January 2022 | Baltimore Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

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Sweet ! Domino Sugar turns 100

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2022

PHOTO BY JAMES KIRKIKIS / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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When a loved one requires memory care By Mary Kane For Marylander Larry Barrett, the agonizing decision to find a memory care community for his wife, Martha, began more than 10 years ago. That’s when Larry first noticed that something was going on with Martha, then 60, a lawyer. She’d forget the name of a person she met the night before. On a trip to Louisville, Ky., where she grew up, she forgot the way to her childhood home. Larry persuaded Martha in 2010 to see a neurologist, who diagnosed her with mild cognitive impairment. In the years that followed, Martha’s condition progressed to Alzheimer’s. Larry tried to care for her himself, but things got complicated. He sold their house and moved them into a nearby apartment. But Martha began to wander. Once, when Larry was attending a support group for spouses of people with dementia, the apartment building’s front desk staff called to say they had found Martha disoriented. “I was reaching the point where she couldn’t be appropriately cared for at home,” said Larry. After a yearlong search, he found a nearby memory care community for Martha in 2017. The process took an emotional toll. “It’s one of the hardest decisions you can make in your life,” he said. Many family members of people with dementia face the same decision Larry Barrett did. They want a spouse or parent to get 24-hour, supportive care but also still enjoy some quality of life. It isn’t simple to find that kind of care, whether in a nursing home, assisted living, a continuing-care retirement community or a memory care unit. Loved ones also sometimes worry about stereotypes of long-term care, such as an elderly parent being left alone all day. These fears can induce guilt in family members.

Person-centered care But many long-term care communities for people with dementia are changing their culture and practices to be “person centered” — focusing on the individual needs of residents and recognizing they still require meaning and purpose in their lives. In this evolving version of care, staff work closely with families to understand

CREDIT

By Margaret Foster Baltimore native Cathy Bowers owes her life to Domino Sugar. Her parents, the late Albert and Cassie Bowers, met at the Baltimore refinery in the 1950s. Albert started in the mailroom and rose to the head of the billing department, and Cassie worked as a keypunch operator. The company’s bowling league brought them together, and they started dating. “They had to keep it a secret,” from their boss, Bowers said. After the two were married, Cassie stayed home with the children while Albert continued to work for the company for 47 years. Many Baltimoreans can cite a similar connection to Domino Sugar, which opened on the Inner Harbor waterfront 100 years ago. Its signature 120-foot-tall red sign represents the city as well as, say, Camden Yards or the Bromo-Seltzer tower. But last April, while the sign was under renovation, a fire threatened the 30-acre campus, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Smoke billowed from one of its 15 buildings, fire trucks rushed to the site, and the smell of burned sugar, akin to crème brulee, filled the air, according to witnesses. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and the firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze.

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and respect the qualities someone had before entering long-term care, and to learn the person’s interests, routines and needs. A care community might use a resident’s previous occupation or interests to offer daily activities to look forward to. Perhaps a resident who loved gardening arranges flowers for the dining room each night. Or staff recognize that a resident who wakes at 4 a.m. every day had spent his life as a farmer, accustomed to rising early and having a strong cup of coffee. They adjust to his routine, instead of “correcting” his behavior and persuading him to go back to bed. “You live in their reality,” said Jennifer Slack, community liaison at Maples of Stoneleigh, a memory care facility in Towson.

Still part of the community Care communities embracing these changes also are connected to their neighborhoods and the outside world. For example, Silverado, a senior care company dedicated to memory care that

operates in eight states, encourages residents to regularly engage with their communities by making sandwiches for the homeless or baking dog biscuits and visiting animals at the local shelter. “So many negative dementia behaviors in facilities in the past were related to people feeling like a prisoner, or just boredom and having no sense of purpose,” said Kim Butrum, Silverado’s senior vice president of clinical services. “But allowing a person to still feel like they make a difference is part of what makes you human. That doesn’t stop because you’re having trouble with language or your memory declined.” This view is supported by the Alzheimer’s Association, which last year released its recommendations for dementia care that call for a “holistic, person-centered approach to care” and “a positive approach” to supporting people with dementia and their caregivers. “I don’t want to minimize the challenges, because of course a dementia diag-

nosis is scary,” said Sheryl Zimmerman, co-director of the program on aging, disability and long-term care at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “But many assisted living and other providers know ways to offer quality services for people with dementia. In fact, years ago we didn’t use the words ‘quality of life’ and ‘dementia’ in the same sentence. But now we do.”

Do your homework Be proactive in researching person-centered care practices, Zimmerman advised. You also can advocate for them in a community you’re considering. For example, people with dementia can find showers uncomfortable. But staff can adjust the bathing routine to have a resident sit in a chair, lean back and have her hair washed in the sink, which resembles the pleasant experience of going to a salon and makes the task far less stressful. And person-centered communities will See WHERE TO DONATE, page B-4

SEE SPECIAL INSERT Housing & Homecare Options following page 10

Centennial celebration in April Domino Sugar’s Baltimore refinery, one of three in the country, first opened on April 2, 1922. Today, Domino Sugar processes 585,000 tons of raw sugar here. Ships and barges deliver the sugar cane crystals via the Patapsco River, and the refinery produces white, brown and powdered sugar from it. Late last year, it started producing limited-edition 100th-anniversary sugar packets to be distributed in restaurants. This April,

The Domino Sugar refinery opened in the Inner Harbor in April 1922. This spring, the still-active refinery will celebrate its centennial with several public events yet to be announced. Its iconic sign has recently been updated from the original neon to new LED lights.

Domino’s owner, American Sugar Refinery, Inc. (ASR), plans to celebrate Domino’s centennial with not-yet-announced events that will be open to the public. “Generation after generation of people have been coming to work at the Baltimore

refinery, earning good wages and making quality products,” said Peter O’Malley, spokesman for ASR, the world’s largest sugar refinery. See DOMINO SUGAR, page 16

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By Stuart Rosenthal, Publisher I don’t know about you, but I frequently find my New Year’s resolutions generate a sense of deja vu. There are just some things about me that I want to improve, or tasks I’d like to accomplish, that hang around from year to year. A friend who knew I like to keep notepaper in my front pocket (so I can incessantly write down or remind myself of things I need to do) once made me burst out laughing when he suggested I write a to-do list of things I’ve already done! THAT was a suggestion I could get into. Well, that’s sort of what I’m doing this year. In the last few weeks, I’ve finally accomplished (well, started) something that I’ve long aimed for, and I’m going to call it my New Year’s resolution anyway. As you may recall from earlier columns, last spring I took a seven-week “sabbatical” from the Beacon to test drive my “retirement plan” — composing original piano pieces. That’s something I used to do in middle and high school and always loved. Doodling around on the piano (which I studied for 12 years) and coming up with interesting note combinations and rhythms were things that made me look forward to my daily piano practice as a kid.

So, in May and June I pulled out some of the short pieces, themes and sketches I wrote down as a youth and worked on developing them into compositions of a respectable length (we’re talking 3 to 5 minutes). I produced three new pieces and reacquainted myself with two from high school that my friends and family tell me are nice to listen to. I also learned how to use music notation software so I could make sheet music for the pieces. That checked off a couple of resolutions I’ve been making, or thinking of making, for years. (It also convinced me that my retirement plan of pursuing my passion for music is a good one.) It also brings me to this year’s alreadybegun resolution — to share my music with the world. I have been recording those five pieces and making videos of myself playing them. And just the other day, I set up a YouTube channel (Stuart’s Melodies), website (stuartsmelodies.com) and, heaven help me, registered for my first Facebook page. I’m also getting ready to contact a music distribution company about putting my audio tracks on Spotify, Apple Music and the like.

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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 Executive Vice President – Gordon Hasenei Managing Editor – Margaret Foster Art Director – Kyle Gregory

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New year, new project

I don’t know how many people make “join the world of social media” (or really “become an exhibitionist”) one of their New Year’s resolutions, but that’s basically what I’m doing. So, is this what the world’s been waiting for? Will millions beat a path to my door? You tell me. It would certainly be a big kick to have you listen to my pieces and perhaps download them and/or the sheet music. Learning that a Beacon reader somewhere has decided to play one of my pieces would be especially gratifying. Two pieces are there as I write this; the other three are in process and should be up in the next few weeks. You can download the recordings and sheet music at no charge from my website. There is an option on Beacon publisher, Stuart Rosenthal, has returned to the site to pay whatever you playing and composing for the piano after many years away from the keyboard. You can listen to his newest want for downloads, but compositions at stuartsmelodies.com. payment is optional. I fervently hope to write and post more pieces in the future. (You at the Beacon Virtual 50+Expo, which I encan sign up on the website to be notified courage you to visit even more for the wonderful speakers and classes, and for the when new works are added.) I couldn’t have done this without the useful information provided by dozens of help of others, so I want to thank the Bea- exhibitors. That’s all available free online con staff (especially Margaret Foster, through January 31 at beacon50expo.com. Thanks for listening! Feel free to send Roger King and Gordon Hasenei) for taking over my duties last spring during my me an email via stuartsmelodies.com or to sabbatical, Jon Seipp (audio engineer ex- post comments on YouTube or Facebook. traordinaire) for recording my pieces, my I look forward to hearing from you. The entire Beacon staff joins me in wishfriend and indefatigable videographer and video editor David Hughes, and music and ing you a happy, healthy, peaceful and software mentor Jason Sherwin (a com- meaningful 2022. poser of note, by the way). I hope you will check out my music in one way or another. A few of my videos are also now available

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.

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

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Dear Editor: The November [Greater Washington] edition of the Beacon arrived this week, and I must say, I was really impressed. First, reading about all the awards the newspaper has won this year. What a wide range of interests and information you’ve introduced to your readers! Then, in this particular issue, the number of informative stories regarding flu shots and stem cell clinics and palliative

care. That story went well in combination with the work you did on my piece [November’s cover story, “What’s next for Diane Rehm?”], presenting another option with which to view end-of-life care. Good work and good reading all! Please continue to send me your newspaper. I know it will add to my reading pleasure. Diane Rehm Washington, DC

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2022

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Health Fitness &

COMFORT FOOD On a cold winter’s night, try this recipe for chicken and mushroom orzo STROKE FACTS Recognize signs of stroke quickly; to prevent it, eat a Mediterranean diet BOTTOMS UP? Alcohol has a stronger effect on us as we age, so make allowances if you drink TWO BIRDS, ONE STONE Enroll in a health study to try a remedy for knee pain and depression

Why a good night’s sleep boosts memory By Andrew E. Budson, M.D. Few things are as beneficial for your memory as a good night’s sleep. Let’s understand why. To remember information, you need to pay attention to it. If you’re tired, you simply cannot pay attention as effectively as you would if you were well rested. That statement seems straightforward, but it brings up another question: Why do you get tired? You may feel tired and have trouble paying attention either because you’ve been awake too many hours and sleep pressure is building up, or — even if you’ve had a nap — because it is the middle of the night and your circadian rhythm (your internal clock) is telling you to sleep. In either case, you’ll have trouble paying attention, and thus trouble remembering.

nections between neurons (called synapses) shrink to reduce or eliminate the memories you don’t need — such as what you ate for breakfast last week and the clothes you wore yesterday. This selective pruning of synapses during the night prepares you to form new memories the next day. Sleep also helps us consolidate the memories we want to preserve, transferring them from transiently accessible memories to those that can be recalled years later. Memories for facts and skills both show greater retention over a 12-hour period that includes sleep versus a 12-hour period while awake. Much of this consolidation occurs during stage 2 sleep — a light sleep phase that typically occurs in the hours prior to awakening. This means that if you get up early without a full night’s rest, you may be impairing your ability to hold onto your memories.

How new info is processed

What happens while you dream?

When you learn new information during the day, it is temporarily stored in the hippocampus, a seahorse-shaped part of your brain behind your eyes. The hippocampus has a limited storage capacity. If you exceed it, you may have difficulty adding new information — or you may actually overwrite an old memory with a newer one. Fortunately, that doesn’t usually happen. Each night while you sleep, the con-

Although you dream in several stages of sleep, your most interesting and vivid dreams usually occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, so-called because while your eyes are moving rapidly, your body is otherwise paralyzed. It is during REM sleep that your newly consolidated memories become interconnected with your prior memories, including those of your life as well as your library

of facts and knowledge. This connection between your recent memories and your prior memories and knowledge is one reason you may wake up with a new and valuable perspective on a problem — or perhaps even a complete solution! This actually happened to Dmitri Mendeleev, who was str uggling for months with how the atomic elements should be placed in the periodic table. In a dream on February 17, 1869, he glimpsed where all the elements belonged and, after writing down what he dreamt, found only a single, small correction was needed.

Emotions are processed, too Have you ever been terribly upset about something and, by the next day, it felt at least somewhat better? Sleep can also strip off the emotions related to painful memories while still retaining the memory content. Thus, you’ll be able to remember what upset you without having to relive the full emotional intensity of the event.

What if you can’t fall asleep? Melatonin isn’t a traditional sleeping pill, but it can help regulate your sleep cycle if that’s the problem. Acetaminophen can relieve little aches and pains that can

keep you up at night. All other sleeping pills, however, whether prescription or over the counter, sedate you and actually make your memory worse, both for what you learned earlier that day and what you’re trying to learn the next day! Nonpharmacological treatments for sleep are by far the best. Caffeine blocks chemical receptors in your brain so that, temporarily, you cannot feel the sleep pressure. Thus, caffeine can enable you to be more alert, be more attentive, and remember better. But as you probably know from your own experience, caffeine can only delay the mounting sleep pressure, which eventually leads to overwhelming tiredness.

The bottom line Want to maximize your memory, whether you are studying for an exam, preparing for a client meeting or looking forward to your 50th reunion? You’ll be more likely to remember the information for the exam, the documents for the meeting and the names of your classmates if you go over the material you wish to remember daily for several days, each followed by a refreshing seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Sleep well! © 2021 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Simple, low-cost, low-tech brain training By Heidi Godman We’re all looking for ways to boost our brain power. And fortunately, there are plenty of simple, low-cost, low-tech ways to help sharpen cognition. “Low-tech, mentally stimulating activities, especially ones that are challenging, help our brains create new connections. The more connections we have, the more paths our brain has to get information to where it needs to go. “This can help with improving cognition overall or in specific areas, depending on the activity,” said Dr. Joel Salinas, a behavioral neurologist and faculty member of the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies.

Try these activities Mentally stimulating activities make

you do a little cognitive light lifting; they require some work to process or produce information. These kinds of activities can include any of the following: Learning a language. Bilingual people have greater mental flexibility and agility, and may have some protection from the risk of developing dementia, compared to people who speak one language. Learning a second language later in life may even delay cognitive decline. To get started, listen to language recordings, take an online class, or download an app such as Babbel or Duolingo. Listening to or making music. Music can activate almost all regions of the brain, including those involved with emotion, memory and physical movement. Get in on this benefit by listening to new

kinds of music, or by learning how to play an instrument. Check out songs from other countries, or start learning to play an instrument by watching free videos on YouTube. Playing card and board games. Games strengthen your ability to retrieve memories (if you play Trivial Pursuit, for example) or think strategically (Monopoly or checkers). Playing card games is helpful because it requires you to use a number of mental skills at once: memory, visualization and sequencing. Traveling. Visiting a new place exposes you to sights and sounds that enhance brain plasticity, forming new connections in your brain. You might not be able to travel due to COVID-19, but simply exploring areas

nearby may produce brain changes. Consider driving to a town you’ve never visited before, or going to an outdoor park with unfamiliar terrain (perhaps mountains or thick forests) to gain new perspectives. Watching plays, films, concerts or virtual tours of museums. Cultural activities stimulate the brain in many ways. While you may not be able to enjoy these activities indoors right now, it might be possible to experience them outside or online. Choose something that requires a little effort to understand it, for example a Shakespearean play or a foreign film (try to figure out what the characters are saying without reading the subtitles). If you’re watching a concert, choose one with comSee BRAIN TRAINING, page 5

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Q & A on swallowing problem, nerve pain By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: I recently began having a problem swallowing foods. What could this be? It is really starting to bother me. A: Swallowing difficulty (doctors call it dysphagia) can happen for a variety of reasons. It is not always caused by a serious medical problem, but it is always a problem that needs to be sorted out. Dysphagia is an urgent problem if you are losing weight or if you are coughing or choking after eating. If that’s the case, call your doctor immediately. Sometimes swallowing difficulty can be a side effect of a medicine. Several medications (particularly those used to treat psychiatric symptoms) can interfere with your mouth and throat muscle coordination. Some medicines also cause significant dryness of the mouth, which can contribute to swallowing difficulty. This symptom could also come from inflammation or scarring (also called a stricture) in the esophagus. These problems usually come from acid reflux or from pills that are causing irritation in the esophagus. A stroke, Parkinson’s disease or other less common neurologic illnesses that affect the function of muscles or nerves can also cause swallowing problems. Sometimes a feeling of a lump in the

throat can interfere with swallowing. This can happen if you have acid reflux, but it may also be a symptom of anxiety. (It’s possible for a lump to be caused by cancer, but that’s very unlikely without other symptoms.) You should schedule a visit with your doctor so that all of these possibilities can be considered. Tests that your healthcare provider might recommend include: —A video swallowing study. This test uses an X-ray technique called fluoroscopy to videotape your swallowing while you consume samples of foods or drink. —Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). EGD allows your doctor to view the esophagus, stomach and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). For the test, a camera on a flexible, narrow cord is inserted down your throat. —Barium swallow. For this X-ray test, you swallow a liquid that shows up on X-rays, so your doctor can view your esophagus. —Laryngoscopy. This test allows your doctor to see your larynx. For the test, a camera on a flexible, narrow rod is inserted into your nose or mouth. Q: I have persistent pain on the left side of my body just below my rib cage. It feels like it starts in the back and wraps around to the front. I had an abdominal CT scan, which

didn’t show anything that might cause the pain. What else might cause this and what can be done about it? A: What you describe is actually quite common. It sounds like your pain might be coming from one of the nerves leaving the spine. These spinal ner ves wrap around from the center of your back to the sides of your body. Doctors call this type of ner ve pain radiculopathy, or spinal nerve root pain. The pain can be very severe. In addition, nerve pain often has a very irritating quality that can be even more uncomfortable than pain due to other causes. Treating persistent nerve pain can be frustrating. There is no best approach. Finding the right therapies and medications to control persistent pain is a process of trial and error. The goal is to find the most effective combination with the least amount of side effects, while keeping costs low. When cost is an issue, I usually suggest a combination of a generic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and a low dose of one of the tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline. If you cannot take NSAIDs because of an allergy, kidney problems, gastritis or peptic ulcer disease, generic acetamino-

phen can also be combined with a tricyclic. Of the NSAIDs, naproxen tends to be my first choice for chronic pain because you only need to take it twice per day. Ibuprofen is just as effective. When I prescribe a tricyclic antidepressant for pain, patients often tell me, “But I’m not depressed.” Today, tricyclics are used more for treatment of chronic pain, especially persistent nerve pain. Examples include amitriptyline, nortriptyline, desipramine and doxepin. I recommend starting with a very low dose, such as 10 milligrams of amitriptyline at night. These drugs can be very sedating, so increase the dose gradually. Unlike NSAIDs and acetaminophen, you won’t get the pain relief right away from the tricyclic. It may take a few weeks to work. You can also try topical lidocaine or capsaicin applied to the skin. Other medications you can discuss with your doctor include duloxetine (Cymbalta), gabapentin or pregabalin (Lyrica). Also, relaxation techniques and mindful meditation can be helpful for anyone with chronic pain. © 2021 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

We’ve moved!

Dr. Zachary Chattler has been serving your foot and ankle needs in the Greenspring Valley area for many years. We are excited to announce that this year, we’ve made changes to better serve your needs. We changed our name to Greenspring Podiatry, moved to Joppa Green, and added a partner, Dr. Jonathan Rose, a top-notch podiatrist with over two decades of experience. Please join our team in welcoming Dr. Rose! Dr. Zachary Chattler (right) welcomes new partner Together, we have the expertise to diagnose and Dr. Jonathan Rose to Greenspring Podiatry. treat a variety of foot and ankle conditions, from bunions and heel pain, to diabetic foot care and hammertoes. At Greenspring Podiatry, we understand how critical your feet and ankles are to your body, movement, and participation in daily life. Dr. Rose and I look forward to helping you whenever you need us.

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plex classical compositions. If you’re looking at an online museum exhibit, try to pick up on the details the artist used to convey a message. Doing word puzzles. Working on word puzzles (such as a crossword, Jumble or Scrabble) has been shown to help people improve their scores on tests of attention, reasoning and memory. Try a different kind of puzzle each day (for example, a crossword one day, a Jumble the next), and increase the level of difficulty as puzzles get easier.

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on cognition. For example: • Get physical and dance while you listen to new music. • Watch a video lecture about an artist before checking out an exhibit of the person’s work. • Socialize by playing a board game online with friends during a video call. Don’t think of these activities as braintraining chores. Just enjoy them because they’re fun and enhance your life. The fact that they sharpen your cognition is just an added benefit! © 2021 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Ed. Note: For this month’s crossword and Scrabblegram, see the Beacon’s “puzzle page” on page 18 of this issue. And for a wide-ranging cultural experience at home, consider the “Billion Dollar Art Gallery” — a memory stick that contains images and details about more than 500 artworks from museums around the world that can be viewed individually or played as a video, accompanied by original music, on your TV or computer screen. $39.99; available on Amazon.

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Chicken and mushroom orzo “risotto” By Family Features Winter is a critical time to eat healthy foods, which can keep your immune system in tip-top shape to fend off viruses. Many fruits and vegetables support a healthy immune system. Researchers have concluded there are a variety of micronutrients important for supporting a healthy immune system. They’re all familiar: vitamin A, B, C, D, E, iron, selenium and zinc. You can get vitamin A from fresh fruits and vegetables like carrots; vitamin C from citrus, strawberries and tomatoes; and vitamin E from nut butters. Eating salmon, tuna, egg yolks, mushrooms or fortified dairy products can help your body produce vitamin D. Zinc, iron

and selenium can be found in whole grains, meat, nuts and beans. Four of the nutrients necessary to maintain a healthy immune system (vitamin D, selenium and B vitamins and zinc) can be found in mushrooms. Try this healthy comfort dish made with mushrooms this winter.

Roasted Chicken Thighs and Veggies with Mushroom Orzo Risotto Recipe courtesy of Emily Weeks of “Zen and Spice” Cook time: 50 minutes Total time: 1 hour, 10 minutes Servings: 4 Chicken: 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs salt, to taste

pepper, to taste 6 tablespoons unsalted butter 16 ounces crimini mushrooms, quartered 3 zucchinis, sliced in half moons 3 large carrots, thinly sliced 4 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves removed and roughly chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced Orzo: 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 small yellow onion, diced 2 garlic cloves, minced 16 ounces crimini mushrooms, finely chopped 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta 1/8 teaspoon black pepper 1/3 cup white wine or cooking wine 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese To make chicken: Preheat oven to 450° F. Pat chicken dry. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken until browned, 4 to 5 minutes on each side. In large bowl, toss mushrooms, zucchi-

ni, carrots, garlic and rosemary. On large baking sheet, spread vegetables. Nestle chicken into vegetables. Drizzle with butter and juices from pan. Bake 20 minutes until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender. While the chicken and vegetables are in the oven, warm the broth in a small pot over medium-low heat. Using skillet from chicken, add butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and mushrooms. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add orzo and black pepper. Stir and cook 2 minutes. Add white wine and cook until evaporated, about 1 minute. Add warm broth to orzo 2/3 cup at a time, stirring until liquid is absorbed. Repeat with remaining broth, waiting until last batch is absorbed before adding more. Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan. Serve in individual bowls with chicken and roasted vegetables atop mushroom orzo risotto. Find more ways to add mushrooms to meals at mushroomcouncil.com.

Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2022

Healthy diet, lifestyle can prevent strokes By Densie Webb Studies show you can reduce your stroke risk by 80% by eating a healthful diet and making healthy lifestyle changes. The risk for stroke increases with age, the incidence doubling with each decade after the age of 45. More than 70% of all strokes occur after the age of 65. Making healthy choices becomes even more important with each year that passes. In the U.S. Health Professionals study and the Nurses’ Health Study, poor lifestyle choices accounted for more than half of all strokes. Study participants who adhered to the five pillars of stroke prevention — did not smoke, had a body mass index of less than 25, took part in at least 30 minutes a day of moderate activity, consumed alcohol in moderation or not at all, and scored within the top 40% of a healthy diet score — had an 80% lower risk of stroke compared with

participants who followed none of those healthy diet and lifestyle measures. An analysis of 13 studies found that following a Mediterranean-style diet alone — characterized by high amounts of olive oil, nuts, fruits, vegetables and cereal; moderate amounts of fish and poultry; low consumption of dairy products, red and processed meat, and sweets; and low to moderate consumption of wine — was associated with a 30% reduced risk of having a stroke. Diet can reduce the risk of stroke in a variety of ways, including helping to lower blood pressure, lowering blood cholesterol and triglycerides (compounds that may clog arteries), preventing blood clots from forming, reducing inflammation, helping to regulate blood sugar, increasing the “good” bacteria in the colon, and aiding in weight management. Diet is a critical part of stroke prevention, regardless of age. Pairing a healthy and bal-

anced diet with the four other pillars of stroke prevention can significantly reduce your risk and protect your health against other disease conditions as well. According to the American Stroke Association, one in four stroke survivors will have a second stroke. Because the risk of having a

second stroke is high, following a healthy diet and lifestyle is the best approach for protecting your future health. Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition. © 2021 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Tuesdays

DIGITAL DROP IN

Do you have a technology question you need answered? Visit the second floor of the Southeast Anchor Library on Tuesdays between 2 and 3 p.m. You can learn, for instance, how to get library materials on your tablet, or how to use email and social media on your computer. The staff are unable to fix broken devices. For more information, visit bit.ly/SALDigitalDropIn or call (410) 396-1580.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

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JANUARY 2022 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Alcohol use is rising among older adults By Catherine Brown Recent studies have found that alcohol use among adults 60 and over has increased during the past 20 years, especially among women. The University of Michigan’s 2021 National Poll for Healthy Aging, for instance, found that 20% of older adults drank four times per week; 27% had at least six drinks on at least one occasion in the last year; and 7% reported experiencing alcohol-related blackouts. “As the Baby Boomer [population] ages, people in it are bringing higher levels of alcohol [use] with them,” Dr. George Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), said in an interview with the Beacon. According to a 2017 analysis from the

National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 20% of adults 60-64 and 11% of adults over 65 reported that they engaged in binge drinking. For men, binge drinking refers to consuming five or more drinks at a time at least once in the past month; for women, binge drinking is characterized as consuming four or more drinks at a time at least once in the past month. “As with adults as a whole, the gaps between men and women in alcohol use, including binge drinking, are narrowing for older drinkers,” Koob said.

Aging magnifies ill effects The increase in alcohol usage among older adults can be problematic, particularly because negative impacts develop

BEACON BITS

Mondays

MOTIVATION MONDAYS

Start your week with motivation from Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. This event takes place every Monday from 11 to 11:30 a.m. on the AFA’s Facebook page, bit.ly/FacebookAFA.

Ongoing

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY

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alongside — and can be magnified by — the changes that naturally occur because of the aging process. The following age-related issues make alcohol misuse more dangerous for older adults: —Higher blood alcohol concentration. Aging lowers the body’s tolerance for alcohol. “As we age, the amount of water in the body tends to decline,” Koob said. “Because alcohol is more concentrated in body fluids than in fat or muscle or bone, the reduction in body water leads to higher blood alcohol concentrations in older drinkers relative to same weight younger drinkers.” Alcohol also stays in the system longer for older adults. —Increased risk of falls. The risk of falls increases as people age, even more so when they drink alcohol. In addition, the odds of being injured in a fall are “higher for older adults who drink than those who do not,” Koob said. “The injuries sustained for falls while intoxicated tend to be more severe than injuries from falls that don’t involve alcohol.” —Negative impacts on the brain. During the aging process, the brain begins to shrink, leading to a decline in cognitive functioning and memory. But drinking alcohol reduces brain volume, too. When

those normal changes are combined with misuse of alcohol, the impacts on the brain are significant. —Health complications. Alcohol use contributes to or complicates other health issues often experienced by older adults, including diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and liver problems. —Interactions with medications. Alcohol interacts in potentially dangerous or even fatal ways with many medications and herbal remedies used by older adults, including aspirin, acetaminophen, sleeping pills, pain medication, and medication for anxiety and depression. Koob also pointed out that it can be more difficult to detect alcohol-related problems in older adults. “If someone is retired or living alone,” Koob said, “their alcohol use might not impact job performance or their ability to maintain social obligations.” Koob advises doctors to consult with older patients about how much, how often, when and why they drink and to discuss the potential impacts of alcohol usage. Read more about the risks of alcohol use among older adults on the NIAAA website: bit.ly/alcoholagingbrain. If you cannot control your drinking, be honest with your doctor and family. Visit baltimoreaa.org or call (410) 663-1922 for an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting near you.

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Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2022

Health Studies

INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Knee pain causing the blues? Study could help By Margaret Foster If your knees hurt, you’re not alone. About half of people over age 50 experience some kind of knee pain. But it’s more than just an achy knee; your mind is affected, too. In fact, researchers have found a connection between chronic knee pain and depression. According to a 2014 analysis of 16 studies published in a medical journal, “depression plays a significant role in knee pain.” A study is underway now at the University of Maryland to see if an FDA-approved drug, Cymbalta, could be a cure for both ailments. “Those who have knee osteoarthritis often experience great pain, and that pain can influence their mood. The main goal of this study is to help patients by treating both knee pain and mood problems by using a combination of exercise and medication,” Dr. Alan Rathbun, principal investigator, said in an email. You’re eligible for the 24-week clinical trial

if you’re over age 40, have knee osteoarthritis, and are experiencing symptoms of depression. Participants will complete a total of 11 visits to the Baltimore VA Medical Center and University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore. “In addition, we hope participants will attend as many as three supervised exercise training sessions per week during the six months of the study. These can be flexibly scheduled based upon the participant’s availability,” Rathbun said. The one-on-one exercise training sessions take place in the VA Annex building, also located in downtown Baltimore. The exercises are tailored to each person’s ability. Participants will be encouraged to walk for up to 50 minutes, three times a week, challenging themselves a bit more each training session. Gift cards, free parking, free Cymbalta, and free one-on-one supervised exercise training are part of the compensation package.

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But most of all, Rathbun pointed out, participants will be helping future generations — and maybe even themselves. “Participants will be contributing to scientific knowledge and helping patients with knee osteoarthritis live happy and healthier lives,” he said. “They may benefit from a decrease in

arthritis knee pain and experience improvements in mood. Participants may also learn long-term strategies to decrease their knee pain, improve their emotional health, and increase their daily physical activity levels.” For more information, call (443) 226-0349 or email DEKODE@som.umaryland.edu and mention the “DEKODE” study.

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JANUARY 2022 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2022

SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION

Makes a great gift!

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When a loved one requires memory care

COURTESY OF MAPLES OF STONELEIGH

By Mary Kane For Marylander Larry Barrett, the agonizing decision to find a memory care community for his wife, Martha, began more than 10 years ago. That’s when Larry first noticed that something was going on with Martha, then 60, a lawyer. She’d forget the name of a person she met the night before. On a trip to Louisville, Ky., where she grew up, she forgot the way to her childhood home. Larry persuaded Martha in 2010 to see a neurologist, who diagnosed her with mild cognitive impairment. In the years that followed, Martha’s condition progressed to Alzheimer’s. Larry tried to care for her himself, but things got complicated. He sold their house and moved them into a nearby apartment. But Martha began to wander. Once, when Larry was attending a support group for spouses of people with dementia, the apartment building’s front desk staff called to say they had found Martha disoriented. “It was reaching the point where she couldn’t be appropriately cared for at home,” said Larry. After a yearlong search, he found a nearby memory care community for Martha in 2017. The process took an emotional toll. “It’s one of the hardest decisions you can make in your life,” he said. Many family members of people with dementia face the same decision Larry Barrett did. They want a spouse or parent to get 24-hour, supportive care but also still enjoy some quality of life. It isn’t simple to find that kind of care, whether in a nursing home, assisted living, a continuing-care retirement community or a memory care unit. Loved ones also sometimes worry about stereotypes of long-term care, such as an elderly parent being left alone all day. These fears can induce guilt in family members.

Snow White, aka Jennie Slack, community liaison at Maples of Stoneleigh, wishes a resident and her grandson a happy Halloween at an event last October. The community says it tailors its memory care program to each individual, an example of the personcentered approach to care promoted by the Alzheimer’s Association and others.

fore entering long-term care, and to learn the person’s interests, routines and needs. A care community might use a resident’s previous occupation or interests to offer daily activities to look forward to. Perhaps a resident who loved gardening arranges flowers for the dining room each night. Or staff recognize that a resident who wakes at 4 a.m. every day had spent his life as a farmer, accustomed to rising early and having a strong cup of coffee. They adjust to his routine, instead of “correcting” his behavior and persuading him to go back to bed. “You live in their reality,” said Jennifer Slack, community liaison at Maples of Stoneleigh, a memory care facility in Towson.

munities by making sandwiches for the homeless or baking dog biscuits and visiting animals at the local shelter. “So many negative dementia behaviors in facilities in the past were related to people feeling like a prisoner, or just boredom and having no sense of purpose,” said Kim Butrum, Silverado’s senior vice president of clinical services. “But allowing a person to still feel like they make a difference is part of what makes you human. That doesn’t stop because you’re having trouble with language or your memory declined.” This view is supported by the Alzheimer’s Association, which last year released its recommendations for dementia care that call for a “holistic, person-centered approach to care” and “a positive approach” to supporting people with dementia and their caregivers. “I don’t want to minimize the challenges, because of course a dementia diagnosis is scary,” said Sheryl Zimmerman, co-director of the program on aging, disability and long-term care at the University

of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “But many assisted living and other providers know ways to offer quality services for people with dementia. In fact, years ago we didn’t use the words ‘quality of life’ and ‘dementia’ in the same sentence. But now we do.”

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Housing Options | Subscribe online! See how on p. 18

JANUARY 2022 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Remodeling trends to watch for in 2022 By Carol J. Alexander After spending most of their time at home for the last 21 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many homeowners are looking for ways to make their homes fit their new realities. Open floor plans are out; dedicated spaces for remote work and learning are in. Yards are being transformed into entertainment spaces, and walls are being repainted. At the same time, increased demand and safety concerns can make the remodeling process take much longer than before. Here are five trends to watch for this home-remodeling season: 1. A focus on dedicated spaces At the start of 2020, “the most requested design concept was open space,” said Jimmy Dollman, principal of Dollman Con-

struction in Roanoke, Virginia. “But now, we face a different set of design implications because everyone’s living conditions have changed.” Dollman noted that remote workers and learners need privacy and quiet. “A year ago, it was rare for one family member to work from home,” he said. “Now, [parents] and kids find it difficult to get work done because of the noise in the open design.” This year, expect to see homeowners spending less time knocking down walls to open up shared areas, and more time transforming spare rooms or nooks into dedicated spaces. That might mean adding a home office or home theater, for instance, or transforming a nook into a space for distancelearning. 2. Making room for home offices

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LIFE PLAN COMMUNITY

Oak Crest 1-800-333-5693 8820 Walther Boulevard Parkville, MD 21234 www.OakCrestCommunity.com Experience Vibrant Living at Oak Crest A warm, welcoming environment. Modern apartment homes with contemporary finishes. Resort-style amenities. Clubs and activities for engaged living. All of this and more awaits you at Oak Crest, a beautiful 87-acre senior community nestled in Baltimore County. You’ll enjoy maintenance-free living with a predictable Monthly Service Package that includes virtually all services. Our 90% Refundable Entrance Fee* provides peace of mind for you and your loved ones. And should you ever need them, advanced care options are available right on campus. We’d love to send you a free brochure and answer your questions. Please call 1-800-333-5693 today. *Carefully read the Residence and Care Agreement for the conditions that must be satisfied before the Provider is required to pay the entrance fee refund

To add home offices to residences, “homeowners aren’t adding square footage,” said Doug King, owner of King Contracting, a design-build firm in St. Petersburg, Florida. “Rather, they’re taking out rarely used closets, like in the hallway, and moving interior walls to make space.” And the home office trend isn’t going away anytime soon. “Even when the pandemic is over,” King said, “there’ll be a lot of people still working from home.” He also noted that, because of this trend, use of home technology is increasing as households install items such as ethernet cables for computer networks and Bluetooth speakers. 3. More outdoor living One cure for that cooped-up feeling is outdoor living areas. “People want their back yards to be their oasis,” King said. In his area, pools are the number-one thing being added to back yards. Outdoor kitchens and fire pits are the next most popular. Homeowners spending more time at home may also start to seek out remodeling projects that bring beautiful outdoor views inside — for instance, by installing larger windows or glass doors that let in more natural light. 4. Longer wait times Besides shifts in design trends, homeowners can expect a continued slowdown in the industry.

In some cases, safety concerns have changed how contractors and workers approach projects. Supply chain woes are also making it take longer, or in some cases to be nearly impossible, to obtain desired products. Getting permits can also take much longer than usual as demand increases and those who approve the permits adapt to new working conditions — for instance, working at home rather than in the office, or working with a limited staff. 5. Bold colors For homebound do-it-yourselfers looking for affordable ways to make rooms more welcoming this year, adding a colorful fresh coat of paint will likely be high on their list. A sign that bold colors and color combinations could be gaining favor: They featured prominently among Color of the Year winners for 2021 announced by brands including Sherwin Williams, Pantone and Benjamin Moore. Sherwin Williams selected Urbane Bronze (a dark brownish-gray), for instance. Benjamin Moore selected an Aegean Teal (a blue-green color). Pantone selected a color duo: Ultimate Gray and Illuminating (a gray tone alongside a bright yellow color). For homeowners, painting walls in striking colors like these could be an appealing low-cost way to add depth, excitement and personality to a room. —AP/NerdWallet

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

FREE MONEY MANAGEMENT HELP

Do you need help managing debt or unplanned expenses? Could you use help setting up a budget, building your savings or tracking your financial goals? AARP offers free resources at moneymap.aarp.org.

Ongoing

JOB SEEKER ASSISTANCE

If you need help finding a job and are unable to visit one of Baltimore’s career centers for an appointment, you can fill out an assistance request form to be contacted and connected to services. Visit bit.ly/JobSeekerRequest, choose your location, and fill in the required information.

Jan. 9

FREE WRITING WORKSHOP

The National Cathedral hosts a free Zoom reflective writing workshop with playwright, director and teaching artist Mary Hall Surface on Sun., Jan. 9 at 4 p.m. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/NCDCReflectiveWriting. Call (202) 537-6200 with questions.

Jan. 5+

GOOD COMPANY

If you’d like to enjoy engaging conversation, join a free virtual gettogether with other adults 55+ on the first and third Wednesday of every month from noon to 1 p.m. For more information about this program, hosted by Jewish Community Services, visit bit.ly/GoodCompanyJCS or call Rozi Rice at (410) 843-7325.

Jan. 17

TU B’SHVAT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

The Edlavitch DCJCC hosts a free online program with Interfaith Power and Light and the Jewish Earth Alliance to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Tu B’shvat through the lens of our responsibility to protect our planet. Mon., Jan. 17 from 7 to 8 p.m. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/DCJCCCelebration. Call (202) 518-9400 with questions.

Makes a great gift! | Housing Options

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2022

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How to choose a remodeling contractor sional is that he or she typically knows and understands the local building codes and permit requirements for your town or city. Building codes can vary considerably from each jurisdiction and are known to change from year to year. Most structural work or footprint expansions require permits. 3. Check for licenses and insurance Many, but not all, states require contractors to be licensed, bonded and insured. Contact your state or local licensing agencies to ensure the contractor you’re considering meets all requirements. Most states require a contractor to carry worker’s compensation, property damage and personal liability insurance. Ask for copies of their licenses and insurance to make sure it is current. 4. Check for violations and complaints Check with your Consumer Affairs Office and your local chapter of the Better Business Bureau to ensure there are no complaints on record for the contractors you’re considering. You can also search for reviews online and verify they are members of reputable trade organizations that promote professional excellence, such as NARI. 5. Compare apples to apples If you solicit estimates from more than one contractor, be sure they are working

PHOTO COURTESY OF FAMILY FEATURES

By Family Features When planning a potential home remodeling project, the list of decisions to make may feel nearly endless. Ultimately, you may find the most important decision is choosing a trustworthy team of professionals to complete the job. For example, an organization like the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) provides homeowners with helpful ways to find qualified, professional remodelers and contractors. These seven tips can help guide you through the selection process and assist you in making an informed decision that best suits your needs: 1. Look local Local remodelers have a vested interest in performing quality work that satisfies their customers in order for their business to survive. That’s why word-of-mouth referrals can be especially helpful in finding options near you. Ask relatives, friends, neighbors and business colleagues who live nearby about projects they’ve completed and the professionals they’ve used. Other resources may include people you know in the local home industry, such as lenders, real estate agents and material suppliers. 2. Follow building codes Another advantage to hiring a local profes-

off the same scope and quality of work. Discuss variations in prices and beware of any estimate that is substantially lower than the others. 6. Be informed A good remodeling professional educates clients on green remodeling, universal design, lead safety, new products, building techniques and trends. Make sure you’re hiring someone who

has knowledge and expertise relevant to the remodeling industry, as well as the appropriate certifications and experience to complete the job. 7. Check references Don’t rely on a contractor’s personality or demeanor. If a professional does not offer references, ask for them — and follow up with a phone call. Ask if you can make a site visit to see their workmanship.

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Memory care From page B-1 So if a loved one is agitated or begins to wander, staff will look to address the underlying cause, rather than turning first to medication or restrictions. At Maples of Stoneleigh, staffers work to keep residents engaged, Slack said, and even allow them to wander safely. “We give them things that can entertain them or keep them busy, but for those who want to wander, it’s secure. There’s somebody to wander with them,” Slack said. Each resident has a GPS bracelet that can even notify staff if a patient falls out of bed.

JANUARY 2022 — BALTIMORE BEACON

“Just engaging is the huge thing, and music does the trick. If we start singing, they always remember those [old songs].”

Develop a plan Try to plan ahead as soon as a loved one is diagnosed with dementia. You want to ensure his or her wishes are clear about how to be cared for as the disease progresses. Together, you and your loved one can fill out a dementia directive, which outlines your loved one’s preferences for care. Memory care is typically a care community where staff has specialized dementia training, care or programming. Some memory care units are standalone units, while others

are part of a larger assisted living, nursing home or continuing-care community. About 42% of residents in assisted-living communities have Alzheimer’s or other dementias, and 61% of nursing-home residents have moderate or severe cognitive impairment. Memory care has become a bigger component of long-term care, although there is no hard data that its care produces better outcomes, Zimmerman said. Regulations for memory care vary depending on the setting and the state that oversees the facility. Be sure to ask a prospective community exactly what it provides that makes it “memory care.” Most assisted living and memory care units are private pay. Costs in the Baltimore area average about $60,000 per year, and can reach nearly $100,000. Nursing homes in this area cost $120,000 or more per year for a private room. But the most expensive community isn’t necessarily the best. You’ll also want to consider convenience and the programs offered. To find a nursing home, use Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare tool. For personal assistance in selecting a community, you can hire an aging life care professional (formerly known as a geriatric care manager) to help evaluate a variety of communities and advise you on the best ones for your needs.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions Larry Barrett created a list of seven communities that met his criteria, which included commuting distance and cost. As his visits progressed, he narrowed his list. At one community, despite repeated requests to talk to staff, he could never meet with anyone except the marketing manager. “That was a red flag,” he said. Look behind the tour. Drop in unannounced on weekends or at mealtime. If a community has a problem with that, that’s also a warning sign. Talk to the life enrichment or activities team. Find out how they include meaning-

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ful activities in the daily life of the community, and look for creative approaches beyond an arts and crafts table or a game room. Scout out the mood of the place. Do the staff smile? Do residents look happy? Do they have a family council whose members (relatives of residents) share experiences with families of prospective residents? If a community won’t let you talk to other families, consider it a red flag. Also, ask how often you’ll meet with direct care and other staff. Barrett said he paid close attention to the ratio of hands-on staffers to residents, and “the skill and empathy” those staffers displayed in regular interactions with residents. “Once I had my short list, I revisited those places and spent time just observing,” he said. Judge whether a community feels like a home rather than an institution. He said he also realized that what might have been appealing to him — a nice lobby or a large room — wasn’t necessarily what Martha needed. More important for her was the help she’d get for activities of daily life and whether she felt comfortable in her new community. After a loved one moves in, be an advocate, visiting often and consulting staff. And care for yourself as well. Barrett advised joining a support group for family members. He said that made his yearlong search for a care community much less lonely. Before picking a facility, consider talking to your local long-term care ombudsman. For Baltimore City, call (410) 396-3144; for Baltimore County, call (410) 887-4200. For more examples of person-centered care, watch a documentary by Dementia Action Alliance, an advocacy group, at daanow.org/revolutionizing-dementia-care. This article was written with the support of a journalism fellowship from the Gerontological Society of America, Journalists Network on Generations and Silver Century Foundation. Margaret Foster contributed to this article. © The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Better understanding leads to better care

Get your FREE brochure! Call 1-800-590-4091 or visit SeniorLivingMaryland.com.

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Document your loved one’s story, said Kirsten Jacobs, director of dementia and wellness education for LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services. Create a memory book — a simple binder that holds a photo or memento on each page with a short description — that can be used to prompt connections and conversation with your relative. Or build a memory box, with photos and treasured items, to be placed outside a loved one’s door in a care community. It can help the resident recognize their room. You also can hire companies to work with you to produce videos, personal

histories and other background information, such as LifeBio or MemoryWell. Sharing these stories with staff can lead to better care and address staff turnover problems by providing a way to inform caregivers and boost their ability to communicate with your loved one. In a memory care unit in Iowa, for instance, a resident became upset whenever the loud bell went off for mealtimes. Staff noticed from his online MemoryWell profile that he’d been a volunteer firefighter. The bell triggered him to think there was a fire and he had to evacuate everyone. The community switched to gentler chimes, and he was no longer upset. —Mary Kane

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Two lucky winners will win tickets for 2 to Rocky, the Musical at Toby’s Dinner Theatre. Complete and return the form below to enter the drawing.

FREE HOUSING AND OTHER INFORMATION For free information from advertisers in this special section, check off those that interest you and mail this coupon to the Beacon. All coupons received by January 28 will be entered into a random drawing for tickets. You need not request advertiser info to win.

ACCESSIBILITY & HOME REMODELING ❑ EAC Interior Design . . . . . . .B-3

FOOD SECURITY ❑ Meals on Wheels . . . . . . . . .B-6

HOME SUPPORT SERVICES ❑ Keswick Community for Life . .B-7

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❑ Catholic Charities Senior Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-7 ❑ Charlestown/Erickson . .B-2, B-4 ❑ Christ Church Harbor Apts . .B-4 ❑ Oak Crest/Erickson . . . .B-2, B-4 ❑ Pickersgill . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-3 ❑ Weinberg Gardens . . . . . . . .B-8 ❑ Weinberg House . . . . . . . . . .B-8 ❑ Weinberg Manhattan Park . .B-8 ❑ Weinberg Manor East . . . . . .B-8 ❑ Weinberg Manor South . . . . .B-8 ❑ Weinberg Manor West . . . . . .B-8

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Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this entire coupon to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227. You may return the free info form on page 5 together with this coupon. Name __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________E-mail_______________________________________________ City _______________________________________________________ State ______________________ Zip ____________________ Phone _____________________________________________________

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JANUARY 2022 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Options to pay for long-term care needs By Samuel V. Gaeta, CFP® Long-term care insurance helps pay for the cost of home healthcare or a nursing home. It also covers extended illness or disability. While long-term care (LTC) coverage can be great for retirees, premiums have begun to rise in recent years, making it a difficult expense for those on a limited income. So, how do you determine the best way to prepare for long-term care costs in retirement? Here are two factors you

should consider: Would you prefer a long-term care facility or in-home care? Before you determine what kind of insurance you want, you need to determine how much LTC will likely cost. A good first step is identifying where you want to live. The average price to live in a nursing home in our region of the county is more than $140,000 a year ($385 a day) in a semi-private room and $157,000 ($430 a day) in a private room, according to Genworth. By 2030, those costs are projected

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE The American Red Cross is experiencing its lowest blood supply

in over a decade. If you are eligible, please consider donating blood or platelets. Visit RedCrossBlood.org for more information and donation locations.

Jan.

DROP-IN ART-MAKING Bring the grandkids to the Walters Art Museum on Saturdays or

Sundays during January for free art-making activities that can be done in the museum or taken home. For more information, visit bit.ly/WaltersArtmaking or call (410) 547-9000.

to be more. Tour the LTC facilities in your area to see how much they cost and determine whether you can envision living there. What if you want to live in your own home? You can maintain that comfort and familiarity by hiring someone to come to your house. The average price of in-home care in our region is $55,200 per year. The average price of home healthcare is slightly higher at $56,700 per year. Should you choose traditional longterm care insurance or a hybrid plan? Once you decide where you want to live, the next step is to determine whether you can self-insure the cost — essentially figuring out whether you can earmark some of your current assets to pay for these longterm care expenses if needed. I recommend thinking about this in a what-if context: “If I go into an LTC facility for ‘x’ years at ‘y’ cost, can I pay for this cost without it affecting my other retirement goals?” If the answer is yes, self-insurance is most likely going to be the most cost-effective and flexible solution to cover a possible long-term care expense. If the answer is no, but you have substantial liquid assets held outside of qualified retirement accounts, a hybrid LTC insurance policy might be an alternative solution.

These insurance policies are designed to provide LTC benefits. but use whole life insurance as the foundation. After you pay a single up-front premium, the policy pays a specified monthly benefit for LTC for a predetermined number of years. If you end up not needing LTC, or you decide to stop insuring the risk at any point, you would get your original premium back. Hybrid long-term care policies tend to have a more transparent cost structure and more flexibility than a traditional LTC policy. Also consider the likelihood of your rates rising during the life of your policy. A report in 2019 claims General Electric does not have enough funds to cover claims for its LTC insurance plans. As a result, the company plans to raise premiums by $1.7 billion over the next 10 years. Many companies are doing the same thing. In this case, if you are unable to pay your premium, your policy will lapse and you may get nothing back. I recommend talking to a Certified Financial Planner to determine the best option for you. Ed. Note: A public relations firm was paid to assist with media placement of this article. © 2021 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Tips for choosing a retirement location of America’s 100 Best Places to Retire, which looks at a range of destinations, and groups some in categories like best college towns, mountain towns, undiscovered towns and main street towns. Once you find a few areas that interest you, your next step is to research them. Here are some important issues to investigate: Dear Retiring, Cost of living: Can you afSAVVY SENIOR If you’re interested in reloford to live comfortably in the cating when you retire, like By Jim Miller location where you want to remillions of other Boomers, tire? Numbeo.com and Bestthere are a wide variety of books and on- Places.net offer tools to compare the cost line resources that can help you research of living from your current location to and find a new location that meet your where you would like to move. They comwants, needs and budget. pare housing costs, food, utilities, transIf you’re at the beginning of your search, portation and more. a good starting point is to take the “Find Taxes: Some states are more tax-friendYour Best Place” retirement quiz at Sper- ly than others. If you’re planning to move to ling’s Best Places (BestPlaces.net/fybp). another state, Kiplinger’s has a tax guide This free quiz asks 10 questions about for retirees (at Kiplinger.com/links/reyour preferences, such as climate, recre- tireetaxmap) that lets you find and comation, community size and more. Then it pare taxes state-by-state. It covers income suggests possible destinations that match and sales taxes, taxes on retirement inyour answers. come, Social Security benefits taxes, propMarketWatch also has a new matchmak- erty taxes, and inheritance and estate ing tool called “Where’s the best place for taxes. me to retire?” at MarketWatch.com/graphCrime rate: To evaluate how safe a ics/best-place-to-retire. community or area is, websites like AreaMedia resources like U.S. News & World Vibes.com provide crime data for certain loReport, Kiplinger’s, Forbes and Money mag- calities. azine also publish “best places to retire” Climate: To research the climate in the lists on their websites each year. areas you’re interested in moving, SperAnd be sure you check out Milken’s ling’s Best Places is again a great resource “Best Cities for Successful Aging” (Suc- that offers a climate/weather comparison cessfulAging.MilkenInstitute.org), which tool at BestPlaces.net/climate. ranks 381 U.S. metropolitan areas based Healthcare: Does the area where you on factors that are important to older want to relocate have easy access to good adults. healthcare? To locate and research doctors You should also consider getting a copy and hospitals in a new area, use Medicare’s Dear Savvy Senior, My husband and I will both be retiring in a few years and are interested in relocating to a warmer climate, but could use some help. What resources can you recommend for locating and researching good places to retire in the U.S.? —Retiring at 65

compare tool at Medicare.gov/care-compare. Also see Healthgrades.com, which provides detailed information on U.S. hospitals and doctors. Transportation: If you plan to travel much, or expect frequent visits from your kids or grandkids, convenient access to an airport or train station is a nice advantage. You should also investigate alternative transportation options, since most retirees give up driving in their 80s. To do this, visit RidesInSight.org, a free website with information about senior transportation options in local communities throughout the U.S. [Ed. Note: Many communities have established neighborhood “villages,” which offer rides and other services to older resident members.]

Once you have narrowed your choices down to two or three, spend a couple weeks in each location at different times of the year so you can get a feel for the seasonal weather changes, and so you can carefully weigh the pros and cons of living there. You may find that you like the area more as a vacation spot than as a year-round residence. It’s also a good idea to rent for a year before buying a home or making a commitment to a retirement community. Send your questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2022

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Travel

Leisure &

Airport tips for a calmer trip: Consider an airport lounge, and sign up for TSA Pre-Check to shorten the security line. See story on page 13.

Asheville, N. Carolina: Artsy and eclectic

Start with art Asheville is known as an epicenter of art in the South, with more than 25 art galleries downtown alone. Past and present merge in Woolworth

Walk, a 1938 F. W. Woolworth store reborn in 2001 as a showcase for 170 local artists, with everything from pottery to photography to jewelry for sale. A reconstructed 1950s soda fountain offers original menu items, such as egg creams, ice cream sodas and club sandwiches. A mile and a half from downtown Asheville, the River Arts District stretches along the French Broad River, where once churning mills now house more than 200 artist studios. A multi-million-dollar redevelopment project completed last spring includes a two-mile greenway along the river, with a paved sidewalk and bike lanes dotted with public art. Here the North Carolina Glass Center offers free glassblowing demonstrations, as well as walk-in sessions to create your own glass ornament, paperweight or cup. The Wedge Studios, housed in a brick former warehouse, is comprised of three stories of painters, illustrators, sculptors and folk artists. If you work up a thirst, the first floor is the Wedge Brewing Company, with more than a dozen beers to choose from. Asheville’s art extends to its architecture. The city is home to the most Art Deco style buildings in the Southeast outside of Miami. Built in this style of the 1920s and 30s are City Hall, with its fanciful pink and

PHOTO BY KEVIN RUCK/SHUTTERSTOCK

By Barbara Ruben Thomas Wolfe set his autobiographical novel Look Homeward, Angel in the sprawling Victorian boarding house he grew up in a century ago in Asheville. Today, legions of tourists look toward this small western North Carolina city for its thriving farm-to-table restaurant scene, dozens of art galleries and quirky vibe. Dubbed the Paris of the South, the city of 93,000 residents surrounded by the dusky folds of the Blue Ridge Mountains routinely lands on numerous best travel destination lists. In 2021, USA Today named it one of 10 “beautiful North American mountain destinations you need to see.” Travelocity found it to be the top spot for socially distanced, family-friendly weekend getaways this year as well. And in July, Money magazine declared Asheville one of the best cities in the world for beer drinkers, with the most breweries per capita in the U.S. At 470 miles from downtown Washington, Asheville is a day’s drive away, and several airlines offer non-stop flights.

With an artsy vibe and a vibrant live music scene, the historic city of Asheville, N.C., is home to one of the largest collections of Art Deco buildings in the Southeast. While you’re there, drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway or hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains nearby.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BILTMORE COMPANY

green tiled octagonal roof, and the S&W Cafeteria Building, with soaring arched windows topped with terra cotta and blue tiles. Today, the building houses a newly created food hall with offerings from a number of local chefs. Downtown residential streets in the Montford Area Historic District are lined with early 20th-century bungalows and Arts & Crafts style houses, along with 19thcentury Victorians. Some have been turned into bed-and-breakfast inns. Thomas Wolfe’s yellow boyhood home is located downtown and is open for tours. His novel presented a realistic and not always positive portrayal of the town and its residents. Though names were changed (the city was called Altamont), the uproar caused the 1929 book to be banned by the local library. Wolfe’s mother owned the house, which she operated as a boarding house, and she and Wolfe lived among the 19 boarders for about 10 years.

Holiday opulence The public is welcome to tour George Vanderbilt’s 250-room French Renaissance mansion, the Biltmore, completed in 1895. Holiday decorations enliven the 35-bedroom chateau, “America’s largest home,” until Jan. 9, 2022. But take note: tickets are pricey.

Asheville’s most famous architectural spectacle by far is Biltmore, America’s largest home. It’s decked out for the holidays starting in November each year. The estate sprawls across 8,000 acres

about six miles from downtown Asheville. Built by mega-millionaire George Vanderbilt in the 1890s, the castle-like building features 250 rooms, including 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces. Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, created the estate’s numerous gardens, including a conservatory and a rose garden featuring more than 250 varieties. In the spring, the gardens bloom with one of the largest azalea collections in the country. This time of year, a holiday theme blooms across the estate, which also includes hotels and stores. In all, there are more than 100 decorated trees, 10,000 ornaments, and 100,000 twinkling lights. The house, with a 35-foot Fraser fir in the banquet hall and 1,000 poinsettias, opens in the evening for candlelight tours, with lit fireplaces and live music. Biltmore Christmas decorations are on display through Jan. 9. You don’t have to be a millionaire to enjoy Biltmore, but this opulence doesn’t come cheap. Evening holiday tickets start at $119; daytime at $106. Both include audio tours. Tickets at non-holiday times start at $76. There are no senior discounts. See ASHEVILLE page 12

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Asheville From page 11

A local food mecca If you work up an appetite from exploring, Asheville is home to more than 250 independent restaurants and no fewer than 14 farmers markets. Restaurants offer far more than Southern cooking, focusing on fresh, local ingre-

JANUARY 2022 — BALTIMORE BEACON

dients, including such Appalachian traditional produce as ramps (wild onions), serviceberries (dark purple berries that grow on trees, melding the taste of blueberry and strawberry), apples and wild mushrooms. Meat is often sourced from local farms, and goat and cow cheeses from nearby dairies. Here are few of the standouts: The Market Place features American farm-to-table

BEACON BITS

Jan. 15+

WINTER BEAD & JEWELRY SHOW

The 14th annual winter bead and jewelry show takes place Sat., Jan. 15 and Sun., Jan. 16 in the Main Exhibition Hall at 2210 Fairgrounds Road in West Friendship. For more information, visit bit.ly/BaltBeadShow.

Jan. 17

MLK DAY

Join the American Visionary Art Museum for MLK Dare to Dream Day 2022. Activities take place throughout the day on Mon., Jan. 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To reserve free tickets, visit bit.ly/DaretoDream22.

cuisine, leaning heavily on meat dishes with local produce that range from $18 to $40. It’s open for dinner only on weekdays, and for brunch and dinner on Saturdays and Sundays. A vegetarian option is the Laughing Seed Café, with salads, sandwiches and pizzas; many have vegan and gluten-free options. Most items are $15 to $18. To fully appreciate Asheville’s stellar views, enjoy the sunset while dining at one of the city’s many rooftop restaurants. One option is the Montford rooftop bar that tops the DoubleTree Hotel at the edge of downtown. In addition to a variety of drinks, it offers a selection of flatbreads, salads and desserts that can be enjoyed alongside a 180-degree view of the mountains that grow a deeper blue as the sun slowly sinks behind their ridges.

If you go Buncombe County, where Asheville is located, currently requires masks to be

ENTERPRISE RESIDENTIAL MOST COMMUNITIES ARE 62 AND BETTER ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.)

The Greens at Hammonds Lane: 410-636-1141 Park View at Furnace Branch: 410-761-4150 Park View at Severna Park: 410-544-3411

Park View at Rosedale: 410-866-1886 Park View at Taylor: 410-663-0363 Park View at Towson: 410-828-7185 Park View at Woodlawn: 410-281-1120

BALTIMORE CITY Ednor Apartments I: 410-243-0180 Ednor Apartments II: 410-243-4301 The Greens at Irvington Mews: 410-644-4487 Park Heights Place: 410-578-3445 Park View at Ashland Terrace: 410-276-6440 Park View at Coldspring: 410-542-4400

EASTERN SHORE Park View at Easton: 410-770-3070

HARFORD COUNTY Park View at Bel Air: 410-893-0064 Park View at Box Hill: 410-515-6115

HOWARD COUNTY

BALTIMORE COUNTY Cove Point Apartments I: 410-288-2344 Cove Point Apartments II: 410-288-1660 Evergreen Senior Apartments: 410-780-4888 The Greens at English Consul: 410-789-3000 The Greens at Liberty Road: 410-655-1100 The Greens at Logan Field: 410-288-2000 The Greens at Rolling Road: 410-744-9988 Park View at Catonsville: 410-719-9464 Park View at Dundalk: 410-288-5483 • 55 & Better Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665 Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375 Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673

Park View at Colonial Landing: 410-796-4399 Park View at Columbia: 410-381-1118 Park View at Ellicott City: 410-203-9501 Park View at Ellicott City II: 410-203-2096 Park View at Emerson: 301-483-3322 Park View at Snowden River: 410-290-0384

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY Park View at Bladensburg: 301-699-9785 • 55 & Better Park View at Laurel: 301-490-1526 Park View at Laurel II: 301-490-9730

Call the community of interest to you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour.

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worn at all public indoor locations. Some Asheville businesses may require proof of vaccination, particularly restaurants that offer indoor dining. Nonstop round-trip flights on Delta start at $189 from BWI in January. Nofrills Allegiant airline makes nonstop trips from BWI several days a week for $136 round-trip. The Blue Ridge mountains offer a beautiful backdrop for Asheville. If you can’t get enough of their misty, gentle peaks, consider driving one way on the Blue Ridge Parkway, often cited as one of America’s most beautiful drives. It connects to Skyline Drive, which can be accessed in Shenandoah National Park and has a few exits in Asheville. But beware that the twists and turns of the parkway and the 45-mile-perhour speed limit make this a two-day trip. And because Asheville is nestled in the mountains, expect some snow this time of year. The annual average is 10 inches, but like Maryland and Virginia, every few years it gets a year’s worth in just one storm, sometimes in December. Asheville has a variety of hotels and B&Bs. While there are somewhat cheaper chain hotels a couple miles from the center of the city, consider staying downtown so you can walk to many restaurants and galleries. There’s not a lot of street parking downtown, but there are plenty of garages. DoubleTree prices start at $154 per night. If you’re looking for luxury with historic ambience, the Omni Grove Park Inn, built of massive granite stones in 1912, fits the bill. Guests have included presidents ranging from Franklin Roosevelt to Barack Obama as well as such varied stars as Michael Jordan, John Denver and Harry Houdini. The Grove Park Inn has an annual national gingerbread house competition. Room rates start at $464/night. Tourist information is available at exploreasheville.com and romanticasheville.com.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 12+

GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRAND CHILDREN

Carroll County hosts a virtual support group for grandparents raising grandchildren on the second Wednesday of each month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. To register and receive a meeting link, contact Mary Jane Overby at moverby@carrollcountymd.gov.

Feb. 1+

PET BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP

The Baltimore Humane Society hosts a free support group for anyone whose pet has died, has been lost or is ailing. The support group takes place the first Tuesday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. and is led by a bereavement counselor. For more information, visit bit.ly/BmoreHumaneSupport. RSVP by calling (410) 833-8848, ext. 219 or emailing cemetery@bmorehumane.org.

Makes a great gift! | Leisure & Travel

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2022

Tips for taming the most hostile airport In your day-to-day life, you seldom en- lines at a counter. Use it. counter an environment as hostile as that Lounges. Unless you’re on a business of a big airport. Even if your or first-class ticket, lounge achome airport is, like mine, cess isn’t free; typically, annusmall and friendly, you’ll likeal programs cost $400 or ly encounter big-field hostility more, and one-time access at your destination, connectcan cost from $25 to $50. But ing point, or both. that fee includes access to a Fortunately, you can help comfortable setting with good avoid some of the worst hostiliWi-Fi, attractive meal/snack ties with a little forethought — spread, and as much as you and usually a few extra bucks. want to drink. Parking. If you plan to Still, a lounge program is park your car at your home TRAVEL TIPS one of the several hassle-reairport for the duration of By Ed Perkins ducing possibilities priced to your trip, consider an indemake more sense to a frependent airport parking facility. They’re quent flyer than a once-or-twice a year usually cheaper than long-term parking at leisure traveler. the airport’s lots, and they generally offer If you’re serious about an annual prosmoother transport to/from the terminal. gram, consider one of the premium credit Check Airport Parking Reservations (air- cards that include a lounge program as one portparkingreservations.com) or The Park- of several important benefits. AmEx Plating Spot (theparkingspot.com) to see what’s inum ($695 per year) and Chase Sapphire available at your airport. Preferred ($550 per year) offer the widest Baggage check. Where available, curb- range of lounge options. A primary member side baggage check can help you avoid a can take up to two guests at no extra charge. long schlep to the check-in counter and long Occasional travelers should check lines when you get there. If it’s available, the Lounge Buddy (loungebuddy.com) for sincost — typically $1 to $3 per bag — is often a gle-use passes to a lounge at any airport good value. you visit. Prices start at $25 and may inCheck-in. These days, most airlines clude guests. allow you to check in online and avoid TSA. As with lounges, the two pro-

grams that do most to ease the hassle of security screening are priced to be more attractive to road warriors than occasional travelers. At most big airports, security puts you through two different choke points: • Clear, run by a private company, helps you bypass the first choke point: screening your boarding pass and ID to get into the actual screening area. This is usually the worst security line. Clear provides an alternate — and much faster — channel to get into the screening area. It’s available at 50 large U.S. airports and makes sense mainly to travelers who usually start their trips at one of those airports. It costs $179 per year, with up to three additional family members at $55 a year. An extensive enrollment process — including eye scan and fingerprinting — verifies your identity. Visit clearme.com for details. • Pre-Check, run by the government’s TSA, [generally puts you at the head of the line for the document ID review, and then] puts you in what is usually a fast lane through security. (No need to take off

shoes, take out laptops, etc.) Enrollment costs $85 for five years and requires a personal verification interview. Pre-Check works through airlines: Once you have a “trusted traveler” number, you submit it to each airline you fly, and when you actually take a trip, a pre-check entry OK is printed on your boarding pass. If you travel outside the U.S., you may want to enroll in Global Entry, a program that allows you to bypass what are often extremely long lines at incoming customs and immigration stations. It costs $100 per year (and includes Pre-Check). It also requires an enrollment interview and a trusted traveler number. Check cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry for details. Several premium cards cover the cost of Global Entry or Pre-check. AmEx Platinum credits the entire cost of Clear, and several cards credit part of the cost. Send email to Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net or check out his rail travel website at rail-guru.com. © 2021 Ed Perkins. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2022

Makes a great gift!

PHOTO BY ASR

Style Arts &

Last July, Charlotte Hardy, above, lit the restored sign at her longtime employer, Domino Sugar. Our cover story continues on page 16.

Memoir’s chapters chart a life in music

An immigrant’s beginning Gohn spent his early years in London and Vienna. He and his family arrived in the U.S. in 1953 aboard the infamous (and then new) SS Andrea Doria. As immigrants, they arrived “having not heard of Howdy Doody, or Davy Crockett or baseball,” he recalled. He grew up in Ann Arbor, and during those years worked on a Ford Motors assembly line and drove a Mr. Softee (ice cream) truck. He has spent the majority of

his adult life in Baltimore. He earned his law degree and practiced law for nearly four decades before retiring in 2018. For 14 of those years, he wrote a column for the Maryland Daily Record. Gohn also holds a doctorate in English literature and has published a number of scholarly works, including one about a famous British novelist, Kingsley Amis: A Checklist. Since retiring, he has written plays and reviews of local productions. Each of the 84 chapters of Gohn’s new book covers “a slice of my life and at least one song. It does follow my life chronologically, from toddlerhood to pandemic,” he said.

COURTESY OF JACK GOHN

By Dan Collins Whether it’s the song that played when you fell in love, a trumpet fanfare that evokes images of gridiron glory, or a silly rhyme that takes you back to grammar school days, “The music evokes the moments, and the moments evoke the music.” So says Baltimore author Jack Gohn in his new book, What I Was Listening to When: A Memoir Set to Music. The book, a compilation of short essays, “started with a playlist,” said Gohn, 72, a retired lawyer. “I was compiling songs that were important to me at pivotal moments of my life, and [they] reminded me of those moments because of some connection to them,” he said. “I realized they charted the history of my emotional and intellectual life, and I just started writing them down in a blog. I posted what became chapters, one by one over the years, 2009 to 2017, and realized I had a book of sorts.”

Early recollections The first record Gohn recalls listening to was a story by Margaret Wise Brown, the acclaimed children’s book writer known for Goodnight Moon. As Gohn entered his teen years, he began a journey typical of adolescence: the transition from one’s parents’ music to his own. For Gohn, the song that marked this passage was Burt Bacharach’s “Walk on By” sung by Dionne Warwick. “It was the first song from the era when I suddenly realized that there’s more out there than what my parents introduced me to,” he said. The broadening of his worldview would bring Gohn to embrace music from Italy, Turkey, Argentina and Spain — from pop

More than 10 years ago, Jack Gohn started writing a blog about songs that were important to him at various stages of his life. The former lawyer with an English lit doctorate recently collected dozens of those short articles and published them as a memoir.

to folk to showtunes. “There are chapters in my book about where I turned to music to make sense of things,” Gohn said. For instance, the Beat-

les songs provided insight during college and the Vietnam War years, and a Dixie See MUSIC MEMOIR, page 17

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Domino Sugar From page 1 “Many employees have been here more than 40 years,” O’Malley said. “It’s unusual in the workplace these days, but not unusual for our company.”

A sign of the times One of those loyal employees is Charlotte Hardy, 74, who has worked at Domino Sugar since February 1969. “I’ve never seen a reason to leave,” said Hardy, now a laboratory analyst. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” When it came time to re-light the famous sign after a $2 million repair project, Domino officials chose Hardy to do the honors. “I was glad that they asked me. I’m proud of that sign,” Hardy said. “I see it every morning when I get in, a little before 6:00.” Presiding atop the refinery since 1951, the old sign had been showing its age. “Neon in that environment has always been challenging. High winds would knock the sign down and break it. Brackish air, wind whipping by — it’s a tough place to keep a sign,” said Nicholas Redding, executive director of Preservation Maryland.

FROM PAGE 18 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

JANUARY 2022 — BALTIMORE BEACON

So, the old sign was dismantled in March, and a $2 million LED-light replacement project began. During the four-month renovation, O’Malley invited Redding to the roof for a closeup view of the iconic sign. “That was a $2 million project, which really speaks to the seriousness of which they approach preservation and their story,” Redding said. “They made sure it was the same in every single way,” he said. “They maintain that campus in a way that still speaks to their importance in the community.”

Baltimore Museum of Industry, so the museum could raise money for its operations. At $125 each, the half-dollar-sized keepsakes proved to be popular. “It was a tremendous success. We sold out very quickly,” said Claire Mullins, director of marketing at the museum, which displays the sign’s five-foot dot over the “i” as well as other memorabilia from the refinery. “To have this fundraiser from Domino was really a gift,” Mullins said. “They are great neighbors.”

Sustainability a priority Raising money for charity Domino’s owner, American Sugar Refinery (ASR), donated some of the letters to Second Chance Baltimore, a workforce development nonprofit. Second Chance’s warehouse already holds letters from dismantled signs from the Ravens stadium and Bel Loc Diner. The nonprofit plans to sell them eventually. However, one of the letters in the sign was too far gone to be restored, so ASR punched circles in the “D” and distributed medallions to many of its 500 employees. With extra medallions to spare, the company donated the rest to its neighbor, the

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD F I R S D R A C R A D A L W O R D A W E S I N S S E T H T R I E T R F O U R R U T U N I T I C O N T E N T

T W O O R E S U O N T F R E A D I N D A P L E T I N I P A A R L A

O R D D O R D G E U S H E S O Y T S S C S E A T A L A T E R R Y S E A S T

E T E S

W I D O W

A B U T M O N O P I T A L I S R E E T A R I M O N D A R E K E A D E A R O R D S M I T C H N A I R O R D S

ASR tries to make a positive impact on the environment as well. “We’re always looking for ways to be more sustainable at our facility,” spokesman O’Malley said. Solar panels line the roof of one building, and the company treats stormwater before it reaches Baltimore Harbor, he said. In the past four years, the company has also started hosting oysters, each of which can filter 50 gallons of water a day. Working with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, employees place oysters near the company’s Patapsco River dock in September. They return every two weeks to clean off the oysters’ shells. Then, in April or May, they’re relocated to an oyster sanctuary reef near Key Bridge. “We have a great old dock there on our prop that we don’t use for anything else. We figured it made sense. The water is

deep enough there, and the salinity is high enough for oysters to grow,” O’Malley said. “The hope is they grow large enough where they can sustain themselves and continue cleaning the water of the Patapsco.”

Hardworking and proud of it More than good neighbors and good stewards of its history and the environment, Domino remains an active, successful refinery. “Domino really helps to continue the city’s reputation as a hardworking bluecollar town,” Mullins said. “It’s really important to remember that manufacturing still exists and is vital to the city.” During the busy holiday season, from October to January, the refinery operates around the clock, O’Malley said. To make enough sugar for America’s bakers, the refinery operates 24 hours a day on three shifts. Gone are McCormick & Company’s spice factory and PepsiCo, which once bordered the Inner Harbor, but Domino Sugar chugs on, its red sign illuminating the Patapsco River far below. “A lot of people don’t realize that the refinery is more than just a pedestal for that sign,” O’Malley said. “It’s one of the few industries left. The sign is a beacon to travelers, and it’s a reminder that we’re still here going strong.” To see historic photographs of the Domino Sugar refinery in Baltimore, visit facebook.com/DominoSugarBaltimore.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 13+

SINATRA AND FRIENDS Enjoy the music of Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald with Tony DeSare and Capathia Jenkins and the Baltimore Symphony

Orchestra in this performance that takes place Thurs., Jan. 13 through Sun., Jan. 16. The concert is livestreamed on Fri., Jan. 14 at 8 p.m. Tickets for the in-person concert range from $25 to $90; the livestreamed event costs $9.99. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit my.bsomusic.org/events.

Makes a great gift! | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2022

Music memoir From page 15 Chicks song helped Gohn find his voice as a writer when he felt constrained and unable to express his true thoughts and ideas.

Challenges along memory lane Gohn hopes everyone who reads his memoir will “become particularly taken by tales of early love — mostly frustrated; ef for ts to get myself educated; the breakup of my first marriage; the joys of parenthood; coming to terms with the loss of parents; struggles with faith.” As one might imagine, revisiting the

highlights and tragedies of his life was a daunting experience for Gohn. “Emotionally, it was delightful, but sometimes hard. In writing about them, I relived these moments,” he said, noting how when his stepfather became irreversibly comatose, he found himself musing on Bacharach and Elvis Costello’s “In the Darkest Place.” Gohn didn’t rely solely on his own memory in developing his book; he spent considerable time researching, reviewing diaries and letters, poring over photo albums, and talking to friends and family. While Gohn’s book is not a historical text by any means, some of its chapters offer a look into American culture and the

forces that shaped it. He mentions John Lennon’s 1971 song “Imagine,” for instance, a plea for peace during the time of the Vietnam War. Gohn also touches on “the divorce environment of the early 80s.”

Try it yourself Why read a memoir devoted to the musical tastes of a former court reporter, administrative law attorney and English literature major? Well, it may inspire you to write your own. “We all have our own personal playlist, whether we articulate it that way or not,” Gohn said. “It’s an imaginative process, and it’s very human...I’m a very typical

BEACON BITS

Jan. 23

Jan. 22

BEETHOVEN PIANO CONCERTO NO. 3

On Sun., Jan. 23 at 3 p.m., pianist Terrence Wilson joins the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra for Beethoven’s third piano concerto. The performance takes place at the Kraushaar Auditorium at Goucher College. Tickets cost $35; parking is free. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit thebco.org/season/. Call (410) 685-4050 with questions.

Feb. 11+

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and piano sonatas in this concert on Sat., Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Howard Community College’s Smith Theatre. A pre-concert conversation takes place at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $40. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/Jan22Concert. Call (410) 997-2324 with questions.

Jan. 19

U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY BRASS BAND ENSEMBLE Under the direction of Commander Diane E. Nichols, the United States Naval Academy Brass Band Ensemble presents a free con-

cert at the Gordon Center on Wed., Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. For more information and to register to attend, visit bit.ly/USNABand.

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human being, and I’ve forged these connections. Others might like to compare their connections to mine.” Readers can listen to most of the songs referenced in Gohn’s book on Spotify, an audio streaming and media services app. Still, Gohn admits, most song lyrics make for a very unreliable guide to life: “They’re fine for putting you in certain moods, but if you use them as an intellectual template for how to carry on relationships, you’re going to get in trouble. “And of course, being the kind of guy I was, I got into trouble.” Gohn’s book is currently available for download on Kindle; a hardcopy version may be published this year.

Cellist Steven Isserlis and pianist Connie Shih perform three cello

CRAFT MARKETPLACE

American Craft Made hosts its marketplace at the Baltimore Convention Center Fri., Feb. 11 through Sun. Feb. 13, providing an opportunity to shop from more than 350 artists. Tickets for the in-person event are free, but registration is recommended, and donations are suggested. The online shop will be open through Feb. 20. For more information, visit bit.ly/AmericanCraftMade.

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JANUARY 2022 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Subscribe online! See how below

Crossword Puzzle Find a new crossword every day on our website at www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com/puzzles. To The Wise 1

By Stephen Sherr 5

27 32

37 43

44 48

52 56

58 61

46 49

22 28

BB122

Scrabble answers on p. 16.

59 62

Across

Down

1. “Mamma,” maybe (with 6 Across) 6. See 1 Across 10. Share a boundary with 14. Foe that Harry first met at Madame Malkin's Robe Shop 15. Evidence of Satan’s presence 16. Prefix with -rail or -lith 17. Weather Channel graphic 18. Outermost puzzle piece 19. Pocket bread 20. 2019-20 NCAA football champs. 22. “___ only as directed” 24. Sue Grafton book ___ for Lawless 25. "SLOW,” sometimes 31. Amazes 32. To and ___ 33. One trip around the sun 34. Sit and stand 35. Participates in a pre-execution ritual 37. Demanding gamemaster 40. Late Night host following David, Conan, and Jimmy 42. Some golfers’ projectiles 44. “I double dog ___ you” 45. Gave it your best shot 47. Tidy 48. Mauna ___ (highest Hawaiian peak) 49. Ambush 51. Tenn. below 52. First four letters of many letters 53. Hook and line (but not sinker) 57. Unproductive habit 58. Start to INITIATE 59. Limit of a tempest or a teacup 60. Group of soldiers 62. Swipes a credit card 65. Drainage channel 69. Item on an iPhone screen 70. “I love the gray ___ between right and wrong” (Dan Brown) 71. TV studio sign 72. Outdoor wedding protection 73. Some are famous, with 74 Across 74. See 73 Across

1. One before HST 2. One of the songwriting Gershwin Brothers 3. “Far out!” 4. Burns with steam 5. Simple mannequin 6. Tribulation 7. Like most prime numbers 8. Member of a disreputable gallery 9. Semi-formal, at least 10. Bob Dylan used one to “go electric” at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival 11. Beer mixed with whiskey 12. Reverse a tubal ligation 13. Part of an IHOP Quick 2-Egg Breakfast 21. Malnourished 23. Summers on the French Riviera 25. Marilyn Monroe’s was 24 inches in her Blue Book Modeling Agency files 26. “For sale by ___” 27. Compensation for loss 28. The Polar Express, for one 29. Stressful spot 30. Panty or pantry 36. Image on the Treasury Department’s seal 38. Mountain nymph of Greek mythology 39. Approaches the train station 41. Seville : Senor :: Hamburg : ___ 43. He sang lead on Yellow Submarine 46. Painter of The Burning Giraffe 50. One in a long distance relationship 52. Game tile 53. Apple or pineapple 54. “An ___ of performance is worth pounds of promises” (Mae West) 55. Kate Middleton wore one on her wedding day 56. Recipient of survivor's benefits 61. Angry Birds explosive 63. Possible answer in 20 Questions 64. Got into position on a Ferris wheel 66. La Brea hazard 67. Spanish knight, El ___ 68. Many mins.

Answers on page 16.

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2022

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 THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME! Jamhuri Healthcare Services recognizes the importance of keeping seniors or adults with special needs, in their homes, rather than sending them to a skilled nursing facility. Our personal in-home care program is designed to implement nonmedical tasks to meet the clients’ physical needs. Our home care aides provide a multitude of services for our clients, ranging from meal preparation & house cleaning to personal assistance & running errands. We are diligent in our staff & client pairings. We won’t put just anyone in your home or the home of your loved ones. Senior transportation services available 24/7. Call us toll-free at 1-800-547-2851.Visit us on the web: www.jamhuricares.com. send us a text at: 443-929-9769 WE ARE SEEKING MATURE, KIND AND COMPASSIONATE CAREGIVERS to join our award winning company! Home With You Senior Care is a quality homecare company in Baltimore, Carroll and Howard counties seeking reliable and caring individuals to assist older adults. Our caregivers possess the desire and commitment to make a difference in the lives of others. Requirements include: Valid Drivers license and vehicle, CNA or GNA certification, or at least 1 years’ paid Caregiver experience, Clear Background Check (including driver’s license), Compassionate and loving heart. To apply, our website is http://homewithyou.net/careers or call 410-756-0959 - Can’t wait to hear from you!

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For Sale

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

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