February 2016 | Howard County Beacon

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More than 30,000 readers throughout Howard County

Imagining Nancy Drew at 90

Channeling Nancy Drew If the three Nancy Dickenson novels (the first two are The 90s Club & the Hidden Staircase and The 90s Club & the Whispering

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PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER MYERS

By Robert Friedman Nancy carried the two bags of groceries out to her car, refusing the offers of help that greeted her every step of the way. Really, she thought, you’d think I was over 100 years old instead of just 90…

She reached her new silver-toned Prius, opened the trunk, and lifted the bags into it.

Then she closed the trunk and stepped back, looking up into the startled eyes of the man at the next car.

“Watch out!” he shouted, reaching for her arm.

“Get out of the way!” another man yelled.

Nancy looked around in time to see a large sedan barreling toward her…

And we’re off and running — well, walking really fast for a 90-year-old — in Eileen Haavik McIntire’s latest “cozy mystery,” The 90s Club & the Secret of the Old Clock.

The novel is set mostly in the fictional Whisperwood Retirement Village, where Nancy Dickenson and her mentally and physically spry friends solve crimes, from scams to murders, that arise in the community.

“When I started writing the series, many expected my characters to be dribbling and creeping along with walkers,” said the 74-year-old author, who lives in Columbia.

“But I was inspired for the characters in the series after watching a slim, attractive woman gracefully swimming laps in a pool. I found out the woman was 91 years old. She became my model for what it means to be 90.

“Since then, I’ve been collecting articles about people in their 90s and 100s who are running marathons, racing canoes, working, and doing just about anything they want to do.”

One of the author’s goals, besides providing an entertaining story, is “to break the stereotype about the elderly, who are quite invisible,” McIntyre said. “I tell people my characters are 90 and active and alert and able. And readers have told me they know someone, or have relatives, who are exactly that way.”

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Cozumel — beaches, diving, Mayan ruins and more; plus, how to bid online for hotel rooms page 27

ARTS & STYLE

Eileen Haavik McIntire recently published the third in a series of mysteries set in a retirement community. The books feature a latter-day Nancy Drew-like character who’s in her 90s. McIntire and her husband Roger, who writes parenting books, manage their own titles through a publishing company they run out of their Columbia home.

Statue) are titled and read somewhat like mysteries confronting a nonagenarian Nancy Drew, the coincidences are purely on purpose.

“Nancy Drew would be about 90 now,” said McIntire, who “devoured” the girl detective’s tales when both were teenagers.

The author noted that she drops clues in her books about the Nancy Drew-Nancy Dickenson connection.

For instance: When a visitor comes to Dickenson’s apartment in her latest mystery, she notices how sloppy a housekeeper the retired detective is. “That’s because Nancy Drew always had a housekeeper,” said McIntire, and you can’t teach old detectives new tricks.

“I bury my clues to the Nancy Drew sto-

ries in my books to challenge the reader,” said the author. The Secret of the Old Clock also happens to be the title of a Nancy Drew mystery circa 1930.

For those clueless about Nancy Drew mysteries, the protagonist is a teenage fictional detective who appeared in more than 300 books (sometimes along with the Hardy Boys) from 1930 to 2004. (She made a comeback in 2013.)

The books were ghostwritten by several authors who were handed plot outlines and then wrote the mysteries under the pseudonym of Carolyn Keane. They’ve been translated into more than 45 languages, and some 80 million copies have been sold.

See MYSTERY WRITER, page 31

Soaring local musical seeks stage; plus, the book Our Souls at Night eloquently explores finding love late in life page 30

TECHNOLOGY k Our vulnerable power grid k Helpful links and apps

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FITNESS & HEALTH 7 k How genes affect drug reactions k Growing ‘organoids’ for research THE SENIOR CONNECTION 17 k Newsletter for Howard County seniors LAW & MONEY 21 k Organize estate records online k Best bonds for 2016 ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

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Out of pocket, Part II Last month, I wrote about rising pre- foreign countries. In fact, all Americans are scription drug costs, and made the point prohibited from doing so, under current that a considerable portion of law, though very little is spent the cost of new drug developon enforcing the provision. ment is borne by taxpayers The chief justification used (from the U.S. and other defor this rule is that it protects veloped nations).

Americans from unsafe and I also noted that many counterfeit drugs. In truth, drugs, including some of the counterfeits are rife in much newest “breakthrough” drugs, of the world’s prescription are available in other coundrug-supply chain, and they tries for a small fraction of the can be notoriously difficult to cost charged U.S. patients and detect. The easiest way to insurance companies. keep them out is to forbid all FROM THE I raised concerns about PUBLISHER imported drugs. this state of affairs and asked By Stuart P. Rosenthal But that’s not to say we some questions that I felt we couldn’t come up with ways to should be discussing as a country. Then ensure that we are importing only safe, propwe received the following email from a erly manufactured drugs from select counBeacon reader, raising a different one: tries (such as Canada) if we wanted to. It’s “In January’s Beacon, Stuart Rosenthal been proposed many times as a way to save mentions that Gilead Sciences has an money, but has been shot down repeatedly. $84,000 treatment for hepatitis C that is Why has it been so difficult to change available in India for $300. I don’t know if the law? For one thing, U.S. drug manufacanyone can answer this, but is Medicare turers have lobbied hard against it. prohibited by law to get this treatment Pharmaceutical company manufacturfrom India? And if Medicare does [so], ers say that it costs $2.6 billion and more would that influence Gilead Sciences to than 10 years of development to bring lower their price?” each new drug to market. They also note This question raises a broader set of is- that the profits from successful new drugs sues than I addressed last month. But it must cover the development costs of many goes to the heart of the matter, so I would other potential new drugs that end up faillike to devote this month’s column to it. ing during clinical trials.

First, I do believe it’s fair to say Medicare While that’s true, others note that drug is prohibited from purchasing drugs from companies spend much more on market-

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The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of Howard County, Md. and is privately owned. Other editions serve Greater Baltimore, Md., Greater Washington DC, and Greater Palm Springs, Calif.

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• Publisher/Editor ....................Stuart P. Rosenthal • Associate Publisher..............Judith K. Rosenthal • Vice President, Operations........Gordon Hasenei • Director of Sales ................................Alan Spiegel • Assistant Operations Manager ..........Roger King • Managing Editor............................Barbara Ruben • Art Director ........................................Kyle Gregory • Advertising Representatives ........Doug Hallock, .................... Jill Joseph, Steve Levin, M.K. Phillips • Editorial Assistant ........................Rebekah Sewell

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ing than they do on drug development.

Furthermore, between paying high prices to support those development costs and underwriting most basic research through government grants, U.S. taxpayers end up footing most of the bill for the new drugs and treatments that are used to save and extend lives throughout the world.

But is that necessarily unfair? Americans’ standard of living is among the highest in the world. Our Gross Domestic Product per person is over $50,000 a year.

The GDP per person in the 30 poorest nations is under $3,000 a year. (India’s is less than $6,000.) Would it make sense to expect people whose income is so far below the average American’s to pay the same price for life-saving drugs as we do?

Furthermore, we engage in, and pay for, this research for our own benefit. If we stop supporting this research, who will take our place? Do we want these breakthroughs or not?

The question is whether Americans need to be paying as much as we do for new and existing drugs to keep drug companies doing necessary R&D. After all, Americans pay considerably higher prices for drugs than do patients in Canada, Germany and many other developed countries whose GDP per person is not significantly below ours.

This is partly due to the fact that U.S. law also prohibits Medicare from negotiating drug prices directly with manufacturers. Those other countries have national healthcare systems or mandatory insurance programs that can and do negotiate prices, resulting in considerably lower prices than Medicare pays.

U.S. law does permit the Veterans Administration and Medicaid (the healthcare program for poor Americans) to negotiate drug prices for their patients, and those programs typically pay 10 to 20 percent less for drugs than does Medicare. So we know negotiation works to bring down drug prices.

Why is Medicare treated differently?

Until 2006, Medicare didn’t even cover prescription drugs. When the Bush Administration proposed adding Part D (prescription drug coverage) to Medicare, it specifically

forbade Medicare from negotiating prices directly with drug companies in order to secure necessary support from Congress (and the pharmaceutical industry).

Instead, the program was built around private insurance companies which, it was argued, would do an even better job negotiating with drug manufacturers, and would produce a wider variety of options for consumers.

It has apparently not been true that drug prices have come down as much as they would have through program-wide negotiations. We continue to pay more for drugs in this country than we have to.

But the latter benefit — wider choice — has been achieved, and that’s not insignificant. As anyone who shops for a Part D plan knows, there are a plethora of choices in most markets, and different plans cover different drugs at different prices.

Were Medicare to negotiate as a whole for drug prices, we’d pay less, but there would be one national formulary, as in countries with national health plans.

In those countries, it is common for only certain brand-name drugs to be available, for their use to be limited to certain circumstances, and for generic drugs to be mandated whenever available. Patients who want or need a specific brand-name drug because other options don’t work for them may not be able to obtain coverage for those drugs at all.

For now, Americans can generally get the drugs they want if they choose the right Part D plan (though this may not be true if they get their medications through the VA or Medicaid, which have single formularies).

Candidates now running for national office are raising important questions about this subject, and it’s about time. Are drug companies profiting excessively at U.S. taxpayers’ expense? If so, what should be done about it?

Whatever we decide, we need to remind ourselves that our choices will have consequences. We can’t get something for nothing. Changing the current system will lower prices, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be other costs to bear.

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 e-mail to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.

Dear Editor: Robert Friedman’s article about the ShowTime Singers (“Song troupe keeps a song in their heart,” January) was an excellent reporting job.

I was very impressed by the way he described the chorus in all respects with complete accuracy. He made it a living organism by including bios, the feelings of the people in the chorus, the types of music, the target audiences, the cost of

dues, and the sense of STS’s welcoming attitude toward people and life.

You also were so kind as to put out the word that we need men singers.

As a chorus member, I appreciate what you have done for us. As an individual who appreciates good writing, I say, “Good job, Mr. Friedman!”

Chris Keunen Via email

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F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Technology &

Innovations U.S. power grid vulnerable to cyberattacks

By Grance Burke and Jonathan Fahey Brian Wallace, a security researcher at the cybersecurity firm Cylance, was on the trail of hackers who had snatched a California university’s housing files when he stumbled into a larger nightmare: Cyberattackers had opened a pathway into the networks running the United States’ power grid. The attack involved Calpine Corp. — a power producer with 82 plants operating in 18 states and Canada.

Digital clues pointed to Iranian hackers.

And Wallace found that they had already taken passwords, as well as engineering drawings of dozens of power plants, at least one with the title “Mission Critical.” The drawings were so detailed that experts say

skilled attackers could have used them, along with other tools and malicious code, to knock out electricity flowing to millions of homes.

Wallace was astonished. But this breach, the Associated Press has found, was not unique. The AP conducted more than 120 interviews looking at the vulnerability of the energy grid as part of a yearlong examination of the state of the nation’s infrastructure.

Cyberattacks designed to steal information are steadily growing in scope and frequency; there have been high-profile hacks of Target, eBay and federal targets such as the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

But assaults on the power grid and other critical infrastructure aim to go a step further. Trained, well-funded adversaries can

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LEGACY.

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gain control of physical assets — power plants, substations and transmission equipment. With extensive control, they could knock out the electricity vital to daily life and the economy, and endanger the flow of power to mass transportation, military installations and home refrigerators.

According to a previously reported study by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a coordinated attack on just nine critical power stations could cause a coast-tocoast blackout that could last months, far longer than the one that plunged the Northeast into darkness in 2003.

sophisticated foreign hackers have gained enough remote access to control the operations networks that keep the lights on, according to top experts who spoke only on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter.

The public almost never learns the details about these types of attacks. They’re rarer, but also potentially more dangerous than data theft. Information about the government’s response to these hacks is often protected and sometimes classified; many are never even reported to the government.

These intrusions have not caused the kind of cascading blackouts that are feared

Foreign governments involved About a dozen times in the last decade,

See POWER GRID, page 5

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Beacon Links & Apps

APPS

Track your health stats

By Rebekah Sewell and Barbara Ruben

Birthday reminder

Keep track of your weight, resting heartbeat and blood pressure with one of iPhone’s top-rated health apps: HeartWise Blood Pressure Tracker is an easy-to-use app that illustrates your health trends.

You must take your measurements yourself and enter them, and relevant information can be imported from other apps. But then the app can generate a spreadsheet or text report that offers instant visualization of your health trends over time. It is an effective tool to show your doctor, or to simply keep track of your important health stats.

HeartWise Blood Pressure Tracker is available for $0.99 for iPhone. A similar pro-

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Cancer Survivor Spirit Study (see ad on page 15) Diabetes & Breast Cancer Study (see article on page 14) Fall Prevention Balance Study (see ad on page 14) Prevent Falls Sturdy Study (see ad on page 15)

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Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this form to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 or fax to (410) 248-9102.

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F R E E

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Many of the substations and equipment that move power across the U.S. are decrepit and were never built with network security in mind. Hooking them up to the Internet over the last decade has given

and health studies, just complete and clip this coupon and mail or fax it to the Beacon.

Housing Communities

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An outdated, vulnerable system

FREE INFORMATION For free materials on housing communities

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by the intelligence community. But so many attackers have stowed away in the largely investor-owned systems that run the U.S. electric grid that experts say they likely have the capability to strike at will.

In 2012 and 2013, in well-publicized attacks, Russian hackers successfully sent and received encrypted commands to U.S. public utilities and power generators.

Some private firms concluded this was an effort to position interlopers to act in the event of a political crisis.

And the Department of Homeland Security announced about a year ago that a separate hacking campaign — believed by some private firms to have Russian origins — had injected software with malware that

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From page 4

allowed the attackers to spy on U.S. energy companies.

Private firms have alleged other recent hacks of networks and machinery tied to the U.S. power grid were carried out by teams from within Russia and China, some with governmental support.

Even the Islamic State group is trying to hack American power companies, a top Homeland Security official told industry executives last October.

For Scrabble and crossword lovers, the addictive and popular game app Words With Friends is a must.

Compete against other players and take turns building words, crossword puzzlestyle. Players receive notifications when it’s their turn to make a move. Facebook users can log in using their accounts and look up friends to compete against.

Words With Friends is free, and is available for Android devices and iPhones, as well as devices such as the iPad, iPod, Kindle Fire and Nook Tablets.

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Power grid

Friendly crossword game

F R E E

Readers looking for advice, resources and blogs about all things senior should explore Seniors Love to Know. This site ranges from lifestyle information, such as fashion and hairstyles, to financial and retirement planning, to wheelchair exercises.

All content on the site is accessible and simply written, and the text is large for viewing ease.

Not for those who dislike the term “senior.” http://seniors.lovetoknow.com

F R E E

In the know

Constantly keeping up with events like other people’s birthdays can be a challenge. Use the Happy B’day! — Birthday Reminder app to signal you when it’s a friend’s or loved one’s birthday.

Simply add names of friends and family and their date of birth, and the app will let you know when their birthday is coming up and how old they are turning. You even get a countdown of several days in case you want to plan ahead.

Users can also create original greetings cards, which can be sent (on time!) via social media or text message.

Happy B’day! — Birthday Reminder is available free for iPhone. Similar apps (Birthdays Reminder is one) are available free for Android phones.

gram called simply Blood Pressure Tracker is available free for Android phones.

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FR EE I N FOR MATION ★ FR EE I N FOR MATION ★ FR EE I N FOR MATION ★

LINKS

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations

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Technology & Innovations | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Power grid From page 5 hackers new backdoors in.

Plus, hundreds of contractors sell software and equipment to energy companies, and attackers have successfully used those outside companies as a way to get inside networks tied to the grid.

The rush to tie smart meters, home programmable thermostats and other smart appliances to the grid also is causing fresh vulnerabilities. About 45 percent of homes in the U.S. are hooked up to a smart meter, which measures electricity usage and shares information with the grid. Their security is flimsy. Some can be hacked by plugging in an adapter that costs $30 on eBay, researchers say.

The attack involving Calpine is particularly disturbing because the cyberspies grabbed so much, according to previously

unreported documents and interviews.

Cybersecurity experts say the breach began at least as far back as August 2013, and could still be going on today.

Calpine spokesman Brett Kerr said the company’s information was stolen from a contractor that does business with Calpine. He said the stolen diagrams and passwords were old — some diagrams dated to 2002 — and presented no threat, though some outside experts disagree.

Kerr would not say whether the configuration of the power plants’ operations networks — also valuable information — remained the same as when the intrusion occurred, or whether it was possible the attackers still had a foothold.

According to the AP investigation, the hackers got: — User names and passwords that could be used to connect remotely to Calpine’s networks. Even if some of the information was

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

outdated, experts say skilled hackers could have found a way to update the passwords and slip past firewalls to get into the operations network. Eventually, they say, the intruders could have shut down generating stations, fouled communications networks, and possibly caused a blackout near the plants.

— Detailed engineering drawings of networks and power stations from New York to California — 71 in all — showing the precise location of devices that communicate with gas turbines, boilers and other crucial equipment attackers would need to hack specific plants.

— Additional diagrams showing how those local plants transmit information back to the company’s virtual cloud — knowledge attackers could use to mask their activity.

Calpine didn’t know its information had been compromised until it was informed

by Cylance, Kerr said.

Cylance notified the FBI, which warned the U.S. energy sector in an unclassified bulletin last December that a group using Iran-based IP addresses had targeted the industry.

Homeland Security spokesman SY Lee said that his agency is coordinating efforts to strengthen grid cybersecurity nationwide and to raise awareness about evolving threats to the electric sector through industry trainings and risk assessments. As Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas acknowledged in an interview, however, “we are not where we need to be” on cybersecurity.

That’s partly because the grid is largely privately owned and has entire sections that fall outside federal regulation, which

experts argue leaves the sector poorly defended against a growing universe of hackers seeking to access its networks.

No one claims that it would be easy to bring down the grid. To circumvent companies’ security, adversaries must understand the networks well enough to write code that can communicate with tiny computers that control generators and other major equipment. Even then, it’s difficult to cause a widespread blackout because the grid is designed to keep electricity flowing when equipment or lines go down — an almost daily occurrence that customers never see.

Because it would take such expertise to plunge a city or region into darkness, some say threats to the grid are overstated — in particular, by those who get paid to help companies protect their networks. Still, even those who said the risks of cyber threats can be exaggerated agree it is possible for cyberattackers to cause a large-scale blackout.

Authorities say they take the threat seriously. Homeland Security said it had helped more than 100 energy and chemical companies improve their cyber defenses, and held both classified and unclassified briefings in June 2013 and late 2014 on threats to companies associated with power grid operations.

Still, even the utility companies’ own experts, who maintain it would be extraordinarily difficult for a hacker to knock out power to customers, admit there is always a way in.

“If the motivation is high enough on the attacker side, and they have funding to accomplish their mission, they will find a way,” said Sean Parcel, lead cyberinvestigator for American Electric Power. — AP

BEACON BITS

Feb. 16

USE THE INTERNET TO FURTHER YOUR CAREER Award-winning author and career expert Kerry Hannon discusses

how your social media presence can both help and hinder your job search, and how to craft an online brand that represents the best you, no matter what stage you are at in your career. Hannon is AARP’s Job Expert and the Great Jobs for Retirees columnist at AARP.org. Her free presentation will start at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at the Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City.

Register by calling (410) 313-1950.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Health Fitness &

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BEAT CHEMO SIDE EFFECTS Common drugs may help protect your heart during cancer treatments NO MORE BAD HAIR DAYS Learn the many reasons hair falls out, and strategies to stem the loss DIABETES AND CANCER LINK? A breast cancer study examines blood sugar’s role in cancer risk A SERIOUS DESSERT A not-too-decadent recipe of dark chocolate baskets filled with berries

Your genes affect your reaction to drugs

By Charis Eng Your doctor prescribes a medication. If you have a high risk of negative side effects, do you ask for something else instead? If you know the drug won’t work well for you, do you request more options?

These questions aren’t just hypothetical.

They’re at the heart of pharmacogenomics.

Pharmacogenomics is the study of how your genes affect your response to drugs.

If you have certain genetic variations, some medications might be too risky for you to take. Others might offer few or no benefits.

Yet others are just the right fit for you.

Rite Aid is already giving patients a chance to peek over their doctor’s shoulder with genetic tests that help determine

the effectiveness of some prescriptions.

The drugstore chain is selling Harmonyx testing kits at nearly all of its stores. The kits cost between $49 and $89 without a prescription, and customers can use them to learn more about the effectiveness of medicines for cardiac conditions, cholesterol and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Customers who buy these kits swab their cheek to get a genetic sample, and then send that to Harmonyx. The company delivers results to the patient, his or her physician, and the drugstore pharmacist.

For perspective on this growing field, I turned to colleague and pharmacogenomics expert Kevin Hicks, PharmD, Ph.D. Below are a few things patients should know.

The fast metabolizer

Side effects with few benefits

Sometimes, patients actually process drugs too quickly. Because of variations in a particular gene, these “ultra-rapid metabolizers” transform drugs swiftly in their bodies.

Unfortunately, this speedy process can lead to unexpected and exaggerated reactions.

Codeine provides the perfect example.

When you take codeine, your body actually turns it into morphine to relieve pain.

But if you have a certain variation of the gene CYP2D6, you may create morphine at a dangerously rapid pace.

The reaction is especially dangerous in children. Because of this, many pediatric hospitals have removed codeine as a treatment option for pain.

While some people metabolize drugs too quickly, others may have trouble processing them at all.

The CYP2D6 gene offers multiple examples again. In the case of codeine, some patients with a genetic variation don’t get much pain relief because their bodies don’t process the drug properly.

The same is true for antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). If you have a certain CYP2D6 variation, you may not respond to a certain SSRI, or may be more likely to have a side effect.

See GENES AND DRUGS, page 8

FINALLY – Straighttalk About Sciatica Are you suffering from back pain or sciatica? Then it’s likely your biggest problem is pain. But there’s another major problem: bad information.

To end sciatica misery you must have the right information. Pay close attention because I’m going to destroy sciatica myths and give you the facts.

MYTH: Sciatica will just “go away” with some rest.

FACT: If you are dealing with back pain, buttock pain or leg pain, then you must seek help from a sciatica specialist immediately. Left untreated, sciatica can lead to permanent nerve damage - and lifelong pain.

MYTH: Pain is the only problem associated with sciatica.

FACT: In severe cases, sciatica can lead to the inability to control your bowels or bladder.

MYTH: You must take pain medications to deal with sciatica.

FACT: Drugs like muscle relaxants, pain killers, narcotics, antidepressants, and anti-seizure medications have serious potential side-effects and do not cure the root cause of sciatica.

MYTH: “I must have done something wrong to get sciatica.”

FACT: Physical work or simply sitting at a desk for long periods can lead to sciatica.

Accidents and trauma can also be the culprits. Pregnancy can cause sciatica.

Sciatica can affect anyone - including superfit celebrities like Tiger Woods, and Sylvester Stallone.

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MYTH: Sciatica requires surgery.

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MYTH: Getting sciatica properly diagnosed is expensive.

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F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Scientists grow ‘organoids’ for research

By Malcolm Ritter Dr. Sergiu Pasca, a neuroscientist, used to envy cancer specialists. They could get their hands on tumors for research, while Pasca could not directly study key portions of a living brain.

But these days, Pasca does the next best thing: He grows his own.

In his lab at Stanford University, thousands of whitish balls of human brain tissue float in hundreds of dishes. Each smaller than a pea, they were created from human skin cells, in-

cluding some from people with autism. Each one carries the DNA of the person it came from, and each organized itself enough to form a part of the brain that interests Pasca.

He is hardly alone. Dozens of labs are growing lumps of human brain tissue for study, a practice that drew notice in 2013 when researchers said they had created “mini-brains” that contained multiple major parts of the fetal organ.

Just to be clear: Although brain cells in the lab-grown tissues show some activity,

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nobody has created fully functioning, adult human brains. The versions reported in scientific journals mimic only one or more parts of a fetal brain.

(An announcement last August of a nearly complete brain comparable to a fetal one hasn’t been backed up by a journal article yet, and experts are withholding judgment until they can see the details.)

It’s part of a larger movement over the past few years to create “organoids” — miniature versions of the body’s organs or

key parts of organs. Researchers have made organoids representing the intestine, prostate, kidney, thyroid, retina and liver.

Scientists say the technology holds great potential for studying the roots of diseases like autism and schizophrenia, testing possible treatments, tackling basic questions about evolution, and perhaps supplying replacements for transplants.

This approach “is a major change in the

Genes and drugs

the level of a “boxed warning” — the FDA’s strongest warning. These include codeine (connected to CYP2D6) and the oncology drug rasburicase (connected to G6PD). Boxed warnings are more likely to trigger a test and raise awareness among doctors, pharmacists and patients.

So what’s a consumer to do? If you’re concerned about a prescription you receive, start by asking your doctors and your pharmacists these questions: Does your new prescription carry a genetic risk? If so, is a test available? Are you a candidate?

Even if they don’t know the answers right away, health experts can be a resource to help you find answers.

For example, hospital systems such as the Cleveland Clinic have developed their own technology to make sure all doctors who touch your electronic health record see red flags for tests you’ve had and known medication risks. Cleveland Clinic also has an outpatient pharmacogenomics clinic.

Right now, electronic systems cover only a few medications. But with every new study — and with every new advance in genetic testing — the list grows stronger. © 2015 Whatdoctorsknow.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Additional information from AP.

From page 7

Knowledge changes care Knowing your genetic risk can actually change your care. That’s true for the examples above, as well as for a classic pharmacogene called G6PD, which doctors have known about since the 1950s. If you’re deficient in G6PD, you may have problems with several drugs.

G6PD deficiency typically causes no symptoms. But it does cause red blood cells, which carry oxygen, to be slightly more fragile.

When exposed to certain drugs — such as some antimalarial drugs and sulfa antibiotics — red blood cells in people with G6PD deficiency break. This leads to jaundice and the inability to carry oxygen around the body.

Because this effect is so well known, G6PD testing is usually performed before prescribing certain drugs. If you have a deficiency, doctors won’t prescribe some anti-malarial drugs or sulfa antibiotics.

What does the box say?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) keeps a list of medications in which pharmacogenomics play a part.

However, fewer than 10 drugs rise to

See BRAIN TISSUE, page 10

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Brain tissue From page 8 paradigm in terms of doing research with human tissues rather than animal tissues that are substitutes....It’s truly spectacular,” said Arnold Kriegstein, who studies the brain at the University of California, San Francisco.

Organoids “are poised to make a major impact on the understanding of disease, and also human development,” he said.

New technique makes possible To grow lumps of brain tissue, researchers call on a technique that helped earn the Nobel prize in medicine in 2012.

Virtually all cells of a person’s body contain the same lineup of DNA. A skin cell differs from a brain cell because of differences in what genes were turned on, and when, during development.

The breakthrough lab technique provides a way to turn skin cells back into blank slates called iPS cells — a form of stem cell.

These iPS cells can then be turned into any cell of the body, as they respond to nudges from chemical cues they are exposed to.

For years, scientists have used this approach to make brain cells and other cells that lie on the flat surfaces of lab dishes.

The new wrinkle is to let the cells grow into three-dimensional clumps instead.

The cells don’t need much help to organize themselves. “They start communicating and signaling with each other,” Krieg-

stein said, specializing “in a way that starts looking like a developing human brain.”

But the cells don’t get cues from surrounding tissues that help an ordinary fetal brain organize itself, noted Madeline Lancaster of the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England. So while the 400 or so tiny “minibrains” floating in dishes at her lab contain many brain parts, she said, those parts are laid out in abnormal patterns.

“They are connecting to each other, and the different regions do seem to talk to each other. But not in the way a normal brain would,” she said.

Lancaster compares the patchwork layout to an airplane that has one wing on top, a propeller at the back, the cockpit on the bottom, and a wheel hanging off the side.

“It can’t actually fly,” she said. But “you can study each of the components individually and learn a lot about them.”

Studying autism and more A popular region to grow is the cerebral cortex — the wrinkly outer layer of the brain that is key for sophisticated thought.

The tiny balls of tissue in Pasca’s lab were designed to mimic this region because of hints that it’s important in development of autism and schizophrenia.

While the effort to learn about disease with the technology is still quite new, some early hints are emerging. Dr. Flora Vaccarino of Yale University grew lumps containing

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

cerebral cortex that were made with DNA from people with autism.

She found that a particular kind of brain cell is overproduced, and linked that to overactivity of a particular gene. Vaccarino cautions that she’s not claiming this is what causes autism, but Lancaster calls it “really very exciting.”

Cambridge’s Lancaster studies a rare and devastating disorder in which people are born with small brains because they have too few neurons. Her work showed that “minibrains” made with DNA from these patients also turned out to be unusually small, and suggested why: The precursor cells that manufacture neurons go to work too early, so they peter out over time and can’t fulfill their quota.

That disease, called microcephaly, is a good example of why growing brain tissue can be a better way to study some conditions than studying mouse brains. The genetic mutations that cause the disease in people have little effect when introduced in mice.

The biology of other diseases, like autism and schizophrenia, may also be better mimicked in lab-grown human tissue, experts said.

And even if a disease can be reproduced in mice, their brains are different enough from ours that a treatment that looks good in the rodent may not work for people, Kriegstein said.

Still, he and others said, the technique probably won’t replace mice completely in the lab. Mouse experiments are quicker and cheaper, he said.

Kriegstein also said it’s not clear what the lab-grown brain tissue can reveal about illnesses that appear late in life, like

Alzheimer’s, because it models the fetal brain rather than the aging one. Lancaster said she believes it’s still worth a try.

Ethical issues down the road Diseases aren’t the only focus. Lancaster and Alysson Muotri of the University of San Diego, California, are tackling the evolutionary question of how our brains develop differently from those of other animals. So far, lumps of brain made with chimp DNA look a lot like their human counterparts at early stages of development, Muotri said.

Lab-grown brain lumps are limited in their growth and development because they lack a blood supply. That brake on maturation helps keep them in a relatively primitive state, which means they are far from posing any ethical questions, researchers say.

“I don’t see any philosophical problem yet,” Muotri said. But “I don’t know what the future holds for us. We may be able one day to recreate the entire brain...and somehow put memories in there and let those mini-brains think. I don’t know if that will ever be possible, but it is an interesting possibility.”

Hank Greely, who directs the Center for Law and Biosciences at Stanford, said the biggest issue would arise if scientists produce a brain organoid that could attain something like human consciousness. That’s quite unlikely in today’s tiny versions, but might be possible down the road, he said.

Kriegstein agreed. “No one would have thought 10 years ago that we’d be able to do what we do now,” he said. “Another 10 or 20 years down the road, I have no idea how far along we will be.”

— AP

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Health Shorts Heart drugs might protect cancer patients Many cancer treatments can damage the heart. A recent study suggests this risk might be lowered in women with breast tumors if they take a heart drug as a preventive measure during their cancer care.

Radiation treatments can harm arteries, making them prone to harden and clog and cause a heart attack. It also can cause valve or rhythm troubles. Certain cancer drugs, such as Herceptin and doxorubicin, sold as Adriamycin and other brands, can also hurt the heart.

“We give poison with a purpose,” because it fights cancer, but heart problems can be “one of the dark sides of that,” said Dr. Ann Partridge, a breast cancer specialist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

As it stands now, cancer patients are referred to cardiologists after certain cancer drugs or radiation treatments have already weakened their hearts. But “if you wait until the disease has occurred, it may be too late” to do much good, said Dr. Javid Moslehi, of Vanderbilt University.

The study involved 120 women with

early-stage breast cancer, and tested two drugs long used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure — candesartan and metoprolol. The drugs are available as generics and cost less than a dollar a day.

Women were given one or both drugs or dummy pills, and their hearts’ pumping capacity was assessed at various time points with MRI scans.

Heart damage worsened in the group on dummy pills. Metoprolol did not prevent heart decline but candesartan did, although the benefit was small — an improvement of 2 to 3 percent in pumping strength compared to the placebo group.

“The effect was very modest,” so whether that prevents heart failure from developing down the road is not known, said Dr. Bonnie Ky, a cardio-oncology specialist at the University of Pennsylvania. Still, it’s a first.

As cancer patients are living longer, the risk of dying from heart problems actually exceeds that of cancer, so it’s important to prevent damage, Ky said.

Meanwhile, some doctors already are considering this tactic, especially in women taking drugs known to harm the heart or who already have some risk factors for heart problems.

“I get calls from the oncologists saying, ‘she’s at high risk, why don’t we just start it?’” Dr. David Slosky, a cardiologist at Vanderbilt, said of preventive treatment.

“They’re pretty benign,” he said of the

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heart drugs the study tested. “The threshold, if somebody’s got a high-risk cancer, will be pretty low” to use them preventively, he said.

Heart advice for cancer patients can be found at www.cardio-onc.org.

Pot belly not good, even if not overweight New research suggests normal-weight people who carry their fat at their waistlines may be at higher risk of death over the years than overweight or obese people whose fat is more concentrated on the hips and thighs.

The study signals that the distribution of fat matters, whatever the scale says. “If the waist is larger than your hips, you’re at in-

11

creased risk for disease,” said Dr. Samuel Klein, an obesity specialist at Washington University School of Medicine at St. Louis, who wasn’t involved in the new research.

The research also has implications for advising patients whose body mass index or BMI — the standard measure for weight and height — puts them in the normal range despite a belly bulge.

“We see this with patients every day: ‘My weight is fine’ they say. ‘I can eat whatever I want,’” said study senior author Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, preventive cardiology chief at the Mayo Clinic. “These results really challenge that.”

Risk increases for men if their waist circumference is larger than 40 inches, and 35 inches for women. Still, doctors typically See HEALTH SHORTS, page 12

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F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Why your hair falls out and how to fix it I went to my favorite make-up store, and took note of several women buying expensive hair serums and shampoos to deal with hair loss. I didn’t want to be off-putting and approach them with better suggestions, so I’m writing this article instead.

Save your money! Most of the ingredients listed on the labels, some of which are completely made-up words, do not grow or regrow hair, although they might make it shinier and softer.

I’m all about “the fix” — not the fancy label.

Correcting a hormonal imbalance in your body makes regrowing hair easy.

Restoring nutrients that may be insufficient due to the effects of drugs that reduce them (what I call “drug muggers”) can also help.

There are dozens of reasons for hair loss.

This is why Minoxidil (as good as it is) doesn’t work for every individual. The root cause of hair loss varies from person to person.

Let’s go over some possibilities. You may assume that lab work is expensive, but if it teases out the underlying cause, it’s still cheaper than useless products.

First, the hormonal imbalances associated with hair loss: Elevated estrogen or Estrogen Dominance — This is sometimes referred to as “testosterone deficiency” in the scientific literature. When this imbalance is corrected, hair grows back. The goal is more testosterone, less estrogen.

Hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s — This is a thyroid hormone imbalance and

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it’s a biggie. When you’re “thyroid sick,” the Chemotherapy — This causes hair to outer edges of your eyebrows begin to thin fall out. It usually grows back after your or fall out. You may completely lose your treatment ends. The best way to offset eyebrows and eyelashes. chemo is to take supplements Brows and lashes become britand eat foods that support mitle and dry. Restoring thyroid tochondrial health. hormone is the fix; learn how Anticonvulsants — Carin my book, Thyroid Healthy. bamazepine is one example.

Iron deficiency — Iron is Antibiotics also crush biotin measured usually via the prolevels. When biotin is tanked, tein “ferritin.” When it is defiyour hair can fall out. Restorcient, your hair falls out faster. ing probiotics and biotin can Low iron goes hand in hand improve hair regrowth. with thyroid disease and the Acid blockers for reflux DEAR ulcer bug Helicobacter pylori and heartburn — I know PHARMACIST (H. pylori). this one is a real head scratchBy Suzy Cohen SHBG — This stands for er! What do gut drugs have to Sex Hormone Binding Globudo with your head? But this lin, low levels of which lead to hair loss. category of medications is a strong drug FYI, green tea raises levels of SHBG. mugger of zinc, and zinc is needed for Now for the medications that cause hair loss: See HAIR LOSS, page 14

Health shorts From page 11 focus more on BMI than waistlines; after all, girth tends to increase as weight does.

But a BMI in the normal range may not give the full story for people who are thin but not fit — with more body fat than muscle — or who change shape as they get older and lose muscle, Lopez-Jimenez said.

His study analyzed what’s called waistto-hip ratio, dividing the waist circumference by the hip measurement. There are different cutoffs, but a ratio greater than 1 means a bigger middle.

Researchers checked a government survey that tracked about 15,000 men and women with different BMIs — normal weight, overweight and obese. At every BMI level, people with thicker middles

had a higher risk of death than those with trimmer waists, the researchers reported in Annals of Internal Medicine.

In the study, 11 percent of men and 3 percent of women were normal weight, but had an elevated waist-to-hip ratio. They were at greater risk — for men, roughly twice the risk — than more pear-shaped overweight or obese people.

Abdominal fat — an apple-shaped figure — has long been considered more worrisome than fat that settles on the hips and below — the so-called pear shape.

Fat that builds around the abdominal organs is particularly linked to diabetes, heart disease and other metabolic abnormalities than fat that lies under the skin, said obesity expert Dr. Lisa Neff of Northwestern University, who wasn’t involved the study.

— AP

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Health Studies Page

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Are diabetes and breast cancer linked?

By Carol Sorgen The link between obesity and adultonset diabetes has been well-documented in studies. Now researchers are investigating the relationship between the high insulin levels that can accompany obesity and/or diabetes and the risk of breast cancer.

Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore is participating in a National Cancer Institute-funded study to research the link between insulin resistance and breast cancer

prognosis in African American and Caucasian women.

The role of insulin Insulin helps the body make use of the glucose (blood sugar) that results from digesting food. Insulin resistance means the body needs high levels of insulin to respond properly to the food we eat.

According to Dr. Nina Bickell, co-director of the Center for Health Equity & Community Engaged Research at the Icahn

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School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, African American women are more likely to suffer from obesity, and obesity often goes hand in hand with insulin resistance. In addition, she said, African American women tend to get more aggressive forms of breast cancer and have higher mortality rates from the disease.

The study taking place at Mercy seeks to determine whether racial differences in insulin resistance are responsible for more aggressive breast cancers, which may explain some of the higher mortality rates African American women with breast cancer experience.

In a study published last year in the journal Cancer Research, researchers reported on insulin’s role in breast cancer risk.

More than 3,300 women without diabetes were studied; 497 of them developed breast cancer over the course of eight years.

The study showed that high fasting insulin levels doubled the risk of breast cancer, both for overweight and normalweight women. In addition, women who were overweight and insulin-resistant were 84 percent more likely to develop breast cancer than overweight women who weren’t insulin-resistant.

Because of Baltimore’s significant African American population, Dr. Neil

Hair loss From page 12 healthy hair growth. Zinc is also needed for Superoxide Dismutase, a natural enzyme in your body that captures free radicals and escorts them out. Corticosteroids like prednisone also smash zinc.

Estrogen or menopausal drugs — These drugs are used for birth control and hormone replacement. The reason they affect hair growth is “estrogen dominance,” but for the final nail in the coffin, these drugs deplete almost all your B vitamins.

Friedman, director of the Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy Hospital and principal investigator of the study there, believes that the Mount Sinai study can prove useful in developing prevention and treatment options.

Taking part in the study The study will evaluate 1,286 participants in six hospitals through November 2017. Mercy is the only hospital in Maryland participating in the study.

Participants should be African American or Caucasian women with a diagnosis of new invasive breast cancer, who are not taking medication for diabetes, and who have not yet begun active breast cancer treatment.

Those who are approved for the study will make one visit to Mercy Hospital. They will take part in a brief survey, have measurements such as weight and height taken, and provide blood and tissue samples, which are taken during breast cancer surgery. Each participant will receive a gift card as a thank you for taking part in the study.

Taking part in the study does not affect treatment. Information gathered will be used for the development of future prevention and treatment plans.

For more information, or to volunteer to participate, call (410) 332-9330 or (410) 951-7950 or visit www.mdmercy.com.

Taking a B complex can certainly offset the drug-induced nutrient depletion, but it only does so much. Improving estrogen metabolism and breakdown (or discontinuing the estrogen-derived medicine) is your fastest path to luscious locks.

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

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

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15

Dark chocolate and berry basket dessert

By Melissa D’Arabian If you were to join my family for dinner on a regular weeknight (go for it, but call first!), you’d see our typical dessert routine in action.

It works like this: My husband grabs my favorite tiny bamboo cutting board and a paring knife, while I grab a variety of fruit. Then we sit with our four daughters, chatting about our days — sometimes enjoying an impromptu dance show from one or more of the girls — as we pass wedges of pears or whatever around the table. It’s sacred family time.

But sometimes a girl needs a serious dessert. And by serious, I mean chocolate.

Yes, I’ll sometimes satisfy this need by nibbling on a square of dark chocolate with my decaf espresso. That’s fine.

But for truly special occasions I whip up little edible chocolate bowls. They take just minutes to make using chocolate chips, and you can fill them with berries, your favorite fruit, or anything else you want.

I buy the darkest chocolate chips I can find (usually 60 percent) because I love the almost-bitter flavor of darker chocolate.

Plus, it is healthier.

Once you master the (simple) technique of making these chocolate baskets, you can easily customize them, adding cinnamon, cayenne, rosemary, chunky sea salt,

flecks of orange zest, whatever your imagination desires.

I usually fill my bowls with berries or inseason fruit (try lightly sautéed pears).

But feel free to treat them like super tasty tart crusts, and build even more decadent desserts in them.

Dark Chocolate Berry Baskets Start to finish: 30 minutes Servings: 8 1 cup dark chocolate chips 1 teaspoon coconut oil 2 tablespoons finely chopped toasted almonds Kosher salt 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (white, if you have it) 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar Ground black pepper 2 cups halved or quartered fresh strawberries (or other berries or orange segments, membranes and seeds removed) 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint In a large glass or other microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate and coconut oil. Microwave on 50 percent power, stopping to stir every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth, about 3 minutes.

Spread a few spoons of the melted chocolate into a silicone cupcake liner, using the back of the spoon to spread the

chocolate up the side of the liner so it is evenly and thickly coated. Sprinkle the wet chocolate with a teaspoon of almonds and a tiny pinch of kosher salt.

Repeat with 7 more liners. Chill the chocolate until firm, at least 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix together the vinegar, brown sugar and a pinch of pepper. Add the strawberries and toss to coat. Let sit to allow flavors to meld for at least 15 minutes, or up to a few hours.

Immediately before serving, stir the

mint into the strawberries, remove the chocolate baskets from the molds and spoon in the berries.

Nutrition information per serving: 170 calories; 90 calories from fat (53 percent of total calories); 10 g. fat (7 g. saturated; 0 g. trans fats); 0 mg. cholesterol; 40 mg. sodium; 23 g. carbohydrate; 3 g. fiber; 20 g. sugar; 3 g. protein.

Food Network star Melissa d’Arabian is an expert on healthy eating on a budget.

— AP

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F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Enjoy More Great Days Before You Make a Choice, Visit Vibrant Lifestyle

Vibrant People

High-energy fun to quiet relaxation, to a social life as full as you want it to be; get-togethers with friends, old and new; lifelong learning; volunteer programs

Caring and fun staff providing a full complement of services; positive, neighbors where everyone shares a spirit of vibrant living; programs to keep your mind, body and spirit at their best

Vibrant Place Great gathering places to connect and engage; transportation services offering you the freedom to get out and about; hassle-free living in your own private home

Vibrant Company Baltimore-based company; high standards, a proven track record and outstanding resident and associate satisfaction ratings; a solid value for your dollar

Independent, Assisted Living & Dementia Care Brightview Avondell • 410-638-8100 | Brightview Mays Chapel Ridge • 410-628-2100 Brightview Perry Hall • 410-529-1903 | Brightview Rolling Hills • 410-744-7101 Brightview Severna Park • 410-544-1605 | Brightview Westminster Ridge • 410-871-2225

Assisted Living & Dementia Care Brightview Bel Air • 410-893-2202 | Brightview Catonsville • 410-788-5001 Brightview South River • 410-956-7310 | Brightview Towson • 410-296-3320 Brightview White Marsh • 410-668-1588

www.BrightviewSeniorLiving.com

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6

The

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Senior

NEWS and EVENTS from the Howard County Office on Aging

Connection

Department of Citizen Services

Volume 6, No. 2 • February 2016

You CAN Live Healthy with High Blood Pressure

O

ne in three American adults (about 80 million people) have high blood pressure (hypertension), and that number is steadily climbing. Controlling high blood pressure can potentially prevent more serious threats to heart and brain health.

During February, American Heart Month, the American Heart Association urges all Americans to make healthy lifestyle changes to help keep your blood pressure in a healthy range and lower your risk for heart disease and stroke.

To lower your risk: • watch your weight; • quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke; • control your cholesterol and blood pressure; • drink alcohol only in moderation; • get active; and • eat a healthy diet and control sodium intake The Howard County Office on Aging can help you take control of your numbers – and your health. Living Healthy with High Blood Pressure is a new, interactive 2.5 hour workshop designed for those who have been diagnosed with hypertension/high blood pressure, and taught

by Wendy Farthing, the Office on Aging’s Health & Wellness Coordinator.

Like Living Well and Living Well with Diabete, this program offers participants the opportunity to learn how to better manage their chronic conditions. “This new class is a great gateway for the Living Well workshop,” says Farthing. “Many people don’t realize that hypertension is not only a chronic condition, but very often goes hand-in-hand with diabetes.” According to the American Diabetes Association, two in three people with diabetes have high blood pressure and/or take prescription medications to lower their pressure. The heart has to work harder when blood pressure is elevated, making one more susceptible to heart disease, stroke and other health issues.

The Living Healthy with High Blood Pressure workshop covers: • What is High Blood Pressure?

• Problems with Salt/Sodium Intake • Home Monitoring Tips • Where’s the Salt?

• Knowing Your Numbers

Living Healthy with High Blood Pressure will be offered at the following Howard County 50+ Centers: North Laurel 50+ Center Tuesday, February 9 • 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

East Columbia 50+ Center Wednesday, February 17 • 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Bain 50+ Center Wednesday, March 23 • 1 to 3:30 p.m.

The class fee is $5 and pre-registration is required. To register, or for more information about this and other health and wellness programs, contact Wendy Farthing at 410-313-3506 (voice/relay) or wfarthing@howardcountymd.gov

A Message from

Starr P. Sowers Administrator, Office on Aging During American Heart Month in February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Million Hearts® – a national effort to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes in the United States by 2017– are encouraging Americans to know their blood pressure, and if it’s high, to make control their goal.

According to the CDC, people with high blood pressure are four times more likely to die from a stroke and three times more likely to die from heart disease, compared to those with normal blood pressure. The Million Hearts™ initiative is dedicated to reducing these numbers by empowering everyone to make heart-healthy choices. Visit www.millionheart.hhs.gov to find out more.

The Howard County Office on Aging can help, too! Our new Living Healthy with High Blood Pressure program is a great place to start (see the article, left, to find out more). And be sure to take advantage of the free blood pressure screenings offered each month at various Howard County 50+ Centers. Knowing your numbers is the first step to controlling them!

Regular physical activity can also help you maintain a healthy weight and lower your blood pressure. Walking is an exercise almost anyone can do; when it’s cold out, be sure to take advantage of the indoor walking tracks and fitness rooms at the Glenwood and North Laurel 50+ Centers. And, be sure to check out the Ellicott City 50+ Fitness Center and the new GO50+ fitness membership options; now is the perfect time to do so.

For more information, contact Maryland Access Point at 410-313-5980 or visit www.howardcountyaging.org. Have a happy and healthy Heart Month!

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F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Plan Ahead to Reduce Funeral Expenses and Stress Beware of Hidden or Unneccesary Costs

T

oday, the average traditional funeral costs between $7,000 and $10,000. It is often difficult for grieving family members to make informed decisions when arranging a funeral and, unfortunately, unscrupulous merchants often take advantage of buyers’ emotions by pitching goods or services that are not needed or are overpriced. By planning ahead, you can reduce both the cost and stress to your family.

PRE-PAID PLANS Most funeral homes and cemeteries offer one or more “pre-paid” plans that enable you to lock in the cost and pay for goods and services in advance of your death. Before deciding on a pre-paid plan, however, consider the following: • Some industry experts believe that the cost of traditional funerals may decrease in the future. Paying today’s rates may not be in your best financial interest.

• Pre-paid plans that let you to pay over time are convenient, but interest charges may increase costs significantly.

• Not all pre-paid plans are alike; compare services and costs from several different funeral homes and cemeteries before signing a contract.

• Read the contract carefully and make sure that any verbal promises are included. Are there any necessary goods or services not included in the contract?

• Will the casket you select be kept in storage or will it be taken from available stock when needed? What if your selection is no longer in stock?

• If you move or change your mind about the goods or services you want, can you cancel the contract and get a refund?

• How is your money protected if the funeral home and/or cemetery goes out of business?

DO IT YOURSELF PLANS To create a funeral plan on your own, first determine the cost of the goods and services you want, then document your wishes and put money aside in a bank account that can be accessed immediately by a beneficiary you name. Don’t include your funeral plan in your will, as it may not be read before the funeral. Instead, give a copy of your funeral plan to family members and your beneficiary.

For more information, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/consumer, or email consumer@howardcountymd.gov or call 410-313-6420 (voice/relay).

Medicare Public Education Sessions FREE Information Presented by SHIP

Medicare 101 Tuesday, February 9 • 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

Join us to learn how Medicare Parts A (hospital), B (medical) and D (prescription drug) work, what the benefits are, and when you should make decisions related to your coverage.

Medicare 102 – Why Medicare Isn’t Enough Tuesday, February 16 • 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

Learn about Medicare Part C/Health Plans and Medicare Supplement Policies (Medigap Plans); how to cover the gaps (out of pocket expenses); how plans are priced; the best time to enroll; and how to protect yourself from Medicare fraud.

Using Medicare’s Plan Finder

BrainTeasers Join facilitator Carolyn Hairston-Diggs for puzzles, trivia and !"#$%&$'()%#*#$+(,#,%!"'!%+"'--#).#%')/%,012-'!#%!"#%1()/3%4566

Meets Thursdays • 12:30 - 2:00 p.m.

Bain 50+ Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia 21044

NewsTalk

Join this lively discussion that focuses on current - +'-7%)'0 )'-%')/%.- &'-%)#8,3%4566

Meets Thursdays • 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

North Laurel 50+ Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel 20723

Drop in, or contact Karen Hull for more information 410-313-7466 (VOICE/RELAY) • khull@howardcountymd.gov

Tuesday, February 23 • 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

The Plan Finder tool at www.medicare.gov can be used to compare and review Medicare prescription drug plans and health plans.

Join us to learn the basics for both types of comparisons.

Ellicott City 50+ Center 9401 Frederick Road, Ellicott City 21042

Register at 410-313-7391 (VOICE/RELAY)

KNOW YOUR OPTIONS. Contact us for help.

The Senior Connection is published monthly by the Howard County Department of Citizen Services and the Office on Aging.

This publication is available in alternate formats upon request.

To join our subscriber list, email seniorconnection@howardcountymd.gov Howard County Office on Aging, 6751 Columbia Gateway Dr., Columbia, MD 21046 410-313-6410 (VOICE/RELAY) • www.howardcountyaging.org Find us on

www.Facebook.com/HoCoCitizen

www.howardcountyaging.org/SHIP

Kim Higdon Henry, Senior Connection Editor kahenry@howardcountymd.gov

If you need accommodations to attend, call 410-313-5980 one week in advance.

Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the Howard County Office on Aging or by the publisher.

The Senior Connection

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6

Say you saw it in the Beacon

19

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS 2016!

COMMUNITY

BIKE CLINIC Meet the HCPD’s Pathway Patrol Unit and learn about important personal safety and biking tips!

Saturday, February 20 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Wilde Lake Village Center Slayton House Dance Studio 10400 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia 21044

Discover the Howard County Cycle2Health program; meet the coordinators and volunteers!

Receive complimentary bicycle and helmet safety checks from Princeton Sports and 90+ Cycling.

Learn about the extensive, local pathway system from the Columbia Association.

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF HOWARD COUNTY CHILDREN AND YOUTH? The Office of Children’s Services annually honors those who guide our children, and ultimately, our future!

Nominate someone today and plan to attend the 17 annual awards on Wed., April 27 at Ten Oaks Ballroom th

NOMINATION DEADLINE is Friday, March 4

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

James Zammillo, Community Outreach Division 410-313-2207 (VOICE/RELAY) jzammillo@howardcountymd.gov

Nominate your candidate(s) online at www.howardcountymd.gov/celebratingsuccesses 410.313.1940 (VOICE/RELAY) children@howardcountymd.gov

Don’t Miss the Fun, Excitement and Energy!

The 8th Annual WomenFest – an event designed for women of all ages to live a more balanced, healthier and fulfilled life

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Saturday, April 30 10 am - 3 pm Gary J. Arthur Community Center at Glenwood 2400 Route 97, Cooksville, MD 21723

• • • • • • • •

Free Admission On-Site Parking 90+ Exhibitors/Vendors Dynamic Seminars Engaging Workshops Important Health Screenings Cooking and Fitness Demos All Day Door Prizes and more!!!

410-313-5440 (VOICE/RELAY) www.howardcountymd.gov/womenfest

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F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

February 2016 Calendar of Events Don’t miss these exciting programs and services at our dynamic Howard County Office on Aging 50+ Centers!

A complete list is available at www.howardcountyaging.org/50pluscenters

Ellicott City 50+ Center Bain 50+ Center Tuesday, February 9 • 10 a.m. — PUCCINI’S TURANDOT Join us to view the Metropolitan Opera’s DVD of “Turandot,” one of Puccini’s most famous and beloved operas. $13; includes lunch.

Register by February 2: 410-313-7213.

Tuesday, February 23 • 10 a.m. — BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROGRAM Author John Milton Wesley presents his biographical “Coincidental Encounters” slide show which traces his evolution as a young black male growing up in the 50’s and 60’s during the civil rights movement.

FREE; sign-up in the lobby.

Wednesday, February 24 • 1 p.m. — BALTIMORE’S INDUSTRIAL AGE: FROM COLONIAL TOWN TO MANUFACTURING CENTER The Baltimore Museum of Industry presents this survey of Baltimore’s roots as a dynamic center for commerce, business and industry in the 19th century from 1815-1875. FREE; register: 410-313-7213.

Thursday, February 18 - March 10 • 1 to 3 p.m.

THE BIG DEBATE: FREE WILL VS. DETERMINISM Join us at the 50+ Fitness Center for this series presented by Howard Community College. FREE; register: 443-518-1000.

Wednesdays, February 3 thru March 9 • 10 a.m. to noon WATERCOLOR BASICS CLASS Master the fundamentals of drawing shapes, values, textures and design and learn to use tools and materials. $43 for all six weeks of classes.

Register: 410-313-1400.

Wednesday, February 10 • 1 p.m.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH FILM PRESENTATIONS Join us at the 50+ Fitness Center for the movie “Selma.” FREE; register: 410-313-1400.

Wednesday, February 24 • 1 p.m.

Join us at the 50+ Fitness Center for a showing of “Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story.” FREE; register: 410-313-1400.

Glenwood 50+ Center

East Columbia 50+ Center

Friday, February 12 • 11 a.m.

PRESIDENTS: LINCOLN

Tuesday, February 2 • 1 p.m. — WEIGHT GOT YOU DOWN?

Join us for a presentation by Ken Serfass about Lincoln’s birthday and his presidency from the perspective of a Washington outsider looking in.

FREE; register: 410-313-5440.

Nutritionist Rona Martiyan will provide an overview of best practices related to healthy eating. Schedule a one-on-one session with Rona following the presentation. FREE; register: 410-313-7680.

Fridays in February • 9 to 11 a.m. — BEGINNER CREATIVE WRITING CLASS Develop your writing style through various out-of-the box exercises and techniques. $116 for the six-week session. Register: 410-313-7680.

Wednesday, February 24 • 11 a.m.

LYRIC OPERA CARES: MADE IN AMERICA, THE SONGBOOK Two vocalists and a pianist from the Lyric Opera House will perform songs

by America’s favorite composers. FREE; register: 410-313-5440.

Wednesday, February 24 • 1 p.m. — CARE FOR A CLUB®?

Tuesday, February 9 • 9 a.m.

PANCAKE BAR

Kevin Bridgeman, Howard County Vehicle Theft Specialist, shares the top 10 most frequently stolen vehicles. Attendees will receive a free Club® for your vehicle. FREE; refreshments provided. Register: 410-313-7680.

Join us in the lobby for a special pancake breakfast with sausage and your favorite toppings. FREE; register: 410-313-5440.

Elkridge 50+ Center Wednesday, February 10 and 24 • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

AARP TAX AIDE Tax assistance is back! Benefit from the savvy advice and assistance of AARP representatives. Call 410-313-4930 to make your appointment.

Wed., February 17 • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — SWEETHEART PARTY Join us for an extra sweet party with plenty of music and games. Lunch will be served; and it wouldn’t be complete without delicious chocolate treats! $5; register: 410-313-4930.

Tuesday, February 23 • 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

WELLNESS FOR LIFE Rotate through four stations to experience the benefits of massage therapy, nutrition, agility and acupuncture. $10; healthy refreshments served. Register: 410-313-4930.

North Laurel 50+ Center Friday, February 5 • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION Enjoy an interactive experience of Chinese traditions to celebrate the New Year, including customs, symbolic foods, dance performances and a special Chinese lunch. $7; register: 410-313-0380.

Wednesday, February 10 • 11 to 11:45 a.m.

VALENTINE’S DAY COOKIE AND CARD-MAKING SOCIAL Learn the basics of cookie decorating and card-making as you decorate a cookie and card for your loved one. $2 (includes all materials); register: 410-313-0380.

Friday, February 19 • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — SONGS WITH JULIE HALL Enjoy an afternoon of beautiful melodies from Baltimore’s legendary Jazz scene and share a special meal with friends. $3 plus lunch contribution.

Register: 410-313-0380.

To request accommodations to participate, call Maryland Access Point at 410-313-5980 (VOICE/RELAY) one week in advance.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

21

YOUR ESTATE DOCS ONLINE Several websites offer storage and organization for estate planning documents BEST BOND STRATEGY Bonds are still worth holding; learn some safe ways to maximize yields RETIRE GRADUALLY? More options for phased retirement are on the horizon for older workers

A guide to organizing your estate records As I’ve emphasized before, one of the employer’s name, address, phone number, best legacies you can leave to your loved human resources contact and website. List ones is a well-planned estate. Part of that is all benefits you or your beneficiaries are making sure your important entitled to, from current and estate documents are organformer employers, and identiized for easy access. fy the location of all docuThis is the topic of a useful ments related to these benebook, Get it Together by fits.

Melanie Cullen and Shae Irv• Healthcare directives. ing (published by Nolo), These are legal documents inwhich advises on creating a dicating your wishes for medcomprehensive plan with ical care in case you are unyour attorney and organizing able to speak for yourself. all your important estate docThere are two relevant docuTHE SAVINGS uments. ments. One is a living will — a GAME The number and variety of written statement that indiBy Elliot Raphaelson necessary documents can be cates to medical personnel the daunting, as the following list type of care you want if you suggests. should become incapacitated. The second • Employment. For each job you cur- is a durable power of attorney for healthrently hold, have a file that includes the care, which allows you to appoint someone

you trust to be your healthcare agent.

Their job will be to ensure you are provided with the care you need.

• Durable power of attorney for finances. As with a healthcare power of attorney, this one lets you appoint someone to manage your finances for you should you be unable to make decisions for yourself. You may provide your agent with as much authority as you wish — such as paying everyday expenses for you and your family, handling transactions with banks and other financial institutions, managing your retirement accounts, and buying and selling insurance policies and annuities.

• Organ donation. If you want to donate organs or your body, you need to take some steps to make your desires known.

For example, you can obtain an organdonor card to carry at all times by registering online with a donor registry.

• Burial or cremation. Your family members will want to know if you want your body to be buried or cremated. Advance arrangements will make it much easier. In addition, you can also document your wishes regarding the timing of the cremation or burial, as well as your preferences regarding a memorial service.

• Wills and trusts. Cullen and Irving have a comprehensive chapter discussing how wills and certain trusts work, with a detailed discussion of the advantages of specific types of trusts, including methods to avoid probate. (These methods should be discussed with your attorney.) An important section discusses factors you should consider in selecting executors and trustees. Include in your records a list of each key estate-planning document, with See ORGANIZE, page 22

What financial paperwork to keep or toss Dear Savvy Senior: • Utility bills when the following month’s How long should a person hang on bill arrives showing that your prior payto old receipts, stock records, tax re- ment was received. If you wish to track utilturns and other financial ity usage over time, you may documents? I have accuwant to keep them for a year. If mulated boxes full of such you deduct a home office on papers over the years, and your taxes, keep them for would like to get rid of seven years. some of it now that I’m reTo avoid identity theft, be tired. sure you shred anything you — Getting Organized throw away that contains your Dear Getting: personal information. It’s best This is a great time of the to use a crosscut shredder year to get rid of unnecessary rather than a strip one. The SAVVY SENIOR or outdated paperwork and to latter leaves long paper bands

By Jim Miller organize your records in that could be reassembled. preparation for filing your tax return in the Keep for one year spring.

• Paycheck stubs, in order to check the Here’s a checklist of what to keep and what to toss out, along with some tips to help accuracy of the W-2 you’ll get in January.

• Bank statements (savings and checkyou reduce your future paper accumulation. ing accounts) to confirm your 1099s.

What to toss quickly • Brokerage, 401(k), IRA and other in• ATM receipts and bank-deposit slips vestment statements until you get your anas soon as you match them up with your nual summary (keep longer for tax purposmonthly statement. es if they show a gain or loss).

• Credit card receipts after you get your • Receipts for healthcare bills, in case statement, unless you might return the item you qualify for a medical deduction. or need proof of purchase for a warranty.

• Credit card statements that do not have Keep for seven years a tax-related expense on them.

Supporting documents for your taxes,

including W-2s, 1099s, and receipts or canceled checks that substantiate deductions.

The IRS usually has up to three years after you file to audit you, but may look back up to six years if it suspects you substantially underreported income or committed fraud.

Keep indefinitely • Tax returns with proof of filing and payment. You should keep these for at least seven years, but many experts recommend you keep them forever because they provide a record of your financial history.

• IRS forms that you filed when making nondeductible contributions to a traditional IRA or a Roth conversion.

• Receipts for capital improvements that you’ve made to your home until seven years after you sell the house.

• Retirement and brokerage account annual statements as long as you hold those investments.

• Defined-benefit pension plan documents.

• Savings bonds until redeemed.

• Loan documents until the loan is paid off.

• Vehicle titles and registration information as long as you own the car, boat, truck or other vehicle.

• Insurance policies as long as you have them.

• Warranties or receipts for big-ticket purchases for as long as you own the item, to support warranty and insurance claims.

Keep forever Personal and family records — such as birth certificates, marriage license, divorce papers, Social Security cards, military discharge papers and estate-planning documents (power of attorney, will, trust and advanced directive). Keep these in a fireproof safe or safe-deposit box.

To reduce your paper clutter, consider digitizing your documents. Scan them and then convert them into PDF files so you can store them on your computer and back them up onto a USB flash drive, external hard drive, and/or online storage site like icloud.com or carbonite.com. [See also “Websites that help organize estate docs,” on page 22.]

You can also reduce your future paper load by switching to electronic statements and records whenever possible.

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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F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Websites that help organize estate docs

By Sally Abrahms Websites that organize and store all of

your important documents in one place are the latest in just-in-case insurance. If

BEACON BITS

Jan. 26

3D PRINTER DEMONSTRATIONS

See a 3D object take shape on the Howard County Library System’s 3D printer. Ask questions about how objects are designed and the fabrication process in an event on Tuesday Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. at the Central Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. For more information or to register, call (410) 313-7800.

Sol Levinson & Bros. Funeral Services, PA A 5560 Sterrett Place, Suite 204 Columbia, MD 21044 Restricted - Operating out of Sol Levinson & Bros., Inc., Pikesville, MD

410-730-7230 Pre ree-Planning Available le howardcounty@sollevinson.com y@sollllevins levinson com levin

www.sollevinson.com ww ww sol solle

you become disabled or die, loved ones are just a click away from the financial and estate-plan information they need.

Of course, you can store your paper documents in boxes, file cabinets and safe deposit boxes — and hope family members can sort everything out during a crisis. But these websites can make life for your loved ones easier.

Depending on the site, you can collect and upload wills, deeds, healthcare directives and powers of attorney. You also can store passwords, financial-account information, and the names of your advisers. You can even leave instructions for your funeral.

All of these sites are encrypted for safety. You name two or three people who have full or partial access to information. You can provide full access to a spouse, let’s say, while limiting an adult child’s access to certain sections.

And you can specify under what conditions someone gets your information — such as only after you die or become incapacitated.

Estate Map (www.estatemap.com). Joe Henderson, a Minneapolis estate lawyer, knows from experience that people are “leaving all sorts of assets on the table” after they die. Bank accounts and property in safe deposit boxes often go unclaimed because heirs don’t know about them.

Henderson, who created Estate Map in 2014, said many people don’t think about disability or who will get access to their information when they’re incapacitated.

Rather, people often keep critical documents “in a desk drawer, hoping the right person finds it at the right time,” he said.

His Website divides the data into three categories: information on assets, the estate, and personal health and life. Estate Map costs $96 the first year and $24 a year to renew.

Everplans (www.everplans.com). Cofounder Abby Schneiderman said she doesn’t think of the site as a “platform before you die, but a place to organize all details of your life when you are living.” That could include informing people where to find an extra set of keys.

You first take a short, personal assessment, including your marital status, ages

of children, and whether you have a will and healthcare directives. Then you receive customized recommendations on what to tackle first.

Everplans provides links to sites where you can download legal and health forms from your state. You can also attach copies of legal documents you’ve already prepared.

There’s space to write your own obituary and to upload a photo for your obit.

And you can leave a letter to your family or instructions about possessions.

Launched in March 2014, the site offers a free version as well as a premium version that costs $75 a year. With the free model, you can’t upload documents, but you can read 2,000 articles on estate and end-of-life planning. A premium user can store documents and gets access to live chat support.

The Torch (www.thetorch.com). Those skittish about putting sensitive documents online can use The Torch. This site doesn’t ask for personal information, such as account numbers. Instead, it allows at least two people you’ve designated to know what documents you have and where to find them.

Lenore Vassil, a former corporate technology executive, founded the company in 2012. In her research, Vassil learned that people are often reluctant to put a lot of personal information online. “My sister doesn’t need to see a copy of my will, she just needs to know I have it,” she said.

The Pro or Lifetime version ($24 a year, or a one-time charge of $144) allows you to upload the location of your Social Security card, birth certificate, safe deposit box and other information.

You can also create virtual notebooks on a number of topics, including what a loved one will need to know about your car, real estate, pet and people in your life.

A free version provides basic information, such as whether you have a retirement account or insurance. If you don’t have these assets, your family won’t go scrambling to find them.

All contents © 2015 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Organize

fy the plan administrators of your death, and file claims for any outstanding benefits.

• Secured places and passwords. Almost everyone today uses passwords, access keys and PINs. Your agent, executor or survivors will need access to this information. The book includes an important section discussing who should have access to your safe deposit box.

If you haven’t established a comprehensive estate plan or haven’t taken the time to organize your records in a way that will help your executor, trustee, agents and survivors, now is the time to do it. Get it Together will help you do it the right way.

Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at elliotraph@gmail.com. © 2015 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

From page 21 details regarding the professional (if applicable) who helped prepare each document.

• Insurance. Identify any life insurance policies you own, including the associated coverage and contact information.

Also indicate the location of all policies.

Cullen and Irving offer detailed information about the different types of life insurance policies available, annuity alternatives, and an in-depth discussion of the pros and cons of long-term care insurance.

• Retirement plans and pensions.

List all plans and pensions, including current ones and those you expect to collect from later. Identify the location of the plan documents. Your executor will have to noti-

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

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F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

The best bonds for your portfolio in 2016

By Jeffrey R. Kosnett As the Federal Reserve finally starts to gently raise interest rates, and fear and loathing reach a fever pitch in bond-land, I am reminded of a column that appeared in a well-known business magazine in December 2013, just before Janet Yellen’s confirmation as Fed chairman. It began, “Bonds are going to get killed. Are you ready?”

My reaction at the time: Poppycock.

Now, two years later, my view hasn’t changed much.

Bonds will not get slaughtered in 2016 any more than they were clobbered in 2015, mauled in 2014, or creamed over any extended period in recent memory. And that’s because, no matter what the doomand-gloom crowd opines, interest rates will not skyrocket (bond prices and rates move in opposite directions).

Rates won’t climb much because global

economic growth is tepid and inflation remains persistently low. A strong dollar also keeps rates low because it encourages foreigners to buy our Treasury notes and corporate bonds.

All this buttresses my view that low rates and bond yields are an entrenched fact of life and will be around for the rest of this decade. [Not everyone agrees with this view. See “Beware hidden dangers in bond funds,” on page 31.]

My yield forecast: Cutting to the chase, I expect the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond to range from 2.0 percent to 2.75 percent in 2016 (compared with 2.2 percent in early November).

It’s true that if and when the Treasury prints 2.75 percent on a new bond due in 2026, an existing 10-year bond will lose roughly 6 percent of its market value. But bond prices and yields will bounce all year

within that range. A temporary 6 percent hit is no more cause to boycott bonds than the 2015 correction in share prices was reason to quit stocks.

Invest in these core funds For 2016, I suggest that you adhere to a core-and-satellite strategy. The core of your bond portfolio should be a high-grade, medium-maturity mutual fund or exchange-traded fund. Fidelity Total Bond (symbol FTBFX, 3.1 percent yield), a member of the Kiplinger 25, is a solid choice. If you prefer ETFs, use Pimco Total Return Active ETF (BOND, 2.8 percent), a member of the Kiplinger ETF 20.

Then target corners of the vast bond marketplace that pay you the most extra income for the least amount of risk. (Tax-exempt municipal bonds are the leading example.)

Next, look at debt with maturities of two to five years. Even as the Fed kept overnight

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rates near zero through last October, shortterm yields have quietly been rising.

You can buy short-term and intermediate-term bonds directly, or use funds — such as Kip 25 member Vanguard ShortTerm Investment-Grade (VFSTX, 1.8 percent) or DoubleLine Low Duration (DLSNX, 2.1 percent) — that mostly hold bonds in that range of maturities.

How to get higher yields To aim for still higher yields, take advantage of the growing gap between yields of long-term Treasuries and those of medium-grade corporates of similar maturities.

Many long-term corporates with triple-B ratings are now paying about 2.5 percentage points more than comparable government debt. That means you can get yields of about 5 percent on IOUs from solid, though not pristine, borrowers.

I sense that yields of 5 percent on tripleB bonds are more than enough to attract such key buyers as banks, insurance companies, and Europeans who cannot abide the Continent’s invisible yields.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see total returns of 7 percent in this area in 2016. A solid fund with about two-thirds of its assets in bonds with triple-B ratings is T. Rowe Price Corporate Income (PRPIX, 3.3 percent).

I am much less sanguine about highyield (junk) bonds because of the heavy representation of energy companies in the junk-bond market. Unless oil prices unexpectedly rally, we could be facing a raft of defaults in the energy patch.

Stick with investment-grade bonds over the coming year.

Senior Editor Jeff Kosnett is also the editor of Kiplinger’s Investing for Income, a monthly newsletter that focuses exclusively on this topic.

All contents © 2015 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Feb. 6

BAROQUE BAND

The recipient of rave reviews and many honors, the Baroque Band, a period instrument orchestra, will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, in the Horowitz Center’s Smith Theatre on the campus of Howard Community College in Columbia. The concert is presented by Candlelight Concert Society and includes music by Bach, Telemann, Vivaldi and more. A pre-concert lecture on the Baroque era will be presented at 7:15 pm by Richard J. Giarusso, chair of the Department of Musicology at the Peabody Institute. Tickets are $35 for adults, $32 for seniors. For tickets or more information, visit www.candlelightconcerts.org. To purchase tickets by phone, call (410) 997-2324.

25

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6

Workers seek phased retirement options

By Adam Allington Roberton Williams’ plan was to retire on his government pension and take a parttime job to make up the difference in salary. It didn’t quite work out that way.

Williams, 68, did retire, but then started another full-time job with the Tax Policy Center, a Washington think tank. “The plan was to work full time just until I got my feet wet,” Williams said. “But I ended up working full time for the next nine years.”

He’s far from an aberration. Many aging baby boomers are caught between a desire to work less and a labor market that just isn’t ready to let them go.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 17.7 percent of people 65 and older are still working in some capacity, compared with 11.7 percent in 1995.

Of course, part of this increase could be due to a growing fear felt by many Americans about financial insecurity during retirement. Survey data has shown that fears about outliving one’s savings are factoring into retirement planning.

That is even prompting 34 percent of workers age 60-plus to say they plan on working until they die, or are too sick to work, according to a recent Wells Fargo survey.

Some workers just want a gradual transition, whether for financial reasons, or just to keep working jobs where they can still contribute and help train the next generation.

Slightly more than 40 percent of U.S. workers hope to cut back hours or transition to a less demanding position before retirement, according to a 2015 report from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 28

Phased retirement One option offered by a small number of employers is “phased retirement,” which allows retiring workers to go part time while also mentoring their incoming replacement, providing for a smoother transition.

The Society for Human Resource Management puts the number at 8 percent.

In other cases, employers are eschewing formal arrangements in favor of shortterm contracts.

“One thing we see is that employers are increasingly able to tap into a more flexible labor market, rather than going through formal HR structures,” said Jean Setzfand, AARP’s senior vice president of programs.

“So having hard-and-fast rules for this can be difficult.”

For federal workers, Congress passed

legislation in 2012 creating a phased-retirement program, and the Office of Personnel Management, or OPM, formalized the rules last year.

But to date, OPM has only finalized 16 applications for phased retirement. These are from workers at the Library of Congress, NASA, the Broadcasting Board of Governors and the Energy Department. It expects to soon receive 12 more from the Smithsonian Institution — that’s from a federal workforce where 45 percent of employees are age 50 or over.

OPM has stressed that it is up to individual federal agencies to decide when and if they will offer a phased-retirement option to their employees.

See PHASED RETIREMENT, page 26

BEACON BITS

Feb. 2

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26

Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Phased retirement From page 25 Tancred Lidderdale, 62, is one of the initial 16 federal workers who chose phased retirement. He works for the Energy De-

partment as an economic forecaster, applying highly complex mathematical models to oil and gas markets. He’s played an integral part in building these models over the past two decades.

“I know our agency would miss me,”

BEACON BITS

Feb. 19

ANDROID PHONE CLASS A free program at the Elkridge 50+ Center covers the basics of an Android phone and as well as special features. The class will

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F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Lidderdale said. “They knew I was thinking about retirement, and mentioned this option as a way to help pass on what I know before I leave.” Lidderdale will work part time for the next two years.

But after nearly three years of waiting, many other federal workers are wondering if the program will arrive in time for them.

“We have people with over 35 years of experience waiting to retire here, and it’s a shame that many of them could walk out the door without the ability to pass on that knowledge,” said David Maxwell, 64.

Maxwell is an air quality specialist with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Maxwell said if the bureau does offer the program, he’d be interested.

In a statement, BLM said the Interior Department recently issued guidance and “expects to complete a draft phased-retirement policy by the spring of 2016.”

Reasons for delays One explanation for the ongoing delays is that agreements must first be struck between management and labor unions.

Email and phone requests for comment to AFGE, the largest federal labor union, were not returned.

There are also just basic difficulties of scale. How do you offer the same option to all workers when not all jobs are created equal?

“A lot of these people who would qualify

for phased retirement are senior staff and managers,” said Jessica Klement, legislative director for National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE). “How do you allow someone who is managing a department to take off two days per week?”

Klement said union members are calling asking when phased retirement will come to their agency. “I just don’t think there is a strong desire from federal agencies to do this,” she said.

In the private sector, some older workers looking to spend less time in the office are simply leaving one job for another.

Sally Korth, 65, has spent almost 40 years in the healthcare industry — first as an emergency room nurse and later as an executive overseeing the transition to electronic medical records for large corporate accounts.

“I was working 60 to 70 hours per week.

One Christmas I was spending some time with my kids and grandchildren, and I just thought, ‘What am I doing?’”

So, Korth took a new job for significantly less pay, and recently scaled back her hours to four days per week. “That extra day off is huge,” she said.

As for Roberton Williams, he hopes to cut back to four days a week next year — and then finally retire at 70, “whether I like it or not.”

— AP

BEACON BITS

Jan. 21+

MODERATE INCOME HOUSING APPLICATIONS

The Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development (HCHCD) is accepting applications through Jan. 29 for its Moderate Income Housing Unit (MIHU) program. It will hold a free workshop on Thursday, Jan. 21 to explain the program’s eligibility requirements and the application process for prospective homebuyers and renters. The workshop is open to the public and will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Gateway Building, 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive in Columbia. For more information or to register for the workshop, call (410) 313-6343. To enroll in the MIHU program, call (410) 313-6318 (select option 4), or visit www.howardcountymd.gov/housingmihu.htm.

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Travel

27

Leisure &

How to bid on hotel rooms of your choice. See story on page 29.

Cozumel — part Mexico, part Caribbean Non-swimmers may enjoy close-up introductions to creatures large and small in a glass bottom boat or mini-submarine, during a dolphin show, by checking out resident crocodiles in their lair, and by observing endangered sea turtle hatchlings making their way to the Caribbean waters where they will spend their lives.

© SHUTTERSTOCK/SCOTTEN

By Victor Block Much about the island of Cozumel says Mexico.

Scattered archeological sites hint of the rich Mayan civilization that once flourished there. Parts of San Miguel, the only town, retain the charms of typical villages that are common throughout the rest of the country on the nearby mainland. One of those is the Sunday evening gathering of people along the malecon (esplanade), where parents show off their spiffily dressed children.

At the same time, Cozumel also proudly proclaims “Caribbean.”

White sand beaches are fringed by stately palm trees. The center of the island is covered by dense jungle and swampy lagoons. Activities common to Caribbean islands greet visitors, from sunbathing to sightseeing to snorkeling.

Lying 12 miles off the east coast of Mexico, Cozumel is known for offering deep sea diving that’s among the best in the world. It’s ringed by an underwater wonderland of Technicolor coral heads and submarine gardens that are home to an almost unimaginable variety of sea life.

Venture beyond tourist zone

© SHUTTERSTOCK/TONY MORAN

Most travelers to Cozumel begin their visit in San Miguel, where most island residents live. Once a sleepy village, it has evolved into a popular cruise ship destination, where passengers descend to patronize chain restaurants, jewelry stores and other shops near the docks.

My advice: Venture just a few blocks inland to find a more mellow setting that retains the heart and soul of the original community. There, sidewalks are lined by small, family-owned stores and eateries where locals go. El Mercado, the oldest market on the island, houses a warren of tiny shops and restaurants offering traditional food.

The Museo de la Isla de Cozumel (Cozumel Museum) introduces visitors to the island’s past and culture.

Exhibits include a variety of ancient Mayan relics and a thatched hut, which provides insight into the domestic life of pre-Columbian civilization — noted for its hieroglyphic script, architecture and other advanced accomplishments.

In fact, Cozumel derived its name from the Mayans who settled there some 2,000 years ago. They believed the island to be the home of Ixchel (pronounced ee-shell’), the goddess of love and fertility.

According to legend, their construction of temA Mayan dancer plays a flute and drum in Cozumel. Dance was a central component of social and political life for the Mayans who first settled this Mexican island 2,000 years ago.

Tulum is one of the best-preserved coastal Mayan ruins sites. The walled city, built 800 years ago, served as a fortress against enemies approaching by sea and is perched on top of a cliff 40 feet above the Caribbean Sea. It’s a popular day trip from nearby Cozumel.

ples dedicated to Ixchel earned her gratitude, and in return she sent her favorite bird — the swallow — as a token of thanks. The Mayan words Kozom (swallow) and Lumil (land) were compacted to Kozomil (Land of the Swallows) and it stuck.

A more mundane explanation of the name is that it refers to the large number of those birds that stop over during their annual migration from North to South America.

In the Mayans’ footsteps Visitors who explore reminders of Ixchel are following in the footsteps of the Mayans who made a religious pilgrimage to Cozumel. More than 30 archeological sites have been documented on the island.

Present-day San Gervasio was, and is, the most important setting. Sacbes (ancient elevated roads) connect several architectural complexes, including temples, an ossuary and ceremonial centers. Painted red handprints of unknown significance adorn the walls of the Temple of the Hands, and signs of a mural painting remain visible in another structure.

The name of another site, El Caracol (the snail), relates to a conch-shaped building which, according to folklore, acted as a whistle when strong winds blew

through it to alert people of an approaching tropical storm. Another theory is that the structure functioned as a kind of lighthouse. However, those in the know insist that neither of those tales is true.

One of the least impressive archeological sites became one of my favorite locations, but not because of the Mayan connection itself. The temple at El Cedral was an important ceremonial place and the hub of Mayan life on the island.

When Spanish Conquistadors landed on Cozumel in 1518, they destroyed the structure, and the remaining portion provides little evidence of its past glory.

However, I found the charming village that surrounds the ruin, which is nestled in the dense jungle, to offer a pleasant contrast with the hustle and bustle of San Miguel. The unpaved streets lead past colorfully painted, miniscule houses that caught my fancy.

Beaches, parks — and pirates It’s also possible to find soothing settings at some beaches, while others are more developed and crowded.

There are inviting stretches of golden sand along the west side of the island, facSee COZUMEL, page 28

28

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Cozumel From page 27 ing the mainland of Mexico. On the lessdeveloped, eastern (Caribbean Sea) side, quiet beaches are interspersed between rock-strewn areas, and the strong breakers and undertow discourage swimming.

Cozumel also is home to parks and preserves that show off both Mother Nature’s handiworks and man-made attractions.

The Faro Celerain Ecological Reserve, which sprawls across the southern tip of the island, does both.

The park protects a mixture of man-

groves, lagoons, coastal dunes and reef systems that provide a refuge for a variety of wildlife — including crocodiles, iguanas and resident and migratory birds.

Hardy folks who climb to the top of a towering more-than-century-old lighthouse enjoy magnificent views over the setting, while exhibits in a small museum at ground level are devoted to topics that range from maritime navigation to pirates.

Speaking of which, Cozumel once provided a safe haven for buccaneers who roamed the Caribbean Sea, including the notorious Henry Morgan and Jean Lafitte.

At times, the cutthroats hid their ill-gotten

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

treasures in the catacombs and tunnels of abandoned Mayan structures.

Chankanaab Park (Mayan for “Small Sea”) includes enough to-see’s and to-do’s to satisfy many interests. Visitors may stroll through a lush botanical garden, study the colorful inhabitants of a natural aquarium, and enjoy a close-up view of the only inland coral reef formation in the world. There are areas devoted to diving and snorkeling, and opportunities to swim with dolphins.

The complex also recognizes the pervading Mayan influence. It features dozens of replicas of archeological sites, and a working Mayan house that brings to life daily chores of ancient times, like cooking, weaving and planting crops.

A more participatory experience awaits those who take part in a temazcal — a Mayan sweat lodge session that also is available elsewhere on the island. Warning: you will sweat more than you ever thought possible.

One of the most pleasant surprises during my visit to Cozumel with my wife Fyllis was how much I enjoyed the kind of attraction that I typically avoid. Why, I wondered, should we spend time visiting a Mexican cultural theme park when the real Mexico is just outside? As it turned out, I was happy that Fyllis insisted we check out aptly named Discover Mexico.

We began by watching a multi-screen presentation that traces the country’s history and describes its cultures. Then we admired a collection of native art and crafts created by artisans from around the nation.

This was followed by the main attraction. Our stroll through a setting of coconut palms, banana trees and other tropical vegetation, along pathways shared with turtles and iguanas, would have been reason enough for me to be glad we dropped by. But that was just the beginning.

The trail led to more than three dozen meticulously detailed scale models of Mexico’s most famous archeological sites and buildings. Replicas of structures from the Mayan, Aztec and Colonial periods stand near models of contemporary architectural treasures like the magnificent Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City.

Alternating with signs that offer information about the undersized edifices are others that provide interesting, if to me somewhat bizarre, tidbits. For example, I learned that Mexico has the highest consumption of Coca-Cola in the world, and that the Caesar Salad was invented in Tijuana. (Note to readers who may be skeptical of these claims: I verified them through

an Internet search.)

Speaking of food, a variety of regional items is on the menu at the Visit Mexico snack bar, and where there’s food, there’s drink. In Mexico, that usually means tequila, which locals light-heartedly refer to as “Mexican water.” Visitors to the theme park have an opportunity to discover how tequila is made, then sample several different brands.

Sipping tequila is about as Mexican as it gets. So, too, is much about the island of Cozumel — which, at the same time, offers attractions usually associated with other Caribbean islands. That combination presents visitors with the best of both worlds.

If you go Few resorts immerse their guests more in the culture of the destination than the Presidente Intercontinental Cozumel Resort & Spa. The temazcal sweat lodge experience is just the beginning. Many signs throughout the hotel recall the Mayan language, like those for the adult swimming pool (sayab, ocean of tranquility) and lobby bar (Bin K’iin, sunset).

Some traditional Mayan dishes are served in the main restaurant, and the spa incorporates ancient Mayan traditions into treatments.

Mayan art decorates guest rooms, and instead of a chocolate left on pillows, a pamphlet recounts a different Mayan legend each night. My favorite relates how Zamina, creator of the universe, fell in love with the Goddess Ixchel.

Rates at the Presidente Cozumel begin at $282, in keeping with its upscale ambience and attractions. For information or reservations, call 1-800-344-0548 or log onto presidentecozumel.com.

Among cuisines served at the hotel’s four restaurants are northern Italian, international fare and, of course, Mexican dishes. A more local dining experience awaits a short walk away at the casual Money Bar. Given its oceanside setting, the focus there is on dishes like seafood soup ($8) and fish filet with three side dishes ($12). More information is available by calling (987) 8695141, or visit moneybarbeachclub.com.

In San Muguel, the Casa Denis has been serving meals out of the family home at Calle 1 #132 Centro since 1945. The extensive menu includes snapper filet ($13), beefsteak with onions ($10) and chicken “10 ways” ($10). For more information, visit casadenis.com or call (987) 872-0067.

Information about Cozumel is available at www.cozumel.travel.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 26+

YOU’RE TALKING MY LANGUAGE

The Columbia Association’s World Languages Café provides evenings of conversations and culture in more than a dozen languages. It now meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the 50+ Center at East Columbia Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, from 7 to 9 p.m. Languages include American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, Farsi, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Turkish. Native speakers facilitate conversation. Most people who attend already have some fluency in the language and can put sentences together; these gatherings are not grammar or vocabulary classes. For more information, email International@ColumbiaAssociation.org or call Laura Smit at (410) 715-3162.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6

29

How to bid for rooms at a choice of hotels Bidding on the price of a hotel room doesn’t limit you to “opaque” bids where you don’t know the specific hotel you’ve “won” until after you’ve made a nonrefundable booking. That’s the Priceline model, and certainly the most popular.

But, fortunately, it’s not the only bidding model. I know of four online agencies that allow you to bid on rooms at hotels that you know from the get-go.

tourist hotels to five-star luxury properties.

You can filter the list by star ratings, but not by location within a metro area. You just have to hunt through the list to find those in your preferred area.

In this system, you — and, presumably other travelers — enter a nonrefundable and nonretractable bid. If a hotel has multiple bids for the same specific dates, it accepts the highest bid at the time the auction Onlybidding.com closes, and the hotel asks you TRAVEL TIPS This appears to be the most to pay. It’s not clear whether

By Ed Perkins fully realized of the group I some hotels may accept more checked. It lists hundreds of hotels than one bid, but they may. throughout the U.S. and most of the rest of the world, including some pretty small Extendedstayer.com This site, as its name suggests, concencities. And, at least nominally, lots of hotels trates on weekly and monthly accommodaappear to be playing.

In London, for example, a search returned tions. As far as I can tell, its inventory is lima list of some 1,100 hotels, of which more ited to U.S. cities, with nothing in Canada or than 400 were open to offers for the test Europe.

You don’t actually bid rates, yourself. Indates I entered. They ranged from one-star

BEACON BITS PHILADELPHIA IN BLOOM

Mar. 7

The Recreation Dept. will be visiting the 2016 Flower Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia on Monday, March 7. This year the theme is Explore America and focuses on National Parks. There is a lot of walking and lunch is on your own, onsite or at nearby historic Reading Terminal Market. The trip costs $86 and leaves from the Bain Center and Long Gate Park and Ride around 8 a.m. and returns at 7 p.m. To sign up or for more information, refer to trip RP4505.701 and call (410) 313-7279.

Mar. 18

ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day a day early. Enjoy lunch at the Tir Na Nog Irish Restaurant at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, then stroll and shop along the Inner Harbor. The trip costs $85, including lunch, and leaves from the Bain Center and Long Gate Park and Ride around 10 a.m. and returns at 4 p.m. To sign up or for more information, refer to trip RP4512.701 and call (410) 313-7279.

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stead, you post where and when you want to stay, with a one-week minimum, and the agency runs your proposed stay by participating hotels, any of which returns an offer to you if it’s interested.

The agency claims to have more than 30,000 “partner” participating hotels. When you get one or more bids, you can choose the best offer and accept it. If none of the bids appeals to you, you aren’t obligated to buy. You pay nothing up front. As far as I can tell, you can’t specify a preferred location within a metro area.

MyRoomBid.com This site concentrates on hotels in Cyprus, Indonesia, Morocco, the Philippines, and Thailand. It employs a more conventional bidding process.

You check its list of participating hotels, and if you see one you like, you enter a bid.

The hotel either accepts your bid or returns a counter offer. The system allows you three bids per inquiry. You also have a “buy now” option.

You can filter by location in some cases, and you can select from a list of 10 accommodation types, such as “hotel,” “villa,” or “serviced apartment.”

When I checked, the inventory seemed to be quite limited. It reported only one hotel in Bangkok; most of the Thailand of-

fers seemed to be villas in resort areas.

RoomAuction.com RoomAuction.com concentrates on hotels in the UK, although it lists some throughout the world. When I checked for London, the site returned a long list of hotels, but only eight were accepting bids — the others were simply fixed-price bookings.

None of the eight bid acceptors was a standout; most were modest, and several were well out of the city center. You can’t filter the list at all.

The process is straightforward: Select a hotel and submit a nonbinding bid. You can bid on more than one hotel at the same time. Accept the bid you prefer.

This is my first look at transparent bidding sites. I haven’t actually tried any of them, so I’m obviously not vouching for any.

I’d like to hear from readers who have some experience with using these or others.

Meanwhile, the strategy is obvious: Before you submit a bid on any given hotel, check out the best available rates through any big search engine. Then bid something at least 25 to 30 percent below the lowest posted price and see whether you get any bites.

Send e-mail to Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net. © 2015 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Style Arts &

Kent Haruf’s last novel offers a moving story of late-life love. See review, page 33.

First timer’s musical looking for a stage

No musical background A lifelong creative writer and education professional, Westmoreland has always enjoyed attending musicals, from Kinky Boots to Man of LaMancha.

But she never imagined that writing a

musical would be on her resume. In fact, she has never had formal musical training.

“I can’t even carry a tune,” she joked.

She does, however, have experience helping young people with their writing. “It was so natural of me to utter the two words ‘Just Soar,’ because I formalized my SOAR (Success Oriented Aims & Results) Program in 2004 at South Carolina State University.” There she taught students how to craft successful resumes and cover letters.

Without musical training, Westmoreland only had the lyrics and the tune of her single, and no way to formally record it and shop it around to find someone to produce it.

She turned to the local community to solve her problem, and met Demetrius Taylor, a music teacher at Deerpark Middle Magnet School in Randallstown, Md. He listened to her lyrics and melody, scored the piece, and had his students perform it in their spring concert. “The crowd went wild when the children sang,” she said.

Her next step was finding a star vocalist to showcase the song. Westmoreland decided to hold a contest to find a dynamic, powerhouse singer to produce a highquality studio recording.

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Listening to the vocalist bring her song to life, she felt the beginnings of a story. Two weeks later, she began writing the rest of the musical.

Developing the story Just Soar is the story of Mike, a young college graduate, who is struggling to find forward momentum in his career and in his life.

The program opens with him waiting tables, which See MUSICAL, page 32

Broadway aficionado and education professional Gayle Westmoreland, who says she can’t carry a tune, was inspired to write the lyrics, story and much of the music for a musical she has titled Just Soar. She is now hoping to find a way to stage it locally.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GAYLE WESTMORELAND

By Rebekah Sewell Four years ago, Columbia resident Gayle Westmoreland was watching the news when inspiration struck. Her television was filled with bleak news about the high unemployment rates in America and Europe, and suddenly the words “Just Soar” appeared in her mind.

Those two words began an unexpected chain reaction for Westmoreland. After jotting them down, she developed them into what she thought was a poem. Pretty soon, a catchy, upbeat tune popped into her head and she converted the “poem” into a show tune.

After much work, she now has a fullscale musical, which follows a young man’s quest to find a fulfilling career and settle down, focusing on the positive attitude it took to make it all happen. “Just Soar” became the title song and the name of the musical.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6

Mystery writer From page 1 The young sleuth has been cited as a formative influence by, among others, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, and former First Lady Laura Bush.

Self-publishing empire McIntire’s career involved working for several nonprofits, including a company involved in agricultural research. “What’s coming out of there would really make good science fiction!,” she said.

She is now is a fulltime novelist, publisher and marketer for Summit Crossroads Press, a publishing house she owns and operates in Columbia with her husband, Dr. Roger McIntire. [See “Creating their own publishing company,” below.]

Roger is a child and family counseling expert, who writes and publishes books for parents. Eileen’s mystery writing wife is published by Amanita Books, the fiction imprint of Summit Crossroads. The McIntires have four grown children.

Eileen McIntire noted that she works on her novels from nine to noon daily, then does publishing company business from 1:30 to 5 p.m., “After that, I have other

Creating their own publishing company The McIntires created Summit Crossroads Press in 1993 to publish the books of Dr. Roger McIntire, who was retiring after 32 years at the University of Maryland, where he taught child psychology and principles of family counseling and therapy.

“After retiring from the university, my husband wanted to write. I had always been writing and editing, so we decided that we could make a publishing company work,” said Eileen McIntire.

The daily grind involves “lots of marketing and promoting to go along with the writing and the publishing, but so far it’s working. We’ve been around a pretty long time and have a lot of books [to sell],” she said.

Summit Crossroads has published six of Roger McIntire’s works on raising children, while Amanita Books, a Summit imprint for fiction begun in 2010, has so far put out the three 90s Club mysteries and one other novel by Eileen.

While the company started out as strictly a family affair, in 2013 it began publishing from its small office in Columbia what it calls “First-Person His-

tory Series.” These are autobiographies, biographies and journals by other writers. So far, three of these books have been published.

Right now, Summit Crossroads Press is “not actively seeking” books by other authors. “Most of our time now is spent trying to find ways to sell the books we have published,“ she said, but added that the company could “possibly expand” in the near future.

For publishers, large or small, the changes in the book industry have been huge, McIntire noted. “When we started Summit Crossroads, there was no Amazon.com or online bookstores.

Now we have Amazon and print-on-demand and e-books — all the better for independent publishers.”

One of the ways the McIntires took advantage of the changes was by joining the Independent Publishers Association. The group brought the McIntires’ works to the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany, which “worked out for us,” with their books being “picked up in eight other countries.”

— Robert Friedman

things to do,” she said.

McIntire is a member of the Chesapeake chapter of Sisters in Crime, which boasts some 3,600 members in 50 chapters worldwide. Members aren’t criminals, but rather women writers of mysteries — as well as readers, publishers, agents, booksellers and others — who band together to network and share advice and support.

The group was founded in 1986 in Baltimore. It also works to promote women writers in the mystery genre, which, until recently, had been overwhelmingly represented by male authors. “I’m really a strong advocate for making it fairer for women,” McIntire said.

Now living with her husband in a single family home, she picked up some tips on senior villages when the couple lived for a year and a half at Riderwood, an Erickson retirement community in Silver Spring.

The McIntires moved to Columbia when they needed more room as their publishing business grew.

In her books, the 90s club members reside in the fictitious Whisperwood Retirement Village in the mountains of West Virginia. The village is upscale and “more like a luxury resort, or like a cruise ship,” McIntire noted. “No one would call it an old folk’s home.”

And since the residents are “well-to-do

YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONCERTS February 20, 2016 10:30am & 1:00pm

and tend to be courteous and trusting, and less likely to report a fraud,” that’s where the scammers, and even killers, do their nefarious things in the McIntire novels.

“I had fun imaging a gang of online and telemarketing scanners setting up in one of the apartments,” said McIntire. “The retirement villages with 1,000 residents or more and all kinds of activities are better than Victorian mansions for mysterious possibilities.”

Genteel, not gory The author is adamant in noting that her books are “cozy mysteries,” by which she means they “don’t dwell on blood or gore or sex or swear words.”

She added: “I stay away from drug deals. I write about a more genteel group of people than your corner druggie.”

Still, there is a murder committed in The 90s Club & the Secret of the Old Clock, and there are scams galore, attempted and achieved. But the crimes are carried out more within the tradition of an Agatha Christie, rather than a Mickey Spillane, mystery.

What is the secret of the old clock? Well, let’s just say it has historical significance, and you will have to take the 282-page literary trip among the non-stereotypical seniors to find out.

BEACON BITS

Feb. 3

UNITED SENIORS OF MARYLAND FORUM

United Seniors of Maryland will hold its annual forum on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at the President’s Conference Center, Main Floor West Wing, Miller Senate Office Building, 11 Bladen St., in Annapolis. The program runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The program includes a welcome from Gov. Larry Hogan, status of legislation affecting seniors, meeting with your legislators and more. Call Elizabeth at (410) 608-7966 or email ew@elizabethcooneyagency.com to volunteer or for more information. Fee for attendees is $15 and includes continental breakfast and a box lunch. Mail payment in full to USM, P.O. Box 1094, Sparks, MD 21152, or register and pay online at www.unitedseniors.net.

Feb. 4+

WINTER ARTS FESTIVAL

The Columbia Festival of the Arts presents its winter festival, running weekends from Feb. 4 to 21. Embracing the theme “Beyond The Blues,” the festival includes 10 events, including the Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour; August Wilson’s play Gem of the Ocean; two Sundance Award Winning Films, Fruitvale Station and 20 Feet From Stardom; six short plays from New Theatre Movement Black Lives, Black Words, and more.

Tickets and more information are available at www.columbiafestival.org, or call (410) 715-3044.

2015/16 SEASON DAYBREAK OF FREEDOM January 30, 2016 7:30pm

2015-2016 Chamber Music Series Saturdays at 8:00 PM Smith Theatre !Columbia

Baroque Band February 6, 2016

BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5 ROSSINI: Overture to The Barber of Seville SCHWANTNER: New Morning for the World Michael Edwards, narrator

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Tickets range from $10-$25

Kids can try their favorite instruments at our free Musical Instrument Petting Zoo from 11:30-1:00!

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31

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32

Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Musical From page 30 he’s done aimlessly for the past year since graduating.

His ultimate goal is to work as a counselor with underprivileged inner city youth, but his lack of foresight during college left him without a clear path and no experience.

Counseling at that level requires a graduate degree, and he is unable to pay for it.

The lead also has a romantic subplot concerning his girlfriend Sara, whom he’s dated six years with no talk of an engagement or marriage. She’s eager to settle down, but he’s not ready yet.

The musical features several songs ad-

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

dressing this issue, including the sassy “What About Us?,” penned by Westmoreland’s musical son Howard. He wanted the song to truly reflect Sara’s frustration with her noncommittal partner.

“He listened to and critiqued my other music,” Westmoreland said, “and he provided much positive feedback and support — including a lot of laughter when I became frustrated.”

The rest of the musical follows Mike’s interaction with various characters, including his concerned parents, Sara, his friend Stan, and close female friend (and almost love interest) Lynn. They are all impacted in some way by Mike’s journey, and we witness some of their own quests to

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

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P O T S A R O T Y O R E S E E S A O R T E A R S H E A R O T S N D P I N A N E V E I C Y T N T R E S O V E R K I K S S I

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achieve their goals.

Westmoreland holds the strong belief that a “latent talent may lead to success,” so she wrote the character of Mike with several positive attributes to help him find his way. He’s likable, well-meaning and independent, and was a star swimmer during college.

His athletic prowess is what leads him to a fulfilling — and advantageous — career in the Coast Guard, rescuing victims from the sea. The Guard also offers him a free graduate degree for serving. In the end, he finally proposes to Sara and realizes he wants to settle down now that he’s found a good career.

“My first exposure to a musical was The Wizard of Oz,” Westmoreland recalled. “In a sense, I think I was influenced by the structure of The Wizard of Oz when I developed Just Soar.

“Just as Dorothy was faced with many challenges, and through her difficulties, learned, grew and transitioned, so Mike, the main character in my musical, has many trials before he attains both personal and professional goals,” she said.

Getting it to the stage Westmoreland went to the Peabody Conservatory Career Center to find someone who was willing to help her find vocalists, studio recorders, and to make suggestions on her score choices.

Nathan Hook, a former music student, undertook the position and helped her

simplify the music she’d written and get it professionally recorded. These recordings have helped her showcase the music to prospective collaborators.

Creating the musical has been a great experience, she said. She’s learned varying skills, from useful business and marketing tactics, to scoring songs through music software programs.

On the other hand, finding singers, hiring collaborators, and buying studio time has been costly. “I’ve spent a lot of my own money doing this,” she said.

So Westmoreland said she has no further musical writing ambitions. “I will not plan another massive project like this for several reasons — the expense, identifying apt musicians, and the commitment of time,” she explained.

In fact, Westmoreland has stopped trying to get Just Soar to the stage on her own. She’s currently in talks with a Baltimore college about a potential production.

But her dreams are still huge. “I visualize this musical going worldwide if the project were to hit New York’s Broadway,” she said. “This story is everyman’s story.

Each person either knows someone, or is that someone, who has not attained personal or professional fulfillment. This play is the answer, and reveals a simple pathway to success,” she said.

Listen to one of the musical’s songs at www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhHIIqilKcA.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6

33

His last novel: Finding love in late life

By Carol Sorgen Both elegant and eloquent, Our Souls at Night is a sparely written look at love in late life, with its unexpected joys and — not unsurprisingly — its accompanying heartache and heartbreak.

Author Kent Haruf, who died in 2014 at the age of 71, is the author of five previous novels. Our Souls at Night, published last year, is his final work.

Like his previous works of fiction, Our Souls at Night is set in the fictional town of Holt, Colorado. Seventy-year-old Addie Moore, a widow of many years, unexpectedly visits her neighbor, widower Louis Waters.

The two of them and their spouses had known each other for years but did not socialize even though Addie was very fond of Louis’s wife.

Addie makes Louis a proposal: that he begin spending nights with her — not for physical intimacy, but for the intimacy of

companionship. Simply to lie next to each other and to talk.

After some consideration, Louis agrees, and the two start “keeping company.”

Their relationship develops from nighttime visits (which the all-seeing neighbors become aware of in short order) to daytime outings, a shared dog they adopt to help her visiting grandson through a difficult time, and ultimately, albeit briefly, the intimacy they weren’t sure they even wanted or needed in their lives anymore.

They are both surprised and delighted at this turn of events. As Addie says, “Who would have thought at this time in our lives that we’d still have something like this. That it turns out we’re not finished with changes and excitements. And not all dried up in body and spirit.”

Their small-town neighbors first looked askance at their arrangement, but eventu-

ally come to accept it — or at least to mind their own business.

Not so their children. Louis’s daughter and Addie’s son are none too pleased about the relationship. They make their feelings known — in the case of Addie’s son, cruelly and heartlessly.

The muse at work In his final interview, conducted a few days before his death from interstitial lung disease, Haruf discussed the writing of Our Souls at Night: “The idea for the book has been floating around in my mind for quite a while. Now that I know I have, you know — a limited time — it was important to me to try to make good use of that time.

“Typically, I have always had a story pretty well plotted out before I start writing. This time I knew generally where the story was going, but I didn’t know very

many of the details.

“So as it happened, I went out every day trusting myself to be able to add to the story each day. I essentially wrote a new short chapter of the book every day. I’ve never had that experience before.

“I don’t want to get too fancy about it, but it was like something else was working to help me get this done. Call it a muse or spiritual guidance, I don’t know. All I know is that the trust I had in being able to write every day was helpful.”

Both bittersweet (in part because we know that this was Haruf’s last book) and hopeful, Our Souls at Night explores latelife romances, and the idea that we’re never too old to create a relationship that works for who we are now, and not necessarily who we have been.

Our Souls at Night is available from bookstores and online for $24.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 27+

AVOIDING FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION, FRAUDS AND SCAMS

Hear about financial frauds and scams, then learn the tell-tale signs and how to protect yourself and your loved ones in a program with the Howard County Police Department that will be held on two dates: On Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the Glenwood Branch Library, 2350 Route 97, Cooksville (register by calling (410) 313-5577), and on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia (register by calling (410) 313-7800).

Jan. 26

BRAIN AEROBICS

Give your brain a workout. Enhance your memory and have fun by challenging your brain with puzzles, word games and other smart tasks at the Miller Branch Library on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 10:30 a.m. The library is located at 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Register by calling (410) 313-1950.

Jan. 25

ASK THE PHARMACIST

Pharmacist Don Hamilton will provide updates and important information concerning your medications. Bring your questions, your drug lists, or your prescription containers to confidentially discuss your current medication concerns. The program takes place on Monday, Jan. 25 at 11 a.m. at the Ellicott City 50+ Center, 9401 Frederick Rd., Ellicott Center. For more information, call (410) 313-1421.

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F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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Crossword Puzzle

PUZZLE PAGE

Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Homophones for Gramophone 1

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By Stephen Sherr

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Across 1. With 69 Across, singer of the 1972 song featured in this puzzle 6. Ladybug/leopard link 11. Netflix mailer 14. Neil Armstrong took one for all of us 15. It may reveal your future 16. Host city of the 2016 Olympics 17. Welcome to one's good ole' days!

18. Jabber on and on 20. Alternative to "believe it" 21. Responses just said to Nancy Reagan 22. In good taste 24. DEA target 25. Important artery 26. Work on the Appleseed family quilt 31. Third rock 34. Dance Moms performers 35. Get the latest gossip 37. ___ the line 38. Like a cool day in hell 39. Good ones don't have holes 41. Air Jordan maker 42. Request permission 43. "Hmmm ... try it to the left ___" 44. Going steady 46. Nugget of wisdom 48. They point straight to a rooster's heart 50. The seventh storm, some years 52. Aloof 53. Well-behaved 55. Network founded by Ted Turner 56. Deflategate stat 59. Fondue feature 60. Title with three triple homophones 64. Ingredient in Hawaiian Beef Stew 65. Sign, or sign up 66. ... ___ Mockingbird 67. "I could go on" 68. Looks for the hiders 69. See 1 Across

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Down 1. First off-er 2. One lower than soprano 3. Use half of one's R&R time 4. Non-clerical 5. MAYPOLE middle 6. Walked confidently 7. Selects debit or credit 8. The treasure of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre 9. Stick figure's line of symmetry 10. One at the wheel 11. Ginned up drink 12. Medicine bottle 13. Lethargic 18. Dusty 23. Southwest suspicion 24. Chop off 25. "History is ___ of lies agreed upon" (Napoleon) 26. Bra feature 27. Wipe clean 28. Not a nine to fiver 29. Boy named in Johnny Cash's top charting song 30. She was spun off from Minneapolis in 1974 32. Car wash coin 33. Obeys the warning 36. ___ of Love (Andrew Lloyd Webber musical) 40. It flows on Kilauea 41. Dir. from Madrid to Paris 43. Very alert 45. Wrigley Field feature 47. Letters on a Halloween decoration 49. They went back-to-back in XXIII and XXIV 51. Unmanned aerial vehicle, briefly 53. Francis was the Americas' first 54. Donnybrook 55. Star ___ 56. It may reveal your future 57. It might hold an LFM-25C Titan II missile (or corn) 58. Gone ___ instant 61. Native of the Beehive State 62. Approves 63. Good roll at a Roman casino

Answers on page 32.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6

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.

For Sale 2 SALVADOR DALI woodblock prints from Dante’s Divine Comedy. Signed and framed.

Asking $900 for the pair. Can email pictures if desired. Call Steve 410-913-1653.

Home/Handyman Services BALTIMORE’S BEST JUNK REMOVAL – Clean Outs: Whole House, Emergency, Attics/Basements. Furniture and Junk Removal, Yard Waste Removal, General Hauling, Construction Debris Removal. Free estimates.

10% Senior Discount. Licensed, Bonded and Insured. Call Jesse, 443-379-HAUL (4285).

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Home/Handyman Services SANFORD & SON HAULING & RECYCLING. Trash + Junk removal, house & estate cleanouts, garage + basement cleanouts. Demolition – Shed, deck fence + pool removal. Licensed + insured. Free estimates over the phone. Call 7 days a week, 7 am to 7 pm. 410746-5090.

Wanted FINE ANTIQUES, PAINTINGS AND QUALITY VINTAGE FURNISHINGS wanted by a serious capable buyer. I am very well educated [law degree] knowledgeable [over 40 years in the antique business] and have the finances and wherewithal to handle virtually any situation. If you have a special item, collection or important estate I would like to hear from you. I pay great prices for great things in all categories from oriental rugs to Tiffany objects, from rare clocks to firearms, from silver and gold to classic cars. If it is wonderful, I am interested. No phony promises or messy consignments. References gladly furnished. Please call Jake Lenihan, 301-279-8834. Thank you.

WE BUY JEWELRY, SILVER, GOLD, AND COSTUME. Coins, Paper Money Too. Watches, Clocks, Military Badges and Patches Old and New. Call Greg, 717-658-7954.

OLD AND NEW, WE BUY STERLING SILVER FLATWARE, Tea Sets, Single Pieces of Silver, Large pieces of Silver Plate. Attic, Basement or Garage. Call Greg, 717-658-7954. You have something to SELL, we are looking to BUY. VINYL RECORDS WANTED from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201.

COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, rifles, shot guns, knives, swords, bayonets, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars and countries. Large quantities are okay. Will pay top prices for my personal collection. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-910-0783.

TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED Deadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 5th of each month.

Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question.

Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards.

Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $10 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word.

Business Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing business enterprise.

Each ad is $25 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word.

Note: Each real estate listing counts as one business text ad.

Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:

The Beacon, Baltimore Classified Dept.

P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227 BEACON BITS

Feb. 2+

WELLNESS FOR WOMEN Find peace and balance through this four-part wellness series that

examines your current routines and habits before introducing easy strategies that empower you. Learn how to manage stress; and receive related materials (healthy food and drink samples, a reflection journal, and various self-care supplies). The cost of the class, sponsored by the Howard Country Dept. of Recreation, is $64 plus $10 for materials. It will be held in two locations: Tuesdays, starting Feb. 2 from 7 to 8 p.m. at Lake Elkhorn Middle School, 6680 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, and Thursdays, starting Feb. 4 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the N. Laurel Community Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Rd., Laurel. For more information or to register, call (410) 313-7275 or see www.howardcountymd.gov/rap.

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Research Studies

Cancer Survivor Spirit Study . . . . . .15 Dementia Behavior Study . . . . . . . . .14 Fall Prevention Balance Study . . . . .14 Fall Prevention Sturdy Study . . . . . .15

Events

Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 COGS Monthly Meeting . . . . . . . . . .10

Financial Services

PenFed Financial Services . . . . . . . .25

Funeral Services

Harry H. Witzke’s Family Funeral Home, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Going Home Cremations . . . . . . . . .15 Sol Levinson & Bros., Inc. . . . . . . . .22

Hearing Services

Miracle-Ear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Home Health Care

A-1 Action Nursing Care . . . . . . . . .10 Homewatch Caregivers . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Options for Senior America . . . . . . . .6

35

Housing

Alta at Regency Crest . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Brightview Senior Living . . . . . . . . .16 Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Buckingham’s Choice/Integrace . . . .14 Charlestown/Erickson Living . . . . . .25 Country Gardens Assisted Living . . . .6 Fairhaven/Integrace . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Gatherings at Quarry Place/Beazer Homes . . . . . .24 Heartlands of Ellicott City . . . . . . . .23 Homecrest House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Homewood at Frederick . . . . . . . . . .32 Ivy Manor Normandy . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Olney Assisted Living . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Park View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33w Ryan Homes/Legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Shriner Court/Quantum . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Somerford Place/ 5 Star Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Vantage House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Legal Services

Frank, Frank & Scherr, LLC . . . . . . .26 Law Office of Karen Ellsworth . . . . .22

Medical/Health

BW Eye Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Medical Eye Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 World Class Chiropractic . . . . . . . . . .7

Real Estate

The Bob Lucido Team . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Retail

Comic Book Collector . . . . . . . . . . .30 Columbia’s Village Centers . . . . . . .28

Senior Services

The Senior Connection . . . . . . . .17-20

Skilled Nursing & Rehab

CommuniCare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Theatre/Entertainment

Candlelight Concert Society . . . . . . .31 Columbia Orchestra . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . . . .30

Tour & Travel

Eyre Tour & Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Volunteers

Meals on Wheels of Central MD . . .11

36 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

February 2016

UPCOMING SEMINARS & EVENTS at Brooke Grove retirement village

As experts in senior care and memory support, Brooke Grove Retirement Village is pleased to offer seminars and events that promote physical, spiritual and mental well-being.

All seminars and events will be held at Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, located at 18131 Slade School Road on the Brooke Grove Retirement Village Campus.

Please register with Toni Davis at 301-388-7209 or tdavis@bgf.org.

Support for the Caregiver Seminar: Stress and the caregiver How to take care of yourself February 16, 2-3 p.m.

Join professional care manager Susy Elder Murphy for a discussion on dealing with the stress of caregiving and how to practice good self-care.

FREE. Register by February 14.

Living Well Seminar: Tackle the paperwork pileup February 17, 7-8:15 p.m.

Get your paperwork in order for tax season, learn maintenance strategies and clarify what you should keep or toss. Light complimentary dinner at 6:30 p.m. FREE. Register by February 15.

Alzheimer’s support group February 17, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association, this confidential group provides an opportunity for individuals and families to find support, gain understanding and share caregiving tips.

FREE. Register by February 15.

18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 301-260-2320 www.bgf.org

Independent living assisted living rehabilitation long-term care memory support