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“In journalistic reporting, you can’t always give your impression, even if you have a pretty good idea of what is going on,” Fesperman said. “In fiction writing, I can at least make a stab at telling a few larger truths.”

New book just published Fesperman’s latest spy novel, Winter Work, is a “well-paced thriller,” according to The New York Times. Of the same book, Kirkus Reviews said “Fesperman builds his story around the inner lives of his characters, an approach that transforms typical espionage tropes into universal human drama.” The novel is based on experiences Fesperman had in the early 1990s, just after the Berlin Wall came down, when he lived and worked in the German capital. He had an inkling then of what everyone knows now — this was a crucial time in 20th century world history. See FESPERMAN, page 20

ARTS & STYLE A Vietnamese American playwright debuts her new play at the Everyman Theatre page 19

By Robert Friedman Baltimore-area spy novelist, Dan Fesperman, worked for 21 years at the Baltimore Sun as a reporter. During those years, he mostly covered Europe and the Middle East, traveling to 30 countries and covering three wars. He retired in 2005, after “I did all I wanted to do” in journalism, he told the Beacon, and turned his full-time attention to writing novels of intrigue and suspense. And not just any novels. Fesperman’s 2018 book, Safe Houses, is “the best suspense/spy novel I’ve read since (John) Le Carré,” said Stephen King, who knows suspense thrillers when he reads, and writes, them. No doubt Fesperman’s years in journalism gave him many experiences with which to illuminate his novels. He reported on the Persian Gulf War, including Operation Desert Storm; the Bosnian and Serbian War, “maybe a dozen trips, some to besieged Sarajevo,” and the Afghanistan conflict in 2001. “What you learn mostly in covering war,” he said, “is the way human beings act when placed under the stresses and dangers of war — an experience that tends to bring out either the best or the worst in people.”Headded: “It’s all wasteful and often pointless, and it’s usually the people who have the least to do with the war — women, children, front-line cannon fodder — who suffer the most.” But his works do more than incorporate elements of real life. Fesperman said journalism “allows the reporter to tell the truth with a small ‘t,’ [while] novel-writing offers the writer the opportunity to get to the truth with a capital ‘T.’”

LEISURE & TRAVEL Yoga with goats? That, plus hiking, biking and dining in northern Colorado; plus, visiting country inns in Vermont, and fun factory tours 15

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Dan Fesperman, a former Baltimore Sun reporter who covered the Cold War among other wars, recently published his lucky 13th novel, Winter Work. The thriller tells a tale of espionage at the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall. “I try to write the kind of book I would like to read,” he told the Beacon

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Thinking back on the experience, I see clearly now that there are important life lessons embedded in learning and playing jazz.To get to the point where you can comfortably riff on any melody, you need a firm foundation in the basics. And the more adept you become at mastering the requisite skills, the better you get at cutting loose and being creative. Isn’t that true about almost everything that qualifies as an art or science? Architect Frank Gehry no doubt had to master the rules of architecture and engineering before he could design gravity-defying buildings that appear to be made of folded cloth or crushed boxes. Students at cooking schools start out learning to follow recipes closely, develop their sense of taste and learn the technical elements of cooking and baking before they can ultimately create a menu full of delicious concoctions.

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The same can be said of pilots, fine painters, good doctors and almost any other profession you can think of. Only after mastering the basics are you truly able to take flight creatively. Oh yes, and play some darn good jazz.

TO DELIVER FOOD Delivery drivers are needed to deliver fresh produce and foodstuffs throughout Baltimore. Pick up food parcels from So What Else/4MyCity’s warehouse at 1300 S Monroe St., Baltimore, between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday to Sunday. Routes take 1-2 hours. To volunteer, call (240) 602-0486 or visit bit.ly/fooddeliverydrivers. BITS

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In this free hands-on workshop from Senior Planet, you’ll learn how to set up an online account with your utility company and explore its many advantages, automatic bill pay and paying with a credit card or from your bank account. Join through Zoom or call in on Fri., Sept. 9, from noon to 1 p.m. For details, visit or call (240) 753-0676. Sept. 9 on political and social of the day. your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email info@thebeaconnewspapers.com. include your name, address and telephone number to the editor IN FOCUS FOR PEOPLE OVER 50 Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (410) 248-9101 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com

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Modern Western square dancing is a workout for both body and brain. Tom Thumb Square Dance Club will begin lessons on Mon., Sept. 12. Weekly lessons are held at the Catonsville Senior Center, 501 N. Rolling Road, Catonsville, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The cost is $7 per person; you do not need a partner. For more information, contact tomthumbsquares@gmail.com or call (410) 206-8707.VOLUNTEER

Readers won’t be surprised to learn that I was a pretty nerdy kid. All right, a very nerdy kid. In addition to being a diligent student and editor of the school newspaper, I was a classical music buff, very fond of Bach and Beethoven even in my early years. Oh, but there was one thing I definitely didn’t like about music: what my piano teacher called music “theory.” That involved learning the various scales and keys, chord types and their inversions, how to transpose and lots of other complex stuff. At the same time, I knew what the cool kids did. Well, the cool musical kids. They played in the marching band and knew how to improvise jazz. I always envied their latter skill the most. Well, in July I participated in a one week “piano camp” (for aging pianists like me) at the Peabody Institute of Music in Baltimore. We reveled in our shared love of classical music, enjoyed trying out the harpsichords, and eagerly learned about Debussy and 21st-century composers.Butone of the highlights of the week was the first class of each day: Jazz Improvisation 101. Wow, I would finally get to learn how to do what the cool kids did! So imagine my surprise when our daily lessons ended up being about scales, chords, inversions, transposing and more. In fact, it quickly became clear that the basics of jazz involve not only knowing and memorizing all those things, but internalizing them to the extent you don’t even have to think about how to play a D minor seventh half-diminished chord in the second inversion. Sheesh! In addition, it turns out that jazz musicians have to be counting all the time. Have you ever wondered how it is that the different players in a jazz trio or quartet know when to start and stop their turns at improv? I always thought there was some secret signal between the players, but no. There’s a strict method to their apparent madness. For example, in the “blues” style, songs are traditionally made up of 12-measure choruses. After playing it all through once, the improv starts, with one performer allowed to go wild, while the rest of the band keeps the beat going while carefully keeping count (and looking totally relaxed, to boot) until it’s another player’sWell,turn.I was dumbfounded. You mean to tell me all those anti-intellectual, pot-smoking, fun-loving jazz musicians in high school spent hours mastering this stuff? I would never have believed it at the time. At Peabody, our five classes on a simple six-note blues melody got us far enough along that, after days of baby steps, we could actually take turns improvising 12 whole measures over a boogie-woogie bass line. We high-fived each other at our “success,” but really, it was pretty pathetic when you think about it. But it was fun, all the same. And it gave us a glimpse into the hard work it takes to make music sound and look effortless, as jazz musicians do.

Publisher/Editor – Stuart P. Rosenthal President/Associate Publisher – Judith K. Rosenthal Executive Vice President – Gordon Hasenei Managing Editor – Margaret Foster Art Director – Kyle Gregory Director of Operations – Roger King Advertising Representative – Steve Levin Content Manager – Ashley Griffin Editorial Assistant – Tori Cleveland TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE

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Dear Savvy Senior, I’ve been taking daily aspirin for almost 20 years now because I have a family history of heart disease. But I recently read that using aspirin is not recommended anymore. What can you tell me about this change in —Confusedphilosophy?AspirinUser

OFF THE CUFF Rotator cuff injuries don’t always require surgery; physical therapy can help SOUPED-UP SHOTS Flu shot season is approaching: those 65+ need a stronger dose

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Health Health LIGHTS OUT For better sleep, filter out blue light from screens and smartphones

Is once-daily aspirin still recommended?

Dear Confused, There’s no doubt that taking low-dose daily aspirin is beneficial to most people who’ve had a heart attack or stroke. But if you don’t have heart disease, should you take it as a preventative measure? The answer for most people is probably not, according to new guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a widely respected independent panel that develops recommendations on preventive healthcare. Here’s what you should know: New guidelines For years, aspirin has been a go-to pill Americans use to help ward off cardiovascular disease because of its blood thinning capability. But like most medicines, it can cause serious side effects. Aspirin irritates the stomach lining and can cause bleeding in the stomach, intestines and brain, which can be life-threatening. And the risk of bleeding increases with age. About one-third of Americans age 40 and older, and more than 45 percent of people over age 70 — who don’t have cardiovascular disease — already take a daily aspirin to help prevent cardiovascular disease because it’s been recommended for decades by many different health experts. But in the past few years, new research has emerged showing that for many people without diagnosed heart disease, the risk of bleeding may outweigh the benefits of taking a daily aspirin. This research, along with the advent of other effective therapies in preventing heart attacks and strokes that don’t cause bleeding — better blood pressure drugs and statins for lowering cholesterol — has narrowed the role aspirin plays. Here’s a breakdown of the updated USPSTF guidelines of who should — and shouldn’t — take a daily aspirin, and for those who should, how to take it safely. Who should take it? There are two categories of people who can still benefit from using aspirin. First, people with established cardiovascular disease, especially those who have already had a heart attack or stroke: There’s strong evidence that taking a daily low-dose aspirin significantly reduces the risk of a second cardiovascular event.Second, adults ages 40 to 59 with a 10 percent or higher risk for a cardiovascular disease over the next decade: They may see a small benefit to daily aspirin, but it should be an individual decision and discussed with your doctor. a great

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By Julie Corliss Recently, my brother mentioned he was sleeping better since he got new prescription glasses with a blue-light filter. He wears his glasses mostly for reading screens (both computer and smartphone) during the day while at work. I was intrigued, but a little skeptical: Could daytime use of blue light-filtering glasses make a difference in how well he slept? How, when, and why blue light affects us seemed like good questions to pose to an expert before deciding whether those glasses could help me, too. What is blue light? Visible light includes a short segment of wavelengths tucked into the electromagnetic radiation spectrum. Together, the wavelengths of visible light captured by our eyes are translated into white light by our brains. Measured in nanometers (nm), visible light wavelengths range from 400 to 700 nm. Blue-light wavelengths lie between about 450 and 495 nm. And different slices of bluelight wavelengths have different effects on our bodies, including on sleep and alertness.

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BEAC Aspirin From page 3 See BLUE LIGHT, page 6

How blue light from screens affects sleep

Other visual photoreceptors called cones allow us to see even shorter wavelengths of blue-violet light at around 450 nm. How can blue light affect sleep? During the day, blue-enriched light is desirable, since it helps synchronize our circadian clocks to a 24-hour day. Exposure to a regular light-and-dark cycle is vital to achieve and maintain good sleep. Stimulation from certain wavelengths of blue light helps us stay alert, whether this comes from a natural source like the sun Who should skip it? People who are 60 and older — without established cardiovascular disease — who do not currently take a daily aspirin to prevent heart disease should not start now. This is particularly true for people with a history of bleeding, say from ulcers or aneurysms, or those taking medications such as blood thinners, steroids, or anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen or naproxen. If they already take a daily aspirin now, they should ask a doctor about how to proceed, because there may be a serious risk to suddenly stopping. Ask your doctor The best approach is to talk to your doctor about the potential risks and benefits of aspirin specifically for you. Because the risk of bleeding rises with dosage, if aspirin is recommended, take the lowest possible amount, which for most people is an 81 mg. baby aspirin. And if you experience any stomach pain, talk to yourYoudoctor.should also know that in 2016 the USPSTF suggested that daily aspirin use could also help lower the risk of colorectal cancer along with cardiovascular disease. But the group now says there’s not enough evidence to support that claim. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

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How does light affect our bodies? In addition to helping us see, light also has nonvisual effects on the body, said Dr. Steven Lockley, a neuroscientist at the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital.The24-hour circadian clock in the brain regulates sleep and wake cycles, hormonal activity, eating and digesting, and other important processes within the body. “Special photoreceptors in the eye detect light to control our circadian rhythms,” he said.These cells contain a nonvisual photopigment called melanopsin, which is most sensitive to 480 nm light at the bluegreen end of the visible light spectrum.

By Steve Calechman

The challenge with resisting food is, well, the food. It tastes good. It looks good. It smells really good, and when we see everyone eating pizza, ice cream and chips, we want in. Then we eat too much and swear that we’ll do better, but when the next time comes…Weknow that what we’re eating isn’t healthy, but no matter how hard we try, resisting feels impossible. It helps to realize that saying no involves more than trying harder.“It’s not about willpower,” said Kathy McManus, director of the department of nutrition at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “It’s about developing skill sets.” Stress triggers hunger It’s good to start by asking why we eat when we’re not hungry. Chances are it’s because we’re anxious, stressed, mad, tired, sad or bored. With these emotions perceived by the body as chronic stress, the brain releases cortisol, which can stimulate the appetite, said Dr. Lilian Cheung, a lecturer at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s department of nutrition. As a result, we may turn to food. Rarely is it cauliflower. The science of cravings is complex, but we’re often seeking salt, fat and/or sugar. These hyperpalatable foods stimulate the release of dopamine, which can initially make us feel good and keep us wanting more, but “reaching for foods that comfort us may become habitual,” she said. Adding to the challenge? These snacks are seemingly everywhere, in easy-tocarry, easy-to-eat containers and bags — in aisles, on racks and at the checkout line. That’s not an accident, Cheung said: Companies pay a lot of money to place their craveable products within reach. Eating well starts with awareness. McManus suggests tracking your food for three days, paying attention to time, quantity, what was happening before you ate, and how you felt afterwards. You’ll notice patterns and discover your personal cues. It could be that you tend to eat when you see others eat, or when a movie starts you need popcorn, or when you’re sitting in traffic you grab a snack. Once you see the vulnerable points, you can start shoring them up, she said.

BALTIMORE BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health 5 ★ FREE INFORMATION ★ FREE INFORMATION ★ FREE INFORMATION ★ INFORMATIONFREE ★ INFORMATIONFREE ★ INFORMATIONFREE ★ INFORMATIONFREE ★FREEINFORMATION★FREEINFORMATION★FREEINFORMATION★ INFORMATIONFREE ★ INFORMATIONFREE ★ INFORMATIONFREE ★ INFORMATIONFREE CityAddressName State Zip E-mailPhone Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this form to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 or fax to (410) 248-9102. ✃ MAIL OR FAX FOR FREE INFORMATION For free materials on housing communities and health studies, just complete and clip this coupon and mail or fax it to the Beacon. Housing Communities ❏ Catholic Charities (see ad on page 14) ❏ Chrlestown/Erickson (see ad on page 8) ❏ Christ Church Harbor Apts. (see ad on page 17) ❏ Oak Crest/Erickson (see ad on page 8) ❏ Keswick Community for Life (see ad on page 10) ❏ Park View Laurel (see ad on page 21) ❏ Park View Towson (see ad on page 21) ❏ Park View Fullerton (see ad on page 21) ❏ Park View Rosedale (see ad on page 21) ❏ Pickersgill (see ad on page 4) ❏ St. Mary’s Roland View Towers (see ad on page 13) ❏ Virginia Towers (see ad on page 16) ❏ Warren Place Senior Apartments (see ad on page 14) Clinical Research Studies ❏ Afraid of Falling Study (see ad on page 9) ❏ Balance and Memory Study (see ad on page 9) ❏ Cognition/Pre-Diabetes Study (see ad on page 10) ❏ HIPS Fall Prevention Study (see ad on page 10) ❏ Knee Osteoarthritis Study (see ad on page 9) ❏ My Healthy Maryland Study (see article on page 9) ❏ Shingles & Flu Vaccine Study (see ad on page 11) B9/22 When you need help, you need tender care. New client? ASK FREEYOURaboutSHIFT! Tender Care Nursing Agency has provided extraordinary care with withoutWecomfortweDuringdedicationcompassion,andreliability.anunsettlingtime,gainedagreatsenseofandpeaceofmind.wouldrecommendyouhesitation. – Karen M. www.tendercarenursing.com240-281-9870443-275-1568 We customize our care plans to meet the unique needs of every client, whether it’s medical needs social, emotional or the loss of independence due to aging. See HUNGER CUES, page 6✃

Learn your hunger cues to limit cravings

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Be mindful when eating Too often people eat while watching television, doing work, talking on the phone. Multitasking causes you to drift, and then it’s “gobble, gobble, gobble,” Cheung said. You have little chance to realize that you’re full, and end up eating more. Instead, you want to make eating as attractive as possible. Designate a space. Use a good plate and placemat. Sit down — standing equals speed — and savor the meal.

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The University Of Maryland’s Legacy Leadership Institute on Public Policy, in partnership with the State of Maryland, is looking for age 50+ to legislative leaders during the 2021 session of the Maryland General Assembly. and end Queen at wqueen@umd.edu or 301.405.2529 in daytime hours, or from electronic devices that emit blue light. But blue-light exposure in the evening — for example, binging a TV series on your laptop right before bed — will stimulate the melanopsin-containing cells and alert the brain, making it think it is daytime. That can make it harder to fall asleep and may affect the quality of your sleep. Although a recent systematic review suggested that blue light-blocking glasses may help people with insomnia, Dr. Lockley said there’s not enough detail about the studies to draw that conclusion. Most commercially available blue lightfiltering glasses, and special coatings added to prescription lenses, aren’t standardized. So you have no way of knowing which wavelengths are being blocked, and whether this affects only visual function, or important nonvisual functions such as alertness and the circadian clock. If you want to block stimulating blue light that could interfere with sleep, avoid screen use as much as possible after dusk — especially within two to three hours of bedtime. You can also try using computer software that reduces the amount of blue light emitted. Julie Corliss is executive editor of Harvard Heart Letter. © 2022 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

If you’re with others, enjoy the company. It can be just 15 minutes, but everything slows down and you’ll feel more satisfied. “We need to eat with all of our senses,” she said. And that goes for all food. There’s no need to eliminate the things that taste good but aren’t the healthiest. Things like ice cream and cake are often connected to events worth celebrating. When you know they’re coming up, you can budget in those foods, then have a reasonable portion and “really enjoy eating each bite,” Cheung said. Use smaller utensils and let the treats sit on your tongue, because when you fully immerse yourself in the experience, a smaller portion is usually enough. Slowly create new habits Cheung adds that before you make any food decision, take a deep breath, coupled with your own personal prompt, such as, “Do I really want that?” or “How many treadmill minutes will that be?” That pause prevents you from being swept away and brings you back to your plan, allowing you to make your decision. But it doesn’t always work, and it’s difficult to be constantly aware. McManus said that’s all right. Perfection is never the goal, especially at the beginning. You’re trying to end an old habit and create a new one. “It’s a slow process,” she said. Cheung suggested that at first, when you resist one of your weaknesses, praise yourself. The next month, resist a few more, and share your successes with your family, letting them know what you’re trying to do and that your intent is to stay healthy for them. “It’s an ongoing practice,” she said. “You will build up your degree of mindfulness, and over time you’ll see a major difference.”

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Oftentimes, this can be some mild tendinitis that will improve with a few days of rest. Talk to your healthcare provider. He or she can typically diagnose a rotator cuff tear based on your symptoms, a physical exam and possibly imaging, such as X-rays and an MRI.

By Christopher Camp, M.D. Dear Mayo Clinic: I have been experiencing pain in my right shoulder every time I hit the tennis court, and when I try to lift objects at home. How do I know if I tore my rotator cuff? What are the options for treatment, and can I get back to playing? A: People can injure their rotator cuff in several ways. Accordingly, it can be hard to know if that is the primary source of your shoulder problems. For some people, a distinct injury or accident results in a rotator cuff tear. For others, it could be a slow, gradual increase in pain over time. For those with distinct injuries, these usually occur when trying to lift heavy objects overhead or lifting things away from the body. You also can injure your rotator cuff during traumatic falls or accidents. Common symptoms

The most common forms of treatments for this are anti-inflammatory medications; icing the shoulder regularly; modifying your activities, including avoiding heavy lifting and overhead lifting; and physical therapy.Forpatients with complete tears of the tendon, the situation is a little bit more complex. If the tear is small or the patient is relatively low risk, some patients with complete tears may still be able to avoid surgery.Thetreatment plan for them would be the same options listed for tendinitis above. Although physical therapy won’t heal the small tears, it can help optimize the other muscles around the shoulder that are still intact, which allows them to compensate for the tendon with the tear. For active patients with a complete tear of the tendon, surgery may be optimal because it offers the most predictable and successful way of restoring function. Rotator cuff repair surgery typically is done as an outpatient procedure through a minimally invasive, or arthroscopic, approach. Using these small incisions can reduce pain and improve recovery long term.After undergoing rotator cuff repair, the arm is kept in a sling for approximately six weeks after surgery to allow things to heal. After this time, the sling is slowly discontinued, and formal physical therapy is initiated.Theearly focus of physical therapy is on restoring range of motion. This typically takes three or four months from the date of surgery. Around two or three months after surgery, gentle strengthening exercises are introduced. Then patients will progress to additional rehabilitation. While there is significant variability, the average overall recovery time following rotator cuff repair is approximately six months. Once everything is healed, we generally allow patients to get back to all activities, as tolerated. However, it is a good idea to avoid any unnecessary overhead lifting over the long term. This reduces the risk of having recurrent problems and injuries down the road. © 2022 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Generally speaking, rotator cuff problems tend to produce three main symptoms: shoulder pain, decreased shoulder motion and weakness. Although most patients will have some level of each of these symptoms, not everyone with a rotator cuff tear will have all three symptoms. In terms of the pain, if you have a rotator cuff injury, you typically have pain over the lateral, or outside, portion of the shoulder, around the deltoid muscle. This pain generally worsens when you try to lift your arm overhead or lift objects away from your body. Other injuries around the shoulder can result in similar symptoms. Some of the more common injuries are biceps tendinitis, acromioclavicular joint injuries, or arthritis.Understanding where your pain is originating from can help differentiate these problems from pain caused by your rotator cuff. If you have pain on the lateral, or outside, part of your shoulder with decreased range of motion and difficulty lifting objects, you may have a rotator cuff injury.

Treatment varies for rotator cuff injuries

When is surgery called for? When I diagnose a patient with a rotator cuff injury, the most common question I get is whether surgery is necessary. For most patients with tendinitis, which is inflammation of the rotator cuff tendon without a complete tear, as well as pain and other symptoms, they generally improve without surgical intervention.

Pros and cons of artificial sweeteners

By Howard LeWine, M.D.

A : While they are not magic bullets, smart use of non-nutritive sweeteners could help you reduce added sugars in your diet, therefore lowering the number of calories you eat. Reducing calories could help you attain and maintain a healthy body weight.

Q: I hear so much about the evils of sugar. Are artificial sweeteners a good alternative, especially to help me lose weight?

In fact, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and American Heart Association (AHA) have given a cautious nod to the use of artificial sweeteners in place of sugar to combat obesity and diabetes. The FDA has approved six artificial sweeteners: saccharin, acesulfame, aspartame, neotame, sucralose and advantame. It has also approved one natural low-calorie sweetener, stevia. Research looking into the potential health effects of artificial sweeteners has offered up a mixed bag. Some studies have actually linked these products to higher rates of weight gain and diabetes. But others have found an association with weight loss and lower body mass index, and no adverse health effects. Why might artificial sweeteners potentially cause weight gain instead of weight loss? These products change the way we taste food. Non-nutritive sweeteners are far more potent than table sugar and highfructose corn syrup. A miniscule amount produces a sweet taste comparable to that of sugar, without comparable calories. Artificial sweeteners are extremely sweet — hundreds to thousands of times sweeter than table sugar. So, people who habitually consume them may end up desensitized to sweetness. Healthful, satiating foods that are less sweet, such as fruits and vegetables, may become unappetizing by comparison. As a result, the overall quality of the diet may decline. The calories removed from the diet by the sugar-for-sweetener swap may sneak back in, in the form of refined carbohydrates and low-quality fats. In other words, use of artificial sweeteners can make you shun healthy, filling and highly nutritious foods, while consuming more artificially flavored foods with less nutritionalArtificialvalue.sweeteners may play another trick too. Research suggests that they may prevent us from associating sweetness with caloric intake. As a result, we may crave more sweets, tend to choose sweet food over nutritious food, and gain weight. Even with FDA approval of artificial sweeteners, there remains some doubt about the long-term safety of daily high doses of these products. Studies leading to FDA approval have ruled out cancer risk, for the most part. However, those studies were done using smaller amounts of diet soda than the 24 ounces a day consumed by many people who drink diet soda. Personally, I have taken a moderate approach. I use an artificial sweetener in my daily morning coffee, and try to limit simple sugars throughout the rest of the day.

8 Fitness & Health | Subscribe online! See how on p. 22 SEPTEMBER 2022 — BALTIMORE BEACON STYLISH SENIOR LIVING AT Charlestown and Oak Crest Find the perfect apartment home to ﬁt your style and budget at Baltimore County’s premier communities. Call 1-800-590-4091 for your free brochure, or visit SeniorLivingMaryland.com 344411 CHARLESTOWN, Catonsville OAK CREST, Parkville St. Michaels Crab Claw SeptemberRestaurant18 & October 16 US Holocaust Memorial OctoberMuseum13 Email: info@superiortours.net • Website: www.superiortours.com Philly Live Casino and Eastern Penitentiary Haunted House Tour October 29 Radio City Rockettes Christmas Show Orchestra Seats December 8 and December 12 Call us for 410-602-1704Reservations Charters Available for All Occasions ChhartersAvailable WeNYC!!LoveNew York and Atlantic City Day Trips Please patronize our advertisers. They keep the Beacon free!

BEACON BITS Sept. Ongoing10

The research team at the University of Maryland School of Medicine can then extract DNA from the sample. Researchers plan to “identify sets of genes and gene mutations that put whole hosts of people at risk for disease — cardiovascular disease, diabetes,” and more, according to Shuldiner. Occasionally participants will receive general updates on the research as well as health tips. Eventually participants will have the option to learn about their own individual research findings, which may be relevant to their health. Also, participants will be contacted from time to time with opportunities to enroll in new research studies.

For

People who participate in the study “are contributing to new knowledge and will lead to new preventive and new therapies for disease,” said Dr. Alan Shuldiner, M.D., study co-leader. How it works Any Maryland resident over age 18 is welcome to join. The first step is to watch a short video on your computer, tablet or mobile phone to learn about the My Healthy Maryland study. “Once one is informed about the study, they can electronically sign the consent,” Shuldiner explained. Next, people will fill out several online surveys about their health history, and let the research team know where to access their medical records. Then participants will receive a kit in the mail, swab the inside of their cheek, and drop the sample in the mail.

Health Studies INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS BALTIMORE BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health 9 BALANCE AND MEMORY!BALANCE AND MEMORY! We are studying why falls and balance disorders occur in older adults with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia and how falls impact their lives. Individuals 60+ may be able to join our research study. We take the burden of travel away from you by traveling to your home (if desired). We provide compensation up to $100 for our participants.For more information call 410-614-9825 Or email vhorta1@jhmi.eduApproved October 25, 2021 JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY DATE: SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: YURI AGRAWAL, MD APPLICATION NO.: NA_00087648 Trouble with balance? Falls? Afraid of falling? Three research studies investigating how and why people fall are currently enrolling test subjects. We seek: • Individuals 60-86 years old who have suffered an ischemic stroke and are able to walk • Individuals 60-86 years old who are free from neurological conditions such as stroke and Parkinson’s disease who have fallen two or more times in the past year • Young healthy individuals 20-40 years old who have not fallen For your participation you will receive • A health evaluation and fall risk assessment • Up to $100 in compensation • Free parking Please call 410-605-7179 and mention “BALRCH” These studies are being conducted in conjunction with the Veterans Health Administration VA Maryland Healthy Care System and the University of Maryland School of

All health information and the DNA specimen will be “de-identified before sharing with researchers,” Shuldiner said. In other words, names will be removed, but such things as age, gender and race will remain on the coded specimen. “We go through extraordinary efforts to protect personal identifying information and health data. I think that data is quite safe and quite secure,” he said. “While the risks are not zero, I believe that they are minimal.” My Healthy Maryland seeks to enroll a wide variety of people. “We’d like the 250,000 participants to be a microcosm that represents of the diversity of Maryland,” Shuldiner said. Some people may be hesitant to enroll in the study. “At the end of the day, trust is a big deal,” said Shuldiner, who works with the Amish community. Nonetheless, he is optimistic that hundreds of thousands of Marylanders will step forward to help science. After all, this study carries no risk to health, and can be done entirely from home. “There’s an altruistic nature to research, and people often feel good about donating their time, effort and biospecimens to science,” he said. To find out more about the My Healthy Maryland study, visit marylandprecisionhealth.org or call (410) 706-6140. Medicine.

Participants sought for a Maryland study

OUTDOOR YOGA Yoga is a great way to relax both your mind and body. Friends of Herring Run Park will host a free community yoga class on Sat., Sept. 10 from 9 to 10 a.m. at Brehms Lane Playground, 3500 Shannon Dr., Baltimore. Registration required. information, call (410) 417-8565.

By Margaret Foster If you’d like to be part of a new research program whose goal is to improve the health of Marylanders, the University of Maryland School of Medicine wants to hear from you. Researchers are seeking to engage 250,000 Marylanders to build a resource that will enable a broad range of healthand disease-related research. They’ll use surveys and other health information as well as DNA samples to learn more about how disease affects diverse populations — and maybe how to prevent disease in the first place. The study, called My Healthy Maryland, launched in July.

FREE BIKE RIDES (NO BIKE REQUIRED) Baltimore City Recreation and Parks is loaning out free bikes to ride around Herring Run Park and Lake Montebello, at 3800 Belair Rd., Baltimore. Bikes are available from Aug. 20 to Oct. 1 every Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. and every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring a government-issued ID. more information, visit or call (410) 417-8565.

Addressing privacy concerns

For more

friendsofherringrun.org/events.html

The federal government has provided over $280 million to help states create systems that will do much more, including mobile mental health crisis teams that can be sent to people’s homes, and emergency mental health centers, similar to urgent care clinics that treat physical aches and pains. Some states already have comprehensive mental health crisis systems, but others have a long way to go. And widespread shortages of mental health specialists are expected to slow their ability to expand services. —AP CDC recommendspanelstrongerfluvaccinesforthose65+

Americans 65 and older should get newer, souped-up flu vaccines because regular shots don’t provide them enough protection, a federal advisory panel said in June.

Health Shorts 10 Fitness & Health | Subscribe online! See how on p. 22 SEPTEMBER 2022 — BALTIMORE BEACON Stay in the Home You Love. COMMUNITY FOR LIFE BENEFITS: •Service •HandymanNavigation&Home Maintenance Service •Transportation Support Keswick Community for Life serves Baltimore City and parts of Baltimore County LEARN MORE CHOOSEKESWICK.ORGAT OR CALL US AT: 410-662-4363 Cognition And Metabolism in Prediabetes (CAMPS) Study Are you 50 years or older? Are you relatively healthy, without a diabetes diagnosis? If so, you may be eligible for a new research study in which you learn about your daily blood sugar ﬂuctuations and cognitive abilities. Receive $100 for participating. For information call 410-605-7179. Mention “CAMPS”

Quick help for suicidal thoughts and other mental health emergencies is now as easy as 9-8-8. The United States’ first nationwide threedigit mental health crisis hotline went live on July 16. It’s designed to be as easy to remember and use as 911. But instead of a dispatcher sending police, firefighters or paramedics, 988 will connect callers with trained mental health Dispatchingcounselors.paramedics for heart attacks and police for crimes makes sense — but not for psychiatric emergencies, mental health advocates say. Calls to 911 for those crises often lead to violent law enforcement encounters and trips to jail or crowded emergency rooms where suicidal people can wait days for treatment.

The panel unanimously recommended certain flu vaccines that might offer more or longer protection for seniors, whose weakened immune systems don’t respond as well to traditional shots. Options include: Fluzone High-Dose, Fluad with an immune booster, or Flublok which is made with insect cells instead of chicken eggs. The panel’s recommendations were adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and became the government’s guidance for U.S. doctors and their patients. This is the first time the government has stated a flu vaccine preference for older adults. Flu shots tend to be less effective than other common vaccinations, but they have often been particularly disappointing in seniors.Health officials say there is persuasive research indicating some of the new shots work better in older adults, especially at preventing flu-related hospitalizations. Studies are limited, though, and there’s little research comparing the three new versions. The new shots have caught on. About 80% of Medicare beneficiaries get the souped-up vaccines each year, mostly the high-dose one, officials said. The new versions can cost roughly three times more than standard flu shots, but they are covered by insurance programs. —AP

Not too late to getboostersCOVID-19 With new omicron variants again driving COVID-19 hospital admissions and deaths higher in recent weeks, states and cities are rethinking their responses, and the White House is stepping up efforts to alert the public. The highly transmissible BA.5 variant now accounts for 65% of cases, with its cousin BA.4 contributing another 16%. The variants have shown a remarkable ability to get around the protection offered by infection and vaccination. Global trends for the two mutants have been apparent for weeks, experts said — they quickly out-compete older variants and push cases higher wherever they appear. Yet Americans have tossed off their masks and jumped back into travel and social gatherings. And they have largely ignored booster shots, which protect against COVID-19’s worst outcomes. Last month, the White House response team called on all adults 50 and older to urgently get a booster if they haven’t yet this year — and dissuaded people from waiting for the next generation of shots expected in the fall when they can roll up their sleeves and get some protection now. Vaccinations, including booster shots for those eligible, lower the risk of hospitalization and death — even against the latestButvariants.fewerthan half of all eligible U.S. adults have gotten a single booster shot, and only about 1 in 4 Americans age 50 and older who are eligible for a second booster have received one. —AP 988 hotline is 911 for mental emergencieshealth

The 988 system will build on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, an existing network of over 200 crisis centers nationwide staffed by counselors who answer millions of calls each year — about 2.4 million in 2020. Calls to the old lifeline, 1-800-273-8255, will still go through even with 988 in place.

BALTIMORE BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health 11 PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR A SHINGRIX AND INFLUENZA VACCINE STUDY This research study aims to compare the safety of administering Shingrix (shingles vaccine) at the same time as FLUAD® or Fluzone® High-Dose influenza vaccines in older people The PI for this study is Dr. Kawsar Talaat. All clinic visits will take place at the Center for Immunization Research site at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Campus, located at 301 Mason Lord Drive, Suite 4300, Baltimore, MD 21224 Who is eligible? If you are 65 years or older, have not yet received a Shingrix (shingles) vaccine and have not received this year’s flu shot, you may be eligible for the study Time commitment This study occurs over 3.5 months with 4 clinic visits and 5 phone calls Benefits to participating If you enroll you will receive the Shingrix and Influenze vaccines free of charge as well as earn up to $325 If you are interested in participating, please email JHSPH.projectSAVE@jhu.edu or call 410-955-7283 or scan the QR code IRB Approval Date: July 20, 2022

Tricks to watch out for Many publishers tell you that you can cancel a subscription at any time, but there are unexpected caveats. For example, recently I tried to cancel a subscription that was automatically extended. Although I was told I could cancel at any time, I learned I would be charged for a complete month because I failed to cancel before the new non-discounted rate ended. A pet peeve of mine is that, when a subscription ends, you automatically are renewed at a rate that is often much higher than the rate a new subscriber would be charged. In that situation, you should contact the publisher and ask for the new-customer rate. In this situation, I have always been able to renew at the rate advertised for new subscribers.

Easier to reflect your values

A new investment strategy to consider

By holding securities in their own accounts, investors are free to customize portfolios as they see fit. Such customization is not possible in a fund, as each investor has exposure to the same set of underlying securities as every other shareholder.

Direct indexing portfolios can tilt toward ESG factors, or exclude securities that do not align with an investor’s values. Because this can be done at the individual account level, investors don’t need to compromise on their values when building theirAdditionally,portfolio. holding individual stocks allows shareholders to participate directly in proxy voting, another source of control forPersonalizationinvestors. affords another important benefit: better behavior. It’s often easier to not overreact in a down market and stick to a savings plan when your investments reflect your values. Too much personalization, however, can cause direct index performance to deviate — positively or negatively — from the target index. Every investor has their own tolerance for risk and performance, and investors should be aware that there is a tradeoff between customization and tracking the benchmark index. Is it right for you? One of the main advantages of direct indexing is that it can generate additional capital losses. Capital losses are most useful when an investor has capital gains to offset from other investments. For investors with little or no outside capital gains, the tax benefits afforded are more limited. Additionally, direct indexing has more moving parts than a portfolio that uses funds. Holding individual securities and trading them for tax loss harvesting means See DIRECT INDEXING, page 14

Tracking services can help One way to monitor your costs is through the use of a tracking service. The most popular tracking services found in the C+R study were Mint (30%), TrueBill (10%) and Chase (9%). Mint is a popular tracking service that is available at no cost using an app. Contact support@livemint.com to establish an account. Mint is easily established, and you can use it to track spending, create budgets and obtain an overview of all your finances. You can link all your financial accounts, set up notification and alerts, and obtain free credit scores. You can’t use Mint as a joint account, but multiple family members can establish separate accounts. The service is free to subscribers because Mint receives its income from advertisers on the site. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © 2022 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Adam Grealish Recently, direct indexing, a lesser-known investment approach, has started outpacing both ETFs and mutual funds in investor adoption. Direct indexing offers unique benefits that can’t be replicated in a traditional ETF or mutual fund structure, particularly around personalization and tax management. Given its benefits, direct indexing is expected to continue to outpace ETF and mutual fund growth over the coming years, according to a recent Cerulli report. Here’s what you need to know about this growing investment method: What is direct indexing?

From 1995 to 2018, the most recent period studied, an investor using a direct indexing strategy to track the S&P 500 would have seen their $100,000 initial investment grow to about $630,000 after accounting for taxes. That’s $101,000 more than they otherwise would have had.

The flexibility of direct indexing also allows for portfolios to be built around existing holdings. This becomes particularly important when a portfolio has embedded gains in concentrated positions. In such a case, an investor can diversify around existing positions while managing any potential tax impact from liquidating positions.

Law &

Direct indexing has been the core of many high-net-worth clients’ strategies for decades. It’s no surprise, given its unique benefits, particularly around taxes. Offered mostly through financial advisers, investment minimums for direct indexing are often $250,000 or more. However, no-commission trading and fractional shares have made the strategy more broadly accessible, with minimums at or below $5,000 in some cases.

Harvest losses; boost returns With hundreds of individual stocks held in a direct indexing portfolio, there are extensive opportunities for tax loss harvesting — the practice of selling a security at a loss to offset capital gains. Even in up markets, individual stocks can have bouts of poor performance. Direct indexing portfolios can take full advantage, harvesting losses in underperforming stocks even as the market as a whole is up. This can mean 1% or more in additional after-tax returns, according to recent research from Vanguard.

A separate study looked at historical returns over the last century and found that direct indexing added 1.08% annually in after-tax returns.

By Elliot Raphaelson Because of inflation, many Americans are looking for ways to reduce their regular expenditures. Unfortunately, many individuals are paying for subscriptions they no longer need — and, in some cases, they’re paying too much for those they do need. Many, myself included, initially subscribe to a publication or to a streaming or cable TV service because it is offered free or at a discount for a limited time. Then the regular subscription rate kicks in and you’re stuck paying a high rate for a product that might not be worth it. I have been guilty of this myself. Only when I review my credit card bill do I realize I have failed to cancel the subscription when I planned to. My advice is simple: When you start a discounted subscription, make an entry on your calendar of the date you want to cancel a subscription.

From Netflix to Amazon Prime, monthly subscription fees can add up. See how to below.

It pays to review your subscription costs

Direct indexing is an investment strategy where an investor holds individual stocks that make up an index in their own account directly, instead of using a mutual fund or ETF to track the underlying index. Similar to an index fund, the goal is to track the performance of a target benchmark index. However, when an investor holds the individual securities directly in their account, it allows for more personalization and the potential for greater tax benefits.

12 Subscribe online! See how on p. 22 SEPTEMBER 2022 — BALTIMORE BEACON

A study conducted by C+R Research that analyzed recurring monthly charges for a cross section of individuals found that, although first estimates of monthly costs were $86, actual costs were $219 per month because they had not monitored their costs. The difference added up to approximately $1,600 a year. Seventy-four percent of the study group indicated that they had forgotten about many monthly recurring subscription charges. Forty-two percent realized that many of the recurring costs were for services they were no longer using. Thirty percent of the subscriptions that were forgotten were for internet services; 22% for TV/movie streaming; 16% for Amazon Prime. Auto-pay is convenient, but if you find that many of your monthly recurring payments are unnecessary, you should limit auto-pay to services you know you want continued on a long-term basis.

Money

A savings circle can help you reach goal

A breezy January morning made the mid-30 temperatures feel even chillier. But it was an important day for a young man pushing 30 himself. He was about to face his entire family to ask for a loan to seed his new business idea. He had contributed to the family’s savings circle, but he was asking for a withdrawal this time. What is a savings circle?

A savings circle can also be called a money pool. Or flip the benefit, and it’s known as a lending circle. The practice carries many names worldwide and among American immigrant communities, including “tanda,” “sou-sou” or “tontine.”

A savings circle is a group of family members or friends who regularly contribute to a collective fund. Members gain access to a share of the proceeds on a rotating basis or as needs arise.

By Hal M. Bundrick

BALTIMORE BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Law & Money 13 Medicare Life Insurance Annuities Turning 65? New to Medicare? Paying Too Much for Current Coverage? Free Consultation 16 years of Medicare expertise!! John Richardson Licensed Independent Agent www.JSR-Insurance.com GET MORE FROM YOUR MEDICARE! CALL 443-529-9109TODAY • One- and Two-Bedroom as well as Efficiencies • Rents from $765 for efficiency, $945 for 1-bedroom, and $1,195 for 2-bedroom Utilities Included! • 24/7 on-site Maintenance and Reception Desk • Beauty/Barber Shop on premises • Only 2 blocks from Hampden’s ‘The Avenue’ To schedule a personal tour call 410-889-8255 St Mary’s Roland View Towers 3838/3939 Roland Ave Baltimore, MD 21211 www.rolandviewtowers.com Rent$300Credit When you present this coupon upon application. Spectacular View Make new friends Senior Apartments Age 55 or Better LIVE WELL FOR LESS Roland View Towers See SAVINGS, page 14 WESTERN UNION SCAM REFUND Refunds are still available to people who were tricked into sending money to scammers through Western Union between 2004 and 2017. If you haven’t filed a claim yet, you have until Wed., Aug. 31, 2022. For details, visit bit.ly/ftcScamRefund2022 or contact 1-855-786-1048. NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Are you possibly eligible for supplemental nutrition assistance? The Baltimore County Public Library is hosting a free session where you can get one-on-one assistance with SNAP applications and re-determinations. The session will occur Wed., Aug. 31 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Essex Branch, 1110 Eastern Blvd., Essex. For more information, visit bcpl.info or call (410) 887-0295.MARYLAND FLEET WEEK & FLYOVER Maryland Fleet Week & Flyover Baltimore returns this fall with an exciting line-up of ship tours, festivals, flyovers and educational activities, taking place at the Inner Harbor, Upper Locust Point, Fells Point and Martin State Airport. While events will be held in-person, there will also be virtual components. The events are free and take place Wed., Sept. 7 to Tues., Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For a list of events and flyover times, visit mdfleetweek.com or call 1-866-639-3526. BEACON BITS Sept.Aug.August317+

It can be an informal gathering with regular monthly contributions and one disbursement or one individual’s request for funding approved by the group. Some savings circles predetermine automatic withdrawals for each member in a particular order.

One that rocked the world Berry Gordy was 29 that cold Detroit day in 1959 when he faced the family’s pointed questions regarding a $1,000 loan from the Ber-Berry Co-op — named after his parents, Bertha and Berry. After a lengthy discussion, the group voted to give him $800. And with that seed money, Motown Records was born. David Ellis, a digital media curator at the Motown Museum in Detroit, said Gordy’s parents created the savings effort to help seed family business ideas. Each family member, including spouses, contributed $10 monthly to the fund. “The funniest part is the interest that Berry Gordy had to pay. They were family, but they were still very professional people,” Ellis added. Unlike many traditional family and friends savings circles, Gordy had to repay the loan and would be charged 6% interest if he didn’t pay off the note within one year. Fortunately, repayment wasn’t a problem. Motown Records became a music institution, and Gordy sold the label for $61

It’s an important consideration, because early withdrawals are essentially zero-interest loans, while later distributions are effectively interest-free savings plans.

BEACON

Short-term, post-acute rehabilitation and skilled nursing, long-term and memory care. – 2022 Newsweek –Top Rehabilitation and Nursing facility in the Greater Baltimore region

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www.cc-md.org/seniors

Savings From page 13 more transactions to account for at tax time. Direct indexing strategies are growing faster than other investment vehicles. And for good reason, as the strategy offers benefits that are difficult or impossible to replicate using a fund. Recent innovations, like fractional share trading, have lowered the barrier to entry for direct indexing portfolios. A once rarified investment strategy is now poised for broader adoption, and with it, the potential to generate better outcomes for many investors.

Sept.

ASSISTED LIVING & NURSING COSTS Ateaze Senior Center will host a Zoom session discussing different levels of care and how to pay for assisted living and nursing home care. Bring your questions. Join the online session Thurs., Sept. 15, from 3 to 4 p.m. Email ateazesc@baltimorecountymd.gov or call (410) 887-0233.ABELL

Direct indexing From page 12 SPOT FRAUD AND ABUSE Learn about identity scams, how to spot deceptive healthcare practices, and how to recognize and report billing errors. This free presentation takes place Fri., Sept. 9, from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Jacksonville Senior Center, 3605A Sweet Air Rd., Phoenix. For more information, call (410) 887-8208.

APARTMENTSAVAILABLEIMMEDIATEOPENINGS

The Abell Community Street Fair is an annual grassroots tradition that has brought neighbors together for a fun, free outdoor festival since 1973. Join in this year for music, local food, fun activities for kids, a silent auction, vendors and more. The street fair takes place Sun., Sept. 18 from noon to 5 p.m. at Barclay Street and 30th Street, Baltimore. For more info, visit baltimore.org/event/abell-community-street-fair. BITS 9 Sept. 15 Sept. 18

Caritas House Assisted Living 667-600-2660 A residential community of care with personalized assistance in daily activities for adults 62 and older. St. Ann Adult Day 667-600-2680Services Activities, socialization and medical supervision so adults can continue to live at home. Wheelchair-accessible transportation available. Senior667-600-2280Communities Supportive, affordable apartment communities.Total of 24 locations in Maryland, home to more than 1,800 older adults. DePaul House and St. Joachim House are on the Jenkins Campus. Answers for the Aging 667-600-2100 or toll-free 1-888-50ASKUS (MD only) Telephone-based information and referral service for older adults and caregivers. Conveniently located near I-95 in southwest Baltimore, the 25-acre Jenkins Campus offers skilled nursing, assisted living, adult day services and supportive, affordable apartment living with beauty and greenery out each window — and a spectacular view of the Baltimore skyline.

A few savings circle apps have been developed in recent years, such as Esusu Savings and MyMAF, which manages lending circles set up through Mission Asset Fund. Later this month, Gilliam and a team of fintech developers in Washington, D.C., are set to release a savings circle and social banking mobile app called Wellthi. While group savings goals will be shared, funds in Wellthi will be tied to individual digital wallets, linked to a payment card and never commingled. And it all began with that chance encounter when the Korean woman was looking to start a business in America. “It really kind of changed my life, to be honest. And I had almost denied that woman a visa,” Gilliam said. AP/NerdWallet

million in 1988. A 50% share of the Motown song catalog garnered an additional $132 million for Gordy in 1997. A chance encounter Right out of grad school, Fonta Gilliam was working as a U.S. foreign service officer in South Korea, “stamping visas at the consulate,” she said. “This lady walks up to my window, wanting to immigrate to the United States to start a business. She was going to start a dry cleaner, if I remember correctly.” The woman, a street vendor, had six figures of cash in a savings account. “I remember thinking, ‘OK, this is fraud,’” Gilliam said. But the woman related how she had participated for years in a savings circle with friends in her neighborhood, “and it was finally her turn” to make a withdrawal. “I learned how a lot of people around the world are using informal saving and lending traditions — sou-sous, tandas — as a way to build wealth outside of the banking system,” she said. Gilliam discovered that the social savings circles in these underbanked and underserved communities often have a low default rate. The social factor is key. “People are more likely to keep strong financial habits when their peers keep them accountable,” she said. How to start your own If you are looking to start your own savings circle, enlist trusted friends and family — emphasis on “trusted.” In 2020, the Federal Trade Commission issued a consumer alert about pyramid schemes tied to sou-sous.Yourgroup will need to determine the amount and frequency of deposits and the order of individual withdrawals. For example, if 12 members put in $100 per month and distributions occur monthly on a rotating basis for one year, who gets the first $1,200?

Catholic Charities welcomes people regardless of faith and is an Equal Housing Opportunity provider.

COMMUNITY STREET FAIR

24 locations for older adults in Maryland, including the Jenkins Senior Living Community St. Elizabeth Rehabilitation and Nursing Center 667-600-2600

It’s easy to find peace and quiet in Rocky Mountain National Park, just 90 minutes north of Boulder. It’s also easy to find great restaurants in Boulder’s entertainment district.

Leisure & See COLORADO, page 16

Before heading back to the airport on our final day, we visited Headwaters Rivers Journey, an excellent museum that makes it clear that Colorado is not just about mountains, but water too. Rivers, lakes and reservoirs support the

Wildlife and kayaks at Grand Lake After two nights in Boulder, we drove through Rocky Mountain National Park via the Trail Ridge Road. This nationally designated “All American Road” is spectacular as it climbs through thick forest to alpine tundra above tree line to an elevation of over 12,000 feet before it heads downward on the other side of the pass, approaching the town of Grand Lake. There we continued the active pace set in Boulder, including two easy, close-by hikes (the Coyote Valley Trail and the hike to Adams Falls) and a two-hour kayak that started on Grand Lake and continued through a narrow channel into the adjoining Shadow Lake. While Grand Lake is ringed with grand homes, Shadow Lake feels wilder. There are some structures on the lake, plus a road running between the two Lakes. But the further we paddled, the more untamed it felt. We also took a slow boat tour around Grand Lake and ate dinner one night at the historic Grand Lake Lodge, which offers rustic but upscale cabins, fine dining, and spectacular views of Grand and Shadow Lakes from its location several hundred feet above the lakes. While we were eating, a bear toured the grounds — to the delight of the guests and my wife, who leaped to their feet and ran to the windows to squeal and take pictures. True to form, I instead opted to continue eating my meal before it got cold.

MANKINDONOFCOURTESYPHOTO BALTIMORE BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Makes a great gift! 15

By Don Mankin

The first time I drove to California from the East Coast, trying to escape a run of bad luck in love, life and career in my mid20s, the Rocky Mountains loomed from the prairie, welcoming me to a new life. This past June, I had the opportunity to immerse myself once again in the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains on a road trip with my wife, Katherine. We looped from Denver through Boulder, Grand Lake and Winter Park before ending a week later back at the airport. Options for outdoor exertion Boulder, Colorado, at 5,300 feet, gave us an opportunity to adjust gradually to the altitudes of the Rockies. Boulder has a smalltown feel with big-city amenities, especially its excellent restaurants, many of them clustered in the downtown area on or near the Pearl Street Mall, the spine of the food and entertainment district. But what Boulder is really about, aside from a major university and an exploding tech sector, is fitness and outdoor recreation. The town offers a wide range of sweat-inducing, muscle-burning, lungbusting outdoor activities. In our day and a half in Boulder I had the opportunity to indulge in a couple of these activities.

The author, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday, took a guided mountain bike ride down the rocky Switzerland Trail outside Boulder.

Most notable was a downhill mountain bike ride on the Switzerland Trail. The trail is probably a piece of cake for experienced mountain bikers, but for novices like me, it took considerable effort and concentration to avoid rocks and keep upright. Terror helped me focus on the task at hand. Once I got the hang of it, though, it was exhilarating, especially when the guide told me that I was the oldest person he had ever guided on the trail. (I turned 80 this year.) I’m sure the scenery was stunning, but to be honest I rarely took my eyes off the trail. While I was clenching and sweating, Katherine tried “goat yoga” at Growing Gardens, a nonprofit that runs programs in sustainable urban agriculture. After an hour of exercising with free-range goats, she reported, “They are sort of like dogs, but they don’t show any affection.”

Hike, then get pampered, walking from inn to inn in Vermont. See story on page 16.

Travel

We’re high on Rocky Mountain grandeur

Winter Park wonders On our way to Winter Park, our final destination, we took a short side trip to the best hike of the trip, a four-mile loop around Monarch Lake. The lake, a deep blue gem, is surrounded by thick forest and snowcapped peaks and nothing else. Except for the other hikers on the trail, plus some fishermen, families and paddlers, it felt like a true wilderness experience. The trail is rated as easy, but the rocks and stream crossings made it a bit more challenging for my 80-year-old body. We only spent a day in Winter Park, just enough time for a hike along the Fraser River Trail, which runs through town and parallels the main highway. It’s easily accessible, groomed and mostly flat with some gentle rises. From the trail you can see snow-capped mountains in the distance, and the burbling water masks the traffic sounds from the road a couple of hundred yards away. Along the trail are benches, picnic tables and interpretive signs describing the birds, flowers and other flora and fauna you can observe along the way.

Four historic inns Our loop began with a great night’s rest in Chester. Each day we traipsed to towns reminiscent of a Hallmark Movie set: Proctorsville, Ludlow, Weston. Our journey completed back in Chester, where my Jeep was parked, awaiting our return. Our accommodations were as unique and charming as Vermont inns tend to be.

While the decor differed from classic country style to ornate Victorian opulence, every inn had comfy beds, delicious meals and charming innkeepers. Julie-Lynn Wood, proprietor of the Golden Stage Inn, served us warm berry muffins and ginger scones.Ouradventure on the Vermont Inn to Inn Walking Tour was challenging and self-satisfying. We enjoyed our time at each inn and tackled each day’s hike with vigor — and some minor aches and pains. Tour companies can help Personally, I am all in for an adventurous trip. However, I can pass on overnighting in a hammock or storing my food in a bear canister. When someone else can lug my suitcase, it is a wonderful “have your cake and eat it too” moment. Besides, planning a multi-day hiking trip can have lots of moving parts, as accommodations and meals shift every day. A professional tour provider can save you time, effort and headaches. Popular multi-day tour companies like Backroads offer expeditions from easygoing to hard core. They plan everything from accommodations and meals to hiking routes and local sightseeing. From Yosemite to Acadia and the glaciers to the Blue Ridge Mountains, walking tours span the globe, which can make choosing your next foot-friendly explorationPerhapsdifficult.the oldest trail in Europe is the Camino de Santiago, a tangle of trail networks that weave across the Iberian Peninsula through France, Spain and Portugal. A variety of hotels dot the pilgrimage path, ranging from inexpensive albergues (hostels) to comfortable hotels. is our race, color, religion, sex handicap national federal, state local Note: Housing for Older Persons is exempt from the against age familial status. first 25 acceptedapplicants Towers APARTMENTS Peace of Mind is Priceless Pre-planning a funeral is a great gift, to your family and to you: It relieves the pressure on them to imagine what you might have wanted while they deal with grief and loss. Your funeral service will be exactly as you wish. Your family can enjoy peace of mind knowing everything has been arranged. If you choose to pre-fund, the cost is fixed and protected from later price change or inflation. Call us to learn more. Ask about our price-match guarantee! Ask for Jim Schwartz or Chris Boggs: 410-747-4770 Crematory on premises plants, flush the toilets, and slake the thirst of most of the American Southwest and California — another reason to appreciate the beauty of the Rocky Mountains and the life-giving waters that flow from its peaks. Don and Katherine were hosted on this trip by Visit Boulder, The Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Grand County Colorado Tourism Board. For more photos, suggestions for places to eat and stay, and things to do, check out Don’s blog at press/rocky-mountain-high.adventuretransformations.com/word-

policy to admit residents without regard to

Inn-to-inn hiking gains a foothold in U.S.

prohibitions

fair housing protections.

Colorado From page 15 See INN HIKING, page 18 LISTEN TO — OR JOIN IN — THE JAM

BRANCH PARK CLEANUP Join Blue Water Baltimore for a clean-up at Middle Branch Park. Participants will first be introduced to the park and its importance in the urban water cycle, then will spread out to remove trash from the water and shoreline. Volunteers of all ages are welcome on Fri., Sept 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 3301 Waterview Ave., Baltimore. To sign up, visit bluewaterbaltimore.org or call (410) 254-1577. BITS 6 Sept. 9

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By Sandi Barrett While the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail are popular hiking trips for the seasoned trekker, many travelers prefer a soft, cozy bed and a home-cooked meal at the end of a long day of walking. Multi-day walking trips offering these comforts are popping up across the country. Popular throughout Europe, curated backcountry tours are a kinder, gentler way to explore and still enjoy a good night’s sleep. I recently completed a four-day, 44-mile inn-to-inn hike through Vermont’s beautiful Green Mountains. Joining me on the journey were two friends: a 70-year-old retired professor and a 60-year-old software engineer. I landed right between them in age and ability. Our hike began with glorious sunshine and a dirt road adventure. Every day, we walked about 10 miles on backcountry roads through evergreen forests and charming small towns. Every night, we stayed in a new inn, whose staff transferred my bags, fed us hearty meals, and provided soft beds. Daily directions to the next inn were a comical scavenger hunt. I searched for red barns, cornerstones and other unusual markings: “Walk 50 feet; you will see a brownish metal gate with colored ribbons. This gate may be locked, but you may pass around it.”

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The Baltimore Old Time & Bluegrass Jam is coming to R. House to play acoustic string band music. All are welcome to play along regardless of skill level or instrument. If you don’t play, you can enjoy the music and grab a bite to eat. The jam takes place Tues., Sept. 6 from 7 to 10 p.m. at R. House, 301 W. 29th St., Baltimore. Free. For more information, visit bit.ly/Bluegrassjam or call (443) 347-3570.MIDDLE

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Factory tours abound and are great fun

| Leisure & Travel 17 Savannah, GA & Charleston, SCOuter Banks, North Carolina See our full assortment of tours in our NEW Vacations Catalog with a sneak preview of 2023 trips! Request one www.EyreTours.comtoday!•(410) 442-6872872 Vacations by Bus! Over 50 Exciting Travel Destinations Sep. 26 – Oct. 1, 2022 $1,239 per person/Double Occupancy $1,599 per person/Single Occupancy Includes 8 Meals September 25-28, 2022 $979 per person/Double Occupancy $1,279 per person/Single Occupancy Includes 5 Meals SeniorAdven y Learni Staay sha turesinLearni p ngNever r rp.Renew. R ngatCCBC f Stops e effrresh. •Paintordraw wellness •ce Learnto: inpesonclasses Z r ! •Connectwithfrien •Becomeabetterw culture •Havefunwithpop •Studyaworldlan •Explorehumanitie •Visithistory ds riter ular guage s 443-840-4700 egistertoday: Classesstatallth R r ccbcmd.edu/senio etime! rs See FACTORY TOURS, page 18 VOLUNTEER ON A FARM Help Strength to Love increase access to fresh vegetables and food in the Baltimore community. Volunteer at the farm any day of the week, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at 1855 Kavanaugh St., Baltimore. For registration and details, visit bit.ly/farmBaltimore or call (410) 728-2227. ENERGY USAGE Curious about which household appliances use the most energy and what you can do to reduce your energy use? In this free lecture from Senior Planet, you’ll learn about the top energy users in the home and what you can do to spend less money on energy. Join on Zoom or by phone on Fri., Sept. 16 from noon to 1 p.m. For more info, visit seniorplanet.org/event/tech-energy-5 or call (240) 753-0676. BEACON BITS OngoingSept.16

By Ed Perkins A factory tour is perhaps the most underrated sort of attraction in the U.S. When I first started writing about factory tours, I highlighted them as the “best free attractions you could find,” but liability and staffing issues have forced many to startStill,charging.thechance to see exactly how some favorite item is made can be fascinating. And, fortunately, you can find an interesting tour just about anywhere you visit in the U.S. Time was, several good books covered factory tours in detail, but those days are gone. Instead, a former book publisher maintains a reasonably current online database at factorytoursusa.com. You can search either by state or by category. Among the more than 50 defined categories, food and drink makers dominate the list of 553 individual tours. Breweries, candy makers, and food growers and processors contribute 162 tours — about a third of the total. No other categories include more than 20 tours, but quite a few list 10 or more. Even among the more limited categories, however, you’ll find something for just about everyone in your travel group. Tours to whet your appetite Among the tours you might find most interesting: Automobile factories, including BMW in Spartanburg, South Carolina; Corvette in Bowling Green, Kentucky; Ford Rouge Factory (where the F-150 truck is assembled), Dearborn, Michigan; Hyundai, Montgomery, Alabama; and Subaru, Lafayette, Indiana. Several others in the current list are temporarily closed or suspended. Candy makers, with giant Hershey’s operation more of a theme park than factory tour, but lots of small local outfits around the country offer authentic tours. Coffee roasters, mostly in Hawaii but a few elsewhere, including Roasterie in Kansas City. Cheesemakers, of which the biggest apparently is Tillamook in Tillamook, Oregon, but there are lots of others around the country. Distilleries are somewhat centered in Kentucky or Tennessee with Dickel, Jack Daniel, Maker’s Mark and Wild Turkey, but others are scattered around the country. Musical Instrument makers include Gibson in Memphis and Moog in Asheville, North Carolina. Sports equipment tours include Louisville Slugger in Louisville. Transportation tours include Union Pacific’s Bailey Yard visitor center in North Platte, Nebraska. Other diverse tours range from America Whistle Company, Columbus, Ohio; Annie Oakley Perfumery, Ligonier, Indiana; and Columbus Washboard Company in Logan, Ohio, through Hoegh Pet Casket Company in Michigan; KitchenAid in Greenville, Makes a great gift!

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Inn hiking From page 16

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From page 17 BE A FOSTER CARE MENTOR Make a difference in someone’s life by being an advocate, friend and mentor to youth in foster care. You can become a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) to ensure kids receive the support, health services and education assistance they need. Training begins in September. For more information, visit casabaltco.org/volunteer or call (410) 828-0515.

Unfortunately, some perennially popular tours are currently suspended, including my top choice of Boeing along with Fender Guitars, Harley Davidson, several General Motors plants, Pendleton woolens, Reuger organs, and Steinway pianos. Presumably, most suspensions are only temporary, so keepGeographically,checking.

book a trip with a tour company, they will do all the planning for you and will transport your luggage. Reasons to hike on vacation Immersion into Mother Nature’s green wilderness is wonderful for the soul. The rhythm of footfall after footfall affords you time to think. There is no phone grabbing your attention; it is all you — moving through time, testing your limits. Exploring a road less traveled that offers peace and quiet while rhythmically working your muscles brings a satisfying self-awareness and appreciation of the earth we love. If you go The closest airport is Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport, which connects to Logan International Airport in Boston. Flights from DCA to Rutland start at $359 on Jet Blue. To explore the Green Mountains on foot, I recommend the Vermont Inn to Inn Walking Tour, (833) 466-2466. For the Camino de Santiago, book a tour like “Walking the Camino de Santiago” from Explore. The closest airport is Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport. Round-trip flights from here to Madrid start at $526 on Delta Airlines in September. Backroads offers a variety of tours to explore the U.S. and abroad. Visit backroads.com. Sandi Barrett is a freelance writer exploring the Americas and Europe and seeking out interesting adventures and oddities, exceptional local cuisine, and fun libations. You can follow her travels on Instagram @Travel_With_Sandi. Ohio; and Levi Strauss in San Francisco, to SC Johnson in Racine, Wisconsin, and Ulu Knives in Anchorage. Temporary suspensions

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Throughout the ages, there have been many important advances in mobility. Canes, walkers, rollators, and scooters were created to help people with mobility issues get around and retain their independence. Lately, however, there haven’t been any new improvements to these existing products or developments in this field. Until now. Recently, an innovative design engineer who’s developed one of the world’s most popular products created a completely new breakthrough . . . a personal electric vehicle. It’s called the Zinger, and there is nothing out there quite like it. “What my wife especially loves is it gives her back feelings of safety and independence which has given a real boost to her conﬁdence and happiness! Thank You!” –Kent C., California

Overseas, the website inspirock.com lists separate “best 15 factory tours” for France, Germany and the UK. All three lists seem to focus on automotive plants. I haven’t verified those listings but some look promising. Plan well ahead A majority of the top tours require advance planning, with reservations sometimes required weeks or months in advance, available online at most. Many are open only at limited hours and some less than daily. Most now charge admissions. Most impose some minimum age and physical ability limitations for visitors, and several prohibit clothing likely to cause problems or impede movement. All in all, I don’t see any factory tours that meet the Michelin three-star standard of “worth a special journey.” But several meet the two-star “worth a detour” test. The online lists are not exhaustive. If you don’t see something that interests you, Google “factory tours at (company or location).”Mysuggestion is that if you’re at all interested, check out whatever is available in any destination area you plan to visit. And check early enough to make reservations and schedule your tour. Email Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net or see his travel website at www.rail-guru.com. © 2022 Ed Perkins. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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the list includes at least two tours in every state, although the pickings are slim in a few. Oddly, the alphabetical state index omits Louisiana with its popular McIlhenny Tabasco tour in Avery Island, but you can access Louisiana tours by clicking on the map.

BLOOD DRIVE Save lives and show your support by donating blood. Your single blood donation can save up to three lives. The drive takes place Wed., Aug. 31 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Arbutus Branch Library at 855 Sulphur Spring Rd. Contact the branch at (410) 887-1451 or Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767 to make an appointment or get more information. BITS

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By Tina Collins One winter day on a college campus in the Midwest, Tuyet Thi Pham fell in love with theater. The first show she ever saw, Angels in America, would set the stage for the rest of her life. To her amazement, despite the freezing weather, throngs of people were protesting the production. She was astonished that a show could produce such a public reaction.Eight hours later, following the two-part play, Pham emerged from the theater enlightened and awed by the immersive experience of live storytelling. Although she had been on track to go into healthcare like her accomplished siblings, Pham now saw theater as a new way to connect with the world. In the years since that night, Pham became an actor of stage, television and film — as well as a director, teacher and activist. In the Baltimore and D.C. areas alone, Pham has appeared in more than 50 productions, at venues including Centerstage, Arena Stage and the Kennedy Center. For her work in the Spooky Action Theater’s The Room at the Top of the Stairs, she received a Helen Hayes Acting Award in 2019. Moved to write by pandemic Pham’s first full-length production as a playwright, Dinner and Cake, will have its world premiere in September at the EverymanPham,Theatre.however, is a reluctant writer. “Language is hard and writing is painful,” she admitted in a recent interview with the Beacon “Writing is more vulnerable than acting. It forces you to strip down to essentials with nowhere to hide.” Pham wrote the work during the pandemic. An introvert who missed the collaboration of performing, a communicator with no innate desire to write, Pham spent three solitary weeks on the couch with M&Ms and existential dread. It was this crisis of conscience that finally pushed her to create her first full-length play — which she promptly put in a drawer. Due to what seemed the insurmountable barrier of it being mostly written in Vietnamese, Pham thought it was unproducible. But with good timing, luck and the eyes of some good friends and colleagues, she brought the work to light in a workshop this past March. Based on experienceslife Based on a real-life event, the play ties together many threads of Pham’s life. The prequel to her story as an artist began in Vietnam. When Pham was a child, her family escaped the fall of Saigon in 1975, landing in Omaha,SponsorsNebraska.helped bridge a potentially alienating transition, and the family of 12 proved remarkably resilient andPhamadaptable.describes her parents as “stoic TON GE Based e onicturstarrtpthemotidhi ring tSwayParick Order 2 for ticke Whoopi Gande,oore Demi yzM online at TobysDinn e W ON SNOSeason Su b023 ts call 10-730-83114 wsture of theao the naDue t og! ldber o changet tjecsubate

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Local actor Tuyet Thi Pham, whose family fled Vietnam in 1975, has appeared in more than 50 productions. This fall, her first full-length play, Dinner and Cake, will debut at the Everyman Theatre. Her immigrant family emphasized optimism.

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“I didn’t realize how lucky I was to be witnessing all of that,” he said. “Which way is East Germany going to go? What will this part of the city (East Berlin) end up like? What’s going to happen to these people?”

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13 novels and counting Fesperman, 66, has written 13 novels, 10 of which have been published since he retired from the Sun. The first three works were completed while he was still a foreign correspondent for the newspaper. His writing days, he noted, begin at about 8 a.m. He can put in an eight-hour day at the keyboard “when things are going good.” “I enjoy writing books,” Fesperman added. “I like to tell a story. I try to write the kind of book I would like to read. “And I get to tell a story on my own terms, in a world of my own creation that — just maybe — makes a little more sense than the one I used to cover as a reporter.” His novels have won, among other citations, two UK Crime Writers Association awards, a Dashiell Hammett prize from the Crime Writers Association, and a selection as the year’s best mystery/thriller by USA Today

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Bowie, who was also a veteran reporter at the Sun, has gone over to the Baltimore Banner , a recent start-up “digital news source that’s focusing in on the Baltimore region,” according to its online blurb.Despite its inner-city rep of crime and harsh police punishment, Fesperman said he remains attracted to Baltimore and its surroundings.“Ilikeliving in the Baltimore area because it’s a place that feels grounded, even if it seems it can be a little insular,” he said. “I guess that’s also part of its charm.” Fesperman was asked what makes a person into a writer. He told the Beacon that what he said in an interview about a decade ago still holds true today: “Write every day. Make it a habit, not a diversion. Once you’ve made it a habit, turn it into an obsession. “Then, when you reach the point that it’s the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning, and the last thing you think of as you fall asleep, you’ll know you’ve become a writer.” 2022 Flea Market Cars, boats, furniture, antiques, tools, appliances

20 Arts & Style | Subscribe online! See how on p. 22 SEPTEMBER

— BALTIMORE BEACON Fesperman From page 1 Radio

A native of Charlotte, North Carolina and a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Fesperman lives with his wife, Liz Bowie, in Baltimore County, near Lake Roland. They have lived in the area since 1984, raising two children here.

Winter Work looks at the Cold War in what critics agree are deeply human terms.“Most Cold War spy novels focus on the Manichaean ideological struggle between East and West,” said the Times in reviewing the book. “This one successfully explores a grayer era, when neither side in the conflict understood quite what was happening, and the old rules of the game evaporated in a matter of weeks. The trade in truth and lies was booming, and nothing was as it seemed.”

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Everything and anything is sold on Heard every Sunday, 7-8:00 a.m. on 680 WCBM Novels by Dan Fesperman: Lie in the Dark, 1999 The Small Boat of Great Sorrows, 2003 The Warlord’s Son, 2004 The Prisoner of Guantanamo, 2006 The Amateur Spy, 2007 The Arms Maker of Berlin, 2009 Layover in Dubai, 2010 The Double Game, 2012 Unmanned, 2014 The Letter Writer, 2016 Safe Houses, 2018 The Cover Wife, 2021 Winter Work, 2022

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and heroic,” and she deftly carries on that sense of humility and strength with a wry sense of self-deprecation: “I think of myself as failing upwards.”

Although Pham is focused on the new play, she keeps in mind the spirit she carries forward in her life and work: “Beyond what you say, life is what you do,” she said, “how you serve others and how much you cared.”

Pham feels her immigrant story is relatable to most Americans whose ancestors journeyed far and lived “quiet lives in the middle of society balancing their culture with assimilation,” she said. In person, Pham displays a unique combination of being both buoyant and practical. Life can be hard, but she is not prone to Herdespair.family often recommended being “Tigger versus Eeyore,” she said, referring to A. A. Milnes’s optimistic stuffed tiger and perpetually gloomy donkey in the Winnie the Pooh series. Her passion is tempered, however, by a lack of ego and an ability to stop and really listen to others. This is what her character is forced to do in Dinner and Cake. As the translator between two sets of in-laws who really don’t like each other — one American and one Vietnamese — she must deftly merge being an honest broker and a goodwill ambassador. “Of course, in a perfect world, all would not matter. Cultural exchange would be about harmony instead of power. It would be about what is being offered instead of what is being taken,” she said. Unique style Friends remark that Pham is “age ambiguous.” Perhaps the lack of an exact birth date, lost in the chaos of mid-century Vietnam, helps her remain unlimited by the usual Pham’sconstraints.creativepursuits are balanced by a sense of discipline developed from years of competitive gymnastics, dance and martial arts. She believes that movement is a language all its own, one that anyone can learn. In her performances, she emphasizes the eloquence of body language and the importance of silent moments. This month, as she embarks on rehearsals for Dinner and Cake, directed by Paige Hernandez, Pham tempers her anticipation of the play’s opening by remembering a quote from theater legend Peter Brooks: “The goal of the first day of rehearsal is to get to the next one.”

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BALTIMORE BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022

The world premiere of Dinner and Cake by Tuyet Thi Pham will be at the Everyman Theatre, 315 W. Fayette St., Baltimore. Previews are September 6 to 8. Then it runs Wednesday through Sunday evenings, with matinees on Saturday, Sunday and some Wednesdays, through October 2. For tickets ($29 to $63, depending on performance and seat), go to everymantheatre.org or call the box office at (410) 752-2208. Makes a great

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The Greens at Rolling Road: 410-744-9988 Park View at Catonsville: 410-719-9464 Park View at Dundalk: 410-288-5483 • 55 & Better Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665 Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375 Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

The Greens at Irvington Mews: 410-644-4487 Park Heights Place: 410-578-3445 Park View at Ashland Terrace: 410-276-6440 Park View at Coldspring: 410-542-4400

The Greens at English Consul: 410-789-3000 The Greens at Liberty Road: 410-655-1100 The Greens at Logan Field: 410-288-2000

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

BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.) Park View at Rosedale: 410-866-1886 Park View at Taylor: 410-663-0363 Park View at Towson: 410-828-7185 Park View at Woodlawn: 410-281-1120 EASTERN SHORE Park View at Easton: 410-770-3070

MOST COMMUNITIES ARE 62 AND BETTER

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

22 Arts & Style | Subscribe online! See how below SEPTEMBER 2022 — BALTIMORE BEACON Scrabble answers on p. 21. Crossword Puzzle Find a new crossword every day on our website at www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com/puzzles. Answers on page 21. BB922 2. On the safe side, at sea 3. Pose for a Mr. Universe picture 4. Prediction from a cookie 5. Prediction from a pilot 6. Winner of four Emmy Awards for best drama 7. Half of all 20th century British kings 8. Leader of Kuwait or Qatar 9. Element with the lowest Scrabble score 10. “It’s a __ the right direction” 11. Opposite of gentle 12. Remove with Photoshop 13. About 39 inches 18. Roadside restriction 23. Golf tournament 25. Letters in a Neverland monogram 26. On a 24-hour cycle 27. Hourly rate 28. Remove wrinkles 29. Make the lighting more romantic 30. Collectable, to Jay Leno 33. Notable times 34. Emotional exhale 35. Low digit 38. What a canine and feline have in common 40. One additional abbreviation 43. Kimchi quality 45. Alternative fuel, subject of a 1981 executive order 47. Late (as a loan payment) 49. When Rome was not built 50. Words before later or then 51. His most played song is Let’s Dance 52. The Odyssey and the Iliad, for example 53. Ease the peddle off the metal 56. Portion of Hawaii 58. Memorization method 59. Sewing case 60. It first broadcast SportsCenter in 1979 63. His autobiography is called The Greatest: My Own Story 64. Direct current, detective comics, and District of Columbia Blotto By Stephen Sherr 1.Across Faux pas 6. Starts a blind date 11. Change a skirt’s length 14. Distribute a budget 15. Come out of denial 16. Where the Wild Things ___ 17. Grocery store aisle in some jurisdictions 19. Unpopular rodent 20. Send suggestive messages 21. Actor Sharif 22. Entourage 24. THIS CASE 26. Coded message 27. Entertain, extravagantly 30. Type of fair for the well-dressed 31. Paul McCartney or Mick Jagger 32. Where a nuthatch hatches 36. “The best time to buy a house is always five years ___” 37. Common ending for Polish surnames 39. Record label that bought Motown in 1988 41. Puerco, Chama, or Grande in New Mexico 42. First female attorney general, Janet 44. Part of reading and ‘riting (but not ‘rthmatic) 46. Revenue generating part of a mag. 48. Leave without paying 51. “Nature and books ___ to the eyes that see them” (Emerson) 54. Defiles 55. Kennedy Center performance 56. Top corn-producing state 57. Forest unit 61. ___ and wisdom 62. “D” in Morse Code 65. Hospital area with extra RNs 66. Put it ___ the line (go for broke) 67. Prepare potatoes to become home fries 68. TV psychic’s power, perhaps 69. Let pedestrians go first 70. Welcome guests at the door 1.DownShares all the gossip 12345 678910 111213 14 15 16 1718 19 20 21 2223 2425 26 272829 30 31 32333435 36 3738 3940 41 4243 4445 4647 484950 515253 54 55 56 57585960 61 626364 65 66 67 68 69 70

Install

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showers, new bathrooms,

Nationwide [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.)] I WILL BUY YOUR UNWANTED REAL ESTATE for CASH! AS IS! No repairs, inspections and no Realtors Fees or Closing Fees! No need to clean the house out, take what you want and leave the rest! You can have your MONEY in 14 DAYS! CALL NEAL for your cash offer now! 410-419-1289. T’S HAULING & MOVING I will move your possessions or haul them away. I clean out yards, basements, garages, houses, apartments, attics, etc. Friendly, reliable, honest, and hardworking guys with a lot of references. Call Tim @ 443-690-6525 or 410-889-3795 Check us out on Facebook @T’shaulingandmoving TIRED OF BEING ALONE? Meet Your soulmate today. We gladly invite you to join SoulmateConnexions.Com DISH NETWORK. $64.99 for 190 Channels! Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo. (where avail-

BALTIMORE BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Arts & Style 23

HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

• $25 for 1-250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length). The website will calculate this for you. Note: Maryland contractors must provide a valid MHIC number. • Each real estate listing qualifies as one ad.

Call

backsplash, countertops, drywall,

included!

LET CONGREGATION BEIT TIKVAH & Rabbi Doug Heifitz welcome you to our High Holidays and Year-round services. We are a warm, diverse & egalitarian Reconstructionist Jewish Congregation at 5802 Roland Avenue, Baltimore. 21210. Contact info@beittikvah.org. www.BeitTikvah.org, 410-464-9402. UP TO $15,000.00 OF GUARANTEED LIFE INSURANCE! No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses. Call Physicians Life Insurance Company866-212-1092 or visit www.Life55plus.info/beacon WESLEY FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts. Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 855-626-8703. PUT ON YOUR TV EARS and hear TV with unmatched clarity. TV Ears Original were originally $129.95 - NOW WITH THIS SPECIAL OFFER are only $59.95 with code MCB59! Call 1-833-934-0843. PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES TODAY with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Money Down + Low Monthly Payment Options. Request a FREE Quote. Call now before the next power outage: 1-866-964-8106. FOR SALE MOBILITY SCOOTER “DRIVE”. Latest technology, automatically opens, folds. Brand new. Original price $2,650 selling for $2,000. Available in Catonsville, MD. Please Contact mawsm46@gmail.com, Cell (443) 9293991 Waseem. MORELAND CEMETERY 4 PLOTS. $5,000 OBO. 443-386-8128, Leave a phone number and I will return your call. VIVINT. SMART SECURITY. Professionally installed. One connected system for total peace of mind. FREE professional installation! Four FREE months of monitoring! Call now to customize your system. 1-844-758-7925. DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-844366-1003 www.dental50plus.com/320 #6258. CARE HEALTH, medical alert system. The most advanced medical alert product on the market. Voice-activated! No wi-fi needed! Special offer call and mention offer code CARE20 to get $20 off Mobile Companion. Call today 877-353-2589. MEDICAL CANNABIS can be very helpful for pain, nausea, poor appetite, insomnia and more. It is legal and safe. We will help you register with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission and SAVE 15%! Today! 1-855-653-0087. AXS TILE, COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL hard tile, bricks, stone handicap, kitchen plaster, Please call 410-977-3610 or 410-285-5452. axstile@yahoo.com MHIC # 115085. DON’T LET THE STAIRS LIMIT YOUR MOBILITY! the ideal tery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-866-944-0699 APPLYING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY or Appealing a Denied Claim? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc. Our case managers simplify the process & work hard to help with your case. Call 1-866-970-0779 FREE Consultation. Local Attorneys able.) Switch & Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming ALL Call today! 1-844-560-5837. DIRECTV for $79.99/mo for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Watch your favorite live sports, & First 3 months of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and Epix Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) Some apply. Call 1-888-572-4953. the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL #2605 7401 Bay Front Rd., Edgemere, Md. 3rd Sunday Monthly Dinner Buffet Style, 1:00 to 4:00 PM September 18, 2022. Menu: Fried Chicken, Pineapple Ham, Roaster Pork with Sauerkraut, Mashed Potatoes, Stir-Fry Vegetables, Soup du Jour, Garden Salad, Dinner Rolls, Desert Cake, Soda, Coffee, and Tea, Adults $18.00, Children 8 to 12 $8.00. Reservations, please call 410-477-5225. Put those pots and pans away and enjoy a Sunday Dinner on the Bay with family and friends.

works, new installation, repair. Install

email:

• All ads are subject to publisher's discretion. Payment will be refunded if unacceptable for any reason. To place your classified ad, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifiedsvisit

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME! Jamhuri Healthcare Services recognizes the importance of keeping seniors or adults with special needs, in their homes, rather than sending them to a skilled nursing facility. Our personal in-home care program is designed to implement non-medical tasks to meet the clients’ physical needs. Our home care aides provide a multitude of services for our clients, ranging from meal preparation & house cleaning to personal assistance & running errands. We are diligent in our staff & client pairings. We won’t put just anyone in your home or the home of your loved ones. Senior transportation services available 24/7. Call us toll-free at 1-800-5472851.send text to the same number. visit us on the web: www.jamhuricares.com.

Devices.

entertainment anywhere.

solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1866-365-5170. SAFE STEP. North America’s #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-866-478-2363. THE GENERAC PWRCELL, a solar plus bat-

ALOE

FinancialForEventsSaleHealthComputerCaregiversServicesEvents Home/HandymanHealth Services Legal PersonalMiscellaneousServicesServicesTV/CablePersonals Clinical Research Studies Afraid of Falling Study . . . . . . . . .9 Balance and Memory Study . . . . . .9 Cognition/Pre-Diabetes Study . . .10 HIPS Fall Prevention Study . . . . .10 Knee Osteoarthritis Study . . . . . . .9 Shingles & Flu Vaccine Study . . .11 Education CCBC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Financial/InsuranceServices John Richardson Insurance . . . . .13 Funeral Services Cremation Society of Maryland . .16 MacNabb Funeral Home . . . . . . .16 Health Apex Neuropathy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Greenspring Podiatry . . . . . . . . . . .3 Home Health Care/ Companion Services Family & Nursing Care . . . . . . .1, 7 Options for Senior America . . . . .13 Tender Care Nursing . . . . . . . . . . .5 Housing Catholic Charities . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Charlestown/Erickson . . . . . . . . . .8 Christ Church Harbor Apts . . . . .17 Enterprise Residential . . . . . . . . .21 Keswick Community for Life . . .10 Oak Crest/Erickson . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Park View Apartments . . . . . . . . .21 Pickersgill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 St. Mary’s Roland View Towers . .13 Virginia Towers . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Warren Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Retail Perfect Sleep Chair . . . . . . . . . . .20 Radio Flea Market . . . . . . . . . . . .20 SoLite Scooter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Zinger Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Senior Resources Maryland Relay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Catholic Charities . . . . . . . . . . . .14 ProMedica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Subscriptions Beacon Newspapers . . . . . . . . . . .22 Theater/Entertainment JHU Peabody Institute . . . . . . . . .19 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . .19 Travel Eyre Tour & Travel . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Superior Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Volunteering UMD School of Public Health . . . .6 Advertiser Index Classifieds cont. on p. 21

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 guide lines and deadlines, see the box on the right. CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept ob scene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot ac cept responsibility for

handyman services.

FRUSTRATED? CONFUSED? I can help you become confident and comfortable with your smartphone, laptop, tablet or other device. Over 20 years experience working with diverse clients, call Julia 443-436-2612. computercoachbaltimore.weebly.com

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, famil ial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

All classified ads must be submitted and paid for online, via our website, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds Deadlines and Payments: To appear in the next issue, your ad text and payment must be entered by the 5th of the preceding month (for Baltimore and Howard County editions); by the 20th (for Washington and Richmond editions). Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad:

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24 Subscribe online! See how on p. 22 SEPTEMBER 2022 — BALTIMORE BEACON

your

is easy to transport and almost impossible to tip over. Exclusive Electronic Stability Control helps prevent tipping FREE 2 Carry-all bags (a $38.90 value) © 2022 Journey Health and Lifestyle enjoying life never gets old™mobility | sleep | comfort | safety

Like millions of older Americans, I struggle with mobility. For years, I watched my quality of life slip away, as I was forced to stay home while friends and family took part in activities I’d once enjoyed. I thought I’d made some progress when I got a mobility scooter, but then I realized how hard it was to transport. Taking it apart and putting it back together was like doing a jigsaw puzzle. Once I had it disassembled, I had to try to put all of the pieces in the trunk of a car, go to wherever I was going, and repeat the process in reverse. Travel scooters were easier to transport, but they were uncomfortable and scary to drive, I always felt like I was ready to tip over. Then I found the So LiteTM Scooter. Now there’s nothing that can hold me back. Years of work by innovative engineers have resulted in a scooter that’s designed with seniors in mind. They created Electronic Stability Control (ESC) that makes it virtually impossible to tip over. If you try to turn too quickly, the scooter automatically slows down to prevent it from tipping over. The battery provides powerful energy at a fraction of the weight of most batteries. With its rugged yet lightweight aluminum frame, the So LiteTM is the most portable scooter ever—but it can hold up to 275 pounds—yet weighs only 40.8 pounds without the battery! What’s more, it easily folds up for storage in a car seat, trunk or even on an airplane. It folds in seconds without tools and is safe and reliable. Best of all, it’s designed with your safety in mind, from the newest technology and superior craftsmanship. Why spend another day letting your lack of mobility ruin quality of life? Call now and find out how you can get a So LiteTM Scooter of your very own. Call now Toll-Free a So LiteTM Scooter So LiteTM Scooter

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