October 2017 | Baltimore Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

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OCTOBER 2017

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‘Camp’ pumps up music lovers

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PHOTO BY STUART ROSENTHAL

By Stuart Rosenthal If you ever took music lessons as a child, you may well recall the traumatic experience of performing for fellow students and their families at annual recitals. You might then consider it a nightmare were you to find yourself attending a weeklong “piano camp,” where you would endure a public critique of your technique before performing on stage at the Peabody School of Music in downtown Baltimore. But for several dozen adults each summer, the Piano at Peabody program is heaven on earth. For a solid week, these men and women live in the Peabody graduate dorms (with or without their spouses), eat in its cafeteria, and attend lectures, private coaching sessions, public master classes and faculty recitals from 8 a.m. till 10 p.m. every day. Those who wish can also secure private lessons with the faculty, play duets with other attendees, and practice to their heart’s content — something some of the attendees cherish as much as any other aspect of the program. The week concludes with two nights of recitals by the attendees, presumably pumped up and well-practiced for their public performances. But it’s not the performing that brings them here. It’s the love of music, and what it does for them. Marie Celano, a first-time participant, is a counselor who works frequently with trauma victims. Her work “can become very heavy.” A resident of Clarksville, Md., Celano said she played piano a little as a child. Now 54, she decided to attend Peabody this year “to have a jump-start back to piano.” So far, so good. Though she was intimidated the first day, by mid-week she’s “soaking it all up, hoping it will give me something beautiful to focus on, and will be therapeutic.” She also loves the people. “Everyone’s been so generous and gracious,” despite her being a newbie. Amitabh Basu, 34, another first-timer and the youngest attendee this year, hails from India, where the music is “very different.” While his wife, also from India, finds the Western classical music he plays “a little jarring,” she still wants him to practice daily. “She says I become very calm and peaceful each day I play the piano. Every day I

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Diane Moskowitz has been attending the Piano at Peabody summer program (and its predecessor piano camp) for 24 years, while Amitabh Basu was a first-timer this year. The intensive one-week program for adults brings together experienced and beginning pianists for a full slate of daily music lectures, master classes, classical and jazz recitals and performances. But most of all, it forges a community spirit and even long-time friendships among the participants.

don’t, I’m a little more agitated. She wants me to play even more!” Basu teaches applied mathematics and statistics at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, and his wife is a Ph.D. student in the medical school there. Though he says he’s “very nervous” to play in public, you wouldn’t have known it from the powerful performance he gave of the first movement of a difficult Beethoven sonata at one day’s master class.

Began at a real camp What is now known as Piano at Peabody actually started out about 25 years ago as a summer music camp in Maine called Encore Coda. Diane Moskowitz of Timonium, Md., who attended it for several years, remembers the camp fondly.

“You could hear music in the woods all the time,” she said, as there were practice pianos in all the cabins where people stayed. It wasn’t so good for the pianos, which suffered from the weather, but it made for an ethereal experience. Now 84, Moskowitz enjoys giving recitals to her fellow condo residents at Mays Chapel North, even as she continues to take regular piano lessons. Why the lessons? “Because I want to play better. There’s music that I want to play that I need help with,” she said. Combining her years in Maine with the 18 years Peabody has been home to the program, Moskowitz is enjoying her 24th year at what she still calls “piano camp.” Several other current participants are See PEABODY, page 24

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

Exploring Beijing and some of its many attractions; plus, where and how to enjoy fall foliage page 19 TECHNOLOGY k Sleep gadgets

FITNESS & HEALTH 7 k Help for really hard of hearing k Spice up health with turmeric LAW & MONEY 15 k Medicare FAQs k Beware post-hurricane scams ARTS & STYLE k The Glass Menagerie

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OCTOBER 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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An exciting challenge A reader approached me a few months Marguerite Hazen, the woman who inago, to tell me the following story. Her spired it. We see this celebration as mother, who died not long a year-long project. We want ago at the age of 100, had to see as many of our readers taken up a series of new activas possible — whether you ities in her 90s: first painting, read the Baltimore Beacon, then sculpting, then photogthe Howard County Beacon or raphy and poetry. the Greater Washington BeaWith each new creative encon — try their hand in the deavor, she discovered abilities coming year at one or more she had never known she posof these arts: sessed. As a result, the last — Painting: of any type decade of her life was one in on any medium which she blossomed and FROM THE — Sculpture & 3-D: incame to see herself as an artist. PUBLISHER By Stuart P. Rosenthal cluding works in wood, stone The reader came to me or metal, fired clay/pottery, with the understanding that this story wasn’t just one person’s unusual fiber art, found object art and the like — Photography: including images of feat. Rather, she believed deeply that this turning to art for self-expression was people, places or objects, as well as absomething almost any older adult could — stract and other images manipulated by digital means and should — try. — Poetry She then threw down the gauntlet, sayAfter giving you a few months to learn ing she thought the Beacon would be the right medium to share this message more about these arts and develop your skills in broadly. She had even come up with an them, we will then solicit your best new idea for us to adopt: an arts competition for works for a regional competition to be judged by professional artists. older adults in our readership area. Winners will receive awards, cash prizes, It took me maybe 30 seconds to realize and have their work exhibited. In addition, this was a great idea. So I am happy to hereby announce photos of all artists and their works will be “The Beacon Celebration of the Arts,” published in a special Celebration of the Arts which we are presenting in memory of section to be printed in every Beacon next fall.

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The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Baltimore area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Howard County, Md., Greater Washington DC and Greater Palm Springs, Calif. Subscriptions are available via third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. Maryland residents add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below. Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. • Publisher/Editor ....................Stuart P. Rosenthal • Associate Publisher ..............Judith K. Rosenthal • Vice President, Operations........Gordon Hasenei • Director of Sales ................................Alan Spiegel • Assistant Operations Manager ..........Roger King • Managing Editor............................Barbara Ruben • Contributing Editor ..........................Carol Sorgen • Art Director ........................................Kyle Gregory • Advertising Representatives..............Steve Levin • Assistant Editor ..........................Rebekah Alcalde

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While many of you may already be quite proficient in one or more of these fields, and a number may even be professional artists, we particularly want to encourage amateurs to take a local or online class in their chosen area(s) and explore the possibilities. We will be promoting this project through partnerships with area museums, art schools, recreation departments, retirement communities, galleries and more, as well as through monthly articles and ads in the Beacon. We are especially pleased to announce a partnership with the Maryland Federation of Art (MFA), which will be providing us access to their excellent website for soliciting entries in the competition phase. While there is a modest fee of $10 for an entry, entering will entitle you to a oneyear membership in MFA (new members only; value: $70), and enable you to set up your own “gallery” online — a kind of mini-website, where you can share your artwork and poetry with friends. Entries will also be archived on the site, and will be visible to the general public once the winners are announced. In my eagerness to share this exciting news with you, I have probably jumped the

gun a bit. We are still ironing out some details and developing the rules for the competition. And we are only beginning to solicit partners and sponsors for this rather hefty year-long undertaking. So, there will be more to tell you as time goes on. But I wanted to share the news and whet your appetites for what I believe will be a very exciting and invigorating project. In the meantime, I encourage you to experiment with a new craft: Take a painting or sculpture class at a local recreation center. Take a new look at the world through the camera on your phone. Or simply pick up a pen and shape what you’re thinking about, or have recently experienced, into a poem. In short, let yourself blossom in your own unique way. For more information about our Celebration of the Arts, read upcoming issues of the Beacon, email us at arts@thebeaconnewspapers.com, or call us at (301) 949-9766. Potential partners and sponsors are also encouraged to contact us to learn how you can participate. We look forward to hearing from you!

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or e-mail to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Dear Editor: Your column “Can you relate?” in the August Beacon was so thoughtful and touching! As a retired person on a fixed income, I cannot give as much — or to as many causes — as I want to. But I try to pick out particular causes close to my heart — international needs and animal rescue. I also try to do things needed in my community. I envy folks like Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet who have supported world causes with huge amounts of money. They are wonderful examples! But if millions of us give even a little, it would be very helpful. As you stated — we must “do what we can, on any scale, to make the world a better place. The opportunities for doing good are almost endless.” Thank you so much! Dee Ruppenthal Glyndon, Md. Dear Editor: I have been a rider on MTA Mobility since 2014. I am writing you this alert in hopes that other MTA Mobility riders in the Baltimore area will learn and not suffer the same ordeal. On Aug. 17, I scheduled a trip online, as I always do, since I make weekly trips to the Baltimore Zoo. At the end of the visit, I was left stranded and not picked up for two hours after the pick-up time. The zoo was closed, and I was in a vacant parking area with few cars passing by.

If this had been on Aug. 18 when the heat was 100 degrees (and I was out of water, which I was the day before), I fear I could have died. I was finally picked up, and the second driver and I figured out what went wrong. There are three bus companies contracted to MTA and all of them use different GPS. The GPS directed the driver incorrectly twice. Even though I told the MTA dispatcher exactly where I was, I was presumed WRONG and the second driver was also sent to the incorrect address. There are many variations on this complaint. I witnessed something myself in February. A passenger was going to a regular dialysis appointment, but due to the fact that the MTA [dispatcher] had written the address wrong, he was returned home per policy and missed his appointment! As the driver and I discussed later, all that needed to be done was for the dispatcher to look up this man’s ID number to find he had been to the correct dialysis address many times and [then he] could have still made his appointment. I hope this letter will open a flood gate of reporting issues with MTA Mobility that can be compiled and sent to Councilman Yitzy Schleifer, our new representative for Baltimore City. This issue needs some clout and major reform. Alice Dole Baltimore

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2017

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| 410-358-6856 | myerberg.org

WHAT’S NEW AT THE EDWARD A. MYERBERG CENTER

3101 Fallstaﬀ Road, Baltimore Get ready for high tech with the Myerberg! The new Tech Knowledge Hub is coming! Visit myerberg.org to see our program guide. Call to register for classes today 443-963-1449. NEW! Successful Nature Photography

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This photography course explains the ins-and-outs of creating beautiful and satisfying images. If you already take photos, the course will show you how to become a better nature photographer with the equipment you already have. Instructor: Bill Bitman

Join us for an evening of creative fun, painting (and some wine) with your friends! An instructor will take you step-by-step through the design process to discover your inner artist and create your very own masterpiece! And of course, you will be able to take your painting home with you. All art materials and wine included.

NEW! Music Enrichment Wednesdays, October 4, 11, 18 & 25, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. $35 Members / $50 Nonmembers Come and enjoy a broad range of music every Wednesday afternoon, including the music from the Big Band era, the powerful symphonies of Bizet and Vivaldi and the lilting voice of Beverly Sills. Instructor: Sharette Kern

First Thursdays: Women @ the Myerberg Monthly, 1:30 p.m.

Field trip - Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. Wednesday, November 1, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. $50 Members / $70 Nonmembers Enjoy the artistic exchanges among Johannes Vermeer and his contemporaries when this group, consisting of several rivals, reached the height of their technical ability and mastery of depictions of domestic life. Register with Toba: 443-963-1449

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FALL ART GALLERY OPENING & FITNESS CENTER OPEN HOUSE

October 5 – We will be closed for Sukkot.

Sunday, October 22, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

November 2 – 1:30 p.m. | Susan Sullam, author, daughter of one of the Monuments Men, will discuss her book, Rescuing Europe’s Plundered Wealth.

Enjoy refreshments and more than 100 original works of art by students in the Dorothy Orfuss Stein Art Program. Bring a friend and see us in action!

NEW! The Spanish Inquisition Thursdays, beginning October 19, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. $70 members / $95 Nonmembers (6 classes) Learn all about the Spanish Inquisition — its origins, legal procedures and punishments. Instructor: Harry Ezratty

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EXERCISE AND WIN! Drop in for a tour and get a free gift. New Members: Sign up for a Fitness Center membership by October 31 and get a FREE fitness evaluation ($35 value)! Current Members: Starting Sept 1, grab a workout card and stamp your card every day you workout. Collect 20 stamps by October 31 and get a FREE Myerberg towel or t-shirt!

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OCTOBER 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Technology &

Innovations Sleep gadgets promise better night’s rest By Anne D’Innocenzio Pillows that track your snoozing patterns? A bed that adjusts based on how much you twist and turn? Companies are adding more technology into their products, hoping to lure customers craving a better night’s sleep. Some specialized businesses are making gadgets that promise to measure and improve the quality of slumber, while mass-market retailers like Best Buy are offering simpler ideas — like the effect different lighting can have on falling sleep. But with ever-growing options, people may find items are getting more sophisticated, but may not yet be proven. The interest in sleep has intensified. The

number of sleep centers accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine nearly tripled from 2000 to 2015, the group said. People are more likely to brag about how much they spent for a mattress than on their clothes, according to Marian Salzman, CEO of Havas PR North America. “Sleep is the new status symbol,’’ she said.

Smart beds and pillows It’s a big business. One of the more expensive products is Sleep Number’s 360 Smart Bed, which runs from $3,449 to $4,999. It makes adjustments based on how restless people are while they’re sleeping. The Zeeq pillow, which sells for $299 and

is from bedding brand REM-Fit, monitors snoring, and can gently vibrate to nudge someone into a different sleep position. “I’m willing to spend more on sleep technology because it will hopefully help me fall asleep quicker, stay asleep longer, and be more rested when I wake up,’’ said Frank Ribitch, a self-described gadget junkie from Martinez, Calif., who tracks his sleep with apps connected to a Sleep Number bed and the Zeeq pillow. Insufficient sleep is a public health concern, federal officials say, with more than one-third of American adults not getting enough on a regular basis. That can contribute to problems like obesity and diabetes. And a study published by the Rand

Corp. put the financial loss to U.S. companies at up to $411 billion a year. Finding solutions could be a lucrative enterprise. Earlier this year Apple Inc. bought Finland-based Beddit, which was making an app and sleep monitoring device that’s placed under the sheet on top of the mattress. The $150 sensor begins tracking when a person lies down, and analyzes data such as the portion of time someone is in bed asleep before waking up. It also monitors heart rate, temperature, movement — and even snoring. “Previously, it was about the sleeping pill, and people didn’t want to talk about See SLEEP GADGETS, page 6

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❏ Colonoscopy Pill Study (see article on page 13) ❏ COPD Study (see ad on page 13) ❏ Slow Walking Study (see ad on page 13) ❏ Stroke and Exercise Study (see ad on page 13)

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❏ Alta at Regency Crest (see ad on page 12) ❏ Atrium Village (see ads on pages B3 & B6) ❏ Bayleigh Chase (see ad on page 14) ❏ Broadmead (see ad on page B4) ❏ Buckingham’s Choice (see ad on page 14) ❏ Carroll Lutheran Village (see ad on page B2) ❏ Charlestown (see ads on pages B6 & B9) ❏ Christ Church Harbor Apts. (see ad on page B9) ❏ Fairhaven (see ad on page 14) ❏ Linden Park Apts. (see ads on pages B5 & B11) ❏ Lutheran Village at Millers Grant (see ad on page B2) ❏ Oak Crest (see ads on pages B5 & B9) ❏ Park Heights Place (see ad on page 18) ❏ Park View Laurel (see ad on page B8) ❏ Park View Towson (see ad on page B8) ❏ Park View Fullerton (see ad on page B8) ❏ Park View Rosedale (see ad on page B8) ❏ Pickersgill (see ad on page B2) ❏ St. Marys Roland View Towers (see ad on page B10) ❏ Stump’s Home (see ad on page B11) ❏ Virginia Towers (see ad on page B9) ❏ Walker Mews (see ad on page 20) ❏ Weinberg Senior Living (see ads on pages B5 & B12) ❏ Woodholme Gardens (see ad on page B11)

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Patients with serious or immediately life-threatening diseases or conditions that currently have no treatments can gain access to information on potentially life-saving investigational drugs through a new online tool called the Expanded Access Navigator. The development of the Navigator was a team effort led by the nonprofit ReaganUdall Foundation for the FDA, in collaboration with patient advocacy groups, the

In this digital age, while some of the rare music on old 78 rpm records has been remastered onto LPs or CDs, there is still a large percentage that the general public has no way of hearing. This is exactly what The Great 78 Project aims to rectify. The community project attempts to preserve the records as well as to digitalize and collect recordings of underrepresented musicians and genres so that they can be electronically accessed and researched without harm to the originals. Visitors to the site can listen to more than 25,000 records that have been digitized, including ones by luminaries such as Lena Horn and Judy Garland, as well as lesser known musicians, such as Butterball Brown and his Orchestra. http://great78.archive.org/

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In addition to cute cat videos and cooking demonstrations, YouTube offers hundreds of fitness videos on its BeFit channel, which you can watch any time at no cost. Pick from basics like strength training, ab routines, Pilates, beach body or barre workouts. Or try something new like belly dance cardio, surfer girl workout, Krav Maga defense, ballet, or channel your inner aerialist at Cirque School. There are options for working out if you only have 10 or 15 minutes, as well as longer workout sessions of up to an hour. The channel includes big name trainers like Denise Austin, Jillian Michaels and yoga guru Kino MacGregor. www.youtube.com/user/BeFit/videos

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pharmaceutical industry, FDA, and others in the federal government. Expanded Access permits the product’s manufacturer, with the authorization of FDA, to provide an investigational drug for a patient, even though the drug is still in development or under review for FDA approval. The patient side of the site explains the process to obtain drugs under Expanded Access, as well as how clinical trials work. The area for physicians goes into more detail about how they can obtain permission to try investigational drugs and the contacts they need. This part can be helpful for patients to show their doctors and understand the process. http://navigator.reaganudall.org/

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Beacon Links & Apps

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2017

Technology & Innovations | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Links & Apps From page 5

Apps Preserve each day Invented by University of Maryland junior Benjamin Taragin, Line A Day is a journal-like app that allows users to write the highlights of their days, and jot down their experiences, memories, and feelings. Line A Day gives users the opportunity to look back to see what their recorded memory, thought or feeling was on any given day.

Sleep gadgets From page 4 sleep apnea,’’ Lasse Leppäkorpi, cofounder and now former CEO of Beddit, said before Apple bought the company. “Snoring is embarrassing. But this has been an untapped opportunity.’’ Apple, whose own Apple Watch tracks activity and offers sleep-tracking experiences through third-party apps, declined to talk about the future of Beddit. Leppäkorpi noted before the acquisition that Beddit had been working with sleep labs like the MIT Lab, which used the devices to collect data on patients. At the Stanford Sleep Medicine Center,

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OCTOBER 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Users can set a daily reminder to prompt them to write their line of the day. All entries are linked to the cloud, so they can’t be lost. With the group feature, users can view other user’s entries, while they can see what you are up to. While the basic app is free, a premium version costs $1.99, which removes ads and the character limit, while allowing users to add three photos each day, as well as audio. Line A Day, free in the Apple App store

hood. The Notarize app connects you with licensed notary agents who can confirm your identity, witness your signature via live video, and apply an electronic seal. Then they’ll send the notarized document to your computer, where you can print it out. This convenience comes at a cost: $25, versus $10 or less to get something notarized in person. In addition, some documents, including wills, are excluded. Notarize, free in the Apple App store

Get a notary, stat

ShareFries

There’s no need to head out to the bank or search for a notary in the neighbor-

For those who love to travel, share stories and read about places far away, Lonely

neurologist and medical director Clete A. Kushida tests new therapies and medications. Over the past two years, the analysis has expanded to wearable devices. The scientists assess how well the devices match the center’s own overnight sleep studies, which use measures such as heart rate and brain wave activity to determine the length and the stages of sleep. Kushida’s conclusion? “Consumer wearable devices are not there in accurately detecting the stages of sleep,’’ he said. The problem: They focus on motion, which can be deceptive, since a person could be lying in bed awake. In fact, San Francisco-based startup Hello, the maker of a product aimed at

tracking sleep via a clip attached to a person’s bedsheet, recently announced it was shutting down amid reports the device didn’t correctly track sleep patterns. Still, Kushida believes that consumer products are getting better and will be able to accurately monitor and solve sleep issues in the next five to 10 years.

I SMELL NATURAL GAS, BUT WHO’S GOING TO COME OUT

Sensory sleep products Separate from gadgets, some stores are highlighting sounds and smells they say can help people sleep better. Longtime insomniac favorite HSN Inc. offers a $299 Nightingale Sleep System that masks indoor and outdoor noises. Best Buy has a Philips Lighting’s sys-

Planet’s free app, Trips, is for you. The app gives travel inspiration sorted into the categories adventure, wildlife and nature, coasts and islands ruins, road trips, festivals and events, and hiking and cities. Additionally, it gives users the ability to create and publish professional-looking visual and text stories about their travel experiences. Users can send their stories to others or post them on social media sites. Your stories may also be chosen by Lonely Planet’s editorial team to be featured on the app, unless you’ve put your profile on private. Trips, free at the Apple App store; Android version expected later this year

tem that works with devices like Nest and Amazon Alexa to let people choose the colors and brightness of lights, and program them to turn off at certain times or respond to the sun. And a company called Sensorwake is launching a product in the U.S. that releases smells like fresh linen that it says can help you sleep better. If nothing worked and you’ve had a fitful night, you can at least be woken up more gently. The same company makes a $99 olfactory alarm clock, with scent options that include a strong espresso. But if you let it go for three minutes without shutting it off or hitting snooze, it’ll start making noise — good if you have a stuffy nose. — AP

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2017

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Health Fitness &

SPICE UP YOUR HEALTH Add yellow-orange turmeric to recipes for a wealth of health benefits NOT JUST SKIN DEEP Your skin can reveal health issues, from heart disease to asthma SPIN CONTROL How to get back in balance when vertigo makes you dizzy HEAR THIS Cochlear implants can help when normal hearing aids aren’t enough

Hospitals can treat pain without opioids By Lauran Neergaard A car crash shattered Stuart Anders’ thigh, leaving pieces of bone sticking through his skin. Yet Anders begged emergency room doctors not to give him powerful opioid painkillers. He’d been addicted once before and panicked at the thought of relapsing. “I can’t lose what I worked for,” he said. The nation’s opioid crisis is forcing hospitals to begin rolling out non-addictive alternatives to treatments that have long been the mainstay for the severe pain of trauma and surgery, so they don’t save patients’ lives or limbs only to have them fall under the grip of addiction.

Nerve block instead of pills Anders, 53, from Essex, Md., was lucky to land in a Baltimore emergency room offering an option that dramatically cut his need for opioids: An ultrasound-guided nerve block bathed a key nerve in local anesthetic, keeping his upper leg numb for several days. “It has really changed the dynamics of how we care for these patients,” said trauma anesthesiologist Dr. Ron Samet, who treated Anders.

An estimated 2 million people in the U.S. are addicted to prescription opioids, and an average of 91 Americans die every day from an overdose of those painkillers or their illicit cousin, heroin. This grim spiral often starts in the hospital. A Harvard study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in February raised the troubling prospect that for every 48 patients newly prescribed an opioid in the emergency room, one will use the pills for at least six months over the next year. And the longer they’re used, the higher the risk for becoming dependent. Doctors and hospitals around the country are searching for ways to relieve extreme pain while at the same time sharply limiting what was long considered their most effective tool. It’s a critical part of the effort to overcome the worst addiction crisis in U.S. history but, as Anders’ experience shows, their options are neither simple nor perfect. Anders’ excruciating injury eventually did require a low opioid dose when the nerve block wore off but, Samet said, far less than normal. “Provide them with good pain relief initially, for the first 24 to 48 hours after sur-

gery, and the pain that comes back after that isn’t necessarily as hard and as strong,” said Samet, an assistant anesthesiology professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Faster recovery And some doctors are discovering an added benefit of cutting back or even eliminating opioids. At the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a program called “enhanced recovery after surgery” is getting some patients home two to four days faster following major abdominal operations, using non-opioid painkillers that are gentler on the digestive tract. “Our patients are very afraid of pain, especially the patients with a history of opioid addiction,” said Dr. Jennifer HolderMurray, a UPMC colorectal surgeon who helped start the program. “When they come back to me and tell me they didn’t even fill their opioid prescription, that’s a remarkable experience.” In trauma centers and surgery suites, there are no one-size-fits-all replacements for prescription opioids — narcotic painkillers that range from intravenous morphine and

Dilaudid, to pills including Percocet, Vicodin and OxyContin. These so rapidly dull severe pain that they’ve become a default in hospital care, to the point where it’s not uncommon for patients to have an opioid dripping through an IV before they wake from surgery, whether they’ll really need it or not. Now, amid surging deaths from drug overdoses, some hospitals and emergency rooms are rethinking their own dependence on the painkillers, taking steps to make them a last resort rather than a starting reflex.

Crafting non-opioid cocktails The new approach: Mixing a variety of different medications, along with techniques like nerve blocks, spinal anesthesia and numbing lidocaine, to attack pain from multiple directions, rather than depending solely on opioids to dampen brain signals that scream “ouch.” It’s known by the wonky name “multimodal analgesia.” Consider colorectal surgery, so painful that standard practice is to administer IV opioids in the operating room and switch to a patient-activated morphine pump right See HOSPITALS, page 9

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OCTOBER 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

What’s behind all the talk about turmeric? By Judith Thalheimer, R.D. The turmeric plant (Curcuma longa or Curcuma domestica) is a relative of ginger grown in India and Indonesia. This yelloworange spice not only gives curries their rich color, it also has been used as a medicinal herb for thousands of years. Research on some of the chemical compounds in turmeric is finding a wealth of potential health benefits, but does turmeric itself live up to the hype?

The benefits Cooking with turmeric can increase the healthfulness of your foods. Adding turmeric when cooking yellow, orange and green leafy vegetables, for example, may minimize the loss of beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is a pre-

cursor to vitamin A, which is good for vision and eye health, a strong immune system, and healthy skin and mucous membranes. And using turmeric when marinating meats could help reduce cancer risk: Studies show that including turmeric in your marinade can reduce the level of potential cancer-causing compounds created when meat is cooked at high temperature, such as when grilling, broiling or deep-frying. But most of the buzz around turmeric is centered on that fact that it’s the best food source of a compound called curcumin. “Curcumin is the compound in turmeric that gives it its bright yellow hue,” said Rachael Hartley, R.D., L.D., C.D.E. It has been shown to block enzymes in the inflammatory pathways, potentially fighting

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inflammation at the molecular level, and it’s being actively studied for relief of swelling and pain in both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Curcumin is also a powerful antioxidant, and lab and animal studies have reported that curcumin inhibits cancer at multiple stages of development, although we don’t yet know how that might work in the body. The anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects could help reduce heart disease risk, and this potent turmeric component also may help keep the lining of veins and arteries healthy and reduce cholesterol levels.

Most research has been done using curcumin, not turmeric itself. But turmeric is only two to six percent curcumin by weight, so the levels of curcumin in turmeric are not nearly as high as the doses tested in most studies. Plus, curcumin is poorly absorbed and metabolized. Supplements, in the form of liquid extracts, capsules and teas, provide higher doses of curcumin, and appear to be safe. But there have been a limited number of good studies done in humans to date, so the jury is still out on how all of these potential benefits will really impact our health.

While we wait for more conclusive research, one thing is sure: You can’t go wrong by adding turmeric to your diet. “The spice’s earthy, almost gingery flavor is not overpowering, and you’ll find you can work it into a lot more than just curry,” said Hartley. “I mix it into tomato sauce, creamy pasta sauces, smoothies and soups.” To maximize the curcumin you get from eating turmeric, be sure to add some black pepper: Piperine, a natural substance in

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black pepper, enhances the absorption of curcumin by 2000 percent. You can find turmeric powder in the spice aisle of any market, and it’s increasingly available as whole rhizomes and in teas. While it may not be the cure-all some say it is, turmeric definitely has health benefits, and it’s delicious!

Dosage Dosage of turmeric extract or curcumin supplements used in studies varies widely. For those interested in trying supplements, the Arthritis Foundation suggests 400-600 milligram (mg.) capsules three times a day (or one-half to one gram of powdered root, up to 3 grams per day) for osteoarthritis, and 500 mg. twice daily for rheumatoid arthritis.

Safety High doses or long-term use of turmeric may cause indigestion, nausea or diarrhea. In animals, high doses of turmeric have caused liver problems. No cases of liver problems have been reported in people. Avoid turmeric if you take blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin), are about to have surgery, are pregnant, or have gallbladder disease. Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC. 800-829-5384. www.EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2017 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2017

Hospitals From page 7 afterward. The University of Pittsburgh program ended that opioid-first mentality. Instead, doctors choose from a wide mix of options including IV acetaminophen and prescription-strength anti-inflammatory painkillers known as NSAIDs, anti-seizure medications such as gabapentin that calm nerve pain, muscle-relaxing drugs, and others. Without the opioid side effects of nausea, vomiting and constipation, patients may find it easier to start eating solid food and walking around hours after surgery. Some do still need a low opioid dose, Holder-Murray cautioned, but few require a morphine pump. And for those who go home earlier, the approach can save hundreds, even thousands, of dollars. “It’s not just changing a medication or two. It’s a whole culture change,” she said. At MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, anesthesiologist Dr. Joseph Myers is adding to his non-opioid cocktail a long-acting version of the numbing agent bupivacaine that’s squirted into wounds before they’re stitched closed. Called Exparel, it’s controversial because it costs more than standard painkillers. But Myers said it lasts so many hours longer that he recently used it for a cancer patient who had both breasts removed, without resorting to opioids.

Hours after surgery, she was “eating crackers and drinking ginger ale, and she said she’s fine,” he recalled. At Stanford University, pain psychologist Beth Darnall said it’s not just about using different medications. Patients who are overly anxious about surgical pain wind up feeling worse, so doctors also need to address psychological factors if they’re to succeed in cutting the opioids.

to take anything else?” Anders said a day after surgeons implanted a rod in his femur to fix the break. “I can wiggle my toes, I can move my foot, there’s feeling right above the ankle,” but in that damaged thigh, “I can’t feel anything.”

Patients need to ask about these kinds of alternatives, Samet said, but they’re not available at all hospitals. Nerve blocks are becoming more common for elective bone surgery than in fast-paced trauma care, for example. — AP

How nerve block works In Baltimore, Anders remembers waking up in the University of Maryland’s Shock Trauma Center and telling doctors and nurses, “I am a recovering addict.” Years earlier, another car crash had led him to a pain clinic that prescribed Percocet “just like candy,” Anders said. Before getting addiction treatment, he said, “I came close to losing my job, losing my wife.” Samet, the anesthesiologist, estimates that Anders’ nerve block cut by tenfold the amount of opioids he’d otherwise have received for his latest injury. Samet wheeled over a portable ultrasound machine, placed a probe over Anders’ pelvis and searched the black-and-white screen for the dots that mark key nerves. He threaded a tiny tube directly to Anders’ femoral nerve, allowing for repeated infusions of a non-addictive numbing medication for three days. “It’s like a godsend. If you can have something like this, why would you want

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OCTOBER 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Your skin reveals the state of your health Your skin reveals a secret about your health. It will expose you, even if you say you’re feeling “okay” to everyone. I’m not referring to a tan. I’m referring to skin tone, texture and color. If you are pale, you may be anemic and

deficient in iron. It shows up on your skin even if you mask the accompanying fatigue with NoDoz or coffee. Pale skin that is also dry may be a clue to your hypothyroidism, which also causes fatigue and hair loss.

ONE OF THESE BROTHERS IS WEARING

Healthy folks have a good supply of have saggy skin because these lifestyle facblood flow and oxygen throughout their tors attack your collagen and elastin. Drinkbody, so their skin appears ing and smoking age you inrosy and pink, as opposed to side and out. people with heart disease, Sun worshippers and smokhigh cholesterol or circulatory ers often have age spots and an disorder. uneven skin tone, which is People with cancer somefrom the ultraviolet light. But times have grey or blue-tinged this oxidation isn’t only hapskin or lips, due to the lack of pening on your skin surface, oxygenated blood. it’s also happening to every sinAsthma requires the use of gle organ of your body, includsteroids (i.e., prednisone) ing your brain, heart, blood DEAR which can cause easy bruisvessels and reproductive orPHARMACIST ing. This problem also occurs gans. By Suzy Cohen from aspirin, ginkgo and fish People who suddenly take oil, as well as prescription antion a yellow tone may have coagulants taken to prevent a stroke or liver compromise from a drug they’re takheart attack. ing, or from alcohol use. If severe, it’s called If you are alcohol- or nicotine-dependent, jaundice and requires medical attention. you will look older than you should, and Perhaps you think beauty is only skin deep, but as I’ve shown you, it clearly isn’t. It is a reflection of your body’s general physical health. Radiant youthful-looking HEARING AIDS. skin, hair and nails is actually an inside job.

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Reducing your exposure to free radicals can help you obtain gorgeous skin. But of course, you also need to make sure that you eat right and drink enough water to nourish your body. You’ll also want to minimize the amount of synthetic chemicals (including prescription drugs) that you take. There are a only a handful of supplements that I recommend to help with cell protection, collagen formation and general good health. Among the best we have are biotin, collagen (but only high quality), silica, hyaluronic acid and/or lipoic acid. What you’re going for is a healthy glow to your skin, which — at the end of day — translates to a healthy body. I have a more comprehensive version of this article available at my website. To receive it, sign up for my free newsletter at suzycohen.com and I will email it to you. This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement. Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit www.SuzyCohen.com.

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FREE BREAST CANCER SCREENING

The Cancer Institute of the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center is offering women ages 40 and up, who have not had a mammogram in the past year, a free breast cancer screening on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 8:30 a.m. until noon. Appointments are required. The center is located at 7601 Osler Dr. in Towson. For more information or to schedule your appointment, call (410) 337-1479.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2017

Avoid spinning out of control with vertigo By Dr. Paul G. Mathew Vertigo isn’t just a catchy song by the band U2, or a famous movie by Alfred Hitchcock. It’s also a common symptom that has multiple potential causes. Although most people think that vertigo has to involve a spinning sensation, vertigo is actually the sensation that one is moving or that one’s surroundings are moving in the absence of any actual movement.

A balancing act To understand vertigo, one must understand that our sense of balance comes from multiple different systems in the body. There is your visual system, which tells you where your body is in space and time in relation to your surroundings. There is the sensory system, which allows your feet to send information to your brain about the terrain you are walking on. A third system, the vestibular system, often goes unappreciated in day-to-day life, but can cause havoc when not working properly. The vestibular system is composed of structures in your inner ear that

function like a carpenter’s level. With a level, when the device is tilted in one direction or another, the bubble moves indicating imbalance. Similarly, during head and body movements, the inner ear transmits information regarding movement or balance to the brain. When there is a mismatch between the visual, sensory or vestibular systems, people can at times have balance issues. Those balance issues can include vertigo. Medications for the treatment of vertigo are used to target structures in the brain that process these signals, which at times can conflict. Antihistamines like dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and meclizine (Antivert) can be useful treatments for vertigo. Anticholinergic medications like scopolamine can be particularly useful, as it comes in a patch form, which can be applied just prior to entering a situation where motion sickness can be anticipated.

Common on ships One of the most common manifesta-

tions of vertigo occurs when someone travels on a boat. While on a boat, particularly when not standing on the deck, your visual system indicates that there is not much movement, and your surroundings appear still. The vestibular system (inner ear), on the other hand, is telling your brain that there is back and forth rocking movement, which naturally occurs with sea travel. The result is that one part of the brain is registering movement, while the other part of the brain is registering no movement. This mismatch leads to vertigo, nausea and sometimes vomiting, which together are commonly known as seasickness. Unfortunately, when people feel seasick, many go below deck to lie down,

which makes the problem worse. The best remedy for seasickness is actually to go above the deck and look at the motion of the water, or off at the horizon. By doing this, the visual system perceives the motion that the vestibular system perceives, which can alleviate the sense of imbalance. For many who have experienced seasickness, the symptoms can persist for hours to days after getting off the boat. Another place where such balance mismatches frequently occur is when transitioning onto or off of an escalator. Paul G. Mathew, M.D., is a contributor to Harvard Health Publications. © 2017 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed By Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Oct. 28

ALZHEIMER’S WALK

The 2017 Walk to End Alzheimer’s will take place on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Canton Waterfront Park at 3001 Boston St., Baltimore. Registration begins at 9 a.m., followed by the opening ceremony at 10 a.m. and the walk starting at 10:30 a.m. Participants can join a team and raise money, or simply make a donation. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/AlzheimersWalkBaltimore or contact Kisha James (410) 561-9099, ext. 205 or kjames@alz.org.

Oct. 5+

Mary came to ManorCare Health Service – Woodbridge Valley debilitated from an infection. Mary couldn’t even get out of bed! didn’tknow know She told us ‘Ididn’t what to expect. I’ve never been hospitalized.’

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Mercy Medical Center is hosting free oral cancer screenings on Thursday, Oct. 5 and Saturday, Oct. 7. The center is located at 301 St. Paul Place. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (410) 385-3270.

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OCTOBER 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

When normal hearing aids aren’t enough Dear Mayo Clinic: I’m 72, and have worn hearing aids for about a decade. Over the past several years, my hearing seems to be getting worse. Although I’ve tried several different kinds of hearing aids, I can’t hear well with them anymore. A friend suggested I ask my doctor about a cochlear implant. I thought those were just for people who are deaf. Could a cochlear implant help

someone like me? How does it work? Answer: It’s possible that a cochlear implant could be a good alternative to hearing aids in your situation. When they were introduced in the 1980s, it’s true that cochlear implants mainly were used for people who had complete hearing loss. Today, however, they often are used to help people who have more advanced hearing loss that cannot be corrected with hearing aids. Your ear has three areas: the outer, middle

and inner ear. Sound waves pass through the outer ear and cause vibrations at the eardrum. The eardrum and three small bones of the middle ear transmit the vibrations as they travel to the inner ear. Within the inner ear, the vibrations pass through fluid in a snail-shaped structure, called the cochlea. Attached to nerve cells in the cochlea are thousands of tiny hairs that help translate sound vibrations into electrical signals that are sent to your brain through your auditory nerve. The vibrations of different sounds affect these tiny hairs in different ways, causing the nerve cells to send different signals to your brain. That’s how you distinguish one sound from another.

How implants work In most people who develop hearing loss, the hairs in the cochlea are damaged or missing, usually as a result of aging and exposure to loud noise, or for genetic reasons. That means the electrical signals can’t be transmitted efficiently to the brain, and the result is hearing loss. A cochlear implant bypasses hair cells that don’t work anymore and gives the brain the ability to perceive sound once again. The implant has two main pieces: an external processor that fits behind your ear, and an internal receiver implanted under the skin behind your ear. The processor captures and processes sound signals and then sends those signals to the receiver. The receiver sends the signals to tiny electrodes that are placed directly into the cochlea when the device is implanted. Those signals are received by the auditory nerve and directed to your brain. Your brain interprets those signals as sounds.

Small, easily implanted All of the parts of a cochlear implant are

small, and the processor that fits behind your ear looks somewhat similar to a hearing aid. Because of the small size of these devices, they are relatively inconspicuous, particularly in people with long hair. Cochlear implantation requires a relatively short outpatient surgical procedure. A small incision is made behind the ear to insert the device. Most people experience little discomfort from the surgery, and its overall risk is low. The device usually is turned on several weeks following surgery. After the device is turned on, you will be able to hear; however, hearing improvement continues for six months to a year after surgery. Cochlear implants are a well-established technology. At first, physicians and researchers only recommended them for people who had total hearing loss. Over the years, though, research has shown that cochlear implants can be useful for people who still have some hearing. They can be particularly helpful for people who have difficulty understanding speech in everyday listening situations, despite using good hearing aids. Talk to your doctor or a medical professional who specializes in hearing loss to find out if you would be a good candidate for a cochlear implant. The great majority of people who receive a cochlear implant find that they are able to communicate better with the people around them, and more fully participate in conversations and other daily activities that require the ability to hear clearly. — Matthew Carlson, M.D. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org. © 2017 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Health Studies Page

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Help test a simpler prep for colonoscopy By Carol Sorgen A colonoscopy is an important screening exam to help prevent colorectal cancer by detecting pre-cancerous polyps (growths), and typically removing them during the procedure itself. Additionally, a colonoscopy can detect colorectal cancer in its early stages, when it is most successfully treated. When caught in a timely manner, colon cancer is often completely curable. If that’s the case, then why is colon cancer the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men, and the third leading cause for women, in the United States — claiming more than 50,000 lives each year? Primarily that’s because many people find the preparation for a colonoscopy — which includes fasting and taking a strong laxative with a gallon of liquid — so unpleasant that they forgo the exam that could save their life. In order for a colonoscopy to be most accurate, the colon must be cleansed thoroughly prior to the procedure. That is what enables the physician performing the colonoscopy to see even the smallest abnormalities. If the preparation isn’t performed properly, a repeat colonoscopy may be required, or an important diagnosis could be missed altogether. To encourage more people to schedule a colonoscopy by making it as palatable as possible, Dr. Ethan Dubin of LifeBridge Health in Baltimore is conducting a study

that is comparing the traditional preparation — drinking 4 liters of liquid with polyethylene glycol (a medication which, in smaller doses, may be used to treat constipation) — with an alternative preparation involving taking 36 magnesium citrate capsules and four over-the-counter laxative pills. “Pill preparations are easy to take, inexpensive, and don’t have any taste,” said Dubin in explaining their advantage. Approximately 100 patients have already undergone a colonoscopy using the new formulation and have provided positive feedback, according to Dubin. This current investigation will randomize patients — with their consent — into two groups: one with the traditional liquid prep, and one with the capsule/pill form. The gastroenterologists performing the colonoscopies will not know which patient has taken which prep. The alternative prep group will receive their capsules at no cost. Depending on the type of insurance coverage patients have, the cost of the overall procedure itself should also be covered. Volunteers should check with their insurance companies in advance. Depending on risk factors for colon cancer and a doctor’s recommendation, a routine colonoscopy should be performed every five or 10 years beginning at the age of 50. However, for a variety of reasons, certain individuals may need to consider a colonoscopy at an earlier age. For this clinical trial, participants must

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be at least 18 years old and meet certain health requirements, including having no evidence of heart disease, colon disease, or prior colon surgery. This study is scheduled to continue through Sept. 2018. The colonoscopies will be available at three locations: Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, part of LifeBridge Health, at 2401 W. Belvedere Ave.; Dr. Dubin’s office, at 21 Crossroads Dr. in Owings Mills; and at

Woodholme GI Associates, at 1838 Greene Tree Rd. in Pikesville. You do not have to be a current patient of LifeBridge Health, Dr. Dubin or Woodholme GI Associates to participate in the trial. To volunteer, call the Sinai Division of Gastroenterology at (410) 601-5392, Dubin’s office at (410) 356-2306, or Woodholme GI Associates at (410) 602-7782 and specify that the call is about the colonoscopy pill study.

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OCTOBER 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

The point of hospitality isn’t the food Dear Solutions: There is a lovely couple that I want to invite to a dinner party at my house. I’ve been told that the husband is a gourmet cook, and my food, well, it’s edible. So I feel intimidated. The other people I’m inviting are all interesting people who have lively discussions at every gathering, and I believe that this couple would fit in very well. Should I say something first so they

won’t expect some fabulous food? — Anita Dear Anita: Tell them that the main course of this lively dinner will be food for thought, and you’re sure everyone would enjoy each other’s company. Don’t apologize for your cooking, Anita. “Edible” is not regrettable. Dear Solutions: My cousin, who makes a lot more money than I do, spent a lot of time helping me to learn how to use my

computer. We went out to dinner re- her into staying with him. cently, and I wanted to pay for him, How should I handle this? I don’t want but he wouldn’t let me. He to turn him down coldly. says he doesn’t have to be — Her Mom repaid for doing a favor. Dear Her Mom: My wife says I should “Her Mom” really says it all. stop pushing to buy someAs her mom, you’re not going thing for him and just to go against her wishes. So thank him and let it go. ask her first how she would I’m uncomfortable with feel about your meeting with this. Any suggestions? him just to be nice and under— Charles standing of his hurt. Dear Charles: If she says OK, then agree SOLUTIONS You took his favor, and now to have lunch with him. But By Helen Oxenberg, you want to take away his make it clear that you can’t — MSW, ACSW generosity and make it an and won’t — interfere with her even exchange. That’s how it decisions. feels to him. Dear Solutions: However, if you want to make yourself feel A pet peeve — people who take a better, don’t take him to a restaurant where mouthful of food and then talk while there’s an obvious exchange of money. Invite they’re chewing. I’d like to really tell him to your home for a nice dinner, prefer- them off. Should I? I can’t stand to ably with a couple of other family members look at them when they’re doing this. so he won’t see it as payback. — Peeved If you or your wife don’t cook, bring in Dear Peeved: some simple food. The feeling you want to Can’t swallow that, huh? Don’t chew project is that you enjoy his company — fa- them out. Instead try saying nicely, “Hold vors or no favors. that thought. I don’t want you to choke on Dear Solutions: your food. My daughter has just broken off a “I’ll wait until you finish. I am anxious to long relationship with her boyfriend. I hear what you say.” think she’s right to do this, because That should help them close their no matter how much she cares for him mouth then and open it later. as a friend, she just never has had the © Helen Oxenberg, 2017. Questions to be kind of feeling she wants for someone considered for this column may be sent to: she would marry. The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, Now the boyfriend, who’s devastat- MD 20915. You may also email the author ed, has called me and wants to meet at helox72@comcast.net. To inquire about with me. I know he thinks I can talk reprint rights, call (609) 655-3684.

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CCRCs update services to attract boomers By Jennifer L. Waldera Baby boomers may be aging, but they want to do it on their own terms. That includes how they think and speak about retirement communities, and the industry is taking note. “The labels and the way that we talk about our services are actually scaring our customers away,” said Steve Gurney, publisher of Guide to Retirement Living. “No one wants to buy our services because it’s all about getting old.” Enter the rebranding of what are typically called Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) and are beginning to call themselves Life Plan Communities (LPCs). The change is spearheaded by Leading Age, a national organization based in Washington, D.C. that represents nonprofit housing and

aging services providers. In surveys, they found that “across all age groups, most participants expressed a need for a name that focuses on more than care,” according to the group’s website. For many years, the term Continuing Care Retirement Community has been used to define communities offering residential services for independent older adults, as well as some form of assisted living for those needing help with daily activities, and skilled nursing care for rehabilitation and long-term care needs — all on one campus. These communities provide their residents with an apartment or villa, utilities, meals, housekeeping, transportation, and other services and amenities, all in a secure environment. In addition to charging a monthly fee for

Live Well. Be Well.

accommodations and services, most CCRCs require a one-time entrance fee upon moving in. In part, this fee helps provide the endowment a community needs to assure it can provide a lifetime of healthcare to its residents. In many CCRCs today, the entrance fee may be refundable should a resident move away and, in some cases, it may even be passed on to heirs. Most communities offer a variety of different payment and refund options. By addressing “the continuum of care,” such communities are intended to provide all the services a person could need in the latter part of life, and as such, have the potential to be the “last move” a person need make.

Changing priorities LeadingAge’s CCRC members were reporting that consumer demands were changing drastically. Boomers were looking for socially responsible communities focused on the active lifestyle they wished to live. “The kinds of questions...that [marketing professionals] are getting now from prospective residents are radically different than they were 10 years ago,” said Steve Maag, LeadingAge’s Director of Residential Communities. “They’re much more knowledgeable, much more demanding, and ask a lot more questions.” Maag explained that the CCRC model was

originally created for members of the WWII generation, who were primarily looking for basic needs to be met, and whose priorities were security, stability and maintenance of the status quo. Surveying baby boomers about what they are seeking in a retirement community, LeadingAge found that while consumers still desired high-quality healthcare, they also wanted life-enhancing options that focus on wellness, choice, and the opportunity to continue an active lifestyle. According to Maag, the industry needed to adjust to these demands and respond with options that would be appealing to this new generation of prospective residents. Using that knowledge, the organization led a “namestorming” process that identified the language that most positively reflected the expectations of consumers. They ultimately determined that the label Life Plan Communities best reflected the values prospective residents associated with retirement community planning, and subsequently began to address transforming and increasing the services provided by the communities.

What is really changing? In addition to providing high-quality healthcare in the residential environment, See CCRCs, page B-4

Here, assisted living is living, with the right amount of personal assistance… …at a great value. A place of independence

With a maintenance-free, amenity-rich retirement lifestyle and the dynamic FlourishTM wellness program, both Carroll Lutheran Village and Howard County’s newest senior living community, The Lutheran Village at MILLER’S GRANT, provide an ideal environment where you can grow and thrive. Schedule your tour of either of these wonderful communities today.

Pickersgill assisted living residents are rarely in their rooms! Instead, they’re out and about— participating in a community activity or event or dining with friends.

A place of beauty Living in this community—tucked into a beautiful West Towson neighborhood —you or yourr loved one will enjoy a warm welcome and daily activities, and they’ll appreciate the h walking paths, beautifully landscaped grounds, lovely gardens and more.

A place of caring

300 St. Luke Circle Westminster, Maryland 21158 1-877-848-0095 www.CLVillage.org

9000 Fathers Legacy Ellicott City, MD 21042 1-877-213-2460 www.MillersGrant.org

The Lutheran Village at MILLER’S GRANT participates with Howard County in the Moderate Income Housing Unit Program.

Each assisted living resident enjoys three chef-prepared meals per day, housekeeping and laundry services, medication administration, help with daily tasks and more—always by request, and all included in a reasonable monthly fee. Each resident also has access to all of the Pickersgill amenities. Our assisted living residences include a private, full bath, and residents are encouraged to decorate their homes as they wish. This is a lifestyle dedicated to independence and assured by a caring, professional staff.

Call 888-877-9883 today for more information or to schedule your personal tour. 615 Chestnut Avenue • Towson, MD 21204 • www.PickersgillRetirement.org

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Robotic companion can make life easier Services so Rudy can call for help in the event of an emergency. The robot currently requires owners to actually say “help” to activate this feature, but the INF team is working on a way to summon help in cases where a person cannot themselves utter the word. The robot was always designed primarily for older adults and their unique needs. “We have kept seniors in the loop from the very beginning,” Nunez said, “and constantly evolved the design and operation based on their feedback and needs.” According to Nunez, it was important to INF Robotics to have potential consumers test the robot to see if there were any issues that needed resolving and to see if they enjoyed it. They decided to test him in senior living communities and with home care companies, both within their target market. “With the senior community living facilSee ROBOT, page B-4

PHOTO COURTESY OF INF ROBOTICS

By Rebekah Alcalde Those who live alone and need some assistance to continue aging in place may get by with a little help from a friend — a cute white and blue robot named Rudy. INF Robotics, based in Fairfax, Virginia, has spent the last six years building Rudy specifically to assist older adults and individuals with disabilities with a range of tasks, and to serve as a sentinel in case of falls. Rudy, who can be summoned by name (and whose name can be changed, by the way), can track its owner’s movements, detect if they fall, and summon help if needed. It can also retrieve and carry light objects and, since it can speak, remind you to take medications and when you have appointments. Rudy is about the size of a 10-year-old, and is designed to look friendly and accessible. In fact — with its round head, cartoonish features, and white and bright blue colors — it almost looks like a snowman.

Rudy the robot can help older adults age in place by issuing medication reminders, calling for help in emergencies, and even offering companionship. Its screen allows two-way communication between the resident and their doctors and family members as well. Created by INF Robotics, Rudy is soon to hit the Washington, D.C. market, and plans to expand nationwide next year.

More than a companion The idea for the robotic companion came to CEO Anthony Nunez while he was still a teenager — when his grandmother fell and lay undiscovered for days, prompting her loss of independence and increased reliance on his mom. Seeing the difficulties on “both ends of the spectrum” is what caused him to look for the out-of-the-box solution that became Rudy, he explained. In addition to his other functions, Rudy can also act as a medium between a person and their doctors and caregivers. In fact, doctors can operate him remotely and check in on the robot’s owner on a regular basis. “For caregivers or family members, they can take control of Rudy and see how the senior is doing” explained Nunez. “The interface is extremely simple. We know seniors haven’t grown up using computers.” A blue video screen on its chest enables chatting between the owner, their caregivers and doctors. Through a camera, doctors can “see the senior, observe them as they move around, and talk to the senior to become informed of certain things that may be concerning them health wise that are not visible to the doctor or the caregiver,” Nunez added. For privacy reasons, Rudy does not record information, but Nunez said this can be altered in the next model if customers decide they want it. Aside from its practical uses, Rudy can also be a major source of companionship, fun and social interaction for its owners. The video-chatting screen on its chest can be used to play games with its owner, and the robot can even dance and join in simple conversations.

CARE THAT’S

always there at

ATRIUM VILLAGE

OUR PEOPLE TRULY CARE ABOUT YOU. Our version of senior living upholds the standards of your lifestyle. Catered to your tastes, our staﬀ and amenities deliver a level of quality and service that will make you feel right at home.

CALL TODAY TO LEARN MORE AND SCHEDULE A PRIVATE LUNCH 410-928-4636

Helpful in emergencies Though emergency call buttons have been popular for years, many people who have them don’t wear them or forget to put them on, according to Nunez. Enter Rudy, who both talks and understands commands, making him an invaluable companion in the event of an emergency. INF Robotics has partnered with AlertOne

INDEPENDENT L I V I NG | ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE 4730 ATRIUM COURT | OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117 W W W. SE N IOR L I F E S T Y L E .COM

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CCRCs From page B-2 LPCs focus on a holistic approach to meet the needs of members, according to Maag. These communities seek to provide residents with a host of other quality-of-life amenities, such as golf courses, swimming pools, banking services, convenience stores, a fitness center, walking trails, gardens, beauty/barber shops and guest accommodations. Of course, many CCRCs today also provide most or all of these amenities, so to a certain extent, the name change is more about branding than substance. According to Maag, however, communities that adopt the Life Plan term are looking to update features and upgrade services, with a particular emphasis on more choices for residents. Among the improvements prospective residents can expect to see in Life Plan Communities are: Customizable living areas. Residents will be able to customize their living

OCTOBER 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

spaces with options including colors, floor types, cabinets and countertops. Some LPCs even offer interior movable walls to adjust the shape and size of rooms. Healthcare. Access to quality healthcare remains a priority, but with a particular focus on addressing the concerns that baby boomers have regarding dementia care. Technology. To meet the needs of boomers who are, generally, technologysavvy, Life Plan Communities are ensuring that appropriate up-to-date technology is readily available. While the current focus may be as relatively simple as providing WiFi for all residents, or exploring the usage of Alexa and Skype and similar voice-recognition technology, communities are aware that they need to be prepared to implement the latest technology efficiently and effectively to meet residents’ needs. Dining choices. In traditional CCRCs, structured dining times with limited dining options have been standard and accepted. Now, LPCs are acknowledging the various dietary needs and desires of prospective res-

idents, and are offering a variety of cuisines from sushi to Italian to Thai, as well as modifying menus to ensure options for those who follow vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free diets. Dining settings have changed as well. In addition to traditional sit-in spaces, many LPCs are offering prepared options for residents to take away and enjoy in their own units. Also, the times that food is made available have expanded. Alcohol. While some CCRCs may have chosen to provide alcohol in the past, it is now far more common for LPCs to make alcoholic beverages more readily available, not only by incorporating pubs and lounges into their communities, but offering such programs and activities as wine clubs and wine tastings. Variety of programs. Traditional retirement community activities bring to mind bingo, card-playing and the occasional group outing. Today, communities are looking to their residents for input on their pastimes and preferences, in order to create

™

A WHOLE NEW STYLE OF LIFE

programs and spaces for them that cater to a variety of hobbies — including art studios and classes, pottery and wood shops. Storage. Baby boomers are active and expect to remain so as they age. That means having enough storage to house the materials that support their lifestyle, including equipment like kayaks, bikes, skis — and even RVs. While organizations such as LeadingAge are encouraging traditional CCRCs to consider adopting the Life Plan Community name and image, that change is not yet widespread. Very few CCRCs in the Baltimore area, for example, have switched over to the LPC nomenclature, though many are moving to update their services and facilities. To see a map of LPCs around the U.S., go to http://lifeplancommunity.org/whywere-changing/#fndtn-panel-4. Below are some selected CCRCs and LPCs in the Baltimore area. For a more complete listing, visit www.mylifesite.net/app/ search-communities-results.cfm. Broadmead, Cockeysville, (443) 3302113, www.broadmead.org Charlestown, Catonsville, 1-800-989-6981, www.ericksonliving.com/charlestown Miller’s Grant, Ellicott City, (877) 4502532, www.millersgrant.org North Oaks, Pikesville, (410) 921-2497, https://northoakslcs.com Oakcrest, Parkville, (410) 415-1628, www.ericksonliving.com/oak-crest

Robot From page B-3

EXPANSION PLANS UNDER WAY WITH 52 NEW APARTMENT HOMES

EXCITING CHANGES IN THE WORKS

LAUNDRY

MECH.

Nestled in the picturesque rolling hills of Hunt Valley is where you’ll find Broadmead, a continuing care retirement community long known for its beauty, convenience, and Quaker-inspired values — where a lifestyle of integrity, inclusion and simplicity serves a diverse group of residents. Broadmead isn’t your stereotypical retirement community. When residents aren’t busy in the woodworking shop, taking on-site art or wellness classes, or hiking the trails in Broadmead’s expansive 94-acre campus, they are out in the world, taking in the culture of downtown Baltimore, enjoying an overseas vacation, or keeping busy with their careers.

To meet the increasing demand for independent living options from this active group, Broadmead is adding 52 brand new, spacious apartment homes – called Hillside Homes – to its campus. Ranging in size from 1,065 to 1,555 square feet, each Hillside Home will include modern finishes such as granite, tile, crown moldings, the convenience of underground parking, and a large balcony or patio, perfect for outdoor entertaining. With 5 floorplans, from one-bedroom plus den to two-bedroom plus den options, the benefits of living at Broadmead have never been better.

EXPANDED AMENITIES ALONG WITH NEW HOMES As part of the expansion, Broadmead will also: expand dining venues to include a new bistro café, create an expansive health and wellness center, reconfigure higher levels of care to support distinct, household style neighborhoods dedicated to dementia care, assisted living memory support, rehabilitation and traditional comprehensive care, create a new aquatics center with a heated indoor pool, and enlarge and improve the existing auditorium.

W.I.C

DEN 12’-0”x10’-6”

1/2 BATH

CLOS.

PAN.

LIN.

MW above

BATH

D.W.

MASTER BEDROOM 13’-11”x16’-5”

RES. OPTION

BEDROOM TWO 12’-10”x14’-0”

LIVING/DINING 21’-0”x17-3”

BALCONY 13’-9”x11-0”

0 1

“The Sherman”, one of five new Hillside Homes options currently in development.

While the expansion is still under development, Kristy Krueger, Broadmead’s VP of Sales and Marketing, urges those interested in making Broadmead their home in the next few years to start making plans now due to high demand. “Broadmead offers private appointments for those interested in learning about our wonderful community, and we also have a program that essentially ‘saves your place in line’ for those wishing to move to Broadmead within the next few years,” says Krueger.

*Renovations are pending approval by the Maryland Department of Aging.

Artist’s conceptual renderings depict proposed Hillside Homes development.

MASTER BATH

REF.

KITCHEN 9’-3”x12’-0” W.I.C

LIN.

FOYER

To learn more about Hillside Homes please contact Broadmead at 443-330-2113, email Kristy Krueger at kkrueger@broadmead.org, or visit www.broadmead.org.

ities, we had seniors volunteer themselves to test with Rudy,” he said, “and we would also have the faculty recommend seniors whom they would like to see Rudy working with, to get the senior out of their rooms to move and interact more.” The robot was tested in several senior living communities around the Fairfax area, including Vinson Hall, Woodlands, Somerset and Goodwin House in Virginia, and Knollwood in Washington, D.C. It was also utilized by several home healthcare agencies, including Comfort Keepers, SenCura and Home Health Options Group. All three will continue their partnership when it hits the market. Though primarily for seniors, Rudy is also suitable for an individual of any age with disabilities. Nunez said they are also looking to assist veterans, especially those who were wounded or now need assistance. Because of this, Rudy has been tested and approved by the Department of Veteran Affairs. The expected cost of each unit is $5,000, a hefty price for some, but with the monthly cost of non-medical home care at roughly $16 to $26 an hour, it could be worth the investment. Nunez said they are also seeking reimbursement options through Medicare and Medicaid, and hope that the robot “will be little to no cost to the user” in the near future. Rudy is just beginning to hit markets in the Washington, D.C. metro area, with national sales projected for late 2018. For more information, visit www.infrobotics.com /index.html.

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2017

Utilities offer free energy-saving devices Homeowners and apartment dwellers can take advantage of energy efficiency standards, policies and programs to save money on their utility bills. Several states have enacted legislation to reduce energy usage and costs. For example, the Empower Maryland Act of 2008 mandated statewide reductions of 15 percent by 2015. To help achieve this goal, Maryland also requires utility companies to offer their customers a free Quick Home Energy Checkup (QHEC). It’s available for residents of multifamily and single-family properties. After going through a dwelling and pointing out ways to save energy and cut costs, the QHEC rewards homeowners and tenants with free energy-efficient products — including long-lasting LED light bulbs, efficient-flow showerheads, advanced power strips, and a wrap for your water heater — all installed at no cost. Whether you reside in a house, condo, townhouse or apartment, as long as you have an active utility account in the state of Maryland, you’re likely eligible for the energy and water saving upgrades. These products offer a fast, easy way to increase the energy efficiency of your home and help you start saving immediately. At the bottom of your utility bill, you can see the percentage that goes toward this program, which benefits you and your community. Inefficient apartment buildings and single family homes cost Americans billions in lost dollars and keep us from reaching sustainability. Programs such as the Quick Home Energy Checkup help maximize energy efficiency and minimize the environmental impact. For more information about the Quick Home Energy Checkup from BGE, see http://bgesmartenergy.com/residential/quick-home-energy-check or call 1877-685-7377.

Energy-saving tips for all Here are five more things you can do today to start saving energy and money. 1. Unplug when not using Do you have small appliances sitting on your kitchen counters? Whenever they’re plugged in — even when not being used — they draw power you have to pay for. Save money and energy by unplugging those appliances when they are not being used. Do the math: At a rate of 11 cents per kilowatt hour, multiply that by the 0.00308 kilowatts your small appliances are using in standby mode, and that means each of your appliances is eating about 24 cents

per month just sitting on the counter. Now multiply that by how many appliances you have plugged it — your coffee maker, microwave, toaster oven, etc. Unplugging these items will save you several dollars a month and won’t be wasting energy. Even more power is being used in standby by your computers, television sets and audio equipment. An advanced power strip will let you cut off power to a group of devices when they aren’t being used, and will restore power to all of them the moment one of them is turned on. 2. Clean your filters On average, half your energy bill goes to heating and air conditioning your home. If your units are not running in top form, they’re wasting money and could be impacting your air quality. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the air inside the average home is up to five times more polluted than the air outside. One way to maintain healthy air is to clean your air conditioner filters and follow you HVAC compliance checklist. 3. Switch to LED lighting Now is the time to switch over to LED bulbs. They are among the best forms of light for your home or office, compared with less-efficient CFL or incandescent bulbs. LED light bulbs generate little heat and last significantly longer than other light bulbs — for approximately 50,000 hours. Also, they don’t contain mercury (like CFLs do), so they can be thrown into the trash when they burn out in 17 years! 4. Save in the shower In an average home, showers are typically the third-largest water use after toilets and clothes washers. The average American shower lasts for 8.2 minutes and uses 17.2 gallons of water. In addition to taking shorter showers, save water by installing an EPA WaterSense high-efficiency shower head. You’ll hardly notice the difference — except in your water use and bill. 5. Plug those leaks Plugging up small leaks can add up to big savings. Small gaps and cracks around your windows and doors, and in your basement and attic, can let the air you’re heating or cooling escape. Gaps can also let in moldy and dusty air, and even vermin! If you can feel drafts, you really have a problem. But even if you don’t, almost every home can benefit from additional caulking and weather-stripping. Information courtesy of the Montgomery County Dept. of Environmental Protection.

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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!

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Linden Park Apartments in Bolton Hill 410-523-0013 301 McMechen Street Baltimore, MD 21217 What better way to start off Fall than in a new apartment in a community such as Bolton Hill that boasts beautiful gardens and plenty of social activities — a lifestyle that encourages engagement and wellness in one location. Offering efficiency apartments at $777 a month, for ages 62 plus, there are many activities for you to enjoy, from fitness workshops to art programs! Newly renovated and updated, Linden Park Apartments in Bolton Hill has undergone $24 Million in Renovations! FREE parking, FREE utilities and 24-hour concierge, plus small pets are welcome! Stop by for a tour today! www.LindenParkApartments.com An Equal Housing Opportunity Community.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Oak Crest 1-800-333-5693 8820 Walther Boulevard Parkville, MD 21234 www.OakCrestCommunity.com A move to Oak Crest in Baltimore County is a wise decision for your future, your finances, and your family. No other retirement community in the Parkville area offers so many fabulous benefits. Since opening their doors in 1995, seniors have flocked to Oak Crest for catered, maintenance-free living. From its stylish apartment homes and clubhouses packed with amenities, to the expert on-site health care and predictable financial structure, Oak Crest provides a secure and stimulating place for seniors age 60 or older to call home. Learn about everything this exciting 87-acre campus has to offer. Call 1-800-333-5693 for a free brochure.

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OCTOBER 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

New technologies to improve your health “Connected” health technology is a godsend for people who want to grow old in their homes and retain their independence. According to an industry report by MarketResearch.com, the market for connected “smart sensors” is expected to reach $117 billion by 2020. Health tech lets users get help in an emergency with mobile medic alert-like

personal emergency response systems; track health and habits via wearable devices that gather biometric cardiac, respiratory, sleep and activity data; and monitor chronic conditions. It also lets patients speak with doctors remotely in real time (known as telemedicine), partake in virtual rehab, anticipate falls and manage medication. Through GPS, sensors, chips, cameras,

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Atrium Village 410-928-4636 4730 Atrium Ct Owings Mills, MD 21117 www.seniorlifestyle.com/property/ atrium-village Seniors live their golden years to the fullest at Atrium Village, where they enjoy every day with the support of our caring staff. Whether they live in an Independent Living, Assisted Living or Memory Care neighborhood, Atrium Village has a little something for everyone. We have virtually limitless options that nurture the mind, body, and spirit: Our award-winning program Brain Health University is always popular for those residents who like to stretch their minds and socialize with friends, as are the plethora of life enrichment programs available. Staying active and happy is the key to living a full life. We invite you to unretire and start living at Atrium Village, a Senior Lifestyle community.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Charlestown 1-800-222-9651 715 Maiden Choice Lane Catonsville, MD 21228 CharlestownCommunity.com Charlestown has been one of Maryland's most celebrated continuing care retirement communities for over 30 years — and for good reason. This vibrant senior living community offers unique benefits that can't be matched by its competitors, like 110 acres of glorious grounds, 200+ resident-run clubs, and Erickson Health, one of the nation's most comprehensive health and wellness systems for seniors. Charlestown boasts three clubhouses packed with amenities, and beautiful historic features, like Our Lady of the Angels Chapel. Most importantly, Charlestown's inclusive Monthly Service Package keep finances predictable and protected. Call 1-800-222-9651 for a free brochure.

voice activation, cellular connectivity and smartphone monitoring apps, technology provides a way to share information, and offers peace of mind to family caregivers and loved ones. An adult child, for instance, can easily access the information by logging onto a smartphone, tablet or computer.

A smartphone EKG Health tech company AliveCor sells a $99 smartphone-connected electrocardiogram that detects abnormal heart rhythms. Called Kardia Mobile, the app on the smartphone lets the user see the results and take them to the doctor. And don’t forget mental health and wellbeing. Software such as Posit’s Brain HQ (some brain exercises are free, but full access costs $14 a month or $96 a year) and Rosetta Stone’s Fit Brains ($80 a year) may help keep the brain sharp, though there’s no proof any particular product delays or prevents dementia. Other technologies let people stay socially connected and engaged. Integrated systems combine multiple functions such as video calling, reminders and activity monitoring (including looking for unusual behavior). Two examples are the GrandCare System ($999 to $1,499, plus $99 a month) and Independa (the Independa-enabled LG smart TV ranges from $699 to $1,199). Technology can also be used to manage medication. Not taking your medicine properly, or at all, can land you in the hospital — or worse. Today, there are smartphone apps and physical devices that release pills on schedule, and provide text or phone-call reminders if you forget to take your medicine. Apps, which vary in cost, include Medminder, Reminder Rosie, e-Pill and PillPack.

Pills that track themselves And there is a new world of ingestible sensors, too. Proteus Digital Health, a health technology company, is partnering with healthcare systems to prescribe medications with sensors for patients with heart failure, cardio metabolic risk and hepatitis-C. Here’s how it works: The medication is put into a capsule with a Federal Drug Administration-approved sensor the size of a grain of sand. Swallow the capsule and the sensor turns on when it reaches the stomach. It sends a signal to a small wearable sensor patch

placed on your torso. The patch records the time you took your medication, the type of medicine and the dose. It then relays that information to your mobile device. If no information is relayed to the patch because you forgot to take your pill, the Proteus software sends you a reminder on your mobile device. The ingestible sensor passes through your body like food. The Proteus sensor is currently being used in eight large U.S. healthcare systems, which are picking up the tab while these smart pills are being tested. According to Dr. George Savage, cofounder of Proteus, fewer than half of patients take their medication correctly. “Digital medicine helps doctors make better decisions,” Savage said. Physicians can see if patients are failing to respond to the therapy, or if it’s how they are taking the medicine that is at fault, he said.

Contact lenses and more All of these technologies are just the beginning, with many more in the works. For example, smart contact lenses are being developed to monitor diabetes by measuring blood glucose from a wearer’s tears. Novartis is working with Google to create a contact lens that has a tiny antenna that sends data to the user’s smartphone if their glucose level is too high or too low. Another company, Medella Health, has the same goal. It’ll be a few years until either is tested, approved and distributed. Also on the horizon: Lighter and cheaper exoskeletons that pinpoint problem areas on the body. Let’s say as your dad grows older, he develops a gait problem. A camera captures his movements and spots his weaknesses, then algorithms analyze the pictures so an engineer can make a brace or other assistive technology. A few small exoskeletons are in use, such as ReWalk. But they aren’t particularly affordable. “Robotic prosthetic limbs cost anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000,” said Majd Alwan, executive director for LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technologies. But Alwan says he believes that over the next five years, prices will be halved as competition increases. With so many technological advancements under way, the future of aging looks golden. © 2017, The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

BEACON BITS

Oct. 15+

PRESERVING IRAQI JEWISH HERITAGE The Jewish Museum of Maryland is putting on an exhibit about

the dramatic recovery of historic materials relating to the Jewish community in Iraq following a flooded basement in Saddam Hussein’s intelligence quarters, where they had been stashed by the regime. Opening on Sunday, Oct. 15, the exhibit will be on display until Monday, Jan. 15, 2018. Entry to the museum is $10 ($8 for those 65+). Located at 15 Lloyd St., the museum is open Sunday to Thursday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more information, call (410) 732-6400 or visit www.jewishmuseummd.org.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2017

FREE HOUSING AND OTHER INFORMATION

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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 Julius Caesar.

HOUSING COMMUNITIES ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

Atrium Village . . . . . . . .B3 & B6 Broadmead . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B4 Carroll Lutheran Village . . . . .B2 Charlestown . . . . . . . . .B6 & B9 Christ Church Harbor Apts . . .B9 Linden Park Apts. . . . .B5 & B11 Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2 Oak Crest . . . . . . . . . . .B5 & B9 Park View Fullerton . . . . . . . .B8 Park View Laurel . . . . . . . . . .B8 Park View Rosedale . . . . . . . .B8

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Park View Towson . . . . . . . . .B8 Pickersgill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2 St. Mary’s Roland View Towers B10 Stump’s Home . . . . . . . . . . .B11 Virginia Towers . . . . . . . . . . .B9 Weinberg Gardens . . . . . . . .B12 Weinberg House . . . . . . . . . .B12 Weinberg Manhattan Park . . .B12 Weinberg Manor East/West . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B12 ❑ Weinberg Manor South . . . . B12 ❑ Weinberg Park Assisted Living . . . . . . . . . . . . .B5 & B12

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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 1017

Phone (day) _______________________________________________ (eve) ________________________________________________ Please provide your telephone number and e-mail address so we may contact you promptly if you win the drawing.

B-8

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OCTOBER 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Five tips for downsizing from the pros By Katherine Roth For empty nesters, seniors and others who find themselves moving into a smaller space, downsizing can feel emotionally and physically overwhelming. But careful planning and perspective can make it easier. It helps to keep your eyes on the prize, experts say. Envision how great it will feel to be unburdened by excess and achieve your goal of living happily with less, in a smaller but comfortable space, said Stephanie Sisco, home editor for Real Simple Magazine. It helps to think of the process as a way to put things in order now so the burden of sorting through everything doesn’t fall to your family later. Here are five suggestions to make downsizing easier.

Don’t guess; calculate Measure your new space to determine

exactly what will fit (and what won’t), and precisely where each piece of furniture should go. Draw a floor chart onto graph paper so that each square represents a foot, with furniture pieces cut out from Post-Its and placed appropriately on the grid. Or use one of many available apps that accomplish the same task, generally in greater detail. “I use the Sweet Home 3-D app, but there are many other apps out there,” said Diana Zagariello, owner and director of Caring Transitions of Long Island, based in Merrick, New York. Caring Transitions, which helps seniors downsize, has 170 offices across the country. “It’s important to know exactly what will go where, so you can make the most of the muscle available to you on moving day and aren’t stuck rearranging heavy furniture in a small space after the movers have gone home,” Zagariello said.

When helping older adults move, she recommends moving everything you’ll be taking with you into the new space first. Going through the rest of your things can be too physically and emotionally overwhelming for many, and is often more efficiently accomplished once you have moved out.

Pare down Start paring down by making a list of everything you don’t love or need so that you can start selling or giving it away. Add to your list as you sift through your things, Sisco said. Identify appropriate charities. “Before you start a big purge, it’s good to know where you want to donate your items like books, clothes and furniture. Do a little research, and that way you have a plan to quickly get rid of things as you go,” Sisco said. Make sure you have plenty of boxes, Sharpies, zippered plastic bags and other

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materials for quickly packing. Once you get going, you won’t want to lose momentum because you don’t have enough of the right boxes, she said. In addition, says Zagariello, “Make a nice long list of who to contact about your change of address, what services need to be disconnected or transferred, where you want to donate things or to whom you want to give them. Everything.”

Keep only what you love Begin the process of discarding your possessions by tackling the least sentimental first, so you don’t get bogged down, Sisco said. Start with the laundry room or pantry, for instance, and work your way up to things like photos or mementos, the toughest things to get rid of. As bestselling author Marie Kondo writes in the The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (Ten Speed Press, 2014), it helps to tackle things methodically, keeping only what you truly love or need.

Get help; remember to breathe It’s important to have support making the many decisions that come up before, during and after a move. “It really helps having someone by your side, helping you stay focused,” Sisco said. It could be someone from a moving company, a professional re-locator, a friend, a neighbor or family member. Give yourself a 5- or 10-minute break every 45 minutes or so, Sisco added. And if it’s all too much, hire a relocating expert to do part or all of the job. In many cases, estate sales can help cover the cost of their services.

Make it quick Resettle as quickly as possible to keep your new, smaller home from feeling cluttered. “You want to get all the boxes unpacked and out the door, and everything in place in a matter of days. Otherwise boxes can linger unpacked for far too long,” Zagariello said. “If you’ve done things right in the planning stages, the resettling part should be pretty quick and easy — and the quicker you finish up, the better.” — AP

BEACON BITS

Oct. 4+

POWER OF AGE EXPO

The 30th anniversary of the Power of Age expo will be held at the Timonium Fair Grounds, 2200 York Rd, Lutherville-Timonium, on Wednesday, Oct. 4 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Thursday, Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event offers the latest in information, resources, products and services. Visit http://www.powerofageexpo.com/a bout/contact-us.html to send an email with any questions, or call the Baltimore County Department of Aging at (410) 887-2594.

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Housing Options

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2017

B-9

Ways to use your house for extra income By Anya Kamenetz People over 65 average $150,000 in home equity, according to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. That amount dwarfs the rest of their assets combined. This generation of retirees is facing the decline of traditional pensions, while the 401(k)s that replace them are less generous and more uncertain. So the case for employing one’s home as a source of retirement income has never been stronger. There are three major paths to do that, depending on what your priorities are and the details of your current situation.

around 30 percent. So with a cheaper home, you will save money each month. And aging homes have costly maintenance needs that grow over time. Moving, meanwhile, definitely doesn’t get easier as you get older. The profit from your sale will be free from capital gains taxes up to $250,000 for a single homeowner and $500,000 for married couples who file jointly. You can invest the proceeds in bonds, an annuity or an index fund and draw from the income, or you can use the cash to delay applying for Social Security.

proceeds from the loan. And you will still need to pay all property taxes, insurance and maintenance each month. The good news is that because the income is a loan, it is tax free and doesn’t affect your Medicare premiums or taxes on Social Security. Reverse mortgages have had a poor reputation in the past, but a Federal Housing Authority home equity conversion mortgage is federally insured and comes with more protections. Ignore any solicitations you may get,

and reach out to the National Council on Aging at 1-800-510-0301 for phone-based counseling. Or check the home equity conversion mortgage pages at Hud.gov.

Rent out a room For those who need a more flexible, short-term solution than the two big steps above, becoming a landlord or landlady may be right for you. Maybe you can take on a roommate who See EXTRA INCOME, page B-10

Consider a reverse mortgage This is the simplest way to go. The Center for Retirement Research notes that there are a lot of advantages to choosing a home now that will allow you to age safely and happily in place. For example, you can move from a large empty nest to a single-story unit with modern, accessible updates like grab bars in the bathroom. Pick a townhouse in a development with a gym and swimming pool so you can exercise daily. Gravitate toward a walkable neighborhood. Or move closer to adult children and grandkids — maybe all of the above! Housing costs are the single biggest item in most retirement budgets, hovering

For some people, leaving their longtime homes is just a nonstarter. Maybe you are already lucky enough to be near family or a “naturally occurring retirement community” full of old friends and neighbors. Borrowers 62 and older who have home equity and need retirement income can apply for a home equity conversion mortgage. Essentially, this is a loan against the value of your home. You can stay in the home, spend the money now when you need it, and nothing needs to be repaid until both you and your spouse move out or pass away. In order for this to work, however, your home must be paid off or have a low remaining balance that will zero out with the

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OCTOBER 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Why older patients resist help at home By Judith Graham The 84-year-old man who had suffered a mini-stroke was insistent as he spoke to a social worker about being discharged from the hospital: He didn’t want anyone coming into his home, and he didn’t think he needed any help. So the social worker canceled an order for home healthcare services. And the patient went back to his apartment without plans for follow-up care in place. When his daughter, Lisa Winstel, found out what had happened she was furious. She’d spent a lot of time trying to convince her father that a few weeks of help at home was a good idea. And she’d asked the social worker to be in touch if there were any problems. Similar scenarios occur surprisingly often: As many as 28 percent of patients offered home healthcare when they’re being discharged from a hospital — mostly older adults — say “no” to those services, according to a new report from the United Hospital Fund. Understanding why this happens and what can be done about it is important — part of getting smarter about getting older. Refusing home healthcare after a hospitalization puts patients at risk of a difficult, incomplete or slower-than-anticipated recovery. Without these services, older adults’ odds of being readmitted to the

hospital within 30 or 60 days double, according to one study from NIH. Why, then, do seniors resist getting this assistance? “There are a lot of misperceptions about what home healthcare is,” said Carol Levine, director of the United Hospital Fund’s Families and Health Care Project, a sponsor of the new report.

A common confusion Under Medicare, home healthcare services are available to older adults who are homebound and need intermittent skilled care from a nurse, a physical therapist or a speech therapist, among other medical providers. Typically, these services last four to six weeks after a hospitalization, with a nurse visiting several times a week. Some patients receive them for much longer. Many seniors and caregivers confuse home healthcare with “home care” delivered by aides who help people shower or get dressed or who cook, clean and serve as a companion. The two types of services are not the same: Home healthcare is delivered by medical professionals; home care is not. Nor is home care covered by Medicare, for the most part. This was the mistake Winstel’s father made. He thought he was being offered an aide who would come to his apartment every day for several hours. “I don’t want a babysit-

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ter,” he complained to Winstel, chief operating officer of the Caregiver Action Network. “Older adults are quite concerned about their independence, and they worry that this might be the first step in someone trying to take that away,” said Dr. Leslie Kernisan, a San Francisco geriatrician and creator of the website Better Health While Aging. Other reasons for refusals: Seniors see their homes as sanctums, and they don’t want strangers invading their privacy. They think they’ve been getting along just fine and have unrealistic expectations of what recovering from a hospitalization will entail. Or there are circumstances at home — perhaps hoarding, perhaps physical neglect — that an older adult doesn’t want someone to see. Or the patient’s cognition is compromised and he doesn’t understand his needs or limitations. Or cost is a concern.

A better way to communicate Often, a breakdown in communication is responsible. Patients haven’t been told, in clear and concrete terms, which services would be provided, by whom, for how long, how much it would cost, and what the expected benefit would be. Since they don’t understand what they’re getting into, they resist, Rosati said. Kathy Bowles, director of the Center for Home Care Policy & Research at the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, suggests a plainlanguage, positive way to convey this information. For example: “A nurse will check your medications and make sure they’re all in order. She’ll assess if you need physical therapy to help you regain your strength. And she’ll teach you and family members how to care for you once home care is over.” “A lot of resistance arises from pride,” said Bowles, also a professor of nursing excellence at the University of Pennsylvania. “The conversation has to change from ‘Look, we think you really need help,’ to ‘We

Extra income From page B-9 provides companionship and mutual support as well as help with the mortgage. [See “Share your home like the Golden Girls did,” July 2015 Beacon.] Or do a trade if you need household help. Are you an entrepreneurial type? Have you already retired to your piece of paradise, or

Spectacular View

are you blessed to be in a great metropolis? Then you may want to look into a platform like Airbnb, which allows you to take in guests for as little as one night. Have you pursued one of the following paths to earn income from your home? Any tips? Let me know and I may use your response in a future column. © 2017 Anya Kamenetz. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Oct. 11+

First Month’s Rent Free!

want to help you take care of yourself.’ ” Emphasizing that a physician has recommended home healthcare can also be helpful. “In my experience, if a doctor says, ‘I’d like a nurse to come see you and check that you’re feeling better,’ people are fairly responsive,” Kernisan said. Instead of arguing with an older adult who says, “I don’t want any assistance,” try to follow up by asking, “Tell me more. What are you concerned about?” Kernisan suggested. This isn’t to suggest that persuading an older adult to accept unwanted help is easy. It’s not. Last year, Winstel’s father had a medical device implanted in his spine to relieve pain from spinal stenosis — an outpatient procedure. Once again, he declined postoperative help. Two days later, Winstel got a phone call from her dad, who had collapsed and couldn’t get up from the floor. Winstel said she’d call 911. “No, I don’t want someone coming in and finding me like this,” her father insisted. “You have to come.” Later, at the hospital, doctors diagnosed an adverse reaction to medication and a surgical site infection on her father’s back. “He lives alone. He can’t reach back there. He wasn’t caring for the wound properly,” Winstel explained. Extensive, heated conversations followed, during which her father insisted he was never going to change. “For him, living independently carries risks, and he’s willing to accept those risks,” Winstel said. She hopes the new report on seniors refusing home healthcare will jump-start a conversation about how to bring caregivers into the process and how recommendations should be conveyed. “As the daughter of someone who has refused care, understanding that this is something lots of people go through makes me feel a little less crazy,” Winstel said. — Kaiser Health News

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B-11

Two ways to obtain needed help at home By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior: I would like to hire a personal assistant/home helper for my mom to assist with some simple household chores, like housekeeping, errand running, driving her to the doctor, and keeping her company. But mom doesn’t require personal/physical caregiving, nor does she require any home medical care. Any tips to help us find someone? Looking for Mom Dear Looking: Getting your mom some help at home to handle some of her household chores can make a big difference keeping her independent longer. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips to help you find someone reliable for your mom.

Home helpers For seniors who could use some help at home — but don’t need a caregiving aide for personal care — there are a bevy of personal assistance/home helpers out there that can help make life a little easier. Most home helpers can assist with any number of things, like shopping, running errands, transportation, light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, arranging services (home maintenance, lawn care, etc.) and other household chores, along with providing companionship and support. And, if your mom gets to the point she needs personal/physical care like bathing or dressing, they can usually help with this, too. Most home helpers are part-time workers who work a few hours a day or a few days per week. You also need to know that while Medicare does cover home healthcare services if a doctor orders it, they do not cover

home helper/personal assistant services. There are two ways in which you can go about hiring someone for your mom; either through a home care agency, or you can hire someone directly on your own.

Home care agencies Hiring a home helper through a nonmedical home care, or non-medical companion care, agency is the easiest, but more expensive option of the two. Costs run anywhere from $12 to $30 an hour, depending on where you live and the qualification of the assistant/aide. How it works: You pay the company, and they handle everything including assigning appropriately trained and pre-screened staff to care for your mom, and finding a fill-in on days her helper cannot come. Some of the drawbacks, however, are that you may not have much input into the selection of the aide (though most agencies will send someone else if you don’t like the first aide), and the helpers may change or alternate, which can cause some disruption. To find a home care agency in your area, Google “non-medical home care” followed by the city and state your mom lives in, or you can use Medicare’s home health agencies search tool Medicare.gov/hhcompare. Most home health agencies offer some form of non-medical home care services, too. You can also check your local print or online yellow pages under “home healthcare services.”

Hiring directly Hiring a personal assistant/home helper on your own is the other option. Costs typically range between $10 and $20 per hour. In addition to being less expensive, hiring directly also gives you more

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control over who you hire, so you can choose someone who you feel is right for your mom. But be aware that if you do hire someone on your own, you become the employer so there’s no agency support to fall back on if a problem occurs, or if the assistant doesn’t show up. You’re also responsible for paying payroll taxes and for any worker-related injuries that may happen on your premises. If you choose this option, make sure you

check the person’s references thoroughly, and do a criminal background check. To find someone, ask for referrals through friends, or check online job boards like CraigsList.org, or try Care.com, CareLinx.com, CareFamily.com or CareSpotter.c om. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

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B-12

Housing Options

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OCTOBER 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2017

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

STOCK MARKET ADVICE Vanguard’s new chief investment officer discusses trends in the stock market, the role of bonds, investment fees and more HURRICANE SCAMS In the wake of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, watch out for charity scams, such as those that ask you for cash or to wire money CAR REPAIR TIPS To make sure you’re not overpaying when you take your car to the shop, get a second opinion — in person or online

FAQs about Medicare: Filling the gaps By Kimberly Lankford Every day, my in-box is filled with questions from readers about the nuances of Medicare. The following frequently asked questions concerning signing up or changing your coverage will help you navigate the system and deal with tricky issues. Q: Why do I need Medigap insurance? A: Even with Medicare, you still have to pay deductibles and co-payments. Most people buy a Medicare supplement (Medigap) policy to pay those costs, plus Part D prescription-drug coverage because Medicare generally doesn’t cover drugs. Or you can sign up for a private Medicare Advantage plan, which provides both medical and drug coverage. Medigap policies are sold by private insurers and come in 10 standardized versions (A through D; F; G; and K through N). With the coverage, you can use any doctor or facility that accepts Medicare. Every Medigap plan with the same letter designation must provide the same coverage, even though different insurers may, and often do, charge varying prices for the same coverage. Many state insurance departments have Medigap price lists by insurer (go to www.naic.org and click “map” for links). Part D prescription-drug plans are sold by private insurers, and have average premiums of $34 per month. You can compare premiums and out-of-pocket costs for your drugs under each Part D plan available in your area at www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan.

Medicare Advantage plans combine medical and drug coverage, and may also provide coverage that isn’t available through Medicare, such as for some dental and vision care. Premiums for Advantage plans average $38 per month, which tends to be lower than for Medigap plus Part D, but you may have more out-ofpocket costs. Also, the plans usually have a limited network of doctors and hospitals, and you may have higher costs (or no coverage) if you choose to go out of network. You may also need a referral to see a specialist. You can shop for a Medicare Advantage plan at www.medicare.gov/find-aplan. For an analysis of the best values based on typical costs for people in good, fair and poor health, go to www.medicarenewswatch.com. Q: I’ve been paying high premiums for my Medigap Plan F. Can I switch to another policy to save money? A: Maybe. There’s a huge price range for Medigap policies, and you may be able to save by switching. But depending on your health and the state where you live, your options may be limited. Insurers cannot reject you or charge more because of preexisting conditions if you buy a Medigap policy within six months of signing up for Medicare Part B. But after that, your health can affect your costs and coverage options. If you’re still healthy, you may qualify for a better deal with another insurer.

Some insurers will let you switch to a less-comprehensive policy without medical underwriting — for example, your current insurer may let you switch to a highdeductible Plan F, for which you pay a $2,200 deductible in 2017 before Medigap coverage kicks in. Median premiums are $610 per year for a 65-year-old man, compared with $2,184 for the standard Plan F, according to Weiss Ratings. Plan N has coverage similar to that of standard Plan F, but you pay the Part B deductible ($183 in 2017) and a $20 co-payment for each physician visit, as well as $50 for emergency-room visits. Median premiums are $1,448 per year. Your state may offer special opportunities to switch, regardless of preexisting conditions. However, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia do not have additional switching rules. (Learn more from your state health insurance assistance program at www.shiptacenter.org, or call 1-800-633-4227 for contacts.) Q: The doctor I want to use isn’t covered by my Medicare Advantage plan. When can I switch to a different plan? A: You generally can’t switch to another Medicare Advantage plan until open en-

rollment in the fall, which runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, 2017, for 2018 coverage. There are a few exceptions: You can switch plans if you qualify for a special enrollment period, such as if you move to an address that isn’t in your plan’s service area. You can also switch to a Medicare Advantage plan with a five-star quality rating anytime during the year. But there are only 17 five-star plans in the U.S. in 2017. Locally, these include Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus and Erickson Advantage Freedom (available only to residents of Erickson retirement communities). You can look up “Medicare health plans” by zip code at www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan. If you join a Medicare Advantage plan when you are first eligible for Medicare and switch back to traditional Medicare within 12 months, you can buy a Medigap policy and a Part D plan within 63 days of the change. Each year from Jan. 1 to Feb. 14, you can switch from Medicare Advantage back to traditional Medicare and get a Part D drug plan. But you could be rejected or charged more for Medigap because of a preexisting condition. For more about the rules, see Medicare Interactive at www.medicareinteractive.org. © 2017, Kiplinger. All Rights Reserved. Distributed By Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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OCTOBER 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Vanguard looks ahead at the stock market By Stan Choe It’s easy to get lulled by the gentle and seemingly unstoppable ride higher that investors have been enjoying with almost all their funds. But it can’t last forever. Greg Davis, the new chief investment officer at investing giant Vanguard, isn’t predicting when the next downturn for stocks will happen, but he says investors need to be ready for it given how expensive the market has become. So if swelling stock prices mean they make up a much bigger part of your portfolio than before, and you wouldn’t be able to stomach a 10 percent drop without panicking, consider paring back on them. The largest mutual fund by assets, Vanguard’s Total Stock Market Index fund, has already returned 11.4 percent so far in 2017, for example. That’s close to its best performance for any of the past three full years. In his role, Davis oversees more than $3.8 trillion in assets, including the stock index funds that made Vanguard famous and bond funds run by managers looking to beat the market. That’s close to the size of Germany’s economy. Davis is no stranger at Vanguard. He previously oversaw its bond investments. He recently talked about his outlook for markets and fund investing. Answers have been edited for clarity and length.

Q: Nearly every investment is going up, from stocks in the U.S,. to bonds from emerging markets, to stocks in Europe. Is it worrisome that everything is doing so well at the same time? A: I don’t see that as worrisome, those things being in sync. The bigger concern is that valuations have gotten a bit stretched, on the equity side as well as the fixed-income side. That’s a bigger concern to me than all these things moving in tandem. Much of that can be attributed to the very loose monetary policy from central banks around the world. That’s put a very strong bid across these markets. So it’s not a surprise, but there is a need for caution and a need for customers to be comfortable with the amount of risk in their portfolios. It’s something they should be looking at. You can never predict when a downturn will come, but it will eventually come, and investors need to make sure they’re not too far ahead of their skis. Q: Conventional wisdom says that the U.S. stock market is more overvalued than in Europe and other countries. Do you agree? A: If you look at Europe, those markets look a bit more attractive than the U.S. market. The way we would talk to investors is:

You want to be diversified around the globe. You want to have the diversification so that if there is a downturn in the market, you don’t do inappropriate things at inappropriate times. Q: “Inappropriate things” means selling low whenever stocks take their next tumble? A: Absolutely. Q: And when you’re telling people to “stay diversified,” that sounds like shorthand for making sure you have enough bonds in your portfolio to ease the sting of any downturn for stocks. Can bonds still be that stabilizer if yields are so low? A: If you go back and look at the worst months for the equity markets, high-quality bonds provided a strong ballast to an investor’s portfolio. If you’re in one of those environments where U.S. stocks go down 6 percent, you typically have high-quality bonds showing slightly positive returns. It’s an asset class that’s not expected to go down, even in a low-rate environment. After the “Brexit” vote, even when yields (on European bonds) were negative, highquality bonds still held up even as equities sold off. Bonds have historically done their job, even when they’re yielding low amounts or even negative yields.

Q: Investors seem to be throwing in the towel on funds run by stock pickers, and they’re choosing index funds instead. Do you think index funds will continue to be the overwhelming favorite for where investors put their new dollars? A: Our view is that investors are clearly voting that paying high costs in an environment where returns are expected to be muted is not the best option for them, and we’re seeing them move to lower-cost funds. If you have a higher cost structure, it’s harder for you to outperform your market. And if you do, you have to take on substantially more risk to achieve those returns. Q: Do you think the industry could ever get to a point where someone offers a fund with zero fees, to be a loss leader and bring in customers for their other funds? A: You already have people doing lossleader strategies now. You have companies adding new funds that are clones of existing funds that are at a lower price to try to be a loss leader. The reality is you have to look at the entire complex and ask if it’s enduring. The industry broadly is still too-high cost, across the board. There’s still opportunity for many prices to go down. — AP

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

Don’t fall victim to fraud after hurricanes By Justin Lavelle In the wake of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, two things are certain: 1) Texans and Floridians will rebuild and repair, and 2) scammers will be lurking — ready to take advantage of victims, their circumstances and the people lending a hand to help. About the fraud schemes that are bound to arise, Frank Scafidi, spokesman for the nonprofit National Insurance Crime Bureau, said, “We’ve seen it after every significant disaster, and we don’t expect anything different once the Harvey-induced floods recede.” Preventing natural disaster relief scams is possible. But informed citizens doing their research can avoid falling victim. Here are some ways both victims and supporters can stay protected from these fraudsters:

Use trusted, local contractors Without a doubt, there will be scammers posing as contractors after a natural disaster. You want to make sure you do research to ensure you aren’t going to be taken advantage of. Here are a few tips to follow: • Don’t hire anyone who rushes or pressures you to sign a repair contract. • Don’t pay in cash. A scammer can take the money and never be heard from again. • Never hire a contractor on the spot. Read reviews and make sure they do quality work before making any deals. • Confirm that the contractor’s business is legal, licensed and registered. Request to see a business license and proof of insurance. • Pay in installments and wait for the repairs to be completed to make the last payment. • Always get everything in writing. A legal contract is your safety net, should

any issues arise.

Do a VIN check before buying a car After Hurricane Katrina, fraudsters were fixing up cars damaged by the flooding and selling them as used cars — leaving their victims with a lemon of a car. Conducting a vehicle inspection number check will tell you if the vehicle had previous repairs or damage. Spot fake charities Don’t let scammers take advantage of your generosity. Doing your own research is imperative before making any donations. Conning charities and fraudulent fundraisers may do any of the following: • Refuse to tell you the details; its mission, identity or how your donation will be used. • Ask for cash donations. • Ask you to wire money. • Thank you for a donation you didn’t make. • Try to get you to donate immediately, without giving you time to research. • Use a similar name as an established charity. • Refuse to give you proof that a donation is tax deductible. • Offer to provide an overnight shipping service to collect a donation (another way they try to get you to pay immediately).

Beware of Internet charity scams Before Hurricane Katrina even hit, scammers had registered dozens of websites with “Katrina” in the name to pose as charities. These scams circulate quickly on social media due to their sophistication, so watch out. Once someone makes the mistake of falling for a scam, the fraudsters will lure the victim’s social media friends in, knowing that people are more likely to trust what their friend likes.

Here’s how to stay protected from online charity scams: • Be careful of which websites you give your email to. • Consider any organization that asks you to send money overseas to be a scam. • Do not open email attachments! Real emails from real charity organizations will not typically include attachments. Opening an attachment from an unsolicited email may lead to a computer virus. • Investigate the charity’s website. Legitimate charities’ web addresses typically end in .org — not .com. You can also rule out any website that asks for your personal information. These are scams. • Be cautious of people claiming to be vic-

tims. If someone contacts you directly for help with something like a disaster or disease, they are likely to be scamming you. • Do not donate immediately over the phone. Do your research. You can also help those affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma by sharing these tips with others. When more people are informed of these scams, more victims can get the help they need. Justin Lavelle is chief communications officer at BeenVerified.com. BeenVerified offers a service to access public records and search for people. Find out ages, marital status, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, criminal records and more at www.beenverified.com.

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OCTOBER 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

How not to get ripped off for car repairs By Tom Krisher It’s the moment every car owner dreads. The mechanic comes out of the garage to say your ride needs repairs costing hundreds of dollars. Then two big questions pop into your brain: Are the fixes really needed? Am I being overcharged? There might not be a way around getting the car fixed, but there are ways to stay in control of the situation. But it takes some work and planning both before and after

the big repairs come. Here are some tips:

Get to know a mechanic Establish a relationship and find a repair shop you can trust — or risk big problems. Good old word-of-mouth still is probably the best way to pick a garage, said George Geropoulos, service adviser at Ted’s Auto Clinic in northwest Chicago. Ask like-minded friends and neighbors where they go. With or without a recommendation, check online and find shops in your area

that have mechanics with Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification. Also look for AAA-certified garages and other training for technicians. Check online reviews. Shops that rely heavily on a particular neighborhood for their customers will take extra care to make sure people are happy. When you find a garage, take your car in for an oil change and inspection. See if the people seem honest and are willing to take time to explain a problem. “It’s like a dating relationship,” said Jill Trotta, director of the automotive group at RepairPal.com, an online service that provides price estimates for auto repairs. The oil change is like having coffee with someone. Getting a small repair done is like going to dinner. A major repair can establish a long-term relationship. “If you do your due diligence up front, when something bad goes wrong, you can feel more comfortable,” Trotta said.

Getting to the truth

Say the mechanic said that grinding noise in your front end signals your brake pads need to be replaced. How do you know he’s telling the truth? Brake pad replacement is almost always accompanied by resurfacing or replacing the rotors, the round things that brake pads grab onto. That can drive the price up more. A good mechanic will take you into the garage, show you worn-out parts, and explain the problems if you ask. If you’re not there, ask the shop to send you cellphone pictures of the worn pads and other parts. Make note of exactly what parts are being replaced. If it’s an expensive repair and you’re still a little skeptical, tell the mechanic you need to wait for your next paycheck to get the repair done, or you’re just not ready to do it

now. Then get a second opinion, even if the next shop charges you for it, said Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor for the Edmunds.com automotive website. A simple Google search also will tell you if the problem the garage pointed out is common for your car, Geropoulos said.

Don’t overpay Once you’ve determined that the repair is needed, there are ways to make sure the price is right. There are several websites such as RepairPal that have data on what prices you should be charged. Costs can vary widely across the country, so in addition to make, model and model year, the sites ask for your ZIP Code. RepairPal even has a mobile app for smartphones, so you could do the price check right inside the shop. Some sites give you estimates from several nearby shops. RepairPal uses the same database that garages use to figure out how long a repair should take. The site shows you the hourly labor rate and part cost data that comes from repair garages. It’ll give you a price range for what the repair should cost. You can also call another shop or two and ask what they’d normally charge for the same repair on your model. Trotta, whose service makes money by certifying garages and charging them $199 per month to be a recommended shop on the RepairPal site, said the site calculates a fair price for quality repairs done with quality parts. The lowest price may not be the best deal. Trotta said some garages will sell inferior, less-expensive parts that won’t last as long. “The cheapest thing to do when getting your car repaired is to fix it right the first time,” she said. — AP

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Say you saw it in the Beacon

Travel

Leisure &

Where and how to best view fall foliage. See story on page 21.

Exploring Beijing and its many attractions

Wandering on your own If your time is limited, do what I and my 14-year-old traveling companion — a friend’s daughter — did. Take to the streets of Beijing to soak up the atmosphere. Though we booked a tour with car, driver and guide for two, we had some pre-

tour time on our arrival day. Based at a hotel in the Chaoyang District, we visited a nearby outdoor market where we browsed for souvenir gifts for friends back home. Among the items we saw was a little book with a red plastic cover, Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung, ready for purchase. At more than 10 acres sprawling along streets and in pavilions, the Panjiayuan Market is the largest in China, selling secondhand goods as well an array of curios. Jade jewelry, ceramics, calligraphy, teapots, Buddha statues, paper lanterns, Cultural Revolution memorabilia, Ming- and Qing-style furniture — and even opium scales — are laid out on blankets on the ground. Be prepared to do a lot of crouching if you want to examine goods up close. Hundreds of bicycles crammed the bike “parking” area near the outdoor market. Local residents made their way on foot amid colorful banners donning Chinese characters, which lined a plaza. Tourists and locals alike swarmed the market.

PHOTO BY ESB PROFESSIONAL

By Harriet Edleson If you’ve never been to China, maybe it’s time. First-time travelers will be intrigued by the ancient culture interspersed with an enormous landscape, where modern and ancient mix. Of course, to really see China, you’ll need a lot of time or more than one trip. But if you think you’re only going to travel to the ancient land once, plan carefully so you get the most out of your travels. If you have enough time and resources, consider including Shanghai, China’s largest city and its financial center, in your itinerary. You can take one of China’s high-speed trains, the Jinghu High Speed Railway, between Beijing and Shanghai. You’ll need just five hours to make the 800-mile journey! In my case, I visited only Beijing, and due to business considerations did not extend my trip to Shanghai and Hong Kong. Certainly, if you can take the time to see all three in one trip, that would be appealing. But even on a trip limited to Beijing and its immediate environs, you’ll find plenty to do and see. Here are among the best ways to experience Beijing.

Beijing’s ultra-modern cityscape, including the angular headquarters for China Central Television at the back left of the photo, contrasts with the more than 900 traditional, pagoda-like buildings of the Forbidden City, which dates back to the 14th century. Beijing, with a population of more than 21 million, is China’s second-largest city.

Tiananmen Square The July sun basked the streets the next morning as we headed to Tiananmen Square, the first stop of the day. The well-known 109-acre square in the center of Beijing is named for the Tiananmen, which means “Gate of Heavenly Peace” in Chinese. Ironically, we are reminded of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 at PHOTO BY APHOTOSTORY

Visitors to Beijing are only an hour or two away from the Great Wall of China. Tourists are welcome to walk along five sections of the 5,500-mile-long wall that once had as many as 25,000 watchtowers.

this site. Student-led demonstrations propelled the government to declare martial law, and government soldiers killed hundreds and possibly thousands of demonstrators. The exact number was never released by Chinese authorities. The day we were there, we watched kites soaring in the sky. Kite making and flying are among the oldest traditions in China, going back thousands of years. Nearby, a young boy carried the same little book of Mao’s quotations with the red plastic cover we’d seen at the outdoor market. Chairman Mao, who ruled until he passed away in 1976, is buried in a mausoleum located in the middle of Tiananmen Square, which draws crowds. Inside of the memorial hall, visitors can observe a large marble statue of Mao, and beautifully carved clay figures, murals and engravings. Halls on the second floor of the mausoleum house memorial rooms for six leaders from the Communist era, as well as a movie room where guests can view a documentary film called Huainian, which loosely translates “to cherish the memory of.” If you’re an early bird, don’t miss the flag-raising ceremony, in which a group of soldiers march through Tiananmen Tower to the Chinese national anthem. The flagraising is timed to be at the precise moment of sunrise. There is also a flag-lower-

ing ceremony towards sunset.

The Forbidden City There’s a lot to see nearby, and we visited the Forbidden City next, the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. With 980 buildings and total of 9,999 rooms, it is one of the largest, if not the largest, palace complexes in the world. The seat of imperial power for five centuries, it was home to the royal family. One of the most prominent buildings is the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Built as a symbol of imperial power in 1406, it was the highest building in the empire. No other structure was allowed to be higher than its 88 feet, including the decorative roof elements. The poetically named Palace of Earthly Tranquility housed most of the empresses of the Ming dynasty through 1644. Chairman Mao’s portrait hangs at the Tiananmen gate of the Forbidden City, a reminder of more recent times past. Allow at least three to four hours for a visit to the Forbidden City, and it probably goes without saying that comfortable walking shoes are a must. One of the most beautiful places I saw in my short time in China was the Summer Palace. No wonder the imperial family reSee BEIJING, page 20

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Beijing From page 19 treated here from the summer heat, which can soar into the middle to upper 90s in July and August. Just six miles northwest of the city, it’s worth a visit. The palace is right on the water and is painted in vibrant shades of red and yellow. There, one can see the beautiful palace gardens, take a boat ride to view an island temple, go into the palace’s theater to witness traditional performances, or wander through the recreated shops lining the river’s edge. Incorporating both manmade structures and natural elements, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) heritage site is considered a “masterpiece of Chinese landscape design,” according to UNESCO. Natural hills and open water combine with pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges “to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic value,” according to UNESCO. While there, my traveling companion and I rode one of the dragon boats across Kunming Lake, watching the 17-Arch Bridge on the horizon. The striking vista left an indelible impression. The dragon boats themselves are intriguing, with a dragon tail at the back and a dragon head at the front. Painted in hues of cantaloupe, green and terra cotta, they whisk travelers across the lake. Another option is to stroll around the lake, luxuriat-

ing under the weeping willow trees. Be sure to see the Marble Boat. Situated in the northwest corner of Kunming Lake, it dates to 1755. Eighty-feet long and two-stories high, it was destroyed during the Second Opium War in 1860. Empress Dowager Cixi rebuilt it in approximately1886 with diverted funds intended to build a modern Chinese Navy.

Scaling the Great Wall Don’t miss a visit to the Great Wall of China. Some of the best and most-restored sections are just north of Beijing, within a one- to two-hour drive. On a July day when the mercury hit at least 90 degrees, we drove with our tour guide to the Great Wall at Badaling, one of the most visited sections of the wall, about 50 miles from the center of Beijing. This is the section of the wall that Richard and Pat Nixon visited on their historic visit to China in 1972. Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev have also walked along this 500year-old section of the wall. Cyclists in the 2008 Olympics passed through its gates. Our visit there was one of the highlights of our trip. The sheer size of this portion of the wall — wide enough for five or six horses to be ridden across it — stuns travelers. Winding up and down the Jundu Mountains, it was a sight to behold against the blue sky with scattered cumulus clouds. Climbing to the top was my traveling companion’s

OCTOBER 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

goal, and I wasn’t going to be left behind. As we wound to the top, we took periodic stops where artists painted, and watched other travelers who climbed carrying umbrellas to shield themselves from the unrelenting sun. I wondered if I was going to make it. At the top, there were certificates that read, “I have ascended the Badaling Great Wall.” We each bought one, of course, and I have kept mine as a reminder of how perseverance pays — or at least rewards with the satisfaction of knowing you can finish what you start!

Cultural attractions I was intent on seeing the Chinese opera, which we did. But I was prevailed upon to consider an acrobatics show as well. I never would have thought of that myself, but I listened to my traveling companion. We headed on our own to the Acrobatics Macrocosm for what turned out to be one of the treats of the trip. Located in the Chaoyang District at 36 North East Third Ring Road, near our hotel, the Chaoyang Theater seats approximately 1,400 spectators. It’s located near the Hujialou station of the Beijing Subway. Colorful costumes and athletic moves characterized the performances. Acrobatic performances are among the oldest Chinese arts, dating back at least 2,000 years. They performed in the Imperial court. In later periods, opera replaced acrobatic shows as the preferred form of entertainment for royalty. If you have the time and interest, visit one

of the pearl markets, a jade factory, and tour a hutong, where networks of courtyards and narrow streets and alleys in the Xuanwu District date back at least 700 years. A visit to Beijing immerses you in the history and culture of this giant land. Even for a short visit, it’s worth the journey. But beware of the intense heat in summer and, if time is limited, consider a tour that will ensure your trip captures the highlights of China’s capital city.

If you go July is typically the warmest month in Beijing with January the coldest. September to October is considered the best time to travel to Beijing, with sunshine and cooler temperatures than summer. According to weather.com, temperatures range from approximately 58 degrees Fahrenheit to 78 degrees in September and 45 degrees Fahrenheit to 66 degrees in October. We had a package very similar to the current United Airlines’ Hello Beijing package — a five day/four night trip that costs $449 per person double occupancy at a five-star hotel. The package includes an English-speaking tour guide, four breakfasts and three lunches. See http://unitedvacationsasia.com/tour2017/cn01.html. United Airlines offers the lowest roundtrip fares to Beijing in mid October, starting at about $750 from BWI Airport. Get more information about travel to China from the China National Tourism Office at www.cnto.org or call (212) 760-8218.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2017

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

Where and how to enjoy fall foliage’s peak By Ed Perkins It’s time to plan and reserve fall foliage trip accommodations and tours. And not just to New England — you can find good fall foliage viewing throughout much of the U.S. and Canada. Peak viewing dates move gradually from North to South between mid-September and mid-November. And you can view foliage displays in your car, on a bus tour, or on a train. Where to go. Start by checking TripSavvy’s annual “Top spots in the USA for fall foliage” page, which rounds up the usual suspects, from New England to Yosemite to Alaska, with links to local sources throughout the country. See the page at www.tripsavvy.com/top-spots-forfall-foliage-united-states-3301223. Also check the National Park Service at www.nps.gov, which touts foliage opportunities at dozens of parks. Log on for details, including best times to visit each park. When to go. Several sources post fall foliage calendars or maps to help you decide when to hit each area. Start with the Foliage Network (www.foliagenetwork.com), with separate regional reports for the Northeast, Midwest and Southeast. Also good: Stormfax, (www.stormfax.com/ foliagemap.htm), with both a national map and links to state and regional fall foliage websites and hotlines. The online weather chan-

nels also typically post fall foliage calendars. How to see it. Most people think of fall foliage as a road trip. Fall foliage websites typically include driving directions, many with links to local visitor activities. Lock in your accommodations as early as you can, and be sure to avoid football weekends at any prominent university towns. For several years, Amtrak has added its only full-length dome car to one trainset used for the daily New York-Montreal Adirondack day train, which passes through good leaf scenery, but, as usual, Amtrak announces its plans quite late. Last year, the dome car was on the route from Sept. 29 to Nov. 1. Other Amtrak options passing through good foliage areas during daylight hours include the daily daytime Vermonter between St Alban’s, Vermont and New York; and the daily Ethan Allen Express, between Rutland and New York. In both cases, southbound trips offer the best viewing. Other possible foliage opportunities include the Pennsylvanian between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the California Zephyr daytime segment from Denver to Green River. In 2015, SmarterTravel.com listed “Best Fall Foliage Train Rides in North America.” Among them: The Mount Washington Cog Railway, New Hampshire (www.thecog.com); the Durango & Silverton, Colorado (vduran-

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gotrain.com); the Essex Steam Train, Connecticut (www.essexsteamtrain.com); Adirondack Scenic Railroad, New York (www.adirondackrr.com/); Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, Georgia (www.brscenic.com); Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Ohio (www.cvsr.com); and the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (www.gsmr.com). Vacations by Rail (www.vacationsbyrail.com) run several foliage excursions with at least some travel by rail, and Rail Travel Tours (www.railtraveltours.com)

runs several tours with rail travel on VIA Rail Canada. Uncommon Jour neys (www.uncommonjourneys.com/) features several rail and cr uise combos. The agency FallFoliageCruise (www.fallfoliagecruise.com), a division of Vacations to Go, lists a diverse set of foliage cruises in New England and Canada. Dozens of local and national operators also run bus tours. Just Google “fall foliage tours” or see a travel agent. © 2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

OCTOBER 2017 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; BALTIMORE BEACON

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Style Arts &

Piano â&#x20AC;&#x153;campersâ&#x20AC;? learn to improvise in the jazz lab at Peabody. See cover story, continued on page 24.

Strong performances in fragile Menagerie Glass prisons Every character in Williamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tragedy is one who is trapped â&#x20AC;&#x201D; by circumstance, by familial duty, by memory. The beating heart of the play is the Wingfield family matriarch, Amanda, played with great aplomb by Lynda McClary, with whom this writer had the opportunity to work as an actor in 2012, when she directed The Iceman Cometh at Fells Point Corner Theater. McClary proves herself an individual of many talents, whether on stage or in the directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chair. She crafts a powerful portrait of a fallen Southern belle, a role a lesser actor could easily let slip into caricature. Whether flitting across the stage in full Scarlett Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hara mode as she reminisces about her â&#x20AC;&#x153;17 gentleman callers,â&#x20AC;? or suffering ennui at the foot of her â&#x20AC;&#x153;long-distance lovingâ&#x20AC;? husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s portrait, or standing toe to toe with her recalcitrant son and fighting waves of desperation at the unfathomable riddle that is her daughter, McClaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Amanda is, above all, a survivor. Despite the emotional maelstrom about her, she remains pragmatic and perse-

PHOTO BY SHEALYN JAE PHOTOGRAPHY

By Dan Collins On the surface, it would seem that Tennessee Williamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Glass Menagerie is out of step with our modern, take-charge, do-it-yourself times. A young woman, suffering from a permanent limp, lives like a hot house plant in a self-made purgatory. Meanwhile, her mother sees men as walking financial plans. Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that sexist? Tom, the soon-to-be-prodigal son, seems like a stereotype of the slacker who, when he isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t off playing his 1930s version of Xbox (going to the movies every night), is mansplaining to both audience and family alike, while the â&#x20AC;&#x153;gentleman callerâ&#x20AC;? Jim is a prequel to The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit. So why is a play that debuted 73 years ago being performed today by the Vagabond Players in downtown Baltimore (and being enthusiastically received, if the audience I witnessed is any indication)? Because Williamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; work transcends time as a graceful, poignant tale of human needs denied â&#x20AC;&#x201D; love, freedom, ambition, a parentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hope for her children. These are as vital and important now as they were nearly three-quarters of a century ago.

Laura (Anna Steuerman), usuallly a shy recluse, dances with her gentleman caller, Jim (Flynn Harne), in the Vagabond Playersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; production of Tennessee Williamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Glass Menagerie.

veres. Taking her seat by the living room phone like a soldier at her post, she warms to the task of telemarketer â&#x20AC;&#x201D; using her charm to coax women into renewing magazine subscriptions. The Glass Menagerie is a play where every character could be cast in the role of Tantalus in the famed Greek myth, each

â&#x20AC;&#x153;oh, so closeâ&#x20AC;? to getting what they want â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that which could save and satiate their spirits almost within reach â&#x20AC;&#x201D; only to watch it fall from their grasp and shatter, like Lauraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s glass unicorn.

See GLASS MENAGERIE, page 25

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Peabody

Not all classical

From page 1 also veterans of Maine. It’s a group of “fanatics that bonded,” according to Moskowitz. When the Maine camp announced it was closing, they searched the country for a place that would maintain the tradition and give the cohesive group a new home, at least for a week each summer. At the time, the Road Scholar program (formerly Elderhostel) was offering music classes in the summers at Peabody. They agreed to host the piano camp there. But nothing worthwhile is ever easy. Road Scholar pulled out of the school entirely a few years back, leaving the piano camp group at a loss once again. Enter Steve Baddour, 70, of Washington, D.C., a nine-year veteran of Peabody at this point. He is credited with helping save the program, providing some institutional memory for the administrators at Peabody whom he persuaded to keep it going. Baddour, a retired English teacher, has been playing piano since he was 7. Today, he performs year-round at local retirement communities, and plays solo recitals to raise funds for charities. As much as he loves music and keeps it part of his life, he noted that “the only time I didn’t enjoy music” was during the 18 months he majored in music in college. “It was a disaster!”

Alice Rodgers, 76, is attending the Peabody program for the 20th time. What brings her here from Little Rock, Arkansas, every year? “It’s the people,” she said. “[Playing piano] by yourself is so solitary. I come here to get ideas and get inspired...This is totally out of my ordinary routine; like a vacation, an escape.” Rodgers is a certified exercise trainer, teaching classes to, and monitoring, older adults in retirement communities three mornings a week. It’s work she loves, and it gives her the time to practice the piano. Rodgers focuses on the jazz music track at the Peabody program. With lectures by an experienced jazz musician and a daily session in the “piano lab” to practice improvisational technique, it attracts a small but dedicated group of jazz and popular music lovers. Jazz instructor Larry Willis studied with Dizzy Gillespie and performed with the band Blood, Sweat and Tears for much of his career. Willis, who calls jazz “African American classical music,” said to learn to improvise “start tapping your feet. Listen to the rhythm of your heart. Music has to get inside you to move you to dance.”

Playing badly and loving it Another multi-decade veteran of the program, Delores Vestrich of Falls Church, Va., says, “I play a lot of instru-

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OCTOBER 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

ments badly.” In addition to piano, she mentions saxophone, marimba and flute. A former scientist, she says she loves to “analyze” music, finding it “fun to experiment, and learn how to make [various instruments] work and sound beautiful.” The self-deprecating 89-year-old jokes about how she started making music “banging on rocks with sticks.” She also says forthrightly, “No one wants to hear me, and I don’t care. I don’t play for others; just for myself.” Vestrich loves coming to Peabody because the instructors who lecture and conduct master classes “respect our curiosity and love” for music. She also revels in the recitals the instructors give. “You hear better music here than on any other stage; repertoire you won’t hear performed anywhere else.”

Spreading the word Wilton Baker, of Bethesda, Md., learned about the Peabody camp while on a tour bus in Istanbul. “I told another traveler that I had taken up piano when I retired, and she said, ‘you’d love this!’ I’ve been coming ever since,” he said. A former lawyer who represented the IRS before the U.S. Tax Court, Baker was “looking for something completely different” once he retired. Unlike many of the Peabody regulars, he was a complete newcomer to the piano. Now 71, he’s taken weekly lessons for about four years now, and “it’s one of the most interesting things I do.” How’s it going? “I progress as everybody does,” he said dryly. “Slowly.” He added that YouTube “is humbling. You struggle through a piece, and then watch this 5-year-old play it much better than you can. But then you realize she’s probably practiced it more than you have, too!” Gail Rudenstein comes from suburban Philadelphia each year to attend Piano at Peabody. She grew up without a piano at home, but her parents still saw to it that she got piano lessons for 10 years. Then she paid it forward, sending her own son to lessons for 10 years. When he quit in high school, she started taking lessons from his teacher herself. That was 17 years ago, and despite the fact that “he’s

very demanding, and he scares me sometimes,” she’s still at it. While she plays mostly for herself, she also performs at area nursing homes and does a little accompanying. Why does she come to piano camp? “I come here to get some validation and to learn from other people. I also get some intense practice time, which is so hard to get at home,” with all the distractions.

Mid-year soirees About five years ago, Baddour and some of the other “fanatics” decided that waiting an entire year between meetings was far too long. So they decided to institute thrice yearly gatherings in the D.C. area, where they can perform a short piece for each other and enjoy a pot-luck lunch while catching up with each other. The group, which calls itself “Peabody D.C.,” typically gets between 12 and 20 attendees, and meets in the homes of members who have space for a crowd of that size (and a nice piano). Moskowitz almost always comes from her home in Timonium, and is the most reliable long-distance traveler to the daytime soirees, Baddour said. Baker recalls playing at one such gathering. “You reach a point where you make a mistake [in your piece.] The group is very supportive, as we’ve all been through it. “We may think, because of our age, we shouldn’t have to crawl before we walk, or walk before we run. The hardest thing is realizing that, whether you’re 6 or 60, you have to go through all the steps.” But isn’t it a pleasure doing so among peers who feel the same way you do about music? Piano at Peabody will next meet in the summer of 2018, with dates and costs to be determined. Tuition for participants this year was $520 for the week. Room and board this year (recommended, given the long days) was $750 single, $480 double. Private lessons with faculty members are also priced separately. For more information, email peabodyprep@ jhu.edu or call (667) 208-6640.

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BALTIMORE BEACON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; OCTOBER 2017

Glass Menagerie From page 22

A multi-faceted Laura It is fitting that the treasure of Amandaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter, Laura, is what shatters, for her loss, as seen in actress Anna Steuermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance, is most heart-breaking of all. With the fewest lines in the play, Steuerman still forms a three dimensional character in the delicate, fragile Laura, conveying emotion â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ranging from barely contained joy to enormous pain â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with the turn of her head, a flex of her shoulder, the slight, bird-like movements of her arms, her pitiable gait. Yet, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never overdone, never degenerating into comedy. Williams wants your heart to ache for Laura, and Steuermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance achieves just that. Don Kammann is Tom Wingfield, who serves a dual role as both character and narrator. Like the rest of his family, Tom is trapped â&#x20AC;&#x201D; by a dead-end job, and by the needs of his mother and sister that he canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t escape.

Of all the roles in the play, Tomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s may be the most challenging, as his character doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford much sympathy. Unlike Amanda, who is weighted down by lost youth, and Laura, by her disability, Tom has no ball and chain about him other than his own feelings of guilt which, ultimately, he finds a way to shed. What Kammann brings most to his role comes from his physical presence. His height and strength as he moves forcefully across stage, looming tall over his mother and sister reveal he has a power the others do not. But his role is vital, for he is the one who introduces the element that energizes the play, the key that might release all three Wingfields from their prisons: â&#x20AC;&#x153;the gentleman caller,â&#x20AC;? Jim Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor, played by Flynn Harne. Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor, whose fedora and vest convey that he is a â&#x20AC;&#x153;man on the rise,â&#x20AC;? is another character who could easily degenerate into stereotype. But Williamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; prose and Harneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance keep him human. Ironically enough, we find that Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Con-

nor is really no more a key to freedom than anyone else striding the stage, and in fact, may be just as trapped. Harne paints Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor as out of the Dale Carnegie mold â&#x20AC;&#x201D; someone who first views Laura as a reclamation project upon which he can test his new public speaking skills, but comes to see her as a woman he might desire to call upon againâ&#x20AC;Śif only for one small detail. And it is that detail that forms a prison of his own. Kudos to director Michael Byrne Zemarel for instilling a spritely pace in a work that could have bogged down into melodrama and sentimentality. Though all the

action takes place in the Wingfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s small St. Louis apartment, the cast and crew, with deft use of light and sound and the tinkling music of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;nearby dance hall,â&#x20AC;? create a world both caught in time, and yet timeless, as is Williamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; famed work. The Glass Menagerie continues its run at the Vagabond Players, 806 S. Broadway in Fells Point, through Oct. 1. Tickets are $10 on Thursdays, $15 on Fridays, and $20 on Saturdays and Sundays. There is a weekend senior discount price of $17. For more details and ticket information, visit www.vagabondplayers.org or call (410) 563-9135.

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BEACON BITS

Nov. 19

MARK CALENDAR FOR FREE CONCERT

Save The Date: On Sunday, November 19 at 3 p.m., enjoy a concert featuring the Chesapeake Orchestra with internationally known Maestro Jeffery Silberschlag as conductor and trumpet soloist, along with Canadian pianist Mirika Bournaki (who inspired the award winning documentary, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Not A Rock Star). Free, thanks to support from the Gordon Trust. At Har Sinai Congregation, 2905 Walnut Ave, Owings Mills, Md. For tickets and more information, call (410) 654-9393.

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 26 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

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October 7, 2017, 7:30pm Jim Rouse Theatre Smetana: The Moldau !"#$%&'()*+,! Simpson: World Premiere of a new score !"#!$%& to accompany Charlie Chaplinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s silent film The Immigrant Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 Tickets: $10-$28 ($3 service fee may apply) 410-465-8777 www.columbiaorchestra.org

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Discovery and Recovery:

O S H U A U T C H

Preserving Iraqi Jewish Heritage AT THE JEWISH MUSEUM OF MARYLAND OCTOBER 15, 2017 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; JANUARY 15, 2018

Join the Jewish Museum of Maryland in an exploration of Iraqi Jewish heritageâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; a fascinating and often unknown story. Discovery and Recovery details the dramatic recovery of historic materials from a flooded basement in Saddam Husseinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intelligence headquarters.

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OCTOBER 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Crossword Puzzle Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus ByStephen StephenSherr Sherr

Film School 1

25 29

38 42

47 49

27 31

40 44

56 59

BB1017

Scrabble answers on p. 25.

Across A 1 Ppetting zzoo pparticipant 6 Ladybug’s feature 10 Stylish 14 Greek letters that look like “I”‘s 15 Apple spray 16 Oahu to-to 17 Dog bred to herd cattle 18 Octave component 19 ___ A Sketch (1998 entry into the Toy Hall of Fame) 20 Start of a Roger Ebert quote (slightly edited to fit your screen) 23 Children’s Tylenol dosage unit 24 “___ corny as Kansas in August” 25 ___-frutti (Italian for “all fruits”) 28 It launched two days after Country Music Television (CMT) in 1983a 29 Hall-of-Famer Mel 30 Obnoxious jerk 32 Second part of quote 38 The A in NBA, but not MBA 39 Yale student 40 Move like The Blob 41 Third part of quote 46 Table holder 47 Push and pull 48 Start to -law or -med 49 “The real secrets are not the ___ tell” (Mason Cooley) 51 Ride in a hot air balloon 53 Owl’s question 56 Conclusion of quote 59 Global conflict that led to the Baby Boom 62 Darken a car window 63 Last inning, usually 64 Get what you deserve 65 A quarter’s has 119 ridges 66 Crystal-lined stone 67 Some Like It Hot costumes 68 Tarot card dealer 69 Screw-up

Down 1 Culturally acceptable 2 Takes during the riot 3 ___ to the Moon (Groundbreaking 1902 moving picture) 4 GQ and SI 5 Senseless 6 Mr. Claus, to pals 7 John Deere’s were made of steel 8 ___ of Office 9 Pick up the tab 10 Skirt fold 11 Like last year’s styles 12 ___ fly (run-scoring out in baseball) 13 “Can you say that again?” 21 Prefix for -potent or -present 22 Item in a ballerina’s wardrobe 26 Culturally unacceptable 27 Japanese car maker 28 Fancy popcorn holders 29 Brief newspaper bio. 31 Proofer’s second thought 32 Pony Express delivery 33 Bone: Prefix 34 Hand-gesture of peace 35 Uses needles and thread 36 Heavyweight champion during the US bicentennial 37 One of Hamlet’s options 42 Quiet down, please 43 Poppy products 44 Fitness centers 45 Select the bride and groom 50 “Dallas” family name 51 Burn slightly 52 Cousin to a weasel or badger 53 Present a Lifetime Achievement Award 54 Perform better than 55 “It’s always one thing or the ___” 57 Top selling liquid laundry detergent 58 German beer 59 Walk down the aisle 60 ___ and Peace 61 Gold fund, reserved for one’s golden years

Answers on page 25.

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2017

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 below. 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.

Business & Employment Opportunities DOORMAN/LOBBY REGISTRAR: Established Pikesville Office Building. Ideal for retiree, college/grad student, retired firefighter/officer. Very responsible P/T position. Evenings and Saturday. Apply: 410-484-4162.

Caregivers A COMPETENT AND DEPENDABLE caregiver with 20 years experience and registered with the Maryland Board of Nursing will take care of your loved one. Days, nights and weekends. Light meal prep/housekeeping. Excellent references. Please call Rachel, 443-996-6256.

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Events

Wanted

AUTUMN FESTIVAL — St. John’s Lutheran Church, 8808 Harford Rd., Baltimore, MD 21234, Saturday, October 21, 2017 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring crafts, vendors, children’s activities, new and gently clothing, German food, entertainment. Crafters and vendors needed. Contact the church office at 410-665-1234. More information, www.stjohnsparkville.org.

REFLEXOLOGY AND REIKI in the comfort of your place of residence! Alternative therapy may assist with health and relaxation. Contact Shelby at 410-412-0230, or www.solesorcery.com.

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

For Rent: Real Estate I AM HERE FOR YOU. “RITA BUG.” My mother called me that nickname. I took care of her the last two years before her passing. Now I’m here for others. If you can take care of yourself, showering and dressing, and in pretty good health, I have a great idea. We can live together. I would buy us a house. You do not have to live sharing a room. I would take you and maybe two ladies/guys and buy a wonderful home. We would travel together, USA and the world. Dinner out twice a week, bathroom dancing, entertainment in NYC and DC, art classes, daytrips, Vegas nights, shopping for others. We could start business together. I have tons of ideas. For those who are not seniors, I would offer the same beautiful homes, peace and quiet. Give me a call, and let’s make something happen. Let’s talk. Rita Davis, 443-379-9064. P.S. Move in two to three weeks.

Home/Handyman Services LAWN AND GARDEN — Lawn service, weeding, edging, flowerbed maintenance, perennial planting, annual planting shrubbery, hedge trimming, rose bush pruning, mulching flowerbeds, spring and fall cleanup. Reasonable rates. Quality work. 443-653-9546. T’S HAULING & MOVING — I will haul your possessions or haul them away. Fast, friendly service. Call Tim, 410-889-3795 or 443-6906525. Senior and military discounts. CALVIN’S DIVERSIFIED SERVICES — Licensed and insured. Moving and hauling, residential, commercial. 7 days a week. 410-6028640. 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.

For Sale

Personals

ONE BURIAL SITE WITH VAULT— “Last Supper Garden,” Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, Timonium. Valued at $3,700, asking $2,500. Call 410-665-2737, Shirley.

WHITE MALE, 65, IN SHAPE, non-smoker, casual drinker, seeks lady friend, any age, for friendship, movies, daytrips, quiet evenings and massages. Call Alan, 304-240-5355.

TWO CEMETERY PLOTS at Lorraine Park Cemetery, 5608 Dogwood Road, Woodlawn, MD. Asking $3,755 each. Will sell for $5,400 total, or best offer. 410-357-9808, Audrey.

BORED, ATTRACTIVE HOUSE-HUSBAND (AA, straight male), early 50s, very youthful. Professional, educated, physically fit, non-smoker, moderate politically, desires SWF/MWF for friendship, conversation, jogging, theatre, wine, ice cream, short drives, companionship (no strings). Contact desperatelyseekingsusan54@yahoo.com.

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.

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

MY NAME IS RENEE ANN CRYER. I am single, cuddly with long, blonde hair, blue eyes, 5’7 ft. tall. I’m very attractive. I’m a nurse and have been for 11 years. I am very much about other people’s feelings. I am very loving, enjoy gardening, cinema, cozy nights in with a bottle of wine, swimming, watching some sports and good movies. I seek a serious marriage-minded, matured guy. Someone good looking, honest, and trustworthy. I am in need of tender loving and care. Write me a letter now with your contact details to PO Box 34926, 3751 Motor Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90034-9998. Let’s arrange to meet for a cup of coffee. Call/text me on 1-305515-5201.

Personals Services MUSIC FOR YOUR SERVICE — Beautiful, uplifting, comforting flute music for end of life services and other special events. Professional. Experienced. Affordable. www.MusicForYourService.com. 410-788-6442.

CASH FOR JEWELRY: gold, silver, costume, diamonds, watches, scrap gold, coins. Call Gary, 301-520-0755. www.atticllc.com. CASH BUYER FOR OLD COSTUME JEWELRY — wrist and pocket watches (any condition). Also buying watchmaker tools and parts, coins, quilts, old toys, postcards, trains, guns, pocket and hunting knives, linens, fishing equipment and tackle boxes, fountain pens, Christmas garden items, crocks and jugs, lamps and lanterns, pottery, military items, sports memorabilia, advertising signs, paintings and contents of attics, basements and garages. Professional, no pressure individual with over forty years of experience. Lloyd D. Baker. 410-409-4965. 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. ANTIQUE POLAN KATZ & CO UMBRELLAS. Looking for colorful, patterned Polan Katz & Co. umbrellas in excellent condition. Respond to raindropspk1@gmail.com. BUYING VINYL RECORDS from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201. COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, knives, swords, bayonets, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars and countries. Also Lionel Toy Trains, and coin operated machines. Will pay top prices for my personal collection. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-910-0783.

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Housing

Employment

Alta at Regency Crest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Atrium Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-3, B-6 Bayleigh Chase/Integrace . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Broadmead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-4 Buckingham’s Choice/Integrace . . . . . . . .14 Carroll Lutheran Village . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-2 Charlestown/Erickson . . . . . . . . . .B-6, B-9 Christ Church Harbor Apts. . . . . . . . . . .B-9 Fairhaven/Integrace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Linden Park Apts. . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-5, B-11 Lutheran Village at Millers Grant . . . . . .B-2 Oak Crest/Erickson . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-5, B-9 Park Heights Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Park View Apartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-8

The Beacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Events Celebration of the Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Edward A. Myerberg Center . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Senior Boomer Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Financial Services First Maryland Disability Trust . . . . . . . . .15 Hawkins, d.a. Insurance Services . . . . . . .15 JS Richardson Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Pickersgill Retirement Comm. . . . . . . . .B-2 St. Marys Roland View Towers . . . . . . .B-10 Stump’s Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-11 Virginia Towers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-9 Walker Mews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Weinberg Senior Living . . . . . . . .B-5, B-12 Woodholme Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Legal Services Angels of Elder Care Planning . . . . . . . . .17 Frank, Frank & Scherr Law Firm . . . . . . .18 Southard & Greenbaum, LLC . . . . . . . . . .17

Medical/Health Advanced Center for Plastic Surgery, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Blood Test for Lung Cancer . . . . . . . . .B -11 Center for Vein Restoration . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Live Better Hearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Maryland Vascular Specialists . . . . . . . . . .4 Medstar Total Eldercare . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Rosenblatt Foot Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Skin Cancer EB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Shopping CIRCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Radio Flea Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Wilkens Beltway Plaza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation CommuniCare Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Keswick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Manor Care Health Services . . . . . . . . . . .11

Subscriptions Beacon Subscription . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Technology TechMedic4U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Theatres/Entertainment Chesapeake Shakespeare Theatre . . . . . . .22 Columbia Orchestra, The . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Song Builder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Travel Eyre Bus, Tour & Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Jewish Museum of Maryland . . . . . . . . . .25 Nexus Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Utilities BGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

28 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

OCTOBER 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Baltimore County Department of Aging

Wednesday October 4, 2017 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

ADMISSION: Donation or two cans of non-perishable food FREE GIFT Sponsored by

BGE and GBMC

Thursday October 5, 2017 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Timonium Fairgrounds Special performance by DARLENE LOVE Wednesday, October 4 • 4-6 p.m.

• Connect with over 300 exhibitors with information and specialty products • Delight in two days of continuous entertainment on the Main Stage • Sample the free demonstration classes being offered by CCBC’s Senior Program • Discover a treasure in the Silent Auction by being the highest bidder • Crown the best local artist in the Power of Age Art Show/Exhibit • Benefit from free preventive health screenings and flu/pneumonia vaccinations • Learn about government resources available in Baltimore County • Investigate resources in the Veteran Muster and Baltimore County Resource Job Fair

Call 410-887-2594 or visit www.powerofageexpo.com