April 2016 | Howard County Beacon

The Howard County

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More than 30,000 readers throughout Howard County

A way to pick up a few bucks

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PHOTO BY REY LOPEZ

By Robert Friedman When she isn’t cutting, coloring, perming and styling the hair of her clients, beautician Rene Moore, 59, is on the road — driving for Uber to earn the money that she donates to a sick friend who can no longer support herself.

“All I’m really giving is my time — a couple of hours a day — to help out a friend from college,” said Moore, who lives in Elkridge.

Uber is the rapidly growing company with a smartphone application that lets people easily request a lift from drivers like Moore, who use their own cars.

Loman Lykes, 66, spends his weekends as an Uber free-lancer, driving young and old in and around Howard County.

“I’m a property manager during the week, and I get Social Security. I could use the extra money I get from driving people around,” said Lykes, who lives in Ellicott City.

Walter Shepherd, 63, who retired four years ago and spent his new-found time playing golf and working out, found he still had lots of free time on his hands. He saw Uber was looking for drivers so he started driving part-time for the company.

“I just wanted something I could do when I wanted. Not a job,” said Shepherd, a former cabbie and traffic signal technician.

Older drivers are a growing component of Uber’s freelance workforce. In fact, nearly one in four are age 50 or older, according to Uber spokesperson Kaitlin Durkosh.

It’s a popular option for older drivers who have both time on their hands and want the freedom to decide if and when they’ll work.

For example, “if they aren’t comfortable with driving at night or rush hour, that’s OK,” Durkosh said of Uber’s older drivers.

While most drivers quickly get the hang of the smartphone app for picking up riders, Durkosh said the company has support centers in Washington and Baltimore where new drivers can get help with technical issues.

Danyelle Ludwig, a spokesperson for Lyft, a similar ride-providing company, said she could not share information about its drivers’ demographics. But she noted that, “drivers in the 55-plus age group value flexibility more than any other age group. They also value the community and meeting other people more than any other

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Walter Shepherd, who retired in his 50s, earns about $300 a week driving Uber customers around the area in his Nissan Rogue. Nearly a quarter of Uber’s drivers are over the age of 50. Uber — and its rival on-demand ride service Lyft — are finding older drivers particularly enjoy the flexibility of the job and its social aspects.

age group, which translates into fun, memorable rides for passengers.”

This flexibility was one reason AARP’s Life Reimagined program — an initiative that encourages members to explore new directions in their careers and personal lives — partnered with Uber last year to spread the word about working for the company.

“When you look at the Life Reimagined audience, primarily people in their 40s, 50s, 60s, a lot of these people are facing unprecedented financial pressure,” said Adam Sohn, vice president for strategic initiatives at Life Reimagined.

“We saw this as a great way for people who are in the midst of career-oriented transitions, or looking to stay connected to the community or meet new people, to stay

plugged in and make a few dollars at the same time.”

Part of the “sharing” economy Sohn said that Life Reimagined wants to help older adults better take advantage of the new “sharing” economy. This includes not only earning extra income through services like Uber and Lyft, but also Airbnb, which enables homeowners to rent out rooms to tourists to earn extra cash.

Veronica Rose is similar to the Uber drivers Sohn has in mind. She retired at age 62 from a job working as a financial aid advisor for colleges, but discovered she needed more income in retirement than See UBER, page 5

Premiere of a Pulitzer-finalist play in Olney; plus, Loretta Lynn, 83, sees no reason to retire, and Phil Collins rereleases some of his ‘80s and ‘90s CDs page 34

TECHNOLOGY k See your doctor — online

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FITNESS & HEALTH 8 k Most important screening tests k Gum care may save your heart THE SENIOR CONNECTION 19 k Newsletter for Howard County seniors LAW & MONEY 24 k Stocks that may beat the market k Give charity the deductible way ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

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Political musings If you’ve picked up your copy of the Bea- what makes this year’s election different, and con this month at any of our 300+ sites I want to share some of my musings with you. throughout Baltimore CounFirst, I think it’s relevant to ty, you will find inside a Voters’ say that I learned some of the Guide to the Primary Election, most pertinent things I know prepared by the League of about our country’s governWomen Voters of Baltimore ment and our political system County. in a college public policy We feel honored to have course. been chosen to publish this That’s where I first read important League product, The Federalist Papers — not and encourage you to read it, really a book, but a compilaespecially if you live and vote tion of “anonymous” newspain Baltimore County. per columns published in FROM THE If there’s no Guide in your PUBLISHER 1787 and 1788 to generate By Stuart P. Rosenthal Beacon, you can view it on support for the U.S. Constituour website, www.theBeacontion, which was then being Newspapers.com. And if you live outside heavily debated.

Baltimore County, visit the League site, The actual authors of the essays were www.vote411.org, and enter your address Alexander Hamilton (recently of Broadway to read about your district’s candidates. fame, posthumously), James Madison and I regularly get asked by readers and John Jay, some of our country’s most signififriends, “Who’s the Beacon going to en- cant historical figures. dorse in the election?” Actually, we don’t It was James Madison’s “Federalist #51” issue endorsements. And, as long-time — which defended the “checks and balreaders know, I seldom even talk directly ances” so central to our Constitution — about politics in my column. that helped me best understand why But I’ve been thinking a lot lately about America has always had a system of gov-

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• Publisher/Editor ....................Stuart P. Rosenthal • Associate Publisher..............Judith K. Rosenthal • Vice President, Operations........Gordon Hasenei • Director of Sales ................................Alan Spiegel • Assistant Operations Manager ..........Roger King • Managing Editor............................Barbara Ruben • Art Director ........................................Kyle Gregory

ernment that seems to resist change and quick, effective action. The reason? It was designed that way, on purpose!

Yes, the “problem” that so many decry — the source of our government’s “dysfunction” in many people’s eyes — is the Constitution itself. Each of our three branches of government is selected differently, has a different mission from the others, and is designed to want to resist the prerogatives of the other branches.

Why would our founders choose such a counterintuitive way to run a country? Didn’t they know we’d have important decisions to make, that time is often of the essence, and that such a system would impede rapid progress?

They knew all this, and more: They knew that it’s human nature to want to exercise power over others. And that a simple democracy that put all power in the people as a whole, without dividing that power into competing branches, would have the tendency to ignore minority rights and interests, and had the potential to concentrate power in the hands of a demagogue.

Therefore, one of the chief goals of our Constitution, as described in “Federalist #51,” is that: “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.”

Our Constitution takes for granted that a government made up of free human beings will behave as free people behave if left to their own devices. Without a regimented, rule-bound system of checks and balances, a democracy has a tendency — as we have seen repeatedly reenacted throughout the world over the last century — to end up, as UN Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick famously said, “One man, one vote, one time.”

The alternative to a democracy that has a tendency to elect a totalitarian leader (who promptly puts an end to democracy) is a government that may frequently be gridlocked. It can frustrate voters on both sides of the aisle, but it’s an essential element of a lasting democracy.

A government run by those who can snap their fingers and change a policy, who can propose a solution and institute it immediately without accounting for other points of view, is one that can, and will, ride roughshod over the rights of its own citizens.

We are a country of the people, by the people and for the people: “the people” as a whole; “the people” understood to consist of numerous factions with different interests and views.

Each of us wants to be the person whose views will prevail. We each think our decision would be the best one, the right one, the sensible one.

But my decision would not be your decision, and frequently the best decision is

reached when all views are taken into account, and given a chance to mingle and stew, before a course of action is taken.

Some may take umbrage that I attribute ambition for power to all human beings, and I would agree that not everyone is ambitious. But I do think it’s fair to say that every politician is ambitious (even if they’re ambitious for their agenda rather than for their personal gain).

In fact, it’s a prerequisite for the job — especially for national office, and particularly for the position of president. Who would go through the effort and expense required to get elected in this country without a driving, burning desire to exercise the power of the office? Yes, let’s assume to exercise it for the public good, but exercise it nonetheless!

I am not pointing fingers at any particular politician or candidate. My words apply equally to former President George W. Bush, President Obama, and current candidates Donald Trump and Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente. (Rocky who? I refer you to the Voters’ Guide. Mr. De La Fuente is a Democratic candidate for president.)

I wish more Americans today understood the reasons for our divided government, appreciated its value in preserving both their individual and our collective liberty, and would therefore have more patience for the seemingly slow pace of change and movement in our constitutional system.

My fear is that the absence of such understanding among today’s voters is driving our country’s apparently growing taste for strong-fisted, “the-rules-be-damned” leadership.

This is not really new. Many recent presidents have pushed the envelope of their executive powers. And, really, there’s nothing wrong with having a president who wants to exercise more control. That is, not as long as he or she can’t succeed.

Our system expects each branch to jealously guard their powers and to seek more.

But that’s exactly why we need three competing branches, so ambition counteracts ambition, keeping us free from a totalitarian system that — as we unfortunately see in far too much of the world — generates tremendous suffering and unfairness.

So, in conclusion, I urge you to vote in the Maryland Primary on April 26, and in the General Election (for which we’ll have an updated Voters’ Guide in a few months) on November 8.

Our selection of a new president, and of members of the legislature, is both a right and a duty. And while we may well continue to find gridlock in Washington, remember that it’s designed that way to protect See FROM THE PUBLISHER, page 18

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Technology &

Innovations Virtual doctor visits offer convenience

By Matthew Perrone When you’re coming down with a cold, there are a few items you typically reach for to start feeling better: cough drops, herbal tea, maybe an over-the-counter medication.

For most of us, though, a smartphone wouldn’t top that list. But that may change as healthcare companies increasingly steer customers toward streaming video apps that connect patients with doctors online.

The push toward virtual healthcare comes as many primary doctors are overbooked, and patients struggle with their own busy schedules. At the same time, insurers and employers see an opportunity to save money by reducing pricier visits to

doctors’ offices and urgent care clinics.

Outsourcing care is not new. In rural areas, doctors have long relied on telephone and video connections to consult with specialists far away.

But this year an estimated 450,000 patients will see a doctor over the Internet for basic ailments like colds, infections or aches and pains, according to the American Telemedicine Association industry group. Here are some key questions and answers about these virtual visits.

Q: How do these services work?

A number of companies allow consumers to connect with a healthcare provider through a smartphone, tablet or computer. Some of the leading companies include Teladoc, Doctor on Demand and MDLive. Typically patients are routed to a doctor who is licensed to practice and prescribe medicine in their home state.

Q: If this technology isn’t new, why am I hearing about it now?

In the last year, several leading healthcare companies announced they would begin incorporating telemedicine into their offerings. Walgreens is currently rolling out a virtual doctor service in 25 states. Meanwhile, UnitedHealth Group and the Blue Cross-Blue Shield insurer Anthem are preparing to make telemedicine services available to more than 40 million people this year.

This increased adoption is partially a response to recent law changes in 29 states, including Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, requiring health insurance companies to cover telemedicine delivered via online video or over the phone.

Additionally, the programs appeal to consumers and their employers by reducing time lost to traditional doctor appointments. “The ability to get a doctor to see you within minutes, from your phone, is something that people really value,” said Dr. Jonah Feldman, a healthcare delivery specialist at Winthrop University Hospital Q: How much do online visits cost?

It depends. If you’re in one of the states that require insurance coverage of telemedicine, you may not owe anything — or you may only owe your standard copay, which can range from $15 to $25.

But even without insurance, you may still save money. Most online services See VIRTUAL DOCTOR, page 7

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miles each way. Passengers are also expected to pay for any tolls or parking fees on the day of the ride. Like Uber, riders prepay for rides through an account, which can be replenished with a credit card.

Those who volunteer to drive for Neighbor Ride must be at least 21 years old, submit to a driving record and criminal background check, and attend a volunteer orientation, which is held every Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m., or in the evenings by appointment.

For more information, or to volunteer as a driver, call (410) 884-7433 or see http://neighborride.org/wordpress.

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Another way to get around Howard County is through the Neighbor Ride program, whose slogan is “Volunteers Drive/Seniors Thrive.”

The service is now in its 12th year of connecting seniors who need wheels with volunteers who enjoy driving them to and from medical appointments, shopping, religious services and other special or routine trips. Passengers must be 60 or older and be able to get in and out of a vehicle independently.

Those booking rides pay a modest amount for each trip, ranging from $6 for round-trips under two miles each way, to $35 for round-trips up to 35

Driving for Uber has been “an awesome experience,” said Moore. “I was skeptical at first, not knowing what kind of people I would get in my vehicle [a 2014 Dodge Journey],” she said.

“But just about everyone has been very nice to me. I have great conversations with the passengers. One woman gave me scholarship information for my daughter, who is ready to go to college.”

Part-time driver Shepherd likes the political repartee in this election year as he

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Volunteer drivers fill a need

Enjoying the ride

moves passengers in his blue 2009 Nissan Rogue. He calls himself a social democrat, but enjoys hearing other views.

He recently had some trips with young people in their 20s who were Republicans.

“They had some interesting ideas I would never have heard otherwise,” he said.

Uber driver Lykes starts picking up passengers in his 2011 Subaru Friday evening and continues through Saturday and Sunday, until about 10 p.m. He takes people “to and from work and entertainment venues, and even for shopping.” About a third of his clients are college students, he said.

Lykes started driving for Uber in January and earns about $300 for the 15 or 20 hours of weekend driving.

“It’s not a bad job,” Lykes said. “I just pick up passengers and drop them off. Some are lovely people. I’ve had no hassles so far. The extra money doesn’t hurt,” he said.

Additional reporting by Barbara Ruben.

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she had expected. Her granddaughter suggested she consider Uber.

“At first, I thought she was a little crazy.

[I thought] that she should drive for Uber, not me,” said Rose, who splits her time living with her father in Washington, D.C. and daughter in Upper Marlboro, Md. “It’s hard finding a job at 62. But for Uber, all I had to do was submit an application, have them check my driving record and do a background check.” Soon she

Moore, along with four other friends she’s had since college, is contributing her Uber earnings to her sick friend “so she can concentrate on getting well.”

She said that she really doesn’t keep track of her daily earnings. “For some trips I get $5, for some $20, and for others $30,” she said.

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From page 1

was able to start picking up riders in her 2012 Chevy Equinox.

Uber and Lyft drivers do not have to buy extra insurance — they are protected by additional insurance from the companies. Drivers do, however, have to buy their own gas and pay their own taxes. [See “Tax issues affecting Uber drivers, others” on page 28.]

Uber drivers keep “up to 80 percent of every fare,” according to Durkosh, although she declined to say how much drivers earn per hour on average. Lyft drivers do so as well and, unlike Uber drivers, are allowed to accept tips.

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A P R I L 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

SMOOTH MOVE SEMINAR

“HOW TO SELL YOUR HOME FOR TOP DOLLAR” A free seminar presented by Eric Stewart, Long & Foster senior real estate specialist and host of a weekly radio show on WMAL 105.9 FM.

THURSDAY, April 7, 2016 • 2 - 3 p.m.

B Brooke Grove ov Rehabilitation and d Nursing Center en 181311 Slade S School oo Road, oa Sandy an Spring, M MD 20860

In this highly engaging presentation, you’ll get the inside scoop on how to sell your home for top dollar.

Learn about the local real estate market and gain insights on how to approach the sale of your home, including tips on timing, pricing, sorting through your possessions and home improvements with the best rate of return.

For more information or to register, please contact Toni Davis at 301-388-7209 or tdavis@bgf.org by April 5.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 1 6

Virtual doctor From page 4 charge about $40 to $50 per consultation, which is about half the typical $100 or more to see a primary care doctor.

The savings could be even greater compared with an emergency room visit, which typically costs hundreds of dollars.

Many people who don’t have insurance go to the emergency room as a last resort when other health providers won’t see them.

Those savings have attracted interest in the technology from large insurers and employers.

“If I’m managing a health plan, I clearly don’t want someone to go to the emergency room for coughs, colds, sneezes or urinary infections,” said Dr. Ford Brewer,

an executive with MDLive, which provides online consultations for Humana, Cigna and other companies.

Q: What kind of issues can a doctor address online?

Most online services specialize in treating easy-to-diagnose conditions, including colds, ear infections, rashes and allergy problems.

Doctors in telemedicine companies can usually prescribe from a small list of common medications. The prescription is typically sent electronically to a pharmacy near the patient.

Virtual visits can also be effective for addressing mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Brewer said the demand for online therapists is driven by the same issues affecting primary care doctors.

“There’s just not enough access out

there in the country,” Brewer said. “So you have that ability for mental health providers, as well as primary care docs, to be able to see more patients, provide more access online.”

It’s important to note that the level of care available to patients can vary by state.

For instance, some states require a doctor to have an established relationship with a patient, which might include a physical or mental exam, before allowing them to do a telemedicine visit.

Q: What type of problems cannot be addressed online?

Telemedicine companies are generally

not designed to handle medical emergencies and will instead direct patients to call 911. Likewise, they will not attempt to treat complex, chronic diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s.

Finally, experts say most companies will not write prescriptions for addictive painkillers or non-essential medications like Viagra.

“Patients should not expect to get controlled substances, lifestyle drugs, or anything that’s going to raise eyebrows,” said Nathaniel Lacktman, an attorney who specializes in telemedicine.

— AP

BEACON BITS

Apr. 9

CLASS FOR FIRST-TIME COMPUTER USERS

Howard Community College is offering a course for computer novices, explaining system functions, basic Windows concepts and the Internet. The course will be held on Saturday, April 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hickory Ridge Building, 10650 Hickory Ridge Rd., Columbia. Tuition is $123, including some fees that may be waived for persons 60 and over. For more information, visit www.howardcc.edu.

Ongoing

FREE ONLINE VIDEO COURSES

Holders of Howard County Library cards can access more than 3,600 video courses through the Lynda.com website, obtaining information ranging from software tutorials to filmmaking, photography and other creative skills. To learn more, visit the library system website www.hclibrary.org.

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Health Fitness &

MINDING YOUR DIET The MIND diet, focusing on healthy foods like vegetables, whole grains and olive oil, may prevent cognitive decline POMEGRANATES’ PROMISE Preliminary research shows that pomegranates may prevent or slow prostate cancer ALZHEIMER’S EARLY SIGNS A Johns Hopkins study seeks those with early memory loss for brain imaging tests

What screening tests do you really need?

By Dr. Michael Rabovsky Recently, during her annual “well woman” exam, Mary, a healthy 50-year-old schoolteacher, asked me about screening her for ovarian cancer.

Tragically, one of Mary’s friends recently died from ovarian cancer. Mary has no risk factors for ovarian cancer and no family history of ovarian cancer or other cancers. I explained to Mary that, unfortunately, there are no reliable screening tools to diagnose ovarian cancer.

We went on to have a discussion about screening and the characteristics of reliable medical screening tests. The purpose of screening is to identify an unrecognized disease or condition in people who feel

well and have no symptoms.

Deciding factors Screening tests should be applied to those conditions that meet the following criteria: 1. Consider the treatment options.

Acceptable methods of treatment must be available.

2. Look at the impact of the illness.

The disease or condition must have a significant effect on the quality of life and life expectancy.

3. Determine whether treating asymptomatic disease will help. The disease must have a period during which there are no symptoms, when detection and treatment will significantly reduce ill-

ness and/or death. Furthermore, treatment in this asymptomatic phase must yield a therapeutic result superior to that obtained by delaying treatment until symptoms appear.

4. The disease incidence must be high. The incidence, or the number of new cases identified, must be significant to justify the cost of screening to a population of people.

5. Screening must be easy to do.

The screening tests must be simple to perform, simple to interpret and relatively comfortable to people.

6. The costs must be reasonable.

The tests must be available at a reasonable cost. This not only applies to the monetary

cost of performing the tests, but also to the evaluation of false positive tests, the psychological impact on a person of a falsepositive test, and consideration of the medical risk incurred in performing the test as well as further testing required in the workup of a positive test.

Ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of gynecologic cancer deaths in the United States. Approximately 22,000 U.S. cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed annually, with 14,000 deaths each year.

If diagnosed in an earlier stage, the fiveSee SCREENINGS, page 10

FINALLY – Straighttalk About Sciatica Are you suffering from back pain or sciatica? Then it’s likely your biggest problem is pain. But there’s another major problem: bad information.

To end sciatica misery you must have the right information. Pay close attention because I’m going to destroy sciatica myths and give you the facts.

MYTH: Sciatica will just “go away” with some rest.

FACT: If you are dealing with back pain, buttock pain or leg pain, then you must seek help from a sciatica specialist immediately. Left untreated, sciatica can lead to permanent nerve damage - and lifelong pain.

MYTH: Pain is the only problem associated with sciatica.

FACT: In severe cases, sciatica can lead to the inability to control your bowels or bladder.

MYTH: You must take pain medications to deal with sciatica.

FACT: Drugs like muscle relaxants, pain killers, narcotics, antidepressants, and anti-seizure medications have serious potential side-effects and do not cure the root cause of sciatica.

MYTH: “I must have done something wrong to get sciatica.”

FACT: Physical work or simply sitting at a desk for long periods can lead to sciatica.

Accidents and trauma can also be the culprits. Pregnancy can cause sciatica.

Sciatica can affect anyone - including superfit celebrities like Tiger Woods, and Sylvester Stallone.

MYTH: Stop exercising and get several weeks of bed rest to overcome sciatica.

FACT: Staying active can help to relieve sciatic pain and prevent the pain from getting worse. Staying inactive in bed could be the worst advice - based on a recent study in the Netherlands.

MYTH: Sciatica requires surgery.

FACT: NO! There’s been a huge breakthrough in the treatment of sciatica and lower back pain. It’s a new procedure called Non-Surgical Re-Constructive Spinal Care.

The excellent results from this treatment have been published in major medical journals.

Success rates are up to 90%.

MYTH: “There’s nothing anyone can really do. I’m just stuck with this for the rest of my life.”

FACT: With the correct treatment from a healthcare professional who specialize in sciatica, you can find relief from the core cause - and the symptoms.

MYTH: Getting sciatica properly diagnosed is expensive.

FACT: Not true. Dr. Steve Silverston of World Class Chiropractic in Ellicott City, MD is currently offering an initial consultation and comprehensive examination for Just $43, this includes all tests and x-rays if necessary.

Dr. Steve Silverston – In Ellicott City, MD has helped over the past 24 years thousands of patients find relief from agonizing back pain and sciatica. He uses Non-Surgical Re-Constructive Spinal Care.

This procedure does not require a hospital stay, drugs or anything invasive. The focus is on finding - and correcting - the original cause of the back pain and sciatica.

According to Dr. Silverston, “We use a combination of gentle, non-invasive, proven techniques, for precisely diagnosing and correcting the cause of your low back pain and sciatica. This means superior long-term results for most people.”

Almost Immediate Relief from Pain!

Because the treatment is non-surgical, safe, and easy, most patients report an almost immediate relief from their back pain.

Patient Brad H. from Eldersburg, MD wrote, “For several years I saw numerous

doctors including chiropractors in an attempt to resolve unrelenting low back pain and sciatica from a serious motor vehicle injury. Nobody could help me resolve it and my work and life were suffering. Dr. Silverston was able to quickly identify my problem and within one week of beginning care, for the first time in years, I’m virtually pain free!

Now, many years later, I am still better.”

Take the Next Step - END the Suffering... Initial Consultation and Comprehensive Examination for Just $43.

This includes all tests and x-rays if necessary.

The first step is a thorough sciatic examination with Dr. Silverston. Call 410-461-3435 to schedule your appointment.

Mention this article (CODE: 43TB6) and Dr. Steve Silverston will happily reduce his usual consultation fee to just $43!

Only 50 reader consultations are available at this exclusively discounted rate.

Call them now and get a full and thorough examination to pinpoint the cause of your problem for just $43. The normal cost of such an exam is $345 so you will save $302!

Call them now on 410-461-3435 and cut out or tear off this valuable article and take it to your appointment. You’ll be on your way to safe, lasting relief!

You can even call on the weekend and leave a message on their answering machine to secure your spot and they promise to return all calls. During the week staff can be very busy helping patients so if they don’t pick up straight away, do leave a message.

Call 410-461-3435 NOW. If it’s the weekend or they’re away from the phone the staff at World Class Chiropractic promise they will get back to you. So call now on 410-461-3435 and quote this special discount code: 43TB6.

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Gum disease may lead to heart problems People with gum disease — which begins when the sticky, bacteria-laden film known as plaque builds up around your teeth — are almost twice as likely to have heart disease as those without it.

The reasons behind this link aren’t completely clear. One possibility is that people without access to good dental care may also lack the resources to keep heart disease at bay.

Still, some researchers suspect a common thread between the two conditions: inflammation, the body’s natural response to infection or injury.

If you have gum disease (also known as periodontal disease), chewing and tooth brushing can release bacteria into your bloodstream. Several species of bacteria that cause gum disease have been found in the cholesterol-laden plaque that clogs arteries in people with heart disease.

cular or cardiovascular disease, healthcare costs were between 10 and 40 percent lower.

“This is a really solid finding, and a testimony to what we’ve been preaching for years,” said periodontist Dr. Alpdogan Kantarci, of the Harvard-affiliated Forsyth Institute, a not-for-profit research organization focused on oral health. Treating gum disease reduces the body’s burden of infection and inflammation, which seems to help people respond better to treatments for other health conditions, like heart disease, he explained.

“As we’re always telling our physician colleagues, ‘Make sure your patients are getting regular dental care,’ because we may be able to help improve their overall health,” Kantarci said.

Preventing periodontal disease Most people have at least mild gingivitis,

the earliest form of gum disease. But daily tooth brushing and flossing can prevent and even reverse the problem, Kantarci said.

Twice-yearly cleanings by a dentist or hygienist are also a good idea. However, some people have an aggressive response to bacteria and develop plaque more easily, and would benefit from a cleaning every two to three months.

Left untreated, gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease. The gums pull back from the root of the tooth, creating a tiny pocket that gradually widens. Eventually, the infection and inflammation attack the tissue that holds the tooth to the jawbone, which can cause the tooth to loosen and possibly fall out.

Dentists and hygienists can treat periodontal disease by cleaning the teeth above and below the gum line, a procedure called scaling and root planing (sometimes

referred to as a deep cleaning). They use manual scalers or ultrasound devices to scrape away hardened plaque (tartar).

Most people need only local anesthesia, such as a shot of Novocain. Be sure to tell your dentist or hygienist if you’re taking any medications that might increase your risk of bleeding, such as warfarin, aspirin or clopidogrel (Plavix).

The current evidence suggests — but still doesn’t definitely prove — that treating gum disease will lessen complications from cardiovascular disease. Either way, it’s still important to brush and floss every day to keep your gums healthy.

Be on the lookout for signs of gum disease, especially if you have a history of heart disease or stroke, and seek treatment. © 2015. President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

A bite off your healthcare bill?

Now, new research suggests that if you have cardiovascular disease, treating gum disease may lower your healthcare costs and the number of times you end up in the hospital.

The study, published in the August American Journal of Preventive Medicine, looked at health and dental insurance records from nearly 339,000 people with periodontal disease and one of five conditions: type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease (usually a stroke), rheumatoid arthritis or pregnancy.

Except for those with rheumatoid arthritis, all study participants who had at least one periodontal disease treatment had lower medical costs and fewer hospitalizations within four years of the treatment compared with people who weren’t treated. For cerebrovas-

BEACON BITS

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GET MORE IN A NEW HOME | BEAZER.COM *Offer valid on contracts executed between 4/1/2016 – 6/30/2016 that settle on or before 6/30/16. Offer is only available on Quick Move-In Homes at The Gatherings at Quarry Place. Actual savings will vary by home type and homesite. An incentive of up to $10,000 will be provided by Beazer Homes and issued as a closing cost credit to buyer at closing. This offer is subject to buyer satisfying their lender’s underwriting guidelines which are subject to change without notice and may limit third party contributions. Closing cost incentive may not be usable on all loan products; check with your lender for details. This offer is not redeemable for cash and may not be combined with any other offers. Available for owner-occupied homes only. The use of a preferred lender is required to receive closing cost incentive, however, Purchaser may use any lender of their choice. Pricing, features and availability subject to change without notice. See New Home Counselor for complete details. MHBR #93 ©2015 Beazer Homes. 3/16 131098

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Screenings From page 8 year survival rate (the percentage of people alive five years after diagnosis) can be as high as 90 percent. The five-year survival rate drops to 25 percent if the diagnosis is made at a later stage.

The goal of screening would, therefore, be to diagnose ovarian cancer in its earlier stages, when treatment would have a beneficial effect on outcomes. Several tests have been used to screen for ovarian cancer. But three large studies failed to show that screening resulted in earlier diagnosis

of ovarian cancer.

So, although there is evidence to show that diagnosing ovarian cancer at its earlier asymptomatic stages leads to better survival, there have been no tests shown to detect ovarian cancer in these earlier stages.

Furthermore, positive tests for ovarian cancer generally lead to surgical procedures. One study revealed that 15 percent of women undergoing a surgical procedure for a false-positive screen experienced a serious complication related to the surgery.

So I explained to Mary that not only was there no evidence that screening led to

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A P R I L 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

better outcomes, but that with the tests currently available to diagnose ovarian cancer, screening could lead to significantly more potential harm than good.

Colon cancer In contrast, colorectal cancer is a condition that meets the aforementioned screening criteria.

Most colorectal cancers develop slowly over several years. Before a cancer develops, a growth of tissue or tumor usually begins as a noncancerous polyp on the inner lining of the colon or rectum.

A polyp is a benign, noncancerous tumor. Some polyps can progress into a cancer but not all do. There are generally no symptoms associated with polyps.

When a precancerous polyp is identified by a screening test, progression to cancer is prevented, and there is no effect on health or life expectancy.

However, when colorectal cancer is diagnosed after symptoms develop, the fiveyear survival rate can range from 6 percent to 74 percent, depending on the stage of the cancer at the time of diagnosis.

Colon cancer affects a significant number of people, there are acceptable screening methods and treatments, and identifying and treating precancerous or early-

stage cancer in the asymptomatic period leads to better outcomes.

Because it meets screening criteria and the incidence of colorectal cancer starts to increase at age 50, I recommended that Mary get screened for it.

Other critical screening tests In addition to screening for colorectal cancer, I also advised Mary to be screened for breast cancer, with an annual mammogram, and for cervical cancer, with a Pap smear, and HPV, or human papillomatous virus, test every five years.

We reviewed the warning signs of skin cancer, as well, and I also counseled Mary to have a blood test, to check her lipid profile, and a fasting blood sugar test as a screen for diabetes.

The message here is that screening recommendations vary, and it’s important to discuss the appropriate screening tests with your doctor.

WhatDoctorsKnow is a magazine devoted to up-to-the minute information on health issues from physicians, major hospitals and clinics, universities and health care agencies across the U.S. Online at www.whatdoctorsknow.com. © 2016 Whatdoctorsknow.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Apr. 20

PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING SEMINAR Dr. H. Ballantine Carter, professor of urology and oncology at the

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, will discuss new guidelines for prostate cancer screenings in a free seminar on Wednesday, April 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Howard County General Hospital Wellness Center, 10710 Charter Dr., Columbia.

His presentation will be followed by a reception with urologists from Central Maryland Urology Associates. To learn more and to register, visit www.hcgh.org or call (410) 740-7601.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 1 6

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A P R I L 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

This diet helps prevent cognitive decline Dear Mayo Clinic: What exactly is the MIND diet, and can it really help prevent dementia? Is it a healthy diet for everyone?

Answer: The MIND diet is a combination of two other healthy diets, so it is a healthy option. Results from a recent study show that, over time, older adults who followed the MIND diet appeared to have less cognitive decline, such as memory problems.

The effect of food on cognitive health has been the subject of research for quite some

time. The research has shown that certain foods — particularly plant foods, such as green leafy vegetables, nuts and berries — can help preserve brain function.

Mediterranean + DASH diets MIND stands for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay.

It includes aspects of a Mediterranean diet, as well as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH, diet.

A Mediterranean diet is rich in fruits,

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vegetables, olive oil, legumes, whole grains and fish. The DASH diet, often recommended for people who need to lower their blood pressure, emphasizes vegetables, fruit and low-fat dairy foods, along with moderate amounts of whole grains, fish, poultry and nuts.

To evaluate the benefits of the MIND diet, researchers monitored the eating habits of 900 older adults for several years.

Specifically, they assessed a pattern of eating that emphasizes foods associated with cognitive benefit and limits foods associated with cognitive decline.

This pattern of eating includes relatively high amounts of green leafy vegetables, as well as other vegetables, berries, fish, olive oil, whole grains, beans, nuts and poultry, along with moderate amounts of wine. It also included low amounts of red meat, cheese, butter, margarine, fried foods, pastries and sweets.

Researchers found that people who regularly followed this pattern of eating showed less cognitive decline over time than people who did not.

Based on previous studies, the results of this study are not surprising. But they extend the previous research by looking at an entire pattern of eating, not just specific foods.

Benefits other conditions, too The results also are consistent with many studies that show benefits from this pattern of eating on other health conditions. It helps lower blood pressure and serum cholesterol, and it follows guidelines to lower the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Following the Mediterranean diet, on which the MIND diet is partially based, can be a very tasty way of eating that incorporates different types of salads with olive

oil, whole-grain pasta or rice with vegetables, and fish, poultry or beans.

But making beneficial dietary changes and transitioning to a diet that relies more heavily on plants may seem challenging.

There are strategies you can use to make it easier.

For example, plan ahead before you shop or make meals. Try new recipes that incorporate MIND diet foods. Keep different types of berries and mixed nuts on hand to snack on, rather than potato chips or processed crackers.

When you eat at a restaurant, try grilled fish or chicken rather than fried. Start off with a salad and include generous amounts of vegetables. Stick to whole-grain bread with a little olive oil rather than white bread with butter. Opt for berries for dessert instead of pastries or other sweets.

Eating in this way can be enjoyable, and the benefits on your mind, your overall health and your quality of life can be tremendous.

Because the MIND diet incorporates a wide variety of healthy food choices, it is safe for most people. If you have a chronic medical condition that requires you to eat or avoid certain foods, however, it would be a good idea to talk with your healthcare provider before you make significant changes to your diet.

— Donald Hensrud, M.D., M.P.H., Preventive Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail questions to MayoClinicQ&A @mayo.edu. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org. © 2016 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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A P R I L 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Cancer update: pomegranates and gluten Q: Is it true that pomegranates help prevent prostate cancer?

A: Research showing possible effects of pomegranates and pomegranate juice against prostate cancer is underway, but results are tentative. The majority of research comes from cell and animal studies, with few cancer-specific studies in people.

Pomegranates have a high amount of polyphenols — a group of compounds that have shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in lab studies. One polyphenol, called punicalagin, is unique to pomegranates. During digestion, our body produces urolithins from punicalagin and related polyphenols.

In laboratory studies, these urolithins

produced by our body have decreased prostate cancer cell growth and ability to spread. Some studies in people have shown that pomegranate juice or extract raises levels of antioxidant compounds in the blood, but research shows that people vary in how well they absorb these compounds.

In human studies, the most promising — but still preliminary — research comes from a few small intervention trials that looked at the effect of pomegranate juice on men with early stage prostate cancer.

These men were either previously treated and had rising PSA levels (an indicator of prostate growth or inflammation) or were taking a “watchful waiting” approach.

Overall the studies reported that drinking eight ounces of pomegranate juice daily

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significantly slowed the rise of PSA levels.

The high polyphenol content of pomegranates and anti-cancer effects in the lab mean they could play a role in reducing risk of other cancers, too, but that evidence is even more sparse.

While we wait for more research, enjoy the juice and the arils, the red seed pods inside the fruit, for great nutrition and taste. Mix the arils in salads, hot or cold cereal, yogurt, smoothies, rice and many other foods.

Q: What role does a gluten-free diet play in reducing cancer risk?

A: Gluten is a protein in wheat, rye and barley that poses no risk to most people.

For people who have celiac disease, gluten sets off a reaction in which the body’s immune system attacks its own cells, creating damage in the intestines that could increase risk of cancer. For those with this disease, closely following a gluten-free diet is vital.

There may be a spectrum of other, separate gluten-related disorders, called “nonceliac gluten sensitivity” (NCGS) based on emerging research. For these people, symptoms like digestive tract pain,

headache or fatigue improve when gluten is removed. So far, researchers don’t consider NCGS related to cancer risk.

In either case, people avoiding gluten can eat a well-balanced diet, replacing the three gluten-containing grains with potatoes, whole-grain rice, soy, amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat, beans and starch, or with flour made from any of these.

However, if you do not have celiac disease or NCGS, research shows no cancer protection from avoiding gluten. In fact, whole-grain foods containing gluten can be good sources of fiber and phytochemicals that may be cancer-protective.

The American Institute for Cancer Research offers a Nutrition Hotline, 1-800843-8114, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This free service allows you to ask questions about diet, nutrition and cancer. A registered dietitian will return your call, usually within three business days.

Courtesy of the American Institute for Cancer Research. Questions for this column may be sent to “Nutrition Wise,” 1759 R St. NW. Washington, DC 20009. Collins cannot respond to questions personally.

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able on the Medicare website in a free class on Tuesday, March 29 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Presented by the State Health Insurance Assistance Program and the Howard County Office on Aging, the program will be held in Suite 100, Howard County General Hospital Wellness Center, 10710 Charter Dr., Columbia. For more information or to register online, visit www.hcgh.org or call (410) 740-7601.

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 1 6

Enjoy More Great Days Before You Make a Choice, Visit Vibrant Lifestyle

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Health Studies Page

A P R I L 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Study looks for early signs of Alzheimer’s “Where did I leave my keys?” It’s a question most of us have asked ourselves on more than one occasion, and the inquiry is more likely a symptom of our increasingly hectic lifestyles rather than a true failure of our memory.

But when are these seemingly innocent episodes of forgetfulness really the first

sign of something much more significant?

What are the earliest signs of the onset of dementia?

The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, widely known for its damaging effects on an individual’s memory, language and other cognitive skills. Patients with advanced Alzheimer’s disease

Seeking Men and Women The University of Maryland & Veterans Affairs of Baltimore are conducting a research study to better understand balance & prevent falls as we age.

With your participation you will receive: • Health evaluation • Balance, step, strength, and/or flexibility exercises • Compensation for your time

For Information, please call the Baltimore VA/University of Maryland Gerontology Recruitment Phone Line

410-605-7179 Mention code: LIFT *You must be at least 65 years old and in good health *Participants will be seen at the Baltimore VA Medical Center and University of Maryland School of Medicine for approximately 41 visits for 1 to 4 hours of time per visit

dementia are unable to carry out day-to-day activities, including caring for themselves, and often end up being unable to recognize even their own spouses or children.

This devastating disease clearly affects not only the afflicted patients but also their family members, especially those who become caregivers.

As Alzheimer’s disease can extend across a decade or longer, the healthcare costs resulting from care for these patients are significant and rapidly growing. In 2015 alone, the cost for healthcare and other care-related costs for all dementias was an estimated $226 billion, in addition to the roughly $18 billion of unpaid Alzheimer’s disease care provided by family members and other unpaid caregivers.

This cost to families and society is expected to grow significantly as baby boomers reach the age typical for the onset of Alzheimer’s disease dementia and other dementias.

Alzheimer’s disease results in the accumulation of a protein called beta-amyloid, which builds up to form “plaques” in the brain. Similarly, another protein called tau accumulates during the disease process to

form “tangles,” which, together with plaques, eventually cause irreversible and widespread damage and death to brain cells.

Unfortunately, once a person reaches a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s dementia, options for treatment become limited as it is not possible to bring back neurons once they are lost.

Early changes may be reversible Therefore, many studies of Alzheimer’s disease currently focus on a condition called amnestic mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, thought to be a precursor to or a very early stage of Alzheimer’s disease. A patient with MCI typically has mild forgetfulness, such as more difficulty than usual recalling recent events, or getting lost on his or her way to a familiar place.

In MCI, the cell death that is seen in Alzheimer’s is not nearly as widespread, making this condition a preferable target for treatment. Instead, studies of patients with MCI show changes in the brain associated with this mild forgetfulness that may be reversible.

See STUDY, page 18

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A P R I L 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

BEACON BITS

Study

Apr. 15

From page 16

SPORTS HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS

Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks has set an April 15 deadline for nominations to its 2016 Community Sports Hall of Fame, recognizing individuals who have gained prominence in or made substantial contributions to community recreational sports in Howard County.

Nomination forms are available online at www.howardcountymd.gov/halloffame.htm or by calling (410) 313-4711.

Apr. 30

WOMENFEST FEATURES FITNESS

More than 100 vendors and exhibitors will offer a variety of free screenings and consultations at the annual free WomenFest on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Gary J. Arthur Community Center, 2400 Rte. 97, Cooksville. New this year is Core Camp, where attendees can participate in free 45-minute fitness classes including yoga, Pilates and Yogalates. For more information, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/WomenFest of call (420) 313-5440.

At Johns Hopkins, the research of Dr. Arnold Bakker and colleagues has shown that hyperactivity in the cells of the hippocampus, a small area of the brain that is critically important for memory function, contributes to memory impairment in patients with MCI. This hyperactivity can be reduced with certain medications, potentially providing an effective treatment for memory symptoms in this early stage of the disease.

In currently ongoing studies, Bakker’s group is trying to determine just how early in the disease these reversible brain changes can be detected.

To do this, the team is conducting cognitive testing and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) — a test that uses MRI technology to measure brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow.

The studies also collect spinal fluid via lumber puncture to measure changes in brain activity and levels of beta-amyloid and tau in groups of individuals with different levels of cognitive impairment.

From the publisher From page 2 the freedoms we all hold so dear.

One final point. Just as your vote counts, so does everything you say to your elected representatives. Take advantage of this, and share your views via letter, email or phone call.

They really don’t hear from their con-

Bakker hopes that results from these studies will provide further insight into possible treatments for this early stage of Alzheimer’s disease and determine who may benefit from such treatments before forgetfulness becomes a true symptom of failing memory.

Volunteer for a study Johns Hopkins Hospital is currently recruiting participants for a study on memory impairment in adults ages 55 to 90. They will make two visits to Johns Hopkins Hospital, undertake paper and pencil cognitive tests, have an MRI scan and a lumbar puncture. Participants will be compensated for their time and travel expenses.

Although lapses in memory may seem innocuous and merely the result of advancing age, they could be among of the first signs of significant changes in memory function. In fact, noticing a change in your ability to remember things over the past few years may be an important symptom. Research is needed to help better understand the disease.

If you have any concerns about your memory or are interested in being part of a scientific research study, contact Carrie Speck at (410) 955-5057 or at cspeck1@jhmi.edu.

stituents all that often. So what they do hear makes a difference in how they think — or at least in what they understand their constituents want, which is important to them if they desire to get reelected.

In America, power really rests in the people, and that means you.

Tell them you saw it in the Beacon!

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The

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Senior

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NEWS and EVENTS from the Howard County Office on Aging

Connection

Department of Citizen Services

Volume 6, No. 4 • April 2016

Cycle2Health Events Launch 2016 Riding Season

C

ycle2Health Howard County (C2H) – launched in 2013 as the first non-competitive, peer-led, bicycling club developed for older adults in Howard County – is kicking off its 2016 season a little earlier this year! The Countdown to Kickoff begins on Friday, April 8 at the Ellicott City 50+ Center with Bikes & Bagels. Join us from 9 to 11 a.m. to learn about C2H, meet the ride leaders and enjoy the opportunity to reconnect with your cycling friends.

A Message from

Starr P. Sowers Administrator, Office on Aging The 8th annual WomenFest returns to the Gary J. Arthur Community Center at Glenwood this month, with lively and engaging seminars, important health screenings, plus more energetic and hands-on activities than ever before. Kick off your day with an invigorating 15-minute Line Dancing demo at 10:15 a.m. in the Roxbury Mills Room.

Then, head on over to the Multi-Purpose Room for Core Camp, a series of free 45-minute fitness classes. Grab a friend and meet us on the mat for one of the following sessions: Pilates at 10:30 a.m. with Bob McDowell; Yoga at 12:30 p.m. with Mary Garratt; or Yogalates at 2 p.m. with Susan Kain.

This year’s popular seminars feature lively new topics to engage your intellect and soothe your senses. At 11 a.m., bust the myths of menopause in “Sex, Sanity and Sleep” and stimulate your creativity in “Paint It to Frame It.” At 12:15 p.m, learn how soothe your digestive system in “Balancing Digestion for Total Body Health,” de-clutter your home and life in “So Hard to Discard” and add balance and meaningfulness to your life in “Purpose, Passion and Presence.”

Back by popular demand, the charismatic chefs and authors of Eight Broads in the Kitchen will work their culinary magic with two new cooking demos: “Sauces, Condiments and Toppings…Oh My!” at 11:45 a.m. and “Let’s Do Brunch!” at 1:15 p.m. Find them in the West Friendship Room – or just follow your nose!

More than 100 vendors and exhibitors will be on hand to welcome you to WomenFest this year, with products and services to update your home, boost your health, and enhance your fashion and beauty. Be sure to stop by and have a look.

Last but not least, I want to thank all our wonderful staff, volunteers and sponsors, many of whom return every year to lend their support to WomenFest. We look forward to seeing you at WomenFest 2016!

The Howard County Police Department Pathway Patrol Unit will be on hand to share tips on bicycle safety and the Bike and Pedestrian Coordinator from the Office of Transportation will discuss Howard County’s Bicycle Master Plan. Two free seminars will be offered as well – “Bicycle Maintenance 101” by Mt. Airy Bicycles, and “Route Planning and Cycling Software” with Cycle2Health Ride Leaders John Sargeant and Mike O’Rourke. Space is limited; call 410-313-5940 to register for Bikes & Bagels.

Next up, a Bicycle Skills Clinic will be held Wednesday, April 20, 1 to 4 p.m., at the Howard County Police Oakland Mills Satellite Office, 5820 Robert Oliver Place in Columbia. Join the Pathway Patrol Unit to learn about the proper use and application of gears, braking techniques, hazard avoidance, ascending and descending curbs, and slow speed maneuvering. You must wear a helmet and have a bicycle in proper working order. Space is limited; contact Jen Lee at 410-313-5940 to register.

Mark your calendars for the Cycle2Health Kick-Off on Thursday, May 5 at the East Columbia 50+ Center, 6600 Cradlerock Way in Columbia.

Beginning at 9 a.m., riders can register for the season, and get free bicycle safety checks and fittings from Race Pace Bicycles, Princeton Sports and Performance Bicycle. The first rides of the season will depart at 10 a.m., with a casual, moderate, and advanced ride.

Coordinated by the Office on Aging’s Health & Wellness Division with the support of the local cycling community, C2H offers adults of all ages and riding abilities the opportunity to experience the benefits of exercise while exploring the natural beauty of Howard County. “Before Cycle2Health, there wasn’t a program to meet the needs of older adult riders like me in Howard County, offering daylight rides of varying intensity on weekdays,” said Saul Zuckman, who began cycling 26 years ago as a way to lose weight and control his type 2 Diabetes.

Since 2013, Zuckman has worked as part of the Cycle2Health steering committee to expand the program throughout Howard County, recruiting fellow cyclists to serve as volunteer ride leaders, mapping out routes, and suggesting guidelines to insure the safety of participants.

“Over the past three years, I have seen many Cycle2Health participants develop a love for riding, improving their health and finding new friends along the way.”

Barbara Marley joined Cycle2Health as the 2013 season was winding down. She enjoyed it so much that she bought a stationary stand for her bike so she could keep cycling over the winter. “I wasn’t exercising regularly, and hadn’t biked in years, but everyone was so welcoming that I never felt left behind. It’s a great way to meet people and it’s fun!”

For more information:

Jennifer Lee 410-313-5940 or visit www.howardcountymd.gov/C2H

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The Senior Connection

A P R I L 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Your Medicare Options After Open Enrollment

By Bill Salganik, Counselor, State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)

M ■

■

■ ■

ost people think about changing their Medicare prescription or Medicare Advantage coverage during the Annual Enrollment Period, Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. But there are still things you can do now – or any time during the year – to change or improve your coverage and benefits.

Medicare Supplemental (Medigap) policies. There’s no annual enrollment period; you can apply for a policy at any time during the year, although you may be subject to health questions which could impact being approved or the cost of the plan. Medigaps help cover deductibles and cost sharing not covered by basic Medicare. If you apply to change your Medigap coverage during the year, don’t drop your old coverage until your new Medigap is in place.

Income-based assistance programs. If your gross annual income is below $35,310 as an individual or $47,790 as a couple, you may be eligible for help with prescription and other Medicare costs. Asset limits apply for some of the assistance programs as well. You can apply for help at any time – it doesn't have to be during one of the Medicare open enrollment periods.

Switching Medicare plans during the year if you are in one of the assistance programs. The income-based assistance programs give you the right to switch prescription or Medicare Advantage plans outside of the open enrollment period.

Enrolling in a five-star plan. Medicare gives each prescription or Medicare Advantage plan a rating from one to five stars. The highest A Collective Voice of the Local People Since 1961 rated plans (five stars) are allowed to enroll new members all year. The only five-star plans available in Maryland in 2016 are Kaiser’s Medicare health plans, some of which include prescription drug coverage.

If you have questions about your Medicare coverage or assistance Howard County Citizens Association programs, contact the State Health Insurance Assistance Program presents (SHIP) at 410-313-7392 or www.howardcountymd.gov/SHIP.

HCCA

Getting Older is NOT Optional HOW YOU DEAL WITH IT IS! A Howard County Forum

Designed for adult children to learn about services and programs available for aging family members.

Tuesday, April 19 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

East Columbia 50+ Center 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia 21045

Saturday, April 16, 2016 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Slayton House • Wilde Lake Village Center 10400 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia 21044

Featuring a panel of LOCAL OLDER ADULTS as they relate their personal life journey of AGING IN PLACE and MEETING CHALLENGES related to HOUSING • TRANSPORTATION • HEALTH • CAREGIVING • SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT KEYNOTE PRESENTATION BY

REGISTER AT 410-313-5980 (VOICE/RELAY) www.howardcountymd.gov/map

Cindy Hounsell, President of the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement

— THIS IS A FREE, TICKETED EVENT, BUT SEATING IS LIMITED — REGISTER ONLINE AT

Kindred Spirits SOCIAL CLUB

A fee-for-service program for people diagnosed with an early stage memory disorder*

GettingOlderIsNotOptionalForum.Eventbrite.com or bit.ly/GOINOF2016 event sponsors

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Paul Verchinski at verchinski@yahoo.com If you need this information in an alternate format or need accommodations to attend, contact Maryland Access Point (MAP) at 410-313-5980 (VOICE/RELAY) by Friday, April 8.

NEW! Kindred Spirits at North Laurel Tuesday and Thursday • 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

North Laurel 50+ Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel 20723 Contact: Nancy Riley • 410-313-7691 (voice/relay) nriley@howardcountymd.gov

Kindred Spirits at Glenwood Monday/Wednesday/Friday • 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Glenwood 50+ Center, 2400 Rt. 97, Cooksville 21723 Contact: Judy Miller • 410-313-5441 (voice/relay) jumiller@howardcountymd.gov * An initial screening for eligibility is required; call one of the above centers to schedule an evaluation.

The Senior Connection is published monthly by the Howard County Department of Citizen Services and the Office on Aging.

This publication is available in alternate formats upon request.

To join our subscriber list, email seniorconnection@howardcountymd.gov Howard County Office on Aging, 6751 Columbia Gateway Dr., Columbia, MD 21046 410-313-6410 (VOICE/RELAY) • www.howardcountyaging.org Find us on

www.Facebook.com/HoCoCitizen

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

The Senior Connection

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 1 6

Say you saw it in the Beacon

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Don’t miss the fun, excitement and energy of the 8th annual WomenFest!

An event especially designed for women of all ages to live a more balanced, healthier and fulfilled life!

Saturday, April 30 • 10 AM - 3 PM ENJOY DYNAMIC SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND DEMOS:

Gary J. Arthur Community Center at Glenwood 2400 Route 97, Cooksville, MD 21723

Sex, Sanity and Sleep

NEW FOR 2016!

Low sex drive, insomnia and poor memory, sound familiar? Understand how hormones can affect your wellbeing. Let’s bust the myths of menopause, be sexcessful and learn to embrace this stage on your journey.

Nadu Tuakli, MD, MPH, Anti-Aging & Longevity Institute

CORE CAMP

Paint It To Frame It Pick up a paint brush and enjoy this step-by-step workshop to create your own one-of-a-kind masterpiece to take home.

Lisa Noss, Pinot’s Palette

Balancing Digestion for Total Body Health Would you like to achieve weight loss, a calm mind, more energy, less pain, and better digestive health? Focus on how eating a diet that balances your microbiome helps you feel better in all ways.

Liz Lipski, PhD, CCN, CNS, CFM, LDN, Maryland University of Integrative Health

So Hard to Discard Do you ever wonder why you have such difficulty getting rid of your possessions?

Develop a plan to let go of things that are cluttering your home and life.

Elspeth Bell, Ph.D., Elspeth Bell, Ph.D., LLC

Purpose, Passion and Presence Ever feel a little lost, a tad stuck or not accomplishing your goals? Learn how to take the steps to add more balance, meaning and mindfulness to your life.

Julie Reisler, MA, ACC, CPT, Live Powerfully|Empowered Living, LLC

Grab a friend and meet us at the mat for these 45-minute Energizing Sessions

• Pilates at 10:30 AM • Yoga at 12:30 PM • Yogalates at 2:00 PM

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS • • • • •

Free Admission 100+ Vendors Dynamic Seminars Cooking Demos All Day Door Prizes

• • • •

On-Site Parking Health Screenings Fun Workshops Fitness Sessions

SPECIAL GUEST Kelly Swoope ABC2 News Anchor 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

COOKING DEMOS Kathryn White, Danielle Hanscom and Debbie Mosimann Co-Authors of “Eight Broads in the Kitchen”

Sauces, Condiments and Toppings... Oh My! This cooking demonstration will feature great ways to infuse flavor and enhance the same ol’ dish. Explore the basics and then take a look at adding spices and herbs, fruits and veggies to the toppings used for breakfast, brunch and dinner.

Let’s Do Brunch!

Spring and summer are best for locally grown fruits and vegetables. Invite family and favorite friends over for brunch featuring the best produce of the season.

Easy? Yes! Healthy? Yes! Yummy? Yes!

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY AND THE

“SPOTLIGHT ON WOMEN” PROGRAM PARTNERS: Columbia Association Clarii Health w/ Dr. Selaru EPIK Home Group Maryland Digestive Disease Center Special Beginnings Birth & Women’s Center

To request accommodations to attend, call Maryland Access Point at 410-313-5980 (VOICE/RELAY) one week in advance.

410-313-5440 (VOICE/RELAY) • www.howardcountymd.gov/womenfest

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The Senior Connection

A P R I L 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Howard County 50+ Centers

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS Go to www.howardcountymd.gov/50pluscenters for a complete list of events, programs and services.

Bain 50+ Center

Ellicott City 50+ Center

Tuesday, April 5 • 11 a.m. — GOLDE PRESENTS: THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS

Friday, April 1 • 1 p.m. — TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT

Keyboardist, Jim Olde Blackwell and vocalist, Larry Stauffer will perform an all-Broadway revue of tunes from 1927-1980. FREE; register: 410-313-7213.

Tuesday, April 12 • 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. — AARP PRESENTS: FRAUD WATCH Learn to spot common fraud tactics and how to join the AARP Fraud Watch Network from Jen Holze of AARP Maryland and Beth Silverman of Howard County’s Office of Consumer Affairs. FREE; register: 410-313-7213.

Tuesday, April 26 • 1 p.m — LYRIC OPERA BALTIMORE PRESENTS: MADE IN AMERICA – THE AMERICAN SONGBOOK Explore the American Songbook of composers Johnny Mercer, Heusen & Cahn, Duke Ellington, Gershwin, Loewe & Lerner and others. FREE; register: 410-313-7213.

East Columbia 50+ Center Tuesday, April 5 • 6:30 p.m. — AARP’s LIFE REIMAGINED WORKSHOP

Join us for our first blind draw double’s tournament, with prizes for the final two teams. Sign up by March 30; $5 entry fee per player. Details: 410-313-1400.

Wednesdays, April 6 – May 11 • 9:30 -11:30 a.m. — WATERCOLOR BASICS CLASS Master the fundamentals of drawing, shapes, values, textures and design.

Cost: $43 for 6 classes. Register: 410-313-1400.

Wednesday, April 13 • 1 p.m. — CLUTTER FREE YOUR LIFE Professional organizer Sonal Adamson of Clutter-Free 4Life will discuss how to create a mail organization system. Door prize drawing for a $50 gift certificate. FREE; register: 410-313-1400.

Thursday, April 14 • 1 p.m. — MARY KAY BEAUTY DAY Pamper yourself while learning beauty tips & tricks from make-up expert Gina Brooks! FREE; register: 410-313-1400.

Glenwood 50+Center Friday, April 15 • 10 a.m. — WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SCAMS

Get a fresh, thought-provoking approach to help you navigate the next phase of your life. FREE; registration required: 410-313-7680

Jennine Robinson from the State’s Attorney’s office will tell you everything you need to know about how to keep from being scammed.

FREE; register: 410-313-5440.

Tuesday, April 12 • 1 p.m. — MY MOTHER’S GARDEN

Tuesday, April 19 • 10 a.m. — FREE CAR CARE CLINIC

Watch Cynthia Lester’s documentary about her mother’s hoarding disorder and how the family learned to cope with it. FREE; register: 410-313-7680.

Tuesday, April 18 • 6:30 p.m. — PREPARE TO CARE Maryland Access Point presents this program for adult children to learn about service and programs available for aging family members. FREE; register: 410-313-7680.

Tuesday, April 26 • 7 p.m. — WORLD LANGUAGES CAFÉ Offered in partnership with Columbia Association, the café offers an opportunity to increase your fluency in a language you know or one you are learning. FREE; register: 410-313-7680.

Elkridge 50+ Center Friday, April 1 • 10:30 a.m. to noon — AROMATHERAPY AND SKINCARE Join Andrienne Hausman to learn how aromatherapy and essential oils can help with skincare; samples provided. $3; register at: 410-313-5192.

Monday, April 4 • 10:30 a.m. to noon — BASIC ART CLASS

Learn what to do to get your car ready for spring and summer from Tom Joyce of Hilmuth Automotive. FREE; register: 410-313-5440.

Friday, April 22 • 11 a.m. — WHAT PUT THE CHARM IN CHARM CITY? Baltimore historian Wayne Schaumberg will delve into Charm City’s history in a lively and engaging talk. FREE; register: 410-313-5440.

Wednesday, April 27 • 10:30 a.m. — BILLION DOLLAR SPY Pulitzer Prize winning author David Hoffman will discuss his book “Billion Dollar Spy,” followed by a book signing. FREE; register: 410-313-5440.

North Laurel 50+ Center Tuesdays, April 5 – May 10 • 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. — BALLROOM BASICS Learn basic dance techniques like Salsa, Tango, Rumba, Samba, Waltz and more. Singles & couples welcome. $52/6 sessions; register: 410-313-0380.

Friday, April 8 • 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. — EARTH DAY CELEBRATION Enjoy a nature walk, a sustainable salad bar lunch and learn eco-friendly tips on how to reduce, reuse and recycle. FREE activities; lunch by donation. Register: 410-313-0380.

Our local artist, Gary, will guide you as you create a beautiful masterpiece.

FREE; includes all materials. Register: 410-313-5192.

Thursdays, April 14 through May 5 • 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. — SENIORSTOGETHER: COPING WITH HEARING LOSS

Wednesday, April 6 • 11 a.m. to noon — LET’S DISH: SPRING VEGGIE SALAD

Those with hearing loss and/or their families will explore topics including hearing devices, managing environments and coping strategies with an audiologist and University of Maryland graduate students. $25 per person; register by April 8: 410-313-7353.

Watch as we prepare a delicious, healthy, veggie dish and learn how to fall in love with veggies! Cost is a donation; register: 410-313-5192.

Thursday, April 7 • 10:15 a.m. to noon — BALANCE FOR ALL Learn about age-related balance changes, find out how balanced you are and how you can improve. FREE; register: 410-313-5192.

Friday, April 29 • 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. — ART WORKSHOP: CUSTOM CHARM BRACELETS Design and create a custom charm bracelet. $8; includes all materials.

Register: 410-313-0380.

To request accommodations to participate, call Maryland Access Point at 410-313-5980 (VOICE/RELAY) one week in advance.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 1 6

Say you saw it in the Beacon

nted a new home and a community as active as I am.

Eagle Springs at Heritage Shores invites you to experience life in an all-inclusive, 55+ resort community in Bridgeville, DE. SUSSEX COUNTY, DE

Single-Level Single-Family Homes from the low $200’s 302.337.1040 34 Royal View Drive Bridgeville, DE 19933

Resort-Style Amenities • Tennis, Fitness Center and Pools • Championship Golf Course and Pro Shop • Clubhouse and 2 On-Site Restaurants • Health & Wellness Center Now Open!

The Northeast’s Most Tax-Friendly State • Low Real Estate Taxes • No State-Imposed Estate Tax • No State Sales Tax

Tour our new model park.

See our just-released floorplans and homesites with water and golf views.

Less than two hours to DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia.

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Move In Now or Build New. Save Big While These Opportunities Last.

BrookfieldDC.com/Beacon

Sales Center Hours: 10am-6pm Daily Prices, financing, terms, and incentives are subject to change without notice and availability.

Please see a Brookfield Residential Sales Manager for details. NY/NJ-The complete offering terms are in an offering plan available from sponsor. File no. H-06-0019. Certain restrictions apply.

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A P R I L 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Money

ADVICE FOR UNCERTAIN TIMES Surprise! Experts say stick with your retirement planning and invest for the long term, despite bumps in the road

THESE JOBS ARE TAXING Uber and Lyft drivers, some Airbnb hosts and others who are self-employed must pay taxes on earnings

Try to beat the market in 2016 with these

By Steven Goldberg Even after the sharp sell-off so far this year, the stock market isn’t bargain-priced.

But many stocks are cheaper than they were at the first of the year — making this a good time to beef up your investments in solid companies like the ones I recommend below. These five picks, in my view, ought to beat the market — whether the sell-off accelerates or ends today.

I have a lot of confidence in my fund picks. But when I’m hunting for stocks, I often turn to Morningstar. Morningstar is far better known for its fund coverage, but it employs more than 100 stock analysts.

More important: The track record of Morningstar’s stock picks is superb.

Over the past 10 years, the recommendations of Morningstar Stock Investor, which draws on the work of the firm’s analysts, returned an annualized 9.6 percent — an average of 2.3 percentage points per year better than Standard & Poor’s 500stock index. (The figures are through December 31, the last date for which returns for the newsletter are available.)

What’s more, the clearly written newsletter, which costs $125 a year, doesn’t have a huge audience. Unlike what happens when a big brokerage makes a call, the price of a stock rarely pops or drops dramatically when Morningstar makes a buy or sell recommendation.

Editor Matt Coffina, like most market

analysts, sees stocks as close to fully valued. But below are a few of his best picks for 2016. Returns, prices and related data are as of March 14.

Berkshire Hathaway Berkshire Hathaway Class B (symbol BRK.B $130.34). Warren Buffett, who painstakingly assembled this sprawling conglomerate, with annual sales of about $212 billion, over the past half-century, is 85 years old and irreplaceable. But he’s done as much as any CEO could to prepare the firm for his successors, including delegating most of the stock picking to two much younger men. Berkshire lost 15 percent over the past year, setting up an attractive buying opportunity.

The stock trades at 1.2 times book value (assets minus liabilities). In Buffett’s view, Berkshire is undervalued when it trades at 1.2 times book value, and he will buy back shares when its valuation falls to that level or below. That effectively sets a floor under the stock’s price unless, of course, book value falls.

shift in developed nations to more expensive lenses that are disposed of daily.

Coffina says Cooper should generate double-digit-percentage annual earnings growth over the next five years. The stock trades at nearly 17 times estimated 2016 earnings, somewhat more than the price-earnings ratio of Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index.

Ventas Novartis Healthcare stocks in the S&P 500 gained 7 percent last year, handily beating the S&P 500’s 1.4 percent return. Healthcare continues to be my favorite sector.

Unlike some big drug makers, Switzerland-based Novartis (NVS $73.06) has remained innovative, and most of its patent losses are behind it. It has a large a pipeline of potentially important drugs in development, including treatments for heart failure and cancer. Novartis’s American depositary receipts trade at 16 times forecasted 2016 profits, a bargain if even only a couple of those development-stage chemicals become blockbuster drugs.

Express Scripts Cooper Companies Cooper Companies (COO $146.84) is the third largest manufacturer of contact lenses in a business that four global companies dominate. It stands to benefit from the growing number of people in emerging markets who are getting contacts and the

ing industry gives it unrivaled power to negotiate prices with drug companies.

Its growing mail-order business, which supplies prescription drugs directly to consumers, boasts especially healthy profit margins. The stock, at 13 times estimated 2016 earnings, looks like a good deal.

Another defensive pick is Express Scripts Holding (ESRX $70.12), the largest U.S. pharmacy benefit manager, with more than 1.3 billion claims processed in 2014.

It contracts with major insurance companies and employers to provide prescription medications. Its size in this fast-grow-

Ventas (VTR $60.10) is a real estate investment trust that owns 1,600 senior-living communities, assisted-living and skilled-nursing facilities, and other medical buildings in the U.S. and Canada. It rents out most of its facilities, but derives about one-third of its revenues from facilities it operates itself.

Most of the occupants of all of these facilities are relatively affluent patients with private insurance, meaning Ventas has little exposure to the vagaries of Medicare and Medicaid funding.

Coffina says that the high quality of the REIT’s properties will also protect Ventas from overbuilding in senior housing. The stock yields 5.3 percent, and Ventas has boosted its dividend at an annual rate of 6.4 percent over the past five years.

Steve Goldberg is an investment adviser in the Greater Washington area. He, one or more clients, or both own these stocks except for Cooper and Ventas.

All contents © 2016 the Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 1 6

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To deduct contributions, follow the rules

By Carole Feldman Did you donate a car to a charitable organization in 2015, or some clothing to the church thrift shop? Maybe you made a cash contribution to your alma mater or in memory of a loved one.

If you want to take a deduction for the donation, you have to itemize deductions on your tax return. But there’s more to it than that. First, you have to make sure the organization to which you’re donating is a qualified charity.

Furthermore, the money can’t be targeted to a particular individual, even if it’s going through that charity, said Dave Du Val, vice president for consumer advocacy at taxaudit.com.

He uses this example: Say you’re driving to Goodwill to drop off some clothes and you see a homeless man in the street. You give him one of the coats that you were planning to donate. “It suits [you] well in the next life, but it’s not a deduction,” he said.

Similarly, if your neighbors’ house burns down and your church starts a fund to help them rebuild, a contribution to the fund isn’t deductible, Du Val said. However, if the church has a fund to help people in need, but not specifically your neighbor, you could take the deduction.

Charge or check, but not cash For a contribution of money to be deductible, you need proof that you made the donation. That could be a canceled check or an itemized line on your credit card statement.

So, Du Val said, if you put a $10 bill in the bucket of a Salvation Army bell ringer, that’s not deductible. But if you wrote out a check to the Salvation Army and put that in the bucket, it is.

If the contribution is more than $250, you also will need a receipt from the organization.

If the charity sends you a “gift” to entice your contribution, or you attend a fundraising banquet, your deduction will be affected.

The Internal Revenue Service makes clear, “If you get something in return for your donation, your donation is limited. You can only

BEACON BITS

Apr. 5

VETERANS RESOURCE FAIR

The Howard County Veterans and Military Families Commission will host a Veterans Resource Fair on Tuesday, April 5 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Admission is free and all veterans. The fair will offer opportunities to talk with more than 35 business, organizations and nonprofits providing services, support and jobs to veterans. For more information about the fair and the commission, contact Lisa Terry, Howard County Office of Military Affairs, at (410) 313-0821.

deduct the amount of your gift that is more than the value of what you got in return.”

The IRS lists possible items received for donations, including meals, merchandise or tickets. Charitable organizations often will include on your receipt the amount that is deductible.

Congress, as part of the tax extender bill passed late last year, made permanent the ability of people 70½ years old or older to roll over up to $100,000 from their IRA to a charity tax-free. Those who take advantage of that provision won’t have to count the distribution from the IRA as income.

But there’s no double-dipping. If you make the direct donation, you can’t also deduct it on your return. Still, Du Val said taxpayers who want to donate are “generally better off” if they don’t have to deal with the extra income and the resulting taxes.

He said the distribution also counts toward

the required minimum distribution that IRA holders have to start taking at that age.

Non-cash donations What about deductions for contributions of clothing and other property? You can only deduct the fair market value of an item — what it would sell for at a thrift store, for example.

“Even if the shirt is new and still has the tag on it, people aren’t going to go into the thrift store and pay $100 for it,” Du Val said. And there’s no deduction for sentimental value.

If the non-cash donation is more than $500, you must fill out Section A of Form 8283 and file it with your return. If it’s valued at more than $5,000, Section B also is required, and you’ll need a valid appraisal of the item in hand when you file your taxes, Du Val said.

Special rules for cars If you donate a car, the deduction is not the fair value of the car but what the charitable organization sells it for, according to Du Val. However, there is an exception: If the organization gives the car to a needy family, for example, or uses it for an ambulance, you can take the fair market value, he said.

In either case, you have to substantiate the vehicle’s value.

Don’t forget that if you’re delivering the donation or doing other work for a charitable organization, you can deduct the mileage. The rate for 2015 was 14 cents a mile for using your car for charitable work.

As the presidential campaign heats up, taxpayers should be aware that donations to political candidates are not deductible. Neither the candidates nor the political parties themselves are charitable organizations.

— AP

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A P R I L 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Expert advice for these uncertain times

By Elliot Raphaelson Readers have been asking about market volatility, capital preservation, and planning for a long-term secure retirement. I approached several experts I respect in various financial disciplines to ask their advice.

Stan Haithcock, annuity expert: “Stay rational and grounded when looking for safe money solutions. In a low-interest world, annuity salespeople will tell you what you want to hear to get the sale.

“If the U.S. 10-year-Treasury is around 2

percent, then some indexed annuity agent CANNOT return 6 or 7 percent yield. What they are selling is an income rider, which can be used for income only. Upfront bonuses offered by annuity companies are not free money; there are charges and fees attached.

“Annuities have their place for principal protection, lifetime income needs and legacy planning. Annuities are contracts, and should only be considered for their contractual guarantees. They are not too good to be true, but they can be pretty darn good if fully under-

that to guide how much risk we take today.

Third, we know when we’ll need cash from our portfolio, and we can make sure we get that money out of risky investments and into safe investments well before the Make a plan, stick with it deadline arrives.

“Fourth, if we’re living off Larry Swedroe, best-selling our portfolio and the market author: “In order to develop declines, we can always limit and maintain a prosperous the damage by cutting back long-term retirement plan, I spending. recommend a three-prong ap“Fifth, if you don’t want to proach. depend on stocks and bonds, “Step One: Develop a realistic THE SAVINGS get off the market rollercoastretirement plan, consistent with GAME er and lock in a healthy your asset base, sources of inBy Elliot Raphaelson stream of lifetime income by come and desired lifestyle. Don’t delaying Social Security and hesitate to use a competent finanusing part of your savings to purchase cial planner to assist you.

“Step Two: Use a passive approach, in- plain-vanilla immediate-fixed annuities that vesting in diversified mutual funds and ex- pay lifetime income.” change-traded funds with low annual costs rather than active funds with higher costs. Invest for the long term Robert Johnson, president and CEO, “Step Three: Maintain discipline to ‘stay the course.’ Don’t stray from your plan be- the American College of Financial Serviccause of market volatility. Have the flexibil- es: “Stock market returns have been conity to change your plan when your personal siderably lower during periods of rising insituation changes. Rebalance regularly, at terest rates than during periods of falling least once a year, to ensure that your port- interest rates.

“In my book Invest with the Fed (McGrawfolio remains consistent with your plan.”

Swedroe’s latest book is The Incredible Hill), I found that, from 1966 through 2013, Shrinking Alpha: And What You Can Do to the S&P 500 returned on average 15.2 percent annually when rates were falling, but Escape Its Clutches (Buckingham).

Jonathan Clements, personal finance only 5.9 percent when rates were rising. I’d columnist: “Nobody knows how financial counsel investors to expect lower returns on markets will perform in 2016, so focus on stocks in 2016. five financial advantages that we all possess: “The best way to build true wealth is to in“First, human capital, which is our in- vest in the stock market over the long term. come-earning ability. The more income we Over the past 90 years, stocks on average earn, the less dependent we are on the fi- have returned over 10 percent compounded nancial markets. annually. To put this into perspective, 39 of “Second, we know how we reacted to See EXPERT ADVICE, page 29 earlier market declines, and we can use

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 1 6

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28

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A P R I L 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Tax issues affecting Uber drivers, others

By Carole Feldman Did you start driving for Uber or Lyft last year? Rent your house out through Airbnb? You could be in for some surprises come tax time if you didn’t pay any estimated taxes.

About 14.6 million people — roughly 10 percent of the U.S. workforce — were selfemployed in 2014, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of Census Bureau data.

Of those, about 3.2 million are working

in the so-called “on-demand” or gig economy, accord to Intuit, the software company that produces TurboTax. The company defines the on-demand economy “as an online marketplace or application that connected providers-freelancers with customers.”

In addition to transportation services and renting out your home or apartment, the gig economy also includes job sites like TaskRabbit and Instacart, where you provide services to individuals for pay, and

are responsible for your own taxes.

Some people just starting out with Uber, Airbnb or another on-demand service might not realize they’re in a business or are a business owner, said Lisa Greene-Lewis, a CPA and editor of the TurboTax blog.

“It’s new and different, and everyone is super-excited about it,” said Kathy Pickering, executive director of the Tax Institute at H&R Block. But the tax implications can catch people by surprise.

are often considered independent contractors who are self-employed. Rather than receive a W-2, they’ll get a Form 1099 reporting their income.

“It’s different from being an employee, where income taxes are automatically withheld, where Social Security and Medicare taxes are automatically withheld,” said Barbara Weltman, a consultant and author of J.K. Lasser’s Guide to SelfEmployment, and other books on taxes, law and finance.

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See TAX ISSUES, page 29

BEACON BITS

Apr. 9

COUNTY HOUSING FAIR

The annual housing fair and housing lottery will be held on Saturday, April 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Howard High School, 8700 Old Annapolis Rd., Ellicott City. The event will include more than 50 real estate agents, mortgage lenders and county personnel on hand to offer buying and renting guidance, home buying seminars, and bus tours to new and existing home communities for rent and purchase. A highlight of the fair is the annual housing lottery for a chance to purchase a townhome in Elkridge at a significantly reduced price. Prior registration for the lottery is required to be completed by April 4 and applications may be accessed online at www.howardcountyhousing.com or by calling (410) 313-6318, option 4. More information on the housing fair can be accessed at that site or phone number as well.

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

April Meeting Date: Wednesday, April 27, 2016 Time: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.

Location: Brooke Grove Retirement Village 18131 Slade School Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860

Speaker: Beth Galik, Associate Professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing Topic: Managing Difficult Behaviors

Go to www.cogsmd.org for more information or learn more by calling (410) 997-0610.

Thank you to our 2016 Executive Members PLATinuM MeMbeRS The Beacon Newspapers • Vantage House Retirement Community GoLD MeMbeRS Howard County General Hospital • Howard County Office on Aging SiLveR MeMbeRS Being There Senior Care, LLC • Brightview Rolling Hills Brooke Grove Retirement Village • Deborah L. Herman, CPA • Home Call Oasis Senior Advisors • Right At Home In-home Care & Assistance The Bob Lucido Team of Keller Williams Integrity

bRonze MeMbeRS Earl Wilkinson, M.D. • Gentiva Home Health an Affiliate of Kindred at Home Let’s Move, LLC • Professional Healthcare Resources, Inc.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 1 6

Tax issues From page 28 “The money comes in and they think it’s theirs to spend. They don’t figure that a portion of what they take in has to be apportioned to taxes,” she said.

Independent contractors are subject not only to regular income taxes but also to the self-employment tax, which the Internal Revenue Service says “is a Social Security and Medicare tax primarily for individuals who work for themselves.” The taxes are figured on the business’ net profit.

“The good news with Uber is every-

Expert advice From page 26 the last 50 years have seen the S&P 500 index have a positive return. The old adage, ‘Time in the market is more important than timing the market,’ is definitely true.

“If you are approaching retirement, it is prudent to lighten your stock-market ex-

thing is automated and tracked,” Pickering said. That makes it easier to keep track of business mileage.

Keep track of other expenses too, like the cost of a car wash, or providing water or snacks for riders. “You want to keep the best records you can so you don’t pay more taxes than you have to,” she said.

But if the car also is used for personal use, you’ll have to determine how much, and deduct only a percentage for business use.

Schedule C is used to report profit and loss from business income. Schedule SE is used to compute the self-employment tax.

posure. People near retirement simply can’t afford a big market decline. Known as ‘sequence of returns’ risk, a major decline close to retirement date can have a huge impact on your financial health.”

Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at elliotraph@gmail.com. © 2016 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Please tell our advertisers, “I saw you in the Beacon!”

If you rent out rooms Renting your home out through sites like Airbnb also can have tax implications, depending on how many days you rent it out.

People who live near the site of the Super Bowl, for instance, rented their homes out for the long football weekend and took in “huge bucks,” Weltman said.

But if that’s all they do for the year, they’re not required to report the rental income for taxes. The threshold for reporting rental income is more than two weeks.

“If you rent your home out for 15 days or more now, you need to start reporting that rental income and the expenses associated

29

with it,” Pickering said.

Deductible expenses like utilities must be allocated according to the proportion of business versus personal use.

Weltman recommends that people working in the on-demand economy set aside money to pay their tax bill so it “doesn’t snowball into an amazing amount.” That includes making estimated tax payments.

For more information, Publication 334 is the IRS’ Tax Guide for Small Business. Publication 527 focus on rental income and expenses, and Publication 463 provides information on the use of a car for business.

— AP

30

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A P R I L 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Travel Leisure &

Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg has waterslides and rides galore. See story on page 31.

Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens

Bringing history to life The courtroom scene involving James Hubbard is repeated today exactly where it took place when Virginia was a colony. The real James Hubbard actually lived and prac-

ticed law in Williamsburg, and the actor-impersonator who depicts him today bases his interpretation on documented facts.

Hubbard plays but a small part in a fascinating tableau of reenactments, as well as tours led by factually-based characters and a wide variety of other interpretive programs that combine to make Colonial Williamsburg unique.

For nearly a century, from 1699 to 1780, Williamsburg, which was named for King William III of England, served as the capital of the Virginia Colony. That sprawling settlement encompassed the territory of eight present-day states, stretching west to the Mississippi River and north as far as the Great Lakes.

In its heyday, the town of about 2,000 residents was the cultural, social and political center of the 13 colonies. Before Thomas Jefferson relocated the Virginia capital to Richmond in 1781, he and other patriots, including George Washington and Patrick Henry, frequented its shops, taverns and other establishments.

While Williamsburg’s fortunes declined after the Revolution, the town and the important role it played in the New World were not forgotten. In 1926, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. launched an effort to restore the setting to its former splendor. Surviving Colonial structures were meticulously renovated to their 18th century appearance, and missing buildings were reconstructed

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG

By Victor Block It is the 1770s in England’s Virginia Colony as the pounding of a sheriff’s wooden staff on the floor calls the court to order. Attorney James Hubbard prepares to defend his client. Centering his neat wig and smoothing the frilly lace sleeves of his shirt, Hubbard bows to the bench and begins to plead his case.

Not far away sits a quaint village reminiscent of Renaissance Italy. It is adorned by statuary and fountains against a backdrop of lush gardens. Replicas of ancient ruins and the mouth-watering aroma of pizza add to the illusion of having been transported to Europe.

These imaginary trips — one back in time, the other to another continent — are among the reasons those with an interest in history and travel are attracted to Williamsburg, Va. In Colonial Williamsburg, the well-preserved original setting enables a realistic immersion in early American history.

Busch Gardens, a short drive away, entertains guests in “hamlets” that depict aspects of life in six European countries, combining Old World charm with the 21st century thrills of an adventure park.

Live interpreters and artisans bring the 18th century to life at Colonial Williamsburg, portraying everything from court defendants to blacksmiths to cooks. Williamsburg served as the capital of the Virginia Colony from 1699 to 1780, and many buildings have been restored to their former glory.

on their original sites.

Today, more than 500 history-touched buildings — imposing public structures and modest dwellings, bustling taverns and crowded shops — line tree-shaded streets that echo the clip-clop of horsedrawn carriages.

Costumed cooks and carpenters PHOTO COURTESY OF BUSCH GARDENS

Irish dancers are among the many performing groups at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, whose “hamlets” depict aspects of life in six European countries.

But it is primarily the people who bring Williamsburg to life. Character interpreters dressed in Colonial style clothing depict real-life former residents of the town, conversing with visitors in period grammar as they go about their daily tasks.

Cooks in the George Wythe House follow “receipts” (recipes) from 18th-century cookbooks to prepare authentic dishes on the hearth. Half of Colonial Williamsburg’s population was black, and many interpreters demonstrate aspects of their lives as well.

Costumed artisans use 18th century tools to fashion items that closely resemble those made by their Colonial predecessors, including reproduction toys, pottery and pewterware. The bookbinder carefully hand-stitches cover boards for a new volume.

A silversmith creates wares that would have appealed to the colony’s wealthier members. A shoemaker fashions men’s

boots “with good thread well-twisted.”

Among other historic tradespeople are a basket weaver, cabinet maker and milliner.

The results of all these craftsmen’s efforts are available for purchase in stores along Duke of Gloucester Street.

Leaving no stone unturned, figuratively as well as literally, historians, archaeologists and others transform research and construction projects into learning experiences for the public.

For example, trials take place in the courthouse which has been reconstructed as closely as possible to its original form.

Architectural historians scoured plans, court records and other documents for clues to its former appearance. Then costumed carpenters used tools and techniques of Colonial times to restore the building, as visitors looked on.

You may also find yourself attending a theatrical comedy or a traveling magic show reminiscent of entertainment in the 18th century.

Europe from a roller coaster While Colonial Williamsburg is a living history museum that introduces visitors to See WILLIAMSBURG, page 32

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 — A P R I L 2 0 1 6

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Join the kids in this waterpark adventure

By Fyllis Hochman “You want me to get on that and go down to where?” I cried from high atop the Alberta Falls waterslide, looking down to an alleged pool that was well out of visual range. My 11year-old granddaughter nodded with a look of both consternation and resignation that I tried very hard to take in stride.

Such was my introduction to a vast array of unusual children’s activities that mesmerized the 70-year-old kid in me as much as they did Dalya, 14, and Mollie, 11, as we frolicked through the indoor waterpark at Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, Va. There is so much going on at the waterpark that I didn’t know where to look first.

The pool basketball game, the lazy river, the wave pool, the kiddie pool, the fourstory interactive treehouse with a section of ascending inter-connected rope tunnels leading to two winding slides, and, of course, the three waterslides that dominate the park and stretch both inside and outside the building. (The outside waterpark area opens in late Spring.)

And everywhere the smiles were as wide as the lazy river was long. No matter what the activity, you’re never too far from a potential dousing from overhead buckets both large and small, eliciting cries of surprise from bathers of every age.

Once our skins unpruned, we were

ready for more land-based adventures — and there were as many of those as there were waterpark options.

The piece de resistance is the MagiQuest — a hard-to-describe adventure that takes kids throughout all four floors of the hotel as they seek magical powers, potions and portents (all enabled by their magic wand) to satisfy the demands of the Questmaster, a Merlin-like presence ensconced in a computer inside a tree. You don’t dare not follow his instructions!

There are multiple quests, with multiple clues to each quest, that require you to visit the Enchanted Forest, Tangled Woods, Piney Path and Whispery Woods, all located throughout the hotel.

“The Ancient Book of Wisdom,” which you get when you sign up for MagiQuest, directs you to the clues. It’s a good thing I was with Dalya and Mollie: I never could have figured out what to do!

And the list of the things we didn’t do was almost as long as those we did. We did not go to the Scoops Kid’s Spa, where the nail polish for mini-manicures all come with ice cream flavor names, the pedicures are done while seated in giant banana-split thrones, the facials, bath balms and scrubs are either vanilla, chocolate or strawberry, and the glitter make-up application comes with a tiara.

We didn’t try the life-size time challenge

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game, where you race both against the clock and your opponents to push out balloon-size blinking light buttons. We didn’t bowl at Ten Paw Alley with five pound balls and bumpers along the pint-size lanes. We didn’t attend any of the several 4D-movies offered at the Howly Wood Theater.

We could have spent a week there and never gotten bored, but hey, Williamsburg and Busch Gardens beckoned, and I reluctantly followed.

Room rates vary widely, depending on the date chosen and room style. There are also numerous special discounts that vary by date.

In mid-April, the least expensive room is $259 a night on weekdays and $429 on weekends without discounts. All rooms include passes to the waterpark. For more information about Great Wolf Lodge, visit www.greatwolf.com/Williamsburg or call 1-800-551-9653.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

LOOKING FOR WORK?

The Howard County Office of Workforce Development provides employment assistance to job seekers including resume critique and employment workshops. For more information, visit owd.@howardcountymd.gov or call (410) 290-2620.

Apr. 7

DESTINATION: WASHINGTON MEMORIALS

The Department of Recreation & Parks is sponsoring a bus trip and guided tour of the Washington Memorials and cherry blossoms on Thursday, April 7 leaving at 9 a.m. and returning at 4 p.m. Fee is $52. To register or for more information, call (410) 313-7279 or email viruss@howardcountymd.gov.

Apr. 12

SHOW AND BUFFET IN HERSHEY

A bus trip sponsored by the Department of Recreation & Parks will include Samson at Sight and Sound along with a buffet at Hershey Farm Restaurant on Tuesday, April 12. The bus leaves at 10 a.m. and returns at 7 p.m. Tickets are $145 and can be purchased by emailing viruss@howardcountymd.gov or calling (410) 313-7279.

32

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Williamsburg From page 30 England’s Virginia Colony, an area of nearby Busch Gardens transports guests to a replica of the Mother Country itself.

Banbury Cross is one area in that combination theme and adventure park. It recalls and replicates an English market town, and incorporates familiar touches like red telephone booths and a reproduction of the famous clock tower.

For daredevils of all ages who enjoy action-packed excitement, the park promises, and delivers, plenty of thrills. Rides range from tame to terrifying, including an extensive collection of roller coasters. Among the choices are the Tempesto, which transports passengers through a complete inversion, Apollo’s Chariot, with a top speed of 73 miles per hour, and the 13-story tall Loch Ness Monster, with its double-looping ride.

Back at ground level, the scene is much more tranquil. The setting includes 10

A P R I L 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

“hamlets” that present inviting mini-environments themed to villages in England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy.

Each of these areas reflects the architecture, culture and even foods of the country it represents. The most prominent attraction in “England” is a double-size reproduction of the Globe Theater — which was originally built in 1599 and became world famous as the stage where the plays of William Shakespeare were performed.

A popular feature in “Scotland” is the Highland Stables, where guests may interact with border collies, sturdy Clydesdale horses and black-faced sheep.

A three-story tall representation of a 17thcentury glockenspiel is a highlight of the “German” village, and its marching knights, soldiers and dancing criers spring to life every 15 minutes. The hamlet’s brown-timbered buildings echo typical medieval architecture, and provide a backdrop for members of a brass band clad in traditional lederhosen who fill the streets with music.

Gardens galore Along with their many other attractions, both Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens have great appeal to garden lovers.

Plantings in Colonial Williamsburg range from the formal splendor surrounding the Governor’s Palace, to utilitarian kitchen plots that once provided a bounty of fruits, vegetables and herbs. As with all other aspects of the outdoor living history museum, meticulous research resulted in the re-creation of historically accurate layouts, flowers and trees.

Visitors to Busch Gardens soon understand the reason for the second word in its name. Its lush, rolling forested landscape has been named the “World’s Most Beautiful Theme Park” by the National Amusement Park Historical Association every year since 1990. In keeping with attention to authenticity, many of the plants that adorn the setting are native to Western Europe.

Such small details add to the appeal of both Colonial Williamsburg and Busch

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Gardens, and help to provide experiences that combine historically based charm with present-day entertainment.

Throw in the multi-generational family fun available at neighboring Great Wolf Lodge (see “Join the kids in this waterpark adventure” on page 31), and it’s easy to understand the combined attraction of the three for people of all ages.

If you go Visitors to Colonial Williamsburg have a choice of accommodations at hotels, more intimate inns and guest houses.

The most meaningful immersion in history is available for those who overnight in refurbished and reconstructed original buildings that in Colonial days served as taverns, kitchens and slave quarters, among other practical uses. Economy accommodations for standard rooms begin as low as $40 a night and escalate to a maximum of $849 for a luxury suite.

The selection of places to eat is equally varied. At the colorfully named Huzzah!

BBQ Grille, light fare includes chicken or pork quesadillas ($8.95) and Caesar or house salad ($7.95).

More formal settings and servings are available at four historic taverns. Chowning’s is a reconstructed alehouse named for its original proprietor, Joseph Chowning, who opened for business in the mid18th century. A large bowl of bean soup ($9) is hearty enough to serve as a meal, as are Welsh rarebit ($9), whose name originated in 18th century Great Britain, and a Virginia pork barbeque sandwich ($11).

For more information about Colonial Williamsburg, call 1-844-574-2733 or visit www.colonialwilliamsburg.com. For information about Busch Gardens, call 1-800343-7946 or see buschgardens.com/va.

BEACON BITS

Apr. 20

BIG BAND SHOW IN FREDERICK

Get on board for some serious big band sounds on a Recreation & Parks bus tour to the Weinberg Center in Frederick on Wednesday, April 20. The bus leaves at 12:30 p.m. and returns at 5:30 p.m. Tickets at $86 are available by calling (410) 313-7279 or by emailing viruss@howardcountymd.gov.

Apr. 23

TOUR GEORGETOWN HOMES

The annual tour of exclusive homes in the Georgetown area of Washington, D.C. is the destination for the Department of Recreation & Parks bus tour on Saturday, April 23 leaving at 9:30 a.m., returning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $99 and may be purchased by emailing viruss@howardcountymd.gov or by calling (410) 313-7279.

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 — A P R I L 2 0 1 6

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A P R I L 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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Style Arts &

After a hiatus, Phil Collins is returning to music with remastered versions of some of his popular CDs. See story on page 36.

Premiere of Pulitzer-finalist play at Olney A familiar future Among other poignant things, the 80minute, no intermission dramedy, a 2015 Pulitzer Prize finalist, explores memory — its loss, repression and wishful embellishment — in ways that remind us how important the perceived past is in how we shape our current selves.

Marjorie Prime, written by playwright Jordan Harrison, looks at the age-old human dilemma of people being honest with others in their lives, as well as with themselves.

When Marjorie’s highly neurotic daughter, Tess, is programming the Prime version of her mother, she realizes she is showing more honesty and love to the computerized hologram than she ever showed her real-life mother. Strange, but seemingly true, are the relations between the living and the computer-created.

The conception of the play may be farout, but the concerns of the characters are immersed in real family relationships: the matrimonial and parental and sibling dramas, sometimes comical, oft-times tragic.

Jason Loewith, who directed the current production, never lets us forget that family

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By Robert Friedman Marjorie Prime at the Olney Theater Center is a strange, gripping and ultimately touching play. Is is set in the future, and looks at how we remember the past to keep going in the present.

The play gets underway as Marjorie, an 85-year-old woman nearing dementia, is having a perfectly reasonable conversation with her deceased husband, who is sitting across from her as he appeared at the age of 30. They’re trying to remember the kind of September, October, etc. they shared together.

We are in the future, and hubby Walter is sitting there as a more-or-less living, breathing, three-dimensional hologram.

Walter is what is known in the play as a Prime — a computer-generated representation that only “remembers” that which he is primed to recall by Marjorie’s daughter and son-in-law.

Soon, a formerly crotchety Marjorie herself passes into the great unknown, and then is regenerated through “a few zillion pixels” into another Prime, as she sweetly hopes to be told the way she was. A third Prime comes on the scene later.

In Marjorie Prime, a play that was a finalist for the 2015 Pulitzer Prize, Kathleen Butler (as Marjorie), interacts with a life-like “hologram” of her late husband (played

by Michael Glenn) as he was at the age of 30. The futuristic play, a regional premiere, continues at Olney Theatre through April 10.

is at the core of the human drama. It has been so in the past, the present and, let’s hope, in the future, despite the possible Primes sent to ease the pain.

world. Kathleen Butler, a veteran of several off-Broadway productions of Edward Albee plays, is a Marjorie who is by turns decrepit, kvetchy, vain, sweet, decent and innocently enquiring (in her Prime). Just

A prime quartet of actors The cast of four is both in and out of this

See PREMIERE, page 36

35

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 — A P R I L 2 0 1 6

Loretta Lynn, 83, sees no reason to retire

By Lynn Elber Loretta Lynn’s new record, her first studio album in more than a decade, likely won’t be her last.

“I’ve got a whole houseful of kids and grandkids, and I’m doing a lot of this for them,” Lynn said in a recent interview.

She plans to keep working “for a long time,” she said. “I feel great. I thank God every day that I’m in good condition.”

Lynn credits a lifelong abstinence from smoking and drinking. But there’s one PHOTO © JSTONE / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Loretta Lynn has a new album out.

She was also featured in a recent PBS documentary.

trademark indulgence she won’t give up: The elaborately embellished dresses she wears in concerts.

“I wouldn’t go out on the stage without my gowns for nothing,” Lynn said, smiling. “They’re heavy but, hey, work’s not easy.”

PBS documentary The country music legend, whose early life and career were dramatized in the 1980 movie Coal Miner’s Daughter, is the subject of a PBS “American Masters” documentary, Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl, which can be watched on the PBS website until April 1. See www.pbs.org/wnet/american masters/loretta-lynn-full-episode/6918.

The March 4 premiere coincided with the release of Full Circle, her new album, which includes new songs and covers of previously recorded Lynn tunes including “Fist City” and “Whispering Sea.” “I think my fans will be happy” with the mix of material, Lynn predicted, speaking to a TV critics’ meeting by satellite from Nashville, Tenn.

The documentary includes interviews with Jack White, who produced Lynn’s last studio album, Van Lear Rose, in 2004; Sissy Spacek, who played Lynn in Coal Miner’s Daughter; Garth Brooks; Trisha Yearwood and Miranda Lambert.

“Some of our favorite moments were with Garth and Trisha ... because they have a personal relationship with Loretta,” producer Elizabeth Trojian said.

Songwriting prowess White offered “extraordinary insights” into how Lynn writes songs, fellow producer Elliott Halpern said. “She takes her life and can make poetry out of it,” Trojian said. “It’s so beautiful and simple, and yet the most powerful work.”

Lynn, who cited her children as her proudest achievement, said she remembers how often her career separated her from them.

“That was the worst part about my singing, was leaving my kids. It was really hard, and I would try to take them when I could,” she said.

Her new album was produced by Patsy Lynn Russell, her daughter, and John Carter Cash, the son of Johnny Cash.

— AP

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A P R I L 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Phil Collins says, ‘take a look at me now’

By Mark Kennedy Singer and drummer Phil Collins is taking one tentative step out of musical retirement by offering up huge chunks of his past.

The multiple Grammy Award-winner is releasing all eight of his solo albums, each remastered and accompanied by a second CD of demos and live recordings, many previously unreleased.

His hope is that fans (and nonfans) will explore more than just his hits, which include “In the Air Tonight,” “Groovy Kind

of Love,” “One More Night,” “Sussudio,” “Can’t Hurry Love,” “Against All Odds,” and “Separate Lives.”

“People that don’t like me — and there are some, I know it’s hard to believe — most of the time have based their opinion on what they hear on the radio. It’s played to death,” he said. “I’m a bit more than that. And the ‘bit more’ is on the albums.”

He’s already released 1981’s Face Value and 1993’s Both Sides, 1982’s Hello, I Must Be Going! and 1996’s Dance into the Light.

Each new double CD has Collins recreat-

ing his pose from the original album cover.

A long list of current artists — including Adele, Lorde, Kanye West and Pharrell Williams — have publicly come out as fans. “I’m very flattered by that, and I think there’s a lot of people out there that may think, ‘OK. Let’s see what the fuss is about,’” said Collins.

Nick Davis, a producer, engineer and mixer whose credits include music by Bjork, Deep Purple, Genesis, Mike + the Mechanics, The Pogues and XTC, remastered the new Collins albums and hopes

fans dig past the hits.

“There are some incredible songs on there, and there is some incredible musicianship on there. That’s almost a treat, really: It’s finding the album tracks rather than just the singles,” he said.

Premiere

jorie’s constantly annoyed and annoying daughter Tess into a truly caring Prime of a daughter, who touchingly realizes that being loved is far from a small thing.

Tess’s husband Jon, who seems pretty grounded — considering the surroundings — is excellently portrayed by Michael Willis. Notice how well he, too, emotes with his face as well as voice as he tries to

keep cool in several flammable husbandwife confrontations.

Walter, Marjorie’s dead husband and the first Prime on the scene, is embodied by Michael Glenn, who is convincingly wideeyed and wondering as the young, good-guy husband he has been programmed to be.

Scenic designer Misha Kochman has created a sufficiently dowdy setting for the family’s unfuturistic home, while the lighting, which gets snowy and dramatic when the three Primes get together for programmed reminisces, was designed by Colin K. Bills.

Robert Kaplowitz is in charge of sound, and the stage manager is Becky Reed. Ivania Stack provides the contemporary costuming.

As sci-fi as the premise of Marjorie Prime may seem, the play’s main concerns — memory, relationships, and mortality — are deeply and all too human in the here and now.

Marjorie Prime runs in its regional premiere through April 10 in Olney Center’s Mulitz-Gudelsky Theater Lab, off Sandy Spring Road in Olney.

Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:45 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 1:45 p.m. There is also a Wednesday March 30 matinee at 1:45 p.m. Tickets are priced at $38 to $65, with a $5 discount for those age 65 and older.

Post-show discussions will be held March 26 and April 9 after the matinee performances.

From page 34 watch her mobile face reacting to the words of the others. That’s acting.

Julie-Ann Elliott, who has performed practically everything with practically every theater group in town, has perhaps the toughest task on stage: turning Mar-

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Phil Collins From page 36 the ‘80s that made him one of the most commercially successful artists of all time.

He is estimated to have sold 100 million albums with Genesis and another 100 million as a solo artist.

He won an Academy Award and a Grammy for his soundtrack to the film Tarzan, and his album No Jacket Required won a Grammy for album of the year in 1985. His Another Day In Paradise won Record of the Year in 1990.

Collins made hits, but didn’t always get respect. In an episode of the animated television show South Park that was more than usually cruel, Collins was booed off a stage and ridiculed. His last album of new material was 2002’s Testify.

In 2011, Collins formally announced his retirement, three years after his third marriage ended in divorce and as health issues mounted. Nerve problems meant the father of five could no longer grip with his left hand. He was deaf in one ear.

“I felt I owed myself some time off. And

37

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 — A P R I L 2 0 1 6

also I wanted to bring up my two young boys” — now 14 and 11. “I just wanted to be a dad for the first time. A proper dad.”

Occasionally I’ll say, ‘What about...?’

They’ll listen, but they’ll go their own way.”

Collins’ website is www.philcollins.co.uk.

— AP

BEACON BITS New Collins music on the way?

Now living in Miami near his third wife, Orianne Cevey, and their two kids, Collins has built a recording studio and hopes soon to begin making music again. He already has some lyrics that need music and “lots of bits.”

“The longer it goes, the bigger the jump,” he said.

He even hopes he can drum again after injuring nerves in his elbow during a Genesis reunion tour in 2007. “Living life — cutting bread, cutting a bit of cheese — was just impossible. But it’s got better. And I think I just have to learn to play in a different way. That’s my intention.”

Collins has been getting encouragement from his children, including sons Simon, 39, and Nicholas, 14, who are both in bands. Nicholas, a drummer and guitarist, likes to rehearse at Collins’ house.

“I give them advice but no one listens to it,” Collins said, laughing. “I’m kind of the elder statesman. They come in, sit around.

Apr. 1

ARTS COUNCIL EXHIBIT APPLICATIONS DUE

Artists are invited to apply for exhibiting in the Howard County Arts Council galleries, and may find entry guidelines on the Exhibits page of the Council website www.hocoarts.org, by emailing info@hocoarts.org, by calling (410) 313-2287, or by mailing the council at 8510 High Ridge Rd., Ellicott City 21043.

Apr. 8+

ARTS FESTIVAL FOCUSES ON LATINO ARTISTS

This year’s Columbia Festival of the Arts Spring Festival running from April 8 to 22, will feature films, art lectures, bands and dance events with a “Viva La Vida” theme. For a complete listing of events and to purchase tickets, visit www.Columbia Festival.org or call (410) 715-3044.

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 38 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

AP PHOTO/ALAN DIAZ

S P A T S

L A T H E

P O M P

A R E A

B S O A N D Y

O N S E T

T I E G A M L E E G S I N S O L O A P T E E D

S C A R E L E L R A H A T I A R N D O S

A S T E A L

C O R N C O B

A N A T B D E O R M E E I N

C R B A Y B E R B A W Y E E E T S A R L A C I P N B L E A N P S S

U P S E L L S

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A H N E N S S O G L E

W A Y S

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A P R I L 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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1. One-armed bandits 6. Group with VA and GA Techs 9. Place for Jazz 13. Extreme bear market 14. Most of a frozen dessert 16. One piece of a stained-glass window 17. Between ports 18. Cafeteria carrier 19. They go at the top of a 1040 form 20. Subject of Billboard’s number one song of 1966 23. ___ good example 24. Varnish ingredient 25. Batman actors: Keaton, Kilmer, Clooney, ___ 26. Relaxed 1966 hit 31. Less bright 34. Quilting tilting 35. Nintendo foe 36. Under Wash.

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Answers on page 37.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 1 6

CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on the right.

CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment.

EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

Business and Employment Opportunities ADVERTISING SALES REP – The Beacon is seeking an experienced advertising account executive to cover Baltimore and Howard County selling advertising in our print monthlies, resource guides, events and website. Candidates must be hardworking, positive, assertive, detail oriented, outgoing, and truly enjoy selling products they believe in.

They must have prospecting and cold calling skills, be self-motivated with a proven track record of success, have strong presentation and verbal communication skills with strong organizational abilities, and a team spirit attitude. We offer Base Salary + Commissions, Health Insurance and Paid Expenses. If you want to sell a great product that our readers enjoy and respect, please send your resume and cover letter to Alan Spiegel, Director of Sales at alan@thebeaconnewspapers.com. No phone calls please. Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Caregivers HYGIENE CARE, MEAL PREPARATION, Housekeeping, Errands, Appointments, Medication reminders, Companionship. I’m a loving, experienced, trusted caregiver available for FT/PT or Live-In care for a flat rate. Call 301-490-1146.

COMPASSIONATE CAREGIVER – Companion available now to care for your loved one.

Kind, devoted, dependable and experienced with car and excellent references. Certified Mental Health Aide, Hospice and CPR. Please Call Sadie at 301-263-5695, kindly leave a message.

Financial Services TAXES, ACCOUNTING AND BOOKKEEPING, eldercare. CPA 38 years, reasonable rates.

Call 410-653-3363.

TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED Deadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 5th of each month.

Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question.

Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards.

Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $10 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word.

Business Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing business enterprise.

Each ad is $25 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word.

Note: Each real estate listing counts as one business text ad.

Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:

The Beacon, Baltimore Classified Dept.

P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227

For Rent/Real Estate SPACIOUS, MODERN, PRIVATE, furnished, two bedrooms, private bath, shared kitchen and entrance. Utilities and cable included. Elkridge area. 55+ females only. $1,200 per month. 443755-1532.

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Asking $900 for the pair. Can email pictures if desired. Call Steve 410-913-1653.

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Home & Handyman Services SANFORD & SON HAULING & RECYCLING. Trash + Junk removal, house & estate cleanouts, garage + basement cleanouts. Demolition – Shed, deck fence + pool removal. Licensed + insured. Free estimates over the phone. Call 7 days a week, 7 am to 7 pm. 410746-5090.

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

Wanted CASH BUYER FOR OLD COSTUME JEWELRY – wrist and pocket wrist watches (any condition). Also buying watchmaker tools and parts, coins, quilts, old toys, postcards, trains, guns, pocket and hunting knives, linens, fishing equipment and tackle boxes, fountain pens, Christmas garden items, crocks and jugs, lamps and lanterns, pottery, military items, sports memorabilia, advertising signs, paintings and contents of attics, basements and garages. Professional, no pressure individual with over forty years of experience. Lloyd D. Baker. 410-409-4965. 717-969-8114, office.

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The Bob Lucido Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Retail/Services

Comic Book Collector . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Columbia’s Village Centers . . . . . . . . .28 Dan Kugler Design Center . . . . . .27, 33 HoCo Haulers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Senior Services

The Senior Connection . . . . . . . . . .19-22

Skilled Nursing & Rehab

CommuniCare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Theatre/Entertainment

Beth Shalom Congregation . . . . . . . . .35 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Tour & Travel

Eyre Tour & Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Volunteers/Careers

Family and Children’s Services . . . . . . .7

Voting

Howard County Early Voting . . . . . . . .4

40 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

A P R I L 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

April 2016

UPCOMING SEMINARS & EVENTS at Brooke o G Grove ov e retirement et re en village

As experts in ssenior io care and memory support, Brooke Grovee Retirement tir mee Village is pleased events spiritual and mental ed d to o ooffer seminars and ev nt that promote physical, caa sp al well-being. el Alll seminarss and a events will be held at Brooke rookee Grove v Rehabilitation and nd Nursing Center, located cat at 18131 Slade Sc School Road on tthe Brooke Bro Grove ov Retirement e Village ge campus. c Please with 301-388-7209 Pl P lease rregister egister w ith Toni Daviss at 3 301-388-720 09 oorr ttdavis@bgf.org. daviis@bgf bgff.orrg.

Smooth move seminar: “HOW TO SELL YOUR HOME FOR TOP DOLLAR” April 7, 2-3 p.m.

Support for the Caregiver Seminar: “FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE” April 19, 2-3 p.m.

Get the inside scoop about the local real estate market and how to approach the sale of your home, including timing, pricing, sorting through possessions and home improvements with the best rate of return. FREE. Register by April 5.

After your loved ones diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, you can reduce financial stress by planning ahead.

Learn where to begin, what costs you should expect, how to pay for care and where you can find professional assistance. FREE. Register by April 17.

Living Well Seminar: “MAINTAINING JOINT HEALTH AND AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE” April 20, 7-8:15 p.m.

Discover what you can do to delay or prevent conditions that damage aging joints as well as treatment options that will allow you to continue to lead a healthy, active lifestyle. Light complimentary dinner at 6:30 p.m. FREE. Register by April 18.

18100 1 8100 Slade Slade S School chool Road Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 301-260-2320 www.bgf.org

Independent living assisted living rehabilitation long-term care memory support