November 2024 Howard County Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

Searching for new love mid-life

By Margaret Foster

When life gave writer Laura Stassi lemons, she didn’t just make lemonade; she created a popular podcast, wrote a book and created three radio specials, one of which will air on NPR stations this fall.

After her 29-year marriage ended in divorce, Stassi, then in her mid-50s, found herself alone and living in her first-ever apartment, wondering how to start over.

“After the split, I started thinking about where my life was. I wanted to start dating again, but I didn’t know how to do it. The last time I’d been single, telephone answering machines weren’t even invented,” Stassi said in an interview with the Beacon

While jogging on a North Carolina beach one day, a phrase popped into her head: “dating while gray.” With that tagline, Stassi started researching how older adults find love again.

Today, she hosts the podcast she created, “Dating While Gray: The Grown-Up’s Guide to Love, Sex and Relationships.” On it, she interviews older adults about their dating lives.

She retells some of those stories in her 2022 book, Romance Redux: Finding Love in Your Later Years, based on the first two seasons of the podcast as well as her own experience.

Stassi was the keynote speaker at the Beacon’s 50+Expo on Sunday, October 20 in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Family life

Stassi grew up in West Springfield, Virginia, and graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in communication studies. At 22, she married a man she had known since sixth grade and raised two children with him in Richmond.

LEISURE & TRAVEL

Hop aboard a renovated barge for the trip of a lifetime through the Scottish Highlands page 10

Because she had loved writing since she was a child, she kept writing throughout her marriage, penning several nonfiction books for children (one about Pink Floyd), as well as articles for the Defense Health Agency and even the Beacon. Stassi and her husband moved back to Northern Virginia for another decade, but by 2012 he made it clear he wanted a di-

vorce. She said she was “naïve and in denial” that the separation was final, and continued to iron her ex’s shirts and help him look for real estate.

“Divorce was not something you did unless it was just awful. And I just didn’t realize how awful he thought it was,” she said.

See GRAY DATING , page 21

ARTS & STYLE

What to expect from the creepy, kooky and somewhat kinky Addams Family musical; now playing at Toby’s page 19

After her 29-year marriage ended in divorce, Laura Stassi started a podcast, “Dating While Gray,” where she interviews guests about dating, sex, avoiding scams and more. She receives emails from listeners all over the world. Stassi also published a book about finding love again.

PHOTO BY JENIFER MORRIS PHOTOGRAPHY

A nice pat on the back

I am happy to share with you the kudos the Beacon received at the annual conference of the North American Mature Publishers Association, whose journalism competition we enter every year. Each of our editions gets entered in a different category, based on circulation. And this year, all three of our editions reaped honors.

The Howard County Beacon brought home two firstplace awards and one secondplace award.

ers over 50,” garnered first place in the “senior issues” category for freelance writer Laura Melamed. The judges found her article “fun, lively and extremely informative.”

Glenda C. Booth , who regularly writes features for us, won first place in feature writing for her “fascinating and well-written” May cover story, “Devoted to raising, racing pigeons.”

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Freelancer Susan Ahearn won first place in the “feature writing” category for an arts story last September. Called both a “beautiful” and “fun” article, her story “Artists pass down fold art to apprentices” was also praised by the judges as “A wonderful story about keeping a tradition — the art of Black storytelling — alive.”

By Stuart P. Rosenthal

In the “How-to” feature category, our long-time writer Robert Friedman won second place for his August 2023 cover story on glass blowing in Baltimore, “Put your lips together and blow.”

standing, well-written articles and impeccable editing…Every high-quality issue offers a distinct and easy-to-read layout, good sectioning, good headline writing and a consistent presentation.”

We also won first-place awards in the "profile," "feature" and "how-to" categories. The second-place award for a feature went to freelancer Laura Sturza, for her cover story “Bachelorettes of the DMV.” (Stay tuned for another story about that reality TV show next month!)

Long-time travel writers Don Mankin and Victor Block were both honored for their “wonderfully written” travel pieces.

Another trifecta occurred in the “personal essay” category. Foster won another first place, while two freelance submissions that we printed won second and third. May Benatar was honored for her piece on “Move to a new home is a mixed blessing,” while Taya Jackson won for “Lessons learned from a job search at 77.”

So for all you writers out there, if you have a personal story to tell that you think our readers will appreciate and/or relate to, feel free to send it to us. (We get a lot of such submissions, but we’re proud to note that we print the best ones and even submit them for awards.)

In the “senior issues” category, managing editor Margaret Foster won first-place for her September cover story “Enjoy being a student again.” Foster also won second place for her profile of an artist in “Turning scrap wood into wildlife paintings,” which appeared earlier this year.

Similarly, the Baltimore Beacon brought home two first-place awards and one second-place award.

Last October’s cover, “Elevating new writ-

As you may know, many of the travel and arts stories we write, along with my monthly column, also appear in our flagship edition, the Greater Washington Beacon And because it has the largest circulation of our publications (100,000+), any story that appears there cannot also be entered in the smaller circulation categories.

As a result, many of our awards this year were won by our Washington edition, even though all our readers had the chance to see them.

We were especially thrilled when the Washington Beacon won first place in the “general excellence” category. The judges said: “This newspaper is rich with out-

TheBeacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Howard County area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Greater Baltimore, Md. and Greater Washington, D.C. 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

Vice President of Operations – Roger King

Advertising Representatives –Steve Levin, M.K. Phillips, Alan Spiegel

Assistant Editor – Ana Preger Hart

The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (410) 248-9101 • Email:

In the “theatre review” category, where we had to submit two articles by each reviewer, we were thrilled that two of our freelance reviewers were recognized: Mark Dreisonstok won first place for “insightful” reviews of Sister Act at Toby’s and Hair at Signature Theatre in Virginia. Lynda Lantz won second place for her reviews of other shows in Washington and Virginia.

In the “senior issues” category, two of my “From the Publisher” columns took first place this year. Under the “editorial/opinion” category, three other columns I wrote were honored with first, second and third place awards.

Of course, the most important honor we receive is from you, our readers, who pick up your copy of the Beacon each month from one of our thousands of free distribution sites, subscribe by mail, or read us online at thebeaconnewspapers.com.

However you choose to do it, we thank you for reading the Beacon! By the way, you can look up and read any of the articles mentioned above on our website.

Letters to the editor

Readers are encouraged to share their opinions on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email info@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.

Dear Editor:

When our book group formed in 1988, we were seven women with teenage or young adult daughters and sons. We read an eclectic selection of fiction and nonfiction, enjoying lively conversations about the chosen book of the month.

Each person hosted a Friday afternoon gathering in her living room, accompanied by tea, coffee, cheeses, crackers and homemade sweets.

Serious readers, we all completed the books — most of the time — but put aside time to chat about our work and catch up on our kids’ schooling, marriages and grandchildren.

Over the ensuing two decades, we noticed that fewer of us could remember the names of books and authors, even our favorite ones.

In our 60s, only one or two of us could recall parts of a title, an author’s first or last name, or bits of plot. We worried about los-

ing our memories and whether dementia was invading our now close circle of friends.

One of us researched the kind of forgetting we were experiencing and learned, to our relief, that it was a normal part of aging. Forgetting the name of a book or a movie, in the absence of other kinds of forgetting, happens to everyone over their 50s.

What a relief for us! Wrinkled brows that had accompanied our book-forgetting conversations fell away. After all, we’d retained the gist of these tales.

And then something surprising happened. Over the decades, we’ve gone from grinning to hiccupping laughter each time our group’s “forgetting ritual” occurs. This is a joy limited to our select club of septuagenarians and octogenarians.

As one of our members exclaimed, “I’m so glad we’re all in our 70s and 80s and can laugh together about forgetting!”

Patricia Steckler, Ph.D.

Bethesda, MD

Health Fitness & Fitness & Health

Choosing next year’s Medicare drug plan

Dear Savvy Senior,

What’s the easiest way to compare Medicare Part D prescription drug plans? My Part D premium is increasing again in 2025, so I would like to use the fall open enrollment to find and sign up for a cheaper plan.

—Shopping Around Dear Shopping,

I’m happy to hear you’re comparing your Medicare coverage options this fall!

Research shows that many Medicare beneficiaries with

Part D coverage can lower their prescription drug costs by shopping among plans each year during the open enrollment season, which runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7.

There could be another Part D plan in your area that covers the drugs you take with fewer restrictions or with lower costs. You never know until you look.

You’ll also be happy to know that, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, in 2025, annual out-of-pocket costs will be capped at $2,000 for all

Medicare Part D beneficiaries.

Here are some tips and tools to help you shop and compare Part D plans.

Plan Finder Tool

If you have internet access and are comfortable using a computer, you can easily shop for and compare all Medicare drug plans in your area and enroll in a new plan online, and it only takes a few minutes.

Just go to Medicare’s Plan Finder Tool at Medicare.gov/find-a-plan. You can do a general search on the right side of the page, under the title “Continue without logging in.”

If you wish to save your drugs and phar-

macy information (for future ease in returning to the site), you can log into or create your Medicare account on the left side of the page.

Next, type in your ZIP code and choose the type of coverage you’re looking for, enter the drugs you take, choose the pharmacies you use, and indicate whether you are interested in a mail order option.

The plan finder will then display results for plans available in your area.

Be aware that a plan may not cover all the drugs you take, but it may cover alternatives. It will also tell you if the plan has a

SAVVY SENIOR By Jim Miller

Is it an allergy, intolerance or sensitivity?

By Howard LeWine, M.D.

Q: My gut seems to be more sensitive to a variety of foods. Does this mean I have developed food allergies?

A: Many people confuse food sensitivity with a food allergy or food intolerance. While these conditions can have similar symptoms, they are quite different.

Food allergy: A food allergy happens when the body mistakes a food ingredient as harmful and defends itself by turning on your immune system, such as producing high levels of a type of antibody called immunoglobulin E. Sometimes a food allergy is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.

Common food allergies include immune reactions to shellfish, nuts, fish and eggs. A person with a food allergy may have symptoms similar to an intolerance or sensitivity, but he or she can also experience hives, throat swelling and shortness of breath.

Food intolerance : A food intolerance usually means you lack or have an insufficient amount of one or more enzymes needed to break down certain ingredients.

For example, the inability to digest lactose — the sugar in dairy products — is a common food intolerance. When lactose is

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

not absorbed, it ferments in the colon and leads to symptoms like gas, bloating, nausea and intestinal pain.

Food sensitivity: This is an individual’s adverse physical response to a certain food, beverage or ingredient. The symptoms might be only digestive problems, such as abdominal pain, bloating and gas. However, you may also have fatigue, headache or “brain fog.”

For example, some people have digestive problems and other symptoms after eating too much gluten — a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. This is different from celiac disease, which is caused by an immune reaction to gluten that requires complete avoidance of the protein.

A good approach to manage food sensitivity is to adopt a short-term elimination diet. It works like this: You eliminate a particular food for about two to four weeks to see if your symptoms recede. Then you reintroduce the food gradually, according to your tolerance, to see if your symptoms reappear.

Elimination diets are trial-and-error, and you may have to try different foods and amounts until you find the right combination. While it’s possible to follow an elimination diet on your own, consider re-

EVENTS FOR THOSE WITH MEMORY LOSS

Join others with early-stage memory loss and their loved ones for support and social interaction. Meet on the first Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Ellicott City 50+ Center, 9401 Frederick Rd. The meetings are free, and a light dinner is provided. For more information and to register, contact Kathy Wehr at kwehr@howardcountymd.gov or (410) 313-5955 by the Monday before the event.

questing consultation with a nutritionist or dietitian.

These professionals can guide you through the process and help you track your progress, as well as offer support tools like creating a food diary and symptom chart.

A dietitian or nutritionist also can make sure you don’t cut out foods that provide

necessary vitamins and nutrients. Once you’ve identified the problem food (or foods), you are guided on whether to adjust portions, change your eating habits — like when, and how fast, you eat — or switch out the food entirely.

House Calls!

Exceptional care in the comfort of your own home by Experienced and Compassionate Practitioners

• In-Home Primary Care

• In-Home Chronic Care Management

• Remote Patient Monitoring

• Home-from-Hospital transition

• Telehealth Visits

• Mobile Weight-loss and IV Infusion Therapy

Now accepting new patients. Medicare, Medicaid and most private health insurance plans.

• And more For more info, call

MAIL OR EMAIL FOR FREE INFORMATION

For free materials on housing communities just complete and clip this coupon and mail, or take a picture and email it, to the Beacon

Housing Communities

❏ Brooke Grove (see ad on page 24)

❏ Charlestown (see ad on page 4)

❏ Park View at Colonial Landing (see ad on page 18)

❏ Park View at Columbia (see ad on page 18)

❏ Park View at Ellicott City (see ad on page 18)

❏ Park View at Emerson (see ad on page 18)

❏ Residences at Vantage Point (see ad on page 1) Name

Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this form to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 or take a picture and

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hether your plan is to host lovveed ones at home or to join the millions of Americans hitting the road during the holidaay y season, managing a care r y n f pla fo o yoourself or a loved one shouldn’t be a source of added holidaay y stress.

Below we’ve outlined several waayys Family & Nursing Care can help clients ensure the smooth planning and execution of their care plan heading into the end of the year.

Planning Ahead

g f It can be challengin foor families to find caregivers during a the holidayys. Kelly Ann Sharp, vicesf Director of Client Ser vi foor Family & Nursing Care, explains a y-w that “industr wide, the holiday y season is typically when demand sa f foorqualitycaregiversi attits

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Getting Started

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deductible and how much the monthly premium is.

Initially, the plans will be sorted by “lowest drug + premium costs.” This is the closest estimate to what you may pay out of pocket for your Part D coverage for the year.

You can select “plan details” to find out more specifics about coverage, including any coverage restrictions that might apply to your drugs.

Before enrolling, it is a good idea to call the plan directly to confirm any information you read on the plan finder, as information may not be completely up to date.

If you need help, you can call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 and they can do this comparison for you over the phone.

Or contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling To reach SHIP in Howard County, call (410) 313-7392.

Any changes to coverage you make will take effect Jan. 1, 2025. If you take no action during open enrollment, your current coverage will continue next year.

Extra Help

If you’re lower-income and having a hard time paying your medication costs, you may be eligible for Medicare’s “Extra Help” program. This is a federal low-income subsidy that helps pay Part D premiums, deductibles and copayments.

To be eligible, your annual income must be under $22,590 ($30,660 for married couples living together), and your assets (not

VISIT WITH A THERAPY DOG

Enjoy a visit with friendly therapy dogs from Pets on Wheels at the East Columbia Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way. Drop in on Sat., Nov. 2 from 1 to 2 p.m. for a relaxing session; no registration required. For more information, call (410) 313-7700 or visit petsonwheels.org.

PARTYING WITH PUMPKINS

Recycle your pumpkins at this eco-friendly event featuring pumpkin smashing, composting and fun activities for all ages on Sat., Nov. 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Miller Library, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Free admission. For more information, contact Alan Wilcom at (410) 313-6433.

counting your home, personal possessions, vehicles, life insurance policies or burial expenses) must be below $17,220 ($34,360 for married couples).

For more information or to apply, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit

BEACON BITS Oct. 26

SSA.gov/medicare/part-d-extra-help.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

SAFELY DISPOSE OF OLD DRUGS

Safely dispose of unused or expired medications, including e-cigarettes and needles, at this drive-through event on Sat., Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center, 5755 Cedar Ln., Columbia.

on Question 1

Have conﬁdence in every conversation.

Do you ﬁnd it difﬁcult to use a standard phone? Do people ask you to repeat yourself during telephone conversations? Do you miss important calls because you can’t hear the phone ring? The Maryland Accessible Telecommunications (MAT) program is here to help by giving Maryland residents the opportunity to apply for State-provided telecommunications equipment to independently make and receive calls. Once you qualify, a skilled evaluator meets with you to determine the best device to support your day-to-day communications. The MAT program has a variety of equipment solutions to support clearer communication, including:

• Ampliﬁed phones

• Tablets

• Ring signalers

• Phones with large and/or high contrast buttons

• Captioned Telephones

• And more

For more information:

800-552-7724 | 410-767-7253 (Voice/TTY) 410-801-9618 (Video Phone) | MDMAT.org

Sheet pan panko honey mustard chicken

By The Associated Press

Plain ol’ boneless, skinless chicken breasts are given new life in this sheet-pan meal by Caroline Chambers. The chicken gets coated in a honey mustard sauce, then topped with buttery breadcrumbs that get crunchy and browned in the oven.

Her kids love this dish — they call it giant chicken nuggets (feeding kids is all about the marketing, right?).

The broccoli gets the frico (melted cheese) treatment — crisped up with Parmesan.

Then dunk everything in the extra honey mustard sauce — that’s what it’s there for.

Panko Honey Mustard Chicken (with Frico Broccoli)

Serves 4

Ingredients:

½ cup grainy Dijon mustard

1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1½ teaspoons garlic powder

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Kosher salt

4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts

4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter

¾ cup panko breadcrumbs

½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 pound broccoli florets

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

LENARD

GORDON

SCOTT B. BECKER, M.D.

YIYUN ZHOU, M.D.

Peace of Mind is Priceless

2. In a large bowl, stir together the mustard, honey, 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, 1 teaspoon of the garlic powder, the red pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon salt. Reserve 3 tablespoons of the sauce in a serving bowl.

3. Add another ½ teaspoon salt to the sauce in the large bowl, then add the chicken and turn to coat evenly. If you have time, let the chicken marinate at room temperature for up to 30 minutes (or up to overnight in the refrigerator). But don’t worry if you need to cook it right away!

4. Melt the butter in a microwave-safe medium bowl in 20-second bursts, stirring after each, or in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the panko, ¼ cup of the Parmesan, the remaining ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and a big pinch of salt (do this right in the skillet if you used one to melt the butter).

5. On the prepared baking sheet, toss the broccoli florets with the remaining 2

tablespoons olive oil and ¾ teaspoon salt to coat evenly. Nestle the chicken breasts among the florets. Top with the panko mixture, pressing firmly to adhere.

6. Roast for 12 minutes, then gently toss the broccoli and sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan on top. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken registers 160°F, 5 to 7 minutes more.

7. Serve the chicken and broccoli with the reserved honey mustard sauce alongside for dunking.

Swap: Use finely chopped almonds or hazelnuts instead of breadcrumbs for a gluten-free spin. Swap in asparagus or green beans for the broccoli.

Shortcut : Use store-bought honey mustard instead of making your own.

(410) 313-7800.

PHOTO BY EVA KOLENKO

Six nutrients that may lessen depression

Depression, a pervasive mental health issue, often leads people into a relentless cycle of medication adjustments without addressing underlying causes.

The prevalent use of antidepressants, although beneficial for some, has drawn criticism due to side effects and the inability to address root causes, such as nutritional deficiencies or hormonal imbalances.

SSRI antidepressants can increase serotonin activity, but only temporarily.

1. Vitamin C is essential for the metabolic pathways that produce serotonin and other neurotransmitters.

By Suzy Cohen

The medications are not designed to correct fundamental biochemical imbalances, which are often the precursors to mood disorders.

These meds don’t provide any minerals or vitamins, which are required to make serotonin and norepinephrine — two key neurotransmitters involved in producing “happiness” and mood stability.

Serotonin is predominantly made in the gut, not your brain. Foods rich in tryptophan — such as dates, papaya and bananas — can naturally enhance serotonin levels, potentially reducing depression symptoms.

On the supplement front, several nutrients play crucial roles in neurotransmitter synthesis:

2. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) influences the release of serotonin and norepinephrine, impacting mood and energy levels.

3. The active form of folic acid called 5-MTHF facilitates the production of mood-regulating neurotransmitters. The prescription drug called Deplin is made of this B vitamin.

4. Magnesium plays a multifaceted role in mental health, affecting serotonin regulation and helping prevent migraines, a common comorbidity with depression.

5. Nutrients that support the thyroid, such as tyrosine and iodine, are essential for the production of thyroid hormones. Additionally, mood instability is commonly associated with hypothyroidism.

6. Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng) is an adaptogenic herb that supports adrenal health and helps the body cope with stress, enhancing overall wellbeing.

Seek a holistic strategy

While it’s tempting to seek a simple solution through medication or natural reme-

dies alone, the most effective approach to managing depression involves a comprehensive strategy that addresses dietary, biological and psychological factors.

It’s crucial to consult with healthcare professionals to tailor treatment — whether through dietary adjustments, supplements or conventional medications.

Millions of people are searching for alternatives that tackle the root causes of depression beyond just managing symptoms.

This shift towards a more integrative

perspective broadens treatment options and aligns more closely with the body’s natural processes. I’m a big believer in holistic approaches and nourishing the body’s metabolic pathways.

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

Primary Care At Home

Providing primary care medical services in the comfort and convenience of your home for patients who have difficulty traveling to an office.

Ikon Health offers:

• Care coordination with specialists.

• Access to services such as x-ray and blood work, at home.

• Close communication with patients and their loved ones.

• Accepting Medicare, Medicaid and most major supplemental insurance plans.

PUMMPKIN PAL L ALOO LOO

20 2

2 024 4 0

Travel Leisure & Visit Scottish Highlands aboard a barge

By Don Mankin

I leaned back in my deck chair, basking in the sun and enjoying the warm breeze. Languorously I gazed at the lush Scottish scenery slowly slipping by.

Wait, what? Sun? Warm breeze? Scotland?

It was August, and my wife, Katherine, and I were cruising down the Caledonian Canal from Inverness, through Loch Ness, to Fort William on a colorful, retrofitted barge during what passes for a heat wave in Scotland.

The Caledonian Canal was constructed in the early 19th century to connect the west coast of Scotland near Fort William to the east coast at Inverness on the Moray Firth.

About a third of the 60-mile length of the canal is manmade. The rest runs through several lakes, including Loch Ness.

In addition to lochs, there are locks — 29 of them — to raise the canal more than 100 feet at its highest point.

The canal is located along the Great Glen, a straight geological fault that runs through the highlands, featuring some of the most historic and beautiful scenery in Scotland.

The Ros Crana — the name of the red, green and yellow barge operated by Caledonian Discovery — contains six cabins with private baths, a lounge, dining area, and spacious outdoor deck where I spent much of the week-long cruise.

River walk and Old Town

Our trip started in Inverness, the largest city in the Scottish Highlands. This walkable city features an Old Town, with historic buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th century, and the River Ness flowing through the heart of the city to Loch Ness.

For three days prior to our cruise, we wandered leisurely through Old Town and along the Ness Walk, a leafy promenade that lines the river on both banks. Along the flat, peaceful walk are stately homes, cafes, restaurants, a botanical garden and the 19th-century Saint Andrew Cathedral.

One of my favorite sights was the 18thcentury Old High Church, the oldest church in Inverness, whose graveyard overlooks the river.

A series of Victorian footbridges less than a mile from the city center led to a cluster of small, wooded islands in the middle of the river, then across to the other bank.

On one of the islands, I sat on a fallen tree trunk that had been carved into an imagined likeness of Nessie (the Loch Ness monster). From my perch on the Nessie log, I contemplated the rivulets on the shallow river as it flowed past.

Through lochs and locks

After three days in Inverness, it was time to board the barge and begin our cruise. For the first couple of hours, the

boat glided down the narrow canal, the gentle put-put of the engine and the tinkling of water flowing past the bow were the only sounds.

Everyone sat on the deck, drinking beer or gin and tonics, soaking up the sun and gazing at the lush, emerald green countryside.

For the next several days, we cruised, basked in the sun and hiked. The hikes ranged from a few easy miles along the shore of a loch past a castle, to a more challenging trek up and down “Wee Hill,” which wasn’t anywhere near as “wee” as we expected.

We trudged through knee high heather and pointy, shoulder high gorse. Roots, weeds and underbrush grabbed at our boots. When we finally reached the crest of the hill, we were rewarded with a spectacular view of Loch Oich in the distance.

We also hiked up a gorge, alongside plunging falls, to a café at the top for ice cream. Then we took an easy stroll on shore to explore the ruins of Invergarry castle, stronghold of the MacDonells of Glengarry, built in the 17th century.

After the castle, we walked through the woods along the shoreline, then stopped for tea and scones at the Glengarry Castle Hotel, an elegant 19th-century baronial

Leisurely hikes

My favorite hike was up a gentle slope overlooking Loch Lochy to the estate of the Cameron Clan in Achnacarry. Besides being the historical home of such luminaries as David Cameron, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and James Cameron, director of the movies Terminator, Titanic and Avatar, it was also the training site for WWII commandos from the U.S., Britain and other allied nations.

More of a leisurely walk than a hike, it was the most serene of all the hikes we took. It was just Katherine and I plus another couple, so the peaceful walk unfolded at our own pace.

The scenery was bucolic, the views of the bay and our colorful barge at anchor were sublime, and the weather was balmy and bright. The easy path took us past flocks of grazing sheep, the Clan Cameron Castle, a small clan museum, and an old, rustic church.

A sailboat, stand-up paddle boards, bikes and canoes were also available on board the cruise for use by the guests. Most every day, many of the guests rode

mansion.

A “Wee Hill” in the Scottish Highlands was a challenging hike for the author and his wife, Katherine, above. The couple spent six days cruising on a retrofitted barge down a 60-mile waterway with 29 locks, stopping for short hikes along the way.

Inverness, Scotland, has a walkable historic downtown as well as a waterfront path along the Ness River. PHOTO

PHOTO BY DON MANKIN

Scotland has its share of mist and rain, but some stunning rainbows can result. See story below.

PHOTO BY DON MANKIN

Scotland

From page 10

bikes along the canal path, meeting up with the barge at the next dock or lock.

A transcendent moment

This was a trip filled with memorable moments, but nothing matched the afterdinner light show on the fourth day of the cruise.

We were anchored in a secluded corner of Loch Oich, just offshore the castle ruins. There was little else around us, other than water, trees, sky and a couple of other boats. The slanting rays of the setting sun, filtered through patches of mist, turned the emerald hills to gold.

As we were finishing our dinner, we spotted a rainbow through the windows of the dining cabin. We rushed outside with our cameras to capture the most incredible rainbow I have ever seen.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

PET ADOPTION EVENTS

With a full 180-degree arch and brilliant sunbreaks illuminating the rainbow, ground and puffs of mist, it was a spectacular symphony of vivid color. All chatter stopped. We stood hushed, enthralled by the scene.

Then our guide, sitting on the roof of the wheelhouse, began to play a wistful tune on a recorder, followed by Martin, our skipper, playing a traditional Scottish tune on a tin whistle. A sweet sound of music to accompany a long moment of breathtaking beauty.

In the words of one of the guests, “I think we found God.”

If you go

Round-trip airfare with one stop to Inverness is about $1,000 on British Airways, American Airlines, KLM and Air France.

Contact Caledonian Discovery, our hosts for the canal cruise, for more information: caledonian-discovery.co.uk.

Help give a dog the gift of a forever home! PAW, a volunteer-run animal rescue group, hosts monthly adoption events in Columbia. Volunteers aged 50+ are welcome to join this mission and help foster, walk and transport animals. To adopt, volunteer or foster, contact volunteer@paw-rescue.org or call (240) 275-6834. For more information, visit paw-rescue.org.

BEACON BITS

Nov. 2

ELLICOTT CITY FALL CLEAN-UP

Join the community to help beautify Historic Ellicott City. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to assist with trash pickup, weeding and planting on Sat., Nov. 2 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Meet at theRoger Carter Community Center, 3000 Milltowne Dr. For more information and to register, visit tinyurl.com/ECCleanUp.

FIXED

Serving HowardCounty, Anne Arundel County,City of Laurel and Northern Prince George’s County

A once-in-a-lifetime rainbow appears over Loch Oich, Scotland, as viewed from the barge on which the author traveled.

PHOTO BY DON MANKIN

Upcoming Programs for 55 Years + Recreation

& Parks

To view all of our programs and activities, visit www.HowardCountyMD.gov/rap.

Dance

• Info: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.

Beginner/Intermediate Soul Line Dance

Explore your own style of dance while learning fun, popular, social line dances that can be done at weddings, holiday functions and more. The class is partner-free and designed for all levels. Line up and learn the step-by-step choreography taught by instructor, Jessie Barnes. Multiple dances are performed to great pop and rhythm and blues music.

55 yrs +Instructor: Jessie BarnesClasses: 6No class 11/28

RP3511.102Harriet Tubman CtrOct 244-5pmTh$59

Beginner Latin Dance

Learn basic dance steps for rhumba and cha-cha dance rhythms with dance instructor Tom Sellner.

55 yrs +Harriet Tubman CtrClasses: 5No class 11/28

RP3517.102Nov 79:30-10:30amTh$59

Fitness

• Info: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.

NEW! Yoga for the Core with Kathy Greisman

Formerly Yoga for Bone Strength. Let’s gain better balance and stability by focusing on our core strength. A strong core is vital to maintaining balance, stability and helps to prevent injury.

Bring a yoga mat.

55 yrs +Belmont ManorClasses: 12No class 11/11, 11/27

RP3566.102Oct 2811:30am-12:30pmM,W$95

Exercise with Ease with Kathy Whelan, RYT-200

This well-rounded hour of fitness for active seniors includes low-impact aerobics, stretching, muscle toning, and strength activities aimed at improving endurance, body alignment, balance, and proper breathing. Listen to upbeat music while learning simple choreographed moves. Participants use light weights (3-5 lbs), flat resistance bands and a chair for certain exercises. Class is held online via Zoom.

55 yrs +OnlineClasses: 13No class 11/28

RP8060.102Nov 59-10amTu,Th$67

Scan the QR code or visit tinyurl.com/activeaging55 for more 55 yrs + programs!

Lifelong Learning

• Info: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.

How to Use Your Phone/Tablet Effectively

• Innfo: Tr T acy y Adkins, , 4100-3133-7279 or r tadkins@howardcouuntymd.ggov.

Meet You There! Ar t: The ClayGround –Merr y Mosaic Holiday Ornaments!

Create a holiday mosaic during this amazing holiday work- d.gov

Learn how to get more use out of your mobile devices (smartphone, iPad). Discover social media and how to use it to stay in contact with family members, or receive important information automatically. Bring your smart phone, computer or tablet.

55 yrs +Instructor: Constance LoweClasses: 1

RP3523.102Gary J Arthur CCOct 3010-11amW$25

Nature Programs

• Info: Robinson Nature Center, 410-313-0400.

Sr. Naturalist Program

Having fun in nature is for all ages! This program provides a foundation of understanding on a variety of environmental topics through hands-on exploration and demonstrations in a casual, social atmosphere. Topics change monthly based on seasonal happenings.

Birding Walk: Enjoy a walk to identify birds around the property while learning how to recognize the differences between species sights and sounds.

Astronomy: Enjoy the winter constellations and a film in the planetarium.

50 yrs +Robinson Nature CtrClasses: 1

RP4831.103Birding WalkNov 203-4:30pmW$15

RP4831.104AstronomyDec 183-4:30pmW$15

Speaker Series

• Info: Tessa Hurd, 410-313-7311 or thurd@howardcountymd.gov.

Public Archaeology in Howard County: Hundreds of Sites and Thousands of Artifacts

Over 300 prehistoric and historic sites in Howard County have been officially surveyed and registered with a site name and number at the Maryland Historical Trust. This PowerPoint session includes an artifact pass-around of diagnostic artifacts from historic sites dating to the 17th century. The tools and techniques used by archaeologists to survey, recover artifacts, and reconstruct a site are highlighted with slides of public archaeology fieldwork at various Howard County sites.

55 yrs +Instructor: M. Lee Preston Jr.Classes: 1

RP3506.104Gary J Arthur CC Nov 4 10-11:30am M $20

shop. With guidance from your instructor, learn how to cut glass to create a beautiful ornament. Select precut mosaic tiles, beads, sea glass, and more to create a fantastic ornament of personalized art. Walking from car to seat.

18 yrs +ClayGround Studio

RP4571.101Nov 611am-1pmW$79

Meet You There!

Toby’s Dinner Theatre – Sound of Music

One of the most beloved musicals of all time! In 1938 Austria, Maria (a young woman studying to be a nun) is sent to serve as a governess for the Captain von Trapp. Maria finds love while bringing music and joy back to the broken family. This Tony- and Oscar-winning musical features a trove of cherished songs including “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” and “The Sound of Music.” The outing includes a delicious and bountiful buffet! Be sure to register early! Walking from car to seat.

All ages Toby’s Dinner Theatre

RP4583.101Nov 155:45-9pmF$85

Save The Date!

The Historic Ford’s Theatre Presents

A Christmas Carol

Join us at the historic Ford's Theatre to celebrate the joy of the season. With his “Bah, Humbug!,” Ebenezer Scrooge reveals his feelings about the holiday. But it’s never too late to change this grumpy old miser. With the help of Tiny Tim and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, Scrooge discovers the true spirit of the holidays – greeting Christmas morning with newfound cheer. Lunch or snack is on your own at the nearby cafe or theatre concession. Walking from bus to seat.

All agesBus provided RP4613.101Dec 14Time TBDSa$159

Scan the QR code or visit tinyurl.com/RPtrips for more trips & tours!

Volume 14, No. 11 | November 2024

Celebrating caregivers who support aging in place

From the desk of Calvin Ball, Howard County Executive

Born in 1915, Hazel Chambers has lived through more than a century of history and experiences. Now 109, “Miss Hazel” lives with her cousin and caregiver Sydney in Elkridge in a home that has been in the family since the1930s, with help from Sydney’s daughters Ena and Annricka. Her story illustrates the benefits of aging in place surrounded by loved ones and support from the Office of Aging and Independence Senior Care Program. Miss Hazel spent most of her life in Halethorpe, before moving to Howard County in 2017. She fondly recalls the simplicity and joy of growing up during a time when the area was predominantly farmland. “When I was growing up, it was ALL farmland!” She reminisces about the land her father used to farm near the railroad. “I’d go to the railroad to play in the morning - the engineers all knew me and would bring me toys when they saw me.”

Life wasn’t always easy, but Miss Hazel’s resilience shines through as she reflects on those days. “When I was growing up ‘broke,’ that was just the times, that’s how it was,” she says, accepting it as part of her life’s journey. She also recalls the challenges of living in a time when technology was not as advanced, sharing a story about having to push the family’s T-bird to get it started: “We had to push, run and jump in,” she recalls with a chuckle.

Since 2023, Miss Hazel has benefited from services provided by the Supportive Services for Older Adults Program (SOAP) Senior Care Grant which helps her remain in the comfort of her family’s home. The program has provided essential support, including case management, four hours of personal care weekly, and assistive devices to increase home safety like a bed rail, all of which allow Miss Hazel to continue aging in place with dignity and comfort.

The family also emphasizes the need for more support and resources for caregivers. Cousin Ena highlights this need, stating, “There could be a lot more services available for older adults who can’t afford private care and don’t have the family support

See Miss Hazel, p. 15

Did you know that family caregivers – spouses, adult children, relatives, and friends – are the major source of unpaid help for older adults living in our community? During November, National Family Caregivers Month, we want to spotlight our local caregivers and the Offi ce of Aging and Independence Caregiver Support Program.

The National Family Caregiver Support Program coordinates an array of supports to help family and informal caregivers care for older adults and others in their homes for as long as possible. It is projected that by 2030, residents age 60+ will represent about 26% of our population. In Howard County, it is projected that more than a third of our residents will be 55 or older by 2030. In January 2024, Governor Wes Moore signed an executive order creating Longevity Ready Maryland, directing the Maryland Department of Aging to prioritize the well-being of older people, adults living with disabilities, and caregivers across the state to address the needs of our growing older adult population.

Under the program’s guidance, our Caregiver Support Program offers information and assistance; individual counseling and support groups; respite care and caregiver education. These services help reduce caregiver depression, anxiety and stress, enabling them to provide care longer at home, avoiding or delaying the need for costly institutional care.

As we kick off the second phase of our Age-Friendly initiative in 2025, we will continue to ensure Howard County older adults have what they need to remain independent in the community for as long as possible and provide services that support the whole family. To learn more, visit howardcountymd.gov/caregiver.

Meridy McCague named Howard County Employee of the Year

Congratulations to Meridy McCague, director of the East Columbia 50+ Center and Howard County’s 2024 Employee of the Year. This year, Meridy and her staff transitioned East Columbia from the county’s smallest 50+ Center to the largest. Her positivity, creativity and determination inspired the entire project team to make the long-awaited center a reality for the East Columbia older adult community.

Miss Hazel, from p. 14

to continue care. More resources supporting the caregiver are necessary.” Cousin Sydney agrees, noting, “Resources for caregivers are crucial if they’re maintaining care at home as opposed to a nursing facility. It would be helpful if there were more support available for both the caregivers and the person receiving care.”

“The goal of the Senior Care Grant program is to delay or divert moving to a nursing home by providing case management and limited gap-filling funding for support services to assist clients who want to age in the community, and their caregivers,” says Vanessa Arndt, SOAP manager. “While grant funding has grown in the last several years thanks to local and state advocacy, it has not matched the increase in the older adult population.”

Miss Hazel continues to add experiences to the rich tapestry of her life surrounded by family and supported by community services. Her journey is a testament to the enduring strength that comes from a life well-lived.

For more information, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/ProjectHoliday or email projectholiday@howardcountymd.gov. Project Holiday is not a 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt organization.

Medicare Open Enrollment

Howard County’s Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) can help you explore your options to ensure your Medicare plan still meets your needs and protect you from Medicare scams and fraud. SHIP’s trusted advisors will help you review your current coverage, prepare for changes coming in 2025, and can determine if a Medicare Advantage Plan is right for you. Call 410-313-7392 (voice/relay) to schedule your appointment during open enrollment, now through December 7.

2024 Caregiver Conference: Caregivers Are Superheroes

East Columbia 50+ Center – November 16, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. / A20698.100

The conference features a keynote presentation by Kim Burton on resilience, lunch and activities to help family caregivers relax, recharge and focus on self-care. Breakout sessions include:

• How Superheroes can Battle Caregiver Stress;

• Mastering Chronic Conditions;

• Lifestyle Strategies for Pain Management; and

• Lego® Serious Play session: Joy, Resilience and Superpowers.

Cost $15. Register at bit.ly/HoCoCaregiver

Reducing Stress During the Holiday Season

Elkridge 50+ Center – November 7, 1 p.m. / A05100.100

The holiday season often comes with added stress from financial concerns, family dynamics and travel. We will discuss these challenges, share recommendations and explore new solutions together. Free.

Native American Heritage Book Discussion

North Laurel 50+ Center – November 12, 10:30 a.m. / A06615.104

Join us and the Howard County Library with an engaging and informative discussion on fiction and nonfiction books by Native American authors. Free.

Join or Die Documentary Screening

Ellicott City 50+ Fitness Center – November 13, 1 p.m. / A02745.101

“Join or Die” is an evidence-based documentary that follows the half-century story of America’s civic unraveling through the journey of renowned social scientist Robert Putnam. Free.

Healthy Hands Pampering

Elkridge 50+ Center – November 14, 1 p.m. / Cost $7 / A05112.101

In recognition of Healthier Skin Month, enjoy a self-pampering session with trained estheticians and get tips to care for your hands.

Veterans Day Presentation

Bain 50+ Center – November 13, 10 a.m. / Call 410-313-7213 to register

Army veteran Ellen Frank will discuss her 13-year career as a captain, followed by a performance from the United States Army Field Band Saxophone Quartet. Free.

Keep Moving! Exercise and Parkinson’s Disease

9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia November 20, 10:30 a.m. / A20699.104

In partnership with the Parkinson’s Foundation, Katrina Wolf, ACSM certified personal trainer, and Azaria Noris of Agewell Senior Fitness will offer an overview of exercise for those with the disease.

MoneyMoney Law & 2.7 billion IDs hacked in recent breach You are probably affected

By the Dominion Post Editorial Board

National Public Data (NPD) is a private company based in Florida that collects information for background checks. Its databases held 2.7 billion people’s full name, address, date of birth, Social Security number and phone number, alternate names and birth dates and email addresses.

NPD was hacked in April, and possibly again this summer, and all that information became available for purchase on the dark web — the seedy underbelly of the internet where criminal activity thrives. [Ed. Note: In addition, the personal information of almost one million Medicare beneficiaries was exposed during a data breach in May 2023.]

This is a sobering reminder that our personal data — everything from our usernames and passwords to our birth dates and Social Security numbers — is just a few keystrokes away from falling into the hands of criminals.

What you need to do

There are a few ways to check if your in-

formation was part of the leak. You can visit NPDbreach.com to see if you were part of this specific leak and, if so, which pieces of your personal information may have been compromised.

Even if you have no reason to think NPD would have your information, it’s still important to check their site. Criminals can do a lot of damage to your credit, finances — even your reputation — with just your full name, date of birth and address, let alone your Social Security number.

If your information has been leaked, you can protect your credit by putting a freeze on it with the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. The process is not difficult, but you have to contact each of these companies individually. [See box at right for more information.]

If you plan to make any major purchases (like a car or a house) or open any new accounts (like a credit card or with a new bank) that require a credit check, you will have to contact each agency to lift the freeze temporarily. Call it a “thaw,” if you will.

Many recent retirees find they’re in better financial shape than they thought they would be. See story on page 18.

Five tips to protect your ID

• Sign up for 24/7 credit monitoring and activate two-factor authentication.

• Never respond to unsolicited requests for information.

• Review credit card, bank accounts and loans on a regular basis.

• Place a free fraud alert on your credit file. A fraud alert tells creditors to contact you before they open any new accounts or change your existing accounts.

• Freeze your credit reports with these three primary companies: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. In this context, “freezing” means that you prohibit your credit reports from being ac-

Scammers go phishing

One of the things that worries experts about the NPD hack is that it compromised not only identifying personal information but also people’s email addresses.

Those things in combination make it easi-

cessed by most third parties. When you need to access your credit reports to open new accounts or obtain loans, contact all three companies to “unfreeze.” You can open an account and freeze your credit reports at no cost at all three companies (though they offer paid plans for additional services).

Here are the websites you will need to visit: experian.com/freeze/center.html; transunion.com/credit-freeze; equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze.

er for scammers to impersonate someone (spoof their email) or create sophisticated phishing emails targeting specific users. Phishing scams are designed to get people to voluntarily offer up personal in-

See DATA BREACH , page 17

Got Medicare? You have choices to make

By MedicareResources.org

Here are some tips for choosing insurance and prescription drug coverage for the coming year during Medicare’s open enrollment period, which opens October 15 and closes December 7.

In 2024, about 34 million Americans were enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans — more than half of all Medicare beneficiaries. That’s more than double the percentage enrolled in 2007.

“Medicare Advantage plans are growing in popularity because they are very good at communicating with consumers and offering benefits like dental, vision and hearing care that attract interest,” said Jenny Chumbley Hogue, an analyst for medicareresources.org.

“Ultimately, the choice is one that deserves careful consideration each year. A plan that appears attractive at first glance could end up costing you more down the

road if it’s not the right plan for your needs. The devil is always in the details.”

During Medicare open enrollment, Medicare beneficiaries who are already enrolled have a handful of decisions regarding their coverage. Options include:

• Switching from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or vice versa.

• Switching from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.

• Switching from one Part D (that is, prescription drug) plan to another.

“There are trade-offs depending on which option you choose,” said Chumbley Hogue.

“Advantage plans tend to have a more limited healthcare provider network, and coverage for specific services may not be as robust as you can get with Original Medicare plus a supplemental (Medigap) policy to fill Medicare’s gaps. But Advantage plans also tend to be less expensive.

“On the other hand, if you are enrolled in

Original Medicare and have additional coverage through Medigap and stand-alone Part D drug coverage, that could end up saving you money in the long run if you develop a serious or chronic health condition.”

Weighing pros and cons

Medicareresources.org suggests consumers take into consideration several factors when deciding between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage:

• Provider network: Original Medicare has a broader provider network with nationwide coverage. Medicare Advantage plans each have their own network, which may be more limited in terms of providers and coverage area.

• Premiums: The average total of premiums for Medicare Advantage (including the Part B premium that is also paid by Medicare Advantage enrollees) is less than the average total of premiums for Original

Medicare plus Medigap and Part D drug coverage.

• Out-of-pocket costs: Original Medicare coupled with Medigap coverage may come at a higher monthly premium, but could result in little to no out-of-pocket exposure (other than the cost of medications, which are covered separately under Part D).

With most Medicare Advantage plans, you’ll pay coinsurance and copays that could total as much as $9,350 in 2025 for services that would be covered under Original Medicare with Parts A and B (plus the cost of medications).

• Prescription drug costs: Most Medicare Advantage plans include Medicare Part D drug coverage. Check it to make sure. Each Medicare Advantage plan will also have its own preferred drug list, which de-

See MEDICARE , page 17

Data breach

From page 16

formation — usually Social Security or credit card numbers — or click on malicious links, often by pretending to be legitimate companies or by scaring people into clicking links to avoid supposed late fees or other strange charges to their accounts.

Unfortunately, it’s fairly common for people’s email addresses to be leaked as

Medicare

From page 16

termines how much you will pay.

If you stick with Original Medicare, you will need to choose and pay for a standalone Part D plan if you need prescription drug coverage. [See "Choosing next year's Medicare drug plan" on page 4.]

• Extra benefits: Medicare Advantage plans often include extra benefits — like dental, vision, hearing aids and gym memberships — that are not offered by Original Medicare (or typically covered by a Medigap plan).

• Special plans: People with certain health conditions or applicants with low incomes (e.g., eligible for Medicaid) may be eligible for special types of Medicare Advantage plans with additional benefits.

Can you change your mind?

Consumers should also consider their ability to change their Medicare coverage later on.

“If the ability to easily switch back and forth among plans is important to you, a Medicare Advantage plan offers that flexibility,” Chumbley Hogue said.

“On the other hand, your ability to switch from Medicare Advantage altogether (and enroll in or return to Original Medicare plus Medigap) could be hindered by your medical history. That’s because enrollees who have had Medicare Advantage coverage for more than a year may be denied Medigap coverage for preexisting conditions,” she said.

[Ed. Note: The only times a Medicare beneficiary can be guaranteed a choice of any Medigap plan without regard to pre-existing conditions is during their initial enrollment period, which occurs around the time one turns 65 or if they qualify for guaranteed issue (for example, their Medicare Advantage plan stops offering coverage in their area).]

How to compare plans

If you currently are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, here’s how to evaluate your coverage during Medicare open enrollment:

• Check whether your preferred providers are still in-network.

• Review whether your prescription drug costs change in the upcoming plan year, and always check multiple pharmacies to determine the right plan for you.

• Consider all of the available Medicare Advantage plans — comparing premiums,

part of — for lack of a better word — minor data breaches. So many apps and websites require us to put in our email addresses, even if we don’t set up an account with them. That information gets stored and can be compromised. Same with usernames and passwords.

You can check to see if your email address — and related information — has been leaked in any data breach at haveibeenpwned.com. If your email address has been part of any known hack, this site will tell you,

provider networks and prescription drug costs. See Medicare.gov/plan-compare.

“You really need to pay close attention to the details,” said Chumbley Hogue. “Read the fine print and reassess your plan each year to make sure you understand your plan costs and your plan benefits.”

[The same holds true for those on Original Medicare, who may choose a new Part D prescription drug plan during Open En-

along with which data breach compromised your address and what other kind of information may also have been exposed by that hack.

Prevention

There are several things we can do to protect ourselves: use unique passwords for every site (we know — much easier said than done), two-factor authentication, and specific online security services, including antiviral software, to safe-

rollment. Go to Medicare.gov and compare all your options.]

For additional information about Medicare open enrollment, and assistance in making your choice, visit the websites mentioned above, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or contact Howard County SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program at (410) 313-7392.

Medicareresources.org, an online source of

guard our information, and credit monitoring to alert us when something has happened.

The hazard of modern life is that even the most basic things we do now require us to give up personal information that is then stored electronically. And unfortunately, that information is never as safe as we wish it to be.

information about Medicare since 2011, is owned by HealthInsurance.org, LLC, a corporate affiliate of a group of insurance agencies and marketers. The site provides an overview of the basics of Medicare coverage options, enrollment and eligibility; coverage FAQs; statespecific Medicare information; and a glossary of Medicare terms. Medicareresources.org is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.

HOWARD COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS

The first choice you will make this elec on is which day to vote!

Maryland voters can vote in-person BEFORE Elec on Day at Early Vo ng!

Early Vo ng will be held from Thursday, October 24, 2024, through Thursday, October 31, 2024 (including Saturday and Sunday), from 7:00 AM un l 8:00 PM daily.

Early Vo ng will be held at the following five loca ons:

St. John Bap st Church 9055 Tamar Drive – The Fellowship Hall Columbia, MD 21045

The Bain Center 5470 Ruth Keeton Way Great Rooms 1, 2, 3 Columbia, MD 21044

Meadowbrook

Athle c Complex 5001 Meadowbrook Lane

Mul -Purpose Room Ellico City, MD 21043

Gary J. Arthur Community Center

2400 State Route 97 – Gym Cooksville, MD 21723

North Laurel Community Center 9411 Whiskey Bo om Road – Gym Laurel, MD 20723

Please Note: If you vote during early vo ng, you cannot vote on Elec on Day (November 5, 2024), or by mail-in ballot. If you have requested a mail-in ballot and choose to not vote that ballot and come to in-person vo ng, you will vote a provisional ballot.

Retirement survey’s surprising results

By Charlotte Gorbold

Retirement planning isn’t the most obvious hook for a love song. “We can rent a cottage in the Isle of Wight, if it’s not too dear,” sings Paul McCartney in the Beatles song “When I’m 64.” “We shall scrimp and save.”

Things have panned out slightly different than McCartney, now 82, imagined. With a net worth of $1.3 billion, he’s pretty far from scrimping and saving.

Surprisingly, while few 80-year-olds can say they’re that wealthy, many older folks in the U.S. say they’re not struggling financially either.

In fact, three in four Americans who have retired (74%) say they have enough money to live comfortably. That’s according to a survey from Gallup, which has been tracking views on retirement in the U.S. since 2002. In contrast, the survey reveals that nonretirees are far less positive about the road

ahead: less than half (45%) of this group say they’ll have enough money to live comfortably when they retire.

What accounts for what Gallup calls “the disconnect between the retirement expectations of non-retirees and the more positive outcomes among those who are now retired”? In other words, why might many retirees be better off financially than they imagined?

Reality vs. expectations

Every April, Gallup surveys at least 1,000 U.S. adults 18 and older living in all 50 states, asking for their views on personal finance and the economy, including retirement.

Gallup says the results have consistently shown a “retirement reality versus expectations gap” since it began collecting this information 23 years ago. “Non-retirees’ outlook has been consistently lower

and subject to swings based on the national economic climate,” it said.

For example, just over half of those who were 45-60 in 2002-2004 felt they would have enough money to live comfortably when they retired. But 79% of this same age group, who are now retired, say they have enough money to live comfortably.

“For this age cohort of Americans,” Gallup said, “the reality has turned out to be significantly more positive than they anticipated two decades ago.”

Social Security helps

Undoubtedly, many retirees have lower living costs than when they were working. They may have downsized in retirement, for example, or relocated to a cheaper city or region. They may be finding that Medicare is covering more healthcare costs, too.

However, Gallup highlights the “unan-

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ticipated value of Social Security in retirement” as a key factor. Data from 2019-2024 show that an average of 58% of retired Americans say Social Security is a major source of their retirement income, making it “the bedrock of their financial security.”

In addition, most of those surveyed say they have major sources of income in addition to Social Security.

Of those retirees who have at least one major income source in addition to Social Security, 78% say they are financially comfortable. And 82% of those who have three or more major sources of income in retirement (which may or may not include Social Security) say they’re financially comfortable.

Falling through the gaps

The survey’s findings present a rosy snapshot of retirement that may strike a chord with many of the 55.8 million people in the U.S. aged 65 and over.

But there is a flip-side. Judging by the figures, one in four retired Americans (26%) may not have enough money to live comfortably.

And while six in 10 retirees say they’re financially comfortable with Social Security as their only major income source, four in 10 say they’re struggling. That’s reflected in figures from the U.S. Census, which found that in 2021, roughly 8% of those 65 and above lived in poverty — that’s around 4.5 million people.

So, what happens next?

By 2050, it’s predicted that 22% of the population will be 65 and over. Couple that with a Social Security system that may not be able to pay in full in a few years, and the difficulties of saving for retirement amid a costof-living crisis, and it’s not hard to imagine many retirees facing a very different set of circumstances over the next 20 to 30 years.

If you’re worried about the cost of retirement, take a moment to consider the kind of lifestyle you’ll want in your later years, then use benchmark retirement saving guidelines to help plan for that, or speak with a financial adviser.

Arts & Style

They’re creepy and kooky, but so funny

By Stuart Rosenthal

The iconic television show “The Addams Family” aired for only two seasons on ABC in the mid-1960s. But it influenced generations of viewers (in part due to decades of syndication), who to this day can chant the theme song with its finger-snapping syncopation.

To be fair, some of us got our first taste of the macabre humor of the Addams Family from the collections of New Yorker cartoons by Charles Addams that graced the waiting rooms of pediatricians and dentists from coast to coast.

But it was the television show, followed by several full-length feature films, that generated the popular interest that led to the successful Broadway musical production in 2010.

Starring Nathan Lane as Gomez and Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia, the show was nominated for multiple Tony, Drama Desk and Drama League Awards, including for outstanding musical, best original score and best actors.

The musical is now on stage at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, Maryland, through November 10.

A familiar story line

For a show based on the, shall we say, unique characters created by Charles Addams, the musical’s plot feels familiar.

It centers around daughter Wednesday (Lydia Gifford) surprisingly bringing home to dinner a “normal” boyfriend (with whom she’s fallen in love) and his parents.

As in La Cage aux Folles, the tension is about whether the offbeat family hosting the meal can keep a lid on their eccentricities long enough for both sets of parents to agree to the match.

What turns out to be an even bigger part of the tension comes from Wednesday’s begging Gomez (played by Helen Hayes Award winner Jordan B. Stocksdale) to keep the pending engagement a secret from Morticia (well played by MaryKate Brouillet).

That puts him in an untenable position between the two women in his life — “Trapped,” as he sings in one of the show’s funniest numbers. Stocksdale does an excellent job portraying Gomez as both dashing and hen-pecked at the same time.

Columbia Pro Cantare

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 7:30 PM - HANDEL: MESSIAH

Amy van Roekel, soprano; MaryAnn McCormick, mezzo; Charles Reid, tenor; Kenneth Overton, baritone, Henry Lowe, organ, Festival Orchestra. Pre-Concert Lecture, 6:30 by Prof. Ernest Liotti; Post-Concert Reception.

Jim Rouse Theatre, 5460 Trumpeter Rd., Columbia 21044

Tickets: Advance – Adults $25, Seniors/Students $20 At the Door - $2 more Children 15 and under - $10, Group rates available

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 5 PM –A CHRISTMAS NOËL

with the CPC Chamber Singers – Songs of the Season. Christ Episcopal Church, 6800 Oakland Mills Rd., Columbia 21045

Tickets: Adults $15, Seniors/Students $13 At the Door - $2 more Children 15 and under - $10

Information & Tickets: www.procantare.org

Almost Broadway

Despite the feelings of déjà vu from the plot, Toby’s pulls off the musical with both humor and heart. Much of that has to do with the excellent direction and choreogra-

Toby’s founder and artistic director, Toby Orenstein, for some years.

phy (yes, both) by Mark Minnick, who has worked alongside

PHOTO BY JERI TIDWELL

PHOTOGRAPHY

The stellar cast of The Addams Family, now playing at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, brings plenty of morbid and physical humor to the Tony Award-nominated musical. The rather racy show runs through November 10.

Romance Redux by Laura Stassi weaves the author’s experience with practical advice. Our cover story continues on page 21.

Addams Family

The score, which as noted above was nominated for a Tony, doesn’t feature many tunes you are likely to start humming. But the major numbers manage to convey the spectacle of a big Broadway stage even on Toby’s intimate theatre-inthe-round.

That’s especially true of the numbers that feature a large cast of Addams Family “ancestors” — ghosts who play a prominent role in the night’s events.

The principal cast members all have excel-

lent voices and powerful delivery. But it’s the women who really get to show their chops.

I was particularly struck by Gifford (Wednesday), not only for her superb singing, but also her distinctive speaking voice. Call me crazy-with-a-z, but she kept reminding me of the young Liza Minelli in Cabaret . Perhaps it was the heavy eye makeup and black hair, but she really channeled Minelli.

Maybe I had Cabaret on my mind because of the attire worn by Morticia. First, the neckline of her floor-length black gown extends “down to Venezuela,” as Gomez describes it. And for their “Tango

De Amor” number near the end of the show, she removes the bottom of the dress to reveal a fishnet hose and garter ensemble worthy of Sally Bowles.

Then there’s Alice Beineke (Anna Phillips-Brown), the mother of Wednesday’s intended. Accidentally given a potion meant to bring out the beast in a person, she convincingly transforms from a ditzy, vapid middle-aged mom into a sex-starved tigress in the middle of the family dinner.

To make it clear, while you might have assumed young children (or grandchildren) would be the intended audience for an Addams Family musical, you would be mistaken. On the other hand, at least some of the constant sexual innuendo might go over the heads of tender youths.

As always, Toby’s live orchestra does an excellent job giving life to the score. And the make-up department deserves special accolades, particularly for the wardrobe of the ancestors, who include character types from throughout world history, all appropriately dressed for their time and powdered like the ghosts they are.

A special shout-out goes to Toby’s scenic and properties designer, Shane Lowry, for designing jaw-dropping set pieces and props, including the disembodied hand

(“Thing”) that fences with Gomez, a walking skeleton pushing a cart, and the “monster under the bed” that helps little Pugsley sleep at night.

All in all, The Addams Family is a fun and funny Broadway musical, well suited for those who are into the macabre humor the characters are known for. On the other hand, if you’re usually (or currently) not in the mood for songs extolling pain and death, you might want to take a pass.

Ticket information

As always, Toby’s includes in the ticket price a multi-course, all-you-can-eat buffet: dinner prior to evening performances or brunch prior to Wednesday and Sunday matinees.

Depending on performance, tickets range from $84 to $92 for adults (those 65+ pay $74 for Tues. evening or any Wed. performance); children 4 and older are $64 to $67. Remember, the tips you leave for waiters also constitute the majority of the actors’ pay, so be generous.

Tickets are available from the box office by calling (410) 730-8311 or online via TicketMaster (with a service fee). Toby’s is located at 5900 Symphony Woods Rd. in Columbia, Maryland.

Gray dating

From page 1

“I come from a long line of married people, so you didn’t really think about divorce. You were expected to soldier on in the marriage forever.”

A new beginning

From her new apartment, Stassi began her new life as an unattached single woman. She decided to do what she knew best: She researched this new world of dating over 50, in hopes of one day writing a book.

When she asked her Facebook friends how they met people, she began gathering stories, which she posted on a blog she started. Stassi’s blog became fodder for a podcast, thanks to a combination of hard work and good luck.

One day in the car, she happened to hear on the radio that WAMU — the NPR-affiliated news-talk station at American University — was looking for new podcasts.

“It was competitive, but they were looking for diversity,” Stassi remembered.

“They had alphabetized the list of diversity categories, and ‘age’ was the number-one thing…So I thought, ‘Okay, I’ve got a good idea, and I’m older.’”

Stassi applied and was one of five people chosen from more than 500 applicants. The producers, she said, were impressed with the range of stories she had collected, including one from a woman who was trying to date while living with her ex-motherin-law.

“They said they really appreciated my fresh approach,” Stassi said.

With a stipend of $2,500 and guidance from WAMU, Stassi bought podcasting equipment and got to work. Her first episode aired in 2020.

Favorite programs

Each episode of “Dating While Gray” focuses on several people’s true-life stories, which they recount on the air.

Stassi’s breezy, empathetic style makes the podcast seem like you’re overhearing a conversation between friends. Some segments are about trends — such as couples

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD FROM PAGE 22

ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

who live apart, couples who find a partner from their past.

What was Stassi’s favorite episode of her podcast? That would be the one about “The Golden Bachelor” reality TV show, she said, “because who knew that some people take ‘The Bachelor’ so seriously?”

Last fall, Stassi even co-hosted a “watch party” with Slate to view the final episode of that show’s debut season.

This fall, “Love Across the Divide” will air on NPR member stations. In it, Stassi interviews couples with different political viewpoints.

Supporting each other

After dozens of on-air interviews, Stassi has found solace, inspiration and support with her fellow singles.

“One thing I’ve learned is we are all in this together,” Stassi said. “There are so many of us out there, over 50, becoming single as we get older.”

Indeed, the number of older people getting divorced has doubled since 1990. More than one-third of divorces today are among

those 50 and older, and 10% of people getting divorced are 65 or older, according to AARP.

Stassi receives emails and voicemails from listeners all over the world. Each wants to share their story with others, either as a cautionary tale or hopeful anecdote.

“Overall, in the ‘Dating While Gray’ community, there’s very much a spirit of camaraderie and helpfulness,” Stassi said. “People want to help each other out.”

‘Just

waiting’

Now, Stassi says often, she’s “grateful for the ‘divorce wings’” she had to develop while learning to fly solo.

She lives alone in an apartment in Richmond near her grown children and her grandchild. She plays pickleball, reads novels and travels now and then, mostly to her beach property in Emerald Isle, North Carolina.

So far this year, Stassi hasn’t seen any sparks in her personal life.

“At the moment, I am not on any dating sites. I’m just waiting. I am joining what I can join — and keeping my eyes open.”

Scrabble answers on p. 21.

Crossword Puzzle

Downtowning

By Stephen Sherr

Across

1. Piece of ancient pottery

6. Music teacher of Prince and David Bowie

10. Classic slot machine feature

14. Guy in multiple nursery rhymes

15. Cop Eddie Murphy played for the fourth time in 2024

16. Game theory game

17. Some of the best ones come in the shower

Down

1. Worked for the CIA

2. Living fence

3. 1980s TV mercenaries

4. Good towns for accounts payable clerks

5. M*A*S*H officers

6. Pittsburgh ___ (veggies and french fries)

7. Visible word in a dark theater

8. Writer Stan or Harper

18. Stead

19. Facts and figures

20. “Goodness gracious!”

21. Louisville Slugger product

22. Pull out all the ___

24. Mortal, with a promotion

26. Finish in the money

27. Next most popular after .com and .org

28. Estrange

32. Lexicographer’s interest

35. A secret evil one is often called a scheme

36. A digital thumb-up, for example

37. Ticket remnant

38. “Sorry, ___ number”

39. Hermione Granger or Napoleon Dynamite

40. Prefix with -scope or -meter

41. Weightiness

42. Shrek and Fiona’s triplets

43. Dopey, of the Seven Dwarfs

45. Possesses

46. Uses “alternative facts”

47. Taylor Swift song inspired by her freshman year

51. Release oil into water

53. Part of 27 Across’ clue

54. Take another stab at

55. It has eight phases

56. Homophone for idle and idyll

58. Type of badge or pay

59. Give a shoutout

60. Yuletide

61. Make the wings safe for flight

62. Mix of spicy toppings

63. Like any movie in the I Spit on Your Grave series

64. Leaves in, as text

9. Good NY town for plumbers

10. Appropriately placed vacation address for this puzzle’s characters

11. Stat!

12. Unproductive habits

13. Sport often battled in an octagon

21. Autonomous program

23. Last body part in the pool for a diver, usually

25. It is silent in design, but not in designation

26. It is usually about 8 degrees for italic letters

28. Towards the heavens

29. Serena Williams, 70 times in the 1999 US Open

30. Suffered an Achilles injury

31. Burn the candle at both ___

32. Letter carrier’s letters

33. Boutonniere attachment spot

34. Ambience

35. First Amendment word

38. Good WV town for a motorcycle gang

42. Stumblebum

44. Rapper Wayne or Kim

45. the Road Jack (Ray Charles #1 hit)

47. Foolishness

48. Goosebumps inducing

49. Official proclamation

50. Do, re and mi

51. Skywalker’s pal

52. Make a sulky gesture

53. One who walks the walk

55. Dashboard info.

57. ___-wop (1950s musical style)

58. ENTs and OB/GYNs

CLASSIFIEDS

The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Legal Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on the right.

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EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS:

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UPCOMING SEMINARS & CLASSES

at Brooke Grove retirement village

As experts in senior care, Brooke Grove Retirement Village is pleased to oﬀer seminars and classes that promote physical, spiritual and mental well-being.

All programs will be held in person in the Gathering Room at Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, located at 18131 Slade School Road on the Sandy Spring, Maryland, campus of Brooke Grove Retirement Village. Register as indicated below or contact Toni Davis at tdavis@bgf.org with questions.

PARKINSON’S COMMUNICATION CLUB

Oﬀered in partnership with the Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area

WEDNESDAYS

10:45-11:45 A.M.

This weekly wellness and prevention program for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners focuses on the maintenance of communication skills, with an emphasis on strengthening breath support and the ability to project and speak loudly enough to be heard in social settings.

FREE with $50 annual PFNCA administrative fee. To register, visit: bit.ly/BGRVParkCommClub

PARKINSON’S EXERCISE GROUP

Oﬀered in partnership with the Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area

MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS 12 NOON–1 P.M.

This ongoing class for those with Parkinson’s or other neurogenerative disorders aims to improve posture, balance and circulation while also increasing strength, muscle control and mobility.

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ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP

Oﬀered in partnership with MedStar Health’s Center for Successful Aging

SECOND FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH

1-2 P.M.

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To register, visit: bit.ly/BGAlzSupport

LIVING WELL SEMINAR: “MEDICARE 2025: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO GET THE BEST BENEFITS”

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14 10:30-11:45 A.M.

Find the answers to questions such as: What do Medicare A and B cover? How does Medicare Part D work? Do I need Part C? What state and federal programs am I eligible for? Medicare doesn’t pay for everything, so what else do I need?

FREE

To register, visit: bit.ly/BGBeneﬁts2025

HEALTHY LIVING CLASS: “GENTLE YOGA FOR A JOYFUL HOLIDAY HEART”

Oﬀered in partnership with Uplift Yoga December 2 through December 20 MONDAYS & FRIDAYS 1-1:45 P.M.

During the holiday season, it is common to feel overwhelmed, anxious, or emotional. Practicing mindfulness and gratitude during the holiday season helps reduce stress, enhance overall well-being, and foster a positive mindset. Please join us for this holiday mini-session. You will be led in mindfulness exercises, calming breathwork, gratitude readings, and gentle chair yoga exercises geared to ground the body and mind, and help promote a sense of fulﬁllment and joy during this holiday season.

$30 for entire six-week session. To register, visit: bit.ly/BGYOGAJOY