May 2021 | Howard County Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

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They put out fires of all kinds PHOTO BY HOWARD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES

By Margaret Foster Supporting an older relative can be challenging, particularly from a distance. Cindy Carr has experienced that struggle firsthand. Carr’s uncle, who is 77 and lives in Colonial Landing in Elkridge, fell four times last year. Each time, he had to call 911 for help. “He’s got lots of health issues, and I live out of state,” Carr explained. Last August, she was surprised to receive a phone call from the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services with an offer to provide long-term help. The department’s new Mobile Integrative Community Health program matches frequent 911 callers with county services that address their problems, helping them avoid experiencing repeated emergencies. “They put us in contact with absolutely wonderful people from the Department of Aging,” Carr said. They provided needed medical equipment, sent a physical therapist to his house three days a week, and set up a weekly check-in with a nurse — which doubled as a welcome “social visit” during the pandemic. “He hasn’t fallen since we started this program,” Carr said. “Working with the Fire Department has been such a blessing.”

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On a road trip through southern Portugal, discover castles, convents-turnedrestaurants, historic villages and beautiful beaches page 20

County long-haulers The county has 13 fire stations, and many firefighters have been with the Department of Fire and Rescue Services for decades. In fact, its new chief, William Anuszewski, has three decades of experience in the county. “As a lifelong resident of Howard County, it’s both a privilege and honor to have served this community as a firefighter and now chief of our renowned combination fire department,” Anuszewski said in a statement. The word “rescue” is in the name because all department employees in Howard

Wayne Sutphin, a Howard County firefighter and emergency medical technician for 40 years, holds an American flag he rescued from a house fire. Through a new county program, Howard County Fire and Rescue workers are working with the county’s Office on Aging & Independence to help older adults obtain services they need to stay safe at home.

County are also EMTs and paramedics. That means when they respond to a call, they bring years of experience with not only firefighting but health emergencies.

Master firefighter Wayne Sutphin, 55, started as a volunteer in the fire department

ARTS & STYLE

The show’s back on at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, with safety protocols; plus, books revisit the Civil War after 160 years page 23

See FIREFIGHTERS, page 24

FITNESS & HEALTH 4 k Solutions for lower back pain k Painkillers and vaccines don’t mix LAW & MONEY 14 k How to make your money last k ‘Experts’ who steer you wrong ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

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

A sabbatical of sorts Spring is such an optimistic time of year, out our readership area. as colorful flowers burst into bloom all Our hope was to draw out those who may around us. have stepped away from a This spring in particular childhood talent or passion in we are all ripe for a change of the interests of making a livscenery, for some new begining. Or to entice older adults nings following the past who had never tried their year’s awful pandemic. It’s hand at art or poetry to give it partly the season’s rising of a whirl and see what they’re the sap that has me itching to capable of. do something creative myself We knew we were onto this spring. something when we received Regular Beacon readers more than 900 entries in our know that our cover stories FROM THE first Celebration of the Arts. I often profile local residents PUBLISHER also realized that I was in who have followed their pas- By Stuart P. Rosenthal good company, right there sions — or discovered new with many of our readers, ones — later in life. eager for an opportunity to rekindle a pasYou may remember reading about our sion from my past. recent Celebrations of the Arts — amateur Of course, writing (and editing) are art competitions for people over 50 that among my passions, and I have been joyhave both recognized and helped encour- ously engaged in them at the Beacon for 32 age painters, sculptors and poets through- years.

BEACON BITS

May 10+

SPRING CONCERT

The Horowitz Center for the Visual and Performing Arts of Howard Community College presents On the Wings of Spring, a showcase of works by G. Telemann and Valerie Coleman for solo flute and works by Debussy, Fauré and Cassadó for a cello/piano duo. The concert can be viewed virtually anytime between Mon., May 10 and Mon., May 24. To learn more and to purchase $10 tickets, visit bit.ly/WingsofSpring.

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

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

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

But going back to my earliest school days, playing the piano and composing short musical pieces were my chief hobbies. Well, maybe not my earliest school days. It took a few years of rather tedious lessons (and forced practice) before I was able to play the music that really brought me pleasure. After that, it was hard to stop me. My parents went from imploring me to practice to wondering when they’d have a moment’s peace. Stop I did, however, once I got to college or shortly thereafter. Life and its many requirements for survival moved me into other fields where I had a better chance of making a living. Still, whenever possible, I would get myself to a recital or concert, or listen to records and CDs to enjoy the pieces I most relished. Once in a while, I would sit down at our electric piano and fake my way through some of my favorite pieces, feeling I couldn’t really commit to the practicing it would take to play them well once again. And then, almost exactly four years ago, I learned of a local group of now-older adults who for decades had been meeting every summer for something they called “piano camp.” In addition, they would meet periodically through the year to play piano for each other and have lunch at a member’s home. I pulled the old “press pass” trick and asked to visit their piano camp in Balti-

more that summer as a member of the media. From that experience, I wrote a Beacon cover story. You probably know what happened next. I joined the group, I started attending piano camp, and next thing you know, I’m asking my wife if we can buy a baby grand. I now practice the piano almost every day (a little), and feel I am almost back to the level I had reached when I stopped playing. I have also rediscovered my original compositions from high school, and started tooling around with some new themes. Which brings me to this column. I have decided I owe myself a brief sabbatical of sorts: seven weeks to devote myself wholeheartedly to music and composition. I have no particular end goals in mind. I just want to see where it takes me and what it feels like. Fortunately, we have such a wonderful staff at the Beacon that I don’t expect you will even notice my absence. Except for this column, that is. You will be hearing from our managing editor, Margaret Foster, and from a special guest columnist in our June and July issues. As you are driving around with your car windows open this spring, if you happen to hear some tinkling ivories on the wind, I hope they remind you of me. See you in a couple of months!

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: The citizens of Maryland need to be aware that the Board of Physicians has “absolute authority” in Maryland. The Board favors the physicians and not the citizen. When a complaint is made, the Board operates in complete secrecy. The person making the complaint is not contacted during the process and cannot get any answers from the Board. There is no appeal process. Cecil B. Fulford, Col (Ret) USAF Columbia, MD Dear Editor: It’s Springtime anew! You can tell because of the dew but there is liquid sunshine some may call rain too…See the birds soaring allowing rising

air to lift them to the sky while baby squirrels nimbly try to fly. Bushes are turning from Brownness to lushness Raindrop Blue-Green as if singing of the Spring. Bees spread out working hard at their jobs pollinating flowers and plants blooming nectars of fruits, nuts, vegetables, soil and Spices of Honey too. The Sky seems to Sing daily lullabies sweet music awakening us and taking us to sleep. Yes, what a Blessing to see and have SPRINGTIME ANEW… Little Blessings are as Great as Big Blessings! Deborah Morris Via email

BEACON BITS

Apr. 30+

HCC DANCE COMPANY SHOW The Howard Community College’s Dance Company Concert will be available for streaming from Fri., April 30 to Fri., May 14. Tickets

cost $5. The virtual concert integrates innovative movement and design experiences through the art of dance for the camera. For more information, visit bit.ly/HCCDanceConcert.

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

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

Health Fitness &

ALLERGIC TO PENICILLIN? Most people either outgrow an allergy to penicillin or were misdiagnosed LATEST COVID-19 NEWS Don’t take ibuprofen before a vaccine; and older adults show resilience in pandemic SLEEP RESEARCH Losing sleep? Enroll in an at-home study for insomniacs and normal sleepers THE EYES HAVE IT Quit smoking, control blood sugar and add spices to food for better eyesight

Mayo Clinic Q&A: Lower back pain issues By James Atchison, D.O. Dear Mayo Clinic: I am 45 and relatively healthy. But about a year ago, I hurt my lower back while working in the yard. I felt a sharp pain and could barely walk. It took about a month to heal.

Then about a month ago, I hurt my back again — this time while lifting my young son. The pain does not seem to be getting better. Is there anything I can do to speed the healing process? How can I prevent this from recurring?

A: Lower back pain episodes are common among adults, with about 80% of adults experiencing lower back pain at some point during their lives. Lower back pain is one of the top five reasons that individuals seek medical care.

FIND Y FIND YOUR OUR N NEW EW H HOME OME A AT T

In many cases, lower back pain resolves on its own. Most people have significant improvement in their pain within 14 days, and symptoms usually resolve in 4 to 6 weeks. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for lower back pain to recur. The biggest predictor of developing lower back pain is having a history of prior episodes. As many as half of acute lower back pain sufferers will experience another episode of back pain within a year. However, only a very small percentage of those people go on to develop chronic lower back pain.

Steps for self-care

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To ease your present lower back pain flare, there are a number of self-care steps you can take. First, maintain your usual activities as much as possible, but do be cautious with movements that sharply increase the pain. Second, consider taking a nonprescription pain reliever. Anti-inflammatory medication, such as naproxen and ibuprofen, may be of benefit for short-term use. There are also some topical medications that people find effective at times, including counterirritants for heat/cold, lidocaine from numbing and anti-inflammatories for more local use. Many people take other nutritional supplements to help their pain, but no one supplement has been determined to be effective for everyone with lower back pain. However, most do not have a lot of side effects or risk. If over-the-counter medications are not enough, talk to your healthcare provider about a muscle relaxant to reduce symptoms. The use of these medications is not to eliminate your pain but rather to reduce it to allow you to resume more movements and activities. Be aware that prescription medications may have more side effects, such as nausea, sedation and/or constipation.

Physical therapy helps Physical therapy during the acute episode can be an important part of treatment for lower back pain. It should involve teaching you to use heat and/or cold therapies, proper stretching exercises, and the safest strengthening exercises — especially for the abdominal core muscles. Practicing good posture and proper See LOWER BACK PAIN, page 5

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

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

Which is better: Olive oil or coconut oil?

From page 4

Olive oil is a staple fat in the Mediterranean diet, and its previously publicized benefits have largely relied on examining its use by European populations. This information is useful, but looking at olive oil within the context of American diets provides us with stronger data to guide dior osteopaths. Other, more active interventions to consider are yoga, Pilates or an aquatic exercise program. Talk with your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of these approaches, and whether they may be right for your situation.

To reduce future risk

standing intermittently. Regular exercise can strengthen your muscles, which makes it less likely you’ll have future lower back pain episodes. There are no studies, though, that indicate one exercise is better than another for prevention of future pain. General core exercises or aerobic exercises can be valuable. Proper warm-up and cool-down techniques may include more back-specific stretching maneuvers. Aerobic and resistance exercises also can help you reach and maintain a healthy weight. This may help to protect you from future lower back and other problems that

can be associated with obesity. Finally, if you smoke, stop. Smoking accelerates spinal degeneration, and that contributes to the development of back pain. If you would like guidance or support as you work to quit smoking, talk to your healthcare provider. Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. Email a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org. © 2021 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Once the pain goes away, take measures to reduce your risk of future lower back pain episodes. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions on how to bend, lift and move to ensure proper back biomechanics. You also may incorporate back-friendly practices into your daily life, such as using a chair that has good back support at work and at home, or using a desk that changes levels to move from sitting to

in studies examining Mediterranean populations has been as high as three tablespoons. After taking demographic and lifestyle factors into consideration, those consuming more than half a tablespoon per day had a reduced risk of developing CVD compared to those using olive oil infrequently (less than once per month). Consuming more olive oil was also associated with a decreased likelihood of dying

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body mechanics also can help reduce pain. The benefit to starting a physical therapy program is to find out which approaches are best for you with your current symptoms and to learn the proper technique for the exercises. The goal is to acquire a regimen of stretching and strengthening to be able to do at home for long-term benefit. Additional passive interventions that may provide some short-term benefit for pain reduction in people with lower back pain include massage, acupuncture, low-level laser treatment and spinal mobilization. These soft tissue and/or joint mobilizations often are called manipulation, and may be done by therapists, chiropractors

The case for olive oil

etary choices here at home. A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology looked at adults in the United States and found that replacing margarine, butter or mayonnaise with olive oil was associated with reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. This is particularly notable because Americans tend to consume less olive oil than Europeans. In the U.S., high consumers averaged a little less than one tablespoon of olive oil a day, whereas daily intake

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Lower back pain

type should be hyped as a panacea, one variety isn’t getting the press it deserves: olive oil.

I N F O R M AT I O N

By Emily Gelsomin, Harvard Health Blog Coconut oil has developed a cult-like following in recent years, with proponents touting benefits ranging from body fat reduction to heart disease prevention. Sadly for devotees, the evidence to support these assertions remains rather sparse. But there is plenty of research to suggest that other plant-based oils have advantages over their animal-derived counterparts, particularly when it comes to heart health. So, which oil is best? While no specific

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

Have a penicillin allergy? Are you sure? By Kimberly Blumenthal, M.D. People with a penicillin allergy on their medical record are not given penicillins (or often their relatives, the cephalosporins) when they have infections. Instead, the antibiotics prescribed may be broader-spectrum, less effective, and/or more toxic. One recent national study from more than 100 U.S. hospitals with almost 11,000 patients demonstrated that if you have a reported penicillin allergy, you are five times more likely to be prescribed clindamycin than if you do not have an allergy. Clindamycin is an antibiotic that is highly associated with the potentially lifethreatening Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) gastrointestinal infection. A study using

comprehensive U.K. data recently confirmed that people with a documented penicillin allergy have a 69% increased risk of C. diff. When patients undergo surgery, a penicillin relative (cefazolin) is often used to prevent an infection at the surgical site. However, according to one study, in patients labeled with a penicillin allergy, cefazolin is routinely avoided in place of a less effective substitute, resulting in a 50% higher risk of surgical site infections for people with a documented penicillin allergy. Confirming or ruling out a penicillin allergy through penicillin allergy testing could justify the risks of avoiding beta-lactams (the drug class that includes penicillins and cephalosporins), or potentially

avert them by allowing doctors to prescribe beta-lactams when they are needed. Even some patients with severe penicillin allergy histories are able to take penicillins safely again, because penicillin allergy often does not persist for life. In all, about 95% of people tested for penicillin allergy in the U.S. are found not to be allergic.

What allergy testing entails Penicillin allergy testing often begins with an allergy history. In order to know if testing is appropriate, the clinician needs to know some details about the reaction, such as: When did it happen? What were the symptoms? How were you treated? If appropriate, the next step may be the penicillin skin test. This test involves prick-

Olive oil From page 5

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from CVD. Even slight increases in olive oil consumption, like replacing roughly a teaspoon of margarine or butter each day with a similar amount of olive oil, had advantages. Olive oil was also correlated with a reduction in inflammatory compounds that may contribute to the progression of CVD. Olives contain plant chemicals called polyphenols that may help reduce inflammation. Virgin olive oil, which is extracted through mechanical rather than chemical means, is thought to offer higher levels of protective plant compounds than refined olive oils. Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a product of the preferred, mechanical processing. Though we need more research, these polyphenols may also extend benefits to other areas of the body, like the brain. For instance, along with other healthy diet habits like eating leafy greens, primarily using olive oil when cooking has been associated with combating decline in brain function as we age.

How does coconut oil compare? Proponents of coconut oil cite the mediumchain fatty acids it contains as a benefit because of the unique way these fats are digested. It’s claimed these fats offer advantages related to weight loss and cholesterol, though these assertions remain controversial. In a recently published study in the journal Circulation, which compiled data from a variety of trials, coconut oil did not show benefits related to waist circumference or

ing the skin and introducing a small amount of allergen. Anyone with a positive skin test to penicillin — there’s usually itching, redness and swelling at the site of the test — is allergic and should avoid penicillin. People who have no reaction to the skin test can undergo the amoxicillin challenge. In this test, the clinician gives the person amoxicillin (a type of penicillin), and observes for signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction for at least one hour. Allergists routinely perform penicillin allergy testing. Other types of doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and even pharmacists can be trained to perform penicillin allergy skin testing in the U.S. See PENICILLIN, page 8

body fat compared to other plant-based fats. Coconut oil, a tropical plant oil, also did not fare as well as nontropical plant oils, like olive oil, with respect to reducing other cardiac risk factors. In fact, coconut oil increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol — the kind associated with an increased risk of heart disease. That said, extra virgin coconut oil, which can be purchased in the United States, is arguably less processed, and often refined in a manner similar to EVOO. A recent trial published in BMJ Open looking at extra virgin coconut oil did not show an increase in LDL cholesterol when compared to EVOO during a four-week period. (Both oils performed better than butter.) Unfortunately, there are not enough human studies involving extra virgin coconut oil to support its use as a primary fat in our diets. Nor do we have information about its long-term effects here in the U.S.

And the winner is…olive oil The benefits of using nontropical plantbased oils remain very promising, making olive oil a natural choice in the kitchen. Try oil and vinegar on a fresh summer salad, or in place of mayo in potato or tuna salad. Consider a drizzle of olive oil instead of a pat of butter or margarine when cooking vegetables. And keep coconut fat to occasional use, say, to enhance the flavor of a vegetable curry, or as a substitute for butter in baked desserts. © 2021 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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

COVID-19 News Don’t mix vaccine with painkillers It’s best to avoid taking painkillers before or after a COVID-19 vaccine, unless you routinely take them for a medical condition. Although the evidence is limited, some painkillers might interfere with the very thing the vaccine is trying to do: generate a strong immune system response. Vaccines work by tricking the body into thinking it has a virus and mounting a defense against it. That may cause arm soreness, fever, headache, muscle aches or other temporary symptoms of inflammation that can be part of that reaction. “These symptoms mean your immune system is revving up and the vaccine is working,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a recent news briefing. Certain painkillers that target inflammation, including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and other brands), might curb the immune response. A study on mice in the Journal of Virology found these drugs might lower production of antibodies — helpful substances that block the virus cells. If you’re already taking one of those medications for a health condition, you

should not stop before you get the vaccine — at least not without asking your doctor, said Jonathan Watanabe, a pharmacist at the University of California, Irvine. People should not take a painkiller as a preventive measure before getting a vaccine unless a doctor has told them to, he said. The same goes for after a shot: “If you don’t need to take it, you shouldn’t,” Watanabe said. If you do need one, acetaminophen (Tylenol) “is safer because it doesn’t alter your immune response,” he added. —AP

Older adults show resilience in pandemic Older adults have generally been viewed as among those at higher risk in a COVIDsaturated, increasingly isolated world. When it comes to mental and emotional health, however, older adults in the United States are showing resilience and persevering despite struggles with loneliness and isolation, the latest self-reported results in an ongoing study suggest. The latest data from the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project, conducted by the social research organization NORC at the University of Chicago, is part of a longer-term study designed to track the physical and emotional well-being of older Americans over time.

A majority of older adults reported good mental health. Only 9% of older adults reported having “fair or poor overall mental health” during the pandemic, similar to their previous answers. Nevertheless, the study found that general happiness has declined. About half as many older adults now report they are very happy or extremely happy, and an increasing number report occasional feelings of depression or isolation. “It should sensitize everyone to the reality of isolation’s impact, but also the reality that people are resilient — and maybe

even more so older adults than younger adults,” said Louise Hawkley, principal research scientist at NORC and the lead researcher on the study. “They’ve been through things already. They know how to handle stress,” Hawkley said. “This is something we can learn from them — that there is survival.” The information comes from 1,284 respondents between the ages of 55 and 99, interviewed in September and October — all of them participants in a longer-term study that also collected data in person in 2015-2016. No margin of error was provided. —AP

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Fitness & Health | New: subscribe online! See how on p. 22

Health Studies

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

INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Volunteer for a home-based sleep study By Margaret Foster If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, you know how difficult it can be to feel alert the following day. How well we sleep at night affects how we think, feel and act during the day. Now researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine are launch-

ing a new study for older adults with or without sleep disorders — and no in-person visits are required. “It’s an exciting study because we are applying a new, smartphone-based approach to measure daytime function in participants’ homes and daily lives,” said Dr. Emerson Wickwire, director of the Insom-

nia Program at the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus and associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “The long-term goal of this project is to advance understanding and improve quality of life through improved sleep, especially as we age,” Wickwire said in an email. “Improving sleep is one potential avenue to maintain brain health as we age. Volunteering for this study is one important way to participate in that scientific process. And, our research team is highly experienced and fun to work with,” he added.

How the study works Adults 60 to 85 years old are welcome to participate in this remote study. Those without sleep problems are invited as well

Penicillin From page 6

New clinical tools

DO YOU HAVE TROUBLE SLEEPING? Study Volunteers Needed No In-Person Visits Required The University of Maryland, Baltimore is conducting a research study to evaluate sleep and daytime function in older adults via mobile app.

We are inviting adults aged 60-85 years old with OR without sleep problems including insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and other sleep problems. If you join the study: • You will wear a portable activity band. • You will use an App on your smartphone to answer survey questions. • You will receive compensation. For more information, please contact the study team at: 410-706-1483 or emastudy@som.umaryland.edu. Principal Investigator: Emerson M. Wickwire, PhD ewickwire@som.umaryland.edu 410-706-4771 This research has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at University of Maryland, Baltimore, Protocol # HP-00092562.

There are increasing numbers of clinical tools that can help your primary care doctor, or other non-allergist healthcare provider, assess whether you have a true penicillin allergy. The first tool is a risk stratification scheme, published in JAMA and endorsed by multiple professional associations. The review encourages an amoxicillin challenge be prescribed for low-risk patients. Patients are classified as low-risk if their reactions occurred more than 10 years ago, and: were isolated and unlikely allergic (gastrointestinal symptoms, headaches); featured itching without rash; and did not include allergic symptoms such as hives, swelling, wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness. The JAMA review recommends that medium-risk and high-risk patients, including those who did experience one or more allergic symptoms or an anaphylactic reaction, undergo a skin test before completing an amoxicillin challenge.

as those with sleep problems such as insomnia or obstructive sleep apnea. The study takes several weeks. Researchers will conduct assessments over the phone and by mobile app. Once enrolled, participants will be mailed a Fitbit-like device to wear on their wrists. Then they’ll receive training to use the wristband and answer questions on a related mobile app. Compensation will be provided. “Our goal is for volunteers to have a seamless, rewarding experience as participants in this study,” Wickwire said. “Study staff are available throughout the study to answer questions and provide support.” For more information, call the study team at (410) 706-1483 or email emastudy@som.umaryland.edu. Another recently developed tool, called PEN-FAST, can be used by all types of medical providers to help decide if it is safe to give you penicillin, and potentially remove your allergy label (“delabel” you). The tool uses your allergy history to determine risk similar to the JAMA expert guideline. PEN-FAST stands for PENicillin allergy reported by the patient, Five years or less since the reaction (2 points), Anaphylaxis or Angioedema, Severe cutaneous adverse reaction (2 points), Treatment required for the reaction (1 point). You receive a score based on your responses to these four criteria, which reflects the likelihood that you have a true penicillin allergy. A total score of less than 3 indicates a low risk of penicillin allergy. Such patients would be likely to tolerate an amoxicillin challenge. Of course, you and your doctor must be prepared for an allergic reaction prior to ingesting any medication to which there is a possible allergy. Kimberly Blumenthal, M.D., MSc, is a contributor to Harvard Health Publications. © 2021 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

Slow weight loss can improve fatty liver By Irun Bhan, M.D. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common cause of liver disease in the United States, and is estimated to affect up to a quarter of adults in the world. It is defined by excess fat accumulating in the liver, and usually occurs in people with obesity, high blood sugars (diabetes), abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels, or high blood pressure. These disorders often run together and, as a group, are called metabolic syndrome. Non-alcoholic liver disease is becoming more prevalent as obesity becomes more common. It is also underdiagnosed, since it usually causes no symptoms.

risk of having NASH. The most accurate way to diagnose NASH is by liver biopsy. But blood tests and imaging tests can be used to determine who might be at low risk for NASH to avoid unnecessary liver biopsies. A useful, noninvasive test for some people is liver elastography, a special kind of ultrasound that estimates how much scarring there is in the liver. Elastography can help sort out who might benefit from further testing by liver biopsy. Regardless of whether NASH is present, exercising and eating a healthy diet can go a long way in treating metabolic syndrome and preventing complications down the road.

How fat may damage the liver

Weight loss, exercise are key

In some people, excess fat sits in the liver but may not cause any liver damage. However, in about one in 20 people, excess liver fat triggers chronic liver inflammation. This condition is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH. As with other liver disease, such as viral hepatitis or alcohol-related liver disease, chronic inflammation can cause ongoing damage, which leads to liver scarring known as fibrosis. Severe fibrosis is called cirrhosis regardless of the cause. People with cirrhosis are at risk for liver failure and liver cancer and may need a liver transplant. The key to preventing complications of NASH is to catch it early and treat it before the liver has sustained significant damage. Early diagnosis is tricky; usually people have no symptoms from their liver disease. If you have been diagnosed with any of the components of metabolic syndrome, you should talk to your doctor about your

For people who are overweight or have obesity, the best treatment for NASH is weight loss. A landmark study showed that

BEACON BITS

Apr. 28

AGING GRACEFULLY Learn strategies from

the Howard County Health Department to help you meet your personal health goals and keep your brain healthy in this free online event on Wed., April 28 from 11 a.m. to noon. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/AgingGracefullyWorkshop.

May 8+

VIRTUAL 5K OR HALF-MARATHON Run or walk (at home

or in your neighborhood) the virtual Maryland half-marathon or 5k to raise funds for the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center. Register for the race at bit.ly/MDVirtualRunWalk and then run or walk anytime between Sat., May 8 and Mon., May 10.

losing 10% of one’s body weight can reduce liver fat, resolve inflammation and potentially improve scarring. More recently, in a meta-analysis published in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers combined data from 22 studies and confirmed that weight loss by behavioral programs, medications or weight-loss surgery can successfully treat NASH. Diet and exercise are the first line of treatment. At least 150 minutes of heart-pumping activity per week is recommended. While it’s not clear which diet is best, those that emphasize vegetables and whole foods, such as the Mediterranean diet, are good options. If sufficient weight loss is not attainable with these steps, weight loss surgery, such as gastric sleeve or gastric bypass, can be considered. For certain people without diabetes, vita-

min E can help treat NASH. For those with diabetes, certain medications that improve blood sugar, such as the thiazolidinedione drug pioglitazone (Actos) and the incretin mimetic drug liraglutide (Saxenda), may also have beneficial effects on the liver. Any decisions regarding medications for NASH, including the use of vitamin E, should be made with your doctor. Individuals with NASH must also protect the liver from any other causes of liver inflammation. This means abstaining from alcohol, and making sure you are vaccinated against the hepatitis A and hepatitis B viruses. Finally, anyone with NASH should also identify and treat individual components of metabolic syndrome they may have, in order to reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes. © 2020 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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

The key to perfect pan-seared salmon By America’s Test Kitchen Pan-searing salmon sounds straightforward: Just add a little oil to a nonstick pan, get it good and hot, season a couple of fillets, and cook them until they’re cooked through and nicely browned on the exterior but still pink on the inside, right? There are two issues with this technique: The fish cooks unevenly, and the exteriors of the fillets end up more tough than crisp. We knew we could do better, so we set out to create a simple recipe that took advantage

of the intense heat of the skillet to produce a golden-brown, ultra-crisp crust on salmon fillets while keeping their interiors moist. The solution to the dryness problem was relatively easy: salt. We salt and brine meat all the time, and both techniques apply just as well to fish. Beyond seasoning the flesh, the salt also helps keep it moist. A 15-minute brine did both, and as long as we patted the fillets dry with paper towels before cooking, we found that the treatment didn’t significantly inhibit browning.

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To make sure the fish browned nicely and cooked evenly, we started skin-on fillets in a cold pan and then turned on the heat. This allowed the fish to cook through gently as the pan slowly came up to temperature. We then flipped the fillets over after the skillet was good and hot so they could form a crust and finish cooking through. And the skin shed enough fat as it cooked that we didn’t need to add a single drop of oil to the pan. This salmon was excellent with just a squirt of lemon, but we also whipped up a mango-mint salsa to go along with it. The salsa’s bright flavors balanced the salmon’s richness, and it added mere minutes to this quick, weeknight meal.

Pan-Seared Salmon with MangoMint Salsa Serves 4 For the salmon: Kosher salt Pepper 4 (6- to 8-ounce) skin-on salmon fillets For the salsa: 1 mango, peeled, pitted, and cut into ¼inch pieces 1 shallot, minced 3 tablespoons juice from 2 limes 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

1 jalapeño chile, stemmed, seeds reserved, and minced 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 garlic clove, minced ½ teaspoon salt Dissolve ½ cup salt in 2 quarts water in a large container. Submerge salmon in brine and let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, combine all sauce ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Remove salmon from brine and pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle the bottom of a 12-inch nonstick skillet evenly with ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Place fillets, skin side down, in the skillet and sprinkle tops of fillets with ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Heat skillet over medium-high heat and cook fillets without moving them until fat begins to render, skin begins to brown, and the bottom ¼ inch of fillets turns opaque, 6 to 8 minutes. Using tongs, flip fillets and continue to cook without moving them until the centers are still translucent when checked with tip of a paring knife and register 125° F on a meat thermometer, 6 to 8 minutes longer. If using wild salmon, cook it until it registers 120° F. If you don’t want to serve the fish with the skin, peel it off after it is cooked. © 2021 America’s Test Kitchen. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

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

Natural ways to improve your eyesight By Suzy Cohen Just imagine what it would be like to read with more clarity, and be able to focus your eyes better and see the leaves on the trees without squinting! How about reading a book without discomfort? We live in a time where we can correct many eyesight problems with professional help. For people with problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, there are eyeglasses, contact lenses, LASIK and refractive surgery options. Today, I’d like to share some other options, as well as some controllable lifestyle factors that can help you protect your eyesight naturally. In particular, you should focus on retinal and macular health, light and dark adaptation, eye fatigue and strain, and crispness of vision. Maintaining eye comfort and moisture is also important. Here are some valuable tips: 1. Add saffron to your recipes. Saffron may improve retinal sensitivity, color perception and visual contrast, according to studies on supplements. You can add this yellow spice to rice, soup and sauce recipes, and even marinades. 2. Consume more fresh spices. Carotenoids are natural dyes that impart orange color to fruits and vegetables. Two potent ones are lutein and zeaxan-

thin, which sweep away poisonous free radicals before they harm your eyes. Foods rich in lutein include fresh spices like basil and parsley. Other foods include leek, spinach, red peppers and kale. 3. Limit or eliminate smoking. Smoking damages the eyes and may lead to blindness because of macular degeneration and cataracts. If you’re smoking a pack a day, even cutting that in half would help! Smokers also need additional Vitamin C because nicotine is a “drug mugger” of C. 4. Control blood sugar. Having hyperglycemia is a known risk factor for many eye problems, including a condition where the high blood sugar (which acts like an acid wash) causes damage to the capillaries of the light sensors in the back of the eye (the retina). It’s called diabetic retinopathy. Hyperglycemia also contributes to glaucoma. Managing blood sugar through diet, exercise and herbal supplements is ideal. This topic is covered extensively in my book Diabetes Without Drugs. 5. Try tinted plastic reading sheets. There are many brands of reading filters available online, and the most useful colors are orange, yellow, blue and red. The sheets are placed on top of any reading literature (magazine, newspaper, novel, journal, etc.), and they reduce the

harshness of bright paper. They may help with conditions that affect reading such as dyslexia, color blindness and/or autism-related reading issues. 6. Invest in good eye vitamins. Shamefully, the ingredients known to help eyesight are often put into commercial brands that don’t bother to encapsulate the ingredients in acid-resistant capsules — a process known as enteric coating. If it doesn’t make it to your intestines because it degraded in your stomach acid,

it’s not doing you any good. So, check your brand and/or upgrade it. Medications to treat eye conditions are always an excellent choice, so continue taking whatever your ophthalmologist has prescribed. 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.

BEACON BITS

May 13+

PREVENTING DIABETES

The University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center presents a free virtual class about lifestyle changes that can help you prevent diabetes and improve overall health. This event takes place the second Thursday of every month from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Call (410) 787-4940 to register.

May 11+

DECLUTTERING FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS

Do you have too much financial paperwork? Are you wondering what to do with it all? If so, learn how to declutter and downsize your important documents in this two-part virtual workshop with Matt Paxton from A&E Hoarders and Mindy Godding from the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals. The first part of the webinar takes place Tues., May 11 from 7 to 8 p.m., and the second part takes place Thurs., May 13 from 7 to 8 p.m. Learn more and register at bit.ly/DeclutterDocuments.

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

A Publication of the Department of Community Resources and Services

Volume 11, No. 5 • May 2021

Building Communities of Strength to Connect Older Adults

his month, after an unprecedented year, Older Americans Month celebrates the resilience of older adults throughout our nation and the power of connection and engagement found in “Communities of Strength.” Throughout the past year, Howard County’s Office on Aging and Independence embraced a multitude of challenges as opportunities for growth, emerging stronger as a result. Throughout the pandemic, staying connected with those they serve has been the Office on Aging and Independence’s number one priority. While 50+ centers remained closed, the Office created an innovative platform to deliver virtual programs; facilitated drive-through meal distributions; and transitioned in-person services to electronic contact. These outreach efforts played a vital role in maintaining older adults’ health and well-being, and helped to combat social isolation in our community. “We are in this together” became OAI’s mantra while adapting service delivery methods to meet emerging needs.

Benchmarks Achieved by OAI in the Past Year While these are impressive statistics, it's the people behind the numbers who really matter — individuals whose needs were addressed during a difficult time. 87,255 — The number of Grab & Go meals distributed (more than 860 unduplicated people served, ensuring the continuity of food access). 33,038 — Total attendance at the 50+ Center Virtual Programs. More than 836 clients participated via Webex in exercise classes, arts, crafts, and other webinars, including mental health and falls prevention. 15,800 — The total number of services documented through Maryland Access Point (MAP). MAP information specialists fielded 12,790 calls related to Covid-19 vaccines and information; housing; Grab & Go food access programs; In-Home Care and more. 11,964 — The total number of telehealth visits made by the Medicaid Supports Planning Unit, to coordinate services for clients who need support with activities of daily living to help prevent institutionalization and facilitate aging in the community. 1,521 — Calls fielded by the State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) team to provide free Medicare counseling by skilled volunteers. 1,473 — The number of activities conducted by OAI’s Ombudsmen to address complaints, provide advocacy and education for individuals and families with loved ones residing in long-term-care settings. 341 — The number of residents served by the Guardianship program, through routine virtual visits, telehealth visits with medical providers, and care plan meetings via phone. 285 — Community Living Program telehealth visits, providing home safety and environmental assessments via video and telephone consultations to follow-up on goals set during initial screenings. 275 — The total number of telehealth services provided by Supportive Services for Older Adults to assist those at-risk of requiring long term care services to remain in the community. Trained professionals provided assessment, care plan development, and coordination and monitoring of services.

While the numbers speak volumes, OAI Administrator Jenna Crawley knows there is still work to be done to meet the needs of a community forever changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Helping our residents stay connected while staying home was just the start,” says Crawley, “As we move toward reopening our centers, we are cognizant of the fact that for many, virtual programs will remain a desirable option. This is especially true for older adults who live alone, or have mobility or transportation concerns. We want to continue to serve our community in the right way, at the right time and in the way they desire.”

A Message from Howard County Executive

Calvin Ball

ith the arrival of Spring, we’re feeling more hopeful with every passing day. As our community continues to get vaccinated, we are closer to ending this pandemic. By early April, we had already vaccinated 62.8% of Howard County residents age 65 and older. The strength and resilience of our older adult community over the past year has been incredible, and we’re all looking forward to seeing our loved ones and participating in small gatherings again. Throughout the pandemic, our Office on Aging and Independence has supported more than 33,000 participants with virtual programming, events and activities to keep our older residents connected and engaged. Last month, we began to phase in reopening our 50+ centers for in-person programming, and we’re hopeful that very soon all of our residents will be able to be back inside our 50+ Centers. There are so many vital services that our community relies on, and supporting our older adults continues to be a priority of my administration. In my proposed Fiscal Year 2022 capital budget, I’ve included $6.5 million in funding to advance the renovation and expansion of the East Columbia 50+ Center from 3,800 sq. ft. to nearly 30,000 sq. ft. The new center design features a commercial kitchen, fitness center, technology hub and much more. The expansion of this center is long overdue, and I’m hopeful that it will move forward this year with approval from the Howard County Council. As we all know, a community center that allows our older residents to connect, learn and thrive is a key component to a high quality of life. The time is now to ensure that our older residents have the resources, support and care needed to thrive (see photo on next page). This month there is so much optimism for the summer and fall ahead. Let’s continue to work together and keep one another safe. As always, we’re all in this together

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

The 50+ Connection

Say you saw it in the Beacon

The new East Columbia 50+ Center will be part of an essential network of places and spaces leading the county’s effort to become one of the nation’s best Age-Friendly communities. Our communities of older adults are among the fastest-growing in the county, and this new facility will help to support our vibrant, active neighbors who are seeking new opportunities in ﬁtness, career, lifestyle, and social engagement. PHOTO CREDIT

Jenna Crawley, ADMINISTRATOR Ofﬁce on Aging and Independence

Scott Kramer

THE EAST COLUMBIA 50+ CENTER was identified as one of the top priority projects in a Master Plan for the Office on Aging and Independence. If the proposed County funding is approved by the County Council, construction of the 50+ Center could begin as early as August 2021, with a projected opening date in the spring of 2023. The expanded 50+ Center will be almost 30,000 sq. ft. and include: • Commercial kitchen to support a congregate lunch program and provide capacity to address food insecurity issues for all older adults. • Large community meeting space to support meal programs, events and community meetings, plus a social day program for at-risk adults. • Technology hub for virtual program offerings and connectivity across sites. • Expanded programs in art, lifelong learning, languages, fitness, evidence-based health promotion, and intergenerational activities. • Fitness equipment room and exercise studio to support healthy aging for older adults. • The building will also be equipped with a generator to serve the center and the community during emergencies.

Try Trualta, a New Online Resource for Caregivers The Howard County Caregiver Support program now offers free access to Trualta, an e-learning portal designed to help family caregivers reduce stress, find local resources, and provide better care for their loved ones. Once enrolled, Howard County caregivers can access the online service 24/7 to learn more about topics like personal care, safety in the home, caregiver wellness, and dementia care. “The key to successful caregiver assistance is meeting caregivers where they are,” says Kathy Wehr, Caregiver Support Program Manager for the Office on Aging and Independence, “Many are juggling challenging care situations with full-time jobs, so Trualta’s on-demand access gives them flexible opportunities to build confidence, reduce stress, and improve their level of care.” This unique e-learning portal teaches in various modes, including audio, video, tip-sheets, music therapy, and professional-level training, enabling users to select the options that work best for them. “Trualta provides practical caregiver tips and techniques that you can start using right away,” says Wehr, “But the learning library can also help you prepare and plan for what the future may bring.” For more information or to enroll, email kwehr@howardcountymd.gov or call 410-313-5955 (voice/relay).

Howard County's Cycle2Health Kicks Off Its Ninth Season May 18 Cycle2Health Howard County (C2H) is a non-competitive, peer-led, bicycling club, coordinated by the Office on Aging and Independence. Adults of all ages and riding abilities are welcome as rides vary in length and difficulty. Rides take place on weekdays during daytime hours and depart from various locations. The annual $15 fee provides access to all rides scheduled during the 2021 riding season. Register at https://bit.ly/31WOuMd. Due to Covid-19, registration is limited to the first 100 riders. Since we are requiring sign-up for rides you wish to attend this season, keeping the registration lower allows for better access to rides. We are closely monitoring guidelines provided by the CDC, Howard County Health Department and the County Executive’s office to continue evaluating capacity for this season. There is a possibility for growth opportunities later this season; visit our website for the latest updates at www.howardcountymd.gov/C2H. For updated information, including a list of upcoming rides, call 410-313-6073 (voice/relay) or email mburgess@howardcountymd.gov.

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

Money Law &

Your credit score may be wrong. Find out how to correct it on page 19.

Will you run out of money in retirement? By Andrew Kobylski and Caroline Whittaker Huggins You just left a meeting with your financial adviser, and your nest egg is looking bulletproof, with a projected worth of over $1 million at age 95. But wait a second: Are you sure about that? If your financial projections look too good to be true, they might well be, for a variety of reasons. When the pandemic hit in March 2020, the stock market crumbled, and many people saw their investment portfolios drop. Fortunately, the markets eventually recovered, but the sudden drop caused many people to review their investments. While reviewing a new client’s portfolio at that time, we learned that his previous adviser projected his net worth as double our estimate by age 70. Naturally, the client was confused by the different scenarios. We discovered that the underlying growth assumptions the former adviser used were far too optimistic, giving the client an unrealistic view of his financial future.

Be safe; plan for the worst It’s easy for any adviser to make a financial plan look unbreakable when using un-

realistic assumptions. The true value of a financial plan comes from testing its resistance under difficult conditions. To do this, financial advisers typically conduct a “stress test.” The test typically examines how a financial plan will fare during a future unexpected event, such as a recession or major geopolitical event, and allows you to adjust accordingly. For example, if you are near retirement and your portfolio is heavily weighted in stocks, an unexpected recession may send it plummeting by double digits. Although there may be no recession in sight, stress testing would allow you to adjust your portfolio in advance to safeguard it from potential future harm. It’s a good idea to consider asking your financial adviser to conduct this test. Here are four areas to discuss to ensure your plan will hold up:

your projection. Take this scenario: A 45-year-old has $1 million in investments and saves $20,000 annually. If we omit taxes and assume a realistic 5% annual rate of return, his portfolio will grow to around $4.3 million by age 70. However, if this person’s adviser assumes a higher return, the projections show a scenario that is likely unrealistic. For example, at a 9% annual growth rate, his investments at age 70 would be valued at $10.3 million. Our research shows that the average investor loses 4% of their annual returns from simple mistakes stemming from investment selection, fee management and emotional trading. Not accounting for this principle in your plan’s growth rate assumptions may inflate your projected future assets. Our advice: Lean toward conservative growth assumptions to ensure your financial plan can withstand the unpredictability of future market returns.

What’s the implied growth rate? Most financial advisers build a conservative growth rate into their projections — 5% annual growth is a common rate. While changing the growth by even a couple of percentage points may seem irrelevant, it can monumentally alter the trajectory of

Account for inflation It’s not surprising $100,000 had greater spending power in 1950 than it does today. This can be seen in something as simple as the price of milk, which in 1950 was 83 cents. Today, the average price per gallon

is around $3.60. As we know, some expenses can have higher cost-of-living adjustments than others, such as healthcare or even education costs. Due to the ever-growing cost of living, accurately depicting inflation is necessary when developing your financial projections. Otherwise, your projections may misrepresent your future reality. Our advice: Since the cost of living will rise in the future, make sure you account for this growth in your financial projections. For most general living expenses, we typically like to assume an inflation rate of 2.5%.

Check accuracy of your spending During a planning session, a client reported she was spending around $120,000 annually, or about $10,000 per month. But when asked to map her annual expenses for one year, she realized she was spending closer to $140,000. We discovered that the additional $20,000 primarily came from home improvement costs, roughly $500 a month on takeout/Amazon orders, and other miscelSee DON’T RUN OUT, page 17

Four financial ‘experts’ you shouldn’t ask By Liz Weston None of us knows everything we need to know about money, so we may turn to experts for help. But some money professionals who offer advice are not qualified to do so — nor are they required to put our interests ahead of theirs. Be cautious when accepting advice from the following sources: 1. A dealership about how long your auto loan should be A dealership wants to sell you a car. To make the payments more affordable, you may be offered a loan that lasts six, seven or even eight years. Longer loans can get you smaller monthly payments, but they cost more overall, since you’ll pay more interest. You’ll also likely spend several years “upside down,” that is, owing more than your vehicle is worth. As the car ages, you

could easily face big repair bills while still making payments. If you needed to sell the car, you would have to come up with money to pay off the loan. Alternatively, you could roll the negative equity into your next car purchase, but that would make your next loan even more expensive. A better approach: Limit your auto loans to a maximum of five years for new cars or three years for used cars. Making a 20% down payment can help you avoid negative equity. Consider getting pre-approved for a loan from your local credit union or bank or an online lender. That can help you withstand the dealership trying to pressure you into expensive financing. 2. Mortgage pros about how much house you can afford Good mortgage brokers or loan officers

can be invaluable in helping you navigate a complicated process and understand the guidelines that lenders use to determine how big of a loan you can qualify for. But they can’t tell you how big of a loan you can comfortably afford. Neither can your real estate agent, for that matter. True affordability will depend on a lot of factors that aren’t captured in your application, including when you want to retire and how much you want to save for other goals, such as a grandchild’s education. There’s also your comfort level. Some people are fine borrowing the maximum because they believe their finances will only get better. Others prefer to borrow more conservatively. A better approach: Use online calculators to estimate how much to save for retirement and other goals. Then include those figures in your monthly expenses when

using a mortgage affordability calculator. Or consult a fiduciary adviser, such as a certified financial planner, accredited financial counselor or accredited financial coach. “Fiduciary” means obligated to put your best interests first. Most financial advisers aren’t fiduciaries, so make sure to ask. 3. Stockbrokers about whether to roll over your 401(k) A stockbroker may tell you that rolling your old 401(k) account into an individual retirement account gives you many more investment options, and that’s typically true. But IRAs can cost you more, and 401(k)s have better consumer protections. Stockbrokers want to sell you investments that earn them commissions. Typically, they have no responsibility to make See ‘EXPERTS’, page 17

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

Don’t run out From page 14 laneous one-off expenses that tend to go overlooked. This difference is significant. Compounded over time, this spending rate will affect her income in retirement. Rather than lasting through age 95, her assets would be depleted at around age 80. Using this information, we were able to get her back on track toward meeting her financial goals. While taking the time to monitor your annual expenses is important, even with a budget in place, unaccounted-for expenses

‘Experts’ From page 14 sure those investments are in your best interest. By contrast, a 401(k) administrator is a fiduciary, so it’s required to put your interests first and provide good investment options at a reasonable cost. Many 401(k)s offer access to ultra-low-cost institutional funds that aren’t available in an IRA. In addition, your entire 401(k) balance is protected from creditors. By contrast, your protections with an IRA depend on state law. Many states exempt only an amount “reasonably necessary for support” — which means, in some cases, creditors potentially could get it all. A better approach: Leave the money where it is if you like the old 401(k)’s investment options, or roll it into a new employer’s plan if that’s allowed. Otherwise, roll the money into an IRA at a discount brokerage. If you need help with how to invest it, consult a fiduciary adviser. 4. Social Security about when to claim benefits You can collect Social Security as early as age 62, but your monthly benefit in-

are bound to appear. The stress test can account for additional expenses that are typically overlooked, such as home upgrades, car repairs or any other unanticipated oneoff costs. Our advice: It’s a good idea to partially overstate your annual spending level to account for future, unknown costs. While everyone’s spending situation is different, grossing up annual expenses anywhere from 5% to 10% allows the plan to account for future unknown costs.

Other uncertainties Whether it’s a forced early retirement or creases the longer you delay applying until it maxes out at age 70. Multiple studies have shown that most people will collect more over their lifetimes if they delay filing. It’s particularly important for the higher earner in a married couple to delay, because that benefit determines what the survivor will get once the first spouse dies. Unfortunately, Social Security Administration employees sometimes advise people to start early — even though Social Security employees aren’t supposed to give advice. Applicants have been told, for example, that it doesn’t matter when they start benefits because the amounts paid out over their lifetimes will be the same. That’s a misinterpretation of Social Security’s attempt to be “actuarially neutral,” or have the system pay out the same amount in total regardless of when people claim benefits. A better approach: A Social Security claiming calculator can help you figure out when to start benefits. AARP has a free one, while more sophisticated versions are available starting at $20 at Social Security Solutions or $40 at Maximize My Social Security. —AP/NerdWallet

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a bear market, stress testing your financial plan will help account for other uncertainties in the future. It will not only test the plan’s strength, but also your individual financial flexibility. Knowing a plan can withstand a 30% market dip provides peace of mind. A test can also simulate the financial impact of taking a dream vacation or providing gifts to your favorite charity, giving you more freedom to spend your money in retirement. Navigating from your expected financial plan to these “Plan B” scenarios can display the robustness of your financial plan against unforeseeable risks.

Our advice: While it’s fine to look at the most likely financial scenario, consider a worst-case scenario, too. People often make their best financial decisions when they understand the potential consequences. There is no doubt that future events will have an impact on our financial future. By using realistic assumptions and mapping out all relevant scenarios, you can help make certain your plan can still deliver on your goals should these difficult conditions occur. © 2021 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Reap cash rewards by referring friends By Lisa Gerstner Do you like your credit card or bank account enough to recommend it to a friend or family member? If so, you may be able to scoop up extra cash, rewards points or frequent-flier miles by making a referral — and your friend may get a bonus, too. Several major card issuers provide referral bonuses to eligible cardholders. Chase, for example, offers $100 cash back for each friend who signs up for a participating Chase Freedom card (up to

$500 total per year), and 15,000 points for each friend who gets the Chase Sapphire Preferred card (up to 75,000 points per year). Chase also offers referral bonuses for some of its airline and hotel cards, including those that offer rewards from the United MileagePlus, Marriott Bonvoy and Southwest Rapid Rewards programs. For most of its cards, Discover offers a statement credit of $50 to $100 if you make a referral, and your friend gets a statement

credit after making a purchase within the first three months. (See discover.com/sharediscover for the amount available and annual cap.) American Express and Capital One have referral programs, too.

Checking account rewards, too For checking account customers, Chase offers $50 for each friend who opens a qualifying checking account (up to $500 per year). TD Bank provides $50 per friend that you refer to a personal checking account (up to $500 per year), and your friend gets $50 if he or she meets certain account activity requirements in the first two months.

Bonuses are taxable Beware the tax bite, however. Generally, credit card rewards are not taxed if you spend money to earn them (such as “percent back” awards). But because referral bonuses are not usually tied to spending, you may receive a Form 1099 from the card issuer reporting the amount of rewards you claimed through referrals as taxable income. Similarly, you may pay tax on bonuses you receive for opening or referring a friend to a bank account. © 2021 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

May 4

FEDERAL JOBS Are you interested in finding a job with the federal government? Learn how to apply and access helpful resources in this online

workshop with Yolanda Rayford, Senior Career Coach, Easterseals Veteran Staffing Network. This event takes place Tues., May 4 from noon to 1 p.m. For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/FedEmployment.

May 1

VIRTUAL BINGO FUNDRAISER Neighbor Ride is hosting a virtual Bingo fundraiser Sat., May 1 at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $25 and include two Bingo cards, or 6 games. To

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

Is your credit report wrong? What to do By Bev O’Shea Consumers filed complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in record numbers in 2020, according to a report released last month by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group. Credit reporting issues were cited in 282,000, or 63%, of the complaints. The majority noted “incorrect information” on credit reports or “information belongs to someone else,” the report said. Not only did complaints about credit report errors lead the list of consumer grievances, but the three major credit-reporting bureaus — Experian, TransUnion and Equifax — were the top three companies complained about.

Errors can endanger your score Accuracy matters since credit report errors can suggest identity theft or fraudulent activity on your accounts. And because credit report data provides the raw material for credit scores, errors can lower your score. Some of the volume of complaints may be an unintended consequence of payment accommodations mandated by the 2020 coronavirus relief bill and temporary concessions offered by lenders and credit card issuers. But credit report errors were common even before the pandemic, said Ed Mierzwinski, senior director of the advocacy group’s Federal Consumer Program and author of the report. Payment accommodations may have led more people to check their credit reports and find those errors, he said. Mierzwinski recommends that “any consumer with any credit account” check their credit reports. People who have common names may be at particular risk of a mix-up, he said.

Check credit reports for free Every year, you can get a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus by using AnnualCreditReport.com. You’ll be asked to provide personal identifying information — your name, Social Security number, birthdate and address. You will also be asked security questions to verify your identity. Some of those can be tough. If you aren’t able to answer correctly, call 1-877-322-8228 to request your credit reports by mail. You can also download and mail a request form to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

How to read credit reports Your reports from the three bureaus won’t look exactly the same. Not every creditor reports to all three, and the bureaus present information in different formats. But you can use a similar procedure for reading your credit reports. First, check your identifying information. Errors such as misspellings of a former employer are unimportant, but something like an address you’ve never lived at could suggest identity theft. Next, check account information. Each credit account you have (and some that are closed) should be listed and include: — Creditor’s name, account number and date opened. — Type of account (credit card, loan, etc.). — Account status and whether you’re current on payments. Accounts that were in good standing when pandemic-related payment accommodations began must continue to be reported that way until the accommodations end. — Whether you are a joint account holder, primary user or authorized user. — Credit limit and/or the original amount of a loan.

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— There may be negative information, such as collections accounts or bankruptcy records. Be sure that you recognize the information and that it is accurate.

How to dispute errors The Fair Credit Reporting Act holds both the creditor that reports to the credit bureaus and the credit bureaus responsible for making sure the information in your credit reports is accurate. If you spot an error in one credit report, check the other two for that error. Dispute the error with each bureau that’s reporting it. You can dispute by mail, phone or online — the credit report will include information on how to file your dispute. Credit bu-

reaus must investigate and inform you of the result. You can also contact the business providing the incorrect information. It must inform the bureaus of the dispute and, if it finds the information was wrong or incomplete, ask the credit bureaus to delete it. If disputing the error doesn’t resolve the issue, Mierzwinski recommends filing a complaint with the CFPB and asking for an investigation. That can bring additional pressure to correct misinformation, he said. The CFPB’s acting director, Dave Uejio, has said one of his goals is “making sure that consumers who submit complaints to us get the response and the relief they deserve.” —AP/NerdWallet

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Travel Leisure &

For now, domestic travel may be safest. See story on page 22.

Portugal road trip reveals beauty, history

Golden beaches Cape Sãrdao’s windswept expanse is famous for its curious, century-old lighthouse, Farol Cabo Sãrdao. The red-capped tower was built facing inland instead of toward the sea. Here you can park, get a closer look at the lighthouse, and explore the cape’s picturesque trails. Unwilling to leave the beautiful coast, I cruised five miles to Praia de Almograve.

Come during low tide and you’ll delight in the wide crescent of golden sand at this beach, where black volcanic rocks pepper the sand and cliffs tower above. At high tide, surfers are attracted to the roiling ocean. A short drive away is Vila Nova de Milfontes, a picturesque village situated where the placid Mira River meets the turbulent Atlantic. Vila Nova is blessed with undeveloped beaches flanking both sides of the river that attract plenty of birds. You may spot a kingfisher plunging into the water to capture a meal, or glimpse a grey heron spreading its wings on the shore. In this village, Tasca do Celso is a homey establishment where the locals sit on cork stools at the bar. Black pork tenderloin is one of the many Alentejo specialties served at this eatery.

By Jeanine Barone Strolling a sandy lane atop tall sea cliffs in Portugal’s Cape Sãrdao with nary a hotel in sight, I found an idyllic, pastoral setting far away from the hustle and bustle of Lisbon, just two hours north. My only company was a white stork gliding overhead. Springtime is especially lovely in southern Portugal, with lavender and thyme blooming, and stork chicks squirming in nests built precariously on the cliff’s rocky ledges. Rockrose, heather and hottentot fig line the paths through the Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina — a protected land and sea area of more than 183,000 acres on the Atlantic coast. Meaning “Beyond the Tagus [River],” the Alentejo, Portugal’s largest province, is a precious landscape, ranging from pristine coastal sand dunes to a sun-baked interior region stretching to the Spanish border. Amid the Alentejo’s olive groves, cork trees and vineyards are fortified hilltop villages where the Romans and, later, the Moors once ruled.

Portugal’s west coast is known for sun and sand. In Portugal’s Alentejo region, south of Lisbon, all roads lead to beautiful beaches, ancient towns and authentic restaurants.

Roman ruins The next day, as I drove some 70 miles east, my route took me past what would become a familiar sight: clusters of gnarled cork oak trees. (Portugal is the world’s largest cork producer.) Above blond plains floats Beja, a whitewashed village surrounded by battlements. From its hilltop perch, Beja stands as a former key Roman outpost. In fact, the soaring Tower of Menagem, the most outstanding structure of Beja’s centuries-old castle, was built atop Roman ruins and is considered the symbol of the city. Roaming Beja’s streets, you’ll see elabo© AHFOTOBOX | DREAMSTIME.COM

The Mira River meets the Atlantic Ocean in the colorful village of Vila Nova de Milfontes, which lies within a national park.

rate Manueline detailing on the facades and doorways, as well as ornate door knockers. Twenty miles southeast is Serpa, a tranquil, whitewashed, ancient town renowned for both cheese-making shops and museums. The delectable sheep’s milk cheese bearing the same name as the town varies in texture and flavor depending on how long it’s been aged. The youngest is soft and creamy, while aging for two years produces a harder, pungent, but no less tasty, product. Among the museums, the most extensive is the Ethnographic Museum, which displays historic tools, instruments and machines, grouped by occupation, from blacksmith to basket-maker.

Monks and the macabre After navigating 60 more miles on roads flanked by farmland, I gazed in the distance, gaping at a white city, Évora, the region’s historical center and a UNESCO World Heritage site. I meandered Évora’s tangle of cobbled streets, checking out the many architectural and historical treasures. One of the city’s most talked about venues is the Capela dos Ossos, part of the Gothic 16th-century Church of St. Francis. The macabre chapel’s walls and columns are constructed from floor to ceiling with human skeletons — more than 3,000 skulls can be counted. It’s no wonder

Franciscan monks once meditated here on the meaning of life and death. Surprises are everywhere in Évora: The present-day city hall was built around the visible Roman baths, and at the Cathedral of Santa Maria stands a marble statue of a pregnant Mary. Just outside town is Convento do Espinheiro Historic Hotel and Spa, a converted 15th century convent where the monks once hosted Portuguese kings. Olive, one of several restaurants on the property, makes for an atmospheric dining spot. (It’s set in the kitchen once used by the monks.) Here you can dig into a scrumptious thin-crust pizza, such as one topped with mozzarella, cured ham and local figs. Those who decide to stay at this luxe property may not want to leave, not just because of the evocative setting and guest rooms with balconies overlooking the blooming gardens, but also the relaxing spa. Olive oil-based signature massages and other treatments relying on organically-grown botanicals are among the most popular options.

Hilltop hamlets I started the next day by driving an hour through a landscape carpeted with silvery olive trees, fields of lavender and vineyards toward Monsaraz — a wall-encircled See PORTUGAL, page 21

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

Portugal From page 20 medieval village on a lofty perch high over the Guadiana Valley. As I wandered the hamlet along schistpaved streets, I noticed that this dark stone is just about everywhere, from the facades to the floors of houses festooned with bougainvillea. Dating to the 13th and 14th centuries, the dwellings are bedecked with immense wooden doors bearing iron door locks and knockers. Those who climb to the top of the castle have grand views of the pastoral countryside. There’s no need to leave the views behind if you have lunch at Sabores de Monsaraz, a cozy restaurant serving tasty, rustic cuisine. The scenic tables on the outdoor patio offer views over the vast Alqueva Dam. Two dishes worth trying are codfish migas (a traditional dish with bread that’s first soaked in water and then fried with garlic, olive oil and coriander) and the roasted lamb. No trip to the Alentejo is complete without a visit to Marvão, almost two hours away. You’ll navigate twisty roads to get to this village, whose walls seem to be one with its rocky perch. On the western edge of Marvão, a 13th-century fortress huddles on the crown of a rocky outcrop. Checking out the strategically placed stone sentry posts and cannons along the bulwarks, I was treated to awe-inspiring views of the Portuguese mountains Serra de Estrella and Serra da São Mamede, a natural park dotted with Neolithic remains.

Remembering a Jewish past Arriving at Castelo de Vide, a castle-centered village just six miles away, I walked the hilly cobblestone paths, passing homes adorned with well-tended flower boxes. Roaming about narrow streets, I spotted ornate granite doorways in the former Jewish neighborhood, where ancient stone portals are etched with evidence of their past: diagonal grooves for mezuzahs. Here is one of the oldest synagogues in Portugal, a 13th-century structure that’s

BEACON BITS

May 14

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

Do you know what to do if someone is experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis? Howard County General Hospital is hosting a course with a self-instructed online component as well as an instructor-led virtual session to train adults in identifying, understanding and responding to signs of addiction and mental illness. The course is free for all Maryland residents and takes place Fri., May 14 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit bit.ly/HCGHMentalHealth or call (410) 740-7601.

now a Jewish museum. As I prowled the village’s network of streets, I was lost in thought, recalling the many discoveries on my Alentejo journey. It’s hard to believe that driving just two hours from Lisbon’s gleaming skyscrapers can transport us back centuries.

ter as well as the beach and the Mira River. The rooms are minimalist and comfortable, some offering memorable views from a private balcony. At Casa da Eira, rooms start at $85 and apartments at $170/night; see villaeira.pt. At Tasca do Celso in Vila Nova, dishes

are typically priced under $30 per person; see wonderful.land/tascadocelso. Entrees often range from $15 to $18 per person at Sabores de Monsaraz; see saboresdemonsaraz.com/eng. To learn more about the Alentejo, go to visitalentejo.pt/en.

BEACON BITS

If you go As of press time, Portugal is open to travelers who present a medical certificate with a negative COVID-19 PCR test result issued within 72 hours of departure. Round-trip flights to Lisbon in May start at $345 In Évora, deluxe rooms at the Convento do Espinheiro Historic Hotel and Spa can be found for as low as $181/night. Pizzas and most of the main courses served at its restaurant, Olive, start at $18. Massages and other treatments at the spa start at $120 to $160; see conventodoespinheiro.com. For those looking to stay overnight in Vila Nova, Casa da Eira Boutique Houses is convenient to both the historic town cen-

May 15

LYRICAL MOMENTS

The Columbia Orchestra presents soprano Ah Young Hong performing Samuel Barber’s “Knoxville: Summer of 1915.” Other works performed include George Walker’s “Lyric for Strings,” Anna Clyne’s “A Wonderful Day,” and Mozart’s Symphony No. 29. The concert will be shown on YouTube on Sat., May 15 at 7:30 p.m. For more information, including the YouTube link, visit bit.ly/COrchLyricalMoments.

Apr. 30

ARTS COUNCIL VIRTUAL RECEPTION

The Howard County Arts Council is hosting a virtual reception for its two exhibitions, the annual Resident Visual Artists exhibition in Gallery 1 and Interplay in Gallery 2. This free event takes place Fri., April 30 at 6 p.m. via Zoom. Registration is required. Visit bit.ly/HCACReception to learn more and to register. Both exhibits will be on view at the galleries until May 29. For more information, visit hocoarts.org or call (410) 313-2787.

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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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As travel reopens, what you can do now Everywhere you look, you see signs of a travel, anywhere, until after you have rereopening of the travel world. Airlines are ceived a vaccine. Unfortunately, many U.S. residents won’t get vaccinatramping up schedules, and ed until summer — maybe destinations are actively seekeven late summer. ing customers. Unfortunately, however, If you can’t wait that long, a the major stakeholders — domestic road trip is probaairlines, destinations and bly your best bet, but even governments — have not put that might face some limitatogether coherent and unitions. fied policies and procedures for reopening. If you want to Quarantines and shutdowns start thinking about spring The various states in our or summer travel, you still TRAVEL TIPS union are not even on the have to navigate a minefield By Ed Perkins of confusion and uncertainty. What medical evidence I can see suggests not even thinking about extended

same chapter, let alone the same page, on policies about cross-border travel, either for residents or visitors.

Currently, at least half of the 50 states still impose some form of quarantine on travelers entering from at least some other states. Most rules ease limits for travelers with COVID-19 tests, but only three so far specifically account for vaccinated travelers. You still need to check for requirements for any out-of-state trip, even a road trip. Fortunately, enforcement is feeble everywhere, and more than half of U.S. states assess no penalties for quarantine violations. AARP’s continuously updated website is a good place to keep up with current rules: bit.ly/quarantineAARP. Except for Mexico and North Macedonia, international travel is still difficult right now. As with domestic travel, rules everywhere are inconsistent, but no matter where you go, CDC currently requires a COVID-19 test for returning travelers on any international flight. IATA (the International Air Transport Association) posts an updated interactive world map detailing restrictions at iatatravelcentre.com/world.php.

Vaccination and testing Just about everyone in the travel business expects that immigration services and airlines will soon start to rely on some form of uniform health “passport” that travelers can carry to verify vaccination and test status. It will most likely be implemented as a digital app, but maybe also a card or paper certificate, as well. IATA has developed a digital “International Travel Pass,” but to date only a few airlines and no governments have signed up for a trial [See “International travel pass in development” in the February Beacon]. American Airlines has launched VeriFly. Other proposals floating around call for linking health data electronically to passports. There’s no scarcity of ideas, but “soon”

is a pretty nebulous estimate of the time frame for a system that authorities around the world will accept.

Fares and rates As with the pandemic, the rate outlook remains cloudy. Industry mavens predict leisure travel will rebound faster than business travel. On the one hand, you will see lots of enticing offers; on the other, airlines and hotels need to stop hemorrhaging cash. Thus, I see some great airfare deals to Europe, but Allegiant’s latest domestic “promotion” features fares that are higher than they were before COVID. More than ever, that means you need to sign up for a few of the dozens of programs that notify you about deals. Some let you name specific routes or destinations; others show you everything and let you sort out what you want. Although the names of the deal websites focus on airfares, most also search hotels as well. And most work through apps as well as online. Here are some good ones: —Metasearch systems sweep hundreds of sources to locate deals; you buy direct or through an online agency. Most provide for notification, including AirfareWatchdog.com, FareCompare.com, Google.com/travel/ flights, and Skyscanner.com. —The big online travel agencies (OTA), such as Expedia.com and Priceline.com, also provide similar services. As I’ve been saying all along, plan as much as you want, but avoid nonrefundable prepayments. Domestic travel is likely to open up by summer; Europe and Asia maybe by fall. Email Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net and check out his rail travel website at railguru.com. © 2021 Ed Perkins. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Apr. 27

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

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Style

Arts &

Read up on the Civil War this month, the 160th anniversary of its beginning. See book reviews on page 25.

Dinner theater returns to Columbia safely

Taking safety a step further In reopening, Toby’s Dinner Theatre is abiding by all state and local guidelines. But they’ve increased some precautions, too. First of all, although the state allows 50%

capacity in theaters, Toby’s is only accommodating about a third of its normal audience. Next, rather than the all-you-can-eat buffet Toby’s is known for, which is allowed under state law, Toby’s has been serving pre-plated dinners to each guest. Its traditional buffet will return later, but so far, Minnick said, “The [pre-plated] choices are wonderful. Customers are loving it.” Parties are seated at tables that are six feet apart. After the meal ends, guests are asked to don face masks during the performance. Although the actors don’t wear masks, they wear transparent face shields so they can convey emotions. Also, most actors have been fully vaccinated, according to Minnick. They stay six feet apart on stage, and they rehearsed the musical wearing masks. Does all this dampen the actors’ enthusiasm? “The actors are thrilled to be back at work,” he said. Behind the scenes, Toby’s installed new ultraviolet “germicidal lighting” to its heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Most UV sanitization systems can eliminate up to 99.9% of bacteria and viruses. Workers also thoroughly cleaned the building. Even with all those precautions, Minnick understands if people don’t want to flock to theaters just yet. “Right now, everyone might not be ready” to return to the theater, Minnick said. “For those that are, we’re open and we’re ready for you.”

PHOTO BY JERI TIDWELL PHOTOGRAPHY

By Margaret Foster Last March, as the pandemic spread locally and nationally, actors at Toby’s Dinner Theatre realized that their rehearsals for an upcoming musical were all for naught. Like other businesses, Toby’s had to shut down. “When we were closed down last year, nobody knew how long this would last,” said Mark Minnick, executive director of Toby’s in Columbia. “We were one week away from opening Shrek. Life changed every day. The world was in chaos every day.” Last month, however, Toby’s Dinner Theatre picked up where it left off — with performances of Shrek: The Musical. Based on the 2001 animated film, the Broadway musical’s opening night was March 23. It felt “amazing” to be back on stage, said Minnick, a choreographer and director at the 40-year-old theater. “We have mounted a visually stunning and smart production of Shrek, and our customers are thrilled we are open,” he said. Toby’s officially reopened in November 2020 with an original production, Home for the Holidays, which had eight actors. “Live theater is vital and so important,” Minnick said. “We are open and bringing people a little escape, a chance to be able to get away with family in a safe environment.”

Shrek: The Musical, based on the popular 2001 movie and its sequels, is center stage at Toby’s Dinner Theatre through June 13 — with face shields for the actors and other safety precautions. Above, Russell Sunday, playing the misanthropist ogre Shrek, protects Marykate Brouillet as Princess Fiona from Jeffrey Shankle, the villain Lord Farquaad.

Toby’s will present Elf: The Musical, a Broadway musical based on the 2003 film starring Will Ferrell, Ed Asner and James Caan. Elf was initially scheduled to run last year. When Minnick and his team sat down to plan this year’s lineup, “We said, ‘You know what? People didn’t really get to get out and celebrate last year,’” he said. “So, we decided we’re going to have

Christmas in July — well, June.” Tickets for Toby’s show plus meal cost $65 to $68, depending on the performance. For people over 65, a special rate of $55.25 is available for Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and for the Wednesday matinee. To buy tickets, visit tobysdinnertheatre.com or call the box office at (410) 730-8311.

NOW OPEN!

What’s next After Shrek’s last performance on June 13,

March 23 - June 13

Columbia Pro Cantare

2020-2021 Season

June 18 - August 22

Enjoy Our Free Virtual Concerts: Visit www.procantare.org for information and YouTube links to hear selections from Handel: Messiah and Duruflé: Requiem Also check our website soon for details about a virtual “Thank You” concert to take place in late May or early June!

August 27 - October 31

410-730-8311

TobysDinnerTheatre.com

Call Today! Seats are Limited

Due to the nature of theatrical bookings, all shows and dates are subject to change. • Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Columbia, MD

Arts & Style | New: subscribe online! See how on p. 22

Firefighters From page 1 40 years ago. He has responded to emergencies of every kind, from fires to falls to tragedies. “I’ve seen a lot of things I wish I didn’t see — and a lot of things I was glad to see,” Sutphin said. Sutphin grew up “seeing the fire trucks and watching it on TV, naturally, as a young child,” he said, and then started volunteering as a teen. He soon realized he had discovered his lifelong career. “Everyone in life has a niche. Once you

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

find it, you want to do the best job you can,” he said. Part of that job for him is teaching the younger generation. Sutphin has become a mentor to the newer firefighters, he said. “You develop this father role. You continue to pass along information. Others have done it for me; it’s our responsibility to pass on all our life lessons,” Sutphin said. “I work with a great team. We’re very close.” He knows firsthand what it feels like to lose all your belongings to a fire: He and his brother suffered a house fire when they were in their 20s. So, this past December, when Sutphin and

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his team responded to a devastating house fire, he knew the family needed a kind word. “They’re standing there, watching everything be destroyed by fire, water and smoke,” Sutphin recalled. So, he plucked their American flag from the encroaching flames and presented it to the family. “I wanted to give them something tangible so they could at least have that,” Sutphin explained.

A grateful community Like Sutphin, Lieutenant Gregory Frank began volunteering as a firefighter when he was 16 years old — 35 years ago. Like Chief Anuszewski, Frank grew up in Howard County. He followed his father to work when he volunteered at the West Friendship station. “I’m fortunate to work in the same county I grew up in,” Frank said. “The community here is very generous. They always try to drop something off or send a handwritten card. At the grocery store, they’ll say, ‘Hey, thanks, guys.’ “I love the job anyway, and then to hear that just makes it even better.”

New role: preventing emergencies Frank and Sutphin have saved many people’s lives responding to fires and other emergencies. Now, a new county program can help even more people by preventing emergencies in the first place — particularly for older adults. As people age, they are twice as likely to be injured in fires compared to the general population. They’re also more likely to fall inside the home; in fact, falls are the leading cause of death in Howard County for people over 65. That’s why the fire department and the Howard County Office on Aging & Independence soft-launched the Mobile Integrative Community Health (MICH) program last September with funding from the Horizon Foundation.

This year it expanded its services to include mobile vaccination clinics. “Our mission is to try to help out people who need help,” said Christina Castro, MICH coordinator. Most of the program’s clients are 65 and older, Castro said. “We find that a lot of our clients in that age demographic didn’t have the same technology we did growing up, [so] trying to navigate the current health system is incredibly difficult for them.”

How the program works The MICH program assembles a team to connect residents with other agencies. It informs residents how to apply for services like home healthcare. Staffers do the work for the resident, contacting “a pool of agencies that come together and offer help,” Castro explained. After a resident qualifies for the program, a community paramedic does a home visit to assess their situation and determine exactly what the resident needs. In the process, they check smoke alarms and other safety features in the house. “When we get out there, often we find that it’s much more complicated,” Castro said. “We identify the problems we see and connect them with the programs that will help them.” Castro said that many residents were able to get flu shots in their homes this year, thanks to the program. In addition, in February, the mobile team began delivering coronavirus vaccines to homebound people. The program turned out to be just what Carr’s uncle needed. “Because of COVID, having these people come to his house has really made a difference in his mental state,” Carr said. “It’s been fabulous.” To find out more about the Mobile Integrative Community Health program or to see if you or a family member qualify, call (410) 313-2016 or email outreach@hcdfrs.org.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

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

Books revisit Civil War after 160 years The Civil War began on April 12, 1861, pages; The Western Theatre — volume 160 years ago at Fort Sumter, in the harbor 2, 110 pages, by the American Battleof Charleston, South Carolina. field Trust, Knox Press softOne week later the first fatalicover, 2020 and 2021 ties occurred in Baltimore, These two large-format Maryland. We are still reeling books of maps were ingenfrom its causes and aftereffects iously prepared by Steven these many generations hence. Stanley. Diagrams of 31 battles These recent books focus in the Eastern sector appear in our attention on the war and more than 60 color maps, and Lincoln’s fight against slavery. 28 battles of the Western theA Short History of the Civil atre are illustrated in more War, edited by DK, 560 than 70 color maps. THE pages, DK hardcover, 2020 The positions of troops on BIBLIOPHILE With the vast archival mateopposing sides and the maBy Dinah Rokach rial housed at the Smithsonian neuvers employed by battleInstitution at our fingertips, field commanders are shown history buffs and neophytes will enjoy in the pages of Battle Maps as an overlay combing the breadth and depth of the Civil on modern road maps. A one-page narraWar through this book. tive accompanying each battle helps readA Short History is organized in a com- ers understand the conduct of the Civil prehensive fashion. This remarkable histo- War from a military perspective. ry book features contemporaneous illusMany of the battlefields in the Eastern trations, photographs, editorial cartoons theatre are easily accessible to those of us and artifacts. residing in D.C. and Maryland. Studying Chapters are short and pithy. They in- the maps and taking them along will surely clude eyewitness accounts of battles and enrich the experience. photographs of military and civilian leadThe books are three-hole-punched at ers. Learn about military ordnance de- the margin and perforated, so individual ployed in that era. Read sophisticated maps can be removed. Purchase these analyses of underlying local, national and books and a three-ringed binder on the international political forces. American Battlefield Trust online store: Editorial consultant historian James G. shop.battlefields.org. Proceeds help supBarber is a retired curator at the Smithson- port the Trust’s work to save America’s ian National Portrait Gallery. Four consult- battlefields. The Crooked Path to Abolition: Abraants from the National Museum of American History and seven other historians ham Lincoln and the Antislavery Consticontributed to this prodigious work of tution, by James Oakes, 288 pages, W. W. Norton & Company hardcover, 2021 scholarship. Adding to the appeal of this volume for Civil War historian James Oakes prolocal residents is an extensive listing of vides a lucid account of the antislavery beCivil War sites by state, including websites liefs and actions of Abraham Lincoln as a and short descriptions. Twenty-two are in lawyer, congressman, Whig politician, one nearby D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Vir- of the founders of the Republican Party, ginia and Delaware. Check online before candidate for the presidency and comvisiting during the pandemic. mander-in-chief during the Civil War. Battle Maps of the Civil War: The The Crooked Path to Abolition focuses on Eastern Theatre — volume 1, 112 Lincoln’s deft reading of the law while

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 26 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

B E R G

A X E L

L A V A

E G O S

M R N A

T A L L

A C R I D

B O I S E

A S C A N

E O M P E R E R I N Y D S U N T P Y A E S C T K O F I T O F E R A C S E

G A N G

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M E M O

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E N D E E W M I S A B C B A M I S O T M I S S N S U M I S I D E C E E R

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A S I O N U R B O S I O N S E E E S I O N T O B E O W E S P A Y S

ANSWERS TO JUMBLE Jumbles: GOING ODDLY DEFIED SCENIC Answer: To get information before cutting hair, the salon owner did -- "DO" DILIGENCE

serving as president, sworn to uphold the Constitution. Lincoln’s policy called for enlistment of free African Americans in the Union Army. He created legal obstacles to the rendition of fugitive slaves by insisting on the due process rights of the accused fugitives. (As president, he was sworn to uphold the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.) When states seceded, he held that he could legally free slaves under rebellion. Lincoln believed he could not abolish

slavery by fiat within the Union but could incentivize states to do so before the adoption of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished slavery. Many policy decisions and executive orders by Lincoln as a wartime president are not as widely remembered as the Emancipation Proclamation and passage of the 13th Amendment. The Crooked Path brings forward Lincoln’s abolitionist leanings and the political opportunities he seized to free enslaved people.

A T E ~ ~ A L S

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Arts & Style | New: subscribe online! See how on p. 22

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

Crossword Puzzle

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

By Stephen Sherr

14 17

23 28

27 34

46 50

47 52

32 37

54 59

Across

Jumble answers on p. 25.

Scrabble answers on p. 25.

4. Manicurist’s material 5. Shares one’s feelings 6. Organized criminal group 7. Puerto ___ 8. Leg swelling 9. Many 11:00 PM TV shows 10. Sunglasses supporters 11. Unflinching 12. Stay after school to help out 13. Exhausted 18. “Getting ___ of a delusion makes us wiser than getting hold of a truth” (Ludwig Borne) 21. CRIBBING center 25. Prima donnas’ probable problems 26. Genetic component of some COVID vaccines 27. Long ___ Sally 29. Quick note 30. Parties in the gym 32. “They are not as smart ___” 34. Putin’s refutin’ 35. Tiger team 36. Recipients of May flowers 37. Colored eye part 38. Woodwind instrument used in I Got You Babe 39. “___ of your bee’s wax” 44. Hairdo 45. Board meeting participant 49. Pungent 50. State capital on Mountain Time 51. Give it ___ (try to read a barcode) 53. Restaurant assignment 55. ___ only as directed 56. Prevent legally 58. Afternoon socials 59. No-win situation Down 60. Mickey and Minnie 1. Titanic hazard 61. Where the Field of Dreams is located 2. Figure skating jump, named for its 62. Follow commands Norwegian creator 3. It destroyed Vacationland Hawaii in 2018 63. Suffix that turns an adjective into a noun

1. Neat stack of hay 5. Grimm villain 9. Rats’ habitats 14. Medical checkup 15. Stamp on an invoice 16. Devour 17. Deep respect 19. Created the lyrics 20. One on the top of the snubbed list 22. Component of a QB’s passer rating calc. 23. Laverne & Shirley network 24. PC monitor 25. CPR giver 28. Softball arbiter 31. Request to Little Bo-Peep 33. Give the thumbs up 40. “It’s ___ matter of time” 41. Cattle call 42. Supercharged 43. Basis of income, for some 46. Type of 21 of Muhammad Ali’s W’s 47. Box (a) on a W-2 form 48. Use a microscope or telescope 49. Legal org., founded in 1878 52. Put a square peg in a square hole 54. Take to court 57. Entry fee 64. Vegetable press 65. Star of the rehearsal dinner 66. One Newton 67. Tighten roller skates 68. Has a debt 69. Like a black hole 70. Lemonade pitcher 71. Decreases the debt

Answers on page 25.

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

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

ASSISTED LIVING

ZERO DEFICIENCY STATUS

THE DIFFERENCE IS CLEAR Brooke Grove Retirement Village’s dedication and expertise in assisted living has never been more evident. All seven of our residential-style homes at The Meadows and The Woods achieved zero deﬁciency status during recent relicensure surveys conducted by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Ofﬁce of Healthcare Quality. Our COVID-19 response, skilled staff and focus on well-being make living at Brooke Grove simply different. ... because what surrounds you really matters. Exemplary care, infection control and safety results during a worldwide pandemic.

18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 301-637-8928 www.bgf.org

Independent living assisted living rehabilitation long-term care memory support