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The AFRO celebrates 130 years PHOTO COURTESY OF DOROTHY SCOTT BOULWARE

By Timothy Cox The Baltimore Afro-American newspaper is one of the country’s oldest Blackowned businesses, dating back to 1892. This year, the weekly newspaper, known today as the AFRO, celebrates 130 years of continuous publication. A formerly enslaved man, John Henry Murphy Sr., purchased the newspaper in the late 19th century, less than 30 years after the end of slavery. Murphy had served in the Civil War as sergeant in the Union Army’s “Colored Troops.” After the war, he worked at the Baltimore printing press that published the Afro-American. When its owners went bankrupt, Murphy borrowed $200 from his wife to buy the equipment, becoming the owner of the newspaper in 1897. Today, the AFRO still thrives under the direction of the Rev. Frances “Toni” Draper, a sixth-generation descendant of Murphy, who serves as publisher. “We have deep Baltimore roots,” Draper said in a video presentation last year. More than 80,000 readers read the print newspaper each week, and articles can be read for free on its website. “Our founders would be pleasantly amazed about how we’ve managed to keep their dream alive,” said the Rev. Dorothy Scott Boulware, the paper’s managing editor, who has worked at the publication for 25 years. The AFRO publishes “good news and other information that’s typically ignored by mainstream media,” Boulware said. Boulware feels very much connected with the Murphy family, including its current publisher and other Murphy descendants currently employed at the AFRO. She’s also very cognizant of the paper’s proud history. While the New York Times’

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To experience the real Provence, rent a farmhouse and meet the locals; plus, what are airline credit card miles really worth? page 16

Rev. Dorothy Scott Boulware is managing editor of the Baltimore Afro-American newspaper, which has been published continuously since 1892. Like many staffers, she has worked at the historic newspaper for decades.

slogan is “All the news that’s fit to print,” the AFRO’s motto is “A Champion of Civic Welfare and the Square Deal.”

an initiative to reach national prominence when John’s son, Carl Murphy, took control in 1922 after his father’s death. He served as editor through 1967,

ARTS & STYLE

Mel Brooks reflects on his long, productive life in comedy in a new memoir page 19

Family expanded reach A century ago, the newspaper launched

See AFRO-AMERICAN, page 20

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A few what-ifs Back when I was a kid, when a bully has always been thus. So, join me in a little thought experitaunted someone, the target would sing ment. What if there was a out, “I’m rubber and you’re new “technology” that, basiglue! Everything you say cally, made targets into rubbounces off me and sticks to ber and bullies into glue? you!” That is, what if every time It didn’t entirely relieve the a country threatened another pain of being bullied, but it with missiles, they would gave one the satisfaction of being able to reply in kind boomerang in mid-air and rewithout actually saying anyturn to the spot they were thing “bad” — without sinkfired from? How many more ing to the bully’s level. missiles would be fired? I found myself remember- FROM THE And what if every time a ing this ditty the other day PUBLISHER country sent food or doctors after reading a newspaper By Stuart P. Rosenthal to help others after a terrible (not the Beacon) full of restorm or flood, the favor porting on fraught foreign policy situa- would immediately redound to the tions (as if our domestic problems weren’t sender’s benefit? bad enough). And the same would apply (as long as Countries imprisoning and even mas- I’m imagining this) on the individual level. sacring their own citizens, threatening What if every time a would-be murderer or war, firing and testing missiles, destroying robber aimed a gun or wielded a knife, satellites, blocking waterways, invading they knew it would hurt only themselves? And every time a person did a favor or neighbors and on and on. Our technology has made so much of showed someone a courtesy, a similar benour lives more productive and simpler, but efit would accrue to them. that is also true — in fact, especially true Of course, this is essentially the Golden — of the means of warfare. There is no Rule: Do unto others as you would have area of invention more well-funded, and it them do unto you.

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

But instead of being a prescription — what we “should” do for moral reasons and without expectation of a return benefit — I’m suggesting we consider what the world would be like if it was built into life itself that you got back exactly what you gave, whether good or bad. And right away, not years later. How would our behavior change? How would the world look? What troubles that we have today would disappear, and what problems would be solved? Evil would destroy evil and good would engender good. Of course, this isn’t at all the way the world works. And as amazing as today’s technology can be, I doubt such a device or software could be created. Still, it’s worth pondering and, maybe, even acting in our individual lives as if it’s true. In some cases, it already is. Show the world a smile, and you’ll undoubtedly get some smiles in return. Go out of your way for someone, and odds are they will, at some point, return the favor, or at least offer thanks.

And, I think, it’s also true that when we show ourselves to be selfish or even just short-tempered, we earn precious little good will from others. That said, as long as evil and selfish people exist, we cannot deny ourselves the means of defense or unilaterally destroy our weapons. We are most certainly not living in a world where bad people destroy themselves, unfortunately. Foreign and domestic strife will certainly continue to fill our newspapers, TVs and computer screens. Still, in an individual sense, we create our own “micro-climates,” you might say. We set the temperature felt around ourselves and, through our actions, help determine whether sunshine or clouds follow us during the day. Much of that power, at least, is in our hands right now. It’s something we can put into effect whenever we want. I commend it to you for the rest of this still new year.

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: After reading about a reader’s scam report in the December 2021 Beacon, I wanted to share another resource that I’ve used to report scams by emails and telephone. It’s the AARP Fraud Watch Network: 1877-908-3360. They keep a record and count how many complaints they get for

each company. You don’t have to be a member of AARP to report scams, but frankly the $12 AARP membership fee [for new members] is well worth it. They send a [quarterly] newsletter and [bimonthly] magazines. Lynne Selznick Baltimore, MD

BEACON BITS

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President/Associate Publisher – Judith K. Rosenthal

MONEY RESOURCES The National Council on Aging provides money resources for older adults on its website, ncoa.org/older-adults/money.

ELDER FRAUD Learn some of the most common scams that impact seniors and learn how to protect yourself by visiting bit.ly/ElderFraudFBI.

Executive Vice President – Gordon Hasenei Managing Editor – Margaret Foster Art Director – Kyle Gregory Director of Operations – Roger King Advertising Representatives – Steve Levin, Alan Spiegel

Ongoing

HEART-HEALTHY RESOURCES

Learn more about how to prevent heart disease by visiting the website for Million Hearts, a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes within five years. For heart-healthy recipes, prevention tips and recent research, visit millionhearts.hhs.gov.

Assistant Editor – Catherine Brown Content Manager – Ashley Griffin

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

The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 23 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions.

Feb. 2

DEMENTIA PROBLEM SOLVING

Every month, TEEPA and the Positive Approach to Care team offer free problem-solving webinars for family care partners, professionals and people living with brain change. This month’s program takes place Wed., Feb. 2 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on their Facebook page. For more information, visit bit.ly/TeepaSnowPAC.

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Health Fitness &

SUBZERO HEROES Surprisingly, many foods retain more nutrients when frozen than bought fresh CURB SUGAR CRAVINGS To control a sweet tooth, drink water, limit processed carbs and sip peppermint tea LET IT SNOW When it snows, try to shovel several times during storms — or hire someone to help HELP AT HOME Home healthcare aides or private duty care workers can lend a hand

Half of cancer experiments not replicable By Carla K. Johnson Eight years ago, a team of researchers launched a project to carefully repeat early but influential lab experiments in cancer research. They recreated 50 experiments, the type of preliminary research with mice and test tubes that sets the stage for new cancer drugs. The results reported in December: About half the scientific claims didn’t hold up. “The truth is we fool ourselves. Most of what we claim is novel or significant is no such thing,” said Dr. Vinay Prasad, a cancer doctor and researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not involved in the project. It’s a pillar of science that the strongest findings come from experiments that can be repeated with similar results. In reality, there’s little incentive for researchers to share methods and data so others can verify the work, said Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers lose prestige if their results don’t hold up to scrutiny, she said. And there are built-in rewards for publishing discoveries. But for cancer patients, it can raise false

hopes to read headlines of a mouse study that seems to promise a cure “just around the corner,” Prasad said. “Progress in cancer is always slower than we hope.”

Current treatments not affected The new study reflects on shortcomings early in the scientific process, not with established treatments. By the time cancer drugs reach the market, they’ve been tested rigorously in large numbers of people to make sure they are safe and they work. For the project, the researchers tried to repeat experiments from cancer biology papers published from 2010 to 2012 in major journals such as Cell, Science and Nature. Overall, 54% of the original findings failed to measure up to statistical criteria set ahead of time by the Reproducibility Project, according to the team’s study published online by eLife. (The nonprofit eLife receives funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, which also supports the Associated Press Health and Science Department.) Among the studies that did not hold up was one that found a certain gut bacteria was tied to colon cancer in humans. Another was for a type of drug that shrunk breast

tumors in mice. A third was a mouse study of a potential prostate cancer drug. A co-author of the prostate cancer study said the research done at Sanford Burnham Prebys research institute has held up to other scrutiny. “There’s plenty of reproduction in the [scientific] literature of our results,” said Erkki Ruoslahti, who started a company now running human trials on the same compound for metastatic pancreatic cancer. This is the second major analysis by the Reproducibility Project. In 2015, they found similar problems when they tried to repeat experiments in psychology. Study co-author Brian Nosek of the Center for Open Science said it can be wasteful to plow ahead without first doing the work to repeat findings. “We start a clinical trial, or we spin up a startup company, or we trumpet to the world ‘We have a solution’ before we’ve done the follow-on work to verify it,” Nosek said.

Lack of cooperation a problem The researchers tried to minimize differences in how the cancer experiments were conducted. Often, they couldn’t get

help from the scientists who did the original work when they had questions about which strain of mice to use or where to find specially engineered tumor cells. “I wasn’t surprised, but it is concerning that about a third of scientists were not helpful, and, in some cases, were beyond not helpful,” said Michael Lauer, deputy director of extramural research at the National Institutes of Health. NIH will try to improve data sharing among scientists by requiring it of grantfunded institutions in 2023, Lauer said. “Science, when it’s done right, can yield amazing things,” Lauer said. For now, skepticism regarding novel findings is the right approach, said Dr. Glenn Begley, a biotechnology consultant and former head of cancer research at drugmaker Amgen. A decade ago, he and other inhouse scientists at Amgen reported even lower rates of confirmation when they tried to repeat published cancer experiments. Cancer research is difficult, Begley said, and “it is very easy for researchers to be attracted to results that look exciting and provocative, results that appear to further support their favorite idea as to how cancer should work, but that are just wrong.” —AP

Eating healthy? A diet can be ‘too clean’ By Matthew Kadey We’ve all heard the term “clean eating” and how it’s supposed to give us pictureperfect health. For good health, there is obviously nothing wrong with striving to eat fewer processed foods and cooking from scratch more often. But for some people, the quest to clean up their diet can veer into a problematic preoccupation with what they are putting on their plate. In a disordered eating condition referred to as orthorexia nervosa, there is a preoccupation with eating healthy and only consuming foods someone considers to be clean, according to Alexis Conason, PsyD, a New York-based clinical psychologist and author of The Diet-Free Revolution. “Rigid food rules are a hallmark of orthorexia that can become all-consuming and where you have a life that maintaining healthy eating is ever ything,” she said.

Obsessing over food isn’t good What starts out as a worthy desire to kick a sugar habit or reduce the intake of packaged foods can morph into an unhealthy obsession to rid one’s diet of anything with sweeteners or other ingredients considered to be lacking in nutritional value. Gradually, eating can become more restrictive to the point where any foods deemed unhealthy or toxic are eliminated. People may only consider eating foods with the highest nutritional value and healthiest cooking methods. For example, someone may eat only grass-fed, organic, non-GMO, low-carb, low-sodium and non-dairy foods. If they deem the food available to be unhealthy, they may forgo eating. Eliminating food groups is pretty common with orthorexia. And this can leave someone unknowingly setting themselves up for nutritional deficiencies. Over time, nutritional shortfalls can adversely affect

cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological and endocrine health.

Mental health issues can arise While an individual begins with good intentions, over time this unhealthy fixation on spick-and-span eating can have unintended physical and psychological consequences. “Avoiding parties and eating at restaurants with friends and family because you are worried about the healthfulness of the food available can leave you being socially isolated,” Conason said. A clean eating obsession can also cause someone to be preachy about diet and judgmental toward those who don’t follow their narrow definition of healthful eating, sometimes leading to strained relations with friends and loved ones. Conason cautions that, when self-esteem is so strongly intertwined with food choices, depression, self-loathing and anxi-

ety can become common mental health outcomes of orthorexia. While orthorexia doesn’t have an official psychiatric diagnosis like other eating disorders such as bulimia, Conason notes that it’s gaining recognition as a form of disordered eating in the field. While there is a lack of hard science regarding the prevalence of orthorexia, many experts believe that cases have been steadily rising among both women and men.

Social media and ads promote The rise of social media likely has played a role. Seeing people you follow flaunting their green smoothies and Buddha bowls as part of restrictive diets can leave you feeling inadequate when dinner ends up being takeout pizza. A report in the journal Eating and See TOO CLEAN, page 5

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How well do antidepressants relieve pain?

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Weight Disorders suggests that people who have an Instagram feed dominated by imagery of beautiful, clean foods are at a greater risk for obsessive eating patterns, including orthorexia. “These outlets can elicit comparisons where you think you need to eat like the people you follow to look like them,” Conason explains. It also doesn’t help that marketing terms we see every day on food labels that we’ve come to associate with healthy eating — such as “natural” and “pure” — are ambiguous enough to fit into our subjective definitions and ideals. “With orthorexia, people can have different beliefs of what healthy food is,” Conason said. Notably, research also suggests that or-

See ANTIDEPRESSANTS, page 6

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From page 4

Past research on antidepressants for chronic pain, such as duloxetine for osteoarthritis of the knee, amitriptyline or duloxetine for chronic low back pain, and amitriptyline for chronic neck pain, demonstrated modest, short-term benefit. But the studies were limited. Most trials were small and lasted only a few months or

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thorexia may not carry the stigma of other eating disorders, such as anorexia and binge-eating. That means the condition can hide in plain sight, under the guise of healthy eating and good health. In the end, if someone suspects clean eating food rules have gotten in the way of gleaning any joy out of life, it’s probably time to talk to someone. “Speak to a licensed therapist who specializes in eating disorders or seek help at an eating disorder treatment center,” Conason recommended. Soon a person may once again fret a lot less when enjoying a slice of chocolate cake with friends and family. Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC, 1-800829-5384, EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2021 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Research suggests minimal benefit

less. Notably, medication side effects — such as nausea, constipation and erectile dysfunction — were common in these trials. Now, a 2021 study has combined the data from past research to get a better sense of just how safe and effective antidepressants are for these conditions. The news isn’t good: On average, treatment with antidepressants minimally reduced pain and disability compared with placebo. The improvement in pain — about 4 points on a scale of 0 to 100 — was considered too small to be noticeable. People treated with certain antidepres-

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Too clean

ication can be continued at the lowest effective dose. Switching to a different antidepressant may be recommended if pain is not well controlled, side effects develop, or there is an interaction with another medication.

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But a recent study calls into doubt how much pain relief antidepressants really deliver. For people with chronic low back or neck pain or osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, an antidepressant medication is not usually the first treatment recommended. Other approaches, such as physical therapy, exercise, losing excess weight, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or cortisone injections are usually tried first. But if these aren’t helpful, antidepressants such as duloxetine or amitriptyline might be a reasonable next step. When prescribed for pain, the initial dose is typically low (often lower than the starting dose for depression). It’s gradually increased if necessary. Ideally, people notice a benefit within weeks of starting the drug, and the med-

F R E E

By Robert H. Shmerling, M.D. Did you know that antidepressant medications are often prescribed for people without depression? It’s true. Antidepressants are frequently prescribed for chronic pain, especially pain related to nerve disease (called neuropathic pain), chronic low back or neck pain, and certain types of arthritis. In fact, some guidelines for the treatment of chronic low back pain and osteoarthritis (the most common type of arthritis) include antidepressants. One antidepressant in particular, duloxetine (Cymbalta), is FDA-approved for these conditions. Just how antidepressants reduce pain is not well understood. One possibility is they affect chemicals in the brain involved in pain perception, a mechanism that differs from how they fight depression.

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Frozen vegetables, fruit are good choices By Matthew Kadey Nearly every health expert will be quick to tell you that it’s a good idea to load up your shopping cart with more vegetables and fruits. Their unique nutritional stew of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals is key to lasting health. But sometimes fresh options in the produce aisle don’t look so fresh and are expensive, especially when out of season locally. That’s when it’s time to head to the frozen food department for the unsung subzero he-

roes of the supermarket. Certainly, fruits and veggies don’t always have to be fresh to be best. And in some cases, frozen food provides you with more nutrients than fresh. There’s a common misconception that frozen fruits and veggies are not as healthy as their fresh counterparts, but New York City dietitian Deborah MalkoffCohen said this is not necessarily true. “Fruits and vegetables are picked when they are at their peak ripeness and flashfrozen to retain all of their nutrients, antiox-

idants and flavor,” she said. And this occurs shortly after harvesting, so think of the process as Mother Nature’s pause button. Many vegetables undergo blanching in hot water for a short time before freezing to inactivate enzymes that degrade color,

smell, flavor and nutritional value. As a result, some items like green peas and peaches retain a much more appetizing, vibrant color when frozen than when canned.

Antidepressants

osteoarthritis or chronic low back pain and neck pain is modest at best, and tends to be temporary. That’s disappointing because, for many pain sufferers, there are no reliably effective treatments (short of joint replacement for osteoarthritis). So, if you’re on an antidepressant for pain and you aren’t sure if it’s working, talk to your doctor about whether you should consider stopping it. Not only might you simplify your medical regimen, you may also reduce the cost of your medicines and the risk of medication-related side effects. But don’t stop it on your own. There may be other reasons your doctor is recommending this medication, and many antidepressants should be gradually reduced, not stopped all at once, to avoid discontinuation symptoms. Robert H. Shmerling, M.D., is a senior faculty editor at Harvard Health Publishing. © Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

From page 5 sants for chronic pain often stopped taking the medication because it didn’t work, caused unacceptable side effects, or both. People with both chronic pain and depression did not experience more improvement than people with chronic pain alone. Sciatica may be an exception: antidepressants may have reduced pain for up to a year. However, the quality of the prior research was poor, so the study authors were not confident about these conclusions. These findings cast doubt on the usefulness of antidepressant treatment for these common causes of chronic pain. However, they don’t rule out the possibility that some individuals may get more relief from these medications than others.

The bottom line The available evidence suggests that, on average, the benefit of antidepressants for

See FROZEN VEGETABLES, page 7

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Frozen vegetables From page 6 Contrast this with fresh out-of-season produce fated for long-haul shipping. These are generally picked before ripe and, in turn, fall short of their full nutritive and flavor potential. Plus, long-haul transport from farm to fork and lengthy storage times can further degrade nutrition and taste. To this point, an analysis of frozen and fresh-stored fruits and vegetables published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis found that in many cases, items like broccoli, green beans, corn and blueberries retained higher levels of vitamin C, beta-carotene and folate when in frozen form compared to fresh, as these nutrients are diminished during days of refrigerator storage. Cup for cup, Malkoff-Cohen called out frozen spinach for having notably higher amounts of fiber, iron, folate and calcium than its fresh counterpart. Overall, a study in the journal Nutrients shows that people who sneak more frozen fruits and vegetables into their diets take in higher amounts of must-have nutrients like fiber, calcium and potassium. Still, Malkoff-Cohen recommended opting for fresh produce when it is in season, especially if items are locally grown or

come from a nearby farm stand. “For some dishes like stir-fries and salads, sometimes you just want the crunchy texture of fresh.”

Easy way to eat healthy Busy schedules can make it a challenge to prep and cook fresh produce all of the time. Buying frozen veggies and fruit — which are often already chopped, pitted or peeled — can make healthy eating more convenient. Simply toss a few cups of frozen broccoli florets into a soup, stir some cherries into oatmeal, toss thawed corn kernels into a bean salad, and whip up a smoothie with cubed frozen mango. With a quick heat in the microwave, prechopped frozen vegetable mixes can be your answer to an ultra-quick side-dish. “The variety of fruits and vegetables you eat can increase tremendously when you add in frozen types,” said Malkoff-Cohen. And that is a pathway to eating a more nutritionally diverse diet.

crowaving, roasting and stir-frying as less destructive cooking methods. If you’re looking to cut back on food waste and its added cost to you and the environment, by buying frozen you don’t have to worry about eating your frozen raspberries before white fuzz takes over. Space permitting, you can buy a lot more frozen veggies and fruits well in advance and use them in the weeks to come. And these days there are more exciting options than ever, ranging from deep freeze dragon fruit to jazz up your next smoothie to frozen cauliflower “rice” that replaces a starch with a low-calorie veggie serving for tonight’s stir-fry.

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tents. A bag that feels like a block of ice has been partially thawed and refrozen, which degrades quality. Steer clear of frozen fruits and vegetables with added sweeteners, salt or mysterious sauces. “You just want to see fruits or vegetables in the ingredient list,” MalkoffCohen said. Stored in a zero-degree freezer, frozen fruits and vegetables have a shelf-life of about one year before their flavor, texture and nutrients suffer. Once the food has been opened, store extras in an air-tight bag so they don’t get freezer burn. Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC, 1-800829-5384, EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Strategies to stop sugar cravings now I feel like in winter I go into hibernation Curb the crave and start today. Trying the mode: I put on weight and just crawl into following five things is the first and only combed earlier than I should. mitment you have to make Do you feel that way when today. You can always revise it gets dark at 5 p.m.? Do you the plan, have a little donut, and want to eat whenever you then get back on track! watch the news or a scary 1. Drink something inmovie? It happens to all of us; stead. you’re not alone. Take notice of how many If your cravings have intimes you go to the fridge and creased due to going overboard open the door. on holiday treats, or even from The next time you do that, stress and the current early DEAR open the freezer instead and darkness of winter, then read on PHARMACIST get some ice cubes. Put them because I have some simple, By Suzy Cohen in a glass of water, or iced tea, natural solutions that you can and drink instead of eating! try. And I want to emphasize that this is very This also hydrates you and reduces your important to your immune system. risk of headache.

2. Add cinnamon. Cinnamon has a well-known ability to help your insulin and blood sugar levels, which in turn, reduces cravings. Sprinkle it on some green apple slices, sweet potatoes, Greek yogurt or coffee. 3. Minimize grains. This is a hard one, but you can do it. If you eat a lot of bread, rolls or buns, please reduce that. These are lacking in fiber, and they provide empty calories that spike your blood sugar, which then later crashes. I suddenly see in my mind’s eye a mouth-watering foot-long sub, but that is a heavy carb hit for me. What’s needed is a change in ratios. Instead, I order a wrap or make it an open-face sandwich and toss the top bun. Effective! 4. Try gymnema sylvestre. This plant has been studied extensively and is able to help support regeneration of pancreatic cells that have the job of lowering your blood sugar. The more of those pancreatic islet cells the better, and unfortunately, those get destroyed sometimes

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for people with an autoimmune condition. [Ed. Note: WebMD.com lists several drugs gymnema interacts with and advises caution by those taking them.] 5. Take a whiff of peppermint. Peppermint is known to reduce cravings. You could drink some herbal peppermint tea with your meal (or right before) and see if that helps you to reduce portions. Also, you could sniff the essential oil. I have the same love of sugar as you. We would die without consuming some type of glucose, but that is different from consuming carbs and sugar all day. I have a longer, extended version of this article, which you can receive by subscribing to my free newsletter at suzycohen.com. 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 author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe.

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Healthy volunteers sought for paid study By Margaret Foster Did you know that diabetes not only affects the heart and circulation but the mind, too? Persons with type 2 diabetes have roughly double the risk of dementia than adults without diabetes. Even adults in the early stages of diabetes before diagnosis show lower cognitive function, although researchers don’t understand exactly how diabetes and cognitive decline are connected. This spring researchers at the University of Maryland are launching a small pilot study to understand just this, with the ultimate goal of finding ways to prevent both diabetes and the cognitive decline that may follow. This study, called the Cognition and Metabolism in Prediabetes (CAMPS) study, “will determine how daily changes in blood sugar are related to your ability to pay attention, concentrate, learn, remember new information, and perform speeded thinking tasks,” according to the study protocol. “This study will utilize continuous glucose-monitoring technology, which has the ability to detect impaired glycemia much earlier than the conventional glycemic metrics, and may allow for a more nuanced understanding of cognitive

changes in the very early stages of diabetes,” said Tasneem Khambaty, PhD, one of the principal investigators.

Two short visits Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the University of Maryland Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, the study lasts two weeks and will enroll healthy people over 50 who do not have diabetes. Once enrolled, participants will make two visits to the Baltimore VA Medical Center in downtown Baltimore. During the first of two three-hour visits, researchers will draw blood and administer a cognitive test to participants. Then they’ll attach a continuous blood glucose monitoring device that will take readings for 10 days. The device includes a plastic thumb-size transmitter, with a tiny sensor wire placed just beneath the skin, providing blood sugar readings around the clock. The device is painless and can be worn in the shower and bath. At the end of 10 days, participants will return to the center to have their blood drawn, complete some questionnaires and have the device removed.

Benefits of the study Compensation of $100 will be provided at the end of the study, and parking at the VA Medical Center is free. Participants may also benefit from learning more about their personal health, including blood pressure, cognitive function and glucose levels. If researchers unearth any health

problems, they will alert you and your doctor. Researchers hope the CAMPS study will help find more ways to prevent diabetes and subsequent dementia in older age. For more information about the CAMPS study or if you’re interested in participating, call (410) 605-7179 and mention “CAMPS”.

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FEBRUARY 2022 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Tips to shovel safely; avoid falling on ice By Margaret Foster It’s snow season, which can bring both joy and pain. If you have to shovel your driveway or

walk across a slick sidewalk, take extra precautions this winter. After all, as of press time, local hospitals are inching toward overcapacity.

“Not having to be in the hospital is critical,” said Dr. Scott Faucett, orthopaedic surgeon at The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics, which has several locations in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia. If you do injure yourself, he suggests, “Utilize urgent care or your primary care physician rather than go to the emergency room that could be full of COVID patients.” In addition to seeing patients, Faucett is a team physician for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard team. Although most of us won’t be skiing or snowboarding this winter, injuries can happen close to home in bad weather.

Reduce risk of Ice “In this region, as we all know, [storms] are often a mix of sleet, rain and snow. That base layer is often very icy,” Faucett said. That’s why pre-treating your driveway or walk is so important. Before the storm starts, buy a bag of sand or chloride-free pre-treatment pellets. Try to avoid ice melts or “rock salt,” both of which contain toxic chloride. Most hardware stores sell eco-friendly pre-treatment products, some of which are made from natural ingredients such as volcanic rocks.

“Precondition the walk with salt or sand to avoid a slipping or falling injury,” he said.

During a snowstorm Faucett suggests the following for coping with a snowstorm: • Shovel often, before the snowstorm is over • Wear shoes with good traction and gloves with rubber grips • Use your legs, not your back, when you shovel • Consider hiring someone to shovel your walk • Use a snowblower for larger jobs If you do injure your back, it may not be necessary to rush to the doctor. “Most injuries are self-limiting [self-recovering], meaning they don’t need prescription medication,” Faucett said. “It’s mostly just a soft-tissue strain. They can be managed with rest or an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory.” Although many people like to hunker down indoors during snowstorms, Faucett said that if you have to shovel, it’s a good idea to go outside while it’s still snowing to get a jump start on shoveling. “The biggest thing is, for bigger storms, go [shovel] more often rather than wait until it’s all over,” he said.

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Help that can keep you living at home By Harvard Health Letters Home healthcare and private duty care can help you maintain your independence in a familiar space. We all want to hold on to our independence for as long as possible. But what if you need help caring for yourself and you’re not ready to move to an assisted living facility? The answer for many people is to have someone come to the home and provide that care. “We always make an effort to keep people in their homes when it’s appropriate. It’s less expensive, provides more freedom, and keeps people from being exposed to infections in institutional settings,” said Dr. Eric Weil, director of the program that manages high-risk Medicare patients at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. The options for home care are private duty care and home healthcare. They have two different purposes.

Home healthcare Home healthcare is a temporary service that brings nurses and therapists into your home to provide treatment. It’s intended for people who are recovering from illness, injury or surgery, with the goal of helping you get better and regain your independ-

ence. For example, a physical therapist can visit if you’ve had a stroke or joint replacement surgery, or a nurse can come to help with wound care. The professional who visits will provide only a specific skilled service, and won’t cook, perform light housework, or shop for you. Home healthcare is covered by Medicare, but you’ll have to meet certain eligibility requirements. A doctor must certify that you need the service, and also that you are homebound, i.e., unable to get to an appointment on your own. A doctor must also review your home healthcare plan regularly, and the home health agency must be Medicare-certified. You can still qualify for home healthcare if you attend adult day care or if you have a caregiver who lives with you.

Private duty care Private duty care provides the day-today help most people need to remain in their homes. Care is available for a few hours or up to 24 hours per day. But private duty care workers usually fall into two categories: licensed or registered. Both are able to offer homemaker services, such as housework, cooking, shopping, overseeing medication routines and transportation.

The difference is that a licensed worker, such as a home health aide, will also be trained in body mechanics and able to provide hands-on physical care such as help with bathing, eating, brushing teeth and using the bathroom. Medicare does not pay for private duty care, but some long-term care insurance policies do. Costs range from $15 to $25 per hour, and most agencies require a minimum of three to four hours per visit.

Choosing a service When choosing a private duty service, think twice before working with an independent contractor or a registry that simply acts as an employment agency that matches workers with clients for a fee. In both those cases, you’ll be the only one supervising the caregiver, and you’ll pay the worker directly. You will also be responsible for all payroll taxes and Social Security withholding. It is easier to go with a company that employs its workers. That way, you won’t be responsible for the caregiver’s taxes. You’ll also have the assurance that the caregiver’s company is monitoring his or

her performance as well as the care you receive. When shopping for a home care company, ask: • how long the agency has been in business • which certifications it has from your state • what kind of background checks are performed on caregivers • what kind of training is required for caregivers • who will handle payments to the caregiver • whether a customized care plan will be created and updated • how closely the quality of care is supervised • who will be coming into the home — a team or just one person. Dr. Weil said it’s also important to have a caregiver who’s a good communicator. “Make sure the person or company has a reasonable understanding of basic health issues, and is comfortable reaching out to your health professionals if you need additional care.” © Harvard Health Publications

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Should you bank with your brokerage? By Chanelle Bessette If you’ve invested with a brokerage firm in recent years, you may have noticed that your brokerage offers a product called a cash management account (CMA). These accounts are very similar to a checking or savings account and typically provide competitive interest rates, debit cards and other money management features. However, those services aren’t always standard. So what, then, would be the appeal of opening a CMA with a brokerage? Here are some things to consider when deciding whether to let your brokerage help you manage your cash: How are cash management accounts different from bank accounts? Perhaps the most crucial distinction between a CMA and a bank account is that CMAs are offered by nonbank financial institutions that do not possess a bank charter. Usually, this would mean that CMAs

cannot provide their customers federal insurance on their balances. But many brokerages partner with chartered banks that sweep customers’ funds into bank accounts behind the scenes. That allows them to offer insurance from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on customer balances. What are the pros and cons of cash management accounts? Pros: —Interest rates tend to be higher than rates at traditional banks. Though some brokerages don’t offer much interest on their CMAs, others offer significantly higher interest rates than the national average of 0.06% for savings accounts. Robinhood Cash Management, for example, offers 0.30%, and SoFi Money offers 0.25% with a $500 minimum balance. —Transfers between CMAs and investing accounts can be faster. When you have a CMA at your brokerage, you may be able

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to avoid a waiting period between account transfers so that you can invest your money faster. When it comes to investing, timing can be critical. For example, missing a day or two of having your cash in the market (say, the amount of time it takes to transfer cash from an outside account into your investing account) could mean losing out on market gains. By having all of your accounts in one place, you can take advantage of vital time in the market to potentially earn more money on your cash. —CMAs have benefits that are similar to checking and savings accounts. Some CMAs offer such account benefits as free ATM access, debit cards, mobile check deposit, early direct deposit and no monthly maintenance fees. Cons: —CMA customer service is typically online-only. Most CMA providers offer only remote customer service because they don’t have branches. As a result, customers who open an account will need to be comfortable with service options that aren’t in person. —Interest rates have dropped. The financial industry is currently in a low-rate environment, meaning interest rates on deposit accounts are particularly low at the moment. Several CMAs that launched in recent years had notably high interest rates at first, but they dropped significantly in mid-2020 after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

—FDIC insurance is usually only available through third-party banks. Since brokerage firms aren’t banks, they typically have to partner with banks to offer FDIC insurance. Brokerages sweep customer funds into FDIC-insured accounts behind the scenes so that they’re covered. Other considerations: With a CMA account, “First and foremost, you are likely setting up a one-stop-shop for yourself so you can bank, save and invest all in one,” said Leah Bourne, by email. Bourne, the managing editor of the investing education website The Money Manual, also added, “Many of the companies that offer these accounts have made the ability to transfer money between accounts really, really easy. If you are actively investing, this is a big pro.” One of the other big practical perks when it comes to keeping a CMA with your brokerage? You have less to keep track of by keeping your cash accounts and your investment accounts at the same place. “That means you’ll have one app on your phone instead of a few, and will be seamlessly able to monitor your cash account and your brokerage account all in one spot,” Bourne said. As with any financial product, consumers should do their research to determine whether a CMA makes sense for their lifestyle and if the perks work for their spending, saving and investing habits. —AP/NerdWallet

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Steps to take to get your affairs in order Dear Savvy Senior, Legal documents I would like to get my personal, legal Will, trust and estate plan: Include and financial information the original copy of your will organized so my kids will and other estate planning docknow what’s going on when uments you’ve made. I’m no longer around. Can Financial power of attoryou offer any tips on the ney: This document names best way to do this? someone you trust to handle —Unorganized Emma money matters if you’re incaDear Emma, pacitated. Organizing your important Advance healthcare dipapers and getting your personrectives: This includes a lival and financial affairs in order is SAVVY SENIOR ing will and medical power of a smart idea and wonderful gift attorney, which spell out your By Jim Miller to your loved ones. wishes regarding your end-ofThe first step in getting life medical treatment when your affairs in order is to gather up all your you can no longer make decisions for yourimportant personal, financial and legal in- self. formation so you can arrange it in a format that will benefit you now, and your loved Financial records ones later. Financial accounts: Make a list of all Then you’ll need to sit down and create various lists of important information and instructions of how you want certain things handled when you die or if you become incapacitated. Here’s a checklist to focus on:

your bank accounts, brokerage and mutual fund accounts, and any other financial assets you have. Debts and liabilities: Make a list of any loans, leases or debts you have — such as mortgages, car loans, student loans, medical bills and credit card debts. Also, make a list of all credit and charge cards, including the card numbers and contact information. Company benefits: List any retirement plans, pensions or health benefits from your current or former employer, including the contact information of the benefits administrator. Insurance: List the insurance policies you have (life, long-term care, home, auto, Medicare, Medigap, prescription drug, etc.), including the policy numbers, agents and their phone numbers. Property: List real estate, vehicles and other properties you own, rent or lease

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Personal information Contacts: Make a master list of names and phone numbers of close friends, doctors and professional advisers, such as your lawyer, accountant, broker and insurance agent. Medical information: Include a list of medications you take, along with any allergies and illnesses. Personal documents: Include such items as your birth certificate, Social Security card, marriage license, military discharge papers, etc. Secured places: List all the places you keep under lock and key, such as safe deposit boxes, safe combination, security alarms, etc. and describe how to access them. Digital assets: Make a list of all your digital assets, including everything from social media accounts to online banking accounts to home utilities that you manage online. It should include usernames and passwords. Use Rutgers Digital Assets Inventory Worksheet (bit.ly/DigitalAssetsInventory) as a guide. Pets: If you have a pet, give instructions for its care. End of life: Indicate your wishes for organ and tissue donation, and write out your funeral instructions. If you’ve made pre-arrangements with a funeral home, include a copy of the agreement, their contact information and whether or not you’ve prepaid.

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and include documents, such as deeds, titles, and loan or lease agreements. Taxes: Include the location of your tax records and your tax preparer’s contact information. Keep all your organized information and files together in one convenient location — ideally, in a fireproof filing cabinet or safe located in your home. Also be sure to review and update it every year, and don’t forget to tell your kids where they can find it. If you need help, get a copy of Get It Together: Organize Your Records So Your Family Won’t Have To at Nolo.com for $17.50 for the downloadable versions, or $20 for a printed copy. 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.

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Makes a great gift! | Law & Money

BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2022

Pet insurance helps keep costs in check By Katia Iervasi Do you have a pet, or are you thinking of adding a furry friend to the family? If so, you’ll be in good company: 70% of U.S. households have a pet, according to a recent American Pet Products Association National Pet Owners Survey. As cute as pets are, they’re a financial commitment. Americans spent $103.6 billion on their pets in 2020 alone, APPA said. Some expenses, like food and shelter, are predictable. But if your new puppy or kitten gets sick or injured, an unexpected medical bill can derail your budget. For a growing number of Americans, pet insurance helps provide peace of mind.

The cost of veterinary care Medical issues are almost inevitable for pets, and costs are likely to rise, said Kristen Lynch, executive director of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, or NAPHIA. “The fact that there’s continued innovation in the medical care of pets — just like there is for humans — means that the cost of those innovations will continue to go up.” Dog owners spend an average of $242 on routine visits and $458 on surgical visits each year, according to APPA. The cost for cat owners is slightly lower, at $178 for

routine visits and $201 for surgical visits. “I’d say at least half of the clients I come in contact with have money concerns,” Dr. TB Thompson, a Phoenix-based veterinarian at Natural Pets HQ, said in an email. “When pets get into complicated, lifethreatening medical trouble, costs add up fast.” Pet insurance won’t reimburse you for every penny you spend at the vet, but it can help prevent you from being slapped with an expensive bill. A policy will typically pay 70% to 90% of your costs after you pay a deductible, which can range from $0 to $1,000 or more. “Consider buying pet insurance unless you can easily fund treating a pet emergency that costs $2,500 and up,” Thompson said.

Several types to consider There are a few types of pet insurance plans. Comprehensive plans, the most robust, help cover the cost of care due to accidents, illnesses and surgeries, as well as vaccinations and diagnostic tests. Accident and illness coverage helps pay for emergency care, surgeries, hospitalizations and prescription medications, while accident-only policies help cover expenses after an accident.

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Some insurers also offer wellness plans, which take care of certain tests, exams, vaccinations and preventive treatments. While pet insurance can stop you from dipping into your savings to pay a vet bill, it is an added cost. The average cost of an accident and illness policy is $594 per year for dogs and $342 for cats, according to NAPHIA. For an accident-only policy, you could pay $218 for dogs and $134 for cats. Premiums are based on a range of factors, including: • Where you live. The cost of veterinary care varies by region. • Species. Dogs are more expensive to insure than cats, for example. Coverage for other types of animals is rare. • Breed. Some breeds are predisposed to medical conditions, which can increase the cost of coverage. • Age. As pets age, they’re more likely to become ill or injured, Lynch said. Keep this in mind if you plan to adopt an older pet from a shelter.

Suggestions for new owners As a new pet owner, many of these factors are out of your control. But there are a few things you can do to score a lower premium. Look at the fine print. Consider choosing a higher deductible and lower reimbursement level. Check for discounts. Some companies offer discounts for insuring multiple pets or for military service. Shop around. There are around 20 pet insurers in the U.S. competing for your business, so let them. Compare quotes from three insurers for the same amount of coverage, and go with the best pet insurance company for your budget. In Lynch’s view, some pet insurance is better than none. “People avoid taking their pets to the vet because they’re afraid of what those costs will be,” she said. “I like to think pet insurance gives us the ability to say ‘yes’ to those decisions at a time when we’re emotional, stressed and financially strapped about other things.” —AP/NerdWallet

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Travel Leisure &

Are airline-mile credit cards worth it? See story on page 18.

The friendly, beautiful towns of Provence

Most beautiful villages During ancient times, many settlements

were perched on the peaks of towering hills for defensive purposes. Today, they’re collectively called hill towns, and each has its own unique appeal. Travelers reach them by way of twisty one-lane roads, hoping not to meet another vehicle heading in the opposite direction. It’s wise to park just outside a village and enter on foot. A French association has accomplished a task that would seem impossible. Among all of the magnificent places throughout the country, it designated 164 as “Plus Beaux Villages de France” (Most Beautiful Villages in France). After my stay in Provence, I’d say that many more could be added to the list. Seventeen of the honored enclaves are in Provence, including the village of Gordes. With a population of about 1,600, Gordes has been the site of a settlement since Neolithic times. It overlooks surrounding valleys from its strategic location on the peak of a towering rock, making it one of the most photogenic settings in all of France. The site is topped by an imposing castle originally built in the 11th century and remodeled during the Renaissance. Menerbes, another “Most Beautiful” town, was brought to the world’s attention by

PHOTO BY KONSTANTTIN/SHUTTERSTOCK

By Victor Block Some places are more than a destination. Provence, nestled in the southeastern corner of France, immerses visitors in a placid, captivating lifestyle. Although the nearby Cote d’Azur and French Riviera have many advocates, visitors may encounter traffic and crowded, blanket-to-blanket beaches. By contrast, in the tiny towns and even smaller villages of Provence, a Marylandsized enclave, tourists are few and far between. Last fall, my wife Fyllis and I decided to stay in the “real” Provence. We rented a beautifully renovated century-old farmhouse in the village of Pernes-les-Fontaines, a fortified Medieval town surrounded by remnants of stone ramparts. With our cozy home base, we ventured out each day to explore the nearby historyrich villages, with their stone buildings along narrow, winding cobblestone streets and compact tree-shaded squares lined by sidewalk cafés. There were no waits at restaurants, no lines at attractions and few other Englishspeakers.

PHOTO © XANTANA | DREAMSTIME.COM

A medieval castle presides over the ancient town of Gordes, one of the most beautiful villages in France. It is built high on a cliff, with spectacular views of the Provence countryside.

Provence, a region of southeastern France known for its lavender fields, olive groves and vineyards, has many picturesque villages worth exploring.

British-born author Peter Mayle’s popular book My Year in Provence, published in 1991. Despite centuries of wars and turmoil, Menerbes remains miraculously intact and preserved. Most of its restaurants and shops are grouped at the bottom of the mountain; a tranquil town square awaits at the top. The setting is very different in Roussillon, located near once-active ochre mines. Many of its 300-year-old houses are painted shades of red, pink and orange that echo the colors of the surrounding rock cliffs. I found it challenging to stop taking pictures of this Technicolor scene.

ment. The two-tiered Roman amphitheater in Arles dates from the first century B.C.E. Some of these well-preserved Roman antiquities continue to function in various ways. The arena in Arles hosts bull fights, concerts and other events, while plays and musical productions take place in Roman theaters in Orange and Vaison-la-Romaine. I could continue through the almost Ato-Z list of inviting, historic hill towns, but perhaps what makes a visit to this corner of France most memorable is its food, wine and people.

Local fare, local friends Echoes of the past Phoenicians who arrived in France in 600 B.C. were followed by Greeks, then Romans. While they held sway, from about 100 B.C.E. until the disintegration of their empire five centuries later, this swath of fertile land became one of Rome’s wealthiest provinces. During the Middle Ages, it was invaded by successive waves of marauders (hence the need for fortifications). Evidence of this past exists in every village. In Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, remains of the Greek city of Glanum are located near a Roman triumphal arch and funerary monu-

Much of France’s well-deserved reputation for fabulous food and wonderful wine is based upon what is grown, made and prepared in Provence. It didn’t take long for Fyllis and me to appreciate each mouthful and sip. The vegetables on our plates, often seasoned with ubiquitous garlic and local olive oil, grew in fields close by, as had fresh-from-the-farm fruit. Regional specialty sweets like nougat, artisanal chocolate and candied fruits tempt the palate and See PROVENCE page 17

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BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2022

Provence From page 16 challenge your next step on a scale. Restaurant food portions are large, and then some. After we ordered a steak to share at an outdoor café, the waitperson suggested, only partly in jest, that we move to a larger table which could accommodate the oversized slab of delicious meat. Wine has been made in this region for at least 2,600 years, first by the Greeks and then the Romans. Provence is known predominately for rose wine, which accounts for about half of the local production. Some oenophiles also praise its spicy, full-flavored reds. Even beyond the historic paths of the past, and abundant flavors of food and wine, we found the people of Provence to be perhaps its most endearing treasure. Topping the list is their genuine friendliness. When we struggled with our elementary school French, they used their elementary school English to help. When we encountered a car problem, an off-duty policeman came to our rescue. If we looked lost while walking, a local passerby invariably offered assistance. The genuine friendliness and welcoming attitude of the Provençales, as inhabitants are known, might be reason enough to visit this inviting corner of France. Given the many other enticements, it’s no wonder that the destination is high on many a travel bucket list.

If you go To get to Provence, fly into Nice or Marseilles. Round-trip flights on British Airways start at $800, but it’s possible to find a $600 round-trip ticket during the winter off-season. We chose to rent through Untours, a company with which we have traveled the past. Its motto and goal: “Live like the locals.” Untours provided us with a wealth of pre-trip information, accommodations, a rental car and first-day briefing from the on-site company representative. Rates begin at $959 per person per week, and depend on your chosen accommodation. Untours covers 13 European countries and also offers canal, river and small ship sea cruises. For more information, call 1888-868-6871 or visit untours.com. When it comes to eating and sampling outstanding wines of Provence, it’s hard to go wrong. Even the most modest restaurants serve memorable meals. Case in point: At the L’Esqanquet de Font in Les Pernes (247 Quai de Verdun; 86-04-29-45), a meat-and-cheese charcuterie ($15) and roast duck with sides ($27) are enough for two people. We stretched our budget by enjoying some meals at “home.” Pick up pastries, cheese and meat in a village and live like a local. For more information about Provence, visit provence-alpes-cotedazur.com/en.

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Feb. 15

BUDGET WITH EXCEL

Learn how to use Excel to create a budget in this free virtual workshop that takes place Tues., Feb. 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/ExcelBudgeting. Call (443) 9844944 with questions.

Feb. 22

WRITING A RESUME

Learn how to use Microsoft Word to write a resume in this free virtual workshop that takes place Tues., Feb. 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. Visit bit.ly/MSWordResume to learn more and to register. Call (443) 984-4944 with questions.

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Feb. 15+

PARKINSON’S SUPPORT If your loved one has Parkinson’s Disease, consider attending a

support group hosted by Jewish Community Services of Baltimore and co-sponsored by the Maryland Association for Parkinson Support. This free virtual event takes place the third Tuesday of the month from 10 to 11 a.m. For more information, contact Beth Hecht at bhecht@jcsbaltimore.org or (410) 843-7456.

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What are frequent-flyer miles worth? A few years back, some economist with ticket for a future trip, with Alaska and Konothing better to do calculated that fre- rean earning a tad more; Delta and Hawaiian a tad less. quent-flyer miles were the world’s third or fourth largest • Bank cards with transfercurrency. The total value of able miles (American Exmiles in circulation can only press, Capital One, Chase, have increased since then. and Citi) generate a value of But calculating aggregate 1.6 to 1.8 cents a mile. • Hotel points: 0.4 to 0.7 value doesn’t really help anycents a mile, with Hyatt highone: The real test is how er at 1.4 to 1.7 cents. much miles are worth to you, You won’t find much disindividually. And that’s a suragreement about collecting prisingly complicated calculaTRAVEL TIPS points by flying: Regardless of tion. By Ed Perkins precise value, they’re worth There’s an entire community of blog writers devoted to frequent-flyer something. The complexities arise with minutia and arcana. And they regularly valuing miles earned by credit card. post current values for airline miles, transMy two cents ferable bank miles and hotel points. The problem is straightforward: Most recently, Gary Leff’s excellent • The best-earning bank cards earn 2 blog, View from the Wing (viewfromthewcents cash per dollar spent, compared with ing.com/value-of-frequent-flyer-miles) posted its own latest values, alongside cur- one airline mile per dollar charged. A few rent values from two other top blogs, One even earn two miles. So, on average, reMile at a Time (onemileatatime.com) and gardless of airline affiliation, you’re better off concentrating your charges on a 2-centThe Points Guy (thepointsguy.com). The interesting finding isn’t that they or 2-mile-back reward card than on an airshow substantial variance. In fact, they’re line card. • Many cash-back credit cards earn all in surprisingly close agreement on the only one cent per dollar, so if that’s what value of miles in each program: • Giant airlines: Each mile you earn is you’ve got, your best bet is either to use a worth 1.3 to 1.5 cents when applied to a miles card or switch to a higher-earning

credit card. • Most airline cards earn one mile per dollar charged. • Some miles-earning bank cards offer premium rates — up to five miles per dollar charged — on some charge categories, so consider one of those cards for just those specific categories.

Flash sales are a better deal I’ve been amassing miles for years, and generally concluded that the best use was for premium cabin international trips. But those high-value calculations you see comparing mile cost with cash cost for business class to Europe using regular business class fares are ridiculous. Sure, you can get a $4,000 businessclass ticket on some lines for around 120,000 miles, but those miles are worth the calculated 3.3 cents each if — and only if — you’d be willing to pay $4,000 if you didn’t have the miles. Personally, I’d probably be willing to pay no more than $1,500 for that ticket, so the value of the miles to me is about 1.25 cents each. You can often catch airline flash sales for business class to Europe from the West Coast at less than $2,000 round trip, which puts the miles worth 1.67 cents. And you also have to consider the fact

that many — if not most — 120,000-mile frequent-flyer trips are available only on flights at unpopular hours or trips with multiple connections and long layovers. Obviously, transferable credit-card points are better used for airline miles than hotel points. And just about everybody agrees that miles used for cash purchases are worth only 0.5 cents or less. Don’t use them for non-airfare purchases. Only you can decide what any given set of airline miles is worth to you. Compare the cash price for a ticket you’d actually buy with the price in miles, and decide. If you’re like me, you conclude that, in most cases, piling your charges on a twocent-back cash card and using the money to buy a ticket beats piling charges on a card that earns one mile per dollar charged. Also, two-miles-per dollar cards look good. When I first looked, miles were really valuable: fares were consistent and award charts were more generous. But frequentflyer miles, like veteran travel writers, do not improve with age. The quicker you use them, the more value you’ll retain. Send email to Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net or check out his rail travel website at rail-guru.com. © 2021 Ed Perkins. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The Invention of the Year The world’s lightest and most portable mobility device Once in a lifetime, a product comes along that truly moves people. Introducing the future of battery-powered personal transportation . . . The Zinger. “What my wife especially loves is it gives her back feelings of safety and independence which has given a real boost to her conﬁdence and happiness! Thank You!” –Kent C., California

The first thing you’ll notice about the Zinger is its unique look. It doesn’t look like a scooter. Its sleek, lightweight yet durable frame is made with aircraft grade aluminum. It weighs only 47.2 lbs but can handle a passenger that’s up to 275 lbs! It features one-touch folding and unfolding – when folded it can be wheeled around like a suitcase and fits easily into a backseat Now available in or trunk. Then, there are the steering levers. They enable the Zinger to move a Joystick model forward, backward, turn on a dime and even (Zoomer Chair) pull right up to a table or desk. With its compact yet powerful motor it can go up to 6 miles an hour and its rechargeable battery can go up to 8 miles on a single charge. With its low center of gravity and inflatable tires it can handle rugged terrain and is virtually tip-proof. Think about it, you can Joystick can be mounted on the right or left side for rider’s comfort

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Throughout the ages, there have been many important advances in mobility. Canes, walkers, rollators, and scooters were created to help people with mobility issues get around and retain their independence. Lately, however, there haven’t been any new improvements to these existing products or developments in this field. Until now. Recently, an innovative design engineer who’s developed one of the world’s most popular products created a completely new breakthrough . . . a personal electric vehicle. It’s called the Zinger, and there is nothing out there quite like it.

BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2022

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Our cover story about the historic Afro-American newspaper continues on page 20.

Comedy man Mel Brooks shares stories By Douglass K. Daniel Bagels and Nova Scotia lox for the writing team’s breakfast while punching up the script for the movie “Blazing Saddles.” Earl Grey tea and English digestive biscuits while developing Gene Wilder’s idea for “Young Frankenstein.” Cottage cheese topped with fruit while hashing out yet another writer’s pitch for “Silent Movie.” Besides an uncanny memory for food, Mel Brooks has the skill of an alchemist turning the base metal of others’ ideas into comedy treasure. But the lead comes before the gold. With the notable exception of “The Producers,” Brooks’ greatest hits have been a team effort that usually began as a nugget in someone else’s mind. In his new memoir All About Me! the unmatched self-promoter, now 95, generously shares the credit…most of the time. Look elsewhere to hear a different side of the Mel Brooks story — some of his collaborators have grumbled about being elbowed aside as he grabbed all the glory he could. The same goes for his personal life — his first marriage is barely noted in

spite of three children and years of litigation — and anything else that might cast a shadow on the beloved funny man. As advertised, All About Me! is a narrowly focused celebration of a poor Jewish kid who grew up from Brooklyn street-corner jokester to become synonymous with hearty laughter and naughty chuckles. It’s a surprisingly gentle remembrance from a comedian known for mocking anything considered sacred in America.

Long route to Hollywood The entertainment world was an escape for Melvin Kaminsky, the youngest of four brothers whose father died when Melvin was 2 and whose mother worked hard to get enough pennies for a movie ticket. His stint at a Catskills resort as a clownish teen, contrasted with harrowing months in the Army defusing bombs in the wake of the Battle of the Bulge, followed by a postwar Army assignment to an occupation entertainment unit helped make his heavenly dream more earthbound. Brooks refined his talent for comedy during his first big break, writing for Sid

Caesar’s “Your Show of Shows” and “Caesar’s Hour” series during TV’s Golden Age. Lean years followed, but Brooks kept at it, thanks to his “2,000-Year-Old Man” routine with Carl Reiner, co-creating TV’s “Get Smart,” and writing and directing his first film, “The Producers” (1968), which he adapted decades later into a Broadway juggernaut. Along the way, Brooks met the likes of Cary Grant (debonair but dull, he says), John Wayne (he thought the script for “Blazing Saddles” was hilarious but too dirty for See MEL BROOKS, page 21

Actor and director Mel Brooks at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in 1998, when he won Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. In November, Brooks, now 95, published a memoir about his life in comedy.

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Afro-American From page 1 expanding the paper to 13 cities, including Philadelphia, Richmond, Washington, D.C., and Newark, N.J. Although most of its editions are out of print today, the media group still publishes the D.C.-based Washington Afro-American newspaper, launched in 1932 on U Street NW — the “Black Broadway” of the nation’s capital. Under Carl Murphy’s 45-year leadership, the AFRO pushed for more Blacks on Baltimore’s police force, in the fire depart-

ment and in the state legislature. In the 1950s, the newspaper called for the end of Jim Crow laws and segregation. It joined forces with the Baltimore NAACP in its successful lawsuit against the University of Maryland Law School for its segregationist admission policy. That lawsuit was one of a number in the following years that chipped away at the “separate but equal” doctrine, eventually leading to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision outlawing segregated public schools. In 1963, the AFRO helped promote the March on Washington for Jobs and Free-

BEACON BITS

Feb. 17

ARTIST TALK The American Visionary Art Museum hosts a free webinar with

artist Nancy Josephson, who transforms everyday objects into extraordinary art. This event takes place Thurs., Feb. 17 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information and to RSVP, visit bit.ly/JosephsonTalk. Call (410) 244-1900 with questions.

Feb. 24

JAZZ DUO Jazz artists Harry Appelman and Todd Marcus will perform at An die Musik Live! on Thurs., Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the in-per-

son concert cost $21, and tickets for the livestreamed concert (available through March 2) cost $15. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/BaltJazzArtists. Call (410) 385-2638 with questions.

FEBRUARY 2022 — BALTIMORE BEACON

dom, where Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I have a dream” speech. Recognizing the newspaper’s role in American history, the National Museum of African American History and Culture displays an antique paper cutter once used at the Afro-American as well as a 1958 letter from Carl Murphy.

Helped launch famous careers Sports writer Sam Lacy and artist Romare Bearden credit their success to their origins at the AFRO, Boulware said. Lacy had a personal relationship with Jackie Robinson, who broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier in April 1947. Bearden, who started as a cartoonist at the AFRO, later became an internationally renowned artist known for his Cubist-style collages. Under Boulware’s tenure, the AFRO has made strides in social media too. Visitors to its website rack up one million page views each month, while it has 750,000 Facebook followers and about 11,000 Twitter and Instagram followers. AFRO administrators recently collaborated with a national group of publishers to form a media consortium known as Word in Black. A collaboration of the nation’s leading Black publications, “Word in Black promises to confront inequities, elevate solutions and amplify the Black experience by reporting, collecting and sharing stories about real people in communities across our country,” according to its website. During the pandemic, AFRO staffers have been working from remote locations. However, in the next two years they plan to relocate to a newly renovated brick-andmortar headquarters in the old Upton Mansion, at 811 West Lanvale Street in Upton. “We’re really looking forward to moving to such an historic location,” Boulware said.

From pianist to journalist Boulware grew up in East Baltimore, and at age 7 began living with her mother’s stepmother in what she describes as a “foster environment.” “It was absolutely the best environment for me,” she said.

Boulware met her biological parents and two sisters later in life. She was raised by people she ultimately considered her grandparents, who provided her with a solid family foundation. She rarely missed school, attended Mount Zion Baptist Church, and learned how to play the piano. She eventually became a minister of music at Mount Zion, Fulton Baptist and Pleasant Home Baptist churches. (“I still play whenever different churches need my services,” she said.) After graduating from Eastern High School, Boulware married and had children before earning a bachelor’s degree in English and journalism at Coppin State University. In 1981, she was called to the ministry and earned a Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. Instead of starting her own church, however, she opted to “pastor people without the politics,” as she put it. After a stint as a grant-writing manager at the University of Maryland’s School of Medicine, Boulware started writing for the AFRO as a general assignment reporter in 1997 and worked her way up the masthead. With four children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Rev. Boulware remains committed to seeing that the AFRO maintains its standard as one of the nation’s premier African-American publishing companies. “At age 71, I must proudly admit that I’ve learned from some of the city’s stalwarts: People like [civil rights activist] Juanita Jackson Mitchell and the Rev. John Tilley [NAACP chair]. “I’ve been on the forefront of teaching folks how to register to vote — and to be aware of the underlying racism in Baltimore that can sometimes catch you off guard,” she said. Boulware still pays homage to Talibah Chikwendu, the AFRO city editor who challenged her to write a couple of articles and eventually brought her on staff as a general assignment reporter. “She gave me a chance — and I’m still here,” Boulware said. To read articles from recent editions, visit afro.com/section/news/baltimore-news.

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Mel Brooks From page 19 an appearance by America’s Favorite Cowboy), and Alfred Hitchcock (the Master of Suspense kept Brooks hanging on whether he thought “High Anxiety” was insult or homage — he finally sent a note with a case of fine wine). And there was actress Anne Bancroft. Her unlikely attraction to Brooks’ off-kilter personality resulted in that rare Hollywood production, a durable marriage. To avoid confusing ticket-buyers, Brooks kept his name off his production company’s non-comedies “The Elephant Man,” “Frances,” “The Fly” and other topnotch films. His all-too-brief discussions about the business side of the movie business — he demanded foreign rights to his later pictures and was rewarded with more money than he earned domestically — are welcome asides.

What’s missing Anyone looking for introspection will be disappointed. While Brooks celebrates his reputation for “dangerous” comedy, he’s taking no chances with today’s hot topics. Look elsewhere for Brooks to muse over whether “Blazing Saddles” with its liberal use of the N-word would survive in our politically correct culture (no, he has said). Reconsidering the misogyny and homophobia that were part of his generation’s comedy canon just isn’t on the menu. Yes, too much of All About Me! is selfcongratulatory — if Brooks isn’t praising himself, he quotes others praising him — and, yes, recounting plots and casts for his films comes off as superficial. His memoir works best, which is more often than not, as a look back in laughter from a man who isn’t through trying to make us gasp for breath. —AP

BEACON BITS

Feb. 1

WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE On Tues., Feb. 1, learn about the activists and Marylanders who fought for women’s right to vote in a free virtual lecture that takes

place from 7 to 8 p.m. View artifacts from Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Women’s Suffrage Collection while learning about conflicts within the movement to legalize suffrage. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/WomenVote22.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2022

BEACON BITS

Feb. 18

HEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS Watch an hour of short films about how to end homelessness,

including an original Health Care for the Homeless documentary. Donations are encouraged and help to provide transformative care to those without homes. This event takes place virtually on Fri., Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit bit.ly/EndHomelessnessEvent.

Feb. 24+

TASTE OF THE TOURNAMENT The Cheffing Series hosts Taste of the Tournament, a foodie event featuring renowned local and national chefs of color, at the Eubie

Blake National Jazz and Cultural Center on Thurs., Feb. 24 and Fri., Feb. 24 from 7 to 11 p.m. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased at bit.ly/TasteoftheTournament.

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 22 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

C A R S

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

A L I L O N L I C O S A G A L R G A T E O N Y D E P T E R A N D I L O B B E A U E L O N I N A T E L

S A F E T O S A S E A T A

A D B R A M C U B A G O G E L I F F I C F A T B I A S O N L A N D I T P O L K S P A I O Z E N E V

O D E S O S A N N E

FEBRUARY 2022 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Crossword Puzzle Find a new crossword every day on our website at www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com/puzzles. News on the Twos 1

58 65

48 53

56 59

46 51

35 38

10 14

BB222

Scrabble answers on p. 21.

8 13

By Stephen Sherr 6

67 69

Across

Down

1. Baseball promotion giveaway 4. Surrealist Salvador 8. Down in the dumps 11. “So that’s your secret plan!” 12. Musk, who was named Time’s 2021 Person of the Year 13. Abraham’s name for his first 99 years 16. Location of a 1962 crisis 19. Likely to get high SAT scores 20. The wisest spice on the whole rack 21. Member of a band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 23. “Let your joy be in your journey, not in some distant ___” (Tim Cook) 25. I-95, for example 27. Part of a Tupperware purchase 28. Location of a 1972 burglary 33. A Wednesday before Easter 34. PlayStation seller 35. A Tuesday before Easter 36. ___-ball (ticket redemption game) 38. HHS, HUD, and 13 more 41. Partisanship 44. “That flamenco dancer is amazing!” 46. Parts of an eon 48. She appeared in the Get Back documentary 49. Location of a 1982 skirmish 54. ___ insult to injury 55. The waitress on “Alice” who got a spin-off 56. “Far __ from me to criticize, but ...” 57. Home of the Pantheon 59. Boyfriend 61. Oktoberfest music 65. Location of a 1992 sports competition 68. Listlessness 69. Grp. that added North Macedonia in 2020 70. Buddhist discipline 71. A chess board and 32 pieces 72. Panache 73. She never had to deal with in-laws

1. Top animated movie of 2006 2. “Um, excuse me ...” 3. Oldest of the Smurfs 4. Mortgage signers 5. Last word in the Pledge of Allegiance 6. Journalist who debuted in Action Comics #1 7. Early Peruvian 8. “Wait at the curb until it is ___ cross” 9. Doogie Howser, M.D. network 10. Viagra or Valium 14. Official formal end 15. Wizardry 17. Try to use influence 18. People-eating monster 22. Praiseful poem 24. “There is ___” (theist’s declaration) 26. One before Gee 28. “Sorry; I ___ wrong” 29. Set a list price 30. Protagonist of Hemmingway’s last novella 31. Created a manuscript 32. Terrif 37. Yellowstone Park inhabitant 39. International court 40. Insert in a USPS-based autograph request 42. An appropriate part of the word “ampersand” 43. “Mayday!”, in Morse Code 45. ___ on the Shelf 47. Slides into bed-time shoes 49. Where the near-sighted have trouble seeing 50. It means “mudbrick” in Spanish 51. Even though 52. Christmas carol word 53. Like the tilde to the “n” 58. Sea eagles 60. Top condition 62. Stay in the comfy chair 63. Capital of Ukraine 64. Beheaded Boleyn 66. Signal to come on stage 67. ___ loss for words

Answers on page 21.

BALTIMORE BEACON — FEBRUARY 2022

CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on the right. CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment. EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

Caregivers WE ARE SEEKING MATURE, KIND AND COMPASSIONATE CAREGIVERS to join our award winning company! Home With You Senior Care is a quality homecare company in Baltimore, Carroll and Howard counties seeking reliable and caring individuals to assist older adults. Our caregivers possess the desire and commitment to make a difference in the lives of others. Requirements include: Valid Drivers license and vehicle, CNA or GNA certification, or at least 1 years’ paid Caregiver experience, Clear Background Check (including driver’s license), Compassionate and loving heart. To apply, our website is http://homewithyou.net/careers or call 410-756-0959 - Can’t wait to hear from you! THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME! Jamhuri Healthcare Services recognizes the importance of keeping seniors or adults with special needs, in their homes, rather than sending them to a skilled nursing facility. Our personal in-home care program is designed to implement non-medical tasks to meet the clients’ physical needs. Our home care aides provide a multitude of services for our clients, ranging from meal preparation & house cleaning to personal assistance & running errands. We are diligent in our staff & client pairings. We won’t put just anyone in your home or the home of your loved ones. Senior transportation services available 24/7. Call us toll-free at 1800-547-2851.Visit us on the web: www.jamhuricares.com. send us a text at: 443-929-9769

Makes a great gift!

Financial WESLEY FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts. Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 855-626-8703.

For Sale WOODLAWN MEMORIAL CEMETERY PLOTS for sale. 2 adjacent cemetery plots in Garden of the Last Supper. Asking $3000 or best offer, plus transfer fee $160. Valued at $6000. Please call 410-294-2556 GENERAC STANDBY GENERATORS provide backup power during utility power outages, so your home and family stay safe and comfortable. Prepare now. Free 7-year extended warranty ($695 value!). Request a free quote today! Call for additional terms and conditions. 1-866-964-8106. 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.

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

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

Health

TV/Cable

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THE BATHROOM OF YOUR DREAMS for as little as $149/month! BCI Bath & Shower. Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Limited Time Offer - FREE virtual in-home consultation now and SAVE 15%! Call Today! 1-855-653-0087.

DISH NETWORK. $64.99 for 190 Channels! Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo. (where available.) Switch & Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. Call today! 1-844-560-5837.

MOBILEHELP, America’s Premier Mobile Medical Alert System. Whether You’re Home or Away. For Safety and Peace of Mind. No Long Term Contracts! Free Brochure! Call Today! 1240-650-9189.

Wanted Legal Services

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.

APPLYING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY or Appealing a Denied Claim? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc. Our case managers simplify the process & work hard to help with your case. Call 1866-970-0779 FREE Consultation. Local Attorneys Nationwide [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.)]

Home/Handyman Services

Personals

DON’T LET THE STAIRS LIMIT YOUR MOBILITY! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-866-365-5170.

VERY PRETTY SINGLE WHITE LADY would like to meet gentleman age 65 for Christmas and New Years Eve. I am 65 and have marigold hair (red) and I am 5 feet 3 inches tall. My name is Patricia and I can be reached after 6 p.m. at 443-845-7802.

T’s HAULING & MOVING I will move your possessions or haul them away. I clean out yards, basements, garages, houses, apartments, attics, etc. No job too small. Brush work. I can pick up furniture from stores. Friendly, reliable service with many references. Honest and hard working! Call Tim at 443-690-6525 OR 410-889-3795. Same day service most days! Like me on Facebook! @Tshaulingmoving. Check out my website WWW.TSHAULINGANDMOVING.COM

COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: helmets, weapons, knives, swords, web gear, uniforms, etc, from all wars & countries. Also slots/pinball & other coin operated machines. Top prices paid, Vaccinated & COVID Safe. CALL FRED 301-910-0783.Feb. 3+

BEACON BITS

Feb. 3+

FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION

Explore the Maryland Center for History and Culture for free on Thurs., Feb. 3 or Sat., Feb. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit bit.ly/FreeMCHC or call (410) 685-3750.

TV/Cable DIRECTV for $69.99/mo for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Watch your favorite live sports, news & entertainment anywhere. One year of HBO Max FREE. Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) Call for more details! (some restrictions apply) Call 1888-572-4953.

Mondays

ELDER ARTS

Dance & Bmore presents its Elder Arts program every Monday at 11 a.m. on public access TV channel 75.

We thank our advertisers who make our publication possible. Please patronize them and let them know you saw their ad in the Beacon. Accessibility & Home Remodeling Peak Remodeling . . . . . . . . . . .3 Renovation Real Estate . . . . . .12

Clinical Research Studies HIPS Fall Prevention Study . . .9 NIA Ketone Drink Study . . . . .9

Continuing Education CCBC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Events Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation Presentation . . . .8

Financial Services John Richardson Insurance . . .12

Funeral Services Cremation Society of Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 MacNabb Funeral Home . . . . .19

Government Services Maryland Relay . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Health Apex Neuropathy . . . . . . . . . . .8 DialMD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Dr. Rosenblatt, DPM . . . . . . . .10 Greenspring Podiatry . . . . . . . .7 Keswick Community for Life . .1 Keswick Wise & Well . . . . . . . .8

Home Health Care/ Companion Services Options for Senior America . .17

Housing Charlestown/Erickson . . . . . . .11 Christ Church Harbor Apts . . . .6 Enterprise Residential . . . . . . .13 Oak Crest/Erickson . . . . . . . . .11 Park View Apartments . . . . . . .13 St. Mary’s Roland View Towers . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Virginia Towers . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Warren Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Real Estate NTR Home Buyers . . . . . . . . . .7 Renovation Real Estate . . . . . .12

Retail Perfect Sleep Chair . . . . . . . . .14 Radio Flea Market . . . . . . . . . .20 Zinger Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation ProMedica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Subscriptions Beacon Newspapers . . . . . . . .22

Technology Computer Doctors . . . . . . . . . . .5 BeaconSilverPages.com . . . . .21

Theater Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . .19

Travel Superior Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

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FEBRUARY 2022 — BALTIMORE BEACON