June 2019 | Howard County Beacon

The Howard County

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But what about veterans who live in neighboring Maryland and Delaware — so close by a flight isn’t required? That question only came up recently, oddly enough.

A Southwest Airlines employee from a military family helped start the new Honor Flight Maryland after she participated in honor flights from other states and felt Maryland’s vets should be eligible, too.

Among the first Marylanders on the group’s inaugural trip on May 11 was 101year-old Vivian Corbett Bailey of Howard County. She served as a lieutenant in the segregated Women’s Army Corps from 1943 to 1946.

Bailey has received many awards for

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Honoring Maryland’s veterans

By Margaret Foster While waiting for a flight at BWI Airport, passengers hear an announcement: “Ladies and gentlemen, please join us at gate seven for a special Honor Flight. Please welcome our veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.” A crowd forms, and people crane their necks, waiting for the plane’s passengers to disembark. A thin man in a dark blue military veteran cap rolls out in a wheelchair.

Applause echoes through the terminal.

Behind him, more and more older veterans stream out of the gate, looking surprised by the crowd. Strangers reach out to shake their hands, pat their shoulders and thank them before the vets are escorted a one-day tour of the war memorials in Washington, D.C., and Arlington Cemetery.

Although many veterans — and onlookers — have tears in their eyes, that’s not the point of an Honor Flight, said Jeff Miller, who co-founded the Honor Flight Network in 2007.

“We don’t take them here to make them cry. We want to give them a personal day of honor,” Miller said. “They’ll tell us, ‘This was the best day of my life.’”

Based in Springfield, Ohio, the Honor Flight Network and its 133 hubs in 45 states organize hundreds of flights each year for older veterans. To date, more than 222,000 veterans have visited the memorials for the first time through the free program.

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Forts, fishing, food and fun — there’s more to Alabama’s Coast than beaches; plus, Alaska by yacht, and how to avoid car rental gotchas page 23

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Howard County resident Vivian Corbett Bailey, 101, who served in World War II, was among 30 veterans who participated in the inaugural trip of Honor Flight Maryland on May 11. More than 200,000 veterans from across the country have enjoyed free trips to visit war memorials in Washington, D.C., since Honor Flight was formed in 2007. Now Maryland’s vets can have a day of honor, too.

her military and volunteer service. In fact, her name is etched in stone on a monument at Arlington Cemetery. But the first time she laid eyes on it was on her Honor Flight Maryland trip.

She and about 30 other veterans boarded a bus in Ellicott City at 8 a.m., then visited the World War II Memorial and the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, among others.

“It was a long day; it was a good day, though,” Bailey said. “I was particularly pleased to see the WWII Memorial. It was a well-organized affair; it ran very smoothly. They’ve done a lot of honoring and I’m humbled by that.”

New book by HoCo career coach helps women find their life’s purpose; plus, a motherdaughter exhibit at the Baltimore Museum of Art, and the first-ever survival guide for Gold Star parents page 26

Two men, one idea The Honor Flight Network was the brainchild of two men who had the same idea at around the same time.

In 2005, Retired Air Force Captain Earl Morse was working at a Veterans’ Affairs hospital in southwestern Ohio as a physician assistant. He asked his patients who had served in WWII if they had seen the memorial that had recently opened to honor the 16 million veterans of the war.

None had.

Hoping to right that wrong, Morse enlisted a dozen fellow pilots to help. On the See HONOR FLIGHTS, page 28

FITNESS & HEALTH 4 k Brain zaps may improve memory k Safe ways to save $ on insulin THE 50+ CONNECTION 15 k Newsletter from Howard County Office on Aging & Independence LAW & MONEY 19 k Common money mistakes to avoid k Find part-time work with the Census ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

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Saving faces We’re all told to be careful with our IDs facial recognition software now allows travbecause of the burgeoning crime of identi- elers to bypass security lines, enables resity theft. dents to enter their apartment For example, we shouldn’t buildings hands-free, and share our Social Security numgrants kids entrée to their bers with businesses or publihome even if they lose the key. cize our birth date on social One article in this issue, media because facts such as “Walmart is using AI to watch these can help thieves access the store,” describes how our bank accounts, falsely commercial entities are testclaim our tax refunds or apply ing ways to make practical for credit cards in our names. use of artificial intelligence to But there’s one aspect of improve the shopping experiour identity each of us carries FROM THE ence and reduce costs. at all times that nobody can PUBLISHER Is there a spill on aisle 11? steal: our face. So, not sur- By Stuart P. Rosenthal Are the lines getting too long prisingly, it was only a matter at the cash registers? Walmart of time before technology companies de- store managers can use AI to keep tabs on veloped a software that would utilize pre- these and thousands of other details cise facial recognition to improve security. throughout the store.

The software, a type of artificial intelliWalmart says it is not currently using gence, uses algorithms to precisely com- the technology to identify individual shoppute many of the physical characteristics pers or in sensitive spots like the pharmathat define each individual face, which it rap- cy or restrooms. But it could. idly compares with data from other faces Ironically, the very singularity of our faces, housed in whatever database it is using. coupled with our ubiquitous security camDeveloped by technology companies like eras, makes this technology capable of trackAmazon for commercial and personal uses, ing an individual’s movements and identify-

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ing them in a crowd, creating a new threat possibly more dangerous than identity theft: namely, loss of anonymity and privacy.

Of course, this ability has many positive uses. It has proven useful for finding lost children and tracking down terrorists and criminals, as when it quickly identified the shooter who murdered five employees at the Capital Gazette in Annapolis last year. For this reason, the technology has proven popular with police forces throughout the U.S. But it is also being utilized by police states throughout the globe.

Recent articles in the press have made us aware how China is using facial recognition technology to keep tabs on billions of its citizens, not only catching criminals in the process, but also protesters and other “undesirables,” such as Uyghur Muslims, who have been rounded up and placed in internment camps for “re-education.”

So where does that leave us? There is great value in the technology, but the potential for abuse is high.

Congress is currently considering a bipartisan bill that “would ban companies (but not governments) from collecting facial-recognition data without consent,” according to the Washington Post.

But maybe it’s government use of the technology that should be more feared.

That’s the sentiment behind San Francisco’s recently passed city ordinance prohibiting public agencies, including local police, from using facial recognition soft-

ware to help identity individuals — but not restricting businesses from using it.

In my view, the pros and cons of facial recognition and AI technology mirror those of every advance humans have made from the Stone Age forward.

Since our distant ancestors invented the arrowhead and crude stone knives, we have had weapons with which to protect ourselves from enemies and, alas, to kill anyone we don’t like or who has something we want.

It’s not the technology, it’s the character of the people who use it that matters — and the self-regulation we impose.

Is our society prepared to make judgments about the acceptable use of facial recognition technology by individuals, businesses and governments? And are we capable of enforcing any limits we impose?

We have arguably succeeded in doing that for some technologies (nuclear power) and arguably failed with others (automatic weapons).

Where will we draw the line when it comes to technology that can potentially follow us from cradle to grave, wherever we go, whatever we do?

I’d like to know what you think. Please share your thoughts on this topic, or any other, by sending us a letter to the editor.

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter

The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Baltimore area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Howard County, Md., Greater Washington, DC and Richmond, Va. (Fifty Plus).

Subscriptions are available via third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. Maryland residents add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below.

Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher.

Publisher/Editor – Stuart P. Rosenthal President/Associate Publisher – Judith K. Rosenthal Vice President of Operations – Gordon Hasenei Vice President, Sales & Marketing – Alan Spiegel Managing Editor – Margaret Foster Art Director – Kyle Gregory Director of Operations – Roger King

addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day.

Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email info@thebeaconnewspapers.com.

Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.

Dear Editor: I loved your May article about Stonington, Maine. I wanted to make sure you are aware of the wonderful work the Deer IsleStonington Historical Society does.

The Society maintains the Salome Sellers House — such a wonderful learning experience. Salome Sellers was my great, great, great grandmother, and I’m so grateful that her home has been preserved.

Krysten Jenci Chevy Chase, Md. Dear Editor: I just read your piece about distracted

driving in a parking lot (From the Publisher, May).

There is one possible explanation your story did not address: it is highly likely, with all the technology, that people have become so dependent on it they cannot think about their actions anymore. They have so many “smart” things around them that they do not become smarter at all; they become stupid and do selfish and moronic things.

All you need to prove my theory is to drive on MD 295 during rush hour.

Adam Ritter Elkridge, Md.

Advertising Representative – Steve Levin Editorial Assistant – PJ Feinstein

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PARK RANGER WALK AT WARFIELD PONDS

Meet up with a park ranger for a walk around Warfield Ponds Park on Saturday, June 15, at 2 p.m. Learn about the park and the ranger’s job on a tour suitable for all ages. Warfield Ponds Park is located at 14523 MacClintock Dr., Glenwood. The walk is free, but registration is required. To register or for more information, go to howardcountymd.gov or call (410) 313-7275.

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SAVE ON INSULIN As the cost of insulin spikes, consider four safe cost-cutting measures TENNIS ELBOW, ANYONE? Painful elbows — caused by tennis, golf or many other activities — can be eased NIGHTTIME LEG CRAMPS Stretching and drinking lots of water may fend off late-night muscle spasms NATURAL HEARTBURN REMEDIES You may not need a variety of OTC pills to soothe acid stomach

Brain zaps boost memory in people 60+

By Malcolm Ritter Zapping the brains of people over 60 with a mild electrical current improved a form of memory enough that they performed like people in their 20s, a new study found.

Someday, people might visit clinics to boost that ability, which declines both in normal aging and in dementias like Alzheimer’s disease, said researcher Robert Reinhart of Boston University.

The treatment is aimed at “working memory” — the ability to hold information in mind for a matter of seconds as you perform a task, such as doing math in your head.

Sometimes called the workbench or scratchpad of the mind, it’s crucial for things like taking medications, paying bills, buying groceries or planning, Reinhart said.

“It’s where your consciousness lives… where you’re working on information,” he said.

Effects are short term The new study is not the first to show

that stimulating the brain can boost working memory. But Reinhart, who reported the work last month in the journal Nature Neuroscience, said it’s notable for showing success in older people and because the memor y boost persisted for nearly an hour minimum after the brain stimulation ended.

One scientist who has previously reported boosting working memory with electrical stimulation noted that the decline in this ability with normal aging is not huge.

But “they removed the effects of age from these people,” said Dr. Barry Gordon, a professor of neurology and cognitive science at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore.

“It’s a superb first step” toward demonstrating a way to improve mental performance, said Gordon, who was not involved in the new study.

Reinhart agreed that more research is needed before it can be formally tested as a treatment.

No pain involved The electrical current was administered through a tight-fitting cap that also monitored each subject’s brainwaves. For study participants, that current felt like a slight tingling, itching or poking sensation under the electrodes for about 30 seconds, Reinhart said. After that, the skin got used to the current and it was imperceptible.

The researchers’ idea was to improve communication between the brain’s prefrontal cortex in the front and the temporal cortex on the left side, because the rhythms of activity in those two regions had fallen out of sync with each other.

So the researchers applied the current to those two regions to nudge the activity cycles back into a matching pattern. The results provided new evidence that a breakdown in that communication causes the loss of working memory with age, Reinhart said.

Part of the study included 42 participants in their 20s, plus 42 others 60 to 76.

First, they were tested on a measure of working memory. It involved viewing an image such as a harmonica or broken egg on a computer screen, then a blank screen for three seconds, and then a second image that was either identical to the first or slightly modified. The subjects had to judge whether it was the same image or not.

During a sham stimulation, the older group was less accurate than the younger participants. But during and after 25 minutes of real brain stimulation, they did as well. The improvement lasted for at least another 50 minutes after the stimulation ended, at which point the researchers stopped testing.

It’s not clear how long the benefit reached beyond that, Reinhart said, but previous research suggests it might go for five hours or more after stimulation stops.

Researchers got the same result with a second group of 28 subjects over age 62.

—AP

Facing cancer treatment? This can help

By Lindsey Tanner Before she could start breast cancer treatment, Nancy Simpson had to walk in a straight line, count backward from 20 and repeat a silly phrase.

It was all part of a special kind of medical fitness test for older patients that’s starting to catch on among cancer doctors. Instead of assuming that patients are too frail for treatment or, alternatively, recommending harsh drugs tested only in younger patients, they are taking a broader look.

Specialists call these tests “geriatric assessments,” and they require doctors to take the time to evaluate physical and mental fitness, along with emotional and social well-being. They also take into account the patient’s desires for life-prolonging treatment regardless of how much time might be left.

An avid walker with a strong network of nearby family and friends, Simpson, now 80, said she “wanted to do the maximum I could handle” to fight her disease. She scored high enough in her 2017 evaluation to proceed with recommended surgery and chemotherapy.

“It gave me encouragement. Then I felt

like I am OK and I can get through this — and will get through this,” said Simpson.

For patients 65 and up These tests are sometimes done with other illnesses but only recently have been recommended for cancer.

In new guidelines, the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommends the evaluations for patients 65 and up, particularly before making decisions about chemotherapy. The idea is to find ways to help patients tolerate treatment, not rule it out.

For example, if walking tests show balance problems that chemotherapy might worsen, patients might be offered physical therapy first. Relatives or friends might be called on to help cook for patients who live alone and would become too weak to prepare meals during chemo. And for those who want to avoid the hospital no matter what, treatment that could put them there would be avoided.

Almost 1 million U.S. adults 65 and older

will be diagnosed with cancer this year, the American Cancer Society estimates. Nearly two-thirds of all cancer patients are in that age group.

And yet, most cancer treatments stem from studies on younger, often healthier patients. That leaves doctors with limited information on how treatments will affect older patients. Geriatric assessments can help bridge that gap, said Dr. Supriya Mohile, a specialist in geriatric cancer at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Nearly two-thirds of all cancer patients are 65 or over

Evaluations assess risks These tests may take 15 to 30 minutes or more, and recent research has shown they can accurately predict how patients will fare during and after cancer treatment, Mohile said.

Older patients who get chemo and have other health problems are more vulnerable to falls and delirium, and are at risk of losing independence.

“We hear all the time about ‘decision regret,’” she said, meaning patients who got harsh treatment but weren’t aware of risks and other options, and who later say, “I wish someone had told me this could happen.”

Mohile co-authored a recent study that found just one in four U.S. cancer specialists did the assessments. She said doctors say it takes too long and that patients don’t want it.

But she hears from patients and caregivers: “I’m so happy you’re asking me about these things. Nobody ever asked me.”

One of Mohile’s colleagues administered Simpson’s evaluation, which showed she was strong enough to endure a standard, aggressive three-drug chemotherapy combo for breast cancer. She chose a variation that was gentler, but extended the treatment by several weeks.

The evaluation showed “I wasn’t in as that bad of shape as my age would indicate,” Simpson said.

Her walking buddy and four attentive children gave her strong social support, and she lived independently, doing her own cooking and cleaning.

See CANCER TEST, page 5

HELP FOR OPIOID/HEROIN ADDICTION The Howard County Health Department is offering drop-in programs for information on helping opioid and heroin users on

Tuesday, June 4, from 3 to 6 p.m. and Thursday, June 27, from 3 to 6 p.m. The programs will be held at the Health Department Office, 8930 Stanford Blvd., Columbia. For more information, call the Health Department at (410) 313-2929.

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Howard County Community College is offering a non-credit course in Tai Chi, combining meditation and exercise, on eight Saturdays from June 22 to August 17 for $99. The hour-long classes will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Horowitz Art Center on the main campus, 10901 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. For more information or to register, call (443) 518-1700 or go to howardcc.edu/coned.

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course, visit hcgh.org/events or call (410) 740-7601.

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learning appropriate exercises and diet. To learn more and to register for the free

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Sponsored by the Howard County Health Department, a free program on keeping the brain healthy as one ages will be presented on Friday, June 7, at 1 p.m. at the East Columbia Branch Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. To learn more or to register, visit the library or call (410) 313-7700.

tion, fatigue and pain; developing skills to communicate about the condition; and

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from 1:30 to 4 p.m. each Saturday, and will cover coping with feelings of frustra-

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The course will be held at St. John Baptist Church, 9055 Tamar Dr., Columbia

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to manage a chronic disease in six Saturday workshops from May 25 to June 29.

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Dr. Hyman Muss, a geriatrics specialist at the University of North Carolina’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, said there’s no question the assessments are important, but insurance coverage is sometimes a problem.

Medicare will pay for yearly physical exams but not geriatric assessments, he said. Doctors can sometimes squeeze the tests into other office visits, but there is no billing code for the exams, he said.

Advocates note that the assessments can include questionnaires that patients can fill out at home to shorten time in the doctor’s office.

Beverly Canin, 84, of Rhinebeck, N.Y., became an advocate after declining

COPING WITH CHRONIC DISEASES Howard County General Hospital will address strategies and skills

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Treatment left Simpson with hair loss, fatigue and excruciating mouth sores. She knew about the risks but has no regrets.

Cancer “gave me a different perspective on what is important in life and what isn’t, and I’m still adjusting to that,” Simpson said.

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From page 4

chemotherapy following surgery for early breast cancer 20 years ago. She didn’t have an assessment, and says her doctor dismissed her concerns about harsh side effects and refused to consider other options.

A 2015 medical report Canin co-authored told of a patient who had the opposite experience. The 92-year-old man with rectal cancer entered hospice care after he declined surgery, the only treatment his primary care doctor recommended. The doctor determined the man would not tolerate rigorous chemotherapy and radiation because of his advanced age.

A specialist approved the treatments after the man had a geriatric assessment and declared he wanted care that would control his symptoms and prolong his life.

The patient managed well and was cancer-free two years later. Canin said his stress and treatment delay could have been avoided if an assessment had been done first.

“The risks with older adults traditionally are overtreatment and undertreatment.

What we need is more precision treatment,” she said.

—AP

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Insulin too pricey? Ways to cut costs

By Linda A. Johnson The skyrocketing price of insulin has some diabetics scrambling to cover the cost of the life-saving medication. Others are skipping doses or using smaller amounts than needed and sometimes landing in the emergency room, patients and advocates told Congress recently.

About 7.4 million Americans use insulin to keep their blood sugar at safe levels. Insulin needs vary by patient, as do costs depending on insurance coverage.

Amid the public uproar about costs, drugmakers and some prescription plans are starting to offer patients bigger discounts.

Express Scripts and its parent company, insurer Cigna, just began offering a month’s worth of insulin to eligible patients for $25

per month. Express Scripts is now lining up other insurers whose prescription plans it manages.

For most insulin and other diabetes medicines, manufacturers offer coupons reducing monthly out-of-pocket costs.

The American Diabetes Association connects patients to assistance programs through insulinhelp.org, though not everyone qualifies.

“We do not want anyone to skip or ration doses,” said Dr. William Cefalu, the advocacy group’s chief scientific officer.

If you are struggling to afford insulin, tell your doctors, Cefalu said. They might be able to recommend a free clinic or patient assistance plan, or suggest cheaper options.

If cost is an issue, here are other ways to save money:

Try older kinds of insulin Talk to your doctor about switching to older, cheaper kinds of insulin, suggested Dr. Robert Gabbay, chief medical officer at Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.

However, dangerous blood sugar plunges are more common with those, as they don’t control blood sugar as tightly as newer, more expensive insulins.

Patients using older products, such as Novolin and Humulin R, must test their blood sugar more often, and more accurately time when they inject insulin before meals, Gabbay stressed.

Switch to vials Patients who’ve been using insulin pens — injection devices containing multiple insulin doses — could switch to insulin vials.

They are cheaper but less convenient.

Drawing insulin out of the vial into a syringe makes doses less precise, and the abdominal injections hurt a bit more.

Another option is Basaglar, a cheaper near-copy of the popular long-acting Lantus insulin pens.

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Check your insurance Review your insurance company’s list of covered medications for insulin with the lowest copayments; coverage and copayments often change in January and there may be cheaper choices. Other savings options include getting a 90-day supply instead of 30-day refills.

Shop around Compare prices at different pharmacies.

Prices can vary widely for insulin, other diabetes drugs and the testing strips and lancets needed to check blood sugar levels.

Patients can look up drug prices at multiple drugstores and get coupons for big discounts at the pharmacy counter at GoodRx.com Or try healthwarehouse.com, which sells medicines at cash prices that can be cheaper even if you have insurance.

Medicare and Medicaid patients can’t combine coupons with their insurance, but a coupon alone might still be the cheapest option.

The three main insulin makers offer the following savings: — Sanofi’s Insulins ValYOU Savings Program offers uninsured and cash-paying patients one insulin vial for $99 or one insulin pen for $149 each month. Starting in June, it will offer up to 10 vials and/or pens of most of its insulins for $99. Its Sanofi Patient Connection offers low-income, uninsured patients free insulin.

— Eli Lilly will soon sell Insulin Lispro, a half-price version of its top-selling insulin Humalog KwikPens, for $265 per month.

Its Lilly Diabetes Solution Center helps patients find affordable options.

— Novo Nordisk has long sold an older insulin, ReliOn, through Walmart for about $25 a vial. It’s now available through CVS Health and Express Scripts. Novo Nordisk offers copay savings cards for Tresiba and other insulins, plus patient assistance with generous income limits at NovoCare.com.

—AP

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Easing pain from golfer’s or tennis elbow

By Christopher Camp, M.D. Dear Mayo Clinic: A few months ago, I noticed minor pain in my elbow when I’d lift anything — even something light. Recently, the pain is worsening and moving down my inner forearm. My elbow hurts even when I’m not lifting. Turning my wrist or twisting my arm causes pain.

What could be the reason for this?

Are there things I can do at home to make it better, or do I need to see my healthcare provider?

A: The problem you describe sounds like “golfer’s elbow.” The medical term for this disorder is medial epicondylitis, which develops when muscles and tendons on the inside, or medial side, of your arm become damaged, usually due to overuse.

Self-care measures often are enough to ease the pain. If you don’t see improvement after a few weeks, however, make an appointment with your healthcare provider for an evaluation.

The muscle and tendon damage of golfer’s elbow triggers pain and tenderness on the inner part of your elbow. As in your case, the pain may extend down the inside of the forearm. It also can lead to stiffness in the elbow and weakness in the hand and wrist.

A related condition that tends to be more common is tennis elbow (also called lateral

epicondylitis). It affects the outside (lateral side) of the forearm and leads to symptoms similar to those of golfer’s elbow.

Despite its name, golfer’s elbow doesn’t affect only athletes. The condition develops due to excessive or repeated stress on the muscles and tendons of the inner arm.

That can happen over time as a result of any activity that involves repeatedly bending and straightening your elbow.

Steps you can take Although it can be painful, golfer’s elbow doesn’t require urgent care. It’s safe to try some remedies at home before you see your healthcare provider.

Rest your arm and avoid activities that require you to turn or twist it. Use an ice pack on your elbow, 15 to 20 minutes at a time, three or four times a day. Take a nonprescription anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium, to ease discomfort.

In many cases, following these self-care steps consistently for several weeks is enough to relieve symptoms of golfer’s elbow and allow you to gradually return to your activities.

If there’s no improvement after several weeks, then it’s time to see your healthcare provider. A review of your health history and activities, along with a physical

exam, usually are all that’s needed to diagnose golfer’s elbow. In some cases, X-rays may be useful to rule out other conditions, such as a broken bone or arthritis.

Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, physical therapy is the next step in treatment. Strengthening and stretching exercises called “eccentric exercises” are particularly effective in treating golfer’s elbow. A physical therapist can teach you these and other strengthening and flexibility techniques.

In most cases, golfer’s elbow resolves completely with self-care and physical therapy, and no further treatment is needed. Recovery can take time and patience, however.

Total symptom relief often requires three to six months of consistent physical therapy. Although that may become frustrating, the effort is worth it. For most people who take the time to work through physical therapy to treat golfer’s elbow, symptoms don’t return.

Rarely, symptoms may persist despite

BEACON BITS

June 3

FREE BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING

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consistent self-care and physical therapy.

In those cases, an injection of platelet-rich plasma may be beneficial. In severe cases where all other treatment options have failed, surgery may be necessary.

Once your symptoms are gone, take care to help prevent golfer’s elbow in the future. Strengthen your forearm muscles, and stretch before physical activity. Use lightweight equipment when working, exercising or playing sports. Don’t overuse your elbow. If you notice discomfort when doing an activity, take a break.

— Christopher Camp, M.D., Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. Email a question to MayoClinicQ&A@ mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org. © 2019 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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J U N E 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

New Alzheimer’s-like condition identified

By Lauran Neergaard Some people told they have Alzheimer’s may instead have a newly identified mimic of the disease — and scientists say even though neither is yet curable, it’s critical to get better at telling different kinds of dementia apart.

Too often, the word dementia is used interchangeably with Alzheimer’s when there are multiple types of brain degeneration that can harm people’s memory and thinking skills.

“Not everything that looks like Alzheimer’s disease is Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Julie

Schneider, a neuropathologist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. And among all the known dementias, this newly identified kind “is the most striking mimic of Alzheimer’s,” she added.

It’s not clear how many people have this particular type, which an international team of scientists defined on April 30 in the journal Brain. But there could be a sizeable number, said Dr. Peter Nelson of the University of Kentucky, the paper’s lead author.

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The dementia was dubbed “LATE,” an acronym chosen in part because the oldest seniors seem at greatest risk.

Here’s a look at various dementias in the confusing Alzheimer’s-or-not mix:

Standard Alzheimer’s plaque Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, and autopsies have long found its telltale signs in the brain: sticky plaque from an abnormal buildup of amyloid protein, and tangles of another protein named tau.

Only recently have scientists developed special, pricey scans that can measure that buildup in living brains. Studies with those scans found about a third of people with Alzheimer’s symptoms lack amyloid buildup — ruling out Alzheimer’s, said Schneider, senior author of the paper.

What else could cause their dementia?

Another toxic protein found It turns out another protein, named TDP-43, also can run amok in the brain.

Scientists knew it plays a role in a completely different disorder, Lou Gehrig’s disease. Then, they linked TDP-43 buildup to severe shrinking of the hippocampus, a brain region key for learning and memory.

Nelson said about a quarter of people over age 85 have enough abnormal TDP43 to affect their memory or thinking abilities. For now, it takes an autopsy to spot — the symptoms seem like Alzheimer’s until a specialist can peer inside the brain.

“What is now clear is that a lot of dementia is caused by gloppy proteins. We used to think it was just two gloppy proteins, amyloid and tau,” Nelson said.

The next step: Finding better ways to measure abnormal TDP-43 and diagnose LATE. (It stands for an unwieldy scientific name — Limbic-predominant Age-related TDP-43 Encephalopathy.)

“Our ultimate goal is to test people hopefully in a very noninvasive way,” said National Institute on Aging dementia specialist Nina Silverberg. That’s key to eventually developing treatments.

Other dementia culprits — Strokes, sometimes small “silent”

ones, can trigger what’s called vascular dementia, something scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) think might be prevented with better blood pressure control.

— Lewy body dementia, named for clumps of still another abnormal protein, can cause Alzheimer’s-like symptoms along with movement and other problems.

— Frontotemporal dementia often triggers changes in personality and tends to strike at a younger age than Alzheimer’s, yet can still be misdiagnosed.

Many older patients probably have “mixed dementia,” several brain changes that combine to cause trouble, Dr. Walter Koroshetz, head of NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, told a recent meeting about non-Alzheimer’s dementias.

The paper about TDP-43-caused disease adds to the complexity, said Alzheimer’s Association chief science officer Maria Carrillo, who wasn’t involved with the new research.

“We must learn more about each contributing cause of dementia so we can understand how these changes begin and interact and co-occur, and how to best diagnose, treat and prevent them,” she said.

Correct diagnosis important Current treatments for Alzheimer’s and other dementias temporarily ease symptoms. But there are other reasons for a precise diagnosis.

A list of medications common for seniors can harm people with Lewy body dementia, for example. Knowing the specifics also can help people plan care, as some types of dementia worsen faster than others.

And it’s critical for developing better dementia treatments. Testing a treatment that targets, say, the tau tangles or amyloid plaques of Alzheimer’s won’t stand a chance if patients who only have TDP-43 are allowed into the study.

“If you have a dementia percolating in your brain, the only hope we have right now is to participate in a clinical trial to try to stop it,” Nelson said.

—AP

BEACON BITS

June 23+

SUMMER SINGING CAMPS You’re never too old for summer camp. Encore, the largest choral

music program for older adults in the country, offers instructive travel adventures during June and August. Stay in a dormitory at Washington College in Chestertown, Md., June 23 to June 27 for a choral program on the Eastern Shore. Or sign up for Rock and Roll Summer Camp for singers 55+ during the week of August 5 through 9 at St. John’s College in Annapolis to explore “melodies, harmonies and rhythms of the rock repertoire from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.” Finally, a choral institute will take place August 25 through 30 at the famous Chautauqua Institution in western New York. For more information, visit encorecreativity.org, call (301) 261-5747 or email amycolhoun@encorecreativity.org.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

9

Relief for leg cramps; digestive issues

By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: I frequently have leg cramps that wake me up from sleep. How can I quickly stop the cramps, and are there ways to prevent them?

A: Few things are more jarring to a night’s sleep than a sudden cramp in your calf. By the way, you have lots of company.

Although nocturnal leg cramps can strike people at any time of life, they become more common with age.

Among people over 50, about half report having leg cramps, a third say they are awakened by cramps at night, and 15 percent report weekly episodes.

Leg cramps are muscle spasms caused by “mini-seizures” of motor neurons (nerves that power muscle contractions). They are common among people with foot problems like flat feet or high arches, metabolic disorders, or neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or neuropathy (nerve damage).

However, most cramps strike people who are otherwise healthy. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances such as low blood potassium or magnesium levels (a common side effect of diuretics) can increase the risk of cramping.

To stop a foot or cramp once it happens, lean over and grab your toes, then slowly bend your foot back toward your head.

Hold for about 20 seconds, then release it.

Repeat as needed.

If that doesn’t help, you can try rubbing the cramp with ice wrapped in a towel.

Some people find more relief with a heating pad placed on the cramp.

Despite the lack of a scientifically proven and safe therapy to prevent recurrent nighttime leg cramps, a few approaches may be worth trying.

Start with stretching exercises. Stand about two feet from a wall. Lean forward, keeping your legs straight and feet flat on the floor. You should feel the stretch, but it should not be painful. Hold the position for 20 seconds and release. Repeat the stretch four to five times.

Ideally try to do this four times per day for the first couple weeks at least. The most important time to stretch is before bed.

Other preventive measures you can try include avoiding dehydration, wearing wellfitting supportive footwear, and keeping the bedding at your feet loose during the night.

Although the evidence isn’t strong, some people find that taking a daily vita-

min B complex helps, or consider over-thecounter diphenhydramine (Benadryl) before bedtime.

Right now, there are no FDA-approved medications for leg cramps. The one drug with solid evidence for reducing the frequency of muscle cramps is quinine. However, the FDA has issued repeated warnings against using quinine to prevent or treat leg cramps because it may cause serious side effects.

Although doctors can still prescribe quinine, it is recommended only when cramps are disabling and the person understands the significant risks.

Q: Food often sits heavy in my stomach. Should I be taking a daily digestive enzyme supplement?

A: Digestive enzyme supplements promise to fix everything from bloating and flatulence to heartburn and gut health. Some of them are clearly beneficial in certain situations.

But enzyme supplements are too often used in situations where there is little evidence that they do any good.

Naturally occurring digestive enzymes help break down food so we can soak up nutrients. Your mouth, stomach and small intestine make some digestive enzymes. However, the majority come from your pancreas, which floods the small intestine (when food arrives there) with enzymes such as: — lipase, which breaks down fats; — amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates; and — proteases and peptidases, which break down proteins.

Once nutrients are broken into small enough molecules, they are absorbed through the wall of the small intestine into the blood and then delivered throughout the body.

Sometimes the body doesn’t make enough digestive enzymes. This can slow the digestion process and lead to uncomfortable symptoms.

For example, if you don’t make enough of the enzyme lactase, you’ll have a hard time digesting lactose — the sugar in milk and milk-based products.

If you don’t have lactase, the undigested lactose goes to the colon, which leads to more fluid entering the colon and more gas produced by bacteria in the colon. That creates bloating, flatulence and diarrhea.

For people who can’t make enough digestive enzymes because of a health condition such as chronic pancreatitis or cystic

BEACON BITS

June 11

LEADERSHIP HOWARD HOLDS DINNER, HONORS COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDEES

Leadership Howard County will hold its annual dinner Tuesday, June 11 at Ten Oaks Ballroom, 5000 Signal Bell Ln., Clarksville beginning at 5:30 p.m.During the event, the 2019 classes of Leadership Premier and Leadership Essentials will graduate and three alumni will be recognized for their continuing service to the county. They are Ananta Heejeebu, Tom Burtzlaff and Phyllis Madachy. For more information and to order tickets at $75 each, visit leadershiphc.org or call (410) 730-4474.

fibrosis, doctors prescribe enzyme pills to substitute for the lack of natural enzyme production. People with known deficiencies clearly get a benefit from these.

Likewise, we know that taking a nonprescription lactase supplement (such as Lactaid or Lactrase) can help people manage lactose intolerance, and taking an alphagalactosidase supplement (such as Beano or Bean Relief) may reduce gas and bloating if you have a hard time digesting the sugars in beans.

But for other common gut problems, like heartburn or irritable bowel syndrome, there is little evidence that digestive enzymes are helpful.

Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, please visit health.harvard.edu. © 2019 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed

by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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J U N E 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 9

Health Shorts Dog walkers have more falls, broken bones Broken bones from falls while dog walking are on the rise among older U.S. adults, and hip fractures are among the most common injuries.

That’s according to a study published in JAMA Surgery.

University of Pennsylvania researchers examined government data on emergency room visits for dog-walking injuries in adults 65 and older. The numbers nationwide jumped from nearly 1,700 in 2004 to about 4,400 in 2017.

Almost 80 percent of the patients were women, who tend to have less dense bones than men.

While dog walking causes fewer than 1 percent of fractures among older adults, the numbers are higher than expected and the risk is often underappreciated, said study co-author Dr. Jaimo Ahn, an orthopedic surgeon.

Injuries typically happen when a dog pulls on a leash and walkers lose their balance.

Breaking bones, especially hips, can sharply diminish older adults’ health. Previous research suggests that at least 1 in 4 dies within one year of breaking a hip.

But research shows that dogs can be good companions for older adults and can help them stay active. So before embarking on those outings, older people should consider strength training for themselves — and obedience training for their dogs, Ahn said.

High heat warnings may go out too late A new study finds even moderate heat sends some mid-Atlantic residents to the hospital, suggesting that government weather service warnings of dangerously high temperatures are coming too late in some parts of the U.S. The research shows an uptick in hospital admissions for heat problems long before alerts go out in northern, generally cooler states. And that’s happening at lower temperatures than in the toastier South, where people are more accustomed to the heat.

“Alerts are not occurring early enough,” said Dr. Renee Salas, an emergency room doctor and researcher at the Harvard Global Health Institute. Salas, who wasn’t part of the study, called it important in a warming world where heat illnesses are going to only get worse.

Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other federal agencies studied hospital admissions for heat-related illnesses in 22 states over a decade. They found 36,000 such hospitalizations per summer, on average.

In the Midwest and North Central states, when the heat index — which combines temperature and humidity for a feels-like number — hits 85 degrees, there’s a noticeable jump in the number of people who go to the hospital with heat-related illnesses, such as dehydration, breathing and heart problems, even diabetes, the study said.

But NOAA’s National Weather Service’s first level of heat alerts don’t go out in those regions until the “feels-like” temper-

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

ature approaches 100 degrees.

Colder regions just aren’t used to the heat, and people there get sicker at lower temperatures than in areas where high temperatures in the summer are a daily fact of life and air conditioning is more prevalent, said study lead author Ambarish Vaidyanathan, a CDC health scientist.

During dangerously high temperatures, health officials advise limiting or avoiding strenuous outdoor activities, staying cool inside, drinking plenty of water and wearing light, loose-fitting clothing.

Climate change prolongs allergy season Scientists say that climate change is pro-

11

longing allergy season and the suffering that goes along with it.

The News Journal in Wilmington, Del., reported last month that local doctors are seeing more people who are suffering from allergies and that they are suffering for longer periods of time.

Scientists say that deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels are sending more greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Those gases in turn warm the planet and extend allergy season.

Some studies have found additional carbon dioxide may even cause some plants to produce more pollen.

Local historical data shows that Delaware appears to be getting warmer. Delaware State Climatologist Daniel Leathers said that has meant a longer span between frosts when plants can bloom and grow.

—AP

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J U N E 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Natural remedies for reflux, esophagitis I finally got reflux and heartburn after all (H2 antagonists) or omeprazole (Prilosec, a these years. I have newfound respect for popular PPI med) to deal with my reflux. those of you who deal with it!

Acid blockers don’t soothe, I traced my problem to drinkcoat or directly patch up your ing shots of yerba mate. I drank mucosal lining. They suppress them several times a week for acid, which gives your esophaenergy. I noticed heartburn gus a break. It’s an indirect about 20 minutes after drinking treatment, but it’s okay if that’s one tiny glass bottle of it. what your doctor recommendAfter it happened three times ed. last week, I made the connecIn my case, I started taking tion. I did a little research and natural remedies. I’m happy learned that drinking too much to report my strategy worked! mate, especially hot mate, ap- DEAR Just one week later, I’m 75 parently is tied to esophageal PHARMACIST percent better.

By Suzy Cohen cancer. I’ve stopped drinking Here’s the short story of yerba mate shots as a result of my strategy: my pain as well as these concerns.

1. Discontinue the offender.

I didn’t take acid blockers like famotidine For me, the yerba mate was the problem.

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Ongoing

LEADERS NEEDED

The University of Maryland’s Legacy Leadership Institute on Public Policy seeks volunteers age 50+ to serve as legislative leaders during the 2019-2020 session of the Maryland General Assembly. The 12week classroom training begins in September at the College Park campus, with site visits to Annapolis. The volunteer assignment takes place in Annapolis for a minimum of two days per week, from January 2020 until April 2020. Volunteers will be placed in the office of members of the Maryland General Assembly. For more information or an application, contact Wesley Queen at wqueen@umd.edu or (301) 405-2529.

For others, it may be smoking, spicy foods, alcohol or hot drinks. Whatever it is, discontinue your trigger.

2. Discontinue spices and hot foods.

I’ve temporarily given up spicy mayo, cayenne and black pepper, and even vinegar to give my esophagus a rest.

Also, I noticed it would hurt when I drank hot coffee or tea. According to an article published in International Journal of Cancer, drinking hot tea dramatically increases your chance for developing esophageal cancer. So drink your beverages lukewarm.

3. Drink marshmallow root water.

Fill a big glass jar with cold water and put about 1 tablespoon of dried marshmallow root per cup of water. In a few hours, you will have a water that is somewhat thicker, preserving the mucilaginous properties of the marshmallow, which coats and soothes delicate membranes as you drink it.

4. Mastic gum Mastic gum is a resin that is extracted from a tree. This is sold as a dietary supplement and is used as a natural remedy

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Symptoms of esophagitis vary and include some of the following: Swallowing food and then experiencing mild pain in the chest or throat, the sensation that something is stuck in the throat or sternum, early satiety, belching, mouth sores, heartburn, reflux and mild nausea.

If you’re not significantly better within a week of your home treatment (natural or over-the-counter), see a specialist to make sure there is no serious underlying cause.

This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement.

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 9

Health Studies Page

13

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Headaches or jaw pain? Study may help

By Margaret Foster If you’ve had pain in your jaw or frequent headaches in the past three months, consider helping yourself as well as science with a visit to the University of Maryland Baltimore.

Researchers from the school’s Department of Pain and Translational Symptom Science will do a full rundown to see if you have a condition called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), a complex chronic pain condition. Only about 6 percent of people are believed to have this painful disorder, but many of them have not been diagnosed.

“They can get a free two-hour comprehensive exam to determine if they have TMD,” said Dr. Luana Colloca, the study’s principal investigator.

Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the study will compare 400 pa-

tients who are experiencing pain to 400 who are not.

It requires a screening session at Colloca’s downtown Baltimore lab and one fourhour session. Participants will be compensated a total of $200 for their time and receive validated parking.

The study will investigate the effect of a placebo on pain. At Colloca’s downtown lab, patients will be given a genetic test (via saliva). Researchers will look at how behavior and expectation influences pain.

Colloca, a placebo expert, studies patients’ personality, brain activity patterns and physiological responses to explain the mechanisms of the placebo effect — that is, how inactive or non-medical treatments can be effective as long as the patient believes they can be. The Colloca Lab also tries to determine which conditions strengthen or weak-

en the placebo effect.

As Colloca puts it, “we look at personality traits, other psychological variables, patterns in brain activity, and physiological responses that may help to explain 1) the mechanism of pain modulation (e.g., why do some people feel terrible pain and others experience less pain), and 2) what de-

termines the strength or weakness of the self-healing process,” she said in an email.

“We made groundbreaking discoveries such as the role of the neural hormone Vasopressin in placebo analgesia.”

To find out more or to volunteer for the study, email CollocaLab@son.umaryland. edu or call (410) 706-5975.

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PARKINSON’S POINTERS “The Value of Multidisciplinary Care in Parkinson’s Disease” A free, livestream event followed by a question-and-answer session

Presented by Zoltan Mari, MD, director of the Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Program and The Ruvo Family Chair, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health

Thursday, June 6 • 6:30-8 p.m. check-in & Hors d’oeuvres • 6 p.m.

Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center 18131 Slade School Road • Sandy Spring, MD 20860

The complexity and diverse nature of Parkinson’s means that no one pill or physician can effectively deal with the myriad of problems it presents. An alliance of specialists and subspecialists are needed to collaborate and effectively tackle each and every symptom and challenge experienced by patients. During this seminar, Dr. Mari will discuss the benefits, current models and future of multidisciplinary care.

For information or to register, contact Toni Davis, 301-388-7209 or tdavis@bgf.org, by June 4.

www.bgf.org

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J U N E 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon

A Publication from the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence

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Volume 9, No. 6 • June 2019

Elder Financial Abuse: Know the Signs of Exploitation LDER FINANCIAL ABUSE — also known as financial exploitation

E

— is a crime. It involves the taking of assets, either money or property, through forms of deception, false pretenses, coercion, harassment, duress, and threats. Common forms of exploitation include fraud and scams such as lottery scams and phishing emails. The Department of Justice reports that an estimated $2.9 billion is stolen annually from elders. Yet only one in 14 cases of elder abuse are reported.

We Trusted Her, But She Fooled Us All A case in point involves “GG,” a 73-year-old Columbia resident who knows all too well what it’s like to be victimized at a vulnerable time in your life. While caring for her husband, who was in the advanced stages of brain cancer, GG decided to hire a caregiver through a contact provided by her husband’s physician. “My whole focus was on my husband, so bringing in a caregiver to help was essential,” she explains. At first, everything seemed to go well.

So well in fact that when the caregiver suggested bringing in an assistant to help with cleaning and organizing things around the house, including paperwork and paying bills, GG agreed. “I began to rely on her more and more,” she says, “We treated her like family.

She would say to my kids, you don’t need to worry about your mother.” The assistant continued to help with household bills and paperwork for some time after GG’s husband passed away.

SATURDAY

JUNE 15 10 AM TO 2 PM Join Us for a World Elder Abuse Awareness

SHRED EVENT & DISCOVERY DAY REGISTER ONLINE. SECURE SHRED TIME. SIGN UP FOR SEMINARS.

aarp.cvent.com\howardshred IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

SHRED Personal Documents TWO Boxes/Person • Personal Papers ONLY • NO Businesses

Attend Informative SEMINARS

Months later, GG discovered she had only $89 left in her checking account, far less than the tens of thousands she expected! After contacting police, GG told them that SHE felt guilty because she “should have seen the red flags.”

Since the assistant had used GG’s ATM card, cashed insurance check, and forged her signature on other checks, the State’s Attorney’s Office was able to find a paper trail and successfully prosecute her, but was not able to recover the money. “It turns out she wasn’t bonded,” said GG. “As honest as we thought she was, she fooled us all.”

Financial exploitation can happen to anyone; however, there are a few factors that make older adults more vulnerable, such as social isolation and cognitive impairment (i.e., dementia or Alzheimer’s disease).

Red Flags/Signs of Financial Exploitation • Sudden changes in bank balances, or unexplained withdrawals of funds by a person other than the elder; • Adding names onto an elder's bank signature card; • Unauthorized ATM withdrawals from an elder's account; • Abrupt changes in a will or other financial documents; • Unexplained disappearance of funds or possessions; • Substandard care being provided, or bills left unpaid despite adequate financial resources; • Forged signatures on financial transactions or titles; • Sudden appearance of previously uninvolved relatives claiming rights to an elder's property or possessions; • Unexplained transfers of assets to a family member or someone outside the family.

Future Planning is Your Best Offense One of the best ways to prevent and avoid financial exploitation is to plan for your own future. With a power of attorney or a living will, you can address health care decisions now to avoid confusion and clearly outline your wishes whether they concern medical or financial matters.

Seek independent advice from someone you trust before signing any documents. If you live in a nursing home, and need an advocate, contact the Howard County Long Term Care Ombudsman Program at 410-313-6423 (voice/relay).

Ways to Help Prevent Financial Exploitation

FOR MORE INFORMATION

• • • • •

OFELIA ROSS OTT oross@howardcountymd.gov 410-313-6052 (VOICE/RELAY)

Visit www.howardcountymd.gov/eldersafety to learn more about how you can take a stand against elder abuse.

• Suspect Abuse... Who Do You Call?

• Helping Friends and Loved Ones Stay Safe • Prosecuting Vulnerable/Elder Abuse Cases

• Frauds/Scams Targeting Seniors • Avoiding Financial Exploitation • Shred ID Theft

Stay active and connected to reduce social isolation.

Mail and open your own bills and letters.

Always use direct deposit for all checks.

Never give personal information over the phone.

Review your will periodically.

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The 50+ Connection

Dealing with Dementia

By Terri Hansen, Manager, Social Day Programs Division

J U N E 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

HOPE ON THE HORIZON Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Forum

I

t’s not often that you see the words DEMENTIA and HOPE written together; however, on Tuesday, June 4, not only will you see these words together you will feel their impact at Hope on the Horizon, a forum to discuss Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Held at the Ellicott City 50+ Center, the forum is co-sponsored by the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence, the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Maryland and Acts Retirement-Life Community, Copper Ridge. Everyone, regardless of their age, can benefit from learning about the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and what to do to reduce those risks. Join us to learn about the latest research firsthand, from experts in these fields.

Equally important, you will learn why early detection matters; what a person can or should do when he/she receives a diagnosis; and how to identify local resources and find support. Early detection is essential to gain access to information, care and support; it also helps raise awareness about brain health, and is an important step to shift mindsets and normalize discussions about cognitive health.

Bring a friend or family member to HOPE ON THE HORIZON on June 4 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Ellicott City 50+ Center, 9401 Frederick Road, Ellicott City 21042. The event is free, but pre-registration is required to ensure we have adequate seating.

Register at www.hopeonthehorizonhc.eventbrite.com by Thursday, May 30. Call Kathy Wehr at 410-313-5955 or email kwehr@howardcountymd.gov to inquire about space availability after the registration deadline.

TUESDAY, JUNE 4 6:00 to 8:00 pm Ellicott City 50+ Center 9401 Frederick Road, Ellicott City 21042

The Latest Research Why Early Detection Matters Next Steps for Caregivers

REGISTER at hopeonthehorizonhc.eventbrite.com Registration Deadline Thursday, May 30 Onsite ADULT RESPITE available with registration PRESENTED

IN

PARTNERSHIP

WITH

To request a sign language interpreter or other accommodations to participate, call Kathleen Krintz at 410-313-6079 (voice/relay) one week in advance.

www.howardcountymd.gov/aging

FREE ADMISSION

S AT U R DAY OC TOBER 19 10 AM TO 3 PM Howard Community College, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044 Presented by the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE ALL-NEW, REINVENTED 50+EXPO 2019!

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE • 62 vendor and sponsor booths • 10 informational and educational seminars • two performances and keynote speaker in the Smith Theatre • one panel discussion/demonstration in a 140-person capacity lecture hall • snack and lunch sales from a variety of vendors, including coffee carts GENERAL EVENT INFORMATION www.howardcountymd.gov/masteraging • www.Facebook.com/HoCoCommunity

www.howardcountymd.gov/aging

VENDOR/EXHIBITOR INFORMATION Lisa Brusio Coster at 410-442-3734 (voice/relay) or email lcoster@howardcountymd.gov

FAX

PHONE EMAIL

410-313-6410 (voice/relay) 410-313-6540 aging@howardcountymd.gov

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 9

The 50+ Connection

Say you saw it in the Beacon

17

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The 50+ Connection

J U N E 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Tai Chi Grows in Popularity with 50+ in Howard County Tai Chi, a slow, gentle and low-impact bodymind exercise, is growing in popularity among Howard County’s older adults, even those with health issues. On Saturday, April 27, several dozen enthusiasts gathered to celebrate World Tai Chi Day at the Columbia lakefront. The Tai Chi group is based at the East Columbia 50+ Center and led by Dr. Ping Mao, who teaches several classes there each week.

Last year, the group traveled to China for an international tournament, representing Howard County to a global audience, and winning many individual and group medals.

Dr. Mao plans to lead a second trip in the fall to Beijing, Xi’an and Luoyang. For more information about Tai Chi classes, call the center at 410-313-7680 (voice/relay).

P4C Pet Evaluations

JUNE 6 AND JULY 11 • 7 TO 9 PM Bain 50+ Center

If you are interested in volunteering, or wish to receive a FREE evaluation for your pet, contact:

5470 Ruth Keeton Way Columbia 21044

Ingrid Gleysteen, PROGRAM COORDINATOR igleysteen@howardcountymd.gov 410-313-7461 (voice/relay)

Be Strong. Be Bold.

AGE WELL. Aging is not lost youth, but a new stage of opportunity and strength.

— Betty Friedan —

HOWARD COUNTY’S PREMIER RESOURCE for Dynamic, Quality-of-Life Programs, Services and Supports for All Ages of Adulthood INFORMATION, ASSISTANCE and REFERRALS for all of the REAL-LIFE moments

When you have questions, we have answers.

The 2019 Cycle2Health season is in full gear!

Coordinated by the Health and Wellness Division of the Office on Aging and Independence, this cycling program is geared toward older adults and offers three ride options each week, from casual (pictured above, led by Jeff Friedhoffer) through advanced. Join us to explore the beauty of Howard County from a new perspective and meet new people. Visit www.howardcountymd.gov/C2H for upcoming ride schedules and registration info or stop in your nearest 50+ center to register in person. A $15 annual fee applies.

Photo by Jeff Friedhoffer

410-313-1234 ( ) / VOICE RELAY

aging@howardcountymd.gov howardcountymd.gov/aging • facebook.com/HoCoCommunity EMAIL

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

19

COMING TO A STORE NEAR YOU More stores are using cameras and AI technology to keep an eye on things COUNTING ON RETIREES A short-term part-time job with the 2020 Census might be just the thing for some retirees; how to find one COMMON MONEY MISTAKES Being overly optimistic can prove costly; there are times you really need to buy insurance, write a will, or hire a financial advisor

Bond funds help avoid interest rate risk Traditional bond funds lost value last year greater default risk, especially with corpoas the Federal Reserve steadily increased in- rate bonds. An investor could buy U.S. Treasury notes and bonds, but the terest rates. The Fed could also added security comes at the increase interest rates in 2019, cost of lower coupon rates. and this causes some concern among bond fund investors.

Benefits of target funds One of the disadvantages of There is another option for traditional bond funds in a clithose looking for higher coupon mate of rising interest rates is rates, the benefits of diversificathat there is no fixed maturity tion and relative protection from date; fund managers are coninterest rate risk: target-maturitinually modifying their portty bond funds. folios. Accordingly, when an THE SAVINGS These funds hold bonds that investor sells shares of the GAME mature in the same year. For fund, he or she may face a

By Elliot Raphaelson example, assume you know loss of net asset value (NAV).

There are ways that bond investors can that you want to invest in bonds for a 10-year mitigate interest rate risk. The simplest is period and then liquidate your holdings beto buy individual bonds and hold them to cause you are facing a specific payment, maturity. In this way, an investor is sure to such as college tuition. A target-maturity receive the par value of the bond when it bond fund allows you to avoid interest rate matures. Laddering bond purchases makes risk because the bonds held mature at the it easier to hold issues to maturity and avoid time you wish to liquidate.

Two financially stable fund families that having to sell in a time of rising rates.

The major disadvantage of holding indi- specialize in this type of investment are Invidual bonds is that it exposes an investor to vesco and BlackRock. Both companies

issue exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Invesco invests in corporate and emerging markets with maturities every year up to 2028. BlackRock iShares are invested in corporate and municipal bonds with maturities from 2020 to 2028. These ETFs have modest fees of approximately 0.5 percent per year.

If you invest in traditional bond funds, you can find some funds with lower annual fees. However, as I indicated, traditional bond funds expose you to the risk of selling your shares at a time when the NAV is lower because of unfavorable interest rate increases.

Target fund downsides Target-maturity bond funds do have some disadvantages. The bonds held in the fund mature in the same year, but some will mature months before the fund’s closing date. The cash associated with the sale of these bonds will be idle and have negligible return.

Another disadvantage is that some of the bonds in the portfolio might be called, and the fund management will not be able

to invest these proceeds with high returns.

Another potential disadvantage is liquidity risk: If you decide to sell your shares prior to the closing date you selected, you could be facing some loss in value as there may be insufficient interest in purchasing your shares.

What to do If you are a short-term bond investor and are concerned about interest rate risk, invest in bond funds with three- to fiveyear maturities. You will receive reasonable returns with minimum interest rate risk.

If you are a long-term bond investor, then traditional bond funds have advantages over the target-maturity bond funds.

However, if you are pretty certain as to when you need the funds in your bond portfolio, and you are concerned about interest rate risk, then you can consider target-maturity bond funds as an alternative. © 2019 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Get your grandkids in the giving spirit

By Neale Godfrey Charitable giving is a subject close to my heart and something I have emphasized to my children — and now with my grandchildren — since they were young. It is an opportunity for you to impart your personal values to your family. My mantra is: You are not your money. You are your values.

A charitable donation can be made in many ways. It can be as small a gesture as giving spare change to a homeless person — offering a powerful visual lesson for a child to see that there are people less fortunate than themselves. It is also important to give to a specific charity that you and your grandchild have selected together.

Perhaps the most precious gift of all, though, is the gift of time and consideration. Volunteerism is a crucial concept.

When your grandchild volunteers to help others, they become empowered by their acts and very aware of their link with the community.

Charity is also a key element of managing your finances responsibly.

Giving of yourself Explain to your grandchild that volunteering together can be fun. This is a great activity that can become a cherished memory of the precious time you spend with them.

With that in mind, you may want to look for something that matches your grandchild’s talents or interests. For instance, if your grandchild is interested in soccer, they could find a preschool program that needs help supervising young players.

When my kids were young, we went into a local hospital and helped to serve meals.

Now my granddaughter and I make candles and “fun slime” together. There is a local store that will sell our goods. We have set up a “company” we call Grandma and Me. A portion of our sales goes to a charity that my granddaughter has selected, Freedom from Fistula, which provides care to women in Africa injured during prolonged and obstructed childbirth.

I explained this charity to my granddaughter and said I am so passionate about it because I gave birth to her mother

by caesarean section. If I had been from an African village, I may not have been so lucky. If my daughter had not been born, I wouldn’t have my granddaughter.

She is now passionate about this charity as well, and our personal connection to the issue formed the basis of our business, Grandma and Me.

How to start Watching the news together, talking to friends or just helping your grandchildren observe the world around them can help uncover volunteer projects that are appropriate and will interest them. There are kids’ volunteer groups in every school and house of worship.

It should take only one or two phone calls to locate something in your community. For instance, some nursing homes welcome people to come with their friendly dogs who just love to be petted by the people in the facility. What an easy way to spread some joy.

Empower them to act Teach your grandchildren that they have the power to do something to make positive change. Start the discussion by letting them know the organizations you have donated to and where you have volunteered.

Let’s say your grandchildren want to raise money for a local cause. Make sure your young ones just don’t complain about a problem or expect someone else to do something about it. You want your grandchildren to decide that they can make an impact and that they are dedicated enough to do something about the problem.

Next, set a goal. Have your grandchild spell out, in one simple sentence, what their goal is. For example: “We, the kids of Chester, N.J., want to raise money for a children’s playground in Newark so kids there can have a place to play.”

Set a date to accomplish the goal. (This is important. Imagine if their teacher said, See CHARITABLE GIVING, page 21

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J U N E 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Walmart using AI to watch the store

By Anne D’Innocenzio Inside one of Walmart’s busiest Neighborhood Market grocery stores, in Levittown, N.Y., high-resolution cameras suspended from the ceiling point to a table of bananas. They can tell how ripe the bananas are from their color.

When a banana starts to bruise, the cameras send an alert to a worker. Normally, that task would have relied on the subjective assessment of a human, who likely doesn’t have time to inspect every piece of fruit.

Welcome to Walmart’s Intelligent Retail Lab — the retail giant’s biggest attempt to digitize the physical store.

1000s of cameras The thousands of cameras are a key feature of the lab, which recently opened inside this 50,000-square-foot store. Walmart envisions using them, combined with other technology like sensors on shelves,

to monitor the store in real time so its workers can quickly react to replenish products or fix other problems.

The technology will also be able to track when shelves need to be restocked or if shopping carts are running low. It can spot spills on the floor and even detect when cash registers need to be opened up before long lines start forming.

Walmart hopes to start scaling some of the new technology at other stores in the next six months, with an eye toward lowering costs and prices. As the shopping experience improves, the retailer expects to see higher sales.

“We really like to think of this store as an artificial intelligence factory, a place where we are building these products, experiences, where we are testing and learning,” said Mike Hanrahan, CEO of Walmart’s Intelligent Retail Lab and cofounder of Jet.com, purchased by Walmart

BEACON BITS

June 10+

INTRODUCTION TO MEDICARE

North Howard 50+ Center will host two sessions explaining Medicare to new participants on Monday, June 10 and Monday, June 17. Both programs are free and scheduled for 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Rd., Laurel. For additional information or to register, call the Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services at (410) 313-7389.

three years ago.

“If we know in real time everything that’s happening in the store from an inventory and in stock perspective, that really helps us rethink about how we can potentially manage the store.”

Hanrahan said the cameras are programmed to focus primarily on the products and the shelves at this point. They currently do not recognize shoppers’ faces, determine the ethnicity of a person picking up the product, or track the movement of shopper, he said.

Privacy concerns There are signs throughout the store alerting and educating shoppers about how the store is being used as a lab. Still, the cameras could raise privacy concerns.

“Machine learning fundamentally finds and matches patterns,” said Steven M. Bellovin, professor of computer science at Columbia University and an expert on privacy, who hasn’t seen the new Walmart AI Lab. But he said companies run into trouble when they start to match the behavior to a specific customer.

Hanrahan said Walmart has made sure to protect shoppers’ privacy and also emphasized that it does not have cameras at the pharmacy, in front of the rest rooms or in its employees’ breakrooms.

Walmart’s new living lab marks its second in a physical store. Last year, Walmart’s Sam’s Club opened a 32,000-squarefoot lab store, the quarter of a size of a typical Sam’s Club store. It’s using the store to test new features surrounding its Scan & Go App, which lets customers scan items as they shop and then buy from their phones, skipping the checkout line.

The retail lab is the third project from Walmart’s new incubation arm, created after the Jet.com acquisition as a way for the discounter to shape the future of retail.

It follows the launch of Jetblack, a shopping by text service aimed at affluent shoppers in New York.

Hanrahan said the company is embracing the labs in stores because it can better understand the real ways that technology affects customers and workers. It also wants to educate shoppers.

Walmart has made a point to not hide the technology. Small educational kiosks are set up throughout the store. It plans to bring in local schools and communities.

Despite the signs and visible cameras, many shoppers including Marcy Seinberg from Wantagh, N.Y., didn’t seem to notice or care.

“I am not bothered by it,” Seinberg said.

“If technology saves me money, I would be interested.”

—AP

Keep It Loose, Lose the Bag!

ATTENTION! As of June 15, 2019, Howard County will NO LONGER ACCEPT recycling in plastic bags.

Place all material loosely in recycling carts or bins.

KnowBeforeYouThrow.org • 410-313-6444

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 9

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Census offers temp jobs for retirees Dear Savvy Senior, businesses and institutions.

The U.S. Census Bureau is in the Among the jobs within the census are canprocess of recruiting thouvassing in the field, updating sands of workers for tempomaps, doing follow-up interrary jobs to help collect valuviews with citizens in your able data for the 2020 Cencommunity, working in the ofsus, and retirees are ideal fice as a clerk doing adminiscandidates. Can you write a trative tasks and overseeing column to get the word out? field staff.

Thanks for your help!

Some jobs will begin this — Census Recruiter summer, but the majority of poDear Recruiter, sitions will begin in late April I’m happy to oblige, and I 2020 and last a month or two. agree. This once-a-decade job SAVVY SENIOR These temporary part-time opportunity is a great fit for re- By Jim Miller positions are located in every tirees who have some free county throughout the United time on their hands and wouldn’t mind States and Puerto Rico. Some positions reearning some extra income while helping quire evening or weekend shifts because the community. you must be available to interview members Attention retirees! The United States Cen- of the public when they’re at home. sus Bureau is currently in the process of reAnd all positions require several days of cruiting more than 500,000 temporary work- online and classroom training. The pay ers to help carry out the upcoming 2020 Cen- ranges between $13.50 and $30 per hour, sus national head count of every person liv- depending on position and location. To ing in the country. find the pay rates in your area, see The U.S. Census helps determine each 2020census.gov/en/jobs/locations.html. state’s representation in Congress; how To be able to work for the 2020 census funds are spent for schools, hospitals, roads; you must: and provides information to guide many deci• Be at least 18 years old; sions made by government agencies, private • Have a valid Social Security number;

Charitable giving From page 19 “Just hand in your homework whenever you’d like!”) Have your grandchild set a realistic date for completion and a timetable for sub goals to be met along the way.

Most of all, remember that volunteering

instills positive values in your grandchildren that will stay with them their entire lives. You are showing your grandchildren that they can make a difference. What a great gift! © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Please patronize our advertisers.

Frank, Frank

& Scherr, LLC

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Elder Law, Estate & Special Needs Planning

Medical Assistance Planning and Eligibility Advance Medical Directives / Living Wills Trusts / Estate Planning and Administration / Wills Powers of Attorney / Guardianship Disability Planning / Special Needs Trusts

410.337.8900 | www.frankelderlaw.com | 1.888.338.0400 Towson | Columbia | Easton

• Be a U.S. citizen; • Have a valid email address; • Complete an application and answer assessment questions; • Be registered with the Selective Service System or have a qualifying exemption, if you are a male born after Dec. 31, 1959; • Pass a Census-performed criminal background check and a review of criminal records, including fingerprinting; • Commit to completing training; and • Be available to work flexible hours, which can include days, evenings, and/or weekends.

In addition, most census jobs require employees to have access to a vehicle and a valid driver’s license, unless public transportation is readily available. Access to a computer with internet and an email account are needed to complete training.

How to apply The first step is to complete the online

job application at 2020census.gov/en/jobs.

The process takes about 30 minutes and will include some assessment questions about your education, work and other experience.

If you’re a veteran who would like to claim veterans’ preference, which provides preference over nonveteran applicants, you’ll need supporting documentation.

For more information on the 2020 Census, or if you have questions or problems with the application process, call (855) 562-2020.

After you apply, an interviewer will reach out to potential hires to conduct a phone interview, but not all applicants will be interviewed. Job offers are made verbally, but candidates will also receive a letter by email.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

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J U N E 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Money mistakes even smart people make

By Liz Weston Certified financial planner Jill Schlesinger has seen smart people make some pretty spectacular money mistakes.

One client who repeatedly refused to buy disability insurance later developed multiple sclerosis. A doctor she knew put off writing a will and left behind a six-figure tax bill. A technology company engineer balked at her suggestion to sell some of his stock options, only to watch their value — and his retirement plans — evaporate when the market plunged.

Schlesinger, a CBS News business analyst and author of The Dumb Things Smart People Do With Their Money, admits to financial missteps as well, including waiting for “just the right moment” to invest and thus missing a big jump in the stock market.

“We’re emotional animals, not just rational ones,” Schlesinger said. “So even

otherwise intelligent people are stymied by their emotions — usually fear and greed — and their cognitive biases.”

In fact, a whole field of economics is devoted to exploring how we make financial decisions, including the bad ones. Behavioral economics tries to pinpoint where our brains and emotions lead us wrong, as well as what we can do about it.

The value of pessimism Most of us don’t like to dwell on what could go wrong, Schlesinger noted, and many of us believe we’re better at predicting the future than we actually are. Overconfidence, excessive optimism and the conviction that the recent past will continue into the future mean many of us don’t adequately protect ourselves.

The client who wouldn’t buy disability insurance, for example, thought he would-

n’t need it because he was healthy. The stock option guy didn’t want to sell a winning investment, not understanding how vulnerable he was to a downturn. The doctor just didn’t want to think about dying.

The antidote to this kind of thinking is to stop trying to calculate the odds of something going wrong. Focus instead on how much you or your loved ones have to lose if the worst happens. If you can’t easily absorb that loss, then buy the insurance, diversify your investments and write your will.

Seek out, and listen to, advice Slow down A common sales tactic is to try to create a sense of urgency so people will act. But we tend to make mistakes when we rush.

If you feel pressured to buy a product, sign up for a service or invest in something, take a step back.

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 Randallstown: 410-655-5673 Park View at Rosedale: 410-866-1886 Park View at Taylor: 410-663-0363 Park View at Towson: 410-828-7185 Park View at Woodlawn: 410-281-1120

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

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

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

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

Schlesinger recommends asking these five questions before making investments, but they could easily apply to other financial decisions: • How much will this cost?

• What are the alternatives?

• How easy is it to get my money out and what fees or penalties will I pay?

• What tax consequences will this carry for me?

• What’s the worst-case scenario I face with this?

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

Most financial advisers aren’t required to put your interests ahead of their own.

They can sell you an investment that costs more or performs worse than an alternative, simply because it puts more money in their pocket.

This lack of advisors’ fiduciary duty has convinced many people they’re better off handling their own financial affairs. A do-ityourself approach may actually be appropriate, Schlesinger said, when you’re getting a handle on the basics — paying off credit card debt, starting to save for retirement and building an emergency fund.

That said, you still would be smart to seek out an expert if you’re confronting a situation that’s complex or out of the ordinary, she said.

If the IRS is auditing you, you need a tax pro. If you’re being sued by a creditor, you need a lawyer. If you’re about to inherit a large sum — more money than you’re accustomed to dealing with — you should talk to a fee-only financial planner who agrees in writing to put your interests first.

The more money you have, the more likely you are to face complex situations that require expertise you don’t have. The consequences of making a mistake or not spotting a problem can be greater as well, which is why financial planners often hire their own financial planners.

Two areas that are particularly tricky are estate planning and retirement income strategies, including when to start Social Security and how to tap retirement funds.

The cost of getting an expert second opinion could be a fraction of what you would pay for a mistake.

“We all make dumb mistakes, but some of them can be costly — and life-altering,” Schlesinger said.

—AP

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Travel

23

Leisure &

Cruising Alaska in a small boat grants glimpses of rainforests, waterways and plenty of wildlife. See story on page 24.

Alabama’s Gulf coast popular year-round

For beach bums and active hikers Of course, the beach, lapped by the bluegreen waters of the Gulf of Mexico, is the

reason most people visit Gulf Shores, a town of about 12,000 residents, and nearby Orange Beach, about half that size.

Between the two towns lies what many locals consider to be the best of Alabama’s 22 state parks: Gulf State Park. While the park is home to the shortest stretch of beach in the region, its other claims to fame account for its reputation and popularity.

Nine distinct ecosystems in its 6,000-plus acres include pine forests, coastal hardwood swamps and freshwater marshes.

A 27-mile backcountry trail complex, accessible to people with varying abilities, leads walkers past boggy streams and three spring-fed freshwater lakes. Hikers may spot white-tailed deer, an alligator basking in the sun or even a bobcat.

The park’s nature center and butterfly garden offer a glimpse of colorful wildlife. Boats and fishing gear are available for rent, as well as lakeside cabins, cottages and campsites.

PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER, GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH TOURISM

By Victor Block My first thought was that I must have taken a wrong turn. The scene outside the car windows — Dollar Stores, Waffle Houses and tattoo parlors — hardly matched the almost poetic name of my destination: Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Ala. Small, aging wooden houses, some of which had seen better days, lined the narrow lanes off the main road.

Before long, though, I came upon glitzy high-rise condominium buildings standing shoulder to shoulder along a broad stretch of sugar-white sand. Then it dawned on me: I was in a something-for-everyone kind of place.

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, perched on the southernmost tip of Alabama, combine the usual list of to-dos and to-sees of many sun-and-sand destinations, but they have some unique surprises.

Folks who want a respite from the sun can explore a historic fort or museums devoted to Native Americans or naval aviation. For foodies, the area’s restaurants range from elegant to beach-dive casual.

And those who like to commune with nature have plenty of ways to do so.

What’s the attraction to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama? The beach is one, of course. But those who venture beyond the sugar-white sand will find backcountry hiking trails, excellent fishing, dolphin-watching and plenty of other outdoor fun.

Museums, cruises, fishing Nearby Fort Morgan, a state historic site, has a 14-mile seashore. Visitors can sit on the beach, bike, fish, kayak, picnic or visit a pentagon-shaped fort, completed in 1834. The structure occupies a strategic location, where Mobile Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico, and was built to strengthen the coastal defense of the United States following the War of 1812.

PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER, GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH TOURISM

At Fort Morgan, on Alabama’s coast, visitors can tour an 1834 fortress, artillery batteries and a military museum — and enjoy a picnic lunch on the nearby beach.

The site contains historic military buildings; artillery batteries constructed between 1895 and 1904; and a museum displaying uniforms, weapons, photographs and letters of solders who served there. To top it off, the fort fronts the same kind of broad, gentle, snow-hued beach that is characteristic of the area.

If you prefer to take to the sea without any effort, you can book a sunset, dolphinwatching or dinner cruise instead of kayaking or paddleboarding, For fishing, some try their luck off a pier that stretches 1,540 feet over the Gulf of Mexico.

Snorkelers and divers who prefer to be in, rather than above, the water can explore a system of artificial reefs with experiences geared to everyone from children and beginners to advanced divers.

Golfers will find 14 courses in the area, including Craft Farms and Kiva Dunes, which rank high on Golf Digest’s “best courses” lists.

Plenty for history buffs For those who want to learn, not burn, a good place to start is the Gulf Shores Museum, located in a historic beach house.

Permanent exhibits tell the story of 19thcentury settlers in the area and of hurricanes, including how they originate and

how a community rebuilds after a storm.

Housed in a former school built in 1910, the Orange Beach Indian & Sea Museum provides introductions to the area’s Native American and fishing heritages.

Battleship Memorial Park, about an hour away in Mobile, is home to the massive USS Alabama, which saw action for 37 months during World War II, as well as a wartime submarine and a collection of historic aircraft.

An hour drive in the other direction leads to the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Fla., the largest such museum in the world. Despite its name, the collection of more than 250 aircraft represents every military branch.

The complex also is home to the famous Blue Angels, the aerobatic team of aviators from the Navy and Marines that thrills onlookers.

Not surprisingly, the area has been recognized and highly ranked in “best of” lists compiled by the likes of USA Today, Reader’s Digest and Travel + Leisure.

Battleships, vintage airplanes, golf and a historic fort would seem to have little in common with an inviting beach destination. That’s the point.

Inclusion on “Top 10,” “Best Places” and See ALABAMA, page 25

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J U N E 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

A unique visit to Alaska in a small yacht

By Don Mankin The Inside Passage in Southeast Alaska is the kind of place that inspires multiple visits. On my first two trips, I cruised past its lush rainforests and coastal mountains via the large, state-run ferries of the Alaska Marine Highway.

On my most recent trip, though, I hopped aboard the 85-foot MV Windward, the first charter yacht in Alaska, built in 1924. With only four cabins, the yacht is more intimate than the ferries and giant

silver world, passing islands covered in tall evergreens. Tufts of clouds and fingers of mist hung in the air between the hills and islands, wrapping the rolling contours of green in wispy cotton. On sunny days, we sat in shirtsleeves on the deck, soaking up the warm rays.

I woke up early every morning to stand on the deck and watch eagles swoop, salmon leap and sea lions play as the sky turned colors in the emerging dawn. There was plenty of time to read, nap, contemplate, or look for whales spouting in the distance.

Despite the relaxed pace, though, there were plenty of active moments. We kayaked for an hour or so most days, usually an easy paddle in a protected cove, along a beach or around an island.

One day we disembarked to hike through an old-growth rainforest to a lake.

It was only three miles round trip, but the rough trail and the fresh bear scat made it seem longer.

The soft green forest muted the sounds we made to scare off the bears — or at least not catch them by surprise. Our noisy efforts must have worked, since we didn’t run into any. I was both disappointed and relieved.

cruise ships that sail up and down the Inside Passage all summer.

On the seven-day trip I got to know everyone, including the three-person crew. The Windward was able to access coves and bays that larger boats cannot.

And our itinerary was flexible, enabling us to change course to see whales, kayak in protected waters or dodge icebergs.

Summer rhythms On cloudy days, we chugged through a

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Animal planet We saw tons of wildlife, pun intended.

We spent almost two full days spotting whales — mostly humpbacks and a few orcas. Some were in the distance, but many swam alongside the boat, flipping their tails as if waving goodbye before diving.

One swam so close I got a photo of his nostril-like blowholes; another breached just a few feet off our bow, spraying me with an impressive splash as he flopped back into the water.

We also spent an afternoon at a fish hatchery, watching a dozen bears scrounge for salmon in the river just 20 or 30 yards away.

We had enough time to note the bears’ personalities, relationships and even a dramatic teeth-baring exchange of snarls and growls between two bears challenging each other over a choice fishing spot in the river.

It’s hard to top whales and bears, but the See ALASKA, page 25

PHOTO BY DON MANKIN

call for your FREE information package

Another day we hiked up a hill alongside a roaring river to a natural hot spring. After picking my way along a rocky, muddy trail, I felt as if I had earned the soak.

The narrow fjords and glaciers of Southeast Alaska are best explored via small boats or kayaks. The area is known for bears, moose and whales.

BEACON BITS

June 27+

PAINTING OUTDOORS Ellicott City will host the Howard County Arts Council’s Plein Air

GOLD MEMBERS Howard County Office on Aging & Independence, The Beacon Newspapers, The Residences at Vantage Point SILVER MEMBERS Brooke Grove Retirement Village, HomeCentris Personal Care, Let's Move, LLC, Right at Home In Home Care & Assistance, The Bob Lucido Team of Keller Williams Integrity BRONZE MEMBERS Angels of Eldercare Planning, LLC, Arbor Terrace Fulton, Brightview Rolling Hills, ComForCare Home Care of Howard County, HomeWatch Caregivers, Stress Free Solutions, The Lutheran Village at MILLER'S GRANT PATRON MEMBERS 1020 Builders, Alfred House Elder Care, AllCare Advanced Home Care, Assisting Hands Home Care, Brightview Catonsville, Country Gardens Assisted Living, Golden Oak Elder Law, P.C., Home Instead, HomeCall of Maryland, Miracle Ear of Columbia, New Life Assisted Living, Inc., Prime Care House Calls, Professional Care Pharmacy, Shangri-La Senior Living, Sunrise of Columbia, Visiting Angels

painting competition beginning Thursday, June 27 through Monday, July 1. The event features artists setting up easels around the town and chatting with interested spectators about their work. To learn more about the event, visit hocoarts.org or call the Arts Council at (410) 313-2787.

June 20

FIRST LGBT PRIDE FESTIVAL Howard County’s inaugural LGBT Pride Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, at Centennial Park,

10000 Clarksville Pk., Ellicott City. To learn more, visit howardcountypride.org.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 9

Alaska From page 24 last two days of the trip came close, cruising down Endicott Arm, a long fjord carved deep into the snow-capped mountains of the Coast Range.

A fjord and a glacier Our first stop was Fords Terror, a steep and narrow fjord branching off from Endicott Arm, named after a naval crewman who rowed through the narrows in 1899 at slack tide only to spend several scary hours trapped by the turbulent, twisting currents when the tide surged out.

To avoid any terror, we waited for high tide before entering the narrows. It was a breathtaking ride between granite walls 2,000 feet high with streams cascading through the seams in the rock.

John Muir compared these cliffs to Yosemite Valley. That only begins to describe the dramatic beauty of this place, one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever visited. We stopped for the night at the end of the fjord, which felt like the end of the world.

The next morning, it was worth getting up early to watch the sun touch the snowcapped peaks behind the walls of rock, then creep down the sheer walls to the water.

Mist hung over the stunning reflections of the walls in the water, and the fragrance of evergreens filled the air. The only sound was the soft rustle of distant waterfalls.

On the way out of the fjord at high tide, we got in the kayaks to observe the waterfalls up close and paddle the last couple of miles back through the now-placid narrows to our boat waiting for us on the other side.

Once aboard we headed to Dawes Glacier, a massive tidal glacier — about 200 feet high and a half mile across — that carved out the fjord millions of years ago.

Our captain carefully threaded his way

through the many icebergs and bergy bits floating by.

We gazed at the glacier for hours, bundled up against the cold wind, listening for the cracks of thunder that signaled the calving of chunks of ancient, deep blue ice, some as big as houses, crashing into the water.

There, on essentially the last day of the trip, I knew I probably wouldn’t come back this way again. It would be hard to match this trip, and impossible to beat.

Don Mankin was hosted on this trip by Wilderness Travel, wildernesstravel.com.

For more information and photos, see his blog at adventuretransformations.com.

PHOTO BY DON MANKIN

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Viewed from the deck of a 1924 charter yacht, Alaskan sunrises can be a peaceful, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Alabama From page 23 “Most Beautiful” lists is based upon the magnificent stretches of beach as well as the long list of other attractions that Gulf Shores and Orange Beach offer those who visit.

As one repeat visitor told me, “I came here the first time for the beaches. Now I return for everything else.”

If you go Given the nature-friendly environment of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, the most inviting place to stay fits very comfortably into that theme.

The Lodge at Gulf State Park is a trendsetter when it comes to sustainability and environmental protection. In small ways and large, its owners have incorporated numerous innovative efforts into its design, construction and operation.

The building contains 20 percent recycled materials, and three-quarters of construction waste was recycled rather than going to a landfill.

The lodge was designed in a way to protect the sand dunes. Invasive plants were replaced with native species that thrive without irrigation, chemical pesticides or fertilizers. Condensate water from the guestroom air conditioning system is fil-

tered and used in the swimming pool.

Straws in the restaurant are made of reusable wood, and words on pens in guest rooms bear the message, “I used to be a newspaper.” Rates at the Lodge begin at $129. For more information, call (251) 5404000 or visit lodgeatgulfstatepark.com.

Of an estimated 200 restaurants in the area, only a couple of handfuls are chain eateries. The upscale Perch dining room in the Lodge at Gulf State Park has great views of the Gulf. Try the Gulf gumbo ($9) or jumbo prawns ($20). Stuffed quail ($28) is one of several land options.

First-time diners at Doc’s Seafood Shack & Oyster Bar soon understand why the modest eatery is a local legend. Many regulars go for the signature fried shrimp ($17). Others opt for the “create your own” seafood platter (from $21) or fried chicken basket ($9-$13). For more information, call (251) 981-6999.

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach is a year-round vacation destination. During summer, the sea breeze provides relief from high temperatures and humidity.

Winters generally are sunny and mild, with daily highs close to 60 degrees. The ocean is warm from May through November, with temperatures often in the low 80s.

For more information about Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, visit gulfshores.com or call (800) 745-7263.

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J U N E 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Style Arts &

“Everything happens for a reason.”

Learn what else not to say to grieving Gold Star parents on page 27.

New book helps women find true selves As Ruck put it, “This book is for the woman who’s asking herself, ‘What do I want to do with my life? Who am I? What matters to me as I age? What’s next for me?’”

Existential crisis at 60 Ruck wrote the book for them — as well as for herself. The mother of two grown sons, Ruck realized at age 60 that “I had been diverted from a path.”

Like other empty nesters or retirees, she faced an existential crisis. “I realized there were things that I wanted to do in my life, like write and teach,” she said.

Ruck had worked in the federal government for most of her career. After earning a bachelor of arts in psychology from Notre Dame of Maryland University, she went on to get a master of arts in clinical psychology at Loyola and an M.B.A. from the University of Baltimore.

She started her career as an alcoholism counselor for the U.S. Public Health Service, and then moved on to be a career counselor at the U.S. Department of Labor, where she provided executive coaching until 2010. She coached people who were “experiencing outplacement,” she said —

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Since retirement about 10 years ago, she has worked as a career coach for federal employees and started her own consulting business in January 2012.

Today, in addition to the workshops she teaches, Ruck provides late-career advice via telephone and email for a Pennsylvania-based consulting firm, the White Hawk Group.

PHOTO BY JUDY KELLY

By Margaret Foster When you were eight years old, what did you want to be when you grew up? A fireman, a baseball player, a zookeeper?

Later in life, those unrealistic childhood ambitions can become valuable, according to Columbia career coach Janet Ruck, author of You Anew: A Guide for the Woman Who Is Ready to Create Her Best Life, published in May. “If you wanted to be a ballerina and you’re 70 now, that person who is physical and likes music is still there. Reach back and see if there are elements of that you can use in your current life,” Ruck, 66, suggested.

“When you’re a little kid and people ask what you want to be when you grow up… they say, ‘That’s great.’ For the most part, people don’t stomp on a kid’s dreams. As you get older, they start stomping, and you lose sight of your dreams.”

You Anew encourages readers to recapture and re-shape those dreams, using prompts and journal entries. Ruck’s journalstyle book takes a cue from Julia Cameron’s classic, The Artist’s Way, which asks readers to write three pages each morning to get in touch with their creativity.

Book starts a process Ruck wanted to synthesize everything she had learned from her career into one Janet Ruck, a Maryland career coach, recently published a journal-style self-help book, You Anew: A Guide for the book.

Woman Who Is Ready to Create Her Best Life. In April, she “A lot of the work I participated in the Kensington Day of the Book Festival, had done was helping above, to promote the Maryland Writers’ Association. [others] with getting new jobs or finding a new career, so this nals since she was 13 years old, said that [book] was an outgrowth of that — thinking for her 60th birthday, she sat down with about life rather than just work,” she said. “I the dog-eared notebooks.

“I went back and read them all as a gift wanted my book to start a process: Who am I; what do I want?”

See YOU ANEW, page 29 Ruck, who has written in her own jour-

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 9

27

Gold Star parents get guidebook for grief The need for a manual In the years that followed her husband’s death, Steen and other military widows formed a support group to help navigate their loss together.

“There’s a scarcity of books about military loss and survivors,” Steen said. “Someone in my widows’ group said, ‘We need to write this down. We need a manual.’”

We Regret to Inform You, published by Central Recovery Press, is Steen’s second such manual. After her husband died, she quit her job as an electrical engineer, began working as a grief counselor, and in 2001 started writing.

She first coauthored a 2006 book called Military Widows: A Survival Guide. Now, at the request of some of her workshop participants who had lost a child, she has published a survival guide for parents.

Steen spent three years searching for a publisher. Most rejected her manuscript as unnecessary “because the wars are ending,” she said.

But an average of three military service members die every day, Steen pointed out, and not always in combat. According to a Congressional Research Service report published last year, 72 percent of the 15,851 deaths since 2006 among active-duty personnel and mobilized reservists “occurred under circumstances unrelated to war.”

BEACON BITS

June 22

GET TO KNOW YOUR ROOTS Learn the basics of Ancestry.com and other genealogical databas-

es on Saturday, June 22, from 2 to 3 p.m. at East Columbia Branch Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. Beginners welcome to these free classes. To register or for more information, call (410) 313-7700.

Other publishers said Steen’s book was unnecessary because parents of service members ought to be mentally prepared for the loss of the child. After all, they joined the military and took that risk.

But no one can adequately prepare for such a loss, Steen said, which is why her book is critical.

Unique kind of grief Unlike other parents, Gold Star parents face a different set of emotional issues.

“Not all losses are equal,” Steen said.

First, there’s the paperwork. Military families may never learn the exact details of their loved one’s death because they may be classified. “More often than not, you don’t find all the answers,” Steen said.

Then there’s what Steen calls “secondary losses,” such as the parents’ realization that they’ll never be grandparents.

In addition, being regularly confronted with symbols of America, from flags to national anthems, can remind them of their child.

But “there is hope,” Steen said. After many years, families can learn to live with their new reality, she believes. “You don’t get over your grief; you get through it. You learn to integrate some level of grief into your life.”

For Steen, like others who have been pre-

PHOTO BY SAM HUGHES PHOTOGRAPHY

By Margaret Foster On Memorial Day, most Americans will fire up the grill, invite their neighbors over for picnics or attend a Main Street parade.

But for families who have lost an adult child during military service, Memorial Day can be a piercing reminder of loss — as painful as their loved one’s birthday or anniversary of their death.

“The very images that are symbols of our country are very personal symbols of loss,” said Virginia author Joanne Steen.

“With military loss you get innumerably more reminders every day.”

So this spring, Steen published a book for these families, We Regret to Inform You: A Survival Guide for Gold Star Parents and Those Who Support Them.

No one except Gold Star parents can understand what it’s like to hear that knock at the door, to see the uniformed messenger, to get the unimaginable news that their child has lost their life for their country.

That knock on the door arrived for Steen one June afternoon in 1992. Steen’s husband, 35-year-old Navy reservist Ken Steen, had been killed in a routine training exercise. He and six others died when their helicopter exploded and crashed into the Lynnhaven River in Norfolk, Va.

Joanne Steen was an electrical engineer until her husband, a reservist, died in a military training exercise. Today she’s a grief counselor who works with military families. Her survival guide for Gold Star parents was published in May.

sented with a folded American flag, a military death can change the course of life.

“When Gold Star families go through that trauma, many of them want something good to come from that loss,” Steen said. “So many of them grow in ways they never thought they could.”

Steen’s books and workshops are her way of growing, sharing and helping others get through their grief.

Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Honor Flights From page 1 first so-called Honor Flight on May 21, 2005, Morse and his volunteer pilots flew 12 veterans in six small planes to Manassas Regional Airport for a day-trip into D.C. The same year, Miller, owner of a drycleaning company in Hendersonville, N.C., discovered that his late mother and father had been charter members of the World War II Memorial.

Distressed that his parents, along with other vets who lived far from Washington, D.C., would never see the memorials constructed in their honor, Miller formed a company called HonorAir and began flying

J U N E 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

them to D.C. in chartered jets.

“I decided that I would take every WWII vet in our county to see that memorial, and it snowballed from there,” said Miller. He brought more than 300 of them to D.C. in a year. “It lifted me and a lot of people up.”

When Miller heard that Morse was also transporting veterans to the D.C. memorials, the two merged their companies and formed the Honor Flight Network in 2007.

For their efforts, President George W. Bush awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2008 to Miller and Morse.

Tours are short and sweet The veterans’ one-day tour begins with an early flight from their hometown to one

BEACON BITS

May 26+

GALLERY EXHIBIT

Paintings, jewelry, metal and wood sculpture will be displayed at Horse Spirits Arts Gallery from May 26 through June 16, with an opening reception scheduled for Sunday, May 26, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. An “Artist Talk” will be held on Sunday, June 9, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the gallery in the Cotton Shed Barn Building, 8600 Foundry St., Ste. 2063, Savage. For more information, call the gallery at (301) 490-2001 or go to HorseSpiritArtsGallery.com.

June 1

SAVAGE FEST WELCOMES SUMMER

Live music, an antique car show and a petting zoo are featured at this year’s Savage Fest slated for Saturday, June 1 at Baldwin Commons, 9035 Baltimore St., Savage. Festivities start at 10 a.m. and end at 5:30 p.m. For more information call (202) 390-7534.

of the D.C.-area airports. Veterans are greeted with applause and shuttled to their chartered buses, well stocked with snacks and water. They visit four or five sites, stop for lunch and dinner, and fly home.

“It’s a well-choreographed day,” Miller said, noting that the hubs, or local chapters, coordinate with each other so as not to overwhelm a site with too many visitors at once.

Hub volunteers (called guardians) assist veterans, and a registered nurse and certified emergency medical technician accompany each group as well.

“National Park Service Police allow us to have police escorts so that even on congested days in D.C., we make sure our vets see [as much as] possible,” said Honor Flight Network’s CEO, Meredith Rosenbeck.

Each charter flight costs between $45,000 and $75,000, which is covered by private donations. Each local chapter does its own fundraising, Rosenbeck said, but Honor Flight’s national headquarters provides grants to each of the hubs to make sure they can get their veterans to this area.

Southwest Airlines, a corporate sponsor, gives Honor Flight Network with roundtrip ticket vouchers for the chartered flights — since 2006, more than 9,000 free tickets. The Hilton BWI is also a corporate sponsor, along with Breitling and Snap-On. The Honor Flight Network flights oper-

ate in May and June, then take a break during the hot summer months — to protect older veterans from heat stroke — before resuming tours in September and October.

On the ground at BWI During the busy months of May and June, Glen Anderson, 77, works between 75 and 80 hours a week. The Maryland resident helps as many as 30 busloads of veterans in one weekend.

“We have the opportunity to meet the history that’s passing through,” said Anderson, Honor Flight Network’s BWI Airport Coordinator volunteer. “It’s an honor.

A lot of ‘allergies’ develop, shall we say.

People need tissues and handkerchiefs.”

Anderson remembers one particular Honor Flight arrival at BWI. A teenage bystander joined the crowd and asked him what was going on in the terminal.

“These are World War II veterans,” Anderson told the boy, who still seemed confused.

“Did you see Saving Private Ryan?” Anderson asked him. “This is them.”

“Oh, they’re actors?” the boy asked.

“No,” Anderson replied. “This is the original cast.”

For an application, visit honorflightnetwork.org and search for your local hub.

About 38,000 veterans are on the waiting list for an Honor Flight. World War II vets get first priority, along with terminally ill veterans.

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position it, and even carry the packaging away! You get your choice of bonded stain and water repellent leather or plush microfiber in a variety of colors to fit any decor. Call now!

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DuraLux II Microfiber Burgundy Cashmere Chocolate

Indigo

© 2019 firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 9

You Anew From page 26 to myself, and I have to say, I wasn’t that thrilled with that gift,” she laughed. Some of her 20-something ideas were embarrassing, she said. But the overall reading experience was valuable.

“Even though I was cringing, this is who I am. I had to go through all that struggle to be who I am,” Ruck said. “I see who that person was all those years ago, and now it’s time for that person to thrive.”

When Ruck was eight years old, she liked to run, despite the lack of organized sports for girls. She enjoyed racing with boys. Although she’s not a runner today,

she’s still a runner in spirit, she said.

“I always wanted to be free and untethered,” Ruck said. “I’m that person when I’m write. There’s nothing in my way. I’m free, I’m moving and there’s no barriers.”

Paperback copies of You Anew are available for $20 on Ruck’s website, youanewguide.com.

Those who prefer a digital journal can download the e-book for $16. Free downloads of some exercises — “My Favorite Things” and “What My 24-Year-Old Self Could Teach Me” — are also available on the website.

In October, Ruck will host a workshop at Haven on the Lake, 10275 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia, about the process of finding your life’s purpose. For more information, visit havenonthelake.org.

BEACON BITS

June 26+

POTTERY CLASS FOR ALL LEVELS Instructor Christian O’Neill Randolph will offer a weekly pottery

class for beginner and advanced potters from Wednesday, June 26 through Wednesday, September 6 at Bain 50+ Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Wayj, Columbia.

The class is a Howard Community College non-credit course. For fees and more information, call the college at (443) 518-1700.

June 21+

NITE BITE FISHING Howard County Recreation & Parks is offering a night fishing opportunity on Friday, June 21 and Saturday, June 29 at Centennial Park

Lake, 10000 Clarksville Pk., Ellicott City. Open to all ages; the fee is $5 per night.

For more details visit howardcountymd.gov/nightfishing or call (410) 313-7275.

BEACON BITS

May 28+

“CAMERA AND EASEL” EXHIBIT

Photographer Jerry Weinstein and painter Pauline Rukis are featured artists for June at the Artists Gallery at 8197 Main Street, Ellicott City. A reception is scheduled for Sunday, June 8, at 4 p.m. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit artistsgalleryec.com or call (443) 325-5936.

June 22

PAINTING COURSE

The Howard County Arts Council offers a one-day course on plein air painting on Saturday, June 22 at its headquarters, 8610 High Ridge Rd., Ellicott City. The class will be taught by Duane Lusko from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. An $80 fee includes a $10 application to participate in the Ellicott City Plein Air event June 27 through July 1. For additional information, call the council at (410) 313-2787 or go to hocoarts.org.

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Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

J U N E 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Crossword Puzzle Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Feeling Desserted 1

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Stephen Sherr By Stephen Sherr 7

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Scrabble answers on p. 29.

6

Across 1. Actress Jessica, named “Sexiest Woman in the World” for 2007 5. A Go over 21 9. Most central of the Great Lakes 14. Display disappointment 15. One on the other side 16. Bumbling 17. Library, study, or conservatory 18. West of Gotham City 19. Too much vodka, for most 20. Hindsight on one’s dessert selection at the Single Ladies’ Diner (with 39, 45, and 57 Across) 23. Accessory for a Toy Story action figure 24. Strike from the record 25. Try to reach China 28. Letters on a bike pump 30. Possible result of this puzzle’s second thoughts 33. E-Cigarette lacking 35. Letters on Miracle on Ice losing jerseys 38. “___ down and get some rest” 39. More of the dessert thoughts 42. Santa of Silicon Valley 43. Maiden name monikers 44. Its first retirement check was in 1940 for $22.54 45. Still more of dessert thoughts 47. Secure an ice skate 49. Dir. from Washington state to Washington DC 50. Weakens 53. Immunizations 57. Dessertion conclusion 60. One who routinely avoids R-rated movies 63. Most of a unicycle 64. One convicted of perjury 65. Final Monopoly investment 66. Arab nobleman 67. Wedding invitation color 68. In an ___ world...

69. Violate norms 70. Ticket stub identification Down 1. National Canine Fitness Month

2. Exfoliation sensation 3. Keeps afloat 4. Ambience 5. Biblical false god 6. Voided 7. Vampire killer 8. Technique which can make a flower appear to bloom in seconds 9. Quality of an audiophile’s audio files 10. “A piece of spaghetti or a military ___ can only be led from the front end” (Patton) 11. Gridiron official 12. Make a choice 13. To the ___ degree 21. Acronyms for universities in Oregon and Ottawa 22. The first letters of the first state 25. Raggedy Ann and Andy 26. “___ bad thing” (regretful words) 27. “I’m impressed!”

29. Like Pluto 31. Sixth word of the Gettysburg Address 32. Consistent features of Tom and Jerry’s houses 33. Rand McNally publication 34. Convert a full beard to a goatee 36. Got in touch with 37. White billiards ball 40. Siesta 41. Next after FDR 42. Marxist Guevara 46. ___ it or lose it 48. End of symbol- or social51. Like 1999 and 2017 52. Feature of the Century Schoolbook font 54. In the cooler 55. Headwear available at shopdisney.com 56. Walk confidently 57. Invention’s first step 58. Landline alternative 59. Ethereal 60. One down from upsilon 61. Good name for a fisherman 62. Denizen of the Beehive State

Answers on page 29.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 9

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.

Events NSC’s FIRST AID, CPR & AED Certification is recognized by Federal OSHA and Maryland Occupational Safety & Health (MOSH). Certificates and cards will be issued upon successful completion. To register visit https://usexecutiveprotection.org/

Financial HAVING TROUBLE FINDING A FINANCIAL ADVISOR because your 401k or IRA is under $200k? Receive retirement planning and investment management from a Certified Financial Planner focused on low fees and helping others. For appointment call 240-847-7081.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

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.

Legal Services 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.

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.

HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD All classified ads must be submitted and paid for online, via our website, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds Deadlines and Payments: To appear in the next issue, your ad text and payment must be entered by the 5th of the preceding month (for Baltimore and Howard County editions); by the 20th (for Washington and Richmond editions).

Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad: • $25 for 1-250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length). The website will calculate this for you.

Note: Maryland contractors must provide a valid MHIC number. • Each real estate listing qualifies as one ad. • All ads are subject to publisher's discretion. Payment will be refunded if unacceptable for any reason.

To place your classified ad, visit www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds TV/Cable

Wanted

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 1-888366-7573.

ESTATE LIQUIDATION/ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES: One call solves it all when you hire us to handle your estate liquidation, down-sizing and/or home cleanout. We sell your treasures, take care of charitable donations and provide junk removal. We also purchase partial estate contents/collections. Always buying antiques, jewelry, fine art, vintage toys, collectibles, advertising, sports memorabilia, military items, rare books, Mid Century Modern furniture, vinyl records collections and more.

Based in Silver Spring, we serve Montgomery County, Howard County, Baltimore County, Washington D.C., NOVA and beyond. No home, barn or warehouse is too packed for us! Friendly, conscientious staff. Call Chris on cell (202) 731-9447. www.OrionsAttic.com.

Personal Services DO YOU NEED A COMPANION FOR YOUR MEDICAL PROCEDURE? We are specialized for MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, PROCEDURES, and all kinds of appointments.

Unlike the other appointment, medical appointment, such as the same day procedures like eye surgery or colonoscopy procedures requires to arrange adult companion. Those procedures will be cancelled if the client do not have a companion who could stay throughout the whole procedures. DND (Drive and Deliver) service will deliver medical tasks. Pls give us a call for your medical errands. DND Medical Appointment & Errand Service. Tel : 443-4743020. Email: dnderrand@gmail.com.

Personals

GOT AN OLDER CAR, VAN OR SUV? Do the humane thing. Donate it to the Humane Society. Call 1-844-230-2952.

ENCHANTING LADY, 50s - young looking, voluptuous woman seeks to meet/date an attractive gentleman, SWM, 50s or 60s, with husky build, 200+ lbs, who is sincere, compassionate, dependable, affectionate. Enjoys the great outdoors, movies, dancing, dining out. Seeks friendship, possible relationship. 240-316-6152. Please leave a nice voice message for reply.

Health

TV/Cable

DENTAL INSURANCE. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company for details. Not just a discount plan, real coverage for 350 procedures. 844366-1003 or http://www.dental50plus.com/320 Ad# 6118.

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.

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.

Wanted SEEKING FULL AND SEALED BOTTLES of Vintage Bourbon and Rye (Pre-1990). Do you have bottles collecting dust around your house?

I am particularly interested in bottles with red or green tax strips. Inquiries are welcome. Call or text Alex 443-223-7669.

COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, knives, swords, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars & countries. Also Lionel Trains, & slots/coin operated machines.

Will pay top prices. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-910-0783 CASH FOR ESTATES; moving, etc. I buy a wide range of items. Buy out/clean up. TheAtticLLC.com Gary Roman 301-520-0755.

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, 301-5966201

I BUY MILITARY ANTIQUES. Trusted for over 30 years in MD, DC and VA. I have a Masters Degree in History and specialize in military memorabilia. I buy medals, documents, uniforms, insignia, historic firearms, & books from the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam - single items or collections. I offer fair prices. View my biography and testimonials from veterans and their families on my website. Call me first or for a second opinion. www.midatlanticmilitaryantiques.com Tim Frank 703-447-7243

Thanks for reading!

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Shoulder Pain Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

HomeCentris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Monica Elderly Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Options for Senior America . . . . . . . . .26

Events

Housing

Beacon 50+Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13, 32 COGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13, 32 Charlestown/Erickson Living . . . . . . . .6 Heartlands Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Park View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 R Home Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Shriner Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Somerford Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Clinical Studies

Funeral Services Cremation Society of Maryland . . . . .21 Going Home Cremations . . . . . . . . . . .24 Harry H. Witzke’s Family Funeral Home, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 MacNabb Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . .21 Sol Levinson & Bros., Inc. . . . . . . . . .11

Just My Height Adjustable Bed . . . . . . .7 Perfect Sleep Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Perfect Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Zinger Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Senior Services Howard County Senior Connection . . . . . . . . . . . .15-18

Subscriptions Beacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Legal Services

Technology

Frank, Frank & Scherr, LLC . . . . . . . .21 Lifson Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Beacon Website and Silver Pages . . . .14

Government Services

Medical/Health

Theatre/Entertainment

Howard County Recycling . . . . . . . . .20

Medical Eye Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Noxicare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Chesapeake Shakespeare . . . . . . . . . . .27 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Retail/Services

Tour & Travel

Columbia’s Village Centers . . . . . . . . .20

Eyre Tour & Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Home Health Care A-1 Action Nursing Care . . . . . . . . . . . .6 At Home Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Family & Nursing Care . . . . . . . . . . . .11

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J U N E 2 0 1 9 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

DIFFERENT

... because what surrounds you really matters.

tuesday, June 11, 2019 10:30 A.M. – 12:30 p.m.

The meadows assisted living • 1635 hickory knoll road • Sandy Spring, MD 20860

For nearly 70 years, Brooke Grove Retirement Village has built a history of excellence in Montgomery County.

Explore our residential-style homes, gardens and secure walking paths.

Discover our innovative approach and programs including those designed to stimulate memory.

Meet our staff, trained in assisting those with Alzheimer’s and memory loss.

Enjoy our 220-acre campus and our live-in pets.

Please register with Toni Davis at 301-388-7209 or tdavis@bgf.org by June 9.

18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 301-260-2320 or 301-924-2811

www.bgf.org

Independent living assisted living rehabilitation l ta at on long-term care memory support

ASSISTED LIVING OPEN HOUSE

simply