December 2018 | Howard County Beacon

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Why save a segregated school?

Proud of its legacy Today, Bordenave is chairman of the 20member advisory council recently appoint-

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PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER MYERS

By Robert Friedman Jessup native Bessie Bordenave attended the last segregated school in the Howard County Public School System — all the students, teachers and staff were AfricanAmerican. She graduated in 1962, three years before the school was shut down.

Today, the 74-year-old Bordenave still carries “beautiful memories” in her head — and in her heart — of Columbia’s Harriet Tubman High School, named for the Maryland-born slave who escaped to free-state Pennsylvania, then repeatedly returned to Maryland to help nearly 70 other slaves reach freedom via the Underground Railroad.

So great are Bordenave’s memories of the Tubman school that, after 51 years working for the federal government (she retired in January), she is dedicating herself to bringing to fruition what has been a decades-long effort to get the former school completely renovated and reopened “as a cultural, educational and historical center.”

“I’m forever thankful for that school,” said Bordenave, a former telecommunication analyst for the Federal Communications Commission. “The teachers really cared, even when the day was over. I and many other students got opportunities we never would have had if we hadn’t gone to Harriet Tubman,” she said.

Bordenave’s early career included a stint in the White House when she was 23 years old, answering letters for First Lady “Lady Bird” Johnson (“a wonderful person”), and serving as administrative assistant to NAACP chairman Benjamin Hooks, after he took over as head of the organization in 1977.

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Bessie Bordenave stands in front of the former Harriet Tubman High School in Columbia, a segregated school she attended in the 1960s. She is spearheading an effort to renovate the school and turn it into a center for not just the school’s history, but also for the history and culture of Howard County African Americans and other ethnic groups.

ed by County Executive Allen Kittleman to work on the renovation project. She also leads the Harriet Tubman Foundation, which since 2002 has been trying to get Maryland and Howard County leaders behind the work to restore and reopen the school as a county legacy.

The red-brick building on what is now Har-

riet Tubman Lane opened as a high school in 1949, when Columbia was known as Simpsonville. While the U.S. Supreme Court struck down segregated schools in 1954, the now liberal Howard County was not zealous at the time to integrate its schools.

See SCHOOL, page 28

ARTS & STYLE

Carole King’s Beautiful career takes the stage at National Theatre page 27

FITNESS & HEALTH 4 k How to keep osteoporosis at bay k Healthy snacks for all occasions THE 50+ CONNECTION 15 k Newsletter from Howard County Office on Aging & Independence LAW & MONEY 19 k Should you retire with your spouse? k What to keep in an emergency bag ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

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Let’s be more critical No one likes a critic. Criticism is often First, our Q & A column answered a shared in harsh ways, in which case it can be reader’s question about whether he should destructive rather than contake fish oil supplements bestructive. And let’s face it, even cause he doesn’t eat fish. constructive criticism is selThe doctor’s response began dom appreciated at the time! by noting that those who reguOn the other hand, perlarly eat fatty fish (like salmon, haps we should all be a bit herring and mackerel) have more critical in how we read lower rates of heart attack and and understand things. Readstroke, and that this is attribing (and thinking) critically uted to the fishes’ fatty acids, are more important today EPA and DHA. than ever, living as we are in But that didn’t mean all peoan age of tweets, sound bites FROM THE ple who don’t eat fish should and screeds. be taking ordinary over-thePUBLISHER As a case in point, I’d like to By Stuart P. Rosenthal counter fish oil supplements, share with you an exchange I as the questioner seemed to had this week with a reader who felt a Q & be asking.

A column we published was misleading.

The doctor pointed out that studies We headlined the story, written by a show fish oil is effective at reducing high Harvard Medical School professor, “Most levels of triglycerides in the blood (which of us don’t need fish oil supplements.” You raise the risk for heart attack and stroke), won’t recall this, because the story ap- and may somewhat reduce the risk of a peared two weeks ago in our Greater second heart attack.

Washington edition, and was scheduled to So he suggested those with these condiappear in this issue of the Howard County tions speak with their doctor, and also that Beacon. they ask whether they should take a preRather than printing it in this issue, I scription fish oil rather than an OTC prodwant to share some relevant parts of both uct. that article and the reader’s criticism in His conclusion was that “for everyone this column. This way, I believe I will not else...even those prone to cardiovascular only fill you in on the story and the contro- disease...there is no evidence that taking versy, but also bring you up to date on the fish oil supplements offers any benefit.” science and illustrate the importance of Our reader took exception to the colcritical reading. umn because he had been reading about a

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The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Baltimore area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Howard County, Md., Greater Washington, DC and Richmond, Va. (Fifty Plus).

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• Publisher/Editor ....................Stuart P. Rosenthal • Associate Publisher ..............Judith K. Rosenthal • Vice President, Operations........Gordon Hasenei • Vice President, Sales & Marketing ....Alan Spiegel • Managing Editor............................Barbara Ruben • Art Director ........................................Kyle Gregory • Director of Operations ........................Roger King • Advertising Representatives .................................. ................................Barbara Koscielski, Steve Levin • Assistant Editor ..........................Rebekah Alcalde

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recent study that seemed to show fish oil supplements were extremely beneficial to people in general.

Even though we published our Q & A column before that study had been announced at the American Heart Association conference in November, and before it had been published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), the reader criticized us for ignoring “well-reported” results that a particular fish oil product (Vascepa) produced by a small company (Amarin) “showed a 25 percent reduction in cardiovascular events with placebo-like side effects.”

He noted that “it is already being called a ‘Wonder’ drug,” and suggested our Harvard professor should attend more meetings and “be updated on recent findings.”

He also chided the Beacon for doing our readers a disservice, and added “your readers have been given incorrect info about a product that significantly reduces their cardio risk because the Dr. did not do basic research.”

We appreciate readers keeping us honest and informing us of errors we no doubt will make on occasion. In this case, however, the reader was overstating his case, probably because he was reading hyped reports online before the study was officially published.

In actuality, the study credited a high dose of Vascepa, a purified, prescription fish oil, with a 25 percent reduction in heart problems and heart-related deaths among people with high triglycerides who were already taking a statin drug for high cholesterol.* That jibes closely with what our column stated.

Furthermore, the same issue of the NEJM featured results of another study, this one of a generic, over-the-counter EPA/DHA fish oil that was tested in ordinary people. In describing the results of that study, the Associated Press reported: “Fish oil taken by healthy people, at a dose found in many supplements, showed no

clear ability to lower heart or cancer risks.” Again, just as our column stated.

In conclusion, whenever you read reports of new studies (whether in the Beacon or elsewhere) — especially about something hailed as a “wonder drug” or “breakthrough” — you probably should remain skeptical until all the facts come out.

Before you tout the results, you’ll want to find out exactly who was tested, with what product(s), and whether or not the study was a double-blind placebo-controlled study (where neither the researchers nor participants know who gets a placebo and who gets the drug being tested).

Furthermore, it is a good idea to wait until a study is published in a reputable peer-reviewed journal before making any judgments. That means the study has been reviewed by other experts in the same field, and any discrepancies or doubtful practices have been examined, or at least will be noted together with the study results upon publication.

And before we criticize any particular story about a study, let’s be careful not to generalize the study’s conclusions or ignore crucial details. We can and should read critically before we become a critic. *I’d like to add an explanatory note regarding the meaning of “reduced risk.” The Amarin study correctly reported “a 25 percent reduction in risk” with its drug. What that means is that major cardiovascular problems (heart attack, stroke, hospitalization for stenting, etc.) occurred in 17 percent of patients taking Vascepa, versus 22 percent of patients taking the placebo.

Viewed that way, the result doesn’t seem so spectacular. But that does constitute a 25 percent reduction in risk, relatively speaking. This is always the case when “lower risk” percentages are announced in studies.

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: Regarding “Are electric cars ready for prime time yet?” (November Beacon), up until 2018, there has been little availability of [competitively priced] long-range, all battery electric cars (BEVs). But there have been plug in hybrids (PHEVs) like the Chevy Volt since 2012.

The PHEVs provide the best of both worlds. For example, my Chevy Volt runs mostly on electricity charged overnight from a 120 volt outlet in my garage. That provides about 45 miles of all-electric driving. When I drive [further], the gas engine feeds the generator, which charges the battery. So far, I have only used 206 gallons of gas in 45,000 miles. My mileage

using the gas engine is about 42 miles per gallon.

It is true that fast charging stations still need to be built once you drive beyond your immediate commuting area for BEVs. Maryland is encouraging folks to buy EVs through grants for chargers for their garages, no state tax for new EVs, and the Federal tax rebate.

Transitions are not immediate — remember how long it took for the Internet to become mainstream, cell phones to [become] smartphones, etc.

Paul Verchinski Public member of the MD Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council Columbia

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Health Fitness &

SOUP’S ON Vegetarian soup recipes: curried red lentil and slow cooker minestrone SNACK ATTACK The best snack foods for every situation, from drowsiness to headaches SHOOTING FROM THE HIP Pain that radiates following hip surgery needs to be evaluated by a doctor FINDING A THERAPIST Learn the differences between various kinds of mental health providers

More women may benefit from bone drugs

By Marilynn Marchione A bone-strengthening drug given by IV every 18 months greatly lowered the risk of fracture in certain older women, a large study found. The results suggest these medicines might help more people than those who get them now, and can be used less often, too.

Broken bones are a scourge of aging. A hip fracture can start a long decline that lands someone in a nursing home. The risk is most common in women after menopause.

But who should use drugs called bisphosphonates is debatable. They’re recommended for people with severely brittle bones, called osteoporosis, but their value has been less clear for millions of others with moderate bone loss.

Yet “that’s the group in whom 80 percent of fractures occur,” and the new results suggest they also may benefit from treatment, said Dr. Ian Reid of the University of Auckland in New Zealand. He led the study, recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Estrogen drop weakens bones Estrogen keeps bones strong; they

weaken after menopause when levels of that hormone drop. It often gets worse after 65, and women of that age are advised to have a bone mineral density scan — a low-dose X-ray to estimate bone strength.

If osteoporosis is found, treatment usually is Fosamax, Boniva or generic bisphosphonates, which help prevent bone from being lost faster than the body is able to renew it.

Some people don’t stick with the pills or endure digestive side effects, so the medicines also can be given by IV, usually once a year.

However, concern about some rare side effects have limited their use, along with a lack of evidence that they might help before bone loss becomes severe.

The study involved 2,000 women, average age 71, with moderate bone loss. One quarter had previously had a fracture.

They were assigned to get an IV every 18 months of either a Novartis drug (sold as Reclast in the United States and Aclasta elsewhere) or a placebo solution.

After six years, 122 women in the drug group had broken a bone versus 190 of those on placebo — a 37 percent lowered

risk. The drug also cut in half the risk of a vertebral fracture, when bone compression causes part of the spine to collapse.

For every 15 women like this treated for six years, one fracture was prevented — a ratio that some experts said makes treatment worth considering.

Two rare problems are tied to bisphosphonates: deterioration of the jawbone and unusual leg fractures. No cases of either occurred, but the study wasn’t big enough to rule out this risk.

Possible other benefits Other results stood out: Fewer women in the drug group were found to have cancer — 84 versus 121 in the placebo group.

However, the study was not designed to test for this, so other factors such as a family history of cancer may have influenced those numbers.

Deaths and heart attacks also were fewer in the drug group, but the difference was so small it could have occurred by chance alone.

Still, doctors said these were encouraging signs also seen in some earlier research.

“It now raises the question, should we

be doing additional studies” to look for cancer and heart benefits from these drugs, asked Dr. Michael Econs, an Indiana University professor who is president of the bone society.

Novartis supplied the drug but had no role in the study. A New Zealand government health agency sponsored it. Study leader Reid consults for the company and other drug makers.

An IV infusion of generic Reclast costs $200 to $500, depending on insurance and other factors, several doctors said. Other bisphosphonates may give similar benefits “but we can’t be certain of that,” Reid said.

The benefits also can’t be assumed to extend to women under 65 or to men, added Dr. Clifford J. Rosen of Maine Medical Center Research Institute, an editor at the medical journal.

Gauging a patient’s risk and need for treatment should focus on age and previous broken bones, not just the bone mineral density score, Rosen said.

But “if you’re at high risk and you’re going to be treated, this is the kind of therapy you probably should get,” he said.

— AP

Medicare open season; upgraded website

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar With Medicare sign-up season in full swing, Medicare has modernized its website to make it more useful for beneficiaries already accustomed to searching online for insurers, hospitals and doctors.

But some consumer advocates said the changes reflect a subtle bias toward private plans on the part of the Trump administration.

Medicare Administrator Seema Verma said new features include a five-point questionnaire to help eligible adults decide between original, government-run Medicare and private plans offered under Medicare Advantage, an online calculator to help estimate out-of-pocket costs, a webchat option and a simplified login. All are part of a continuing project to upgrade Medicare’s online presence.

The annual open enrollment for Medicare Advantage and Medicare pre-

scription plans started Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7. That’s a time to shop for new plans or switch coverage. Beneficiaries sign up initially when they turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare.

Biased toward Medicare Advantage?

“We always felt it’s important that every American we serve have a good customer experience,” Verma said. But some consumer groups said the new online features seem to portray Medicare Advantage plans more favorably than original Medicare.

More than 21 million beneficiaries — about 36 percent — are already in private Medicare Advantage plans, a growing share of the program. In exchange for limits on choice of doctors and hospitals, the private plans can offer lower out-of-pocket costs and added benefits, such as vision and dental care.

This year, some plans will start provid-

ing limited assistance to help keep frail seniors safe in their own homes instead of nursing homes.

Attorney David Lipschutz of the nonpartisan Center for Medicare Advocacy said that based on an initial review of the new online features, “it does appear that Medicare Advantage continues to be painted in a light most favorable.” The center is a nonprofit legal organization that acts as a watchdog over the program and represents individual beneficiaries with consumer complaints.

Original Medicare plus medigap Lipschutz pointed to the new five-point online questionnaire as potentially problematic. He said it overlooks some of the limitations of Medicare Advantage as well as reasons why seniors might prefer original Medicare.

Original Medicare has gaps in coverage, but many beneficiaries buy supplemental

“medigap” polices to cover those, along with a private “Part D” prescription plan.

For people in poor health, original Medicare preserves the broadest choice of hospitals and doctors. Coupled with a medigap policy and a prescription plan, it can result in lower out-of-pocket costs for some people dealing with serious health conditions.

Those variables can go beyond the capacity of a quick online questionnaire.

Medicare Administrator Verma said the government is not trying to put its thumb on the scale. “We are not steering any Medicare beneficiary anywhere,” she said.

Medicare has had a long tug-of-war over whether the program should be run entirely by the government or administered by private insurers. Republicans tend to favor privatization, while Democrats prefer government administration.

— AP

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And how bad is this season going to be?

So far, the flu that’s been detected is a

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A milder strain this year

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“We don’t know what’s going to happen, but we’re seeing more encouraging signs than we were early last year,” Jernigan said.

Flu vaccines are available at most doctor’s offices, drug stores and grocery stores with pharmacies.

— AP

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Last fall and winter, the U.S. went through one of the most severe flu seasons in recent memory. It was driven by a kind of flu that tends to put more people in the hospital and cause more deaths, particularly among young children and the elderly.

The season peaked in early February, and it was mostly over by the end of March.

Making a bad year worse, the flu vaccine didn’t work very well. Experts nevertheless

milder strain, and early signs are that the vaccine is shaping up to be a good match, Jernigan said.

The makeup of the vaccine has been changed this year to try to better protect against expected strains.

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Why last year was so bad

say vaccination is still worth it because it makes illnesses less severe and saves lives.

CDC officials do not have exact counts of how many people die from flu each year.

Flu is so common that not all flu cases are reported, and flu is not always listed on death certificates. So the CDC uses statistical models, which are periodically revised, to make estimates.

Fatal complications from the flu can include pneumonia, stroke and heart attack.

CDC officials called the 80,000 figure preliminary, and it may be slightly revised.

But they said it is not expected to go down.

It eclipses the estimates for every flu season going back to the winter of 19761977. Estimates for many earlier seasons were not readily available.

Last winter was not the worst flu season on record, however. The 1918 flu pandemic, which lasted nearly two years, killed more than 500,000 Americans, historians estimate.

It’s not easy to compare flu seasons through history, partly because the nation’s population is changing. There are more Americans — and more elderly Americans — today than in decades past, noted Dr. Daniel Jernigan, a CDC flu expert.

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By Mike Stobbe An estimated 80,000 Americans died of flu and its complications last winter — the disease’s highest death toll in at least four decades.

The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robert Redfield, revealed the total in a recent interview with the Associated Press.

Flu experts knew it was a very bad season, but at least one found the size of the estimate surprising.

“That’s huge,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University vaccine expert.

The tally was nearly twice as much as what health officials previously considered a bad year, he said.

In recent years, flu-related deaths have ranged from about 12,000 to 56,000, according to the CDC.

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Two warm, filling soups good for cold days Soup season is back. These two soups, lentil and minestrone, are satisfying — and vegetarian.

Small red lentils are one of our favorite legumes. They do not hold their shape when cooked, but break down into a creamy, thick puree, perfect for a hearty, satisfying soup.

Lentils are popular in quick-cooking soups because of their short cooking time and the fact that they don’t require soaking before cooking. To speed things up even further, we precooked the lentils in the microwave while we assembled the soup base.

The mild flavor of the lentils did require some embellishment, which we achieved thanks to curry powder and fresh ginger.

Sautéing the curry powder with garlic and the ginger before adding the lentils and the broth was key, as it intensified and deepened their flavors.

Chopped fresh tomato enlivened the soup and added some complexity. Don’t substitute brown lentils for the red lentils here; brown lentils have a very different texture.

Curried red lentil soup Servings: 4 Start to finish: 45 minutes 1 cup red lentils, picked over and rinsed 4 cups vegetable broth 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 onion, chopped fine 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

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1 tablespoon curry powder 1 large tomato, cored, seeded, and cut into 1/4-inch pieces Salt and pepper 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro (optional) 1/2 cup plain yogurt (optional) Microwave lentils and 2 cups broth in bowl until lentils are nearly tender and most liquid is absorbed, about 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt butter in Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, ginger, and curry powder and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Stir in microwaved lentil mixture, tomato, and remaining 2 cups broth and simmer until lentils are very tender and flavors meld, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. You may sprinkle individual portions with cilantro and dollop with yogurt before serving.

Nutrition information per serving: 289 calories; 68 calories from fat; 8 g. fat (4 g. saturated; 0 g. trans fats); 17 mg. cholesterol; 305 mg. sodium; 39 g. carbohydrate; 10 g. fiber; 7 g. sugar; 18 g. protein.

Slow cooker minestrone Creating anything garden-fresh in a slow cooker is a tall order, but we were willing to try to beat the odds and develop a recipe for a bright, lively tasting minestrone that married a flavorful tomato broth with fresh vegetables, beans and pasta.

The base of our soup would be our broth, and after microwaving the aromatics we added broth and canned tomato sauce along with carrots and dried beans — both of which could sustain a long stay in a slow cooker.

Sliced zucchini and chopped chard were simply added during the last 20 minutes of cooking, and the precooked pasta was stirred in at the end. Serve with crusty bread to dip into the broth.

Garden minestrone Servings: 6 to 8 Start to finish: 8 to 10 hours on high Slow cooker size: 4 to 7 quarts

1 onion, chopped fine 4 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for serving 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano or 1/2 teaspoon dried 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce 1 cup dried great Northern or cannellini beans, picked over and rinsed 2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces 1/2 cup small pasta, such as ditalini, tubettini, or elbow macaroni Salt and pepper 1 zucchini, quartered lengthwise and sliced 1/4 inch thick 8 ounces Swiss chard, stemmed and sliced 1/2 inch thick 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil Grated Parmesan cheese Microwave onion, garlic, 1 tablespoon oil, oregano and pepper flakes in bowl, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Transfer to slow cooker.

Stir in broth, tomato sauce, beans and carrots. Cover and cook until beans are tender, 8 to 10 hours on high.

Meanwhile, bring 2 quarts water to boil in large saucepan. Add pasta and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and cook, stirring often, until al dente. Drain pasta, rinse with cold water, then toss with remaining 1 teaspoon oil in bowl; set aside.

Stir zucchini and chard into soup, cover, and cook on high until tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Stir in pasta and let sit until heated through, about 5 minutes. Stir in basil and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve, passing Parmesan and extra oil separately.

Nutrition information per serving: 224 calories; 46 calories from fat; 5 g. fat (1 g. saturated; 0 g. trans fats); 1 mg. cholesterol; 601 mg. sodium; 34 g. carbohydrate; 6 g. fiber; 5 g. sugar; 11 g. protein.

For more recipes, cooking tips and ingredient and product reviews from America’s Test Kitchen, visit www.americastestkitchen.com.

— AP

More than a meal

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

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Cayenne can stop bleeding in seconds You read all kinds of things on Dr. — Promised myself I would slow down Google, eh? I know I do while I’m re- in the kitchen searching what I’m going to — Swore like a trucker write for you.

Nothing worked this time, I read some interesting artiand the bleeding was getting cles last year which I made a pretty ugly. But then I rememmental note of. One was about bered the cayenne pepper stocayenne pepper and how it ries I had read on Google. could stop bleeding. I stored I found a bottle of cayenne this fascinating detail in the liquid extract in my supplement back of my mind, should I ever cabinet. I drew up a dropperful cut myself again in the kitchen of the liquid, closed my eyes (which tends to happen more and squeezed it onto my bleedfrequently than I care to admit). DEAR ing finger, waiting for the burn.

PHARMACIST It came to pass one night Nothing happened. I tried again.

By Suzy Cohen when I was in a hurry again. I It was an epic fail. cut myself on an onion. The Then I thought of using the month before it was from cutting bread with actual spice, and rummaged around my a serrated knife that slipped. As a medical spice cabinet to find a jar of powdered professional, you’d think I’d wear gloves or cayenne pepper. slow down!

Mind you, I’m doing this all left-handed I did my usual things: because my husband Sam was too freaked — Held my arm above my head out and more in favor of driving me to an ur— Put an ice cube on it gent care center. But I’m a little doctor-pho— Took a Tylenol to dull the pain bic, so instead, I dumped a generous amount — Squeezed my finger of cayenne pepper onto a paper towel.

— Wrapped it in a cold, wet towel Here’s where I found my bravery, be— Ran around the house yelling, “I’m cause as this is happening, I’m noodling bleeding!” this thought, “Who in their right mind — Prayed would literally pour cayenne pepper onto a — Whined to my husband that I was in a painful, oozing cut?” hurry again But after 30 minutes of fussing with it,

feeling like I have nothing to lose at this point, I went ahead and did the unthinkable. I dipped it!

It stung, no lie. So for the first 15 seconds, I continued ONLY with the last 2 bullets above. But by second 30, the bleeding had almost completely stopped! I couldn’t believe it.

Cayenne pepper has been studied for its medicinal actions on prostate and breast cancer, multiple myeloma, migraines, psoriasis, neuropathy and more. I’ll share

more details if you sign up for my free newsletter at www.SuzyCohen.com.

Note: Peppers are a nightshade, so if you’re allergic to those, please avoid.

In the meantime, start sprinkling cayenne pepper onto your eggs and avocado toast.

But keep it in a safe place in case you need it for a minor finger cut.

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.

8

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

9

Snacks tailor made to help you feel better

By Greg Luna Not all snack attacks are created equal.

Some happen because you’re tired, or can’t sleep, or you have to wait too long until your next meal.

No matter which kind you’re having, there’s an appropriate snack for that. #1: Your head is throbbing, and your stomach is growling.

If you’re having a tension headache and you’re also hungry, try some magnesium.

“Magnesium helps relax blood vessels, which can help relieve tension and pain,” said Keri Glassman, R.D., author of The Snack Factor Diet.

Sweet potatoes are a great source of this mineral, so you can eat one cooked, or try making your own baked sweet potato chips. Cut a sweet potato into thin slices, drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt and bake at 250 F for two hours, flipping once.

No time for that? Try a bowl of magnesium-rich bran flakes with inflammationcalming blueberries, which are high in potassium. #2: You’ll be eating a late dinner, but you’re hungry now.

If you want to tide yourself over without getting overly full, try crunching on celery sticks dipped in hummus, or roasted red peppers with mozzarella and basil.

“Water-dense foods will fill you up and curb your appetite, and protein will keep that feeling going until dinner,” Glassman said. A few endive leaves topped with tuna salad will do the trick, too. #3: You tossed and turned all night, and have a meeting that will run into lunch.

After a healthy breakfast of whole-grain carbs and protein, make sure you have a midmorning snack. Coffee’s the obvious perk-up, and we give you permission to grab a second or third mug (research shows that coffee hydrates you almost as well as water).

Just pair it with food that has fiber and healthy fats, Glassman said. “This will give you a steady flow of energy and help you stay satisfied until you can break for lunch,” she said.

A smart snack is five or six whole-grain crackers (with at least 3 grams fiber per serving) topped with 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter. More options: whole-wheat toast topped with a sliced avocado, or a small handful of nuts. #4: It’s 3 p.m. and your eyelids are heavy, but a nap isn’t in the cards.

“Vitamin C-rich foods will give you the quick energy boost you need until it’s quitting time,” said Dana James, a nutritional therapist and owner of Food Coach NYC.

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Have a cup of sliced papaya with a squeeze of lime juice for an extra dose of C. Other C-rich options include strawberries, or a snack mix of chopped dried apricots and coconut flakes. #5: You can’t sleep because your mind is racing.

“Magnesium is a natural relaxant that encourages a deeper level of sleep,” said James. Drink a glass of warmed almond milk (almonds give it the magnesium) with a few dashes of cinnamon. Or try half a banana drizzled with honey. #6: You’re giving a big presentation in half an hour and feel drained.

You need B vitamins, which will help keep your memory sharp, and zinc to en-

hance mental clarity.

Enjoy a small spinach side salad with pumpkin seeds, which, like most nuts and seeds, are loaded with zinc. It’s nice and light, so you won’t get sluggish.

You can also snack on B-rich pear slices dipped in tahini (a sesame paste you can find in the ethnic aisle of your grocery store), or sesame crackers with guacamole.

— Better Homes and Gardens, a magazine and website devoted to ideas and improvement projects for your home and garden, plus recipes and entertaining ideas. Online at www.bhg.com. © 2018 Meredith Corporation. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Dec. 20

ADVANCE CARE PLANNING HELP

An advance directive is a legal document that assigns your personal health care agent, a person that would speak for you should you be unable to communicate for yourself. A living will also helps communicate your health care wishes. Come and think through your care wishes, complete an advance directive, and electronically store your documents for providers to easily access at this free walk-in program; no registration required. It will be held Thursday, Dec. 20 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Howard County General Hospital Wellness Center Medical Pavilion, Suite 100, 10710 Charter Drive, Columbia. Call (410) 740-7601 for more information.

10

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

TECHNOLOGY SIMPLIFIED – BIGGER AND BETTER

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Have you ever said to yourself “I’d love to get a computer, if only I could figure out how to use it.” Well, you’re not alone. Computers were supposed to make our lives simpler, but they’ve gotten so complicated that they are not worth the trouble. With all of the “pointing and clicking” and “dragging and dropping” you’re lucky if you can figure out where you are. Plus, you are constantly worrying about viruses and freeze-ups. If this sounds familiar, we have great news for you. There is finally a computer that’s designed for simplicity and ease of use. It’s the WOW Computer, and it was designed with you in mind. This computer is easyto-use, worry-free and literally puts

the world at your fingertips. From the moment you open the box, you’ll realize how different the WOW Computer is. The components are all connected; all you do is plug it into an outlet and your high-speed Internet connection.

Then you’ll see the screen – it’s now 22 inches. This is a completely new touch screen system, without the cluttered look of the normal computer screen.

The “buttons” on the screen are easy to see and easy to understand. All you do is touch one of them, from the Web, Email, Calendar to Games– you name it… and a new screen opens up. It’s so easy to use you won’t have to ask your children or grandchildren for help. Until now, the very people who could benefit most from E-mail and the Internet are the ones that have had the hardest time accessing it. Now, thanks to the WOW Computer, countless older Americans are discovering the wonderful world of the Internet every day. Isn’t it time

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

11

Never ignore pain after hip replacement Dear Mayo Clinic: Six years ago, at age 67, I had my right hip replaced. I’d been feeling fine until about eight weeks ago, when it started to hurt toward the front of my hip when I lifted my right leg.

The pain is quite significant — to the point where it hurts every time I get in my car or attempt to put on socks. What could be causing this to happen?

Answer: There are a number of possible reasons for the discomfort you’re experiencing.

It might be a problem with the artificial joint, or you may have an infection. The pain also could be related to a condition called hip flexor tendinitis.

To find out the underlying cause, make an appointment to see your surgeon to have your situation evaluated soon.

Infections and loose implants Hip replacement surgery involves removing the hip joint and replacing it with an artificial joint that typically consists of metal, ceramic and hard plastic. The implants used in hip replacements are made to resist corrosion and wear. For most people who undergo the surgery, hip replacement successfully relieves hip pain and restores hip function.

When, as in your situation, people have pain after the surgery, there’s often an underlying problem that can be diagnosed and effectively resolved if it’s treated promptly.

It’s possible that you’ve developed an infection around the artificial joint. Many infections can be treated effectively with antibiotics. But a major infection near your artificial hip joint may require surgery to remove and replace the joint.

Another potential cause of your pain could be a loose implant. This can happen over time in some cases, but it’s not as common now as it used to be. Today’s technology makes a loose implant less likely than in the past, because many implants used now are designed to grow into the bone.

If your implant has come loose, though, it’s important to have that identified and fixed as soon as possible. As an implant loosens, it tends to rub against the bone.

And that can cause bone loss, making the joint more difficult to repair.

The pain could also be a result of hip flexor tendinitis, also known as psoas tendinitis. Tendinitis is an inflammation or irritation of a tendon. Tendons are the thick, fibrous cords that attach muscle to bone.

In this case, the tendon that’s affected is the psoas — a tendon located in the hip

joint that helps the joint move.

Therapy can help tendinitis Psoas tendinitis often causes pain in the hip, groin and thigh. The pain of psoas tendinitis typically worsens when you lift your leg, or when you walk up steps or get up out of a chair. Patients consistently state that it hurts the most when getting in and out of a vehicle.

Physical therapy may help relieve tendinitis. An injection of corticosteroid medication around the tendon also can be used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. If those treatments are not successful, surgery may be needed.

It’s important that you have your condition assessed as soon as possible to uncover the underlying cause of your hip pain. If you delay in seeking care, additional dam-

age could occur within the hip joint, making treatment more difficult.

If possible, make an appointment for an evaluation with the surgeon who originally performed your hip replacement. If that isn’t an option, ask your healthcare provider to refer you to another surgeon, preferably one who has experience working with hip replacements.

— Rafael J. Sierra, M.D., Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to MayoClinicQ&A @mayo.edu. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org. © 2018 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Nov. 19+

CHAIR EXERCISES AT BAIN CENTER

A 30-minute, twice weekly exercise session with participants seated in chairs starts Monday, Nov. 19 at the Bain 50+ Center, with instructor Christy Erwin of Howard Community College. The class will focus on strengthening muscles, promoting flexibility and improving balance. Classes are held from 10:55 to 11:25 a.m. Mondays and Fridays beginning Nov. 19 and ending Dec. 21. The cost is $20. The center is located at 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. For questions or to register, call (443) 518-1700 or visit howardcc.edu.

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Choose the right mental health provider

By Dr. Adam P. Stern When faced with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety or other symptoms of the mind and brain, it can be difficult to know where to find the best care.

In part, the challenge of finding the right professional for you stems from the highly variable manner in which mental health concerns can emerge.

One person’s depression, for example, may be very different than someone else’s, and the same can be said for anxiety, post-traumat-

ic stress, obsessionality, attentional issues, substance use disorders and even psychosis.

There are also lots of different kinds of mental health providers out there doing all kinds of distinct clinical work. It can be intimidating to even know where to start searching for help. But often, telling your primary care doctor about your symptoms, and if necessary asking for a referral to a specialist, is a good place to begin.

If your doctor determines that specialized care is needed, you may be referred

to a psychiatrist who can do a global assessment of your clinical needs.

It may be the case that you will benefit most from an integrated treatment approach that features both psychotherapy and medications, or you may be referred primarily to one treatment or another.

Here’s some additional information about the different kinds of mental health providers and the treatments they offer to help diagnose and treat psychiatric issues.

Psychiatrists

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Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have graduated from medical school and completed at least four years of additional specialized training, through residency and often fellowship, in the medical treatment of mental disorders.

Because of their advanced medical training, psychiatrists are able to prescribe medicine, and also have at least basic training in most evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches.

Some choose to see patients for medication management only, while others focus on therapy, and still others integrate both approaches into the same clinical sessions.

Also, psychiatrists are generally the only mental health providers who can perform electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, or other neuromodulatory treatments that use devices to noninvasively stimulate the brain in severe or medication-resistant cases.

Some psychiatrists still practice traditional psychoanalysis involving multiple sessions “on the couch” each week. But this kind of approach has become less available and less common in recent years, in part because insurances generally do not cover it,

and because in order to practice it providers must complete additional psychoanalytic training for several years after residency.

Often, psychiatric nurse practitioners or other appropriately trained “physician extenders” can take on the traditional role of a psychiatrist, though it is important that they have access to adequate supervision, particularly for complex cases.

Therapists and counselors Many other types of professionals can provide the variety of psychotherapeutic approaches used in the treatment of mental health disorders.

Therapists who have obtained Ph.D. or Psy.D. degrees with a focus in clinical psychology, for example, have perhaps the most extensive training in providing talk therapy, including psychodynamic or “insight-oriented” therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy and others.

Clinical social workers and mental health counselors may also have excellent training in particular therapeutic areas that can be very helpful to patients.

Therapists and counselors may even offer some therapies, such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, that psychiatrists generally have less experience with.

In each of these areas, it is important to remember that there is a spectrum of quality, and so it is essential for people with mental health concerns to find well-trained and credentialed providers that seem to be a good fit with them individually.

Adam P. Stern, M.D., is a contributor to Harvard Health Publications. © 2018. President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed

by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Dec. 12

USING GOOGLE FOR GENEALOGY

There are many ways Google can be helpful in genealogical research. Learn about the three most beneficial search types in this class on Wednesday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ellicott City 50+ Center, 9401 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. To learn more, call (410) 313-1400.

Dec. 15+

GENEALOGY RESEARCH HELP

Howard County Genealogical Society representatives are available the third Saturday of each month at the Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City, to help with your research questions. For more information, call (410) 381-7899.

Dec. 16

FREE SACRED AND SECULAR HOLIDAY CONCERT

“Holidays, Holy Days…Hollywood” will be presented Sunday, Dec. 16 at 4 p.m. at St. Louis Church, 12500 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville.

The free concert will feature Treble Choirs of youth from local schools, as well as the church’s choir, orchestra and guest artists. Music selections include sacred and commercial music written for the feasts and festivities of the season. To learn more, visit www.stlconcertseries.org or call (410) 531-6040.

Dec. 6

HOLIDAY POTLUCK

Columbia Community Exchange will hold a potluck reception on Thursday, Dec. 6 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Columbia Art Center, 6100 Foreland Garth, Columbia. Attendees should bring an appetizer to share, wear festive attire, and RSVP at CCEpotluck.eventbrite.com by Saturday, Dec. 1. For more information, call (410) 884-6121 or visit CommunityExchange@ColumbiaAssociation.org

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

13

How to avoid unwanted X-rated lunches Dear Solutions: mitted relationship for many years. woman would be glad to hear. Be- However, to the widow just say, “I’m sorry I’ve become ver y friendly with a We live in a community where there cause we are in a tightknit community you don’t have a man in your life right now, woman who moved into are many widowed women and are often in social settings togeth- but the man I live with is not up for grabs, town recently. She’s di— many more than single er, I have said nothing to her. But I’m so CUT IT OUT!” Then smile and move vorced. Not too long ago men. One of these women, a tired of feeling that women think they on. she met a man, and she’s widow, has been “coming can step on another woman, and she © Helen Oxenberg, 2018. Questions to be been going out with him a on” to my guy. She has been will not say anything. considered for this column may be sent to: lot and having a lot of sexudoing this for years, and it’s What to say to her, if anything?

The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, al experiences. very obvious.

— Enough! MD 20915. You may also email the author She asks me to have Of course, it’s very flat- Dear Enough! at helox72@comcast.net. To inquire about lunch with her very often, tering to a man, and alActually, “Enough!” is the right answer. reprint rights, call (609) 655-3684. and constantly discusses though he has assured me BEACON BITS her sexual activity with her over and over that he SOLUTIONS boyfriend in detail. We’re doesn’t want me to leave HEALTHY HOLIDAY BAKING TIPS both seniors, and I’m em- By Helen Oxenberg, him and he’s where he Learn how to enjoy many holiday treats while consuming fewer MSW, ACSW barrassed by all this. wants to be and is not calories and less fat in this nutrition talk on Thursday, Dec. 6 at 11 a.m. at the I’m not married and not going anywhere, I guess interested, although I like her when it’s too tempting for him not to react in Ellicott City 50+ Center, 9401 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. To learn more, call she’s not talking that way. How can I some way. It’s very seductive.

(410) 313-1400. get her to stop and still be friendly?

This has caused some very disturb— Anne ing arguments, which I’m sure that Dear Anne: Tell her you’re too young to go to an Xrated lunch!

MOST Explain that you feel as though COMMUNITIE you’re in bed with her and her boyfriend, S and you’re really not interested in a méA R E 6 2 A ND nage a trois. You prefer to choose your B ET T ER own bed partners, and right now that’s you alone.

After that, go on to other subjects reassuring her that you enjoy her company and ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.) would like to keep meeting with her. But The Greens at Hammonds Lane: 410-636-1141 Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673 let her know that if she doesn’t clean up Park View at Furnace Branch: 410-761-4150 Park View at Rosedale: 410-866-1886 her act, she’ll have to leave town and take Park View at Severna Park: 410-544-3411 Park View at Taylor: 410-663-0363 it on the road.

Dear Solutions: Park View at Towson: 410-828-7185 BALTIMORE CITY I don’t know how to get out of this Park View at Woodlawn: 410-281-1120 dilemma. I’m a senior and widowed Ednor Apartments I: 410-243-0180 now, and I’d like to have dinner with EASTERN SHORE Ednor Apartments II: 410-243-4301 friends rather than eat alone.

Park View at Easton: 410-770-3070 The Greens at Irvington Mews: 410-644-4487 Some of those friends are women Park Heights Place: 410-578-3445 I’m not interested in romantically but HARFORD COUNTY would enjoy having dinner with once Park View at Ashland Terrace: 410-276-6440 Park View at Bel Air: 410-893-0064 in a while. If I ask them to have dinner Park View at Coldspring: 410-542-4400 with me, am I expected to pay? If not, Park View at Box Hill: 410-515-6115 how do I get this idea across to them?

BALTIMORE COUNTY HOWARD COUNTY — Phil Cove Point Apartments I: 410-288-2344 Dear Phil: Park View at Colonial Landing: 410-796-4399 Cove Point Apartments II: 410-288-1660 I’m afraid you’ll have to use the “C” Park View at Columbia: 410-381-1118 Evergreen Senior Apartments: 410-780-4888 word. I know it has been banned in many Park View at Ellicott City: 410-203-9501 places and is often replaced with “magical The Greens at English Counsul: 410-789-3000 Park View at Ellicott City: II 410-203-2096 thinking,” but it’s time to bring it back and The Greens at Liberty Road: 410-655-1100 use it.

Park View at Emerson: 301-483-3322 The Greens at Logan Field: 410-288-2000 The word is “communication”! ShockPark View at Snowden River: 410-290-0384 The Greens at Rolling Road: 410-744-9988 ing, but not actually vulgar, it has often been used to straighten out and clarify Park View at Catonsville: 410-719-9464 PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY misunderstandings.

Park View at Dundalk: 410-288-5483 Park View at Bladensburg: 301-699-9785 • 55 & Better Say, honestly, “I really consider you a Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665 Park View at Laurel: 301-490-1526 friend, and would like to have dinner with Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375 you once in a while. Can we do this as Park View at Laurel II: 301-490-9730 equals and each pay for ourselves? I would enjoy your company.”

At least then it’s not a multiple choice dilemma — just a “yes” or “no” will do.

Dear Solutions: At this age, I shouldn’t be as upset as I feel about this problem, but I am, and I need help to deal with it.

I’m not married anymore, but I’ve been living with a widower in a comMOST COMMUNITIES ARE PET-FRIENDLY

Dec. 6

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Introducing the future of personal transportation.

It’s not a Wheelchair...

It’s not a Power Chair...

It’s a Zinger Chair!

10”

The Zinger folds to a mere 10 inches.

More and more Americans are reaching the age where mobility is an everyday concern. Whether from an injury or from the aches and pains that come from getting older– getting around isn’t as easy as it used to be. You may have tried a power chair or a scooter. The Zinger is NOT a power chair or a scooter! The Zinger is quick and nimble, yet it is not prone to tipping like many scooters. Best of all, it weighs only 47.2 pounds and folds and unfolds with ease. You can take it almost anywhere, providing you with independence and freedom.

Years of work by innovative engineers have resulted in a mobility device that’s truly unique. They created a battery that provides powerful energy at a fraction of the weight of most batteries. The Zinger features two steering levers, one on either side of the seat. The user pushes both levers down to go forward, pulls them both up to brake, and pushes one while pulling the other to turn to either side.

This enables great mobility, the ability to turn on a dime and to pull right up to tables or desks. The controls are

right on the steering lever so it’s simple to operate and its exclusive footrest swings out of the way when you stand up or sit down. With its rugged yet lightweight aluminum frame, the Zinger is sturdy and durable yet convenient and comfortable! What’s more, it easily folds up for storage in a car seat or trunk– you can even gate-check it at the airport like a stroller. Think about it, you can take your Zinger almost anywhere, so you don’t have to let mobility issues rule your life. It folds in seconds without tools and is safe and reliable. It holds up to 265 pounds, and it goes up to 6 mph and operates for up to 8 hours on a single charge.

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon

50+

THE

15

NEWS and EVENTS from the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence

Connection

Department of Community Resources and Services

Volume 8, No. 12 • December 2018

Crawley to Lead the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence

J

enna Crawley, the new administrator of the Office on Aging and Independence, has spent her career serving children, families and older adults. She was inspired to pursue a career in social work when volunteering as a college student with children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in Washington, D.C. Her interest in families, health, and social disparities has influenced her career path and ultimately led her to work with underserved and vulnerable populations across the lifespan. Jenna has worked in both the private and public sectors providing direct care, advocacy, program development, and leadership. The bulk of her career has focused on older adults who utilize home and community-based services.

“I deeply believe in meeting people where they are, understanding their strengths, challenges, wishes and desires and creating change together.” Over the course of her career, Jenna has applied this approach to not only working with individuals and families, but also in building and facilitating community-based collaborations and partnerships. In her role as chief social worker with MedStar Health’s Washington Hospital Center’s Medical House Call Program, she designed and implemented social work interventions for frail, homebound elders to support aging in place. “To have the opportunity to be a part of an innovative, mission-driven team serving often medically and socially complex individuals in their homes was truly life-changing for me,” she remembers.

I deeply believe in meeting people where they are, understanding their strengths, challenges, wishes and desires and creating change together.

Most recently, she led the District of Columbia’s Department of Health Care Finance’s Long-Term Care Administration’s Operations Division where she oversaw the daily operations of Medicaid-funded long term services and supports. In this role, she partnered with the Office on Aging, advocates, providers, and stakeholders to streamline access, promote efficiency and effective delivery of services and increase quality of care provided.

“Jenna brings a tremendous depth of experience and expertise to the department,” said Howard County Executive Allan H. Kittleman, who announced her appointment, effective October 29. “The development of our Community Resources Campus and our commitment to bring non-profit, county and state agencies together has improved the delivery of human services in Howard County. Under Jenna’s leadership, OAI will focus on making these services stronger and more effective for older adults and adults with disabilities in Howard County.”

“Jenna’s wealth of experience and her commitment to meeting the needs of underserved populations will increase access to resources and provide support where it is needed the most,” said Jackie Scott, director of the

— Jenna Crawley

continued on next page MILESTONES OF SERVICE Waverly Woods resident, LEO ST. CYR, has been providing transportation for Howard County seniors as a Neighbor Ride volunteer driver since July 2010. On October 31, he completed his 1,000th ride, taking a Neighbor Ride client to the Howard County Community Resources Campus in Columbia, a co-location of key service agencies, providing single-stop, improved access to a variety of critical services, which help improve the quality of life for the County’s most vulnerable residents.

Leo, who worked for Northrop Grumman for 40 years before retiring in 2007, has driven over 40,000 miles in service to his Howard County neighbors.

Thanks to his volunteer commitment, 502 older adults received safe transport to dialysis and other medical appointments, and were able to go shopping, enjoy social outings and more. According to Neighbor Ride, “Leo has always stepped up to take the more difficult rides to fill, including longer rides to hospitals and other destinations in Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Montgomery Counties.”

16

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The 50+ Connection

Don’t Fall for the Latest Gift Card Scam

By Rebecca Bowman, Administrator Howard County Office of Consumer Protection

Are gift cards on your holiday shopping list?

Beware of a new scam that could turn your generous gifts into useless pieces of plastic!

Here’s how the latest scam works. You receive a gift card from a friend, colleague or family member. When you go to use the gift, the card gets declined. There is a strong liklihood that, before the card’s purchase, someone (a scammer) took the card off the rack at a retail location, wrote down the card number, scratched off and recorded the security codes from the back of the card. In some cases, the scammers replace the security strip on the card to hide their tracks.

Software makes it easy for scammers to check balances online so they know when the card has been activated. The scammer then drains the funds through online purchases. Sadly, many gift card sellers refuse to provide refunds even if you have the receipt and proof of activation.

While detecting this scam can be very challenging, there are several steps you can take to proactively protect yourself and your gift recipient: • Look for gift cards with packaging difficult to deface and inspect each one thoroughly. If there are any signs of tearing or peeling, or if it is not in perfect condition, do not make that purchase.

• If you must purchase a gift card without security packaging, carefully inspect the foil tape over the PIN or activation codes.

Don’t purchase a card if the tape is crooked, too large, or appears to have been reapplied.

• Consider buying gift cards online where scammers are less likely to have access. For more security, order gift cards from merchants’ official websites, not third party sources.

• Keep your receipt, and give it to the gift card recipient. If the card has been compromised, having the receipt gives the recipient some negotiation power.

• If you spot someone copying down numbers at a retail location, report them to security immediately.

If you purchase a gift card that’s been compromised, or have questions about this and other consumer issues, contact us at 410-313-6420 (voice/relay) or www.howardcountymd.gov/consumer.

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Crawley Chosen to Lead OAI continued from previous page Department of Community Resources and Services, which includes the OAI. “As administrator, her leadership will improve the overall quality of life for older adults and their families in Howard County.”

As a resident of Ellicott City for the past five years and mom to three school-aged children who are active in sports and scouting, Jenna is especially happy to be working closer to home. “By working in and with the Howard County community, I can make a positive impact, and further the goal of creating an age-friendly community that is capable and ready to serve a diverse and growing population,” Jenna said. “It is a real gift to share service with my local community and to model how to give back as a public service employee for my children,” she said.

During her first month at OAI, Jenna’s plans include visits to the County’s six 50+ Centers to gain an understanding of each unique site, the individuals and groups served, programming, and overall value in the surrounding communities. She is also looking forward to attending community events such as the recent caregiver conference and annual Thanksgiving Banquet.

“As OAI’s administrator, I want to meet and talk with community members directly and hear firsthand their views on what the office is doing well and how we can work together to address the needs and issues of our community going forward,” she explains. Jenna will also work closely with the Commission on Aging to ensure the OAI collectively promotes successful aging for all county residents.

FOR THE HOLIDAYS Monticello: Tour and Holiday Wreath Workshop Discover the home of our third President, Thomas Jefferson. Following a mountaintop tour, enjoy a scenic lunch and staff-lead holiday wreath workshop. All materials are provided, bring hand pruners.

18 yrs + Bain 50 + Ctr/Long Gate Park & Ride RP4523.101 Nov 29 6:30am-6pm Th $200

The Kennedy Center: Ballet West's The Nutcracker Ballet West returns for the D.C. premiere of its whimsical new production of The Nutcracker. Featuring fantastical sets and costumes alongside Tchaikovsky’s cherished score, this Nutcracker is a glittering, larger-than life adventure.

16 yrs + Bain 50 + Ctr/Long Gate Park & Ride RP4527.101 Dec 8 Noon-6pm Sa $175

Ford's Theater: A Christmas Carol The 50+ Connection is published monthly by the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence.

This publication is available in alternate formats upon request.

To join our subscriber list, email kahenry@howardcountymd.gov

Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future at historic Ford’s Theater as they lead Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption.

16 yrs + Bain 50 + Ctr/Long Gate Park & Ride RP4528.101 Dec 15 Sa $140

9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046 410-313-6410 (VOICE/RELAY) • www.howardcountymd.gov/aging Find us on

www.Facebook.com/HoCoCommunity

Kim Higdon Henry, Editor • Email: kahenry@howardcountymd.gov Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the Office on Aging and Independence or by the publisher.

Registration: 410-313-7275, www.howardcountymd.gov/rap Info: Tracy Adkins, 410-313-7279 or tadkins@howardcountymd.gov

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

The 50+ Connection

Say you saw it in the Beacon

17

2018 The Howard County Office on Aging and Independence is collecting new donated items for low-income seniors who reside in assisted living facilities and in the community. The Office of Children and Families is also collecting new gift items, including books and toys for families in need with children ages 0 to 5 years old.

The wish list for the children and adults include: • • • • • •

Body Lotion Body Wash Books (ages 0-5) Deodorant Hair Brushes Hair Conditioner

• • • • •

Scarves Shampoo Shaving Cream Slipper Socks Socks

• • • • •

Toothbrushes Toothpaste Toiletry Gift Sets Throw Blankets Toys (ages 0-5)

Donations will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. December 10 at Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services 9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046 FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Tomiko Thomas 410-313-6542 (VOICE/RELAY) tthomas@howardcountymd.govv

Tuesday, December 4 • 6 to 8 pm Elkridge 50+ Center 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge 21075 FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER

410-313-5192 (VOICE/RELAY)

www.howardcountymd.gov/communityresources

GivingProjects 2018 The ELLICOTT CITY 50+ CENTER sponsors several Giving Projects throughout the holidays to help our friends in need.

Donations will be accepted at the center (9401 Frederick Road, Ellicott City) through Thursday, December 20.

Be heard. (even when you can’t speak for yourself).

Speak(easy) Howard’s focus is helping you talk about your preferences for medical care and name the person who will make medical decisions for you if you can’t.

Visit SpeakEasyHoward.org for more information.

A community initiative of

Ronald McDonald House of Baltimore REQUESTED ITEMS — gift cards for residents (Amazon, Target, Walmart, Royal Farms, Wawa, Costco, Sam’s Club, Home Depot); single serving snacks; condiments (ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, peanut butter, salad dressing); AA and D batteries; paper towels; liquid handwashing soap.

Please also save and donate pull tabs from soda, beer and canned foods. Listed items only, please!

Small Miracles Cat and Dog Rescue A monetary donation is the best and most direct way to help the animals housed at Small Miracles, allowing the shelter to use donations to meet specific needs (i.e., food, litter, blankets, toys; veterinary supplies; and/or miscellaneous operational costs).

Make checks payable to "SMCDR" and mail to: Small Miracles Cat & Dog Rescue, 10236 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042. Or, drop off to the shelter during adoption hours. Visit www.smallmiraclesrescue.org or call 410-461-0516.

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HoCoCommunity Stay connected to the Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services. Like us today!

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The 50+ Connection

2019 Resource Guide Now Available!

Copies are available from the Office on Aging and Independence (OAI); at any of the OAI 50+ Centers; and at all Howard County Library locations.

Or, contact Maryland Access Point (MAP) at 410-313-1234 (voice/relay) or map@howardcountymd.gov to have one sent to you.

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

FINAL TOPICS and DATES of the 2018 SERIES!

Tuesday, December 4 Senior Health Insurance Basics Tuesday, December 11 Safeguards to Avoid Fraud, Abuse and Exploitation

howardcountymd.gov/aging

Are You the Parent of a Child with Disabilities?

T

he Caregiver Support Program of the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence is excited to offer Powerful Tools for Caregivers (PTC), an evidence-based program designed with the parent’s well-being in mind.

This six-week series of two-hour classes offers parents opportunities to explore a variety of self-care tools in a supportive environment, designed to help you: • reduce personal stress • change negative self-talk • communicate more effectively in challenging situations • manage your emotions • make tough caregiving decisions

January 15 thru February 19, 2019 6:00 to 8:00 PM — SIX CONSECUTIVE TUESDAYS —

Ellicott City 50+ Center 9401 Frederick Road, Ellicott City 21042

6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

East Columbia Library 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia 21045 REGISTER AT www.50futuresplanningseries.eventbrite.com ADMISSION IS FREE. For more information, contact Becky Sieck at 410-997-0610 or info@cogsmd.org

Help usCelebrate the Spirit of the Holidays!

Paws4Comfort is accepting new gift donations for the residents of Lorien Nursing Home.

Suggested items: shawls, scarves, puzzle books, small stuffed animals, lap blankets, jigsaw puzzles, and socks.

Gifts may be dropped off at Bain 50+ Center in the “LORIEN” box no later than December 11. Thank you!

Last Evaluation Date of 2018 Thursday, December 6 Bain 50+ Center 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia 21044

$

—

30 fee covers all materials FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER

—

Kathy Wehr CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM MANAGER 410-313-5955 (VOICE/RELAY) kwehr@howardcountymd.gov

Ingrid Gleysteen PROGRAM COORDINATOR

410-313-7461 If you are the parent of a child with disabilities, we encourage you to register today! Our goal is to improve the lives of parents (and ultimately their children) through outreach, conversation, training and resources.

igleysteen@howardcountymd.gov

www.howardcountymd.gov/paws

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

19

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY How to prepare your emergency go-bag with food, water, medications, important documents and more TEST-DRIVE A SALESPERSON Choose a car sales person who responds quickly, is a good listener, and has excellent knowledge of the cars you’re interested in DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS Giving appreciated stocks to these funds will save money on your taxes

When couples shouldn’t retire together

By Liz Weston Women who retire when their husbands do may be giving up more wealth than they realize.

Married women overall are still in their peak earning years in their 50s and early 60s, while married men’s earnings are on the decline, said economist Nicole Maestas, an associate professor of healthcare policy at Harvard Medical School and the author of a recent study about couples’ income and retirement patterns.

As a result, married women typically sacrifice more Social Security wealth than married men when they retire early, said Maestas, who analyzed the University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Survey of more than 20,000 people 50 and older.

Social Security benefits are based on a person’s 35 highest-earning years, so each additional year an older married woman works could replace an earlier year when her income was lower or she took time out of the workforce — for instance, to raise children. Because older married men are typically past their peak earning years, the same is not true for them, Maestas found.

But women do typically retire at the

same time as their husbands, Maestas said. Since women in heterosexual couples typically marry men two or three years older, that means married women leave the workforce at younger ages.

Women have more to lose Earlier retirements also mean less time to save for retirements that can stretch decades. That should give women pause, said Jean Setzfand, senior vice president of programs for AARP. “We live longer. We spend more years in retirement. There are more years we have to consider financing,” Setzfand said.

Women’s longer life expectancies mean they’re likely to outlive their husbands, and they’re at greater risk of outliving their savings. Women are 80 percent more likely than men to live in poverty after age 65, according to the National Institute on Retirement Security.

Social Security checks, if they’re big enough, can be a powerful antidote to latein-life poverty. Social Security benefits can’t be outlived, reduced by stock market downturns, or stolen by fraudsters, Maestas noted.

Delay Social Security People don’t have to claim Social Security when they retire, although many do. In 2017, 39 percent of women and 35 percent of men filed at the earliest age, which is 62, according to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. That locks them into checks that are significantly smaller than if they’d waited a few more years.

Benefits rise by about 7 percent each year between age 62 and full retirement age, which is currently 66. After that, checks increase by 8 percent each year until benefits max out at age 70. A $1,000 monthly benefit at 62 could be over $1,300 at 66 and over $1,700 at 70, even if someone stops working.

No other investment can offer that kind of guaranteed return, which is why planners often encourage their clients to tap other retirement funds if that allows them to delay claiming Social Security.

It’s not just about money Financial considerations are just one part of the decision, financial planners say.

Couples also have to consider the emotional and psychological issues of retiring to-

gether or apart.

“The beginning of retirement is an exciting time, and many couples enjoy starting that journey together,” said Stephanie Mushna, a certified financial planner in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

People approaching retirement age are often keenly aware that their time on earth, and their good health, won’t last forever.

That can make it harder to stick it out at work, especially if it’s at a job they don’t like.

But working even a year or two longer can have a dramatic impact on the viability of a couple’s financial plan, and the amount they can spend in retirement, planners say.

Other options are stepping down to a lower-stress job or one with more flexibility.

Instead of traveling full time with a retired spouse, wives may be able to schedule some extended vacations, Setzfand suggested.

That assumes, of course, that women can find such jobs. Many of the women who will be most dependent on Social Security may be locked into jobs with little flexibility, she said. Health concerns and caregiving for family members also can See RETIRING TOGETHER, page 20

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

How to prepare your emergency go-bag

By Melissa Kossler Dutton Heather Kretzer, a health consultant for the Florida Department of Health in Panama City, lives near the water. However, the most recent call for an evacuation in her area wasn’t because of a hurricane but rather because of an active shooter.

The incident, which did not result in any bystanders being injured but did lead to the temporary evacuation of an apartment complex, drove home to Kretzer the need for all families to have a survival bag they

can grab in an emergency.

“You can be asked to evacuate your home for a number of emergencies — often with little warning and limited time to gather your possessions,” she said.

No area in the country is immune from disaster and unexpected evacuation, said Jim Judge, emergency management director for Volusia County, Florida, and a member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council. Threats range from weather concerns and wildfires, to haz-

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ardous material spills and police matters.

Having a pre-packed bag or bin ready will help reduce the stress of a stressful situation, said Stuart Warshaw, whose company, VLESdesigns, sells stocked emergency bags. He and other safety experts also recommend having a plan about how to evacuate and where to go.

“You need a cool head when there’s little time and potentially critical decisions to make,” he said.

His bag includes wheels so it can be rolled through urban areas or airports, and it also has straps and a waist belt so it can be worn as a backpack.

Some families prefer an old suitcase or plastic tub stored under a bed or in a closet, Judge said. A duffle bag also works well, Kretzer said.

The contents of your kit should help you survive up to three days, she said. Be sure to think about every member of the family, including pets.

“It’s like going camping — all the things you need to take with you,” Judge said.

What to pack Kretzer, Judge and Warshaw offered the following suggestions on what to include in an emergency bag: Food and water Remember that supplies should last the entire family three days. That includes 1 gallon of water per person per day. Include nonperishable food that requires no water or cooking. Don’t forget plates, silverware and a manual can opener. Protein bars make a good emergency food, Kretzer said.

Tip: Warshaw recommends water purification tablets in case the water supply becomes tainted.

Personal needs This includes eyeglasses, contact solution, hygiene supplies, and prescription and over-the-counter medicines that are taken regularly. If you have a young child, include diapers, baby food and formula.

Tip: If you are unable to pack prescription medications, tape a note to the bag reminding you to grab them, or prepare a checklist of last-minute additions that’s kept with the bag.

Clothing Three days’ worth for every member of your family.

Tip: Include sturdy shoes and hats.

Safety supplies A go-bag should include a first aid kit, flashlight, extra batteries, matches in a waterproof container and a whistle. It also may be helpful to have strong tape, plastic sheeting and a few tools.

Tip: Remove the batteries from the flashlight and other items to avoid corrosion.

Communications tools The power may be out, so a battery-operated or hand-crank radio is essential, Judge said. Two-way radios also will be useful. Pack phone cords and chargers to use once power is restored.

Tip: Consider identifying an out-of-town relative as a contact point for everyone in the family, to relay important messages and updates.

Paperwork/cash Either include copies of birth certificates, IDs, insurance policies and prescriptions in the kit, or save encrypted copies/photos of them on a secure online storage spot.

A map with evacuation routes highlighted also will be helpful. Make sure you have cash — preferably smaller bills — in the kit, in case the power is out and you can’t use credit cards and ATMs. Tip: Print out a list of important phone numbers in case you can’t access the contact list in your phone.

Creature comforts Consider taking blankets and pillows to make your stay at a shelter or other evacuation location more comfortable. Add a deck of cards, books, some games or other things that could amuse children in a shelter or hotel room.

Pet plans If you will be evacuating with a pet, identify in advance what shelters allow them, advises Pet Sitters International. Pack a copy of veterinary and vaccination records, pet food, water bowl and leash.

Tip: Be sure you have the right size carrier to transport your pet to a shelter.

For more information: http://www.redcross.org/flash/brr/En glish-html/kit-contents.asp https://www.ready.gov/kids/build-a-kit http://www.redcross.org/gethelp/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/survival-kit-supplies https://vlesdesigns.com/pages/all— products — AP

Retiring together

working. But she hopes her research will at least prompt couples to discuss their options.

“It often does make sense to at least delay claiming Social Security,” Maestas said. “But there’s not really one right answer for everyone.”

— NerdWallet via AP

From page 19 push women out of the workforce earlier than they expect.

Maestas understands that not every married woman wants or will be able to keep

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

21

You can test-drive your car salesperson

By Philip Reed If you work with a good car salesperson, the shopping process can actually be fun, and you’ll be more confident you’re getting a good deal.

Unfortunately, most people think they have to stick with whichever salesperson latches onto them first, even if they begin to feel pressured, intimidated or misled.

But car buyers can and should test-drive, or vet, their salesperson — and be willing to switch if needed.

‘Qualify’ your salesperson “I can’t imagine buying a car from someone I didn’t think would take care of me,” said Matt Jones, a former car salesman who’s now a senior consumer advice editor at car site Edmunds.com. Furthermore, Jones said, a good salesperson can alert you to special offers and “push the needle” when it comes to getting a better price.

“Most people don’t realize they have control over which salesman they work with,” said Oren Weintraub, who negotiates and buys cars for his clients as president of Authority Auto in Tarzana, California.

He recommends that shoppers “qualify” salespeople — a popular sales term — similar to the way they qualify you when they ask probing questions about your job and your budget.

What to look for Here’s what these car-buying experts recommend you look for in a salesperson — and the red flags to watch out for.

Car buyers should look for those who: — are highly recommended. Since

receptionists at dealerships see everything that goes on, Jones said you can call them and “ask ‘who is the best, most knowledgeable car salesman?’” Other ways to find the right fit are to check Yelp reviews or visit the “About Us” page on the dealership’s site.

— respond quickly. Calling before you go into the dealership gives you a chance to establish a rapport with your salesperson, according to Jones. Or, you can text a question and see how quickly they reply — ideally, within the hour. Then, if you want to move forward, schedule a test drive and ask them to pull the car out and have it ready, Weintraub suggested.

— are expert listeners. Your car salesperson should understand your needs and wants, and meet them. It may sound obvious, but many salespeople try to sell you a more expensive car or whatever they happen to have on the lot. As a test, ask them a question and carefully listen to the response. If they directly answer your question, you’re on the right track.

— have excellent product knowledge. If you ask how much horsepower a car delivers, and the salesperson says, “I think it’s…,” beware, said Weintraub.

However, it’s acceptable to hear, “I’m not sure — but I’ll get you the answer right away.”

ter approach is a polite greeting and introduction, along with: “So, how can I help you?”

— create false urgency. Once you’re physically on the lot, salespeople try to turn you into a “today buyer” using every trick in the book. A favorite is, “We had three people look at this car earlier today.

It won’t be here if you leave now.”

— try to check your credit before a test drive. Some salespeople say they’re required to run a credit report before you test-drive a car. This isn’t true. And it should be cause to avoid this salesperson and, perhaps, the dealership.

“Never let them run your credit until you’re ready to buy a specific car,” Weintraub advised. However, asking to see your driver’s license before a test drive is a legitimate request.

— don’t pay attention. If your salesperson is taking calls, texting or joking with buddies on the lot, watch out. As

Jones pointed out: “When you’re about to spend 35 grand, the salesman in front of you should be totally dialed in with you and your needs.”

Switching to a new salesperson If your salesperson shows one of these red flags, or you simply don’t feel a rapport, it’s time to ask for the sales manager.

“It’s never a bad idea to get upper management involved,” Weintraub said. “You with your guy and ask for a more knowledgeable salesman.”

Jones added, “This happens all the time, and they’re ready to deal with it rather than have you walk.”

Ultimately, you should have a basic level of trust and confidence in your salesperson since a considerable amount of money is at stake, Weintraub said. But, of course, you still need to stay alert. As the old saying goes, trust but verify.

— Nerdwallet via AP

Red flags to watch out for On the other hand, car shoppers should avoid salespeople who: — use cheesy sales lines. “Are you folks here to buy a car today?” Classic lines like this, designed to trap you into making a specific response, should put you on guard immediately, Weintraub said. A bet-

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Dec. 11

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM IDENTITY THEFT

Being proactive in protecting your identity can pay off down the road. Get tips and tools to help you avoid identity theft, and to deal with the consequences should you become a victim. This free seminar takes place on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Elkridge 50+ Center, 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. For more information, call (410) 313-5192.

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Why give stock to a donor-advised fund?

By Kimberly Lankford What are the benefits of giving appreciated stock to a donor-advised fund if I don’t plan to itemize my deductions this year?

Answer: Giving appreciated stock to a donor-advised fund — or directly to a charity — gives you a tax benefit even if you

don’t itemize. By doing so, you avoid having to pay taxes on the capital gains that have accumulated through the years.

If you choose to sell the stock and write a check to the charity instead, you’ll have to pay capital gains taxes. (If the stock has lost money, however, it’s usually better to sell it first and then write a check to the

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

DROP-IN DRAWING SESSIONS

The Howard County Arts Council provides live models for artists of all skill levels to sharpen their figure drawing skills on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $10 per session; $50 per six-week session. Figure model sessions featuring a nude model meet on Tuesdays from 7 to 10 p.m. for a fee of $14 ($70 for six sessions). All sessions are held at the Howard County Center for the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Rd., Ellicott City. For more information, call (410) 313-2787 or go to hocoarts.org.

fund or charity, so you can benefit from the capital loss.)

Also, giving appreciated securities to a donor-advised fund rather than directly to a charity will make it easier to spread your contributions to more charities over a longer time period. You can make your contribution now, then have an unlimited amount of time to decide which charities to support.

How it works You technically “recommend” that the donor-advised fund makes the grants to the charities, but grant recommendations are generally approved as long as the charity is an eligible 501(c)(3) organization (the IRS designation for a tax-exempt charitable organization). You can usually make grants to charities that are as little as $50 or as large as your account balance.

New device stops a cold before it starts New research shows you can stop a cold in its tracks if you take one simple !"#$%&!'$($)"%$*"+&,"$%'")$-./$01 !$2""3$ a cold coming on.

Colds start when cold viruses get in your nose. Viruses multiply fast. If you don’t stop them early, they spread in your airways and cause misery.

But scientists have found a quick way to kill a virus. Touch it with copper. Researchers at labs and universities agree, copper is “antimicrobial.” It kills microbes, such as viruses and bacteria, just by touch.

That’s why ancient Greeks and Egyptians used copper to purify water and heal wounds. That’s why Hippocrates, the “father of modern medicine”, used copper to heal skin ulcers, and why Civil War doctors used it to prevent infection of bat!3"0"3*$%./)* 4$5'"-$*&*)6!$7).%$(8./!$ viruses and bacteria, but now we do.

Scientists say the high conductance of copper disrupts the electrical balance in a microbe cell and destroys the cell in seconds.

Tests by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show copper surfaces kill germs that are left on them. That way the next person to touch that surface does not spread the germ. As a result of this new knowledge, some hospitals switched to copper for various touch surfaces, like faucets and doorknobs. This cut the spread of MRSA and other illnesses by over half, and saved lives.

5'"$ !1.)9$ ,&")!&0,$ "+&*"),"$ 9(+"$ inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When he felt a cold coming on he fashioned a smooth copper probe and rubbed it gently in his nose for 60 seconds.

“It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold went away completely.” It worked again every time he felt a cold coming on and he hasn’t had a cold since.

He asked relatives and friends to try it.

They said it worked for them so he patented CopperZap™ and put it on the market.

Soon hundreds of people had tried it and given feedback. Nearly 100 percent said the copper stops their colds if used within 3 hours (2!"1$!'"$01 !$ &9)4$:+")$ up to 2 days, if they still get the cold it is milder than usual and they feel better.

Users wrote things New research: Copper stops colds if used early. like, “It stopped my cold right away,” and “Is it supposed to work ($%'(,7$I.8DE$$J/!$'"$0)(33-$!1&"*$&!$()*K$ to his surprise, the copper cleared up his that fast?”

Pat McAllister, age 70, received one sinuses right away. Judy and their daughfor Christmas and called it “one of the ter both said, “It has changed our lives!”

Some users say copper stops nighttime best presents ever. This little jewel real!/L)" K$ !..K$ &2$ !'"-$ / "$ &!$ I/ !$ 8"2.1"$ ly works.” Now thousands of users have bed. One man said, “Best sleep I’ve had simply stopped getting colds. ;.##"1$<(-$"+")$ !.#$=/$!'(!$ !(1! $&)$ in years.”

People have used it on cold sores the nose if used right away and for several days. In a lab test, scientists placed 25 and say it can completely prevent ugly <&33&.)$ 3&+"$ =/$ +&1/ " $ .)$ ($ ;.##"1>(#4$ outbreaks. You can also rub it gently on wounds, cuts, or lesions to combat infecNo viruses were found alive soon after.

People often use CopperZap preven- tions.

5'"$ '()*3"$ & $ ,/1+"*$ ()*$ 0)"3-$ !"F!&+"3-4$?1"@/")!$=&"1$A(1")$B(/,&$/ "*$!.$ 9"!$ ,.3* $ (2!"1$ ,1.%*"*$ =&9'! 4$ 5'./9'$ tured to improve contact. It kills germs skeptical, she tried it several times a day #&,7"*$/#$.)$0)9"1 $()*$'()* $!.$#1.!",!$ on travel days for 2 months. “Sixteen you and your family.

Copper even kills deadly germs that =&9'! $()*$).!$($ )&C"DE$ '"$"F,3(&<"*4 Businesswoman Rosaleen says when have become resistant to antibiotics. If people are sick around her she uses Cop- you are near sick people, a moment of perZap morning and night. “It saved me handling it may keep serious infection last holidays,” she said. “The kids had away from you and your loved ones. It colds going round and round, but not me.” may even save a life.

The EPA says copper still works even Some say it also helps with sinuses.

Attorney Donna Blight had a 2-day sinus when tarnished. It kills hundreds of difheadache. When her CopperZap arrived, ferent disease germs so it can prevent seshe tried it. “I am shocked!” she said. rious or even fatal illness.

CopperZap is made in the U.S. of pure “My head cleared, no more headache, no copper. It has a 90-day full money back more congestion.”

G)"$ <()$ '(*$ /H"1"*$ "( .)(3$ &)/ $ guarantee when used as directed to stop a problems for years. It was so bad it ru- ,.3*4$M!$& $NOP4PQ4$B"!$NRS$.H$"(,'$;.#ined family vacations and even dinners perZap with code MDSB3.

Go to www.CopperZap.com or call out with friends. His wife Judy bought CopperZaps for both of them. He was so toll-free 1-888-411-6114.

Buy once, use forever. skeptical he said, “Oh Judy, you are such (paid advertisement)

The money remains in investing pools (there are usually several portfolios of mutual funds to choose from) until you give it to charity. Some families keep the money in the account for the long term and use the donor-advised fund to teach their children and grandchildren about charitable giving.

Fewer people are expected to itemize since the new tax law nearly doubled the standard deduction. But a donor-advised fund can also help you make a few years’ worth of contributions in a single year, so you can cross the threshold that makes filing an itemized return worthwhile.

You’ll be able to deduct the contribution in the year you give the stock or other money to the donor-advised fund, even if you don’t grant the money to the charities for several years.

The size of the deduction will be the value of the stock on the day you make the contribution, as long as you’ve held the stock for longer than a year.

Check with a brokerage Be aware that some small charities aren’t set up to accept appreciated securities, but donor-advised funds help in that case, too.

Donor-advised funds are offered by many brokerage firms and community foundations. If you already have an account at the brokerage firm, it may be very easy to give stock or mutual funds.

Schwab customers, for example, can go online and click a few buttons to move the money from their brokerage account to their donor-advised fund.

Many donor-advised funds also accept other kinds of appreciated assets that some charities may not be set up to accept.

Schwab and Fidelity, for example, accept privately held stock, real estate, and other complex investments on a case-by-case basis.

Schwab and Fidelity require a minimum contribution of $5,000 to open a donor-advised fund. Vanguard requires $25,000 to get started. © 2018 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Dec. 3

DO YOUR LEGS HURT?

Howard County General Hospital is offering peripheral artery disease screening on Monday, Dec. 3 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to help participants identify possible varicose-vein related reasons for leg pain and cramps. Come to the hospital’s Medical Arts Building, 11085 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Ste. 103, Columbia. Appointments are required. To register or learn more, visit hcgh.org or call (410) 7407601.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Travel

23

Leisure &

Tbilisi, the capital city of the country of Georgia, offers a mix of architecture, from Medieval to modern. See story on page 24

The Golden Isles of Georgia and Florida

Jekyll Island Jekyll Island features 10 miles of beaches and 28 miles of trails. To preserve the barrier island ecosystem, the agreement under which the state bought the island in 1947 for $675,000 stipulated that only 35 percent could be developed, and that holds today.

Today’s historic district consists of the erstwhile 240-acre compound of the aforementioned Yankee millionaires. On a 90-

minute tram tour, visitors learn that the original Jekyll Island Club had 53 members, 120 buildings and 16 houses. During the winter, the elite northerners indulged in the “simple life,” while during “club season” they were waited on by more than 200 employees, from cooks to caddies.

Besides the big-name visitors, the club’s other claim to fame is that on Jan. 25, 1915, the first transcontinental phone call originated at the Jekyll Island Club. The building is now a 157-room hotel.

Some of the surviving two- and threestory “cottages” are open to the public, like the 8,000-square-foot Moss Cottage built in 1896. Most had wraparound porches and a game room, great room, sun room, parlor, and third floor quarters for servants, butlers, governesses and nannies.

Tidelands Nature Center, nestled next to a marsh, offers a fitting introduction to outdoor low country with tidal creek kayak tours and nature walks. Exhibits detail wetland wildlife like fish, snails, crabs, coastal birds and other beach critters.

Between December and March, North Atlantic right whales probe the ocean waters, and from May to July, loggerhead turtles, weighing 170 to 315 pounds, come ashore to nest. The center’s Snake Room has black, gray and red rat snakes, corn snakes and a yellow-bellied slider turtle.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOLDENISLES.COM

By Glenda Booth Vast saltwater marshes fringe southeast Georgia’s and northern Florida’s barrier islands, acres of luscious wetlands of thick golden reeds and grasses swaying in the gentle breeze as far as the eye can see.

The Spanish dubbed them Islas de Oro (the Golden Isles) in the 1700s, even though they failed to find the hoped-for gold.

But eventually the gold came to them, when northern millionaires with names like Astor, Morgan, Rockefeller, Pulitzer and Vanderbilt capitalized on the beauty of these islands and created an exclusive winter retreat at the Jekyll Island Club in 1886.

Today, Georgia’s barrier islands and Florida’s Amelia Island are a relaxed world of lowkey small towns, subtropical beauty, salty air, tranquility, history, marshes and mosses.

They also boast many golf courses, plenty of sunbathing spots, friendly villages and a dose of southern charm.

PHOTO BY GLENDA BOOTH

Spanish moss is ubiquitous in the Golden Isles, draping live oak trees and even nearby camellia bushes in the crinkly strands. Natives discourage naive amateurs from collecting it because bundles can be full of pesky chiggers. Early settlers used it in mattresses, hence the origin of the advice, “Don’t let the bed bugs bite.”

The Italian Renaissance style Crane Cottage (built in 1917) is the largest of the once privately-owned cottages on the grounds of the Jekyll Island Club Resort, situated just off the Georgia coast. The resort dates back to 1886, and was frequented by such wealthy families as the Rockefellers, Pulitzers and Vanderbilts. Today, the cottages host overnight visitors, weddings and parties.

St. Simon’s Island Though the most developed of the Georgia islands, St. Simon’s Island has a natural feel, too. Scattered around are 20 mysterious, evocative “tree spirits” — carvings in century-old trees, many moss draped, each carving unique. Contemplative faces seem to gaze at unsuspecting visitors.

Their creator, Keith Jennings, said he works with each tree’s soul: “The trees do it all. I don’t have that much to do with it.

The wood speaks to you.”

This Manhattan-sized island is slowpaced too, with winding roads, beaches, marshes, inlets and rivers, and a salty ocean aroma always pushing in.

The Coastal Georgia Lighthouse and Museum explores the life of African Africans forcibly brought to the area, people who introduced West African basketmaking and fish net weaving.

Former slaves established communities and toiled on plantation rice fields — the “golden grain” that brought their masters wealth before cotton was king. The barrier islands are part of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, a designation recognizing the enslaved Africans who created a unique culture along the coast.

The quaint Christ Episcopal Church, designed like an overturned ship, is made of never-stained Georgia heart pine and

has no nails in the walls because of its tongue-in-groove construction.

The Spanish invaded the British colony of Georgia in 1742, and Fort Frederica’s visitor center tells the story of how locals repulsed these unwelcomed aggressors in the Battle of Bloody Marsh.

Cumberland Island Cumberland Island is a Georgia barrier island still “in the raw.” It is 36,000 acres of pristine maritime forests, beaches, dunes, marshes and moss. The largest barrier island wilderness on the East Coast, Cumberland is a national park of quiet trails and dunes secured by sea oats that thrive in sun and salty air.

A ferry from St. Mary’s takes adventurers for day trips to Cumberland Island twice a day to see turkeys, armadillos, gopher tortoises, lizards, anoles, alligators, saw palmettos, live oaks and cordgrass marshes.

Lucky visitors might see a stealthy bobcat in the dense vegetation.

In these marshes, freshwater meets salt water and nurtures tiny creatures like fiddler and ghost crabs, periwinkle snails and various mollusks. Wild horses graze on spartina grasses near the shoreline.

The Carnegies once owned 90 percent See GEORGIA ISLES, page 25

24

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Another Georgia: resort on the Black Sea

By Kevin Begos Want to learn about the origins of winemaking? You’ll have to go about 2,000 miles east of Bordeaux, France, to the Republic of Georgia, in the Caucasus Mountains.

After being part of the Soviet Union for decades, Georgia declared independence in 1991, and the country has embraced tourism and development.

This beautiful and affordable country has many attractions for both budget and sophisticated travelers. There are 1,000-

year-old churches, wild mountains offering winter and summer splendor, and coastal resorts on the Black Sea. While visiting Georgia to research a book about the origins of wine, I kept having to choose between wine experiences and other tempting options.

Georgian architecture, food, wine and music is a multi-ethnic mix of East and West.

Romans, Persians, Mongols, Arabs and Russians all fought to control the country over the last 2,000-plus years. Now the people are

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overwhelmingly Christian, yet street food and Georgian chants have a Middle Eastern or even Asian tinge.

8,000 years of winemaking For wine lovers, a trip to Georgia is like going back to a vineyard Garden of Eden.

Archaeological sites show that Georgians began making wine at least 5,000 years before the French.

Patrick McGovern, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, has examined 8,000-year-old Georgian pottery that is decorated with “grape clusters and jubilant stick-figures, with arms raised high, under grape arbors.” Burial mounds contain ornate gold and silver goblets with depictions of ancient drinking ceremonies.

The classic Georgian chant “Shen Khar Venakhi” (“Thou Art a Vineyard”) was reputedly written by King Demetrius I in the 12th century. It is still popular at weddings.

You can experience and taste some of the wine history throughout the Georgian countryside. Small wineries and many, many families still ferment grapes in oval clay containers called qvevri, which may have inspired the later amphora of Greece and Rome.

Georgia has hundreds of native wine grape varieties, including kisi, mtsvane, rkatsiteli and saperavi. Try the unfiltered and natural golden (or orange) wine style for a sense of how wine was first made thousands of years ago.

A “Game of Thrones” episode could be filmed in the eastern Kakheti region, which has numerous vineyards. The Alaverdi monastery and winery, which dates to the year 1011, features a 170-foot

tower and high stone walls, with beautiful icons inside the church.

Father Gerasim, bearded and dressed in a traditional long black cassock, said the Alaverdi monks are carrying on a tradition passed down through generations. “I remember when I was about 3 or 4 years old, my grandfather and father took me to the wine cellar every time they went,” Gerasim recalled. “Wine ties, and tied, the human being to his community, to his land.”

For outdoor pursuits, the Caucasus Mountains rise to more than 15,000 feet, with glacial lakes and semi-tropical valleys hidden throughout.

It is untamed land, but also a botanical and human crossroads for Central Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East that is home to Anatolian leopards, bears, wolves, lynx and golden eagles.

In the capital city Back in Tbilisi, the capital, you’ll find a mix of quaint old world neighborhoods and trendy new riverfront areas. The Georgian State Museum has a fine range of cultural and historical exhibits.

Small bakeries make chewy, crisp, khachapuri bread, shaped like a small alien spacecraft. Try it with the traditional melted cheese and egg in the center.

There are also Georgian flatbreads — like pitas — stuffed with savory mixes of chopped meat and spices, and a wide variety of dumplings.

There are upscale restaurants, too. PurPur combines local dishes with classic FrenchSee RESORT, page 25

BEACON BITS

Dec. 10

DRIVER SAFETY CLASS

This classroom refresher course is for drivers 50 years and older. The cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonAARP members, to be paid on the first day of class. Many insurance companies offer a discount to those who take the class, which is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Wellness Center Medical Pavilion, Suite 100, 10710 Charter Drive, Columbia. For more information and to register, call (443) 364-8647.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Georgia Isles From page 23 of the island, but it became a national park in 1972. There is only one place to stay — the pricey, Georgian-style mansion, the Greyfield Inn — which has 17 rooms with four-poster beds and clawfoot bathtubs.

John F., Jr., and Carolyn Kennedy had their wedding reception in the Greyfield.

Amelia Island Just south of the Georgia-Florida line, Amelia Island is the southernmost in the chain. The island doesn’t have the laid-back, close-to-nature feel of Georgia’s islands, but rather offers a taste of old Florida.

The visitor center in the 1878 railroad station has materials for a self-guided walking tour through downtown — 50 blocks of historic gems. The Museum of History recounts that long before English settlement in the New World, there was a lot going on in Florida.

The pre-Columbian Timacuans were here 4,000 years ago. Eight flags were

Resort From page 24 style cooking in a 19th century atmosphere.

Try the pkhali appetizer, which is a sort of pate made from ground walnuts and different vegetables, such as beets or spinach.

For a darker experience you can also

flown over the area, including the British, Spanish and French. The 1800s saw rampant piracy and slave smuggling because of an embargo on slave sales.

The Golden Age brought steamships full of northern vacationers who visited “for the vapors.” The museum is in the old Nassau County jail, which was racially segregated and held drunks, rum runners and moonshiners from 1878 to 1938.

The historic Tabby House is made of a distinctive local concrete containing crushed shells. The Palace Saloon is Florida’s oldest operating saloon and may have sold ice cream during Prohibition.

The Florida House, dating to 1857, is the oldest operating hotel in Florida. Here, Ulysses S. Grant campaigned for president in 1866, and Cuban patriot Jose Marti lived in 1893.

The Maritime Museum is devoted to sunken treasures recovered from the sea.

The owners have hauled up objects from Spanish and Dutch galleon ships wrecked along the Florida coast prior to 1750. Guides tout their 20 years of finds, including jewelvisit the Joseph Stalin Museum in Gori, his birthplace. Tour groups offer it as a day trip from Tbilisi.

Finally, you can go for a swim or spa visit at numerous Black Sea resorts.

More information on Georgia and wine history can be found at www.kevinbegos.com.

— AP

ry, tools, nails, belt plates, brass spikes, pipes and eyeglasses. The most prized item is a jeweler’s furnace used by Spain’s Royal Jeweler to check for purity of gold.

These islands are made for leisurely meandering and slow-paced savoring. A local guide noted that Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon in 1512 wrote back home, “There’s nothing in Florida. Only bugs, snakes and alligators.” Seems like he missed the mystery of the marshes and mosses.

If you go Jacksonville, Fla., is the most convenient airport. Jekyll Island is 73 miles, and

25

Amelia Island is 34 miles, from Jacksonville. The lowest roundtrip airfare from BWI in early December is $291 on American Airlines.

Rooms at the Florida House Inn on Amelia Island start at $150 per night. For more information, see www.floridahouseinn.com or call (904) 491-3322.

The following websites provide additional lodging, dining and tour options. www.Goldenisles.com www.Jekyllisland.com www.stsimonsguide.com www.gullahgeecheecorridor.org www.ameliaisland.com

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Style

27

Arts &

The Asner family shares a love of comics and the experience of living with autism. See story on page 29.

Carole King’s Beautiful career on stage

Penning early songs The song’s refrain sets the stage for the

musical, in which Brooklyn girl Carol Klein fights her way into the record business while just in her teens in the late 1950s.

Along the way to stardom, she tweaks her name, marries fellow lyricist and song collaborator Gerry Goffin, and moves to Los Angeles a decade later after the breakup of their marriage.

Beautiful focuses on this early, fecund songwriting period, where King — sometimes collaborating with Goffin and another songwriting team, Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann — wrote songs that went to the top of the charts for such groups as the Shirelles and the Drifters.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW MURPHY

By Barbara Ruben For three weeks in a row earlier this fall, the farewell tours of three rock and folk icons — Paul Simon, Elton John and Joan Baez — came through Washington.

For those hoping seminal ‘60s and ‘70s songwriter Carole King would schedule a tour as well, the next best thing will be onstage for five weeks, starting Nov. 27 at the National Theater in downtown Washington.

Beautiful — the Carole King Musical recreates King’s early life and career. This is the touring version of the Broadway show, where the actress who played King won a 2014 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. It also won a 2015 Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album.

The show overflows with chart-topping King songs like “I Feel the Earth Move,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” and “You’ve Got a Friend.”

The musical takes its name from her 1971 song “Beautiful,” which like many others in the show were first recorded on her album Tapestry, one of the best-selling albums of all time.

You’ve got to get up every morning With a smile in your face And show the world all the love in your heart Then people gonna treat you better You’re gonna find, yes you will That you’re beautiful as you feel

Becoming Carole King In the touring production, Sarah Bockel channels King, in the title role, where she dons several voluminous wavy wigs to achieve King’s curly locks.

Now 30, having grown up in an age where Lady Gaga, Adelle and Lil Wayne reign, how familiar was Bockel with King?

“I had Tapestry on vinyl; I’m a big ’70s singer songwriter fan,” she said in an interview with the Beacon. She also admitted, “I was definitely more of a Joni Mitchel fan. I was just a big weirdo. I had Pink Floyd albums and was a huge Janis Joplin fan.”

Bockel’s familiarity with the music of the ‘60s and ‘70s paid off when she became the understudy for the Carole King role on Broadway. As such, she went on stage 40 to 50 times.

December 1, 2018, 7:30pm Jim Rouse Theatre

Antonín Dvořák: Scherzo capriccioso Daniel Bernard Roumain: La, La, La, La Sarah Kirkland Snider: Hiraeth Richard Strauss: Rosenkavalier Suite

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Sarah Bockel plays Carole King in the musical Beautiful, which traces the singer/songwriter’s rise to fame, marriage to songwriting partner Gerry Goffin, and their subsequent breakup. The show includes such hits as “I Feel The Earth Move,” “One Fine Day,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “You’ve Got A Friend,” and the title song. The show opens on Nov. 27 at the National Theater.

Bockel’s favorite song? “It’s Too Late,” which King wrote after the breakup of her marriage. “It was a favorite before Beautiful. It’s a sad breakup song I really love,” she said.

Audience members “will recognize at least half the songs in the show,” Bockel promised. “And you’ll get a better picture of what made her such a powerhouse

songwriter.”

Beautiful — The Carole King Musical will be on stage at the National Theater from Nov. 27 to Dec. 30. Tickets are $54 to $114.

National Theater is located at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. To buy tickets or for more information, see http://thenationaldc.org or call 800-5143849.

28

Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

School From page 1 So, ironically, the Tubman school remained all-black for another 11 years as its students — despite torn text books, rickety desks discarded by all-white schools, and other shoddy material — received tender care and education from their teachers.

Since closing as a school, the building has served as a maintenance and storage area for the county’s Board of Education.

The structure was turned over last year to the county government, and before November’s election, Kittleman, who pushed for the transfer, had gotten behind the renovation efforts.

He has noted that Howard County “unfortunately has a history of segregation. I want the building to be used as a place for people to come together as a community,” Kittleman said.

$1.6 million raised so far Bordenave praised those efforts by Kittleman, who has so far arranged to dedicate $800,000 of the county budget to the renovation, which includes all-important asbestos removal. Another $800,000 has been approved from the Maryland state legislature through the efforts of State

Del. Frank Turner, 71, who Bordenave also lauded for promoting the project.

Turner is Howard County’s first elected black state delegate, and will retire in January. He said he wanted to see the building finished in two years so that, among other things, still-living residents who were students at the school would see the finished project. “I want it done yesterday,” Turner said.

He told the Beacon that the restoration was “moving along. Several of the classrooms and the cafeteria have already been restored. What remains is the gymnasium,” Turner said.

While $1.6 million has so far been approved for the project, the entire cost could run to $2.4 million. Turner said the remaining funds could come again from matching money from the state legislature and the county, or the county could budget the remaining $800,000 itself.

“The project could and should be completed by 2020,” Turner said. “The county executive should make sure that it happens.”

The Kittleman-appointed advisory council is looking into a way to raise the remaining funds for the renovation, Bordenave said.

Not only about black history Bordenave acknowledged that there

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

was no official target date for the reopening. She said that besides serving as an historic site for black culture, she would also like other ethnic groups to be represented at the center.

“There’s so much history that should be shared about African-American culture in Howard County that people don’t know anything about,” Bordenave said. Nevertheless, she added, “We don’t want the center to be just about the African-American experience.”

The center could host a variety of cultural activities, from lectures to classes to contests to theatrical performances, as well as serving as a museum, she said.

Since 1990, Bordenave has collected hundreds of pieces of memorabilia from the school’s alumni and staff, including every yearbook (except 1954), code of conduct booklets given to teachers, and notices of graduation sent to students’ homes. The material will be included in the center’s historical section.

As far as local history is concerned, Bordenave noted that the school building is situated near a cave where runaway slaves hid as they awaited Tubman to lead them via the Underground Railroad to their freedom.

Howard County’s black children did not attend school past the seventh grade until 1937, when they were allowed to go to a four-room school house in Cooksville. The schoolhouse expanded to the 11th grade by 1939, and it was the county’s only

school to offer African-American students high school classes until 1949, when the Harriet Tubman school opened.

A debt of gratitude Bordenave, who described herself as “a poor country girl who got opportunities I would never have gotten” if she hadn’t gone to the high school, went on after graduation to Atlantic Business College in Washington.

There she learned shorthand and typing, which led to her career as a stenographer, secretary and assistant to the head of the NAACP. She also worked for the Social Security Administration in Los Angeles before starting her decades-long career at the FCC. Even being a federal employee didn’t assure completely equal treatment back in the 1960s. But Bordenave wasn’t one to let slights pass.

“When I started at the FCC, I was the only black in the office,” she said. “I put up a picture of Martin Luther King on the wall above my desk. My supervisor told me to take down the picture. But l went to his supervisor, and he said that I could keep it up there on the wall.”

Now a great-grandmother, Bordenave noted that her education at Harriet Tubman brought her from “my little town of Jessup to the White House.”

Going to the school “helped me appreciate what I had, in spite of what I didn’t have.”

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N â&#x20AC;&#x201D; D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

29

All in the family: Comic books and autism

By Mike Cidoni Lennox Even at age 89, actor Ed Asner still hangs out at the comic-book store with his kid.

In early October, the Asners could be spotted at Hollywoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legendary Golden Apple Comics. But they werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t shopping.

Instead, the two were promoting an Internet comic-art auction to raise funds for the Ed Asner Family Center.

Founded earlier this year by the actorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son, Matthew, and daughter-in-law, Navah, the center offers programs and education for both special-needs children and their families.

The star of â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Mary Tyler Moore Show,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lou Grantâ&#x20AC;? and the lead voice in the Pixar animated favorite Up, Ed Asner has a son and three grandchildren with autism. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re (all) beautiful people,â&#x20AC;? the actor noted. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And, at the same time, they need all the help they can get maneuvering through life. The Family Center is designed to help them do that.â&#x20AC;?

Collection started years ago Father and son have had a comic-book

connection for decades, when the two would buy a couple of new comic books before the elder Asner would take his son to work on â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Mary Tyler Moore Show.â&#x20AC;?

Matthew became a serious comic-art fan, so the idea of an auction to raise funds for a permanent home for the center came about organically. The pair caught a break when Matthewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tweet asking for donations got a response and assist by the revered, award-winning comic artist Kevin Nowlan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;His tenacity helped us to get to some of the greatest artists in the business: Alex Ross, Sam Kieth, Bill Sienkiewicz,â&#x20AC;? said Matthew. Among auction highlights are rare original cover art from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Captain America,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Astro Cityâ&#x20AC;? books, as well as three donations from Nowlan himself.

Dad also enjoys comics: â&#x20AC;&#x153;My favorite cartoon or comic strip of all was â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Plastic Man,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Asner recalled. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I adored his sense of humor. He had a great sense of humor.

Perhaps that affected me in later years when I tried to develop one.â&#x20AC;?

Eventually, he did. Asner may end up best remembered for playing hilariously crusty

BEACON BITS

Dec. 2

ENCORE CHORALE HOLIDAY CONCERT The Encore Chorales of Columbia and Towson will offer a free holi-

day concert featuring holiday classics, including the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hallelujah Chorus,â&#x20AC;? on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. The singers are all age 55 and up, and part of the national Encore Creativity program, founded in Maryland by Jeanne Kelly a dozen years ago. For more information about the Encore Chorale organization and programs, visit encorecreativity.org or call (301) 261-5747.

JA N UA RY 1 7 - M A R C H 1 7

Let Mee En Enterta ntert in i Y Yoou!!

410-730-83111

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TV-news director Lou Grant on the sitcom classic â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Mary Tyler Moore Show.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lou Grant was a total birth of Ed Asner as a comedic personality,â&#x20AC;? Asner said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mary Tyler Moore,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; I learned to do comedy, which I had always feared and run from, ignoring the fact that people found me innately funny â&#x20AC;&#x201D; just to look at.â&#x20AC;?

When counting wins for work on both â&#x20AC;&#x153;Maryâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lou,â&#x20AC;? the role earned Asner a total of seven Emmy awards.

But Asner acknowledged success came at too big a price. â&#x20AC;&#x153;During my career, I stiffed the family. I let them come in second all too often.â&#x20AC;?

Asner said he deeply regretted not being around for his children, crediting exwife Nancy Sykes for Matthewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s successes.

Matthew disagreed: â&#x20AC;&#x153;He likes to tell people he had nothing to do with making me who I am, but he had everything to do with making me who I am. He instilled a sense of fairness and a sense of fight for the underdog and a sense of really whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important in life.â&#x20AC;?

For more information about the Ed Asner Family Center, visit www.edasnerfamilycenter.org. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; AP

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

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1. SAT section 5. A Brief drawing in a botany textbook 8. Wed with less dread 13. See ya’ manana 15. Nestegg holder 16. Long story 17. Tropical lizard 18. “__ the season to be jolly” 19. The only item in a snowman’s wardrobe 20. Confuse medium well with medium rare 23. Opposite of none 24. Boy doll 25. Letter sequence in PATTERNLESS and STUBBORNLY 26. Buddy 29. Direction afternoon shadows grow 31. _-chrome (it gives us nice bright colors) 32. Prefix for bird words 33. Govt. agents 35. Undergrad foot doc degree, perhaps 36. Good name for a pickpocket 37. A propensity toward letter transposition 41. Floral necklace 42. “It’s not what you want; it’s what ___” 43. Away from port 44. Several eras, in geologic time 45. Dutch cheese 46. The G in OMG, sometimes 48. “Narrow” in Breton (and an acronym of 24 Across) 49. ___ choy 50. Data source for ancestry.com 51. Anger 54. Mix metaphors in a speech 57. Request to a quiet dog 60. Suitable way to abbrev. your room nbr.

61. One of two official languages of India 62. Excessive urgency 63. Use a telescope 64. Shooting game 65. Put your name in the hat 66. Guy who talks at all the conferences these days 67. Gets this puzzle’s puns wrong

1. Hot rocks 2. Let’s Make ___ 3. Joyful 4. Deceptively manipulate stats 5. Conform 6. State flower of Tennessee 7. Snail or slug 8. Grenada greens 9. Key mate 10. Egg cells 11. Part of both MPH and MPG 12. Santa’s subordinate 14. Prepares dishes for cleaning 21. The first thing Harry and Sally did together 22. ___ a high note 26. Congregant 27. “A man without ___ is a man without protection” (Lyndon Johnson) 28. Nation across the Mediterranean from Greece 30. “And so on”, even more briefly 31. Countdowner Casey 33. VA Army base, named for a Confederate leader 34. Keep an ___ (watch closely) 35. Fairfield Inn freebie 38. Chef who requires two dozen blackbirds 39. ___ an era 40. Dal __ Vegas Night (Lone Star casino party) 46. Wildebeest 47. Testimony prerequisites 50. Heaped affection on 52. More like South Park than Northern Exposure 53. Improves a draft 54. Entrypoint to heaven 55. Olympic weapon 56. Approve of, on Facebook 57. First word of three Beatles titles 58. Half-goat Greed god 59. End of both “the biggest” and “the best”

Answers on page 29.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

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.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Health DENTAL INSURANCE. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company for details. Not just a discount plan, real coverage for 350 procedures. 844366-1003 or http://www.dental50plus.com/320 Ad# 6118.

Legal Services WERE YOU AN INDUSTRIAL OR CONSTRUCTION TRADESMAN and recently diagnosed with lung cancer? You and your family may be entitled to a significant cash reward.

Call 1-888-351-0312 for your risk free consultation.

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY? Up to $2,671/mo. (Based on paid-in amount.) Free evaluation! Call Bill Gordon & Associates. 1866-970-0779. Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington, D.C. Office: Broward Co. FL., member TX/NM Bar.

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NEW PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CLASSIFIED ADS As of 11/12/18, all classified ads must be submitted and paid for online, via our website, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds Deadlines and Payments: To appear in the next issue, your ad text and payment must be entered by the 5th of the preceding month (for Baltimore and Howard County editions); by the 20th (for Washington and Richmond editions).

Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad: • $25 for 1-250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length). The website will calculate this for you.

Note: Maryland contractors must provide a valid MHIC number. • Each real estate listing qualifies as one ad. • All ads are subject to publisher's discretion. Payment will be refunded if unacceptable for any reason.

To place your classified ad visit www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds

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.

TV/Cable

Wanted

ENJOY 100% GUARANTEED, DELIVERED to-the-door Omaha Steaks! Save 75% plus get 4 more Burgers & 4 more Kielbasa FREE! Order The Family Gourmet Buffet — ONLY $49.99. Call 1-844-302-3754, mention code 51689JCT or visit www.omahasteaks.com.

SPECTRUM TRIPLE PLAY! TV, Internet & Voice for $29.99 ea. 60 MB per second speed. No contract or commitment. More Channels.

Faster Internet. Unlimited Voice. Call 1-888366-7573.

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.

Financial

Personals

Wanted

CUTE, ATTRACTIVE FEMALE, FIFTIES — Looking for single white male, fifties/early sixties, attractive, robust, medium/large build, reliable, warm-hearted, romantic. Enjoy dates, companionship, devoted relationship. If interested, call 240-418-4124, leave voice message/ph#.

MONEY, TIME TO SELL! Make the right choice. Call Greg, 717-658-7954. We buy jewelry, coins, silver, antiques, watches, gold, art, paper money, toys, bottles, comic books and records, etc. No middleman, no fees, no overhead means more money for your stuff. Give me a call, and let’s do business.717-658-7954.

DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR BOAT to Heritage for the Blind. Free 3-Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. CALL 1-844-855-7670.

GOT AN OLDER CAR, VAN OR SUV? Do the humane thing. Donate it to the Humane Society. Call 1-844-230-2952.

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

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

Miscellaneous

A PRETTY WF, 52, YOUTHFUL, voluptuous lady, non-smoker, down to earth, seeks SWM, 45-65, attractive, large build gentleman non-smoker for old fashioned fun, friendship, cherished relationship.

Share romance, dates, movies, country slow dancing, cozy campfires, outdoor events, etc. Inquire, 301-4427442. Win my heart with your voice message.

TV/Cable

Health PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR — May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-851-0949.

STOP OVERPAYING for your prescriptions!

SAVE! Call our licensed Canadian and International pharmacy, compare prices and get $25.00 OFF your first prescription! CALL 1-888-9817657 Promo Code CDC201725.

DIRECTV. CALL AND SWITCH NOW — Get NFL Sunday Ticket for FREE! Every Game.

Every Sunday. CHOICE- All-Included Package.

Over 185 Channels. $60/month (for 12 Months.)

CALL 1- 888-572-4953.

DISH Network. 190+ CHANNELS. FREE Install. FREE Hopper HD-DVR. $49.99/month (24 months) Add High Speed Internet - $14.95 (where avail.) CALL Today & SAVE 25%! 1844-560-5837.

CASH FOR JEWELRY: Gold, silver, costume.

Buying whole estates. Gary Roman, 301-5200755. Theatticllc.com.

ESTATE LIQUIDATION & COLLECTIBLES: One call solves it all when you hire us to handle your estate liquidation, down-sizing and/or home cleanout. We sell your treasures, take care of charitable donations and provide junk removal. We also purchase partial estate contents/collections. Always buying antiques, jewelry, fine art, vintage toys, collectibles, advertising, sports memorabilia, military items, rare books, Mid-Century Modern furniture and more. Based in Silver Spring, we serve Montgomery County, Howard County, Baltimore County, Washington, D.C., NOVA and beyond. No home, barn or warehouse is too packed for us! Friendly, conscientious staff. Call Chris on cell, 202-731-9447. www.OrionsAttic.com.

COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, knives, swords, bayonets, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars and countries. Also Lionel Toy Trains, and coin operated machines. Will pay top prices for my personal collection. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-910-0783.

MILITARY ITEMS WANTED: Collector seeks to purchase military uniforms; flight jackets, patches, insignia, medals, etc. from the Civil War through Vietnam. Especially seeking U.S. Army Air Corps, USMC, Airborne, and German/Japanese/Italian items from WWII. ALSO BUYING old Boy Scout, Airline Items, Toys, Lighters. Call Dan, 202-841-3062.

BEACON BITS

Dec. 17

SMARTPHONE CLASS

Learn how a smartphone can make your life easier in a class on Monday, Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. at the Elkridge 50+ Center, 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. For more information, call (410) 313-5192.

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Events COGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26, 28

Financial Services Edward Jones/John Dove . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Funeral Services Going Home Cremations . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Harry H. Witzke’s Family Funeral Home, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Sol Levinson & Bros., Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Home Health Care A-1 Action Nursing Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 HomeCentris Personal Care . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Options for Senior America . . . . . . . . . . .24

Shriner Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Somerford Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Legal Services Angels of Eldercare Planning . . . . . . . . . .19 Frank, Frank & Scherr, LLC . . . . . . . . . . .21 Lifson Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Medical/Health Ellicott City Smile Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Greenhouse Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Medical Eye Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Trilogy Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Vitality Integrated Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 VitaScript Optimal Health . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Real Estate Services

Housing

Long & Foster-Nellie Arrington . . . . . . . .21

Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Charlestown/Erickson Living . . . . . . . . . . .9 Heartlands Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Park View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Residences at Vantage Point . . . . . . . . . . .11 Rhome Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Columbia’s Village Centers . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Copper Zap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Perfect Sleep Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Zinger Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Retail/Services

Senior Services Howard CountySenior Connection . . .15-18

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

Technology Beacon Silver Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 TheBeaconNewspapers.com . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Theatre/Entertainment Candlelight Concert Society . . . . . . . . . . .29 Columbia Orchestra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Columbia Pro Cantare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Tour & Travel Eyre Tour & Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Volunteers/Employment The Beacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Meals on Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

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Fall in Love...

WITH

BROOKE GROVE Whether it’s strolling winding paths or socializing in sunny courtyards, residents of Assisted Living at Brooke Grove experience a warm, vibrant lifestyle and delight in our charming setting of open meadows and airy trees.

OUR AMENITIES Private rooms filled with sunshine from over-sized windows and skylights 24-hour on-site clinical support from licensed and caring nurses Secure courtyards and walking paths Ornamental koi pond Manicured flower and sensory gardens Playground for visiting kids

MEMORY SUPPORT PROGRAM For residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia, we offer a special assisted living option with: Specially trained memory support staff An interactive lifestyle that maximizes choice and independence Tailored LIFE® enrichment programming that connects each resident to his or her past Group activities that allow residents to enjoy the outdoors and a thriving social life

18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 301-260-2320 or 301-924-2811

www.bgf.org