July 2024 | Howard County Beacon

The Howard County

Summer camps for grownups

By Glenda C. Booth

Many people recall the ups and downs of summer camp as youngsters: campfire songs, leaky tents, latrines and s’mores.

At today’s “adult camps” — whether at a campground, on a college campus or at a high-end ranch — you can revisit some of those experiences more comfortably.

Every summer, an estimated one million older campers spend a week or two away to take music lessons, sharpen their writing skills, explore their creative streak, nourish their well-being, unplug and slow down.

Camps exist for music, cooking, quilting, language learning, writing, fishing, kayaking, archery, carpentry, yoga, healthy living, nature study, horseback riding and even pickleball.

At the Wooden Boat School in Maine, for instance, you can build your own boat. At Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, you can train on simulators and sleep and eat like an astronaut. Or you can start that novel you’ve always wanted to write at the Putney School in Vermont.

Offline at nature camp

Julie Dunlap, a teacher who lives in Columbia, spent a week at Audubon’s Hog Island Camp on Bremen Island, Maine, several summers ago.

With biologists, ornithologists and naturalists as her “counselors,” she studied the flora and fauna of the Maine coast, including puffins, seals, eider ducks and other wildlife. She also hiked, boated and met people from around the country.

“The best part was when I first got there and I realized I was surrounded by people who wanted to have a delightful time looking at birds in a beautiful place — a geeky time,” Dunlap said.

Open for 80 years, Hog Island Audubon

Camp is located on a 335-acre island with spruce fir forests and a shoreline of tidal pools. Photographers, writers, artists, educators and students teach and learn about nature in sessions about everything from birding to art to photography.

Between activities, campers can hike the island’s wooded trails, search the tidepools for mussels and barnacles, listen to the loons or just contemplate the peace and beauty of it all.

“It was an amazing break from everyday life,” Dunlap said. “The peace of being unavailable to my inbox was indeed a thrill.”

Dunlap, who teaches wildlife ecology at the University of Maryland Global Campus, made friends with several of her instructors and has stayed in touch with them, she said.

“I mostly enjoyed being around the famous ornithologists and learning about

See

LAW & MONEY

What does pet insurance cover? Plus, how to earn more on your savings, and how to plan if inheriting an IRA page 16

LEISURE & TRAVEL

A week in lush, scenic Tasmania isn’t enough time to see its turquoise lakes, craggy mountains and cute wallabies page 19

Adult campers at Hog Island Camp in Maine attend an outdoor nature class during their camp session. Every summer about a million adults go to summer camp to hike, study ecology, write, and sleep in cabins.

PHOTO BY JEAN HALL

Is it me?

Or everyone else?

I wonder if you’ve had an experience like this yourself:

I was pulling into a parking spot at my doctor’s office the other day, and as I attempted to apply the brakes, I discovered they weren’t working. My car was continuing to move forward no matter how hard I applied my foot to the pedal.

I really started to panic, afraid I was going to hit something in front of me.

one way to me and exactly the opposite way to others.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Then, suddenly, I realized that I was not actually doing the moving. The car next to me was backing out just as I was driving in, and the relative motion of our cars to each other — which I was sensing through my driver’s side window — felt exactly as though I was continuing to move forward.

By Stuart P. Rosenthal

Boy, was that a relief! But it was also very disorienting in an “everything is relative” kind of way.

It made me wonder how many other experiences I might be having in life that feel

A few days later, I got a kind of answer to that question. My wife and I were traveling to New Jersey for a wedding, and we pulled into a rest stop along the highway for a break.

Just as I was heading out of the restroom, a young woman waltzed into the entrance and started to pass by me. She stopped dead in her tracks, locking eyes with me. I silently mouthed “men’s room,” and she very quickly turned in embarrassment and left.

For a fraction of a second, though, I wondered: Was I in the wrong place, or was she? But this time, having just used the facilities myself, I knew I was right.

For the last year or so, I’ve been watching scientific lectures and programs online, trying to better understand what we know about the universe. While I took a (non-science major) course about relativi-

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Publisher/Editor – Stuart P. Rosenthal

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ty in college, I know I never really understood it.

Today, I’m not even sure that the “experts” understand it, since the more we learn about the behavior of matter in the realm of quantum physics, the less sense it all makes. But the fact that many things in life are relative (including our perception of time, as Einstein proved) is undeniable.

You know the old saw: where you stand depends on where you sit. That means we each view reality from our own unique perspective based on our personal history and knowledge base.

As a result, it can be difficult to talk about the same situation or event with others who have a completely different take on things.

That type of relativity seems especially true in politics today. And it’s reinforced by the algorithms that operate social media feeds and online search engines.

They’re designed to show us more of what we’ve already shown a predilection for, which means they confirm our pre-existing biases.

I was taught early in life that keeping an open mind is considered a virtue. But I have also learned from experience that it’s not wise to open your mind so wide that your brains fall out.

There’s an art to living in the real world: We need to filter our experiences through

past experiences and our new knowledge through prior knowledge.

But at the same time, we need to think critically about both what we already “know” and what we are learning anew about the world. While we are all prone to jump to conclusions, we need to give new information a fair shake.

Emotions also enter into the picture, of course. We might consider ourselves rational creatures, but in so many situations, it’s our hearts that rule our heads.

Rather than our rational mind directing our behavior, the human brain is facile enough to justify almost any conclusion our heart wants to reach.

I think we should all at least occasionally make an effort to see things from another person’s (possibly very different) perspective.

When we do so, it may briefly feel like our brakes have failed, that we are about to crash, that we are finding ourselves in the “wrong” room.

But such feelings can be educational if they help us grasp, even briefly, just how differently others may see the same things we see.

Letters to the editor

Readers are encouraged to share their opinions on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email info@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.

Dear Editor:

I completely agree with the June “From the Publisher” column, “I’m not a doctor, but…”

It is so true that conversations of the “elderly” are always about medical treatments and issues. And everyone is a doctor and gives advice!

The publisher’s suggestion to go to medical professionals, but consider other options is SPOT ON. Certainly second opinions are usually a good choice.

And I 100% agree with acupuncture as a choice. I was treated this way and had wonderful results.

Barbara Sherr Baltimore, MD

Dear Editor:

I read your column on fitness in the May edition of the Beacon (“See You at the Gym!”). I found it to be well written and timely. I have been sharing it with my neighbors.

I have been a faithful gym member since 2009 and frequent my gym at least five times a week (the other two days are reserved for fencing practice). About a third of my gym’s members are older adults.

Seniors consistently adhere to their

physical fitness goals at my gym because they get to know the staff, they can take low- to high-impact classes and, with a significant number of seniors who are members, they “see people like themselves” and are more likely to continue going to the gym, which can become a place to socialize. I am a great enthusiast for fitness and have found that my local gym ensures I can exercise safely regardless of the weather. I hope to encourage more seniors to seek out local gyms that have these characteristics, because they can help older adults participate in physical activities on a long-term basis.

Bettie J. Graham Via email

Dear Editor:

Thank you for helping guide me through the most difficult transition of my life…becoming a Senior Citizen at a time and place I had never experienced.

As my four sons with their families slowly left home to become the stellar citizens I knew they would be, it was time for me, “Mom,” to leave the roost and now choose to follow them to begin my new life as a retired young lady of 82.

Maryann Weider Via LinkedIn

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KNOW WHEN TO QUIT

Driving skills decline as we age. When is it time to give up the keys?

RINGING IN THE EARS

Tinnitus has no cure, but music, exercise and white noise can help WATCH AND WAIT

Active surveillance of prostate cancer can be less stressful with therapy and exercise GREAT DATES

Fresh dates are high in fiber and potassium and are a natural sweetener

How to find and evaluate a new doctor

Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you recommend some good resources to help me locate some quality doctors in my area?

I’m looking for an orthopedic doctor for my 77year-old mother and a new internist for me, since my doctor retired last year.

—Searching Susan Dear Susan,

from past patients on a number of criteria.

Finding and researching doctors is a lot easier than it used to be. Today, there are variety of websites you can turn to that provide databases of U.S. doctors, their professional medical histories, and ratings and reviews

By Jim Miller

Here are some good sites to help you get started, along with a few additional tips that can help you find the right doctors.

First steps

To help you locate some good doctors in your area, a good first step is to get referrals from trusted friends, along with any doctors, nurses or other healthcare professionals you know.

You also need to check with your insurance provider. Call your insurer for a list of approved doctors or ask whether the doctor you’re consider-

ing is in your network.

If your mother is enrolled in original Medicare, you can use the Care Compare tool at Medicare.gov/care-compare — click on “Doctors & Clinicians.” This will let you find doctors by name, medical specialty or by geographic location that accept original Medicare.

If she’s enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, call or visit the plan website to get a list of approved candidates.

Once you find a few doctors, call their office to verify that they still accept your insurance, and if they are accepting new patients.

You should also consider hospital affiliation. Your choice of doctor can determine which hospital you go to, if needed,

so find out where the doctor has admitting privileges.

Then use some hospital ratings services like Medicare.gov/care-compare (click on “Hospitals”) to see how it compares with other hospitals in the area.

Where to do research

After you find a few doctors you’re interested in, there are various websites you can consult to help you evaluate them.

For example, the Federation of State Medical Boards offers a tool at DocInfo.org that will let you find out doctor’s board certifications, education, states with active licenses, and whether or not a physician has

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Salad veggie vitamins get boost from fat

By Heidi McIndoo

It’s no secret that a salad filled with bright, colorful fruits and veggies makes for a delicious start to your meal, or is the meal itself.

And you probably know that what we choose to top our salads — think beans, croutons, bacon bits, lean meats, etc. — can affect the health of said salad for better or worse.

Pros and cons of salad dressing

Salad dressings are another way to add interesting flavors to your raw veggies, but they do more than that.

Dressings can add extra calories, saturated fat, sodium and added sugar to your salad bowl. For this reason, it’s important to make informed choices when selecting your dressing and not go overboard as you pour.

But what dressings provide isn’t all negative. Depending on the ingredients used, dressings can be a good source of healthy fats in your day. Those healthy fats actually help make your salad better for you.

Many of the commonly-used salad veggies contain fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). These vitamins need to be

eaten with fat to get the best absorption. Choose dressings with olive, canola, avocado and other healthy oils as their base to maximize the vitamins and therefore health benefits you can gain from your salad bowl.

Helpful hints: Keep in mind the benefits salad dressing can provide the next time you’re choosing one:

• Dip it, don’t drown it. You’ve heard it before, but having dressing on the side and dipping forkfuls into it maximizes flavor but minimizes the amount of dressing you eat.

• Skip the fat free. To obtain the most nutritional benefits from your salad, choose a full-fat dressing made with healthy oil.

• Make sure it’s not too sweet. Some dressings contain up to two teaspoons of added sugar per serving. Be sure to check the nutrition facts panel and choose those with minimal added sugar.

Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC, 1-800829-5384, EnvironmentalNutrition.com.

© 2024 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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When should an older driver stop driving?

By Robert H. Shmerling, M.D.

When my grandmother repeatedly clipped the mailbox backing out of her driveway, she always had a ready explanation: “The sun was in my eyes,” or “Your grandfather distracted me.”

Our family knew we needed to take action. But no one wanted to be the one to ask her to stop driving. She was fiercely independent, didn’t agree that her driving was a problem, and didn’t appreciate our concerns.

Maybe a similar story is unfolding in your family — or maybe you’re starting to wonder about your own skills.

This article, part one of a two-part series, aims to help people understand the red flags to watch for and why driving abilities change as people age. It also describes a few ways to improve impaired driving and challenges to navigate.

A second article will address ways to strike a balance that respects dignity — and safety — while providing action plans for older drivers and their families.

How safe are older drivers?

Unsafe drivers can be of any age, particularly when drinking is involved. But fatal

traffic accidents have risen in both young drivers and older drivers, according to data from the National Safety Council:

• Fatalities occurring in crashes involving drivers ages 15 to 20 rose nearly 10% between 2020 and 2021, accounting for 5,565 deaths.

• Among drivers 65 or older, fatalities rose 15% between 2020 and 2021, accounting for more than 8,200 deaths.

While younger drivers may be inexperienced or more likely to be distracted or reckless, older drivers often overestimate their driving abilities. That may be one reason many unsafe older drivers continue to drive despite failing driving skills.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the rate of motor vehicle accidents per mile driven is higher for drivers ages 80 and older than for almost every other age group. Only the youngest drivers have higher rates.

And the rate of fatal motor vehicle accidents per mile driven is higher for drivers aged 85 and older than for every other age group.

These statistics reflect the reality that an older driver may not be the only one in-

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jured or killed in a crash — occupants in one or more vehicles may be, too. And then there are pedestrians and cyclists at risk.

The stakes are high when any unsafe driver is on the road. For older drivers with waning driving skills, it’s important to recognize the problem and understand why it’s happening.

Watch for red flags

As people get older, driving skills may decline so slowly that it’s not obvious that worrisome changes are happening.

Even when mishaps and near-misses occur, there are so many possible contributors — especially other drivers — that it may not be clear that the older driver was at fault.

Red flags that might mean an older person is an unsafe driver include:

• concerned comments from family or friends

• reluctance of others to ride with them

• input from other drivers (“Why is everyone honking at me?”) or traffic authorities (“Why am I getting all these traffic tickets?”)

• getting lost on familiar roads

• consistently driving too slowly or too fast

• unexplained dents or scratches appearing on the car

• frequent accidents or near-misses.

Driving skills can wane with age

While people of advanced age can safely drive (and many do!), driving skills may

Find new doctor

From page 4

been disciplined by a state medical board.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Data) is also a good source for researching doctors. For example, it will help you find out how many times a doctor did a particular procedure and what they charge for it. Go to Data.CMS.gov/tools and click on “Medicare Physician & Other Practitioner Look-up Tool.”

And to learn about the financial relationship that doctors have with drug and medical device companies, visit OpenPaymentsData.CMS.gov.

Healthgrades (healthgrades.com) and Vitals (vitals.com) are also good websites to find and research healthcare professionals.

wane due to:

• medical conditions, such as arthritis, neuropathy or dementia

• medications, such as sedatives or certain antidepressants

• age-related changes in reaction time

• trouble with vision or hearing

• other physical changes related to aging, such as less flexibility or strength

• difficulty processing rapidly changing information. For example, an older driver may be more likely than a younger driver to accidentally press the gas pedal instead of the brake when needing to stop suddenly.

What steps may improve driving?

Some changes that impair driving can be reversed, or a workaround can be found.

For example, if driving is impaired due to cataracts, cataract surgery can restore vision and improve driving. If night driving is difficult, it’s best to drive only during the day. If memory problems are starting to arise, it may still be possible to drive safely in more limited circumstances.

Driving problems due to advanced dementia or a major stroke affecting judgment and physical skills are much less likely to improve.

Both sites provide substantial information on physicians’ education and training, hospital affiliations, board certification, awards and recognitions, professional misconduct, disciplinary action, office locations and accepted insurance plans.

They also offer five-star ratings scales from past patients on issues such as communication and listening skills, wait time, time spent with the patient, office friendliness and more.

But be aware that while physician-rating websites can be helpful, sometimes they can be misleading and unreliable.

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.

Ways to cope with ringing in your ears

By Howard LeWine, M.D.

Q: I have persistent ringing in my ears, mostly in my right ear. My hearing test showed mild hearing loss. What can I try before spending money on hearing aids?

A: You are one of the estimated 15% of American adults who suffer from tinnitus.

For many, it’s a high-pitched ringing, while for others, it sounds like whistling, whooshing, buzzing, chirping, hissing, humming, roaring or even shrieking. It may be constant or intermittent, steady or pulsating.

While there presently is no cure for tinnitus, there are many ways people can manage it so the symptoms do not disrupt their daily lives.

Tinnitus commonly begins in older age and has a close association with hearing loss. It may also occur because of long-term exposure to loud noises, medication side effects, or something as simple as earwax buildup.

It’s unclear what happens in the brain to create the noises. One explanation is that the auditory nerve (which connects the ear to the brain) begins to fray, diminishing normal sounds.

Neurons in the brain’s auditory processing center compensate for this loss by becoming more sensitive. The sensitivity knobs get turned up so high that neurons begin to respond to the activity of other nearby neurons, which creates the perception of a sound that does not exist.

Here are some techniques that may help reduce the symptoms:

Learn your triggers. Write down the circumstances when tinnitus symptoms bother you. It helps to anticipate, prevent or adjust situations that may make tinnitus worse.

Try a masking device. This device looks like a hearing aid and produces sounds (such as nature sounds) that make tinnitus seem quieter. The sound distracts the brain, and tinnitus symptoms become easier to tolerate. [Ed. Note: Some hearing aids have a setting to reduce tinnitus with “fractals,” or atonal chimes, which your brain learns to tune out.]

But you don’t always need a fancy ear device to mask tinnitus sounds. Listening to music or “white noise” helps distract your brain, so you pay less attention to the tinnitus.

Exercise. Regular physical activity can reduce the frequency and intensity of tinnitus, and the distress it causes.

Try mindfulness. A program called Mindfulness Based Tinnitus Stress Reduction builds skills in deep breathing, yoga, relaxation and meditation to help a person deal with tinnitus. Mindfulness programs have been shown to reduce depression and anxiety while improving social functioning and overall mental health in people with tinnitus.

Consider cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or tinnitus retraining therapy. CBT helps you identify negative thoughts about tinnitus and reframe the way you think about and react to tinnitus. CBT is often used in conjunction with mindfulness. Tinnitus retraining therapy uses counseling and sound masking to help the brain relearn hearing patterns so tinnitus is less noticeable. © 2024 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Are nitrates good or bad for your health?

By Kristin Kirkpatrick, M.S., RD

Nitrates in cured meats — such as bacon, hot dogs and cold cuts — have long had a reputation for being unhealthy. But more recently there’s been a lot of talk about the health benefits of nitrates in beets and other vegetables.

Nitrates are compounds made up of nitrogen and oxygen. Most come from plants, such as leafy greens, beets and celery.

But they are also added to processed meats — in the form of sodium nitrate or sodium nitrite — as a preservative, or to enhance flavor, color and texture.

Benefits when in vegetable form

When we eat nitrates by consuming plants, our body converts them to nitric oxide, which has been shown to have a

Older driver

Conversations are challenging

If there is no simple way to reverse or work around declining driving skills, accept that there will be many challenges to navigate, whether you’re the older driver or a family member.

It’s not easy for older drivers to acknowledge declining function. Driving im-

number of benefits, such as regulating blood pressure and improving circulation. This, in turn, can boost both heart health and athletic performance.

For example, a 2021 study found that active adult men who received nitrates derived from beet juice increased their muscle power output.

Another trial showed that consuming at least 60 milligrams of nitrates from vegetables daily (that’s about what you get from 1 cup of raw green leafy vegetables) may significantly reduce the risk for heart disease.

In addition, nitrate-rich plants provide “many other health-promoting nutrients, including antioxidants and potential antiinflammatory compounds,” said New York City culinary nutritionist Jackie Newgent,

pairment is an unsettling milestone, an indication that the future may include further loss of independence and abilities.

After all, most older folks facing a decision about whether it’s safe to continue driving were good drivers not so long ago. They may still see themselves as competent drivers and see efforts to restrict their driving as overly cautious or demeaning. Even when all the signs are there, it may be tempting for a poor driver to deflect

R.D.N., C.D.N.

Concerns when from cured meats

So why are they a good thing in beets but not bacon?

In processed-meat products, nitrates can combine with the proteins’ amino acids and form nitrosamines, which have been associated with an increased risk of certain cancers.

A World Health Organization report found that each 50-gram portion of processed meats a person ate per day (that’s about five slices of bacon) upped their odds of colorectal cancer by 18%. The evidence was strong enough that WHO classifies these foods as a Group 1 carcinogen — the same designation as tobacco.

Consuming plenty of vitamin C and other

blame to other drivers.

Often, the older driver doesn’t share their family’s concerns about driving safety. This can lead to arguments, confrontation and resentment.

antioxidant-rich foods can help block the production of nitrosamines and offset the potentially negative effects of processed meats, according to Melina Jampolis, M.D., an internist and board-certified nutrition specialist in Los Angeles. In fact, manufacturers are starting to add vitamin C to cured meats for just this reason.

High heat can also contribute to nitrosamine formation, so Jampolis recommends cooking processed meats at lower temperatures. (For example, microwaving bacon may be better than frying it, according to some research.)

But the best bet is to simply reduce the amount of cured meats you eat. And that goes for foods labeled “natural” or “nitrate-

bring it to the attention of her doctor? Or should we take an even harder step and report her to the authorities?

However, the safety of others is at stake. The older driver with waning skills may endanger many people besides themselves: passengers in their care, other drivers and their passengers, cyclists and pedestrians. It’s hard to know when the time is right. Speaking up too soon may lead to unnecessary restrictions on a loved one’s favored means of transportation, not to mention family strife. Waiting too long can lead to avoidable tragedy.

Finding a path forward

As for my grandmother, none of us knew what to say. Should we try to get her to agree to stop driving entirely or let her ease into the idea over time? Should we

If you’re asking similar questions — or if you’re starting to wonder about your own driving abilities — you may feel strongly that it’s important to respect individual preferences, dignity and independence. Yet you also want to protect everyone from harm. What are the best ways to strike a balance? Can you test and improve how an older driver is doing behind the wheel? Can you navigate tough conversations in ways that allow room for both independence and safety? The next column will tackle these subjects.

Robert H. Shmerling, M.D., is a senior faculty editor and an Editorial Advisory Board member for Harvard Health Publishing.

© 2024 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Living with slow-growing prostate cancer

By Howard LeWine, M.D.

Q: I have prostate cancer and just started active surveillance. I’m glad I don’t need to have surgery or start treatment immediately.

Meanwhile, while I am being monitored, what can I do to help stop the cancer from spreading?

A: Active surveillance is an option for men with low-grade cancer (cancer confined to the prostate gland and less likely to spread).

Most often this refers to men who have blood prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels of less than 10 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) and a Gleason score of 6 or less.

High-grade and many intermediategrade prostate cancers don’t qualify for active surveillance, and treatment for them usually begins immediately.

Men who choose active surveillance can avoid the side effects and possible complications related to surgery, radiation or hormonal treatment.

At the same time, it provides an opportunity for men to re-evaluate their lifestyle and make changes that may improve their cancer prognosis and ensure

Nitrates

From page 8

free” too.

Studies show that the conversion of nitrates to nitrosamines can occur regardless of whether they’re organic or synthetic — so that “natural” hot dog may not be any healthier for you.

As for cured meats boasting “no added nitrates,” Jampolis said these are often made with celery powder, which contains naturally occurring nitrates but can still produce nitrosamines (although it is not considered an added nitrate for food labels).

The bottom line

Nitrates from plants and those added to meat behave very differently in the body.

Increasing your consumption of nitraterich veggies may reduce blood pressure and improve athletic performance.

But it’s best to limit your intake of processed meats (even “natural” and “nitrate-free” products), as they are associated with an increased risk of cancer.

EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at eatingwell.com.

© 2024 Dotdash Meredith. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

their life is the healthiest it can be.

Coping with the prognosis

Despite knowing that most men with low-grade prostate cancer do fine without specific therapy, some men find the adjustment difficult.

One way a man can mitigate the worry, stress or anxiety is to embrace a take-charge attitude about his health.

Men can take steps that not only may improve their prognosis, but also protect themselves from other health issues, like heart attacks and strokes. This can empower men and give them a better sense of control over their condition.

Here are some suggestions:

Increase exercise intensity. Observational research has found that men with prostate cancer who engaged most frequently in vigorous activity had a 30%

lower risk of developing advanced cancer and a 25% lower risk of dying from the disease when compared with men who exercised the least.

Examples of vigorous activities include running, cycling, swimming and racquet sports.

Manage your weight. Weight gain is linked with more aggressive cancer. Even losing five to 10 extra pounds can help lower your risk.

A healthier weight also keeps blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels under control.

Eat a plant-based diet. Although it’s unclear whether specific dietary habits can slow prostate cancer growth, there is some evidence that suggests following a plant-based diet may make a difference. And healthy eating also lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Check your cholesterol. Studies have found that men who need to take cholesterol-lowering statins may have a lower risk of advanced prostate cancer. Statin use has also been associated with longer survival among men with prostate cancer. You wouldn’t take a statin for this reason, but if you need a statin to lower your cholesterol, this is a possible bonus.

Consider therapy. The anxiety about active surveillance may be associated with something else. A therapist can help a man explore where his anxiety lies and what may be driving it.

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, visit health.harvard.edu. © 2024 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC.

Some of the top health benefits of dates

By Megan Falk

When you hit the supermarket to restock your kitchen with nutrient-packed fruit, you probably unconsciously turn your cart into the produce section, where apples, oranges and grapes abound.

But in doing so, you could be missing out on a fresh fruit hiding out next to the raisins and prunes in the bulk bin aisle: dates.

That’s right: Though wrinkly, sticky and chewy like dried fruits, naturally sweet dates are typically sold in their raw, fresh state, said Keri Gans, M.S., R.D.N., C.D.N., a registered dietitian nutritionist and author of The Small Change Diet.

At the grocery store, you’ll often find two types of dates: Medjool, a soft date variety with a high moisture content and a sweeter flavor, and Deglet Noor, a semi-dry date variety that contains very little moisture and has a nutty finish. And with those craveable

qualities come a few health perks.

Dates provide tons of fiber

The biggest health benefit dates have going for them is their fiber content. In roughly four Medjool dates, you’ll score 6.7 grams of fiber, or a quarter of the 28-gram recommended daily allowance, according to the USDA.

Remember, fiber is the part of plant foods that can’t be digested or absorbed, so it helps bulk up your stool and ensure everything passes through your gut smoothly, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Plus, fiber can help lower cholesterol levels, stabilize blood glucose levels by slowing the absorption of sugar, and boost digestive health, Gans said.

Dates promote heart health

Bananas may be the go-to source of

potassium, but they’re not the only fruit that can help you fulfill your daily quota.

Munch on four Medjool dates, and you’ll snag 696 mg of potassium, about 27% of the USDA’s recommended adequate intake of 2,600 mg per day.

This mineral helps your kidneys and heart function properly, and plays a key role in regulating blood pressure, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Dates

strengthen bones

Dates contain manganese and magnesium, which help keep your bones strong and healthy, said Gans.

Both of these nutrients play a role in bone formation, and studies have shown that upping magnesium intake can improve bone mineral density, which can minimize your risk of breaking a bone.

ENTERPRISE RESIDENTIAL

MOST COMMUNITIES ARE 62 AND BETTER

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

The Greens at Hammonds Lane: 410-636-1141

Park View at Furnace Branch: 410-761-4150

Park View at Severna Park: 410-544-3411

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

BALTIMORE COUNTY

Cove Point Apartments I: 410-288-2344

Cove Point Apartments II: 410-288-1660

Evergreen Senior Apartments: 410-780-4888

The Greens at English Consul: 410-789-3000

The Greens at Liberty Road: 410-655-1100

The Greens at Logan Field: 410-288-2000

The Greens at Rolling Road: 410-744-9988

Park View at Catonsville: 410-719-9464

Park View at Dundalk: 410-288-5483 • 55 & Better

Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665

Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375

Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673

BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.)

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

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

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

Dates boost immunity

Along with key vitamins and minerals, dates are a good source of antioxidants. These compounds can help combat oxidative stress caused by free radicals (harmful molecules that, in excess, can damage cells).

When free radicals build up in cells, they can harm other molecules, which may increase the risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Dates are a healthier sweetener OK, this isn’t technically a health benefit of dates, but it’s definitely a perk worth mentioning. A single Medjool date contains a whopping 16 grams of sugar, so the fruit’s ideal to use in place of standard table sugar, Gans said.

While that number may still seem pretty big, Gans stresses that it’s nothing to be too concerned about.

“When you’re eating fruit, you’re going to get sugar,” she explained. “But it’s naturally occurring, so along with that sugar come the other health benefits that are in the actual fruit.”

SHAPE is dedicated to helping you live a healthy and happy life. Online at Shape.com.

© 2024 Dotdash Meredith. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

July Ongoing

SIGN

UP FOR SENIOR OLYMPICS EVENTS

Are you 50 or older? Then it’s time to sign up to participate in the Maryland Senior Olympics (and you don’t even have to reside in Maryland). Disc Golf and table tennis events are scheduled for July, while bowling, racquetball, shuffleboard and other events take place in August, September and October. The first event costs $15 to $50; additional ones are $5 each. To register, visit mdseniorolympics.org.

TEACH ENGLISH TO REFUGEES

Want to help immigrants and refugees learn English? The Washington English Center seeks volunteers to teach online or in person. No prior experience is needed; training and support will be provided. You can also be a writing tutor or online conversation tutor. For more information, visit washingtonenglish.org/volunteers or call (202) 387-2222.

A new way to look at toilet paper choices

Imagine being in the store trying to decide which toilet paper is best for you. It’s about comfort versus environmental concern.

Should you buy virgin white, soft toilet paper, or should you buy recycled paper because it’s thought to be more eco-friendly? While that decision is entirely up to you, I’ll share some information about each type of toilet paper to help you make an informed decision.

Made differently

other paper items you dump into your recycle bin.

DEAR PHARMACIST

By Suzy Cohen

To make new toilet paper, companies have to cook virgin wood pulp. Virgin means that the wood pulp hasn’t been used before. It’s not being recycled; it’s new. The process requires some boiling, some bleaching (usually with non-chlorine agents), and then the addition of softeners to make it feel nice on your skin. Imagine squeezing the Charmin!

Creating recycled toilet paper is more labor intensive because it takes more time and chemicals. The reason is that recycling companies begin the process with products we’ve used before — that’s how they get their “wood pulp;” it’s not from a tree. So, for example, they use magazines, paper plates, newspapers, cardboard and

These paper products have all kinds of writing and pictures on them, so de-inking chemicals are required to get the colors off there. It’s a tedious process to de-ink recycled pulp, but it needs to be done because everyone likes white toilet paper.

For this reason, recycled toilet paper requires (and has residues of) more chemicals than virgin paper. BPA (bisphenol A), which has been detected in some recycled toilet paper, is a hormone disruptor chemical. It may also have extra softeners and/or perfumes to improve its feel.

And it’s not just toilet paper; the same process is used for certain baby wipes, flushable adult wipes, facial tissues and some paper towels.

Even Time magazine wrote an article in March 2023 entitled “Now We Need to Worry About Harmful ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Our Toilet Paper Too.”

Pros and cons

So, in summary, the pros of recycled toilet paper brands involve sustainability and

putting to good use all that junk mail you throw out. On the downside, it requires and contains a few more chemicals.

Does this make it more eco-friendly or not? I’m uncertain at this point.

The pros of virgin toilet paper are softness and strength. Most people think it feels better on their skin. But the downside is it requires new wood pulp. Most people today are mindful of our planet’s resources.

Should you wish for a deeper dive into the topic, a more detailed and extensive

version of this article awaits on my website, suzycohen.com.

[Ed. Note: Toilet paper made from bamboo is widely available and considered sustainable due to bamboo’s rapid regrowth.] This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement.

Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe

Have confidence in every conversation.

Do you find it difficult to use a standard phone? Do people ask you to repeat yourself during telephone conversations? Do you miss important calls because you can’t hear the phone ring? The Maryland Accessible Telecommunications (MAT) program is here to help by giving Maryland residents the opportunity to apply for State-provided telecommunications equipment to independently make and receive calls. Once you qualify, a skilled evaluator meets with you to determine the best device to support your day-to-day communications. The MAT program has a variety of equipment solutions to support clearer communication, including:

• Amplified phones

• Tablets

• Ring signalers

• Phones with large and/or high contrast buttons

• Captioned Telephones

• And more

For more information: 800-552-7724 | 410-767-7253 (Voice/TTY) 410-801-9618 (Video Phone) | MDMAT.org

Upcoming Programs for 55 Years + Recreation & Parks

To view all of our programs and activities, visit www.HowardCountyMD.gov/rap.

Encore Adventures

• Info: Matt Medicus, 410-313-1769 or mmedicus@howardcountymd.gov.

All Encore Adventures programs are currently full, but we encourage you to sign up to be added to the waiting list for any full programs. Registrants sometimes cancel, and people on the waiting list are regularly able to register for previously filled programs!

Scan the QR code or visit the url at the bottom of this page for the full list of 55+ programs and sign up or join a waiting list today. Search “Encore Adventure” for specific programs.

Friends & Family Adventures

Gather your family or small group of friends and discover the basics of a new adventure activity or improve your skills with our certified instructors! Choose from target archery, rock climbing, fishing, canoeing/kayaking, and more. This is a great way to try a new activity in a safe environment tailored just for you. No experience necessary and all equipment is supplied. Target archery adventures may meet the requirement to participate in the HCRP Archery Club. Each section is one registration for up to three people – one or two additional participants may be added for an additional $25 fee. Multiple times available on each date and additional dates available.

Visit www.tinyurl.com/Friendsandfamilyadventures for details.

Activities have different minimum age requirements

RP9247Various dates and locations

Fitness

• Info: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.

Age Strong, Age Well! with Lori Nowicki, ACE

Are you an active 50 + individual? Then this is a class designed for you. Strengthen your muscles and improve your endurance, coordination, balance, flexibility and mobility. This class works on all the things to help keep you active and strong; plus a lot of laughs along the way. All equipment provided.

50 yrs +Classes: 7 or 14No class 8/12, 8/14, 8/19, 8/21

RP8481.801Roger Carter CCJul 19:15-10:15amM$49

RP8481.803Roger Carter CCJul 19:15-10:15amM,W$98

Pilates with Lori Nowicki, AAAI, AFPA

Pilates is the ultimate mind, body exercise program. This class is an intermediate class; experience needed. Strengthen your core, legs, and arms, and increase your flexibility. Focus is on core strength, balance, breathing, and alignment. You need a stability ball. Class is held online via Zoom.

50 yrs +Classes: 13 or 19No class 7/4, 8/13, 8/15, 8/20, 8/22

RP8154.801OnlineJul 29:15-10amTu,Th$91

Scan the QR code or visit tinyurl.com/activeaging55 for more 55 yrs + programs!

LaBlast with Carol Asher

• Info: Tracy y Ad Adkins, 410-3133-7279 or r t tadkiin @ s@hhowardcountymmd.gov.

Mar yland State House – Annapolis, MD

LaBlast is a revolutionary, partner-free fitness program based on the dances seen on Dancing with the Stars! It fuses ballroom dance into a calorie-burning workout. Take your mind, body, and soul through ballroom dances from different countries and cultures.

55 yrs +Classes: 6

RP3561.801Roger Carter CCJul 101:30-2:30pmW$65

Historic & Cultural Resources

• Info: Kelly Palich, kpalich@howardcountymd.gov or 410-313-0423.

The Railroad Becomes a Battlefield: A Tour

Commemorate the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Monocacy with a special after-hours Civil War history tour of the Ellicott City Station Museum. Learn about the role of Ellicott’s Mills and the B&O Railroad in the Civil War.

12 yrs +Classes: 1

RP9987.802EC Station MuseumJul 136-7:30pmSa$15

Lifelong Learning

• Info: Melissa Byrne, mbyrne@howardcountymd.gov.

Bike Maintenance with Larry Black

Learn everything you need to know about maintaining and repairing your bike. Learn about on-the-road fixes, overhauls, wheel building, riding fundamentals and how to negotiate the best price for repairs. Tools and some practice bikes are provided; bring your own bike to get hands-on experience.

18 yrs +Classes: 4

RP3409.801Gary J Arthur CCJul 107-9pmW$99

Speaker Series

• Info: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.

Archaeology at the Patapsco Female Institute: 67,333 Artifacts and Counting

Archaeology on the grounds of the once famous 19th century female academy began in 1988 and continues in the present. Join Archaeologist M. Lee Preston Jr. as he sheds new light on the important role the school played in female education in preand post- Civil War America. This presentation focuses on the diagnostic artifacts and unearthed sub-surface features associated with the school, and 20th century occupations of the site including a hotel, a private residence, and a hospital.

55 yrs +Instructor: M. Lee Preston Jr.Classes: 1

RP3506.801Gary J Arthur CCJul 2510-11:30amTh $20

The beautiful Maryland State House is the oldest state lll dhl

capitol in continuous legislative use and is the only state house ever to have served as the nation’s capitol. The Continental Congress met in the Old Senate Chamber from November 26, 1783 to August 13, 1784. During that time, George Washington came before Congress to resign his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, and the Treaty of Paris was ratified, marking the official end of the Revolutionary War. Today, the State House hosts the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the House of Delegates, and president of the State Senate. Enjoy the historic architecture, artwork, and memorials before having lunch on your own at one of the many delightful restaurants or cafés.

18 yrs +Bus Provided

RP4596.801Aug 159am-3pm Th$69

Register Today! Nashville, Tennessee

The Country Music Capital of the World

Join us for this amazing, six-day/five-night excursion. Enjoy accommodations at the beautiful Opryland Resort Hotel, located next door to the Grand Ole Opry. This complex hosts over 20 onsite restaurants, cafés, and lounges. Learn the history of the Ryman Auditorium, known as the Mother Church of Country Music. Explore the interactive exhibits at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Trip includes a guided tour of Nashville, including Bicentennial Park, Music Row, Historic Downtown, and a stop at The Parthenon and the American Pickers. Lastly, tap your toes to the music of some of the greatest country stars at the Grand Ole Opry. This is a very popular trip destination and will sell out quickly! Lots of walking with opportunities to sit.

21 yrs +Sep 5-10Bus Provided

RP4553.801Single OccupancySep 5-10Th-Tu$1,979

RP4553.802Double OccupancySep 5-10Th-Tu$1,679

Scan the QR code or visit tinyurl.com/RPtrips for more trips & tours!

Eat Fresh, Eat Healthy with Colorful Fruits & Veggies

Enjoying nutrient rich, in season foods is one of the best parts of summer in Maryland. An abundance of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables is available if you know where to look, ready to be transformed into healthy and nutritious meals. Here are a few tips for finding fresh, affordable ingredients to make your plate more colorful (and healthier) this summer:

Support local Farmers Markets: Howard County Farmers Markets offer an abundant variety of options like berries, melons, corn, beans, squash, peppers, tomatoes, and more! Visit bit.ly/HoComarkets to find hours and location of a market near you. To make healthy and nutritious foods more accessible to everyone, SNAP benefits and Maryland Market Money* are accepted as payment at some markets; ask at the market or farm stand if they accept federal nutrition benefits.

The Howard County Food Connection Map (hclhic.org/foodmap) is an interactive tool to help you find farmers markets and other low-cost, accessible food and nutrition resources in the County. Check it out!

Roving Radish Meal Kits, Marketplace and Mobile Market: Through its meal kits and marketplace, the County’s Roving Radish program promotes farm-to-table healthy eating habits, while supporting local farms and connecting our community to fresh, affordable food options. Roving Radish Meal Kits offer meat and veggie options each week, each kit with recipes and ingredients for two meals (four serving each) sourced

A message from Howard County Executive

Calvin Ball

It’s July and the perfect time to get active. In honor of Recreation and Parks Month, take advantage of our many world-class amenities geared towards older residents. Many older residents remain active, and we are proud to offer something for everyone. Check out our 50+ sports leagues at hcrpsports.org.

If you want to play in the parks, visit the two Age-Friendly features I opened this spring: the Age-Friendly Fitness Lot at Centennial Park North and the Tables for Connection at Cedar Lane Park West and Martin Road Park. They both offer a unique way to socialize and enjoy the great outdoors.

Prefer the courts? Last fall, we cut the ribbon on eight new pickleball courts at Western Regional Park, and over the last year, gave a facelift to our bocce courts at Cedar Lane and Blandair Parks.

Are you a walker or runner? Check out our 104 miles of paved paths throughout the county, in addition to the Columbia Association’s interconnected trails.

In my FY25 Budget, which was passed by the County Council last month, is $20.1 million for a North Laurel Recreation and Aquatic Center. After years of hearing from residents in Laurel, we are excited to put this plan in motion. We anticipate a groundbreaking for the pool sometime this summer. The 22,100 square foot pool will be yet another world-class amenity for our residents in Howard County.

Get out there and get active!

The new Roving Radish Mobile Market hits the streets this spring bringing farm-fresh food directly to neighborhoods throughout Howard County.

At the Age-Friendly Fitness Lot Ribbon Cutting, OAI’s Health Promotion manager Jen Lee shared tips with older adults about how to use the outdoor equipment safely, with proper form.

, r . f cont frroom p. 14

f frrom local farms, prepped and readdy y to prepare. Meal kits can p d u ordered online and picke u u a seven loc tions throughouttthe y counnty. . Cost is $40 per kit

u tf ($20 per ki foor subbsidized).

u T To o learn more about t meal kits, subsid ub dy y options and pick up lo visit the Roving Radish online wwww..rovingradish.com.

a d a Locate at t 8775 Cloudleap p Court, in the Long er en Reach Village C nt r, , the r Roving Radish Markketplace s f a offffeers produce, meatts and other good frrom local farm

ff s a m at affoordab

ummer Concert Se

AIN 50+ CENTER ly 26, 12:30 p.m. / A017 joy live music with Mot tar player and bandlead

y “ rf own Hits pe foormed b “JJumpin’ Joe,” a der who has perffoormed with Barry White,

elf-Care 101 KRIDGE 50+ CENTER ly 25, 11 a.m. / A05600

Let’s Do Lunch: Don’t want to cook? Every week there are delicious and healthy meals served at Howard County a 50+ Centers. Schedules and menus vary by loc tion, highlighting special celebrations, cultural cuisine and opportunities f foor older adults to socialize and share a meal. Visit w ww w..howardcountymd.gov/OAImenus f foor details.

r l r y un *In Howard Co nty, , Clarkksvillle Commons Farmers Markket is an y r y ff in access po ntoffeering Marylland Ma ket Money. .

SENIOR DAY A

FAAIR T THE AT AY

TUESDAYAYY, , AUGUST 6

FREE ADMISSION for adults age 62+

Join the Office on Aging and Independence for Senior p g un l prices, with weekly y specials and exclusive disco ntts.Launched last month, the  r Roving Radish Mobile Markket l , a farm-to-family y r h l su market on wheels, build uppon the healtthy y meal kit and markketplace un l h f m-f programs, by bringing far frres foood directly y to Howard Co nty neighborhoods with the greatest need. Visit RovingRadish.com a l to check the weekly y schedule, find a locattion to you and see if you y a y f qualiffy foor discounted me t, produce, honey, , and more.

he Better Angels ENWOOD 50+ CENTER ly 23, 11 a.m. / A03638 n author and historian,

Robert Plumb, as he shares the stories of

e Cream Social & ST COLUMBIA 50+ CEN ly 26, 1 p.m. / Call 410-

he Kangaroo Kids LICOTT CITY 50+ CENT ly 11, 12 p.m. / A02736

What does pet insurance cover? See opposite page.

MoneyMoney Law & Switch banks for higher savings interest

By Michael Joseph, CFA

Interest rates are pretty high these days. That’s great for retirees who need their savings to generate income.

But don’t assume that just because rates are high you’re automatically getting them. The going rate at many banks and brokerage houses is abysmally low.

The national average interest rate paid on savings is 0.45% (as of May 2024), according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Considering the Effective Federal Funds Rate is 5.33% (as of May 2024), if you have money in a savings account, there’s a good chance you could be earning a lot more interest somewhere else.

There’s good news: If you’re among those receiving lower interest on your savings, it’s a problem that’s easy to remedy. In most instances, it only takes a few clicks online or a few taps on your phone.

It’s easy to secure an interest rate of around 5% these days. Money market funds, certificates of deposit (CDs) and U.S. Treasuries are all low-risk ways of generating a nice return.

Gain a lot by switching

In most instances, your financial institution isn’t going to do it for you.

The time invested to move your cash around is well worth it. If you’re earning

the national average on $100,000 of savings, you’re being paid $460 a year. By switching to one of the many investments that offer a 5% yield, you could put an extra $4,540 in your pocket this year.

So which instrument should you use? That depends on you and your situation.

Option No. 1: Money market funds. Money market mutual funds (not to be confused with a bank money market account, which is different) are great for providing liquidity, as they should be easy to get in and out of.

However, there are new rules that create liquidity fees and redemption gates in place when investors want to cash out during “times of uncertainty.” That’s a vague description to be sure, but you can imagine an instance where we’re in a deep financial crisis and everyone is trying to liquidate their money market funds.

Fees and gates mean you could either be charged to access your own money or limited in how much you can withdraw. It’s at the discretion of the fund’s board of directors.

The chances this ever applies to you are slim, but most people aren’t aware of this risk, and you should be if you own a money market fund.

Option No. 2: CDs. CDs don’t have the immediate liquidity of money market

funds. In fact, there’s typically a penalty to access your money early. So, you’ll want to be thoughtful about how much money you need for expenses and when you’ll need it before buying a CD.

However, they come with a wonderful feature that money market funds don’t. CDs (like other deposit accounts) are insured by the FDIC up to $250,000. That means in the event of a bank failure, you’re still covered.

Option No. 3: Treasury bills and notes. Short-term U.S. Treasury bills (issued for terms of four weeks to one year) and notes (issued for terms of two, three, five, seven and 10 years) are also attractive.

The U.S. Treasury securities market is the largest and most liquid government securities market in the world. You shouldn’t have any trouble buying or selling your Treasuries whenever you want.

And the U.S. government is generally considered an ultra-low-risk debtor. However, the recurring threats of government shutdowns and general political divisiveness do make these a shade riskier than they may have been in the past.

Outlier risks aside, Treasuries, money market funds and CDs are all conservative options to potentially increase what you’re earning on your cash.

But don’t overdo the cash.

Cash and cash-like instruments are an essential part of your retirement portfolio. They can be used to cover your expenses and as an emergency fund.

But having too much cash on hand comes with its own price. Cash typically lags behind the returns of riskier assets. And the purchasing power of the dollar has steadily eroded over time thanks to inflation.

Cash is an important part of an overall investment allocation. But for many investors, it should be a small part.

At SAM, we generate income using a variety of different securities. Short-term Treasuries are our favorite cash proxy.

But we’re finding higher cash yields in real estate investment trusts (REITs), closed-end funds, and merger arbitrage opportunities, just to name a few. We also use cash tactically — we like to keep dry powder on hand to deploy opportunistically.

If you haven’t already, you may want to work with a professional to figure out exactly how much cash you should be holding. Then make sure you’re getting paid fairly for the cash you’re sitting on.

Michael Joseph is with Stansberry Asset Management (SAM) in New York.

© 2024 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Expect to inherit an IRA? Plan ahead

By Antwone Harris, MBA, CFP®

Individual retirement accounts represent an important part of the legacy many of us intend to pass on, but inheriting an IRA presents challenges that demand adequate planning and strategies.

Notably, the SECURE Act and, more recently, SECURE 2.0 Act have ushered in sweeping changes to retirement and estate planning, especially for those inheriting retirement accounts.

Under the new rules, most IRAs inherited by non-spouse beneficiaries must be cleaned out within 10 years of the original owner’s death. Previously, beneficiaries could “stretch” their distributions over their lifetimes, potentially lowering their tax obligations.

This end to the “stretch IRA” strategy means you need a more calculated approach to managing any inherited funds. Here are

some key strategies for managing inherited IRA distributions under the new rules.

Use smart timing to make tax-efficient withdrawals

One of the primary considerations when managing inherited IRA distributions is minimizing your tax exposure.

While the new rules require that the entire account be fully depleted by the end of the 10th year, you can withdraw money at various times over that period.

Thus, beneficiaries can strategically time their distributions to take advantage of lower-income years, such as during a sabbatical or after a job loss. By withdrawing larger amounts during these periods, beneficiaries can potentially reduce their overall tax burden.

Additionally, during market downturns, beneficiaries can consider taking more sub-

stantial distributions, reinvesting outside the IRA at depressed prices, and potentially benefiting from future market recoveries.

Maximize growth of inherited Roth IRAs

For beneficiaries of inherited Roth IRAs, the focus shifts toward maximizing growth. While recipients are still required to pull all the money out by the end of the 10th year, it typically makes sense to let an inherited Roth IRA compound for as long as possible.

Beneficiaries who can afford to wait will be treated to 10 years of tax-free growth. Unlike traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs offer tax-free withdrawals if certain conditions are met.

By leveraging the tax-free status of Roth IRAs, beneficiaries can maximize the growth potential of their inherited funds.

Enjoy the benefits of the stretch IRA — if you’re eligible

Some beneficiaries, however, continue to be eligible for the old “stretch IRA” beneficiary rules and can gradually withdraw money from their inherited IRA account over their lifetimes.

This group is called Eligible Designated Beneficiaries, and calculating the required distributions over their life expectancy may result in more tax-deferred growth, less taxes paid overall, and more money in the hands of your beneficiaries.

Here is a list of Eligible Designated Beneficiaries who can still do a stretch IRA after the SECURE Act:

Surviving spouses. Any marriage, whether heterosexual or same-sex, would qualify as long as a marriage license was

What pet insurance covers (and doesn’t)

By Sarah Schlichter

If you’ve ever spent a fortune at the emergency vet, pet insurance might sound appealing. By paying some of your vet expenses, these policies can save you money and help you make care decisions based on what’s best for your pet rather than what you can afford.

But insurance doesn’t pay for everything. Before you buy pet insurance, you’ll want to understand exactly what it will — and won’t — cover.

Covered: accidents

If you want coverage for unexpected vet expenses, you can choose either an accident-only plan or an accident and illness plan. Both can pay to treat injuries such as broken bones, snakebites or swallowed socks.

Coverage varies by company, but you can expect most pet insurance policies to pay for diagnostic tests, surgery and medications, Dr. Aliya McCullough, chief veterinary officer and director of veterinary affairs at Fetch Pet Insurance, said in an email.

The vet’s examination fee may or may not be covered, depending on your policy. And some companies may charge extra to cover prescription medication.

Most pet insurance policies have a waiting period between when you buy the plan

and when coverage takes effect. Your plan won’t reimburse you if your pet is injured during the waiting period.

Usually covered: illness

The most common type of insurance, accident and illness coverage, also pays for treatment if your pet gets sick.

Some of the most frequent reasons for vet visits are allergies, infections, stomach issues, arthritis and cancer, according to McCullough. These conditions generally fall under a plan’s illness coverage, which can reimburse you for diagnostic tests, medication, surgery and hospital stays.

However, exclusions may apply. “Some companies separate out certain types of treatments,” Kristen Lynch, executive director of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, said in an email.

For example, your plan might not cover treatments like acupuncture or physical therapy unless you pay extra. There may also be limitations for hereditary conditions or dental disease.

Usually not: preexisting conditions

Some people don’t think about buying insurance until their pet gets a serious diagnosis, like cancer or heart disease — but by then, it’s likely too late. Most pet in-

surance providers won’t cover conditions that showed symptoms before you bought your policy or during the waiting period.

Some insurers will pay to treat curable preexisting conditions if they haven’t shown symptoms for a certain period of time, McCullough said. Curable conditions could include respiratory infections or broken bones.

Usually not: preventive care

A standard pet insurance policy won’t

cover many common vet expenses a new pet parent faces — such as spay or neuter surgery, vaccinations and annual checkups. Insurers consider these services routine care and won’t pay for them under an accident and illness plan.

However, many companies offer preventive care coverage as an add-on. Compare the cost of this coverage with what your vet charges for routine services to make

and allow families to make arrangements online or

and

Inherited IRA

From page 16

issued and the marriage is legal in the state where it was performed.

Disabled individuals. The SECURE Act uses a stringent definition of disability. Basically, any person who is partially disabled or is able to be gainfully employed in any type of employment would most likely not qualify.

A chronically ill person. A person is considered “chronically ill” if they are unable to perform at least two of the six activities of daily living (ADLs) for a period of at least 90 days. Also, their condition must be expected to last indefinitely. The activities of daily living are toileting, eating, transferring, bathing, dressing and continence.

Minor children. It must be emphasized that this specification applies only to the decedent’s minor children. It does not apply to other relatives, including grandchildren.

Pet insurance

From page 17

sure it’ll save you money.

Not: pre-deductible costs

A deductible is the amount you pay toward vet expenses before your insurer starts reimbursing you. For example, if you have an annual deductible of $500 and your pet needs $300 of treatment in a given

Also, the decedent’s minor children can only utilize the stretch provision until they reach the age of majority, which is 21, according to SECURE 2.0. At that point, the stretch provision ceases and reverts back to the “10-year” rule.

For example, Tim is 50 and has a minor daughter, who is 11. Tim passes away unexpectedly and leaves all of his IRA to his daughter. She is able to use the stretch IRA rules from age 11 to 21, distributing a little from the IRA each year based on her life expectancy.

Once she reaches 21, the 10-year rule will apply, and she must deplete all remaining assets in the inherited IRA account by the end of year 10.

Individuals not more than 10 years younger than the decedent. This group, in particular, may offer some unique planning opportunities. For example, one may decide to leave money to a trustworthy

year, your plan won’t pay anything.

You can often lower the cost of your plan by choosing a higher deductible. Just be sure to pick an amount you can afford, said Janet Ruiz, director of strategic communication at the Insurance Information Institute.

How to avoid surprises

— Read sample policies. Reading the policy is one of the best ways to see

sibling or even one’s parents instead of to their children or grandchildren. The parent or sibling could then be instructed to gift the distributions to the decedent’s children or grandchildren.

This may result in less taxes paid and the ability to allow the assets to grow in a tax-deferred manner for a longer period of time. Implementing a strategy like this is complex and should be coordinated with a competent financial adviser and tax professional to consider gift tax, income tax and other tax-related implications.

Coordinate among multiple beneficiaries

When an IRA is inherited by multiple beneficiaries, it’s imperative to synchronize withdrawal strategies to serve both collective and individual financial objectives effectively.

This collaborative effort entails open di-

what is and isn’t covered. Many pet insurers have sample policies available on their websites, Lynch said. Don’t understand the coverage? Reach out to the company for clarification.

— Ask about policy limits. See whether the plan you’re considering has maximum payouts for certain conditions or services, or for all treatment in a given year.

— Check the reimbursement rate.

alogue among beneficiaries to harmonize their diverse financial aspirations with the overarching estate strategy.

Stay informed

As legislation continues to evolve, beneficiaries should stay informed about any future changes that may affect retirement and estate planning. Proactively monitoring legislative developments and staying aware of regulatory changes can help beneficiaries adapt their distribution strategies accordingly.

Managing inherited IRA distributions requires careful consideration and planning. With the changes introduced by the SECURE and SECURE 2.0 Acts, beneficiaries must adopt a more calculated approach to optimize tax efficiency and align distributions with their individual financial goals.

© 2024 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

After you hit your deductible, most insurers will pay a set percentage of your vet expenses, typically 70% to 90%. The higher the reimbursement, the more expensive the plan.

— Research the claims process. See how much time you have to file a claim, McCullough said. “You don’t want to have a claim denied because you didn’t submit it on time.”

AP/NerdWallet

DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA LAKEFRONT

Leisure & Travel Leisure &

At NASA’s Space Camp, adults can practice weightlessness. Our cover story continues on page 21.

We should’ve stayed longer in Tasmania

By Don Mankin

Aside from its beautiful beaches, Australia isn’t known for breathtaking scenery. Except, that is, for Tasmania — the island only 150 miles off the continent’s southern coast.

What makes Tasmania so special is the variety of geological features crammed into an area comparable in size to West Virginia. That means it’s a relatively short drive to see its empty beaches, craggy mountains, rugged gorges, scenic rivers, pristine lakes and crescent bays.

Since the island is mostly undeveloped, the drives from one stunning destination to another cross a countryside of rolling hills, quaint villages and fields of sheep and cattle.

This past April, my wife, Katherine, and I toured Tasmania’s east coast and central plateau on an all-too-short weeklong drive through the Tasmanian countryside.

I adapted quickly to driving on the “wrong” side of the road, on the “wrong” side of the car — the dearth of traffic helped. My biggest challenge was resisting the urge to sneak a peek at the views unfolding on both sides of the road. The fall colors (it’s autumn there in April) made the views even more dazzling.

Our one-week tour took us to Hobart, the capital city; Cradle Mountain in Lake St. Clair National Park; Launceston, the second-largest city in Tasmania; St. Helens, a coastal town; and Freycinet National Park. It was a week of one highlight after another.

Scenic walks and hikes

Tasmania’s natural beauty is its main draw, and the best way to experience this is to get out of your car and go for a walk or hike.

My favorite hike was the 3.7-mile trail around Dove Lake at Cradle Mountain. It’s described in the park brochure as “moderate” — which means it’s not easy, but it’s doable for a reasonably fit senior.

Much of the trail follows a boardwalk winding through the rainforest on one side of the trail, with views of the lake on the other. The rainforest was thick with moss, ferns, grasses, reeds and Fagus trees, the only deciduous tree in Tasmania, which had turned gold in the crisp, autumnal air.

Cradle Mountain and other crags loomed over the lake as rainbows emerged from the mist, then faded away.

Other hikes included a short but steep climb to a viewpoint overlooking the cerulean waters of Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park, ringed by one of the most beautiful beaches in Australia, and a walk along an almost deserted beach on the Bay of Fire near St. Helens.

In Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, and Launceston, one of Australia’s oldest cities, we wandered up and down narrow streets lined with well-preserved examples of 19th-century Victorian and Colonial architecture.

We especially enjoyed strolling through Salamanca Market and Battery Point in

and the central business district in Launceston.

Culture and history

Hobart is home to one of the most idiosyncratic museums in the world, the Museum of Old and New Art, or MONA, for short.

It’s hard to reconcile the idea of a worldclass avant-garde museum in a city as small and remote as Hobart, but there it is, on a scenic bluff overlooking the River Derwent.

The passion project of David Walsh, a local boy who made good as a professional gambler, MONA is whimsical, disturbing, self-consciously outrageous, immersive, provocative, silly and futuristic.

Its wide-ranging collection includes a word waterfall, a lady’s lounge that only women can enter, and a wall of decidedly un-erotic plaster cast vaginas.

One of my favorite pieces was a room of monitors displaying abstract, computergenerated images and word strings, reminding me of the proverbial monkey typing at random for an infinite amount of time — who would supposedly eventually reproduce the complete works of Shakespeare.

Aside from their architectural significance, the walks in Hobart and Launceston also illuminated Tasmania’s colonial history and roots. For example, Battery Point was the site of an 1818 gun battery to

protect the town from real and imagined nautical threats.

Wine, cruises and wildlife

Tasmania is also renowned for its food and wine, and we took every opportunity to indulge. Most notable were the oysters, often only a couple of hours from the sea.

My wife, the wine expert in our household, raved about the wine she sampled and said it was among the best she has ever had.

In Launceston, we took a one-hour boat cruise (cataractgorgecruise.com) along the Tamar River, past the historical wharves and the seaport, then glided silently below the sheer cliffs of Cataract Gorge, just a short walk outside of the city.

Tasmania won’t rival Africa, or even the United States, for wildlife, but most of the fauna that roams its hills, mountains, and forest is fascinating and unique.

Katharine and I admired the wallaby, a diminutive and cuter version of its cousin, the kangaroo.

We also saw a couple of hedgehog-like wombats, which are even smaller and cuter than wallabies, and lots of black swans, abundant in Tasmania.

Thankfully, we saw no snakes, which are as venomous in Tasmania as they are on the mainland. Apparently, they want as

See TASMANIA , page 20

Hobart

On a hike or walk through the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, tourists can see the country’s lakes and mountains up close.

PHOTO BY PENNY/PIXABAY

Tasmania is famous for the turquoise bays of Freycinet National Park on its eastern coast.

PHOTO BY XISERGE/PIXABAY

PHOTO BY ELBERT SHAW, U.S. SPACE CAMP

Tasmania

From

little to do with us as we with them. Encounters with Tasmanian devils are also rare. Primarily nocturnal, they are the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial. We could have seen them if we had signed up for the After Dark Feeding Tour at the Tasmanian devil sanctuary at Cradle Mountain (devilsatcradle.com), but to be frank,

BEACON BITS

July 10+

we were too pooped after our Dove Lake hike to venture out after dinner.

If we had more time

Besides the After Dark Tasmanian Devil Feeding Tour, we would have also tried some easier hikes at Cradle Mountain. In Launceston, we might have taken a short walk into Cataract Gorge to see the gorge from the top of the cliffs.

For a different perspective on Wine-

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Ongoing

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DONATE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

Ongoing

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glass Bay in Freycinet National Park, and one that would have required far less effort, we could have taken a boat cruise ( wineglassbaycruises.com.au ), or if we wanted to splurge, a helicopter tour (freycinetair.com.au).

It is only 60 miles from Hobart to the Port Arthur Historic Site, the former penal colony on the coast where convicted British criminals arrived in Tasmania in the middle of the 19th century. The Convict Trail, as the route to Port Arthur is known, is both historic and scenic.

Bruny Island, where “dramatic landscapes are matched by great produce” (discovertasmania.com.au), is just a 30-minute drive and 20 minutes by ferry from Hobart.

One week was just not enough time to do Tasmania justice. I’m not sure I’ll get back there again, but if I do, it will be for at least a week and a half or two — enough time to take more hikes, eat more oysters, check out the Tasmanian devils, and just sit

BEACON BITS

July

16

back and gaze at the spectacular scenery.

If you go

Round trip airfare from Washingtonarea airports to Hobart is about $1,600 on United and Qantas with two stops, including one in either Sydney or Melbourne.

We booked all our hotels on hotels.com and stayed at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Hobart for $161 a night; the Cradle Mountain Hotel for $249; the Mantra Charles Hotel in Launceston for $124; the Panorama Hotel in St. Helens for $124; and the Freycinet Resort for $272.

We ate most of our breakfasts and dinners at the hotels, where the food was quite good to excellent. In Hobart, we had a first-rate breakfast at the Harbour Lights Café and snacked on oysters at Pearl and Co. on the waterfront at Victoria Dock.

For more information, visit Tourism Tasmania at tourismtasmania.com.au, which partially sponsored the Mankins’ trip.

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Camps

the latest research. But you can go for any reason — you can go for the food alone, which was excellent, or for the scenery, which is magnificent.”

Some remote camps have unreliable cellphone and internet service, but conveniences and luxuries are usually not the point.

Instead, adult camps are “a retreat from your daily responsibilities, tension relief,” said Paul Bay, who has attended Hog Island Camp several times.

“Try to disconnect. Don’t go and keep texting, emailing and watching the news,” he advised. “Do what camp is all about.”

What to expect if you go

Camp experiences, quality and activities vary, depending on your budget. Some are rustic, while some are upscale, with housekeeping, spas and saunas.

Lodging can be a tent, cabin, lodge, ranch house, dormitory room or boutique hotel. Sleeping quarters range from a king-sized bed to a sleeping bag on the ground. Rooms can be snug, with limited space to unpack. You might have a roommate or share a bathroom.

Usually, your time is not your own, which means following a daily schedule. Camp is typically a group experience, so time alone may be infrequent.

Meals are often communal, buffet-style and held at specific times. You may be expected to help out at meals, but some camps offer chef-prepared gourmet meals.

Music camps

All types of sounds are welcome at a music camp in North Carolina, now in its 53rd year. Since 2014, Virginia retiree Paul Siegel has attended the Mountain Collegium on Western Carolina University’s campus in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

He takes four music classes a day, squeezes practice in between them, and reads music with pickup groups after dinner or after evening concerts.

Campers can take classes in playing recorders, Celtic penny whistles, Scottish pipes, Sephardic flutes, harps, bagpipes as well as what he calls “funny instruments” — cornetti, sackbuts, dulcians, folk harps and shawms.

“I immerse myself in the kind of music I really favor, and play in concert with instruments I can’t usually find,” Siegel said.

“One attractive characteristic of the gathering is people’s tolerance of diversity in musical ability,” Siegel said.

Nearby Baltimore is home to the annual Piano at Peabody adult piano camp at Johns Hopkins’ Peabody Institute. Amateur pianists from all over the area come for a week to listen to lectures and performances by resident and guest faculty, as well as attend master classes, classical and jazz workshops, and perform for fellow campers. Day passes are also available for those wanting to give it a try.

Learn to live well

Not every camp takes place in the summertime. Kathi Edwards of Havre de Grace, Maryland, plans to go this fall to Camp Is in Your Heart in Deckers, Colorado. The camp is an outgrowth of the former Good Life Project camp she enjoyed a few years ago.

The camp’s packing list starts with: “Smiles. Consensual hugs. An adventurous spirit. An open mind. Helping hands. Your talents.”

Open to all ages, the camp offers programs, activities and speakers, but participants are free to do whatever they want, which includes meditating alone under a tree.

“You can be yourself,” Edwards said. “You can be as crazy and as silly as you

want to be, as creative as you want to be.” She helped paint a mural and participated in the Saturday night talent show.

“It’s for anyone who is open to new things and being who you are in a group of people who won’t judge you for who you are.”

Try a short version

To experience a shorter stay, the Clifton Institute near Warrenton, Virginia, offers a two-day, tent-camping Nature Camp for Grownups from August 31 to September 1. Activities include nature journaling, walks and workshops.

“Many of us have fond memories of summer camps when we had adventures in wild places, pushed ourselves to learn new skills and take on new challenges, forged friendships around early-morning pancakes and late-night campfires, and just spent day after day outside,” said Eleanor Harris, managing director of Nature Camp for Grownups.

“There’s no reason those powerful experiences should stop once we become adults. At our grownup summer camp, campers get to learn about Virginia’s native biodiversity, do camp-y activities like crafts and roast s’mores, and unplug by

spending two days in nature.”

Everyone should go back to camp as an adult, said Kathi Edwards, who is headed to Colorado soon.

“I recommend adult camp if you’re willing to say yes to a new experience, learn more about yourself and be open to something new.”

Margaret Foster contributed to this article.

For more information

Wooden Boat School: visit woodenboatschool.com or call (207) 359-4651.

Adult Space Academy: visit rocketcenter.com/SpaceCamp/Adult/Academy or call 1-800-637-7223.

Putney School: visit putneyschool.org/ summer/adults or call (802) 387-7335.

Hog Island Audubon Camp: visit hogisland.audubon.org or call (207) 360-7733 ext. 103.

Mountain Collegium: visit mountaincollegium.org or call (404) 314-1891.

Piano at Peabody: visit bit.ly/PeabodyPianoCamp, call (667) 208-6640 or email peabodyprep@jhu.edu.

Nature Camp for Grownups: naturecamp.net/adult-session or call (540) 4607897.

Scrabble answers on p. 21.

Crossword Puzzle

X-Factors

By Stephen Sherr

Across

1. Vacation without fancy conveniences

5. Preposterous

9. BART : San Fran :: ___ : Philly

14. The A in 9 Across’ clue, but not its answer

15. Great Lake with the lowest Scrabble score

16. “This meeting could have been an ___”

17. Chris Rock voiced one in Madagascar

2. April Fools’ Day baby

3. Cat calls

4. Kung Fu expert in series of Jack Black movies

5. Biblical temptress

6. Seed covering (and 18 Across backwards)

7. Confident, as a handshake

8. Jacksonville Jaguars uniform color

9. Resting spots for torpedoed submarines

18. Maltese currency, until 2008

19. Less than 90 degrees

20. X

23. Attack with sticks, stones, or words

24. Playground fixture that requires a friend

27. Its 2023 strike delayed many TV shows

29. Inc., in Britain

30. 1/50/1, in Roman numerals

31. XX

37. Margarine

38. Long, long, long, long time

39. Made a picnic basket

40. XXX

45. Chinese “way”

46. Org. that distributes gun safety rules

47. Profs’ helpers

48. It was $220K per minute for Super Bowl X

50. Undermine

55. XXXX

59. Iraq’s main port city

61. Dublin’s land

62. Org. that charged 10 cents for a first-class stamp in 1975

63. Homophone of “they’re”

64. Informal term for an executive branch policy leader

65. Excessive quantity

66. ___ and Smile (David Lee Roth’s culinary album title)

67. Owners of “Mojo Dojo Casa Houses”

68. A Wimbledon match may have up to five

Down

1. ___ spade a spade

10. Awards ceremony host

11. He sang hit songs in 7 different decades

12. Tat compensation

13. End of fem- and fin-

21. Monetary abbreviation

22. Regarding

25. Advil alternative

26. More like Yoda than Jar Jar Binks

28. Gerwig, who wrote and directed Barbie

29. Web site affiliated with Liggett & Myers cigarettes

31. Spike Lee’s She’s ___ Have It

32. Greek epic with 24 books

33. Audiophile’s collection

34. “The best way to have a good idea is to have a ___ of ideas” (Linus Pauling)

35. Another potential clue for 40 Across

36. Complete a rent-to-buy agreement

41. Enclosure for tiny pets

42. Native Canadian tribe

43. Ski resort documents

44. “Woe ___”

49. American eagle’s nest (and American Eagle Outfitter brand)

51. Electrical connectors

52. Bride’s path

53. Advice

54. Obeys the sabbath

56. Location of Selena Gomez’ “LXXVI” tattoo

57. XL, e.g.

58. Nation west of Pakistan

59. It is in “debted”

60. “I know who the murderer is!”

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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.

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