October 2018 | Howard County Beacon

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Is medical marijuana for you?

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PHOTO BY ADAM ELLIS

By Robert Friedman After two surgeries and many downed opioid pills, Stephanie Brooks, 60, still suffered “spinal pain, depression, anxiety and difficulty sleeping,” she said.

So Brooks (not her real name) decided to visit Remedy Columbia, one of six statelicensed medical marijuana dispensaries in Howard County, to try one of the thousands of different strains of cannabis (the scientific name of the marijuana plant).

“I was skeptical about using cannabis,” she said. “I didn’t want to smoke it.” (The reluctance of many to smoking cannabis may be due to their feelings about inhaling the toxic byproducts of tobacco, many of which are also produced in smoking marijuana.)

But the active ingredient in cannabis lies in oils on the surface of the plant’s leaves, so Brooks chose to inhale the cannabis in oil form through a vaporizer (popularly known as vaping). These devices heat marijuana flowers or extracts short of burning, and atomize the result for inhalation.

Today, five months after starting the treatment, “I’m sleeping again, just like a normal person,” the former educator said. “During the day, I’m off the sofa and more active, and help with the housework. I get out of the house and do volunteer work several times a week.”

Dave Lyon, 65, has been going to the Columbia clinic since shortly after it opened in December 2017. Not only is he a patient there, but he is also a staff member trained in the medicinal use of cannabis.

A sufferer of arthritis in his toes and knees since he was in his early 20s, Lyon had been a longtime marijuana user. “I’m a product of the 1970’s,” he said, referring to the era when “smoking pot” was a rite of passage for many young people, “About 10 years ago, my pain became

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

The simple pleasures of Jamaica; plus, Montana’s glaciers and grizzlies page 27

Scott Dieter is the marketing manager for Herbiculture, one of a number of recently opened Maryland businesses offering medical cannabis (marijuana) to eligible patients.

Here he stands behind the counter at the Burtonsville dispensary, showing some of the many products they sell containing cannabis in a variety of forms. Dieter says vaping cannabis has helped control the chronic pain he has had since a surfing accident.

more intense,” he said. Since going to the Columbia dispensary, he discovered that “certain strains of cannabis could override the pain.”

The five other medical cannabis dispensaries in the county, according to the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC), are Greenhouse Wellness, Na-

ture’s Medicine and Trilogy Wellness, all in Ellicott City, Zen Leaf in Jessup, and Revolution Releaf in Laurel.

The Maryland legislature voted to legalize medical marijuana in 2012, but five years passed before it became available at See MARIJUANA, page 10

ARTS & STYLE

Local filmmaker has film festival debut; plus, Rod Stewart discusses his decades of sultry songs — and his hair page 31 TECHNOLOGY k Telemedicine comes home

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FITNESS & HEALTH 7 k Review Medicare drug coverage now k New Alzheimer’s developments THE 50+ CONNECTION 15 k Newsletter from Howard County Office on Aging & Independence LAW & MONEY 23 k How to find forgotten assets k Save money — buy gently used ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

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PLUS CROSSWORD, BEACON BITS, CLASSIFIEDS & MORE

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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Lack of trust — Part II Last month, I wrote about the disturbing government deficit borrowing), putting a state of Social Security and Medicare. huge strain on future budgets and generaI noted that an additional, tions for years and years to unbudgeted-for $416 bilcome. (See my September collion must be paid out of this umn at www.TheBeaconNewspayear’s federal budget in order pers.com/a-lack-of-trust-fund if to meet the needs of Social you want a fuller explanation.)

Security and Medicare beneThis month, I promised to ficiaries this year. address why we find ourselves Those programs are supin this situation, and what we posed to be funded each year can do about it. out of the payroll taxes paid by In a nutshell, we find ourevery working American. Inselves in this situation bedeed, for some decades, such FROM THE cause most of our elected reppayroll taxes far exceeded the PUBLISHER resentatives in Congress like By Stuart P. Rosenthal annual costs of the programs. their jobs and want to be reNow, however, between the elected. rising costs of healthcare (thanks in part to With House incumbents up for reelecthe 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 years’ costs far exceed the revenues. by lowering taxes and increasing spending 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. itself: Special interest-earning Treasury There does not seem to be any effective 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

Beacon The

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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 • 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:

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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 in the area.

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. Dear Editor: The article by Dr. Howard LeWine in your September issue entitled “Creative shoe lacing helps ease foot pain” discusses [how] dif-

ferent lacing configurations can help better tighten or loosen various foot areas.

An additional approach to trying to tighten or loosen lower or upper foot areas is to use shoes with Velcro straps. The individual straps can each be adjusted independently.

Velcro straps help me not so much for foot pain, but for being able to have a lower strap hold tight for my narrow feet, without struggling to tighten the lower portion by unsuccessfully pulling on the upper laces part. Velcro straps may also be easier to manage with arthritic hands.

In more extreme cases, you could use Velcro shoelaces. Thread them as most suitable for your feet, and then simply ‘scrunch’ the remaining laces together. No tying involved.

Ronald Sheinson via email

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon

When you or the people you love are ready to move, you need more than just an agent. You need a team you can trust.

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S I LV E R G R O U P A LUCIDO DIVISION

Silver Group is Bob Lucido Team’s unique division dedicated to providing specialty services to address the challenges associated with a Senior Move.

When you’re ready to move, Silver Group will provide: • an extensive referral network of experienced, reputable professionals to help you downsize • our Home Enhancement Listing Program where you defer payment for home repairs until settlement* • our senior discount*

• our Guaranteed Sale Program where we will sell your home in 120 days or less* • FREE home staging consultation and market analysis • FREE use of our fleet of moving trucks*

VICTORIA HATHAWAY,

Director of Silver Group

REALTOR®, CSA, CSHP, SRES

I make it my priority to provide a thorough and specialized assessment regarding every aspect of your unique situation.

To learn all of the ways my team and I will fully support your Senior Move, contact me at 410.979.4284 or email SilverGroup@BobLucidoTeam.com!

Ask us how our senior discount could save you up to $2,000 in your move to a Senior Living Community! *Certain restrictions apply.

THE #1 KELLER WILLIAMS TEAM IN THE WORLD 410.465.6900 | @BobLucidoTeam | BobLucidoTeam.com

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Technology &

Innovations Staying healthy at home via telemedicine tual healthcare a try: Nearly 9 in 10 adults ages 40 and over would be comfortable using at least one type of telemedicine for themselves or an aging loved one, says a new poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

But they want to make sure that an evisit or other remote care is just as good as they’d get in person, and that their health information stays private, according to the survey.

Long considered an option mainly for improving access to healthcare in rural areas with few doctors, telemedicine is gaining ground with tech-savvy younger consumers — they text their physician with questions or Skype with a mild complaint. For seniors

with chronic illnesses or mobility problems that make simply reaching a doctor’s office an ordeal, telehealth could be more than a convenience. The graying population is raising serious questions about how the nation will provide enough quality long-term care.

Medicare coverage expanding But while private insurance increasingly covers certain services such as a video visit, seniors have had a harder time because See TELEMEDICINE, page 6

AP PHOTO/PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS

By Lauran Neergaard and Emily Swanson Every morning, 92-year-old Sidney Kramer wraps a blood pressure cuff around his arm and steps on a scale, and readings of his heart health beam to a team of nurses — and to his daughter’s smartphone — miles from his Maryland home.

Red flags? A nurse immediately calls, a form of telemedicine that is helping Kramer live independently by keeping his congestive heart failure under tight control.

“It’s reassuring both psychologically and physically. The way he’s put it to me, it’s like having a doctor appointment every morning,” said Miriam Dubin, Kramer’s daughter.

The vast majority of older Americans and their caregivers are ready to give vir-

Sidney Kramer, former Montgomery County Executive, takes his blood pressure at home on a device that relays it directly to his doctors.

SMOOTH MOVE SEMINAR

“RIGHTSIZING YOUR LIFE” A free seminar presented by Eric Stewart, senior real estate specialist with Long & Foster and host of a weeky radio show on WMAL 105.9 FM

Tuesday, OCTOBER 23 • 11 A.m.-12:30 p.m. check-in & Hors d’oeuvres at 10:30 a.m.

Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center 18131 Slade School Road • Sandy Spring, MD 20860

During this engaging presentation, you’ll explore a variety of retirement living options and discover how you can have P.E.A.C.E. when deciding if you prefer to age in place or move to a continuing care retirement community.

You’ll also learn about the local real estate market and gain insights on preparation, market timing and how to sell your home for top dollar.

RSVP to Toni Davis at 301-388-7209 or tdavis@bgf.org by Sunday, October 21.

From Maine vacation spots to packing tips, the Associated Press’s free travel podcast “Get Outta Here!” offers short weekly conversations for both armchair travels and frequent flyers.

Recent topics have touched on visiting Little Women author Louisa May Alcott’s Concord, Mass. home, when travel insurance is worth buying, and Disney trip tips. A year and a half of the episodes are available. http://apple.co/2s2ruHY

BEACON BITS WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S The Alzheimer’s Association is holding its 2018 Howard County

108, Ellicott City. Registration opens at 9 a.m. for the two-mile walk beginning at 10:30 a.m. The Howard County walk is one of some 600 Alzheimer’s walks throughout the country that day. To learn more about the national walk, visit alz.org/walk. For information specific to the Howard County walk, contact Dawn Lewis at dlewis@alz.org or call (410) 561-9099, ext. 231.

parks and heritage sites on Saturday, Nov. 17. For more information and to regis-

I N F O R M AT I O N F R EE ★

❏ Park View at Columbia (see ad on page 12) ❏ Park View at Ellicott City (see ad on page 12) ❏ Park View at Emerson (see ad on page 12) ❏ Shriner Court (see ad on page 23) ❏ Somerford Place (see ad on page 9) Name_________________________________________________________________ Address________________________________________________________________ City______________________________________State______Zip________________ Phone (day)________________________(evening)________________________

Email_________________________________________________________________

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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Please provide your e-mail address if you would like to receive monthly links to the Beacon online and occasional notices of events and programs of interest.

F R EE

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(see ad on page 12)

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❏ Park View at Colonial Landing

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F R EE I N FOR MATION ★ F R EE I N FOR MATION ★ F R EE I N FOR MATION ★

Contact us: 410-720-8788 | hcgh-j2bh@jhmi.edu

❏ Heartlands Senior Living (see ad on page 9)

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Howard County General Hospital offers social and emotional volunteer support services for certain health conditions. To register, visit hcgh.org/mcsn.

(see ad on page 13)

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Learn about Member Care Support Network

❏ Charlestown/Erickson Living

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ter, contact Melissa Calleri at (410) 313-4704 or mcalleri@howardcountymd.gov.

❏ Brooke Grove (see ads on pages 4 & 36)

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Oct. 28 for family groups wanting to volunteer to beautify county

Housing Communities

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Howard County Recreation & Parks closes registration on Sunday,

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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Ongoing

FAMILY VOLUNTEER DAYS AT PARKS

FREE INFORMATION

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“Walk to End Alzheimer’s” on Saturday, Sept. 22 at Centennial Park, 10000 Rte.

★ F R EE I N FOR MATION ★ F R EE I N FOR MATION ★ F R EE I N FOR MATION ★ F R EE

Sept. 22

Like classic literature and enjoy listening to audio books? You’re in luck. LibriVox uses volunteers to read the more than 12,000 books in its catalogue. Listeners can download them to their computer, tablet or other digital device.

To avoid skirmishes with the law, LibriVox’s books are only ones in the public domain. That means ones whose copyright has run out, generally those published before 1923. Find hundreds of children’s books, along with plays, poetry, romance, short stories and more.

LibriVox is also looking for volunteers to read additional books.

Librivox.org

Be My Eyes is a free app that connects blind and low vision people with sighted volunteers and company representatives for visual assistance through a live video call.

Every day, sighted volunteers lend their eyes to solve tasks big and small, such as checking expiration dates, distinguishing colors, reading instructions or navigating new surroundings. The volunteer helps guide which direction to point the camera, what to focus on, or when to turn on the flashlight app so they can better see what needs to be described.

Since it began, more than 91,000 visually impaired people have asked for help from volunteers more than 1.5 million times. The app operates in 150 countries, and 180 languages are accommodated.

Be My Eyes, free in the Apple and Google Play stores

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Links Travel podcasts

Free audio books

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The nonprofit Veteran Artists Projects takes artists who are also veterans, and propels their works and careers into the mainstream creative arts community through networking, mentorships, collaborations with professional artists, and original productions.

The group is now looking for new submissions for its Instagram page featuring artwork by veterans.

Each week, the site features a new podcast with one of their artists, such as Bernardine “Bernie” Donato. She retired after working as a registered nurse for 40 years, 24 of those in the military. Donato started painting five years ago and now teaches workshops to others in her community.

“Painting has given me an outlet for my demons and taken me to calmer places. It

Virtual sight

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By Erin Yu & Barbara Ruben

is my space for solitude where I can tune out, unwind, and create,” she says. http://traffic.libsyn.com/vappodcast/038.mp3

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Calling veteran artists

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Beacon Links & Apps

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

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Technology & Innovations | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Telemedicine From page 4 Medicare tightly restricts what it will pay for.

That’s starting to change, with a law Congress passed last winter that expands Medicare coverage for such options as video visits to diagnose stroke symptoms or check on home dialysis patients. Also, Medicare Advantage programs used by a third of beneficiaries can start offering additional telehealth options.

“While the interest is huge, one of the big barriers remains reimbursement,” said Johns Hopkins University telemedicine chief Dr. Ingrid Zimmer-Galler, who has turned to grants to help fund such services as telepsychiatry for dementia patients. The new law “is really a

huge step in the right direction. It certainly doesn’t cover everything.”

Costs are a major issue for people who need ongoing living assistance. Less than a third of adults age 40 and over have set aside any money for their future long term care needs, the AP-NORC survey shows, and more than half mistakenly think they’ll be able to rely on Medicare to help cover nursing care or home health aides.

Telemedicine will have to replace in-person care, not add to it, to help with those costs, cautioned Zimmer-Galler.

Interest rising in all ages As access for seniors promises to grow, the AP-NORC Center poll shows widespread interest in telehealth. More than half of adults

BEACON BITS

Oct. 5

BIG BAND BASH

The musical group Bykata on Stage will bring the music of the ‘40s and ‘50s to the Bain 50+ Center in a free concert from 1 to 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5. The playlist includes “Be My Love,” “Tangerine,” “Moonlight Serenade” and other juke box favorites. The center, at 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia, requests an RSVP for “The Big Band Bash” by calling (410) 313-7213.

Oct. 31

GHOST BUSTERS

Members of a paranormal research and investigation team will share some of their experiences in an hour-long program on Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 10:30 a.m. at the Bain 50+ Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. To learn more about the program and to register, call the center at (410) 313-7213.

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of all ages would be comfortable with a video visit via Skype or FaceTime to discuss medications, for ongoing care of a chronic illness or even for an urgent health concern.

In fact, adults 40 and older are just as open to at least some forms of telemedicine as those under 40, with one exception: The older crowd is slightly less comfortable discussing healthcare by text.

Among caregivers, 87 percent say they’d be interested in using at least one form of telemedicine for that person’s medical needs.

“I think the parents would be happier at home instead of being in the doctor’s office waiting an hour to see a doctor for 15 minutes,” said Don Withey of Cortland, N.Y., who helps his 92-year-old father and 89-yearold mother get to their appointments. But, “We don’t know much more about it, other than the fact you can talk to a doctor over the computer or smartphone.”

Just 12 percent of adults say they wouldn’t use any form of telemedicine.

There are concerns. More than 30 percent of people worry about privacy or the security or health information. About half fear that telemedicine could lead to lowerquality care, the poll found.

“It’s not about having a video screen or Skype in the home or even a blood pressure cuff in the home. It’s about the team that’s behind it and the clinicians who are supporting the care of that patient,” said Rachel DeSantis, chief of staff at Johns Hopkins Home Care Group, which provides the 92-year-old

Kramer’s remote monitoring.

The Hopkins program provides no-cost monitoring for a month or two to select high-risk patients after a hospitalization because research found it reduces their chances of readmission.

When the monitor recorded Kramer’s weight creeping up one week, nurses immediately knew it was fluid build-up, a heart failure symptom that needed quick treatment. The machine is programmed for some educational feedback, too.

Dubin says her dad learned quickly when to cut back. “If he enjoys a pastrami sandwich one day, he can see his numbers may be higher the next day.”

Dubin says the reassurance was worth privately paying, about $250 a month, to keep the monitoring once Kramer’s initial time in the program ended.

The survey was conducted March 13 to April 5 by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, with funding from the SCAN Foundation.

It involved interviews in English and Spanish with 1,945 adults, including 1,522 adults age 40 and over, who are members of NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. Results from the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.

To learn about other AP-NORC long term care polls, see www.longtermcarepoll.org — AP

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Health Fitness &

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PERCHANCE TO DREAM How common prescription medications, including antidepressants, antihistamines, blood pressure drugs and sleeping pills, can affect dreams and nightmares SILENCE ISN’T GOLDEN Giving the silent treatment to your spouse during a fight isn’t productive; try talking through your differences instead

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 Advantage 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.

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

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 midstage 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

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 government-supported health insurance counseling service available throughout the U.S. Throughout the year, volunteers in Howard County’s SHIP office answer Medicare questions and help seniors and caregivers understand and compare Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, Medicare supplement (Medigap) insurance, and assist with Medicare billing, claims and appeals.

They can also assess 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.

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 Car rillo, chief science of ficer 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

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.

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.

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

study, but 81 percent of people on the highest dose saw all signs of them disappear after 18 months, an Eisai official said.

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

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.

the research. But she said the results reinforce 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.

Ultrasound opens blood-brain barrier The so-called blood-brain barrier preSee HEALTH SHORTS, page 8

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Medicare From page 7 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

Health shorts From page 6 vents germs and other damaging substances from leaching in through the

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

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 scien-

BEACON BITS

Oct. 16

THE BRAIN AND HEARING

Join Dr. Mary Carson at the Bain 50 Plus Center for a seminar about hearing loss and cognitive decline on Tuesday, October 16 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. She will teach you ways to improve your hearing and reduce your risk of dementia. The Bain Center is at 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. For more information, call (410) 313-7213.

Oct. 4

NUTRITION NEWS

Are you giving your body enough nutrition? Learn about the issues of senior malnutrition and how to avoid it at the Elkridge 50+ Center on Thursday October 4 from 11 a.m. to noon. The center is located at 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. For more information, call (410) 313-5192.

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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 Howard County SHIP office, call (410) 313-7392 and leave a message. You can schedule an appointment at one of the county’s 50+ centers or speak with a counselor over the phone.

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

tists 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 ultrasound 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 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 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.

— AP

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

FEEL EXCEPTIONAL EVERY DAY DISCOV ER HOWARD COUNTY’S HOME FOR SENIOR HEALTH & WELLNESS

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Marijuana From page 1 state-licensed facilities. Since Dec. 1, 2017, the MMCC has licensed 65 dispensaries around the state, several others of which are near Howard County, such as Herbiculture in Burtonsville.

To date, 29 states have legalized marijuana for medical use, and nine (including the District of Columbia) have legalized small quantities for recreational use.

Is it safe and effective?

The rapid growth of the medical mari-

juana industry reflects the widespread acceptance by the public of marijuana as a medical treatment in recent years. A large survey recently found that 81% of Americans believe cannabis offers medicinal benefits.

However, in reporting on the survey, the Annals of Internal Medicine, a publication of the American College of Physicians, noted that “Americans’ view of marijuana use is more favorable than existing evidence supports.” The risks and benefits of use have not been widely studied.

To date, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which has authority to determine

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

the safety and effectiveness of drugs sold in the U.S., has approved only a handful of marijuana derivatives (or synthetic cannabis), all as treatments for particular conditions. These include seizures in certain forms of epilepsy, anorexia in AIDS patients, and nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.

One of the reasons for so few approved uses may well be the fact that, since 1970, federal law has classified marijuana as a “Schedule 1” illegal drug — the same category reserved for heroin, LSD and other drugs “with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”

This makes it difficult for researchers to obtain the product legally, limiting their ability to conduct studies and find other uses.

Nonetheless, nearly half of U.S. cancer doctors who responded to a survey said they’ve recommended medical marijuana to their patients, even while most of them admit they haven’t seen enough medical evidence to support it.

Their recommendations appear to be driven by the desire to help ease patients’ nausea and pain, while limiting the use of opioids.

Some doctors, for example, prescribe a low dose of opioid pain medication together with medical marijuana, which may be both more effective and safer for some patients than the regular dose of opioids alone. (Recent studies go both ways on the question.)

Concerns for older users Area dispensaries clearly see older adults as a population that can benefit from their products.

Lindsay Estes, the outreach coordinator at Remedy, estimates that “probably more than 50 percent” of their current customer base is 50 or older.

Officials at two dispensaries in Ellicott City, Greenhouse Wellness, which opened in December, and Trilogy Wellness, operating since late March, also report that about half their customers are 50-plus.

Some tout a recent U.S. News and World report that cited the research findings of Margaret Haney, a professor of neurobiology in psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center in New York.

Haney is quoted there as saying that “there is some suggestion that cannabinoids can be useful for a type of pain that isn’t well-treated by other drugs — neuropathic pain.” This type of pain, which is caused by nerve damage, is associated with diabetes, HIV infection or medications, and cancer chemotherapy.

Haney also is quoted as saying “it’s certainly reasonable to try [cannabis] for [poor] appetite....Just be cautious.”

Among the cautions older adults should be particularly aware of are the following: — Do not drive when under the influence of marijuana. “It doubles the risk of accidents,” Haney said.

See MARIJUANA, page 11

BEACON BITS

Oct. 6+

FREE HEALTH WORKSHOPS

A six-week “Living Well” workshop presented by Howard County General Hospital will be held on Saturdays, Oct. 6 through Nov. 10 at St. John Baptist Church, 9055 Tamar Dr., Columbia. The sessions, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., will deal with topics including coping with pain, fatigue and depression, as well as healthy eating and setting physical activity goals. Each session builds upon the prior one. To learn more and to register, call (410) 7208788 or visit hcgh.org/events.

Ongoing

VEHICLE DONATIONS TO ADAPTIVE LIVING

The Howard County-based Adaptive Living, Inc. (ALI) for persons with special needs is seeking donation of cars, trucks, boats, bikes — any vehicle in any condition. The program is titled “Vehicles for Independence.” To learn more or to donate, call (443) 900-2216 or (410) 740-0372.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

Marijuana From page 10 — Haney also noted that while some use marijuana for anxiety relief, “many others find it enhances anxiety tremendously.”

— The National Institute on Drug Abuse warns that smoking marijuana raises heart rate for up to three hours, which could increase the chance of heart attack.

It also warns of possible breathing problems, impaired memory and delusions, hallucinations and even psychosis, when the drug is taken in high doses.

— Fall risk is a serious concern for older adults. In connection with this, the U.S. News article quoted Laura Borgelt, a professor at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy, as saying, “We know that marijuana can create cognitive impairment and slow cognitive processes.

It has also shown some [short-term] memory impairment.”

— Also, marijuana may interact dangerously with a number of types of prescription drugs commonly taken by older adults. These include sleep medications, blood thinners, blood pressure medications and diabetes drugs.

“Edible marijuana products pose the most risk for interactions with prescriptions medications,” Borgelt said.

The buying process For those who want to give medical mar-

ijuana a try, purchasing it is a little more complicated than just walking into a dispensary.

A patient must first register with the MMCC and get an ID number. Then the patient visits a physician registered with the MMCC for an evaluation and recommendation. (Some dispensaries have a physician on staff.)

The patient then brings the doctor’s recommendation and their ID number to a dispensary, where the patient’s case is discussed, and recommendations about particular products are made.

Among the medical conditions that qualify for treatment at Maryland dispensaries are anorexia, wasting syndrome, severe and chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, persistent muscle spasms, glaucoma and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“We cannot treat disease,” said Estes of Remedy Columbia. “We treat the symptoms, such as nausea, anxiety, depression, pain, inflammation.”

Dr. Leslie Apgar, co-owner and medical director of Greenhouse Wellness, said they are focused on smokeless varieties of medical marijuana. These include oils, elixirs, creams, tablets and vaporizers.

Apgar also noted that there are thousands of different strains of marijuana, so customers should understand it may take some time to work with their staff to find the strain that will best help them.

At this time, neither Medicare nor private insurance cover medical marijuana,

BEACON BITS

Sept. 29

DISABILITIES COMMISSION FORUM The first of the county’s Commission on Disabilities public meet-

ings for persons with disabilities, their caregivers, and those concerned about persons with disabilities will be held Saturday, Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. until noon, at the East Columbia Branch Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. For more information, call Michelle Henry at (410) 313-6431 or visit howardcountymd.gov/disabilitysurveys.

Oct. 5

HOWARD HEALTHCARE Howard County General Hospital will host a breakfast meeting on the future of healthcare in Howard County on Friday, Oct. 5 at 7:30

a.m. in the Kossiakoff Center at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Rd., Laurel. Speakers include Dr. Robert Califf, former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and Kevin Sowers, President of Johns Hopkins Health System and Executive Vice President of Johns Hopkins Medicine. Reservations are required. To learn more and to reserve for the breakfast, call Howard County General Hospital at (410) 740-7810.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

so customers must pay privately for the products.

Remedy Columbia indicated the cost of cannabis to smoke is about $40 to $60 per 1/8 ounce, while oil cartridges that are vaporized cost $50 to $70. Tinctures and chewable tablets range from $20 to $50.

As for how many uses or days these quantities provide, Estes said she could not offer a comparison between the cost of cannabis for pain medication with the cost of prescription pain killers.

“Each person is different; there is no such thing as an average cannabis patient,” she said. “Depending on products, tolerance, frequency of use, purchasing habits, etc., there is an enormous variance in cost from person to person. There is also no average ‘dose’.”

But to those for whom it works, cost

11

may be irrelevant.

Two years ago, Scott Dieter ruptured several discs in his neck. Four neck surgeries later, “between the residual pain from the surgeries and daily migraines, I really couldn’t function because of the pain,” he said.

He felt opioid pain medication impaired him too much to work. He turned to cannabis “in desperation.”

“It worked the first time I used it. It handles my pain for several days and sometimes for a whole week,” he said. “I was completely surprised it works so well.”

Dieter, 66, is such a convert to medical cannabis that he now works as the marketing manager for the medical marijuana dispensary Herbiculture in Burtonsville.

“It’s been a wonder medicine for me,” he said.

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

In your dreams: the effect of medications Sleeping is one of the great pleasures in on to become a co-founder of Google! life, unless you have bad dreams or nightNow 45 years old, Page has a net worth mares. Then it can be pure according to Forbes of $52 bilmisery. lion. Talk about making money Most of us do dream durwhen you sleep! ing sleep, In fact, we have Here are some facts about about 100,000 dreams during dreaming that you may be inthe average lifetime. terested in.

But most of us don’t reAnxiety is the most common member our dreams. Statisemotion felt during dreams. tics say that within five or ten You might experience it as minutes of waking up, about falling, flying, or feeling unpre90 percent of your dreams are pared or humiliated in your DEAR forgotten, unless you write dream.

PHARMACIST them down right after waking.

You might become incaBy Suzy Cohen Luckily, a man named Larry pable of movement during a Page remembered his dream. vivid dream. That’s because He was a 23-year-old computer scientist dreams tend to occur during the REM who woke up from a dream wondering if phase of sleep. there was a way to “download the web” and During this time, characterized by rapid rank web pages by inbound links. He went eye movements (hence REM), your mus-

cles 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.

We Turn Addresses

into homes

MOST COMMUNITIE S ARE 62 AND B ET T ER

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

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

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

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

Call the community nearest you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour. www.rhomecommunities.com MOST COMMUNITIES ARE PET-FRIENDLY

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 trigger intense or disturbing dreams that seem to go on all night.

Antihistamines Think of Benadryl, an allergy drug that is relabeled and sold as a sleep aid. It can definitely help one sleep, but it can also cause vivid dreaming and, in rare instances, sleep walking.

Antihistamines suppress cholinergic compounds in the body, leading to dryness. They also interfere with REM sleep.

Asthma If you have asthma or obstructive airway disease, you are more likely to have bad dreams. And if you take medications to treat it, this increases the risk of vivid dreams and nightmares even further.

Some research was done on montelukast (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 supplementing 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.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

13

Drop the silent treatment for a fair fight Dear Solutions: Will he think I’m a gold digger?

When my wife and I have a disagree— Caren ment, I keep my temper by Dear Caren: not talking any more.

Congratulations. Nobody She says I give her the knows what the perfect turn-on silent treatment to punish is, but you’ve certainly come up her. I do this to keep from with the perfect turn-off! yelling at her and to end the Don’t ask because he cerargument. If I tell her this, tainly won’t tell. it just starts another fight.

If you get to know a little How can I ever end the about him — slowly — you’ll fighting? probably find out what kind of — Warren work he does, and that should SOLUTIONS Dear Warren: give you a clue about his inBy Helen Oxenberg, I’m afraid your silent “treatcome.

MSW, ACSW ment” will never lead to a cure!

What will you answer when Silence keeps a fight going he asks about your income? because nothing gets resolved. Besides, un- Will you think he’s a “gold digger”? less you’re as disciplined as a monk, it’s hard Dear Solutions: to keep keeping your mouth shut for long.

I’m writing about my mother-in-law, Try a talking cure instead. Fight fair. who’s a senior, so I hope you can help Say how you feel or are affected by some- me. thing without accusing her. Be willing to I have one daughter who is going to compromise. go to nursery school soon.

Silence is not golden if it doesn’t have a My mother-in-law used to live out of pay-off. state, but she moved close by. She Dear Solutions: bought a whole wardrobe of clothing I’m widowed, and friends are going for my daughter, saying “She’s going to introduce me to some single men to nursery school soon, so she has to they know. Is it alright if I ask a man be dressed properly.” what his income is when I meet him so I’m very upset because I see it as a I can find out if he’s financially stable? criticism of the way I dress my child. I

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want to return the whole thing. My husband says she’s just being generous.

I’m furious at both of them. Should I return the things?

— Selma Dear Selma: What you really want to return is your mother-in-law!

She wants to take title to your children.

You’re angry at her effort to control your family. You’re angry at the implied criticism of your taste. You’re angry at your husband

because he’s defending his mother.

Give her the benefit of the doubt. Tell her you appreciate her generosity, and you’re sure she’ll understand that you look forward to the pleasure of picking out clothing yourself for your first child.

Let mother-in-law stay: let husband stay; return clothing. © Helen Oxenberg, 2018. Questions to be considered for this column may be sent to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915.

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon

A Publication from the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence

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Volume 8, No. 10 • October 2018

Today’s Plan is the Best Course for Your Future Be Prepared, Get Informed and Enjoy the Day at the 50+EXPO!

H

ow prepared are you for your future? Have you thought about the financial, emotional and practical aspects of aging successfully for yourself and your loved ones?

Find out how and why making a plan today can improve your quality of life in the future at Howard County’s 50+EXPO on Friday, October 19. Coordinated by the Office on Aging and Independence (OAI), the 20th annual event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wilde Lake High School in Columbia and features more than 170 vendors and exhibitors of interest to older adults, families, caregivers, health care providers and professionals.

There is something for everyone at the 50+EXPO; no matter your age, it’s never too soon to plan for the future. Learn how to create a purposeful and conscious plan to maximize your future independence by attending Mindfully Map Out Your Future, the 2018 keynote address at 11 a.m. in the Jim Rouse Theatre, featuring Amy Goyer, AARP’s Family and Caregiving expert. Goyer will discuss how to create a successful plan, including having important family discussions; forming your own team of advisors and potential caregivers should you need them; getting legal and financial affairs in order; Amy Goyer identifying community-based supports; and being practical about ways to care for yourself as you age.

Register at www.mapoutyourfuture.eventbrite.com to attend the keynote presentation. All attendees will be entered in a drawing

for a $300 gift card; you must be present to win.

AARP will also present Great Communities for All, an interactive exhibit in the Guidance Room, where you can explore what makes a community great for all ages (a livable community).

Stop by to share which features are most important to you — public spaces, transportation, housing, community life, jobs, volunteerism, and/or community services — and identify steps you can take to improve life in Howard County.

OAI is partnering with the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services to present Fire and Fall Safety for Adults on Main Street. Learn how to maintain working smoke alarms in your home; get fall safety and prevention tips; and find out how Hands-Only CPR and Stop the Bleed training can help you save a life in an emergency before professional help arrives.

For a truly unique experience at the 50+EXPO, don’t miss the Virtual Dementia Tour® (VDT), offered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Room #222. Presented by the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence, the VDT is a multi-sensory experience which simulates what it’s like to live with dementia. Participants have found the virtual experience to be life changing. Space is limited, so be sure to sign up for a time slot when you arrive at the 50+EXPO.

Seminar Offerings The following series of free seminars will continue this year’s emphasis on the importance of future planning. All seminars are located on the second floor in individual classrooms; space is limited.

Planning to Plan: Factors That Help and Hurt Your Ability to Plan In Advance 10:00 to 10:50 a.m. • Room #237 Even when people want to plan they often do not follow through.

Learn why this happens and how you can fight back. Presented

by Charles A. Smith, Ph.D., Planner, Department of Community Resources and Services.

Making a Move with Ease: The Right Way to Rightsize 10:00 to 10:50 a.m. • Room #220 If you are planning a move or thinking of downsizing, discover what you need to know before you make your next move. Experts in the move management and real estate industries will help you navigate the process of moving and selling your home. Presented by Katie Davis, Client Experience Manager, Let’s Move, and Victoria Hathaway, Director, Silver Group of the Bob Lucido Team of Keller Williams Integrity. continued on page 19

IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR 50+EXPO 2018 All parking is at the Mall in Columbia, lower level by JCPenney. A $1 admission fee will be collected as you board the shuttle bus (or pay at the door). Also, Capitol Steps attendees are asked to make a $5 donation at the ticket booth. All proceeds benefit the Vivian Reid Community Fund, which provides emergency assistance to older adults and adults with disabilities in Howard County whose needs are not covered by Medicare or other programs. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

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The 50+ Connection

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Know the Risks of Crypto Currency Investing

By Rebecca Bowman, Administrator, Howard County Office of Consumer Protection

Cryptocurrencies burst into the investing mainstream in 2017 as the values of some virtual coins and tokens skyrocketed, led by Bitcoin.

Before you jump into the crypto craze, be mindful that cryptocurrencies and related financial products may be nothing more than fronts for Ponzi schemes and other frauds. Investing in cryptocurrencies is extremely risky and may expose you to a high risk of loss.

What is a Cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrencies are digital assets that take the form of a virtual coin or token. They are intangible and exist only on the internet.

Anyone can create a cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrencies trade on unregulated exchanges so there may be little or no opportunity to independently verify their true market value.

Unlike other securities, you cannot always exchange cryptocurrencies for “legal tender” such as the U.S. dollar or Mexican peso. Central banks and other governmental authorities do not insure or control cryptocurrencies, and it is unclear where they fall in the existing framework of financial regulation.

Federal and state regulators are actively working to combat cryptocurrency-related fraud and to develop an appropriate regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies. Investors should be aware that, at least for now, cryptocurrencies are traded without the investor protections that regulation provides.

Common Concerns • Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile, making them unsuitable for investors looking to meet long-term savings or retirement goals.

• The investments only exist on the internet. The issuers can be located anywhere in the world so it may be impossible to trace and recover funds through the courts if there’s a problem.

• They are not insured by U.S. depository insurance and are subject to minimal regulatory oversight, so there may be no recourse if the cryptocurrency disappears due to a cybersecurity breach or hack.

CONSUMER PROTECTION QUESTIONS? DISPUTES? IDENTITY THEFT • LANDLORD/TENANT • FINANCIAL ABUSE • FRAUD SCAMS • SECURITY DEPOSITS • PRODUCTS • SERVICES

• They are traded on unregulated exchanges that may lack appropriate internal controls, making them susceptible to fraud, theft and hacking.

• Creating a digital wallet to store cryptocurrency involves installing software on your computer. As with any software download, hackers may include malicious code.

The Bottom Line As with any new type of product, fraudsters are willing and ready to exploit the hype around cryptocurrencies and related products for their own purposes. If you choose to invest in a cryptocurrency or related product, be aware that you could lose the entire amount of your investment. Before making any financial decisions, do your homework. For more information, contact the Maryland Attorney General’s Securities Division at 410-576-6360, or visit the North American Securities Administrators Association online at www.nasaa.org.

For information on this or other consumer topics, or to obtain this article in an alternative format, call OCP at 410-313-6420 (voice/relay), email consumer@howardcountymd.gov or visit www.howardcountymd.gov/consumer.

We’ve got YOU covered.

Take advantage of US before someone takes advantage of YOU! The 50+ Connection is published monthly by the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence.

9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046 PHONE EMAIL

410-313-6420 (VOICE/RELAY) consumer@howardcountymd.gov

www.howardcountymd.gov/consumer

This publication is available in alternate formats upon request.

To join our subscriber list, email kahenry@howardcountymd.gov 9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046 410-313-6410 (VOICE/RELAY) • www.howardcountymd.gov/aging Find us on

www.Facebook.com/HoCoCommunity

Kim Higdon Henry, Editor • Email: kahenry@howardcountymd.gov Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the Office on Aging and Independence or by the publisher.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

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Celebrating Our 20th Anniversary!

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Wilde Lake High School 5460 Trumpeter Road Columbia 21044

FOCUS ON YOUR

FUTURE PLANNING The following series of seminars will focus on the importance of future planning.

All seminars are located on the second floor at the 50+EXPO in individual classrooms; space is limited.

Planning to Plan: Factors That Help and Hurt Your Ability to Plan In Advance | 10:00 a.m. • Room #237 Even when people want to plan they often do not follow through. Learn why this happens and how you can fight back. Presented by Charles A. Smith, Ph.D., Planner, Department of Community Resources and Services.

Making a Move with Ease: The Right Way to Rightsize | 10:00 a.m. • Room #220 If you are planning a move or thinking of downsizing, discover what you need to know to make your next move. Experts in the move management and real estate industries will help you navigate the process of moving and selling your home. Presented by Katie Davis, Client Experience Manager, Let’s Move, and Victoria Hathaway, Director, Silver Group of the Bob Lucido Team of Keller Williams Integrity.

Financial Planning and Your Financial Focus | 12:00 p.m. • Room #237 Learn about financial planning, managing risk, retirement income planning, and keeping important documents and paperwork current and accessible. Presented by Michael Mooney, Managing Partner, Pilot Financial Advisors.

Star in Your Future: Make Your Wishes Known Today | 1:00 p.m. • Room #220 Explore resources for advanced healthcare decision-making to ensure that your personal, emotional, medical and spiritual needs are met if you become seriously ill. Presented by Debby Magin, Guardianship Program Manager, Howard County Office on Aging and Independence.

50+ Futures: The Planning Series | 1:00 p.m. • Room #238 Learn about available options to enhance your ability to live independently in the community for as long as possible. Get an overview of the series of eight educational sessions which will cover a spectrum of topics to plan and prepare for your future. Presented by Stuart Rosenthal, Publisher, The Beacon Newspapers and Ofelia Ott, Home and Community-Based Services Division Manager, Howard County Office on Aging and Independence.

410-313-6410 (VOICE/RELAY)

#HoCoEXPO18 facebook.com/HoCoCommunity www.howardcountymd.gov/aging

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Review Your Plan During Medicare Open Enrollment

E

very year from October 15 through December 7, Medicare beneficiaries can add, change or drop Medicare prescription drug or health plans; changes take effect on January 1. During this limited window it is important to, at a minimum, review your current plan to see if it will still work for you next year.

Look at any information you receive from your current plan regarding proposed increases in the premium and/or deductible; whether your specific medications are still on the formulary; and if your copays or coinsurance will change. If you want to stay with your current plan for 2019, you do not need to take any action.

If your current plan is terminating or making adverse changes, or if you want to see if there is a better plan for you, there are a variety of ways to compare plans. With your Medicare card and all your prescription medication bottles at hand, you can use the following methods to compare plans: • Call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227). Medicare’s customer service line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except major federal holidays (TTY line 877-486-2048).

• Visit www.medicare.gov and click on “Find Health and Drug Plans” to use the Plan Finder tool. Helpful videos on the Plan Finder home page will walk you through how to use this resource.

• Contact your plan representative or your insurance broker directly; contact information for the 2019 plans is at the back of the Medicare & You handbook.

• Contact Howard County’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 410-313-7392 (voice/relay).

Open enrollment is a very busy time of year.

DON’T WAIT – TAKE ACTION NOW! PRESENTED BY

A CAREGIVER SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL SERIES

New Medicare Cards Open Possible Scams!

Since most Medicare recipients in Maryland have received new cards, here are a few safety concerns to keep in mind. Medicare will never call to ask for your personal information. Instead of your Social Security number, your new card has a unique Medicare number to help protect your identity. Unfortunately, scam artists may still try to get personal information by contacting you about your new card.

If someone asks you for your personal information or money, and threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don’t cooperate, hang up and call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227). For local help with Medicare, call Howard County SHIP at 410-313-7392 (voice/relay).

Planning Final Arrangements Ellicott City 50+ Center 9401 Frederick Road, Ellicott City 21043

Thursday, October 24 • 11 a.m.

Sherri Collins-Witzke, CFSP, will share information regarding burials, cremations, veterans services and more.

Learn more about this sensitive but important topic.

REGISTER at 410-313-7213 (VOICE/RELAY)

FREE ADMISSION

MENTAL HEALTH SERIES — — GOOD FOR YOUR HEAD AND YOUR HEART

Ellicott City 50+ Center 9401 Frederick Road, Ellicott City 21042

Wednesday, September 26 • 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Besting Our Brain: the Most Precious Organ Wednesday, October 17 • 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Minding Our Mind: the Primary Driver for Quality of Life Tuesday, November 6 • 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Peace in the Presence: Strategies to Combat Stress To register, contact Kathy Wehr at 410-313-5955 (VOICE/RELAY) or kwehr@howardcountymd.gov

A program designed for adult children to learn about services and programs available for aging family members. You’ll discover: • How to Start the Conversation • Ways to Assess Needs • Services to Assist with Aging in Place • How to Design a Plan • Assisted Living & Nursing Facility Options

Tuesday, October 23 • 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Elkridge 50+ Center 6540 Washington Boulevard, Elkridge 21075 There is no charge for this program; however, seating is limited and we ask that you please register to attend by contacting:

Maryland Access Point of Howard County map@howardcountymd.gov • 410-313-1234 For questions or additional information, contact Maryland Access Point 410-313-1234 (VOICE/RELAY) • EMAIL map@howardcountymd.gov

PHONE

Howard County

www.howardcountymd.gov/aging YOU R LI NK TO H E A LT H & SU PP O R T SE R V IC E S

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

The 50+ Connection

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Be Prepared, Get Informed and Enjoy the Day at 50+EXPO! continued from page 15

Financial Planning and Your Financial Focus 12:00 to 12:50 p.m. • Room #237 Learn about financial planning, managing risk, retirement income planning, and keeping important documents and paperwork current and accessible. Presented by Michael Mooney, Managing Partner, Pilot Financial Advisors.

For more information: follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HoCoCommunity #HoCoEXPO18, or email aging@howardcountymd.gov To request a sign language interpreter or other accommodations to participate, call 410-313-6410 (voice/relay) one week in advance.

Star in Your Future: Make Your Wishes Known Today 1:00 to 1:50 p.m. • Room #220 Explore resources for advanced healthcare decision-making to ensure that your personal, emotional, medical and spiritual needs are met if you become seriously ill. Presented by Debby Magin, Guardianship Program Manager, Howard County Office on Aging and Independence.

50+ Futures: The Planning Series 1:00 to 1:50 p.m. • Room #238 Learn about available options to enhance your ability to live independently in the community for as long as possible. Get an overview of the series of eight educational sessions which will cover a spectrum of topics to plan and prepare for your future. Presented

by Stuart Rosenthal, Publisher, The Beacon Newspapers and Ofelia Ott, Home and Community-Based Services Division Manager, Howard County Office on Aging and Independence.

Other Highlights FLU VACCINES are offered at no charge at the 50+EXPO, and a variety of free health screenings are available at the HEALTH FAIR

throughout the day. Howard County General Hospital and other local health practitioners will screen for blood pressure, breast health, cholesterol, emotional wellness, glaucoma, glucose, hearing, height/weight/BMI, oral health, pulmonary function, pulse oximetry, balance/posture, and varicose and spider vein screening.

Adjacent to the Flu Shot area, the University of Maryland Medical Center will provide NUTRITION EDUCATION and conduct individual screenings to identify malnutrition. Participants will be asked to complete a brief nutrition questionnaire to detect possible nutrient deficiencies.

The 50+EXPO also offers great entertainment and dining options.

Stop in the 50+ CAFÉ to grab a morning snack or a quick, healthy lunch, and stay to watch a lineup of great live performances. And, don’t miss the politically incorrect antics of the CAPITOL STEPS at 2 p.m. in the Jim Rouse Theatre. Capitol Steps tickets are available at the ticket booth, beginning at 9 a.m., while quantities last (a $5 donation is requested per ticket).

FREE EVENT PARKING is available at the Mall in Columbia, lower level, near JCPenney (a COURTESY SHUTTLE runs all day, and will drop attendees at the front door of the 50+EXPO). Only accessible parking spaces are available onsite at Wilde Lake High School.

Admission to the 50+EXPO is $1; wristbands may be purchased as you board the shuttle, at the door, or in advance at all Howard County 50+ Centers. All Capitol Steps show and admission proceeds benefit the Vivian Reid Community Fund, which provides emergency assistance to older adults in Howard County.

A PRINTED SCHEDULE of the 50+EXPO with event highlights, seminar descriptions, plus a list of sponsors, vendors and exhibitors will be available in the October 11 edition of the Howard County Times and Columbia Flier, and will also be posted online at www.howardcountymd.gov/50plusexpo.

BE a FRIEND of the 50+EXPO! Receive Your FRIEND OF THE EXPO Gift Package!

One ADMISSION ticket to the 50+EXPO One RESERVED seat for Keynote Presentation (11 AM) One RESERVED seat for “The Capitol Steps” (2 PM) One CHANCE to win an Eyre bus trip for two to New York City A “Friends” RECOGNITION ribbon to wear to EXPO!

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

DEADLINE: Payment and form MUST be received by Friday, October 5, 2018 MAIL COMPLETED FORM WITH CASH/CHECK PAYMENT TO: Howard County Office on Aging and Independence Attention: Jeanne White-Davis 9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046

FRIEND of the 50+EXPO! * Make checks payable to:

Director of Finance Howard County I want to be a Friend of the 50+EXPO and have enclosed my cash/check* for _____ FRIENDS @ $25/ea. = $ ___________ For your convenience, you can pay by credit card.

Call Jeanne White-Davis at 410-313-5824 (VOICE/RELAY).

TOTAL NUMBER of TICKETS: __________ Check here if you do NOT want tickets for the Capitol Steps.

NAME PHONE

___________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

STREET ADDRESS

_____________________________________________

_______________________________________________________ CITY

____________________________________________________

STATE

_____________

ZIPCODE

_______________

EMAIL ADDRESS ______________________________________________

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The 50+ Connection

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Are YOU Living with Chronic Pain?

G

ood health is imperative to your quality of life, but living a healthy life while dealing with chronic pain can be challenging. Coordinated by the Office on Aging and Independence, Living Well with Chronic Pain is a self-management program designed for people who have a primary or secondary diagnosis of chronic pain.

Six 2.5 hour sessions cover a range of topics, including: • Managing Symptoms and Challenges • Exercising for Strength and Flexibility • Taking Medications Appropriately • Evaluating Treatment Options • Balancing Activity and Rest • Achieving Goals

To achieve the most benefits from this program, participants are encouraged to attend all six sessions. Living Well with Chronic Pain will be offered on Wednesdays, October 17 through November 21 from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. at the Elkridge 50+ Center, 6540 Washington Boulevard. Course materials will be provided, and can also be purchased on-site for a nominal fee.

To register or for more information, contact Nicole Becerra at 410-313-3506 (voice/relay) or nbecerra@howardcountymd.gov.

To request a sign language interpreter or other accommodations to participate, or if you need this information in an alternate format, contact Maryland Access Point of Howard County at 410-313-1234 (voice/relay) or map@howardcountymd.gov.

Bereavement Group !"#$%&'(()!*+,#-!.,+!/01,0(!",#+020*!34(!$,55!,.!/! $,6(7!,0(8!9:-$,+(!34(!-+,;(55!,.!",#+020*<!;,-20*!

53+/3(*2(5<!/07!$2.(!=(1,07!*+2(.!20!/!5#--,+%6(! /3",5-4(+(8! >425!-+,*+/"!25!5#**(53(7!.,+!/01,0(!=(+(/6(7!",+(!

34/0!3',!",0345<!=#3!$(55!34/0!3',!1(/+58!?(*253+/%,0! +(@#2+(7!=1!A;3,=(+!BCD!/!0,"20/$!.((!/--$2(58

Wednesdays, beginning October 24 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.

Bain 50+ Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia 21044 FOR MORE INFORMATION,CONTACT

KAREN HULL 410-313-7466 (voice/relay) khull@howardcountymd.gov

www.howardcountymd.gov/sentog

Friday, October 26, 2018 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Howard Community College Health Sciences Building Join Allan H. Kittleman, Howard County Executive and the Human Trafficking Prevention Coordinating Council for an awareness and prevention event to combat human trafficking in our region.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS Survivors’ Perspectives Keynote featuring Marian Hatcher, national expert on human trafficking and prostitution, and Policy Analyst & Victim Advocate for the Cook County (Illinois) Sheriff’s Office. She travels the country telling her own story as a survivor of sex trafficking and domestic violence and has been featured in numerous documentaries.

Social Media and Human Trafficking • The Bottom Girl Phenomenon • Human Trafficking Legislative Initiatives A Call to Action (AN INTERACTIVE PANEL DISCUSSION) Sworn Officers’ Symposium For additional information, contact

Limited seating! Admission is FREE, but you must register to attend.

htaphoward2018.eventbrite.com

SIDNEY FORD, MSW, LCSW-C 410-313-6558 (VOICE/RELAY) www.howardcountymd.gov/ohtp

saford@howardcountymd.gov

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

The 50+ Connection

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21

HopeWorks presents

An Evening of the Arts, “Telling This Truth” Thursday, October 18 • 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Bain 50+ Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia 21044 Telling This Truth channels the power of survivor storytelling in the latest arts project from HopeWorks.

This dramatic reading of a social justice theatre piece includes a series of narratives which chronicle the soulful journeys of lives linked by the theme of triumph, yet beautifully divergent in voice and experience.

The performance features the voices of survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence, sharing poignant experiences ranging from violence to resilience.

Attendees are asked to donate $10 at the door to support HopeWorks, or purchase an item from the October pantry needs list. To reserve your seat in advance, call 410-313-7213 (voice/relay).

New! 2019 Resource Guide Howard County Office on Aging and Independence The latest edition of Howard’s County’s Resource Guide will make its debut at the 50+EXPO. Attendees can pick up a copy at the Office on Aging and Independence booth on Main Street.

Additional copies are available from the Office on Aging and Independence (OAI); at any of the OAI 50+ Centers; and at all Howard County libraries. Or, contact Maryland Access Point (MAP) at 410-313-1234 or map@howardcountymd.gov to have one sent to you.

Visit the OAI booth at the 50+EXPO to learn more about the many services and assistance offered by Maryland Access Point.

www.howardcountymd.gov/aging The Howard County Office on Aging and Independence invites you to a

THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION!

Giving Thanks

THE

LUNCHEON and DANCE

Music by Sly 45 A Baltimore-based band rocking the blues, jazz and classic pop scene!

Thursday, November 15, 2018 Ten Oaks Ballroom

Howard County Executive Allan H. Kittleman and the

Howard County Commission on Disabilities cordially invite you to the

ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY Thursday, October 4, 2018 • 7:00 PM Roger Carter Community Center 3000 Milltowne Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043

In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month

5000 Signal Bell Lane, Clarksville 21029

GUEST SPEAKER

Doors Open 10:30 a.m. • Program Begins 11 a.m. • Lunch 12 noon Tickets on Sale at all Howard County 50+ Centers $15/person

Rylin Rodgers

PLEASE BRING NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS FOR THE HOWARD COUNTY FOOD BANK FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL

410-313-5440 (VOICE/RELAY)

Director of Public Policy Association of University Centers on Disabilities

AGENTS OF CHANGE Our Voices Driving Systems To RSVP and/or request accommodations to participate, contact Erica Lewis at 410-313-6402 (VOICE/RELAY) or ealewis@howardcountymd.gov by Thursday, September 27 — This Event is Free and Open to the Public —

www.howardcountymd.gov/aging

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

New Day Added to Glenwood Pickleball Join us at Glenwood 50+ Center for drop-in Pickleball on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (six courts open); or Fridays, noon to 2:00 p.m. (three courts, including one just for beginners). For more information or to register, call 410-313-5440 (voice/relay).

Get Crafty at the North Laurel 50+ Center FALL HARVEST CELEBRATION — Friday, Oct. 12 • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Lunch, fall craft activity, apple cider and live music. $3 plus lunch contribution.

For tickets, call 410-313-0380.

FUSED GLASS: CABOCHONS — Tuesday, Oct. 16 • 1 to 4 p.m.

Learn how to make fused glass cabochons and create unique jewelry. $38, includes materials. Register by October 12 to 410-313-0380.

ACRYLIC PAINTING CLASS — Mondays, Oct. 22 and 29 • 1 to 4 p.m.

Learn the basic techniques of acrylics with professional step-by-step guidance. $56, includes materials. Register by October 18 to 410-313-0380.

WEATHER PERMITTING • FREE ADMISSION • ALL AGES WELCOME!

Wednesday, October 3 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Elkridge 50+ Center 6540 Washington Boulevard Elkridge 21075 The Elkridge 50+ Center cordially invites you to an interactive Community Safety Day featuring

Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department • Howard County Police Department • Maryland Poison Control Center • Howard County Sheriff’s Department • Food Trucks • Face Painting • AND MORE For more information, contact Jeanne Slater at 410-313-5192 or jslater@howardcountymd.gov

he Howard County Local Care Team (LCT) is an inter-agency council designed to provide resources and support to families who need to access services for a child with intensive emotional and behavioral needs. This collaborative brings together representatives of several child-serving agencies to review a child’s particular needs and work together with the familiy to identify programs and services that best serve the child.

T

The primary goal of the LCT and its family-focused partners is to help families receive the support and services they need to ensure the children served remain in their homes and communities.

Families and their advocates can self-refer to the LCT for assistance; and member agencies may refer cases that are more complex in nature. All information presented on behalf of each child is kept strictly confidential. Families are made aware of community-based resources and services, as well as pathways to access them. With the assistance of the LCT, the overwhelming task of contacting each agency individually is eliminated; families may also discover they are eligible for services of which they were not aware.

For questions or more information, contact Candace Ball at 410-313-6552 (VOICE/RELAY) or cmball@howardcountymd.gov

www.howardcountymd.gov/lcb

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HoCoCommunity Stay connected to the Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services. Like us today!

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

23

SECOND-HAND SHOPPING Look for off-lease cars and refurbished electronics with money-back guarantees to save big when buying gently used products POWERFUL PORTFOLIOS Utility mutual or exchange traded funds can provide consistent returns and income with moderate risk

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!

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.

Spend a few hours getting organized now to save time and expense later.

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

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

In addition, share contents of your envelope with your relative’s executor, financial and healthcare agent, and/or another relative who lives nearby.

Do you need a financial advisor?

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

Complimentary investment seminars Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday | 11:00AM - 12:00PM 9090 Chevrolet Drive, Ellicott City Topics include: Preparing for Retirement; Foundations of Investing; Preparing for the Unexpected; Preparing Your Estate Plan; Education Planning; and more.

Please let us know you’re coming! RSVP to John Dove at john.dove@edwardjones.com or 410-418-5615.

John A Dove Financial Advisor 9090 Chevrolet Drive Ellicott City, MD 21042 410-418-5615

www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Savvy shopping advice: buy gently used

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:

Buy off-lease cars 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

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 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 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, bigbox home improvement stores usually have an “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

BEACON BITS

Oct. 2+

ENGLISH CONVERSATION CLASS

Weekly conversation classes, designed to give the adult English language learner an opportunity to practice in an informal atmosphere facilitated by an instructor, start Tuesday, Oct. 2 at North Laurel 50+ Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Rd., Laurel. For more information, call (410) 3130380 or visit howardcountymd.gov/communityresources.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

25

Utility funds for conservative investors Many readers are concerned about in particular. Lawrence Strauss wrote recentvolatility in the stock market, as well as ly in Barron’s that utility stocks are “worth a about receiving reliably consecond look,” and I agree. sistent interest or dividends Several years ago, when Bill with their investments.

Gross was a co-CEO of PIMCO, Although the stock market he wrote an interesting recomhas performed well for more mendation for investing in utilithan five years, there is no ty funds. At the time he manguarantee that it will continue aged the bond portfolio for to show comparable positive PIMCO, one of the largest, if returns. Many analysts anticinot the largest bond manager of pate that returns in the near bonds in the U.S. term will be much lower — I would always read his THE SAVINGS perhaps even negative. monthly analysis of economic GAME However, it is impossible to By Elliot Raphaelson conditions, and I thought his predict the best time to go in opinions were worth reading and out of the stock market. about. It was amazing that the Most investors, even in retirement, should largest bond manager in the U.S. was recommaintain a significant percentage of their mending investing in an investment that was portfolio in some type of common stock in- in direct competition with bonds. vestment.

How can you do that and minimize risk? Try funds and ETFs I looked carefully at some of the alternaI believe the answer is having a diversified common stock portfolio, preferably in tives for investing in utility stocks. I didn’t want to invest in individual securities, so I index funds and in conservative sectors.

From time to time, I have discussed utility looked at utility mutual funds and ETFs. Eventually, I decided to invest $100,000 stocks in general and utility funds and ETFs

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 conservative 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.

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE~ A LIFETIME OF SERVICE

BEACON BITS

Sept. 28

INPUT SOUGHT ON STATE TRANSPORTATION

The Maryland Department of Transportation will hold its annual meeting in Howard County on Friday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. at River Hill High School, 12101 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville. The meeting will seek public input for the 2019 capital budget. To learn more, visit mdot.maryland.gov.

A T RADITION

Oct. 2+

RETIREMENT FINANCE COURSE

Howard County Community College is offering a course for retirees and those approaching retirement age on Tuesday, Oct. 2 and 9 at the Gateway Campus, 6751 Columbia Gateway Dr., Columbia. The classes will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. The course will be repeated on Thursdays Oct. 11 and 28 at the same time and location. Tuition is $59. To register or for further information, visit howardcc.edu/ConEd or call (443) 515-1700.

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Baltimore County Department of Aging

POWER OF AGE

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

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Travel

27

Leisure &

Glacier National Park is the highlight of a trip to Montana. See story on page 28.

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 29

28

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Montana: vanishing glaciers and grizzlies 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Butte and other towns 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, with artifacts from the original Mai Wah noodle parlor, cheongsam-style dresses from a family exhibit, and a 1901 directory that See MONTANA, page 29

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

Jamaica From page 27 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.

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 Jamaican 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.

29

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.

BEACON BITS

Oct. 30

HOWIE AWARD NOMINATIONS

The Howard County Arts Council is seeking nominees for its annual Howie awards, which recognize individual and businesses that have made significant contributions to the arts. The awards will be presented on Mar. 23 during the Celebration of the Arts in Howard County. Deadline for submission of nominations is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, with entries accepted by mail, fax, email or hand delivery to the Council office, 8519 High Ridge Rd., Ellicott City. For a nomination form or more information, visit the Arts Council website hocoarts.org, call (410) 313-2787, or visit the Howard County Center for the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Rd., Ellicott City.

Montana From page 28 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 and Dulles 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

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

th

Help Us Celebrate Our 20 Anniversary!

FOCUS ON YOUR

FUTURE PLANNING FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Wilde Lake High School 5460 Trumpeter Road Columbia 21044 • 11 AM – AARP’s Caregiving Expert & Author: • 2 PM – The Capitol Steps $

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* For more details, seminar topics and other EXPO highlights, read the 50+ Connection in this issue of The Beacon! #HoCoEXPO18 facebook.com/HoCoCommunity www.howardcountymd.gov/aging

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Style

31

Arts &

Pamela Woolford's mother, Sadie Woolford (right), appears briefly in the film Generation.

Local filmmaker debuts film at festivals proper speech,” reads them stories by O. Henry and Guy de Maupassant. A story within the story — “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry — has a prominent place in the film.

Generation has, so far, been shown at Maryland film festivals in Columbia (the Lakefront) and North Beach, the Kwanzaa Festival at the Anacostia Arts Center in D.C., and the Underground Film Festival in Stockholm Sweden.

Generation has also been selected for the Women of the Lens Festival in London in November, and for the Genre Celebration Festival in Tokyo in December.

Among other praise, noted writer and literary figure Marita Golden called the film “lovely and groundbreaking,” citing it as “a great mix of oral tradition and past remembrance, and meditations on the body as suffering and a source of resistance and resilience.”

Woolford, who wrote, directed and edited Generation, as well as being its sole performer (except for a brief cameo by her mother), said she aimed to be “emotionally evocative” in the writing, directing, editing and performing in order to fulfill her main goal — “to tell the story.”

Howard County roots Family stories The story is about a poor family in their rural North Carolina home, where the mother, abusive father and their seven children gather nightly around the kerosene lamp while Mable, the daughter “with the

Born in Baltimore, Woolford moved to Columbia in 1970 with her family at the age of 2. After growing up here (she graduated from Wilde Lake High School), she lived in San Francisco, New York and D.C. She has now returned to the family home, where

she lives with her mother and sister.

The home is in the Bryant Wood area, which, Woolford said, was Columbia’s very first neighborhood. Her father, Llewellyn Woolford, worked with Columbia founder Jim Rouse and served as chair of the Howard County Human Relations Commission.

While attending the University of Maryland Baltimore for three years, her double major was economics and social work rather than See FILMMAKER, page 33

Pamela Woolford made the short film, Generation, now being screened at festivals around the U.S. and internationally. She wrote, directed and starred in the film, which tells a story in the manner of “screendance,” merging cinematography and choreography.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PAMELA WOOLFORD

By Robert Friedman “Story-telling is essential to our being, to how we relate,” said writer, filmmaker and performer Pamela Woolford, a Columbia resident. “The stories we tell and retell, often changing over time, they are so basic to who we are.”

The 51-year-old, winner of a Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award for screenwriting, has made her directorial and one-woman “screendance” debut in Generation, a 20-minute film shot in and around Howard County.

For those not familiar with it, the art form known as screendance involves telling a story using both body and camera movements, offbeat soundtrack, and creative lighting, coloring and editing. The aim, according to the experts, is “to stir the imagination and deliver a unique visual experience.”

In her film, Woolford interprets a short story she wrote, “Just after Supper,” using various hand, head and body movements.

She narrates the story on the soundtrack along with her mother, Sadie Woolford, who echoes the narration. The story was inspired by early incidents in her mother’s life.

32

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Hair and there with rocker Rod Stewart do you keep it up?

Stewart: It’s pretty good, isn’t it? I don’t know. I think I’ve just been lucky, you know, with the hair. It gets a lot of manipulation, you know, because I always have to keep it (up). When I’m doing a show, I have to go and dry it. ...I cut it every two weeks. No, but other than that, I just think I’m lucky.

AP: You move pretty well onstage for a guy in his 70s...

Stewart: Soccer has always been a passion of mine. You know, I played it, read about it, watched it all my life. And I still play a little bit. And I do work out a lot, I must admit. And that keeps me fit for onstage.

How long can I go on? That’s the million-dollar question. You know, I enjoy it. I get excited about it, and as long as that exists, I think I can carry on for another three weeks (laughs).

AP: Your two sons were onstage with you at your Madison Square Garden show recently. Do you always take them on the road?

Stewart: They don’t come on the stage every night. Only when they’re on tour with me in the summer. And they pester me. The older one is getting a bit too old for it now. But the young one loves it.

But having younger kids, I’ve got eight kids altogether, certainly does keep you on

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SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO

By John Carucci More than 50 years into his career, Rod Stewart shows no sign of slowing down.

When he’s not on tour, he’s busy at home chasing his two young sons, Aiden and Alastair, around the yard. And on Sept.

28, he will release his 30th studio album, “Blood Red Roses.”

While known for writing sultry songs — from “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” to “You’re In My Heart (The Final Acclaim)” — Stewart’s also not afraid to tackle social issues.

In 1976, he broke new ground with “The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II),” about his friend who was killed because of his sexual identity.

Stewart dismisses the idea that he was courageous for writing the first mainstream pop song to deal with gay bashing. “It was a true story, and it’s much easier to write about the truth,” Stewart said about the iconic song.

The 73-year old crooner gets serious again with his new album’s first single, “Didn’t I,” which deals with teenage substance abuse from the parent’s perspective.

In an interview with the Associated Press, the Grammy-winning singer discussed his longevity in the music business, what he thinks of the #MeToo movement, and how he maintains his signature hairstyle.

AP: That hair is just amazing. How

At 73, Rod Stewart has a full concert tour schedule, and his young sons sometimes accompany him. His 30th album will be released on Sept. 28.

your toes. And they, especially the youngest one, he’s just so cute. He amuses me all day long. It makes me smile. And that’s longevity in itself, I think being able to smile all day.

AP: You’ve always been a fan of the ladies, do you consider yourself a — Stewart: Sex symbol? Now I hate that word....I never purposely went out to attract

the opposite sex. I mean, it just comes with the music, you know, the music is very sensuous and vibrant. So, if I do something suggestive onstage it’s merely by accident.

AP: “The Killing of Georgie” was bold for its time. Do you feel it helped See ROD STEWART, page 33

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

Filmmaker From page 31 the arts.

Her interest in literature actually began when she spent some months in San Francisco after she graduated from Wilde Lake High. She spent those months in classes at Lowell High School, a preparatory school for college.

“I was asked to read a book written by a person of color,” said Woolford. She chose

Rod Stewart From page 32 change attitudes in some small way?

Stewart: Yeah, yeah, you’re right. It was actually banned by the BBC when it first came out. But the most interesting thing about “Georgie” is, I bump into a lot of people, gay men who say, “You know when ‘The Killing of Georgie’ came out, it really helped me through my breaking out and feeling proud about who I am.” And that means a lot to me.

AP: The industry has changed. Is it no longer sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll?

Stewart: Obviously, I’m not, you know, sweet 16 anymore, and there are things I have to preserve, namely my voice. I really have to look after that.

So, as I said, I was never really a druggytype person because I played football [soc-

The Best of Simple, a compilation of stories

by Langston Hughes.

“The stories felt so real to me, about the people I knew, my parents, my grandparents. I’ve since read everything by Langston Hughes.”

While living in San Francisco in the late 1980s, “bookstores there were starting black interest sections. I told myself, ‘I’m black, let me see if I’m interested’.”

She found that she most certainly was, and her reading, writing and literary life

was underway.

Wolford has worked over the years for nonprofits, raising funds and doing public relations. In the 1990s, she was the editor of Howard County’s Jambalaya magazine, and directed the 1996 Maryland Jambalaya-Fest at Lake Elkhorn, which celebrated the diversity of people of African descent in the area.

In addition to her short stories and film efforts, Woolford has told stories through several journalism gigs, including a week-

cer], and I was always getting up in the morning playing football. And so that side hasn’t changed a great deal for me.

AP: But things are changing, especially with the #MeToo movement.

Stewart: Well, that’s true. There were a lot of women throwing themselves at us in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and they were good old times, really great times. But you know, the #MeToo movement is long overdue.

But I must admit I’ve never had trouble, you know, entertaining women. I’ve always enjoyed the chase, actually. I’d never thrown myself on any woman. You know, I enjoyed romance and then the chase.

AP: Do you ever look back and go, “Wow, what a career?”

Stewart: Every day. Every day. I never take it for granted. I really don’t. You know, it’s just the best job in the world. I know that’s an old cliché, but it really is. (Presi-

dent Donald) Trump thinks he’s got a good job. I’ve really got a great job.

BEACON BITS

Sept. 29

LOCAL COMICS

A program by eight area comics will be offered by Try It Out Theatre on Saturday, Sept. 29 at Root Studio, 9140 Guilford Rd., Columbia. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets are $15 at the door. For more information, including how to buy tickets online for $10, call Rich Madzel at (443) 745-0332.

Oct. 7+

ANTI-HATE EXHIBIT

The fifth annual “Erase Hate Through Art” exhibit, featuring the works of more than 50 artists, will open at the Columbia Art Center with a free reception Sunday, Oct. 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. The show, sponsored by How Do You Like Me Now Productions, examines bullying and hate crimes through the eyes of the artists. The Columbia Arts Center is located at 6100 Foreland Garth, Columbia. For more information, visit columbiaartcenter.org or call (410) 730-0075.

Ongoing

VENDORS NEEDED FOR HOLIDAY SALE

The Howard County Arts Council is looking for vendors for its Holiday Sale, to take place on Thursday, Nov. 29. Interested persons may email questions to visitorservices@hocoarts.org or call (410) 313-2787.

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 34 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

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ly bylined column for the Baltimore Sun for several years in the early 2000s. The column, entitled “Neighbors,” featured profiles and human-interest stories about residents of Columbia neighborhoods.

She also wrote book club profiles for the newspaper.

“Now, I’m committed full-time as an artist,” Woolford said, indicating this is but the latest chapter in her own ongoing story.

For more information about Generation and Woolford, see www.themovie.com.

Online: www.rodstewart.com — AP

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Crossword Puzzle Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Shoes Wisely 1

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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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Scrabble answers on p. 33.

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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 33.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

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.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

For Sale 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.

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.

PAID RESEARCH STUDY: Participants needed for research study at the University of Maryland, College Park. Seeking healthy adults ages 40-80 with either (1) extensive meditation experience or (2) no prior meditation experience to study the link between bacteria in the gut and day-to-day behavior with biological samples (e.g., stool sample), MRI, and behavioral tests. If you qualify and enroll, you will earn $25/hour for 2 sessions of up to 1.5 and 2.5 hours, respectively.

For eligibility info, contact us at 301-202-4834, BrainBodyStudy@gmail.com.

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. 844366-1003 or http://www.dental50plus.com/320 Ad# 6118.

Legal Services

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 Rent/Sale: 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.

RENTING SPACIOUS ONE BEDROOM with private bathroom for $740 per month, including utilities. This is a single-family home in a quiet neighborhood. 240-350-9392.

WERE YOU AN INDUSTRIAL OR CONSTRUCTION TRADESMAN and recently diagnosed with lung cancer? You and your family may be entitled to a significant cash reward.

Call 1-888-351-0312 for your risk free consultation.

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY? Up to $2,671/mo. (Based on paid-in amount.) Free evaluation! Call Bill Gordon & Associates. 1866-970-0779. Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington, D.C. Office: Broward Co. FL., member TX/NM Bar.

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

Wanted

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.

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.

TV/Cable

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.

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.

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%! 1-844560-5837.

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.

Wanted

Personals CUTE, ATTRACTIVE FEMALE, FIFTIES — Looking for single white male, fifties/early sixties, attractive, robust, medium/large build, reliable, warm-hearted, romantic. Enjoy dates, companionship, devoted relationship. If interested, call 240-418-4124, leave voice message/ph#.

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

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, 301-9100783.

ESTATE LIQUIDATION & COLLECTIBLES: One call solves it all when you hire us to handle your estate liquidation, down-sizing and/or home cleanout. We sell your treasures, take care of charitable donations and provide junk removal. We also purchase partial estate contents/collections.

Always buying antiques, jewelry, fine art, vintage toys, collectibles, advertising, sports memorabilia, military items, rare books, Mid-Century Modern furniture and more. Based in Silver Spring, we serve Montgomery County, Howard County, Baltimore County, Washington, D.C., NOVA and beyond. No home, barn or warehouse is too packed for us! Friendly, conscientious staff. Call Chris on cell, 202-731-9447. www.OrionsAttic.com

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Events Baltimore County Power of Age Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Beacon 50+Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 COGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Howard County 50 Plus Expo . . . . . . . . . .30

Financial Services Edward Jones/John Dove . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Eyre Tour & Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Funeral Services Going Home Cremations . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Harry H. Witzke’s Family Funeral Home, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Sol Levinson & Bros., Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Home Health Care A-1 Action Nursing Care . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 HomeCentris Personal Care . . . . . . . . . . .13 Options for Senior America . . . . . . . . . . .10

Housing Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4, 36

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Charlestown/Erickson Living . . . . . . . . . .13 Heartlands Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Park View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Shriner Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Somerford Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Legal Services Angels of Eldercare Planning . . . . . . . . . .25 Frank, Frank & Scherr, LLC . . . . . . . . . . .24 Lifson Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Medical/Health Herbiculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Howard County General Hospital . . . . . . . .5 Medical Eye Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Trilogy Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 VitaScript Optimal Health . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Real Estate Services Bob Lucido Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Long & Foster-Nellie Arrington . . . . . . . .24

Retail/Services Antwerpen Hyundai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Columbia’s Village Centers . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Senior Services Howard County Senior Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15-22

Subscriptions Beacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Technology Beacon Silver Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Theatre/Entertainment Candlelight Concert Society . . . . . . . . . . .33 Columbia Orchestra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Columbia Pro Cantare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Tour & Travel Dunes Manor Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Eyre Tour & Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Voting Kittleman for County Executive . . . . . . . . .1

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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DIFFERENT

... because what surrounds you really matters.

tuesday, October 16, 2018 10:30 A.M. – 12:30 p.m.

The meadows assisted living • 1635 hickory knoll road • Sandy Spring, MD 20860

For nearly 70 years, Brooke Grove Retirement Village has built a history of excellence in Montgomery County.

Explore our residential-style homes, gardens and secure walking paths.

Discover our innovative approach and programs including those designed to stimulate memory.

Meet our staff, trained in assisting those with Alzheimer’s and memory loss.

Enjoy our 220-acre campus and our live-in pets.

Please register with Toni Davis at 301-388-7209 or tdavis@bgf.org by October 14.

18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 301-260-2320 or 301-924-2811

www.bgf.org

Independent living assisted living rehabilitation memory support long-term care

ASSISTED LIVING OPEN HOUSE

simply