December 2016 | Baltimore Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

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It’s ‘game on’ for these players

DECEMBER 2016

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By Carol Sorgen Since 1974, Nancy Sacks has had a standing Monday evening engagement. The 66year-old realtor gets together with five other women for a weekly mah jongg game. When Sacks began this tradition, she and the other women were young mothers who all belonged to the same philanthropic organization. Forty-two years later, some of the players have moved on (Sacks and her friend Sue Belle are the originals), and their kids are now grown. But the Monday night “mahj” tradition lives on. “The game is fun, and it’s a bond of friendship,” said Sacks. “We’re all girlfriends, and this is a time for us to spend together and share our news. “Plus, playing games [Sacks also plays in a weekly canasta game] is good for my brain and gives me something to occupy my time,” she added.

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A walking tour immerses you in Japanese history and customs; plus, a trip to Dallas minus the car page 22

Resurgence in popularity Board games (or to use the broader term, tabletop games) refer to games that are normally played on a table or other flat surface, and can include card games, dice games and tile-based games, such as Scrabble. Once in a slump because of the proliferation of video games, board games are enjoying a surge in popularity. Sales of board games grew an astonishing 56% from 2014 to 2015, and sales of card and dice games grew 75% in the same period, according to ICv2, which tracks industry sales. New games are continually being created, but some of them have their inspiration in perennial favorites. The developer of Qwirkle, for example — a tile-laying game in which players lay square wooden tiles directly on to the table to form lines showing matching shapes or colors — was inspired by Scrabble and the players’ ability to score on more than one word with a single move. Capitalizing on the popularity of these games is the rise in board game cafes — casual restaurants or bars with a modest entry fee that stock a wide variety of board games that patrons can play as long as they like. The cafes appeal to people who not only enjoy playing games, but are looking for a more in-person connection; something

Nancy Sacks gets together with friends every Monday to play mah jongg. Participating in board and card games not only offers social benefits, but can keep your brain healthier, reduce stress, and possibly even help you find things you’ve lost, according to research.

they can’t get from, say, their Words with Friends sessions (a word game played on smartphones, tablets and via Facebook). While a recent search doesn’t reveal any dedicated board game cafes in Baltimore, many coffee shops and restaurants have board games available for their patrons, or encourage them to bring their own and settle in for a few hours. You can also join existing board game groups at your local senior center, or start your own.

Multiple benefits Dick Fulton, who is 88 and lives at the Edenwald Retirement Community in Towson, enjoys his twice-weekly backgammon games. For several years, Fulton invited a few other men to his apartment on a weekend afternoon to enjoy an informal game.

That group is still ongoing, but now Edenwald itself sponsors a weekly game for anyone who is interested. Fulton said he has been playing backgammon all his life. “I learned from watching my father and his friends play,” he recalled. Fulton enjoys the fact that backgammon is a quick game that involves both a certain amount of luck as well as strategy. “Although it’s 95 percent luck,” Fulton added, laughing. According to Fulton, playing games like backgammon, and doing his word jumbles and Sudoku, helps keep his mind sharp. Research bears this out. A study conducted by the Rush University Medical Center and Illinois Institute of Technology See GAMES, page 28

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BMA exhibit pairs Matisse and Diebenkorn; plus, Baltimore holiday merry-making begins page 26

FITNESS & HEALTH k Best ways to end knee pain k Steps to lower blood pressure

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Being heard In so many aspects of life, we can find our- Trump student who joined that march to selves frustrated because we feel we aren’t argue with protestors was beaten up and being heard. It happens betaken to a hospital. tween parents and kids; it hapIn all of these cases, people pens between spouses; it hapsaid they were protesting the pens at school and at work. fact that Donald Trump won When we feel our views are the presidential election. dismissed and our needs are igWBAL-TV quoted one protesnored, we want to bash a wall, tor as saying, “people need to gnash our teeth, trash our know that we’re not going to rooms or worse. stand for this and that noThese feelings can affect us body is happy with this.” Anno matter what our age. But other protester was quoted perhaps it is even more the as saying, “We are just exerFROM THE case when we are young and cising our right to protest PUBLISHER perceive our legitimate means that the system is corrupt.” By Stuart P. Rosenthal of expression to be limited. I know none of these proI was thinking about this as I testors is likely to be reading read about the many recent protests around the Beacon right now. But if they were, this the country by high school and college stu- is what I’d say to them: I understand how dents after last month’s national election. strongly you feel about the election reIn this area, students (and faculty) at sults, and why. I understand and share Towson University walked out of classes in many of your fears about the future. I even protest; some days later, another group of understand the impulse to march around protesters gathered near Johns Hopkins and shout. University and marched to the M&T Bank But regardless of how you feel about the Stadium during a Ravens game. In Wash- results of this election, it is not correct to ington, D.C., thousands of protesting stu- say “the system” is corrupt or that “nodents gathered outside the new Trump body” is happy with the results. And it is hotel near the White House. certainly not appropriate to physically atAnd in nearby Montgomery County, hun- tack those who disagree with you. dreds of students from several high schools Think about how nearly half of Amerimarched for miles down major thorough- can voters must have felt when President fares, snarling traffic for hours. One pro- Obama won reelection in 2012 with 51% of

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the vote. If you were an Obama supporter, you were elated; if you voted for Romney (who won 48% of the vote), you might have been very unhappy. But neither group could rightly claim that “nobody” was happy, or conversely that “the people” won. In reality, the country was pretty narrowly divided. The same is true this year. Nobody “stole” anything, and nothing was rigged. The system functioned as it was designed to function: total votes made a difference in each state, but the electoral college gave state-wide totals some additional clout, resulting in a Trump victory. By design, our system is not a pure democracy. It incorporates elements purposefully crafted by our founding fathers to elevate the influence of states and dilute the voting power of individuals. One of those elements is the electoral college. Another is having a bicameral legislature, with a Senate (two votes per state) and a House of Representatives (votes based on total population). These institutions were created in order to offset what the founders saw as the inherent tendency of a pure democracy to trample the views and rights of minorities. There are many younger democracies in the world today without such moderating influences, where majorities regularly stomp on minority rights. Had the founders refused to take account of differences among the 13 colonies, and their insistence on retaining some state-level clout, those colonies would never have banded together to form the United States in the first place. And in the 200+ years since, even more differences have come to characterize residents of different parts of the country; rural vs. city dwellers; small states vs. huge ones. There is grist here for discussion over

whether this system is still best for us today. And as a matter of fact, that issue is being debated right now in Congress and around the country. Which leads me to another point: It is every citizen’s right to speak to their congressional representatives and express their opinion. In fact, this is the most direct and probably most effective way of influencing policies and laws in this country and bringing about change. I have been told by several legislators that even a surprisingly modest number of calls or emails from constituents grabs their attention because so few citizens take the time to do so. Marches and protests may attract media attention, and sometimes capture the imagination of much of the country. But for practical effect in our system of government, you need to get your congressional representatives on board. Speaking of which, the prime way we exercise influence in this country is by exercising our right to vote. Despite the many months of press coverage, televised debates and commercials that stressed the importance of voter turnout in this election, only 58 percent of registered voters bothered to cast a vote. That’s actually a pretty respectable percentage, given recent history. But it means that 97 million eligible voters didn’t participate in the process. In my view, if you didn’t participate in the election, you have no grounds to criticize the outcome. And as for post-election protests, only by engaging in respectful dialogue and recognizing the basic rights and humanity of those we disagree with can we really say that we — and they — will be heard.

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: I am only 6 years old, so imagine my surprise when my Pops (grandfather) started telling me about the “invisible” people he was feeding each week. I thought they were super heroes or aliens of some kind, but realized that was not possible. Turns out they are homeless people who grownups drive or walk by and try not to notice. My Pops asked me if I would like to help him with these meals, and we decided I could bag them each Friday, and he would give them out to the “invisibles” on Saturday. After washing my hands, I put mustard on 18 rolls that we use for making sandwiches. Then I put a bottle of water, a sandwich, a package of pretzels and cookies, a wet wipe and one of those little hotel soaps and shampoos in each bag. On Saturday

morning, Pops puts a banana in each bag and delivers them. I was thinking, what if we could get other people to make just one extra bagged meal a week and give it away to a homeless person they pass on the way to work or at some other time they are outside? I am trying to see if I can get 100 people or more to give out a weekly meal, and then send me a note to tell me how it made them and the person who received the meal feel. We are calling our project Random Bags of Kindness. They can send their note to Random Bags of Kindness, P.O. Box 117, Woodstock, MD 21163. Please publish this request for me. Name withheld by request Marriotsville

BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2016

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Health Fitness &

FAT CHANCE You need some types of fat in your diet. Learn what kinds and how much INTESTINAL FORTITUDE With diverticulosis, more fiber can be helpful, while NSAIDs may raise risk FIND A FURRY FRIEND Pets can be a source of comfort and support to people at any age GENDER GAP Diseases, their symptoms and treatments differ among men and women

Eight ways to lower your blood pressure When it comes to “natural” ways to improve blood pressure, sodium restriction snags the spotlight. Most experts agree that limiting sodium is a smart strategy for those looking to lower blood pressure. But why focus on what you can’t — or shouldn’t — have? Shift your emphasis to positive lifestyle changes you can make to improve blood pressure. Here are eight of them. Nosh on plenty of produce. Fruits and vegetables are low in sodium and rich in potassium, which offsets sodium’s effect on blood pressure. Potassium-packed picks include baked potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, spinach, winter squash, bananas, oranges, cantaloupe, beans and tomatoes. Enhance meals with healthy fats. Substituting sources of healthy fats for some of the carbohydrates in your diet

helps control blood pressure, according to a recent study. Remember to swap, and not add, them in. Think: nuts instead of croutons — not both — on your salad. Go for whole grains over refined starches. Some studies suggest that whole grains help the body hang on to potassium. You can’t go wrong with whole grains either way — you get more beneficial vitamins and nutrients when you swap white for whole grains, and you’ll also feel full longer after eating them, thanks to their fiber content. Include low-fat dairy in your diet. Calcium plays a key role in regulating blood pressure. Low-fat dairy products offer all the nutrients of full-fat varieties, but without the saturated fat and cholesterol that can raise heart-disease risk.

Have low-fat milk with your cereal or oatmeal in the morning, add a cup of plain low-fat yogurt to your lunch, or have some low-fat cheese as a mid-afternoon snack. Learn to love legumes. Beans, nuts and seeds are rich in magnesium, which contributes to maintaining healthy blood pressure. Aim to get 4 to 5 servings (1/2 cup of beans or 1 ounce of nuts/seeds) a week. Savor small amounts of dark chocolate. Studies attest to the blood-pressure benefits of products made with cocoa, which contains antioxidants that activate a substance called nitric oxide that relaxes blood vessels and makes it easier for blood to flow throughout your body. Move more. Moderate exercise has been shown to improve blood pressure. National guide-

lines advise 30 minutes of daily moderate activity, such as brisk walking, jogging or cycling. If you don’t have 30 minutes to exercise, break your daily exercise sessions up into three 10-minute mini-workouts. Cultivate inner calm. Studies show that meditation brings blood pressure down — probably by modulating physiological stress responses. You don’t have to sit in the lotus position, say “om” or think spiritual thoughts. Simply tuning in to your breathing — for even 10 minutes — may do the trick. Close your eyes (and the door), turn off the cell phone. Now ... breathe. EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at www.eatingwell.com. © 2016 Eating Well, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Try PT and injections to fight knee pain Knee pain caused by worn cartilage due to arthritis or a torn meniscus can be so debilitating that you find yourself unable to exercise, go the grocery store, or even walk across a room. While surgery is often the fix, it’s not always necessary to relieve knee pain. “I see surgery as the last resort,” said Dr. John Melmed, who focuses much of his practice at the Silver Spring Medical Center in Maryland on knee pain. Melmed is a firm believer in having someone try physical therapy, weight loss (which helps take pressure off the knees), and other less invasive treatments before resorting to knee surgery. There’s science to back up that concept.

Physical therapy is effective A study published in Arthritis and Rheumatology found that about a third of total knee replacements in the United States are inappropriate, suggesting that many people undergo knee replacements unnecessarily. There are about 700,000 total knee replacements performed each year in the United States. A New England Journal of Medicine study showed that physical therapy is just as effective as surgery in patients with meniscal tears and arthritis of the knee. The study, led by Dr. Clare Safran-Norton, clinical supervisor of rehabilitation services at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital in

Boston, found no significant differences in functional improvement after six months between patients who underwent surgery with postoperative physical therapy and those who received physical therapy alone. Safran-Norton, a physical therapist, recommends that a person with knee arthritis or a torn meniscus undergo at least three months of physical therapy as a first line of treatment. “There’s a lot we can do with stretching and therapeutic exercise,” she said.

Why exercise helps The first step is to begin a series of exercises to strengthen muscles that work with the knee, including the quadriceps and hamstrings in the thigh, the gluteal muscles in the buttocks, and the abdominal muscles. If these muscles are stronger, they’ll absorb more of the pressure you place on your knee, which will relieve pain. The second step is to stretch the muscles that support the knee, such as the thigh and calf muscles, as well as the iliotibial band — a thick cord of connective tissue that runs along the outside of your leg — to keep them all healthy, flexible and resistant to injury. This type of strengthening and stretching program provides relief within weeks. The following exercise works your abdominal muscles and inner thigh muscles, and

can be done on a mat, a bed, or even a couch: Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat. Put a small ball (roughly 12 inches) between your knees. Place your arms at your sides. Tighten your abdominal muscles. Squeeze your knees together against the ball. Hold, then release. Repeat eight times.

Lubricating injections Even with exercise and therapy, many patients find that knee pain can persist. The next step for some doctors is a corticosteroid injection into the knee joint, which can temporarily reduce pain and swelling. The injections can help for up to six months, depending on how advanced the arthritis is, said Melmed. Another option for those with osteoarthritis is to inject a lubricating fluid into the knee joint. In this procedure, called viscosupplementation, a naturally occurring substance in joints called hyaluronic acid, is injected. The thick, oily substance helps facilitate movement of the joint and reduce pain. Dr. Brian Paris of Advanced Wellness Systems in Rockville, Md., explains the need for lubrication around the joints like this: “As the knee joint weakens, the fluid starts to dissipate out of the joint, and then it becomes arthritic. It just becomes very rusty,” he said. “The best analogy I can use is like the Tin Man [in The Wizard of Oz].

When Dorothy gives him the oil, he can actually move his joint.” The hyaluronic acid is derived from an unusual source — the comb of a chicken, which is filled with hyaluronic acid. Both Paris and Melmed guide the needle into the right place with use of imaging. To precisely inject the fluid, Paris uses fluoroscopy, which uses X-rays to pinpoint the joint, while Melmed guides his injections with ultrasound, which uses sound waves to form an image of the joint. Patients get up to five weekly injections, and pain relief can last up to two years. Both doctors advocate additional physical therapy after the treatment to ensure the joint remains limber. The course of treatment is covered by insurance and Medicare every six months. Safran-Norton noted that studies about whether acupuncture relieves knee pain are mixed, but she said that the treatment is helpful to some people. Research is also mixed on whether chondroitin and glucosamine supplements relieve pain, but Safran-Norton noted that some people feel the pills make a difference. — Harvard Health Letter, with additional local reporting by Barbara Ruben © 2016 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed By Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2016

Adjust your diet to nourish your bones

right for you. Attendees will learn about laparoscopic gastric bypass, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, and adjustable gastric band. The session will be held from and is free, but registration is required. Call 1-866-404-3627 to register.

Nov. 30

FALL PREVENTION St. Joseph Medical Center will hold a fall prevention program on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Learn how strength, balancing exercises,

medication management, home safety, footwear, vision and mobility can help prevent falls. The free seminar will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. To register, call

❏ Alzheimer’s Caregiver Study (see ad on page 15) ❏ Cognitive Impairment Study (see ad on page 14) ❏ Depression Study (see ad on page 13) ❏ Elderly Falls Study (see ad on page 13) ❏ Iron Supplement Study (see ad on page 15) ❏ Memory Loss Imaging Study (see ad on page 14) ❏ Ovarian Cancer Study (see article on page 13)

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Requirement for adults: 310-420 mg. Sources: Nuts, seeds, leafy green vegetables, whole grains and legumes. Vitamin K Vitamin K is found in two main forms in food, K1 and K2, and your body may convert limited amounts of vitamin K1 to K2. Both forms play a role in blood clotting (and

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Magnesium Magnesium is a component of bone, giving it resiliency and protection against fractures. It also is essential for converting vitamin D to its active form in the body. If you take a calcium and vitamin D supplement, take magnesium, too, because high calcium intake causes magnesium loss, and most Americans don’t consume enough magnesium.

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Vitamin D Vitamin D helps you absorb calcium from food and supplements. Without vitamin D, less than 10 percent of the calcium you consume is absorbed. Requirement for adults: 600-800 International Units. However, a 2014 analysis by Canadian experts and a March 2015 analysis by U.S. experts, both published in Nutrients, report that the Institute of Medicine made a significant statistical error in calculating vitamin D needs, making current recommendations too low. Ask your doctor to test your vitamin D blood level; it should be at least 32 ng/mL to support bone health. Sources: Fortified dairy foods, egg yolks, salmon and tuna. To assess how much vitamin D you’re getting from sun exposure daily, use the dminder smartphone app (dminder.ontometrics.com), which vitamin D expert Michael F. Holick, Ph.D., M.D. helped develop.

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By Marsha McCulloch, R.D. Unlike the static human skeletons that commonly hang in biology classrooms, your bones are continually being broken down and rebuilt. In fact, your entire skeleton is replaced about every 10 years. In addition to exercise, about 20 different nutrients help prevent the weakening of bones that leads to osteoporosis. We review nutrients you’re more than likely falling short on, and where to get them. Calcium Calcium has the strongest research evidence of any nutrient for its role in supporting healthy bones, according to a 2016 position paper from the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Requirement for adults: 1,000-1,300 mg. (milligrams) Sources: Dairy foods, fortified foods (such as orange juice, tofu and soy milk), fish with edible bones (sardines, canned salmon), bok choy and kale.

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DECEMBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

You need some types of fat in your diet By Holley Grainger, R.D. Fat can be confusing. For a long time, fat — any fat — was the enemy; now, researchers say certain types of fat are a necessary part of a balanced diet. Here’s help decoding each type of fat: saturated, unsaturated and trans fat.

Saturated fat Saturated fat is typically solid at room temperature. Health note: The old adage that eating too much saturated fat can raise your risk of heart disease has been contested recently — and now saturated fat is believed to be more benign than we originally thought. Still, it’s typically calorie-dense, so it’s best to enjoy saturated fat in limited doses.

Food sources: Tropical oils (e.g., coconut, palm), butter, fatty meats, full-fat dairy products, coconut milk.

Monounsaturated fat Monounsaturated fat is typically liquid at room temperature, but solid at cooler temps. Health note: This fat helps to improve cholesterol levels, therefore lowering your risk of heart disease. It also controls blood sugar by improving insulin levels. Food sources: Avocados, nuts and seeds, and peanut, olive and canola oils.

Polyunsaturated fat Polyunsaturated fat is liquid at any temperature. Health note: There are many types of

polyunsaturated fats, but two — omega-3s and omega-6s — are essential, meaning our bodies don’t make them, so we need to get them in our diet. Omega-3 fat: The omega-3s EPA and DHA have a long list of science-backed benefits. They can help lower triglycerides, blood pressure and heart disease risk, as well as quell inflammation and improve mood. Omega-6 fat: Higher intakes of omega-6s may improve insulin resistance, reduce diabetes risk and lower blood pressure. We get plenty of omega-6s in our diets. Since having an even balance of omega-6s and 3s is recommended, for optimum health, concentrate on increasing foods with omega-3s in your diet. Food sources: Soybean, corn and sunflower oils, and packaged foods made with these oils.

Trans fat: the one to avoid There are naturally occurring trans fats

Bones From page 5 work against the anti-clot drug warfarin). But vitamin K2 also helps prevent calcium from depositing in arteries (the process of atherosclerosis), and instead directs calcium to bones and helps bind the mineral to your skeleton. Requirement for adults: 75-120 mcg. (micrograms) Sources: K1 is found in dark, leafy green vegetables such as kale and spinach. K2 is in natto (fermented soybeans), cheese, grass-fed meat and liver. Vitamin B12 & Folate Vitamin B12 and folate support bone health by helping to keep levels of homocysteine, a compound that stimulates the breakdown of bone, low. This role is fur-

found in small amounts in butter and meat. The bulk of them, however, are produced by adding hydrogen to the chemical structure of vegetable oils, thus making them more solid. Health note: Eating trans fat raises your “bad” LDL cholesterol, but also lowers your “good” HDL cholesterol — and raises your risk of heart disease. Avoid these completely. Food sources: Listed as “partially hydrogenated” oil in ingredient lists of processed foods, such as cookies, cakes, crackers and margarine. Trans fats can still be found in foods touting “0 grams trans fat.” (Manufacturers can round down if there’s 0.49 gram or less per serving.) Always check the ingredient list for partially hydrogenated oil to be sure you’re not unintentionally ingesting trans fats. © 2016 Eating Well, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. ther confirmed by genetic studies that reveal a link between an increased risk of osteoporosis in older adults and a common gene mutation (MTHFR C677T) that can lead to high homocysteine levels. Requirement for adults: For folate, 400-600 mcg. For B12, 2.4 -2.8 mcg. (Your doctor may advise higher amounts if you have elevated homocysteine.) Sources: B12 is in meat, fish and other animal foods, as well as in fortified foods, including cereals and nutritional yeast. Folate is in leafy green vegetables, broccoli, asparagus and legumes. Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC. 800-829-5384. www.EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2016 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2016

Low thyroid leads to migraines and more I like saying ‘I told you so,’ because it you look pale, sleep fitfully or not at all, or you means you got my help years ahead of eat like a bird and still gain weight. everyone else. In this case, it’s about Standard labs aren’t definitive headaches and migraines, If you have these symptoms, and how this condition is tied you might have low thyroid to hypothyroidism and thyhormone levels regardless of roid hormone insufficiencies. what your lab tests say. Because headaches and If you take a medication for thyroid disease are not lifecholesterol, for example a threatening, there isn’t a lot of statin, those drugs may raise focus or research on them. your risk for hypothyroidism. But as those who have them DEAR So after a few months of taking a know, either condition can PHARMACIST statin, your cholesterol numleave you disabled, impair re- By Suzy Cohen bers look good, but you feel lationships, and reduce your tired, weak and heavier. I told ability to work and to play you about that little problem seven years ago. with your children and grandchildren. Anyway, researchers from the University Six years after I told you this, we have a new and very large study that was printed in of Cincinnati College of Medicine did a great the September 2016 issue of a highly respect- job monitoring these folks, and what they’ve ed publication, The Journal of Head and Face Pain. I’ll nutshell it for you here. Researchers followed over 8,000 people for 20 years. They tracked vital statistics, such as frequency of headaches and migraines, as well as biomarkers of thyroid disease. What they found is exactly what I told you in two of my books, Thyroid Healthy, and also Headache Free. That is, people with migraines, cluster and tension headaches almost always have hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is when your body fails to produce adequate amounts of thyroid hormone. Or perhaps it produces it, but your cells can’t take it in and put it to use. Symptoms of low thyroid include anxiety, mood swings, weight gain or inability to lose weight, dry skin, hair loss, poor eyebrow and eyelash growth, irregular menstrual cycles, and the feeling of always being cold. Your hair may be thinner than it used to be, and you’re clean out of energy. Maybe

noticed could help you. People with pre-existing headaches have a 21 percent higher risk of having hypothyroidism. If you have migraines, your risk for thyroid disease is about 41 percent greater than the norm. If you have headaches or migraines, your thyroid levels need to be checked properly. The labs I want you to take (and a better set of reference ranges, because the ones on most lab reports are based on old data), will

be emailed to you if you sign up for my free newsletter at www.suzycohen.com. This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement. Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit www.SuzyCohen.com.

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HELP OUT AT RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Baltimore has volunteer opportunities available for both individuals and groups. Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home for seriously ill children and their families, and helps to fund programs in the local area that directly improve the well-being of children. For more information, visit www.rmhcbaltimore.org or call (410) 528-1010.

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Preventing and treating diverticulosis By Marsha McCulloch, R.D. Your odds of diverticulosis increase with age — it affects more than 60 percent of people over age 70. In this condition, small pouches called diverticula form in weak spots in the wall of the large intestine (colon). Why this happens is unclear, but it’s partly hereditary. “Most people aren’t aware they have diverticulosis unless they undergo a colonoscopy or they develop a complication, such as diverticulitis, in which the pouches become inflamed, accompanied by symptoms such as sudden abdominal pain (usually on your left side), fever and nausea,” said Dr. Lisa Strate, a gastroenterologist and an associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Once you’ve had an attack of diverticulitis, you are at greater risk of another episode. “A less common complication is diverticular bleeding, in which a blood vessel next to a pouch bursts, and the person loses a lot of blood in their stool,” Strate said. Such complications are called diverticular disease. The good news? “Less than 5 percent of people with diverticulosis will ever experience complications,” Strate said. “A lot of things we do to promote good health also appear to be helpful for preventing diverticular disease.”

Does fiber help? “It used to be thought that diverticulosis was primarily due to the cumulative effects

of eating a low fiber diet and constipation,” Strate said. “However, two recent, welldone studies (published in 2013 in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology and in 2012 in Gastroenterology) suggest that’s not the case. Scientists looked at diverticulosis prevalence and diet in large groups of people and failed to find a link with low fiber intake or constipation.” Despite this, there’s some evidence a high fiber diet may help protect against diverticular complications, if not diverticulosis itself. The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) recommends a fiber-rich diet for people with a history of acute diverticulitis. Additionally, a fiberrich eating plan is important for general good health, including heart disease and

cancer prevention. For decades, it was thought nuts, seeds and popcorn might lodge in diverticula, and patients with diverticulosis were advised to avoid these foods. In 2008, Strate and colleagues published a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association that involved 50,000 men who were followed for about 20 years. Men who ate more nuts and popcorn were actually less likely to develop diverticular complications than those who ate very little of these foods. In its 2015 guidelines, the AGA does not recommend people with a history of diverticulitis automatically exclude nuts, seeds and popcorn. See DIVERTICULOSIS, page 9

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We specialize in short-term rehabilitation and long-term relationships.

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HOSPICE SEEKS VOLUNTEERS Hospice of the Chesapeake has numerous volunteer opportunities

available, such as visiting patients, supporting caregivers, serving as counselors at grief retreats, organizing fundraisers, and assisting in offices or inpatient care centers. Training is provided. Call (443) 837-1513 or visit www.hospicechesapeake.org for more information and to download an application.

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FIND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES If you’re looking for volunteer opportunities in Baltimore County, visit http://volunteer.truist.com/baltimore-county/volunteer/ to

take advantage of the online resource listing or call (410) 887-2715.

Dec. 25

COMMUNITY MITZVAH DAY Be a part of Mitzvah Day and join hundreds of fellow volunteers of all ages in making this winter warmer and better for members of

the Baltimore community. Times and locations vary across Baltimore. Learn more at www.jvcbaltimore.org.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2016

Diverticulosis From page 8 “Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly — especially vigorous physical activity, such as jogging — may help reduce risk of diverticulitis,” Strate said. “Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) at or above 30, which is considered obese, are at a higher risk of diverticular disease.” Extra fat in the abdominal area triggers the body to produce inflammatory compounds, such as those found in diverticulitis.

Pain relievers and vitamins “Several studies have linked nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen, to greater risk of diverticulitis,” Strate said. The AGA suggests people with a history of diverticulitis avoid non-aspirin NSAIDS, if possible. “Current recommendations do not advise people to stop aspirin, which they may be taking to protect their cardiovascular system. Increased risk of diverticulitis

from aspirin is lower than with NSAIDS,” she said. Strate coauthored two recent human studies related to vitamin D and diverticulitis risk. Results of both studies suggest having adequate vitamin D levels might help reduce risk of diverticulitis. Your doctor can test your blood levels of vitamin D. Top food sources of vitamin D include salmon, fortified milk and eggs. A 2014 study published in the International Journal of Colorectal Disease reported that diverticulosis patients taking 300 milligrams daily of supplemental butyrate — a type of fat that nourishes colon cells — for 12 months had a reduced incidence of diverticulitis compared to those given a placebo (7 percent versus 32 percent, respectively). This evidence is preliminary, so supplemental butyrate isn’t a standard recommendation for diverticulitis prevention, although it could be tried with your doctor’s guidance. BodyBio Cal-Mag Butyrate and Ecological Formulas Butyric Acid are two brands consumers can buy.

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Nov. 28

INTERACTIVE CAREGIVERS PROGRAM Family caregivers face unique challenges. Experience an interactive presentation by the Mental Health Players, who will tackle

issues like caring for a spouse with declining health, caring for a difficult patient with Alzheimer’s disease, and caring for someone having difficulty living independently at home. The program will be held on Monday, Nov. 28 at 12:30 p.m. at the Bykota Senior Center, 611 Central Ave. Call (410) 887-3094 for more information.

Dec. 21+

AMPUTEE SUPPORT GROUP The University of Maryland Medical Center offers a variety of support groups for patients and their caregivers. The Amputee

Support Group meets the third Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m., Kernan Hospital, 2200 Kernan Dr., Room G604. For more information, call Naomi Miller, (410) 448-6731.

Probiotic supplements have received little study in diverticulosis, and the AGA doesn’t include probiotics in its recommendations for reducing recurrence of di-

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ONLINE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT Many people find help in support groups but aren’t able to attend

in person. If you are suffering from a mental health problem such as depression, anxiety or grief and would like to participate in an online support group, visit www.mentalhealthamerica.net/find-support-groups.

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Furry friends offer comfort and support What has benefits including increased pets, including lower blood pressure, diphysical and mental health, improved liter- minished pain, and the release of calming acy skills, and reduced anxiety endorphins. and loneliness? Pet therapy! “Anyone who has ever Pet therapy uses gentle, owned a pet will readily verify friendly animals, such as dogs, the benefits of associating with to help people with health probfurred, feathered or finned lems cope and recover. Pets friends,” according to Odean can be a great help to members Cusack, author of Pets and the of both older and younger genElderly and Pets and Mental erations in many ways — from Health. something as small as decreas“Animals are fun to be with ing boredom to something as and comforting to hold. Their GENERATIONS significant as improving cardioantics inspire humor and a TOGETHER vascular health. sense of carefreeness, a reBy Alexis Bentz It has been scientifically turn to childhood with its proven that there are numerbuoyant spirits. Caring for ous benefits to interaction with amiable pets encourages nurturance, responsibili-

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ty, and adherence to a daily schedule. “Pets enable owners to reach outside themselves and to put aside fears of an uncertain future. Pets live in the immediate moment, and interacting with them makes us keenly aware of the present with all its joys and idiosyncrasies,” Cusack writes. Spending time with a “furry, feathered or finned friend” can also make a great difference specific to each generation.

Helping special needs children The occupational therapy staff at St. Mary’s Hospital for Children in New York piloted the pet assistance program in 1998, and it has quickly expanded. Several dogs visit the hospital each month and assist children with special needs. A dog can help the child to meet specific goals that can lead to his or her recovery. A child who lost function in one arm, for example, might be asked to use that arm to feed, groom, or pet the dog. This will both add joy and excitement to the child’s life, and allow the patient to exercise his or her arm. The increased excitement to participate in treatment will also cause the child to be healed more quickly and efficiently. Besides helping to restore health, pets can assist those learning to read. The PAWS for Reading program gives children the opportunity to read aloud to an animal, such as a bunny, in order to improve their communication skills and reading comprehension.

Benefits for older adults Pets can be constant companions to

older adults as well, and can be a great comfort in times of isolation or sickness. Seniors with heart conditions who own pets tend to live longer, and have lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels than those who don’t own pets. Also, for patients with dementia, having a pet — even a stuffed or robotic one — can be soothing since the patient may have trouble using language, but doesn’t need to feel pressure to communicate with their four-legged friend. Studies suggest pets can lower healthcare costs since people with pets make fewer doctor visits than those without. Finally, pets can cause a reduction in depression. Even just owning a pet for non-health related reasons can be beneficial. You would have a loyal friend who will add joy to your life, and can help teach discipline and responsibility to children. In my ongoing Beacon column, I encourage readers to befriend young adults, and suggest ways to spend time together for mutual benefit. If you already have a teenage friend, why not try to add a furry friend to the mix? You and your younger buddy could start by volunteering together at a local animal shelter to have a chance to spend time with pets and do good simultaneously. If you are not interested in being around animals yourself, why not suggest it to others in your life who may be in need of a cuddly companion? Pets do so much good for those in need. It’s no wonder that we call them “man’s best friend.” Alexis Bentz is a 9th grade student at Thomas Wooton High School in Rockville, Md.

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When platonic friends give rise to gossip Dear Solutions: I’ve become good friends with a man in my volunteer group. We’re strictly platonic friends and enjoy having lunch together. He’s married and I’m single, so the group gossips are talking about us. Should I continue to have lunch with him? — L. Dear L: Make it an open lunch every other time. That means invite other people from the group to join you. If you hear nip them in the bud.

Say to someone you believe is saying these things, “I’ve heard of rumors about Steve and me. I know it could be exciting to talk about, so it’s too bad it’s not true. We’re friends — period.” Dear Solutions: Since I was a little girl, I was told that a woman should have her own money. Now, after being widowed for many years, SOLUTIONS I’ve been married for over By Helen Oxenberg, a year. MSW, ACSW I work and have my own of rumors, bank account. My husband wants me to put my money together with his. I

don’t feel comfortable doing this, even though we have a good marriage. My husband says I’m fearful of a joint account because my parents were divorced, and my mother had a hard time. How can I convince him that’s not it? — Irma Dear Irma: Gently give him a history lesson: “Women and Money 101.” Explain that, for decades, women had no control over money and had to ask permission from their husbands or fathers before they could spend any. So your mother wasn’t the only one with a problem. The inability of women to control their own money translated into the inability to control their own lives. Explain to your husband that having your own money allows you to be a volunteer in this marriage, not a hostage. Suggest a join account for household bills only, and work out how much each of you will contribute to that. Tell him that women should have their own money. Men, too. Dear Solutions: My son had a very big job with one of the companies that was written about a lot in the papers when it went out of business. He was often interviewed on television and quoted about his expertise.

Now, unfortunately, he’s been out of a job for some time, and he’s coping with it the best he can. I’m the one who’s having trouble controlling my anger when people — even casual acquaintances — keep asking me what he’s doing, where he’s looking, how he’s coping, and how awful I must feel and so forth. They think they’re being sympathetic, but I think they’re just nosy. How do I answer them? I’m surprised at the degree of anger I feel. — Mary Dear Mary: The degree of your anger is directly related to their sudden degree as therapists. They masquerade as sympathetic supporters who are giving you a chance to vent your feelings, but what you’re sensing, especially from casual acquaintances, is a smirking satisfaction about “Oh, how the mighty has fallen.” When bad things happen to other people there is often a sense of relief that it did not happen to oneself. Those who are sincerely sympathetic will ask no questions but merely wish your son well. As for the others, don’t waste your anger on them. Rise above them and just say, “He’s fine, thank you,” and change the subject. © Helen Oxenberg, 2016.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2016

Health Studies Page

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Ovarian cancer patients sought for study By Carol Sorgen In the United States, more than 22,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year, and more than 14,000 will die of the disease. One reason the mortality rate is so high is because more than 70 percent of women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease (stage III or IV). The current standard of treatment for patients with advanced ovarian cancer is cytoreductive surgery (CRS), which removes part of a malignant tumor that cannot be completely excised in an effort to enhance the effectiveness of radiation or chemotherapy. This is then followed by systemic chemotherapy. For cancers of the appendix or lining of the abdominal cavity, which are biologically similar to ovarian cancer, the standard treatment is CRS plus a highly concentrated, heated chemotherapy treatment that is delivered directly to cancer cells in the abdomen during surgery, allowing for higher doses of treatment. This is called hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Heating the solution may improve the absorption of chemotherapy drugs by tumors, and destroy microscopic cancer cells that remain in the abdomen after surgery.

Cancer patients sought Mercy Medical Center is currently re-

cruiting 48 patients for a study that will look at whether expanding use of the heated chemotherapy to newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patients will improve outcomes. Patients do not have to be current or prior patients of Mercy Medical Center. They can be self- or physician-referred. Participants chosen for the study will be equally and randomly divided into two groups. Patients in the control group will undergo CRS alone followed by systemic chemotherapy administered intravenously. This is the current standard of care treatment. Patients in the experimental group will undergo CRS with HIPEC, using the drug carboplatin. In addition, patients will receive the intravenous chemo as in the control group. The study is designed to compare, among newly diagnosed patients, the standard CRS and chemo treatment with CRS plus HIPEC, which is currently only used for women who have recurrent ovarian cancer.

Five-year follow up At intervals, over a period of five years following treatment, gynecologic and general physical examinations, as well as diagnostic tests, will be performed, and tumor response rate, disease progression and quality of life will be measured. Quality of

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Dec. 8

PREMIERE OF MARYLAND FILM

The Maryland premiere of Christmas Ranch will be held at the historic Senator Theatre on Thursday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Christmas Ranch was produced and directed by Maryland filmmaker Douglas B. Maddox and was filmed on location in Maryland at GreenMount Farms. This feel-good film is about a strong-willed girl who is sent to stay with her grandmother on her horse ranch for Christmas. She begins to care for her grandmother’s pony, and becomes determined to help save the ranch from foreclosure. A VIP Reception at 6 p.m. will precede the screening, and portions of the proceeds will benefit several community organizations. Tickets for the screening ($15) and the VIP Reception ($50 for both the reception and movie) are available online at www.ChristmasRanch.EventBrite.com.

life questionnaires will also be conducted throughout the study for both groups. Data will also be collected on patient demographics, surgical management and complications, chemotherapy sensitivity and resistance, tumor markers, clinical response, and follow-up for recurrence and survival. To be eligible for the study, patients may not have had any prior treatment for ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancers, including any prior cancer surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation treatments.

No financial compensation is offered for study participation. The patients’ insurance will be billed for all parts of the study, except the HIPEC portion, which will provided by the study. Patients will be responsible for any balance or co-pays that they would normally accrue. For more information or to volunteer, contact Michelle Sittig, RN, research coordinator, Surgical Oncology, Mercy Medical Center, (410) 332-9294 or msittig@mdmercy.com. Mercy Medical Center is located at 227 St. Paul Place, Baltimore.

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DECEMBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

How sex and gender affect your health While men and women are similar in many ways, researchers have found that sex and social factors can make a difference when it comes to your risk for disease, how well you respond to medications, and how often you seek medical care. That’s why scientists are taking a closer look at the links between sex, gender and health. Many people use the words sex and gender interchangeably, but they’re distinct concepts to scientists. Sex is biological. It’s based on your genetic makeup. Males have one X and one Y chromosome in every cell of the body. Females have two X chromosomes in every cell. These cells make up all your tissues and organs, including your skin, heart, stomach, muscles and brain.

Gender is a social or cultural concept. It refers to the roles, behaviors and identities that society assigns to girls and boys, women and men, and gender-diverse people. Gender is determined by how we see ourselves and each other, and how we act and interact with others. There’s a lot of diversity in how individuals and groups understand, experience and express gender. Because gender influences our behaviors and relationships, it can also affect health. “Sex and gender play a role in how health and disease affect individuals. There was a time when we studied men and applied those findings to women, but we’ve learned that there are distinct biological differences between women and men,” explained Dr. Janine Austin Clayton, who heads research

on women’s health at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Md. “Women and men have different hormones, different organs, and different cultural influences — all of which can lead to differences in health.”

Different symptoms, responses As scientists learn more about the biology of males and females, they’re uncovering the influences of both sex and gender in many areas of health. For instance, women and men can have different symptoms during a heart attack. For both men and women, the most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are more likely than men to have shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and pain in the back, shoulders and jaw. Knowing about such differences can lead to better diagnoses and outcomes. Men and women also tend to have different responses to pain. NIH-funded researchers recently learned that different cells in male and female mice drive pain processing. “Without studying both sexes, we wouldn’t know if we’re taking steps in the right direction toward appropriate clinical treatment for men and women,” Clayton said. “Our differences also affect how we respond to medications, as well as which diseases and conditions we may be prone to, and how those diseases progress in our bodies.” For example, women metabolize nicotine faster than men, so nicotine replacement therapies can be less effective in women.

Attention to addiction Scientists are finding that addiction to nicotine and other drugs is influenced by

sex as well. “When it comes to addiction, differences in sex and gender can be found across the board,” said Sherry McKee, Ph.D., lead researcher at an NIHfunded center at Yale University that studies treatments for tobacco dependence. “There are different reasons men and women pick up a drug and keep using a drug, and in how they respond to treatment and experience relapse,” McKee said. “ Sex also influences disease risk in addiction. For example, women who smoke are more susceptible to lung and heart disease than men who smoke.” One NIH-funded research team has detected some of these differences in the brain. In a recent study, 16 people who smoke (eight men and eight women) underwent brain scans while smoking to create “movies” of how smoking affects dopamine — the chemical messenger that triggers feelings of pleasure in the brain. These brain movies showed that smoking alters dopamine in the brain at different rates and in different locations in males and females. Dopamine release in nicotine-dependent men occurred quickly in a brain area that reinforces the effect of nicotine and other drugs. Women also had a rapid response, but in a different brain region — the part associated with habit formation. “We were able to pinpoint a different brain response between male and female smokers, a finding that could be useful in developing sex-specific treatments to help smokers quit,” said lead study researcher Kelly Cosgrove, Ph.D., a brain-imaging expert at Yale University. Finding better ways to help men and women quit smoking is important for See SEX AND GENDER, page 15

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BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2016

Sex and gender From page 14 everyone’s health. More than 16 million Americans have diseases caused by smoking. It’s the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S.

Autoimmune disorders Scientists have found sex influences in autoimmune disorders as well. About 80 percent of those affected are women. But autoimmune conditions in men are often more severe.

For instance, more women than men get multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord. But men seem more likely to get a progressive form of MS that gradually worsens and is more challenging to treat. “Not only are women more susceptible to MS, but women also have many more considerations in the management of the disease, especially since it often begins during child-bearing years,” said Dr. Ellen Mowry, a specialist who studies MS at Johns Hopkins University. “There are a lot of unanswered ques-

tions when it comes to the study of sex differences in MS and other autoimmune disorders,” Mowry explained. “Researchers can learn a lot by studying women and men separately and together — considering possible risk or predictive factors that may differ based on sex or gender, and working collaboratively with other scientists to improve the likelihood of detecting these factors.” “NIH now requires scientists to ask: ‘What are my research results for males

• Women and men have different symptoms of heart attack. • Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression. • Men are less likely than women to admit to negative moods and seek treatment for mental health issues. • Men are more likely than women to have gout, a type of arthritis. Female risk for gout increases after menopause. • Osteoporosis is more common in women than men, yet it still poses a risk to men as they age. • Some medicines affect women and

men differently, such as aspirin and some sleep medications. • Females are more likely to injure their knees playing sports. • Males are more likely than females to develop autism spectrum disorders and certain other neurodevelopmental conditions. • Two-thirds of people age 40 and up who are visually impaired or blind are women. • Pain disorders like chronic TMJ are more common in women.

and for females?’” Clayton said. “We need to learn more about the roles of sex and gender in health and disease. Understanding these influences improves health and saves the lives of both men and women.” A Wellness Update is a magazine devoted to up-to-the minute information on health issues from physicians, major hospitals and clinics, universities and healthcare agencies across the U.S. Online at www.awellnessupdate.com. © 2016 www.awellnessupdate.com. Distributed By Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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TALK TO THE ANIMALS The Maryland Zoo needs volunteers who are friendly and outgoing, genuinely interested in conservation of wildlife and wild

places, and can make and fulfill a regular commitment. For more information, visit www.marylandzoo.org or call (443) 552-5266.

DECEMBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Money Law &

PROTECT THAT NEST EGG When you retire can have a profound effect on your stock portfolio; a ladder or annuity can help reduce risk WHEN TO BUY A CAR Get the best prices during model changeovers and at the end of a month ACING AN INTERVIEW Prepare by rehearsing and reviewing your strengths, and speak enthusiastically and concisely

Volatility in a mutual fund lowers gains By Reid Johnson Mutual funds are the cornerstone of many investors’ portfolios. With thousands of mutual funds in the U.S. alone, choosing the right one for your retirement plan can be complicated. Consider this real-life example (names have been changed, of course, to protect confidentiality): Bob and Sally walked into my office looking for advice about mutual funds. They had narrowed their choices to two funds, but that’s when it got tricky. Each fund had the exact same average annual return over the past five years: 5.53 percent. They wondered, “Which one do we choose?”

Annual Return Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5

You would think two funds with the same average annual return would produce the same amount of money, right? Let’s take a closer look. The chart to the left shows a side-by-side comparison of the two funds’ rates of return. Over the past five years, the holdings in Fund A produced big returns (nearly twice as big as Fund B’s gains) four out of five years with one bad year. The five-year average annual return was 5.53 percent. The five-year average annual return of Fund B was also 5.53 percent. It posted lower returns than Fund A four out of five years and recorded a smaller loss in Year 2. Okay, so which one should Bob and

VOLATILITY CHART Fund A

Fund B

26%

14%

16%

-37% 15% 7%

7.7%

-9.9% 11% 4%

Sally choose?

Look at the ups and downs The answer is Fund B. Emphatically. It’s not even close, and here’s why: With $500,000 invested in each fund, and with an average return of 5.53 percent a year, Fund A earned $69,477. Mutual Fund B earned $143,357. That’s an eye-popping difference of $73,880! What’s going on here? Volatility. It’s all about the volatility within a mutual fund. The fund with the least amount of volatility produced more cash over five years. People generally think rate of return is the most important factor to a fund’s success. But the truth is volatility is a bigger factor. For example, if a mutual fund drops 25 percent one year, then you need a 33 percent increase just to break even. Bigger losses require even bigger gains: A 50 percent drop needs a 100 percent increase to get back to even. Bob and Sally’s example serves as an important heads-up if you’re buying in the current market, now at historic highs, because volatility in a dramatic downturn could translate into significantly less money for

your portfolio over a period of years. This lesson raises a key question: Why do we accept higher risk, and volatility, in our personal portfolios? It goes back to the basic investment principle that we’re all led to believe: take the higher return to earn more money; accept more risk for more return. But that’s not necessarily the right choice. Mutual funds experiencing big fluctuations like the one above — Fund A with a 37 percent drop in one year — are detrimental to your portfolio. That’s an eye-opening lesson.

Reducing volatility Apply the same principle to your own investment portfolio. Can you reduce volatility in your portfolio through smart asset allocation? Make sure your portfolio is not weighted too heavily with one type of fund. That strategy will better protect you from big market downturns. You’d be surprised by the number of investors walking into my office who firmly believe their portfolio has low volatility See VOLATILITY, page 17

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To marry or not to marry. It’s a question By Beth J. Harpaz Some older couples who want social recognition for their love relationships are exchanging rings, throwing parties and holding wedding-type ceremonies. But they’re stopping short of getting legally married to avoid complications with retirement funds, property and grown children. “It was important for our friends to know we were committed to each other,” recalled Dixie Reppe, 80, who wears a ring from her beau, Joe Pendergraft, 77, and refers to him as her fiance. “But the financial piece and the families — it’s a whole lot more complicated. We decided to keep those things separate.” The two live in adjoining apartments in Tulsa, Okla. Pendergraft bought her the ring after she visited him in Georgia. “He didn’t want people to think I’d spent time with a strange man in Georgia,” Reppe recalled with a laugh. Once word got out about their relation-

Volatility From page 16 like our Fund B, but a closer look reveals they actually own something closer to Fund A. About 70 percent discover they have too much volatility. One other thing to consider: Many people buy passively managed mutual funds because they charge lower fees. Low fees mean low turnover in the fund; managers are not trading much. That strategy is great for a rising market, but in a year like 2016 with lots of ups and downs, you want your portfolio to have more flexibility so you can adjust them during market fluctuations. Giving managers the option to grab discounts, or sell poor performers, could re-

Frank, Frank

ship, “we weren’t sure how well accepted that would be,” said Reppe. She needn’t have worried: Her girlfriends threw her a surprise engagement party, and there were a few other informal gatherings with champagne, chocolate and friends, where they could introduce themselves as a couple. One benefit of formalizing a relationship this way is that it allows older couples to dispense with terms like “boyfriend” or “girlfriend,” which might be fine for 20somethings, but can raise eyebrows among the 70- and 80-something set.

Husband and wife nonetheless “Most of the time we refer to each other as husband and wife just to keep things not so complicated,” said Shirley Sapp, referring to her relationship with Doug Oxenhardt. “If you go the other route, people look at you like, ‘Well, what’s the deal?’” Sapp and Oxenhardt, both in their 70s,

were widowed when they met, and each had two grown children. Those children were among 90 guests at their 2013 wedding ceremony in Missouri, complete with a pastor. “It was just like any other marriage ceremony, except we didn’t have the last sentence where the minister will say, ‘By the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife,’” Sapp recalled. “He was a really cool pastor, and when we told him our story, he said, ‘Sure, I’ll do it.’”

Beware legal issues But while avoiding marriage may seem like an easy way to keep finances and estates separate, unmarried couples may still

face some legal complications, according to Frederick Hertz, a California lawyer and co-author of Living Together: A Legal Guide for Unmarried Couples. Hertz noted that some states honor common-law marriage, and will consider couples married after a number of years whether or not they got a marriage license. Other states allow unmarried partners to claim money or property “based on an oral or implied agreement.” Hertz also said that signing a credit card or lease with your partner could make you responsible for the other person’s debt. Other issues include who has legal authorSee TO MARRY OR NOT, page 18

duce volatility and put your portfolio in a better position over the long term. Not making changes can cost you. Now you’re better prepared to put together a winning retirement portfolio. You understand it’s more important to evaluate the volatility in a fund rather than its average rate of return. That’s a valuable lesson whether you’re in your 40s or 50s, or nearing retirement like Bob and Sally. Talk to an investment adviser about performing a full analysis on your mutual funds. It will reveal whether volatility in your high-performing mutual fund is actually killing your portfolio, and if you need to adjust your game plan. All contents © 2016 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Reducing the risk of outliving your assets By Mark Cortazzo The markets may have recently hit a new all-time high, but if you retired in 2000, you may have already run out of money. Surprisingly, it’s a completely different story if you retired just a few years earlier or a few years later. The timing of when someone retires can have a profound effect on the performance of their accounts. Sequence risk, also known as sequence-of-returns risk, pertains to the timing of returns on your in-

vestments after you’ve already started withdrawing from them.

A tale of three brothers To illustrate the impact of sequence risk, here’s the story of three hypothetical brothers each born three years apart. They each retired at age 65 with a $1 million lump sum pension, which they invested according to Standard & Poor’s 500stock index models. They immediately began taking withdrawals of $5,000 on the

same dates of each month. But the results, you will see, are very different. The oldest brother retired in January 1997. As of the end of July 2016, he has withdrawn $1,175,000 in income, and his remaining balance is currently about $1.66 million. By taking a 6 percent withdrawal and making slightly less than 8 percent, the oldest brother has approximately twothirds more than his starting value. These results are approximately the historical rate of return for equities and illustrate how equities may be effective over the long term. The middle brother retired three years later, in January 2000. He, however, did not make out as well as his older brother. As of earlier this year, the middle brother ran out of money! This is despite the fact that he withdrew only $987,342, considerably less than the oldest brother.

The youngest brother finally retired in January 2003. As of the end of July, he has withdrawn $815,000 and has approximately $1.67 million remaining in the account. (Disclaimer: This example was calculated in Morningstar Advisor Workstation as follows: $1M initial investments on 1/1/1997, 1/1/2000, and 1/1/2003 in S&P 500 TR USD (IDX), $5,000/monthly withdrawals star ting immediately and ending on 7/31/2016. It is for hypothetical purposes only. It is not intended to portray past or future investment performance for any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. You cannot invest directly in an index, and your own investment may perform better or worse than this example. This example does not include the deduction of fees,

To marry or not

homes where they spend time together. She owns the villa in Florida where they spend winters, and he owns the house in Lake of the Ozarks, Mo., where they live in the warm months. Their retirement finances are separate too: She worked for the Veterans Administration, and he has a pension from the railroads. But whatever arrangements older couples make as they manage the logistics or social conventions of being together, the love and companionship they share makes it all worthwhile. “I think when you get to this stage in life, if you found happiness, when you find someone to love and someone who loves you, and you can share so many common interests, and you don’t have to come home to an empty apartment, that’s pretty special,” said Reppe. “We laugh a lot,” Pendergraft said. — AP

From page 17 ity for medical decisions, and when one partner dies, whether a surviving partner has the right to stay in the home where they lived together. That may depend on who owns it and who inherits it. Housing is one thing Reppe and Pendergraft thought about early on. When they met, Reppe was living at Inverness Village, a retirement community, in a unit that was too small for both of them. When the unit next door opened up, they “basically blew a hole through the wall and got the apartments connected,” she said. This way they have their own apartments, but they can also be together, and if something happens to one of them, the other will still have a place to live. Sapp and Oxenhardt also own separate

See REDUCING RISK, page 19

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The five best times to buy a new car By Philip Reed That chill in the air signals not only the onset of autumn, but also cooling auto sales. For bargain hunters, this could be a great time to get a good deal on a new car. But sales downturns aren’t the only time to buy a new car. New model rollouts, carmakers’ redesign schedules, and other events can uncover bargains for those who know how to read the tea leaves of the auto market. Just picking an opportune time isn’t enough. First, cover the basics: Arrange financing, check local dealer inventories, and research pricing guides for the current market value of your desired vehicle. Then, consider these five potential op-

portunities to boost your chances of snagging a bargain. 1. Model changeover The big three U.S. carmakers launch their new models in August and September, while some foreign carmakers sprinkle newvehicle introductions across the calendar. Most buyers are drawn to the newest models, which pressures dealers to offer deeper discounts and incentives to clear their inventory of the previous year’s models. “We’re at a critical time where dealers need to clear out 2016 inventory to make room for 2017’s, and that’s good news for shoppers who will see some great deals on outgoing models,” said Jessica Caldwell, an

Reducing risk

in a relatively short period of time, this buffer may protect you from having to sell equities at a depressed price. Another strategy is to utilize a product, such as an annuity, that can help to provide a lifetime income stream and reduce the withdrawal need from the overall equity portion of your portfolio. The longer you receive the income stream, the greater possible rate of return on the investment. Conversely, the longer you draw from your equity portfolio, the greater the chance of running out of money. If you were able to know how the market will perform in your first few years of your retirement, then you would have a high probability of success! Since we cannot know what the future holds, talk with your financial adviser about these techniques and others to reduce the chance of ending up like the middle brother — sleeping on one of his other brothers’ couches. All contents © 2016 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

From page 18 charges inherent to investing, taxes or investment costs, which could have a dramatic effect on your results.) Why did the oldest and youngest brothers succeed while the middle brother ran out of money? One of the greatest contributing factors is the market performance during the first three years of retirement. The difference here is that the market went up as the oldest and youngest brothers started taking withdrawals, and the market went down as soon as the middle brother began withdrawing.

Create a ladder While no strategy assures success or protects against loss, there are techniques that can help to mitigate sequence risk. One way is to incorporate a fixed-income component of your portfolio, such as cash or a multi-year bond ladder that is designated for providing income when the markets are down. If the market recovers

analyst at car shopping site Edmunds.com. That means “as a consumer I’m not going to have to arm-wrestle or play the back-andforth game to get a good price,” said Dave Cavano, AAA’s car buying expert. Dealers “are much more likely to cut to the bone more quickly — so it’s less of a hassle.” Current bargains are available in compact sedans and luxury vehicle segments, while pickup trucks and SUVs still are commanding higher prices, said Steven Szakaly, chief economist for the National

Automobile Dealers Association. Auto sales dropped 4 percent year-overyear in August, but Szakaly calls it a “plateau.” In fact, 2016 is shaping up to be a strong year, with an expected sale of 17.7 million vehicles, the association predicted. Meanwhile, figures from car shopping site TrueCar show the average transaction prices for 2015 and 2016 dropping across the summer and into fall while sale incenSee NEW CAR, page 21

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The art of shining in an interview for a job Question: I’ve had two interviews, neither of which resulted in a job offer. Is there anything I could do to increase my chances of success? Answer: Receiving an invitation to a job interview is a victory in itself. It means you have already shown the employer you have the right background. Now it’s time for the next step — shining in the interview.

In the job search process, consider yourself in a sales mode. The interview is your sales call. The product you’re selling is YOU. Making a good impression in an interview requires preparation.

Prepare for the interview Begin by researching the organization you’ll be interviewing with. You should be well-informed about the organization’s history, size, structure, and the products/services they offer. You should also be conversant

about their competitors. expressions and body language count Research the people who will be inter- much more than you may think in shaping viewing you. Ask the HR Deothers’ impressions of you. partment for a bio of the person Rehearsal is critical. You or people you’ll be meeting. can never over-prepare. Communicate with knowing • Bring at least three people on LinkedIn; follow questions to ask. Show your people and trends on Twitter; desire to understand the orfind critical information on the ganization with questions Internet. about things like its cusYour interviewer already tomers, products, services, knows you have the basic and the challenges it might knowledge, skills and abilities have. Listen carefully to the CAREER COACH (KSAs) to do the job. Otheranswers for clues to what’s imBy Judy Smith wise, you would not have been portant to the organization. selected for an interview. Then comment on how your background Now the organization wants to know and skills can enhance those key areas. how you would apply those KSA’s in their organization. That is to say, “How would Handle your stage presence • Speak concisely you perform on the job?” Stay focused on what’s most important. • Select examples of your strengths. Before the interview, choose three experi- Aim for no more than a two-minute answer ences that demonstrate your past success- to general questions like “Tell me about es. Decide how you will relate them to the yourself.” The old adage applies here — current job opportunity. (When interview- less is more. Listen attentively and speak clearly and ing for different jobs, make sure your comloudly enough. ments fit each individual opportunity.) • Show enthusiasm • Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Have Employer surveys show that nothing a script. Write notes beforehand to give yourself a better idea of what you want to sells a candidate better than enthusiasm. say to make the point that you’re ‘the ONE!’ See JOB INTERVIEW, page 21 Rehearse in front of a mirror. Your facial

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New car From page 19 tives remain high — which is a good combination for buyers. Cavano warns that buyers shopping for newly redesigned or recently introduced models will pay dearly for wanting to be the “first on the block to own that car.” Manufacturers “trickle out” a few vehicles for each dealer to drive up interest. Eager buyers will have to pay sticker price and sometimes a bit more. 2. End-of-month pressure Of all the days of the month, traditionally the last five are when dealers have the greatest incentive to sell. That’s because some carmakers offer bonuses when dealers hit certain sales numbers, said Christian Wardlaw, an analyst for the New York Daily News’ autos section. “Dealers know they can take a loss on that vehicle because they know they’ll get the bonus for hitting their quotas,” Wardlaw said. These kinds of bargains are more common at high-volume domestic dealers. However, it’s hard for the average consumer to know which dealers are facing the pressure to hit quotas, Szakaly pointed out. Shopping at the end of the month can help you improve your odds. “You’re hoping you are the lucky person who walks in at the end of the month and the dealer is missing the one sale he needs,” he said. 3. Year-end sales The final week of the year brings with it some great deals, particularly from luxury carmakers such as Lexus, Mercedes and BMW, Cavano said. It’s when “manufacturers are trying to eke out those last few

Job interview From page 20 Reflect energy and interest. Smile! By approaching an interview with careful preparation, you will be able to communicate your strength, confidence and zeal. You may indeed prompt the interviewer to declare, “You’re hired!” Judy Smith is a registered career coach. Send your job search questions to Smith at smithjudit@gmail.com or visit her website at www.judysmith.solutions.

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sales...and they will push money out to their dealers and say, ‘OK guys, let’s get this done.’” Keep in mind, however, that with dwindling inventories, you might not be able to get your first choice of color and options. 4. Model redesign When manufacturers redesign models, dealers have both the outgoing and new models for sale at the same time. That leads them to offer incentives and discounts to get rid of older models. Of course, the resale value of the vehicle would be lower. And sometimes, the new model may be “heads and tails better than the outgoing model,” Wardlaw said. 5. Last year of a model’s production This tip is for serious penny pinchers. When a car is being discontinued or “rebranded” as a different model, the outgoing model’s prices drop even more dramatically. Examples on the market include the 2016 Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200, according to Edmunds’ handy list of best leftover

cars for 2016. Current pricing for the Chrysler 200 shows a savings of nearly $5,000 off the sticker price, according to TrueCar’s pricing. Times when you shouldn’t buy a car follows a simple pattern, according to these experts. When there is plenty of foot traffic on the car lot, the dealer will keep prices higher,

believing there will be a better offer from another shopper. So weekend afternoons aren’t optimal because besides higher pricing, the sales staff will be busy, and test-drives will be rushed. Instead, shop mid-week, communicating with dealers via text or emails. — NerdWallet, via AP

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Travel Leisure &

Dallas can be surprisingly pedestrian friendly. See story on page 24.

A walking tour through Japanese history

From Kyoto to Tokyo The roots of modern Tokyo were planted during the Edo period, which began in 1603 when Tokugawa Leyasu became the shogun (military dictator) of Japan and ruled from his palace in Edo (present-day

Tokyo). While the emperor lived in Kyoto, the shoguns of the Tokugawa clan controlled the country from Edo. The Tokugawa shogunate ended in 1868, with the opening of Japan to the world. Our trip with the Walk Japan tour company focused on Kyoto, Tokyo, and an ancient trail that was used during Japan’s feudal period by shoguns, samurai (military officers) and other high-ranking officials to travel between the two cities. Our journey began in Kyoto — one of the best preserved cities in Japan — which is rich in tradition and important sites. So endowed is it with historical treasures that during World War II the United States removed it from a list of possible bombing targets. With some 1,600 Buddhist temples, 400 Shinto shrines, magnificent palaces, lovely gardens and more, the welcome challenge for visitors is how to experience and enjoy as much as possible in a limited time. One popular site is the Kiyomizu (“Pure Water”) Temple, built in 780. It stands in an inviting setting near a waterfall, and is surrounded by a maze of narrow, charming streets lined by small shops. The Ryoanji Temple is famous for its lovely rock garden, which is believed to have been created around 1500. Laid out for Zen meditation, it consists of immaculately manicured white gravel raked into a wave-like design surrounding rock islands. One of the most popular buildings in

PHOTO BY LUCIANO MORTULA/DREAMSTIME.COM

By Victor Block The traffic-clogged streets, towering skyscrapers and dazzling lighted billboards could be in Times Square — but they aren’t. An ancient trail that snakes through dense woods and over mountain passes might be one that runs through a U.S. national park, but it isn’t. A big surprise for many visitors from the U.S. to Japan is how many things remind them of home. At the same time, there are dramatic differences in the history, culture and other aspects of the country. That dichotomy — foreign and familiar, old and new — is one of the pleasures of a visit to that intriguing destination. Walking in some areas of Tokyo, I was besieged by the usual fast food chain restaurants and signs promoting brands of electronics, clothing and other goods that would be at home in Washington. At the same time, centuries of history sprang to life as the guide displayed wood block prints and old photographs illustrating how many hidden side streets, bridges and other features of the setting had their beginning centuries ago.

Neon signs crowd the streetscapes in modern Tokyo, a city of more than 13 million people. Elsewhere in the city and around the country, well-preserved elements from Japan’s storied history remain, from the imperial palace to Buddhist temples.

Japan is the Rokuon-ji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion), a Buddhist hall that was burned and then reconstructed. The building was designed in the architectural style used for aristocratic mansions in Kyoto during the 8th to 12th centuries. Its most distinctive feature is the gold leaf that covers the upper two levels of the three-story structure.

Clean, gleaming Tokyo PHOTO COURTESY OF WALK JAPAN

Walking between Kyoto and Tokyo along an ancient trail called the Nakasendo Way, which connects several major Japanese cities, immerses visitors in a close-up view of Japanese life and culture. Walkers stay overnight at family-run guesthouses, and pass through farm villages like this one, with a rice paddy outside a home.

If Kyoto continues to wear its history in plain sight, the past is more hidden in Japan’s capital. Tokyo today little resembles the modest fishing village of Edo that it was before the Tokugawa shogunate made it a seat of power. Upon arrival, the first-time visitor may be put off by the sheer size of the city, along with the crush of people, glare of neon-lit streetscapes, and other sources of sensory overload. On the other hand, it’s not difficult to recognize welcome differences from many other urban areas. For example, even though throngs of people are often encountered in the vast underground subway stations, there’s usually little sound other than that of feet on the floor. People wait patiently in orderly lines for the trains to arrive, which they usually do at the minute for which they’re scheduled. It’s unusual to encounter trash anywhere on streets or sidewalks. And most

locals who are asked for directions or other assistance go out of their way to provide it. Given the magnitude of the city, a good way to enjoy specific places of interest is to group them by area. In addition to temples, shrines and other major tourist sites on many a “must see” list, that also provides introductions to neighborhoods with concentrations of museums, shops and other appeals. One good place to begin a tour is sprawling Ueno Park, which is home to temples, pagodas and shrines along with a number of major museums. The Walk Japan Tokyo guide displayed a scene in a wood block print made in 1631 showing that little has changed since then. Any visit to Tokyo also should include the Edo Castle, which was built in 1457 and served as the residence of the shogun Tokugawa. At the end of his shogunate, he was forced to leave when the emperor arrived from Kyoto and moved in. The present Imperial Palace sits on the base of the former castle, and the main gate, along with some original walls, turrets and moats, survives. Another plunge into Japan’s feudal past is provided at the Edo Museum, where exhibits demonstrate how a small 15th century fishing village evolved into the vast metropolis of today. Visitors are immediately introduced to See JAPAN, page 23

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2016

Japan From page 22 old Edo, as they cross a life-size replica of the wooden Nihonbashi Bridge that was built in 1603 over the river of the same name. The vast open space surrounding the walkway is filled with exhibits illustrating various aspects of Tokyo’s past and present. Detailed scale models realistically represent buildings and towns from the 17th through 20th centuries. Cultural icons include a life-size reconstruction of a kabuki theater, where that classical dance-drama form of entertainment has been popular since the early 17th century. Another aspect of life in the Edo period was the creation of various types of gardens based upon Japanese sensibilities. Gardens for emperors and nobles were designed for recreation and aesthetic enjoyment; those at Buddhist temples served for meditation; and promenade plantings lead visitors on a path past carefully composed landscapes. In addition to demonstrating the intimate role of traditional gardens in Japan’s history, their profusion throughout Tokyo can provide a respite from what, in places, is the city’s frenetic personality.

Walking an ancient trail No matter how lovely a variety of gardens, how magnificent the temples and shrines that grace Kyoto, and how beautiful the architectural gems from the Edo period hidden beneath the modern veneer of Tokyo, it was the five days I spent walking along a section of an ancient trail between those cities that provided me with the most meaningful immersion in the history, heart and soul of Japan. Laid out in the 8th century, that 310-mile path was trod by shoguns, samurai and other nobles, and the underlings who comprised their entourage. The support staff tended to the horses, prepared meals, and took care of the countless other chores that provided the comforts and luxuries to which those who occupied the upper levels of society were accustomed. Our trek traversed the Kiso Road section of the historic route. The sojourn began by following a short stretch of the original flat paving rocks that were laid down hundreds of years ago, and passed

by one of the earliest stone mile markers. Along the way, we came face-to-face with both intriguing tangible remnants of the country’s past, and with stories and memories of its history that left an indelible mark. Our daily 8- to 10-mile treks followed valleys past rushing waterfalls, wound through dense forests, and crossed over mountain passes. The occasional steep sweat-inducing climb was made easier by switchbacks that eased the way up. We passed numerous Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples and unadorned rock structures that represented, or paid homage to, emperors and other human deities and spiritual beings. Here and there stood a lonely farmhouse, centuries-old mill and wooden waterwheel powered by the rushing streams that cascade down many hillsides. Houses in tiny farm villages are surrounded by rice paddies, and an occasional grove of bamboo reaches toward the sky.

Stops along the way Come nightfall, our band of hikers followed in the footsteps — literally — of the feudal lords and others who preceded us along the route centuries ago. “Post towns” were spaced a day’s travel apart to provide food and overnight accommodations to those travelers. The traditional wooden buildings in some of the historic villages have been lovingly restored, and continue to offer the same services they did long ago. Three of the best-preserved post towns — Magome, Tsumago and Narai — are strung out along the Kiso Valley section of the route, and provide an even more indepth look at what early travelers experienced. The family-run guesthouses where we stayed introduced us to customs and cultural touches of Japan both past and present. It didn’t take long to learn the rules: Upon entering the modest structure, remove shoes and replace them with the ubiquitous slippers that are neatly lined up on shelves near the front entrance. Be prepared to sleep on a fluffy but surprisingly comfortable futon laid out on the floor. Don’t expect to order dinner from a menu, but do know that among the numerous dishes that will be laid before you are sure to be at least several that will be as pleasing to your taste buds as they are to the eye.

This experience was very different from the architectural treasures of Kyoto and the hustle and bustle in Tokyo beneath which its past hides in plain sight. This combination introduces visitors to the very essence of Japan in a way that leaves a very lasting impression.

If you go My wife and I traveled with aptly named Walk Japan, which has conducted tours in that country since 1992, and certainly lives up to its name. The focus on using various kinds of public transportation, staying at local inns, din-

ing at family-run restaurants, and other trip features brings travelers (a maximum of 12 on most itineraries) into repeated close contact with Japanese people from various walks of life. The tours themselves range from city sightseeing to trail walking to more strenuous experiences, and even in Tokyo and Kyoto we logged several miles by foot each day. In addition to accommodations, meals, sightseeing and outstanding guides, Walk Japan trips provide participants with an inSee JAPAN, page 24

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DECEMBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

You don’t need a car to enjoy Dallas By John Lumpkin Asphalt and concrete have defined Dallas since a north-south “central expressway” was envisioned in the early 1900s for a stretch of railroad right-of-way. Travel by anything other than an automobile can be challenging and sometimes impractical. However, there is a promising alternative — call it “Walking Dallas.” The development of the Uptown neighborhood, abetted by the expansion of Dallas’ cultural district (and millennials moving into the area), means a car is not a requirement. Since August 2014, visitors have been able to ride DART, Dallas’ light rail, from DFW Airport to downtown for $2.50. (The fixed rate for taxis from the airport is $45.) Also, consider that downtown hotels might charge up to $35 daily for parking your car. Ground zero for enjoying the city on foot is Klyde Warren Park. Philanthropists

and city planners put a roof over a freeway canyon that separated Dallas’ downtown from Uptown. Add grass, flower beds, trees, a dog park, a sound stage and food trucks, and the result is throngs of pedestrians. Michelin’s Green Guide awarded Dallas its highest city rating, gushing about “a fantastic, world-class cultural, architectural and culinary destination.” Several of Michelin’s touts are a walk away from Klyde Warren. The “burbs” haven’t disappeared, and corporate moves to outlying cities are business-page headlines. Mass transit is improving, but not comparable to the Northeast, and, let’s face it, it’s too hot in July or August to walk in daytime. But autumn, with temperatures in the 70s and 80s F, is arguably Dallas’ best season.

By foot, cycle and trolley Near Klyde Warren are hotels like the $600-a-night ZaZa, or family options under $200. It’s a short walk to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science — a 15-story cube where kids can race against videos of a tyrannosaurus, life-sized cheetah, or Dallas Cowboys running back. In Deep Ellum east of downtown, Local Hub Bicycle Co. rents bikes for $35 a day. “We’ve had people from all over the world get a bike for the whole week,” said coowner Justin Shannon. Ride the Katy Trail, a 3.5-mile linear park that starts near downtown, or pedal to the Trinity Groves entertainment district and Dallas’ latest landmark, the soaring Margaret Hill Hunt Bridge. The old-fashioned McKinney Avenue Trolley follows a 4.5-mile elongated loop to the Nasher Sculpture Garden and the Dal-

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las Museum of Art, both highlighted by Michelin, as well as Uptown’s brasseries. The President George W. Bush Library is a short cab ride to the shady campus of Southern Methodist University, First Lady Laura Bush’s alma mater. The museum has a replica of Bush’s Oval Office, and includes a 22-foot section from the fallen World Trade Center. While there, visit SMU’s Meadows Museum, called “Prado on the Prairie.” Car alert: The Star, a new $1.5 billion, 91acre complex that houses the Dallas Cowboys headquarters and training facility, is in the northern suburb of Frisco. From downtown, the drive is 30 minutes to an hour.

From Neiman-Marcus to the fair “Walking Dallas” should include NeimanMarcus’ flagship store, even if you can’t afford a $15,000 Carolina Herrera gown. Opt for the Zodiac Room, where the mandarin orange soufflé and chicken salad ($20) follow recipes of legendary Neiman’s cookbook author Helen Corbitt. The downtown Sixth Floor Museum, reverent and not ghoulish, is dedicated to the “life, death and legacy of President John F. See DALLAS, page 25

Japan From page 23

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depth introduction to both Japanese history and contemporary life that is as enjoyable as it is informative. For more information, log onto www.walkjapan.com. Prices range from about $675 (for the two-day Kyoto tour) and $745 (for the twoday Tokyo tour) up to about $4,745 for an 11day tour, depending on the exchange rate. The five-day Nakasendo Way tour is priced at $1,982. (Prices do not include airfare.) For more Japan travel information, see the websites of the Japan National Tourism Organization at jnto.org.au and World Guides at www.world-guides.com/asia/japan. Information on Tokyo is available at https://www.gotokyo.org/en and Kyoto at http://kyoto.travel/en. The lowest roundtrip airfare from BWI in late December is $1,430 on American Airlines. United Airlines offers a slightly higher fare.

BEACON BITS

Dec. 4

HOLIDAY CONCERT IN WASHINGTON

Join Senior Box Office as it travels to Washington, D.C., for the U.S. Army Band Holiday Concert at Constitution Hall, after lunch at the Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant. Call

GET MORE IN A NEW HOME | BEAZER.COM

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BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2016

Dallas From page 24 Kennedy.” It’s located on the sixth floor of the building on Dealey Plaza from which shots were fired on Nov. 22, 1963, killing Kennedy as he passed by in a motorcade. The State Fair of Texas in October hosted 3 million visitors. Big Tex, a talking 55foot statue in cowboy duds, is the official greeter. The required snack is a Fletcher’s Corny Dog, but vendors will fry almost anything, including Jell-O and Twinkies. The Texas Star Ferris Wheel, 20 stories high, only operates during the State Fair,

but Fair Park’s renowned art deco buildings can be viewed year-round. Check for tickets to classical and popular music and drama at downtown Dallas’ cluster of the Winspear Opera House, Meyerson Symphony Center and Wyly Theater, if you plan to stay near downtown.

Local eats Happy hour patrons are two-deep at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel’s Rattlesnake Bar. Celebrity chef Dean Fearing’s namesake restaurant is on the same floor, serving concoctions like buffalo tenderloin with jalapeno grits, lobster pot stickers, and

oysters “Rockafearing.” Less expensive is Uptown’s S & D Oyster Co., where the daily chef’s sampler ($16.95) includes raw and fried oysters, gumbo, hush puppies and shrimp four ways. Near Local Hub Bicycles is Pecan Lodge, a Dallas barbecue mecca. Justin and Diane “Boss Lady” Fourton sold brisket sandwiches in a Jiffy Lube parking lot, then from a stand in Dallas’ Farmers Market before opening their expansive current location. Feed your delegation with “The Trough” — stacks of beef and pork ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork and

sausage links ($75). In Klyde Warren is Savor, with ceilingto-floor glass on four sides, and across the street, Lark on the Park, both with al fresco seating and New American cuisine.

Getting there Delta Airlines offers the least expensive roundtrip airfare from BWI for $332 in late December. Some of its flights are nonstop. To learn more about Dallas, visit the site of the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.visitdallas.com or call 1-800232-5527. — AP

PHOTO BY KAN KHAMPANYA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Downtown workers enjoy a mid-day yoga class at Klyde Warren Park in Dallas. The park was built on top of a recessed eight-lane freeway and opened in 2012.

BEACON BITS

Dec. 5

CHRISTMAS IN THE BIG APPLE

Visit Radio City Music Hall for its annual Christmas Spectacular Show. The $165 ticket includes lunch and transportation. Call Cockeysville Senior Center at (410) 887-7694 for reservations.

Dec. 8

Dec. 14

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IT’S A WINTER WONDERLAND IN LANCASTER Enjoy Winter Wonderland at American Music Theatre in Lancaster, a holiday event full of yuletide whimsy and winter wonder. Tickets are $89. Call Ateaze Senior Center at (410) 887-7233 for reservations.

CELEBRATE IN GETTYSBURG Enjoy lunch at Hickory Bridge Farm in Gettysburg, followed by the Majestic Theater’s presentation of A Christmas Carol. Tickets are $95. Call Essex Senior Center at (410) 687-5113 for reservations.

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Style Arts &

Charm City offers many ways to celebrate the holidays. See story on facing page.

BMA exhibit pairs Matisse and Diebenkorn Richard Diebenkorn, one of America’s most acclaimed post-war artists, was born in 1922 and died in 1993. He counted Henri Matisse (b. 1869, d. 1954) as the artist who inspired him the most. The BMA exhibit is organized chronologically, beginning in the 1940s with some of the Matisse works first seen by Diebenkorn at the home of Sarah Stein, one of Matisse’s first patrons, in Palo Alto, Calif. Diebenkorn was so taken with Matisse’s work that he began studying the artist and visiting as many museums holding Matisse’s art as possible, including the BMA (in addition to the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, and The Museum of Modern Art in New York). The exhibition includes examples of Diebenkorn’s abstract paintings, as well as selections from his more representational period from the mid-1950s to 1967. In 1964, Diebenkorn and his wife, Phyllis, travelled to the Soviet Union and visited collections of Matisse’s paintings in the State Hermitage Museum and the Pushkin Museum. Two years later, he viewed a Matisse retrospective in Los Angeles, com-

Inspiration from a master

By Carol Sorgen The first major exhibition to explore the influence of French artist Henri Matisse on the work of American artist Richard Diebenkorn is on view at the Baltimore Museum of Art through Jan. 29. Called “Matisse/Diebenkorn,” and co-organized with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the exhibit brings together 36 paintings and drawings by Matisse and 56 paintings and drawings by Diebenkorn, drawn from museums and private collections throughout the United States and Europe. The exhibit is designed to show how Matisse’s work influenced that of Diebenkorn. The BMA is the only East Coast venue for this exhibition. “While much has been written about Matisse’s influence on Diebenkorn, this is the first major exhibition to illustrate the powerful influence of Matisse’s work on one of America’s most significant artists,” said BMA Senior Curator of European Painting and Sculpture Katy Rothkopf. Through the works selected, Rothkopf said the BMA hopes to give viewers the opportunity to discover Matisse as Diebenkorn did.

The influence of French artist Henri Matisse on the work of American Richard Diebenkorn is the focus of a new exhibit at the Baltimore Museum of Art. On the left is “Reclining Model with a Flowered Robe,” drawn by Matisse in 1923. In the exhibit, it is paired with Diebenkorn’s “Woman Seated in Chair,” drawn 40 years later.

prised of more than 300 artworks.

Abstract Ocean Park series In 1967, Diebenkorn moved to Southern California and his paintings reflected the color and light that inspired him to create his “Ocean Park” series, nine of which conclude the exhibition. (His painting, “Ocean Park #89,” sold for $9.68 million in a 2014 New York auction.)

The paintings of both artists are paired by style, color and motif. Some of the pairings seem more obvious than others (especially during Diebenkorn’s representational period), such as Matisse’s 1918 “Interior with a Violin” juxtaposed with Diebenkorn’s 1962 “Interior with Doorway.” Other similarities can be seen in depicSee MATISSE, page 29

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2016

Baltimore holiday merry-making begins By Carol Sorgen Charm City becomes especially charming this time of year as it brings on the holiday festivities. Put on your party shoes (or boots, depending on the weather) and join in the merriment. Nov. 11 to Jan. 16 Pandora Ice Rink at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor Harborplace Amphitheater Break the ice at the Pandora Ice Rink at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, complete with a skate shack, rentals, concessions and entertainment, as well as special events like SkateFest, a learn-to-skate program, and more. www.itsawaterfrontlife.org/events Nov. 11 to Jan. 2 National Aquarium’s Holiday 4-D Experience: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4-D The National Aquarium presents a magical twist on a holiday classic this winter, as the beloved animated movie Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4-D debuts at the National Aquarium’s 4-D Immersion Theater. Journey with Rudolph as he sets off on a series of funny and endearing adventures after being ousted from Christmas-town because of his bright and shining nose. 501 E. Pratt St. (410) 576-3800, www.aqua.org. Nov. 19 to 20, 25 to 27 All Aboard for the North Pole Get on board the Polar Express at the B&O Railroad Museum, when characters from this award-winning book come to life. The conductor punches your golden ticket as you board the Polar Express. Chefs serve hot chocolate and cookies on board the train, and during the ride you listen to The Polar Express story. Santa’s helpers provide holiday cheer and every child will personally receive

from Santa the first gift of Christmas — a silver sleigh bell. During this event, the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area LEGO Train Club will display their model train layout completely constructed of LEGO pieces. 901 W. Pratt St., (410) 752-2490, www.borail.org. Nov. 24 Thanksgiving Turkey Trot Adults, children and families from across the region come together every Thanksgiving morning not only to run (or walk, jog or stroll), but also to raise funds so that children living in disadvantaged circumstances in Central Maryland have access to programs at the Y. The course starts at Druid Hill Park in front of the Stieff Silver Building, runs through the park, looping around Druid Hill Lake and finishing up at the Stieff Silver Building. www.ymdturkeytrot.org Nov. 24 to Dec. 24 Christmas Village at West Shore Park West Shore Park will be transformed into a traditional European Christmas Market, complete with more than 50 vendors selling traditional European crafts, arts, jewelry, holiday gifts, food, sweets and drinks from Nov. 24 to Dec. 24. Special holiday-themed programming will take place each weekend. 401 Light St., www.baltimore-christmas.com Nov. 25 to 27 Festival of Trees You’ll think you’re in the North Pole after you step into this land of fairytale forests, gingerbread towns, train gardens and craft vendors from Nov. 25 to 27 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds. 2200 York Rd., (443) 923-9200, www.fes-

tivaloftrees.kennedykrieger.org Nov. 26 to Jan. 2 Miracle on 34th Street It’s not Christmas in Baltimore until you’ve seen these historic Hampden homes transformed into a sparkling Christmas village with a decidedly Charm City touch. www.christmasstreet.com Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14 Merriment and Melodies in Harbor East This holiday season join Harbor East Wednesday Evenings for a Holiday Music series featuring live music under the stars, complimentary sweets, wine and spirits sold street-side, shopping events and more! www.harboreast.com

Dec. 1 Washington Monument Lighting The annual lighting of the Washington Monument features musical selections by area choirs, a spectacular fireworks show and refreshments on Thursday, Dec. 1, at 5 p.m. on Mount Vernon Place, centered on the 600 block of North Charles Street. www.godowntownbaltimore.com Dec. 3 The Avenue at White Marsh 18th Annual Holiday Parade The Avenue at White Marsh will host the area’s 18th Annual Holiday Parade on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 10 a.m. Celebrate the season with local high school marching See HOLIDAY EVENTS, page 29 T ickets M ake a Great Gi ft !

Over 120 Years rs of e ta ert tainment n ! Premiere Entertainment!

NCE M E DY đ O OP PE RA đ DAN DA EA CONC CO E RTS đ CO ME PERA A N C E đ T H EAT AT R E The Lyric and Ballet Theatre of Maryland are Proud to Present This Holida Holiday ay Classic

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Meade High School Auditorium • Ft. Meade, Maryland d

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Games From page 1 reports that mental activities like reading, writing and playing games can contribute to a healthier brain in older adults. And Health Fitness Revolution Magazine cites these health benefits of playing board games: •Laughing and sharing good times with others can increase endorphins, the “feel good” chemicals that promote happiness. • Playing games is a good way to share family experiences, and also a way to bond across generations.

• Board games help the brain work harder, which keeps it stronger and healthier, reducing the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. • Scientists have found that people who regularly play board games are quicker at finding lost targets. (Just where are those car keys?!). • Distraction is a good way of combatting stress. An online survey by games developer RealNetworks, Inc. found that 64 percent of respondents said they play games as a way to unwind and relax, and 53 percent play for stress relief. • Board games can improve fine motor

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DECEMBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

skills, coordination and dexterity as you pick up or move pieces.

A lifetime of enjoyment For older adults, certain board games also bring with them a feeling of nostalgia. According to AARP, some of the more popular vintage board games are Clue, Life, Candy Land, Monopoly and Scrabble. Diane Moskowitz learned Scrabble close to 60 years ago and today is a member of two regular Scrabble games. “I played on and off with my kids as they were growing up,” said the 83-year-old Lutherville-Timonium resident. “But I’ve been doing it on a regular basis for the past six or seven years.” Once a month, Moskowitz plays in a game sponsored by the Brandeis Live and Learn Programs, and every other week she plays in an informal group that meets in a community clubhouse. “I’ve always enjoyed crossword puzzles,” said Moskowitz, “and Scrabble adds the elements of friendly competition and face-toface socializing.” She also still plays online Scrabble and Words with Friends. The Scrabble games help solidify her reputation as the “local dictionary,” she laughed. At Charlestown Retirement Community, retired pastor David Pollitt, 88, has taken his lifelong interest in chess and created the Charlestown Chess Club, which meets every Monday afternoon. When Pollitt first moved to Charlestown,

only two women played on a regular basis. Now there are 14 residents who come together every week for a friendly game. “I play for the fun of it,” said Pollitt, though admitting that “winning makes me happy.” When he loses, he tries to remember that “someone else is now happy too!” Chess is a game of strategy, Pollitt observed, that stimulates problem-solving and analytical skills. “You have your strategy, but you also have to watch the other person’s strategy,” he explained. Besides providing the opportunity to make new friends, Pollitt notes that playing chess offers the opportunity to connect with far-flung family and friends. “One of our members now plays with her grandchild on Skype,” he said. The Charlestown Chess Club has also bridged the generation gap by playing with local students. This past March, for example, 32 members of the Cross Country Elementary/Middle School chess team played the Charlestown chess team as a way to prepare for the youngsters’ participation in the U.S. National Chess Tournament in Indianapolis. “They came in second in their age group!” said Pollitt, proudly. For Pollitt, chess is a game you can “get lost in.” “It takes your mind off things,” he said. “Once a week, for three hours, I forget about everything else. It’s all about the chess.”

Holiday events From page 27 bands, street performers, mascots, dance troops and much more. 8125 Honeygo Blvd., (443) 219-1820, www.theavenueatwhitemarsh.com Dec. 4 Mayor’s Christmas Parade The 42nd annual parade on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 1 p.m. will wend its way from Falls Rd. to 36th St. to Chestnut Ave., and will include live music, new balloons, an appearance from Miss Yuletide, bedecked floats and plenty of holiday spirit. www.mayorschristmasparade.com Dec. 9-11 Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Swingin’ Nutcracker Take in a jazzy performance of this version of “Nutcracker.” Riffing off of Ellington’s dazzling reimagining of a portion of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece, composer Paul Murtha has created an entire Swingin’ Nutcracker. The production features the vibrant and percussive dancing of the Washington-based company Step Afrika! 1212 Cathedral St., (410) 783-8000, www.bsomusic.org Celebrate Chanukah Dec. 11, 11 a.m. Celebrate Chanukah with traditional music from the Klezmer Band and special guest speaker, Avraham Infeld, at the Edward A. Myerberg Center. Enjoy a light kosher meal. Dietary laws observed. $2 members, $4 nonmembers 3101 Fallstaff Rd., (410) 358-6856, myerberg.org Dec. 17 32nd Annual Merry Tuba Christmas Over 100 festively dressed tuba players will capture the spirit of the holiday as they blend their unique styles, rhythms and

progressions for all to enjoy at the Harborplace Amphitheater from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 24, 8 p.m. Nefesh Mountain Chanukah Concert Join the Gordon Center for the Performing Arts for a spiritual celebration on the first night of Chanukah, as husband and wife team Eric Lindberg and Doni Zasloff fuse Jewish spirituality with the sounds of Bluegrass, Old-Time and Appalachian music. 3506 Gwynnbrook Ave., Owings Mills, (410) 356-7469, jcc.org/gordon-center Dec. 30 Kwanzaa 50th Celebration Bring out the family at noon on Friday, Dec. 30, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Kwanzaa and the Kwanzaa principle Nia (“Purpose”). Enjoy storytelling and African dancing and drumming by Sankofa Dance Theater. Sallah Jenkins leads holiday craftmaking. Travel with teaching artist Culture Queen through Culture Kingdom Kids’ Kwanzaaland to explore the seven Kwanzaa principles.

www.lewismuseum.org Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve Spectacular Ring in 2017 with family, friends, live music and a spectacular fireworks display over Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Baltimore’s New Year’s Eve Spectacular starts at 9

p.m. At the stroke of midnight, colorful fireworks and lights fill the sky above downtown Baltimore. Those celebrating at the Inner Harbor can also enjoy skating at the Pandora Ice Rink, open until 12:30 a.m. Regular rink admission prices apply. (410) 752-8632, www.bop.org

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BALTIMORE CITY

HOWARD COUNTY

tions of both artists’ studio spaces, Matisse’s “Studio Quai Saint-Michel” compared with Diebenkorn’s “Studio Wall, 1963, both of which include chairs in front of a dark wall papered with the artists’ works in progress. Coinciding with the exhibit are the following special events: Chief Curator Emeritus John Elderfield will speak on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m. Admission is $10, free to BMA members; and Art After Hours and Closing Party on Friday, Jan. 20, $25 for tickets, $20 for BMA members. Tickets to “Matisse/Diebenkorn” are available through www.artbma.org and at the BMA Box Office, 10 Art Museum Dr. Prices are $17.50 for adults, $15 for seniors and groups of 10 or more, $10 for students with ID, and $7.50 for visitors age 7 to 18. BMA members and children 6 and under are admitted free. The museum is open Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call (443) 573-1701.

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

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2016

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

DECEMBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Crossword Puzzle

PUZZLE PAGE

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

By Stephen Sherr

See our ad on page 19.

29 34

39 43

41 46

48 51

52 55

40 45

31 35

BB1216 BB1216

Scrabble answers on p. 29.

Across

Down

1. Item in an IKEA tool kit 6. Member of the Bear family 10. Fruitcake of the Day ingredient 14. 21st century First Lady 15. ___ on the back 16. Politician’s qualities 17. Unconditionally avoid writing with squiggles 20. Stereotypical result of a Mother’s Day breakfast in bed 21. Sean Connery is one, but Roger Moore isn’t 22. Uncontrollable desires 23. Director Kazan, winner of 1999 Lifetime Achievement award 25. “I could ___ horse” 27. Miss Robot makes an unconditional choice 33. Its Western-most school is Notre Dame 34. Price is Right prize: “___ Car!” 35. ___ as a doornail 37. “Immediately, nurse!” 39. Net slang for “sense of humor” 41. Video game co., originally called “Service Games” 42. Read carefully 45. “Be ___; rewind” 48. ID on a color printer toner cartridge 49. Unconditional fish dish 52. It’s one thing or another 53. Arriving after the opening bell 54. Cupid’s weapon 57. “And ___ goes” 59. Returned from the dead 63. Unconditional declaration (and key to puzzle theme answers) 66. Powerful car parts company, ___ Stuff 67. Switch preceder 68. Flattens flats 69. Those that parted before death 70. They are 97% similar to humans, genetically 71. Replay official’s tool

1. Spend time with the lower classes 2. Detective’s tasking 3. Bitterly regrets 4. Scrubbed from the history books 5. Is in the past 6. Option in a Denny’s Grand Slam breakfast 7. Lhasa ___ 8. Creates kindergarten art 9. Participated in a clambake 10. Cheats 11. Wide-eyed 12. Voice mail prompt 13. Mechanics’ best guesses, briefly 18. Like most people 19. Babe and Baby 24. SULTANS’ center 26. Top minor league level 27. Tacks filer 28. Two barbershop groups 29. “___ not much for a man’s religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it” (Lincoln) 30. Heroes of Star Wars’ Battle of Endor 31. Parting words to an alligator 32. Lox holder 36. His museum is in Catalonia, Spain 38. Playboy Centerfold attributes 40. Top tens 43. Flat-bottomed boats 44. Start to ERUPT 46. Peachy-keen 47. Banned pesticide 50. Remove a Onesie 51. Containing quality thyme 54. The A in a clock’s AM 55. Cajun sauce 56. Abundant 58. Garfield’s pal 60. Greece firewater 61. It provides elevation to a carnation 62. Exxon predecessor 64. What you call a group of lawyers 65. Monopoly props. that don’t allow houses

Answers on page 29.

BALTIMORE BEACON — DECEMBER 2016

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 ACCOUNTING, TAXES, AND BOOKKEEPING, eldercare. CPA 38 years, reasonable rates. Call 410-653-3363.

For Rent/Real Estate SPACIOUS FURNISHED AND LAUNDRY facilities. Nice neighborhood, near businesses and trains. $498 monthly. No security deposit. Utilities not included. Call 443-210-0112. 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 DINING ROOM FURNITURE – Fruitwood, China closet, buffet, table with pads, 6 caneback chairs. Seats need reupholstering, otherwise excellent condition. Have Dolly. $1,400. 410-4267591 (Hamilton area). GE WHITE PROFILE REFRIGERATOR – 25.4 cubic feet. Side-by-side ice and filtered water on door. More info, call 410-461-5793. $400.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

For Sale DOWNSIZING – LOW PRICES. Artist picture frames (70). Three sizes, other items. Saturday, Dec. 3, 11-3. 443-386-9845.

Home/Handymand Services 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. 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. 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.

TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED Deadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 5th of each month. Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question. Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards. 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

Personals ISN’T ATTRACTION INCREDIBLE? Imagine relaxing into strong arms holding you, feeling safe and appreciated, intimate, knowing it’s totally right. Looking for older SBM tall, attractive, fit, emotionally literate, willing to take risks. If this speaks to you, call 410-347-1403.

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. BUYING ANTIQUES, ESTATES. 20-year Beacon advertiser. Cash paid for jewelry, gold, silver, old coins, pens, art, old toys, dolls, trains, watches, old comics, sports memorabilia, military guns, knives, swords, all collections. Tom, 240-476-3441.

Wanted

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Research Studies Alzheimer’s Caregivers Study . .15 Cognitive Impairment Study . . .14 Depression Study . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Elderly Falls Study . . . . . . . . . .13 Iron Deficiency Study . . . . . . . .15 Memory Loss Study . . . . . . . . .14

Dental Services Denture Doctor . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Diamond Dental of Owings Mills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Maryland Center for Periodontal and Dental Implants . . . . . . . . .5 Mishpacha Dental . . . . . . . . . . .12

Events Myerberg Center . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Financial Services Bennett Senior Services . . . . . .19 Debt Counsel for Seniors and the Disabled . . . .18

JS Richardson Insurance . . . . . .17 PENFED Credit Union . . . . . . .17

Hearing Services

Park View Apartments . . . . . . . .29 Shangri-La Assisted Living . . . .20 St. Mary’s Roland View Towers . .25 Virginia Towers . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Shopping Joy For All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Radio Flea Market . . . . . . . . . . .28

Legal Services

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation

One Day At A Time Personal Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Options for Senior America . . . .26

Frank, Frank & Scherr Law Firm . . . . . . . . . . .17 Law Office of Karen Ellsworth . . . . . . . . . . .18

CommuniCare Health . . . . . . . .10 Keswick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Manor Care Health Services . . . .8

Housing

Medical/Health

Alta at Regency Crest . . . . . . . . .8 Atrium Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Buckingham’s Choice/Integrace . .16 Charlestown/Erickson . . . . . . .12 Christ Church Harbor Apts. . . . .19 Fairhaven/Integrace . . . . . . . . . .16 Gatherings at Quarry Place/Beazer Homes . .24 Linden Park Apts. . . . . . . . .19, 30 Oak Crest/Erickson . . . . . . . . .12 Park Heights Place . . . . . . . . . .18

Dr. Richard Rosenblatt, DPM . .12 Low Vision Specialists . . . . . . . .7 MedStar Medical Choice . . . . . . .3 Physical Therapy and Wellness Center . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Skin Cancer EB . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 UM Health Advantage . . . . . . . . .7

Hearing & Speech Agency . . . . .6

Home Health Care

Services Care Patrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Sudzy Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Subscriptions The Beacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Theatres/ Entertainment Lyric, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . .26 US Army Field Band . . . . . . . . .27

Travel Eyre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Fire Museum of Maryland . . . . .23 Nexus Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

32 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

DECEMBER 2016 — BALTIMORE BEACON

| 410-358-6856 | myerberg.org

beginning January 2017

HAPPENINGS AT THE EDWARD A. MYERBERG CENTER A Taste of Art: Beginner Art Class Mondays, January 9 - April 24, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Senior Sundays

15 sessions, $210 members /$245 nonmembers

Sunday, December 11, 11:00 a.m.

Try your hand at diﬀerent art media including drawing, watercolor, and acrylic painting. New and returning students welcome in this skill-developing course. Learn color, shape, and composition in a patient, encouraging environment. Materials for this course are included in the price. Instructor: CeeCee Friedman

$2 Members / $4 Nonmembers

NEW! Ceramics: Let’s Face it! Wednesdays, beginning January 4 - April 26, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. $245 members / $275 nonmembers This course covers ways to create faces and ﬁgures on your ceramics as well as provides a foundation for sculpting anatomical features so you may create both serious and comical expressions.

First Thursdays: Women @ the Myerberg

Celebrate Chanukah with guest speaker, Avraham Infeld while enjoying music from The Klezmer Band. Enjoy a light kosher meal. Dietary laws observed.

NEW! Can our Broken Criminal System be Fixed? Mondays, January 9 - 30, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. $70 members / $95 nonmembers This four-week course is designed to address our ﬂawed criminal justice system and to examine, realistically, what reform solutions are likely, or even possible.

Monthly, 1:30 p.m. $10 per lecture or 3 lectures for $25

January 5 Jayne Miller, WBAL-TV Lead Investigative reporter will discuss national and local politics and other timely topics February 2 Wayne Schaumberg, Well-known Baltimore historian will speak on “Baltimore During the Good Old Days, 1930-1960.”

Made in America – The American Songbook Friday, February 10, 12:30 p.m.

Slim down your wallet as you slim down your waist in the New Year!

Free for members / $5 for guests Join us for a special afternoon of an exploration of the American Songbook featuring composers such as Johnny Mercer, Heusen & Cahn, Duke Ellington, Gershwin, Loewe & Lerner and many others. We will sing all of the classic hits of cabaret, jazz, Broadway and Hollywood while learning about the singers that made them famous. Presented by: Lyric Opera Baltimore and The Opera Cares program.

NEW! Our Stories, Our Legacies Wednesdays, January 4 - 25, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. $55 members / $70 nonmembers During each session, participants will have the opportunity to reﬂect on their own experiences and share personal stories. As participants progress, they will learn basic story-telling techniques and will practice them in a comfortable and safe environment among peers. Instructor: Rich Polt

Get a 13-month fitness center membership for the price of 12! Drop in to try us out! NEW Expanded Fitness Center Hours of Operation: Sunday, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Monday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Closed

Valid on new 12 month memberships only.