January 2020 | Howard County Beacon

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Art is her dream encore career PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN WINSTON-LEVIN

By Ivey Noojin Sometimes retirement offers the ability to finally pursue a lifelong dream.

Karen Winston-Levin, 71, didn’t start what she considers to be her true career until she retired in 2012. Since then, the Marriottsville resident has been prolifically painting images of nature and people.

“I probably have been painting all my life, even though I wasn’t holding a brush,” Winston-Levin said.

In July, a decade after she took up painting in earnest, Winston-Levin received the Howard County Arts Council Director’s Choice Honorable Mention for one of her paintings.

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Post-hurricanes, Puerto Rico enchants visitors again; plus, hiking through historic Northern Ireland page 23

An art-filled upbringing Winston-Levin grew up in Baltimore in the 1950s, when nobody locked their doors, she recalled.

“If your mom was busy with something, you went to your neighbor’s mom,” she said. “It was a real close-knit community.”

Both of her parents were passionate about art. Her father would draw pictures for her, and her mother took art classes from a local artist. One of her uncles was a professional artist.

She attended the University of Maryland, where she studied general education.

That wasn’t her dream, though. She wanted to go to art school, but it was too expensive.

“I really got lost,” Winston-Levin said of her time at the University of Maryland. “My whole ethos was really geared toward art, and I wasn’t doing any of that in college.”

She left school after a year and a half to accept a job at the University of Baltimore, working for the vice president and the accreditation committee.

During that time, she watched her husband, Mark Levin, dedicate himself to a law firm. Inspired, she decided to go back to school to “have more of a career” herself, she said.

A detour into nursing Then an opportunity appeared. Howard Community College had just opened, giving her a convenient and affordable way to continue her education. Winston-Levin decided to study psychiatric nursing to help support the family.

After graduating, she worked as a psy-

ARTS & STYLE

A tale of sweet revenge at Everyman Theatre, courtesy of Agatha Christie Karen Winston-Levin put her love of art mostly aside in order to pursue a career as a psychiatric nurse. She would, however, use art therapy with her patients, encouraging them to observe and create art. Since she retired, she has been able to pursue her own lifelong passion for art, producing paintings that sell and win awards.

chiatric nurse at Johns Hopkins University for about five years. That was where she introduced therapeutic art into her practice, even though it wasn’t something used at the time by the hospital.

“I just thought it was another vehicle to get to know the person who I was working with and help them know themselves a little better,” Winston-Levin said.

She also began to go to workshops to further develop her skills in art therapy, believing that imagery techniques were helpful with her patients.

She later moved to Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, where she could work part-time while she studied for (and earned) a Bache-

lor of Science in nursing as well as a special accreditation in psychiatric nursing.

After a few years at Sinai, Winston-Levin shifted to private practice in a physician’s office, where she stayed until she stopped working full-time.

Her time to shine Winston-Levin’s post-career passion came to life with just one sentence: “Maybe we should take classes together.”

Around 2008, a friend invited her to attend an art class at Howard Community College, knowing that Winston-Levin See ARTIST, page 28

page 27 TECHNOLOGY k Shop thriftily online

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Innovative solutions I recently attended a national confer- They apply algorithms to the data collectence that highlighted some of the latest in- ed from millions of sources to better unnovations in products and derstand what people are askservices for older adults. ing of the machines. But they Attendees represented also apply them to better uncompanies large and small, derstand people themselves. star t-ups and long-estabYou’ll see what I mean below. lished brands, as well as assoHere is a brief selection of ciations like AARP and the Nanew products discussed at the tional Council on the Aging. conference. I expect we’ll have I came away excited about more in-depth stories elaboratwhat I learned and energized ing on some of these (and othby the creative technologies ers) in upcoming issues. and solutions these new com- FROM THE Preventing caregiver PUBLISHER panies are developing. burnout: Caregiving issues Many of them build on the By Stuart P. Rosenthal were one of the biggest areas increasingly popular “voice addressed in the conference. assistants,” such as Amazon’s Alexa, More than 40 million family members and Apple’s Siri and Google’s Assistant. These other unpaid caregivers currently provide come as both smartphone apps and stand- caregiving in the U.S. alone products (e.g., Amazon Echo, Apple Preventing burnout among these indiHomePod, Google Home). viduals is an important goal that can help Personally, I have not been a fan of keep those being cared for from needing these due to privacy concerns. But it ap- to enter a nursing home. pears older adults are flocking to them, as The company TCare has developed a the products offer hands-free ways of structured conversation (to be adminisusing the Internet without the technologi- tered by a trained social worker or healthcal confusions that can come with operat- care professional) that has been shown to ing and maintaining computers and smart- identify caregivers at risk of burnout. Folphones. lowing the conversation, an AI algorithm is Some of the new software products also applied that functions as a screening and make use of artificial intelligence (AI). assessment tool.

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The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Baltimore area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Howard County, Md., Greater Washington, DC and Richmond, Va. (Fifty Plus).

Subscriptions are available via third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. Maryland residents add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below.

Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher.

Publisher/Editor – Stuart P. Rosenthal President/Associate Publisher – Judith K. Rosenthal Vice President of Operations – Gordon Hasenei Vice President, Sales & Marketing – Alan Spiegel Managing Editor – Margaret Foster Art Director – Kyle Gregory Director of Operations – Roger King Advertising Representative – Steve Levin Editorial Assistant – Ivey Noojin

The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (410) 248-9101 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com Submissions:

The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 31 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions.

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This product has a proven track record, such that it is recognized by the Administration for Community Living, a federal agency, as “a consistent, objective and reliable process” to identify at-risk caregivers.

See more at tailoredcare.com.

Share your legacy: A start-up’s new website and app are designed to make it easy for users to share important stories about themselves with family and friends, and to leave a recorded legacy for the future — all at no cost, for the time being.

Called Megilla, it currently offers more than 750 questions or prompts, such as “What were you like as a child?” and “What is one piece of advice that affected your life?”

From a smartphone, laptop or computer with a camera, a user clicks on a question they want to answer and then has up to three minutes to video their answer.

All answers are stored on the site, and can be easily emailed to anyone of your choosing, or just kept private, if users prefer.

The service plans eventually to start charging a monthly fee ($5 or so, it’s said) to maintain the videos and services, but for now, it’s totally free. Visit megilla.com for more info or to start using.

Improving hearing: Another start-up, called Audio Cardio, has developed a smartphone app that it claims can help preserve hearing and even recover some “lost” hearing ability.

The concept is based on studies that

suggest regular audio therapy appears capable of improving the brain’s ability to process frequencies that have been lost due to aging and noise exposure. One study even suggested this type of therapy can help repair damaged hair cells in the inner ear that are essential for hearing.

The app produces tones that are not audible. Users “listen” to these inaudible sounds for an hour a day through headphones or earphones while doing anything else they want (even listening to music at the same time).

The claim is that this strengthens and stimulates the cells in the ear, and reconditions the brain to once again detect sound frequencies that had been inaudible before.

It certainly seems like a great idea.

Maybe too good to be true. More studies are underway, so stay tuned (no pun intended). For more information, see audiocardio.com.

May the new year bring all of us new opportunities, as well as innovative products and services, that make life better.

We’ll do our best to cover them here in the Beacon, so please keep reading and recommend us to your friends.

Also, please share your opinion on topics of the day through letters to the editor.

We love hearing from you.

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day.

Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email info@thebeaconnewspapers.com.

Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.

Dear Editor: The Chesapeake Bay, a defining feature of Maryland and a national treasure, is under threat — many of the species that visit or make their homes in the Bay are endangered or threatened, including the diamondback terrapin, Maryland darter and leatherback sea turtle.

Despite those grave risks, the federal government recently announced a new rule that severely weakens the Endangered Species Act — one of our nation’s bedrock environmental laws that protects wildlife and plants.

The new rule punches holes in this critical safety net, making it easier for companies to develop pipelines and other industrial infrastructure inside wild places that are critical for endangered species’ survival.

That isn’t who we are. These aren’t Maryland’s values. We are counting on our congressional delegation to stand up for Maryland’s wildlife by coming out in opposition to the rollback of the Endangered Species Act.

Now is the time to defend our wildlife, before it’s gone.

Kate Breimann Environment Maryland Dear Editor: I think it ludicrous to think you will read this and take it seriously, but I will try anyway.

Regarding your October article, “Making retirement safe for LGBTQ elders,” why shouldn’t they have issues? These lifestyles are perverted, so straights should be nervous and concerned.

Where do they have the “right” to force us to believe contrary to nature and to scripture? And why does your paper not allow those opposed to those lifestyles, or who want to get out of those lifestyles, to express their position?

Another issue: the legalization of marijuana. Dr. Karen Randall of Colorado, who supported legalized pot, and 275 of 300 other doctors now want it to be illegal, as they see the damage it has done in the country.

See LETTERS TO EDITOR, page 28

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0

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Technology &

Innovations Apps can track spending in retirement

By Mary Kane and Emma Patch When Lauren Lindsay joined a large group of about 20 friends for brunch in Houston recently, things quickly got complicated.

“Different people ordered different things, and some had to come and go at different times,” said Lindsay, 49, a financial planner.

“And the place wouldn’t do separate checks.”

But the friend who organized the brunch had a simple solution, Lindsay said. She paid the entire bill and then used the payment sharing app Venmo, letting people know what they owed and how much the tip was, so she could be reimbursed. Lindsay also regularly uses Venmo to split dining and other expenses.

“It’s very handy, so you aren’t chasing people down when they owe you money,” she said. “Not very many people carry cash in general anymore, so this is the way things are going.”

For retirees, organizing expenses and splitting checks equitably are key ways to keep a handle on everyday spending, which can be stressful when adjusting to life without a steady paycheck.

While your grandkids may be familiar with a range of apps that help manage spending, you may be on a financial tech learning curve.

Four in 10 seniors now own smartphones, which is double the number in 2013, according to the Pew Research Cen-

ter. But some remain wary of using financial apps. For others, it may just be a matter of getting comfortable using such an app, said Rick Kahler, a financial planner in Rapid City, S.D.

Keep track of receipts, expenses Kahler said he only recommends to clients the apps that he actually uses. He likes TurboScan, which uses your phone’s camera to scan a receipt and helps keep the virtual receipts organized.

Another favorite is GasBuddy, which Kahler accesses when he rents a car while traveling. Instead of taking the option to return the car with the tank empty and face a more costly rental company charge for fill-

ing it, he uses GasBuddy to find the lowestpriced gas station in an unfamiliar area.

Kahler said he and some of his older clients also like Mint, a money-management app. You can create a monthly budget with it, putting your expenses in as many as 20 categories. You can even keep track of charitable gifts, which you can then use as a record at tax time.

After you’ve entered the target amounts for each category, you link your bank account and watch your recent expenses automatically fill progress bars for each category. Or you could use an expense-tracking app such as Fearless Finance.

See APPS, page 6

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Online thrift shops offer new ways to save Fraud protections vary on these platforms. Etsy and eBay have a process to resolve disputes. On the others, it may be free to post listings, but that means there is no mediator when things go wrong.

On some sites, sellers manage their own “closets.” They can try to develop a personal following by using social media to promote themselves, and ingratiate themselves to buyers by enclosing thank-you notes with purchases.

“A lot of my sales come solely from Instagram,” said Haley Gibbs, 24, who resells clothes that she picks up from thrift stores in Minneapolis, where she lives.

She sells them on Poshmark, a site that’s a grab-bag of styles and prices.

She sends handwritten notes to her buyers, whom she considers a supportive

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community that helped her transition to selling full-time. She “advertises” her Poshmark offerings on Instagram.

The whole look and feel of Depop, an app popular with teens and young adults, is reminiscent of Instagram, complete with stylized posts by wannabe influencers.

Other sites cater to parents of young children, like Kidizen. It’s a market that makes particular sense for used clothing, since kids grow so fast.

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Online, items may be more expensive than at an actual thrift store, especially when you add in shipping costs.

But in many cases, it’s also easier to find stuff — no dusty racks, no piles of clothing, and you can search for a brand name and

Buyer protection varies

I N F O R M AT I O N

Easier to find what you want

item without leaving your couch. Furthermore, there’s often room to negotiate price.

The best sites create an experience for shoppers that’s not only easier to navigate than an actual thrift store, but better than going to a traditional store and buying something new (at full price), said Anita Balchandani, a McKinsey partner.

It’s hard to determine how big the usedclothing market is, but you can see increasing consumer interest in it due to the growing number of companies engaged in it, Balchandani said. She is co-author of a report predicting that consumers will use more “pre-owned” or rented clothing, like Rent the Runway’s model of renting out clothes to its subscribers.

The best-known online marketplace that connects individual sellers and buyers is eBay. But sites built for different purposes also function as bargain-hunting middlemen.

You can list your wares on neighborhood app Nextdoor, Craigslist and Facebook’s marketplace. In these cases, you’re typically limited by geography as these sites mostly connect locals, pointed out Kathy Kristof, editor of the SideHusl website that gives tips on gig jobs.

Some people also use Facebook’s groups function, dedicated to specific brands, and ship to each other across the country. Etsy too is more wide-ranging.

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By Tali Arbel It’s not just eBay anymore. A slew of websites and apps act as virtual thrift stores for vintage devotees, deal hunters and those just looking to unload stuff they don’t want anymore.

These sites have proliferated as the recession of a decade ago and the slow comeback in wages since then dramatically altered how people shop.

Discounters like T.J. Maxx have been sweeping up, while many traditional retailers have shrunk, gone bankrupt or disappeared.

The stigma of “used” has fallen away, and many now shop knowing full well they can sell their pieces later and get some money back. Some consider buying used clothes online a more eco-conscious approach to trends.

There’s a range of consignment stores on the Internet. Some cater to kids or young adults; some are specifically for high-end fashion; some are a free-for-all.

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Apps

BEACON BITS

Jan. 19

WINTER WALK

From page 4

Both indoor and outdoor activities are planned at Robinson Nature Center on Sun., Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., highlighted by an outdoor walk on the Center grounds, located at 6692 Cedar Ln., Columbia. To learn more, call the center at (410) 313-0400.

Jan. 27+

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE EXHIBIT

A “pop-up” exhibit from the National Archives commemorating the 100-year anniversary of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote will go on display at the Howard County Library Central Branch on Mon., Jan. 27 through Sat., May 30. The library is located at 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. For more information, call (410) 313-7800.

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Many apps to choose from To use an app, download it from Apple’s App Store if you have an iPhone, or from Google Play if you have an Android mobile device. Many apps are free, but double check for any charges or fees first.

You can log in to Venmo using your Facebook account, which lets you pull in your friends list. To pay or request to be paid back, enter the username or phone number of the recipient within the app.

Enter the amount and what the money is for, then select “Pay” or “Request.”

To transfer money you receive in Venmo to your bank account, select “Transfer to Bank.” Note the instant transfer fee is 1% of the transfer amount, with a minimum fee of

Thrift shops From page 5 the merchandise is authentic.

The company’s employees, not individual sellers, set prices, and the site takes a hefty cut — it can be more than half of the selling price. But buyers are able to trust that a Hermès scarf is actually Hermès.

Reselling and refurbishing used clothes is attracting so much attention that some resale sites are striking partnerships with retail names more than a century old.

25 cents and a maximum of $10.

To send money without burdening the recipient with a transfer fee, consider the gifting app called NextRound.

You also can use Tab, another app, to make it easier to request payments through Venmo. Tab gives you a code to share with friends, so they can join in on the bill from their smartphones.

You also can send money to friends through Zelle and PayPal. If apps aren’t for you, you could instead create an Excel spreadsheet to track spending. Or you might decide that it’s more important to enjoy a meal with friends and family than to worry about splitting the bill, and let it go. © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

J.C. Penney and Macy’s are working with ThredUP, which operates similarly to TheRealReal in that a customer buys from the middleman, not from another individual. (ThredUP does not have the same singular high-end focus, though.)

Neiman Marcus has an arrangement with Fashionphile, in which it owns a minority stake. There’s a plan for customers to be able to sell their old handbags and accessories to Fashionphile inside Neiman Marcus’ luxury department stores.

—AP

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0

Health Fitness &

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HEAR HERE Personal sound amplification devices can be a good solution for mild hearing loss MEMORY STUDY Johns Hopkins seeks patients with mild cognitive impairment for a new study SUPER MELON Bitter melon in tea or supplements may help prevent oral cancer, researchers find PROTEIN POWER Not all proteins are alike. Help your body get the complete proteins it needs

Study questions value of stents, bypass

By Marilynn Marchione People with severe but stable heart disease from clogged arteries may have less chest pain if they get a procedure to improve blood flow, rather than just giving medicines a chance to help.

But it won’t cut their risk of having a heart attack or dying over the following few years, a big federally funded study found.

The results challenge medical dogma and call into question some of the most common practices in heart care.

They are the strongest evidence yet that tens of thousands of costly stent procedures and bypass operations each year are unnecessary or premature for people with stable disease.

That’s a different situation than a heart attack, when a procedure is needed right away to restore blood flow. But for nonemergency cases, the study shows “there’s no need to rush” into invasive tests and procedures, said New York University’s Dr. Judith Hochman.

There might even be harm: To doctors’ surprise, study participants who had a procedure were more likely to suffer a heart problem or die over the next year than those treated with medicines alone.

Hochman co-led the study and gave the

results at an American Heart Association conference in Philadelphia in November.

“This study clearly goes against what has been the common wisdom for the last 30, 40 years” and may lead to less testing and invasive treatment for such patients in the future, said Dr. Glenn Levine, a Baylor College of Medicine cardiologist with no role in the research. Some doctors still may quibble with the study, but it was very well done “and I think the results are extremely believable,” he said.

Reinforces earlier study results About 17 million Americans have clogged arteries that crimp the heart’s blood supply, which can cause periodic chest pain. Cheap and generic aspirin, cholesterol-lowering drugs and blood pressure medicines are known to cut the risk of a heart attack for these folks, but many doctors also recommend a procedure to improve blood flow.

That’s either a bypass — open-heart surgery to detour around blockages — or angioplasty, in which doctors push a tube through an artery to the clog, inflate a tiny balloon and place a stent, or mesh scaffold, to prop the artery open.

Twelve years ago, a big study found that

angioplasty was no better than medicines for preventing heart attacks and deaths in non-emergency heart patients, but many doctors balked at the results and quarreled with the methods.

So the federal government spent $100 million for the new study, which was twice as large, spanned 37 countries and included people with more severe heart disease — a group most likely to benefit from stents or a bypass.

All 5,179 participants had stress tests, usually done on a treadmill, that suggested blood flow was crimped. All were given lifestyle advice and medicines that improve heart health. Half also were given CT scans to rule out dangerous blockages and then continued on their medicines.

The others were treated as many people with abnormal stress tests are now: They were taken to cardiac catheterization labs for angiograms. The procedure involves placing a tube into a major artery and using special dyes to image the heart’s blood vessels. Blockages were treated right away, with angioplasty in threefourths of cases and a bypass in the rest.

Doctors then tracked how many in each group suffered a heart attack, heart-related death, cardiac arrest or hospitalization

for worsening chest pain or heart failure.

After one year, 7% in the invasively treated group had one of those events versus 5% of those on medicines alone. At four years, the trend reversed — 13% of the procedures group and 15% of the medicines group had suffered a problem.

Averaged across the entire study period, the rates were similar regardless of treatment.

Medicines just as effective If stents and bypasses did not carry risks of their own, “I think the results would have shown an overall benefit” from them, said another study leader, Dr. David Maron of Stanford University. “But that’s not what we found. We found an early harm and later benefit, and they canceled each other out.”

Why might medicines have proved just as effective at reducing risks?

Bypasses and stents fix only a small area. Medicines affect all the arteries, including other spots that might be starting to clog, experts said.

Drugs also have improved a lot in recent years.

See HEART PROCEDURE, page 8

Doctors safely edit genes to fight cancer

By Marilynn Marchione The first attempt in the United States to use a gene editing tool called CRISPR against cancer seems safe in the three patients who have had it so far, but it’s too soon to know if it will improve survival, doctors reported in November.

The doctors were able to take immune system cells from the patients’ blood and alter them genetically to help them recognize and fight cancer, with minimal and manageable side effects.

The treatment deletes three genes that might have been hindering these cells’ ability to attack the disease and adds a new, fourth feature to help them do the job.

“It’s the most complicated genetic, cellular engineering that’s been attempted so far,” said the study leader, Dr. Edward Stadtmauer of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. “This is proof that we can safely do gene editing of these cells.”

Two of the patients have multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, and the third has a sarcoma, cancer that forms in connective or soft tissue. All had failed multiple standard treatments and were out of good options.

Their blood was filtered to remove immune system soldiers called T cells, which were modified in the lab and then returned to the patients through an IV. It’s intended as a one-time treatment. The cells should multiply into an army within the body and act as a living drug.

So far, the cells have survived and have been multiplying as intended, Stadtmauer said.

After two to three months, one patient’s cancer continued to worsen and another was stable. The third patient was treated too recently to know how she’ll fare. The plan is to treat 15 more patients and assess safety and how well it works.

“It’s very early, but I’m incredibly en-

couraged by this,” said one independent expert, Dr. Aaron Gerds, a Cleveland Clinic cancer specialist.

Other cell therapies for some blood cancers “have been a huge hit, taking diseases that are uncurable and curing them,” and the gene editing may give a way to improve on those, he said.

Supercharges immune system Gene editing is a way to permanently change DNA to attack the root causes of a disease. CRISPR is a tool to cut DNA at a specific spot. It’s long been used in the lab and is being tried for a number of diseases.

This study is not aimed at changing DNA within a person’s body. Instead it seeks to remove, alter and give back to the patient cells that are super-powered to fight their cancer — a form of immunotherapy.

Chinese scientists reportedly have tried this for cancer patients, but this is the first

such study outside that country. It’s so novel that it took more than two years to get approval from U.S. government regulators to try it.

The early results were released by the American Society of Hematology; details were given at its annual conference in December.

The study is sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania, the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy in San Francisco and a biotech company, Tmunity Therapeutics.

Several study leaders and the university have a financial stake in the company and may benefit from patents and licenses on the technology.

“This is a brand new therapy,” Stadtmauer said, so it’s not clear how soon any anti-cancer effects will be seen. Following these patients longer, and testing more of them, will tell, he said.

—AP

8

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Take a closer look at coconut oil advice

By Vasanti Malik Coconut oil has seen a surge in popularity in recent years due to many touted health benefits, ranging from reducing belly fat to strengthening the immune system, preventing heart disease and staving off dementia.

These claims are often backed by celebrity endorsements and bolstered by proponents of popular diets such as ketogenic and Paleo, with little support from scientific evidence.

On the flip side, and further adding to the confusion, you also may have seen headlines

calling out coconut oil as “pure poison,” implying that it shouldn’t be consumed at all.

Given these contradictory claims, a question of much public and scientific interest is whether there is room for coconut oil in a healthy diet.

Bad fats, good fats Coconut oil largely consists of saturated fat (80% to 90% of fat in coconut oil is saturated), making it solid at room temperature.

Other sources of saturated fat include animal

products, such as meat and dairy, and other plant-based tropical oils like palm oil.

Consumption of saturated fat has long been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease due to its ability to raise harmful LDL cholesterol levels.

Unlike saturated fats, unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature. They can improve blood cholesterol levels and reduce inflammation, among other cardiovascular benefits. Unsaturated fats are predominantly found in oils, nuts, seeds and fish.

Saturated fats should be limited The current Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend consuming no more than 10% of total calories from saturated fat. And last year the American Heart

Heart procedure From page 7

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Having a procedure did prove better at reducing chest pain, though. Of those who had pain daily or weekly when they entered the study, half in the stent-or-bypass group were free of it within a year versus 20% of those on medicines alone.

A placebo effect may have swayed these results — people who know they had a procedure tend to credit it with any improvement they perceive in symptoms.

Dr. Alice Jacobs, a Boston University cardiologist who led a treatment-guidelines panel a few years ago, said any placebo effect fades with time, and people with a lot of chest pain that’s unrelieved by medicines still may want a procedure.

“It’s intuitive that if you take the blockage away, you’re going to do better, you’re going to feel better,” but the decision is up to the patient and doctor, she said.

The bottom line: There’s no harm in try-

Association (AHA) released a scientific advisory statement recommending the replacement of saturated fats in the diet, including coconut oil, with unsaturated fats.

In their statement, the AHA cited and discussed a review of seven randomized controlled trials, in which coconut oil was found to raise LDL cholesterol levels.

The rationale behind the AHA recommendation is that consuming unsaturated fats in place of saturated fat will lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and improve the ratio of total cholesterol to “good” HDL cholesterol, lowering the risk of heart disease.

For those at risk of, or who already have, heart disease, the AHA advises no more See COCONUT OIL, page 9

ing medicines first, especially for people with no or little chest pain, doctors said.

When told they have a problem that can be fixed with a stent, “the grand majority of patients in my experience will opt to undergo that procedure’’ to get improvement right away, said Dr. Jay Giri, a cardiologist at the University of Pennsylvania with no role in the study.

Maryann Byrnes-Alvarado is not among them. The 66-year-old New York City woman said she joined the study six years ago after having trouble walking, which “scared me to death,” but so did the idea of a heart procedure.

She was relieved when she was assigned to the medication treatment group.

Her doctor altered her blood pressure medicine, added a cholesterol drug and aspirin, and adjusted her diet. Now her risk factor numbers are better, and she can walk again without difficulty.

“I believe I got the best care that I could get” and avoided an operation, she said. —AP

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9

PSAPs: affordable hearing aid alternative?

By David M. Vernick, M.D. Growing up, I had to wear glasses. Back then, glasses were considered socially unacceptable, but necessary to be able to see.

Sixty years later, everyone wears glasses, and they are even a fashion statement.

Now as an aging adult, I need to wear hearing aids. This was, and still is in many age groups, considered socially unacceptable — a sign of being old and maybe a little senile.

But it appears that hearing aids are in the process of a similar transformation. A pared down, more affordable category of products — personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) — may lead to greater use of hearing enhancers at a younger age.

Hearing aids: excellent but costly One of the major complaints about hearing aids is that they are expensive; they can run from $1,000 to $6,000 apiece. Further-

Coconut oil From page 8 than 6% of total calories from saturated fat, or about 13 grams based on a 2,000-calorie diet. One tablespoon of coconut oil comes close to that limit, with about 12 grams of saturated fat.

Health claims undermined With such salient evidence supporting the replacement of saturated fat, including coconut oil, with unsaturated fat for optimal cardiovascular health, where do the myriad health claims for coconut oil come from?

Many of the health claims for coconut oil are based on studies that used a special formulation of coconut oil made of 100% medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).

This is not the coconut oil available on supermarket shelves. MCTs have a shorter chemical structure than other fats and are quickly absorbed and metabolized by the body, which is thought to promote a feeling of fullness and prevent fat storage.

However, the coconut oil found on most supermarket shelves contains mostly lauric acid, which is absorbed and metabolized slower than MCT. As a result, the health benefits reported from specially constructed MCT coconut oil cannot be applied to regular coconut oil.

Interestingly, lauric acid itself has also been purported to have health benefits.

While lauric acid has been shown to in-

more, their average lifespan is about five years, making them a recurring expense.

Not everyone can afford, or wishes to spend, that amount to improve their hearing, especially if their hearing loss is mild and can be managed without aids.

A large segment of the population has mild hearing loss. They struggle in certain situations — such as when there is a lot of background noise, as in noisy restaurants, large crowds and large rooms. But they do fine in quiet situations with small groups or one-on-one conversation.

These people could benefit from “readers” for the ears — inexpensive help that they can use occasionally, or even continuously, for a little boost.

Until recently, the laws have been a barrier for development of such help. Hearing aids have been defined by law and regulated. High certification costs have served as crease LDL cholesterol levels, it also raises HDL cholesterol levels, suggesting a potential heart-protective role of coconut oil.

However, large epidemiological studies have failed to report protective associations between lauric acid and cardiovascular disease.

Findings from epidemiological studies that report low rates of cardiovascular disease among populations who consume coconut oil as part of their traditional diets (in India, the Philippines and Polynesia, for example) have also been cited as support for the health benefits of coconut oil.

However, in these studies many other characteristics of the participants, including background, dietary habits and lifestyle, could explain the findings.

Neither superfood nor poison Based on the current evidence, coconut oil is neither a superfood nor a poison.

Rather, its dietary role falls somewhere in between.

Coconut oil has a unique flavor and is best consumed in small amounts, as a periodic alternative to other vegetable oils like olive or canola that are rich in unsaturated fat.

This dietary choice should be made in the context of an overall healthy dietary pattern and within the recommended limits for saturated fat intake. © 2019 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

a barrier to market entry.

Hearing aid prices have not come down much over the years, though the quality of the aids and the sophistication of the instruments have improved as fast as any electronic device available. What you get now for the same price you would have paid 10 years ago is a far superior device.

What’s more, the cost to dispense, service and maintain the devices has increased with the cost of living. All of this has led to a gap between the demand for and supply of inexpensive hearing aids.

A more affordable option

product offerings. They provide a lesser certified, less feature-filled, but lower-cost entrylevel product for hearing loss sufferers.

PSAPs cannot be called or marketed as “hearing aids,” as they do not meet the same definition and rigorous manufacturing and safety standards.

PSAPs range from simple volume amplification devices to more sophisticated devices that can do many of the simpler tasks that hearing aids can perform.

They are self-fitting and can be self-programmed using a smartphone or computer app. They are sold over the counter and thus eliminate the expense of fitting.

Along come PSAPs, which have the potential to fill a gap in the existing hearing aid

See HEARING AID, page 11

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Health Studies

INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Testing a drug to delay cognitive decline

By Margaret Foster Do you or a loved one have trouble remembering appointments, conversations or even what happened yesterday? Have you noticed that it’s harder to make decisions or follow a recipe?

These are symptoms of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). About 15 to 20% of people

over the age of 65 have MCI, which some doctors consider an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease or other kind of dementia.

Now, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is enrolling people ages 55 to 85 in a global study to see if an epilepsy drug can slow or even prevent the progression to Alzheimer’s disease.

“Our clinical trial is aimed at individuals with mild cognitive changes, with the goal of slowing decline and delaying progression to dementia,” said Dr. Marilyn Albert, director of the Division of Cognitive Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins.

Called the HOPE4MCI Alzheimer’s Trial, the global, Phase 3 study is testing an FDA-approved epilepsy medication at a lower dose to see if it’s safe and effective for people with mild cognitive impairment.

The drug’s generic name is levetiracetam, and it is sold under the brand names Roweepra, Spritam and Keppra.

Previous studies at NIH and Harvard Medical School have shown that people with Alzheimer’s have seizures and similar brain activity that may contribute to the loss of cognitive function; therefore, researchers want to see if an anti-seizure drug could slow the progression of the disease.

“Our clinical trial is using a novel approach to treatment. We are using low doses of a drug that has been already been approved for a completely different disorder,” Albert said.

In the randomized, double-blind trial, study participants will take either levetirac-

etam or a placebo every day for 18 months.

Neither the participants nor the researchers will know who is taking which pill.

Every six months, they’ll receive a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, which takes less than an hour and does not involve radiation.

MRIs will take place at the medical school’s Division of Psychiatric Neuroimaging, located at 733 N. Broadway.

Albert’s team hopes to make progress in the fight against the disease, she said.

“We have decided to take a different approach from the majority of the clinical trials that are currently underway.

“Since a new drug has not been approved for Alzheimer’s disease since 2003, we feel it is important to try something novel.”

All procedures are conducted at no charge to the patient, and compensation can total up to $700 for completing all study visits.

In addition, free parking is provided. For those without cars, free transportation to and from Johns Hopkins is available.

For more information, or to see if you qualify, visit Hope4mci.org, email hope4mci@jhu.edu, or call (410) 502-4797.

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11

Bitter melon appears to fight oral cancer There’s a famous quote by Hippocrates so I understand all of that. that underpins today’s article: Let food be Full disclosure: I also happen to formulate thy medicine and medicine be dietary supplements, and I thy food. want to be fully transparent. I Bitter melon is a gourd that have included bitter melon in belongs to the pumpkin and one of them. But it’s in there zucchini family. It’s also a food for blood sugar and insulin that has a new potential use sensitivity concerns. for an unusual cancer.

Today’s article isn’t about You’ll likely be told by your any of that. It’s about mouth doctor that this is just a folk cancer. remedy and not “approved” Early signs of oral cancer for anything important. I disare easy to ignore. They inDEAR agree. clude chronic mouth sores, PHARMACIST As you know, my life’s work By Suzy Cohen white or red patches in your is devoted to researching natumouth, numbness, pain, diffiral foods and extracts that work along the culty swallowing, jaw swelling or voice alsame pathways as drugs. I’m a pharmacist, terations.

Hearing aid From page 9 PSAPs are not a replacement for hearing aids. They cannot match the sophistication of hearing aids or the skill in fitting them that audiologists bring to the job.

They are devices that can fill the need for those with mild hearing loss, who just need a little more volume in certain situations.

The good ones — the ones you should try — will be marketed as hearing aids in the near future.

Getting started with a PSAP The FDA has stepped in to regulate this new market. Legislation was passed in 2017 and goes into effect in 2020 to allow these low-end hearing aids to be advertised as such, if they meet certain (still-to-be-finalized) criteria on performance and safety.

Many of the devices are on the market today without any such oversight. That

will change in 2020 to allow those devices that meet the established criteria to be marketed as hearing aids and not PSAPs. Many of the new devices require some sophistication in setup and maintenance.

YouTube videos and online support can resolve most, if not all, issues that may come up. Mandated trial periods can allow for return of goods when the issues cannot be resolved.

Money is clearly not the only issue preventing hearing aid use: Even in countries where hearing aids are free, more than half of the people who could use hearing aids do not use them.

Starting people earlier in the process and giving them control over the use of such devices can only encourage a greater long-term acceptance and usage of hearing aids as we age. © 2019 President and Fellows of Harvard College. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Bitter melon’s constituents have been studied for the past few years for treating fastgrowing malignancies, especially mouth cancer, which many smokers get.

Support from recent study In a new study published in October in Cell Communication and Signaling, researchers found that bitter melon inhibited both glycolysis and lipogenesis, which is hugely beneficial to oral cancer patients.

The full article can be read online at PubMed on nih.gov.

This should be making headlines everywhere, but since it’s not heavily funded, and foods don’t make money for drug companies, you probably won’t hear much about it.

The latest news is solid and suggests

that bitter melon extracts can slow down the growth of oral dysplasia and squamous cell cancer in the mouth and throat.

This makes me suspect it could help with stomach and colon cancer too. This also makes me think all smokers should read this article.

Bitter melon is considered a food, but it’s also sold as a tea and dietary supplement.

This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement.

Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit SuzyCohen.com.

12

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13

Maximize your body’s benefit from protein

Not all proteins are complete It’s true, not all protein is created equal.

Let’s start with a quick nutrition lesson.

Proteins are composed of amino acids — 20 of them in total. Non-essential amino acids are ones that your body can make, while the nine essential amino acids are ones that you must get from your diet, since the body lacks the machinery to produce them.

Protein sources that contain a full set of the essential amino acids are considered “complete” proteins, and are particularly effective at maintaining and building muscle tissue, something that is essential as we age.

Animal products, such as poultry, dairy, eggs and seafood, tend to be complete proteins, but there are also a handful of plantbased options as well, including soy, quinoa, hemp hearts, buckwheat and chia seeds.

Foods like beans, corn and nuts are “incomplete,” since they lack one or more of the essential amino acids. They definitely aren’t devoid of nutrition, but the biochemical reality is that they simply don’t provide all the amino acids we need.

Maximize your body’s production To turn on and maximize protein synthesis in the body, you’ll want all the essential amino acids at most of your meals. Instead of relying on leftover amino acids from previous meals and snacks, it’s a sudden spike in the amount of essential amino acids in the blood that appears to kick the body into a protein-making mode.

This is easy when you prioritize complete protein foods when eating your meals and snacks.

But you can absolutely get the essential amino acids you need from incomplete plantbased proteins as well; you just need to put a little more thought into your menu. The key is to combine complementary plant proteins in order to create a “complete” protein.

For instance, legumes supply the essential amino acid called lysine, which is low in many grains. But whole grains provide methionine, which is low in many beans and lentils. So a black bean and brown rice salad for lunch will give your body a good dose of complete protein.

Besides, it’s not a great idea to rely solely on animal-based foods for all your complete protein needs. A large study in a recent issue of JAMA Internal Medicine found evidence that plant proteins are more protective against cardiovascular disease than animal proteins, especially processed red meats.

Furthermore, complete plant proteins such as quinoa and edamame deliver heart-healthy items like fiber and antioxidants not found in steak and chicken.

That said, don’t fret too much about keep-

ing an eagle eye on your protein intake. If you eat a well-balanced diet with a variety of whole-food-based complete and incomplete proteins during the day, you should get all the amino acids you require without needing to spike your oatmeal with protein powder.

Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC, 1-800-8295384, EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2019 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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By Matthew Kadey You don’t need be a bodybuilder to pay close attention to your protein intake. This macronutrient is required for the structure, function and regulation of the body’s tissues and organs, including muscle and bone.

These days, there’s been increased interest in how dietary protein affects things such as how full we feel and weight loss. Increasingly, a lot of emphasis has been placed not just on the quantity of protein we eat, but also on the quality.

14

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0

A Publication of the Department of Community Resources and Services

Creating an Age-Friendly Howard County

M

ore than 200 community members, non-profit and business leaders, joined county officials and County Executive Calvin Ball for the launch of the Age-Friendly Howard County initiative last month. “In just 15 years, for the first time in U.S. history, there will be more people over the age of 65 than children under age 18,” said Ball. “This initiative will take Howard County in a direction that will enable us to support the wellbeing of people of all ages. To be successful, we must all embrace collaboration.”

Creating an Age-Friendly Howard County will positively affect people of all ages. Jenna Crawley, administrator of the Office on Aging and Independence noted, “Dr. Ball's vision of Howard County as a great place to live, work, and play, regardless of age, demonstrates how highly we value our older adults, and recognizes the importance of designing and maintaining an inclusive community where everyone can fully participate.”

Howard County will use the eight domains of livability as denoted by World Health Organization and AARP as goals to establish an action plan and begin the process of establishing itself as an Age-Friendly Community.

At the launch, more than 90 individuals signed up for workgroups designed around each domain. Workgroups will meet regularly beginning January 2020 to discuss information relevant to the domain, review survey and focus group data related to the topic and participate in events. If you are interested in joining a workgroup, there is still time; call 410-313-6537 or email agefriendly@howardcountymd.gov to get started.

A county-wide survey is also in the works to identify the interests, assets and needs of Howard County’s older adult population. Individuals of all ages are encouraged to take the survey; results will be reviewed and prioritized to create a 2021-2025 Action Plan for Howard County which will then be submitted to AARP in December 2020. In doing so, Howard County will join more than 400 communities nationwide to create a healthy, safe community for people to grow up and grow older.

Visit www.howardcountymd.gov/agefriendly to learn more about the the initiative and the eight domains of livability; you can also sign up for the mailing list to stay informed.

15

Volume 10, No. 1 • January 2020

A Message from Howard County Executive

Calvin Ball Happy New Year! The start of a new year is a time for resolutions to be made, with the hope that the coming year will be even happier and healthier than the last.

However, living healthy is challenging as the cost of needed medications continues to increase. These increases are hurting people across Howard County and the state of Maryland.

No one should ever have to choose between their prescriptions and putting food on their table or paying their utility bill.

The increase in prescription drug costs is out of control and I remain committed to doing something about it. At the beginning of last year, we successfully supported the creation of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to curb the soaring costs of medications for all Marylanders. It’s encouraging that in the next couple of years, the Board will have the authority to work for fair and affordable drug costs for state and local governments. The Board will then propose how to make prescription drugs more affordable for all Marylanders.

I am proud to continue my work with the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative and leaders from around our state to address affordable pricing for life-saving drugs in the upcoming General Assembly session. I hope you will join me in supporting this important work. If you have a story about how high cost prescription drugs have been a problem for you or your family or friends, please tell your story online at www.healthcareforall.com/ hearmystory.

I have no greater hope for every resident of Howard County than good health and happiness. My administration is committed to advocate for the best policies and practices to make sure everyone is living their best life. I wish you all holiday cheer and a happy, healthy, blessed New Year.

The 50+ Connection is published monthly by the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence.

This publication is available in alternate formats upon request.

To join our subscriber list, email kahenry@howardcountymd.gov

TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 11:00 A.M. — Elkridge 50+ Center, 6540 Washington Blvd, Elkridge 21075

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 12:30 P.M. — Bain 50+ Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia 21044

9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046 410-313-6410 (VOICE/RELAY) • www.howardcountymd.gov/aging Find us on

www.Facebook.com/HoCoCommunity

Kim Higdon Henry, Editor • Email: kahenry@howardcountymd.gov Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the Office on Aging and Independence or by the publisher.

16

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The 50+ Connection

AARP Tax-Aide Returns Offering FREE 2019 Income Tax Preparation AARP and the IRS will offer personal income tax preparation for Howard County residents from February 3 through April 15 at Howard County 50+ centers. This service is available to all middle and low-income taxpayers, with emphasis on those age 60 and older. Bring your photo ID, Social Security card, 2018 Federal and Maryland tax returns, and all 2019 tax documents.

Self-employment returns with more than $10,000 in expenses and complex returns are not eligible for this service.

Tax preparation assistance is available at the following Howard County 50+ centers (note that the Bain 50+ Center is closed for renovations; appointments are available at Kahler Hall instead).

Appointments are required at all locations; call the listed number (beginning January 15) for specific hours of availability.

Kudos to our "Best of Howard" Winners!

The Best of Howard County results are in and the Office on Aging and Independence is a winner twice over! Congratulations to Michelle Rosenfeld who won for Best Personal Trainer, and to the Ellicott City 50+ Fitness Center for winning in the best gym category! Winners and honorable mentions were determined by popular vote; more than 38,000 votes were cast in this year’s readers’ poll, resulting in a list of the 75 top people to know, places to go and things to do. To contact Michelle Rosenfeld or find out more about the Ellicott City 50+ Fitness Center, call 410-313-1404 (voice/relay).

Tax Assistance Sites Appointments Required at All Locations

Kahler Hall • 443-741-1220 5440 Old Tucker Row, Columbia, MD 21044 Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays — 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

East Columbia 50+ Center • 410-313-7680 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD 21045 Wednesdays/Fridays/Saturdays — 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Thursdays — 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Elkridge 50+ Center • 410-313-5192 6540 Washington Boulevard, Elkridge MD 21075 Mondays — 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Fridays — 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Ellicott City 50+ Fitness Center • 443-741-1220 9401 Frederick Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042 Mondays/Fridays — 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Tuesdays — 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Glenwood 50+ Center • 410-313-5440 2400 Route 97, Cooksville, MD 21723 Mondays and Thursdays — 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

North Laurel 50+ Center • 410-313-0380 9411 Whiskey Bottom Rd, Laurel, MD 20723 Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Fridays — 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

2020 Resource Guide Now Available!

Howard County's Resource Guide for Older Adults, Persons with Disabilities and Caregivers has been published. Free copies are available at all Howard County 50+ centers and libraries. To have a copy mailed to you, call Maryland Access Point, 410-313-1234 (voice/relay). To request larger quantities for your office or community location, contact the Office on Aging and Independence at 410-313-6410 to arrange for pickup at OAI offices, 9830 Patuxent Woods Drive in Columbia, 21046. The 2020 Resource Guide may also be viewed online at https://bit.ly/38Bofgx.

Best of Howard personal trainer Michelle Rosenfeld works out with 91-year-old Ed Wondoloski at the award-winning Ellicott City 50+ Center.

Healthy Start 2020 This New Year, do you want to increase your physical activity but unsure how to kickstart it? Whether you’re trying to start a new exercise routine or shake up an existing one, a one-on-one Exercise Consultation can help you build an individualized plan tailored to your goals, needs and interests. These sessions are perfect for those age 50+ who are new to exercise, just returning to exercise or simply want to know what fitness options are available in Howard County.

Consultations are offered every second Monday at the Elkridge 50+ Center and every third Tuesday at the North Laurel 50+ Center. When you arrive for your appointment come prepared to share your fitness history, learn how to build a new routine, and get hands-on practice with any equipment you may be curious about. Best of all, you will leave with a personalized fitness action plan and resources in hand to support it.

Together, Malarie and I developed a goal-oriented plan to gradually increase my exercises until I was able to walk one mile and increase my flexibility and balance. With her help, I found an exercise program that is low-cost and fits into my schedule.

— Elaine, age 76 To get started, call your preferred location to set up a 30-minute, one-on-one consultation with an Exercise Specialist ($15 fee applies).

For more information about consultations or other fitness opportunities contact Malarie Burgess at mburgess@howardcountymd.gov or 410-313-6073 (voice/relay).

Say you saw it in the Beacon

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0

17

The 50+ Connection

Bain 50+ Center Renovations Underway The Bain 50+ Center expansion has begun! Slated for completion in late summer 2020, the project will include the renovation of the multipurpose and meeting spaces, classrooms, lounge, game rooms, offices and existing bathrooms, and the addition of two new ADA accessible bathrooms and a state-of-the-art fitness and exercise room.

These renovations will provide much needed upgrades and increase access to resources and programs that promote healthy aging. They also represent an investment in the future, ensuring opportunities to gather as a community for generations to come.

• Howard Community College’s Pottery Class will move to the North Laurel 50+ Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road in Laurel 20723.

Starting January 13, the Monday classes will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m; Tuesday classes will begin January 14, and held 10 a.m. to noon; and Friday classes will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m, beginning January 17.

• From January 29 through May 19, the Howard Community College Bain 50+ Choir will meet at the Abiding Savior Lutheran Church, 10689 Owen Brown Road, Columbia, 21044, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.

For more information about the renovation or Bain 50+ Center programs, call 410-313-7213 (voice/relay).

— Jenna Crawley, Administrator OFFICE ON AGING AND INDEPENDENCE

The center will remain open during construction, but some classes and programs will be temporarily relocated, including: • AARP’s Tax-Aide Assistance — which runs February 3 through April 15 — will be held at other Howard County 50+ Centers and community locations, including nearby Kahler Hall.

• The Better Balance Class — held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. — will move to Slayton House, 10400 Cross Fox Lane beginning January 6. We'd like to thank the Wilde Lake Community Association for hosting the class at Slayton House.

THE HOWARD COUNTY

Child Care and Preschool INFORMATION FAIR Saturday, February 1 • 1:00 to 4:00 pm Ten Oaks Ballroom 5000 Signal Bell Lane, Clarksville 21029

FREE ADMISSION! Please bring a non-perishable food item or a pack of new diapers for the Howard County Food Bank

Low-Vision Program Facilitator Needed The SeniorsTogether program is looking for a volunteer to co-facilitate a low-vision group. This volunteer will provide leadership, prepare for weekly discussions, and reach out to the members. Facilitator candidates should be flexible and reliable, enjoy interacting with people and have excellent listening skills. In addition, the low-vision facilitator would ideally have some experience working with adults with low-vision, blindness, or other health concerns.

SeniorsTogether provides confidential, small group settings where men and women feel comfortable sharing their concerns, insights and ideas.

The low-vision group meets weekly on Tuesdays from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. at the Bain 50+ Center in Columbia. For more information, contact Karen Hull at 410-313-7466 (voice/relay) or khull@howardcountymd.gov.

Are You & Your Pet Ready to Share Your Hearts?

Paws4Comfort fosters special bonds between pets, their owners and the County residents they visit.

If you are interested in volunteering, or wish to receive a FREE evaluation for your pet, contact us today

Ingrid Gleysteen PROGRAM COORDINATOR PHONE EMAIL

howardcountymd.gov/children BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Beginning at 12:30 pm, Parents as Teachers will present a brief, informational session on How to Choose an Early Childhood Program

410-313-1940 (VOICE /RELAY) children@howardcountymd.gov

410-313-7461 (voice/relay) igleysteen@howardcountymd.gov

PET EVALUATIONS are held at 7:00 PM on the 1st Thursday of each month SEP 3 MAY 7 JAN 9 OCT 1 JUN 4 FEB 6 NOV 5 JUL 2 MAR 5 DEC 3 AUG 6 APR 2

Bain 50+ Center 5470 Ruth Keeton Way Columbia 21044 www.howardcountymd.gov/paws

18

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

PHOTO BY MICHAELJUNG/SHUTTERSTOCK

Money Law &

For ways to handle a request from parents for financial help, see story on page 20.

How to give your portfolio a stress test

By Anthony Pellegrino “You need to manage your stress.” How many times have you heard those words from your doctor or spouse — or maybe said them to yourself?

The thing about stress is that the problems it causes often lurk beneath the surface. It’s easy to ignore the effects of stress until they lead to a major health problem — high blood pressure, headaches, stomach issues or even a heart attack. Plus, dealing with the aftermath can cost precious time and energy.

Just like your physical health, your financial health also can be threatened by stress.

Your portfolio may appear healthy and thriving, but without proper attention, it could develop weaknesses that might not show up until economic conditions shift or you experience a life change like retirement.

One such concern is the market risk in your portfolio, which could expose you to significant losses if the market drops. As stocks have risen in recent years, it’s been tough for investors to think about anything but watching their account balances grow.

But all good things must eventually come to an end. If the market hits a major speed

bump, retirees and soon-to-be retirees may regret not protecting their nest egg by moving their assets to safer strategies.

Another concern can arise when investors ignore how the money in their different investment accounts has grown — and how it will be taxed when they make withdrawals.

Investors often establish accounts at various times in their life and for various needs — an IRA here, an annuity there — until they end up with an assortment of assets that aren’t designed to work together cohesively to reach their goals.

A financial “stress test” can identify these portfolio concerns, so that you can generate a plan that helps avoid future financial ailments.

Here’s how you can diagnose and treat any existing symptoms or potential problems: Discuss your goals. Every saver has short- and long-term goals. Perhaps you want to explore early retirement. Maybe your goal is to work until you’re 65, then travel or spend more time with your family.

Understanding your goals is a crucial step in pinpointing potential issues in your

current portfolio.

Examine what you have. An analysis of your existing assets can help you develop a clearer picture of what stressors are hiding in your portfolio and overall retirement plan. A healthy portfolio will present a mix of asset types, balanced specifically to meet your individual goals.

These assets typically fall into one of three “buckets,” each designed with a specific purpose: —Safety: Assets in the safety bucket are protected and liquid, and they’re meant to be accessible. They include things like cash, savings and money market accounts and certificates of deposit.

—Income: The income bucket includes assets that can act as a “paycheck,” providing money both now and in retirement.

These investments should be reliable and capable of outpacing inflation. Income investments can include dividend-paying stocks, bonds, real estate rentals or annuities.

—Growth: These assets carry the greatest risk, but they’re meant to bring the biggest returns over time through capital appreciation and compounding.

Stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and

mutual funds can offer portfolio growth.

Prescribe a plan. After identifying your current position and where you want to go, you can create a strategy to help bridge any gap. This involves identifying the proper mix of assets for your plan and realigning existing assets to relieve any pressure points in your portfolio.

Avoid a financial breakdown. Recent market volatility is a crucial reminder to be proactive with your financial health. Identifying and reducing potential sources of stress in your portfolio is the best prevention against future problems.

Make your financial health a priority; don’t wait until an unexpected problem or hidden ailment forces you to act.

Anthony Pellegrino is a Registered Investment Adviser and founder of Goldstone Financial Group. Kim Franke-Folstad contributed to this article.

This article was written by and presents the views of the authors, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. Check adviser records with the SEC or FINRA. © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Could your tax bill explode in retirement?

By John Creekmur Remember when you first started earning a decent salary, and it seemed as if everybody — your parents, your boss, the nice lady in Human Resources and, of course, your tax preparer — all told you to put as much money as you could into your employer’s 401(k) plan?

Grab the employer match, they said.

Get the growth that the market has to offer. And take advantage of the tax break, for crying out loud. Why not avoid paying taxes on that money now, while you’re in a higher tax bracket, and worry about it later, when you’re in retirement?

But what they didn’t tell you then (because they probably didn’t know) is that as you kept stuffing money into that tax-deferred account, you were chaining yourself to a ticking tax time bomb.

Because there’s a good chance your tax rate won’t be lower when you retire. And if you don’t do something to help defuse the situation before you start withdrawing money

from that 401(k) (or SEP IRA or 403(b)) for retirement, you could be sending a sizable chunk of your nest egg to the IRS every year.

Tax rates could rise Tax rates may go up in the future. Don’t think so? Here are just a few points to consider: • Most people think taxes are too high now, but they could be much worse. They certainly have been in the past.

In 2019, the top rate is 37% for individuals whose taxable income is over $510,300 ($612,350 for married couples filing jointly).

In 1944, the highest rate — for anyone who made over $200,000 — was 94%. And the top rate stayed high for decades. It wasn’t until 1987 that it dropped below 40%.

The national debt is sitting at more than $22 trillion, and it’s growing by the second.

Most experts agree the only clear way to help reduce the country’s deficit and pay down that debt is to collect more money.

(That usually means higher taxes.)

• A large percentage of the federal budget goes toward various kinds of social insurance, including Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare. Those programs are funded by dedicated taxes that no longer generate enough revenue to cover their costs. Our leaders can either cut those programs or raise taxes to pay for them.

• Two words: baby boomers. By 2030, when all members of that generation have reached age 65, the Pew Research Center projects that 18% of the nation will be at least that old. As the aging population continues to tap into Social Security, Medicare and other benefits, it can only further drain the system.

Tax-cutting strategies So, you basically have two choices. You can ignore the data, the trends and the experts and see what happens. Or you can incorporate some tax strategies into your retirement plan now, bring some balance to your portfolio, and maybe even get yourself to a tax rate of 0% with these steps:

Make a list of all your investments. Recognize that your investments fit into three different tax buckets: tax always (brokerage accounts, CDs, etc.); tax later (401(k)s, 403(b)s, traditional IRAs); and tax never (Roth IRAs, cash value life insurance, municipal bonds).

Work on a strategy to move money from the tax-always and tax-later buckets into the tax-never bucket. And if possible, do it in the next five years, before the current tax reforms sunset.

As with most investment decisions, the right strategy for you will be based on your personal situation.

One option is to do a Roth IRA conversion — move money from a traditional IRA or 401(k), pay taxes on it at today’s rates and then let the funds grow inside the Roth, knowing the principal and earnings will never be taxed again. You can do this all at once or, to keep the tax bite lower as you go, convert the funds over a period of years.

See TAXES, page 20

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

19

Understand pros and cons of a Roth IRA Based on the mail I receive, many readers value of the IRA at year-end and the life exmisunderstand Roth IRAs, including the pectancy of the IRA owner. All withdrawals benefits for the initial owner from traditional IRAs are taxed and for beneficiaries. I’ll explain at ordinary income tax rates. some of the basics associated An individual with earned with Roth IRAs below. income can make contribuHowever, I should preface tions to the Roth IRA of a this by saying that Congress spouse who is not working or is contemplating modificahas limited income, as long as tions in the regulations that the working spouse has suffiwill affect the length of time cient income to cover the conbeneficiaries will be able to tributions for the non-working stretch out benefits from both spouse plus any contributions traditional and Roth IRAs. If THE SAVINGS made for the working spouse.

Congress does pass new leg- GAME If you have earned income By Elliot Raphaelson islation that becomes law, I after age 70½, you can still will discuss the impact in a make contributions to a Roth subsequent column.

IRA (not true of traditional IRAs).

Even if you are under 59½, you can withBenefits for original owners draw any contributions you made to a Roth A significant benefit of a Roth IRA is that (not including earnings thereon) without all income earned in the account — penalty. If you make any withdrawals from a whether from interest, dividends or capital traditional IRA, you would be subject to a gains — is tax free.

10% early withdrawal penalty and income When you invest in a Roth IRA, you are taxes. investing after-tax income. Any withdrawals you make from your Roth after re- Benefits for Roth beneficiaries tirement will be tax free, regardless of These are some of the advantages of a whether the withdrawals exceed the Roth IRA to beneficiaries: amount of your initial purchases.

Withdrawals of Roth IRA contributions Tax-free distributions from Roth IRAs are income tax free. Earnings can be withwill not expose investment income to the drawn tax free as long as the five-year rule 3.8% surtax either. has been met (i.e., the account was at least Another benefit to original Roth IRA five years old when the owner died; see owners is that there are no required distri- “Penalties” at the end of this article). butions. This is very important in compariBeneficiaries can, under present regulason to the regulations applicable to tradi- tions, stretch tax-free distributions over their lifetimes. (Proposed congressional tional IRAs. Under current regulations, at age 70½ proposals may change that limit to 10 owners of traditional IRAs are required to years.)

Spouse beneficiaries are not required start taking required mandatory distributions (RMDs) from their IRAs. The RMD to take RMD distributions. Non-spouse amount changes each year based on the beneficiaries (such as children) are re-

Frank, Frank

& Scherr, LLC

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Medical Assistance Planning and Eligibility Advance Medical Directives / Living Wills Trusts / Estate Planning and Administration / Wills Powers of Attorney / Guardianship Disability Planning / Special Needs Trusts

410.337.8900 | www.frankelderlaw.com | 1.888.338.0400 Towson | Columbia | Easton

quired to take RMDs based on their age from the IRS Single Life Expectancy Table, starting the year after the owner’s death. Each year the life expectancy for non-spouses is reduced by one year. (See IRS 590-B for instructions and the appropriate table.)

Back-door contribution loophole If you earn more than the maximum (for 2019 the limit is between $193,000 and $203,000 for married filers and between

$122,000 and $137,000 for single filers) and if you are younger than 70½, you can make a contribution to a traditional IRA and then convert that account to a Roth.

This can be done the same year.

[However, note that this requires paying tax up front on any pre-tax IRA contributions and any earnings using “pro-rata” rules that take into account the value of all IRAs you own. This can be somewhat comSee ROTH IRA, page 21

20

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

When parents need your financial help

By Liz Weston Most parents in the U.S. provide some sort of financial support to their adult children, multiple surveys have found.

But often, financial aid goes the other way. A 2015 survey by TD Ameritrade found 13% of American adults provided financial support to a parent.

Millennials were far more likely than older generations to report they were helping their folks. Of people born between 1981 and 1996, 19% helped support their parents, compared with 13% of Gen Xers (1965 to 1980) and 8% of baby boomers (1946 to 1964).

Sometimes the money is provided happily, or at least without resentment, by those following cultural norms or personal

conviction that they owe it to their parents.

Other times, financial aid to parents is a source of tension — between parent and adult child, among siblings and between partners.

Certified financial planner Austin A. Frye had no idea when he married his wife four decades ago that they would one day support her parents.

The older couple, now in their 80s, cover their day-to-day expenses with a union pension and Social Security. Frye and his wife cover unexpected expenses and travel for her parents, Frye said, and also pay $15,000 a year for a long-term care policy.

Frye said that though he’s happy to be in a position to help his in-laws, he still wishes they had saved money for their re-

tirement.

“They just spent what they made,” Frye said. “They didn’t really plan.”

Certified financial planner Kashif A. Ahmed, on the other hand, comes from a Pakistani culture where younger people get into arguments about who will have the honor of caring for an older relative.

Ahmed said he needed a spreadsheet to coordinate the dozens of relatives who volunteered to help his great-grandparents in their final illnesses.

Ahmed invited his mother to move in with him after his father died in 2001. His wife, Simona, an economist who grew up with similar values in Romania, supported the move, and Ahmed’s mother is helping to raise their four daughters, ages 6 to 16.

Ahmed says financial advisers from other cultures often have trouble grasping the deep sense of obligation. He’s heard

peers criticize clients who aren’t saving enough for retirement or are neglecting other goals while supporting parents, saying the clients don’t “get it.”

“I’ll say, ‘No, no, no. You don’t get it,’” Ahmed said.

Balancing competing goals is what financial planning is all about. If you’re supporting a parent or think you may in the future, the following steps could help make the balancing act a bit easier: Talk to your partner. If you’re married or in a committed relationship, it helps to get on the same page about how much you’re willing and able to give. Brainstorm different scenarios, such as emergency expenses (how much can you give, and what constitutes an emergency) or long-term care (can you provide care in your home

Taxes

you’re concerned about the money that’s piling up in your tax-deferred accounts, don’t delay. Help defuse the ticking tax bomb before it can blow up your retirement plan.

John Creekmur, CFP, is co-founder of Creekmur Wealth Advisors. Check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA. © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

From page 18 Another option is to take the money out of your tax-deferred account and put it into a cash value life insurance policy from which you can take policy loans tax-free. (This is best done with the help of an experienced financial professional.)

No matter which strategy you choose, if

See FINANCIAL HELP, page 21

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0

Financial help From page 20 or help pay for in-home or nursing care?).

If you’re not clear on what you can afford, a consultation with a financial planner could help. If you don’t have a partner, talking to a trusted friend or a financial planner can help you clarify what you can offer and when.

Talk with your parents. Just over half of the people supporting parents in the TD Ameritrade survey had ever talked with them about the situation.

Financial planners say that understanding the parents’ financial situation can help you prepare and might also provide an opportunity for you to reduce their need for your help.

You could help them budget, give them

Roth IRA From page 19 plex, so consult an adviser before doing this.]

Also note: You are no longer allowed to undo (called a recharacterization) a conversion done in 2018 or onward.

Penalties Although Roth contributions can be withdrawn without penalty, some withdrawals would be subject to penalties and taxes.

If you make a withdrawal that exceeds

a session with a financial planner, or check Benefits.gov for assistance programs. You also can let them know how much help you can afford to provide.

Rope in your siblings, if you have them. Even if they can’t contribute financially, they may be able to help in other ways: running errands, taking parents to the doctor, handling bill paying and other paperwork or providing respite care.

Take care of yourself. You may have to delay retirement, buying a house or having kids in order to support your parents.

Many people do, according to the survey.

But you should have a plan to eventually reach your own goals. Unlike your parents, you may have only yourself to rely on when you’re older.

—AP/NerdWallet

21

BEACON BITS

Dec. 31

FREE ENGLISH LESSONS

For those new to the English language, Central Branch Library is offering a free program covering reading, writing, speaking and listening skills on Tues., Dec. 31 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Central Branch is located at 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. Call (410) 313-7800.

Jan. 10+

SWIMMING CLASS

Howard Community College is offering a weekly beginning swimming class for adults starting Fri., Jan. 10 through Fri., Mar. 20 from 11 a.m. to noon at the college Athletic and Fitness Center, 10901 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. To learn more and for applicable fees, visit howardcc.edu/ConEd or call (443) 518-1700.

your original contribution and are under age 59½, or you have not waited five years after your contribution, you would be subject to a 10% penalty and income tax liability for the amount of the withdrawal that exceeds your contributions.

Beneficiaries are not subject to the 10% early withdrawal penalty, but they are liable to income tax on earnings related to funds that were not held in the account for five years.

Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © 2019 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0

Travel

23

Leisure &

Reflect on Northern Ireland’s beauty and troubled history on a hiking tour.

See story on page 25.

Puerto Rico once again enchants visitors sive strides since the hurricanes with perseverance and positive attitudes.

Any resentment toward the federal government’s response was expressed with a shrug of acceptance of bureaucracy.

Today’s focus is on lessons learned — and the future.

Nature blossoms again Since Christopher Columbus arrived in Puerto Rico in 1493, it has stood the test of time, hurricane season after hurricane season.

Mother Nature recovered quickly after Irma and Maria. Mountains so battered that they looked burned returned to vibrant green after just a few months. Smaller plants emerged, and today there’s no shortage of flowers. It’s the tropics, after all.

In El Yunque — the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest system — new growth is steadily restoring the lost tree canopy. Visitors can access about 70% of the trails now, according to Carolyn Krupp of the Forest Service, who recommends a stop at the temporary visitors center in Palmer, about an hour’s drive from Old San Juan.

Tourists are returning to the island, too.

Last summer, Frank Comito, CEO of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, reported that Puerto Rico’s recovery is ahead of schedule, with at least 90% of hotel rooms open.

PHOTO BY RUTH PETERKIN/DREAMSTIME.COM

By Ann Cochran The sprawling 300-year-old Nispero tree — in the outdoor courtyard of the former Carmelite convent that dates back to 1651 — stretches up 50 feet, beyond the fifth floor of what is now the El Convento hotel in Old San Juan.

In September 2017, Hurricane Maria’s 155-mile-per-hour winds savaged the tree, along with the rest of Puerto Rico. Hotel management called on expert arborists, but they had no luck resuscitating the tree.

It would have been cut down but for the hotel’s longtime gardener, who, inspired by a dream, announced that the tree needed 40 pounds of larvae. Somehow the odd cure worked, and the tree is thriving today.

An estimated 2,982 people died after the dual hurricanes of Irma and Maria, only two weeks apart. Although not every resident’s life is back to normal after two years, the lush island remains a premier destination.

Resilience, community, ingenuity, hard work — those were the themes of every conversation I had this fall with people in Puerto Rico about the island’s recovery.

On an earlier visit via Caribbean cruise last winter, my husband and I explored San Juan’s historic, colorful architecture and sampled the island’s unique cuisine. Intrigued, we returned to the city in November to see more.

Tourist dollars are crucial to people of this U.S. territory, who have made impres-

The Spanish fort Castillo San Felipe del Morro, known as El Morro, was built nearly 500 years ago to protect Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Administered by the National Park Service, the six-story fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage Site open to the public.

Walkable Old San Juan

PHOTO BY BROOK WARD

Beginning in 1520, the Spanish settled in Old San Juan, constructing many of the buildings that still stand in the sevensquare-block historic district.

The Spanish forts of El Morro and San Cristóbal, the latter of which is the largest fort built by the Spanish in the New World, protected the city of San Juan from the English and Dutch. They have been preserved as National Historic Sites and are open to the public seven days a week.

We found a great way to get familiar with Old San Juan: a culinary walking tour.

The guides at Flavors of San Juan combine personal stories, informative observations and historical facts.

Walking around Old San Juan, where some streets are 400 years old, we delighted in the pastel Spanish Colonial and Art Deco architecture. The district is chockfull of small restaurants, boutique hotels, specialty shops and a few luxury-brand stores.

Historic sites Old San Juan’s colorful Spanish Colonial and Art Deco buildings, along with its cobblestone streets and plazas, give a European look and feel to the National Historic Landmark district.

One of the most peaceful, beautiful places to visit is the Casa Blanca Museum, at the edge of Old San Juan near the immense fort of El Morro.

The two-story white mansion, which

also served as Puerto Rico’s first stone fort, was built in 1523 for Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León, the island’s first governor. (By the way, his supposed search for the Fountain of Youth is today considered a myth.)

Although he died before he could move in, his family and their descendants lived there for 250 years. It has been open to the public as a museum since 1974.

As I walked around the serene rooms and lush grounds full of palms and flowers, I felt envious. Facing the sea, with a warm, perfumed breeze on my face, I thought about the lucky people who lived at this post. Worth much more than the few dollars’ mansion entrance fee, and no charge at all for the grounds, Casa Blanca is a lovely oasis to explore.

Juan Ponce de León is buried in a marble tomb at the nearby Catedral de San Juan Bautista, or Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. The second oldest church in the Western Hemisphere, it will be celebrating 500 years in 2021. Its placement near the city’s main entry gate from the sea was deliberate, offering arrivals a place to give thanks for a successful journey.

Like many wooden buildings on this isSee PUERTO RICO, page 24

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Puerto Rico From page 23 land and others, the original was destroyed by a hurricane, and another took off its thatched roof. The current stone cathedral, first constructed in 1540, has survived, along with the rest of the island.

Where to stay Choose a hotel in historic Old San Juan or a resort in the Condado, a pedestrianfriendly oceanfront area about a 15-minute cab ride away.

For those who love history, Old San

Juan’s El Convento, across the street from the cathedral, is a charming choice. Its rooftop restaurant offers stunning sea views at sunset.

In addition to the Nispero tree, its priceless antiques include a lobby tapestry, iron bell and a convent gate. In a ground-floor meeting room, there’s a full-wall tiled kitchen mural that was hidden and forgotten for six decades until a ceiling leak repair revealed it.

Hurricane winds blew out all the windows in the Caribe Hilton, a 1949 waterfront resort in the Condado, whose claim to fame is the invention of the piña colada. The

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

resort, along with its spectacular grounds, was repaired and finally reopened in May 2019.

Another top-tier beachfront hotel is the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Where to eat and drink Puerto Rican coffee has a wonderful, mild flavor; sugar is unnecessary. Try the island-grown coffee at Cuatro Sombras.

Two of the many places that serve authentic island dishes are Triana and Hecho en Casa. Triana Tapas & Flamenco restaurant not only has great Puerto Rican and Spanish food, including paella, but live flamenco and rumba music and dancing Tuesday through Sunday.

You’ll find a delicious dish called mofongo all over Puerto Rico. It’s made with fried plantains mashed with a mortar and pestle, with lots of garlic and either meat or beans. Try mofongo or empanadillas at Hecho en Casa, a family restaurant whose name means “made at home.”

Mario Pagán Restaurant is the flagship of chef’s chef Mario Pagán, friend of celebrity chef José Andrés. Both chefs procured major donations and fed the masses after the hurricane.

Pagán’s signature black Chilean sea bass, with its port wine, veal stock and foie gras reduction, is not to be missed. From the octopus tacos to the chocolate souffle, a divine meal can be had here on earth.

A great treat after walking San Juan’s cobblestone streets are handmade popsicles from Señor Paleta. Pure, grown-up flavors include peanut, guava-queso and strawberry mojito.

Daytime or dusk, enjoy Chocobar Cortés, where chocolate pancakes and marbled waffles are listed along with more unexpected savory dishes like a chili cocoa chicken.

High quality, local, sustainably sourced chocolate makes a welcome edible souvenir.

By boat or plane San Juan, a popular cruise port, was our final destination on a 10-day Silversea cruise to Grand Turk, St. Bart’s, Antigua and Virgin Gorda last winter.

Silversea’s Silver Wind is an ideal ship for travelers who like quiet luxury. Because the ship has a capacity of fewer than 300 people and almost as many crew members, the service is exemplary.

Our fellow passengers were friendly, sophisticated travelers who enhanced our journey with stimulating conversations. Internet service was excellent.

We took a few onboard Spanish classes, a nice bonus for our time in Puerto Rico.

A direct, round-trip flight from BWI Airport to San Juan in January costs $178 on Spirit Airlines.

For more information about the island, visit Discover Puerto Rico at discoverpuertorico.com. For Silversea cruise schedules, call 1-877-382-6908 or visit silversea.com.

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25

Off the beaten track in Northern Ireland

The walls of Belfast The painful history is most visible in the two main cities of Northern Ireland.

In the capital city of Belfast, we took a Black Cab tour of the murals on both sides of the Peace Wall — a forbidding, 2,625foot-long structure of cement, chain link and razor wire that separates the Protestant, Unionist side in the Shankill section of the city from the Catholic, Republican side along Falls Road.

Our tour guide led us to Bombay Street, where the Troubles finally reached Belfast after several days of violence in Derry (or Londonderry, depending on which side of the Unionist/Republican divide you fall).

The 1969 riots between Catholic residents and Protestant residents and police lasted four days, killing eight people and injuring almost 800. More than 150 houses were burned, and 275 businesses were destroyed — about 80% of which were Catholic-owned.

After the riots, the government built more than 100 “peace walls” that still stand throughout the country.

I was traveling in Europe in 1969 on an extended summer vacation and happened to be in Belfast on August 15. I’m sure that some of the smoke I saw billowing up into

the darkening sky from the upper deck of the overnight ferry to Glasgow was from Bombay Street.

It was a very emotional moment for me on this trip to recall that 50-year-old adventure, the first trip on my own in a foreign country, essentially marking the beginning of my traveling life. (You can read about it in my story, “Belfast: Bloody Past, Hopeful Future” on my website).

Derry’s divisions

PHOTO BY MANEER/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

By Don Mankin The story of Northern Ireland is a tale of natural beauty and convivial people bound up in a singularly dark and bloody history.

For a week and a half last summer, my wife Katherine and I traveled through Ireland — from Dublin, through “Game of Thrones” country along the windy coast of Northern Ireland, to the Wild Atlantic Way on the west coast and back to Dublin.

The trip — my fifth visit to Ireland — began on a sunny day in Dublin, where we walked around the city, taking in the sights along the River Liffey.

We got our first Irish history lesson at the excellent museum in the General Post Office, the site of the Easter Rising in 1916, which marked the modern beginning of the long, contentious path to Irish statehood.

After two nights in Dublin, we joined the “Magnetic North Adventure Tour” by Vagabond Tours of Ireland, my host on this trip. Vagabond describes this as their “most active and off the beaten track tour,” an apt description indeed.

We traveled for a week through northwestern and Northern Ireland in a van, led by our guide, Aidan, who (when he wasn’t leading the way up a steep, muddy, rocky trail) filled us in on the bloody turmoil that shaped the history of the region.

Decades of violence between Irish Republicans and British Unionists began in the 1960s and finally ended with a peace agreement between the British and Irish governments in 1998. More than 3,500 people in the small country of 1.5 million lost their lives in a 30-year period of unrest known as “the Troubles.”

Two days later, my wife and I took a walking tour along the ramparts surrounding the beautiful, weathered city of Derry. We stopped for several minutes at a spot overlooking the Bogside, where most of the violence occurred.

Almost everyone we talked to was conSee NORTHERN IRELAND, page 26

Tourists must watch their step while enjoying the scenery on the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge near Ballintoy in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

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Nothern Ireland From page 25 cerned that Brexit might change everything and re-establish the hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

I wondered if the strife was really over or just waiting for a new spark to light the fuse. Things are quieter now, of course, but there are still some diehards trying to stir up new “troubles.�

The green scene Although Ireland’s history is fascinating and compelling, most of our tour focused

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

on the country’s pristine scenery, which must account for at least some of the overthe-top popularity of HBO’s “Game of Thrones,� which was filmed in the area.

Among the highlights were the Giants Causeway and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, as well as the views of sea, fields and bog along the way.

We also stayed in a couple of grand 19thcentury manor houses — the Beech Hill Inn near Derry and Mount Falcon in Mayo. To this city boy, they looked and felt like castles, surrounded by woods, pathways, ponds and fields with horses and sheep. We even spotted rabbits just out-

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side our windows at the Beech Hill Inn. The trip was quite active. We did something physical — and often challenging — almost every day, including a choppy three-hour jaunt in kayaks along the coast.

We also took an eight-mile bike ride along the Great Western Greenway, a windy bike path on the Wild Atlantic Way from Newport to Westport.

One of our hikes was especially memorable, a wind- and rain-swept hike to Horn Head, a lookout point for German subs during WWII near Dunfanaghy, a former fishing village on the Northwest coast.

The winds were so strong I felt like a CNN reporter in a hurricane.

Irish cuisine The history, weather and breathtaking

beauty will not come as a surprise to most readers, but the great food might.

I ate three of my top-five all-time best meals on this trip — the oysters at Nancie’s in Ardara; the seafood chowder at Lizzie’s Diner in Dunfanaghy; and the fruit scone at the cafe in the visitors’ center at Ballycroy National Park.

I’m already considering a sixth trip to the Emerald Isle. The warmth of the people, the beauty of the land and sea, and its powerful history keep pulling me back.

The approximate cost of this Vagabond tour, not including airfare, is about $2,000, depending on the conversion rate for the Euro.

Airfare from BWI to Belfast starts at $600.

For more details and photos see the blog on the author’s website, adventuretransformations.com.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 31

GHOSTLY GUIDES AT THE B&O MUSEUM

An evening of ghost hunting is planned at the oldest train station in the country, Ellicott City’s B&O Station at 3711 Maryland Ave., from 7 to 10 p.m. on Fri., Jan. 31. The evening includes a tour of the museum, learning about ghost-hunting equipment, and taking photos of supernatural activity. Tickets are $25. For more information, visit howardcountymd/rap.

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Jan. 19

GOSPEL CHOIR FOR MLK’S BIRTHDAY

A free celebration of the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. featuring the Bain Center Gospel Choir will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on Sun., Jan. 19 at the Ellicott City B&O Station, 3711 Maryland Ave., Ellicott City.

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27

Arts &

One of hundreds of paintings created by Karen Winston-Levin in her retirement

Agatha Christie’s tale of delicious revenge

Setting the stage The Orient Express began service in 1883 as an opulent international railroad, originally connecting Paris and Constantinople (today’s Istanbul). It was essentially the opulent Titanic on rails, minus the

iceberg tragedy.

There is, however, considerable snow and ice cleverly projected through the train “windows� to set the stage for a grisly act of revenge: the murder of passenger Samuel Ratchett (Danny Gavigan) during the trip.

He is discovered by the passenger in a neighboring compartment, stabbed to death.

Kudos to Gavigan, whose quick-change skills were on display as he portrayed both Ratchett (pre-murder) and Colonel Arbuthnot. Having to toggle between Ratchett’s “hey-youse-guys� Bowery Boys accent to something akin to Scottish for the Colonel, not to mention costume and wig changes, could not have been easy.

Enter perennial Everyman favorite Bruce Randolph Nelson as Poirot, who plays the private detective with considerable wit (and the character’s amusing Belgian/French accent) as he schools those around him in the grim vagaries of murder investigation.

The international flair of the passenger roster also includes Lilian Oben’s Hungarian Countess Andrenyi, Jefferson A. Russell’s Monsieur Bouc, Beth Hylton’s Swedish missionary Greta Ohlsson, and Helen Hedman’s Russian Princess Dragomiroff.

PHOTO BY TERESA CASTRACANE PHOTOGRAPHY

By Dan Collins We all know the meaning of the phrase, “Revenge is a dish best ser ved cold.�

Vengeance is more satisfying when exacted sometime after the original offense, when least expected.

Perhaps one of the finest examples of this proverb may be found in Agatha Christie’s famed 1934 mystery, Murder on the Orient Express.

If you’ve never read Christie’s book, chances are you’ve seen Sidney Lumet’s 1974 film with Albert Finney as the fastidious Belgian sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Or the 2017 film in which Kenneth Branagh was both director and star detective.

Both are hard acts to follow, but fortunately, the ensemble cast of The Everyman Theatre is up to the task as Vincent M. Lancisi directs the Ken Ludwig adaption of Christie’s whodunit.

In an adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, running through January 5 at Everyman Theatre in Baltimore, Detective Hercule Poirot, played by Bruce Randolph Nelson, inspects evidence as Countess Andrenyi (Lilian Oben) and Poirot’s colleague Monsieur Bouc (Jefferson A. Russell) observe.

Special kudos are due to dialect coach Gary Logan for having to handle this veritable United Nations of vocals. The cultural variety also serves as a key plot point as

the mystery begins to unfold in the mind of Poirot.

See ORIENT EXPRESS, page 29

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Artist From page 1 dabbled in painting.

A year later, Winston-Levin flew across the world to southeastern France for a twoweek art trip, where she learned about the practice of plein air, or painting outdoors.

“Just to be introduced to that [type of painting] in that part of the world was kind of amazing,” Winston-Levin said.

At home, she dove into learning about art, taking workshops with artists she admired, including Baltimore’s Colin Page and Richmond’s Duane Keiser, whose

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

work is now exhibited at the New York Academy of Art. “That was what sparked my interest to return full time to art,” Winston-Levin said.

Since then, her artwork won two Best of Shows last year and severable honorable mentions in local art shows.

One painting was also selected in 2016 to be the poster and book cover for Barnstormers, a tour conducted by the Frederick County Landmarks Foundation of nine local barns where plein air painters demonstrate their art.

Additionally, she is an associate member of the Artists’ Gallery in Frederick,

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“When I started doing this, I didn’t really think about doing this as a career move or a way to make money,” Winston-Levin said.

“It was just something I felt driven to do.”

Personal connections While receiving acclamation for her work has been rewarding, Winston-Levin’s favorite aspect of being an artist is the reaction its produces in the average person.

People throughout the East Coast have purchased one or more of her paintings to hang in their private collections.

“It’s so rewarding to me to see that people really admire the work so much that they would want to hang it in their home and see it every day,” Winston-Levin said.

She recalled one particularly impactful moment when someone was interested in buying a painting but was unsure if it would fit in her home. Winston-Levin drove the painting to the woman’s house and held it up to the wall the woman was considering.

“When I stepped back and looked at it, it looked like it belonged there, like I had

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painted it for that location,” Winston-Levin said. “I kind of got an electric feeling.”

She then glanced at the woman, who was in tears. “That was such a moving experience for me to know that my art could produce that kind of response in somebody else,” Winston-Levin said. “I would’ve given it away for that.”

She credits that woman’s response to the emotion she puts into every painting.

Pouring her feelings onto a canvas has sustained her through difficult times, she said.

“There have been periods of my life when I have been struggling — as we all do. And I find that just the act of absorbing myself in something that’s outside of myself is very therapeutic,” Winston-Levin said. “It’s life-affirming.”

Winston-Levin tries to engage with the unseen in her paintings, just as she did with the people she helped as a psychiatric nurse.

“Art is my oxygen,” she states on her website. Now, at the age of 71, she is finally able to breathe fully.

To view more paintings by Karen Winston-Levin or sign up for her newsletter, visit karenwinston-levin.com. with the liberal, progressive, Democratic Party political agenda. Seems everything they advance hurts, kills and destroys people and communities.

K. Buraczynski Brooklyn, Maryland

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0

Orient Express From page 27

The story’s deeper dilemma Christie’s play is more than a simple whodunit. It also raises a key issue in her most developed character, Poirot, who must weigh what is morally right versus what is justice.

The two are not always the same, and Nelson does a superlative job in expressing the detective’s tortured choice. Should a monster’s deserved end destroy the lives of people previously traumatized by the villain’s acts?

Chances are, most of the audience will be well aware of the 85-year-old mystery’s solution. It is, therefore, a testament to the actors’ skills and acumen of the stage staff that the recreation of Ratchett’s murder managed to have such a disturbing effect on the audience.

As Lancisi, who is also founder and artistic director of the Everyman, noted before curtain, “You’re all in for a heck of a ride!”

Still, the greatest mystery may be how the set, projection and lighting designers Daniel Ettinger, Rasean Davonte Johnson and Harold F. Burgess II successfully manage to bring a multi-compartment moving train, a blizzard and a busy café in Istanbul, all to life on a single stage. As Poirot might say, “Mon Dieu!”

Murder on the Orient Express continues its run at the Everyman Theatre through Jan. 5. Tickets are $10 to $69 and may be purchased online at everymantheatre.org, by calling (410) 752-2208, or in person at the box office, located at 315 W. Fayette St., Baltimore.

Patrons 62 and older are eligible for a $5 discount on tickets for Saturday matinees and Sunday evening performances.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 1

ARTS COUNCIL EXHIBIT APPLICATIONS

General Exhibits Applications for all media and styles for 2020 Howard County Arts shows are examined on a quarterly basis. The next group is due Wed., Jan. 1 at the Howard County Arts Council, 8510 High Ridge Rd., Ellicott City. Applications may be requested by phone at (410) 3132787 or obtained online at hocoarts.org/explore.

Jan. 14+

ARTISTS GALLERY SHOW

Artists Gallery opens the new year with “Local Color 2020,” an exhibit featuring artwork in a variety of media. The show opens Tues., Jan. 14 and runs through Sun., Feb. 23. The gallery is located at 8197 Main St., Ellicott City. For more information and gallery hours, visit artistgalleryec.com or phone (443) 325-5936.

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 30

BEACON BITS

Jan. 24+

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A T T A C H

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ani’s “Almost Maine” in three performances at the Howard County Community College Monteboro Recital Hall on Fri., Jan. 24 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sat., Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m., and Sun., Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. Monteboro Recital Hall is located in the Horowitz Visual & Performing Arts Center on the main campus, 10901 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. Tickets are $12 at the box office. Call (443) 518-1500 or email boxoffice@howardcc.edu.

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Chocolate Burgundy

Blue

DuraLux II Microfiber

Burgundy Cashmere Chocolate

Because each Perfect Sleep Chair is a custom-made bedding product, we can only accept returns on chairs that are damaged or defective. © 2019 firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc.

Indigo 46524

You can’t always lie down in bed and sleep. Heartburn, cardiac problems, hip or back aches – and dozens of other ailments and worries. Those are the nights you’d give anything for a comfortable chair to sleep in: one that reclines to exactly the right degree, raises your feet and legs just where you want them, supports your head and shoulders properly, and operates at the touch of a button.

you to pause the chair in an infinite number of settings. And best of all, it features a powerful lift mechanism that tilts the entire chair forward, making it easy to stand.

You’ll love the other benefits, too. It helps with correct spinal alignment and promotes back pressure relief, to prevent back and NEW Footrest extension muscle pain. The overstuffed, oversized for better support biscuit style back and unique seat design head to toe will cradle you in comfort. Generously filled, wide armrests provide enhanced arm support when sitting or reclining. It even has a battery backup in case of a power outage.

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Crossword Puzzle

Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Pre-Op Clearance 1

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Stephen Sherr

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Across 1. A current unit of measure 4. Organic chemistry classrooms 8. Trite 13. The Tax Administrative Assistance Act of 2012, briefly 15. Operatic song 16. Indian coin 17. eBay listing claim 20. “It was a brave man who first ___ oyster” (Jonathan Swift) 21. Leaves un-edited 22. “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, for one 23. Favorite drink of Capt. Picard and Winnie the Pooh 26. Do/say go-between 27. End to brew- or buttin30. Ice-T, Ice Cube, and Vanilla Ice 34. Convince to join 35. Common Oscar runway dress feature 36. “You come and go like ___ song” 38. Actor in a crowd scene 41. Not manual 42. Vegan’s protein source 43. Cafe ___ (coffee and milk) 45. Beachwear that reveals a lot of skin 51. Arrange the silverware 52. Try to catch a bus 53. What all good things must do 54. Add 15% to the bill 55. First line on many Income Statements 57. Previous criminal conviction 59. Harbinger of incoming mail, circa 1860 64. Communication channels 65. The first Roman emperor to commit suicide 66. Scott Turow book about his first year at Harvard Law School 67. Minnesota’s state birds 68. Advantage 69. Cunning

Down 1. Add a picture file to an e-mail 2. Cocktail with a tiny umbrella

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HC120

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Scrabble answers on p. 29.

11

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59

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63 66 69

3. Unrealized capital gain 4. Drink like a cat 5. Beltway portion 6. Book jacket profiles 7. Seasonal mall hires 8. Entertainment Weekly employee 9. Most innings have six 10. Univ. established in 1824 by Stephen van Renssselaer 11. Opposite of paleo12. Urge for eastern currency 14. ___ loss for words 18. Using one of the bunk beds 19. He loved Lucy 24. Fencing sword used in every Olympics since 1900 25. “Acting is ___ of luck and choice” (John Travolta) 27. Starts to “Dear John” letters 28. Create booties for baby 29. Analogy words 31. Climb onto the examination table 32. Put away the keg for next time 33. “You did what ___ you would” 36. Letters on booze-cops’ hats 37. One who saw only Warsaw 39. Clever deception 40. The only actor in Alda episodes of M*A*S*H 44. Ma ___ business 46. Noisy quarrel 47. Make one sleepy 48. The most common final score in English soccer matches 49. Toy train company 50. How a member of the Senior PGA Tour swings 55. Go on the Dumbo ride at Disneyland 56. Did 60 in a 40 58. “Run-pass option” to a QB 59. Just the Roman numerals in “crumple” 60. One born during the dog days of summer 61. The groom’s line 62. End of Greenpeace’s web address 63. Boris Badenov, to Bullwinkle

Answers on page 29.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0

CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on the right.

CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either.

Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment.

EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

Caregivers ANGEL OF CARE HOME HEALTH SERVICES - We provide assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, feeding, walking, fall and safety precautions, accompany to appointment and much more to clients living at home. Call or text us today: 2405957039. Email: angelofcarehomehealthservices@gmail.com. Website: www.angelofcarehomehealthservices.com.

For Sale 5 PLOTS AVAILABLE AT MEADOWRIDGE MEMORIAL PARK Westland Area Block 38 Lot 97 easy access from Meadowridge Rd Call Pat 410-375-2521 or coninc@verizon.net (will negotiate price) BURIAL SITES (2) at the beautiful Crestlawn memorial gardens in Marriottsville Md. $7100 each includes liner. $13500. Side by side pair. Contact. A. LaMana. 571-271-8555, amylamana@gmail.com PUT ON YOUR TV EARS and hear TV with unmatched clarity. TV Ears Original were originally $129.95 - NOW WITH THIS SPECIAL OFFER are only $59.95 with code MCB59! Call 1-833-934-0843.

For Sale ACROSONIC PIANO with Bench and Yamaha Keyboard, excellent condition: $550. Call 410-486-1707.

For Rent/Sale: Real Estate MID-ATLANTIC FUNDING GROUP — Pays cash for Owner Financed Mortgages.

Professional Service / Fast Closing. Call Us Today! 1 (800) 641-9521 or visit midatlanticnotes.com A PLACE FOR MOM. The nation’s largest senior living referral service. Contact our trusted, local experts today! Our service is FREE/no obligation. CALL 1-855-502-4495

HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD All classified ads must be submitted and paid for online, via our website, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds Deadlines and Payments: To appear in the next issue, your ad text and payment must be entered by the 5th of the preceding month (for Baltimore and Howard County editions); by the 20th (for Washington and Richmond editions).

Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad: • $25 for 1-250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length). The website will calculate this for you.

Note: Maryland contractors must provide a valid MHIC number. • Each real estate listing qualifies as one ad. • All ads are subject to publisher's discretion. Payment will be refunded if unacceptable for any reason.

To place your classified ad, visit www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds

Health PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-851-0949.

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for [350] procedures. Call 1-844366-1003 for details. www.dental50plus.com/320.

[6118-0219]

Home/Handyman Services STAY IN YOUR HOME LONGER with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation!

Call us at 1-877-240-2061 or visit www.walkintubquote.com/beacon **STOP STRUGGLING ON THE STAIRS** Give your life a lift with an ACORN STAIRLIFT! Call now for $250 OFF your stairlift purchase and FREE DVD & brochure! 1-855-8503183.

ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off and 0% financing for those who qualify. PLUS Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-844-3596933.

Legal Services APPLYING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY or Appealing a Denied Claim? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc., Social Security Disability Attorneys, 1-866-970-0779! FREE Consultations. Local Attorneys Nationwide [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.)]

Personal Services

Wanted

I AM A PROFESSIONAL HOME ORGANIZER, I Organize/declutter homes from paper work, bedroom closets to the entire home through sorting, purging and arranging/organizing the keeping pile. Text/call 304-320-5595.

My website www.lavenderorganizes.com

ESTATE LIQUIDATION/ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES: One call solves it all when you hire us to handle your estate liquidation, down-sizing and/or home cleanout. We sell your treasures, take care of charitable donations and provide junk removal. We also purchase partial estate contents/collections. Always buying antiques, jewelry, fine art, vintage toys, collectibles, advertising, sports memorabilia, military, vintage cars, Mid Century Modern furniture, vinyl records, gold and silver coins and more. Based in Silver Spring, we serve Montgomery, Howard and Baltimore Counties, Washington D.C., NOVA and beyond. Also provide appraisal services for insurance/estates. Friendly, conscientious staff. Call Chris on cell (202) 731-9447. www.OrionsAttic.com.

Personals TIRED OF BEING ALONE? Reach out to meet your ideal companion through our special Companion Outreach Circle. Simply submit details describing yourself, and a recent photo to: CompanionOutreach@gmail.com

TV/Cable DISH NETWORK $59.99 For 190 Channels!

Add High Speed Internet for ONLY $19.95/month. Call Today for $100k Gift Card!

Best Value & Technology. FREE Installation.

Call 1-844-560-5837 (some restrictions apply) GET NFL SUNDAY TICKET FREE w/ DIRECTV Choice All-Included Package. $59.99/month for 12 months. 185 Channels PLUS Thousands of Shows/Movies On Demand. FREE Genie HD DVR Upgrade. Call 1888-572-4953 or satellitedealnow.com/TBN

Wanted MONEY, TIME TO SELL! Make the right choice. Call Greg, 717-658-7954. We buy jewelry, coins, silver, antiques, watches, gold, art, paper money, toys, bottles, comic books and records, etc. No middleman, no fees, no overhead means more money in your pocket.

Give me a call, and let’s do business. 717658-7954.

SELL ME YOUR CAR, Truck or SUV for CASH today instead of a maybe tax deduction tomorrow. I come to you. NO FUSS NO MUSS. 410-916-0776 I also buy Motorcycles, Scooters & Bikes. If it’s got wheels, I am a Buyer..

CASH FOR ESTATES, moving etc; I buy a wide range of items. Buy out/clean up. www.atticllc.com Gary Roman; 301-520-0755.

CASH FOR JEWELRY; I buy a wide range of jewelry; gold, silver, costume, watches, turquoise, coins, school rings, etc. Gary Roman; 301-520-0755.

COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, knives, swords, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars & countries. Also Lionel Trains, & slots/coin operated machines.

Will pay top prices. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-910-0783

Thanks for reading!

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Studies Shoulder Pain Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Events Celebration of the Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 COGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Financial Services Mutual of Omaha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Funeral Services Going Home Cremations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Harry H. Witzke’s Family Funeral Home, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 MacNabb Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Sol Levinson & Bros., Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

LeafGuard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Peak Custom Remodeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 PG Builders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Housing Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6, 32 Charlestown/Erickson Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Country Gardens Assisted Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Oak Crest/Erickson Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Park View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Residences at Vantage Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 R Home Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Shriner Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Retail/Services Columbia’s Village Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Oakridge Auction Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Perfect Sleep Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Zinger Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Senior/Government Services Howard County 50+ Connection . . . . . . . . . . . .15-17 Howard County Recycling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Subscriptions The Beacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Technology

Legal Services

Senior Call Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Frank, Frank & Scherr, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Theatre/Entertainment

Home Health Care

Medical/Health

Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

A-1 Action Nursing Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 At Home Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 HomeCentris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Options for Senior America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Gentleneedle Acupuncture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Medical Eye Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Nourishing Life Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Tour & Travel

Home Improvement Bath Fitter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

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Real Estate Bob Lucido Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Sachs Realty/Ruth Lyons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Eyre Tour & Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Volunteers/Employment Meals on Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Old Town Trolley Jobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

TIS THE SEASON FOR

Warmth & Cheer Assisted Living at Brooke Grove offers comforts that feel like home along with a vibrant lifestyle that encourages residents to remain physically and socially active throughout the cold winter months.

OUR AMENITIES Private rooms filled with natural light from over-sized windows and skylights

MEMORY SUPPORT PROGRAM For residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia, we offer a special assisted living option with:

Live-in pets

Specially trained memory support staff

Secure courtyards and walking paths

An interactive lifestyle that maximizes choice and independence

24-hour on-site clinical support from licensed and caring nurses

Tailored LIFE enrichment programming that connects each resident to his or her past

Warm, friendly staff members to assist with the activities of daily life

Pianos, fireplaces, and game and craft rooms promote invaluable social experiences that stimulate memory

18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 301-260-2320 or 301-924-2811

www.bgf.org