October 2018 | Baltimore Beacon

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Celebrating a visionary’s success

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SEE SPECIAL INSERT Housing & Homecare Options following page 14

Rebecca Hoffberger established Baltimore’s Visionary Arts Museum in 1995 as a museum for the work of nontraditional and self-taught artists, such as the two robots that flank her in a gallery display. “The World’s First Robot Family” by DeVon Smith was created using oscillating fans for movement, and parts from old hair dryers, TV antennas, and other household electronics.

and curator of the American Visionary Art Museum, considered America’s national museum for “outsider” art, Hoffberger — with no art background herself — founded AVAM in 1995.

The museum’s permanent and temporary exhibits comprise works by artists who are outside the realm of traditional

art, and whose life stories are as compelling as their art. The museum was recently named by the New York Times as one of Baltimore’s leading attractions.

Thanks to Hoffberger’s nonstop promotional efforts, the museum, located at the See VISIONARY, page 24

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PHOTO BY KIRSTEN BECKERMAN

By Carol Sorgen Rebecca Hoffberger, founder and director of the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM), turns 66 in late September.

Most years, her birthday celebration is a cake shared with her staff as they install the upcoming year’s annual exhibition.

This year, however, Hoffberger wants a different kind of celebration: She has chosen to honor a few of the individuals who inspire her through “an evening of love and learning” that is open to the public as a fundraiser.

“This year I wanted to do something that would benefit the museum and recognize some of the people who mean so much to me,” Hoffberger said.

Among the honorees are former Baltimore City Council member Rikki Spector, who has turned the experience of being mugged into one of forgiveness and mentoring; 97-year-old TEDx speaker, therapist and philanthropist Lois Feinblatt, and Ted Frankel, founder and owner of Sideshow, the museum store at AVAM. Additional honorees include Rashida Forman-Bey, co-creator of Wombwork Productions, which utilizes dance, music and theatre as sources of healing and empowerment for the community; and Roberta Baskin, Peabody and Emmy Award-winning journalist and executive director of the AIM2Flourish global learning initiative, which is steering future business leaders to meeting the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

“I collect people,” said the ebullient Hoffberger of her eclectic group of friends. “I seek out people who are fresh thinkers and give something to society. It is this fresh thought that has the power to transform people.”

Hoffberger herself can certainly be included in that category. Founder, director

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The simple pleasures of Jamaica; plus, Montana’s glaciers and grizzlies page 19 FITNESS & HEALTH 4 k Review Medicare drug coverage now k New Alzheimer’s developments LAW & MONEY 15 k How to find forgotten assets k Empower portfolio with utilities ARTS & STYLE k Irish play at Everyman

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OCTOBER 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Lack of trust — Part II Last month, I wrote about the disturbing government deficit borrowing), putting a huge strain on future budgets and generastate of Social Security and Medicare. tions for years and years to I noted that an additional, come. (See my September colunbudgeted-for $416 bilumn at www.TheBeaconNewspalion must be paid out of this pers.com/a-lack-of-trust-fund if year’s federal budget in order you want a fuller explanation.) to meet the needs of Social This month, I promised to Security and Medicare beneaddress why we find ourselves ficiaries this year. in this situation, and what we Those programs are supcan do about it. posed to be funded each year In a nutshell, we find ourout of the payroll taxes paid by every working American. Inselves in this situation because most of our elected repdeed, for some decades, such FROM THE resentatives in Congress like payroll taxes far exceeded the PUBLISHER By Stuart P. Rosenthal annual costs of the programs. their jobs and want to be reelected.

Now, however, between the With House incumbents up for reelecrising costs of healthcare (thanks in part to the development of life-extending cures that tion every two years and senators every cost a huge sum) and the rapidly retiring six, the incentives are incredibly strong to baby boomer generation, this (and future) please their constituents in the short run by lowering taxes and increasing spending years’ costs far exceed the revenues.

I explained last month that the excess whenever possible, thereby boosting the revenues of past decades were spent on federal deficit and kicking the can of its reother needs of government at the time, and payment down the road to future Conreplaced with federal government IOUs to gresses and generations.

There does not seem to be any effective itself: Special interest-earning Treasury bonds — misleadingly labeled “Trust mechanism in our political system for Funds” — that are now ostensibly being holding those we elect currently account“cashed in” to cover current excess costs. able for the long-term damage their acBut the money to redeem those bonds tions will inevitably bring about. Voters comes out of current taxpayer revenues (and don’t think that way, and few campaign ads

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

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

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

The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (410) 248-9101 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com Submissions: The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 27 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions. © Copyright 2018 The Beacon Newspapers, Inc.

address the issue.

And even to the extent we occasionally “throw the bums out,” their replacements have exactly the same incentives to keep doing the same thing, and usually do.

There are many well-known ways to address the financial problems facing Social Security and Medicare. Here are a few of the ones that could — individually or together — solve the problems: — Raise payroll tax rates by 2 or 3 percent. This would raise costs for all employers and reduce take-home pay for all workers, but would probably eliminate the estimated shortfall for both programs well into the future.

— Raise the level of income on which Social Security taxes are imposed (the “earnings cap”). The maximum income subject to the tax is currently $128,400, meaning high earners are not taxed on the balance of their incomes. This cap could be raised faster (it’s pegged to inflation) or eliminated. In the latter case, this alone would eliminate close to 90 percent of the Social Security shortfall.

— Raise the age at which people qualify for Social Security. On average, we are living longer, so perhaps it makes sense to retire later. Not only would people have more years of wages to live off of, they would pay additional payroll taxes and collect fewer benefits overall. This assumes, of course, that employers will be willing to keep or hire older adults, which is another issue...

— Change the Social Security cost-of-living-adjustment formula so beneficiaries receive lower increases with inflation.

To see a simulation of how these and

other adjustments would affect the longterm financial health of Social Security, see bit.ly/SocialSecuritySimulator.

As you can see, each solution involves a certain amount of sacrifice from one group or another. My view is that it doesn’t seem fair to impose all the costs on any one constituency, and it isn’t fair to impose additional costs on current retirees, since they are no longer in a position to plan ahead to cope with the changes.

But I don’t see any reason why we can’t share the pain broadly among those of us still working and not on the verge of retirement.

Congress could, if its members chose, enact all of the above (and a number of other adjustments I haven’t described) in small amounts over time. It could gradually raise the payroll tax rate, earnings cap, and age of retirement, and reduce COLAs starting some years out in a way that protects current retirees.

Everyone would suffer a bit, but we would all be in this together, and the longterm health of our retirement programs would no longer be an issue.

If you agree this is a sensible solution, there’s only one way to bring it about. Talk to your elected representatives and let them know this is something you want, and that you won’t vote them out of office if they act accordingly.

The power is in your hands. Don’t forget to vote on November 6.

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: I read the Beacon in a bagel shop while visiting relatives from Pikesville.

To add a thought to Stuart P. Rosenthal’s September From the Publisher column, “A lack of trust (fund),” I wonder why the government doesn’t create a national lottery? The New York lottery

brings in $9.676 billion.

If this were run throughout the entire nation, the total proceeds could be close to $488 billion dollars. Let’s say half of that amount is given toward Social Security. Then we are $245 billion dollars closer to solvency.

Debbie Ginsberg West Hempstead, N.Y.

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LEGAL HELP FOR NURSING HOME ISSUES

Free legal information and representation in cases involving nursing homes is available through the Nursing Home Program, Legal Aid Bureau, Inc., 29 West Susquehanna Avenue., Suite 305, Towson. For more information, call (410) 296-6705 or (800) 367-7563.

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DONATE YOUR CAR TO SUPPORT KIDNEY HEALTH

Donate your outdated automobile to Kidney Cars and become eligible for a tax deduction while helping the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland (NKF-MD) and the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). All donated vehicles are either sold at auction or for parts. To make a donation, call (800) 488-CARS (2277) or visit www.kidneycars.org. NKF-MD will pick up used cars, trucks, motorcycles or boats, in almost any condition, free of charge.

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2018

Say you saw it in the Beacon

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OCTOBER 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Health Fitness &

REVIEW MEDICARE PLANS NOW Medicare open season starts next month. Where to find free help PROMISING ALZHEIMER’S DRUG Experimental drug appears to slow cognitive decline, eliminate plaques CARPAL TUNNEL PAIN? Try using a splint and corticosteroid injection before opting for surgery PERCHANCE TO DREAM How common prescription medications can affect dreams and nightmares

Tailoring healthcare for older patients

By Eleanor Laise When you visit a doctor’s office, hospital or nursing home, what determines the type of care you receive? That’s the question Dr. Muriel Gillick, professor of population medicine at Har vard Medical School, explores in Old and Sick in America: The Journey Through the Healthcare System (University of North Carolina Press, $30).

All too often, Gillick argues, treatment decisions reflect the priorities of doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and Medicare — not patients’ best interests. In this edited conversation, Gillick talks about how patients and their families can get better care.

Q: What are the biggest ways that medical care for older patients is falling short?

A: I see the biggest problems for the sickest people — people we call frail, who have multiple chronic illnesses and have difficulty being independent. Our system is not well designed to handle those people.

Q: Why is that?

A: Often, what people who are frail need

is coordination of care — what’s called “high touch” rather than high tech care.

But our system is designed to provide technologically intensive, hospital-based care, and that’s often not what’s in the best interest of this group of people.

Q: How can older patients find higher-quality care?

A: For someone who is frail and has multiple chronic conditions, a good place to start is to have a geriatrically oriented primary-care physician. [He or she] doesn’t have to be a board-certified geriatrician, but someone who has expertise and interest in older people with complex diseases.

One way you can figure out if they have that interest is if they have a nurse practitioner and social workers working with them to coordinate care and deal with all these aspects of illness.

And ask for a geriatric assessment if you feel that the doctor isn’t addressing a lot of the problems you or a family member is experiencing.

Q: What is a comprehensive geriatric assessment, and what should patients expect from it?

A: In addition to thinking about specific diseases in a conventional medical way, it looks at people’s functioning. Can you get out of a chair by yourself, bathe yourself, navigate the hall, take a bus or call for a cab?

And what interventions might make it feasible for you to do those things? Would a cane, a walker, or a device to make your telephone louder help?

Another part of a geriatric assessment is looking at cognitive ability. It’s important to look at mobility, function and cognition, and put them all together.

Q: Let’s talk about the hospital.

You write about certain experiences, such as being on a ventilator, that may be burdensome for patients and best avoided if they’re not likely to provide a benefit. What’s your advice to patients on avoiding unwanted treatments or procedures in the hospital?

A: I’m not talking about depriving people of things that are likely to be helpful or that they may genuinely desire. But for a lot of people, particularly with advanced conditions, the degree of benefit for some

of these more-invasive procedures is likely to be small, and the degree of suffering may be great.

Ask, “What good will this do me? Why are you proposing this test? What is the alternative? What are the risks of this procedure?”

At a more general level, advance care planning is a useful approach. Ideally before you get to the hospital, talk about the big picture of your illness and what your overall goals are.

Q: What’s your advice for patients and their families on evaluating skilled-nursing facilities?

A: There are ratings; Nursing Home Compare is one that Medicare provides [www.medicare.gov/nhcompare]. Word of mouth is still a very potent source of information.

And accessibility for family members is very important. If you’re looking at two places that have comparable care, it’s really important for it to be someplace family and friends can visit. © 2018, Kiplinger. All rights reserved.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Looking beyond CPAP for sleep apnea

By Carla K. Johnson Every night without fail, Paul Blumstein straps on a mask that prevents him from repeatedly waking up, gasping for air.

It’s been his routine since he was diagnosed with a condition called sleep apnea.

While it helps, he doesn’t like wearing the mask.

“It’s like an octopus has clung to my face,” said Blumstein, 70, of Annandale, Va. “I just want to sleep once in a while without that feeling.”

It’s been two decades since doctors fully recognized that breathing that stops and starts during sleep is tied to a host of health issues, even early death. But there still isn’t a treatment that most people find easy to use.

Airway pressure masks, the most common remedy, have improved in design, getting smaller and quieter. But patients still complain about sore nostrils, dry mouths and claustrophobia.

Now, new ways of conquering sleep

apnea, and the explosive snoring that comes with it, are vying for a place in the bedrooms of millions of people craving a good night’s sleep. Products range from a $350 restraint meant to discourage sleeping on one’s back, to a $24,000 surgical implant that pushes the tongue forward with each breath.

Mouthpieces, fitted by dentists, work for some people but have their own problems, including jaw pain. Some patients try surgery, but it often doesn’t work. Doctors recommend weight loss, but diet and exercise can be challenging for people who aren’t sleeping well.

So far, no pills for sleep apnea exist, but researchers are working on it. One drug containing THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, showed promise in a study this year. Called dronabinol, the pill already is used to ease chemotherapy side effects. A small experiment in 73 people with sleep apnea suggests it helps some, but wasn’t completely effective.

Why sleep apnea is dangerous

What is sleep apnea? In people with the condition, throat and tongue muscles relax and block the airway during sleep. They stop breathing — sometimes for up to a minute, and hundreds of times each night — then awake with loud gasping and snoring. That prevents them from getting deep, restorative sleep.

They are more likely than others to have strokes, heart attacks and heart rhythm problems, and they’re more likely to die prematurely.

But it’s hard to tease out whether those problems are caused by sleep apnea itself, or by excess weight, lack of exercise or something else entirely.

For specialists, the first-choice, moststudied remedy remains continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP. It’s a motorized device that pumps air through a mask to open a sleeper’s airway.

While scientists haven’t proved CPAP helps people live longer, evidence shows it

can reduce blood pressure, improve daytime sleepiness, lessen snoring, and reduce the number of times a patient stops breathing. CPAP also improves quality of life, mood and productivity.

Problems with CPAP

About 5 million Americans have tried CPAP, but up to a third gave up during the first several years because of discomfort and inconvenience.

Researchers are now focused on how to get people to use a mask more faithfully, and predicting who is likely to abandon it and could start instead with a dental device.

“It’s the bane of my existence as a sleep doctor,” said Dr. James Rowley of Wayne State University in Detroit. “A lot of what sleep doctors do in the first few months after diagnosis is help people be able to use their CPAP.” Getting it right quickly is important beSee SLEEP APNEA, page 5

cause of insurers’ use-it-or-lose-it policies.

Medicare and other insurers stop paying for a rented CPAP machine if a new patient isn’t using it enough.

But patients often have trouble with settings and masks, and get little help from equipment suppliers, according to Dr. Susan Redline of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Surgical implants

Oct. 9+

BRAIN INJURY AND STROKE CAREGIVER GROUP A free support group for brain injury and stroke caregivers is held

at Levindale on the second Tuesday of each month from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the mul-

Maryland residents between the ages of 40 and 64, who do not have insurance coverage for mammograms, Pap tests and breast exams, are eligible to obtain them at no cost. Mammograms are at participating radiology centers, and exams at participating doctors’ offices. For more information, call the Baltimore County Department of Health Women’s Cancer Protection Program at (410) 887-3432.

Ongoing

★ FREE INFORMATION ★ FREE INFORMATION ★ FREE INFORMATION ★

F R E E F R E E ★

❏ Atrium Village (see ads on pages B-5 & B-8) ❏ Carroll Lutheran Village (see ad on page B-3) ❏ Catholic Charities (see ad on page B-3) ❏ Charlestown (see ads on pages 1, B-8 & B-11) ❏ Christ Church Harbor Apts. (see ad on page B-4) ❏ Glynn Taff Assisted Living (see ad on page B-4) ❏ Linden Park Apts. (see ad on page 20) ❏ Lutheran Village at Millers Grant

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Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this form to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 or fax to (410) 248-9102.

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❏ Caregivers Coaching Study (see article on page 12) ❏ COPD Study (see ad and article on page 12) ❏ Healthy Volunteers Study (see ad on page 13)

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Health Study Volunteers

F R E E

(see ad on page B-3) ❏ Oak Crest (see ads on pages 1, B-6 & B-11) ❏ Park View Laurel (see ad on page 22) ❏ Park View Towson (see ad on page 22) ❏ Park View Fullerton (see ad on page 22) ❏ Park View Rosedale (see ad on page 22) ❏ Pickersgill Retirement Community (see ad on page B-2) ❏ St. Mary’s Roland View Towers (see ad on page B-9) ❏ Weinberg Senior Living (see ads on pages B-6 & B-12) ❏ Westminster House Apartments (see ad on page 6)

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Housing Communities

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For free materials on housing communities and health studies, just complete and clip this coupon and mail or fax it to the Beacon.

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dAtLevindale@gmail.com.

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contact Carla Maiolini or Beth Muclcahey at (410) 989-1342 or email Rebuil-

MAIL OR FAX FOR FREE INFORMATION

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atric Center and Hospital is located at 2434 W. Belvedere Ave. For more details,

ment for conversation, support, resources and education. Levindale Hebrew Geri-

NO COST COLON CANCER SCREENINGS

Maryland residents who are 50 and over (under 50 with family history or physician referral) who do not have insurance for colon cancer screenings may be eligible for no cost colon cancer screenings. For more information, call the Baltimore County Department of Health Cancer Prevention Program at (410) 887-3456.

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tipurpose room. The group will serve to provide a safe and confidential environ-

NO COST WOMEN’S EXAMS

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All told, it can drive people toward surgery.

Victoria McCullough, 69, of Escondido, California, was one of the first to receive a pacemaker-like device that stimulates a nerve to push the tongue forward during sleep. Now, more than 3,000 people world-

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From page 4

wide have received the Inspire implant.

Infections and punctured lungs have been reported; the company says serious complications are rare.

McCullough said she asked her doctor to remove the device soon after it was activated in 2015. “It was Frankenstein-ish. I didn’t like it at all,” McCullough said. “My tongue was just thrashing over my teeth.”

Others like the implant. “My quality of life is 100 percent better,” said Kyleene Perry, 74, of Edmonds, Washington, who got one in February after struggling with CPAP for two years. “People are saying, ‘You look so much better.’ I have a lot more energy.”

As the search for better treatments continues, listening to patients will be key, said Redline.

“We are actually just treating a very tiny percentage of people effectively,” she said.

— AP

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Sleep apnea

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2018

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OCTOBER 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Get help finding the best Medicare plans

By Barbara Ruben and Rachel L. Sheedy Each autumn brings open enrollment season for Medicare, where beneficiaries can choose either a new Medicare Advan-

tage Plan or a Part D prescription drug plan if they would like to change providers for the coming year. Such changes can be made this year between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7.

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Sept. 23+

BMA UNVEILS NEW EXHIBIT

The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) debuts a new exhibit, Mark Bradford’s “Tomorrow Is Another Day,” beginning Sept. 23 and running through March 3, 2019. First presented at the U.S. Pavilion as part of the 2017 Venice Biennale, the exhibit uses a variety of media — painting, sculpture and video — to reflect the artist’s longstanding interest in how communities address issues of social and economic justice. Admission to the BMA is free. The BMA is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is closed Monday and Tuesday. The BMA is located at 10 Art Museum Drive. For general museum information, call (443) 573-1700 or visit www.artbma.org.

Because Medicare recipients’ medical needs and Part D plans both may change, it’s a good idea to review all your options before the deadline.

Watch your mailbox for your current plan’s Annual Notice of Change. It should arrive around the end of September, and will indicate any 2019 changes to the cost and coverage of your current plan.

Pay particular attention to changes in drug formularies (the list of particular drugs covered by your insurance), drug pricing tiers, and co-pays for the drugs you take.

For instance, “a drug in a lower tier with a $5 co-pay might be shifted to a different tier with a $10 or $20 co-pay,” said Brandy Bauer, communications manager for the National Council on Aging. One of your drugs could even be dropped from the plan, meaning you will have to pay the full cost if you want to keep taking it.

Free assistance is available

One way to sort through the confusing thicket of plans, tiers, copays and more is to enlist the help of SHIP, a federal govern-

ment-supported health insurance counseling service available throughout the U.S. Throughout the year, volunteers at SHIP offices in the area answer Medicare questions and help seniors and caregivers understand and compare Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans as well as Medicare supplement (Medigap) insurance.

They can also assess callers’ eligibility for Extra Help programs, which assist those with lower incomes pay for their drug and insurance costs. SHIP’s services are free and confidential.

How to do it yourself

You can also try to find the best plan for you on your own with the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov. Type in your Zip code, the drugs you take and the dosages.

The online tool will calculate your total costs (premiums plus out-of-pocket costs for your drugs) for each plan available in your area.

See MEDICARE, page 8

Note to Md. State retirees As part of state pension reform lawmakers approved in 2011, retired state employees eligible for Medicare will be moving from the state’s prescription drug program to the federal Medicare Part D program in January. State retirees must sign up for Part D by Dec. 7 to be covered next year.

In a one-year transition program, the state will reimburse all out-of-pocket pharmaceutical expenses for affected retirees that go over $1,500. That’s the

limit under the current state plan.

Officials say additional help for state retirees will come through the state’s Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program. It helps low- and middle-income residents with their Medicare Part D premium and coverage gap costs.

To learn more about the changes, see https://dbm.maryland.gov/benefits/Pages /EGWP.aspx. Information is also being mailed to state retirees’ homes. For more information, call (410) 767-4775.

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A Message to our Veterans EDUCATION

respect As a leader and long-time resident of Baltimore County, I have sincere our in g residin s veteran by made es sacrific and service the for and gratitude County as well as all over the nation. support Here in Baltimore County, we understand the importance of providing the of proud ely extrem to our veterans—men and women alike. I am ation to Homefront Work Group, whose mission is to provide resource inform rs Membe cy. advoca and on educati through veterans and community outreach sed nity–ba commu and county– nt of Homefront Work Group represe s. organizations that may provide services to veterans and their familie the open to ribbon the cut recently to d honore was County Additionally, the for Center new Kevin Kamenetz Equine Arena, located at the Baltimore County an as serves ily Maryland Agriculture and Farm Park. This new facility primar equine arena and learning center which hosts ground-based equine , geared experiences for veterans, including the Saratoga War Horse Program mental other and r Disorde toward helping those with Post Traumatic Stress health issues. to know As we move toward Veterans Day, I want our service men and women and service your for you Thank them. t suppor to here is that Baltimore County all. us ing dedication in protect Very truly yours, Donald I. Mohler III Baltimore County Executive

VA Education Helpline 1-888-442-4551 (GIBILL1) http://benefits.va.gov/gibill/ Community College of Baltimore County 443-840-5360 CCBC Catonsville, 800 South Rolling Road, 21228 CCBC Dundalk, 7200 Sollers Point Road, 21222 CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Boulevard, 21237 www.ccbcmd.edu/veterans Email: VeteranServices@ccbcmd.edu Towson University Veterans Center 410-704-2992 8000 York Road, Towson, 21252, PY 107 www.towson.edu/veterans/ Email: veteransoffice@towson.edu UMBC Veteran Student Services 410-455-2770 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, 21250 www.umbc.edu/veterans Stevenson University 443-334-2589 1525 Greenspring Valley Road, Stevenson, 21153 http://www.stevenson.edu/admissions-aid/getting-started/veterans/ Email: lholland2@stevenson.edu Goucher College 410-337-6141 1021 Dulaney Valley Road Baltimore, 21204 http://www.goucher.edu/financial-aid/veterans-benefits Email: finaid@goucher.edu

EMPLOYMENT Veterans Services Maryland’s Commitment to Veterans Program Email: mdveteransinfo@maryland.gov Veteran Representatives are available to assist qualified service men and women and their spouses with additional services and resources at each Center.

American Job Center at Eastpoint 410-288-9050 American Job Center at Hunt Valley 410-887-7940 American Job Center at the Liberty Center 410-887-8912 Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist (DVOP) 410-288-9050 x 411 7930 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, 21224 Employment and veteran related services. mwejobs.maryland.gov

GENERAL INFORMATION BEHAVIORAL HEALTH Department of Veterans Affairs, Readjustment Counseling Services—Vet Centers Counseling and referral services for veterans who have served in a combat zone,area of hostility or experienced a military sexual trauma. Services also available for family members.

Call the 24hr Vet Center Call Center at 877-WAR-VETS or go to www.vetcenter.va.gov Baltimore Vet Center 410-764-9400 1777 Reisterstown Road, Suite 199, Baltimore, 21208 Dundalk Vet Center 410-282-6144 1553 Merritt Boulevard, Baltimore, 21222 Baltimore County Department of Health Bureau of Behavioral Health 410-887-3828 6401 York Road, Third Floor, Baltimore, 21212 Baltimore County CrisisResponse 410-931-2214 Information and referral to mental health and substance use disorder services and smoking cessation classes. www.baltimorecountymd.gov Email: behavioral health@baltimorecountymd.gov Programs Offered at Kevin Kamenetz Equine Arena and Learning Center 1114 Shawan Rd. Cockeysville, MD 21030 Saratoga War Horse 518-886-8131 Nonprofit organization offering an Equine Connection Process for veterans struggling with invisible, psychological wounds. www.SaratogaWarHorse.org for scheduling EquiTeam Support Services 717-309-2873 Equine therapy programs designed to promote mental health and well-being for veterans and their family members.

Equiteam@comcast.net for scheduling Maryland’s Commitment to Veterans 1-877-770-4801

CAREGIVING Aid and Attendance Program 1-800-827-1000 Benefit for veterans and their spouses who need the assistance of another person to perform personal care. Financial and medical eligibility criteria apply.

National Family Caregivers Support Program (NFCSP), The Caregivers Program 410-887-4724 Serves family members caring for Baltimore County adults over age 60, as well as grandparents over age 55 with primary care responsibility for grandchildren. NFCSP in Baltimore County, Caregivers Program www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/aging/caregivers/

Baltimore County Public Library Home Front For a complete listing of veterans services visit http://www.bcpl.info/veterans.

If you can’t find the answer to your question or can’t find the help you need with a veteran’s related issue, email us at: infoserv@bcpl.net www.baltimorecountymd.gov/veterans Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs Assist veterans with acquiring VA benefits, information and referral, trust fund.

24 Hour Crisis Information 410-260-3838, 800-446-4926 X6450 www.veterans.maryland.gov Maryland Access Point (MAP) of Baltimore County 410-887-2594 Information on services for Baltimore County seniors and person with disabilities. www.baltimorecountymd.gov/agencies/aging

HOUSING The Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS) 410-887-4197 Is a HUD program that provides families with counseling, resources, and services to achieve economic independence

LEGAL SERVICES Attorney General of the State of Maryland, Consumer Protection Division 410-528-8662, 888-743-0023 200 Saint Paul Place, Baltimore 21202 Investigates complaints regarding unfair and deceptive business practices.

Mail complaints in writing to the Consumer Protection Division at the above address.

Maryland Legal Aid’s Joining Forces Project 443-863-4040 500 East Lexington Street, Baltimore, 21202 Maryland Legal Aid’s “Joining Forces” project is a telephone hotline specifically for low-income veterans to receive brief advice for their civil legal issues. Qualified volunteer lawyers will be recruited to provide representation to eligible veterans who have more extensive civil legal issues. We will assist anyone that has served and is eligible for our services regardless of discharge status. www.mdlab.org Maryland State Bar Association 1-800-492-1964, 410-337-9100 Operates a pro bono and low-bono program for veterans in areas such as tax disputes, family law, contract issues, foreclosure, and other needs not addressed by the Homeless Persons Representation Project. The Young Lawyers Section of the Maryland Bar Association Provides pro-bono and low cost legal services for veterans. www.msba.org/sections/younglawyers The Young Lawyers Section of the Maryland Bar Association Provides pro-bono and low cost legal services for veterans. www.msba.org/sections/younglawyers National Call Center

1-877-4AID-VET or 1-877-424-3838

7

8

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Medicare

BEACON BITS

Oct. 20

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS CONFERENCE

Wmskonlineradio.com and Lady Blue will host the 4th Annual 50 Shades of Blue Baltimore Domestic Violence Awareness Conference on Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Furley Recreational Center, 4633 Furley Ave, from noon to 6 p.m. Tickets range from $5 to $48 and can be purchased on EventBrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/50-shades-of-blue-baltimore-tickets46828661788

Sept. 24

OCTOBER 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

ACTIVE SHOOTER SAFETY

Join the Baltimore County Police Department as they discuss steps you can take to stay safe if you encounter a hostile situation with intruders looking to do harm in a public building. This program includes a question and answer segment, and is open to all ages. The program will be held on Monday, Sept. 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Arbutus Senior Center, 855A Sulphur Spring Rd. Sign up at the front desk. For more information, call (410) 887-1410.

From page 6

When weighing your options, these three C’s are critical: costs, coverage and convenience. These three can intertwine.

You may prefer to pick up your prescriptions at your local pharmacy, for instance, but getting prescriptions by mail could be cheaper.

You may also run into plans that use step therapy, in which you have to try a generic first before you can go to a brandname drug.

In comparing plans, consider your outof-pocket drug costs as well as monthly premiums, because some plans may offer low premiums but require higher out-ofpocket costs. Also look at co-pays, particularly for retail pharmacy networks.

Medicare Advantage Plans

People shopping for Medicare Advantage Plans need to pay attention not only to

drug costs and coverage but also to provider networks (the doctors on the plan). These plans are offered by private companies approved by Medicare. Most include a drug benefit.

Unlike traditional Medicare, Advantage plans have limited provider networks — and some networks are narrower than others. If you have certain doctors you like and want to continue using, check to see if their services will be covered — and what your costs would be if they aren’t in a particular plan’s network.

Also, some Advantage plans offer coverage that traditional Medicare doesn’t, such as for vision and dental care, or hearing aids. Compare those extras as well.

To reach the Baltimore County SHIP office, call (410) 887-2059.

To reach the Baltimore City SHIP office, call (410) 396-2273.

Rachel L. Sheedy writes for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, from which part of this article is taken.

BEACON BITS

Sept.

A TOP PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT

The Top of the World Observation Level at the World Trade Center, 401 E. Pratt St., is exhibiting the photographs of artist Adam Davies through Sept. 30. Over the past four years, Davies has prepared a series of photographs showing structures in the American landscape that are overlooked or marginalized: deserted sites, hidden passageways and the undersides of bridges.

For more information, visit www.viewbaltimore.org.

Sept.

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INNOVATIVE ROMEO AND JULIET

Vagabond Players’ Shakespeare’s R&J is a unique adaptation, where a rigid boys boarding school becomes the setting for a powerful and unorthodox reenactment of Shakespeare’s immortal tale of doomed lovers breaking tradition, seeking forbidden desires, and painfully coming of age.

The production runs through Sunday, Sept. 30, with a special $10 “Thursdays on Broadway” performance at 8 p.m. Regular ticket prices are $19 for those 65+ and $22 for other adults. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.vagabondplayers.org.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2018

Health Shorts Drug may slow Alzheimer’s disease Hopes are rising again for a drug to alter the course of Alzheimer’s disease after decades of failures. An experimental therapy slowed mental decline by 30 percent in patients who got the highest dose in a mid-stage study, and it removed much of the sticky plaque gumming up their brains, the drug’s makers said recently.

The results have been highly anticipated and have sent the stock of the two companies involved soaring in recent weeks.

The drug from Eisai and Biogen did not meet its main goal in a study of 856 participants, so overall, it was considered a flop.

But company officials said that 161 people who got the highest dose every two weeks for 18 months did significantly better than 245 people who were given a dummy treatment.

There are lots of caveats about the work, which was led by company scientists rather than academic researchers, and was not reviewed by outside experts. The study also was too small to be definitive, and the results need to be confirmed with more work, dementia experts said. But they welcomed any glimmer of success

after multiple failures.

“We’re cautiously optimistic,” said Maria Carrillo, chief science officer of the Alzheimer’s Association, whose international conference in Chicago featured the results.

“A 30 percent slowing of decline is something I would want my family member to have,” and the drug’s ability to clear the brain plaques “looks pretty amazing,” she said.

Study participants were given one of five doses of BAN2401 or a dummy treatment via IV. After one year, the companies said the drug didn’t meet statistical goals. But after 18 months, they saw a benefit in the highest dose group.

On one traditional measure of thinking skills, those at the highest dose declined 47 percent less than people given a dummy treatment.

Brain scans added evidence that the drug might be effective. All participants had signs of the sticky plaques that are the hallmark of Alzheimer’s at the start of the study, but 81 percent of people on the highest dose saw all signs of them disappear after 18 months, an Eisai official said.

stances from leaching in through the bloodstream — but it can block drugs for Alzheimer’s, brain tumors and other neurologic diseases, too.

A handful of Alzheimer’s patients signed up for a bold experiment: They let scientists beam sound waves into their brain to temporarily jiggle an opening in its protective shield.

Scientists have long tried different strategies to overcome the blood-brain barrier with little success. The brain’s blood vessels are lined with cells that form tight junctions, almost like a zipper. The barrier lets in select small molecules.

Often, treatments for brain diseases are too big to easily pass.

The new approach: Scientists inject microscopic bubbles into the bloodstream.

Through an MRI scanner, they aim at a precise brain area. Then they beam ultra-

sound waves through a helmet-like device to that spot. The pulses of energy make the microbubbles vibrate, loosening those zipper-like junctions in hopes that medications could slip inside.

Canadian researchers reported early hints that the technology can safely poke holes in that barrier — holes that quickly sealed back up. It’s a step toward one day using the non-invasive device to push brain treatments through.

This first-step research, conducted in just six people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s, checked if patients’ fragile blood vessels could withstand the breach without bleeding or other side effects. It didn’t test potential therapies.

More safety testing is needed, but “it’s definitely promising,” said Dr. Eliezer See HEALTH SHORTS, page 10

Ultrasound opens blood-brain barrier The so-called blood-brain barrier prevents germs and other damaging sub-

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OCTOBER 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Qs and As on carpal tunnel; baby aspirin

By Dr. Howard LeWine Q: I get numbness and tingling in my fingers. It’s worse at night. Does that sound like carpal tunnel syndrome?

A: You probably have made the right self-diagnosis. But you should make an appointment with your doctor to confirm it.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is very common.

It happens when the median nerve — which runs down your arm and into your hand — gets compressed within a narrow space in the wrist known as the carpal tunnel.

At first you might think all of your fingers feel numb. But typically the numbness and tingling of carpal tunnel syndrome affects the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and half of the ring finger. Your little finger is typically not affected because it is served by a different nerve (the ulnar nerve).

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome

often occur during sleep, causing people to wake up and shake their hand.

Your doctor can usually diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome based on your symptoms and a physical examination. But in some cases, you may need additional tests to ensure that those symptoms aren’t being caused by another condition, such as a pinched nerve in your neck or peripheral neuropathy.

If your symptoms or exam do not fit the classic pattern, your doctor may order a nerve conduction study and electromyogram (EMG). This test uses an electrical signal to determine how well the nerve is working.

For mild cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, wearing a splint at night and intermittently during the day may be all it takes to relieve symptoms. If symptoms persist, your doctor might recommend a corticos-

teroid injection to reduce inflammation and swelling.

Any hand grip weakness or symptoms that interfere with daily function, or frequently wake you up at night, mean you should strongly consider surgery to decompress the nerve.

Most often the surgery can be done using a local anesthetic. Unless you do a job that involves manual labor, you can quickly return to normal activities.

Q: I am thinking about taking a baby aspirin every day to prevent a heart attack or stroke. But it seems the recommendations keep changing. How do you decide?

A: Taking a daily aspirin isn’t something you should decide to do on your own. While it may sound like a good idea, there are risks to taking even low dose aspirin. So talk

it over with your doctor before you start.

Everyone’s blood has a tendency to form clots. We need clots to stop any bleeding that may start, such as from a cut or a stomach ulcer. On the other hand, if clots form too easily, they can plug up an artery, causing a heart attack or the most common kind of stroke.

Aspirin works to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke because it reduces the tendency of blood to clot. But that means aspirin also increases the tendency to bleed.

Aspirin therapy is typically prescribed to people who have had a heart attack or stroke. Other candidates for anti-clotting therapy include people who’ve had coronary artery bypass surgery, people who’ve

Health shorts

Gehrig’s disease. And researchers are testing if the tool helps more chemotherapy reach the right spot in people with a deadly brain tumor called glioblastoma.

maybe even several more. New research shows it may boost chances for a longer life, even for those who down eight cups or more daily.

In a study of nearly half-a-million British adults, coffee drinkers had a slightly lower risk of death than abstainers. The apparent longevity boost was seen with instant, ground and decaffeinated, results that echo U.S. research.

Overall, coffee drinkers were about 10 to 15 percent less likely to die than abstainers during a decade of follow-up. Differences by amount of coffee consumed and genetic variations were minimal.

The results don’t prove your coffee pot is a fountain of youth, nor are they a reason for abstainers to start drinking coffee, said Alice Lichtenstein, a Tufts University nutrition expert who was not involved in the research. But she said the results rein-

force previous research and add additional reassurance for coffee drinkers.

“It’s hard to believe that something we enjoy so much could be good for us. Or at least not be bad,” Lichtenstein said.

The study was published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

It’s not clear exactly how drinking coffee might affect longevity. Lead author Erikka Loftfield, a researcher at the U.S. National Cancer Institute, said coffee contains more than 1,000 chemical compounds including antioxidants, which help protect cells from damage.

Other studies have suggested that substances in coffee may reduce inflammation and improve how the body uses insulin, which can reduce chances for developing diabetes. Loftfield said efforts to explain the potential longevity benefit are continuing.

— AP

From page 9

Masliah of the National Institute on Aging, who wasn’t involved with the study. “What is remarkable is that they could do it in a very focused way, they can target a very specific brain region.”

Alzheimer’s isn’t the only target. A similar safety study is underway in Lou

Coffee may boost longevity Go ahead and have that cup of coffee,

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See Qs & As, page 11

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2018

11

Easy, make-ahead bean and corn salad

By Katie Workman This is one of those salads that just saves the day over and over again.

Here are the reasons I love this salad: It’s fast, it’s really easy, it’s inexpensive, it’s crowd-pleasing, it’s vegetarian, it’s substantial, it’s colorful, it’s protein-filled, it’s a meal in itself, it looks great on a buffet, it’s super portable, it’s season-less, it’s makeahead, it’s flexible, it can be doubled or tripled (or halved, but that’s not so much the point of this big-batch salad).

I could keep going, but if you’re not convinced by now, I think you probably aren’t going to be.

Southwestern black bean and corn salad

Qs & As

and not just start taking it on your own.

Although most doctors recommend a “baby” aspirin (81 milligrams), whether that is the best dose for prevention is debated.

Also undetermined is whether it’s best to take an aspirin with a safety coating (called an enteric coating), in order to reduce the risk of stomach bleeding. Some data suggest the coating may interfere with the body’s ability to absorb the aspirin. For people who do take aspirin, I suggest taking the uncoated form with food.

In preparation for your aspirin discussion with your doctor, check out the aspirin risk calculator at www.aspiringuide.com.

Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, please visit www.health.harvard.edu. © 2018 President and Fellows Of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

From page 10

had a stent implanted to keep an artery open, and people with peripheral artery disease (significant plaque buildup in the leg arteries).

As a purely preventive therapy, who should take aspirin and at what dose is hotly debated. The more cardiovascular risk factors you have, the more likely you will benefit from taking aspirin. Those risk factors include diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, a high LDL cholesterol, a family history of heart disease, obesity and physical inactivity.

But there are risks, even with low-dose aspirin. Since aspirin reduces the blood’s ability to form clots, it also increases the risk of internal bleeding. The most common form of serious bleeding is from the stomach or upper intestine. Rarely, bleeding into the brain can occur, which may result in disability or death.

That is why you should discuss whether to be on aspirin therapy with your doctor

Servings: 10 Start to finish: 20 minutes

Dressing:

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Coarse or kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Salad:

2 (15.5 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed

2 cups cooked corn kernels (fresh or frozen) 1 cup chopped red or yellow onions 3 bell peppers, seeded and diced (red, yellow, orange, or a combination) 2 Haas avocados, diced

To Serve (optional):

1 cup thinly sliced scallions 1 cup crumbled feta cheese In a small container, combine the lemon juice, white wine vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper.

In a large bowl, combine the beans, corn, onions and peppers. Shake up the dressing, pour it over the salad and toss to combine.

Sprinkle the scallions and/or the feta over the top if desired, and toss again, or put them out

for people to add to their salad as they wish.

If you want to serve it right away, gently mix in the avocado. If you have time, this salad is better if you make it a day ahead, refrigerate it, and then just add the avocado right before serving.

Nutrition information per serving: 114 calories; 50 calories from fat; 6 g. fat (1 g. saturated; 0 g. trans fats); 0 mg. cholesterol; 112 mg. sodium; 15 g. carbohydrate; 5 g. fiber; 3 g. sugar; 4 g. protein.

Katie Workman has written two cookbooks focused on easy, family-friendly cooking, “Dinner Solved!” and “The Mom 100 Cookbook.” She blogs at http://www.themom100.com/about-katie-workman. She can be reached at Katie@themom100.com.

— AP

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Health Studies Page

OCTOBER 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Caregivers needed for coaching study

By Carol Sorgen Over 85 percent of care for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders is provided by more than 15 million family caregivers. These caregivers typically have no training or support, and may wind up themselves experiencing multiple health risks, including depression.

The National Alzheimer’s Plan Act has identified providing caregiver-supported programs as a national priority. One proposed approach is to supplement existing community-based services for older adults with a caregiver education program.

Johns Hopkins University is currently conducting a study to evaluate the effec-

tiveness of Adult Day Services (ADS) Plus to improve caregiver well-being and reduce symptoms of depression among caregivers.

ADS Plus is comprised of five key components: care management, referral/linkage, education about dementia, counseling/emotional support/stress reduction techniques, and skills to manage behavioral symptoms (e.g., rejection of care, agitation, aggression).

Better for caregivers and patients

In a similar study published in the journal Gerontologist in 2006, researchers found that after three months, ADS Plus

BEACON BITS

Oct. 2

GENETICS LITERACY Learn about the study of genes, how they work, and how they im-

pact different aspects of our daily lives from Dr. Leslie Pick, entomology chair at the University of Maryland. This event on Tuesday, Oct. 2 from 6:45 to 8 p.m. at the Cockeysville Library is presented by the University of Maryland Extension Service. The library is located at 9833 Greenside Dr., Cockeysville. Call the library at (410) 887-7750 to register.

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participants reported less depression, improved confidence in managing behaviors of their family member, and a greater sense of well-being themselves compared with a control group.

Long-term analyses reported that, compared with control groups, ADS Plus participants continued to report less depression and enhanced confidence.

Researchers also found that study participants who received ADS Plus used adult day services on average 37 days more than participants who did not receive ADS Plus, and that the former had fewer nursing home placements.

Their overall findings were that ADS Plus is cost efficient and easy to implement within adult day centers, and affords important clinical and public health benefits.

How the new study works

Based on challenges identified by family caregivers, an “ADS Plus Prescription� will be provided to caregivers in the Hopkins study, with a written document detailing easy-to-use strategies to address specific care challenges. Caregivers will be trained in how to use these strategies.

Thirty ADS programs throughout the U.S., including Baltimore, will be involved.

A total of 300 caregivers will be enrolled throughout June 2020, with a study completion date of June 2021.

Participants will be divided into three groups or “arms� of the study.

Families in the “experimental� arm of the study will receive Adult Day Services (ADS) for their older family member in addition to ADS Plus. The intervention be-

gins with two face-to-face sessions with a staff member who will conduct a needs assessment to identify concerns and needs, and develop an agreed-upon care plan.

The staff member will then meet with caregivers face-to-face at convenient times to implement the care plan. This will occur every other week for the first three months, and then for monthly reassessments for newly emerging care concerns thereafter. Contact occurs about a minimum of 1 hour per month over 12 months.

The “behavioral� arm of the study will provide caregivers with face-to-face or telephone contact for approximately one hour a month for at least 12 months. Targeted education materials concerning clients’ conditions and related matters will be shared via email or traditional mail.

The goal of each contact is to provide ongoing emotional support, situational counseling, education about importance of taking care of self, and referrals/linkages and skills (e.g., stress reduction, behavioral management, how to talk with doctors). The care planning process is collaborative and flexible, reflecting the caregivers’ fluctuating needs.

The third arm of the study will offer no intervention; only ADS care.

When the study is near completion, the control group sites will have the option of receiving training in ADS Plus.

Caregivers 21 years of age or older who provide more than eight hours of caregiving a week may be eligible to participate in the study. For more information, contact Katherine Marx, Ph.D., at (443) 287-8633 or kmarx1@jhu.edu, or Kasey Burke at (443) 287-4595 or kburke32@jhu.edu.

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2018

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

13

In your dreams: the effect of medications Sleeping is one of the great pleasures in trigger intense or disturbing dreams that life, unless you have bad dreams or night- seem to go on all night.

Antihistamines mares. Then it can be pure Think of Benadryl, an allergy misery. drug that is relabeled and sold Most of us do dream duras a sleep aid. It can definitely ing sleep, In fact, we have help one sleep, but it can also about 100,000 dreams during cause vivid dreaming and, in the average lifetime. rare instances, sleep walking.

But most of us don’t reAntihistamines suppress member our dreams. Statischolinergic compounds in the tics say that within five or ten body, leading to dryness. They minutes of waking up, about also interfere with REM sleep.

90 percent of your dreams are DEAR Asthma forgotten, unless you write PHARMACIST If you have asthma or obthem down right after waking.

By Suzy Cohen structive airway disease, you Luckily, a man named Larry are more likely to have bad Page remembered his dream.

He was a 23-year-old computer scientist dreams. And if you take medications to who woke up from a dream wondering if treat it, this increases the risk of vivid there was a way to “download the web” and dreams and nightmares even further.

Some research was done on monrank web pages by inbound links. He went on to become a co-founder of Google!

Now 45 years old, Page has a net worth according to Forbes of $52 billion. Talk about making money when you sleep!

Here are some facts about dreaming that you may be interested in.

Anxiety is the most common emotion felt during dreams. You might experience it as falling, flying, or feeling unprepared or humiliated in your dream.

You might become incapable of movement during a vivid dream. That’s because dreams tend to occur during the REM phase of sleep.

During this time, characterized by rapid eye movements (hence REM), your muscles go into a mild state of paralysis so that dreaming can occur safely. This prevents us from acting out, and running or jumping out a window if we’re chased in a dream.

If you lose your sight later in life, you can still dream visually like when you had your eyesight. Those who were born blind may not dream in realistic images, but can still dream and experience sounds, touch sensations and emotions during their dream state.

Those of us who grew up with black and white TVs tend to dream mostly in black and white. It’s not that you can’t dream in color. It’s just that more dreams are in black and white than in color if you’re older. I can’t explain why, but it’s been proven.

Dogs dream. You will often hear them whimper or see their paws twitching.

When this happens, it is believed they are running in their dreams.

Here are how some common medications can affect your dreams: Acid reflux drugs Heartburn medications such as ranitidine (Zantac) and famotidine (Pepcid), used to treat heartburn, can sometimes induce vivid dreams and nightmares. So can allergy drugs like diphenhydramine.

Antidepressants Antidepressants such as fluoxetine and paroxetine increase serotonin and may

telukast (Singulair), and there appears to be a link between this drug and nightmares, especially in children.

Please do not stop medication for this condition. Just be aware of the possible side effects, and more compassionate to your child if they wake in the wee hours with a bad dream.

Blood pressure drugs Blood pressure pills interfere with sleep.

There is well-documented evidence that drugs in this category can trigger nightmares, and this side effect alone often causes people to seek other treatments.

Melatonin Some sleep supplements containing melatonin might trigger unpleasant or bizarre dreams. If that happens, take a break from the melatonin, because the dose might be too high. Remember, your body also makes melatonin, so supple-

menting has an additive effect.

Sleeping pills Prescription sedative hypnotics, Z drugs and benzodiazepines also induce vivid dreaming and nightmares. These are blockbuster pharmaceuticals aimed at putting you to sleep, and they suppress SWS (slow wave sleep), thereby inducing dreams.

Ironically, withdrawal from these medications can also induce dreaming and even nightmares for a period of time.

For a longer version of this article, see my website.

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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Baltimore County Department of Aging

POWER OF AGE

OCTOBER 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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

EXPO 2018

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

Timonium Fairgrounds

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

GBMC and Sharecare.

ALL AGES WILL ENJOY THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDING: • Connect with over 300 exhibitors with information and specialty products • Delight in two days of continuous entertainment on the Main Stage • Discover a treasure in the Silent Auction by being the highest bidder

• 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

County Executive Don Mohler and the Baltimore County Council

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

TIME OF YOUR LIFE Digest

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2018

SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION

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OCTOBER 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Many benefit from living near colleges

By Carol Sorgen Ruth and Jack Casper, who live in Owings Mills, have been taking courses for several years at the Senior Institute program offered at the Owings Mills and Hunt Valley “extension centers” of the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC).

“We especially enjoy the art history courses,” said Ruth, adding that all the classes are non-credit and are reasonably priced.

(Students 60+ pay no tuition; only class and registration fees.)

The Caspers also often attend Johns Hopkins’ Shriver Hall lecture series and occasional concerts on the Hopkins campus.

Like the Caspers, many baby boomers and older adults are finding that college towns are attractive places in which to live, with such draws as arts and cultural activities, educational opportunities and good healthcare.

While Baltimore doesn’t meet the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) definition of a “college town” (which includes having a population of fewer than 250,000), the number of colleges and universities in the greater metropolitan area do offer a wealth of opportunities for residents.

According to AARP, college towns that meet the AIER definition consistently score high on AARP’s Livability Index,

which rates communities on seven categories — housing, neighborhood, transportation, environment, health, civic and social engagement, and opportunity for jobs. USA Today ranks Baltimore among the country’s 10 best major cities for college students.

Programs near and less near

Sara Nixon, a resident of Charlestown Retirement Community, enjoys the longstanding relationship Charlestown has with the nearby Catonsville campus of CCBC. “We are fortunate to have a program here at Charlestown that attracts 125 to 150 registrants a year, with 10-week courses offered four terms per year on our campus,” said Nixon.

These include such offerings as history, international affairs and politics, literature, poetry, archaeology, art history, and several art studio courses. Charlestown has a committee of residents who work with the CCBC senior program coordinator to select courses that they feel will be of interest.

Charlestown also has relationships with professors at nearby UMBC, including at the Erickson School of Aging. According to regional communications manager Courtney Benhoff, residents benefit from having college student interns team with Charlestown’s community resources com-

Find your creativity this fall!

Explore the arts at CCBC

mittee to provide expertise, creative ideas and energy. There are also volunteer opportunities for residents on campus, including serving as literacy tutors for ESOL students.

Many residents also attend courses and special events at other campuses in the greater Baltimore area, including at Anne Arundel Community College, Howard Community College, Towson University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and Johns Hopkins’ Odyssey program.

Aware of the close proximity of many Baltimore City and County residents to the area’s colleges and universities, the schools and community organizations often work together to forge close ties.

Towson University, for example, considers itself a “community-engaged university,” offering numerous programs and resources for community members and families to engage with the campus.

In addition to the Osher Institute, TU offers its Golden ID program, which offers those over 50 a variety of benefits on campus, such as tuition waivers, parking permit discounts, and the use of Cook Library and recreational facilities.

TU also connects with community members through service learning, community service, civic engagement programs, community-based partnerships and other outreach projects.

Intergenerational living

The benefits that come from having students and older adults living near each other has led some schools across the country to offer intergenerational living opportunities.

In Connecticut, for example, students in the Masonicare-Quinnipiac University Students in Residence Program lived at a nearby retirement community. The idea was developed with the goal of erasing generational stereotypes, fighting ageism and introducing students to the possibility of careers working with seniors.

Similarly, in Ohio, students from the Cleveland Institute of Music have been living at the Judson Manor retirement home since 2010.

(At the moment, there are no similar programs in the Baltimore area.)

There are also around 100 colleges around the U.S. that are associated with retirement communities on or near their campuses, to enable residents to enjoy classes and utilize the fitness and health facilities.

Communities can be found at campuses large and small, ranging from Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame, to Lasell Village at Lasell College in Newton, Mass.

While the Caspers appreciate the learning and cultural opportunities available at nearby colleges and universities, they do See COLLEGES, page B-3

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

A place of independence

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Drawing Photography Jewelry making Ceramics Stained glass Music Theatre Crafts Fiber arts Floral design Painting Writing

We have a class for that!

443-840-4900 ccbcmd.edu/seniors

Pickersgill assisted living residents are rarely in their rooms! Instead, they’re out and about— part pa rtic icip ipat atin ingg in a com ommu muni nity ty act ctiv ivitityy or eve vent nt or dining with friends.

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

A place of caring Each assisted living resident re enjoys three chef-prepared meals per day, housekeeping and laundry se services, medication administration, help with daily tasks and more—always by reque uest, and all included in a reasonable monthly fee. Each resident also has access to all al of the Pickersgill amenities.

Our assisted living residences include a private, pri full bath, and residents are encouraged to decorate their homes as they wish ish. This is a lifestyle dedicated to innde depe p ndence and assured by a caring, professionall staff. st

Call 888-877-9883 today for more information or to schedule your personal tour.

615 Chestn tnut Avenue • Towsonn, MD 21204 • www.PickersgillRetirement.org

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2018

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Educational options around Baltimore

By Carol Sorgen If you miss school — but not the homework or exams — look into the many continuing education programs offered around the Baltimore area. From aerobics to zoology, there is sure to be something to pique your interest.

Below we describe a few. Contact those of interest to find out costs and other details.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Towson University The Osher Foundation supports a national network of lifelong learning institutes on university campuses from Maine to Hawaii.

The mission of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Towson University is to offer adults 50 and older opportunities for continued learning, along with programs and activities for social and cultural enrichment in

a congenial and supportive environment.

Courses are offered in such areas as the fine arts, movies, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, languages and current events. There are book clubs, special interest groups and day trips available as well. To learn more, call (410) 704-3535 or visit www.towson.edu/osher.

Renaissance Institute at Notre Dame of Maryland University The Renaissance Institute is an active group of more than 300 men and women over the age of 50 who are interested in pursuing lifelong learning and intellectual growth. Each year more than 100 non-credit courses, workshops and studio opportunities are designed and led by Renaissance members in two 13-week semesters.

Working with a campus-based director,

Colleges

tances to walk can present problems.

Still, if you’re looking for a variety of enriching opportunities (and perhaps revisiting fond memories of your own college days), Baltimore has plenty to offer. See “Educational options around Baltimore” above.

From page B-2

miss what traditional college towns offer, namely walkability. Classes at Hopkins, for example, are frequently held at night, when drive-time, parking availability and long dis-

BEACON BITS

Oct. 13

the members plan, lead and enroll in a series of courses held on Tuesdays and Thursdays each spring and fall semester.

Courses include public affairs, literature, writing, history, philosophy, music, art, languages, t’ai chi, film, science, computers, water aerobics, dance and acting, and more.

For more information, call Linda Kuehn at (410) 532-5351 or visit www.ndm.edu.

Kaleidoscope Lifelong Learning at Roland Park Country School The goal of Kaleidoscope is to foster a lifelong love of learning within the entire RPCS and Baltimore communities. Programs include book talks; local, regional and international travel; creative pursuits; technology; culinary arts and personal development.

For more information, call (410) 323-5501 or visit www.rpcs.org/compass.

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) The School for Professional and Continuing Studies at this renowned art school offers a wide range of fine arts and design courses in the fields of photography, drawing, painting, ceramics and more. To learn more, call (410) 669-9200 or visit www.mica.edu.

Continuing Education at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) Life enrichment classes for all ages run the gamut from arts to boating, fitness, outdoor activities, crafts, health and wellness, hobbies, languages and more.

There is a separate Senior Institute, with courses offered in such areas as the arts, computer, history/politics, and humanities See TAKE CLASSES, page B-4

Ok, you’re a senior, I’m a senior, let’s make a move today!

LITERARY WALKING TOUR Follow in the footsteps of Baltimore’s literary luminaries and dis-

cover the elegant brownstone mansions and majestic cultural institutions built by Baltimore’s successful 19th century merchants and industrialists. Learn how a neighborhood of scholars, struggling artists and authors, newspapermen, philanthropists and social reformers offered rich opportunities to discuss and debate ideas and open new literary avenues. Tickets ($10) must be purchased in advance. The tour begins at the Enoch Pratt Free Library Central Branch, 400 Cathedral St., at 11 a.m. For more information and tickets, visit www.mdhumanities.org/programs/Literary-walking-tour/.

Welcome to Miller’s Grant and Carroll Lutheran Village.

Two great senior living communities!

Maintenance-free living and the support of a full continuum of aging services.

And ask about our new Wrap, Pack and Move incentive program.

Call to learn more... and get a free biscuit!

MillersGrant.org

9000 Father’s Legacy Ellicott City, MD 21402 410-465-2005

CLVillage.org

300 St. Luke Circle Westminster, MD 21158 410-848-8922

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Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Housing Notes

By Barbara Ruben

Westminster House renovations Westminster House Apartments, a highrise independent living community in Baltimore’s Mt. Vernon neighborhood, is continuing an extensive renovation. Its studio and one-bedroom units are being refurbished with new carpeting, windows, and

heating and central air conditioning.

In addition, the kitchens are being remodeled with new cabinets, appliances and lighting fixtures. Safety bars are being added to updated bathrooms. Common areas are being renovated as well.

The affordable apartments are available to those age 62 and older, or younger residents with disabilities. Residents must meet income guidelines. Currently, the rent, which includes utilities, is $900 for a studio, $1,025 for one-bedroom and $1,125 for a larger one-bedroom.

To learn more, see www.westminsterhouseapts.org or call (410) 837-0180.

OCTOBER 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

New center for health and wellness When Keswick opened its doors in Baltimore 130 years ago, it primarily provided nursing home services. Over the years it has added rehabilitation, adult day care and community health services.

In September, Keswick invited the public to its latest expansion of services — the Wise & Well Center for Healthy Living.

The center is designed as a place for Baltimoreans age 50 and over to pursue their health and well-being goals.

This membership-based center offers classes, coaching and personalized services. Membership is $60 per year.

Classes include yoga, cooking, gardening and numerous other choices. Some are free with membership, while others are low-cost with membership.

For example, there are free Spanish and quilting classes. A “Living with Chronic Pain” workshop is $20 for a six-week session, and a “Brain Bootcamp” workshop is $25 for a four-week session.

To learn more, see https://choose keswick.org/services/community-health or call (410) 662-4363.

Take classes From page B-3

and culture. For more information, call (443) 840-4700 or visit www.ccbcmd.edu.

Women’s Institute of Torah The Rebbetzin Frieda K. Hirmes Women’s Institute of Torah (WIT) provides continuing education courses and programs to the women of the Baltimore Jewish community. Courses and programs are designed to enhance personal knowledge and enrich one’s Jewish experience.

For more information, call (410) 358-2545 or visit www.witbaltimore.org.

Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies The Institute for Islamic-Christian-Jewish Studies (ICJS) is a nonprofit organization that concentrates on disarming reli-

Help with understanding and selecting home care Why We Care: Choosing the Right Homecare Agency includes interviews with nine home care industry executives and agency owners, as well as case studies of clients with varying disabilities and how they were helped by home care.

The experts discuss what to look for in a home care agency, how to handle costs, finding the right fit in a caregiver and more.

The book is partly written and edited by Steve Weiss, who created a home care marketing business to help home care agencies. He also co-founded the Institute for Dignity and Grace, which helps coordinate care for patients who have five or more chronic conditions.

The institute also helps pay for care for people who can’t afford it for up to 30 days after hospitalization. All profits from the sale of the book will go to the institute.

Why We Care is available from online booksellers. It costs $17.99 in paperback or $4.99 in a Kindle version on Amazon.

gious hatred and establishing models of interfaith understanding.

Founded in 1987 by an interfaith coalition of laity and clergy, the ICJS offers a variety of educational programs that highlight the distinctiveness of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions, and confront the misunderstandings that have evolved in the communities. To learn more, call (410) 4947161, or visit www.icjs.org.

Odyssey Non-Credit Liberal Arts Programs at the Johns Hopkins University Odyssey has a wide selection of courses, workshops and lecture series delivered by JHU faculty and community experts. Personal enrichment programs are offered in fields ranging from science to art, writing to photography. For more information, call (410) 516-4842 or visit www.odyssey.jhu.edu.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

VOLUNTEER AT CROMWELL VALLEY PARK

Cromwell Valley Park is located just outside Towson, and offers opportunities for volunteers to participate in a variety of programs — from assisting with school field trips and special events, to gardening and trail maintenance.

For more information, call (410) 887-2503 or visit www.cromwellvalleypark.org.

Ongoing

VOLUNTEER FOR GIRL SCOUTS

Girl Scouts is the only national organization dedicated solely to girls, who are encouraged to share and explore their hopes and dreams. Be part of their journey by volunteering with Girl Scouts of Central Maryland. For more information, call (410) 358-9711 or visit www.gscm.org.

Ongoing

GOOD SAMARITAN NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers are needed at Good Samaritan Hospital in a variety of positions. Good Samaritan is guided by Catholic tradition in its mission to deliver ideal health care experiences. For more information, call (443) 444-3814 or visit www.goodsam-md.org.

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Devices let you grow vegetables indoors

By Tracee M. Herbaugh You don’t need a green thumb to grow vegetables indoors. On the contrary, there are plenty of indoor greenhouses that take the work out of growing plants — from the amount of water they get to the right dosage of light.

One of these indoor greenhouses (referred to as “automated growing systems”) was created by six engineering students at Rice University. Aside from planting the seeds, the greenhouse does pretty much everything. It’s about the size of a small bookshelf and operates anywhere indoors.

“We didn’t want it to take up too much space in an apartment,” said Harrison Lin, a student who worked on the project. He said they wanted to “make it not intrusive, but it could still grow a useful amount of plants.”

Nearly maintenance-free

versity of Technology in Sweden.

AeroGarden, majority-owned by Scotts Miracle-Gro and the Hawthorne Gardening Company, is another automated inhome growing system. Unlike the student’s version, it’s currently available for purchase.

The automated, hydroponic systems range in size and price point. The smallest retails for $99 and holds three plants, while the largest sells for nearly $700 and grows 24. Sales have grown over 20 percent year over year since 2013, and last year’s sales grew by more than 30 percent, according to company numbers.

Growing food indoors, often in small spaces like city apartments, has become popular. Apartment dwellers have less room for a traditional garden, but still want fresh veggies.

In 2017, indoor gardening was listed as a popular trend in a report by Garden

Media Group, a marketing group that tracks industry. Businesses are noticing the expanded interest in at-home gardening.

Automatic watering

Automated systems take the guesswork out of gardening, said Clydette Alsup-Egbers, an associate professor of plant science at Missouri State University.

The biggest reason that indoor plants die, she said, is over-watering. If an automated system is used, that risk is eliminated.

“People who are new to growing don’t know what they’re doing,” she said. “A kit makes them feel more confident.”

Automating everything is what commercial greenhouses have done for years, said Julie Bare, an estate gardener at Meadowbrook Farm, located in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, and owned by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

Bare helps grow some of the hundreds of plants on display in the renowned Philadelphia Flower Show. To do this, greenhouses are necessary; the show is held annually in March, which means short days and cold temperatures.

Still, even the most seasoned gardener can run into problems with indoor vegetables.

A few years ago, George Rebeiro Brooks, Jr., a retired mechanical engineer, tried growing lettuce in pots inside at his home in Tewksbury, Massachusetts.

Brooks, who owns Green Hollow Orchards, has grown apples, tomatoes and other plants for local farmers markets for more than 45 years. But his indoor lettuce turned out limp, not crispy.

“It’s just my guess, but I think it didn’t have the right air circulation indoors to make it toughen up,” he said.

— AP

There are push buttons on the device to designate how much light and water the plants get, and to determine the temperature inside it. If you’re feeling extremely hands-off, there are three pre-set options: leafy greens, roots and herbs. Select what you’re growing, plant it, and go about your business.

“In the most ideal circumstance, you plant your seeds, put on the correct settings and walk away until it’s ready to harvest,” said Jack Kaplan, another student on the team.

Most indoor growing systems are hydroponic, meaning plants are planted in water mixed with mineral nutrients. But this one uses a soil trough for planting.

LED bulbs provide the plants with the redblue spectrum of light they need in order to grow. The only maintenance is refilling the water tank every three weeks.

The students built three of these indoor greenhouses as a senior project. They were installed at the HSB Living Lab, a residential research facility at Chalmers Uni-

BEACON BITS

Oct. 7+

TRAVEL TO FLORIDA

Join the Woodlawn Senior Center from Oct. 7-13 on this African American Heritage Tour trip to Orlando, Florida. Cost is $780 per double with a non-refundable deposit of $200. Call (410) 887-6887 for reservations.

Sept. 26

DON’T GET SCAMMED

Baltimore police detective Bryan Dietsch will discuss the many frauds and scams that target seniors, and how to protect yourself. The program takes place at the Ateaze Senior Center at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26. The center is located at 7401 Holabird Ave., Dundalk.

You will be surprised to learn how many times we hear residents say those words once they’ve settled into our community.

CALL 410-705-5432 TO LEARN MORE TODAY!

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OCTOBER 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Away during the winter? Prep your house

By Mary Kane As the temperature drops and months of cold weather loom ahead, snowbirds pack up for warmer climates, anticipating sunny days free of freezing ice, snow shoveling and other winter worries.

But if you’re not careful to prepare your home before you travel thousands of miles to your warmer destination, that escape won’t be so carefree.

“You just don’t know what can happen when you are away,” said Jack Luber, executive director of the National Home Watch Association, which represents companies that perform scheduled inspections of unoccupied homes. “Water heaters and pipes can spring leaks, and the smallest leak that goes undiscovered can cause a flood.

Sometimes it’s just horrible.”

Closing up your home involves everything from setting timers for inside lights, to letting a trusted neighbor know how to

reach you. Create a checklist, like the packing list you prepare for a trip. Include hands-on tasks such as replacing furnace filters and setting temperature controls.

Decide what kind of high-tech monitoring would work best for you, and review your homeowner’s insurance to be sure you are adequately covered.

Consider hiring a home watch service.

And try not to put everything off until the last minute.

Security and safety issues

Begin with the basics — simple things you can do yourself, said Luber. Ask a friendly neighbor to park his or her car in your driveway occasionally. Make sure timers turn lights on at different times, and in different parts of the house.

“There are a lot of telltale signs when a house is empty,” Luber said. “You don’t want anything to give that impression.”

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.

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!

For winterizing, use insulated covers for outside spigots. Install alarms inside to alert you if the temperature drops too low.

Consider shutting off the water and draining the pipes. Also, pour a little olive oil into the garbage disposal so it won’t rust.

Empty and turn off the ice maker in your freezer — it could leak if the power goes out, said Rebecca Anderson, coowner of Seasons Home Watch, in Mound, Minn., a service that visits properties for absent homeowners. Read more tips on her blog at seasonshomewatch.com.

Insurance concerns

Check with your insurance agent. If you’re gone for just the seasonal months, your current policy likely will be fine. But for a longer absence you want to be sure you are adequately covered at both your primary and vacation residences, said Elaine Montgomery-Baisden, chief underwriting officer for personal insurance at Travelers.

Coverage for unoccupied property varies by policy, and you may have to pay a surcharge for your unoccupied home. Tell your agent if you have someone housesitting or regularly checking on your house, because that could reduce your costs.

Hire someone to clear snow from your sidewalks and driveway, to lessen the likelihood of someone falling and filing a

claim, she said. (Get more tips at travelers.com/resources.)

Jo Moorman, 65, and her husband, Brice, 56, have a house near Scottsdale, Ariz., and a condo outside Minneapolis. When they leave the condo for a seven-month stay in Arizona, they “de-insure” an unused car left behind in Minnesota on their agent’s advice, saving several hundred dollars, Jo said. Check with your insurer on how to safely pare back coverage temporarily.

The Moormans use the Internet to monitor their homes with cameras, their smartphones and their computers. The couple even added space heaters that they can control remotely in their condo after they got a text in Arizona from their Minnesota alarm system that the condo temperature had fallen, which turned out to be the result of a furnace malfunction.

The couple also hired Anderson’s home watch firm to inspect their home on a regular basis as an additional backup, Jo said.

Anderson collects junk mail, runs hot water, flushes toilets and more.

Prices to hire a home watch firm depend on the size of a home and its location, but generally run about $50 per visit, and services often offer visits once every two weeks or so. You can find a service at nationalhomewatchassociation.org. © 2018 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

GILCHRIST HOSPICE CARE SEEKS VOLUNTEERS

Gilchrist Hospice Care is the largest nonprofit hospice organization in Maryland, providing home hospice care in Baltimore, Harford, Howard Counties, and Baltimore City, and inpatient hospice care in Towson.

To learn more about becoming a hospice volunteer, call (443) 849-8239 or visit www.gilchristhospice.org.

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2018

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FREE HOUSING AND OTHER INFORMATION # For free information from advertisers in this special section, check off those that interest you and mail this entire coupon to the Beacon. Please do not request info if you are not interested.

All replies received by Oct. 15 will be entered into a random drawing to win tickets to a Chesapeake Shakespeare Theatre production.

HOUSING COMMUNITIES ❑ Atrium Village . . .B5 & B8 ❑ Carroll Lutheran Village .B3 ❑ Catholic Charities Senior Communities . . . . . . .B3 ❑ Charlestown/ Erickson . . . . .B8 & B11 ❑ Christ Church Harbor Apts . . . . . . . . . . . . .B4 ❑ Glynn Taff Assisted Living . . . . . . . . . . . .B4 ❑ Lutheran Village at Millers Grant . . . . .B3

❑ Oak Crest/ Erickson . . . . .B6 & B11 ❑ Pickersgill . . . . . . . . . . .B2 ❑ St. Mary’s Roland View 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 . . . . . . .B6 & B12

❑ Weinberg Place . . . . . .B12 ❑ Weinberg Terrace . . . . .B12 ❑ Weinberg Village Community . . . . . . .B12 ❑ Weinberg Woods . . . . .B12

HOME HEALTHCARE ❑ Genesis SelectCare . . . .B9

MISCELLANEOUS ❑ Baltimore City Senior Companions . . . . . . .B6 ❑ CCBC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2

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 1018

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

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OCTOBER 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Use care if giving your home to children

By Tracy Craig A house is typically one of the most valuable assets someone owns, both financially and sentimentally. It makes sense, then, that out of love and generosity, many parents want to give their houses to their children during their lives or pass them down as an inheritance.

It’s difficult to imagine that giving your child your family home could backfire, but it might — especially if you do not understand all the pitfalls and benefits.

Passing on a home can be a complicated matter, and doing it at the wrong time, in the wrong way, or for the wrong reasons can have significant consequences for both parents and children.

Understanding Medicaid

A primary reason someone might think about transferring their house to a family member has to do with Medicaid. Nursing home costs continue to rise, and many

people want to be able to qualify for government benefits without having to spend down most of their assets.

In addition, they don’t want to worry that their home may be forced to be sold after they pass away (through a process called estate recovery) to cover the cost of the Medicaid benefits they received.

To begin, it is important to understand that Medicaid is different from Medicare (even though sometimes people mistakenly believe the two are interchangeable).

Medicare is a federal entitlement program that provides health insurance for people over the age of 65, regardless of how much money they have.

Medicaid, on the other hand, is a federal health insurance program for the elderly, disabled and poor that, among other things, will pay for long-term skilled nursing home care for individuals in need.

Generally speaking, people must be below certain quite restrictive income and

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asset limits to qualify for Medicaid. In simple terms, once most of your assets are gone, Medicaid will kick in to pay for nursing home care.

However, a primary residence with $572,000 of equity in 2018 (or up to $828,000 of equity in certain states that opted for an increased amount available under federal law) is considered a noncountable asset. This means that it is possible to own a home and still qualify for the government to pay for nursing home care under Medicaid.

Estate recovery concerns

Upon the death of a Medicaid recipient, each state has the right to recover from the deceased person’s estate the amount paid for their care.

Because the home is one of the only assets that people are allowed to own and still receive Medicaid benefits, the right to recover benefits from the estate (typically from the sale of the house) is what people mean when they’ve heard that the state will take the home. (Note that no recovery efforts can be made until after the death of the recipient’s spouse.)

Those worried about estate recovery sometimes consider giving the home away prior to the time they believe they will need nursing home care. But misunderstandings about Medicaid’s complex laws can result in serious consequences.

Before transferring any assets, it’s crucial to understand about the “look-back period” and how it affects Medicaid eligibility. When you apply for Medicaid, any gifts or asset transfers made within five years are subject to penalties. In other words, giving away assets can disqualify you from receiving Medicaid.

Under the current rules, Medicaid benefits are denied if people have given away assets within 60 months of the date of application. This critical time is known as the “look-back period.”

Consequently, it is important to trust that you are healthy enough to stay out of a nursing home for at least five years from when you give away your house (or any other assets). Planning must be done long before any need arises.

Ways to transfer property

But keep in mind, the look-back period isn’t the only thing to consider if you want to gift away your family home. The way you set up the transfer of your property is extremely important and also fraught with unforeseen consequences — whether it’s an outright deed, a deed with life estate, or to an irrevocable trust.

Here’s a brief review of the pros and cons of each: Outright deed: Giving away your home can be as simple as executing a deed transferring ownership to someone else, such as your child. This is straight-forward and relatively inexpensive to accomplish.

However, if the person to whom you gift your house gets sued, divorced or declares

bankruptcy, the house can be lost. And, if you arranged to continue to live in the house, that right could be lost as well.

Another potential problem is that the people you give away your house to could disagree over how to manage the house, and family fights could ensue.

Deed with life estate: You can also execute a deed transferring ownership, but if you include a life estate in the deed, your right to live in the house for the rest of your life cannot be taken away.

While a life estate can solve some of the above issues, the part of the house you’ve given away — known as the remainder interest — is still vulnerable to creditors and divorce, and to fights among the new owners. In addition, in some states, the life estate may be subject to estate recovery.

Irrevocable trust: You can also transfer your house to an irrevocable trust. An irrevocable trust provides protection for the house from the creditors and divorces of the beneficiaries of the trust (other than you — and in some states you can be a limited beneficiary of the trust). In addition, the trust can dictate how the house will be dealt with after you pass.

For example, should one child have the right to live there for a period of time?

Should any child have the right of first refusal to buy the house? Should the house be sold to a third party?

These provisions can ensure that fights among your children about what to do with the house after your death are kept at bay.

But while a trust addresses many issues, it is also much more expensive and complex, easily costing thousands of dollars to implement.

Possible tax downsides

Capital gains taxes are generally owed when you sell an asset that is worth more than you paid for it.

However, individuals can generally exempt up to $250,000 from capital gains taxes upon the sale of a primary residence if they occupy the house as their primary residence for two of the five years prior to the sale. Couples can generally exempt up to $500,000.

So, if your home increases in value you might not need to pay capital gains taxes when you sell.

But if you give your house to your children, and they do not live there as their primary residence, they will not be eligible for this exemption upon a sale. They would need to pay capital gains taxes on the increased value. Proper planning can help minimize or eliminate this result.

Also important is that if you retain certain ownership rights in your house (such as a life estate or possibly through an irrevocable trust), then when you die, the tax basis of the house becomes its fair market value at death.

This is known as the step-up in basis rule, and it’s important when it comes time for your children to sell the home. This See GIFT YOUR HOME, page B-11

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Reasons to retire to Williamsburg, Va.

Williamsburg stats

Population: 15,000 What $300,000 will buy: 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath townhome with landscaped patio Best place to exercise: Virginia Capital Trail 5-star hospital (as rated by Medicare): Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center Ralph and Debbie Abrams (age 68 and 67) searched for years, from South Carolina to Delaware, to find a place to retire.

They moved to the Williamsburg area in 2011, where their property taxes are one-

third of what they paid when they lived in New Jersey.

The city is dominated by Colonial Williamsburg and William & Mary, the nation’s second-oldest university, whose campus features a broad array of towering trees, from oaks and elms to pines and magnolias.

Free entertainment

The university offers plenty of entertainment and cultural options. Those age 60 and older can audit classes free. Art lovers can catch an exhibit at the Muscarelle Museum of Art or a performance by the theater and dance department.

You can take in free summer concerts weekly on the lawn outside a Colonial Williamsburg museum, or attend an artsand-music festival on the second Sunday of most months along Prince George Street downtown.

Merchants Square, nestled between the university and Colonial Williamsburg, is ideal for people-watching while you sit at one of the outdoor restaurants or sip wine outside the Williamsburg Winery.

For activities just outside the city, drive the 23-mile tree-lined Colonial Parkway, which connects Williamsburg and the historic cities of Jamestown and Yorktown.

For exercise, hike one of the many trails, or ride a bike along the scenic Capital Trail — a pedestrian-and-bike trail con-

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By Eileen Ambrose Mention Williamsburg and most people think of Colonial Williamsburg, where actors in period garb depict life in 18th-century Virginia.

But Williamsburg is more than tricorn hats. The city of about 15,000 offers the ease of small-town living and, as home to William & Mary, the cultural activities of a college town.

For a quick big-city fix or change of scenery, residents are only about an hour’s drive from Virginia Beach or Richmond, the state capital, and they’re about three hours from North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

It’s also one of 10 small or midsize cities Kiplinger’s found that offer first-class healthcare.

Make new friends

Williamsburg can be good option for retirement, offering affordable housing, good healthcare and the resources of the College of William & Mary, the nation’s secondoldest college, shown here.

necting Jamestown and Richmond.

Many retirees settle in one of three major amenity-filled golf course communities — Ford’s Colony, Governor’s Land or Kingsmill Resort, all in adjacent James City County, according to Kimber Smith, president of the Williamsburg Area Association of Realtors.

Single-family detached homes start at about $400,000, but some houses on the James River in Kingsmill and Governor’s Land can run $1 million to $3 million or even higher, Smith said.

Retirees can also find condos and townhouses — including in the New Town development, just outside the city limits — ranging from about $250,000 to $400,000.

Two- and three-bedroom rentals run from $1,200 to $2,500 a month.

Virginia is tax-friendly for retirees. The commonwealth doesn’t tax Social Security benefits, and residents 65 and older can deduct up to $12,000 per person in income. © 2018 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2018

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Decluttering frees space, lifts the soul

Gift your home From page B-8

rule eliminates any capital gains taxes your children might otherwise need to pay upon the sale of the house after you die.

Needless to say, there are many things to consider before deciding whether or not

Organizing Professionals, said that many professional organizers will cart off your items at the end of a session, help you donate and sell items, and “give you a gentle push to get rid of more.” About half of Delap’s clients at Professional-Organizer.com, based in Kingwood, Tex., are 50 or older.

Professionals also supply stamina.

“Most people can declutter on their own for [only] an hour or two before running out of steam. It involves a lot of decisionmaking,” Delap said.

Costs vary by region and job, but hourly fees typically range from $75 to $150, said Delap, who charges $225 for three hours.

Lisa Mark, of The Time Butler in Los Altos, Calif., charges $125 an hour, and $50 to $75 an hour for her assistants. She says 80 percent of her clients are 50 or older, and most of those are 55 to 70.

Divide and conquer

For a typical home, decluttering takes at

to give away your house. Tax issues and the complex timing rules for Medicaid can make giving away your house tricky, but with careful thought and planning there are strategies that make it possible to accomplish your goals.

Because rules can vary from state to state, it makes sense to consult with a local

least 10 to 20 hours. Mark estimates that a three-bedroom, 1,600-square-foot house with an average amount of clutter will take five to 10 sessions lasting three to six hours each.

Delap, who works in three-hour chunks, said a closet may take two sessions, while a garage may take three or four sessions.

Many organizers start by dividing items by category, starting with big objects, such as exercise equipment and furniture, to gain momentum. Small sentimental items, such as letters and photos, take a long time to sort through and should be done last.

It helps to envision the end result, such as closets you can open without an avalanche.

“There’s a lot of guilt in throwing out unused stuff, but take the lesson from it,” Onufer said. “I threw away a lot of clothing I bought in outlets. Lesson: I want fewer, lovelier things.”

She and her daughters each have a clear plastic “memory box” to preserve the most important mementos, such as report cards, art projects and letters.

If you are decluttering by yourself, Mark advises setting a timer for 20 to 30 minutes. Decluttering gets easier every time “because it’s reinforcing, and you realize you don’t miss what’s gone,” Onufer said.

Among the many rewards of decluttering is clearing out mental space. “Clutter is delayed decisions. How does that serve your life goals?” said Mark.

After a good session, “a client will often tell me she feels like she lost 100 pounds.

There’s a mental weight to clutter. Without it, you can focus on whatever is most meaningful to you.”

All contents © 2018, The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

attorney or estate planning expert before deciding. That way you can pass along your most valued asset to future generations in the best way possible, and avoid

unpleasant consequences. © 2018 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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By Beth Brophy You don’t need to be facing retirement or a move to decide it’s time to create more breathing room in your life. The practice is liberating at any age, according to Virginia Onufer, 52, of Chevy Chase, Md., a writer who works from home.

Recently, Onufer, with the help of a professional organizer, cleared her 1,800square-foot house of 30 tall kitchen bags stuffed with kitchen equipment, Christmas decorations, linens and clothing.

“Acknowledging that outer order contributes to inner calm gives me the commitment to keep going,” Onufer said. With her daughters away at school, she and her husband are contemplating a house move, and they don’t want to bring their unneeded stuff along.

While a professional organizer can be expensive, Onufer said hiring one saved her time and aggravation. Ellen Delap, president of the National Association of Productivity &

B-12

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Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

15

SECOND-HAND SHOPPING Look for off-lease cars and refurbished electronics with money-back guarantees to save big when buying gently used products TAX STRATEGIES The new tax law means fewer people will be itemizing; how to determine the best charity and housing strategies

Finding buried treasure in financial docs

By Lisa Brown On my family’s annual pilgrimage to the Northeast in late June, I took two days to help a 94-year-old relative get her financial house in order. I didn’t find any money buried under a mattress, but I did find some hidden in places most people don’t look — but they probably should.

I knew she had updated her will after recently moving to a new state, but I was not certain what else she realigned. So, when I began digging through recent tax documents, I made two startling discoveries.

First, it turns out she has $300,000 in a bank stock that our family thought was only worth a few thousand dollars. And, second, we found cash from a life insurance policy paid out more than 20 years ago.

After getting over the initial shock of these findings, we went about piecing together the rest of her financial puzzle.

Over a 48-hour period, however, I turned up more of what I expected: lots of missing or outdated information.

Now, after a lot of tedious, time-consuming work, all key documents have been located and every cent she owns is accounted for.

For those of you who may face this with your own financial situation or with that of relatives, here are some guidelines to reconstruct one’s financial house:

Collect key financial documents

Ask your loved one to gather copies of the following documents: • Will, revocable trust and financial power of attorney; bank, brokerage account and Social Security; • Cost basis of all investments; • Website log-in credentials for any financial assets (if available); • Estimate of monthly living expenses; • List of all beneficiaries for Individual Retirements Accounts, including names, dates of birth and addresses; • Statements for life insurance policies and annuities; • A list of any other assets and debts, such as house, car and jewelry.

• Most recent tax returns.

As you begin collecting documents, the most important one to help uncover current assets — and a great starting point for your detective work — is the tax return.

It can help nail down what assets your loved one owns, as well as the income they have coming in from pensions, annuities, real estate investments, business interests and Social Security. This is like having the answer key to a pop quiz!

Schedule B is key

Schedule B of the IRS Form 1040 is filed to report the interest and dividends received each tax year. That’s what led me to the discovery of the $300,000 in bank stock. I noticed on the most recent Schedule B that my relative was receiving $5,000 in dividends from this stock.

If you can’t find any paper statements or log-in information to financial websites for your loved one to track down each asset, start by asking the tax preparer for a copy of the Form 1099 for each asset so you will know which company to contact.

Once you have a full list of assets, debts and current statements, including all insurance policies and the tax return, set them aside in a large envelope marked “Important Documents — Tax and Financial.” If you refresh this package once a year, it

should take less than one hour to maintain.

Verify docs are signed

Make certain key documents are signed, These include current copies of a will, financial power of attorney, healthcare power of attorney and any trust documents.

In going through my relative’s legal papers, I found pages 1 and 8 of her will, but the rest were missing. After a long search, we found the missing pages and stapled them together.

She also had several unsigned copies of her healthcare power of attorney document, so I set those aside. Once we had all of the current legal documents signed, I complied them into one envelope marked “Important Legal Documents.”

A copy of the Social Security card, birth and marriage certificates can be placed in here, too. This envelope only needs to be refreshed each time an update is made to the will or other legal paperwork.

Finally, provide copies and access to files to people who serve as professional See FINDING MONEY, page 16

Utility funds for conservative investors Many readers are concerned about From time to time, I have discussed utility volatility in the stock market, as well as stocks in general and utility funds and ETFs about receiving reliably conin particular. Lawrence Strauss sistent interest or dividends wrote recently in Barron’s that with their investments. utility stocks are “worth a secAlthough the stock market ond look,” and I agree. has performed well for more Several years ago, when Bill than five years, there is no Gross was a co-CEO of guarantee that it will continue PIMCO, he wrote an interestto show comparable positive ing recommendation for investreturns. Many analysts anticiing in utility funds. At the time pate that returns in the near he managed the bond portfolio term will be much lower — for PIMCO, one of the largest, THE SAVINGS perhaps even negative. if not the largest bond manager GAME However, it is impossible to By Elliot Raphaelson of bonds in the U.S. predict the best time to go in I would always read his and out of the stock market. monthly analysis of economic Most investors, even in retirement, should conditions, and I thought his opinions were maintain a significant percentage of their worth reading about. It was amazing that the portfolio in some type of common stock in- largest bond manager in the U.S. was recomvestment. mending investing in an investment that was How can you do that and minimize risk? in direct competition with bonds.

I believe the answer is having a diversified common stock portfolio, preferably in Try funds and ETFs I looked carefully at some of the alternaindex funds and in conservative sectors.

tives for investing in utility stocks. I didn’t want to invest in individual securities, so I looked at utility mutual funds and ETFs. Eventually, I decided to invest $100,000 in a Vanguard utility mutual fund. It has been one of the best investments I could have made for a conservative portfolio. At the time, the dividend yield was 4 percent (it is now 3.4 percent).

For several years, I simply re-invested the dividends back into the fund. The annualized yield benchmarks over the last several years have been: one year, 4.80 percent; three years, 12.49 percent; five years, 10.81 percent.

Eventually, I felt that my investment in that fund had grown high (over $150,000) as a percentage of my total portfolio, so I started gradually to sell some of my holdings and reinvest in other conservative investments.

The current yield is still approximately 3.4 percent, so I see no reason to liquidate my holdings. I still receive over $1,000 in dividends each quarter, and generally I reinvest that dividend in other conserva-

tive investments. There has never been a quarter in which I have not received a comparable dividend payment.

In his Barron’s article, Strauss indicated that, according to experts in the industry, earnings are expected to grow on average in this industry by 4 to 6 percent annually. He estimated that investors can expect high single digit total return in the foreseeable future.

If you’re looking for a conservative investment with earnings growth and consistent dividends, mutual funds or ETFs that specialize in the utility industry are a good choice.

Select an investment with low annual expenses. Vanguard offers ETFs in the utility industry with low minimums (you can purchase as little as one share, if you like) and expense ratios of 0.10. Vanguard’s expense ratios are generally much lower than the competition.

Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © 2018 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Savvy shopping advice: buy gently used Buy off-lease cars

By Liz Weston Most of us have wasted money on illconsidered purchases or stuff we really couldn’t afford. As we get more financially savvy, that happens less often. But we can still profit from other people’s bad choices.

People who prize the latest and greatest, for example, quickly need to upgrade to the next shiny thing. That leaves plenty of lightly used cars and electronics for sale at a discount.

People who can’t look beyond cosmetic damage also provide buying opportunities for those who can, since surface flaws can ding price without hurting functionality.

Then there are the “d’oh” mistakes: the stuff that didn’t fit or turned out to be the wrong shade of robin’s egg blue. That stuff gets returned so it can be discounted and snapped up by frugal buyers.

Here are three ways to profit from others’ mistakes:

Low payments can fool people into thinking that leasing is an economical way to afford cars. In reality, leases ensure you’re paying for a vehicle’s most expensive period — the first two or three years, when its value drops like a rock.

Vehicles typically lose about 30 percent of their value the first year, and a total of 40 percent by the third year, said Ivan Drury, senior manager of industry analysis for car comparison site Edmunds.com.

The good news for bargain hunters: A whole lot of people have made that pricey choice to lease in recent years, leading to a record 4 million vehicles coming off their leases this year. In addition to discounts of 30 percent or more compared to a new car, buyers will have plenty of options.

Leasing was once mostly limited to luxury cars, but it’s grown so popular that buyers have plenty of used makes and models to choose from. That includes the “it” vehicle of

Finding money

and healthcare agent, and/or another relative who lives nearby.

advisers, such as attorneys, accountants, financial planners and insurance agents.

In addition, share contents of your envelope with your relative’s executor, financial

Do you need a financial advisor?

From page 15

My relative wanted a fresh start in her new hometown, and she has enough moving parts to her finances that we met with a

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the moment: compact SUVs, Drury said.

These freshly off-lease vehicles tend to have mid-range trim packages, which means they’re not bare bones but they’re also not overloaded with features you might not want to pay extra to have, Drury said. They will have the kinds of safety features and technology that a few years ago were only available in luxury cars.

“They have backup cameras, Bluetooth, blind-spot detectors,” Drury said. “You can get a lot, at greatly reduced prices.”

Buy refurbished electronics

Thrifty shoppers tend to stay a generation or two behind on electronics, knowing that early adopters pay a hefty premium.

But within a few weeks of virtually any gadget’s debut, there will be buyers regretting their purchases and companies refurbishing those returns for resale.

Depending on the seller, though, “refurbished” can mean “like new,” with fresh

local Certified Financial Planner professional I vetted in advance of the meeting.

One reason this meeting was so productive was we brought the organized envelopes with us, and they could give us timely advice.

Spending a few hours preplanning and getting organized now can save hours of

batteries, new cases, and one-year warranties — or not.

“Some just say ‘refurbished’ because they wiped it down with a rag,” said Tercius Bufete, associate editor for Consumer Reports. The electronic item may come with third-party accessories, such as charging cords, or none at all.

The only way to know is to “read the assurances,” Bufete said. That’s the fine print that spells out what’s been done to the item, the warranty (if any), and the length of the return period (if any).

Just in case, consider buying with a credit card that offers “return protection” or “guaranteed returns.” This benefit offers you money back, up to certain limits, if a merchant refuses to accept a return.

Look for “as is” merchandise

The phrases “open box” and “scratch and See SAVVY SHOPPING, page 17

time-consuming searches and expenses when your loved one is no longer here.

And you never know, it can also bring nice surprises — like the ones I found — that will benefit your family’s future generations. © The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2018

17

How tax law changes affect you this year

By Elliot Raphaelson One of the significant changes to the federal tax law for 2018 is the increase in the standard deduction to $24,000 for couples filing jointly, and $12,000 for individuals. This change, and others, will likely encourage many more people to use the standard deduction instead of itemizing.

Other changes to the tax code will also impact taxpayer decisions. For example, starting in 2018, there will be a cap of $10,000 on the deductible amount of state and local income and property taxes, known as SALT. This limit is per tax return, not per person.

As a result, many couples who itemized in prior years will no longer have sufficient deductions to do so. For example, a couple that is eligible for the $10,000 deduction will need an additional $14,000 in deductions for charity, mortgage interest, medical expenses and so forth in order for itemizing to be worthwhile.

The bottom line is that many couples will be using the standard deduction in 2018 who, in the past, would have itemized. Here are things such couples should consider, since without itemizing, they won’t be getting the usual tax break on charity and interest payments.

Charity strategy

Savvy shopping

“open box” area for returns and floor models.

“Scratch and dent” stores are another option for picking up someone else’s oopsie, whether it’s a homeowner who forgot to measure an appliance, or a piece of furniture that got dropped during delivery.

It’s important to check warranties and return policies. Sears Outlet, for example, has a 30-day return policy for most purchases, but not floor models. Other stores make all their scratch-and-dent sales final.

— NerdWallet via AP

From page 16

dent” are music to the bargain hunter’s ears.

They signify new or nearly new items at a discount — sometimes a steep one.

Bargain shoppers at Ikea, for example, know to cruise the store’s “as is” section for deals on already-assembled furniture and other items returned by customers who changed their minds. Likewise, big-box home improvement stores usually have an

Individuals who are 70½, and who are withdrawing funds from their traditional IRAs because of required minimum distributions (RMDs), should make any charitable contributions directly from their trustee in order to minimize their income taxes, assuming they are taking the standard deduction.

For example, if you donate $1,000 to a qualified charity, and your marginal tax bracket is 25 percent, you would save $250 by using this approach (since it reduces your reportable income) rather than by making the contribution directly (which you can’t deduct).

Singles will find it easier to itemize, because if they had a deduction of $10,000 for income and property taxes, they would only need an additional $2,000 in deductions in order to make it worth itemizing.

Mortgage and housing decisions

Some couples with mortgage debt should determine whether it pays for them to use the standard deduction and re-pay some of their outstanding debt, rather than continuing to pay interest that they won’t be able to deduct since they aren’t itemizing.

This decision should be based on the interest rate they are paying for their mort-

gage vs. the after-tax return they are receiving on their investments.

If they find that the after-tax return is less than the rate of interest they are paying, they should consider re-paying some or all of the mortgage debt.

However, they should also take liquidity into consideration. It would not be prudent to leave themselves with insufficient current assets that would be needed in a financial emergency.

The Federal Reserve has repeatedly raised interest rates. As a result, you can now get higher rates of return on various maturities of CDs, money market instruments, Treasury bills and Treasury bonds. Shop around for the best rates, and then determine whether it makes sense to re-pay your outstanding mortgage.

Other tax changes

Staring in 2018, home buyers may deduct interest on debt up to $750,000 for

up to two homes owned. However, there is a “grandfathered” exception. If you owned these homes prior to the tax law changes went into effect, you still can deduct interest up to $1 million of debt.

There also has been a change in the tax laws regarding home-equity loans. You can deduct interest on home equity debt only when the debt is used to buy, build or improve the home. There is no deduction when you use the loan for other purposes.

Changes in the tax laws effective for 2018 can have a significant impact on the deductibility of interest you are paying for outstanding debt. Sit down with your tax preparer to discuss the effects.

If you don’t think your tax preparer has the expertise you need, consider using a more experienced tax professional, such as an enrolled agent or CPA. Your objective should be to maximize your after-tax income. © 2018 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

18

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OCTOBER 2018 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; BALTIMORE BEACON

BALTIMORE BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2018

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Travel

19

Leisure &

Glacier National Park is the highlight of a trip to Montana. See story on page 21.

Enjoying the simple pleasures of Jamaica and biking excursions, climb mountains, or scamper down into limestone caves. Those who prefer to commune with Mother Nature also find plenty of alternatives.

Centuries of history

The island was originally settled by Taino Indians, who arrived around 650 C.E. Shortly after Christopher Columbus dropped by in 1494, Spain claimed it and took over, enslaving the Tainos.

Spain controlled the island until 1655, when British forces invaded and took control. The Spanish introduced sugar cultivation and slavery, both of which were expanded by British settlers. Both brought over West Africans as slaves to harvest the crops.

Jamaica became independent from Britain in 1962.

Among reminders of the heyday of sugar, from the 17th to 19th centuries, are the “Great Houses” that plantation owners built. They ranged from grandiose to more modest, and today they provide insight into part of Jamaica’s past.

While Seville isn’t one of the more imposing Great Houses, what’s inside makes the structure, well, great. A museum traces Jamaica’s history, and displays artifacts from when the Taino, Spanish and British controlled the island. Scattered around the grounds are portions of the

PHOTO BY OVIDIU CURIC

By Victor Block One meal that my wife Fyllis and I will long remember was a five-course “surprise” dinner served in a lovely candle-lit outdoor setting. The other was a simple vegetarian lunch at a ramshackle lean-to perched precariously on a steep mountainside.

It’s not often that two repasts encapsulate much that a destination has to offer visitors, but Jamaica is such a place. The Chef’s Showcase dinner at the Sunset at the Palms resort had little in common with the modest vegetarian spread prepared by Fire, a Rastafarian man of uncertain age.

This exemplifies the diversity that greets travelers to Jamaica. The island-nation has an abundance of beautiful beaches, a long list of outdoor activities, an intriguing history and a rich cultural mélange.

The towns strung out along the northern coastline like jewels in a necklace demonstrate Jamaica’s split personality. Montego Bay is all hustle and bustle. Ocho Rios is more relaxed, except when one or more cruise ships disgorge their passengers.

Negril overlooks what many sun worshippers rank as the island’s finest beach.

The seven-mile-long stretch of white sand lapped by the turquoise sea is lined by restaurants and bars.

Visitors seeking excitement may explore the island by horseback or Jeep, take hiking

PHOTO COURTESY OF VICTOR BLOCK

The author Victor Block and his wife Fyllis Hockman take a guided tour of a Jamaican river on a bamboo raft. The river, called the Martha Brae, is named after an Indian woman who, according to legend, killed herself rather than reveal the location of a gold mine to Spanish explorers.

Tourists visit souvenir stands in Ocho Rios, a port town on the north coast of Jamaica, home to resorts and a cruise ship harbor. The town is surrounded by rainforests and waterfalls.

sugar cane processing factory and tiny huts where slaves lived.

Mountainous jungles and rivers

Jungled mountains cover about 80 percent of Jamaica’s terrain, which is laced with rushing rivers and tumbling waterfalls.

Most famous is Dunn’s River Falls, which plummets 600 feet down a series of natural steps that people may climb, carefully, while clutching the hand of other daring risk-takers and a sure-footed guide.

A very different water experience is a trip through the verdant countryside along one of the rivers where that activity is offered. Fyllis and I opted for the Martha Brae, a gentle waterway with an interesting story and a resident ghost.

The river is named after an Indian woman who killed herself rather than reveal the location of a gold mine to Spanish explorers. According to the legend, she agreed to lead them there, but when they reached the river, she used magic to change its course and drown herself and the unsuspecting interlopers. Some people believe that her duppy (ghost) guards the hidden entrance to the mine.

Fyllis and I didn’t spot Martha along our three-mile trip, but we saw plenty of other

attractions. As Captain Gayle used a long pole to pilot the narrow bamboo raft on which we sat, he identified trees and flowers, described rusting equipment along the shore that remained from sugar growing days, and explained why and how he builds a replacement raft about every six months.

The time we spent with Gayle was one of several encounters with the people of Jamaica that became highlights of our visit.

When we purchased snacks from street vendors in towns and along highways, we also found them to be friendly and happy to chat for a while with Americans.

At a beach that’s popular with locals, we spoke with families who were picnicking, and with teenage boys playing a pick-up soccer game, using coconuts to mark the goals.

Our most memorable person-to-person meeting occurred when we stopped along a road and approached several men seated on rickety chairs near a small beach. Reggie music blared from a radio, as it does throughout Jamaica — from cars, houses, stores and just about anywhere that there are people.

After introductions, the men led us along the sand, explaining that the small weathered boats we saw basking in the See JAMAICA, page 20

20

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Jamaica From page 19

sun are used by fishermen. Our conversation ranged from the lifestyle of Jamaicans and the island’s economy, to politics both there and in the United States.

The man named Joshua asked if we would like to see where he lives, then led us into a miniscule but neatly organized shed that serves as his home. Saying that he has everything he needs to lead a happy life, he displayed the joy of simple pleasures that was exhibited by virtually everyone with whom we crossed paths.

OCTOBER 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

That outlook, combined with Jamaica’s magnificent setting and numerous attractions, has earned it a place on our “must return” list of destinations.

If you go

Jamaica was a pioneer in the development of all-inclusive resorts, and the beach-front Jewel Grande in many ways epitomizes that.

Its amenities include personal butler service, a world-class spa, and unlimited green fees at two renowned golf courses.

These and a list of other inviting attractions don’t come cheaply; room rates for two begin at $384/night. For more information,

call (888) 797-2735 or visit www.jewelgranderesort.com.

Food in Jamaica fuses ingredients and flavors from various countries and cultures, and sampling it can be part of the immersion in local life. Staples include jerk pork and other meats flavored with spices and grilled, rice and “peas” (actually small black beans), and pepperpot, a soup with a fiery flavor that explains its name. More adventurous diners may test their palate and resolve with curried goat, pig’s tail and oxtail, which is prepared several ways.

It’s an open question whether Rick’s Café in Negril is a restaurant with a view, or a view where food is served. Throngs of people gather nightly on the outside deck to watch the magnificent sunset and express their appreciation with applause. Some augment the experience by dining on such local fare as jerk chicken kabobs ($12) and snapper filets ($22), topped off with Ja-

maican Rum Cake ($8). For more information about Rick’s on West End Road, visit www.rickscafejamaica.com or call (876) 957-0380.

The setting is very different at Miss T’s Kitchen, hidden in a quiet cul-de-sac near the town center of Ocho Rios (65 Main Street). It serves home-style dishes in a lush garden setting that hints of the magnificent scenery throughout the island.

The menu shares familiar dishes like fried chicken ($12) with jerk shrimp ($22), oxtail simmered with vegetables ($22), and Shet-Pan, which is oxtail and curried goat ($24), all accompanied by sides. For more information, see misstskitchen.com or call (876) 795-0099.

For information about Jamaica, go to www.visitjamaica.com.

The least expensive roundtrip air ticket from BWI to Kingston, Jamaica in mid-October is $440 on American Airlines.

PHOTO BY MBRAND85

This clear turquoise cove surrounded by a rocky shore is near the resort town of Negril in Jamaica. Negril is considered to have the island’s finest beach, nearly seven miles long.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2018

21

Montana: vanishing glaciers and grizzlies Bears and other wildlife

The most unsettling thing about the hike was the sign at the start of the trail: “You are entering grizzly country...There is no guarantee of your safety.” That’s why I’d brought bear bells. Too bad the ranger told me not to use them. Instead, she recommended bear spray, which we bought.

Her other tip: Sing, clap and make noise. Bears usually keep away if they hear you. To my husband’s dismay, I never shut up the entire trail. I sang Broadway tunes and “American Pie,” recited Winston Churchill’s “Never surrender!” speech, and belted out this “Sound of Music” riff: “The hills are alive with the sound of bear songs.”

In the end, we didn’t see any bears. But we did see mountain goats grazing above See MONTANA page 22

PHOTO BY KAN KHAMPANYA

By Beth J. Harpaz I had a lot of expectations heading to Montana last summer.

I expected to check off my bucket-list dream of driving Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road. I expected to be ready should I meet any bears because I’d brought “bear bells” to repel them. And I was sure I’d love the local meat pies called “pasties.”

Wrong on all counts. The Going-to-theSun Road is fully open as of early July, but when my husband and I arrived in early September of 2017, much of it was closed due to fires. In addition, the rangers told me my bear bells were more likely to attract curious bears than repel them.

And sorry, Montanans: I tried one pasty in a cafe and another in a bakery. But for my palate, there’s a reason the word pasty is pronounced so that it rhymes with nasty.

The good news: All the other meals my husband and I had were terrific, from a park restaurant to Southern food in the resort town of Whitefish.

I also found a hidden gem of a museum about Chinese immigrants in Butte, along with a freaky poison lake.

The saddest surprise of all? Glacier Park’s glaciers are melting so fast, the National Park Service predicts they’ll be gone in 12 years.

Logan Pass in Glacier National Park is located at the Continental Divide, and is the highest point on the park’s main thoroughfare — the aptly named Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Hiking the glaciers

Driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road was a trip I’d dreamed of for years. Unfortunately my 2017 trip coincided with fires that have become an annual late-summer plague here. Most of the road was closed.

(In late August 2018, fires are again ravaging parts of the park, and part of the road was closed.)

But a wall of mountains kept the eastern part of the park smoke-free, so we headed there. Highlights included the Hidden Lake Trail, where you make your way along a winding path through a vast alpine meadow toward a backdrop of craggy mountains.

The hikers appear so small in the open field beneath the looming mountains that it brings to mind one of those Japanese paintings with tiny human figures dwarfed by nature’s grandiosity.

That night, we had an elegant supper at Many Glacier Hotel — including scrumptious bison chili and a huckleberry-flavored cocktail — before watching the sun set behind black mountain peaks ringing the lake on the hotel’s doorstep. The next morning, we rose early for an 11-mile round-trip trek to Grinnell Glacier.

You can cut a few miles off the Grinnell Glacier hike by taking a boat to a trailhead, but we opted to do the whole thing by foot.

We set out at dawn, wearing jackets for the chilly morning but shorts to keep our legs cool as the day heated up.

The elevation here is 6,500 feet, including 1,600 feet gained along the trail, but we’d gotten accustomed to the altitude and felt fine.

Wonder Fall

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OCTOBER 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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PHOTO BY JASON MAEHL

Montana From page 21

us, moose wading in a turquoise lake below and, at the trail’s turnaround point, the thing we’d come for: Grinnell Glacier, complete with floating icebergs. A sobering placard says that the ice sheets are a fraction of what they were 100 years ago, and that they are expected to disappear by 2030.

Butte and other towns

Butte’s Copper King mansion was built in the 1880s. Its 34 rooms have been turned into a bed and breakfast that offers guided tours.

Butte was a mining boomtown in the late 19th and early 20th century. Many of its attractions today speak to that era, like the 34-room Copper King mansion, built in the 1880s by William A. Clark, one of the richest men of his time. Today the mansion is a B&B with guided tours.

Butte’s Mai Wah Museum tells the story of its Chinese community, 2,000 strong at its height. It’s housed in buildings that were part of Butte’s Chinatown,

We Turn Addresses

into homes

MOST COMMUNITIE S ARE 62 AND BETTER

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.)

The Greens at Hammonds Lane: 410-636-1141 Park View at Furnace Branch: 410-761-4150 Park View at Severna Park: 410-544-3411

Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673 Park View at Rosedale: 410-866-1886 Park View at Taylor: 410-663-0363 Park View at Towson: 410-828-7185 Park View at Woodlawn: 410-281-1120

BALTIMORE CITY Ednor Apartments I: 410-243-0180 Ednor Apartments II: 410-243-4301 The Greens at Irvington Mews: 410-644-4487 Park Heights Place: 410-578-3445 Park View at Ashland Terrace: 410-276-6440 Park View at Coldspring: 410-542-4400

EASTERN SHORE Park View at Easton: 410-770-3070

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

BEACON BITS

HOWARD COUNTY

Oct. 1+

BALTIMORE COUNTY Cove Point Apartments I: 410-288-2344 Cove Point Apartments II: 410-288-1660 Evergreen Senior Apartments: 410-780-4888 The Greens at English Counsul: 410-789-3000 The Greens at Liberty Road: 410-655-1100 The Greens at Logan Field: 410-288-2000 The Greens at Rolling Road: 410-744-9988 Park View at Catonsville: 410-719-9464 Park View at Dundalk: 410-288-5483 Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665 Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375

with artifacts from the original Mai Wah noodle parlor, cheongsam-style dresses from a family exhibit, and a 1901 directory that listed 35 businesses, from laundries to tailors to drugstores.

And don’t miss the Berkeley Pit. This toxic lake, a mile long by a half-mile wide, was once an open copper mine. Today it’s filled with water saturated with heavy metals and chemicals.

For $2, you can access a viewing platform to see the pool with its odd bluegreen hue and hear the sirens going off to keep birds from landing. The woman in the gift shop who sells tickets jauntily announces to all comers: “There’s only one rule: No swimming!”

We all love trying authentic local cuisine, but after my aversion to pasties, I was open to other ideas. Rave reviews drew us to Tupelo Grille in Whitefish. Wait, gumbo and seafood in Montana? I can only tell you, it was outstanding. After dinner, we hit the Tuesday evening farmers market.

It was huckleberry season, with plenty of treats for dessert.

Our final Montana stop: Big Hole National Battlefield in Wisdom. The U.S. Cavalry chased the Nez Perce tribe in a running battle over 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) as the Indians tried to flee to Canada in the late 1800s.

The tribe camped here by a river and was massacred by soldiers who fired into tipis as they slept. A field of tipis stripped of their covers marks the site. No surprise here: This haunting place will break your heart.

Roundtrip flights on United Airlines to Kalispell, Mt., about 25 miles from Glacier National Park, with one change of plane, are available from BWI starting at $599 in mid-October.

More Montana visitor information is available at https://www.visitmt.com/guidebook.html or by calling (800) 847-4868.

— AP

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

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY Park View at Bladensburg: 301-699-9785 • 55 & Better Park View at Laurel: 301-490-1526 Park View at Laurel II: 301-490-9730

HEADING TO CANADA, EH?

Visit Niagara Falls and Toronto, enjoy gaming at Fallsview Casino, and visit Niagara on the Lake, Queen Victoria Park and Casa Loma, From MondayFriday, Oct. 1-5. Cost is $449. Call Bykota Senior Center at (410) 8871691 for reservations.

Oct. 4

VISIT THE EASTERN SHORE Visit Fisherman’s

Call the community nearest you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour. www.rhomecommunities.com

Deck in Grasonville to enjoy crabs and Queenstown for shopping on Thursday, Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $80. Call Seven Oaks Senior Center at (410) 8875192 to reserve a spot.

MOST COMMUNITIES ARE PET-FRIENDLY

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2018

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Style

23

Arts &

Chris and Gerry, the matriarch and patriarch of the large Irish clan, share a quiet moment in Dancing at Lughnasa at Everyman Theatre.

A large Irish family’s dance with memory marking the start of the harvest season.)

Extended family’s story

Dancing at Lughnasa is a memory play, told from the point of view of Michael (Tim Getman), now full grown, but a kite-making boy of 7 at the time of the play. Michael, ever in the stage wings, comments — sometimes as the adult Michael, and sometimes as the boy, teased with head-scratching riddles by his aunt Maggie.

Maggie’s sisters, Agnes and Rose, attempt to make ends meet by knitting gloves while the eldest sister, Kate, teaches school at the local parish.

In the midst of it all are Chris, who is Michael’s mother, and Gerry, Michael’s itinerant father — who has time to teach dance, sell gramophones, flirt with Agnes, and fight in the Spanish Civil War, but none to marry Chris and be a proper husband.

In the Evans household, one may see a bit of Irish poet William Butler Yeats, as well as the Russian Chekhov, for here “things fall apart, the center cannot hold; mere anarchy is loosed...”

As Michael relates his family story, we see the forces at work that will blast away

PHOTO BY TERESA CASTRACANE

By Dan Collins Tony Award-winning playwright Brian Friel has been described as the “Irish Anton Chekhov.” In fact, Friel translated Chekhov’s The Three Sisters and Uncle Vanya, and then borrowed Andrey from the former and Sonya from the latter for his own one-act work, Afterplay, in 2002.

But the connection between these two formidable writers is far more significant than this bit of “character kidnapping.”

Like Chekhov, whose works plumbed the depths of human nature, exploring the impact of changing social mores and cultural trends, Friel’s works offer similar insights through the interaction of his characters, as can be seen in his comic-tragic work, Dancing at Lughnasa, now at Baltimore’s Everyman Theatre.

Friel introduces us to the fictitious “Ballybeg” — Gaelic for small town — in County Donegal, Ireland, in August 1936.

The timing itself is a character in the play, as many references are made to the time of harvest, the end of summer’s warmth, and with it, the end of an all-too-brief moment in the lives of the Evans family.

(Lughnasa, by the way, is a Gaelic festival

In Dancing at Lughnasa, a large Irish family’s sisters wildly dance around their kitchen table as they anticipate the upcoming harvest festival. The play will be on stage at Everyman Theatre through Oct. 7.

the family dynamic — the metaphor of the on-again, off-again radio, moments of musical delight suddenly gone; the simple, tender Rose’s infatuation with a married man; the arrival of brother Jack, a Catholic missionary in Africa, who became too enamored of the locals’ way of life, and news of the opening of a glove factory — each

development conspiring to destroy the family’s livelihoods.

Friel’s play was written in 1990 and reflects our modern times (e.g., current questioning of established traditional religious beliefs), particularly in the character of Jack — a carSee REVIEW, page 25

24

Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Visionary From page 1

foot of Federal Hill, has expanded to include a warehouse, a second sculpture park, and an outdoor movie theater.

From mime to museum

Hoffberger had a conventional upbringing in suburban Baltimore. But at 17, she chose an unexpected route, traveling to Paris to study with world-renowned mime Marcel Marceau. She was the first American ever to do so.

Along the way she met and married a French ballet dancer, returned to the U.S., had a daughter and moved to Colorado. She divorced and eventually moved to Mexico, where she met her second husband, a physician and parapsychologist who was studying traditional healing practices.

After returning to Baltimore, with then two daughters, Hoffberger worked as the development director for Sinai Hospital’s “People Encouraging People” — a program that provided support to institutionalized psychiatric patients to facilitate their return to the community.

In a 1995 interview, she was quoted as saying of the patients, “I was so impressed with their imagination. I looked at their strengths, not their illness.”

Focus on self-taught artists

That experience was the genesis of

Hoffberger’s dream to build what became the American Visionary Art Museum, which would specialize in the works of selftaught artists. The museum was co-founded with her then-husband, Baltimore attorney and philanthropist LeRoy Hoffberger.

Upon AVAM’s opening to the public on November 24, 1995, Hoffberger stated that “The American Visionary Art Museum opens its doors of perception not in an effort to make war on academic or institutionalized learning, but to create a place where the best of self-taught, intuitive contributions of all kinds will be duly recognized, explored, and then championed in a clear strong voice.”

Throughout the years, Hoffberger has been intent on staying true to the museum’s Seven Educational Goals. These wide-ranging ideals range from “to expand the definition of a worthwhile life,” to “ to increase awareness of the wide variety of choices available in life for all, particularly students,” to “to confirm the great hunger for finding out just what each of us can do best, in our voice, at any age.”

As much as Hoffberger loves the museum, she is also thinking of the day when she will not be devoting 100 percent of her time and energy to it. “If I died tonight, my staff and board share my vision and can carry it on,” she said.

She is seeking a $25 million endowment to solidify the museum’s future, and also allow her to open another branch.

OCTOBER 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

“That’s always been my vision for the museum,” she said, adding that she is proud of the fact that the museum is designed for everyone from “3-year-olds to visitors such as Desmond Tutu.”

“This museum has been a real privilege for me,” Hoffberger said. “I never thought that what I care about on the inside would reach such a large audience.”

Should she secure funding for the endowment, Hoffberger would like to work on a play about the friendship between author Mark Twain and inventor Nikola Tesla, whose work focused primarily on electricity. “I love science, invention and intuitive genius,” said Hoffberger, explaining what has drawn her to that subject.

That dream, however, is still in the future. At the moment, Hoffberger is wrap-

ping up the installation of AVAM’s next exhibit, “Parenting: An Art without a Manual,” which runs from Oct. 6 through Sept.

1, 2019, and will examine through art, humor, text and first-hand testimony, “the good, the bad, the horrific and the sublime of parenting possibilities.”

But first is the birthday bash, and the opportunity for Hoffberger to give thanks for “the good fortune and blessings” that she has tried to share with others.

“Rebecca’s 66th Birthday Bash” will be held on Sunday, Sept. 23, from 6 to 10 p.m., at the American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Highway. Tickets are $100; $66 for AVAM members. (Membership is $50/one; $75/couple; $35/$55 for those 60+). For more information, call (410) 244-1900, ext.

238 or visit www.avam.org.

Classifieds cont.from page 27.

Wanted MILITARY ITEMS WANTED: Collector seeks to purchase military uniforms; flight jackets, patches, insignia, medals, etc. from the Civil War through Vietnam. Especially seeking U.S. Army Air Corps, USMC, Airborne, and German/Japanese/Italian items from WWII. ALSO BUYING old Boy Scout, Airline Items, Toys, Lighters. Call Dan, 202841-3062.

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

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.

Wanted 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.

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

ESTATE LIQUIDATION & COLLECTIBLES: One call solves it all when you hire us to handle your estate liquidation, downsizing and/or home cleanout. We sell your treasures, take care of charitable donations and provide junk removal. We also purchase partial estate contents/collections. Always buying antiques, jewelry, fine art, vintage toys, collectibles, advertising, sports memorabilia, military items, rare books, Mid-Century Modern furniture and more. Based in Silver Spring, we serve Montgomery County, Howard County, Baltimore County, Washington, D.C., NOVA and beyond.

No home, barn or warehouse is too packed for us! Friendly, conscientious staff. Call Chris on cell, 202-731-9447. www.OrionsAttic.com.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2018

Review From page 23

ing, selfless individual who left his home to care for lepers in Uganda, and in so doing, found more meaning and sense of faith in his charges’ religious and secular practices than he ever did in the Catholic Church.

The arrival of the industrial revolution to Ballybeg in the form of the glove factory resonates with today’s technological upheaval, simultaneously destroying and creating jobs, and changing lives, in its wake.

The power of sisterhood

There’s a feeling, almost electric, among this primarily female cast, of desperate energies barely controlled, held in

reserve — by propriety, religious edict, and social mores toward sex and age.

The feeling bursts forth as the sisters dance wildly together, excited with the idea of attending the local harvest dance and recapturing a bit of their youth. This scene is indicative of the tone and feel of the entire play, people “right on the edge” of breaking through to embrace their true selves, but never quite getting there.

As for what becomes of the Evans sisters, Michael provides insights throughout the course of the play. But one senses this is more to satisfy curiosity on the part of the audience.

What matters is who these individuals are now, at this moment in time, musing on the beauty of the land, their love for

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 26 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

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each other, and the feeling that, here, now, all is good and peaceful, a moment Friel describes as “dancing.”

In her Everyman debut, director Amber Paige McGinnis coaxes top flight performances from her actors, who never stray into stereotype, but bring a full range of emotion to their characters, much to the audience’s delight.

Set designer Yu-Hsuan Chen does a spectacular job in creating the Evans’ cottage, with what appears to be a functioning oven and chimney, but open walls so that the audience can see the action.

Everyman resident costume designer

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David Burdick does his usual exemplary job providing all the actors with appropriate period wear, and dialect coach Gary Logan was similarly successful in guiding the actors to the subtle nuances of an Irish accent — present, but not so overbearing as to deter the audience’s comprehension.

Dancing at Lughnasa runs through Oct. 7 at the Everyman Theatre, 315 W. Fayette St. Ticket prices range from $43 to $65. Patrons 62 and older can receive a discount of $5 off tickets for Saturday matinees and Sunday evening performances. For more details and tickets, call (410) 752-2208 or visit www.everymantheatre.org.

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OCTOBER 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Crossword Puzzle

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Across 1. Most of the Golden Gate Bridge 6. A “I smell ___” 10. Fanta or Fresca 14. Maze material, in The Shining 15. Albert, in basketball’s Hall of Fame 16. Europe’s third-longest river 17. Approves 18. Celebrity couple 19. First striped pool ball 20. Selects self-service 23. Starbucks’ offering 24. Number of sides on a Roman stop sign 25. “I’ll be down in just a ___” 28. New Hampshire and New Haven 30. Violate one of the commandments 31. Central MONTANA 34. Shaves off a long beard at home, carelessly 38. Present prefix 39. New odometer reading 40. Coup d’___ 41. Circumvents building security protocols 46. ___ Lanka 47. Try to get on student council 48. First note homophone (and land animal) 49. Second note homophone (and sea animal) 50. Gripe 52. Kilmer of Batman Forever 54. Demonstrates canine obedience 62. Meryl’s protege in The Devil Wears Prada 63. Diaper cream ingredient 64. House made of snow 65. Traveler from Kansas to Oz 66. Ferrari foursome 67. Vaccine type (as FluMist) 68. Leaky tire sound 69. Brylcreem dosages 70. No guts, no ___ 1. Boutique

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2. Technical university, briefly 3. Dutch cheesemaking town 4. One of 16 nations along the Tropic of Cancer 5. Diminishes 6. Ugandan president during the US bicentennial 7. Assign stars 8. Hera’s first son 9. The first was See How They Run, on NBC in 1964 10. Branch of Islam 11. Creator of a new technique 12. Church Lady guy 13. Pub possibilities 21. Island with 54 miles of Interstate Highways 22. Weather vane power source 25. Flat-bottomed boats 26. Wabbit hunter, Fudd 27. Cook-out fill-ins 29. The dish’s secret fiancee of rhyme 30. Embracing this puzzle’s theme 32. Something borrowed, by Meghan Markle 33. Anxiously awaiting 35. Band’s booking 36. Bunkbed option 37. ___ Speedwagon 42. History-book chapters 43. Daffodil direction 44. PBS science show 45. Selling cars 51. Butter substitutes 53. Like marijuana, in Colorado 54. “Gentlemen: please remove your ___” 55. Adam’s grandson 56. Hip bones 57. Pyramid, practically 58. Energy company that missed 2017’s Fortune 500 by one place 59. In addition 60. Act like the Dow Jones in the 90’s 61. Like a cow or mackerel

Answers on page 25.

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2018

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

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.

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

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

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate BED & BREAKFAST FOR SALE. Historic colonial tavern restored. Best of Small Towns list, located Laurel Mountains base near resorts, skiing, world class golf, hiking, river sports. Retail space faces town’s square. 11,000 cars/day. www.McCaliManor.com. 949-9339632.

For Sale

Say you saw it in the Beacon

For Sale LAKEVIEW MEMORIAL PARK. 2 lots and 2 vaults. Value, $8,100. Asking $7,600. Call 410-882-2926.

MODEL SHIP KIT. H.M. VICTORY, 1805.

Scale 1:72. Retail $950, Sale $400. More model ship kits available. Norma, 410-285-4105.

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.

COMPANION MAUSOLEUM CRYPTS at Parkwood Cemetery. Retail value $15,000. Sell for $8,000 or best offer. Call 410-866-2372.

Health PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR — May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-851-0949.

STOP OVERPAYING for your prescriptions!

SAVE! Call our licensed Canadian and International pharmacy, compare prices and get $25.00 OFF your first prescription! CALL 1-888-9817657 Promo Code CDC201725.

DENTAL INSURANCE. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company for details. Not just a discount plan, real coverage for 350 procedures. 844-366-1003 or http://www.dental50plus.com/320 Ad# 6118.

Home/Handyman Services RESIDENTIAL PAINTING: RETIRED PAINTER seeking residential, light commercial work in Baltimore area. Call Mark at 443324-0091. Good work at good prices.

BORN AGAIN REFINISHING c/o Vernon E. Madairy Sr. Because your antique and fine furniture is an investment. Photographs at www.bornagainrefinishing.com. Furniture refinishing & repairs. All pieces hand stripped. Restorations. Missing pieces hand-carved. Veneer repair and replaced. Upholstery. Kitchen cabinets refinished.

Hand-woven natural cane. Cane webbing. Natural rush. Fiber rush. Wood splint. Residential and commercial. Since 1973 (43 years). 410-323-0467.

Legal Services

TWO CEMETERY LOTS AND VAULTS. Holly Hills Cemetery, $4,000 or best offer. Save approximately $5,500 or more. Call 410-382-7594.

ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR. Invacare Porto — Sure Step, battery and manuals included. Good condition. $500 or best offer .Call 410-382-7594.

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

Leave message.

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY? Up to $2,671/mo. (Based on paid-in amount.) Free evaluation! Call Bill Gordon & Associates. 1-866-9700779. Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington, D.C. Office: Broward Co. FL., member TX/NM Bar. WERE YOU AN INDUSTRIAL OR CONSTRUCTION TRADESMAN and recently diagnosed with lung cancer? You and your family may be entitled to a significant cash reward. Call 1-888351-0312 for your risk free consultation.

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 Miscellaneous

TV/Cable

I HAVE 5 SETS OF TICKETS from Derby, Preakness, Belmont on Triple Crown winners American Pharaoh and Justify. $75 a set. Perfect for framing. Call A.J. 410-282-4824.

DISH Network. 190+ CHANNELS. FREE Install. FREE Hopper HD-DVR. $49.99/month (24 months) Add High Speed Internet - $14.95 (where avail.) CALL Today & SAVE 25%! 1-844-560-5837.

ENJOY 100% GUARANTEED, DELIVERED to-the-door Omaha Steaks! Save 75% plus get 4 more Burgers & 4 more Kielbasa FREE! Order The Family Gourmet Buffet — ONLY $49.99. Call 1-844-302-3754, mention code 51689JCT or visit www.omahasteaks.com.

SPECTRUM TRIPLE PLAY! TV, Internet & Voice for $29.99 ea. 60 MB per second speed. No contract or commitment. More Channels. Faster Internet. Unlimited Voice. Call 1-888-366-7573.

IS STAYING WARM ALWAYS A CHALLENGE? Would you like to be in control of your own soothing personal heat source? Thermal Hoop by Bodywarmer warms you up in minutes and keeps your warm for hours. This product is highly recommended and used by doctors and medical professionals — especially ones in cold offices. Thermal has a 1-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee! For more information, visit ThermalHoop.com or call 443-6049410. Princes start as low as $39.95.

Personals SINGLES ENJOYING THE ARTS. Join other single seniors who attend cultural events in the Baltimore area every weekend. Founded 1977. Call 443251-9018 for events schedule.

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

Every Sunday. CHOICE- All-Included Package.

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

CALL 1- 888-572-4953.

Wanted 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.

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

Classifieds cont. on page 24.

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Research Studies

Government Services

Westminster House Apartments .6

COPD Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Healthy Volunteer Study . . . . . .13

Baltimore City Senior Companion Program . . . . . .B-6 Veterans Services . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Legal Services

Dental Services Denture Doctor . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Diamond Dental . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Education CCBC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-2 Myerberg Center . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Events Beacon 50+Expo . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Power of Age Expo . . . . . . . . . .14

Financial Services d.a. Hawkins Insurance Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Deborah Satterwhite Insurance . .6

Funeral Services Schimunek Funeral Home . . . . .16

Home Health Care Genesis Select Care . . . . . . . . .B-9 Options for Senior America . . . .20

Housing Atrium Village . . . . . . . . .B-5, B-8 Carroll Lutheran Village . . . . .B-3 Catholic Charities . . . . . . . . . .B-3 Charlestown/Erickson 1, B-8, B-11 Christ Church Harbor Apts. . . .B-4 Glynn Taff Assisted Living . . .B-4 Linden Park Apartments. . . . . . .20 Lutheran Village at Millers Grant . . . . . . . . . . . .B-3 Oak Crest . . . . . . . . . .1, B-6, B-11 Park View Apartments . . . . . . . .22 Pickersgill Retirement Comm. B-2 St. Marys Roland View Towers . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-9 Weinberg Senior Living .B-6, B-12

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Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation

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

Manor Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Medical/Health

Technology

BW Eye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Carle Center For Pain Management . . . . . . . . . . .8 Keswick Wise & Well Center . .12 Kraus Behavioral Health . . . . . . .8 Rosenblatt Foot Care . . . . . . . . . .6 Skin Cancer EB . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Beacon Silver Pages . . . . . . . . .25 TechMedic4U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 TheBeaconNewspapers.com . . .25

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

Theatres/ Entertainment

Real Estate

Chesapeake Shakespeare .B-7, 23 Columbia Orchestra . . . . . . . . . .25 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . .23

Bob Lucido Team . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Travel

Shopping Easy Climber Elevator . . . . . .B-10 Radio Flea Market . . . . . . . . . . .11 Walk-In Shower . . . . . . . . . . .B-10 Wilkens Beltway Plaza . . . . . . .24

Dunes Manor Hotel . . . . . . . . . .21 Eyre Bus, Tour & Travel . . . . . .20 Superior Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Voting John Sarbanes for Congress . . .10

28 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

OCTOBER 2018 — BALTIMORE BEACON

| 410-358-6856 | myerberg.org

WHAT’S NEW AT THE EDWARD A. MYERBERG CENTER

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

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

Maps Spin-a-thon 2018!

National Veterans Day Ceremony

October 7, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 8, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of spinning on our brand new stationary spin bikes to support the Maryland Association for Parkinson’s Support, Inc. Register as a rider and raise support through family, friends and colleagues, who can sponsor riders with a donation of $25 per 15-minute ride. The event will include light refreshments, silent auction, award prizes and more!

Attendees who are not sponsors or riders may join in on the fun with a suggested donation of $50. This event is open to the community.

For more information, visit myerberg.org/maps or call 443-963-1450.

Join us at the Myerberg for a special recognition to honor and thank all who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

iPad Essentials Tuesdays & Thursdays, beginning October 9, 9:00 - 10:15 a.m. $50 Members / $70 Nonmembers (4 sessions) This course will cover the essentials of how to use the popular Apple tablet.

Learn how to navigate the internet and how to send and receive email. By the end of the course, you’ll have a basic foundation for using an iPad and the internet to enrich your life.

Instructor: Melanie Waxman

NEW! Jews of the Ottoman Empire Thursdays, beginning October 11, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. $62 Members / $97 Nonmembers (4 sessions) Throughout most of its history, the Ottoman Empire was a place where Jews could live without fear of persecution, a comfort denied to them in most of Europe in the 19th century. The plight of the Jews was often at the whim of the reigning Sultan. Learn about the rich history of the Jewish community during the Ottoman Empire, which extended over 600 years.

Instructor: Harry Ezratty

Picture This Monday, October 15, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. $18 Members / $28 Nonmembers Learn how to take and import photos from your camera or texts, organize photos so you can easily find them, edit and adjust your photos to look amazing and save and share your photos using the camera and photos apps on your iPhone.

Understanding

Addiction and Recovery Free Two-Part Series Includes Narcan Training

Attend one or both programs.

Registration preferred

PART 1: THE DISEASE OF ADDICTION

October 9, 7:00 – 9:00 pm Weinberg Park Heights JCC

Keynote: Richard Haber, MD Breakout Sessions

PART 2: ADDICTION TREATMENT OPTIONS

October 23, 7:00 – 9:00 pm Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC

Keynote: Marc Fishman, MD Panel Discussion

More information: jcsbalt.org/AddictionPrograms ･ 410-466-9200

NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH New Members: Wear pink when you sign up for a fitness center membership during the month of October and enjoy 15% off!

Current Members: Wear pink during the month of October and add the names of those who have survived and those we remember, to our wall.