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Piecing together a new career

Telling stories in stone Rosen, a Baltimore native, has moved along many paths in her life, from majoring in theater in college, to teaching special education, being a storyteller, and earning a certificate in bereavement counseling. She began doing crafts as a sideline years ago, selling items such as personalized Christmas ornaments at craft shows. It was when she took a class in mosaics at the American Visionary Art Museum that she found her niche. During the 20 years Rosen worked as a

APRIL 2018

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PHOTO COURTESY OF GAIL ROSEN

By Carol Sorgen Starting a retail business at the age of 66 might be considered by some as “questionable,” Gail Rosen agreed. But that’s just what she did last spring when she opened Andamento, her Hampden studio and gallery featuring fine art mosaics and handcrafted jewelry. “I built myself a playhouse!” said Rosen, noting that the gallery features her own mosaic art as well as jewelry designs by Gina Tackett, with frequent showings by guest artists of new mosaics and jewelry. A mosaic, made from the placement of small pieces of colored glass, stone or other materials, is often used in decorative art or as interior decoration. Mosaics have a long history, dating back to 3rd millennium BCE Mesopotamia. Jewish artists decorated synagogues in ancient Israel with floor mosaics (such as at the fortress at Masada, circa 37 BCE), while mosaics were also widely used on religious buildings and palaces in early Islamic art, as in the 7th century CE Dome of the Rock. Modern mosaics are made by professional artists, street artists and as a popular craft. Today’s mosaicists may use materials other than traditional stone and ceramic, including shells, glass and beads. “There’s a resurgence of interest in mosaics,” said Rosen, “but with more of a contemporary than classical aesthetic.” Rosen explained that “andamento” — which means “movement” or “course” in Italian — also describes the flow of lines in a mosaic. “To me, it also suggests the flow of life, and how our journeys are sometimes planned and other times surprising,” she said.

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L E I S U R E & T R AV E L After a varied career in teaching, storytelling and crafts, last year Gail Rosen opened her own business, the Andamento Studio and Gallery in Hampden, to showcase her mosaics and the work of other artists. Her artwork ranges from small pieces of jewelry to large wall hangings.

storyteller, she specialized in working with the bereaved and telling the story of a Holocaust survivor she met. But after years of performing, teaching and traveling to sell her crafts, she said it was refreshing to spend time alone in her studio exploring and crafting mosaics. For Rosen, her work with mosaics is not all that different from her work as a storyteller. The only difference is that now, “I’m making stories with my hands.” She elaborates: “In a well-told story, there is often a sense of heading out into the unknown together, and then coming home with wisdom gained. I look for a similar feel-

ing of satisfaction, completion and homecoming in making and viewing mosaics. “There is a shared emotional arc in a satisfying performance, and also in the rewards of teaching, that I sometimes sense in a mosaic,” she added. “In my time doing craft shows and selling in malls, what I most enjoyed was connecting with individuals as they found delight and meaning in what I had created.”

An art for everyone Rosen finds mosaics a more “accessible” See MOSAICS, page 21

Some of the unique charms of Puerto Vallarta; plus, best ways to find companionship online page 16

FITNESS & HEALTH 4 k How to make wishes come true k Why are men such kvetches? LAW & MONEY 13 k Five cheap stocks to consider k Boosting retirement savings ARTS & STYLE 19 k Sounds of the Roaring Twenties ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

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Calling all artists! You may have noticed that we’ve been In whichever of these arts you shine, highlighting the arts for a number of you are invited to enter your best works in months in our pages, featurour online Celebration of the ing in nearly every issue Arts competition — open only older adults who have either to amateur artists 50 and over returned to an art or craft who live in Maryland, D.C. or they enjoyed in their youth, Virginia. or taken up something comWinners will receive awards, pletely new in retirement. cash prizes (up to $100), as well We have also recently pubas public showings of their lished lists of the many arts works, including the opportuniand craft classes offered in ty to exhibit at one or more the local area. area galleries. All of this has been part of FROM THE In addition, photos of all our Celebration of the Arts PUBLISHER artists and their works will be — a year-long project of the By Stuart P. Rosenthal published in a special “CeleBeacon to encourage readers bration of the Arts” section to to find a new artistic passion (or reinvigo- be printed in the September issue of the rate an old one). Beacon. The Celebration of the Arts was inspired by moving stories from Beacon How to enter You may enter original works created readers who have developed a passion later in life for fine arts, photography and after the age of 50 in one or more of four poetry — people like Lori Gottlieb, jewelry categories, up to three items in each: — Painting or Drawing: using any medimaker, who graced the Baltimore Beacon cover in March, and Pauline Rakis, fea- um (watercolor, pastel, oil, pen and ink, tured in the February Howard County Bea- etc.) — Sculpture/Jewelry/Pottery/Mixed con. So tell me: Do you paint or draw? Per- Media: this broad category includes any haps you make pottery, jewelry or sculpt. three-dimensional artwork in any medium Or do you enjoy digital photography or (wood, stone, metals, fired clay, fiber art, found object art, etc.) write poetry?

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The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Baltimore area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Howard County, Md., Greater Washington, DC and Richmond, Va. (Fifty Plus). Subscriptions are available via third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. Maryland residents add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below. Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. • Publisher/Editor ....................Stuart P. Rosenthal • Associate Publisher ..............Judith K. Rosenthal • Vice President, Operations........Gordon Hasenei • Vice President, Sales & Marketing ....Alan Spiegel • Managing Editor............................Barbara Ruben • Art Director ........................................Kyle Gregory • Director of Operations ........................Roger King • Contributing Editor ..........................Carol Sorgen • Advertising Representatives .................................. ..............................Barbara Koscielski, Steve Levin • Assistant Editor ..........................Rebekah Alcalde

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

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

— Photography: images of people, places or objects, as well as abstract and other images manipulated by digital means — Poetry: a poem in any format no longer than two pages typed, doublespaced The online competition opens April 1 and runs through June 29, 2018. PLEASE NOTE: All entries must be photos of your artwork (and even of poetry), and must be uploaded to our online competition website. Detailed instructions and rules can be found at bit.ly/BeaconCelebration or on the Beacon website’s Celebration of the Arts page. If you need assistance in either photographing your artwork or in uploading your entries, print out the instructions and take them to a friend (or perhaps child or grandchild) who can help you. If you live in a community with a computer center, someone there may also be able to assist you.

More info Winners will be announced in August, with first, second and third place awards as well as honorable mentions. Winners works (or photos of them) will be displayed at 50+ Expos in Baltimore County, Howard County and Montgomery County, Md., and in Fairfax County, Va. While there is a modest fee of $10 for each entry, entering will entitle you to a one-year membership in the Maryland Federation of Art (new members only; value: $70).

Among other things, that membership will enable you to set up your own portfolio on their website. There you can upload your bio and images of up to 20 artworks or poems, and share the link with family, friends and the community. Entries will remain archived on the site, and will be visible to the general public once winners are announced. You may also offer your works for sale through the website! Community partners, including dozens of area nonprofits and governmental entities, are helping spread the word about the Celebration throughout the region. Corporate sponsors include AARP, Pepco, Sommerset Retirement Community, Vantage House and Brooke Grove Retirement Village. Communities and businesses wishing to become sponsors or community partners may call the Beacon at (301) 949-9766. I think this contest is well named. There is so much to celebrate when people try something new later in life and discover a new passion. We’re very excited about our Celebration of the Arts, and look forward to seeing the works of hundreds of our readers entered in the competition. Including yours! Again, for complete rules and more information, visit bit.ly/BeaconCelebration or www.theBeaconNewspapers.com. You may upload entries into the actual competition starting April 1.

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or e-mail to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Dear Editor: When my husband and I attempt to obtain our medicines, no one will even quote a price without a prescription. [We find] the same medication from different pharmacies varies in price by $10 to $45. So our busy doctor’s office must take time to issue the prescription before I can compare the price. I know many seniors just take the first price that is offered. This could result in either paying exorbitant prices, or because of limited income, a senior might not buy a needed drug, which could even result in death. Manufacturers of drugs give no assistance so that those of modest income can efficiently obtain our necessary medications. Is there any assistance you could give to help my friends and me? Marilyn Chaney Edgemere, MD Editor’s response: Many Medicare recipi-

ents find signing up for a Medicare Part D Drug Plan can help reduce their costs for prescriptions. If you are not eligible for such a plan, or do not choose to pay the monthly fee for one, there are a number of “discount pharmacy cards” available at no charge. These are typically offered by organizations or companies, including pharmacy chains, and when presented at a cooperating pharmacy can reduce the price of many prescriptions. Each state also sponsors its own savings card. Maryland residents may download the Maryland Rx Card free at www.marylandrxcard.com and begin using it immediately. The State of Maryland website says the card “will provide you with Rx medication savings of up to 75% at more than 68,000 pharmacies across the country including CVS/pharmacy, Albertsons, Walgreens, Stop & Shop, Giant, Safeway, Rite Aid, Kmart, and many more.” In addition, prescriptions processed through the state program are confidential.

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THREE AWARD-WINNING PROFESSORS ONE AMAZING DAY OF LEARNING SATURDAY, APRIL 7 | 9:30 AM – 1:15 PM Baltimore Museum of Art | 10 Art Museum Drive | Meyerhoff Auditorium Do you love to learn? !"#"!#$%&&#%#"'&"#!(#&"%("#%#)%(''(#!(#*+,-,,#.!/#('0+1('2'3"&4#512$,6#*!(#"7'# $+('#*+3#!*#1"4#8',,9#&!#:!#;'<#=7%">&#;76#?3'#@%6#A31B'(&1"6#)('%"'&#*%&)13%"13C#:%6&#!*#,'%(313C# :'&1C3':#"!#13B1C!(%"'#6!+(#213:4#8'#;!(D#;1"7#%;%(:E;13313C#$(!*'&&!(&#*(!2#"7'#)!+3"(6>&#"!$# )!,,'C'&#"!#)('%"'#'B'3"&#"7%"#%('#%,;%6&#':+)%"1!3%,9#'3"'("%1313C#%3:#+3*!(C'""%/,'4#F"#?3'#@%6# A9#"7'('>&#3!#7!2';!(D#%3:#3!#C(%:'&4#G+&"#,'%(313C#*!(#"7'#$+('#.!6#!*#,'%(313C<

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Health Fitness &

FLU AND HEART ATTACKS The risk of a heart attack is six times higher when you have the flu WHY DO MEN COMPLAIN SO? Men and women experience diseases, from flu to heart attacks, differently FIND YOUR POWER HOUR Your mental energy peaks at the same time each day; make the most of it ACUPUNCTURE STUDY Can acupuncture ease cancer treatment side effects? Help find the answer

Wishes don’t come true by themselves Family, doctors need to know what you want By Mary Kane, As a nurse, Kim Von Asten of Dousman, Wis., knows it’s important to document how you want to be cared for at the end of your life, or when you can no longer speak for yourself because of a major illness or accident. She has seen too many families agonizing at a hospital bedside, trying to decide whether a loved one would want to be taken off life support. But a few years ago, she realized she had multiple copies of her own advance directive “just laying around the house.” During routine visits, her doctor would ask if she had one. “I’d say, ‘Well, they’re at home somewhere, and I have no idea where I put them. Just give me another copy,’” said Von Asten, 52. “Then I’d fill out that copy and who knows where I’d end up putting it. I finally thought to myself, if something ever did happen to me, I couldn’t find them, and my family would never be able to find them, either.”

Share your wishes Like Von Asten, you may think you’ve

done your duty by filling out an advance directive listing your preferences for end-oflife care — such as whether you want aggressive treatment or just pain management — and naming a relative or family friend as a healthcare agent to express your wishes. But that may not be enough. You still need to make sure your paperwork will translate into reality. That means ensuring that your family fully understands your wishes, updating your directive regularly, and making the document easily accessible to those who need it. “People think that, ‘Well, because my family knows what I want, I’m covered,’” said Judith Schwarz, clinical director of End of Life Choices New York, an advocacy and counseling agency. “But that’s often not the case at all.” If you haven’t created an advance directive or named a healthcare proxy, or your loved ones can’t find your directive in an emergency, you run a higher risk that your wishes won’t be honored. “Once you get caught up in the treat-

ment train, it’s hard to get off,” Schwarz said. In an emergency room, she said, “the default position is to treat first and ask questions later.”

Fill out the forms now If you don’t already have an advance directive, create one now — and share it widely. An advance directive, which usually refers to a living will and a healthcare power of attorney, should document your preferences for medical treatment in an accident or at the end of your life, plus name a healthcare agent to make decisions on your behalf if you’re incapacitated. You can download advance directive forms specific to your state from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization at http://bit.ly/advance-directive-forms. When you’ve completed your advance directive, make multiple copies, said Schwarz. Give them to family members and all the providers on your medical team. Keep your copies where they can be easily located. Paramedics often are trained to check a refrigerator door for a do-not-resuscitate

order — so if you have one, tape it there. “Your documents are like nuggets of gold to caregivers left wondering, ‘How do I do this well?,’” said Paul Malley, president of Aging with Dignity, a nonprofit that advocates for end-of-life planning. “You want to tell as many people as possible that you’ve made your decisions, and where your records are kept.” If you’re a caregiver for someone who is seriously ill or frail, ask a healthcare provider about a “physician order for life sustaining treatment,” or POLST, form, in addition to an advance directive. The POLST form is a medical order created with a healthcare provider so that medical personnel know someone’s wishes in an emergency situation. Your loved one can specify if he or she wants resuscitation or other life-sustaining treatment, hospitalization, comfort care or something in between. Maryland’s version of POLST is called MOLST, for “medical orders for life-sustaining treatment.” It is the same sort of diSee WISHES, page 5

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Next, ensure your documents will be accessible when they’re needed. Despite technological advances, you can’t assume your paperwork will be recorded electronically with your medical records or shared with your doctors. Methods for storing directives vary by state and by hospital system. In many

Update your directive regularly, and give a copy to all those who had the prior version. And follow the advice of Charles Sabatino, an elder law expert with the American Bar Association, on when to update. He suggests using the “five Ds”: a new decade of life, death of a family member, divorce, new diagnosis or a medical decline. © 2018, Kiplinger. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Make sure your loved ones are clear about your wishes and that they are willing to carry them out. Start by holding a family conversation that includes as many people as possible, including adult grandchildren, said Marian Grant, a palliative care nurse practitioner and senior regulatory adviser with the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care, a Washington, D.C., advocacy group. State your preferences: Do you want to be kept alive on a ventilator? Are you willing to live in a nursing home? Once you’ve shared your preferences, ask a trusted relative or friend to be your healthcare agent. Select someone who can handle the task, and discuss it with them in depth. “The appointment is only as good as the conversation,” Schwarz said. “What you want is someone who will assume the significant responsibility, and decide as you would want, rather than as the daughter who doesn’t want her mom to die.”

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cases, you’ll need to physically present your paperwork. Keep a copy in your wallet or car, or download it onto your phone. You can store your directive electronically at the U.S. Living Will Registry (www.uslivingwillregistr y.com) or DocuBank (www.docubank.com), and allow healthcare providers to access it. Or create and store an advance care plan using MyDirectives, a free online service. You can use it to notify your healthcare agent, and he or she can accept or decline the responsibility. You can also share a link to your plan with caregivers and relatives. Von Asten decided to use MyDirectives because she could better organize her documents and keep them in one place. To be sure your wishes are honored, you or your health proxy also will need to be proactive — double-checking with surgeons, nurses and paramedics to be sure they have your directive or other documents in hand through every phase of your treatment. In one instance, a daughter discovered that her father’s advance directive failed to accompany him when he was moved to a different hospital floor, said Malley.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2018

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Health Shorts Flu increases risk of heart attack As if the flu wasn’t bad enough already: Researchers have confirmed that flu sharply increases the risk of heart attack for older people. Doctors have long known that flu can trigger heart problems. It’s one of the reasons flu shots are recommended for nearly everyone. A new Canadian study found that risk was six times higher in the first week after flu is diagnosed, compared to the year before and after the bug hits. Unlike previous studies, the researchers used lab tests to make sure people suspected of having the

flu really did. “It’s a much more rigorous study that allows us to make a much more specific link between flu infection and heart issues,” said Richard Webby, a prominent flu researcher at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. He was not involved in the research. Results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The researchers reviewed more than five years of hospital and lab records in Ontario. They found 332 mostly elderly people who had a positive flu test and had suffered a heart attack within a year. There was one strong pattern: 20 had a heart attack within a week of getting the flu. Six died. “The increased risk was only in that first week,” said lead author Dr. Jeffrey Kwong of the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Toronto.

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How does flu — a respiratory ailment with a fever, cough and aches — trigger a heart attack? Flu can cause swelling or inflammation in the coronary arteries, which can shake loose plaque and cause blockages, cutting off blood flow. “That’s the main culprit,” said Dr. Mohammad Madjid, a cardiologist and flu researcher at Houston’s University of Texas Health Science Center. Adding to that is the strain that flu and other viral infections place on alreadyweakened hearts. Lung infections make it harder for people to breathe, so the heart has to pump harder to get oxygenated blood out to every part of the body. Flu wasn’t the only viral infection that fell into the same week pattern, the study found. The researchers found the risk of heart attack was about more than three times higher with respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and nearly three times higher for a grab bag collection of germs that include the common cold.

Safer option than saline IVs New research calls into question what’s in those IV bags that nearly every hospitalized patient gets. Using a different intravenous fluid instead of the usual saline greatly reduced the risk of death or kidney damage, two large studies have found. The difference could mean 50,000 to 70,000 fewer deaths, and 100,000 fewer cases of kidney failure, each year in the U.S., researchers estimate. Some doctors are hoping the results will persuade more hospitals to switch. “We’ve been sounding the alarm for 20 years” about possible harms from saline, said Dr. John Kellum, a critical care specialist at the University of Pittsburgh. “It’s

purely inertia” that prevents a change, he said. Kellum had no role in the studies, which were discussed at a critical care conference in San Antonio and published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine. Federal grants helped pay for the work. IVs are one of the most common things in healthcare. They are used to prevent dehydration, maintain blood pressure, or give patients medicines or nutrients if they can’t eat. Saline — salt dissolved in water — has been the most widely used fluid in the U.S. for more than a century even as evidence has emerged that it can harm kidneys, especially when used a lot. Other IV solutions — called balanced fluids — include saline, but also contain potassium and other things that make them more like plasma, the clear part of blood. Balanced fluids are widely used in Europe and Australia. The studies involved 28,000 patients at Vanderbilt University who were given IVs of saline or a balanced fluid. For every 100 people on balanced fluids, there was one fewer death or severe kidney problem. Since there are about 30 million people hospitalized in the U.S. alone each year, “there are tens or hundreds of thousands of patients who would be spared death or severe kidney problems by using balanced fluids instead of saline,” said one study leader, Vanderbilt’s Dr. Matthew Semler. After seeing the results two months ago, Vanderbilt hospital officials decided to primarily use balanced fluids. The University of Pittsburgh also has largely switched to them, Kellum said. The fluids cost about the same — a dollar or two per IV — and many suppliers make both types, so switching should not be hard or expensive, doctors said. — AP

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2018

Do men suffer more, or just kvetch more? By Dr. Robert Shmerling Q: Do men really suffer more with the flu than women? A: I’d never heard of “man flu,” but according to a new study of the topic, the term is so ubiquitous that it has been included in the Oxford and Cambridge dictionaries as “a cold or similar minor ailment as experienced by a man who is regarded as exaggerating the severity of the symptoms.” As commonly used, the term “man flu” could describe a man who develops a cold or flu and then embellishes the severity of their symptoms, quickly adopts a helpless “patient role,” and relies heavily on others to help them until they recover. Another possibility is that men actually experience more severe symptoms from respiratory viral illnesses than women do.

Together, these findings suggest that there may be more to “man flu” than just men exaggerating their symptoms or unnecessarily behaving helplessly. While the evidence is not definitive, they suggest that the flu may, in fact, be more severe in men.

ing, and avoiding others while sick are good first steps. And they’re the same regardless of your gender. Robert H. Shmerling, M.D., is associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and clinical chief of rheumatology at

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. For additional consumer health information, visit www.health.harvard.edu. © 2018 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The bottom line Diseases can look different in men and women. That’s true of coronary artery disease. It’s true of osteoporosis, lupus and depression. And it may be true of the flu. So I agree with the author of this new report, who states “...the concept of man flu, as commonly defined, is potentially unjust.” We need a better understanding of how the flu affects men and women and why it may affect them differently. Until then, we should all do what we can to prevent the flu and limit its spread. Getting the flu vaccination, good handwash-

Men and women do differ There are other examples of differences in how men and women experience disease. For example, with heart attacks or angina, men tend to have “classic” crushing chest pain, while women are more likely to have “atypical” symptoms such as nausea or shortness of breath. Here are the highlights from the new study on man flu: • Influenza vaccination tends to cause more local (skin) and systemic (bodywide) reactions and better antibody response in women. A better antibody response may lessen the severity of flu, so it’s possible that vaccinated men get more severe symptoms than women because they don’t respond to vaccination as well. • In test tube studies of nasal cells infected with influenza, exposure to the female hormone estradiol reduces the immune response when the cells came from women, but not in cells from men. Since flu symptoms are in large part due to the body’s immune reaction, a lessened immune response in women may translate to milder symptoms. • In at least one study, men were hospitalized with the flu more often than women. Another reported more deaths among men than women due to flu.

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ALZHEIMER’S CONFERENCE

The 2018 Alzheimer’s Association annual Dementia Conference will take place on Friday, April 13 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel, 903 Dulaney Valley Rd. The conference is for caregivers, people living with earlystage dementia, acute and long- term care nurses, social workers, and other professionals working with individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Registration costs $35 for caregivers and people with Alzheimer’s, and $95 for healthcare professionals. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/Alzheim ersConference2018.

For nearly 50 years, MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital has provided comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation for patients recovering from stroke, amputation, spinal cord injury and complex medical conditions. In partnership with MedStar National Rehabilitation Network, our team focuses on each patient’s capabilities rather than disabilities, so he or she can become as independent as possible, adding life to years®. To learn more, visit MedStarGoodSam.org/PatientRehab or call 855-546-1864.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2018

How to find and use your best time of day By Mirel Ketchiff Most people’s mental energy is a roller coaster, said Chris Bailey, the author of The Productivity Project. “There are certain hours when you naturally have much more drive than at other times,” he said. The tricky thing is that the time of day when mental energy peaks is different for everyone. Fortunately, your highs tend to occur at about the same times every day, so you can learn to plan your schedule around them and maximize your productivity. Here’s how to take advantage of your personal power hour: 1. Pinpoint your peak productivity hour. Pay close attention to the times you feel inspired to dive into small and easily completed tasks, like going through your inbox or organizing your desk, suggested David Gard, Ph.D., the director of the Motivation and Emotion Research Laboratory at San Francisco State University. Taking on simple to-dos indicates you’re craving a sense of accomplishment, which is a sign that your motivation is starting to peak. Track your productivity for a few days in a row and you should notice a pattern. 2. Next, choose just one challenge to conquer. Your instinct may be to get as many things done as possible when your motivation is high. But it’s actually more efficient

to work on one task that requires sustained energy and focus. More ambitious tasks may be daunting at first, but they’re ultimately more motivating. Plus, over time your brain will start to associate your power hour with achievement, which will make you even more productive. 3. Prime your brain to concentrate. A ritual — like writing a to-do list or taking a walk — right before your power hour can help strengthen your brain’s natural increase in focus. “It’s classical conditioning. After practicing the same behavior for several weeks, that activity can cue your mind to get ready for a productive work period,” Gard said. Exercise is an especially powerful cue. “My studies have shown that your ability to focus your attention is improved for up to two hours after a single 50-minute workout session,” said Wendy Suzuki, Ph.D., a professor of neural science and psychology at New York University and the author of Healthy Brain, Happy Life. 4. Set yourself up for success. “Before you begin a project, break it down into exaggeratedly small steps,” Gard advised. If you’re working on a presentation, for instance, step one might be to open PowerPoint and get your document cued up and ready to go. If you’ll be batch-cooking, assemble all your ingredients and preheat the oven. Getting all the necessary prep work out

BEACON BITS

Apr. 20

CAREER FAIR There will be a free career fair on Friday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Set The Captives Free Outreach Center, 7111 Windsor

Blvd. Employers include BB&T, Navy Federal Credit Union, CCBC and more. For more information or to register, visit http://bit.ly/BaltimoreCareerFair2018.

of the way beforehand lets you dive right in to the tough stuff. Then, eliminate any potential distractions — your phone, your inbox, noisy co-workers — and get to work. 5. Finish strong. To kick your motivation into high gear to complete your project, take a mini-break halfway through. “After 20 to 25 minutes, your productivity is shot. But you can cultivate and prolong your energy by taking frequent breaks. And no, checking your in-box

doesn’t count,” Gard added. “It’s better to get out of your environment,” he said. “If you’re at your desk, get up and visit a co-worker for five minutes. Afterward, you’ll be primed to finish what you started.” Ketchiff is health editor at shape.com. SHAPE magazine is dedicated to helping you live a healthy and happy life. Online at www.shape.com. © 2018 Meredith Corporation. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Health Studies Page

APRIL 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Testing acupuncture against side effects By Carol Sorgen Studies have shown that complementary medical therapies, such as acupuncture, can be highly effective in controlling symptoms of disease without the unpleasant side effects many traditional therapies have. GBMC and Mend Acupuncture are cur-

rently conducting a study to look at the use of acupuncture during cancer treatment as a cost-effective, non-drug tool for symptom management. The trial is sponsored by the Center for Healthcare Innovation, and is being led by investigator Dr. Neri Cohen, GBMC’s Division Chief of Thoracic Surgery.

The study will investigate the impact of acupuncture on managing symptoms such as pain, nausea, dry mouth and loss of taste in 60 head and neck adult oncology patients currently being treated at GBMC. Physicians and patients will be informed about the trial and identified as potential study candidates. Enrollment in the trial is ongoing.

Help with pain and nausea “Patients with head and neck cancers experience an array of unpleasant symptoms due both to their disease and from the side effects of conventional treatments like surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy,” said Cohen. “Unfortunately, pharmacological [drug] interventions are sometimes ineffective or not well tolerated by patients. Acupuncture is beginning to be woven into oncology care plans for the treatment of nausea, dry mouth, fatigue, anxiety and pain. “Moreover, acupuncture has been shown to boost red blood cell counts and enhance lymphocyte and natural killer cell activity,” Cohen added.

“Recently we’ve seen a trend among physicians looking at a more whole-patient care approach, as well as being more mindful of cost-effective interventions. Patients, too, are in search of non-pharmaceutical options. “The result of these changing trends is that acupuncture’s use has doubled in ten years,” said Sarah O’Leary, founder of Mend Acupuncture. “Offering this kind of measured care through the trial — especially for the participants who are undergoing such a life altering experience — is not only innovative, but hopefully will yield profound results,” O’Leary added.

About the study Patients will be randomized to receive either standard cancer treatment or standard treatment plus acupuncture therapy twice a week for 12 weeks. The sessions will take place at GBMC as well as at any of Mend’s three Baltimore-area patient centers. For more information about the study, or to see if you qualify, call (443) 849-3470 or contact your physician.

BEACON BITS

Apr. 10

END-OF-LIFE COMFORT

What is the difference between hospice and palliative care? How do you recognize when that care is needed and where do you find services? Hospice of the Chesapeake physician Dr. Rudolph Willis and certified registered nurse practitioner Genevieve Lightfoot-Taylor will answer these and other questions about finding comfort with chronic illnesses and end-of-life care on Tuesday, April 10 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Glen Burnie Regional Library, 1010 Eastway. This event is free. Registration is not required, but seating is limited. For more information, call (443) 837-1527 or visit www.hospicechesapeake.org.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2018

Address daughter-in-law issues directly Dear Solutions: he shouldn’t have to fight yours now, since My daughter-in-law came to stay at my you’re big. house for a few days while Dear Solutions: she had a job close to where My husband has just been I live but far from where she diagnosed with the beginlives. ning stages of Alzheimer’s. Without going into details, He is still able to function she just ignored certain ways pretty well, and we still I do things in my home, and carry on our social life with acted as if I could be igother couples. But he is benored. ginning to show signs of I asked her to go to dinner slowing down in memory with me, and it was arranged and a little in speech. — until her friend called, SOLUTIONS My dilemma is that I don’t and then she just broke our By Helen Oxenberg, know whether to tell friends appointment like it didn’t MSW, ACSW or relatives about his condicount at all. She’s going to be coming back again. Should I confront her, or should I say something to my son and let him handle it? — Mom-in-law Dear Mom-in-law: It’s your daughter-in-law; your home; your problem. It’s between you and her, so don’t force your son to get involved. Invite her to lunch before she comes. Express your disappointment at the way you were treated. Tell her you’ll be happy to help her by welcoming her to your home when she needs to be there, but there must be a better understanding between the two of you. Leave son out of it. You may have fought his battles for him when he was little, but

tion. At the same time that I want people to be patient with him as much as possible, I also have to admit that my social life gives me great pleasure, and I want to be able to continue it as long as possible. What do you think I should do? — Mollie Dear Mollie: “As long as possible” is up for interpretation. What will make it possible for you to keep up your social activities before you’ll feel the need to explain that your husband’s reactions are caused by his illness? I think you should follow your feelings. When you begin to feel uncomfortable with a situation, you can then explain his condition to your friends. People are basically kind, even though it is frightening to them

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to realize that what is happening to your husband could one day happen to them. Meanwhile you, as the caregiver, need to find respite and maintain a good quality of life for yourself. You and your husband should join an Alzheimer’s support group, and you should also join a caregiver’s support group where you can share your concerns and your fears with others going through the same experiences. Contact your local Department of Aging to get referrals. Good luck.

Dear Solutions: I’m very worried. My son and his wife are expecting a baby soon. They own an annoying cat, and I’m worried that that won’t be good when the baby comes. © Helen Oxenberg, 2018. Questions to be considered for this column may be sent to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915. You may also email the author at helox72@comcast.net. To inquire about reprint rights, call (609) 655-3684.

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Montessori programs grow in popularity By Carol Sorgen More than five million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. As this number continues to grow, many senior living communities are incorporating specially designed memory care programs based on the Montessori method of education. Montessori schools for children focus on learning that engages the senses and focuses on a child’s particular needs and abilities, as well as tasks they enjoy doing. Similarly, memory care programs based on the Montessori method focus on exercises that mimic common tasks residents used to do when they were younger. The activities are designed to help reduce frustration and stress that commonly lead to

lack of participation. Research suggests that physical activities and creative arts engage the senses in a way that brings Alzheimer’s patients positive emotional experiences they may not otherwise achieve. For example, residents who used to be stay-at-home mothers might like to participate in exercises like folding laundry or light housekeeping, while a resident who used to work in business might like to use a calculator to stimulate their brain and senses and bring back memories of their career. At the newly opened Waltonwood Ashuburn in Northern Virginia, the Montessori method provides memory care residents with opportunities to rediscover the world around them and create positive attitudes to-

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ward learning, while reminding them about things they experienced a long time ago. “Our Montessori-based program is a unique way to captivate seniors’ senses so they have positive learning experiences without getting frustrated,” said Maria Kraft, director of resident care for Waltonwood Senior Living. “We design activities which incorporate common items — such as aromatherapy using different flowers, music therapy with household items, and painting using brushes or fingers — to spark the residents’ memories and allow them to function and participate to the extent of their ability.”

An individualized approach At Olney Assisted Living, programs for dementia residents are based on the person, not on the disease, said Christina Green, director of community relations. “Our goal is to make meaningful moments every day,” said Green. “Whether that’s taking a group to Starbucks for a regular outing, offering residents input in menu planning, arranging for a resident to give his wife roses as he used to on their anniversary, or helping them call their loved ones on their birthday, the objective is to create as many positive experiences as possible.” At Shangri-La Senior Living in Ellicott City, activities coordinators organize daily activities for residents, including exercise, socials, arts and crafts, men’s clubs, games, entertainment, educational and spiritual activities. Residents also participate in intergenerational activities with students from Children’s Manor Montessori School. According to their website, Montessori principles result in increased safety and reduced agitation and wandering, while promoting improved quality of life, self-es-

teem and independence.

Creating positive attitudes Waltonwood’s program takes each resident’s preferences into consideration, Kraft said. “For example, if we have a resident who was a businessman or professor, he may not be interested in painting; however an activity for him may be setting up a desk with papers or a computer, where the resident can ‘work.’ “The Montessori method program helps seniors reduce anxiety, stops boredom and improves their overall positivity. The type of daily activities we provide are endless because everything is based on meeting the seniors’ preferences and capabilities, all while challenging them in new ways to continue learning.” As one family member told them, “I can tell Mom has such a sense of self now. They really make sure they focus on her, as a person, instead of the activity she’s doing. She’s finding joy in her days again.” Montessori-based activities at Waltonwood Ashburn are led by a trained activity director who designs programming for small and large groups based on the residents’ capabilities. Design of the memory care apartments also aligns with multi-sensory experiences, such as varying wall colors, personalized room ledges, and memory boxes outside each apartment. “The Montessori Method is very synergistic, cohesive and, although it is a relatively new program, it is proven to be effective, and we want to inform families about it,” said Waltonwood Ashburn executive director Justin Roberts. “We are dedicated to incorporating cusSee MONTESSORI, page B-4

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Smart homes: Not just for high-tech geeks By Anick Jesdanun Internet-connected lights, locks and laundry machines are close to becoming everyday household items, thanks in part to voice-activated speakers such as Amazon’s Echo and Google Home. Market research groups are seeing increased sales of lights that turn off when you say “good night,” smart locks that let in your friends before you get home, and similar smart-home gadgets. While the devices are still relatively expensive — you can get six regular light bulbs for the price of a single smart one — demand is likely to pick up further as prices fall. “It’s starting to turn the corner into the mass market,” said Steve Koenig, senior director of market research at the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which puts on the CES gadget show in Las Vegas each January.

A powerful voice Until recently, many people viewed these products as unnecessary luxuries, if they knew about them at all — not least because setting them up and using them sounded like a lot of work. What’s changed? The growing popularity of smart speakers and their digital assistants, mainly. From your couch, you can now ask the Echo’s Alexa “assistant” to

play your favorite music or check the weather. You can order pizza, track flights or play Jeopardy. The more people use such speakers, it turns out, the more things they want them to do. In some cases, that leads directly to other smart gadgets for the home. People who own an Echo are definitely more likely to install other smart gadgets, said David Limp, Amazon’s senior vice president of devices and services. “They don’t start by rewiring the whole home. They start with a switch.” That switch, known as a smart plug, can make any appliance or lamp controllable by voice. Just ask an assistant to turn it off or on and the switch cuts or restores power, as required. From there, it’s only a small step toward products with smarts already built in, ones that can dim the lights or even change colors based on mood — all through the speaker’s assistant. Now that people can simply talk to their gadgets to control lamps, temperature control and appliances, they “no longer have to learn so much about how to use a device and its intricacies,” said Kara Alexander, senior product manager for Belkin’s WeMo smart products. “It’s much closer to how we work with [human assistants] in our home.”

Behind the growth

“We’re still in the early stages,” said Jeff Patton, a smart-home executive at General Electric. While the gadgets aren’t yet “mainstream,” he said, average people are much more aware of them. Alex Hawkinson, CEO of Samsung’s SmartThings smart-home business, said that about half of his new customers are coming because of smart speakers “igniting a lot of excitement.” Once people get their first smart product, such as a smart plug, they are likely to buy more, market researchers say. They also tell friends and neighbors about them.

U.S. sales of smart speakers more than tripled, to nearly 25 million in 2017, with about 11 million coming during the last quarter of the year, according to a CTA estimate. They’re expected to grow this year to about 36 million, especially due to the debut of Apple’s HomePod in February, joining Google’s and Amazon’s devices. It helps that such products are no longer limited to electronics stores such as Best Buy, but are now available at Home Depot, Target and other general retailers. And prices have dropped, with lower-end models costing just $50. Smart-home products such as lights and security cameras are behind, but catching up.

Remaining hurdles, concerns Questions remain over whether inviting See SMART HOMES, page B-4

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Smart homes From page B-3 Internet-connected products to the home also opens the door to hackers, notwithstanding manufacturers’ promises of security and privacy protections. For that reason, Hawkinson said, smart lights tend to be more popular than cameras and door locks. Sharonda Dozier, a 28-year-old in Detroit, said her boyfriend wants a smart

speaker, but she worries: “What if it starts glitching, and we’re having an argument or something else is going on that’s personal?” She wonders if their conversation will be recorded and come back to haunt them. Analysts say the privacy hurdle is surmountable, as people have shown a willingness to set such concerns aside for convenience. The larger roadblocks, they say, are cost and awareness. A pack of two smart plugs costs about

BEACON BITS

Apr. 4

PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR TALK

Bykota Senior Center will host Lynn Levy on Wednesday, April 4 at 10 a.m. Levy, a private investigator since 1979, will speak about “My Life as a Private Eye.” The center is located at 611 Central Ave. in Towson. For more information, call (410) 887-3094.

Apr. 5+

WEEKLY BINGO

The American Legion Post 130 in Perry Hall hosts bingo every Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m. Light dinner fare begins at 5:30 pm. Join them for a special “Spring Bingo Palooza” on Thursday, April 5. Each regular Bingo game will pay out $65 regardless of attendance. All proceeds go to the American Legion Post 130, located at 8666 Silver Lake Dr. For more information, visit www.perryhallamericanlegion.org.

Apr. 6+

LIGHT CITY EVENT

Light City, the nation’s only large-scale international light and ideas festival, is a celebration of light, music and innovation. It returns to Charm City with neighborhood lights beginning Friday, April 6. A festival is open from Saturday, April 14 to 21. This year promises a new lineup of installations, musicians, movers and shakers. Locations and times vary. Events are free. For more information, call (410) 752-9632 or visit www.lightcity.org.

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APRIL 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

$30. Smart bulbs start at $10; ones that let you control brightness and color can cost three times that. Equipping a few rooms with security cameras will set you back a few hundred dollars — or much more for a premium model, such as Nest’s Cam IQ. Beyond the upfront costs, some products carry ongoing service fees. That’s especially true of security cameras that offer online video storage. Nest, which shares a parent company with Google, charges $10

or $30 a month, depending on how long video is kept. Still, smart products aren’t going to be right for everyone. “I walk over and lock the doors. I go over to the thermostat and just turn the thing down,” said Rick Daigneault, 38, a former insurance research technician in Warwick, R.I. “People are getting lazier and lazier. You need a device to think for you.” — AP

Montessori

www.olneymemorycare.com, (301) 5760936 Shangri-La Senior Living, Ellicott City and Catonsville, Md. www.shangrilaseniorliving.com, (410) 461-2190 Somerford House, Frederick, Md. www.fivestarseniorliving.com/communities/md/frederick/somerford-houseplace-frederick, (301) 668-3930 Residences at Thomas Circle, Washington, DC www.seniorlifestyle.com/property/residences-thomas-circle, (202) 628-3844

From page B-2 tomized programs and will provide the highest quality of care to residents with all forms of dementia,” he said. For residential communities with Montessori-style memory care programs around the area, contact: Waltonwood, Ashburn, Va. www.waltonwood.com/seniorliving/va/ashburn/waltonwood-at-ashburn, (571) 266-1810 Olney Memory Care, Olney, Md.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

BALTIMORE ASSISTANCE

The Assistance Center of Towson Churches serves northern Baltimore County and City residents with food, utility turn-off and eviction assistance. For more information, call (410) 296-4855 or email actc316@gmail.com.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2018

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Chronically ill can get Medicare home care By Susan Jaffe Colin Campbell needs help dressing, bathing and moving between his bed and his wheelchair. He has a feeding tube because his partially paralyzed tongue makes swallowing “almost impossible,” he said. Campbell, 58, spends $4,000 a month on home healthcare services so he can continue to live in his home just outside Los Angeles. Eight years ago, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or “Lou Gehrig’s disease,” which relentlessly attacks the nerve cells in his brain and spinal cord and has no cure. The former computer systems manager has Medicare coverage because of his disability, but no fewer than 14 home healthcare providers have told him he can’t use it to pay for their services.

Companies reluctant to cover That’s an incorrect but common belief. Medicare does cover home care services for patients who qualify, but incentives intended to combat fraud and reward high quality care are driving some home health agencies to avoid taking on long-term patients such as Campbell, who have debilitating conditions that won’t get better, according to advocates for seniors and the home care industry. Rule changes that took effect in January could make the problem worse. The rule states that agencies can no longer unilaterally decide to discharge a patient, and a doctor must agree to the discharge. “While meant to protect patients, we are concerned that agencies will have less incentive, beyond low payments and quality ratings, to begin serving a patient who has long-term chronic needs if they believe they may have difficulty discharging them, particularly as reimbursement diminishes

over time,” said Kathleen Holt, an attorney and associate director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan law firm. The group is considering legal action against the government. Federal law requires Medicare to pay indefinitely for home care — with no copayments or deductibles — if a doctor ordered it and patients can leave home only with great difficulty. They must need intermittent nursing, physical therapy or other skilled care that only a trained professional can provide. Those who qualify can also receive an aide’s help with dressing, bathing and other daily activities. The combined services are limited to 35 hours a week. Patients do not need to show improvement, despite common beliefs to the contrary. Medicare affirmed this policy in 2013, when it settled a key lawsuit brought by the Center for Medicare Advocacy and Vermont Legal Aid. In that case, the government agreed that Medicare covers skilled nursing and therapy services — including those delivered at home — to maintain a patient’s abilities or to prevent or slow decline. It also agreed to inform providers, bill auditors and others that a patient’s improvement is not a condition for coverage.

ers home healthcare and other home services, but Campbell doesn’t qualify for it. Securing Medicare coverage for home health services requires persistence, said John Gillespie, whose mother has gone through five home care agencies since she was diagnosed with ALS in 2014. He successfully appealed Medicare’s decision denying coverage, and afterward Medicare paid for his mother’s visiting nurse as well as speech and physical therapy. “You have to have a good doctor, and people who will help fight for you to get the right company,” said Gillespie, of Orlando, Fla. “Do not take no for an answer.” Yet a Medicare official did not acknowledge any access problems. “A patient can continue to receive Medicare home health services as long as he/she remains eligi-

ble for the benefit,” said spokesman Johnathan Monroe. But a leading industry group contends that Medicare’s home healthcare policies are often misconstrued. “One of the myths in Medicare is that chronically ill individuals are not qualified for coverage,” said William Dombi, president of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice, which represents nearly half of the nation’s 12,000 home care providers.

Some legitimate concerns Part of the problem is that some agencies fear they won’t be paid if they take on patients who need their services for a long See HOME CARE, page B-6

Andrea has led the charge on behalf of Howard County and Maryland libraries and the League of Women Voters for decades.

Incorrect agency information Campbell said some home healthcare agencies told him Medicare would pay only for rehabilitation, “with the idea of getting you better and then leaving,” he said. They told him that Medicare would not pay them if he didn’t improve, he said. Other agencies told him Medicare simply did not cover home healthcare. Medicaid, the federal-state program for low-income adults and families, also cov-

John is a nationally award winning engineer who applies his occupational skills to help people with disabilities.

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Home care From page B-5

Weinberg Park Assisted Living 410-664-0100 5833 Park Heights Avenue Baltimore, MD 21215 Weinberg Park is a vibrant Assisted Living community where you can live with confidence and independence. Whether you need help getting dressed, managing medications or friendly conversation, we are there for you with a gentle helping hand. We offer private or semi-private suites, certified nursing assistance, medication management, a 24-hour emergency response system, laundry & housekeeping services, delicious & nourishing kosher meals and individualized service plans. Our doors are open to everyone, regardless of income level, and we strive to keep our fees at a competitive market rate. Call today to schedule a tour! We look forward to showing you the comfort and care we offer to all our treasured residents!

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Linden Park Apartments in Bolton Hill 410-523-0013 • TTY 711 301 McMechen Street Baltimore, MD 21217 www.lindenparkapartments.com Now through April 20, 2018: Efficiency apartments at only $777 a month and two months in free rent (over $2,700 in savings!) if lease is signed by May 18, 2018! *Income guidelines apply. What better way to start off Spring than in a new apartment in a community such as Bolton Hill that boasts beautiful gardens and plenty of social activities — a lifestyle that encourages engagement and wellness in one location. For ages 62 plus, there are many activities for you to enjoy, from fitness workshops to art programs! Newly renovated and updated. FREE parking, FREE utilities and 24-hour concierge, plus small pets are welcome! Come join us at our Senior Spring Festival on April 20th from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. EHO

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

time, Dombi said. Such cases can attract the attention of Medicare auditors who can deny payments if they believe the patient is not eligible or they suspect billing fraud. Rather than risk not getting paid, some home health agencies “stay under the radar” by taking on fewer Medicare patients who need long-term care, Dombi said. And they may have a good reason to be concerned. Medicare officials have found that about a third of the agency’s payments to home health companies in the fiscal year ending last September were improper. Shortages of home health aides in some areas might also lead an overburdened agency to focus on those who need care for only a short time, Dombi said. Another factor that may have a negative effect on chronically ill patients is Medicare’s Home Health Compare ratings website, www.medicare.gov/homehealthcompare/search.html. The site includes grades on patient improvement, such as whether a client got better at walking with

an agency’s help. That effectively tells agencies who want top ratings “to go to patients who are susceptible to improvement,” Dombi said. This year, some home care agencies will earn more than just ratings. Under a Medicare pilot program, home health firms in nine states will start receiving payment bonuses for providing good care, and those who don’t will pay penalties. Some criteria used to measure performance depend on patient improvement, Holt said. Another new rule, which took effect in January, prohibits agencies from discontinuing services for Medicare and Medicaid patients without a doctor’s order. But that, too, could backfire. “This is good,” Holt said. “But our concern is that some agencies might hesitate to take patients if they don’t think they can easily discharge them.” Kaiser Health News, https://khn.org, is a nonprofit news service covering health issues. This article was written with the support of a journalism fellowship from New America Media, the Gerontological Society of America and the Silver Century Foundation.

BEACON BITS

May 4

DANCE PERFORMANCE

Towson University Dance Company will celebrate seniors, educators, service people and first responders with a free matinee performance on Friday, May 4 at 11:00 a.m. “Tapestries” is a collection of choreographic stories, concepts and ideas woven into an afternoon of dance featuring the dance company’s students. To register to attend, call (410) 704-4527 or log on to https://form.jotform.com/80393711009149.

Ongoing

SENIOR LEGAL SERVICES

The Bar Association of Baltimore City and the Baltimore Bar Foundation, Inc. provide free legal advice, services and representation to older adults. Senior Legal Services (SLS) serves residents age 60 and older. For more information, call (410) 396-1322.

Ongoing

BALTIMORE CITY VOLUNTEERS

Baltimore City is looking for a wide variety of volunteers to give back to the community. For more information or to volunteer, call (410) 396-4932.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Charlestown 1-800-222-9651

Oak Crest 1-800-333-5693

715 Maiden Choice Lane Catonsville, MD 21228 CharlestownCommunity.com

8820 Walther Boulevard Parkville, MD 21234 www.OakCrestCommunity.com

Charlestown has been one of Maryland’s most celebrated continuing care retirement communities for over 30 years — and for good reason. This vibrant senior living community offers unique benefits that can’t be matched by its competitors, like 110 acres of glorious grounds, 200+ resident-run clubs, and Erickson Health, one of the nation’s most comprehensive health and wellness systems for seniors. Charlestown boasts three clubhouses packed with amenities, and beautiful historic features, like Our Lady of the Angels Chapel. Most importantly, Charlestown’s inclusive Monthly Service Package keep finances predictable and protected. Call 1-800-222-9651 for a free brochure.

A move to Oak Crest in Baltimore County is a wise decision for your future, your finances, and your family. No other retirement community in the Parkville area offers so many fabulous benefits. Since opening their doors in 1995, seniors have flocked to Oak Crest for catered, maintenance-free living. From its stylish apartment homes and clubhouses packed with amenities, to the expert on-site health care and predictable financial structure, Oak Crest provides a secure and stimulating place for seniors age 60 or older to call home. Learn about everything this exciting 87-acre campus has to offer. Call 1-800-333-5693 for a free brochure.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2018

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Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this entire coupon to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227. You may also include the free info coupon found on page 5. One entry per household please. Name __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________E-mail_______________________________________________ City _______________________________________________________ State ______________________ Zip ____________________ BB 418

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Housing Notes By Barbara Ruben

First CCRC in Harford County Harford County’s first Continuing Care Retirement Community is slated to open in 2020 on a 47-acre campus in Bel Air, Md. Called Carsins Run at Eva Mar, the community is part of the nonprofit Presbyterian Home of Maryland. Carsins Run will include independent and assisted living, as well as nursing and memory care for those over 60. There are six independent living floor plans, ranging from a 755-square-foot one-bedroom, onebathroom apartment, to a 1,329-squarefoot two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit. Health services include a physician, nursing team and social services. There will be several dining options, including

APRIL 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

carry-out, and a clubhouse for activities and classes. Residents pay a one-time entrance fee that is refundable to the resident or resident’s estate. Entrance fees at the standard refund option start at $232,622, and ongoing monthly fees start at $2,964. To learn more, see www.carsinsrun.org or call (443) 390-2590.

Kosher assisted living expands in Pikesville Sterling Care Kosher Assisted Living in Pikesville will move to a new building this spring. Sterling Care is locally owned by a registered nurse and a licensed clinical social worker, who are on site daily to care for the community’s 16 residents. The new building will include a sunroom and patio. Daily housekeeping and laundry services are provided, along with

a beautician and podiatrist. Sterling Care is located next to a wheelchair-accessible synagogue, and provides kosher meals, along with Jewish holiday celebrations, candle lighting and Torah study. Activities include a personalized music and memory program, pet therapy, weekly live music, social activities and exercise classes. To learn more, see www.sterlingassistedliving.com or call (410) 318-8999.

Many seniors still paying mortgages About 44 percent of 60- to 70-year-olds are still paying a mortgage, according to a survey by mortgage company American Financing in its 2017 Retirement and Mortgages Survey, released late last year. According to the findings, 32 percent of those predict that it will take them more than eight years to pay their mortgage off, and an additional 17 percent say that they

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will possibly never pay it off. “Part of the American dream, and homeownership, is the expectation that after years of hard work, you can retire with financial security. But the unfortunate reality for many of today’s baby boomers is that their debt burden remains high,” said Carrie Niess, business analyst at American Financing. “As concerning as this is, there are still many untapped options, such as refinancing and reverse mortgages, which a lot of folks could benefit from.” Additional survey highlights include: • A majority (64 percent) of 60- to 70year-old homeowners plan to remain in their current home, with 62 percent of these individuals planning to leave the home to their children/estate. • Fifty-eight percent have refinanced their loan at some point, and 72 percent of these individuals did so in order to lower their mortgage rate. • Nineteen percent of 60- to 70-year-olds do not know what a reverse mortgage is, while 15 percent would be open to considering one. • Seventy-one percent of 60- to 70-yearolds would be likely to make home renovations rather than move in the event that a health issue affected their mobility and/or comfort at home. More details and key findings from the study can be found in American Financing’s full report, available at http://bit.ly /SeniorMortgages.

A top city for LGBT seniors ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

EASTERN SHORE ORE

Furnace Branch 410-761-4150 410 761 4150 Severna Park 410-544-3411

Easton 410-770-3070 3070

HARFORD COUNTY BAL LTIMORE CITY Ashland T Terrace errace 410-276-6440 Coldspring 410-542-4400

Bel Air 410-893-0064 Box Hill 410-515-6115

HOWARD COUNTY BAL LTIMORE COUNTY Catonsville 410-719-9464 Dundalk 410-288-5483 Fullerton 410-663-0665 Miramar Landing 410-391-8375 Randallstown 410-655-5673 Rosedale 410-866-1886 Taylor 410-663-0363 Towson 410-828-7185 Woodlawn 410 410-281-1120 281 1120

Colonial Landing 410-796-4399 Columbia 410-381-1118 Ellicott City 410-203-9501 Ellicott City II 410-203-2096 Emerson 301-483-3322 Snowden River 410-290-0384

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY Bladensburg 301-699-9785 55 AND BETTER! Laurel 301-490-1526 Laurel II 301-490-9730

Call the community nearest you to inquire about ut eligibility y requirements and to arrange a personal tour. www.rhomecommunities. com

ALL P PARK ARK VIEW COMMUNITIES COMM MUNITIES ARE PET-FRIENDL LY

Baltimore was recently named one of the top 20 cities in the U.S. for gay older adults by SeniorAdvice.com, a senior housing referral service. Ft. Lauderdale, Austin and Atlanta were the top three cities, with Baltimore listed in 19th place. “With 3.9 percent of Baltimore’s population identifying as LGBT, it is no surprise the area has several events and festivals supporting the gay community throughout the year,” the study states. “The annual gay pride parade draws over 30,000 visitors to the area annually. For over 35 years the GLBT Community Center of Baltimore has been catalyst for LGBT people in the city and state.” The study also notes Maryland’s laws that prohibit anti-discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as numerous retirement communities and doctors that take Medicare as things that put Baltimore on the list. A variety of factors were considered when ranking cities for the list, including the following: percentage of LGBT population in the area, available social activities, festivals, weather, LGBT Chamber of Commerce presence, presence of gay-friendly senior communities, quality of healthcare, number of hospitals and pharmacies, local and state legislations protecting the LGBT community and cost of living. To read about all the cities on the list, go to www.senioradvice.com/articles/top-20cities-for-lgbt-retirement-2018.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2018

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55+ cohousing communities taking off

A recent concept In 2000, no U.S. cohousing communities were geared toward older adults. PDX Commons is now the nation’s 13th such community for the 55-and-older demographic. Two more are under construction, and 13 others are in the early stages. While none are in the Baltimore or Washington

areas, this region does have several intergenerational cohousing communities. See box on page B-11. “Interest in cohousing has not only increased in general, but especially in the senior world,” said Karin Hoskin, executive director of Coho/US, the Cohousing Association of the United States, a nonprofit that supports cohousing communities nationwide. While groups of friends may discuss growing old together on common ground, in most cohousing communities, the residents start as strangers who plan to help each other for the rest of their lives. Fisher said part of the home-buying process includes months of getting-to-knowyou activities that precede the purchase. “We are people who have the ability to live independently who intended to come together to form a community,” Fisher said of the group that ranges in age from 57 to 80. “We made it really clear: We’re not a care facility.” Trudy Hussman, 68, bought into PDX Commons in June 2016, after retiring two years ago. “I had been living alone for a long time and was feeling fairly isolated since I retired. I was used to it but not happy with it,” she said. “I started thinking that living in a community with other similar people would be an antidote.” Clinical psychologist Elizabeth Lombardo, of Chicago, agrees. Social support is critical to health and well-being, with countless studies showing those with social ties live longer, are physically healthier and happier, and have less stress, she said. “From a psychological and physical health perspective, it’s a pretty cool idea,” Lombardo said of cohousing. “It depends upon how open-minded and like-minded people are.” Sidney Ewing, 82, and his wife of 54 years, Margaret Ewing, 77, had second

thoughts about moving to the cohousing Oakcreek Community in Stillwater, Okla. The couple, both retired professors from Oklahoma State University, were among the group’s founders, but dropped out. “We decided the social load might be too heavy for us,” he said. “We are much more introverts.” Two events changed their thinking and led to their moving in after all. A neighbor of theirs fell down the stairs at home and was on the floor eight hours before being found. And they got a notice from

Oakcreek of an approaching deadline. They rejoined in time to get in on the planning, and moved in five years ago when the community opened.

Starting a movement Cohousing came to the U.S. after architects Charles Durrett, 62, and his wife, Kathryn McCamant, 57, learned about the concept in Denmark. The couple became advocates, and have designed more than See COHOUSING, page B-11

Experience

senior living at Charlestown and Oak Crest

At Charlestown and Oak Crest in Baltimore County, you’ll have easy access to fantastic amenities, services, and resources while enjoying all the comforts of a stylish, maintenance-free apartment home.

12712114

By Sharon Jayson The 5-mile hikes, yoga classes and communal dinners are now routines for the residents at PDX Commons Cohousing in Portland, Ore. These 39 individuals (about half married or partnered, but largely strangers to the others at first) started forging relationships well before they moved in late last summer to join a trend called cohousing. “Here, you walk in and know every one of the people, and you know them well,” said Steve Fisher, 63, a retired transportation planner who leads the weekly hikes. He and his wife moved from San Jose, Calif., to PDX Commons. “You greet them. They’re your friends. You do stuff with them. It’s the opposite of the isolation you sometimes get in the urban areas.” It’s not a commune, and there’s no sharing of income, though decision-making is by consensus. Cohousing bolsters sharing — a lawnmower, tools, or an on-site laundromat, as well as guest quarters for outof-town visitors, for example. Homes are private, clustered near a common space where homeowners meet regularly to share meals and build community. Of the nation’s 168 cohousing communities, almost all are intergenerational. But now, as increasing numbers of aging adults eschew the idea of institutional living, cohousing has become an attractive option for them.

Apartment homes are selling quickly. Call 1-800-590-4091 for your free brochure.

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APRIL 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

TECHNOLOGY SIMPLIFIED – BIGGER AND BETTER

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the world at your fingertips. From the moment you open the box, you’ll realize how different the WOW Computer is. The components are all connected; all you do is plug it into an outlet and your high-speed Internet connection. Then you’ll see the screen – it’s now 22 inches. This is a completely new touch screen system, without the cluttered look of the normal computer screen. The “buttons” on the screen are easy to see and easy to understand. All you do is touch one of them, from the Web, Email, Calendar to Games– you name it… and a new screen opens up. It’s so easy to use you won’t have to ask your children or grandchildren for help. Until now, the very people who could benefit most from E-mail and the Internet are the ones that have had the hardest time accessing it. Now, thanks to the WOW Computer, countless older Americans are discovering the wonderful world of the Internet every day. Isn’t it time

you took part? Call now, and you’ll find out why tens of thousands of satisfied seniors are now enjoying their WOW Computers, emailing their grandchildren, and experiencing everything the Internet has to offer. Call today! • Send & Receive Emails • Have video chats with family and friends • Surf the Internet: Get current weather and news • Play games Online: Hundreds to choose from!

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BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2018

Cohousing From page B-9 55 such projects in the USA and consulted on others. Cohousing fulfills a variety of needs — from saving money through sharing to having ready companions. Cohousing developments include private homes (typically 20 to 40 such homes, with square footage reflecting a downsized lifestyle) clustered around shared space designed to promote frequent interaction. “Structurally, they’re infinitely different,” Durrett said. “It needs to be designed from scratch for each group.” The legal entity is usually a condo or homeowners association with monthly fees, generally between $100 and $350, he added. At some senior projects, one of the guest rooms in the common house was designed for future caregivers to assist homeowners. However, the cohousing

communities say they haven’t been used that way because anyone who might have needed such help hired someone privately. Cohousing communities don’t aim to be continuing-care or nursing facilities, homeowners say. “None of us moved in here with the idea of bathing or dressing our neighbors,” said Pat Darlington, 66, of Oakcreek. “There are certain things we’re committed to doing and certain things we’re not.”

From the first to the newest The nation’s first senior cohousing community opened in December 2005 with eight homes and a dozen individuals at Glacier Circle in Davis, Calif., about 15 miles from Sacramento. Seven of the initial group remain. “We’re declining and holding on, and trying to be good to each other,” said Stan Dawson, 86, president of its homeowners association. “There’s no sense that anyone wants to move out to a nursing home yet, unless they absolutely have to.”

Cohousing communities nearby These are not senior-specific: Blueberr y Hill, Vienna, Va., 19 houses, www.blueberryhill.org Eastern Village Cohousing, Silver Spring, Md., 56 units, www.easternvillage.org. For purchase information, call Quantum Real Estate Management, (301) 941-8040. Liberty Village Cohousing, near

Frederick, Md. The oldest resident is 78. www.libertyvillage.com, (301) 3040158 Takoma Village, Washington, D.C., is the first urban cohousing community in the greater metro Washington, D.C. area, and has 90 residents. www.takomavillage.org, (202) 537-9113

Dawson said the community connected as members of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Davis, but didn’t really know each other. “As time has gone on, we’re more of a family,” he said. Among the newer senior projects is Village Hearth Cohousing in Durham, N.C., where construction is to begin in April and move-in is scheduled for the summer of 2019. It’s an “LGBT and allies” community for age 55-plus, said Pat McAulay, 62. “My wife and I actually started the group in 2015,” she said, based upon “dozens of beach trips with our friends — a bunch of women together in a house. We said, ‘Let’s do this when we retire.’”

B-11

So far, 11 households are sold. Alan O’Hashi, 64, who moved to senior cohousing at Silver Sage Village in Boulder, Colo., in 2010, offers newbies some advice. “The best thing about cohousing are neighbors — and the worst thing about cohousing are the neighbors,” he said. “You get to know people in ways you wouldn’t. You’re putting up with everyone’s positives and negatives and striking a balance between being in community and being an individual.” Lew Bowers, 65, said PDX Commons is learning that. “In consensus,” he said, “you have to think about what’s good for the group.” Courtesy of Kaiser Health News.

B-12

Housing Options

PULL OUT & KEEP THIS SECTION

APRIL 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2018

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

BUY LOW As stock prices rise, it’s difficult to find good ones with low share prices. Try these five stocks under $20 BOOST SAVINGS Use tax-advantaged Roth accounts, HSAs, and increased IRA contributions after 50 to help make your money last as long as you do

Protect your assets in this volatile market By Anne Kates Smith After a long stretch of calm and a relentless rally, the stock market recently took a breather. No one should be surprised — unless you’re surprised it took so long for this bull market to take some downtime. Stock market corrections, typically defined as a loss between 10 percent and 20 percent from the peak, occur about every two years, on average. The last one began in May 2015, so we were due, especially considering that the Standard & Poor’s 500 index trades at about 18 times estimated corporate earnings for the coming 12 months — above the five-year average of 16 times and the 10-year average of 14. Get used to a rockier market, said Jim Stack, president of InvesTech Research and Stack Financial Management “The road ahead will be more volatile with increasing risk,” he said. When a market is ready to correct, it will seize on a trigger — and this market has plenty to choose from. Worries include some warning signs of inflation, with wages ticking higher. Bond yields are rising, making stocks look even more expensive in comparison and raising fears that

higher rates could eventually crimp economic growth. All eyes are on a new Federal Reserve chief as the central bank navigates a tighter monetary policy in 2018. And then there’s the partisan divide in Washington, with intermittent threats of a government shutdown, not to mention escalating nuclear tensions with North Korea. Whatever the cause, any market drop is particularly worrisome for retirees and near-retirees, who have less time to make up for losses. Here are seven tips to help you survive any turmoil.

Don’t panic One of the important lessons from the devastating 2007-09 downturn is that, even in the worst of times, “recoveries happen within a reasonable period,” said financial planner Cicily Maton, of the Planning Center, in Chicago. Since 1945, it has taken an average of just four months to recover from market declines of 10 to 20 percent. Bear markets (resulting in losses of 20 percent or more) have taken an average of 25 months to break even. Fight the urge to cut and run, and avoid

selling your depreciated stocks, if you can. If you are in your 70s, remember that you have until Dec. 31 to take required minimum distributions from your retirement accounts.

Keep your portfolio on track Even retirees should have an investment horizon long enough to weather this storm or whatever the market can dish out. For a retirement that can last decades, T. Rowe Price recommends that new retirees keep 40 to 60 percent of their assets in stocks. And because stocks stand up to inflation better than bonds and cash over time, even 90-year-olds should keep at least 20 percent of their assets in stocks. If you’ve been regularly monitoring your portfolio, you’ve already been cutting back on stocks periodically over the past few years. Now is a particularly good time to revisit your investment mix to ensure that it is consistent with your tolerance for risk. During the bull market, “people were getting comfortable with those returns, and may have let their stock allocation drift higher,” said Maria Bruno, a senior investment strategist at Vanguard. “We’ve been reminding them to rebalance.”

Make sure you’re diversified When stock prices are being pummeled, bonds are often pushed higher by investors seeking a safe place to hide. That’s been a bit tricky recently, with bond prices falling as yields rise (yields and prices move in opposite directions). Nonetheless, a diversified portfolio is your best defense against the ups and downs of any single assets class or industry sector. In general, investors should own a mix of domestic and foreign bonds and U.S. and overseas stocks. And within the stock allocation, you should have a variety of market sectors. No single sector should claim more than 5 to 10 percent of your holdings, said T. Rowe Price senior financial planner Judith Ward.

Stick with high-quality holdings This is no time to speculate. Look for companies with dependable earnings, impeccable balance sheets and healthy dividends — or funds that invest in such companies. T. Rowe Price Dividend Growth (PRDGX) See VOLATILE MARKET, page 14

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APRIL 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Five cheap stocks to buy for $20 or less By Dan Burrows Stocks with low share prices can be a cost-effective way for small investors to diversify their portfolios. But even after a bumpy few weeks, the market remains near all-time highs and is as expensive as ever, making quality cheap stocks more and more difficult to find. Before a rising market tide lifted almost all boats, it wasn’t too tough to find stocks for less than $10 that offered an acceptable balance of risk and reward. Now, with the Dow bouncing between 25,000 and 26,000, investors should probably raise that limit to $20, just to be safe. Any stock still languishing below $10 likely often comes with an extra heap of risk (as we’ll see in one case), and can risk losing the benefit of institutional buying from entities such as mutual funds. It’s easy to see the appeal of stocks for $20 or less, especially if you don’t have a lot of money left over to invest after you pay bills and pad your emergency fund. However, many low-priced stocks are priced that way for a reason, so you need to be particularly discerning when you try to pick stocks that go for $20 or less. Is it risky? Sure. Don’t plow your life’s savings into a stock simply because it seems cheap. But you should take a chance on a promising stock when you can snag it at a bargain price. Let’s take a look at five such cheap stocks trading for $20 or less (prices as of March 14, 2018):

Callaway Golf Company

Volatile market

average volatility by focusing on sturdy companies that dominate their businesses and pay out reliable and rising dividends. PowerShares S&P 500 Low Volatility Portfolio ETF (SPLV) is a good choice for exchange-traded

From page 13 is one of Kiplinger’s favorite no-load mutual funds. It delivers steady returns with below-

Market value: $1.4 billion Dividend yield: 0.3 percent Analysts’ opinion: 8 strong buy, 0 buy, 3 hold, 0 sell, 1 strong sell The game of golf might not be growing like it once was, but it’s still a massively popular pastime and a big business. Indeed, there are 24 million golfers in the U.S., contributing to what amounts to a $70 billion global industry. Shares in Callaway Golf Company (ELY, $15.93) are a low-cost, pure-play bet on the game, and analysts are mostly bullish on its fortunes. Callaway, for the uninitiated, is a golf equipment, clothing and accessories maker with a reach of more than 70 countries. It’s one of the top sponsors in the sport, boasting PGA names such as Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect Callaway’s earnings to expand by 22 percent next year, and at an average annual rate of 31 percent for the next five years. That sort of growth makes ELY shares, which currently trade for 24 times expected earnings, look like a bargain.

Graphic Packaging Holding Company Market value: $4.9 billion Dividend yield: 1.9 percent Analysts’ opinion: 7 strong buy, 0 buy, 1 hold, 0 sell, 0 strong sell Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPK, $15.42) is one of the largest makers of

folding cartons and paper-based packaging for the food and food-services industries. And a transformative deal has it poised for outsized growth in the future. The company kicked off the year by completing its merger with International Paper’s (IP) North America Consumer Packaging business. GPK now owns 80 percent of the combined company. As a result, analysts expect the company’s revenue to soar 46 percent in 2018. Longer-term, Wall Street’s pros think GPK can deliver average earnings growth of 21 percent a year for the next half-decade. With shares going for just 17 times expected earnings, Graphic Packaging could be a steal at current levels.

Huntington Bancshares Market value: $17.1 billion Dividend yield: 2.7 percent Analysts’ opinion: 9 strong buy, 1 buy, 9 hold, 0 sell, 0 strong sell Regional banks are among stocks that should benefit from Republicans’ tax overhaul, as their almost entirely domestic operations have long resulted in high effective tax rates around 30 percent on average. That will drop to 21 percent. Good news for Huntington Bancshares (HBAN, $16.12), which already delivered revenue gains, lower provisions for loan losses, and continued growth in both loans and deposits when it posted quarterly results on Jan. 23. Results matched Wall Street’s estimates and helped goose a stock that’s been hot of late. Shares in Huntington are up 12 percent fund investors.

Tap your cash bucket Instead of dumping stocks, use Social Security and any annuities, plus the portion of your portfolio that comprises cash and short-term CDs, to meet your expenses. Some financial advisers recommend creating three “buckets” of investments: One with cash and short-term CDs; the second with short- and intermediate-term bonds; and the third with stock and bond funds. Relying on the first bucket will leave the stocks-and-bonds bucket of your portfolio intact.

over the past month vs. a gain of 4 percent for the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index. “The company has a solid franchise in the Midwest, and is focused on capitalizing on its growth opportunities,” note analysts at Zacks Equity Research, who caution that rising costs and unstable credit metrics pose challenges, but still rate shares at “Buy.” “We remain optimistic about the company’s several strategic actions, including acquisitions and consolidation of branches.”

Nabors Industries Market value: $2.4 billion Dividend yield: 2.9 percent Analysts’ opinion: 10 strong buy, 0 buy, 8 hold, 0 sell, 0 strong sell For a higher-risk, higher-reward bet on recovery in the oil patch, look no farther than Nabors Industries (NBR, $7.12), the only sub-$10 name on this list. Nabors is one of the largest land drillers in the country, and is thus highly sensitive to oil prices. Happily for investors, benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices have climbed from the low $40s in mid-2017 to around $65 per barrel currently. That includes a roughly 10 percent improvement so far this year.

SLM Corporation Market value: $4.9 billion Dividend yield: N/A Analysts’ opinion: 7 strong buy, 0 buy, 0 hold, 0 sell, 0 strong sell See CHEAP STOCKS, page 15

Such measures are especially important if you’re at the beginning of your retirement. An unrealistic first-year withdrawal during a bear market could cripple your portfolio’s potential for long-term growth. If you don’t have other income to offset lower withdrawals, consider deferring gifts, trips and other discretionary expenditures until the market stabilizes. Also keep in mind that your spending changes — and typically declines somewhat — in retirement. You may find that cutting back is more doable than you think, said Blanchett.

Rethink your withdrawal strategy Postpone retirement Don’t rely blindly on a rule of thumb that bases its assumptions on historical returns rather than current conditions. For instance, the 4 percent rule — a withdrawal strategy based on back-testing 30-year periods starting in 1926 — said you can safely take 4 percent of your total portfolio in the first year of retirement and in subsequent years, adjusted for inflation. Now, with stocks down and 10-year Treasury bonds yielding 2.8 percent or more, you might be wise to scale back distributions to, say, 3 percent or less of total assets (plus an inflation adjustment), or to take 4 percent and skip the inflation adjustment.

Sound drastic? Maybe so, but “delaying retirement does an amazing amount for improving retirement success,” said Blanchett of Morningstar Investment Management. Not only do you have more time to save, including making catch-up contributions to your retirement accounts, but you’re also letting the money in your accounts grow, and you have fewer years during which you must rely on savings once you do retire. “Working longer really reduces the stress on your portfolio,” he said. © 2018 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2018

Ways to boost your retirement savings Saving enough for retirement is a chalHowever, you can contribute to a tradilenge for most people. So why do so many tional IRA and then convert to a Roth. ignore the incentives and tax [Note: This means you must advantages that are there for pay tax at current rates on the the taking? full amount of the contribuPerhaps they don’t know tion.] If you do the conversion about them, or maybe they quickly, you avoid tax liability need reminders. With that in on earned income resulting mind, here’s a list of steps to from the contribution. take to boost your retirement It can also be a good idea to accounts. do a Roth conversion during Take your employer’s years when your income is matching contributions. low. When you do a Roth conIf your employer matches THE SAVINGS version, your tax liability deGAME some of your contributions to pends on your marginal tax By Elliot Raphaelson your 401(k), it is foolish not to bracket. contribute enough to receive If you anticipate in 2018 you the maximum employer match. Even if will be in a relatively low tax bracket, and you have to borrow on a short-time basis you determine that in the long run Roth to make that contribution, it will still be accounts are to your advantage, make a worthwhile. Any employer contributions conversion before year-end. you don’t take are lost forever. Roth accounts have many advantages Use Roth conversions to your advan- over traditional IRAs. There are no mandatage. tory withdrawals after age 70 1/2. In addiIndividuals who earn more than $135,000 tion, all subsequent earnings are tax free as in the current year, or couples that earn long as you invest for at least five years, and above $199,000, are not eligible to contribute all contributions can be withdrawn without to a Roth that year. penalty, regardless of the holding period.

Cheap stocks From page 14 SLM Corporation (SLM, $11.10), the student-loan company best-known as Sallie Mae, is on the cusp of a growth spurt, analysts say. That should drive market-beating returns. Wall Street’s experts, on average, forecast revenue growth of 19 percent this year and 15 percent in 2019, according to data from Thomson Reuters. Earnings are projected to rise at an average annual rate of nearly 26 percent over the next half-decade.

“We believe improving economic conditions and lower tax rates will assist Sallie Mae in maintaining its leading position in the student lending market,” Zacks analysts said. Meanwhile, at Credit Suisse, which rates shares at “Outperform,” Moshe Orenbuch and James Ulan believe the company has “superior growth for the next several years.” With SLM shares trading at less than 10 times expected earnings, it’s possible the market still is undervaluing the company’s growth prospects. © 2018 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by TCA, LLC.

Continue to make Roth contributions after retirement age. Current tax regulations do not allow you to contribute to traditional IRAs after age 70 1/2, but they do allow you to contribute to a Roth, as long as you have earned income. If you earn income after age 70 1/2, and can afford to contribute to a retirement plan, it would be a mistake not to. Take advantage of “age-based” options, such as making larger contributions each year. For example, tax regulations allow nonworking spouses to establish IRA accounts as long as their spouses have earned income, a joint return is filed, and the joint income does not exceed $190,000. In that case, the spousal IRA can be established with a $5,500 contribution each year. If the spouse is 50 or older, $6,500 can be contributed. Also, if you are 50 or older, you can increase your contributions for traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs from $5,500 to $6,500 in 2018. Use a health savings account (HSA) if it’s available. More corporations are now instituting healthcare plans requiring large deductibles for their employees in order to minimize healthcare expenses. Under certain circumstances, these permit you to open and contribute to an HSA.

If your employer has instituted such a plan, it is to your advantage to make the maximum contribution, and carry over the balances in the HSA indefinitely. You are not required to withdraw your contributions in the year you contribute. If you can afford to pay your healthcare bills with other assets available to you, it is to your advantage to do so. Tax regulations allow your contributions to be tax-deductible. Income earned from these accounts is not taxable. Subsequent withdrawals are tax free, even after you retire, as long as you use withdrawals for qualified health-related expenses. Tax regulations provide more advantages for HSAs than any other retirement accounts. Spouses who are beneficiaries of these accounts can use the funds for qualified healthcare expenses without tax liability. Establish retirement accounts with self-employed income. Many individuals who participate in a 401(k) with one employer also earn self-employed income. In that situation, you should look at additional self-employed retirement plan options. Some options are SEP IRAs, simple IRAs and/or Solo 401(k)s. Discuss these options with a major mutual fund, brokerage firm or your local bank. © 2018 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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APRIL 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Travel Leisure &

Puerto Vallarta’s Malecon promenade is lined with seaside sculptures.

Why so many keep coming back to ‘PV’ An unexpected treat for many first-time visitors is a gathering of art galleries in the Zona Romantica (Romantic Zone) neighborhood, and the proliferation of eclectic sculptures that line the Malecon — a walkway along the seashore. It teems with street entertainers, food vendors and others seeking to pry a few pesos out of a visitor’s wallet or purse.

PHOTO BY DIEGO GRANDI

By Victor Block The destination that my wife Fyllis and I were visiting isn’t for everyone. Some beaches consist of more pebbles than sand, and the ocean in places lacks the clarity and multi-hued colors of the Caribbean. Despite those drawbacks, in recent years Puerto Vallarta, Mexico has grown from a sleepy village into a magnet for people who favor it for a variety of reasons. When I asked fellow vacationers with whom we crossed paths what attractions the place holds for them, I received a variety of responses. For Mary and William North, the warm weather and friendly people persuade them to travel there each year from Nebraska. Portland, Ore., native Beth Taylor explained that she enjoys the culture scene and casual lifestyle. The mystique of the place was best summed up by Colorado residents Jim and Arlene Warner. They praised the city’s location between the rugged Sierra Madre Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, and the fact that “it’s a walking town.” Then they added, “PV just gets under your skin.” That seems to be the case because PV, as those in the know call it, teems with repeat visitors. The area offers the usual variety of activities expected at oceanfront resorts. In addition, it throws in a few surprises — like a graffiti tour, hunting excursions, climbing a mountain on mule back, and rappelling down waterfalls.

Made famous by Hollywood Given the almost around-the-clock activity in the town today, it can be hard to imagine that Puerto Vallarta (pronounced pwer’-toe vuh-yar’-tuh) was a tiny fishing village with only a handful of small hotels until the early 1960s. Then came fame, in the persons of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. In 1963, the well-known director John Huston selected a site just outside of PV to film The Night of the Iguana, a movie based on the play by Tennessee Williams. He was attracted by the location’s then-tranquil setting between forest-clad mountains and the Bahia de Banderas (Bay of Flags), one of the largest ocean inlets in the world. Richard Burton starred in the movie and Elizabeth Taylor, with whom he was having an extramarital affair, accompanied him to the area. Their tempestuous relationship attracted an influx of Hollywood paparazzi who reported on every detail of the liaison, and PV suddenly became world famous. Based on that publicity, the town blossomed into a popular vacation destination

Puerto Vallarta is located on Mexico’s Pacific coast, bordering Banderas Bay. Its growth from a small fishing village to a bustling city and tourist destination followed the filming there of the 1963 movie Night of the Iguana, starring Richard Burton.

that offers different vibes from other resort developments in Mexico that were created specifically to cater to tourists. The feeling of a “real” town beneath the veneer of a resort community is welcomed by many visitors. That is true even though, in places, “real” translates to somewhat threadbare. But that only adds to the city’s charm for those who love it.

Bountiful beaches PHOTO BY VICTOR BLOCK

Puerto Vallarta, or PV for short, offers sandy beaches along curving coves framed by mountains and lush jungle foliage. Many tourists like to return there year after year.

While locations associated with the Burton-Taylor love affair are high on the mustsee list of many first-time visitors, they soon discover other attractions worth visiting. Not surprisingly, appealing beaches, which contrast with some rock-strewn stretches of shoreline, are a major draw, and there’s plenty of variety there to suit every preference. Mismaloya Beach is inviting enough for its setting, following a gently curving cove with a verdant backdrop of dense jungle foliage. Adding to its allure is the fact that it’s where much of The Night of the Iguana was filmed. Other beaches also have their own attractions. Playa Gemelas (Twins Beach) fronts some of the clearest water in the bay. Las Animas, Quimixto and Yelapa are isolated stretches of sand accessible only by boat. Playa Conchas Chinas offers shallow pools favored by families with young

children or grandchildren, while the offshore reef is popular with snorkelers. There’s more than one theory about how Playa de los Muertos (Beach of the Dead) got its name. Some stories suggest that either Indians or pirates killed the crew of a ship passing by that was transporting gold and silver. Another, more likely, version is that the beach once served as a burial place for the Huichol natives. The Huichol people were living in the Sierra Madre mountain range when the Spanish arrived, and they continue to be a presence in the region. Among touches of native Huichol culture to explore are ancient petroglyphs etched into even more ancient stones, lovely beadwork made and offered for sale by Huichol women, and performances of a ceremonial Pole Dance along the Malecon. Indian lore also is one focus of a small museum in the heart of Puerto Vallarta. That archaeological showcase shares the Isla Cuale (Cuale Island) with a smattering of restaurants, souvenir shops and cultural sites. Among its exhibits are artifacts found during archaeological digs near the government-planned tourist resort of Ixtapa. Those excavations also uncovered the ruins of a pyramid, remains of a ceremonial ball court, and a collection of pottery, See PUERTO VALLARTA, page 17

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BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2018

Puerto Vallarta From page 16 jewelry and other relics.

Experiencing village life Visitors seeking to immerse themselves in the present-day life of locals and the area’s inviting natural setting, may find it at several tiny villages not far from the hustle and bustle of Puerto Vallarta. The hamlet of Boca de Tomatlan is set amidst a tropical jungle environment teeming with birds and butterflies. Sayulita in ways resembles a hipstersurfer setting with rideable waves, an eclectic mix of restaurants, and a variety of stores. But my (and my wife’s) personal favorite was Las Palmas — a village of about 1,000 people perched in the Sierra Madre foothills that has hardly been touched by the 21st century, nor in ways even by the 20th. This is horse country, and we spotted a number of steeds walking slowly down the dusty, nearly deserted main (and almost only) street, ridden by Mexican cowboys fitted out in full regalia. Looking for a place to have lunch, we

used very broken Spanish and hand signs to ask several people if there was a restaurant in town. Finally a man uttered the word “casa” and pointed to the doorway of a humble house nearby. As we gingerly entered the open door, a woman inside greeted us with a smile and led us into a cramped kitchen where earthenware bowls on the stove were brimming with a variety of local fare. After we pointed to several choices, our hostess directed us to the back porch where we took seats on somewhat rickety chairs beside an equally rickety table. She served us a bountiful meal of refried beans, rice, string bean casserole, tortillas and potato tostados. The food was good, the beers we sipped were cold, and the total bill came to about $10. The meals that we ate at restaurants in Puerto Vallarta, while reasonably priced, cost more — and were less memorable — than that simple lunch. In fact, that experience continues to stand out for us, in contrast to the lively city of Puerto Vallarta, time spent basking in the sun, and taking part in some of the long list of things to do and see there. It’s that something-for-everyone variety

BEACON BITS

Apr. 18+

ADAPTIVE GOLF CLINICS

The University of Maryland Adapted Golf Program is holding spring clinics for people with disabilities at the UM Rehab & Orthopaedic Institute, 2200 Kernan Dr. on Wednesdays in April, May and June. The clinics are free; however space is limited. Call (410) 448-6320 for more information and to register. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/AdaptedGolfProgram. Volunteers are also sought to work under the direction of golf professionals and rehab therapists to assist golfers who have disabilities with setup, coaching and other tasks during clinics and league play. To volunteer, contact Pam Cauley at (410) 448-6320 or pcauley@umm.edu.

May 6

AGELESS DANCE CONCERT

Dance Baltimore presents their annual Ageless Grace concert showcasing dancers age 40 and older on Sunday, May 6 at 5 p.m. Current and former professional dancers as well as those in the community that just love to dance will perform in the concert at Creative Alliance at the Patterson Theatre, 3134 Eastern Ave. For more information, visit www.dancebaltimore.org or call (410) 370-8994.

Ongoing senior center.

WATER DISCOUNT PROGRAM The Baltimore City Department of Public Works offers a water discount program for low income senior citizens. For more information, call (410) 396-5398 for an application or visit your local

that tempts people to make their first visit to PV and, for many, convinces them to return again and again.

If you go Guests at the Costa Sur Resort and Spa, perched on a hillside overlooking a beach, enjoy a mini-theme-park choice of both land and water activities and amenities. One inviting attraction is a protected lagoon where dozens of kinds of colorful fish make their home, providing a perfect opportunity for beginning snorkelers. Room rates begin at $85 a night. For more information, visit www.costasurpuertovallarta.com. A very different experience greets those who check into the Hotel Rosita. Built in 1948 and located along the Malecon, it’s the most traditional hotel in town. With rates that start at $55, it appeals to both international travelers and Mexican

residents on vacation. For more information, see hotelrosita.com. Dining venues range from posh to plain, and good food at equally good bargain prices is plentiful. Case in point: At the Agave Restaurant in the Hotel Rosita, seafood quesadillas cost $6, and filet of fish in shrimp sauce was $9. Locals often outnumber visitors at Mariscos Cuetos (469 Brasilia), which more than makes up in dining what it lacks in décor. Among entrees value-priced at $9 are sea bass and bacon skewers, seafood burritos, and grilled red snapper with rice, veggies and salad. More information is available at www.mariscoscuetospv.com. American Airlines offers the least expensive tickets from the BWI in mid-April for $377 roundtrip. For information about PV, log onto www.visitpuertovallarta.com.

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APRIL 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Best ways to find companionship online Dear Savvy Senior: ences so they can steer you to matches What can you tell me about online that are best suited for you. dating for baby boomers? Here are some other tips to I’m 57 and recently dihelp you get started. vorced, and would like to Choose a site or two: There find a new friend to spend are literally hundreds of differtime with. ent matchmaking websites and — Lonely Linda apps available, so choosing can Dear Linda: be a bit confusing. Costs typicalWhether you’re interested ly range between $15 and $20 in dating again or just looking per month; however, some datfor a friend to spend time ing sites are completely free to with, online dating sites have use. SAVVY SENIOR become a very popular and efDepending on your preferBy Jim Miller fective way for baby boomers ences here are some popular to meet new single people. options to look into. Making new friends can be challenging If you don’t want to spend any money, as we get older, which is why online dating free sites like OKCupid.com and Plentysites are an excellent option for baby ofFish.com are good places to start, but boomers. They provide an easy and con- these sites do have a lot of advertising. venient way to meet dozens of new people, There are also free apps like Tinder without ever having to leave home. (GoTinder.com) and Bumble.com, but And, to make things even easier, many these tend to be geared toward younger sites today use matchmaking algorithms adults looking for casual “romance.” that factor in your interests and preferIf you’re interested in lots of choices,

Please patronize our advertisers. They keep the Beacon free!

consider Match.com, which has a huge membership in all demographics. Or check out eHarmony.com, which is also very large but more targeted to people who want to take things slowly. If you are looking to find a specific type of person, there are hundreds of niche sites like: OurTime.com, SeniorPeopleMeet.com and 50more.com for those 50 and older; EliteSingles.com for professionals; DateMyPet.com for animal lovers; VeggieDate.org for vegetarians; JDate.com for Jewish singles; BlackPeopleMeet.com for African Americans; and ChristianMingle. com for Christians. Create a profile: When you join a matchmaking site, you’ll need to create a personality profile that reflects who you are. Include recent photos, hobbies, interests, favorite activities and more. If you need some help, sites like ProfileHelper.com can write one for you for a fee. Use caution: After you register with a site, you remain anonymous to the outside world. No one gets access to your personal contact information until you decide to give it out, so be prudent whom you give it to. Before meeting, you should chat on the phone or do a video chat a few times. And when you do meet in person for the first time, meet in a public place or bring a friend along.

And if someone you’ve gotten to know online asks you for money, don’t send it. Online dating/sweetheart scams are plentiful, so be aware. If you want to be extra cautious, you can even do a quick background check on your date at MyMatchChecker.com. Don’t be naive: In an effort to get more responses, many people will exaggerate (or flat out lie) in their profiles. Some post pictures that are 10 years old or from when they were 20 pounds lighter. So don’t believe everything you see or read. Make an effort: A lot of times, people (especially women) sit back and let others come to them. Don’t be afraid to make the first move. When you find someone you like, send a short note that says, “I really enjoyed your profile. I think we have some things in common.” Keep it simple. Don’t get discouraged: If you don’t get a response from someone you write to, don’t let it bother you. Just move on. There are many others that will be interested in you, and it only takes one person to make online dating worthwhile. Send your questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Luncheon All Marylanders 100 years of age and older, or who will be age 100 by December 31, 2018, are invited to attend the 23nd anniversary

we’ll cater to your every need.

Maryland Centenarians Recognition Luncheon Thursday, May 10, 2018 • 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

memories and traditions associated with good food. When planning a memorial service, consider a menu with personal significance. From simple to extraordinary, we’ll help you plan every detail for a farewell with flavor.

THERE ARE SO MANY

Martin’s West 6821 Dogwood Rd. • Baltimore, MD All family and friends of centenarians are also welcome. Donation: $40. Centenarians admitted free with registration. For more information or to register,

call (410) 664-0911 SCHIMUNEK Funeral Home

SCHIMUNEK Funeral Home

BEL AIR

NOTTINGHAM

Schimunek-Belair.com 410-638-5360

Schimunek-Nottingham.com 410-256-3600

Licensed funeral establishments in the State of Maryland.

or email doctorodd@comcast.net www.mdcentenarians.org SPONSORS: AARP, The Beacon Newspaper, CARE Services, Community College of Baltimore at Catonsville, Maryland Centenarian Committee, Inc., Social Security Administration

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2018

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Style

Arts &

Read all about the Baltimore Immigration Museum on page 20.

Band brings back the Roaring Twenties Authentic period orchestra “Our music is bright, sweet, jazzy, fun, old-fashioned and danceable,” said Summerall. He adds that the style — and look — of the orchestra is also authentic to the period, thanks to the inclusion of a tuba (rather than string bass), banjo (instead of guitar) and a violin section. Summerall, who holds a theater degree from Towson University and studied trombone at the Peabody Conservatory, conducts the orchestra. He led a similar band for more than 15 years in Norfolk, Va., where he was a classical and jazz announcer for an NPR radio station. Before that, he had a career in marketing and public relations for a wide variety of theaters, ranging from Baltimore’s Center Stage and the Mechanic Theater, to Radio City Music Hall and the Metropolitan Opera. The music the orchestra plays continues to be popular almost a century after it debuted because, Summerall said, “It’s simply good music.”

Music for all ages Mike Custer, the orchestra’s drummer, agrees.

MARCH 15 - JUNE 10

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PHOTO BY DENNIS LYNCH

By Carol Sorgen Lynn Summerall loves the early big band sounds of the 1920s and 1930s, and is counting on Baltimore audiences to feel the same way. The Hampden resident is bringing the music of that era back with the Hotel Paradise Roof Garden Orchestra. They will perform in Hampden on Sunday, April 8, and Sunday, May 13, at Paulie Gee’s. The Hotel Paradise Roof Garden Orchestra is a 12-piece big band specializing in early jazz and sweet dance tunes from 1920 to 1935 — well before the Glenn Miller Swing Era. “Our sound is what one would hear in Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers movies, plus Roaring Twenties-flavored jazz as played by the young Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington or Guy Lombardo,” said the 71-year-old Summerall, who lives in Hampden. Many of the orchestra’s arrangements were found in the Library of Congress, and are the same ones first played and recorded 90 years ago by such legends as Fats Waller, W. C. Handy, Jelly Roll Morton, Glen Gray, Fletcher Henderson, Irving Berlin and George Gershwin.

The 12-piece Hotel Paradise Roof Garden Orchestra, led by Lynn Summerall, center, plays jazz and dance tunes popular from the early 1920s through the mid-1930s. It will perform next on April 8 at Paulie Gee’s in Hampden.

He obser ves that it’s not just baby boomers and older listeners who enjoy the music. Younger audiences are becoming familiar with jazzy, big band sounds because they permeate a post-apocalyptic role-play-

ing video game called “Fallout” that’s set in the 22nd century, he said. Custer, who is 62, has a long musical See JAZZ ORCHESTRA, page 20

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Immigration Museum welcomes newcomers Once home for immigrants The museum is located in the former Immigrant House, which was built in 1904 by the German Evangelical United Church of Christ to aid newly arrived immigrants and their children, as well as sailors arriving at the port of Baltimore. Following the end of World War I, the North German Lloyd ships resumed their sailings to Baltimore, but primarily carried cargo. So the Immigrant House became a refuge for sailors who needed a room during their stay in Baltimore, and then a stopover for truck drivers who served the docks and warehouses of Locust Point. Today, the building is owned by the Locust Point Community Church. In addition to housing the museum, parts of the building are still used for a Sunday school and church office. The Fessendens hope that in time they will be able to expand the museum’s exhibit space into the immigrants’ sleeping rooms on the second floor. Between 1904 and 1915, when World War I essentially ended the great wave of immigration, 3,700 people stayed at Immigrant House, each paying $2 a week. There were 20 rooms, each holding four to six people. In addition to having a place to stay while getting settled in Baltimore or moving on, the temporary residents could take English lessons and receive assistance with job searches, while children would attend a nearby school, even if only for a short time. “The museum chronicles the history of the so-called ‘Great Wave of Immigration,’ and Baltimore’s role as immigration gate-

Write a letter to the editor. See page 2.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BALTIMORE IMMIGRATION MUSEUM

By Carol Sorgen “Not many people know that Baltimore was the third most active port — following New York and Boston — at which immigrants from many different nationalities across Europe would arrive in the United States,” said Brigitte Fessenden, president of the Baltimore Immigration Museum in Locust Point. “We want to highlight and promote the role Baltimore played during the country’s largest wave of immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries,” said Fessenden. She herself was born in Germany, and worked as a historic preservation consultant for Baltimore City until she retired. Her husband Nicholas, a former history teacher, is the museum’s historian. The couple, who live in Columbia, spearheaded the creation of the museum in 2016, to help document Baltimore’s immigrant past, and to pay tribute to the 1.2 million immigrants who disembarked at a pier near Fort McHenry. The pier was built in 1868 by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, with the cooperation of the North German Lloyd Steamship Company — the main carrier to Baltimore from the port of Bremerhaven, Germany. Only about 15 percent of the 1.2 million people who came through Baltimore permanently settled here. Those who didn’t stay, continued their travels westward to Cincinnati, Chicago or St. Louis on B&O trains that awaited them next to the ship’s pier — which stood near what is today the modern Silo Point apartment building.

The Baltimore Immigration Museum in Locust Point is housed in the former Immigrant House, which was built in 1904 by the German Evangelical United Church of Christ to aid newly arrived immigrants and their children. The museum focuses on immigration to Baltimore in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but also includes exhibits on more recent Hispanic and Asian immigrants.

way to America,” said Nicholas Fessenden. It provides “the international context and tells the story of the major ethnic groups that arrived here: Germans, Irish, Poles, Jews, Lithuanians, Czechs, Italians and Greeks.” Fessenden noted that Germans were the largest immigrant group to settle in Baltimore.

Newer immigrants as well Since 2017, the museum’s exhibits also relate the more recent history of Hispanic and Asian immigrants to the area, as well as the Great Migration of African Americans from the South to the North. The two rooms on the first floor of the museum contain descriptive panels, re-

Jazz orchestra From page 19 family history. Not only has he played in bands since he was 15, but his mother was a tap dancer who ran a boarding house where visiting musicians stayed, and his father was an enthusiastic big band follower.

searched and written by the Fessendens, that highlight the various ethnic groups and their new life in Baltimore. In addition to the informative panels, the museum has a small collection of artifacts, including a 19th century guidebook printed in German, a report on why immigrants should settle in Maryland, and a steamer trunk with a painted inscription reading “Bremen-Baltimore.” The Baltimore Immigration Museum is located at 1308 Beason St. and is open to the public on weekends from 1 to 4 p.m. There is no admission charge, but donations are welcome. For more information, call (443) 542-2263 or visit www.immigrationbaltimore.org. “The music appeals to people of all ages,” he said. Custer assures newcomers, “You’ll have a great time.” Paulie Gee’s is located at 3535 Chestnut Ave. in Hampden. The cover charge is $12 and reservations are suggested. Call (240) 475-8086. And since the music is likely to get your toes tapping, bring your dancing shoes!

Cars, boats, furniture, antiques, tools, appliances Everything and anything is sold on

BB418

Radio Flea Market Heard every Sunday, 7-8:00 a.m. on 680 WCBM

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2018

Mosaics From page 1 art form than drawing and painting, especially for those who have not had formal art training. “There’s room for everybody to create and enjoy” mosaics, she said. She also likes the physicality of the art, and working with different materials. “I love traditional glass and stone mosaics, but also all sorts of materials and found objects,” she said. “I am fascinated by the play of light on the shiny stuff, and the variety of movement and meaning.” Rosen finds inspiration for her designs

from the individual minerals or stones she uses, and from their colors. One of her recent favorites is titled “Within Reach,” a white-on-white mosaic made of glass, stone, crystal and broken plates. She also looks to nature or other works of art for ideas. “Sometimes there is a feeling to express or a story to tell, sometimes a plan, sometimes not, but always an organic and surprising process.” Modern mosaics can range from craft projects to fine arts. Rosen, for example, is just as likely to create small pieces of jewelry that cost less than $100 as she is to make larger wall hangings that sell for up to $3,000.

Other approaches to mosaics Andamento also displays and sells the works of guest artists. For example, Patty Von Dolson’s works will be on exhibit there through the end of April. Her large mosaics often feature people, and capture some of the emotions she has gone through while fighting Stage 4 breast cancer. “I like shiny,” Von Dolson said. “Bold colors and sparkle make me happy. Mosaic, with its complexity of multiple bits and pieces, its light-gathering myriad of facets and textures, and its ever-changing sparkle of iridescent colors and shine is emotionally uplifting and spiritually recharging.” One of her pieces features a woman looking heavenward. Her hair is like fire, pieced “Deep Secrets” is one of Rosen’s mosaics

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ANSWERS TO JUMBLE Jumbles: ALTAR PLUME DELUXE CHISEL Answer: What Rover felt like after chasing the car -“EXHAUST-ED”

Classifieds continued from page 23. Wanted MILITARY ITEMS WANTED: Collector seeks to purchase military uniforms; flight jackets, patches, insignia, medals, etc. from the Civil War through Vietnam. Especially seeking U.S. Army Air Corps, USMC, Airborne, and German/Japanese/Italian items from WWII. ALSO BUYING old Boy Scout, Airline Items, Toys, Lighters. Call Dan, 202841-3062. COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, knives, swords, bayonets, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars and countries. Also Lionel Toy Trains, and coin operated machines. Will pay top prices for my personal collection. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-910-0783.

Wanted 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 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.

together with orange, red and yellow shards. Another, called “A Dark Day,” is made from a palette of muted colors, and consists of a woman sitting contemplatively at a window. From May through July, Andamento guest artist Rebecca Campbell will share her works based on the animals that live near the south shore of Lake Superior, including a red fox and a great blue heron. These whimsical mixed-media mosaics incorporate an assortment of ceramic tile, stained glass and found objects — such as pottery and tile shards — as well as buttons, bicycle chains, flatware, beads and even bullet shell casings.

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Von Dolson explains her thought process like this: “These works appeal to the viewer on many different levels. As he or she is drawn to a flashy assortment of color, materials, patterns and textures, the viewer gains some specific knowledge or feeling about each plant or animal.” Andamento Studio and Gallery is located at 3406 Chestnut Ave. Hours are Thursdays and Fridays 3 to 8 p.m., Saturdays noon to 8 p.m., Sundays noon to 6 p.m., and also by appointment. The gallery is also open until 9 p.m. on the first Friday of each month. For more information, email artists@andamentogallery.com or call (443) 717-4598.

+,-./-01 %$'% ()

April 14, 2018, 7:30pm April 15, 2018, 3:00pm Jim Rouse Theatre Julie Kurzava Concert sponsored by:

Sola Fadiran

Your favorites from Sound of Music, The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma, Carousel & more!

Tickets range from $10-$28 ($3 service fee may apply) Call 410-465-8777 or visit www.columbiaorchestra.org

APRIL 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Crossword Puzzle Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus A Crossword as Lovely 1

49 51

50 56

Jumble answers on p. 21.

Scrabble answers on p. 21.

ByStephen StephenSherr Sherr

52 59

Across 1. Item on a balance sheet’s left side 6. A Like Hydrogen on a Periodic Chart 11. Worker at the Rayburn House Office Building in DC 14. They’re homophone 15. Quote-___ (inspirational handbag) 16. Blvd. buddy 17. Prize fight, with a small prize 19. Employer of Jason Bourne and Jack Ryan 20. MI towns Ann, Glen, and Spring 21. And more (in fewer letters) 22. Slippery swimmers 23. Twenty Questions response 24. Pulp Fiction dancer Thurman 26. ‘net payment option 28. Expert roofers 32. Slamdance in a pit 35. Conquistador’s quest 36. Causing goosebumps 37. Skin cream ingredient 38. Toodle-oos 41. Direction from Madrid to Barcelona 42. Purple shade, paler than 47 Down 44. Participate in the Drama Department 45. Future owners of the Earth 46. Promote metallic fashion 50. “Stop being a ___ in my side” 51. OMELETS’ inside 52. “What ___ will be again” (Ecclesiastes) 55. Shallowest Great Lake 57. PC monitor 59. African nation which joined OPEC in 2007 61. Central Park attraction 62. Muzzles 64. Left soon after eating 65. Elton John’s instrument 66. What the cost of living generally does 67. About 25% of network TV time 68. Snake with good math skills 69. Vestibule Down 1. Cornered

2. Follow the guidance of Barney the Dinosaur 3. Ethnic group primarily east of the Adriatic Sea 4. Therefore 5. Attempt to cancel a contract 6. Overhead revolver 7. Let ___ (Last Beatles studio album) 8. Supported the home team 9. Ceiling enhancer 10. Vietnamese New Year 11. Triple Crown competitor 12. Like a Bond villain 13. Ingredients in Campbell’s Vegetable Soup 18. “It doesn’t matter; the point ___” 22. Respects greatly 25. Certain ambience 27. Good card in hi-lo poker 28. Put away a weapon 29. Cereal with slogan “Are you getting 100%?” 30. Religious ceremony 31. Hide and ___ 32. Thickened milk shake 33. Miscellany 34. “Don’t bring me problems; bring me ___” 39. Return from a fresh start at the gym 40. German POW site, a contraction of “Stammlager” 43. Top corp. money counter 47. Purple shade, brighter than 42 Across 48. Bit of progress 49. Assistant professor’s goal 52. Doctors make the ___ patients 53. Member of the birch family 54. Fresh-mouthed 55. Old Testament book written in both Hebrew and Aramaic 56. Kerouac bailiwick 58. Adjust a guitar’s strings 60. Get more time or ground 62. Relaxation location 63. Abbrev. in an international MLB box-score

Answers on page 21.

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2018

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.

Financial DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR BOAT to Heritage for the Blind. Free 3-Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. CALL 1-844-855-7670. GOT AN OLDER CAR, VAN OR SUV? Do the humane thing. Donate it to the Humane Society. Call 1-844-230-2952.

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate PROPERTY WANTED: Estate, residential commercial. Any property. Any condition. Get cash for your property fast, skip repairs and pay no closing costs. There are options that will get you moving forward. Stop stressing and let’s find a solution that works! 410-322-4325. TOWSON ONE BEDROOM PLUS DEN — Includes all utilities. Free tennis, pool, sauna. 24-hour guarded, gated community, $1,450. Vivian Feen, Remax. 443-794-4106, VivianFeen1@gmail.com. OCEAN CITY, MD. Oceanfront Quay. Two bedroom, two bath, full kitchen, large living and dining rooms w/ beautiful views, W/D, Xfinity. Call 410-668-4116.

For Sale 2 CEMETERY LOTS, side-by-side. Gardens of Faith Cemetery. Sermon on the Mount. Valued at $3,995 each. Asking $4,000 for both, obo. 410821-7555.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

For Sale DULANEY VALLEY CEMETERY, 1 lot in garden of Apostles, includes vault, marker base, retail value $3,200. Asking $1,600, transfer fee included. 410-366-2158. MEADOWRIDGE CEMETERY, 4 lots in front of Last Supper. Asking $4,000 or two lots for $2,500 cash. 443-699-8392. 2 CEMETERY LOTS, SIDE-BY-SIDE, Meadowridge, paid $6,000, asking $2,500 for one, $4,000 for both. 443-250-6697. 2 SALVADOR DALI woodblock prints from Dante’s Divine Comedy. Signed and framed. Asking $900 for the pair. Can email pictures if desired. Call Steve, 410-913-1653.

Health PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR — May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-851-0949. SAVE UP TO 90% ON YOUR PERSCRIPTIONS. Present this ad to your pharmacist. Member ID: Enter Patient’s Phone Number. RxGROUP: NCR7241. RxBIN: 610568. PCN: DRX. This is not insurance, it’s free! Your information is never disclosed to any third parties or used for solicitation, unlike any other card, we are HIPAA Compliant. STOP OVERPAYING for your prescriptions! SAVE! Call our licensed Canadian and International pharmacy, compare prices and get $25.00 OFF your first prescription! CALL 1-888-9817657 Promo Code CDC201725. DENTAL INSURANCE. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company for details. Not just a discount plan, real coverage for 350 procedures. 844-366-1003 or http://www.dental50plus.com/320 Ad# 6118.

Home/Handyman Services T’S HAULING & MOVING — I will move your possessions or haul them away. Don’t pay hefty delivery fees. Call Tim, 410-889-3795 or 443-6906525. Senior and military discounts. www.tshaulingandmoving.com. Like us on Facebook. RESIDENTIAL PAINTING: RETIRED PAINTER seeking residential, light commercial work in Baltimore area. Call Mark at 443324-0091. Good work at good prices.

Legal Services SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY? Up to $2,671/mo. (Based on paid-in amount.) Free evaluation! Call Bill Gordon & Associates. 1-866-9700779. Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington, D.C. Office: Broward Co. FL., member TX/NM Bar.

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 Legal Services

Wanted

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

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

Miscellaneous PHOTOSHOOT: SEEKING FOUR FEMALES for Australian Outback Magazine. Age and size not important (w/ daughters acceptable). Fee will be paid to those accepted. Plus a bonus. Magazine will make final decision. Send resume w/ photo and phone number to Mr. Carter, 9 Ruxview Ct., Towson, MD 21204 or call for info to 410370-8512. ENJOY 100% GUARANTEED, DELIVERED to-the-door Omaha Steaks! Save 75% plus get 4 more Burgers & 4 more Kielbasa FREE! Order The Family Gourmet Buffet — ONLY $49.99. Call 1-844-302-3754, mention code 51689JCT or visit www.omahasteaks.com.

TV/Cable DIRECTV. CALL AND SWITCH NOW — Get NFL Sunday Ticket for FREE! Every Game. Every Sunday. CHOICE- All-Included Package. Over 185 Channels. $60/month (for 12 Months.) CALL 1- 888-572-4953. DISH Network. 190+ CHANNELS. FREE Install. FREE Hopper HD-DVR. $49.99/month (24 months) Add High Speed Internet - $14.95 (where avail.) CALL Today & SAVE 25%! 1844-560-5837. SPECTRUM TRIPLE PLAY! TV, Internet & Voice for $29.99 ea. 60 MB per second speed. No contract or commitment. More Channels. Faster Internet. Unlimited Voice. Call 1-888-366-7573.

CASH BUYER FOR OLD COSTUME JEWELRY — wrist and pocket 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. 410-4094965. BUYING VINYL RECORDS from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201. CASH FOR ESTATES, PARTIAL ESTATES, DOWNSIZING. I buy a wide range of items. Buy-out/cleanup. Gary Roman, 301-5200755.

Classifieds continued on page 21.

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Research Studies

Home Health Care

COPD Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Knee Osteoarthritis Study . . . . .11 Vitamin D STURDY Study . . . .10

Genesis SelectCare . . . . . . . . .B-4 Options for Senior America . . . .15

Dental Services Denture Doctor . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Diamond Dental . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Education Edward A. Myerberg Center . . .24 One Day University . . . . . . . . . . .3

Events Celebration of the Arts . . . . . . .12 Centenarians Luncheon . . . . . . .18

Financial Services Atlantic Home Equity . . . . . . .B-2 Spencer Gordon Insurance . . . .13

Funeral Services Dignity Schimunek . . . . . . . . . .18

Housing Aigburth Vale Senior Community . . . . . . . .B-9 Alta at Regency Crest . . . . . . . .10 Carroll Lutheran Village . . . . .B-5 Catholic Charities Senior Communities . . . . . . .B-5 Charlestown/Erickson . .B-6, B-9 Christ Church Harbor Apts. . .B-11 Linden Park Apts. . . . . . .B-3, B-6 Lutheran Village At Millers Grant . . . . . . . . . .B-5 Oak Crest/Erickson . . . . .B-6, B-9 Park View Apartments . . . . . . .B-8 Pickersgill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-2 Springhouse Pikesville . . . . . .B-3 St. Marys Roland View Towers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-4 Virginia Towers . . . . . . . . . . . .B-2

Weinberg Park Assisted Living .B-6 Weinberg Park Senior Living .B-12 Woodholme Gardens . . . . . . . .B-9

Manor Care Health Services . . . .6

Legal Services

Beacon Subscription . . . . . . . . .20

Angels of Elder Care Planning . .13 Frank, Frank & Scherr Law Firm14

Technology

Medical/Health Clarity & Comfort Hearing . . . . .5 FIT! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 MedStar Good Samaritan . . . . . .7 Rosenblatt Foot Care . . . . . . . . . .7 Skin Cancer EB . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Steady Strides Fall Prevention . . .9

Shopping Radio Flea Market . . . . . . . . . . .20 Wilkens Beltway Plaza . . . . . . .15

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Keswick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Subscriptions

Beacon Silver Pages . . . . . . .B-11 TechMedic4U . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 TheBeaconNewspapers.com . . . .8 WOW Computer . . . . . . . . . .B-10

Theatres/ Entertainment Candlelight Concert Society . . .21 Chesapeake Shakespeare Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Columbia Orchestra . . . . . . . . . .21 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . .19

Travel Eyre Bus, Tour & Travel . . . . . .17 Festive Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Nexus Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

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APRIL 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

| 410-358-6856 | myerberg.org

WHAT’S NEW AT THE EDWARD A. MYERBERG CENTER

3101 Fallstaﬀ Road, Baltimore Get high tech at the Myerberg! New TECH-Knowledge Hub courses are ﬁlling up!

Visit myerberg.org to see our complete program guide. Call to register for classes today 443-963-1449. Music and You Session Two

NEW! Google: It’s A Lot More Than You Think!

Wednesdays, beginning April 4, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 19, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

$35 Members / $50 Nonmembers (4 sessions)

$18 Members / $25 Nonmembers

Enhance and share your enjoyment and understanding of the works of renowned musical creators like Bach, Stravinsky, Verdi and Bernstein. Instructor: Sharette Kern

In this course, you will learn to use Google apps, including Google Maps, Google Earth, image search, Gmail, Google Translate and more!

NEW! No More Lines NEW! Igor Stravinsky, Three Ballets and the Birth of Musical Modernism

Tuesday, April 24, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Mondays, Beginning April 9, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Learn the best uses of a smart device to be more productive and spend less time on general tasks. A “how to” choose and use some of our favorite time saving apps!

$70 Members / $95 Nonmembers (4 sessions) On June 25, 1920, Igor Stravinsky became the toast of Paris. His third ballet, The Rite of Spring, made him famous. Come and explore this great genius’ works and life story. Instructor: Jonathan Palevsky

$18 Members / $25 Nonmembers

First Thursdays: Women @ the Myerberg

MYERBERG FIELD DAY  MEADOWOOD REGIONAL PARK

Monthly, 1:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 26, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

$10 per lecture / $25 for 3 lectures April 5 - Immigration in Baltimore, Nicholas Fessenden May 3 - First Woman to Pilot Boeing 747, Beverly Lynn Burns June 7 - Fifty Years of Great Music, Ellen Katz

Visit National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum Tuesday, April 10, 8:30 a.m. $50 Members / $70 Nonmembers (Significant Walking Required.) Take a ﬁeld trip with your friends and see more than 1,600 portraits of U.S. presidents and cover artwork from over 2,000 Time magazine art covers. View works from John Copley, Georgia O’Keefe and Winslow Homer, and enjoy a spectacular drive-by view of the Cherry Blossoms. Departs from Baltimore Hebrew Congregation.

Current Members: Join us for Myerberg Field Day and get a FREE Myerberg Workout Towel. Participate in our exercise challenges, earn raﬄe tickets, & win prizes! New Members: Join us for Myerberg Field Day where you’ll receive a $20 coupon towards a 1-year or 6-month Fitness Center Membership (FREE t-shirt included).