March 2019 | Howard County Beacon

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A father’s harrowing memoir

Keeping memories alive Kogul, who recently gave a book presentation at the Miller Library in Ellicott City, noted that sharing his father’s story has led to him learning “the importance of passing the lessons of his story to future generations, so that we all never forget.”

Kogul’s father died in 2014, at the age of

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PHOTO COURTESY OF MOREY KOGUL

By Robert Friedman Columbia resident Morey Kogul’s recently published book is about an immigrant who illegally makes a border crossing to escape almost-certain death, and who then, after incredible hardships and adventures, is able to settle in a free country and raise a loving family.

But while the story seems pulled from today’s headlines, the protagonist of this hair-raising non-fiction story is Kogul’s father, a Polish Jew who fled the Nazis during World War II. Van Wolf Kogul escaped Nazi-occupied Poland by crossing the border into the Soviet Union, was conscripted into the Russian Army, fought against the Germans on the Eastern Front, went AWOL after the war from an officer’s training school in Moscow, was snuck into Italy by a Jewish underground group, and finally immigrated to the United States in 1949.

“I promised my father that I would write his memoir and share his story,” said Kogul, an urban planner who works at the U.S. Department of Defense, where he arranges public-private infrastructure projects (bridges, roads, ports and the like).

He fulfilled that promise with Running Breathless: An Untold Story of World War II and the Holocaust, published in June by Mascot Books. The book, written in the first person, was created from interviews Kogul had with his father plus additional research.

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L E I S U R E & T R AV E L Running Breathless: An Untold Story of World War II and the Holocaust, traces Morey Kogul’s father’s harrowing journey from Poland to Russia and finally the United States. Kogul wrote the book as a memoir in the voice of his father based on his extensive interviews with his father, augmented by additional research.

91. Kogul is only 43, comparatively young for a Holocaust survivor’s offspring, as he was born was his father was 53. He feels that helps him relate to a younger generation of readers, as he tells them about “the dangers of dehumanizing others not like us.”

The book, while factual, “reads like historical fiction, with a narrative arc and sus-

pense,” said Kogul, who, in addition to his graduate degree in urban planning, also has a degree in English literature.

“But the book is not a novel; it is a true story,” he said. “It is a narrative told in the first person based on my father’s words in See MEMOIR, page 32

Riding the rails through the magnificent Canadian Rockies; plus, presidential retreats in Virginia worth a visit page 26 FITNESS & HEALTH 4 k Are you aging too fast? k Simple supermarket shortcuts THE 50+ CONNECTION 17 k Newsletter from Howard County Office on Aging & Independence LAW & MONEY 21 k How to know when to buy low k New Social Security scam ARTS & STYLE 31 k Free concert series continues ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

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Not in our family Back in the 1970s, a progressive TV sit- women, gays, African Americans, Latinos, com poked fun at certain members of an Jews, you name it. older generation for their Yet, we loved to watch him, prejudices and beliefs, at the even though he couldn’t comsame time revealing a prehend the changes in attiglimpse of the humanity that tudes and behaviors that were could sometimes shine occurring in America in the through the tough, stained 1960s and ‘70s. He was an emexterior of a bigot. barrassment to his daughter, The family portrayed in All but he was still her Daddy. She in the Family consisted of loved him, and he still loved Archie Bunker, a man full of her (and yes, in a way, his sonmore bunk than one would in-law). have thought possible, his FROM THE Archie helped us see how clueless but loveable wife PUBLISHER senseless and baseless racist, Edith, their flighty daughter By Stuart P. Rosenthal sexist and anti-Semitic views Gloria, and their radical sonwere, but we could laugh at in-law Michael (aka “Meathead”). It was a them coming from a poor, uneducated, backcast of stereotypes brought together to ward older white man, knowing that the crush other stereotypes. world he represented was quickly changing All in the Family was a phenomenon. It and he was the one being left behind. ran for nine seasons, and was literally at And yet, even as we tuned in each week the top of the Nielsen ratings — the most- to laugh with our family and friends at watched TV show in America — for five whatever outrageous opinions Archie consecutive years. would spout this time, we all knew that cerThe opinions expressed by Archie were tain members of our own families or workdecidedly backward. He was an uncouth place shared some of Archie’s beliefs. We bigot who relentlessly stereotyped might even occasionally have thought to

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

ourselves, “Gee, do I sometimes say or think that?”

In its over-the-top way, the show and its immense popularity generated a subtle pressure on people to change their attitudes, open their minds and see things from another perspective.

And perhaps most importantly, All in the Family helped us see that by laughing at others (and ourselves), we could more easily let go of opinions and attitudes that didn’t withstand scrutiny in today’s world.

My, how times have changed!

We no longer laugh at bigots, or even make allowances for bigoted behavior that may have taken place years ago at a time when standards were very different.

It’s one thing when the behavior rises to the level of abuse of others, or when the behavior has continued into the present day. Here, I’m thinking of the parade of Hollywood execs whose appalling treatment of starlets and others was so recently splashed across the papers almost daily.

But more recently, we have learned of people in high positions whose insensitive acts appear to have occurred long ago.

And yet, they may not only be ostracized or criticized for it, but can lose their jobs, their reputations, their fortunes, their past awards and honors, and even their friends.

Certainly, past ill behavior raises a question about a person’s character, which is not some ephemeral thing, but rather

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day.

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HOPE BOWL

Join Hope Works for the 12th Annual Hope Bowl fundraiser at Brunswick Zone Columbia Lanes (now Bowlero) on Saturday, March 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. Hope Bowl is a family-friendly event where teams compete while raising awareness and critical funds for victims of sexual and intimate partner violence. The event will feature music by TNT Disc Jockeys, refreshments, raffles and prizes throughout the night. Hope Works is located at 7100 Carved Stone, Columbia. For more information and to register visit www.wearehopeworks.org or contact mgreene@wearehopeworks.org or at (410) 997-0304.

• Editorial Assistant ..............................PJ Feinstein

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

PLAY FOCUSES ON LA RIOTS

Rep Stage, the professional regional theatre in residence at Howard Community College, continues its 26th season with Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992. Anna Deavere Smith’s play explores the people who experienced the Rodney King riots and the devastating human impact of that event. The play runs from Thursday, Feb. 28 to Sunday, March 17. Tickets are $40 for adults, $35 for seniors and military, and $15 for students. Thursdays are $10 performances. The theater is located at 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. For tickets and additional information, visit www.repstage.org or call (443) 518-1500.

• Associate Publisher ..............Judith K. Rosenthal • Vice President, Operations........Gordon Hasenei

should reflect a person’s core values.

Even so, don’t we also believe that people make poor decisions sometimes? And that they can change their attitudes and behavior, sincerely apologize for past insensitivity, learn from their mistakes and, at some point, do sufficient penance, or show evidence of a new heart, so that they deserve some type of forgiveness?

In individual cases we may decide a particular person or behavior does not deserve to be forgiven. But to close off the very possibility of forgiveness — what is called today zero-tolerance, even of past sins — seems too harsh to me.

Is that really a standard we can all live with? Especially when the list of behaviors now seen as irredeemable seems to grow by the day.

We can — and should — raise our standards and boost our expectations of our leaders over time. But as we do so, we need to remember we are all human, and that means we all have failings.

That, to me, was one of the chief takeaways from the All in the Family sitcom.

Every character had failings galore, in one area or another. But even so, they all remained family.

Those were the days...

Mar. 18+

NEW HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK CLUB

The Miller Branch Library hosts a new book club to discuss historical fiction on the third Monday of each month from 2 to 3 p.m.

The first meeting will be on March 18 and discuss A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. The April 15 meeting will discuss Burial Rights by Hannah Kent. The library is located at 9421 Frederick Rd, Ellicott City. To learn more, call (410) 313-1950.

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 9

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See what’s blooming this spring at Five Star Senior Living. Join us for a tour and discover a full schedule of Lifestyle360 activities, chef-prepared meals offering flavor and flexibility, and exceptional senior living experiences. At Five Star, the possibilities are endless.

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FOR A SMOOTHER SYSTEM Most of us need more fiber; learn about the best ways to ingest it SPEAKING OUT Rest your voice and stay hydrated to help strengthen an aging voice GREAT GIFTS Items you can give to spread sunshine when a friend is under the weather SUPERMARKET SHORTCUTS Salad bars, frozen food and rotisserie chickens can make mealtime easier

The secret of happiness: it’s your choice

By Mary Kane Many of us worry about what our lives will be like in our final years. But after spending a year following six people ages 85 and older, New York Times reporter John Leland came to some surprising conclusions about old age and contentment later in life.

His work inspired his book, Happiness Is a Choice You Make: Lessons From a Year Among the Oldest Old (Sarah Crichton Books, $16), which came out in paperback in January. In this lightly edited conversation with Kiplinger’s Associate Editor Mary Kane, Leland talks about applying their wisdom to our lives at any age.

You write, “If you want to be happy, think like an older person.” Can you explain how that works?

We know from a lot of research that older people are more content with their lives than younger people are.

Thinking like an older person is thinking about resilience and focusing on what is — as opposed to what is not. Accepting your mortality by not being so afraid of it.

When you are older, you view the time horizons in front of you differently. You understand the days are finite, and we might as well enjoy the ones we have left.

The big lesson for me, the really practi-

cal one, is waking up in the morning and saying, “Thank God for another day.” It’s the conscious practice of gratitude.

Can you explain what you call “selective forgetting”?

We do forget the horrible things in our lives to a great extent but not entirely. The traumas of our lives stay with us. But we’re constantly writing the stories of our lives, and there are lots of things we’re filtering out.

Usually our stories are about the positive things.

That flu that almost killed you — you forget about how miserable you were.

You just remember that it didn’t kill you.

That friend you made when you were 14 — that’s something you remember.

[The people I interviewed] saw loss as part of what it is to be human. It doesn’t make loss any more fun. But you’re not being singled out for punishment. You’re sharing that same experience with every other person that’s ever lived.

What do you mean when you say happiness is a choice?

You come to understand that the quality of our lives isn’t based in the events of our lives. It’s really in the reaction to the events in our lives.

That’s a really useful thing, to realize: “I don’t have control over some of the events in my life, like the weather, but I actively have a say in how I respond to the weather.”

The title of the book is Happiness Is a Choice You Make, but the key word isn’t happiness. It’s choice. It’s declaring that you won’t be defined or determined by the circumstances of your life. You have a say in this.

That declaration is liberating. That liberation is happiness. Happiness isn’t just the thing you choose; it’s the act of choosing it that makes you happy.

You talk about the essence of what you learned: “to shut down the noise and fears and desires that buffet our days and think about how amazing, really amazing, life is.” Can we all do this?

There are things we can do to change our ways of thinking and improve the qual-

There are things we can do to change our ways of thinking and improve the quality of our lives.

ity of our lives.

I’m not talking about depression, which is a serious illness that kills people and needs to be treated. But you can be focusing on what is, not what you don’t have and what you’re missing.

Optimism doesn’t mean the future is going to necessarily be better. It means seeing that the present is better.

We are so detached from the oldest old, in a way previous generations were not. How can we address that?

We think of old age as some sort of place to visit — and not a pleasant place.

But just spending time with the old is sometimes all we can do, and the most important thing we can do.

Give older people a chance to talk. Find out what they care about, and what’s important to them.

Older people aren’t being asked about what they need. They are being told what they need by people who have never been old.

This article was written with the support of a journalism fellowship from the Gerontological Society of America, Journalists Network on Generations and Silver Century Foundation. © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Fight a denied Medicare Advantage claim

By Eleanor Laise If a Medicare Advantage plan denies you coverage for medically necessary care, don’t take it lying down. File an appeal, and your odds are good that the plan will overturn its decision.

That’s the message for consumers in a recent government report examining service and payment denials in Medicare Advantage plans, which are offered by private insurers and often combine basic Medicare benefits with drug, dental and vision coverage in a single package.

Looking at appeals filed by Advantage enrollees and healthcare providers between 2014 and 2016, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General found that plans overturned 75 percent of their own denials.

“The high number of overturned denials raises concerns that some Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and providers were initial-

ly denied services and payments that should have been provided,” the report said.

To make matters worse, enrollees and providers appeal only 1 percent of denials, the Inspector General found, suggesting that some beneficiaries may be going without needed services or paying out of pocket for care.

And for patients, plan denials may have even broader repercussions. “If a provider is denied payment, they may be more reticent to provide certain services” in the future, said Leslie Fried, senior director at the National Council on Aging’s Center for Benefits Access.

More members, more denials Inappropriate denials are a growing concern as the number of Medicare Advantage plan beneficiaries soars. Advantage plans had 21 million enrollees in 2018, up from 8 million in 2007. As the government

gives Advantage plans added flexibility, such as allowing them to offer supplemental benefits not covered by traditional Medicare, that number is likely to grow.

But unlike traditional Medicare beneficiaries, Advantage plan enrollees looking to limit their costs must stay within their plan’s network of providers, and typically need referrals to see specialists.

“Medicare Advantage plans are committed to providing quality, affordable and appropriate care to patients,” said Cathryn Donaldson, a spokesperson for America’s Health Insurance Plans, a health insurance industry group.

A denial, she said, “can often be a request for additional information for the claim, or a move to an alternative treatment that’s more effective.”

aries to read their denial notices, understand their rights to appeal, and file appeals promptly, patient advocates say.

But the denial notices that plans send to enrollees aren’t always clear, said Fred Riccardi, vice president of client services at the Medicare Rights Center. In 2015, audits by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found that 45 percent of Advantage plans sent denial letters with incomplete or incorrect information, according to the Inspector General’s report.

Follow the instructions on the denial notice to make your appeal. Ask your doctor to write a letter explaining why you need the care.

And understand the timeline to make your claim. Advantage enrollees have only 60 days from the date of the denial notice to file an appeal, compared with 120 days for traditional

Dealing with a Medicare denial It’s critical for Advantage plan benefici-

See DENIED MEDICARE, page 6

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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 9

Are you aging faster than you need to? smoking, eating junk food, obesity, inactivity and chronic stress — are all associated with shorter telomeres. Shorter telomeres, in turn, are associated with a lower life expectancy and higher rates of developing chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, visit www.health.harvard.edu. © 2019 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed

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Should you test your telomeres?

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Commercial tests to uncover the status of your telomere length are available. But the accuracy of various commercial telomere tests is uncertain.

Also a single telomere test — even if it is accurate — can’t provide a true picture of biological aging or tell you how fast your telomeres are shortening.

No matter what a telomere test finds, scientists are still in the early stages of understanding what the information means.

If your telomeres are shortening, it doesn’t mean something bad will happen. And if your telomeres are long, it also doesn’t guarantee that something bad won’t happen.

That said, learning your telomeres status could be a wake-up call to change behaviors

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associated with telomere shortening. You could eat a healthier diet, exercise more, lose weight, stop smoking or reduce stress.

But these are lifestyle choices you should make anyway, whether or not you have shorter telomeres.

Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at

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

By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: I read that shrinking chromosomes might be a sign of faster aging.

Can a person be tested for this? Is there any way to slow that down?

A: The shrinking is actually happening in the telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes in your cells.

Each cell in your body carries a set of genes, unique to you, that tell it what to do and when to do it. The genes (made up of DNA) are linked together in long strands called chromosomes.

Chromosomes come in pairs: We have 23 pairs in each cell. At each end of each chromosome is a protective cap called a telomere, which keeps the chromosome from becoming damaged when a cell divides.

A telomere is made up of thousands of sections of expendable DNA. Each time a cell divides, the telomeres shorten just a bit.

Once telomeres reach a critically short stage, they can’t protect the chromosomes anymore, and the cell usually dies. Thus, the progressively shorter telomeres of a cell constitute a measure of its aging.

Unhealthy lifestyle factors — such as

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M A R C H 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Maintain and improve your voice as you age

By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q. My voice has become less forceful and raspy as I get older. Is there anything I can do to improve it?

A: It’s a common condition, known as presbylaryngis, or aging of the larynx.

The result is often a raspy, hoarse tone.

Our vocal cords are folds composed of muscles surrounded by softer membranous tissues. Over the years, the vocal cords can lose strength, elasticity and structure.

These changes in the vocal cords may allow too much air to escape between them, which can cause your voice to be breathy and weak.

Certain habits also can affect how you

speak. For instance, you can irritate your vocal folds if you constantly clear your throat while speaking.

A dry throat and irritation are often the main triggers for chronic throat clearing.

But people get in the habit of doing this whenever they speak even when they don’t need to.

You can’t turn back the clock so your voice sounds like it did when you were 30.

But you can maintain and even improve how your voice sounds now.

Here are some steps you can take to help strengthen and protect your voice.

Give your voice a rest when needed.

Your voice needs rest when it becomes fatigued, just like your body does. If you feel

voice fatigue or have throat discomfort when talking for long periods, rest your voice for several minutes every hour.

Also try not to yell or raise your voice, and avoid talking over background noise, like the TV. Stay hydrated. The vocal folds depend on a thin layer of fluid to cushion them during speech, so it’s important to drink enough water to stay well hydrated. This is especially helpful if you battle constant throat clearing.

Inhale steam. A hot shower or steam inhaler can help clear any allergens from your nose and throat. This provides shortterm hydration while helping to capture and clear irritants in your upper airway

that could be affecting your voice.

Consider whether acid reflux may be affecting your voice. Stomach acid that backs up into the throat can irritate the vocal folds and cause them to swell.

Most often people with acid reflux have symptoms like heartburn and an acid taste in the mouth. But you may not experience these, so may not know you have reflux.

If hoarseness or other voice changes have just happened recently, don’t just attribute them to age. You should contact your doctor to have a throat exam, especially if you have been a smoker. © 2019 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed

by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Denied Medicare

your claim will be automatically forwarded to an independent entity for review. And if your appeal is rejected there, you still have up to three more levels of appeal.

grams: To get help in Howard County, call (410) 313-7392.

To find programs elsewhere, go to ship-

tacenter.org or call (877) 839-2675. © 2019, Kiplinger. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

From page 4 Medicare beneficiaries.

The plan must then make a decision within 30 days if it’s denying a service that you haven’t yet received, or 60 days if it’s refusing to pay for a service that you already received.

If your health could be harmed by waiting for the standard appeals process to play out, request an expedited appeal, which requires a decision within 72 hours.

If the plan rejects your initial appeal,

Where to get help The appeals process can be overwhelming, particularly for patients who are sick or frail. Find expert assistance through these resources: Medicare Rights Center: An advocacy group for Medicare beneficiaries. Go to medicarerights.org or call 800-333-4114.

State health insurance assistance pro-

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Mar. 5+

YOGA FOR CAREGIVERS COURSE Howard Community College has designed a weekly non-credit

course for caregivers starting Tuesday, March 5 through Tuesday, Apr. 23 at the Elkridge 50+ Center, 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. Classes are scheduled from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The cost is $88. To learn more, visit howardcc.edu/CinEd or call (443) 518-1700.

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 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

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Should you be taking a fiber supplement?

Dear Mayo Clinic: I experience irregularity almost weekly, and eating bran flakes every day isn’t helping. Are fiber supplements safe to use regularly and long term? Is there anything else I can do?

I’m a 53-year-old woman and otherwise in excellent health.

Answer: When consumed at recommended levels, dietary fiber is widely recognized to have health benefits, including relief of constipation.

Adult women 50 and younger should consume at least 25 grams of fiber a day. Women over 50 should have at least 21 grams a day.

Adult men need at least 38 grams of fiber a day if they are under 50 and at least 30 grams of fiber a day if they are over 50.

Ninety percent of the U.S. population consumes far below those recommendations, averaging only 15 grams of daily fiber.

Fiber-rich foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. Many cereals, such as bran flakes, are good sources of fiber.

Although fiber supplements can fill the daily fiber gap, they usually have only one type of fiber, rather than a variety of fibers and micronutrients, and they may not provide all the health benefits associated with fiber in food.

Therefore, boost your fiber intake in your diet first by eating a wide variety of high-fiber foods.

If you still can’t get enough fiber to meet the daily recommendation, consider using a supplement. Many fiber supplements can be used regularly long term.

Two types of fiber Fiber is classified as soluble or insoluble.

Soluble fibers are more fermentable and may cause gas. Insoluble fibers move through the digestive system largely intact, and that can increase stool bulk.

Most fiber supplements are exclusively soluble or insoluble fiber. For example, FiberCon (calcium polycarbophil) and Benefiber (wheat dextrin) are mainly soluble fiber. They tend to cause more bloating and flatulence.

Citrucel (methylcellulose) is mainly insoluble fibers that are nonfermentable, so it’s less likely to contribute to bloating and gas.

Psyllium husk (Metamucil and Konsyl) is rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber.

Generally, fiber supplements with mainly insoluble fiber may be a better option for constipation.

Medications can be affected Before taking a fiber supplement, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist to review your medications. Fiber supplements can decrease the absorption of certain medications, including drugs that treat thyroid disorders, depression, diabetes, high cholesterol, seizures and various heart ailments.

Even common medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen and penicillin can be affected by an increase in fiber. To minimize the interaction, take your medications one hour before or two hours after eating fiber.

Some fiber supplements may not be appropriate for people with certain medical conditions. For example, if you have celiac disease, you may need to stay away from fiber products derived from wheat. If you have diabetes, you may need to use a flavorless formula to avoid extra sugar.

BEACON BITS

Feb. 28

BLOOD DRIVE

Scouts USA Troop 944 will hold a community blood drive on Thursday, Feb. 28 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Bethany United Methodist Church, 2875 Bethany Ln., Ellicott City. To schedule a donation, visit redcrossblood.org (sponsor code TROOP 944) or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Mar. 8+

CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT

Howard County General Hospital is sponsoring a free six-week workshop on managing chronic pain beginning Friday, March 8 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at East Columbia Branch Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. The program explores how to manage symptoms and challenges, exercise for strength and flexibility and balance activity and rest. To register or to learn more, visit hcgh.org or call (410) 740-7601.

Consult your healthcare provider for guidance about the appropriate fiber supplement.

Go slow as you begin fiber therapy.

Fiber supplements may cause abdominal bloating, cramping and flatulence, especially if you start at a high dose.

Begin with a low dose, gradually increasing the amount of fiber. Don’t add more than 50 grams of fiber in a supplement per day, as that may affect how your body absorbs nutrients. Your healthcare provider can help determine what’s right for you.

Drinking plenty of water and exercising regularly can help ease constipation, too.

You also may want to consider nonfiber products for the condidion — such as stool

softeners, stimulant medications that cause your intestines to contract, enemas or suppositories.

If increasing fiber doesn’t improve your symptoms, see your healthcare provider.

Constipation can be a symptom of various underlying medical disorders — such as pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, slow gastrointestinal motility, anatomical abnormalities or endocrine dysfunction — that may require different treatment.

— Yan Bi, M.D., Ph.D., Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla. © 2019 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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M A R C H 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Thoughtful gift ideas for comfort, healing For those of us who still have our health ket can be calming. This gift is a good idea and energy, it’s hard to imagine how others for someone who feels anxious, or can’t with a chronic illness may feel. sleep very well at night.

If you know someone who is Bed wedge pillow — This uncomfortable or struggling is usually made of memory with pain or an unpleasant confoam, and it’s shaped like a dition, keep in mind they might wedge to elevate your head at appreciate a thoughtful — and the top of the bed. Fantastic helpful — gift at any time of the for people who need to sleep a year. little more upright, as in the In this column, I can help case of acid reflux. you figure out what they really White noise machine — I want or need, or at least somethink this type of gift would DEAR thing that can bring them more make a great gift for someone PHARMACIST comfort. with tinnitus, or someone who

By Suzy Cohen Essential oil and diffuser needs a little background — This is a nice gift, especially noise to feel calm and secure. if you can find a pretty color-changing difieGeek tablet phone stand for bed — fuser to keep by their bed and a bottle of This locks a digital device (tablet or phone) lavender or neroli oil. These two oils impact into position so you can watch it or read it the GABAergic system to induce your while in bed, hands-free. Full disclosure, I body’s tranquilizer hormone called GABA. have this and we love watching movies in Weighted blanket — This type of blan- bed sometimes.

Blue-light-blocking glasses — Speaking of digital devices at bedtime, a pair of these glasses removes blue light from your computer screen or other digital device. It’s been found that exposure to blue light suppresses the body’s production of melatonin, making it more difficult to fall asleep at night.

These glasses are also great for gamers, computer workaholics and anyone prone to insomnia, tension headaches or migraines.

Sound amplifier to help with hearing — Some people are stubborn, or they refuse to wear (or can’t afford) a real hearing aid. So a sound amplifier can help to improve such a person’s interpersonal relationships.

Electric kettle — This is a convenient way to boil water fast, and they shut off automatically. If you know a tea lover who is a little forgetful (and might leave the oven on), buy them one of these.

Physical help — There’s probably no

greater gift than just asking a person who is not feeling well, “How can I help?”

These four words will probably bring tears to their eyes, as they are likely feeling disorganized, overwhelmed and tired.

Just offering to do the simplest things for a few hours, or arranging for their needs, can be tremendously helpful. You could stop by and take their packages to the post office, help clean up around the house or teach them how to use Skype so they can see their grandchildren!

I have a much longer version of this article that I can email to you if you’d like. Just sign up for my newsletter at suzycohen.com.

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

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

BEACON BITS

Mar. 7+

SPIRITUAL CARE VOLUNTEERS

Howard County General Hospital will hold a 12-week Thursday evening training program for volunteers to provide multi-faith spiritual care for patients and their families. The hospital’s Chaplaincy Services Department is accepting applications through March 7. For an application and more information, call (410) 740-7898.

Use Indian flatbread for quick pizza crust Naan is an Indian flatbread with a chewy texture and a puffed, slightly charred crust.

Brushing a baking sheet with olive oil and then baking the naan on the lowest rack in a 400°F oven gives it a crispy texture — just like pizza crust.

This recipe can be doubled.

Pizza in a flash Servings: 1-2 Start to finish: 40 minutes (Active time: 10 minutes) Prepare Ingredients: 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 (8-inch) naan bread 2 tablespoons pesto 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 12 cherry tomatoes, cut in half Make it your way: To personalize your pizza, sprinkle a handful of your favorite toppings — in whatever combination you like — over the mozzarella. Some topping ideas: sliced bell peppers, pepperoni, sliced scallions, chopped olives, or dollops of

goat cheese ricotta cheese.

Start cooking: Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 400°F. Use pastry brush to brush oil into a 9-inch circle in the center of a rimmed baking sheet. Place naan on top of oil on baking sheet.

Use back of small spoon to spread pesto over naan, leaving 1/2-inch border around edge. Sprinkle cheese over pesto, then sprinkle tomatoes over cheese.

Place baking sheet in oven and bake until naan is golden brown around edges, 8 to 10 minutes.

Use oven mitts to remove baking sheet from oven. Place baking sheet on cooling rack and let cool for 5 minutes.

Use spatula to carefully transfer naan to cutting board (baking sheet will be hot). Use chef’s knife or pizza wheel to cut naan into wedges. Serve.

For more recipes, cooking tips and ingredient and product reviews, visit americastestkitchen.com.

— AP

BEACON BITS

Mar. 8

GRIEF AND OLDER ADULTS This seminar offered by the Howard County Office on Aging and In-

dependence offers participants a general overview of grief and ways to support older adults who are grieving. It takes place from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Friday, March 8 at the North Laurel 50+ Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Rd., Laurel. The cost is $15. For more information, contact Karen Hull at (410) 313-7466. To register, go to www.hocogriefseminar.eventbrite.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 9

9

Supermarket shortcuts for easier dinners

By Katie Workman Cooking for one (or two) can be a chore, especially if you want to have something different every night.

So here are a few food shopping hacks that can significantly cut your prep and cooking time, and get you to a nice, easy dinner faster.

Make the salad bar your sous chef.

Walk on over to that salad bar and take a good look at it from an ingredient perspective. So many prepped foods to choose from!

Sliced peppers, diced onions, cubed zucchini, shredded chicken, cooked beans, washed baby spinach leaves, broccoli florets, a bounty of prepped items, all ready to turn into a stir fry, vegetable lasagna, frittata, soup — and sure, maybe even a salad.

And the nice thing is, you can buy exactly how much of each item you want.

Explore other precut, washed or prepped produce.

Next to the whole fruits and vegetables you can find a section of other prepared produce, usually uncooked. Shredded carrots, spiralized sweet potatoes, peeled garlic, shelled peas, bags of washed salad lettuces, and so on.

I know I’m not alone when I say that peeling, seeding and cubing a winter squash at the end of a busy day can feel like a real obstacle to dinner. But a contain-

er of peeled, cubed squash is a game changer.

Rotisserie chicken – best dinner saver ever.

Cold, warm right out of the container, or reheated, there are few supermarket gifts as happy-making as a rotisserie chicken.

Add a salad and something starchy and you are done.

Or shred up that meat and you have a springboard for numerous other dinners: chicken salad, quesadillas, enchiladas and burritos, soups, stir fries, casseroles.

I buy a rotisserie chicken often because I know that it will get me to some chicken dinner in the coming days, and usually a different one every week.

Stock up.

Once a month, do a little inventory of your most-used ingredients and make sure you’ve got a good stash of all of them — pasta, beans, rice, broth, canned tomatoes, and fridge staples like eggs and grated cheese.

Having a full inventory saves you lastminute dashes to the market. Bonus points if you can stock up when these items are on sale.

Buy bulk.

Buying in the bulk-food aisle definitely saves money, and offers you some nice whole-food choices. But it can also save

you time once you get it home.

Decant all of your bulk items — quinoa, lentils, rice, oatmeal — into containers, preferably clear ones, and label them. Organize them by category in your cabinets or pantry closet — for example, whole grains, cereals, baking ingredients.

Then when you are ready for them, there they will be, easy to find and easy to access. It’s also easy to see when you are running low on any of them.

Don’t underestimate the freezer aisle.

There are so many ingredients and meal components in the freezer aisle that can help you get dinner on the table faster.

Frozen vegetables are of really high quality, often quite economical, and cook up super quickly.

Some more ideas: Frozen fruits make quick smoothies. Frozen hash browns aren’t just good with eggs but also as a potpie topping. And frozen shrimp and fish cook up in a flash.

— AP

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M A R C H 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

“To you, it’s the perfect lift chair. To me, it’s the best sleep chair I’ve ever had.”

— J. Fitzgerald, VA

NEW Footrest Extension for even more head to toe support.

We’ve all had nights when we just can’t lie down in bed and sleep, whether it’s from heartburn, cardiac problems, hip or back aches – it could be a variety of reasons. Those are the nights we’d give anything for a comfortable chair to sleep in, one that reclines to exactly the right degree, raises feet and legs to precisely the desired level, supports the head and shoulders properly, operates easily even in the dead of night, and sends a hopeful sleeper right off to dreamland.

Our Perfect Sleep Chair® is just the chair to do it all.

It’s a chair, true – the finest of lift chairs – but this chair is so much more! It’s designed to provide total comfort and relaxation not found in other chairs. It can’t be beat for comfortable, long-term sitting, TV viewing, relaxed reclining and – yes! – peaceful sleep.

Our chair’s recline technology allows you to pause the chair in an infinite number of positions, including the Trendelenburg position and the zero gravity position where your body experiences a minimum of internal and external stresses.

You’ll love the other benefits, too: It helps with correct spinal alignment, promotes back pressure relief, and encourages better This lift chair puts you posture to prevent back and safely on your feet! muscle pain.

Easy-to-use remote for massage, heat, recline and lift And there’s more! The overstuffed, oversized biscuit style back and unique seat design will cradle you in comfort. Generously filled, wide armrests provide enhanced arm support when sitting or reclining. The high and low heat settings along with the multiple massage settings, can provide a soothing relaxation you might get at a spa – just imagine getting all that in a lift chair! It even has a battery backup in case of a power outage. Shipping charge includes white glove delivery.

Professionals will deliver the chair to the exact spot in your home where you want it, unpack it, inspect it, test it, position it, and even carry the packaging away! You get your choice of bonded stain and water repellent leather or plush microfiber in a variety of colors to fit any decor. Call now!

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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 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

11

Friends closer than sisters — and not Dear Solutions: one step outside the emotional circle of famMy sister’s friend died recently. My ily and can therefore be neutral territory. sister, who considered this Close friends can share the person her best friend, stories of their lives without can’t seem to get over it. feeling they’re betraying anyShe says she has no one to one. They can look for and really talk to anymore. hope for honest reactions.

I thought we were always They can laugh together and close, and I feel a little incry together. That’s what sulted. I told her she still friends do. has me to talk to, and she Let go of your resentment. just said it’s not the same.

Tell your sister that you unI thought a sister is closer derstand her grief and you’re SOLUTIONS than a friend. there for her whenever she I would like to under- By Helen Oxenberg, needs you. stand her attitude better, MSW, ACSW Dear Solutions: and I would like to comfort I have different kinds of her without resenting it. How can she friends, and one of them whom I love feel closer to a friend than to a sister? dearly is loud and not too “cultured or — The Sister refined,” but good-hearted and loads Dear Sister: of fun.

Well, for one thing, she could talk about One of my old friends from school you to a friend! If she talked about you to days told me recently that I should be you, there might be all kinds of sibling aware that people will judge me as being “stuff” to deal with. the same as her if I keep being friends The real difference is that a close friend is with her. “You know,” she said with a

Enjoy the Beacon?

Tell your friends.

very smug look, “birds of a feather…”

I’m having a party and I was planning to invite both of these friends.

Should I tell them they’re both invited?

— Rhoda Dear Rhoda: You’re your own bird. Don’t worry about being judged the same as your “loud” friend — or the same as your “smug” friend, for that matter.

When birds of a feather “flock together,” they can be pretty boring because they’re

all the same. A different feather enlivens the scene.

Invite them both without any apologies or request for permission. If your smug friend doesn’t like it, open the window so she can fly away. © Helen Oxenberg, 2019. Questions to be considered for this column may be sent to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915. You may also email the author at helox72@comcast.net. To inquire about reprint rights, call (609) 655-3684.

12

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

M A R C H 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Discover life-changing freedom and fun

10”

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The Zinger folds to a mere 10 inches.

More and more Americans are reaching the age where mobility is an everyday concern. Whether from an injury or from the aches and pains that come from getting older– getting around isn’t as easy as it used to be. You may have tried a power chair or a scooter. The Zinger is NOT a power chair or a scooter! The Zinger is quick and nimble, yet it is not prone to tipping like many scooters. Best of all, it weighs only 47.2 pounds and folds and unfolds with ease. You can take it almost anywhere, providing you with independence and freedom.

I can now go places and do things that I wasn’t able to go or do before. It has given me a new lease on life and I am so happy I found it!

–Dana S., Texas Years of work by innovative engineers have resulted in a mobility device that’s truly unique. They created a battery that provides powerful energy at a fraction of the weight of most batteries. The Zinger features two steering levers, one on either side of the seat. The user pushes both levers down to go forward, pulls them both up to brake, and pushes one while pulling the other to turn to either side. This enables

great mobility, the ability to turn on a dime and to pull right up to tables or desks. The controls are right on the steering lever so it’s simple to operate and its exclusive footrest swings out of the way when you stand up or sit down. With its rugged yet lightweight aluminum frame, the Zinger is sturdy and durable yet convenient and comfortable! What’s more, it easily folds up for storage in a car seat or trunk– you can even gate-check it at the airport like a stroller.

Think about it, you can take your Zinger almost anywhere, so you don’t have to let mobility issues rule your life. It folds in seconds without tools and is safe and reliable. It holds up to 265 pounds, and it goes up to 6 mph and operates for up to 8 hours on a single charge.

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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 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon

What’s going on in HoCo? Stroll & Paint Enjoy a guided stroll. Then paint outdoors with artist Tara S. Holl.

Gain techniques. Work in watercolor, acrylic, or oil.

55 yrs + $35 Please register by May 4 RP4843.301 Robinson Nature Ctr May 11 9am-noon

Sa

All Things Glass 2 Explore an assortment of techniques: fusing, slumping, layering, and painting glass. Beginners are welcome!

55 yrs + Classes: 6 $75 materials fee RP3523.301 Elkridge 50+ Ctr Apr 9 6-8pm RP3523.302 Gary J Arthur Comm Ctr Apr 10 7-9pm

Tu $89 W $89

Stained Glass Workshop: Geode Hanging Make a stained glass window hanging using the copper foil technique. Learn to cut, foil, position, and solder glass, and to finish and gram the piece with lead cane. Materials provided.

For more information and a complete list of classes, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/encore.

This is your opportunity to dabble in a variety of outdoor skills!

Earn a certificate and patch for completing at least five Encore Adventure activities within a two-year period. All equipment provided for use during the program.

Guided Walk Exploring the Spring Migration Join us for a guided walk around Centennial Lake to observe warblers, waterfowl or even an oriole as the birds return. Receive a field guide to help start your own birdwatching checklist. Info: Dawn Thomas, 410-313-1754.

Centennial Pk

May 16

Photography

• Info: Ruth Coleman, 410-313-7311 or rucoleman@howardcountymd.gov.

Encore Adventures

RP9171.302

55 yrs + Classes: 1 $89 No experience necessary RP3536.301 N Laurel Comm Ctr Mar 31 11am-3pm Su

9:30-11am Th

$25

Intro to Fishing

Digital Photography 102 Learn and practice intermediate techniques relating to lighting, action, composition, and more.

55 yrs + Classes: 6 $95 RP3533.301 Elkridge 50+ Ctr Apr 4 6-8pm Th

Dance

• Info: Ruth Coleman, 410-313-7311 or rucoleman@howardcountymd.gov.

Social Square Dancing 55 yrs + Classes: 6 $89 All levels welcome RP3510.301 N Laurel Comm Ctr Mar 19 7:30-9pm Tu RP3510.302 N Laurel Comm Ctr Apr 30 7:30-9pm Tu

New angler or coming back to the sport? Learn or review how Lifelong Learning to cast, identify fish, rig a pole, tie knots, and much more.

Equipment and bait provided. Info: Dawn Thomas, 410-313-1754. • Info: Ruth Coleman, 410-313-7311 or rucoleman@howardcountymd.gov.

RP9171.301

Centennial Pk

May 9

9:30am-noon Th

$25

Crafts & Fine Arts

• Info: Curtis Gore, 410-313-7281 or cgore@howardcountymd.gov.

Basic Zentangle Workshop with Arlene Mindus, CZT Certified Zentangle teacher Arlene Mindus guides you in techniques and hand-drawn patterns.

55 yrs + Classes: 5 $40 $5 Mini Zentangle box may be purchased.

RP0308.301 Elkridge 50+ Ctr Apr 2 10am-noon Tu

Intermediate Bridge Begin with a review of the Standard American Bidding System including 1-level openings, weak & pre-emptive bids, strong bids, and slam bidding. Hand play, opening leads, commonlyused conventions and much more is covered.

55 yrs + Classes: 8 $75 RP3538.301 Kiwanis-Wallas Hall Mar 11 9-11:30am M

Bridge Handplay: Making Contracts & Other Neglected Topics

Creating Visual Stories with Mixed Media

Discussion is supported with handouts, hand play, and materials.

Bring your partner or come and meet a potential new partner.

Learn how to use everyday objects to create wall-mounted and 3-D mixed media pieces.

55 yrs + Classes: 8 $75 RP3534.301 Kiwanis-Wallas Hall Mar 13 9-11:30am W

55 yrs + Classes: 6 $75 $35 materials fee.

RP3525.301 Gary J Arthur Comm Ctr Apr 8

7-9pm

M

13

14

What's going on in HoCo?

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

M A R C H 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Self Defense for Active Adults Former HC Police Officer Derek Johnson teaches awareness and techniques to defend against dangers unique to older adults.

55 yrs + Classes: 3 $43 No class 4/17, 4/24 RP3517.301 Roger Carter Comm Ctr Apr 3 10-11am W 55 yrs + Classes: 5 $72 $43 No class 4/17, 4/24 RP3517.302 Bain 50+ Ctr Apr 3 1-2pm W

• Info: Tracy Adkins, 410-313-7279 or tadkins@howardcountymd.gov.

The Infamous Eastern State Penitentiary

Nature & Environment

• Info: 410-313-0400 or www.howardcountymd.gov/RNC/programs.

Space Matters Enjoy a planetarium presentation about current happenings in the sky and developments in space science.

55 yrs + Robinson Nature Ctr 2:30-3:45pm Th $9 RP4804.203 Mar 7 Theme: Rocks from Space Film: Impact!

RP4804.301 Apr 4 Theme: Types of Telescopes Film: Two Small Pieces of Glass RP4804.302 May 2 Theme: The Electromagnetic Spectrum Film: 3,000 Years of Stargazing

A one-hour guided tour of Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary. Once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, it famously held “Slick Willie” Sutton and “Scarface” Al Capone. Enjoy lunch on your own at Philadelphia food venues.

16 yrs + Bain 50+ Ctr $80 RP4508.301 Mar 14 9am-6pm Th

Madame Tussauds Visit this wax museum which hosts lifelike figures of recent Presidents, First Ladies, iconic figures, and Hollywood stars!

16 yrs + Bain 50+ Ctr $75 RP4509.301 Mar 22 10am-5pm

NEW! How Does Your Garden Grow Club

F

Orioles Camden Yard Tour

Join our social gardening club and learn over the course of six weeks from Master Gardeners. Discuss your gardening trials.

See Oriole Park at Camden Yards from a whole new perspective. Go behind the scenes of this historic ballpark.

55 yrs + Classes: 6 $49 RP4843.321 Robinson Nature Ctr

16 yrs + Bain 50+ Ctr $50 RP4523.301 Mar 23 9am-3pm

Apr 17

3-4pm W

Sa

NEW! Peaceful Mind Walk

Strathmore: Cirque Goes Hollywood

Learn mindfulness techniques along a guided nature walk. Trails include both paved pathways and unsurfaced paths.

Troupe Vertigo brings Hollywood flair to the Pops stage with acrobatics, aerialists, jugglers and more set to the music of Hollywood’s hottest hits. Enjoy a delicious dinner on your own.

55 yrs + $9 per person RP4805.313 Robinson Nature Ctr May 25

9-10:30am

18 yrs + Bain 50+ Ctr $125 RP4510.301 Apr 4 4:30-11:30pm Th

Sa

Fitness & Sports

National Cathedral Flower Mart

• Info/Fitness Waiver: Curtis Gore, 410-313-7281 or cgore@howardcountymd.gov.

Festival foods, children’s rides, artisanal and boutique gifts and, of course, herbs and flowers, once again fill the nave and grounds of the Cathedral.

Balance, Strength & Fitness with Lori Nowicki, ACE, AFPA

16 yrs + Bain 50+ Ctr $60 10% off two or more people RP4511.301 May 3 9am-3pm F

Using a BOSU stability ball, light weights and resistance bands, do exercises to train the body for daily activities.

55 yrs + Cedar Lane Pk-West No class 5/6, 5/27 RP3516.301 Classes: 5 Apr 29 10:45-11:30am M

Black-eyed Susan Festival

$49

Cardio Dance and Tone with Margaret Wolf, ACE Enjoy cardio with dance aerobic moves and strength training using weights and/or resistance bands. Core conditioning may be included. Appropriate for all fitness levels!

55 yrs + Classes: 8 $49 RP3505.301 Gary J Arthur Comm Ctr

Apr 3

2:30-3:30pm

W

Fundamentals of Modern Table Tennis 55 yrs + Howard County Table Tennis Center Classes: 10 RP3530.301 Beginner Apr 4 10:30am-noon Th RP3530.302 Intermediate Apr 4 1-2:30pm Th

$160

Active Aging 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament

Celebrate women! Join the 100th running of the Black-eyed Susan Stakes at Maryland’s best-known race track! This horse race for three-year-old fillies is known as one of the legs of the Filly Triple Crown. Enjoy open seating in the concourse. Stroll through shops, boutiques, and businesses owned by women.

21 yrs + Long Gate Pk & Ride $110 RP4512.301 May 17 Time TBD F

The Kennedy Center - Hello, Dolly!

16 yrs + Long Gate Pk & Ride $120 RP4502.401 Jun 8 10:30am-5:30pm Sa Walking from bus to a seat (ex: a theatre) Walking with seating available (ex: museum seating)

Includes elimination rounds; two-game minimum, referees, awards, and administration.

Lots of walking & standing with some

50 yrs + $120 Register by March 15.

RP3513.301 Roger Carter Comm Ctr Apr 6

Lots of walking (over a mile)

9am-4pm Sa

opportunities to sit

Magnificent Maryland Series

What's going on in HoCo?

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 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Belmont Manor, built in 1738.

Our GO50+ membership packages are designed to enhance the quality of life for the 50+ adult population that lives, works and plays in Howard County.

Live longer, healthier lives… join today!

INFO: 410-313-0200 | www.belmontmanormd.org *Seating is communal for below events.

Afternoon Tea at Belmont Manor Enjoy tea, a Manor scone served with clotted cream and jam, tea savories, and a delectable assortment of desserts.

10 yrs + Preregistration is required RP9900.301 Belmont Mar 9 2-4:30pm Sa RP9900.302 Belmont Mar 23 2-4:30pm Sa RP9900.303 Belmont Apr 6 2-4:30pm Sa

$35 $35 $35

Dinner Theatre – Joey & Gina’s Italian Wedding This hysterical, full-audience participation production, has you dance, act, and laugh yourself silly. Enjoy cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres, a three-course meal. Two drink tickets provided.

21 yrs + $85 Preregistration is required RP9910.301 Belmont Apr 26 6:30-9:30pm

F

Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea at Belmont Delight in savories, sweets and a homemade scone with clotted cream and jam.

RP9900.304

2 yrs +

Belmont

May 12

2-4:30pm Su $40

SUMMER CAMPS <'21&%'!$=">?$ !"#$%"%&$%"$%''(&)$%*'!'+&$,$-,#.$%*,%+&$/0&%$!12*%$3"!$4"0!$-*1567 $8*""&'$3!"#$'9-1%1(2$#"!(1(2)$,3%'!(""($,(6$3055:6,4$-,#.&$ %*,%$;%$4"0!$3,#154+&$&0##'!$&-*'605'7 Information/Registration: 410-313-7275 | www.howardcountymd.gov/rap 7120 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD 21046

For more information go to www.howardcountymd.gov/OOAHealthandWellness

15

16

What's going on in HoCo?

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

For a full list of Adult classes go to www.howardcountymd.gov/adultprograms.

M A R C H 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Nature

• Information: 410-313-0400 or www.howardcountymd.gov/RNC/programs.

Adult Flashlight Egg Hunt

Crafts & Fine Arts

• Info: Danielle Bassett, 410-313-4634 or dbassett@howardcountymd.gov.

NEW! Studio Art: Collage Making with Ann Wiker Learn how to personalize a black & white photograph, how to decoupage decorative letters for display, how to collage images on an abstract painting, and how to make a collaged silhouette painting. This is for all levels.

18 yrs + Classes: 5 $89 No class 4/20 RP0220.301 Gary J Arthur Comm Ctr Apr 6

9:30-11:30am Sa

Cooking

• Info: Danielle Bassett, 410-313-4634 or dbassett@howardcountymd.gov.

NEW! Best of Indian Breads with Chef Ravi Come make garlic naan (fermented bread), paratha (whole wheat stuffed bread with mint and potatoes) and pori (a deep fried whole wheat bread). Breads are served with chicken tikka masala, veggie khorma with paneer and biryani rice. This is a hands-on-style class.

18 yrs + Classes: 1 $29 $22 materials fee due at class RP0501.301 Arc of Howard County Apr 10 6:30-9pm W

Back by popular demand, embark on a nighttime egg hunt using flashlights and your wits at the Robinson Nature Center.

Hundreds of eggs full of raffle tickets lie hidden, awaiting your discovery. Collect as many as you can for chances to win passes to the National Aquarium, Wegmans gift cards, meal coupons to local restaurants, and other fantastic, nature-themed prizes.

21 yrs + $29 RP4874.301 Robinson Nature Ctr RP4874.311 Robinson Nature Ctr

Apr 26 May 24

8-10pm F 8-10pm F

Native Plant Palooza Shop at our annual native plant sale! Select from a variety of shrubs, wildflowers, ground covers, trees, and edible native plants. Info: www.howardcountymd.gov/plantnatives.

All ages Free RP4828.301 Robinson Nature Ctr

May 5 Noon-4:30pm

Su

Friday Late Nights in the NatureSphere The Naturesphere planetarium features a full-dome movie preceded by an adult-level planetarium presentation about current happenings in our night sky and space science.

Dance

• Info: Karen Bradley Ehler, 410-313-4635 or kehler@howardcountymd.gov.

18 yrs + Robinson Nature Ctr 8-9pm F $6 RP4800.203 Impact!

Mar 1 RP4800.301 Two Small Pieces of Glass Apr 5 RP4800.302 3,000 Years of Stargazing May 3

Beginner Line Dance with Mike and Annette Dey

Ladies Night Out Hikes

Dancers of all ages and experience levels learn new dances each week and review those previously taught. A variety of music is used, including country, jazz, Latin, pop and rock.

Enjoy an hour-long guided hike with the Center’s naturalists.

Learn about fascinating seasonal flora, fauna, and history. After the sun sets, enjoy a cozy campfire with s’mores and socializing.

18 yrs + Classes: 6 $57 RP1118.301 Roger Carter Comm Ctr

18 yrs + Spring Break Hike & Campfire Social $10 per person RP4883.301 Robinson Nature Ctr Apr 19 7:30-9:30pm F

Mar 26

7:15-8:15pm Tu

Music & Theater Arts

Urban Pallet Paint Night

• Info: Karen Bradley Ehler, 410-313-4635 or kehler@howardcountymd.gov.

Art of Hand Drumming with Orlando Cotto Beginners and serious enthusiasts welcome! Led by professional percussionist Orlando Cotto, (re)learn the basics of drumming, develop your internal timing, and learn common folk rhythms from Cuba, Puerto Rico and West Africa.

18 yrs + Classes: 4 $150 RP3435.301 Wilde Lake HS

Apr 11

No late seating

7-8pm Th

Guitar with Art Spilkia Learn chords and strums to accompany classic rock and folk-rock songs. Bring six-string acoustic or electric guitar.

18 yrs + Oakland Mills HS Classes: 5 $65 RP0225.301 Beginning Guitar Apr 23 7-8pm Tu RP0226.301 Intermediate Guitar Apr 23 8-9pm Tu

Create a crisp, Instagram-worthy wood sign to decorate your home and meet the owner of the Urban Pallet Company whose inspiring mission is to upcycle European shipping pallets into meaningful art. Choose colors, and finish your pre-stenciled and washed pallet (approximately 15” x 15”) into a masterpiece.

18 yrs + $40 $25 material fee due at the event RP4827.311 Robinson Nature Ctr May 3 7-9pm

F

NEW! Grow Your Own Mushrooms Discover how to grow your own mushrooms in this fascinating workshop on “log-seeding” − a technique that allows you to create a “crop” of mushrooms on an old log! Instructor is a mushroom expert and the current President of the Mycological Association of D.C. 18 yrs + $15 RP4827.301 Robinson Nature Ctr May 26

1-3pm

Su

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 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon

A Publication from the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence

17

Volume 9, No. 3 • March 2019

Discover the Benefits of Healthy Eating Nutrition Specialists Make Meal Planning Fun and Educational at Howard County 50+ Centers

N

ational Nutrition Month in March provides an opportunity to highlight the national and statewide network of nutrition sites authorized under the Older Americans Act (OAA) which serve individuals age 60 and older, and, in some cases, their caregivers, spouses, and/or persons with disabilities. OAA nutrition services are designed to promote the general health and well-being of older adults, reduce hunger and food insecurity, promote socialization, and delay the onset of adverse health conditions.

“The Maryland Department of Aging’s vision is for every Marylander to “Live Well, Age Well,” says Judy Simon, MDoA’s Nutrition & Health Promotion Programs Manager. “Howard County’s Office on Aging and Independence exemplifies this by offering vibrant meals, social opportunities and health education through its 50+ centers.”

Most Howard County 50+ centers provide a daily hot meal which meets one third of the daily nutrient needs of a healthy older adult. Meals are prepared and delivered by an outside caterer and served by nutrition specialists in each center, who also plan and present nutrition education programs, food tastings and special events for members. Marcus Hockaday has been the nutrition specialist at the Elkridge 50+ Center for the past two years.

“I am always coming up with new ideas for my population,” he says. “They might not be accustomed to certain foods or nutrition facts, so I try to make my programs hands-on so I can engage with them more. I love seeing them smile – they have become like family.”

Fatina Galloway, nutrition specialist at the Bain 50+ Center for the past ten years, agrees.

“Food brings people together; our members are most happy when they are eating and socializing.” The fact that Bain serves anywhere from 40 to 140 members for lunch each day can be challenging, so three days a week Fatina is joined by Kari Weidner, who serves as the nutrition specialist at the Longwood 50+ Center on the other two days.

“On Mondays and Thursdays we always have a large turnout from the Korean American Senior Association (KASA),” says Kari, “It takes all hands on deck!”

Bain also offers an authentic Korean meal twice a month, which is very popular. Coordinating meals at Longwood has its own challenges, since many of its predominantly Chinese and Korean clientele don’t speak English. “But I try to get to know the members and what they like to eat. I love to cook, so my favorite part is the nutrition tastings I plan once a month which draw a different crowd,” Kari says.

Food tastings are a popular aspect of the nutrition program at the East Columbia 50+ Center as well, according to Director Meridy McCague. “Our cooking demos by the Roving Radish and others are always popular,” she says. “And while we won’t have the capacity to offer a daily hot meal until our new center is built, we have boxed lunches available from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. four nights a week.” East Columbia staff will be working with Transition Howard County and Master Gardeners to create a native, edible garden outside the center, which will be both educational and fun.

Howard County 50+ Centers also offer seasonal programs in partnership with the Maryland Extension Service, including a new venture — Fresh Conversations — which debuts this spring.

A licensed dietary nutritionist, Carmen Roberts, MS, RD, LDN, also visits centers once a month to provide individual nutrition counseling by appointment. Call the center nearest you or contact Maryland Access Point at 410-313-1234 (voice/relay) for more information and availability.

Pictured below, from left, Fatina Galloway and Kari Weidner, at the Bain 50+ Center.

Marcus Hockaday, Nutrition Specialist, is pictured in his Elkridge 50+ kitchen, below right.

18

The 50+ Connection

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Grief and the Older Adult Grief and the Older Adult is a new seminar offered by the Health and Wellness Division of the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence in partnership with the Howard County Local Health Improvement Coalition (LHIC).

March 8 • 2:30 to 4:00pm NORTH LAUREL 50+ CENTER 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel 20723 Join us to gain a general overview of grief; the history of grief research and theory; modern grief research and theory; important grief concepts; and learn the basic tools to support older adults who are grieving. Cost is $15 per person; CEU's are provided for Maryland social workers and counselors (LCPC). The registration deadline is Monday, March 4, and is required for all attendees.

PRESENTED BY:

HOWARD COUNTY EXECUTIVE CALVIN BALL AND THE

HOWARD COUNTY COMMISSION FOR WOMEN CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO THE

Women’s Hall of Fame

Litsa Williams and Eleanor Haley, FOUNDERS What’s Your Grief, Baltimore

For more information, contact Karen Hull at 410-313-7466 (voice/relay) or khull@howardcountymd.gov.

REGISTER:

M A R C H 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

23RD ANNUAL INDUCTION CEREMONY Thursday, March 28, 2019 7:00 PM George Howard Building THE BANNEKER ROOM 3430 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City 21043

JOIN US AS WE HONOR THIS YEAR’S INDUCTEES

Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz Georgia L. Eacker Cathy Malkmus Hudson

www.hocogriefseminar.eventbrite.com

Howard County LHIC Local Health Improvement Coalition

The 50+ Connection is published monthly by the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence.

PHONE

This publication is available in alternate formats upon request.

To join our subscriber list, email kahenry@howardcountymd.gov

EMAIL WEBSITE

9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046 410-313-6410 (VOICE/RELAY) • www.howardcountymd.gov/aging Find us on

www.Facebook.com/HoCoCommunity

410-313-6400 (voice/relay) women@howardcountymd.gov howardcountymd.gov/cfw

If you need this information in an alternate format, or need accommodation to participate, call 410-313-6400 one week in advance.

Kim Higdon Henry, Editor • Email: kahenry@howardcountymd.gov Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the Office on Aging and Independence or by the publisher.

MEDICARE EDUCATION

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

410-313-7389

Medicare 101 and 102 A two-part introduction for those new to Medicare. Learn about original Medicare (Parts A and B), Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D), Medicare Health Plans (Part C), and Medicare Supplemental Policies

Thursday, March 7 and 14 • 10:00 – 11:30 AM Elkridge 50+ Center 6540 Washington Boulevard, Elkridge 21075

Tuesday, April 9 and 16 • 7:00 – 8:30 PM Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services 9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia 21046

For additional assistance with Medicare questions and concerns, call SHIP at 410-313-7392 (voice/relay).

FOR OTHER UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS, VISIT

www.howardcountymd.gov/SHIP

FREE Information Presented by the State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) of the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence

The 50+ 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 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon

19

Reduce Your Malnutrition Risk

By Malarie Burgess, Exercise Specialist Howard County Office on Aging and Independence

F

or older adults with chronic conditions, eating a nutrient-rich diet is more than just a good idea. According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), proper nutrition is an essential part of successfully managing health problems like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and more.

Why does what you eat matter? Left unchecked, malnutrition can lead to muscle loss and dizziness, which in turn may increase your risk of falling and make it harder to recover from surgery or illness.

Stepping Up Your Nutrition (SUYN) is a two-and-a-half-hour workshop designed for adults age 50+ who have one or more chronic conditions and want to improve their nutrition, regain strength and reduce their risk of falling.

SUYN participants learn why muscle matters, how nutrition affects fall risk, and which nutrients are key for older adults. Attendees will create an individual action plan to improve nutritional health that can reduce their risk of malnutrition. The small group setting encourages active discussion about making better decisions and making positive changes in behavior.

The Stepping Up Your Nutrition workshop made me aware of eating habits I have that are positive and those that are negative.

Being aware is always the first step to improvement!

— Sylvia (SUYN Program Participant)

Why not give it a try? To register for an upcoming Stepping Up Your Nutrition workshop, see below.

DID YOU KNOW? TWO OR MORE CHRONIC CONDITIONS DISCOVER

PUTS YOU AT RISK FOR MALNUTRITION!

• WHY muscle matters • HOW nutrition affects falls • HOW to get enough protein & fluids • WHAT you can do to eat better and improve your health

Lou Schott, left, with Joe Cacioppo and Lisa Terry (photo by Scott Kramer)

WWII Veteran Receives Long Overdue Honor

T

he Howard County Office of Veterans and Military Families (OVMF) recently held a surprise ceremony at Harmony Hall in Columbia to honor 92-year-old Joseph J. Cacioppo with a long overdue World War II Victory Medal.

Cacioppo, or “Mr. Joe,” as he is known to his friends, is a retired Marine who fought in the battle of Iwo Jima in 1945 at the age of 17. He earned the Victory medal, but never actually received it. “That really bothered me,” he said, so he reached out to Lisa Terry, OVMF manager, for help. Terry not only found a Victory Medal for him, she also planned a surprise ceremony with local veterans and arranged for Marine Corps Col. Lou Schott, a 98-year-old Columbia resident who also served during World War II, to present the honor. When asked if he ever imagined that he would receive the honor 72 years later, Mr. Joe admitted, “No – in fact, I wasn’t sure I would even make it off the island! The real heroes are the ones who didn’t.”

Consumer Protection Week

March 3-9, 2019 Thursday, March 7 • 10:00 am to 12:30 pm The Village in Howard 6061 Stevens Forest Road, Columbia 21045

Here when you need us.

CONSUMER

Friday, March 29 • 1:00 to 3:30 pm Lutheran Village at Miller's Grant

PROTECTION

9000 Father's Legacy, Ellicott City 21042

We’ve got you covered.

Saturday, April 6 • 12:30 to 3:00 pm St. John Baptist Church 9055 Tamar Drive, Columbia 21045 TO REGISTER OR FOR MORE INFORMATION

$5/person includes workshop and educational materials

MALARIE BURGESS

mburgess@howardcountymd.gov • 410-313-6073 (VOICE/RELAY)

PHONE EMAIL

410-313-6420 (VOICE/RELAY) consumer@howardcountymd.gov

www.howardcountymd.gov/consumer

20

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

The 50+ Connection

M A R C H 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Elkridge 50+Center Celebrates Its First Anniversary

By Jeannie DeCray, Director, Elkridge 50+ Center

O

n March 5, 2018, Howard County officials joined center staff and community members for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the new Elkridge 50+ Center.

The expanded and revamped center, at 10,000 square foot, is five times the size of the original center which opened in 1993.

Longtime and new members alike now enjoy the spacious Elkridge 50+ Center with its comfortable lounge and fireplace, two classrooms, a large multi-purpose room, plus a fitness equipment room with cardio equipment, strength training machines and free weights. The fitness room is available for use by center members who opt to join the GO50+ program, at a cost of $75 per year for county residents and $100 per year for non-residents. The building offers free WiFi throughout and laptops for members to use within the building. All spaces are equipped with projectors and a hearing assistance system.

The expanded facility demonstrates Howard County’s continuing support for the health, wellness and vitality for individuals 50 and older in the Elkridge community. Members can now participate in an ever-widening array of exercise classes and fitness programs, attend lectures and discussion groups, explore arts and life-long learning opportunities, and enjoy games and social activities.

More seating – including an outdoor space – means that our lunch program can serve healthy, nutritious meals to greater numbers of members while they enjoy the company of others. And, expanded evening and Saturday hours offer working members access to programming that fits their schedules. There is truly something for everyone in this beautifully expanded 50+ Center.

Join Us Tuesday, March 5, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. to Celebrate the FIRST ANNIVERSARY of the New Elkridge 50+ Center!

The program will feature a presentation on the history of Elkridge, and highlight the expanded opportunities afforded by the increased building space. Refreshments and promotional giveaways will be available, and tours of the building which explain current center operations will be offered. For more information, call 410-313-5192. To request a sign language interpreter or other accommodations to attend, call one week in advance.

Gary Pedicore, a long-term Elkridge resident and member of the 50+ center, is flanked by Jeanne Slater, Assistant Director, and Jeannie DeCray, Center Director. Pedicore is a local artist and the center's volunteer art teacher.

March Featured Events International Women’s Day 2019 Bain 50+ Center 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia 21044 Friday, March 8 • 10:30 am to 12 noon International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Join us for the 1933 Movie “Female” directed by the renowned Michael Curtiz, who later directed “Casablanca.”

Afterward, there will be a guided discussion led by Barbara Zalesky, Howard Community College Women’s Classical Movies instructor.

Wear purple in honor of women! Light refreshments served; free admission and giveaways. RSVP by March 4 to 410-313-7213.

Irishman’s Chorale: Amhránai Na Gaeilge

EXPANDED hours to Serve You BETTER! Elkridge 50+ Center Monday | Wednesday | Friday .........8:30 am to 4:30 pm Tuesday | Thursday...........................8:30 am to 8:00 pm Saturday ...........................................8:30 am to 12 noon

Ellicott City 50+ Fitness Center Monday through Thursday ..................8:30 am to 8:00 pm Friday .................................................8:30 am to 4:00 pm Saturday ............................................8:30 am to 12 noon

Ellicott City 50+ Center 9401 Frederick Road, Ellicott City 21042 Friday, March 15 • Noon Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day a couple of days early with a bona fide Irish performance! Founded in 1985 by Larry Feely, the group is one of the largest all male Irish choruses in the United States and is dedicated to the preservation of Irish culture and history through music. Seating is limited; please reserve tickets and lunch in advance at the Ellicott City 50+ Center front desk. Lunch will be served at noon; music begins at 12:30.

Cost is $10/person. For additional information, call 410-313-1400.

Stay connected to the Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services.

Like and share us today!

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HoCoCommunity

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 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

21

POT STOCKS TOO HIGH? Eager investors have inflated cannabis stock prices; there may be potential, but don’t be in a rush to buy RULES OF THE ROAD Follow this checklist for research and dealmaking when buying a car TECH SUPPORT SCAM Don’t fall for callers posing as tech support workers; legitimate companies won’t call you to report a problem

Social Security calling? It’s likely a scam For the past few years, the media have ously complicate their lives. widely reported on scammers who call unNew scam techniques suspecting victims pretending Unfortunately, these scamto be representatives of the mers are becoming more soIRS. They claim the potential phisticated in their techniques. victim owes money and enFor example, they are now courage them to make payusing robo-call systems that ments using credit cards, allow them to make millions of debit cards or even gift cards. calls and repeat calls until they Amazingly, thousands of receive a positive response. people have fallen for the The scammers falsely yet scam and have collectively convincingly make it look like lost tens of millions of dollars. they’re calling from a legitiAs articles and columns un- THE SAVINGS mate 800 number associated failingly point out, this is not GAME with SSA (specifically 1-800how government agencies col- By Elliot Raphaelson 772-1213). lect debts. The IRS will not call One of their demands is that the potential you to collect a debt, and it certainly will victim makes a payment over the phone in not recommend payment via gift card!

Now it seems the fraudsters have a new order to obtain a new Medicare card. While wrinkle: impersonating a representative from new Medicare cards are being issued, they are absolutely free. So if any caller claiming the Social Security Administration (SSA).

AARP has warned of a dramatic increase to be a government agent asks you for any in complaints from individuals complaining payment in order to receive a new Medicare about callers purporting to be from the card, you know you are dealing with a scamSSA. As with the IRS scam, the SSA imper- mer.

Other ploys include indicating that you sonation scam gains its effectiveness from the simple fact that people fear getting on are in danger of losing some benefits unthe bad side of SSA, as doing so could seri- less you provide some personal informa-

tion. Again, this is a sure sign that you are the subject of a scam.

Sometimes the scammer will claim that if you provide personal information, you may be eligible for a larger Social Security benefit, or that you are being called because SSA computers are down and your personal information has been lost.

A reliable sign that the call is a scam is if the caller threatens that your benefits will be terminated or reduced if you don’t comply with his or her demand for a fee or personal information.

In another variant on the scam you may receive an automated recording indicating that your Social Security number has been suspended because of illegal activity. You are then provided with a phone number to call to fix the problem and told that if you don’t call to fix the problem, your assets will be frozen. Once you call the number, you will be asked to provide personal information, exposing yourself to identity theft.

Report calls to the SSA If you believe you have received a fraudulent call, report the details of the call to the fraud hotline of the SSA inspector general of Social Security at 1-800-269-0271 or

online at oig.ssa.gov/report.

Also notify any seniors you know who might be gullible to be on the lookout from scammers claiming to be SSA representatives.

It is possible that the SSA could discover it has overpaid you for some reason and will demand you repay the overage. In that case SSA will contact you by mail, not by phone.

If this happens, insist on a clear explanation as to why you were overpaid. You have the right to appeal such a request by filing Form SSA-561, Request for Reconsideration.

If you agree you have been overpaid but you believe you did not cause the overpayment and you can’t afford the terms of repayment, file Form SSA-632, Request for Waiver of Overpayment or Change in Repayment Rate. By filing this form, you are asking SSA to reconsider their decision and either let you pay back the amount at a different rate than SSA requested or waive the request for overpayment.

Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © 2019 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

When stocks dip, is that the time to buy?

By James K. Glassman Around the beginning of 2018, the volatility of the stock market suddenly picked up. It was a worrying development for most investors, who prefer a smooth ride to a turbulent one.

But volatility is a necessary condition if you want to deploy a strategy known as buying the dips, or BTD. The idea is to purchase stocks when they have dropped sharply, anticipating that they will bounce back.

The BTD strategy requires some courage, but it seems to work. In a recent paper, Vivian Ning, of investment research firm S&P Global, looked at every stock in the Russell 1000 index that fell at least 10 percent more than that index on a single day. In other words, if the Russell (roughly the 1,000 largest U.S. companies) fell 1.5 percent, the stock would have to have dropped 11.5 percent or more to be counted.

Then Ning looked at the subsequent performance of those dipping stocks —

again in comparison with the Russell 1000 as a whole.

What she found was striking. The BTD strategy “significantly outperforms” the index. Had you bought the fallen stocks, you would have beaten the Russell 1000 by an average of 0.47 percent the next day, by 4.8 percent over 30 days, and by an incredible 28 percent over 240 days.

What’s more, these BTD opportunities for individual stocks are more common than you might think, typically occurring about 200 to 300 times a year for a group of 1,000 companies.

But don’t get carried away. Ning’s study included about 4,000 instances of 10 percent-plus declines in two years, both during a brutal bear market: 2008 and 2009.

Her results may tell us more about the recovery of the market as a whole from the Great Recession (and confirming the simple strategy of maintaining your portfolio in tough times) than about a BTD strategy

for picking individual stocks.

Also, as Ning describes it, BTD is a strategy for traders, not long-term investors. Immediately jumping to buy a fallen stock — or several — in a single day is impractical.

A strategy for buy-and-holders Rather than a mechanical strategy, I think of BTD as a sound idea to keep in mind as you apply a broad, buy-and-hold approach to investing. The best way to make money in the stock market is to purchase excellent companies and keep them as long as possible.

Sell only if you need to cash out for a pressing need — such as a home purchase, tuition payment or retirement — or if you believe something important has changed about the company — new leadership that is inferior to the old, for example, or a fierce new competitor that drives down prices, or changing consumer tastes that management can’t adapt to.

When you buy a stock, you should think of yourself as a partner in a business. Every day, as Warren Buffett’s mentor Benjamin Graham put it, a character named Mr. Market offers to sell you shares in that business at a particular price.

Wouldn’t you rather pay a low price than a high one for the shares? If you take the long view and you believe in the company, then you should love a low price.

Of course, Mr. Market often offers a low price as a signal that something terrible and irreparable has happened to the business.

Take General Electric (symbol GE), for example. At the start of 2017, it was trading at about $32 a share. By January 2018, it had fallen by half. But if you had bought on that dip, you would have suffered a big loss.

Rather than bouncing back, GE fell below $8 by early December. The decline brings to mind another Wall Street cliché: don’t try See BUY THE DIP, page 23

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Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

M A R C H 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

More investors buying cannabis stocks

By Ryan Ermey The movement toward legalized marijuana use in North America is gaining ground.

Last November’s midterm elections saw Missouri and Utah join 31 other U.S. states where medical marijuana is legal. Michigan voters made their state one of 10 (plus the District of Columbia) where recreational use isn’t a criminal offense. Canada recently became the first industrialized nation to legalize recreational marijuana use nationwide.

The prospect of continuing momentum has investors seeing green in more ways than one, but those who have been riding the green wave thus far have had a wild run.

In advance of Canada’s October legalization, Canadian cannabis stocks soared. Canadian pot firm Tilray was trading in the low to mid $20s for much of August before the share price spiked to an intraday high of $300 in September. The shares have since receded dramatically, trading at $77 in mid-January.

Shares in other major Canadian growers and distributors, such as Canopy Growth and Aurora Cannabis, followed a similar, if less extreme, trajectory: a huge run-up prior to legalization followed by a pullback due to concerns over industry-wide supply shortages.

Despite the volatility, some intrepid investors (and some blue-chip companies) are entering the fray. If you are considering cannabis stocks, here’s what you need to know.

What’s the appeal?

Analysts at the Arcview Group, a cannabisfocused investment and research firm, estimate worldwide legal cannabis spending will reach $32 billion by the end of 2022, up from an estimated $12.9 billion in 2018.

Firms such as Aphria, Aurora Cannabis, Canopy Growth, Cronos Group and Tilray have been able to gobble up the majority of supply agreements that allow companies

to sell recreational weed in Canada, said Vivien Azer, an analyst at investment firm Cowen, and are likely to be first-movers when it comes to expanding into international markets.

Major firms are showing interest. In December, tobacco giant Altria announced plans to pay $1.8 billion for a 45 percent stake in Cronos Group. In August, beer, wine and liquor producer Constellation Brands invested $4 billion in Canopy Growth, upping its stake in the cannabis firm from 9.9 percent to 38 percent.

Should I invest in cannabis stocks now?

Probably not — it’s still too early. Even the more established players in the cannabis business are going through growing pains.

Although nearly all Canadian growers are reporting massive spikes in revenues following legalization, most project little to no earnings in addition to operating losses as they pump money back into expanding their businesses.

The supply shortage following legalization is just one of many hurdles these firms face, said Jason Wilson, president of investment firm Budding Equity. “Postprohibition, it remains to be seen which companies will be able to execute on all these different levels — from marketing to supply chain to branding,” he said.

Plus, legal cannabis businesses compete not only with each other, but also with longestablished black markets, said Charles Feldmann, an attorney whose practice assists medical marijuana business clients.

And “black-market distributors don’t have to pay lawyers or accountants or banks or taxes,” he said.

With the industry still in its early stages, trying to pick a winner is like playing the lottery, Feldmann said. “If you’re consider-

ing investing in pot stocks, it has to be with money you have no problem losing.”

What makes these stocks particularly risky?

Even after pulling back, prominent pot stocks are trading at nosebleed levels. A basket of cannabis stocks tracked by analysts at Wells Fargo trades at an average price that’s 22 times projected 2019 sales (not earnings; sales). Remember: There are no earnings to speak of. The average price-to-sales ratio for the S&P 500 is 1.9.

Increased volatility stems in part from the fact that pot stocks are owned mostly by individual investors who are often more likely to react to headlines than are institutional shareholders.

If I still want to invest in such stocks, where can I do it?

Canadian cannabis firms can list on U.S. exchanges and trade just like any other stock, as long as they don’t have business operations in the U.S. Only a few have opted to do so, so far.

You’ll find a handful of cannabis-based biotech firms, both domestic and internationally based, listed on U.S. exchanges as well. Some Canadian firms that haven’t listed stateside trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange and may be available to trade via your online broker.

Because marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug, it’s still federally illegal in the U.S., and American firms can’t list on U.S. exchanges or in Toronto. But these stocks, along with smaller Canadian names, trade on minor Canadian exchanges or on overthe-counter markets. Most are penny stocks that don’t have to adhere to the reporting requirements of major exchanges and should probably be avoided.

If you must speculate, consider a diversified approach. The ETFMG Alternative

Harvest ETF (symbol MJ, $31) holds nearly 40 stocks — mostly cannabis producers, but also makers of fertilizers, pesticides and growing equipment, as well as tobacco firms.

Are there other ways to invest in the green wave?

The partnership of Constellation Brands (STZ, $164) with Canopy Growth represents an intriguing opportunity, said Azer. Constellation, known for brands such as Corona beer, Black Box wine and Svedka vodka, eventually plans to produce cannabis-infused beverages and sleep aids.

Canopy’s revenues are currently a drop in the bucket at Constellation, so investors bullish on cannabis shouldn’t buy for that reason alone. Nevertheless, the firm is worth considering on the strength of its alcohol business, buoyed by strong demand for its lineup of craft and imported beers.

“Constellation is a best-in-class beer stock with a free cannabis option,” said Azer.

Biotech firms might be another way to play cannabis. In June, the Food and Drug Administration announced its first approval of a marijuana-derived drug, Epidiolex, a treatment from GW Pharmaceuticals (GWPH, $137) for rare forms of epilepsy.

Although there is huge potential for growth in this field, said Arcview CEO Troy Dayton, it remains to be seen what kind of market exists for these treatments and how willing doctors will be to prescribe them.

Analysts at investment research firm Stifel assign a “buy” rating to Cambridge, England-based GW Pharmaceuticals, which trades in the U.S. as an American depositary receipt. But the stock is a risky proposition given that the firm isn’t expected to produce See CANNABIS STOCKS, page 24

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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 9

Buy the dip From page 21 to catch a falling knife. Ouch!

General Electric’s price has declined for good reasons. It is not the same company in the same environment as it was in 2000, when Jack Welch was CEO and the stock traded at $58.

Buying the dips is not a surefire route to success, but you can still exploit its two underlying principles: Mr. Market often goes too far in his pessimism, and good businesses frequently overcome setbacks. If you love a company and you think nothing serious has gone wrong, then consider a stock decline to be a fabulous buying opportunity.

Some good examples If 3M (MMM, $196, -21.5 percent off peak) was a good buy at $259 in January 2018, why isn’t it better when it’s $63 cheaper? It’s a solidly profitable industrial company with a history of rebounding when shares drop. ValueLine Investment Survey gives 3M a top rating of 100 for both earnings predictability and price stability, so capitalize on those rare dips. (Prices are as of Jan. 18, 2019; the percentage is how far it’s fallen from its 52-week high.)

An example of BTD working well is Netflix (NFLX, $271, -35.6 percent), the leader in video streaming. Periodically, investors sour on the stock, presenting excellent buying opportunities.

In July 2011, for example, Netflix was trading at $43; four months later, it was down to $9. It took two years to get back to $38, but by December 2, 2015, Mr. Market was demanding $131 for a share. Two months later, the price had dropped to $80.

By July 2018, Netflix was trading at $419, but it has fallen by more than onethird. Is now the time to buy? I think so, since Netflix is a strong company with a great future.

Good stocks, flagging industries I don’t consider a dip worth buying until the price decline in a stock reaches 20 percent or more (the threshold that typically defines a bear market). Such fallen companies abound.

Two of my favorites are Schlumberger (SLB, $45, -38.3 percent), the oil-service giant, which has dropped sharply over the past four years, and NVR (NVR, $2,490, 33.2 percent), a well-run homebuilder that never seemed to fall in price until 2018, when it declined by more than one-third from January 2018 through this January.

These companies are suffering because their industries are languishing. Energy prices and demand for homes could certainly decline even more. But both sectors are cyclical, and when good times return, you’ll want to own the best of the breed in your portfolio.

Tech stocks have also been hammered lately. Apple (AAPL, $157 -29.1 percent) presents an excellent BTD opportunity. So does Symantec (SYMC, $20, -35.1 percent), the cybersecurity company, with a price-earnings ratio, based on the consensus of analysts’ estimates for the next 12 months, of just 13. The shares are down by one-third since October 2017.

Also tempting is International Business Machines (IBM, $124, -25.7 percent), which has fallen from $167 a share in January 2018. Big Blue carries a dividend yield of 5.3 percent.

Unfortunately, the best of the tech stocks — Amazon.com (AMZN) and Alphabet (GOOGL) — are not down far enough from their highs, at least for now.

Keep an eye on them, and consider buying if they fall more sharply.

However, I would stay away from Facebook (FB), whose management seems unable to cope with troubles involving user privacy and the spread of “fake news.”

The best way to take advantage of the BTD strategy is through the simple process

of dollar-cost averaging. Make monthly or quarterly purchases of the stocks and funds in your portfolio in consistent dollar amounts.

If prices decline, you get to buy more shares.

You already do this if you contribute automatically to a 401(k) plan, for example.

Or you could instruct your broker to buy $1,000 worth of a stock every three months. In January, if the stock is $100 a share, you can afford to purchase 10 shares. If the stock drops to $80 in April, you can afford 12.5 shares.

In the end, that’s the advantage of BTD. It helps turn the basic emotions of investing upside down, making fear your ally.

If you are holding stock in a good business for the long term, lower prices help you grab as many shares as you can at bargain prices. Down can be a happy direction.

James K. Glassman chairs Glassman Advisory, a public-affairs consulting firm. He does not write about his clients. Of the stocks recommended in this column, he owns Amazon.com. His most recent book is Safety Net: The Strategy for De-Risking Your Investments in a Time of Turbulence. © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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M A R C H 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Avoid costly mistakes when buying a car

By Philip Reed In the excitement of buying a new (or used) car, it’s easy to forget critical details that wind up costing you money.

I learned this over more than a decade of buying dozens of test cars for the automotive site Edmunds. No matter how much experience I got, I always consulted my car-buying checklist and updated it based on what I learned.

Once you’ve decided on the type of car you want, the buying process can be divid-

ed into two sections: research and dealmaking. This breaks a seemingly overwhelming job into smaller, more doable tasks.

Here is your car-buying checklist — the crucial steps to help you get the wheels you want at the right price.

Research These steps help you locate the specific vehicle you want to buy and strengthen your position when it’s time to negotiate.

1. Configure your car. Go to the car-

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maker’s website and decide which model (often called the “trim level”) you want and what options you need.

2. Check pricing. Using car sites like Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book or TrueCar, find the car’s real market value price, which is what others are paying for it.

3. Look for incentives. Check the carmaker’s site for incentives, such as customer cash back or low-interest financing, on the model you want.

4. Locate your car. Search the inventory of local dealerships to find the exact car you want to buy. Write down the stock number or vehicle identification number (VIN).

5. Check your credit. Your credit score will give you a sense of the interest rate you’re likely to get. This is especially important for borrowers with fair to poor credit (generally below 690), who may face higher rates.

6. Run the numbers. Use an auto loan calculator to estimate your monthly car payment to ensure that it fits your budget.

For the car price, you can use the true market value.

7. Get preapproved financing. Apply for a car loan before going to the dealership so you’ll know your interest rate. You can still use dealership financing if they can beat the preapproval rate.

8. Round up your paperwork. You’ll need to bring the following to the dealership: • Preapproved loan information • Driver’s license • Proof of insurance • Funds for your down payment If you’re trading in your old car, you’ll also need the current title, registration and loan information.

Dealmaking If you hate haggling, consider emailing the dealership’s Internet manager for price quotes. But assuming you’re going old school and negotiating in person, here’s what to do:

Cannabis stocks From page 22 positive earnings until 2020, according to Stifel’s estimates.

What will it take for marijuana investing to take off in the U.S.?

Nationwide legalization.

The STATES Act, a bipartisan bill introduced in Congress in 2018, would repre-

1. Test-drive the car. Even if you’ve already decided on a car, test drive it again to verify your choice and confirm it has the options you selected.

2. Start the negotiation. Tell the salesperson you’ve shopped around and priced similar models. Then, ask for the dealership’s best price. If they won’t name a price, make an opening offer at least $1,000 below the true market value price.

3. Send a message. If the salesperson says, “I’ll take your offer to my boss,” don’t wait meekly in the sales office. Instead, be unpredictable. Wander around the dealership. Believe me, they’ll find you in a hurry.

4. Make a counteroffer. If your first offer isn’t accepted, consider raising your price by $250 until you reach an agreement or the true market value price.

5. Get an out-the-door price. Before you agree to any deal, ask for an out-thedoor price with a breakdown of fees and any extras.

6. Be ready for upsells. Once you reach an agreement with your salesperson, the finance and insurance manager will draw up the contract. But first, you’ll be pitched extras, such as an extended warranty, paint protection and anti-theft devices. Be ready to say “no” or buy these later.

7. Review your contract. Check the contract for any add-ons you didn’t ask for.

Make sure the numbers match what you agreed to in the sales office and your own estimates.

8. Get it in writing. If anything is missing, like spare keys or an owner’s manual, or if any work is promised on the car, get it in writing. This is called a “due bill.”

9. Check the gas gauge. New cars are sold with a full tank of gas. Check the fuel level before you leave the lot.

There are other ways to buy cars, but this checklist covers the most common dealership transaction. Keep it with you as protection — and a money-saver — the next time you go car shopping.

— AP sent the biggest step yet toward legalization, said Azer. The bill would grant each state the right to regulate the sale of marijuana within its own borders.

Opinion among cannabis industry insiders and state regulators is split as to whether the legislation is likely to pass. © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Feb. 24+

LEARN ABOUT TAX CHANGES AT LIBRARIES Two libraries will host informational meetings on tax deductions

and credits as well as recently enacted tax law changes. The meetings are held in partnership with Making Change. One will take place on Sunday, Feb. 24 from 2 to 3:30 p.m., at the Elkridge Library, 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. To register, call (410) 313-5077. Another will take place on Thursday, Feb. 28 starting at 7 p.m. at the Savage Branch Library, 9525 Durness Ln., Laurel. Advance registration

HowardCountyRecycles.org • 410-313-6444

is required by calling (410) 313-0760.

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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 9

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How to spot common tech support scams

By Justin Lavelle Don’t be fooled by a scammer who calls you claiming to be from Microsoft or Apple.

Despite warnings that come year after year about tech support scams, fraudsters continually find new and more effective ways to trick consumers into giving up their personal and financial information.

Microsoft recently reported that tech support scams were up 24 percent between 2017 and 2018. The tech giant received 153,000 reports of customers encountering or falling for a fraud attempt, with 1 in 10 actually losing money from those scams. Microsoft customers paid an estimated $3 to $6 million to criminals — all because they didn’t know how to spot a hoax.

The typical tech support scam involves the fraudster calling or emailing a customer claiming to be from a legitimate technology company. The scammer says there’s something wrong with the customer’s computer, and uses a lot of tech jargon to confuse them. They then ask for passwords, remote desktop access, and even payment so they can “fix” the non-existent problem.

Savvy internet users know that no corporate tech support representative would ever contact them about a device issue unless the customer reported it first and asked for a call back. However, if you’re not particularly knowledgeable about technology, it can be very easy to be fooled by a convincing-sounding scam artist.

Here are a few steps to take if you suspect someone is trying to pull a tech support scam on you.

1. Verify the source.

Because of the sophisticated technology fraudsters have access to, it’s very easy for someone to create a convincing-looking scam email, or fake a caller ID to make it look like a phone number is coming from a specific area code or geographical region.

BEACON BITS

Mar. 16

STAGE YOUR HOUSE TO SELL

Howard Community College has scheduled a one-morning course on preparing your home to sell on Saturday, March 16 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Columbia Gateway Campus, 6751 Columbia Gateway Dr., Columbia. The cost is $50; $40 for those 60 and older. To learn more, call (443) 518-1700 or visit howardcc.edu.

Mar. 19

FREE PROGRAM ON ESTATE PLANNING

Ellicott City 50+ Center will host a free program on estate planning essentials on Tuesday, March 19, featuring attorney Fu-Mei Chao Jiang. The discussion begins at I p.m. at the center, 9401 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. To learn more, go to howardcountymd.gov/50pluscenters or call (410) 313-1421.

If you were actually expecting a call from a tech support agent, you can run a reverse phone search or look up the listed tech support number to see if it’s an exact match for the company that’s supposed to be contacting you.

If you receive an email or browser popup notice, carefully verify the logo, email sender address, signature, etc. The differences between a real and fake email or ad can be very subtle and easy to miss, so look at it with a very scrutinizing eye.

More importantly, do not click on any links or call any phone number listed in suspicious emails and pop-ups.

2. Never give a random caller your password or desktop access.

No matter how convincing the call, email or pop-up seems, you should never give out your account passwords or allow someone else to take control of your com-

puter remotely.

If you’re having trouble with your computer, it’s best to bring the machine in to a tech repair shop or official device retail store, or have a tech support professional come to your home to look at it in person.

3. Keep your browser, programs and security software up to date.

Don’t ignore those messages on your computer that remind you to update your software.

Software companies and device manufacturers are constantly working to patch security flaws and bugs, so failing to update at the advised time could leave your machine vulnerable to hackers. (Just make sure it’s a legitimate message from your own software provider, not a scammer.)

4. Stay vigilant.

To avoid becoming the next victim of a tech support scam, it’s important to be

vigilant about computer and Internet safety. Never respond to a message or phone call from someone claiming to need access to your PC if you didn’t previously report an issue.

If you are really having a tech support problem, contact your device manufacturer or a trusted tech support professional directly using the info listed on their website.

Most importantly, keep yourself educated and informed about the latest fraud tactics and the warning signs of any new scams.

Arming yourself with this knowledge could save you from a sneaky data thief.

Justin Lavelle is the chief communications officer for BeenVerified.com, a source for online background checks and contact information. BeenVerified allows individuals to find more information about people, phone numbers, email addresses and property records.

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Call the community nearest you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour. www.rhomecommunities.com MOST COMMUNITIES ARE PET-FRIENDLY

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M A R C H 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Travel Leisure &

President Herbert Hoover and wife Lou enjoying their home in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Learn about this and other Virginia presidential retreats on page 28.

Ride the rails through Canadian Rockies capped heads. Waterfalls cascade down mountainsides, rivers froth, pristine lakes shimmer in the sun, and fir-covered slopes plummet down to verdant meadows sprinkled with wildflowers.

“All aboard” to bagpipes

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROCKY MOUNTAINEER

Condé Nast Traveler named the Rocky Mountaineer one of the top five trains in the world. The service offers four routes through the Canadian Rockies in British Columbia and Alberta from mid-April to mid-October.

The coaches have roomy seats with ample leg room and big windows for viewing. The train has wheelchair facilities for all services and wheelchair lifters at all stations.

Breakfast, lunch, snacks and generous beverage service aboard the train are included in your ticket. Passengers spend nights in hotels, usually with time to explore the towns or take excursions. Some routes also include bus travel and additional sightseeing trips.

“It’s a perfect way to see the Canadian Rockies without having to drive,” said Patricia McCarthy, a fellow tourist from Arlington, Va. “It’s an all-encompassing trip that captures the magnitude of what you’re seeing.”

There are two levels of service — Silverleaf single-level dome coaches and Goldleaf bi-level dome coaches. The Goldleaf Service dome coaches are equipped with interior elevators.

Usually, the train travels about 30 mph, a crawl in the railroad world, but a good pace for sightseeing.

The Mountaineer slows down for some pre-determined sites and when the locomotive crew spots something exciting.

Friendly guides the sights, explain The Rocky Mountaineer train passes by a snowy Stoney local history, geology, Creek in Alberta as it traverses the Canadian Rockies.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROCKY MOUNTAINEER

By Glenda C. Booth In planning my “journey through the clouds” excursion last summer aboard Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer train, little did I realize the adventures ahead. After all, whizzing along on a train usually puts me to sleep. Not this train.

By the end of my six-day excursion, I had walked on a glacier, helicoptered over the Rocky Mountains, and been dazzled by tumbling waterfalls, rushing rivers, soaring peaks, mountain goats, moose, loons, bald eagles and a grizzly with her cub.

Just rolling through western Canada watching spectacular scenery unfold, mile after mile, is mesmerizing too. Despite the soothing rumble, you can’t snooze. If you nod off, you’ll be jolted by cries of “Moose, moose!” “Mountain goat!” and “Grizzly!” from fellow passengers.

As you travel along through the vast, stunning landscape, the backdrop is one of majestic mountain peaks shrouded in clouds or projecting their bald or snow-

Adventurous excursions are included with some Rocky Mountaineer train itineraries. Here, a group rafts on the Bow River to see native wildlife up close. Other options include walking on glaciers, helicoptering high over the snowy peaks and an Alaskan cruise.

botany and other miscellany. “We are about the journey, not the destination,” one staffer said.

On-board chefs say they can prepare meals without dropping dishes because they have “train legs.” Breakfast and lunch are varied, tasty and ample; British Columbia wines, plentiful.

In the towns at dinner, you’ll likely find northwest salmon dishes and Canada’s favorite, poutine — fries and cheese curds smothered with gravy.

When we set off from Vancouver, one of several departure points, a bagpiper played a send-off, and soon we were aboard savoring early-morning, nonalcoholic cocktails served by staff.

The train snaked along the Fraser River through Hope (“Chainsaw Carving Capital of the World”), and soon to Hell’s Gate, the narrowest point on the Fraser River — where 750 million tons of whitewater rapids rush per minute, twice that of Niagara Falls.

Next came the Jaws of Death gorge, more roaring rapids and gravelly slopes.

We stopped off in the town of Kamloops, the Tournament Capital of Canada, known for its forestry, mining, paper manufacturing and cattle ranching. The Kamloops Mounted Patrol greets arriving guests.

Kamloops’s Main Street is a 1950s throwback of mom-and-pop stores.

At the unusual First Nations cemetery, caretakers let the grass and sagebrush grow as nature intended. The area’s gray hills have made Kamloops a favorite spot for filming sci-fi shows like “The X-Files.”

On a gondola and a glacier The bus segment of this journey explores up to four world-renowned national parks, all connected to one another — Jasper, Banff, Yoho and Kootenay. In Jasper, guides tutored us on black and grizzly bears.

For example: bears eat 150,000 buffalo berries a day, totaling 60,000 calories. The most common bear, they chuckle, is the “stump bear,” poking fun at overly-eager tourists who mistake a tree stump for one.

And guides explained that bear spray is not a repellent. You spray it at the bear, not on yourself.

Banff National Park in Alberta is Canada’s oldest national park, established in 1885 and now part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. In its 2,564 square miles of wilderness, visitors hike through oldgrowth forests amid roaring rivers, alpine meadows, pristine lakes and a bison herd.

The Banff gondola lifts visitors 7,486 feet above sea level to Sulphur Mountain’s crest for 360-degree views of mountain See CANADIAN ROCKIES, page 27

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 9

Canadian Rockies From page 26 after mountain, as far as you can see.

One of the park’s most famous visitors was Marilyn Monroe, who injured her ankle while filming and recuperated for six days in the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.

Legend has it that the bellhops tossed a coin for the chance to push the blonde bombshell’s wheelchair.

The scenic drive on Alberta’s Icefields Parkway, also known as the Promenade des Glaciers, is billed as one of the top ten drives in the world. It parallels the Continental Divide from Jasper to Lake Louise.

The Athabasca River and many alpine lakes along the way are a milky turquoise because of rock flour — the fine silt suspended in the water that comes from glaciers grinding down the mountains.

The 125-square-mile Columbia Icefield feeds eight glaciers and several rivers with its meltwaters, and offers a once-in-lifetime — if a bit harrowing — experience. This massive ice sheet, formed during the Great Glaciation, is surrounded by mountains and is basically a gigantic bowl of ice up to 1,200 feet thick.

Visitors here get a quick lesson in glaciology. A glacier’s toe has bluish ice.

Crevasses (not the same as crevices) are deep cracks in glaciers that water flows through, washing out the fine-grained rock flour into lakes and rivers.

Peyto Lake, for example, is glacier-fed,

and its suspended particles scatter bluegreen rays of light making it the “bluest lake in the Rockies.” It’s also distinctive because one end is shaped like a coyote’s head.

At the Athabasca and at Brewster Glacier Icewalks, you can literally walk on a glacier.

Large hybrid bus-truck vehicles called Ice Explorers, featuring six-wheel drive, rumble down and then up a track delivering bold visitors to an icy expanse with no guard rails, ropes, bannisters or other supports.

Wary glacier novices carefully pick the spot to place each foot on what looks like a vast frozen lake, as the wind whips across the stark white landscape. Be sure to be fully insured before doing this!

Hiking the hills and up in the air Lake Louise is a 1.2-mile, aqua-emerald lake surrounded by mountains and bookended by the Queen Victoria glacier and the towering, elegant Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. The opulent 550-room hotel was built in the 1890s by the Canadian Pacific Railway and is open year-round.

Four million people visit Lake Louise every year. The lake, fed by six glaciers, is frozen from November to June, warming up to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.

Lake Louise boasts the most grizzlies in Canada, but that doesn’t deter hikers who explore the compound’s trails, including one up to the alpine-style Lake Agnes Tea House.

Hold onto your seat, not so much for safety, but for jaw-dropping views of the

BEACON BITS

Mar. 7

STEP UP YOUR NUTRITION Learn how nutrition affects falls and why muscle matters, as well as how to get enough protein and fluids at this class on Thursday,

March 7 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Village in Howard, 6061 Stevens Forest Rd., Columbia. The $5 fee includes education materials. To register or for more information, contact Malarie Burgess at mburgress@howardcountymd.gov or call (410) 313-5940.

Mar. 21

CAR SAFETY TECHNOLOGY Learn how to utilize new safety technology in your car, and what to look for when shopping for a new car, in an AARP-sponsored

free workshop from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Thursday, March 21 at the Ellicott City 50+ Center, 9401 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Advanced sign-up is required. Visit howardcountymd.gov/50pluscenters or call (410) 313-1421.

Ongoing

FREE ENGLISH CLASSES City of Hope Church is offering free English classes for speakers of other languages on Wednesdays through April 17 at the church, lo-

cated in the in the lower level of the Stonehouse Community Center at the Long Reach Village Center at 8775 Cloudleap Ct., Columbia. Students may enroll any Wednesday throughout the program. Classes are free, taught by volunteers. Textbooks cost $30. To learn more, contact English@cityofhopechurch.net.

Mar. 29

THE ROMANOV DYNASTY Vladimir Marinich, professor emeritus at Howard Community College, will discuss the Russian Romanov Dynasty in a free lecture on

Friday, March 29 at 1 p.m. at the Ellicott City 50+ Center, 9401 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. For more information, visit howardcountymd.gov/50pluscenters or phone (410) 313-1421.

Canadian Rockies from high in the sky over Kananaskis, Alberta.

At the Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino is this bucket list adventure — soaring over the Rockies in a Bell 407, six-seater helicopter. The view of high, snowy mountain tops, chiseled granite peaks, sheer cliffs, more turquoise lakes and even wild horses on the First Nation’s reservation are unforgettable.

Planning your trip There are 65 different Rocky Mountaineer packages to choose from. Start at www.rockymountaineer.com and choose a

27

route, departure city, date and service level, and preferred side trips. Departure cities are Seattle, Vancouver, Lake Louise, Banff, Jasper and Calgary.

Trips last two to 14 days, with prices ranging from $1,300 (U.S.) up to $12,150 per person, double occupancy, depending on the package (with the costliest including an Alaska cruise).

For some bookings made far in advance, the company offers credit toward an extra hotel night or other benefit. Friendly telephone staffers at (866) 545-2766 can help with customization options and answer questions.

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M A R C H 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Four presidents who retreated to Virginia

By Glenda C. Booth U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was a gregarious, swashbuckling outdoorsman who hunted elephants in Africa and bears in Colorado. He came from wealth and owned a 23-room mansion, Sagamore Hill, on Long Island’s Oyster Bay. But when Teddy and wife, Edith, wanted to relax, they traveled four hours south of Washington to a plain little wood-frame cabin in Virginia’s woodlands called Pine Knot.

There they indulged in solitude and studied the “little forest folk,” as the president called the wildlife. Postal officials added a car to the mail train, and the Roosevelts disembarked at a dot on the map called North Garden.

Once in office, most U.S. presidents soon feel compelled to escape Washington’s pressure cooker and the oppressive summer heat.

President Donald Trump has his private club getaways in Florida and New Jersey.

Richard Nixon lolled around on Bebe Rebozo’s houseboat in Key Biscayne, Florida.

Franklin Roosevelt opted for Canada’s Campobello Island and, after being struck by polio, a cottage at Georgia’s Warm Springs.

But four presidents chose rural Virginia for their private retreats. Three of these sites are open to the public today.

Pine Knot In 1905, Edith Roosevelt bought an unpretentious, rustic cottage on 90 forested acres for $250 in Albemarle County “for rest and repair for the President.”

“The Tsar and Tsarina would have found it somewhat confining since it consisted of one rough-cut, stone-chimneyed boarded box, with two smaller boxes upstairs,” she wrote, describing the first-floor lodge-type room and small bedrooms.

“The pitched roof was overlong in front, creating a shaded ‘piazza’ at mosquito level.”

Of course, the Roosevelts could retreat to Sagamore Hill as well, but Edith said her husband needed wilderness, since at Sagamore Hill the White House in effect went with them.

Throngs of cabinet members, legislators, ambassadors, potentates, envoys, generals, industrialists, labor leaders, writers, historians, architects, artists, naturalists and others descended on the home, and telephone and telegraph lines linked it at all times with Washington.

Not so at Pine Knot. The house had no electricity, heating, insulation, telephone or indoor plumbing. The President’s chief domestic chore was to “empty the slops.”

(He did not know that Edith had the Secret Service patrolling the woods.)

After exiting the train, Roosevelt did not read a memo, choosing to listen to the critters over the chatter of government big wigs.

He unwound by watching birds from the porch, one day identifying 75 species by their call. He also may have had one of the last sightings of the nearly extinct passenger pigeon in 1908.

He wrote his son Kermit in 1906 that he left the cabin under a brilliant moon for hunting and, after 13 hours in the woods, got one turkey, “a beautiful side shot at about 35 yards.”

In another letter to Kermit he said, “It is really a perfectly delightful little place; the nicest little place of the kind you can imagine.

Mother is a great deal more pleased with it than any children with any toy I ever saw.”

Other than family, the Roosevelts had only one friend visit from 1905 to 1908.

Today you can tour sparsely-furnished Pine Knot by appointment, surrounded by oaks, redbuds, dogwoods and scampering critters, much as it was in the Roosevelts’ day. A large farm table is the only remaining piece of Roosevelt furniture.

Rapidan Camp President Herbert Hoover and his wife, Lou, made 70 trips to their 164-acre retreat among Blue Ridge Mountain hemlocks

and rhododendrons in today’s Shenandoah National Park. They named the 13building enclave Rapidan Camp for the Mill Prong and Laurel Prong streams that merge to form the Rapidan River.

The president gave the Marines, who built it, three criteria in choosing a site: it should be at least 2,500 feet in elevation, within 100 miles of the nation’s capital, and have excellent fishing. Every building was within earshot of a babbling stream to “reduce our egotism, soothe our troubles and shame our wickedness,” he wrote.

The plain, pine-board buildings were designed to harmonize with the natural surroundings. The compound had the president’s cabin, cabins for 25 guests, a mess hall, offices, a community center, servants’ quarters, stables and a dog kennel. The Hoovers, both geologists, brought the outside in by “decorating” with rocks, crystals and hemlock branches.

While decompressing, the president also used the camp to address the nation’s problems. “I have discovered that even the work of government can be improved by leisurely discussion of its problems out under the trees where no bells ring or callers jar one’s thoughts,” he said.

An airplane dropped mail daily, and the See PRESIDENTS, page 29

www.bgf.org

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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 9

From page 28 president’s cottage had a telephone. Famous people visited, including Thomas Edison, Edsel Ford, Winston Churchill and British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald. The press was not welcome.

An avid angler, Hoover fished, not just for policy solutions, but for sport and escape. While fishing, he could “find relief from the pneumatic hammer of constant personal contracts,” he said. He built dams in the streams to create trout pools, and fed the fish beef hearts.

Today’s visitors can explore the woodsy paths, footbridges, streams and three stillstanding buildings: the president’s cabin, dubbed the Brown House (facetiously named to differentiate it from the White House), the Prime Minister’s Cabin and Creel Cabin.

The Brown House is restored to its 1929 appearance with some original furnishings. The Prime Minister’s Cabin has exhibits on life at the camp and Hoover’s Depression-era presidency.

Poplar Forest Building a private retreat was not the novel idea of hassled, 20th century presidents. Thomas Jefferson was the pioneer.

He chose a 4,800-acre site near Lynchburg in what he called “western country,” and designed and built Poplar Forest there.

While in Europe for five years, Jefferson had studied European architecture. For his hideaway, he drew on the designs of 16th-century Italian architect Andrea Palladio to build a neo-classical, country villa so he could “detach myself from public life, which I never loved,” he wrote.

Built between 1806 and 1823, the onestory brick house sits on a high basement, with four elongated octagonal rooms that surround the cube-shaped central chamber. A 16-foot skylight and tall, triple-hung windows illuminate the interior.

Reflecting Jefferson’s love of geometry, Poplar Forest was the first octagonal house in America. Two artificial mounds on each side of the sunken lawn screened octagonal privies.

While he started building it during his presidency, it came to be a favored respite in his retirement because Monticello had become an almost unbearable clamor of children, grandchildren, slaves and uninvited guests. At Poplar Forest, a three-day horse ride (90 miles) from Monticello, he rekindled his spirit in tranquility.

In 1811, at age 69, he wrote to a friend, Benjamin Rush, that he went to Poplar

Forest three or four times a year, staying up to a month at a time. “I have fixed myself comfortably, keep some books here, bring others occasionally, am in the solitude of a hermit, and quite at leisure to attend to my absent friends,” he penned.

Today, visitors can take guided tours of the house and self-guided tours of lowerlevel exhibits, offices, grounds and slave quarters. Exhibits describe restoration, archaeology and slave life. A computer model demonstrates Jefferson’s landscape design.

Wexford While Jack and Jacqueline Kennedy could have escaped Washington to family compounds in Hyannis Port, Mass.; Palm Beach, Fla.; or Newport, R.I., the couple chose 39 acres of farmland near Middleburg, Va. While he was a U.S. senator, Jack became familiar with Loudoun County when he leased Glen Ora — a 400-acre farm in Virginia horse country, 40 miles from the White House.

Jackie designed a 3,500-square-foot stone and stucco ranch-style home, intended to be “nothing elaborate,” said Pamela Turnure, the first lady’s press secretary.

Completed in 1963 for $127,000, it had seven bedrooms, a Signal Corps switchboard, bomb shelter, stables and Secret Service workspace. They named it Wexford for the Ireland county where the Kennedy family originated.

At Wexford, Jackie could indulge in her horseback-riding passion. Caroline, age 6, rode her pony, Macaroni, and Jack buzzed 3-year-old John, Jr., around in a golf cart and hit golf balls in the pasture.

The president wrote, “This house may not be perfectly proportioned, but it has everything — all the places we need to get away from each other — so husband can have meetings…wife paint…all things so much bigger houses don’t have. I think it’s brilliant!”

Jackie and the children visited at times by helicopter or limousine without Jack.

Sadly, they went there together only twice, in October and November 1963. Jackie sold Wexford in 1964 for $225,000. Today’s owners bought it in September 2017 for $2.9 million.

A private getaway may be an illusory notion in today’s hyperconnected world. But these four presidents understood the need to de-stress in settings far simpler than the high-stress White House.

If you go Rapidan Camp, in Shenandoah National Park, is managed by the National Park Service. Grounds are open year-round. From

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Mar. 16

LOCAL MUSICIANS, HOMELESS DONATIONS Mad City Coffee will feature 2 Ordinary Average Guys Not From Baltimore on Saturday, March 16 at 7 p.m. as part of its Music

Matter Showcase. The music is free, but donations for the homeless will be accepted. The coffeehouse is located at 10801 Hickory Ridge Rd., Columbia. To learn more, visit madcitycoffe.com, email jcisaacs@gmail.com or call (410) 9648671.

CREDIT

Presidents

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President Herbert Hoover often invited guests to Rapidan Camp in what is now Shenandoah National Park. Shown is the living room of the largest of more than a dozen structures at the retreat.

spring through fall, rangers host tours.

See more at www.nps.gov/shen/learn/ historyculture/rapidancamp.htm. Register at www.recreation.gov or call (877) 4446777.

Pine Knot is owned by the Edith and Theodore Roosevelt Pine Knot Foundation and is open by appointment. For information, see www.pineknot.org or call (434) 286-6106.

Poplar Forest is owned by the Corpora-

tion for Jefferson’s Poplar Forest. Guided tours are offered daily, March 15 through Dec. 30, with self-guided tours on weekends from mid-January to mid-March. See www.poplarforest.org, or call (434) 5251806.

All sites require a car to visit. Amtrak has service to Charlottesville and Lynchburg.

Glen Ora and Wexford are not open to the public.

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M A R C H 2 0 1 9 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Style

31

Arts &

Author Morey Kogul recounts his father’s history in the Holocaust survival story Running Breathless. See continuation of the cover story on page 32.

Enjoy free Mardi Gras concert and more Music Center and Sidney Harmon Hall, among other venues.

There will be a “surprise” for the audience at the end of the Les Bon Temps Mardi Gras concert, according to Adelsberger. It will feature a New Orleans-style jazz band, saints who come marching, and more.

The reception after the concert in the church’s social hall will feature “New Orleans-style fare,” Adelsberger said. There is no admission fee for the concert, which gets underway at 7:30 p.m.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. LOUIS CHURCH

By Robert Friedman Music lovers should be grooving at St. Louis Church in Clarksville on March 1, when the Howard County house of worship continues its 13th season of concerts with “Les Bons Temps” — a celebration of Mardi Gras, a swinging session by a jazz combo, and a New Orleans-style reception.

The free concert is part of a series hosted by the Clarksville Catholic Church each year in the fall and spring, designed to “enliven, educate and entertain,” said Heather Adelsberger, the artistic director at the church.

The March 1 concert includes “Little Jazz Mass,” composed by Bob Chilcott, a British composer, conductor and singer, which “juxtaposes liturgical text with contemporary musical style,” Adelsberger said.

The Mass was commissioned by the New Orleans Children’s Choir for the 2004 Crescent City Children’s Choral Festival in New Orleans. It was first performed in the St. Louis Cathedral of New Orleans.

Performing the Mass along with the St. Louis Choir will be the Aleks Isotov Trio.

The trio of piano (Isotov), bass and drums will also take part in the jazz session, which will feature D.C. jazz singer Lena Seikaly, who will perform songs from the Great American Songbook.

Seikaly, named by the Washington Post as “one of Washington’s preeminent jazz singers,” has appeared at Blues Alley, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Hamilton, the Strathmore

Medieval music next Next in the St. Louis Concert Series will be a Lenten Pilgrimage Concert on April 6, by the Eya Ensemble for Medieval Music, a D.C.-based vocal ensemble that specializes in the interpretation of medieval music for female voices.

The award-winning ensemble, which has performed at, among other places, the National Gallery of Art, the Music Center at Strathmore and Washington National Cathedral, describes itself as crafting “programs that interweave diverse repertories, forging new points of connection between contemporary audiences and medieval repertoire which underline our common humanity with early poets and composers.”

The concert, the only one in the spring season that isn’t free, costs $10 and requires reserved seating. It will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the church’s historic 1889 chapel, as opposed to the other concerts, which will be presented in the main

Heather Adelsberger is the artistic director of St. Louis Church in Clarksburg. She helps develop an annual series of free and low-cost concerts open to the public. On March 1 is a Mardi Gras-themed concert that incorporates jazz followed by a New Orleans-style reception.

church, built in 2006.

The three women in the ensemble — Allison Mondel, soprano and director; Crossley Hawn, soprano; and Kristen Dubenion-

Smith, mezzo-soprano — feature music from medieval Spain pilgrimage routes, as See CONCERTS, page 33

O P E N I N G M A RC H 2 1

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32

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Memoir From page 1 interviews, along with supplemental research. I wanted the reader to have the experience I had hearing the story from him.”

Kogul added that writing the book provided him with “something very rewarding that I didn’t realize at first.”

By telling his father’s story, he realized he was giving “voice to the voiceless,” in so far as his father’s personal story could help others fight inhumanity based on bigotry.

Painful recollections When Van Wolf Kogul came to America, he was still young enough to be drafted during the Korean War into the U.S. Army.

He was stationed at Ft. Carson, Colo., and settled in Denver after discharge. There he became a dental technician and raised a family.

About 25 years ago, he took his family — including son Morey — to Washington, D.C. for a visit. One of their excursions was to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum near the National Mall.

In addition to its powerful historical exhibits, the museum maintains a Holocaust Survivors and Victims Database and collects testimony from thousands of Holocaust survivors like Van Wolf Kogul.

At the time, Van Wolf didn’t want to have his story recorded for the museum. But

later, at his son’s request, he sat for long, recorded interviews.

Kogul recalls that it was not easy to get his father to speak about his wartime experiences. The interviews were “very, very difficult,” Kogul said. The conversations sometimes brought both interviewee and interviewer to tears.

At first, Kogul’s father agreed to spend a few days answering the questions of his then-17-year-old son.

“I was not prepared to deal with the burden my father bore,” said Kogul. “He agonized over the loss — tearing at himself, blaming himself. He initially refused to discuss his mother, a topic so painful that he became physically sick just talking about it.

“When a topic became too emotional, he shifted immediately to pride — underscoring the accomplishment of defeating the Germans, averting the scars left by war.”

It was five years later, after Kogul graduated from college, that he succeeded in getting his father to dedicate one more week to filling in the gaps.

“This was the last time we discussed the intimate details of his survival. The conversations were just as painful the second time, and again I found myself struggling to contain my own emotions.”

Kogul said it wasn’t possible to learn everything — some things his father couldn‘t recall. “Other things he refused to share, somehow hoping that this would erase the nightmares from his memory.”

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M A R C H 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

A survivor’s guilt Among the things that most deeply pained his father, said Kogul, was survivor’s guilt, as Van Wolf was the only member of his immediate family to live through the war.

When he fled his hometown of Dubno, which was then part of Poland (it’s now in Ukraine), he saw it as a first step for arranging his family’s escape. He convinced his brother not to come with him.

Of the 15,000 Jews in Dubno at the time, only 300 survived. Kogul never saw his brother, sister or parents again.

After the last interview, Kogul reviewed a 40-page outline with his father, collected a binder full of notes, and put them on the shelf with the recorded interviews.

That became the basis for Running Breathless, which Kogul wrote from late 2016 to early 2017, while he was on paternity leave for his son, Jonah. He and his wife, Rachel, a native of Baltimore, also have a daughter named Rachel, who is 12.

While Kogul emphasized that all the events described in the book actually happened, to enhance the reader’s experience he “created dialogue and narrative description that approximate what might have plausibly occurred, based on my father’s testimony.”

He plans to dedicate a share of the proceeds from the memoir to both the Holocaust Museum in Washington and to Yad

Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, Israel.

Among those commenting online about Kogul’s book was Miriam Isaacs, a retired University of Maryland professor of Yiddish language and culture, and a former visiting fellow at the Holocaust Museum.

She said Running Breathless was “well written and thoughtful.…Most of the Polish Jews that survived that war did so because they found themselves in the Soviet Union. Some, like the author’s father and mine, were able to fight and contribute to the defeat of the Nazis.”

Isaacs said her own father wouldn’t have survived if he hadn’t illegally migrated to the Soviet Union from Poland, “so I have great empathy for those who cross our (nation’s) border illegally,” she added.

Among the public presentations that Kogul will be making about the book in the coming weeks are the following: March 18, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Jewish War Veterans, VFW Post 521, 214 Tollgate Rd., Owings Mills.

March 22 and 23, at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl. SW, Washington, D.C. Call (202) 4880400 for more information.

March 30, from noon to 4 p.m., at the Barnes and Noble at the Power Plant, 601 E. Pratt St., Baltimore.

April 15, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, at the Elkridge 50+ Center, 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge.

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 9

Concerts From page 31 well as liturgical songs.

“This interweaving of musical styles outlines the progression of body, mind and spirit along the well-worn and sometimes turbulent path of the pilgrim,” said Adelsberger.

Saint-Saens and Mussorgsky Adelsberger herself will perform as part of a piano duo in a concert on April 28, titled “Art for the Young at Heart: Spring at St. Louis.” Members of the St. Louis Orchestra, a children’s choir, and the Atlantic

Reed Consort, an adult quintet of reed instrument musicians, will also perform.

The free performance, which starts at 4 p.m., will feature the popular works “Carnival of the Animals” by Camille SaintSaens, and Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.”

The Mussorgsky piece, Adelsberger said, was inspired by a series of paintings the Russian composer viewed at an art show. The movements in the suite are named after the pictures, including “Promenade,” “The Great Gate of Kiev” and “Baba Yaga,” who is the scary witch of Russian folklore.

Adelsberger said that, as the piece is

BEACON BITS

Feb. 26+

on May 19. The free concert will feature patriotic tunes and music by American composers, played by the Washingtonbased band.

The St. Louis Church is located at 12500 Clarksville Pike in Clarksville. To learn more about the concert series, call (410) 531-6040 or visit www.stlconcertseries.org.

BEACON BITS

Mar. 11

FILM ON SEGREGATION IN BALTIMORE

The Columbia Arts Center will show the movie Voices of Baltimore: Life under Segregation on Monday, March 11 at 7 p.m. Under the sponsorship of Little Patuxent Review and the Arts Center, the feature-length film documents interviews with African Americans who attended segregated schools before the 1954 Supreme Court Brown vs. Board of Education ruling. To learn more about the program, visit ColumbiaAssociation.org or call (410) 730-0075.

FIRE AND FLOODS IN ART

Artist Leah Lewman portrays the constantly changing earth and the toll humans take on the planet in her show at Ellicott City’s Artists’ Gallery, opening Tuesday, Feb. 26 and running through Sunday, March 24.

A reception for Lewman will be held on Friday, March 15 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the gallery, 8197 Main St., Ellicott City. For more information, visit artistsgallery.com or call (443) 325-5936.

Mar. 9

being performed, images of the types of paintings being put to music will be projected on a screen, as well as images of paintings, drawings and sculptures made by the choir students based on their interpretations of the music.

The final concert of the season is “Patriotic Pops with the Barclay Brass” at 4 p.m.

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AFRICAN CULINARY HERITAGE SERIES

The first of three classes on traditional diets from Africa, the Caribbean, South America and the American South will be held Saturday, March 9 at 2 p.m. at the Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Presented by Dr. Michelle Beadle Holder, the second and third classes are scheduled for April 6 and July 27. Free. Registration is required by calling (410) 313-1950.

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 34 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

P O S H

A R I A

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T E D D Y B E A R

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Mar. 10

CONSERVANCY ART SHOW DEADLINE

The Howard County Conservancy has set a noon deadline on Sunday, March 10 for submissions to The Art of Stewardship (TAOS) show, opening March 31 at the Conservancy Headquarters, Old Frederick Rd., Woodstock. To learn more, visit hccoservancy.org or call (410) 465-8877.

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M A R C H 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Crossword Puzzle

Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Top Toys 1

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Answers on page 33.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — N A R C H 2 0 1 9

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Financial

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Health PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR — May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-851-0949.

Legal Services WERE YOU AN INDUSTRIAL OR CONSTRUCTION TRADESMAN and recently diagnosed with lung cancer? You and your family may be entitled to a significant cash reward. Call 1-888-351-0312 for your risk free consultation.

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY? Up to $2,671/mo. (Based on paid-in amount.) Free evaluation! Call Bill Gordon & Associates. 1-866970-0779. Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington, D.C. Office: Broward Co. FL., member TX/NM Bar.

Personal Services

DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR BOAT to Heritage for the Blind. Free 3-Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. CALL 1-844-855-7670.

NEED CASH? DOWNSIZING? Professional online seller with 100% positive feedback will sell your extra items - clothing, jewelry, dishes, art, furniture, etc. Free consultation. I will determine the best online markets to sell your items, photograph and list everything, and you get paid when it sells! For friendly service, please contact Julia at 571-294-8401 or at juliawilk@aol.com.

Health

TV/Cable

STOP OVERPAYING for your prescriptions!

SAVE! Call our licensed Canadian and International pharmacy, compare prices and get $25.00 OFF your first prescription! CALL 1-888-9817657 Promo Code CDC201725.

DISH Network. 190+ CHANNELS. FREE Install. FREE Hopper HD-DVR. $49.99/month (24 months) Add High Speed Internet - $14.95 (where avail.) CALL Today & SAVE 25%! 1844-560-5837.

DENTAL INSURANCE. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company for details. Not just a discount plan, real coverage for 350 procedures. 844366-1003 or http://www.dental50plus.com/320 Ad# 6118.

SPECTRUM TRIPLE PLAY! TV, Internet & Voice for $29.99 ea. 60 MB per second speed. No contract or commitment. More Channels.

Faster Internet. Unlimited Voice. Call 1-888366-7573.

GOT AN OLDER CAR, VAN OR SUV? Do the humane thing. Donate it to the Humane Society. Call 1-844-230-2952.

NEW PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CLASSIFIED ADS All classified ads must be submitted and paid for online, via our website, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds Deadlines and Payments: To appear in the next issue, your ad text and payment must be entered by the 5th of the preceding month (for Baltimore and Howard County editions); by the 20th (for Washington and Richmond editions).

Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad: • $25 for 1-250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length). The website will calculate this for you.

Note: Maryland contractors must provide a valid MHIC number. • Each real estate listing qualifies as one ad. • All ads are subject to publisher's discretion. Payment will be refunded if unacceptable for any reason.

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

Miscellaneous ENJOY 100% GUARANTEED, DELIVERED to-the-door Omaha Steaks! Save 75% plus get 4 more Burgers & 4 more Kielbasa FREE! Order The Family Gourmet Buffet — ONLY $49.99. Call 1-844-302-3754, mention code 51689JCT or visit www.omahasteaks.com.

TV/Cable

Wanted

DIRECTV. CALL AND SWITCH NOW — Get NFL Sunday Ticket for FREE! Every Game. Every Sunday. CHOICE- All-Included Package. Over 185 Channels. $60/month (for 12 Months.) CALL 1- 888-572-4953.

ESTATE LIQUIDATION/ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES: One call solves it all when you hire us to handle your estate liquidation, down-sizing and/or home cleanout. We sell your treasures, take care of charitable donations and provide junk removal. We also purchase partial estate contents/collections. Always buying antiques, jewelry, fine art, vintage toys, collectibles, advertising, sports memorabilia, military items, rare books, Mid Century Modern furniture, vinyl records collections and more.

Based in Silver Spring, we serve Montgomery County, Howard County, Baltimore County, Washington D.C., NOVA and beyond. No home, barn or warehouse is too packed for us! Friendly, conscientious staff. Call Chris on cell (202) 731-9447. www.OrionsAttic.com.

Wanted COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, knives, swords, bayonets, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars and countries. Also Lionel Toy Trains, and coin operated machines. Will pay top prices for my personal collection. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-910-0783.

SEEKING FULL AND SEALED BOTTLES of Vintage Bourbon and Rye (Pre-1990). Do you have bottles collecting dust around your house?

I am particularly interested in bottles with red or green tax strips. Inquiries are welcome. Call or text Alex 443-223-7669.

MONEY, TIME TO SELL! Make the right choice. Call Greg, 717-658-7954. We buy jewelry, coins, silver, antiques, watches, gold, art, paper money, toys, bottles, comic books and records, etc. No middleman, no fees, no overhead means more money for your stuff. Give me a call, and let’s do business. 717-658-7954.

BUYING VINYL RECORDS 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.

Thanks for reading!

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Studies Dieting Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Events Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28, 36 COGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Funeral Services Going Home Cremations . . . . . . . .33 Harry H. Witzke’s Family Funeral Home, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . .29 Sol Levinson & Bros., Inc. . . . . . . .23

Home Health Care A-1 Action Nursing Care . . . . . . . . .7 HomeCentris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Options for Senior America . . . . . . .5

Housing Alta at Regency Crest . . . . . . . . . . .11 Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28, 36 Charlestown/Erickson Living . . . . . .6 Heartlands Senior Living . . . . . . . . .3

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Park View Apartments . . . . . . . . . .25 Residences at Vantage Point . . . . . . .9 R Home Communities . . . . . . . . . .25 Shriner Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Somerford Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Legal Services Angels of Eldercare Planning . . . . .22 Frank, Frank & Scherr, LLC . . . . . .23 Lifson Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Medical/Health

Howard County Recreation & Parks . . . . . . . . .13-16 Howard County 50+ Connection . . . . . . . . . . .17-21

Subscriptions Beacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Technology Beacon Website and Silver Pages . .30

Theatre/Entertainment

Because . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Greenhouse Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Medical Eye Center . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Remedy Dispensary . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Candlelight Concert Society . . . . . .33 Columbia Pro Cantare . . . . . . . . . .31 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . . . .31

Retail/Services

Tour & Travel

Columbia’s Village Centers . . . . . . .6 Perfect Sleep Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Zinger Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Eyre Tour & Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Festive Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Senior Services Howard County Recycles . . . . . . . .24

Volunteers/Employment Meals on Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

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M A R C H 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

march 2019

UPCOMING SEMINARS & EVENTS at Brooke Grove retirement village

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

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

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

healthy living g classes: “Everyday balance” ver ”

Session 1: March rch 4 through ugh April 17 MONDAYS DAY & WEDNESDAYS S 10-10:30 10 3 A.M. During this cl class, simple yet effective techniques are used to improve balance and agility and reduce your risk of falls.

No N props are used, so exercises mayy easily be performed at home.

parkinson’s ar seminar: “the crucial role of exercise for p parkinson’s patients” ts

living well seminar: “Simple Remedies for Loneliness”

TUESDAY, T AY MARCH A 12 • 10:30-11:45 1 30 A.M. A

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 1 – 2:15 P.M.

Physical exercise is essential to the effective f treatmentt of Par Parkinson’s son and nd may even help slow l the progression of the disease. It can improve gait and balance, while also positively impacting overall functional ability. Discover the research supporting these and other benefits and learn specific exercises that you can easily do at home.

Six-week Session Fee: $30 Se FREE. Register by March 10.

Reservations are a requested by March 1.

caregiver connection seminar: “Dementia Conversations”

healthy living iv classes: “MINDFUL MEDITATION”

Session 1: March 6 through April 17 WEDNESDAYS AY • 11-11:30 A.M. Mindful meditation changes the brain i in astonishing ways — promoting p greater focus, reduced anxiety, increased compassion and improved well-being.

Experience guided, mindful meditation in a quiet space.

TUESDAY, MARCH 19 • 2-3 P.M. Learn how you can have an honest and caring conversation with family members about issues related to Alzheimer’s and dementia, including going to the doctor, deciding when to stop driving, and making legal and financial plans.

Loneliness is a serious public health issue that impacts the well-being of older adults. In fact, researchers say loneliness may even be a bigger health risk than smoking or obesity!

Learn how loneliness and social isolation affect the mind and body and how you can help yourself — and others — prevent and alleviate loneliness to enjoy a happier life.

Preceded by complimentary lunch at 12:30 p.m.

FREE. Register by March 18.

ANtiQUES & COLLECTIBLES ROAD SHOW

TUESDAY, MARCH 26 10:30-11:45 A.M.

FREE. Register by March 17.

How much is your favorite heirloom worth? Free appraisals, consultations and advice from Peenstra Antiques Appraisals.

Each guest may bring one item.

Spectators are welcome.

Six-week Session Fee: $20 Reservations are requested by March 3.

18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860

Seating is limited. Reservations required. Register by March 21.

301-260-2320 · www.bgf.org

Independent living

assisted living

rehabilitation

long-term care

memory support