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I want to thank the thousands of readers and their guests who attended our 26th annual 50+Expo events in Maryland and Virginia recently.

Our entire staff spent months preparing our Expos, which offered attendees numerous health screenings, important vaccinations, and nearly 150 exhibitors, including government agencies, nonprofits and area businesses sharing information, resource materials, volunteer opportunities and gobs of chocolate and useful giveaways.

I was especially happy to see so many familiar faces and to have a chance to speak with you, catch up on your lives, and hear your views on the issues of the day. More than one of you told me you have attended each of our Expos for more than 20 years!

Of course, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that one of the best parts was hearing all the glowing compliments people shared with me about the Beacon, our writers, our sales staff and the events themselves. On a personal note, several took me aside to tell me how one of my recent columns had affected them or members of their family. I was very touched by that.

Our exhibitors were equally happy to have the opportunity to meet so many active older adults who were sincerely interested in the housing communities, health providers, financial and legal advisors, recreation and travel opportunities, and community resources that participated.

I want to thank our hardworking staff for putting together these fantastic events. I also want to thank our gold sponsors: AARP Virginia and Giant Pharmacy who, together with our many other sponsors, made the free events possible. In addition, Giant deserves special thanks for providing a variety of vaccines and health screenings. We also thank new exhibitor, Georgetown University Ophthalmology Department, for offering glaucoma screenings this year.

We are already making plans for next fall’s Expos and intend for them to be even bigger and better than this year’s.

As we enter the holiday season and the year draws to a close, I want to add here my thanks to, and admiration for, everyone on the Beacon staff. It takes diligent work from each of them to keep our printed publications and website brimming with useful content (and relevant advertising) month after month.

I’d like to thank each of them here by name: Executive Vice President Gordon Hasenei; Vice President of Operations Roger King; Art Director Kyle Gregory; Editor Margaret Foster; Assistant Editor Ana Preger Hart; Editorial Assistant Tori Cleveland; Advertising Representatives Jill Joseph, Steve Levin, M.K. Phillips and Alan Spiegel; and, of course, my wife, the Beacon’s President and Associate Publisher, Judy Rosenthal.

The Beacon would not exist without all of their efforts — nor without you who read our publications each month. I offer my sincere appreciation to each of you, too!

Please keep reading the Beacon and encourage your friends to do so as well. And when you call or visit any of our advertisers, please be sure to mention where you saw their ads! It’s their support that keeps the Beacon free.

I wish you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season and new year.