March 2015 | Howard County Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

The Howard County

I N

F O C U S

VOL.5, NO.3

F O R

P E O P L E

O V E R

5 0 MARCH 2015

More than 30,000 readers throughout Howard County

Showcasing works of African art

I N S I D E …

PHOTO BY NATASHA GLAROS

By Tony Glaros Doris Ligon may be Baltimore born and bred, but she can’t seem to get her mind off of Africa. “I was in my 30s before I heard anything positive about Africa,” declared Ligon, 78, who, along with her late husband, Claude, opened the African Art Museum of Maryland in Columbia 35 years ago. “In those days,” she continued, “Africa was called the Dark Continent. In 1980, I decided there was a need for more understanding.” The museum she and her husband founded was only the second nationwide that exclusively explored and celebrated the arts of Africa. The first was started by Warren Robbins, a cultural attaché for the State Department, who used part of a Washington, D.C., townhouse to display the African he treasures he collected. In 1979, Robbins successfully convinced Congress to take over his collection, and it later became the seed for the establishment of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art on the National Mall. Ligon’s museum is still just one of three African art museums in the country, and the only one founded by an African American.

FREE

L E I S U R E & T R AV E L

The legacy of several presidents colors Charlottesville, Va. area; plus, a visit to the University of Virginia page 23

Columbia’s first museum It was also the first museum in Columbia, Ligon recalled. The museum’s original space was rented from Historic Oakland, a sprawling and stately manor house on Vantage Point Road that was built in 1811. However, when it came time to renew the lease, the rent “was more than we could afford,” Ligon said. “They had raised it so astronomically high.” The museum relocated several times over the years, until it settled in its present space in 2011, in intimate quarters in Maple Lawn, the nascent mixed-use development in Fulton. The museum is nestled just off the lobby of its landlord, the headquarters of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church. Through the decades, Ligon’s original and absorbing focus has not deviated. Nothing in the inventory speaks to European, American or Asian art. It’s a onenote production steeped in the story of the world’s oldest civilization. “Some people call the art of Africa prim-

ARTS & STYLE Doris Ligon, who with her late husband founded the African Art Museum of Maryland in Columbia, stands beside a throne from the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria (with a model of a seated king in colorful clothes, whose face is concealed by a mask). The throne is one of more than 3,000 artifacts Ligon has collected for the museum. Many museum pieces are on loan to schools and other institutions throughout Howard County.

itive,” she said. “We’re telling the people there’s a message in this object, placed in its indigenous setting.”

The museum’s treasures Most of the 3,000 pieces that compose her treasure trove come from white collectors, she observed. “But blacks are beginning to collect,” she said. The pieces, she added, typically come from those who have been assigned by agencies such as the State Department or Peace Corps to a country in Africa. Ligon, who holds an undergraduate degree in sociology and a master’s in museum studies from Morgan State University, sprang from her desk to escort a visitor on an abbreviated tour. Upon entering the cozy, peaceful reposito-

ry, visitors come face to face with a three-foot tall wooden mask designed to be danced with by the Baga people of Guinea, in West Africa. The top half of the creation is in the shape of a bird that represents the ability to soar over the earth, skirting the Creator in heaven. The lower section conveys the sense of a fertile woman nursing her baby. The mask is worn in celebrations of the rice harvest, equating the fertility of the land with that of human beings. “It’s about men and women working the soil, and the longevity of the Baga people. It’s about feeding new generations.” Next, Ligon stands in the vast shadow of a giant mask from Malawi that reaches almost See ART MUSEUM, page 27

Pro Cantare performs choral works of women composers; plus, play at Everyman portrays the consequences of war page 26

TECHNOLOGY k Apps to help you lose weight

FITNESS & HEALTH 8 k Customize your cancer treatment THE SENIOR CONNECTION 15 k Newsletter for Howard County seniors LAW & MONEY k Stocks poised for growth

ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

PLUS CROSSWORD, BEACON BITS, CLASSIFIEDS & MORE

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Should we spend it all? For the past two months, I’ve been writing recently wrote, entitled Build Wealth & in this column about the financial pit that we Spend It All, Live the Life You Earned. are digging for ourselves as a He did not send, and I have country. At least, that’s one not read, the book. But I read way of looking at the trillions his article, and the argument of dollars of expanding deficits he made intrigued me at first. embedded in our federal and His premise, based on his state government budgets. family’s experience, is that Our demographic trajectohard-working savers like his ry (rapidly aging population, parents scrimped and sacriexpanding longevity, dwinficed their whole lives, dutifully dling proportion of current saving for retirement. But in his workers to retired workers, mother’s last years, the entire etc.) suggests this imbalance FROM THE sum was “completely drained between revenues and costs PUBLISHER by the nursing home in less will only get worse by the day. By Stuart P. Rosenthal than 18 months.” I have tried to make the I was with him that far. I case for a realistic assessment of the prob- knew many older adults (including my lem, and suggested a wide variety of steps own mother) who spent their last dollars in we can take, both as individuals and as a matter of months, or a couple of years at government entities, to ameliorate the most, paying for nursing home care. consequences that will otherwise overtake But Riggs’ epiphany was not that his us in just a few years. parents should have tried to save more if While I have received a number of they could, but rather, that they should thoughtful letters from readers (some of have spent all their savings much earlier in which appear below), I also was recently their lives (or given it away to family or sent a proposed article by a Dr. Stanley charities), when they could have enjoyed Riggs of Florida. He is plugging a book he its benefits more. He suggests his mother

Beacon The Howard County

I N

F O C U S

F O R

P E O P L E

O V E R

5 0

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

would have been better off had she entered the nursing home eligible for Medicaid and died poor. He seems to be saying that since her last years were destined to be unpleasant anyway, and since having lots of money in a nursing home doesn’t get you service any better than that provided fellow residents who have no assets, what was the point to following all that “save for retirement” advice? Furthermore, he points out that, in general, the current advice of estate planning professionals is to allocate your investments among cash, stocks and bonds, and to spend about 4 percent of the total each year, adjusted for inflation. In most cases (assuming continued earnings, and no significant losses, in your investments), that should enable you to gradually deplete your savings over 25 or 30 years. The goal is to preserve your financial independence for as long as possible. But he finds this, too, to be foolish, in that “traditional estate planning seeks to preserve your net worth up to, and usually beyond, your life, with the remainder being distributed to your heirs, attorneys and the taxman.” Instead, Riggs advocates the “I’m spending it all” approach, as his book title suggests. Since no one knows the date of his or her (natural) death, this requires a “tolerance for being almost broke” at the end, as he says. But then he asks, “Do I want to be the patient in the nursing home with the most money, or the one with the greatest memories? Would I rather be rich and have broken dreams, or be broke but have rich memories?” From a purely selfish perspective, I suppose his approach makes sense. Like the bumper sticker, “I’m spending my children’s inheritance,” it glorifies the Greedy Geezer stereotype. I tell you about this approach not to praise it, but to bury it, if possible. For I do consider it to be purely selfish, and despicably so. I am not saying we need to continuously

deprive ourselves of pleasures throughout life. Far from it. When we have reasonable incomes, after setting aside reasonable portions for savings, we are entitled to enjoy the fruits of our labors. And if we are confident there will be money left over after we are gone, I think it makes sense to give at least some of it as gifts to our children and grandchildren while we are still alive to watch them enjoy it. Both of those behaviors are not only normative, but they teach important lessons to our families and to others: that there are rewards for a life well-lived and that planning ahead has benefits. But to encourage people of means to spend themselves into poverty, with the expectation that their fellow taxpayers will foot the bill for their last years, is not only irresponsible, it holds the potential to impoverish our entire country. Currently, mandated spending on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, welfare programs and interest on the federal debt consumes two-thirds of the federal budget. Medicaid, an entitlement that is typically half-funded by state governments, is a rapidly growing share of every state’s budget. Considering the more than 75 million mostly affluent baby boomers now heading into retirement, what it would cost state and federal governments (i.e., us taxpayers) to cover all of that generation’s long-term care costs would no doubt crowd out most discretionary funding, leaving little or nothing for healthcare, education, social services, you name it. That might bring pleasure to one generation of fortunate, well-off Americans, but could well put an end to the American dream for everyone else for decades. I’d like to know what you think. Please share your opinion with us via letter, fax, email or website comment.

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.

Letters to the editor

• Publisher/Editor ....................Stuart P. Rosenthal

Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in

• Associate Publisher..............Judith K. Rosenthal

the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your

• Vice President, Operations........Gordon Hasenei • Director of Sales ................................Alan Spiegel

Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD

• Assistant Operations Manager ..........Roger King

20915, or e-mail to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your

• Managing Editor............................Barbara Ruben

name, address and telephone number for verification.

• Graphic Designer ..............................Kyle Gregory • Advertising Representatives ........Doug Hallock, ................................................ Steve Levin, Jill Joseph • Editorial Assistant ........................Rebekah Sewell

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 and advertising is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 31 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions.

Dear Editor: This is in response to the column “Facing facts, part II” that appeared in the February Beacon. This is not totally a personal issue, as it is also a political and economic issue. On any Econ 101 chart, you have a revenue line, an expenditure line, and the distance between the two is the budget gap. The question is how to get these two lines to converge.

The answer is political will. You have been around as long as I have, and you know as well as I do, that no politician has the will to take any constructive action to solve a real problem. Until this happens, we will continue on this path toward who knows where. Malcolm Price Easton, Md.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 1 5

Say you saw it in the Beacon

INDEPENDENT LIVING

BROOKE GROVE RETIREMENT VILLAGE CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO ATTEND AN

OPEN HOUSE Wednesday, March 25, 2015 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Westbrooke Clubhouse 18310 Slade School Road • Sandy Spring, MD 20860 Discover the casual elegance & comfort of The Cottages independent living. Explore Westbrooke Clubhouse, its restaurant & fitness center. Enjoy our 220-acre campus of lush pastures & hardwood forest. Learn about the current state of the local real estate market.

Jim Beckley, realtor with the Eric Stewart Group, will share information on today’s local real estate and advice on selling your home for an optimal price including tips on timing, sorting through your possessions, and home improvements with the best rate of return. Sessions will be presented at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Because what surrounds you Really matters.

Please RSVP to Toni Davis at 301-388-7209 or tdavis@bgf.org by March 23.

Independent living assisted living rehabilitation long-term care memory support 18100 Slade School Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860 • 301-260-2320 or 301-924-2811 • www.bgf.org

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Technology &

Innovations New apps aim to help users lose weight By Daniel Pendick Smartphones and tablets combine an extraordinary amount of portable computing power with Internet connections via cell phone signal and WiFi. Many health entrepreneurs are trying to harness that

power to help people get healthier. According to one estimate, the number of health apps for phones may already top 40,000. Now the tough question: Do they actually work? A study published last fall in the Annals of Internal Medicine on one popular

weight-loss app finds that the answer is “not so much.” But the reason may lie more with the user than the product. Researchers at the University of California-Los Angeles put to scientific scrutiny a free app called MyFitnessPal. It’s based on

research on how people make changes in their habits. The company claims it has more than 50 million registered users, and was recently acquired by Baltimore-based Under Armour. MyFitnessPal is a web-connected food journal and weight loss coach. A user can access a database of more than 4 million foods, and add what he or she ate to a daily log. The app calculates the number of calories consumed and compares them to the daily calorie goal, which the app computes based on the user’s current weight, goal weight and desired rate of weight loss. The researchers randomly assigned more than 200 overweight middle-aged women to one of two groups: One used MyFitnessPal as a weight-loss aid, the other talked to a primary care doctor about weight issues but did not use MyFitnessPal. The women’s progress was assessed at three and six months — long enough to detect a significant difference in weight loss among these relatively motivated calorie counters. The app users lost an average of about 5 pounds — but so did the non-app users. That means, at least in this study, recommending a weight-loss app to people who want to lose weight isn’t much better than getting advice from a doctor. One reason See WEIGHT LOSS APPS, page 5

BEACON BITS

Feb. 27

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS

Nominate individuals, nonprofit organizations or governmental agencies, and for-profit organizations or community groups that have demonstrated commitment and dedication to the Howard County Community. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Feb. 27. Nomination forms are available at howardcountymd.gov/voy.htm and can be emailed to voy@howardcountymd.gov or faxed to (410) 3133390. For more information, call (410) 313-2023.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

WII CLUB IN COLUMBIA Have fun bowling, playing tennis or playing baseball without going

outside. Improve your hand-eye coordination playing Wii on Tuesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Bain Center, 5740 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. For more information, call (410) 313-7311 or email Cathy Vigus at cvigus@howardcountymd.gov.

What makes an app work?

Health Study Volunteers

(see article and ad on page 13) Name_________________________________________________________________

I N F O R M AT I O N

❏ Fall Prevention Study (see ad on page 13) ❏ IDEAL Health Study (see ad on page 13) ❏ Memory Supplements Study

F R E E

I N F O R M AT I O N F R E E

❏ Brooke Grove (see ads on pages 3 & 32) ❏ Charlestown (see ad on page 20) ❏ Heartlands (see ad on page 27) ❏ Homecrest House (see ad on page 26) ❏ Ivy Manor Normandy (see ad on page 9) ❏ Park View at Colonial Landing (see ad on page 22) ❏ Park View at Columbia (see ad on page 22) ❏ Park View at Ellicott City (see ad on page 22) ❏ Park View at Emerson (see ad on page 22) ❏ Shangri-La Senior Living (see ad on page 20) ❏ Shriner Court (see ad on page 27) ❏ Somerford Place (see ad on page 27) ❏ Vantage House (see ad on page 11)

★

Housing Communities

I N F O R M AT I O N

Address________________________________________________________________

★

City______________________________________State______Zip________________

F R E E

Phone (day)________________________(evening)________________________

Email_________________________________________________________________

Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this form to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 or fax to (410) 248-9102. 3/15 HC

I N F O R M AT I O N

Please provide your e-mail address if you would like to receive monthly links to the Beacon online and occasional notices of events and programs of interest.

✃

For free materials on housing communities and health studies, just complete and clip this coupon and mail or fax it to the Beacon.

F R E E

FREE INFORMATION

★

F R E E

I N F O R M AT I O N

★ F R EE I N FOR MATION ★ F R EE I N FOR MATION ★ F R EE I N FOR MATION ★

I N F O R M AT I O N

In spite of the MyFitnessPal’s poor showing in the UCLA trial, it and other health apps can be useful tools for people who want to manage their weight and lifestyle. But it takes two things from the user — motivation to make a change, and using the app enough to produce the desired effect. “Clinicians must become aware of these tools and support our patients in their use, since they are a great way to start moving the needle on the awareness and education needed to produce lifestyle changes,” said Jethwani. “Motivated patients will achieve great results, while other patients

F R E E

Simply giving people an app to track their data is not enough to create positive health outcomes, said Dr. Kamal Jethwani, the head of research and innovation at the Center for Connected Health at Partners HealthCare (Boston, Mass.) and assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School. Many health apps still lack the built-in intelligence to figure out what particular mix of features — coaching, social connections, and financial or other incentives — can provide sufficient motivation to fuel real change. “There are many examples of apps that do one of the three right,” Jethwani said. “I have not seen one that does several things very well.” To help change that, Jethwani and his colleagues at the Center for Connected Health are developing a smarter app called Text 2 Move to spur healthier behaviors in people with diabetes. This dynamic phone messaging system tracks a user’s activity and location, and provides him or her with personalized, motivating messages and other feedback. Pre-

tional style. [Also, see “Using a digital fitness monitor” on this page.] Take a few for a test drive and see if you feel better. Daniel Pendick is executive editor, Harvard Men’s Health Watch. © 2015 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

★

Attempting a better approach

I N F O R M AT I O N

may be that use of MyFitnessPal fell off quickly — from an average of five times a week at the start of the study to just over once a week by the second month.

may stop using them, but will definitely gain better insights into their lifestyles.” If you are interested in health apps, good information is available from a website called Wellocracy (www.wellocracy.com), which is run by the Center for Connected Health. It provides tools and information to help people find apps and personal fitness trackers that suit their personal needs and motiva-

F R E E

From page 4

liminary research suggests it increases average walking time by a mile a day and improves blood sugar control. The next-generation version of the app will have multiple motivation modes — coaching, social and “gamification” [which refers to using game-like methods and behaviors to encourage participation]. It will analyze a user’s behavior for a short trial period and then “decide” which behavior it thinks will work best. “We would want to have an app that, within a couple of weeks, based on your data, decides what motivational style is going to work for you and offers you a host of options,” Jethwani said. This is more likely to succeed than depending on stressed and overtaxed healthcare workers to figure out the best option and “prescribe” it for you.

★

F R EE I N FOR MATION ★ F R EE I N FOR MATION ★ F R EE I N FOR MATION ★

Weight loss apps

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 1 5

Technology & Innovations | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Beacon Links By Barbara Ruben

Sell your old technology Still hanging onto your old iPhone or Kindle? Instead of collecting dust, they can put some money in your pocket with very little work on your part. Glyde helps you set a price, advertises the item on its site (you can buy used phones and devices there, too) and sends you a postage paid, insured shipping box when it sells. Glyde takes a percentage of the sale. For example, an iPhone 5 with some wear would sell for $137 on the site, and Glyde will send you $113. http://glyde.com

Grandparenting for Boomers Did you go to Woodstock or wish you had? Have a soft spot for Bob Dylan? Then the website Boomer Grandparents, which focuses on grandparenting with a slight counterculture slant, is for you. The site includes grandparenting stories, travel tips, gift ideas and tech ideas curated by a 64year-old grandmother. http://boomergrandparents.com

Do you like to chat? Senior Forums has thousands of threads in categories from Health, to Days Gone By, to Retirement. You can reminisce

BEACON BITS

Feb. 24

HISTORY OF PATAPSCO RIVER VALLEY Learn about this significant area and how it played an important

role in Marylandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development. Join a volunteer ranger from the Patapsco Valley

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

about a John Wayne variety show from 1970, get downsizing advice, and find out about best dog breeds for seniors. Ask a question, comment and interact with older adults from around the country. Registration is easy. Just create a user name and provide your email address. www.seniorforums.com

Neighborhood watch Want to know about recent crimes have been reported to the police near your home, office or favorite shopping center? Enter an address in CrimeReports, and a map pops up with surrounding blocks tagged with location of crimes. You can choose what types of crimes to show, including breaking and entering, assault, vehicle theft, homicide and more. The

map will display up to 30 consecutive days worth of reports from the previous six months, depending on preferences you set. You can also report incidents yourself and upload anonymous tips. www.crimereports.com

A calming influence After viewing the above website you might want to take a few minutes out of your day to relax and perhaps medicate. Calm.com offers soothing music and video of nature scenes. Every time you open the site, the picture is different. Users can just watch and listen, or learn to meditate in two- to 20-minute sessions. Calm also offers an app to turn your iPhone or iPad into an island of tranquility anywhere. www.calm.com

BEACON BITS

Feb. 20+

LIVING WITH DIABETES Learn how to improve your health whether you have just been

State Park on Tuesday Feb. 24 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the Elkridge Senior

diagnosed with diabetes or have been living with it for a while. The next session

Center, 9401 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Topics will include the Elkridge Landing

will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 8:30 a.m. at the Wellness Center Medical

harbor, the Thomas Viaduct and much more. For more information, call (410)

Pavilion, Suite 100, 10710 Charter Dr., Columbia. For more information or to reg-

313-5192 or (410) 313-4930.

ister, call (443) 718-3000.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 1 5

Digital fitness monitors promote health The latest trend in high-tech health puts control in the palm of your hand. It’s called digital fitness monitoring, and it comes in the form of tiny gadgets that you wear or place in your pocket. “If you’re already motivated to exercise or eat differently, the monitor is a great tool to track your progress and help you understand where you need to make changes,” said Dr. Anne Thorndike, a preventive medicine researcher and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Digital fitness monitors (DFMs) come in wearable styles such as wristbands, watches and pendants, as well as handheld pieces you can clip onto a sleeve or slip into a pocket. DFM features may be simple — such as sensors that track the number of steps you take or how many calories you burn. Or they may be more sophisticated, with sensors that capture your heart rate, perspiration, skin temperature and sleep patterns. Some DFMs have longer-lasting batteries, light-up screens and alarms that vibrate or flash to remind you to be more active or announce that you’ve reached a

BEACON BITS

Mar. 5

VARICOSE VEIN SCREENING

Free varicose vein screenings will be held by Richard Feinberg, M.D., Johns Hopkins vascular surgeon at the Johns Hopkins Vein Center, 11065 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Suite 150, Columbia. To register for this event or for more information, call (410) 550-8346.

Mar. 17

MEDICARE 101 Learn what Medicare covers, how it works

and what benefit programs are available. This event will take place at the Wellness Center Medical Pavilion, Suite 100, 10710 Charter Dr., Columbia on Tuesday, March 17 from 7 to 8:30 pm. This event is free. Register online at events.hcgh.hopkinsmedicine.org or call (410) 740-7601.

Apr. 26

JEWISH MUSIC The a capella group the Maccabeats will

perform at Beth Shalom Congregation, 8070 Harriet Tubman La., Columbia on Sunday, April 26 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $20 in advance and are $25 at the door. For tickets and more information, see www.beth-shalom.net or call (410) 531-5115.

goal. Others have satellite navigation, speed and pace sensors, and even weather gauges. Most have programs for a computer or smartphone that allow you to chart your progress. DFM prices increase with the number of bells and whistles available. You may see one gadget for $25 and another for $750. The majority, however, are in the $50 to $200 range. How much you spend is a matter of personal preference. “Sophisticated monitors can be fun, but all you really need to know is how many steps you’re taking,” said Thorndike. She advises that you first determine what kind of information will help you reach your fitness goals, then consider if you’re going to wear a DFM on your wrist or clip it onto your clothes. “And look for something that’s easy to use and can be

charged quickly,” she said. Before you set your fitness goals, wear the DFM to get a sense of how many steps you already take. “We tell people to shoot for 10,000 steps a day, but if you only take 2,000, you can set your first goal at 3,000,” said Thorndike. Then use the DFM to see how you’re doing throughout the day: if you’re low on steps by dinner, take a walk afterward.

And consider fitness competitions with others using DFMs. Thorndike just completed a study that found young adults who used DFMs and engaged in competitions had a small but statistically significant increase in activity levels. — Harvard Health Letter © 2014 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed By Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Feb. 24

PICTURE THIS IN ELLICOTT CITY Learn how to use your digital camera or camera on your smart-

phone. Thirty-minute appointments will be offered between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Ellicott City Senior Center, 9401 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City on Tuesday Feb. 24. To make an appointment or for more information, call (410) 313-1400.

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Health Fitness &

REVIVE WINTER SKIN Try moisturizers with jojoba or coconut oil to help eliminate dry skin DEPRESSION RELIEF Antidepressants can takes several weeks or longer to start working BONE UP ON VITAMINS Vitamins C, B12, D and K, along with magnesium, help keep bones strong SUPPLEMENTING MEMORY Can supplements made from grapes and tomatoes boost your memory?

Cancer patients try drugs out on mice first By Marilynn Marchione Scientists often test drugs in mice. Now some cancer patients are doing the same — with the hope of curing their own disease. They are paying a private lab to breed mice that carry bits of their own tumors so treatments can be tried first on the customized rodents. The idea is to see which drugs might work best on a particular person’s specific cancer. The mice may help patients make what can be very hard choices under difficult circumstances. Studies can suggest a certain chemotherapy may help, but patients wonder whether it will work for them. Often there’s more than one choice, and if the first one fails, a patient may be too sick to try another. So hundreds of people have made “mouse avatars” over the last few years to test chemotherapies. “What I’m doing is personalized cancer treatment. It’s the wave of the future,” said Eileen Youtie, a Miami woman using mice to guide care for her hard-to-treat form of breast cancer. “Part of this is trying to eliminate chemos that are not going to work on me. I don’t want to waste time taking them and poison my body.”

Still experimental — and expensive But there are no guarantees the mice will help. “There’s not a lot of science” to say how well this works, and it should be considered highly experimental, said Dr. Len

Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society. There are some early encouraging reports, he said. One study of 70 patients found the mice generally reflected how well patients responded to various drugs. Dr. Andrew Gaya of Leaders in Oncology Care, a private clinic in London, helped lead a 70-patient study of avatar mice, and gave results at a cancer conference last September. It looked back at how well mice performed in patients whose outcomes from treatment were already known. About 70 percent of the time, tests in the mice suggested something that turned out to have helped the patients, he said. And if something had not worked in the mice, it almost never worked in a patient. But there is no evidence that using mice is any better than care based on medical guidelines or the gene tests that many patients get now to help pick drugs. Mouse testing costs $10,000 or more, and insurers don’t cover it. It takes several months, so patients usually have to start therapy before mouse results are in. “I do see promise, but it’s very time-consuming, it’s very expensive. For the average patient, standard care is going to be the way to go,” said Alana Welm, a cancer researcher at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. She gave a talk on mouse avatars in December at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. It was the third major cancer meeting in the last year to feature work on customized cancer mice.

• Eye Care for All Ages • Specialists in Cataracts, Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy and Macular Degeneration • Contact Lens Specialists • LASIK - Laser Vision Correction • Plastic & Reconstructive Eye Surgery

Full In-House Optical Department Outpatient No-Stitch Cataract Surgery • Laser Surgery MEDICARE ASSIGNMENT ACCEPTED LENARD H. HAMMER, M.D., F.A.C.S. GORDON LUI, M.D. SCOTT B. BECKER, M.D. MEDICARE EYE EXAMS

BRIAN J. WINTER, M.D. CRISTINA F. ROUILLER, O.D. VANESSA LIMA, M.D.

410-997-9900

8860 Columbia 100 Parkway, Suite 101, Columbia, MD

A Baltimore mouse house Several labs breed these mice, but the main supplier to patients has been Champions Oncology, a company based in Hackensack, New Jersey, that also operates in London, Tel Aviv and Singapore. About 7,000 mice are kept in a Baltimore lab with six rooms that resemble stock rooms of a shoe store, with tall shelves that hold row upon row of plastic cages labeled with each cancer patient’s name. Most mice are white-furred females with beady red eyes, but others are hairless. Some live alone while others climb over one another and sleep in small piles. All have easy access to food and water, and many bear signs of the tumor graft — a shaved portion of hair, an incision scar and a lump growing off one side. Patients have a tumor sample sent to Champions, which charges $1,500 to bank it, plus $2,500 for each drug tested in groups of mice implanted with bits of the tumor. The tumor grafts are under the mouse skin — not in places where the cancer normally occurs, such as the pancreas or lungs, and therefore don’t reflect the human tumor’s environment. Most patients try three to five drugs and spend $10,000 to $12,000, said Champions’ chief medical officer, Dr. Angela Davies. Youtie spent $30,000 “because I want them to test all the possible drugs,” even some for other types of cancer. Reuven Moser, a 71-year-old man from Tel Aviv, Israel, said his avatar mice confirmed that drugs prescribed for colon cancer that

had spread to his liver were a good option. “Most of the time the oncologists want to follow a protocol, but they don’t know how it will affect the patient,” Moser said. “It was very reassuring” to see the mice respond, he said.

Not perfect, but best for now Mice have some drawbacks, said Dr. Benjamin Neel, director of research at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto and a spokesman for the American Association for Cancer Research. The mice have highly impaired immune systems so they can tolerate the human tumors. That means they don’t reflect how a person’s immune system would respond to a treatment and cannot be used to test immunotherapies. “Even if it turns out these have real value,” they’re likely to be eclipsed by newer advances, such as ways to grow tumor cells in a lab dish that take only a few weeks, he said. But for now, mice seem the best bet, along with gene testing and her doctors’ advice, said Youtie, the Miami woman with breast cancer. Her mouse testing suggested that either of two drugs would be effective, so she chose the one thought to have fewer side effects on the heart. She recently finished chemotherapy, is about to finish radiation treatment, and said she does not feel guilty about using the mice. “Animal abuse? I don’t look at it that way,” she said. “It’s not testing cosmetics. It’s trying to save my life.” — AP

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 1 5

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

Option ‘reverses’ typical joint surgery By Dr. John W. Sperling Dear Mayo Clinic: I have severe arthritis in my shoulder. I recently found out my rotator cuff is also torn. I can’t lift my arm much anymore without a lot of pain. My doctor recommends reverse shoulder arthroplasty. What does this surgery involve? How successful is it for someone in my situation? Answer: Reverse shoulder arthroplasty is surgery used to replace a damaged shoulder joint. The procedure differs from standard shoulder replacement surgery because it switches the shoulder’s normal ball-and-socket structure around to allow for more stability in the joint after surgery. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty is particularly useful for people like you who have a damaged rotator cuff along with shoulder arthritis. In such cases, this surgery often can effectively reduce pain and increase shoulder mobility. Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround your shoulder joint. They hold the joint in place and help you raise your arm. When tendons in the rotator cuff tear, it often leads to pain and weakness in the shoulder joint. In some cases, torn rotator cuff tendons can be surgically repaired. But when they are severely damaged, especially if arthri-

tis also affects the joint, reverse shoulder arthroplasty may be a better treatment choice.

How the surgery is performed In your natural shoulder joint, the top of your arm bone fits into a socket on your shoulder blade. During reverse shoulder arthroplasty, that ball-and-socket mechanism is reversed. A surgeon attaches an artificial ball to the shoulder blade. An artificial socket is attached to the top of the arm bone. The new socket is fitted against the new ball to allow smooth movement. The tissue is sewn together around the joint, and the incision is closed. After surgery, the large deltoid muscle that covers your shoulder typically is able to move the arm. The surgery usually takes one to two hours and requires an overnight hospital stay. As with all surgeries, reverse shoulder arthroplasty carries some risks, including bleeding and infection. After the surgery, you need to have your arm in a soft sling for several weeks. Physical therapy is often recommended after reverse shoulder arthroplasty, but most people can complete that therapy at home. The stitches placed during surgery dissolve on their own, so a follow-up procedure to remove them is not necessary. Full

recovery can take up to several months. The results from reverse shoulder arthroplasty usually are quite good. In approximately 90 percent of cases, people who have this surgery experience significant pain relief, and their ability to move their arm increases substantially.

New technique; experience counts Compared to other forms of joint replacement surgery, such as hip and knee replacement, reverse shoulder arthroplas-

ty is relatively new. It was introduced in the United States in 2004, although it was available in Europe for about a decade prior to that. Currently in the U.S., only a handful of specialty healthcare facilities, including Mayo Clinic, do a high volume of these surgeries each year. With that in mind, if you decide to pursue reverse shoulder arthroplasty, it is a good idea to find an orthopedic surgeon See JOINT SURGERY, page 10

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Antidepressants provide relief gradually By Dr. Michael Reese Dear Mayo Clinic: How soon after starting on antidepressants should I begin to feel better? What type of changes will I notice? It’s been three weeks and I don’t feel like my depression has lessened. If anything, it seems to be getting worse. Do I need to try another medication? Answer: Many people who start taking an antidepressant begin to see some improvement in their symptoms within several weeks. But for others, it may take longer. The changes are not immediate or sudden, so you may not notice them much at first. Because of that, it’s important to give the medicine time to work. Anytime you feel symptoms of depression getting worse,

however, contact your healthcare provider. As with all medications, you need to take an antidepressant at an adequate dose for an adequate length of time to see the most benefit. Typically, four to six weeks is a reasonable amount of time to use an antidepressant and decide if it is effective for you. In most cases, the improvement you get from an antidepressant is gradual, and the benefits may be subtle. For example, if tearfulness is a common symptom for you, it might become less frequent. But it’s unlikely to disappear right away. If anxiety is a persistent problem, it may slowly diminish and your interest in returning to hobbies and other activities may gradually increase. Sometimes family members and friends

Caring places. Healing spaces. Specializing in Skilled Nursing and Subacute Rehabilitation

Bel Pre

2601 Bel Pre Road Silver Spring, MD 20906

301.598.6000

BridgePark

4017 Liberty Heights Avenue Baltimore, MD 21207

410.542.5306

Ellicott City

3000 N. Ridge Road Ellicott City, MD 21043

410.461.7577

may notice that you’re doing better before you feel significantly better. With that in mind, try not to rely only on your own perspective. Consider asking the people around you what their impressions are, too. If you don’t see any improvement within four to six weeks, then it may be time for another approach. Your healthcare provider may recommend that you continue taking the same medication, but increase the dose. It’s possible that taking another type of medication along with an antidepressant may be helpful. This is called augmentation. The purpose is to use an additional medicine, such as lithium, to boost the effects of the antidepressant. In addition to medication, adding another type of therapy to your treatment plan may be useful, as well. For example, psychotherapy, also known as counseling or talk therapy, often can be effective treatment for depression. Several kinds of psychotherapy are available. Your healthcare provider can help you decide which one may be right for you. Switching to a different antidepressant is an option, too. Usually a medication from a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, is the first line of treatment for depression. These include medications such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil) and sertraline (Zoloft).

Other types of antidepressants are available, though, if SSRIs are not effective for you. Among them are drugs known as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs, and norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors, or NDRIs. Studies have shown most antidepressants to be comparable across classes. That means there’s no need for you to be on one certain type of antidepressant. You can work with your healthcare provider to find the one that best fits your needs and circumstances. Communication with your healthcare provider is key to developing an effective plan for treating depression. It’s important that you feel comfortable talking with him or her about your symptoms and how you’re doing. If you don’t feel you have good rapport with your provider, or if communication is challenging, you may want to consider seeking a second opinion. Also, keep in mind that if your symptoms get worse at any point, it’s critical for you to contact your provider to reassess your situation. The two of you can then decide if you need to make changes to your treatment plan right away. — Michael Reese, M.D., Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. © 2014 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Joint surgery

a rotator cuff injury and shoulder arthritis. — John W. Sperling, M.D., Orthopedics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org. © 2015 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All Rights Reserved Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

From page 9 who specializes in shoulder replacement and who is familiar with performing this specific type of shoulder surgery. In the hands of an experienced surgeon, reverse shoulder arthroplasty can be a very effective treatment option for people in your situation who are dealing with both

Fayette Health 1217 W. Fayette Street Baltimore, MD 21223

410.727.3947

Forestville

7420 Marlboro Pike Forestville, MD 20747

301.736.0240

Fort Washington MEMBERS OF THE

12021 Livingston Road Ft. Washington, MD 20744

301.292.0300

Marley Neck Serving with Pride.

800.989.7337 communicarehealth.com

7575 E. Howard Road Glen Burnie, MD 21060

410.768.8200

South River

144 Washington Road Edgewater, MD 21037

410.956.5000

(410) 442-0191 A-1 Action Nursing Care, Inc.

Serving The Maryland Suburban Area Since 1978

(202) 333-0509 (DC) (301) 890-7575 (MD)

www.a1actionnursingcare.com

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 1 5

Which moisturizers are effective in winter? Dr. Howard LeWine Q: My skin is very dry and itchy, especially in winter. There are so many moisturizers to choose from. How do I pick one? A: Regularly applying a good moisturizer is an important part of skin care. Moisturizers can soothe dry skin and help relieve itching. Also, wrinkles will be less noticeable, even though the effect is only temporary. Indeed, there are lots of products available. Most moisturizers contain water, glycerin, petrolatum, stearic acid, and propylene glycol and/or lanolin. Finding one that’s right for you may mean trying a few different products. Simple petroleum jelly is one of the most effective moisturizers, especially when used right after bathing to seal in moisture. It’s also one of the least expensive. However, many people dislike using petroleum jelly on their faces because it looks and feels greasy. Instead, creams and lotions that contain some water are a better choice for a facial moisturizer. Many of them are humectants. These are oil-free moisturizers that bind water to skin, so the smoothing, softening effects may last longer. Some moisturizers contain botanical ingredients, such as jojoba oil, coconut oil, safflower oil or linoleic acid. These ingredi-

ents tend to help maintain the skin’s outer layer of keratin and keep skin supple. Manufacturers often add cetyl alcohol, palmitic acid and/or dimethicone to moisturizers. These ingredients lend a creamy, velvety, or translucent look and feel to the product. If you’re frequently outdoors, look for a moisturizer that also provides protection from sunlight. Choose one with at least an SPF of 30 that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Think twice if you’re considering a skin toner. Many of these contain drying, irritating ingredients like alcohol or acetone. Some also contain highly acidic citrus, camphor or menthol. Q. Over the past couple of years, I’ve had to get up at night more to urinate. Now it’s happening two to three times every night. What could cause this? A. When a person needs to get out of bed to urinate two times or more at night, doctors call it nocturia. There are some medical reasons for nocturia that you and your doctor should consider. The more common ones are: 1. An enlarged prostate in a man. An enlarged prostate can push on the bladder or urethra causing a more frequent urge to urinate. 2. Diabetes mellitus. Some of the excess

sugar in the bloodstream “spills over” into the urine. Your body makes extra urine to remove it. 3. A bladder problem. Inflammation from a urinary tract infection or interstitial cystitis can cause you to urinate more often. 4. A medicine. Water pills (diuretics) are the most common medicines that cause nocturia. Less common causes include: 1. Water retention in the legs (edema). Fluid that builds up in the legs during the

daytime may move to the kidneys at night. 2. A high blood calcium level. Much like sugar, excess calcium prompts your body to make more urine to get rid of the calcium. 3. A kidney problem. Some kidney conditions cause excessive amounts of water loss through the urine. 4. Too little antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Without this hormone, the body can’t hold on to water. The condition is called diabetes See MOISTURIZERS, page 12

Howard County’s Only Life Care Retirement Community. Considering Retirement Living Options? Experience the Vantage House Lifestyle

Something new is coming to Vantage House! Join us to learn more at a special Lunch and Learn Launch Event.

Thursday, March 26 • 11:30am The excitement is building at Vantage House. Save your seat! R.S.V.P. to Jennifer by March 19 at

410-988-3957 5400 Vantage Point Road, Columbia, MD 21044 Space is limited – call today. Ask about our new Free Signature Club Membership to receive special invitations to Vantage House Events.

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Your bones need more than just calcium By Kara Lydon, R.D When you think about bone nutrition, you probably think of calcium first. And rightly so: A solid body of research suggests that you should meet your daily calcium needs (1,000 - 1,200 milligrams) for optimal bone health. With 54 million Americans suffering from osteoporosis, it’s important to do all you can to feed your bones to prevent this debilitating condition.

Get these nutrients, too The promising news is that a host of other nutrients are emerging as potential nutrients for optimal bone health, as well. These include: 1. Magnesium. Fifty to 60 percent of

magnesium in the body is located in the bone, so it makes sense that magnesium influences bone formation. Recent research suggests that magnesium deficiency could be a risk factor for osteoporosis. A 2014 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that lower magnesium intake is associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD), while a 2010 issue of Biological Trace Element Research found that magnesium supplementation at 90 percent of the RDA suppressed bone loss in postmenopausal women. The National Institutes of Health concurs that diets that provide the recommended amount of magnesium can enhance bone health, but cautions that further research is needed to fully understand the role it plays

in osteoporosis prevention. 2. Vitamin C. Widely recognized for its role in maintaining a healthy immune system, vitamin C also is a major player in bone development. The current literature on the relationship between vitamin C, bone metabolism and osteoporosis in humans is outdated and inconsistent, but recent animal studies show promising findings. Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine reported that vitamin C had a positive effect on preventing bone loss in mice, which could translate to humans. 3. Vitamin B12. This vitamin is best known for its neurological functions, but it also may affect bone formation. A 2013 review in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism found an association between low B12 levels and low BMD. Similarly, Turkish researchers found a significant association between B12 levels, BMD and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. 4. Vitamin D plays an essential role in calcium absorption. Insufficient levels can lead to rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults. A 2012 meta-analysis in the New England Journal of Medicine found that supplementation of at least 800 International Units (IU) of vitamin D reduced

Moisturizers From page 11 insipidus. Other than edema, the other medical problems almost always cause frequent urination during the day, as well as at night. There may be simpler explanations for nocturia. You could be drinking too much water and other fluids late in the day. Drink enough to quench your thirst and maintain good hydration, but drink as little as possible within four to five hours of bedtime.

the risk of hip and non-vertebral fractures. 5. Vitamin K also has gained attention recently for its role in bone health. A 2014 review in the Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics confirmed a link between vitamin K intake and reduced risk of fractures.

Sources in food 1. Magnesium 310, 420 mg. Sources: avocado, almonds, spinach, black beans, edamame, peanut butter, whole-wheat bread, kidney beans 2. Vitamin B12, 2.4 mcg. Sources: clams, salmon, haddock, canned tuna, fortified breakfast cereals, milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, egg 3. Vitamin C 75, 90 mg. Sources: oranges, strawberries, red or green bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, kiwi, mango 4. Vitamin D 600, 800 IU. Sources: cod liver oil, Sockeye salmon, fortified milk, swordfish, canned tuna, fortified orange juice, egg 5. Vitamin K 90, 120 mcg. Sources: collard greens, spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green leaf lettuce, kale, Swiss chard — Belvoir Media Group, LLC, www.EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2014 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Also consider your use of alcohol and caffeine, especially in the evening. Both of these drinks increase urine output by the kidneys. Howard LeWine, M.D., is a practicing internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and chief medical editor of internet publishing at Harvard Health Publications, Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, please visit www.health.harvard.edu. © 2015 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 1 5

Health Studies Page

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Studying supplements to improve memory By Barbara Ruben Can supplements made from red grape skin and tomato extract help enhance memory? That’s the question Dr. Majid Fotuhi, founder and chief medical officer of NeurExpand, a medical practice that works to help improve cognitive function in older adults, is trying to answer. He is studying if and how the supplements resveratrol (derived from grapes) and Fruitflow (from tomatoes) can help people with mild memory loss. The supplements may help improve blood flow to the brain, which in turn might improve brain function, according to Fotuhi. Previous studies (not by Fotuhi) have found that patients taking NSAID pain relievers like ibuprofen and aspirin, combined with vitamins E and C , did better on cognitive tests. DHA, a fatty acid found in fish and algae, has also been shown to help. Now Fotuhi is looking at other supplements that might support brain health. “People are always asking me what they can take. I don’t want to recommend anything without clinical studies showing a benefit,” Fotuhi said.

Volunteers sought The NeurExpand study is now recruiting people ages 50 to 80 with concerns about their memory. “We are looking for people who forget names, forget where their keys are, but are otherwise functioning OK,” he said. The three-month-long study takes place at the NeurExpand office in Lutherville, and requires three visits. During the study, participants will be randomly divided into four groups. One group will take 150 mg. each day of resVida, a resveratrol supplement. The second group will take 150 mg. each day of Fruitflow-II The third group will take both supplements, and the fourth group will take a placebo, or a pill with no active ingredients. Neither the researchers nor the patients will know who is in which group.

Fotuhi wants to see if taking both supplements might have a synergistic effect, similar to the study of NSAIDs and vitamins C and E, in which those taking a combination had much better results.

What the study entails During the first study visit, participants will take several tests to assess their memory and cognitive skills, as well as cardiovascular fitness testing, including a stress test on a stationary bike. The next day, participants will have a blood test and have an ultrasound taken of their carotid artery in their neck to assess blood flow to the brain. These tests will be done both before participants take the assigned supplements and three hours after. After three months, participants will return to repeat many of the same tests. To qualify for the study, participants must be in good overall health, have a primary care physician and be sedentary or moderately active. They must also discontinue certain dietary supplements for a month before the study starts. These include the supplements in the study, fish oil, seed oils, ginkgo biloba, ginseng and DHA. Those in the study may not drink more than two glasses of wine per day. Those with major neurological and psychiatric diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis, cannot take part in the study. Those in the study also cannot have uncontrolled high blood pressure, low platelets, liver failure, renal failure or bleeding disorders. Taking supplements to support memory is just a small part of what Fotuhi recommends to maintain brain health. The most important factor is exercise, he said. He also recommends a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in processed foods and trans fats (“No donuts, no French fries” he admonishes). Adequate sleep and learning new things are also important. “Of course, all this is easier said than

done,” he concedes. “Supplements are just an added factor that will make you even better.” As for the supplements in the current study, “If the trial shows positive results, I

am going to start taking them,” Fotuhi said. For more information, call (410) 494-0193 or see www.neurexpand.com.

Please patronize our advertisers. Want to Prevent Falls in the Elderly? Seeking Men and Women to participate in a research study at the University of Maryland & Veterans Aﬀairs of Baltimore to better understand balance and the prevention of falls in aging individuals. You will receive:

• Health evaluation • Balance, step, strength, and/or ﬂexibility exercises • Compensation for your time If interested call: 410-605-7179 & Mention code: LIFT at Baltimore VA/University of Maryland Gerontology Recruitment Line *You must be at least 65 years old and in good health *Participants will be seen at the Baltimore VA Medical Center and University of Maryland School of Medicine *You will attend approximately 41 visits for 1 to 4 hours each per visit

CALL TODAY!

Do You Experience Memory Problems? Enroll now in a clinical study at the NeurExpand Brain Center. A clinical study is underway to evaluate the effects of two dietary supplements, Fruitflow® (tomato extract) and Resveratroll (grape extract) on memory, blood flow, and fitness. Dr. Majid Fotuhi, Medical Director of the NeurExpand Brain Center is the Principal Investigator. You may qualify to participate if you: t BSF CFUXFFO BOE ZFBST PME t IBWF NJME NFNPSZ DPNQMBJOUT t BSF JO HPPE IFBMUI BOE IBWF B primary care physician Call today to see if you are eliglible. SM

For more information, please call 410.494.0193 www.NeurExpand.com

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Supplements can help you quit smoking I overheard a family talking at the table combination of smoke from the burning next to mine. The son, who looked 35 end of a cigarette as well as the smoke years old, snapped, “Cut me some slack, I breathed out by a smoker. It’s no less danonly smoke three cigarettes a day!” gerous for you than smoking, because it I debated whether or not I should in- contains over 7,000 chemicals, hundreds trude upon their conversaof which are toxic. tion, and eventually decided Not easy to quit not to. Everything I want to Smokers have a difficult time tell him, I shall now tell you. quitting. There’s a billion-dollar Even if you smoke fewer market for nicotine patches, than five cigarettes a day, you lozenges, gums and prescripdamage your heart. There’s a tion drugs like Chantix. These two- to four-fold increase in are certainly good options, but heart disease and stroke from they don’t work for everyone. smoking. It causes more than So today, I’m sharing some 480,000 deaths each year in DEAR ideas that include dietary supthe United States. PHARMACIST plement options you can find Second-hand smoke is the By Suzy Cohen

at a health food store. I still insist you get your medical practitioner’s approval before using these, because I can’t possibly know what’s right for each of you. These are just considerations, and they do have side effects of their own: SAMe (S adenosylmethionine). Your body makes this natural amino acid, but you can also buy SAMe as a dietary supplement in the United States. With your physician’s approval, the starting dosage of 200 mg. is taken twice daily on an empty stomach (one hour before a meal). Slowly increase it by 200 mg. every few days until you get up to 400 to 600 mg. taken one hour before meals two or three times daily. If it makes you irritable, you’re taking too much. After you’ve been on SAMe for a while, and you’ve achieved a dose of at least 400 mg. twice daily, you can try adding another natural amino acid, Tyrosine, about 200 to 500 mg. twice a day, one hour before eating. The net effect should make you feel good, and stop the crave for nicotine. 5HTP (5 Hydroxytryptophan). This is another natural amino acid that creates more serotonin, just like the prescription drugs sertraline and fluoexetine.

If you’re on an antidepressant, then a low dosage of 25 to 50 mg. should be okay. If you do not take antidepressant medications, then a higher dose, like 100 to 300 mg. once or twice a day, might be acceptable. Before beginning, read about potential adverse reactions, such as “serotonin syndrome.” Lecithin. This naturally occurring compound is a good source of choline, which helps stabilize cell membranes. It’s often (but not always) derived from soy. The dosage is 500 to 1000 mg. twice daily. So now you have several options, and effective combinations vary from person to person. Some of you might benefit from tyrosine alone, or just SAMe, or perhaps lecithin. Whatever combination you try, include a little vitamin C, since smoking depletes that antioxidant. This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement. Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit www.SuzyCohen.com.

Tell them you saw it in the Beacon!

The Senior Connection

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 1 5

The

Senior

Say you saw it in the Beacon

NEWS and EVENTS from the Howard County Office on Aging

Connection

Department of Citizen Services

A Message from

Lois Mikkila

Volume 5, No. 3 • March 2015

2015

Director, Howard County Department of Citizen Services

here was a time when I thought that 50 or 60 was old. It’s not just because I’ve crossed both those milestones myself that I no longer believe that. It’s because I am surrounded by folks in their 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond who are doing amazing things. One wonderful showcase for that is this year’s Women’s Hall of Fame, sponsored by Howard County’s Commission for Women to celebrate Women’s History Month. As accomplished professionals and seasoned volunteers, the five women being inducted have amassed truly impressive records of service to our community. But while their accomplishments are many, none of them are resting on their laurels! They are all still actively making a difference in our community. You may know some of them, or have benefitted from their work. •

LENORE GELFMAN — Now the Administrative Chief Judge for the Howard County Circuit Court, she has also distinguished herself as a mentor for young female attorneys and a dedicated community volunteer.

•

MAVIS POLSON LEWIS — For the past 20 years, she has served as the campaign chairwoman for the Foundation for Black Educational and Cultural Achievement, Inc., an organization that provides funding for higher education for Howard County youth.

•

COLETTE ROBERTS — Founder of the local chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), she has worked tirelessly to help keep families together and to end discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

•

COURTNEY WATSON — An insurance professional and former elected official on the Board of Education and the County Council, she has been a strong advocate for education and human rights.

•

MARGARET “PEG” WHYTE — Co-founder of Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center and a tireless advocate for the Linwood Center, she has spent a lifetime supporting and advocating for the local mental health and disabilities communities.

To learn more about these remarkable women, please join us for the Women’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reception on Thursday, March 12, at 7:30 p.m. in the George Howard Building in Ellicott City. Admission is free.

Do you offer products and/or services that promote health, wellness, fashion and beauty and are designed to inspire women to live a more balanced, healthy and fulfilled life? If so, then be sure to apply for a spot at this year’s WomenFest on Saturday, April 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Gary J. Arthur Community Center in Glenwood, 2400 Route 97 in Cooksville. General admission and parking are free. Back for its 7th consecutive year, this signature wellness event for women is coordinated by the Howard County Office on Aging. Last year, WomenFest attracted 600 participants and more than 100 vendors and exhibitors. In addition to its wide array of vendors, this annual event also features free health screenings and engaging seminars and workshops. This year’s topics include: SPLASH OF ART — Lisa Noss from Pinot’s Palette leads this workshop, designed to bring out your inner artist. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? — Norma Stevens, MS, LCPC, of IHS Psychotherapy and Counseling LLC, shares communication tools to enhance your listening skills and strengthen your relationships. EXERCISE GOOD CENT$ — Pamela Gilmour, CEO, CPA, and Stephen Norris, CFP, from Financial Fitness offer tips to help you get your finances in order and reduce your financial stress. BE ON GUARD, IT’S NOT HARD — Lt. Troy Bailey from the Howard County Police Department will demonstrate how to be more aware of your surroundings and how you can protect yourself if the need arises. THE PULSE OF WELLNESS — Kristin M. Clark, MD, from WellBeing Medical Care will help you learn the steps toward a heart healthy life that will benefit you at any age. In addition to these seminars, WomenFest 2015 will feature a keynote address by Lynne Brick, president of Brick Bodies Fitness Services, Inc., entitled “Build Your Healthy Tomorrow, Today!” Lynne’s interactive presentation is geared to motivate and inspire you on your journey to health and happiness in just three easy steps. Exhibitor applications, sponsorship information and event details are available online at www.howardcountyaging.org/WomenFest. Applications may be faxed to 410-313-5950, or mailed to: WomenFest 2015, Attention: Donna Tugwell, Howard County Office on Aging, 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 211, Columbia, MD 21046. For more information about WomenFest, follow our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HoCoCitizen, or contact Courtney Barkley at 410-313-5957 or cbarkley@howardcountymd.gov.

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

The Senior Connection

Building a Fit Brain with Dr. and

Majid Fotuhi

Register today for one or all of the dynamic Building a Fit Brain seminar series at our Howard County Senior Centers starting in March 2015! SPACE IS LIMITED! Call the host center to register for each individual session. East Columbia 50+Center • 410-313-7680 (VOICE/RELAY) Thursday, March 5 • 10:00 a.m. ROLE OF SLEEP: What happens to our brain when we don’t get enough sleep? Dr. Fotuhi discusses the effects of sleep deprivation, insomnia, sleep apnea, and best options for treatment.

North Laurel 50+ Center • 410-313-0380 (VOICE/RELAY) Thursday, March 12 • 10:00 a.m. ROLE OF STRESS & MINDFULNESS: Everyone has stress, but who knew it could affect brain performance? Find out how stress affects your brain and simple tools you can use to reduce stress.

Glenwood 50+ Center • 410-313-5440 (VOICE/RELAY) Friday, March 13 • 1:00 p.m. 6 STEPS TO A BETTER BRAIN: Looking to rejuvenate your memory and brain performance? Find out what happens to your brain with aging and Dr. Fotuhi’s 6 steps to reverse age-related brain atrophy.

Elkridge Senior Center • 410-313-5192 (VOICE/RELAY) Thursday, March 19 • 1:00 p.m. ROLE OF BRAIN GAMES: Are you a crossword puzzle champion? Dr. Fotuhi discusses the tips and tricks to keep your memory sharp and provides new ideas to give your brain a workout.

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Debt Collection Rights If you are behind in paying your bills, or a creditor mistakenly believes that you owe a debt, you may be contacted by a debt collector. You have rights, however, under Maryland and Federal law that protect you from abusive, unfair or deceptive debt collection practices. If you have debt collection problems: 1. GET MORE INFORMATION. Get the caller’s name, company, street address, phone number, and professional license number. If you don’t recognize the debt, ask for more information in writing. 2. DISPUTE THE DEBT IF YOU BELIEVE IT TO BE IN ERROR. Write a letter disputing the debt or any portion that’s incorrect. It is important to do so as soon as possible after you are first contacted, and keep copies of any correspondence you send. When you dispute a debt in writing, the collector must obtain and provide you with written verification of the debt. 3. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. Debt collectors may contact you by phone, but must then send you a letter within five days informing you how much debt is owed, the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money, and how you can proceed if you don’t think you owe the money. They may not: • discuss your debt with others • contact you at your place of employment if you tell them (orally or in writing) that you are not allowed to receive calls on the job; or • threaten force or violence, use obscene or grossly abusive language or call repeatedly or in a manner to harass you. 4. STOP HARASSING AND/OR OFFENSIVE PHONE CALLS. If the debt collector won’t stop calling, send a letter by certified mail (return receipt request) telling the debt collector to stop. Once the notice is received, the debt collector may only contact you to tell you that it is ceasing communications or taking a specific action, like filing a court action. For more information on this or other consumer topics, contact the Howard County Office of Consumer Affairs at 410-313-6420 (voice/relay) or visit www.howardcountymd.gov/consumer.

SAVE THE DATE!

Bain Center • 410-313-7213 (VOICE/RELAY) Thursday, March 26 • 10:00 a.m. ROLE OF EXERCISE: Did you know that walking one mile a day reduces your risk of Alzheimer’s by about 50%? Find out what other exercises keep your brain healthy and strong for years to come.

Ellicott City Senior Center • 410-313-1400 (VOICE/RELAY) Thursday, June 11 • 1:00 p.m. ROLE OF EXERCISE: Did you know that walking one mile a day reduces your risk of Alzheimer’s by about 50%? Find out what other exercises keep your brain healthy and strong for years to come.

Saturday, April 25 • 1:00-4:00 p.m. Howard County Miller Library Featuring a moderated panel discussion and facilitated breakout sessions on future challenges and opportunities for women

MORE INFO: 410-313-6400 (VOICE/RELAY) or If you need accommodations to participate, contact Maryland Access Point at 410-313-5980 (voice/relay) or email map@howardcountymd.gov one week prior to the event date. Howard County Government does not endorse or recommend products or services associated with programs held at the Senior Centers and 50+ Centers. Howard County Government is not responsible for the performance or non-performance of program sponsors.

women@howardcountymd.gov Light fare and coffee will be served. PRESENTED BY

Howard County Commission for Women

www.howardcountyaging.org

Howard County League of Women Voters

www.howardcountymd.gov/cfw.htm

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 1 5

The Senior Connection

Say you saw it in the Beacon

March 2015 Calendar of Events Don’t miss these exciting programs and services from the Howard County Office on Aging! To register for any of these events or for additional information, call the number listed or Maryland Relay 7-1-1.

Tuesday, March 3 • 11:00 a.m.

Friday, March 20 • 10:45 a.m.

Lyric Opera House Presents: The Fabulous 50’s • Bain Center Enjoy music from the Fabulous 50’s followed by a special luncheon. R.S.V.P. by February 26 to 410-313-7213. FREE; lunch donations accepted.

Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle Ellicott City Senior Center Jodi Bargamian highlights current trends in nutrition, and explains how food choices impact your health and wellness. FREE; details 410-313-1400.

Wednesday, March 4 • 10:00 a.m. The Cherry Blossoms • Glenwood 50+Center Join National Park Service Ranger, Brad Berger for a presentation on the history of the Cherry Blossoms in Washington, DC. FREE; register at 410-313-5440.

Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18 and 25 • 1:00 p.m. The History of Germany • Ellicott City Senior Center Learn about Germany’s Unification, Division and Reunification from 1866 to 1989 in this new series with Gary Kavanagh; each week is a different topic. FREE; register at 410-313-1400.

Wednesday, March 4 • 6:30 p.m. Memory Café • Ellicott City Senior Center Social interaction and education for those with early-stage memory loss, their families and friends, and health care professionals. First Wednesday of the month. FREE; sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association. RSVP to Yolanda Wright, 410-561-9099 x208 or ywright@alz.org.

Wednesday, March 4 • 7:00 p.m. Paws4Comfort Pet Evaluations • Bain Center Volunteer with your pet! Free evaluations are held the first Wednesday of each month at the Bain Center. For more information, contact Ingrid Gleysteen at 410-313-7461.

Wednesday, March 4 • 7:00 p.m. Medicare 103: Using Medicare’s Plan Finder • Bain Center Learn how to use the “Plan Finder” tool on www.medicare.gov to compare and review Medicare Prescription Drug Plans. FREE. Sponsored by SHIP; register at 410-313-7391.

Wednesday, March 4 • 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (all day) Philadelphia Flower Show • East Columbia 50+ Center Travel with us to the nation’s largest and longest running flower show. This year’s theme is “Lights, Camera, BLOOM!” $84; reservations at 410-313-7680.

Thursday, March 12 • 10:00 a.m. (doors open at 9:30 a.m.) “Hello Dolly” • Mt. Hebron High School, 9440 Route 99, Ellicott City Enjoy the matchmaking antics of Dolly Levi in this local student production. Limited parking; please carpool. FREE. Reservations by March 6 to Trisha Olsen at nlaurel50center@howardcountymd.gov or 410-313-0380.

Tuesday, March 18 • 12:30 p.m. The Irishman’s Chorale • Ellicott City Senior Center Celebrate St. Patty’s Day with Amhránaí Na Gaeilge, an authentic Irish Choral Group dedicated to the preservation of Irish culture and history through music. FREE; 410-313-1400 for more information.

Friday, March 20 • 11:00 a.m. Spring Clean Your Diet • Bain Center Nutritionist Linden Griffith will discuss the importance of going back to the basics and adding nutrient-packed fresh produce to your diet. Seating is limited; reserve your seat at the front desk by March 13.

Wednesday, March 25 • 10:30 a.m. Taste of Maryland • North Laurel 50+ Center Learn the history of Maryland’s iconic food traditions – beaten biscuits, crab cakes, coddies, McCormick® spices and Old Bay® — and more. FREE; register at 410-313-0380.

Wednesday, March 25 • 1:00 p.m. Fitness for Fido • East Columbia 50+ Center Teach your dog new tricks! Learn new games to play with the help of our “demo dog,” but please leave your own pet at home! FREE; register at 410-313-7680.

Friday, March 27 • 9:30 a.m. Spring Art Workshop • North Laurel 50+ Center Paint your own wooden frame using elegant floral designs and enjoy a relaxing morning socializing with friends. Cost: $8, includes all materials. Call 410-313-0380 to register by March 25.

Friday, March 27 • 11:00 a.m. Herbs Through the Ages • North Laurel 50+ Center Discover the historical uses of herbs through the ages with the Howard County Master Gardeners. Learn how to make a linen spray and culinary herbal mixes. FREE; register at 410-313-0380.

Tuesday, March 31 • 6:00 p.m. Technology to Enhance Aging in Place • Glenwood 50+Center Our Caregiver Education Series features Ted Meyerson, from United Seniors of Maryland, who will review technology to help older adults remain at home as long as possible. FREE; a light supper will be offered. RSVP is required; contact Valerie Liss at 410-313-5980 x26.

Tuesday, March 31 • 10:00 a.m. Practical Kitchen Ideas • The Bain Center The SeniorsTogether Low Vision group welcomes Ruth Sager from Blind Industry Services of Maryland presenting valuable tools and techniques for the low-visioned adult to safely and independently function in the kitchen. FREE; to register, call Elaine Widom, 410-313-7353, by March 25.

Wednesday, March 18 • 1:00 p.m. Stream Mapping • East Columbia 50+ Center Rachel Beebe from the Office of Environmental Sustainability will share the new Stream Mapper project which enlists citizens’ help to monitor streams in their neighborhoods. Free; 410-313-7680 for more information.

Friday, March 20 • 9:00 a.m. Waffle Bar & Nutrition Counseling • Glenwood 50+Center Join us in the lobby café for a breakfast of waffles and sausage, then take advantage of our free nutrition education and counseling with Rona Martiyan, MS, RD, LDN. Register at 410-313-5440.

To request accommodations to attend any of these events, call 410-313-5980 (VOICE/RELAY) one week in advance.

The Senior Connection is published monthly by the Howard County Department of Citizen Services and the Office on Aging. This publication is available in alternate formats upon request. To join our subscriber list, email seniorconnection@howardcountymd.gov Howard County Office on Aging, 6751 Columbia Gateway Dr., Columbia, MD 21046 410-313-6410 (VOICE/RELAY) • www.howardcountyaging.org Find us on

www.Facebook.com/HoCoCitizen

Kim Higdon Henry, Senior Connection Editor kahenry@howardcountymd.gov Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the Howard County Office on Aging or by the publisher.

The Senior Connection

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

START LIVING WELL TODAY! DIABETES and other CHRONIC CONDITIONS CAN be managed with our 6-week Living Well program!

Living Well with Diabetes Glenwood 50+Center

Coping with Hearing Loss A four-week series presented by a University of Maryland Speech & Hearing Department qualified audiologist and graduate students for individuals with hearing loss and/or their families. The program will address hearing devices, managing your environment and coping strategies.

Six Wednesdays, April 8 - May 13 9:30 AM - NOON | $28 includes all materials

Living Well: Take Charge of Your Health

Thursdays, April 2-23 • 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. North Laurel 50+ Center 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel 20723

SPACE IS LIMITED ... REGISTRATION DEADLINE MARCH 27 $25/person (scholarships available) Register with Elaine Widom 410-313-7353 (VOICE/RELAY)

Medical Pavilion Wellness Center at Howard County

www.howardcountyaging.org/seniorstogether

Six Fridays, April 10 - May 15 10:00 AM -12:30 PM | $28 includes all materials

Contact: WENDY FARTHING wfarthing@howardcountymd.gov

Have you made your nomination for 2015? The deadline is Friday, March 13!

410-313-3506 (VOICE/RELAY)

howardcountyaging.org

The Office of Children’s Services annually honors those who guide our children, and ultimately, our future! All nominees are recognized at “Celebrating Successes – Excellence in Bloom!” Nominate someone today and plan to attend the 16th Annual Awards, Tuesday, April 28 at Ten Oaks Ballroom!

www.howardcountymd.gov/celebratingsuccesses

DonÕt miss the 7th Annual presentation of this signature event designed to inspire women to live !"#$%!& ' ()%*+!,% '-,.%$! (*!/0'1''%*!'./%2

Saturday, April 25, 2015 10 am - 3 pm Gary J. Arthur Community Center at Glenwood 2400 Route 97, Cooksville, MD 21723

WomenFest is THE perfect place to enjoy two weeks before Mother’s Day! Bring your mom, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, and friends for a day of fun and shopping featuring 90+ vendors and exhibitors, informative seminars, important health screenings, door prizes and more!

Build Your Healthy Tomorrow, Today! Keynote speaker, Lynne Brick, president, Brick Bodies Fitness Services, Inc. Lynne’s presentation will feature three easy steps to motivate and inspire you on a journey to health and happiness. Plus, workshops on self-defense, heart health, painting on canvas, financial wellness, and keeping relationships strong (see details on the front page of this 4-page issue of the Senior Connection)!

410-313-5440 (VOICE/RELAY)

If you need accommodations to attend this event, call MAP at 410-313-5980 (VOICE/RELAY) at least one week prior.

www.howardcountyaging.org/womenfest

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 1 5

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

POISED FOR GROWTH From Apple to Macy’s to Sirius XM, here are some stocks to consider for growth or speculation SHORE UP FINANCES Work longer, save more, and take benefits later to avert a retirement crisis

Older taxpayers receive some tax breaks By Carole Feldman You’ve downsized to an apartment, the kids are long gone, and you’re no longer eligible for some of the deductions and exemptions that had helped you lower your tax bill. But for those 65 years or older, there are other tax breaks that might benefit you come tax time.

threshold? Social Security benefits aren’t taxable. If the combined income is above these income ranges, up to 85 percent is subject to income taxes. While some states also tax Social Security benefits, you won’t have to pay state tax on them in Maryland, Virginia or the District of Columbia.

Social Security taxes

Higher standard deduction

For one, not all your Social Security benefits are subject to federal taxes. How much depends on your other income and filing status. “No one pays federal income tax on more than 85 percent of his or her Social Security benefits,” the Social Security Administration says on its website. To determine what percent of your benefits might be taxable, add half your benefits to your other income, including nontaxable interest. If your combined income is between $25,000 and $34,000 and your filing status is single, up to 50 percent of your benefits might be taxable, according to the IRS. For married couples filing jointly, the 50 percent taxable figure applies if your combined income is between $32,000 and $44,000. Combined income lower than the

People 65 and over also should consider whether it’s more beneficial for them to claim the standard deduction or to itemize. The standard deduction is higher — $7,750 if your filing status is single, $14,800 if you’re married filing jointly and you and your spouse are both at least 65. That compares to $6,200 for single filers under 65 and $12,400 for married taxpayers under 65 who are filing jointly. “Seniors very often have already paid up their mortgage and they very often don’t itemize anymore,” said Jackie Perlman, principal tax research analyst at the Tax Institute at H&R Block. But it’s important to do the math — or let your tax preparer or tax software do it for you — to see whether it still makes

•

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Elder Law, Estate & Special Needs Planning Medical Assistance Planning and Eligibility Advance Medical Directives / Living Wills Trusts / Estate Planning Administration Wills / Powers of Attorney Disability Planning / Special Needs Trusts Guardianship

410.337.8900 | www.frankelderlaw.com | 1.888.338.0400 Towson | Columbia | Easton

sense to itemize even with the higher standard deduction. Even if you don’t have mortgage interest to deduct, you can still deduct any property taxes you paid. State income taxes also are deductible, or alternatively, you can choose to deduct state sales taxes, an attractive option if you live in a state that doesn’t have an income tax.

Medical expenses For those 65 and older, medical expenses are deductible to the extent they exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income. That threshold applies even if only one spouse has reached 65 and you file jointly. For those under 65, medical expenses are deductible only if they exceed 10 percent of adjusted gross income. Medical expenses include the portion of doctor, dentist and hospital bills, and the cost of prescription drugs not covered by insurance, as well as premiums for Medicare or other insurance coverage. Prescription eyeglasses are also included, as are the cost of false teeth, hearing aids, wheelchairs and the cost of transportation to medical appointments.

Of course, charitable donations are deductible by everyone who itemizes. However, taxpayers who are at least 70 1/2 had another option for charitable donations that was extended in December only through the end of 2014. At that age, you’re required to take a minimum distribution from your individual retirement accounts. If you rolled that distribution over directly to a charity by Dec. 31, 2014 — instead of taking the money and then donating it — the distribution is not counted as income and therefore is not taxable. “The difference is you’re lowering not only your taxable income but also your adjusted gross income,” Perlman said. And that can affect such things as whether Social Security benefits are taxable and whether you can deduct your medical expenses. But there’s no double-dipping. If you itemize, you can’t also deduct a charitable donation that was made through a direct rollover from an IRA. There is also a small tax credit for lowincome seniors, which Perlman says is not widely used. “It might be helpful for someSee TAX BREAKS, page 21

Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Stock and fund ideas poised for growth By Carolyn Bigda We’ll start with eight companies that will grow no matter what happens to the economy. Then, we offer funds and fund portfolios you can invest in starting with a mere $1,000.

Stocks to consider Abbott Laboratories (symbol ABT, $44). The drug and medical-device maker has said it will sell part of its overseas generic-drug business for $5.3 billion. The deal will allow Abbott to focus on emerging mar-

kets, where sales in the third quarter of 2014 helped boost overall profits by 13 percent. American Express (AXP, $92). In 2014, Amex launched OptBlue, which allows third-party processors to manage card transactions for small retailers. Execs believe the number of mom-and-pop stores newly accepting Amex could rise by 50 percent annually for several years. Apple (AAPL, $115). In the quarter that ended in September, during which the latest iPhone models were released, Apple

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

NEW ARRANGEMENT CENTER Providing Funeral Services in Howard County

410-730-7230

saw its strongest revenue growth rate in seven quarters. Its new mobile-payment system, Apple Pay, faces competition, but adoption by retailers is growing. And a high-tech wristwatch, Apple Watch, should start shipping in early 2015. Gilead Sciences (GILD, $101). Gilead won approval from U.S. regulators in October to sell Harvoni, which could become a blockbuster hepatitis C drug. Gilead also has treatments for HIV. Analysts say profits could increase by 25 percent in 2015. Macy’s (M, $63). Macy’s shoppers can now check online to see if an item is in a nearby store. If an improving economy

boosts consumer spending, Macy’s will be ready. Among other things, Macy’s, which also owns the Bloomingdale’s chain, has started testing same-day delivery from stores. Analysts see earnings rising 13 percent in the January 2016 fiscal year. Precision Castparts (PCP, $236). The firm makes complex molds and other components used to build jet engines. For three of the past four quarters, the company has fallen short of earnings forecasts as clients used up inventory, and the stock has dropped 13 percent over the past year. But See STOCKS, page 21

BEACON BITS

Feb. 25

FREE TAX RETURN ASSISTANCE Volunteer accountants will help with basic tax returns for people who qualify at Elkridge Senior Center, 9401 Frederick Rd., Ellicott

City on Wednesday, Feb. 25. To make an appointment or determine eligibility, call (410) 313-5192 or (410) 313-4930.

Mar. 14

BIG BAND CONCERT Attend the “Ain’t Misbehavin’” Big Band concert on Saturday, March 14 at the Howard Country Historical Society Museum,

Pre-Planning Available

8328 Court Ave., Ellicott City from 7 to 9 p.m. Cost is $15. For more information,

howardcounty@sollevinson.com • www.sollevinson.com/howardcounty

call (410) 480-3250 or email info@hchsmd.org.

EN E P O US y HOSaturd-a2pm

There’s a better way to weather winter.

10a

At Charlestown retirement community in Catonsville, winter is always warm and wonderful. You can relax and enjoy the season without a care. No more winter maintenance. Our full-time maintenance team handles all the salting, shoveling, and weather-related repairs.

Compassionate Care, Incredible Value! Services & Amenities:

Activities galore! A heated indoor pool, fitness center, and dozens of other amenities are just steps from your door. Predictable bills. Utilities and other household expenses are bundled into a single monthly fee that stays the same all year long, regardless of the weather.

Caring, Compassionate Staff Available 24 hours In-House Physician & R.N. Care Medication Administration Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy In-House Comprehensive Activities Program Delicious, Well-Balanced Meals & Snacks Housekeeping, Laundry, Cable & Internet Included Elegant Apartments & Common Areas

FREE BROCHURE

Change the way you react to winter Call 1-800-917-1085 today or visit EricksonLiving.com/winter for your free brochure.

443-574-2040

Catonsville, MD EricksonLiving.com

www.ShangriLaSeniorLiving.com 10521013

4475 Montgomery Road, Ellicott City

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 1 5

Stocks From page 20 Stephen Levenson, an analyst at investment bank Stifel, said the de-stocking should end in early 2015. Meanwhile, production of the high-tech Airbus A350 XWB and Boeing 787 Dreamliner will boost profits. Charles Schwab (SCHW, $28). Low interest rates have pressured profits at Charles Schwab. But the broker is making up for it with volume. According to a report by the William Blair firm, Schwab was on track to gather more than $100 billion in net new assets for the third straight year in 2014. Stanley Black & Decker (SWK, $94). The power-tool maker is benefiting from a housing rebound. In the third quarter, sales in Stanley’s do-it-yourself segment rose 9 percent. Ron Sloan, senior manager of the Invesco Charter Fund, said the company’s profit margins could climb by as much as three percentage points in 2015.

Portfolios for $1,000 Build a high-yield ETF portfolio. Start with three shares of junk-bond fund iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond (symbol HYG, $90, 5.2-percent yield). Add 10 shares of iShares US Preferred Stock ETF (PFF, $39, 5.6 percent. Finally, buy four shares of Vanguard REIT ETF (VNQ, $81, 2.5 percent).

(Money-saving hint: If you have a brokerage account at Fidelity, you can buy the two iShares ETFs commission-free. Likewise for Vanguard brokerage clients and the Vanguard ETF.) Buy a top-notch fund. These five funds have performed better than their category average over the past 10 years, and each requires $1,000 or less to get started: Both Oakmark Fund (OAKMX) and Oakmark Select (OAKLX) invest mainly in large U.S. companies selling at bargain prices. Homestead Small-Company Stock (HSCSX) is a member of the Kiplinger 25. Artisan International (ARTIX) invests mainly in large, growing foreign companies. For an all-in-one option, try Vanguard STAR (VGSTX).

Other investment options Be a lender. At peer-to-peer lending sites such as Lending Club and Prosper, you can invest in personal loans and receive monthly payments and interest as borrowers repay the loans. To mitigate risk, create a portfolio of loans with a range of credit ratings. Prosper lists average investor returns of 5.5 percent to 11.4 percent, and Lending Club’s historical returns range from 4.7 percent to 9 percent. Take a flier on a low-priced stock. You can buy 100 shares of any of the seven

stocks listed below for less than $1,000. They all carry a fair amount of risk, but if things go right, you could make a bundle. (For more details on each stock, visit kiplinger.com/links/low.) Aptose Biosciences (APTO, $7.08) Aurinia Pharmaceuticals (AUPH, $3.82) Groupon (GRPN, $7.27) Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (KTOS, $5.10) ParkerVision (PRKR, $0.91) Rite Aid (RAD, $5.69) Sirius XM Holdings (SIRI, $3.49) Grab 10 shares of a blue chip. Prefer more-established companies? You could buy 10 shares of any one of these five stocks for roughly a grand. The reward: healthy dividends now and the likelihood of share-price gains as earnings grow. CVS Health (CVS, $91, 1.2-percent yield). The drugstore chain is getting a

Tax breaks From page 19 one who neither contributed to the Social Security system nor ever married.”

Free tax prep assistance The IRS offers free tax preparation help for people 60 and older, working through non-profit groups. Two organizations provide such assistance at many locations throughout the Washington area. The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide pro-

Save the Date for the 7th Annual

Designed to inspire women to live a more balanced, healthier and fulfilled life!

Saturday, April 25 • 10 am - 3 pm Gary J. Arthur Community Center at Glenwood 2400 Route 97, Cooksville, MD 21723 A one-stop event featuring over 90 EXHIBITORS, engaging SEMINARS,and important free health SCREENINGS!

CHECK OUT the EVENT DETAILS and HIGHLIGHTS in the SENIOR CONNECTION SECTION of this issue! FOR MORE INFO: 410-313-5440 or www.howardcountyaging.org/womenfest If you need accommodations to attend this event, please call Maryland Access Point (MAP) at 410-313-5980 (VOICE/RELAY) at least one week prior to the event.

boost from its rapidly growing pharmacyservices segment. Danaher Corp. (DHR, $85, 0.5 percent). Danaher makes everything from medical devices to measuring systems. It has $12 billion in the till for making acquisitions. Walt Disney (DIS, $94, 1.2 percent). The smashing success of the movie Frozen proves that we are all kids at heart. MasterCard (MA, $89, 0.7 percent). The credit card company boosted its dividend by a stunning 45 percent in December. Pepsico (PEP, $98, 2.7 percent). Besides its namesake soft drinks, Pepsi owns Frito-Lay, Quaker and other great brands. Carolyn Bigda is a contributing editor to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. Send your questions and comments to moneypower@kiplinger.com. For more on this and similar money topics, visit Kiplinger.com. © 2015 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Mar. 3

IS YOUR JEWELRY BOX A TREASURE CHEST? Learn how to spot value in family treasures, and options for what

to do with these objects. Gemologist Steve Gouterman and appraiser Todd Peenstra will be at the Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City on Tuesday, March 3 at 7 p.m. Registration is preferred. To register or for more information, call (410) 313-1950.

gram is available free to taxpayers with low and moderate income, with special attention to those 60 and older. You do not need to be a member of AARP. For more information or to find a location near you, go to www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaid or call 1-888-687-2277, The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to people of all ages who generally make $53,000 or less, as well as to older adults and people with disabilities. To find locations, see http://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep. — AP

Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

How to avoid your own retirement crisis By Elliot Raphaelson Many of today’s workers will have a hard time retiring at the traditional age while maintaining their standard of living. A new book on the subject, Falling Short: The Coming Retirement Crisis (Oxford University Press), offers useful insight into the problem. Authors Charles Ellis, Alicia Munnell and Andrew Eschtruth, experts in retirement planning, offer advice both on “what we can do as individuals” and “what we can do as a nation.” Here are some of their ideas. Here are some of their ideas for individual initiative. • Work longer. Not everyone has this option, but those who do reap significant advantages. Working longer not only pro-

duces current income; it also results in a large increase in Social Security benefits, allows you to contribute more to your retirement plan for higher investment income, and shortens the length of retirement, reducing the lump sum required to maintain your standard of living. • Save more. This is easier said than done. In a 2014 survey, 36 percent of respondents had not saved anything for retirement, and 56 percent had not even tried to figure out how much they might need. Making saving “easy and automatic” is the way to go in order to save more. I was able to retire in my 50s because I instituted automatic investments from my salary as soon as I started working, prioritizing my retirement

ALL COMMUNITIES ARE SMOKE FREE

YO U R

New

LIF ES T YLE BEG I N S HERE

A PART M EN T HO M ES F OR T H OS E 62 A N D BET T ER

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

EASTERN SHORE

Furnace Branch 410-761-4150

Easton 410-770-3070

Severna Park 410-544-3411

HARFORD COUNTY

BALTIMORE CITY

Bel Air 410-893-0064

Ashland Terrace 410-276-6440

Box Hill 410-515-6115

Coldspring 410-542-4400

HOWARD COUNTY

BALTIMORE COUNTY

Colonial Landing 410-796-4399

Catonsville 410-719-9464

Columbia 410-381-1118

Dundalk 410-288-5483

Ellicott City 410-203-9501

Fullerton 410-663-0665

Ellicott City II 410-203-2096

Miramar Landing 410-391-8375

Emerson 301-483-3322

Randallstown 410-655-5673

Snowden River 410-290-0384

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Rosedale 410-866-1886 Taylor 410-663-0363

55 AND BETTER!

Bladensburg 301-699-9785

Towson 410-828-7185

Laurel 301-490-1526

Woodlawn 410-281-1120

Laurel II 301-490-9730

= NEWLY RENOVATED

www.ParkViewSeniorLiving.com Call the community nearest you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour or email parkviewliving@sheltergrp.com. Professionally managed by The Shelter Group. www.thesheltergroup.com

objectives over other expense alternatives. • Make your 401(k) plan work for you. The earlier you start contributing toward retirement, and the longer you wait before withdrawing funds, the lower the required contribution. Join your employer’s retirement plan as soon as possible, and contribute at least enough each year to receive the full employer match. • Invest wisely. Don’t stop investing in stocks because of a short-term fall in prices. [Ed: In fact, when prices fall, it may be the best time to buy.] Rebalance your portfolio regularly. Use investment alternatives with the lowest fees. Use index funds and target funds to achieve superior results with low fees. • Keep the money in the plan until you retire. Too many who invest in retirement plans withdraw funds prior to retirement, particularly when they change jobs. Avoid this; you’ll pay a 10 percent penalty and lose the tax-deferral advantage. When changing jobs, you always have options to roll over retirement funds. • Consider an advanced life deferred annuity. Annuities are contracts offered by insurance companies that pay monthly payments in exchange for a premium. They can protect you from outliving your assets — and may provide you more annual income than you could obtain on your own.

An advanced life deferred annuity, also called longevity insurance, is designed to ensure a steady income if you live beyond your mid-80s. The authors cite a typical case of a person at age 65. A one-time premium of approximately $12,000 would buy payments of $7,000/year for the rest of their life starting at age 85. This alternative may be suitable for healthy individuals who have other sources of income between 65 and 85. • Opt for a Social Security “annuity.” Another option for individuals who have sufficient assets at retirement age is to “buy” an additional amount of Social Security by claiming benefits later, up to age 70. By doing so, you increase your Social Security income by 8 percent per year deferred. This alternative is actuarially superior to a commercial annuity because insurance companies have expenses that add to the cost of the product that Social Security does not charge. Planning for retirement is not easy. This book is concise, informative and highly readable. It is a valuable tool for anyone planning seriously for retirement (and everyone should be.) Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at elliotraph@gmail.com. © 2015 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 1 5

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Travel

Leisure &

University of Virginia faculty live in historic pavilions on campus. See story on page 25.

On the presidential trail in Charlottesville 44,000 residents is an enclave of arts, culture and history. A good way to experience and enjoy all three is to stroll along the Historic Downtown Mall. The brick-paved pedestrian walkway combines the nostalgia of renovated historic buildings reminiscent of small-town Americana with more than 130 trendy shops and 30 restaurants, many with an outdoor cafe. The street follows a route that during Colonial times connected Richmond with the Shenandoah Valley. It was called Three Notch’d Road, which referred to three nicks made in tree trunks to mark it.

A tale of two presidents A short drive from the Mall is Monticello — the plantation home that occupied much of Thomas Jefferson’s interest and activity over decades, and which demonstrates his genius in architecture. Work began on the mansion in 1768, when Jefferson (a self-taught architect) was 26 years old, and remodeling continued until his death in 1826. Design features included ideas gathered during Jefferson’s several years living in Europe. They include dumb waiters, which he saw in a Parisian café, skylights, French doors that open in tandem automatically and a seven-day wall clock that still chimes. In contrast with the elegance of Monticello is the tiny, modest cottage where Theodore Roosevelt enjoyed relaxing while serving as president. It was purchased by

An aerial photo shows the University of Virginia, founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819. The 21,000-student university is ranked second among the 2014 top public schools on a list produced by U.S. News and World Report. Read about the school on page 25.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

By Victor Block The gracious mansion is a perfect example of an 18th century gentleman’s country estate. Its rooms are filled with elegant furniture and architectural touches imported from Europe by Thomas Jefferson. In its heyday, a virtual Who’s Who of early American leaders dropped by to visit, including two James — Monroe and Madison, the latter accompanied by Dolley. About 10 miles away stands a much simpler wood-frame cottage where Theodore Roosevelt escaped the pressures of the presidency. It was built without a stove, well or bathroom facilities, and would have fit almost twice into the parlor of the much larger mansion. A newspaper article written at the time described its “meager complement of furniture.” These two houses couldn’t be more different, nor could the men who once stayed in them. This diversity, which says much about the character of the two presidents, also extends throughout Charlottesville, Va., and the countryside that surrounds it. Part college town, part living history museum, Charlottesville adds life and color to important chapters of the nation’s past. The small city is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, surrounded by rugged Appalachian Range peaks and pastoral landscapes. Agriculture has long been a staple of the area’s economy, and small farms, orchards and vineyards lie just beyond Charlottesville’s borders. In that rural setting, the city of about

Thomas Jefferson began building his Charlottesville mansion Monticello in 1768, remodeling the home, replete with innovations such as dumb waiters and skylights, until his death in 1826.

his wife Edith who, like Teddy, cherished simple pleasures derived from nature. The rustic retreat has been described as “the most unpretentious habitation ever owned by a president,” which says a lot about Roosevelt. Among personal touches are a chart listing birds that he spotted during his stays at the cabin, and letters he wrote to his children decorated with sketches of cartoon-like figures.

Homes of Monroe and Madison Introductions to two other presidential homes in the Charlottesville area support Virginia’s nickname as “The Mother of Presidents.” Four of the first five presidents, and eight in all, were born in the state. Guides leading tours of Montpelier, the home of James Madison, note his prominent place in history as, among other accomplishments, a member of the House of Representatives, delegate to the Continental Congress, secretary of state and fourth president. Strolling through the plantation house, I found even more meaningful his instrumental role in drafting both the Constitution and its first 10 amendments, and the fact that he authored important documents in the rooms where I was standing. Madison’s prominence was equaled by that of his famous wife Dolley. She was known for her social graces and hospitality, which boosted her husband’s popularity. Dolley did much to define the proper

role of the president’s wife, which led to the term “First Lady.” When Madison left the White House in 1817, he and Dolley returned to Montpelier where they lived out their final years. The Ash Lawn-Highland plantation, which borders Monticello, was home to the fifth president. While serving as secretary of state, James Monroe negotiated the Louisiana Purchase, and the Monroe Doctrine that he established formed the cornerstone of America’s foreign policy for over a century. Monroe purchased the estate at the urging of his close friend Thomas Jefferson. Monroe referred to the small house, that was added to by later owners, as his “cabin castle.” Today, visitors are immersed in the atmosphere of a working farm, with demonstrations of spinning, weaving, open-hearth cooking and other early American pursuits.

Sleepy Scottsville A setting very different from plantation homes, and the hustle and bustle of Charlottesville, is tucked into a horseshoe bend of the James River about 20 miles south of the city. The village of Scottsville (population about 600) served as a local ferry crossing and river port during the 18th century. Flat-bottomed “bateaux” boats transported See CHARLOTTESVILLE, page 24

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Charlottesville From page 23 tobacco, grain and miscellaneous cargo to Richmond, and returned with clothing, furniture and other goods imported from England and France. A combination of events, including the Civil War and advent of railroads, undermined the town’s importance and left it a sleepy shadow of its former self. However, it retains historical touches well worth experiencing. A little gem of a museum recounts the story of the town and river. A deteriorating

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

warehouse, which in the mid-19th century stored grain, tobacco and other produce awaiting shipment in river boats, overlooks the Canal Basin Square adjacent to the river and the canal beside it. Exhibits in the square include a packet boat, which over 150 years ago plied the James River, and a list of tariffs charged for transporting cargo and passengers. Among fares were “White person, 12 and older, 1 cent per mile” and “Coloured persons, 5 and up, 1/2 cent a mile.”

Virginia vintages No trip to the Charlottesville area would

Going Home Cremation Service Beverly L. Heckrotte, P.A. Personalized

Professional

Dignified

Affordable

• 24-hour service specializing in direct cremation • Return of the urn and memorial merchandise to your home

be complete without at least one stop at a winery, and even here the influence of Thomas Jefferson is felt — or, rather, tasted. He began planting vineyards close to Monticello, and dreamed of producing wines equal to those of the Old World. However, a series of mishaps and misfortunes doomed his effort, and for some 200 years Virginia’s infant wine industry did not achieve distinction. That changed recently as a new generation of winemakers began to produce improved vintages. Virginia now has at least 230 wineries, and if Jefferson’s dream of competing in quality with the best that France and Italy offer is yet to be completely fulfilled, he would be proud to know that his beloved native state is the fifth largest producer in the country. Jefferson’s unusual failure as a maker of wine pales in comparison to his achievements and those of his famous neighbors, who were among the founders of our country. A visit to Charlottesville brings their and other stories to life in a setting as varied as were those early leaders.

• Serving Maryland and Washington, D.C. • Serving Md. & Washington D.C. since 2000 without any increase in prices!

(301) 854-9038 or 1 (866) 728-4663 (toll free) call for your FREE information package

Visit us at www.GoingHomeCremation.com

Where to stay, eat In a city surrounded by farmlands, it’s not surprising that a number of restaurants serve fresh-from-the-ground fare. Up to 95 percent of the ingredients used at the Brookville Restaurant in the Historic Downtown Mall (225 W. Main Street) come from Virginia farms, foragers and

the chef’s garden. Some dishes, like chicken with waffle ($25) and biscuits served four ways ($5 to $8) have a southern twang. For more information, call (434) 202-2781 or log onto www.brookvillerestaurant.com. Touches of the past come to life at the C&O Canal Restaurant (515 E. Water St.). For example, the walls and bar in the bistro are made with wood from an old barn, and the upstairs dining room served as a bunk house for railroad workers during the Depression. The menu here also focuses on local ingredients, including a Virginia oyster stew appetizer ($10) and locally raised pork tenderloin ($27). For more information, call (434) 9717044 or log onto www.candorestaurant.com. Guests at the English Inn are immersed in a world of British tradition. In addition to the décor, touches like afternoon high tea add to the atmosphere. Amenities include a hot breakfast buffet, indoor swimming pool, exercise room and sauna. Rates begin at a reasonable $100. For more information, call (434) 971-9900 or log onto www.englishinncharlottesville.com. It’s early Americana that’s the focus at the Boar’s Head Inn, a gracious resort that sets the tone for a visit to the history-rich Charlottesville area. A large part of the main hotel building is made of wood from a gristmill that was See CHARLOTTESVILLE, page 25

Coalition of Geriatric Services We’re a coalition of nonproﬁts, agencies, businesses and professionals who come together to advocate for and help older adults.

March Meeting Date: Time: Location:

Does using a standard phone make it difficult to keep in touch? Connect with Maryland Relay.

Speaker: Topic:

Wednesday, March 25, 2015 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. Morningside House of Ellicott City 5330 Dorsey Hall Road, Ellicott City, MD Jessica Rowe, LCSW-C Aging & the LGBT Community

Learn more by calling (410) 997-0610 or visit www.cogsmd.org

Multiple Calling Options For anyone who has difficulty using a standard telephone

Inclement Weather: If Howard County Public Schools are delayed or closed, our meeting will be cancelled.

Captioned Telephone Displays every word your caller says, as you listen

PLaTinuM MeMber Howard County General Hospital – A Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine The Beacon Newspapers GoLD MeMberS Being There Senior Care, LLC • Howard County Oﬃce on Aging SiLver MeMberS

Maryland Accessible Telecommunications (MAT) program FREE assistive equipment to qualified applicants

Thank you to our 2015 Visiting Angels Executive Members

Brooke Grove Retirement Village • Deborah L. Herman, CPA Oasis Senior Advisors • The Bob Lucido Team of Keller Williams Select Realtors

bronze MeMberS Earl Wilkinson, M.D. (ENT) • Gentiva Health Services • Homewatch Caregivers Integrace Copper Ridge • Professional Healthcare Resources, Inc.

PaTron MeMberS

Get a FREE evaluation to find the solution that’s right for you. Call 800-552-7724 or 410-767-6960 (Voice/TTY) 443-453-5970 (Video Phone) or visit mdrelay.org to get started.

Alzheimer’s Association – Greater MD Chapter • Genesis SelectCare • Home Call Home Instead Senior Care • Home With You Senior Care, LLC • Let’s Move, LLC Luba Services, Inc. • Neighbor Ride, Inc. • New Life Assisted Living Right At Home In-Home Care & Assistance • Visiting Angels

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 1 5

Roots of UVA To many people, the town of Charlottesville, Virginia and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello are synonymous. Indeed, even more than at his famous home, the presence of Jefferson can be felt throughout the quiet college town, most especially at the University of Virginia, which he founded. A visit to UVA brings you back to modern times — but only for a moment. Jefferson’s vision of his “Academical Village” became reality starting in 1819, and the University continues to function much as he intended. Welcome back to the 1800s. In addition to offering arguably the finest education among public institutions available to capable students “regardless of wealth, birth or other accidental condition or circumstances” — producing more Rhodes Scholars than any other state university — UVA maintains a tradition of student self-governance, including a student-run honor system that actually works (at least most of the time). Although the university has expanded since Jefferson’s time, Jefferson’s original buildings remain much as they were. The Rotunda, a scaled-down version of the Pantheon in Rome, was designed to maintain architectural balance in harmony with the five Pavilions on either side, which house classrooms and faculty residences. Jefferson envisioned a scholarly community where students and professors live in close proximity to share knowledge and nurture together a life-long commitment to education. To help achieve that goal, he intermingled students’ rooms among the Pavilions, connecting them with low colonnaded walkways. The expansive Lawn between the two rows of buildings, and the serpentine

walled-gardens weaving in, out and around the Pavilions, provide quiet space for personal reflection and personal connections between teacher and student. This was a radical approach to education at the time. The 54 student rooms along the Lawn are astonishingly unchanged since the University opened. The 150-square-foot rooms contain a wooden bed, an oldfashioned secretary’s desk, fireplace and a small free-standing wooden closet which contains a sink. Other plumbing facilities — minor amenities such as showers and toilets — are located a bracing winter’s walk away. Upon first viewing, I assumed they were just another historical attraction that recreates living conditions — in this case, of students — in the early 1800s. Imagine my surprise to find that students today actually vie for the honor of living there! A select few fourth-year students who have made substantial contributions to the University are chosen for the opportunity to closely approximate the lifestyle of the scholars who lived and studied in these same rooms in Jefferson’s day. It is not surprising that Jefferson invested so much heart and soul into his final triumph. The university embodies Jefferson’s three greatest passions: his vision as an educator, his talent as an architect, and his skill as a gardener. The very essence of his dream — the interactive student/faculty community, the student-run university governance, the personal code of ethics — still permeates how campus residents think and act today. Thomas Jefferson is alive and well and still attending the University of Virginia. For more information, see www. virginia.edu. — Fyllis Hockman

Charlottesville From page 24 built nearby in 1834 and later dismantled. That includes the pine floor of the Old Mill lounge, along with beams and wall paneling. Fieldstones that were part of the mill’s foundations adorn a fireplace and an arched entrance into the inn. The golf course is laid out over land that was part of a 1734 land grant, and where the Boar’s Head now stands a modest inn named Terrell’s Ordinary provided lodging for westward travelers.

Along with such historical touches, the Boar’s Head offers amenities and facilities expected at an AAA Four-Diamond Resort. In addition to golf, there is tennis, squash, a spa, and activities ranging from biking and hot air ballooning to fishing and swimming. That’s a lot of leisure living for rates that begin at $165. For more information, call (855) 574-5627 or log onto www.boarsheadinn.com. Charlottesville is about 140 miles from downtown Columbia. For more information about Charlottesville, call (877) 386-1103 or log onto www.visitcharlottesville.org.

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Style Arts &

Ruined focuses on lives affected by war in the Congo. See story on page 28.

Chorus to sing women composers’ works There are many very fine contemporary women composers out there whose works are being celebrated and performed.” Dawson was inducted into the Howard County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2006.

Celebrating forgotten composers For the coming concert, the choral group will be “looking back and putting the light on women composers who were celebrated in their time, but are now all but forgotten. “In choosing these high achievers for this concert,” Dawson said, “I hope to encourage women who have gifts in all fields, including music, to take them as examples and develop their own gifts, in spite of hurdles they may face.” The mass by Amy Beach, who was also a concert pianist and wrote symphonies and songs, will highlight the program. Beach was famous, influential and admired as a composer in the early part of the 20th century, Dawson noted. She was the first American woman to compose a symphony. Her “Grand Mass” was premiered in Boston in 1892 by the Handel and Hayden Society, the nation’s oldest and perhaps

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLUMBIA PRO CANTARE

By Robert Friedman The works of three women composers — whose lives spanned from the Middle Ages to the 20th century — will be featured at Columbia Pro Cantare’s next concert on March 21 in Columbia. Singers of the 100-member choral group will perform three pieces, including the “Grand Mass in E-flat Major” by Amy Beach (1867-1944), who made her mark as a leading composer of the New England School; a lieder by Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (1805-1847), the sister of composer Felix Mendelssohn; and a liturgical chant by Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1177), a German nun who is recognized as a saint by branches of the Roman Catholic Church. The choral group will be accompanied by the Howard County Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Ronald Mutchnik. Director Frances Motyca Dawson, who founded Pro Cantare in 1977, said that she had wanted to do an all-woman-composers program for years, and that the opportunity has finally arrived. “Women’s issues are really in the news now,” said Dawson, “and it seems a significant time to look at women in music.

Columbia Pro Cantare will present the works of three women composers in its concert on March 21. The choral group will be accompanied by the Howard County Symphony Orchestra.

most conservative choral group, whose performance of a woman’s composition was another first for Beach. The performance at the March concert will feature four soloists: soprano Jenifer Holbrook, mezzo Leah Kaye Serr, tenor Johnn Noh, and baritone Steven Eddy.

Emerging from Felix’s shadow The Columbia chamber singers also will perform three partsongs (multisectional works) from Fanny Mendelssohn’s composition, “Gartenlieder (Garden Songs) See PRO CANTARE, page 28

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 1 5

Art museum From page 1 to the ceiling. Performing with the mask involves slipping inside the 40-pound creation and holding onto the bamboo frame. But wearing the mask is a privilege generally open only to men, she noted, in the culture of its creators. There’s also a Yoruba throne from Nigeria, complete with beads that conceal the face of the king when he sits in it. Lesser humans, she noted, “are not supposed to look directly on his face.” Of course, there’s much more in the richly colored and textured collection of 419 artifacts on display. The rest are in storage or on loan to schools and other sites.

Bringing culture to the schools Shortly after the birth of the museum, Ligon and her late husband introduced themselves to Howard County school administrators, volunteering to bring Africa and its 54 eclectic countries to life for students by sharing and speaking about selected museum pieces in classrooms. “The children were the reason I started the museum,” she recalled, gesturing with both hands. “It is the youth that will enable people to grow up with an understanding of other cultures. Let them grow up with the truth — that people are people and that they all need the same things.” To date, Ligon has conducted hundreds of

such presentations, and installed exhibits in most of Howard County’s public and private schools. In 2009, Howard County educators decided to expand on Ligon’s efforts by incorporating a unit focusing on the countries of Kenya and Ghana into the system’s thirdgrade and sixth-grade curriculums. Since then, Ligon has expanded her “African Experience” program to include schools from Baltimore to Northern Virginia. “We have served generations of school children,” she said proudly. Ligon also leads tour groups to Africa, visiting countries such as Ghana and Senegal. Her next tour is slated for 2016 to South Africa.

What the future holds The nonprofit museum, which welcomes donations (of both funds and art) from the public, operates on a shoestring budget. Ligon, along with her role as the founder and director, “vacuums, dusts, sweeps and has other duties as assigned,” she laughs, and is supported by a group of volunteers. One day, she said, a mother and daughter showed up with about 30 pieces of African art. “They just wanted to give them to us and said we can do what anything we want with them. I thought, ‘My God, what is happening here? Sometimes things happen that you can’t plan.’” One visitor who happened to stumble across the museum was Don Worsham. The North Laurel resident, a retired feder-

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

al worker, was enthused that the unique facility is in Howard County. “A lot of people don’t take the time to learn the true history of Africa,” he said. “This museum is in a great spot between Washington and Baltimore. It’s right under our noses, the perfect complement to the Smithsonian.” In modest fashion, Ligon, her voice growing low, said her deepest hope is for the museum to continue on the same path it has traversed for 35 years. “I will do everything ethical, legal and moral, as long as I have the strength, to see the perpetuation of this museum long after I’m gone.

“When people visit the Smithsonian, they don’t ask about Mr. James Smithson, the founder. I don’t need my name associated with this. I want this institution to continue to serve everybody who comes in that door. Long after I’m gone and forgotten, this institution will still be here.” The African Art Museum of Maryland is located at 11711 E. Market Place, Fulton. The museum is open Wednesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and other times by appointment for groups of 10 or more. For more information, see www.africanartmuseum.org, call (301) 490-6070, or email africanartmuseumofmd@verizon.net.

Are you an Active Senior of Moderate Income? Discover Great Senior Living at our Affordable Community Conveniently located near the Union Bridge Community Center. 24-hour emergency on-call maintenance. Affordable rent. Caring & dedicated staff. 550 Shriner Court Union Bridge, MD 21791

410-775-2940

www.qpmgmt.com Rent starts at $485. Income restrictions apply. Call or visit our web site to view this community. T/A Quantum Property Management

FIVE E STAR MEMORY CARE, B RIN N GIN N G B ACK THE

joy in life

SOMERFORD PLACE Frrom Fiv ve St Star ar D Din nin ng, to o our aw waarrd‐ winnin win in ng Br Brid dge to R Reedi d sc s ove overy™ y™ life f styl yle, our yl ur me m mory caaree bri ring n s b ck llife’s si ba simp mpllest joy mp o s. oy s H re He re, our rreesi side dent de n s red nt dissccov over eerr f vo fa voriite disshe hess, aand nd d ;;in in nd su ucc cces e s at es at mealti tim me, wiith t am men e u insp en spir irred db by y celeeb brrit i y ch hef Bra rad d Mi Miller, sp speeciaal even entss, and d a caring ttea eam of eexp xpertss by tthe heir sid i e. id

C A L L U S T O D AY T O D I S C O V E R O U R I N N O VAT I V E M E M O R Y C A R E A N D J O I N U S FOR A DELICIOUS MEAL.

410-313-9744

Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Ruined’s harrowing portrayal of Congo war By Dan Collins War is hell. What matters, as playwright Lynn Nottage explores in her Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, Ruined, now playing at the Everyman Theatre, is how one chooses to deal with it. For the soldiers of the Congo — like Commander Osembenga (Manu Kumasi) of the ruling government, and rebel militia leader Kisembe (Gary-Kayi Fletcher) — war offers the ultimate expression of freedom. But this is a freedom from morality, civility, mercy, and all the common bonds of what we judge to be humanity. War is a fiery floor where their unleashed ids may frolic in the bloodshed and maidenheads of the subjugated men and women about them. For others, war is economic opportunity.

Pro Cantare From page 26 Op. 3.” Mendelssohn has been noted as a central figure in assisting her brother Felix in his career and life. Today her own musical talent is finally being recognized. Like her brother, she showed prodigious musical ability as a child and began to write music. But prevailing attitudes toward women in any role other than that of homebody kept her in her brother’s shadow.

War affords men like Mr. Harari (Bruce Nelson) the chance to trade in gems and minerals torn from the earth as it is dug and blasted away by miners and soldiers alike. But for women, war is only a destroyer of both flesh and fantasy. Dawn Ursula plays Mama Nadi, a woman who has mined a niche of her own, eking out a living as proprietor of a hardscrabble, corrugated-iron-enclosed bar-and-brothel. Ursula portrays Nadi as a woman in perpetual movement, almost dancing across the stage as she interacts with cast members, as though there is continuous music playing in her head.

Based on real experiences One comes to understand there’s a Felix did, however, arrange for some of her songs to be published — under his name. This supposedly caused him an embarrassing moment in 1842, when he was received at Buckingham Palace by Queen Victoria. Her Highness reportedly told the composer that she would sing to him her favorite of his songs, “Italien.” Mendelssohn confessed that the song was written by his sister Fanny. The program will open with sopranos from Pro Cantare Chamber Singers performing the chant, “O Jerusalem,” com-

method to Nadi’s madness, for she is feverishly working to keep her oh-so-delicately balanced view of reality from falling apart. There are considerable forces at work — drawn from Nottage’s interviews from real-life DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) war survivors — to destroy that balance. Fortunately, not all are evil. Enter Christian (Jason B. McIntosh). If he is so named to represent historic Christian values, like grace, hope, love, faith and service, he does not disappoint. McIntosh portrays Christian as someone simple on the surface, but in fact a complex and compassionate man (Mama calls him “Professor”). He is driven by his love for Mama Nadi and family to endure a variety of sacrifices. Will Christian somehow survive a war

where children decapitate men with machetes? Will he win that “last dance” with Mama? We aren’t sure until the play’s final scene. You see, Christian represents a threat to Mama Nadi’s sense of order: Who has time for romance when you’re trying to survive in a war zone? As Christian presses for some sign that his feelings might be reciprocated, Nadi stops moving, stands firm, juts out her chin and is defiant. It’s a stance she takes often, whether it is standing up to false saviors of the people like Kisembe and Osembenga (their respective rhetoric almost identical despite representing opposite sides in the

posed by Hildegard von Bingen. The medieval German nun was also, among other things, a mystic, visionary, abbess, author of religious and scientific treatises, playwright, naturalist and philosopher.

world premieres, including 12 commissioned works by Maryland composers. There will be a pre-concert lecture at 7 p.m. at the Jim Rouse Theater. It will be given by musicologist Barbara Renton, who will explore the contributions of women composers over nine centuries. The theater is located at 5460 Trumpeter Rd., Columbia. Advance tickets for the concert are $23 for the general public; $20 for seniors and students. Add $2 for tickets bought at the door. To order tickets, go to www.procantare.org, or call (410) 799-9321.

A volunteer chorus Columbia Pro Cantare, a volunteer chorus composed of singers mostly from Howard County, is entering its 38th year of concerts that have ranged from the classics to opera, oratorio, folk music and spirituals. The choral group has performed 14

See RUINED, page 29

Ruined From page 28 war), or reminding “the girls” at the bar who is in charge. In hopes of offering his sister’s daughter some form of refuge, Christian brings niece Sophie (Zurin Villanueva) and her friend, Salima (Monique Ingram), to Mama Nadi’s. Mama derides Salima for being “plain,” and refuses to accept Sophie when Christian informs her she is “ruined” — a term meaning so defiled by countless rapes as to make her “useless” in the flesh trade. Mama Nadi is ultimately swayed and takes Sophie in; this is the first true crack in her armor, one that will continue to grow, painfully, as the play continues, leading up to a final revelation which is at the core of Mama’s pain.

Solace in fantasy Pain is the currency the women of this brothel deal in. Ingram’s Salima is one more refugee whose life and dreams were destroyed by war. Her fantasy of returning to her husband and her village is threatened on numerous fronts. Bueka Uwemedimo, who plays her estranged husband, Fortune, is also aptly named, as what he represents — a return to an idyllic life of sweet gardens and blue skies — is a fortune to be had, but a wild gamble at best.

Jade Wheeler’s Josephine, the daughter of a village chief, lives a fantasy where she will go away with Mr. Harari to live in the big city as befitting her royal heritage. Sophie reads romance novels to Josephine and Salima to help reinforce a dream of a happy, loving life, for which there appears to be little hope. If Josephine’s fantasy is about status and Salima’s about marriage, Sophie’s dream is to free her mind — to learn, to have a career. A one-time university student, she is put in charge of keeping Mama’s accounts, and since she cannot “entertain” in the usual way, sings songs instead. When the soldiers visiting the bar grab her, one physically feels the pain of her “ruination.”

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 1 5

siliency of the human spirit. Despite its darkest manifestations, there can be grace and love. Ruined continues its run at Baltimore’s Everyman Theatre at 315 W. Fayette St. in downtown Baltimore through March 8.

Tickets range from $34 to $60 and may be purchased by calling (410) 752-2208 or by visiting www.everymantheatreorg. Patrons 62 and older can receive a $6 discount off tickets for Saturday matinees and Sunday evening performances.

BEACON BITS

Feb. 28+

JEWISH FILM SERIES

The Columbia Jewish Congregation continues its Jewish Film Series on Saturday, Feb. 28 with Cupcakes, March 28 The Other Son, and April 25 with 100 Voices: A Journey Home. All showings will be held at the Columbia Jewish Congregation, 5885 Robert Oliver Pl., Columbia. Room 200. Tickets cost $27 for three movies or $19 for two. Single tickets for $10 are sold only at the door. Refreshments and discussion are included. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the films begin at 8 p.m. For more information visit columbiajewish.org/film_series.shtml or call (410) 997-0694.

Well-paced and directed Director Tazewell Thompson does an exemplary job in keeping the play well paced, encouraging vivid and in-your-face performances by this cast of 17 actors. Kudos to scenic director Brandon McNeel for creating a realistic set, accenting the far corners of the stage with piles of broken barrels, chairs, bicycles and tables, representing the chaos that dwells all around Mama Nadi’s haven. In the end, the war that Mama Nadi fights so vainly to keep out bursts through her door, blood is spilled and there is death. But while Mama and her charges may be beaten, they are not defeated. Nottage’s play is about the incredible re-

FROM PAGE 30 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD L A B S E P I A V E R D I S C H A B E B R A N A E R O D R N O N A P I E V I N C A N N A I T E M L O R E

A B O A R D D I C E

S E W U N N I S X M E O W N E N T E R S E S E

E X I T K E N N Y L I M P

T E N D

A C E R B I N C A P A A L A O W N I T

A L S O Y E L P E D

S O C C E R M O M E R N I E

A C L U E

C H I L D

S O P A S

I D E A

C E N T

S S T S

I D L Y

C E O N L S E

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Crossword Puzzle

PUZZLE PAGE

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

Cheap Thrills 1

by Stephen Sherr 4

16 19

38 41

47 51

50 54

3. Carbonated “beer” 4. Tailor-made 1. White coat place 5. Highway offway 4. ___ good example 6. Keep watch over 8. Pouches 12. Photoshop tone 7. Razor-edged 14. CEO, CFO, or the like 8. 21st century carpooler 15. Dos X cuatro 9. Detective’s excited shout 16. Every sentence needs one 10. Free diner, sometimes 17. It is bottled in 33 Down 11. Cantina cuisine category 18. Prepare a coupon for usage 12. Gloomy 19. Cheap monster 13. On the train 22. Star Wars action figure 20. Operating system first 23. Suffers a scraped knee created by AT&T 24. Honest pres. 21. And another thing 27. Game first named “The Conquest of 24. “I’m having ___ day” the World” 25. ___ Rabbit 30. Land between the Med. and Dead Seas 26. Get frequent flyer points 31. Cheap graphic lit. 28. Species of duck 37. Dynamic beginning 29. Singer Loggins or Rogers 38. Last section of a SUBPOENA 32. Party host’s lament 39. Poetic tributes 33. Place to sample 17 Across 40. Cheap villain 34. Creative spark 45. Diarist Anais 35. Sign omitted from a standard 46. School with motto “Light and Truth” computer keyboard 47. @@@ 36. Former fast flights 48. Each 41. They might land on 51. Ginger drink Park Place 53. Cheap actor 42. Unity 60. Blonde heir, ___ Nicole Smith 43. “There aughta be ___” 61. 2000 title character, ___ Brockovich 44. Barked shrilly 62. ___ a high note 48. Be of use to 63. New couple 49. Ford from the 70’s 64. Formal introduction 50. First piece of peace 65. Pickle possibilities 52. Groundbreaking comic Kovacs 66. Teaching of old 54. Forest unit 67. Back-to-school mo. 55. Walk awkwardly 68. TV Network logo 56. “Step ___!” 57. Without purpose Down 58. ___ slaw 1. Son of Jacob; father of the blue jean 59. Negotiation’s start and end 2. King Kong, and his smaller relatives

Across

HB3/15

Scrabble answers on p. 29.

34 39

45 49

29 33

23 27

22 24

Answers on page 29.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 1 5

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.

Business and Employment Opportunities

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Computer Services PROBLEM WITH YOUR PC/MAC OR NETWORK? Computer Systems Engineer will come to you with help. Call: David G at 301642-4526.

Financial Services TAXES – ACCOUNTING, BOOKKEEPING and eldercare. Call 410-653-3363.

For Sale 2 SALVADOR DALI woodblock prints from Dante’s Divine Comedy. Signed and framed. Asking $900 for the pair. Can email pictures if desired. Call Steve 410-913-1653.

Home/Handyman Services BALTIMORE’S BEST JUNK REMOVAL – Clean Outs: Whole House, Emergency, Attics/Basements. Furniture and Junk Removal, Yard Waste Removal, General Hauling, Construction Debris Removal. Free estimates. 10% Senior Discount. Licensed, Bonded and Insured. Call Jesse, 443-379-HAUL (4285).

TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED Deadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 5th of each month. Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question. Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards. Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $10 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word. Business Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing business enterprise. Each ad is $25 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word. Note: Each real estate listing counts as one business text ad. Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:

The Beacon, Baltimore Classified Dept. P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227 Wanted

Wanted

VINYL RECORDS WANTED from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201.

LEARN ENGLISH – SPANISH – ITALIAN – FRENCH – PORTUGUESE Conversational. Grammatical. Private lessons. Reasonable Rates. Tutoring students. 443-352-8200.

BUYING ANTIQUES, ESTATES – Cash paid for jewelry, gold, silver, old coins, pens, toys, dolls, old sports golf, baseball, any collections. Call Tom, 240-476-3441.

Wanted

BUYING MILITARY MEMORABILIA WW2, WW1, Civil War uniforms, weapons, photos and items associated with US, German, Japanese or items of other Military History. DAVE, 240-4640958.

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

MILITARY ITEMS Collector seeks: helmets, weapons, knives, swords, bayonets, webgear, uniforms, inert ordnance, ETC. From 1875 to 1960, US, German, Britain, Japan, France, Russian. Please call Fred 301-910-0783, Thank you. Also Lionel Trains.

Thanks for reading!

Personal Services

SEEKING ACTIVE SENIOR TO WORK part-time doing dog walking/pet sitting in Glenelg. Perfect for mature individual who enjoys dogs and is looking for extra income. Call 410-487-1890 for details.

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

OUTSIDE SALES/PART-TIME/BUSINESS TO BUSINESS. Flexible hours/Salary + Commission. We are a 25 year old family-owned company seeking an experienced sales associate to work with established business customers as well as cultivate new accounts. 410-332-1166.

OLD AND NEW, WE BUY STERLING SILVER FLATWARE, Tea Sets, Single Pieces of Silver, Large pieces of Silver Plate. Attic, Basement or Garage. Call Greg, 717-658-7954. You have something to SELL, we are looking to BUY.

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Research Studies

IDEAL Health Study . . . . . . . . .13 NeurExpand Brain Center . . . . .13 UM Elderly Falls Prevention . . .13

Events

Boomer Business Summit . . . . .28 COGS Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Kidney Walk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Women Fest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Financial Services

Golden Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . .11 Catholic Charities . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Funeral Services

Harry H. Witzke’s Family Funeral Homes, Inc. . . . . . . . . .29 Going Home Cremations . . . . . .24 Sol Levinson & Bros., Inc. . . . . .20

Home Health Care

A-1 Action Nursing Care . . . . . .10 Homewatch Caregivers . . . . . . . .12 Options for Senior America . . . . . . .8

Housing

Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . .3, 32 Charlestown Independent Living/Erickson . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Heartlands of Ellicott City . . . . .27 Homecrest House . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Ivy Manor Normandy . . . . . . . . . .9 Park View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Shangri-La Assisted Living . . . .20 Shriner Court/Quantum . . . . . . .27 Somerford Place/5 Star Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Vantage House . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Legal Services

Frank, Frank & Scherr Law Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Medical/Health

AA-Eastern Mobility . . . . . . . . . .7 Audiology First, LLC . . . . . . . . .12 BW Eye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Dr. Taylor & Associates Vision and Learning . . . . . . . .14 I Hate Knee Pain . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Low Vision Specialists of Maryland & Virginia . . . . . . . .14

NeurExpand Brain Center . . . . . .6 Maryland Relay Dial 711 . . . . . .24 Medical Eye Center . . . . . . . . . . .8

Pharmacies

Ellicott City Pharmacy . . . . . . . . .5

Retail

Columbia’s Village Centers . . . .22 Shelf Genie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Senior Services

The Senior Connection . . . . .15-18

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation

CommuniCare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Theatre/ Entertainment

Columbia Pro Cantare . . . . . . . .26

Tour & Travel

Destinations Travel . . . . . . . . . . .25 Eyre Tour & Travel . . . . . . . . . . .25 Side by Side Travel . . . . . . . . . . .25

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

March - June 2015

SUPPORT FOR THE CAREGIVER Alzheimer’s and dementia seminar series Partnering with national leaders in the field, Brooke Grove Retirement Village has set a benchmark in innovative memory care. Our new seminar series is designed to help educate and encourage caregivers, because we know the challenges you face every day. Join us for free monthly seminars on topics related to being a caregiver. All seminars will be held at Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, located at 18131 Slade School Road on the Brooke Grove Retirement Village campus. Please RSVP to Toni Davis at 301-388-7209 or tdavis@bgf.org by the Sunday preceding each seminar. Meaningful Pursuits March 24, 2-3 p.m. Jeannie Finnegan, CDP – Therapeutic Music/Dementia Care Consultant Learn how to create and share meaningful activities with your loved one while also providing cognitive stimulation and a greater sense of well-being. Dementia t Conversations April 14, 2-3 p.m. Lindsey Vajpeyi, BA, ADC/MC – Programs & Services Manager for Alzheimer’s Association Discover the best way to have difficult conversations with family members, how to plan for care, and how to connect with helpful resources.

Caring for Yourself as You Care for Others May 19, 2-3 p.m. Jessica Rowe, LCSW-C – Owner of Jessica Rowe ElderCare Consulting, LLC Identify ways to find balance as a caregiver, such as accepting help from others, knowing your limits, making time for yourself, and more. I Didn’t Sign Up U for This: Trials and Tribulations of Caregiving at June 16, 2-3 p.m. Terry Ullman, LCSW-C, LICSW Discuss the emotional, physical and financial impact of Alzheimer’s on caregivers, how to define a caregiving role you can embrace, and how to ask for help.

18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 301-260-2320 or 301-924-2811

www.bgf.org

Independent living assisted living rehabilitation long-term care memory support