February 2025 | Baltimore Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

Producer gets a new shot at life

By Sophia Lim

One Friday morning 12 years ago, Robert Neal Marshall paced back and forth in his living room, feeling that something was wrong with his body. Phone in hand, he wondered if he should call 911. Despite that hesitation, he made the call.

“That Friday for me on August 3 of 2013 was like any other day. I had no idea that that could have been my last day on this planet,” Marshall, now 64, recalled in an interview with the Beacon.

Marshall was having a heart attack, a “widow-maker,” experiencing total blockage of the heart’s biggest artery. Doctors later told him he probably had only a two-minute window to make that lifesaving call.

“My heart just started quivering like Jell-O. And from that moment, you’re dead. There’s nothing pumping,” he said. Thankfully, he was able to make it to an ambulance, where paramedics used a defibrillator and conducted CPR. But for 90 seconds, Marshall had no heartbeat.

“A minute and a half without breathing, without your heartbeat, without anything, is a long time,” he said.

During that time, Marshall had what’s known as a near-death experience. Others who have come close to death have reported sensing an entity of light and beauty. Marshall felt the presence of his beloved grandmother.

“It was this incredible entity of light and electric smoke and energy…But the moment the smoke, the light, touched me, I knew it was my maternal grandmother,” Marshall said.

Marshall felt that his grandmother, who he was very close to, greeted him and expressed her love for him, reminding him of an earlier time in his life. He also sensed other beings nearby.

“It was very powerful for me,” Marshall said. “It would have been amazing to have conversations with them and ask questions and talk with them. Maybe there’s a part of us that’s always on the other side — this thread between us — and we’re just always communicating. I don’t know.”

A new lease on life

When Marshall’s heart stopped beating, he got more than just a reset, reboot and

restart of his body. After doctors brought him back, Marshall felt even more plugged into life.

“It’s like the volume of everything turned up my awareness of things in life — my respect for being here, my sense of duty and purpose,” Marshall said. “It’s the one-on-one conversations that I suddenly realized were more important.”

Born in Baltimore, Marshall has had a long career as a multi-faceted producer, writer and director. He has worked on two teams that have won Emmys and released four documentary films, including the 2015 film “Back from the Light,” about near-death experiences.

Though he’s always shared the stories of others in his films and plays, his neardeath experience deepened his need to listen to everyday people.

“I want to know their stories. It’s impor-

tant that I make people feel wanted, loved and needed. It’s important that I do that now; I feel a greater sense of it,” Marshall said.

“We are introduced to people constantly in our lives. What I have learned as I’ve gotten older is to try to pay more attention, to give it value, to actually listen.”

As it turns out, caring about other people can be contagious.

“There are a lot of people that have incredibly good hearts, that are beautiful souls, that if we just listen to their stories — if we just let them in — we not only can be better people, but we can be better for other people and then teach other people to then continue that on,” Marshall said.

Heads the Columbia Film Festival Marshall founded the Columbia Film

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT NEAL

MARSHALL

Baltimore-born Robert Neal Marshall is an actor, director, producer, playwright and documentary filmmaker. Marshall’s near-death experience a dozen years ago reshaped his life and work.

Learning how to think

Publisher Stuart Rosenthal is taking a sabbatical this month. His column will return in March.

All through school we are required to write. Writing makes us think. Getting us to write clearly is a significant goal of education.

There are now artificial intelligence (AI) programs that can create stories, novels, non-fictional books, answers to exams, blogs and whatever else you want to write.

ing — exercising your brain and enhancing your ability to think and present your thoughts to others.

They can generate ideas, edit and proofread. Even though they are relatively new, they are pretty good. Imagine how much better they will be in the next couple of years. It all sounds wonderful, except it leaves out what you gain by doing your own writ-

AS I SEE IT

By Ted Meyerson

Let’s say Johnny took an English Lit class. He was required to write an ar ticle about Hamlet. He went to a frat party instead of doing the assignment.

No matter. He turned on his laptop, opened one of his three AI writing apps, and typed in Hamlet, Shakespeare, critical essay, 500 words, use Johnny’s style.

Before he could get over to the printer, the essay came out double spaced and printed on both sides. He turned in the paper and got an A on the assignment.

Johnny couldn’t participate in the class

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discussion because he hadn’t read the play. Still, he passed the course because the essay was so good.

Johnny got through most of his college classes using AI to do his homework. His laptop passed more courses than he did. He graduated — but wasn’t educated.

Johnny got a job. He was enthusiastic and eager. He bought a new, more powerful laptop and loaded in advanced AI writing programs.

Johnny’s boss called a meeting. Everyone at the conference table was as dependent on AI as Johnny. Even the boss used an AI program to research solutions to the company’s problems.

The issue under discussion was clear. Each person in the meeting put in some key words and was confident that the app would find a solution to the company crisis. It didn’t work.

Even though the AI programs could recover everything that had ever been posted on the internet, they couldn’t differentiate between good, bad, true or false. They couldn’t think. They lacked judgment.

Some of the solutions they came up with had proven disastrous for other companies. Other solutions were downright weird.

Nobody at the table had gotten out of education what education is supposed to offer — an enhanced ability to think and present ideas. I wonder if the company could survive with a laptop and computer app acting as CEO?

Taken to its logical conclusion, if AI becomes dominant and permissible, we might end up with smart laptops and nonthinking humans. Seems to me, we have enough non-thinking humans already.

Letters to the editor

Readers are encouraged to share their opinions 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:

Re: your November article on blurry vision, I had difficulty reading with my left eye. Very bright light helped, and I needed reading glasses.

My ophthalmologist told me that people who had cataract surgery would often have wrinkles in the sack that held [their] interocular lens. A five-minute laser treatment put a hole in the sack, and my vision improved significantly.

Now I do not need a bright light or glasses.

Donald W. Vierimaa Via email

Dear Editor:

I normally enjoy the Beacon for its lively articles, but I was struck hard when reading the November Letter to the Editor that you allowed to be published. The letter writer, Richard Todd, totally tears down a woman, Joan Vassos, who was interviewed about her life. She was chosen to be the “Golden Bachelorette.” Mr. Todd rips into her “ego” and says that she and others “think the world revolves around them” and that we need “a more grown up role model.”

It’s unacceptable to publish such a harsh attack on Ms. Vassos. It never should have been printed. It left a sour note in my heart. She dealt with cancer

and other things and this did not seem fair. Thank you for listening and I hope this does not happen again. People deserve respect. Especially older people who take risks like Ms. Vassos.

Martine Palmiter Via email

Dear Editor:

I appreciated your column and memory of the “husky” department in children’s clothing stores (From the Publisher, January 2025). I share a similar memory. Unfortunately, it took me 40+ years to go from husky to a shopper in the “regular” section of the department store.

Glenn Easton Clarksburg, MD

Dear Editor:

As invaluable as all the new technology is, I have found a rather disconcerting, albeit unintentional, adverse effect when I telephone someone rather than text. Most of the time the individual who I call invariably sounds annoyed.

I’m always taken aback by such a response because I can’t help wonder why anyone would answer their phone if they are not fully available to do so. That’s why there is voice mail!

Dale Ingrid Barnhard Via email

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Health Fitness &

BARLEY BASICS

Add whole grain barley to your diet to lower your cholesterol and blood sugar

IT’S NOT ALL IN YOUR HEAD

Is your condition really psychosomatic? Or just not yet well understood?

LONG COVID STUDY

University of Maryland seeks people who are still battling fatigue after Covid CATCH A FEW WINKS

There are better (and worse) ways to nap during the day. Experts offer advice

There’s a good side to drug side effects

By Robert H. Shmerling, M.D.

Drug side effects are common and often quite troublesome.

Major side effects, such as severe or even life-threatening allergic reactions, require immediate treatment and discontinuation of the drug. More minor symptoms may be tolerable when weighed against drug benefits. And sometimes, these go away on their own as the body gets used to the drug.

But there’s another type of side effect you hear much less about: ones that are beneficial. Though uncommon, they’re worth keeping in mind when you’re starting a new medicine.

Aren’t all side effects bad?

The term side effect is usually assumed to be a bad thing. And that’s typically true. But that leaves out the “good” side effects. Relatively little is published on this, so it’s not clear how common they are. But four notable examples include:

•Minoxidil (Rogaine, Gainextra, other brands). Developed in the 1970s for high blood pressure, this drug also increased hair growth in study subjects.

What was initially considered a bothersome side effect eventually became its primary use: topical forms of this drug are commonly used to treat hair loss.

•Diphenhydramine (Benadryl or

generic versions). This common treatment for allergic conditions has the side effect of drowsiness.

For adults with allergy issues and trouble sleeping, the sedative effect can be helpful. However, regular, long-term use of diphenhydramine is not recommended, as it may increase the risk of dementia.

•Sildenafil (Viagra or generic versions). Originally developed as a treatment for high blood pressure and angina, it didn’t take long for male users to realize the drug could trigger erections within 30 to 60 minutes.

The makers of sildenafil recognized that under the right circumstances, this could be a highly beneficial side effect. In 1998 it was approved as a treatment for erectile dysfunction.

•Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus). This drug was developed to treat diabetes, but early users noticed reduced appetite and significant weight loss. Now, several formulations of these related drugs are approved for diabetes and/or weight loss.

In the best study I’ve read on the topic, researchers found more than 450 reports of serendipitous beneficial effects of various drugs since 1991. And that may be an underestimation, since report forms did not specifically ask for or label this type of side effect, according to the study authors.

Repurposing some drugs

While the discovery of helpful drugs can arise unexpectedly, drug developers are increasingly using a more intentional approach: using side effect profiles to look for new uses.

For example:

•A drug reported to cause reduced sweating as a side effect may be effective for hyperhidrosis, a condition marked by excessive sweating.

•Drugs reported to cause low blood pressure as a side effect might be effective treatments for high blood pressure (hypertension).

•New treatments for breast cancer may include older medicines that have a similar side effect profile as known anti-cancer drugs.

The availability of large side effect registries has made this method of identifying drugs for repurposing a more realistic option. So even negative side effects can have a silver lining.

Bad side effects and nocebos

While side effects can be positive, most are not. Medication side effects are a common reason people give for not taking prescribed drugs regularly. And adverse reactions to medicines prompt up to 8% of hospital admissions, according to one analysis.

To make matters worse, in some cases the expectation of side effects seems to make them more likely to occur

Called the nocebo effect, it increases the chances of experiencing a negative side effect and seems due, at least in part, to expectations.

Contrast this with the placebo effect, where a sugar pill or another inactive treatment can lead to benefit.

The bottom line

Many people avoid taking medications because they fear possible side effects. That’s understandable.

But not taking a medication can mean missing out on its benefits. And anticipation or expectation of side effects can increase the chances you’ll have them.

So, while it’s important to be aware of the most common side effects caused by the medicines you take, it’s also important not to overestimate your chances of experiencing them.

And remember, there’s always a chance you’ll have a side effect you actually welcome.

Key strategies to help improve memory

By Howard LeWine, M.D.

Q: I am experiencing more minor memory lapses. What can I do to help my memory?

A: Keeping the brain as healthy as possible might help delay memory issues and other age-related brain changes.

The best way to do that is by living a healthy lifestyle: exercising regularly (at least 150 minutes per week of moderateintensity exercise, like brisk walking), giving yourself the opportunity to sleep seven to nine hours per night, eating a Mediterranean-style diet, not smoking, limiting alcohol use, managing stress, socializing, and learning new things.

These habits work together to help create new connections between brain cells and to maintain existing ones, which keeps thinking and memory sharp.

A recent large study zeroed in on the po-

tent influence a healthy lifestyle exerts on memory maintenance, even in older adults with a genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.

The study, published by The BMJ, involved more than 29,000 people in China without dementia (average age 72). Participants initially underwent cognitive testing, as well as genetic testing for a variant of the APOE gene, APOE4, which is known to raise the risk for Alzheimer’s.

Participants also reported how stringently they stuck to six good lifestyle habits: eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, not smoking, not drinking alcohol, being socially active, and engaging in brain-challenging activities.

Over the next 10 years, participants periodically reported their lifestyle habits and had additional cognitive tests.

By the study’s end, people who stuck

with at least four healthy habits exhibited significantly slower memor y decline than those who didn’t practice any healthy habits — and this was true even among participants with the Alzheimer’s-related gene.

To improve memor y

In addition, you can help keep your memory in good shape by practicing certain habits.

For learning new information: Pay attention and put effort into the learning process. You can’t effectively learn new information when you multitask. If someone is talking to you while you’re checking your email or watching TV out of the corner of your eye, you’re not likely to remember what they said.

Pay attention, write down the information, say it out loud, or repeat it back to the person.

For memory retrieval: Relax and try

to go back in your mind to the time and place when you formed the memory. Think about the senses that were engaged at the time.

What did you see, hear, smell, taste or touch? What were you feeling at the time?

The brain ties those perceptions to memories as a way to help you retrieve them later

For overall sharpness: Make your brain work harder. Challenge it with exercises such as crossword puzzles.

Studies have shown that doing moderately difficult cognitive tasks is better for your brain than doing easy tasks.

Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, visit health.harvard.edu. © 2024 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Think positively about aging for long life

By Howard LeWine, M.D.

People who tend to be more positive, optimistic and energetic as they get older are more likely to live longer and have healthier lives than those with negative thoughts about aging.

A study published in February 2022 in JAMA Network Open found that the people with the highest satisfaction with aging had a 43% lower risk of dying from any cause compared to those who were the least satisfied.

The study also found that people more satisfied with the aging process had a lower risk for diabetes, stroke, cancer and hear t disease. They also had better cognitive functioning and were less lonely and depressed.

Here are some ways to help you keep a

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP

younger mind and body.

Reduce stress and anxiety. Adopt practices that help you maximize positive emotions and reduce negative ones, such as setting aside time for meditation, performing relaxation breathing exercises, and spending some quiet time each day expressing gratitude.

Have a sense of purpose. A strong sense of purpose means continuing to pursue goals and to feel life is worthwhile. Explore interests centered on self-development, growth, and connecting with others.

For example, learn an instrument or a language, volunteer for a cause you support, mentor a young person, or take college classes in subjects that stimulate your mind.

Stay connected. Socializing keeps our

If you are mourning the death of a spouse or life partner, you’re not alone. Join a virtual support group, Loss of Life Partner/Spouse Monthly Morning Group, at 10:30 a.m. on the second Tuesday of the month The next meeting is Feb. 11, then March 11. Registration is required; call 1-888-501-7077 or email griefinfo@chesapeakelifecenter.org. For a complete list of in-person and virtual support groups organized by Chesapeake Life Center, a Hospice of the Chesapeake program service, visit hospicechesapeake.org.

Here, assisted living is living, with the right amount of personal assistance… …at a great value.

minds active and engaged. Studies also show that personal connections help curb feelings of low self-esteem that dampen a positive mindset.

You might find it more natural to bond over a shared activity or interest, so consider joining a walking group, golf or bowling league, card or chess club, or service club.

Another option is to create your own “pod” — a small, intimate group you interact with regularly. Schedule weekly, bimonthly or monthly meetups with friends — in person or via Zoom or a conference call.

Challenge yourself. Find a physical challenge that you can realistically complete, create a plan of execution, and then work to meet that goal.

For example, train for a 5K race, hike a trail, complete a series of boot camp classes, or walk a mile daily for a month. Regular exercise builds confidence in your ability to be active, and setting a challenge helps you experience a feeling of accomplishment. Both can make you feel more youthful.

Ageism — the socially per vasive idea that you are too old to do certain activities — can put a damper on your mindset. It can be tough to overcome, but constantly remind yourself that your age does not dictate whether or not you have the necessary ability, skills or desire to succeed at something. © 2024 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Each assisted liv g resident enjoys three chef-prepared meals per day, ing re y services, medication administration, help with daily housekeeping and laundry se quest, and all included in a reasonable monthly tasks and more—always by reques o all of the fee. Each h resi s dent also has access to all Pickersgill ameni l ties. private, full bath, and residents are

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Our assisted living g residences include a priv wish. This is a lifestyle dedicated to encouraged to decoraate their homes as they al staff. independence and assured by a caring, professionalfessionalstasttaff.

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Sweet chili chicken with zucchini barley

By Linda Gassenheimer

Here’s a way to keep boneless, skinless chicken breasts moist and tasty

I brown the chicken in a skillet, cover with a sweet chili sauce and walnuts, then finish the cooking in the oven. That gives the chicken a nice crust, and the steam from the covered skillet keeps the chicken moist.

I wanted to make barley for a side dish and created a way to make it in the microwave with zucchini. It turns out the same as if you made it on the stove but is much quicker and easier.

Helpful hints: Look for sweet chili sauce in the market. If unavailable, see recipe below. Be sure the skillet is well covered when placed in the oven.

Shopping list: Buy ¾ pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, 1 jar low-sugar apricot spread or jam, 1 container walnuts, 1 bottle sweet chili sauce, 1 carton fat-free, no-salt-added chicken broth, 1 box quickcooking barley, ½ pound zucchini. Staples: canola oil, salt and black peppercorns.

Sweet Chili Chicken

Serves 2

Ingredients:

¼ cup low-sugar apricot spread or jam

¼ cup chopped walnuts

¼ cup sweet chili sauce

2 teaspoons canola oil

¾ pound boneless, skinless chicken breast

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix jam, walnuts and chili sauce together in a small bowl.

Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add the chicken and brown 2 minutes. Turn chicken over and brown the second side 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

Spoon sauce mixture on top of the chicken. Cover the skillet with foil or lid and place in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven. A meat thermometer should read 160 degrees. Divide in half and place on two dinner plates.

Per serving: 431 calories (38 percent from fat), 18.2 g fat (1.8 g saturated, 6.4 g monounsaturated), 126 mg cholesterol, 42 g protein, 22 g carbohydrates, 1.1 g fiber, 558 mg sodium.

Zucchini and Barley Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 cup fat-free, no-salt-added chicken broth

½ cup quick-cooking barley

½ pound zucchini cut into 1-inch pieces, about 2 cups

2 teaspoons canola oil

Warren Place Senior Apartments in Cockeysville,

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Place chicken broth and quick cooking barley in a large, microwave-safe bowl. Cover the bowl with a plate or plastic wrap. Microwave on high for 5 minutes.

Remove bowl from microwave and add the zucchini. Cover the bowl with the plate and microwave 5 more minutes. Remove from the microwave and keep the cover on the bowl until ready to serve.

Add oil and salt and pepper to taste and serve with the chicken.

Per serving: 242 calories (20 percent from fat), 5.5 g fat (0.6 g saturated, 2.9 g

monounsaturated), no cholesterol, 7.5 g protein, 42.9 g carbohydrates, 9 g fiber, 32 mg sodium.

To make sweet chili sauce

Add 1 tablespoon sugar or honey to ¼ cup bottled chili sauce such as Heinz Chili Sauce or a thick chili sauce.

Linda Gassenheimer is the author of more than 30 cookbooks, including her newest, The 12-Week Diabetes Cookbook Listen to Linda on WDNA.org and all major podcast sites. Email her at Linda@DinnerInMinutes.com. © 2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Barley is a healthy, high-fiber whole grain

By Lori Zanteson

Barley, as a staple, is anything but basic. Native to Ethiopia and Southeast Asia, barley has been cultivated for more than 10,000 years. Since ancient times, it has been used for food — both human and animal — as well as tea, alcoholic beverages, medicine, and even as a standard of measurement.

These days, we’re most likely to enjoy our barley in a meal of hearty stew or soup, or as an ingredient in a glass of beer. But there are good reasons to reignite our relationship with this healthful and tasty whole grain.

The facts

which is used to produce beer. The whole grain, hulled barley is the most nutritious because it retains the bran. However, pearled barley, whose bran is removed, is most common.

Both forms are nutrient-dense and high in fiber. One cup of cooked pearled barley serves up 24 percent DV (DV=Daily Value, based on 2,000 calories/day) of heart-healthy dietary fiber and about 20% DV of the minerals manganese and selenium.

The findings

Barley ( Hordeum vulgare ), a cereal grain, is the fourth largest grain crop in the world after wheat, rice and corn, but only 2% is produced for food products. Most is grown for animal feed and malt,

more notable reductions in cholesterol. Beta-glucan, barley’s soluble fiber, also slows glucose absorption, which may lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

According to a study published in Clinical Nutrition Research, Type 2 diabetes patients who ate white rice mixed with 50% high beta-glucan barley had significantly improved post-meal blood glucose levels and insulin resistance versus those who ate white rice without barley.

The

finer points

Hulled, pearled and flaked barley are available packaged and in bulk containers. Additional types, including barley grits, quick barley and barley flour, are more

likely found in health-food stores. Barley stores best in airtight containers, where it should keep six to nine months (several months longer if refrigerated). Combine with water, boil, cover and simmer until the liquid is absorbed and the grains are soft. From here, the possibilities are endless — add to soups, salads, vegetable dishes; enjoy as a breakfast cereal topped with fruit, or served in creamy risotto style.

Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC, 1-800829-5384, EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2024 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

A source of soluble fiber, barley has been shown to lower cholesterol. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed significantly lower total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels after diets low, medium or high in soluble fiber from barley — higher soluble fiber diets had

Is it all in your head, or not identified yet?

The body and mind are intricately connected, and sometimes, this connection can lead to physical symptoms driven by emotional stress.

These are known as psychosomatic disorders, and they demonstrate just how powerful stress, unresolved trauma and emotions can be in affecting our physical health.

However, not all unexplained symptoms fall into this category. Some are the result of hard-to-diagnose medical conditions that science hasn’t fully understood yet.

Let’s explore psychosomatic disorders, their causes, and how they differ from illnesses that defy diagnosis.

Psychosomatic disorders

Psychosomatic disorders occur when

emotional factors like stress and anxiety trigger or worsen physical symptoms. These symptoms are real — not “all in your head” — but their root cause lies in how your brain and body interact.

These may include:

•Chest pain from anxiety (even with a healthy heart) right before a test

•A rash that flares during an argument

•Migraines triggered by chronic stress

•Your heart beating out of your chest before public speaking

Stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, increasing cortisol and adrenaline. Over time, this state of hyperarousal can worsen conditions like migraines, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and fibromyalgia.

for a Change!

What doctors may not know

Not every unexplained symptom is psychosomatic. Some conditions, like multiple sclerosis (MS), were nearly impossible to diagnose before MRI technology became available to detect brain and spinal lesions. In such cases, the problem wasn’t psychosomatic; it simply hadn’t been uncovered yet.

Conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome or some neurological disorders involve real symptoms that may stem from multiple, complex factors science hasn’t fully mapped.

Advocate for yourself

Psychosomatic disorders include real symptoms that are linked to the mind-body connection. Hard-to-diagnose conditions also have real symptoms without a clear explanation, often due to science’s limitations.

By Suzy Cohen

Doctors often rely on their specialty’s “toolbox,” which can limit their diagnostic perspectives. For example, a Lyme specialist might diagnose Lyme disease even with inconclusive results, while a rheumatologist may label borderline symptoms as autoimmune disease.

This isn’t to suggest doctors are wrong; they’re often working with the best information they have. But as a patient, being your own advocate and seeking multiple opinions is essential.

Both deserve empathy, so I want to assure you that your experience is valid, and that healing starts with being heard and supported.

Living with unexplained symptoms can feel lonely and exhausting. Whether your condition stems from psychosomatic factors or a hard-to-diagnose illness, your journey matters. Stay curious, stay strong, and never stop advocating for yourself!

If you’re interested in a deeper dive into this topic, I’ve written a longer, more comprehensive blog on my website at suzycohen.com.

Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe

Health Studies INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Tired after Covid? A healthy diet could help

By Margaret Foster Covid

affects people in different ways. For some it’s fatal, while others experience no symptoms at all. Others struggle with autoimmune conditions and fatigue months after the infection has resolved — a condition known as long Covid.

Now, there’s a new study for people over 50 who have felt tired for months after having Covid.

The University of Maryland, with funding from the National Institute on Aging, aims “to study whether improving your diet toward a healthy U.S.-style diet, along with some nutritional supplements, can reduce persistent fatigue symptoms following Covid,” said Dr. Galya Bigman, PhD, the study’s principal investigator.

Four months from home

The study requires only two in-person vis-

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

MEMORY SCREENINGS

its to the University of Maryland’s clinic at 22 S. Greene Street in downtown Baltimore. Parking vouchers will be provided, and in some cases, Lyft services may be available.

Once enrolled, participants will be randomly placed in either the special diet group or the healthy aging group. In both groups, participants will attend weekly 30to 60-minute virtual meetings for four months to learn about diet or healthy aging.

Participants in the diet group will also have eight one-on-one virtual meetings with a dietitian, who will build a personalized food plan and ensure they stay on track.

After the study, both groups will have free access to the other program’s content and course materials.

At the start and end of the four months, Dr. Bigman’s team will do a comprehensive screening of participants’ nutritional

Free memory screenings are available for adults concerned about memory loss or experiencing warning signs of dementia. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America offer s free screening appointments via smartphone, computer or tablet. You can schedule an appointment at bit.ly/memoryscreenings or by calling 1-866-232-8484.

HANDS-ONLY CPR TRAINING

Feb 8

Visit the P arkville Library on Sat., Feb. 8 to learn the lifesaving simple steps of hands-only CPR from the members of the Baltimore County Fire Department. The training takes place at 9509 Harford Rd., Parkville, from 1 to 4 p.m. Registration isn’t required. For more information, call (410) 887-5353.

BLOOD DONORS NEEDED

The Red Cross is seeking blood donors, especially type O and platelet donors. To schedule an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

status and needs by measuring their body fat, muscle mass and function, and body calorie expenditure. Participants will also take surveys on their diet, sleep behaviors, level of fatigue and quality of life.

“We will also take some blood tests to see if there’s any relationship between certain nutritional biomarkers and fatigue to better understand the science behind how diet might alleviate Covid symptoms,” she added.

To track their progress, participants will

complete online surveys and track their food intake every other week. Compensation is provided at the end of the study.

The study teaches people “simple, healthy eating principles in a friendly, engaging way,” Dr. Bigman said. “Participants will learn about healthy aging and acquire practical tools to support healthier eating in their daily lives.”

For more information, visit longcovidiet.com, email gbigman@som. umaryland.edu or call (512) 576-3823.

Paid Volunteers Needed!

This study aims to better understand the role of primary care visits in detecting hearing issues and service use among individuals with cognitive or memory concerns. Who?

•Older Adults with hearing difficulty and memory concerns

Who Can Participate:

•Age 50 or older

•Tested positive for COVID-19

•Experiencing fatigue for at leat 3 months

•Willing to make dietary changes for 4 months

to see if you qualify:

•Care Partners who assist the above older adults What? Participate in a ~30 minute virtual interview Compensation? $25 per person Interested? Contact us at 301-405-7539 or hearingandhealth@umd.edu

Improve Your Health with Personalized Exercise.

We are looking for older adults (65+) to participate in a research study on personalized exercise. Learn how a tailored exercise program can help you feel stronger and improve your health and well-being. You will be compensated for your time and participation upon successful completion of the study.

For more information, please scan the QR code, call 443-692-7169 or email mpathstudy@jh.edu

Principal Investigator: Dr. Junxin Li - IRB #

Cognition And Metabolism in Prediabetes (CAMPS) Study

Are you 50 years or older? Are you relatively healthy, without a diabetes diagnosis?

If so, you may be eligible for a new research study in which you learn about your daily blood sugar ﬂuctuations and cognitive abilities. Receive $100 for participating. For information call 410-605-7179. Mention “CAMPS”

Is there a wrong way, or time, to take a nap?

By Tiffany Casper

Dear Mayo Clinic: I am retired, and although I generally enjoy less hectic days now, I keep busy.

Par t of my routine includes trying to squeeze in a nap on most afternoons. My wife tells me I’m doing it wrong because I often wake up groggy. Is there a wrong way — or time — to nap?

A: Closing your eyes for a few minutes during your busy day may seem like a good idea. It can refresh and recharge you.

Is there a wrong way to nap? Only if the naps cause negative effects on other aspects of your life.

For your daily nap routine, it’s important to consider the time of day and length of time you nap, as these can provide benefits or create problems.

On the plus side, a nap can improve your mood, speed your reaction time, improve your memory, reduce fatigue and increase your alertness. A regular nap can make your afternoon more productive.

There are some potential drawbacks of napping every day. First is sleep inertia. That’s the temporary grogginess and feeling disoriented after a nap. This can become a problem if you have places to be or tasks to complete after you wake up from your nap.

Regular naps can interfere with your nighttime sleep routine, too, especially if your naps are too long or close to bedtime. If you experience insomnia or poor sleep quality at night, napping may worsen these problems. Short naps are the best when trying to avoid interference with nighttime sleep.

Follow these four tips to get the most out of your naps:

• Set aside an allotted amount of time. If you wake up feeling groggy after a nap, you’re sleeping too long. The ideal nap length is between 15 and 30 minutes. If you want to make naps a part of your daily routine, have a planned time of day and length of time to keep your schedule on track.

• Plan to take naps in the afternoon. The ideal time to nap is around 2 or 3 p.m. This is because you are likely to experience a lower level of alertness or sleepiness following lunch.

You’re also more likely to avoid interference with nighttime sleep if you nap around this time. However, some people may adjust their napping times to fit their work or school schedules.

• Create a tranquil environment. Some people struggle to sleep during the day, but there are actions you can take to help you become more relaxed. Eliminate distractions when napping. Turn off any screens, including your phone. Find a quiet space with minimal light. Adjusting the room temperature to what is comfortable for you also can make your space more relaxing.

• Give yourself time to wake up. It’s normal to wake up a little groggy after a nap, but that feeling should dissipate

shortly. Allow yourself enough time after your nap to wake up before resuming activities, so you are alert and ready to tackle the rest of your day.

Before lying down to take a daily nap, you may want to think about why you began taking these naps. If you’ve been working the night shift or are a new parent, you probably have reason to be closing your eyes for a while.

On the other hand, if you feel that a nap is essential to your daily functioning, you may have a bigger health problem that should be addressed with your healthcare team.

Talking to your healthcare team is the best way to find out why you’re experiencing increased fatigue. The reasons for your exhaustion could be related to anything from having a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea to a side effect from a new medication.

Tiffany Casper, D.O., Family Medi-

cine, Mayo Clinic Health System, Tomah, Wisconsin

Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. This Mayo Clinic Q&A represents inquiries this healthcare expert has received from patients. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org.

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MoneyMoney Law &

For three good ways to help adult children financially, see story on opposite page.

Ways to avoid or respond to identity theft

By Mallika Mitra

Eva Velasquez is president and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), a nonprofit that supports victims of identity theft. Here, she talks about key identity theft problems to know about in 2025.

Q.What are the most common identity theft schemes?

A. Our most recent contact center data shows that 51% of personally identifiable information (PII) compromises — which take place when someone is trying to access your personal information — come from scams, with the most common types of scams being impersonation and employment scams.

Impersonation scams occur when whoever is on the other end of the interaction is not who they say they are. They may say they’re from Amazon and your delivery is delayed, or they may pose as a credit card representative, asking whether you authorized a purchase.

With job and employment scams, we’re seeing fraudulent postings on legitimate sites such as Indeed and LinkedIn, as well as unsolicited text messages and emails from phony recruiters.

Q.What trends in ID theft do you expect to see in 2025?

A. It’s hard to predict the next global event, such as a pandemic or natural disaster, but that’s what the scammers love to leverage. During those events, consumers know something is going on but don’t have a lot of information, and then they get a bunch of requests for money or information from scammers.

Business impersonation, which occurs when someone claims to be from a company, such as Amazon or your bank, is going to continue to grow in 2025 because bad actors can easily purchase stolen personal information on the dark web and use it to seem credible when they contact victims.

There are also a lot of social media account takeovers, in which bad actors hack into someone’s account and then reach out to their connections and friends to ask for donations and information.

Social media companies aren’t responding quickly enough to these takeovers, so people end up walking away from hacked accounts. We have a proliferation of accounts that are no longer in the original owner’s control.

Q.What can people do to protect themselves from scams?

A. Approach all digital communication with skepticism. If you didn’t initiate the contact with an entity that is requesting information or money from you, go to the source and verify that it reached out to you.

That may mean calling the phone number on your credit card if someone purports to be from your card company, responding to a voice message from someone who says they’re from your utility company by finding the company’s number online, or checking the message center in your Amazon account if you receive an email or text message from someone who says they work for Amazon.

Our recent data also shows that 16% of PII compromises were the result of lost or stolen items, so remember that your smartphone and other devices are just as important as your wallet, and you need to treat them as such.

Make sure that a lock screen is enabled on all your devices, and use biometric authentication of your face or fingerprint. Also, enable “location detection” for your device and the ability to remotely delete information from it if it is stolen.

Finally, freezing your credit is one of the most robust measures you can take to prevent fraud.

Q.What should you do if your personal information is involved in a data breach?

A. You have limited options once your information has been exposed, but you can react quickly to news of a breach.

The most important first step is to understand what specific data of yours was compromised. If your username and password were stolen, you should immediately change your password on any account where you’ve used the compromised password.

We have a free tool on the ITRC website, idtheftcenter.org, where you can see whether a company has had a breach before you do business with it. You can also sign up to get an alert if a company you do business with experiences a breach in the future.

This item first appeared in Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine, a monthly source of advice and guidance. Subscribe to help you make more money and keep more of the money you make.

Use tax software or a tax professional?

By Marguerita M. Cheng

Many people find tax-preparation software to be very useful, and most tax software is simple to use, cost-efficient (especially when compared to the cost of hiring a certified public accountant, or CPA) and fast — some returns may be completed in just an hour.

The proof of its popularity: The tax-prep software market was valued at $17.9 billion in 2024 by Fortune Business Insights and is projected to grow to $47.9 billion by 2032.

As we approach a new tax year, you might be wondering whether you could ditch your tax professional and go with tax software. It depends on the nature of your financial situation.

Let’s consider some financial situations that are appropriate for tax software and some that might require the expertise of a tax professional.

When should you consider using tax software?

Tax-prep software is most appropriate when your financial situation is straightforward. In the world of tax, the following qualifies as a straightforward financial situation:

•You opt for the standard deduction, a fixed amount that is subtracted from your income to arrive at your taxable income, instead of itemizing your deductions.

•You earn only employment income and receive a Form W-2 from your employer.

•You invest only in traditional assets like stocks and bonds.

•You’ve resided in only one state all year.

In essence, the fewer your tax events and the fewer tax forms you will need to complete, the more you can rely on taxprep software.

When should you stick to a tax professional?

However, the financial situations of many people are more complicated. If any of the following apply to you, tax-prep software might not be entirely up to the job:

•You itemize your deductions rather than using the standard deduction.

•You have multiple sources of income, such as 1099 income (dividends, rental income, earnings from a side hustle, etc.), or you juggle two or more jobs.

•You are self-employed or own a business.

•If you are a partner in a business, you will need to report your share of income, losses, deductions and credits on Form K1.The form also applies if you have shares in an S corporation.

•You earn income in multiple jurisdictions.

•You own non-traditional assets such

as commodities, derivatives and currencies, among others.

•You are focused on retirement planning and estate planning and need help identifying tax-efficient strategies to maximize your retirement income and the estate you leave to your loved ones.

•You sold a business. The tax implications will depend on the business structure (LLC, partnership, S Corp, etc.) and whether it is an asset sale (selling the business assets) or stock sale (selling ownership). Tax professionals can help you minimize your tax liability.

•You received equity compensation. Different tax rules apply to the four types of stock (or equity) compensation — restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, non-qualified stock options and incentive stock options. Tax professionals

The best ways to help your adult children

By Evan T. Beach

There is definitely a sweet spot when it comes to family wealth. Not enough money comes with problems. Too much money comes with different problems. The numbers are different for everyone.

One thing I’ve seen among the wealthier families we work with is a hesitation to give money to their kids for fear they will run into the problems that come with too much.

I often tell these folks that money can be a rope, or it can be quicksand. It can help your kids up, or it can totally sink them. This depends on the amount, the method and, most important, the kid.

Below are three ways to help your adult child get ahead without having to fear it will sink them. The common thread here is that each of these categories of expense lasts for a finite period.

In working with retirees, I am much less worried about one-time expenses than I am about smaller, ongoing debits. You can plan for something that has an end date.

As with all gifts, use the “airline oxygen mask” example: Make sure you put on your mask first to ensure you have enough money for yourself before you pass it down.

1.Education

When I was 22, I was sitting in an ING office in Philadelphia. One of the many people I shared my “office” with asked our boss what stock he thought they should buy.

The boss said, “If you have enough money to buy stocks, invest in yourself instead and go get your CFP.”

The CFP (Certified Financial Planner™) certification is one of the less expensive professional development programs, but when you consider the cost of going back to school, taking a review course and paying for the exam, you’re probably spend-

Peace

ing about $10,000. The return on investment on this will be significantly more than what you can earn in the market.

This is the example I use because it’s the industry I know best, but these programs exist for most professions and can be a great way to help your kids get ahead.

Your Millennial or Gen X children may be beyond this point, but they still may be struggling to save for their own kid’s college. Even a few hundred bucks a month into a 529 plan for your grandkids is a huge help.

2. Down payment on a home

Home ownership in major metro markets has been put out of reach of many Millennials and most Gen Zers. Demographic trends, shortage of supply and high interest rates are all working against them.

Much of this recent pain is a result of Covid. However, the shortage goes back to the global financial crisis in 2008.

The silver lining is that, with the inflation we have seen over the past few years, we have also seen wages grow significantly. Many of your kids can afford the monthly mortgage payment, just as they do their rent.

The problem is, the median home price in this area is about $600,000. A 20% down payment, plus $20,000 for closing costs, means your kids would have to scrape together $140,000 to get a home with a mortgage.

That’s tough to picture for someone in their 20s or early 30s. Helping your kids get to 20%, so they can afford the payment and aren’t stuck with private mortgage insurance, will help them instantly build equity.

3.Child care

If you study trends of income vs. expenses over a typical lifespan (as I realize almost no one does), you’ll find things are tightest, and most likely to cross into the

red, in the early years of having kids.

You have all the one-time expenses: cribs, fancy strollers, car seats, etc. But the big one, the one that everyone complains about, is daycare.

We pay about $16,000 per year for our 2year-old’s preschool. Fortunately, my wife’s schedule can support this, and we have the means to pay for it, but this is a real struggle for a lot of people I talk to.

Once again, the benefit to helping during this period is that it is finite. Once kindergarten rolls around, there is a free option.

A final note on contributing to your kids’ retirement

You may have noticed that I didn’t recommend putting money into a Roth IRA or other investment vehicle for your kids. I thought about it, and I don’t think it’s a

mistake to do this.

But then I thought about my own situation: I didn’t have the wiggle room to save in my early 20s.

As a financial planner, I have seen a million versions of those charts showing how much you need to save per month, based on your starting age, to hit $1 million. The amount you have to save gets exponentially larger the later you start.

This forced me to create the capacity to save. It forced me to limit spending that I may not have limited if my parents were saving for me, for retirement.

I think the tradeoff of missing a few years of savings was worth a lifetime of better habits.

BEWARE OF SOCIAL SECURITY SCAMS

Telephone and email scammers often pose as government employees. Scammer s will tr y to trick you into giving them your personal information and money. Remember, Social Security will not threaten you, tell you there is a problem with or suspend your Social Security number, demand immediate payment, or require payment by gift card, pre-paid debit card, internet currency, wire transfer or cash. If you receive a suspicious call or email, report it to the Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov.

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Tax preparation

From page 12

can help you plan how to hold and exercise these options to minimize your tax liability.

•You got divorced. If you file taxes jointly with your partner, then a divorce can complicate tax matters.

One point that you should note is that the more complicated your financial situation is, the more tax planning you need to minimize your tax liability.

While tax software can help with tax compliance — filing the necessary tax returns and paying the right amount — it cannot help much with tax planning — making decisions that will help reduce your tax liability.

BEACON BITS Ongoing

TAX AIDE COUNSELING

Which tax professional do you need?

Though we have used “tax professional” throughout this article to refer to experts in tax matters in general, there are some key differences among who does what.

•CPAs are full-time accountants who are very familiar with the tax code. They often work with businesses or those involved in long-term tax planning.

•Enrolled agents (EAs) can help prepare your tax return, advise you on tax matters, and even represent you before the IRS for a tax audit. The IRS issues the EA credential to those who have met the

Need help with your taxes? The AARP Tax-Aide program provides tax preparation and electronic filing services at select senior centers and other locations throughout Baltimore County and Baltimore City. Services are for individuals with low-to-moderate income, particularly those age 60 and above. For more information, including the list of participating locations, visit bit.ly/TaxAideBalt.

LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL

Feb. 1

Enjoy fun-filled activities for all ages, cultural performances and Chinese art to welcome the Year of the Snake. Author Grace Lin will visit the Cockeysville Library on Sat., Feb. 1 at 12:30 p.m. to kick off this celebration, which will continue until 4 p.m. Join the free festivities at 9833 Greenside Dr., Cockeysville. Registration isn’t necessary. For more information, call (410) 887-7750.

requirements.

•Tax consultants or advisers usually have the same expertise on tax matters as CPAs. You can rely on them for both tax compliance and planning, especially in more complex situations.

However, while taxation is only one area of expertise for a CPA (financial planning, financial statements preparation, etc., being others), tax consultants are laser-focused on taxation.

So, which professional should you choose? If you are looking only for tax preparation in situations that are a tad too complex for tax software, an EA may be all that you need.

However, if you are a business owner or you need long-term tax planning (especial-

BEACON BITS

Feb. 14

ly relating to retirement and estate planning), investing the extra bucks in tax consultants or CPAs may be appropriate.

Finally, choosing between a tax consultant and a CPA boils down to the scope of services you want. If you are a business in need of more than just tax planning, a CPA might be in a better position to help.

In sum, while tax-preparation software has revolutionized the world of taxation by providing taxpayers with a fast, cost-effective and simple way to file their tax returns, some complex financial situations still require the personal touch of a tax professional.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS LECTURE (VIRTUAL)

Are you an amateur historian? Join this virtual session by Baltimore County’s Online Programs for Adult Learning (OPAL) to examine original historical evidence from the Maryland Center for History and Culture’s collections and better understand the famed abolitionist’s life. This free program takes place on Fri., Feb. 14 from 10 to 11 a.m. online. Register on MyActiveCenter.com using your BC-PASS card number. If you need a BC-PASS, go to bit.ly/BC-PASS and submit your registration information. For more information, email theopalcenter@baltimorecountymd.gov or call (410) 887-1929.

Travel Leisure &

Japan and South Korea by cruise ship

By Ann Cochran

Some overseas trips are not like others. Although I’ve vacationed in Europe and places as diverse as Tunisia and Colombia, I never felt so “other” as I did in Japan. And as I discovered, that was not a bad thing.

My husband, Chuck, and I chose to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary in Japan. We wanted to go somewhere neither of us had ever been, and we were both curious about Japanese design and culture.

After debating the benefits of a cruise versus a land tour versus exploring Japan on our own with local guides, we were amazed by how much we could see during a 10-day cruise to Japan and South Korea.

The Regent Seven Seas Explorer accommodates about 750 guests with a crew of 550. Our large suite had a spacious walk-in closet, so we didn’t feel cramped.

The ship’s three specialty restaurants — French, Asian and a steakhouse — were all very good, as was the beautiful main dining room. The pool deck served delicious lunches, and we usually took advantage of room service for breakfast.

Clean, stylish Japanese culture

Our cruise began and ended in Tokyo. We enjoyed the food and the cozy scene at one of

the city’s many yakitori (grilled chicken) restaurants.

The small place we chose had only a few tables, a couple of booths and a counter that seated 10. Two people cooked on a long charcoal grill: the chef and a sous chef, who sprinkled spices with a flourish, one arm arched high above his head.

No one spoke English, but the chef made a special effort for us, presenting each set of skewers and laughingly pointing to her neck or thigh to let us know what we were about to eat.

In every city and town, we admired and appreciated the Japanese people and culture. Words that come to mind are polite, quiet, considerate, neat and stylish — or at least well-groomed.

On the subway, despite the jostling crowds, signs remind passengers not to bother others. Common etiquette includes lining up in rows before getting on trains, cell phones on silent mode, speaking quietly if talking is necessary, backpacks in front, no food or drinks.

Here’s a funny story about the integrity of Japanese culture: At the Tokyo Hilton, where we stayed after our cruise, the room had wonderful cotton robes called yukata, which are somewhat similar to a kimono but much more casual.

After enjoying wearing the one in our room, I shopped around Tokyo but didn’t find anything I liked as much, so I asked a concierge if I could buy one from the hotel. Unfortunately, they had run out two days ago.

Me: Well, could I buy the one in my room?

Concierge: Mmm, no, because that one is used.

Me: I know. I’m using it.

Concierge: (looking concerned)

Me : Well, let’s say a guest took one home. Wouldn’t the hotel just charge their credit card?

Concierge: (looking puzzled) That has never happened.

Me: (mind blown, speechless)

Concierge: Let me call housekeeping and see what I can do.

After she spoke to the head of the department, she said yes, you can buy a robe, but not the “used” one. Housekeeping will put a freshly washed, ironed and folded one in your room.

Me: (still puzzled but grateful) Arigato!

Magical Kyoto

Chuck and I navigated the subway in Tokyo, the electric tram in Nagasaki, and the train from the port of Kobe to Kyoto.

We made the impulsive decision to take the train because the ship’s excursion included a two-hour bus ride each way. Instead, we took a 30-minute train ride and buzzed all around Kyoto on our own.

Our priority in Kyoto was to visit the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine, with thousands of vermilion gates featured in thousands of photos. But no photo could do it justice.

Walking the wooded mountain trails to the summit took about three hours. On the way, we passed through and marveled at the ancient red-orange archways, large and small, called torii

The shrine’s entrance and the lower pathways were crowded, and probably always are, but in a pleasant way. We saw all manner of people, all in good moods — and quite a few women in kimono — taking pictures. Being at this Shinto shrine was an experience like no other: magical, reverent and enchanting.

Across town from the shrine, we jumped out of our taxi and followed a long trail through a garden that led to the Golden Pavilion. Originally built in 1397 for a sh –ogun, the palace was reconstructed after a fire in 1955.

Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Shrine attracts a cheerful crowd. On the hike to the Shinto shrine, built in 1400, visitors pass through hundreds of red-orange gates, which mark the transition from the everyday world to the sacred place.

Tokyo’s Japanese gardens provide a respite from downtown. See story below.

This domed building was the only structure left standing in the area where the first atomic bomb exploded in 1945. Today, the preserved ruin is part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

PHOTO BY SHBS/PIXABAY

Seeing a temple whose second and third floors are covered in gold leaf, while an utterly radical idea and feat, was not much different from looking at it in photos, probably because you can’t get close. Visitors are routed around its large pond that serves as a mirror, doubling the golden effect.

Peace and beauty

Aside from Kyoto, our most interesting experiences were in Hiroshima and Busan, South Korea.

While we had zero expectations of South Korea, we found that Busan is a beautiful city with intriguing skyscrapers and a crescent-shaped beach.

Our animated guide took us to a gorgeous park, lunch at a restaurant hosting two weddings, then to a stunning shrine built into coastal cliffs. When we were given free time to shop, almost every woman made a beeline for cosmetic stores to buy the famed Korean skin care products.

Hiroshima was a surprise, too. Despite the heaviness that you would expect, and seeing the one familiar domed building

BEACON BITS

Feb. 21

that survived the first atomic bomb, the overriding emotion was the longing for peace.

We watched the introductory film in the Peace Memorial Museum and then wandered through the expansive and meaningful Peace Memorial Park with our guide, a retired teacher.

Japan has many glorious public gardens. We were able to see seven private ones in a historic samurai neighborhood preserved to look as it did 200 years ago in a small town called Chiran.

Chiran’s nearly half-mile main street is lined on both sides with stone walls, topped by tall hedges. Strange to say, but it felt like we were on a movie set for a British mystery film.

We learned that Japanese gardens borrow from the greater landscape. If there is a mountain in the distance, for instance, that is included in the design.

These gardens are known for their peaceful, meditative quality, achieved by balance but not symmetry. Except for some red fall foliage, there wasn’t much color, but they didn’t need it.

We went to Chiran to visit a museum dedicated to kamikaze pilots, who were not the zealots of our imaginings. They were forced to fly these missions. It was heartbreaking to read the letters they wrote to family, mainly their mothers, on the eve of their assignments.

FREE PLANETARIUM SHOW

Learn about the planet Mar s! The Benjamin Banneker Planetarium at CCBC Catonsville will present “Mars at Opposition” at 8 p.m. on Fri., Feb. 21. The show is suitable for adults and children over the age of 8. Shows are free and open to the public, but reservations are required. The planetarium is located in the Mathematics and Science Hall building at CCBC Catonsville, 800 South Rolling Rd. To reserve a seat, contact David Ludwikoski, the Planetarium Director, at (443) 840-4216 or dludwikoski@ccbcmd.edu.

Ongoing

NATIONAL AQUARIUM GUIDE

The National Aquarium is currently recruiting Exhibit Guides to teach informally in their galleries and explain the Aquarium’ s exhibits. Volunteers receive free parking, discounts in the gift shops and concessions, continuing education and member ship. You must be able to work a scheduled four and one-half hour shift every week for at least one year. Training sessions will take place from late April through May. For more information and to apply, visit aqua.org/support/volunteer

Around the museum and town are more than 1,000 stone lantern statues, one for each life lost this way. Our guide was emotional when she told us that she appreciated our choice to come here instead of other options we had that day.

As in Hiroshima, this museum was also

built within a park dedicated to achieving world peace. That seems an unlikely prospect, but we can surely hope.

If you go

Round-trip flights from Baltimore to Tokyo start at $909. We chose Regent, but Viking, Norwegian, Celebrity, Holland America and Royal Caribbean also offer cruises in Japan and South Korea starting at around $1,400 for nine nights.

A pedestrian pathway through Chiran’s Samurai District leads to seven beautiful public gardens. The town is worth a visit to the Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots.

Arts & Style

Room Service delivers laughs at Vagabond

By Dan Collins

It’s a trope we’ve seen in films and theater over the years, usually for comic effect: a hall or wall of doors that open and close as characters spring in and out, surprising, shocking, and saying all sorts of salacious and sappy things.

It’s used to slapsticky effect in John Murray and Allen Boretz’s farce Room Service, which debuted in New York in 1937 and returns in 2025 in all its sidesplitting silliness in the Vagabond Players’ production in downtown Baltimore.

The play opens on Broadway producerslash-con-man Gordon Miller (Matthew Lindsay Payne) in his Empire Hotel suite in New York City and stays there until curtain close.

Emerging from the multiple doors to the room are the remaining 12 actors of this talented ensemble cast, whose antics revolve around finding a backer for Gordon’s latest production, Godspeed, by fledgling playwright Leo Davis (Adrian Bagaric), and enough cash to keep his delinquent self and the entire show cast from being tossed from the hotel.

Laugh-out-loud comedy

It’s been said that in theater, dying is easy; comedy is hard. If that’s true, the cast of Room Service are among the hardest workers in Baltimore’s dramatic arts community today.

Actor Stephen Deininger had everyone roaring with laughter, almost as loudly as he rants with frustrated anger as the flustered hotel executive Gregory Wagner, who inadvertently becomes a backer for Godspeed. In comedy, timing is everything, and Deininger’s gestures, quick turns, pauses and verbal skills, even in delivering a simple expletive, made him an audience favorite.

Joining Wagner in his exasperation is hotel manager Joseph Gribble, whom Lucius Robinson plays masterfully, as he attempts to juggle Wagner’s irresistible force and Miller’s immovable object while trying not to have a nervous breakdown.

Not to be outdone is Payne’s Gordon Miller (played by Groucho Marx in the 1938 film adaptation), the indefatigable orchestra leader of this symphony of zaniness. Payne, who looks like the love child of actors Richard Benjamin and Alan Alda,

is, like Groucho, bustling with unwarranted confidence. He pawns typewriters, hogties doctors, slips into a Polish miner’s accent while slurping spaghetti, and…well, best see the show for more details!

In the midst of this madcap maelstrom is Bagaric’s naïve playwright, Leo Davis, fresh from the nowhere of Oswego, New York. He’s tossed about the stage in ragdoll fashion, feigning measles, faking suicide, and falling in love with the big-hearted Hilda (Natasha “Tash” Hawkins). Bagaric does a

fine job in achieving Leo’s character arc, from gullible bumpkin to Broadway-wise sophisticate, under the tutelage of Miller, Godspeed director and deer-head trophy lover Harry (Andy Belt), bad-idea machine Faker Englund (Adam Garrison) and others.

Talented supporting actors

The laughs are not reserved solely for those with the biggest roles. Mike Kranick’s

PHOTO BY SHEALYN

PHOTOGRAPHY

Room Service stars Andy Belt as Harry Binion, Matthew Lindsay Payne as Gordon Miller (a role Groucho Marx made famous in the 1938 film) and Adrian Bagaric as Leo Davis. The comedy runs at Vagabond Players in Fells Point through Feb. 2.

Our cover story about actor, producer and director Robert Neal Marshall continues on page 20.

Timothy Hogarth, the collection agency man heck-bent on retrieving the aforementioned typewriter, appears only for a few minutes but metamorphoses wonderfully from a polite professional to near-madman as Miller and his cohorts send him on a wild goose chase that leaves him looking as though struck by a tornado.

Similarly, Anthony Rufo plays the lone character who seems to have at least a pinky-toe hold to reality as the representative of a potential savior for Miller’s production. Watching him buffeted about the stage by the rest of the cast, desperately clinging to his decorum like a life preserver, was hilarious.

Will Christine Marlowe’s (Sydney Marks) mystery backer save Miller and the cast? Will Senator Blake (Samantha

BEACON BITS

Feb. 6

McEwen Deininger) save or scuttle the day? Will Dr. Glass (Nathan Rosen) escape his bonds? Will former Russian stage star Sasha Smirnoff’s (Tim Sayles) talents translate for an American audience? Will Hilda and Leo be betrothed or just bewildered? Will the $15,000 backer’s check bounce, clear or burst into flames? Who knows? It’s a farce!

Every actor in this wonderfully talented cast brought a level of energy and commitment to their role some might not expect in a non-Equity production.

Many a tossed bouquet to Room Service director Steve Goldklang, who somehow spins 13 wacky whirling dervishes into a well-choreographed comedic triumph.

Room Service continues its run at The Vagabond Players theatre at 806 S. Broadway in Baltimore City’s Fells Point district until Feb. 2. For tickets and more information, visit vagabondplayers.org or call (410) 563-9135.

MAKE AND MINGLE AT THE WALTERS MUSEUM

Take a free tour of the manuscript gallery and the exhibit If Books Could Kill with Lynley Herbert, The Walters Ar t Museum’s curator of rare books and manuscripts. Afterward, create a short magazine from provided materials while mingling with other adults. The tours are offered at 6:15 and 7 p.m., and the event runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thu., Feb. 6, at the W alters Café, 600 N. Charles St., Baltimore. Registration isn’t necessary. For more information, call (410) 547-9000.

Look no further than Osher at JHU—the adult education program of the Johns Hopkins University. Join us for top quality noncredit courses, passionate faculty, and a community that loves learning. Explore Art, Current Events, Film, History, Music, Science, and more! Classes meet in Baltimore, Columbia, Montgomery County, and online via Zoom. To sign up for Osher classes during the Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer sessions, an Osher Membership is required. For details, visit osher.jhu.edu, call the Osher staff cell phone at 240-595-2219, or email osher@jhu.edu.

Anthony Rufo plays Simon Jenkins, a character desperately clinging to decorum like a life preserver.

PHOTO BY

Festival six years ago and today works as its executive director. Last year actor Matthew Modine was a speaker at the annual event.

Previously, Marshall worked as a contractor with the Columbia Festival of the Arts as its executive producer. When the pandemic hit, his predecessor wanted to shut down the festival — until Marshall

pushed to make it virtual. “That’s how the festival stayed alive for two years during the pandemic,” he said.

After the previous executive director retired, Marshall took over the full-time position. He moved away from live music and rebranded the event as the Columbia Maryland Film Festival, which is “really growing,” Marshall said.

West End musical, memoir

Marshall has produced and directed sev-

eral plays in the UK, and he’s excited about the upcoming West End musical “Rumpelstiltskin’s Daughter,” which he and composer Tim Battle adapted from the awardwinning book by Diane Stanley. The story veers off from the fairytale when Rumpelstiltskin falls in love with the miller’s daughter, and they have a daughter of their own. Kindness wins over greed.

Marshall is currently writing a memoir. What began as a recount of his heart attack and survival turned into a deeper autobiography that includes elements of his childhood, spirituality and identity. He also opens up about his experience in occasional lectures.

Since 2009 he has been a popular guest lecturer on the Queen Mary II and other ships. He discusses aviation history, his grandfather’s famous color footage of D-

BEACON BITS Feb.

Day and the Cunard Line ships’ history, which he explored in his 2009 documentary film “Three Queens.”

The key to embracing the future, he said, is to realize we’re not in control of it.

“There’s a lot of people who worry about things, about fate, about avoiding things and making decisions, but there are things that will happen to us that we can’t control,” Marshall said.

“But really, it’s about being alive. It’s about living…That’s what I try to teach people with my work now. Through my creative work, my lectures, it’s about embracing that vibrant light, embracing, and finding what that is.”

The Columbia Maryland Film Festival is scheduled for September 8 through 14, 2025. For more information, visit columbiamarylandfilmfestival.com.

Enjoy an afternoon violin and piano recital and get to know the artistr y of some of Peabody Conservatory’s top talents. Wei Zhu, winner of the 2024 Yale Gordon Concert Competition, will be accompanied by Hui-Chuan Chen on piano. This free event takes place on Sat., Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. at the Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. Tickets are required and can be reserved at shriverconcerts.org/YaleGordon (click on the reservations tab). For more information, email info@shriverconcerts.org or call (410) 516-7164.

Ongoing

GUNPOWDER VALLEY CONSERVANCY VOLUNTEER

The Gunpowder Valley Conservancy needs volunteers to support its work for healthy lands, waterways and communities within the Gunpowder Watershed Volunteers of all ages, as well as individuals, families and groups, are welcome. For more information and current opportunities, visit gunpowdervalleyconser vancy. org/get-involved/volunteer

Ongoing

GOLDEN AGE PASS TO MARYLAND PARKS

If you’re at least 62 years old, you can get free entry into any Maryland state Park for life. With the Golden Age pass, available at any state park for $10, you also can get half-price camping during the week (holidays excluded). Buy the pass in person or online at shopdnr.com/GoldenAgePass.aspx. For more information call (410) 260-8186.

ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick Detorie

Adventures

The Seniors program at CCBC provides a wide variety of stress-free continuing education courses both in-person and online via Zoom.

Scrabble answers on p. 20.

Crossword Puzzle

Welcome to ‘25

By Stephen Sherr

Across

1. Set up tents for the night

5. Draft Kings data

9. Delivered a knuckleball

14. Ideal seven-card stud hole cards

15. Made a Silly Straw

16. Sew old rags into a new coat

17. 25th star

20. Many, many years

21. After expenses

22. The IRS’ Earned Income Credit, briefly

23. Uncommon Egyptian, born around 1341 BC

24. “You ___ me up a wall”

26. Put them on one leg at a time

28. 25th January big-game victor

34. Hamster’s home

36. ___ oil (unrefined bread dip)

37. The Barber of Seville, for example

38. NBC’s 1980’s-era alien

39. Minnesota senator during most of Obama’s terms

42. Toupee

43. More like indigo than purple

45. Open Government Partnership, in brief

46. 1958 Oscar-winner, Burl

47. 25th party

51. One of the Coen brothers

52. Killer whales

55. ___ Fridays, restaurant chain founded in 1965

58. President pro ___

59. The first one issued was 055-09-0001

61. Suffix King James probably used

62. 25th in a list of leaders

66. End of veterin- or humanit-

67. The second most visited eCommerce site in 2024

68. Summer Hebrew month

69. Jargon

70. Judi Dench, as appointed by QE II

71. Catch a glimpse of

1. Scoped out the burglar y site

2. Cast member

3. Consequential

4. Anaheim time (in Feb.)

5. Member of the woodwind family

6. Dexterous

7. You get half of it from your dad

8. Scamper with all of your clothes in the hamper

9. Grip

10. Member of Foghorn Leghorn’s dating pool

11. Coating on an abandoned bike

12. Jacob’s big brother

13. Direction traveled by hopeful 49’ers

18. ___ York (Brooklyn ‘hood near Queens)

19. Face card

25. Geese pattern

26. This or that

27. The only ingredient in maple syrup

29. “___ durn tootin’!”

30. Female gametes

31. Neurons

32. Too good to be ___

33. Droops

34. Cars in an airport line

35. ___ Want is You (U2 song)

39. Acting distraught

40. Spy org. in Night Flight from Moscow

41. Prefix that is left of -center

44. The night before Christmas

46. End of cash- or cloth-

48. Actress Perlman, from a Boston show

49. Played improv music

50. Actress Anderson, from a Cincinnati show

53. Enjoyed immensely

54. Without boldness

55. “___ the night before Christmas”

56. Any member of The Supremes

57. Hip bones

59. Ponzi scheme, for example

60. Kind of terrier

63. PC linkup

64. Good degree for a CFO

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