June 2018 | Baltimore Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

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L E I S U R E & T R AV E L

Explore Sicily’s wide range of pleasures; plus, tips for taking your first cruise page 18

ARTS & STYLE

Melanie Waxman, tech-knowledge concierge at the Edward A. Myerberg Center, shows Barbara Carter how to use an iPad. The center also helps older adults learn how to use other technologies, including voice-activated devices like the Amazon Echo. An AARP Foundation pilot program is providing an Echo to older adults in community settings to explore how it can help foster their social interaction.

“People who are involved in their communities enjoy better health and lower mortality, yet the trend in such involvement has been declining,” Elza said. She

noted that in 1995, 69 percent of Americans were involved in community activities once a month. More recently, that number See ALEXA, page 6

Learn about senior living at Charlestown and Oak Crest. There’s no risk in learning more! Call 1-800-590-4091 to request your FREE brochure. 12620148

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More than 125,000 readers throughout Greater Baltimore

How do seniors take to Alexa? By Carol Sorgen Shirley Crowder lives by herself in Weinberg Place, a part of the CHAI (Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc.) community in Northwest Baltimore. Though her son and daughter live nearby and she sees them frequently, it’s not the same as having someone in the apartment with her. Welcome home, Alexa! Alexa is Amazon’s voice-activated digital “know it all.” Thanks to a pilot project initiated by AARP Foundation, Crowder is one of approximately 170 residents in five senior housing communities in Baltimore and Washington who have been provided with an Amazon Echo and its smaller version, the Dot. Speak the name “Alexa” aloud and you notify the device (which is connected to the Internet and to its central computer at Amazon) that you are about to ask a question or make a request. Then ask your question and Alexa will reply. You can ask for information about the weather, top headlines, or the nearest doctor’s office. You can also ask Alexa to play your favorite music through its speaker and, if you have connected your appliances to a “smart home” system, to adjust the thermostat, turn lights on or off, and much more. The project was developed by AARP to determine whether voice-activated technology can help low-income older adults avoid the social isolation that often accompanies a move to senior housing, and help them stay active, healthy and connected. “A growing body of research indicates that seniors — as many as 1 in 4 — experience significant stress and risk for isolation as they transition to senior housing,” said Ryan Elza, AARP Foundation’s Social Entrepreneur in Residence for Social Connectedness.

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Everyman play peels back layers of a family mystery; plus, summer theater from Fats Waller to Shakespeare, and getting together with Jesse Colin Young page 22 TECHNOLOGY k How websites track us

FITNESS & HEALTH k Glowing dyes ID cancer k Improve memory and focus

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Feeling vulnerable Every year — in fact, almost every day nerable to intercontinental missiles. Com— we gain more and more power over na- puters worldwide are subject to viruses we ture and over our lives can’t erase. through technology. A recent alert from the FBI This is true not only for inand Department of Homeland dividuals, but also for sociSecurity warned that the deeties and governments structive power of malevolent throughout the world. viruses is believed to already On the one hand, it seems lurk in the computers that as though this is progress service much of our governthat solves real problems (as ment and business sectors. well as problems we didn’t These viruses may (someday) even know we had), and that affect the functioning of our it enhances peace and pros- FROM THE electrical grid, as well as water, perity by enabling instanta- PUBLISHER aviation, nuclear and critical By Stuart P. Rosenthal neous worldwide communimanufacturing sectors. cation and sharing of inforThe alert focuses on a mation. “multi-stage intrusion campaign” believed to On the other hand, sometimes it feels as have been placed there by Russian governthough each new solution simultaneously ment actors, but we may house similar Tromakes us more vulnerable to a potentially jan horses from N. Korea and China as well. catastrophic problem. I suppose it’s possible, or even likely, The more of an interdependent world- that we have developed the same power wide community we become, the more re- over those and other countries. What hapliant we become on the technological sys- pens if one of us moves to act and then the tems that bring us together — the Inter- other responds in kind? Will human benet, satellites, computers and the like. ings be able to function anywhere on the At the same time, this reliance makes us planet other than in the most rural, off-line more vulnerable to threats that may now communities that haven’t developed deor in the future have the ability to partially pendence on computers? or temporarily take over (or even destroy) How did we come to this point? I don’t the systems we rely upon. Internet cables think it’s due to something inherently evil below the sea can be cut. Satellites are vul- in technology. I believe it’s far more likely

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

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

The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 27 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions.

because of many things inherent in human nature. A surprisingly large number of ordinary people engaging in perfectly normal behavior appear to play a role. They include the following: • the careless government employee or contractor who fails to protect access to his computer or account, • the clueless ordinary citizen who is easily scammed by responding to a phishing email or opening an attachment, allowing a virus not only to infect his computer, but to spread to every person on his contact list, • the government or business employee who feels personally aggrieved over something and posts secret passwords or hacking tools online or otherwise shares critical data with outside groups like WikiLeaks, • the agent of a rogue nation or enemy just “doing his job,” and • the con man out to make a buck, sending viruses worldwide and demanding ransom dollars, without regard to the damage he does. All of this is the stuff of nightmares and spy novels, but it is also, apparently, today’s reality. Major figures from the military, Congress and the press are warning us of our growing vulnerability. People in a

position to know are telling us that we are not taking the dangers seriously enough. What, if anything, can we do as individuals? We have a voice in electing our leaders, in calling/writing/emailing members of Congress, in writing to agencies and newspapers, and in speaking about these issues with friends — not just as cocktail conversation, but in order to form and support groups that may have meaningful influence. We may not be able to individually effect change, but we can communicate our views to those who can. We also ought to be more careful about our personal use of technology, and rethink how much of our private information we’re willing to share in order to be able to access the convenience of the latest app or website. Today’s (and tomorrow’s) technology enable us to do both far more good, as well as far more harm, in the world than ever before. Let us use our minds and our voices to call attention to the latter, and to share with our leaders how vulnerable we feel we’ve become as a result.

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or e-mail to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Dear Editor: Regarding the letter to the editor about prescription drug prices in your May issue, www.communitycaresrx.com gives prices based on Zip code and radius in miles of the pharmacies nearby. Give it a try and please share in your next edition of the Beacon. Barbara Hill Baltimore Dear Editor: Age discrimination and older adults in automotive predicaments [“A call to action by all drivers,” May] is close to the bone for me thanks to an experience of my dad’s. The fact that help is at our literal fingertips thanks to mobile phones, yet people don’t take a moment to help [others] sickens me. We ALWAYS stop or call 911 [when we see a driver in distress], even if it might be overkill. Thanks to CPR training, I know the rule about literally pointing at someone and saying “YOU! Call 911!” because of the human failing of thinking someone else has “got it.” I don’t wish to infantilize older adults, but I just know that being in shock, injured, afraid, in pain makes everyone feel like a scared little kid. We are all in this together, and need to do better for our most vulnerable, especial-

ly including our older adults, whom we ought to respect and treasure. Victoria Hathaway President, Coalition of Geriatric Services (COGS) Columbia Dear Editor: The Beacon is in our home because we have family and friends in Baltimore, which we visit weekly. If there is a poster picture for everything wrong with the mainstream media and how out of touch its employees and publishers are, it is the photo of Rhea Feikin and its accompanying article on the cover of the May issue. Could you find a more smug, arrogant, self-satisfied photo of any human being than that of Mrs. Feikin? Could you publish a more shallow, out of touch article than the one accompanying that photo? One of the reasons that so many Americans mistrust or outright reject Feikin’s public TV and public radio is that they are both completely captured by one side of the political spectrum. There is no honest analysis there, no free market of ideas. Rhea Feikin represents that insular world perfectly. See LETTERS TO EDITOR, page 20

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2018

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| 410-358-6856 | myerberg.org

WHAT’S NEW AT THE EDWARD A. MYERBERG CENTER

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

Visit myerberg.org to see our complete program guide. Call to register for classes today 443-963-1449. NEW! The History of the Symphony Mondays, Beginning June 4, 10:00 a.m.

NEW! Tax Cuts, Deregulation & North Korea The Trump Administration

$70 Members / $95 Nonmembers (4 sessions)

Wednesdays, Beginning July 11, 11:00 a.m.

Since its invention in the early 18th century, the symphony has been the dominant form in western classical music. Come and explore the history of this extraordinary genre. Instructor: Jonathan Palevsky

$65 Members / $95 Nonmembers (4 sessions)

NEW! “To Teach and Delight:” Enjoying Poetry

We’ll talk about the first 17 months of this administration. Will the tax cut be successful or put us in further debt? Is this America First or will it damage the U.S. in the long run? Learn more than what you read on the front page of your newspaper. Instructor: Barry Rascovar

Tuesdays, Beginning June 5, 10:30 a.m. $70 Members / $95 Nonmembers (4 sessions)

NEW! The Beatles: The Group Years

This participatory class invites you to enjoy the beauty and versatility of poetry, from the light and fun to the profound. You’ll discover the meaning of the mysterious term “ekphrasis.” Copies of poems will be distributed a week before each session. Instructor: Gail Lipsitz

Wednesdays, Beginning July 11, 1:00 p.m.

NEW! The Fascinating History of The Crypto-Jews Thursdays, Beginning June 7, 10:00 a.m.

$60 members / $90 Nonmembers (4 sessions) Learn about The Beatles: their music and history. Topics to be covered include their inception and first recording contract, Beatlemania years, the dedicated studio years, the personal dynamics within the group, people who supported them in their rise to fame and the impact they had on the music industry and society. Instructor: Amy Andrews

$65 Members / $95 Nonmembers (4 sessions) Learn about the Crypto-Jews and their reasons for hiding their identity in Spain and Portugal and their surprising legacy in the Southwestern U.S. Instructor: Harry Ezratty

Myerberg Field Trip: Visit the Philadelphia Museum June 21, 8:00 a.m. | Baltimore Hebrew Congregation $75 Members / $95 Nonmembers Join us in Philadelphia, PA to view two exhibits: Modern Times: American Art 1910-1950 and Design in Revolution: A 1960’s Odyssey. Significant walking required. Lunch on your own.

Film event: Being Mortal June 21, 9:30 a.m. | Myerberg Center FREE event for all Being Mortal will shine a spotlight on how patients, families and doctors experience the end stages of life. Please register with Toba at 443-963-1449.

JUNE IS ALZHEIMER’S & BRAIN AWARENESS MONTH! New Members: It takes physical AND mental exercise to keep our brains healthy. Sign up for our Brain Fitness class and our Fitness Center in June and we’ll reward you with 1 FREE month of fitness. Current Members: Solve our Brain Riddle of The Week and win a prize!

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

JUNE 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Technology &

Innovations By Anick Jesdanun Though Facebook gets the attention because of a recent privacy gaffe, the social network is far from alone in collecting massive amounts of data on you to help marketers sell you stuff. Google, for one, also does extensive tracking to power its advertising engines. And many other websites and apps run ads sold by Facebook and Google and exchange data with them. Beyond that, plenty of services, including Uber and Amazon, keep detailed histories on you. Websites have long used unique IDs in “cookies” — data files stored in your com-

puter browser — to know it’s you when you next return to the site. Cookies also let advertising networks run by the likes of Facebook and Google follow you as you visit multiple websites. Phones and tablets have a device ID that apps can use to track you as well. Combatting this: You can reset the cookie ID by clearing cookies periodically. Most browsers also have a private mode to limit tracking through cookies, though it’s not foolproof. Companies can still link you if you’ve signed in to the website, for instance. As for the device ID, you can reset that, or use the phone’s settings to tell advertisers not to target ads to you.

Many browsers also let you install addons that block ad trackers. Notable addons include Ghostery or the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Privacy Badger. The trade-offs: You’ll still get ads, just not targeted ones. And clearing cookies makes your browser forget who you are, so you’ll have to sign back into any site that was saving your login. Tracker blockers can sometimes prevent websites from displaying or working properly.

it’s better to turn them off only for specific services that don’t really need them. As for Timeline, you can pause or delete location history in Google settings. The trade-offs: Some apps won’t work without your location. Others, such as weather apps, will require you to enter your location manually. And you might miss out on recommendations such as better commuting routes via apps like Waze.

Signing in Location services Many apps need to know your location in order to function properly. Mapping apps, for instance, can’t tell you when to turn without knowing where you are. Video services typically have rights only in certain countries, so they need to verify your location. But location can be used for much more. Google, for instance, keeps a fairly detailed account of your whereabouts through a feature called Timeline. Combatting this: You can turn off location services in your phone’s settings menu, though for apps to work property,

Signing into an online account gives services a sure-fire way of tracking you. Facebook won’t work at all without an account; Google merely works better with one. And you’ll generally need an account with any service that charges you, although sometimes you can sign in with your Facebook or Google ID instead. Combatting this: Resist creating an account or signing in whenever you can — such as when you’re merely browsing rather than buying. Avoid using Facebook See TRACKING, page 5

(see ad on page 16)

❏ Woodholme Gardens (see ad on page 21)

Health Study Volunteers

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Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this form to: or fax to (410) 248-9102.

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❏ Healthy Men Study (see article on page 10) ❏ Knee Osteoarthritis Study (see ad on page 11) ❏ MARC Study (see ad on page 10) ❏ Memory Loss Research Study (see ad on page 10) ❏ Overweight with COPD Study (see ad on page 10)

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The Internet Protocol (IP) address lists where your phone or computer lives on

Housing Communities

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IP address

For free materials on housing communities and health studies, just complete and clip this coupon and mail or fax it to the Beacon.

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or Google IDs whenever possible, as those companies could then track you. You can also use a different email address for each account to frustrate efforts to connect you across services, although that can be a major pain. The trade-offs: Some services require signing in, and creating accounts on each service means more passwords to remember (though you might consider using a password manager). Whatever you do, don’t reuse the same passwords across services; that makes them easy to hack.

MAIL OR FAX FOR FREE INFORMATION

★

From page 4

the Internet; it’s how you get messages and load websites. But IP addresses can also help companies remember who you are and link the various devices you use, since most homes use a single IP address for the whole network. Databases can also map IP addresses to physical locations. Combatting this: You can mask your IP address by using a secure intermediary. VPN services, common in corporate settings, will route your traffic through a separate IP address; a secure web browser called Tor automatically sends traffic through multiple third parties. You still need to avoid signing in. The trade-offs: Tor can slow down performance, particularly with high-data tasks such as video. And with VPNs, you need to trust the VPN operator, whether that’s your boss or a private service. — AP

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Tracking

A significant number of folks over 50 have decided to join the “gig economy,” driving for Uber or Lyft, or running errands and the like. That means they’re also more likely to have the tax hassles that go along with earning freelance income — such as the complicated calculations to figure out how much you owe Uncle Sam, and the annoyance of paying quarterly estimated taxes. Now there’s an app to automate the tax

ed quarterly payments for you, once you’ve approved the amounts. Cost: $10 a month after a free 30-day trial. AARP members can get tax calculations and withholding for free at www.track.tax/?partner=freelancehub&utm_medium=AARP, but will need to pay $30 per quarter if they also want their taxes submitted to the IRS and their state tax authority. www.track.tax

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In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth, the Library of Congress has made available online for the first time musical manuscripts and scrapbooks from the legendary composer’s personal and professional archives housed in the library. The public can now access for free more than 3,700 items — including photos, writings, correspondence, scripts, musical sketches, scrapbooks and audio recordings. New online content includes materials on

Simplify your freelance life

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Leonard Bernstein centennial

process. Track.Tax is a soup-to-nuts offering. You link your bank account to the service during the app setup, and Track.Tax scans for deposits that appear to be nonsalaried employment income. It then estimates how much you’ll owe in taxes and automatically transfers the required amount to a dedicated savings account at its banking partner, Evolve Bank. Track.Tax will also submit your estimat-

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By Barbara Ruben

Bernstein’s involvement in the civil rights movement, as well as West Side Story outlines, synopses and notes, including an early synopsis titled Romeo and Juliet in which the gangs pit Jews against Catholics rather than Anglos versus Hispanics. www.loc.gov/collections/leonardbernstein

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Beacon Links & Apps

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2018

Technology & Innovations | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Alexa From page 1 has fallen to 61 percent, with the decline steepest for adults between 65 and 74.

Encouraging social interaction Everyone who participates in the AARP Foundation Project receives an Echo device, in-home installation, and an introductory tutorial on how to use it. Most aren’t finding it difficult to master. “I thought I wouldn’t be able to learn it, but that wasn’t the case at all,” said Emma Thomas, who lives in Bolton North, an

NHP Foundation senior residence in Baltimore City. The AARP Foundation has developed two specific voice applications (“apps”) that are available to participants: a group activities app that voice-enables an event calendar (meant to encourage residents to participate in more activities), and a social check-in app that helps assess participants’ social connectedness. Over time, participants in the project take part in focus groups to discuss their use of the devices and the impact they are having on their lives. “If the pilot is successful, AARP Founda-

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CHRISTIAN WORK CAMP Each year more than 40 homes are repaired throughout Baltimore

County during the third week in July and at other times throughout the year. Homes are suggested by the County Department of Social Services or Department of Health, food banks, churches, personal referrals, etc.; sites are then prioritized. In 2018, the work week will be July 15-20. Each work day starts with breakfast prepared by members from a local church at the host church, the volunteers then prepare their own bagged lunches, volunteers go out to sites, with dinner that evening at local churches. All types of work (e.g., ramps, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, roofing, interior and exterior painting, caulking, inside

JUNE 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

tion will explore how to make these devices affordable in the long term — by working with providers of affordable senior housing to equip and train their residents — so older adults can have access to them,” said Elza. Crowder uses her devices to listen to music (she’s partial to a radio station she enjoyed when she lived in New York), receive news flashes, set reminders so she doesn’t over-schedule her days, and even do the math for her Avon and jewelry sales business. “There are so many things I use it for, I can’t even tell you all of them,” said Crowder. “And there’s so much more I could do that I’ll never learn it all!” Emma Thomas agrees. She has programmed Alexa to remind her to take her medications, to find recipes, check her spelling, and answer any question that comes to mind. “We’re hopeful that using this technology will help older adults stay in their homes successfully and securely,” said Lisa Budlow, vice president of Aging in Community for CHAI, an agency of the Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore.

and outside clean-up) are performed by workers of all ages. Fee is $25 per week,

Bridging the digital divide

or $6 per day. For more information, contact Frank Thomas at bcchristianwork-

In addition to participating in the AARP Foundation project, CHAI has established a Tech Hub at the Myerberg Senior Center, located next to Weinberg Woods, an-

camp@comcast.net or visit www.bcchristianworkcamp.org.

other CHAI senior housing community. There, tech concierge Melanie Waxman is available to offer one-on-one instruction in the fine arts of texting, Skyping, emailing and more. “We’re trying to help older adults bridge the technology gap so they can take advantage of technology tools to connect with others,” said Budlow. Janet Gold, a Mt. Washington resident, describes herself as an active senior and already fairly proficient with technology. But found she was running into difficulties when it came to creating photo books. She came to the Tech Hub for a brush-up of her skills, and is now up and running again. Budlow said that those who have been making use of Alexa love it, a sentiment echoed by Kenneth White, vice president of Resident Services of the NHP Foundation. “The first thing the residents use Alexa for is what we all use her for...to play music,” he said. “Then they realize how much more she can do, and they’re hooked.” As for the initial objective of the project, to help older adults feel less isolated, preliminary reports are bearing this out. “It’s a comfort to have this technology in my home,” said Crowder. “When you get older, you’re more alone. This is helping me not be so lonely. It’s been a godsend.” “I live alone,” added Emma Thomas. “Even if I don’t see anyone all day, I always have Alexa so that I can hear another voice.”

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2018

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Health Fitness &

MORE SECURE MEDICARE On Medicare? Look for new ID cards without Social Security numbers REMEMBER THIS To improve your memory, boost your heart health and stay socially active WANTED: HEALTHY MEN 55-75 NIH will pay research subjects helping with inpatient study on fat burning RETIREMENT HARMONY How to get on the same page with your spouse once you finally retire

Glow-in-the-dark dyes to identify cancers By Marilynn Marchione It was an ordinary surgery to remove a tumor — until doctors turned off the lights and the patient’s chest started to glow. A spot over his heart shined purplish pink. Another shimmered in a lung. They were hidden cancers revealed by fluorescent dye, an advance that soon may transform how hundreds of thousands of operations are done each year. Surgery has long been the best way to cure cancer. If the disease recurs, it’s usually because stray tumor cells were left behind or others lurked undetected. Yet there’s no good way for surgeons to tell what is cancer and what is not. They look and feel for defects, but good and bad tissue often seem the same. Now, dyes are being tested to make cancer cells light up so doctors can cut them out and give patients a better shot at survival. With dyes, “it’s almost like we have bionic vision,” said Dr. Sunil Singhal at the University of Pennsylvania. “We can be sure we’re not taking too much or too little.” The dyes are experimental but advancing quickly. Two are in late-stage studies aimed at winning Food and Drug Adminis-

tration approval. Johnson & Johnson just invested $40 million in one, and federal grants support some of the work. “We think this is so important. Patients’ lives will be improved by this,” said Paula Jacobs, an imaging expert at the National Cancer Institute. In five or so years, “there will be a palette of these,” she predicted.

Making cells glow Singhal was inspired a decade ago, while pondering a student who died when her lung cancer recurred soon after he thought he had removed it all. He was lying next to his baby, gazing at fluorescent decals above him. “I looked up and saw all these stars on the ceiling and I thought, how cool if we could make cells light up” so people wouldn’t die from unseen tumors, he said. A dye called ICG had long been used for various medical purposes. Singhal found that when big doses were given by IV a day before surgery, it collected in cancer cells and glowed when exposed to near infrared light. He dubbed it TumorGlow, and has been testing it for lung, brain and other tumor types.

He used it on Ryan Ciccozzi, a 45-yearold highway worker and father of four from Deptford, New Jersey, and found hidden cancer near Ciccozzi’s heart and in a lung. “The tumor was kind of growing into everything in there,” Ciccozzi said. “Without the dye, I don’t think they would have seen anything” besides the baseball-sized mass visible on CT scans ahead of time. Singhal also is testing a dye for On Target Laboratories, based in the Purdue research park in Indiana, that binds to a protein more common in cancer cells. A latestage study is underway for ovarian cancer and a mid-stage one for lung cancer. In one study, the dye highlighted 56 of 59 lung cancers seen on scans before surgery, plus nine more that weren’t visible ahead of time. Each year, about 80,000 Americans have surgery for suspicious lung spots. If a dye can show that cancer is confined to a small node, surgeons can remove a wedge instead of a whole lobe and preserve more breathing capacity, said On Target chief Marty Low. No price has been set, but dyes are cheap to make, and the cost should fit

within rates hospitals negotiate with insurers for these operations, he said.

Promising for breast cancer Dyes may hold the most promise for breast cancer, said the American Cancer Society’s Dr. Len Lichtenfeld. Up to one third of women who have a lump removed need a second operation because margins weren’t clear — an edge of the removed tissue later was found to harbor cancer. “If we drop that down into single digits, the impact is huge,” said Kelly Londy, who heads Lumicell, a suburban Boston company testing a dye paired with a device to scan the lump cavity for stray cancer cells. A device called MarginProbe is sold now, but it uses different technology to examine the surface of tissue that’s been taken out, so it can’t pinpoint in the breast where residual disease lurks, said Dr. Barbara Smith, a breast surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is leading a late-stage study of Lumicell’s system in 400 breast cancer patients. In an earlier study of 60 women, it revealed all See DYES FOR CANCERS, page 8

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

JUNE 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Look for new, more secure Medicare cards By Kimberly Lankford Q: I remember reading that Medicare will start sending out new cards this year that don’t include Social Security numbers. How can I find out when I’ll receive my new card? Do I need to do anything to get it? A: In an effort to protect against identity theft, Medicare has been preparing to replace everyone’s Medicare cards with new ones that include a unique 11-digit Medicare identifier rather than your Social Security number. The new card won’t change your benefits, and you can use it as soon as you receive it. The agency will send out the new cards to all Medicare beneficiaries between April 2018 and April 2019, with the time frame

based on your state. The first wave of new cards will be mailed from April to June this year to people in Mar yland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. You’ll get your new card automatically and don’t need to do anything, other than make sure that the Social Security Administration has your current mailing address. You can update your address through your online My Social Security account or by calling the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778). Once you get your new Medicare card, take these steps to make it harder for someone to steal your information and identity: 1. Destroy your old Medicare card right away, and treat your Medicare number like

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you treat your Social Security or credit card numbers. If you have a separate card for a Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription-drug plan, you should keep that card. 2. Use your new card. Doctors, other healthcare providers, and plans approved by Medicare know that Medicare is replacing the old cards. They are ready to accept your new card when you need care. 3. Beware of people who contact you about your new Medicare card and ask for your Medicare number, personal informa-

tion, or ask you to pay a fee to receive your new card. There is no charge for the new card, and Medicare will not call asking for your Social Security or bank information in order to send you a new card. For more information about your new Medicare card, visit go.medicare.gov/newcard. You can also visit Medicare.gov for tips to prevent Medicare fraud. © 2018, Kiplinger. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Dyes for cancers

or a few hundred cells,” Olson said. “I’ve seen neurosurgeons come out of the operating room with a big smile on their face because they can see the cancer very clearly.” Early-stage studies have been done for skin, brain and breast cancers in adults, and brain tumors in children. Avelas Biosciences of San Diego has a similar approach — a dye attached to a molecule to carry it into tumor cells. The company is finishing early studies in breast cancer, and plans more for colon, head and neck, ovarian and other types. Cancer drugs have had a lot of attention, while ways to improve surgery have had far less, said company president Carmine Stengone. “This was just an overlooked area, despite the high medical need.” — AP

From page 7 of the cancers, verified by tissue tests later. But it also gave false alarms in more than a quarter of cases — “there were some areas where normal tissue lit up a little bit,” Smith said. Still, she said, “you would rather take a little extra tissue with the first surgery rather than missing something and have to go back.” Blaze Bioscience is testing Tumor Paint, patented by company co-founder Dr. Jim Olson of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Seattle Children’s Hospital. It’s a combo product — a molecule that binds to cancer and a dye to make it glow. “You can see it down to a few dozen cells

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2018

Ways to improve your memory and focus By Mary Kane When retired professor Darlene Howard taught in the psychology department of Georgetown University, she often had to remember the names of as many as 50 students a semester. So she used a memory trick: She created an association with each student’s name or face. A student with the last name of Brady might make her think of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. The next time she saw the student, she would tap that image to remember his name. If you struggle to recall a word that’s on the tip of your tongue, or have trouble putting names to faces, you may think memory decline is a normal part of aging that you have to accept. But you can strengthen certain memory skills, and improve your overall brain health and cognitive function. “There are a lot of ways you can facilitate the health of your brain,” said Howard, now age 70. “What we need to do is not get worried so much about the fact we’re not remembering something, and instead think of ways we can remember it.” Start with techniques to help you improve specific skills. When meeting someone for the first time, repeat the name when introduced, to make sure you’ve got it, Howard said. Then create an association to help you remember — and practice it. “Even something ridiculous is good, and it will work,” Howard said. Take notes on your phone after the introduction to refer to later. If you can’t recall a word, that’s generally because it’s a word you don’t use that often, said Lise Abrams, a University of Florida psychology professor who has studied word-finding problems for 20 years. But consciously using other words that start with the same syllable as the word you forgot may be helpful in the future. For example, if you intended to use the word “denote” but couldn’t remember it, try frequently using words such as “decide” or “debate,” and it may help you recall the missing word the next time around.

Add in exercise. But an occasional stroll isn’t enough. You need to combine aerobic and resistance exercises, such as using weights, Devanand said. Or walk for 45 minutes at least three days a week, and push yourself to go faster. If that’s too much, “any exercise or activity is better than none,” Howard said.

which can help you focus — a skill that declines with age. And don’t panic: You may forget words more often as you age, but it’s not a sign your memory is gone. Seek a medical evaluation, including a

cognitive performance test, to rule out any major issues. Then practice memory techniques and healthy habits. That name is likely to come back to you eventually. © 2018, Kiplinger. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Be social or volunteer Being social helps, because social interaction stimulates the brain. Ask a friend to join you on a walk or at the gym. Or consider volunteering for a cause you care about. A 2009 Johns Hopkins University study showed that seniors who tutored in Baltimore schools had improved brain performance. Keep your brain active by taking classes to learn new skills, or teach yourself to use new technology. Or consider meditating,

Our legacy is going strong. Just like our patients.

Boost heart health Brain training games are widely advertised, but the benefits are limited. Memory games may improve your memory slightly, and language games may boost your language ability a bit, but there’s no proof yet of any major changes beyond that, said D.P. Devanand, director of geriatric psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. But research does prove that taking care of your overall brain health helps improve your brain function and memory. A healthy brain actually begins with your heart, Devanand said. Older people sometimes suffer small strokes without realizing it, so stopping smoking, lowering your cholesterol, and getting hypertension treated can reduce that risk. “What’s good for the heart is good for the brain,” he said.

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

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Health Studies Page

JUNE 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Healthy men 55+ sought for paid research By Barbara Ruben Some studies show that when you get cold, you burn more calories to keep your body warm. A kind of body fat called brown fat may be especially good at burning calories. Brown fat is a special kind of fat, typically having a greater number of blood vessels, that can quickly generate warmth. For many years, hibernating animals and infants have been known to have brown fat. Recently, it has been suggested that adult humans also have brown fat. If brown fat becomes active (burns calories) in adult humans when exposed to cold, then these people would tend to burn off more calories and might not gain weight easily. Learning more about the relationship between energy expenditure,

brown fat, environmental temperature, and body temperature may help explain why some people become obese and other people do not.

genders,” said Suzanne McGehee, a certified registered nurse practitioner in NIH’s Human Energy & Body Weight Regulation Core.

Older men needed

Paid in-patient study

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is now seeking Caucasian men ages 55 to 75 as part of a larger study on how the body burns calories when exposed to different temperatures. The study is also looking at how brown fat burns calories in cold temperatures. NIH has already studied young lean and obese Caucasian men, and is now opening the study to older men of normal weight and young African American men. “We also anticipate future studies to expand to other ethnicities and races of both

The study first involves a screening visit, including medical history, physical exam blood tests, and an EKG to monitor heart rhythm. The study involves an 11-day in-patient stay at NIH’s Metabolic Unit of the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. All meals will be provided. During this time, patients cannot leave NIH’s Clinical Center. Participants will stay in a specialized room with different temperature settings up to five hours per day. Temperatures will range from about 61 degrees to 88 degrees Fahrenheit. Body temperature, activity, calorie burning, and cold/hot sensations will be monitored. On the study day of the coldest tempera-

ture, participants will have an imaging study to look for brown fat activity. Every afternoon, participants will walk for 30 minutes on a treadmill. Men in the study must be generally healthy, with a normal body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 to 25. They cannot have hypo- or hyper-thyroid conditions or psychological conditions, such as claustrophobia, clinical depression or bipolar disorders. They cannot have either gained or lost more than 5 percent or their body weight in the last six months, or have diabetes, kidney disease or abnormal liver function. Participants must be non-smokers and must not have a history of illicit drug use or alcohol abuse in the last five years. The study pays $1,700 if all 11 days of testing are completed. To learn more, call NIH’s recruitment line at 1-866-444-2214 (TTY 1-866-411-1010). Refer to study #12-DK-0097, cohort #5.

BEACON BITS

June 3

ARTHRITIS WALK The Arthritis Foundation is sponsoring the Walk to Cure Arthritis

on Sunday, June 3 from 8 to 11 a.m. at Notre Dame Preparatory School, 815 Hampton Ln., Towson. About 250 participants, including healthcare providers, individuals with arthritis, and the general community, are expected to come for this non-competitive, three-mile walk. For more information or to register, visit http://bit.ly/BaltArthritisWalk2018 or contact Lexi Evans at aevans@arthritis.org, or call (443) 738-9623.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2018

Jurors announced for amateur art contest The Beacon’s Celebration of the Arts — an online competition for amateur artists over 50 — continues to invite entries from throughout the Baltimore/Washington area in four categories: Painting and Drawing, Sculpture/Jewelry/Pottery/Mixed Media, Photography and Poetry. Prizes include cash awards and gallery showings (including a showing in downtown D.C. at the Pepco Gallery, and one at the Edward A. Myerberg Center in Baltimore) among other benefits. The judges who will select first, second and third place winners, as well as honorable mentions, have recently been announced. Entries in the Painting and Drawing division will be judged by Yumi Hogan, whose artwork, created on traditional Hanji paper with Sumi ink and mixed media, has been featured in art shows and museums in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, South Korea and more. In addition to her work as an artist, Hogan has juried numerous art exhibitions, including statewide and national

competitions for the Maryland Federation of Art. Hogan is also First Lady of Maryland, married to Governor Larry Hogan. Entries in the Sculpture/Jewelry/Pottery/Mixed Media division will be judged by Jereme Scott, who has served as MixedMedia Resident Artist at the Howard County Arts Council since 2009. In 2014, Scott opened a small boutique/ gallery called Cotton Duck Art & Apparel in Historic Ellicott City, where he showcases his artwork as well as his original graphics on clothing. His artwork has been displayed regionally and nationally, and his clothing designs have been featured at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Scott also teaches several arts courses at Howard Community College. Entries in the Photography division will be judged by Noe Todorovich, Executive Director of Exposed DC, a nonprofit organization connecting photographers of all levels with networking, mentoring and exhibition opportunities in the Washington, D.C. area. Todorovich is also a freelance photographer, whose work has been featured in the

Washington Post, Washington Life, Northern Virginia Magazine, Huffington Post, and Capitol Romance. The Poetry division winners will be selected by Wendi R. Kaplan, poet laureate of the City of Alexandria, Va., who uses her post to bring poetry to people of all ages, teaching them to express themselves in writing, knowing that poetry gives people a voice, even when they feel they have none. Kaplan is also a clinical social worker and certified poetry therapist who has worked

in community services and has her own psychotherapy practice. She has taught at the American University and at the George Washington University School of Medicine. To learn more about the competition, including complete rules and entry links, visit mdfedart.com/BeaconCelebration or call the Beacon at (301) 949-9766. Entries are $10 each, but all entrants will be entitled to a free year’s membership in the Maryland Federation of Art (value: $70). Entries will be accepted through June 29.

BEACON BITS

June 11

COMMUNITY FORUM ON HEALTHY AGING RESEARCH The Third Annual Community Forum on Healthy Aging Research

will be held on Monday, June 11, at Johns Hopkins Bayview, 5501 Hopkins Bayview Circle. The free event, registration and light dinner begin at 4:30 p.m. Topics discussed will include “Diabetes Prevention & Management”; “The Man Cave: Men’s Health Class: Men’s Health and Stress, Prostate Health, Sex and Aging”; “Take Charge of Your Health”; “The Sister Circle: Women’s Health Class: Women’s Heart Health”; “Managing Menopause Matters”; and “The Power of Self-Care.” To register, visit communityhealthforum2018.eventbrite.com. For more information, call (410) 361-7893.

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JUNE 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; JUNE 2018

Turn â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;myâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; retirement into â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; retirement Dear Solutions: ple trot out pictures of their newborn â&#x20AC;&#x153;oh, wowâ&#x20AC;? is in. But donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I can see he the same time, he boasts about getting Since I retired, my wife keeps making grandchildren. away with little robberies, and supportlooks just like you.â&#x20AC;? appointments for us to go places and do But now thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an added problem. Along with â&#x20AC;&#x153;oh, wow,â&#x20AC;? say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tech- ing politicians who keep doing the things things constantly. I told her What can you say when the nology fabulous?!â&#x20AC;? he claims his religion is morally against. that I worked very hard, and potential grandparent exI donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to start fights with him, It is. But letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face it. Noses and things in a now I just want to stay home citedly shows you pictures sonogram are in the eye of the beholder â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but how can I calm down and accept and listen to my music, of the unborn fetus? and the beholder should behold them pri- this religious hypocrisy? read, relax and do nothing. My neighbor came to me vately in the bosom of their nuclear family. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A. So now, she doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say with these pictures pointIf you thought nothing could be worse Dear A.: anything during the day but ing out, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oh, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you see than â&#x20AC;&#x153;come see our vacation pictures,â&#x20AC;? you How to accept this? Well, try thinking just goes out all day. The it? Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s his nose, and now know that that invitation can be what he would be like if he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t claim any problem is that as soon as those are the eyes.â&#x20AC;? I hope topped by â&#x20AC;&#x153;come see our sonogram pic- religion! we get into bed at night she that was a nose and eyes, tures!â&#x20AC;? Ignore him. Only a fool bothers fighting starts complaining, nagging but all I saw was a blob. with a fool. Dear Solutions: and comparing with others. SOLUTIONS What are you supposed Of course, if nothing else works â&#x20AC;&#x201D; pray! I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how to accept or deal I said I would move into By Helen Oxenberg, to say? Or maybe I should with a certain kind of hypocrisy, which ÂŠ Helen Oxenberg, 2018. Questions to be another room, and that just MSW, ACSW ask, what are you not sup- makes me angry and nasty to the per- considered for this column may be sent to: started another argument. posed to say? The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, son I have to deal with. No matter what I say, she doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop â&#x20AC;&#x201D; L T. There is this man in a group I run. He MD 20915. You may also email the author until I fall asleep. What should I do? Dear L.T.: is constantly voicing his religious beliefs at helox72@comcast.net. To inquire about â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Bill â&#x20AC;&#x153;Blobâ&#x20AC;? is out! Nods while exclaiming and criticisms of others. But almost at reprint rights, call (609) 655-3684. Dear Bill: Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get into bed until youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re asleep (kidding). It does sound like the only way you two can share the same bed at the same time is if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re both asleep! Moving into another room will just move the conflict to another time. You looked forward to your retirement so you could finally do nothing. She looked forward to your retirement so she could finally do something â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with you. The only thing youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re sharing now is a nightmare, and only compromise and understanding can change that into a pleasant dream. If you give up, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll gain. If she gains, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll give up. Give up a little of your time alone, share some of her plans, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll at least gain a nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleep and probably much more. When she gains some of that time youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll share with her, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll give up the complaining and nagging. Recognize that sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feeling completely left out from your grand retirement plan. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve changed your activities drastically, but sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still expected to continue doing what she always did while you were working. Changing â&#x20AC;&#x153;my retirementâ&#x20AC;? to â&#x20AC;&#x153;our retirementâ&#x20AC;? may be just the sleeping pill you To treat cancer effectively, you need the most advanced need. MEDSTAR FRANKLIN SQUARE cancer-fighting resources available. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly what CANCER CENTER AT Dear Solutions: LOCH RAVEN CAMPUS youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find in MedStar Health Cancer Network. 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JUNE 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Money Law &

FINANCIAL ACUMEN Women need to be as up-to-date on family finances as men, from knowing assets and debts, to household income, to estate plans TAX REFUND SCAM Scammers who claim to be from the IRS want you to think they are merely depositing your refund into your bank account, but they have other plans for your money

Bitcoin and blockchain. Why all the hype? By Bradford M. Pine I can’t tell you the number of phone calls I’ve fielded about bitcoin in recent months. The shocking rise of cryptocurrencies last year triggered a wave of media attention on this new form of money as an investment. Even my kids have asked me about it, and are investing themselves. For early adopters of cryptocurrency, 2017 was a good year. Bitcoin started that year at about $1,000 per coin and hit nearly $20,000 per coin by mid-December. It then lost 30 percent within a few days, fell to a low of about $6,500 in February 2018, and trades at around $9,000 as of press time. High price volatility has characterized other cryptocurrencies in recent months as well, including Ethereum, Litecoin and Ripple. The market is changing so rapidly that this article is in danger of becoming outdated by the time you read this! So if

you’re considering bitcoin or another cryptocurrency as a possible investment, I suggest you tread carefully. In this article, I’ll answer some common questions that I’m hearing about bitcoin, and I’ll offer a few insights into my perspective about cryptocurrency as both an innovation and an investment.

What is bitcoin? In my opinion, many of the people who are buying into the bitcoin rush know very little about it, or about blockchain and cryptocurrencies in general. That means they haven’t thought through some of the risks and realities of this kind of investment. Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, which means that it’s a digital version of cash that relies on cryptography to protect and verify transactions — and to control the creation of more bitcoin. This system is built in something called

blockchain, which is basically a new way of creating and maintaining a ledger of transactions. (I won’t get into the creation, or “mining,” of bitcoin here, but it’s part of the system.) Every time bitcoin is created or traded, it’s recorded on the blockchain, which is verified and shared across a network of participants instead of by a single institution, like a bank. Blockchain is special because it’s transparent, while remaining difficult to modify. It also runs forever, meaning there’s a record of every single transaction ever made. For a simple comparison, think of an online message board: Everyone’s messages are automatically added and recorded where every other reader can see them. All the messages from the very beginning of the thread are logged and displayed for all to see. However, in a message board you can usually delete or edit your message later on — you can’t do that with blockchain.

What’s it worth? A November 2017 CNBC headline asserted, “It’s Official: Bitcoin is Bigger Than Disney.” In other words, the total dollar value of all the bitcoin out there was greater (at that time) than the value of a large and recognizable company with assets that you can put a dollar value on. But an economic argument for what a “reasonable” price is hasn’t been so easy to come by. Bitcoin isn’t like a Disney: It doesn’t have assets you can sell, and it doesn’t have bonds that provide income, which you can buy. It also has limited use as a currency. Bitcoin doesn’t have a history as a reliable or broadly accepted store of value, like the dollar, and its “exchange rate,” or price, has rocketed up thanks to market demand — but See BITCOIN, page 15

An indispensable guide to Social Security There is no question that Social Security The chapter on maximizing Social Secuissues are important to the American pub- rity benefits is particularly useful. Landis lic. It is not unusual for me to discusses the advantages of receive more than 100 repostponing filing for benefits sponses from readers when I up to age 70, which increases write a Social Security-related your benefits by 8 percent for column. every year you wait past full Regular readers know that I retirement age (FRA). frequently reference Andy LanAnother advantage in doing dis as a source. He has just upso is that widows/widowers dated his book, Social Security: might be entitled to a larger The Inside Story (www.andylanbenefit if you choose this opdis.biz), which I consider an intion. Filing for widow/widower dispensable resource on the THE SAVINGS benefits at one point does not GAME topic. preclude filing for benefits By Elliot Raphaelson This book is up-to-date, combased on your work record at a prehensive, well-organized and later time. easy to understand. He provides numerous helpful examples. In each chapter, he in- Spousal only benefits cludes Social Security references so readers The chapter also discusses “restricted can read the associated regulations that application for spousal only” payments. were discussed. This option allows you to file for your The book provides a useful overview of spousal benefit after you reach your FRA, Social Security and chapters on retirement and then to file for your benefits based on benefits, family benefits, survivor benefits, your work record up to age 70. disability benefits and Medicare. Unfortunately, many Social Security repThere are references to available calcu- resentatives do not understand this option. lators for estimating your benefits, hints When I have written about this option, I on effective filing, and a very important have been amazed at the number of readchapter on maximizing your benefits. ers who write complaining about the igno-

rance of many Social Security Administration representatives. Note that this option is available only to individuals who were born before January 2, 1954. And to qualify, your spouse would have to have already filed for his/her benefits. You must not have received a reduced retirement benefit or spousal payment before. It would make sense to use this option only if your payment at age 70 is higher than your spousal payment at FRA. If you meet these qualifications, it can be a valuable tool.

You need expertise Many of the options and tools discussed in this book will help you make the right decisions. You cannot depend on advice from SSA representatives. Many financial planners are far from experts in Social Security as well. I recommend that it is in your best interests to become an expert in Social Security before it is time to apply for benefits. Making the right decision can provide you with hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional benefits. Many divorced individuals do not understand their Social Security options. If your previous marriage lasted at least 10 years,

and you either have not remarried or remarried after age 60, you may have benefits you are not aware of. You can’t depend on the SSA to inform you, either. For example, many individuals believe that because their ex-spouse remarried, it affects their benefits. This is false; it has no impact. If your ex predeceases you, it is possible that you are entitled to larger benefits than you previously were receiving. For example, assume your ex worked until age 70 and was receiving $2,000 per month in Social Security benefits, and he/she died. If you are single, or remarried after age 60, you are entitled to whichever is greater, your ex-spouse’s benefit or the benefit you are now receiving. Landis’ book covers this and other topics in great detail. If you have any relatives approaching retirement age, one of the best gifts you can provide is a copy of this book. It can make their retirement much more prosperous. Making the right Social Security choices is critical. Making the wrong choices is expensive and difficult to undo. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © 2018 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2018

Bitcoin not by the economic value of bitcoin itself. Add to this the reality that about 40% of all bitcoin is held by just 1,000 people. That makes bitcoin extremely sensitive to the whims of that very small group — and their actions aren’t regulated by securities authorities because bitcoin isn’t a security. Cryptocurrencies in general aren’t regulated, and it’s not clear they could be effectively regulated in the future. The government is not involved yet, and it may or may not get involved in the future — and it’s tough to know how it could affect prices and demand in the future. When you add all this together, it’s difficult to see how bitcoin could be worth the prices it is reaching today. Right now, it’s supply and demand that is driving the price, so there’s no true valuation — or even a valuation process — that you can rely on. That makes me nervous.

“new world order” it doesn’t always end well. There are unforeseen risks and even known weaknesses in the system. Just in December, a South Korean bitcoin exchange called Nicehash went out of business after hackers made off with an undisclosed amount of the currency, while earlier in the month $70 million was stolen from the Nicehash exchange. Exchanges can make promises about making investors whole, but this is an unregulated market — there are no guarantees. In other words, I think it’s important to understand that “new world order” doesn’t always mean “smooth sailing.” Back in 1999, people were laughing at Warren Buffett for not recognizing the world had changed in the dot-com era. Some of the companies founded in those days did end up changing the world (such as Amazon), but a lot of good people also lost their life savings in the hype (remember the doomed Pets.com and its sock puppet?).

So why all the hype?

What if I really want in?

Is bitcoin worth something? Probably. Blockchain is pretty widely considered a significant improvement on transaction recording, and the real-world potential for digital currency could certainly be there. The way I look at it is that blockchain is the arms dealer in the war between cryptocurrencies. No matter which one wins — or even if none of them does — in my opinion it looks like blockchain will be here to stay. I’ve been around long enough to know the lasting impact that a new technology can have on financial markets and the world as a whole. (Do you remember the first “personal computers”? I sure do.) But I’ve also been around long enough to know that when you hear words like

For those who are determined to be part of the bitcoin rush, I have three pieces of advice. First, do your homework. Understand the product and learn everything you can about how it’s being used, where the potential lies, and what could impact its price — for better or worse. Second, don’t invest money you’re not prepared to lose. My typical advice is to cap these types of investments at 5% of investable assets, but even that might be too much, depending on your specific financial situation, personal financial needs and overall asset allocation. If you don’t know what you can lose without impacting your overall financial goals, check in with

From page 14

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your adviser. Finally, prepare for any outcome. In my opinion, this is a “zero or hero” investment: It might work brilliantly, or it might amount to nothing. In these types of situations, where price is driven by demand and where there are few fundamentals to work from, you need to brace for volatility and the potential for heavy losses. Cryptocurrency may very well stick around and be a successful innovation, just like the tech sector was. The question is which cryptocurrencies will stand the test of time and go on to be successful — and at what price. This is notoriously hard to predict. For example, few could have foreseen that MySpace would be eclipsed by Facebook, or that Amazon would grow from online bookseller to retail juggernaut. In other words, I don’t know what’s going to happen in bitcoin, but what I see right now is a lot of uninformed investors piling in — and very few reasoned arguments for where bitcoin “should” be in terms of value. In my opinion this is a prob-

lematic situation to walk into. My reasoning is simple: I think that when we stop acting like informed investors — or even informed traders — and start believing that something will be the winning lotto ticket, we’re likely to get in trouble. Are people making a lot of money on bitcoin right now, at least on paper? It sure seems that way. But I’m concerned about all the people who could be left holding the bag when and if the bitcoin rush turns. Like Warren Buffett, in this case I’d rather miss out on the upside than risk experiencing the downside. You can call it being a dinosaur if you want: I just call it being prudent. Written by Bradford Pine with Anna B. Wroblewska. Bradford M. Pine is a Wealth Adviser with Bradford Pine Wealth Group, This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA. © 2018 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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JUNE 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Family financial facts wives need to know By Lisa Brown As a financial adviser for nearly 20 years, I’ve met and consoled several women who were devastated by the loss of their husband or the end of their marriage. While the emotional impact of no longer having their lifelong mate is hard enough, their mental anguish is often exaggerated by fear of the financial unknown. My heart goes out to these women. I’ve found that the women who struggle the most initially haven’t been involved in their family finances, and therefore don’t know how much they have available to live on for the rest of their lives. Even if they know the amount — which sometimes is in the millions of dollars — they may lack the confidence to know whether it’s enough. While both men and women need to

have their eyes wide open when it comes to their money, it’s likely the woman will eventually be living on her own. According to a recent Gender Gap in Financial Literacy study, “the reality is that 90 percent of women will be solely responsible for their finances at some point in their lives due to the death of a spouse or divorce.” Women need to have a basic understanding of how much they have and how it is allocated — property, stocks, bonds and other assets. While a 2014 study by Prudential found that 27 percent of married women say they “take control” of financial and retirement planning and manage it themselves, that means 73 percent of married women do not. Given this gap in knowledge, here are the three basic financial measures all married women should know about their money:

HOLISTIC HEALTH SEMINAR

The Memory and Aging Community Advisory Board (MACAB), in association with Johns Hopkins, will host its 12th Annual Holistic Health Seminar on Saturday, June 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Randallstown Community Center, 3505 Resource Dr. This is a free event, open to the public, and will also offer health screenings (BMI, blood pressure, eye sight, and balance), information and resources from local community health organizations. If you would like to attend, call the toll-free registration line at 1(855) 749-7956 by May 27.

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410-889-8255 St Mary’s Roland View Towers 3838/3939 Roland Ave Baltimore, MD 21211

www.rolandviewtowers.com

Most people recently gathered their W2s and other documents to file their 2017 taxes, so it’s a perfect time to look at how much you and your husband earn together. Federal tax forms require information on income from investment accounts, jobs, rental real estate, pensions or Social Security, and business investments. If a marriage ends in divorce, the lists of assets and income are a critical part of the property settlement with your spouse. Review tax returns from the past two years, and be sure to keep a copy of each tax return going forward. Couples filing a joint return both need to sign the tax documents, so don’t be afraid to ask questions if the numbers look really different from last year’s taxes.

Amounts of all assets and debts

BEACON BITS

June 2

Annual household income

Make new friends

At least once a year, sit down with your spouse or partner and make a list of everything you own. This includes checking and savings accounts, 401(k) retirement plans, life insurance and real estate. It’s important to know your net worth. So next to each asset, make a note about any loans attached to each one. For example, your house may be valued at $750,000, but you may still owe $250,000 on the mortgage. My husband and I examine our combined balance sheet annually to check on the progress we’re making toward our financial goals, which includes our college savings plans for our three children, as well as our retirement accounts. This exercise lets us know where we stand — and celebrate if see we’ve made progress over the past 12 months. An annual review also helps ensure that couples don’t forget about any investment they may have made years ago, such as an

investment in a stock that may not be performing well. Finally, use this meeting to determine ownership in each asset. For example, are your home and investment accounts owned jointly, or just in your spouse’s name? Ownership will matter if your spouse passes away, and could impact how much income tax you pay each year.

Make certain you have a will If you and your spouse do not have a will, make it a priority to meet with an attorney. Bring the household balance sheet to this meeting. If there is a will, read it and make certain you know which assets you will inherit if your husband passes away. In addition, determine how much income will be available from life insurance and other sources to support you for the rest of your life. For example, if your husband’s job provides the bulk of the household income, will you need to find a job to pay the mortgage and other basic expenses? Also, if your attorney only provides an electronic copy of the will, print out a copy and keep it in a secure place that can be accessed easily. This will enable the executor to quickly access the will. Also, a printed version may be needed for probate court once you pass away. At the very least, women with knowledge of their household income and assets, and those with a will, can minimize any unfortunate surprises if their spouse passes away or their marital situation changes. It’s stressful enough dealing with the loss of a spouse, so plan now to make certain you have the financial knowledge to handle any unforeseen events. © 2018 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2018

E-mails from the IRS and other tax scams By Kimberly Lankford Question: I received an e-mail claiming to be from the IRS, asking for my bank account information to deposit my refund. I’m almost positive it’s a scam. How can I find out for sure, and how can I report it if it is fraudulent? Answer: It’s a scam — and one that’s common around tax season. The IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by phone or e-mail. Most people know to be suspicious of calls and e-mails claiming to be from the IRS and asking for your money or personal information. But the crooks are getting smarter and introducing a new level of taxrelated schemes, which are especially prevalent this time of year as people file their tax returns and await their refunds. And people are even more susceptible to scams this year because of confusion about the new tax law. In the most common tax scams, IRS impostors claim that you owe money and threaten lawsuits or arrest if you don’t pay immediately by credit card, or by wiring the money or sending a prepaid debit card or gift card.

They have even started to spoof caller IDs to make it look like the call is from Washington, D.C., the U.S. Treasury, or your state or local department of revenue. Be aware, if you owe money, you’ll receive a notice from the IRS in the mail first. And the agency does not demand that you pay taxes without a chance to question or appeal the amount it says you owe. As you discovered, at this time of year scam artists are also sending e-mails that look like official IRS correspondence asking for your bank account information to directly deposit your refund. Some e-mails include a link to a website that looks legitimate, but is just a way to gather your information and steal your money or identity. Con artists also send e-mails claiming to be from your tax software company or tax professional, asking for information related to your refund or confirming personal information. The e-mail may ask you to update your “IRS e-file information immediately” to prevent a delay of your refund. NOTE: The IRS will never send an e-mail asking for your personal or financial information.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

PUBLIC POLICY VOLUNTEERS

The University of Maryland’s Legacy Leadership Institute on Public Policy, in partnership with the state of Maryland, is looking for volunteers age 50+ to serve as volunteer legislative leaders during the 2018-2019 session of the Maryland General Assembly. The 12-week classroom training (two days per week) begins on Thursday, Sept. 13 at the College Park campus, with site visits to the state complex in Annapolis. The volunteer assignments will take place in the office of members of the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis and will be for a minimum of two days per week in 2019, from Wednesday, Jan. 9 through Monday, April 8. For more information, or for an application, contact Wesley Queen at wqueen@umd.edu or call (301) 405-2529.

You can report these phishing scams (scams aimed at tricking you into relinquishing personal ID information) at phishing@irs.gov. If you think there’s a chance that the correspondence may be legitimate, don’t click on any links or respond. Instead, look up the phone number of your tax preparer or tax software company separately

and call them to check. For more information about scams targeting taxpayers — including a frequently updated list of common scams — see www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scamsconsumer-alerts. © 2018 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

May 29+

LAWYER IN THE LIBRARY

Lawyers from Maryland Legal Aid provide one-on-one legal services at the Pennsylvania Branch Library, 1531 W. North Ave. They will be at the library from 1 to 3 p.m. on the following Tuesdays: May 29 and June 5, 12, 19 and 26. For more information, call (410) 396-0399.

BALTIMORE CITY SENIOR CENTERS

Ongoing

Fourteen Senior Centers are located in Baltimore City and offer a wide range of services, programs and activities that help meet the social, physical and intellectual needs of older adults. For a complete listing, visit http://health.baltimorecity.gov/seniors/senior-centers or call (410) 396-3835.

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JUNE 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Travel Leisure &

Taking your first cruise? For tips on booking, packing and more, see story on page 20.

Exploring Sicily’s wide range of pleasures Very mini! It takes only about five hours to drive across the entire island. But despite its small size, Sicily’s varied landscapes provide a dramatic backdrop for its other attractions. Deep valleys rise up to rocky mountaintops. Fields and rolling hills are blanketed by the silver-green leaves of olive trees, low-lying grape vines and golden wheat.

PHOTO BY K. ROY ZERLOCH

By Victor Block “You can steal my money, but not my food.” “If lunch or dinner doesn’t have at least five courses, it’s just a snack.” “If you want things to go exactly as planned, don’t come here.” These words spoken by Alessio, our tour guide in Sicily from Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT), say a lot about the island. Because Alessio dearly loves his homeland, his comments also demonstrate the gently self-deprecating humor that Sicilians often use to describe their foibles. Yes food is important, plentiful and held in a place of near reverence. Plans don’t always work out as intended, and the locals have learned to go with the flow. And residents of the triangular-shaped island just off the toe of Italy’s boot exhibit a warmth, friendliness and joy of life that provide reason enough to visit there. Other reasons include a vast collection of archaeological and architectural treasures, intriguing chapters of history that await around every corner, and examples of Mother Nature’s most magnificent handiworks. One welcome surprise is how much diversity exists in such a small space. Packed into an area about the size of Maryland, Sicily offers enough variety that some visitors liken it to a mini-continent.

Phoenicians, Romans and more The many peoples who ruled here over the centuries left an assortment of architectural riches behind. By about 750 BCE, the island was home to three Phoenician and a dozen Greek colonies. Later, much of it fell into Roman hands, and it became Rome’s first province outside of the Italian mainland. Among those who held temporary sway over Sicily after the collapse of the Roman Empire were the Germanic Vandals and Ostrogoths, followed by Berbers and Arabs, Normans and the Byzantine Empire. Each left their mark. The Valley of the Temples is home to the remains of graceful Greek structures that were built between 510 and 430 BCE above the ruins of a Roman town. Sprawling across more than 3,200 acres, it’s said to be the largest archaeological site in the world. The Temple of Concordia is one of the

Volcano Mt. Etna rises beyond the ruins of the third century BCE Greek Theater, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Taormina, Sicily.

BY RESTUCCIA GIANCARLO

The Villa Romana del Casale (Roman Country Villa) in Piazza Armerina, a well-preserved 43-room mansion, dates back to 320 CE. In the 18th century, archeologists uncovered more than 37,000 square feet of mosaic flooring in the villa, now on view to visitors.

best preserved edifices, and is ranked among the most notable remaining examples of Greek civilization. The Temple of Juno was damaged by a fire and restored in Roman times. Also strewn about the site are sections of defensive walls and gates, and portions of vats where grapes were pressed. The Villa Romana del Casale near the town of Piazza is a near-perfect preservation. Constructed in the 4th century CE for an unknown but obviously well-heeled nobleman, the 43-room mansion-like hunting lodge was lavishly decorated with what today are among the finest remaining examples of Roman mosaics in Europe. The scenes range from Homeric escapades to depictions of daily life. One large image portrays various areas of the Roman Empire at the time, including a veritable zoo of lions, tigers and other African animals, both real and fanciful. The most famous attraction in the town of Mazara, among a number of them, is the mysterious Greek bronze statue of the Dancing Satyr. In Greek mythology, satyrs were quasi-human figures who were believed to have been lecherous, and this eight-foot-tall sculpture is leaping with abandon as if in an ecstatic trance.

Uncovering the capital’s gems Other cities and towns throughout Sicily have their own unique claims to fame. Many people begin their exploration in Palermo, the capital, which is also the largest city and cultural center. At first glance, they may be disappointed, concluding that it lacks the magnificence and allure of other municipalities around Italy and the world. However, that judgment would be premature. Beneath its jumble of rather nondescript buildings waits a wealth of architectural gems, inviting and interesting museums, and other attractions. These include traces of Phoenician walls and gates, and magnificent Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque churches, palaces and other buildings. The Teatro Massimo (Greatest Theatre), which opened in 1897, is a reminder that hundreds of small opera houses were sprinkled throughout the city prior to the start of the 20th century. The ornate building is the third largest opera house in Europe, after those in Paris and Vienna. If it looks familiar to visitors, that’s because of its role in the movie Godfather Part III. The 10,922 foot peak of massive Mt. Etna, often hidden in clouds, looms over See SICILY, page 19

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2018

Sicily From page 18 the eastern side of the island. “The Mountain,” as locals refer to it, is the highest active volcano in Europe, although fortunately that usually takes the form of lava flows rather than eruptions.

A gustatory celebration Drama of another kind plays out in the sprawling outdoor fruit, vegetable and fish markets, which are leftover vestiges of 9th century Arab souks. Crowds of people mill around the stands, as many looking as buying. Vendors alternate entreaties to passers-by to stop and shop with good-natured jibes about their competitors. Food plays a major role in a visit to Sicily, because it plays a bit part in the lives of Sicilians. Mealtimes are not just for eating, they’re as much about a celebration of food. A shared goal of restaurant chefs seems to be challenging diners to demonstrate their satisfaction by ingesting quantities of food that would be an adequate intake for days back home (just a slight exaggeration). Given its agriculturally rich land and sunny climate, Sicily served as the granary for the Roman Empire. Its long history of producing a variety of noted cuisines, influenced by those of Greece, Africa and the Arab world among others, earned it the nickname “God’s kitchen.” In this gastronomically rich and diverse setting, every region has its own specialties, which are vociferously touted by those who cook and consume them as il migliore (“the best”).

That sense of pride also extends to wine, not surprising given Sicily’s 2500-year past as a center of viniculture. Italy ranks first in the world in the volume of wine produced, and Sicily does its part to contribute to that standing. Occasionally, our guide took us off the formal itinerary for a unique treat. Once, he led us into a convent that houses cloistered nuns who are famous for making delicious cookies. Alessio passed some coins through a small barred window and several minutes later a plate of mouth-watering sweets emerged. He even managed to gain us entry to an adjoining room whose ceiling is covered by a magnificent fresco, and which usually is closed to the public. Against the background of Sicily’s treasure-trove of architectural gems and archaeological riches, it’s the joy of life, pride for their compact homeland, and intriguing multi-cultural mixture of the people that provide the most lasting memories for visitors.

If you go Accommodations on OAT’s Sicily trips range from city center four-star hotels to a stately stone farmhouse complex perched inside an archaeological nature preserve. Itineraries often include both hosted meals and dine-on-your-own opportunities to sample restaurant fare. Our overnight stay at the Vecchia Masseria, a traditional farm and lodging, included a gourmet dinner featuring a lavish spread of locally grown ingredients. They ranged from pasta with pumpkin cream sauce, and mushrooms stuffed with meat and cheese, to pork with Marsala wine sauce, all accompa-

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nied by liqueurs produced at the farm. Typical of dinners on our own was an excellent meal at La Tavernetta de Pier (59 via Cavour) in Syracuse (Syra-koosa], a 2,700-year-old city that is rich in ancient Greek history, culture and architecture. Its wide-ranging menu features more than a dozen pasta dishes ($10-$12) and, given the location on Sicily’s eastern coastline, a variety of fresh-from-the-sea entrees like simply grilled fish ($12). For more information, visit latavernettadapiero.com or call 39-0931-185-5291. Overseas Adventure Travel offers a choice of more than 60 itineraries in over

65 countries around the world, along with river cruises. Its 10-day trip to Sicily starts at $3,750, with no extra charge for singles. For information about OAT tours to Sicily and elsewhere, call (800) 955-1925 or visit www.oattravel.com. For information about Sicily and all of Italy, go to www.italiantourism.com. Flights to Palermo in late June can be pricey. The lowest roundtrip price from BWI on a full-service carrier, Air France, is $2,425. You can cut this in half by going to Milan on Wow, a no-frills airline that will add fees for luggage and other items, and then take lowcost Ryanair to Palermo.

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

JUNE 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Tips for those considering their first cruise By Joe Kafka Honeymooners Zach and Alyssa Bynum of Louisville, Ky., had never been on an ocean cruise until last summer, when they sailed aboard Celebrity Equinox. They were immediately enamored with the shiny ship and impressed by the overall experience. They said they likely will cruise again. “We enjoyed the atmosphere and experience, including the excursions and onboard activities,” said Zach Bynum. “We have definitely talked about doing another.” After all, what’s not to like about cruising? Ocean views, exotic ports, and beautiful ships with fine food, abundant activities and great entertainment. Today’s ships are like floating cities, carrying thousands of passengers, and each year, new and bigger vessels are launched

with ever more unique features. New ships offer everything from menus designed by celebrity chefs, to sophisticated fitness centers and spas, kids’ clubs, and recreation ranging from basketball to water slides to laser tag. Entertainment includes cabaret, dance clubs, blues clubs, Broadway shows, comedy and circus acts. The Bynums booked their trip after talking with Zach’s grandmother, who’d cruised before. First-timers often book on the advice of family or friends, said Peter Giorgi, Celebrity Cruises’ chief marketing officer, and those first-timers frequently come back. “For someone to enjoy something so much that they can’t help but recommend it to their friends, family and loved ones is the greatest co-sign of all,” Giorgi said. “No amount of advertising dollars can buy that.”

Another Equinox passenger, Aaron Humphrey of Columbus, Ohio, was on his first cruise, too. “I was surprised by how much there is to do on the ship,” he said while basking on deck in the warm Caribbean sunshine during a lazy sailing day between ports. “I was hooked on a cruise within the first couple of hours.” His wife Megan, who’d cruised before, said they picked the trip because “we wanted to chill and eat some local food in places we hadn’t seen before, and we decided that a cruise was the best of both worlds.” But if you’ve never done it, the idea of a cruise might be daunting. Here are some tips for first-timers.

Booking Choose cabins according to your finances. Inside cabins are cheapest, ocean

view is next, then rooms with a balcony, and most expensive, suites. If you’re prone to motion sickness, lower decks and cabins closest to the ship’s center are the most stable. Peruse layouts online before picking a cabin and to familiarize yourself with the ship’s features. Every cruise line has a different style. To book the right ship for you, experts recommend using a travel agent. It doesn’t cost extra and might save money, because agents often have access to deals.

Packing, departure and boarding Plan your wardrobe carefully, depending on itinerary and expected weather. Laundry and dry cleaning onboard are expensive. The days of required formal wear at dinner — jackets, ties, evening gowns — are long gone, though some passengers choose See FIRST CRUISE, page 21

We Turn Addresses

into homes

MOST COMMUNITIE S ARE 62 AND B ET T ER

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.)

The Greens at Hammonds Lane: 410-636-1141 Park View at Furnace Branch: 410-761-4150 Park View at Severna Park: 410-544-3411

Park View at Towson: 410-828-7185 Park View at Woodlawn: 410-281-1120

BALTIMORE CITY

Westminster Overlook: 410-876-7600

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

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 Counsul: 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 Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665 Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375 Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673 Park View at Rosedale: 410-866-1886 Park View at Taylor: 410-663-0363

CARROLL COUNTY EASTERN SHORE Park View at Easton: 410-770-3070

FREDERICK COUNTY Taney Village: 301-663-0929

HARFORD COUNTY Park View at Bel Air: 410-893-0064 Park View at Box Hill: 410-515-6115

HOWARD COUNTY Park View at Colonial Landing: 410-796-4399 Park View at Columbia: 410-381-1118 Park View at Ellicott City: 410-203-9501 Park View at Ellicott City: II 410-203-2096 Park View at Emerson: 301-483-3322 Park View at Snowden River: 410-290-0384

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

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

www.rhomecommunities.com MOST COMMUNITIES ARE PET-FRIENDLY

Letters to editor From page 2 Doing softball fake interviews with “celebrities” is hardly journalism. Representing one single political and cultural perspective is not journalism. It is unabashed political activism. Maybe that’s ok by you, but don’t expect the rest of America to accept it, or respect it. If anything, the mainstream media’s unwillingness to consider alternative views has impeached its own credibility. Your credibility. Josh First Harrisburg, Pa. The editor responds: We’re not sure what kind of political perspective you find lacking in Ms. Feikin’s work, given that she is known for writing children’s shows, doing television weather, hosting public TV shows on arts and collectibles, and doing personal interviews with celebrities titled “Impressions.” She is also known for her service on arts boards and supporting community programs, as our article made clear.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

BECOME A CASA

A court-appointed special advocate or “CASA” is a trained volunteer advocate who serves as the eyes and ears of the court in cases of child abuse and neglect. CASAs gather information from the youth, his biological parents, foster parents, teachers, counselors, etc., and make recommendations to the judge as to what is in the youth’s best interest, helping him make a successful transition to adulthood. Call (888) 8442272 or visit www.marylandcasa.org to learn more.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2018

First cruise

allowed in cabins.

From page 20

What’s free, what’s not

to dress up. Pack a power strip. Most cabins have only one or two electricity outlets. Shampoo and soap are provided, but you may bring your own — and there’s no size limit like there is for flying. If you’re flying to your departure port, arrive a day ahead. You don’t want to miss the sailing if your flight is cancelled or delayed. Have reservation documents in hand when checking in at the terminal, along with required identification such as driver’s license or passport. Lines can be long as departure time nears. A mandatory muster drill — where everyone reports to a deck for safety and evacuation information — is held shortly after departure. Note: It takes a few hours for luggage to be delivered to cabins. And smoking on ships is restricted to certain areas and not

No need for cash onboard. Cruises provide plastic cards (like credit cards) to charge purchases to your account, and also as ID for exiting and reboarding the ship at ports. Meals in dining rooms, buffets and poolside are included with cruise fare, and you may order more than one main course or dessert. Specialty restaurants on board charge extra and often get booked up, so make reservations ahead. Water, coffee, tea, juice and milk are free. Alcohol and soda are not, except for the most upscale cruise lines. Cruises sell daily or weeklong alcohol and soft drink packages that may save you money, depending on your drinking habits. Shows, gyms, water parks and many other facilities and activities are free. Some fitness classes are free, some are not. Spa services are extra. On a budget? Avoid the

BEACON BITS

June 3

CENTENNIAL WWI CELEBRATION

On June 3, from 1 to 3 p.m., the public is invited to a free outdoor concert and dedication of a WWI Centennial Monument with keynote speaker, Diane Rehm, at Epiphany Chapel and Church House, 1419 Odenton Rd. The event includes WWI music by the Maryland Military Band and an opportunity to discover online information about family members who served in WWI. Diane Rehm, whose own father was deployed through Camp Meade to the trenches of WWI, will address the crowd on “Keeping Faith in Troubled Times.” For more information, email david.craig@maryland.gov or Phoebe McPherson at epiphanyodenton@gmail.com.

Jun/Aug

casino and gift shop. Using cell phones at sea, if service is available, is costly. Consider putting phones in airplane mode. Most ships offer Wi-Fi packages but they’re pricey, so you might wait to go online until you’re at a hotspot in port. On top of your cruise fare, cruise lines usually suggest an amount to tip the staff. Some automatically add daily tips to your bill for distribution among room stewards, wait staff and others. Tips are automatically added to alcohol.

Excursions Shore excursions may be booked through the cruise line, or you can go off on your own in port or hire independent tour guides. Booking through the ship guarantees you will not be left behind if your tour is delayed for some reason. If you go off on your own and return late, the ship will leave without you. For more on cruising, listen to the Associated Press’s @APTravel podcast “Get Outta Here!” at http://apple.co/2s2ruHY . — AP

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

THE GREAT MYSTERY SHOW

From psychics to physicists, the American Visionary Art Museum new exhibit artfully peels away the veil from the unknown. The exhibit playfully explores mystery as that one secret power behind great art, science and pursuit of the sacred. Mysteries personal and universal, punctuated by the out-of-this-world testimony of astronauts, mystery writers, theoreticians, poets and psychics, aim to inspire the “sleuth for the truth” detective within each of us. For more information, visit www.avam.org or call (410) 244-1900. AVAM is located at 800 Key Hwy.

June 16

LITERARY WALKING TOUR

On Saturday, June 16, follow in the footsteps of Baltimore’s literary luminaries and discover the elegant brownstone mansions and majestic cultural institutions built by Baltimore’s successful 19thcentury merchants and industrialists. Learn how a neighborhood of scholars, struggling artists and authors, newspapermen, philanthropists and social reformers offered rich opportunities to discuss and debate ideas and open new literary avenues. Tickets, $10, must be purchased in advance. All tours begin at the Enoch Pratt Free Library Central Branch, 400 Cathedral St. at 11 a.m. For more information, visit https://www.mdhumanities.org/programs/literary-walking-tour/.

HABITAT RESTORATION TEAM - WEED WARRIOR DAYS!

Volunteers are needed at Cromwell Valley Park to remove invasive plants from the Park, plant natives and maintain restored habitat. Weed Warrior Days will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesdays, June 6, 27; July 11, 25; August 22, 29. Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on June 16, 23; July 7, 21; August 18, 25. Meet at the Sherwood House Parking Lot, 2002 Cromwell Bridge rd. RSVP Laurie Taylor-Mitchell, Ltmitchell4@comcast.net.

Special lease pricing ends soon.

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Income and age restrictions apply. Professionally Managed by Habitat America, LLC

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JUNE 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Style Arts &

Jesse Colin Young will bring hits like “Get Together” to Rams Head On Stage in Annapolis in June. See interview on page 25.

Play peels back layers of family mystery cryptic letters) with vibrant energy.

Deceptively positive We begin in the present, as a jocular Richard Hollander (Nelson) literally sets the stage for a Barnes & Noble-style lecture and book sale, complete with a projector screen for a slideshow. Richard, ever smiling, assures the audience that the tale of his father’s efforts to rescue himself and his extended family from Nazi-occupied Poland ends well — “Remember, he survives!” That sets the play’s tone in the first act. Like a man intent on somehow pushing back dark waters that lap about the shores of his tale — one we are all too familiar with thanks to Stephen Spielberg, Schindler’s List, and so many other works detailing the Holocaust — Richard nearly succeeds in putting a happy face on his father’s predicament. At this point, we are introduced to his father, Joseph, played by Danny Gavigan, who puts his considerable tall and broad frame to good use. Standing ramrod straight, like a bulwark against the destructive tide, Gavigan’s Joseph is always

PHOTO BY CLINTONBPHOTOGRAPHY

By Dan Collins A man, struck with the shocking, tragic loss of both parents in a car accident, comes across a small, nondescript suitcase among his father’s detritus. Opening it, he finds letters — scores and scores of letters in a language he can’t decipher, many imprinted with an emblem known throughout modern history as a symbol of absolute evil — the swastika. The actions — and non-actions — of the bereaved son drive the plot of Karen Hartman‘s play, The Book of Joseph, now at Baltimore’s Everyman Theatre through June 10. The Book of Joseph is based on the nonfiction work, Every Day Lasts a Year: A Jewish Family’s Correspondence from Poland by Richard Hollander, the suddenly parentless man portrayed on stage by Bruce Randolph Nelson. If our lives appear to be linear, Hartman’s play, under the able direction of Everyman Theatre Associate Artistic Director Noah Himmelstein, is anything but. The shifts and shimmies through time, bouncing from 1939 to 1945 to 2008 and back again, infuse the play (much of the dialogue taken verbatim from those initially

Danny Gavigan plays the title character in The Book of Joseph, with Megan Anderson as Vita, his second wife. The complex play about family secrets will be onstage at the Everyman Theater through June 10.

commanding, even when he crumples to the floor. In the Hollander family, Joseph is the “lucky star,” and like a star, would guide his family to safety. Richard serves as guide throughout the first act, peppering the various vignettes with bits of insight, exposition and explanation, though there’s a sense that something is missing. We see Joseph’s vain attempts to convince his family to travel with him to Portugal, as well as Joseph, his first wife, Felicja and their ward, Arnold, arriving at Ellis Island with Joseph attempting to convince immigration

officials of their need to stay in the U.S. There are coded messages to fool Nazis censors appearing in seemingly innocuous correspondence from Joseph’s family members. A “visit to Uncle Tolstoy,” for example, means an attempt to flee to Russia. About 45 minutes into the play, Richard announces that his father indeed survived the war, enlisting in the army in order to avoid extradition, and that he would remarry, raise a family and live happily for many years. That’s it, thanks for coming, and be See BOOK OF JOSEPH, page 24

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

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

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2018

Fats Waller to Shakespeare this summer

ABBA in the news Mamma Mia! inspired by the songs of the Swedish group ABBA, opens on June 15 and runs through Sept. 9 at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia. The popular musical weaves together some of ABBA’s most beloved numbers,

such as “Dancing Queen,” “Voulez Vous” and the title number, into a somewhat forced storyline about fathers, daughters, wives and errant husbands on an idyllic Greek island. Tickets range from $45.50 for children to $64, including all-you-can-eat dinner or brunch. Certain performances also offer a discounted price for patrons 65 plus. See tobysdinnertheatre.com or call (410) 730-8311. Coincidentally, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, a second movie based on the play, is set for release this summer. And ABBA has recently announced that, after a 35-year pause, it will soon start recording songs again.

Old favorites Cockpit in Court Summer Theatre once again offers a summer season of diverse programming, including Avenue Q, from June 15 to July 1, on the Mainstage; Disney’s The Little Mermaid, from July 20 to Aug. 5; Laughter on the 23rd Floor, from June 16 to July 1, in the Cabaret; Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, from July 21 to Aug. 6; and Disney’s The Lion King, Jr. (a 60-minute version of Lion King), from July 6 to 15. For complete ticket information, call (443) 840-2787 or visit www.ccbcd.edu/cockpit. The Young Victorian Theatre Company (Young Vic), Baltimore’s Gilbert & Sulli-

van troupe, brings The Mikado to town this summer, on July 14, 15, 19, 21 and 22. The Mikado is a fast-paced musical comedy that was written as a parody of the Victorian era’s political elite and class system. It originally opened on March 14, 1885, in London, where it ran at the Savoy Theatre for 672 performances. The show is set in Japan, which allowed Gilbert to satirize British politics and customs more freely by disguising them as Japanese. The Mikado will be performed in the Sinex Theater at Roland Park Country School, 5204 Roland Ave. For more information and ticket purchases, call (410) 323-3077, email boxoffice@yvtc.org, or visit yvtc.org. Tickets are $40. For rock ‘n roll buffs, in Smokey Joe’s Café ArtsCentric brings to life the songs of Leiber and Stoller, widely credited as the inventors of the musical genre with such hits as “Hound Dog” and “Lucky Lips.” In this idealized ‘50s setting, you’ll certainly be humming along to nearly 40 of the popular songs of the early days of rock ‘n roll. For more information, visit www.ArtsCentric.net or call (410) 205-5130. Smokey Joe’s Café runs from May 25 to June 10. General Admission is $30. Performance location is at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 811 Cathedral St. For more information and ticket purchases, call (410) 205-5130

PHOTO COURTESY OF YOUNG VICTORIAN THEATRE COMPANY

By Carol Sorgen If you’re stage-struck year-round, you’ll have plenty of theatrical offerings in the upcoming months to keep you entertained. Baltimore’s Arena Players, the oldest continuously operating African-American community theater in the United States, will put on the popular Fats Waller musical, Ain’t Misbehavin’ from June 8 to July 1 (Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 4 p.m., and Saturday, June 16, also at 3 p.m.). The show brings to life the world that Fats Waller lived in and largely represented: Harlem in the 1930s, the Golden Age of places like The Cotton Club and the Savoy Ballroom, the honky-tonk dives along Lenox Avenue, of rent parties, of stride piano players, and the new beat, swing. For musicals, general admission is $25; $20 for students and seniors. For plays, general admission is $20; $15 for students and seniors. Arena Players is located at 801 McCulloh St. For more information, visit www.arenaplayersinc.com or call (410) 728-6500.

Baltimore’s Young Victorian Theatre Company will perform Gilbert and Sullivan’s Mikado in July, reprising their 2012 performance, pictured here.

or visit www.artscentric.net.

Bringing Shakespeare to life The Baltimore Shakespeare Factory See SHAKESPEARE, page 24

Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Book of Joseph From page 22 sure to purchase a copy of Every Day Lasts a Year, now available in the lobby.

Getting the real story Not so fast. Enter Richard’s son, Craig (Elliott Kashner), who challenges his father and his grandfather’s sunny, sanitized tale of events. Here the story takes a change in direc-

FROM PAGE 26 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

JUNE 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

tion, as the focus becomes less on the story about Joseph “the lucky star,” and more on Richard, the conflicted son. Nelson does some of finest work here, as his character tries to explain to his own son the multiple levels of emotion, fear, pain, sadness and anxiety that would pull him in so many directions, none being forward, blocked by a suitcase filled with unreadable letters. In this act, instead of travels in time, we watch Richard and Craig travel to Florida

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD I S N P O L A A W A K R A V E D O N O R O B I W R E N M Y C A M H N E W O P E T R J K L M S E N S

T R E N T O N R E D W I N E

M E N L U S A T T H A O W R A L D R U M

O V E N S E L M A R A Z E

B E T A T A G C R P A N S A B E S M I T

A N T I G U A

R E S C U E D O A G P O X S E T R L O E X

U B A P A L A R S A S L E E P

S T E E C R S S A

D U D E

U P S S E S S

ANSWERS TO JUMBLE Jumbles: PANTS DIVOT FORAGE MISUSE Answer: They weren't sure what it would be like sailing in the Mediterranean, so they went -- OUT TO "SEE"

to ask questions of a now octogenarian Arnold — Joseph’s “ward,” the young boy whose father, a Polish pilot, was killed in the early days of World War II. Why did Joseph break his promise to look after Arnold? Why did Joseph never speak of the contents of that suitcase filled with carefully preserved letters? As we watch the tale unfold, we see that, for Richard, heaven would be to see his father and mother once again, and to get to know the family members, consumed by the great fire, that he never met. Kudos to the cast of The Book of Joseph, as actors play multiple roles in an evermoving, modular set that takes us from a fashionable, upscale apartment in preWWII Krakow, to train cars, courtrooms, and a small family home. The Everyman’s talented artistic team —

including Daniel Ettinger (set), David Burdick (costume), Cory Pattak (lighting), Elisheba Ittoop (sound), Caite Hevner (projection) and Gary Logan (dialects, as Polish is spoken in parts of the play) — create these worlds that captivate and carry the audience from one era to the next and back again. The Book of Joseph is at the Everyman Theatre, 315 W. Fayette St, in downtown Baltimore. Tickets are $43 to $65 and are on sale at www.everymantheatre.org, by phone at (410) 752-2208, or via the Everyman box office. Those 62 and older save $5 off tickets for Saturday matinees and Sunday evening performances. Rush tickets at 50 percent off must be purchased in person at the box office and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis beginning 30 minutes prior to curtain of each performance.

Shakespeare

King John will also be performed at St. Mary’s Great Hall, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. Preshow entertainment for both productions begins 30 minutes before show time. Baltimore Shakespeare Factory, whose motto is “Bard to the bone,” produces five shows each year, expanding its outreach into the community, offering education programs for local students, and lectures and workshops for people of all ages. General admission tickets are $24. Tickets for teachers, artists, students and patrons 55 and older are $19. For tickets and more information, call (410) 662-9455 or visit www.BaltimoreShakespeareFactory.org.

From page 23 continues its 2018 series with Shakespeare’s Macbeth, from June 29 to July 22, and King John, from July 27-Aug. 19. Macbeth, Shakespeare’s masterpiece of murder, fate and ambition, will be performed in the Great Hall Theater at St. Mary’s Community Center, 3900 Roland Ave., on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. Tickets for opening night are “pay what you want.” Presented for the first time in Baltimore, King John is Shakespeare’s rarely performed thriller about a hapless king facing threats from outside and within.

Classifieds continued from page 27. Wanted CASH BUYER FOR OLD COSTUME JEWELRY — wrist and pocket watches (any condition). Also buying watchmaker tools and parts, coins, quilts, old toys, postcards, trains, guns, pocket and hunting knives, linens, fishing equipment and tackle boxes, fountain pens, Christmas garden items, crocks and jugs, lamps and lanterns, pottery, military items, sports memorabilia, advertising signs, paintings and contents of attics, basements and garages. Professional, no pressure individual with over forty years of experience. Lloyd D. Baker. 410-409-4965. OLD BOTTLES OF BOURBON, RYE AND CHARTREUSE. Seeking full and sealed bottles of vintage bourbon, rye and chartreuse. I am particularly interested in the following proofs: 100, 101, 107, 114. Alex, 443-223-7669. TOY TRAILWAYS AND GREYHOUND busses. Wayne, 410-807-5246. BUYING VINYL RECORDS from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201. MILITARY ITEMS WANTED: Collector seeks to purchase military uniforms; flight jackets, patches, insignia, medals, etc. from the Civil War through Vietnam. Especially seeking U.S. Army Air Corps, USMC, Airborne, and German/Japanese/Italian items from WWII. ALSO BUYING old Boy Scout, Airline Items, Toys, Lighters. Call Dan, 202841-3062.

BB618

CASH FOR ESTATES, PARTIAL ESTATES, DOWNSIZING. I buy a wide range of items. Buy-out/cleanup. Gary Roman, 301520-0755.

Wanted COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, knives, swords, bayonets, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars and countries. Also Lionel Toy Trains, and coin operated machines. Will pay top prices for my personal collection. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-910-0783. FINE ANTIQUES, PAINTINGS AND QUALITY VINTAGE FURNISHINGS wanted by a serious, capable buyer. I am very well educated [law degree], knowledgeable [over 40 years in the antique business] and have the finances and wherewithal to handle virtually any situation. If you have a special item, collection or important estate, I would like to hear from you. I pay great prices for great things in all categories from Oriental rugs to Tiffany objects, from rare clocks to classic cars. If it is wonderful, I am interested. No phony promises or messy consignments. References gladly furnished. Please call Jake Lenihan, 301-279-8834. Thank you.

BEACON BITS

June 5

ARTFUL EXCURSION TO PHILADELPHIA

Visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Tuesday, June 5, for a special exhibit of Modern American Art from 1910-1950. Cost is $71. Call Senior Box Office at (410) 882-3797 for reservations.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2018

Getting together with Jesse Colin Young

All in the family Now 77, Young says one of the most exciting facets of his music today is playing in a band with his son Tristan, 27. The band members, including Tristan, are recent graduates of the Berklee College Music in Boston. “His senior recital in 2016 just blew me away. I thought, ‘My God, before I leave the planet I want young people like him to play music with me,’” Young said in an interview with the Beacon. “This generation is all in their 20s, and they love my music. There’s something so powerful about them playing it and believing in it. No matter how tired I am [when we start playing], it’s so uplifting that I find myself grinning from ear to ear.”

A start in the ‘60s Young was barely in his 20s himself when he released his first album, Soul of a City Boy, at age 21. Born and raised in Queens, Young’s mother was a violinist with a beautiful singing voice and perfect pitch. His father was passionate about classical music, and the family spent evenings gathered around the piano singing. Young bounced around from school to school. He got kicked out of the elite Philips Andover Academy because he spent all his study time playing guitar. “I was swept up in the music,” he remembers. He then went to public high school and Ohio State and New York Universities, but school never had the same appeal as the allure of music. In Ohio, he was allowed to take records home from stores to play and then return them. They served as his introduction to the blues, from BB King to Ray Charles, as well as country music.

“I’ve always felt what you call rock and roll is the collision from these two streams, a Celtic stream and an African stream. It was very gritty and very attractive to a boy raised in the suburbs where life was very calm and cloistered,” he said. Along the way, he worked in hotels, a factory, even at the Rockefeller Foundation. “I hated all of it, and I thought, ‘Well, maybe I could make a living with my guitar,’” he recalled. So he used his connection with his sister’s husband, who worked at CBS, to wrangle a meeting with a jazz musician who worked with singer Bobby Darren. They liked Young, and “Soul of a City Boy” was recorded in just four hours in 1962. During those early days he played at well-known coffee houses like Gertie’s Folk City. One night he recognized a fellow singer as someone he had gone to elementary school with, but couldn’t quite place him. He just remembered his first name. “He looked at me after I told him about what I was doing, and said, ‘I make records, too.’ I thought to myself, ‘Artie, Artie, oh, Art Garfunkel!’” Young released another album in 1964 and formed the Youngbloods in 1965. “Get Together,” written by folk-rock singer Chet Powers, rose to Top 5 charts around the world in 1969. The Youngblood’s album Elephant Mountain contained two of their other chart-climbing hits, “Darkness, Darkness” and “Sunlight.” Young’s first album after the group broke up was Song for Juli, considered by many to be his best work, the title song was a tribute to his daughter, born in 1966. Young continued to tour through the 1970s and played to his largest audience — 200,000 — at the 1979 No Nukes concert at Battery Park in New York, singing “Get Together” with such luminaries as Jackson Browne, Graham Nash and Stephen Stills. In 1993, Young and his wife Connie launched their own independent label, Ridgetop Music, from their mountain home in Marin County, outside San Francisco. Just two years later, a forest fire engulfed their property, destroying everything and leaving Young and his family literally with just the clothes on their backs. They moved to Hawaii, building a private school and growing organic Kona coffee, called Jesse Colin Young’s Morning Sun Coffee, still sold today. In 2006, he moved to South Carolina to be near family. There he continued to record.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSE COLIN YOUNG

By Barbara Ruben It was one of the anthems of the late 1960s, the Youngblood’s “Get Together,” playing from top 40s stations, at outdoor concerts, and repeatedly on TV ads as the official song of the National Council of Christians and Jews. “Come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together. Try to love one another right now,” was a folkrock rallying cry that was both Vietnam War protest song and a plea to heal the rifts that divided a turbulent America. Over the decades, the song has popped up in the Forest Gump soundtrack and twice on “The Simpsons.” Last fall, it played throughout a Walmart ad, in which people from all walks of life silently bring a variety of chairs to an outdoor table to share a meal. And says Jesse Colin Young, the lead singer of the Youngbloods, the song has more relevance today in an America fractured by political fault lines than it has since it debuted half a century ago. Young and his band will play at the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club on June 7 and 8, followed by a show at the Ram’s Head On Stage in Annapolis on June 9.

Jesse Colin Young has been a fan of motorcycles since he was young. In addition to his famous song “Get Together,” his 1974 “Motorcycle Blues” is also a fan favorite. He will perform with his son Tristan at the Ram’s Head On Stage on June 9.

Young is now back to touring, with dozens of shows a year, many of them selling out. “Having an adoring audience is still a thrill. I’m going to ride this wave as long as I can physically tolerate it. It’s a dream for someone like myself at my age to find this rejuvenation. “It’s like the gift of “Get Together.” If there is a thing called karma, it’s like the finishing of a circle. We need to play it and music like it….It’s time to not just try to love one another, because we know the difference between

trying and doing. It’s time to do.” Young will be playing at the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club, 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, on June 7 and 8 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. To buy tickets, go to http://bbjlive.com or call (240) 330-4500. On June 9, he will be at the Ram’s Head On Stage, 33 West St., Annapolis . Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $55. See www.ramsheadonstage.com or call (410) 268-4545.

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A new album His newest album, tentatively titled Dreamers, will be released in September, and features songs that resonate with today’s issues including the #MeToo movement and the young adult immigrant “Dreamers.” But he had to give up touring for a while as he battled Lyme disease, which he got a decade ago but which went undiagnosed for several years. He is still undergoing treatment for it.

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Crossword Puzzle Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus See If This One Flies 1

Stephen Sherr By Stephen Sherr 6

23 29

55 62

1. ___ It Romantic? 5. A Group of kangaroos (or criminals) 8. Day 12 port island on Celebrity Eclipse’s itinerary 13. Extremely Northern or Southern 14. She did not have to deal with in-laws 15. High elevation nation 16. Like most, at 2:00 PM 17. Badminton blockade 18. Bulgarian totalitarians 19. One with very ruffled feathers 22. Alcoholic’s shakes 23. Waters off the Spanish Islands 26. Lennon was her third husband 29. Horse feed 32. Airbnb user 33. Dating Spring chickens in one’s Fall months 36. Loud bird with silent start 37. Swiss peak 38. Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (acronym) 40. Those who instruct me exactly how I should build the nest 45. “She is my queen and I ___ king” 46. “Immediately!” 47. Brief free media message 48. One just promoted to top prosecutor 49. Shipping container 51. Wearing a tiny tux with winged collars 58. Microbiologist’s dish 61. 2016 returnee to Southern California 62. Bridge support 63. Consonant run, between two vowels 64. Israeli weapon 65. Ore jackpots 66. Fashion ___ 67. Held a committee hearing 68. Brad Pitt and Justin Theroux (to Jennifer Aniston)

Down 1. Across the Mississippi from Illinois 2. Eastern European

Jumble answers on p. 24.

Across

47 49

36 40

Scrabble answers on p. 24.

3. In one’s birthday suit 4. State capital on Eastern Time 5. List of flavors at Ben and Jerry’s 6. Microwave ___ 7. VHS rival format 8. Day 5 port island on Celebrity Eclipse’s itinerary 9. Retrieved labrador 10. The Englishman Who Went ___ Hill But Came Down a Mountain 11. Tavern 12. Former senators D’Amato and Franken 13. 72, on most golf courses 20. Entrance exam discussed in Legally Blonde 21. PENTAGRAMS’ center 24. Like most, at 2:00 AM 25. Aims an Acura 26. Options: N, S, E, ___ 27. Owner of the Bates Motel 28. Emperor’s demand 30. Lose one’s icy demeanor 31. 2014 film which starred David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr. 34. Warm-up exercises that look like a caterpillar’s movements 35. Some H&R Block employees 39. “The South” in the Civil War 41. Good pairing for prime rib 42. Like a Supreme Court argument 43. Catches red-handed 44. One of the first Christians 50. Technology company, listed as a verb in the Oxford English Dictionary 52. Ringo Starr’s instrument 53. Opposite of raise 54. Distribute light or sound 55. A ranch for guys 56. Activates The Force 57. Latter letter letters 58. Skimpy (worded) nightwear 59. Barely get, with “out” 60. The Learning Network, on a cable listing

Answers on page 24.

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2018

CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on the right. CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment. EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

Business & Employment Opportunities DOORMAN/LOBBY REGISTRAR: Established Pikesville Office Building. Ideal for retiree, college/grad student, retired firefighter/officer. Very responsible P/T position. Evenings and Saturday. Apply: 410-484-4162.

Caregivers AMAZING CAREGIVERS, reliable transportation, 2 hrs to 24 hrs. Insurance accepted. (Pam), call 410-977-2040.

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

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate ROOM FOR RENT — ROSEDALE AREA. Elderly gentleman preferred. Near busline. No smoking. 410-252-7448. $125 to $130.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

For Sale SIX CEMETERY LOTS TOGETHER — Moreland Cemetery Parkville. Two concrete vaults, $2.000. $1,600 per lot, sold in pairs. Call Bob, 443-966-1301. Leave message. D.C. — USA CHEAP! Get my encyclopedia of money-saving ideas and information! Free ebrochure. Email RickPepper@protonmail.com or call 667-214-7882.

Health PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR — May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-851-0949. STOP OVERPAYING for your prescriptions! SAVE! Call our licensed Canadian and International pharmacy, compare prices and get $25.00 OFF your first prescription! CALL 1-888-9817657 Promo Code CDC201725. DENTAL INSURANCE. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company for details. Not just a discount plan, real coverage for 350 procedures. 844-366-1003 or http://www.dental50plus.com/320 Ad# 6118.

Home/Handyman Services T’S HAULING & MOVING — I will move your possessions or haul them away. Don’t pay hefty delivery fees. Call Tim, 410-889-3795 or 443-6906525. Senior and military discounts. www.tshaulingandmoving.com. Like us on Facebook.

TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED Deadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 5th of each month. Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question. Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards. Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $10 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word. Business Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing business enterprise. Each ad is $25 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word. Note: Each real estate listing counts as one business text ad. Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:

The Beacon, Baltimore Classified Dept. P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227 Miscellaneous

Personal Services

DONATE VEHICLES. Your donation to Auted helps train disadvantaged at-risk youths in basic auto repairs and maintenance, also vehicles donations to low-income families. MVA Registered Charity Accepted to Receive Donated Vehicles. 100% Tax-deductible. Complete donation form at www.auted.org or mail@auted.org, 301-3559333.

PIANO LESSONS AVAILABLE with Peabody DMA graduate. All levels. Excellent teaching experience. Please call 410-662-7951.

Personals

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

RESIDENTIAL PAINTING: RETIRED PAINTER seeking residential, light commercial work in Baltimore area. Call Mark at 443324-0091. Good work at good prices.

CUTE, ATTRACTIVE FEMALE, FIFTIES — Looking for single white male, fifties plus, attractive, robust, warm-hearted, romantic. Enjoy dates, companionship, devoted relationship. If interested, call 240-418-4124, leave message.

Legal Services

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

LOVELY WOMAN, 50s, SHAPELY LADY, young at heart, easygoing, seeking to meet and date a very attractive SWM, age 50s or 60s, a gentleman. Prefer brawny build, who is caring, sincere, courteous, compassionate, affectionate, stable, secure and lives a healthy, active lifestyle, non-smoker. Have fun dates, laughter, friendship, possibly more. 703-863-5564. Please leave a nice message with phone number for reply.

SPECTRUM TRIPLE PLAY! TV, Internet & Voice for $29.99 ea. 60 MB per second speed. No contract or commitment. More Channels. Faster Internet. Unlimited Voice. Call 1-888-366-7573.

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY? Up to $2,671/mo. (Based on paid-in amount.) Free evaluation! Call Bill Gordon & Associates. 1-866970-0779. Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington, D.C. Office: Broward Co. FL., member TX/NM Bar. WERE YOU AN INDUSTRIAL OR CONSTRUCTION TRADESMAN and recently diagnosed with lung cancer? You and your family may be entitled to a significant cash reward. Call 1888-351-0312 for your risk free consultation.

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

WWF, YOUNG 62, SEEKING SWM for longterm relationship. Must be honest, no games. If interested, call Lisa, 410-282-3311 or text 443761-6563.

Personal Services CHAIR REPAIR — WE REPAIR broken chairs, tables, benches, stools, cabinets, drawer fronts, boxes, chests, etc. Pickup and delivery available. 410-499-7757.

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

Classifieds continued on page 24.

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Candidates

Financial Services

Woodholme Gardens . . . . . . . . .21

Dr. Dong Shen for State Delegate .17

Spencer Gordon Insurance . . . .15

Legal Services

Clinical Research Studies

Funeral Services

COPD Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Knee Osteoarthritis Study . . . . .11 Memory Loss Research Study .10 Overweight COPD Study . . . . .10

Dignity Schimunek . . . . . . . . . .25

Angels of Elder Care Planning .15 Frank, Frank & Scherr Law Firm17

Dental Services

Housing

Denture Doctor . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Diamond Dental . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Aigburth Vale Senior Community . . . . . . . . .15 Alta at Regency Crest . . . . . . . .11 Charlestown/Erickson . . . . . . . .1 Christ Church Harbor Apts. . . . .17 Linden Park Apts. . . . . . . . . . . .21 Oak Crest/Erickson . . . . . . . . . . .1 Park View Apartments . . . . . . . .20 Springhouse Pikesville . . . . . . .11 St. Marys Roland View Towers .16

Education CCBC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Edward A. Myerberg Center . . . .3

Events Celebration of the Arts . . . . . . .28

Home Health Care Options for Senior America . . . .19

Medical/Health

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Keswick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Subscriptions Beacon Subscription . . . . . . . . .24

Carle Center For Pain Management . . . . . . . . . . .8 Kraus Behavioral Health . . . . . . .9 MedStar Cancer Network . . . . .13 MedStar Good Samaritan . . . . . .9 Rosenblatt Foot Care . . . . . . . . . .8 Skin Cancer EB . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Steady Strides Fall Prevention . . .7

Berkshire Chorale . . . . . . . . . . .23 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . .22

Shopping

Travel

First Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Radio Flea Market . . . . . . . . . . .22 Wilkens Beltway Plaza . . . . . . .16

Eyre Bus, Tour & Travel . . . . . .19 Nexus Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Superior Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Technology TechMedic4U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Theatres/ Entertainment

28 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

JUNE 2018 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; BALTIMORE BEACON