April 2021 | Baltimore Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

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I N S I D E … BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2021

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Whether to move to a senior community By Glenda C. Booth With so many senior housing options available today, deciding where to live — and whether to move at all — can be an agonizing exercise for some. For others, there is no decision to make: They want to stay put in the home they’ve known for years. But some older adults find they need support, or they long for a more active social life and prepared meals. Others are ready to stop mowing lawns and shoveling snow. Some fear becoming disabled and prefer to decide to move to an assisted living facility themselves, to avoiding dumping the decision and the logistics on their children. Choosing the right fit requires learning the meanings of terms like retirement community, adult community, assisted living, independent living, co-op living, continuing care, life plan community, residential care homes and skilled nursing facility, for example. (For a glossary of these and other terms, see bit.ly/AARPglossary.) Services at different communities can vary tremendously. Some facilities offer medical support; some do not. Some offer meals delivered to your door. Others have on-campus restaurants. Some are high-rise buildings; others are village-like, single-family homes. Some have the full continuum of care. Recreation can range from walking trails to chess to swimming. For one form of senior housing, called assisted living, there are 28,900 communities with 811,500 residents in the U.S. today, according to the National Center for Assisted Living. Maryland has 900 assisted living communities with 49 percent of residents over age 85.

How to research the options To conduct extensive research on all local options, visit multiple communities. Talk to residents and staff (especially staffers who are not in the marketing department). Ask about employee turnover rates and the staff-to-resident ratio. Spend time with knowledgeable financial advisors and elder law attorneys and read the fine print of all documents. Moving has emotional, social, physical and financial implications. The bottom line is that everyone’s situation is different, and you have to decide what’s right for you.

Leaving a family home Connie (last name withheld for privacy) moved from Baltimore’s Canton area to Charlestown, a retirement community in Catonsville, in 2016 at age 66. She moved into a two-bedroom, fifth-floor unit of a sixstory building. “It was a big move,” to leave a house that had been in her family for 90 years, she said. While emotionally tied to the family home, however, Connie realized that it was an old house and needed a lot of expensive rehab. Also, the area had lost the “neighborhood feel” as many young millennials moved in. Although they would offer friendly greetings in passing, they were busy working, traveling and “hanging out in bars,” she recalled. Before choosing Charlestown, Connie visited almost 15 communities to find the one “to fit my personality.” Her new home has “exceeded my expectations,” she said, and she’s made many new friends. Staffers are friendly and helpful. Another plus: She gets one meal a day. “The food is so darn good — who wants to cook?” she asked. She also enjoys the lectures, films, line dancing and book club. In fact, there are so many activities (that is, in non-pandemic times) that she found she had to skip some. Although it took a while to adjust, Connie said, “I don’t miss my old life.” However, she encourages people to move when they have no major health problems and can enjoy all the activities. “Don’t wait until you are 80 and have a health problem,” she recommends. Another tip: Start downsizing today. Unloading furniture, books, clothes and pots and pans for a smaller place brought her relief. ‘Keeps me going mentally’ Life became too crowded for Bettie when she was living with her son, his wife, a child and another on the way. Besides, at 71, she wanted her own worry-free place. So, she chose a 15th-floor, one-bedroom apartment in Bayview’s Virginia Towers in Towson and moved in this past November. Being among people her own age “keeps me going mentally,” she said. She doesn’t miss navigating stairs, cooking meals, mowing the lawn or shoveling snow — it’s all done for her.

PHOTO BY ERICKSON LIVING

Shapiro, a Chicago native who “grew up four blocks from Wrigley Field before it was [gentrified] Wrigleyville,” was born into a family of educators. His mother was taught in the Chicago public schools and a local private school. His father, a CPA,

PHOTO COURTESY OF AARON SHAPIRO

What’s public history?

APRIL 2021

More than 125,000 readers throughout Greater Baltimore

Appreciating Maryland’s heritage By Tony Glaros How has nature nurtured you during the pandemic? That’s the question Patapsco Heritage Greenway Inc. — the conservation group that oversees the Patapsco Valley Heritage Area — is asking Marylanders to respond to this month in the form of poems, essays, drawings or even songs. Based in Ellicott City, the nonprofit Patapsco Heritage Greenway (PHG) works to preserve and protect the history, environment and culture of the 950-square-mile watershed of the Patapsco River — from its source in Marriottsville to Baltimore’s inner harbor. It’s Maryland’s “most dramatic river valley,” according to the group’s website. This year, the group had to put its annual March event known as Patapsco Days entirely online. Hence, the outreach for submissions. When Aaron Shapiro, 47, took over as PHG’s executive director last fall, he knew he needed to be creative to help residents feel engaged with the group’s mission. Steve Wachs, PHG’s president, is pleased that Shapiro has developed programs “to appeal to a broad audience,” from arts and culture to collecting oral histories. “Aaron has great ideas for blending and merging these initiatives to offer an enriched experience to residents and visitors alike,” Wachs said. “Some folks have lived in the area for a lifetime,” Shapiro said in an interview with the Beacon. “They’re all connected to the Heritage Area, even if they don’t know it.” The Patapsco Valley Heritage Area — one of 13 such areas in Maryland — contributes about $50.9 million to the state economy and more than 700 jobs, according to a Maryland Heritage Areas Authority study in January. In 2020, the borders of the heritage area were broadened to include the communities of Granite and Marriottsville in Howard County and Oella and Catonsville in Baltimore County.

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Pets are welcome at Charlestown, a continuing care retirement community in Catonsville managed by Erickson Living. As vaccinations continue, together with hope for a return to normalcy, many older adults are once again considering moving to a community that offers housing, amenities and services they want.

“Well, I still have to get the snow off my car,” she admitted. Bettie also urges people to move into a senior community early, “while you’re able to get around,” she said.

Help always available Patricia, 72, also moved from a singlefamily Baltimore home to Bayview’s Virginia Towers in Towson during the pandemic. She is single and felt she needed support after having a stroke. “I wanted something small just for me, and the freedom do things when I want to do them,” she said. Now, Patricia is ensconced in her onebedroom, 12th-floor apartment within a convenient walk to Towson Town Plaza. There’s comfort in knowing that “if something happens, I can get help,” she said. In a traditional, single-family home, even with family nearby, that’s not guaranteed, she contends. Fitness clubs, restaurants and pool Gary Michael, 70, and his wife, Judy, 64, enjoy their view of a turtle pond and park at Erickson Living’s Oak Crest in Parkville. They moved from a four-bedroom house in Hanover, Maryland, to a two-bedroom apartment with a balcony in March 2019. “That house and lawn were just too much,” Gary said. A retired attorney, he and Judy were seeking “to feel comfortable and safe and to age in place.”

They wanted to know that if one passed away, the other would have care. For him, it helped to “pray about the life changes you’re about to make.” He loves the nine eateries on campus, and Judy likes the fitness clubs and pool. But the main reason they chose Oak Crest was for its friendly feel. “The people seemed happy, and employees seemed happy, too,” Gary said, reflecting on their scouting visit. “It’s a community,” he said. “People look out for each other. It’s not just a place where we hang our hat at night. It’s where we make friends, swim and play shuffleboard.” His advice: Visit in person often, talk to residents and employees and check out different apartments. And don’t wait too long. “It’s better to choose than to be forced to move,” he said. While uprooting and moving is always a disruptive experience, it can be a positive experience, even a renewal. It’s an opportunity to reinvent, meet new people, overcome feelings of isolation and make the most of one’s life. For more information, visit the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging at n4a.org or the Administration for Community living at aoa.gov. Read the free “Guide for Making Housing Decisions” at bit.ly/housingdecisionguide.

SEE SPECIAL INSERT Housing & Homecare Options following page 12

L E I S U R E & T R AV E L Outdoor enthusiast, author and university professor Aaron Shapiro took over as executive director of the nonprofit Patapsco Heritage Greenway last fall. As part of his new role, which includes helping promote and protect central Maryland’s Patapsco River valley, Shapiro hopes to collect stories from and about people who live in the area.

chaired the business department at a local community college. “They inspired me to work in higher education at the college level, pursuing history,” Shapiro said. “I grew up in an urban environment, a diverse environment.” Prior to PHG, Shapiro was associate professor and director of public history at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte. He also directed the public history program at Auburn University. Public history, according to the National Council on Public History, “describes the many and diverse ways in which history is put to work in the world. In this sense, it is history that is applied to realworld issues.” To Shapiro, public historians can also ad-

dress environmental history — issues such as sprawl and discriminatory federal housing policy. “We’re working to interpret and restore a broad swath of where people have lived for centuries,” he said. Delving into our surroundings, Shapiro said, is fundamental for interpreting our past. “How can you look at a landscape and understand history?” he asked. “You really have to think deeply about places in a historical way.” Earlier in his career, while in Washington, D.C., Shapiro served as the national historian for the U.S. Forest Service. In that role, he focused on several public history See PATAPSCO, page 20

Relax on the beach in the Florida Keys, then explore the islands’ state parks and nature reserves; plus, check out D.C.’s new and lesser-known outdoor memorials page 16 FITNESS & HEALTH k Foods to help you lose weight k Four natural antihistamines LAW & MONEY k Tax changes to know about k How to insure your nest egg

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APRIL 2021 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Life lessons learned If you’ve been reading the Beacon in re- that were Esalen’s hallmark at the time. It was also there that Dychtwald first came cent months, or if you participated in our first to realize great wisdom could Virtual 50+Expo last fall, you be gleaned from older adults will know something about Dr. (at that point, older hippies) — Ken Dychtwald, the respected a discovery that was to shape author of 18 books on aging, his entire career. founder of Age Wave, and In the same direct and inworld-traveled consultant and sightful way, Dychtwald shows public speaker on the topic. us how he (perhaps like many We profiled him on the cover Boomers) transitioned from of our October 2020 issue, and the anti-materialism of the 60s, he gave the keynote address at to a college education and early our Expo. More than 1,000 visiFROM THE work life in the 70s, to a “metetors watched his presentation oric rise” as a business advisor on our Virtual Expo website, PUBLISHER and we received many positive By Stuart P. Rosenthal and world expert in the 80s, to a multimillionaire venture capicomments about it. I bring him up again because, at age 70, talist in the 90s, only to be briefly left bankhe is publishing a memoir, Radical Curios- rupt, destitute and suicidal by the collapse of ity: One Man’s Search for Cosmic Magic the whole enterprise due to unforeseen efand a Purposeful Life. He kindly sent me an fects of the internet on his business plan. It’s a wild ride in this book, from the Tao to advance copy. It’s in the format of a collection of sto- the Dow and back again. While a more conries and essays, many of which build on ventional autobiography might be more coeach other, describing a number of intrigu- hesive and better organized, I like Radical ing, exciting, emotional and educational Curiosity for its evident honesty, self-awareexperiences, and some of the lessons they ness and sense of humor, even if readers might imagine Dychtwald has a few more life have taught him. I vaguely knew that Dychtwald had a col- lessons to learn before all is said and done. He invited me to print an excerpt from orful past centering on the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California during the 1960s. But his the book in the Beacon, and I have chosen memoir really puts readers right in the midst the following short chapter that made me of encounter groups and other New Age and laugh out loud when I read it. Also, upon further reflection, I realized it mind/body (even out-of-body) experiences

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contained one of the most valuable pieces of advice in the book. I hope you enjoy it: Learning from “the Best” Find out who you are, and do it on purpose. — Dolly Parton In the 1980s, with the arrival of cassettetape players in cars (replacing eight-tracks, but far before CDs, DVDs, podcasts, or the Internet), more and more people began to purchase audio self-help learning programs they could listen to while commuting to work. Usually there was a six-tape course, with each tape/module lasting around twentyfive minutes — which, handily, was the average commute time. The leading publisher in this audiolearning space was Nightingale Conant, based outside of Chicago, which produced an unending stream of self-help learning programs in conjunction with best-selling authors and sought-after motivational speakers. Since I was conducting seminars on bodymind, wellness, and peak performance, they reached out to me and commissioned me to produce a six-tape set, entitled The Keys to High Performance Living. It was fun to do. I recorded the six sessions in a studio, got them edited, and then sort of forgot about it. However, as a regular buyer of Nightingale Conant programs, I wound up on several of their targeted databases as the kind of guy who was interested in many self-improvement subjects. So, when a new program was released that might be up my alley (according to their database, which tracked my purchases), I usually received a direct-marketing brochure for the tape set and an offer to purchase the program in one of those customized form letters we all were getting used to receiving in that era. While I was conducting seminars on bodymind, holistic health, wellness, and peak performance, I had overloaded my life with more pressure and complexity than I felt I could handle. My exercise regime was faltering, and I had gained weight and was having trouble sleeping. Then one day, I received a brochure in the mail from the president of Nightingale-

Conant, Dave Nightingale, which read: Dear Mr. Ken Dychtwald: Do you feel you have lost control of your life? Are you suffering from too much stress? Are you finding it harder and harder to stay on your regular fitness program? Are you struggling to balance your work and family responsibilities? Do you feel that you are not achieving your highest potential? If so, then Dr. Ken Dychtwald can help you! In his new six-tape program, this wellknown expert on high performance living will help you solve all of your problems and take control of your life again. What? This letter was indicating that if I was out of control, then I could help me. Although I didn’t buy the six-tape Keys to High Performance Living, this existential message from me to me seemed strangely like a very good idea. After all, when most of us feel like we’re losing control, we probably don’t need some “expert” to tell us what to do. One of the nice things about growing up and growing older is that most of what socalled experts can teach you, you’ve already learned. The real challenge is often less about knowing what to do and more about doing what you know. Excerpted from Radical Curiosity: One Man’s Search for Cosmic Magic and a Purposeful Life by Ken Dychtwald, PhD, with the permission of Unnamed Press. © 2021 by Ken Dychtwald I’d like to know what you think about that pearl of wisdom, and what pearls of wisdom from your own life you would like to share with your fellow Beacon readers. Please email or write us, or send us a comment through our website, thebeaconnewspapers.com. We look forward to hearing from you! Copies of Radical Curiosity can be preordered on Amazon.com, $28 hard copy, $11.49 Kindle. The book will be available April 6.

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 email info@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Dear Editor, When Army veteran Richard Perkins passed away at the age of 92 in 2014, he left behind a treasure trove of hundreds of photos he took while stationed in Hawaii after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Perkins, my father, was a radio operator who was stationed at Fort Shafter in Honolulu. He never talked much about his service. While cleaning out his house after he died, my sister and I came across rolls of film negatives that had been developed, but never converted into photographic prints. The people in the photos include

veterans of the Army, Navy and Marines, as well as USO performers and civilians who lived near Fort Shafter. There are still a lot of people in the photos remaining to be identified. Our hope is that someone in Maryland will recognize their father, grandfather, friend or relative. The photos can be viewed online at: WW2PacificVeteransProject.org. If you recognize anyone, please contact us through the website or at P.O. Box 789, Biddeford, ME 04005. Thank you. Dana Perkins Saco, Maine

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BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2021

Health Fitness &

GO WITH THE GRAIN Farro, quinoa, millet, teff and other ancient grains provide fiber and protein BE CLEAR-HEADED Fight the toll that chemotherapy and other cancer treatments take on your brain EASE THE SNEEZE Ginger and other “natural antihistamines” can help you through allergy season FIGHTING COVID A new study tracks COVID-19 hotspots in our area, and you can help from home

Find a therapist with knowledge of aging By Alina Tugend Pat Walker was feeling particularly low. A sister had just died, and after having a heated fight with her daughter, she couldn’t get out of bed. For this active, engaged 74-year-old, that was unheard of. So, she sought therapy, which she had done in the past, but this time it was with a geropsychologist — someone who specializes in treating older people. For Walker, whose name has been changed to protect her privacy, that was life-changing. “It was extremely helpful to have someone with a knowledge of older people, who understands the whole notion that seniors go through periods of isolation and frustration mainly because of their age and their placement in life,” she said. Geropsychology only became a specialty in professional psychology in 2010, according to the American Psychological Association, and the number of practitioners is still small. Although about 15% of Americans are age 65 and over, only 3% of licensed psychologists in the U.S. identify their primary or secondary specialty as geropsychology.

Benefits of geropsychologists Older people have distinct phases and challenges that call for geropsychologists. “Changes come in predictable ways as we age and require particular competencies and skills,” said Christina Pierpaoli Parker, a postdoctoral fellow of clinical psychology and behavioral medicine with a specialty in geropsychology at the University of Alabama. Too often, healthcare providers dismiss the mental and physical complaints of older people as normal aging, geropsychologists say. For example, while joints may become more painful with age, “having pain all over the body is not normal aging — that’s a common indicator of depression. The same is true with lack of concentration,” said Erin Emery-Tiburcio, an associate professor of geriatric and rehabilitation psychology and co-director of the Rush Center for Excellence in Aging in Chicago. Knowing the side effects of medications, and especially combinations of medications, is also essential. “I had a patient several years ago who

was sharp as a tack, and then when he came to see me three weeks later he was very confused and stumbling,” she reacalled. “That acute change is not normal.” Emery-Tiburcio asked the 80-year-old man if he was on any new medication. It turned out his doctor had prescribed a new drug for incontinence, whose side effects include confusion and fall risks. “He had been to his primary physician that week, who didn’t notice,” she said.

It takes a team Ideally, psychologists — and geropsychologists in particular — should work as a team with doctors, clinical pharmacists and occupational therapists, said Melinda Ginne, who has practiced geropsychology in Northern California for 40 years. Some geropsychologists include the family in treatment and are often practical in their advice. Ginne, who is also one of the founding instructors in the Professional Program in Aging and Mental Health at UC Berkeley Extension, said she might advise family members, for example, that their mother needs home help twice a

week for at least four hours, and suggest some agencies that can help. Pierpaoli Parker developed the University of Alabama’s Integrated Behavioral Medicine Service, which provides both psychiatric services and primary care, with an emphasis on helping change behavior. That includes creating exercise plans, even if it’s going outside with a walker for 15 minutes or working out in a chair. She found that patients may be more willing to discuss physical problems first, such as insomnia or chronic pain, before eventually opening up about depression. Some of the concerns many older people have revolve around isolation or residential care. Ginne said she works to empower her patients. If the person resists getting help at home, she explains that “safety equals autonomy. If you have help at home, you can go out, you can have someone take you to the market and movies and senior center. I’ll say that about residential care as well.”

See THERAPIST, page 5

Ten foods you should eat to lose weight By Carolyn A. Hodges Plenty of foods can support your weightloss efforts when included as part of a healthy diet. Eating these 10 foods regularly is a simple way to make the most of your meals. 1. Chia seeds Fiber slows digestion and keeps us feeling fuller longer. This is super important when we’re cutting back on calories, a common approach to weight loss. A 2-tablespoon serving of chia seeds satisfies a whopping 40% of daily fiber needs. 2. Fatty fish The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish like salmon, sardines and tuna may help to reduce body fat. Fatty fish is also high in protein, which helps curb hunger, keeping us full for hours. Consider using canned seafood to whip up easy salmon patties or a classic niçoise salad. 3. Cruciferous vegetables Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and

dark leafy greens. They’re low in calories and carbohydrates, making them the perfect non-starchy addition to any weightloss plan. Use them as the hearty base for meal-prep salads or as a low-carb swap for grains, or blend them into smoothies. 4. Whole grains You don’t need to give up starches like pasta, bread and rice when you’re trying to shed pounds. Just choose whole grains most of the time. In addition to vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, whole grains like whole-wheat pasta, brown rice and quinoa contain fiber to keep us feeling satisfied. 5. Apples Like vegetables, fruits are a smart addition to any healthy weight-loss plan. Apples are especially good to have on hand throughout the week because they’re inexpensive, keep for weeks in the fridge and make for super-portable snacks. Because of their high water content and fiber (be sure to eat the skin), apples are low in calo-

ries and filling. 6. Fermented foods A healthy balance of good bacteria in the intestinal tract may help to promote fat burning. Aim to include a few bites or sips of probiotic-rich foods most days. (Think kefir and yogurt, sauerkraut, kombucha and tempeh.) 7. Pistachios Nuts are satiating and satisfying thanks to their healthy fat, fiber and protein content. The key is portion control, as a serving of nuts (about 1/4 cup) can pack 160 to 200 calories. Try pistachios in shells — shelling them as you snack is a simple way to promote mindful eating! 8. Eggs The egg really is the perfect protein, especially when it comes to weight loss. Eaten at breakfast, eggs have been shown to enhance weight loss as part of a reduced-calorie diet. Plus, incorporating enough proteinrich foods like eggs at breakfast may keep evening snack cravings at bay. 9. Avocados

Avocados deliver a one-two punch of healthy fats and fiber, plus a buttery texture that adds richness to meals and snacks. While they’re higher in calories than other fruits and vegetables, research suggests avocado eaters — those who consume about half an avocado a day along with a healthy diet — have lower body weights and waist measurements. 10. Dark chocolate Yep, chocolate, and here’s why: A healthy weight-loss diet is more likely to be effective if it’s sustainable. Including foods you enjoy but initially perceive to be off-limits, like chocolate, may help you stick with a weightloss plan. Including an ounce of dark chocolate (aim for 70% cacao content or higher) might be just the indulgence you need to stay on track. EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at eatingwell.com. © 2021 Meredith Corporation. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Ancient grains can improve modern diet By Matthew Kadey According to conventional wisdom, it’s good to be young. But when it comes to whole grains, being age-old is something to celebrate. Thanks to newly rediscovered ancient grains like quinoa, teff and spelt, the diversity of whole grains available to us has never been greater. These grains are dubbed “ancient” because their cultivation has been occurring among cultures for centuries — long before food scientists began altering modern-day

wheat to bring about desirable traits such as increased yields. (Note: these alterations have occurred not through genetic modification, but rather through other forms of crop science). Some consumers may gravitate toward these grain options, believing that they are closer to what Mother Nature intended for us to eat.

Health benefits “As whole grains, these are full of fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which

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contribute to improved diet quality and overall health,” said Kate Geagan, R.D., cofounder of Food and Planet. “And levels are often higher than you’ll find in modern forms of wheat or refined grains.” For instance, South American amaranth has high amounts of magnesium, an essential mineral linked to a lower risk for Type 2 diabetes. Hailing from east Africa, teff is notably higher in iron than other whole grains. “Iron helps carry oxygen through your bloodstream and get it into the muscles where it’s used to create energy,” Geagan noted. Eaten daily in Africa and many parts of Asia, gluten-free millet has a subtle cornlike flavor along with useful amounts of bone-strengthening phosphorus. Chinese black rice — also sold under the trademarked name Forbidden Rice because legend has it that it was forbidden for anyone other than emperors of ancient China to eat it — is packed with the same type of disease-fighting anthocyanin antioxidants you find in berries. Perhaps a contender for the oldest grain around, barley is one of the best ways to infuse a diet with beta glucan, a unique type of fiber that can help lower cholesterol numbers. (Tip: To reap these rewards, you want to seek out hulled barley since it still contains the fiber-rich bran layer that is mostly stripped away when producing faster cooking pearled barley.) And both quinoa (pronounced KEENwah) and freekeh (pronounced FREAK-eh) have been heralded as being good sources of satiating fiber and plant-based protein. “People forget that certain grains, including quinoa and freekeh, can contribute to daily protein needs,” Geagan said.

Flavor boost Beyond their nutritional might, the modern revival of ancient grains is owing to the interesting textures and flavor nuances they bring to the table. Popular among many generations of Italian cooks, farro has a wonderful chewy texture that can elevate salads, soups and stuffings. Middle Eastern freekeh is a “green” version of wheat that is harvested while still immature, then sun-dried and finally roasted, lending it a delicious smoky flavor that may make it your new favorite pantry staple. The gelatinous nature of teff can be leveraged to make puddings, corn-free versions of polenta, or even breakfast porridge. Spelt cooks up nice and plump with a nutty flavor that can serve as a great base for stir-fries and grain bowls. Black rice has a toothsome sweetness that you won’t find in brown or white rice. The mild, earthy flavor of sorghum is a perfect fit for pilafs and versions of taboulleh.

Green effects With resurgent interest in these oldworld grains, there can also be some environmental benefits to these foods. “These help us build a more biodiverse food system and utilize plants that are better equipped to handle a changing climate,” Geagan said. Keep in mind, however, that while some ancient grains like teff and sorghum are indeed gluten-free, people with Celiac disease or gluten intolerance need to be aware that not all of them are free of gluten. Spelt, kamut, farro and freekeh are in the wheat family and, therefore, do See ANCIENT GRAINS, page 7

(see ad on page B-3) ❏ Christ Church Harbor Apts. (see ad on page B-5) ❏ Cottages of Perry Hall (see ad on page B-3) ❏ Oak Crest (see ads on pages B-4 & B-7) ❏ Park View Laurel (see ad on page 9) ❏ Park View Towson (see ad on page 9) ❏ Park View Fullerton (see ad on page 9) ❏ Park View Rosedale (see ad on page 9) ❏ Pickersgill (see ad on page B-6) ❏ St. Mary’s Roland View Towers (see ad on page 14) ❏ Virginia Towers (see ad on page B-6) ❏ Warren Place Senior Apartments (see ad on page 15) ❏ Weinberg Senior Living (see ads on pages B-7 & B-8)

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❏ Catholic Charities Senior Services (see ad on page B-2) ❏ Charlestown (see ads on pages B-4 & B-7) ❏ Charter Senior Living of Towson (see ad on page B-3) ❏ Charter Senior Living of Woodholme Crossing

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❏ Fall Prevention Study (see ad on page 11) ❏ Former Smoker Study (see ad on page 10) ❏ Heart Study (see ad on page 11) ❏ Living with Someone with COVID (see ad on page 10) ❏ PEERS Stress Study (see ad on page 10) ❏ Volunteer at Home Survey (see article on page 10) Address__________________________________________________________________________

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Dementia is an inevitable part of working with some older patients, and geropsychologists say treatment varies depending on the type and stage of dementia. Part of that treatment is providing perspective, Emery-Tiburcio said. Depression tends to elevate the bad (my mind is deteriorating, and I can’t do some of the things I used to) while ignoring the good (my daughter loves and supports me, and I enjoy spending time with her). “If you focus on the losses, you are likely to get depressed,” she said, but if you concentrate on the present, “it’s a lot easier to not only function well but improve mood.” Even if the person with dementia can’t remember the previous session, therapy can help, Emery-Tiburcio said. “Many people with dementia fear being a burden on their families. Having conversations with the family members present, talking about the future, and processing the emotions of the whole family can help to dispel myths and create plans that are

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Coping with dementia

with a geropsychologist, she said, has been eye-opening. “It took 70-plus years to come to this understanding about me.”

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From page 3

acceptable to everyone involved. This experience can be very relieving.” Even if the older person forgets the session, the feeling of emotional resolution can continue, particularly if the family is able to remind the patient about the discussions and plan, she adds. When someone with dementia is agitated or aggressive, that behavior “almost always is in reaction to the environment,” Emery-Tiburcio said. It might be a change in routine, a different caregiver, or a new pain or infection that the patient can’t describe. The geropsychologist can work with the family and professional caregivers to identify the causes and possible solutions. Another way to help those with dementia, Pierpaoli Parker said, is to emphasize routine, such as waking up and having meals at the same time each day. She tries to encourage an older adult to go outside in the morning to sit or walk. “That not only makes you feel better, but tells your body when to be up and when to be asleep,” she said. During her therapy, Walker, the 74-yearold who once struggled to get out of bed, focused on her goals and plans. Working

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Helping your brain recover from chemo By Jorg Dietrich, M.D., Ph.D., Harvard Health Blog Some of the most common symptoms experienced by cancer patients are memory problems, difficulties with multitasking, and reduced attention and concentration. Historically, cancer patients with these symptoms were often diagnosed with depression. But research over the past decade has revealed that many cancer patients experience such symptoms as a consequence of specific damage to the brain caused by either their tumor or their treatment. While radiation to the brain has long been linked to cognitive difficulties, the effects of chemotherapy on brain structure and function have only recently been discovered. We now know that the majority of patients treated for cancer — including breast, lung, colon and many other cancer types — experience difficulties with mem-

ory, multitasking, cognitive processing speed, attention and concentration as a consequence of their treatment. The good news is that such symptoms may slowly improve over time in most patients.

Strategies for quicker recovery If you or someone you care for is having problems with memory or thinking following cancer treatment, it is important to undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation to rule out other conditions that can mimic certain side effects from chemotherapy. For example, endocrine disorders (such as thyroid abnormalities), vitamin deficiencies, sleep deprivation or depression should all be ruled out (or treated), as these conditions can cause changes in memory and slowed thinking. Extensive research over the past decade

has identified how chemotherapy targets brain structure and function — an unwanted side effect of cancer therapy. Those efforts have also started to shed light on the mechanisms that enhance brain regeneration and expedite recovery from brain injury, previously thought to be impossible. While various therapeutic interventions currently remain in clinical testing, the following lifestyle actions have been found to be effective: Regular physical exercise. Cardiovascular exercise is one of the strongest drivers of brain repair after injury, stimulating the growth of new neurons, facilitating connections between brain cells, and enhancing overall cognitive resilience. Sufficient restorative sleep. Chronic sleep deprivation damages brain cells, prevents brain regeneration, causes daytime fa-

tigue, and reduces cognitive function. Poor sleep also impairs the basic mechanism that eliminates toxic waste in the brain — a process that primarily happens during sleep. Simple behavioral changes to improve sleep hygiene include avoiding neurostimulants prior to bedtime (coffee, chocolate, beverages with high sugar content, etc.), and minimizing exposure to electronic devices in your bedroom. Meditation and various relaxation techniques can also improve sleep. Good nutrition. A diet rich in antioxidants can be helpful in minimizing cancer therapy-related damage to brain cells and unwanted cognitive side effects from cancer therapy. So, enrich your diet with fruits and vegetables. While a natural supply of antioxidants and vitamins from food is best, some people who are unable to maintain a well-balanced diet may benefit from multivitamin supplementation. Positive and stress-reducing activities. Brain plasticity and nervous system regeneration can be enhanced when all senses are activated, particularly through activities that lead to new experiences and sensations (“environmental enrichment”). Engaging in new activities, learning a novel skill, or traveling can be of tremendous value. In addition, many patients find that engaging in spiritual practices can have a positive effect on healing.

Medications may help Medications such as neurostimulants and anti-aging drugs may be used in conjunction with lifestyle interventions to improve memory and cognition after cancer treatments. Speak with your doctor about these options. New research suggests there may be a connection between the immune system, the bone marrow and the brain, highlighting new avenues for future pharmacological and biological therapies that may enhance brain function after injury and delay the process of brain aging.

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A thorough neurological evaluation can be helpful in identifying areas of brain functioning that can be improved with specialized neurocognitive rehabilitation programs. Many patients benefit from this type of rehab as part of their cancer treatment. Collectively, while symptoms of brain dysfunction are common in cancer patients, there are several interventions that can be considered to help with recovery and enhance healing. Research in this area remains in its infancy, but the curtain has been lifted. There are promising pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapeutic interventions on the horizon, and there are many lifestyle changes you can start today. Jorg Dietrich, M.D., Ph.D., is a contributor to Harvard Health Publications. © 2020 by Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Who knew? Four natural antihistamines This time of year causes a lot of grief for Ginger is not only a histamine blocker, people who have allergies. but is also great for your levels of cyOf course, we have terrific tokines and immune function. antihistamines now, which Ginger is probably best you can buy nationwide. I am known for its ability to ward off not opposed to them if you nausea and soothe stomach take them in moderation. aches. However, another imBut you should also lower portant medicinal component your histamine burden through of ginger fights inflammation in diet. Did you know you could the bones and joints. Ginger is do that? easy to use and fast acting. Many people do not realize To make your own fresh ginthat the foods they’re eating ger tea, shave off the skin of a DEAR contribute to the histamine PHARMACIST piece of raw ginger root. Cut a they liberate in their body. It By Suzy Cohen half-inch piece off and slice it, can ultimately cause or conthen simmer in 3 to 4 cups of tribute to an existing autoimwater for about 15 minutes. mune condition. (For a free food guide on Adding lemon will boost antioxidant power. histamine, visit suzycohen.com/hashi.) Vitamin C is a natural immune suppleHere are the four best natural antihista- ment, and deficiencies are known to inmines: crease risk of allergies.

Ancient grains From page 4 contain some gluten. Anecdotal evidence suggests that these wheat varieties can be easier to digest for some people (lower levels or milder forms of gliadin, a type of gluten protein, could be the reason), but there is some research showing they are not safe to eat for those

with Celiac disease. To cook some of these great ancient grains, simply simmer them in the amount of water (or more flavorful broth) indicated until they are tender. Then drain any excess liquid. Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition. © 2021 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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It can also make collagen, which is needed for a healthy immune response to shorten the duration or severity of discomfort. You’ll find vitamin C naturally in citrus fruits,

kiwi, bell peppers and squash. [See “These foods have more vitamin C than oranges,” in See DEAR PHARMACIST, page 9

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Preparing to part with a dying loved one By Steven Shefter The following is an excerpt from the book Preparing to Part: Love, Loss and Living, written by Steven Shefter after his wife, Susan, died of a terminal illness. The book both describes his family’s particular experience and draws general lessons that might be helpful to others facing a similar situation. As time was drawing to an end for Susan, she said to me, “Steve, I’m afraid I will be forgotten. I’m afraid the family won’t remember me and there will be no way for our grandchildren now, and any future ones, to know about me.” I told her, “Susan my love, you will be spoken of every day by me and our children. And your memory will be conveyed to our family.” But I knew she was not satisfied with

that answer. Neither was I. I wanted Susan to know her life would be remembered for generations to come. She made a 75-minute video for our children, but that wasn’t enough. So, I came up with an idea. Throughout her illness, Susan received many cards from friends, family and coworkers expressing prayers, love and appreciation. I compiled all the notes and letters, and asked her coworkers and others to request additional notes for Susan. In two weeks, we had more than 50 letters. A week later we had 85. On a cold winter evening, the house was quiet. Susan was tired and she was finding it harder to express emotion. I said, “Susan, I want you to know about a

project the children and I are working on. We have compiled 85 letters written to you from friends and family — letters of love, caring and devotion sharing what you mean to them, what you’ve done for them, and how your memory will carry on — that your soul will forever remain in their hearts. The book is called “What Susan Means to Me.” I gave her the first 35 letters and told her I wanted her to see for herself [the book that] our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will have in their homes. In a quiet voice, she said, “This is a dream come true.” We hugged as if we never wanted to let go. Later, when I was calm, I wrote the cover page to the book — a love note, my last to her. Our oldest daughter jumped into frantic task mode; she got photographs, layout and spiral binding for the book done in record time. A few weeks later, my children and I presented Susan with the final version of “What Susan Means to Me.” We were in our bedroom. Susan had a beautiful pale but weary smile and a look of contentment. She got to see the book. Five days later she passed.

ters and notes into a book. After all, other priorities may get in the way, or perhaps many of your friends and loved ones are already gone and thus unable to participate. There are other ways to memorialize a loved one. The person who is ill can videotape messages to kids and grandchildren like Susan did. She even sang “Puff the Magic Dragon” for the amusement of our grandchildren. Our son did a video interview of questions he wanted to ask his mom. The questions were about the family history and her personal history. After Susan passed, my children and I each picked out a favorite piece of clothing and had a teddy bear made [of it] for each of us and each of the grandchildren. We also did a clothing drive in Susan’s memory, collecting dozens of bags of clothing for a homeless shelter. Letters can be written by the person who is ill too — letters to be opened later, perhaps on a birthday, graduation or wedding day. If you want your ill spouse to feel good, or a surviving spouse to have something special, framing a special photo or memento — like concert tickets or a menu from a favorite restaurant — can be done by anyone who wants to help.

Further suggestions Not everyone will want to compile let-

Your recovery after a hospital stay should begin with a knowledgeable, interdisciplinary team that understands your health care goals. Working with state-of-the-art equipment, we have the expertise and experience to treat patients recovering from a variety of conditions, including: Neurological Cardiac Orthopedic Cancer Pulmonary Complex Medical

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See PREPARING TO PART, page 11

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Medical alert systems offer many options Dear Savvy Senior, I am interested in getting my mom, who lives alone, a medical alert system with a wearable pendant button that will let her call for help if she falls or has a medical emergency. What can you tell me to help me choose one? —Too Many Choices

can be challenging. Here are some tips that can help.

Three key questions

Medical alert systems, which have been around since the 1980s, provide a wearable help button — usually in the form of a neck pendant or wristband — that would put your mom in touch with a dispatcher who could summon Dear Too Many, emergency help or contact a A good medical alert sys- SAVVY SENIOR friend or family member as tem is an effective and afford- By Jim Miller needed. able tool that can help keep To help you narrow down your mom safe and living in her own home your options and choose a system that best longer. But with all the different products fits your mom’s needs, here are three key and features available today, choosing one questions you’ll need to ask, along with some top-rated companies that offer these products:

Dear pharmacist

Does your mom want a home-based or mobile system? Medical alert systems were originally designed to work inside the home with a landline telephone, which is still an option. But since fewer and fewer households have landlines these days, most companies today also offer home-based systems that work over a cellular network. With these systems, pressing the wearable help button allows you to speak to a dispatcher through a base unit located in your home. Many companies offer mobile medical alert options, too. You can use these systems at home, but they’ll also allow you to call for help while you’re out and about. Mobile alerts operate over cellular networks and incorporate GPS technology. They allow you to talk and listen to the operator directly through the pendant button, and because of the GPS, your location

would be known in order for help to be sent. If your mom doesn’t leave the house very often, she may not need a mobile system, but if she is still active, she may want added protection outside the home. Should her system be monitored or not? The best medical alert systems are monitored, meaning that the help button connects you with a trained operator at a 24/7 dispatching center. But you also have the option to choose a system that isn’t monitored. With these, when you press the help button, the device automatically dials a friend or family member on your programmed emergency call list. These products can often be set up to call multiple people and to contact emergency See MEDICAL ALERT, page 11

From page 7 our February issue or on our website.] As for the type of Vitamin C, if you’re using more than say, 100 mg. per day of C, I’d recommend a naturally derived type of supplement with citrus bioflavonoids which would offer the C from a food or fruit (like an orange, cherries or lemons). Synthesized C from corn is shown on labels as “ascorbic acid.” Quercetin is a naturally-occurring antioxidant found in many fruits, grapes, tea and especially capers! A lot of scientific research suggests that having quercetin in your diet relieves allergy symptoms because this compound stabilizes mast cells, which cause allergic symptoms. As a perk, quercetin can improve mood due to a gentle lift in dopamine and downline catecholamine neurotransmitters. Do not take more than your supplement label advises because toxic amounts of quercetin can lead to temporary neuropathy and headaches. DHQ is short for dihydroquercetin and is a biologically available antioxidant very similar to quercetin. Thyme, a fresh-tasting herb, contains a lot of vitamin C as well as thymol, its major active medicinal component. Thymol has properties that block histamine release from mast cells and can block it at the receptor site. Buy fresh sprigs of thyme at the grocery store, and include a few leaves in your recipes from now on. You can also buy pure essential oil of thyme and apply it to your bath, or you can diffuse it in the air. Some high-quality brands can be taken internally in a capsule. If you are allergic to oregano, however, you may also be sensitive to thyme. This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement. Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit SuzyCohen.com.

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BALTIMORE CITY Ednor Apartments I: 410-243-0180 Ednor Apartments II: 410-243-4301 The Greens at Irvington Mews: 410-644-4487 Park Heights Place: 410-578-3445 Park View at Ashland Terrace: 410-276-6440 Park View at Coldspring: 410-542-4400

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HOWARD COUNTY

BALTIMORE COUNTY Cove Point Apartments I: 410-288-2344 Cove Point Apartments II: 410-288-1660 Evergreen Senior Apartments: 410-780-4888 The Greens at English Consul: 410-789-3000 The Greens at Liberty Road: 410-655-1100 The Greens at Logan Field: 410-288-2000 The Greens at Rolling Road: 410-744-9988 Park View at Catonsville: 410-719-9464 Park View at Dundalk: 410-288-5483 • 55 & Better Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665 Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375 Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY Park View at Bladensburg: 301-699-9785 • 55 & Better Park View at Laurel: 301-490-1526 Park View at Laurel II: 301-490-9730

Call the community of interest to you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour.

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Health Studies

APRIL 2021 — BALTIMORE BEACON

INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Volunteer at home to aid COVID research By Margaret Foster Sometimes when you enroll in a health study, you have to drive to a hospital or clinic. Or you may have to roll up your sleeves and give blood. What if there was a way to help science just by taking a daily survey at home? If that sounds like the study for you, particularly during a pandemic, consider joining MedStar Health’s COVID-19 Community Research Par tnership, which launched in December. [Ed. Note: The author of this article is a participant in this health study.] Once enrolled — a 15-minute process done entirely by computer — you will receive a daily email asking about your overall health, any symptoms of illness, any interactions with infected people, whether or

not you wear a mask, saw a doctor or received a vaccine. The 30-second survey can be completed on a computer or smartphone. Designed by Oracle, the survey is attractive and easy to use, and it’s okay to forget or skip a day.

Area residents needed MedStar Health hopes to enroll 60,000 people in the D.C. and Baltimore metro areas. Researchers will crunch the data from daily surveys about residents’ health and vaccination status in hopes of tracking the virus’ spread in our area. “This robust surveillance study will help us better understand the current state of the pandemic,” Dr. William S. Weintraub, director of Outcomes Research at the MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute and co-principal

Feeling stressed or isolated due to COVID-19? Growing older is a part of life, but feeling stressed and isolated does not have to be. Our team at Johns Hopkins is conducting a study to address the emotional and social needs of older adults during COVID-19. Eligible participants will be matched with a Peer Mentor or PEERS staff member for social support and will be compensated for their time. Study will be conducted entirely over the phone. If you are interested in learning more about PEERS, our team can be reached by phone at 410-995-8360.

investigator on the study, said in a statement. “We will be able to track the transmission of COVID-19, monitor changes in its spread, and measure the effectiveness of prevention strategies.” The study will stay in touch with participants for about a year. Some volunteers can choose to take an at-home antibody test once a month for six months to see whether they have COVID-19 antibodies in their blood. There’s also a one-time supplemental survey about willingness to receive a vaccine. MedStar researchers say it’s an easy way to help out during a public health emergency. “There are plenty of folks who feel helpless [during the pandemic] and want to support our research. This takes less than 30 seconds a day,” said Kristen E. Miller, scientific director of the National Center for Human Factors in Healthcare at MedStar Health Research Institute, the study’s co-principal investigator. “It gives a nice opportunity for anyone in the community to participate.” The Community Research Partnership is open to everyone in the area, whether they’ve been infected with the virus or not. “Everyone is invited to the study,”

Miller emphasized. “People might be hesitant if they don’t have symptoms or don’t ever leave their house. But we want to know folks’ experiences in our area…It’s a comprehensive evaluation of what people are experiencing.” Because some demographic groups have suffered higher infection rates and morbidity rates, it’s essential to enroll a wide variety of people in the study, she said. “We’re looking at different factors like race, gender and Zip code,” Miller said. “We need lots of participants because they’re the folks that will benefit [from the research]. There’s really been a focus on what’s been referred to as ‘special populations,’ but that’s really our community.” So far more than 12,000 people in our area have “joined the fight,” Miller said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded this $25 million nationwide study, which includes six sites: MedStar Health, the University of Maryland, Wake Forest Baptist Health, Atrium Health, Tulane University and the University of Mississippi. No compensation is provided to participants. Sign up at MedStarHealth.org/JoinTheFight, email JoinTheFight@medstar.net or call 1-800-808-5759.

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COVID VACCINE FOR VETERANS

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is making COVID-19 vaccine appointments for veterans 65 and older as well as veterans who have a co-morbidity, are homeless, live in a group home, are on renal dialysis or use a wheelchair. For more information, call (202) 745-4342.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2021

Preparing to part From page 8 If your loved one was active in a cause, donating money for a plaque somewhere important in that person’s name is something that lasts a long time. In retrospect, there are things I wish I had done, but I was too busy in the whirlwind. I wish we sat down with an iPad or iPhone and just recorded us talking to each other, for instance. However, life gets in the way, especially

Medical alert From page 9 services if you don’t get an answer from someone on your list. Should you add a fall-detection feature? Most medical alert companies today now offer the option of an automatic fall detection pendant for an additional fee of $10 to $15 per month. These pendants sense falls when they occur and automatically contact the dispatch center, just as they would if you had pressed the call button. But be aware that this technology isn’t foolproof. In some cases, this feature may register something as a fall that isn’t. The alarm might go off if you drop it or momentarily lose your balance but don’t actually fall down.

when you’re in crisis mode. And some may not want to admit their time with a loved one is coming to an end. But maybe you’ll have more time than you think — doctors don’t always get it right. And recording yourselves might prove to be fun. Find a way of creating additional memories if you can. That is the greatest gift you can give one another. Whatever you do, don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t get to do any of these things. That’s not the point. The point is to make things easier now and going for-

Top-rated systems Here are four top companies, rated by Consumer Reports, that offer home and mobile monitored medical alert systems: Bay Alarm Medical: Fees range between $20 and $40 per month; BayAlarmMedical.com; 1-877-522-9633. GreatCall’s Lively Mobile Plus: The device costs $50 plus a $25 to $40 monthly service fee; GreatCall.com; 1-800-650-5921. MobileHelp: Monthly fees run $20 to $45; MobileHelp.com; 1-800-809-9664. Phillips Lifeline: $30 to $50/month, plus a onetime device/activation fee of $50 to $100; Lifeline.Philips.com; 1-855-681-5351. Send your senior 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.

ward. These are merely suggestions. Every relationship is different. To purchase Preparing to Part: Love,

Loss and Living, published in March 2021, visit Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com or bit.ly/preparingtopart.

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Mar. 24+

PARK THERAPY Nature can be just what the doctor ordered! Learn how parks can help you stay healthy and how to find parks in your area by visiting parkrxamerica.org.

INTRO TO SKYPE AND WhatsApp

Learn how to use Skype and WhatsApp to communicate virtually with friends and family. This free virtual event takes place Wed., March 24 as well as successive Wednesdays from 12 to 1 p.m. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/SkypeandWhatsApp.

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APRIL 2021 — BALTIMORE BEACON

The best selling auto-loading scooter in Europe is now available in the US!

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This mobility product cannot be returned, but if it arrives damaged or is defective, at our option we will repair it or replace it. Medicare and Medicaid no longer subsidize scooter sales. © 2021 ﬁrstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc.

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2021

SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION

Say you saw it in the Beacon

B-1

Whether to move to a senior community

‘Keeps me going mentally’ Life became too crowded for Bettie when she was living with her son, his wife, a child and another on the way. Besides, at 71, she wanted her own worry-free place. So, she chose a 15th-floor, one-bedroom apartment in Bayview’s Virginia Towers in Towson and moved in this past November. Being among people her own age “keeps me going mentally,” she said. She doesn’t miss navigating stairs, cooking meals, mowing the lawn or shoveling

PHOTO BY ERICKSON LIVING

By Glenda C. Booth With so many senior housing options available today, deciding where to live — and whether to move at all — can be an agonizing exercise for some. For others, there is no decision to make: They want to stay put in the home they’ve known for years. But some older adults find they need support, or they long for a more active social life and prepared meals. Others are ready to stop mowing lawns and shoveling snow. Some fear becoming disabled and prefer to decide to move to an assisted living facility themselves, to avoiding dumping the decision and the logistics on their children. Choosing the right fit requires learning the meanings of terms like retirement community, adult community, assisted living, independent living, co-op living, continuing care, life plan community, residential care homes and skilled nursing facility, for example. (For a glossary of these and other terms, see bit.ly/AARPglossary.) Services at different communities can vary tremendously. Some facilities offer medical support; some do not. Some offer meals delivered to your door. Others have on-campus restaurants. Some are high-rise buildings; others are village-like, single-family homes. Some have the full continuum of care. Recreation can range from walking trails to chess to swimming. For one form of senior housing, called assisted living, there are 28,900 communities with 811,500 residents in the U.S. today, according to the National Center for Assisted Living. Maryland has 900 assisted living communities with 49 percent of residents over age 85.

snow — it’s all done for her. “Well, I still have to get the snow off my car,” she admitted. Bettie also urges people to move into a senior community early, “while you’re able to get around,” she said.

able and safe and to age in place.” They wanted to know that if one passed away, the other would have care. For him, it helped to “pray about the life changes you’re about to make.” He loves the nine eateries on campus, and Judy likes the fitness clubs and pool. But the main reason they chose Oak Crest was for its friendly feel. “The people seemed happy, and employees seemed happy, too,” Gary said, reflecting on their scouting visit. “It’s a community,” he said. “People look out for each other. It’s not just a place where we hang our hat at night. It’s where we make friends, swim and play shuffleboard.” His advice: Visit in person often, talk to residents and employees and check out different apartments. And don’t wait too long. “It’s better to choose than to be forced to move,” he said. While uprooting and moving is always a disruptive experience, it can be a positive experience, even a renewal. It’s an opportunity to reinvent, meet new people, overcome feelings of isolation and make the most of one’s life. For more information, visit the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging at n4a.org or the Administration for Community living at aoa.gov. Read the free “Guide for Making Housing Decisions” at bit.ly/housingdecisionguide.

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Retire to a room of one’s own at the kids’ Wide variety of options How much you’ll spend varies by city, type and degree of customization, said Kol Peterson, an ADU advocate and consultant in Portland, Oregon. He said he’s seen the cost range from $20,000 for a basement unit to more than $400,000 for one built above a garage. He offers a few rules of thumb wherever you live: The higher the cost of housing, the higher the cost of construction. And, converting existing space is cheaper than building a detached unit. But if you are building something separate, because of the fixed costs required to build a detached home of any size, a larger unit will be only marginally more expensive than a smaller one. So, he recommends building up to the largest allowable size. A prefab ADU is cheaper and quicker to install than one built on site, but a custom design lets you include aging-in-place features, such as a step-free entry, wider doorways and a curb-less shower. If you hire a design-builder, look for an aging-inplace specialist certified by the National Association of Home Builders.

Be sure to enable privacy An ADU in your existing home should allow its residents to have privacy so they will feel at home, not like a visitor or in-

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By Patricia Mertz Esswein When Cary Childre, 65, of Athens, Georgia, considered moving closer to her daughter, Eva Maudlin, of Decatur, an Atlanta suburb, she realized she couldn’t afford to buy “much of anything.” So, Maudlin, 31, researched building a cottage in her own backyard. In October, they made a deposit on a Craftsman-style design by a local architect who will manage the project from permits to completion. The 429-square-foot home will have one bedroom and bathroom, a galley kitchen and living area, and a small covered porch. Fueled by an aging population and a scarcity of affordable housing, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are a hot new trend in multigenerational living. You may know them better as in-law suites, garage apartments, carriage houses, casitas and granny flats. Freddie Mac said the share of for-sale listings with an ADU has risen 8.6% year-over-year since 2009. These units can be created by finishing a basement or attic, converting a garage, reconfiguring unused space, adding on, custom building a detached unit, or installing a prefab one. Over time, you could rent the ADU for income; house a parent, child or caregiver; downsize into it yourself and rent the main house, or make it into an office or guest quarters.

Once a garage, this cottage outside Seattle is an example of an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU. Younger homeowners who want to accommodate a parent — or older homeowners who want to create a space for a caregiver — may consider adding a tiny home or wing to their property, or redesigning a basement or attic space as an ADU.

truder, said Michael K. Lenahen, an architect and president of Aurora Builders, in Jacksonville, Florida. Consider creating a private entrance and adding soundproofing to the shared walls of an in-law suite. Sitting areas indoors and outdoors will allow you or a parent to enjoy solitude, entertain friends without asking for permission, and avoid feeling confined. Most homeowners pay for their ADUs with cash, home equity borrowing or a cash-out refinance. Other options include a construction loan or renovation mortgage for purchase or refinance backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. The simplest, but most expensive, option is an uncollateralized personal loan of up to $100,000 from online lenders LightStream or SoFi. When Childre’s cottage is ready, she expects to sell her home for about $300,000, pay $190,000 for the cottage in her daughter’s backyard, and stash the rest for fu-

ture needs. Mother and daughter look forward to living footsteps away. Before you invest your nest egg to create an ADU on a child’s property, consider how you will pay for the care you will inevitably need someday, said Lisa Mayfield, a certified care manager and past president of the Aging Life Care Association. You can’t sell the ADU to raise funds, and renting it out after you’ve moved elsewhere is unlikely to cover the cost of your care, said Angela Macey-Cushman, who practices elder law in Seattle. Plus, if you give a child money to build an ADU within five years (30 months in California) of applying for Medicaid, you could be penalized with delayed coverage. Note: Accessory dwelling units are legal in Baltimore County and Howard County but not in the city of Baltimore. © 2021 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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B-3

Sell the house, toss the junk and travel By Raphael Nolan Five years ago, my wife and I — then in our 60s and recently retired — sold our home in Connecticut and embarked on a worldwide adventure as nomads. To date, we have been to 36 countries on five continents. Our dream turned into a reality that has exceeded our wildest expectations. We did it. You can do it, too. During our 45 years of marriage, we enjoyed traveling, adventure and romance. We shared a wanderlust that I inherited as a young boy from my grandfather, an intrepid traveler who was always planning his next trip, often one with his grandson in tow.

A dawning reality How did we decide to sell our house and become residents of the world? It wasn’t a decision we arrived at quickly or easily. First, we realized that our beautiful Connecticut home of more than 20 years would not be our last. It was perfect for a couple in their 60s — maybe even in their 70s, but not beyond. Downsizing to a more manageable home would be smart, we realized, and sooner rather than later. Then a newspaper headline captured our attention: “Sell the Home. Travel the World!” Intrigued, we saved it. We talked about it. We researched and read books about the idea. We returned to it regularly and often for more than two years. Increasingly, it became not just a dream but a plan we could actually accomplish. We were not rich, but we were comfortable, after working hard for more than 40 years, living modestly and wisely. Without the expenses of a mortgage, property taxes, insurance, maintenance and all the other costs of owning our own home, we figured we could travel well and often. Finally, two significant events moved us to act: Our daughter and her family, who lived 10 minutes away, relocated to Southern California, where our son and his family lived. Shortly after, the last of our four parents, my mother, passed away. Suddenly the bonds that tied us to Connecticut, where we met during high school,

were loosened, freeing us to become nomads.

Get to know the locals After years of one- or two-week vacations, we have discovered the delight of slow travel. We seek out low-cost rooms on Airbnb and stay for a month or two. Sometimes we stay in friends’ second homes. We enjoy avoiding the tourist track and seeking out the locals — experiencing their traditions and culture; befriending them and learning about their lives. We have had some eye-opening experiences, participating in a Buddhist celebration in Bali and a baby luau (a baby’s first birthday party) in Oahu. By far, the best and most memorable moments have been with the people we have met, the friends we have made. Each encounter has brought wisdom and growth and enhanced our understanding of the world. Social media has allowed us to remain in touch with some of those friends around the world. In Copenhagen, for instance, we shared a delicious plant-based dinner with David and Hara from Seoul. A year later we received a copy of their new book about their worldwide vegan adventure, which featured a photo of us. What a surprise!

Taking our time in each place Our preference would be to spend at least a month in each location — time enough to make friends and really experience the community and culture deeply. While we have spent as long as four months in a location, our slow travels continue to slow down even more (we are currently riding out the pandemic in Honolulu). The longer we continue this nomadic adventure, the longer and slower our travels grow. The question we have answered more than any has been, “What place(s) have you enjoyed most?” We have seen some incredible vistas and places: Angkor Wat at sunrise. A green flash after a Mexican sunset. A leopard lounging in Sri Lanka. For me, the most enjoyable places were the Dolomites in the northern Italian Alps and the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. For

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my wife, New Zealand and Norway stand out. We are both “forest bathers” who enjoy the outdoors and all of nature’s magnificent creations, especially in Southeast Asia, Mexico, South America, Santa Barbara and Hawaii.

A new way of living: simply Beyond the people, the experiences, the places and the adventure, we’ve discovered unanticipated benefits, pleasures and new values. We had no idea how liberating it would be to jettison most of our 30+ years accumulation of “stuff”! (Well, maybe my wife knew, but it was a surprise to me!) For almost two years, we donated, sold and threw away a ton of belongings. We still have way too much in storage,

but we have a greater appreciation for how freeing it is to live with fewer possessions. At first you own your stuff, but then your stuff owns you!

Making our own rules It has been exciting and challenging to create a whole new way of life. We established new mantras, new rules, new ways of living. Among them: We would make it a point to get lost almost every day. That pledge led us to some astounding discoveries, events and places we would not otherwise have experienced. Once, aimlessly exploring Parisian neighborhoods, we turned the corner to discover a band playing in a small city square, a memSee TRAVEL WORLD, page B-5

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Reverse mortgage can be a financial tool By Patricia Mertz Esswein Note: This story picks up where our January Housing Options feature, “Tap into a home’s value with refi or loan” ended, with a reference to reverse mortgages. Over the past several years, reverse mortgages have begun to overcome a somewhat tarnished reputation through product changes and additional requirements for financial assessment that have corrected some potentially detrimental features. Retirement income researchers have established reverse mortgages as a viable

tool, not just for financially strapped retirees but for well-heeled ones, too. “You may leave more to the kids if you strategically use a reverse mortgage,” said John Salter, a financial planner in Lubbock, Texas, who has studied reverse mortgages. Contrary to what you may have heard about reverse mortgages, consider these facts: —You remain the owner of your home and retain title to it. —Because, in effect, you’re receiving

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loan advances, not income, the money is tax-free, and it won’t affect Social Security or Medicare benefits. —The loan comes due when the last surviving borrower dies, sells the home, or leaves it for more than 12 months due to illness. —After the borrower leaves the home, lenders must allow an eligible nonborrowing spouse or committed partner to stay. A surviving partner can’t take any more money from the reverse mortgage, but must continue maintaining the home and paying taxes and insurance. —You’ll never owe more than the value of your home when you or your heirs sell it to repay the reverse mortgage. If your home sells for more than you owe, you or your heirs keep any leftover equity. If your heirs want to keep the home, they can refinance the reverse mortgage, or they can pay the outstanding debt or 95% of the home’s appraised value, whichever is less.

Who is eligible? To be eligible for a reverse mortgage, borrowers must be at least 62 years old, own the property outright or have paid down a considerable amount of the mortgage, and occupy the home as their primary residence. Lenders will review your income and credit history to ensure you can sustain yourself, keep the home in good condition,

and pay for property taxes, hazard insurance and homeowner association fees to avoid defaulting on the loan. If the lender determines you can’t handle those costs, it will set aside funds from your payout in an escrow account and pay those bills for you. The maximum payout, or principal limit, that you’ll qualify for depends on your age (or that of a younger co-borrower or a nonborrowing spouse, who must meet certain criteria to be eligible), as well as the current interest rate and the appraised value of your home, up to a maximum of $765,600 for a reverse mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration in 2020. Several lenders make proprietary jumbo reverse mortgages. The higher your age and home value, and the lower your current mortgage balance and the interest rate that you take, the greater your payout will be. If you have a mortgage, you must pay it off from the loan or other sources. You can withdraw no more than 60% of your principal limit in the first year, though. Up to an additional 10% of the available funds can be tapped to pay off an existing mortgage debt or make repairs required by the lender.

Payout options A line of credit from a reverse mortgage See REVERSE MORTGAGE, page B-5

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From page B-4 typically gives you the most proceeds and flexibility. You’re only charged interest on the portion of the line used, and you can make payments at any time. Unlike a regular home equity loan (see January article), a reverse mortgage credit line will grow, because the untapped portion of the line compounds at the same rate at which interest and an annual mortgage insurance premium accrue on the balance. With many years and rising interest rates, the line of credit can increase to far more than the original amount. Borrowers who want guaranteed income can also choose to receive a fixed monthly payment for a set term or for as long as they live in the home. You’ll get the least payout and flexibility if you take a lump sum. Because you incur interest from day one, it makes no sense to take the money and sit on it.

Travel world From page B-3 ory we treasure. We agreed that we would never turn down an invitation, whether it was a week at a friend’s house or a meal with a stranger. We built in time for spontaneity, trying not to be too scripted in our travels. Had

Get professional advice Before shopping for a reverse mortgage, ask an adviser who has earned the retirement income certified professional designation from the American College of Financial Services. For a reverse mortgage calculator or to find lenders by state or company, visit the consumer website of the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association. Look for a loan officer who is a certified reverse mortgage professional. You must get financial counseling to ensure that you can meet your obligations as a borrower. To find a counselor certified by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, visit the department’s website and search by map or Zip code, or call 1-800-569-4287. A session costs $125 to $250 by phone or in person.

limit — $765,600 — whichever is less. You’ll also accrue an annual mortgage premium of 0.5% of the outstanding loan balance, which isn’t payable until the loan comes due. The insurance guarantees that you will receive your payout and you’ll never owe more than the value of your home. Lenders can charge an origination fee of up to $6,000, plus fees for third-party services. The fee is equal to the greater of $2,500 or 2% of the home’s value, up to the first $200,000, plus 1% of the amount over $200,000, up to the cap. You’ll pay a fixed interest rate on a lump sum payout and a variable rate on all other types of payouts. The average fixed rate

was 3.26% and the variable rate was 2.91% for loans closed in December (the latest data available), according to HSH.com. Variable rates are based on an underlying index — such as the 1-Year Treasury Bill or the Libor — to which lenders add a margin of 1 to 3 percentage points. In general, the higher the margin you accept, the lower the origination fee. It pays to shop around because lenders vary in the margins, origination fees and closing costs that they charge. Get at least three quotes to compare margins, upfront costs and payouts. © Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Various costs At closing, you’ll pay an initial FHA mortgage insurance premium equal to 2% of the home’s appraised value or the maximum we not done so, we would not have found the Maldives. We would not have traveled to Cartagena and Santa Fe. Our travels have changed our lives in innumerable ways and strengthened our love, romance and 52-year marriage. They have made us more resilient, more compassionate, more courageous and smarter — and grown our hearts by six sizes!

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Make your bathrooms safer, easier to use rugs for the floors. Or if you want to put in a new floor, get slip-resistant tiles, rubber or vinyl flooring, or install wall-to-wall carpeting. Lights: Good lighting is also very important, so install bright LED bulbs for your mom’s bathroom fixtures, and get a plug-in nightlight that automatically turns on when the room gets dark. Bathtub/shower: To make bathing safer, purchase a rubber suction-grip mat, or put down adhesive nonskid tape on the tub/shower floor. And have a carpenter properly install grab bars in and around the tub/shower for support. If your mom uses a shower curtain, install a screw or bolt-mounted curtain rod, versus a tension-mounted rod, so that if she loses her balance and grabs the shower curtain the rod won’t spring loose. For easier access and safer bathing, consider getting your mom a shower or bath-

By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you recommend for making a bathroom senior-friendly? My 78-year-old mother has mobility problems, and she fell getting out of the bathtub last month. I’d like to modify her bathroom with some safety features that can help keep her safe. —Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned, Great question! Because more accidents and injuries happen in the bathroom than any other room in the house, this is a very important room to modify, especially for those with mobility or balance problems. Depending on your mom’s needs and budget, here are some simple tips and product recommendations that can make her bathroom safer and easier to use. Floor: To avoid slipping, get non-skid bath

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tub chair so she can bathe from a seated position. In addition, you should also install a handheld, adjustable-height showerhead that makes chair bathing easier. If your mom has the budget for it, another good option is to install a curb-less shower or a walk-in-bathtub. Curb-less showers have no threshold to step over, and come with a built-in seat, grab bars, slip resistant floors and an adjustable handheld showerhead. While walk-in tubs have a door in front that provides a much lower threshold to step over than a standard tub, they also have a built-in seat, handrails and a slip resistant bottom. Some even have therapeutic features like whirlpool water jets and/or bubble massage air jets. Curb-less showers and walk-in-tubs run anywhere from $2,500 to $10,000 installed. Toilet: Most standard toilets are only around 15 inches high and can be an issue for taller people or those with arthritis, back, hip or knee problems. If your mom has trouble getting on or off the toilet, a simple solution is to purchase a raised toilet seat that clamps to the toilet bowl, and/or purchase toilet safety rails that sit on each side of the seat for support. Or, you can install a new ADA-compliant “comfort height” toilet that is 16 to 19 inches high.

Faucets: If your mom has twist handles on the sink, bathtub or shower faucets, consider replacing them with lever handle faucets, or with a touch, motion or digital smart faucet. They’re easier to operate, especially if she has hand arthritis or gripping problems. Also note that it only takes 130-degree water to scald someone, so turn her hot water heater down to 120 degrees. Doorway: If your mom needs a wider bathroom entrance to accommodate a walker or wheelchair, an inexpensive solution is to install some swing clear offset hinges on the door to expand the doorway an additional two inches. Emergency assistance: As a safety precaution, you should also consider purchasing a voice-enabled medical alert system like Get Safe for her bathroom. This device would let her call for help by a simple voice command, or by pushing a button or pulling a cord. See getsafe.com. You can find all of these products at medical supply stores, pharmacies, bigbox stores, home improvement stores, hardware stores and plumbing supply stores, as well as online. Send your senior 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.

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Living Livi ng in th this is com ommu muni nity ty—ttuc ucke kedd in into to a beautiful West Towson neighborhood —you or your beau ur loved one will enjoy enjo a warm welcome and daily activities, and they’ll appreciate the h walking paths, path beautifully landscaped grounds, lovely gardens and more.

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Each assisted livingg resident re enjoys three chef-prepared meals per day, ho housekeeping and laundryy se services, medication administration, help with daily tasks an and more—always by reques quest, and all included in a reasonable monthly fee. Eachh re resi s dent also has access too all of the Pickersgilll amenities. Our assisted liv ivin ingg residences include a private, priv full bath, and residents are encouraged to decora rate te their homes as they wish. This is a lifestyle dedicated to independence and assured ed by a caring, professional fessional al sta staff. sttaff.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2021

Golf community life By Eric Butterman Many retirees dream of a home in a golf course community, where connecting a shiny driver with a perfectly dimpled ball on a lush, green fairway is just another day in paradise. But a golf club membership isn’t a given at these communities and sometimes comes with hefty fees. When you buy a house in a golf community, it pays to understand exactly what you’re getting. Some golf courses may be owned by the community, while others may operate as an entirely independent business. Because the attraction of these communities is often tied to the golf club, make sure your big green neighbor is financially healthy. If its business suffers, so could your home values. Golf club membership scenarios run the gamut, said Cathy Harbin, president of OnCourse Operations, a golf management company based in Paris, Texas. “It can be a developer owns the club and pays your membership for you when you buy a home lot or, through a promotion, they buy your initiation fee and the first few years of your membership,” Harbin said. “Or, it can even be an optional situation, where you are offered a discount if you want to buy a membership. Of course, it can just be you buy the home separately, and the membership doesn’t have anything to do with your purchase.”

Public or private club? Generally, homeowners’ association fees and club costs are higher for private clubs, Harbin said. At Desert Highlands, a private golf course community in Scottsdale, Arizona, every homeowner must become a club member, said Joan Sykora, director of sales and member relations. That

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membership cost is a $75,000 initiation fee, and monthly HOA dues are $1,325. At Ridgeview Ranch in Plano, Texas, where the community’s golf club is public, members get unlimited range balls and discounts on rounds of golf at certain hours — with the number of times expanding depending on monthly membership fees, $49.95 or $69.95. On the downside, crowded play is more likely at a public club, and the courses may not be as challenging as at a private club.

Home value tied to club’s success Still, membership fees may be the least of your problems if the golf club has financial difficulties. When the Sanctuary Golf Club in Beaufort, S.C., shuttered its doors in January 2019 and went into foreclosure, homeowners in the nearby Cat Island community had reason to fear the worst. Home values for communities with shuttered golf clubs can fall by more than 20% in an average economy, according to Jeff Pinckney, a Beaufort-based part-time commercial realtor. Cat Island residents were lucky because, although the golf club was closed for about a year, it eventually found a new buyer and has since partially reopened, he said. As a result, home prices weren’t as affected. Realtor Susan Akagi said prospective buyers can get a better idea of how a community golf club is doing by talking to the club’s chief financial officer. A golf course that’s been around a long time often “gives a greater sense of stability,” she said. Plus, most communities also include other amenities for family members who don’t play golf, which can help real estate values if something happens to the golf club. © The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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APRIL 2021 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Say you saw it in the Beacon

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2021

Money

Law &

Insure your nest egg with longevity annuities. See story on page 14.

2020 return tax changes and extensions The Internal Revenue is now accepting in- have a family plan, the contribution limit dividual tax returns for 2020. Here are some has increased to $7,100. key numbers and changes to be —The CARES Act specified aware of: that if you don’t itemize, you —The new standard deduccan make an “above the line” tion for singles is $12,400; for deduction for cash contribumarried joint filers it is $24,800. tions to a qualified charity for For heads of household, it’s up to $300 on both individual $18,650. returns and joint returns. For —The contribution limits for 2021, the marriage penalty has IRAs, traditional or Roth, have been eliminated, so on your not changed. The limit is $6,000, 2021 return (that is, the return with an additional $1,000 for inyou will file next year), you will THE SAVINGS dividuals 50 and over. be able to claim a deduction on GAME —The contribution limit for a joint return of up to $600. By Elliot Raphaelson 401(k), 403(b), and most 457 —For 2020 and 2021, for plans was increased to $19,500. itemized returns, you will be For individuals 50 and older, the “catch-up able to deduct up to 100% of your adjusted limit” allows an additional $6,500 to be con- gross income (AGI) if you make a cash tributed. contribution to a qualified charity that is —If you have earned income and are not a donor-advised fund or a 509(a)(3) older than 70 1/2, you are now allowed to supporting organization. make traditional IRA contributions. Prior —Any medical expenses in excess of to 2020, you could only contribute to Roth 7.5% of AGI may be deducted. [The rate IRAs after 70 1/2. had been raised to 10% for a few years, but —Health savings accounts (HSAs) have has now been permanently set at 7.5%.] —Business meal deduction: For 2020 numerous tax advantages. If eligible, you should consider these accounts. Individu- and 2021, you will be able to deduct 100% als can now contribute up to $3,550; if you of business meal expenses. Previously

only 50% was allowed. —Flexible spending account (FSA) balances from 2020 can be carried into 2021. Remaining balances at the end of 2021 can be rolled forward into 2022. Previously, there were limitations regarding the amounts that could be carried forward. —The tuition and related expense deduction has been replaced by a more generous lifetime learning credit. The deduction could be up to $4,000 for lower income levels, or up to $2,000 for middle income levels. —Eligibility for 2020 earned income tax credit and for the child tax credit can be based on 2019 earned income if you wish. There is no requirement of an intention to work. Even if you left the workforce in 2019, retired in 2020 or voluntarily did not work a significant amount in 2020, you may be able to receive one or both credits for 2020. —The CARES Act authorized employers to provide up to $5,250 of annual taxfree educational assistance for employee’s principal or interest of student debt. This has been extended through 2025. These payments can be made directly to a lender or to the employee, who can use the payments to reduce their student debt. —Historically, if a lender forgave debt on

a primary residence, the borrower would incur tax liability on the forgiven amount. In 2007, Congress provided a temporary exclusion for qualified canceled mortgage debt. That exclusion was recently extended through 2025. Starting in 2021, the maximum amount of debt that can be discharged has been reduced from $2 million to $750,000 for joint filers and from $1 million to $375,000 for single filers. For a quicker return of refunds, I recommend filing electronically. The IRS still hasn’t processed thousands of paper returns from 2019. And if you haven’t received either of the stimulus payments from 2020, you can request a recovery rebate credit on your 2020 tax return. You must request the rebate on either 2020 form 1040, or form 1040-SR. You should use the IRS recovery rebate credit worksheet for directions. If you are a non-filer because you did not have to file a return for 2018 or 2019, you will have to file a 2020 return in order to receive a payment. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © 2021 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

How to pay no tax on your capital gains By Mike Piershale One opportunity that investors should never pass up is the ability to convert a taxable long-term capital gain into tax-free basis — without paying taxes to do so. This is known as harvesting long-term capital gains. It’s a process of intentionally selling an investment with a taxable longterm capital gain, in a year when — due to low income — that gain will not be taxed. Then, if you want to keep the investment, you buy it back immediately.

The income sweet spot The gain won’t be taxed when it occurs in a year when the investor is in the “0%” long-term capital gain tax bracket, which for 2021 occurs when they have a taxable income of $40,400 or less if single; $80,800 or less if a married couple. The genius of selling and buying it right back is that the process raises your “basis”

in the investment from your original cost in the past to current fair market value. Whenever you sell an investment, you are taxed on the increase in value over your cost basis. If in this particular year you owe no tax on the increase over basis because you’re in the 0% bracket, you nonetheless will own the repurchased investment at today’s value, reducing the taxable gain you will owe when you ultimately do sell in the future, when you are in a higher tax bracket. And many people do end up in higher tax brackets in the future due to things like pay raises, starting Social Security or pension benefits after retirement, or taking required minimum distributions at age 72. Even if your taxable income is normally too high to harvest gains with zero tax, there may be some years where it may fall to a point where you can take advantage of this strategy, such as when you are: —temporarily unemployed,

—a self-employed person and your income varies from year to year, or —between the ages of 60 and 72 and retired, before you start taking required minimum distributions. Also, you can sometimes intentionally create a low-tax year that qualifies for gain harvesting by delaying a bonus until the next year, waiting to take taxable distributions out of retirement accounts until you’re required to do so at age 72 (or even later if you’re still working), and/or delaying your Social Security benefits until age 70.

How it can work For example, let’s say you’re married, you just retired, and your taxable income for the year is going to be $50,000. Remember, the first $80,800 of your taxable income is taxed at a “0%” long-term capital gains tax rate — but for the sake of simplicity, and to build in a safety net so you don’t go over the

limit, let’s round it down to $80,000. Therefore, you have $30,000 of long-term capital gains you can trigger without going over the $80,000 threshold and a “0%” capital gain tax rate will apply. In other words, you can capture this gain tax-free. If you own stocks or mutual funds in a taxable account and some of your positions have unrealized long-term capital gains, you have a tax-planning opportunity here. You can sell enough of your investments to trigger $30,000 of long-term capital gain and pay no income tax on it. And, assuming you want to keep these investments, you could simply buy them back immediately, and the $30,000 worth of taxable long-term capital gains will be eliminated forever, with no tax consequences, when you go to sell the investments later. See CAPITAL GAINS, page 15

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APRIL 2021 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Protect against risk of outliving nest egg By Ken Nuss Few of us would go without auto, home, life or health insurance. But the kind of insurance that protects against the risk of running out of money in old age is still greatly underutilized. It’s called a deferred income annuity or a longevity annuity. I believe most people planning for retirement should strongly consider an income annuity, and a Brookings Institution report confirms that belief. The concept of this type of annuity is simple. The buyer deposits a lump sum or series of payments with an insurer. In return, the insurer guarantees to pay you a stream of income in the future. That’s why it’s known as a deferred income annuity. Guaranteed lifetime income is a cost-effective way to insure against running out of money during very old age. You get to choose when your payments will begin. Most people choose lifetime payments starting at age 80 or older. The main disadvantage is that the annuity has no liquidity. You’ve transferred your money to an insurance company in exchange for a guarantee of future income. People who can’t afford to tie up any

of their money shouldn’t buy a deferred income annuity.

Why are people reluctant? Given that traditional company pensions have largely gone away, there should be great demand for income annuities, Martin Neil Baily of Brookings and Benjamin Harris of the Kellogg School of Management write in the 2019 Brookings Institution report, titled “Can Annuities Become a Bigger Contributor to Retirement Security?” But the demand just isn’t there. Why? A few reasons: People overestimate their ability to invest money wisely. They’re also concerned that if they don’t live long enough, the annuity won’t be worth the cost. But that’s a wrong-headed view, according to Baily and Harris, because it’s the insurance that’s the most valuable aspect of the annuity. And the topic is confusing to consumers, in part because of the terminology. As Baily and Harris point out, annuities include both income annuities as well as fixed, indexed and variable annuities, which are primarily savings or investment vehicles.

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How do income annuities work? Income deferral is a key part of the equation. The insurer invests your money so it grows until you begin receiving income. For instance, if you buy an annuity at age 55 and don’t start income payments until 85, you reap the advantage of 30 years of compounded growth without current taxes. You could reap the same growth and tax advantages with a 401(k) or an IRA, but with a nonqualified annuity (one that’s not in a retirement plan) you don’t have to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) starting at age 72, and thus can extend tax deferral. Furthermore, nonqualified annuities aren’t subject to annual limits on contributions like IRAs and 401(k)s are, so you can stash away much more if you like. The longer you delay taking payments from deferred income annuities and the older you are when you start taking them, the greater the monthly payout. It’s true that buyers who do not live to an advanced old age subsidize those who do, but such risk-sharing is how all insurance works — whether it’s home, auto or longevity insurance.

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A deferred income annuity provides unique flexibility in planning your retirement. Suppose you plan to retire at 65. You can use part of your savings to buy a deferred income annuity that will provide lifetime income starting at 85, for example. Then, with the balance of your retirement money, you only need to create an income plan that gets you from age 65 to 85 — instead of indefinitely. You don’t have to deal with the uncertainty of trying to make

your money last for your entire lifetime. The Brookings report makes a similar point. An income annuity can substitute for bonds in a portfolio. For instance, suppose a couple’s allocation is 60% equities and 40% bonds. The couple could safely sell all their bonds and use the proceeds to buy an income annuity. Holding an annuity provides stability in a retirement portfolio, making it unnecessary to hold bonds, or to hold the same amount in bonds. Another benefit: since you know you’ll have assured lifetime income later on, you can feel less constrained about spending money in the early years of your retirement.

Annuity options to consider If you’re married, you and your spouse can each buy individual longevity annuities. Or you can purchase a joint payout version, where payments are guaranteed as long as either spouse is living. What happens if you die before you start receiving payments, or after only a few years, when the total amount of payments received is less than the original deposit? To deal with that risk, most insurers offer a return-of-premium option that guarantees your beneficiaries will receive the original deposit premium. This is a popular option, but it does reduce the payout amount slightly when compared to the payout amount without the return-of-premium guarantee. If you don’t have a spouse or anyone else you want to leave money to, you won’t need this option. The Brookings report “Can Annuities Become a Bigger Contributor to Retirement Security?” can be downloaded at bit.ly/incomeannuity. © 2021 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2021

Stay calm and think when con artists call By the Better Business Bureau Want some advice about scams? Stay calm. Con artists use that feeling of alarm to trick victims into acting before they can think. BBB Scam Tracker is seeing reports of a con that claims your Amazon, PayPal or other account has been compromised. Scammers hope you’ll panic and fall for their scheme.

How the scam works You receive an email, call or text message informing you there’s been suspicious activity in your bank or another account, such as Amazon, Netflix or PayPal. You are told you need to “take immediate action” to prevent your account from being compromised or to avoid being charged for a fraudulent purchase. Don’t fall for it!

Capital gains From page 13 You do not have to wait 31 days to buy the investments back to abide by what is known as the “wash sale” rule, because that applies only to investors taking capital losses, not capital gains.

What to watch out for Before you use this strategy, be sure to

The email version of this con uses the company’s logo, colors and language to make the message look just like an official alert. A link in the message leads to a website that asks for your account number, login and password information, or even your Social Security or Medicare/Medicaid insurance number. If you share this information, you could well become the victim of identity theft and fraud. In the phone version of this scam, the caller claims to have noticed an expensive charge recently posted on your account, which “you didn’t make.” Some victims told BBB Scam Tracker that the caller pushed them to download phony “security software” to their phone or computer. This was actually malware, which gave scammers access to sensitive check to see if you have any capital gains distributions that may pay out on mutual funds that you own in taxable accounts. Mutual funds distribute capital gains each fall, although some funds distribute these funds as late as mid-December. These are gains that can be triggered even if you have not personally sold any of the mutual fund shares. You’ll want to know what these gains are before you decide to intentionally realize

information stored on their devices. In other versions, the caller insists you need to buy prepaid gift or debit cards in order to reverse the fraudulent charges and secure your account. One victim told BBB Scam Tracker that they received a call from the “Amazon verification department.” After noticing fraudulent purchases, Amazon allegedly put a hold on their account. In order to lift the hold, the scam caller convinced the victim “to buy $200 of Google Play cards. This was needed to use the codes to cancel the orders. [The scammer] said I needed to do it right away; the account could only be on hold for a short time.”

Be very cautious with unsolicited calls, emails and texts. Don’t be quick to believe claims from unsolicited communica-

tions. This is a common tool of scammers. Understand how businesses handle communications. If you know how disputes and suspicious activity are handled, it will be easier to spot a scam. For example, PayPal clearly states that they will never send you an email asking you for sensitive information like your password, or ask you to download attachments or software. Look into the claims. Don’t take action without first verifying the claims. Without clicking on any links, log into your account or call the company’s official phone number to confirm if there really is a case of suspicious activity associated with your account before you decide what to do. Never give your personal information to strangers. If you aren’t speaking or corresponding with someone you know and trust, don’t give them sensitive information.

additional gains. Otherwise, you could get thrown into a higher long-term capital gain tax bracket, which will be at least 15%, and end up paying tax on part of the gain. Also, remember capital gains taxed in the 0% tax bracket are still income and will therefore increase your adjusted gross income, which could potentially increase your taxes in other areas. For example, it could result in reducing or disallowing the medical expense deduction if you itemize,

or trigger the taxation of otherwise nontaxable Social Security benefits. So, while you have to do your homework to avoid some of these tax landmines, the fact remains that strategically harvesting gains in low-income tax years may reduce your future tax liability and put more income in your pocket. © 2021 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

How to avoid scams like this

APRIL 2021 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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PHOTO BY MATTHEW BENSON

Travel Leisure &

Jumbo jingle: A bell tower rings out free concerts in Arlington, Virginia. See story on opposite page.

More to Florida Keys than just Key West driving time without stops — follows the 113-mile Overseas Highway, U.S. 1. Almost immediately after leaving the mainland, travelers are immersed in local atmosphere. Bridges and piers are lined by fishermen seeking their dinner. Boats harbored in marinas are available for deep-sea fishing excursions and rides to snorkel and dive sites.

Key Largo The popularity of water sports becomes immediately evident on Key Largo, the first island you reach while driving south from the mainland. Film buffs associate it with the 1948 motion picture starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. While several tourist spots claim they had a part in making of the film, most scenes were shot on a sound stage in Hollywood. Nearby is John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, which covers 178 square miles of coral reefs, mangrove swamps and seagrass beds. Divers and snorkelers enjoy close-up encounters with more than 50 varieties of multihued coral and 600-plus species of fish, while landlubbers can identify resident and migratory birds. Other state park amenities include rental canoes, kayaks, snorkeling, glass-bottom boat tours, hiking paths and two manmade beaches. Many people are surprised to learn that

PHOTO BY LAURENCE NORAH/FLORIDA KEYS NEWS BUREAU

By Victor Block One afternoon during a recent visit to the Florida Keys, I photographed my wife as she swam with stingrays and other denizens of the sea in an enormous tank of water, and then gingerly shoved live fish through a small opening in a plexiglass wall to feed hungry sharks on the other side. The island chain that stretches in a gentle curve southwest from the tip of Florida combines close-up encounters with nature with quirky touches of crass commercialism. Throughout the limestone islands, landscaped parks abut shops selling sandals, shells and T-shirts (“four for $10”). Recreational vehicle and trailer lots lie in the shadow of upscale resorts. An environmentally conscious tattoo artist donates half a month’s income to coral reef restoration. Key West offers a variety of tempting things to see and do, from funky and fashionable to historical and hysterical. But my wife, Fyllis, and I had another goal: We wanted to see if other islands in the Keys have enticing attractions that warrant a look. We found plenty. For starters, there’s the setting itself: dots of land so narrow that we could watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean, stroll across the highway and see it set hours later into the Gulf of Mexico. The Keys include some 1,700 islands, only about 40 of which are inhabited. The journey by car from the first island, Key Largo, to Key West — about three hours

PHOTO BY ANDY NEWMAN/FLORIDA KEYS NEWS BUREAU/HO

Alexeen Simms, a masked server at the Hungry Tarpon Restaurant in Islamorada, Florida, delivers a tasty lunch to outdoor diners. Many Florida Keys restaurants, including this one, offer to “cook your catch” after a fishing excursion.

The modern Seven Mile Bridge, left, near Marathon, Florida, is the longest of 42 bridges that comprise the Florida Keys Overseas Highway. Its predecessor, the Old Seven Mile Bridge, right, has become a popular biking, running and fishing spot for visitors and locals. It should be fully restored by this December.

there are few stretches of inviting sand in the Keys. That’s because reefs east of the islands reduce the beach-building action of the surf. Fortunately, there are some inviting exceptions. Anne’s Beach on Lower Matecumbe Key is fronted by an elevated wooden boardwalk that meanders through a wetland hammock. White-sand Sombrero Beach, set against a backdrop of grassy lawns shaded by palm trees, is a favorite among locals because of its isolated location off the main drag. Many sun worshippers rank the babypowder-soft sand at Bahia Honda State Park among the best anywhere.

Wildlife refuges The fact that there are relatively few outstanding beaches on the Keys has its upside: more time to discover other treasures. One of these is the variety of animals encountered in the wild and at national refuges and state parks. Most appealing is the tiny and adorable Key Deer, a subspecies of white-tailed North American deer found only in the Keys. The miniscule animals, listed as endangered, stand about two feet tall. Most live on Big Pine and No Name Keys, in a federal refuge. The misnamed Blue Hole on Big Pine Key, an abandoned quarry that’s no longer a hole but a freshwater lake, is home to

wading birds, turtles, numerous fish and a resident alligator. During spring and fall migrations, refuges provide habitat for more than 250 species of birds. While I’m no ornithologist, I enjoyed searching the sky for winged visitors with intriguing names like sooty shearwater, brown noddy and dark-eyed junco. At the Florida Keys Wildlife Bird Center on Key Largo, birds recover from accidents or disease. Those nursed back to health include a peregrine falcon, redshouldered hawk and roseate spoonbills. Sea turtles are patients at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, which treats animals that have been injured and, when possible, returns them to the wild. The facility even has its own Turtle Ambulance which, on occasion, visitors will spot on a rescue mission. Our tour included views of the examination and surgery rooms, and face time with 74 resident reptiles, as turtles are classified, including those identified as Brianna, M&M and my namesake, Victor. A personal favorite site was the Crane Point Museum and Nature Center, a preserved pocket of thatch-palms that represent the natural habitat of the Keys. We began our visit in the museum, viewing exhibits that range from a 600-year-old dugout canoe and See FLORIDA KEYS, page 18

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2021

See lesser-known Washington memorials

Vietnam Women’s Memorial A short walk from the Einstein Memorial is the acclaimed Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Just south of Maya Lin’s famous wall, however, is the lesser-known Vietnam Women’s Memorial, recognizing the 265,000 women who served in that war. Titled “Legacy of Healing and Hope” and designed by Glenna Goodacre, it is the first memorial in Washington to honor military women. The 15-foot bronze sculpture depicts three women caring for a wounded soldier. Women served as nurses, doctors, air traffic controllers and in many other roles in the Vietnam War. Nurses tended to more than

300,000 service members in the war, saving almost 98% of those who reached hospitals.

Korean War Veterans Memorial A short walk from there, a stainless-steel squad of 19 soldiers on patrol is a striking reminder of military service at the Korean War Veterans Memorial. The soldiers are depicted trampling over granite strips amid scrubby junipers that suggest Korea’s rugged terrain. Their windblown ponchos recall the harsh weather they endured. A polished black granite wall displays etched images of the faces of Americans who served. On it, a plaque reads, “Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and people they never met.”

LBJ Memorial Lyndon Johnson was a big man full of bravado, but the capital’s tribute to him is anything but. The quiet Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove is co-located with Lady Bird Johnson Park on what used to be called Columbia Island. It lies alongside the Potomac River, with a view of the city’s more famous monuments in the distance. “President Johnson came here often when he needed to escape,” notes the National Park Service’s website. “After he

PHOTO BY M. PAYNE

By Glenda C. Booth Albert Einstein sits on a white granite bench in downtown Washington, D.C., with a notebook in hand and a pensive look on his bronze face. But the four-ton, 12foot statue of the world-famous physicist is often overlooked by tourists and locals, despite its location in front of the National Academy of Sciences, just across the street from the National Mall. Of course, many of D.C.’s large, imposing monuments, such as those honoring Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln, are familiar. But sprinkled around the city are many intriguing hidden gems. This spring, safely explore these free outdoor sites.

The often-overlooked Albert Einstein Memorial is just a short walk from the National Mall. This spring, visit some of D.C.’s new and lesser-known memorials.

died, his wife chose this place for his memorial.” The entire island was later named for her and much of it landscaped in homage to her advocacy for highway beautification. M. Meade Palmer designed a living memorial of pine trees, azaleas and winding paths against the backdrop of the river, recalling the Johnsons’ strong ties to the natural setting of their Texas ranch. The site is

accessible by car and footbridge from the George Washington Memorial Parkway.

Netherlands Carillon The 127-foot Netherlands Carillon in Arlington, Virginia, was a thank-you gift from the Netherlands for U.S. help during See D.C. MONUMENTS, page 18

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Florida Keys From page 16 early Keys explorers, to remnants of pirate ships and a realistic, simulated coral reef cave. Then we checked out the labyrinth of nature trails, wild bird center and butterfly meadow.

Bridges for walking, biking, fishing Another part of the Keys story is the Seven Mile Bridge, completed in 1912 as part of the railroad built by industrialist Henry Flagler to connect the Keys to the mainland. After the demise of the railroad, the bridge became part of the Overseas Highway. Since a new span was built alongside it in 1982, the old structure has been a favorite route for walkers, bike riders and so many fishermen that it’s referred to as

“the longest fishing pier in the world.” Fishing from bridges and boats is so popular that I have included it in “Victor’s laws for people who wish to live in the Keys.” Other rules: Own a boat. If you don’t know how to fish, learn. Develop a taste for all kinds of seafood. Relax. That last admonition was spelled out on a roadside sign I spotted, which succinctly summarizes perhaps the greatest appeal of the Keys: “Honestly now, what’s your hurry? You’re here!”

If you go During the pandemic, facial coverings are required in all Florida Keys businesses as well as outdoors when social distancing of six feet or more is not possible. I recommend staying on Marathon Key, located near the midpoint of the archipelago. The Skipjack Resort & Marina (19

APRIL 2021 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Sombrero Blvd., Marathon) has a pleasant tropical feel and overlooks a golf course. Its private marina offers boat docking, charter fishing, diving and snorkeling tours. Rates begin at $145 a night. For more information, visit skipjackresortmarathon.com or call (305) 289-7662. Appropriately named Tranquility Bay Beachfront Hotel & Resort (2600 Overseas Highway, Marathon) is set among 12 acres of lovely landscaped grounds, with a private beach, three heated swimming pools and a putting green. Accommodations are in hotel rooms and two-and-three-bedroom villas. Rates start at $200 a night. For more information, see tranquilitybay.com or call (844) 489-9665. Not surprisingly, seafood is the highlight of many restaurant menus. It doesn’t get any fresher than at the Clawsa Blanca, perched above a seafood market (3502 Gulfview Ave., Marathon). The menu at this pleasantly disheveled eatery and bar is limited but the options are fresh off the boat and bargain-base-

ment priced. They include stone crab claws ($3 each), tasty smoked fish dip ($5) and steamed clams in garlic butter ($9.95). For more information, call (305) 743-4353. While the Cracked Conch Café (4999 Overseas Highway, Marathon) offers a full menu, not surprisingly it specializes in serving meat of the sea snail for which it’s named. Owner Joe DeConda explained that conch (pronounced conk) may be prepared every way that veal is. For him, that includes Parmesan (with marinara and cheese), Capri (tomatoes, cheese and basil), and Marsala (marsala wine and mushrooms). All come with several sides ($24.95). For more information, visit conchcafe.com or call (305) 7432233. To book the one-hour Coral Reef Snorkel Encounter ($65), contact Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters at (305) 407-3262 or visit floridakeysaquariumencounters.com. If you’d like to plan a trip to the Florida Keys, get started by calling (800) 352-5397 or visiting fla-keys.com.

D.C. monuments

Designed by Vietnam veteran Harvey Pratt, of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes of Oklahoma, the “Warriors’ Circle of Honor” invites people in via an elevated walkway. After passing seals of the branches of the U.S. military, visitors can contemplate a large steel circle centered in a gently flowing pool of water. The overall presentation is a soothing juxtaposition to the traditional, marble monuments around Washington. Across Independence Avenue, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, designed by world-famous architect Frank Gehry, highlights chapters of the 34th president’s life — from Kansas prairies to Normandy Beach in World War II and then to the White House. The four-acre outdoor memorial was dedicated in September 2020. “Ike” is commemorated by large bronze sculptures, stone bas reliefs, and a statue of the young boy from Abilene, Kansas. “The proudest thing I can claim is that I am from Abilene,” said the man who was the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in World War II, led the D-Day attack on Nazi-occupied France, and won the war for the Allies. The most striking feature of the sandstone memorial is a unique, stainless-steel tapestry, 447 feet wide and 60 feet tall, of 600 panels and 82 million welds depicting France’s Normandy coastline.

From page 17 World War II. In the spring, tulips bloom around the tower. The Royal Netherlands Embassy, which operates the bell tower, sent its bells to a Dutch foundry for restoration. The foundry will cast three new bells dedicated to George C. Marshall, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Eleanor Roosevelt. Later this year, the new bells will be added to the current 50 bells, and free, automated daily concerts will resume.

Capitol Grounds The U.S. Capitol’s grounds, a 58-acre park landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1874, may be the stage for protests, but it is also an accredited arboretum with more than 100 labeled varieties of trees and shrubs, many gifts from states. In the west front lawn of the Capitol is the hexagon-shaped Summerhouse, an open-air brick structure Olmsted completed in 1880. It’s surrounded by a grotto and rocky stream, and its park benches and fountain provide a place of cool respite from the heat — thermal and political. (As of press time, the Capitol Grounds were fenced off to the public.)

Two new memorials Nearby, located on the grounds of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, a patch of watery wildness lies within view of the U.S. Capitol. The new National Native American Veterans Memorial was dedicated in November 2020.

If you go All of these sites are free and outdoors. Most are accessible from a Metro station or via the DC Circulator bus (free to seniors transferring from Metro). Masks are required on public transportation.

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FLICKR/SOOMNESS

Style Arts &

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor sits at the mouth of the 39-mile-long Patapsco River. Our cover story continues on page 20.

Q&A with Billy Crystal on his new movie CRYSTAL: One day when I was in the makeup chair for the film, and I’m sitting in a makeshift little space that we had because there was no dressing room, there’s no doubt we changed in the car. We changed in the restroom if we were shooting at a restaurant or bar. And I’m sitting there putting the stuff on my face and the smell of the makeup and the powder was exactly the same as I remember in third grade for the school play. And (I remember) how excited I was that the parents were out there and that there was an audience, you know, on the other side of that curtain. I just couldn’t wait to get out there. I’ve been on that hook since I was a kid. AP: Your performance is being lauded. With awards season coming up, is that something you’ve thought about? CRYSTAL: I have to admit, it’s very nice to just be in the conversation and mentioned. Whether that happens or not is such a long shot. But it’s very satisfying, I have to say. I just really want people to see the movie because the movie’s a little powerhouse that had no budget for publicity. AP: You’ve done so much in your career, from standup and big movies to directing and Broadway. When did you know this is what you wanted to do? CRYSTAL: When I was 4 or 5, I got up in front of the family with my two brothers and we would memorize Carl Reiner and Sid Caesar and Howie Morris routines and then do them. We didn’t think we were stealing. We

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By John Carucci After hosting the Oscars nine times, Billy Crystal wouldn’t necessarily rule out a tenth. But the 72-year-old actor would prefer some wider attention for his low-budget indie film, “Standing Up, Falling Down.” Perhaps even a longshot Academy Awards nomination. “If it happened, it would be unbelievable. I’m really thrilled just to be in the discussion and not for, ‘Hey, would you host again?’” Crystal said. In the movie, released in February 2020, Crystal plays an alcoholic dermatologist who befriends a down-on-his-luck comedian, played by Ben Schwartz. Crystal also serves as executive producer of the movie, shot in his childhood hometown of Long Beach, New York. A key scene takes place in the temple where he was married in 1970. After starring in polished Hollywood classics like “City Slickers”’ and “When Harry Met Sally,” Crystal jokes that his latest project was a bit more scaled down. “My character, Marty, with no last name, that’s how small the budget was. We couldn’t even afford a last name for him,” he said. The Emmy-winning actor spoke with the Associated Press over Zoom to talk about his roots, his history hosting the Oscars, and returning to his hometown for a film shoot. Comments have been edited for clarity and brevity. AP: Did being back in Long Beach for “Standing Up, Falling Down” bring back childhood memories?

Billy Crystal, pictured in Phoenix in 2018, is receiving rave reviews for his starring role in a new film. The low-budget independent comedy-drama “Standing Up, Falling Down,” which Crystal also produced, can be rented on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV.

didn’t know. We just loved them so much. And they were such an influence on us. Then I would get up and do my own stuff and imitate the relatives because

their accents were interesting. The characters were so great. These Eastern EuroSee BILLY CRYSTAL, page 21

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Patapsco From page 1 efforts, including heritage tourism, historical films, websites, oral histories and interpretive planning. For the past 15 years, Shapiro has taught courses in American and environmental history, covering issues such as sprawl and federal housing policies regarding discrimination. At Auburn, students in Shapiro’s Introduction to Public History course coordinated a dozen interviews with employees of the Southern Region of the Forest Service. His students took field notes and worked on group projects, creating blogs, podcasts and short films. His course also covered the 1911 Weeks Act, a federal law that allowed the government to buy private land to protect East

Coast waterways, along with fire-protection initiatives.

Cultivating tourism A noted scholar, Shapiro has authored or co-authored a long list of journal articles and book chapters. His 2013 book, The Lure of the North Woods: Cultivating Tourism in the Upper Midwest, traces the transformation of the Great Lakes region, reimagining the forests and waterways of three states as a mecca for tourists and tourism-related industries. Now Shapiro will turn his focus to Maryland. Shapiro acknowledged he had never visited central Maryland’s 39-mile-long Patapsco River before taking this new job. In fact, his first glimpse of the river valley was through works of art. At an open-air artists’ reception last Oc-

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Mar. 31+

FORECLOSURE MEDIATION CLINIC The Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service hosts free virtual clinics

in which they provide brief legal consultations to homeowners facing foreclosure.

APRIL 2021 — BALTIMORE BEACON

tober, he recalled, “I made the comment that it was inspiring to see the way artists captured river life. I got to see the Patapsco River Valley through that lens for the first time.” Upon his arrival in Maryland, as the pandemic worsened, Shapiro didn’t waste any time reaching out to community members. For example, Shapiro collaborated with Amanda Hof, executive director of Howard County Tourism, to raise awareness about the network of walking trails in the watershed, along with shopping and dining options. “It’s great for retirees — just for the natural beauty, if nothing else,” Hof said. There are also many opportunities for older adults to get involved in projects like cleanup, research and recreation in the heritage area.

Patapsco Days 2021 This month, as the pandemic lingers, many of Patapsco Days’ traditional events

have been canceled. However, its virtual lineup includes Patapsco Shorts — video presentations about brewing and distilling, quarries, local vernal pools and more. Patapsco Shorts will remain on the group’s website throughout the year. Additional events this year include a webinar on birding, a discussion about Patapsco River monitoring, and an oral history workshop. “COVID hasn’t stopped us,” Shapiro said. Despite the pandemic, the nonprofit’s work is moving forward. Since January, for instance, Shapiro’s staff has been collecting stories from libraries, historical societies and people of all ages throughout the heritage area. “There are untold stories to be explored,” Shapiro said. “The goal I have is to diversify those stories.” To find out more about Patapsco Days or the Patapsco Heritage Greenway, visit patapsco.org.

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Apr. 1

VIVA LATINO In this free virtual event hosted by Maryland Libraries Together,

The next clinic takes place Mon., March 31, as well as additional dates, from 3

learn about the diversity of the Latin American community as represented in litera-

to 6 p.m. To register, call Aja Mallory at (443) 451-4079. For more information,

ture and poetry. The discussion will be viewable via YouTube, but registration is sug-

visit bit.ly/ForeclosureClinic.

gested. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/VivaLatinoConversation.

Billy Crystal From page 19 pean and Russian relatives that we had with great faces and sounds. And they were joyous and they loved to laugh and they loved to be entertained. And I loved entertaining them. And I just continued that. AP: Did your early penchant for entertaining help lead to hosting so many Oscars shows? CRYSTAL: Honestly, I didn’t feel that much different, except the world is watching. From the time I started, you really have to want to be up there and you really have to want to be that guy or that person to host the show. I put my own stamp on it. And that was fun. I mean, I had a good time and I needed to relax them as well. And it was a step up because I’m at that point when I started in 1990 now, I mean, “Harry and Sally’’ [had] just come out and before that “Throw Momma from the

Train.” I had earned my spot that I was now a member of the movie industry, you know. So, when I walked out there, I had more cred as a member of the community. I relished that and I was able to poke fun at it, but respect it at the same time. Those first years of doing the show were wonderfully exciting and satisfying. AP: This year the Oscars will probably not have an audience. Last year, it didn’t have a host. What are you expecting? CRYSTAL: Yeah, it’s very tough now. I thought that they did a very good job with the virtual Emmys. Jimmy Kimmel did a wonderful job. It’s just so awful, the condition that we’re in. So any kind of entertainment that we can bring to people to ease their pain is really important. I think that if the show can find a way to do it and do it well and really celebrate the work part of it and the entertainment part of it, it’s OK. But I think one of the years I hosted we were in a bad recession, and the economy

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Ongoing

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2021

was terrible. And I said, “This is what we want to see — millionaires giving each other gold statues.” I think we have to really find the right way to do it. AP: If they asked you, would you ever do it again? CRYSTAL: Oh, I know you were going

to — as soon as we got there, it got a little chilly in here. I don’t know. We’ll have to see. I don’t know. I don’t know if they would ask me. That would be a tough, tough thing to consider, but we’ll see. —AP

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Mar. 29+

JOB SEEKERS SUPPORT GROUP Are you struggling with the social, emotional and psychological

stress that comes with looking for a job? Join the virtual Baltimore Job Hunters Support Group every other Monday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/JobHuntersSupport.

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 22 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

THE WALTERS MUSEUM REOPENS The Walters Art Museum reopens for guests on Wed., March 17.

Admission is free. Masks are required, and visitors are expected to socially distance. Parking spots can be reserved in advance online. To learn more, visit thewalters.org or call (410) 547-9000.

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Crossword Puzzle

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

By Stephen Sherr 5

13 16

20 22 24 31

36 39

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Across 1. Approver of COVID vaccines 4. ___ of least resistance 8. Ivory Coast neighbor 13. Illuminated 14. Tax receipt provider 15. The period before the big event 16. One who commits a violent attack 18. Chew the scenery 19. Ability to stay calm 21. MGM movie opening sound 22. Econ. measure 23. Finale 24. Half of the full NELSON 26. Two-time loser to D.D.E. 27. Small battery size 30. Sense of determination 36. “A face is ___ map of someone's life” (photographer Chuck Close) 37. Extra digits in a phone no. 38. Yiddish sigh 39. Inability to discern 42. Draped hat popular in the 1920’s 43. Morse code: ... --- ... 44. Neighbor of Ger. 45. Used a loveseat 46. Queue after Q 48. Famous ___ 52. Fortuitous circumstances 56. Lent a hand 57. Name on an envelope 58. Pick a pocket 59. State flower of Indiana 60. Workbench staple 61. Ice cream parlor offering 62. Balance beam stabilizers 63. Starfleet Academy grad.

Down 1. Pizazz 2. Bee Gees' genre BB421

Scrabble answers on p. 21.

3. On the Love Boat 4. Tetris game piece 5. Playwright Chekhov 6. Get ready to drive 7. Frau's partner 8. City that has hosted the most ACC basketball tournaments 9. Muggy 10. Mysterious quotation notation 11. Pistachios and pecans 12. Friend of Tarzan 14. Request payment 17. Space station crisis 20. Swerve suddenly 25. Equestrian position 26. Prefix meaning “self ” 27. Woody's character in Annie Hall 28. To the safe side, nautically 29. Fonzie's approvals 30. Skip several meals in a row 31. The 9th named Atlantic storm of 2017, and the 3rd strongest ever recorded 32. Location on a Clue board 33. Longings 34. Moronic beginning 35. Where contact lenses are shaped 40. Letta afta theta 41. Improvements 45. Quarterback's run 46. Actress Winona Of Stranger Things 47. Town near Gomorrah 49. Tricky billiards shot 50. Neptune's realm 51. Distorts data 52. Dancing ___ the Stars 53. Inventor's inspiration 54. Spanish snack 55. Heroine of Star Wars episodes VII - IX 56. Numbskull

Answers on page 21.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — APRIL 2021

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.

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Real Estate

Computer Doctors . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 www.BeaconSilverPages.com . . .20

Long & Foster/Michael Phipps, Condo King . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-7

Travel

Housing

Retail

Catholic Charities Senior Services . . . . . . . . . . .B-2 Charlestown/Erickson . . . .B-4, B-7 Charter Senior Living . . . . . . . .B-3 Christ Church Harbor Apts . . . .B-5 Enterprise Residential . . . . . . . . . .9 Oak Crest/Erickson . . . . . .B-4, B-7 Park View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Pickersgill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-6

Blue Moon Estate Sales . . . . . . .B-3 Perfect Sleep Chair . . . . . . . . . . .21 Quingo Scooter . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Radio Flea Market . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Zinger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Manor Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Superior Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Volunteers, Careers, Education Baltimore County Dept of Economic & Workforce Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Beacon Inside Sales . . . . . . . . . . .15 CCBC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Meals on Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . .B-2

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APRIL 2021 — BALTIMORE BEACON