April Headlines and More From The Beacon
Read the Beacon each month for informative articles and "Beacon Bits" like these below:

Everyday heroes to the rescue
DC resident Carol Zachary, 60, helps victims of natural disasters, sometimes driving across country to work 14-hour days. But don't try to call her a hero. "My part is very small," she insists. "It's just muscle and common sense."
For the full article, click here.

Where to find gourmet meals at a fraction of the cost
Culinary academies across the country have their own restaurants, where their students get to practice their skills. The food is great and well-presented, but the prices are a fraction of what you'd pay elsewhere. But they seldom advertise, even on the schools' Web sites. Read this to learn how to find them.
For the full article, click here.

Now might be a good time to buy a car
Learn how to get the best deal, and what the new stimulus package has to offer you. But financing can still be a problem...
For the full article, click here.

HEALTH BEACON BITS
From The Beacon Newspaper
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Apr. 18 - YOUR EYES AND NUTRITION
Attend a free seminar about your eyes and nutrition on Saturday, April 18. A macular degeneration support group begins at 9:30 a.m., and the seminar, which features a retina surgeon, begins at 10:30 a.m. The session, sponsored by the Prevention of Blindness Society, takes place at Sibley Memorial Hospital, 5255 Loughboro Rd., N.W., Washington, D.C. For more information, call (202) 234-1010 or visit www.youreyes.org.

Apr. 20 - ORGANIC PRODUCTS COOKING DEMO
Learn about organic products worth buying and participate in a cooking demonstration by representatives from the Virginia Cooperative Extension office at this free session on Monday, April 20 at 10 a.m. at the Langston-Brown Senior Center, 2121 N. Culpeper St., Arlington, Va. For more information, call (703) 228-5321.

May 2 - SPIRITUAL HEALING
An international panel of medical doctors will discuss spiritual healing at a free, non-denominational seminar on Saturday, May 2, from 3 to 7 p.m. The session is organized by the Medical Scientific Group (MWF) of the Bruno Groening Circle, and will be held at George Mason University's Fairfax campus, 4400 University Dr., Fairfax, Va. For more information, call Heidi Gewehr at (571) 313-0267 or e-mail her at h.gewehr@web.de.

Ongoing - BALLSTON COMMON MALL WALKS
A free mall-walking program for fitness and fun, Commonwalk meets two mornings a week at the Ballston Common Mall and is facilitated by staff from Virginia Hospital Center. If you are interested in participating, stop by Ballston Common, 4238 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va., Tuesday or Thursday mornings between 8 and 9 a.m. Each walk is followed by a brief cool down and flexibility session. For more information, call the hospital at (703) 558-5000.

Ongoing - FREE TRANSPORTATION GUIDE
The D.C. Cancer Consortium has published a free pocket-sized transportation guide to assist area cancer patients and survivors in finding reliable and cost-effective transportation. Entries are broken down by state and include contact information and a description of each service, detailing the population toward whom the service is targeted. Copies of the guide are available upon request by contacting Rosemary Pantaleo at rpantaleo@dccancerconsortium.org or online at http://dccancerconsortium.org/publications/transport_guide.pdf. The consortium can be contacted at (202) 895-9447.

MONEY BEACON BITS
From The Beacon Newspaper
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Apr. 8 - TAX CREDIT FOR ACCESSIBLE HOMES
Learn about the Livable Home Tax Credit, a program designed to improve accessibility in Virginia residences by providing state tax credits for the purchase of new housing units or the retrofitting of existing units. Come to the Arlington NARFE meeting on Wednesday, April 8 at 1 p.m. at the Culpepper Garden Senior Center, 4435 N. Pershing Dr., Arlington Va. The meeting is open to the public. For more information, call (703) 578-1935 or visit http://www.vanarfe.org/7/7.htm.

Apr. 17 - GET YOUR POWERS TOGETHER
Attend a free workshop for people with cancer and their loved ones to learn about powers of attorney, financial powers, healthcare powers, living wills and advanced directives. You will be given the opportunity to prepare advanced directives with a notary at the conclusion of the workshop. The event, presented by the Wellness Community, will be held on Friday, April 17 from noon to 2 p.m. at 5430 Grosvenor Ln., Suite 100, Bethesda, Md. For reservations, contact (301) 493-5002 or twcdc@wellnesscommunitydc.org.

Apr. 18 - AVOIDING SCAMS
The Fairfax County Health Department's Adult Day Health Care Centers and the George Mason Public Library are sponsoring a free seminar for people caring for adults with cognitive or physical disabilities. "Avoiding Scams and Frauds Targeting the Older Adult" will take place on Saturday, April 18 from 10 a.m. to noon at the George Mason Regional Library, 7001 Little River Tnpk, Annandale, Va. For more information, call (703) 750-3316.

Apr. 18+ - REBATES FOR RAIN BARRELS
The Maryland cities of Gaithersburg and Rockville offer incentives to property owners who install natural drainage projects such as rain barrels - containers that connect to existing downspouts to collect rainwater from rooftops. A free information session about the installation and use of rain barrels will be held on Saturday, April 18 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Rockville Senior Center, 1150 Carnation Dr., Rockville, Md. For more information about the Rainscapes Rewards program, Gaithersburg residents should call (301) 258-6310 or e-mail environment@gaithersburgmd.gov. Rockville residents should call (240) 314-8870 or e-mail environment@rockvillemd.gov.

Apr. 23 - MONEY TIPS FOR CAREGIVERS
Learn how to identify key personal and financial documents, organize paperwork, assess your loved one's financial situation, and develop a strategy to stretch financial assets to pay for care at this free seminar on Thursday, April 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. The session takes place at the Oakton Library, 10304 Lynnhaven Pl., Oakton, Va. For more information, call (703) 242-4020.

TRAVEL BEACON BITS
From The Beacon Newspaper
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Ongoing - HOTEL DISCOUNTS FOR SENIORS
Warwick Hotels' new "65 rate" for people 65+ offers savings of 50 to 70 percent off accommodations. Hotels in Dallas, Denver, San Francisco and Seattle will offer rooms beginning at $65. The flagship Warwick Hotel in Manhattan will offer a single or double room beginning at $165. An individual can book one or two rooms for this rate, so that friends and family of all ages can come along. The booking code is WKSNR, and the rates can be secured through a travel agent or at www.warwickhotels.com. For more information, call 1-800-203-3232.

Apr. 15+ - INDIA TRAVELOGUE
The Holiday Park Senior Center presents a two-part travelogue about India on consecutive Wednesdays, both from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. Part one, on April 15, will explore New Delhi, the Taj Mahal, Jaipur, Udaiur and Mumbai. Part two, on April 22, highlights the exotic city of Kathmandu and the spectacular Himalayas in Nepal. Admission is free. The center is located at 3950 Ferrara Dr., Wheaton, Md. For more information, call (240) 777-4999.

Apr. 28 - SEE BROOKSIDE GARDENS
Brookside Gardens, an award-winning, 50-acre public display garden situated within Wheaton Regional Park, includes an azalea garden, a rose garden, a fragrance garden, a Japanese style garden and more. The Long Branch Senior Center, 8700 Piney Branch Rd., Silver Spring, Md., is hosting a trip to the gardens on Tuesday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to noon. Wear walking shoes. Trip registration is $7 for Montgomery County residents, $9 for non-residents (does not include the cost of lunch). For more information, call (301) 431-5708 or visit http://recweb.montgomerycountymd.gov and request mini trip #235743.

Apr. 29 - CUBA AND HAITI ON FILM
The Long Branch Senior Center presents a video travelogue of Cuba and Haiti on Wednesday, April 29 at 11 a.m. Explore bustling Havana, the cigar famed Pinar del Rio region and the musical Santiago de Cuba. Then travel to Port au Prince, Haiti, and follow the journey to the spectacular Citadel in Cap Haitien. The center is located at 8700 Piney Branch Rd., Silver Spring, Md. For more information, call (301) 431-5708.

VOLUNTEER BEACON BITS
From The Beacon Newspaper
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Apr. 22 - NETWORKING MADE SIMPLE
Do you want to find a new job, grow your business, or expand your circle of contacts? This interactive workshop covers how, where and when to network. It also will give you the opportunity to practice with others who are eager to network with you. The session will be held on Wednesday, April 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Montgomery County Commission for Women Counseling & Career Center, 401 N. Washington St., Suite 100, Rockville, Md. The fee is $20. For more information, call (240) 777-8300 or visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/cfw.

Apr. 28 - NEW TO RETIREMENT?
Wondering what to do now that you're retired? An Arlington County transitions counselor will meet with retirees on Tuesday, Apr. 28 at 11:15 a.m. to discuss enhancing retirement by selecting enjoyable activities to fill your days with purpose and joy. The free event will be held at the Lee Senior Center, 5722 Lee Hwy., Arlington, Va. To register, call (703) 228-0555.

Ongoing - NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVING AWARDS
Until Friday, April 24, the National Alliance for Caregiving and MetLife Foundation are accepting applications for the 2009 National Family Caregiving Awards Program. The program is intended to improve the quality of life of family caregivers by recognizing the work of organizations that support them. For more information, visit http://web.raffa.com/nac/caregiver_awards/ or contact Kathleen Cameron at kathleen56@caregiving.org or (703) 585-6607.

EVENT BEACON BITS
From The Beacon Newspaper

Apr. 11 - SPRING GARDEN IN A POT
Learn how to grow little lettuces and other small spring vegetables in a container on a sunny doorstep at this family-friendly program at Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria, Va., on Saturday, April 11. Take home your tiny victory garden and harvest healthy snacks through the season. The $15 project cost includes plants, a container and soil. For more information, call (703)-642-5173 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/gsgp.

Apr. 15 - MONTGOMERY COUNTY SENIOR LEADERS
If you are looking for new opportunities to share your wisdom and talent, give back to the community, and meet like-minded people, come to an information session to learn about the 2010 class of Senior Leadership Montgomery. The 2009 class will host a recruitment session at the Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce, 7910 Woodmont Ave., Suite 1204, Bethesda, Md., on Wednesday, April 15, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. For more information, call Esther Newman at (301) 881-3333 or visit http://poplarspring.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=305909.

ARTS BEACON BITS
From The Beacon Newspaper
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Apr. 4-19 - BRING THE GRANDKIDS
The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery presents weekend programs for children ages 8 to 14 and their adult companions. Learn about gold and silver masterworks from Japan and make your own gold and silver picture at "Moonlight and Clouds," which will take place on Saturdays, April 4, 11 and 18 and Sundays, April 5, 12 and 19 at 2 p.m. in the ImaginAsia classroom. The programs are free and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The gallery is located at Independence Ave. and 12th St., S.W., Washington, D.C. For more information, call (202)-633-1000 or visit www.asia.si.edu.

Apr. 9 - DON'T STOP BELIEVING
The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" presents a high-energy, high-volume tribute to '80s rock band Journey on Thursday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Brucker Hall, 400 McNair Rd., Fort Myer, Va. The concert is free and open to the public; no tickets are required. For more information, call (703) 696-3399 or visit www.usarmyband.com.

Ongoing - JEWISH LIFE IN MR. LINCOLN'S CITY
This exhibit at the Washington Hebrew Congregation, 3935 Macomb St. N.W., Washington D.C., highlights local Jewish life during the Civil War, and describes through seven narratives how the war affected the Jewish community. The exhibit will be featured at Washington Hebrew Congregation until May 31. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and during Shabbat services and other programs. Admission is free. For more information, call (202) 362-7100.

Apr. 16+ - CIVIL RIGHTS PHOTOGRAPHY
"Most Daring Dream: The Photography of Robert Houston and the 1968 Poor People's Campaign" will be on display from Thursday, April 16 until Tuesday, May 12 at Montgomery College, 7600 Takoma Ave., Takoma Park, Md. The traveling exhibition features images of the campaign considered by many scholars to have been Martin Luther King, Jr.'s most ambitious vision. Admission is free. For more information, contact Professor Joseph Kabriel at (240) 567-5805 or e-mail him at joseph.kabriel@montgomerycollege.edu.