By Shirley BrenonThe Coachella Valley Radio Control Club

has come a long way from a loosely knitgroup of model airplane enthusiasts to anorganization of 150 members with a profes-sional flying field.

One of the oldest organizations in theCoachella Valley, it started with a group ofweekend pilots in 1938, stopped duringWWII and picked up again after the war.Flying fields were empty lots, ranch fieldsor any place with a level site away fromhouses or power lines. By 1999 Dan Metz,then president, was anxious to find a perma-nent “airport” as the gypsy fliers had sharedtheir hobby on more than a dozen sites.

After many disappointments, the Bureauof Reclamation offered 240 acres alongsidethe Coachella Canal in Thermal with a 25-year contract for $1 a year and a chance torenew for another 25 years. The propertywas littered with old cars, furniture, con-struction debris and hundreds of tires, butthe model pilots descended on the propertyto man tractors and bulldozers for a mas-sive cleanup. Metz reached out to the com-munity for financial help and was rewardedwith checks from developers, large compa-nies and donations from members.

“I realize that there were many workersand angels that helped us through thisprocess, but Dan Metz continues to be thewind beneath our wings. He led the fightfor our flying field and continues to lead usas president,” says Murray Ross, who hasbeen flying for 28 years and was part of thiswork force.

The field opened in May 2002. Today,the flying venue, with an 865-foot by 70-footrunway, large pit area, 10 shade structures,ample parking for cars and motor homes,is available to the members 365 days a year.

Spectators are always welcome free ofcharge unless the club is holding an eventwith an admission fee.

The flying bugCVRCC members range in age from

teenagers to late 80s and in lifestyles fromstudent to retiree. Member Jim Morgan en-couraged his grandson Darrel to fly, and heis now very proficient in aerobatic flying.Eisenhower Medical Center surgeon Dr.Allen Williamson and his teenage son Johnalso fly together at the field.

Most of the pilots are not interested incompetition, but just enjoy bringing planesout to fly and photograph.

“The most enjoyable aspect of the hobbyfor me is going to the field to watch and pho-tograph other pilots flying their planes andsharing my photos,” says member Jim Burk.

Another photographer, George Muir, isnoted for his videos of rapidly moving jets.

“I’ve always been interested in flyingR/C planes but have only been flying and amember for 10 years. I remember back inthe early ‘70s I would ride my bicycle to theIndio Date Festival parking lot and watchErnie Chapin and Bob Taylor (two of the

early fliers) fly their airplanes.” Ned Smith has been fascinated by air-

planes since he was a child. His parentslived near Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio,and left his crib outside in the yard so hecould see the airplanes flying overhead.

“I suspect it caused my interest in air-planes,” he says. “The hobby gives mesomething to fill my time and helps keepme mentally and physically active.”

Retired engineer Court Moe has beenflying for more than 10 years and says heenjoys the intellectual challenges of putting

More than 40,000 readers throughout the Coachella Valley

COMPLIMENTARY

VOL.4, NO.7

I N F O C U S F O R P E O P L E O V E R 5 0JULY 2015

Up and away with model planes

See MODEL PLANES, page 19

I N S I D E …

The Coachella Valley

John Williamson, Dan Metz and Dr. Allen Williamson prepare for the maiden flight ofWilliamson’s scratch-built Mitchell B-25 during a Coachella Valley Radio Control Clubevent.

FITNESS & HEALTH 4k Cocoa helps memoryk A blood test to replace biopsies

LAW & MONEY 12k Healthcare funds still strongk Freebies for retirees

ADVERTISER DIRECTORY 22

PLUS BEACON BITS & MORE

ARTS & STYLEHead west for cooler-weatherevents; also, explore star-stud-ded new film discussing agingand the passing of time

page 20

LEISURE & TRAVELEager to visit Cuba? Somethings to know; plus, how toavoid travel insurance disputes

page 16

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We are proud of our publication, and wehope you are too. Our “Community News-paper for People over 50” is available forreaders at more than 800 free distributionsites across the Coachella Valley.

That includes supermarkets, more than100 country clubs and condo associations,200 doctor and dentist offices and morethan 100 mobile home parks. You’ll alsofind the Coachella Valley Beacon in libraries,car washes, hospitals, restaurants, assistedliving facilities, CVS and Walgreen pharma-cies, churches and synagogues, casinos,banks and hotels.

Plus, you can read us online at www.the-beaconnewspapers.com.

Our editorial content covers major as-pects of your life — fitness and health, lawand money, leisure and travel, and arts and

style. We are the only publication in theCoachella Valley dedicated solely to peopleover 50, and we know there are a lot of youin the desert. A lot.

Of the almost half-million full-time valleyresidents, 52 percent are over the age of 50.When the snowbirds stream into the valleyfor two- to six-month stays, 54 percent ofthem, or about 162,000, are over the age of50. And, the over-50 group controls morethan 70 percent of the buying power in thevalley. (If those numbers seem high, con-sider this: The Coachella Valley Associationof Governments predicts a populationgrowth of 604,000 permanent residents by2020. That’s an increase by 27 percent inless than five years.)

So statistics show you are the perfect au-dience for the Beacon, and we hope to

serve you well for years to come.How can we do this? At first glance you

may think it’s the dedicated staff, but evenbefore that — it’s the advertis-ers. Without them, there wouldbe no Beacon. Another part ofthat answer is you, our readers.We need you to continue tosupport our advertisers.

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• 87 percent of readersvisited an advertiser or madea purchase

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We hope and need you to continue tosupport our advertisers.

Just as our stories can enhance your life,we know our advertisers do also. For in-stance, in one recent issue the array of ad-vertisers touched a broad spectrum of lifeissues for people over 50: chiropractors, as-sisted living facilities, hearing, barbers,lawyers, home care, and apparel for sen-iors.

Also, sliding doors, fitness centers, win-dow replacement, radiators, computers, realestate, bookkeeping, coins, art, bus tours, in-

formation ads about water-userestrictions, radio program-ming, drug stores, hair andmake-up, personal services,movies, storage, organizers,dentists and fitness centers.

Between our advertisersand our stories, we cover justabout everything you need toknow about living happily inthe desert.

Another segment of theBeacon reader survey wouldlead you to think many of our

readers lead a fulfilled life, with energy andfunds to spare. Looking ahead, the surveypointed out where our readers are planningto spend their money. The top 5 in a list of34 choices, in order: gifts for grandkids,domestic travel, gardening equipment,home cleaning service, and ophthalmolo-gist or optician.

We thank you for reading the CoachellaValley Beacon and shopping with our adver-tisers.

When you talk to one of our advertisers,please, please tell them you saw their ad inthe Beacon. Please remember without theadvertisers there would be no CoachellaValley Beacon!BeaconThe Coachella Valley

I N F O C U S F O R P E O P L E O V E R 5 0

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The Coachella Valley Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedi cated to informing, serving and en ter taining the citi zens of the Coachella Valley area,and is independently owned and operated by On-Target Media, Inc. under authority of the Beacon Newspapers, Inc. Other Beacon editions serve Howard County, Md. and Baltimore, Md., as well as Greater Washington, D.C.

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• Publisher ........................................................................Michael Brachman• Local Valley Contributing Writers ......Shirly Brenon, Jamie Lee Pricer

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Free “Jazz in the Pines”passes for CV Beacon readers

A special arrangement between theCoachella Valley Beacon and IdyllwildArts means several lucky readers havea chance to enjoy Jazz in the Pines. Toa receive free ticket, all you need to dois enjoy this current issue of the Beaconand then call us with the answer to thisquestion, which you will find some-

where in these pages:Who are the three stars in the film

Youth?The first 6 callers who call the Beacon

office at (760) 668-2226, with the cor-rect answer, will receive 1 free pass toJazz in the Pines. Limit 1 ticket perhousehold. Best of luck!

WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFOREThe Hubble telescope was launched on April 24, 1990. The LaQuinta Museum is celebrating 25 years in space with 25 rarely

seen images transmitted to earth from the Hubble telescope. This exhibit, “Po-etry in Motion: Hubble at 25,” will be on view until Thursday, Oct. 15. The mu-seum is at 77-885 Avenida Montezuma. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday toSaturday. (760) 777-7170, www.la-quinta.org

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

SHUFFLE ’EM!Joslyn Center offers ACBL-sanctioned, duplicate bridge play onMondays and Thursdays with check-in starting at noon and play

beginning at 12:30 p.m. Seating is limited and players must call to reserve aspace. Call BJ Moses at (760) 933-8830 or email to mhdbc1@gmail.com. Allplayers must be Joslyn Center members. The center is at 73-750 Catalina Way,Palm Desert.

BEACON BITS

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COACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — J U LY 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon 3

By Marilynn MarchioneFor the first time, a large study suggests

that a vitamin might modestly lower therisk of the most common types of skin can-cer in people with a history of these rela-tively harmless yet troublesome growths.

In a study in Australia, people who tooka specific type of vitamin B3 for a year hada 23 percent lower rate of new skin cancerscompared to others who took dummy pills.In absolute terms, it meant that vitamin tak-ers developed fewer than two of these can-cers on average versus roughly 2.5 cancersfor the others.

The study did not involve melanoma, themost deadly form of skin cancer. Instead, itaimed at more common forms — basal and

squamous cell cancers. More than 3 millioncases are diagnosed each year in theUnited States.

“These are sort of the run-of-the-millskin cancers that so many people get,” saidDr. Richard Schilsky, chief medical officerof the American Society of Clinical Oncol-ogy, an organization of cancer specialists.“They’re rarely lethal, but they’re very per-sistent, and they keep coming back.”

They are also expensive to remove, usu-ally through surgery, freezing off the spotsor radiation.

More research needed Schilsky and other doctors with the on-

cology group said the vitamin, called nicoti-

namide, could offer a cheap, easy way tolower risk.

However, Australia has higher rates ofskin cancer than the U.S. and other parts ofthe world, and some doctors may wantmore evidence beyond this single study be-fore recommending the pills. Vitaminshave long proved elusive for cancer preven-tion, and some studies have even found cer-tain ones can be harmful.

Researchers also stressed they were notsuggesting vitamin use for people who havenot yet had one of these cancers.

“At the moment, it’s not something forthe general population,” said the study’sleader, Dr. Diona Damian of the Dermatol-ogy University of Sydney in Australia.

“We must always remember the basics ofsun-sensible behaviors” — avoiding overex-posure and using sunscreen — as the bestways for anyone to lower risk, she said.

The study involved 386 people who hadat least two skin cancers in the previous fiveyears. They took either 500 milligrams ofthe vitamin or dummy pills twice a day fora year. Neither they nor their doctors knewwho got what until the study ended.

Besides reducing the rate of skin can-cers, vitamin use also seemed to cut therate of pre-cancers — scaly patches of skincalled actinic keratoses — by 11 percentafter three months of use, and by 20 per-

Vitamin B3 may help prevent skin cancer

4 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com J U LY 2 0 1 5 — CO ACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON

HealthFitness & GENETIC TESTING INCONSISTENTGenetic testing is not as conclusive orcorrect as previously thought

THE POWER OF CHOCOLATEFlavanols in cocoa can improve circula-tion, thinking skills and memory

LOWER GLAUCOMA RISKThe drug metformin may help reduceglaucoma risk in diabetics

See VITAMIN B3, page 5

cent after nine months. Participants were tracked for six months

after they stopped taking their pills, and therate of new skin cancers was similar in bothgroups.

“The benefit wears off fairly quickly,”Damian said. “You need to continue taking thetablets for them to continue to be effective.”

A special kind of vitamin B3 Nicotinamide (nih-kuh-TEE’-nuh-myd) is

thought to help repair DNA in cells dam-aged by sun exposure. It is not the same asnicotine, the addictive stuff in tobacco. It’salso not the same as niacin and some otherforms of B3, which can cause flushing,headaches and blood pressure problems.

Those problems were not seen with nicoti-namide in the study.

Nicotinamide is sold over the counter, iseasy to take, and “there are essentially noside effects,” Schilsky said.

However, it might be a little tough to find.A check of one major drugstore chainfound only other forms of B3, such asniacin, or combination B vitamins. Online,some retailers offered nicotinamide forprices ranging from a nickel to a dollar atablet, sometimes combined with otherthings.

Australia’s National Health and MedicalResearch Council funded the study.

Information on vitamin/cancer evidencecan be found at http://tinyurl.com/ktuquta.

Learn more about skin cancer atwww.cancer.org/cancer/skincancer/index.

— AP

COACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — J U LY 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health 5

These drinks mayprotect your skin

Sunscreen is the first line of defenseagainst sun damage (experts say slatheron an ounce — about a palmful — of SPF30 or higher and re-apply every twohours).

But now it has some help. New researchsuggests that these beverages may also de-liver nutrients that protect your skin:

Green teaStudy results published in the Journal

of Nutrition found that women whodrank four cups of green tea per day for12 weeks lowered their risk of sunburnby 25 percent. Plus their skin density andelasticity — qualities that make skin lookyounger — improved.

According to the 2011 study, powerfulantioxidants in green tea called catechinsabsorb UV light, protecting the skin.

CoffeeThat morning cup of coffee can do

more than boost your energy. A 2011study out of Harvard Medical Schoolfound that people who drink coffee areless likely to develop basal cell carcinoma(the most common type of nonmelanoma

skin cancer) than those who don’t.Moreover, the risk was lowest for

those who drank the most — three cupsa day lowered risk by 20 percent inwomen and 9 percent in men. Re-searcher Fengju Song, Ph.D., thinks thecaffeine in coffee helps reduce poten-tially-cancerous UV-damaged cells bystimulating them to naturally die off.

Red wine Although white wine might be your

summer sip of choice, preliminary re-search out of the University of Barcelonapoints to a new reason to choose red. Re-searchers found that proanthocyanidins,antioxidants found in red grapes, mayhelp prevent oxidative reactions in yourskin.

Oxidative reactions, often stemmingfrom sun exposure, can damage and killcells, which in turn may lead to sun-burns, wrinkles and possibly skin cancer.Before you pour yourself another glass,though, remember that the recom-mended cap on alcoholic beverages isone a day for women, two for men.

— EatingWell

Vitamin B3From page 4

TIPSY AND NEED A FREE RIDE HOME?A new free service with no tipping will pick up riders in PalmDesert, Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells and drop them off to their

homes across the Coachella Valley. PGA DUI “Free Rides” cars will offer servicefrom 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday. To use the service, call (760) 340-1500. www.pgadui.org

DO YOU SAY ‘HUH’ A LOT?Connect Hearing will give free hearing screenings from 10 a.m. tonoon, Thursday, July 16 at the Desert Hot Springs Senior Center,

11-777 West Dr., Desert Hot Springs. (760) 329-0222

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

July 16

By Marilynn MarchioneThe first report from a big public-private

project to improve genetic testing reveals itis not as rock solid as many people believe,with flaws that result in some peoplewrongly advised to worry about a diseaserisk and others wrongly told they can relax.

Researchers say the study shows theneed for consumers to be careful aboutchoosing where to have a gene test doneand acting on the results — such as havingor forgoing a preventive surgery.

“We have very clear documentation thatthere are differences in what patients are get-ting” in terms of how tests on the same genevariations are interpreted, said the studyleader, Heidi Rehm, genetics lab chief atBrigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

When deciding to get tested, eitherthrough a doctor’s office or by sending in aswab to a private company, “patients needto choose labs that are sharing their data”with the broader research community soscientists can compare and learn from the

results and make testing more accurate foreveryone, she said.

Interpretation is keyDozens of companies now offer gene

tests to gauge a person’s risk of developingvarious disorders. One of the newest testson the market costs $250 and checks about20 genes that can affect breast cancer risk.

But not all gene mutations, or variants, areequal. Some raise risk a lot, others just a little,and some not at all. Most are of unknown sig-nificance — a quandary for doctors and pa-tients alike. And most variants are uncommon,making it even tougher to figure out whichones matter and how much.

To solve these mysteries and give patientsbetter information, the U.S. government sev-eral years ago helped form and fund ClinVar,a database for researchers around the worldto pool gene findings, coded to keep patients’identities confidential. More than 300 labscontribute to it, including universities such asHarvard and Emory and some private com-panies such as Ambry Genetics and GeneDX.

In May, the group made its first report ata conference in Washington. The study alsowas published online by the New EnglandJournal of Medicine.

So far, the project has tracked more than172,000 variants in nearly 23,000 genes —a small portion of the millions known to

exist but some of the more common onesthat have been identified.

More than 118,000 of these variants havean effect on the risk for a disease — and 11percent have been analyzed by more thanone lab so results can be compared. In 17percent of those cases, labs interpreted thefindings differently, as either raising therisk of a disease, having no effect on it, orhaving an unknown effect.

Affects life-altering decisionsAt least 415 gene variants now have dif-

ferent interpretations that could sway amedical decision — such as whether tohave healthy breasts or ovaries removed tolower the risk of cancer, or to get a medicaldevice such as an implanted defibrillator tocut the risk of sudden cardiac death.

“The magnitude of this problem is big-ger than most people thought,” saidMichael Watson, executive director of theAmerican College of Medical Genetics andGenomics, one of the study’s authors and apartner in the data pooling project.

And it can harm patients. Rehm de-scribed a woman who had genetic testingand wrongly was told she did not have ele-vated risks for breast cancer. She later de-veloped the disease, and realized she could

Genetic testing results can often conflict6 Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com J U LY 2 0 1 5 — CO ACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON

Residency requirements at this community require that at least one resident of household must be 55 years of age or older and additional restrictions apply. Some residents may be younger than 55. Homeowner association fees required. Prices shown are estimated base prices, do not include lot premiums or option and are subject to change without notice. Community association fees are required at this community. Additional information regarding these fees can be found in the DRE public report or a separate fact sheet on facilities available at the sales office. Images are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be an actual representation of a specific community, neighborhood or any completed improvements being offered. This material shall not constitute a valid offer in any state where prior registration is required other than California or if void by law. Offers and availability subject to change or withdrawal without notice. Homes subject to prior sale. See a Del Webb sales associate for details. © 2015 Pulte Home Corporation. All rights reserved. Pulte Home Corporation is a licensed California real estate broker (lic.#00876003) 7/8/2015.

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See GENETIC TESTING, page 7

Chocolate is more than just a temptingtreat. Certain compounds in chocolate,called cocoa flavanols, have been shown toboost health. But that doesn’t mean youshould start loading up on the sweets.

“Consuming cocoa flavanols in chocolate istricky. You need to understand the risks andbenefits first,” said Dr. Miguel Alonso-Alonso,a neuroscientist at Harvard-affiliated Beth Is-rael Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Mass.

Magic beansFlavanols are a type of plant nutrient

found in many foods and drinks — such astea, red wine, blueberries, apples, pears,cherries, and nuts. They’re particularlyabundant in cacao beans, which are theseeds of the cacao tree. Fermenting, dryingand roasting cacao beans yields cocoa pow-der, which is used to make chocolate.

Flavanols in cocoa have been studied formany years. They’ve been shown to helplower blood pressure, improve blood flowto the brain and heart, prevent blood clots,and fight cell damage. They’ve also beenshown to help thinking skills.

A study published in the February 2015American Journal of Clinical Nutritionfound that older adults with normal think-ing skills who consumed between 500 and900 milligrams (mg.) of cocoa flavanolsevery day for eight weeks made significantimprovements on tests that measured at-tention, executive function and memory.

A similar study in 2012 showed that dailyconsumption of cocoa flavanols was associ-ated with improved thinking skills in olderadults who had cognitive problems.

“From laboratory and animal studies, weknow that flavanols facilitate brain cell con-nections and survival, and protect braincells from toxins or the harmful effects ofinflammation,” said Alonso-Alonso.

Not all chocolate is healthfulSince cocoa flavanols are so beneficial, it

would seem that you should add chocolate toyour daily diet. But you must use caution. Theamount of cocoa used in chocolate varies bymanufacturer, and flavanols are often de-stroyed in the production of chocolate.

Remember, too, that chocolate candiesare high in sugar and saturated fat. Adding

chocolates to your diet without taking outother foods can lead to weight gain, whichmay cancel out any health benefit. In addi-tion, too much saturated fat can raise bloodlevels of “bad” LDL cholesterol.

In the U.S., there are not yet recommenda-tions for daily consumption of cocoa flavanols.But the European Food Safety Authority con-cluded that 200 mg. of cocoa flavanols per dayis a good target for the general population.Alonso-Alonso agrees that 200 mg. can helpmaintain a healthy blood circulation.

To find out how much you’re getting,though, you’ll have to do some detectivework about the source of your cocoa fla-vanols, especially in chocolate. The amountof flavanols in chocolate is not always listed.

While as a general rule dark chocolatehas more cocoa and therefore more fla-vanols than milk chocolate, the amount canvary enormously depending on how the

chocolate has been processed.If you can, avoid chocolate that’s been

processed with the Dutch method — whichincludes alkali to reduce acidity, but re-duces the flavanol content. The ingredientsin “Dutched” chocolate will list cocoaprocessed with alkali.

If a chocolate bar doesn’t list the cocoa fla-vanol amount, see if it lists the concentrationof what’s called “cacao.” Generally, darkchocolate with a higher concentration ofcacao contains more cocoa flavanols. And re-member that chocolate candies containingcaramel, marshmallow and other flavoringsadd no more flavanols — just more calories.

Other cocoa optionsOther sources of cocoa flavanols include

baking and beverage cocoa from the gro-cery store, and “fortified” supplements andpowders from health food stores.

But be careful: The U.S. Food and DrugAdministration does not review and approvedietary supplements based on their safety andeffectiveness. Consumer groups studying theamounts of cocoa flavanols in products havefound that the actual amount in supplementsand cocoa powders varies widely.

Alonso-Alonso said it’s best to get cocoaflavanols from unsweetened cocoa powderthat has not been processed using theDutch method. The label may state that it’snot Dutch processed or simply that it’s nat-ural cocoa, but if it said “alkalized” or“Dutch processed,” look for another brand.It should come from a major manufacturerand guarantee at least 200 mg. of cocoa fla-vanols per serving. It will have a bitter taste,but it may have sweet results.

© 2015. President and Fellows of HarvardCollege. All Rights Reserved. Distributed ByTribune Content Agency, LLC.

Cocoa improves thinking skills, memoryCOACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — J U LY 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health 7

have had preventive surgery had the rightgene analyses been done.

An independent expert, Dr. Eric Topol,director of the Scripps Translational Sci-ence Institute in La Jolla, Calif., com-mended the study leaders and the databaseproject for “cleaning up the mess” from labsthat have not shared data in the past.

“We need millions of people sequenced,sharing all the data,” to make things better,he said. With more sharing, the mysterygene variant problem “will largely go away,but that’s going to take a few years at least.”

— AP

Genetic testingFrom page 6

Blood test mayreplace cancerbiopsies for someA new type of blood test in the U.S. is start-

ing to transform cancer treatment, sparingsome patients the surgical and needle biop-sies long needed to guide their care.

The tests, called liquid biopsies, capturecancer cells or DNA that tumors shed intothe blood, instead of taking tissue from thetumor itself. A lot is still unknown about thevalue of these tests, but many doctors thinkthey are a big advance that could make per-

sonalized medicine possible for far morepeople.

They give the first noninvasive way to re-peatedly sample a cancer so doctors canprofile its genes, target drugs to mutations,tell quickly whether treatment is working,and adjust it as the cancer evolves.

Two years ago, these tests were rarelyused except in research. Now, several aresold, more than a dozen are in develop-ment, and some doctors are using them inroutine care.

The huge potential for these tests isclear. The problem: There are no big, defin-itive studies to show they help patients,how accurate they are, which type is best,or who should get them and when.

Still, patients do better when drugs arematched to their tumors, and liquid biop-

sies may give a practical way to do thatmore often.

“I’m really excited about all of this,” saidDr. Razelle Kurzrock, a University of Cali-fornia, San Diego cancer specialist. “I spentmost of my life giving drugs that were use-less to people” because there was no goodway to tell who would benefit, or quickly tellwhen one wasn’t working, she said. “Thisis so much better.”

— AP

Competency testsfor older doctors?Unlike U.S. pilots, military personnel and

a few other professions where mistakes canbe deadly, doctors have no mandatory retire-ment age. All doctors must meet state licens-ing requirements, and some hospitalsrequire age-based screening. But there areno national mandates or guidelines on howto make sure older physicians can still dotheir jobs safely.

It’s time to change that, according to anew report by an American Medical Asso-ciation council that says doctors them-selves should help decide when one of theirown needs to stop working.

The report notes that the number of U.S.physicians aged 65 and older has quadru-pled since 1975 and now numbers 240,000— one-fourth of all U.S. doctors — al-though not all still see patients.

The report asks the AMA to spearheada doctor-led effort to develop nationalguidelines and screening methods.

The AMA’s Council on Medical Educationwrote the report and says “physicians shouldbe allowed to remain in practice as long as pa-tient safety is not endangered.” But physiciansshould develop guidelines and standards formonitoring and assessing both their own andtheir colleagues’ competency. Doing so “may

head off a call for mandatory retirement agesor imposition of guidelines by others,” thecouncil’s report says.

Typical age-related changes in hearing,vision, memory and motor skills could po-tentially affect physicians’ competence, thereport says, but notes there is no evidencethat directly links these changes to worseoutcomes for patients.

While some physicians think they willknow when it’s time to hang up the stetho-scope, the report says evidence disputes that.

It’s a touchy topic for older doctors, andnot all welcome the prospect of extrascrutiny.

“I don’t myself have any doubts about mycompetency, and I don’t need the AMA oranybody else to test me,” said Dr. WilliamNyhan, an 89-year-old pediatrician, geneticsresearcher, runner and tennis player whoworks with the University of California, SanDiego and a children’s hospital there.

“There are a lot of people overlookingmy activities already,” he said. “This is a liti-gious society — if we were making mis-takes, we’d be sued.”

The University of Virginia Health Systemand Stanford Health Care, at Stanford Uni-versity, are among institutions that requireadditional scrutiny of older doctors.

The University of Virginia’s screeningbegan in 2011 for doctors and some othermedical staff starting at age 70. It involvesphysical and cognitive exams every twoyears.

“The vast majority of them score verywell,” said Dr. Scott Syverud, chair of theuniversity medical center’s credentialscommittee.

Those who don’t “can choose to cut downtheir practice or even to retire,” Syverud said,although he declined to say if any have beendeemed incompetent. — AP

Health Shorts

8 Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com J U LY 2 0 1 5 — CO ACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON

See HEALTH SHORTS, page 9

HOW IS YOUR BALANCE?Care Dimensions Home Health Care offers free balance assess-ments and exercises and activities to do on your own to improve

your balance from 10 to 11 a.m. on the third Thursday of the month at the IndioSenior Center, 45-700 Aladdin St. Make appointments at the front desk or at(760) 391-4170, www.indio.org.

SOUND OFFA “Hot Topics” discussion group meets from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednes-days at the Portola Community Center, 45-480 Portola Ave., Palm

Desert. This lively discussion of divergent views and opinions concerning currentevents and issues is free and open to all. (760) 568-2560

BEACON BITS

July 16+

Ongoing

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A percentage of all profits will be donated to Meals on Wheels

More is better in breast cancer

surgeryHaving a little extra tissue taken off dur-

ing breast cancer surgery greatly lowersthe risk that some cancer will be left behindand require a second operation, accordingto a new study that could change care formore than 100,000 women in the UnitedStates alone each year.

Women having a lump removed dreadlearning there was a positive margin, anarea at the edge of the tumor that lookedhealthy but turned out to harbor cancerwhen studied later. There are no good waysto tell during the surgery whether the doc-tor has gotten it all.

The new study tested cavity shaving — rou-tinely removing an extra thin slice all aroundthe margins — as a way to lower this risk.

“With a very simple technique of taking alittle more tissue at the first operation we canreduce the chances that somebody wouldneed to go back to the operating room a sec-ond time by 50 percent,” said the study leader,Yale Cancer Center’s Dr. Anees Chagpar.“When you think about the emotional impact,let alone the economic impact, of those sec-ond surgeries, that’s a big deal.”

The study rigorously tested cavity shav-

ing. First, 235 women were given the usualsurgery and while they were still in the op-erating room, doctors opened letters tellingthem what to do next. Roughly half of thewomen were randomly assigned to get theextra cavity shave.

Only 10 percent of those who had extratissue removed needed a second surgeryversus 21 percent of the others. There wasno difference in how women in the groupsregarded their cosmetic results.

The study could change practice, said Dr.Deanna Attai, a University of California, LosAngeles surgeon who is president of theAmerican Society of Breast Surgeons.

“We now have much stronger evidencethan we’ve ever had” that it helps, she said.

— AP

Replace lostMedicare card

onlineMedicare beneficiaries can now obtain a

replacement card if they have lost, dam-aged, or simply need to replace it usingtheir online My Social Security account.

The portal is at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. The Medicare card is the mostimportant piece of identification a benefici-ary needs because it’s proof that they haveMedicare health insurance. Medical profes-sionals and insurance companies need thisproof to provide care and accurately calcu-

late compensation for services.Once logged in, select the “Replacement

Documents” tab. Then select “Mail my re-placement Medicare card.” After you re-quest a card, it will arrive in the mail in

approximately 30 days.In addition, you can also get a letter

showing what benefits you receive, changeyour address and phone number, and ac-cess Social Security information.

C O ACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — J U LY 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health 9

Health shortsFrom page 8

HOW TO STAY ACTIVE AND HEALTHYFit after 50 classes are held at 10 a.m., Monday, Wednesday andFriday, at the Desert Hot Springs Senior Center. The exercise pro-

gram is designed to increase strength, balance and mobility and help prevent falls.The classes are free, but participants must register, wear sneakers and bringwater. The center is at 11-777 West Drive, Desert Hot Springs. (760) 329-0222.

FANCY STEPPING’ INDOORS Palm Springs Dancers will host a tea dance from 2 to 5 p.m. Sun-day, Aug. 9 at the Palm Springs Pavilion Ballroom, 401 S. Pavilion

Way, Palm Springs. Music will be provided by Steve and Barb. Tickets are $5.Dancers should bring their own snacks and refreshments. (760) 323-8272,www.palmspringsdancers.com

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

Aug. 9

By Dr. Howard LeWineQ: I just read that the drug met-

formin might help prevent glaucoma. I

have pre-diabetes and am working onlowering my blood sugar.

My last eye exam indicated my eye

pressures were in the high-normalrange. Should I start metformin now?

A: Metformin is the best medicine to usefirst for people with type 2 diabetes. Andsome experts suggest people with pre-dia-betes should consider taking it, in additionto diet and exercise.

You have a higher than average risk ofdeveloping open-angle glaucoma, so yourquestion is very timely. A study publishedin May in the journal JAMA Ophthalmologysuggested metformin might decrease therisk of glaucoma in people with diabetes.

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseasesthat can lead to irreversible vision lossthrough damage to the optic nerve, a col-lection of specialized nerve fibers that con-nect the back of the eye (the retina) to thebrain.

Fluid builds up in the eyeGlaucoma is caused by a problem with

the circulation of fluid in the eye. Normally,a clear liquid called aqueous humor circu-lates continuously inside the front part ofthe eye. To keep a healthy pressure withinthe eye, an equal amount of this fluid flowsout of the eye.

In open-angle glaucoma, this drainagesystem becomes less efficient. The outflowof fluid slows. The fluid then backs up inthe eye, like water in a clogged sink. Inter-

nal pressure in the eye rises.This, in turn, puts stress on the optic

nerve. If the pressure continues, nerve fibersthat carry the vision messages to the brainbegin to die. Vision starts to fade. If left un-treated, glaucoma can lead to blindness.

Results of the new study showed a 25percent lower risk of open-angle glaucomain people who took the highest amount ofmetformin compared with those who didn’ttake the drug. The higher the dose of met-formin, the lower the risk of open-angleglaucoma. Even people taking smallerdoses of metformin had a lower risk com-pared with non-users. Other diabetes drugsdid not have the same effect.

Talk with your doctor. I think it’s veryreasonable to start a low dose of metforminnow. But diet and exercise should remainyour primary therapy to prevent diabetes.And calorie restriction might also loweryour glaucoma risk.Howard LeWine, M.D., is a practicing in-

ternist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital,Boston, Mass., and Chief Medical Editor ofInternet Publishing at Harvard Health Pub-lications, Harvard Medical School.For additional consumer health informa-

tion, please visit www.health.harvard.edu.© 2015 President and Fellows of Harvard

College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed byTribune Content Agency, LLC.

Diabetes drug may lower glaucoma risk10 Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com J U L Y 2 0 1 5 — C O A C H E L L A VA L L E Y B E A C O N

COACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — J U LY 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health 11

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By Steven GoldbergHealthcare stocks, traditionally defen-

sive investments, are proving to be the mar-ket’s best all-weather sector. Since the startof the last bear market on October 9, 2007,Standard & Poor’s Healthcare index hasbeen by far the best performing of S&P’sten sectors, climbing 140.3 percent, or 12.2percent annualized. Over that period, health stocks beat the

number two sector, consumer discre-tionary, by an average of 0.7 percentagepoint per year, and topped Standard &Poor’s 500-stock index by an average of 5.9points per year.Healthcare’s dominance, moreover, is

long-lived. The sector held up remarkablywell during the 2007-09 bear market. TheS&P Healthcare index was the second topsector during the bloodbath, falling 38 per-cent, compared with a 55.3 percent tumblefor the S&P 500. And since the bear market’s nadir on

March 9, 2009, healthcare has returned287.4 percent, or 24.3 percent annualized.That beat the S&P 500 by an average of 1.7percentage points per year.

Endless demand Healthcare has long been one of my fa-

vorite stock sectors. Why? Because of theunquenchable demand for healthcare prod-ucts and services, and the continuingbreakthroughs in medical science that fur-ther spur demand.Just ask yourself one question: Would

you rather have a new BMW or two moreyears of life? That’s why healthcare is the classic de-

fensive sector. Most people don’t cut theirhealth spending much, even during a reces-sion. After all, if you have a heart attack,you’re going to the hospital regardless ofthe state of your finances.What’s more, several strong tailwinds

have propelled health stocks to recordheights. Obamacare has swelled the ranks ofAmericans with health insurance by morethan 11 million. Aging populations in most ofthe developed world, including the U.S., areboosting demand for healthcare. Incomesare rising in many emerging countries, fur-ther swelling spending on healthcare.In addition, after a long dry spell during

the ‘00s, biotech breakthroughs are now

coming at a breakneck pace, and biotechstocks are on a rampage. But here’s the rub: In the stock market,

everything has a price. And major parts ofthe healthcare sector — biotechnology andsome drug companies — have seen theirshares rise too far, too fast.

High price-earnings ratiosConsider a few price-earnings (P/E) ra-

tios (the ratio of the company’s currentshare price to its earnings per share). TheS&P 500 Healthcare sector boasts a P/E of19 based on analysts’ earnings estimatesfor the coming 12 months. The NasdaqBiotechnology index carries a P/E of 31.The P/E of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals(symbol REGN) is 46, that of Alexion Phar-maceuticals (ALXN) is 33 and that of Illu-mina (ILMN) is 58.By contrast, the long-term average P/E

of the S&P 500 is 15.5. Yes, many biotechand pharmaceutical companies will seesharply rising earnings in the comingyears. But their stock prices already reflecta whole lot of future growth. According toAlec Lucas, a Morningstar analyst, “Scien-tific breakthroughs can boost stock prices,but they can’t immunize them from sell-offs.”Stock sectors almost never turn around

on a dime when they reach an inflated P/E.More typically, their stocks continue to risefor months or years, becoming increasinglyoverpriced — and only falling when somecatalyst precipitates a sell-off in the sector.

What to expect in the futureWhat does all this mean for you, the in-

vestor? Unfortunately, it’s a complicatedpicture. The P/Es of many biotech stocksare crazy, and I wouldn’t buy them. Hun-dreds of companies have developed prom-ising compounds only to have them fail inlate-stage trials, often because of deleteri-ous side effects. (The U.S. Food and DrugAdministration must find a product to beboth safe and effective before approving itsuse.) Hundreds of other biotech companieshave simply run out of money.But future growth in healthcare spend-

ing is inevitable, and some of these biotechfirms will hit pay dirt. Shares of health in-surers and some drug companies do tradeat more palatable prices. Plus, mergers andbuyouts should further help drive uphealthcare stocks. Healthcare accounts for 15 percent of the

S&P 500. I think that’s a sensible allocationfor most investors. You can find out whatpercentage each of your funds has inhealthcare at Morningstar.com. If your portfolio is light on healthcare, con-

sider adding a dose of Vanguard Healthcare(VGHCX) to your investments. Run byWellington Management, the fund has beatenthe S&P 500 every year but one since 2007.Over the past 10 years, it has returned an an-nualized 13.6 percent — an average of 5.4 per-centage points per year more than the S&P. With a distinct value tilt relative to most

Healthcare continues to offer good returns

12 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com J U LY 2 0 1 5 — CO ACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON

Money FREEBIES FOR RETIREESRetirees living on fixed incomes may findthese freebies – from healthcare to taxprep – beneficial

Law &

See HEALTHCARE, page 15

COACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — J U LY 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money 13

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By Cameron HuddlestonSenior discounts abound, making life in

retirement a little more affordable. In somecases, though, older adults can get morethan just a lower price; some goods andservices that appeal to retirees come freeof charge.

Here are eight great freebies many re-tirees can enjoy. Some are available only forthose who’ve reached a certain age. Othersare accessible to people of all ages, but canbe especially beneficial for retirees living

on fixed incomes.1. Free preventive careThe Affordable Care Act of 2010 now re-

quires health insurers to cover certain pre-ventive care — ranging from flu shots tocholesterol screenings — without theseservices being subject to the policy’s de-ductible or co-payments. Medicare benefici-aries can also get many preventive benefitswithout co-payments or deductibles.

The list includes mammograms, screen-ings for cervical and colorectal cancer,

pneumonia shots, and an annual wellnessvisit and personalized prevention plan. SeeMedicare’s Preventive and Screening Serv-ices, www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/10110.pdf, for a full list. You becomeeligible for Medicare at 65.

2. Free prescription drugsSeveral supermarket pharmacies, includ-

ing Harris Teeter and Publix, offer selectantibiotics, diabetes medications and othergeneric drugs for free. You might need toenroll in a pharmacy loyalty program to re-ceive the free drugs.

Pharmaceutical companies also offer freeand low-cost drugs to low-income peoplewho do not have prescription-drug insur-ance. You can use the RxAssist database,http://www.rxassist.org/patients, to findfree medication through drug companies’patient assistance programs.

3. Free eye careEyeCare America, a public service pro-

gram of the American Academy of Ophthal-mology, provides free eye exams and up to

14 Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com J U LY 2 0 1 5 — CO ACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON

A review of useful freebies for retirees

A REMINDER ABOUT SAFE DRIVINGThe ever-popular AARP Mature Driving Course will be offered in aspecial one-day session from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 18 at

Mizell Senior Center, 480 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs. The class will help seniorslearn how to remain safe and competent drivers, how to save money on car insur-ance, about new features on cars and new laws. Cost is $20 for AARP members,$25 for non-members. Signups are taken at the senior center. (760) 323-5689

YOGA + TAI CHI = YO-CHIMizell Senior Center is offering a new summer exercise programthat combines the benefits of yoga and tai chi. With the stretch-

ing, strength building and balance of yoga and the mediation in motion of tai chi,yo-chi will be offered from 11 to 11:50 a.m. Mondays. Participants should wearclosed-toe shoes. Fee is $25 a month for members, $45 for non-members or $10per class. Mizell is at 480 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs. (760) 323-5689,www.mizell.org

BEACON BITS

July 18

See FREEBIES, page 15

Ongoing

Water-use restrictions are now in effect

Drought penalties go into effect with July water bills

Mandatory restrictions include:

Have questions? We are here for you, give us a call at (760) 398-2651.Visit www.cvwd.org Stay connected with us!

Do not irrigate outdoors during or within 48 hours of measurable rainfallIncreased water budget for over-seeding is eliminated

CVWD will continue to prioritize working with customers to quickly resolve violations. After a written warning, customers will be liable for fines on their bill starting at $50. For a complete list of restrictions and recommendations, visit www.cvwd.org/CVsaving36

Repair broken sprinklers within 24 hours, fix leaks as soon as possible

Do not wash down driveways, patios or sidewalks

Hose must be equipped with a shutoff nozzle to wash vehicles and windows

x

2Tier

Customers are being asked to limit Tier 2 water use to 36% below their water budget

one year of care for any disease diagnosedduring that exam for those who are 65 andolder and haven’t seen an eye doctor inthree or more years. Visit EyeCareAmer-ica.org for program guidelines and to see ifyou qualify.

4. Free educationAbout 60 percent of accredited, degree-

granting institutions offer tuition waiversfor older adults, according to an AmericanCouncil on Education study.

Some schools in California State Univer-sity system provide free or very low tuitionto seniors.

5. Free tax preparationThe Tax Counseling for the Elderly

(TCE) program offers free tax help to all tax-payers, with an emphasis on those 60 andolder. Volunteers, who are certified by theIRS, specialize in pension and other retire-ment-related tax issues. Use the TCE locatortool at http://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep tofind a site near you.

And AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offersfree tax preparation for low- to moderate-in-come taxpayers, especially those 60 andolder, at more than 5,000 locations. Its locatorpage, at www.aarp.org/applications/VMISLocator/searchTaxAideLocations.action, isoperational only from January through April15 each year.

6. Free museum admission

Most museums offer senior discounts foradmission, but a few actually let olderadults visit for free on certain days. For ex-ample, the Rubin Museum of Art in NewYork City gives people 65 and older free ad-mission the first Monday of every month.

Several museums offer free admission oneday a month to residents of the city, countyor state where they’re located. For example,the High Museum of Art in Atlanta offersfree admission for Fulton County, Ga., resi-dents the first Saturday of each month, andthe Art Institute of Chicago lets Illinois resi-dents visit for free on Thursday evenings.And Bank of America cardholders can gainfree admission to more than 150 museumson the first full weekend of every month.

7. Free state park admissionSeveral state park systems — including

those in Maryland, New Hampshire, NewYork and Texas — offer older adults freeadmission or a free annual pass. Somepasses require a small processing fee, andsome state sites are not included in the ad-mission-fee waiver. While California stateparks do not offer free admission, there areseveral discounts, including $1 off admis-sion those 62 or older and a discounted an-nual pass.

8. Free transportationSome localities and states let older adults

ride for free on public transportation. Forexample, SunBus fares for seniors are just50 cents. The Pennsylvania Free TransitProgram allows people 65 years and older

to ride bus, trolley and rapid-transit lines forfree with a senior transit identification card(which also is free). Some places, such asOrange County, Calif., offer free commu-

nity transit programs that help older adultsget to select locations.

© 2015, Kiplinger. All Rights Reserved.Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

healthcare funds, Vanguard has been 15 per-cent less volatile than the S&P over the past10 years. Only 13.4 percent of assets are cur-rently in biotech. The retirement in 2012 oflongtime manager Ed Owens is a loss, butWellington has plenty of good managers. Ex-penses are just 0.34 percent annually.

In sum, many health stocks appear to beoverpriced, but over the long term, this sec-tor will perform well — even if you end upbuying at a peak. Just don’t overdo it, par-ticularly now.

Steve Goldberg is a local investment ad-viser and former Beacon columnist.

All contents copyright 2015, The KiplingerWashington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Trib-une Content Agency, LLC.

HealthcareFrom page 12

COACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — J U LY 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money 15

FreebiesFrom page 14

WHICH BIRDS VISIT IN THE SUMMER? A walk through different aviary habitats is scheduled from 8 to

10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 28 to spy some of 216 species of birds

attracted to the wetlands at the Whitewater Preserve. Bring binoculars and

scopes. The preserve is 5 miles north of Interstate 10 at 9160 Whitewater

Canyon Rd., Whitewater. (760) 325-7222

BEACON BITS

July 28

By Beth J. Harpaz“Is travel to Cuba for tourist activities

permitted? No.” That’s what the U.S. Treas-ury Department website says.

And yet Havana is loaded with Ameri-cans, from the Floridita bar, where theypose for photos with a bust of Ernest Hem-ingway, to the Rum Museum, where theyswig rum samples after trudging throughdim displays of old casks.

Sure, some Americans follow the ruleson sanctioned travel — bringing supplies toCuban churches or synagogues, for exam-ple, on a religious activities license. Otherscome on approved group tours known as“people-to-people” trips with themed itiner-aries like the arts.

But the 36 percent increase in Americanvisitors here since U.S. President BarackObama and Cuban President Raul Castroannounced a thaw in relations includesmany travelers who sidestep the rules.

Some travel via third countries by flying toCuba from Mexico or the Bahamas. Othersfly on their own from the U.S., casually fillingout paperwork for one of 12 categories oftravel authorized by the U.S., without muchworry that anyone will check on its accuracy.

The fact is, “there’s been almost no ac-tive enforcement” of the tourism ban underthe Obama administration, according to at-torney Robert Muse, an expert on the legalaspects of Cuba travel.

Few amenitiesAdd to this the fact that travel experts and

upscale magazines are urging travel toCuba — before it changes. But visitors en-visioning salsa in the streets and glamorousvintage cars should also be prepared tomanage without ATMs, credit cards, wi-fi,air-conditioning, seat belts or toilet paper.

Here are eight tips for visiting Havana.

If you need it, bring it I forgot to bring my toothbrush to Ha-

vana. It took me three days to find a new one. Granted, I was in a “casa particular,” a

Cuban homestay booked through Airbnb ina rundown part of town. Street vendors sellChe Guevara T-shirts and tropical fruit. Butgood luck buying sunscreen or Band-Aids.

The fancy hotels sell some things in shopsonsite, of course, but Havana just doesn’thave many stores. Even Harris Brothers, amarket on Monserrate at O’Reilly Street,isn’t overflowing with consumer goods —though you can buy souvenir bags of coffee.

Public bathrooms aren’t bad, but I was gladI’d brought a roll of toilet paper in my bag.

Hustled in Havana “Happy holiday, lady!” This cheerful salutation greeted me as I

walked past crumbling buildings and rub-ble-filled streets in many sections of OldHavana. Blonde, 5 foot 10, map in hand:Yeah, I stood out.

But conversations with overly friendlystrangers often devolved into shakedowns.They wanted to sell me cigars or exchangemy dollars. Could I buy them drinks or give

money for their children? Violent crime in Havana is rare. I never

felt threatened — just hassled.

Don’t look for logic For my flight home, I got to Havana’s air-

port at 5:30 a.m., just like the paperworkspecified. Too bad the airport didn’t openuntil nearly 7 a.m.

I also went to the famous H. Upmanncigar factory for a tour, only to be sent to adifferent location for a ticket. There I wastold, “There are no tours today, but we cansell you a ticket for tomorrow!”

And so it went. Havana is not always alogical place.

MoneyAre you old enough to remember travel-

ing without credit cards, ATMs and smart-phones? Then visiting Cuba will be a tripback in time.

Bring cash to change into convertiblepesos, also known as CUCs (not CUPs, thecurrency used by locals). And budget care-fully: There are only a handful of ATMs inHavana, and U.S. bank cards aren’t cur-rently accepted.

On paper, one U.S. dollar is worth oneCUC, but the Cuban government takes a 13

percent fee, so you get 87 cents for your dollar.Privately, Cubans may offer 90 cents or moreon the dollar; be careful whom you trust.

I have MasterCard, Visa and AmericanExpress cards, but none could be author-ized for use in Cuba in May. Even when therules change (or if your card is from a non-U.S.-bank), businesses in Cuba rarely ac-cept plastic.

Limited Internet and wi-fiCuba’s offline culture makes trip-plan-

ning complicated. It takes days to confirmarrangements because most Cubans can’tcheck email from home. Automated onlinereservations are rare.

If you must go online in Havana, hotelssell Internet cards for lobby wi-fi for $4 or$5 per 30 minutes. Even then, though, thewi-fi may not work.

A paper map is essential — drivers don’thave GPS, and there’s no Googling an ad-dress on the fly.

About those cars Cuba’s vintage cars sound picturesque

— until you’re in one with no seat belts, noair-conditioning in 90-degree heat, broken

16 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com J U LY 2 0 1 5 — CO ACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON

TravelLeisure &

Considering a big trip? Here are thedo’s and don’ts of acquiring travel insurance. See story on page 18.

American-made cars from the 1950s pass by Cuba’s National Capitol Building in Ha-vana. The building, modeled after the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., was the seatof government in Cuba until the communists took power in 1959, after which it fellinto disrepair. After renovations earlier this year, Cuba’s National Assembly now op-erates from the building.

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Eager to visit Cuba? Some things to know

See CUBA, page 17

windows, belching smoke, and doors thatopen in transit.

The old cars aren’t just American. One20-something driver told me he inheritedhis 1981 Russian-made Moskvitch car fromhis grandfather, who was awarded the carfor being a good worker.

Havana’s official, government-ownedtaxis seemed to be in better condition thanprivately owned cars — though tourists areroutinely overcharged. Meters supposedlyexist, but I never saw one.

Food and drink Government-run cafeterias in public

places like museums are dreadful. Stick to“paladares” — privately owned restaurants.

You’ll need reservations for the best.Prices are moderate but not cheap; food isgood but not outstanding. My best mealswere at 304 O’Reilly (the restaurant nameis also the street address), which offerstrendy, light fare (terrific ceviche, lobsterand pasta), and Cafe Ajiaco in Cojimar(Calle 92, number 267), whose owner show-cases what he sees as the best of traditionalCuban cuisine.

A safe bet in most eateries is a ham andcheese sandwich — called a Cuban in theU.S., but jamon y queso here. Cafe conleche is uniformly superb, as is tropical fruit.

For a drinking tour, consider Ernest

Hemingway’s advice: “My mojito in LaBodeguita, my daiquiri in El Floridita.” Thehandwritten quote, allegedly scribbled byHemingway himself, is framed at La Bode-guita del Medio over a bar mobbed withtourists. The Floridita is nicer: great air-conditioning, icy daiquiris and a bust ofHemingway, perfect for selfies.

The Hotel Nacional’s outdoor bar islovely, on a lawn with a view of the sea.Have a Cuba libre (rum and cola, but notCoke) or a Cristal beer, then check out thephoto gallery of famous guests — mobstersand Hollywood celebs.

Attractions Havana’s best attractions include: the wa-

terfront promenade known as the Malecon,Old Havana, Hemingway’s estate at FincaVigia, and the Museo de la Revolucion,where “Cretins’ Corner” mocks Ronald Rea-gan and the Bush presidencies. The stun-ning Cuban collection at the Museo Nacionalde Bellas Artes ranges from colonial por-traits to 20th century political pop art.

The show at the Tropicana is on manytop 10 Havana lists. If spending nearly $100to see skinny dancers in see-through body-suits with sequin pasties and chandeliers ontheir heads sounds fun, by all means, go.Otherwise, try the music scene at Casa dela Musica in Central Havana.

To learn about the array of hotels, go to the website Cuba Hotel Bookings,www.cubahotelbookings.com.

Hotel rates are lower than in the US. Forexample, the Melia Havana, which bills it-self as a luxury hotel, charges $175 for aroom with breakfast ($198 with an oceanview). The hotel boasts the largest swim-ming pool in Cuba and a cigar bar. Formore information, call 1-877-696-6252 or seewww.me l i a . com/en/ho te l s/cuba/havana/melia-habana/index.html.

Tourists cannot book their own flights toCuba or easily search for them online — and

must use a travel agent. Nor do U.S. airlinesoffer flights from the U.S. directly to Cuba.

Some travel agencies are now offeringtrips and trip packages to Cuba. Bookingthrough an agent can be helpful since legaltravel to the country is still new. Travelagents will also accept U.S. credit cards aspayment and help book the best places tostay. If interested, contact a local travelagency and ask about booking a trip to Cuba.

— AP

COACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — J U LY 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel 17

Street musicians that play for tips from tourists are a common sight in Havana. MoreU.S. visitors are now visiting Cuba as restrictions begin to loosen.

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CubaFrom page 16

By Ed PerkinsIf you’re planning a big trip, chances are

you’re at least considering travel insurance.Travel insurance can either be a great idea— or a waste of money if you encounter agotcha or two. Fortunately, you can avoidmost gotchas if you buy and act carefully.

Pre-existing conditionsAs with health insurance, pre-existing

conditions can become a major gotcha forboth trip-cancellation/interruption insur-ance and medical insurance. But that’s aneasy issue to dodge if you follow the spe-cific requirements of each policy.

Most travel insurance policies specifi-cally exclude pre-existing medical condi-tions as “covered reasons” for canceling orinterrupting a trip and for covering a med-ical claim. However, most insurance com-panies specifically waive that exclusion

provided you buy the insurance within aspecified period after you make your firstprepayment for the trip.

The waiver period is generally a week, 10days, or two weeks, but a few companiesextend it to as much as 30 days. A waiverfor the exclusion for pre-existing conditionsdoes not add a penny to the cost of the in-surance; it’s just something you have to dosoon after you start arranging your trip.

But policies vary a bit in the way theytreat prepayments:

— With any policy, you must be physi-cally able to travel on the day you buy theinsurance. You can’t buy insurance if you’reunable to travel at the time but expect to getbetter by the time you’re supposed to leave.This limitation applies to any traveler in afamily or group covered by the insurance.

— You must insure the “full value” of thetrip. But this requirement is a bit tricky.

With some policies, this means the totalcost including refundable components thatyou can recover or re-use. With others, youmust cover only the nonrefundable compo-nents of your trip. In any case, the policymay not allow you to cover only a portionof the value; you can’t “round down” thetrip cost to squeeze in under a lower insur-ance price bracket.

— If you add additional nonrefundablepayments later, you must increase the valueof coverage, typically within 21 days of theadded prepayments.

In any case, most policies clearly coveronly “unforeseen” circumstances — eventhose that would normally be considered“covered reasons.”

Almost all cancellation/interruption poli-cies and many medical policies provideonly secondary coverage. That means can-cellation/interruption insurance will cover

only those prepayments that you can’t firstrecover from the primary supplier — air-line, cruise line, resort or tour operator.Similarly, secondary medical insurance willcover only what you can’t first recover fromyour regular health insurance.

Follow the rulesMany travel insurance policies cover on-

site medical expenses, as well as early re-turn home. But to take advantage of thepolicy’s coverage, you have to follow thefine print. And that almost always meansgoing through the insurance company’sdesignated representative before you takeon any initiative of your own.

If you decide to return home early, forexample, don’t just go out and buy a newairline ticket or charter a business jet. In-stead, inform the insurance representative,who may say, “let me take care of that”rather than authorizing you to go ahead.Money you spend without authorizationmay never be reimbursed.

Because of differences in the fine print,my recommendation is that you comparepolicies carefully. Do not blindly take what-ever your airline, cruise line, or tour opera-tor suggests.

Most of the big online travel insuranceagencies publish elaborate side-by-side comparisons of different policies, includingg1g.com, insuremytrip.com, quotewright.com,squaremouth.com, totaltravelinsurance.com,travelinsurancecenter.com and tripinsurancestore.com.© 2015 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

18 Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com J U LY 2 0 1 5 — CO ACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON

How to avoid travel insurance disputes

A ROMP TO THE BEACHIndio Senior Center

will host a bus trip for members toVenice Beach on Wednesday, Aug. 5.The bus leaves the center at 7:30a.m. and is expected to return at 5p.m. Lunch is on your own. Seniorscan stretch out on the beach, walkthe boardwalk, check out ‘musclebeach’ and explore dozens of shop-ping opportunities. Cost is $25. Signup at the front desk. The center is at45-700 Aladdin St., Indio. (760) 391-4170

SWEET SOUNDSIN THE TREES Two dozen-plus jazz,

blues and R&B bands will perform inthree venues at the 22nd annualIdyllwild Jazz in the Pines festival onthe Idyllwild Arts campus. The eventincludes a marketplace with broadrange of food and drink options. Freeparking, free shuttles from town cen-ter available. Tickets are $60 to$250. No pets. 52-500 TemeculaRd., Idyllwild. (951) 659-2171,www.idyllwildjazz.com

BEACON BITS

Aug. 5

Aug. 15+

the planes together – what propeller goesbest with what motor, for instance.

Club eventsThe club, a nonprofit organization, hosts

several events that cater to pilots with spe-cialized interests and skills.

At three aero-tow events, radio-con-trolled planes tow sail planes to high alti-tudes where they are released.

Those with scale-model military planesfrom WWI through post-Vietnam have theirday at a War Birds event as scale replicas ofcombat aircraft take to the air.

The jet rally brings in modelers from sev-eral states with jet planes costing upwards of$2,000 that fly up to 200 miles per hour. Theylook and sound like real turbojets, and re-quire special skills to build, maintain and fly.

In another event, pilots compete in preci-sion and 3D aerobatics. Large aerobaticplanes must fly a set of aerial maneuvers,

which many think of as ice skating figuresin the sky.

Just as nearby clubs are invited to ‘funflys’ for a day of camaraderie, flying and bar-becue lunch, desert pilots participate inother clubs’ activities such as Lake Hemet’sPine Float Fly with float planes.

Community outreach The club mans a promotional booth and

puts on an R/C airplane show at the biannualJacqueline Cochran Air Show at the regionalairport that bears her name in Thermal.

Members gather gifts for Toys for Totsannual drive at Christmas and donatemoney to Wounded Warriors.

Members not only build or assembleplanes, repair and fly them, but they reach outto others with their flying skills. There aregenerally three instructors at the field whogive free lessons. Rob Thomas, co-owner ofUncle Don’s Hobby Shop in Palm Desert,gives flying lessons on Wednesdays. The storehas two flight simulators to aid in instruction.

“The equipment is getting better, making

it much easier,” says Thomas. “A RTF(ready to fly) foamy plane, which includeseverything, can be purchased for $100.”

In the summer, club members teach chil-dren and their parents how to build and flysmall balsa wood/rubber band planes andpaper airplanes at the Palm Springs Air Mu-seum. One year, a young man announced thathe was going into aeronautical engineering be-cause of what he learned on a model plane day.

The club hosts Astro Camp for young-sters from Idyllwild who launch small rock-ets they have built.

Individual members promote aviation toyoungsters, including:

• Metz, who has lectured and demon-strated RC planes to Palm Springs Civil Air

Patrol cadets, and invited them to the fieldfor flying lessons

• Ron Vincent, who works with the LaQuinta High School ROTC members on fly-ing

• Joe Scuro, an expert in control line aer-obatics, organized a model airplane club atCathedral City High School

• John Cunningham, who has been fly-ing for 40 years and with the Coachella Val-ley club that he calls “top notch” for threeyears.

“We have a facility that provides us withthe opportunity to fly planes of all sizes andtypes,” says Cunningham. “We are veryblessed to have this and very thankful tohave such a great group of individuals.”

Model planesFrom page 1

Where: Coachella Valley Radio ControlClub flies at Canal Regional Park at 54thand Pierce streets, Thermal

Cost : $150 per year; lifetime member-

ship, $1,000; active military, fire, and po-lice, those under age 19, free.

More information: www.CVRCClub.com

Want to know more?

COACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — J U LY 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel 19

Please patronize our advertisers.

By Jamie Lee PricerAs far back as weather records go, the

month of July tops the chart with the hottesttemperatures. It’s time to get out of town.For anyone who needs a quick escape,we’ve rounded up a calendar of one-tank (orless) activities west of the Coachella Valley.

First, who doesn’t love food? Or, wineand beer? Check out our list of food andwine festivals that will take you from Latinfood, music and dance to country-style bar-becue ribs to New Orleans crawfish andmusic.

For music lover, keep our list of free sum-mer concerts and check back next year;they are all annual events. Most have pic-nicking and stretching out on the grass op-portunities.

Food and winefestivals

Salsa Festival — OxnardJuly 25-26: 22nd annual celebration of

everything salsa — the food, the music, thedance. There’s an international food court,marketplace selling gourmet salsas andsauces, boutique clothing, hand-crafted jew-elry and other apparel, salsa recipe contest,and performances by salsa and Latin bands.Free admission, parking. Plaza Park, 500 S.C St., Oxnard. www.oxnardsalsafestival.com

Big Bite Bacon Fest — Long Beach

Aug. 1-2: Top chefs and competitivecooks prepare bacon-inspired selections forguests to, ahem, pig out on during this sec-ond annual event. Craft beers also will be

available. Afternoon and evening sessionson Saturday, one afternoon session on Sun-day. $35-$75. Queen Mary Events Park,1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach.www.bigbitebaconfest.com

Brew at the Zoo — Los AngelesAug. 7: Stroll part of the grounds at the

Los Angeles Zoo and sample beer fromcraft and microbreweries, local bands andpub-style grub. Guests must be 21 andolder. $45-$55. Los Angeles Zoo, 5333 ZooDrive, Los Angeles. www.lazoo.org/brew

Corn Festival — La HabraAug. 7-9: The side item on the summer

barbecue grill becomes the main dish duringthe 67th annual event hosted by the La HabraHost Lions Club. Besides corn — there willbe 14,000 ears of buttered cobs gobbled upduring the weekend — other highlights in-clude a parade at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8,which usually draws 25,000 spectators to theroute along La Habra Boulevard, an apple piebaking contest and a cute baby contest. Ad-mission, entertainment free. El Centro-Lions Park, 320 E. Erna Ave., La Habra.www.lahabracornfestival.com

Crawfish Festival — Long BeachAug. 14-16: Cajun crawfish dinners are

the main entrees served up at this 22nd an-nual event, which also includes dancing toCajun and Zydeco bands and a play area forkids all in a Big Easy atmosphere. $15. Rain-bow Lagoon Park, 400 Shoreline VillageDrive, Long Beach. www.longbeachcrawfishfestival.com

Sausage and Beer Festival — Cherry Valley

Aug. 22-23: Enjoy selections from InlandEmpire breweries, homemade sausages,music and family games and activities at Highland Springs Resor t’s annualSausage and Beer Festival. 10-600 HighlandSprings Ave., Cherry Valley. (951) 845-1151,www.hsresort.com

BBQ Festival — Long BeachAug. 28-30: With a fierce competition for

best barbecue ribs and best barbecuesauce in Southern California, hungry atten-dees are the winners during this annualevent. In addition, there’s country music, adance floor and entertainment for the kids.$13. Rainbow Lagoon Park, 350 E. Shore-line Drive, Long Beach. (562) 495-5959,www.longbeachbbqfestival.com

Free concerts

Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival

The Redlands Bowl is America’s oldestcontinuously running summer music festivalpresented at no charge. All programs beginat 8:15 p.m. Seating is on benches with backsor blankets and lawn chairs on grass. Nodogs. Picnics allowed. 25 Grant St., Redlands.(909) 793-7316, redlandsbowl.org

July 14: An Evening with A.J. Croce (singer,

songwriter)16, 17: Rhythmic Circus (tap dance ex-

It’s everything salsa — dance, music and food — at Oxnard’s annual Salsa Festival,July 25-26.

Arts &StyleGo back to page 2

to our trivia question for yourchance to win a

“Jazz in the Pines”ticket

Head west for food festivals, free concerts

See CONCERTS, page 22

NEW WATERCOLOR WORKSHOPSMizell Senior Center has scheduled new Summer Watercolor

Workshops from 3 to 5 p.m., Wednesdays. All levels are welcome.

Instructor is political cartoonist and watercolor/block print artist Michael

Cochran. Cost is $7 per class for members, $10 for non-members. Mizell is at

480 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs. (760) 323-5689, Ext. 107, www.mizell.org

COPPOLA WINE DINNEREnjoy wines from the Francis Ford Coppola Winery with a five-

course dinner and chef demonstrations at the Summer Wine Din-

ner Series at Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa, Dinah Shore Dr., Rancho

Mirage. Service is at 7:30 p.m. in the Oasis Courtyard. Cost is $85. RSVP at

(760) 770-2150, pinziminips@westin.com

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

July 18

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20 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com J U LY 2 0 1 5 — CO ACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON

By Thomas AdamsonPaolo Sorrentino’s bittersweet age

drama, Youth, features a tour de force per-formance by Michael Caine as a retiredconductor reflecting on the passing of timeand memories of his wife, a former singer.

Caine’s character, Fred, bitterly refusesa request by Queen Elizabeth to conducthis most famous work at a royal gala — be-cause it used to be performed by his wife.

But as Fred tries to move beyond thepain of loss, he’s able to look to the future;the theme of aging introspection riffing onSorrentino’s Oscar-winning 2013 smashThe Great Beauty.

“That is the only subject that really inter-ests people — passing time,” said Sor-rentino at the Cannes Film Festival pressconference, calling his latest work, “veryoptimistic.” The film is scheduled for re-lease in the U.S. later this year.

“The future gives us freedom and free-dom gives us a feeling of youth. Whateverone’s age, one can look toward the future,”he added.

But the film’s poignancy about age is inlarge part because of the real-life wrinkledflesh of its stars.

Baring almost all Caine’s semi-naked 82-year-old body is

frequently in close-up — a point about

which the two-time Oscar-winner retainsmuch humor.

“It didn’t matter to me because it’s theonly body I’ve got, an aging body. To peoplewho are not old, this is what’s going to hap-pen to you. So don’t get too smug about it,”Caine quipped.

“The only alternative to playing elderlypeople is playing dead people. So I’m quitesmart, I picked elderly people. I thoughtthat’s a better idea,” he added.

Harvey Keitel, 76, turns in a solid per-formance as a once-great director whosebest work is behind him. Throughout hiscareer Keitel himself has chased vibrantnew directing talent, from Jane Championto Quentin Tarantino, Abel Ferrara to AriFolman.

That’s also what led him to Sorrentino.After seeing the Italian director’s Il Divoand his Oscar-winning The Great Beauty, hetold his agent to get him a part in Youth.

“He changed the playing field for mewith (The Great Beauty) so I wanted towork with him, the way any disciplinarianof the arts would want to work for any mas-ter,” said Keitel.

“I’ll be damned if I don’t think Paolomakes certain things go together that noone has made go together before,” said Kei-tel, who starred in Taxi Driver, The Pianoand Pulp Fiction)

“I said to myself, ‘My goodness,we’re always youthful in somesense,’” he continues. “We’re al-ways learning something. Even indeath, we’ll learn death. But youshouldn’t afraid of it because I’mgoing to come back and tell youabout it.”

Scene-stealing Jane Fonda Jane Fonda, 77, plays Keitel’s

one-time muse and steals herscenes in a performance as a can-tankerous older actress. She hasexaggerated makeup and a near-drag-queen wig, which at onepoint, humiliatingly falls off in ahysterical diva scene on a plane.

Fonda said she relished thewarts-and-more performance.

“There’s something very vul-nerable about an old woman whoputs on the mask of make-up andeverything, and when that’sstripped away she becomes veryvulnerable, and it’s fun to play,”she said.

Fonda — she is famously honest abouther age — said the message of Youth strucka chord.

“For me this movie called Youth sayssomething that I agree with very much —

that age is much a question of attitude. If youhave passion in your life... you remain youngand vital in your mind — which is yourspirit,” said the age-defying Barbarella star,who with two Oscars and a six-decade careerto her name, has nothing left to prove.

— AP

COACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — J U LY 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style 21

Caine, Keitel, Fonda shine in the film Youth

Harvey Keitel stars in the new film Youth, apoignant movie about aging. He is shown at theCannes Film Festival in May, where the moviepremiered.

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travaganza)23-26: Mary Poppins (musical)28: Run Boy Run (all acoustic traditional

American music)31: The Singing Cinema (orchestra)August4: The New Hot Club of America (Gypsy

jazz)7: Redlands Symphony Orchestra11: A Tribute to Glenn Miller and Harry

James featuring Tex Beneke Orchestra star-ing Mary Lou Metzger and String of Pearls

14: Incendio (Fusion guitar)18: Navy Band of the Southwest21: Redlands Symphony Orchestra

Rhythm of Riverside Summer Concerts Series

The city of Riverside Parks, Recreation andCommunity Services Department presents aseries of free family-oriented band concerts invarious genres at Fairmount Park from 6 to 9p.m. on Wednesdays through July. Food isavailable from local vendors. Bring a blanketor beach chair. The concerts begin with theperformances by Riverside Sings! Vocal Com-petition contestants. 2601 Fairmont Blvd.,

Riverside. (951) 826-2000, riversideca.gov 15: Latin Society (Latin)22: Southbound (Classic Rock)29: Neon Nation (80s Pop)

Summer Wednesdays concert series

Cal State San Bernardino hosts free con-certs from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays inJuly on the Pfau Library Lawn. The scene isperfect for picnicking and concessions areavailable. Parking is free in Lot D. 55-000University Parkway, San Bernardino. (909)537-7360, csusb.edu

15: Classic rock (Eagles tribute)22: Rumours (Fleetwood Mac tribute)29: Latin Flair

Yucaipa concerts in the parkMusicians, not batters, will be at home

plate from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sundays throughAugust at Yucaipa Community Park BallField, Oak Glen Road at Second Street, Yu-caipa. Dogs are not allowed. Bring blanketsor lawn chairs. (909) 790-3146, (909) 790-7460, yucaipa.org

July 19: GoGo’s (tribute)26: TBAAugust2: La Sirena (Latin dance)9: Classic Rock (tribute)16: Strange Days (The Doors tribute)23: The Longboards, Heartache Tonight

(Beach Boys, Eagles tribute)

22 Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com J U L Y 2 0 1 5 — C O A C H E L L A VA L L E Y B E A C O N

ConcertsFrom page 20

All-acoustic Run Boy Run, at the Redlands Bowl on July 28, concentrates on blendingbluegrass, folk and old-time American vernacular with touches of classical and jazz.

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24 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com J U L Y 2 0 1 5 — C O A C H E L L A VA L L E Y B E A C O N

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