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2 Fairfax County Times SENIORS | January 2015 FairfaxTimes.com

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FairfaxTimes.com January 2015 | FairfaxCountyTimes SENIORS 3

Fairfax County Times

SENIORSEditor

Graphic Designer

Contributing Writers

Corporate Advertising Director

Advertising Director

Tiffany Arnold

Lorraine Walker

Karen Finucan ClarksonEllen R. CohenScott HarrisArlene KaridisKate McDermott

Dennis Wilston

Marta Wallace

PUBLISHED BY THE FAIRFAX COUNTY TIMES/POST COMMUNITY MEDIA, LLC1920 ASSOCIATION DRIVE, SUITE 500, RESTON, VA 20191

Fairfax County Times Seniors is produced by Post Community Media’s SpecialSections and Advertising departments. It does not involve the company’s newsrooms.

ON THE COVER:INDIAN DANCER: TOM FEDOR/POST COMMUNITY MEDIA STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

BOWLING: BANANASTOCK/THINKSTOCK

Do you know someone in Fairfax County 50 or older with aninteresting story to tell? Do you know of an organization that provides

entertainment, travel or arts opportunities for older adults?We want to know about it! Email us at [email protected].

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SIGN ME UP

BY KAREN FINUCAN CLARKSON

F our frames into what could have become a perfect game,JeromeWest leaves a pin standing. Fellow bowlers com-miserate, shaking their heads. But afterWest takes downthe remaining pin, earning a spare, there are high fives all

around. “All the people here are so nice,” said the 52-year-oldGaithersburg resident.“Youcan’t findamore supportive group.”

EachMonday,West and about 20 other older adults gather atBowlAmerica in Gaithersburg,Md. for an afternoon of fun andcamaraderie.KnownasSeniorPinBusters, theweeklyprogram isin its sixth year.“We’re not here for averages but to get some exer-cise and socialize,” said PamTruxal, recreation program supervi-sor for theCity ofGaithersburgDepartment of Parks,RecreationandCulture.Although administered by the city, Senior Pin Bust-ers is open to anyone age 50 or older.The $8.60 fee covers threegames and includes ball usage, shoe rental and light snacks.

On a coldMonday inNovember,West is hot.He bowls a 231,200 and219—aperfect game is 300—all better thanhis 190 aver-age.But asmuchasheenjoysbowlingwell,West saidhe likeshelp-ing others improve their game.“It was great when my buddy Edfinally got his 200 game,”saidWest, calling 200 amilestone.“He’stried different things, and they finally came together.”

Ed Forrest, 70, has been bowling for about 18 months. Hebowls for funandappreciates the supportofhis fellowPinBusters.“Everyone cheers for everyone. It doesn’tmatter if you have a badgame.This isn’t a competition,” said theGaithersburg resident.

Some older adults do bowl competitively, including JeromeL. Jackson,who has wonmedals at the NorthernVirginia SeniorOlympics andVirginia Senior Games.The 66-year-old Fairfaxresident began bowling in 1973 but after joining the militarygames became few and far between.“There were somany thingsgoing on inmywork life that I didn’t get an opportunity to do thefun stuff,”he said.“I started to bowlmore regularly in 2011, afterI retired… . I wanted to fill the time with something that’s happy

STRIKE!STRIKE!OLDERADULTSTAKE TOTHE LANES

PHOTODISC/THINKSTOCK


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and good for you.”While his highest score, a269, came in the 1970s, Jackson has bowleda 236 since his return to the sport four yearsago.“I carry an average of about 165.”

“IfIweren’tbowling,I’dprobablybewatch-ing the boob tube,” saidAudreyHuthwaite, a65-year-old resident fromSpringfield, resident.“Itgetsmeoffthecouchandallowsmetocatchupwith friends andmeet new people.”Huth-waite,who began bowling with her parents asa child,has played in anAnnandale,Va., leaguewithco-workers fromtheDefense InformationSystemsAgency for four decades.“It amazesme when I think back and realize howmanyTuesday nights that is.”A goldmedalist in the2014 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics,Huthwaite carries a 160 average. “Bowlingis very humbling and somewhat challenging.Youcanbowla150gameandthen,in thenextgame,youcan’thit 100.”

That doesn’t mean it’s difficult to learn,even later in life.KathyKelley had bowled justonce before her husband convinced her to joinPinBusters.“Therealwaysarepeoplewillingtogive you tips and advice,” said the 68-year-oldGermantown resident.“I’m not very coordi-nated, so it tookme awhile to get the hang ofit.EventodayI’mnotgreat.But,I like thesportand there’s suchwonderful camaraderie.”

Jim Kelley, Kathy’s husband, is the onlyoriginal Pin Buster still bowling.He’s some-one others turn to for advice.“When I start-ed bowling, I worried about my score.Now,I worry about everyone else’s,” said 71-year-old Jim Kelley, whose high game is a 242.“We all support each other and encourageeach other to do their best.”

While there are books, websites, onlinevideos and instructors to help novice bowl-ers, many older adults learn the game fromtheir peers, said Jackson. “Having someone

who knows how to bowl and give you point-ers is golden,” he said. Bowling basics areeasy to pick up. “There are arrows and dotson the lane. If you are consistent and swingthe ball the same way across the same spotandwatchwhere theball goes,you’ll begin tofigure things out.”

“Bowling is not overly physically demand-ing or high impact,” Huthwaite said, whichmakes it a great game for seniors. “You canstand at the line and throw the ball if you can’tdo an approach.” Balls come in a variety ofweights and holes can be drilled to accommo-date swollen fingers. “Most women use ballsin the 12-14 pound rangewhilemostmen dothemax,16 pounds.But I do have somemalefriendswhohavegonedownto15.”

Those new to the sport may rent shoesand use balls provided by the bowling alley.Those who stick with the game often buytheir own. A basic pair of shoes will runabout $30, a cost easily recouped in a coupleof months for those who bowl weekly, notedHuthwaite.Aball,withholesdrilled tomatchone’s grip, can be had for less than $100.Then there is the cost to play. “The seniorleagues I know of average $10 per night.Butin leagues like the ones I’m in, fees run be-tween$20and$25.”That, saidHuthwaite, isbecause there is prizemoney.

Bowling also is a great intergenerationalgame,saidWest,whohas five grandchildren.“Ilike to bring them bowling.My oldest grand-daughter,who is14,ispretty good,”he said.

“What I love about bowling is that youdon’t have to be perfect,” said Ruth Sentelle,a 76-year-oldGaithersburg resident.“Sure, ittakes some practice and it can be frustratinga times.But it’s such fun and I’vemade somegreat friends.That’s really why I bowl.”

KAREN FINUCAN CLARKSON

Jim Kelley (left) of Germantown, Md., and Jerome West (right) ofGaithersburg, Md., flash their Bowl America rewards cards, which give them

discounts at the Gaithersburg bowling alley.


SIGN ME UP

BY KAREN FINUCANCLARKSON

T he numbers kept dwin-dling each timeThe Ca-reer Gateway! class ofSeptember 2014 met for

coffee. And that’s a good thingbecause it meant people werefinding jobs.The program, whichhas served more than 270 olderadults since its inception in 2010,provides job seekers and careerchangers with the knowledge,tools and support needed to findemployment in today’s jobmarket.“While the basics of a job

search have not changed—there’sthe process of gaining self-aware-ness, creating a resume, network-ing, interviewing, and receivingand negotiating an offer—themanner of doing a search has,”said Gordon Silcox, a Fairfax-based job-search and careerdecision-making consultant whocraftedThe Career Gateway! curriculumand an accompanying manual for the Jew-ish Council for the Aging (JCA) in Rock-ville, Md. “The program provides a betterperspective on how to go about a job searchin this digital age.”That, agree members of the

September class, is one of the program’sgreatest strengths. “I didn’t realize howmuch social media plays into the job searchthese days,” saidVirginia Jones ofWashing-tonGrove,Md.,who is nowmarketing her-self and her job qualifications online.The power of digital and in-person net-

working was a revelation to Greg Hardinof Silver Spring,Md. “As soon as I startedcontacting friends and colleagues, thingsstartedhappeningandmyconfidencebeganto build,”he said.Offered five times a year,The Career

Gateway! is a comprehensive and intensiveprogram that provides individualized atten-

tion. It covers virtually every aspectof the job search, according to EllenGreenberg, director of the JCA’sCenter for Information & Educa-tion, delving into specific areas ofconcern to older adults.Benefits of senior-only par-

ticipation are the frank discussions.“There is more openness and con-versation about age discrimination,which usually is the number oneconcern of the people who cometo the class,” said Silcox.“It’s prob-ably always been there, but nowweknowhow to better address it legal-ly … and help job seekers under-stand what their rights are.”Tipsare provided to help participantscreate resumes, cover letters andonline profiles that draw attentionto their qualifications rather thantheir age.The 30-hour class—open to

anyone age 50 andolder, regardlessof faith or residency—is partiallyfunded through a Montgomery

County program for seniors,The Morris& Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation and theJCA. “It’s the best $75 I have ever spent,”said Jones,noting that the class provided herwith direction and focus.Members of the September class were,

inmanyways, typical of the individuals whoturned toThe Career Gateway! for assis-tance.They hailed from Prince George’s,Montgomery and Fairfax counties. Severalhad lost or quit their jobs, some had left theworkforce in recent years to care for ailingparents or decades ago to raise children,anda fewwere employed but looking to try theirhand at something different. It was some-what comforting to Jones and several of herclassmates to discover they weren’t alone.“Iliked knowing that there are other individu-als in the same situation as I am—unem-ployed,” she said.Silcox said it wasn’t unusual for people

to come to the classwith shaken self-esteem.

A PATH TO EMPLOYMENTTHE CAREER GATEWAY! SERVES AS A SENIOR JOB PORTAL

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE CAREER GATEWAY!

The Career Gateway! program has served nearly 300 older adultssince its inception in 2010.


The Career Gateway! is a 30-hour class open to anyone age 50 andolder, regardless of faith or residency.


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“But as I watch people from the first day ofclass to the fifth day, there’s a significant, pal-pable change in their understanding and ap-preciation of what they have to offer an em-ployer.” Identifying those assets requires in-trospection, which is accomplished throughpersonal reflection.The skills and abilitiesunearthed during that exercise inform thedevelopment of a resume, LinkedIn profile,two-minute networking speech and respons-es to potential interview questions.

The Career Gateway! draws on volun-teers from the local business community toreview participants’ resumes and conduct amock interview,which is videotaped and cri-tiquedbyclassmates.Ahuman relationspro-fessional and LinkedIn specialist also sharetheir expertise with the group.

When the fifth and final day of class rollsaround, participants have an enhanced un-derstanding of what the job search requiresand the basic tools to forge ahead.What theygenerallydon’t have is a job.That’swhere JobClub comes in.Within a month of graduat-ing fromThe Career Gateway! class, partici-pants gather twice as a group.“The end goalis to have students develop a specific, action-able game plan for their career search andto motivate them and hold them to it,” saidMargo L. Smith, who facilitates Job Club.“We work on tweaking job-seeking skills,perfecting an elevator speech and enhancingnetworking skills.”

The real strength of Job Club is the sup-port network that evolves. “People begin tofeel connected to each other anddevelop pro-fessional friendships,” said Smith.“The feed-

back they get fromeachother ismeaningful.”So is the feedback they get from their

mentors. Once Job Club concludes, eachparticipant is matched with a volunteermentor. “We don’t just leave them hang-ing,” said Smith. “We want everyone whogoes through this program to get a job.”Thementor serves as a sounding board for thejob seeker, providing advice and encourage-ment.The relationship lasts until thementeefinds a job, though somepersist beyond that.

Members of the September class ofTheCareerGateway! havemade steady progress.By early December, three of the 11 partici-pants had found jobs, and three others wereawaiting callbacks from interviews.A few stillwere researching potential careers and thetwo that were self-employed were trying tofind time to kick their search into high gear.“Some people think that just by taking thecourse something magical will happen anda jobwill fall into their lap,” said Smith.“Buta job search is work. It’s the people who staythe course and work the system that theylearnedwho eventually get a job.”

The Career Gateway! holds classesfive times a year, from September throughMarch, in Rockville. Each session consists offive six-hour classes spread over two weeks.The cost is $75. The next session runs Feb.

23–March 4. To learn more, visitaccessjca.org/programs/senior-employment,

or call 301-255-4200 or 703-425-0999.


Frank discussions are among the benefits of senior-only participationat The Career Gateway!, a career program for adults older than 50.


LIVING

FIGHTINGAGE DISCRIMINATION

BY SCOTT HARRIS

N ot unlike bias based on race,ethnicity, gender or sexual ori-entation, age discrimination canfoster a toxic workplace, keep

its victims from advancing as quickly as theiryounger colleagues and, in those extremecases, lead to being passed over for a promo-tion or evenbeingunlawfully terminated.

Local jurisdictions are nomore immuneto the problem than any other area of thecountry.According to data from the federal

Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2020, work-ers 55 andolderwill comprise 25percent oftheAmerican workforce, up from about 20percent in 2010.

The causes for that increase are numer-ous, interconnected andnot at all unfamiliar.

“There is increasing participation ofpeople 55 years old and older,” said Ken-neth Saunders, director of FairfaxCounty’sOffice of Human Rights and Equity Pro-grams. “Fifty-five is the new 40 in a lot ofworkplaces, and these folks have not exitedthe workforce. Life expectancy is longer

and people are working longer.You haveservice and technology-based jobs that arenot as physically demanding. Labor is nolonger as much of a barrier.”

The nation’s economic downturn in2008 also lengthened many careers, as re-tirement accounts and earnings shrunk.With more older Americans in the work-force, discrimination incidents are also inthe rise.

“Complaints have definitely beentrending upward over the last five years,”said Loretta Garcia, a labor attorney and

manager of enforcement programs for theMontgomery County Office of HumanRights. “Age discrimination complaints areincreasing as the population ages. Morepeople are coming in and saying they arevictims of discrimination, andweren’t hiredor discharged because of their age.”

Age discrimination complaints—whichcan also be filed by younger workers—havecome into Montgomery County’s humanrights office from employees as old as 80,Garcia said.

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complaints are often based on incrementalcomments or actions that build a broaderpicture of discrimination.

“It’s the stereotypes,” Saunders said.“Things like saying that older employees arecostly to employ, less competent and lessmotivated. Can you imagine saying thosethings about any other group? Discrimina-tion can come from comments you hearin the workplace. ‘When are you going toretire?When will you get out of here?Youdon’t have the energy to do this.’”

One of the more prominent stories atthe national level involves a worker namedDavidNelsonwho,withmore than 25 yearsof service with the RadioShack electronicschain, had a flawless track record. Never-theless, not six months after someone newcame in to supervise him, Nelson was outof a job.

That was 2007. Nelson, then 55 yearsold, worked in RadioShack’s Denver re-

gional office.His newmanager,whowas 43at the time,placed him on two performanceimprovement plans within four months.But it got worse: Just days after he filed acomplaintwith the office’s human resourcesdepartment regardinghis treatment,Nelsonwas fired.

Nelson believed he had been a victimof age discrimination. He took his case tothe federal Equal Employment Opportu-nity Commission (EEOC), which filed suitagainst RadioShack and ultimately won$187,000 in back pay for Nelson.

While Nelson’s is an extreme case, thatsituation is emblematic of the growing issueof age discrimination, and local counties areno exception.

Though the EEOC requires workers toreport incidents within sixmonths of the in-cident date,Fairfax andMontgomery coun-ties provide a full year.To file a complaintat the county level, the employer must beheadquartered in that county.Case workers

collect all the basic information on possibleincidents. If there are solid indications thatage discrimination may have occurred, thecase is investigated, with employers receiv-ing an opportunity to respond. Mediationbetween employee and employer or even alawsuit can ultimately result, with financialcompensation, reassignment or other op-tions being possible.

The threshold of evidence for provingage discrimination, however, is higher thanthat required for racism, sexism and otherforms of bias, Saunders said.That makesit critically important for employees whothink they may be victims of age discrimi-nation to collect and provide as much hardevidence as possible.

“Oneof the hardest things for us iswhenthere’s no evidence,”Garcia said.

Even basic documents like pay stubs ora job application can be helpful. Further-more, all comments, internal emails and

other documents should be recorded byemployees, with as much detail as possible.This is particularly the case if a promotion isdenied or termination has occurred.

“Start documenting things,” Saunderssaid.“If there are comments,chronicle themand include the date and time.Make a noteof any witnesses to the comments. Save anyemails that might be discriminatory.Thor-oughly document promotional pass overs.”

Ultimately, even things that seem innoc-uous can constitute discrimination and canhamper a worker’s ability to get a fair shakein the workplace.

“It does not always mean being treatedbadly, necessarily, but treated differentlycompared to those who are younger thanyou,” Saunders said. “Are you getting thesame opportunities? Are they not sendingyou to a certain training session becausethey don’t think you’ll be here?Those arethe kinds of things that can happen and thatworkers have to notice and chronicle.”

“AGE DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS AREINCREASING AS THE POPULATION AGES.

More people are coming in and saying they are victimsof discrimination, and weren’t hired or discharged

because of their age.”

- Loretta Garcia,a labor attorney and manager of enforcement programsfor the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights


LIVING

FUN FLOWS FREELYAT THE FOUNTAINS

BY ARLENE KARIDIS

W hen Mary Keil had amajor stroke 10 years ago,she and her husband BillKeil knew they would

have tomove fromtheir single-family homein time.Hehadbecomeher caretaker 24/7,and they werematuring in years.

“We had to live together, regardless thatMary needed more assistance than me,”said Bill Keil, 83.

The Keils found what Bill Keil calledan answer to their prayers:The FountainsatWashington House inAlexandria, wherethey live in a two-bedroom apartment onan assisted-living floor.

“It was the only place we found wherewe could live together while she got thecare she needed,” said Bill Keil. “Mean-while, I can sleep through the night, comeand go as I need.And I can be withMary.”

The Fountains atWashington Houseis a 14-floor building with independent-

living and assisted-living units, and reha-bilitative rooms.

“We celebrate individuality here,”said John Niebauer, executive director ofThe Fountains atWashington House.

“People can socialize or find time bythemselves, if that’s what they like.And weaccommodate varied schedules, as far asmeals and activities,” said Niebauer. Com-munity residents range in age from themid-60s to about 100.

The main dining room is a draw. “Weserve three-course meals, wine and beer,”

said Niebauer. “People gather and talkabout politics, what’s going on in the com-munity and who’s dating who.”

In addition to this formal dining roomwith dark woods, maroons and golds, is acafé that serves quick breakfast and lunchmeals. Assisted living residents are wel-come to eat in either of these spots, thoughthey have dining rooms on their floors.

In the Sky Room on the top floor, youmight find residents engaging in a Battleof the Sexes trivia game or enjoying a cello

PHOTO BY KEN STABILE

The dining room is a major draw at The Fountains at Washington House. “People gather and talk about politics,what’s going on in the community and who’s dating who,” said John Niebauer, executive director.


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recital while surrounded by windows thatprovide a view of theWashington Monu-ment and John F. Kennedy Center for thePerformingArts.

The Fountains offers varied plans.Among the independent-living options aredinner or three meals a day. Some planscover laundry and housekeeping. Assistedliving provides catered packages of care andsupplies. All assisted living plans includethree meals a day, housekeeping and laun-dry.

The art room is the most popular ame-nity, said Niebauer. Large and airy, thisspace has a long designer table and art sup-plies for residents to help themselves to.

“It’s a lifeblood toWashington Housewhere people express how they are feelingand what they like,” said Niebauer. “Yousee residents teaching residents and staffteaching residents.”

Mickey Moore, 84, findsThe Fountainsagood fit,especiallybecauseofherneighbors.

“They have been to college and manyhave worked career jobs, so we have a lot incommon,” said Moore, a retired Americangovernment high school teacher.


At The Fountains at Washington House, residents may rent, decorate and furnish their choice of eight different floor plans,from studios to spacious residences with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.See FOUNTAINS, 11


LIVING

BY KATE MCDERMOTT

A s a young child in pre-parti-tion India during the 1940s,Nilimma Devi discoveredthat the mystical world of

ancient Indian dance forms could takeher far away from the harsh realities ofher daily life as a refugee.Living with hermother and sister at her grandmother’shome in Delhi, she waited and hopedthat her father, who had sent them tosafety from their home in Peshawar(which was eventually given to the newnation of Pakistan when India was parti-tioned in 1947), would someday be ableto join them.Amid the political upheavaland violence of newly independentIndia, dance provided a make believeworld and a way to escape reality, shesaid. “It was therapy for me. It took meto a world that was beautiful.”Although her life’s journey would

eventually take her from India to Mary-land, her love of themystic Indian dancesshe grew up with never left her. It waswhat compelled her in 1988 to open theSutradhar Institute of Dance & RelatedArts (SIDRA) in Silver Spring. She es-pecially wanted to share with Americanstudents and audiences the traditionalIndian dance known as Kuchipudi.Kuchipudi uses yoga, creative writing,

music and dance to weave a story togeth-er. But what makes the ancient art formso powerful, Devi said, is its invitation todancers and audiences to transcend theirlanguage and cultural boundaries to ex-perience a world beyond the physicalspace they occupy and ultimately reachan aesthetic joy or bliss known as rasa.“Nobody has equated dance to the spiri-tual connection to the degree that Indiahas done,” she added.Artists from the Sutradhar Institute

have performed at numerous regionalvenues, including the Smithsonian’sDiscoveryTheater and Sackler Gallery,

Strathmore Arts Center,Artscape in Bal-timore, the National Museum ofWomenin theArts, the Kennedy Center’s Millen-nium Stage and others.In 2013,Devi was awarded theMont-

gomery County Executive’s LifetimeAchievement Award for Excellence in theArts & Humanities for her decades-longcommitment to expanding the culturalhorizons ofMontgomeryCounty citizens.

AN UNLIKELY BEGINNINGDuring the years she spent at her

maternal grandmother’s home in Delhi,Devi’s aunt shared with her young niecethe worldly experiences of finishingschool.“Shewould show us dancemove-ments,” Devi recalled. Her aunt’s “per-formances” captivated Devi and sparkedher imagination in a way nothing everhad before.Although hermother’s familysupported her desire to dance, she couldnever share her passion with her pater-nal grandfather. “He was so opposed todance that he would not stay in a roomin which the word was mentioned,”Devisaid. “It was a taboo subject, almost akinto prostitution.”

For more than a quarter century, Nilimma Devi has sharedher love of ancient Indian dance with local audiences

A PASSION AND A PROFESSION

TOM FEDOR/POST COMMUNITY MEDIA STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Nilimma Devi of the Sutradhar Institute of Dance and Related Arts (SIDRA)and dancers (clockwise, from left) Maya Brennig, 12 of Springfield, Va.,

Josephine Lichten, 18, of Takoma Park, Md., Mrinalini Pillai, 19, of Bethesda,Md., Laura Smith, 24 of Aspen Hill, Md., and Lily Henry-Austin, 12, of

Silver Spring, Md., pose for photographs at SIDRA's studio in Silver Spring.

TOM FEDOR/POST COMMUNITY MEDIASTAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Nilimma Devi of the SutradharInstitute of Dance and RelatedArts (SIDRA) says her love fordance began when she was achild growing up in India.


And what about her father, who waseventually able to rejoin his family after nar-rowly escaping death in Peshawar? “Henever said I shouldn’t dance. He said, ‘Justdon’t make it your profession,’” she recalledwith a laugh.

But that is exactly what Devi has done.After earning her bachelor’s degree in his-tory, she workedwith gurus who helped herlearn as much as she could about the an-cient Indian dances, studying and dancingwith them five or six days a week.And soonthereafter, shediscovered somethingbesidesdance she could love. Shemet anAmericanwho was studying in India at the time.“Myfather was so against it (our relationship)that hewould bringme books aboutAmeri-can divorces,” she laughed. “But what did Ido? I became a bride.”

The newlyweds traded the swelter-ing heat of India for the frozen tundra ofMadison,Wis., home of the University ofWisconsin. Despite the temperature—andculture—shock, Devi was determined tomake the most of her new life in America.Shebegan teaching classes in ancient Indiandance for theuniversity’s dancedepartment.Still young and at the top of her performingcareer, she also danced and lectured for theschool’s SoutheastAsian Studies program.

Eventually the couple returned to India,but nearly 20 years later, her life’s journeybrought her back to the U.S., specificallyto the D.C. area. Soon after, Devi’s talentsearned her a spot as an artist-in-residence attheUniversity ofMaryland,andbefore long,wordof her talents spread and shewas askedto teach at GeorgeWashingtonUniversity.

Although excited by the opportunity toshare her knowledge,Devi hoped for more.“I knew I could do more than just talk andteachbasic technique,”shesaid.Sherecalledher days back in India, where while tendingto her ailing father, she found herself againescaping into the therapy of dance. “WhenI would play nurse to my father, I used toclose my eyes and see the rows of beautifulcostumes I would have if I could open myown little school,” she recalled.

Her dream was to introduce people tothe classical dance form of Kuchipudi—and not just people of Indian descent.Thatdream has now become a reality.A quartercentury later, Devi has shared her passionwith nearly 1,000 students,many of whom,she said, are not of Indian descent.Todaynearly half of her students at the Instituteand in the school’s annual summer campsare multicultural. Regardless of their back-grounds, the best students “don’t wantto just learn the movements, they want toknow why, the concepts,” Devi said.Manyof these students have gone into the arts and“have taken these seeds with them.”

JosieLichten isoneof thosestudents.Sheattended her first performance at SIDRAwhen she was 6 or 7 and fell in love with theart form.ShecreditsDeviwithbeing likehergrandma. “She is not a teacher as much asshe is guru, and I don’t think a lot ofWest-erners understand that relationship,” Lich-ten said. Currently studying dance at theprestigious Barnard College in NewYork,she hopes someday to dance in India.

But another student of Devi’s, Mrin-alini Pillai, has different aspirations. She’s asophomore at the University of Pittsburghstudying political science and philosophyand is in the pre-med track. Although hercareer path will take her away from thedancing she has done since she was a mere5 years old, Devi, or “Auntie” as so manyof her students call her, will always occupya special place in her life. “What she hasgiven me is the gift of dance, and I willnever be able to repay her for that,” Pillaisaid.Through SIDRA she was able to con-nect with other families of Indian descent,but more than that, Pillai said she was ableto “share a beautiful form of dance thatbrings me a lot of happiness with otherpeople.And that is what’s really amazing.”

Whether like Lichten, Devi’s studentscontinuewithdance,or likePillai,theydecideto pursue other careers, Devi believes theywill always benefit from their understandingof this ancient art form.“If they growup andwant to become a congresswoman, I don’tcare,”she said.“Theywill have learnedabouthumanity and they will be able to stand upwith grace and elegance.”

TOM FEDOR/POST COMMUNITY MEDIASTAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Sutradhar Institute of Dance andRelated Arts (SIDRA) dancers

Maya Brennig, 12 of Springfield,Va., (left) and Lily Henry-Austin,12, of Silver Spring, Md., posefor photographs at SIDRA studio

in Silver Spring.

1930497

Dear Tall Oaks Team:Until recently, I have not had any interaction withCindy Eggleston, Tall Oaks’ director of nursing,other than just a quick “hello” in the hallway. I amwriting to tell you what you already know—she is agem! She was extremely helpful these past fewweeks when Mom was not well, and helped makethe switch to a new doctor seamless. In addition,yesterday I witnessed her wonderful interaction withseveral residents. She is a delight.

Positive feedback seems fairly rare in mostworkplaces these days—folks are quick to grumbleabout things, but slow to praise. I appreciate whatCindy and the entire staff does for the residents ona daily basis.

And if I haven’t said “thank you” enough over theselast 13 years, I am remiss. Thank you, thank you,thank you! Mom often comments on how lucky shefeels that we found Tall Oaks when we weresearching for a retirement community so manyyears ago.

Sincerely,Leigh Sneed


TRAVEL

JAPAN:A fascinating blend of ancient

culture and modern society

BY ELLEN R. COHEN

W hen my husband HarveyCohen and I were sta-tioned in Italy and Ger-many with the U.S. Army

in the 1960s,we hadmany opportunities totravel in Europe.However, our travel expe-riences inAsiahavebeenminimal.Decidingitwas time to seeanewpartof theworld,weleft our home in Rockville, Md., for JapanonOct. 7. Joining a group ofAmerican andCanadian travelers, we enjoyed a two-weekview of this fascinating island nation. Ourtrip, called “Essence of Japan,” combinedancient, modern, traditional, historical andcultural attractions, enabling us to developa deeper understanding of this beautiful butfaraway country.

Located in the North Pacific off thecoasts of Russia and the Korean peninsu-la, Japan is an archipelago slightly smallerthan California.We were impressed by thehordes of people in Japan, especially inTokyo. Japan’s population is dense, at 349people per square kilometer—comparedwith 35 people per square kilometer in theU.S., according toWorld Bank data.

Our visit to Hiroshima, where the firstatomic bomb was dropped Aug. 6, 1945,was especially poignant. Hiroshima PeaceMemorial Park is at ground zero, in thecenter of the city, where monuments, mu-seumsandmemorials arededicated to thosewho lost their lives in this catastrophic event.Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, es-tablished in August 1955, shows in words,pictures and heart-wrenching artifacts theeventsof thathorrificday.Themuseum’s ex-hibits display victims’ clothing and personaleffects, showhow thebomb’s heat destroyedbuilding materials and flesh, and discuss

the health issues suffered by those who sur-vived.What is left of theA-BombDome—ablackened,twisted structure,abuildingonceknown as the Industrial Promotion Hall—still stands inmemoryof thosewhoperishedand was designated as a UNESCOWorldHeritage Site.

We were impressed by the cleanlinessof Japanese streets and public areas. Re-strooms, too, are extremely clean, and weencountered only one homeless person onthe street—in two weeks of walking aroundin several cities. Everyone who has been toJapan comments about theTOTO toiletsfound everywhere.Their bidet-like featuremakes it possible to use a built-in spongebath or shower function that augmentsstandard toilet cleanliness. Some modelshave heated seats. Others have a faucetabove the tank that refills water in the tankafter the flushing handle is depressed, sothat one can wash one’s hands while thetank is refilling.

As animal lovers, we enjoyed the catcafés in Osaka and Kyoto. Customers areinvited to select a cat to pet—chosen fromphotos of the cats that are “working” thatday. People are encouraged to come in andrelax for a while, paying for time with thesesoft, friendly animals.We heard that therewere similar “rabbit cafés,” but we did notencounter them in our travels.

We toured many Shinto and Buddhistshrines and temples. Shintoism and Bud-dhism are Japan's two major religions andJapanese people often subscribe to bothdenominations concurrently.We went toNara to see theTodai-jiTemple, the larg-est wooden building in the world and thesite of the world’s largest bronze statue ofBuddha, which stands more than 50 feettall. After being appropriately impressed

PHOTOS BY HARVEY M. COHEN

Harvey and Ellen Cohen, dressed in yukata, had dinnerat a ryokan, a Japanese-style inn.


with this statue’s immense size, we en-tered Nara Park and were impressedagain, this time with the vast numberof sika deer that roamed the park. Onceconsidered sacred or divine, sika deerwere reclassified as national treasuresafter WorldWar ll and are protected assuch.Visitors may purchase special crack-ers to offer the deer.Though, if you hadno crackers, they would try to eat what-ever you might be holding in your hand.

Japanese foods enjoyed by visitors fromall over the world include sushi, sashimiand tempura.We tried everything and alsoenjoyed a sushi-making class just beforelunch.We sampled the many varieties ofmeat, fish and vegetables cooked on a hiba-chi grill, as well as udon and soba noodlesavailable in noodle houses.

A totally different highlight of thetrip was our “Japanese experience” ata ryokan, a Japanese-style inn oftenfound in hot spring resorts. They havetatami straw floor mats (shoesare removed before standing onthese mats), futon beds placedon the floor, Japanese-stylebaths and appropriate clothingto wear during one’s stay. Onthe day we checked into ourryokan, we were each given ayukata, which is like a kimonobut more casual and lighter.Yukata sets come with an obi(belt), a yukata jacket and socks.These are worn to the bath, todinner and breakfast, and evento bed as sleepwear. During ourtime here, we wore our yukatasto dinner, dined at low Japanesetables (having first removed our shoes)and slept on futons, which were surpris-ingly comfortable.

The public bath, or onsen, was an un-expected concept for us. Our guide gaveus the proper onsen etiquette and invitedus to try it.There are separate onsens formen and women and photography is pro-hibited.There are also rules about howto wash before entering the onsen andhow to behave. No soap or shampoo isallowed in the onsen and, as our guide ex-plained, “The dress code is simple: Onewears nothing.”The women in our groupagreed it was different, but had no inter-est in trying it. My husband and at leastone of the other men in the group triedthe onsen and proclaimed that it was aworthwhile experience.

Our visit to Shirakawago village in themountains was a chance to see rural life inJapan.This old resort town is famous for

traditional farmhouses with steep, thatchedroofs. Made without nails, the roofs onceprovided a large attic space and shelteredlarge families involved in the cultivation ofmulberry trees and raising silkworms.Thesilkworm industry has died out in recentyears,but visitors still come to Shirakawagoto enjoy the area’s rustic ambience.

In recent years,my husband and I haveenjoyed a variety of tours to places that ap-pear on many people’s “bucket lists.” Butthere ismuch to see in Japan.After our trip,we came home with a renewed apprecia-tion for this beautiful island nation and itspeople, their courtly manners, their foodand their history.


The A-Bomb Dome in Hiroshima is one many places Ellen Cohen (picturedhere) visited in Japan with her husband Harvey Cohen.


This is a traditional farmhouse with a thatched roof inShirawakago Village in the mountains of Japan.


This Shinto shrine on the islandof Itsukushima—popularly knownas Miyajima—is best known forits "floating" torii gate. It is in thecity of Hatsukaichi in Hiroshima

Prefecture in Japan.


HEALTH

BY KATE MCDERMOTT

A s a 55-year-old mother of fourwho will celebrate her 31st wed-ding anniversary this year,LindaDouglas of Silver Spring,Md., is

hardly a poster child for high-risk behavior.Coming of age in the 1980s, she never in-jected drugs, snorted cocaine or engaged inunprotected sex withmultiple partners.

So imagine her surprise when she foundout she had hepatitis C.

“I tried to give blood back in 1988 andI was told I had what they called then ‘nonA-nonB’hepatitis,”she recalled.In theyearssince, as additional viruses that cause hepa-titis have been identified, they have earnedtheir own labels, including hepatitis C.

TheAmericanLiver Foundation reportsthat more than 30 million people in theUnited States have some form of liver dis-ease, including hepatitis C.Of the estimated3.2millionAmericans diagnosedwith hepa-titis C, an estimated 75 percent to 80 per-cent are in the baby boomer population.

That is why the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention recommend thateveryone born in 1945 through 1965 (babyboomers) be tested for the virus.Diagnosinghepatitis C before it does irreversible dam-age to the liver is critical. Left untreated, thevirus is a leading cause of liver cancer andthe primary reason for liver transplants.TheCDC reports that 15,000 people die fromhepatitis C-related liver disease annually.

Yet thanks to new treatment therapies,liver specialists are reporting that nearly 95percent of those diagnosed and treated forhepatitis C are cured. It marks an incredibleprogression for a disease that was not evenidentified until 26 years ago.

Silent but DeadlyWhat makes hepatitis C so dangerous is

the fact that patients usually have no symp-toms and can live for decades without feel-

ing ill. Douglas can attest to that. “I neveronce remember feeling sick,” she said. Sure,shewas tired.“What workingmother isn’t?”she recalled thinking.

Kirti Shetty,M.D., associate professor ofmedicine at Johns Hopkins Medicine anddirector of hepatology at Sibley MemorialHospital inWashington,D.C., said hepatitisC causes symptoms such as fatigue, jointpain and depression—things that couldeasily be attributed to other conditions.“Three out of four patients affected do notknow they have it until their liver disease isadvanced,” she said. But at that point, theliver may be so scarred (a condition knownas cirrhosis) that the patient is at risk of liverfailure or liver cancer.

In addition, the virus can also contributeto other conditions, such as diabetes and

vasculitis, which leads to restricted bloodflow to other body organs and tissues, saidZobair M.Younossi,M.D., chairman of theDepartment ofMedicine and vice presidentfor research at InovaHealth System in Fair-fax,Va.

Given that hepatitis C is now curable,the biggest obstacle that liver specialistssuch as Shetty andYounossi face is spread-ing thewordabout its testingand treatment.HuynhTrungTruc of Annandale said hewas grateful that his primary care physicianwas aware of theCDC’s recommendations.She ordered a full blood profile and discov-ered thatHuynhwas infectedwith hepatitisC. “Based on all the test results, it is easyto say that I had been affected by chronichepatitis C for at least 30 years without myknowledge,” he said. Like Douglas, Huynh

wasnot certainhowhecontracted the virus,although he suspected he got it during hisnine years as a prisoner of war inVietnam’scommunist “re-education camps,” wherehe said “the living conditions were horren-dous.”

TheTimesThey Are A-Changin’“We now have a simple screening blood

test that requires only a few drops of blood,and we can have a rapid diagnosis within afew hours,”Younossi said. Horror storiesabout treatment with interferon injectionsthat produce unpleasant and lingering sideeffects are becoming a thing of the past.

Douglas said she watched a co-workerwho also had hepatitis C struggle with inter-feron treatments. “My biopsies were goodand I didn’t feel bad, so I decided to sit it

SPREAD THE WORD,NOT THE DISEASE

Baby boomers are at greatest risk for infection with hepatitis C

DIGITAL VISION/THINKSTOCK

Although some cases of hepatitis Cin the baby boomer population maybe attributable to the age of freelove and psychopharmaceuticals,

some might also be due atainted blood transfusion or

unsterile body piercings.


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out [treatment with interferon] and watchfor a while,” she said. By the time she didseek treatment, she simply took a prescribedregimeof oralmedications for eightweeks.“Iwas told that my numbers started droppingimmediately,”she said.Today,she is hasbeendeclared cured of hepatitis C.

Huynhendured someunpleasant side ef-fects during his 24 weeks of a trial treatmentwith oral medications, including nighttimesleep disruption and body rashes. But withweekly blood tests showing that the medica-tions were significantly reducing his hepatitisC infection, he remained committed to theregime. “I am very happy to learn that theFDA approved the trial medication I took,”he said. “I also learned that, in some cases,the treatment periodmaybe reduced to only12weeks.”

Younossi said new treatment optionscontinue to evolve rapidly.These new thera-pies do not create many of the unpleasantside effects of their predecessors, and hestressed that they could lead to an immedi-ate improvement in quality of life, especiallyas related to the fatigue thatmanyhepatitisCpatients report.

Shetty acknowledged that these newantiviral medications were not cheap (sometreatmentplans caneasily exceed$100,000),but she said they only need to be given fora short period of time, anywhere from eightto 12 weeks, as Huynh discovered. And asYounossi points out, “The cost of the drugsis small in comparison to cost of treating thedisease. It’swhatwe call the cost of the cure.”

Private insurers may require documen-tation of the severity of the disease throughliver biopsies or a new scanning test that canassess the level of scarring in the liver—whilesparing patients the pain of a traditional liverbiopsy—prior to approving treatment. ButYounossi said that Medicare is beginning toease some of its restrictions on covering the

newanti-viralsused for treatmentofhepatitisC and he is seeing increased coverage by pri-vate insurers, as well.

Reversing the StigmaTheAmerican Liver Foundation has de-

veloped a list of risk factors for hepatitis Cthat for many baby boomers, like Douglas,may representnothingmore than thenaivetyof youth.“The only thing I can think of thatmight have causedme to get hepatitis Cwasthat I got a tattoo at a festival in 1982,” sherecalled.Whether it was a tainted needle orink, she can’t be sure. But she is comfortedthat neither her husband nor her childrencontracted the disease before she was cured.

Douglas is not ashamed of her diagno-sis and is doing her part to spread the wordamong her peers about the importanceof being screened.That is key, Shetty andYounossi said, because many primary carephysicians still may not be ordering the basicscreening test. “They may be aware of theCDC’s recommendationsbutnothave strat-egies for implementing them,”Younossi said.It may be up to patients to ask their physi-cians to do the blood test.

But for thosepatientswhoarediagnosed,Shetty said it is important to be linked tospecialized care such as an infectious diseasespecialist or hematologist.Younossi also en-couraged lifestyle modifications such as ab-staining from raw seafood and alcohol (evenin moderation) and getting vaccinated forhepatitisA andB.

But for those with the virus, the progno-sis is excellent. “I feel so great now!”Huynhsaid, noting that he feels more energeticthan he did prior to his diagnosis.His bloodtests reveal he has been cured of hepati-tis C. “Hepatitis C has gone from being alife-threatening, end-stage disease to beingsomethingwe can cure,” said Shetty.“It’s re-ally remarkable.”

YOU MAY BE AT RISK OF HEPATITIS C IF YOU:• Shared needles to inject drugs or straws to inhale them.• Had tattoos or body piercings in an unclean environmentusing unsterile equipment.

• Worked in a place where you came in contact with infected bloodor needles, for example, health care workers.

• Received a blood transfusion or organ transplant prior to July 1992.• Received a blood product for clotting problems made prior to 1987.• Needed to have your blood filtered by a machine (hemodialysis)for a long period of time because your kidneys weren’t working.

• Were born to a mother with hepatitis C.• Had unprotected sex with multiple partners.• Have or had a sexually transmitted disease.• Have HIV.Source: American Liver Foundation


Carolyn McKenna • Shillelagh Travel Club100 East Street #202 • Vienna, Virginia 22180Phone: 703.242.2204 • Fax: 703.242.2781

www.shillelaghtravelclub.com

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Celebrating our 50th Year!”Celebrating our 50th Year!”

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Moore said she participates in an inter-national issues study group and a currentevents group.

“Where else could be a better spot if youhad taught government and continue to beinterested in it?” she asked, adding that sheespecially enjoyed bus trips to museumsand art galleries.

On themain level is a library with booksand computers with Internet access.Thisroom has an “OldWorld” feel with brownleather chairs, wood floors, and floor-to-ceiling, dark wood shelves.

Next to the library is a movie theaterwith 25 traditional theater seats.

“We’ve got a popcornmaker and snacksfor sale, and we take requests for movies—from old classics to fairly newly releaseddramas andmysteries,” said Niebauer.

All residents get pendants to alert nurs-ing if they need assistance.There is a clinicwith an on-site nurse and physicians.

The Fountains also considered resi-dents’ health when it put in a fitness center,which is open 24 hours a day, with low-im-pact fitnessmachines, light freeweights, andyoga and dance classes.

MaryKeil spends a lot of time exercisingin a parlor within the assisted-living facilityunit.“I have an exercise class five times aweek, and the people in the class have be-come my friends,” said 82-year-old Keil.She said she stays busy in other ways sincemoving toTheFountainswith her husband.

“A group of us plays trivia games,” shesaid. “I’m involved in resident council andin a book club and Bible study.”

Just outside the main entrance is a shortpath leading to a koi pond surrounded byfoliage. A large balcony off the rehab unithosts summer barbecues and has an elevat-ed garden bed to one side, where residentsgrow flowers and produce.

Besides watching movies in his livingroom with his wife and engaging in severalresident groups, Bill Keil said he loves play-ing the piano in the Sky Room, where heaccompanies a singing group composed ofsome of his neighbors.

“We got three of the girls dressed up likethe Andrews Sisters, and I learned to play‘BoogieWoogie Bugle Boy’ and ‘Don’t SitUnder the Apple TreeWith Anyone ButMe,’” said Bill Keil.“The place was packed.We’re all friends, and we have a blast.”


Elizabeth Clement, a resident of The Fountains at Washington House inAlexandria, enjoys the art room, one of the most popular amenities at

the retirement community.

FOUNTAINS, continued from 11


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iscover why many people like you have come to call the Hermitage home—thechance to experience a new lifestyle with an array of services and amenities.Just ask resident John Mutchler, who appreciates the freedom from home

maintenance and the opportunity to participate in clubs and social activities. Ourresidents also rave about our superb dining service, our courteous and helpful staff, andan overall feeling of caring and security that comes with living at the Hermitage.

You’ll also gain peace of mind knowing that health care and supportive services areavailable right here, if you ever need them.

For more information, call 703-797-3814.

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