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Unique club’s place in history

The club’s origins In the early 1900s, the black community needed a place to gather. At the time, the club’s founders, Raymond A. Coates, Jeremiah S. Hill and Samuel I. Barney, felt they and others were being harassed by police on the streets, so they found their own building where they could feel safe, according to Tshamba. At the Arch Social Club, originally located at 23 Arch Street, men played checkers, chess and cards. They hosted music concerts and community theater. It was also a place to smoke. “In the early

PHOTOS BY IVEY NOOJIN, PRESERVATION MARYLAND

By Ivey Noojin Twenty-one years ago, a Vietnam veteran returned to his home of Baltimore to “give back” to his community. That was when Kaleb Tshamba, now 70, joined the Arch Social Club, first established in 1905. “Social clubs always build the community up,” said Tshamba, the club’s de facto historian, who is writing a book about its early history. For generations, the Arch Social Club, located on Pennsylvania Avenue in the cultural heart of black Baltimore, has been a place for African American men to meet and discuss the issues of the day. Growing up in Baltimore, Tshamba was familiar with the club. The nearby Royal Theatre — like New York’s Apollo — was the site of performances by Louis Armstrong, Pearl Bailey, Cab Calloway, Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and Etta James. “When I was a little boy, Pennsylvania Avenue was like Las Vegas,” Tshamba recalled, with shows, plenty of alcohol and late-night entertainment. “This whole avenue here was our downtown.” Last summer, the area was designated by Maryland as an African American Arts & Entertainment District, entitled to tax breaks and economic incentives to boost the area’s restoration, and encourage residential and commercial development. “This designation helps attract artists and creative businesses, and gives counties and municipalities the ability to develop unique arts experiences that engage residents and attract visitors,” Maryland secretary of commerce Kelly M. Schulz said in a statement.

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LEISURE & TRAVEL

Spring training games and grub in Fort Myers, Florida; plus, highlights of Virginia’s festivals coming up in 2020 page 22

ARTS & STYLE Kaleb Tshamba stands at the historical markers displayed in the Arch Social Club, a Baltimore gathering place for African American men since 1905. Tshamba, the club’s de facto historian, is writing a book about its earliest members. Last year, the group won a grant to restore its building (inset), a former vaudeville theater.

1900s, women wouldn’t allow that in the house,” Tshamba said. Members also were able to drink at the club, even during Prohibition, since members who were doctors or preachers could provide alcohol. Members referred to them as “soft drinks” at the time, Tshamba said. It was also the first club in Maryland to get a liquor license after Prohibition, according to Tshamba.

Helping build community But the Arch Social Club wasn’t just a place to cut loose. Its founders established the first insurance company in Maryland for African Americans. Members helped open a hospital for the

black community during the segregation era, since African American mothers couldn’t deliver babies in “white” hospitals. Club members also fought to bring school bus service to black neighborhoods, and created a black business directory for Baltimore and Washington, D.C. During the 1950s and 60s, the club was a meeting place for civil rights leaders and activists. It hosted Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American justice of the Supreme Court, and A. Philip Randolph, founder of the first black labor union and organizer of the March on Washington Movement, which successfully advocated See CLUB, page 28

A band with musicians from their 20s to their 70s plays toe-tapping hits from the earliest days of jazz page 27

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Wonder and creativity I found myself standing beside a win- molecules in our atmosphere, lighting up and dow one chilly morning recently as my warming the planet and the air around us, thoughts wandered into wonright down to the shaft of light dering, as they often do. now shining on my fingers. This time, I was wondering Just then, a wisp of cloud — both wondering about and passed overhead, and the temfeeling a sense of wonder — perature suddenly dropped so at the early morning sunlight that I could only feel the cold filtering through the window. emanating from the window. As I raised the shade to get How far those powerful a better look at the day, I imrays of light had traveled, I mediately felt an odd sensathought, only to be blocked tion: a coldness radiating from by clouds a few hundred feet the glass of the window simul- FROM THE from me, as they also had taneously with a warmth from PUBLISHER been a few moments before By Stuart P. Rosenthal the sunlight striking my hand by the window shade next to and arm. me. I couldn’t help but think back to some Sometimes it takes very little to stymie basic science lessons from my childhood. something very powerful. These rays of light from the sun, I reI experience a reverie of this sort fairly minded myself, have traveled 93 million often. I enjoy them because they help me miles through the forbidding vacuum of take a step back from a busy life and scatspace, traversing the distance in minutes tered brain and “smell the roses.” through emptiness at temperatures apIt’s times like this that make me hum in proaching absolute zero, leaving the black- my head a lyric from Rodgers and Hamness of space as dark as ever. merstein’s Flower Drum Song: “a hundred But as they reach earth, they excite the million miracles are happ’ning ev’ry day.”

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inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Baltimore area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Howard County, Md., Greater Washington, DC and Richmond, Va. (Fifty Plus). Subscriptions are available via third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. Maryland residents add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below. Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher.

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Sometimes lost in that conversation, however, is recognizing how — far from being lost — creativity remains and can even blossom with age. While creative output may appear to decline in many of us as we age, psychologists believe that is probably because we fall into a rut. We’re deflected from things we feel passionate about due to our careers, family responsibilities and the like. Even the strongest of passions can be blocked by mundane matters. That may be why aging can be a time of resurging creativity. Freed from some of those matters, when older adults return to — or perhaps eventually discover — their true passions, they can be as creative and productive as when they were young. Do you ever find yourself wondering why things are as they are, or (even better) what could be? Have you considered taking an art or music class? Have you always wanted to make pottery or jewelry, learn to play an instrument, understand theoretical physics? I think one of the best things we can do as we age is get in touch with our inner sense of wonder. Then, we should let it spark our creative spirit and lead us to do something we love, or find something new to love. Wonder leads to creativity which can, if we’re fortunate, lead to a more passionate, meaningful and fulfilling life.

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I think having a sense of wonder at life, especially at some of our simplest, most common experiences, adds meaning to it. It also boosts creativity, according to psychologists. In an article titled “Creativity and Wonder,” published in the Journal of Creative Behavior, Professor Vlad Petre Gl veanu wrote: “The experience of wonder is often said to be at the origin of acts of creativity… Understood as one of the main ways in which we engage with the possible, wonder presents us, upon closer inspection, with a paradox typical for creativity — experiencing what is present (the here and now) through the lenses of what is absent (the not-yet-here).” What makes us humans so creative — indeed, impels us to acts of creation (art and invention) — is our capacity for wonder coupled with our capacity for understanding. If we only wondered and never grasped answers, life would be only frustrating. But because we can think, speak and interact with others, and because our creative brains can comprehend many of the mysteries of the universe, we are driven to inch forward, generation after generation. It’s true that, as we age, most of us find it increasingly difficult to recall things we once knew and to pick up new skills. But recent research confirms that our brains are “plastic,” in a good sense. Neurons can continue to grow and establish connections, especially when we concentrate on something new and different for us, such as brain games, tai chi or a new language.

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email info@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Dear Editor: Your paper empowered me to fight back against violation of Homestead Exemption (tax relief) fraud. We won! Concerned seniors must speak out. In Maryland, every county and municipality must limit taxable property assessment increases to 10% or less each year, according to the Homestead Property Tax Credit. I’m happy to share my story to empower other concerned people. Jim Patterson Via email Dear Editor: I am a 95-year-old veteran who served as a field artillery combat medic in the Bat-

tle of the Bulge in World War II. I enjoy reading your very informative paper, especially regarding health and advice for senior citizens. I am personally extremely disgusted with Purdue Pharma, whose greedy mission is to produce medicines that treat but do not cure many medical problems. Today, there are many known cures for the worst medical problems. But sadly, they are not available in the U.S. due to the control of bribed Congressmen and restrictions to doctors and hospitals. How unfortunate. Frank Bressler Pikesville, Maryland

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Technology &

Innovations Keep your cell number safe from hackers By Liz Weston If you’re not familiar with SIM swap fraud, prepare to be terrified. This scam, also known as port-out or SIM splitting fraud, allows criminals to hijack your cell phone number. Once they have your number, the bad guys can clean out your financial accounts, confiscate your email, delete your data and take over your social media profiles. Fraudsters can do all this because many companies — including banks, brokerages, email providers and social media platforms — verify your identity by texting a code to your cell phone. Intercepting those codes can give a criminal an allaccess pass to your financial and digital life. This kind of identify fraud has been around for years, but it’s getting more attention after a wave of cryptocurrency thefts and attacks on high-profile victims, including Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, who briefly lost control of his Twitter account.

Fraud the experts fear most The potential damage is so great that security expert Avivah Litan, vice president at research firm Gartner Inc., fears losing

her phone number far more than having her Social Security number compromised. “I’d rather they took my Social, to tell you the truth,” Litan said, “because I care about my retirement money, and I know some of it’s protected through phone number access.” What’s more, you can’t prevent this fraud — only your carrier can. And right now, criminals are finding it’s pretty easy to fool the phone companies. Sometimes the scam artists bribe or blackmail carrier employees; sometimes, the employees are the criminals. Other times, the fraudsters use identifying data they’ve stolen, bought on the dark web or gleaned from social media to convince carriers that they’re you. They pretend they want to change carriers or say they need a new SIM card — the module that identifies a phone’s owner and allows it to connect to a network. Once they persuade the carrier to transfer your number to a phone they control, they can attack your other accounts.

Help can be slow Even getting your cell phone carrier to

recognize what’s happening, and help you stop it, can be a challenge, said security expert Bob Sullivan, host of the “So, Bob” technology podcast. Victims report being forced to educate phone company employees about the fraud and having their numbers stolen more than once, even after protections were supposedly in place. “The real problem is when you call, are you going to get a person that you can talk to about this quickly and are they going to recognize what’s happening?” Sullivan asked. “Or are you going to be in voicemail hell for three hours while a criminal raids all your accounts?” Phone companies protest they’re doing all they can, and solutions that would make this theft harder also would inconvenience people who legitimately want to switch carriers or need their numbers transferred to new SIM cards because their phones have been lost or stolen.

Upgrade your security While you can’t prevent this fraud if you have a cell phone, you may be able to reduce the chances of being victimized, or at

least limit the damage. First, ask your phone company to put a personal identification number on your account. Hopefully the carrier will require that to be produced before your phone number is “ported out” to a new carrier or assigned to a different SIM card. Then, investigate whether you can switch to more secure authentication on your sensitive accounts. Being texted a code is better than nothing, since this “two-factor” authentication is harder to beat than just using a password. Better options would be to get the codes through a call to a landline or by using an authenticator app such as Authy, Google Authenticator or Duo Security on your smartphone.

Assume the worst If your phone stops working or you can’t send or receive texts, don’t assume it’s a glitch. Call using an alternate method or visit your carrier immediately to report phone takeover fraud. Sullivan recommends knowing a few alSee HACKERS, page 5

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Best Buy invests in tech for older adults

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Housing Communities ❏ Blair House at Stoneleigh (see ad on page 23) ❏ Charlestown (see ad on page 8) ❏ Christ Church Harbor Apts. (see ad on page 16) ❏ Glynn Taff Assisted Living (see ad on page 25) ❏ Park View Laurel (see ad on page 21) ❏ Park View Towson (see ad on page 21) ❏ Park View Fullerton (see ad on page 21) ❏ Park View Rosedale (see ad on page 21) ❏ St. Mary’s Roland View Towers (see ad on page 18) ❏ Warren Place Senior Apartments (see ad on page 19)

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ment accounts. — Freeze your credit reports. — File identity theft reports with your local police department. The important thing is to move quickly because the bad guys won’t wait. “You need to have a plan in place because minutes are going to matter,” Sullivan said. —AP/NerdWallet

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ternate ways to contact your carrier, such as Wi-Fi calling, Skype or an easily accessed backup phone. If you do become a victim, you should: — Alert your financial institutions. — Change the email and password associated with all your financial and pay-

Best Buy has been on buying spree to

Saksena, head of Best Buy Health. Insurers have begun paying more for remote monitoring technology to help track chronic conditions and keep patients healthy and out of hospitals. That technology can include special wireless scales to monitor patients with congestive heart failure. Saksena told investors that pendants using certain algorithms can track how a person is walking and predict the risk of falling. He also noted that sensors on refrigerators detect how often it’s being used. That can trigger a call by a GreatCall agent to see whether that person has been eating. —AP

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From page 4

Recent acquisitions

boost its healthcare business. Last May, it acquired Critical Signal Technologies, a provider of personal emergency response systems and telehealth monitoring services for at-home seniors. In August, it acquired the predictive healthcare technology business of BioSensics, including hiring the company’s data science and engineering team. In 2018, it bought GreatCall, which provides cell phones and emergency response devices for older adults. It also hired its own chief medical officer to push those efforts: Daniel Grossman, a physician, will report to Asheesh

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Hackers

to stay at home. Best Buy is also looking to dig deeper into healthcare at a time when it, like other retailers, faces uncertainty regarding an escalating trade war with China. Some of its core businesses, like TVs and phones sales, have been sluggish, although it said the consumer electronics business is stable. The strategy comes as Best Buy has succeeded in holding off increasing competition from Amazon and other players by speeding up deliveries and adding more services to deepen its relationship with customers. “This is an environment driven by constant innovation and people who need help with technology,” CEO Corie Barry said.

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By Anne D’Innocenzio The nation’s largest consumer electronics chain, known for selling TV sets, cellphones and laptops, is looking to healthcare as a big source of its future growth. Best Buy Co. said last fall that in five years it hopes to provide five million seniors with health monitoring services, which can range from sensors placed throughout a home to a pendant worn around the neck. It currently provides the service to one million older adults. It’s part of the chain’s deeper push into the $3.5 trillion U.S. healthcare market and essential to its goal of reaching $50 billion in annual revenue by 2025. The Minneapolis-based chain is tapping into an aging U.S. population, noting that two out of three seniors live with two or more chronic conditions, and many want

FEBRUARY 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Health Fitness &

PATIENCE AFTER SURGERY Full recovery from carpal tunnel syndrome surgery can take a year DENTAL AND MENTAL HEALTH A pilot study examines the link between healthy gums and dementia WINTER WARNINGS To avoid slips and falls this winter, try kitty litter, flashlights and new glasses MINT MAGIC Peppermint oil may help relieve irritable bowel syndrome symptoms

Common additive may raise health risks By Gale Malesky Some researchers have been speculating for years that certain commonly used food additives may be contributing to the uptick in obesity and diabetes. Now, research from Harvard University shows that a commonly-used food preservative, and one generally recognized as safe (GRAS), appears to contribute to both insulin resistance and high blood sugar. That has added new weight to suspicions that some food ingredients may have unforeseen impacts on our health. The findings were published online in Science Translational Medicine.

Concerns over propionate The researchers looked at propionate, a short-chain fatty acid frequently used as a mold inhibitor and anti-browning agent in foods manufactured to have a fairly long shelf-life. These researchers found (in both mice and in humans) that propionate, when added to meals in amounts that might be

normally consumed, triggered a cascade of metabolic events that led to increased production of sugar by the liver, further leading to elevated levels of insulin. “So, these signals, which are usually activated during fasting to support the energetic demands of the body, are stimulated inappropriately during a meal that contains propionate,” said study lead author Amir Tirosh, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of medicine at Tel Aviv University in Israel. “Chronic consumption of propionate leading to an increase in insulin levels might, in turn, lead to an increase in food intake, weight gain and insulin resistance.” Propionate has been assessed by the FDA for its potential to cause birth defects, cancer and weight loss, and found to be safe in those regards. Hence, its designation as GRAS. However, the FDA does not require GRAS-classified food additives to be tested for any metabolic effects, said Barbara Corkey, Ph.D., director of the Obesity Re-

search Center at Boston University School of Medicine. “None of them has been looked at as potential causes of obesity. Many of them have not been properly tested on any kind of metabolic disease,” she said.

Used in broad range of foods The foods most likely to contain propionate are breads, tortillas, pizza dough, pastries, breakfast cereals, pasta and noodles, dried and condensed milk, flavored milks, dairy-based spreads, cheese, some processed meats, certain processed fruit and vegetable products, and desserts such as puddings, frosting and confections. In addition, the ingredient can be found in sports drinks; diet foods and beverages; commercially prepared salads such as potato salad; condiments such as vinegar and mustard; soups and sauces; dried or otherwise processed mushrooms, beans or seaweeds; and nut butters. It’s also used in animal feed and grains. It’s important to note that if an ingredi-

ent is added to a food (not found naturally), it must be listed on the ingredients label. In the case of propionate, look for these names: calcium propionate, sodium propionate, propionic acid, calcium salt and calcium dipropionate. It’s true that propionate is found naturally in some foods, such as aged cheeses, where it helps to retard mold growth. However, the amounts are extremely low and unlikely to result in deleterious metabolic effects, Tirosh said. He believes these new findings warrant further investigation into propionate and potential alternatives that could be used in food preparation. But both he and Corkey agree that one way to eat healthier is to work to limit intake of processed foods. Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC. 1-800-8295384. EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2019 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Using new (and old) drugs to help hearts By Marilynn Marchione Novel drugs — and old ones as well — may offer fresh ways to reduce heart risks beyond the medicines typically used to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. One new study found that heart attack survivors benefited from a medicine long used to treat gout. Several experimental drugs also showed early promise for interfering with heart-harmful genes without modifying the genes themselves — in one case, with treatment just twice a year. The research was featured at an American Heart Association conference in Philadelphia in November. “There’s a lot of excitement” about the new gene-targeting medicines, especially because they seem to last so long, said Dr. Karol Watson of the University of California, Los Angeles. Scientists have been exploring gene therapy — altering DNA — to attack the root cause of many diseases. [See “Doctors safely edit genes to fight cancer,” in the December Beacon.] The new drugs essentially accomplish the same thing without tampering with

genes, said the University of Pennsylvania’s Dr. Daniel Rader, who has consulted for some makers of these drugs. The medicines work by silencing or blocking messages that genes give to cells to make proteins that can do harm, such as allowing cholesterol to accumulate. The first few of these “RNA interference” drugs recently were approved for other conditions, and research is also targeting heart disease.

Studies look promising Furthest along is inclisiran, tested in 1,561 people with heart disease from clogged arteries who still had high LDL, the bad form of cholesterol, despite taking standard drugs. They were given a shot of inclisiran or a dummy drug when they joined the study, three months later, and then every six months. The drug lowered LDL by 56% without serious side effects. More testing will show whether it also lowers heart attacks and other problems besides cholesterol. Inclisiran’s maker, the Medicines Company, plans to seek federal approval for it later this year. Two other RNA interference drugs aim

at a different target — triglycerides, another fat in the blood that’s elevated in one quarter of Americans. Treatments include very low-fat diets, weight loss, fish oil and drugs, but doctors say more and better therapies are needed. Each RNA interference drug was tested at various doses in 40 people. A single shot lowered triglycerides by 30% to 67%, and the benefit lasted for at least four months. The studies were just intended to show safety; Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals is developing both drugs.

Diabetes, gout cures help heart Other research found new benefits from older drugs. AstraZeneca’s Farxiga, originally developed to treat diabetes, also lowered the risk of heart problems in heart failure patients who did not have diabetes. Among 2,605 such patients treated for 18 months, about 9% of those on Farxiga had worsening heart failure or heart-related death versus nearly 13% of those not given the drug. That worked out to a 27% lower risk, without extra serious side effects. Surprising benefits also were seen in a

Canadian study of the decades-old gout drug. The anti-inflammatory drug colchicine — sold as Colcrys, Mitigare and in generic form — was tested in 4,745 people who recently had a heart attack. After about two years, colchicine users had a 23% lower risk of suffering a new heart attack, heart-related death, stroke, cardiac arrest or urgent need for an artery-opening procedure compared with a group given dummy pills. The benefit came mostly from preventing strokes and artery-opening procedures; some heart doctors would rather have seen more difference in heart attacks and deaths. Colchicine is being tested in several other studies, and more evidence is needed before using it routinely to lower heart risks, wrote Dr. L. Kristin Newby of Duke University in a commentary published with the study in the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, a Northwestern University cardiologist and program chief for the heart conference, was more supportive. “When you have a safe drug that’s easily available, it’s going to be hard to hold this one back,” he said. —AP

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Drug shown to curb dementia’s delusions By Marilynn Marchione A drug that curbs delusions in Parkinson’s patients did the same for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in a study that was stopped early because the benefit seemed clear. If regulators agree, the drug could become the first treatment specifically for dementia-related psychosis and the first new medicine for Alzheimer’s in nearly two decades. It targets some of the most troubling symptoms that patients and caregivers face — hallucinations that often lead to anxiety, aggression and physical and verbal abuse. Results were disclosed in December at a conference in San Diego. “This would be a very important advance,” said one independent expert, Dr. Howard Fillit, chief science officer of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. Although the field is focused on finding a cure for dementia and preventing future cases, “there is a huge unmet need for better treatment” for those who have it now, said Maria Carrillo, the Alzheimer’s Association’s chief science officer.

Daily pill could aid 3 in 10 The drug is pimavanserin, a daily pill sold as Nuplazid by Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. It was approved for Parkinson’srelated psychosis in 2016 and is thought to work by blocking a brain chemical that seems to spur delusions. About eight million Americans have dementia, and studies suggest that up to 30% of them develop psychosis. “It’s terrifying,” said Dr. Jeffrey Cummings of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo

Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas. “You believe that people might be trying to hurt you. You believe that people are stealing from you. You believe that your spouse is unfaithful to you. Those are the three most common false beliefs.” He consults for Acadia and helped lead the study, which included about 400 people with dementia and psychosis. All were given a low dose of the drug for three months, and those who seemed to respond or benefit were then split into two groups. Half continued on the drug, and the others were given dummy pills for six months or until they had a relapse or worsening of symptoms. Neither the patients nor their doctors knew who was getting what. Independent monitors stopped the study when they saw that those on dummy pills were more than twice as likely as those on the drug to relapse or worsen — 28% versus nearly 13%.

Side effects limited There were relatively few serious side effects — 5% in the drug group and 4% in the others. Headaches and urinary tract infections were more common. Two deaths occurred, but study leaders said neither was related to the drug. Carrillo said the study was small, but the drug’s effect seemed large. It’s not known whether the federal Food and Drug Administration would want more evidence to approve a new use for pimavanserin. Current anti-psychotic medicines have some major drawbacks and are not approved for dementia patients. “They’re often used off-label because we have very few other options,” Fillit said. All

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carry warnings that they can raise the risk of death in elderly patients, as does Nuplazid. Cost could be an issue — about $3,000 a

month. What patients pay can vary depending on insurance coverage. —AP

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FEBRUARY 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

To avoid winter falls, consider these tips By Levan Atanelov, M.D. Winter season can be a time of increased danger for everyone, but especially older adults. Fall-related deaths among people aged 75 and older have almost tripled since 2000, according to the Cen-

ters for Disease Control. Here are some suggestions for staying safely on your feet this winter: —If you use a cane, get an ice gripper cane tip. These metal-spike attachments cost less than $12 on Amazon.com.

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CONVERSATION ABOUT CANNABIS

Are you curious about how medical cannabis could affect you? Learn about consumption methods, how to apply for a card and the drug’s effects. The free information session will be held on Fri., Jan. 31 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at LOTSA Stone Fired Pizza, 319 York Rd., Towson. To learn more, contact Stephanie Wrabel at (667) 206-5153 or Stephanie.wrabel@herbanlegendstowson.com.

—Use kitty litter on slick surfaces. Carry a Ziploc bag filled with a lightweight kitty litter in your pocket and scatter it ahead of you on very slick surfaces. —Replace multifocal glasses with single-vision eyeglass lenses. According to a 2010 study in the British Medical Journal, the blurred field of vision caused by multifocal glasses impairs balance and increases the risk of falls. Researchers found that single-lens distance glasses were associated with 40% fewer falls for people approximately 80 years old. —When reaching for high placed objects, use step stools and/or a hand-held reacher. Never stand on chairs or other furniture. —Cover the entryway to your home and provide a table to set down bags while finding keys. —Shorter days mean more time in the dark, so carry a tiny flashlight to attach to keys, hats and coats.

—Have daily necessities like food and medications delivered rather than making shopping trips in bad weather. Major grocery chains have delivery services (Giant’s Peapod; Safeway’s delivery service), and Instacart.com offers same-day delivery from many stores, including Costco. Some independent pharmacies such as Kensington Pharmacy in Kensington, Maryland, also deliver. Older adults fall often because of biomechanical vulnerabilities, which cause balance and gait disorders. Consider obtaining a thorough biomechanical assessment from a physician trained to help diagnose and treat fall risk, balance and gait deficits. Dr. Levan Atanelov, M.D., is director and CEO of Steady Strides Fall Prevention and Stroke Rehabilitation Medical Institute in Owings Mills, Maryland. For more information, visit steadystridesmd.com or call (443) 898-8160.

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EMOTIONAL EMANCIPATION CIRCLES

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2020

Carpal tunnel recovery can take a year By Mary Jurisson, M.D., and Nicholas Pulos, M.D. Dear Mayo Clinic: Three months ago, I had surgery on my left wrist to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. Since then, I am in much more pain than before surgery, and two of my fingers are completely numb. I cannot even button my buttons, and tying my shoes is a chore. What would cause the pain to worsen after surgery? Could another surgery remedy the problem, or is this my new normal? A: Your condition as it stands now shouldn’t be considered a new normal. It’s possible your symptoms are part of the recovery from surgery, and they may lessen with time. It would be a good idea, however, to meet with your surgeon now, so he or she can reassess your condition and decide if you need additional tests or treatment. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel — a narrow passageway on the palm side of your wrist. The median nerve runs from your forearm through the carpal tunnel and into your hand. It controls the sensations you feel on the palm side of your thumb and fingers, except the little finger. Carpal tunnel syndrome often causes numbness and tingling in the hand and arm. Surgery to treat it involves relieving pressure on the median nerve by cutting the ligament that crosses over it. Research shows that symptoms improve for more than 90% of patients following carpal tunnel surgery. However, the number who experience complete relief of symptoms after surgery may be only 50%. Patients whose symptoms are severe before surgery show the most improve-

ment afterward, but this group also tends to have the most residual symptoms after the procedure. At three months following carpal tunnel surgery, your numbness and pain still could be byproducts of the procedure. Many people find the incision causes pain and irritation as it heals. In addition, a condition called “pillar pain,” which is a localized reaction to the surgery, can lead to discomfort. Both generally improve over several months.

as carpal tunnel syndrome before it becomes evident that another process actually is triggering the condition. An ultrasound may reveal a new or addi-

tional diagnosis at the wrist. The scan also can help your surgeon determine if decomSee CARPAL TUNNEL, page 10

Consider physical therapy Working with a hand therapist can be particularly useful during this uncomfortable period of recovery. The therapist can follow your progress by measuring the strength and sensation in your fingers, hand and arm, as well as provide advice about how to make your hand and arm more comfortable. It’s helpful to note, too, that nerves typically improve after surgery at a rate of about one inch per month. When sensation returns, it happens gradually. In general, full recovery after carpal tunnel syndrome may take up to a year. Whether your pain and numbness are part of the healing process or whether they signal the need for more intervention depends somewhat on how your current symptoms compare to the symptoms you had before surgery. For example, you mention that two of your fingers are completely numb. If the numbness is significantly worse than it was before surgery, or if it’s affecting different parts of your hand, then closer assessment is appropriate at this time. It is a possibility that another problem is playing a role here. Various diseases, such as inflammatory arthritis, can first appear

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Health Studies

FEBRUARY 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Exploring dental and mental health link By Margaret Foster Can better oral hygiene slow the progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer’s disease, even for a few years? The question arises after a medical study last January established a link between Alzheimer’s disease and the bacteria that cause gum disease. A new pilot study at the University of Maryland’s Claude D. Pepper Center will take a closer look at the connection between brain health and periodontal disease, or inflamed gums.

Origins of MCI “Over the years, we’ve begun to learn more about cognitive impairment and the multiple reasons older individuals get it,”

said Dr. Dr. Brajesh Lal, principal investigator of the study. “There are a lot of ways older adults can reach states of cognitive impairment. One is impaired blood flow [through the carotid arteries] and another may be inflammation,” Dr. Lal said. One of the most common sources of chronic inflammation in older individuals is periodontitis. Almost 70% of older adults have inflamed gums, a form of inflammation, which may be a culprit in Alzheimer’s disease. That’s because inflammation throughout the body — including in the mouth, where unchecked bacteria can cause an immune-system response — can alter bacteria in the intestine. “When our body reacts to these gut bac-

teria, it releases chemicals which potentially affect the brain,” Dr. Lal said. The University of Maryland study will try to determine whether better dental health can help people with mild memory problems.

Volunteers needed Now enrolling, the trial is seeking participants ages 65 to 100 who have two common conditions: inflamed gums and impaired short-term memory. Participants will make several visits to the medical center, located at 22 S. Greene St., Baltimore, for baseline tests, including medical and dental exams. All dental treatments are free for a year. One arm of the randomized study will receive standard dental care, and the other will receive intensive dental treatment. Participants will visit the medical center every few months during the first year and/or until their gums become healthy. After that, they will return for baseline tests and a dental exam for the next two years. The study will also check for plaque in the carotid arteries, which deliver oxygen-

Carpal tunnel From page 9 pression of the median nerve is complete. If not, then another procedure may be useful. In some cases, numbness following carpal tunnel surgery happens due to a problem farther up the arm, or in the shoulder, neck or brain. If your surgeon suspects that could be the case for you, you

rich blood to the brain. Most people don’t know they have plaque buildup, but it is detectable with a doppler sonogram. “The results of this pilot study could highlight periodontal disease as a modifiable, inflammatory risk factor for progression of mild cognitive impairment to dementia,” according to the study’s grant proposal. If the pilot study provides “proof of concept,” a larger study will be launched involving 10 to 15 universities and research centers. Dr. Lal realizes this study won’t find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. But there’s a chance that treating periodontitis could delay the onset of dementia. “If we can make even a small impact on it in a small group of people, that would be a big win,” he said. Parking and travel expenses of participants will be reimbursed, and compensation up to $300 will be provided over the course of the three-year study. For more information about the clinical trial, or to see if you qualify as a participant, call (410) 706-4775 or (410) 6057000, ext. 55556.

may be referred to another specialist, such as a neurologist, for further assessment. Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. Email a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org. © 2019 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2020

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

Not all oxygen tanks work for everyone By Margaret Foster Here is a cautionary tale: A Maryland woman bought a portable oxygen concentrator for her mother, who suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Somehow, though, the device didn’t seem to be helping. After several months, her mother became confused and lethargic. The family rushed her to an emergency room, where doctors successfully treated her for respiratory failure. As it turned out, although the patient was using a portable oxygen device, she wasn’t getting enough oxygen. That’s because it was the wrong kind of oxygen concentrator for her condition.

Two types of oxygen tanks There are two types of oxygen concentrator: pulse-flow (or pulse-dose) oxygen devices and continuous flow delivery devices. Pulse flow, as the name indicates, provides a pulse or puff of oxygen through a nasal tube when the user inhales. That means if the user is breathing through his or her mouth, that puf f may not occur. A 2017 study by the National Institutes of Health found that pulse flow delivered less oxygen overall than continuous flow. The study of 15 artificial airways concluded that “pulse flow delivered similar, though consistently lower, volume-averaged fraction of inhaled oxygen than steady flow rates equivalent to nominal pulse flow settings.” Pulse oxygen “gives you about a third of the oxygen that it might normally give you, but it’s giving it to you a little bit smarter,” that is, when you inhale, said Dr. William Han, director of Pulmonary Medicine at Sinai Hospital in Glen Burnie. “Some patients do just fine on pulse [flow] because that’s all they need,” Han said. But “some patients need more oxygen than the portable oxygen concentrator is able to give them. So, they need to go back to tanks or continuous oxygen.” If you know someone with a portable oxygen device, make sure they keep track of their oxygen levels. They can do so with a pulse oximetry meter. These devices, which lightly clip on to the index finger, can detect changes in oxygen saturation levels. It will alert you if your levels are low, whether you’re breathing through your nose or mouth.

Not all doctors know difference Always check with your doctor about what type of device is right for you. But do your own research too, as not all doctors may know the difference between pulse vs. continuous flow.

To subscribe, see page 30.

Continuous oxygen might be the best solution for people who require a lot, said Dr. Han. “Even people who are mouth breathers who are on continuous oxygen do get oxygen,” he said. Many people prefer a light, portable device. Unfortunately, most continuous flow devices tend to be heavier. If money permits, some patients may be able to use both types of devices — one at home and one out on the town. After her frightening trip to the emergency room, the woman has recovered, much to her daughter’s relief. “Many COPD patients — my mom included — are mouth breathers, and therefore a pulse unit further reduces the delivery of oxygen,” she wrote in an email to the Beacon. “If only I had known about the difference between pulsed and continuous flow oxygen.”

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FEBRUARY 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Peppermint can be a cool solution for IBS By Suzy Cohen Many people have lost their joy in eating because they have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a condition that includes

many symptoms including bloating, abdominal pain, fatigue, sleep problems and suppressed immunity. One hallmark symptom is a combina-

tion of diarrhea and constipation, or alternating between the two. An actual diagnosis of IBS is based upon your duration of symptoms (must be six months or more). If you’re tired of the problem, maybe peppermint is something you should try. Peppermint is a beautiful plant that has been medicinally treasured for centuries. Known botanically as Mentha piperita, peppermint is actually a hybrid of watermint and spearmint. Peppermint is available at any health food store (as soft gels and liquid extracts) and supermarket (usually as a tea). You can also buy it in the produce section of some supermarkets as fresh whole leaf. Supplements of enteric coated peppermint oil are considered a relatively safe, effective traditional holistic remedy. I’m not referring to essential oil. I’m referring to a dietary supplement of peppermint oil, which acts as a smooth muscle relaxant inside your intestines, as well as an antispasmodic herb. It is also known to help with gas, bloating and minor cramping.

Study finds IBS benefit The latest study, published in the August 27, 2019 issue of Gastroenterology, was conducted in part to evaluate the safety and efficacy for peppermint in people with IBS.

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They used two different formulations designed to reach certain parts of the intestine. The enteric coated (small intestine release) preparation of peppermint proved to help reduce abdominal pain, discomfort and general IBS severity. A few words of caution: The enteric coated form is ideal because plain peppermint oil can irritate the stomach lining and make heartburn and ulcers worse. The enteric coating keeps the peppermint oil from breaking down in your stomach, enabling it to pass safely through to your intestines. Avoid peppermint if you have reflux (GERD), a disorder of the lower part of your esophagus. That’s because peppermint relaxes your esophageal sphincter and will allow acid to back up into your esophagus — something you’re trying to avoid! There are other warnings to be aware of, so please ask your doctor if this type of herbal remedy is good for you. This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement. Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit SuzyCohen.com.

BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2020

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

Rustic bean soup brings back memories By Wolfgang Puck I first learned to cook in a kitchen ruled by two strong, loving women: my mother and grandmother. They weren’t fancy about our daily food. They grew most of their own vegetables, relying largely on fresh produce straight from our home garden along with smart pantry staples. Among their most reliable staples were dried beans. For such an inexpensive ingredient, dried beans provide generous flavor and texture, not to mention abundant healthy nutrients such as B vitamins, potassium, complex carbohydrates and fiber, along with good amounts of protein but little fat and no cholesterol. More than just a great accompaniment, they’re robust and flavorful enough to serve as a main dish. Take, for example, my recipe for white bean soup with root vegetables. With vegetables, bacon for extra flavor (though vegetarians could leave that out) and optional garnishes of sausage or freshly grated Parmesan (also easy to omit), it’s a soup that adds up to a meal in itself. Once you’ve made the soup a few times, feel free to start experimenting. Use different kinds of beans, vegetables and seasonings. Add a smoked ham hock or turkey leg, if you like. In other words, cook like my mother and grandmother did.

White Bean Soup with Root Vegetables Makes 12 cups Ingredients: 2 cups dried white beans (any type) ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 2½ quarts store-bought good-quality low-sodium chicken stock or broth, or veg-

etable stock or broth 2 ounces smoked bacon, about 3 slices, cut crosswise into strips (optional) 2 medium yellow onions, peeled, trimmed and diced 2 large carrots, trimmed, peeled and diced 2 small celery stalks, trimmed and diced 1 small bulb celeriac, peeled and diced 6 large garlic cloves, peeled and chopped ¼ cup tomato paste 1 large tomato, about 8 ounces, peeled, seeded and chopped 2 or 3 large fresh basil leaves 2 or 3 sprigs fresh Italian parsley 1 sprig fresh thyme 1 sprig fresh rosemary 1/ 3 cup sherry wine vinegar 2 teaspoons sugar Kosher salt Freshly ground white pepper Sliced cooked sausage, optional Parmesan cheese, for garnish, optional Directions: Start prepping the beans the night before. Sort out any grit, debris or malformed beans. Put the beans in a strainer and rinse thoroughly with cold running water. Then, transfer them to a bowl, add cold water to cover them by at least 2 inches and leave at room temperature to soak overnight. Start cooking the soup at least 3 hours before serving time, first draining the beans. Heat a large stockpot over medium heat, and add the olive oil. Add the bacon strips and cook, stirring frequently, until they have browned lightly, several minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove and discard the bacon. In another pot, bring the stock or broth to a boil over medium-high heat; then, reduce the heat and keep warm. While the stock is heating, add the onions, carrots, celery and celeriac to the pot contain-

ing the oil and bacon fat, and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until they begin to turn tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic, tomato paste, chopped tomato and drained beans. With kitchen string, securely tie together the basil, parsley, thyme and rosemary. Add the bundle to the pot, along with the vinegar and sugar. Pour in the hot stock or broth, and stir well. Season lightly with salt and white pepper. Raise the heat, and bring the liquid to a full boil. Then reduce the heat to medium

and cook, stirring occasionally, and add more stock or water as needed to keep the beans fully covered. When the beans are tender, remove and discard the herb bundle. Ladle out 2 cups of the beans and vegetables, and puree them in a blender or food processor. Stir the puree back into the pot. Taste and adjust the seasonings with more salt and pepper. If you like, garnish serving bowls with sausage and Parmesan cheese. © Tribune Content Agency

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FEBRUARY 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2020

Money

Law &

A list of questions to ask before making an investment. See story on page 19.

New law changes RMD and IRA rules By Rocky Mengle With the decline of traditional pensions, most of us are now responsible for squirrelling away money for our own retirement. In today’s do-it-yourself retirement savings world, we rely largely on 401(k) plans and IRAs. However, there are obviously flaws with the system because about one-fourth of working Americans have no retirement savings at all — including 13% of workers 60 and older. But help is on the way. In December, President Trump signed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act. This new law does several things that will affect your ability to save money for retirement and influence how you use the funds over time. While some provisions are administrative in nature or intended to raise revenue, most of the changes are taxpayer-friendly measures designed to boost retirement savings.

Here is a description of some of the more important changes likely to affect you. (Unless otherwise noted, all changes apply starting in 2020.)

RMDs starting at age 72 Required minimum distributions (RMDs) from 401(k) plans and traditional IRAs are a thorn in the side of many retirees. Every year, my father grumbles about having to take money out of his IRA when he really doesn’t want to. [And the additional income can push people into higher tax brackets and increase taxes on Social Security income.] Right now, RMDs generally must begin in the year you turn 70½. (If you work past age 70½, RMDs from your current employer’s 401(k) aren’t required until after you leave your job, unless you own at least 5% of the company.) The SECURE Act pushes the age that triggers RMDs from 70½ to 72, which means you can let your retirement funds grow an extra 1½ years before tapping into them.

That can result in a significant boost to overall retirement savings for many seniors.

No more age limits on IRAs Americans are working and living longer. So why not let them contribute to an IRA longer? That’s the thinking behind the SECURE Act’s repeal of the rule that prohibited contributions to a traditional IRA by taxpayers age 70½ and older. Now you can continue to put away money in a traditional IRA if you work into your 70s and beyond. As before, there are no age-based restrictions on contributions to a Roth IRA.

Annuity info and options expanded Knowing how much you have in your 401(k) account is one thing. Knowing how long the money is going to last is another. Currently, 401(k) plan statements provide an account balance, but that really doesn’t tell you how much money you can expect to receive each month once you retire.

To help savers gain a better understanding of what their monthly income might look like when they stop working, the SECURE Act requires 401(k) plan administrators to provide annual “lifetime income disclosure statements” to participants. These statements will show how much money you could get each month if your total 401(k) account balance were used to purchase an annuity. (The estimated monthly payment amounts will be for illustrative purposes only.) The new disclosure statements aren’t required until one year after the IRS issues interim final rules, creates a model disclosure statement, or releases assumptions that plan administrators can use to convert account balances into annuity equivalents, whichever is latest. Speaking of annuities, the new retirement law also makes it easier for 401(k) plan sponsors to offer annuities and other “lifetime income” options to plan particiSee IRA RULES, page 16

Financial tasks to tackle at the new year By Liz Weston The beginning of the year is a good time to mark some items off your financial checklist, such as reviewing beneficiary designations, updating contact information and visiting your safe deposit box. A task without a deadline is just wishful thinking. Sometimes, you can get away with procrastinating. If you never get around to alphabetizing your spices, no one’s life will change. But putting off some tasks could have a huge impact on loved ones. The start of the year is a good time to set some firm deadlines to make sure you won’t leave a financial mess for people you love if you unexpectedly die or become incapacitated. Consider putting these items on your New Year’s to-do list: 1. Check your beneficiaries If you need convincing that updating beneficiaries is important, consider the case of David Egelhoff, a Washington state man who died two months after his divorce was final, in 1994. Because he had not changed his beneficiaries, his life insurance proceeds and pension plan were paid to his ex-wife rather than his children from a previous marriage. The children sued, and the case went all

the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in 2001 that the beneficiary designations had to be honored. You’re typically prompted to name beneficiaries when you sign up for a 401(k) or other retirement account. Beneficiaries also are usually required when you buy annuities or life insurance. You often can check and change beneficiaries online, or you may need to call the company to request the appropriate form. 2. Review pay-on-death designations You may not have been required to name beneficiaries when you opened your checking account or a non-retirement investment account. Instead, financial institutions may offer a “pay on death’’ option. This allows you to name a beneficiary who can receive the money directly. Otherwise, the account typically has to go through probate, the legal procedure to distribute your property after you die. Some states also have “transfer on death’’ options for vehicles and even real estate. Like pay-on-death accounts, these options allow you to pass property directly to heirs without the potential delays and costs of probate. Beneficiaries can be added to vehicle

registrations in many states, including Maryland and Virginia but not Washington, D.C., according to self-help legal site Nolo. To add or change a beneficiary, you apply for a certificate of car ownership with the beneficiary form. Transfer-on-death deeds for real estate are available in Washington, D.C., and Virginia, but not Maryland, according to legal site Nolo. To add or change a beneficiary, the deed must be submitted to the appropriate county recorder. 3. Update insurers — and your heirs Insurers usually don’t pay out life insurance proceeds until someone files a claim. But far too often, heirs are unaware that the money exists. A Consumer Reports investigation in 2013 found about $1 billion in life insurance proceeds waiting to be claimed. Updating your contact information with your insurer also may help prevent policies from lapsing. I just heard from a reader who lost her long-term care coverage because she’d moved, forgotten to tell her insurer and failed to notice she hadn’t been billed. Many insurers will allow you to name someone who can be notified if a payment is overdue or they can’t find you. You’ll

want to keep the contact information for those back-up people updated with the company, as well. 4. Visit your safe deposit box If you forget to pay your annual fee and your bank can’t find you, after a few years your safe deposit box will be drilled and the contents turned over to the state. Photos and documents could be destroyed and family heirlooms sold at auction. Visit your box once a year to make sure your payments and contact details are current. Leave clear instructions with your executor or your heirs about where to find the box and its keys. 5. Create or revise powers of attorney Powers of attorney allow others to make financial or healthcare decisions for you if you become incapacitated. If you don’t have these documents or the designated people have died or are otherwise unavailable, your loved ones may have to go to court to take over. The expense and delay can add trauma at an already difficult time. Spare everyone that pain by naming a backup person or two, and reviewing the documents every year to make sure they can still serve. —AP/NerdWallet

Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

IRA rules From page 15 pants by taking away some of the associated legal risks. These annuities are now portable, too. So, for example, if you leave your job you can roll over the 401(k) annuity you had with your former employer to another 401(k) or IRA and avoid surrender charges and fees.

“Stretch” IRAs eliminated Now for some bad news: The SECURE Act eliminates the current rules that allow

FEBRUARY 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

non-spouse IRA beneficiaries to “stretch” required minimum distributions (RMDs) from an inherited account over their own lifetime (and potentially allow the funds to grow tax-free for decades). Instead, all funds from an inherited IRA generally must now be distributed to nonspouse beneficiaries within 10 years of the IRA owner’s death. (The rule applies to inherited funds in a 401(k) account or other defined contribution plan, too.) There are some exceptions to the general rule, though. Distributions over the life or life expectancy of a non-spouse beneficiary are allowed if the beneficiary is a

minor, disabled, chronically ill, or not more than 10 years younger than the deceased IRA owner. For minors, the exception only applies until the child reaches the age of majority. At that point, the 10-year rule kicks in. If the beneficiary is the IRA owner’s spouse, RMDs are still delayed until end of the year that the deceased IRA owner would have reached age 72 (age 70½ before the new retirement law).

is sometimes given if the borrowed money is used to buy a home. Some 401(k) administrators allow employees to access plan loans by using credit or debit cards. However, the SECURE Act puts a stop to this. The new law flatly prohibits 401(k) loans provided through a credit card, debit card or similar arrangement. This change, which takes effect immediately, is designed to prevent easy access to retirement funds to pay for routine or small purchases. Over time, that could result in a total loan balance the account holder can’t repay. [In total, there are 29 new provisions or rule changes in the new law, so it’s a good idea to speak with an informed legal advisor or financial planner to see what, if any, changes you should consider to your estate plan.] —AP

Credit card access to 401(k) loans prohibited There are plenty of potential drawbacks to borrowing from your retirement funds, but loans from 401(k) plans are nevertheless allowed. Generally, you can borrow as much as 50% of your 401(k) account balance, up to $50,000. Most loans must be repaid within five years, although more time

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Male $16.75 $18.50 $23.00 $28.00 $33.50 $45.00 $61.00 $83.50

Female $14.00 $15.50 $19.25 $21.50 $26.00 $35.00 $49.50 $70.25

$10,000.00 $25,000.00 Beneﬁt Male $32.50 $36.00 $45.00 $55.00 $66.00 $89.00 $121.00 $166.00

Beneﬁt

Female Male $27.00 $79.75 $30.00 $88.50 $37.50 $111.00 $42.00 $136.00 $51.00 $163.50 $69.00 $221.00 $98.00 $301.00 $139.50 $413.50

Female $66.00 $73.50 $92.25 $103.50 $126.00 $171.00 $243.50 $347.25

The rates above include a $12 annual policy fee.

This is a solicitation of individual insurance. A licensed insurance agent/producer may contact you by telephone. These policies contain benefits, reductions, limitations, and exclusions to include a reduction in death benefits during the first two years of policy ownership. In NY, during the first two years, 110% of premiums will be paid. Whole Life Insurance is underwritten by United of Omaha Life Insurance Company, 3300 Mutual of Omaha Plaza, Omaha, NE 68175 which is licensed nationwide except NY. Life insurance policies issued in NY are underwritten by Companion Life Insurance Company, Hauppauge, NY 11788. Each company is responsible for its own financial and contractual obligations. Not available in all states. Benefit amounts vary by state. Policy Form ICC11L059P or state equivalent (7780L-0505 in FL, 828Y-0505 in NY). *Ages 50 to 75 in NY. **In FL policy is renewable until age 121. ***All benefits paid would be less any outstanding loan. 452747

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2020

Involve your spouse in financial decisions By Elliot Raphaelson When I taught courses in personal financial planning at the New School for Social Research in New York City for 18 years, most of my students were women. Periodically, I teach courses at local colleges and still find a large percentage of women in my courses. Many of them were widows who had not actively participated in basic personal financial decisions, such as investing and retirement issues. Based on the mail I receive from readers, I believe that many women are very active managing household finances. However, I’d like to address this column to all spouses, men and women, and urge them to play a more active role while their spouse is alive in investing, retirement planning and estate planning. Many authors with expertise in analyzing relationships in marriage point out that couples who share responsibilities regarding personal finance have much better chances of successful marriages. Money magazine conducted a poll in 2015 that compared the perceptions and behaviors of 500 millennials and 500 boomers when it comes to their relationships and money. The study found distinct differences between their approaches to financial matters. (I am confident that a study done today would show the same thing.) However, one theme crossed generations: Couples who agree on saving and budgeting feel more financially secure, argue less about money, and in general have more satisfaction in their marriages. The Money poll suggested that most of the couples interviewed (both boomers and millennials) felt that, before marriage, couples should discuss debt issues, savings goals and amounts saved. Unfortunately, other research shows

Frank, Frank

that few married couples truly practice transparency. An American Express poll conducted a few years ago showed that 91% of people avoid conversations about money with their partner. Many important financial decisions require close working relationships between couples. For example, couples should be discussing issues such as how much to save, where they should be investing their savings, what percentage of their investments should be in stocks vs. bonds, what their goal is regarding a nest egg before retiring, at what age each spouse should retire, how much life insurance is required and who should be covered, when each partner should apply for Social Security, retirement goals, what percentage of their income while working will be needed for retirement, whether each spouse should be the other’s sole beneficiary of their retirement plans, long-term care issues, and whether annuities should play a role in your planning. That’s quite a list, and couples may want to discuss many of these issues with a financial planner. However, these decisions should not be made by one spouse without input from the other. You may decide that one member of the couple should take a greater role in these decisions, but in meetings with a financial adviser regarding these issues, both spouses should participate. When one member of the family is the primary decision maker regarding financial decisions, it is critical to document everything for the surviving spouse. For example, the following information should be documented and organized well: life insurance policies and insurance contacts; list of all assets and liabilities and associated records; location of wills and trusts; a legal contact; mutual fund and bro-

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kerage contacts; information regarding recurring bills; records of all passwords related to computer information; beneficiary information; employer contacts; and contact information for friends and relatives. Unfortunately, many of the widows in my classes indicate that when their spouse died, they did not have immediate access to the information they needed.

It may be an uncomfortable conversation, but if you have allowed your spouse to make most of the major financial decisions, make sure this information is documented for you. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Feb 3

AARP TAX HELP

It’s the beginning of a new year, and that means it’s time to file taxes. Get free assistance with tax preparation and filing service from AARP with IRS-certified tax preparers. Appointments will be held on Mon., Feb. 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Perry Hall Library, 9685 Honeygo Blvd., Perry Hall. To register, call (410) 887-5195.

Jan. 30

INTERNET PRIVACY

The Internet can be an overwhelming, dangerous place. Learn safe browsing practices and security tools at a free class on Thurs., Jan. 30 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Lansdowne Library, 500 Third Ave., Landsdowne. To learn more, call (410) 887-5602.

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FEBRUARY 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Protect yourself from fraud by a fiduciary By Timothy Barrett One in 20 older adults is a victim of financial mistreatment, according to the National Adult Protective Services Association. Most fail to report their victimization, fearing a loss of independence. In part, that’s because the most common perpetrators of financial abuse are family members, unscrupulous caregivers and professional advisers, such as lawyers, accountants and financial advisers. Advocacy groups use the term “endangered person” to refer to anyone who is a target of abuse due to a cognitive or physical impairment or other susceptibility. Third-party scammers, unscrupulous vendors or service providers commonly prey on the endangered, but let’s focus on another group that sometimes takes advantage of endangered persons despite legally owing them a heightened duty of care: fiduciaries.

Who are fiduciaries? A fiduciary is someone who has agreed to manage the affairs of another person with a duty to act always in the endangered person’s best interests, avoid conflicts of interest and self-dealing, and not exceed their authority. The most common fiduciaries are: • Guardians (appointed by a disability court); • Attorneys in fact, also known as agents

(appointed under a power of attorney); • Relatives serving as trustee (appointed by the trust settlor); and • Professionals, such as trustees, attorneys, accountants and investment advisers (selected by the endangered person or a family member). Sadly, there isn’t much official oversight to identify and stop an abusive person acting in one of these roles. Guardians are usually monitored by a court that reviews annual reports. Agents have no court or regulatory oversight. Individual trustees usually have only the trust agreement requirement to provide an annual accounting — usually statement summaries. Professional trustees, attorneys, accountants and investment advisers are subject to rules, regulations, an internal audit and an independent disciplinary tribunal/agency that may audit them and acts on registered complaints. And yet, despite these measures, malfeasance still occurs with regularity. It is usually discovered well after the fact, and often results in great loss, with little or no recoverable funds. Of course, the services these fiduciaries provide are all necessary and highly beneficial. And the vast majority of fiduciaries take great pains to act always in the endangered person’s best interests.

However, when a fiduciary abuses those powers, early detection is essential.

How fiduciaries defraud Common abuses include: • Writing checks from their account or cashing their pension or Social Security checks for the fiduciary’s own benefit; • Pressuring them to make gifts or personal loans to the fiduciary; • Taking out loans and reverse mortgages to transfer home equity to the fiduciary; • Purchasing long-term annuities for them that mature well after their life expectancy, leaving the remainder to the fiduciary; • Investing their funds in pyramid schemes and investments that pay the fiduciary commissions and bonuses; • Using their credit cards for the fiduciary’s own expenses; • Selling or taking their personal possessons, such as autos, jewelry, etc. • Inducing them to change their wills to better favor the fiduciary.

Signs to look for Educate yourself and your family on the warning signs of financial abuse. Watch for these common signs, and be prepared to intervene if the endangered person: • Is purchasing numerous, repetitive or unnecessary costly home improvements,

landscaping and repairs; • Has their utilities, services or coverages suspended for lack of payment; • Is isolated by a person who exerts a high degree of control over their finances, purchases and/or caregiving; or • Suddenly complains of having little or no money, of running out of medications, of a lack of suitable clothing, of losing valuable personal items, or that someone keeps asking for funds or personal items.

How to protect yourself Here are some tips for anyone who is at risk to help stop or discover financial abuse: • Enlist several members of your family, siblings and children, to monitor your fiduciaries. Don’t rely on just one relative as gatekeeper for your finances. You may need to sign releases so they can access the fiduciary’s records and receive periodic statements. Have them meet monthly to review your finances as a checks-and-balances measure. • Make sure all your estate planning documents are in order. Execute an advanced healthcare directive and a durable power of attorney for financial affairs. Authorize more than one relative to serve, and have them present when you discuss your plans with your attorney and accountant. See FINANCIAL ABUSE, page 19

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2020

Questions to ask before investing money By T. Eric Reich Many people who ask me about investments or setting up an appointment often preface it by saying, “I’m sorry, this is probably a stupid question, but…” Most people are afraid to ask questions about their investments for fear of sounding ignorant or admitting in some way that they don’t have all of their “stuff together.” But there truly are no stupid questions when it comes to investments. Every question leads to more knowledge, and that’s a good thing. Here are some questions you should always ask before investing your money: First, let’s start with questions about the investment itself: • Is this product registered with the SEC or my state agency? • Does this investment match my investment goals? Why do you feel it is suitable for me?

• How does this investment make money? Dividends? Interest? Capital gains? • What are the total fees to purchase it? Not just commissions but any underlying fees as well. • Is this investment liquid? Are there any fees associated with accessing my money? • Can you tell me about the management team? Many companies tout past performance, but that may have come from a team that isn’t there anymore. • What is a reasonable return to expect for this investment? How has it performed over the long run? Many managers who highlight performance do so after a great year. If you are a long-term investor, that might not be meaningful to you. • What are the risks associated with this investment? What would cause it to lose money? Next is a list of questions you should

ask about the adviser: • How long have you been in business? • What education or credentialing do you have? The credentials should match the advice you’re looking for. For example, if you need planning advice, the advisor should be a Certified Financial Planner professional. If you want investment advice, then they should hold designations such as Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®), or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®). • What is your investment philosophy? • How do you get paid? Do you get paid more if I buy this vs. that? • How often should we meet to discuss my investments? • If I leave your firm, what fees will I be charged, if any? Most custodians charge a fee for outgoing transfers and/or closed accounts. These questions are not inclusive, and

you may have more depending on your situation. Ask a question more than once if you don’t understand the answer the first time — or ask your adviser to rephrase the answer. Understanding your investments and doing your due diligence on the adviser you’re working with is similar to researching a physician and understanding your prescribed medications. You wouldn’t leave your health to chance, and the same type of care should be taken with your money. T. Eric Reich, CIMA®, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, is president and founder of Reich Asset Management, LLC. This article was written by and presents the views of the author, not Kiplinger editorial staff. Check adviser records with the SEC or FINRA. © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Financial abuse

they can review your investments. • Have one of these trustworthy persons help you hire and monitor caregivers, lawn care and housekeeping services, and never hire a home improvement or maintenance contractor without their input. Invite these trustworthy persons to make unannounced visits, keep communication open and ensure against your isolation.

• Volunteer to do the same for your friends, siblings and parents. It’s a shame to think that you have to protect yourself from those who are supposed to care for you the most, or from supposedly trustworthy professionals. However, we know that darkness often obscures hidden dangers, so isolation and secrecy provide the cover for fiduciary fi-

nancial abuse. Timothy Barrett is trust counsel and senior vice president at Argent Trust Company. This article presents his views, not those of Kiplinger editorial staff. Check adviser records with the SEC or FINRA. © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

From page 18 • Engage more than one trustworthy person to assist you with day-to-day bill paying, receive and review your account statements, monitor bank accounts and credit requests. Introduce them to your financial advisers and investors, and sign releases so

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2020

Smart ways to choose a financial planner By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some tips on finding and choosing a good financial planner? My wife and I are both in our late 50s and would like to get some professional advice to help us better prepare for our retirement years. Seeking Advice Dear Seeking, With all the different financial planners, advisers and services available today, finding and choosing a trusted professional that can help you meet your financial goals can be confusing. Here are a few suggestions to consider:

a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) who is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or a state securities regulator to manage investment portfolios; a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), who specializes in insurance and estate planning; and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), who can help with tax planning. Be leery of many other financial advising titles, designations and certifications that are out there, like the Certified Financial Consultant (CFC) or the Wealth Management Specialist (WMS). Many of these require no more than a few courses at a seminar or online, which means they’re not worth much. To research the different certifications or designations, visit FINRA.org/investors.

Where to look A good place to start your search is by asking friends or relatives for recommendations. If you don’t know anyone who can give you a referral, and you’re looking for broad-based financial advice, hire a Certified Financial Planner, or CFP. Advisers with this designation are considered the “gold standard” in the industry. CFPs must act as fiduciaries, putting their clients’ best interests above their own. [However, see “Protect yourself from fraud by a fiduciary” on page 18.] To get the CFP credential, they must have a college degree and be educated in a wide range of personal finance subjects, pass a rigorous certification exam, have three years professional experience, meet continuing-education requirements and abide by a code of ethics. You’re also probably better off hiring a CFP that’s a fee-only planner, versus one who earns a commission by selling you financial products. Fee-only planners charge only for their services — for example, you might pay $150 to $350 an hour for a financial tune-up, a flat fee per project, or fee based on a percentage of your assets. To find a fee-only planner in your area, use the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA.org), which carefully vets all members. Or see the Garrett Planning Network (GarrettPlanningNetwork.com), a network of fee-only advisers. Or the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACplanners.org), a community of fee-only advisors that charge annual retainers. If your needs are more specific, consider

BEACON BITS

Jan. 29

FREE JOB HELP

If you’re looking for a job, get some free assistance from Baltimore County Workforce Development. They can help you write your resume and cover letter and conduct the best online job search. Drop-in hours are on Wed., Jan. 29 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Arbutus Library, 855 Sulphur Spring Rd., Arbutus. To learn more, call (410) 887-1451.

pointment to meet and interview them. Find out about their experience, expertise and the types of services they provide; if they’re a fiduciary; how they charge and how much; what is their investment philosophy; and how will they handle your ongoing questions or financial needs. Look for someone whose clients are in situations similar to yours and who is available as often as you need them. It’s also wise to do a background check

on your potential advisor. At LetsMakeaPlan.org, you can verify a planner’s certification as a CFP. To vet a registered investment adviser, go to Investor.gov, where you can search an individual’s name. Send your senior 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.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 28

BUSINESS WORKSHOP Are you starting a business? Learn how to set up accounts payable,

accounts receivable and financials at this free workshop. It takes place on Tues., Jan. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Park Circle Office Park, 3000 Druid Park Dr., Suite

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FEBRUARY 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Travel Leisure &

The Urbanna Oyster Festival is an annual Virginia tradition. Learn about this and other festivals on p. 23.

For baseball fans and foodies: Ft. Myers

Red Sox & Minnesota Twins For some baseball lovers, meeting — or just seeing — a professional player in person ranks higher than a good meal. Fort Myers’ Daniels Parkway corridor leads to both JetBlue Stadium, where the Boston Red Sox play, and CenturyLink Sports Complex, home to the Minnesota Twins as well as minor-league teams. Red Sox fans might know that their team plays more than 20 games at JetBlue Park — a state-of-the-art ballpark that holds up to 11,000 people. Players acknowledged the success of their world championship sea-

son in 2018 began right here in Fort Myers. Because my family’s trips began by early June (lodging prices were lower than in winter, though not as low as in August), we’ve missed the early January sports training camps open to the general public. The next-best thing to training camp is a tour of JetBlue Park, which is available starting in early February — make a reservation at (239) 226-4783. Or take in an exhibition game at CenturyLink’s Hammond Stadium. From February 13 to March 21, fans can watch games and batting practice for free. According to Mark Weber, manager of Florida Business Operations, every game during spring training is a sell-out, so get your tickets early. But with games happening nearly every day during training, you can often grab tickets when you arrive. In addition to seeing the pros, watch college teams compete at these first-rate facilities — or follow your grandkids from the stands at one of many prominent baseball camps for youths. February 17 is this year’s big open house, which includes a health fair and a baseball clinic for kids out on the field. The latter offers an opportunity for young people to mingle with some players and score some autographs — a highlight of any trip with grandchildren.

By Martha Steger Short phrases help jog the mind’s recall for trips. On my first trip to Fort Myers, Florida with my husband and two elementary-age children, in the 1980s, the key phrase was “banyan tree.” For our most recent trip there, after my husband and I had been retired for a decade, the key phrase was “baseball plus food” — beyond Cracker Jacks and hot dogs, that is. While we all eat whether or not we’re traveling, 35% of people specifically “travel to experience local delicacies,” according to the website Booking.com. Virtually every destination, including Fort Myers, seeks to attract food-lovers.

Tourists enjoy gallery hopping at an “art walk” in Downtown Fort Myers, Florida, two hours south of Tampa. In addition to a thriving arts scene, the city has many lively restaurants and breweries.

Another optimum time to visit is the three-week fair held during November.

Pizza, chocolate, comfort food

Minnesota Twins player Joe Mauer signs autographs at a spring training exhibition game in Fort Myers, Florida. The Red Sox’s spring training at nearby JetBlue Park spans February and March.

If you are traveling with grandkids, they’ll love Fine Folk Pizza at 11300 Lindbergh Blvd., where they can learn how to toss pizza dough into the perfect crust. Even though we didn’t have kids in tow, our server let us try for ourselves, and we managed to avoid having the growing circle of dough land on our heads. The vegan pizza, made with cashew mozzarella, is an excellent addition to the traditional menu. Lindbergh Boulevard is also one of the three Fort Myers locations for Norman Love Confections, a “chocolate and dessert salon” where sweets, including artisanal gelato, are works of art. Though we enjoyed a fine dinner at the Westin Cape Coral Resort, our most interesting evening meal was the comfort food at the 68-year-old Farmers Market Restaurant at 2736 Edison Ave. My husband’s crispy-but-juicy Southern fried chicken and my dinner of “sides,” (slow-simmered collards, pickled beets, cornmeal-crusted okra and stewed tomatoes) tasted like the dishes my maternal grandmother prepared in her kitchen on Virginia’s Eastern Shore in the 1950s and ‘60s.

Part of the appeal of dining on the site of Florida’s oldest farmers market was arriving there after driving through a neighborhood of well-kept 1940s and ‘50s white bungalows in a part of southwest Florida reflecting an earlier industrial period. To really get to know an area, we’ve always tried to see the real world of every destination — not just the world surrounding four- and five-star resort properties. We were welcomed to the Farmers Market Restaurant by smiling locals, including co-owner Betsy Barnwell. Part of the third family to own the restaurant, Barnwell told us that teachers, lawyers and law-enforcement officers represent a typical cross-section of diners that mingle there in the evenings. A great place to stop before or after dinner is the Fort Myers Brewing Company, 12811 Commerce Lakes Dr., which offers more than 20 of its brews on tap. In winter its Keg Nog stout, brewed with seasonal spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg, pays homage to spiced elixirs — though as one who leans toward India Pale Ales, I preferred one called “Clean Shave.” Another winter specialty, Ambruana, is aged in Cypress wood from Brazil. The brewery has also tapped into the trendy See FT. MYERS, page 24

BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2020

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

Festivals to enjoy in Virginia during 2020 By Glenda C. Booth Sugary maple syrup, juicy red tomatoes, dainty pink apple blossoms, high-octane bluegrass — it’s all classic Virginia. From oysters to sand to fiddling, Virginia’s festivals showcase the singular assets of the state’s diversity and riches. Mark your 2020 calendar to attend these events: Maple Festival, Highland County, Mar. 14-22 Highland County, 3,000 feet above sea level, is Virginia’s “Little Switzerland.” In its Ruritan clubhouses, church basements and school cafeterias, “maple” is a noun, verb and adjective. Maple syrup is everywhere: on buckwheat pancakes, in sausage, chicken, barbecue, donuts, ice cream, mustard, sugar, butter, bread, pecans, candy, tea and candles. Festival-goers tour sugar camps and sniff through the steamy “sugar shacks” where veteran maplers boil down sap by the gallons after it has drained through plastic tubes snaking down the hills from 15,000 tree taps. Cloggers dance to rapid-fire bluegrass music, a leadup to the Maple Queen’s coronation. Monterey, the county seat, is a five-hour drive from Baltimore. For more information, visit highlandcounty.org. Shad Planking, Wakefield, Apr. 15 When shad migrate up the James River to spawn, people gather and gab at the Sportsmen’s Club amid aromas of smoked shad, baked beans and other mysterious scents wafting through the piney woods. On April 15 (presumably after filing their taxes), the Wakefield Ruritan Club serves 350 shad, gently smoked on oak planks since 6 a.m. The tasty fish are suffused with a secret sauce created by a local dentist whose locked-up recipe’s location is known only to a few Ruritanners. The Beans Committee stirs a 50-gallon, sluggish concoction of beans, bacon, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and green peppers that has simmered for six hours in an apple butter kettle. Virginia politicians have been mainstays at this event for years, but it’s mostly all about hanging out in the woods, sipping spirits and eating shad, deep-fried shad roe and beans.

Wakefield is four hours south of Baltimore. For more information, visit wakefieldruritans.com. Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, Winchester, Apr. 24-May 3 Winchester does not wait for ripening fall apples to celebrate the favorite local fruit. In late April to early May, the town turns pink and green to honor the apple blossom. Over 40 events explode, including band competitions, dances, dinners, orchard tours, a firetruck rodeo and an apple pie contest. With great pageantry, Queen Shenandoah is crowned as “loyal subjects,” pages, princesses and maids fawn. Doors are festooned in the “Doors in Bloom” contest. Celebrities serving as past parade marshals include First Lady “Lady Bird” (Mrs. Lyndon B.) Johnson, Arthur Godfrey, Jim Belushi, Lucille Ball, Pat Boone, Willie Nelson and “Lefty” Driesell. Winchester is two hours from Baltimore. For more information, visit thebloom.com. Tinner Hill Blues Festival, Falls Church, June 13 Blues of every flavor permeate Falls Church in a daylong celebration of the area’s African-American legacy: boogiewoogie piano, old-time blues, acoustic, gospel, moanin’ blues, happy blues. The festival includes performances, brunch, art shows, films, lectures and an “instrument petting zoo,” where youngsters can try out instruments. The event organizers promote racial reconciliation. For more information or $25 tickets, check tinnerhill.org. Hanover Tomato Festival, Mechanicsville, July 10-11 Tomato cuisine stars every July when vendors hawk fried green tomato BLTs, tomato grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato pies, remoulade sauce and pies. Other highlights: tomato arts and crafts, music, and the Best Dressed Tomato Contest. Mechanicsville is three hours from Baltimore. For more information, visit hanovertomatofestival.com. Pony Swim, Chincoteague, July 25-30 Thousands descend on Chincoteague for the annual Pony Swim made famous by Mar-

guerite Henry’s book Misty of Chincoteague. At slack tide, the Saltwater Cowboys swim the ponies across the channel from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island. The first foal to come ashore is named King or Queen Neptune and given away in a raffle. After the swim, the ponies “parade” down Main Street to the carnival grounds for auction, with proceeds going to charity. The Fireman’s Carnival, a fundraiser for volunteer firefighters, features rides, raffles, corn dogs, cotton candy and games. Chincoteague is three and a half hours south of Baltimore. For a schedule of events, see chincoteague.com. Old Fiddlers’ Convention, Galax, Aug. 4-8 Since 1935, Galax’s Moose Lodge 733 has staged the biggest, oldest fiddlers’ convention in the country — a three-day festival of non-stop bluegrass and country music. Hundreds of musicians compete for cash prizes in old-time fiddle, bluegrass fiddle, dobro, mandolin, dulcimer, bluegrass banjo, clawhammer banjo, autoharp, guitar, folk singing and flatfoot dancing. Bands with names like “Slim Pickins” and the “Whooping Holler String Band” rip tunes into the night as the crowd whoops. Festival-goers can buy handmade instruments and crafts and indulge in downhome cookin’ like country-fried steak

sandwiches, Polish sausages, funnel cakes and deep-fried onion “blossoms.” Ticket prices are $7-$13 per day. Galax is six hours southwest of Baltimore. Visit oldfiddlersconvention.com for details. Neptune Boardwalk Weekend, Virginia Beach, Sept. 25-27 Virginia Beach’s end-of-summer bash features sporting events, a surfing competition, and arts and crafts, with 250 exhibitors running the length of the 34-block boardwalk. There’s the Royal Court of King Neptune with tritons and princesses, but the highlight is the International Sandsculpting Championship, which attracts artists from all over the world who make elaborate, arty sand creations up to 10 feet tall. Virginia Beach is a five-hour drive from Baltimore. Visit neptunefestival.com for pictures of past winners. Taste of Br unswick Festival, Lawrenceville, Oct. 10 Around 10,000 ravenous adventurers head to southern Virginia for Civil War reenactments, bluegrass and gospel music, a car show and the culinary centerpiece: more than 4,000 quarts of Brunswick stew, a tasty mélange invented in Virginia in 1828. Aficionados swear by the critical ingredients: squirrel or rabbit meat (now often reSee VA. FESTIVALS, page 24

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Ft. Myers From page 22 hard seltzers (carbonated alcoholic drinks; basically spiked, flavored seltzer). Its lemon-lime and watermelon flavors are popular, served over ice.

Estates worth a visit If you haven’t visited Fort Myers since 1990, when Henry Ford’s winter home

Va. festivals From page 23 placed by chicken), bacon, onions, bread, seasonings and butter. Stewmasters compete in a stew cook-off. Locals are so high on it that they formed the Brunswick Stewmasters Association to teach the next generation how to make the authentic concoction. Lawrenceville is four and a half hours south of Balitmore. Visit tasteofbrunswick-

opened to the public adjacent to that of Thomas Edison, it’s worth another trip. These adjacent properties, situated beside the Caloosahatchee River, include a historical museum and 21-acre botanical garden. As I indicated before, for me, the central banyan tree that covers nearly an acre of ground is a strong visual memory. But the most striking memory left with us was of two now-famous men responsible for the invention of much that makes

up the modern world. At the Edison site, you’ll see some of the first phonographs and movie projectors, as well as a 75,000watt light bulb and a 1905 jukebox playing “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.” At Ford’s home, a garage houses several original Ford cars. We enjoyed a guided tour replete with tales lending personality to these men and their families. Edison’s daughter Madeline, who wrote the irreverent “Rules for Guests at Semi-

nole Lodge,” showed she had become tired of questions about the glamorous town east of Fort Myers. She wrote, “Don’t ask us about Palm Beach. We don’t want to know.” A round-trip flight from BWI to Fort Myers in February costs $180 on Southwest Airlines. For more information about the area, visit fortmyers-sanibel.com or read 100 Things to Do in Fort Myers & Sanibel Before You Die, by Nancy Hamilton.

festival.com. Peanut Fest, Suffolk, Oct. 8-11 You can smell peanuts a quarter-mile away at the Peanut Fest, which features a gleaming, eight-foot Mr. P-nutty. Since 1941, locals have venerated this all-purpose legume at their festival, attracting 125,000 people every year. The Ruritan Club hosts an all-you-can-eat shrimp fest, barbecue and live bands. There’s a demolition derby, truck and tractor pull,

motorcycle rally, horseshoe competition, cornhole beanbag tournament, music, fireworks and peanut queen crowning. Creative types compete in the peanut butter sculpting contest using a five-pound block of this favored spread. Suffolk is five hours south of Baltimore. See suffolkpeanutfest.com. Oyster Festival, Urbanna, Nov. 6-7 Oysters breaded, deep fried, steamed, boiled, stewed, Rockefellered and frittered are wolfed down amid oyster lamps, crowns and jewelry at this annual festival. Around 125 food and craft booths line the streets, and marching bands and oyster floats parade through Urbanna. The climax of the two-day festival is “the official oyster shucking contest of Virginia,” where amateurs and professionals compete at breakneck speed to pry open recalcitrant bivalves, ending in a “shuck-off” between the top man and woman. Officials crown the Oyster Queen and Little Miss Spat.

Urbanna is three and a half hours from Baltimore. See urbannaoysterfestival.com for details. 50th Scottish Walk, Alexandria, Dec. 4-5 Bagpipes whine, Scottish clans strut their tartans, and dancers, Scottie dogs, classic cars, a Santa bagpiper and more bounce and roll through Old Town’s streets every December. At the Taste of Scotland, festival-goers sample spirits such as scotches from Scotland and Scottish ale and beer. Some Old Town homes, decorated for the holidays, are open. A holiday boat parade of lights brightens the night sky. Later in the month, Santa arrives on water skis. For photos of the event and others in Old Town Alexandria, go to visitalexandriava.com. For a list of some 2020 festivals in Maryland and the District of Columbia, visit thebeaconnewspapers.com/festivals.

BEACON BITS

Feb. 22

FEBRUARY 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

SELLING YOUR HOME Are you looking to downsize, get an apartment or move into a new community? Join a workshop about selling your home, including

details about the current real estate market, loan programs and new responsibilities of the seller. The free seminar will be held on Sat., Feb. 22 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Catonsville Library, 1100 Frederick Rd., Catonsville. To register, go to http://bit.ly/HomeSellBalt.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2020

Insuring your trip and your health, too By Rachel L. Sheedy Packing your bags for a trip? Don’t forget travel insurance. It can protect you if unforeseen circumstances force you to cancel or interrupt a trip — or if you get sick while on the road. Retiree John Murtagh said health coverage was a key reason he purchased travel insurance last year. He knew Medicare wouldn’t provide coverage outside the U.S. So, before embarking on a two-week cruise in May from Miami to Southampton, England, the 66-year-old bought a WaveCare travel insurance policy from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection for about $500. “I travel quite a bit,” Murtagh said. “It’s essential coverage.” To maximize a travel policy’s benefits, “the number-one thing to remember is to buy travel insurance right after making the first payment” for the trip, said Carol Mueller, vice president of Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection. Purchasing insurance within 14 days of that first payment typically ensures you will get coverage for preexisting conditions, experts say, and mitigates the risk of not being covered if a hurricane, terrorist attack or other disaster ruins your trip before it begins. Policy premiums depend on the traveler’s age and the length and cost of the trip. “You want to cover anything prepaid or not refundable,” said Erin Gavin, an insurance product analyst for InsureMyTrip.com. If you have nonrefundable transportation costs of $1,200 and a refundable hotel reservation for $2,000, buy coverage just for the transport costs. Generally, Gavin said, the premium will run 4% to 10% of the cost of the trip.

Comparison shopping helps You can shop policies at sites such as In-

sureMyTrip.com or SquareMouth.com, which let you compare the features and prices of policies from multiple carriers. “A higher price tag doesn’t mean more benefits or better service,” said Jenna Hummer, director of public relations for SquareMouth. You can buy standalone medical coverage, but in many cases, it makes sense to buy a comprehensive policy that includes trip cancellation, trip interruption and medical expenses. A policy that lets you cancel “for any reason” gives you the most flexibility but also costs more. Frequent travelers should weigh the costs of single-trip policies versus an annual travel policy. “You buy [annual insurance] once and have coverage for all the trips and travel emergencies you might face in a year,” said Daniel Durazo, director of marketing and communications for Allianz Partners USA. Allianz offers annual policies that start at $135.

Medicare no, Medigap maybe Whether you have private health insurance or Medicare, check whether your insurance will cover you while traveling, particularly if you are headed overseas. Traditional Medicare typically doesn’t cover healthcare outside the U.S. and its territories. But some Medigap supplemental insurance plans offer coverage for foreign emergency healthcare. Medicare Advantage beneficiaries may run into coverage issues while traveling abroad — and even within the U.S. Advantage plans generally have limited service networks, and traveling outside your local area can throw you out of network, making needed care costlier. Make sure the activities on your trip

agenda aren’t excluded from coverage. Active boomers seeking thrills on vacation by rock climbing or heli-skiing can buy travel insurance policies that will specifically cover those riskier activities. Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection offers a policy called AdrenalineCare geared to active travelers, and SquareMouth.com recently launched an “Adventure & Sports Travel Insurance” section that lets you search policies specific to active travel. You can also buy travel insurance geared

toward cruises, as Murtagh did. Such a policy could come in handy if you miss the boat at a port of call, or need healthcare beyond the scope of the ship’s doctor. Before buying a policy, check the coverage for medical evacuation. Without it, you could be on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars in transport costs if you have to be flown to the nearest hospital or back home because of a medical emergency. © The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 25

TREE CARE OPPORTUNITY

If you’re interested in helping to preserve the environment, volunteer with Friends of Herring Run Parks. You can contribute with litter cleanup, tree care, invasive plant removal and tree pruning. The volunteer event will be held on Sat., Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Flowering Tree Trails of Baltimore, 4322 Evans Chapel Rd., Baltimore. To register, visit http://bit.ly/TreeCareBalt.

Jan. 23

INTRO TO VEGAN EATING

Are you looking for a way to get healthier this year? Try going vegan, or avoiding meat and dairy, with the help of food educator Robin Coarts. This free class takes place on Thurs., Jan. 23 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Pikesville Library, 1301 Reisterstown Rd., Pikesville. For more information, call (410) 887-1234.

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FEBRUARY 2020 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; BALTIMORE BEACON

Say you saw it in the Beacon

BALTIMORE BEACON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; FEBRUARY 2020

Style

Arts &

A historic African American menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s club is part of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new arts district. Our cover story continues on page 28.

Musicians revitalize early jazz melodies the 1920s and that sounded kind of fun,â&#x20AC;? Summerall said.

Back to Baltimore After Summerall retired in 2014, he returned to his hometown. He grew up near Northwood and attended Baltimore City College. In 2017, after overcoming health problems, Summerall turned his attention to a pile of historic sheet music that was collecting dust. He had spent years gathering manuscripts, frequenting the Library of Congress to rescue early jazz songs from obscurity. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It took me a lot of hours at the Library of Congress and elsewhere to assemble these couple hundred songs,â&#x20AC;? Summerall said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wanted to put it to use.â&#x20AC;? So, he posted an ad on Craigslist for musicians and started to build a band in Baltimore. Many people answered his ad, including classical pianist Lisa Weiss. Her father introduced her to jazz music. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m in this band, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing all this stuff he loves,â&#x20AC;? she said. Weiss began teaching herself how to

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By Ivey Noojin Most jazz bands today play famous tunes by Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker. One Baltimore band, however, revives the early songs of Cab Calloway and Fletcher Henderson â&#x20AC;&#x201D; jazz music from the 1920s and 1930s, decades earlier than the most popular songs in that genre. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the mission of the Hotel Paradise Roof Garden Orchestra, a 12-person ensemble comprised of musicians ranging in age from 24 to 74. The band was formed in 2017 by Lynn Summerall, 72, a Baltimore native who spent his career as an announcer of classical music programs at National Public Radio. Since 1992, Summerall had been leading a similar band in Norfolk, Virginia. He was inspired to name it the Hotel Paradise Roof Garden Orchestra because many grand hotels of the early jazz era had a rooftop garden for music and dancing. He was also paying homage to several famous orchestras of the time, such as the Coronado Hotel Orchestra and George Devineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roof Garden Orchestra. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wanted a name that was authentic to

Conductor Lynn Summerall and his Hotel Rooftop Garden Orchestra play otherwise forgotten early jazz numbers from the 1920s. Retirees and college-age musicians make up the band, which performs in Hampden.

play piano at age three, and by age seven she was performing in concerts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I learned how to read music before I could even read [English],â&#x20AC;? she said. Weiss went on to get degrees in music from Harvard, Yale and the Peabody Con-

servatory (now part of Johns Hopkins), where she earned her doctorate. Even though Weiss still spends a lot of her time giving music lessons, she is able to pracSee ORCHESTRA, page 29

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Club From page 1 for the desegregation of the U.S. military, in 1941. But by the end of the Vietnam War, the street had changed. Residents started to move out after the 1968 riots that followed the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Sometimes you lose a lot of your talent as people begin to move out,” Tshamba said. After Tshamba’s tour in Vietnam, he worked briefly with the Black Panthers before returning to Baltimore to do social justice work in his home city. First, he joined 300 Men, a local group

that visits different areas of Baltimore every Friday to discourage young men from joining gangs. “We’re trying to change that culture of violence,” Tshamba said. Tshamba practiced nonviolence during the 2015 riots in Baltimore after Freddie Gray was killed. He, along with other 300 Men members, locked arms to create a boundary between the police, who were preparing to throw tear gas, and people on sidewalks, who were throwing stones. “We almost had a major rebellion out there,” Tshamba said. As the city declared a state of emergency in the spring of 2015, the Arch Social Club provided a place for protestors to rest or use the restroom. “We have no his-

BEACON BITS

Feb. 3

WRITERS’ GROUP Have you always dreamed about becoming a better writer? Are you working on a memoir? Join a writers’ group to give and re-

ceive feedback on your writing. The free session takes place on Mon., Feb. 3 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the White Marsh Library, 8133 Sandpiper Cir., Baltimore. For more information, call (410) 887-5097.

Feb. 4

PAPER FLOWERS Prepare for Valentine’s Day by making an easy craft: paper flowers. The free art class will be held on Tues., Feb. 4 from 7 to 8 p.m. at

the Hereford Library, 16940 York Rd., Hereford. To register, call (410) 887-1919.

FEBRUARY 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

tory of violence,” he emphasized.

Telling forgotten stories Tshamba officially joined the Arch Social Club in 1998. By 2010, he found his true calling: historical research. He made it his mission to highlight the lives of African Americans who lived in the area in the early 1900s. “All we hear about is Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman,” Tshamba said. “We don’t hear about other history makers.” To start his research, he looked through the club’s membership records, which led to some untold stories. The project led Tshamba to start writing a book in 2016. It hasn’t been published yet, but he plans to get Early Prominent Members of the Arch Social Club on local bookshelves soon. “It’s like you’re digging in the ground,” Tshamba said of his research. “You get excited.” The club, located next to a Boost Mobile and the Penn North Metro Station, is much more than it appears. With white block letters and tan pillared exterior, its building — originally a vaudeville theater — stands out against the lightblue colored buildings on the street. It still pays homage to the block’s blue theme, though, with blue details on the columns, a blue curtain in the half-circle window, and blue dresses on the two female statues lounging against the window in Greek-like fashion. “Many people get us mixed up with a night club or a gentleman’s club,” Tsham-

ba said with a smile. Just past the main entrance, there’s the Raymond Coates Lounge, named in honor of the club’s first president, with a bar where men can sit around, drink and just talk, according to Tshamba. The club’s Billie Holiday Room has a stage with dozens of small tables. The club hosts a dance every week in this room. They also host concerts twice a month and jazz sessions several times a year. Various renovations are currently underway. Workers will enlarge the bathrooms and kitchen, move the offices upstairs and refinish the hardwood floors. With the help of a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the club is even adding a marquee over its entrance.

A new generation Tshamba, however, is focused on recruitment. The club’s youngest member is 30 years old, while its oldest is 94. Half of the men are veterans like Tshamba. “For this club to survive, we need younger men,” Tshamba said. To that end, every Saturday, the club hosts an educational program for youths. It oversees community beautification projects, volunteer visits to help older adults, and anti-bullying programs. It has also formed a network of club members who try to promote health, education and economic cultivation in the neighborhood. Tshamba said he plans to remain part of the Arch Social Club for as long as he can, writing everything down for the history books.

BEACON BITS

Feb. 12

PHOTOGRAPHY WITH MATT STORM Learn about Matt Storm’s portrayal of identity through photo-

graphs at the sixth installment of Photography Stories. Storm captures topics including family, community, transgender and queer issues, and self-portraiture. At this free event, you will hear Storm speak and be able to view his pictures. It will be held on Wed., Feb. 12 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Full Circle Fine Art Services, 33 East 21st St., Baltimore. To register, visit http://bit.ly/MattStorm.

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Orchestra From page 27 tice with the band more often now that she has retired from being a professor of music at Goucher College, where she started teaching in 1986. “It’s very liberating,” Weiss said. “My schedule is more my own.”

More time for music Unlike Weiss, the band’s alto saxophone player, Randy Loiland, could not dedicate himself to music for a number of decades. “I was working, traveling, raising [two] children,” Loiland said. “I didn’t practice a whole lot.” His love of music began in the fifth grade, playing clarinet for the school band. He learned to play saxophone in college, but stopped playing for years when he went to work for the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, a research facility for chemical and biological defense. Now that he’s retired, he has joined four bands. Retirement has also allowed tenor saxophone player Leo Brandenburg more free time. “I can dedicate all of my time to improve my play,” Brandenburg said. “I love retirement.”

Toe-tapping tunes The Hotel Paradise Roof Garden Orches-

tra has 26 members available to perform. They were drawn to the unique repertoire of music known as swing-era jazz. “All the melodies are just beautiful,” Weiss said. “I’m very appreciative to be a part of it.” The fast tempo is challenging but fun for many of the musicians. Even the instruments are different from traditional jazz bands, with a tuba instead of string bass and a banjo instead of a guitar. Founder Summerall has always been drawn to this type of music. It is more optimistic, he said, than postwar jazz, which experimented with “free tonality” and less structured rhythm and meter. “The music and the country changed in the 1940s,” Summerall said. “There’s something about this [earlier] music that’s particularly uplifting, fun and toe-tapping.” Even young people are supportive of the century-old music. Two band members are 24 years old, and their friends attend their performances, most of which take place at Paulie Gee’s Pizzeria in Hampden. Without the Hotel Paradise Roof Garden Orchestra, the era of 1920s jazz might be lost to Baltimore. “I don’t think there is another ensemble like it,” Brandenburg said. The Hotel Paradise Roof Garden Orchestra will play on Feb. 9 and March 8 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Paulie Gee’s Pizzeria, 3535 Chestnut Ave., Hampden. For more information, call (410) 235-1566.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2020

BEACON BITS

Jan. 25

BULL AND OYSTER ROAST

Support faith-based education for low- and middle-income families at the 28th annual Bull and Oyster Roast. Food includes oysters, beef and turkey, along with beer, wine and desserts. There will also be a raffle and silent auction to support local families. Tickets cost $80. The charity roast will be held on Sat., Jan. 25 from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, Exhibition Hall, 2200 York Rd., Lutherville-Timonium. To purchase a ticket, visit http://bit.ly/bullroast.

Feb. 6

AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY

Author Carolyn Adams will speak about Baltimore’s historic buildings and their ties to African American history. The free event will be held on Thurs., Feb. 6 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Towson Library, 320 York Rd., Towson. To learn more, call (410) 887-6166.

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33 38

BB220

Scrabble answers on p. 29.

9 15

46 49

Across

Down

1. Frodo’s foes 5. A white chip, often 9. It is shorter on a boutonniere than a bouquet 13. Be in need of a CPAP machine 14. Cajun sauce thickener 15. Bangkok language 16. Connect two web pages 18. Makes a choice 19. Madonna and Sean Penn, for example 20. Be on sick leave 21. Remove a page from a diary 23. Cough syrup qtys. 25. Emeril Lagasse’s catch-grunt 26. Any man from U.N.C.L.E. 27. Netflix mailer 30. Badger’s buddy 32. Penultimate Greek letter 34. The pilot and the co-pilot 36. Weight training unit 38. It’s the same as “it’s”, but not “its” 41. Spy tool used to conceal (and reveal) this puzzle’s theme 44. Kingdom of The King and I 45. Airline HQ’ed in Solna, Sweden 46. Row of trucks 47. 45 or 78, or a turntable 49. Family car 51. Half of “nine” 52. Obituary statistic 54. Let the chips fall where they ___ 56. ___ friendly 58. One who unites buyers and sellers 60. Failing grades 61. Like etc., but for people 65. Small piece of a screenplay 66. Nap, numerically 69. Julia Louis-Dreyfus won her 11th i in 2017 70. Rushin’ Russian river 71. Rubbed the wrong way 72. Deli breads 73. Simplicity 74. Pop ___ the weasel!

1. A July birthstone 2. It can be used to tie a damsel to the railroad tracks 3. Point of highest flood waters 4. Sun. speech 5. Monet or Manet 6. Christmas song 7. Formal wear, informally 8. Actor in crowd scene 9. Road warning with twice as many sides as letters (with 33 Down) 10. “Keep your spirits up!” 11. Consume thoroughly 12. Like a haunted forest 13. A case of he said, __ said 17. Portable computers 22. Little troublemaker 24. Thick as pea ___ 25. ___ Rabbit 27. Many tie for World’s Greatest each June 28. Leg count on a Roman octopus 29. “I’ve got the next round” 31. Remove an incorrect puzzle answer 33. See 9 down 35. Slightly wet 37. Painter of Girl With a Mandolin 39. Complicit with the conspiracy 40. “The ___ the limit!” 42. “No problemo” 43. ___ of the above 48. Toronto: Mrs. :: Montreal : ___ 50. Camper’s bag 52. More qualified 53. In bad need of a good scrubdown 55. Attempt to influence the court 57. Nostalgically fashionable 59. F major, C major, and D major sequentially in Come on Eileen 60. Guesses posted near the baggage carousel 62. Youngster 63. Aces the magic show finale 64. Flashback-inducing drug 67. Stat. on Jim Palmer’s baseball card 68. Preselect the winning lottery numbers

Answers on page 29.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2020

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.

Financial WHY SETTLE FOR A “one size fits all” life insurance company or insurance policy? Dupree Insurance Services works with many providers to find the best plan for “YOU”. Call Yvonne Dupree 443-286-8049. www.dupreeinsuranceservices.com

For Sale PUT ON YOUR TV EARS and hear TV with unmatched clarity. TV Ears Original were originally $129.95 - NOW WITH THIS SPECIAL OFFER are only $59.95 with code MCB59! Call 1-833-934-0843. EASE ADJUSTABLE MATTRESS. Full Size. Firm. 10 year warranty. Purchased June 2019 for $2040.00. Asking $1500.00 or best offer. Call 410653-0992. If no answer, please leave a message. DULANEY VALLEY MEMORIAL GARDENS - Apostles Circle - one cemetery crypt with two liners: sells for $6,595; will accept $5000. 410-517-2205

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate WE BUY HOUSES!!! CALL 443-415-0790. Are you tired of toilets and tenants, but like the monthly income? Call us for a creative solution to your real estate problems. We buy houses in any condition, any location, any price range. We pay CASH or terms and offer QUICK closings. Call us today at 443-415-0790 or visit www.ikebuyshouses.com.

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate MID-ATLANTIC FUNDING GROUP — Pays cash for Owner Financed Mortgages. Professional Service / Fast Closing. Call Us Today! 1 (800) 641-9521 or visit midatlanticnotes.com A PLACE FOR MOM. The nation’s largest senior living referral service. Contact our trusted, local experts today! Our service is FREE/no obligation. CALL 1-855-502-4495

Health RESEARCH STUDY Are you taking care of a family member or friend with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia? We invite you to participate in a paid research study (PI: Hae-Ra Han, PhD, RN; Johns Hopkins IRB#: IRB00198665). The study will involve doing a phone or online survey. If you complete the survey, you will receive a $10 gift card as a thank you for your time. You may be eligible to participate if you • Are caring for a family member or friend with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia • Have a chronic condition or disease • Speak and understand English • Are 18 and older, and • Own or have access to a mobile device. If you are interested, please contact the research team at (410) 929-4327 or tech4caregiverhopkinstudy@gmail.com PAID RESEARCH STUDY: Healthy 65-85yr olds with normal hearing needed for MRI study of speech comprehension at Univ. of Maryland College Park. Earn $10-15/hr in 2 sessions (34hrs total). Contact 240-630-0461, EffComLab@gmail.com, http://ter.ps/listen PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-851-0949. DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for [350] procedures. Call 1-844366-1003 for details. www.dental50plus.com/320. [6118-0219]

Home/Handyman Services BORN AGAIN REFINISHING c/o Vernon E. Madairy Sr. Because your antique and fine furniture is an investment since 1973. Photographs at www.bornagainrefinishing.com. Furniture refinishing and repairs. All pieces hand striped. Restorations. Missing pieces hand carved. Veneer repair and replaced. Upholstery. Hand-woven natural cane. Cane webbing. Natural rush. Fiber rush. Wood splint. Residential and Commercial. 410-323-0467 ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debrisblocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off and 0% financing for those who qualify. PLUS Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-844-359-6933.

HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD All classified ads must be submitted and paid for online, via our website, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds Deadlines and Payments: To appear in the next issue, your ad text and payment must be entered by the 5th of the preceding month (for Baltimore and Howard County editions); by the 20th (for Washington and Richmond editions). Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad: • $25 for 1-250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length). The website will calculate this for you. Note: Maryland contractors must provide a valid MHIC number. • Each real estate listing qualifies as one ad. • All ads are subject to publisher's discretion. Payment will be refunded if unacceptable for any reason.

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

Wanted

STAY IN YOUR HOME LONGER with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation! Call us at 1-877-240-2061 or visit www.walkintubquote.com/beacon

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

**STOP STRUGGLING ON THE STAIRS** Give your life a lift with an ACORN STAIRLIFT! Call now for $250 OFF your stairlift purchase and FREE DVD & brochure! 1-855-850-3183.

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

TV/Cable DISH NETWORK $59.99 For 190 Channels! Add High Speed Internet for ONLY $19.95/month. Call Today for $100 Gift Card! Best Value & Technology. FREE Installation. Call 1-844-560-5837 (some restrictions apply) GET NFL SUNDAY TICKET FREE w/ DIRECTV Choice All-Included Package. $59.99/month for 12 months. 185 Channels PLUS Thousands of Shows/Movies On Demand. FREE Genie HD DVR Upgrade. Call 1-888-572-4953.

TV/Cable SELL ME YOUR CAR, Truck or SUV for CASH today instead of a maybe tax deduction tomorrow. I come to you. NO FUSS NO MUSS. 410-916-0776 I also buy Motorcycles, Scooters & Bikes. If it’s got wheels, I am a Buyer. SEEKING FULL/SEALED BOTTLES of Vintage Bourbon & Rye (Pre-1990). Examples include, but are not limited to: Old Grand Dad, Pikesville Rye, Wild Turkey, Old Fitzgerald, I.W. Harper, Old Forester and more! Inquiries are welcome. Call Alex 443-223-7669

BUYING VINYL RECORDS from 1950 to 1990. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae, Punk, Blues, and Disco. 33 1/3 LP’s, 45’s and some 78’s, Some Groups Of CD’s Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201. TOP PRICES PAID for fine antiques, artwork and high quality decorative items including decorated crocks and jugs, rare antique clocks, music boxes and antique phonographs, unusual lamps, slot machines, country store and advertising items, great old toys and dolls to name a few. I am 66 years old with over 40 years in the antique business, well educated and financially capable. Why pay expensive auction house, estate sale, or consignment store commissions when you can get a fair upfront price for your pieces immediately? If you have something unusual and interesting, rare and valuable and are prepared to sell it I would like to speak with you. Please call Jake Lenihan 301 279 8834. No calls after 7 pm please. Thank you. COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, knives, swords, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars & countries. Also Lionel Trains, & slots/coin operated machines. Will pay top prices. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-910-0783

Thanks for reading!

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Research Studies

Financial Services

Warren Place Senior Apartments .19

Technology

Balance & Falls Study . . . . . . . .11 Calorie Restriction Study . . . . .11 Dental Health Study . . . . . . . . .10 Knee Osteoarthritis Study . . . . .10 Memory Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Shoulder Pain Study . . . . . . . . .13 Stroke Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Mutual of Omaha . . . . . . . . . . .16

Legal Services

Health

Angels of Elder Care Planning .17 Frank, Frank & Scherr Law Firm 17

Computer Doctors . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Perfect Lift Chair . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Perfect Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 TechMedic4U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 TheBeaconNewspapers.com . . .26 Zoomer Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Denture Doctor . . . . . . . . . . . .7, 9

Advanced Center for Plastic Surgery . . . . . . . . . .9 Barenburg Eye Associates . . . . .12 Low Vision Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Myerberg Center . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Rosenblatt Foot Care . . . . . . . . . .8 Skin Cancer EB . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Education

Home Health Care

CCBC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Coppin State University . . . . . .27 Myerberg Center . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Options for Senior America . . . .25

Dental Services

Events Celebration of the Arts . . . . . . . .3 Keswick (Art class) . . . . . . . . . .13

Housing Blair House at Stoneleigh . . . . .23 Charlestown/Erickson . . . . . . . . .8 Christ Church Harbor Apts. . . . .16 Glynn Taff Assisted Living . . . .25 R Home Communities . . . . . . . .21 St. Mary’s Roland View Towers . .18

Medical Cannabis Cannabis Docs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Health For Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Moving Services

Theatres/ Entertainment

Caring Transitions . . . . . . . . . . .17

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

Shopping

Travel

Radio Flea Market . . . . . . . . . . .28

Eyre Bus, Tour & Travel . . . . . .23 Superior Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Manor Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Subscriptions Beacon Subscription . . . . . . . . .30

Volunteers/Careers Baltimore City Companion Program . . . . . . .18 Meals on Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . .19

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

FEBRUARY 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Age IS JUST A

NUMBER Be Fit • Be Creative • Be Connected

Be a Member State-of-the-Art Fitness Center Group Exercise Classes Personal Training Studio Art Classes and Open Studio Tech-Knowledge Classes Humanities Classes Bagel Boys Meet Up Support Groups

Mention this ad and receive 20% off a 6-Month or 1-Year Fitness Center Membership Myerberg and CHAI are agencies of The Associated

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