recover will dependon the medications you received and otherfactors like your age. About 40 percentof elderly patients have lingering confu-sion and thinking problems for severaldays after surgery and anesthesia. Rightnow, the best cure for these side effects istime. Brown and his colleagues are work-ing to develop drugs to help patients morequickly emerge and recover from generalanesthesia.

Anesthesia is generally considered quite safe for mostpatients. “Anesthetics have gotten much safer over theyears in terms of the things we're most worried about,like the patient dying or having dangerously low bloodpressure,” Evers said. By some estimates, the death ratefrom general anesthesia is about 1 in 250,000 patients.Side effects have become less common and are usuallynot as serious as they once were.–NIH News in Health

WAKING UP TO ANESTHESIA

PHOTODISC/THINKSTOCK


FINANCES

BY DOUG MAYBERRYCREATORS.COM

Q: I am an elderly widow and live alone ina large house. I'm fearful that my surround-ings are not as secure as they should be. Ioften wake up when I hear a strange noise.What might help calm me down?

A: I understand, and here are some sug-gestions that might prove helpful. Install asecurity system, and make certain you stakea highly visible security company's warningsign. Secure sliding glass doors and windowswith wooden dowels in the moving slots thatwill only allow a couple of inches to open.Make sure all entrances are well lit. Motion-sensing lights are important additions. Keepbushes, shrubs and trees trimmed to makeyour home more visible.When you use valetparking or have your car repaired, separatethe one key needed by the service personfrom your ring and keep the other keys. Make

sure your house number is prominently dis-played, in case you need to call 911. Knowand stay in contact with your neighbors, tellthem about your activities and vacation plans,and ask them to pick up unwanted fliers andtrash thrown on your driveway if you're out oftown. Offer to do the same for them. Shareyour family's phone numbers in case there's afire, a natural disaster, a stranger scouting theneighborhood or a parked car sitting at yourcurb that does not seem to be appropriate.There is no way to ensure that thieves will

not try to gain access to your home. Beingaware of that, be especially watchful and alertduring the holiday months, when they are ingreater need. Recently, l forgot to lock my carwhile grocery shopping, and a thief got mycellphone. Activating security precautions isworth your time and effort.

Lucky GrandparentsQ:We are the parents of two daughters,

whose ages are 3 and 6. All four grandparents

are alive.We struggle to find appropriate holi-day gifts for our parents. They all have their“stuff” and do not really need more things.What can we do?

A: Homemade and creative gifts are whatall grandparents love and are most wanted.One idea is to purchase an empty pillbox andfill it with jelly beans.White ceramic coffeecups are available at the dollar stores; assistthe kids in drawing pictures or writing lovenotes for the grandparents using ceramicpaint.You can also create a gift by using whitepaper plates and crayons. How about giftinga greeting card that includes a come-alongmeal at a restaurant or an invitation to visita zoo or park. In today's world, most photosare shot with digital cameras, but very few areactually printed out. This means grandpar-ents' “bragging” photo albums have becomebig-time winning gifts. I hope those thoughtsprove to serve your purposes.

Advice for Seniors: Security Heads-Up

Doug Mayberry'sweekly column, "DearDoug," can be foundat Creators.com.

1930844

Home ownership, qualityhealthcare, and superior

services in a community whereeach resident’s voice is heard.


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1909099

al connection from the front-facing sit-ting room to the inviting garden spacesbeyond the dining room.Taking the cultural transformation a

step further, the family room is now anopen drawing room where the Kimurashave placed a kotatsu, a traditional “lowtable,” in front of a fireplace.“In the winter, this is a place to sit

peacefully, eat meals and sip tea withfamily,”Takuro Kimura said.The kitchen's wall of floor-ceiling

cabinetry was designed for both storageefficiency and aesthetic unity. Made ofnatural wood, the cabinetry emphasizesthe relationship between the lines andplanes that define the entire space. “It'sthe simplicity (of) conferring an aware-ness of balance and its underlying tran-quility that is the essential point of thiskind of design,” Lee said.The cabinet's dark cherry wood

facings contrast against the whitespring granite surfaces and backsplash.“There's a drama of light and dark con-trasts in Asian kitchens that is quitedistinct from the traditional Westernmodel,” Lee said.

To create the floor space needed fora large Japanese-style bathroom, Leereconfigured the home's bedroom wingby deleting one bedroom, and buildinga walk-in closet and 300-square-footbath. With its neutral Yukon tiling in-terspersed with mosaic tile accents, thebathroom interior is a naturally restfulplace to surrender needless stress. Ac-cording to Japanese tradition, a batherwould first wash thoroughly then enterthe heated, two-foot-deep tub. In con-sideration of efficiency, the bathroomwas fitted with a tankless water heater.From the bathroom, one can exit di-

rectly to the garden and the pool.“It is simple but so peaceful,”Takuro

Kimura said. “Everything we wanted ina home.”

Sun Design Remodeling frequentlysponsors tours of recently remodeled homes,as well as workshops on home remodelingtopics. Headquartered in Burke,Virginia,the firm recently opened a second office inMcLean,Virginia. For more information,call 703-425-5588 or visit SunDesignInc.com.

REMODEL, continued from 9


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Gaz seniors 041515