By John AnnarinoAnyone attending the 27th annual Frank

Sinatra Celebrity Invitational in Indio inFebruary was treated to more than a star-studded golf tournament. That’s becausePatrick Evans, chief meteorologist at CBSLocal 2, was there — to not only deliver aweather forecast but to donate and servethe Italian sausages made by his RanchoMirage company, Fulvio’s Foods.

“My sausage business is near and dear tomy heart.” said Evans. “It honors my father,Fulvio Antonio Iachetta, who passed on thefamily recipe to me. Fennel and the distinc-tive anise flavor are what make our sausagestruly Italian. I’m happy to say Fulvio’s Foodsis now served in more than 20 restaurantsthroughout the Coachella Valley.”

Evans dropped the Iachetta from hisname. “Patrick Evans was a lot easier todeal with,” he said.

Early starter He started his broadcasting career in his

hometown, Charlottesville, Va. While still inhigh school Evans became floor director andcamera operator for WVIR-TV’s eveningnewscast.

The job continued while he was a stu-dent at the University of Virginia, wherehe studied environmental sciences, com-munications and political science. He be-came the weekend weatherman at WVIR,and after graduating was promoted to a full-time weather position at the station.

“As soon as I started spending timearound a newsroom, I knew I wanted to bea meteorologist,” said Evans. “Not a weath-ercaster but a meteorologist, who has avery specific college education in environ-mental sciences and climatology.”

In 1990, he accepted an offer from CBSaffiliate WDBJ-TV in Roanoke, Va. Besidesdoing the weather, it gave him the opportu-nity to do feature stories and live segments.

As fate would have it, the woman weather-caster he replaced at Roanoke became hiswife, but not until 16 years later when theirpaths crossed again in Palm Springs. But afterfive years of marriage, the couple divorced.

In 2000, he received a call that fulfilled alifelong desire to move west. He was of-fered the position of chief meteorologist atthe Orange County News channel.

Two years later that led to a position in

the Palm Springs area with new CoachellaCBS affiliate, KPSP TV 2. When financialtroubles shut down the station, the lateJackie Lee Houston launched CBS Local 2and hired Evans.

He’s been delivering his weather fore-casts ever since —- weekdays at 5:30, 6:30and 11 p.m. He also hosts “Eye on TheDesert,” the only live arts and entertain-ment program in the Valley. It airs 6:45 to 7p.m. Monday through Friday.

Multitasker“A nice thing about doing the weather is

I don’t have some of the restrictions an-

chors have. I can do a show like ‘Eye onThe Desert,’ which gives me the freedomto interact and be involved in community af-fairs. That’s extremely important to me.”

Attesting to that, he was awarded a staron the Palm Springs Walk of Stars last year.He was honored for his work with philan-thropic organizations throughout the Valley.Evans finds time to emcee — and even auc-tioneer — at fundraising events all overtown. “They have only to ask and I’m there.”

He is on the boards of Family YMCA of theDesert, Desert Symphony, and Pathfinder

More than 40,000 readers throughout the Coachella Valley

COMPLIMENTARY

VOL.4, NO.3

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

Evans: a man for all seasons

See PATRICK EVANS page 26

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I N S I D E …

The Coachella Valley

Patrick Evans is a familiar face in the Coachella Valley. If you haven’t seen himweeknights delivering the weather news and “Eye on the Desert” on CBS Local 2,you might have seen him as an auctioneer or emcee at dozens of charity events.

FITNESS & HEALTH 4k New drug approvals soark Cold remedies that make you sick

LAW & MONEY 12k Part D’s shrinking doughnut holek Best retirement investing moves

PLUS BEACON BITS & MORE

ARTS & STYLETwo free concerts draw operafans to parks; plus, Al Pacinolooks to diversify but not retire

page 23

LEISURE & TRAVELA hike through the EnglishLake District’s poetic land-scape; plus, options for a morecomfortable flight to Europe

page 19

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

It’s my time to plan a vacation. I’ve gotItaly, specific wine country tastes and multi-ple star-rated restaurants and hotels in mind.

Not a combination easy tofind on a tour, I assure you.While escorted tours are per-fect for those who want to leavemost of the planning and de-tails to someone else, I’m defi-nitely not a traveler-explorerinterested in the herd mental-ity. I prefer what travel industryfolks call FIT — that’s ForeignIndependent Travel.

You can, of course, hunt fortravel bargains on hundredsof sites online and newspaperand magazine ads — AARP and AAA arefriendly places to begin. But I’m a go-it-alone guy. Figuring out what I wanted to dowas not overwhelming. I did my homeworkonline (started with Tripadvisor.com, Book-ing.com, Zagat.com) came up with a planand passed the details to a travel agent, whoput all the pieces together.

Here’s what I found working with a travelagent:

Why use an agent? Basically, you pay fortheir knowledge and experience. Patrick

Crofoot of Crofoot Travel in Palm Deserthas been in the travel business for 20-plusyears. He’s traveled and established contacts

around the world and contin-ues to study and research.

Agents can help travelerspick what they can do, what’spossible and point out un-usual sites not included onstandard tour itineraries, hesays. For instance, one clientsaid he wanted to tour theSouthern France wine coun-try by train.“Well, you can’t,”says Crofoot. “You have torent a car to do that.”

Agents can plan the entiretrip, link ideas together as he did with myItaly adventure or blend pre-arranged tourswith before and after jaunts — like addingdays before or after a cruise.

The more you travel, the more you willknow what you want, what type of experi-ence you want, but maybe not necessarilythe exact name of every location. Some-times agents can arrange trips that are lesscostly than tours. That’s where travel agentexperience pays off.

If you’ve got the travel bug and a budget,

Crofoot says you might want to considerthese value destinations:

• Greece — The economy is in sham-bles, the dollar goes far there, and the coun-

try is welcoming tourists with open arms. • Turkey — It’s inexpensive and hosts

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

Submissions: The Coachella Valley Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the20th of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 15th of the month precedingthe month of publication. Please mail or email all submissions.

© Copyright 2015 On-Target Media, Inc.

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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Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily con sti tute en dorse ment.

Signed col umns represent the opinions of the writers, and notnecessarily the opinion of the publisher.

• Publisher ........................................................................Michael Brachman• Local Valley Contributing Writers ......John Annarino, Bill Marchese,..........................................................................Jorie Parr, Jamie Lee Pricer

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FROM THEPUBLISHERBy Michael Brachman

How you can make FIT a regular routine

Letters to the editorReaders are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressedin the Coachella Valley Beacon as well as on political and social issues ofthe day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Coachella Valley Beacon,

1001 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Ste 217, Palm Springs, CA 92264 or e-mail to mb@otmedia.net. Please include your name,

address and telephone number for verification.

Free movie passes for CV Beacon readers

A special arrangement between theCoachella Valley Beacon and the MaryPickford Theatre in Cathedral City meansseveral lucky readers have a chance toenjoy first-rate, first-run films for free atthe Pickford, which is part of the Ultra-Star Cinemas chain. To receive free tick-ets, all you need to do is enjoy this currentissue of the Beacon and then call us with

the answer to this question, which youwill find somewhere in these pages:Where did Patrick Evans start his

broadcasting career?The first 10 callers who call the Bea-

con office at (760) 668-2226, with thecorrect answer, will receive 1 free moviepass. Limit 1 ticket per household. Bestof luck!

See FROM PUBLISHER, page 26

C O A C H E L L A VA L L E Y B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon 3

By Matthew PerroneThe Food and Drug Administration ap-

proved 41 first-of-a-kind drugs in 2014, includ-ing a record number of medicines for rarediseases, pushing the agency’s annual tally ofdrug approvals to its highest level in 18 years.

FDA drug approvals are considered abarometer of industry innovation and the fed-eral government’s efficiency in reviewing newtherapies. Last year’s total was the most sincethe all-time high of 53 drugs approved in 1996.

The 2014 approval list includes 15 drugsfor so-called orphan diseases, which arerare conditions and disorders that affectfewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. Lastyear’s tally, which included drugs for rarecancer and metabolic disorders, exceeded

the 13 orphan drugs approved in 2012.

Sky-high pricesThe record-setting number reflects the

drug industry’s ongoing shift toward spe-cialty drugs for niche conditions, which oftencome with extra patent protections, stream-lined approvals — and higher price tags.

For example, in December the FDAgranted accelerated approval to Amgen’sBlincyto, a biotech therapy to treat a rareform of leukemia. Shortly thereafter, Amgenannounced it would price the immune-systemboosting cancer drug at $178,000 per year.

Earlier last year, the agency approvedMyalept for an ultra-rare metabolic disorderthat affects roughly one in a million people

in the U.S. The drug from Aegerion Pharma-ceuticals costs about $325,000 per year.

While the uptick in innovative medicinesis good news for patients, it is sure to rein-vigorate debate over the price of new drugsas insurers and public payers increasinglypush back against higher costs.

America’s Health Insurance Plans, thechief lobbying group from insurers, spentmuch of the last year speaking out against thecosts for innovative new drugs, for both or-phan conditions and more common diseases.AHIP and other groups took particular issuewith the price of Harvoni, a new hepatitis pillthat costs $94,500 for a 12-week supply.

Express Scripts, the nation’s largest phar-macy benefit manager, said the drug from

Gilead Sciences “is priced as if it were treat-ing an extremely rare condition,” althoughan estimated 3 million people in the U.S.have the Hepatitis C virus. Express Scriptssays that specialty drugs account for 20 per-cent of its annual costs but just 1 percent ofthe prescriptions it fills.

Developing niche drugsIndustry analysts say the shift toward spe-

cialty drugs reflects a natural research ten-dency. Drugmakers have already developedeffective therapies for many of the mostprevalent diseases and conditions, such ashigh cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes.

FDA new drug approvals soared last year

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

HealthFitness &PARE DOWN YOUR PILLSReview your medications with your doctor to see if you can cut down onyour prescriptions

LUNG CANCER SCREENINGLong-time smokers should consider aCT screening to catch cancer in its earliest stage

COLD MEDICINE CONCERNSDecongestants, antihistamines and pain pills may cause more side effectsin older adults

See DRUG APPROVALS, page 6

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You’ve no doubt witnessed the effect ofBotox in the unfurrowed brows of celebri-ties. But Botox’s applications are more thanskin deep; the drug has a role in treating dis-orders that range from migraine headachesto incontinence.

“Botox is a first-line treatment only fordystonia, or uncontrolled muscle contrac-tions. But for other conditions, it can bequite effective for patients who have ex-hausted other possibilities,” said Dr. Bon-nie Hersh, clinical instructor in neurologyat Harvard Medical School. Dr. Hersh usesBotox to treat patients with chronic mi-graine, upper limb spasticity, and excessivesweating.

Botox is a trade name for botulinumtoxin A — a substance secreted by the bac-teria responsible for botulism, a foodborneillness that causes paralysis and sometimesdeath. When diluted, however, botulinumtoxin is a useful muscle relaxant.

In 1989, the U.S. Food and Drug Admin-istration approved botulinum toxin for treat-ing crossed eyes.

Next came approval for smoothing faciallines, which made Botox a household word.

Since then, Botox and newer brands ofbotulinum toxin — Dysport, Xeomin, andMyobloc — have been approved for severalmedical conditions, and are used off labelto treat many others.

Botox injections are given during an officevisit. The doctor identifies the targeted mus-cle, numbs the injection site, and inserts a thinneedle into the muscle. The number of injec-tions, concentration of Botox, and side effectsdepend on the condition being treated.

Botox often takes three to five days tobegin working and two to three weeks toreach peak effectiveness. It lasts aboutthree months, so injections usually need tobe repeated several times a year.

FDA-approved usesMost insurers cover Botox injections

given for the following conditions:1. Overactive bladder and urge in-

continence. Botox reduces episodes of in-continence in people for whom oralincontinence drugs don’t work.2. Chronic migraine headache. Botox

is approved for treating people who enduresevere, frequent migraines. It doesn’t pre-vent migraines, but may reduce their num-ber and duration.3. Upper limb spasticity (dystonia).

Elbows, wrists, or fingers often contract un-controllably as a result of cerebral palsy,multiple sclerosis, stroke, brain trauma orspinal cord injury. Botox may relax musclesenough to enable people to do basic activi-ties like washing and dressing.4. Cervical dystonia. Uncontrollable

contractions in neck muscles can force thehead into awkward and uncomfortable posi-tions. Botox, Dysport, Xeomin and Myoblocare approved for treating cervical dystonia.

They relax the neck muscles enough to re-turn the head to a more normal position.

Botox has many uses beyond cosmetic

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

See BOTOX, page 6

“Some of the larger population diseasesthat we’ve found treatments for have beensolved, in essence,” said Michael Kleinrock,director of research for IMS Health, a consult-ing and data firm. “Innovation is now movingto smaller populations, and they’re more diffi-cult, both technically and in terms of the cost.”

But other experts point out that the costof developing drugs for rare diseases cansometimes be lower than developing drugsfor more common conditions, because thetrials require far fewer patients.

“You’re talking about having two to threehundred patients in your clinical trial versusa few thousand,” said Christopher-PaulMilne, of the Tufts Center for the Study ofDrug Development, a university researchgroup that receives drug industry funding.

Companies also benefit from seven yearsof competition-free marketing for each neworphan drug, as well as tax breaks on the

costs of developing the drugs. Milne credits the upswing in orphan

drugs to these financial rewards and moreproactive efforts by the FDA to expedite re-views of innovative medicines.

Encouraging breakthroughsNine drug approvals in 2014 benefited

from the FDA’s “breakthrough” designa-tion, a recent program designed to speedup development of promising drugs by pro-viding companies with extra meetings andearlier communication with FDA scientists.Milne said these meetings provide morepredictability and transparency about theFDA review process, a boon to both com-panies and investors.

But as FDA approvals climb higher, theissue of how to pay for these innovative med-icines remains. In years past, expiring patentson blockbuster drugs like Plavix and Lipitorprovided cost savings that payers could shifttoward new, innovative drugs.

In 2012, for example, drugs worth $29billion in annual sales lost patent protectionand became subject to generic competition,while new drugs worth just $11 billion en-tered the market, according to IMS Health.

But in 2014 the equation flipped: between$7 and $8 billion in older drugs lost patentprotection, while new drugs worth $20 billionlaunched. In 2015, IMS expects innovativenew drugs to again outpace expiring drugs.

–- AP

6 Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com MARCH 2 0 1 5 — CO ACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON

Drug approvalsFrom page 4

5. Excessive underarm perspiration.When even the strongest antiperspirantsdon’t work, Botox can alleviate heavy sweat-ing by blocking the nerve signals that stim-ulate sweat glands.6. Strabismus (crossed eyes). People

with strabismus have uncoordinated eyemovements, often resulting in double visionand poor depth perception. Botox relaxesthe muscles that pull the eyeballs out ofalignment.7. Blepharospasm. Botox and Xeomin

are approved for treating uncontrolled con-tractions of eyelid muscles that cause rapidblinking and may even clamp the eyes shut.

Off-label usesDoctors can prescribe an FDA-approved

drug for almost any purpose. Botulinum toxinis used off label to treat conditions as variedas teeth grinding, tennis elbow and pelvic pain.

But off-label use isn’t likely to be coveredby health insurance. Botox costs around$600 a treatment, and medical and phar-macy fees will be added to the bill.— Harvard Women’s Health Watch© 2015. President and Fellows of Harvard

College. All rights reserved. Distributed byTribune Content Agency, LLC.

BotoxFrom page 5

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Beacon!

COACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — MA RCH 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health 7

If you can’t remember the last time youdid an inventory of your pill bottles, you maywant to add that to your to-do list.

Like some items in your wardrobe, thedrugs that suited you at one point may notwork as well as you go through life.

Your kidneys and liver are responsiblefor clearing drugs from the body. As youage, these two organs clear drugs moreslowly. As a result, drugs remain at higherlevels in your blood for a longer time, so adose of a drug that was optimal for you 20

years ago may be too high today.With age, people also gain fat and lose

muscle mass, which contains water. Thisshift also changes the way drugs are distrib-uted to and broken down in body tissues.

And if you have developed some chronicconditions, you may be taking more prescrip-tion drugs and over-the-counter medicationsthan you did 20 years ago. Each of those drugshas the potential to suppress or enhance theeffectiveness of other drugs you take.

For example, there are hundreds of over-

the-counter supplements and prescriptiondrugs that can change the speed at whichthe anti-clotting drug warfarin (Coumadin)is metabolized.

Because drugs stay in the body longer aswe age, their side effects can be more se-vere. The following are especially likely tohave significant side effects:

1. Benzodiazepines. This category ofmedications to treat anxiety or insomnia in-cludes long-acting drugs like Valium (di-azepam) and Klonopin (clonazepam), andshorter-acting ones like Xanax (alprazolam).

They’ve been associated with increasedrisk of falls, confusion and memory loss.They also tend to create dependence, andyou can have withdrawal effects if you stop.

2. Medications containing diphenhy-dramine. Developed in the 1940s, diphen-hydramine has been sold over the counteras Benadryl for allergy relief for decades.It also makes people drowsy, so it’s been in-corporated into sleeping aids like Zzzquiland Sominex. It constricts blood vessels,leading to confusion and blurred vision.

“It’s the one drug I advise my older pa-tients never to use,” said Dr. Sarah Berry,assistant professor of medicine at HarvardMedical School.

3. Antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepres-sants, including amitriptyline (Elavil),clomipramine (Anafranil), doxepin (Sinequan),

and imipramine (Tofranil) can cause drowsi-ness and sudden drops in blood pressure, in-creasing the risk of falls and accidents.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors,or SSRIs, like fluoxetine (Prozac), wereonce thought to be safer, but recent re-search has indicated that they’re also asso-ciated with an increased risk of falling.

4. Sleeping pills. The so-called Z-drugs— zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon (Sonata),and zopiclone (Imovane) — have many ofthe side effects of benzodiazepines, includ-ing next-day drowsiness.

“The increased risk of falls and fracturesis high, especially when you first start,” Dr.Berry said.

A great way to make sure you’re taking onlythe drugs you need is to put all of the drugsand supplements you take into a bag and bringit to your next medical appointment. Some-times the drug or dose your provider thinksyou use isn’t exactly the same as the oneyou’re taking. Bringing in everything is a goodway for the doctor to see everything you take.

And you should ask your doctor the sametwo questions about every drug in the bag,Dr. Berry said: “Do I need to be taking this?”and “Could I get by with a lower dose?”

— Harvard Women’s Health Watch© 2015. President and Fellows of Harvard

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

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

Can you pare down your medications?

COACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — MA RCH 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health 9

LivMD is a *safe solution using low-intensity vibration (LIV) to improve musculoskeletal health

* As determined by International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

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Sara puts these improvements in mus-culoskeletal health down to her compre-hensive program that includes the use of low-intensity vibration, a therapy that can stimulate the repair of and maintenance of musculoskeletal tissues.

“Since I’ve started using the low-intensity vibration as part of my comprehensive rou-tine, my bone density has improved a lot,” Sara said.

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Sara described the sensation while standing on the device as a nice buzzing that works its way through the body “In my experience, people don’t like to exercise. If you can give .7#+( *+#.7%&'(.70.(9. (%&.*(.7#%$(20%/H(/%)#;(.7#HC$#( +*$#( /%O#/H( .*( 2*( %.=( B7% ( 9. ( %&.*( your life.”

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ADVERTORIAL

By Dr. Stephen CassiviDear Mayo Clinic:At my last physical, my doctor sug-

gested that I should be screened for lungcancer. I used to smoke about a pack ofcigarettes a day, but I quit 12 years ago. I’m 63 now and in good health. Is

screening really necessary for me?What does it involve?Answer: Screening programs are used

to find lung cancer at an early stage, whenit’s more likely to be successfully treated. Ingeneral, screening is recommended for peo-ple at higher risk of developing lung cancer.That often includes people like you, whosmoked heavily at some point in their lives.

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The third group includes people whosmoked a pack a day or more for 20 yearsor longer and who also have another factorthat raises their risk of lung cancer. Thosefactors may include a family history of lungcancer; having emphysema or another lungdisorder; having undergone radiation treat-ment; or a previous cancer diagnosis in an-other part of the body.

CT screeningLung cancer screening programs use an

imaging exam called low-dose computer-ized tomography, or CT, which scans thelungs to look for lung cancer. Getting a CTscan involves a medical appointment thatlasts about an hour, although the actualscan usually takes less than a minute.

A low-dose CT scan is a painless proce-dure, similar to getting an X-ray. The detailedimages of the lungs and surrounding struc-tures created during the scan are generated bya computer and reviewed by a radiologist — adoctor who specializes in diagnosing condi-tions with imaging tests.

Using CT scans to screen for lung canceris important because these scans can reveallung cancers long before they cause symp-toms or show up on a chest X-ray.

A CT scan can spot cancers as small as agrain of rice. That’s significant because sur-vival after lung cancer treatment is directlyrelated to the stage at which the cancer isfirst found.

When lung cancer is identified at a veryearly stage with a screening CT scan, thecancer often can be cured with surgery. Inaddition, treatment for early stage lung can-cer often can be done using minimally-inva-sive techniques.

Quitting smoking was an excellent deci-sion — perhaps the best healthcare deci-sion you will make in your life. Stoppingsmoking dramatically lowers the risk formany health problems and increases over-all health and well-being. — Stephen Cassivi, M.D., Thoracic Sur-

gery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.© 2015 Mayo Foundation for Medical Ed-

ucation and Research. All rights reserved.Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Who should be screened for lung cancer?10 Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com MARCH 2 0 1 5 — CO ACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON

Please patronize our advertisers.They keep the Beacon free!

It’s handy to walk into a drugstore for anover-the-counter cold remedy, but some of theingredients may cause adverse reactions.

“I think people underestimate these med-ications because you can get them without aprescription. But they are still medicationsthat can interact with other drugs and inter-fere with existing health problems,” saidLaura Carr, a pharmacist at Harvard-affiliatedMassachusetts General Hospital, Boston.

It’s crucial to read the active ingredientlist of any OTC medication you considertaking, and talk to your pharmacist or doc-tor if you’re not sure how it may affect you.

Carr recommends that older adults payclose attention to the following:Decongestants: pseudoephedrine

(Sudafed) or phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine,Sudafed PE Nasal Decongestant)How they help: Decongestants narrow

the blood vessels, which can help reduceinflammation in your nasal passages andprovide relief.The risk: They can increase your blood

pressure. Decongestants are also stimu-lants, which can increase your heart rate orcause anxiety or insomnia.

The drugs aren’t recommended for peoplewith heart disease, high blood pressure, dia-betes or angina. Prolonged use of OTC decon-gestant nasal sprays can lead to greaterswelling than you experienced initially.What to do: “Check with your doctor or

pharmacist before using them, as olderadults can be more sensitive to the effectsof these medicines,” said Carr.Acetaminophen: Tylenol or genericsHow it helps: Acetaminophen relieves

pain and reduces fevers.The risk: Too much acetaminophen can be

toxic to your liver, and alcohol can increase thetoxicity. “Too much” is generally defined asmore than 3,000 to 4,000 milligrams per day.

Acetaminophen is a frequent ingredient inmany pain relievers and cold remedies, andtaking more than one cold remedy may meanyou’re taking too much acetaminophen.What to do: “Do not take more than the

recommended dose listed on the product.For example, if you have a cold remedy with325 mg. per tablet, you shouldn’t take morethan 10 pills in a day,” said Carr. “And don’ttake high doses for several days. That’s alsobeen shown to harm your liver.”

If you’re taking a combination drug,check the ingredients for acetaminophen.If it’s listed, don’t take separate acetamino-phen pills to relieve pain, including pre-scription pain relievers.

And don’t drink alcohol while takingacetaminophen.Antihistamines: diphenhydramine (Be-

nadryl, Unisom Sleep Gels), chlorpheni-ramine (Chlor-Trimeton), and doxylamine(Unisom)How they help: Antihistamines de-

crease the production of histamine, a sub-stance that leads to a runny nose, wateryeyes and sneezing. They also have a seda-tive effect and are frequently found in night-time cold remedies to help you sleep.The risk: Older adults don’t metabolize

this medication well.“If you take it at night, you might still feel

groggy and confused in the morning,which can lead to falls and injuries. Then ifyou take more of the medication, there’s anaccumulation that makes the confusion andsedation even worse,” said Carr.

Antihistamines can also cause the reten-tion of urine in the bladder, which can leadto urinary tract infections.What to do: “Avoid medications with an-

tihistamines, unless your doctor gives youapproval to take them,” Carr said. Mostnighttime cold or pain remedies contain an

antihistamine, so be sure to check the listof ingredients.Combination medicines: Dayquil,

Nyquil, Tylenol Cold and Flu, Advil Coldand Sinus, or any cold remedy that treatsmore than one symptomHow they help: For convenience, these

have two to four medications in one dose,such as a painkiller (acetaminophen, ibupro-fen), a cough suppressant (dextromethor-phan), and a decongestant (phenylephrine).The risk: You may not need all of the

medications. “Treating symptoms you don’thave exposes you to medicine you don’t

need, and that puts you at risk for possibleside effects unnecessarily,” said Carr.What to do: Look at the ingredient lists

of potential OTC cold remedies, and makesure you select the one that treats only yoursymptoms and has only ingredients that aresafe for you to use.

If you’re unsure which combination prod-uct is right for you, make sure you ask apharmacist or your doctor for advice.

— Harvard Health Letter© 2015. President and Fellows of Harvard

College. All rights reserved. Distributed byTribune Content Agency, LLC.

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

Some cold remedies can make you sicker

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donated to Meals on Wheels

By Kimberly LankfordQ: Isn’t the gap in coverage for the

Medicare Part D prescription drugbenefit shrinking again this year?

A: The “doughnut hole” is the gap in themiddle of Medicare Part D coverage thatrequires you to pay most of the cost of yourdrugs until you reach the catastrophic-cov-erage level, at which point your plan picksup 95 percent of the costs.For 2015, after you pay a $320 de-

ductible, your Part D plan provides cover-age until your drug expenses for the yearreach $2,960 (including both your shareand the insurer’s share of the costs). Thenyou land in the so-called doughnut hole.At that point, you’ll get a 55 percent dis-

count on brand-name drugs and a 35 per-cent federal subsidy for generic drugs (upslightly from a 52.5 percent brand-namediscount and a 28 percent generic subsidyin 2014). Your pharmacy will apply the dis-count automatically when you purchase themedications. After your out-of-pocket costs reach

$4,700, your plan will pay 95 percent of yourcovered drug costs.Determining what qualifies as out-of-

pocket costs is a bit complicated. Eventhough the brand-name-drug discount low-ers your costs in the doughnut hole, 95 per-cent of the cost of the drug (including the45 percent you pay and the 50 percent dis-count the drug company pays, but not the

extra 5 percent paid by your plan) countstoward your out-of-pocket costs. But for generics, the amount covered by

the government subsidy doesn’t count to-ward your out-of-pocket costs; only the 65percent you pay counts.

The hole shrinks each yearThe coverage gap started to shrink in

2011 under the Affordable Care Act. Beforethen, you had to pay the entire cost of yourdrugs in the doughnut hole. The doughnut hole will continue to

shrink until 2020, when the discount forbrand-name drugs and the governmentsubsidy for generic drugs rise to 75 per-cent, leaving you to pay just 25 percent of

drug costs in the doughnut hole.For details about how much the gap

shrinks each year, see the Closing theDoughnut Hole fact sheet from the MedicareRights Center at www.medicarerights.org/pdf/Closing-the-Doughnut-Hole-Chart.pdf.When comparing plans using the

Medicare.gov Plan Finder, you can see anestimate of your out-of-pocket costs bymonth based on the plans’ coverage foryour specific medications. You’ll also see inwhich month you’re likely to reach thedoughnut hole.© 2015, Kiplinger. All Rights Reserved.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency,LLC.

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

MoneyCONSOLODATE YOUR ACCOUNTSPooling your IRAs can simplify withdrawal and tax matters, as well assave money

MONEY GUIDEA new book offers a clear, comprehensiveanalysis of financial issues, including retirement advice

MORE SOCIAL SECURITY Social Security field offices will stay open an hour longer most days startingthis month

Law &

Medicare Part D’s doughnut hole in 2015

By Kathy KristofThe cover-the-basics approach to retire-

ment investing aims to match your fixed ex-penses with fixed sources of income, suchas Social Security, pensions and immediateannuities. You can then invest the rest ofyour assets to provide income for non-neces-sities, such as travel and entertainment.Let’s say a couple needs $6,000 a month

to meet day-to-day expenses and receives$4,000 a month from Social Security at 66,the age that Uncle Sam considers full retire-ment age for people born between 1943 and1954. Their gap is $2,000 a month. Rather than accumulating a cash hoard

to cover such a gap between income andcosts, said retirement expert Steve Vernon,retirees should use an immediate annuityto cover that portion of the gap that’s fornon-discretionary expenses.The type of immediate annuity Vernon

recommends works much like a pension.You invest a lump sum with an insurancecompany, and the insurer pays the moneyback to you, with interest, guaranteeingthat the monthly payments will last as longas you do. This approach allows you tocover all of your fixed expenses and takemore risk with your remaining assets.

Social Security as an annuityUnfortunately, lifetime annuities are not

especially attractive nowadays. A $100,000 in-vestment in a joint-life immediate annuity willreturn $475 per month to a 66-year-old cou-ple who want payments to last for both oftheir lifetimes, according to ImmediateAnnu-ities.com. If they wanted the annuity pay-ments to adjust for inflation, the monthlypayments in the early years would be loweror the up-front cost would be higher. One way to avoid locking in too much

money at low rates might be to buy an im-mediate annuity now with a portion of yoursavings and invest more in annuities everyfew years, assuming rates ratchet higher.If our hypothetical couple have pensions

and other savings that will cover their $6,000in monthly expenses for four years after theyretire, they could delay claiming Social Secu-rity, which offers one of the best annuitydeals around. After you reach full retirementage, Social Security hikes monthly payoutsby 8 percent for each year you hold off onclaiming benefits up to age 70. Assuming that Social Security would pay

each spouse $2,000 a month at age 66, themonthly benefit for each would be $2,751 atage 70 if they didn’t claim payments untilthat age. In return for making an “investment” of

a little more than $192,000 — the $4,000 indelayed monthly benefits multiplied by 48months, plus cost-of-living adjustments to

those payments — they would receiveenough added benefits to cover almost allof the gap between income and expensesfor the rest of their lives.

Finding the right investment mixOnce you’ve applied an asset-allocation ap-

proach to your retirement nest egg — that is,you’ve matched your fixed expenses withfixed sources of income — you may be ableto devote a hefty portion of the rest of yoursavings to stocks. That’s partly because

you’re insulated against short-term stockmarket downturns. And when you have timeto wait out declines, you can tolerate morestock market volatility.The right mix depends on your age, said

Catherine Gordon, a strategist at VanguardGroup. At age 66, Gordon said, you cansafely invest half of your assets in stocksand the rest in bonds and cash. The stock portion of the portfolio should

The best retirement investing strategiesCOACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — MA RCH 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money 13

See BEST STRATEGIES, page 14

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

be divided between domestic and foreignstocks. The bond allocation should includeforeign and U.S. debt and be spread amongdifferent maturities, though it shouldn’t gooverboard on long-term bonds.

A look at Vanguard’s target-date retirementfunds — all-in-one funds that become moreconservative as you approach the target date— gives you a good idea of the fund giant’sideal allocations. Vanguard Target Retirement2015 (symbol VTXVX), which is designed foran investor on the cusp of retirement, had 51percent of its portfolio in stocks and 45 per-cent in bonds at last report. Vanguard TargetRetirement 2010 (VTENX), which is for in-vestors who are five years into retirement, has37 percent of its assets in stocks and the restin bonds and cash.

Add more risk?But some advisers advocate a more-aggres-

sive tack. Nick Ventura, a money manager inEwing, N.J., suggests that in today’s low-inter-est-rate environment you should put specialemphasis on dividend-paying stocks, includ-ing real estate investment trusts. He alsothinks investors should keep some money in

commodity funds to protect against inflation.Retirement expert Steve Vernon has a sim-

pler approach. Because he assumes that re-tirees have covered 100 percent of their fixedexpenses through Social Security, annuitiesand pensions, he suggests you invest the restof your money in a traditional balanced fund,which typically has about two-thirds of its as-sets in stocks and the rest in bonds.

Solid choices include Dodge and CoxBalanced (symbol DODBX), FPA Crescent(FPACX) and Vanguard Wellington(VWELX). Crescent, a member of theKiplinger 25, recently held a modest 48 per-cent of its assets in stocks.

There’s no perfect formula, said AnthonyWebb, senior economist at the Center for Re-tirement Research at Boston College. Ulti-mately, you have to figure out how much riskyou can tolerate and then create a mix ofstocks, bonds and cash that feels comfortable.“You may not be totally right,” said Webb, “butyou also will never be totally wrong.”

Kathy Kristof is a contributing editor toKiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. Sendyour questions and comments to moneypower@kiplinger.com. And for more on thisand similar money topics, visit Kiplinger.com.

© 2015 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance; Dis-tributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Best strategiesFrom page 13

HERE’S HELP FOR YOUR TAXES

AARP Foundation Tax Aide program will offer free tax preparation

through April 14 for low-to moderate-income tax payers at these valley locations:

Cathedral City Library, 33-520 Date Palm Drive. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday,

Thursday. Walk-ins accepted. (760) 328-4262; Indio Senior Center, 45-700

Aladdin St., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday. Appointments necessary at (760)

391-4170. Mizell Senior Center, 480 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs. 8:30 a.m.-4

p.m. Tuesday. Appointments necessary at (760) 323-5689.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

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

(760) 324-4604 70201 Mirage Cove Drive

Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 www.vistacove.net

RCFE No. 336408433

The only Adult Day Program in the Valley open seven days a week is growing with more options to meet your needs.

Introducing theDay Break Social Club

Be Social and Stay Active!

!e Day Break Social Club is a four-hour program designed for people with early-stage dementia.

From 9am to 1pm or Noon to 4pm. A full-day option is also available.

For Club Members For Caregivers

By Sandra BlockQ: Should I consolidate my IRAs?A: For most investors, the answer is yes.

Putting all of your IRAs under one roof of-fers a number of advantages, starting withpotential lower costs. Combining your accounts may ensure

you avoid low-balance fees that can eat intoyour investment returns. For example, T.Rowe Price and Vanguard Group charge a$20 annual service fee for IRAs with bal-ances below $10,000. A single, larger account may also lower

your mutual fund expenses and trading

fees. And you may be eligible for perks,such as bargain-priced tax software or acomplimentary portfolio review by a finan-cial planner.Some firms offer a cash incentive to at-

tract new customers. TD Ameritrade paysnew customers cash bonuses ranging from$100 to $600, depending on the size of theaccount, and up to $2,500 to current cus-tomers for increasing the size of their ac-counts.Then there are the organizational bene-

fits. It’s easier to monitor your portfoliowhen all of your investments are in oneplace.

Simplify required distributionsYou’ll also appreciate having all your

IRAs in one place when it comes time foryou to withdraw money from your ac-counts. Once you turn 70½, you’re required

to withdraw a specific amount from yourtraditional IRAs by December 31 of eachyear (there are no minimum-withdrawal re-quirements for Roth IRAs). The amount ofyour required minimum distribution(RMD) will be based on the balance in yourIRAs and your life expectancy. If you have multiple IRAs, you must cal-

culate an RMD separately for each account.Once you’ve done that, you can withdrawthe total amount from any account or com-bination of accounts. Consolidating your IRAs also reduces

the risk that you’ll overlook an accountwhen figuring your RMD for the year. Thepenalty for such an oversight is 50 percentof the amount you should have withdrawn.Changing and updating your beneficiar-

ies is also easier when all of your IRAmoney is in one place. And combining ac-counts will streamline the process of trans-ferring accounts to your heirs. Althoughmarried couples must maintain separateIRAs, surviving spouses can roll over inher-ited IRAs into their own accounts.

Should you roll over 401(k)s?If you’ve held several jobs over the years,

you may have money in former employers’401(k) plans, too. Rolling those 401(k)plans into an IRA is another way to simplifyyour investments, but it’s not always a goodidea. Some large 401(k) plans offer institu-

tional-class mutual funds that charge lowerfees than funds for retail investors. If you’restill working and your employer allows it,another option is to roll your old 401(k) intoyour new employer’s plan.

Sandra Block is a senior associate editorat Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine.

© 2015 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance; Dis-tributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Consolidating IRAs has a number of benefits16 Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com MARCH 2 0 1 5 — CO ACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON

FREE TALK COVERS

LONG-TERM CARE

Franz Tatum Wealth Management

will host a free one-hour presentation

on “Long-Term Care and Beyond for

You and Your Family” on Tuesday,

March 31 from 10 a.m. to noon at

Escena Golf Club, 1100 Clubhouse

View Drive, Palm Springs and from 4

to 6 p.m. at Heritage Palms Golf

Club, 44-291 Heritage Palms Drive

South Indio. Snacks and beverages

will be served following the talk.

RSVP by March 26 at (760) 770-

2003, infoQfranztatum.com

BEACON BITS

Mar. 31

By Elliot RaphaelsonJonathan Clements has been a financial

columnist for the Wall Street Journal formany years. His new book,Jonathan Clements Money Guide2015, is a comprehensive finan-cial guide to the important deci-sions that influence yourfamily’s long-term financial well-being. Informative, concise, up-to-date and easy-to-understand,the book encompasses invest-ing, retirement planning, estateplanning and many other per-sonal finance issues.On the subject of investing,

Clements covers well-troddenground. He advocates a diver-sified portfolio that includes stocks, bondsand alternative investments such as real es-tate investment trusts. He stresses the importance of minimizing

costs and discusses the advantages of usingindex mutual funds and exchange-tradedfunds (ETFs). This is standard advice butexplained well. His sample portfolios and ad-vice on selecting financial advisers are veryuseful.

Healthcare and retirement adviceAn important chapter of the book covers

various aspects of health insurance, includ-

ing the Affordable Care Act, Medicare,Medicaid, prescription drug coverage andMedigap insurance.

Clements is very informativeon the pros and cons of long-term care insurance and onnursing home costs. Manystudies have shown that a sig-nificant number of families arewoefully ignorant regardinglong-term care issues and havenot done adequate long-termplanning in this area. Clementsgoes into detail explaining avail-able options.The book includes tools that

will allow you to estimatewhether you are saving enough

to have a prosperous retirement. Clementsdiscusses Social Security benefit options ingreat detail, including topics I have coveredin prior columns, such as the “file and sus-pend” option, which allows you to postponebenefits up to age 70 while your husband orwife can still claim spousal benefits. Clements discusses the advantages of

immediate annuities, which guarantee life-time monthly benefits, and of longevity in-surance, which provide higher guaranteedincome if you are willing to wait until a laterage to initiate payments. Clements discusses the advantages and

disadvantages of reverse mortgages. Hedoesn’t rule them out, despite their high feesand lack of flexibility, with the proviso thatthis option is a “last resort.” That’s sound ad-vice, as I have indicated in prior columns.On the subject of taxes, Clements points

out the importance of knowing your mar-ginal rate. (This is the income tax rate youpay for the last dollar you report as income.)Knowing this rate will allow you to knowwhether to buy municipal bonds, pay downyour mortgage, and fund Roth retirement ac-

counts (rather than tax-deductible accounts). As you might expect, Clements recom-

mends putting as much as you can into tax-sheltered accounts. If you are not eligiblefor a tax-deductible investment, or RothIRA, you can fund a nondeductible IRA andsubsequently convert it to a Roth. He is a big proponent of Roth accounts.

You should use your retirement accountsto buy your portfolio’s tax-inefficient invest-

A comprehensive new financial guideCOACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — MA RCH 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money 17

THE SAVINGSGAMEBy Elliot Raphaelson

See FINANCIAL GUIDE, page 18

ments such as taxable bonds, real estate in-vestment trusts and actively managed stockfunds. Your taxable accounts can be used tohold municipal bonds and investments thathave low turnover, such as index mutualfunds and exchange-traded funds.

Learn about estate planningA useful chapter is devoted to estate plan-

ning issues, including key componentssuch as wills; correct naming of beneficiar-ies for retirement accounts and life insur-ance and correct titling on major assets;trusts; financial and medical powers of at-torney; and steps to reduce taxes.

The author points out that it is very im-portant to be sure to name the correct ben-eficiaries on your retirement accounts. Theprovisions in your will do not override thebeneficiaries you named in your retirementaccounts. Make sure that after any signifi-cant events, such as divorce, you immedi-ately update the beneficiaries specified onyour accounts.

Money Guide 2015 could be a very com-prehensive asset for your long-term finan-cial planning. Consider it as a gift to anyoneyou know lacking in knowledge regardingbasic personal finance issues.

Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questionsand comments at elliotraph@gmail.com.

© 2015 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed byTribune Content Agency, LLC.

The Social Security Administration saysa budget increase this year will allow it tokeep field offices open an extra hour onmost weekdays, starting in March.

After years of cutbacks, the agency saidit will restore service hours nationwide onMarch 16. A field office that is usually openfrom 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. will stay open until 4p.m. on every weekday except Wednesday.

Field offices will continue to close atnoon on Wednesdays.

Members of Congress complained last

year after learning that Social Security hadclosed dozens of field offices even as mil-lions of baby boomers were approaching re-tirement. The agency has more than 1,200offices.

Much can be done onlineSocial Security says most business can

be done online, including applying for re-tirement, disability and Medicare benefits.

For example, Social Security beneficiariesare now able to obtain a replacement SSA-

1099 from the agency’s website. Social Secu-rity sends SSA-1099s each January to every-one who receives Social Security benefits. Itshows the total amount of benefits paid in theprevious year and is used for tax purposes.

“Beginning this tax season, any Social Se-curity accountholder who misplaces theiroriginal SSA-1099 will be able to request aninstant replacement from our menu of on-line services,” said Carolyn W. Colvin, act-ing commissioner of Social Security.

Previously, people who lost their SSA-1099 had to call or visit a Social Security of-fice to get a replacement or request thatone be mailed to them. With this new on-line service, people now only need to create

a “my Social Security” account, or log intotheir existing one.

My Social Security is a secure, online ac-count people use beginning in their work-ing years and continuing throughout thetime they receive Social Security benefits.

Once the account is created, it is used bypeople who are working to keep track oftheir earnings and to get estimates of futurebenefits. People already receiving benefitsmanage them with their account — chang-ing their address, starting or changing di-rect deposit, getting a benefit verificationletter, and more.

For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

Social Security extends field office hours18 Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com M A R C H 2 0 1 5 — C O A C H E L L A VA L L E Y B E A C O N

Financial guideFrom page 18

EXERCISE TO UPBEAT MUSIC

Mizell Senior Center has extended its popular Zumba classes to

Saturdays from 9 to 10 a.m. All fitness levels are welcome. Cost is $5 members,

$10 non-members. The center is at 480 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs.

(760) 323-5689, www.mizellseniorcenter.org

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A HIKE TO KEEP FIT

Two free hikes, one easy, the other rated moderate, are sched-

uled from 8:45 to 11 a.m. Thursdays starting from the National

Monument Visitor Center, 51-500 Highway 74, Palm Desert. Hikers should bring

water and snacks and wear hats, sun screen and appropriate shoes. On both it’s

possible to see wildflowers and a variety of wildlife, plus views of the valley.

(760) 862-9984, www.desertmountains.org

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

Ongoing

By Victor BlockViewing a high country landscape accen-

tuated by a blanket of yellow, the poetWilliam Wordsworth in 1804 describedwhat he saw as “a host of golden daffodils.”To Alfred Lord Tennyson, people walk-

ing in the same region “by zigzag paths,and juts of pointed rock, came on the shin-ing levels of the lake.” When I arrived in the northwest corner of

England that has prompted poets and otherwriters to wax so eloquently, it didn’t takelong to understand why. The name of the areaitself, English Lake District, sets the imagina-tion roaming. Yet images conjured up in themind often pale in comparison to the reality.Nestled in the county of Cumbria, the

Lake District is many things to many peo-ple. Begin with the magnificent scenery oflakes and rugged mountains, thick forestsand rolling fields outlined by meticulouslybuilt stone walls and hedge rows, wherecountless sheep graze contentedly. Lacethe setting with river valleys, and embellishthe picture with a stunning coastline. Add the region’s intriguing history and

rich cultural heritage, and it becomes clearwhy last year it was voted the leading des-tination in the United Kingdom by readersof Wanderlust Magazine.Given this inspirational environment, it’s

little wonder that world-famous poets, nov-elists and other writers were moved to cre-ate some of their best-loved works while

living or visiting there.

Land of lakes and mountainsIn a somewhat ironic nod to the British

fondness for quaint and colorful terms, onlyone of the 16 major bodies of water in the re-gion — Bassenthwaite, itself a challengingtongue twister — is actually called a lake. Theothers are known as waters, tarns and meres. Whatever their designation, they’re

squeezed between the highest mountainsin the country, filling valleys that werecarved out by the advance and retreat ofglaciers over some two million years. Of interest and appeal to anyone plan-

ning to visit the Lake District is the fact thatso much natural beauty is contained in an

area only about 35 miles wide and slightlymore from north to south.Even in such a compact area, each body

of water claims its own unique appeal andattractions. At 11 miles in length, Winder-mere is England’s longest lake and the mostpopular to visit. The shore is lined by Victo-rian mansions that were built for wealthyfamilies during the late 18th to early 19thcenturies, a number of which now serve asguest houses and small hotels. Windermereis one of several lakes that can be exploredon sightseeing cruises. Given the name, it’s no surprise that

Bassenthwaite once was called Bass Lake,

English Lake District’s poetic landscape

COACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — MA RCH 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon 19

TravelLeisure &

Some options for a more comfortableflight to Europe that don’t break thebank. See page 21.

The once-dilapidated 19th century Augill Castle in England’s Lake District wasturned into a bed and breakfast 15 years ago, and features 10 rooms, as well as asmall estate house for rent. The Lake District, very popular with tourists, has manyquaint B&Bs and charming inns.

PH

OT

O B

Y V

ICT

OR

BL

OC

K

See LAKE DISTRICT, page 20

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and that it still provides anglers with goodcatches. A more ominous story is told aboutWastwater, a deep lake where bodies havebeen found deposited in its dark depths.

Steam boats connect tourist villages thatoverlook Ullswater. Landlubbers may pre-fer the gentle 6.5-mile foot path that joinsthe towns.

Another walking trail circles Grasmere,and during summer a stony beach at thesouth end is popular with locals. William

Wordsworth, who lived in the town of Gras-mere for 14 years, described it as “theloveliest spot that man hath ever found.”

Roaming by footEasy walking and moderate hiking at-

tract many visitors to the Lake District, andtempt those who go there for other reasons.An extensive network of well-marked trailscriss-crosses the area, and small wooden“Foot Path” signs are encountered through-out the region.

There are paths suitable for every ability,preference and level of stamina. A commonsight is people of all ages wearing hikingclothes, many toting walking sticks andoften carrying a knapsack stuffed with apicnic lunch.

“Welcome Hikers” signs hang outsidesome Bed and Breakfast accommodationsand small hotels, and stores sell books andbooklets describing walks for people with aspecific interest, such as through wood-lands, to waterfalls and past pubs.

A welcome, if to me somewhat quaint, sys-tem in England, called the “Right to Roam,”provides public access to both public and pri-vate land for recreational purposes. While itapplies primarily to uncultivated areas, it alsoincludes some farms.

As a result, hiking trails often lead past farmhouses, skirt fields planted with crops and cutacross meadows filled with grazing sheep.Here and there, an enterprising farmer hasopened a small tea room in his house or barn

to earn a few British pounds from hikers seek-ing bit of rest and refreshment.

Many hikes leave from or to invitingtowns that grace the Lake District, andwhich provide yet another reason to visitthere. Whether walking or driving, pausingto stroll through some of these villages be-comes another memorable experience.

Exploring picturesque townsAs with the scenery, the choice of hikes and

other aspects of the region, variety is the nameof the game when exploring the communities.

Although Kendal is largely a manufactur-ing town, its convenient location has earnedit the unofficial title of “Gateway to theLakes.” A warren of narrow fortified alley-ways in the oldest neighborhood recalls a pe-riod of some 300 years, beginning in the 13thcentury, when they provided safety for resi-dents from English and Scottish raiding par-ties that attacked communities on both sidesof those countries’ common border.

Many buildings in Kendal were con-structed of locally quarried grey limestone,which accounts for its nickname, “Auld greytown.” Other attractions include the ruins ofseveral castles, the newest of which wasbuilt in the late 12th century.

The adjoining resort towns of Winder-mere and Bowness offer a long list of recre-ational activities for vacationers. TheBowness waterfront on Lake Windermere is

20 Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com MARCH 2 0 1 5 — CO ACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON

Water Wise Landscape Workshop SeriesSteve Robbins Administration Building (75515 Hovley Lane East, Palm Desert)

A workshop designed for home gardeners who want to learn more about desert

horticulture.

April 8, 6 - 7:30 p.m. Converting Turf

to Desert-Friendly Landscaping

Visit www.cvwd.org or call (760) 398-2651 for more information.

March 19, 5 - 7 p.m. Water Wise Leak Workshop

Coachella Valley Water District’s

Stay connected with us! www.cvwd.org

Open house event featuring the following:

Exhibits Prize drawings

Free leak detection tablets Water-e!cient Irrigation

presentation at 5:30 p.m. How to be a Leak Detective

presentation at 6:15 p.m.

Lake DistrictFrom page 19

See LAKE DISTRICT, page 22

If you’re thinking about flying to Europe,you have a surprisingly wide range of alter-natives to ordinary economy class, especiallyif you’re heading from the NewYork area to London or Paris.

Let’s face it: Ordinary econ-omy class is a really bad prod-uct, with its seats designed tothe dimensions of anorexicjockeys and minimal cabin serv-ice. And an overnight red-eye ina crowded economy cabin qual-ifies, in my book, as “cruel andunusual punishment.”

True, it’s cheap, and themany of you who value cheapover all else will wind up toughing it out inthe cattle car.

But if you want to avoid the worst of that ex-perience, you have a fair number of options.

Cheap business classThe latest news is that La Compagnie, the

new French all-business-class airline, is cur-rently selling business class from Newarkto Paris/De Gaulle starting at $1,600 roundtrip. For this summer, La Compagnie is quot-ing round trips starting at $1,800.

La Compagnie also announced it willstart flying from Newark to London/Lutonin late March. It is offering an introductoryfare of $1,007 for reservations madethrough April 24, with flights leaving fromApril 24 to June 30.

La Compagnie flies 757s with all angle-flatbusiness-class seats, which means the night-time seat is flat but at a slight angle so thatyour feet extend under the top of the seat infront of you. British-owned OpenSkies offersa similar product, from New York/JFK orNewark to Paris/Orly. Seats lie fully flat, butcurrently posted fares are much higher.

Beyond New York, the giant lines often

offer big discounts on business class fromall U.S. gateways to Europe during the sum-mer, typically with a 45-day or 60-day ad-

vance purchase. If you’reinterested, keep checking withthe airline websites.

And Aer Lingus often offerslower business class from itsU.S. gateways fares to much ofEurope via Dublin connections.

Premium economy Currently, the roomiest pre-

mium economy options to Eu-rope are on OpenSkies, from theNew York area to Paris; on Nor-

wegian, from Newark and Los Angeles to Lon-don/Gatwick; and on Turkish (777-300ER).

Air Canada, Air France, Air New Zealand(from Los Angeles to London/Heathrow),British Airways, LOT, Lufthansa (someA380s and 747-8s), SAS and Virgin Atlanticoffer more standard premium economyfrom most of their U.S. gateway airports totheir European home bases.

In premium economy, seats are about twoinches wider than regular economy, witharound eight inches more legroom and up-graded cabin service. However, the fare dif-ferences between regular economy andpremium economy vary tremendously; thissummer the spread will range from around30 percent to more than 100 percent.

Instead of offering real premium econ-omy, American, Delta, KLM and Unitedoffer economy sections with about three tofour extra inches of legroom, but with thesame narrow economy seats. Prices typi-cally add around $100 or more each way.

The roomiest regular economy seats arein most A330-340s and 777s configured nineacross. You find these on Air Canada (someflights), Delta, El Al, Turkish and United.

American’s 777-300ERs have nine-acrossseating in the extra cabin, 10-across in reg-ular economy; its other 777s currently havenine across in both sections; the big Euro-pean lines have narrow 10-across seats.

If you hate overnight flights, you can flynonstop to London during the day fromBoston on British Airways; Chicago onAmerican; the New York area on British,United and Virgin Atlantic; Toronto on AirCanada; and Washington/Dulles on United.

These days, when airlines expect empty

seats in premium cabins, some now offertravelers the option to buy or bid on up-grades. On my recent trip from Los Angelesto London, for example, Norwegian was ask-ing $400 for upgrades to premium economy.

Other lines accept pre-departure bids. Ifyou’re willing to risk not getting an up-grade, this is a good way to get into a pre-mium cabin at minimum cost.S e n d e - m a i l t o E d P e r k i n s a t

eperkins@mind.net. © 2015 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Some more comfortable flights to Europe

TRAVEL TIPSBy Ed Perkins

COACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — MA RCH 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel 21

lined by restaurants and shops. Nearby is theHole I’th Wall, a 16th-century pub so named,the story goes, for an opening made by ablacksmith who worked next door throughwhich he retrieved his pints of ale.

Keswick was granted a king’s charter asa market town in 1276, and its marketplacehas remained in operation since then. It be-came a popular vacation destination in the

18th century, and today tourism continuesto be its principal industry.

Borrowdale is recognized as one of themost beautiful of the Lake District commu-nities. It lies in a river valley beneathwooded fells (hills) and Scafell Pike — notexactly an Everest, but at a height of 3,210feet, the tallest mountain in England.

Where writers wroteThe charming village of Grasmere loses

some of its appeal during summer, when

hordes of sightseers arrive to visit land-marks associated with its most famous for-mer resident, William Wordsworth.

It is one of a number of towns in the areathat relate chapters in the story of the so-called Lake Poets. They were a group of writ-ers who lived in the Lake District around theturn of the 19th century and, inspired by itsbeauty, described it in their works.

The three main Lake Poets were WilliamWordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge (whopenned “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”)and Robert Southey, perhaps best known asthe author of “The Story of the Three Bears,”the precursor to the Goldilocks story.

A number of other poets and writers alsodrew inspiration from the region, and theirwords of admiration and adoration did muchto put the Lake District on the destinationmap of a growing wave of visitors.

The places associated with this group oftalented wordsmiths are as varied as the at-tractions that draw people to the area.Wordsworth lived in a cottage at the edgeof Grasmere from 1799 to 1808, and spentthe final 37 years of his life in a rambling oldhouse in the village of Rydal.

Both Coleridge and Southey lived for sometime in Keswick. Other well-known poets andwriters visited the Lake District, which servedto embellish its reputation even more. Alfred,Lord Tennyson, who was Poet Laureate ofGreat Britain during much of Queen Victo-ria’s reign, spent his honeymoon at Coniston,and John Ruskin helped to popularize the vil-

lage after he purchased a mansion nearby.Today, a growing number of travelers are

following the footsteps of those creative typesto create their own memories in and of theEnglish Lake District. They’re discovering thereasons why that tiny locale has for centuriesso entranced those who visit and live there.

If you goEngland being England, where you stay

can become part of the travel experience.Scattered about the Lake District are top-rate hotels, small inns and, of course,charming B&Bs.

Question: When does a hotel room haveits own turret? Answer: When it’s in a mid-19th century castle. Augill Castle in Kirbylives up to its promise of “a modern brand ofdressed down hospitality: unstuffy, informal,but decadently comfortable.” Rooms fur-nished with family antiques, an honesty bar,and even a 12-seat cinema room are amongtouches that make a stay memorable. Aheated indoor swimming pool is an addedamenity.

Rates for two begin at about $260, depend-ing upon the exchange rate. For more infor-mation, log onto www.stayinacastle.com orcall 01768-341-937.

Trains connect London with the LakeDistrict. It takes about 3½ hours to travelfrom London to Oxenholme.

For information about visiting the LakeDistrict, log onto golakes.co.uk or call01539-822-222.

22 Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com MARCH 2 0 1 5 — CO ACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON

Lake DistrictFrom page 20

Enjoy the Beacon? Tell your friends.

By Bill Marchese“Opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the

back and, instead of bleeding, he sings,”said Robert Benchley, the late Americanhumorist.

Spoken in jest or not, people are rarelyneutral about opera. You either love it orhate it. In Coachella Valley, enough peoplelove it to support two ambitious operagroups.

In Palm Springs, the annual Opera in thePark, which is free and open to the publicon April 12, draws thousands of people.The same goes for the March 22 Opera ArtFestival at the Palm Desert Civic CenterPark, also free and family friendly.

Festival of Opera and ArtA non-profit organization, Opera Arts

has brought more than 20 musical pro-grams, with an emphasis on opera and op-eretta, to the valley over the past five years.

On Sunday, March 22, the Festival ofOpera and Art is set for the Palm DesertCivic Center Park at Fred Waring Driveand San Pablo Avenue, behind City Hall. Itis a family-friendly event running from10:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., featuring art, music,food, crafts and activities for children.There’s face painting and magic acts forkids, high school artwork on display, per-

C O ACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — MA RCH 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon 23

Arts &Style Al Pacino talks about his new movieand his 14-year-old twins. See page 25.

Two free concerts draw opera fans to parks

The performers and conductor take bows at Opera in the Park in Palm Springs.

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See OPERA, page 24

formances by the Two Vaughn’s and Javierplus Gale Enger on keyboard. Opera Festi-val begins at 2 p.m. with a 20-minute breakbetween acts.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages will beon sale. Bring a blanket, chairs and umbrel-las for a day in the park. Opera Arts alsosponsors other concerts such as “OperaUnder the Stars” on April 19 and “Birds ofa Feather” on April 26, each with admissionof $125 per person.

Arlene Rosenthal, president of OperaArts, who has worked with non-profitmusic, opera and other organizations formore than 25 years, said her greatest chal-lenge is “making sure you have funding inplace for the quality programming you areoffering to the public.” Opera Arts runs onlow overhead and everyone is a volunteer,including Rosenthal, who as president alsoanswers the phone and takes care of email.

Palm Springs Opera GuildAll concerts sponsored by the guild are

free and open to the public, including itssignature “Opera in the Park,” set for allday Sunday, April 12 at Sunrise Park inPalm Springs. Eight young singers will takecenter stage with a 25-piece professional or-chestra, and a conductor for a combinationof opera and classical music. Last year, anestimated 8,000 people attended this event.

Along with Opera in the Park, the guildbrings opera and music programs to localschools, tailoring to grade levels fromkindergarten to high school seniors. Theeducational programs include singers,piano accompanist and a narrator interact-ing with the students.

The guild also supports and encouragesyoung singers with financial and other as-sistance. It also makes opera and classicalmusic available to senior citizens, often forthe first time in their lives.

The Palm Springs Opera Guild wasstarted in 1968 by three women, Vicki Mal-

ouf, Diva Lily Pons and Mimi Rudolph, eacha major force for the arts in the 1960s and1970s. The mission has grown to include aprogram to bring opera into local schools

and other educational programs.Opera Ar ts, www.OperaAr tsPalm

Springs.org, (760) 323-8353Palm Springs Opera Guild, www.palm-

springsoperaguild.org, (760) 325-6107.

24 Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com MARCH 2 0 1 5 — CO ACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON

I have attended operas, whenever Icould not help it, for 14 years now; I amsure I know of no agony comparable tothe listening to an unfamiliar opera.

— Mark TwainThe opera is like a husband with a

foreign title: expensive to support, hardto understand, and therefore a supremesocial challenge. — Cleveland Amory

Of all the noises known to man,opera is the most expensive — Moliere

Opera in English is, in the main, justabout as sensible as baseball in Italian.

— H. L. MenckenI would rather undergo a vasectomy

via Weed Whacker than attend an opera.— Dave Barry

Famousauthorslove tohateopera

OperaFrom page 23

Thousands of fans attend Opera in the Park under a shade structure.

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HELP KIDS LEARN HOW TO READJoslyn Center in Palm

Desert is seeking volunteers to commitat least one morning a week for theRead With Me program in East Valleyschools. Volunteers help children fromhomes where no English is spoken tolearn to read and become proficient inEnglish. Free bus transportation is pro-vided. (760) 340 3220, Ext. 103,ediew@joslyncenter.org

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

By Lauri NeffAl Pacino says he can relate to Simon

Axler, the lead character in his film TheHumbling — about an aging actor who wor-ries he’s lost his craft and his appetite foracting.

That’s partly why he made the film. “Ithought I had a better chance of making amovie that was effective because it wasabout a world I understood,” the Oscar-win-ning actor said in a recent interview to pro-mote the film, which was released thiswinter.

Adapted from Philip Roth’s 2009 novel,The Humbling was directed by AcademyAward-winning filmmaker Barry Levinson(Rain Man) and co-stars Golden Globenominee Greta Gerwig (Frances Ha).

At 74, Pacino says that at times he feelshis age. “I do feel differently. I don’t quiteget up from this table the same way. I maywant to, but I don’t.”

Yet the actor says the similarities endthere. Simon may be ready to give up actingbut Pacino is not.

“Acting, especially if you’ve done it aslong as I have,” he said, “it becomes such apart of your nature you rarely ever thinkabout quitting or anything like that.”

The star of such iconic films as The God-father trilogy and Scent of a Woman, whichwon him his 1992 best actor Oscar, sayshe’s convinced there’s another big roleahead of him, but adding, “I don’t know ifit’s going to be in movies. ... Acting, it cantake on different forms.”

This winter, Pacino performed with thePhiladelphia Orchestra, doing Shakespeareand personal readings. “That’s a variationon a thing that takes acting, and it’s a littledifferent,” he explained.

Broadway and TVPacino will return to Broadway this fall

to appear in David Mamet’s latest workChina Doll, even if he won’t do the standardeight performances a week.

“I wouldn’t do eight performances if youpaid me,” he said. “It’s too much. I gave thatup a long time ago.”

Television remains in Pacino’s acting fu-ture, as well.

The two-time Emmy winner (You Don’tKnow Jack and Angels in America) says he’slooking into an episodic series that couldstream on a service like Netflix or Amazonabout Napoleon’s final days on the Island ofSaint Helena.

“I always found it was really interestingthe last days, the last months of his life,”said Pacino. While he’s been offered a lotof different scripts, he said he’s “neverfound the right vehicle” until he recentlyread “one of those series types.”

He says the project is still in the “talkingstages” but that Michael Radford, who Pa-cino worked with on the film The Merchantof Venice, is interested in directing.

Still raising childrenThe actor says maturing has also pre-

sented him with a new way to look at family,specifically how to raise his 14-year-oldtwins, Anton and Olivia, with actress andformer girlfriend Beverly D’Angelo. Pacino,who also has a 25-year-old daughter withacting coach Jan Tarrant, says he has theyounger children 50 percent of the time.

“My younger children I had when I wasolder and so that’s something that I’m in-volved in, very much,” he said. “Life has somuch variety that acting is just a part of itnow. It used to be all of it. Now it’s a part ofit.”

The actor says he’s fascinated how grow-ing up with computers and the Internethave given his younger children a jump ontheir own creativity.

“My daughter showed me something theother day she did, just sort of in passing,”he says. “She says, ‘Here Dad, look at whatI made,’ and she made a video. Naturally it

just had me laughing it was sofunny, so interesting the way shemade the shots, too. She edited it,put it together, the whole thing.”

Does he see another generationof Pacino performers in the mak-ing? “If I see there’s talent, whichI see there is, oh I would love it,”Pacino said with a laugh. “Whoelse is going to hire me when I getold?”

— AP

COACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — MA RCH 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style 25

Al Pacino looks to diversify but not retire

Al Pacino continues to act inmovies, including the recentlyreleased The Humbling, but isalso exploring other options,from performing Shakespeareplays to returning to Broadwaythis fall.

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Ranch and advises the H.N. and FrancesBerger Foundation board that in partnershipthrough CBS Local 2 awards a monthly$25,000 Coachella Valley Spotlight grant.

“Eye on The Desert” has presentedsome interesting interviews.

“Two of my favorites were Tony Bennettand Tom Hanks, great guys, accommodat-ing and friendly,” said Evans. “The person I’dmost like to interview now is PresidentObama, on a golf course and not talk politics.

“The silliest interview I’ve ever had waswith Jack Hannah, the famous animal guy.He put a baby tiger on my lap, an albinopython around my head, and let a beat catsit on my head. All in the space of four min-utes.”

But he’s not all work and no play. Severalyears ago he rescued three dachshunds. “Ihave some free time between 7 and 11 p.m.so I’m able to get home and feed and walkmy dogs — Sophie, Guinness and Ryan.”

Every chance he gets, he golfs. Evanswas invited to play in the Frank SinatraCelebrity Invitational golf tournament andthe recent Special Olympics tournament. “Iplay with my news anchor colleagues, KrisLong and John White. As a strugglinggolfer, I’ve learned the meaning of humility.”

Great pipesTurns out, Evans is a surprisingly good

saloon singer, favoring such Sinatra fa-vorites as “Summer Wind,” “A Foggy Day”and “Lady Is a Tramp”. He sings at theNest, Club Trinidad and other clubs around

the valley. Chances are on a Sunday after-noon he’ll be crooning at Melvyn’s in PalmSprings while his good friend MikaelHealey backs him up on piano.

“Patrick has a smooth and disarmingway of charming an audience,” said Healey.“He’s a natural. He’s cool and the audienceloves him.”

So does his television audience. “I lovewhat I do, and I guess it shows,” he said.“I’ve enjoyed each stage of my career. Turn-ing 50 (in 2016) will be a great milestoneand, hopefully, a great party. My deepest re-gret is that my father won’t be there to cel-ebrate with me.

“I’ve really found a home here in thedesert. Living in Rancho Mirage is my ideaof paradise.

“As for the future, maybe someday I’llopen an Italian restaurant with a piano bar,where I’ll warble a tune or two, and serve— hey, what else? — my Dad’s great Italiansausage.”

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

Patrick EvansFrom page 1

POLISH YOUR DANCE STEPSPalm Springs Dancers will host a dance party from 7 to 9:30 p.m.Friday, March 20 at Emerald Desert Resort, 76-000 Frank Sinatra

Drive, Palm Desert. A DJ will play a broad mix of dance tunes. Cost is $5.www.palmspringsdancers.com

OLD-FASHIONED CONCERT AND FREE ICE CREAMThe McCallum Theatre presents the McCallum Theatre ConcertBand in an old-fashioned band concert and ice cream social at 3p.m. Sunday, March 29. The program will include marches, classic

band music and music from the movies. Tickets are $20 to $35. The McCallum isat 73-000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert. (760) 340-2787, mcallumtheatre.com

BEACON BITS

Mar. 20

an incredible number of easy-to-reach his-toric sites.

• Ireland — It’s increasingly popular.Even though it is costly, it’s still less expen-sive than touring England.

• Croatia — It’s inexpensive and not toocrammed with tourists yet

• Montenegro — It’s inexpensive and notdeveloped for mass tourism so there aremany opportunities to do things on your own.

• Mexico — The country is coming backas a vacation choice, particularly Cabo SanLucas, Cancun, the Riviera Maya and beachcities and resorts on the west coast.

Understandably, Crofoot says unlikelychoices right now are Egypt and the MiddleEast, especially for unseasoned travelers.

From publisherFrom page 2

TAKE A LOOK AT THE REAL STARSThe Astronomical Society of the Desert will conduct “sky tours”and direct observations of the night sky through telescopes and

giant binoculars from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 28 at the Santa Rosa & SanJacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center, 51-500 Highway 74, PalmDesert. Free. www.astrorx.org

TOUR TOP DESERT GARDENSThe 10th annual Desert Garden Tour of five water-conserving PalmSprings gardens will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 12.Sponsored by the Desert Horticultural Society of Coachella Valley,

guests check in and receive tour maps at Wellness Park on the corner of Via Mi-raleste and Tachevah Drive in Palm Springs. Pre-register online via Paypal at de-serthorticulturalsociety.org. Or register on-site from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. atWellness Park on April 12. $15 for non-members, $5 students, cash only. deserthor-ticulturalsociety.org.

GET-TOGETHER WELCOMES DEMENTIA PATIENTSDementia Friendly Café, a social time for people diagnosed with de-mentia, will be hosted from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 18 at PFChang’s, 71-900 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage. (760) 341-1095

TAKE CARE OF YOU CAT OR DOGFree external health exams for cats and dogs, low-cost vaccina-tions and pet care information will be offered at the Saturday,March 21 Cathedral City Pet Health & Safety Fair at the Cathe-

dral City Dog Park, 68-752 Buddy Rogers Ave. Hours are 9 a.m. to noon. Discover-cathedralcity.com

TELL COUNTY ABOUT YOUR HEALTH CONCERNSRiverside County public health officials and partners will hold acommunity forum in Desert Hot Springs at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March24 to hear Coachella Valley residents talk about their health-re-

lated concerns and create a plan to address them. The session will be held at theHealth and Wellness Center, 11-750 Cholla Drive. www.rivcoph.org

BEACON BITS

Mar. 28

Apr. 12

Mar. 18

Mar. 24

Mar. 29

Mar. 21

COACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — MA RCH 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style 27

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