October 2016 | Baltimore Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

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Relationships in retirement

OCTOBER 2016

I N S I D E …

PHOTO BY CHRIS MYERS

By Carol Sorgen We talk a lot about how retirement affects our finances. But do we talk about how retirement affects our relationships? Probably not as much as we should, says Baltimore life coach Barbara Harman. “Retirement brings a lot of emotional changes,” Harman said. “Some people are prepared for them, but most are not.” Recently retired psychiatric nurse Pamela Worthington, for example, is still waiting to feel as “ecstatic” as she expected she would once she retired. One thing she didn’t expect to feel was the loss of the easy relationships she had with her co-workers. “It was more organic [before],” the Towson resident said. “When we were on a break or passing each other in the halls, there was an opportunity for a quick conversation, even if only to say hi and ask what was new. Now I feel like I have to have a reason to call them.”

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Friendship transitions Friendships do change over time. We graduate from school, get married, have kids. All these passages bring changes to our relationships. The same holds true for retirement. According to a study by sociologist Gerald Mollenhorst of Utrecht University in the Netherlands, we lose about half our friends every seven years. The good news is that we usually do replace them. It just may take longer as we get older and lose the established structures — such as work — that provide ready opportunity and shared experiences in our lives. In the “Friendship Blog” (www.thefriendshipblog.com), friendship expert Irene S. Levine, Ph.D., notes that the workplace is often an important source of friendships (that’s especially true for women). Before you retire, she advises exploring whether any workplace friends are good prospects for remaining so once you no longer work together. Sharing activities — from golf, to Scrabble, to book clubs — is a good way to keep relationships intact, or form new ones, according to AARP. So is volunteering or taking a class. “And don’t fall prey to the myth that everyone already has their friends,” Levine said in her blog. “Many people are in the

Dale Springer has retired from two careers, while his wife, Maria, has worked from home for years. They say they’ve avoided some of the pitfalls that can plague retired couples by keeping up with their individual interests and activities, and giving each other space. Other relationships, such as friendships, may also need to be recalibrated in retirement.

same situation as you and would welcome a warm smile, hello, compliment or invitation to chat that says, ‘Let’s be friends.’” Lorraine Friedman retired last December from her job as an office manager in Timonium. Most of her friends are still working but, unlike Worthington, she finds she doesn’t see them any less. Perhaps that’s because they’ve always had to schedule their get-togethers around not just work, but marriage, children and grandchildren, hobbies and volunteer activities. “We all have things to do,” said Friedman, “but when we’re free, we get together.” Now living in Pennsylvania, Friedman said she doesn’t need more Baltimore friends, but admits she has made an effort to make new friends in Pennsylvania by

volunteering several times a week as a dog walker at the local SPCA. She also keeps busy with reading, knitting, sewing and gardening, and advised other new retirees to make sure they have enough hobbies and interests to fill their time and take the place of work. “Otherwise, you’ll be miserable,” she warned.

Renavigating relationships Marriages, of course, are also affected by retirement. “If one partner has retired before another, or one has always been a stay-at-home homemaker and parent, there can be a sense that the other person is encroaching upon his or See RELATIONSHIPS, page 5

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

A tour of the extensive flora and fauna of Maine’s Acadia National Park; plus, the Caribbean’s spicy island of Grenada page 19 FITNESS & HEALTH k New dissolving stent k Early clues to dementia

LAW & MONEY 15 k Coping with low interest rates k Protect yourself against scams ARTS & STYLE k Riveting All My Sons k Why join Senior Box Office?

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OCTOBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Head in the clouds It used to be, if you said someone “had data from one year to the next. his head in the clouds,” you meant his Yes, we know our phones and computmind was elsewhere; he wasers can be hacked. But how n’t paying attention. likely is that, we ask ourNowadays, when people selves? And we can, if we speak of “the cloud,” they are choose, utilize various means talking about computers, of protecting our data with websites, software and digital passwords, firewalls, security storage that are maintained software and the like. elsewhere, but available for But what if we are running us to use through the Interout of computer or smartnet. This amalgam of cloud phone memory? We are freservices has become the quently urged to move our place where many of us store digital files into the cloud. FROM THE our personal information, Uploading our photos to a PUBLISHER family photos, financial and website not only lets us By Stuart P. Rosenthal tax history, and more. delete them from our personUnfortunately, some of us al devices. It offers additional have our heads in the clouds, too. benefits: We can easily allow friends (or Let me take a step back and explain even strangers) to view our photos at will. what I mean. The same is often true of our personal Many aspects of our lives have become medical and financial information. As we “digital” today. We don’t take pictures get older, we might be asked to keep a list using cameras with film. We capture im- of our medications and doctors, our living ages on our smartphones or digital cam- will and powers of attorney, on a website eras and view them there, or on our com- that can be shared with certain family puters, when we like. members and medical professionals, so the We don’t do our taxes by hand and keep people who care about us (and may one loads of files. We use a software program day need to care for us) can have ready acthat makes it far simpler and keeps our cess to the information they would need

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should we become incapacitated. As a result, we might become careless about maintaining our paper records or our own computer. Businesses (and governments as well) make use of online services and websites to maintain information about their customers, their employees, their stockholders, etc. In addition, they frequently use the cloud in carrying out essential functions: our nation’s electric grid and long-distance service rely heavily on satellites and the Internet, as do many aspects of our military communications. The individual and societal benefits are great. But the risks are also very serious. We have not yet developed a way to keep digital information — whether on our computers or in the cloud — truly safe from hackers or disgruntled employees who want to steal our data and disseminate, manipulate or sell it to others. The victims of these thefts are not just ordinary individuals who lack technical knowledge. They include Target, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the Democratic National Committee, and even the National Security Agency. And as for our satellites, China has demonstrated (using one of its own) that they can be destroyed by a missile. As individuals, we cannot really do anything about this pervasive shift on the part of business and government, other than to continually press our legislators and other leaders to secure these systems as much as possible, and develop backups that can function in an emergency. But as individuals, we don’t have to make ourselves needlessly vulnerable. We should not trust the cloud to be the only place where we access or store important information. As long as we maintain either a physical copy of our data, or a digital backup on a hard drive or flash drive, it may make sense to maintain a backup of important in-

formation in the cloud. After all, a house fire can destroy all our precious tax records and photo albums, too. But sometimes there is no way to hold onto a backup of the data we upload, or to retrieve the reports that software in the cloud creates for us. I speak from experience. Some years ago, the Beacon’s first website, may it rest in peace, was part of a national senior organization that created and hosted it — together with those of many other senior publications — on their website. In exchange, we advertised the parent site in the Beacon. One day, the Beacon’s website suddenly disappeared. When I called, panicked, to find out what had happened, I was told that, unfortunately, there had been a “catastrophic failure” of our site. I noted that the rest of their website, on which we had been housed, seemed just fine, and then I asked about their backup. Oh, he said, “believe it or not” (and I didn’t), their backup failed at the same time, meaning we could no longer access any of the material we had painstakingly uploaded over a period of years onto their site. Of course what really had failed was their honesty and their will to continue providing the service. With not so much as a day’s notice, or any effort to back up our information or provide it to us in another form, they closed us down. It took months and tremendous effort to create a new website from scratch. This experience gave me a taste of what it would be like were the Internet to be “down” for a considerable period of time, or were a site in the cloud to be hacked and disabled. As a result, I am highly reluctant to rely on any software or storage that exists solely in the cloud. I am not a Luddite. I wouldn’t recommend avoiding or pulling out from all the beneficial software and cloud platforms See FROM THE PUBLISHER, page 24

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

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

Dear Editor: As a senior citizen in Baltimore, I read with interest your article “Choice of continuing education classes” in the September issue. However, as a member and chair of the Advisory Board of the Osher at Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore/Columbia, I was very disappointed that our program was not listed. Every one of the continuing education programs that you listed has some unique characteristics that make them better suited for some folks. That is certainly true for Osher at JHU. Like the Beacon, Osher at JHU serves

senior citizens and endeavors to keep them informed of continuing education opportunities. Robert Stiefel Baltimore The editor responds: The article highlights the Osher program at Towson University. The Johns Hopkins’ programs Robert Stiefel refers to are held at Grace United Methodist Church at 5407 N. Charles St. in Baltimore and at the Hopkins campus in Columbia, and that program was included in the Beacon’s Howard County edition. For information on these locations, call (410) 516-9719.

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2016

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October & November

HAPPENINGS AT THE EDWARD A. MYERBERG CENTER Bagel Boys Men’s Club Every Tuesday in September, November & December, 9:30 a.m. $25 for Myerberg Members for the September – December trimester Join the Myerberg Men’s Club and enjoy coﬀee, bagels and guest speakers, weekly, while engaging in interesting discussions on a variety of topics ranging from health to history. Myerberg Center Membership is required.

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Taste of The Myerberg – Open House, Tour and Information Sunday, November 13, 11:00 – 2:00 p.m. Come see what The Myerberg Center is all about! Sample a ﬁtness or art class, meet The Bagel Boys or join a book club. Get great discounts on your new Myerberg membership or referral prizes for getting friends to become members.

Every Thursday, 12:30 p.m. $80/Members, $110/Nonmembers Join the singing group for men and women who love music and enjoy singing with others in a casual, inviting, friendly atmosphere. Singers will practice familiar melodies as well as some new material. Performances will take place at the Myerberg and musical selections will reﬂect the interests and requests of the group.

The Lure of Travel – with Gail Lipsitz Tuesdays, November 15 - December 6, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. $70/Members, $95/Nonmembers Join our travel reading club. Pick up our first selection beginning October 19 and enjoy reading and discussing works of fiction and non-fiction that offer perspectives on the experiences, challenges and rewards of travel.

First Thursdays: Women @ the Myerberg Monthly, 1:30 p.m. $10 per lecture

October 6 Barbara Blumberg, “Make Up Mavens.” Learn about the American cosmetic business and how innovation, drive and creativity led to multibillion dollar enterprises. November 3 Jessica Normington, Executive Director of the Pikesville Chamber of Commerce, will talk about hot-oﬀ-the-press news and what’s happening in Pikesville and Owings Mills.

NEW! Incredible Stories and Lives of Kindness with Robert Karp Thursdays, October 6 - October 27, 1:00 p.m. $55/Members, $75/Nonmembers Hear the inspirational and sometimes surprising stories of Baltimore personalities Henrietta Szold, Bea Gaddy and Mr. and Mrs. Abe Schmell. Their experiences are sure to warm the heart.

Eisenhower Farm & Adams County Winery Tour Thursday, October 27, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. $105/Members, $120/Nonmembers Tour the farm grounds, including gardens, teahouse, skeet range, barn, show barn, putting green and more. Afterwards, enjoy lunch and then a tour and wine tasting at the Adams County Winery. Please be aware that the tour requires a significant amount of walking.

Stay active and in shape with fitness classes taught by highly trained fitness professionals. Classes are available for all fitness levels and are held in the spacious, state-of-the-art Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Fitness Center and Frosburg Group Fitness Room. NEW Expanded Fitness Center Hours of Operation: Sunday, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Monday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Closed The Fitness Center will be closed for Rosh Hashanah (October 3 and 4), Erev Yom Kippur (closed at 1pm, October 11), Yom Kippur (October 12), Sukkot (October 17 and 18), Shemini Atzeret (October 24), Simchat Torah (October 25) Thanksgiving (November 24) and Christmas (December 25).

OCTOBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Health Fitness &

NEW CLUES TO DEMENTIA Behavioral changes may signal dementia years ahead of memory loss EXERCISE AND CANCER People who are physically active are less likely to develop cancer THERAPY FOR MEN Men may be reluctant to talk with a therapist, but they have much to gain STOP SHINGLES Get a vaccine to cut the risk of shingles, and treat as soon as you spot a rash

FDA approves new stent that dissolves By Matthew Perrone A medical implant that slowly dissolves into the body could be the answer to longstanding safety concerns with devices used to treat clogged arteries. But not so fast, say experts. Abbott Laboratories’ newly-approved Absorb stent comes with one important caveat: it hasn’t yet been shown to be safer than older metal implants. The Food and Drug Administration approved the device recently for patients with coronary artery disease — the artery-narrowing condition that causes about 370,000 U.S. deaths each year, according to government figures. The new stent is made of a plastic-like material that’s designed to gradually dissolve over three years. Currently-available stents are permanent, metal mesh-wire tubes that hold open arteries after a procedure used to clear fatty plaque. Experts describe Abbott’s device as an important step in finding a better approach to treating the leading cause of death in the U.S. “This is presumably a better technology going forward, at least that’s the theory, but it will take years to prove,” said Dr.

George Vetrovec, professor emeritus at Virginia Commonwealth University. Vetrovec was part of an FDA advisory panel of cardiologists who overwhelmingly endorsed the device in March. The Absorb stent, already sold in Europe and Asia, is made of a degradable material that’s designed to stay intact for one year then break down over the next two years.

Metal stent safety worries Use of metallic stents surged in the early 2000s as a treatment for people who suffered a heart attack or experienced chest pain caused by clogged arteries that restrict blood flow. They are still implanted in about 850,000 U.S. patients annually. But doctors have scaled back their use due to safety concerns, insurance cost-cutting and evidence that they are overused. Studies in 2007 and 2008 suggested that stented arteries faced a higher risk of blood clots, potentially triggering a heart attack a year or more down the road. Results of another five-year study showed that patients who received stents to treat chest pain fared about as well as those treated with drugs.

Amid these concerns, Abbott and others began developing dissolving stents that would slowly melt away like stitches, presumably reducing complications. In the company study submitted to the FDA, patients who got Absorb fared about as well as those receiving Abbott’s older metal stent after one year. But heart-related complications were actually slightly higher with Absorb — 7.8 percent of patients, versus 6.1 percent of patients with the metal stent. That 1.7 percent difference is not considered statistically significant. Other complications with the new device include allergic reactions, infections and internal bleeding.

Waiting for long-term results Researchers who studied Absorb said it may take years before its advantages become clear. Long-term safety results aren’t expected until 2020. “We have good theoretical reasons to believe that by getting rid of the stent [through dissolution], and allowing the coronary artery to restore its normal shape, that will prevent many of those late events,” said Dr. Gregg Stone, of Columbia

University Medical Center, who helped conduct the pivotal trial of Absorb. Stone was not paid by Abbott for his work on the trial. Some Wall Street analysts are betting that products like Absorb will allow companies to raise prices and boost revenue. “The key for the stent market will be whether pricing returns to rational levels and the success of the new bio-absorbable stent platforms,” states Evercore ISI analyst Vijay Kumar, in an investment note. He says a “perfect storm of events,” including safety concerns and the economic downturn, led Abbott and competitors Medtronic Inc. and Boston Scientific Corp. to slash prices in recent years. Stent sales fell roughly 30 percent to $4.1 billion in 2014 from 2006 levels, according to Evercore. Abbott said it does not disclose the price of its stents. However, hospitals often bill $30,000 for stenting procedures, which includes the costs of the stent, medical staff and other equipment and services. Chicago-based Abbott controls a little more than a third of the U.S. stent market. More than a dozen medical device makers are working on their own dissolving stent technologies. — AP

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her space,” said Harman. “Retirement is a passage that requires a renegotiating of the relationship.” According to AARP, researchers have found that marital stress increases during the first two years of retirement, and that retirement can magnify pre-existing difficulties, or reveal ones previously ignored. Fortunately that wasn’t the case for Dale and Maria Springer. Dale has retired twice, first from McCormick and Co. and then from a second career with the American Cancer Society. Meanwhile, Maria has worked from home as a cooking instructor, caterer and pastry chef for most of her career. Dale’s first retirement was an early one. He was just 51, so it took a bit of adjustment on both their parts. “Maria didn’t want me sitting around all day,” Dale laughed, “but I didn’t want to, either. That really wasn’t a problem anyway, because both of us have always had our own interests and activities. “The only thing Maria did make clear was that she wasn’t going to cook me lunch every day!” Dale said. Even after his second retirement, Dale continues to volunteer for the American Cancer Society — “I want to do something good,” he said — while Maria is occupied with her blog (www.majaskitchen.com), working on a book about gingerbread

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From page 1

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houses, and her social activities. “We enjoy each other and accept what each other is doing,” said Dale, as an explanation of how they have avoided the difficulties other couples may face after retirement. That doesn’t mean, however, that there haven’t been issues to resolve. For many years, the couple discussed downsizing and moving to a smaller home. “Our general response was that we would downsize ‘in five years’ — it was always five years out,” Dale said. Finally, two and a half years ago the Springers mutually agreed that the time had come. “We have adjusted, and are happy on the far side of that decision,” said Dale. But now another matter is looming, the possibility of reducing from two cars to one. “We both have such active and varied schedules that we do not see how we can make that work,” said Dale. “We understand that the day might come when one of us can no longer drive, [but] right now we worry how we will adjust to one car. This is not a major issue in the greater scheme of things, but one of the adjustments many couples go through in life.” “Change is hard and adjustments are not easy,” said Harman. “That’s why planning for retirement means more than keeping an eye on your investments. It means looking at how you want to spend your time, with whom, and how to accommodate the other person.”

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Relationships

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2016

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OCTOBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Behavior changes may precede dementia By Lauran Neergaard Memory loss may not always be the first warning sign that dementia is brewing — changes in behavior or personality might be an early clue. Researchers recently outlined a syndrome called “mild behavioral impairment” that may be a harbinger of Alzheimer’s or other dementias, and proposed a checklist of symptoms to alert doctors and families. Losing interest in favorite activities? Getting unusually anxious, aggressive or suspicious? Suddenly making crude comments in public? “Historically those symptoms have been written off as a psychiatric issue, or as just part of aging,” said Dr. Zahinoor Ismail of

the University of Calgary, who presented the checklist at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto. Now, “when it comes to early detection, memory symptoms don’t have the corner on the market anymore,” he said. Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, affects more than 5 million people in the U.S., a number growing as the population ages. It gradually strips people of their memory and the ability to think and reason. But it creeps up, quietly ravaging the brain a decade or two before the first symptoms become noticeable. Early memory problems called “mild cognitive impairment,” or MCI, can raise the risk of later developing dementia, and worsening

memory often is the trigger for potential patients or their loved ones to seek medical help. It’s not uncommon for people with dementia to experience neuropsychiatric symptoms, too — problems such as depression or “sundowning,” agitation that occurs at the end of the day — as the degeneration spreads into brain regions responsible for more than memory. And previous studies have found that people with mild cognitive impairment are at greater risk of decline if they also suffer more subtle behavioral symptoms.

An early warning sign? What’s new: The concept of pre-dementia “mild behavioral impairment,” or MBI,

a term that describes specific changes in someone’s prior behavior that might signal degeneration is starting in brain regions not as crucial for memory, he said. Ismail is part of an Alzheimer’s Association committee tapped to draft a checklist of the symptoms that qualify — new problems that linger at least six months, not temporary symptoms or ones explained by a clear mental health diagnosis or other issues such as bereavement, he stressed. (See sidebar for a checklist of possible symptoms.) If validated, the checklist could help doctors better identify people at risk of brewing Alzheimer’s, and study changes over time. See DEMENTIA CLUES, page 8

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Ongoing

LIVING WELL WITH DIABETES

The Baltimore County Department of Aging is sponsoring a sixweek course in October and November on managing diabetes. Learn how to cope with the physical and emotional effects of the illness, how to practice good nutrition, exercise effectively and more. The classes will be held at the Fleming Senior Center, 641 Main St., and Pikesville Senior Center, 1301 Reisterstown Rd. To register, call (410) 887-7225 for Reisterstown, or (410) 887-1245 for Pikesville.

Sept. 22

LIVING WITH MEMORY LOSS

As people age, memory loss can become a cause for concern. It is important to understand what may be part of the normal aging process and what may be a sign of a more serious condition. Jewish Community Services is partnering with the Edward A. Myerberg Center and the Alzheimer’s Association to present a special program called “Living Well with Memory Loss” on Thursday, Sept. 22, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Edward A. Myerberg Center, 3101 Fallstaff Rd., in Baltimore. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is preferred. Visit www.jcsbaltimore.org/memory-loss or call (410) 843-7370.

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2016

15-minute fish dinner By Melissa D’Arabian Years ago, I was traveling alone for work in New York City, and I popped into a random restaurant across the street from my hotel. I asked for a menu recommendation from my waiter, and he insisted on a claypot fish — a simple dish of cod, tomatoes, onion, potatoes and lemon baked in a small cazuela, or clay pot. I was skeptical, but completely hooked at first bite: fresh, simple, comforting all at once. The veggies created a light aromatic broth that steamed the fish gently to delicate perfection. The simple meal was so good, in fact, that I went back the second night of my trip and ordered the exact same thing. In a city with more must-try restaurants than I could ever hope to visit, repeat visits mean something. I’ve made various versions of claypot fish myself over the years, using cute tapas-style dishes I bought while visiting Barcelona, and I’ve loved every one of them. I was exploring the (crazy?) idea of making uber-fast meals in the microwave, and immediately claypot fish came to mind: could a covered glass dish provide the right environment to quickly steam the fish correctly, and avoid the rubbery-results one might expect from a microwaved meal? The short answer is yes! The trick is not to overcook the fish, even by a minute, so check the fish frequently. I use a glass dish, so admittedly it’s missing the charm and earthy flavor of the cazuela, but this microwaved version of claypot fish is legit delicious. It’s versatile (feel free to swap in some of your favorite ingredients or herbs), healthy, and full of vitamins and lean protein. Plus, anytime you can get dinner on the table in under 15 minutes is one less night you’ll be tempted to swing by the drive-thru. And that is a huge win for both your health and your wallet.

Weeknight “claypot” fish Start to finish: 15 minutes Yield: 4 servings 1 pound fingerling potatoes 4 fillets of Dover sole, or other white fish, such as cod or flounder, about 1 pound 3 roma tomatoes, diced 3 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup chopped red onion 2 tablespoons capers (or briny olives) chopped parsley, for garnish

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Pierce the fingerling potatoes two or three times each with a fork and place in a glass microwave-safe dish with cover. Fill with enough water to cover about onefourth the way up the potatoes (about 1/2 cup water) and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Microwave for 10 minutes. Potatoes should be firm but with some give. Season the fish fillets with a little salt and pepper, and lay on top of the parcooked potatoes. In a small bowl, mix together the tomatoes, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, onion and capers. Spoon on top of the fish. Cover and microwave for 5 minutes. Check for doneness — fish should be opaque. If not done, microwave for another minute or two, but check every thirty seconds. Let sit for a minute or two and then serve. Sprinkle with chopped parsley. Nutrition information per serving: 273

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

calories; 88 calories from fat; 10 g. fat (2 g. saturated; 0 g. trans fats); 71 mg. cholesterol; 572 mg. sodium; 24 g. carbohydrate; 4 g. fiber; 3 g. sugar; 22 g. protein.

Food Network star Melissa d’Arabian is an expert on healthy eating on a budget. She is the author of the cookbook “Supermarket Healthy.” Online: http://www.melissadarabian.net.

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Dementia clues From page 6 “It’s important for us to recognize that not everything’s forgetfulness,” said Dr. Ron Petersen, the Mayo Clinic’s Alzheimer’s research chief. He wasn’t involved in developing the behavior checklist but said it could raise awareness of the neuropsychiatric link with dementia. Technology specialist Mike Belleville of Douglas, Mass., thought stress was to blame when he found himself getting easily frustrated and angry. Normally patient, he began snapping at co-workers and rolling down his window to yell at other drivers, “things I’d never done before,” Belleville said.

The final red flag was a heated argument with his wife, Cheryl, who found herself wondering, “Who is this person?” When Mike Belleville didn’t remember the strong words the next morning, the two headed straight for a doctor. Physicians tested for depression and a list of other suspects. Eventually Belleville, now 55, was diagnosed with an early-onset form of dementia. With medication, he no longer gets angry so easily, allowing him to volunteer his computer expertise. “If you see changes, don’t take it lightly and assume it’s stress,” Cheryl Belleville advised.

Other recent developments Additional research presented at the

OCTOBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Alzheimer’s Association International Conference found that: • Complex jobs that require working with people may help the brain build resilience against dementia, what’s called “cognitive reserve,” University of Wisconsin researchers reported. The team tested 284 adults in late middle-age whose brain scans showed changes that have been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s. Comparing their cognitive ability and their careers, the researchers found those who worked primarily with people, rather than objects or data, functioned better even if brain scans showed more of that quiet damage. • Preliminary results from a study of “brain training” suggested one type might help delay cognitive impairment.

Researchers examined records from 2,785 older adults who’d participated in a previous trial that compared three cognitive training strategies — to improve memory, reasoning or reaction times — with no intervention. A decade later, that reactiontime training suggested benefit: 12 percent of people who’d completed up to 10 hours had evidence of cognitive decline or dementia compared with 14 percent in the control group, said Dr. Jerri Edwards of the University of South Florida. The figure was lower — 8 percent — for people who got some extra booster training. “It’s the first hint for a cognitive training intervention like this,” but more research is needed, said Dr. Jonathan King of the National Institute on Aging, who wasn’t involved in the new study. — AP

Dementia warning signs Researchers have outlined a syndrome called “mild behavioral impairment” that may be a harbinger of Alzheimer’s or other dementias, and proposed a checklist of symptoms to help identify who’s at risk. The symptoms must mark a change from prior behavior and have lasted at least six months. Among the questions: • Has the person lost interest in friends, family or home activities? • Has the person become less spontaneous and active — for example, is he/she less likely to initiate or maintain conversation? • Does the person view herself/himself as a burden to family? • Has the person become more anxious or worried about things that are routine, like events, visits? • Does the person feel very tense, having developed an inability to relax,

or shakiness, or symptoms of panic? • Has the person become agitated, aggressive, irritable or temperamental? • Does the person hoard objects when she/he did not do so before? • Has the person recently developed trouble regulating smoking, alcohol, drug intake or gambling, or started shoplifting? • Does the person say rude or crude things or make lewd sexual remarks that she/he would not have said before? • Has the person started talking openly about very personal or private matters not usually discussed in public? • Has the person developed beliefs that they are in danger, or that others are planning to harm them or steal their belongings? • Does the person report or act as if seeing things or hearing voices? — AP

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2016

How regular exercise may cut cancer risk By Dr. Howard LeWine Q: It makes sense that regular exercise helps prevent heart disease. But I have also read that it might help prevent cancer. What’s the reason? A: Many studies show that people who are physically active are less likely to develop cancer. Such associations don’t prove that exercise prevents cancer. But there are also several potential biological explanations for a protective effect of regular exercise. Adiposity. Fat tissue, especially abdominal fat, increases the levels of cytokines, insulin and a variety of hormones that tend to promote cancer by, in part, spurring cell growth and turnover. It’s hard to fight the battle of the bulge with exercise alone, but in

combination with a good, calorically prudent diet, exercise can help keep the pounds off. Insulin levels. Insulin is the key hormone in blood sugar regulation. Insulin also acts a growth factor by turning on signals that stimulate cell growth. Physical activity helps the body use blood sugar more efficiently. Therefore the pancreas can release less insulin into the blood stream. Lower insulin levels may mean cancer cells get less stimulation to grow out of control. Estrogen levels. Results from a large study of women called the Women’s Health Initiative showed that, compared to women who get a lot of exercise, those who reported being sedentary had considerably higher levels of estrone, estradiol

and free estradiol. They also had lower levels of sex-hormone-binding globulin, which by attaching to estradiol, makes it less available to target tissue. Results from other studies have shown that breast cancer risk is higher for postmenopausal women with high levels of various sorts of estrogen. Inflammation. Studies have shown that high levels of inflammatory factors such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 have been linked to cancer. In some studies (but not all), exercise “cools off” the levels of these inflammatory factors as well as increasing the levels of adiponectin, a natural anti-inflammatory factor. Immune function. Intense exercise can suppress the immune system, so some

athletes are susceptible to colds and other upper respiratory functions. But in moderate amounts, exercise results in a stronger, more nimble immune system. How the immune system and cancer are related is complicated, but one hypothesis is that exercise makes the system’s natural killer cells more effective, and they seem to play a role in tumor suppression. Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, please visit www.health.harvard.edu. © 2016. President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed By Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Men can have much to gain from therapy By Matthew Solan Speaking for my gender, there are two qualities that define most men: We seldom like to ask for help, and we do not like to talk about our feelings. Combining the two — asking for help about our feelings — is the ultimate affront to many men’s masculinity. We like to think of ourselves as strong, problem-solver types. But when it comes to emotional and mental issues, men need to quit trying to bottle up their feelings and tough it out, said Dr. Darshan Mehta, medical director of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. “Your mental health is equally as important as your physical health,” Mehta said. “Not addressing negative feelings can

carry over to all aspects of your life and have a profound impact.”

When to see a therapist Depression is the most common reason men should seek professional help. Many life situations — jobs, relationships — can trigger its trademark symptoms, such as prolonged sadness, lack of energy, and a constant feeling of stress. For older men, it can also be brought on by financial anxiety about retirement, the death of a spouse or friend, or even the loss of independence, like losing the ability to drive. Left unchecked, these feelings could cause other health problems, such as rapid weight loss, insomnia, declining libido, and changes in memory. They may even

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lead to destructive behavior like alcohol or opioid dependence. “While men may recognize these changes when they occur, they may not know the root cause, or if they do, what they can do about it,” said Mehta. This is when a therapist can lend a hand — or ear. “A therapist can help identify the source of your problems and then help resolve them,” he said.

How to find a therapist First, talk with your doctor about your situation, how you feel, and your symptoms. He or she will no doubt know therapists who can help with your specific issues. There are other places to start besides your primary care doctor, as well. For example, many employee healthcare plans offer confidential help lines where you can ask questions and find therapists in your network. Another source is the National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline (1-800-950-6264). There are many kinds of professionals who offer many different types of therapy. Their individual approaches are based on their particular training and experience. The main ones include: Psychiatrist. A doctor with a medical degree who can prescribe medication. He or she often helps with more severe issues, such as major depression, bipolar

disorder and schizophrenia. Psychologist. A professional who has a Ph.D. or a Psy.D. in clinical psychology. He or she can treat a full range of emotional and psychological issues, such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse, but in most states cannot prescribe medication. Licensed Professional Counselor. He or she has a master’s degree plus 2,000 hours of supervised psychotherapy experience. This type of mental health professional focuses on the problems of everyday living, like stress and anxiety, relationship conflicts and mild depression. Clinician Nurse Specialist. Like psychiatrists, he or she can prescribe medication. This type of professional works either independently or in collaboration with a supervising physician. Licensed Social Worker/Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. These mental health professionals assess and treat people living with mental illness and substance abuse issues. By providing group therapy, outreach, crisis intervention programs and social rehabilitation, social workers help to ease clients back into their communities and daily lives. Clinical social workers provide care through nuSee THERAPY, page 11

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2016

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

Treat shingles right away and get vaccine By Matthew Solan If you had chickenpox as a kid, there is a good chance you may develop shingles later in life. “In fact, one in three is predicted to get shingles during their lifetime,” said Dr. Anne Louise Oaklander, director of the Nerve Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital. The same varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox also causes shingles. After the telltale spots of chickenpox vanish, the virus lies dormant in your nerve cells near the spinal cord and brain. When your immunity weakens from normal aging or from illnesses or medications, the virus can re-emerge. It then travels along a nerve to trigger a rash in the skin connected to that nerve. The rash often appears on only one side of your body. The most common locations are the chest, back, or stomach, or above one eye. Most cases of shingles cause severe pain and itching, and can leave scars. Fluid-filled blisters develop, break and

Therapy From page 10 merous avenues, including hospitals, family service agencies, and organizations like the U.S. Veteran’s Administration.

What to expect Your therapist should help you establish goals of care and then outline a strategy to meet them. This may include a combination of therapy during regular sessions as well as “homework” to follow in between visits. Weekly visits are typical. Yours may be more or less frequent than that depending on how you respond to the therapy. After your initial treatment sessions, you might

crust over during and a few weeks after an outbreak. You also may feel sick or fatigued, with a slight fever or headache. However, it is possible to have rashes that are so mild they’re not even noticed.

Seek treatment right away Many people have the mistaken impression that, like poison ivy, shingles is a nuisance rash that fades on its own. “But in fact a shingles rash should alert people, especially in middle or old age, to seek immediate medical help,” said Oaklander. Rapid treatment with one of three antiviral drugs — acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex) or famciclovir (Famvir) — can shorten a shingles attack and reduce the risk of serious damage, such as: Long-term pain. Pain that lingers in the area of a healed shingles rash is called postherpetic neuralgia. This often-disabling pain can last several months to a year. Prolonged itching. Many people are left with an itchy area from their shingles, return periodically for “booster” visits to prevent a future relapse. Do not give up if you do not feel a strong connection with the first therapist you try, said Mehta. “Try someone else and do not get discouraged. The goal is to find the right person who can guide you.” While therapy may feel awkward at first, most men soon recognize its value, he said. “Once they make that connection with a therapist, they are quite receptive to therapy and welcome what it can offer.” Matthew Solan is the executive editor of Harvard Men’s Health Watch. © 2016. President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed By Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

which can be as disabling as chronic pain. It is most common on the head or neck. Damage to vision and hearing. Pain and rash near an eye can cause permanent eye damage, and requires an urgent ophthalmological exam. When the nerve to the ear is affected, it can permanently damage hearing or balance. Strokes and heart attacks. A PLOS Medicine study that tracked about 67,000 people ages 65 and older who were newly diagnosed with shingles found that stroke risk more than doubled in the first week after the shingles diagnosis. The same study reported an increased risk for heart attacks in the three months after shingles, but the additional risk dissipated after six months.

Prevent shingles with vaccination The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that almost all people ages 60 and older be vaccinated against shingles, whether or not they had chickenpox in their youth or have had shingles before, said Oaklander. The vaccination that prevents chickenSee TREAT SHINGLES, page 13

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Health Studies Page

OCTOBER 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; BALTIMORE BEACON

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Join a study of a new sleep apnea device By Carol Sorgen Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious condition that occurs when the muscles in your airway relax during sleep, causing the airway to narrow or close as you breathe in. As a result, your brain can be deprived of needed oxygen while you sleep. Your brain senses the drop in oxygen level and wakes you from sleep so you can reopen your airway. As a result, the quality of your sleep may be poor, making you feel tired during the day. Your brain also tells your heart to pump harder, and this puts more stress on your heart and heart valves.

If left untreated or undertreated, OSA can lead to the development of serious conditions such as hypertension, angina, heart attack, stroke and diabetes. While it is difficult to reverse some of these changes, it is important to stop their progression.

Testing a new technique Johns Hopkins Medicine is currently participating in the THN3 (Targeted Hypoglossal Neurostimulation) clinical study for patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea who have been unable or unwilling to use a different treat-

ment called continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. The objective of the study is to collect data to determine whether or not a technique called hypoglossal neurostimulation (delivered by a device called the aura6000 system) is safe and effective. The aura6000 system is investigational, meaning it is not yet approved by the FDA for sleep apnea. This study is part of the process required to obtain such approval. In the study, stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve, which controls movement of the tongue, will be provided by the aura6000 system, which is surgically implanted. The stimulation is intended to increase muscle tone of the tongue during sleep and thereby reduce the number of times that your airway narrows or closes when you sleep. The aura6000 System looks and operates much like a cardiac pacemaker, except that instead of sending pulses to the heart, it sends pulses to the hypoglossal nerve in the neck. The aura6000 System has three main parts: A small metal case containing a rechargeable battery and electronics that generate pulses to stimulate the hypoglossal nerve (the neurostimulator); a lead with electrode cuff and a cable with electrodes that carry pulses of current from the neurostimulator to the hypoglossal nerve; an external device that you will use to start, stop or pause, and charge the neurostimulator as necessary. The electrode cuff is surgically placed around the hypoglossal nerve, and the lead wire is routed under the skin to the implant below the collarbone.

The study is sponsored by ImThera Medical, a medical device company based in San Diego, Calif. (More information about the company can be found online at www.ImTheraMedical.com.)

Who can participate? Volunteers for the study must have moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, be at least 18 years old (there is no upper age limit), and have body mass index under 35. Participants chosen for the study will undergo four screening visits. The first of these is with a sleep doctor, will take about two hours, and requires participants to undergo a physical examination and complete questionnaires and other forms. The second visit, which will last about an hour, is with a surgeon to see if there are any reasons why you should not undergo the surgery. The third and fourth visits are overnight sleep studies (polysomnographies or PSGs) at a sleep laboratory. The next phase of the study is a surgical procedure, which takes about 60 minutes. Participants will check into the hospital on the day of surgery and may or may not stay overnight at the hospital. After surgery, participants will be randomly placed into one of two groups: the treatment group or the control group. Participants in the treatment group will have another PSG about 30 days after surgery, at which time their stimulation will be started. Participants in the control group will wait until month four before starting stimulation. In the first year following surgery, particiSee SLEEP APNEA, page 14

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2016

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

New technique depicts brain synapses By Lauran Neergaard The brain’s nerve cells communicate by firing messages to each other through junctions called synapses. Problems with those connections are linked to disorders like Alzheimer’s and epilepsy. Now Yale University researchers have developed a way to picture synapses in living brains. The technique, using PET scans, is highly experimental, but it raises the possibility of one day monitoring synapse function in some common diseases. A healthy human brain harbors trillions of synapses, a number that changes over a lifetime. Early in life, the brain “prunes” the many synapses between neurons so the right number is in each region, a process that can go wrong in disorders such as autism or schizophrenia.

Treat shingles From page 11 pox in children was used to develop a similar vaccine (Zostavax) that protects against shingles. “It reduces the risk of getting shingles by about half, and shingles rashes that still develop are slightly less likely to cause postherpetic pain, or other serious complications,” said Oaklander. People with especially weak immune systems, such as those with cancer or anyone undergoing immunosuppressive treatments, should avoid Zostavax since the vaccine contains a weakened form of the live virus. Because Zostavax has only been available

Changes in the density of synapses may signal where epilepsy seizures originate. Later in life, synapse loss is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Non-invasive approach But measuring synapses has required autopsies, or occasional attempts during brain surgery. To find a non-invasive approach, the Yale-led team developed a radioactive compound, called a tracer, that is injected into the body and binds with a particular protein that is found in the brain’s synapses. The idea: During a PET scan, those synapses appear lit up against dark, synapse-free areas of the brain. Animal testing confirmed the tracer was targeting synapses. The research team then mapped the since 2006, it is still not yet clear if a single vaccination offers lifelong protection, but at this time, no booster is recommended. A new shingles vaccine in development, called HZ/su, may be particularly helpful for older adults. It is not made from a live, weakened virus, so is safe to give to people with weak immune systems. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the vaccine was highly effective, but it needs to undergo further testing before it can be submitted for FDA approval, which may happen as early as this year. © 2016. President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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density of synapses in the brains of 10 healthy volunteers and three patients with a form of epilepsy. Compared to the healthy brains, the technique revealed lost synapses in the epilepsy-affected regions of those patients’ brains, the researchers reported in the journal Science Translational Medicine. “This work represents a breakthrough in the ability to study an important process in the brain that is not only part of normal brain development, but that also may be involved in several neuropsychiatric diseases,” said Dr. Peter Herscovitch, who directs PET scanning at the Na-

tional Institutes of Health’s Clinical Center and wasn’t involved in the research. Much more work is needed to make the tracer last longer in the brain — a key if it’s ever to be of use to doctors, cautioned Yale radiology professor Richard Carson, the study’s senior author. But even though it starts disappearing quickly, he said it’s a good tool to research brain function. Stay tuned: Carson’s team has begun using the technique to study Alzheimer’s, to determine if changes in synaptic density over time can help predict that disease’s — AP development.

Diabetes Research Study 50-80 year old men & women with Type 2 Diabetes are needed to participate in an exercise research study at the University of Maryland/Baltimore VA Medical Center. Parking and compensation for your time will be provided. Call 410-605-7179. Mention code: EPC-DM.

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OCTOBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Can’t a man still sow his wild oats first? Dear Solutions: I have a woman friend who I like very much, and we’re even discussing marriage. I feel that once I do that, I’ll really be settled down. I was married for many, many years

since I was very young, and my wife died recently. Before I settle down again, I want to go out for a while with other women and have sex with them and have fun. How can I make my woman friend

understand that it has nothing to do oats don’t thrive in today’s climate. with her, but I just want to sow my Dear Solutions: wild oats before settling My sister has been didown again? vorced for many years — Mel now. Her ex-husband is reDear Mel: married, but he still owes Your oats sound a little too her a lot of money. He only wild for this day and age. You paid her what he owed her can’t say this has nothing to do for a couple of years, went with your girlfriend because it into bankruptcy, and then certainly can affect her. There he remarried. are all kinds of sexually transSince he remarried, all his mitted diseases out there, money is in his present wife’s some of them life threatening, SOLUTIONS name, and my sister can’t get and you could be bringing By Helen Oxenberg, what he owes her. She’s been them back to her. That’s not a MSW, ACSW to many lawyers, but it great wedding gift. doesn’t help. Her whole life is If you can’t make an honest commitment based on trying to get this, and she doesto this woman you say you want to marry, n’t do anything else for herself. you’d better rethink the whole thing. And She keeps moving near him, she does— just be careful what you plant — wild n’t pursue her career, and she doesn’t bother to meet new people. I would like to try to help her. Is there anything I can do? — Younger Sis Dear Younger Sis: Tell her to leave the money and run!! Or at the very least, she should marry one of the lawyers she’s helping to support. She’s learned one thing from this rotten ex-husband, and that’s how to swindle, screw and destroy herself. He did it to her, and now she’s doing it to herself. More important than the money, what she’s lost is the life she’s throwing away — her own. She needs help. Get her to a therapist. © Helen Oxenberg, 2016. Questions to be considered for this column may be sent to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915. You may also email the author at helox72@comcast.net. To inquire about reprint rights, call (609) 655-3684.

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Sleep apnea From page 12 pants will be contacted regularly to monitor their progress, and will make at least two visits to the study center and spend at least six nights at the sleep laboratory. After that year, participants will visit the study center and have a PSG once per year for four more years. Unscheduled visits or PSGs may occur at the discretion of the study doctor. Potential participants do not have to be Hopkins patients, but must be able to provide proof of the sleep apnea diagnosis via a recent PSG (within the last few years), or willing to complete a clinical PSG prior to consideration. The device, surgical procedure and study-related follow-up care will be provided at no cost. Participants will receive $50 per sleep study visit (a total of $600 for the entire study completion), and $50 for each of the screening sleep studies as well. For more information, visit www.thnstudy.com or contact Tracy Klopfer, Research Program Coordinator, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, at (410) 550-4588 or Tracy.Klopfer@jhmi.edu.

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Sometimes, the residents run the show By Robert Friedman Dawn Strumsky, 70, and husband John, 76, spend much of their “spare” time hosting television talk shows at the in-house TV station at Charlestown retirement community in Catonsville, where they have lived since 2011. Betty Meyers, 91, arranges weekly Sabbath services at Weinberg Senior Living in Owings Mills, her home for 11 years. About 15 miles down the road, Phil Levin, 63, helps run the convenience store at Weinberg Manor South on Fords Lane in Baltimore, the senior residence he moved into last year. They and dozens of other residents at these and other communities volunteer their services to help meet the needs of their neighbors while engaging in fulfilling and fun work. It’s a labor of love. John Strumsky, a retired banker, insurance agent and history

buff, puts in about 25 hours a week doing research for and shooting his 45-minute programs about historical events and historical figures. He prepares three shows a month, and considers it to be more pleasure than work. “When I was working fulltime, I used to supplement my income by writing historical articles for magazines,” he said. “Now, I flipped that interest over to doing a TV show on the subject. “It’s been well received in our community, and it makes me feel good when people tell me they appreciate the show.” Dawn Strumsky, who once worked as a special events coordinator for former Baltimore Mayor William Schaeffer, is known as the Wacky Weekend Weather Girl. She dons appropriate costumes, wigs and glasses for her weekly, five-minute weather report. “I wear my fur-lined, floppy hat with

flaps for forecasts of heavy winds and frigid temperature,” the weather woman said. The Strumskys also team-up to do a 45minute program, “Through the Keyhole,” where they interview community residents while the camera gives views of the interviewee’s apartments — the historic furniture, the cooking equipment, the objets d’art, etc. “I especially love doing that show,” said Dawn. “Residents have told me how interesting it is.” Charlestown’s Channel 972 closed-circuit TV station is one of the amenities that has been offered to residents of the continuing care retirement community since 1988. The community consists of some 2,000 residents and 1,100 staff on 110 acres, much of it still in a natural state, including a large lake. About 20 other community residents

perform volunteer work at the station, both in front of and behind the cameras — hosting talk shows, giving the news, setting up lights, mikes, even doing some editing for the taped shows. They work with a three-person professional studio staff. Tom Moore, the station manager and an experienced TV administrator, noted that there are few things as enjoyable as watching older people become proficient with video technology and television production. “The residents feel they are playing a key role in creating a sense of community by volunteering in our studio,” he said. “And this is exactly what they are doing. They are creative and energetic, and they always have fresh ideas.” The station, which also offers scrolled information about events at the community, is on the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Organizing Sabbath services

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Over at Weinberg Senior Living, nonagenarian Betty Meyers, who says she was the second person to move into the complex, back in 2005, has since then been arranging the Friday evening services for the Jewish residents of the community. “Soon after I moved in, I met this other Jewish resident who said to me, ‘You know what I miss? I miss Shabbat [Sabbath] services.’ I told him: ‘I’ll see what I can do.’” So Meyers visited rabbis, who suggested people to lead the services. She then arranged for the service leaders, and got in touch with interested residents to attend the lighting of candles and the reciting of blessings. About 40 people come to the weekly service, said Meyers. The ritual, she said, is part-Reform, part-Conservative, and performed in both Hebrew and English. “We have our own prayer book, made up by Stuart Cohen of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, who is the current leader of the services, along with Paula Farkman.” said Meyers. A Reform Jew, Meyers said she hopes to continue this volunteer work “as long as I’m around and able. It gives me satisfaction to know that what I’m doing is worthwhile and it’s something that people want.”

Minding the store Meanwhile, at Weinberg Manor South, Phil Levin volunteers twice a week at the “miniature 7-Eleven-type convenience See RESIDENT-RUN, page B-3

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2016

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Caregivers bring help and peace of mind By Carol Sorgen Bruce Goodman is the business development manager of Genesis SelectCare, but he recently found himself in the position of needing what SelectCare provides — home care, in his case, for his motherin-law who was injured when she fell out of bed. “We’ve had a caregiver eight hours a day, five days a week, and it has been so valuable both for my mother-in-law and for our peace of mind,” said Goodman. “We come home to find my mother-in-law safe, well-fed, clean and comfortable.” Services from the professional caregivers at SelectCare, a licensed private duty home care agency, are available in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties and Baltimore City. Home care services offered by agencies such as SelectCare encompass a wide range of health and social services, delivered at home to recovering, disabled, chronically or terminally ill persons who need medical, nursing, social or therapeutic treatment, and/or assistance with the essential activities of daily living (ADLs). There are generally understood to be six ADLs, including eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring (from bed to

Resident-run From page B-2 store” in the building where he lives. He is among the eight volunteers who run the store, selling and stocking such items as snacks, canned food and paper products. Prices are “way less” in the community’s store than in other retail stores, noted Levin, “No one gets paid. We only charge

chair, for example), and ambulating (walking).

Helps to age in place Generally, home care is appropriate whenever a person prefers to stay at home but needs ongoing care that cannot easily or effectively be provided solely by family and friends. More and more older people, electing to live independent, non-institutionalized lives, are receiving home care services as their physical capabilities diminish. Home care services generally are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Depending on the patient’s needs, these services may be provided by an individual or a team of specialists on a part-time, intermittent, hourly or shift basis. The cost of home care can vary. At SelectCare, for example, the average cost for a caregiver is $20 to $25 an hour, with a 20 percent discount for the first week.

Many kinds of services Absolute Companion Care, another home care agency, is located in northern Baltimore County and serves clients from the northern edges of Baltimore City, all of Baltimore County, and the northern neighboring portions of Harford and Carroll

for the products the amount we need to replenish them,” he said. Levin said he has done lots of volunteer work over the years “because it helps out other people — and it helps you also. If you are retired, you’ve got to keep busy. I think that lots of other retirees should definitely be doing volunteer work too, for their own good as well as the good of others.”

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Counties. According to Managing Director Kathy Rogers, Absolute Companion Care offers three levels of care, from blocks of four hours to 24-hour shifts, from companion services to caring for those who are no longer safe to be alone, to those who need help with all ADLs. “We work closely with clients or their families to match their needs,” said Roger. “There is no one-price-fits-all.” The minimum price at Absolute Companion Care is $23 an hour. Parkton resident Deb Watkins has used Absolute Companion Care for her father, first at home and now in assisted living. “What has always given my father pleasure is being able to get in his car and drive, just to get out,” Watkins said. When it became apparent that her father could no longer drive independently, she contacted Rogers and asked if she could hire someone just to take her father out for a ride. Now, two gentlemen take turns taking

her father out, sometimes just for a ride, sometimes for a milkshake or even a haircut. “He may not remember that he’s gone, but for that time, he feels normal,” said Watkins. “These gentlemen care about him, and they’re able to give him the one thing he still enjoys.” As Watkins has found with her father, a significant advantage of home health care is simply peace of mind and dignity for everyone concerned. “We don’t want to feel diminished as we get older,” Kathy Rogers agreed. Home care is at its most successful when the client and caregiver are wellmatched, according to Bruce Goodman. His mother-in-law, for example, who was insistent that she didn’t want or need help, is happy with her caregiver, and they’ve developed a close bond. “Home care is becoming more relevant,” said Bruce Goodman. “As baby boomers age, we want to age in place.”

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Housing Notes By Barbara Ruben

New Ellicott City community The Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant opened in February with apartment, single-family and duplex homes. The community has five apartment and three singlefamily/duplex designs, each with one or two bedrooms and one or two baths.

In addition, Miller’s Grant offers one-bedroom assisted living suites. The Care Center provides health services for both independent and assisted living residents if needed. Short- and long-term services include nursing assessments, wound care, diabetes care, IV therapy and post-operative care. Many clubs, classes and social activities are available, including yoga, Zumba, line dancing, crafts, book clubs, cocktail-hour mixers, special tasting events, banquets, picnics, cooking demonstrations and more. To learn more, call 1-877-805-3012 or see www.millersgrant.org.

OCTOBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Moving facts According to a recent survey by 55places.com, a website that provides information on active adult communities, 43 percent of adults age 55 and older who want a new place to live plan on moving to a home that costs less than the market value of their current home, including 16 percent who expect to move to a house that costs much less. But others are expecting to upgrade their homes when they move, with 35 percent planning on purchasing a home that is more valuable than their current home. At the same time, many 55+ adults are not interested in moving to a larger home, as only 6.3 percent listed increasing home size as an important move factor. When they move, 46 percent plan on paying for their next home with cash. But 49 percent plan on buying their next home with a fixed-rate mortgage. And 2 percent plan on buying a new home with a reverse mortgage, 3 percent with an adjustablerate mortgage. In another survey, 40 percent listed downsizing as their top factor in a potential move, and the same percentage of responders said that decreasing their cost of living would be the most important factor. The survey also found decreasing maintenance work, moving closer to friends, and better weather to be popular reasons to move.

How long does it take to find housing? Half of those searching for housing find it within a month and a half, according to A Place for Mom, a senior living referral service. Several factors affect search length, with urgency of care having the greatest impact, followed by needing help with the search, and finances. Those searching without support from friends or family require the most time to find a senior living solution, taking more than twice as long (95 days) as those that search with support. “The best results generally come when families are working together to find a solution for their parent or loved one. Almost 50 percent of the families we help are forced to find a quick senior living solution due to urgent healthcare needs,” said Charlie Severn, vice president of brand marketing at A Place for Mom. “We want to encourage families to start more advanced planning so they have the time to do a complete evaluation of the options available in the market.” The urgency of care needed by a senior is the strongest predictor of how long it takes to find a place that works for their needs. InSee HOUSING NOTES, page B-5

GET THE FACTS about active retirement living at CHARLESTOWN or OAK CREST. FREE 38-PAGE BROCHURE WRITTEN BY THE RETIREMENT EXPERTS!

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11506951

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Many sources provide home care workers Home care providers can come from a variety of sources — whether agencies, direct hire, or through online services. Here are descriptions of the differences between various types of home care agencies.

Home health agencies The term home health agency often indicates that a home care provider is Medicare-certified. A Medicare-certified agency has met federal minimum requirements for patient care and management, and therefore can provide Medicare and Medicaid home health services. Individuals requiring skilled home care services usually receive their care from a home health agency. Due to regulatory requirements, services provided by these agencies are highly supervised and controlled. Some agencies deliver a variety of home care services through physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, homemakers and home care aides (HCAs), as well as durable medical equipment and supply dealers and volunteers. Other home health agencies limit their services to nursing and one or two other specialties. Home health agencies recruit and supervise their personnel; as a result, they assume liability for all care. The home health agency provides a number of advantages. The agency will create and implement a comprehensive

care plan and coordinate this with you and the physician. They will also manage the administrative details, such as payroll, (including state, federal, unemployment, Social Security, disability taxes, workers’ compensation, and paperwork, like the I-9 employment eligibility form), screening and supervisory oversight. Another advantage of hiring through an agency is that they can provide you with a variety of caregivers for back-up coverage so that, in most instances, you will not be without care should one caregiver be unavailable. A commonly cited disadvantage is the cost. The home care agency is usually more expensive than hiring a person privately. Some home health agencies may have a side to their agency that is private pay or non-Medicare certified. This side of the agency provides services to those individ-

uals that no longer require skilled care, but continue to have ongoing personal, custodial care needs. The private pay side of a home health agency may have higher rates than an agency that is strictly a private pay home care agency. To find a home health agency that is

right for you, ask for referrals from friends. Check for quality of services and possible infractions. You can check with the Chamber of Commerce and Better Business Bureau, which will have a record See HOME CARE, page B-6

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From page B-4 dependent older adults take 58 days to find a senior living solution, which is 18 days longer than seniors who use a walker and 37 days longer than bedridden seniors. About a quarter of older adults seeking housing do so by themselves. Seniors with higher incomes and larger monthly budgets for care ($6,000 and above) typically take more time, unless they have acute care needs because families with higher budgets tend to find a solution quickly in that scenario. Those with the lowest budgets (under $1,500 a month) take about 25 percent longer than average, most likely due to needing more time to locate an affordable solution. Seniors selling a home to fund an independent living community search 47 percent (29 days) longer than similar seniors without a home to sell. It takes longer to find housing immediately following end-of-year holidays and in August. Families who start looking in January search for a few days longer than average because they’re making a plan for the rest of the year, meaning their search is less driven by urgent care needs. Families also search a few days longer than average during the summer, because many are selling homes to fund the move, while good weather encourages families to tour more communities.

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INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Ednor Apartments I & II at Stadium Place 410-243-0180 (Ednor I) 410-243-4301 (Ednor II) 1040/1050 E. 33rd St. Baltimore, Maryland 21218 AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS AGES 62+ Ednor Apartments I and II at Stadium Place offer everything you need to feel at home in a location that’s convenient to shopping and dining. Apartment features include modern kitchen, wall-to-wall carpet, as well as individually controlled heating and air conditioning. Amenities include campus-wide shuttle service, social events, computer center and beauty salon. Small pets are welcome too! Ednor Apartments I and II is located on a beautiful campus on the historic site of Memorial Stadium. To learn more visit www.habitatamerica.com An Equal Housing Opportunity Community.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Affordable Housing From Habitat America For Ages 62+ We are Everywhere You Want to Live! www.HabitatAmerica.com We offer eight award-winning communities throughout Baltimore, including Randallstown, Baltimore City, Essex, Catonsville, Brooklyn Park and Dundalk. There are so many choices, with amenities such as community rooms, computers with Internet, fitness and wellness centers, and much, much more! Enjoy social activities and seasonal events! To learn more about these beautiful communities and schedule your personal tour, visit www.habitatamerica.com. An Equal Housing Opportunity Community.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Charlestown 410-988-4070 715 Maiden Choice Lane Catonsville, MD 21228 www.ericksonliving.com What makes Charlestown different? Year after year, Charlestown continues to be Baltimore’s first choice for retirement living. Bigger is better. The 110-acre campus is home to a wealth of activities and amenities, including six restaurants. Yet, it retains the warmth of a small town. A charming location. Residents are surrounded by nature trails, mature trees, and stunning views of the historic Our Lady of the Angels Chapel. The value of experience. For 31 years, Charlestown has provided financial security with their Refundable Entrance Deposit*. Learn more. Call 410-988-4070 for your brochure, or schedule a visit. *Carefully read the Residence and Care Agreement for the conditions that must be satisfied before the Provider is required to pay the Entrance Deposit Refund.

OCTOBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Home care From page B-5 of any specific complaint lodged against an agency.

Home care and non-medical/companion private pay agencies A private pay home care agency is generally an agency that provides home care services that are not reimbursable under Medicare. This type of agency provides what is termed “custodial care,” or care that can be given by a non-medical care provider. The services offered may range from companion care to assistance with personal care functions such as bathing and dressing. They may offer non-skilled therapy and nursing services. The care is paid for privately by the client, or in some instances, by private insurance such as long-term care insurance. It is not always mandatory to have a physician’s order for care. Some states, including Maryland, require these agencies to be licensed and meet minimum standards established by the state. Most home care agencies recruit, train and supervise their personnel, and thus are responsible for the care rendered.

Registries Registries serve as employment agencies for home care nurses and aides by matching these providers with clients and collecting finder’s fees. These organiza-

tions usually are not licensed or regulated by government. Registries are not required to screen or background-check the caregivers, but some do undertake these tasks routinely. In addition, although not legally required to, some registries offer procedures for patients to file complaints. Clients select and supervise the work of a registry-referred provider. They also pay the provider directly and must comply with all applicable state and federal labor, health, and safety laws and regulations, including payroll tax and Social Security withholding requirements.

Independent providers Independent providers are nurses, therapists, aides, homemakers and companions who are privately employed by individuals who need such services. Aides, homemakers, chore workers and companions are not required to be licensed or to meet government standards except in cases where they receive state funding. In this arrangement, the responsibility for recruiting, hiring and supervising the provider rests completely with the client. See “Find a caregiver online” on page B9 to learn more about that option. Excerpted from “Receiving Care at Home” and “Since You Care” by the MetLife Mature Market Institute and the website of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice. For more information, see www.nahc.org or call (202) 547-7424.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

SENIOR INSTITUTE BEGINS AT CCBC OWINGS MILLS Enjoy a Fall of learning at CCBC Owings Mills, 10300 Grand

Central Ave. Senior Institute classes range from art and photography to computers, personal finance, humanities and culture, and history and politics. For more information, call (443) 840-4700 or visit www.ccbcmd.edu/ceed.

ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY

Shangri-La Senior Living of Catonsville 410-744-8433 6348 Frederick Road Catonsville, MD 21228 www.ShangrilaSeniorLiving.com At Shangri-La Senior Living of Catonsville, we combine comfortable living with compassionate, yet affordable care. From our interiors to our smiling residents and exceptional staff, there is an aura of warmth and caring that sets us apart. We offer three levels of assisted living care. In addition, we are happy to provide: private and semi-private rooms; delicious meals and snacks with special diet requests available; daily assistance with bathing, dressing, and management of medications; daily offerings of activities; weekly religious services offered; housekeeping & laundry services; regular wellness visits by a licensed nurse; emergency call system with secured environment; hospice services; and respite, short-stay care.

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FREE HOUSING AND OTHER INFORMATION For free information from advertisers in this special section, check off those that interest you and mail this entire coupon to the Beacon. Please do not request info if you are not interested. All replies will be entered into a random drawing to win tickets to Show Boat.

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Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this entire coupon to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227. You may also include the free info coupon found on page 5. One entry per household please. Name __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________E-mail_______________________________________________ City _______________________________________________________ State ______________________ Zip ____________________ BB 1016

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OCTOBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Stand up for your rights under Medicare By Eleanor Laise Home health coverage can be a crucial benefit for Medicare beneficiaries who have just been discharged from the hospital or who struggle with a chronic condition and have difficulty leaving home. But taking advantage of this benefit can be a real challenge. Medicare covers in-home services, including skilled nursing and physical therapy. For eligible patients, there’s generally no charge, and no limit on how long they can receive the benefit.

The problem, patient advocates say, is that the eligibility requirements are often misunderstood both by patients and providers. Medicare’s requirement that patients be homebound, for example, is sometimes wrongly interpreted as meaning that an individual who occasionally leaves home can’t qualify. Confusion over the rules means that some patients never seek care because they mistakenly believe they won’t qualify, while others are wrongfully denied care or see their services terminated prematurely,

critics say. “There’s a lot of subjectivity in some of the rules” governing home health benefits, said Casey Schwarz, senior counsel for education and federal policy at the Medicare Rights Center, an advocacy group.

Sometimes people think homebound means they have to be bedbound. Not true, said Melissa Simpson, senior program manager at the National Council on Aging’s Center for Benefits Access. Some Medicare Advantage plans waive the homebound requirement altogether.

Who qualifies?

What to do if you are denied

About 3.5 million people received Medicare home health services in 2014, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. To qualify, you must need part-time skilled nursing, physical or occupational therapy, or speech-language pathology. The services must be provided by a Medicare-certified home health agency, under a care plan established by your doctor. The final requirement: A doctor must certify that you’re homebound. But this isn’t as restrictive as many people assume. To be homebound under Medicare’s rules, your illness or injury must cause you to have trouble leaving your home without help — such as using a walker or special transportation — or leaving home must be difficult and medically unadvisable because of your condition. Occasionally attending religious services, visiting the doctor’s office or going to adult day care doesn’t mean that you can’t qualify as homebound.

Your home healthcare should continue as long as you meet the eligibility requirements. In some cases, patients services are cut off because their condition is not improving. But the rules have never demanded that a patient’s condition improve, said Diane Omdahl, president of 65 Incorporated, a firm that helps seniors navigate Medicare. In 2011, Medicare beneficiaries filed a nationwide class action lawsuit claiming that providers were inappropriately applying an improvement standard, and the 2013 settlement of that case clarified that patients should be able to get care to maintain their condition or even slow their decline. Yet the misperception persists, said Michael Benvenuto, director of the elderlaw project at Vermont Legal Aid, which represented the plaintiffs in the case. If you think your home healthcare is See MEDICARE RIGHTS, page B-9

Senior Apartments LIVE WELL FOR LESS Roland View Towers

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2016

Another option: find a caregiver online By Rebekah Sewell Thanks to the internet, finding a caregiver privately is easier than ever. Instead of wading through the local paper or taking out advertisements, some websites now offer online services that match clients with caregivers. Online services are similar to an agency’s, but are generally less expensive. Private caregiving is not covered by Medicare, however, and sometimes not by long-term care insurance, so check with your insurance company before pursuing this option. Caregiver profiles usually include access to their previous clients’ reviews of their work, which can make finding a potential match easier. The sites also enable you to send messages directly to potential caregivers to get the conversation started. Here are three popular online referral sites:

Care.com Care.com is an international care matching website that features a variety of care options, including childcare, adult and senior care, pet care, housekeeping and home

Medicare rights From page B-8 being wrongfully denied or cut off prematurely, you can file an appeal. When a home health agency suspends care, it should give you a written notice that includes the rationale for ending care, as well as contact information for a Quality Improvement Organization — the group of health-quality experts that will review your appeal. You can get free help with your appeal — or simply with navigating the home healthcare benefit — by contacting your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. See

care. It operates in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, France and several other countries. As purely a matching service, the site does not vet or recommend potential caregivers, so the responsibility is on families to research and interview candidates. The advantages for using Care.com include the ease of finding many candidates — the site boasts that there is one U.S. match every two minutes — and the simplicity of managing and paying service fees through the site. Caregivers can also sign up for direct deposit, and take advantage of the site’s payroll management and tax filing service through their feature called HomePay. Caregivers have options for basic and premium memberships. Basic membership is free, and includes access to view and post jobs and job tips, while “premium” memberships cost $37 monthly or $147 annually. The premium membership includes higher placement in search results, quicker access to potential matches, See CAREGIVERS ONLINE , page B-10

http://aging.maryland.gov/Pages/StateHealthInsuranceProgram.aspx or call your local SHIP office: Anne Arundel County: (410) 222-4464 Baltimore City (410) 396-2273 Baltimore County (410) 887-2059 Howard (410) 313-7392 The Center for Medicare Advocacy offers detailed instructions for appealing home healthcare denials. To find Medicare-certified agencies in your area, go to medicare.gov/homehealthcompare. All contents © 2016 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

ASSISTED LIVING LIVING COMMUNITY ASSISTED

Weinberg Park Assisted Living 410-664-0100 5833 Park Heights Avenue Baltimore, MD 21215 Weinberg Park is a vibrant Assisted Living community where you can live with confidence and independence. Whether you need help getting dressed, managing medications or friendly conversation, we are there for you with a gentle helping hand. We offer private or semi-private suites, certified nursing assistance, medication management, a 24-hour emergency response system, laundry & housekeeping services, delicious & nourishing kosher meals and individualized service plans. Our doors are open to everyone, regardless of income level, and we strive to keep our fees at a competitive market rate. Call today to schedule a tour! We look forward to showing you the comfort and care we offer to all our treasured residents!

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COMPANION CARE

Absolute Companion Care 410-357-9640 www.absolutecompanion.com Talking to your parents about getting help at home: A recent study indicates 55% of Americans say being a burden on their family is their biggest concern during aging. Take this into consideration when approaching your parent about accepting in-home help. Explain to your parent how much you worry about them. If you have been acting as primary caregiver explain that it has become too much on top of career or parenthood responsibilities. You might say, “Mom, I worry about you…and even if you tell me I shouldn’t, it keeps me up at night. Would you try having someone come in once a week for me?” Call Absolute Companion Care to discuss this and other scenarios about honest conversations with elders.

INDEPENDENT, ASSISTED & MEMORY CARE

Atrium Village 888-840-2214 4730 Atrium Ct Owings Mills, MD 21117 Atrium Village is conveniently located on the Northwest side of Baltimore, just minutes from shopping, restaurants and entertainment. Our community offers a variety of lifestyle options to meet your needs, whether it’s independent living, assisted living, or memory care. Take advantage of our resort-style atmosphere and enjoy fine dining, stimulating programs, and diverse entertainment. Our dedicated staff will provide you with the best care 24 hours a day, while our unique Quiet Care and emergency response system will keep you healthy and safe. We take care of your housekeeping, laundry and transportation so that you can spend your free time doing the things you love to do. Come unretire at Atrium Village.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Oak Crest 410-877-6624 8820 Walther Boulevard Parkville, MD 21234 www.ericksonliving.com What makes Oak Crest different? Year after year, Oak Crest continues to be Baltimore County’s first choice for retirement living. Bigger is better. The 87-acre campus is home to a wealth of activities and amenities, including five restaurants. Yet, it retains the warmth of a small town. A charming Location. Residents are surrounded by walking paths, mature trees, and a residential neighborhood. The value of experience. For 20 years, Oak Crest has provided financial security with their Refundable Entrance Deposit.* Learn More. Call 410-877-6624 for your brochure, or to schedule a visit. *Carefully read the Residence and Care Agreement for the conditions that must be satisfied before the Provider is required to pay the Entrance Deposit Refund.

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OCTOBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Don’t wait to check out assisted living By Christopher J. Gearon Late last summer, William Senior, of Reston, Va., put down $2,000 to get on a waitlist for a two-bedroom assisted-living apartment at a nearby continuing care retirement community for himself and his wife. His children had urged their parents to move into assisted living, a step between independent living and nursing-home care, ever since their 85-year-old mother, Lorraine, began requiring consistent home care in January 2015 for back issues that limited her mobility. After waiting nearly a year, and twice

Caregivers online

getting bumped from the top of the waitlist by current independent-living residents in need of assisted-living care, Lorraine fell on Thanksgiving weekend and broke two vertebrae and two ribs. “I should have followed my son and daughter’s advice and moved more quickly,” said Senior, 89, the Kiplinger Retirement Report’s founding editor. After his wife spent 10 weeks in a rehabilitation facility, Senior moved her to a temporary one-bedroom flat at a less-than-ideal assisted-living facility while he continued to search for a residence they could share.

Finally, after trying to get into three different communities, the Seniors plan to move this summer into a newly built one just a few miles from the home they shared for 50 years. The Seniors’ experience is a lesson for those considering assisted living: Start your search early. Doing so can help avoid delays, frustration, wasted money and even buyer’s remorse. But often assisted living is far from top of mind until a crisis strikes. “It is usually a crisis-driven decision,” said Maribeth Bersani, chief operating officer of Argen-

For more information, visit www.care.com.

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From page B-9

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tum, the national association representing assisted-living facility operators.

Starting the search There is a lot to consider when it comes to assisted living. First is figuring out when the time is right. Most of us want to stay in our homes as long as possible. But if assisted living may be in your future, do some preliminary shopping both locally and in an area to which you may See ASSISTED LIVING, page B-11

matches apply for the position. Families pay their caregivers through the site, and the site takes care of time tracking, tax documents and payroll. To find jobs, caregivers create a professional profile and are then vetted by site coordinators through background checks. After applying for jobs in their local area, they work with the coordinators to schedule interviews with clients. CareLinx says its caregivers receive 25 percent higher pay than average, plus Social Security, Medicare, unemployment benefits and $4 million of insurance coverage. Meanwhile, it claims families still pay up to 50 percent less than if they utilized a traditional agency, partly due to the site’s online platform. Families posting a position do not pay a fee initially. After finding a final pool of candidates, an upgraded membership — a 15 percent service fee attached to invoices — offers background checks, access to references, and contact with caregivers. For more information, visit www.carelinx.com/family-signup/needs or call 1800-494-3106.

GoNannies.com GoNannies.com is another referral website for matching families and caregivers, which features job postings for nannies, senior care, licensed in-home daycare, housekeeping, personal assistants, governesses, doulas and more. Additional benefits for using GoNannies include free preliminary background checks and online support. The site also boasts a “double guarantee” for finding and keeping an ideal candidate. If members don’t find or keep their caregiver, they receive a free 45-day membership to find someone else. There are four membership packages for families. A 30-day membership costs $39, which includes the ability to post a job, contact matches, and obtain access to preliminary background checks. A 45-day membership costs $69, which includes additional reference checks. A three-month membership costs $139, which includes a driving record check, DomestiShare Access — the ability to share your caregiver with other families — and a criminal background check. The sixmonth premium membership costs $199. For more information, visit http://gonannies.com.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2016

Assisted living From page B-10 move — to be near your children, for example. Assisted living is geared to those who are healthy enough to live on their own, but may need some help to live independently, perhaps with bathing, dressing or managing medicines. Of the one million seniors living in some 31,000 assisted-living centers across the U.S., more than half are age 85 or older, and nearly 40 percent require assistance with three or more activities of daily living, according to Bersani. When you start your search, consider only state-licensed facilities. Your Area Agency on Aging is a good place to get a list of options in your area, said Catherine Seal, an elderlaw attorney in Colorado Springs, Colo. “You really have to physically visit,” advised Seal. Have a meal at the facilities on your list, and talk with residents about their experiences. “Walk around, see if the residents look clean and attended to,” she said. Another consideration: the type of facility. Assisted-living arrangements vary widely, from a handful of residents in a home-like setting, to a high-rise building with hundreds of neighbors, to a campuslike atmosphere, with high-end services. In some locales, assisted living is called a group home, retirement residence or residential care facility. Residents typically lease apartments — which can range from studio-like digs to two-bedroom spreads — on a monthly basis and eat in a common dining area.

Differing services Care services and amenities also vary widely. For example, some facilities may provide a resident doctor, skilled-nursing care and physical therapy, whereas others may provide little care. Some communities have concierge services, in-apartment dining, happy hours and

top-notch fitness centers; others don’t offer much more than transportation to doctors’ appointments. Argentum has developed a set of voluntary standards on a range of issues — including resident rights, care, staff training and qualifications, medication delivery and memory care. (Find a checklist of the standards at www.alfa.org.) According to Argentum, “typical” services include access to health care and medical services customized to specific needs, 24-hour emergency call systems for residents, three daily meals served in the dining area, housekeeping and laundry services, assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, toileting and walking as needed, as well as shuttle buses and exercise and wellness programs. Some assisted-living communities have specialized assistance for residents with dementia. It’s important to read the fine print of the contract, which outlines services, pricing, extra charges and staffing. Inquire about how much and what time help is available and the level of care. “There is a price for every package,” said Seal. Getting escorted to dining and back comes at a higher price than going on your own, for example, as does medication management. Make sure the facility conducts criminal background checks on employees. Also, inquire about employee turnover rates and the staff-to-resident ratio.

est upfront about the care needed or behaviors of a loved one, such as combative behavior. Be certain such issues are addressed in the care plan, rather than left as a potential cause for eviction. Finally, ask to review any complaints made to state agencies about the facility, as well as inspection reports. You can do some initial facility comparisons at alfa.org. Find your state’s ombudsman through the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center at ltcombudsman.org. Baltimore County’s long-term care ombudsman can be reached at (410) 887-4200. All contents © 2016 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by TCA, LCC.

What will it cost? Like services and amenities, costs vary widely. The median monthly cost for a single, one-bedroom apartment in an assisted-care facility nationally runs $3,628 a month, according to the Genworth 2016 Cost of Care Survey. In the Washington, D.C., metro area where the Seniors live, the median runs $4,400 for one person. In the Baltimore area, it is $3,370. The Seniors will pay

Senior High. !"#$$!%"&"'($!)*+'!"#$ ",!-(.('(*+"&/0"12#(1!"*2&*"3%#4(0!)"+#5"/!6" #33#%*5/(*(!)7"8-3!%(!/1!"+#5%"(/0!3!/0!/1!"&/0"!/%(12"+#5%"'($!7"

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$10,000 a month for a spacious two-bedroom, two-bath apartment. “The facility will have a better-than-average caregiver-to-patient ratio,” said Senior, adding that his wife will get help getting out of bed, dressing and showering, and managing medicines. “Dining will be restaurant-style. Eat when you like, no assigned tables,” said Senior. “At some facilities, you have an assigned seat and everyone gets served at the same time. I figured, hell, you don’t even have assigned seating in the Army.” Before you sign a contract, consider having an elder law attorney review it. Seal also stresses the importance of being hon-

B-11

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“Mom just wasn’t herself.” Assisted living is living, with a perfect amount of assistance. At first it was little things, like drawers left open and dust on the furniture: Mom had always been so tidy. After a while, I noticed the laundry and dishes piling up. Finally, I saw that some medications were being left in the weekly pill keeper. I knew it was time for us to talk. I asked Mom how she felt about handling things on her own. She confessed that housework was overwhelming and she sometimes forgot to take her medications. So I asked her if she would consider assisted living. She resisted at first, but I watched her features soften as I related how living at Pickersgill would be a lot like home, only better, and it would ld give ie her a chance to strike up new Pickersgill offers: friendships. That brought a smile! • Transportation to local doctors Mom has been at Pickersgill for and dentists about six months now. She looks like a new person and says she feels much • Immediate response to emergencies better. She’s even joined a card club! and sudden illness • Access to an on-duty nurse Pickersgill has offered seniors great value and confidence for more than • Supervision of medications 213 years. Living here, you or • Assistance with bathing or showering someone you love can enjoy daily • Daily tidying and bed-making activities and companionship that help • Assistance with dining, if desired ensure a healthy balance of body, mind and spirit.

Call 888-877-9883 today to schedule a private appointment and tour. 615 Chestnut Avenue • Towson, MD 21204 • www.PickersgillRetirement.org SB

B-12

Housing Options

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Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

MONEY MANAGEMENT HELP A daily money manager can make life easier in multiple ways, whether you need help coping with complex financial paperwork, or are just having too good a time traveling to bother with it DON’T GET SWINDLED How to protect yourself against the latest scams, involving auto repairs, utilities, debt collection, IRS imposters and more

How record low interest rates affect you By David McHugh Record low interest rates were meant to be a temporary response to the global financial crisis. But eight years later, rates are still near zero — or even below — in much of the developed world, and some experts are warning of long-term side effects: a hit to pension savings, pressure on banks, and possible booms and busts in stock markets and real estate. Some economists argue that people may have to get used to living in a zero-interest world for a lot longer than they expected, or at least one with rates far lower than those in recent decades. Here’s a look at how we got here and what ultra-low interest rates mean for people. Q: How did rates get so low? A: Central banks in the U.S., Europe and Japan are keeping their benchmark interest rates at zero or just above in response to financial crises and weak economic growth. To further reduce borrowing

costs, central banks have purchased hundreds of billions in mortgage, corporate and government bonds. This increased demand for bonds drives up their prices and lowers their yields, or interest rates. The European Central Bank has been so aggressive as a buyer that German 10year bonds now yield slightly less than zero, meaning that rather than paying interest when it borrows for a decade, the German government earns a small profit. Q: Why did central banks cut rates so much? A: The idea is to stimulate economic growth and job creation by cutting borrowing costs for businesses and consumers, making it easier to buy things and invest in new production. They also lower returns on savings accounts and other ultra-safe investments and are intended to push people toward riskier but potentially more profitable ones, such as stocks, bonds and real estate. The idea is “to get people to take risks

that they weren’t taking before,” said Stephen G. Cecchetti, professor of international economics at the Brandeis International Business School. “And when you get them to do that, what happens is that it drives up growth, employment and prices, and that’s a good thing.” Q: What is the downside to low rates? A: Some experts warn they can encourage investors looking for higher returns to bid up too much the price of riskier investments. That can lead to a “bubble” in that market that is at some point followed by a crash. Economists at Germany’s Commerzbank warned that house prices in Germany “look increasingly like a bubble.” Sweden’s central bank has warned that house prices have risen too fast and consumers have too much debt. What about stocks? U.S. stock markets are near record highs. But it’s hard to say if this is a bubble. Stocks are affected by

many factors, and the U.S. economy has been growing steadily. Q: Is that the only risk? A: No, low interest rates also mean that people’s savings won’t grow as much over the years. Central banks have cut rates to encourage savers to spend or invest, but it could also have the opposite effect. People or companies who see their savings are not growing as much as hoped due to lower returns could put more money aside, not less. Carmaker Daimler AG said in June it was transferring its stakes in Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co. into its pension fund, adding 1.8 billion euros ($2 billion). Siemens said underfunding of its pension plan rose by 1.8 billion euros in the most recent quarter, from 10.9 billion. Some analysts note companies may also be tempted to use the cheap money not to invest in new jobs but for financial strategies See INTEREST RATES, page 16

Record low bond yields impact investors By Anya Kamenetz The website Quartz reported recently that yields on U.S. 10-year Treasury bonds are lower than they have been since the days of Alexander Hamilton. But when it comes to bond yields, zero is not the limit. Brexit and uneasiness about the global economy have pushed interest rates on a third of developed-country government debt into negative numbers as investors seek safe havens. That means countries like Germany, Switzerland and Japan are charging investors money for the privilege of holding onto their cash.

Seen as a safety net Government bonds are many Americans’ introduction to investing, and for many of us they represent safety and solidity in a volatile world. In fact, lots of investors have been moving into bonds as the stock market has been in turmoil lately, which is part of the reason yields are falling. But with returns so low, would we be better off putting our money in the mattress?

Not surprisingly, investment managers say no. Bonds are still an important part of your diversification strategy for retirement. This is because they counterbalance movements in the stock market, and their yields are much more stable than those of stocks. Here are some topics to discuss with your investment manager.

What types of bonds are best for you? Again, within the overall category of bonds, most people are most familiar with U.S. Treasuries. They have an interest rate or coupon that is set on the day you buy it and paid out every six months for a term that ranges from 1 to 10 years for Treasury notes, and up to 30 years for Treasury bonds. You get the full principal back when the bond reaches maturity, giving some insulation from market ups and downs. However, there is market risk if you need to sell before the term is up. The same basic structure is in place for other types of bonds: those issued by foreign countries, by corporations, or by U.S. state and local governments or their agen-

cies (known as municipal or “muni” bonds). Note that muni bonds can have special federal tax exemption (and possibly state or local tax advantages if you buy them for the city and state where you live). In all these cases, by buying a bond you are essentially lending money to the entity in question. In general you’ll find higher yields where there is also higher risk of default, as when lending to developing countries or distressed U.S. cities, or when buying “junk bonds” issued by higher risk firms, particularly in the energy sector.

Is it better to own bonds or bond funds? Bond funds are basically collections of bonds with staggered maturities. Just as with mutual funds full of stocks, you pay a management fee and expense ratio. In fact, the increasingly popular target-date retirement funds tend to include both stocks and bonds. Because it’s a bouillabaisse of different holdings, there is no guaranteed date that you’ll get back your principal. That said, many investment managers feel that it’s difficult to properly diversify

through buying individual bonds unless you have a lot of money to park specifically in fixed-income investments. (What “a lot” means can vary — some say $500,000, while others argue that $100,000 is plenty.) And the pressure to diversify is increasing with yields on the standard Treasury bonds so low. So to recap, for most beginning investors, proper exposure to bonds will come in the form of target-date funds which will give you a selection of U.S. Treasuries, corporate and foreign issues, alongside stocks. For those with more assets or who are heading closer to retirement — meaning you are shifting more towards fixed-income investments — bond-only funds would be the next place to look. If you are willing to be an active money manager or work with an investment adviser you trust, you should look beyond Treasuries to buy individual bonds across sectors. Anya Kamenetz welcomes your questions at diyubook@gmail.com. © 2016 Anya Kamenetz. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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OCTOBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Help with managing daily financial matters Daily money managers (DMMs) provide personal business assistance to individuals who are having difficulty managing their personal monetary affairs or those of their parents. The services address a continuum of needs — from organizing and keeping track of financial and medical insurance papers, to assisting with check writing and maintaining bank accounts. The American Association of Daily Money Managers answers some frequently asked questions about their services.

Who needs the help of a DMM? There are many factors which contribute to the need for a DMM. DMMs work with seniors, people whose careers make it difficult for them to find time for their own paperwork, and with people whose medical issues simply make it difficult to keep up with their finances, among others. Within the senior client base, most have

Interest rates From page 15 that don’t immediately benefit the economy, such as buying back their own shares. And rates near zero may actually increase the fear factor by indicating that policy makers think there’s a crisis, argues

a need for DMM services due to a physical change precipitated by the aging process, such as limited vision, arthritis or other conditions which limit the ability to write, dementia, or a simple loss of ability to follow through on tasks. Some people are so active in their retirement that travel and social activities make it difficult to keep up with paperwork, and they prefer to simply let someone else handle things for them. It is not uncommon for the adult child of an older person to seek the assistance of a DMM if the child does not feel they have the time or ability to maintain their parents’ affairs.

If I hire a DMM, do I still need an accountant, lawyer or social worker? A DMM does not take the place of professionals in the accounting, investment,

Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics: “You signal to everybody that the economy stinks... Maybe when rates get that low, people become alarmed by further rate cuts, rather than pleased by further rate cuts.” Q: Some banks blame low rates for poor earnings. Is that fair?

or social service fields; rather, their work complements the work of other professionals by facilitating the completion of the day-to-day tasks rather than determining long-term plans. For example, a DMM, by organizing and maintaining accurate financial records for a client, can easily compile the necessary documents for tax preparation by an accountant. When the accountant has prepared the required tax returns, the DMM makes sure they are correctly signed, that the appropriate checks are attached, and that returns are mailed on time. Unless your DMM happens to have separate professional credentials in other fields, he or she should not be offering you legal, investment or tax advice. However, a good DMM should be able to recognize pertinent issues and refer you to professionals and organizations qualified to provide the other services you may need.

What types of tasks will a DMM handle?

A: For some, yes. Interest rates around zero compress the difference between what the bank pays to borrow and the rates at which it lends. That cuts their interest earnings. And unprofitable banks are hampered in making new loans to companies — a drag on the economy. Rates near zero have in particular become a concern for banks in Europe, which are struggling with low profits overall and with lingering bad loans, especially in Italy. U.S. banks, by contrast, were pushed to clean up their finances early on after the global financial crisis and are in better shape. Q: So when does all this end? A: Interest rates were supposed to be slowly raised from record lows as economies started to recover. But that’s not happening. Even in the U.S., where the

economy is growing slowly but steadily, the Fed has been very cautious in raising its key rate, making only one quarter-point increase to 0.25-0.50 percent. Some economists say that weaknesses in the global economy may mean that the normal level of interest rates is lower than it used to be — and central banks have to take that into consideration. If they don’t, they wind up setting rates that are higher than the economy can bear. “Low long-run real rates do create problems, but they are not caused by central banks,” Cecchetti said. “There is a sense in which central bank policies have followed real rates down. They have to, otherwise they’re tightening without wanting to.” In other words, we could be in this low rate world for a while yet. — AP

Frank, Frank

The expertise of DMMs covers a broad range of tasks, and the actual work they do depends on client need. However, the scope of a DMM’s work generally includes the following: • Bill-paying, including calls to payees regarding incorrect bills and preparation of checks for clients to sign • Balancing checkbooks and maintaining organization of bank records • Preparing and delivering bank deposits • Organizing tax documents and other paperwork • Negotiating with creditors • Deciphering medical insurance papers and verifying proper processing of claims • General organization assistance • Providing referrals to legal tax, and investment professionals See MONEY MANAGERS, page 17

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Money managers From page 16 Some, but not all, DMMs will also provide additional services, such as: • Notary services • Maintaining home payroll records for use in preparation of payroll tax reports • Transportation to and from appointments • Assistance with arrangements for moving from one’s home to a retirement community or nursing facility • Acting as power-of-attorney or representative payee for Medicare • Preparation of payroll checks for home employees, including calculation of Federal and state withholding and FICA taxes

Where do I find a DMM in my area? You can seek DMM referrals from many sources, but you should first try to get a referral from someone you know and trust. Friends, relatives, lawyers, doctors, accountants, social workers and residential community directors may be able to provide you with the name of a DMM.

If not, contact your local Area Agency on Aging, senior center, church or government social service agency. You can also check the American Association of Daily Money Managers’ member list at www.aadmm.com/findDMM.php or call the association at (814) 357-9191.

What will the services of a DMM cost and what are the common billing methods? Most DMMs charge for their services on an hourly basis, with rates varying with geographic areas. In the Greater Washington area, the rate typically ranges from $75 to $120 per hour. In addition to the hourly rates, most DMMs charge for their travel time and for out-of-pocket expenses such as postage stamps provided to their clients and long distance charges for calls made on a client’s behalf. Some DMMs request payment at the time of service; others bill on a monthly or bi-weekly basis. Some local governments offer reduced-fee or free services to low-income residents.

BEACON BITS

Sept. 22

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS THROUGH HISTORY November’s presidential election will be the 58th in American his-

tory. While all presidential campaigns and elections are significant, political observers still discuss a few that were characterized by extraordinary circumstances: incivility, arbitration by the U.S. House, Electoral College surprises, multiple parties and candidates, civil unrest and so forth. Join a panel of experts at the Maryland Historical Society on Thursday, Sept. 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. for “Invective, Bombast, Perfidy and Betrayal: Four Presidential Elections for the Ages.” This event is free for MdHS members; $10/nonmembers. Light refreshments will be served. The museum is located at 201 W. Monument St. To register, visit http://www.mdhs.org/events or call (410) 685-3750, ext. 399.

Will I be giving up my independence if I hire a DMM? On the contrary, the assistance of a DMM is often the piece of life’s puzzle which allows many seniors to avoid guardianship or complete loss of independence. If you find that you are late in paying bills or do not understand certain financial forms that come in the mail, your family might pressure you to move out of your home or turn over your affairs to a legal representative. Often times, a twice-monthly visit from a DMM will allow you to keep your finances

under your own control, with the DMM helping you to keep on track and to avoid errors which may have raised the concern of loved ones. The involvement of an outsider in personal financial affairs may be too intimidating for some, but most clients of DMMs find that once they have established a relationship with their DMM, they don’t know how they survived without one. Excerpted with permission from the American Association of Daily Money Mangers’ website, www.aadmm.com.

BEACON BITS

Oct. 10

LEGAL SERVICES CLINIC

Jewish Legal Services offers a free walk-in legal clinic on Monday, Oct. 10 at Jewish Community Services, 5750 Park Heights Ave., for individuals with limited income. Legal information and referral for issues is available for issues such as bankruptcy, landlord-tenant, family and immigration. For more information, call (410) 843-7305.

Oct. 10

TALKING ABOUT RETIREMENT

Understanding your finances can mean having the kind of retirement you envision. Learn more at “Let’s Talk about Retirement,” sponsored by Kaleidoscope, Lifelong Learning Programs, at Roland Park Country School, on Monday, Oct. 10, from 7 to 8 p.m. Cost is $20. To register, visit www.rpcs.org or call (410) 323-5500.

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OCTOBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Protect yourself against scams, disputes The Consumer Federation of America and the North America Consumer Protection Investigators issued a report in July detailing the leading complaints consumers registered with 33 agencies in 21 states. Prominent among them are fraud scams. Susan Grant, director of consumer protection and privacy at the Consumer Federation, stated that some of the newest fraud complaints were related to solicitations from individuals claiming to be from the IRS, a utility company, a technical support operation, and even the victim’s employer. Unfortunately, scammers have been able to illegally get personal information from company databases and use it to initiate fraud. Grant recommended that whenever you

are asked to immediately send money, or are asked for information from someone who should already have it, it is a sign of fraud, and you should not comply without investigating first. The report recommended that consumers take these precautions and actions to protect themselves from the most common conflicts and scams.

Auto repairs Before you agree to have work done, determine whether the facility uses technicians certified by the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Go to www.ase.com for more information and a handy shop locator for serv-

surely a fraud. You would receive a certiice providers certified by the institute. fied letter if it were legitimate. If you run into a problem due to uncertified technicians, you IRS imposters can go to a local agency that enIf you receive any phone forces county, state and federal calls or emails from someone consumer laws for assistance. telling you they represent the It is always a good idea to use IRS, you can be certain it is a a credit card for any large exfraud. The IRS does not conpenditure. That way, if you are tact taxpayers by email, text dissatisfied with any product or messages or social media. service, you can file a written Nor does the IRS call taxcomplaint with the credit-card payers with threats of lawissuer. Federal law provides THE SAVINGS suits or arrest. If you do protection that you would not GAME receive such correspondence have with cash, checks or debit By Elliot Raphaelson or calls, repor t them to cards. www.Treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_ Credit and debt scam.shtml. If you are contacted by a debt collection firm for an old debt, check first to see if the Utilities There has been a large number of new statute of limitations has run out. Each state has statutes that determine the complaints from individuals who have length of time without making payments been contacted by individuals posing as after which the debtor has no legal respon- electric company employees threatening to shut off power because of “overdue” sibility for repaying the debt. For example, if your state has a five-year bills, and asking that immediate payments limit, and you haven’t made a payment for at be made by prepaid cards or money transleast five years, you can’t be forced to initiate fers. In this situation, you should hang up payments. Debt collection companies are not and call the utility to report the scam. legally required to provide this information to Immigration you. Learn what the limit is in your state. There have been many reports of individIf you fall behind in your mortgage payments for a reason such as illness or un- uals offering prepaid immigration services. employment, and are in danger of foreclo- Only licensed attorneys or nonprofits ausure, determine if you are eligible for loan thorized by the United States Citizenship modification, which would reduce your and Immigration Services (USCIS) can repmonthly payment. Find more information resent parties or provide legal advice. More information is available at at www.makinghomeaffordable.gov. www.uscis.gov, or 1-800-375-5283. Prize or inheritance notifications Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions If you receive an email informing you of and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. a prize or inheritance that requires a front© 2016, Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed end payment on your part, it is almost by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2016

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Travel

Leisure &

Fishermen pull in nets after a day on the sea that surrounds Grenada, a Caribbean island also known for its spice trade. See story on page 21.

Acadia National Park’s eye-popping nature south to Long Island, New York. Glaciers (naturalist John Muir called them “silent sculptors”) molded the island’s landscape — its pink granite mountains, lakes, rivers, beaches, dense forests, bogs and meadows. They left behind what geologists call “glacial erratics” — rocks of all shapes and sizes, some weighing up to 42 tons — as well as the only true fjord in the lower 48 states, today called Sommes Sound, which splits Mount Desert Island down the middle. The park’s eastern boundary is the Atlantic Ocean, where waves crash and massage the rugged shoreline, and 12-foot tides come and go twice a day. The sea glistens, and on some days a gauzy blanket of fog descends, adding to the allure. Acadia was the first national park created east of the Mississippi River, and today is the only national park in the Northeast. It was the first to have land donated entirely by private citizens. Frederic Church and Thomas Cole painted Acadia’s landscapes in the mid-1800s. Twenty-four movies, including The Cider House Rules, were shot in the park. From the highest point on the U.S. East Coast, Cadillac Mountain (1,540 feet), you can be the first to see the sun rise in the U.S.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

By Glenda C. Booth In Maine’s Acadia National Park, you can go from soaring granite mountains to cobblestone beaches, from windy headlands to quiet tide pools, from subalpine creatures to sea urchins — and reward yourself with luscious popovers. Popovers in a national park? Acadia is best known for its stunning natural resources. But since the 1870s, the park’s Jordan Pond House Restaurant has served baked popovers slathered with Maine strawberry jam and butter at afternoon tea — a tradition begun when teahouses catered to upper crust, summer visitors. This year, over 350 partners are celebrating the park’s centennial with events all year — including Acadia-themed poetry and art, a science symposium, an exhibit in nearby Bar Harbor’s Abbe Museum about the native Wabanaki people, plus many guided hikes and ranger programs. This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. Acadia’s 6,000 acres in 1916 have grown to 49,000 today, taking up almost half of Mount Desert Island off the central coast of Maine, where the park is located.

Acadia National Park offers ranger-narrated boat tours that visit nearby islands and explore natural and cultural history.

Sculpted by glaciers Glaciers carved the lobster-claw-shaped island 15,000 years ago. The ice sheet was well over a mile high and stretched 200 miles seaward to the continental shelf and

Park origins Hunter-gatherers, who once plied the ocean in canoes, left behind clam shell middens, or dumps, and other clues about KURDISTAN/SHUTTERSTOCK

Thunder Hole is a popular attraction in Acadia National Park. At high tide, waves roll into the granite channel, forcing out compressed air from the back with a thunderous roar. Water surges up to 40 feet high. Visitors can take steps down to an observation point next to the chasm.

their presence. The Wabanaki greeted the first European explorers in the 1500s, when Giovanni da Verrazano named the area “L’Acadie.” The French and British battled over the region for 150 years, with the British finally winning. But the name of one Frenchman, Antoine de la Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, stuck, and the island’s tallest mountain is named after him. In the late 1800s, America’s wealthy began to summer at nearby Bar Harbor in their mansions (which they amusingly referred to as “cottages”) — families like the Rockefellers, Morgans, Astors, Fords, Vanderbilts and Pulitzers. A group of them, also called “rusticators,” formed a land trust in 1901 to protect the island from development and logging, and donated land to the trust. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson designated 5,000 donated acres as Sieur de Monts National Monument. As land donations continued to enlarge the park, Congress made it a national park in 1919, and in 1929, it was named Acadia. Thanks to John D. Rockefeller, Acadia has an intricate network of “carriage roads,” 45 miles of crushed stone roads, and 17 stone bridges, built between 1913 and 1940. Designers blended the roads with nature and preserved native trees and plants

along the way. On the roadsides are 43,012 rectangular chunks of granite, quarried locally and cut by hand, known as “Rockefeller’s teeth.”

Diverse flora and fauna Acadia is all about nature, the obvious and the obscure, from awesome landscapes to delicate ecosystems. A rich diversity of life thrives from the sea to the summits. Acadia is a place to get out of the car, open your eyes and explore. Visitors, from casual walkers to tri-athletes, can venture out on 130 miles of trails to enjoy hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding. Most visitors soak in the scenery by driving the 20-mile park loop road, boarding the free Island Explorer shuttle bus, or taking a guided bus tour. The park has at least 165 plant species, 60 land and marine animals, and over 150 breeding birds, including loons. People often see deer, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, otters, bobcats, black bears, moose and beavers. Along the shore, under the kelp, are crabs, sea urchins, sea anemones, sea stars and jellyfish. The park has 23 different kinds of moss, with names like moose moss and reindeer moss, and is the southSee ACADIA, page 20

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Arcadia From page 19 ern limit for many flowering boreal plants that grow in Canada and parts of Alaska. Dazzling scenery never fails to impress, from the granite coastline to 17 mountain peaks, marshes, lakes, ponds, birch and aspen forests, and offshore islands. Clearly, a highlight is ascending to the top of Cadillac Mountain on a corkscrew, white-knuckle-inducing road. In the summit’s subalpine environment, pink granite boulders are mostly bare except for tiny, stubby vegetation and spruce trees

gnarled by the wind. The 360-degree panoramas are breathtaking. The offshore Porcupine Islands look like puffy green pin cushions. With binoculars, you might spot a seal or porpoise. At the top, it can be cool and windy, but on sunny days, the sun is intense and the ocean sparkles. Some visitors hear Thunder Hole before they see it. At low tide, the granite channel can be deceptively quiet, merely gurgling. But when the tide rises, the waves roll into the chasm, compressing air in the back. When the air is forced out, it sounds like an ominous thunder clap. Roaring water

BEACON BITS

Oct. 7

LANCASTER IN THE FALL

Enjoy this excursion to Lancaster on Friday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. A Smorgasbord lunch at Hershey Farms will be followed by the show Samson at Sight and Sound Theatre. Cost is $110. Call Bykota Senior Center at (410) 887-1691 for reservations.

Oct. 11 Oct. 1

IN REMEMBRANCE OF 9/11 Visit New York City’s 9/11 Memorial on Tuesday, Oct. 11. Tickets are $125. Call Cockeysville Senior Center at (410) 887-7694.

OCTOBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

can surge as high as 40 feet. As one Mainer put it, “Thundah Hole, there’s a lotta watah at high tide.” A more peaceful spot is Little Hunters Beach, a sheltered cove lined entirely with cobblestones polished by the surf. On this rock-bound coast, Sand Beach is the only sand beach on the park’s ocean side. Technically, it’s a cold-water, calcareous beach — a sand of shell fragments carried from and crushed by the pounding ocean. Here, most visitors are content to sunbathe because the water rarely gets above 55 degrees. For the park’s and National Park Service’s centennial, Acadia has named its own poet laureate, Christian Barter, who said, “It’s a place where you have the opportunity to be humbled, and you can seize it if you want to.” It is a place with power. It is also a place of peace. Maureen Young, from Pittsburgh, found Acadia “soothing.” “It made me feel peaceful,” she said, “at one with nature.” After popovers, you can find peace in some eye-popping nature, granular and grand, in Acadia.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS CLASS REUNION

Frederick Douglass High School Class of 1966 will hold a 50-year reunion on Saturday, Oct. 1. Proceeds will benefit Historic Frederick Douglass High School’s scholarship fund. No door sales. For more information, call (410) 788-8262 or (443) 604-5116.

When to go The park is open year-round, but some services are closed from late October to mid-May. Summer high temperatures average 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and fall to 50 to 60 degrees in autumn. Winter is

long, usually from November to April. Seasonal highlights: In the spring, wildflowers bloom, loons and other birds mate, and young peregrine falcons take flight. Hibernating animals awaken. In the summer, the most crowded season, parking is competitive, and lines may form at popular sites. More wildflowers burst forth, warblers raise their young, and bird-watching peaks. There are many ranger programs. Fall brings brilliant foliage, warm days and cool nights. Birds pass through en route to southern wintering grounds. In winter, adventurous types cross country ski. Up to five feet of snow can coat the park. There are many lodging and restaurant choices in the nearby towns of Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor (known as the “quiet side”), and Northeast Harbor. The park has two campgrounds. See these sites for more information about these areas: www.BarHarborMaine.com, www.visitsouthwestharbor.com, and http://visitmaine.com/places-to-go/ downeast-and-acadia. Bangor Airport is 45 miles away; Portland’s airport, 165 miles. American flies nonstop to Bangor from Reagan National Airport. The lowest roundtrip fare in midAugust is $343. Visit these websites for more information about the park: www.nps.gov/acad/ index.htm, www.acadiacentennial2016.org and www.friendsofacadia.org.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2016

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

The Caribbean’s spicy island of Grenada By Victor Block There’s no denying that Grenada, like other Caribbean islands, has the requisite white sand beaches lapped by crystal clear waters. Or that the modest pastel-painted houses in which most people live provide a storybook setting. But the Isle of Spice, as it’s known, also boasts a unique quality that sets it apart from other islands in the region. This realization springs from the smiles and giggles of children bathing beneath a spigot outside their modest, brightly painted frame house. And from the odor of spices that permeates the clear air throughout the island. A visit to Grenada provides as much an immersion in a lifestyle as an introduction to a destination. More than the beautiful beaches, surpassing picture-perfect towns, the most memorable experiences involve interaction with the people of this compact dot of land on the Caribbean map.

U.S. restored democracy Grenada’s geography and history fit naturally into this theme. Measuring about 12 by 21 miles, the island is large enough to offer diversions and diversity, yet small enough so visitors may take in all there is to do and see within a short drive. The major historical event of interest to

travelers from the United States is the military force sent by President Reagan that restored democracy to the island in 1983, following several years of Marxist rule brought about by an earlier coup. The intervention led by American troops accounts in part for the hospitable greeting offered to visitors from the U.S. The anniversary of the invasion, known as Thanksgiving Day, is a national holiday in Grenada. One sign of the reaction of Grenadians is a hand-painted message on a cinderblock building that overlooks a busy intersection. It reads: “Thank you USA for liberating us.” Previous visitors to Grenada were not always so welcome. The fierce Carib Indians, who dominated the island for almost 1,000 years, drove out early British and French settlers during the 17th century. After a French force later overcame the Caribs, the island remained under France’s control until 1762, when it was captured by the British.

The local economy Following a period when sugar cane was the underpinning of the economy, nutmeg was introduced into the welcoming climatic conditions. Today nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and other seasonings are

grown by small landowners who bring their crops to processing stations for preparation and shipment. Standing outside the nutmeg plant in the town of Gouyave (pronounced Gwave), I was immersed in a typical island scene. A goat strolled by, ignored by chickens scratching in the dirt. A sow munched on a banana skin as her litter drank their lunch. Spotting several street vendors hawking their wares beneath a “No vendors allowed

here” sign, I strolled over to examine the trinkets on their tiny makeshift tables. My inquiries about prices led to a discussion of my impressions about Grenada — and an invitation to lunch at the home of a grandmotherly woman. Similar incidents provided the most vivid and pleasant memories of Grenada. I chatted with children bathing beneath a sidewalk spigot, and women doing their See GRENADA, page 22

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Grenada

OCTOBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

planted on terrain so steep it’s a wonder they could stand offered a friendly wave.

From page 21 wash in a stream. I watched men playing dominoes slap their tiles on the table in a triumphant, if noisy, display of victory. During drives over mountains that run down the center of the island like a spine, men and women tending vegetable gardens

Gorgeous St. Georges About a third of Grenada’s 90,000 residents live in the capital of St. Georges, one of the most picturesque towns in a part of the world where “picturesque” is commonplace. Its multi-hued houses cling to hillsides PHOTO BY VICTOR BLOCK

that slope down to the water’s edge. Cobbled streets lead to the horseshoe-shaped main thoroughfare that runs around the deep harbor in the heart of the small city. On Market Square, people gather around umbrella-shaded stalls to sell handicrafts, spices, fruits and vegetables, including some I did not recognize. This small space has played an important part in Grenada’s history since 1791, first as the site of a slave market and setting for public executions — and more recently as a bustling center for commerce and a social gathering place. Each of the other towns offers its own unique appeal. Grenville, the second largest, has a miniscule marketplace that comes alive each Saturday. Grenville also claims the largest spice processing plant in Grenada. Gouyave has a nutmeg station and a thriving fishing industry. To Grenadians, it’s known as “the town that never sleeps,” with rum shops and the sounds of music emanating from them on most nights. Marquis, another small fishing community, also is a good place to buy goods woven from long, slender pandanus grass leaves. Hats, bags and mats woven with the tough strands make good souvenirs and gifts.

Mountains and beaches The picturesque harbor in Grenada’s capital city, St. George’s, is one of the Caribbean island’s attractions. The island is also known for its spice trade, including cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.

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Outside the towns, visitors find an enticing volcanic island creased by a ridge of mountains and extinct craters. Those who climb 2,757-foot Mount St. Catherine to the highest spot on Grenada are rewarded with a view over much of the island. The Grand Etang Reserve encompasses a lake surrounded by a dense forest. A number of waterfalls add to its appeal. Those who prefer ocean water will find 45 beaches scattered about the island. Many of the more inviting stretches of sand are strung out along the protected west coast.

The two-mile-long white sand beach that skirts Grand Anse Bay, the closest thing to a resort area, is rated as one of the best in the Caribbean. Those seeking solitude head for smaller beaches, many of which are set in secluded little coves. Boaters find scores of safe anchorages in small bays that have earned Grenada its well-deserved reputation as one of the best yachting and charter boat centers in the Caribbean. But along with the wide variety of activities, and more than some of Mother Nature’s most magnificent handiworks, it is the people of Grenada that provide the most inviting aspect of a visit there.

If you go Few places to stay represent a destination more than the Blue Horizons Garden Resort. The small, family-owned property is well-named, set in a landscape of lush tropical flowers and foliage that is home to more than two-dozen species of birds. Rooms have a small kitchen, there’s a swimming pool and inviting restaurant, and Grand Anse Beach is a short stroll away. Rates begin at $170 per night. For more information, log onto www.grenadabluehorizons.com. An authentic Grenadian dining experience is offered by the weekly Street Food Night at Dodgy Dock restaurant adjacent to the True Blue Resort, which attracts as many locals as visitors for the food and live music. Vendors sell typical dishes, including spicy jerk chicken and barbeque ribs ($9), accompanied by a choice of sides ($2$3). For more information, log onto dodgydock.com. JetBlue has two daily flights from Dulles Airport, each with one plane change. Roundtrip fares start at $512 in late September. For more information about Grenada, log onto www.puregrenada.com.

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2016

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Style

Arts &

Senior Box Office members can take trips and tours, as well as get discounted tickets for local shows. See story on page 25.

Miller’s powerful All My Sons at Vagabond

Meet the Kellers Jeff Murray plays Joe Keller, a seemingly simple man who finds cultural insights in the daily newspaper want ads, fascinated by what people are searching for. He is unable to understand a world where men

aspire to being anything other than a doctor or lawyer, and for him, family is Everything with a capital “E.” Murray brings an intense range of emotion to the character of Joe, so intent on preserving the idyllic illusion of what we might call today a “Leave it to Beaver” reality, yet at the same time, working feverishly to conceal a terrible sin. Carol Conley Evans plays Joe’s wife, Kate. Kate is a woman with a one-track mind, and that track leads directly from her backyard to her son, Larry, a fighter pilot whose plane went missing three years earlier. Could he still be alive after all these years? Kate employs the affable Frank Lubey, whom Nick Cherone plays as the eternally cheerful and prolific next door neighbor with a skill at writing horoscopes — a skill that turns out to be, sadly, rather questionable. Frank has three kids with his equally cheerful wife, Lydia Lubey, played by Barbara Madison Hauck as if she just walked off the “Happy Days” sound stage. Evans’ Kate is the mirror image of her husband, Joe, and another symbol of postwar America: caring a la Mayberry’s Aunt Bea. But it’s a façade that seems ready to crack, like Joe’s factory’s engine parts. Evans plays Kate all serene and smiling, but running like mad inside, desperate to maintain the illusion and her sanity, since facing the truth of her son’s death and what that means to her marriage would

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PHOTO BY TESSA SOLLWAY

By Dan Collins As noted actress and drama teacher Stella Adler explained, “The word ‘theater’ comes from the Greeks. It means a ‘seeing place.’” Arthur Miller’s All My Sons exemplifies this meaning of theatre on many levels, in the deft way it is executed by director Michael Byrne Zemarel at the Vagabond Players Theater in downtown Baltimore. Now celebrating its 100th anniversary, the little community theater affectionately known as “Vags” puts on a production more powerful than a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk — a WWII air fighter that plays a pivotal role in Miller’s work about family secrets and debunking the American dream. There’s much to see in this place as the audience watches Miller’s work unfold. The play is based on a real-life, “torn from the headlines” incident when representatives of the Wright Aeronautical Corporation were found to have conspired with U.S. Army inspection officers to approve defective military aircraft engines. In Miller’s play, set in late August 1946, 21 American WWII pilots lose their lives due to cracked engine cylinder heads, and who bears that blame is the fire that boils the plot.

Arthur Miller’s powerful drama All My Sons is on stage at the Vagabond Players Theater through Oct. 2. Shown here are Carol Evans, playing Kate Keller, Jeff Murray as her husband Joe, Sean Kelly as son Chris, and Rachel Roth as Sean’s fiancé Ann.

blow her apart.

Battle scars The play opens with the characters’ observances about a downed tree, planted in honor of Larry, but torn down by a wind storm. Does this fallen tree mean, as Kate hopes, that Larry is alive, it being “too soon” to plant a sapling in remembrance? Or perhaps it is symbolic of something else — can new life spring from earth that remains tainted?

There’s a second tree still growing in this questionable soil — Chris Keller, Larry’s brother, played by Sean Kelly. Chris has survived the Second World War and returned home, filled with hope and idealism, but not without battle scars of his own. The bomb that drops in the Kellers’ midst is a beauty named Anne Deever (Rachel Roth), literally the “girl next door,” See ALL MY SONS, page 24

Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

All My Sons From page 23 who had moved to New York and returns for a visit at the behest of Chris. Anne is a mirror of Kate, two women driven nearly to madness in pursuit of a dream. But Anne holds a truth that may make hers come true while destroying Kate’s. Rounding out the cast are David Shoemaker as Anne’s brother, George, whose character burns and festers with a desire for revenge for a father wronged, but is nearly taken in by the Kellers’ white-picket-fence illusion. Child actor Samuel Dye adroitly plays a

local boy, Bert, whose interest in policing the neighborhood sparks a major argument between Kate and Joe that goes to the heart of the dark truth at this play’s core. Thom Sinn is the cynical Dr. Jim Bayliss, who has already sacrificed his dream (to become a medical researcher) for the sake of a regular income to support his family and wife, Sue, played by Kathryn Falcone. The exchange between Sue and Anne about Chris’s “idealistic” influence on Sue’s husband is just as biting and bitter today as it must have been 60 years ago when this play first debuted — the battle between doing what you love versus doing what pays the bills.

BEACON BITS

Sept. 24+

AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE B&O

The B&O Railroad Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, will open a special exhibition on Saturday, Sept. 24, to celebrate the opening of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. The exhibition, “A Place for All People: Introducing the National Museum of African American History and Culture,” will be featured along with rare artifacts from the B&O’s collection in a complimentary exhibit “Makers of the Railroad: African Americans on the B&O.” Smithsonian Magazine, provides FREE admission to the B&O Railroad Museum on Sept. 24 for those who register on their website: www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/museum-day-live-2016/tickets/. The exhibits are on display through Feb. 28, 2017. For further information on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum, located at 901 W Pratt St., call (410) 7522490 or visit www.borail.org.

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OCTOBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Theater is indeed a seeing place, and it is clear Miller was a playwright of incredible vision, creating in this play a battle of evolving values. Long before the Internet, Miller foresaw the importance of embracing more than “what’s in your own backyard.” He grasped the rise of a global community, one where life — privileged by a personal, even a blood, connection — cannot be all that matters. Everybody matters. Miller’s All My Sons is like a classic

symphony, building slowly to a powerful, concluding crescendo, when all truths are revealed and every character truly “sees,” some for the first time, and for one, for the very last. The Vagabond Players’ production of All My Sons continues its run at 806 S. Broadway in Fells Point, through Oct. 2. Tickets are $20, $17 for seniors. On Fridays, all tickets are $15. For more details and ticket information, call (410) 563-9135 or visit www.vagabondplayers.org.

From the publisher

that could cause us severe harm were it to fall into the hands of unscrupulous people. We can choose to store some information in the cloud. But we shouldn’t be walking around with our heads up there, too. If you have been a victim of hacking or identity theft, please write to us to share your story.

From page 2 that perform highly useful functions at a reasonable cost. But we need to understand the risks involved, and take whatever precautions we can to back up our important information. We also need to protect ourselves by using strong passwords, and think twice before uploading to the cloud any information

BEACON BITS

Spe.t 30

WORLD MUSIC AT CCBC

Travel the earth with the rhythms and sounds of jazz, calypso, gospel, funk, South American and Asian music with saxophonist Kelly Shepherd and NoMad Stories ensemble. This musical program is free and open to the public and will be held at 12:20 p.m. in the Art and Humanities Recital Hall at CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Blvd. For more information, visit www.ccbcmd.edu or call (443) 840-CCBC.

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2016

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

Immerse yourself in the arts with SBO By Carol Sorgen “Senior Box Office is no secret, but still many seniors do not know about us,” said SBO Coordinator Karen McDonough. “When they find out about all the great opportunities we offer, they are thrilled and wonder why they have never heard of SBO.” For those who don’t know, SBO is a volunteer-run organization under the auspices of the Baltimore County Department of Aging. Its members not only assist in a wide variety of activities supporting both SBO and its sponsors — such as planning events, ushering, helping in the office and promoting SBO — but also receive complimentary, deeply discounted or two-for-one tickets to a wide variety of entertainment events.

Box Office began more than 30 years ago when cultural and entertainment organizations started offering the Baltimore County Department of Aging last-minute complimentary tickets. Eventually, the volume became overwhelming, and with the help of five volunteers, SBO was formed. Today, nearly 150 sponsors make it possible for more than 700 SBO members age 60 and older to attend theatre, concerts, museums, lectures and other events at reduced prices or free. “Senior Box Office offers its members an extensive set of opportunities that allow us seniors to experience a world outside our retirement communities,” said Art Lepley.

Travel near and far, too

For those 60+

In addition to the tickets SBO offers to theater shows, concerts, tours and more, there is also an active travel committee that plans and hosts trips, cruises and tours to such destinations as Ocean City, Lancaster, Washington, D.C., and even internationally. Next spring, for example, you can spend 10 days discovering Austria, Bavaria and Switzerland. You do not need to be an SBO member to travel with SBO, but members have reservation preference. Also part of SBO membership are a bimonthly book club, speaker series, and special events, such as an afternoon at the Orioles game or an antique auction. Throughout the year, SBO also offers free events that do not require a ticket, including outdoor concerts, lectures, and arts and crafts festivals. The impetus for the creation of Senior

SBO membership is open to Baltimore County residents (as well as non-resi-

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M O T H E A E S A T S Y M A A P F O L U A T K

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dents) 60 and older. The 2016-2017 membership year runs October 1, 2016, through September 30, 2017. Annual membership dues are $30 per household with brochures delivered electronically by email, or $38 per household with printed brochures delivered by regular mail. “As an SBO member, volunteer and usher, Senior Box Office gives me and my wife, Judy, opportunities to enjoy the cultural and entertainment events throughout Baltimore as well as be a part of a fun and

thriving organization,” said Jack Pilecki. “Senior Box Office allows me to interact with other engaging seniors, not only through volunteering in the SBO office, but also by attending many of the events SBO offers,” added Eileen Lutts. More information, as well as a membership application, is available on the SBO website, www.seniorboxoffice.org, by calling (410) 887-5399 or emailing sbo@seniorboxoffice.org. Call SBO Travel at (410) 882-3797 for information about upcoming trips.

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OCTOBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Crossword Puzzle

PUZZLE PAGE

Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Sealed With 1

By Stephen Sherr

49 56

27 35

BB1016

11 15

26 34

23 24

Scrabble answers on p. 25.

Across

Down

1. Soak up the sun 5. Jerry’s cartoon foe 8. Visiting the Keystone State (briefly) 12. Capital of Norway 13. Office message 14. Shortcoming of a typical continental breakfast 16. Strong tennis server 17. Military group 18. Impressive display 19. Weather a difficult period 22. De-weaponize 23. Highest point 24. “Success is the ___ of details” (Harvey Firestone) 26. That Spanish thing 27. About half the composition of Saturn’s moon Titan 30. June 4 guidance from the American As sociation of Feline Practitioners 36. Pre-med class 37. Calendar pages (abbr.) 38. Philosopher Descartes 39. Scream as loudly as possible 44. Collection of sewing supplies 45. Weaponize 46. __ in apple 47. First-rate 49. Relating to snail mail 54. What tea leaves are said to do 59. Ukrainian seaport 60. Humdinger 61. Europe’s highest volcano 62. Stun gun 63. Uncluttered 64. Hardly any 65. Fix a fence 66. “___ me no more questions...” 67. Partner to the first word in each of this puzzles theme answers

1. Step off the jetway 2. Set of 128 characters 3. Travels from Settler’s Bay to Nome, perhaps 4. “M*A*S*H” setting 5. “M*A*S*H” setting 6. Leave off a lettr 7. Like a ___ to a flame 8. Facing tough choices 9. Direction from Mexico to Nueva Mexico 10. Made blonde 11. Food thickener 13. Loose dress 15. Middle school class 20. Roughly 21. Morning direction of a sunflower’s face 25. 1983 Michael Keaton comedy 26. GPA booster 28. Prop for a Willy Wonka costume 29. Suspicious observer 30. Gain unauthorized computer access 31. Unrighteous start 32. His 14th book is 2016’s The Voyeur’s Motel 33. Net slang for “You’re the best” 34. The fish in fish and chips, most often 35. His number 4 was retired by the Boston Bruins in 1979 40. ID card holder 41. Breyers flavor 42. Plan one’s route 43. “It was either ___ them” 48. Coworker of Kent and Lane 50. Banquet entree option 51. ___-frutti 52. Actresses Kendrick and Faris 53. Is closer to the finish line 54. Rugrat 55. Dutch cheese 56. Forearm bone 57. Cries over spilt milk 58. Criticism

Answers on page 25.

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2016

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

Events YARD, GARAGE, MOVING SALE: Furnishings, tools, cookware, clothing, file cabinets, steel shelving, more. Saturday, Sept. 24th, 8:00am to 12:30pm. Reisterstown, 16 Franklin Valley Circle. 410-833-5757.

Financial Services ACCOUNTING, TAXES, AND BOOKKEEPING, eldercare. CPA 38 years, reasonable rates. Call 410-653-3363.

For Rent/Real Estate PARKVILLE – Furnished one-bedroom apartment. Living room, kitchen, bath, private entrance and patio. Includes utilities and cable TV. $875 mo. Call 410-668-4116.

For Sale GLEN HAVEN MEMORIAL, 2 PLOTS – Currently selling for $4,500. Will sell both plots for $1,500. 443-996-1937.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

For Sale CEMETERY LOTS – DULANEY VALLEY Memorial Gardens. 2-Grave lot for sale. Asking $3,950 for both. Call 410-252-7471 or 443-4657915. DULANEY VALLEY MEMORIAL GARDENS – Field of Honor section. 2 Cemetery lots, value $3,700. $2,000 or best offer. Ken, 410321-7025. PARKWOOD CEMETERY – 2 lots including a heart-shaped headstone. Value $10,000. Asking $5,000. Call 410-562-7846. 2 SALVADOR DALI woodblock prints from Dante’s Divine Comedy. Signed and framed. Asking $900 for the pair. Can email pictures if desired. Call Steve, 410-913-1653.

Home/Handymand Services BORN AGAIN REFINISHING c/o Vernon E. Madairy Sr. Because your antique and fine furniture is an investment. Photographs at www.bornagainrefinishing.com. Furniture refinishing & repairs. All pieces hand stripped. Restorations. Missing pieces hand-carved. Veneer repair and replaced. Upholstery. Kitchen cabinets refinished. Hand-woven natural cane. Cane webbing. Natural rush. Fiber rush. Wood splint. Residential and commercial. Since 1973 (43 years). 410-323-0467. BALTIMORE’S BEST JUNK REMOVAL – Clean Outs: Whole House, Emergency, Attics/Basements. Furniture and Junk Removal, Yard Waste Removal, General Hauling, Construction Debris Removal. Free estimates. 10% Senior Discount. Licensed, Bonded and Insured. Call Jesse, 443-379-HAUL (4285). www.baltimoresbestjunkremoval.com. SANFORD & SON JUNK REMOVAL. Trash + Junk removal, house & estate cleanouts, garage + basement cleanouts. Demolition – Shed, deck fence + pool removal. Licensed + insured. Free estimates over the phone. Call 7 days a week, 7 am to 7 pm. 410-746-5090.

Personals PIANO LESSONS – Experienced, patient teacher taking age 5 through seniors. Private lessons, piano or keyboard. Near Towson. Call Linda, 410-532-8381.

Wanted WE BUY GOLD AND SILVER JEWELRY. Costume too. Gold and silver coins, paper money, military, crocks, old bottles and jars, etc. Call Greg, 717-658-7954.

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

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

Wanted

WE BUY STERLING SILVER FLATWARE, tea sets, single pieces of silver, large pieces of silver plate. Attic, basement, garage. You have something to SELL, we like to BUY. Call Greg, 717-658-7954.

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

CASH BUYER FOR OLD COSTUME JEWELRY – wrist and pocket watches (any condition). Also buying watchmaker tools and parts, coins, quilts, old toys, postcards, trains, guns, pocket and hunting knives, linens, fishing equipment and tackle boxes, fountain pens, Christmas garden items, crocks and jugs, lamps and lanterns, pottery, military items, sports memorabilia, advertising signs, paintings and contents of attics, basements and garages. Professional, no pressure individual with over forty years of experience. Lloyd D. Baker. 410-4094965. 717-969-8114, office.

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

QUALITY HANDMADE CRAFTERS for annual Christmas Craft Show. Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 3 or 4, Rosedale American Legion Auxiliary, 1331 Selling Ave, Rosedale 21237. For more information, contact the Legion, 410-8669656 or Kathleen, 410-488-5035. BUYING ANTIQUES, ESTATES. 20-year Beacon advertiser. Cash paid for jewelry, gold, silver, old coins, pens, art, old toys, dolls, trains, watches, old comics, sports memorabilia, military guns, knives, swords, all collections. Tom, 240-476-3441.

COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, rifles, shot guns, knives, swords, bayonets, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars and countries. Large quantities are okay. Will pay top prices for my personal collection. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-910-0783.

Thanks for reading!

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Research Studies

Debt Counsel for Seniors and the Disabled . . . . . .18 JS Richardson Insurance . . . . . . .18 PENFED Credit Union . . . . . . . .16 Secure Benefits Alliance . . . . . . .17

Brain Imaging Memory Study . . .12 Diabetes Research Study . . . . . . .13 Dementia Behavior Study . . . . . .11 IBNI Stroke Study . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Iron Supplement Study . . . . . . . .12 Memory Loss Drug Study . . . . . .13 Urinary Leakage Study . . . . . . . .13

Baltimore City DPW . . . . . . . . . .10

Dental Services

Hearing Services

Denture Doctor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Diamond Dental of Owings Mills .7 Mishpacha Dental . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Northern Parkway Family Dental .8

Hearing & Speech Agency . . . . . . .6

Education CCBC Senior Institute . . . . . . . . . .6 Lifelong Learning . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Events Baltimore County Senior Expo . .28 Myerberg Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Walk To End Alzheimer’s . . . . . . .22

Financial Services Bennett Senior Services . . . . . . . .17 Bob Lester, Insurance . . . . . . . . .17

Government Services

Home Health Care Absolute Companion Care .B-3, B-9 Genesis SelectCare . . . . . . . . . .B-3 One Day At A Time . . . . . . . . .B-11 Options for Senior America . . . . .13

Housing Atrium Village . . . . . . . . . . .14, B-9 Briarwood Estates . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Buckingham’s Choice/ Integrace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-11 Charlestown/Erickson . . . .B-4, B-6 Christ Church Harbor Apts. . . . .B-3 Cove Point Apartments . . . . . . .B-5 Ednor Apartments . . . . . . .B-4, B-6 Evergreen Apartments . . . . . . . .B-5

Fairhaven/Integrace . . . . . . . . .B-11 Gatherings at Quarry Place/ Beazer Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-2 Greens, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-5 Linden Park Apts. . . . . . . . . .21, 26 Oak Crest/Erickson . . . . . .B-4, B-9 Park Heights Place . . . . . . . . . . .B-4 Park View Apartments . . . . . . .B-10 Pickersgill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-11 Shangri-La Assisted Living .B-6, B-8 St. Mary’s Roland View Towers .B-8 Virginia Towers . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-8 Walker Mews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-5 Weinberg Park Assisted Living .B-9 Weinberg Senior Living . . . . . .B-12

Services Home Safe Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Homelife Remodeling . . . . . . . . . .5 Sudzy Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Shopping Radio Flea Market . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Wilkens Beltway Plaza . . . . . . . . .24

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation CommuniCare Health . . . . . . . . . .9 Keswick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Manor Care Health Services . . . .10

Legal Services

Subscriptions

Frank, Frank & Scherr Law Firm .16 Law Office of Karen Ellsworth . .18

The Beacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Medical/Health Dr. Richard Rosenblatt, DPM . . . .5 Low Vision Specialists . . . . . . . . .11 Physical Therapy and Wellness Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Skin Cancer EB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 UM Health Advantage . . . . . . . . . .7

Theatres/Entertainment Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . .25

Travel Eyre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Nexus Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 The Homestead . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Utilities BGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

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OCTOBER 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; BALTIMORE BEACON