October 2020 | Howard County Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

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Meals on Wheels still delivers

World War II roots The famous program known as Meals

PHOTO BY MEALS ON WHEELS OF CENTRAL MARYLAND, INC.

By Robert Friedman For the past seven years, Columbia resident Julia Murray has received several home-cooked meals delivered straight to her doorstep each week. Murray, 79, a retired nurse who suffers from arthritis and asthma, said that getting her food delivered at home by Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland “keeps me out of assisted living or a nursing home.” The pandemic has made the organization change its deliveries from two meals a day — one hot, one frozen — to a once-aweek drop-off of 14 frozen meals. Despite the change, the program “still ‘forces’ me to eat a balanced diet,” Murray said. “Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the food has not diminished in quality and quantity one bit. I don’t know how they do it; it’s a miracle.” The pandemic brought “rapid and significant changes” to the program last spring, according to the organization’s executive director, Stephanie Archer-Smith. Requests for services from Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland tripled from 25,000 a week to 75,000. Delivered meals are provided to those who cannot shop and cook for themselves, regardless of age (though the vast majority are older adults). Recipients are asked to pay a modest fee based on a sliding scale. “Every day we were getting more and more calls from people saying, ‘Can you help us?’” With senior centers closed and shelter-in-place orders, she said, “seniors were more vulnerable.” Archer-Smith never considered failure. “For me, it wasn’t about if we could still do it, but how we could do it.” Her staff geared up for greater production, churning out boxed frozen meals instead of the usual hot and cold offerings. Because packing meals became more labor-intensive, many newly recruited volunteers worked shifts from before sunrise to after sunset. In addition to now weekly deliveries of meals outside the clients’ doors, the organization also calls clients a couple of times a week to make sure everything is relatively copacetic.

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

From whale watching to whitewater rafting, Antarctica to Laos, these bucket list adventures are worth planning ahead for; plus, where to stay when visiting family page 23

ARTS & STYLE

Stephanie Archer-Smith, executive director of Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, packs food in the group’s Baltimore warehouse. Her volunteers and staff are working overtime during the pandemic to meet the needs of an increasing number of Marylanders who cannot shop or cook for themselves.

on Wheels got its start in the United Kingdom during the early 1940s. Nazi Germany’s “Blitz” bombing of English cities destroyed many people’s homes and therefore the ability to cook their own food. In response, a group called the Women’s Volunteer Service for Civil Defense provided food for them. The first U.S. home-delivered meal program began in Philadelphia, in January 1954. Margaret Toy, a social worker in Philadelphia’s Lighthouse Community Center, pioneered a program to provide food that met the dietary needs of homebound seniors and other “shut-ins” in the area.

A father publishes a memoir about his daughter’s murder, hoping to save others; plus, a doctor composes symphonic works in his spare time page 27

Volunteers step up; more needed Today’s volunteers are no less heroic. The spread of COVID-19 resulted in Vince Bittinger being laid off from his administration job in finance at Johns Hopkins Hospital. “I couldn’t just sit around at home with nothing to do,” said Bittinger, 58, a resident of Dundalk. So, since late April, while “looking like mad for another job,” he has also volunteered for Meals on Wheels. He goes two or three days a week to the “kitchen” in Baltimore, picking up food prepared there, See MEALS ON WHEELS, page 12

TECHNOLOGY k Tips for online dating

FITNESS & HEALTH 6 k A blood test to detect Alzheimer’s k A presidential salsa recipe LAW & MONEY 19 k Beware of Beirut, other scams k Alert: financial notices going digital ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

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The choice is ours Generally, whatever the situation, we Now I simply mean the choices we might like knowing we have choices in life. Being make about what degree of medical care we boxed in, having no alternawould want in an emergency tive, being forced into a decior life-threatening situation if sion doesn’t feel good. We we aren’t in a position to comwant to be in control. municate our opinions at the That applies to nearly every time. Or about who we would aspect of life — what to eat, want to handle our finances if what to wear, what to spend we temporarily couldn’t or our time on — at every stage of were no longer able to. life, from the terrible twos, into The good news is, there adolescence, and throughout are many ways we can let our adulthood. families, doctors and lawyers But what about deciding FROM THE know what our choices would how we want to be treated in PUBLISHER be in these situations. That’s a situation where we have be- By Stuart P. Rosenthal what advance directives and come seriously ill or injured powers of attorney are for. and can’t express ourselves? For some reaDid I see you flinch? Are you folding up son, many of us recoil from exercising our the Beacon and leaving it on the chair? choices there. So many of us either glaze over or clam I’m not talking about the choice to end up whenever someone asks us about makone’s life early. That’s for a different col- ing these kinds of choices. umn, perhaps. I don’t think it’s because we don’t have a

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preference. On the contrary, I think it’s because the potential situations are so troubling, and the choices to be made are so significant and fraught, that we are afraid to even face the possibility they might someday occur and that others would need our guidance. Let me make a suggestion: Take a look at the website fivewishes.org and its Five Wishes document. Five Wishes is an advance directive in simple language that you can customize to answer questions like: Who do I want to make care decisions for me when I can’t? What kind of medical treatment do I want? What do I want my loved ones to know? The document lets you name the person you would like to represent you and lays out numerous actions you might want your agent to take on your behalf. You can cross out whatever you don’t want that person to do and add in whatever requests you don’t see there. Five Wishes is free and legally effective in most states (without any attorney fees). You can fill it out, have your signature witnessed by two others, then print and share it with family members and professionals. Presto, a valid advance directive. It even describes how to revoke it and issue a new one at any time, should your choices change. Perhaps many of those who refrain from expressing their choices are telling themselves, “Well, if I can’t make my own decisions at that time, what difference would it

make if someone else decided for me?” Keep in mind it’s possible that you may very well wake up and find the decisions others made have changed your life in ways you now don’t like. Above all, an advance directive or power of attorney can smooth a difficult path for your loved ones. These aren’t easy things to think about, I grant you. But look around: We are all more attuned to the possibility of sudden illness since COVID-19 showed up. In many ways, the pandemic stole some of our choices. Early lockdowns and emergency orders took a number of options off the table for all of us. Even now, we find many choices we might normally make are constrained by our safety concerns or those of others. Though this loss of choice may feel constricting, many of us have seen some silver linings in the forced retreat to home and family. In addition to staying safe, we are often bonding with loved ones, developing skills with the latest technology, and learning to communicate in new ways. Maybe another silver lining is that the coronavirus may lead more of us to exercise our powers of choice in the areas where we still can. One of those is to choose to “get our affairs in order.”

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). Subscriptions are available via third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. Maryland residents add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below. Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not

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 email info@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.

necessarily the opinion of the publisher.

Publisher/Editor – Stuart P. Rosenthal President/Associate Publisher – Judith K. Rosenthal Vice President of Operations – Gordon Hasenei Vice President, Sales & Marketing – Alan Spiegel Managing Editor – Margaret Foster Art Director – Kyle Gregory Director of Operations – Roger King Advertising Representative – Steve Levin Assistant Editor – Catherine Brown

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The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 31 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions.

Dear Editor: I’m a classical pianist and Professor Emeritus of Music at Goucher College. My Baltimore and Carnegie Hall concerts were cancelled due to the pandemic. It’s been nice, actually, not stressing over a performance. I’m more relaxed than I’ve been in ages. I’ve been invited to play a virtual recital in November for a church with a violinist colleague. Chamber music, I figured, would be far less pressure than a solo concert. But we decided to play Cesar Franck’s 30 minute, 4-movement sonata for violin and piano, which has possibly the most technically difficult piano part in the entire violin-piano literature. Why have I decided to play that, of all pieces, at age 68, with my tired eyes, creaking joints, and strong desire to avoid unnecessary pressures? Something is calling me back to the Franck. I recall playing it twice in my

younger years, but I also remember my fear — of missing notes, of losing control, of not being perfect — and how that fear obstructed my engagement with the music itself. Astonishingly, I am finding that I’m better equipped to play Franck than ever. The technical difficulties don’t scare me like they used to. In fact, I’m now deeply engaged with the heart and soul of this magnificent work on a level I was incapable of when I was younger. How did this happen? I think it has to do with having lived my life just exactly as I did, and surviving. It’s that simple, and that complex. So, my advice to your readers is: Believe in the foundations you’ve built. Tap the beauty inside you. Trust in your own acquired wisdom. Rejoice in it and share it, so that we may rejoice together. Lisa Weiss Baltimore, MD

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KEYNOTE SPEAKER

2020 PRESENTED BY

Ken Dychtwald, PhD, a national expert on aging and author of the new book, What Retirees Want

Coming Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, through Jan. 31, 2021 Due to COVID-19, this year’s Beacon 50+Expo will be online rather than in-person YOU WILL ENJOY:

• A variety of EXPERT SPEAKERS on health and ﬁnancial topics • A number of ENGAGING CLASSES and fun ENTERTAINERS • An even larger number of INFORMATIVE EXHIBITORS than usual PLUS: You’ll be able to “visit” all speakers, classes, entertainers and exhibitors AT ANY TIME during the three months the Expo will be open Look for more details in upcoming issues of the Beacon Register at bit.ly/beacon50expo to get updates sent to you GOLD SPONSOR

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Technology &

Innovations Online dating: a guide for people over 50

Figure out what you want Keep in mind, many of us mature seniors have been single for a long time and have become accustomed to the solo lifestyle. This admittedly has some nice bonuses, such as making our own deci-

sions to come and go as we please. It’s important to know what we want and don’t want in a relationship — regardless of what our kids or friends think is best for us. Also, for mature singles, the traditional relationship is a thing of the past. Now that we are older, with grown children, and we’ve probably been married once or twice, or widowed — we have different needs. Many of us still have some of the same needs we had in our 20s. I can surely speak for myself. There may be snow on the mountain, but there’s still fire in the furnace, as they say! There’s a big difference in the activity level of the older population today compared to our parents’ era. Today’s silver population is more active and has the means and time to join the gym, travel and live in 55+ communities, where there is always a lot going on. There are cruises for singles over 50. Every type of card game, exercise and entertainment imaginable is offered at clubhouses and community rooms. Free Silver Sneakers — a Medicare benefit — makes it easier than ever to stay fit. We are living longer and having fun doing it.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

BRAIN FITNESS ONLINE

Receive fun, challenging activities via email from the Howard County Public Library to help you stay mentally active. Contact hcls.brainfitness@hclibrary.org to receive instructions and activities.

Ongoing

FOCUS GROUP VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The Maryland Accessible Telecommunications is looking for volunteers for a focus group to access telecommunication technologies. It’s seeking people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, blind, with difficulty speaking, with limited mobility and with cognitive difficulties. If interested, contact Kevin Steffy at (410) 246-4418 or kevin.steffy@maryland.gov.

Oct. 15

BALTIMORE’S GOLDEN AGE OF MOVIE THEATERS

Maryland Center for History and Culture Curator explores the experience of movie-going in Baltimore from the days of Electric Park through today. This free, virtual program will take place Thurs., Oct. 15 from 4 to 5 p.m. Register at http://bit.ly/BaltMovies.

Some tips for online dating

PHOTO COURTESY SANDRA LINDBERG

By Sandra Lindberg When I was younger and in a different era, it was easy meeting single men, striking up a conversation and dating. Well, sorry to say, older single people today have a tough time meeting the right partner, someone who shares similar likes and dislikes and really wants a meaningful, long-term relationship where both feel mutual chemistry. Having been married twice, my hope was to find someone with whom I can spend quality time and enjoy a movie or dinner. Meet someone who makes me laugh and with whom I can talk about life over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Someone to enjoy activities with me, travel together and share some romance. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Yet many of my friends have given up looking for a partner in life.

At the same time, a social change has taken place. Sure, it’s possible to meet someone at the gym or on a cruise. But online dating has become the way to meet someone while sitting at home in our recliners with no makeup and frizzed-out hair. I have been on and off many dating sites for so many years that I’ve lost count: Match, Plenty of Fish (POF), Date A Golfer, eHarmony, Tinder, Our Time and a couple others that I can’t recall. If you’d like to try one of these dating websites, here are a few tips when Author Sandra Lindberg has tried many dating websites. She offers her advice in a new book. creating your profile: —Your picture must be current, as in taken in the last six worthy partner, you must first be one months. Have at least one recent full- yourself. Dishonesty will show its ugly length picture of yourself. Make sure your head sooner or later. —Keep comments about politics feature picture is of you alone and shows your best facial expressions. Use some hu- and religion out of your profile. —Proceed safely. Being safe is more morous captions. —Write a strong bio. On most dating than locking your car doors at night. It sites, you answer preset questions and means being aware. Remember, people then write a brief biography. After your aren’t always who they pretend to be onmain picture, your bio is the second most line and may take advantage of someone important piece of information about you. who appears to be vulnerable. If you’re This is where you have the opportunity to feeling uncomfortable about a situation, highlight and promote yourself. Write as if trust your gut and take measures to reit were a sales letter for your dream job. move yourself from those situations or Or dream partner, in this case. Your writ- don’t get into them in the first place. After several years meeting people ing gives a peek into who you are, what you have to offer, and what you are look- through dating websites, I’m still looking for the perfect companion. Yet I’ve learned ing for. —Be positive and optimistic. Even if so much more about myself from the online you are angry about some of the people dating mistakes I’ve made along the way. I’m still an optimistic person. I believe you have dated in the past, refrain from making your profile into what you don’t there is someone out there who wants the want rather than what you do want. You same things I do and will still appreciate a must be upbeat and cheerful in your word partner who has all of my qualities…even choices. List activities you currently enjoy. one over 50 (or 70!). This excerpt is printed with permission from —Be truthful. Honesty is the best policy. That includes your age and your an- Sandra Lindberg’s book 51 Shades of Online swers to the profile questions. If you Dating: A Guide for People Over 50, availsmoke, say you smoke. If you drink, say able for $15 on Amazon. For more inforyou drink. If you want an honest and trust- mation, visit sandralindberg-writer.com.

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According to the American SpeechLanguage-Hearing Association (ASHA), masks can make communication difficult for the approximately 48 million Americans with hearing loss. Masks muffle sound and take away a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to read lips and see facial expressions, which help people better understand what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hearing. This â&#x20AC;&#x153;Communication Window Mask,â&#x20AC;? made by â&#x20AC;&#x153;Widespread mask use at this crit- ADCO Hearing Products, is designed to enable ical juncture in the pandemic is key lip reading by those who are hard of hearing. to protecting the public health, but Window masks retail for $15.99 to $19.99 on we want to make everyone aware the site. that masks can pose communication â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Talk a little louder (but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t shout) challenges for anyone â&#x20AC;&#x201D; especially people and a little slower. who are deaf or hard of hearing,â&#x20AC;? said â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Use your hands and your body lanASHA President Theresa H. Rodgers, MA, guage. CCC-SLP. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Ask your partner if they understood To aid communication while wearing a you; if not, say it a different way or write it mask, ASHA offers everyone the following down. tips: â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Move to a quiet place if you can. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Consider using a mask with a clear â&#x20AC;&#x201D; If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re talking with someone new, panel over the mouth (available from various ask if thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anything you can do to make online sites) or using a clear face shield communication easier for both of you. (when appropriate). For more information and tips, visit â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Make sure you have your communica- http://bit.ly/ASHAtips. tion partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention before speaking. For window masks, visit adcohearing.com/ â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Face your partner directly, and make collections/adco-brand-masks or call 1-800sure nothing is blocking your view. 726-0851.

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Health Fitness &

STRESS EATING Got an ice cream addiction? Tips to curb overeating during stressful times CLOSER LOOK AT LASIK Eyesight correction surgery using lasers has an excellent, long track record STUDY NEEDS VOLUNTEERS National Institute on Aging studies a ketone drink for cognitive benefits NEXT GENERATION More than half of Americans are under 40, outnumbering Boomers

New blood test may diagnose Alzheimer’s By Marilynn Marchione An experimental blood test was highly accurate at distinguishing people with Alzheimer’s disease from those without it in several studies, boosting hopes that there soon may be a simple way to help diagnose this most common form of dementia. Developing such a test has been a longsought goal, and scientists warn that the new approach still needs more validation and is not yet ready for wide use. But July’s results suggest they’re on the right track. The testing identified people with Alzheimer’s vs. no dementia or other types of it with accuracy ranging from 89% to 98%. “That’s pretty good. We’ve never seen that” much precision in previous efforts, said Maria Carrillo, the Alzheimer’s Association’s chief science officer. Dr. Eliezer Masliah, neuroscience chief at the U.S. National Institute on Aging, agreed. “The data look very encouraging,” he said. The new testing “appears to be even more sensitive and more reliable” than earlier methods, but it needs to be tried in larger, more diverse populations, he said. The institute had no role in these stud-

ies but financed earlier basic research toward blood test development. Results were discussed at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference that took place online because of the coronavirus pandemic. Some results also were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. More than 5 million people in the United States and many more worldwide have Alzheimer’s. Current drugs only temporarily ease symptoms and do not slow mental decline. The disease is usually diagnosed through tests of memory and thinking skills, but those methods are very imprecise and usually involve a referral to a neurologist. More reliable methods such as spinal fluid tests and brain scans are invasive or expensive, so a simple blood test that could be done in a family doctor’s office would be a big advance.

Test measures tau protein Last year, scientists reported encouraging results from experimental blood tests that measure abnormal versions of amyloid, one of two proteins that build up and damage Alzheimer’s patients’ brains.

The new work focuses on the other protein — tau — and finds that one form of it, called p-tau217, is a more reliable indicator. Several companies and universities have developed experimental p-tau217 tests. Dr. Oskar Hansson of Lund University in Sweden led a study of Eli Lilly’s test on more than 1,400 people already enrolled in dementia studies in Sweden, Arizona and Colombia. They included people with no impairment, mild impairment, Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases. The p-tau217 test outperformed a host of other measures for indicating which patients had Alzheimer’s as verified by brain scans. It also was comparable to the brain scans and some spinal tests in accuracy. The Arizona portion of the study included 81 people who had donated their brains upon death, so researchers were able to show that blood testing while they were alive closely matched evidence of disease later. The Colombia part of the study included people with a rare gene that virtually destines them to develop Alzheimer’s at a young age, typically in their 40s. In those with the gene, p-tau217 blood levels started to rise “around 20 years before symptoms,” Hansson said.

Multiple studies underway Two other research groups independently reported evidence for p-tau217 testing at the conference. Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, found it helped distinguish people with Alzheimer’s from those with another neurological disease — frontotemporal lobar degeneration — with 96% accuracy in a study of 617 people. Dr. Suzanne Schindler of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, also found p-tau217 better than some other indicators for revealing which patients had plaques in the brain — the hallmark of Alzheimer’s. “When patients come to me with changes in their memory and thinking, one of the major questions is, what’s the cause? Is it Alzheimer’s disease or is it something else?” she said. If tau testing bears out, “it would help us diagnose people earlier and more accurately.” Schindler has already launched a larger study in a diverse population in St. Louis. Researchers have done the same in Sweden. If benefits are confirmed, Masliah, Carrillo and others say they hope a commercial test would be ready for wide use in about two years. —AP

Tips to get better sleep in the hospital By Melissa Bartick, M.D. If you or any of your loved ones has ever been hospitalized, one of the complaints you may have heard most is how hard it is to sleep in the hospital. There are lots of things about hospital routines that can make things difficult for patients to sleep, besides noise and illness. While some hospitals have taken steps to ensure that patients are not interrupted unnecessarily at night, this is not universal. Some reasons you might be woken at night might be unavoidable. You might be on a particular medication, such as certain antibiotics, that must be given in the middle of the night, depending on when the first dose was given. Blood tests for levels of some antibiotics must be timed to their dosing, resulting in blood draws in the middle of the night, too. If you are admitted to check for a heart attack, you might also be ordered for timed blood tests that might involve hav-

ing your blood drawn in the middle of the night. Vital signs, such as pulse and blood pressure, are required to be taken every four hours for some conditions, which would also awaken you. One study shows the top thing keeping patients awake is pain, followed by vital signs and tests, noise and medications. Studies have also shown that hospital routines can disrupt patient sleep, and having a designated quiet time, where nonessential tasks are minimized and lights and noise are lowered, may help. Here is a partial list of things that keep patients awake, and what you might be able to do about them: 1. Pain. Pain is easier to control before it gets bad. Don’t hesitate to ask for pain medicine at bedtime, even if your pain is not yet severe. 2. Vital checks. You are woken up to have your blood pressure taken. Vital signs are usually taken every eight hours. Often

these are done between 11 p.m. and midnight, after the night shift starts, but that’s frequently just after you have fallen sleep. Alternatively, the night shift could be taking your vital signs at 6 a.m., when you would be awoken for other hospital routines anyway. If you are given the opportunity to give feedback during or after your stay, it would be important to mention this — hospital administrators look closely at patient feedback. 3. The IV pump that keeps beeping. This is usually because the flow of IV fluid is blocked (occluded), most often due to its insertion in the crook of your elbow. Thus, every time you bend your arm, the pump alarm will start beeping. If this is the case, ask to have the IV put in a different place, like your hand. 4. You are woken to be given medications. Sometimes a medication or breathing treatment might be ordered “every four hours” or “every six hours,” which means the nurse or respiratory

therapist is required to wake you to give it to you even if you are asleep. You can ask if the order can be changed to four times a day instead of every six hours, or “every four hours while awake.” 5. Noise. Lots of things can be noisy in the hospital at night — staff voices, cleaning machines, your roommate if you have one. You can always ask to have your door closed, and you can ask someone to bring you ear plugs. 6. You are up all night urinating. If this is not the case when you are at home, it might be because you were ordered for a diuretic to be given late in the day, after 6 p.m. or so, or you are ordered for IV fluids at a rate that is higher than you actually require. Your nurse can ask the doctor to change these orders. 7. Blood transfusions at night. If you need a blood transfusion, it is best not to do See BETTER SLEEP, page 8

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

Ways to limit eating from stress, boredom By Lainey Younkin You’ve had a bad day, so you grab a tub of ice cream, move to the couch and dig right in. You don’t feel physically hungry, but eating ice cream is comforting. This is referred to as emotional eating or stress eating. These terms are often used interchangeably, and both refer to turning to food to cope with emotions. This type of eating contrasts with wandering into the kitchen and grabbing some snacks because you’re bored. That’s boredom eating. Why do people turn to food when stressed or bored? Biology and environment both play a role. Stress causes your body to release the hormone cortisol, which increases appetite and can lead to weight gain. Stress also increases ghrelin, the “hunger hormone,” which stimulates appetite too. “Meanwhile, insufficient sleep is also linked to a reduction in satiety hormones and an increase in hunger hormones,” ex-

Better sleep From page 6 it during sleeping hours, because it requires the nurse to monitor your vital signs frequently and would keep you awake for hours. If you need a transfusion, ask if it can

plained registered dietitian Didi de Zwarte. The best strategy is to stop and ask yourself, “Why am I eating right now?” Then decide the best course of action based on that answer. “Only you can tell the difference between when you’re stress eating or eating out of boredom. Take a moment to tune into your body to find out which it is,” Bri Bell, R.D., said. “Either way, it’s perfectly normal and okay to occasionally eat due to stress or boredom or any other emotion. Beating yourself up about it only adds to the stressful emotions.” According to Bell, you just don’t want eating to become your only way of coping with emotions. She recommends opting for coping strategies that are health-promoting. Here are a few expert tips to try:

1. Take a deep breath.

three minutes, or step outside for fresh air, allowing the outdoor light to hit your face,” Jamie Lee McIntyre, R.D.N., suggested. “Your stress won’t disappear, but this can help create a buffer between the urge coming on and the act of eating, and buy you time in deciding the best way to react.”

2. Make an activity list. “Write a to-do list filled with both productive and fun things,” McIntyre said. “Pick two things to accomplish, then reassess if you need to eat. If you’re bored, you’ll be in a more productive or motivated mindset to move on to something else that doesn’t involve eating.”

3. Opt for exercise. Physical activity is a great stress-buster and can assist with regulating hormones, too. If you’re bored and not physically hungry, work out first and then eat if you still feel the urge.

“Focus on deep breathing for two to possibly wait until daytime. Frequent nighttime disruptions can often cause patients to want to nap during the day, and these can also throw off their sleep schedules. Patients might already be weak and tired from their underlying illness. If you’re hospitalized, it’s important to

keep your normal sleep schedule and circadian rhythm. During the day, keep the window shades open for natural light and keep the room dark during sleeping hours. An eye mask might be helpful if exposure to light at night is unavoidable. A favorite blanket, pillow, photos and music can help you

4. Set up your environment for success. Put tempting foods behind closed cabinets or up high where you aren’t as likely to see them. Store healthy foods in seethrough containers. It may sound silly, but research finds that keeping healthier food in plain sight and less-healthy treats out of sight can help you choose healthier options more frequently.

5. Eat balanced meals and get enough sleep. Fill your plate with fiber, protein and healthy fats at each meal. This combo keeps hunger and satiety hormones working properly and keeps you full for several hours. Sleep seven to eight hours each night to avoid cravings the next day. EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at eatingwell.com. © 2020 Meredith Corporation. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. relax and be more comfortable. Most hospitals can do better to make nighttime routines friendlier for patients, but institutional change can be challenging. Knowing what to ask for is useful and will help move healthcare forward. © 2020 by Harvard University

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Silent kidney disease can creep up on you Dear Savvy Senior, So, anyone that has diabetes, high blood Do kidney problems run in families? pressure or heart disease, a family history My mother died from kidof kidney disease, or is age ney failure 10 years ago at 60 or older needs to get tested. age 74 but didn’t know she Also, since African, Hispanhad a kidney problem until ic, Asian and Indian Ameriit was too late. cans along with Pacific IsJust Turned 60 landers are at increased risk, Dear 60, they should also be tested. Anyone who has a family If you’re diagnosed with history of kidney disease, or kidney disease, you need to who has high blood pressure know that there’s no cure, but or diabetes, is at increased there are steps you can take to risk and needs to have their SAVVY SENIOR help contain the damage, inBy Jim Miller kidneys tested. cluding: According to the Centers for Control your blood presDisease Control and Prevention, around 37 sure: If you have high blood pressure, get million U.S adults have chronic kidney dis- it under 130/80. If you need medication to ease (when the kidneys can’t properly do do it, ACE inhibitors and ARBs are good their job of cleaning toxins and wastes from choices because of their proven ability to the blood), and millions more are at risk of protect the kidneys. developing it. Yet most people don’t realize it. That’s because kidney disease develops very slowly over many years before any symptoms arise. But left untreated, the disease can eventually require people to spend hours hooked up to a dialysis machine or get a kidney transplant. Even mild kidney problems can double a person’s risk of heart attack and stroke, as well as cause anemia and bone disease.

Control your diabetes: If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar as close to normal as possible. Change your diet: This usually means reducing the amount of protein and phosphorus you consume and cutting back on sodium and possibly potassium. Your doctor can help you determine an appropriate eating plan, or you may want to talk to a dietitian. Watch your meds: Dozens of commonly used drugs can damage the kidneys, especially when taken in high doses over long periods — most notably NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen. Herbal supplements can also be very dangerous. Talk to your doctor about all the prescription, over the counter and herbal products you take to identify potential problems and find alternatives. Exercise and lose weight: If you’re over-

weight and inactive, start an aerobic fitness routine (walk, swim, cycle, etc.) that gets your heart pumping. This will help lower blood pressure, control diabetes and help you lose excess weight, all of which will help your kidneys. Quit smoking: If you smoke, quit. Heart disease becomes a much greater risk to the kidneys if you smoke. Smoking also doubles the rate of progression to end-stage renal failure. Limit alcohol intake: Drinking too much alcohol can worsen kidney disease too, so talk to your doctor to see if it’s safe for you to drink, and if so, limit yourself to no more than one drink per day. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior.

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Risk factors The reason kidney disease has become so widespread today is because of the rise of obesity, type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure, all of which strain the kidneys. Another factor is the increasing number of people who take multiple medications, which can also overtax the organs. People over age 60 are especially vulnerable, both because they tend to take more drugs and because kidney function normally declines somewhat with age.

Get tested Because kidney disease has no early symptoms, the only way to catch it before it advances is to have a simple blood and urine test by your doctor.

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Time to rethink how we study Parkinson’s By Alberto Espay and Benjamin Stecher A decade ago, one of our colleagues was asked at a conference, “When will we have a cure for Parkinson’s disease?” “It could happen at any time,” he replied. “It could happen next year. It could happen in 10 years. It could happen tomorrow.” Our colleague’s optimism was wellfounded. Talented researchers were hard at work in laboratories throughout the world, and money was pouring in from governments, the pharmaceutical industry, and foundations large and small. The Michael J. Fox Foundation had become a force that was determined to take down this progressive, degenerative disease. Even better, we knew the targets we

were aiming for (or so we thought). Parkinson’s disease was caused by abnormal aggregation of proteins in certain parts of the brain, called Lewy bodies, and the loss of brain cells that produced dopamine in a small part of the brain called the substantia nigra. But after a global investment of over $100 billion, our optimism is tempered. We have no cure to celebrate. Worldwide, 7 to 10 million people suffer from Parkinson’s. In the United States, about 1 million are thought to have Parkinson’s, more than those affected by multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) combined. The cost of Parkinson’s in the United States, including treat-

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ment and lost productivity, is an estimated $52 billion per year. Every day people suffering from tremor, slowness, stiffness and balance problems come to us for care. We manage their symptoms with medication ($2,500 per year) or surgery ($100,000), but these are temporary fixes. We have yet to find an effective therapy that slows or modifies the steady march of disability. It is time to rethink our approach.

Trials should be targeted We have spent decades explaining the failures of clinical and surgical trials to slow the disease by pointing to shortcomings on technical issues or assuming that we need to study people at earlier and earlier stages. At the same time, we have not questioned the target of those trials. Overwhelming evidence suggests that Parkinson’s is actually a syndrome — a group of symptoms that cluster together but have different causes. To make matters more complicated, not all patients have all of these symptoms. And if there are many types of Parkinson’s disease, one therapy cannot cure them all. It is time for the field of neurodegenerative diseases to take a lesson from other fields of medicine and embrace precision medicine — the matching of treatments to biological disease subtypes and the rational use of a multidrug approach for each. The treatment of a patient with breast cancer, for instance, cannot be determined until genetic mutations are identified and receptors are tested. Curing a child with leukemia would not be possible without the ability to use two or more chemotherapy drugs. Understanding Parkinson’s diseases according to their molecular subtypes is to see the individual trees in the forest; to see that each subtype requires a different treatment, or even a combination of treatments; to see that one or more of these subtypes may cause symptoms characteristic of both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases; to begin to rethink autopsy studies that have found a high incidence of concurrent Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s pathologies in certain groups of patients, and to start the hard work of finding precise biomarkers that will enable us to finally properly define the various subtypes of Parkinson’s.

One size doesn’t fit all It is humbling to report that, after all these years, we have biomarkers for only a few, rare genetic forms of Parkinson’s, but none for the subtypes that afflict the vast majority of patients. The field has erred by trying to attach biomarkers to symptoms in patients who already have been diagnosed as having Parkinson’s. It is the reverse model — biomarker first, diagnostic subtyping second — that may best inform clinical trials that test new therapies. Because we have used a one-size-fits-all approach to research, assembling clinical trials for all patients rather than for molecular subtypes, we have seen the failure of dozens of trials of promising treatments over the past three decades. We can only acquire true biomarkers by studying large, aging populations. We need the equivalent of Framingham — the landmark study that revealed high blood pressure and high cholesterol as biomarkers of heart disease. This new approach will require public– private partnerships and data sharing across the globe. It also will require the adoption of flexible clinical trial designs that allow a combination of drug treatments in smaller but well-defined subsets of patients. Future clinical trials may be conducted not in hundreds or thousands of people with Parkinson’s, but rather in dozens of biologically homogeneous patients who share a specific biomarker. In this setting, a cocktail approach may also be needed, as in cancer treatment, to target more than one mechanism of disease. The transition will require fortitude. We will need to accept that the first proven therapy that protects brain cells may work for fewer than 5% of those assumed to be facing Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. The reward will be our ability to practice true precision medicine for our patients. And it will renew our optimism that diseases of brain aging can someday be slowed and potentially cured — one subtype at a time. This is an excerpt from the book Brain Fables: The Hidden History of Neurodegenerative Diseases and a Blueprint to Conquer Them, published by Cambridge University Press. For more information or to buy the book for $19.95, visit http://bit.ly/brainfables.

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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 2 0

Pros and cons of LASIK eye surgery By Darby Miller, M.D. Dear Mayo Clinic: What are the risks of LASIK surgery, and will my vision deteriorate again over time, even after surgery? A: It is not typical for a person’s vision to regress after LASIK, or laser-assisted insitu keratomileusis, and complications that result in a loss of vision after LASIK are rare. Although the procedure may lead to some side effects, they are uncommon. A thorough evaluation before surgery often can help avoid many of the potential problems that can happen after LASIK. LASIK is a form of refractive surgery — surgery that changes the shape of the cornea, the transparent window at the front of your eye. The surgery corrects vision problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, reducing or eliminating the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses. LASIK is performed using a laser that removes tissue from your cornea to reshape it. To gain access to the cornea, a surgeon cuts a hinged flap away from the front of the eye. After reshaping the cornea with a different laser, the surgeon lays the flap back into place. Vision is often good right after surgery, but it can take up to several weeks for it to

stabilize. In some cases, the first surgery may result in undercorrection. This is more common in people who have higher prescriptions. If undercorrection happens, another surgery may be needed to achieve the proper correction. Long-term results from LASIK tend to be best in people who are carefully evaluated before surgery to ensure that they are good candidates for the procedure. Medical history, family history and other existing medical conditions can affect the success of LASIK. The shape and thickness of your cornea also need to be thoroughly assessed to make sure that you can undergo the procedure safely.

cornea from the laser, and problems with the LASIK flap during or after surgery. All of these complications are uncommon. Another serious complication is an eye disorder called post-LASIK ectasia. This condition changes the shape of your cornea years after surgery. In people who have ectasia, it may seem as if their vision has regressed. Usually the vision cannot be fully corrected with glasses or contact lenses, and, in some cases, ectasia may require a cornea transplant. The

main risk factor for post-LASIK ectasia is an eye disease called keratoconus. If you have this disorder, or if you have a family history of it, you should not get LASIK. Another eye problem that can mimic vision regression after LASIK is a cataract — clouding of the eye lens. As a cataract develops, some people who have had refractive surgery become nearsighted again. This problem requires cataract surSee LASIK, page 12

Potential side effects Potential side effects from LASIK include seeing glare and halos around lights, particularly at night. This generally lasts a few days to a few weeks. Most people experience more dryness in their eyes after surgery. In some cases, dry eyes may become a chronic problem following LASIK. People who have dry eyes before LASIK are at higher risk for chronic dry eyes after surgery than those who have not had that condition. More serious complications of LASIK include eye infections that lead to scarring of the cornea, an irregular surface of the

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Meals on Wheels From page 1 packing it into his Chevy Captiva SUV, and making eight or nine deliveries a day to the program’s mostly aging residents of the area. “The people I make the deliveries to are really grateful. It’s wonderful to get their thanks,” Bittinger said. “I’ll keep doing the deliveries until I get another [paying] job,” he said. This fall, Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland is serving up to 3,500 people each day — double the number of pre-pandemic clients. “We surpassed 1.9 million meals produced, packed, and delivered in the last fiscal year,” Archer-Smith said. That includes special meals, from kosher (mostly in the Baltimore metropolitan area) to Korean (mostly in Howard County). The program’s Baltimore headquarters currently has 105 paid employees, ArcherSmith said. About 1,200 of the usual 2,000 volunteers discontinued after the onset of the pandemic. But new volunteers like Bit-

LASIK From page 11 gery and not further LASIK. Because several serious eye issues can masquerade as vision regression, it is important to have your eye care professional

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

In 2017, the Trump administration threatened a full cut-off of the $3 billion federal Community Development Block Grant, which in part helps fund more than 5,000 community-based Meals on Wheels programs nationwide. Mick Mulvaney, President Trump’s budget director at the time, said Meals on Wheels was one of many block grant-supported pro-

grams “just not showing any results.” In response, Meals on Wheels said its members had served some 219 million meals “to more than 2.4 million seniors from 60 to 100+ years old” in 2016 alone. A Washington Post story on the proposed ending of the federal aid reported that studies had found the home-delivered meals “significantly improved diet quality, increased nutrient intakes and reduced food insecurity among the participants.” In addition, one study found that those receiving daily meals from the program experienced fewer falls and hospitalizations. The program, which created or maintained 330,000 jobs between 2005 and 2013, “helped seniors stay at home and out of costly nursing facilities,” which was “keeping the lid on healthcare costs,” the Post article said. In the end, “community pushback” saved federal funding for the program, ArcherSmith said. But she added that while costs have tripled, the “flat funding, which is at the same level it was six years ago,” now makes up only 40% of the Central Maryland pro-

gram’s $12 million yearly budget. The rest of the operating budget comes from “public support through fundraising,” with a small amount contributed by recipients. About 10% of meal recipients “are too poor to pay anything” for the meals, while the rest make a nominal donation based on income, Archer-Smith said. The program needs additional donations to purchase food from Sysco food distributors and local food merchants. (Direct donations of food are not accepted “for safety considerations,” Archer-Smith said.) On a personal note, Baltimore resident Archer-Smith, 58, who became executive director eight years ago, acknowledged that her work today seems more important than ever. “I’m learning more every day about the link between isolation, nutrition and aging. The more we know through research in those areas, the greater will be the impact on the cost and ways to foster healthy aging.” Her ultimate goal, Archer-Smith noted, is “to make a difference; make it a little better for those in need.”

investigate any change in vision after LASIK to find the underlying cause. To find out if you’re a good candidate for LASIK surgery, talk with an ophthalmologist who has training and experience in refractive surgery. He or she can discuss the pros and cons with you in detail and help you decide if

LASIK would be an appropriate choice. But in general, complications from LASIK are uncommon, especially when people are screened and evaluated carefully to confirm that they are good candidates for the procedure. Most people have positive results and are satisfied with the out-

come of the surgery. — Darby Miller, M.D., M.P.H., Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. Email a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org.

tinger, most over 50 years old, are slowly showing up. “We still need volunteers” to hit the 2,000 mark again, she said. The volunteer jobs include, among other tasks, delivering meals weekly from approximately 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Dundalk, Randallstown or Silver Spring; becoming a “substitute” delivery driver; grocery shopping for clients throughout central Maryland (flexible hours); packing meals at the organization’s headquarters at 515 S. Haven St. in Baltimore; or making telephone “wellness” calls to check in on the program’s clients.

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Health Studies

INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Can a ketone drink help you think better? By Margaret Foster Maybe you’ve heard of the “keto diet” — a high-fat, low-carb fad. Or you’ve wondered about those expensive ketone drinks that athletes rave about. Or maybe you’ve never heard of ketones — chemicals your liver makes when you can’t get energy from glucose. This fall, the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging is enrolling people in a study to see if a citrus-flavored ketone supplement can give people a mental boost. “We will have the opportunity to see if, after drinking this supplement, people get sharper memory and improved cognitive performance” said Dimitrios Kapogiannis, M.D., the study’s principal investigator. It’s the perfect study for “someone who’s interested to see what ketones can do for their brain.”

Volunteers 55 and up needed The study is open to people age 55 and older who have a condition they might not know about: metabolic syndrome. If you are overweight, have high blood pressure, high blood sugar and cholesterol, you may have metabolic syndrome.

About a third of Americans do. The condition isn’t life-threatening, but it can lead to type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It may also increase your risk for Alzheimer’s disease. “We want to test this supplement in a population that has a somewhat higher risk for Alzheimer’s…because of insulin resistance,” Kapogiannis said. When a person has Alzheimer’s, the brain can’t use glucose for energy, but it is able to use ketones. That’s how this drink may help. “We’re trying to prove several things: First, that drinking this drink increases the ketones in your brain, not just in your blood, which we already know it does. “If we see the increase of ketones in the brain, does this make your cognitive performance faster and more accurate?” Kapogiannis asked. “Also, does it move biomarkers in the blood related to Alzheimer’s in the right direction?”

Four visits, drink at home Once enrolled in the trial, participants will make four in-person visits to the Na-

tional Institute on Aging’s clinic in Harbor Point, south of Federal Hill. Free parking is available, and compensation is provided. Two visits will be relatively short checkins. The other two half-day visits will include cognitive tests, blood work and an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). “The cognitive tests are designed to

push you to the limit without getting you too frustrated,” Kapogiannis said. “I think [the cognitive tests] are fun.” Most of the fun of the blind, controlled study will take place at home. One group of participants will receive a citrus-flavored See KETONE STUDY, page 15

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

Mexican rice made with homemade salsa By Matthew Wendel These recipes are reprinted with permission from Recipes from the President’s Ranch: Food People Like to Eat, by Matthew Wendel, White House chef to President George W. Bush and family, recently published by the White House Historical Association (WHHA).

Mexican rice with a twist My twist on Mexican rice is very simple. For a base, I use my Prairie Chapel Ranch roasted ancho chili salsa (see below), which contains all the flavors I want in the rice dish. Ingredients: Serves 6 ½ cup long grain uncooked white rice ¼ cup vegetable or canola oil 3 cups chicken broth ½ cup carrots, diced (fresh or frozen) ½ cup Prairie Chapel Ranch salsa (see below) ½ cup peas (fresh or frozen) Preparation: 1. Rinse and drain rice in a fine mesh strainer. 2. Place a large cast-iron skillet or heavy bottomed saucepan over medium–high heat. Add oil and let it heat up for 2 to 3 minutes. 3. Add rice and stir. 4. Reduce to medium heat, stirring frequently, until rice is lightly golden brown,

about 10 minutes. 5. Stir in broth, fresh carrots and salsa. If using frozen carrots, add them at step 7. 6. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover. Cook for about 20 minutes, until water is completely absorbed. 7. Add peas during the last 5 minutes of cooking. 8. Remove from heat and fluff rice with a fork before serving.

Prairie Chapel Ranch Roasted Ancho Chili Salsa The Bushes loved chips and salsa. I developed this easy salsa recipe as a go-to dish for the family. Because of its rich, earthy flavor, this salsa is perfect on grilled chicken or fish, or as a base for soup. Ingredients: Makes 4 cups 2–3 dried ancho peppers Water 1 small white onion, roughly chopped 4–5 medium tomatoes, quartered 2–3 garlic cloves 1 small bunch (slightly less than ½ cup) of cilantro 1–2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped Salt Preparation: 1. In a hot skillet, dry-roast the ancho

peppers for about 2 minutes on each side. The peppers should start to puff up and release their flavor. 2. Place the peppers in a medium bowl and cover with hot water until the peppers are soft, probably about 5 minutes. 3. Once the peppers are soft, remove the stems and seeds. 4. Place peppers and all the rest of the ingredients in a food processor and blend together until mixed well. Salt to taste. The salsa will be a beautiful deep red. For

added flavor, dry roast or char the onion, tomatoes, garlic, onion and jalapeños before adding to the food processor. For a great variation, make a dip by combining 2 cups of cooked black beans and ½ cup salsa to food processor. Blend until well mixed. Go to whitehousehistory.org to listen to WHHA’s podcast “Recipes from the President’s Ranch” and learn more about the stories behind the recipes. To order a copy of the cookbook ($45), visit http://bit.ly/whitehousechef.

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Boomers and seniors no longer majority By Mike Schneider OK, boomers: Millennials and their younger siblings and children now make up a majority of the U.S. population. A new analysis by the Brookings Institution shows that 50.7% of U.S. residents are under age 40 as of July 2019. The Brookingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; analysis of population estimates released this summer by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the combined Millennial, Generation Z and younger generations numbered 166 million people. The combined Generation X, baby boomer, and older cohorts represent-

ed 162 million U.S. residents. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To many Americans â&#x20AC;&#x201D; especially baby boomers themselves â&#x20AC;&#x201D; this news may come as a shock. For them, the term â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;millennialâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; has been associated with a youthful, often negative, vibe in terms of habits, ideology and politics,â&#x20AC;? William Frey, a senior fellow at Brookingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Metropolitan Policy Program, wrote in the analysis. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now, the oldest millennial is 39, and with their numbers exceeding those of baby boomers, the millennial generation is poised to take over influential roles in business and government.â&#x20AC;?

Ketone study

At the end of the study, researchers will compare the MRIs and results of other tests to see if brain ketones increased and cognitive performance improved after drinking the ketone supplement. The study may pave the way for more research on Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease, Kapogiannis said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we see an effect in 28 days, obviously that will motivate future studies to enroll people for longer periods of time and also people with memory problems. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a stepping stone for future research on this compound.â&#x20AC;? For more information, or to volunteer, call (410) 350-3941 or email niastudiesrecruitment@mail.nih.gov.

From page 13 ketone drink (â&#x20AC;&#x153;an interesting taste,â&#x20AC;? Kapogiannis said), and the other will receive a placebo beverage. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be required to drink it three times a day for 28 days, logging each dose. The National Institute on Aging will provide a free 28-day supply of the drink, which is the most potent on the market in raising ketone levels, Kapogiannis said. The beverages, which sell for $99 for a one-day supply, are considered safe and are widely available at vitamin stores and on Amazon.

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Those under age 40 are more diverse than the older cohorts, with almost half identifying as being part of a racial or ethnic minority. Past surveys show that the younger generations split from the older generations on issues such as immigration reform, criminal justice reform and environmental protection, and the pandemic and recent racial justice protests are likely to galvanize the younger groups to promote an array of progressive causes, Frey wrote.

Millennials typically are defined as being born between 1981 and 1996. Baby boomers, long considered a primary driver of demographic and social change in the U.S. because of their large numbers, were born between the end of World War II and the arrival of the Beatles in the U.S. in 1964. Squeezed between the boomers and Millennials, Generation Xers were born in the late 1960s and 1970s. Members of Generation Z were born after 1996. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;AP

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A Publication of the Department of Community Resources and Services

Your Master Aging Virtual Showcase: October 23

ast October, Howard Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office on Aging and Independence (OAI) debuted Master Aging, a live event intended to reframe the concept of aging and highlight innovative opportunities for older adults to age well. This year, we are operating under a new normal amid a global pandemic, OAI team members are working to serve the community remotely and all 50+ Centers are closed. During these uncertain times, more and more of the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s older adults are relying on virtual connections to stay informed and engaged. On October 23, OAI takes this experience to the next level with the 6MĂ&#x201E;JL VU (NPUN HUK 0UKLWLUKLUJL :OV^JHZL! ( 4HZ[LY (NPUN ,_WLYPLUJL. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When it became clear that holding a live event was not possible this year, OAI started thinking of ways to blend the spirit of the Master Aging concept with a comprehensive overview of all that our office offers older adults, presented in an alternate format,â&#x20AC;? said OAI Administrator Jenna Crawley. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The =PY[\HS :OV^JHZL will have something for everyone and can be viewed in the comfort and safety of your own home.â&#x20AC;? From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the WebEx event will include a mix of live and pre-recorded segments, as well as a glimpse of some of OAIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s popular virtual programs. Following the â&#x20AC;&#x153;liveâ&#x20AC;? virtual event, all programs will be available on our website at www.howardcountymd.gov/masteraging. :OV^JHZL /PNOSPNO[Z â&#x20AC;˘ The release of the 2021 Resource Guide for Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities â&#x20AC;˘ Discover the Howard County OfďŹ ce on Aging and Independence by Jenna Crawley, OAI Administrator â&#x20AC;˘ Maryland Access Point (OAIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s information, assistance, and referral service) Learn about the many programs and services; where to start and how MAP can help; plus, learn about Options Counseling. â&#x20AC;˘ Understanding Medicare â&#x20AC;&#x201D; State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) staff discuss Medicare Open Enrollment and an overview of Medicare 101 and 102. â&#x20AC;˘ Long-Term Care OmbudsmanProgram â&#x20AC;&#x201D; An overview of this program includes advocacy and education of rights for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and the Senior Assisted Living Subsidy Program. â&#x20AC;˘ Assistive Devices and Technology (ADT) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; OAIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Community Living Program hosts a demonstration to promote independent living. Also, take a video tour of the Loan Closetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s equipment cleaning, donation process and other services. â&#x20AC;˘ Focus on Nutrition â&#x20AC;&#x201D; this session reviews the eligibility and registration requirements for the Grab & Go Meal Distribution program for older adults. (KKP[PVUHS -LH[\YLK 7YLZLU[H[PVUZ A slide show will highlight the many virtual programs available through our 50+ Centers, plus â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in anticipation of reopening when safe to do so â&#x20AC;&#x201D; catch a sneak peek of the newly-renovated Bain 50+ Center and video tours of the Elkridge and Ellicott City fitness rooms! Get a feel for what awaits you at the centers with an exercise break by trainer Michelle Rosenfeld, and enjoy a History Alive presentation by Mary Ann Jung, featuring her portrayal of suffragette Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Volume 10, No. 10 â&#x20AC;˘ October 2020

A Message from Howard County Executive

Calvin Ball

mid the uncertainty of living through a global pandemic, it is important to continue routines and make plans to stay healthy and engaged in our community. Each October one of the first things on my list is to get a flu shot. Especially this year, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important for residents of all ages to be vigilant and cautious because of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t already, discuss getting a flu shot with your doctor, call the Howard County Health Department at 410-313-6300, or visit www.howardcountymd.gov/seasonalflu to find options in your area.

For the upcoming General Election, we are encouraging everyone to vote by mail. All Maryland residents should receive an application for a mail-in ballot; to avoid delays, you may also request your mail-in-ballot at voterservices.elections.maryland.gov. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is October 20. Howard County will also have early voting centers and options to vote in person on election day, November 3, 2020. Stay connected with family and friends by participating in Walk Maryland on October 7 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a virtual celebration of our official state exercise. Throughout the spring, many residents took daily walks to stay active and reduce stress during the stay-at-home order. As the seasons change, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a beautiful time of the year to get outside, explore your neighborhood, engage in healthy living and remain safe. Embracing a routine and making a plan can help you stay healthy. Taking a walk to reflect on your day, engaging with virtual services, and making sure you get your flu shot, can all help us to get through this season safely. And donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to continue COVID-19 preventive habits every day â&#x20AC;&#x201D; wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, and physically distance from those outside your household. Wishing you a safe month ahead.

A variety of health and wellness segments will round out the virtual showcase, focusing on popular self-care management options including Living Well and Stepping Up Your Nutrition; plus, Caregiver Support Services; Paws4Comfort; and Kindred Spirits, Connections and SeniorsTogether peer support groups. Mark your calendar to join us for a day full of information and inspiration, delivered virtually! For a full schedule and event details, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/masteraging. Don't miss out on the 2021 Howard County Resource Guide featuring resources, programs and services geared to Howard County's older adults, persons with disabilities and caregivers, debuting during the Master Aging virtual showcase on Friday, October 23!

The 50+ Connection

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Nutrition and Breast Cancer Prevention by Carmen Roberts, MS, RD, LDN, Nutritionist, Howard County Office on Aging and Independence

reast cancer affects one in eight women in the United States. While lifestyle factors such as being overweight, sedentary, a smoker, or a heavy drinker can increase your cancer risk, there are some foods that can actually decrease your risk of breast cancer. Try adding more of these five cancerfighting foods to your diet: 1. LEAFY GREEN VEGETABLES contain powerful cancer-fighting antioxidants. Antioxidants have the ability to attack free radicals in your body to get rid of them. Free radicals can damage the DNA in your cells, leading to disease over time. 2. CITRUS FRUITS also contain antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties. 3. BERRIES contain antioxidants that protect against damage to cells and the spread of cancer cells. 4. FATTY FISH (salmon and mackerel) contain healthy omega-3 fats that have cancer-protective effects. 5. BEANS are high in fiber that can protect against the development of breast cancer. Limiting alcohol, fried foods, processed foods, added sugars, and refined carbohydrates can also reduce your cancer risk. For more guidance on breast cancer prevention, talk to your primary care provider or a registered dietitian.

Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15 through December 7 It's time to review your current Medicare plan to see if it will work for you next year. You can stay in your current plan if you are happy or compare plans to see if there is an option that better fits your needs. Contact SHIP — Howard County’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program — at 410-313-7392 (voice/relay) to schedule a virtual appointment with a SHIP counselor. For more information, visit us at www.howardcountymd.gov/SHIP. d.gov/SHIP.

Walktober:

Step Up Your Health KNIT/CROCHET for VETERANS!

Walk Maryland Day

The Howard County Ofﬁce of Veterans and Military Families is collecting homemade SCARVES AND HATS for military members. Drop off your items no later than Friday, November 6, at the Department of Community Resources and Services, one of our 50+ Centers (excluding Bain), or one of four additional locations. Visit us at www.howardcountymd.gov/veterans for details.

Walk Maryland Day — October 7 — is a celebration of our ofﬁcial state exercise: walking! It is also a call to action to promote awareness that regular walking can improve your health and encourages Marylanders to participate. Walktober is a state-wide movement to get people moving. So, let’s challenge ourselves to move during the month of October... and beyond!

+ + + +

Scarves should be 4” to 6” wide x 48” to 50” long (no fringe). Hats should fit an adult-size head. Colors should be subtle shades or earth tones: blues, browns, olive, grays, maroon, and black. Red/white/blue also acceptable. Materials can be wool, acrylic or non-flammable fleece.

For more information, contact Lisa B. Terry + PHONE 410-313-0821 (VOICE/RELAY) + EMAIL veterans@howardcountymd.gov 9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046 www.howardcountymd.gov/veterans

EARLY VOTING IN HOWARD COUNTY October 26 to November 2 7 am to 8 pm

Walktober: Step Up Your Health is a local initiative of the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence (OAI) being offered to complement the Maryland program. OAI is offering this FREE, month-long, fitness event which will provide registrants weekly challenges direct to your personal email. Our fitness team will provide ideas, classes, resources, videos, and more to keep your feet moving at least THREE times a week. Those who finish the challenge and achieve 12 days of activity will receive a small gift courtesy of AARP Maryland. MAKE A COMMITMENT TO YOURSELF TO GET FIT THIS OCTOBER!

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED and open until October 4 at http://apm.activecommunities.com/howardcounty/ Activity_Search/100404 For more information, contact Malarie Burgess 410-313-6073 (VOICE/RELAY) • mburgess@howardcountymd.gov

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The 50+ Connection is published monthly by the Howard County Ofﬁce on Aging and Independence. 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.

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Money Law &

GIVE WISELY After a tragedy, Americans often open their wallets. Do your research to avoid falling for charity scams from Beirut and beyond CREDIT WHERE IT’S DUE Having good credit can save you money on insurance premiums and utility bills. The best way to raise your credit score is to pay bills on time

Candidates on Social Security, Medicare By Kiplinger Consumer News Service Unless Congress acts, Social Security will deplete its $2.9 trillion reserve fund by 2035, which means the program would be able to pay only about 79% of promised benefits. Medicare’s finances are even more precarious. Noting that seniors are a large voting constituency, both President Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden have resolved to protect Medicare and Social Security. Here is a brief overview of their proposals.

Social Security Biden proposes shoring up the program by increasing payroll taxes on high-income taxpayers. He would keep the current cap on payroll taxes, which is indexed to wage growth (in 2020, workers pay payroll taxes on earnings up to $137,700), but would also apply the 12.4% tax on wages exceeding $400,000. But Biden wants to expand benefits, which could put more pressure on the program’s finances. He wants to increase survivor benefits for low-income beneficiaries

and gradually increase benefits for seniors starting at age 78. Seniors who are 82 would receive a 5% increase over their basic retirement payout. Biden has also proposed changing the way the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is calculated. He wants to use an index that places greater weight on items that account for a larger percentage of seniors’ budgets, such as housing and healthcare. Trump hasn’t issued specific proposals to shore up Social Security, and critics say his proposed payroll tax cut to bolster the economy would further hurt the program. In the past, he has opposed proposals from fiscally conservative Republicans to curb spending on the programs. But as the budget deficit has grown to more than $1.8 trillion, he has indicated that changes to Social Security and Medicare could be on the table during a second term.

Medicare Biden supports lowering the age of Medicare eligibility from 65 to 60. He has also called for repealing legislation that

bars Medicare from negotiating drug prices with pharmaceutical manufacturers, which he said would lower drug prices. In addition, pharmaceuticals would be required to limit price increases for most prescription drugs to the rate of inflation in order to be eligible for coverage by Medicare. Biden also wants to allow U.S. citizens to purchase prescription drugs from other countries — where they’re often cheaper — as long as the Department of Health and Human Services has determined they’re safe. If reelected, Trump is likely to continue to promote Medicare Advantage plans, which are offered by private companies. The plans often offer lower premiums than traditional Medicare and cover dental, vision and other services. However, they usually have a more limited network of providers than traditional Medicare, which can be a problem when beneficiaries develop serious illnesses, critics say. In an executive order issued last October, Trump directed the Department of

Health and Human Services to take steps to ensure that traditional Medicare isn’t “advantaged or promoted” over Medicare Advantage. Trump has supported proposed legislation that would limit increases in the cost of Medicare prescription drug plans to the rate of inflation and limit seniors’ out-ofpocket drug costs to $3,100 a year. He also wants to allow U.S. citizens to buy prescription drugs from outside the country. In December, his administration issued a proposed rule that would allow states and other entities to import prescription drugs from Canada, provided certain conditions are met. Trump’s 2021 budget proposes about $500 billion in net spending cuts to Medicare. Most of those would come from reducing payments to healthcare providers, not to beneficiaries. Sandra Block, Lisa Gerstner, Nellie S. Huang and Anne Smith contributed to this story. © 2020 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Be sure to ‘opt out’ of paperless notices On July 27, a new anti-consumer Labor plan for retirement and prove their entitleDepartment regulation went into effect. ment to benefits. The new rule gives retireUnder the new regulation, ment plans the right to quit individuals will receive one inimailing workers and retirees tial notice on paper informing important disclosures on them they have a right to opt paper and simply send a noout of the notice-and-access tice by text or email, telling delivery system and keep getthem that key pension inforting their documents by mail. mation is available on a webAfter that, all future notices site. Then it is up to workers will arrive by email or text, inand retirees to hunt that including information about formation down. their right to choose to reThe Pension Rights Cen- THE SAVINGS ceive paper documents. Those ter, which works to protect GAME who want their notices on consumer rights, is strongly By Elliot Raphaelson paper will have to explicitly recommending that workers ask for it. and retirees opt out of this disclosure system, which goes by the moniker “notice- Info disappears after a year Equally important under the new reguand-access,” and insist that they continue to receive paper copies of key retirement lation, this information will generally only documents, not just get a text or email in- be retained on the plan’s website for one dicating that the information is available year. Accordingly, if you don’t request the on a website. Otherwise, people may not paper documentation and save it, you get important information they need to could lose access to this valuable informa-

tion, which you may need to protect your retirement plan rights decades from now. If you prefer everything to be electronic, then make sure you track down, print out and save all of the important documents about your plan rules and your benefits. “We are astonished that, in the midst of an unprecedented health crisis and economic collapse, the Labor Department would issue a regulation that will leave so many workers, retirees and their spouses in the dark about their retirement plans and benefits,” stated Karen Friedman, executive vice president of the Pension Rights Center. “At a time when people need information to protect themselves more than ever, this rule is a cruel game of hide-and-seek where workers have to run around and search for the information they will need to protect their future.” The Pension Rights Center is participating in a call to action to encourage workers and retirees to “ask for paper” to protect themselves and their beneficiaries by in-

sisting on a paper trail. Their website, pensionrights.org, contains three fact sheets people will find helpful: a guide for consumers; a detailed summary of the new regulation; and a list of the “top 10 worst things” about the new regulation. The Pension Rights Center is also taking steps to educate members of Congress about the pitfalls of the new regulation, and is coordinating its activities with consumer and retiree organizations, unions and business groups. Until this new regulation, the Labor Department followed a common sense rule: plans sent out information on paper, through the mail, unless people regularly worked with computers or asked to go “paperless.” Although retirement plans are still allowed to use this option, it is unlikely that most plans will continue this policy. That is why it is essential that workers and reSee NEW REGULATION, page 20

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Beirut explosion: avoid charity scams By Kiplinger Consumer News Service After any disaster, many Americans open their hearts and wallets. During the pandemic alone, giving reached $10.2 billion by early May, with $6 billion of that coming from the U.S., according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy. But scammers often prey on this generosity. For instance, if you’re planning to donate in the wake of the recent explosion that rocked the port of Beirut or pandemic-related charities, it’s important to do your due diligence. Fake charities and victims tend to pop up overnight, waiting to take advantage of folks’ generosity. Here’s how you can protect yourself:

Vet the charity Check reviews on watchdog websites, such as Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Wise Giving

New regulation From page 19 tirees insist on receiving this information in paper form on an ongoing basis.

If you have problems If you encounter difficulties when you

Alliance. You can also check out GuideStar, which presents a snapshot, including balancesheet data, program descriptions and links to financial documents. On GuideStar, charities are asked to answer five questions to assess their potential impact and five questions about board oversight and performance. But it helps to keep some perspective on the reviewers, too. Don’t rely solely on one review, and don’t immediately dismiss an organization with low ratings or one that isn’t profiled without doing more research on your own in the news, on the charity’s own website or through other review sites. BBB also has a scam tracker system. Type in “charity” in the keyword search bar, and you’ll see an index of the most recently reported scams sorted by Zip code. You may also report a scam on the site.

Social media and crowdfunding

If you’re unsure of how you want to de-

ploy your funds right at this moment, you can set up a donor-advised fund (DAF) with money-management firms such as Charles Schwab and Fidelity. With a DAF, you make one large contribution to the fund (cash or assets) and can disperse the funds at a later time. Remember to keep receipts of your donations to charities, as they are tax deductible. When charities confirm your gift, they should indicate how much of it is tax deductible. (Note that donations to GoFundMe campaigns, when collected for a private individual or company, are not deductible.) And last but not least, don’t feel pressured to give if someone is badgering you. Do not give cash, gift cards or do a wire transfer. It’s best to pay by credit card or check. © Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

request the paper option, you can submit a complaint to the Employee Benefits Security Administration of the Department of Labor at 1-866-444-3272, or send an email to webmaster.ebsa@dol.gov. If you continue to have problems, contact the U.S. Administration for Community Living’s Pension and Information Coun-

seling Projects. Finally, ask your congressional representatives to overturn the notice-and-access rule and reinstate the prior Labor Department regulations with recurring automatic paper reporting unless a “paperless” option is requested by workers or retirees. Bottom line: When you receive a notice

from your retirement plan, don’t ignore it. Insist on receiving paper statements and documents on a continuing basis, and keep those records in a safe place. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © 2020 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

If you’re seeing more relief requests via social media, be wary of handing over your cash. Check to see if the charity or cause listed has a working website. Do not click on links sent to your email or in social media messages and comments. If there’s a name listed, search the name, and then go directly to the website. Be particularly wary of new organizations or ad hoc fundraisers run through websites such as GoFundMe. While GoFundMe guarantees that funds will go to the beneficiary, not the campaign organizer, and will refund up to $1,000 to donors if there is evidence of misuse, the cause itself could be fake. So, always cross check the information across various platforms.

Donating later and taxes

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Having good credit can save you money By Bev O’Shea Even if you don’t plan to borrow a dime, a good credit record is valuable. Here’s why:

Flexibility in a crisis, more options If the coronavirus pandemic has taught us nothing else, it’s that we cannot count on things going as planned. Flexibility is key. A good credit score can help you borrow at a reasonable cost. That in turn could help you buy groceries and other necessities even as your emergency fund is dwindling. In addition, if you use investments to help pay living expenses, as many retirees do, access to credit may help tide you over when the markets are down. Good credit can also be useful in leasing a place to live because landlords sometimes check credit to evaluate tenant applications.

Lowers other costs Good credit also can lower some bills. Nationally, a good driver with poor credit would pay an average of $2,506 annually for car insurance. With good credit, the same coverage would cost $1,427. Only California, Hawaii and Massachusetts prohibit credit data from being used in setting car insurance rates. Credit-based insurance scores are also used to set homeowners insurance premi-

ums in most states, except for California, Maryland and Massachusetts. Renters insurance may also be higher for those with poor credit. Utility companies often use information from credit reports to set security deposits. If you do borrow money, a higher credit score can earn you a lower interest rate, and thus lower payments. And a cash-back credit card (typically available only to those with good credit) can give you money back without you paying a nickel of interest if you pay the full balance each month.

How to maintain good credit You don’t have to go into debt to maintain good credit. The two biggest factors in your credit score, accounting for about twothirds of it, are on-time payments and the amount of available credit you use. That means simply paying all your bills on time goes a long way toward protecting your credit. On the other hand, paying 30 days or more past the due date can devastate your score. If you do use credit cards, paying the balance in full is the best way to manage those bills. Zeroing out the balance doesn’t hurt your credit score, saves you from paying interest, and ensures you’re not using too much of your credit limit. If you can’t pay in

full, try to stay below 30% of your limit. Other strategies that may help: —Keep credit cards open unless you have a compelling reason to close them. Even unused credit cards help your score by raising your overall credit limit. The average age of your credit accounts also has a small effect on your credit score. —Ask a friend or relative with excellent credit to add you as an authorized user. That adds their credit history on the card to your credit profile. You don’t have to use

or possess the credit card for this to help your score. —If you are uncomfortable with a credit card, consider using it like a debit card by paying the balance as soon as a charge posts. The account adds to your credit history, but you prevent worries about balances piling up. If you need help paying creditors, contact them, preferably before you miss a payment. —AP/NerdWallet

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Leisure &

When visiting friends or relatives, especially now, skip houseguest stress — rent a home nearby instead. See story on page 25.

Put these adventures on your bucket list and flush toilets. The lodges are beautifully sited — one on the edge of a broad lawn in a valley between two ridges; the other overlooking the river with a great outdoor deck. There is nothing like a hot shower and a comfortable bed after a day of paddling through churning rapids and getting slapped in the face by monstrous waves.

PHOTO BY DON MANKIN

By Don Mankin When we get back on the road after COVID-19 subsides, we’ll be “lookin’ for adventure,” as the rock band Steppenwolf put it. In anticipation of this hopefully not-toodistant day, I’ve put together a list of my favorite adventure trips for active older adults. So, if you need something to look forward to in the months or years ahead, here are a few destinations to consider:

Whitewater rafting in Oregon

Adventure cruise in Panama and Costa Rica

Rogue River Rafting, 3 to 4 days from $895, ROW Adventures, rowadventures.com, 1-800451-6034 The Rogue River is one of the most famous whitewater rivers in the world, one of the first rivers in the U.S. to be run commercially, and one of the original eight rivers named in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. The Rogue has something for everyone: Class III and IV whitewater for adrenaline junkies; scenery similar to a Winslow Homer watercolor for artists; and eagles, ospreys and kingfishers for birders. Not to mention history ranging from thousandyear-old Native American artifacts to early 20th-century pioneer houses. What makes this trip different from most other rafting trips is that instead of camping in tents on the shore, guests stay in comfortable lodges with hot showers

Pure Panama & Costa Rica Cruise, 12 days from $7,645, UnCruise Adventures, uncruise.com, 1-888-862-8881 How could such a small country, only about 30 miles wide at its narrowest point, offer such a variety of experiences? There’s kayaking and snorkeling among tropical islands in two oceans, walking in the jungle to visit indigenous people, and, of course, one of the most spectacular engineering achievements in the world. It is this intersection of natural history and man-made wonders that makes Panama so special. More than three million years ago, the Isthmus of Panama emerged from the sea, separating the Atlantic from the Pacific Oceans and eventually serving as a land bridge between North and South America, making Panama one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world. The ship is small, only 34 cabins for 66 PHOTO COURTESY OF DON MANKIN

The author and his wife visit with a giant tortoise in the Galapagos Islands, known for protected and unique species of animals.

Ethiopia’s diverse topography includes landscapes resembling those of the American West. The country’s majestic scenery, stone medieval castles, churches carved into rock formations and delicious food make a thrilling trip for travelers of all ages.

guests, but offers a wide range of amenities, including an air-conditioned lounge with a 270-degree view. Most important for older travelers is the launching platform at the rear of the ship, which lowers and raises to make it easy to get in and out of the skiffs and kayaks. As an added bonus, they have added several days in Costa Rico to the trip I took in 2017.

The 32 passengers are accommodated in spacious, recently renovated suites, and encounter wildlife far from the crowds, guided by naturalist guides with years of local experience. I will be hosting a Galapagos tour on the Evolution in summer 2021. For details, call the number listed above and tell them you are interested in that cruise.

Galapagos Islands expedition

Ethiopian exploration

M/V Evolution Galapagos Cruise (luxury small boat cruise and wildlife tour), 8 days from $6,700, Quasar Expeditions, quasarex.com/galapagos, 1-888-502-9503 The Galapagos are arguably the most biologically diverse marine habitat on Earth. Charles Darwin did most of his groundbreaking work on natural selection and the theory of evolution there in 1835. Today, the 13 major islands and dozens of smaller islets and rocks that make up the Galapagos are filled with extraordinary populations of unique species that have been protected from human impact. On this trip you can experience the Galapagos in comfort and privacy aboard a yacht that retraces Darwin’s footsteps. The style of the Evolution is roaring 20s, but the amenities and service are decidedly modern.

Paths of Ethiopia, 18 days from $7,480, Anastasia’s Africa, anastasiasafrica.com, 1888-303-2085 As the ancient crossroads between Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, Ethiopia absorbed customs, practices and ceremonies from all different peoples. It’s one thing to read history; another to experience it. While the practices, dress and decorations reflect the religious roots of the West, the familiar is often counterbalanced by the strange in this evocative, mysterious land. On this trip you will explore the stunning, rock-hewn, subterranean churches of Lalibela, encounter animistic tribes in the Great Rift Valley, and visit Axum, Ethiopia’s holy city and legendary resting See ADVENTURES, page 24

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Adventures From page 23 place of the Ark of the Covenant. Trips can be timed to include Ethiopian festivals such as Christmas, the annual Epiphany celebration of Timkat in January, or Meskal in September with its roaring bonfires, priests with ornate crosses, and thousands of worshippers in robes.

Trans-Siberian Railroad journey Moscow to Beijing via private train, 16 days from $6,140, Lernidee Trains & Cruises, trains-and-cruises.com It’s easy to see why Lernidee Trains & Cruises calls this railroad trip “one of the last great travel adventures in the world.” Take a famous train from the capital of Russia, the world’s largest country, through Siberia, Mongolia and the Gobi Desert to the capital of China, the world’s most populous country. Along the way, our group toured the

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Kremlin, skirted the edge of Lake Baikal, stopped in Ulan Bator, and visited Beijing’s Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China. We even paused in the middle of the Gobi Desert for an early morning concert while camels grazed in the background. The train is a comfortable way to explore this region. But more than that, it pulled together all of the stops along the way into a seamless, integrated whole that felt more like a movie than a sequence of photos. One of my favorite experiences on the trip was the vodka tasting, which opened my eyes further to the wonders of the region — until the vodka and the swaying train lulled me to sleep. In a way, it was the perfect ending to an adventure movie.

Peaceful Laos Serenity, Spirituality, Scenery and Culture in Northern Thailand and Laos, 12 days from $5,850, Explorer-X, explorerx.com, (206) 212-0227 Laos — Luang Prabang, in particular —

is one of my favorite destinations. Beautiful, serene and seductive, Laos has some of the most sacred Buddhist temples in the world. Most important of all, it is not yet overrun by tourists. There are no beach resorts, discos or loud parties; just lush jungles, graceful mountains, varied architecture, ethnically diverse hill tribes and some of the best food in Southeast Asia, a region renowned for its cuisine. A visit to Laos is all about peace, reflection and immersion in a world very different from our own. I recently designed my ideal trip to the region and will be leading a tour next year. The trip will begin in Chiang Mai, the historical and cultural capital of Thailand. From there we will head to the notorious Golden Triangle where we will begin a leisurely two-day cruise down the most scenic section of the mighty Mekong to Luang Prabang. After several days in Luang Prabang, exploring tree-shaded pathways and back

ENTERPRISE RESIDENTIAL MOST COMMUNITIES ARE 62 AND BETTER ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.)

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

Park View at 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

Cove Point Apartments I: 410-288-2344 Cove Point Apartments II: 410-288-1660 Evergreen Senior Apartments: 410-780-4888 The Greens at English Consul: 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 • 55 & Better Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665 Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375 Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673

Whale-watching in Antarctica Antarctica Whale Safari, 14 days from $9,995, Wilderness Travel, wildernesstravel.com, 1-888-895-5417 I’ve been to Antarctica three times, and I’d go a fourth, if I could. Antarctica is just that great a “bucket list” destination. But this trip is different: It has whales. Lots and lots of whales. The month of March, when this trip runs, is prime time for whale-watching in Antarctica. And there is no greater thrill than spotting a whale up close from a Zodiac inflatable boat or kayak. These huge creatures arch their backs and slide into the icy waters, flipping their tails in the air, rivulets of water dripping from the edges, before disappearing below the surface. Antarctica has some of the most spectacular scenery in the world: mountains, glaciers and sculpted chunks of floating ice, some as large as city blocks. It’s a wonderland of shapes and texture, painted with the most intense blues and whites you have ever seen. And, of course, there are the usual attractions — penguins, seals and birds. If Antarctica isn’t on your bucket list, why not? Note: Don Mankin was hosted by the travel companies mentioned in this story. Most of these tour companies offer discounts to the readers of the Beacon. Call or email the operators for specifics. Read more at adventuretransformations.com.

HARFORD COUNTY

BEACON BITS

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

Ongoing

HOWARD COUNTY

BALTIMORE COUNTY

streets leading to graceful, peaceful temples, we head to the capital city of Vientiane, stopping in Vang Vieng along the way for a balloon ride and to admire dramatic karst formations. The emphasis throughout will be on authentic community-based tourism, with visits to local families and enterprises, and cooking classes, music and dance performances by members of the community.

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

VIRTUAL WALTERS MUSEUM

The Walters Art Museum has many digital resources available on its website, including videos of talks by curators and coloring pages of works from their collection. To access these resources, visit https://thewalters.org/experience/virtual.

Tuesdays

VIRTUAL WRITING HOUR Join the National

Portrait Gallery for a free virtual writing hour. Create, connect and be

Call the community of interest to you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour.

www.enterprisecommunity.org

inspired by the galleries and enjoy a conversation and/or reading. This event takes place on Tuesdays from 5 to 6 p.m. To register, visit http://bit.ly/WritingHour.

PET-FRIENDLY

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 2 0

Visiting friends and relatives comfortably VFR, the travel industry shorthand for —A vacation rental website links you “Visiting Friends and Relatives,” will be the to a wide range of available properties. Platfirst big segment of the travel marketplace forms operate like bulletin boards: Properto recover from the shutdown, according to ty owners list their properties and provide many of the country’s top travdetailed information, photos el and airline mavens. and prices on the website. Business travel, which When you decide to rent, tanked during the shutdown, you screen the offerings. If will continue to be replaced you see something you like, by virtual meetings and will the platform links you to the return to physical travel only property owner to complete slowly — and maybe never to the deal. previous levels. The platform is not a party Leisure and vacation travel to the transaction; it acts as a will also recover, but it will pass-through. That’s why it’s a concentrate on shorter trips. bit riskier: Your deal is with a TRAVEL TIPS Meanwhile, the emotional By Ed Perkins property owner, who might need to remain close to not be willing to help with friends and relatives does not diminish, problems or issue refunds — or even acand it will push growth in travel — espe- cept credit cards. cially in family travel. The big platforms employ some protecIf you choose to visit your loved ones, I tions against fraud, and they accept credit suggest that you arrange a visit that maxi- cards for some rentals. They also offer by mizes comfort and minimizes stress. Yes, far the widest selection of rental options, you could just invade your friends’ or rela- especially at the budget end of the price tives’ houses and pile everyone on sofas spectrum. and cots. Two giants dominate the platform space: But there’s a better way: Let your hosts • HomeAway (homeaway.com) and its afremain serenely in their homes, while you filiated acquisitions offer more than a million book a nearby vacation rental for you and listings around the world. It’s about to revert your family. to the name of an older, acquired platform, Better yet: Rent a house or condo that’s VRBO (vacation rental by owner, at big enough to accommodate the entire vrbo.com). • FlipKey (flipkey.com) lists more than group comfortably — preferably in a nearby vacation destination. Even if you’re just 800,000 rentals worldwide. Beyond those, dozens of other platforms traveling on your own, family travel is a lot easier, and safer, if you have room to offer similar services, usually in a more localized region. I have some 20 in my “bookspread out in a rental. marks” list, which I’ve posted on my personal website (see edontravel.com). Finding a good rental If you’re doing a VFR trip this fall, finding —A vacation rental agency actually the right vacation rental is easy, through ei- represents the properties it handles. Your ther of the two basic approaches: deal is with the agency, not the property

owner, and the agency is responsible for solving problems and handling financial arrangements. Typically, agency staff have personally visited each property they list, so your chances of encountering a major disappointment are minimal. Rentals through agencies are generally a bit less risky than rentals through platforms, but they’re also usually more expensive. That’s because the agency takes a cut of the rental fee, which exceeds the fees owners pay for a platform listing. Also, agencies tend to focus on larger, more upscale properties; if you’re looking for a budget rental, agencies aren’t likely to provide many options.

No single outfit dominates the agency market segment the way HomeAway and FlipKey dominate the platforms. I have almost 60 agencies in my bookmarks, also posted on my website, most of which focus on a single region: the Caribbean, Hawaii and Europe — especially London, Paris, Provence and Tuscany. For even more ideas, check Tripping.com, a vacation rental search system. Whichever path you choose, you’ll find lots of attractive options. Give yourself and your family a break by finding the one that fits you best. Email Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net or visit his website, rail-guru.com. © Tribune Content Agency, LLC

BEACON BITS

Oct. 6

BOOK TOUR WITH LISA SEE

The Howard County Library system hosts a virtual book tour with Lisa See, author of The Island of Sea Women. The event takes place Tues., Oct. 6 from 11 a.m. to noon. To register, visit http://bit.ly/HCBookTour.

Oct. 1

BLACK WOMEN AND VOTING RIGHTS

Learn about how African American women led the movement for voting rights in this virtual program presented by a JHU history professor through the Maryland Center for History and Culture. The free virtual lecture will be held Thurs. Oct. 1 from 4 to 5 p.m. Register at http://bit.ly/AAWomen&Voting.

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Style

Arts &

A doctor composes symphonic works in his spare time. See story on page 28.

Daughter’s murder set father on mission ished memoir, titled When Dating Hurts. The e-book is available on Amazon. In the first portion of the book, Mitchell describes the gut-wrenching trauma of losing his daughter. He writes about attending the murder trial that resulted in a 30-year prison sentence for his daughter’s killer. The book’s last section focuses on what to do if you are in an abusive relationship or know someone who is being abused. An unhealthy relationship, Mitchell said, is “a bit of a ticking time bomb. Things are probably going to escalate in terms of frequency or violence. The idea is to get someone out of that situation before it’s too late. Hopefully a book like this will help.” In sharing the details of Kristin’s last days, Mitchell hopes to save a life. By at least two accounts, he has already done just that. One of his daughter’s friends told Mitchell she owed her life to Kristin’s cautionary tale. Another woman who had heard one of his presentations called Mitchell at his workplace while her husband was holding her hostage. Mitchell urged her to leave, and she found the courage to escape. She later told him, “Bill, you spoke about Kristin, and that it could be me one day. You said I could get help, but I had to take the first step and leave.” Mitchell still keeps in touch with the woman. “You never know how much influence you can have over people,” he said.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF MITCHELL FAMILY

By Margaret Foster On a rainy evening in June 2005, Bill Mitchell received a phone call from the Howard County Police Department insisting to meet him in person. At a local Giant, an officer told him that his daughter, Kristin, 21, had been murdered by her ex-boyfriend. She had been stabbed 55 times. Since that horrific night, Mitchell, now 72, has dedicated his life to telling Kristin’s story to educate people about domestic violence — and, he hopes, even save lives. One in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Each year, 12 million Americans are victims of violence at the hands of an intimate partner, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. To get the word out about this dangerous threat, Mitchell, a Columbia resident, appeared on “Good Morning America” in 2009. He has delivered speeches at the National Press Club and Ravens Stadium. He’s spoken to police academies and schools — more than 100 presentations so far. A book with a mission But he wanted to reach more people. So, after he retired in 2015, Mitchell set out to finish writing a memoir he had started months before. The book began as a series of articles he published on LinkedIn. In May, Mitchell self-published the fin-

Three weeks after this family photo was taken, Kristin Mitchell, in gown, was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend. Her father, Bill Mitchell (right), published a memoir about her story this spring, he said, because “I want people to have a sense of what the warning signs and red flags are.”

From foundation to nonprofit Mitchell started a foundation in his daughter’s name in 2007 and served as its president for 11 years. The Kristin Mitchell Foundation awarded grants toward education about domestic violence. It distributed cards with warning signs of dating violence. (“Some people would hide them in their shoes,” so their abuser wouldn’t see them, he said.) The foundation also organized an annual 5K race, called “Kristin’s Krusade,” in

the Philadelphia area, where his daughter attended college. In 2018, however, Mitchell dissolved the small foundation and granted its assets, including the name of the race, to Clery Center, a Pennsylvania nonprofit dedicated to campus security. He made the move, he said, because “I felt like I wanted to do things in a bigger way. I was always impressed with Clery.” See MEMOIR, page 29

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Doctor composes symphony on the side A fateful decision Kirshenbaum grew up in Cranston, Rhode Island. His father was a musician who played in a dance band in his free time. Kirshenbaum played flute and oboe in the school orchestra and marching band, performed with the youth philharmonic, and played keyboard in a dance band. As he was considering colleges, and thinking about a pre-med course of study, the philharmonic conductor told him, “You’re going to have to choose between music and medicine.” There wouldn’t be time to do both well. Kirshenbaum managed to keep up with some music in college, but medical school proved too demanding. And since he went to med school on a Navy scholarship, he had to spend four years in the service after graduating. The Navy assigned him to the base in Quantico, Virginia, an hour’s drive from the home in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he and his wife were raising their children. But the commute turned out to be a blessing. “While on the long drive, something [musical] would pop into my head. Today, when that happens, I can easily record it on my cell phone. But in those days, I would have to pull over and jot down some notation on sheet music I kept in my car.”

When he returned home at night, he would go to the piano and try to develop the musical thought. As much as he didn’t want to retire before starting to compose seriously, he also knew that, while raising five children, he’d be “lucky to have 10 minutes a day” to compose. Now that they’re all grown, he has been able for the past three years to devote nights and weekends to music. “I spend, maybe, 10 hours a week” at it, he thinks. That includes time to study composition with Joshua Fishbein, an awardwinning composer, conductor and teacher on the faculty of the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins Uni- When he’s not seeing patients, Dr. Arnold Kirshenbaum, an allergist and immunologist, composes music at a comversity, in Baltimore. With Fishbein, Kirshen- puter. He is nearly finished with a symphony that will reflect the arc of the pandemic. baum learns “college level” theory and composing. It’s serious stuff, years ago on his commutes. Fishbein said that “many people may with reading and composing assignments and even exams. He also works on develSee COMPOSER, page 29 oping the music themes he jotted down PHOTO BY STUART ROSENTHAL

By Stuart Rosenthal The ster n por trait of Ludwig van Beethoven glares down from the wall over the computer screens set up in Dr. Arnold Kirshenbaum’s guest bedroom. Kirshenbaum was a promising musician in his school days, but he did “the responsible thing” and went to medical school after college. But that was then. Now, at the age of 66, he is making up for lost time even as he maintains his busy allergy practice in Glenn Dale, Maryland. In between making and taking calls about current patients, Kirshenbaum works contentedly under Beethoven’s stern gaze, writing his own chamber, orchestral and choral works using computer software designed for the purpose. “I didn’t want it to be said that I waited to retire before getting back to music,” Kirshenbaum said. “I never really left it. I put it on the back burner, but I wanted to return to where I left off. “I would be way behind if I waited until I retired,” he added. “There’s so much to learn! Besides, to do medicine and at the same time get the emotional and spiritual satisfaction [of composing] — to wait for that due to age? That’s counterintuitive,” he said.

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Memoir From page 27 Today, Mitchell serves on the board of the organization, which was named after Jeanne Clery, a college student who was murdered in her dormitory in 1986. Two years ago, the group launched an initiative called “Kristin’s Krusade,” which is devoted to education about dating violence. Last year, the Center created a video featuring Mitchell, his wife, Michele, and

Composer From page 28 have original music going on in their minds, but it takes skill to translate that to notes on paper. Arnie has made it his mission to learn to write for all the different families of instruments in the orchestra.” Kirshenbaum said “I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot” with Fishbein. “I am writing music that has a message, feeling and emotional depth. It brings me a lot of pleasure. Without Josh, I couldn’t do this.”

their son, David. Mitchell also plans to record podcasts with Clery Center. Learning about domestic violence has given Mitchell an admiration for advocacy groups like Clery Center. “Most of the greatest people I met in my life I’ve met in the last 15 years. These are people I [otherwise] never would have been introduced to,” he said.

Writing as therapy and more Mitchell wrote the memoir because he musicians. It was his March Sousa, recorded in a studio by the Mighty Sound of Maryland Marching Band at the University of Maryland, College Park. The next year, his Hanukah Medley was performed by the Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra before an audience at Bel Air High School as part of their “festival of lights.” The experience was a powerful one for him. Not only did hearing his music brought to life bring him “peace of mind,” but he got a standing ovation.

Composing under COVID The roar of the crowd In the late 1980s, Kirshenbaum had a fellowship in allergy and immunology at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda. His website proudly notes that he worked under the direction of Dr. Anthony Fauci. He has continued over the years to volunteer in the same lab, continuing to assist with basic research on mast cells, which play a role in allergies and inflammation. That work has led to 78 research publications on which he shares credit. “Research requires so much detail,” Kirshenbaum said. “You need solitude, quiet, time to think — as with composing.” The two activities “share much in common. Including the pride of seeing something [you worked on] published or played,” he said. This pride is at the core of what drives Kirshenbaum. “What I really want is to hear my music played,” he said, choking up, “and for people to like it.” When he’s composing at his computer, he can hear what the music will sound like thanks to the synthesizer function of the software. But it’s a far cry from hearing it performed on real instruments. It was three years ago that he first heard one of his orchestral pieces performed by

For the past three years, Kirshenbaum has been working primarily on a fourmovement piece for orchestra he calls Millennial Symphony. He chose the title because the work is dedicated to the younger generations “as they aspire to make their future and think big.” He had hoped that a performance or recording of some movements by a local orchestra might be in the cards this summer, but the pandemic put a stop to that. On the other hand, COVID-19 has given new meaning to the work, in Kirshenbaum’s eyes. He now labels the first movement, written last fall, “Pre-COVID 19,” as it is built on “themes reflecting love, strength and happiness.” Much like the progression of the coronavirus, the next two movements turn progressively darker, as the extent of the devastation becomes more apparent. The final movement, nearly complete, “will reflect our hopes and aspirations for the future, as we come out of the pandemic and rebuild.” The first three movements can now be heard (played by synthesizer, not full orchestra) on Kirshenbaum’s website, thejewishcomposer.com. Most recently, he has started collaborat-

BEACON BITS

Oct. 15

PINS & NEEDLE ARTS Howard County Library hosts an online forum for adults who knit,

crochet, embroider and sew. This event takes place Thurs., Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. To register, email pinsneedlearts@hclibrary.org.

Oct. 3+

POE FESTIVAL Poe Baltimore will host the third annual International Edgar Allan Poe Festival and Awards online on Oct. 3 and 4. The two-day

online event will feature Edgar Allan Poe-themed performances, vendors, readings, music and art workshops. The free festival will be live-streamed via poefestinternational.org, Facebook @PoeBaltimore and YouTube.

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believes if he or his wife had read a similar book, their daughter would be alive today. He realized he had valuable information to share. “I knew things that other people didn’t know. I started to learn a lot about the subject and a greater sense of why it happens.” The process of writing the memoir had therapeutic benefits, Mitchell said. (The killer received a sentence of 30 years in prison, but now, after 15 years, his annual parole hearings have begun — an added stressor to Mitchell and his family.)

Mostly, though, he wrote it not for himself but for others, including his daughter, whose name will forever be associated with murder. “I didn’t want Kristin’s legacy to be, ‘Oh yeah, she was murdered by her boyfriend,’” Mitchell said. “I wanted her to stand for something else. I wanted her name to be attached with helping young women like herself.” For more information or to buy the book, visit Amazon or whendatinghurts.com.

ing with Robert Nath, a “retiring lawyer,” on an operetta. Both are writing music and lyrics for different songs “and we’re having a great time,” Kirshenbaum said.

While Kirshenbaum said the extensive effort involved in composing has brought him deep pleasure, he also admitted, “standing ovations help.”

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 30 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

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P I T F A L U L K E E A A S S T E A T

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Crossword Puzzle

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

By Stephen Sherr

45 48

24 28

Across 1. Rapscallion 6. Ark reservation counts 10. “Goodness gracious!” 14. Vietnamese capital 15. Spy Mata ___ 16. Renaissance Fair instrument 17. Underway 18. Like IHOP and IBM 19. Yellow Brick Road animal 20. Go on the lam 23. Flavors a pretzel 24. Maker of Perrier and Nescafe 25. Derriere 28. Fashion accessory worn at Kahului Airport 29. Part (or all) of 4 Greek letter names 30. Accepts responsibility 36. Bird of prey 37. French pronoun 38. Dance seen in opening credits of Hawaii Five-O 40. Performs soccer juggling tricks 45. Video games rated for “Adults Only” 46. Jessica Timberlake ___ Biel 47. If you have it, you don’t need a clue for this answer 48. “It’s ___ from the past” 52. Shows some skin 54. Gets ready for the race (with 59 Across) 59. See 54 Across 60. Two of Caesar’s last three words 61. Clementine’s dad, of gold rush song 62. European supergroup formed in 1981 63. Sound at the start of most MGM movies 64. Far beyond the norm 65. Used Western Union 66. Energy, Natural Resources, and the Environment (abbrev.) 67. 2012 Rolling Stones song, Doom and ___ Down 1. Iranian emperor 2. Coffee shop

HC1020

Scrabble answers on p. 29.

3. Small buffalo 4. Dispositions 5. Hidden hazard 6. Milestone birthdays 7. Has a hankering 8. Start of a tooth-straightening doc. 9. There’s one in every tomb 10. Island that first welcomed Annie Moore in 1892, followed by 12 million more immigrants 11. “Repentant tears wash out the stain of ___” (St. Augustine) 12. Ring-shaped islet 13. Crowded 21. Organic light-emitting diode (type of TV) 22. Recuperate 25. Campfire souvenir 26. Shake Shack, to investors 27. Scattered, as seeds 29. Modern contract approval 31. Tiny name for Tiny Tim’s instrument 32. Return on Investment (to a CPA) 33. “I figured out who the killer is!” 34. Offspring of a horse and donkey 35. Letters formed with thumb and index fingers 39. Snake, named from the Greek word “aspis” 41. Direction from Eden to Nod 42. “Take that!” 43. Zeus’ better half 44. Cheers prop 48. Mapmaker’s publication 49. Largest city in Idaho 50. His statue in Kiev was toppled in 2013 51. ___ at the table 52. Second-tier actor 53. Photo snapped to promote a movie 55. Prep school attended by 20 British Prime Ministers 56. He’s Just Not That ___ You 57. Roman emperor whose name has the lowest Scrabble score 58. About 4% of an ounce

Answers on page 29.

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