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Designing jewelry for 70 years

NOVEMBER 2021

I N S I D E …

PHOTO BY MIKE MORGAN

By Glenda C. Booth When artist Betty Cooke was a young girl growing up in Baltimore, she visited the Walters Art Gallery with her father. The museum’s gleaming medieval armor collection fascinated her at age 10. “I loved the details of the different colored metals coming together. They had such beautiful forms,” said Cooke, now 97, in an interview with the Beacon. Cooke went on to create jewelry for seven decades, and today her work is the subject of an exhibit at the Walters. In a show titled “Betty Cooke: The Circle and the Line,” the Walters will display 160 of Cooke’s creations until January 2, 2022, from her earliest designs in the 1940s and 1950s to the present. Cooke sees her show as “a pretty amazing opportunity. My work is unusual for them, to show a living craftsman there [along] with Egyptian gold and Russian enamels. I don’t belong here. Normally, I’d have to wait a million years, and then it would be good. I’m honored.”

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Simple makes a statement

Largely self-trained, Cooke uses materials like silver, gold, metal tubing, enamel and wood, as well as gemstones like lapis lazuli, onyx, opals and quartz. Her modernistic pieces, designed around a circle or a line, reflect her guiding principle: Less is more. “I like the simplicity of what you can do with a few pieces of wire,” Cooke said. I don’t clutter up the piece. I keep it simple.” Lead curator Jeannine Falino admires Cooke’s “emphatic geometry” and “imaginative use of materials.” Her work is simple yet elegant, and the possibilities are infinite. “What can you do with a circle? What can you do with one line?” Cooke asked. “I could spend all year on that, oh my good-

Betty Cooke, 97, grew up in Baltimore and has been designing and selling her hand-made jewelry here for decades. She continues to sell her work at The Store Ltd. in Cross Keys, and has a retrospective exhibit of her jewelry at the Walters Art Gallery until January 2, 2022.

ness. A line is a very important thing.” According to one of the show’s panels, Cooke’s circles are “scattered…along necklaces as far-flung elements in a galaxy, or set…at right angles to create three-dimensional sculptures for the hand.”

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In addition to her jewelry, the exhibition includes Cooke’s drawings and design sketches and a display of jeweler’s tools. “Each piece is a profound lesson in how See JEWELRY DESIGNER, page 27

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ARTS & STYLE

Actor returns to Maryland for his movie premiere at the Senator; plus, one-time Sun reporter publishes 19th book page 26 FITNESS & HEALTH k Health benefits of crying k COVID and dementia risk

LAW & MONEY k Stock market: stay or leave? k Plan a celebration of life

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A pat on the back Each year, we enter a selection of our writ- Options pull-out section won first place in the Special Section category. ers’ original stories in the anThese sections appear in the nual journalism competition Baltimore and Greater Washheld by the North American ington Beacons every JanuMature Publishers Association ary, April, July and October. (NAMPA), the association for Our special “Celebration of newspapers and magazines dethe Arts” insert, which apsigned for readers 50 and over. peared in all editions, won secThat competition attracts ond place for Special Section. It hundreds of submissions contained images of winning every year and is judged by artwork and short articles internationally respected facabout the artists from our 2020 ulty at the University of MisFROM THE amateur art competition for souri School of Journalism. PUBLISHER This year, our four publica- By Stuart P. Rosenthal older adults. Our Managing Editor Martions, each of which comgaret Foster and Assistant petes in a different category based on circulation, received a total of 21 Editor Catherine Brown wrote the seven articles in that section, which involved interNAMPA awards. Among those we won were perhaps the viewing 21 artists in seven categories. Foster also won a first-place award for most-valued prizes: Best of Show and General Excellence. The other awards were for her Topical Issue story, “A caring home for those with disabilities,” which ran on the specific stories, sections or columns. In some cases, the winning stories ap- cover of our Housing Section this past April. Robert Friedman, a long-time freelance peared in all of our editions. For example, two of our regular travel writers, Victor writer for the Beacon, penned a story, “A Block and Don Mankin, won first and spy reveals her life in disguise,” that ran on second-place awards, respectively, for the cover of our Howard County, Baltimore and Greater Washington editions. It won a their travel features. Block was praised for his “delightful ob- first prize award in the Profile category for servations” and for “showing a nifty touch Friedman’s “captivating inside story” about for detail.” The judges liked how Mankin a CIA spy and master of disguise. Friedman won another Profile award for compiles “a bucket list of adventures suithis cover story about the new director of ed to” our readers. Our quarterly Housing & Homecare the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, Terri Lee

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The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Baltimore area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Howard County, Md., Greater Washington, DC and Richmond, Va. (Fifty Plus). Subscriptions are available via third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. Maryland residents add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below. Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. Publisher/Editor – Stuart P. Rosenthal President/Associate Publisher – Judith K. Rosenthal Executive Vice President – Gordon Hasenei Managing Editor – Margaret Foster Art Director – Kyle Gregory Director of Operations – Roger King Advertising Representatives – Steve Levin, Alan Spiegel Assistant Editor – Catherine Brown Content Manager – Ashley Griffin

The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (410) 248-9101 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com Submissions: The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 31 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions. © Copyright 2021 The Beacon Newspapers, Inc.

Freeman. Titled “Conversations on race and culture,” the story “brings perspective to the heated subject of race,” according to the judges. Glenda C. Booth, who also writes for many of our editions, won first place in Feature Writing for her story, “Moonshine and more for 2nd act.” That ran on the covers of our Baltimore and Greater Washington editions, and was called “an enlightening look at a bright new enterprise.” Booth also won a second place Topical Issue award for “Speak out to make a difference,” about older adults who became lobbyists and advocates for Alzheimer’s research and other causes after retiring from their careers. Former Beacon Assistant Editor, Ivey Noojin, was honored for her cover story, “Help from healthcare students,” which appeared in the Baltimore Beacon. Judges were impressed by “this heartwarming story told with grace and touching details.” Three of our regular columnists were also honored. First place in Column Review went to Dinah Rokach, who writes as “The Bibliophile,” our book review column that appears primarily in the Greater Washington Beacon, but occasionally in other issues as well. She was noted for “taking care to read thoroughly and summarize succinctly.” Second place in Senior Issues went to Bob Levey, whose column mostly appears

in our Greater Washington edition. Judges liked his “sly sense of humor” and that “he always offers something to think about.” A How-to Feature award went to Lela Martin, with the Virginia Cooperative Extension, whose gardening column runs in Fifty Plus, our Greater Richmond publication. Speaking of Fifty Plus, two other authors won awards for their stories in that publication. Diane York was honored for “Doulas support end-of-life transitions.” The judges noted that “the sensitive way the writer handles the difficult nature of the story is impressive.” Eileen Abbott’s cover story, “When caregivers face abuse, there’s hope,” was praised for “leading victims to solutions” and including “a much-appreciated list of resources.” As regular readers know, I have been gradually returning to my childhood hobby of classical piano. One way I dipped my toe in was to assign myself an arts feature about a local doctor who composed his first symphony in his spare time. That story, which appeared in both our Howard County and Greater Washington Beacons, won a feature writing award. It also inspired me to return to composing myself. And several of my “From the Publisher” columns — on Alzheimer’s research, the COVID vaccine and seizing an opportunity See FROM THE PUBLISHER, page 29

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email info@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Dear Editor: I’ve been receiving the Beacon at the retirement home that I live in for a few years, and I really need the print to be larger now. Other residents here need the same thing. Can you publish a larger print issue soon? Marsha Harris Via email Ed. Note: We are glad to have you and your neighbors as readers. We can’t enlarge the font of our print newspaper, but if you read the Beacon on our website, thebeaconnewspapers.com, you can zoom in and enlarge text as much as you like. There are also apps that will read text from a website or smartphone aloud, though they usually charge a monthly fee. If you don’t have access to a computer, consider using a magnifier or drugstore eyeglasses. Perhaps your community could invest in a larger magnification device or one of the computer reader apps? Dear Editor: I live in a senior community where some people have no problem voicing hate-filled opinions. A neighbor spouted hatred towards Trump to me. I said, “I like him.” She backed away like I had the plague.

I hope Mr. Carr [the political cartoonist profiled on the cover of the October Howard County Beacon] is aware that the Republican party was founded on anti-slavery, once called “free-soilers” meaning they were part of creating states without slavery (this was before Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation). I hope Mr. Carr is also aware that Abraham Lincoln was the first elected Republican president who, unfortunately, chose a Democrat, Andrew Johnson, as his vice president. I have a family member whose father (my husband) was in WWII, and his grandfather was in WWI, both risking their lives to preserve our freedom. My son seems to be intelligent, but admits his choice for a political party is one that takes control. His children are part of those wanting everything “free” from government. How that even can be accomplished with unvaccinated immigrants, drugs, human trafficking, guns, coming across the border is a major question, without an answer from the current administration. I pray every day for my country. Bumper sticker on my car reads: “Freedom is Not Free.” Barbara G. Green Elkridge, Md.

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Health

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DITCH THE SALT Flavor food without salt by cooking with citrus, vinegar or spice blends COMFORT FOOD Try this recipe for a healthy casserole with peppers, tomatoes and turkey HELP AT HOME What are the best ways to find and hire a home health aide? FIGHT MUSCLE LOSS UMD researchers will pay you to exercise for three months

Why to add yoga into a workout routine By Lauren Hubbard, D.P.T. Dear Mayo Clinic: I have always been fairly flexible, so I have never felt compelled to include yoga in my fitness routine. Typically, I just walk and maybe do some weights for strength training. I was talking to a friend who said her physical therapist recommended yoga as part of a well-rounded workout routine. What is the benefit of yoga? Should I add it to my routine or stick with what I’m doing? A: Yoga is a wonderful form of exercise that provides benefits that walking or strength training don’t provide. In Eastern cultures, yoga is not seen as exercise but rather “a moving meditation.” In the Western world, many people know of power yoga or vinyasa yoga, which are classified as exercise. Regardless of the type of yoga, when practiced mindfully, there are many advantages for the body, mind and soul. Yoga can provide three primary benefits that a typical gym routine may not provide.

Improved nervous system function

Since yoga is based on breathing, parts of the nervous system are affected when exhales are lengthened and breath is controlled. This is cued throughout particular

yoga sequences. Specifically, yoga can help lower the fight-or-flight response and improve the body’s “rest-and-digest” response. Practicing slow, controlled breathing stimulates the body’s vagus nerve, which takes information about the current state of relaxation and relays it to the rest of the body, including the brain. One area affected when the vagal nerve is stimulated is the parasympathic nervous system, which controls the body’s rest and digestion functions. The mindful breathing practiced in yoga increases the activity of the parasympathic nervous system. As a result, yoga lowers the heart rate, improves digestion and quality of sleep, and strengthens the immune system. Another benefit is an improved stress level.

Improved joint range of motion

The difference between flexibility and active range of motion is important. Think of flexibility as how much a muscle can be passively stretched. In contrast, range of motion is how much muscles can be used to control a joint’s movement. It is not uncommon these days for people to report neck and back pain, and poor range of motion in their thoracic spine due to constant sitting, typing on computers and looking down at cellphones.

Yoga is excellent in improving thoracic range of motion because many poses involve extending the body through the rib cage and using strength to hold these postures. Yoga incorporates all four motions of the spine: flexion, extension, rotation and sidebending. Therefore, yoga can prevent stiffness and disuse that also can occur with age. Being able to control the available range of motion in joints is crucial to good posture and decreasing the risk of injury.

Improved balance, lower fall risk

Think of balance like a muscle. By working hard at different exercises, balance can improve. This is similar to improving strength by lifting weights. Balance is a complex system, requiring three parts: the sensation of the foot on the ground, or proprioception; vision; and the inner ear, or vestibular system. These three parts tell the brain where the head is in space. These three components work together to control both static and dynamic balance. Yoga trains the proprioception and visual systems to improve balance. Depending on the pose, cues are sent to focus, for instance, on the foot rooted to the ground. By concentrating in an attempt to maintain contact, the big toe, little toe and heel

form a tripod of sorts, which in turn helps focus the proprioception portion of balance. In yoga, you may hear the term “drishti,” which refers to obtaining a focused gaze or focus in the mind. The concept comes into play as people aim to hold a pose with their eyes closed. Certain poses become more challenging with eyes closed, which improves the visual part of balance. Also, moving back and forth between poses without fully touching a limb to the ground can increase the ability to dynamically move and not lose balance. Over time, this will reduce the risk of falling while walking on uneven ground or turning quickly. While it may be difficult to add one more thing to your busy life, incorporating yoga into your workout routine can benefit your stress level, mobility and balance in ways that may not be achieved from a regular gym routine. Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. Email a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org. © 2021 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Crying offers health benefits for everyone By Leo Newhouse It’s safe to say that 2020 gave us more than enough to cry about. Yet even prior to last year, it seems that we were crying fairly often. Researchers note that, on average, American women cry 3.5 times each month, while American men cry about 1.9 times each month. These figures may take some of us by surprise, especially as our society has often looked at crying — particularly by men — as a sign of weakness and lack of emotional stamina.

Health benefits of crying

As a phenomenon that is unique to humans, crying is a natural response to a range of emotions, from deep sadness and grief to extreme happiness and joy. But is crying good for your health? The answer appears to be yes. Medical benefits of crying have been

known as far back as the Classical era. Thinkers and physicians of ancient Greece and Rome posited that tears work like a purgative, draining off and purifying us. Today’s psychological thought largely concurs, emphasizing the role of crying as a mechanism that allows us to release stress and emotional pain. Crying is an important safety valve, largely because keeping difficult feelings inside — what psychologists call repressive coping — can be bad for our health. Studies have linked repressive coping with a less resilient immune system, cardiovascular disease and hypertension, as well as with mental health conditions, including stress, anxiety, and depression. Crying has also been shown to increase attachment behavior, encouraging closeness, empathy and support from friends and family.

Not all tears are created equal

Scientists divide the liquid product of crying into three distinct categories: reflex tears, continuous tears, and emotional tears. The first two categories perform the important function of removing debris such as smoke and dust from our eyes, and lubricating our eyes to help protect them from infection. Their content is 98% water. The third category, emotional tears (which flush stress hormones and other toxins out of our system), potentially offers the most health benefits. Researchers have established that crying releases oxytocin and endogenous opioids, also known as endorphins. These feel-good chemicals help ease both physical and emotional pain. Popular culture, for its part, has always known the value of a good cry as a way to feel better — and maybe even to experience physical pleasure. The millions of people who watched classic tearjerker films such

as West Side Story or Titanic (among others) will likely attest to that fact.

Rethinking crying in boys, men

“I know a man ain’t supposed to cry,” goes the lyric of a popular song, “but these tears I can’t hold inside.” These words succinctly summarize many a man’s dilemma about emotional expression. From early on, boys are told that real men do not cry. When these boys grow up, they may stuff their feelings deep inside and withdraw emotionally from their loved ones, or self-medicate with alcohol or drugs, or even become suicidal. Many men therefore need to learn how to reconnect with their emotions. Back in the 1990s, the poet Robert Bly led men’s seminars at which he taught the participants how to get in touch with their longSee CRYING, page 6

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By James J. Carney, M.D. As we age, we begin to learn — sometimes firsthand –- how devastating a fall can be. It isn’t quite as easy as it once was to hop back up and continue on our way. Each year, millions of older adults experience falls and fall-related injuries. In Maryland, 23% of adults over age 65 reported a fall in the past 12 months, according to new local data from the 2021 America’s Health Rankings Senior Report. Among older adults, one out of five falls causes a serious injury, including 90% of hip fractures and 51% of traumatic brain injuries. Contributing factors for falls include poor balance, poor vision, certain medications, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, osteoporosis, physical disabilities and general frailty. Being aware of the risk factors and following the tips below can reduce your chances of serious injury and help you maintain and improve the quality of your health so you can remain independent.

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Ways to turn up flavor without using salt By Lori Zanteson We know we should be eating less salt. Most of us consume far more than recommended. We know to skip the salt shaker at the table and to check food labels. While it is essential to the body — the sodium in salt works with potassium to regulate fluids — too much can raise blood pressure, putting the heart at risk. Read on to learn ways to cut back on your consumption of salt without sacrificing flavor.

Cooking methods help

Use cooking methods to heighten flavor. Roasting vegetables in the oven or on the grill brings out their natural sweetness

Crying From page 4

buried feelings of sadness and loss, and to weep openly if they needed to. Ideally, however, such education should begin early on, at home or at school, with adults making it safe for boys to talk about difficult feelings.

Crying during COVID

The nation has registered hundreds of thousands of deaths from COVID-19. The collective grief over these losses can only

and deepens the flavor of animal and plant proteins, like fish and tofu. Similarly, a quick sear or sauté on the stovetop enhances flavor with minimal cook time. Cook with a light coating of olive oil and finish with a splash of vinegar or citrus and a garnish of fresh herbs, dried fruits, chopped nuts or citrus zest.

Use good ingredients

High-quality ingredients pack so much flavor they hardly need seasoning. Choose the best you can find: in-season fruits and vegetables, flavorful cuts of animal proteins, the freshest fish and seafood, and high-quality healthy fats (extra-virgin olive oil, avocado oil).

be described as staggering. It is no surprise, then, that at times like these our feelings are closer to the surface, and that many people who were not previously prone to crying find themselves tearing up more easily. In fact, as one medical professional put it, showing emotion in public may have become a new normal.

When are tears a problem?

There are times when crying can be a sign of a problem, especially if it happens very frequently and/or for no apparent reason, or when crying starts to affect

Season it up

Dig into spices to replace salt. Dried spices, like cumin and cinnamon, bring bold flavor to dishes, while dried and fresh herbs, like basil and thyme, season with subtlety. Choose fresh or powdered onion, garlic and chili peppers, mustards, vinegars and citrus (lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit) juice, peel or zest. Experiment with mixed herb and spice blends to jazz up your meals. Sample these seasonings from around the world for flavor so you won’t miss the salt: —Herbs de Provence (France): savory, rosemary, marjoram, thyme —Curry powder (India): turmeric, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, pepper

—Chinese five spice (China): star anise, Szechuan peppers, cloves, fennel, cinnamon —Jerk spice (Caribbean): red and black pepper, allspice, cinnamon, thyme —Italian blend (Italy): basil, oregano, rosemary, parsley, thyme, red chili flakes, garlic powder Give these tips a try — see how quickly your palate prefers less salt (and how these suggestions broaden your meal planning repertoire). Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC, 1-800829-5384, EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2021 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

daily activities or becomes uncontrollable. Conversely, people suffering from certain kinds of clinical depression may actually not be able to cry, even when they feel like it. In any of these situations, it would be best to see a medical professional who can help diagnose the problem and suggest appropriate treatment. As challenging as it may be, the best way to handle difficult feelings, including sadness and grief, is to embrace them. It is important to allow yourself to cry if you feel like it. Make sure to take the time and find a safe

space to cry if you need to. Many people associate crying during grief with depression, when it can actually be a sign of healing. Teaching boys and young men that it’s OK to cry may reduce negative health behaviors and help them have fuller lives. That said, if crying becomes overwhelming or uncontrollable, see a doctor or mental health professional for evaluation and treatment. Leo Newhouse, LICSW, is a contributor to Harvard Health Publications. © 2021 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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NOVEMBER 2021 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Possible COVID tie to later Alzheimer’s By Lauran Neergaard Researchers are trying to unravel why some COVID-19 survivors suffer “brain fog” and other problems that can last for months, and new findings suggest some worrisome overlaps with Alzheimer’s disease. One study of older adults in Argentina found a surprising number of dementialike changes in memory and thinking for at least six months after a bout with the coronavirus — regardless of the severity of their infection. Other researchers found Alzheimer’srelated proteins in the blood of New Yorkers whose COVID-19 triggered brain symptoms early on. The preliminary findings were reported at a recent Alzheimer’s Association meeting. Experts stress far more research is needed — and getting underway — to tell if COVID-19 might raise the risk of Alzheimer’s or other brain problems later

in life, or if people eventually recover. The possibilities “are real and troubling,” but it’s too soon to know “whether this is really going to result in long-term cognitive change,” cautioned Dr. Richard Hodes, director of the National Institute on Aging. His agency wasn’t involved in the research but has begun its own large study to try to better understand the link between COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s. “If you did have COVID, this does not necessarily mean that you will be impacted,” agreed the Alzheimer’s Association’s Heather Snyder. But protecting the brain from COVID-19 offers yet another reason to get vaccinated, she added.

Memory problems may persist

Some hints about the risk come from a study that tracked about 300 people in the Jujuy province of Argentina, keeping a health registry of anyone tested for the

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RAMBLING READERS BOOK CLUB The Enoch Pratt Free Library hosts a free walking book club the

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virus, whether they had symptoms or not. Researchers combed the registry for people 60 and older who had no record of brain disorders prior to the pandemic and asked if they’d undergo cognitive testing. “[The results were] quite scary, if I have to put it bluntly,” said Dr. Gabriel de Erausquin of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, who is leading the study. Between three and six months after their coronavirus infection, about 20% of the older adults had problems with shortterm memory. And 34% had more profound impairment, including trouble finding words and difficulty with longer-term memory, what de Erausquin called a “dementia-like syndrome.” The severity of their COVID-19 didn’t predict the problems — instead those most at risk had a persistent loss of smell. That loss often is temporary with COVID-19. But de Erausquin noted the brain’s olfactory region is directly linked to areas critical for memory, and a loss of smell is sometimes an early sign of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. The study will track participants for three years to see how they fare. While the early findings focused on older adults, de Erausquin said other evidence suggests that lingering problems in younger

COVID-19 survivors tend to center more around the ability to concentrate.

Blood proteins a concern

Researchers at New York UniversityLangone Health took a different approach, testing the blood of more than 300 older adults hospitalized for COVID-19. About half experienced new neurologic symptoms such as confusion as part of their coronavirus infection. The study found a jump in their blood levels of proteins linked to inflammation of the nervous system, brain cell injury and Alzheimer’s disease. That shows the brain is responding to injury, but it will take time to tell if the abnormal levels really signal Alzheimer’slike changes or are a temporary blip, said the National Institute on Aging’s Dr. Eliezer Masliah, who wasn’t involved in the research. He noted that one protein that goes awry during Alzheimer’s also has a normal role in the brain, to defend against infection. Previous research has suggested that certain viruses may play a role in later Alzheimer’s, and “the pandemic certainly gave us an unwelcome opportunity” to try to finally better understand why, Snyder said. —AP

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Colorful peppers with turkey casserole

“Stuffed” Bell Pepper Casserole Servings: 4 20 ounces ground turkey breast 1 yellow onion, chopped

¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 3 large bell peppers, chopped (1 each, red, yellow and green) 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes ½ cup long-grain brown rice 1 teaspoon oregano ½ teaspoon garlic powder 8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese Directions: Heat oven to 350° F. In large skillet over medium heat, add turkey, onions, salt and pepper. Break up turkey and cook until browned. Add turkey mixture to 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Add chopped bell peppers, crushed tomatoes, brown rice, oregano and garlic powder. Mix until combined. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake 80-90 minutes until rice is tender. Remove foil, add shredded cheese and bake 5 minutes until cheese is melted. Find more family dinner recipes at Culinary.net. If you made this recipe at home, use #MyCulinaryConnection on your favorite social network to share your work.

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By Family Features When life gets busy, you need a recipe that is quick to make, easy to bake and mouthwatering to eat. Try this recipe for Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole next time you are in a pinch. It’s made with hearty ground turkey breast, delicious bell peppers, crushed tomatoes and brown rice, then topped with gooey sharp cheddar cheese. It’s a whole meal in a dish. This short ingredient list makes it easy to assemble. First, brown the turkey and onions, then combine all the ingredients in a baking dish. It’s simple to prepare before baking to perfection. It’s just right for little ones who are hungr y and ready for a wholesome and appetizing home-cooked meal. Adults enjoy the natural flavors and fresh ingredients that keep all ages happy and content.

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NOVEMBER 2021 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Things to know about palliative medicine By Maisha Robinson, M.D. Dear Mayo Clinic: My 65-year-oldmother was diagnosed recently with Parkinson’s disease. A friend mentioned that we should see a palliative care doctor to develop a care plan. I don’t think my mother is dying anytime soon. Can you explain palliative care and why we might need a consultation? A: I am sorry to hear about your mother’s diagnosis. It can be challenging to have a loved one with a neurodegenerative disease like Parkinson’s disease, but it is wonderful that she has you to assist her. Palliative care is a specialty that focuses on improving quality of life for people who have chronic, serious or advanced medical conditions. It can benefit patients and families at any point along the disease course, even at the time of diagnosis.

Different from hospice care

While you mentioned that your mother is not dying anytime soon, there is a role for palliative care throughout the disease trajectory — from the time of diagnosis until the end of life. Palliative care is not synonymous with hospice care, which is specialized care for people who are near the end of their lives. A palliative care consult focuses on the physical, spiritual, social and psychological aspects of care for the patient as well as his or her caregiver. The palliative care team may include a combination of physicians, nurses, advanced-practice providers, chaplains, social workers, therapists and pharmacists. The team assesses and manages symptoms, supports caregivers, helps establish care goals and discusses advance-care planning. Suboptimal control of symptoms can negatively affect quality of life. Thus, the

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palliative care provider aims to maximize function and quality of life by reviewing symptoms and offering options. The types of symptoms that are assessed include pain, nausea, anxiety, depression, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue and insomnia. The palliative care team also cares for caregivers. Caregiver stress can negatively affect patients, so the team tries to identify and alleviate caregiver stressors and burdens. This may include making recommendations for additional assistance in the home, or increasing support services, such as physical or occupational therapy, or respite care. The team enquires about the patient’s medical, personal and family goals. For instance, one person may want to plant and tend to a garden, and another patient may want to travel to see family members. The role of the palliative team is to help patients meet their goals and ensure that their medical goals align with available therapeutic options.

Considers end-of-life choices

Advance-care planning is the process of discussing one’s preferences for care at the end of his or her life. It is a topic that some people are hesitant to discuss, but it is important, particularly when people have a serious or advanced medical condition. Making decisions in advance of when they are needed guides family members

and the medical team. In addition to discussing their goals, patients are encouraged to complete an advance directive. The advance directive includes two parts: designation of a healthcare surrogate and a living will. A healthcare surrogate is a person who would help make medical decisions if one is unable to make his or her own decisions. This person can be anyone who would feel comfortable carrying out the person’s wishes, such as a family member, friend or co-worker. The living will is a document that outlines one’s wishes regarding life-prolonging care at the end of life. A topic that may be covered is whether a person would want CPR when his or her heart stops or when he or she stops breathing, or if he or she would prefer to allow for a natural death. The latter option is often referred to as a do-not-resuscitate order, or DNR. Palliative care complements a person’s general or specialty medical care, and it can be provided while people are receiving medical therapies, chemotherapy, dialysis, surgical procedures or other life-prolonging therapies. People often appreciate the additional support that the palliative care team provides. © 2021 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2021

How to find and hire a home health aide By Kiplinger Washington Editors When Richard Foye was looking for a home health aide to live with his 97-yearold mother, he found the search daunting. One applicant was bipolar and admitted that she didn’t always take her medication. Another was afraid to stay overnight alone with his mom. Finally, Foye found a caring and capable aide. But “it was a struggle,” he said. Care at home can be a lot less expensive than a nursing home or an assisted-living facility, especially for those who need only a few hours of help a day. And staying in familiar surroundings can be much more comfortable for the patient than living in an institution. There are many options for hiring trained aides through private companies. Finding an aid to hire directly, as Foye learned, is not easy. But with perseverance, it’s a manageable task.

Types of aides

To start, think about the level of help your parent or spouse will need. For the most seriously ill, there are registered nurses, who can manage many complex medical conditions, administer medications, and operate sophisticated equipment. At the next level are certified nursing assistants, who have training in first aid and in

helping patients bathe, go to the bathroom and transfer from a bed to a wheelchair. Finally, for those who don’t need skilled assistance, there are companions and homemakers, who may have little or no medical training. Once you settle on a level of care, decide how many hours of assistance you’ll need. Does your mom need someone to come in just a few mornings a week to help her cook, clean or perhaps bathe? If mom needs constant care, you can hire aides to work eight- or 12-hour shifts. Hiring a live-in aide would be a lot less costly, since you’ll be providing room and board. But you can’t expect a live-in to be on call 24 hours a day. If your loved one needs to be turned in bed every few hours, you’ll need to use shift workers. Often the biggest area of conflict between aides and clients is confusion over what services will be provided and by whom. For instance, families often expect aides to administer medications. But aides need specialized training and nurse supervision in order to be able to do so.

Many ways to find an aide

You can hire an aide in one of three ways. The simplest but most expensive option is to hire an employee of a home-health agency. The benefits of this approach are that the

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agency will vet the employee, handle the aide’s withholding taxes and any benefits, and will find a fill-in on days your aide cannot come. The agency may also provide insurance and arrange ongoing training. In the Baltimore area, the going rate is $25 to $30 an hour for a certified aide who is an agency employee. A registered nurse will likely cost twice as much. A second option is to hire an independent aide through home-health agencies called registries or staffing services. These firms act like an old-fashioned hiring hall. They may check aides for competency or a criminal record, but the level of screening differs by firm. Aides hired through a registry may cost, on average, around $20 an hour. To find a good agency, check with your local area agency on aging (AAA) or a nonprofit information-and-referral service. The federal government’s Home Health Care Compare at medicare.gov/care-compare provides broad quality ratings for Medicare-approved agencies. (But note that Medicare itself will pay for only very limited home care after a hospitalization.)

Questions to ask

Once you’ve selected some potential companies, call and ask many questions. How long has the firm been in business? Is the

firm insured? How does it handle complaints? Most important, you’ll want to learn all you can about the individual aide they will be sending you. You’ll also want to know what their policy is on replacing an aide that you and your mom do not like. If you have long-term care insurance, read the policy carefully and contact your agent to determine if it will cover all or part of your costs. Some policies will reimburse you only if you hire through an approved agency. Medicare and Medicaid, which pays for long-term home care only if you meet strict income and asset tests, will also require you to hire through an approved firm. You can save money by hiring an aide on your own. You may find one through a newspaper ad, an online service such as Craigslist.org, or a friend. You’ll negotiate your own price, but expect to pay about $15 to $25 an hour. Note that if you go this route, you will have the responsibilities of an employer. You’ll have to pay Social Security taxes, withhold income taxes, check references, and make sure that an immigrant worker has a green card. Also, by self-hiring, you will have to See HOME HEALTH AIDE, page 12

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Health Studies

NOVEMBER 2021 — BALTIMORE BEACON

INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Research study will pay you to exercise By Margaret Foster As we age, we lose as much as 5% of muscle mass every decade. If we don’t exercise, we become even weaker. “If you’re unable to be as active and do as much physical activity, then you’re setting yourself up for a worsening of the problem,” said Steven Prior, associate professor in the University of Maryland School of Public Health’s Department of Kinesiology. But it’s never too late to get in shape. This fall, after a long delay due to the pandemic, Prior and a team of researchers are looking for older adults to participate in a study of the aging-related loss of muscle, known as sarcopenia. The re-launched study seeks to determine the best exercises to increase muscle mass and strength in older adults.

Previous studies showed that strength training (such as lifting weights, doing pushups, etc.) can reverse sarcopenia. But what about aerobic exercises like walking or swimming? Can that build muscle mass, too?

Strength and aerobics included

Prior and his team are “looking at people with relatively low muscle mass and finding out how to best improve the strength and function of their muscles,” he explained. “We’re trying to figure out better exercise programs to improve strength and function in older people.” The study is open to people ages 65 to 88. (Diabetics and smokers aren’t eligible for the study.) Three times a week for six months, participants will visit either the University’s

College Park or Baltimore campus for exercise classes. They will be randomly sorted into two groups: one will do three months of resistance training (such as weightlifting) first, followed by three months of aerobic exercise; and the other group will start with aerobic exercise and then do resistance training. Everyone will work with an exercise physiologist three times a week in the university’s exercise facility. The exercises are safe and can be adjusted to anyone’s ability, according to Prior, the study’s primary investigator. “Everything is monitored by exercise physiologists who are well trained in prescribing exercises for older individuals. All exercise interventions are tailored specifically to the person’s ability,” Prior said.

Builds on previous study

Home health aide

are clear. Have the aide keep a log of what she does each day. Visit frequently, and at irregular times. Check that the house is clean, that the refrigerator is full and that mom is doing well — that she’s up and dressed (if that is possible) every morning. If she is confined to bed, check for bedsores. Many aides are immigrants. Some may speak English with a heavy accent, and if mom has difficulty hearing, communicating can be a challenge at first. But if the aide seems caring and competent, give it a few weeks. You’ll be surprised at how well they’ll be able to work things out. It is crucial that you communicate with the aide. If an aide is doing a good job, offer your thanks. If there are problems, talk about it. © The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Media Services.

From page 11

make other arrangements when your aide calls in sick or takes vacation.

Evaluating an aide

Before choosing an aide, conduct an inhome interview. Most reputable agencies will conduct a formal assessment of your loved one’s needs either by phone or by sending a registered nurse, along with the prospective aide, to the patient’s home. Ask the aide about his or her experience. If your mom has dementia or other special needs, see if the aide has cared for such patients before. Find out if the agency or the aide has malpractice insurance. After you hire someone, prepare a daily schedule of duties, so that expectations

Prior has studied sarcopenia for years. His 2016 study found that muscles with dense, oxygen-rich capillaries receive oxygen more quickly and efficiently during exercise. To track people’s progress in this year’s clinical trial, researchers will measure changes in participants’ strength over six months. They will also take samples of muscle tissue to track the size of their muscle fibers and any changes in the number of capillaries. Parking is free at both locations, and participants will be paid a total of $300 to exercise three times a week for six months. For more information or to volunteer, call (410) 605-7179 and reference the “SARCOPENIA” study.

Request free info on page 5.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2021

Practical uses for common baking soda By Suzy Cohen Everyone has some baking soda in the house, and if not, you should get some. Aside from baking with it, I use it in my garbage disposal and to brighten my laundry. Sodium bicarbonate is known more commonly as “baking soda” since it helps make dough rise by producing carbon dioxide. Today, I’ll share the most common medicinal uses for baking soda, as well as a few household uses that make it the cheapest, most effective remedy in town! Consuming excessive baking soda is toxic because it’s so high in sodium. So, if you’re taking it internally for heartburn, do not use it chronically, and do not take too much. See a doctor for proper treatment. Now, here are the best medicinal uses I can think of for baking soda:

Improve bad breath

Soothe itching

Get relief for itching and minor bug bites or bee stings using baking soda paste that you make at home. Make a paste that is thick enough to apply to your skin. The amount of baking soda you use doesn’t matter; just pour it into a little dish, and add enough water slowly until it is thick like paste. Then apply it to your itchy spots. You can kick it up a notch medicinally by adding several drops of lavender, frankincense and/or tea tree essential oil. If your itchy skin is widespread, as you might experience with a drug allergy reaction, then take a lukewarm bath and add about 2 cups of baking soda to a large bathtub of water, and soak for 15 minutes.

should not be ignoring this symptom. It may be due to overeating or from using drugs that are irritating to the esophagus like NSAIDs. But it’s also associated with a hiatal hernia, parathyroid adenomas, esophageal cancer and more. So, get a doctor’s work-up before using this remedy, and do not use it if you are on a sodium-restricted diet. This baking soda trick works well for simple acute types of acid reflux, such as the type triggered by eating salsa, onions or coffee. Dissolve ½ to 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a cold glass of water. Sip it slowly until the heartburn subsides. Do not use this chronically because it may lead to metabolic alkalosis and electrolyte disturbances that impact your heart and muscles.

Make laundry cleaner

Baking soda is an inexpensive method that many people know about to whiten and clean your laundry. It’s simple to do. Just add ¼- to ½-cup of baking soda to the regular amount of laundry detergent that you use. The baking soda will dissolve completely in the water and help remove stains and dirt from your clothes. You’ll notice it softens the water too. 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 author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. Visit her website at suzycohen.com.

Freshen your feet

Adding some baking soda to your mouthwash can instantly freshen breath and improve oral hygiene. I think this is a great addition to anyone’s nightly routine. Studies show that it can help your body fight bacteria better by temporarily increasing pH in your saliva. You can also make your own mouthwash using baking soda, water and essential oils. I have a recipe for this posted at my website if you’d like to try it. Rinse with plain water after you do the baking soda rinse.

You can make a little foot bath using 1 cup of baking soda to a small foot bath of water. I would add a cup of witch hazel to the mix as well as 10 drops of tea tree oil. Soak your feet for five minutes, then rinse and dry off. This might help with toenail fungus too.

Treat heartburn or reflux

Acid reflux is a very common problem that stems from various different root causes, so before I tell you how to use baking soda, I want to make sure that you understand you

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BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2021

Say you saw it in the Beacon

ALL-NEW Classes, Speakers and Entertainment A sampling of our ENTERTAINMENT

A sampling of our SPEAKERS

A sampling of our CLASSES

Stand-up Comics: Comedy at the OK Boomer Corral

Diane Rehm: Keynote Conversation with Beacon publisher Stuart Rosenthal

Cooking with Jill Rose:

Rearview Mirror Duo: Oldies from the 40s through the 70s

Dr. Mark Warshawsky: Social Security and Medicare - What needs to change

A History of Broadway Musicals

Bonnie Marcus: How women over 50 stay conﬁdent and relevant in the marketplace

A Virtual Tour of Howard County

Jeri Sedlar: Don’t retire, rewire – Rethinking retirement

Trivia from the 50s, 60s and 70s

Aboard Air Force One, September 11, 2001: Conversation with a former ABC News correspondent and First Lady Laura Bush’s chief of staﬀ on what happened that morning on the President’s plane

Traveling Solo Classical Piano Music Walking the California Mission Trail Get Moving by Line Dancing Plus more…

2021

The A, B, C and D’s of Medicare Tai Chi for beginners Stretch and destress yoga Spice up your meals Heart-healthy cooking/Healthy Desserts Cardio dance Seated strength training

Leah Frankel: Leverage your passions, skills and talents for retirement happiness

Organizing and managing your aﬀairs

Deb Gale: Age-inclusive design

Suggestions for reducing expenses

Atalaya Sergi: AmeriCorps Seniors – The benefits of volunteering

Plus more…

Sally Mueller and Michelle Jacobs: Menopause awareness

All at beacon50expo.com starting November 1!

Bill Brees/Alzheimer’s Assoc. – Alzheimer’s 101: Top 10 signs PRESENTED BY

Single-serve appetizers

Avoiding Cyber Scams: with speakers from the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Plus more…

NOVEMBER 2021 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2021

Say you saw it in the Beacon

ALL-NEW Classes, Speakers and Entertainment A sampling of our ENTERTAINMENT

A sampling of our SPEAKERS

A sampling of our CLASSES

Stand-up Comics: Comedy at the OK Boomer Corral

Diane Rehm: Keynote Conversation with Beacon publisher Stuart Rosenthal

Cooking with Jill Rose:

Rearview Mirror Duo: Oldies from the 40s through the 70s

Dr. Mark Warshawsky: Social Security and Medicare - What needs to change

A History of Broadway Musicals

Bonnie Marcus: How women over 50 stay conﬁdent and relevant in the marketplace

A Virtual Tour of Howard County

Jeri Sedlar: Don’t retire, rewire – Rethinking retirement

Trivia from the 50s, 60s and 70s

Aboard Air Force One, September 11, 2001: Conversation with a former ABC News correspondent and First Lady Laura Bush’s chief of staﬀ on what happened that morning on the President’s plane

Traveling Solo Classical Piano Music Walking the California Mission Trail Get Moving by Line Dancing Plus more…

2021

The A, B, C and D’s of Medicare Tai Chi for beginners Stretch and destress yoga Spice up your meals Heart-healthy cooking/Healthy Desserts Cardio dance Seated strength training

Leah Frankel: Leverage your passions, skills and talents for retirement happiness

Organizing and managing your aﬀairs

Deb Gale: Age-inclusive design

Suggestions for reducing expenses

Atalaya Sergi: AmeriCorps Seniors – The benefits of volunteering

Plus more…

Sally Mueller and Michelle Jacobs: Menopause awareness

All at beacon50expo.com starting November 1!

Bill Brees/Alzheimer’s Assoc. – Alzheimer’s 101: Top 10 signs PRESENTED BY

Single-serve appetizers

Avoiding Cyber Scams: with speakers from the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Plus more…

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BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2021

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money

Law &

With the help of a funeral celebrant, a family of parachuting enthusiasts held a memorial service for their loved one in a plane before a group jump. See story on page 21.

Should you stay in the stock market? By Elliot Raphaelson Many readers have written recently asking if they should be reducing their allocation to the stock market because of the excellent performance over the last few years. I have always recommended re-balancing your portfolio once a year. I do re-balance myself, sometimes more than once a year. Stock markets rarely go up continuously, so it does pay to be prudent and not become too enamored by excellent stock market gains. There will always be periods when stock markets will fall in value. In the long run, stock market prices will be determined by corporate profitability. On that basis, you can be optimistic, at least in the short-run. In a recent Barron’s article, Leslie Norton interviewed Ed Yardeni, the President of Yardeni Research, who has an impressive background and is well-respected in the industry. Yardeni has been bullish about the stock market for some time now, and he has been justified in doing so based on market performance.

Reasons to be bullish

Here are some of the reasons he contin-

ues to be bullish: He noted that second-quarter profits were on track to increase by a record high [which they did]. He pointed out that companies reacted to the pandemic by cutting costs, and profit margins increased as well as sales. There is a backlog of orders currently, which is another very positive indicator of increasing earnings growth. Yardeni indicated that Federal Reserve policy has helped the stock market and, as a result, price earnings (P/E) ratios did not fall as much as you would expect in a period of recession. Although the P/E ratio is high, in Yardeni’s opinion the high ratio is justified because of the Fed policy and because earnings prospects currently are very good. He believes that the stock market will continue to do well in the near-future because of the prospect of higher earnings. Yardeni is not very concerned about inflation, because he believes that productivity will increase by 4% by the middle of the decade, and will stay there a while. He anticipates that the labor market will remain tight and corporations will have to increase wages, but that the improvement

in productivity will outweigh the increase in wages. He predicts that wages will increase faster than prices, and that the result will be higher profit margins. He doesn’t believe that there will be significant economic risks as a result of COVID-19, because he believes that the Delta variant will lead more people to be vaccinated, and that is a positive factor.

publicly traded and don’t pay corporate taxes. The profits are distributed to shareholders, who pay personal taxes on the dividends and income. In fact, there are 36 million business entities owned by one or a few shareholders that add to overall employment. In summary, he believes that there is a great deal of entrepreneurship in this country that is not appreciated, “particularly by the progressives.” He believes this entrepreneurship has created a great deal of prosperity in the country. Yardeni advises investors to own companies that are either providing improved

Entrepreneurs create prosperity

Yardeni discussed a new book he is writing titled In Praise of Profits. In the book, he points out that the S&P accounts for “only about half of national corporate profits.” A significant portion of profits is derived from S corporations, which aren’t

See STOCK MARKET page 21

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Fund a dream retirement with your home By Harriet Edleson Selling a mortgage-free house can put money in your pocket and give you the opportunity to dream, explore or start a new life in a different area. Consider Suzanne and Paul, who had paid off their mortgage and were willing to take on some risk. First, they sold their suburban New York home and left for Israel, where they rented an apartment for 10 months. “By moving to a less expensive area, it frees up money to travel,” said Suzanne, now in her mid-70s. Next, they spent a month traveling in Africa and Europe, and then rented an apartment in Manhattan for two months. They sold most of their possessions and ultimately paid cash for a furnished condominium in South Florida. The couple had been in business for many years and felt they had enough money to feel secure. Also, they wanted to live closer to relatives already living in Florida. Family relationships, climate and

the cost of living drove their decision. “The rest didn’t matter,” Suzanne said. “Nothing will be perfect. We prioritized.”

Mortgage-free lifestyle

Even if you are still carrying a mortgage, if you have equity in your home — say, 60% or more — selling can still be a route to a new retirement lifestyle. The biggest advantage, according to some who have made the change, is the sense of freedom that lies ahead. If you are mortgage-free, you’ll have more options because any money you clear in the sale goes directly into your pocket after real estate agent fees and other costs. “If you can be retired and not have a mortgage, it can be a lot better,” said Anna Rappaport, chair of the Society of Actuaries Committee on Post-Retirement Needs and Risks.

Biggest asset

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bought a home between 2020 and 2021 were ages 54 to 72, according to the 2021 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends Report. Proceeds from the sale of a primary residence was often the source of the down payment. Among those ages 54 to 63, 51% used the proceeds for their down payment, according to the 2019 report. Among those ages 64 to 72, more than half (54%) did. The percentage was the highest among those ages 73 to 93, at 60%. Remember, for most people, the phase of life called retirement can last 25 or 30 years. There are many different ways to use the equity in your home for retirement. Here are three: —Downsize to less expensive housing in your area and invest any remaining money from the sale of your home. —Downsize to less expensive housing in a less expensive area, and invest the rest of the money from the sale of your original home. —Move to an active-adult community in a less expensive area, and invest the rest of the money from the sale of your home. Downsizing can save you 35% or more on housing costs, Rappaport said. Create a budget to consider different variables and combinations. Think of it as a “spending plan going forward,” Rappaport said. After you downsize, your cost of living may be lower, but be sure to include these items in your retirement spending plan: • home maintenance and repairs • vehicle maintenance and repairs • travel and entertainment costs • the potential for rising healthcare costs If you decide to purchase a condominium, townhouse or other property in an active-adult or other type of community, be sure to consider any taxes or charges that typically will increase each year.

In addition, check if there is a reserve fund for long-term maintenance and if it is funded for any community you are considering, or have your lawyer check. Ask a financial person at the property rather than the marketing director if there are any assessments of residents pending.

Research, visit or rent first

Some retirees like the idea of selling their current home first, giving them the option to rent while a new home is being built or while deciding where to buy. A couple from California in their late 60s opted to rent in a luxury building in Chevy Chase, Maryland. They had sold their home and relocated to be near their adult children and grandchildren. They liked the flexibility of renting. Your decision will be entirely personal, based on your assets and individual preferences. Wherever you consider moving, it’s not the same as visiting or vacationing there. Research online, speak to people who live in that area, and be realistic about how a great climate in the winter can be unbearable in the heat and humidity of summer. No location will be perfect. If you can afford to travel to the new location at least once before you move, you can save time and avoid mistakes in the long run. “The faster you can make the right decision, the better off you are,” said Sylvia Ehrlich, president of Intrepid Relocation International. Whatever your situation, looking at the bigger picture, getting input from a financial expert and a real estate agent, and considering your preferences will help give you a sense of the option that is right for you. This article is an excerpt from Harriet Edleson’s book 12 Ways to Retire on Less.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2021

Replace funeral with a celebration of life By Mark Theil Some older adults tell their families, “I don’t want a funeral; I want to have a party.” Others request no funeral or party at all. But some families feel that doing nothing isn’t quite right. In any of these circumstances, a funeral celebrant can help create a “celebration of life” tribute ceremony that can be a beautiful, healing experience for everyone who attends. Funeral celebrants are a relatively new phenomenon. We are trained specialists who create and officiate at personalized celebration of life ceremonies designed to honor a loved one’s life in a way that transcends the traditional funeral experience. Funeral celebrants create and officiate a service from scratch, collaborating closely with families and loved ones to ensure that the ceremony genuinely reflects the unique qualities of the individual who has passed. The ceremony is all about the family’s deceased loved one; however, the purpose of the ceremony is for the family to begin the healing process. The tone of the ceremony is uplifting, triumphant and comforting, not somber.

Parachute jumps, campfire services

Often celebrants are contacted by funeral homes or the families themselves to create a memorial service.

Stock market From page 19

technology, or using technology heavily to run their business. For now, he recommends overweighing U.S. stocks. He believes the valuation on small and mid-cap stocks is historically low

The process begins with an interview with the family, where the celebrant learns about the deceased in order to capture their essence in a ceremony. Celebrations of life can take place in a traditional location such as a funeral home or cemetery, or a non-traditional location selected by the family. For instance, celebrants have officiated at these alternative sites: — A family of parachuting enthusiasts requested that a small ceremony be held in a jump plane, followed by a group jump by all the family members, who then released the decedent’s ashes during the descent. — A family made a toast with a favorite wine at a yacht club, while jazz and rock music played in the background. — A family that loved to camp together requested that the celebrant officiate a ceremony around a campfire at night.

Funerals for the living

Another service a celebrant can perform is a “Living Funeral” or “Life Celebration” service. This is a wonderful phenomenon that is gaining popularity in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, where celebrancy began. In this event, the honoree is living and present to hear the eulogies, praises and farewells given before death. It is a gathering of family, friends, and colleagues to celebrate a person with a life-limiting illness.

Celebrants function on an on-call basis, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Most celebrants charge in the $450 to $700 range, which includes a two- to three-hour meeting with the family to get to know the decedent, a service in the funeral home chapel or elsewhere, and a graveside service if desired. Mark Thiel certified as a celebrant following a 42-year career as a Registered Nurse. Contact mark@celebratefunerals.com or call (248) 860-6358.

Religious, spiritual or neither

While celebrations can incorporate religion, prayer and spirituality of all denominations, celebrants can also respond to the needs of those who do not have a religious tradition. A family may consider themselves to be “spiritual but not religious” or may not have a relationship with a pastor, priest or rabbi. The family may not be observant of any type of denomination, or may not have attended a church for many years.

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relative to the larger-cap stocks. In summary, he believes, as I do, that you still need a high percentage of common stocks in your portfolio. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © 2021 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2021

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Travel

Leisure &

Travel insurance is a necessity now. See story on page 24.

Venice Beach is back and worth the trip and Globe and Mail, lamenting the demise of the iconic Venice Beach scene. For months I stayed off the boardwalk, giving up one of my favorite leisure (un)activities of sitting on a bench, where I would munch on a sausage sandwich and watch the colorful parade of tourists and locals walk by, all dressed (or barely dressed) to the nines in their versions of funky, hip and casual. This past June, though, the city finally started to pay attention to the complaints from residents and cleared up the encampments one by one in a somewhat humane fashion. All campers were offered temporary housing and storage for their tents, bikes and shopping carts. A couple of weeks ago my wife and I decided to take a walk along the boardwalk to check on the progress of the cleanup. We were pleasantly surprised. As usual, the sun was shining, the breeze was light and balmy, and the temperature was a beach-perfect 75. Most of the boardwalk had been cleaned up, many stores were open for business, and the boardwalk was packed with tourists. The bars and restaurants were jammed. Street musicians and tarot card readers were back, taking over spots recently occupied by tents and clapboard shacks. So, come back for a visit. No need to

By Don Mankin Frank Lloyd Wright once wrote, “Tip the world over on its side, and everything loose will land in Los Angeles.” I would add: Tip Los Angeles on its side, and everything loose will land in Venice Beach. I’ve lived in Venice Beach for almost 40 years (most recently in a house just two blocks from the ocean and boardwalk), and have witnessed many changes over the years — from funky and rough to hip and pricey. But this past year has been like none other. Because of the pandemic and economic downturn, homeless people took over Venice Beach’s world-famous boardwalk — also known as Ocean Front Walk, the second most popular tourist destination in Southern California — and turned it into a mile-long encampment. Many businesses were closed, and foot traffic dropped off precipitously. What remained felt dark and sinister. Trash was strewn everywhere, there were constant street fights, and crime rates soared. The charred remains of at least one building burned down by an out-of-control fire from a nearby tent loomed over the once bustling, boisterous boardwalk. Numerous articles appeared in the national and international press, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Guardian,

PHOTO BY TRAVIS CONKLIN, L.A. TOURISM

Aerial stunts and amateur skateboarders attract spectators along Venice Beach’s Ocean Front Walk, a bustling boardwalk. Although the city buried the popular waterfront park in sand during the pandemic to discourage crowds, the park reopened last summer.

Venice Beach’s canals, designed by developer Abbot Kinney in 1905, were modeled after those in Venice, Italy. Today, the Venice Canal Historic District is a great place to explore old and new architecture just 10 minutes’ walk from the beach.

wait until next summer: The Los Angeles summer extends into mid-October, and even in the depths of winter it’s more likely to be sunny, warm and dry than cold, wet and dreary. While you’re here, check out some of the many other attractions in Venice Beach.

Sea and sand

The beach itself begins just a few yards west of the boardwalk and extends for more than 100 yards to the water’s edge. Stop for a few minutes at the Venice Beach Skatepark to gawk at the skateboarders “catching air” as they propel themselves off Dali-esque concrete curves and soar into the air, framed by beach, ocean and the distant Santa Monica Mountains. On most days, the beach is empty except for a few sunbathers, surfers or meditators gazing at the sailboats gliding offshore or, at the right time of year, dolphins playing in the breaking waves. Look south and you can often see Santa Catalina Island in the distance; look north and you can get a better view of the backdrop for the soaring skateboarders — a beach curving around a vast bay all the way to Malibu and beyond. When visitors tell me they think Los An-

geles is ugly, this is where I bring them to change their minds.

Venetian (Beach) Canals

Venice’s six canals, built by developers at the turn of the 20th century, now comprise one of the ritziest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Once home to motorcycle gangs and drug dealers, the Venice Canals are now an architectural showcase of the most expensive homes in Los Angeles. Because Venice Beach has no design constraints (other than height limits, setbacks and engineering requirements), you’ll find a mosaic of architectural styles. This, coupled with the money, ego, hubris and imagination of the creative community that lives here — successful screenwriters, directors, producers, musicians, artists and high-end professionals — produces colorful, eclectic structures. The houses, canals and bridges, along with the flocks of ducks and geese that make the canals their home, provide a picturesque and serene contrast to the crowds of vendors, entertainers and tourists on the boardwalk. Wander along the canals and bridges at your leisure. Although they are just one block from the boardwalk, the canals See VENICE BEACH, page 25

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NOVEMBER 2021 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Travel insurance is costly but necessary If you’re thinking about an international on fire, and you can’t buy travel medical intrip this fall or next spring, adding travel surance if you’re too sick to travel. Many insurance is not optional — insurance companies view it’s necessary. current COVID problems, Before anyone ever heard in general, as foreseeable of COVID-19, the question, and therefore not covered. “Do I need travel insurance?” • Many travel insurance covcalled for a complicated anerages are secondary, which swer. COVID has added anmeans the travel insurance covother dimension of complicaers only what you can’t first retions — new risks and new recover as refunds or payments quirements. from other insurance sources. A quick refresher course Travel insurance is most TRAVEL TIPS in travel insurance basics is useful against big-dollar risks. By Ed Perkins useful: Many bundled policies cover • Most travel insurance is “named peril” small-dollar risks such as delay and deinsurance: If a contingency is not specifical- layed baggage costs, but those typically ly included in the contract, it isn’t covered. don’t amount to more than a typical travel• Most travel insurance is limited to er can absorb. If those coverages are in“unforeseen” contingencies. You can’t buy cluded in a bundled policy, take them, but fire insurance when your house is already don’t pay extra for them.

Issues before you leave

Traditional trip-cancellation insurance covers your nonrefundable cancellation penalties if you have to abort a trip before you leave home because of the usual causes: sickness, accident and such. Most policies cover your getting COVID as with any other sickness. The main new risk is possible COVID lockdowns or quarantines in your destination. Most policies do not cover cancellation if you’re just uneasy about the situation, nor do they cover any restrictions in effect at the time you buy your policy.

Issues after you arrive

Traditional trip-interruption insurance covers costs of early return if you get sick or suffer an accident while at your destination. And traditional medical insurance covers the associated medical costs, which

typically includes getting COVID. The new risk is getting caught in your destination by a new COVID restriction imposed after you arrive. Although many policies do not cover the cost of accommodations if you’re caught in a destination quarantine, some now do.

New government requirements

As a direct result of COVID, some countries require that you have, and can document, locally applicable medical and emergency evacuation coverage as a condition of entry, in some cases with minimum coverage up to $100,000. A few of those — notably Aruba, the Bahamas, Jamaica and Sint Maarten — require that you buy their own policies, at a cost of up to $40 per person. In addition to insurance, many countries require pre-arrival COVID tests.

Insurance coverage you need

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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

The best way to cover yourself is (1) determine exactly what coverage you need, then (2) call a travel insurance agency and negotiate a policy that specifically covers those exact requirements. Over the years I’ve recommended Insure My Trip (insuremyrip.com), Quotewright (quotewright.com), and Squaremouth (squaremouth.com), which posts a useful list of special individual-country requirements. But a handful of other travel insurance companies are equally good. Note: The only way to keep personal control of whether to travel is to buy a “cancel for any reason” policy. Obtaining such insurance will be especially hard on older travelers, because most travel insurance pricing is age-rated. Medicare doesn’t cover international travel, and Medicare supplemental insurance often isn’t enough to satisfy requirements. A recent study by AdvisorSmith (advisorsmith.com) found that, for a sample trip, travelers age 60 pay 28% more than travelers age 30 to 50, and the excess increases to 88% at age 70, 200% at age 80, and 360% at age 90. And some policies that are not agerated cut off entirely at age 70 or 80. At a typical price of 4% to 5% of total trip cost, insurance is often a reasonable buy. With COVID, a more costly policy can be a necessity. And as always, the best way to minimize risk is to minimize up-front payments for travel. © 2021 Ed Perkins.

BEACON BITS

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2021

Venice Beach From page 23

aren’t easy to find on your own, so consult a map or your smartphone for directions.

Abbott Kinney Boulevard

After you have had enough quirky, cutting-edge architecture, head to Abbott Kinney Blvd., or AKB, which is, according to GQ magazine, “the Coolest Block in America” (the cool part is actually closer to a mile from end to end). AKB is home to the hippest galleries, restaurants, bars, cafes and stores in Los Angeles. A constant stream of attractive young men and women tweet on their smartphones as they stroll on the sidewalk, so be prepared to dodge one slender, well-coiffed body after another as you make your way from store to store. Also be prepared to spend a lot of money. You can easily spend most of the day on AKB, especially if you like to shop.

Inland walk streets

Try to spend an hour strolling up and down the “walk streets,” marveling at the architecture and looking for celebrities. The walk streets are essentially sidewalks lined on both sides by tall trees, bamboo, overgrown ivy and bushes, whimsical gardens and lawns, and houses as architecturally diverse as those on the canals.

Entering the walk streets is like passing through a wormhole into another universe: magical, quiet and soothing, especially compared to the boardwalk and AKB. The inland walk streets are even more hidden than the Venice canals. To find them, consult a map or your smart phone for directions, looking up “Crescent,” “Nowita,” “Marco” or “Amoroso Place.”

Rooftop sunsets

If you have time and haven’t spent all of your money on AKB, go to the rooftop lounge of the Hotel Erwin in the heart of Venice, appropriately named “High.” Here, you can have a pricey cocktail and observe the mating rituals of 20- and 30somethings. In the ultimate triumph of hormones over aesthetic appreciation, they seem more interested in each other than the view. I have been all over the world, but this is still one of my favorite views, 80 feet above the Bohemian bustle of the Venice Boardwalk at the height of its insanity in the late afternoon on a clear, warm day. There may be better views in more exotic locales. But I doubt there is one with as rich a stew of people, architecture, scenery and opportunities for spending money as the one in Venice Beach.

If you go

It’s best to fly into LAX, which is about

BEACON BITS

Nov. 9+

LIVING WITH PARKINSON’S

Jewish Community Services hosts free conversations about living with Parkinson’s Disease on Tues., Nov. 9 and Tues., Dec. 14 from 2 to 3 p.m. The conversations take place via Zoom and are open to the public. For more information, contact crife@jcsbaltimore.org or (410) 843-7352.

Dec. 7

FREE RESUME CONSULTATIONS

Ignite Career Center offers free 30-minute resume consultations on Tues., Dec. 7 between noon and 5 p.m. For more information and to sign up, visit bit.ly/IgniteResumeReview.

20 minutes south of Venice Beach. Roundtrip, nonstop flights from Baltimore on American Airlines or Southwest start at around $210. The small but charming Hotel Erwin is a four-star hotel and bar in the heart of Venice Beach; its rooms start at $240. Rates are comparable at the brand-new waterfront Venice V Hotel, a restored 1915 building where every room has an ocean view. Or choose a chain hotel from the Courtyard Marriott to the Ritz-Carlton, in nearby Marina Del Rey or Santa Monica. Venice is chock full of great restaurants,

New York City Day Trips

ranging from top-of-the-line, Michelin-starworthy trattorias to inexpensive window counter takeaways. Among my favorites are: Felix Trattoria on AKB for handmade pasta made on site (good luck getting a reservation though); Hama Sushi, one of the oldest sushi restaurants in Los Angeles outside of Little Tokyo; Great White, an Aussie-style café specializing in inexpensive California cuisine; and The Win-Dow, on the boardwalk, featuring a double patty smash-cheeseburger for less than $7. For more information, visit venicechamber.net/visitors/guide.

Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays

Atlantic City

Sundays and Holidays

Harriet Tubman Tour – Nov. 16 “The Total Experience”

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NOVEMBER 2021 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Subscribe online! See how on p. 30

Style Arts &

Writing coach and author Marita Golden published The Strong Black Woman in October. See story on page 28.

From local band to stardom in Hollywood To NYC and a lucky break

Alonso began his education at New York University and the prestigious Actor’s Studio program in 1991. Although the program doesn’t allow students to audition for professional jobs until after graduation, Alonso earned his big break when a couple of talent scouts came to observe one of his classes. “Right time, right place,” Alonso remembered. “I am doing monologues by myself, and there is this casting director named Judy Henson from ABC network that saw me and said, ‘I need to talk to him.’” Alonso’s acting career began with some commercials through agencies in New York and Baltimore. Things started to take off for him in 1992 with a made-for-TV movie on “CBS Schoolbreak Special.” Then, four years later, Alonso really gained recognition as Johnny Kowolski on the PBS series “Numbers Alive!” Following this, Alonso starred as the host of “NASA 360,” and had roles on popular television shows like “Rules of Engagement,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “Gotham” and what he said was his favorite show, “One Tree Hill.”

Nov. 5 - Jan. 9, 2022

As a band manager named “Joey D” on “One Tree Hill,” Alonso thrived in the role because of his background in music. “When I was offered the role of Joey D on ‘One Tree Hill,’ I was only offered two episodes. But I played it so strong — I came in like a stealth bomb — they offered me four more episodes. “I knew the lingo, I knew the body language of a band manager, a talent agent,” Alonso said. “I was very comfortable on the WB network, the CW network, playing Joey D. And that just opened so many doors after it.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHNNY ALONSO

By Nick Clarkson For actor, producer and Maryland native Johnny Alonso, the road to Hollywood didn’t start in the traditional way. The son of two doctors, Alonso first took to the stage as a teenager, when he was attending Loyola Blakefield High School in Towson. Alonso formed a band with his brother, James, and two neighbors. As lead guitarist and singer for the band, Alonso discovered his love of performing. “That’s really where my acting career began,” said Alonso, now 51. “Being in a band, I figured out that there was a lot of acting on stage. Whether you believe it or not, it’s a show...It’s all an act. And I realized that there were ways of controlling the crowd by a certain way of acting.” With their unique sound and talent, the band managed to make two records and tour across the country during Alonso’s late teenage years. But when he was 19, the band fell apart. “After [the band] dissolved…I realized right then and there that I still wanted to entertain,” he said. “So I was like, ‘You know what, man? I’m going to try my hand at formal acting.’”

Upcoming premiere at the Senator

Now based in Los An- Johnny Alonso, who went to high school in Towson, takes a geles, Alonso has built a star turn in the Netflix series “Outer Banks,” as well as in career as an actor and a other popular television shows. His new movie, “Harvey,” which he both directed and stars in, will have its premiere producer, including his at the Senator Theatre in November. latest work on season two of the hit Netflix Jimmy Stewart comedy of the same name show “Outer Banks.” This fall, Alonso is excited about his up- from 1950, this “Twilight Zone”-like psycoming film, “Harvey,” which he stars in See JOHNNY ALONSO, page 27 and directed. Not to be confused with the

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

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BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2021

Jewelry designer From page 1

to see,” observed Ellen Lupton of the Maryland Institute College of Art, Cooke’s alma mater.

Nature as inspiration

Raised as a camper and Girl Scout, Cooke continues to be inspired by the outdoors. In college in the 1940s, she hitchhiked all over Nova Scotia. She loves the “wild coast” and spends time on Maryland’s Atlantic Ocean beaches. “I like storms and big waves, when the wind’s blowing like mad,” she said. Her love of the natural world is reflected in much of her jewelry. For example, a neck piece might have tiny stars.

Johnny Alonso From page 26

chological thriller has a 1980s-vibe and features Alonso as a “psycho surfer.” The pandemic could have stalled “Harvey,” but fortunately the film was one of eight independent union films cleared by the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists in November 2019. With that permission, Alonso and his crew then edited and produced the work throughout 2020 amid COVID-19 regulations. The film’s sold-out Hollywood premiere

She has also made fanciful animal pieces, especially fish and birds, using silver, copper and enamels. (She’s a member of the Maryland Ornithology Society.)

A Baltimore native

Cooke graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 1946 and later taught art there for 22 years. In 1965, she and her husband, William O. Steinmetz, an interior designer, moved from their Tyson Street studio to the Village of Cross Keys and opened The Store Ltd., at 5100 Falls Road, where she still works today. Her husband passed away in 2016. In addition to selling Cooke’s jewelry, The Store offers housewares, gifts and women’s clothing with a modern aesthetic. took place in mid-October. It will premiere in Baltimore at the Senator Theatre on November 18 before being released on a handful of different platforms beginning in January.

Hoping to film in Maryland Alonso has other projects in the works, including one he hopes to film in Ellicott City, where he was born. The movie, “Heavy Metal Haunting,” is about a band that needs a break from the rockstar lifestyle and decides to decompress in a comfortable location: a house in Ellicott City. Alonso is in contact with the Maryland

She has had many returning customers over the years. “It’s wonderful,” Cooke said, “to now see the second and third generation coming in. It has become a family thing for many families. It just grew because people liked it,” she said. Cooke’s jewelry has been featured in Vogue magazine and she received two Diamonds Today awards from DeBeers Group’s jewelry competition. In 1996, she was elected to the College of Fellows of the American Craft Council. Art historian Toni Greenbaum calls her an “outstanding exemplar of the American limited-production jeweler.” Cooke continues to work as an artist at age 97, and except for a little trouble walking, she is in good health. Curator Jo Briggs said Cooke isn’t slowing down. “She’s

part of the fabric of Baltimore. She’s a force. COVID is not stopping her.” After seven decades of design, “I think in terms of jewelry,” Cooke said, “but jewelry is also sculpture that can be done on a large scale.” On the exacting simplicity of her designs, she said, “One must know when to stop.” So far, she’s not stopping. The exhibition is curated by Jeannine Falino and Jo Briggs, authors of an illustrated book about Cooke’s work. The Walters Art Museum at 600 North Charles Street has a collection spanning 7,000 years and includes over 36,000 objects from around the world. Admission is free. Masks are required indoors. Visit thewalters.org.

Film Commission, he said, “and they’re really excited about it. So if everything pulls through, ‘Heavy Metal Haunting’ will be shot in Old Town [Ellicott City].” Next Alonso will be featured in an upcoming episode of the paranormal series “A Haunting,” in which he played a role in both 2006 and 2014. In the episode called “Nevermore,” after the Edgar Allan Poe

poem “The Raven,” Alonso will play a guest lead role. The hour-long episode will air the week of Thanksgiving. For Alonso, it seems there’s always a new project to look forward to. “From ‘Outer Banks,’ to ‘Harvey,’ to ‘A Haunting,’ I’ve been pretty wiped out, been pretty spent,” Alonso said. “But if you ask me, I have one of the coolest jobs ever.”

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NOVEMBER 2021 — BALTIMORE BEACON

The high costs of a myth about strength how it can be damaging.” She completed the nonfiction work during the pandemic. “During that very difficult time of being locked down, exploring this issue gave my life a great deal of meaning, and it helped me heal,” Golden said.

A parent’s prediction

Growing up in Washington, D.C. with a father who was a cab driver and a mother who managed a building in Columbia Heights, Golden felt encouraged and supported by her parents. She absorbed her father’s rich storytelling, and felt buoyed by her mother’s premonition that she would write a book when she grew up. “My parents, either consciously or unconsciously, made me a writer. They raised me in a way to be curious about the world, to be confident and to feel like I could do anything. My father was my first writing teacher, and my mother was my first mentor.” Sadly, her parents died when Golden was in her 20s, never seeing her novels, anthologies or memoirs, in which she describes their profound influence on her life. “I honor them in my books. Their spirits have touched many people because the books have touched people, so they’re kind of immortal,” Golden said. Golden graduated from American University and received a master’s degree

from the Columbia University School of Journalism. As a graduate student, she worked as a reporter for the Baltimore Sun in 1972. A lifelong writer, Golden toggles between genres, from novels to articles to non-fiction, and has won a slew of writing awards.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARITA GOLDEN

By Margaret Foster You know you’ve made it when your name appears in a clue on “Jeopardy!” In October 2020, a D.C. author’s name appeared in one of the show’s signature blue boxes: “Novelist Marita Golden paid homage to this woman in an essay called Zora & Me.” (“Who is Zora Neale Hurston?”) Marita Golden, author of 19 books, has had other brushes with fame. She has been interviewed by Oprah and Maria Shriver, and her writing has been called “adroit and affecting” by Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison. Golden, 71, wrote her most recent book, The Strong Black Woman: How a Myth Endangers the Physical and Mental Health of Black Women, with “a sense of urgency,” she said in an interview with the Beacon. Published this fall, the book explores the devastating effects of prioritizing others. Golden was inspired to write the book after a trip to her doctor’s office. Despite a healthy lifestyle, her doctor told her, she had experienced several mini-strokes. “That made me realize that, even though I was doing all these very good things for my health, I was still vulnerable. I wasn’t invincible,” Golden said. “That made me think about the whole ‘strong Black woman’ persona and how important it is for Black women — but also

Writing classes in Baltimore

Today, Golden helps others heal by writing. Before the pandemic, she taught an in-person master class in fiction writing through the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts. Now she teaches mostly virtual writing workshops and offers one-on-one men- Marita Golden, 71, published her 19th book this fall. toring sessions to many stu- Written during the pandemic, The Strong Black dents who write as she does Woman: How a Myth Endangers the Physical and Mental Health of Black Women, examines the harm that — as if summoned. can come from caring for others first. “I don’t think you choose to write a memoir; it’s something you have memoirs, while her motivational writing to do,” Golden said. “Our life stories are workshops help people get started in the very treacherous and beautiful…Writing process of telling their life stories. can be therapy — and often is.” See MARITA GOLDEN, page 29 Her coaching helps people shape their

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Marita Golden From page 28

One of the first steps, according to a class description, is to “defeat self-censorship,” and learn “how to discover why you write and more importantly how to write with regularity and dedication.”

Being “strong” takes a toll

In Strong Black Women, Golden points out that Black American women are three times more likely to die of a heart attack than whites. They’re at a higher risk of childbirth complications, diabetes and stroke, too — “an expression of systemic

From the publisher From page 2

to help others — were honored in the Editorial, Senior Issues and Personal Essay categories. In short, nearly every Beacon staff writer and freelancer was honored in this national competition, and we couldn’t be prouder of them. Of course, whatever awards we do or do not win, what matters most to us is that you, our readers, are pleased with the

racism,” Golden said. “There are many reasons why our health is so challenged. But one of them that can be changed is our attitude about prioritizing ourselves and not always prioritizing others,” she said. “We can change our attitudes about the relationship between our bodies and our minds.” The book shares Golden’s health history as well as first-person, inspirational stories from other Black women. “I didn’t want to belabor the daunting statistics, but I wanted to talk to women who have gone through trauma and pain and got into therapy or used other techniques to get on the road to healing,” she said.

Black heroines like Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman often are portrayed as one-dimensionally strong. That go-it-alone strength can take its toll, though, Golden points out, if it discourages people from reaching out for help. “There does remain a stigma in the Black community around mental healthcare,” she said. Golden maintains her own emotional health by maintaining connections with several writer’s groups and a hiking club. After all, strong social ties “help keep the brain elastic and relieve stress,” she said. Golden’s new book may encourage others to start a conversation about the cost of

being too strong. She acknowledges she’s “just one of the voices” talking about this issue, she said. “We’re the first generation of Black women who are really examining this ‘superpower’ of strength, this ‘Black girl magic.’ But we don’t have to be magical all the time. “We have to honor our fragility. If we don’t honor it, no one will.” Golden will discuss her new book in a virtual event at 7 p.m. on Tues., Oct. 19 hosted by the Enoch Pratt Free Library and the Ivy Bookshop. She is a speaker in the Brown Lecture Series, held on Zoom this month. For more information about her readings or writing workshops, visit maritagolden.com.

practical information, news and entertainment you find each month in the Beacon. Please let us know what you think — even (actually, especially) if you think we are missing the boat in any particular area. Your opinions, suggestions and letters to the editor are always welcome, whether you contact us by mail, phone, email or online. I want to conclude by expressing my thanks to, and admiration for, all our writers (and editors) mentioned above as well as the other members of our staff, who work so diligently to produce multiple edi-

tions of the Beacon every month. I’d like to thank them by name: Executive Vice President Gordon Hasenei; Art Director Kyle Gregory; Director of Operations Roger King; Advertising Representatives Lisa Benton-Hawkins, Dan Kelly, Steve Levin, M.K. Phillips and Alan Spiegel; Content Manager Ashley Griffin and last, but certainly not least, my wife, the Beacon’s President and Associate Publisher, Judy Rosenthal. The Beacon would not exist without all

of their efforts, nor without you who read our publications each month. I offer my sincere appreciation to each of you.

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving.

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P.S. For those who have been following the saga of my bad back, I’m extremely happy to say that I am much better! Many thanks to all of you who sent me good wishes and advice.

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 30 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

ZOOM and in-person classes!

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2021

C L E F

H O Y A

S H E L F

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NOVEMBER 2021 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Subscribe online! See how below

Crossword Puzzle

Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Harvest Season 1

25 32

Scrabble answers on p. 29.

BB1121

34 37

47 50

Across

33 36

21 23

By Stephen Sherr

52 58

1. It marks the spot on Greek treasure maps 4. Cousin of a giraffe 9. Fantasy football event 14. Loopy tennis return 15. Farm machine 16. He often goes bar hopping with a priest and a minister 17. “A friend’s ___ is a good mirror” 18. See 20 Across 20. Rekindle the romance, with 18 Across 22. Vaccine delivery tool 23. Tiny amount 25. Travelocity listing 26. Operate a roulette wheel 30. Public spats 32. Chills and fever 34. Single-stranded genetic molecule 35. Start a family feud, with 39 and 36 Across 36. See 35 Across 38. “Never have I ___” 39. See 35 Across 43. Deal maker in Angels in the Infield 44. Endless end 45. Dueling swords 47. They can really get in your hair 48. ___-yo (self-serve dessert option) 49. The best kind is win-win 51. Brokeback Mountain director Lee 52. Giver of a prophecy 55. Getting too big for one’s britches, with 64 Across 61. They picked LA for the 2028 games 62. Start a new tube of toothpaste 63. Top corn-producing state 64. See 55 Across 65. Create weapons at the renaissance fair 66. Sound made by the Joker’s henchmen’s fists 67. It was ___ dream (lame TV plot twist) 68. More like a lord than a serf 69. Ultimatum ender 70. ___ professor (new PhD hire)

Down

1. Symbol at the start of a staff 2. Georgetown athlete 3. “Sounds right to me” 4. Kimono sash 5. Geographic center of the contiguous US 6. Treaty partner 7. Iconically mainstream city of Illinois 8. NBA champion, Kyrie 9. Reposition an area rug 10. Temper tantrums 11. Lawyers’ org. 12. X-Files parent agency 13. Element known to exist in Oz 19. Listlessness 21. Willy Wonka and Edward Scissorhands 24. Middle choice between coffee and me 27. Non-cosmopolitans 28. Native Alaskan 29. Common parts of NFL and NBA 30. Garage organizer 31. Explorer with a helmet-light 33. “A war to ___ all wars” 37. Tangy salami 39. Pretend to be affected 40. Pertinent 41. Romanian currency (and letters in SUPERSLEUTH) 42. Grassland 46. Thumb drive, for example 49. Sharpshooter 50. Contributions to it are listed on IRS Form 5498 51. “A watched pot never boils”, for example 53. Melts into the sofa 54. Dazzling effect 55. Part of the Big Bad Wolf’s threat 56. Little part of an ENORMOUS word 57. It can fit 1,032 king-size beds 58. Taunt 59. Future Kentucky Derby winner 60. Pays off the mortgage 64. Org. that defines minimum width for airplane seats

Answers on page 29.

BALTIMORE BEACON — NOVEMBER 2021

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For Sale NEW & LIKE - New Kitchen Gadgets + Clothes for sale! Minimum purchase of $30 required or all items for best offer. 2 for $10 items: Quesadilla maker, Veggie slicer, Potato/apple peeler, Blow dryer, Hand pie maker, leg elevation pillow, size 11 women’s sneaker, size 8 Women’s boots, size 3x women’s winter coats, ceramic serving bowl with lid. 3 for $10 items: handbags, size 2x-3x women’s dresses. 2 for $12 items: multiple carry on luggages never used. Brand new Pasta maker $10. 443-980-7518. GENERAC STANDBY GENERATORS provide backup power during utility power outages, so your home and family stay safe and comfortable. Prepare now. Free 7-year extended warranty ($695 value!). Request a free quote today! Call for additional terms and conditions. 1-866-964-8106. PUT ON YOUR TV EARS and hear TV with unmatched clarity. TV Ears Original were originally $129.95 - NOW WITH THIS SPECIAL OFFER are only $59.95 with code MCB59! Call 1-833-934-0843. CEMETERY PLOT at Dulaney Gardens, $1700 OBO. Call 443-425-4204.

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME! Jamhuri Healthcare Services recognizes the importance of keeping seniors or adults with special needs, in their homes, rather than sending them to a skilled nursing facility. Our personal in-home care program is designed to implement non-medical tasks to meet the clients’ physical needs. Our home care aides provide a multitude of services for our clients, ranging from meal preparation & house cleaning to personal assistance & running errands. We are diligent in our staff & client pairings. We won’t put just anyone in your home or the home of your loved ones. Senior transportation services available 24/7. Call us toll-free at 1800-547-2851.Visit us on the web: www.jamhuricares.com. send us a text at: 443-929-9769

PIKESVILLE. 1-BR APARTMENT w/ all appliances. Private entrance. Secure. Parking pad. Separate heat & AC. Set up for cable. Ideal for school teacher or nurse. Security deposit, references. $650/month plus part of BG&E. George 410-371-5547 vndesign3629@gmail.com

KIND, EFFICIENT COMPANION/HOMECARE. Cooking, errands, shopping, personal care, driving, cleaning provided. Expert in kashrut. Available 7:30 am - 7:30 pm. References. Call 410-764-1533. Leave message.

FOR SALE: INOGEN ONE G5 SINGLE (8CELL) BATTERIES. Never used. $200.00 each. Call 410-882-0813.

Events KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL #2605, 7401 BAY FRONT ROAD, EDGEMERE, MD., 3rd Sunday Monthly Dinner Buffet Style 1 to 4:30 P.M. November 21, 2021. Menu: Fried Chicken, Pineapple Ham, Sliced Turkey, Sauer Kraut, Mashed Potatoes, Soup du Jour, Stir-Fry Veg, Garden Salad, Dinner Rolls, Dessert Cake, Soda, Coffee, and Tea Adults, $17.00, Children ages 8 to 12 $7.00. Reservations are recommended, but not necessary. 410-477-5225. Put those pots and pans away. Enjoy a Sunday Dinner on the Bay!

Health IN HOME HEARING AID SERVICES - My office is your kitchen table. Call now to experience better hearing for the holidays, completely risk free. Repairs for most manufacturers are also available. Call or text 410-299-2986 or visit www.hearrighthere.com

MOBILEHELP, America’s Premier Mobile Medical Alert System. Whether You’re Home or Away. For Safety and Peace of Mind. No Long Term Contracts! Free Brochure! Call Today! 1-240-650-9189 PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-851-0949. DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-844366-1003 www.dental50plus.com/320 #6258.

HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

All classified ads must be submitted and paid for online, via our website, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds Deadlines and Payments: To appear in the next issue, your ad text and payment must be entered by the 5th of the preceding month (for Baltimore and Howard County editions); by the 20th (for Washington and Richmond editions). Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad: • $25 for 1-250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length). The website will calculate this for you. Note: Maryland contractors must provide a valid MHIC number. • Each real estate listing qualifies as one ad. • All ads are subject to publisher's discretion. Payment will be refunded if unacceptable for any reason.

To place your classified ad, visit ww.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds Health

TV/Cable

LIFE ALERT. One press of a button sends help FAST, 24/7! At home and on the go. Mobile Pendant with GPS. FREE First Aid Kit (with subscription.) CALL 240-847-6732 FREE Brochure.

Home/Handyman Services

DISH NETWORK. $64.99 for 190 Channels! Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo. (where available.) Switch & Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. Call today! 1-844-560-5837.

DON’T LET THE STAIRS LIMIT YOUR MOBILITY! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1866-365-5170.

DIRECTV for $69.99/mo for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Watch your favorite live sports, news & entertainment anywhere. One year of HBO Max FREE. Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) Call for more details! (some restrictions apply) Call 1888-572-4953.

T’s HAULING & MOVING I will move your possessions or haul them away. I clean out yards, basements, garages, houses, apartments, attics, etc. No job too small. Brush work. I can pick up furniture from stores. Friendly, reliable service with many references. Honest and hard working! Call Tim at 443-690-6525 OR 410-889-3795. Same day service most days! Like me on Facebook! @Tshaulingmoving. Check out my website WWW.TSHAULINGANDMOVING.COM THE BATHROOM OF YOUR DREAMS for as little as $149/month! BCI Bath & Shower. Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Limited Time Offer - FREE virtual in-home consultation now and SAVE 15%! Call Today! 1-855-653-0087.

Legal Services APPLYING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY or Appealing a Denied Claim? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc. Our case managers simplify the process & work hard to help with your case. Call 1-866-970-0779 FREE Consultation. Local Attorneys Nationwide [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.)]

Miscellaneous FRIENDLY FAMILY SEEKS INDIVIDUAL for errands and miscellaneous tasks. $20 – $29/hr. Around 1 – 4 hrs. 2 – 4x a month. Please email us at sprng328@aol.com. Let us know your full availability and your phone number. Thanks a lot.

Wanted WANTED TRAILWAYS OR GREYHOUND toy buses or any literature from any Baltimore bus companies also toy grocery store trucks. Call Wayne 410-807-5246. I BUY LARGE LP RECORD ALBUM COLLECTIONS, cassette and CD collections and musical estates as well. Large collections preferred. Rock, metal, synth-pop, alternative rock, jazz, punk, and more. 410-900-5657 or baltimorerecords.com PARANORMAL GROUP SEEKS MEMBERS, NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. CONTACT RICHVINC@COMCAST.NET ***LINCOLN TOWN CAR - Retired senior looking for a 2011 Lincoln Town Car. Will give your pride and joy a good home and TLC. Call Richard 443-717-3322. BUYING VINYL RECORDS from 1950 to 1990. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae, Punk, Blues, and Disco. 33 1/3 LP’s, 45’s and some 78’s, Some Groups Of CD’s Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201. PAYING CASH FOR COMIC BOOKS from the 1940s to the 2000s. So check your attics and closets and let me know if you have any you would like to sell! Call Joe at 443-562-8082

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We thank our advertisers who make our publication possible. Please patronize them and let them know you saw their ad in the Beacon. Clinical Research Studies

Biometrics Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Diabetes Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 HIPS Fall Prevention Study . . . . .12 Knee Pain Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Events

CCBC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Funeral Services

Cremation Society of Maryland . .20 MacNabb Funeral Home . . . . . . .20

Health/Insurance

Apex Neuropathy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Keswick Wise & Well . . . . . . . .1, 6 Medicare Part D Open Enrollment10 Moss Disability Group . . . . . . . . .21 United Healthcare Medicare Advantage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Whitehouse Financial . . . . . . . . .21

Home Health Care/ Companion Services

Home Instead Senior Care . . . . . . .6 Options for Senior America . . . . .25

Home Remodeling/ Windows/Roof

Peak Custom Remodeling . . . . . .14

Housing

Charlestown/Erickson . . . . . . . . .11 Christ Church Harbor Apts . . . . .21 Enterprise Residential . . . . . . . . .24 Oak Crest/Erickson . . . . . . . . . . .11 Park View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Pickersgill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 St. Mary’s Roland View Towers . .20 Virginia Towers . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Warren Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Zen Apartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation

Government Services

Manor Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Legal Services

Beacon Newspapers . . . . . . . . . . .30

Real Estate

Computer Doctors . . . . . . . . . . . .19 TechMedic4u . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Maryland Relay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Moss Disability Group ............21

NTR Home Buyers . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Retail

Perfect Sleep Chair . . . . . . . . . . .22 Perfect Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Radio Flea Market . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Zoomer Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Subscriptions Technology Theater

Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . .26, 27

Travel

Superior Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Volunteers & Careers

Baltimore County Dept of Economic & Workforce Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

NOVEMBER 2021 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Finally… a better mobility solution than Scooters or Power Chairs. The Zoomer’s versatile design and 1-touch joystick operation brings mobility and independence to those who need it most. If you have mobility issues, or know someone who does, then you’ve experienced the difficulties faced by millions of Americans. Once simple tasks like getting from the bedroom to the kitchen can become a time-consuming and potentially dangerous ordeal. You may have tried to solve the problem with a power chair or a scooter but neither is ideal. Power chairs are bulky and look like a medical device. Scooters are either unstable or hard to maneuver. Now, there’s a better alternative… the Zoomer. My Zoomer is a delight to ride! It has increased my mobility in my apartment, my opportunities to enjoy the-out-of-doors, and enabled me to visit the homes of my children for longer periods of time. The various speeds of it match my need for safety, it is easy to turn, and I am most pleased with the freedom of movement it gives me. Sincerely, A. Macon, Williamsburg, VA After just one trip around your home in the Zoomer, you’ll marvel at how easy it is to navigate. It is designed to maneuver in tight spaces like doorways, between furniture, and around corners. It can go over thresholds and works great on any kind of floor or carpet. It’s not bulky or Zoomer conveniently rolls beneath table or desk

Easy to use joystick control

Sturdy & Lightweight Frame

Joystick Control (adaptable left or right)

Comfortable Seating

Swivel Away Footrest

Powerful Battery/ Dual Motors

12” cumbersome, so it can roll right up to a table or deskFolds to 12” in seconds there’s noneed to transfer to a chair. Its sturdy yet lightweight aluminum frame makes it durable and comfortable. It’s dual motors power it at up to 3.7 miles per hour and its automatic electromagnetic brakes stop on a dime. The rechargeable battery powers it for up to 8 miles on a single charge. Plus, it’s exclusive foldable design enables you to transport it easily and even store it in a closet or under a bed when it’s not in use.

Why spend another day letting mobility issues hamper your lifestyle? Call now and find out how you can have your very own Zoomer.

Now

available with sporty two-arm lever steering (Zinger Chair)

Ready to get your own Zoomer? We’d love to talk to you. Call now toll free and order one today!

1-888-660-0947

The Zoomer and Zinger Chairs are personal electric vehicles and are not medical devices nor wheelchairs. They are not intended for medical purposes to provide mobility to persons restricted to a sitting position. They are not covered by Medicare nor Medicaid. © 2021 Journey Health and Lifestyle

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Please mention code 115978 when ordering.