November 2020 | Baltimore Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

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What retirees (should) want

A road map to retirement Dychtwald points out that when people retire — unlike when they enroll in college or start a new job — “There’s no orientation. There’s no workshop. In fact, that’s one of the reasons we wanted to write this book,” Dychtwald said. “Because there has never really been a roadmap.” To begin to sketch a map, Edward Jones Company and Age Wave released a new study in August on the “four pillars of the new retirement” — health, family, finances and purpose. Already, the study has received 1.5 billion media impressions. All four pillars are key ingredients for living well in retirement, which may seem obvious. But there are issues acquiring each of them, researchers found. For example, even though it’s “never too late” to improve your health, many re-

NOVEMBER 2020

I N S I D E …

PHOTO COURTESY OF AGE WAVE

By Margaret Foster Since he was 24 years old, author and aging expert Dr. Ken Dychtwald has studied the psychology of retirement. Now 70, he has given presentations on his research into the subject of aging to more than one million people over the years. Yet the renowned gerontologist is in no hurry to retire himself from the company he started 40 years ago. “The irony of the fact that I’m not terribly interested in retirement [personally] is not lost on me,” Dychtwald, CEO and Founder of Age Wave, said in an interview with the Beacon. “Over the decades I’ve been studying retirees, and what I’ve found is about half the retired population are bored out of their wits….If you retire at 65, you might have 20 or 30 years in front of you. That’s a long time.” This spring, Dychtwald published his 17th book, What Retirees Want: A Holistic View of Life’s Third Age, with researcher Robert Morison. The book, which includes not only charts and graphs but personal stories, is the culmination of years of research on the topic of aging and is intended to be a retirement guidebook of sorts. Dychtwald will be speaking about the book and its major takeaways as the keynote speaker of the 2020 Virtual 50+Expo, presented by the Beacon in partnership with the Baltimore County Department of Aging.

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

Try birding and forest bathing in Papua New Guinea; plus, Texas Hill Country is callin’ y’all page 19

Ken Dychtwald has studied the psychology of aging for more than four decades. In his 17th book, published this year, he and co-author Robert Morison reveal their research on retirement, or “life’s third age.” Dychtwald will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Virtual 50+Expo, which runs Nov. 1 to Jan. 31, 2021.

tirees don’t follow through on their wellmeaning intentions. The study also found that the biggest health fear of retirees is not cancer or even COVID, but rather dementia, over which we may have less control. Family relationships can play a major role in well-being, but forging positive social connections doesn’t require blood relatives. And as much as we want to be able to rely on family should it come to that, at the same time most of us don’t want to be a burden on them. The newfound “time affluence” that comes with retirement leaves many floundering to find a meaningful way to spend it. Despite what TV tries to teach us, older adults want to feel useful more than youthful. The study, which Dychtwald considers a “capstone project,” was based on 9,000 in-

terviews and nine months of research on retirement done last year. But once the pandemic hit, they returned to the interviewees to update their findings. What they found was that “Older people are more resilient…This is horrific, what’s going on [with COVID-19], but there’s some perspective” among older adults from their decades of life experience. “What our study revealed is that we want to think of older people as more vulnerable, more fragile…but older people were more fortified, more resilient than we ever imagined” and coping better with the pandemic than many younger generations. Besides the benefit of life perspective, See DYCHTWALD, page 14

ARTS & STYLE

Downtown Baltimore gains a heart; plus, a high school teacher’s book inspired by his students, and three memoirs by TV celebrities page 22

FITNESS & HEALTH k Finding safer fish choices k How to spot fake news k Try these hand sanitizers

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Lemonade plus They say human beings are “social ani- ebrations via a computer screen, without mals,” and that deprived of human contact, all the hugs and kisses, personal conversawe wither away. But what are tions and shared experiwe to do in an age when soences, can be painful. It’s just cial distancing can be a matnot the same. ter of life and death? Attending a networking Fortunately, we humans event or business conference are also highly creative and can have some of the same resourceful, so there are downsides, but also saves many answers to that quesone the time, expense and agtion: We hold Facetime or gravation of air travel, staying Zoom conversations, virtual in hotels and living out of a events, and small-scale, outsuitcase. There’s more of a door gatherings as best we FROM THE balance there. PUBLISHER can. So, what’s an example of If I were to ask you how By Stuart P. Rosenthal something that’s actually betmuch these substitutes feel ter virtually? I’m going out on like the real thing, what would you say? a limb here, but I’m going to say that Would your answer be, “It’s the best we 50+Expos might be such a situation. can do under the circumstances,” “It’s alThe Beacon has hosted live Expos for most as good as it used to be,” or “Actually, our readers and their families for more in some ways it’s better than it used to be”? than 20 years. For me, it almost feels like a I know I’ve been in situations these last family gathering now. There are so many few months where I came away with each familiar faces I get to see only once a year, of these feelings. Certainly, attending a and so many lovely conversations I get to wedding, anniversary and other family cel- have with our readers as well as our ex-

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hibitors and wonderful speakers. So, I certainly wouldn’t have asked for this year to be one where we couldn’t in good conscience hold an in-person Expo event. But the more we at the Beacon thought about it, the more we realized there could really be some huge benefits to having an Expo virtually. First, there’s the time issue: An in-person Expo event takes place over a day; two at most. If you’re not available at that time, or aren’t feeling your best, you miss it. Our Virtual Expo lets you visit every class, speaker, performer and exhibitor whenever you want for a full three months! (And we are holding weekly door prizes for each week’s visitors, so you’re not missing out on that nice aspect of live Expos, either. Come back and enter as many weeks as you like.) Then, there’s the space issue. No matter how big the convention center (or tent), we’re going to have some trouble fitting in all the entertainment, speakers and classes we’d like to offer, while still leaving room for an exhibit hall of any significant size. With a web-based Expo, there’s nothing stopping us from providing all the interesting subjects and types of entertainment you could possibly want to enjoy. And if you’ve been accustomed to attending many different 50+Expos around the area, you’ll be glad to know we are partnering with both the Baltimore County Department of Aging and the Howard County Office on Aging & Independence, each of which have held their own popular 50+Expos for decades. Attend the 2020 Virtual 50+Expo, and you’ll find the best of all these events rolled into one. To enjoy our Expo, you need only an internet connection and a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone. Come and go as you please, wearing whatever you like!

Starting November 1 at noon, you can visit www.beacon50expo.com. You’ll find a very simple, user-friendly web page with four main choices: Classes, Speakers, Entertainers and Exhibitors. Click on any one of them and you’ll see a few categories to choose among to help you decide which video to view first. Altogether, there will be literally dozens of programs available to you to start and stop any time of day or night for a full three months. Okay, you might say, I can surf the internet for three centuries and not see everything there is to offer. What’s the point of that? The difference is, we have pulled together the information and material you have told us you most want to see. The hundreds of readers who answered our survey back in July gave us direction that we have done our best to follow. For examples of who our speakers and entertainers are and what classes and exhibitors will be available, see the four-page pull-out section in the center of this issue. Our hope is that we have done a good enough job to make it worth your while to come once, twice, maybe even many times to the Virtual 50+Expo site in the coming weeks and months. To receive notices about the event, or to sign up for a free email subscription to the Beacon, visit bit.ly/beacon50expo and provide your name and email address. And please encourage your friends to visit our Expo starting November 1 at www.beacon50expo.com. We’re sure you’ll find many things to talk about with them after you’ve “been to” our Expo!

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Dear Editor: I just finished reading your article on advanced directives, and I agree that everyone should have one. However, this article was misleading. I have been a nurse in a retirement community for 29 years, and the advanced directive does not come into play during an emergency. Instead, a Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) form is the only document that EMS and the hospital ER can follow. The confusing part of the MOLST is that it is not signed by you. It’s a document that is signed by your physician, who will go over the options with you to help you to make the right choice.

I always encourage my clients to have discussions with their family about their choices so in times of stress and emergency no one is fearful of making a “wrong” decision. Diane Witles, RN Cockeysville Editor’s Note: Indeed, those who are seriously ill or frail and wish to prevent resuscitation or emergency medical care will need a MOLST prepared by a physician, PA or nurse practitioner. Five Wishes and other advance directive forms are meant to let your family and regular doctors know how you feel about emergency medical care and the choices you would like them to make for you if you are unable to do so.

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2020

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KEYNOTE SPEAKER

2020 PRESENTED BY

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

WHAT:

A 50+Expo like you’ve never seen before:

More than 60 hours of speakers, classes and entertainment, 100 exhibitors, and 3 months in which to enjoy it! Plus, weekly door prizes

A sampling of our programs:

WHERE: All online at a new website designed just for this event: www.beacon50expo.com

WHEN:

The Virtual 50+Expo goes live

Sunday, November 1 at noon, and continues through January 31, 2021.

Classes: Meditation 101; Line Dancing; Drawing with Pastels; Healthy Cooking

Speakers: Low Vision Solutions, Interview with the Oldest Living Tuskegee Airman; Fall Prevention Gear and Gadgets; Caregiving During COVID; Options for Intergenerational Activity

Entertainment: Jazz piano; Standup Comics; Classical String Quartet; Classical Piano; Jazz Singing

GOLD SPONSOR

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WHO:

Brought to you free of charge by the Beacon Newspapers, in partnership with the Baltimore County Department of Aging and the Howard County Oﬃce on Aging & Independence.

BRONZE SPONSORS

www.beacon50expo.com – going live Nov. 1. Businesses and organizations interested in exhibiting/sponsoring: Call Debbie at (410) 887-2012.

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Health Fitness &

TRUE OR FALSE Learn to spot fake news articles with these tips, strategies and free classes ALZHEIMER’S APP Are you caring for someone with Alzheimer’s? An app may help manage life PROTECT TEETH OR BONES? Antibacterial agent once common in toothpaste may harm bones COMFORT FOOD Fall is here, and this pasta and sausage dish is perfect for a chilly evening

Advice for making healthier fish choices By Lori Zanteson We know fish is important for health — it’s high in protein; low in saturated fat; a good source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids; rich in vitamins, such as vitamins D and B2, and minerals, including iron, iodine, magnesium and potassium. Research shows that eating fish once or twice a week may reduce risk of several chronic conditions, including stroke, depression, Alzheimer’s disease and, in the case of fatty fish, death from heart disease. But there are fish we’re better off avoiding, due to high mercury levels that can pose a health risk. This list of low-mercury fish — SMASH — can help us make the healthier choices.

What is SMASH? The acronym SMASH stands for salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines and herring. These are the fish that are safest and healthiest to eat. They are nutrientrich, high in omega-3s and low in mercury. Mercury is a natural element found all around us in air, water and all living things, but in very small amounts. It makes its way into our food in several ways, including pollution. All fish have at least some mercury in them, but levels vary widely by species. Most of these levels are far below what the U.S. has deemed allowable in seafood, but large and longer-living fish — like shark, swordfish, large tuna — have the highest amounts of mercury. (It should be noted that canned light tuna is made from

smaller tuna, so it has lower levels of mercury than large tuna.)

Mercury risk Most of us have at least trace amounts of mercury in our bodies. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data show that most of these levels are below those associated with health risk. Exposure to mercury most commonly occurs when people eat fish with high levels in their tissues, and this is associated with serious health issues — high levels can be toxic. As a neurotoxin, which means it affects the nervous system, mercury, in excess, can impair vision, coordination and speech, and can cause muscle weakness.

Research, including a study published in a 2020 issue of the journal Biomolecules, has found higher levels of mercury in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Especially at risk are women who are pregnant or nursing and young children, who should avoid fish known to have high levels of mercury. They should eat smaller fish — such as those on the SMASH list — and no more than two to three servings of fish each week to minimize exposure. Be aware that fish that comes from other countries is not regulated by the same stringent U.S. seafood industry regulations, which could mean higher mercury levels. See HEALTHIER FISH, page 6

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Injectable drug helps heal broken bones

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By Chris Adam A Purdue University-affiliated startup known for its novel injectable drug to heal broken bones is growing and adding additional scientists to its team. One of those scientists is using his experience recovering from being hit by a truck to help other patients. Novosteo Inc. was co-founded by father-son team Philip S. Low, the Presidential Scholar Father and son scientists Philip Low and Stewart for Drug Discovery and the Low, co-founders of Novosteo Inc., are developing and commercializing injectable drugs that speed the Ralph C. Corley Distinguished healing of broken bones. Professor of Chemistry, and Stewart A. Low, the company’s chief scien- ity of life and, in some cases, save a life.” One new addition to the Novosteo team tific officer and visiting scholar in Puris Jeffery Nielsen, a Purdue alumnus who due’s Department of Chemistry. Based on discoveries of agents that ac- serves as director of research and develcelerate bone regeneration, Novosteo has opment. As a child, Nielsen was hit by a designed a series of fracture-targeted moving truck. The impact crushed his drugs that concentrate a drug’s healing skull and broke dozens of bones. “Recovery from bone fractures was power specifically at the fracture site, thereby greatly accelerating and improv- tough as a child, but we know it is significantly more difficult for older adults,” ing the healing process. One of the startup’s injectable drugs is Nielsen said. “I am driven to use my perunique in that it concentrates at the fracture sonal and professional experiences to help site while reducing exposure to the rest of improve lives.” Nielsen previously worked with targetthe body. As the team prepares to move the drug into clinical trials, more scientists are ed bone therapies, technology startups joining Novosteo at its Indiana headquarters and organ growth procedures. The injectable treatment was developed in Purdue Research Park West Lafayette. in the Purdue laboratory of Philip Low in “The stories we have heard from so many people about their devastating expe- the Purdue Institute of Drug Discovery. Novosteo is already looking at the furiences with broken bones really pushes ture use of the injectable-targeted drug for us forward,” Stewart Low said. “It may be an elderly patient, a loved one or other applications, including dental imsomeone suffering from a rare disease who is plants, head and facial fractures, and hip dealing with bone fractures. We want to proSee INJECTABLE DRUG, page 6 vide non-invasive options to improve the qual-

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Healthier fish From page 4

NOVEMBER 2020 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; BALTIMORE BEACON

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Vitamin D: Supports immune function and bone health, and protects against heart disease.

Lower mercury canned fish

Benefits of eating fish Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to minimize mercury in our diet, but when it comes to eating fish, the health benefits far outweigh the small risk of mercury for most people. Eating fish on the SMASH list promotes good health and protects against many chronic diseases, including several risk factors for heart disease. These fish are also good sources of: â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Omega-3s: These healthy fats are good for the heart. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Selenium: Often lacking in the diet, it helps protect against mercury toxicity.

Bottom line Most of us donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to worry about toxic mercury levels in our bodies, but it makes sense to minimize mercury by limiting fish to two to three servings per week, avoiding eating fish with high mercury levels, and enjoying fish on the SMASH list. Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC. 1-800-829-5384, EnvironmentalNutrition.com. ÂŠ 2020 Belvoir Media Group

Don't miss the Virtual 50+Expo, opening Nov. 1 at beacon50expo.com!

For those concerned with the mercury levels of many fish products, a company called Safe Catch has developed proprietary testing technology that enables the testing for mercury of every single tuna and salmon used in its products. Safe Catch Elite and Safe Catch Ahi products are the only brands of tuna that meet Consumer Reportsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Low Mercuryâ&#x20AC;? criteria set for vulnerable populations

Injectable drug From page 5 and knee replacements. Novosteo also has a pipeline of drugs for treating an array of musculoskeletal maladies. Novosteoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s technology is licensed through

like pregnant women and children. Furthermore, all Safe Catch tuna are sustainably caught using Pole-and-Line or FAD-free fishing methods. The company also sells mercury-tested salmon and sardines. Products, which include many varieties of flavored tuna, are available in grocery stores and online at safecatch.com and Amazon.

the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization. The company also received entrepreneurial support from Purdue Foundry, an entrepreneurship and commercialization hub in Discovery Park Districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2020

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How to spot fake news and propaganda By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, Are there any resources you know of that can help people detect fake news? My 75-year-old mother shares a lot of misinformation she sees on Facebook with her family and friends. I’ve talked to her about it, but for some reason she has a difficult time deciphering real news from fake news and propaganda. —Frustrated Daughter

Dear Frustrated, Unfortunately, the digital misinformation problem your mom is experiencing is not uncommon. According to researchers from Princeton and New York University, people aged 65 and older are up to seven times more likely to share fake news and dubious links on social media than their younger counterparts. Why? There are several theories. The first is that many older adults started using social media sites like Facebook only with-

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in the past five or six years and may lack the digital literacy skills to identify false or misleading content. Some other possible theories are that those who experience some cognitive decline as they age are more likely to fall for hoaxes. Many older adults also suffer from chronic loneliness, which can cause them to share misinformation as an attempt to make connections with other people. Furthermore, studies shows that older generations are generally more trusting than younger generations, which can make them more susceptible to misinformation. All this is particularly concerning now as we sit in the midst of a global health pandemic and a 2020 election season, both of which are ripe with misinformation, rumors and conspiracy theories. Older adults are prime targets of this false/misleading information because they are much more likely to vote than their younger cohorts, and are much more vulnerable to getting sick and dying if they contract COVID-19.

Free online resources To help your mom detect and combat online misinformation there are several great resources she can turn to that offer free courses and tips. One is MediaWise for Seniors, a project

of the Poynter Institute, which offers two free online courses to help seniors detect and combat online misinformation. See Poynter.org/mediawise-for-seniors. The first four-week course has already filled up, but your mom can still enroll in a self-directed course called “Hands-On Lessons to Separate Fact and Fiction Online.” The four-lesson course, with sessions being released into October, is hosted by Christiane Amanpour and Joan Lunden and can be watched at any time after it airs. In addition, Poynter has worked with AARP to produce Fact Tracker interactive videos and a webinar on spotting and filtering misinformation at AARP.org/facttracker. Some other free course options you should look into include Senior Planet, which is offering a one-hour online course on “How to Spot Fake News” at SeniorPlanet.org. The News Literacy Project that provides the Checkology virtual classroom, which was initially created for middle and high school students, is now offering an independent learning option that is ideal for older adults. See Get.Checkology.org. Their lessons will help your mom detect the difference between news, opinion and propaganda. And Coursera, a free worldwide online See FAKE NEWS, page 11

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Call 443-775-3814 or visit MedStarHealth.org/SeniorCare to learn more.

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Health Studies

NOVEMBER 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Mobile app may help caregivers manage By Margaret Foster If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or dementia, there’s a new mobile app in development that could help. Research has found that routine and structure help patients with dementia. One way to stay organized is through your smartphone.

Once downloaded on an iPhone, the app, called Mantrah, can help manage your condition and improve quality of life. The app is currently in “trial mode,” according to Ram Balasubramanian, founder and Chief Analytics Officer at Mantrah. “We have a version of our app that we want actual users to ‘take for a spin’ and

Feeling stressed or isolated due to COVID-19? Growing older is a part of life, but feeling stressed and isolated does not have to be. Our team at Johns Hopkins is conducting a study to address the emotional and social needs of older adults during COVID-19. Eligible participants will be matched with a Peer Mentor or PEERS staff member for social support and will be compensated for their time. Study will be conducted entirely over the phone. If you are interested in learning more about PEERS, our team can be reached by phone at 410-995-8360.

give us feedback on the utility and usefulness of a solution like ours for their caregiving needs,” Balasubramanian said. “Before we build the Ferrari, we wanted to build a small ‘baby’ version.”

What the app does The app is for people with dementia and their caregivers. People in early stages of dementia that are comfortable using a smartphone will be able to collaborate with their caregiver through the app. It helps keep track of medications, exercise schedules and key appointments. When a patient takes a pill, for instance, he or she can check a box on the app. Immediately, the caregiver will receive a notification on his or her phone. In addition, caregivers will receive an alert if the patient wanders out of a predetermined “safe zone.” Users can also record their mood, make key observations of the day in a journal, and receive encouragement to stick with their care plan. There are six “pillars” of a care plan that Mantrah helps to organize: medication, exercise, appointments, cognitive activities, social engagement and mindfulness.

Will integrate data from devices Mantrah’s team is currently working on integrating data from wearable devices such as a FitBit, Apple Watch or smart-home sensors, too. That way, it can tell users how well they’re adhering to their own goals. That’s important because one of the clinically

proven ways to slow the progression of dementia is staying physically active. In addition, the app will use the data to suggest certain exercises for patients who seem at risk. “Falls, for example, are one of the big concerns for people with dementia — and one of the reasons they end up in the hospital,” Balasubramanian said. “There’s a lot of technology that can detect a fall when it happens, [but] by then it’s too late. We want to get ahead of it. “Wouldn’t it be great if we can predict who might be developing a risk for falls, and get them to improve their balance and posture through specific exercises, thereby preventing that fall?” Mantrah’s goal is to help to “enable independent living longer,” Balasubramanian said. This fall, Mantrah released the current trial version of the app to several people. “So far, we’ve had a few users that love it,” he said. “That gives us a lot of encouragement that we’re on the right track, but we’d like to get more people to try it so we can incorporate their feedback [into future versions of the app].” While some caregiving apps such as eCare21 charge $7.95 per month, Mantrah is free, at least for now. Mantrah plans to launch a commercial app in the first quarter of next year. For more information or to download the app on your iPhone for free, visit Mantrah.us.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2020

Good for your teeth, bad for your bones? By Robert H. Shmerling, M.D. Regular brushing and flossing are the cornerstones of good oral health. But what if you learned that your toothpaste was good for your teeth, but bad for your bones? That possibility has been raised by a recent study. The cause of this unprecedented finding may be triclosan — an antibacterial agent added to toothpaste to reduce gum infections and improve oral health. However, it may actually be causing more harm than good.

Rethinking a popular germ killer Triclosan is an antibacterial agent that’s been around for decades. Not only has it been used in soaps, hand sanitizers and deodorants, but it’s found its way into cutting boards, credit cards, trash cans and, yes, toothpaste. Adding triclosan to all of these consumer products allowed marketers to slap “antibacterial” on the packaging and emphasize this feature of the product. Though unproven, the implication is that products containing triclosan (or other antibacterial agents) might prevent serious infections. But for many years, studies done in animals or on human cells in the lab have raised concern about whether all this “cleanliness” might have some unintended — and negative — consequences, including: —The development of resistant bacteria —Interference with normal hormonal function —More allergic reactions —Impaired muscle function One study found that more than 75% of the public have detectable amounts of triclosan in their urine. While we are still uncertain of the health impacts of this, if any, the FDA has taken action in recent years to curtail its use. What did the new research find? In the study, researchers reviewed data from more than 1,800 women and found that: —Those with the highest levels of triclosan in their urine had the lowest measures of bone density.

Fake news

—Osteoporosis (as measured by bone density) was most common among those with the highest urinary triclosan levels. —The connection between low bone density and urinary triclosan was stronger for postmenopausal women than among younger women.

toothpaste without triclosan. Still, the more recent studies may have tipped the balance. Triclosan’s days in consumer products may be numbered.

The bottom line Check your toothpaste when you next

brush. If you see triclosan listed among the ingredients, you may want to switch to a brand without it, at least until you can discuss it with your doctor or dentist. Robert H. Shmerling, M.D., is senior faculty editor at Harvard Health Publishing. © 2020 by Harvard University

Triclosan risks My guess is that it won’t be long before the FDA bans its use in toothpaste, especially if no new studies find that it’s particularly beneficial. The impact of such a ban at this point may not be large; most toothpaste makers have stopped putting triclosan in their products. To be fair, a previous review of research in 2013 concluded that there was less plaque, gum inflammation and gum bleeding among users of a toothpaste containing triclosan compared with users of

The National Institutes of Health National Institute on Aging

Resveratrol and Cardiovascular Health in the Elderly REACH TRIAL NIA is conducting a study to look at the effects of resveratrol on blood vessels and exercise tolerance. Resveratrol is found in the skin of red grapes and may be the reason moderate amounts of red wine help heart health. Resveratrol is sold as a nutritional supplement.

From page 8 learning platform, offers an in-depth sixweek course called “Making Sense of the News: News Literacy Lessons for Digital Citizens,” which she can access at Coursera.org/learn/news-literacy.

The effects of two different doses of resveratrol will be compared to placebo, a pill without active medication. Blood testing, exercise testing, muscle biopsy, MRI and other procedures will be performed. The study will take place at the NIA Clinical Research Unit in Baltimore and will take 13 months to complete. There are two outpatient visits (2-3 hours) and 3 inpatient visits (2 days).

Check out the latest claim There are also many good websites, like PolitiFact.com, Snopes.com and FactCheck.org that will let your mom factcheck a story to help her identify fact versus fiction. These sites have most likely already fact-checked the latest viral claim to pop up in her news feed. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

There is no cost to participate. You may Qualify if: You will be compensated for your time. • You are 50 yrs old or older • You weigh less than 300 pounds • Your body mass index (BMI) is between 25 and 35.

Call 410-350-3941 or Email NIAStudiesRecruitment@mail.nih.gov Principal Investigator: Madhav Thambisetty, M.D., PhD. NIA Study # 13-AG-0078

National Institute on Aging Medstar Harbor Hospital, 5th Floor 3001 S. Hanover Street, Baltimore, MD 21225

Fitness & Health | Subscribe for half-price. See p. 26

NOVEMBER 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

A one-hour, one-pot recipe welcomes fall By America’s Test Kitchen With many of us still staying close to home, it’s a perfect time to add a great-tasting, quick-cooking meal to your recipe rotation. In this one-pot recipe, lively lemon zest, bright peas and summery basil combine with pasta, meat and vegetables for a satisfying, light and lively fall dish. In the Test Kitchen, we’ve found that the best way to pull off a one-pot pasta dinner is to forgo the standard approach of boiling, draining and saucing the pasta.

Instead, we cook the pasta in a carefully controlled amount of liquid that reduces into a flavorful sauce. (Not only does it make for a more cohesive dish, it also dirties fewer dishes.) For this recipe, that optimal amount of liquid was 4 cups for 12 ounces of pasta. Before we cooked the pasta, we made a flavorful base by taking a few links of sweet Italian sausage out of their casings and browning the crumbles in a Dutch oven with sliced cremini mushrooms. We then deglazed the

pot with dry white wine and added the pasta and water. Once the pasta was al dente, we turned off the heat and stirred in frozen peas (no need to thaw), basil, Parmesan, and some lemon zest for brightness. One final step remained: stirring it all vigorously for a minute. Agitating the components this way knocked starch from the pasta into the small amount of cooking liquid, transforming it into a sauce that lightly cloaked each shell. In just about an hour, we had a substantial, tasty meal that would please the whole family after a busy day.

One-Pot Pasta with Sausage, Mushrooms and Peas Serves 4 Ingredients: 1 pound cremini or white mushrooms, trimmed and sliced thin 1 pound sweet Italian (or vegetarian) sausage, casings removed 2 shallots, chopped 1¼ teaspoons table salt 1 teaspoon pepper ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes ½ cup dry white wine 12 ounces (4 ½ cups) medium pasta shells 4 cups water 2 cups frozen peas (no need to thaw) 1 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped

Fostering personal growth, despite a dementia diagnosis Moving a loved one to a memory care facility has just become more personalized and intimate. Blair House at Stoneleigh is a safe and secure oasis offering intensive memory care with a homelike feel — treating every resident like family. Blair House at Stoneleigh breaks the mold of traditional memory care by nurturing past memories to create meaningful experiences. Whether gardening, listening to oldies, or writing their own personal biography, residents engage daily in activities specially designed to stimulate longterm memories. Located just south of Towson University, Blair House offers private rooms in a beautifully

refurbished home that can only be described as elegant. All food at Blair House is “farm to table”— you won’t find any institutionallycatered meals. Nutritionists are on staff to ensure everyone receives a wide range of delicious and healthy food. Most importantly, Blair House strictly adheres to all COVID19 safety precautions. At Blair House at Stoneleigh, personal fulfillment is within reach for every resident who walks through the door. Please call Jennie Slack at (410) 377-8000, x104 for your private tour (virtual or in-person, socially distanced) followed by lunch.

1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (½ cup), plus extra for serving 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest, plus lemon wedges for serving Directions: 1. In a large Dutch oven set over high heat, cook the mushrooms, sausage, shallots, salt, pepper and pepper flakes, stirring mixture frequently and breaking up meat with wooden spoon, until liquid has evaporated and browned bits have formed on bottom of pot, about 15 minutes. 2. Add wine and cook, scraping up any browned bits, until the liquid has evaporated, about 2 minutes. 3. Stir in pasta and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente, about 10 minutes (some liquid will remain in the bottom of the pot). 4. Off heat, add the peas, basil, Parmesan and lemon zest. Stir vigorously for 1 minute, until sauce has thickened. Serve, passing lemon wedges and extra Parmesan separately. For 25 years, confident cooks have relied on America’s Test Kitchen for rigorously tested recipes developed by professional test cooks and vetted by 60,000 testers. See more at americastestkitchen.com/TCA. © 2020 America’s Test Kitchen. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2020

Hand sanitizers to use, others to avoid As the country has opened up these based my list below on the organization past few months, I find myself carrying called EWG Skin Deep (ewg.org/skindeep). hand sanitizer with me wherAs to where you can purever I go. Hand sanitizers are chase any of these, I’d suggest a must if you travel because looking online or asking your they quickly eliminate 99.9% local health food store manager. of germs (at least the ones Here are my favorites: tested!), and you can carry them in your purse or pocket Hero Wipes and keep them in the car. These have alcohol and With the pandemic this year, aloe in them, plus more. Each hand sanitizers became inwipe is individually wrapped stantly essential. A lot of them in a pouch to keep it sterile. DEAR are capable of destroying cer- PHARMACIST They are pretty resilient even tain pneumonia and influenza By Suzy Cohen if you are vigorous with them. strains, E. coli and MRSA in seconds. Elyptol Antimicrobial There’s a reason that sanitizers sell like Hand Sanitizer hotcakes, but please be careful because These come in wipes, gel and spray, so you some opportunistic business folks are now can pick the best type for your needs. As you making a killing at your expense. may have guessed from its name, the prodThey’re formulating toxic garbage at uct boasts the use of natural eucalyptus, home and then selling it online to people. You which reduces risk of contact dermatitis and provides a broad range of “kill” properties. cannot trust everything available right now. On August 27, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration issued a new warning to Everyone Peppermint Citrus consumers to make sure that we do not Hand Sanitizer buy or use any hand sanitizers that contain There are other scents aside from pep“methanol” or “1-propanol.” permint citrus, but this brand offers anothToday, I’ll list some of the safest commer- er option utilizing alcohol (derived from cial hand sanitizers on the market. Some of non-GMO sugar cane) with aloe and glycthem are sprays, and others are wipes. I’ve erin so it won’t feel as drying.

Organic to Green Lavender Lemon This contains some alcohol along with glycerin, organic coconut, lavender and lemon peel oil. When I read the natural but powerful ingredient list, I was jealous I hadn’t thought of the formula myself.

Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Hand Sanitizer Another awesome product sold widely in health food stores, this brand utilizes the strength of Fair Trade ethanol along with organic peppermint oil and glycerin.

EO Hand Sanitizer spray or wipes This is an easy-to-find brand that is great because it uses alcohol (sourced from nonGMO sugar cane), plus lavender essential

oil, Echinacea herb (an antibacterial), and some glycerin.

Grove Collaborative Blood Orange Sanitizer This product utilizes ethanol plus aloe, orange oil, coconut and sunflower seed oil, plus jojoba. This is an excellent combination that will leave your hands feeling nourished. It also comes in lavender and is sold at grove.co. See SuzyCohen.com for more options. This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement. Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit SuzyCohen.com.

Your recovery after a hospital stay should begin with a knowledgeable, interdisciplinary team that understands your health care goals. Working with state-of-the-art equipment, we have the expertise and experience to treat patients recovering from a variety of conditions, including: Neurological Cardiac Orthopedic Cancer Pulmonary Complex Medical

If you need help with any of these conditions, you may beneﬁt from an inpatient skilled nursing and rehabilitation stay. Four Baltimore locations: • ManorCare – Roland Park • ManorCare – Rossville • ManorCare – Ruxton • ManorCare – Towson For more information, call

888.255.7054

Fitness & Health | Subscribe for half-price. See p. 26

Dychtwald From page 1 another reason for this resilience may be due to the study’s finding that, on average, people over age 65 have more of an economic safety net than do younger adults. They receive monthly checks from Social Security (average $18,000/year), the value of Medicare coverage is estimated at $12,000 a year, and many have paid off their houses. Though younger people are less likely to suffer serious ill health or death from the coronavirus than older adults, many are experiencing more serious financial effects through job loss and interruptions to their education.

included the famed psychologists Joseph Campbell and Erik Erikson. Thanks to these iconic mentors, Dychtwald said, “I have grown up believing that in the later years of life…there’s a purpose; there’s a challenge.” Erikson, for instance, had a “theory of generativity,” the seventh of eight stages of psychological development. “By that he means giving back — it’s not necessarily a nifty thing to do, but it’s what you’re supposed to do. It’s what a grownup does,” Dychtwald said. “[Erikson] said that’s what you’re supposed to do when you’re an elder — make sense of the life that you’ve lived. You stitch the pieces of yourself together, you become a full, whole person, and part of that is so you can leave a legacy.”

Early studies with the masters Dychtwald graduated from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, then earned his PhD in psychology at Union College. He then headed the Sage Project at the University of California at Berkeley, which studied how the aging process could be improved by alternative therapies such as yoga and meditation. There he studied with Elizabeth KüblerRoss, who is famous for developing her theory of five stages of grief. That influence inspired Dychtwald’s “Five Stages of Retirement” theory, which emphasizes that retirement is a journey, not a destination. Other professors and mentors of his

We’re meant to find purpose This legacy can take several forms, Dychtwald believes. Older adults — men, in particular — should consider volunteering in their communities. At the moment, only 24% of America’s 68 million retirees do volunteer work, and those do so only an average of 2.5 hours a week. Dychtwald said that’s not enough. “The average retiree watches over 2,800 minutes of television a week and spends less than 30 minutes contributing to their community,” Dychtwald said. “Shame on us.” Sure, many people have family obligations, he said, and he respects that com-

NOVEMBER 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

mitment. “If you babysit the grandkids or you’re subsidizing your adult children, that’s wonderful. But are you volunteering for somebody else’s community; are you helping people in need? “A lot of our retired population don’t know what their purpose is,” he said. “The world is waiting for more of an activation of our elders, and I think we’d all be better off if we had old and young doing more things together.” Dychtwald also hopes retirees will muster the courage to try new activities — volunteer as a tutor, learn a new language, take up guitar, study the stars. Retirement is freedom from obligations like child rearing and work, he said, but it’s also freedom to pursue your heart’s desire. At the same time, Dychtwald encourages older adults to stay current. “A lot of people push themselves to the sidelines when they get older. They don’t keep track of modern ideas; they don’t stay current with technology; they don’t pay attention to new culture, new music, new fashion.”

Next act: memoir this spring Dychtwald’s 18th book, a memoir titled Radical Curiosity, will be published in March. He wrote it to honor Erikson’s generativity stage of life, to pass on his knowledge and leave a legacy to his two children, now in their 30s. “I turned 70 this year, and I decided I was going to collect my stories so that they

G COMIN

can be passed from generation to generation,” he said. His friends told him, “You have to publish this; you’ve had one bizarre life!’” One of his life’s more placid moments was when Dychtwald, 27, recorded a video of his grandmother Clara, one he likes to share with his audiences today. Clara, an orphan, recounts her memories of growing up without shoes or indoor plumbing. “What do you want us to learn from you?” he asks his grandmother, who in the video is wearing a modest housedress. She replies, “To be good, honest, respectable, and live happy with your family, like I lived happy with my husband.” Moments later, she tells her grandson, “From the minute you were born, I loved you. Find a nice girl and get married, and I’ll love you double.” Clara may have been reassured to know that her grandson has been happily married since 1983. Ken Dychtwald is the keynote speaker at this year’s Beacon Expo, an all-virtual event accessible from Nov. 1, 2020 until Jan. 31, 2021. To watch his keynote address, followed by a brief interview by Beacon publisher Stuart Rosenthal, visit the Expo website — beacon50expo.com — any time after Nov. 1. His new book, What Retirees Want, is available in print, digitally and as an audio book. All proceeds from the book are being donated to the American Society on Aging.

EMBE V O N S HI

ATTN: & ORS SPONS ORS T EXHIBI

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mation contact or for more information Alan at Alan@thebeaconnewspapers.com wspap or call 443-285-9336

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2020

Say you saw it in the Beacon

2020

A completely free online experience, accessible from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone

INSIDE you will find descriptions of DOZENS of:

Classes • Expert Speakers Entertainers • Exhibitors all of whom you can visit at your leisure and enjoy 24/7 from November 1, 2020 through January 31, 2021 at

beacon50expo.com PRESENTED BY

GOLD SPONSOR

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Subscribe for half-price. See p. 26

NOVEMBER 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

SPEAKERS

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2020

CLASSES

Here is a selection of the speakers available at

Here is a selection of the classes available at

www.beacon50expo.com from

November 1, 2020 through January 31, 2021:

KEYNOTE: Ken Dychtwald, PhD speaking about decades of research into aging and how to make the most of retirement

Mindful Meditation Seminar (including guided meditation practice), courtesy of Brooke Grove Foundation

Women’s Heart Health, Women’s Heart Specialist & Cardiologist Daisy Lazarous, M.D. Courtesy of Adventist HealthCare Adventist Medical Group

Intergenerational Volunteer Activities You Can Do from Home a panel including GrandInvolve, Age-Friendly DC, Link Generations, Experience Corp, Montgomery Connects and JCA Heyman Interages Center, courtesy of Empowering the Ages

The Latest Information on Low Vision Research Dr. Emily Chew, National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health, courtesy of Prevention of Blindness Society The Oldest Living Tuskegee Airman interview with Brig. Gen. Charles McGee, courtesy of Silver Spring Village Everything You Always Wanted to Know about the Cuban Missile Crisis from a CIA insider, courtesy of Silver Spring Village How to Create Harmony in Your Life interview of Serge Mazerand, composer, pianist and author of The 7 Keys to Serenity Designing Camelot a discussion with the co-authors of Designing Camelot: The Kennedy White House Restoration, courtesy of the White House Historical Association A, B, C and D’s of Medicare Sherry Kolbe, State Health Insurance Assistance Program Manager for Baltimore County, courtesy of Baltimore County Department of Aging Holistic Nutrition, with Divya Selvakumar, PhD Baltimore County Department of Health and Human Services, courtesy of Baltimore County Department of Aging Health and Wellness Tips from a Holy Cross Health Partners Geriatrician Developing Resilience courtesy of CIGNA Fall Prevention: Gear & Gadgets courtesy of Howard County Oﬃce on Aging & Independence Advance Directives & Care Planning, a panel discussion, courtesy AARP MD Caregiving During COVID-19 interview with Morgan Whitlach of D.C. Quality Trust, courtesy of AARP DC

Go, Grow and Get Active video special featuring tai chi fit, laughter yoga, Zumba and more, 1hr. 40 min., courtesy Montgomery County Aging & Disabilities Avoiding Coronavirus Frauds and Scams courtesy of AARP VA Cooking with Chef Francis an Embassy Chef Challenge award-winner, courtesy of Gold Sponsor, Maplewood Park Place Dance with Nancy lessons with Nancy Hays in Electric Slide and Achy Breaky line dancing, for exercise and fun, courtesy of DancewithNancy.com Playing Billiards a demonstration of techniques and shots, courtesy of Maplewood Park Place Zumba, Tai Chi and Core & Stretch classes courtesy of Baltimore County Department of Aging Senior Fit and Chair Exercise Demonstrations courtesy of Holy Cross Health Health and Wellness Tips provided by a Holy Cross Health Partners Geriatrician The Impact of Nutrition on Blood Pressure Control Reducing Stress and Anxiety Retirement Living and Assisted Care Options Senior Health Insurance Basics Arts & Crafts Ideas Courtesy of Howard County Office on Aging & Independence

Say you saw it in the Beacon

T N E M N I A T R E T N E Here is a selection of the entertainment available at

www.beacon50expo.com from November 1, 2020 through January 31, 2021: Stand-up comedy Four over-50 comics do their thing, courtesy of Silver Spring Town Center SPARKLE program Alexandria Harmonizers Christmas Concert award-winning barbershop men’s chorus from Alexandria, Va., courtesy of the Harmonizers Maxim Lando, 19-year-old classical piano phenom protégé of Lang Lang, performs Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons and Nicolai Kapustin Concert Etudes (jazzy classical pieces), courtesy of Candlelight Concerts Dance to music from a live ballroom orchestra courtesy of dancewithnancy.com Rearview Mirror Duo Iris Hirsch and Glenn Bullion perform a blend of rock and roll, R&B, pop, country, standards from the Great American Songbook, disco, and Motown from the 50s, 60s, 70s Shades of Gray rock and roll band, performing memorable songs, courtesy of Ken Hunter Music by Black American women composers performed by the Chin Family Quartet and Victoria Bragin, courtesy of the Friday Morning Music Club French, Latin and American Jazz recital by Steve Baddour, courtesy of the Louise P. Zanar Fund Beethoven Sonata No. 10 in G major, for violin and piano Lisa Weiss and Yeou-Cheng Ma (sister of Yo Yo Ma), courtesy of Lisa Weiss

Subscribe for half-price. See p. 26

NOVEMBER 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

SPEAKERS

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2020

CLASSES

Here is a selection of the speakers available at

Here is a selection of the classes available at

www.beacon50expo.com from

November 1, 2020 through January 31, 2021:

KEYNOTE: Ken Dychtwald, PhD speaking about decades of research into aging and how to make the most of retirement

Mindful Meditation Seminar (including guided meditation practice), courtesy of Brooke Grove Foundation

Women’s Heart Health, Women’s Heart Specialist & Cardiologist Daisy Lazarous, M.D. Courtesy of Adventist HealthCare Adventist Medical Group

Say you saw it in the Beacon

T N E M N I A T R E T N E Here is a selection of the entertainment available at

NOVEMBER 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Subscribe for half-price. See p. 26

EXHIBITORS TO DATE AARP - DC, MD, VA Ace Handyman Services Adventist HealthCare Adventist Medical Group Agewell Senior Fitness, LLC Baltimore City Health Department Baltimore County Department of Aging Bedford Court - Sunrise Senior Living Bonifant, The - Humphrey Mgmt Brooke Grove Retirement Village Brookﬁeld Residential Properties Burke & Herbert Bank Byron E. Macfarlane, Register of Wills for HoCo Cherry Blossom CBD Cigna HealthCare Columbia Pro Cantare Community College of Baltimore County Evergreens at Columbia Town Center Family & Nursing Care Fidelity Direct Mortgage GBMC Genesis Healthcare Greenspring Valley Neighbors Holy Cross Health Home Hearts Home Care Homecrest House Homes on Quaker Lane - Humphrey Mgmt Homewatch CareGivers of Fairfax Horizon Foundation Howard County Oﬃce on Aging & Independence Humphrey Management Jewish Council for the Aging Kaiser Permanente Legacy Times Long and Foster Realtors Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant Maplewood Park Place Maribel M. Vann, DDS,PLLC Marquis Healthcare Services Maryland Relay Maryland University of Integrated Health Montgomery County Aging & Disability Services/HHS Montgomery County Board of Elections Montgomery County Cancer Crusade Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection Montgomery County Dept of Transportation

Montgomery County Emergency Management/ Homeland Security Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Montgomery County Long-Term Care Ombudsman Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection Montgomery County Police Montgomery County Police/Keeping People Safe Montgomery County Public Library Montgomery County Recreation Department Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office Montgomery County Stroke Association Montgomery County Volunteer Center/RSVP Montgomery Energy Connection Oak Manor Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare Olney Assisted Living Organizer, The Oxzgen Pepco Pin Oak Village - Humphrey Mgmt Potomac Woods Prevention of Blindness Society of Metro Washington Rainier Manor I & II - Humphrey Mgmt Randolph Village - Humphrey Mgmt River Point - Humphrey Mgmt Schifter, Carol R. Seabury at Friendship Terrace Seabury at Springvale Terrace Sibley Senior Association Silver Spring Village Snowden Creek - Humphrey Mgmt Senior Connection Sol Levinson & Bros. Suburban Hospital Tiber Hudson - Humphrey Mgmt Tuckahoe Pines Retirement Community United Healthcare Virginia Relay Virginia Senior Medical Patrol Westminster House Senior Apartments Windsor Crossing - Humphrey Mgmt Winter Growth Woodside Village - Humphrey Mgmt Xfinity

Say you saw it in the Beacon

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2020

Money Law &

MAKE YOUR MONEY LAST A new book outlines a simple plan to build lifetime retirement income and offers strategies to make your retirement savings last for decades TRUSTWORTHY TRUSTEES Setting up a trust for your estate? Whether you choose a family member, professional or corporate trustee, here are some questions to ask first

Pros, cons of Medicare Advantage plans By Liz Weston About 1 in 3 people 65 and older in the U.S. enroll in Medicare Advantage, the private insurance alternative to traditional Medicare. It’s not hard to see why: Medicare Advantage plans often cover health needs that Medicare doesn’t, and most people don’t pay extra for it. But Medicare Advantage can be more expensive if you get sick, because copays and other costs can be higher, said Katy Votava, president of Goodcare.com, a healthcare consultant for financial advisors and consumers. Unhappy Advantage customers who want to switch back to traditional Medicare may find they no longer qualify for the supplemental Medigap policies to help pay their medical bills, or that they would face prohibitively high premiums. “These are complicated products,” said Votava, author of Making the Most of Medicare. “They’re like nothing else — no

other insurance that people encounter anywhere — until they get to Medicare.”

Medicare’s alphabet soup The first hurdle many people face when deciding about Medicare coverage is simply understanding how the various parts fit together. Traditional Medicare, also known as original Medicare, has two parts: • Part A covers hospitalization, and is typically premium-free. • Part B covers outpatient care, including doctor visits, and has a standard monthly premium of $144.60 for 2020, although higher-income people pay more (up to $347). With Part B, you can choose any doctor who accepts Medicare. The government pays healthcare providers directly. Part D is prescription drug coverage, which is provided by private insurers. The drugs that are covered and the amounts you pay out of pocket vary widely. Monthly

premiums vary as well, but average $32.74 in 2020. Traditional Medicare has deductibles, copays and coinsurance that can quickly add up. To cover these gaps, private insurers also offer supplemental plans known as Medigap. The average monthly Medigap premium in 2019 was $152, according to health insurance marketplace eHealth.com. But it can be lower or much higher depending on the plan, the insurer and the area where you live. The plans are known by letters A through N. As with traditional Medicare, you can choose any doctor who accepts Medicare. If you apply for a Medigap policy when you’re first eligible for Medicare, the insurer has to accept you and can’t charge more for preexisting conditions.

Medicare, however, Medicare Advantage plans replace them. Insurers that offer Medicare Advantage are required to provide all the benefits of Part A and Part B, and most plans include Part D drug coverage as well. In addition, the plans typically cover certain expenses that Medicare doesn’t — such as hearing, vision and dental care. Most Medicare Advantage enrollees in 2020 paid no additional premiums for their coverage, other than their regular Part B premiums, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a health research group.

Managed care

How Medicare Advantage differs

Medicare Advantage plans are similar to employer-provided group health insurance: To be covered, you typically must choose healthcare providers in the insurance company’s network. The network

Medicare Part C is Medicare Advantage. Rather than add to the other parts of

See MEDICARE PLANS, page 16

How to recognize and stop elder abuse seniors who are ill, frail, disabled, socially Dear Savvy Senior, Can you write a column on how to rec- isolated or mentally impaired due to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. ognize elder abuse and what It’s also important to note to do if you suspect it? that while elder abuse does —Concerned Relative happen in nursing homes and Dear Concerned, other long-term care facilities, Elder abuse is a big probthe vast majority of incidents lem in the United States that take place among seniors who has escalated during the live at home. And tragically, the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordabusers are most often their ing to the National Council on own family members (usually Aging, as many as 5 million the victim’s adult child or seniors are victims of abuse SAVVY SENIOR spouse) or caregiver. each year, but studies sugBy Jim Miller gest this crime is significantly How to recognize abuse under-reported. So, how can you tell if an elderly relative Only 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse ever get reported to the authorities because victims or friend is being abused, and what can are usually too afraid, too embarrassed, too you do to help? A change in general behavior is a unihelpless or too trusting to call for help. The term “elder abuse” is defined as in- versal warning sign that a problem exists. tentional or negligent acts by a caregiver If you notice your relative or friend has beor trusted individual that causes or can come very depressed, withdrawn or gets upset or agitated easily, you need to start cause harm to a vulnerable senior. Elder abuse comes in many different asking questions. Here are some additional warning signs forms: emotional, psychological, physical or sexual abuse, abandonment, neglect of the different types of elder abuse: Physical or sexual abuse: Suspicious and self-neglect, and financial exploitation. Those most vulnerable to such abuse are bruises or other injuries that can’t be ex-

plained. Sudden changes in behavior (upset, withdrawn, fearful). Broken eyeglasses. Caregiver’s refusal to allow visitors to see an elder alone. Neglect or self-neglect: Weight loss, poor hygiene, unattended medical needs, and unsanitary, unsafe living conditions. Emotional or psychological abuse: The senior is extremely upset, agitated, withdrawn, unresponsive, fearful or depressed, or demonstrates some other unusual behavior. Financial exploitation: Missing money or valuables. Unexplained withdrawals from bank accounts, or transfers between accounts. Unauthorized use of credit, debit or ATM card. Unpaid bills despite available funds. Checks written as a loan or gift. Abrupt changes in a will or other documents. For more tips on how to recognize the warning signs of abuse during the pandemic, see the National Center on Elder Abuse website at NCEA.acl.gov/Resources/COVID19.aspx.

What to do The best ways to help stop elder abuse are to stay in touch and keep lines of communication open. If you suspect any type of abuse or neglect in your relative’s or

friend’s home, report it to your local protective services agency. Adult Protective Services is the government agency responsible for investigating elder abuse cases and providing help and guidance. The agency will ask what you observed, who was involved, and who they can contact to learn more. You don’t need to prove that abuse is occurring; that is up to the professional. To report suspected abuse in a nursing home or assisted living facility, call the local Long-Term Care Ombudsman — see LTCombudsman.org for contact information. If, however, you feel the person is in immediate danger, call 911 or the local police for immediate help. To report the abuse, neglect, self-neglect or financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult in Baltimore County, call (410) 853-3000. Alternatively, you can call the statewide abuse number to report: 1-800-332-6347. To make a report after-hours, call the Virginia state hotline at 1-888-832-3858. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

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Medicare plans From page 15 may be relatively narrow if the plan is a health maintenance organization (HMO), or somewhat broader if it’s a preferred provider organization (PPO). You may need preapproval for certain types of care, or referrals to see specialists. If you go out of network, your costs may not be covered or may not apply to your out-of-pocket limits. Even if your doctor is “in network” now, that could change, and you might not get much notice.

Also, Medicare Advantage plans are typically regional. If you move out of the area or travel to other states, you may not be covered.

Many choices, maybe too many The devil’s in the details, and Medicare Advantage plans have many, many details. The average Medicare beneficiary has access to 28 Medicare Advantage options, with varying networks, coverage, deductibles, copays and co-insurance, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. In general, though, Medicare Advan-

BEACON BITS

Weekly

FREE MEDITATION

Three days a week, the Smithsonian Institution offers free 30minute online mediation sessions from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Appropriate for all levels, and includes a variety of practices. Friday sessions include inspiration from art in their collection. To register, go to http://bit.ly/MeditationSmithsonian.

Ongoing

STEM VOLUNTEERS PROGRAM

Support teachers. The American Association for the Advancement of Science needs scientists, engineers and physicians to assist K-12 STEM teachers virtually. To volunteer, contact bcallinge@aaas.org.

Nov. 12

ESTATE PLANNING FOR PETS

Baltimore-Washington Financial Advisors and Elville and Associates host a virtual discussion on developing pet-related provisions in an estate plan. The interactive discussion takes place Thurs., Nov. 12 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. To register, visit http://bit.ly/PetEstatePlan.

NOVEMBER 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

tage costs less upfront and potentially more overall if you need lots of medical care. Many Medigap plans have higher upfront costs, but cover most if not all of your expenses when you need care. If you want to switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, you can do so during annual enrollment periods. But if you want to switch from Medicare Advantage to traditional Medicare, you often won’t have guaranteed access to a Medigap policy. That means the insurer may charge you more, exclude preexisting conditions for a time or not issue you a policy at all. That doesn’t mean Medicare Advantage plans are a poor choice — just a complicat-

ed one, said Tatiana Fassieux, a training specialist with California Health Advocates, a Medicare advocacy nonprofit. She recommends people contact their state health insurance assistance program (SHIP), which can provide free, unbiased one-on-one counseling. Links to these programs can be found by visiting the SHIP National Technical Assistance Center. “People should not rely exclusively on television commercials,” Fassieux warned. “That’s when people get stuck and sometimes make the wrong decision.” To contact the Baltimore County State Health Insurance Program, call (410) 8872059.—AP/NerdWallet

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Ongoing

UTILITY BILL HELP

The Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service is partnering with the Pro Bono Resource Center and the Office of People’s Council to help Baltimore residents with their water, gas and electric bill issues. To learn more, call (443) 703-3052.

Oct. 28

DEMENTIA CONVERSATIONS

Sheila Griffith of the Alzheimer’s Association offers tips for having conversations with loved ones about doctor visits, driving, and making legal and financial plans. This free online event takes place from 2 to 3 p.m. To register, visit http://bit.ly/AATalks.

Oct. 28+

OPIOID OVERDOSE TRAINING

Learn the signs of an opioid overdose and how to respond in this free virtual training with the Baltimore County Department of Health. The event takes place Wed., Oct. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Sat., Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. To register, visit http://bit.ly/BCOpioidResponse.

Ongoing

JOB RESOURCES

The Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Employment Development provides a variety of free online resources for sharpening skills to keep up in a challenging job market. Visit http://bit.ly/MOEDJobTraining to access those resources.

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2020

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

A simple guide to help your money last Steve Vernon has a great deal of expertise In step two, you establish a retirement in retirement planning, having written six savings source that will deliver a stream of books on the subject. His latest, lifetime income to suppleDon’t Go Broke in Retirement: A ment your reliable monthly Simple Plan to Build Lifetime paychecks if you need addiRetirement Income (Rest-of-Life tional funds. This stream Communications), is an excelwould be used for discrelent source for middle-income tionary purchases such as people who want a straightfortraveling, hobbies and gifts. ward plan to build a lifetime of This income could be from retirement income. retirement accounts such as I believe the book will be IRAs and/or 401(k)s. Vernon very helpful to those close to recommends a systematic withTHE SAVINGS retirement who want to make GAME drawal from these accounts so sure they make the right deci- By Elliot Raphaelson that you will have money comsions about Social Security, ining on a regular basis. vestments and establishing withdrawal The third step is to establish an emerplans from savings/retirement accounts to gency fund at your bank or credit union to ensure that their assets/income will last be used for predictable future expenses, their lifetime. such as home and car maintenance, updatThe book is organized in several concise ed appliances and furniture, as well as unchapters that cover all the basics of securi- foreseen emergencies. ty-minded financial planning. In chapter one, Vernon establishes a baseline Spend Postpone Social Security In an early chapter, Vernon discusses Safely Strategy consisting of three key steps. the importance of maximizing Social SecuIn step one, you establish reliable monthly rity benefits. As I have indicated in many of paychecks that will last the rest of your life, my columns, there are significant advanregardless of stock market fluctuations. Ele- tages to postponing applying for benefits ments of this “paycheck” would be Social Se- as long as possible. curity and recurring income from employer Vernon believes that starting Social Seretirement plans. curity benefits as soon as possible “is a big

mistake for most people.” He believes it is smart to maximize your lifetime Social Security benefits because they are the best source of risk-protected retirement income for most workers. He provides examples of strategies to maximize these benefits by delaying the start of benefits. One approach is to continue working; a second is to establish a bridge payment fund with a portion of your existing retirement savings. Many resources for further reading on Social Security are identified, including the excellent book by Andy Landis, Social Security: The Inside Story (www.andylandis.biz). In another chapter of Don’t Go Broke, Vernon discusses using your savings to generate lifetime retirement income. He recommends using the IRS required minimum distribution (RMD) tables to calculate the amount to withdraw each year as a simple, effective way to make your savings last for the rest of your life. He includes a chapter on investing for

growth, in which he recommends that, after you have covered most of your basic living expenses, you can take calculated risks by investing some of your savings in low-cost, conservative equity alternatives. He recommends target-date funds, balanced funds and stock index funds. I agree, as I have indicated in my columns. He also addresses issues such as minimizing taxes, health considerations and part-time work. Also useful are his checklist that summarizes the action steps you should be taking to meet your objectives and his bibliography of useful books and websites. Don’t Go Broke in Retirement is easy to read, and it covers all the important decisions to develop a plan that will allow you to retire safely and never run out of income and assets in retirement. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © 2020 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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NOVEMBER 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

How to choose a trustee for your estate By Kiplinger Consumer News Service You know how hard you have worked and the sacrifices you have made to achieve your goals. To protect what you have worked for and provide for the most important people in your life, you may be counseled to put some or all of your assets into a trust. Once you have decided to fund a trust as part of your succession planning, you must determine who can best carry out your plans. “Whom do I choose as my trustee or trustees?” becomes a critical planning question.

Considering a spouse or child Only you know the strengths and weaknesses of your family members, so you’re in the best position to decide if your spouse or your child can appreciate a trustee’s responsibilities. Being a trustee creates many duties under state law. These include, but are not limited to, impartiality between the interests of the current and future beneficiaries, properly accounting to all beneficiaries, and prudently investing trust funds. Trustees also face a prohibition against self-dealing. Questions to consider: —Can your trustee separate his or her personal feelings and interests from those of the beneficiaries and exercise good judgment at all times? —Will all parties be treated impartially if

your children are not your spouse’s children? —Does your trustee have an ability to analyze investments? —Will there be temptation for your trustee to take risks, hoping for a hefty return at the expense of the other beneficiaries? —What if your spouse re-marries? —Will a child who is trustee be able to exercise good judgment when a sibling is a beneficiary, or will tension develop between them? —Can your sons-in-law and daughters-inlaw and their children work peacefully together? —Will a child who is balancing his or her family and career have adequate time to devote to serving as trustee?

Considering a professional Attorneys, accountants and financial advisers often have a special and trusted relationship with their clients. When looking for a person who understands a client’s financial and personal goals and the person most capable of carrying out estate or other financial plans, many look no further than these trusted professionals. However, just because an attorney, accountant or other adviser may understand the nature of your business or your financial goals, he or she may not fully appreciate the scope of fiduciary duty or inherent

risks and responsibilities of being a trustee. Questions to consider: —Does your professional adviser understand the dynamics of your family? —What experience does he or she have as a trustee? —Can he or she separate his or her personal financial interests from those of other clients? —If there is a breach of duty that results in a significant financial loss to the trust, will your beneficiaries be willing to rely upon the trustee’s ability to personally satisfy a judgment if professional malpractice coverage will not make the trust whole?

Considering a corporate trustee Banks and trust companies provide professional fiduciary services and can act independently. Corporate trustees have procedures and systems in place to manage property and invest funds. Choosing a professional fiduciary may reduce conflicts among family members while providing experienced and professional investment and administrative management. All fiduciaries are held to a very high standard, and this is truer for corporate fiduciaries because they are in the business of providing fiduciary services. Questions to consider: —How much of the trust assets will be

spent on fees and be unavailable to my beneficiaries? —Should increased investment returns provide value for the fees charged? —Will the bank or trust company understand my family or their needs? —What can I expect from the administrator making decisions that directly affect my family or realizing the goals of my trust?

Choosing more than one trustee You may find it best to answer some of these questions by choosing one or multiple individuals to serve as trustee alongside a corporate trustee. It can be helpful to have more than one trustee to balance recordkeeping, investments and other trustee duties. A properly drafted trust agreement can expressly outline the duties of the various trustees, such as the retention of specific investments, delegation of particular duties or removal of a trustee. An individual co-trustee may have a particular understanding of a beneficiary’s needs and assist the other trustees and/or corporate trustee in making decisions. Choosing a trustee is a decision that should be well reasoned, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. © 2020 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2020

PHOTO BY NICK GARBUTT

Travel Leisure &

Most villagers in Papua New Guinea grow their own food. See story on page 20.

Texas Hill Country offers a unique blend

German roots In the mid-1800s, the Society for the Protection of German Immigrants sent

5,000 German settlers to Texas. They formed a peace treaty with the Comanches and laid out a town similar to a traditional Rhine River village, naming it after Prince Frederick of Prussia, a society member. German settlers had farmsteads in the country as well as town cottages, called their “Sunday houses.” They would come to town on Saturday to sell their wares, go to church on Sunday, and then return to the farm. Many Sunday houses are still intact and available for tourist rentals. Other town buildings retain the original fachwerk — a timber-framing construction method using clay, grass, woven willow and limestone between the timbers. Today, Texans tout the town’s German “flavor,” its 150 Hauptstrasse (Main Street) shops, biergartens, bakeries, galleries and, during normal times, frequent events celebrating German traditions. Many restaurants specialize in German cuisine — sauerkraut, sweet rice, purple cabbage and German potato salad, served warm with bacon. The historic district’s shops and galleries sell art, jewelry, home décor, antiques, quilts, knickknacks and lace toppers, a Texas way to “fancy up” your table. Phil Jackson’s Granite and Iron Store offers custom-made beds and tables. You can nab a Stetson at Headquarters

PHOTO BY PIERCE INGRAM, TRAVEL TEXAS

By Glenda C. Booth In south-central Texas’ Hill Country, junipers and live oak trees punctuate the lush landscape. Streams run clear, and ranches sprawl across the horizon. In the spring, a multi-hued mosaic of wildflowers brightens fields and highways. “One could travel hundreds of miles on a bed of flowers,” Texas ranger James Gillett wrote in the late 1800s. Famous for its German heritage and dubbed the Polka Capital of Texas, Fredericksburg, in the heart of the 10,000-squaremile Hill Country, attracts around 1.2 million tourists a year. The press corps covering President Lyndon B. Johnson stayed in Fredericksburg, 20 miles from his ranch, and put it on the map. Today, locals and visitors commemorate Johnson and other hometown heroes and celebrate all things German: polka music and dance, weiner schnitzel, wursts, kolaches and, of course, beer. Town leaders had to make this year’s famous Oktoberfest, their 40th, virtual on October 3 but are already planning a big one for October 1-3, 2021: three festive days of German food, beer, music and dancing.

PHOTO BY STEVE RAWLS

Visitors to the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park can get a ranger-guided tour of the Texas White House, LBJ’s ranch in the Hill Country

German influences such as biergartens and (pre-pandemic) Oktoberfests are ubiquitous in Fredericksburg, the heart of Texas Hill Country, settled in the mid-1800s by German immigrants.

Hats along with Texas-size belt buckles and bolo ties. Dogologie is crammed with treats for canines, including Bowser Beer, dog “wine” and dog-themed socks. For Texas-style treats, Rustlin Rob’s offers grits, jalapeno hushpuppy mix, sweet cornbread mix, chipotle beef jerky and, at the tasting bar, dips, butters, relishes, preserves and salsas. Its motto: “We don’t skinny dip. We chunk dunk.”

World War II history The hometown boy who “made good,” World War II Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, is honored at the National Museum of the Pacific War. On display are a captured Nazi flag, a two-man midget submarine, and two torpedoes from Pearl Harbor. Museum guides boast about the door from the USS Arizona, the Navy battleship that sank during the Japanese Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941. “The New Orleans World War II museum only has a hinge,” one said. Visitors also can examine a boat similar to the PT-109 that Lt. John F. Kennedy commanded. Kennedy is credited with saving 11 crew members when it sank in battle. Videos relate the rescue of Lt. George H.W. Bush, who was forced to bail out of his bomber airplane and was the sole sur-

vivor from his squadron, a feat poignantly represented by a fragment of his yellow rescue raft on display.

Nature preserves Spring brings an explosion of bright blue, purple, yellow and orange wildflowers across the Hill Country, a region defined by rare plants found nowhere else on Earth. The Hill Country has at least 400 species of wildflowers, almost half of the state’s wildflowers. Pre-ranching settlers reported a sea of Texas bluebonnets, orange Indian paintbrush and yellow Texas stars. Lady Bird Johnson, wanting to create a nature preserve in Hill Country to “look like God put it here,” founded the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on 35 acres of former, grazed-over Austin ranchland in 1982. Expanded to 284 acres, the site, now part of the University of Texas at Austin, is also an education and resource center. It’s home to 1,800 insect species, 148 bird species, 15 mammal species and almost 900 species of native Texas plants. “You can almost always find something in bloom,” said spokeswoman Amy McCullough. See TEXAS, page 21

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NOVEMBER 2020 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Bird lovers will love Papua New Guinea By Don Mankin As the early morning clouds lifted, I aimed my binoculars at a branch about 30 yards away. Through the binoculars I spotted the iridescent aqua head and black tailfeathers of a bird-of-paradise — the Stephanie’s astrapia, according to Joseph, my birding guide. I’m not a birder, but for a few moments at least, I understood why serious birders wake up early to hike miles for the thrill of seeing a small, beautiful creature in the wild. It was my last day at Rondon Ridge Lodge, a luxury lodge in the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea. The lodge, which opened in 2006, is about a 45minute drive from the airport in Mount Hagen, the third-largest city in Papua New Guinea and the capital of the Western Highlands Province, located in the Wahgi

Valley in the center of the country. The lodge is perched on a mountain ridge overlooking the city at an elevation of about 7,100 feet, so it is cool, not hot and steamy like the rest of the country. Every low-slung building with spacious suites and apartments offers panoramic views of the lush valley, steep hillsides, mountain peaks in the distance, and Mount Hagen below. During the day, layers of clouds undulated over the scene, changing the view from moment to moment. At times it was almost clear, save for a cotton puff here and there. At other times the view was obscured by fog and mist. At night, the lights from the town twinkled below. It poured every day of my four-day visit, mostly in the late afternoon and evening — sudden, intense cloudbursts with the sun shining just a few feet away. The pounding rain, plus the occasional thunder and light-

ning, added even more drama to the scene. The main lodge opens up on patios, a koi pond, lush gardens and is surrounded by acres of forest for hiking, birding and contemplation.

History, tradition and local life I spent the first two days of my visit exploring the surrounding countryside and villages in the capable hands of my guides, James and John. I did some of the usual tourist shtick, such as visiting a wigman village where two men dressed up in the elaborate wigs, decorations and face paintings of their tribe. The show was put on for my benefit, but they don’t just do this for tourists. The locals mainly do it for themselves to keep venerable practices alive. We also visited a village where I viewed a collection of artifacts, including weapons,

ENTERPRISE RESIDENTIAL MOST COMMUNITIES ARE 62 AND BETTER

wigs and a grim collection of skulls. James assured me that these were not heads gathered by head hunters, but heads of people who died from other causes and were displayed to honor them and remind the other villagers of who they were. As for their origin, I’ll just have to take James’ word for it. I also met the village chief, who was dressed in a traditional outfit including his pig tally, a necklace with sticks representing all of the pigs he has owned. From the length of his necklace, it was clear that the chief was a veritable Farmer John. What I found most interesting, however, was learning about the everyday lives of the people. James took me to his village. As we walked along the path winding among the modest houses, huts and gardens of the village, he explained that every family owns a plot of land where they grow potatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, taro, corn, bananas, strawberries, oranges, onions, coffee and other crops in the fertile soil. “We plant it, it grows,” James said. They eat what they need and sell the rest at the bustling outdoor market in Mount Hagen. Many people also have pigs and chickens. This is not a rich country, but it seems that anyone who is willing to work hard won’t starve.

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.)

Birds and forest bathing

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

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The morning of my final day at the lodge was dedicated to birding. Since the Western Highlands are primo birding territory, I figured I should at least give it a try. The assistant manager of the lodge asked me if I wanted to do some serious birding or something more casual. Since “serious birding” required a 5 a.m. start and the more casual option began at 9, this was not a difficult choice. After breakfast, I started hiking with my birding guide, Joseph, on one of the several trails that wind through the property. We headed up the ridge to a clearing with a platform to sit and look for birds. The ridges pierced through the clouds when they drifted lower. Joseph set up a scope and aimed it at a distant tree. Soon he spotted a Superb Bird of Paradise. I looked at it in the scope, then found it in my binoculars. Following that were two Brown Cuckoo Doves. When the mist cleared, we spotted the Stephanie’s astrapia. We hiked along the trail through the woods looking for more and caught a fleeting glance of a Bluebird of Paradise and a Common Smoky Honeyeater in flight. We wandered a bit more through the forest in silence, following the sounds of birds chirping and calling. We didn’t see anything else, but it didn’t matter. It was so quiet and serene, like a slowly unfolding meditation. I was, as the Japanese call it, shinrinyoku, “bathing in the forest.” If that’s what birding is about, I finally get it. That was

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

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BALTIMORE COUNTY Cove Point Apartments I: 410-288-2344 Cove Point Apartments II: 410-288-1660 Evergreen Senior Apartments: 410-780-4888 The Greens at English Consul: 410-789-3000 The Greens at Liberty Road: 410-655-1100 The Greens at Logan Field: 410-288-2000 The Greens at Rolling Road: 410-744-9988 Park View at Catonsville: 410-719-9464 Park View at Dundalk: 410-288-5483 • 55 & Better Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665 Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375 Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673

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

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

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See NEW GUINEA, page 21

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2020

Texas From page 19

LBJ Historical Park “No president calls the White House home,” LBJ said in a 1966 NBC film tour in the visitor center of his “western White House” — an 1886 ranch house on the Pedernales River. This ranch — located about 50 miles west of Austin, and where he recharged as president — is today the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. Here “the sun is a little brighter” and “people a little kinder…It gives me a serenity,” he said. The eight-bedroom, nine-bathroom house is restored to how it was in Johnson’s presidential years. The always “wired” president had three televisions in the bedroom, three in the living room and telephones everywhere — so many that staffers quipped that the telephone was “an appendage.” Here, without the cacophony and distractions of Washington, many decisionmakers got the famous “Johnson treatment” — a mix of charm, persuasion and intimidation. He also took gullible guests like Walter

New Guinea From page 20 the best three hours of my visit. Unless you’re a birder, Papua New

Cronkite and Gregory Peck for thrill rides “into” the Pedernales River, driving at high speeds across a submerged concrete bridge in his 1962 amphibious car, the Amphicar. In the barn, tourists learn about his prize bulls, and visit descendants of LBJ’s beloved longhorns and Hereford cattle. Visitor center exhibits detail Johnson’s childhood. He had an “angelic” disposition as a baby, walked four miles to school with his lunch bucket, and graduated from high school at age 15. While the house is temporarily closed, today’s visitors can explore the visitor center, the 13-passenger JetStar airplane that flew the Johnsons to and from the ranch, nicknamed Air Force One-Half, and take a guided tour of the grounds. He and Lady Bird are buried under the live oaks they loved in the ranch’s family cemetery.

The great outdoors Near downtown Fredericksburg are craft breweries, distilleries and more than 40 wineries. The area is an excellent grapegrowing region for certain varieties that tolerate heat. Guinea might not be one of those places you feel compelled to visit before you die. But travelers willing to look beyond their bucket list will discover the beauty of the land and its creatures, and the warmth and determi-

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The nights cool down, and the winds reduce humidity, mildew and fungi. The Hill Country’s soil and climate are also ideal for produce like sweet, freestone and clingstone peaches. Many outdoor types today are enthralled with Enchanted Rock, a gleaming, pink granite dome or batholith that looms large amid the scrubby oak, cedar, mesquite and Texas buckeye trees. It is a half-mile trek to the summit, where, at 1,825 feet, adventurers get a 360-degree vista of classic Texas grasslands and hills. At Westcave Preserve in Dripping Springs, visitors can walk through an arid savanna and down into a 70-foot-tall canyon lush with plants to a 40-foot waterfall, grotto and cave. Guides like Paul Vickery, education director, point out that the stalactites and stalagmites take 35 years to grow one inch. There are fossilized oysters in the walls, and, outside, lucky visitors might see bobcats, coyotes, ringtails, raccoons, gray foxes and cougars. In springtime, colorful wildflowers spread across the preserve. The perfume of bluebonnets, as Vickery put it, is “the sweet smell of Texas.” nation of its hardworking people.

If you go It’s best to travel after the pandemic ends. Round-trip airfare from BWI to and

If you go Fredericksburg is 70 miles west of Austin and 65 miles northwest of San Antonio. A nonstop round-trip flight from BWI to Austin is currently $147 on United Airlines. Average high winter temperatures are in the low 60s; in spring, weather is in the 70s and 80s. March and April are prime wildflower watching months, but wildflowers bloom all year. Visit wildflower.org/plantsmain/whats-in-season and VisitFredericksburgTX.com or call (830) 997-6523. Start your visit at Fredericksburg’s Visitor Center, 302 E. Austin Street, watch a 10minute video about the town, and pick up a walking tour map and other brochures. One of the more intriguing lodging options is the Hangar Hotel at the Gillespie County Airport, designed like a World War II hangar and decorated in a 1940s aviation theme. Next door is a vintage diner. Fredericksburg is planning old-world holiday events in December with a 26-foot German pyramid and 30-foot Christmas tree. Most shops, restaurants and attractions are currently open, based on the Texas governor’s guidelines. The “Protect FBG” campaign encourages masks and social distancing. from Mount Hagen is about $2,700. The writer was hosted by Trans Nuiguini Tours (pngtours.com/lodge6), the company that owns the lodge. Contact them at service@pngtours.com.

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TV stars Alan Alda, Trevor Noah and Alex Trebek can write, too. See story on page 24.

Arts group to install heart sculpture soon

Art classes for all Art with a Heart, Inc. celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The popular community organization offers interactive visual art classes to schools, community centers, group homes, retirement communities, hospitals — and every individual who

wants to learn about creating art. “Generally, if you’ve always had an interest in becoming an artist, you’re welcome to participate,” Pupkin said. Based in north Baltimore City, Art with a Heart offers free art classes to students of all ages and skill sets. “We especially target Baltimore’s ‘most compromised’ parts of the community,” Pupkin said. In the past year, the nonprofit has provided more than 12,000 visual art classes, engaged more than 4,000 volunteers, and installed 39 public art pieces. Since its inception, it has installed 300 public art projects. Through its workforce development program called HeARTworks, Art with a Heart teaches essential job skills to more than 100 students over age 14. The organization also brings together high school students from local private and public high schools through its Art of Leadership program, which encourages civic participation. With the motto “enhancing the lives of people in need through visual art,” the nonprofit’s other efforts include volunteer opportunities and a retail store that sells pieces of art made by its students.

RENDERING COURTESY OF ART WITH A HEART

By Timothy Cox In November, a new 1,000-pound heart sculpture will be installed in downtown Baltimore near the intersection of Charles and Hanover Streets. Standing eight feet tall and six feet wide, the work brings to mind the famous “LOVE” statue in Philadelphia, according to Randi Pupkin, 58, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Art with a Heart. Pupkin’s staff and volunteers are creating the work in collaboration with the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore. Titled “The Heart of Baltimore,” the three-dimensional sculpture will be covered in a mosaic of glass and mirror as well as ceramic hearts. The massive project is “founded in the hope, resilience and ‘charm’ at the core of our great city,” Pupkin said.

The heart sculpture depicted in this rendering is scheduled to be completed and installed soon in downtown Baltimore. Dozens of volunteers led by Art with a Heart, a 20-year-old nonprofit, helped create the work.

The store, called HeARTwares, is housed in the organization’s office building, a converted century-old mill overlooking the Jones Falls, located at 3000 Falls Road, near the Baltimore Museum of Art.

From attorney to artist Pupkin grew up in a middle-class Baltimore County family and graduated from Milford High School and the University of Lynchburg. After earning her J.D. from the University of Baltimore, Pupkin worked as a construction litigation attorney in downtown Baltimore, focused on contract disputes and collections.

After 14 years in law, Pupkin one day realized she had “had enough,” she said. “I had just had a fight with a lawyer, and I looked around my office,” she said. “I thought, ‘If this is like chapter five of my life, and chapter 25 could be the same, I need to pursue a totally different ending.’ I was really tired of fighting with other lawyers. I wanted to combine my passion for love of people and my love of art.” So, in March of 2000, with the support of her husband, Dr. Andrew Pupkin, and their three now-adult children, Art with a See HEART SCULPTURE, page 25

Cars, boats, furniture, antiques, tools, appliances Everything and anything is sold on

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Teacher writes about city kids’ resilience And yet what readers will find in his stories, along with the rough times and tough characters, is what the author-teacher said was the main lesson he has learned from his students: “I notice that a lot of the kids at my school don’t give in to despair. They continue to strive. That should inspire anybody — a writer or not. It’s a testament to the strength of these kids.” The book, which Schwartz worked on for 10 years, was published in October by the Washington Writers Publishing House. In a pre-publication review, award-winning Trinidadian-American novelist Elizabeth Nunez, who co-founded the National Black Writers Conference, said this about Schwartz’s stories: “Avoiding even the whiff of sentimentality, Adam Schwartz takes the reader into the lives of the characters from disparate racial and socioeconomic backgrounds as they struggle for some sort of normalcy….With its unforgettable characters, The Rest of the World gives us reasons to have faith in the resiliency of young people.”

have won awards, some readers have objected to his characterization of Black teenagers. A column Schwartz wrote recently for the New York Daily News recounted his experience with one of his stories, which was based on a shooting that took place outside his school. The student who was shot survived, and the shooter was sentenced to 20 years in prison. “I struggled to make sense of what had happened,” Schwartz recalled. The story, “Carmen and Ant,” he said, “tries to humanize teens drawn into conflicts that sometimes go awry.” The story had been accepted by the Tahoma Literary Review, but a few weeks before publication, a “sensitivity reader” reviewed his story. “If the sensitivity reader was hired to spot problems…he did. ‘Stereotypes. Insensitive characterizations. Tinned-eared diction.’ These criticisms stung, but not as much as watching my editor’s once-solid support begin to crack,” Schwartz wrote. He withdrew the story from the journal, but “Carmen and Ant” was later selected for publication by Raritan, a quarterly journal supported by Rutgers University. It also appears in the short story collection.

A controversial story

Virtual classroom

struggle to find meaning in a city that owes them better.”

Lesson: don’t give in

Although several of Schwartz’s stories

PHOTO BY MAKS SCHWARTZ

By Robert Friedman Adam Schwartz, 55, has taught in Baltimore’s city schools for the past 22 years. The “resilient kids” he taught became the basis for his new book, The Rest of the World — his debut collection of short stories, several of which have already won prizes after their publication in literary journals. All eight stories are set in Baltimore, and were “inspired by getting to know the teens in my classroom,” Schwartz said, including “teenage mothers, kids coming out of the court system, homeless youngsters.” For the last 16 years, Schwartz has taught at Career Academy, an alternative high school at 24th Street and Maryland Avenue, in a building once part of the original Goucher College campus in central Baltimore. Its “alternative” curriculum is both academic and job-related, designed for students aged 16 to 21 who may have dropped out of school and now want to return. “A lot of kids in Baltimore grow up with an array of obstacles in their lives,” Schwartz said. “A lot of the city’s neighborhoods have been sabotaged by systematic inequities.” The mostly teenage characters in his stories, he said, “betray one another, seek redemption, rescue loved ones, plot hustles, reckon with moral ambiguities, and

High school teacher and writer Adam Schwartz has taught for 16 years at Career Academy in Baltimore City. This month, he begins a book tour for his short story collection The Rest of the World, inspired by the experiences of his teenage students.

students several hours a day from his computer. “It’s a drag compared to the classroom,” he said, noting how much he misses the daily give-and-take that happens when he’s face-to-face with his students. Schwartz, who was brought up in a “comfortable” D.C. neighborhood and now lives

During the pandemic, Schwartz teaches his

See TEACHER, page 25

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Stories well-told by television celebrities Enjoy the perspectives of each of these that his father’s unconditional love providarticulate entertainers as they master the ed. Trebek modestly credits luck and good timing for his success in addiwritten word as authors. tion to effort, tenacity and The Answer Is…: Reflechard work. tions on My Life, by Alex TreThe Answer Is… reprises a bek, 304 pages, Simon & remarkable life with humor, Schuster hardcover, 2020 humility and humanity as we Alex Trebek, the host of follow Trebek as he ascends TV game show “Jeopardy!” to stardom without succumbbeginning in 1984, faces his ing to arrogance or an inflated own mortality in his 80th year: He is under treatment for sense of himself. late-stage pancreatic cancer. Born a Crime: Stories THE He has written a joyful BIBLIOPHILE from a South African Childmemoir, rich in insights with By Dinah Rokach hood, by Trevor Noah, 304 myriad details about his perpages, Spiegel & Grau papersonal life and behind-the-scenes stories back, 2019 about his long-running quiz show. Trebek The biracial son of a single, black mothwishes to impart to his fans the philosophy er growing up in apartheid South Africa is that has guided his journey. the life story told with clarity and verve by Raised in Canada, Trebek is the son of a comedian Trevor Noah, who succeeded Ukrainian immigrant and a French-speak- Jon Stewart in 2015 as host of “The Daily ing Ontarian mother who separated when Show” on Comedy Central. he was in prep school. Trebek confronts Remarkably, Noah is able to transcend the world, grateful to those who mentored the bitterness and horror of his youth with him. He clings deeply to the special bond a mature reasoning beyond his years. The

Write a letter to the editor. See page 2.

choices he makes and the violence and hate he encounters along the way make for fascinating reading. Born a Crime is not a book about show business. It’s about coming of age in an unjust, cruel world. Noah examines the forces that shaped it and the possibilities to conquer them in order to open a window of opportunity to a better life. He writes from the perspective of an observer, not a political philosopher. His words ring true. Funny and moving, terrifying and uplifting in turn, the book is a tour de force of emotions. If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating, by Alan Alda, 240 pages, Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2018 The accomplished octogenarian actor Alan Alda is actively involved in helping scientists communicate with the public. To that end, he has founded the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. For 14 years, he served as host of “Scientific American Frontiers” on PBS. Alda’s prolific career has encompassed roles on the stage, in movies and on television. His great skill as an actor has been manifest in

his portrayal of such wide-ranging characters as Hawkeye Pierce in the popular series “M*A*S*H” and the contrasting role of Republican Senator Arnold Vinick in “The West Wing.” If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? is Alda’s story of how he became involved in the scientific study of communication, its importance to him, and why readers might want to learn the tactics he describes in his book. Mastering the art of emotional connection with fellow cast members is a handy tool in an actors’ bag of tricks. It can also be useful to anyone wanting to gain better understanding of, and greater empathy with, others. Alda describes improvisation and mirroring techniques. He relates tales of his life on stage and personal stories with warmth and charm. Alda’s story about explaining science to his grandson is priceless. Readers may very well find themselves learning how to listen better, keep an open mind and express themselves in a more cogent manner. Older adults especially have the time to practice the ideas and implement them as they deal with the younger generation. Alda’s good humor is evident throughout the book. Turning the pages is like listening to a friend in erudite conversation.

From page 22 Heart came to fruition. She started by teaching art classes in Baltimore schools, hauling art supplies in the trunk of her car. “It’s definitely been a family affair for 20 years, especially in the early years,” Pupkin said. “My husband would feed the kids. There was lots of familial support: They volunteered, helping me with classes, and they still do.” Although Pupkin left the legal field, her experience still comes in handy, she said. “I don’t miss the adversity of being a lawyer, but the education and experience of being a lawyer serves me well every day,” she said. “When you run a business, you’ve got to think about things more critically.” Pupkin also finds time to serve on several boards for local organizations, including the Elijah Cummings Youth Program, the

Teacher From page 23 in Elkridge, Maryland, has a strong connection with his inner-city students. “One of the miracles of the classroom is that it melts away these barriers of race, class and color,” he said. The real values of life emerge there: decency, understanding, equality.

Baltimore Library Project, Shalom Tikvah, and Towson University’s Department of Family Studies and Community Development.

A new Baltimore icon Pupkin, her staff of 13 and dozens of volunteers are excited to see their heart sculpture, a potential symbol of Baltimore, installed this fall. “The sculpture will represent the creativity, devotion and support of a wide variety of Baltimore stakeholders who will be engaged in its creation in a safe manner, given the challenges of the current pandemic,” she said. “I’m humbled because I started off in the trunk of my car,” Pupkin said, “and now we’re a very respected organization within the community.” For more information about Art with a Heart, visit artwithaheart.net or call (410) 366-8886.

“What we could also learn in the classroom is that we’re all essentially the same in what we want — to be loved, to be valued, to be heard,” Schwartz said. Adam Schwartz will offer virtual readings from his book with the following sponsors: Politics and Prose, Oct. 25, 1 p.m.; Ivy Bookshop, Nov. 5, 6:30 p.m.; The Writer’s Center, Nov. 6, 5 p.m. For more information, visit AdamSchwartzwriter.org.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ART WITH A HEART

Heart sculpture

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2020

Twenty years ago, Randi Pupkin left her job as an attorney to start a nonprofit arts group. Today, Art with a Heart brings free arts classes into schools, community centers, group homes, shelters, hospitals and retirement communities.

FROM PAGE 26 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD I B E G A R E A F A L L E S P A F A L L C H I C A T S T O F A L L A C E R U S E F A L L A T A L R E M E

C R A B N A T L O N Y O U N P I T M S O F F T H P A S O U A L Y S S E A L L T O M O I A G E O N H A R E T R I S N O T

A P P L C O H A R S W O R E S T E S T O D E W A G O T O R E K N O T S I R P I E C E S T D A G E D D T I M E O N I L T G R I

E N D R U N W A S

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By Stephen Sherr 6

25 31

40 47

50 54

57 60

62 67

64 69

Across 1. “___ your pardon” 5. Cantankerous crustacean 9. Eve’s snack 14. Length X width 15. Part of both the NFL and NBA 16. Composer George, called “the father of American musical comedy” 17. Dramatically accept responsibility 20. Broadcaster of NHL 2Night 21. Diner dessert 22. End of mob- or lob23. It might give you 20 20’s 25. Mach 1 breaker 27. Letters in Old Dominion University students’ e-mail addresses 28. Resume drinking 34. Omicron’s partner in Greek Tic-Tac-Toe 35. Last part of UTEP 36. Made jeans trendy 37. They each get nine lives 39. Airline with HQ in Chicago 41. Johnny Carson response: “I did not ___ that” 44. Yo-Yo and Play-Doh 47. Encyclopedia salesman’s offerings 50. It may require a min. distribution at age 72 51. Break apart 55. Solitaire column starter 56. Me, in Marseille 57. The S in EST 58. Deceptive scheme 60. Get older 62. Got older 65. Suffer financial setbacks 70. Garfield movie: ___ of Two Kitties 71. Mike D, MCA, and Ad-Rock of The Beastie Boys 72. Africa’s longest river 73. Held another session 74. A COVID mask may block it 75. Toothy smile Down 1. Acronym used by the Air Forces of both India and Israel BB1120

41 48

56 59

Scrabble answers on p. 25.

39 45

38 44

19 21

9 16

2. Scottish hillside 3. Electric swimmers 4. Female friend 5. First TV channel with 24-hour news 6. Sunbeam 7. “Use ___ -down approach” 8. Periwinkle, perhaps 9. Condo coolers 10. Captured soldiers 11. Loved by the camera 12. Texas border city 13. Hand off to a receiver 18. Like one of the bunk beds 19. Fix a clock after a power outage 24. Master of Fine Arts, on a resume 26. Seats in a Lamborghini Roadster 28. Fed. agency, whose seal has two towers and an antenna 29. “Hey, I found a palindrome” 30. Collection of 12 out of 13 tricks in Bridge 31. Tallahassee inst. 32. Prepare marshmallows for a s’more 33. Noah’s home construction project 38. Note between fa and la 40. Sign of Barack Obama or Bill Clinton 42. Economically viable rock 43. “Well, she ___ just 17” (Beatles line) 45. Thanksgiving side dish 46. Philanthropist Alfred, who died at the New York hospital that was named for him 48. Briefly vandalizes a tree 49. “I want to ___ the grown-ups’ table” 51. ... in a galaxy ___ away... 52. Put into motion 53. Activates a cigarette 54. Making crisp landscaped lines 59. Fashion magazine, since 1945 61. Make a salary 63. Qatari commander 64. Sandwich specialist 66. Occupational English Test, briefly 67. ___ de Janeiro 68. Every e-mail address has at least one 69. Every US state has exactly two

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November 2020 | Baltimore Beacon

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