August 2018 | Baltimore Beacon

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Making moving less stressful

AUGUST 2018

I N S I D E …

PHOTO BY AARON LEVIN

When Joanne and Martin Neff moved from their large, multi-level home in New York to their new three-bedroom apartment in Pikesville’s North Oaks Senior Living Community, the move could have been daunting, to say the least. “Nobody likes chaos,” said Joanne.

But after a friend suggested that a move manager could ease the transition, the Neffs turned to Charna Kinneberg, owner of Senior Transitions, Inc., and what could have been an overwhelming chore became much more manageable.

“Charna worked out a floor plan, her team was waiting for the movers when they arrived so they knew where everything should go, and they unpacked all the boxes and put everything in its place,” said Joanne, 77, a retired English professor. “We couldn’t have imagined a smoother move.”

Kinneberg, who is 65 and lives in Bel Air, is one of approximately 1,000 members of the National Association of Senior Move Managers (www.nasmm.org), about 50 of whom are based in the greater Baltimore/Washington corridor.

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A trip off the beaten path to Myanmar; plus, how to avoid airline, hotel and other fees page 18

Who makes a good move manager?

Like many move managers, Kinneberg came to this work after a career in a helping profession, in her case, as a nurse. According to NASMM Executive Director MaryKay Buysse, the majority of members are former nurses, teachers, social workers or other helping professionals, whose organizational skills and compassion translate easily into helping seniors downsize and relocate.

“Most senior move managers come into the field after a personal experience of their own,” said Buysse. “It’s their way of giving back.”

That was the case with Kinneberg.

Eighteen years ago, she had a busy career, a young daughter, and a dad who had serious health issues and needed to be moved from New Jersey to Maryland.

“I couldn’t do everything I needed to do,” Kinneberg recalled. She hired a move manager who was able to take care of the move from the New Jersey end while Kinneberg handled things on the Maryland side.

“It took a huge weight off my shoulders,” she said. A year later, Kinneberg de-

ARTS & STYLE Joanne Neff (left) works with Erin Brooks to unpack her belongings at her new apartment at Pikesville’s North Oaks Senior Living Community after a move from New York City. Brooks, the director of operations for move management company Senior Transitions, says companies like hers can make moving much less stressful.

cided this was the career for her.

She now has 12 people working with her, and they serve from 150 to 200 families a year throughout the greater Baltimore area, including Baltimore City and County, Anne Arundel, Howard and Harford Counties. Her clients come through word-of-mouth referrals from former clients, her website (www.seniortransitionsinc.com), and recommendations from care managers, elder care attorneys, physicians and others.

Making multiple moves Paul Iliff was referred to Kinneberg when he and his wife moved to Pickersgill

Retirement Community in Towson from their home in the Village of Cross Keys.

Kinneberg and her team helped the Iliffs move from a townhome to a small apartment and then to a larger apartment in the community when one became available. This past March, after Paul's wife passed away, Senior Transitions helped Iliff once again, this time when he moved to Florida.

“I don’t know how someone, especially older people, can do these moves without help,” said Iliff, who is 80. “Charna and her ladies packed us and unpacked us when See MOVE MANAGERS, page 15

Take a chance on Mamma Mia! now onstage at Toby’s Dinner Theatre; plus, fun facts about Baltimore page 22 TECHNOLOGY 4 k Protect your privacy on Facebook FITNESS & HEALTH k Can you use expired meds? k Weight loss mistakes

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LAW & MONEY 14 k Why you need a credit card k Ways to save at the farmers market ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

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AUGUST 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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A complex subject For most Americans, recent headlines dependent, bipartisan federal agency. Four concerning unfair trade and retaliatory tar- of its five current commissioners were apiffs seem far removed from pointed by President Obama.) daily life.

NORPAC, which supplies But for papers like the Beahalf the U.S. market for con, a trade dispute with Cananewsprint, blames Canadian da — which has led to U.S. government subsidies for drivtariffs that have caused multiing down the price of imported ple and continuing increases newsprint in the U.S., thereby in the price of newsprint since hurting its business and its emlast fall — could be a life-andployees. death matter.

After an investigation, the So I have chosen to write ITC identified 34 separate subabout this, complex though FROM THE sidies by Canada of its paper the subject is, because seem- PUBLISHER mill industry. This led to tempoBy Stuart P. Rosenthal ingly distant issues like tarrary tariffs being imposed on iffs are having a serious imCanadian newsprint in March, pact right now on newspapers throughout with a final determination and permanent the country, and therefore affect our read- tariffs to be announced next month. ers and advertisers as well.

In response, U.S. newspapers and much Not surprisingly, the tariffs have been of the rest of the publishing industry have widely blamed on President Trump. Though banded together to fight the tariffs, arguit’s true the Trump administration has im- ing that the sharp price increases they are posed tariffs on a number of Chinese, Euro- creating threaten to put many smaller papean, Mexican and Canadian goods, this par- pers out of business. ticular problem cannot be laid at the presiPrinting constitutes the second largest dent’s doorstep. cost of producing a newspaper, after labor.

Rather, the cause is an anti-dumping The cost for newsprint has already risen case brought by the North Pacific Paper more than 25%, and additional increases Company (NORPAC) against Canada be- are on the horizon. This has led to a reducfore the U.S. International Trade Commis- tion in frequency, circulation and/or page sion (ITC) last August. (The ITC is an in- count, as well as staffing, by newspapers

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

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

• Publisher/Editor ....................Stuart P. Rosenthal • Associate Publisher ..............Judith K. Rosenthal • Vice President, Operations........Gordon Hasenei • Vice President, Sales & Marketing ....Alan Spiegel • Managing Editor............................Barbara Ruben • Art Director ........................................Kyle Gregory • Director of Operations ........................Roger King • Contributing Editor ..........................Carol Sorgen • Advertising Representatives .................................. ..............................Barbara Koscielski, Steve Levin • Assistant Editor ..........................Rebekah Alcalde

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across the country, including the Beacon.

These actions, of course, reduce the demand for newsprint which, in turn, could lead to reduced business for the remaining paper mills in the U.S., causing them and newspaper printers to cut their staff and operations in a downward spiral of dire consequences.

Furthermore, these price increases are coming at the worst possible time for newspapers, which are struggling against growing competition from online publications that don’t bear printing costs. In the face of this competition, print publishers cannot raise their advertising and subscription rates sufficiently to offset the price increases.

A bill has been introduced in the Senate (known as the PRINT Act, S. 2835), to require the Commerce Department to pause the tariffs and evaluate their impact on the publishing industry. As a business owner and publisher, I would like to see that law pass.

But NORPAC argues against this, saying U.S. trade laws don’t permit the consideration of such side effects in the case of clear dumping from abroad. And I have to admit, there do seem to be two sides to this debate.

Canada has clearly taken steps to reduce the price of its newsprint. This has driven down the price of newsprint in the

U.S. for years, benefitting papers like ours with what now seem to be below market paper costs.

At the same time, the unfair competition has driven a number of U.S. paper mills out of business or led them to close down unprofitable mills, which reduces supply and thus contributes to the rising prices sparked by tariffs.

So NORPAC has a case, but its efforts to level the playing field all at once is putting tremendous strain on the newspapers that remain in business, and on the many related businesses that service publishers and their readers (including, ultimately, NORPAC itself).

So you see, as I said, it’s complex. There are so many moving parts in our economy, and in both domestic and international trade, that it’s hard to know who’s right and who’s wrong when there’s a trade dispute.

But it’s not hard to see who loses when there’s an attempt to solve things by imposing a tariff. In the long run, just about everybody.

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or e-mail to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com.

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

Dear Editor: Many of us still need to work after retirement. Even as we receive Social Security payments, we are taxed on working income and have Social Security tax withheld from it. They are lost income when we need it most.

There are two things that need to be changed to make Social Security more equitable for seniors: 1. Social Security not be withheld for those receiving Social Security payments.

2. Social Security not be taxed. Other earned monies to be taxed as with any other work.

These changes are not tax reductions, and apply only to those who have worked and need funds upon retirement. This will be agreeable as these changes are not increases to Social Security payments across the working spectrum, but decreases in withholdings that apply only to the specific working segment.

Contact national legislators to [ask them to] accommodate these changes.

James A. Martin Baltimore Dear Editor: Admittedly, I am skeptical about our medical system relying so much on drugs and technology.

As a holistic health provider, caregiver for my mother for 18 years, working with

cancer patients, and interacting with my elder friends (I am in my 80th year), I have heard and witnessed many stories and situations where prescribed procedures did not work as predicted, diagnoses were incorrect or could not be verified, costs were extreme, scams were tried, and a general lack of doctor empathy.

Now we hear phrases like “this drug will help your long-term control medicine to work better.” Suddenly we have pre-diabetes.

Blood pressure limits are lower for heart disease. Now there is pre-Alzheimer’s, new diseases we never heard of before, unnecessary tests are done too quickly (e.g. PSA) as if there is magic in the technology, and lobbyists with too much influence. I often wonder how much of it is driven by profit motives, not by what is for the common good.

The editorial challenge in your July issue is welcome (“Would you want to know?,” From the Publisher). It is our body — to learn about, discover, treat and take charge of. When confronted with a health issue, we should use our own minds, research with the help of doctors and others, then think, trust our gut, and decide on what is best.

Do not just jump to the scare being given about the weak Alzheimer’s research. No matter what we do, life cycle’s ending is inevitable.

Al Muehlberger Rosedale, Md.

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Technology &

Innovations Take steps to protect your Facebook data

By Kaitlin Pitsker Facebook is not getting a lot of likes these days. This spring, we learned that Cambridge Analytica, a data analytics and political consulting firm, gained access to the personal information of up to 87 million Facebook users.

In the weeks that followed, Facebook’s stock plunged, founder Mark Zuckerberg testified before Congress, and lawmakers discussed regulating how tech giants manage consumer information.

In an effort to repair the damage, the social media giant announced plans to prevent further misuse of user data. It’s also rolling out easier-to-use tools to help you manage what you share, and which compa-

nies have access to your data.

So far, though, the changes have been largely cosmetic, and many users remain concerned about the personal information Facebook is collecting and how it’s being used.

See what they’ve got on you You can see much of the information Facebook has collected about you by clicking the small arrow in the upper right corner of Facebook, selecting “Settings” and then “Download a copy of your Facebook data.” Facebook will e-mail a link to download your archive.

If you are ready to delete your account — causing your photos, status update mes-

sages and everything else to disappear — see a guide at kiplinger.com/links/quit.

Telling the service to remove your account takes only a few minutes, but it may take up to 90 days for Facebook to delete your data from its system. And even that won’t retrieve your data from any company that has already harvested it for marketing or other purposes.

Facebook says you own the content you post, but it also says that your information will be shared with their business partners and other third parties.

Limit what you share If you want to continue to use the service, you can take steps to make it more difficult for Big Data to delve into the details

of your personal life.

On your computer, start by reviewing how much of your profile is available to the public. Some items, such as your name, gender, profile picture and cover photo, will be visible to everyone.

But many users are unknowingly sharing far more with the public, from lists of friends to photos of their kids.

To quickly review what the public can see about you, go to your Facebook profile: • Click the three dots in the lower right corner of your cover image and select “View As.” To change what information is public See FACEBOOK, page 5

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certain advertisers from your Facebook feed by clicking on the “x” in the top righthand corner of the advertiser or interest.

• To put the kibosh on targeted ads, change the three items under “Ad Settings” to “Not Allowed,” “No” and “No One.” You’ll still see advertisements, but they won’t be based on your online activities or be as relevant to you.

Consider omitting sensitive information, such as your political or religious views, from your profile. If you post an event invite, leave out your exact address.

Finally, consider culling your friends list to exclude people you don’t know very well, or creating tighter circles of friends within Facebook. © 2018 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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To reassure jittery users, Facebook promised to limit the data that advertisers can use to serve up ads related to your online activity.

You can also reduce the amount of info that advertisers gather about you by doing the following: • Return to Facebook’s Settings page and click “Ads” from the menu on the left.

Here, you’ll see a list of topics Facebook has concluded are of interest to you, advertisers you’ve interacted with, a summary of what advertisers see about you (including biographical information, your political views and the devices that you use to access the site) and your ad settings.

• Remove interests, delete info from your advertising profile, and hide ads from

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and what can be seen only by your friends: • Click the small arrow in the upper right corner of Facebook, select “Settings” and then the “Privacy” and “Timeline and Tagging” pages from the menu at the left.

If you’ve used your Facebook account to access other services — in other words, you’ve logged in with your Facebook user name and password — data harvesters may be able to see your profile.

To see a list of the apps and sites that you’ve accessed using your Facebook account: • Select “Settings” and then “Apps and

Restrict targeted ads

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From page 4

Websites” from the menu on the left side of the page.

• Visit each app or site that you still use and create separate log-in credentials before returning to Facebook to revoke their access. Instead of trying to commit all these new user names and passwords to memory, consider using a password manager. [See “Secure passwords with less headache,” in our March issue.]

• To turn off this Facebook feature, return to the Apps and Websites page and select “Edit” from beneath “Apps, Websites and Games.” By turning off this setting, you’ll no longer be able to use Facebook to log in to other accounts, and those sites and services will no longer be privy to your Facebook data.

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AUGUST 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

How Google aims to simplify your life

By Ryan Nakashima and Mae Anderson Google put the spotlight on its artificial intelligence smarts at its recent annual developers conference, announcing new consumer features aimed at simplifying your life.

Many of the updates have a practical bent, designed to ease tasks such as composing emails, making lists, navigating city streets, and lessening the digital distractions that have increasingly addled people’s lives as a result of previous tech industry innovations.

One of the biggest crowd-pleasers for the thousands of software developers who gathered at the outdoor conference was an augmented reality feature on Google Maps that helps people get walking directions.

Users will be able to follow arrows — or possibly a cartoon-like creature — that appear on a camera view showing the actual street in front of them.

Some new features for Android phones also aim to improve people’s digital wellbeing, including a new “shush” mode that automatically puts a phone in “do not disturb” mode if you flip it face down on a table. And a “wind down” mode will fade the screen to grey at a designated time to help you disconnect before bed.

The company’s digital concierge, known only as the Google Assistant, is getting new voices — including one based on that of musician John Legend — later this year.

It will also encourage kids to be polite by thanking them when they say please, similar to a feature Amazon is bringing to its Alexa voice assistant.

The assistant may also soon be talking with ordinary people at businesses for tasks such as restaurant reservations, although the feature is still in development.

“Hi, I’m calling to book a hair appointment for a client,” said a realistic-sounding automated voice in a demo from the conference stage. The AI assistant deployed pauses and “ums” and “mmm-hmms” to sound more human in conversation with real people.

Google is now rolling out the technology, called Duplex, as an experiment. “We really want to work hard to get this right,” said Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who kicked off the conference, known as Google I/O.

Making predictions Other changes are more immediate.

Gmail is getting an autocomplete feature that uses machine learning to offer suggestions for finishing half-completed sentences.

For example, “I haven’t seen you” might be autocompleted to “I haven’t seen you in a while and I hope you’re doing well.” You can accept the completion by hitting the tab key.

The Google Photos app aims to get smarter about suggesting who you might want to share photos with. Whenever it

recognizes a photo of one of your Google contacts, it can suggest sharing the photo with that person. It will also convert photos to PDFs and automatically add color to black-and-white photos or make part of a color photo black and white. The changes are coming in the next two months.

The search giant aims to make its assistant and other services so useful that people can’t live without them — or the search results that drive its advertising business.

But it also wants to play up the social benefits of AI and how it’s being used to improve healthcare, preserve the environment and make scientific discoveries.

Pichai didn’t emphasize the privacy and data security concerns that have put companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google in the crosshairs of regulators. But he did say the company “can’t just be wide eyed about the innovations technology creates.”

“We know the path ahead needs to be navigated carefully and deliberately,” he said. “Our core mission is to make information more useful, accessible and beneficial to all of society.”

More AI for Androids Google’s latest version of its Android

phone software, for now known as Android P, will offer other smart features. It will teach the battery to adapt to how you use apps in order to conserve energy.

Phones using Android P will also learn how to set your screen brightness by studying your manual adjustments, a change from automatic adjustments based on ambient light levels.

But not everyone will see the new Android features soon — if at all. Android P won’t be released until later this year, and even then, phone manufacturers and carriers frequently limit Android updates to their newest phones. Owners of Google’s own Pixel phones will get the updates most quickly.

Samsung is getting snubbed on some of these new features, at least for now. It has been challenging Google more frequently by launching services that duplicate what Google already offers on Android.

For instance, Samsung users won’t have access to an early “beta” version of Android P. Samsung’s camera app also won’t get a built-in Lens feature that lets Google offer information after taking a photo of a building or sign. Samsung has been developing its own similar feature, called Bixby Vision.

— AP

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Health Fitness &

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SUPPLEMENTAL ADVICE A supplement for arthritis pain, chondroitin, may pose a risk for melanoma LESS IS MORE A recent study has shown that some with breast cancer can skip chemo FASTING FOR BRAIN HEALTH A study is recruiting volunteers to see if fasting twice a week protects the brain WEIGHTY MISTAKES To lose weight, do not: cut all carbs, skip weight training or skimp on sleep

Is it safe to use your expired medicines?

How to know what’s probably safe and what’s risky

By Linda A. Johnson Just how firm are expiration dates on bottles of allergy or pain pills? Probably not as crucial as the “Best By” date on milk cartons.

Medicines are expensive and, amid occasional shortages, some people are tempted to use expired pills. After all, a pill good till July 31 can’t be useless on Aug. 1.

The expiration date, typically just one or two years after manufacture, simply shows how long the maker tested the drug’s stability by exposing it to extreme temperatures, humidity and light.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises against using expired drugs, warning they may not work as intended or may be harmful, especially for people with serious ailments.

Yet many people, including doctors, use medicines well after expiration. “I think everybody does,” said Dr. Jennifer Lowry, a toxicology expert at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.

Waste is costly Still, most expired medications get tossed.

“We probably are throwing away $60 to $70 billion a year,” estimated Ajaz Hussain, president of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology and Education. Hussain, a former FDA official, said he doesn’t hesitate to take expired pills.

Multiple medical groups have urged the FDA to lengthen expiration dates, but the federal agency said it’s not sure it has authority to do so. The FDA does provide recommendations for drugmakers to do that voluntarily, but the companies have little financial incentive to do so.

During acute shortages of some medicines, the FDA lets drugmakers extend dates if they have data indicating they’re still good. That’s happened with this year’s shor tage of saline solution for hospitals, as well as for a seizure drug last year and during a 2013 shortage of Tamiflu.

Numerous studies on expired, properly stored drugs, mostly pills, have found them fully potent or close, some many years after the expiration date.

In one case, unopened bottles of

painkillers, antihistamines and other drugs from the 1960s were still very potent when tested a half-century later.

The FDA and Department of Defense jointly run a program that periodically tests batches of antibiotics and other drugs in the national stockpile for potential disease epidemics and chemical attacks. That’s repeatedly resulted in yearslong extensions, saving billions of dollars.

General guidance on use Experts tell the Associated Press they know of no cases of patients harmed by taking expired medicines. The exceptions are aspirin and the antibiotic tetracycline, which can deteriorate soon after expiration dates.

But it’s hard for consumers to know what’s safe and what’s risky. “A year out, I think you’re perfectly OK to use the medications,” said Dr. Ali Raja, an emergency medicine doctor at Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital.

But experts say don’t use expired liquid medicines, insulin and other injected drugs that must be refrigerated. They can

break down faster than pills, especially if they aren’t kept cold.

Ditto for drugs not properly stored.

Medicines kept in areas with high humidity or fluctuating temperatures — like a bathroom cabinet — or left in direct light degrade faster and can lose potency.

Instead, keep them in a cool, dark place, advised Michael Ganio of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

Also, don’t put different pills in one bottle, as the chemicals could interact. And don’t use discolored, powdered or smelly pills, cloudy liquids or dried creams.

What about EpiPens, the pricey emergency injectors people with severe allergies carry as a precaution? Their shelf life is about a year and a half. But multiple studies have shown their potency declines slowly unless they’re exposed to heat or light.

“We know expired EpiPens can work,” said Lowry. In a pinch, people should use them and then head to an emergency room, she said.

— AP

Few smokers get free lung cancer scans

By Marilynn Marchione Lung cancer screening has proved to be stunningly unpopular. Five years after government and private insurers started paying for it, less than 2 percent of eligible current and former smokers have sought the free scans, researchers report.

The study didn’t explore why, but experts say possible explanations include worries about false alarms and follow-up tests, a doctor visit to get the scans covered, fear and denial of the consequences of smoking, and little knowledge that screening exists.

“People are not aware that this is a test that can actually save lives,” said Dr. Richard Schilsky. “It’s not invasive, it’s not painful, there’s no prep, nothing has to be stuck into any body cavity,” so to see so little use “is shocking.” Schilsky is chief medical officer of the American Society of

Clinical Oncology, which released the study.

Lung cancer is the top cancer killer worldwide, causing 155,000 deaths in the United States each year. It’s usually found too late for treatment to succeed.

The big study found that annual lowdose CT scans, a type of X-ray, could find cases sooner and lower the risk of dying of lung cancer by 20 percent for those at highest risk. That’s people ages 55 through 79 who smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 30 years (or the equivalent, such as two packs a day for 15 years).

In 2013, a government task force and others backed screening for such folks.

The scans cost $100 to $250, and are free for those who meet the criteria. But people must have a special appointment to discuss risks and benefits with a doctor.

Dr. Danh Pham at the University of

Louisville in Kentucky and others got information on how many scans were done from an American College of Radiology registry of all 1,800 sites in the U.S. accredited to perform them. A federal health study was used to estimate how many current and former smokers were eligible.

The results: In 2016, less than 2 percent of 7.6 million eligible smokers were screened. Rates ranged from 1 percent in the West to 3.5 percent in the Northeast.

That’s way below the 60 to 80 percent rates for breast, colon or cervical cancer screening.

The study was sponsored by the BristolMyers Squibb Foundation. One study leader has consulted for the company and other cancer drugmakers.

Mary Baroody of Alexandria, Va., has had several scans at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital since her husband, Michael, was diagnosed with lung cancer

and successfully treated seven years ago.

Both are 71 and longtime smokers who quit 15 years ago.

“I’m glad to go do it, and I feel good afterward,” she said of getting screened.

“You get a clean bill of health. What else could you want?”

Her husband said screening “just seems to be a no-brainer” because it can find cancer when it’s most treatable. “I’m living proof, literally, that caught early you can do something about it,” he said.

But screening has a dark side: research shows that over three years of annual scans, 40 percent of people will have an abnormal finding that often leads to follow-up tests such as a lung biopsy, and complications of those can be fatal, said Dr. Otis Brawley, the American Cancer Society’s chief medical officer.

—AP

8

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AUGUST 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Supplement for pain may pose cancer risk

By Robert H. Shmerling, M.D. Q: I was thinking about taking chondroitin for my arthritis pain. But I recently read it might cause melanoma.

Should I avoid it?

A: Chondroitin sulfate is among the most popular supplements in the world.

It’s often taken in combination with glucosamine for joint disease. Some take it for prevention, others to treat pain.

And yet, evidence that it actually works at all is limited at best. One review of the evidence suggested that of the few studies of chondroitin that were positive, nearly all were funded by makers of the supplement.

Despite this, millions of people take it, many of my patients swear by it, and the lack of evidence doesn’t seem to be much

of a concern to them. A frequent comment I hear is: “Well, I’m not sure if it’s doing much, but it can’t hurt, right?”

A new study suggests that maybe it can.

Researchers publishing in the medical journal Molecular Cell are raising concerns that chondroitin sulfate may encourage the development or recurrence of melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer.

Here’s what they found: • The growth of human melanoma cells with a particular mutation (called V600E) that had been grafted onto the skin of mice was promoted when the mice consumed chondroitin sulfate. About half of human melanomas contain this mutation.

• Among mice fed chondroitin sulfate, these melanoma tumors were more resist-

ant to an antitumor drug, vemurafenib, than those without the mutation.

Although this research did not actually study human beings with melanoma, the study authors speculate that for people with precancerous skin growths containing the V600E mutation, taking chondroitin might be a bad idea because it could speed up tumor growth. And if a person had melanoma in the past, taking chondroitin might make recurrence more likely.

More study needed It’s important to point out that this is preliminary research. Although the tumor cells studied came from humans, a link between chondroitin sulfate use and melanoma in humans has not yet been established.

It’s possible that these results aren’t relevant to actual people: For example, the doses or metabolism of chondroitin sulfate

may be so different in humans (vs. mice) that these results do not apply to humans.

It is not rare that studies in animals do not translate directly to people.

Here’s my take: This research is quite preliminary, and might turn out to have little relevance to human disease.

But if chondroitin sulfate may promote melanoma growth — and it’s not clear that this supplement is particularly helpful anyway — I’d advise against its use, at least until we know more.

Robert H. Shmerling, M.D., is associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and clinical chief of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. For additional consumer health information, please visit www.health.harvard.edu. © 2018 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed

by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — AUGUST 2018

9

Take this pill; it will call me in the morning

By Carla K. Johnson Scientists have developed a swallowed capsule packed with tiny electronics and millions of genetically engineered living cells that might someday be used to spot health problems from inside the gut.

The capsule was tested in pigs and correctly detected signs of bleeding, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reported in the journal Science.

At more than an inch long, the capsule will have to be made smaller for testing in people. But the results suggest it could eventually be used in people to find signs of ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease or even colon cancer, the researchers said.

Many potential uses It’s the latest advance in a growing field of sensors that can be swallowed or worn to monitor our health. Pills equipped with cameras, thermometers and acidity gauges already look for disease and track digestion.

Last year, a psychiatric medication that alerts doctors when it’s taken won U.S. approval. Stick-on skin monitors for recovering stroke patients are in the works.

The MIT device is the first to use engineered cells as sensors in swallowed capsules, said Kourosh Kalantar-zadeh, who is developing a gas-sensing, all-electronic pill at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Tech-

nology in Australia.

“The work is yet another step toward showing the great promises of smart, ingestible capsules,” said Kalantar-zadeh.

The researchers tested the capsules using a harmless strain of E. coli bacteria.

The cells were modified with DNA from other bacteria to make them detect blood and then light up. Electronics then take over, relaying signals to a smartphone.

More study needed Shrinking the capsule to a normal pill size could be achieved by combining its three electronic chips, said co-author Phillip Nadeau. Data encryption will be needed to protect patient privacy. And it’s meant to be used once, so they’ll need to make it flushable, co-author Mark Mimee said.

All that, plus human testing, means a commercial product is years off.

As labs discover DNA with new sensing powers, the capsule could be customized to diagnose multiple conditions. Co-author Tim Lu speculated that future patients could swallow a capsule “once a week or once a month” to screen for early signs of cancer instead of getting a colonoscopy.

The capsule could help doctors monitor tricky-to-reach parts of the small intestine for people with Crohn’s disease, or to study the normal balance of microbes in the gut,

said Dr. Stephanie Hansel of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, who wasn’t involved in the research.

“We’re excited about it,” said Hansel, while noting that it probably won’t replace the need for procedures using flexible scopes.

Texas Instruments and the National Sci-

ence Foundation helped pay for the research, and the researchers are seeking patents for the capsule. Mimee received a fellowship from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, which also supports the Associated Press Health & Science Department.

—AP

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STROKE WELLNESS CLUB

Meet other stroke survivors at the Northwest Hospital Stroke Wellness Club. Share your challenges and success stories in a supportive environment, with opportunities for activities, lectures and fun. The club meets the first Wednesday of every month at the Intermediate Care Conference Room (IMC) at Northwest Hospital, 5401 Old Court Rd., at 10 a.m.

There is no fee. Call (410) 601-WELL (9355) to join.

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

AUGUST 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

It’s not a Wheelchair...

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

11

Latest news in breast cancer treatment

By Marilynn Marchione Most women with the most common form of early-stage breast cancer can safely skip chemotherapy without hurting their chances of beating the disease, doctors are reporting from a landmark study that used genetic testing to gauge each patient’s risk.

The study is the largest ever done of breast cancer treatment, and the results are expected to spare up to 70,000 patients a year in the United States, and many more elsewhere, the ordeal and expense of these drugs.

“The impact is tremendous,” said the study leader, Dr. Joseph Sparano of Montefiore Medical Center in New York. Most women in this situation don’t need treatment beyond surgery and hormone therapy, he said.

The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute, some foundations, and proceeds from the U.S. breast cancer postage stamp.

Who can avoid chemo?

Cancer care has been evolving away from chemotherapy — older drugs with harsh side effects — in favor of gene-targeting therapies, hormone blockers and immune system treatments. When chemo is used now, it’s sometimes for shorter periods or at lower doses than it once was.

The breast cancer study focused on cases where chemo’s value increasingly is in doubt: women with early-stage disease that has not spread to lymph nodes, is hormone-positive (meaning its growth is fueled by estrogen or progesterone), and is not the type that the drug Herceptin targets.

The usual treatment is surgery followed by years of a hormone-blocking drug. But many women also are urged to have chemo to help kill any stray cancer cells. Doctors know that most don’t need it, but evidence is

thin on who can forgo it.

The study gave 10,273 patients a test called Oncotype DX, which uses a biopsy sample to estimate the risk that a cancer will recur. It measures the activity of genes involved in cell growth and response to hormone therapy.

About 17 percent of women had high-risk scores and were advised to have chemo. The 16 percent with low-risk scores now know they can skip chemo, based on earlier results from this study.

The new results are on the 67 percent of women at intermediate risk. All had surgery and hormone therapy, and half also got chemo.

After nine years, 94 percent of both groups were still alive, and about 84 percent were alive without signs of cancer, so adding chemo made no difference.

Certain women 50 or younger did benefit from chemo. Slightly fewer cases of cancer spreading far beyond the breast occurred among some of them given chemo, depending on their risk scores on the gene test.

Who needs less Herceptin?

A different study suggests that many women with a common and aggressive form of breast cancer that is treated with Herceptin (a drug designed to block the growth and spread of cancer cells) can get by with six months of that drug instead of the usual 12, greatly reducing the risk of heart damage Herceptin sometimes can cause.

It’s good news, but it comes nearly two decades after the drug first went on the market, and many patients have suffered that side effect.

The study was done in the United Kingdom and funded by UK government grants.

Results were released by the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Herceptin transformed care of the dread-

ed disease when it was approved in 1998 for women with advanced breast cancers whose growth is aided by a faulty HER2 gene, as 15 percent to 20 percent of cases are.

It was later approved for treatment of those cancers in earlier stages, too, based on studies that had tested it in patients for 12 months. That guess, that the drug should be taken for a year, became the standard of care.

Shorter use appears sufficient But over time, the drug can hurt the heart’s ability to pump. That often eases if treatment is stopped, but the damage can be permanent and lead to heart failure.

Some studies tested shorter use periods, but results conflicted. The new study is the largest so far, and involved more than 4,000 women with early-stage cancers who were given usual chemotherapy plus Herceptin for either six or 12 months.

After four years, about 90 percent of both groups were alive without signs of the dis-

ease. Only 4 percent on the shorter treatment dropped out due to heart problems versus 8 percent of those treated for a year.

“It’s great news” for patients, said the study leader, Dr. Helena Earl of the University of Cambridge in England. Earl has consulted for Herceptin’s maker, Roche. The company had no role in the study.

“There’s no reason to not immediately change practice. The findings are persuasive,” said Dr. Richard Schilsky, chief medical officer for the oncology society. Most of Herceptin’s cancer-fighting benefit seems to come in the early months of use, he said.

Others said that because so few women have died or relapsed after being treated with the drug, longer follow-up may be needed to make sure the findings hold up before guidelines should be changed.

Doctors also want to see results published, and to study them to see if certain groups of women need longer treatment.

—AP

12

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Health Studies Page

AUGUST 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Studying if fasting protects your brain

By Barbara Ruben The equation to lose weight is simple: Burn more calories than you take in each day.

But a popular recent diet trend goes beyond this, promoting fasting two days a week to not just lose weight but gain other benefits, like less inflammation and insulin resistance.

Doctors with the National Institute of Aging in Baltimore are conducting a study to see if this intermittent fasting may also be beneficial to the brain.

These researchers are now seeking overweight or obese people ages 55 to 70 to join a study in which half the participants will drink only two shakes two days a week, eating a healthy diet the rest of the time.

Why might drastically restricting calories like this help the brain? NIA’s Dr. Dimitrios Kapogiannis, the study’s principal investigator, said that once the body has no food to break down for energy, it begins to break down proteins in the body, some of which may be abnormal.

“If we eat constantly, we block the process of metabolism of breaking down proteins that may be abnormal. And that is not healthy,” he said.

When the body does not get nutrients from outside, it breaks down fat and generates what are called ketone bodies. These are an alternative fuel for the brain, rather than glucose (which is what the body produces when digesting food).

It takes about 12 hours without food for this to happen. And it may be helpful in the prevention of dementia, Kapogiannis said.

When we don’t eat, “the body kind of holds its own and waits patiently with the hope that nutrients will come in. But at 12 hours it kind of gives up, and says it will now break down lipid stores and start producing ketones.

“Ketones are exactly what we want the brain to be fed on because they are neuroprotective. We think that this is something that has potential for preventing damaging processes that ultimately lead to Alzheimer’s disease.”

Kapogiannis also says that ketones may even be helpful once someone already has

dementia.

Little study has been done in this area in middle-age adults, although about 24 people have already taken part in the fasting study now underway.

Volunteers sought To qualify for the study, participants must be between the ages of 55 and 70 and have a BMI over 27, putting them in the overweight or obese range. They cannot have diabetes or severe neurological issues, such as a brain tumor, stroke or seizures.

During the 11-week study, participants will visit Harbor Hospital in Baltimore six times. At the beginning and end of the study, they will have a number of tests, including an MRI of the brain and a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to measure chemicals in the brain. They will also have glucose tolerance and memory tests.

Participants will be randomly divided into two groups. Both groups will get a two-hour education session on healthy eating habits, and guidelines for what the study calls a Healthy Living diet.

One group will eat the diet each day for eight weeks. The other group will eat the diet for six days a week and choose two days each week to consume only two nutritional shakes, for a total of 460 calories on those days.

From those who have already completed the study, Kapogiannis said he’s found that during the first two weeks or so they have some difficulty making it through the fast days.

“Later on, from three to four weeks, something seems to switch, and they look forward to these days. They don’t find it hard. Overall they feel more focused and have more clarity on these days. They feel better and brighter,” he said.

In addition to the visits at the beginning and end of the study, participants will make four more office visits, and have weekly phone calls with the study coordinators for support.

Compensation is offered for completing the study. For more information, or to volunteer, call (410) 350-3941 or email NIAStudiesRecruitment@mail.nih.gov and mention NIA Study #15-AG-0123.

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MAP OF BALTIMORE COUNTY

Maryland Access Point (MAP) of Baltimore County is part of a nationwide effort to streamline access to support, services and benefits to older adults, persons with disabilities, their families and care providers. Call (410) 887-2594 or email aginginfo@baltimorecountymd.gov.

BALTIMORE BEACON — AUGUST 2018

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

13

Common weight-loss mistakes to avoid

By Mallory Creveling From juice cleanses to super-early workouts, some common “good for you” fitness practices might actually be making it more difficult for you to get in shape.

Here is a review of what not to do: Committing only to cardio. Despite what you may have heard, running or spinning shouldn’t be your only workouts — strength training is vital to fitness, too.

After all, the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn at rest. Aim to lift weights at least twice a week.

Try adding 30-second high-intensity intervals to the treadmill (or bike) by upping the incline, resistance or speed. Do more squats or lunges, too, or try using equipment such as resistance bands or battle ropes.

Cutting calories. Eating fewer calories will initially help you slim down, but it probably won’t last. Consuming less while moving more, for example, forces the

brain into starvation mode, which makes the body hold onto fat.

Not all calories are alike, either: 100 calories of apple are not the same as 100 calories of chips. Processed carbs spike levels of insulin and signal fat cells to hoard calories. Then, your brain says you need more food.

To slim down, focus on food quality instead. Specifically, aim for healthy fats, natural carbs and proteins.

Waking up super-early to work out.

If you’re also staying up late, you could actually be sabotaging your ability to get sculpted.

Skimping on shut-eye leaves you hungrier the next day, and more likely to reach for sugary, starchy snacks. It can also destabilize hormones, upping your risk of diabetes and obesity. Make it a priority to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night.

Cutting out all carbs and fat. An important PSA: Not all carbs are evil, and fat-

free products often have more sugar or additives than the regular versions.

On the other hand, full-fat foods (like yogurt) typically leave you more satisfied, so you won’t crave another snack.

And while saturated fat may harm your health, monounsaturated varieties (found in avocados and nuts) are better for you.

As for carbs, they’re a crucial part of a healthy, get-slim diet — the fiber fills you up faster and keeps you feeling full longer.

Just choose 100 percent whole-grain crackers, pasta and bread, and eat more whole fruit and ancient grains such as quinoa.

Only working out when you have a full hour. Don’t ditch exercise just because you can’t carve out 60 minutes: try HIIT (high-intensity interval training) instead. Doing 30 seconds of all-out effort (like sprints or jump squats) followed by 30 seconds of active rest (such as walking or biceps curls) and repeating this four to eight times melts fat faster than an hour of

moving at a moderate pace.

Also keep in mind that a sweaty workout isn’t the only way to get in shape. Classes like yoga and barre provide toning benefits — and they don’t leave you drenched.

Using the gym as an excuse to overindulge. You can’t lose a significant amount of weight without paying attention to what you eat, said Lawrence Cheskin, M.D., founder of the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center.

While it’s OK to have dessert occasionally, don’t eat a big portion and plan to work it off later. Aim for 400- to 500-calorie meals, and 100- to 150-calorie snacks, by filling your plate with fruits, veggies, fish and legumes — and cutting back on empty calories.

Family Circle offers candid advice and fresh ideas for everything, from what to make for dinner to what keeps parents up at night. Online at www.familycircle.com. © 2018 Meredith Corporation. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Flavorful, warm roasted peach dessert Honey-glazed roasted peaches Servings: 6 Start to finish: 40 minutes 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 6 firm, ripe peaches, peeled, halved, and pitted 1/3 cup water 1/4 cup honey 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1/4 cup hazelnuts, toasted, skinned, and chopped coarse Adjust oven rack 6 inches from broiler element and heat the broiler. Combine lemon juice, sugar and salt in large bowl.

Add peaches and toss to combine, making sure to coat all sides with sugar mixture.

Transfer peaches, cut side up, to 12-inch oven-safe skillet. Pour any remaining sugar mixture into peach cavities. Pour water around peaches in skillet. Broil until peaches are just beginning to brown, 11 to 15 minutes.

Combine honey and butter in bowl and microwave until melted, about 30 seconds, then stir to combine. Remove peaches from oven (skillet handle will be hot) and brush half of honey mixture over peaches.

Return peaches to oven and continue to broil until spotty brown, 5 to 7 minutes.

Remove skillet from oven, brush peaches with remaining honey mixture, and trans-

fer peaches to serving dish, leaving juices behind.

Being careful of hot skillet handle, bring accumulated juices in skillet to simmer over medium heat and cook until syrupy, about 1 minute. Pour syrup over peaches.

Sprinkle with hazelnuts and serve.

Nutrition information per serving: 154

calories; 47 calories from fat; 5 g. fat (1 g. saturated; 0 g. trans fats); 5 mg. cholesterol; 98 mg. sodium; 28 g. carbohydrate; 3 g. fiber; 25 g. sugar; 2 g. protein.

For more recipes, cooking tips and ingredient and product reviews, visit www.americastestkitchen.com .

— AP

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AUGUST 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Money Law &

ERRING ON HEIRS Name beneficiaries for all your investments to avoid probate cost, delays FRESH SAVINGS How to get more for your money at the farmers markets this summer FREEZE FOR FREE New rules mean you can freeze and unfreeze your credit report without cost

Why to always use at least one credit card

By Liz Weston Certified financial planner David Rae said he used to think that “anyone who could draw breath” could get an auto loan.

Then one of his millionaire clients tried to buy a car — and failed.

The 42-year-old client was turned down for a loan because he had no credit scores, said Rae, who is based in Los Angeles.

Nineteen million American adults are “unscoreable,” lacking enough recent credit history to generate credit scores, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. They either have “thin” files, with too few accounts, or “stale” ones that haven’t been updated in a while.

Roughly 7 million of these people are what credit scoring company FICO calls “credit retired.” They no longer actively use credit, but their histories are free from charge offs, collections or other negative marks that might indicate that “their exit from the credit mainstream was involuntary,” said Ethan Dornhelm, FICO’s vice president for scores and predictive analytics.

Having no scores can cost you These consumers can face a host of po-

tential problems, including: • People without scores could be shut out of credit they might want in the future, including rewards credit cards and lowcost loans.

• Insurers typically use credit-based scores to set premiums for auto and home insurance, so not having credit could cause those without scores to miss out on lower rates.

• People with no credit scores may not qualify for the best cell phone plans, and may have to make bigger deposits to get utilities.

The median age of these credit retirees is 71, Dornhelm said. They may have retired from work, paid off their homes, and feel no need to borrow money. But the credit retired also can include younger people, including those who live cash-only lifestyles.

Credit scores can die fast They may not realize that credit scores can die relatively quickly. While closed accounts in good standing typically remain on credit reports for 10 years, lenders often stop updating those accounts soon

after they’re closed.

Without updates, scores can’t be generated. The FICO scoring formula used in most lending decisions requires peoples’ credit reports to show at least one account that’s been updated within the previous six months.

The rival VantageScore looks back somewhat further, 24 months, for updated accounts. VantageScore and FICO’s alternative formula, FICO Score XD, also generate scores for people based on their histories paying noncredit accounts, such as telecommunications and cable bills.

But applicants typically can’t know in advance if a lender uses VantageScore or an alternative score, so they should assume it will be a traditional FICO score.

You just need one card The key to reviving traditional scores?

Having and using a single credit card is enough, as long as the card issuer reports to all three credit bureaus (most do). Balances can and should be paid in full each month, since there’s no credit score advantage to carrying debt.

Rae’s client was a renter whose only

credit card was tied to his business. Business credit cards often don’t show up on individuals’ credit reports. Rental payments are included on some credit reports, but they’re not factored into the most commonly used FICO credit scores.

So Rae had his client apply for a secured credit card, which required a $500 deposit to get a $500 credit limit. After four months, the client applied for a regular credit card from his bank. His healthy account balances helped convince the bank he was a good bet, Rae said.

Having lots of assets or making big down payments can help the credit retired get approved for many types of credit, noted Jeff Richardson, vice president of communications for VantageScore. Credit unions, which are member-owned, may also be willing to look beyond credit scores when making lending decisions, he added.

Two months after being approved for the credit card, Rae’s client got a car loan.

And a year after that, he got a mortgage to buy a multimillion-dollar home, Rae said.

“It’s all good, but it was rough and a big hassle at the beginning,” Rae said.

Some answers to your Medicare questions Learn the answers to some common Medicare questions, courtesy of the experts at Kiplinger’s Retirement Report and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.

Healthcare pre-Medicare My husband will retire when he turns 65 and sign up for Medicare. I am five years younger, work part-time and have no benefits. So, what are my options for healthcare?

One is to buy coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Go to Healthcare.gov to find a link to your state’s marketplace. Despite the political uncertainty surrounding the ACA, it’s worth reviewing your options.

You can buy coverage outside the marketplaces, but you won’t receive any subsidy under the ACA. Another possibility: You may qualify for COBRA, which would let you continue on your husband’s former employer’s plan for up to 18 months. This is likely to be ex-

pensive, because you would have to pay both the employer and employee portion of the premium.

search will produce a list of physicians in the area who accept Medicare.

Finding a Medicare doctor

New HSA contributions once on Medicare

I’m moving to a new town, and I’m having a hard time finding a doctor who accepts Medicare patients. Are there any good resources to help?

First, know that you’re not alone. A report to Congress last year noted that 20 percent of Medicare beneficiaries seeking a new primary care physician said they had a “big problem” finding one willing to accept Medicare’s approved amount as payment in full for covered services. Another 15 percent reported a “small problem.”

Start by checking the “physician compare” tool at Medicare.gov. Enter the new Zip code and the type of doctor you’re looking for, and specify that you want to see providers who accept the Medicare-approved amount as payment in full. The

I am about to sign up for Medicare at age 65. Can I still contribute to a health savings account once I enroll?

You can’t make new contributions to an HSA after you enroll in Medicare, but you can continue to use any money that was already in the account tax-free for out-ofpocket medical expenses, such as deductibles, co-payments, your share of prescription-drug costs, and a portion of longterm care insurance premiums based on your age (up to $4,160 in 2018 for ages 61 to 70, for example).

After turning age 65, you can also use HSA money tax-free to pay premiums for Medicare Part B and Part D, and for Medicare Advantage plans.

You can make tax-deductible contributions (or pretax if through an employer) to

an HSA in 2018 if you have an eligible health insurance policy with a deductible of at least $1,350 for single coverage or $2,700 for family coverage.

You can’t make HSA contributions after enrolling in Medicare, but you can make pro-rated contributions in the year you sign up, based on the number of months before your Medicare coverage takes effect.

Using wife’s HSA to pay Medicare premiums I’m on Medicare, but my wife is in her 50s and is covered by an HSA-eligible health insurance policy. Can she use HSA money tax-free to pay for my Medicare premiums and other HSA-eligible medical expenses?

She can use HSA money tax-free to pay for eligible expenses for herself, her spouse and her dependents, so she can use See MEDICARE, page 15

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

BALTIMORE BEACON — AUGUST 2018

Move managers From page 1 we moved to, and within, Pickersgill. And they packed me up for my move to Florida.

I didn’t have to do a thing.”

Erin Brooks, Senior Transitions’ director of operations, likes nothing better than hearing from clients like Neff and Iliff about how easy the team has made their — as the company name says — transition.

“It’s a tremendously stressful time in their life,” she said. “We show up and do everything for them.”

Brooks had been a full-time mom when she began working for Kinneberg. “What began as a part-time job is now a career that I love,” she said.

More difficult with age Moving — said to be one of the most stressful life events — is even more difficult as we age. “It can not only be a challenge physically, but mentally and emotionally as well,” said Brooks, noting that many of the company’s clients simply do not have the physical strength to handle packing, taking items to donation centers, etc.

Cognitive difficulties can also make it hard to make decisions, and emotional attachments to a lifetime’s worth of belongings can make paring down a sad task, though Brooks adds that she’s not of the “throw everything away” philosophy.

Medicare From page 14 money in her health account to pay for your out-of-pocket medical expenses, such as vision and dental care, as well as co-payments for medical care or prescription drugs.

But HSA money can be used tax-free for premiums for Medicare parts B and

“If you want it, use it, need it, love it and have room for it, keep it,” she said. “Otherwise, don’t bring it,” There is no one-size fits all service, Brooks adds. Clients can purchase a package of services or choose what they need and pay by the hour. (Kinneberg prefers to discuss prices individually with clients.)

A move manager can help with moving (packing and unpacking), downsizing, decluttering, disposing of unneeded or unwanted items (whether by reselling or donating), preparing a home for a remodel, or clearing out a residence for an estate sale.

“Basically, we can help anyone, regardless of age, who wishes to move without the stress and hassle,” said Brooks.

“Senior move managers work with families according to their budget,” echoed Buysse. “Almost everyone can afford at least part of the services a move manager can provide. It’s amazing what can be done in a short period of time when several people are working together.”

As for the job title “senior move managers,” Buysse observed that the wording can be misleading. Though the majority of families helped by companies like Senior Transitions are older, anyone who has neither the time nor the inclination to handle a move — such as busy executives or parents with young children — can call on move managers for assistance.

“We’re in an interesting time now,” said Buysse, “with two generations aging at the

same time.” Buysse, for example, who is in her early 60s, has parents in their late 80s and early 90s. “We can all use help at this point,” she said.

For clients like Neff and Iliff, the services of a move manager were invaluable.

“They were pleasant, cheerful and effi-

15

cient,” said Joanne Neff. “They took what could have been an overwhelming experience and made it as pleasant as possible.”

And for Kinneberg and Brooks, taking the sting out of moving has become less of a job and more of a calling. “This is where I need to be,” said Brooks.

Choosing a move manager If you’re planning to move or help a family member move, Buysse suggests asking a move manager these questions: 1. How long have you been providing your services?

2. Have you participated in any for-

mal training programs?

3. Are you fully insured for liability and workers’ compensation?

4. How do you charge? (You should receive a written estimate.)

5. Do you provide a written contract?

6. Can you provide references?

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An advance directive lets you decide who should make healthcare decisions for you if you cannot do so yourself. You can also specify what kind of treatments you do and do not want. For more information and advance directive forms, contact the Maryland Attorney General’s Office at (410) 576-7000 or www.oaf.state.md.us/health pol/directive.pdf; Caring Connections at 1-800-658-8898 or www.caringinfo.org; or Aging with Dignity, 1-800-594-7437 or www.agingwithdignity.org.

D and Medicare Advantage only if the account owner is 65 or older. Because it’s her account and she is only in her fifties, she can’t do it. After she turns 65, she can use those tax-free dollars for Medicare premiums — her own as well as yours. © 2018 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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AUGUST 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Name beneficiaries to limit cost to heirs An article appeared recently on the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal written by Warren Kozak, whose wife died earlier this year. Kozak indicated that his bankers had never recommended to him and his wife that they should name beneficiaries on their savings accounts.

Kozak was under the false impression that the savings account in his wife’s name would automatically transfer to him. He had to hire an attorney, at the cost of $465 per hour, to name him as the executor of the estate in order to give him the power to transfer the accounts.

The filing costs in New York City were $1,286, and the running attorney bill now stands at over $7,400, and is expected to increase.

Kozak also indicated that his wife had never named a beneficiary for the retire-

ment account held at her bank. As I have pointed out many times, in order to make sure that your IRAs and other retirement accounts are inherited by the individual(s) you select, ensure that you specify a named beneficiary for your retirement accounts, and that the names are retained by the financial institution that maintains your account.

Name for each account You need to name beneficiaries properly for all of your financial assets. As Kozak found out, it is very expensive and time consuming if you fail to ensure that you name a beneficiary properly for each financial asset you own.

For example, several years ago, I was named as the executor of my aunt’s estate.

All of her assets were in the form of certificates of deposit held at various financial in-

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sive attorney costs and filing costs. stitutions.

I suggest you make a list of all your asFor most of her accounts, she had sets, specify who you want to named beneficiaries for the inherit each asset, and indiCDs she owned. Unfortunatecate what actions you have ly, unknown to me, she negtaken to ensure that these inlected to name specific benefidividuals will inherit that ciaries for some of her CD acasset. Review this information counts. with your attorney and/or fiShe had a valid will in which nancial planner. she did name specific individuIf you have postponed als who would inherit any aspreparing or updating a will to sets in which there was no reflect significant changes in named beneficiary. The CDs your life, don’t procrastinate. she owned, in which she had THE SAVINGS Set up an appointment with not named a beneficiary, GAME your attorney to make sure would be inherited by these in- By Elliot Raphaelson your will is up-to-date regarddividuals. However, in order for this to happen, I was forced to hire an ing your wishes.

If you want to educate yourself regardattorney to file for probate.

Accordingly, the estate had to pay sever- ing ways to avoid probate, I recommend al thousand dollars in attorney fees to file the book, 8 Ways to Avoid Probate for probate. The probate process took sev- (www.nolo. com) by Mary Randolph. The eral months before the assets associated author discusses the ways you can name with the CDs that did not have a named beneficiaries for different asset classes beneficiary could be transferred to the in- such as stocks, bonds, retirement acdividuals named as beneficiaries in the will. counts and savings accounts so that you can avoid probate and its associated costs Plan to avoid probate and delays.

Naturally, you would like your assets to Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions be inherited by the individuals you select, and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. and you want these assets to be trans© 2018 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by ferred in a timely manner without expen- Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

17

Fresh ways to save at the farmers market

By Laura McMullen The difference between the produce at farmers markets and supermarkets is more than “tomayto” versus “tomahto.” Plus, buying fresh fruit and vegetables at farmers markets offers opportunities to save money in ways you might not find at a grocery store.

The produce sold at most supermarkets is typically harvested before it’s ripe, said Chris Curtis, executive director of Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets. Then it’s transported — often long distances — before arriving at the store.

The many people involved in getting a tomato from the vine to the store and, finally, into your tote may get a slice of your payment, she said. That doesn’t leave much for the farmer.

When you buy a tomato at a farmers market, however, “almost all of your dollar is going directly to the grower,” Curtis said. That grower picked the produce ripe, soon before selling it. A recently harvested peach tastes better than that “hard little green ball” sold at large retailers, she said.

Here’s how to get the most for your money when buying produce and other farmers market goods: 1. Get to know the vendors. Many vendors give deals to folks they know, said Gabrielle Lupton, a baker at Bubble & Brown Bakery, which sells goods at Salt Lake City farmers markets. To build that kind of relationship with a vendor, become a regular. Consistently buy from that seller and turn to her for bulk and special orders.

In addition to scoring deals — and maybe even a friendship — becoming a regular gives you “an inside scoop on the variability of the season,” said Nina Gruber, outreach and development coordinator for Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets. For example, you may be among

the first customers to know when farmers will start selling peaches, she said. You may also learn when peach prices are expected to change with supply and demand throughout the season.

2. Buy “ugly” produce. “Seconds” or “No. 2s” are fruits and vegetables that taste the same as other produce but look a little off — they may be misshapen or bumpy, for example. Farmers typically sell them more cheaply than the perfect-looking produce.

“It’s something farmers have been doing since the dawn of farmers markets,” Gruber said. Get a deal on seconds and you’re not just saving money — you’re also helping to reduce food waste.

Even if you prefer eating or serving flawless produce, you can follow Gruber’s lead and use seconds for cooking, baking and making jam. She buys a box of No. 2 tomatoes, then cooks and freezes batches of pasta sauce. “Then I have sauce for the rest of the year,” she said.

3. Pay in cash. Access to a credit or debit card — and dozens of freshly baked pastries — can put your grocery budget in danger. Lupton said that customers paying with a card typically outspend those who use cash. Consider bringing cash, spending a set amount and leaving your cards at home. (This is a reliable money-saving tip for most kinds of shopping trips.)

4. Shop late. Vendors don’t want to be stuck with unsold inventory so “they’ll start slinging deals toward the end of the day,” Gruber said.

For example, in the final 30 minutes the market is open, you may be able to snag a bag of apples for half the price you would have paid first thing in the morning. The tradeoff is that there will be a smaller selection of products at the end of the day, Gruber said.

5. Get discounts on bulk purchases.

Remember, vendors want to offload as much of their product as possible. So they’re incentivized to cut a deal if you’re interested in buying a lot of it, Lupton said.

Ask vendors what prices they can offer

for the quantity you want, such as a dozen cookies or two pounds of potatoes. They may throw in a few extra potatoes or charge you less for a batch of cookies than they would have for 12 individual treats.

— NerdWallet via AP

Freeze and unfreeze credit reports for free

By Kimberly Lankford Question: I’d like to freeze my credit record to protect against identity theft. I heard that Congress recently passed a law making credit freezes free. When can I get my free freeze?

Answer: A credit freeze prevents new creditors from reviewing your credit report, making it harder for identity thieves to take out credit in your name.

Congress recently passed a law that will prohibit the three big credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — from charging a fee to place or lift a credit freeze. The free freezes will be available throughout the country this fall; the credit bureaus have until September 21 to implement the new law.

Until the new law goes into effect, the cost to freeze your credit record varies by state. In many states, each credit bureau charges $5 to $10 to freeze your credit record, and may charge a similar fee to lift the freeze if you’re applying

for a loan. (To hinder ID thieves, you need to freeze your record at all three credit bureaus.)

But several states recently passed laws to eliminate credit-freeze fees. You can place a free credit freeze in Colorado, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah and Washington, D.C. (You may need to pay a fee to lift the freeze in some of these states.) By the end of June, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon and Washington state will also be offering free credit freezes.

Go to www.equifax.com, www.experian.com and www.transunion.com to initiate the freeze and find out more about the cost and procedures.

Also check with your state attorney general’s office or consumer protection bureau to find out whether your state offers additional consumer protections on security freezes beyond what the federal law provides. © 2018 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

18

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AUGUST 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Travel Leisure &

On Myanmar’s Inle Lake, farmers both plant and harvest crops using floating gardens, anchored to the lake bottom.

Off the beaten path: our trip to Myanmar

Pervasive pagodas While no one knows how many pagodas and other Buddhist holy places there are

throughout the country, the visitor soon learns that if there isn’t one in sight at any given time, there probably will be very soon.

Whether exploring a sprawling religious site or coming upon a tiny roadside memorial, the pervasiveness of the religion that the great majority of people practice is everywhere.

For non-Buddhists, an itinerary that includes a seemingly endless array of holy places may threaten to cause a bit of pagoda overload. Even so, sites like Bagan belong on any “must-see” list. Others have their own special appeals.

According to legend, a stupa has stood for 2,600 years where the Shwedagon in Yangon does today. The existing building is believed to enshrine strands of Buddha’s hair, and is encrusted with more than 4,500 diamonds.

The seated Buddha statue in the Mahamuni Pagoda in Mandalay is one of the most venerated in the country. So many worshippers have applied gold leaf to the image as a sign of their devotion that it’s shape has become somewhat distorted.

Fyllis and I were struck by the reverence of the people when we attended the daily washing ritual of that effigy which, to our dismay, begins at about 4:30 a.m. A senior monk of the temple carefully rinses the statue’s face as people who fill every available space from which to observe the ceremony bow, pray and chant.

A surprise to me was the extent to which the deep devotion evident at ancient religious places often coexists with touch-

PHOTO BY ZZVET@DREAMSTIME.COM

By Victor Block I was 3,000 feet high, floating in a hot air balloon with 11 other passengers, including my wife Fyllis, and — thank goodness — a pilot.

Since this was my first balloon flight, my attention during the ascent was focused on the gigantic orb overhead that was keeping us aloft, into which our aviator was directing occasional bursts of flame. Flame!

Once I was convinced that we would stay afloat and not catch on fire, I was able to focus my attention on the reason why we had clambered into the airborne basket in the first place. We were gently passing over a vast plain that is home to a massive and magnificent collection of Buddhist pagodas, temples, monasteries and dome-shaped monuments called stupas (stoo-puhs).

Our balloon ride sailed us over the ancient city of Bagan, which was the capital of a kingdom spanning the 9th to 13th centuries from which Burma later evolved. At one time, more than 10,000 Buddhist structures dotted the landscape there, and the remains of over 2,200 survive today.

We spotted both crumbling red brick shrines and whitewashed, gilded edifices that have been spruced up and returned to their former glory. This assortment of centuries-old Buddhist monuments is part of the reason that Myanmar (ME-un-mahr) is referred to as “The land of pagodas.”

PHOTO BY VICTOR BLOCK

In the crowded city of Mandalay, Myanmar’s traditional marketplaces juxtapose with motor scooters, cell phones and other 21st century technology.

Balloons float over the ancient city of Bagan, which in the 9th to 13th centuries was the capital of a kingdom from which Burma, now called Myanmar, evolved. Buddhist pagodas and shrines are prevalent throughout the country.

es of modernity and commercialism.

For example, some pagoda complexes have installed elevators and escalators for worshippers and visitors who can’t, or won’t, climb long flights of stairs. And in addition to incense, flowers, candles and other items to leave as offerings, vendors lining entrances into holy sites also sell all manner of religio-tourist trinkets.

Breaking free of Britain If the pervasiveness of religion in everyday life leads to an assumption that Myanmar is only about Buddhist temples, think again. In fact, it’s a multi-racial country with interesting cities, intriguing villages, stunning nature, and attractions sure to excite and delight even the most intrepid traveler. [See also, “Human rights issues in Myanmar,” on page 19.]

Britain controlled Burma from 1824 until the country gained its independence in 1948.

An oppressive military junta that took control in 1962 left a lasting stain on the nation’s history. The generals suppressed dissent, were accused of serious civil rights abuses, and allowed the economy to stagnate, largely isolated from the rest of the world.

In an effort to erase reminders of British domination, the name of the country was changed from Burma to Myanmar, although both are still used. Names of cities, rivers, mountains and other places also were al-

tered to avoid memories of the colonial days.

When free elections were permitted to take place in 2015, the political party of Aung San Suu Kyi won a resounding victory. She is an activist who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, but whose advocacy for democracy resulted in her being held under house arrest for 15 years until her release in 2010.

Aung San now serves as the State Counselor, a position similar to prime minister, and she has managed to institute some new freedoms, economic reforms and other advancements. However, the constitution still gives the military a strong voice in governing the country.

Myanmar’s major cities In recent years, tourism to Myanmar has slowly increased, and those who go there find variety enough to satisfy a myriad of interests. The major cities alone would make the trip worthwhile.

Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is the biggest city and commercial center. It boasts the largest number of colonial-era buildings in southeast Asia, along with a proliferation of new shops and restaurants that have sprung up since the country reopened to the world.

A good way to get a sense of the city is to See MYANMAR, page 19

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

BALTIMORE BEACON — AUGUST 2018

Myanmar From page 18 board the Circular Train that transports workers, students and shoppers to their destinations. A ride costs only 30 cents, and while we didn’t stay on the run-down coach car for the entire three-hour round-trip, we observed a colorful slice of local life.

The tracks lead past upscale homes, ramshackle wooden huts and tent cities.

Passengers see apartment buildings with porches festooned by a colorful array of drying laundry. Vendors walk the aisles, selling goods ranging from fresh fruit and cooked corn on the cob, to bottled water and astrology charts.

Mandalay is the second-largest city in the country, and before the British colonization it was the last seat of Burma’s kings. In addition to the de rigueur religious relics, it is renowned as a center of arts and crafts, with different neighborhoods dedicated to various trades.

The streets are clogged by motor scooters and trucks laden with unbelievably large loads, and pedestrians avoiding sidewalks that are badly in need of repair.

More special to me than the cities were the villages scattered about the countryside, where in many ways people live much as their forebears did. Simple houses made of intertwined bamboo line narrow dusty lanes. Domesticated animals often wander along the streets.

Yet even in the tiniest and most isolated hamlets, there are hints of transformation.

Cell phones are as ubiquitous as in the U.S. Children of all ages use a smartphone to play games, and I saw more than one monk fish a cell phone from his saffron robe to make or take a call.

Where time stands still But one place where life has changed little is Inle (In-lay) Lake, and a fascinating way of life it is. That large, shallow body of water is home to the Intha people, one of 135 nationalities — each with their distinctive dialects, clothing and traditions — that comprise Myanmar’s population.

Small villages consist of rustic two-story houses elevated above the water by bamboo stilts. Here and there is a store, post office, barber shop and other establishment of similar construction.

All transportation is by boat, primarily long, narrow teakwood dinghies propelled by whining outboard motors.

Fishermen, however, move their motorless boats in a kind of over-water ballet, with a paddle held in one leg, leaving their hands free to cast a net.

Farmers plant crops in floating gardens made of hyacinths, weeds and mud, bound together and anchored to the lake bottom by long bamboo poles.

Not surprisingly, even in this dreamlike setting, pagodas dotted around the lake serve as reminders that you are, in fact, in

Human rights issues in Myanmar Since August 2017, there have been continuous news reports about atrocities by Myanmar’s military forces against Rohingya Muslims who lived in Rakhine Province and have been attacked or chased across the border.

The Rohingyas originally came from neighboring Bangladesh, and have been viewed by natives as interlopers since they arrived. Both the United Nations and the United States government have described the campaign against the Rohingyas as “ethnic cleansing.”

Because the unrest is confined to a narrow strip of land along the border with Bangladesh, it’s safe for tourists to

travel throughout most of the country.

However, some people believe that to travel to Myanmar at this time could be construed as supporting, or at least turning a blind eye to, the violence.

Others conclude that tourism supports Burmese civilians because the money that visitors spend helps to provide a livelihood for people who work in that industry.

According to Voices for Burma, a prodemocracy advocacy group, tourists assist by “bringing money to local communities and small businesses, and by raising awareness of the situation worldwide.”

—Victor Block

Myanmar. It’s just another experience, along with countless others, that make a visit to that country so intriguing.

If you go Accommodations included in the Myths and Mountains itinerary range from fivestar city hotels to more casual, very comfortable bungalow complexes.

The Bagan Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort originally was established as the government’s guesthouse for “elite visitors,” and is located within the archaeological zone. It sprawls over 24 acres of landscaped gardens, and many rooms are in separate cottages. Rates begin at $110 a night. For more information, visit www.thiripyitsaya-resort.com.

Equally inviting is the Inle Princess Resort, perched at the edge of the lake. The

19

architecture of the teak and bamboo huts echoes that of minority people who live in the area, and guests who stroll through the small village adjacent to the property get a good picture of rural life. Rates begin at $217. For more information, see www.inleprincess.com.

For those considering a trip to Myanmar, the company Myths and Mountains operates tours and individual custom travel there and to a number of other destinations in Asia and Southeast Asia. One twoweek trip next January called “Myanmar: Cruising the Chindwin River” starts at $5,960 per person, excluding airfare. The least expensive airfare from BWI currently offered at that time is $1,471 on Korean Airlines.

For more information, call (800) 6706984 or see mythsandmountains.com.

20

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AUGUST 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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21

How to avoid airline, hotel and other fees You hear a lot about travel fees these days — especially airline fees, more especially fees for “something you used to get free,” and most especially fees that are theoretically optional but in reality are mandatory.

A recent survey by MileCards listed fees that travelers hate most. Fortunately, you can avoid many of the worst fees, at least some of the time, at little or no cost. Here’s how:

tion system are a minor annoyance. My take is that Allegiant’s fee to book online is even worse: The only way to book Allegiant without paying an extra fee is to schlep to an airport and line up at Allegiant’s counter.

sort” or similar fee, which is not included in the initial price display but is actually part of the true price. You can’t avoid it.

It’s actually a scam, a deceptive pricing practice that the Federal Trade Commission should outlaw, but I’m not holding my breath until the sluggish FTC fulfills its obvious obligation.

Hotel fees

bank or credit union that issues no-foreignfee debit cards.

Similarly, you can avoid credit-card and debit-card foreign transaction fees by using a card that doesn’t charge fees — a feature most travel-focused cards now provide.

Rental car companies’ fees for collision damage waiver (CDW) are outrageous — but avoidable. Your regular auto insurance may cover you, and these days, many credit cards provide secondary coverage that picks up whatever your insurance doesn’t.

If you’d rather avoid a potential hit on your insurance rates, some premium credit cards offer primary collision coverage, or you can buy third-party primary coverage starting at around $8 a day.

Send e-mail to Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net. Also, check out Ed’s new rail travel website at www.rail-guru.com. © 2018 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Surprisingly, hotel Wi-Fi Other hated fees fees topped MileCard’s hate Cellphone data roaming charges are a list, and it’s hard to see why: moving target, with constant adjustments These fees are easy to avoid being made to roaming costs. But you can TRAVEL TIPS Airline fees most of the time. avoid most problems by installing an app

By Ed Perkins In MileCard’s survey, With a giant chain, just join that lets you call through the Internet checked-bag fees came out as the most its loyalty program, at no charge, and book when you’re roaming. hated. In theory you don’t have to check a through its website, where you might even Fees for using an out-of-network ATM bag, but if you’re going on a two-week va- get a slightly better rate. And very few are unavoidable with many ATM cards. cation or business trip, you probably really small independent hotels add a Wi-Fi fee: If But if your regular bank charges for forneed to do so. they have it at all, it’s free, and most have it. eign withdrawals, you can open a separate You can avoid this fee completely in only The really annoying hotel fee is the “re- checking account for travel use with a one instance: when you fly Southwest, an airline that allows two free checked bags on any type of ticket.

You can also avoid the fee on a single MOST big airline if you use that line’s credit card, COMMUNITIE S but if you don’t already have the card, A R E 6 2 you’ll have to pay an annual fee of $80 or AND more to get one.

B ET T ER Another most-hated airline fee is for exchanging or canceling a ticket, and like the bag fee, the only way to avoid it completely ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.) is to fly Southwest. You can limit the loss on The Greens at Hammonds Lane: 410-636-1141 Park View at Towson: 410-828-7185 other airlines by buying cancellation insurPark View at Furnace Branch: 410-761-4150 Park View at Woodlawn: 410-281-1120 ance, which costs a lot less than the fee.

Park View at Severna Park: 410-544-3411 The third top-hated fee is payment for CARROLL COUNTY advance seat assignments, which is espeBALTIMORE CITY Westminster Overlook: 410-876-7600 cially annoying for family groups who want to sit together. You can’t avoid it. This Ednor Apartments I: 410-243-0180 EASTERN SHORE problem is tough enough that several legEdnor Apartments II: 410-243-4301 Park View at Easton: 410-770-3070 islative proposals call for airlines to seat The Greens at Irvington Mews: 410-644-4487 families together without fees.

FREDERICK COUNTY Park Heights Place: 410-578-3445 Fees for extra-legroom seats make the Taney Village: 301-663-0929 hate lists, and unless you’re an exaltedPark View at Ashland Terrace: 410-276-6440 level frequent flyer, you can’t avoid them.

Park View at Coldspring: 410-542-4400 HARFORD COUNTY But they’re in a different class: You can get to your destination in a regular seat. An BALTIMORE COUNTY Park View at Bel Air: 410-893-0064 extra-legroom seat is a product upgrade Cove Point Apartments I: 410-288-2344 Park View at Box Hill: 410-515-6115 for which you should expect to pay.

Cove Point Apartments II: 410-288-1660 Fees to use an airline’s phone reservaHOWARD COUNTY

We Turn Addresses

into homes

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

LEGAL AID FOR SENIORS

Maryland Legal Aid provides a full range of civil legal services to financially qualified Marylanders and people over 60 from 13 offices around the state. For more information, visit www.mdlab.org.

Aug. 2+

WTMD’S FIRST THURSDAYS

Towson University’s public radio station, WTMD, hosts free concerts the first Thursday of the month, showcasing local and national acts, rain or shine, at the Canton Waterfront Park, 3001 Boston St., starting at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call (410) 7048938 or visit www.wtmd.org.

Evergreen Senior Apartments: 410-780-4888 The Greens at English Counsul: 410-789-3000 The Greens at Liberty Road: 410-655-1100 The Greens at Logan Field: 410-288-2000 The Greens at Rolling Road: 410-744-9988 Park View at Catonsville: 410-719-9464 Park View at Dundalk: 410-288-5483 Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665 Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375 Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673 Park View at Rosedale: 410-866-1886 Park View at Taylor: 410-663-0363

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

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AUGUST 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Style Arts &

Dancing queens kick up their heels in Toby’s Dinner Theatre’s production of Mamma Mia! See review on facing page.

Fun facts to know and tell about Baltimore largest collection of 19th-century locomotives in the U.S. • Yes, Washington, D.C. has the worldfamous Washington Monument, but Baltimore is home to the *first* monument dedicated to the first president of the United States. You can visit it at 699 N. Charles St. and Mount Vernon Place. (Climb the monument’s 227 marble steps for a great view of the city.)

• The Baltimore Museum of Art holds the world’s largest collection of Matisse paintings in the world.

• The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum was the country’s first wax museum of African American history.

• The waterfront neighborhood of Fell’s Point was the second largest point of immigration to the U.S. after New York’s Ellis Island.

• Many historic African Americans have called Baltimore home, including Thurgood Marshall, Frederick Douglass, Isaac Myers, Billie Holiday and Cab Calloway.

• Baseball legend Babe Ruth was born in Baltimore.

• Baltimore’s World Trade Center at the Inner Harbor is the world’s tallest five-

PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT BALTIMORE

By Carol Sorgen Whether you’re a lifelong Baltimorean or a recent transplant, chances are you don’t know everything about your hometown.

How many of these fun facts did you already know?

• Fort McHenry is the birthplace of the American national anthem, written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812, when the Fort was defending the Baltimore harbor.

• Baltimore is home to the USS Constellation, the last Civil War vessel afloat. Built in 1854, the Constellation is the last all-sail warship built by the US Navy.

• Baltimore’s Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the first cathedral in the United States. Built in the early 19th century, it has been restored and receives thousands of visitors every year.

• Baltimore was the site of the first regular railroad passenger service in the U.S., beginning on May 22, 1830. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum has been called one of the most significant collections of railroad treasures in the world, and has the

sided building. (Take the elevator to the 27th floor for a panoramic view of the city.)

• The first umbrella factory in the United States was established in Baltimore in 1828.

• The first United States post office system was inaugurated in Baltimore in 1774.

• The first dental school in the world was founded in Baltimore in 1840.

• The first telegraph line in the world was established between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore in 1844.

• Baltimore was home to the first black-owned shipyard in the United States, the Chesapeake Marine Railway and Dry Dock Company. Formed and operated by a group of black community leaders, including Isaac Myers, the former shipyard is now the home of the Frederick DouglassIsaac Myers Maritime Park and Museum, located at 1417 After Ellis Island, Baltimore’s Fell’s Point neighThames St. at the Inner Harbor. borhood served as the second-largest point of • Snowballs (known else- entry for immigrants to the U.S. where as snow cones), Baltimore’s favorite summer treat, were invented in Baltimore during the In- neighborhoods. One of the reasons cited for the widespread destruction was misdustrial Revolution. matched hose couplings that impeded fire• The Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 burned for 30 hours, during which it destroyed 1,500 buildings and leveled entire See FUN FACTS, page 25

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

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

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — AUGUST 2018

23

Mamma Mia! returns with gusto to Toby’s

By Rebekah Alcalde Abba fans rejoice. The popular musical Mamma Mia! is back in town, this time at Toby’s Diner Theatre in Columbia, and it’s a smash. If you’re unfamiliar, this jukebox musical was created by Catherine Johnson, stitched together entirely through songs by Swedish pop duo Abba. There was a film adaptation in 2008, which now has a sequel in theaters.

The show is loosely based on the film Buono Sera, Mrs. Campbell, about a single woman who discovers she’s pregnant, and there are three possible fathers.

Mamma Mia! is more centered on the relationship between the mother, Donna, and her soon-to-be married, 20-year-old daughter, Sophie. They own and run an inn and taverna on the fictional Greek island Kalokairi, with some help from Sophie’s tech-savvy fiancé Sky. Thinking about who will walk her down

land and stay true to herself. Beck’s the show’s best singer, and you need to see her performance to believe it. More than a few eyes watered (mine included) during her emotional scenes and soaring vocals.

Mamma Mia! debuted in 1999, but its theme of female empowerment still feels very current. The production has certainly aged well, and it’s nice to see such a wellrounded, nuanced role for an older female actress. In fact, in a show filled with young people, it’s the more mature actors who shine the most.

the aisle, Sophie decides to impersonate her mom and send letters to the three possible candidates, Sam, Bill and Harry, inviting them to the wedding. Despite their 21-year absence, they all agree to come.

Hijinks ensue, of course.

A standout Donna The boisterous singing and dancing is enough to make the show worth seeing, but there’s one particular performance that makes it unmissable. Toby’s veteran Heather Marie Beck is a firecracker as the freewheeling, independent Donna, who once moonlighted as a nightclub singer.

Though the show is mostly told though the eyes of Sophie, Beck truly steals the spotlight, making her feel like the main character.

She also captures the raw energy, free spirit and strength of the single mom, who’s struggling to stay afloat on the is-

A robust cast

PHOTO BY JERI TIDWELL PHOTOGRAPHY

Toby’s newcomer Maggie Dransfield (Sophie) brings a fresh voice and personality to the show. As is appropriate to her character, she starts out a little uncertainly but warms up gradually throughout the show. By the end, when her character reprises the first song, it’s like she’s become a new singer — more sure of herself and the notes.

She’s accompanied by her friends Ali and Lisa, played admirably by Jamie Pasquinelli and Cassie Saunders, who hardly have much of a role at all. Still waiting for a version that makes use of these characters.

Thankfully, Donna’s best friends — the rich, feisty and thrice-divorced Tanya and

the sweet, carefree single Rosie — are given much more to work with. In their youth, they sang backup in their disco-inspired pop trio Donna and the Dynamos, and we’re treated to several of their glittery performances, including “Dancing Queen,” “Super Trouper,” “Mamma Mia” and “Waterloo.”

Coby Kay Callahan is perfection as Tanya, hilarious as the superficial cougar.

Her shining moment appears in the second act’s “Does Your Mother Know?,” sung while fending off the attentions of a much younger man-child.

Tess Rohan is wonderful as Rosie, whose character always seems so much older than Donna and Tanya but is equally spirited. “Take a Chance on Me” is the highlight for Rohan and also my other favorite Toby’s performer Russell Sunday, who plays the happily single and adventurous writer Bill Austin. There’s hip thrusting in this song, and the audience members were left clutching their sides.

College student Paul Roeckell plays Sophie’s fiancé Sky, who certainly captures the youth and fun-loving aspect of his character. Darren McDonnell is very British as the banker Harry Bright (perhaps a bit too on the nose).

See MAMMA MIA!, page 25

Baltimore County Department of Aging

POWER OF AGE EXPO 2018 In the hit Abba musical Mamma Mia! at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Heather Beck (middle back) plays a fierce and fun Donna, who is forced to relive the past when her soon-tobe-married daughter Sophie invites her three possible fathers to her wedding. With the hip-shaking final number, Donna and her friends, “the Dynamos,” close out the show, alongside the three dads, Harry, Sam and Bill. The show is on stage until Sept. 9.

Wednesday, October 3, 2018 • 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thursday, October 4, 2018 • 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Timonium Fairgrounds • Connect with over 300+ exhibitors with information and specialty products • Delight in two days of continuous entertainment on the Main Stage • Discover a treasure in the Silent Auction by being the highest bidder • Visit the Veterans Muster for resources and information • Learn the best in County resources available in Baltimore County • Crown the best local artist in the Power of Age Art Show/Exhibit !"#$#%&!'()*!'(##!+(#,#$&-,#!.#/0&.!12(##$-$31!/$4!

ADMISSION: Donation or two cans of non-perishable food !!!!567+$#6*)$-/!,/22-$/&-)$1 FREE GIFT Sponsored by

For information, call 410-887-2594 or visit www.powerofageexpo.com

GBMC and Sharecare

24

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AUGUST 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Mamma Mia! From page 23 There’s also some cheeky energy from Joey Ellinghaus’ Pepper, the much younger man who has eyes for Tanya, and Shiloh Orr as the goofy Eddie.

The strongest male performance was by Jeffrey Shankle, who actually seems a little miscast in this show as architect Sam Carmichael. His Sam is a bit of a jerk and has an unexpected hard edge that’s difficult to define. Though his vocals seem less strong than usual, his acting is sharp, and he really stands out as memorable. Maybe he leaned into it, so he could better serve as a foil and balance to Donna’s free spirit.

A Greek chorus The ensemble is also used very effectively in this production, coming in and out of group numbers, often singing together on the sidelines. I can’t help but wonder if it’s a nod to its setting, since ancient Greek drama used the chorus as one voice in a similar way.

The most important thing to consider about this show is whether you enjoy the music. If you hate Abba, it would be difficult to tolerate Mamma Mia! It’s glorious

Fun facts From page 22 fighting efforts. As a result of the Great Baltimore Fire, firefighting equipment was standardized across the United States.

• Baltimore is home to more than 220 neighborhoods.

• Baltimore has been known by many

25

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — AUGUST 2018

for anyone who’s a fan, or loves upbeat pop music and acrobatic dancing. The audience even boasted some fans who came dressed like the dynamos.

I found myself clapping and cheering enthusiastically, and I couldn’t stop smiling on the way out. Clearly other patrons felt the same.

Mamma Mia! continues through Sept.

9 at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, located at 5900 Symphony Woods Rd. in Columbia, Md. The show runs ever y day except Mondays, with evening and matinee performances.

Doors open at 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, for dinner prior to the evening performances, which begin at 8 p.m. For Sunday evenings, doors open at 5 p.m. for dinner, followed by the show at 7 p.m.

There are matinees on Wednesdays and Sundays, which open for brunch at 10:30 a.m., with shows beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Reser vations are required. Ticket prices range from $45.50 (for children under 12) to $64, depending on the performance. Ticket prices include buffet dinner or brunch, tea and coffee. Alcoholic drinks – like this show’s “Dynamo” — cost extra. nicknames through the years, including Charm City, the City that Reads, the Monumental City, and the City that Believes.

• Baltimore has more statues and monuments per capita than any other city in the U.S. • Baltimore City is an independent city (meaning it’s not part of any county). As such, it is the largest independent city in the U.S.

The buffet meal features a selection of meats and sides (all helpfully marked vegetarian or gluten-free if applicable), including ribs, fried chicken, prime rib, a variety of vegetables, salad bar and more. Cake and unlimited ice cream are also included.

You can also arrange to have coffee or al-

cohol brought to you during intermission.

Since the actors at Toby’s also wait on tables, their tips constitute much of their pay for their performances, so be sure to tip well. For more information or to reserve tickets, call (410) 730-8311 or visit www.tobysdinnertheatre.com.

Write a letter to the editor.

See page 2.

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 26 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

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ANSWERS TO JUMBLE Jumbles: ROBOT BATTY IGUANA ENSIGN Answer: He bought the tavern because it was a -- BAR-GAIN

Please patronize our advertisers.

Classifieds continued from page 27.

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

CASH BUYER FOR OLD COSTUME JEWELRY — wrist and pocket watches (any condition). Also buying watchmaker tools and parts, coins, quilts, old toys, postcards, trains, guns, pocket and hunting knives, linens, fishing equipment and tackle boxes, fountain pens, Christmas garden items, crocks and jugs, lamps and lanterns, pottery, military items, sports memorabilia, advertising signs, paintings and contents of attics, basements and garages. Professional, no pressure individual with over forty years of experience.

Lloyd D. Baker. 410-409-4965.

BUYING VINYL RECORDS from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201.

COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, knives, swords, bayonets, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars and countries. Also Lionel Toy Trains, and coin operated machines. Will pay top prices for my personal collection. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-910-0783.

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

FINE ANTIQUES, PAINTINGS AND QUALITY VINTAGE FURNISHINGS wanted by a serious, capable buyer. I am very well educated [law degree], knowledgeable [over 40 years in the antique business] and have the finances and wherewithal to handle virtually any situation. If you have a special item, collection or important estate, I would like to hear from you. I pay great prices for great things in all categories from Oriental rugs to Tiffany objects, from rare clocks to classic cars. If it is wonderful, I am interested. No phony promises or messy consignments. References gladly furnished. Please call Jake Lenihan, 301-279-8834. Thank you.

MILITARY ITEMS WANTED: Collector seeks to purchase military uniforms; flight jackets, patches, insignia, medals, etc. from the Civil War through Vietnam. Especially seeking U.S. Army Air Corps, USMC, Airborne, and German/Japanese/Italian items from WWII. ALSO BUYING old Boy Scout, Airline Items, Toys, Lighters. Call Dan, 202-841-3062.

SEEKING FULLS/SEALED BOTTLES of vintage Bourbon and Rye. Do you have full/sealed vintage bottles of bourbon or rye collecting dust in your cabinet? Do any of your bottles have an old red and green tax strip? Call Alex, 443-223-7669.

BB818

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AUGUST 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Crossword Puzzle Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Stephen SherrBy Stephen Sherr 1

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Across 1. Walks through heavy snow 6. A Salad bar bacon 10. Boston bartender 13. Jack, of electronic music 14. Run the ___ 15. Harvard or Yale 16. Internet provoker 17. Past its prime 18. Activated, as a cigarette 19. Where a lamb becomes a ewe 22. Write air, when you really meant heir 23. Amt. of salt in a batch of Toll House Cookies 24. Common conclusion to “homo sapiens” and “aliens” 25. Walk of Fame tile 28. Pac-12 school with highest enrollment 30. 8 1/2 x 11 paper tray 31. When sheep count sheep 37. Monopoly props. furthest from the corners 38. Got into position to take an entrance exam 39. Highest point Scrabble tile 40. Fully anesthetized 41. Why Mary looks so familiar 45. Pre-___ (undergrad. studies) 46. Welcome ___ 47. Sufficient, old-style 48. WNBA broadcaster 50. Maple syrup source 52. Make a selection 54. Lie down with sheepdogs, ___ 60. Outdoor rec. chain founded in Seattle 61. Like Halloween sound effects 62. Part of Amazon’s logo 63. Rock producer Brian 64. Hypnotist’s command 65. Unworldly 66. 2,000 pounds 67. Assembly-line pioneer 68. Disdainful look

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Down 1. Off the beaten ___ 2. It may be in a tackle box 3. It may be all around a tackle box 4. Modern office drone 5. Class of renewable energy 6. Dog-washing basin 7. Mosque leaders 8. Dutch flower 9. “On second thought, let it stand” 10. Shiny satellite 11. Birdlike 12. Fairy tales 14. Fed. property overseer 20. Noah’s landing spot 21. Last choice for pasta (alphabetically) 25. Full of pep 26. Poi ingredient 27. Initial theory 29. Eve’s last named son 30. Scramble of LITE or TILE 32. Previously owned 33. Book before Nehemiah 34. ___ Honor (Thomas Clancy novel) 35. Currency of Portugal 36. Beef bourguignon, basically 42. List of sandwiches at Subway 43. Used-up beer cans 44. One honored annually on November 11 48. Everglades bird 49. ___ evil (first monkey’s limitation) 50. Grow, as a head bump 51. Publicized ones grievances 53. “The best laid ___ of mice and men...”

55. Cold cash, in Chile 56. Are You ___ to the Jive? (Cab Calloway classic) 57. Cleveland’s lake 58. Small bay 59. Decorative pitcher

Answers on page 25.

BALTIMORE BEACON — AUGUST 2018

CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on the right.

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.

STOP OVERPAYING for your prescriptions!

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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.

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.

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.

T’S HAULING & MOVING — I will move your possessions or haul them away. Don’t pay hefty delivery fees. Call Tim, 443-690-6525 or 410-889-3795. Senior and military discounts. www.tshaulingandmoving.com. Like us on Facebook.

Events SQUARE DANCE LESSONS BY Tom Thumb Square Dance Club. Lessons start on September 10 at Catonsville Senior Center at 501 N. Rolling Road in Catonsville, MD 21228. Basic, mainstream and Plus Calls will be taught. Class begins at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m. First lesson is half price: $3 per person. Bruce Simpers is the instructor. Contact Melanie Jester for more information, melaniejester@gmail.com.

Financial DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR BOAT to Heritage for the Blind. Free 3-Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. CALL 1-844-855-7670.

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

For Sale GOLDEN BUZZAROUND XL SCOOTER. 300 lb weight limit. New, never driven, breaks down for easy transport. $750. 443-717-8517.

SIX CEMETERY LOTS TOGETHER, Moreland Cemetery Parkville, two concrete vaults, $2,000, $1,600 per lot, sold in pairs. Call Bob, 443-966-1301. Leave message.

TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED Deadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 5th of each month.

Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question. Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards.

Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $10 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word.

Business Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing business enterprise. Each ad is $25 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word.

Note: Each real estate listing counts as one business text ad.

Home/Handyman Services

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ESTATE LIQUIDATION & 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 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.

Legal Services SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY? Up to $2,671/mo. (Based on paid-in amount.) Free evaluation! Call Bill Gordon & Associates. 1866-970-0779. Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington, D.C. Office: Broward Co. FL., member TX/NM Bar. WERE YOU AN INDUSTRIAL OR CONSTRUCTION TRADESMAN and recently diagnosed with lung cancer? You and your family may be entitled to a significant cash reward. Call 1-888-351-0312 for your risk free consultation.

Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:

The Beacon, Baltimore Classified Dept.

P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227 Miscellaneous

Personals

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PWM, AGE 46, GOVERNMENT-EMPLOYED, attentive, polite, humble date.

Prefers ladies older than 54 to 60 years. You: sophisticated, strong willed. 240-418-3035.

DONATE VEHICLES. Your donation to Auted helps train disadvantaged at-risk youths in basic auto repairs and maintenance, also vehicles donations to low-income families. MVA Registered Charity Accepted to Receive Donated Vehicles.

100% Tax-deductible. Complete donation form at www.auted.org or mail@auted.org, 301-355-9333.

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

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

NICE, ATTRACTIVE, WWF (50) wishes to meet SWM (36-50), who also enjoys the beach, movies, sports (football), music, dancing, for friendship. Contact # 443-322-6727.

TV/Cable DIRECTV. CALL AND SWITCH NOW — Get NFL Sunday Ticket for FREE! Every Game.

Every Sunday. CHOICE- All-Included Package.

Over 185 Channels. $60/month (for 12 Months.)

CALL 1- 888-572-4953.

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Classifieds continued on page 25.

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Research Studies

Home Health Care

Medical/Health

Subscriptions

COPD MARC Study . . . . . . . .13 Fasting Diet Brain Study . . . . .12 Knee Osteoarthritis Study . . . .13

Options for Senior America . .23

Carle Center For Pain Management . . . . . . . . . .8 Kraus Behavioral Health . . . . . .9 Rosenblatt Foot Care . . . . . . . . .8 Skin Cancer EB . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Beacon Subscription . . . . . . . .25

Dental Services Denture Doctor . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Diamond Dental . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Education Myerberg Center . . . . . . . . . . .28

Events Beacon 50+Expo . . . . . . . . . . .24 Power of Age Expo . . . . . . . . .23

Funeral Services Schimunek/Dignity . . . . . . . . .16

27

Housing Charlestown/Erickson . . . . . . .6 Christ Church Harbor Apts. . .11 Glynn Taff Assisted Living . . . .8 Linden Park Apts. . . . . . . . . . .15 Maples of Towson, The . . . . . .4 Oak Crest/Erickson . . . . . . . . . .6 Park View Apartments . . . . . .21 St. Mary’s Roland View Towers . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Legal Services Angels of Elder Care Planning . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Frank, Frank & Scherr Law Firm . . . . . . . . .17

Technology Beacon Silver Pages . . . . . . . . .3 TechMedic4U . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 TheBeaconNewspapers.com . . .3

Shopping

Theatres/ Entertainment

Perfect Sleeper Chair . . . . . . .20.

Radio Flea Market . . . . . . . . . .22 Zinger Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . .22

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation

Eyre Bus, Tour & Travel . . . . .19

Keswick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Superior Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Travel Festive Holidays . . . . . . . . . . .19

28 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

AUGUST 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

| 410-358-6856 | myerberg.org

WHAT’S NEW AT THE EDWARD A. MYERBERG CENTER

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

Visit myerberg.org to see our complete program guide. Call to register for classes today 443-963-1449.

NEW! Thurgood Marshall #2

NEW! Cardio Drumming

Tuesdays, beginning July 31, 1:00 p.m.

Thursdays, beginning September 6, 2:00 p.m.

$55 Members / $75 Nonmembers (4 sessions)

This free class will help participants connect with their true rhythm in life by combining drumming, music, rhythm and movement. Register with Toba at 443-963-1449.

Instructor: Ilysa Cohen

A continued exploration into the life of this mighty icon of civil rights and liberty through an examination of landmark cases and how they impacted our lives.

Instructor: Harry Karp

Fast Paced iPhone Basics

Myerberg Field Trip: Visit The National Museum of the Marine Corps

Tuesday, August 21, 10:30 a.m.

Thursday, October 11, 8:30 a.m. | Baltimore Hebrew Congregation

$18 Members / $25 Nonmembers

$35 Members / $45 Nonmembers

A fast-paced and limited introduction to the popular Apple iPhone. With hands-on support, you’ll learn the basics of the iPhone and how to use it to browse the web, use email, download apps, watch videos, take pictures, connect online and more.

Instructor: Melanie Waxman

Join us in Triangle, Va. to explore the U.S. Marines – past, present and future.

World-class, interactive exhibits using the most innovative technology surround visitors with artifacts, immersing them in the sights and sounds of Marines in action. Significant walking is required.

Tzofim Israeli Scouts Performance Rock Steady Boxing: Fight Back Against Parkinson’s! (Sponsored by MAPS) Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning September 4, 12:00 p.m.

(20 sessions) Rock Steady Boxing gives people with Parkinson’s disease hope by working on agility, speed, muscular endurance, accuracy, balance, hand-eye coordination, footwork and overall strength. This class is offered at no cost to anyone diagnosed with a Parkinsonian disorder.

Space is very limited, so register today by calling 443-963-1451 or email nicole@myerberg.org.

NEW! Music and Motion: A Jazz Dance Class Thursdays, beginning October 4, 11:00 a.m. $50 Members / $55 Nonmembers (6 sessions) A low-impact class is taught to the music of Broadway composers, singers and jazz musicians. Class features gentle warm-ups, isolations and walk patterns while building a dance vocabulary. By the end of the session, participants will have enough material to learn a short dance tailored to their abilities. Please register today as the class size is limited.

Instructor: Marcia Miller

Thursday, August 9, 11:00 a.m. $5 Members / $8 Nonmembers The traveling Friendship Caravan troupe of 10 talented 17-year-old Tzofim Israeli Scouts will entertain and teach you about Israel through a unique blend of song, dance and story. Enjoy lunch at 11:30 a.m. and a performance by the Scouts at 12:30 p.m. A box lunch will be served.

FITNESS CENTER PROMO New Members: Don’t miss out on our summer special – Enjoy a three month membership for just $75!

Current Members: Now through August 31, get one month free when you refer a friend who signs up for our summer special!