January 2017 | Baltimore Beacon

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Barbara Steinhardt is one of those enthusiasts. The 78-year-old Pikesville resident is a regular customer of Woolworks, a cozy yarn-filled shop on Falls Road.

“I live here,” Steinhardt laughed, adding that she visits the store once or twice a week. “It doesn’t matter what level of knitter you are or what age you are,” she said.

“It’s the friendliest place, and you meet so many different people.

Steinhardt, who knits for her grandchildren and daughters-in-law, and prefers working with lightweight yarn for a lacy effect, sometimes visits the store just to “sit

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PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER MYERS

Knitting appeals to all ages

JANUARY 2017

More than 125,000 readers throughout Greater Baltimore

Crafts knit enthusiasts together

By Carol Sorgen Grandmas have long been associated with knitting, but it’s more than doting grannies who are part of the craft movement that has been sweeping the country in recent years.

From teens, to millennials, to — yes — grandmothers, do-it-yourselfers are re-discovering, or in some cases, discovering for the first time, the satisfaction of making by hand something that is both beautiful and functional.

The arts and crafts market first saw an uptick in popularity during the Great Recession of 2008, as consumers sought ways to cut spending during the plummeting economy. But even as the economy has gradually improved, the popularity of arts and crafts has remained steady.

A driving force for the growth in do-ityourself crafts is the number of online communities that are now available to inspire crafters as well as to teach them new techniques, according to Dana Macke, lifestyles and leisure analyst for the market research firm Mintel.

Social networking platforms like Pinterest and Instagram, and online retail sites like Etsy, have increased the awareness of crafting — whether it’s knitting, jewelry-making, quilting or carpentry, to name just a few.

Bricks-and-mortar specialty craft chains, such as Michael’s and Jo-Ann Fabrics, have also added store locations in response to the enthusiasm of their customers. And while many crafters sell their wares online, enthusiasts, not professionals, are the largest segment of the arts and crafts market, according to Macke.

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SEE SPECIAL INSERT Housing & Homecare Options following page 12

Tom Castonguay, with the Howard County Woodworkers Guild, works on a project at the Bain Senior Center in Columbia. Do-it-yourself projects and crafts, including knitting and pottery, are enjoying a resurgence. The area offers numerous opportunities to try your hand at one or more.

and knit.” There’s also a Friday morning “knit and nosh,” and monthly “knit-alongs,” with a theme that all participants work on. There are individual and group classes available as well.

“Knitters don’t come here for a quick inand-out visit,” said co-owner Amy Legg, who’s 57 and recalls that, as a fine arts major in college, she was “always making something.”

“Visitors to the shop are looking at samples, deciding on a project, and getting advice,” said Legg of Woolworks’ loyal clientele. “It’s an interactive community of likeminded people.

“We’re definitely a retail store,” Legg continued, “but we provide a lot of opportunities to be with other people who all enjoy doing the same thing.”

Legg said Woolworks’ customers range from pre-teens to 90-year-olds, though most fall in the 40 to 70 age range. And contrary to popular belief, they’re not all women either.

Needle arts in general — from knitting and crocheting to sewing, embroidery and quilting — are enjoying the spotlight these days for a number of reasons, from fashion designers using yarn in new ways, to the critically acclaimed documentary Yarn, to exhibits such as the New York Museum of Arts and Design’s exhibit of a crocheted coral reef. In January, Vogue Knitting magazine will hold a live symposium in Times Square that is expected to draw 8,000 enthusiastic knitters.

See CRAFTS, page 20

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

Colorful Curacao is an often-overlooked Caribbean gem; plus, castles, nature walks and more on Scotland’s misty Isle of Skye page 16

TECHNOLOGY k Tech toys for kids and adults

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FITNESS & HEALTH k Is it arthritis?

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LAW & MONEY k 2017 Medicare costs

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ARTS & STYLE k A divine album

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ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

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JANUARY 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Listen up, Washington As a new administration prepares to take insurance, program. power in Washington, I want to revisit a After paying into Social Security all our topic that long-time readers working lives, we might well know I like to address every think of those monthly retirefew years: Social Security. It’s ment or disability checks as an evergreen topic for me, benefits we have earned, persince I can count on Congress haps increased by interest and the White House continuover time. ing to refuse taking any steps Social Security could have to obviate the problems that been set as such a program, are growing worse by the day. with each worker’s payments And judging from the camearmarked for later disbursepaign rhetoric of both Presiment. dent-Elect Trump and Hillary But for very practical reaFROM THE Clinton, the incoming White sons, that’s not how the system PUBLISHER House would not have been works. Since benefits were

By Stuart P. Rosenthal likely to take a different tack, paid out in the early years of no matter who won the electhe program to beneficiaries tion. who had paid hardly any payroll taxes prior Let me start by saying that I am a big fan to retiring, it was the taxes paid by those still of Social Security. I have no interest in working that paid for their benefits. “killing” it. Since it began in 1935, Social And that’s the way the system has conSecurity has been a tremendously valuable tinued to operate ever since. This works as program, greatly reducing poverty rates long as current workers are paying in sufamong retirees, those with disabilities, and ficient taxes to cover the benefits paid out their dependents. Today, more than 60 mil- to current retirees. But demographics are lion Americans (almost 1 in 5) receive ben- working against us. efits from Social Security’s programs.

In 1940, there were 159 workers paying It’s a program that truly affects us all. taxes towards the cost of each beneficiary.

Every worker (and employer) in the Unit- In 1960, there were 4.9 workers for every ed States contributes to the program recipient. Today, there are about 2.8 workthrough payroll taxes. This well-known ers per recipient. fact leads most of us to think of Social SeAnd by the time all the Baby Boomers curity as a kind of investment, or possibly have retired (and an estimated 91 million

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• Publisher/Editor ....................Stuart P. Rosenthal • Associate Publisher ..............Judith K. Rosenthal • Vice President, Operations........Gordon Hasenei • Director of Sales ................................Alan Spiegel • Assistant Operations Manager ..........Roger King • Managing Editor............................Barbara Ruben • Contributing Editor ..........................Carol Sorgen • Art Director ........................................Kyle Gregory • Advertising Representatives ............Steve Levin, .................................................................... Paul Whipple • Editorial Assistant ......................Rebekah Alcalde

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Americans will be collecting Social Security), there will be only about 1.9 workers per recipient.

That’s clearly going to present a problem.

Well, what about that Trust Fund we hear so much about whenever this topic comes up? Aren’t there trillions of dollars owed to Social Security that will cover any arrears?

Unfortunately, no. First of all, the Trust Fund isn’t what you and I mean by “trust fund.” The trust fund represents the total of excess payroll taxes collected over disbursements. At present, they amount to about $2.5 trillion.

But that excess money wasn’t put in a bank, or invested in stocks. It was borrowed by Congress and spent on the rest of the government’s bills (thus reducing the annual deficit in those years). In return, Social Security was given special interest-bearing Treasury Notes payable by the U.S. at a future date.

I’m not suggesting T-bills are insecure investments, and surely this money will indeed be made available to Social Security when needed. But those notes (and the hundreds of millions in interest they have earned over time) will be paid off with money acquired in the same way the government acquires all its money: through higher taxes or further borrowing from domestic and foreign sources.

In other words, each year the trust fund is tapped, the federal deficit (which I trust we will still be running) will be enlarged by that amount. Effectively, we have traded lower deficits in earlier years for higher deficits in future years.

Whatever you think of that as an “investment,” it’s clear that the trust funds won’t

make paying future Social Security beneficiaries any easier than it would have been without them.

And it doesn’t address our problem in years to come of needing to pay out billions more than we take in.

Did I say billions? Oh, silly me. I meant trillions. The projected shortfall, assuming no changes are made to the program between now and then, will reach $1 trillion in 2045 alone, and nearly $7 trillion in the year 2086.

Over the next 75 years (the period the Social Security Trustees are charged with securing the program’s liquidity), it’s estimated that the shortfall will total a staggering $134 trillion.

A problem indeed.

Now, is this a problem that is difficult to solve? No, not really. Economists and politicians have proposed a number of quite practical steps that could, individually or together, address the shortfall and turn the system back into a pay-as-you-go one without deficits.

Here are just a few: How about increasing the payroll tax rate, gradually, by a percent or two? What about raising the cap on salaries subject to Social Security withholding? That was an idea Hillary Clinton championed.

What about slowly raising the retirement age? Wait: aren’t we doing that now? Yes, but that will stop when the retirement age hits 67 (something that was decided back in 1983).

We could continue that gradual rise to reflect our rapidly expanding longevity and increasingly healthy lifestyles — something not anticipated to this degree back in 1983, but clearly evident now.

We could also impose a “means test” for See FROM THE PUBLISHER, page 20

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 e-mail to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.

Dear Editor: As usual, and understandably, you take the middle soft ground on the recent election process (December’s From the Publisher column, “Being heard”). You have to, because you cannot reveal how you might honestly feel to a supposedly bipartisan readership.

I did not like you singling out one case where demonstrators beat a Trump supporter — one known incident and no facts to back it up.

That pales in comparison to Trump’s supporters in rallies over the summer where, at his encouragement, people were jostled, pushed out of rallies, spit on, told how crazy they were — not to mention how his racist, bigoted, lying, misogynistic comments, and his ill-mannered, crude way of speaking and behaving, have divided this country overtly. You did not mention any of that, but singled one incident to

preach to us like a father to his children; a typical conservative, authoritarian, patriarchal way of dealing with advice.

I am 78 years old and ashamed of our country’s electoral process. I am part of a few groups (young and old) who will react to any of Trump’s potentially poor and wrong decisions (via marching protests, emails, etc.), and if I get beat up by a Trump supporter, who will most likely be carrying a weapon, I’ll surely let you know so you can mention again about civility.

This country is divided in a serious way, and your soft comments won’t do any good to prevent violence.

But be a man and get out here and do something — not just write a nice little piece while sitting in a warm cozy office.

Whether you believe in Trump or not, get actively involved.

Al Muehlberger Baltimore

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2017

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Technology &

Innovations Cool tech toys for the kid in your life

By Bree Fowler Over the years, toys have gotten more high-tech to keep screen-obsessed children engaged. But there’s growing worry among parents and educators that toys are moving too far in that direction.

Now, educational toys that have a math and science bent — marketed under the umbrella of STEM — are trying to get back to the basics: less screen time, more hands-on activities.

Here are some toys designed to keep kids entertained without sacrificing on education:

Hands-on tech Tablet screens and apps haven’t gone away, but they’re just not enough on their own. With these toys, kids can create and build with their hands, not just a tablet.

— Osmo. As kids arrange magnetic blocks or puzzle pieces, their creations show up on the iPad thanks to a mirror attached to the tablet’s camera. By arranging blocks, for instance, kids put together lines of code to guide an on-screen monster. Another game teaches entrepreneurial and math skills by letting kids run their own pizza shop.

The base set costs $30. You then buy

add-ons, such as coding for $50, and the pizza business for $40. It works only with iPads for now.

— Makey Makey. You connect one end to a computer’s USB port and the other to any material that conducts electricity, such as coins or even a banana. Kids can then turn bananas into keyboards, and pencil drawings into controls for video games. The basic set costs $25, though for $50, you get additional clips and connector wires.

— Meccano sets. This robot-building toy is for the tween or young teen who is handy with a wrench and has a lot of time.

Even the trio of smaller Micronoids sets ($40) require a decent amount of time and significant motor skills. The larger models, such as the $140 Meccanoid 2.0, can take the better part of a day to construct.

Once assembled, these robots can be programmed to dance, play games and interact with each other.

— Illumicraft. Don’t let the girly colors or rainbow stickers turn you off. The $20 kit combines science and crafting to introduce basic circuitry. Projects include lightup diaries, jewelry organizers, smartphone speakers and picture frames.

— Code This Drone. Software company Tynker and drone maker Parrot have joined forces to create this kit, which includes a drone and a one-year subscription to Tynker’s education service. The kit costs $100 to $150 depending on the drone selected.

It teaches the basics of coding through games played with an app-controlled mini drone.

Coding for preschoolers?

— Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar. Kids as young as 3 can “write” code by snapping together a $50 toy caterpillar. Each section signifies a command, such as “go straight” or “play sounds.” Hit the execute button to send the toy crawling in the chosen order.

Older kids can program Code-a-Pillar to reach targets placed across a room, or send it through an obstacle course of their own creation. While the kids aren’t learning a coding language, the toy does try to teach cause and effect, as well as problem solving.

— Coji. As its name implies, this $60 mini robot teaches pre-readers to code with emojis. It also reacts when you tilt or shake it, and you can control it with your phone or tablet.

— Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set. With this $60 toy, kids build a maze with plastic squares and dividers, then program their mouse to make its way through to the cheese at the end.

Robots with personality — Cozmo. This $180, palm-sized robot is expressive, adorable and fun to play with. A team of animators designed more than 500 reactions for the robot to pick from when it sees someone it recognizes, wins or loses a game, or completes a task.

The result is a very cute and human-like buddy — think Pixar’s Wall-E. — CHiP. This $200 robot doggie cuddles, plays fetch and follows you around your house. When he’s close to running out of juice, he even heads over to his charging pad and parks himself. This little guy is very loud when he zips around the room, so apartment-dwellers with hardwood floors might want to invest in a rug.

See HIGH-TECH TOYS, page 5

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JANUARY 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Beacon Links & Apps

By Barbara Ruben

Links What’s your surgery risk?

Healthgrades, a site that patients can use to review doctors, now offers a new way to measure personal risk for common surgical procedures. It is based on a new report it did that identifies top quality hospitals throughout the country for six types of surgeries: total hip replacement, bariatric surgery, hysterectomy, pacemaker procedures, total knee replacement and

Maintenance-Free Living At Its Finest.

Live Life. Lakeside.

coronary artery bypass graft.

One of the factors the Risk IQ looks at is how close a patient is to a hospital for which Healthgrades has given its top rating. In the Baltimore area, patients have a number of choices.

Other factors that users can plug into a risk calculator include age, height and weight, and other health problems they currently have. www.healthgrades.com/quality/fall -ratings-2016

What’s up with down sites?

Is your Internet seemingly working, but the site you just tried to log into just not popping up on your monitor?

Check with the website isitdownrightnow.com to see if your favorite sites are offline. Many of the major sites and their status are listed on its home page. Users can also search to see what is happening with other sites. www.isitdownrightnow.com or www.iidrn.com

Free games galore From five kinds of solitaire to mah jongg to video poker, MSN Games offers dozens of games to play online — all for free. There are also Candy Crush-type matching games and puzzles.

If you want an ad-free version or to download the games to own, players pay $6.99 to $9.99 a month. http://zone.msn.com

BEAUTIFUL LAKEVIEW CONDOS AVAILABLE NOW. Gatherings at Quarry Place from the $270s 601 Quicksilver Court, Reisterstown, MD 21136 (intersection of Franklin Blvd. and Nicodemus Road)

55-and-better condominium homes overlooking a beautiful 30-acre quarry lake.

• Elevator-served, secured entrance buildings which provide extra security, peace-of-mind and low-maintenance living • Large, private one-car garages included with each condominium.

In addition, a limited number of storage spaces are available for purchase in each building.

• Resort-like community amenities including a clubhouse with fitness center and swimming pool, dog park, community garden, and more • Shopping, dining and modern conveniences planned minutes from your front door • One-mile walking path around the 30-acre quarry lake

Visit or contact us today: 410-630-1371

GET MORE IN A NEW HOME | BEAZER.COM

Apps Clear your mind Practice paying attention to your breathing, quieting your mind, and focusing on positivity in the app and website Headspace, which has over 5 million users, thanks in part to being featured on “Today” and “The Doctor Oz” shows.

Meditation can reduce stress, elevate mood, increase creativity and help with sleep. Some sessions focus on health, others on relationships and additional topics.

Get the first 10 10-minute sessions free.

Hundreds of additional sessions are available at $12.95 a month, or $8 a month with a year-long subscription.

Headspace, for iPhone and Android

Track your mileage If you freelance or own your own business, you’re paying a lot in self-employment tax. One way to get deductions is to

* Pricing, features and availability subject to change without notice. See New Home Counselor for complete details. MHBR #93 ©2016 Beazer Homes. 7/16 133341

See APPS, page 5

High-tech toys Additional realities — Air Hogs Connect: Mission Drone.

With this $150 system, kids use an app to fly an included drone over a sensor pad that, combined with a phone or tablet’s camera, places the drone into the game on the screen. As the physical drone moves, so

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❏ Alzheimer’s Drug Study (see article on page 9) ❏ Brain Imaging Study (see ad on page 9) ❏ Caregivers Study/Survey (see ad on page 11) ❏ Cognitive Impairment Study (see ad on page 11) ❏ Depression Study (see ad on page 10) ❏ Fall Prevention Study (see ad on page 10) ❏ Mind At Home Study (see ad on page 9)

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❏ Alta at Regency Crest (see ad on page 7) ❏ Atrium Village (see ads on pages B-5 & B-11) ❏ Bayleigh Chase/Integrace (see ad on page 21) ❏ Brightwood (see ads on pages B-3 & B-6) ❏ Buckingham’s Choice/Integrace (see ad on page 21) ❏ Carroll Lutheran Village (see ad on page B-3) ❏ Catholic Charities (see ad on page B-4) ❏ Charlestown/Erickson (see ads on pages B-6 & B-9) ❏ Christ Church Harbor Apts. (see ad on page B-9) ❏ Cove Point Apartments (see ads on pages B-2 & B-6) ❏ Evergreen (see ad on page B-2) ❏ Fairhaven/Integrace (see ad on page 21) ❏ Gatherings at Quarry Place/Beazer Homes (see ad on page 4) ❏ Greens, The (see ad on page B-2) ❏ Linden Park Apts. (see ads on pages B-6 & B-8) ❏ Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant (see ad on page B-3) ❏ Oak Crest/Erickson (see ads on pages B-9 & B-11) ❏ Park Heights Place (see ad on page 8) ❏ Park View Catonsville (see ad on page B-10) ❏ Park View Dundalk (see ad on page B-10) ❏ Park View Rosedale (see ad on page B-10) ❏ Park View Taylor (see ad on page B-10) ❏ Pickersgill (see ad on page B-4) ❏ Shangri-La Assisted Living (see ads on pages B-6 & B-9) ❏ St. Mary’s Roland View Towers (see ad on page B-8) ❏ Virginia Towers (see ad on page 14) ❏ Weinberg Park Assisted Living (see ad on page B-6) ❏ Weinberg Senior Living (see ad on page B-12)

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If you still have a limited texting plan or text a lot internationally, the WhatsApp app can let you contact other smartphones for free using your phone’s Internet connection.

In the seven years since WhatsApp was launched, it’s become one of the most widely used communication tools in the world, with more than one billion users. It’s owned

by Facebook, and in November announced it will roll out a new video calling feature.

WhatsApp, free for iPhone and Android

Housing Communities

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keep scrupulous records on the miles you drive for your work. In 2016 the deduction is 54 cents per mile.

The MileIQ app automatically logs the miles you drive using the sensors in your phone. Then you swipe right or left to show if the trip was for business or personal reasons. The app also shows how much you could potentially save on taxes.

The first 40 logged drives a month are free. For unlimited tracking, the rate is $6 a month or $60 a year.

Mile IQ, for iPhone and Android

For free materials on housing communities and health studies, just complete and clip this coupon and mail or fax it to the Beacon.

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Apps

does the one in the game.

Kids fly the drone through hoops and shoot down alien invaders. Play is limited by the drone’s estimated 10-minute flying time.

— VR Real Feel Virtual Reality Car Racing Gaming System. This $30 car racing game includes a wireless steering wheel and a virtual-reality headset you stick your phone into. It’s not the fanciest VR technology, but it’s a lot of fun for what you pay. — AP

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sensors that make them interactive toys.

When you pet the cat’s fur, it turns its head towards you. When you pet its back, it rolls over and purrs. Talk to the pet dog, and it wags its tail.

When there is no external stimulation for awhile, the pets go to “sleep.” But they will “awaken” when someone enters the room.

The toys are designed to be safe for all ages, and come with a care guide and batteries. Cats come in three colors, orange tabby, creamy white and silver, and retail for $99.99 The dog is $119.99.

Shipping is free. A 15% discount applies if you use the code BEACON15.

To order, visit www.JoyForAll.com or call 1-800-408-0052.

From page 3

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Companion Pets: a toy for older adults The 93-year-old Hasbro toy company — the makers of famous toys like Mr. Potato Head and G.I. Joe — is turning its creative designers to a new audience: older adults, particularly those with memory loss.

The company has developed a robotic cat and dog, known as Joy for All Companion Pets, specifically to bring a smile and comfort to older adults who miss the touch of a real pet.

The toys are finding particular success among residents of memory care communities and nursing facilities, for whom the pets bring back fond memories and good feelings.

The pets feature realistic fur and animal sounds, but it’s their sophisticated

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JANUARY 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Health Fitness &

COLD-FIGHTING VITAMIN Consume more vitamin D to boost your immune system this winter ANGER AND EXERCISE Being mad while exercising can double the risk of a heart attack BONE UP ON PROBIOTICS Probiotics have been shown to prevent osteoporosis — in mice at least ON THE JOB Answers to readers’ questions on starting a new job and finishing an old one

Questions to ask about painful, stiff joints

By Dr. Scott Burg Over the years, a lot of people have come to see me about an aching knee, back, shoulder or other joint.

The first thing I do with every patient is try to determine whether their arthritis is degenerative (less serious) or inflammatory (more serious). I start by asking three questions.

1. Does your pain get better or worse as the day goes on?

If your pain gets worse throughout the

day, that suggests degenerative or mechanical (wear-and-tear) arthritis. If your pain gets better, that suggests an inflammatory arthritis.

Osteoarthritis and mechanical low back pain are degenerative forms of arthritis.

Inflammatory forms of arthritis include: • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the granddaddy of them all • Gout and other types caused by crystals forming in the joints

BEACON BITS

Jan. 9+

COMMUNITY BEREAVEMENT GROUP For anyone mourning the death of a loved one, Jewish Community Services is offering a free eight-week Community Bereavement

Group beginning Monday, Jan. 9. The group will meet at the Edward A. Myerberg Center, 3101 Fallstaff Rd. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. JCS bereavement groups are free and open to the public. They provide a welcoming place where participants can be with others who are grieving, find support within the Jewish community, and benefit from the opportunity to talk with specialists about grief. This program is supported by a grant from the Foundation for Spirituality and Medicine. For more information, including the meeting time, and to register, call Jewish Community Services, (410) 466-9200.

• Psoriatic arthritis and similar types caused by spinal column inflammation 2. Do you ever get stiff, and if so, for how long?

I always ask about stiffness, especially in the morning. Ten, 15 or 20 minutes of morning stiffness don’t bother me so much because they likely are caused by degenerative arthritis. But if you tell me, “Doc, it takes me 30 to 45 minutes to sort of get unglued,” that suggests an inflammatory arthritis.

Because we see stiffness in both types of arthritis, I may ask you about the “gelling” phenomenon. I’ll say, “If I give you a one-way, all-expenses-paid limo trip to Philadelphia for a Redskins game, how will you feel after your ride?”

If not moving much for a few hours would make you feel stiff for a few minutes, I’d think mechanical arthritis. But if it takes you half an hour to feel right again, I’d think inflammatory arthritis.

3. Are joints painful on one or both sides of your body?

If your arthritis is symmetrical — involving both shoulders, wrists or elbows, for example — I’d be more concerned about an inflammatory arthritis like RA.

But if you tell me, “Everything is fine, doc, except for my right knee,” or “My left shoulder is killing me,” I’d be less concerned because they suggest degenerative arthritis.

However, arthritis can develop on a spectrum. Sometimes one knee is the problem and then, a few weeks later, both knees become problems.

I will also ask about your family history.

For certain people with arthritis, genetics can play a role. I’ll ask you about medications, too. Statins and other medications can cause aches and pains.

Exam, X-rays and lab tests A physical exam is critical. We can feel and see certain things that we can’t learn just by talking to you. For example, osteoarthritis may develop at the site of an old injury.

Obesity may also cause joint degeneration.

Plain X-rays (not MRI scans) can be vital. They can tell us which joints are affected by either inflammatory or degenerative arthritis.

People are often surprised to learn that See JOINTS, page 7

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2017

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Lactose intolerance can develop at any age Dear Mayo Clinic: What would cause someone to become lactose-intolerant later in life?

I’m in my 40s and have never had an issue with dair y, but, now, I can’t seem to have it without problems. Do I need to see a doctor to be tested for allergies, or should I just avoid dairy?

Answer: Lactose intolerance isn’t a true allergy, and it can develop at any age. In some people, lactose intolerance may be triggered by another medical condition, such as Crohn’s disease. In others, it develops without a specific underlying cause.

It would be a good idea to have your condition evaluated by your doctor to confirm that what you’re dealing with truly is lactose intolerance.

Lactose intolerance results from a problem with the carbohydrate lactose — a type of sugar found in dairy products. When you eat or drink dairy products, enzymes in your small intestine digest lactose, so the body can make energy. In people with lactose intolerance, a certain enzyme, called lactase, is missing from the body.

When those people eat dairy products, the body has no way to break down the lactose. This leads to fermentation of the

Joints From page 6 positive lab results don’t always mean you do have arthritis, and negative lab results don’t always mean you don’t have arthritis.

Take the ANA (antinuclear antibody) screening test for RA. If we did blood work on every man, woman and child at, say, a football game, nearly 5,000 of the 80,000 fans would have a positive ANA. But they’d be absolutely, completely normal.

sugar in the intestines, and triggers symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps, bloating and gas.

ucts difficult to digest and leads to lactose intolerance symptoms.

Testing for intolerance Why it develops Sometimes, lactose intolerance develops when the small intestine’s production of lactase decreases after an illness, injury or surgery involving the small intestine. This is called secondary lactose intolerance.

Among the diseases associated with this kind of lactose intolerance are celiac disease, bacterial overgrowth and Crohn’s disease.

Treatment of the underlying disorder may restore lactase levels and improve symptoms.

More common than secondary lactose intolerance is primary lactose intolerance.

People who develop primary lactose intolerance start life making normal levels of lactase — a necessity for infants, who get all their nutrition from milk.

As children replace milk with other foods, lactase production normally decreases. It stays high enough, though, to digest the amount of dairy in a typical adult diet.

In primary lactose intolerance, lactase production declines below normal at some point for reasons that are unclear. The low amount of lactase then makes milk prod-

That’s why, in rheumatology, we use lab tests to confirm — rather than make — a diagnosis.

Joint pain and stiffness, together with loss of range of motion, can mean early arthritis. If you’ve experienced sustained joint pain for two to four weeks, it’s a good idea to see your primary care physician.

Your doctor can decide if, and when, you need to see a rheumatologist like me. © 2016 www.awellnessupdate.COM. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Your doctor can confirm a diagnosis of lactose intolerance with a clinical test. One that’s often used is a lactose tolerance test.

It assesses your body’s reaction to a dose of lactose.

After you consume a drink containing lactose, a sample of your blood is taken to measure glucose levels. If your glucose level does not rise, it means your body isn’t properly digesting and absorbing the lactose.

Alternatively, another test called the hydrogen breath test may be used. This test also requires you to consume a drink that contains high levels of lactose. Your doctor

next measures the amount of hydrogen in your breath.

Normally, very little hydrogen is detectable. However, if your body doesn’t digest the lactose, the fermentation reaction in your colon releases hydrogen and other gases. Your intestines absorb those gases, and you exhale them. Larger-than-normal amounts of hydrogen measured during this test are a sign that your body isn’t fully digesting and absorbing lactose.

If you have lactose intolerance, there isn’t a way to cure it. The most effective way for people with lactose intolerance to get relief from symptoms is to lower the amount of dairy products they eat.

See LACTOSE, page 8

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JANUARY 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Vitamin D plays a big role in winter health I’m willing to bet you have been sick in the past and experienced a runny nose and congestion, sneezing, fever/chills or body aches.

All you can do is treat the symptoms and hope your immune system fights for you.

FYI, taking antibiotics won’t help. Your immune system strength (not the germ itself) directly influences how bad you feel and how long you suffer.

Vitamin D levels are lower during the winter months, so it’s no coincidence that cold and flu outbreaks happen more frequently during the wintertime. (Shockingly, even spending our summer days in a big city where tall buildings block the sun’s rays can lead to deficiencies of the vitamin.)

Vitamin D is a media darling. Time Mag-

azine even lists D among its Top Ten Medical Breakthroughs.

In an American study of 198 healthy adults, researchers found that individuals with blood concentrations of 38 ng/ml or more of vitamin D enjoyed a two-fold reduction in the risk of catching cold, and were able to get back to work faster. I recommend even higher levels — closer to 60 ng/ml.

Two immune systems Allow me to brief you on what may very well be vitamin D’s most exciting role yet.

We all have both an adaptive and an innate immune system. The branch of our immune system that ‘remembers’ specific attackers — so that it can mount a faster de-

fense next time an encounter is made — is innate immune system. called the “adaptive” immune system.

By the way, your innate system is your Vitamin D helps our adapfirst line of defense against tive immune system by boostpathogens of all sorts, so if ing our T cells — a type of you get sick a lot, this is the white blood cell that patrols part of your immune system around our bodies like solthat you should focus on. diers, ready to destroy any inSymptoms of vitamin D defected or cancerous cells they ficiency include fatigue, weakcome across. ness, bone or muscle pain, Researchers in Denmark fractures, cracked teeth, armade a truly incredible conrhythmias, wintertime denection. For T cells to be able pression and autoimmune DEAR to activate themselves and PHARMACIST flare ups. Certain cancers are mount an attack, vitamin D By Suzy Cohen also associated with low D levmust be present. Without adeels. quate vitamin D, our T cells are In my humble opinion, Vitalike sleeping soldiers, virtually incapable of min D3 is an affordable way to keep your defending us. immune system in tip-top shape. It’s easy This research suggests that perhaps we to test your blood levels, and the supplecan retrain our immune system to prevent ment is sold pretty much everywhere. it from being so reactive and hyper, transThis information is opinion only. It is not lating to a lower risk for cold and flu, and intended to treat, cure or diagnose your conobviously fewer auto-immune assaults. dition. Consult with your doctor before using Adequate Vitamin D helps your immune any new drug or supplement. cells manufacture your own natural antibiSuzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist otic-like substance called cathelicidin, and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist which destroys all sorts of ‘bugs’ as they’re and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To encountered. This activity supports your contact her, visit www.SuzyCohen.com.

Lactose From page 7 You may be able to use dairy products that have reduced levels of lactose or are lactose-free. Some people who have lactose intolerance benefit from taking lactase enzyme supplements, as well.

If test results do not point to lactose intolerance, your doctor may recommend additional tests to check for another condition that could be causing your symptoms, such as a milk allergy, intestinal disorders

or other problems within your digestive tract.

— Rohit Divekar, Ph.D., Allergic Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail questions to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org. © 2016 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2017

Health Studies Page

9

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Help test a drug that may slow Alzheimer’s

By Barbara Ruben While scientists have yet to completely untangle the causes of Alzheimer’s, among the culprits are plaques composed of sticky proteins called beta-amyloid that can build up in the spaces between nerve cells in the brain.

As these sticky proteins clump together, it is believed they may block signaling between cells in brain synapses, causing the memory loss that is the hallmark of the disease.

One of these proteins, Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endpoints (known as RAGE for short), binds to amyloid and may promote inflammation and lead to nerve cell damage. Scientists hope the drug azeliragon, which inhibits RAGE, might prove to be helpful in preventing or slowing Alzheimer’s.

Trying a new approach While azeliragon did help with plaques in mice in preliminary studies, when drug company Pfizer and the National Institute on Aging conducted a study on people in 2007, the study was halted when a high dose of the drug was found to possibly be unsafe and lead to faster progression of Alzheimer’s.

A study looking at a low dose of azeliragon was also stopped, but some researchers think this dosage deserves another look since it may have helped some patients.

Now TransTech Pharma, which discov-

ered azeliragon, is conducting a trial of the drug at more than 150 sites worldwide using a low dose (5 mg.). In Baltimore, PharmaSite Research is conducting the study.

“Our hope is the medication attacks plaque and breaks it down to slow the progression of the disease,” said Cecily Culp, the study’s coordinator at PharmaSite.

This is a Phase III study, the last step before the FDA decides whether or not to approve a drug.

Called the Steadfast trial, the study will randomly divide participants with early Alzheimer’s disease into two groups. One will get azeliragon, while the other group will receive a placebo, a pill with no active ingredients. Neither they nor the researchers will know who is getting which pill until the study is completed.

Both groups will concurrently take another Alzheimer’s drug prescribed by their doctors. These include acetylcholinesterase inhibitors like the drug Aricept, and/or memantine, the generic name for the drug Namenda. They must start this medication at least three months before enrolling in the study.

Each group will take one pill of the study medication daily, or a placebo pill, for 18 months. In all, the study will last approximately 23 months, and involves about nine visits to the doctor’s office, as well as phone calls. Most visits occur every three months.

During the study, participants will have

Please patronize our advertisers.

MRI and PET scans to look at the plaques in their brains. They will also take a number of cognitive and neuropsychological exams.

Joining the study To take part in the study, participants must be age 50 or older and have a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer’s disease with documented evidence of progression of the disease. They must have a caregiver to attend study visits with them and to ensure medication is taken.

Participants cannot have significant neurological or psychiatric disease other

than Alzheimer’s, or have taken an investigational medication for Alzheimer’s within six months of starting the study.

They also cannot have a history of cancer within the last five years, except for certain types of skin, cervical and prostate cancer. Their blood pressure can be no higher than 160/100, and they cannot have had a stroke.

The study offers $50 to cover travel expenses for each study visit.

To learn more, or to see if you or someone you care for qualifies, call (410) 6021440 or visit www.pharmasiteresearch.com.

10

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JANUARY 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Exercise when angry ups heart attack risk

By Marilynn Marchione If you’re angry or upset, you might want to simmer down before heading out for an intense run or gym workout. A large, international study ties heavy exertion while stressed or mad to a tripled risk of having a heart attack within an hour.

Regular exercise is a healthy antidote to stress and can help prevent heart disease.

In fact, the biggest problem is that too many people get too little of it.

But the new research suggests there may be better or worse times to exercise, and that extremes can trigger harm.

“This study is further evidence of the connection between mind and body. When you’re angry, that’s not the time to go out and chop a stack of wood,” said Barry Ja-

cobs, a psychologist at the Crozer-Keystone Health System in Philadelphia.

He had no role in the study, led by the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Results were published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.

Earlier studies have looked at anger and exertion as heart attack triggers, but most were small or in one country, or included few women or minorities.

The new study involved 12,461 people suffering a first heart attack in 52 countries. Their average age was 58, and threefourths were men.

Biggest risk factors They answered a survey about whether

they were angry or upset, or had heavy exertion, in the hour before their heart attack or during the same time period the previous day. That way researchers could compare risk at different times in the same people, and the effect of these potential heart attack triggers.

Being angry or upset doubled the risk of suffering heart attack symptoms within an hour. Heavy physical exertion did the same. Having both at the same time more than tripled the risk for a heart attack.

The risk was greatest between 6 p.m. and midnight, and was independent of other factors such as smoking, high blood pressure or obesity.

Big caveats: Patients reported their own stress or anger, and people who just had a heart attack may be more prone to recall or think they suffered one of these triggers than they otherwise might have been.

Also, strenuous exertion is whatever the patient perceives it to be — for some people that could be climbing stairs, and for others, running a marathon.

The study also is observational, so it cannot prove cause and effect. But it’s likely to be the best kind of information available — it’s not possible to randomly assign people to be angry and exercise, then see how many have heart attacks.

“This is a large enough sample size that we

can put stock in the findings,” Jacobs said.

“We all need to find ways of modifying our emotional reactions and to avoid extreme anger,” such as distracting ourselves, walking away from the stressful situation, trying to see it from a different perspective, talking it out, and getting support from other people, he said.

Emotions affect the body The study’s findings also are biologically plausible. Emotional stress and exertion can raise blood pressure and heart rate, change the flow of blood in the vessels, and reduce the heart’s blood supply, said the study leader, Dr. Andrew Smyth of McMaster University. In an artery already clogged with plaque, a trigger could block blood flow and lead to a heart attack.

“From a practical perspective, there will be times when exposure to such extremes is unavoidable,” Smyth said.

“We continue to advise regular physical activity for all, including those who use exercise to relieve stress.” But people should not go beyond their usual routine at such times, he said.

The study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, other governmental bodies from various countries that participated, and grants from several drug companies.

— AP

BEACON BITS

Jan. 10+

HELP TO STOP SMOKING

The Colonial Baptist Church is hosting a free “Up in Smoke” quit smoking program on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30, Jan. 10 through Feb. 14. Free stop-smoking aids like nicotine patches and gum will be available.

The program is funded by the Baltimore County Department of Health. The church is located at 9411Liberty Rd., Randallstown. To sign up, call Greta Brand at (410) 399-2001.

Ongoing

LIFEBRIDGE HEALTH WEBINARS

LifeBridge Health offers a variety of webinars that educate the surrounding community about health-related topics, such as bariatric surgery, dealing with orthopedic injuries, seeking help for epilepsy, and treating ankle arthritis. These webinars are presented by LifeBridge Health physicians whose goals are to help you prevent illness and injury. For more information, visit http://www.lifebridgehealth.org/Main/Webinars.aspx.

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2017

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

11

Probiotics may help prevent osteoporosis Probiotic supplements protected female mice from the loss of bone density that occurs after having their ovaries removed, researchers at Emory University School of Medicine and Georgia State University have shown. The results were published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

In mice, ovary removal induces the hormonal changes that occur with menopause in women. The findings suggest that probiotic bacteria may have potential as an inexpensive treatment for post-menopausal osteoporosis.

What probiotics do The immune system is known to be involved in post-menopausal osteoporosis, but the mechanism was previously unclear.

Emory and Georgia State researchers found that in mice, the loss of estrogen increases gut permeability, which allows bacterial products to activate immune cells in the intestine. In turn, immune cells release signals that break down bone.

The researchers found that probiotics both tighten up the permeability of the gut and dampen inflammatory signals that drive the immune cells.

“Our findings highlight the role that intestinal microbes play in modulating gut permeability and inflammation in the context of sex steroid depletion,” said senior author Dr. Roberto Pacifici, professor of medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. “We think there are direct implications for the treatment of osteoporosis that should be tested clinically.”

Researchers led by Pacifici treated female mice twice a week with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), a type of bacteria found in some yogurts, or with a commercially available mix of eight strains of bac-

teria known as VSL#3.

A month after ovary removal, mice that were not treated with probiotic bacteria had lost half of their bone density. But the bone density in probiotic-treated mice stayed the same, the researchers observed. And in mice that did not have their ovaries removed, probiotic treatment actually led to an increase in bone density.

Good vs. bad bacteria The type of bacteria was important.

Treating mice with a laboratory strain of E. coli bacteria lacking probiotic properties did not help, and a mutant LGG bacteria with a defect in sticking to intestinal cells provided a weakened protective effect.

The scientists also tested the role of gut bacteria in bone loss by studying mice that were raised under germ-free conditions. In this situation, surgical ovary removal is not feasible, so the research team used the drug leuprolide, which reduces hormone production by the ovaries. Germ-free mice treated with leuprolide do not have a reduction in bone density.

“What this means is that the presence of some intestinal bacteria is required for sex steroid depletion-induced bone loss,” said co-author Rheinallt Jones, Ph.D., assistant professor of pediatrics.

Jones said the team’s current investigations are focused on assessing the diversity of the gut microbiome following sex steroid depletion.

“One possibility is that sex steroid deficiency leads to decreased microbiota diversity that exacerbates bone loss, and that probiotics preserve greater diversity,” he said.

A Wellness Update is a magazine devoted to

up-to-the minute information on health issues from physicians, major hospitals and clinics, universities and health care agencies across

the U.S. Online at www.awellnessupdate.com. © 2016 www.awellnessupdate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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JANUARY 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Issues with new job, new lack of a job Dear Solutions: I’m a young senior, and I recently went back to school to advance my degree. I’m in a training program, and I have a supervisor at the job.

I’m having a terrible time accepting any criticism he makes of my work. He keeps telling me I’m going to do well, and his suggestions are to help me grow in the job. But every time he tells me I should have done something I didn’t do, I burst into tears.

How can I stop this?

— Student Again Dear Student: You have to get to the mouth of this river of tears before it turns into an ocean.

That means, where is it coming from?

His criticism is pushing old buttons and old hurts in you. You’re seeing him as some other important person in your life — probably a parent who you couldn’t please.

First, recognize who that person was.

Then recognize that you can’t fix now whatever was wrong then. It’s over.

Before you go in for supervision with this person, sit down quietly and tell yourself, “He’s not ______ (whoever you’re thinking of from your past). He’s not criticizing me.

He’s helping me to learn so I can do well.”

Try this first. If it doesn’t help, seek some therapy to help you.

Dear Solutions: My husband is retired, yet he’s not re-

tired. He keeps working freelance now at ment, and if he is happy doing it, that’s things that he used to do. He has this fine. idea that he must keep conIt is not your job to convince tributing or he’s not worthhim otherwise, unless this rewhile. ally interferes with what both As a result, he has no time of you want to do. I suspect for other things that should that it’s you who looked forbring him pleasure in retireward to his retirement so you ment, like travelling and could both travel, among other other activities. things.

I can’t seem to convince In that case, say what you him that he should do mean and suggest some comother things. How can I promise, such as: you’ll stop SOLUTIONS help him with this? telling him what he “should”

By Helen Oxenberg, — Amy do full time, if he’ll start workMSW, ACSW Dear Amy: ing part-time so you can do First, stop “shoulding” on other things together. him. Then stop “shoulding” on yourself. If © Helen Oxenberg, 2016. To inquire this is what he wants to do in his retire- about reprint rights, call (609) 655-3684.

BEACON BITS

Jan 4+

STROKE WELLNESS CLUB Meet other stroke survivors at Northwest Hospital Center’s ongo-

ing Stroke Wellness Club, held the first Wednesday of every month at the Northwest Hospital Conference Room, 5401 Old Court Rd., from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Membership is free. To join, call (410) 601-WELL (9355).

Ongoing

MEALS ON WHEELS INFORMATION Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland provides community information about its program, and resources available for homebound

individuals. Visit online at www.mealsonwheelsmd.org or call (410) 558-0932.

Ongoing

B-I-N-G-O! The American Legion Post 130, 8666 Silver Lake Dr. in Perry Hall, hosts bingo every Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m. Jackpot games are

changing to a progressive game starting at $500 and growing to $1000. Light dinner fare is available beginning at 5:30 p.m. Call (410) 870-0625 for more information.

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2017

SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

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Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

JANUARY 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

A variety of affordable housing options

By Carol Sorgen Dorothy Tolliver has been living at Weinberg House for almost 11 years and couldn’t be happier. The former government employee, who is now 80, had been living in another senior residence in downtown Baltimore but wanted to be closer to her family. She now enjoys her one-bedroom apartment and the convenience of the Pikesville neighborhood.

“I’m right across the street from the Giant and within walking distance to the drugstore, bank and bus line,” said Tolliver. “Everything I need is within a fiveblock radius.”

Tolliver also enjoys the variety of programs Weinberg House offers, including fitness activities such as Zumba and chair yoga, game night and movie showings.

The apartment house is also close to the Pikesville Library and Senior Center, and a bookmobile makes regular visits. A coffee

shop on the premises gives residents an opportunity to socialize together.

Another aspect that makes Weinberg House attractive is its affordable rents for those who meet income and age guidelines.

“I just love it here!” said Tolliver.

Weinberg House is just one of the many affordable residences for seniors throughout the Baltimore area. Following is a brief sampling of what’s available. For a more complete list, visit http://bit.ly/BaltCountyApts and http://bit.ly/BaltCityPublicHousing.

Park Heights Place 5430 Park Heights Ave. (410) 578-3445 http://habitatamerica.com/communities/park-heights-place-baltimore-md/ Park Heights Place offers affordable one-bedroom apartments for rent to residents 62 and older. Standard features in each apartment include central heat and

air conditioning with individual climate control, a fully equipped kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and living room. Small pets are welcome, and accessible apartments are also available.

The development also features a large community room, TV room, laundry facility, lounge, wellness clinic and two outdoor patios. Fifty-eight percent of the apartments are dedicated for residents earning 40 percent or less of the area median income.

For easy access around Baltimore City for shopping, dining and recreation, Park Heights Place is close to public transportation, with bus stops and a Light Rail station nearby.

Income limits apply. Call for information on availability and pricing.

The Greens (443) 716-2550 http://habitatamerica.com/communities

1 95

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Habitat America manages six communities for residents 62 and above in Baltimore City and Baltimore and Anne Arundel Counties, all known as The Greens: The Greens at English Consul, The Greens at Hammonds Lane, The Greens at Irvington Mews, The Greens at Liberty Road, The Greens at Logan Field, The Greens at Rolling Road.

The one- and two-bedroom apartments are spacious, with large closets, a fullyequipped kitchen, plenty of natural light, and are convenient to grocery stores, shopping centers, medical facilities and more. Amenities at the individual communities may include community centers, computer labs, fitness centers, libraries and more.

Call Habitat America or visit the website to check out each individual community.

Wayland Village Senior Apartments 3020 Garrison Blvd.

(410) 542-4580 www.whetstonecompany.com Wayland Village is an independent living community designed exclusively for low- and moderate-income seniors age 62 and older. The 90-unit community has oneand two-bedroom apartments featuring a telephone/card entry system for controlled building access; fully-equipped kitchens; wall-to-wall carpeting and miniblinds; individually-controlled heating and air conditioning included in rent; two convenient laundry facilities in the building; community rooms and activities rooms; convenient public transportation and services (bus #91 stop right out front); highspeed Internet access; and emergency pendants for calling family or emergency services.

St. Mary’s Roland View Towers 3838 Roland Ave. (410)-889-8255 www.smrvt.com St. Mary’s Roland View Towers is a complex of two high-rise apartment buildings in the heart of Hampden. St. Mary’s is one of the first successful apartment facilities in the country constructed with federal funding to provide housing for those who are 62 or older. There are 360 apartments at the property, including efficiencies, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms.

Church services, social events and access to senior benefits are among community programs open to the tenants. The restaurant on the top floor is the highest point in Baltimore, has a spectacular view of the city, and is open to the public.

Recent community activities include bus trips, cookouts, movie nights and bingo.

Other features include reception desk personnel on duty 24/7; on-call maintenance 24/7; 24-hour library; beauty/barber shop; dining facilities.

Weinberg Senior Housing www.chaibaltimore.org Since 1994, CHAI (an agency of the Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore), has acquired, renovated or deSee LOW-COST HOUSING, page B-3

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Housing Options

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2017

Low-cost housing From page B-2 veloped 14 communities in northwest Baltimore City, Pikesville and Owings Mills.

The buildings are owned by CHAI and managed by Edgewood Management.

To qualify for an apartment home at Weinberg Senior Living communities, the following conditions must be met: At least one member of the household must be 62 years of age or older, or at least one member of the household must be 18 years of age or older with a disability.

All household members must fall within the income limits, as set forth by the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the year. All household members must be U.S. citizens or have CIS resident alien certificates.

Income requirements vary among the Weinberg properties, and apartment rents are determined by the requirements of each community, the unit type and your income. Weinberg Park, the assisted living facility, does not have income or age restrictions.

Catholic Charities Senior Communities (443) 798-3423 www.catholiccharities-md.org/senior-housing Catholic Charities has been managing senior communities for more than 30 years, and owns and operates senior communities in 24 locations in Baltimore City,

Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Garrett and Harford Counties, including nearly 1,800 units of efficiency, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments.

In most cases, to be eligible, applicants must be 62 years of age or older with an annual income under the Section 8 income limits published by HUD. In a few buildings, the income limit is higher. In most communities, residents pay approximately 30 percent of their adjusted gross income for rent.

Residents enjoy a variety of on-site services, such as beauty and barber salons, laundry rooms, libraries, dining rooms, convenience stores, computer centers, medical offices, and the professional assistance of on-site service coordinators.

In addition, the Catholic Charities Senior Support Services Program is available to eligible residents at a reasonable cost at select communities. The program provides meals, and assistance with housekeeping, laundry, personal assistance and service management.

CSI Co-op Apartments 1-800-362-0548 www.csi.coop The not-for-profit CSI uses a unique cooperative management system to provide affordable senior housing communities in Maryland, California, Massachusetts and Michigan.

There are 11 rental co-op residential communities in Baltimore, Essex and Randallstown. Detailed descriptions, including

rents, for each of the communities can be found on the website. Currently, all area properties either have short waits or an open waitlist for new residents.

Living in a co-op means living in a building that is controlled by the resident members. The resident members vote on all major operating decisions, including writing the annual budget. The membership also includes privileges, such as serving in elected or appointed positions, voting in co-op elections, CSI board elections, corporate bylaw changes, or other matters coming before the members.

Virginia Towers 4500 Virginia Ave. (410) 321-9661 Virginia Towers is a 15-story high-rise for residents 62 and older with 150 units, primarily one-bedrooms. To qualify, residents may earn no more than $18,000/year for an individual, or

$30,000/year for a couple. Rents usually are 30 percent of residents’ gross annual income.

Apartments feature wall-to-wall carpeting, dishwasher, energy-efficient windows and free parking. Pets under 25 pounds are accepted. There is a waiting list, but applications are currently being accepted.

Park View (410) 246-7499 www.parkviewseniorliving.com Park View Senior Living has more than 20 residential communities throughout Baltimore City and Baltimore and Howard Counties. Most Park View communities offer one- and two-bedroom apartment homes to qualified seniors.

The apartments are bright, spacious and well-equipped for active, independent lifestyles, and are conveniently located See LOW-COST HOUSING, page B-4

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JANUARY 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Five home downsizing tips from the pros

By Katherine Roth For empty nesters and others who find themselves moving into a smaller space, downsizing can feel emotionally and physically overwhelming. But careful planning and perspective can make it easier.

It helps to keep your eyes on the prize, experts say. Envision how great it will feel to be unburdened by excess, and achieve your goal of living happily with less, in a smaller but comfortable space, said Stephanie Sisco, home editor for Real Simple Magazine.

For older adults, it may help to think of the process as a way to put things in order now so the burden of sorting through everything doesn’t fall to your family later.

For families, downsizing is a great chance to teach kids organizational skills, she said.

“Kids might not be able to help much in the garage or kitchen, but they are experts on their own toys, and know which things they care about and which can go,” Sisco said.

Here are five suggestions to make downsizing easier:

Don’t guess, calculate Measure your new space to determine exactly what will fit (and what won’t), and precisely where each piece of furniture should go.

It helps to draw a floor chart onto graph paper so that each square represents a foot, with furniture pieces cut out from Post-Its and placed appropriately on the grid. Or use one of many available smartphone apps that accomplish the same task, generally in greater detail.

“I use the Sweet Home 3-D app, but there are many other apps out there,” said Diana Zagariello, owner and director of Caring Transitions of Long Island, based in Merrick, N.Y. Caring Transitions, which helps seniors downsize, has 170 offices across the country, including one serving the Baltimore area.

“It’s important to know exactly what will go where, so you can make the most of the muscle available to you on moving day, and aren’t stuck rearranging heavy furniture in a small space after the movers have gone home,” she said.

When helping older people move, she said, get them and everything they’ll be taking with them moved into the new space first. Going through the rest of their things can be too physically and emotion-

Low-cost housing

“Mom just wasn’t herself.”

From page B-3 near shopping, public transportation, healthcare centers, and social and recreational venues.

Most communities also provide a Park View bus for resident outings, social and recreational activities, education and health seminars, 24-hour emergency maintenance services and business services.

Assisted living is living, with a perfect amount of assistance.

At first it was little things, like drawers left open and dust on the furniture: Mom had always been so tidy. After a while, I noticed the laundry and dishes piling up. Finally, I saw that some medications were being left in the weekly pill keeper. I knew it was time for us to talk.

I asked Mom how she felt about handling things on her own. She confessed that housework was overwhelming and she sometimes forgot to take her medications. So I asked her if she would consider assisted living.

She resisted at first, but I watched her features soften as I related how living at Pickersgill would be a lot like home, only better, and it would ld give ie her a chance to strike up new Pickersgill offers: friendships. That brought a smile!

• Transportation to local doctors Mom has been at Pickersgill for and dentists about six months now. She looks like a new person and says she feels much • Immediate response to emergencies better. She’s even joined a card club! and sudden illness • Access to an on-duty nurse Pickersgill has offered seniors great value and confidence for more than • Supervision of medications 213 years. Living here, you or • Assistance with bathing or showering someone you love can enjoy daily • Daily tidying and bed-making activities and companionship that help • Assistance with dining, if desired ensure a healthy balance of body, mind and spirit.

Call 888-877-9883 today to schedule a private appointment and tour.

615 Chestnut Avenue • Towson, MD 21204 • www.PickersgillRetirement.org SB

ally overwhelming for many seniors, and is often more efficiently accomplished once they have moved out.

Prepare, prepare, prepare Start paring down by making a list of everything you don’t love or need so that you can start selling or giving it away. Add to your list as you sift through your things, Sisco said.

Identify appropriate charities. “Before you start a big purge, it’s good to know where you want to donate your items like books, clothes and furniture. Do a little research, and that way you have a plan to quickly get rid of things as you go,” said Sisco.

Make sure you have plenty of boxes, Sharpies, zippered plastic bags and other materials for quickly packing. Once you get going, you won’t want to lose momentum because you don’t have enough of the right boxes, she said.

In addition, said Zagariello, “Make a nice long list of who to contact about your change of address, what services need to be disconnected or transferred, where you want to donate things or to whom you want to give them. Everything.”

See DOWNSIZING, page B-5

Community amenities feature electronically controlled lobby entrance, elevator buildings, community room, lending library and computer center, laundry facility with convenient lounge, media lounge, salon services and wellness suite, to name just a few.

To learn about locations and features of individual communities, visit the website or call Park View. You may also call any community directly.

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2017

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Housing Options

B-5

Convert a spare room into a dream closet

By Melissa Rayworth Longing for a bigger closet?

Rooms in your home don’t have to be used the way they were originally intended. Get creative and convert a small room into the ultimate walk-in closet, says Egypt Sherrod, host of HGTV’s “Flipping Virgins” and “Property Virgins.”

Giving up a room can be a big decision.

The trick is doing it on a minimal budget and retaining the flexibility to use the room differently in the future, says Kevin O’Connor, host of PBS’ “This Old House.”

Ideally, use the bedroom closest to the master bedroom, says Sherrod: “That way you have the option of opening up the wall to go directly in.”

Creating a doorway in a wall is relatively minor construction and can easily be undone, experts say.

The simplest way to convert a small room is by lining the walls with clothing racks on wheels and with free-standing wire shelving units. You can customize the

Downsizing From page B-4

Take on your belongings Begin the process of discarding your possessions by tackling the least sentimental first, so you don’t get bogged down, said Sisco. Start with the laundry room or pantry, for instance, and work your way up to things like photos or mementos — the toughest things to get rid of.

As bestselling author Marie Kondo writes in The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (Ten Speed Press, 2014), it helps to tackle things methodically, keeping only what you truly love or need.

Enlist help “It really helps having someone by your side, helping you stay focused,” Sisco said.

It could be someone from a moving company, a professional re-locator, a friend, a neighbor or family member, Sisco said.

It’s important to have support making the many decisions that come up before, during and after a move.

Give yourself a 5- or 10-minute break every 45 minutes or so, Sisco said.

And if it’s all too much, hire a relocating expert to do part or all of the job. In many cases, estate sales can help cover the cost of their services.

Make it quick Resettle as quickly as possible to keep your new, smaller home from feeling cluttered.

“You want to get all the boxes unpacked and out the door, and everything in place in a matter of days. Otherwise boxes can linger unpacked for far too long,” Zagariello said.

“If you’ve done things right in the planning stages, the resettling part should be pretty quick and easy, and the quicker you finish up, the better.”

— AP

space by adding colorful bins and baskets.

To fill the center of a room that Sherrod converted to a closet, she brought in two large bureaus of the same height and arranged them back-to-back. She had a sheet of granite cut to cover the tops, creating a work island that combines storage and a flat surface for arranging accessories or stacking folded laundry.

The finishing touch: Prop up a framed, full-length mirror on one wall.

For a finished look with no DIY effort, there are many closet systems that offer a mix of hanging space and shelves. Some are free-standing and others are anchored to the walls.

The more permanent systems are made to look like built-ins, Welch says, and “are a great way to maximize the space with a more customized look.”

Additional pieces worth considering: “A great planning tool is a valet rod, which is a

pullout rod that you can lay out your outfit for the next day on or use for staging for a trip,” says Sarah Fishburne, director of trend and design at Home Depot. “I use mine all the time.”

If you have enough space, she suggests adding jewelry trays and racks designed for belts and ties: “Some spin, and some you can slide out with plenty of space,” she says.

Bonuses and obstacles A bedroom repurposed as a closet has ventilation and natural light that’s lacking in many closets. “For people who care

about getting the tie to match the jacket,” O’Connor says, “there’s nothing better than natural light.”

For the best possible lighting, Fishburne suggests adding dimmers to a walkin closet and choosing lightbulbs carefully (she likes LED daylight bulbs).

One challenge: Closet doors are designed to swing out, but bedroom doors generally swing into the room. So the door to your new walk-in closet will swing in unless you decide to remove it. Adding sliding pocket doors can be expensive, O’Connor says, but they’re a nice luxury to finish off your ultimate walk-in closet.

—AP

Pull out and keep this special section!

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INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

JANUARY 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Charlestown 410-988-4070

Brightwood 410-339-3210

715 Maiden Choice Lane Catonsville, MD 21228 www.ericksonliving.com

100 Brightwood Club Drive Lutherville, MD 21093 www.brightwoodliving.org

What makes Charlestown different? Year after year, Charlestown continues to be Baltimore County’s first choice for retirement living.

Bigger is better The 110-acre campus is home to a wealth of activities and amenities, including six restaurants. Yet, it retains the warmth of a small town.

A charming location Residents are surrounded by nature trails, mature trees, and stunning views of the historic Our Lady of the Angels Chapel.

The value of experience For 31 years, Charlestown has provided financial security with their Refundable Entrance Deposit.

Learn more. Call 410-988-4070 for your brochure, or schedule a visit.

There’s no need to compromise your standard of living when choosing a retirement community. Homes at Brightwood all include fireplaces, 9 ft. ceilings, large rooms, storage and garage parking included at no extra cost! A pet friendly community conveniently located in Greenspring Valley, Brightwood is minutes from both the attractions of the city and the beauty of the countryside. The small size of the community (only 80 homes total) provides a neighborhood feel. Life at Brightwood is easy and safe: services include 24/7 security, activities, dining, maintenance, housekeeping and an on-site nursing staff for care and coordination.

Schedule your tour today – you’ll be amazed at the difference!

ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY

ASSISTED LIVING LIVING COMMUNITY ASSISTED

Shangri-La Senior Living of Catonsville 410-744-8433 6348 Frederick Road Catonsville, MD 21228 www.ShangrilaSeniorLiving.com

Weinberg Park Assisted Living 410-664-0100 5833 Park Heights Avenue Baltimore, MD 21215

At Shangri-La Senior Living of Catonsville, we combine comfortable living with compassionate, yet affordable care. From our interiors to our smiling residents and exceptional staff, there is an aura of warmth and caring that sets us apart. We offer three levels of assisted living care. In addition, we are happy to provide: private and semi-private rooms; delicious meals and snacks with special diet requests available; daily assistance with bathing, dressing, and management of medications; daily offerings of activities; weekly religious services offered; housekeeping & laundry services; regular wellness visits by a licensed nurse; emergency call system with secured environment; hospice services; and respite, short-stay care.

Weinberg Park is a vibrant Assisted Living community where you can live with confidence and independence. Whether you need help getting dressed, managing medications or friendly conversation, we are there for you with a gentle helping hand.

We offer private or semi-private suites, certified nursing assistance, medication management, a 24-hour emergency response system, laundry & housekeeping services, delicious & nourishing kosher meals and individualized service plans. Our doors are open to everyone, regardless of income level, and we strive to keep our fees at a competitive market rate. Call today to schedule a tour! We look forward to showing you the comfort and care we offer to all our treasured residents!

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Linden Park Apartments in Bolton Hill 410-523-0013 301 McMechen Street Baltimore, MD 21217 To a New Year and a New Home! What better way to start off the year than in a new apartment in a community such as Bolton Hill that boast beautiful gardens and plenty of social activities — a lifestyle that encourages engagement and wellness in one location. Offering efficiency apartments at $777 a month, for ages 62 plus, there are many activities for you to enjoy, from fitness workshops to art programs! Newly renovated and updated, Linden Park Apartments in Bolton Hill has undergone $24 Million in Renovations! FREE parking, FREE utilities and 24-hour concierge, plus small pets are welcome! Stop by for a tour today! www.LindenParkApartments.com An Equal Housing Opportunity Community.

Cove Point Apartments 410-288-2344 7801 Peninsula Expressway Dundalk, MD 21222 Cove Point Apts. offers sr. apts. in Dundalk, MD., for ages 62 plus, with access to I-695 & the Key Bridge. Relax by the water, play golf at the Stansbury Golf & Sports Park, enjoy a new book at the Dundalk Community College Library, or grab a pizza at Squire’s in Dundalk, less than a half mile away.

A convenient location, the pet-friendly senior apartments feature a chef-style kitchen, microwave, wall-to-wall carpeting & walk-in closets. Enjoy activities within the community, including seasonal celebrations, arts & crafts, fitness & Internet classes. Amenities include a sheltered front porch, sitting area, courtyard terrace, raised gardening beds & walking path. Call for more information!

An equal housing opportunity community.

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2017

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FREE HOUSING AND OTHER INFORMATION # For free information from advertisers in this special section, check off those that interest you and mail this entire coupon to the Beacon. Please do not request info if you are not interested.

All replies will be entered into a random drawing to win tickets to Riverdance.

HOUSING COMMUNITIES ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

Atrium Village . . . . . . .B5 & B11 Brightwood . . . . . . . . . .B3 & B6 Carroll Lutheran Village . . . . .B3 Catholic Charities . . . . . . . . .B4 Charlestown/Erickson . .B6 & B9 Christ Church Harbor Apts. . . .B9 Cove Point Apartments .B2 & B6 Ednor Apts./Stadium Place . .B2 Evergreen Apartments . . . . . .B2 The Greens at English Consul . .B2 The Greens at Hammonds Lane B2 The Greens at Irvington Mews .B2 The Greens at Liberty Road . . .B2 The Greens at Logan Field . . . .B2 The Greens at Rolling Road . . .B2

❑ Linden Park Apts. . . . . .B6 & B8 ❑ Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant . . . . . . . . . . . . .B3 ❑ Oak Crest/Erickson . .B9 & B11 ❑ Park Heights Place . . . . . . . .B8 ❑ Park View Catonsville . . . . .B10 ❑ Park View Dundalk . . . . . . .B10 ❑ Park View Rosedale . . . . . . .B10 ❑ Park View Taylor . . . . . . . . .B10 ❑ Pickersgill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B4 ❑ Shangri-La Senior Living .B6 & B9 ❑ St. Mary’s Roland View Towers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B8 ❑ Weinberg Gardens . . . . . . . .B12 ❑ Weinberg House . . . . . . . . . .B12 ❑ Weinberg Manhattan Park . . .B12

❑ Weinberg Manor East/West .B12 ❑ Weinberg Manor South . . . . .B12 ❑ Weinberg Park Assisted Living . . . . . . . . . . . . .B6 & B12 ❑ Weinberg Place . . . . . . . . . .B12 ❑ Weinberg Terrace . . . . . . . . .B12 ❑ Weinberg Village Community . . . . . . . . . . . . .B12 ❑ Weinberg Woods . . . . . . . . .B12

HOME HEALTHCARE ❑ Genesis SelectCare . . . . . . . .B11 ❑ One Day At A Time . . . . . . . . .B4

HOUSING REFERRAL ❑ Care Patrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B11

Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this entire coupon to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227.

You may also include the free info coupon found on page 5.

One entry per household please.

Name __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________E-mail_______________________________________________ City _______________________________________________________ State ______________________ Zip ____________________ BB 117

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B-8

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JANUARY 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Myths and realities of aging in place

By Marianne Cusato It’s time to elevate the conversation about aging in place. Forget about grab bars and wheelchair ramps. Those are elements of last resort for “old” people. And who wants to be labeled “old”? Not me, and I suspect not you, either.

The problem with aging is that there isn’t a single point at which we are officially “old.” All other major life events — graduating from college and starting a career, for instance, or getting married and starting a family — have a clear starting point.

Not aging. It’s not only gradual, but also different for each of us individually. Long before our hips fail us, we might be a little shaky on our feet. Years before we need memory care, we could become unsure of our decisions or forgetful.

Aging is relative. Some people are born “old.” Others are young into their 90s.

Yet despite all of these vagaries, we do know several things for sure: America has an aging population with an increasing life expectancy, most of whom desire to stay in

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their homes indefinitely as they age.

In fact, already 108.7 million strong, the population of Americans age 50 and older is expected to swell by another 10 million — nearly 10 percent — by 2020, according to AARP. The number of Americans age 85 and older, meanwhile, is expected to more than triple by 2060, making them the fastest-growing age group in the country.

Americans aren’t merely aging, however; they’re also living longer, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, which said a baby born in 2015 will live to an average age of 79.4, while one born in 2060 will live to an average age of 85.63. Someone born in 1950, on the other hand, has an average life expectancy of just 68.4.

So how do we meet the housing needs of an aging population that plans to stay in their homes, but won’t admit that they are aging?

Simple: We must change the discourse related to housing and aging. The dialogue must be about adding features that enhance our lives today by offering a return on investment through livability, yet also happen to support the process of aging gracefully.

Let’s rebrand “aging in place” — an activity for old people — and start a discussion, instead, about “thriving in place”: a goal for all people.

Drawn from two recent HomeAdvisor

surveys — one, of 279 home service professionals, and the second, of 586 homeowners over the age of 55 — this report highlights current industry and demographic trends, while making the case for “thriving in place” solutions that homeowners of all ages can implement today.

Boomers hesitant to upgrade With 61 percent of homeowners over the age of 55 planning to stay in their homes indefinitely, it’s surprising that few older homeowners are investing in agingrelated improvements. In fact, 65 percent believe their home’s layout is adequate without any aging-related improvement, and over three-quarters of homeowners (78 percent) have never completed an aging-related renovation.

The report found there is a disconnect between the perception of aging in place — adding grab bars and installing wheelchair ramps — and the reality: namely, that many design features can enhance the livability of a home for all ages.

Smart home technology can provide solutions for homeowners looking to increase their safety, accessibility and ease of living. Here, again, there is a disconnect: Two-thirds (67 percent) of homeowners over age 55 believe smart-home techSee AGING IN PLACE, page B-9

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2017

Aging in place From page B-8 nology could help them age in place, yet fewer than 1 in 5 (19 percent) have actually considered installing it for such purposes.

Myth: Aging in place is a conversation for ‘old’ people The most common reasons nearly twothirds of homeowners 55 and older plan to stay in their home indefinitely are: that they feel independent in their current home (68 percent), their current home is conveniently located (66 percent), they feel safe in their own home (66 percent), they’re familiar with their neighborhood (54 percent), and they live close to family (38 percent).

Interestingly, HomeAdvisor found that homeowners over age 70 (77 percent) are more likely to want to stay in their home than homeowners age 56 to 70 (56 percent).

One explanation for the gap is that older homeowners already are aging in place, as homeowners who plan to move likely have done so by the time they reach their 70s.

On the other hand, another explanation could be that homeowners don’t yet feel “old” enough to be having aging-in-place conversations. In fact, HomeAdvisor found only 22 percent of homeowners have completed an aging-in-place renovation, and nearly a third (31 percent) have never even considered one.

Among the latter, the most common rea-

sons homeowners gave for not considering an aging-in-place renovation are that they don’t have any physical disabilities requiring such renovations (40 percent) and they don’t consider themselves old enough to need them (20 percent).

Reality: The best time to think about aging in place is now “Aging in place isn’t about special addon features that will only help you once you’ve fallen and incurred a disability,” said Rodney Harrell, director of Livable Communities at AARP’s Public Policy Institute. “It’s about making functional home improvements that make spaces more useful and more usable for anyone, anytime.”

Myth: Aging in place is about aging Most homeowners over age 55 (67 percent) say they consider themselves to be proactive about making aging-in-place renovations, and a majority (86 percent) feel they are familiar with aging-in-place additions, remodels or products.

Home service professionals tell a different story: More than half (57 percent) of the home service professionals HomeAdvisor surveyed indicate that aging-in-place projects account for less than 10 percent of the work requests they receive.

Furthermore, only 20 percent of pros say most homeowners who contact them about aging-in-place projects reach out proactively, before they have immediate home improvement needs. Rather, most say homeowners reach out reactively because they or someone they know has a

degenerative condition that will limit their independence over time (33 percent), because of a recent hospitalization or major medical event (25 percent), or because they’re concerned about a recent fall or minor medical event (19 percent).

Finally, most pros say the primary reasons homeowners hire them to do agingin-place renovations are accessibility (50 percent) and safety (43 percent); only 6 percent say homeowners hire them to make “ease-of-living” improvements, like lowering countertops or installing lowmaintenance landscaping.

All of this indicates that homeowners

B-9

want to be proactive about aging in place, but are held back by misconceptions that aging-in-place projects will prematurely “senior-proof” their home.

Reality: Aging in place is about livability Making homes safe and accessible for seniors is an important and primary objective of aging- in-place projects. Thriving in place, however, is about much more than adding grab bars and wheelchair ramps.

In fact, many popular aging-in-place improvements — wider doorways, open floor See AGING IN PLACE, page B-10

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6348 Frederick Road, Catonsville

B-10

Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

By Barbara Ruben

Aigburth Vale to be renovated In November, the Baltimore County Council passed a $4.55 million financing package to help renovate the affordable senior apartment community Aigburth Vale in Towson. St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center, a nonprofit housing organization, bought the property from Baltimore County in 1999 and added a wing of additional apartments to the historic 1860 mansion on the property.

Both areas will get renovations, including updating the apartments to make them accessible for all abilities, and upgrading the roof, the heating and air conditioning system, boiler and parking lot. Solar panels will be added, and there will be upgrades to common areas and exterior porches. A

new library and TV room are planned.

Residents will remain on the property throughout the project, which begins in late January and is expected to be finished by the end of 2017.

“I am delighted that this historic mansion, home to 70 seniors in Towson, will be rehabilitated in a manner that preserves the charm and beauty of this distinctive landmark,” said Baltimore County Council member David Marks of the building that once served as a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Learn more about Aigburth Vale at www.stambros.org/pages/rental-services.html#aigburthvale or by calling (410) 296-6695.

New Charlestown community opens In December, the Charlestown retirement community opened Caton Woods, a

COURTESY OF CHARLESTOWN

Housing Notes

JANUARY 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

The Charlestown retirement community opened the Caton Woods assisted living building in December.

new continuing care assisted living community that will be home to 116 residents. The new building replaces the previous assisted living facility built 29 years ago.

Construction of Caton Woods, which took nearly two years, completes phase 1

lifestyle

Your NEW begins here

AL

communLi are SMOKties E FREE

-

APARTMENT HOMES FOR THOSE 62 AND BETTER

of a three-phase project with a cost of $75 million. Phases 2 and 3 will include the repositioning of two outdated buildings, making space for a new memory care building and a skilled nursing facility.

“There is a growing demand for memory care services, so we are planning accordingly to meet those needs,” said Executive Director Clara Parker.

Caton Woods is H-shaped, with apartments on the outside arms and large common areas in the middle. It includes spacious apartments, outdoor spaces and screened porches, a rooftop terrace and patio with gazebo. The building also has new amenities with creative arts space, theater, fitness center, salon, game room, library and spa.

Caton Woods also offers modern amenities, such as higher ceilings, granite counter tops and cherry cabinets. In comparison to rooms that are now just 190 square feet, those in Caton Woods are between 300 and 600 square feet.

For more information, call 1-800-9178649 or see www.ericksonliving.com/ charlestown/caton-woods.

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

HARFORD COUNTY

Furnace Branch 410-761-4150 Severna Park 410-544-3411

Bel Air 410-893-0064 Box Hill 410-515-6115

BALTIMORE CITY

HOWARD COUNTY

From page B-9

Ashland Terrace 410-276-6440 Coldspring 410-542-4400

Colonial Landing 410-796-4399 Columbia 410-381-1118 Ellicott City 410-203-9501 Ellicott City II 410-203-2096 Emerson 301-483-3322 Snowden River 410-290-0384

plans, zero-step entrances, remote-controlled window coverings and motion-sensor lights, just to name a few — can enhance the quality of life in a home even as they make the home safer. Such improvements are often “invisible,” and can be just as beneficial to a homeowner in his 30s or 40s as they are to a homeowner in her 70s or 80s.

“Think differently,” Harrell said. “If you’re renovating a kitchen or bathroom, do things in a way that makes sense. Making your space more usable for yourself today will also make it more usable for your future self.”

Myth: Smart home technology is simply for convenience Although a majority of homeowners over age 55 (67 percent) think it could be helpful as they age, just 19 percent say they have considered installing smarthome technology for that reason. This is likely because homeowners still think of technology as a luxury convenience rather

BALTIMORE COUNTY Catonsville 410-719-9464 Dundalk 410-288-5483 Fullerton 410-663-0665 Miramar Landing 410-391-8375 Randallstown 410-655-5673 Rosedale 410-866-1886 Taylor 410-663-0363 Towson 410-828-7185 Woodlawn 410-281-1120

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY Bladensburg 301-699-9785 55 AND BETTER! Laurel 301-490-1526 Laurel II 301-490-9730

EASTERN SHORE

ALL PARK VIEW COMMUNITIES

Easton 410-770-3070

ARE

PET-FRIENDLY

www.ParkViewSeniorLiving.com Call the community nearest you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour or email parkviewliving@sheltergrp.com.

Professionally managed by The Shelter Group. www.thesheltergroup.com

Aging in place

See AGING IN PLACE, page B-11

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2017

Aging in place From page B-10 than a practical necessity.

In fact, homeowners who haven’t considered smart-home technology to assist them with aging in place cite as their most common reasons that they don’t need/are not interested in such technology (45 percent), that it’s too expensive to purchase (29 percent), and that it’s too expensive to install (25 percent).

Reality: Smart home technology supports independence Smart-home technology — for example, Internet-connected thermostats, appliances and lighting — is a new frontier that holds significant promise for helping Americans age in place comfortably and safely while also adding significantly to their home’s present livability.

Consider, for example, a connected refrigerator that automatically detects when groceries run low and orders new ones when needed; the same appliance that creates convenience for a young family can ensure nourishment for a homebound senior.

Top renovation projects Homeowners over age 55 say the bathroom (48 percent) is the top area in the home that they have considered modifying for aging in place; a minority have considered modifying an entrance or stairway (24 percent), the kitchen (20 percent), the exterior (16 percent) or their overall home, including bedroom (9 percent).

Likewise, homeowners say the top aging-in-place projects they’ve considered are: installing grab bars around the tub or shower, or installing a shower seat (48 percent); increasing the height of their toilet (28 percent); installing adjustable/handheld showerheads (23 percent); installing base cabinets with rollout trays and lazy susans (15 percent); planting low-maintenance shrubs and plants (15 percent); and

adding handrails on either side of stairways (12 percent).

Home service professionals, meanwhile, say the top aging-in-place projects they’ve been hired to do are installing grab bars (71 percent), adding entryway wheelchair ramps (54 percent), and increasing the widths of doorways (43 percent).

These findings reinforce the false perception that aging-in-place renovations are reserved only for situations where they are medically necessary, and highlight the need to change the conversation from aging-in-place projects that no one wants to thriving-in-place projects that everyone can embrace.

The first step toward a national dialogue about thriving in place is education, suggests HomeAdvisor’s data. Nearly half (45 percent) of homeowners over age 55 say they are not at all interested in learning more about aging in place, and only 7 percent say they would be interested in receiving a free aging-in-place assessment from a home service professional.

In fact, a majority of home service professionals (84 percent) already offer agingin-place services to homeowners. And while more than half (54 percent) say they don’t yet offer educational information about aging in place to their customers, nearly half (46 percent) do.

Those who do say the most common aging-in-place topics they educate their customers about are: the types of aging-inplace projects they can do (83 percent); aging-in-place safety (54 percent); options for aging in place, such as staying in your own home or moving in with a family member (38 percent); and technology for aging in place (21 percent).

Marianne Cusato is HomeAdvisor’s housing expert and a professor at University of Notre Dame’s School of Architecture. Excerpted by permission of HomeAdvisor. To see the full report, go to www.homeadvisor.com/r/2016aging-in-place-report.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money

13

Law &

Many retailers will match sale prices on items from competitors — just ask. See story on page 15.

What you’ll pay for Medicare next year

By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, I know there won’t be much of a costof-living increase in Social Security benefits next year, but what about Medicare?

How will the 0.3 percent Social Security raise affect our Part B monthly premiums in 2017?

— Inquiring Beneficiary Dear Inquiring: Considering the rising cost of healthcare coverage, the news regarding your Medicare costs for 2017 is not too bad.

Here’s what you can expect:

Part B Premiums Because the Social Security Administration is giving out a measly 0.3 percent cost of living increase starting in January — that equates to about a $4 to $5 monthly increase on average — the 2017 Part B monthly premium for about 70 percent of Medicare recipients will increase only about $4 to $5.

That’s because, thanks to the Social Security Act’s “hold harmless” provision, Medicare cannot pass along premium increases greater than the dollar increase in

their Social Security checks.

So, if your Medicare Part B monthly premium is currently $104.90, you can expect it to be around $109 (on average) in 2017. Or, if you signed up for Part B for the first time in 2016, your $121.80 monthly premium will rise to around $127 (on average) next year.

Some will pay more Unfortunately, the hold harmless provision does not protect all Medicare recipients. New Medicare enrollees (those who will enroll in 2017), beneficiaries who are directly billed for their Part B premium, and current beneficiaries who have deferred claiming their Social Security will pay more.

If you fit into any of these categories, your Medicare Part B premium will be $134 per month in 2017, up from $121.80.

The hold harmless rule also does not protect high-income Medicare beneficiaries who already pay higher Part B premiums because their annual incomes are above $85,000 for an individual or $170,000 for a couple.

If you fit into this category, here’s what you’ll pay for your Part B premium next

year, based on your 2015 tax returns: • Individuals with incomes of $85,000 to $107,000, or married couples filing joint tax returns with incomes of $170,000 to $214,000, will pay $187.50 per month.

• Individuals earning $107,000 to $160,000 (couples $214,000 to $320,000) will pay $267.90 per month.

• Individuals with incomes of $160,000 to $214,000 (couples $320,000 to $428,000) will pay $348.30 per month.

• Individuals with incomes over $214,000 or couples above $428,000 will pay $428.60

per month.

Another increase that high-income beneficiaries (those with incomes over $85,000, or $170,000 for joint filers) need to be aware of is the surcharge on Part D premiums.

Affluent seniors that have a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan will pay an additional $13.30 to $76.20 per month, depending on their income, on top of their regular Part D premiums.

See MEDICARE COST, page 15

14

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JANUARY 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Questions and answers about Medicare

By Kimberly Lankford Q: Does the Medicare Part D doughnut hole continue to close next year? What is the threshold for 2017?

A: Yes. The gap in coverage that Medicare beneficiaries reach after incurring a specified total cost for prescription drugs in a given year — known as the doughnut hole — will continue to shrink gradually each year until it levels off in 2020.

In 2017, after you pay a deductible of up to $400, you’ll be responsible only for co-

payments until your total drug costs reach $3,700 (including your share and the insurer’s share of the costs).

At that point, the doughnut hole kicks in, and you’ll have to pay 40 percent of the cost of brand-name drugs (50 percent is a discount paid for by the drug company and 10 percent is covered by the plan), and 51 percent of the cost of generic drugs.

Once your out-of-pocket costs reach $4,950 (including the brand-name manufacturer’s 50 percent discount), you’re out of

the doughnut hole, and you’ll pay no more than 5 percent of the cost of each drug.

If you’re approaching the doughnut hole for 2016 ($3,310 in total costs for covered drugs) and you’re taking an expensive brand-name drug, ask your doctor whether you can switch to a generic medication or therapeutic alternative that has a similar benefit but costs less.

Q: My Medicare card still has my Social Security number on it. I know it’s a bad idea to keep anything that displays my Social Security number in my wallet.

Wasn’t the government supposed to stop putting Social Security numbers on Medicare cards?

A: ID thieves can do a lot of damage if they get your Social Security number, which is why we recommend that you don’t carry your Social Security card or number in your wallet.

But Medicare beneficiaries are in a tough spot because SSN-based health claim numbers still appear on their Medicare cards. President Obama signed a law in April 2015 requiring the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to remove SSNs from Medicare cards, but the change is being implemented gradually.

CMS will start sending the new cards in April 2018, but it will take until April 2019 before SSNs are removed from all cards.

Under the new system, a randomly gen-

erated 11-character Medicare Beneficiary Identifier will replace the SSN-based health claim number on your new Medicare card.

You’ll get information in 2018 letting you know about the new Medicare card, with an explanation of how to use the new card and what to do with your old one.

You can start using your new Medicare card with the new number as soon as you receive it, and there should be a transition period in 2018 and 2019 when you can use either the old card or the new card. Keep an eye on www.cms.gov/Medicare/SSNRI for updates.

Changing the health claim numbers for the more than 55 million Medicare beneficiaries is a big undertaking, and Medicare isn’t issuing any new cards without an SSN yet.

But there are ways you can protect yourself until the new cards are issued. Paul Stephens, director of policy and advocacy for the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, recommends that you carry your Medicare card only when you visit a healthcare provider for the first time, so the provider can make a copy for its file.

Otherwise, he recommends making a copy of your card with the last four digits of your Social Security number blacked out, and keeping that in your wallet in case of an emergency. © 2016 Kiplinger, all rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

15

Use price match to always get sale price

By Courtney Jespersen Kevin Brasler recalls barraging an obliging salesperson with questions about car seat safety when he was a concerned new parent.

Before they checked out, Brasler and his wife found the seat they were considering for $50 less on Amazon. But they were so invested in their in-store experience that they bought from the salesperson anyway.

However, they likely could have purchased the car seat at the store and gotten the Amazon price by simply asking the retailer to match it.

Price matching typically requires asking the cashier to meet a lower advertised price at the time of purchase, or asking a representative at the customer service desk for a price adjustment within a postpurchase grace period.

To price match online, call the site’s customer service line. You’ll usually need a digital or physical ad for evidence of the lower offer, and there can be exceptions and exclusions.

Brasler is executive editor at the nonprofit Consumers’ Checkbook. The group has found that mystery shoppers saved considerable amounts by price matching,

Medicare cost From page 13

Deductibles and co-pays Other changes that will affect all Medicare beneficiaries include the Part B deductible, which will increase from $166 in 2016 to $183 in 2017.

The Part A (hospital insurance) annual deductible will also go up to $1,316 in 2017 (it’s currently $1,288) for hospital stays up to 60 days. That increases to $329 per day for days 61 through 90, and to $658 a day

including $140 on an LG sound bar speaker system at Best Buy. Even though price matching works, fewer than 10 percent of consumers do it, according to Sucharita Mulpuru, chief retail strategist for Shoptalk.

She said that although price matching has grown during the last decade, many consumers are still unaware of it, and others don’t bother because it seems like a hassle.

And some stores keep such a close eye on pricing that matching isn’t often necessary.

How to price match • Check retailer websites for price matching policies. For example, Amazon honors TV prices from select stores, but won’t price match anything else. Best Buy matches Amazon.com, Bhphotovideo.com, Crutchfield.com, Dell.com, HP.com, Newegg.com and TigerDirect.com, in addition to local competitors. But Kumar said price matching policies often exclude businesses offering the lowest prices because they might not sell genuine products.

• Match comparable products. It can be more difficult to price match items such as electronics because retailers might sell dif-

for days 91 and beyond. And the skilled nursing facility coinsurance for days 21100 will increase from $161 per day in 2016 to $164.50 per day next year.

For more information on all the Medicare costs for 2017, visit www.medicare.gov and click on “Find out how much Medicare costs in 2017,” or call 1-800-633-4227.

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

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ferent model numbers, Mulpuru said.

• Download a price comparison app such as ShopSavvy or Scan. Then scan the barcode of the item you want and see what it’s selling for elsewhere — and whether you should request a price match.

• Some retailers, including Target, will match their own online prices in store, so

check both before buying.

• If you find your item for less post-purchase, ask for a price adjustment. Many credit cards offer a price protection perk if an item drops in price after you buy.

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet.

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JANUARY 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Travel Leisure &

For highlights of a visit to Scotland’s Isle of Skye, where “Outlander” is filmed, see facing page.

Dutch heritage colors Caribbean Curacao ing their luck, and extremely friendly people.

Furthermore, we concluded that the beaches deserve a better reputation than they sometimes get. The three dozen-plus on Curacao include both those expansive enough to satisfy most sun bathers as well as tiny swatches perched in little coves protected on both sides by craggy cliffs.

Knip Bay has two beaches, Grote (Big) Knip and Kleine (Little) Knip. Both offer soft white sand, shade provided by large tr ees, and ar e lapped by stunning turquoise waters. The nearby Playa Lagun, tucked in a small inlet, shelters fishing boats whose owners return to clean their catch at a small stand near one end of the beach.

© FOTOS593

By Victor Block I knew that the Caribbean island of Curacao is unfamiliar to many people from the United States, but the flight attendant’s announcement still caught me by surprise.

As the plane prepared to land in Miami, she read a list of connections but stumbled over the name of my final destination.

Then she admitted, “I don’t know how to say the name of that island.”

A similar thought was expressed by a fellow American during my stay. She described Curacao as “one of the best-kept secrets in the Caribbean.”

Maybe the challenging pronunciation of its name — cure-a-sow — is a turn-off. Perhaps the fact that it lacks as many long stretches of magnificent beach as some other islands convinces sun-seekers to head elsewhere.

But the relatively small number of vacationers from the United States who join a larger influx from South America and Europe are richly rewarded.

Begin with the island’s intriguing history and rich cultural tapestry. Add some of the best diving and snorkeling in the area.

Throw in an architectural gem of a minicity that combines tropical touches with European flair.

My wife Fyllis and I augmented the list with an enticing choice of outdoor activities, a sprinkling of casinos for those who enjoy test-

Dutch history Grote and Klein Knip are by no means the only places on Curacao to have Dutch names, as the island’s history and culture are closely entwined with what today is the Netherlands.

The earliest inhabitants were Arawak Indians who lived there more than 6,000 years ago. They were followed by Spanish explorers who arrived in 1499, seeking gold and other treasure. Finding none, they included Curacao on their country’s list of islas inutiles (“useless islands”).

But the Dutch who showed up were after something else. Attracted by Cura-

Boats line a pier in Willemstad, Curacao, forming a “floating market” that delivers fresh produce and other goods from Venezuela to the arid but lovely Caribbean island.

PHOTO BY VICTOR BLOCK

Pedestrians cross Willemstad’s Queen Emma Bridge, which links the city’s two main neighborhoods and can swing open to allow boats to pass. Some call Curacao “the best-kept secret” in the Caribbean.

cao’s deep-water port, they took over the island in the early 17th century, and it became a colony of the Dutch West India Company. That launched Curacao’s long tradition as a trading center, including the slave trade, that helped make it one of the most prosperous islands in the Caribbean.

Trade also was responsible for attracting immigrants from around the world. That created an ethnic melting pot that today includes people of more than 50 nationalities.

One way in which this diversity manifests itself is language. While Dutch is the official means of communication, Spanish and English also are widely spoken.

Many residents also converse in Papiamentu, which originally was developed by slaves. It’s a mixture of Dutch, Spanish, African, Portuguese and Caribbean Indian dialects, with touches of other languages thrown in for good measure.

Some Dutch settlers built stately plantation homes and used slave labor to grow sugar cane, corn and indigo. Most of these land huizen (land houses), which date back to the mid-17th century, were perched on hills within sight of others in case help was needed during a slave revolt or calamity.

A number of them have been restored, and today serve as restaurants, art galleries and museums.

Whimsical Willemstad The island’s rich history may be explored in many ways. The obvious starting point is Willemstad, the storybook capital of the island. Given its rich past and architectural treasures, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage City in 1997.

The architecture is one well-deserved claim to fame. A number of buildings feature a tropical adaptation of 17th-century Dutch design, often adorned with fanciful gables, arcades and columns. Adding to the whimsical scene is a virtual fruit salad of peach, raspberry, mango and other pastel colors with which many structures are painted.

That eye-catching chromatic explosion is attributed to a governor general of the island who suffered migraine headaches that he blamed on the glare of white paint. In 1817, he decreed that only pastel colors could be used. According to some accounts, the fact that he owned a paint factory in Holland may also have played a part in his decision.

The Technicolor setting of Willemstad is best seen on foot. The two main neighborhoods, Punda and Otrabanda (“the other side”), are linked by the Queen Emma Bridge — one of three spans that were named by the Dutch after monarchs.

Because the pontoon Queen Emma See CURACAO page 18

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2017

17

Visitors love Scotland’s misty Isle of Skye

By Michelle Locke Bonny Prince Charlie saw Scotland’s Isle of Skye on the run. He was fleeing government troops after his Highland rebellion ended disastrously at the 18th century Battle of Culloden.

My visit was hurried, too, although due to nothing more exciting than a tight schedule — no redcoats on my tail.

Luckily, even a short stay is long enough to glimpse why the Misty Isle of Skye is one of Scotland’s most popular tourist attractions.

Here are a few reasons.

Dream scenes Rain or shine, most likely both in the same day, Skye is a stunner — from the stark grandeur of the Black Cuillin, the jagged mountain range looming over the island, to the cheerfully pastel houses of Portree harbor.

You can take in the views by driving Skye’s winding roads, get out for a shoreline amble or, if you’ve got the skills, go mountaineering. Guides can be hired for more challenging itineraries; a good option is www.skyeguides.co.uk.

Recommended spots include the Trotternish ridge, known for rock formations like the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing pinnacles. Also a must-see — the Fairy Pools, a series of crystal clear and flowing pools on the River Brittle. www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/fairypools.shtml.

Highland history Are you a fan of the Starz TV series “Outlander”? If so, you should already be familiar with the beauty of the Highlands, the setting for that time-traveling drama.

The series hasn’t gotten into Prince Charles’ flight yet; Season 2 ended just as the Battle of Culloden started. The show’s been renewed for two more seasons, but we don’t know a lot of details on what’s coming.

In real life, the prince, Charles Edward Stuart — who was the grandson of the deposed James II and was trying to win back the British throne for the Stuarts — escaped government troops aided by several

Highlanders, including the brave Flora MacDonald, who got him to Skye dressed as her maid.

If you are headed into the Highlands by way of Inverness, you’re close to the Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Center, which does a good job of explaining the rise and fall of the doomed campaign.

You can’t go far in Scotland without finding a castle, and Skye’s Dunvegan Castle is billed as the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland. It’s been home to the chiefs of Clan MacLeod for eight centuries. Admission to castle and gardens is about $16.

For more island history, visit the Skye Museum of Island Life in Kilmuir, which features a recreation of a Highland village.

Admission is about $3.25.

Dining and drams Think Scottish cuisine begins and ends with broth and haggis? You’re in for a surprise (not that there’s anything wrong with broth and haggis).

Skye boasts a variety of dining choices, including the Michelin-starred Kinloch Lodge, and The Three Chimneys, which lost its Michelin star after a change in chefs in 2015 but continues to put out excellent food. If you’re there for lunch, look for the Crispy Croft Egg starter, a perfect mix of rich, dense egg and crisp crust.

On the drinks side, Skye has one whisky distillery, Talisker in Carbost. And it’s the home of another Scots libation, Drambuie, now made in Glasgow but first developed and served at Skye’s Broadford Hotel in the 1870s. The liqueur, a blend of aged scotch, spices, heather honey and herbs, is said to be based on a recipe of the bonny prince himself, who gave islanders the secret to his private elixir in gratitude for their help.

Skye’s largest town, Portree, has a supermarket and other shops. It also has a visitor center (Bayfield House, Bayfield Road) with information on walks, attractions and boat trips.

You can even arrange a boat tour to the coastline of Elgol, on the southern end of the island — home to a cave where the

prince is said to have hidden. No telling whether you’ll feel the presence of Highlanders past. But keep an eye out for men in red coats.

If you go Get visitor information on the Isle of Skye at www.visitscotland.com/destinations-maps/isle-skye/see-do/.

A bridge connects Skye to the mainland, so the easiest way to get to, and around, Skye is by car — either your own or on a

booked tour. Some island roads are singletrack, with places where you can pull over to let others pass.

There are B&B’s, hotels and self-catering cottages. Rooms fill up quickly at high season (spring and summer), so book ahead.

The Isle of Skye is about 250 miles north of Edinburgh. The least expensive roundtrip fare from BWI to Edinburgh in mid-January is $607 on American Airlines.

— AP

18

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Curacao From page 16 Bridge swings open to allow ships to pass, it is affectionatly nicknamed “the Swinging Queen.” The other two are the Queen Juliana Bridge over the harbor, which at 200 feet is the highest span in the Caribbean, and Queen Wilhelmina Bridge.

Close to the Queen Juliana Bridge is a “floating market” which doesn’t really float.

Because Curacao has such an arid climate, much of the fresh produce is transported from Venezuela in small wooden boats.

Hence the name. The fruit, vegetables, fish, some handicrafts and other items are sold from stands that line the dock next to where the vessels are moored.

Of more historic interest is the Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, which was built in 1732 and lays claim to the honor of

the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere.

The sand that covers the floor is said to symbolize the wandering of Israelites in the desert following the Exodus, and also to recall the way that sounds of worship were muffled during the Inquisition period, when Jewish people had to pray in secret.

The congregation uses Torahs that are more than 300 years old, and keeps in protective storage several others that date back to the 15th century. A small but interesting museum in the courtyard displays scrolls, bibles and other religious objects.

A number of other little museums are gems in terms of their collections. The Curacao Museum provides an overview of the island’s lifestyles and customs. Exhibits range from geological history and the first Indian inhabitants, to the arrival of Europeans, and include examples of thatch-roof

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slave dwellings and 19th century mansions.

The piece de resistance in our sightseeing sojourns was the museum at the Sonesta Kura Hulanda Village & Spa. A major focus of that eclectic collection is the history of slavery — including the slave trade, Africans in Latin and North America, and abolition. It contains the largest African collection in the Caribbean.

We found especially moving the full-size replica of the hold of a ship in which captured slaves were transported to the New World in appalling overcrowded conditions.

It demonstrates dramatically how people were crowded onto wooden platforms where they could hardly sit, much less stand, to be taken from their homeland to their new lives as slaves in a distant and different place.

An off-road adventure It doesn’t take long after leaving Willemstad to encounter a very different environment. In contrast to the multicolored hues of the city, much of the surrounding landscape is barren and dry, the victim of sparse rainfall.

Undulating hills are blanketed by rock outcrops and cacti that grow as tall as trees. In a few places, the terrain more closely resembles a moonscape than a Caribbean island.

Our ride on all-terrain vehicles allowed Fyllis and me to get off-road to explore hidden nooks and crannies that no car can reach. We also took to foot in Christoffel Park.

We followed that stroll with a refreshing dip in the sea. The beach from which we swam was pleasant enough and, unlike many on other Caribbean islands, virtually deserted. Maybe, we concluded, there’s something good to be said for Curacao’s low profile as an inviting Caribbean vacation destination.

If you go For guests at the Sonesta Kura Hulanda

Village & Spa, the setting and accommodations become part of the Curacao experience. The 82 rooms are furnished with antiques and hand-carved mahogany and teak pieces, and the walls are adorned with hand-painted designs by local artisans.

Transportation is provided to the resort’s beach-front sister property.

The room rate for a three-night winter package on select dates is $600. For more information, log onto www.kurahulanda.com.

The Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort offers a more traditional setting, with golf, tennis and spa facilities, seven restaurants and lounges, three swimming pools and a beach.

Rates begin at $219 during the winter high season and fall to a budget-stretching $139 during summer. For more information, call (855) 590-2266 or log onto www.santabarbararesortcuracao.com.

To lunch with locals, head for the Plasa Bieu (Old Market), a covered space located at Waaigat Punda, where several vendors prepare lunch in open kitchens and some menus are written on chalk boards.

The choices at Ivonne’s Place range from beef and chicken to stewed goat meat. Fish filet with rice and peas costs $12 and is large enough to serve two people. For more information, call (599) 9-524-8529.

In addition to restaurants at the Santa Barbara resort that range from fine dining to beach and pool eateries, Boca 19 (19th hole) is a fun and funky spot where the owner greets first-time guests like old friends. In addition to familiar fare like the Boca Burger and fresh fish, there are local favorites like goat stew with prunes and olives ($14). For more information, call (599) 9-840-1075 or log onto boca19.com.

The least expensive roundtrip airfare from BWI in mid-January is $842 on American Airlines.

For more information, call the Curacao Tourist Board at 1-800-328-7222 or log onto www.curacao.com.

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2017

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Style

19

Arts &

Our cover story on crafting continues on page 20.

An artistic exploration of the Deep South Tuscaloosa. For many years he taught painting and drawing at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design in Washington, D.C. Christenberry is best known for his works that depict Southern themes and focus on such haunting subjects as crumbling buildings, rusting automobiles, once -iconic advertising signs and graves.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICA

By Carol Sorgen “Laying-by time” is the term used in rural agricultural communities to describe the summer period when farmers have completed their preparation of the crops and anxiously await the harvest.

It is also the name of the current exhibit at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), “Laying-by Time: Revisiting the Works of William Christenberry,” a survey of work by the renowned artist that reflects on his upbringing in Hale County, Alabama, and his yearly summer pilgrimages to the area.

In a poignant footnote, Christenberry died Nov. 28 at the age of 80 in a Washington, D.C., nursing home of complications of Alzheimer’s disease, just days before the MICA exhibit opened.

Though his work is heavily influenced by his experiences in Alabama, “Laying-by Time” features photography, paintings and sculpture that extend beyond the region, according to Kimberly Gladfelter Graham, exhibition curator and MICA Curatorial Studies faculty.

“Great art is a creative prism through which we can consider our personal and collective experiences,” Gladfelter Graham observed. “William Christenberry’s masterful work allows us to relate to an important place and time in the shaping of our American story, and to consider our personal choices in its continued unfolding.”

Born in 1936 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Christenberry received his BFA and MFA degrees from the University of Alabama in

Developed from photography Christenberry took the photos included in the exhibit with a Kodak Brownie camera. They were initially not intended to be an art form in themselves, but were to be used as color guides for his paintings.

But in 1960, Christenberry’s artistic focus shifted after he discovered the photography book Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, by Walker Evans, with text by James Agee. That book was inspired by a trip Evans and Agee took to Christenberry’s birthplace, Hale County, Alabama, in 1936, the same year Christenberry was born.

Christenberry spent every summer in Hale County, visiting both sets of grandparents on their farms. Many of the subjects in Evans’s book were friends and neighbors of Christenberry’s family.

Unlike Evans’s photographs, which were in black and white, Christenberry chose to work in color (taking his film to a drugstore to be developed). Though he eventually began to create larger photographs, his subjects and style remained the same since, as he told one interviewer, “The place is my muse.”

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

Radio Flea Market Heard every Sunday, 7-8:00 a.m. on 680 WCBM

William Christenberry’s artwork, focusing on his roots in Alabama, is on exhibit at the Maryland Institute College of Art. This 1993 photo, “Clothesline, Near Morgan Springs, Alabama,” evokes a sense of the region he came from. After moving to Washington, D.C., he continued to return to Alabama each summer to visit friends and pursue his photography.

Christenberry had a long and prestigious career. He received numerous honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship.

Exhibitions of his work have been mounted at museums and academic institutions

such as the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C, and as far away as See CHRISTENBERRY, page 21

20

Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Crafts From page 1 “Knitting offers so much potential,” said Legg. “It’s a creative endeavor that has a wide appeal to both newcomers and those — like Barbara Steinhardt, who began knitting at the age of 15 — with a lifetime of experience.”

Working with wood Men have been getting into the crafting movement in a big way too. The Howard County Woodworkers Guild, for example, has seen its membership jump from around 70 members eight years ago to 198 at the moment.

The majority of members are men, according to Guild president Rick Munzer, 63, who lives in Glenelg. Munzer was a carpenter when he was younger but is now a civil engineer.

JANUARY 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

He joined the organization about 16 years ago and has been president for the last eight. It was his wife who suggested he get involved with woodworking.

“I bought one tool, then another, then another…every saw you can think of,” he chuckled.

The Guild’s members range from novices who start out with simple projects, such as jewelry boxes or cutting boards, to expert craftsmen who design and build large pieces of furniture and exhibit at craft shows throughout the country.

The Guild meets the first Saturday of every month in Columbia for a show-andtell of members’ projects, a demonstration by a guest speaker, and Guild business.

The members also exhibit at the annual Timonium Woodworking Show, this year being held Jan. 6 to 8 at the Timonium Fairgrounds.

While most of the Guild members work in their home shops, there is a workshop at the Florence Bain Senior Center in Howard County where the men can work on their projects and get advice from others.

“We help each other out,” said Munzer.

“There’s something really satisfying about being able to make something beautiful out of a simple piece of wood.”

Getting their hands dirty At Charlestown retirement community, a resident-run pottery group finds crafts are not only a productive creative outlet, but also a great way to socialize and stay connected with friends.

Eugenia High, a former social worker, had never made pottery before she moved to Charlestown two years ago. But that didn’t stop her from signing up for an eight-week course through Baltimore County Community College, where she learned how to mold and shape clay into beautiful works of art.

“At the end of the course, some of us wanted to continue on,” said High. “A small group of us still get together once a

We specialize in

Mary came to ManorCare Health Service – Woodbridge Valley debilitated from an infection. Mary couldn’t even get out of bed!

See CRAFTS, page 21

PHOTO COURTESY OF AMY LEGG

short-term rehabilitation and long-term relationships.

week. We make plates, ornaments, jewelry — all kinds of things — by hand. Some people are serious about their work and even sell the items they make. I really just do it for the fun of it.”

Sondra Tucker, the group’s facilitator, learned the art of pottery-making a few years ago from fellow Charlestown resident and retired high school art teacher Stephanie Weiss. Now, Tucker shares the practices she learned from Weiss in the community’s art studio every Wednesday morning.

“Everyone does her own thing,” said Tucker. “I give tips and suggestions, but most people are being creative in their own way.”

There are two methods of making pottery — hand-built and wheel-thrown. Hand-built pottery, the method of choice for Tucker and the Charlestown pottery group, uses three different techniques: the pinch pot method, which uses your thumb and forefinger to thin and mold the clay; the coil method, which rolls clay into thin ropes to be used as

She told us ‘Ididn’t didn’tknow know what to expect. I’ve never been hospitalized.’

“Everyone was so wonderful. I’m glad I came here.”

- Mary

After our rehab team worked with Mary, she was up on her own two feet, managing all of her own needs and, in no time, was discharged and back to her regular routine.

As an added bonus, ManorCare’s exercise regimen jump-started a weight loss which helped her to resolve her diabetes. Mary says, “Thanks to ManorCare, I feel great!”

For more information, please call the location nearest you or visit www.manorcare.com: Dulaney

Ruxton

410.828.6500

410.821.9600

Roland Park

Towson

410.662.8606

410.828.9494

Rossville

Woodbridge Valley

410.574.4950

410.402.1200

In addition to selling yarn, Woolworks offers knitting classes, and invites customers to hang out at the store to knit and converse with their fellow enthusiasts.

From the publisher From page 2 recipients (that is, reduce benefits paid to wealthier retirees), or change the formula for the annual cost of living increases, or impose an across-the-board decrease in benefits, or...

How much good would each of these potential steps do? Glad you asked.

Last June, the Penn Wharton Public Policy Initiative, a nonpartisan research group, unveiled an online program that allows users to apply the six types of changes mentioned above, in any of 4,000+ combinations, to see how they would affect the 75-year solvency of Social Security.

Not surprisingly, a little bit of a lot of different steps — each of which would gore a different ox — implemented gradually over a period of many years would produce a perfectly reasonable solution. See http://bit.ly/SocialSecuritySimulator But we’re talking about Congress and

the White House here, which are very sensitive to the fact that many of those variously gored oxen are quite powerful politically and vociferous in opposing any harm to themselves.

It seems to me that, while imposing most of the burden on any one group (current workers, seniors, employers, the affluent, etc.) would justify loud objection, it should be much easier to accept if a small bit of pain were imposed on all potential beneficiaries.

The longer we wait to act, the more painful those solutions will be for all of us.

The sooner we solve this very solvable problem, the more we and our progeny will benefit.

I urge you to encourage your congressional representatives to take this issue seriously — and to let them know you won’t vote them out of office if they do so.

Christenberry From page 19 Madrid. His work can also be found in the permanent collections of the Baltimore Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, among others.

Response to the KKK According to Gladfelter Graham, the work on view in “Laying-by Time” explores Christenberry’s American South, and is exemplified by the controversial and rarely exhibited “Klan Room Tableau” — a

Crafts From page 20 a base or rim; and the slab method, in which a rolling pin is used to flatten the clay, similar to rolling out a pie crust.

“I really enjoy the creativity of [potting] and getting my hands in the clay,” said Tucker. “I’ve done mostly plates for the last few months, but I also do plaques, sculptures and vases.

“Some of the things I make I give away as gifts, some things I use myself, and oth-

multimedia installation that was the artist’s response to the human capacity for hatred and violence that he believed was epitomized by the Ku Klux Klan.

The installation features sketches, figurines, iconography, objects and dioramas that document the pervasiveness of the KKK in Christenberry’s home state.

Gladfelter Graham hopes that visitors will see the exhibition as more than a chronicle of the South’s dark history. “It is an exploration of the microcosm to reveal the macrocosm, the specific and personal to reflect the general and universal,” Gladfelter Graham said.

ers I have for sale in one of the display cases outside the studio.”

The potters recently had the opportunity to sell their crafts in Charlestown’s annual craft show, a two-day holiday season event showcasing the community’s artisans.

“It’s one of our most popular events,” said Mary Evans, community resources manager at Charlestown. “We’ve got such a talented group of people living here. The craft show allows them to showcase their talents and share their creativity.”

— Additional reporting by Danielle Rexroad

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ART

The Baltimore Museum of Art is mounting its first exploration into contemporary African art. Through the use of photographs, prints and drawings, the museum offers political perspectives on African life and its diaspora. “Shifting Views: People & Politics in Contemporary African Art” will be on view through June 18 at the BMA, 10 Art Museum Dr. Admission to the museum is free. For more information, visit www.artbma.org or call (443) 573-1700.

Mat. 8

TRIP TO TOBY’S

Travel with Essex Senior Center to Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia to see Showboat on Wednesday, March 8. Enjoy a buffet lunch and performance for $80. Call the Essex Senior Center at (410) 687-5113 for reservations.

adventurer.

I’M NOT A SENIOR. E I’M AN

At Integrace, we know that your age does not define you.

So we’ve created a family of life plan communities where you can connect with your passions and discover new paths every day. Live the life that’s most meaningful to you.

Visit Integrace.org to discover all the possibilities that await you.

Jean-Daniel Stanley Buckingham’s Choice resident, underwater archaeologist and world traveler

21

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2017

Call now to schedule your tour Bayleigh Chase | Easton | 410-763-7167 Buckingham’s Choice | Adamstown | 301-644-1604 Fairhaven | Sykesville | 410-795-8801

A Not-for-profit Community

Upcoming events related to the exhibition include “An Intimate Window: Gallery Walk & Talk with Sandy Christenberry,” on Feb. 22 at noon, during which the curator and the artist’s widow will reminisce and reflect.

“Generating Conversations: Against a Backdrop of Contemporary Concerns” on Feb. 27, from 7 to 9 p.m., is a panel discussion with Judy Norrell, collector of Southern literature, art and history; Dr. DaMaris Hill, artist, writer,

educator and social justice advocate; and Tanya Garcia, artist and community activist.

The exhibition will be on display through March 12 at MICA’s Decker Gallery in the Fox Building, 1301 W. Mount Royal Ave. Hours are Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information, visit mica.edu/laying-by_time or call (410) 669-9200.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

SYMPHONY OF LIGHTS

Enjoy the bright lights and laser shows of Symphony of Lights through Jan. 8 in Symphony Woods in Columbia. Times and prices vary. For more information, visit www.hopkinsmedicine.org or call (410) 740-7666.

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 22 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

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JANUARY 2017 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Across 1. Silver ships for green men 5. Basic box of crayons 10. One after FDR 13. Fills to capacity 15. Droning speaker 16. Returned from the salad bar 17. Simple drawing 19. It’s in FIRM 20. New soldier 21. Dapper accessory 23. The difference between dapper and dapperest 24. ___-crab soup 25. Nile region reptiles 26. Humidifier output 29. They make Chunky Monkey chunky 31. Slugging percentage increaser 32. Be a bad apple 33. “Good advice is something a man gives when he is too old to ___ bad example” 34. First man in the bible (alphabetically) 36. Bone breakers (maybe) 40. Realty bites 41. Compresses a large computer file 42. Type of terrorist 43. Youngster 44. Jesus’ first visitors 45. Serves as a game show host 46. It may dot your eyes 48. Second degrees 49. Gun the engines 51. Mediterranean C 53. Joseph, who actually named his physical fitness system “Contrology” 57. Big fuss 58. Make permanent 60. Flower holder 61. Characteristic 62. Raid the ‘fridge 63. Shortly before 64. Snow White’s only beardless dwarf 65. Commic Foxx

62 65

Down 1. Beatles’ plane destination 2. Plain predestination 3. Ear-relevant word 4. Middling security level 5. Final words 6. “ I’m just a small ___ in a large machine” 7. Some are self-evident 8. Like American Horror Story 9. Christmas decoration 10. Some are as big as golf balls 11. Remove paints or pants 12. Office fill-ins 14. Inventory codes 18. Health club objective 22. Nile region capital 24. Poem parts 26. Two husbands, or one wife 27. Simplest Greek letter to draw 28. Small reminder 30. Hagen, winner of a 1999 Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement 31. Rabbits’ hiding spots 33. Put on the calendar, briefly 34. Fever reliever 35. Executioner’s target 37. Watched a tear-jerker 38. Search for buried treasure 39. In Morse Code, it is “... —- ...”

44. Zany 45. Top grossing film of 2009 46. ___ up or ship out 47. Dynasty that resulted from The War of the Roses 48. Subway in Paris or DC 50. Ultimate word in an ultimatum 52. No longer factored into unemployment stats.

53. Mr. T’s emotion 54. Carry, fashionably 55. Oklahoma city, legendarily named from a reversed “DINE” sign 56. Provide mixed signals 59. Make haste

Answers on page 21.

BALTIMORE BEACON — JANUARY 2017

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; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on the right.

CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment.

EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

Financial Services TAXES, ACCOUNTING, AND BOOKKEEPING, eldercare. CPA Over 40 years of experience, reasonable rates. Call 410-653-3363.

For Rent/Real Estate PARKVILLE – Furnished one-bedroom apartment. Living room, kitchen, bath, private entrance and patio. Includes utilities and cable TV. $875 mo. Call 410-668-4116.

For Sale BURAL PLOTS (BALTIMORE HEBREW CEMETERY) – Two plots, Division 7, Section 1C, #170, #171 of said cemetery. $2,000, deed available. Call Shelly or Walter, 410-653-1132.

2 SALVADOR DALI woodblock prints from Dante’s Divine Comedy. Signed and framed.

Asking $900 for the pair. Can email pictures if desired. Call Steve, 410-913-1653.

Health EXERCISE STUDY, VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Healthy adults (55-80) able to have an MRI scan and participate in 30 minutes of exercise may qualify. Contact aalfini@umd.edu, 970-319-1616.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Home/Handymand Services BALTIMORE’S BEST JUNK REMOVAL – Clean Outs: Whole House, Emergency, Attics/Basements. Furniture and Junk Removal, Yard Waste Removal, General Hauling, Construction Debris Removal. Free estimates.

10% Senior Discount. Licensed, Bonded and Insured. Call Jesse, 443-379-HAUL (4285). www.baltimoresbestjunkremoval.com.

BORN AGAIN REFINISHING c/o Vernon E. Madairy Sr. Because your antique and fine furniture is an investment. Photographs at www.bornagainrefinishing.com. Furniture refinishing & repairs. All pieces hand stripped.

Restorations. Missing pieces hand-carved. Veneer repair and replaced. Upholstery. Kitchen cabinets refinished. Hand-woven natural cane.

Cane webbing. Natural rush. Fiber rush. Wood splint. Residential and commercial. Since 1973 (43 years). 410-323-0467.

SANFORD & SON JUNK REMOVAL. Trash + Junk removal, house & estate cleanouts, garage + basement cleanouts. Demolition – Shed, deck fence + pool removal. Licensed + insured. Free estimates over the phone. Call 7 days a week, 7 am to 7 pm. 410-746-5090.

Personals PRETTY WF 50s YOUTHFUL LADY, nonsmoker, down to earth, seeks SWM, 50s-60s, honest, sincere, handsome gentleman with hefty build, non-smoker, for old fashioned fun, friendship, possible relationship, who enjoys the great outdoors, dining out, cinema and dancing. 301-880-6977. Please leave a voice message with your phone number.

Wanted WE BUY GOLD AND SILVER JEWELRY. Costume too. Gold and silver coins, paper money, military, crocks, old bottles and jars, etc.

Call Greg, 717-658-7954.

WE BUY STERLING SILVER FLATWARE, tea sets, single pieces of silver, large pieces of silver plate. Attic, basement, garage. You have something to SELL, we like to BUY. Call Greg, 717-658-7954.

ADRIAN BUYS CARS – A convenient way to dispose of an unwanted car for top cash dollar.

My buy price is usually hundreds higher than a CarBox quote. I come to you. 410-916-0776.

BUYING VINYL RECORDS from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201.

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Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $10 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word.

Business Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing business enterprise. Each ad is $25 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word.

Note: Each real estate listing counts as one business text ad.

Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:

The Beacon, Baltimore Classified Dept.

P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227 Wanted

Wanted

CASH BUYER FOR OLD COSTUME JEWELRY – wrist and pocket watches (any condition). Also buying watchmaker tools and parts, coins, quilts, old toys, postcards, trains, guns, pocket and hunting knives, linens, fishing equipment and tackle boxes, fountain pens, Christmas garden items, crocks and jugs, lamps and lanterns, pottery, military items, sports memorabilia, advertising signs, paintings and contents of attics, basements and garages. Professional, no pressure individual with over forty years of experience. Lloyd D. Baker. 410-4094965. 717-969-8114, office.

FINE ANTIQUES, PAINTINGS AND QUALITY VINTAGE FURNISHINGS wanted by a serious capable buyer. I am very well educated [law degree] knowledgeable [over 40 years in the antique business] and have the finances and wherewithal to handle virtually any situation. If you have a special item, collection or important estate I would like to hear from you. I pay great prices for great things in all categories from oriental rugs to Tiffany objects, from rare clocks to firearms, from silver and gold to classic cars. If it is wonderful, I am interested. No phony promises or messy consignments. References gladly furnished. Please call Jake Lenihan, 301-279-8834. Thank you.

COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, rifles, shot guns, knives, swords, bayonets, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars and countries. Large quantities are okay. Will pay top prices for my personal collection. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-9100783.

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Housing Alta at Regency Crest . . . . . . . . .7 Atrium Village . . . . . . . .B-5, B-11 Bayleigh Chase/Integrace . . . . .21 Brightwood . . . . . . . . . . .B-3, B-6 Buckingham’s Choice/Integrace 21 Carroll Lutheran Village . . . . .B-3 Catholic Charities . . . . . . . . . .B-4 Charlestown/Erickson . .B-6, B-9 Christ Church Harbor Apts. . . .B-9 Cove Point Apartments . .B-2, B-6 Evergreen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-2 Fairhaven/Integrace . . . . . . . . . .21 Gatherings at Quarry Place/ Beazer Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Greens, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-2 Linden Park Apts. . . . . . .B-6, B-8 Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-3 Oak Crest/Erickson . . .B-9, B-11 Park Heights Place . . . . . . . . .B-8

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