and fall foliage trips page 23 FITNESS & HEALTH 4 k Gender and Alzheimer’s risk k New car tech can save lives LAW & MONEY 16 k Are digital coupons unfair? k Retirement funds to tap first ADVERTISER DIRECTORY 31 PLUS CROSSWORD, BEACON BITS, CLASSIFIEDS & MORECall today to learn more! 410-992-1241 Vibrant retirement living in downtown Columbia, MDvantagepointresidences org Managed by Life Care Services®
“I had to retire because I was having way too much fun biking,” Ewertz said. Now 70, Ewertz bikes with three groups, including Cycle2Health, a peer-led club coordinated by Howard County’s Office on Aging and Independence.
INSIDE… More than 30,000 readers throughout Howard CountyVOL.12, NO.10 IN FOCUS FOR PEOPLE OVER 50 The Howard County FREE OCTOBER 2022
ShowTime Singers choir performs oldies, Broadway tunes,
We humans are social beings by nature. Indeed, scientists announced three years ago that loneliness is as bad for our health as smoking cigarettes or being obese. Another large study in 2018 found that loneliness increases the risk of dementia by 40 percent.Butit’s not always easy to make connections with others, particularly with Covid still in the Fortunately,background.many clubs and social groups in our area are available to boost both mood and health. Most clubs welcome people of all ages, and regular attendance isn’t required.
When Marge Ewertz was working fulltime as a nurse at Johns Hopkins, she started taking Mondays and Fridays off so she could go on bike rides with an over-60 cycling group.
meet people,” said Eder, who lives in Ellicott City. “People sometimes are intimidated coming to something for the first time, but in general, no one wants to hike alone,” he said. “There’s security in hiking in a group. You don’t have to worry about gettingDuringlost.”the pandemic, hiking has remained a safer way to be around people. Hiking Around Baltimore, which people
By Margaret Foster
Join the club — so many options
Eder, who joined Hiking Around Baltimore in 2010 and now is a hike leader, has made many friends through the club — and even met a girlfriend on the trail.
“The older you get, the harder it is to
“It uplifts everyone. It’s nice to get out in nature and see something different.”
See CLUBS, page 29 BALTIMOREAROUNDHIKINGOFCOURTESYPHOTO
“We communicate when we ride,” she said. “It’s just fun to meet people with all different backgrounds.”
Hiking groups
The 20-year-old group Hiking Around Baltimore, for instance, has some members who are in their 30s and some who are in their late 70s. Hikes range from easy to Retireedifficult.Greg
Besides being a safe form of exercise, hiking can improve your mental health, too, Eder pointed out.
Members of a local group called Hiking Around Baltimore take a break at a waterfall. The group offers hikes of various levels of difficulty several times a month throughout the area. Joining local social groups — from pickleball clubs to online chats — can improve one’s mental and physical health.
songs and current hits page 27 LEISURE & TRAVEL Explore the
of
ARTS & STYLE patriotic white-sand beaches mangrove forests Florida’s Paradise Coast; “voluntouring”
and
plus,
can join on MeetUp.com, has amassed 8,500 members in its two decades (though not all are active).
2 Subscribe online! See how on p. 30 OCTOBER 2022 — HOWARD COUNTY BEACON Beacon The IN FOCUS FOR PEOPLE OVER 50 The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (410) 248-9101 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com Submissions: The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 31 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions. © Copyright 2022 The Beacon Newspapers, Inc. 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 and Greater Washington, DC. 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 col umns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion
By Stuart P. Rosenthal of the publisher.
My choice goes to Binney & Smith (manufacturers of Crayola crayons) in Easton, PA. The tour is interactive, educational and fun.
Thanks to the assistance of Giant Pharmacy, both Expos will offer a variety of important vaccines, including regular flu, high-dose flu, Shingrix (shingles vaccine), pneumonia, tetanus and — depending on availability — the new bivalent Covid booster. Flu vaccines will be free with a Medicare card or insurance; others may require a co-pay.
Can you tell me how I can get a copy of an article from the June/July Beacon or a back issue if the article isn’t available?
Walk to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. Join a team or make your own to fundraise for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The walk is scheduled for Sat., Oct. 22 at Merriweather Park Symphony Woods in Columbia. Registration is free and starts at 9 a.m. The walk starts at 10 a.m. Parking is in Lot 1. For more information, visit bit.ly/AFSPhowardwalk or contact Kat Olbrich at (202) 770-8973 or kolbrich@afsp.org.
Both events will also offer free blood pressure, glaucoma and genetic screenings. The Virginia location will also offer blood glucose and cholesterol screenings, and in Maryland you can learn your body mass
Learn how to them to digital at the Glenwood Makerspace. Bring a five print photographs USB drive on Sat., Sept. 24 from 3 to 4 p.m. The free workshop will be held at 2350 State Route 97, Cooksville, MD. Visit bit.ly/HCLSdigi for more information.
Bob Bethesda,SweetMD
As longtime readers know, for more than two decades we have held annual 50+Expos in both Maryland and Virginia to provide a fun and informative event for our readers.These events each attract more than 1,000 people to obtain important health screenings, flu shots and other vaccines, hear a top-notch keynote speaker, and obtain valuable information from dozens of exhibitors and sponsors — including government agencies, nonprofits and area businesses providing products and services geared to older adults and their families.
We did the best we could to make up for this with our “virtual Expo” website in 2020 and 2021. To our pleasant surprise, that custom-designed site was visited by more than 15,000 people in thoseButyears.aspopular and informative as it was, a virtual Expo is a far cry from one where people meet face-to-face, ask questions and share information in a personal way. I know I have really missed the opportunity to chat with all the readers who typically come up to me at our events.
one (or both) of these events:
As always, our exhibitors will include hospitals and a variety of other healthcare providers, retirement communities, home improvement contractors, home care agencies, financial and legal advisors, insurance providers, travel, fitness and sen-
I look forward to seeing YOU in October! Please be sure to look for me and say hello.
For the past two years, due to Covid, we have not held any in-person events in order to protect our staff and our readers.
Publisher/Editor – Stuart P. Rosenthal President/Associate Publisher – Judith K. Rosenthal Executive Vice President – Gordon Hasenei Managing Editor – Margaret Foster Art Director – Kyle Gregory Director of Operations – Roger King Advertising Representatives –Steve Levin, M.K. Phillips Content Manager – Ashley Griffin Assistant Editor – Ana Preger Hart
This year’s 50+Expos are made possible by Gold Sponsors : AARP Maryland, AARP Virginia and Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center; Silver Sponsors: Pepco, Giant Pharmacy, Re:Cognition Health, Harmony Senior Living, and the Montgomery County Recreation Department; and Bronze Sponsors: Habitat America, Seniors Helping Seniors, Maryland Relay, Verso Founders Row, Brookfield Residential, Xfinity, Housing Initiative Partnership and the Fairfax Area Agency onWhileAging.the
scan your photo prints and convert
Readers are encouraged to share their opinions 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.
Our Expos return!
Anne McHenry Silver Spring, MD
Ed. Reply: Our back issues (going back several years) are available on our articlesmaywww.TheBeaconNewspapers.com.website,Youalsodownloadentireissuesandprintfromthewebsite.
Beacon staff will be out in force at both events to help everyone find what they are looking for, we really would love to have some volunteers as well. If you are planning to come to either event and can spare an hour or so helping out at our information booth, please contact us.
CORRECTION: On the cover of our last issue, the caption misidentified the founder of Success In Style. She is Jeannette Kendall, not Kendall Jenner. We apologize for the error.
ior services and many more.
and a
speaker at both events will be John Kelly, well-known and beloved Metro section columnist for the Washington Post.
FROM PUBLISHERTHE
So, I am thrilled to announce that we will be resuming our in-person 50+Expos this year! I hope you have been venturing out to public gatherings again, or at least will consider doing so in order to join us at
BEACON BITS Oct. 22
BEACON BITS Sept.24
On Sunday, October 30, from noon to 4 p.m., at Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Dear Editor:
On Sunday, October 23, from noon to 4 p.m., at Springfield Town Center in Springfield, Virginia, or
Letters to the editor
Dear Editor:
Ourindex.keynote
SUICIDE PREVENTION WALK
images
I am sure the excellent August article on factory tours by Ed Perkins will prompt many readers to submit a favorite tour.
DIGITIZING PHOTOS
There is also still time for additional sponsors and exhibitors to sign up! Please call us at (301) 949-9766 and we will be happy to speak with you.
HOWARD COUNTY BEACON — OCTOBER 2022 Say you saw it in the Beacon 3 Keynote Speaker: John Kelly Washington Post columnist eaker: ost For more info, visit beacon50expo.com At Both Locations: Exhibitors and Resources Keynote Speaker • Health Screenings Flu Shots • Giveaways • Door Prizes Springfield, Va. Sunday, October 23 Noon to 4 p.m. Springfield Town Center Silver Spring, Md. Sunday, October 30 Noon to 4 p.m. Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center LOCATIONNEW Joseph/MarvinbyPhoto PostWashingtonThe To sponsor, exhibit or volunteer, please call (301) 949-9766 or email info@theBeaconNewspapers.com FREE In-Person& SILVER SPONSORS:GOLD SPONSORS: BRONZE SPONSORS: White Oak Medical Center
• 32 out of 1,000 people ages 75 to 84 develop Alzheimer’s each year
So, one reason that there are more women than men with Alzheimer’s disease is simply that there are more older women than older men living in our society — 5.7 million more of them — and the older you are, the more
and even
difficult
Frustrated and discouraged, Cindy took matters into her own hands to try to find an alternative solution.
The greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease is age: The older you are, the more likely you are to develop Alzheimer’s disease. For example, out of 1,000 people, the incidence (the number who develop Alzheimer’s each year) depends on age:
Health Fitness &
• 76 out of 1,000 people ages 85 and older develop Alzheimer’s each year.
And a meta-analysis examining the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease in Europe
Acupuncture is a thousands-year old tradition that has been proved to be effective in reducing various forms of pain through its action on the parasympathetic nervous system, and stimulating the release of endorphins and other pain-relieving neurotransmitters, which offers much-needed relief for sufferers of Fibromyalgia.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 443-774-5441 or visit www.patapsco-acupuncture.com See ALZHEIMER’S, page 5
Health Fitness &
Fibromyalgia affects the entire body. To make things complicated, it affects those who suffer from it differently, and its symptoms can change on a daily basis. Sometimes you’re plagued with widespread muscle pain and fatigue, and other days you have a headache and heightened sensitivity to touch.
• 4 out of 1,000 people ages 65 to 74 develop Alzheimer’s each year
Higher risk in women
The first and most important reason is that women tend to live longer than men. If you look at actuarial life tables, you can see that a baby girl born in 2019 is likely to live five years longer than a baby boy: 81 years versus 76 years.
There’s no cure for tinnitus, but there are methods to tune it out
Latest car technologies can prevent crashes and save lives
“I feel like a new person. I have hope again, I feel like I’ve walked out of a dark place. My husband is so grateful to have the woman he married back. It’s like a miracle.” Cindy says.
One clue to the answer to this puzzle is that your chances of developing dementia from a cause other than Alzheimer’s dis-
SNEEZY SEASON
But that’s not the whole answer.
Fibromyalgia has
Symptoms make everyday life extremely difficult.
So, women living longer than men cannot be the whole answer as to why women are more likely than men to develop Alzheimer’s disease, because even among individuals who are living and the same age, women are more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s than men.
RINGING IN EARS
If you or a loved one is suffering from fibromyalgia or another debilitating pain condition, the staff at Patapsco Acupuncture can help. Until October 1, new patients can take advantage of $200 off a $240 new patient consultation by calling 443-774-5441. was tired of living with my fibromyalgia pain” been treat more to understand, until now. is providing patients with much needed from Fibromyalgia symptoms.
A local acupuncturist
Different from other dementias
FALL PREVENTION
4 Subscribe online! See how on p. 30 OCTOBER 2022 — HOWARD COUNTY BEACON
difficult to
Women live longer
“I
relief
“I was angry all the time because of all the things I couldn’t do anymore because of my Fibromyalgia. That anger cycled through to depression and affected everyone around me, my husband more than anyone. It made our lives miserable.”
Your chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease late in life are somewhat greater if you are a woman than a man. One study followed 16,926 people in Sweden and found that, beginning around age 80, women were more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease than men of the same age.
“I could barely stand to have the light weight of the bedsheets touching me, much less a hug from my husband.” explains Cindy.
Too often, symptoms are only made worse because doctors find them difficult to understand and even more troublesome to treat. Dietary changes, pain liniments, and prescription medication are suggested to the point where your life is no longer ruled by your pain, it is now ruled by a tedious routine and pill regimen that is supposed to be helping you avoid fl are ups.
Cindy K. of Ellicott City found herself at a turning point when she noticed her fibromyalgia diagnosis had started to take a toll on her marriage.
Similarly, a study based in Taiwan found that one’s chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease over seven years was greater in women compared to men.
Did you know that of the 6.2 million people with Alzheimer’s disease who are age 65 or older in this country, almost two-thirds are women? This means that Alzheimer’s disease is almost twice as common in women compared to men.
likely you are to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
found that approximately 13 women out of 1,000 developed Alzheimer’s each year, compared to only seven men.
A study at the VA Annex trains veterans to navigate past obstacles
Cindy put it this way, “My life was no longer my own.”
Why are women more at risk for Alzheimer’s?
She discovered that acupuncture can improve the quality of life for Fibromyalgia patients. Determined to find the best, she came across Patapsco Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine in Sykesville, led by Shiopei Low, L.Ac. The clinic specializes in difficult chronic pain cases by blending the wisdom of traditional medicine with modern medical innovations that enhance healing and recovery of the whole body, and has a high success rate in improving quality of life.
By Andrew E. Budson, M.D.
Why is Alzheimer’s disease more common in women?
NEW CAR ADVANTAGES
Taking zinc at the onset of a cold may lessen its severity
• Women have stronger immune systems than men.
• As part of their stronger immune systems, women may end up having more amyloid plaques than men.
• Because they may have more amyloid plaques than men, this theory may explain why women end up having a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
How to reduce your risk
• Eat a Mediterranean menu of foods including fish, olive oil, avocados, fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, whole grains and poultry. Eat other foods sparingly.
ease is not greater if you are a woman.
So, as part of their stronger immune systems, women may end up having more amyloid plaques than men.
women living longer — is:
© 2022 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Putting the pieces together
Amyloid may fight infections
• The amyloid plaques that cause Alzheimer’s disease may be part of the brain’s immune system to fight against infections.
That rates of Alzheimer’s disease differ by gender, whereas rates of nonAlzheimer’s dementias do not, suggests that there must be a specific interaction between Alzheimer’s disease and gender.
• Sleep well — and clean those Alzheimer’s plaques out of your brain.
By combining all of this information, one possible explanation as to why women’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease is greater than men’s — in addition to
For example, the study examining dementia rates in Sweden found that both women and men were equally likely to develop a non-Alzheimer’s dementia as they aged.
Higher autoimmune disease risk
The reason for this difference is not entirely clear, but it is clear that the immune system is generally stronger in women than men, and many autoimmune diseases are more common during pregnancy. It may be that women’s stronger immune system developed through evolution to protect the fetus from infections.
Please note the words “may” that I have used. Although the ideas I have presented here are logical, they have not yet been proven to be correct.
Another clue to this puzzle comes from the work of Harvard researchers, who have suggested that amyloid, one component of Alzheimer’s disease pathology, may be deposited in order to fight off infections in the brain.
The bottom line: You are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease over your lifetime if you are a woman, because women live longer than men and, possibly, because women have stronger immune systems compared to men.
From page 4
Alzheimer’s
If their suggestion turns out to be correct, we might think of Alzheimer’s disease as a byproduct of our brain’s immune system.
Does that mean that if you’re a woman, you’re more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and there’s nothing you can do aboutNotit?at all! You can do many things to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s today, including:•Engage in aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, jogging, biking, swimming or aerobic classes at least 30 minutes per day, five days per week.
• Participate in social activities and novel, cognitively stimulating activities.
The last piece of the puzzle is that women are about twice as likely to have an autoimmune disease compared to men.
HOWARD COUNTY BEACON — OCTOBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health 5 ★ FREE INFORMATION ★ FREE INFORMATION ★ FREE INFORMATION ★ INFORMATIONFREE ★ INFORMATIONFREE ★ INFORMATIONFREE ★ INFORMATIONFREE ★FREEINFORMATION★FREEINFORMATION★FREEINFORMATION★ INFORMATIONFREE ★ INFORMATIONFREE ★ INFORMATIONFREE ★ INFORMATIONFREE CityAddressName State Zip Phone (day) (evening) E-mail Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this form to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 or take a picture and email to housing@thebeaconnewspapers.com. MAIL OR EMAIL FOR FREE INFORMATION For free materials on housing communities and health studies, just complete and clip this coupon and mail or taka a picture and email it to the Beacon. Housing Communities ❏ Brooke Grove (see ad on page 32) ❏ Charlestown (see ad on page 8) ❏ Park View at Colonial Landing (see ad on page 24) ❏ Park View at Columbia (see ad on page 24) ❏ Park View at Ellicott City (see ad on page 24) ❏ Park View at Emerson (see ad on page 24) ❏ Residences at Vantage Point (see ad on page 1) ❏ Shriner Court (see ad on page 25) Clinical Research Studies ❏ Balance & Memory Studies (see ad page 10) ❏ Preventing Falls Study (see article on page 10) HC10/22 ✃ When you want to put your best foot forward... Schedule your visit www.drjgeorge-richardson410-203-2807today Call Comprehensive Foot & Ankle Center • Gentle diabetic footcare • Treating bunions, hammertoes, bone spurs, ingrown toenails • Virtual appointments available Medicare, most health insurance & self-pay accepted Dr. Jeannine George-Richardson 3450 Ellicott Center Dr., #105 • Ellicott City, MD 21043 ✃ Dermatology Care That Can Change Your Life ClearSkinForYou.com • Skin Exams • Mole Checks & Removals • Skin TreatmentCancer • Rosacea • DermatitisEczema/ • Warts Danielle is extremely professional. She takes time to listen and time to explain. A first-rate professional experience. Completely satisfied. — Lorelyn P. Clear Skin for You Danielle LeClair, NP Same Day Appointments Available Call 410-870-8225 Accepting Medicare and Most Insurance
Many people with tinnitus also have some degree of hearing loss. Hearing aids can be used to mask tinnitus by turning up the volume on outside noises. This works especially well when hearing loss and tinnitus occur within the same frequency range, according to the American Tinnitus Association.
By Matthew Solan, Harvard Health Blog
Other possible causes
There are many possible causes of tinnitus. Long-term exposure to loud noises is often blamed. But other sources include middle ear problems, such as an infection, a tumor or cyst pinching nerves in the ear, or something as simple as earwax buildup.
• Negative thinking. Adopting cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnosis to redirect negative thoughts and emotions linked to tinnitus may also help ease symptoms.
That recurring sound that you hear but nobody else does? It’s not all in your head. Well, not exactly. You may be one of the estimated 50 million-plus people who suffer from tinnitus (pronounced TIN-i-tus).
“Neurons in areas of the brain that process sound make up for this loss of input by increasing their sensitivity,” said Daniel Polley, director of the Lauer Tinnitus Research Center at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear.
“The sensitivity knobs are turned up so high that neurons begin to respond to the activity of other nearby neurons. This creates the perception of a sound that does not exist in the physical environment.
Maryland
Treatments are a trial-and-error approach, as they work for some people but not others. One often-suggested strategy is sound therapy. It uses external noise to alter your perception of or reaction to tinnitus.
Even old-fashioned aging can lead to tin-
One approach to managing this condition is different forms of sound therapy intended to help people tune out the internal soundtrack of tinnitus.
6 Fitness & Health | Subscribe online! See how on p. 30 OCTOBER 2022 — HOWARD COUNTY BEACON
Accessible Telecommunications (MAT) MAT ••• •••
• Musculoskeletal factors. Jaw clenching, tooth grinding, prior injury or muscle tension in the neck can sometimes make tinnitus more noticeable. If tight muscles are part of the problem, massage therapy may help relieve it.
Sound therapy may help
“It’s a classic example of a feedback loop, similar to the squeal of a microphone when it is too close to a speaker,” Polley said.
• Medication. Tinnitus can be a side effect of many medications, especially when taken at higher doses. These include aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and certain antidepressants. The problem often goes away when the drug is reduced or discontinued.
Here, you listen to noise similar to your tinnitus sound for long periods. Eventually your brain ignores the tone, along with the tinnitus sound. It’s similar to how you eventually don’t
The sound may seem to come from one ear or both, from inside the head, or from a distance. It may be constant or intermittent, steady or pulsating.
If it’s a relatively continuous sound, you should see an audiologist or otolaryngologist (ear/nose/throat specialist).
• Underlying health conditions
• Habituation. Also known as tinnitus retraining therapy, this process trains your brain to become more accustomed to tinnitus.
At times, everyone experiences the perception of a phantom sound. If it only lasts for a few seconds or minutes, it’s nothing to worry about. However, if it pulsates in sync with your heart rate, see a physician, Polley said.
Have ringing or humming in your ears?
© 2022 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
You may be able to reduce the impact of tinnitus by treating conditions like depression, anxiety and insomnia.
nitus, which is more common in people 55 and over. As people get older, the auditory nerve connecting the ear to the brain starts to fray, diminishing normal sounds.
think about how glasses feel on your nose.
Depending on your diagnosis, your doctor also may recommend addressing issues like these that could contribute to your tinnitus:
What causes the condition?
There is no cure for tinnitus, but it can become less noticeable over time. Still, there are ways to ease symptoms and help tune out the noise and minimize its impact.
The mysterious condition causes a sound in the head with no external source. For many it’s a high-pitched ringing, while for others it’s whistling, whooshing, buzzing, chirping, hissing, humming, roaring or even shrieking.
• Masking. This exposes a person to background noise, like white noise, nature sounds or ambient sounds, to mask tinnitus noise or distract attention away from it.
The therapy is done with guidance from a specialist, and the time frame varies per person, usually anywhere from 12 to 24 months.
Tinnitus also can be a symptom of Meniere’s disease, a disorder of the balance mechanism in the inner ear.
Research suggests sound therapy can effectively suppress tinnitus in some people. Two common types of sound therapy are masking and habituation.
Listening to sound machines or music through headphones or other device scan offer temporary breaks from the perception of tinnitus. Household items like electric fans, radios and TVs also can help.
HOWARD COUNTY BEACON — OCTOBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health 7 Nurturingan Age-FriendlyCommunity AsyourHowardCountyExecutive, Iremaincommittedtosupportingour olderadultsofallbackgroundsandabilitiestoensureHowardCountyremains thebestplacetolive,work,play,andgrowforall. TOGETHER,WE: LaunchedtheHowardCountyAge-FriendlyInitiativeandjoinedthe AARPnetworkofstatesandcommunitiesallowingresidentsofallages andabilitiestohavebetteraccesstoservices; Providedover$20milliontobreakgroundontheEastColumbia 50+CenterandrenovatetheBain50+centertoincreasesizeto 25,000sq; ExpandedtheLoanClosetprogramtomakeavarietyofmedical equipmentavailabletoolderadults;and ReducedtheAgingInPlaceTaxCreditdwellingrequirement. VoteCalvinBall.com
By Howard LeWine
• Zinc therapy was associated with fewer upper respiratory infections compared with placebo. The effect was modest: about one infection was prevented for every 20 people using zinc. The strength of the evidence was considered low.
• On day three of the infection, those taking zinc had milder symptoms. Further, there was an 87% lower risk of severe symptoms among those taking zinc. However, the daily average symptom severity was similar between those taking zinc and those taking placebo. The data quality and certainty of these findings were low to moderate.
• A few studies suggest preventive effects were largest for reducing severe symptoms, such as high fever.
•sickGet plenty of sleep
Water keeps every system in the body functioning properly, such as carrying nutrients and oxygen to the body’s cells, maintaining balance of blood sodium lev-
• Get a flu shot
• Wash your hands frequently
els, helping to regulate body temperature, and preventing constipation.
Q: Does zinc really work for colds and flu?
• Small studies of intentional exposure to a cold virus found that zinc did not prevent colds.
Before taking zinc, keep these other points in mind:
But it’s also possible to take in too much water if you have certain health conditions, such as thyroid disease or kidney, liver or heart problems; or if you’re taking medications that make you retain water, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opiate pain medications and some antidepressants.
For preventing colds and flu
How much water a day should you drink if you fit into that category? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Water intake must be individualized, and you should check with your doctor if you are not sure about the right amount for you.
• Choose a healthy diet
• Cost. Zinc supplements are generally inexpensive. A daily dose of zinc lozenges for a month may cost less than $2/month.
So how much water should you drink? Generally healthy people should aim for six to seven cups of water per day. You will need to increase water intake significantly when it’s hot or you’re sweating.
Q: There seems to be controversy regarding how much water a person should drink each day. What do you suggest for an older adult?
A: You probably know that it’s important to drink plenty of fluids when the temperatures soar like they have been recently. But staying hydrated is a daily necessity, no matter what the thermometer says.
But even a healthy person’s water needs will vary, especially if you’re losing water
Harvard expert answers reader questions
• Side effects. Zinc-related side effects were mild. These included nausea and mouth or nose irritation.
For treating colds and flu
Warning signs of dehydration include weakness, low blood pressure, dizziness, confusion, or urine that’s dark in color.
• COVID-19. None of the studies in this analysis assessed the impact of zinc on the virus causing COVID-19.
• Those who took zinc had symptoms go away about two days sooner than those in the placebo group. Of 100 people with upper respiratory infections, an estimated 19 additional people would have completely recovered by day seven with zinc treatment. The strength of the evidence was considered low.
• Avoid contact, maintain physical distance, and wear a mask around people who are
A: This question is timely, as cold and flu season will soon be here again. For many years, there’s been interest in the possibility that zinc, or other supplements, could help prevent or treat colds and flu. A recent analysis reviewed available research and suggested that overthe-counter zinc supplements could be one way to make cold and flu season a bit easier.Published in November 2021 in BMJ Open, the study looks at zinc for preventing or treating colds and flu-like illness. Researchers reviewed more than 1,300 studies and narrowed the analysis down to 28 well-designed trials, which included more than 5,000 study subjects. Here’s what they found.
Whether you decide to take zinc or not, keep in mind the following tried and true preventive measures and treatments:
• Different doses or types. Additional research is needed to determine the best dose and ideal way to take zinc.
Giving your body enough fluids to carry out those tasks means that you’re staying hydrated. If you don’t drink enough water each day, you risk becoming dehydrated.
8 Fitness & Health | Subscribe online! See how on p. 30 OCTOBER 2022 — HOWARD COUNTY BEACON 439100 Learn More About Vibrant Senior Living! Call 1-800-989-6981 or visit us at CharlestownCommunity.com . Get your FREE brochure from Charlestown, Baltimore County’s premier senior living community located in Catonsville. • See a variety of floor plans • Discover fresh, flavorful dining • Learn about affordable pricing Catonsville CharlestownCommunity.com See HARVARD Q & A, page 11
Many of us aren’t getting enough to drink, especially older adults. Older people don’t sense thirst as much as they did when they were younger. And that could be a problem if they’re on a medication that may cause fluid loss, such as a diuretic.
a left turn, warning against proceeding if the software determines a collision is likely.
Older
“These results should spur efforts to roll these technologies out to consumers as rapidly as possible,” said Jessica Cicchino, IIHS vice president of research.
Future technologies awaited
Vehicle-to-vehicle-enhanced leftturn assist would allow the turning vehicle to know the speed and trajectory of oncoming traffic, even if a hill or obstruction makes it difficult to see.
“Left-turn assist and other, upcoming intersection-assistance technologies could deliver big safety benefits for drivers in their 70s and 80s,” said the paper’s author, IIHS Research Associate Aimee Cox.
collisions with others approaching a crossroads from multiple directions at various speeds and with different intentions. For older drivers, the data showed that intersection-assistance technologies as a group could be relevant to some 650,000 crashes per year as well as more driver injuries than any of the other features covered in the However,study.intersection-assistance features would be relevant to far fewer middle-aged driver fatalities than lane departure prevention — which is designed to address run-offroad, sideswipe and head-on crashes.
Features of newer cars
Existing tech can prevent crashes
New auto technologies improve safety
Brighter headlights and related improvements allow the driver to identify hazards sooner.
Vehicle-to-vehicle connectivity, which is still on the horizon, would enable similar, more sophisticated features.
Most consumers already know several of the features that the researchers examined:
All the features could deliver substantial gains. Overall, about 60% of the crashes involving either age group could potentially be addressed by at least one of the safety features covered in the study.
Front crash prevention warns the driver or applies the brakes to avoid an impending collision.
Lane departure prevention returns the vehicle back to the proper path when it’s veering out of the travel lane.
—Courtesy of the Institute for Highway Safety. For more information about the study and to watch a presentation by the author of the study, Aimee Cox, solutions.older-drivers-research-technology-trends-retirementlivingsourcebook.com/videos/visit
Such features were potentially relevant to 32% of older driver crash involvements, 38% of older driver injuries, and 31% of older driver fatalities. They could also have big safety benefits for middle-aged drivers, as they were relevant to more than a fifth of all crashes for that age group.
HOWARD COUNTY BEACON — OCTOBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health 9
If the vision of its designers comes to fruition, it would eventually link every vehicle on the road, allowing them to communicate their positions, speed and travel path to each other.
Blind spot detection warns the driver about vehicles that aren’t visible in the side or rearview mirrors.
They then estimated how many policereported crashes, driver injuries and driver fatalities could be addressed by five existing features as well as two others that depend on vehicle-to-vehicle connectivity, a technology that is not yet available. Such connections would allow vehicles to share information with each other about their location, speed and intended path.
Intersection-assistance features, which are newer and less well-known, could offer older drivers more help, the data showed.
Advanced technologies designed to help drivers navigate intersections could address a third of the crashes that cause older driver injuries and fatalities, a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows.
Another planned feature — called intersection movement assist — would allow vehicles to warn drivers of possible
The number of older drivers in the U.S. is growing rapidly because Americans are living longer and retaining their licenses later in life.
That raises safety concerns, as drivers in their 70s and 80s are at a greater risk of certain types of crashes, and are more prone to severe injuries and fatalities than youngerAge-relatedpeople.declines in their vision and cognitive abilities make left-turn crashes more common, for example.
More common ones — like automatic emergency breaking (AEB) and lane departure prevention — were relevant to a large portion of crashes for both sets of drivers. However, such conventional features applied to more crashes of middle-aged drivers than crashes of drivers in their 70s and older.
Left-turn assist and other upcoming intersection-assistance features are probably less familiar. Left-turn assist uses a camera and other sensors to detect oncoming vehicles when the driver signals
adults deserve the retirement security that comes from keeping Medicare and Social Security strong. As your representative in Congress, that’s a commitment I intend to www.JohnSarbanes.comkeep.PaidforbyFriendsofJohnSarbanesVoteSARBANES Nov. 8th To seesubscribe,page30.
To gain a better understanding of how available and upcoming crash avoidance features might help, IIHS researchers used federal crash data from 2016-19 to compare the types of crashes that are most common for two groups: older drivers and their middle-aged counterparts.
Conroy test-drove the treadmill and enjoyed the experience, she said.
Sept. 23
ACTIVE AGING AT GLENMONT
for all the VA’s balance-related studies is (410) 605-7179. To find out more about the Gait Better study, call (410) 637-3213.
Participants will visit the Annex on West Fayette Street twice a week for seven weeks for 45 minutes of “training,” on the treadmill. As they walk in place, they’ll watch a real-time projection of their feet as they walk to the library or the bank.
VA Annex hopes to prevent falls in veterans
As we age, we’re more likely to fall and, as a result, become injured or even disabled. More than one in three people over age 65 falls each year, according to the National Institute on Aging.
Exercise your brain with Humana’s tools and resources to help maintain and improve your health at any age. A free class takes place on Fri., Sept. 23 at 11 a.m. at the Ellicott City 50+ Center. Membership in the 50+ centers is free, but registration is required. A single registration is good for all centers. To register, visit a center near you, download a registration packet at bit.ly/HOCOmember, or call 410) 313-1400.
Health Studies INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS
BAIN’S GRAND REOPENING CELEBRATION
Sept. 28
Like a video game
Oct. 5
Parking at the VA Annex is free, and compensation of $100 is given upon completion of the study, known as the Gait BetterThestudy.hotline
“While they’re walking, they’re going to encounter obstacles” such as images of puddles, Conroy said. Her team will encourage veterans to “handle these physical challenges while they’re trying to navigate to a destination.”
BRAIN BOOT CAMP
At the same time, this month researchers at Baltimore’s VA Medical Center Annex are launching a pilot study to help veterans over age 65 who have experienced a fall or are at risk of falling.
After the treadmill training is completed, veterans will keep in touch with researchers for another six months via telephone in case they fall.
By Margaret Foster
“We’re looking at how this new virtualreality system can improve balance and prevent falls in our older veterans. We want to see if this intervention can prevent falls and carry over into real life.”
There are no headsets or goggles involved in this study, Conroy noted. Instead, the images on the screen are “similar to a video game,” she explained. “It’s a simulated reality of a camera projecting their feet as they walk on a normal treadmill.”
BEACON BITS
“Falls most often occur when walking — and when the person is distracted,” said Susan Conroy, principal investigator of the eight-month-long study.
to a computer screen, which will present “obstacles” in their path.
“What’s really fun is we have two environments, and people can be exposed to a city environment and a park environment.”
Falls Prevention Week, September 18 to 24, 2022, is a time to raise awareness that falls are preventable. Public-service announcements this month may remind us
The study seeks to train veterans to keep their balance despite distractions. Veterans will walk on a treadmill attached
to secure loose rugs around the house, for instance, or to get enough sleep.
10 Fitness & Health | Subscribe online! See how on p. 30 OCTOBER 2022 — HOWARD COUNTY BEACON
Two months of in-person visits
BALANCE
AND MEMORY!BALANCE AND MEMORY! We are studying why falls and balance disorders occur in older adults with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia and how falls impact their lives. Individuals 60+ may be able to join our research study. We take the burden of travel away from you by traveling to your home (if desired). We provide compensation up to $100 for our participants.For more information call 410-614-9825 Or email vhorta1@jhmi.eduApproved October 25, 2021 JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY DATE: SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: YURI AGRAWAL, MD APPLICATION NO.: NA_00087648 • Eye Care for All Ages • Specialists in Cataracts, Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy and Macular Degeneration • Contact Lens Specialists • Plastic & Reconstructive Eye Surgery Full In-House Optical Department Outpatient No-Stitch Cataract Surgery • Laser Surgery MEDICARE ASSIGNMENT ACCEPTED LENARD H. HAMMER, M.D., F.A.C.S. GORDON LUI, M.D. SCOTT B. BECKER, M.D. BRIAN J. WINTER, M.D. VANESSA LIMA, M.D. CRISTINA F. ROUILLER, O.D.. 410-997-9900 8860 Columbia 100 Parkway, Suite 101, Columbia, MD
Try a free exercise classes, enjoy a catered lunch and music, plus plenty of fun, free programs and giveaways on Wed., Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bain 50+ Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. Sign up in advance at the front desk for all activities or call (410) 3137213. Membership in the 50+ centers is free, but registration is required. A single registration is good for all centers. To register, visit a center near you or download a registration packet at bit.ly/HOCOmember.
Kick off the day with a free healthy breakfast at the Glenwood 50+ Center. Practice your putting in the hallway or shoot some hoops. Free drop-in activities all day, Wed., Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Glenwood 50+ Center, 2400 Route 97, Cooksville. Register at bit.ly/stayACTIVE.
By America’s Test Kitchen
Carotid Artery Disease increase the risk of Aortic Aneurysm rupture can be
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
Directions:
Peripheral Artery Disease build-up of arterial plaque that can lead to infection, ulcers, and amputation in severe was very pleased with my visit there. The wait time was minimal, and the staff was great and the doctor was very professional and understanding. I look forward to my next visit.” Doris H. painless 30-minute at Maryland Vascular can
Specialists
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screening
1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 300 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and set a cooling rack inside the baking sheet. Spray rack with vegetable oil spray.
Do you have one or more of these risk factors for vascular disease?
It’s not just water that keeps you hydrated. All beverages containing water contribute toward your daily needs. And know that you also get fluids from water-rich foods, such as salads and fruit.
4 (6-ounce) skinless cod fillets, 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick
Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, visit health.harvard.edu.
detect:
To ward off dehydration, drink fluids gradually throughout the day. An easy way to do this is to have a drink at each meal, as well as socially, or with medicine.
© 2022 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
Harvard Q & A
¾ cup panko bread crumbs
Vegetable oil spray
fatal
— can
½ teaspoon salt
3. Transfer panko mixture to a medium bowl. Stir in parsley and let cool for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, egg yolk and lemon zest.
stroke Abdominal
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
The secret to success with this dish is a low-temperature oven (set to just 300 degrees) that ensures that the fish cooks slowly, without drying out.
5. Working with one fillet at a time, coat the top of each fillet with panko mixture.
From page 8
For 25 years, home cooks have relied on America’s Test Kitchen for rigorously tested recipes developed by professional test cooks and vetted by 60,000 at-home recipe testers. The family of brands — which includes Cook’s Illustrated, Cook’s Country and America’s Test Kitchen Kids — offers reliable recipes for cooks of all ages and skill levels. See more online at americastestkitchen.com/TCA.©2022America’s Test Kitchen. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
¼ teaspoon pepper
—
through sweat because you’re exercising, or because you’re outside on a hot day.
—
2. In a 12-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add panko, garlic, salt and pepper and cook, stirring often with rubber spatula, until lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes.
Finally, a mayonnaise and egg yolk “glue” adds rich flavor and helps the crumb topping stay put. Even people who don’t usually like fish will like this dish.
Crispy Baked Cod Serves Ingredients4
baking sheet from oven. Place baking sheet on a second cooling rack. Serve fish with lemon wedges.
Crispy, buttery, garlicky panko bread crumbs get a head start in a skillet so they’re golden brown when the fish comes out of the oven.
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest, plus lemon wedges
Place fillets, crumb side up, on greased rack in baking sheet.
6. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake until fish registers 145 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, 30 to 40 minutes.7.Remove
HOWARD COUNTY BEACON — OCTOBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health 11 Schedule a Screening Today! mvsdoctors.com410-936-5149 Columbia 10700 Charter Dr • Suite 335 • Columbia, MD Laurel 14201 Laurel Park Dr • Suite 214 • Laurel, MD • Age (50+ years old) • Diabetes • Family History of Vascular Disease • High Cholesterol • High PressureBlood
4. Use paper towels to pat fish dry. Spread mayonnaise mixture evenly over top of each fillet.
–
A
Browning panko crumbs with butter before breading fish ensures a crispy coating.
Crispy, buttery baked cod cooks slowly
1 large egg yolk
2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
Recreation & Parks
Dance
• Info: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.
Learn basic dance steps for rhumba and cha-cha dance rhythms with dance instructor Tom Sellner.
Stained Glass Workshop
Make a small, stained-glass hanging using the copper foil technique. Learn to score, cut, foil, and solder stained-glass pieces into a finished hanging. Develop and practice the skills needed to score and break glass, as this is a challenging skill. Beginners and intermediate students both enjoy these workshops. Supplies provided include a pattern, glass and tools.
Upcoming Programs for 55 Years +
One-Day Photography Workshop
The ClayGround – Ellicott City Classes: 1 RP3597.101 Oct 12 11am-1pm W $69
Drop-In Social Bridge
Meet You There! ClayGround: Glass Holiday Ornaments
Beginner Latin Dance
Duplicate Bridge
• Info: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.
This video workshop explores the movie/video capability, explains basic camera settings and answers your questions. For example, what frame rate should you use (60i vs 60p, 30i vs 24p); what file format should you use (MP-4, AVCHD)? Bring your digital camera with video function.
Comfortable with your camera? Ready to take your photography to the next level? Then this is the class for you! Come pick up where Digital Photography 101 left off. Learn and practice intermediate photography techniques relating to lighting, action, composition, and more. Digital camera required (DSLR or pointand-shoot with manual controls).
12 Fitness & Health | Subscribe online! See how on p. 30 OCTOBER 2022 — HOWARD COUNTY BEACON
Instructor: John Guion Classes: 4 RP3533.101 Belmont Oct 25 9:30-11:30am Tu $95
Instructor: John Guion Classes: 1 RP3522.102 Belmont Oct 18 9-11:30am Tu $35
To view all of our programs and activities, visit www.HowardCountyMD.gov/rap.
Instructor: Maureen Stone Classes: 1 RP3536.102 N Laurel Comm Ctr Oct 14 11am-3pm F $89
W
Bain 50+ Ctr
Marathon Bridge
Create a few personalized holiday masterpieces to give as gifts during this amazing workshop. During this glass fusion class, you make two holiday ornaments which will be ready for pickup by Nov. 18. Glass fusion is the process of joining compatible sheet glasses together in a kiln and grants you the power to create colorful, dynamic works of art that are completely unique.
• Info: Tracy Adkins, 410-313-7279 or tadkins@howardcountymd.gov.
Kiwanis-Wallas Hall Noon-2:30pm First W of the month Free Trivia Time 10:30-11:30am Free
Crafts & Fine Arts
Kiwanis-Wallas Hall 11am-3pm W Free Kiwanis-Wallas Hall 10am-1:30pm F Free
Kiwanis-Wallas Hall 9am-noon W Free
Digital Photography 102
Couples Classes: 5 $59 per person No class 11/8 RP3517.101 Roger Carter Comm Ctr Oct 11 9:30-10:30am Tu Singles or Couples Classes: 5 $59 per person No class 11/10 RP3517.102 Roger Carter Comm Ctr Oct 13 9:30-10:30am Th
Drop-In Programs
The Language & Cultural Club Classes: 6 $5 materials fee RP3503.101Roger Carter Comm CtrOct 126-7pmW$99
RP3566.102Roger Carter Comm CtrOct 229-10amSa $65 Classes: 12No class 11/24
RP4561.101Oct 141-3pmF$55
• Info: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.
Neurodivergence Works: Exploring and Celebrating Neurodiversity in the Workplace and Beyond
Emerge with Pamela Schuckman
Scan the QR code for more 55 years + programs! tinyurl.com/55plusprograms
Carter Comm CtrOct 136:30-8pmThFree
Classes: 6No class 11/26
Instructor:guests.
Carter Comm CtrOct 1810-11amTu,Th$75
Head 2 Toe Strong with Kathy Greisman
Health & Fitness
Meet You There! Pinot’s Palette – Floral Harvest
Immerse yourself in Spanish language and culture through entertainment and networking. The Platinum Club was designed to extend the joys of learning another language by focusing on applicable lessons such as practical vocabulary and real-world conversations that can be incorporated into your daily life. All levels of proficiency are welcome! Each week, participants learn something new to keep them inspired and intellectually stimulated through cultural themes, celebrations and international
When we think of diversity we often think of racial or ethnic, religious, gender, even socio-economic. But have you ever considered that diversity also exists concerning the function of the brain? Join Marla Moore, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity, as she explores and celebrates people of various neurodivergent minds. Attendees learn the value that individuals on the Autism spectrum, those with ADD/ADHD, and other non-neurotypical functions add to our society at large and even our organizations. Learn the benefits of creating an inclusive workplace that provides support, education and accommodations to those who are neurodivergent.
• Registration: 410-313-7275, www.howardcountymd.gov/rap, or 7120 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD 21046
HOWARD COUNTY BEACON — OCTOBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health 13
Classes: RP3544.102Roger10
Lifelong Learning
• Information: Tracy Adkins, 410-313-7279 or tadkins@howardcountymd.gov
• Trip venues may have different COVID-19 requirements (ex: mask mandates, proof of vaccination and/or negative COVID test). Visit www.howardcountymd.gov/recreation-parks/programs for the most up-to-date info.
Classes: RP3506.106Roger1
Meet You There! The HorseSpirit Art Gallery at Historic Savage Mill
The Platinum Spanish Club
RP4563.101Oct 1910am-1pmW$35
RP3566.104Roger Carter Comm CtrOct 182-3pm Tu,Th$95
This hybrid class integrates vinyasa and yin style Yoga to increase and maintain strength and flexibility. Practice movement with breath to energize the body while calming the mind. Improve your balance, posture and fascia health with this holistic approach to your physical well-being. Modifications are encouraged so the class is for everyone.
Are you an active aging participant looking to get fit after illness, an injury or quarantine? This class helps you take the first steps toward your fitness goals while having fun and building confidence. Focus on core strength, balance and flexibility while participants learn proper body mechanics and ways to modify exercises. Class is tailored to individual needs and is designed for individuals who can get up off the floor without assistance.
• Info/Fitness Waiver: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.
OAI to Boost Digital Equity and Inclusion
A Publication of the Department of Community Resources and Services Volume 12, No. 10 • October 2022
As a member of Maryland’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, she is encouraging residents of all ages and abilities to join us for a walk, roll, ride and move during Howard County’s Walktober events at www.howardcountymd.gov/Walktober22.
The Office on Aging and Independence's latest effort aims to bridge the divide in digital access, literacy and resilience. Malarie Burgess (pictured below) is the new Digital Inclusion Specialist in the office, paving the way for a more connected Howard County. She will advocate for increased access to technology and build out the skills to use it. These new efforts align with Howard County’s ongoing efforts toward being an Age-Friendly community, and are part of the Transform Howard Initiative. This position will also address challenges noted in the Age-Friendly Howard County Action Plan, especially the recommendations made by the Communications and Information and Respect and Social Inclusion workgroups.
Online shopping lets you buy products using the internet and a computer and have them shipped to your home or anywhere. Online stores often have larger inventories and lower prices, so you can quickly find the best deal. This class will provide a general introduction to using Amazon.com to search for products, make comparisons, and add items to a virtual shopping cart, and "check out!"
Marian Vessels (3rd from left) helped cut the ribbon in August to celebrate renovations at Centennial Park South. Pictured with Marian, from left, Councilmember Liz Walsh, Department of Recreation & Parks Director A. Raul Delerme and County Executive Calvin Ball, and others.
Elkridge 50+ Center • Thursday, October 27 • 1:00 p.m. Call/email Malarie to sign-up (not required, yet highy encouraged)
A Message from Howard County Executive Calvin Ball
14 Subscribe online! See how on p. 30 OCTOBER 2022 — HOWARD COUNTY BEACON
With
October 1 is the United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP), celebrating “The Resilience and Contributions of Older Women.”
You can expect more programming to boost everyone's digital literacy, special events to provide tools to get people plugged in and opportunities to hear from the community along the way. One of the key new programs coming soon to Howard County will be an exciting partnership with OATS (Older Adult Technology Services) Senior Planet. This respected AARP organization offers a robust variety of classes aimed to build and strengthen technology skills, navigation, adaptability and safety for the older adult population. Maryland is one of only five states to offer such innovative digital learning! Malarie is excited to close technological gaps and build new paths forward.
For more information, or to sign up for Senior Planet, contact Malarie by email at mburgess@howardcountymd.gov or phone 410-313-6542 (voice/relay).
each year the world of technology expands into exciting new frontiers. This expansion can unfortunately leave some people behind, creating a digital divide that grows at the same pace. The communities affected most by this gap include, but are not limited to, low-income households, indigenous communities, adults living with disabilities, people of color, rural areas and older adults. Digital Equity and Inclusion aims to meet the needs of those who are at risk of being left behind. Addressing lack of connectivity in our infrastructure, increasing access to quality devices, building literacy and resiliency with using technology and providing compassionate tech support are cornerstones of digital equity and inclusion work.
On this day, we are reminded that we must embrace the voices of older women and showcase their resilience and contributions to our community. There are so many amazing Howard County women who inspire me every day by their steadfast determination to improve our quality of life and make our county a better place to live, work, play, and grow. Marian Vessels is one shining example due to her lifelong advocacy on behalf of individuals with disabilities.
Marian co-chaired the Age-Friendly Outdoor Spaces and Buildings Workgroup, is vice-chair of the Commission on Disabilities, and is a member of the County’s Recreation and Parks Advisory Board. She recently joined me for a ribbon cutting to reveal renovations at Centennial Park South that widened pathways, added a new accessible parking lot and other improvements, all meant to enhance public safety. These changes have special meaning to Marian, who uses a power wheelchair, as it makes Centennial Park more accessible for people of all ages and abilities. These improvements further the goals of the Age-Friendly Howard County Action Plan and demonstrate Howard County’s commitment to building public facilities that can be enjoyed by all.
Marian is also one of Maryland’s most vocal advocates for the benefits of walking, often going for walks in her wheelchair.
Online Shopping Presentation
Dr. Mary Carson will discuss how hearing loss is related to your brain and overall health. Learn about advancements in hearing technology, and options to make hearing devices affordable. Free; register at 410-313-5192.
Sign up at a 50+ Center near you to participate in one of the scheduled walks. Visit www.howardcountymd.gov/walktober22 for the Howard County 50+ Center walk schedule and other community events throughout the month.
Ellicott City
ELLICOTT CITY 50+ CENTER
North Laurel 50+ Center
Bain 50+ Center
Wednesdays, October 5 through December 21 • 10:00 am.
Join Dr. Ramya Swamy to discuss the treatment of complex cataracts and the management of glaucoma, including early detection and use of microinvasive surgery. Free; register at 410-313-1400.
• Learn to manage the nutritional aspect of diseases and chronic conditions
NOV 3 • 11:00 a.m. Diabetes-Friendly Cooking and Baking
ELKRIDGE 50+ CENTER
ELKRIDGE 50+ CENTER
October Center Events
Tai Chi for Beginners (ActiveNet #A04412.100)
EAST COLUMBIA 50+ CENTER
Jump Start Your Nutritional Health for Fall
NOV 17 • 11:15 a.m. One Pot Meals
NOV 1 • 11:00 a.m. Diabetes-Friendly Cooking and Baking
OCT 27 • 11:15 a.m. Autumn Harvest Cooking
• Develop healthy eating patterns and lifestyle changes
If you are ready to learn some new cooking skills, check out the latest nutrition classes at the Howard County 50+ Centers!
Thursday, October 6 • 11:00 a.m.
Mondays and Wednesdays, October 3 through December 21 • Noon Practice aerobic combinations to increase cardiovascular endurance, build lean muscle mass and bone density through strength training. Co-sponsored by Howard County General Hospital. $73/person; register at 410-313-7213.
Open Enrollment for Medicare’s 2023 health and prescription drug plans runs October 15 to December 7. During this time period, Medicare beneficiaries can add, drop or switch plans.
The Hidden Costs of Hearing Loss
OCT 12 • 10:00 a.m. Autumn Harvest Cooking
NOV 15 • 1:00 p.m. Million Dollar Zucchini
NOV 8 • 1:00 p.m. Diabetes-Friendly Cooking and Baking
DEC 22 • 11:15 a.m. Soups, Stews, and Stoups
Walktober abilities.residentsandfortheexerciseMaryland’scelebratesofficialandpromotesbenefitsofwalkingphysicalactivityimprovedhealthforofallagesand
Medicare BeginsENROLLMENTOPENOctober 15
Thursday, October 6 • 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Active Aging on a Budget
Learn about the latest high-tech car safety features and what features to look for when shopping for a new car, including blind spot and forward collision warning systems. Free; call Glenwood at 410-313-5440, or Elkridge at 410-313-5192 to register.
NORTH LAUREL 50+ CENTER
Glaucoma: An Overview
NOV 9 • 10:00 a.m. One Pot Meals
Wednesday, October 26 • 11:00 a.m.
Elkridge 50+ Center
AARP Smart DriverTEKSM
Find Us on Facebook • Instagram • Twitter: @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.
OCT 18 • 1:00 p.m. Willy Wonka and the Tofu Factory
NOV 2 • 11:00 a.m. Diabetes-Friendly Cooking and Baking
Learn Tai Chi – no experienced required. Weather permitting, class is held outside in the center parking lot. $116/person; register at 410-313-7680.
Thursday, October 6 • 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Friday, October 14 • 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
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 the subscriber list, go to https://bit.ly/HoCosubscribe. 9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046 410-313-6410 (VOICE/RELAY) • www.howardcountymd.gov/aging
Let’s Talk About Healthy Cooking!
DEC 20 • 1:00 p.m. When You Met Beetroot
NOV 21 • 10:30 a.m. How to Make Oatmeal Taste Amazing!
DEC 14 • 10:00 a.m. Soups, Stews and Stoups
Let’s Talk About Healthy Eating!
GLENWOOD 50+ CENTER
Learn how to exercise on a budget using common things found in your home. Presented by EJ Scofield, Physical Therapist. Light refreshments available; sign up at the front desk.
Free one-on-one nutrition consultations with Carmen Roberts, RD, are offered at all Howard County 50+ Centers in-person or virtually, and by appointment only. During each half-hour appointment, individuals will learn to:
DEC 19 • 10: 30 a.m. No-Bake Energy Balls
AgeWell (ActiveNet #A01201.100)
HOWARD COUNTY BEACON — OCTOBER 2022 Makes a great gift! 15The 50+ Connection
Howard County’s State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) can help you review your Medicare Prescription Drug coverage options. Call 410-313-7392 (VOICE/RELAY) to schedule a remote counseling appointment by phone with a certified SHIP counselor.
OCT 17 • 10:30 a.m. Fall Fruit, Yogurt, and Granola Parfaits
BAIN 50+ CENTER
• Set personal goals Register online for your personal consultation at https://bit.ly/OAInutrition.
In some cases, the number of digitalonly discounts doubled or tripled in June 2022 compared to the same week last year.
(Kroger did not respond to our requests forAtcomment.)somestores, digital coupons for instore purchases are available on dozens of items, including meat, fish and poultry. The savings can be significant — often 50 cents to $1 off, sometimes more.
Digital coupons do two things for retailers, Garlich told Checkbook: “They create process improvements at retail, and they reduce
Some supermarkets have not adopted digital-only deals, many are using them sparingly, and some have created offline alternatives, Dworsky noted.
—Based on age: 39% of those 65 and older don’t own a smartphone, and 25% don’t use the internet.
Is there anything shoppers can do about this? There seem to be two options: Complain to the corporate office of the store or switch to a supermarket that doesn’t use digital-only coupons.
Where is this headed? No way to tell. Many brands that have pulled their print coupons are slowly moving to digital.
“Digital discounts are no deal for millions of shoppers, especially seniors and
As The New York Times reported recently, unlike paper coupons, digital coupons can be “personalized and aimed at specific demographic profiles.”
The new technology lets companies better track and understand their customers. And many shoppers like digital discounts, even if that means the store and manufacturer can collect more data about them.
The use of digital-only offers featured in weekly circulars (separate from any manufacturer’s coupons available on the supermarket’s website) appears to be accelerating, according to Consumer World’s supermarket survey.
For decades, supermarkets have offered lower prices on certain items to members of their loyalty rewards programs, which require a phone number to join. Those discounts are featured in the weekly circulars and on shelf tags.
“They’re awful,” she said.
Seniors recognize the need for new technology, but Patty David, director of personal fulfillment at AARP, wants companies to invest in “age-inclusive designs” that ensure what’s developed can be used by everyone.
By Herb Weisbaum
“Companies need to be aware of all ages and what their capabilities are, and make sure that whatever they’re designing for… it’s an age-inclusive design.”
Albertsons, the country’s fifth-largest supermarket chain, which operates more than 2,200 stores in 34 states, including Safeway, Vons and Acme, told Checkbook that customers who do not have access to digital coupons can present the ad to the cashier and get the discount(s) at the register. A Checkbook undercover shopper tried it at a Safeway store in the Seattle area, and the clerk gave her the discount.
It’s not your imagination. Manufacturers are cutting back on coupon promotions, both paper and digital, especially for food, according to the mid-year report by Kantar, a marketing consulting firm. The most notable decline was for cereal coupons. The face value of food coupons, both digital and print, also dropped.
Whateverfraud.”the business justification, digital-only coupons foster the digital divide because they don’t provide savings to every customer. Some in the industry are willing to acknowledge that.
See DIGITAL COUPONS, page 18
Herb Weisbaum is a contributing editor of Washington Consumers’ Checkbook magazine and Checkbook.org, a nonprofit organ-
—Based on income: Almost a quarter (24%) of the adults in households with incomes below $30,000 a year don’t own a smartphone. About four-in-10 don’t have home broadband services (43%), or a desktop or laptop computer (41%).
Suzie told Checkbook she suspects many older shoppers see the digital-only price in the store ad or on a shelf tag and assume they’re getting that great deal simply by having a loyalty card. Yet you have to have a smartphone that can scan the bar code on the shelf tag to get the discounted price; otherwise, you’ll pay $3 more.
16 Subscribe online! See how on p. 30 OCTOBER 2022 — HOWARD COUNTY BEACON
To get these digital deals, the customer must go online or use the store app to “clip” the digital coupons or offers they want and load them onto their account before they George,shop.asenior who lives in Carlsbad, Calif., and shops at Ralphs (owed by Kroger, the fourth-largest grocery chain in the U.S.) admits to being tech-challenged — and he doesn’t like being left out.
low-income individuals who don’t have online access, a smartphone to use the store app, or simply can’t follow the cumbersome online procedure, even if they do have the proper technology,” said Edgar Dworsky, founder and publisher of Consumer World.
A growing problem for many Consumer World, a consumer advocacy website, checked weekly circulars at more than 50 supermarkets across the country in June, including Acme, Albertsons, Food Lion, Fred Meyer, Jewel-Osco, Kroger, Ralphs, Safeway, Shaw’s, and Stop & Shop, and found that two-thirds of them advertised digital-only discounts.
A few chains, such as Albertsons and Giant Food, use “clip or click” coupons in their weekly ads in some locations. This
At a time when consumers are especially focused on saving money at the supermarket, some shoppers — those who are tech-challenged or digitally unconnected — are unable to access “digital only” sale prices advertised in weekly store circulars.
“With inflation at a 40-year high, it’s time to stop discriminating against the digitally disconnected, particularly seniors, and offer them the same discounts already enjoyed by tech-savvy shoppers,” Dworsky said.
Two surveys by the Pew Research Center in 2021 documented how many older and lower-income Americans don’t have the technology so many of us take for granted:
More stores are requiring the use of a smartphone to get an advertised sale price.
It’s only just begun
Digital coupons also link to the shopper’s supermarket loyalty card, so it’s easy to tell if that coupon did its job and got the customer to switch brands.
Dworsky told us he’s called supermarkets around the country, including those owned by Albertsons, and found that it’s hit or miss whether a store will provide the digital discounts without going through the online procedure.
Move to digital coupons costs shoppers
Money Law &
So why provide savings that some customers cannot access? Checkbook asked the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), an industry trade group representing manufacturers and “Grocersretailers.offertheir customers options for getting deals both online and in-store,”
“That’s a real problem,” Dworsky said. “Supermarkets must recognize that millions of their shoppers are not technology savvy and may be on fixed incomes. All the chains should offer a simple offline alternative so those folks can take advantage of the advertised savings.”
“I only have a flip phone and wouldn’t know how to download that stuff if you paid me,” George told Washington Consumers’ Checkbook . “I don’t appreciate being a second-class citizen, especially when this affects people like me, who really need these discounts the most.”
In the past, George said, the cashier would let him have the digital-only discounts, but not anymore. “If that isn’t discrimination, tell me what is,” George said.
Suzie, a senior shopper on the East Coast, uses coupons to stretch her food budget, but said she can’t take advantage of digital discounts because she can’t get the store app to download in her phone.
“How many people see $1 off and assume it’s going to come off the price at the register, not realizing they need to have downloaded a digital coupon? I mean, it’s ridiculous,” she said.
said Heather Garlich, a senior vice president at “We’reFMI.meeting 100 million households where they are, and how they shop, several times a week.”
“It’s right to want equal treatment, and it’s right to want to make sure that you have access to things,” David told Checkbook.
Now, the industry is moving into digital marketing by advertising in their circulars sale prices that require internet access.
“They are a clever ploy by big supermarket chains to get people into the store, knowing full well that many of them will wind up paying more than the advertised price.”
What can you do about it?
Why is this happening?
gives customers the option to choose how to redeem their coupons.
“Coupons are a great way for people to save money and for manufacturers to move product, but we need to be careful not to leave anyone behind,” said Bud Miller, executive director of the Coupon Information Corporation, a nonprofit created by the industry to fight coupon fraud.
One reason you withdraw from tax-deferred accounts second is that you’ll know roughly what tax rates are going to be in the short term. Those rates are relatively low now; the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expires at the end of 2025.
Don’t get caught off guard and let taxes adversely affect your golden years. One of the keys to developing a good tax strategy for retirement is understanding the order of withdrawals you should follow.
Use tax-deferred accounts next
By John Carruthers
Take from taxable accounts first Non-qualified or taxable accounts — those that are not tax-advantaged — include checking and savings accounts, standard or joint brokerage accounts, and employer stock purchase plans. Taxable brokerage accounts are your least tax-efficient accounts, subject to capital gains and dividend taxes.
A tax-smart way to tap retirement funds
expenses with non-taxable income. It’s doable due to a Roth conversion strategy, in which you convert portions of tax-deferred accounts to a Roth account.
You work hard for decades and save diligently for retirement, but unfortunately, you can’t retire from paying taxes.
And sadly, many people don’t. One survey found that 42% of current retirees reported they did not consider how taxes would impact their retirement income.
A prudent retirement income and tax strategy maximizes tax-advantaged growth while maintaining the flexibility of funding some portion of your retirement
Money in Roth IRAs or Roth 401(k)s is not taxable income when you withdraw from them as long as you follow the rules, meaning account holders must be 59½ or older and have held the account for at least fiveWithdrawalsyears.
HOWARD COUNTY BEACON — OCTOBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Law & Money 17 Give your sunken pumpkins new HowardCountyMD.gov/HarvestHeaplife! Visitorwww.Renovation.RealEstatecallusat410-695-6202 “Shaun increased the selling price of our home beyond our expectations.” Diane L. – Baltimore Sometimes a property is not in condition to get Top Dollar when you sell. I can help! Sell your home for MORE! heardAsWCBM!on We Fix it, We Sell it, YOU Profit! I’m Shaun Holden, a licensed General Contractor AND a licensed Real Estate Broker. That’s right, BOTH! Renovation Real Estate will renovate your property at NO out of pocket cost to you, then list it and get it sold for top dollar. You do not pay a dime until the house sells. YOU keep the profit! Veteran-Owned Business See RETIREMENT FUNDS, page 19
Here we’re talking about the traditional IRA, 401(k) and 403(b), all of which are subject to ordinary income tax rates when you withdraw money from them.
An important part of enjoying a fruitful retirement is understanding how taxes apply to different types of income and planning accordingly. Having sizable amounts of money in various accounts is wonderful, but taxes can eat away at them quickly if you don’t have a sound tax strategy heading into retirement.
Knowing when and how to draw on your various assets can have a big impact on how much in taxes you’ll owe from year to year.
From a tax perspective, it doesn’t matter whether you start withdrawing first from a traditional IRA or 401(k), but keep in mind that required minimum distributions (RMDs) for both accounts begin in the year you turn age 72 (or 70½ if you reached that age before Jan. 1, 2020).
are tax-free for your heirs, regardless of their age, if the original ac-
The IRS requires any Roth conversion to have occurred at least five years before you access the money; otherwise, you may be
count was opened at least five years before.
The idea for the account holder is to let it sit and grow tax-free as long as possible before tapping into it. (There is no RMD for a Roth IRA account holder, although there is one for the Roth 401(k) and those inheriting Roths.)
By using these funds first in retirement, you give your tax-advantaged accounts (IRA, Roth IRA) more time to grow and compound. Brokerage accounts will never grow as quickly as tax-advantaged accounts because they are subject to the annual drag of taxation on interest, dividends and capital gains.
Roth IRA or 401(k) comes last
was imperative for this couple to experience this new phase of life together.
Years of work by innovative engineers have resulted in a scooter that’s designed with seniors in mind. They created Electronic Stability Control (ESC) that makes it virtually impossible to tip over. If you try to turn too quickly, the scooter automatically slows down to prevent it from tipping over. The battery provides powerful energy at a fraction of the weight of most batteries. With its rugged yet lightweight aluminum frame, the So LiteTM Scooter is the most portable scooter ever—but it can hold up to 275 pounds—yet weighs only 40.8 pounds without the battery! What’s more, it easily folds up for storage in a car seat, trunk or even on an airplane. It folds in seconds without tools and is safe and reliable. Best of all, it’s designed with your safety in mind, from the newest technology and superior craftsmanship. Why spend another day letting your lack of mobility ruin your quality of life? Call now and find out how you can get a So LiteTM Scooter of your very own. mobility
While inflation and a potential recession may be on the minds of many today, it’s important to remain disciplined in an investment approach. Keep a long-term perspec-
Another element to proactively plan for is building a larger cash nest egg that can be pulled from early in retirement. Once someone starts spending from their portfolio in retirement, I recommend having six to 12 months of cash to cover upcoming expenses.
Having a map or outline defined in the years before retirement will ultimately provide financial and emotional comfort and stability for the future. Below is a roundup of significant elements to think through in the final years ahead of retirement:
How will the current market environment affect your future?
Being financially prepared to retire is one thing, but being emotionally and mentally ready is another. Retirement can be a sizable time frame of one’s life — 20 to 30
What are your expectations?
service providers it evaluates.
ization with a mission to help consumers get great service and low prices. It is supported by consumers and takes no money from the
Planning to retire in the next 3-5 years?
At most, the current market environment may lend an opportunity to rebalance. If a pre-retiree investor is now underweight in stocks due to the market dip, they should consider allocating more bonds to stocks to get back to their target allocation.
I recently had a client couple decide to retire at the same time, even though one partner was almost 10 years away from traditional retirement age. The rationale? It
Of equal significance is discussing longterm lifestyle plans. Upon retirement, will you move to be closer to children and grandchildren, or move to a more tax-advantageous state? Will you travel internationally or purchase a vacation home?
Three to five years before retirement, if time allows, treat this window as a dress rehearsal. For example, if volunteering is important, join one or two organizations in advance to ensure that the activity and time spent will align with your future retirement objectives.
Is your spouse on the same page?
© 2022 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Digital coupons
Often, I see people entering retirement and asking themselves, “Now what?” Not only can this be a financial detriment (perhaps leading to frivolous, unorganized spending on travel or hobbies), it can leave a person feeling unfulfilled during this stage of life.
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In the years before retirement, determine what your ideal lifestyle should look like. How do you want to spend your days? What is important to keep you mentally stimulated? Will your spouse/partner join you?
For some, having one spouse continue in their career and remain in that “9 to 5” mindset works; it doesn’t upset the household balance that was in play for years prior. For others, it might spur a range of emotions that otherwise weren’t thought about in advance.
By Julie Virta
Like millions of older Americans, I struggle with mobility. For years, I watched my quality of life slip away, as I was forced to stay home while friends and family took part in activities I’d once enjoyed. I thought I’d made some progress when I got a mobility scooter, but then I realized how hard it was to transport. Taking it apart and putting it back together was like doing a jigsaw puzzle. Once I had it disassembled, I had to try to put all of the pieces in the trunk of a car, go to wherever I was going, and repeat the
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Think about retirement goals and what they look like both individually and as a couple. Mapping this perceived lifestyle out in advance will help both partners stay on the same page to enjoy a successful retirement.
It may take decades over the course of a career to save for retirement, but there is a small and defined window of time leading up to one’s golden years that is exceptionally critical when it comes to planning.
years or even more.
I often work with my clients three to five years ahead of their anticipated retirement to fine-tune their plan, reviewing everything from financial expectations, probable lifestyle changes or decisions, to oftenoverlooked non-financial considerations.
tive and don’t let current market noise distract or influence notable portfolio changes.
process in reverse. Travel scooters were easier to transport, but they were uncomfortable and scary to drive, I always felt like I was ready to tip over. Then I found the So LiteTM Scooter. Now there’s nothing that can hold me back.
18 Law & Money | Subscribe online! See how on p. 30 OCTOBER 2022 — HOWARD COUNTY BEACON
While this scenario may not work for all, think through the relationship dynamic years before you plan to leave the workforce.
From page 16
Amid the current market environment, if someone has the financial wherewithal while on a steady income stream, sock away these future funds that may be tapped later in life.
plore plan options and determine if there is a one that will reduce your overall costs.
Many manufacturers offer assistance programs, based on your financial situation, that will reduce your costs. For example, readers who take the prescription drugs Eliquis and Dexilant have found programs that reduce their costs significantly.
HOWARD COUNTY BEACON — OCTOBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Law & Money 19
By planning ahead you could minimize your taxes in retirement and increase
Dan Dunkin contributed to this article.
— Switch to a generic prescription. If you’re using a name-brand prescription that is expensive — the costs of many have increased recently — ask your doctor if there is a generic alternative. You can also determine whether using a mail-order pharmacy will reduce your costs.
800-551-5995. The Virginia Drug Card is a free prescription assistance program for Virginia residents; see virginiadrugcard.com or call 1-866-413-9778.
Suppose you wish to be prescribed a drug that is too expensive for you in your Part D plan or is currently unavailable through your Part D plan. You may ask your doctor to document the necessity of that specific drug, indicating why an alternate cheaper drug is not effective.
However, you have to determine if it carries a higher premium that outweighs the benefits. Medicare.gov, a website operated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, has a page that allows you to ex-
If you are eligible for Extra Help, your out-ofpocket drug costs will be reduced, and in some cases your costs for a specific drug can be completely eliminated. To find out more, go cansentativetion.applybymedicare.gov/basics/costs/help/drug-costs.toYoucanapplyatyourlocalSSAofficeorphone.Youcancall1-800-772-1213tobyphoneorobtainmoreinforma-Icalledthisnumber,andtherepre-Ispokewithconfirmedthatyouapplyforthisprogrambyphone.—
given the growth potential in a Roth, it’s wise to start making some annual Roth conversions from tax-deferred accounts during your buildup years toward retirement — the earlier, the better.
— See if your drug’s manufacturer has a pharmacy assistance program.
tion. Several readers have been successful in reducing their Part D drug expenses using the “prescription exception” process.
The bottom line
From page 17
your financial security. You owe it to yourself to investigate various tax scenarios that await in retirement and to consult a qualified financial adviser to help you devise a plan.
© 2022 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
If you use Part D of Medicare to help cover your prescription costs, Medicare suggests five ways to lower your costs.
© 2022 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
— Apply for Extra Help. Medicare and Social Security offer a way for families with limited resources to get help that will reduce drug cost. Your income level and level of some financial resources will determine your eligibility.
charged taxes or penalties for withdrawals.
When you convert a traditional IRA or 401(k) to a Roth IRA, you’ll owe income taxes at your ordinary tax rate for that year on the amount you converted. But to many people, it’s worth it on the back end.
— Take advantage of a state pharmaceutical assistance program to reduce your drug costs. D.C. residents can save up to 75% at pharmacies; download a free card at msdc.org or call (202) 466-1800. For Maryland’s senior prescription assistance program, see marylandspdap.com or call 1-
There is no limit on the amount you can convert in a given year, but it usually makes sense to execute the conversion over several years in order to lessen the tax hit. Converting a large amount in one year might push you into a higher tax bracket.
By Elliot Raphaelson
Contact your drug manufacturer to determine if there is an assistance program for your expensive drugs. Medicare.com also has a webpage to assist your search using the drug name as a keyword.
Steps to lower prescription drug costs
Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com.
When doing Roth conversions, it’s important to consider what the funds will be invested in after you convert them. And
Apply for a prescription excep-
One reader indicated that, using this process, the monthly cost of her Eliquis prescription was reduced from $700 per month to Details$48.ofthe program can be found at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website, CMS.gov. Search on terms “CMS prescription exceptions.”
Retirement funds
— Find a drug plan that offers additional coverage in the Medicare drug coverage gap. When you enter the drug coverage gap, the cost of your medications increases. There may be a plan that reduces your costs in the gap.
20 Law & Money | Subscribe online! See how on p. 30 OCTOBER 2022 — HOWARD COUNTY BEACON
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Retail consumers — that is, people using USPS to ship their own items — may most directly notice the increase of $0.95 to every USPS Priority Mail flat-rate item. Commercial rates are also due for increases.Theprice surge still needs approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), which is almost certain to give its okay. But that process reflects USPS’s sin-
© 2022 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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By Kiplinger Consumer News Service
gular status as a government agency.
service and zone, and the range can be seen at this link: bit.ly/USPSrates.
Private shippers can — and do — raise rates when they feel they can. A range of surcharges from UPS and FedEx are already currently in effect.
Post office rates rise for ‘holidays’ again
If you think that means shipping is going to cost more after, say, Black Friday, you’re wrong: Surge pricing starts Oct. 2 and runs through Jan. 22, 2023. The end date is a new twist: In 2020 and 2021, these surcharges ended Dec. 26.
For the third year in a row, the United States Postal Service has announced a rate increase for what they call “peak holiday season.”
The increases vary by package size,
As the calendar years might indicate, these price surges have their origins in “increased expenses and heightened demand for online shopping package volume due to the coronavirus pandemic and expected holiday ecommerce,” to quote the USPS in 2020.The 2022-2023 increase is explained as necessary “to cover extra handling costs to ensure a successful peak season.”
If you have complaints, compliments or suggestions for the USPS, call 1-800-ASKUSPS (1-800-275-8777). With rate-related comments, see prc.gov or call (202) 789-6800.
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with no high-rises or development? Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, located on a barrier island, provides a pristine habitat that attracts bald eagles, ospreys, owls, loggerhead sea turtles, manatees and, yes, nature lovers. It also has some of the best swimming beaches in the area. There are concessions with snacks, drinks and rentals of umbrellas, beach chairs, paddleboards, kayaks and canoes.
We had read the exceptional reviews for LaPlaya’s signature restaurant, so we decided to stay for dinner. A splurge, the restaurant with a terrace afforded us grand views of the beach.
From April to June, you might even catch a glimpse of dolphins and stingrays. It’s also one of the best places to view a magical sunset.
Catch a sunset at a waterfront restaurant on Marco Island, the largest among the few inhabited islands among Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands in the Gulf of Mexico.
Lowdermilk Park is located in a beautiful residential area. The wide beach offers visitor parking, public restrooms, a snack bar, and a large rental area for chairs, umbrellas, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards. More beauty awaits at the Naples Botan-
Along this 18-mile stretch are a pair of gems, Naples and Marco Island, each with its own vibe. Both have beautiful sugar-soft white beaches, warm Gulf waters and great golfThecourses.Naples
Naples has a slew of first-rate beaches, each offering something a little different, so you’ll find no shortage of choices. If you like lively, you’ll enjoy five-acre Vanderbilt Beach Park , near many hotels and restaurants.Wantaplace
An easy walk from Third Street South is the iconic Naples Pier, which attracts anglers and sightseers. The pier, made of Brazilian walnut hardwood, now stretches 1,000 feet out into the Gulf of Mexico and has restrooms and a concession stand selling bait, food and beach supplies.
While many clubs are private, 30 out of 90 clubs are open to the public. Three luxury resorts, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, the Naples Grande Beach Resort and the LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, which we played, have championship courses.
Over the years, Naples became an “it” winter escape for the rich and famous: Thomas Edison, Greta Garbo, Hedy Lamarr and Gary Cooper.
A dolphin plays in the bow wave of a boat off the coast of Naples, Florida, part of an 18-mile stretch on the Gulf side of the state called its Paradise Coast. Naples is known for top-notch beaches, excellent seafood and its 90 golf courses.
A place to people-watch
HOWARD COUNTY BEACON — OCTOBER 2022 Makes a great gift! 23
It had been two years since my husband and I had flown anywhere for a vacation. We felt like bears emerging from hibernation — or maybe more like Rip Van Winkle. So, last spring, not quite ready to travel abroad and risk being stranded if we got Covid, we chose as our first venture the “Paradise Coast” of Southwest Florida.
Being experienced hackers, we were excited to play golf, since some say Naples is the Golf Capital of the World (but a lot of places claim that).
DREAMSTIME.COM|VERBLEEKRISTIANNABETSY©PHOTO See FLORIDA, page 25
A great way to experience this area is to stroll and wander in and out of the shops. We often sat outdoors at a café in the evenings: the perfect front-row seat to people-watch. You’ll definitely see lots of paisley prints and pink and greens that scream Lilly Pulitzer.
Today, Naples is home to the second highest proportion of millionaires per capi-
Sipping a “Cocotini” (made of Ciroc Coconut Vodka, Sobieski vanilla Vodka and Coconut Cream) next to lit torches added to the tropical feeling. The servers were very attentive, and my filet mignon was so tender that I didn’t need a steak knife.
Now is the time to plan a fall foliage trip. See our advice on page 26.
By Alice Shapin
Clam Pass Park is home to wildlife, native plants, a long boardwalk, and a perfect white powdery sand beach. To get to the beach, you can take a tram or walk three-quarters of a mile on a scenic boardwalk lined with mangroves and coastal habitats. It’s a great bird- and sunsetwatching spot.
FLORIDAVISITOFCOURTESYFARRELL,PATRICKANDCROSSW.PETERBYPHOTO
The area is a blend of historic and modern architecture, showcasing columns, archways, recessed plazas with fountains, whimsical public art, and pedestrian-friendly promenades — all overflowing with a kaleidoscope of colorful tropical blooms.
The beach scene
music scene thrives on Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South, with dozens of art galleries and several live music venues.
Public golf resorts
area offers miles of beaches, calm waters, culture, top-rated restaurants, and an abundance of championship golfIncourses.1887,agroup of wealthy Kentuckians purchased the entire town of Naples. They immediately built a pier 600 feet into the Gulf of Mexico with an unusual “T” shape, allowing large ships to dock, importing goods and wealth to the area.
Leisure & Travel Leisure &
Paradise Coast: Naples and Marco Island
ta in the U.S. The city displays its wealth with multimillion-dollar mansions, perfectly manicured landscapes and upscale shoppingNaples’districts.artsand
ical Garden. The 170-acre oasis features the plants and cultures of the tropics and subtropics from around the world. There are water features and waterfalls. And if you always have an orchid blooming at home like I do, you’ll love the LaGrippe Orchid Garden.
24 Leisure & Travel | Subscribe online! See how on p. 30 OCTOBER 2022 — HOWARD COUNTY BEACON
Experiencescountry.likethese can get you out of your usual bubble, promote cross-cultural understanding and friendship, and build respect for other cultures.
The Greens at Hammonds Lane: 410-636-1141
Park Heights Place: 410-578-3445
On both trips, I was helping scientists with their field work on a so-called volunteer vacation. In the past decade, I’ve volunteered for eight projects with Earthwatch, a nonprofit that pairs volunteers with researchers all over the world.
Volunteering enhances physical health as well. A 2017 Purdue University study found that people ages 70 to 85 who volunteer regularly are healthier than those ages 58 to 69 who volunteer infrequently.
What to expect
The Greens at Rolling Road: 410-744-9988
These trips often require physical activity; for instance, in Andorra, my group hiked three to six miles a day to research sites. In the Galapagos Islands, we navigated over sharp-edged, volcanic, vine-covered rocks.
Whether it’s building homes or counting birds, volunteer vacations can be a way to make the world a better place. You can help with medical care, work with youngsters, or save endangered turtles. Most volunteers come home feeling that they’ve made a difference.
Evergreen Senior Apartments: 410-780-4888
Park View at Ellicott City: 410-203-9501
• Determine if the sleeping arrangements are compatible with your needs. You may
Park View at Colonial Landing: 410-796-4399
Park View at Dundalk: 410-288-5483 • 55 & Better
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
Park View at Columbia: 410-381-1118
For a Louisiana loon-counting project, we eschewed busy New Orleans, and were stationed 63 miles south in watery Venice, a fascinating area where many Vietnamese refugees settled and now fish as they did in their home
We visited a village in the bush of thatchroofed rondavels, some made of cement reinforced with bottles and cans. People cooked outdoors, and many sat on grass mats on the ground when socializing.
tures tells scientists if climate change is affecting the animals’ range and movement.
Some projects require volunteers to mark checklists and enter data. Typing numbers into boxes on a computer screen can be mind-numbing, but not in a Galapagos laboratory amid inquisitive scientists.
Some people do not have compatible travel partners. For singles, volunteer vacations are a way to travel without a companion and be with like-minded people. Lifelong friendships and even romantic matches have been made on some voluntouring projects.
Since volunteer projects are led by experts, they’re usually a learning experience. For “citizen science” projects, volunteers help professionals answer questions, analyze trends and advance scientific knowledge.
expanding adventures beat golfing or sipping margaritas poolside.
Helping on a Colorado archaeological excavation, I had to squirm around in a one-square-meter hole and haul buckets of dirt to the However,sifter.most projects also offer more
Volunteer travel requires the resources to travel, but equally important, it requires a willing spirit and an open mind. A volunteer vacation can be a once-in-a-lifetime, transformational experience.
Unique experiences await
Park View at Laurel: 301-490-1526 Park View at Laurel II: 301-490-9730
Ednor Apartments I: 410-243-0180
MOST COMMUNITIES ARE 62 AND BETTER
BALTIMORE COUNTY
BALTIMORE CITY
EASTERN SHORE
“Voluntouring” for mind, body and spirit
The Greens at Liberty Road: 410-655-1100
In the Andorran Pyrenees, for instance, I measured the girth of trees so scientists could analyze how climate change is affecting alpine habitat. In Andorra, checking traps and tagging small mammals in mountain pas-
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
Other programs, especially surveys, strengthen observation skills. In Greece’s Amvrakikos Gulf, observing dolphins as they arced out of the water, I had to look for distinguishing marks or nips on the fins to identify dolphins individually.
Many projects take place off the usual tourist tracks. In Botswana, we camped three hours from the capital city, Gaborone.
Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665
HARFORD COUNTY
Park View at Coldspring: 410-542-4400
Park View at Severna Park: 410-544-3411
Park View at Ashland Terrace: 410-276-6440
Thoroughly researching the project ahead of time can enhance the experience. A few tips:
Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375
In Vonitsa, Greece, I could eat like a local at many traditional outdoor restaurants, where managers and patrons were very welcoming. In the French Alps, I got spoiled on fine cheese fondues, area specialties.
passive activities. Archaeology volunteers can either dig in the sun or help organize and label artifacts instead.
Ednor Apartments II: 410-243-4301
The Greens at English Consul: 410-789-3000
BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.)
• Understand the physical requirements and be realistic about your capabilities. Projects may require strenuous walking, standing for extended periods, or lifting heavy equipment, for example.
Years later, while visiting California’s Catalina Island, I searched the sand on hands and knees for nurdles, plastic orbs the size of a pencil eraser.
In the French Alps, I studied marmot behavior, videoing their antics when they popped out of underground dens. There’s hardly anything more enchanting than two marmots frolicking against the backdrop of an alpine wildflower meadow.
Park View at Easton: 410-770-3070
Park View at Furnace Branch: 410-761-4150
Park View at Catonsville: 410-719-9464
Park View at Bladensburg: 301-699-9785 • 55 & Better
The Greens at Logan Field: 410-288-2000
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
Cove Point Apartments II: 410-288-1660
Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673
Cove Point Apartments I: 410-288-2344
By Glenda C. Booth
Mentally and physically challenging
There’s a range of opportunities all over the globe that combine travel and volunteering (nicknamed “voluntouring”), from repairing hurricane-damaged roofs to teaching English. For many, these mind-
In the Galapagos Islands, I learned about Charles Darwin’s natural laboratory and threats to these precious islands as I macheted invasive vines to save native plants.
The Greens at Irvington Mews: 410-644-4487
Call the community of interest to you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour. EnterpriseResidential.orgPET-FRIENDLY See VOLUNTOURING, page 25
Park View at Bel Air: 410-893-0064 Park View at Box Hill: 410-515-6115
Park View at Ellicott City II: 410-203-2096
ENTERPRISE RESIDENTIAL
HOWARD COUNTY
At nighttime in Botswana’s pitch-black Okavango Delta, I sat astride a 1,000pound Nile crocodile while a scientist probed the croc’s posterior. A hippopotamus snorted within earshot.
• Understand weather conditions and your tolerance for hot, cold, wet or windy days.
Park View at Emerson: 301-483-3322 Park View at Snowden River: 410-290-0384
During peak season, December through April, temperatures are comfortable, but prices are high. In the fall and spring, the temperatures are in the 80s. Winter temperatures are in the mid-70s.
• Understand the costs and what your payments cover. Transportation to and from the site? Insurance? Some expenses may be tax deductible.
If you want to learn about the history of Naples, take a guided tour at The Palm Cottage House Museum, the oldest building in town.
In the northern section of the city is The Philharmonic Center for the Arts, where you can go for theater, dance and classical and popular music concerts.
We took a day trip to Keewaydin Island, a barrier island between Naples and Marco Island. With no cars, roads or bridges, it’s accessible only by boat. You can take the Hemingway Water Shuttle or rent a Thereboat.you’ll find soft sandy beaches for swimming, unique shells galore, stretches of beach to walk along or relax on, and local wildlife, including frolicking dolphins.Instead of food trucks, food boats docked on the shoreline serve grouper sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, fries, ice cream and more.Back on Marco Island, fresh local seafood is king, and it’s easy to find a restaurant with great views. Shrimp, grouper, snapper, mahimahi and sea bass are on every menu. And of course, key lime pie is a must.
Unless you have a free place to stay, it’s best to choose Naples as a home base. It has plenty of condos and homes to rent, hotels from high-end to more “reasonable” depending on the season, and cuisine for all taste buds. And it’s a short distance to other fun and adventurous places.
sleep on cots, in single beds or tents, for example, or you may have a roommate.
Southwest Airlines has direct flights from BWI to Fort Myers (RSW) starting at $260 round-trip. Naples is located 43 miles from the airport; Marco Island is 47 miles.
Marco Island’s natural beauty
• Expect to be with others and busy. You may not have much privacy or down time.
To search for a trip, go to volunteerinternational.org, voluntourism.com, or earthwatch.org. Road Scholar offers some “service learning” vacations at roadscholar.org.
Indoor fun
On Marco Island, high-end resorts include JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, Marriott’s Crystal Shores, Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa, and Marco Beach Ocean Resort.
For more information about the area, visit paradisecoast.com. to more. Boggs:
• Make sure the insurance provided by the sponsoring organization is comprehensive. Buying travel insurance and extra health insurance can give you some peace of mind.
Despite the proximity of two beautiful public beaches, we immediately wished we had a boat. Just about every house on Marco Island has a canal in its back yard that weaves out to the Gulf.
Luckily, we learned about several boat tours, from fishing excursions to shelling and birding tours. You can even take a guided kayak tour through mangroves (which grow where saltwater and freshwater meet), where you’ll learn about bottlenose dolphins, manatees, sea otters, white pelicans, egrets and more.
If you don’t want to stay in Naples’ highend hotels, two more moderately priced hotels are Cove Inn on Naples Bay and Inn at Pelican Bay.
Other favorites were oysters, tropical ceviche, fresh bread and pan-seared red snapper.
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South of Naples, Marco Island is the largest and only developed land in Florida’s “Ten Thousand Islands.”
Also consider cross-cultural trips at al-solutions.unteerforever.com/program/cross-cultur-vol-
If you go
• Take all supplies recommended, especially footwear and outerwear. Some projects require specialized gear like headlamps for night work. But don’t overpack, since you’ll likely be lugging your luggage yourself.
• Plan for emergencies. Health care facilities, medicines and medical personnel abroad might not be comparable to what you have near home.
For an all-encompassing look at both local and international art, visit the Baker Museum. The museum’s lobby showcases a signature piece by renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. Depending on the schedule, you may catch first-rate traveling exhibitions from major collections.
• Determine if meals can accommodate special needs.
If traveling abroad, study beforehand the country, its governance, culture and possible expectations based on your age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and religion.
While I love being outdoors, Naples does offer places to visit if you want a little culture or a respite from the sun.
Don’t be put off by its high-rises, malls and shopping strips. Concentrate on the fact that the island is surrounded by the Gulf on one side and pristine mangrove estuaries on the other.
Many homes are available to rent through Vrbo, Airbnb or local rental sites. Make sure a boat is included (or at least a kayak). Or rent one for your stay.
learn
After spring break, the rates at hotels and rentals drop, but summer temperatures are in the 90s with high humidity.
410-747-4770 Crematory on premises
I’m a big fan of rail travel, so I spent some time looking for Amtrak options.
But dozens of others also feature fall foliage packages, many behind vintage steam locomotives. In almost all cases, these are short, one-day out-and-back excursions.
If you aren’t sure where and when you
Road trip or tour package
In case you haven’t already started, it’s time to plan for any fall foliage trips you might want to take. Although New England has pushed the idea that it is fall foliage central, you can find good fall foliage viewing throughout much of the U.S. and Canada — maples, oaks and such east of the Mississippi; aspens in the Rockies.
want to go, a good place to start is TripSavvy’s “Complete Guide.” Individual pages summarize “state-by-state guide,” “best places,” and “best National Parks”
Send email to Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net and check out Ed’s website at rail-guru.com.
Local tourist trains
By Ed Perkins
Time to plan fall leaf-peeping excursions
Most people think of fall foliage as a road trip. Local-area fall foliage websites typically include driving directions, many with links to local visitor activities, tours andLockaccommodations.inyouraccommodations as early as you can, and take care to avoid football weekends at big-time college towns.
A quick search of “Fall foliage tours,” including a base city, will return a bewildering variety of options, ranging from budget to luxury. Almost all will be entirely or mostly by tour bus; the few that advertise “rail” trips usually include only a day or two of rail travel, with the rest by bus. And most extended tours include a lot of nonfoliage stops.
Tour operators great and small operate foliage tours in the most popular spots, ranging from day excursions to week-long regional trips.
Day trips out of your hometown or some other center are easy to find, and if you want to visit, say, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, you can fly to Knoxville and rent a car. If you plan a longer trip, your main challenge will be to lock in hotels at popular spots.
Peak times typically move from north to south between mid-September and mid-November. And you can view foliage displays as a road trip, bus tour or train ride. You can make it an extended week-long tour or a day trip.
Althoughlists. the current posting dates from 2020, the basic “best place” information doesn’t change much from year to year.
A big advantage of a package is that operators normally secure accommodations in destination areas that can sell out early to the general public.
When to go
Equally unfortunately, Amtrak still hasn’t resumed its pre-Covid consensus favorite foliage trip — the Adirondack from New York to Montreal — that used to carry a dome car on alternate days. For an out-and-back day trip, consider a Downeaster round-trip from Boston to Brunswick, Maine.
Most of the country’s popular tourist trains have reopened, and many of those feature local fall color trips. Among those recommended pre-Covid: Mount Washington Cog Railway (thecog.com); Durango & Silverton, (durangotrain.com); Adirondack Scenic Railroad, (adirondackrr.com); Blue Ridge Scenic Railway (brscenic.com); Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (cvsr.com); and Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (gsmr.com).
TRAVEL TIPS
26 Leisure & Travel | Subscribe online! See how on p. 30 OCTOBER 2022 — HOWARD COUNTY BEACON Write a letter to the editor. See page 2.
Most of the usual fall foliage “best times” maps haven’t yet posted 2022 data and cover only 2021. The best nationwide current-year source I’ve found is seeker.io/places-to-see-fall-foliage, which provides dates and places for 14 top centers from New England to the Ozarks to Glacier Park.
Whatever your preference, start planning. But be warned: Some sources say that the unusually hot weather in much of the country this year means that leaf displays will be less colorful than usual.
© 2022 Ed Perkins. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A date-limited search for “2022 fall foliage” returns a bunch of local currentyear summaries — especially for New England — but so far, the nationwide stuff is still outdated.
Amtrak itineraries
This year, one itinerary looked promising: the newly extended Ethan Allen Express between Burlington, Vermont and New York via the Green Mountains and the Hudson Valley, coupled in a loop with the Vermonter between Essex Junction (just six miles from Burlington) and New York via the Berkshires and western Connecticut. Unfortunately, schedules for both full-day trips favor southbound travel. Both trains require reservations.
Where to go
“And the final thing, the ‘serve others’ — we go into the community, and it is im-
hits and patriotic songs at many local venues, from libraries to 50+ centers. SINGERSSHOWTIMEOFCOURTESYPHOTO Arts & Style
“We started this chorus specifically to do that — go out to sing for various groups, especially senior groups…because so many of them could not get out of the community and hear live music.” signature uniforms, ShowTime Singers Broadway
“Sing well. Have fun. Serve others.”
That’s the motto of ShowTime Singers, a community chorus based in Ellicott City. Its singers, who range in age from 30 to 82, perform at assisted living facilities, libraries and senior centers throughout the Baltimore-Washington area.
Want to join a county bocce team? Our cover story continues on p. 29.
perform
The group’s motto guides its actions, said Cathy Johnson, music director of ShowTime Singers.
red
“That’s why we get together on Thursday nights, and it’s not just a social situation. That’s why we work to sing, so that the quality is very important.
ShowTime Singers will celebrate its 20th anniversary in January. The all-volunteer group started in 2003, when four women from another singing group — Johnson, Paula Rehr, Kate Warnock and Cass Markowski — created ShowTime Singers, hoping to bring live music to the community.
portant to make people feel really good about themselves. And we do that in whatever way we can,” Johnson said.
With their
PARKS&RECREATIONCOUNTYHOWARD See SHOWTIME, page 28 ProColumbiaCantare 46th Season Concerts Information & www.procantare.orgTickets: OCTOBER 22, 2022, 8 PM - MENDELSSOHN AND BACH First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3604 Chatham Rd., Ellicott City DECEMBER 4, 2022, 7:30 PM – HANDEL: MESSIAH Jim Rouse Theatre, 5640 Trumpeter Rd., Columbia DECEMBER 18, 2022, 3 PM – “A CHRISTMAS NOËL” with the CPC CHAMBER SINGERS Christ Episcopal Church, 9600 Oakland Mills Rd., Columbia MARCH 12, 2023, 4 PM – “IN NATURE’S REALM” First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3604 Chatham Rd., Ellicott City MAY 6, 2023, 8 PM –“A CELEBRATION OF CHORUS AND BRASS” Jim Rouse Theatre, 5640 Trumpeter Rd., Columbia SAVE THE DATE Tickets $45 ($22.50 for Beacon readers) Use code OCT50 online or mention Beacon when calling To buy tickets, visit candlelightconcerts.org or call (410) BRENTANO997-2324.STRING QUARTET with ALEXANDER FITERSTEIN, clarinet Sunday, Oct. 9 4:00 p.m. Smith Theatre | Horowitz Center HCC The world-renowned Brentano String Quartet is joined by clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein, performing works by Mozart, Monteverdi, and Dvořák. MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN, piano Saturday, Oct. 29 7:30 PM Linehan Concert Hall | UMBC The virtuoso pianist and composer will play Beethoven’s titanic Hammerklavier Sonata, Op. 106, as well as works by Fauré and one of his own compositions.
the
By Susan Ahearn
HOWARD COUNTY BEACON — OCTOBER 2022 Makes a great gift! 27
Singers gotta sing — and serve others
Of course, in-person performances came to a halt during the pandemic. Karen Casanova of Marriottsville, one of two assistant music directors for ShowTime Singers, said it was very difficult for the group not to be able to practice or perform together during the pandemic.
Over the years the group has appeared at many kinds of public venues, including Fort McHenry, the Kimball Theater in Historic Williamsburg, Virginia, and Baltimore’s Horseshoe Casino, where they
Members of ShowTime Singers also pay monthly dues to help support the performing arts organization. The Howard County Arts Council and the Maryland States Arts Council also support the group.
“We spend time on production skills, so when folks come in to join us each week, they learn something about their voice.”
started with just a dozen members, and it currently has 40 members, according to Bill Moss of Clarksville, president of the group. The singers practice every week at the Linwood Center in Ellicott City, which provides services to children and adults with autism.Moss, who recently retired as executive
“You could not find anywhere a group more accepting of everyone. And that was what I liked.”
“We try to make it a more personal per-
ShowTime Singers’ first concert of their fall season is scheduled for October 23 at the Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant, a retirement community in Ellicott City.
Music director Johnson pointed out that part of the mission of ShowTimeSingers is to help improve singers’ abilities and to build a strong musical bond between them.
director of Linwood, said ShowTime Singers has had a special relationship with the facility since the group was founded. If any money is donated, the group has always split it evenly with the Linwood Center.
28 Arts & Style | Subscribe online! See how on p. 30 OCTOBER 2022 — HOWARD COUNTY BEACON A Network of ServingDedicatedProfessionalstoOlderAdults Our members enjoy: • Monthly Networking Meetings • Social Gatherings • Directory & AdvertisingWebsite • ProgrammingDevelopmentProfessional To review our complete menu of marketing opportunities, visit cogsmd.org. Prospective members are welcome to attend one meeting as our guest. To register, email info@cogsmd.org. SMUG CLEF MPEG THETA RARE ARLO AREAL AMIR NOLA NOTHINGPERSONAL SUE LOSS AERO DRIER ARE UTE SOMETHINGNEW TEEN TAU ISLE ANYTHINGGOES ODE UNA LATHE TEES BEER OXO EVERYTHINGBAGEL PISA EASE ULTRA EATS ATOM DEITY ELSE DENY SEES ANSWERSSCRABBLETO ANSWERS CROSSWORDTOFROM PAGE 30 ShowTime From page 27 OCTOBER 15, 2022• 7:30pm Jim Rouse Theatre Bo Li, cello Silvestre Revueltas: Night of Enchantment Anna Clyne: DANCE Bo Li, cello Maurice Ravel: Alborada del gracioso Claude Debussy: La Mer THE COLUMBIA ORCHESTRA Tickets range from $10-$30 Call 410-465-8777 or visit www.columbiaorchestra.orgSponsored by: COSTUMED PET PARADE Dress up your pet for a Halloween parade or just come and watch. Pets must be on leash. Winners receive gift cards. Registration is $10 per pet and closes Oct. 7. The parade takes place Sat., Oct. 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Centennial Park South, 10000 Clarksville Pk., Ellicott City. For more information, visit bit.ly/petcostumeparade, or contact Karen Bradley Ehler at (410) 313-4635 or kehler@howardcountymd.gov. BEACON BITS Oct. 15
“Expenses include the cost of performance supplies, music equipment, learning and enhancement activities, an accompanist and more,” Moss explained.
But, Johnson said, “We’re not just learning how to sing properly. We’re also getting to know each other, because people that like each other make a much more beautiful sound.”
Singers perform music from the 1930s to current selections that their audiences can recognize.
Singers must audition with Johnson, the music director, before they can become part of ShowTime Singers. But it’s not a lengthy audition, Casanova said.
But then they started rehearsing on screen rather than in person. “We were on Zoom, and we were having fun,” Casanova said.“We put together two virtual performances…so we still felt as if we were serving others. But I know the frustration Cathy felt at not being able to hear anybody sing,” she added.
“A lot of it is show tunes…songs that people sang or danced to in their youth,” Johnson said. “Even in facilities where they have memory care…music is just the magic that brings the memories back.”
Making personal connections
After performances, members of the group reach out personally to audience members, engaging in one-on-one conversation or just exchanging a smile.
“She usually plays some scales or some notes and has them match the pitch of those notes. She asks them to sing something a cappella that is familiar to them,” Casanova
opened for the rock band Foreigner in 2019.ShowTime
formance, not just for the whole group, but for each individual,” Johnson said.
ShowTimesaid.Singers
More information about the ShowTimeSingers is available at showtimesingers.net.
Casanova, who’s been a member of ShowTime Singers for 12 years, said she joined the group because she loves to sing and because the members were so welcoming when she attended an open house.
Their first concert took place in Columbia before an international organization dedicated to improving the lives of girls and women worldwide. The early ShowTime Singers also performed at senior centers and practiced at the former Ellicott City Senior Center.
Stalled by pandemic
According to Moss, one of the original founders of the group had a son in the Linwood program at the time and proposed theMossarrangement.saidearly on, donations were used to build and equip Linwood’s music room. “Today, Linwood’s adult and children’s programs use [our] donations help pay the cost of music and entertainment activities in the community, as well as music supplies,” Moss said.
Membership by audition
Another participant said that since the pandemic, “she has more virtual friends now than she has real-life friends,” Rice reported.Rice, who is herself an older adult, said, “I get as much out of it as they do. It’s wonderful to see older adults who are active and interesting and engaging — and they’re all welcome.
Learn about Howard County’s many programs and leagues at howardcountymd.gov/rap.
For instance, people with Parkinson’s disease compare notes once a month via a
One member said that before she attended Good Company, she expected to hear “a bunch of seniors complaining,” Rice remembered. But after the hour was up, she said, “I’ve never been around a group of more positive and engaging people.”
“This group is very upbeat,” Goldberg said. “Someone was very nervous to come — he was struggling with [the diagnosis] — and a guy said, ‘Look at me! I’ve had it for 20 Fromyears.”their Zoom rectangles, each person asks questions, offers suggestions, recommends doctors, and talks about what exercises help alleviate symptoms.
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“With Parkinson’s, it’s not an exact science,” Goldberg said. “When people offer each other ideas, it’s sort of like troubleshooting.”
“It’s what we do when we have a family get together. It’s just a lot of fun,” he said.
“In Florida, I’ve got a Vietnam veteran [on my team] who’s in a wheelchair and on oxygen, and he’s as good as any of them,” Dickinson said. “Old folks used to play shuffleboard. Now, it’s bocce.”
When the pandemic hit, Goldberg and a colleague at JCS decided to do something positive: start a conversation group for ordinary people over 60 who may be stuck at home.Three years later, about a dozen people continue to meet on Zoom on the first and third Wednesdays of each month for a lunchtime conversation called Good Company.“We always start by introducing ourselves and catching up on what’s new,” said the group’s facilitator, Rozi Rice, volunteer coordinator at JCS.
Zoom session hosted by Baltimore-based Jewish Community Services (JCS). Michelle Goldberg, senior manager of community engagement and partnerships, oversees JCS’s dozen support groups and facilitates the Parkinson’s group.
To join Cycle2Health, call (410) 3135940. Find out about hikes organized by Hiking Around Baltimore via Meetup.com, an excellent resource for local clubs of all kinds.To join Rotary International, visit rotary7620.org or call 1-866-GO-ROTARY.
“We would love to have anyone join us. We’re always happy to have new people,” Rice said.
But the mission is the same as it has been since 1905, when the service organization was founded: to help others.
“The world needs good people more than ever right now,” said Dr. Geetha Jayaram, leader of District 7860, which includes Howard County. “We have done an extraordinary amount of projects, not just in our district but around the globe. We would love to have [older adults] join us.”
Howard County’s many parks and facilities.Bill Dickinson, a Woodbine resident in his 80s, is captain of a local bocce team called “Over the Hill,” which plays at Cedar Lane Park in Columbia. Overseen by Howard County Recreation & Parks, the 120-player bocce league has become the focus of Dickinson’s life — he even built a 60-foot-long court in his back yard.
The sport is perfect for older adults, he pointed out. “Physically it’s easy. It’s very accommodating of difficulties that older people have.
While volunteer work can be taxing, outdoor games are more relaxing. And there’s always a game of some sort under way in
For more information about Good Company or the Parkinson’s support group, visit jcsbalt.org or call (410) 843-7325.
Find Good Company on Zoom
Bocce — the new shuffleboard?
Of course, not everyone can or wants to hike, bike or play bocce. People with health problems can find common ground in support groups for conditions from diabetes to addiction to dementia.
Rotary clubs do good together
Dickinson and his wife discovered the Italian game of bocce (pronounced BAAchee), in which players throw balls underhanded toward a target, about 10 years ago, while wintering in Florida.
Another way to get involved is to volunteer with a tried-and-true organization like Rotary International. Howard County has eight Rotary clubs, which meet at different times. The number of monthly meetings and annual dues also vary.
Overcome challenges together
“I’m there to encourage conversation, but we don’t put anyone on the spot…I have some icebreaker prompts to encourage conversation. We’ll play Family Feud or Jeopardy, so the hour goes quickly.”
Volunteers can participate in many feelgood events each month, from cleaning up parks and watersheds, to giving away food, to building an oyster reef — all while making“Eachconnections.clubhas its own projects and its own volunteer work,” said Dawn Wittfelt, the district’s membership chair. “People definitely build relationships, and there’s also business networking that goes on.”
4.
Scrabble answers on p. 28.
2. Attendee
climbing sites 6. Homes for genies 7. Lake with several nearby wineries (and its name is contained within “wineries”) 8. Car “borrowed” by Ferris Bueller 9. Bruce Wayne’s residence 10. Me, myself, and I 11. Fitzgerald, The First Lady of Song 12. Soccer announcer’s scream 13. Uses a ProSun Onyx 32 SLi bed 20. Regular at Cheers 21. “You ain’t ___ nothin’ yet” 26. Is not, shorter 27. “Come closer and give me ___” 29. Rolodex no. 30. Farm female 32. Sicilian volcano 33. Playground game 34. Main point of a message 35. Chinese “way” 36. Finale 37. Their letters keep getting smaller 41. One of Donald Duck’s nephews 42. “I like throwing touchdowns ___ of running them” (Lamar Jackson) 43. Fashion designer Cassini 44. iPhone accessories 48. Perform a rodeo maneuver 49. Puts forth effort 51. Use the backside of a pencil 52. Yellowstone residents 53. Foe 55. Oil of ___ 56. Dueling sword 57. Potion container 58. Yoda says it leads to suffering 59. Sheltered, nautically 1234 5678 9101112 13 14 15 16 17 18 192021 22 23 24 2526 27 282930 31323334 353637 38 39 4041424344 45 46 474849 5051 5253 5455 56575859 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68
3. State
in
Puzzle Find a new crossword every day on our website at www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com/puzzles. Answers on page 28. HB1022 30 Arts & Style | Subscribe online! See how below OCTOBER 2022 — HOWARD COUNTY BEACON Ordinarier Things Stephen Sherr 1.Across Very pleased with oneself 5. Musical staff symbol 9. Video file format on the ‘net 13. Letter after eta 14. Like a Dark Magician Yu-Gi-Oh! card 15. One of the folk-singing Guthries 16. “He’s ___ nowhere man” (according to John Lennon) 17. Arab ruler 18. Another nickname for “N’awlins” 19. “Hey, it’s just business” 22. Start a legal process 23. One in the L column 24. The beginning of -space 25. Like one with a bigger umbrella 27. You ___ My Sunshine 28. Member of a 3 Down football team 31. Item on a bride’s shopping list 35. Guest at a quinceanera, probably 38. Letter after sigma 39. Lost setting 40. “There are no rules here” 45. Poem meant to be sung 46. Spanish article 47. Carpenter’s machine 50. First letters of letters in 13 and 38 Across 52. Keg contents 54. Losing row in tic-tac-toe 56. Bread product that David Gussin claims to have invented in 1980 60. Italian city with a tower 61. Put your mind at ___ 62. To the nth degree 63. Has more s’mores 64. Part of a molecule 65. Aphrodite or Venus 66. “If all ___ fails ...” 67. Say it isn’t so 68. Matches a bet 1.DownWrap
Crossword for a mummy at a new student mixer with the youngest median age He said “Mathematics is the language which God has written the universe” Rock
5.
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All classified ads must be submitted and paid for online, via our website, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds
APPLYING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY or Appealing a Denied Claim? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc. Our case managers simplify the process & work hard to help with your case. Call 1-866-970-0779 FREE Consultation. Local Attorneys Nationwide [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.)]
BET AVIV, A REFORM JEWISH CONGREGATION in Columbia, Md., with services held at the Meeting House, is extending FREE tickets for nonmembers who never attended our High Holiday services to attend this year’s Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. If interested contact the office: 410-992-9994.
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Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad: • $25 for 1250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length). The website will calculate this for you.
HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD
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To place your classified ad, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifiedsvisit Sale
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I WILL BUY YOUR UNWANTED REAL ESTATE for CASH! AS IS! No repairs, inspections and no Realtors Fees or Closing Fees! No need to clean the house out, take what you want and leave the rest! You can have your MONEY in 14 DAYS! CALL NEAL for your cash offer now! 410-419-1289.
Clinical Health Studies Balance & Memory Study . . . . . .10 Elections John Sarbanes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Re-elect Calvin Ball . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Events Beacon 50+Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Power of Age Expo . . . . . . . . . . .22 Funeral Services Cremation Society of Maryland . .25 Going Home Cremation . . . . . . . .21 Harry H. Witzke’s Family Funeral Home, Inc. . . . . . . . . .19 MacNabb Funeral Home . . . . . . .25 Sol Levinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Home Health Care A-1 Action Nursing Care . . . . . . .10 Home Improvement/ Remodeling Renovation Real Estate . . . . . . . .17 Housing Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Charlestown/Erickson . . . . . . . . . .8 Enterprise Residential . . . . . . . . .24 Park View Apartments . . . . . . . . .24 Residences at Vantage Point . . . . . .1 Shriner Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Medical/Health Clear Skin for You . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Dr. Jeannine George-Richardson, DPM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Howard Co. Recreation & Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-13 Maryland Vascular Specialists . . .11 Medical Eye Center . . . . . . . . . . .10 Patapsco Acupuncture . . . . . . . . . .4 Real Estate Renovation Real Estate . . . . . . . .17 Retail SoLite Scooter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 UpBed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Senior/Government Services COGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Howard Co. 50+ Connection .14-15 Howard Co. Harvest Heap . . . . . .17 Maryland Relay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 RTA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Subscriptions Beacon Newspapers . . . . . . . . . . .30 Theater/Entertainment Candlelight Concert Society . . . .27 Columbia Orchestra, The . . . . . . .28 Columbia Pro Cantare . . . . . . . . .27 Horowitz Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . .29 Travel Eyre Tour & Travel . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Howard Co. Recreation & Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-13 PersonalPersonalsTV/CableServicesWanted We thank our advertisers who make our publication possible. Please patronize them and let them know you saw their ad in the Beacon. CLASSIFIEDS ComputerFinancialEventsServicesForSale Legal MiscellaneousServices HOWARD COUNTY BEACON — OCTOBER 2022 Makes a great gift! 31
Note: Maryland contractors must provide a valid MHIC number. • Each real estate listing qualifies as one ad. • All ads are subject to publisher's discretion. Payment will be refunded if unacceptable for any reason.
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We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, famil ial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.
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The Beacon does not knowingly accept ob scene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot ac cept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment.
WE BUY ESTATE JEWELRY St. John’s Jewelers is one of Howard County’s most trusted jewelers and is family owned and operated. Certified appraiser for over 35 years is looking to buy your unwanted gold, silver, diamonds and precious metals. Contact us today. 410-465-7770
The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guide lines and deadlines, see the box on the right.
PACKING, MOVING & UPACKING SERVICES, HOME ORGANIZATION & DECLUTTERING. Professional Services Created Just For Seniors! Maryland Senior Concierge Services. 301.452.5730 or ccallahan@mdseniorhelp.com
Deadlines and Payments: To appear in the next issue, your ad text and payment must be entered by the 5th of the preceding month (for Baltimore and Howard County editions); by the 20th (for Washington edition).
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If you’ve ever experienced knee or hip pain, you know how tentative it makes you feel when attempting simple activities such as crouching or walking down the stairs. Explore common causes of joint pain and the steps you can take to reduce that pain and learn exercises you can do at home to lessen the likelihood of further injury.
Six-week Session Fee: $30 Register by September 18 at bit.ly/BGBalance3
Tuesday, September 27 10:30 – 11:45 A.m. well webinar VIA ZOOM: Hip & Knee Habits”
Free. For information, contact Facilitator Laura Rounds at lrounds@bgf.org or 301-260-2300
SUPPORTALZHEIMER’SGROUPVIAZOOMLiving CLass VIA ZOOM: Balance”
Healthy
Healthy
“Healthy
Register
“Mindful Meditation”
Free. Register by September 25 at bit.ly/BGHipandKnee
Recent scientific studies have shown that mindful meditation changes the brain in astonishing ways—promoting greater focus, reduced anxiety, increased compassion and improved well-being. Experience guided, mindful meditation in your own home via a Zoom connection. 26 A.M. – 12:15 P.m. Living Class Via Zoom:
11:45
“Everyday
Living
SeptemberWEDNESDAYS21–October
32 Subscribe online! See how on p. 30 OCTOBER 2022 — HOWARD COUNTY BEACON Register as indicated below or contact Toni Davis at tdavis@bgf.org with questions.R egisteras indicated below orcont ac t ToniDav isat td av is@bg f.or gw ith quest iono Tind t a org ns . WELLNESS PROGRAMS & SUPPORT GROUPS
mondays
Learn
Six-week Session Fee: $20 by September 20 at bit.ly/BGMeditation3
Sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association, this confidential group is designed for those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. techniques and exercises to improve balance and reduce your risk of falls.
Wednesday, September 21 (Third Wednesday of Every month) 3:30 – 4:30 P.m. and wednesdays September 19 - October 26 11 – 11:30 A.m.
