June 2014 | Baltimore Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

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Who’s the area’s chief chef?

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PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER MYERS

By Jennifer Waldera It’s a far cry from being an aspiring molecular biologist to becoming the chef/owner of two restaurants — the popular Baltimore restaurant Waterfront Kitchen and the soonto-open Farmstead Grill. But that’s just where Jerry Pellegrino finds himself. Inspired by his family and his Italian heritage, Pellegrino, 50, gave up his early career goals for a life around food. “My mother cooked dinner for the family every night,” Pellegrino recalled. “I saw how much she cared about what she made, and it has stuck with me ever since. “And we’re Italian,” he continued with a chuckle. “That’s just what we do…cook, eat and drink.” Pellegrino will share that expertise when he serves as a judge at the fifth annual Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament. In the eight-week single-elimination competition, which runs from June through July, 16 chefs will compete to be named the Master Chef. While two competitors in each battle prepare three courses for five expert chef judges and 30 guest judges, audience members get to enjoy the show and dine on the cuisine of the host venue.

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Soaring popularity Inspired by popular televised competitions such as “Iron Chef” and “Hell’s Kitchen,” tournament founder Erik Folkart is enthusiastic about the increased popularity of the event in the five years since it began. “Since last year’s tournament, we’ve had a ‘positive’ problem, in that we were selling out several of the tournament dates. Accommodating all the ‘foodies’ who wanted to attend had become a challenge,” Folkart said. To satisfy the growing interest, the tournament this year will be held at the Inn at the Colonnade, a larger venue that can accommodate up to 130 guests at a time. Ten percent of the net proceeds from the event will be donated to Meals on Wheels to aid more than 1,200 homebound seniors. Of the tournament’s increasing popularity, Pellegrino said, “The general public is fascinated by food and how it is prepared. Adding the competition element only makes it more intriguing.” Furthermore, the elevated interest in this type of tournament speaks to the culi-

Mark Tracey, a graduate of the Baltimore International Culinary Arts Institute, is the executive chef for Roland Park Place, a continuing care retirement community in Baltimore City. This summer, he will compete for the first time in the Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament, an eight-week-long competition that invites the public to view and even help judge the events.

nary renaissance that has occurred in Baltimore in recent years. “Baltimore has changed so much in the 15 years I’ve been involved in the food scene here. I think we can rightfully take our place in the list of great food cities on the east coast,” Pellegrino reflected. Pellegrino has taken part in the tournament in each of the past five years as both a judge and Master of Ceremonies. He appreciates the concept of the “celebrity chef.” “I think that, for too long, being a chef wasn’t considered a ‘real job,’” he said. “Now, the ‘celebrity chef’ has given credibility to our craft. Culinary schools have the highest enrollment rate in their histories.” Pellegrino has no plans to partake in com-

petitions like those found on the Food Network or the Cooking Channel, which he believes would detract from his work and local community involvement. But he does embrace the opportunity to work locally with the competitors. “Watching young chefs put forth this incredible effort is exciting,” he said. “What they get done in the time allotted is very impressive.”

ARTS & STYLE

A ventriloquist who loves to make children laugh; plus, catching up with the Wizard backstage page 25

FITNESS & HEALTH 3 k Statins for (almost) everyone! k Hepatitis C cure: quick but costly LAW & MONEY 17 k The effect of higher interest rates k Is gold glittering again?

First-time competitor One of the chefs Pellegrino is looking forward to judging is first-time competitor Chef Mark Tracey, 53. Tracey is a graduate of the Baltimore International Culinary See CHEFS, page 29

LEISURE & TRAVEL 21 k Puerto Rico’s neighbor, Vieques k Wonders of the Amazon PLUS CROSSWORD, BEACON BITS, CLASSIFIEDS & MORE

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Privacy for sale When I was growing up, my mother was There was a time we spoke about our “right to privacy” or our “reasonable expec- good friends with the Washington correspondent for our local paper in Fort tation of privacy” as though Worth, Texas. Years later, my we understood what those mom told me that the reporter phrases meant. It was a given had confided in her about Presof American values that every ident Kennedy’s many liaisons individual had a fundamental during his first years in office, right to be left alone to pursue which were well known among his or her own form of happiness as long as the rights of the press corps. others were respected. When I asked why the reThere was a whole realm of porter hadn’t publicized the private life, where what you did fact, my mom said it wasn’t “behind closed doors” was FROM THE considered appropriate to do generally not subject to public PUBLISHER so at the time. First, it was a scrutiny. Yes, many states long By Stuart P. Rosenthal private matter. And second, had laws proscribing certain JFK was such a respected and behaviors in bedrooms, but they were gener- admired public figure that no one wanted ally ignored and virtually never enforced. to damage his image. Speaking of which, people who lived Similarly, even until rather recently, promuch of their lives in public — politicians, fessional paparazzi were denounced for celebrities — naturally had a more con- snapping photos of the rich and famous in strained expectation of privacy. They, in a their private lives for personal gain. Resense, earned their livings off the public, member the revulsion at the paparazzi car so they were expected to understand that chase of Princess Diana that ended in her their private lives would be of particular in- untimely death? terest to the masses. Still, generally only But today, things appear to have comsleazy publications would actually seek out pletely changed. We are all paparazzi, private information about their personal every one of us with a cell phone, either brazenly or surreptitiously snapping, behavior and relationships.

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videoing or recording whatever we choose at any time — the more private, the better. In our post 9/11 world, cameras are filming every inch of every public thoroughfare 24 hours a day, in some places whiffing the odors that escape our bodies or packages. And it’s not just out on the street. The interiors of almost every mall and building, including the elevators and probably a number of bathrooms, are wired (or wi-fied) for sound and closed-circuit television. Those “security cameras” were placed there, with general public consent, to help protect us from (or catch) terrorists and criminals. Within hours, we knew what one of the Boston Marathon bombers looked like, thanks to them. But how quickly they’ve morphed into means for security guards or passers-by to make a fast buck by copying salacious or amusing footage and selling it to a TV station, gossip website or political enemy. Even private cellphone conversations can be easily hacked and taped, then publicized worldwide within minutes. A person’s whole life can change in an hour. In addition, much of our “identity” — our credit card numbers, personal information, shopping history — is now in the “cloud,” where it can easily be stolen by hackers, even from huge, sophisticated organizations like (the ironically named) Target. It’s not just the new technology and concern over national security that have shrunk our zone of privacy to almost nothing. We the people are also responsible. We live in an age where most of us willingly “agree” to turn over much of our private in-

formation to companies when we like the discounts or coupons we get in return. We shower publicity, and often adulation and even money, on people who “share” with us personal information, photos and film about the private lives of the rich and famous, not to mention classified data and security secrets of government at every level. Popular mobile apps like Snapchat were created to simplify the sending of naked photos to friends and others. For years now, reality shows have been the most popular shows on television. People willingly put their whole lives on public display — their search for a job, their search for a spouse, their home life — for the sheer pleasure of becoming celebrities of a sort or winning a big prize at the end. We seem to have an insatiable appetite for such material. Salacious videos “go viral” (reach millions of people online within hours) because there’s such a demand for them. In a culture where another person’s private life is deemed sacrosanct, videos of private encounters simply would not go viral. There’s a great supply because there’s a great demand. To maintain a sphere of privacy, we as a society — and as individuals — have to value personal privacy, make an effort to maintain our privacy, and discourage or ostracize those who invade others’ privacy. Until we do so, we can’t be surprised that we get the world we deserve; the world we have made for ourselves.

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: Thanks for your wonderful review in the May Beacon of “Designed for Flowers,” now on display at the Walters Art Museum. I’ve visited the exhibit several times, and also attended a lecture by curator Robert Mintz. How refreshing to hear about an art that “favors the imperfect.” This is an important lesson — to recognize there is beauty in the “imperfect, impermanent and incomplete.” What a wonderful idea. Perhaps if more of us would apply this philosophy to our daily lives we’d be happier.

It seems today everyone strives for some form of perfection: in our looks, our bodies and the “image” we present to the world. Japan’s philosophy of Wabi Sabi sounds impressive, and I’ve reserved two books on the subject at the library. Isn’t all life imperfect, impermanent and incomplete? Japanese culture has much to teach us, including respect for the flaw in a vase. We can discover so much to appreciate if we knew where to look. Rosalind Ellis Heid Baltimore

BEACON BITS

June 12

LUTHERVILLE’S BLOOMING The Lutherville Garden Club will present “A Small Standard Flower Show” on Thursday, June 12, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Mercy Ridge Re-

tirement Community, 2525 Pot Spring Rd., in Timonium. The show is free and open to the public. For more information, contact shirleytighe@gmail.com.

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2014

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Health Fitness &

DARK SECRETS Not only is dark chocolate yummy, it helps fend off diabetes and dementia NEW HEPATITIS C CURE A new drug can help cure hepatitis C in 12 weeks, but it costs $1,000 a pill SMOOTH SKIN SANS SURGERY Fillers, lasers and chemical peels can rejuvenate skin without surgery TENNIS ELBOW? You don’t have to play the game to get this painful, inflammatory condition

Half of US adults 40 to 75 eligible for statins By Marilynn Marchione Almost half of Americans ages 40 to 75, and nearly all men over 60, qualify to consider cholesterol-lowering statin drugs under new heart disease prevention guidelines, an analysis concludes. It’s the first independent look at the impact of the guidelines issued in November, and shows how dramatically they shift more people toward treatment. Supporters say the guidelines reveal the true scope of heart risks in America. Critics have said they overreach by suggesting medications such as Zocor and Lipitor for such a broad swath of the population. “We wanted to be really objective and just quantify what the guidelines do, and not get into a discussion about whether they are correct,” said Michael Pencina, the Duke University biostatistician who

led the analysis, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Under the new guidelines, 56 million Americans ages 40 to 75 are eligible to consider a statin; 43 million were eligible under the old advice. Both numbers include 25 million people taking statins now. “That is striking, eye-opening,” Dr. Daniel Rader of the University of Pennsylvania said of the new estimate. But since too few people use statins now, the advice “has the potential to do much more good than harm,” said Rader, a cardiologist who had no role in writing the guidelines. Nearly half a million additional heart attacks and strokes could be prevented over 10 years if statin use was expanded as the guidelines recommend, the study estimates. The guidelines, developed by the American Heart Association and American Col-

lege of Cardiology at the request of the federal government, were a big change. They give a new formula for estimating risk that includes blood pressure, smoking status and many factors besides the level of LDL or “bad” cholesterol, the main focus in the past.

Tailored guidelines For the first time, the guidelines are personalized for men and women and for blacks and whites, and they take aim at strokes, not just heart attacks. Partly because of that, they set a lower threshold for using statins to reduce risk. The guidelines say statins do the most good for people who already have heart disease, those with very high LDL of 190 or more, and people over 40 with Type 2 diabetes. They also recommend considering

statins for anyone 40 to 75 who has an estimated 10-year risk of heart disease of 7.5 percent or higher, based on the new formula. (This means that for every 100 people with a similar risk profile, seven or eight would have a heart attack or stroke within 10 years.) Under this more nuanced approach, many people who previously would not have qualified for a statin based on LDL alone would now qualify, while others with a somewhat high LDL but no other heart risk factors would not. The Duke researchers gauged the impact of these changes by using cholesterol, weight and other measurements from health surveys by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They looked at See STATINS, page 4

Think twice before giving up all grains By Marsha McCulloch, R.D. Though going grain-free is a popular diet trend, grains — especially in their whole form — provide a significant portion of important nutrients in the diet. You’ve likely noticed the proliferation of books, websites and specialty foods aimed at helping people avoid gluten-containing grains — and all other grains, too. While a small group of scientists, medical professionals and bloggers are leading the charge for grain-free diets — declaring grains a mismatch based on human evolution — the majority of experts believe grainfree diets for the masses are a wrong move. If you’ve considered ditching grains, it’s important to understand the science and the potential pitfalls if you do so.

Who should avoid certain grains? Clearly, those with an allergy to wheat or other grains must avoid them. And the one percent of the population with celiac disease, and the six percent with non-celiac gluten sensitivity, must avoid all gluten — a protein found in grains, including wheat, rye and barley. With a doctor’s approval, most people with a gluten sensitivity can eat small amounts of uncontaminated oats; all other uncontaminated, gluten-free grains are typically allowed.

According to an August 2013 review in Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, multiple case reports suggest gluten can play a role in some autoimmune diseases beyond celiac disease, but large studies are lacking. Autoimmune diseases that occur most commonly in combination with celiac disease are autoimmune thyroid disease, autoimmune liver disease, Type 1 diabetes, Sjogren’s syndrome and psoriasis. If you have an autoimmune condition or health concern that has a scientifically documented relationship with gluten, talk with your doctor about celiac disease testing.

The nutrient gap Gluten-free diets carry the concern of nutritional deficiencies, and completely grain-free diets only heighten that risk. Julie Miller Jones, PhD, CNS, LN, professor emerita of nutrition at St. Catherine University, St. Paul, Minn., summarizes data showing grains provide the following amounts of nutrients in the U.S. diet: Seventy percent of folate; 60 percent of thiamin; 50 percent of iron; 40 percent or more of niacin, riboflavin and selenium, and 25 percent of magnesium and zinc. Jones is especially concerned about the impact a grain-free diet could have on folic acid intake. “Since the mid-1990s, when it be-

came mandatory to add folic acid to enriched grain products, the incidence of neural tube birth defects, such as spina bifida, has dropped by more than 50 percent,” she said. Proponents of grain-free diets voice concern about “anti-nutrients” in grains. Grains, especially whole grains, contain a substance called phytate that impairs the body’s absorption of some minerals. However, in populations with well-balanced diets, this may be of little consequence. There are ways to minimize phytate, too. “Breads made with longer fermentation times, such as Julia Child’s French bread (which requires at least six hours of rise time), and classic sourdough bread, have significantly lower phytate levels,” Jones said. Lectins, another type of anti-nutrient in grains, also may be inactivated by lengthy fermentation, and some are destroyed by heat.

Unique fiber in grains Fiber in grains is not the same as the fiber in other foods. “Some people reason that if they eat more broccoli, for instance, then it won’t matter if they don’t eat grains. But thinking you don’t need grain fiber because you get a lot of vegetable fiber is like saying that if you get enough vitamin A you don’t need any vitamin C. That’s just plain wrong,” Jones said.

For example, beta glucan, the fiber best at lowering cholesterol, is present only in oats and barley. And it’s grain fiber, rather than fiber from any source, that is linked with a reduced risk of colon cancer. A 2009 study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that healthy adults on a gluten-free diet for a month had a significant decrease in protective gut bacteria, while potentially unhealthy bacteria increased in number. These findings are similar to an earlier study of children with celiac disease following a long-term gluten-free diet (Journal of Medical Microbiology, 2007). In the typical American diet, wheat supplies at least 70 percent of inulin and oligofructose, which are prebiotic starches that fuel the growth of good bacteria. When all is said and done, the more restricted your food options are, the more careful you’ll need to be to ensure your body gets what it needs. So, look beyond diet books’ bestseller headlines and sensationalistic stories to make sure any dietary change is appropriate for you. Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC. 800-829-5384. www.EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2014 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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What’s all the fuss over dark chocolate? By Lori Zanteson In addition to its great taste and enduring popularity, dark chocolate may help you fend off heart disease, diabetes, dementia and stroke. Chocolate has a variety of health-protective qualities thanks to its antioxidant flavonoids. The darker the chocolate, the higher level of flavonols (the main antioxidant found in cocoa and chocolate) it contains. Dark chocolate has a protective effect against cardiovascular disease. It lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, and may protect the heart by improving the function of cells that line the heart and blood vessels (the endothelium). It also improves insulin resistance, a predictor of di-

abetes, according to a November 2013 study in the journal Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition Metabolic Care. In addition, cocoa flavonols are absorbed into, and accumulate in, the areas of the brain involved in learning and memory. According to a study in a 2013 Neuroscience and Biobehavior Reviews, long-term flavonol consumption may have protective effects against cognitive decline, including dementia and stroke. In addition to the gustatory pleasures of enjoying a rich square of dark chocolate, it also may improve mood, with the potential to ease symptoms of anxiety and depression, according to a study in a 2013 Journal of Psychopharmacology.

How it’s made and processed Chocolate is made from beans harvested from the cocoa tree, Theobroma cacao. The ancient Mayans first discovered chocolate’s health potential. They ground the beans into a bitter brew that they used as traditional medicine for heart ailments, depression and other conditions. Today, chocolate manufacturers remove cocoa beans from their pod and ferment, dry, roast and grind them into cocoa liquor. The beans may be further processed into cocoa butter and cocoa powder. Cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, sugar and vanilla are then combined to make chocolate. Dark chocolate contains higher amounts of cocoa solids and smaller amounts of sugar than milk chocolate, resulting in a richer, deeper flavor. When shopping for chocolate, go as dark as your palate allows for the biggest boost of flavonoids and health benefits. Most studies use chocolate with 70 percent or higher cocoa content. Ingredients should include cocoa butter (but not other fats such as palm or coconut oils), sugar, vanilla, and not much else.

Statins From page 3 how nearly 4,000 people in those surveys would have been classified under the new and old guidelines, and projected the results to the whole country.

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The biggest effect was on people 60 and older, researchers found. Under the new guidelines, 87 percent of such men not already taking a statin are eligible to consider one; only 30 percent were under the old guidelines. For women, the numbers are 54 percent and 21 percent, respectively. Dr. Paul Ridker and Nancy Cook of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston have criticized the risk formula in the guidelines. Ridker declined to be interviewed, but in a statement, he and Cook noted that most people newly suggested for statins do not have high cholesterol,

Note that just one ounce of 70 to 85 percent dark chocolate has 168 calories and 12 grams of fat, so it’s best to keep portions petite — about one ounce. Pair your squares with other flavonoid-rich treats like red wine (in moderation) or a handful of almonds. An alternative way to the health benefits of dark chocolate — one with fewer calories and fat — is to add natural cocoa powder to your foods. (Try it in hot oatmeal!) One to two tablespoons of natural cocoa powder provide a similar level of flavonoids as the amount of dark chocolate used in studies suggesting health benefits. The powder alone tastes quite bitter, however, so some sweetener is typically called for. As for chocolate milk and hot cocoa mixes: those are typically made with Dutched cocoa. Unfortunately, the processing that makes Dutch cocoa also removes most of the flavonoid compounds. Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC. 800-829-5384. www.EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2014 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

but smoke or have high blood pressure. They feel those problems, and lifestyle changes that address them, should be tried before prescribing medications. Dr. Neil Stone, the Northwestern University doctor who helped lead the guidelines work, stressed that the guidelines just say who should consider a statin, and they recommend people discuss that carefully with a doctor. “We think we’re focusing the attention for statins on those who would benefit the most,” Stone said. Dr. Harlan Krumholz, a Yale University cardiologist who has long advocated this approach, agreed. “The guidelines provide a recommendation, not a mandate” for statin use, he said. For more information on cholesterol see http://tinyurl.com/2dtc5vy. A risk calculator can be found at http://my.americanheart.org/cvriskcalculator. — AP

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Blood test rules out heart attacks in the ER

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the University of Pennsylvania. He believes the test should be available in the U.S. and that the amount of evidence that FDA regulators are requiring to approve it is too high. Dr. Allan Jaffe, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic, said the problem is not what the test rules out, but what it might falsely rule in. It’s so sensitive that it can pick up troponin from heart failure and other problems, and cause unnecessary tests for that. “I think the strategy long-term will be proven,” but more studies underway now in the U.S. are needed to show that, he said. — AP

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People may feel reassured by being admitted to a hospital so doctors can keep an eye on them. But a hospital stay raises the risk of picking up an infection and having expensive care they’ll have to pay a share of, plus unnecessary tests. The study included nearly 15,000 people who went to the Karolinska University hospital with chest pains over two years. About 8,900 had low scores on the new blood test for troponin, a substance that’s a sign of heart damage. The test has been available in Europe, Asia and Canada for about three years, but it has not yet been approved for use in the United States.

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The patients were 47 years old on average, and 4 percent had a previous heart attack. About 21 percent of them wound up being admitted. Researchers later looked back to see how the blood test and electrocardiogram would have predicted how they fared over the next month. They determined that in order to find one heart attack in patients like this, 594 would have to be admitted — a huge waste of resources. A test like this would be “enormously useful,” and the study’s results are “almost too good to be true,” said Dr. Judd Hollander, an emergency medicine specialist at

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Chest pain sends more than 15 million people to emergency rooms in the United States and Europe each year, and it usually turns out to be due to anxiety, indigestion or other less-serious things than a heart attack. Yet doctors don’t want to miss one — about 2 percent of patients having heart attacks are mistakenly sent home.

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By Marilynn Marchione A simple test appears very good at ruling out heart attacks in people who go to emergency rooms with chest pain — a big public health issue and a huge worry for patients. A large study in Sweden found that the blood test plus the usual electrocardiogram of the heartbeat were 99 percent accurate at showing which patients could safely be sent home rather than be admitted for observation and more diagnostics. Of nearly 9,000 patients judged low risk by the blood test and with normal electrocardiograms, only 15 went on to suffer a heart attack in the next month, and not a single one died. “We believe that, with this strategy, 20 to 25 percent of admissions to hospitals for chest pain may be avoided,” said Dr. Nadia Bandstein of the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm. She helped lead the study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and presented at the cardiology college’s annual conference in April.

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Health Shorts Vaccine cuts senior pneumonia rates and complications A vaccine against pneumonia, blood and other infections met its goal of preventing illness in vulnerable older adults in a huge study required by the Food and Drug Administration. Prevnar 13 protects against 13 strains of pneumococcal disease, which can cause painful children’s ear infections, pneumonia and life-threatening bloodstream infections. The study, known by the acronym CAPiTA, included about 85,000 patients 65 and older. It found that, compared to study participants getting a dummy shot, those getting the vaccine had about 46 percent fewer cases of pneumonia and about 75 percent fewer cases of invasive pneumococcal disease such as bloodstream infections. The top-selling vaccine in history, Prevnar 13 brings its maker, Pfizer, Inc., $4 billion in annual revenue. Launched at the end of 2009, it’s now on sale in more than 120 countries.

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In the U.S., it’s approved for children from six weeks to 17 years old and for adults aged 50 and older. In 2011, the Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to use the vaccine in the 65and-up group, but required a large study to verify it actually prevented illness in them. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to infections by pneumococcal bacteria, and potentially life-threatening complications, because their immune systems don’t work as well as when they were younger. For the same reason, vaccines generally are only about 50 percent effective in patients 65 and older. Pfizer noted the study is the first of any pneumococcal vaccine showing a significant reduction in pneumococcal infections in adults. That could help Prevnar 13 take more market share from rival Merck & Co.’s Pneumovax vaccine. — AP

Fixing heart valves without surgery A new study gives a big boost to fixing a bad aortic valve, the heart’s main gate, without open-heart surgery. Survival rates were better one year later for people who

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had a new valve placed through a tube into an artery instead. The results prompted some doctors to predict that, in the near future, far fewer people will be having the traditional operation. “It’s going to be very hard to tell a patient that if they need an aortic valve, surgery is going to be their best option,” said Dr. Prediman K. Shah of Cedars Sinai Heart Institute in Los Angeles. A bad aortic valve can stiffen and narrow with age, keeping blood from passing through as it should. Until a few years ago, the only solution was a major operation to open the chest, cut out the bad valve, and sew in a new one. That changed in 2011, when Edwards Lifesciences Inc. won federal approval for an expandable valve that could fit in a catheter into a leg artery, be guided to the heart, and be placed inside the old valve. Studies showed survival was comparable to surgery or a little better, but strokes were more common after the catheter approach, making some leery of it. Earlier this year, a rival device — Medtronic Inc.’s CoreValve — was approved for treating people at too high a risk to have surgery. The new study tested it in nearly 800 people who were less sick — eligible for the operation but still with elevated risks. One year after treatment, 19 percent of the surgery patients but only 14 percent of

those given a CoreValve had died. Stroke rates also seemed lower, though this was not one of the main results researchers were tracking. After one year, 13 percent of surgery patients and 9 percent of the others had had a stroke. Two-year follow-up is not complete, but “we are certainly encouraged” that trends appear to be continuing, said one of the study’s leaders, Dr. David Adams of New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital. There were drawbacks to the CoreValve, though — twice as many patients needed pacemakers afterward. Other complications were a tradeoff — more vascular problems with the CoreValve but more problems with a fluttering heartbeat called atrial fibrillation among those who had surgery. Still, several independent experts praised the results. “It’s a great leap forward” for fixing valves through blood vessels, said Dr. David Kandzari of Piedmont Heart Institute in Atlanta. The study was paid for by Medtronic, and many study leaders consult for Medtronic, Edwards or other heart device makers. Results also were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Doctors say both companies’ artificial valves need more long-term study to see if they hold up as well as the ones implanted surgically, which typically last 20 years. Other firms are also testing catheterplaced valves. — AP

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2014

FOR ADULTS WITH DUPUYTREN’S CONTRACTURE WHEN A “CORD” CAN BE FELT

YOU MAY HAVE MORE OPTIONS THAN YOU THINK, AND THAT’S

NO SMALL THING XIAFLEX FOR INJECTION

ASK YOUR DOCTOR IF SOMETHING NONSURGICAL CAN BE DONE NOW Dupuytren’s contracture is a disorder of the hand that can worsen over time. XIAFLEX is the only FDA-approved therapy that is administered during an in-office nonsurgical procedure to treat Dupuytren’s contracture where a “rope-like” cord can be felt. A hand specialist trained to inject XIAFLEX performs the procedure, and no general anesthesia is required for administration. Studies show that prescription XIAFLEX may help straighten the affected finger and improve range of motion. These results have been shown in contractures ranging from less severe to more severe. And that’s no small thing. In two clinical studies, 64% and 44% of people receiving XIAFLEX (versus 7% and 5% of patients receiving placebo) had a straight or nearly straight finger after up to 3 XIAFLEX injection procedures. Most people required 1 or 2 injection procedures with XIAFLEX to help “break” the cord. Since February 2010, approximately 45,000 people have had their Dupuytren’s contracture treated with XIAFLEX. Watch a video about one person’s treatment experience, and find more information at XIAFLEX.com. Then, talk with your doctor to see if XIAFLEX may be right for you.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Do not receive XIAFLEX if you have had an allergic reaction to collagenase clostridium histolyticum or any of the ingredients in XIAFLEX, or to any other collagenase product. XIAFLEX can cause serious side effects including tendon rupture (break), ligament damage, nerve injury or other serious injury of the hand, or allergic reaction. Surgery could be required to fix the damaged tendon or ligament. Call your doctor right away if you have trouble bending your injected finger after the swelling goes down, pain, tingling, numbness, or problems using your treated hand or if you get hives, swollen face, breathing trouble, or chest pain. Bleeding or bruising at the injection site can happen in people who receive XIAFLEX. It’s important to tell your doctor about a prior allergic reaction to XIAFLEX, or if you have a bleeding problem or use a blood thinner. Common side effects include hand swelling, bruising, injection site reaction or bleeding, and pain. XIAFLEX should be injected into the cord by a healthcare provider who is experienced in injection procedures of the hand and treating people with Dupuytren’s contracture. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Important Product Information on the following page.

Find a XIAFLEX-experienced hand specialist near you. Use the Physician Locator tool at XIAFLEX.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 1-877-XIAFLEX

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Important Product Information XIAFLEX® (Zī a flex) (collagenase clostridium histolyticum) For injection, for intralesional use Read this Important Product Information before you receive XIAFLEX for the treatment of Dupuytren’s contracture and each time you get an injection. There may be new information. This Important Product Information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment. What is the most important information I should know about XIAFLEX for the treatment of Dupuytren’s contracture? XIAFLEX can cause serious side effects, including: 1. TTendon rupture or ligament damage. Receiving an injection of XIAFLEX may cause damage to a tendon or ligament in your hand and cause it to break or weaken. This could require surgery to fix the damaged g tendon or ligament. g Call your y healthcare provider p right g awayy if you y have trouble bending your injected finger (towards the wrist) after the swelling goes down or you have problems using your treated hand after your follow-up visit. 2. Nerve injury or other serious injury of the hand. Call your healthcare provider right awayy if you get numbness, tingling, or increased pain in your treated finger or hand after your injection or after your follow-up visit. 3. Allergic reactions. Severe allergic reactions can happen in people who receive XIAFLEX, because it contains foreign proteins. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms of an allergic reaction after an injection of XIAFLEX: • Hives, swollen face, breathing trouble, chest pain What is XIAFLEX? XIAFLEX is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with Dupuytren’s contracture when a “cord” can be felt. It is not known if XIAFLEX is safe and effective in children under the age of 18. Who should not receive XIAFLEX? Do not receive XIAFLEX if you: • have had an allergic reaction to collagenase clostridium histolyticum, or any of the ingredients in XIAFLEX, or to any other collagenase product. See the end of this Important Product Information for a complete list of ingredients in XIAFLEX. Talk to your healthcare provider before receiving this medicine if you have any of these conditions. What should I tell my healthcare provider before receiving XIAFLEX? Before receiving XIAFLEX, tell your healthcare provider if you: • have had an allergic reaction to a XIAFLEX injection in the past, have a bleeding problem, have received XIAFLEX to treat another condition, have any other medical conditions, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if XIAFLEX will harm your unborn baby. • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if XIAFLEX passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you receive XIAFLEX. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-thecounter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using XIAFLEX with certain other medicines can cause serious side effects. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take: • medicines to thin your blood (anticoagulants). If you are told to stop taking a blood thinner before your XIAFLEX injection, your healthcare provider should tell you when to restart the blood thinner. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of these medicines, if you are not sure. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. How will I receive XIAFLEX? • XIAFLEX should be injected into a cord by a healthcare provider who is experienced in injection procedures of the hand and treating people with Dupuytren’s contracture. • YYour healthcare provider will inject XIAFLEX into the cord that is causing your finger to bend. • After an injection of XIAFLEX, your affected hand will be wrapped with a bandage. You should limit moving and using the treated finger after the injection. o Do not bend or straighten the fingers of the injected hand until your healthcare provider says it is okay. This will help to keep the medicine from leaking out of the cord. o Do not try to straighten the treated finger yourself. • Keep the injected hand elevated until bedtime. • Call your healthcare provider right away if you have: o signs of infection after your injection, such as fever, chills, increased redness, or swelling, numbness or tingling in the treated finger, trouble bending the injected finger after the swelling goes down • Return to your healthcare provider’s office as directed on the day after your injection. During this first follow-up visit, if you still have the cord, your healthcare provider may try to extend the treated finger to “break” the cord and try to straighten your finger. • YYour healthcare provider will provide you with a splint to wear on the treated finger. Wear the splint as instructed by your healthcare provider at bedtime to keep your finger straight. • Do finger exercises each day, as instructed by your healthcare provider. • Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions about when you can start doing your normal activities with the injected hand. What are the possible side effects of XIAFLEX? XIAFLEX may cause serious side effects, including: • See “What is the most important information I should know about XIAFLEX?” • increased chance of bleeding. Bleeding or bruising at the injection site can happen in people who receive XIAFLEX. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have a problem with your blood clotting. XIAFLEX may not be right for you. The most common side effects with XIAFLEX for the treatment of Dupuytren’s contracture include: • swellingg of the injection j site or the hand, bruisingg or bleedingg at the injection j site, pain p or tenderness of the injection site or the hand, swelling of the lymph nodes (glands) in the elbow or armpit (axilla), itching, breaks in the skin, redness or warmth of the skin, pain in the armpit Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects with XIAFLEX. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. General information about the safe and effective use of XIAFLEX. Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in the Important Product Information. This Important Product Information summarizes the most important information about XIAFLEX. If you would like more information, talk to your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about XIAFLEX that is written for health professionals. For more information, go to www.XIAFLEX.com or call 1-877-663-0412. What are the ingredients in XIAFLEX? Active ingredient: collagenase clostridium histolyticum Inactive ingredients: hydrochloric acid, sucrose, and tromethamine. The diluent contains: calcium chloride dihydrate in 0.9% sodium chloride This Important Product Information has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufactured and distributed by: Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Chesterbrook, PA 19087 Based on PL-1109-001.e Approved: 12/2013 XDC-00721

JUNE 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Is one drink a day too much? By Dr. Terry Schneekloth Dear Mayo Clinic: I enjoy a glass of wine each night with dinner and sometimes have another before bed. My husband is concerned and thinks I should take a break from it to make sure I’m not becoming addicted. Is it possible to become an alcoholic just by having one or two drinks at night? I never drink to the point of feeling drunk. Answer: For most people, an occasional glass of wine with dinner or a drink in the evening is fine. When drinking becomes a daily activity, though, it can put you at risk for health problems. From your description of your drinking habits, it may be time to take a closer look at how much you drink. In general, drinking alcohol in moderation is not a cause for concern. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, or NIAAA, no more than three drinks in any one day, and no more than seven drinks a week, is considered to be in the moderate or low-risk range for women. For men, it’s no more than four drinks a day and no more than 14 drinks a week.

How large is a drink? Those guidelines are based on standard-size drinks. One standard drink contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol. That equals 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, 8 to 9 ounces of malt liquor and 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits or “hard” liquor. If you’re not careful, it’s easy to drink more than a standard drink in one glass. For example, many wine glasses hold far more than 5 ounces. You could easily drink 8 ounces of wine in a glass. If you have one of those glasses during a meal and another before bed, you’re actually consuming about three standard drinks in one evening. You mention that you never drink to the point of feeling drunk. Although that’s a common way people gauge how much they should drink, it can be quite inaccurate. In fact, researchers who study alcohol abuse find that people who do not feel the effects of alcohol after they drink several al-

coholic beverages are at higher risk for alcohol-related problems than those who do. It is important to note that even though you may not feel the effects of alcohol, you still have the same amount of alcohol in your body as someone who does start to feel intoxicated after one or two drinks. Your lack of response to the alcohol may be related to an increase in your body’s alcohol tolerance over time, due to your regular drinking. Drinking more than the NIAAA-recommended limits puts you in the category of “at-risk” drinking. That means you have a higher risk for negative consequences related to your alcohol use, including health and social problems. You’re also at higher risk of becoming addicted to alcohol.

Alcohol-related health issues Alcohol can damage your body’s organs and lead to a variety of health concerns. For women, this damage happens with lower doses of alcohol because their bodies contain less water than men. That’s why the moderate drinking guidelines for women and men are so different. The specific organ damage that happens with too much alcohol use varies considerably from one person to another. The most common health effects include heart, liver and nerve damage, as well as memory problems and sexual dysfunction. Unless you or your husband notice specific negative consequences related to your drinking, it probably is not necessary for you to quit drinking alcohol entirely. However, I would strongly encourage you to reduce the amount you drink, so it fits within the guidelines of moderate drinking. For more information about alcohol and health, visit the NIAAA web site: www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health. — Terry Schneekloth, M.D., Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. To submit a question, write to: medicaledge@mayo.edu. © 2014 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2014

Replacing hips and knees at record pace By Marilynn Marchione It’s not just grandma with a new hip and your uncle with a new knee. More than 2 of every 100 Americans now have an artificial joint, doctors are reporting. Among those over 50, it’s even more common: Five percent have replaced a knee, and more than 2 percent, a hip. “They are remarkable numbers,” said Dr. Daniel J. Berry, chairman of orthopedic surgery at the Mayo Clinic. Roughly 7 million people in the United States are living with a total hip or knee replacement. He led the first major study to estimate how prevalent these procedures have become, using federal databases on surgeries and life expectancy trends. Results were reported at an American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons conference. More than 600,000 knees and about 400,000 hips are replaced in the U.S. each year. But until now, there haven’t been good numbers on how many people currently are living with new joints. The number is expected to grow as the population ages, raising questions about cost, how long the new parts will last, and how best to replace the replacements as they wear out over time. Why the boom? “People are aware that they’re a success” and are less willing to put up with painful joints, Berry said.

The term “joint replacement” is a little misleading, said Dr. Joshua Jacobs, chairman of orthopedic surgery at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and president of the orthopedic surgery association. What’s replaced is the surface of a joint after cartilage has worn away, leaving bone rubbing against bone and causing pain and less mobility. In a replacement operation, the ends of bones are removed or resurfaced, and replaced with plastic, ceramic or metal materials. Arthritis is the main reason for these operations, followed by obesity, which adds stress on knees and hips. Baby boomers are wearing out joints by playing sports and doing other activities to avoid obesity. Knee replacement surgeries have more than tripled in the 45-to-64 age group over the last decade, and nearly half of hip replacements now are in people under 65, federal numbers show.

Surgery not for everyone “It’s not for anybody who has pain in the joint,” Berry warned. Surgery won’t help people with pain and stiffness from arthritis but whose joints are not damaged, said Berry, who gets royalties from certain hip and knee implants. Surgery also is not for people who haven’t first tried exercise, medicines and

weight loss, Jacobs said. But for a growing number of people, it can mean a big improvement in quality of life. Mary Ann Tuft, 79, who owns an executive search firm, said her right knee was painful for a decade before she had it replaced in 2005. “I live in downtown Chicago, take a lot of walks along the beach. I could barely walk a block” by the time the operation was done, she said. “I’m very social, but I found going to cocktail receptions where you had to stand a long time, I would just avoid them.” After the operation, “I felt better pretty much right from the beginning,” she said. “You don’t even know you have it in there, which is amazing.” Cynthia Brabbit, a dental hygienist from Winona, Minn., had hip replacement in 2007 when she was 52. She developed hip problems in her 20s that distorted her gait and even caused one leg to grow longer than the other. “I was running marathons, doing half marathons, playing tennis,” but the problem grew so bad she couldn’t even walk more than half a mile, she said. “Now I can walk an hour a day,” and is training for a 100-mile bike ride this summer, she said. “What a world of difference.” Not all patients have fared as well, though. Implant recalls and big patient lawsuits show

the danger when a device is flawed. Last June, Stryker Corp. recalled certain hip implant products because of corrosion and other problems. Last month, another device maker, Biomet, agreed to pay at least $200,000 each to hundreds of people who received artificial hips that were later replaced. And in November, Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $2.5 billion to settle roughly 8,000 patients’ lawsuits over an all-metal hip implant it pulled from the market in 2010. Even good implants can fail over time — about 1 percent or fewer fail each year. After 10 years, more than 90 percent of them are still functioning, Jacobs and Berry said. It costs about $20,000 for a knee or hip replacement, but a recent study suggests they save more than they cost, because they reduce lost work days and improve mobility. “There’s a cost for not doing the procedure,” Jacobs noted. To help a joint replacement succeed and last, doctors recommend doing physical therapy to strengthen bones, muscles and the new joint. Other tips include maintaining a healthy weight, cross training so you don’t overdo one type of activity or sport, spending more time warming up, and letting muscles and joints recover between workouts. For more information, see www.orthoinfo.org and www.aaos.org/research/stats/ patientstats.asp. — AP

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As a podiatrist with over 30 years experience, I have always focused on non-surgical treatment of foot and leg pain. I find that most people with foot or leg symptoms (arthritic, aching, burning, cramping or difficulty walking) , even those who have had other treatments, including surgery of the foot (or back), can be helped, usually in 1 or 2 visits.

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H elP F orYour F eeT.C oM

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JUNE 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

New hepatitis C pill is quick, costly cure By Matthew Perrone U.S. health officials recently approved a highly anticipated hepatitis C drug from Gilead Sciences Inc. that is expected to offer a faster, more palatable cure to millions of people infected with the liver-destroying virus. The Food and Drug Administration approved the pill Sovaldi in combination with older drugs to treat the main forms of hepatitis C that affect U.S. patients. Current treatments for hepatitis C can take up to a year of therapy and involve weekly injections of a drug that causes flulike side effects. That approach only cures about three out of four patients. Sovaldi is a daily pill that in clinical trials cured roughly 90 percent of patients in just

12 weeks, when combined with the older injected drug cocktail.

Baby boomers at risk The new treatment option comes as the U.S. government urges all baby boomers to get tested for the disease. People born between 1945 and 1965 are five times more likely than other age groups to have hepatitis C, with many having contracted the virus by sharing needles or having sex with an infected person in their youth. Hepatitis C symptoms may not appear until two or three decades after infection, though the virus can cause liver failure, cirrhosis and cancer if left untreated. Between 3 and 4 million Americans, many of them baby boomers, are estimated

to carry the blood-borne virus, though most do not even know they are infected. Others have tested positive but are waiting for more effective treatments to become available. Dr. Donald Jensen of the University of Chicago said he’s optimistic that new drugs like Sovaldi will increase treatment of the disease, which is blamed for 15,000 U.S. deaths per year. “I’m hoping that these new, less toxic therapies will drive more people to get tested, and more primary care physicians to test their patients, knowing that the therapy is going to be more effective and easier,” said Jensen, who directs the university’s center for liver diseases. Gilead Sciences Inc., based in Foster City, Calif., is one of a half-dozen companies battling over the market for more effective treatments for hepatitis C. Many industry analysts expect Sovaldi to quickly dominate the field, with sales of the new drug totaling more than $2.3 billion already this year.

Pricey pill But the drug isn’t cheap, and at $1,000 per pill, critics have complained it will be unaffordable for many patients. A 12-week supply costs $84,000. Patients with a less common subtype of the disease may need to take the drug for

24 weeks, raising the cost to $168,000 for one course of treatment. Drugs already on the market run between $25,000 and $50,000 for a course of treatment. For most of the last 20 years, the standard treatment for hepatitis C involved a grueling one-year regimen of pills and injections that caused nausea, fever and headaches, and cured fewer than half of patients. Then in 2011, the FDA approved two new drugs from Merck and Vertex Pharmaceuticals that raised the cure rate to about 65 and 75 percent, respectively, when combined with the older treatments. Gilead’s once-a-day pill pushes the cure rate much higher. In a company study of patients with the most common forms of the disease, 90 percent of participants had undetectable levels of the virus after 12 weeks taking Sovaldi plus the older pill-and-injection cocktail. The forms of the disease studied in the trial account for more than 75 percent of hepatitis C cases in the U.S. Gilead’s drug is less effective in treating a less common form of the disease that accounts for about 10 percent of U.S. cases. Patients with that strain of the virus had to take the drug for 24 weeks, twice the normal duration, to achieve an 85 percent cure rate. See HEPATITIS C, page 11

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2014

Preserving youthful skin without surgery Age isn’t kind to skin. Years of accumulated sun exposure leave their mark in the form of fine lines, wrinkles and discoloration. By the time you reach your 60s or 70s, much of the damage has already been done, but that damage isn’t indelible. “There are a lot of things you can do about the changes that time, aging and sun exposure have brought about,” said Dr. Kenneth Arndt, clinical professor of dermatology at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston, Mass.) and medical editor of the Harvard Medical School Special Health Report, Skin Care and Repair (www.health.harvard.edu/SCR). The first step is to slow the pace of further damage by staying out of the sun and wearing adequate sun protection whenever you are outside. That means completely covering

exposed skin with an SPF30 or higher sunscreen, and wearing sun-protective clothing, wraparound sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat that shields your face, neck and ears.

Time erasers To minimize wrinkles and age spots that have already etched themselves into your skin, Arndt suggests the following nonsurgical cosmetic techniques. 1. Smooth and fill The most common skin rejuvenation tools Arndt uses on his patients are dermal fillers and neuromodulators. Neuromodulators (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin) are injections to relax the muscles that create the appearance of wrinkles when you smile, frown or laugh. “These products diminish the frown

lines and forehead lines, and sometimes the crow’s feet, and they do it well, reliably and safely. People are almost always happy with the results,” Arndt said. Dermal fillers are injections that plump up sagging areas of skin. They’re sometimes called “liquid facelifts,” because they can create a more youthful look without the downtime and risks associated with cosmetic surgery. Dermal fillers are often used to soften the “laugh lines” that run from the side of the nose down to the mouth. Often the two treatments are used together. Neuromodulators diminish frown lines, while fillers plump up the appearance of the lower face, cheeks, chin and laugh lines. Combining the two enhances and pro-

longs their effects. Arndt said both techniques are safe, with very few side effects. Botox and similar injections may cause a little bruise at the injection site or a slight heaviness of the brow, but these effects are temporary. Fillers also may cause some slight, temporary bruising. Also remember that the effects of these treatments are temporary. To keep seeing results, you’ll need to return for repeat sessions — Botox two or three times a year, and fillers once or twice a year. 2. Rejuvenate For skin discoloration, including freckles, age spots and liver spots, Arndt recomSee YOUTHFUL SKIN, page 13

Gentle Foot Care in Your Home Hepatitis C From page 10 But even for those patients, experts say Gilead’s drug represents an important step forward.

No more injections? In February, Gilead filed for FDA approval of a combination pill containing sofosbuvir and ledipasvir, another antiviral

drug, that could become the first all-oral regimen for the most common form of hepatitis C, long viewed as the holy grail of treatments by drugmakers. The combination oral drug can cure some types of hepatitis C in eight weeks. Similar development efforts are underway from competitors, including Abbott Laboratories, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Vertex Pharmaceuticals and others. — AP

More ways to say “I love you.” If you, or a loved one, is Deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf-Blind, or have diﬃculty speaking, Maryland Relay oﬀers many calling options to keep you connected by phone. You may also qualify for a free assistive device through the Maryland Accessible Telecommunications program.

Calling Options t TTY (Text Telephone) t Voice Carry-Over t Hearing Carry-Over t Speech-to-Speech t Captioned Telephone t Spanish Relay Just dial 7-1-1 to make a Relay call. Visit mdrelay.org to learn more.

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Diabetic foot exams Corns/calluses Wound/infection care Toenail fungus Dr. Richard Rosenblatt DPM

Over 25 years experience

410-358-0544 6606 Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore, MD

Same Day, Weekend and Evening appointments. Most Insurance Accepted

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JUNE 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2014

Youthful skin From page 11 mends laser resurfacing or pulsed light therapy. Fractional laser resurfacing aims very small beams of high-energy light at the skin to smooth and tighten the surface and stimulate the development of collagen — the protein that gives skin its elasticity. Because fractional laser resurfacing works only on fractions of the larger areas treated at a time, redness is minimized and healing is quick. However, you may have some itching and swelling in the treated area. Pulsed light therapy exposes the skin to intense broadband wavelengths of light energy — unlike the laser, which emits one specific wavelength. This technique, which also stimulates collagen production, reduces the look of sun damage and brown spots, and minimizes wrinkles. Side effects are usually mild, but there may be some redness afterward.

Less costly options The treatments listed above can be pricey — Botox injections range from $300 to $700 per session, and fractional laser resurfacing can exceed $1,000. If you don’t want to invest quite as much money, consider these options: Chemical peels use chemicals such as glycolic acid to strip away the outer layer of damaged skin. “They’re reasonably mild,” Arndt said. “The skin is left refreshed, a little pink, and shiny.” A glycolic acid peel can cost as little as $80, but it needs to be repeated every few weeks or months to continue showing an effect. Microdermabrasion uses tiny exfoliating crystals to buff off the top layer of skin and reveal the smoother surface below. Although the technique is different from a chemical peel, the results are similar, according to Arndt. The cost is around $100.

Mild laser resurfacing (Clear and Brilliant) is a gentler version of fractional laser resurfacing. It involves smaller areas of skin, and the beam is less intense, so there’s less downtime and discomfort afterward than with a traditional laser resurfacing procedure. The cost ranges from $200 to $500, depending on the area of skin treated.

Where to go Most of these techniques are available at both dermatologists’ offices and “medspas” — nonmedical facilities that offer a range of cosmetic services. Well-trained estheticians can perform some of these procedures. However, Arndt cautions, “In some spas and similar offices, people who are not well trained do some of the treatments. That’s where it gets dangerous.” In October 2013, a study in JAMA Dermatology found that the percentage of lawsuits from skin laser surgery performed by nonphysicians more than doubled from

2008 to 2011, calling into question the safety of some medspas. If you do decide to see an esthetician instead of a dermatologist, make sure the practitioner is licensed in your state and is certified by the National Coalition of Es-

theticians, Manufacturers/Distributors and Associations (NCEA). — Harvard Women’s Health Watch © 2014. President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

May 27

GET THE FACTS ON ARTHRITIS

Join nurse Karen Kansler from MedStar Good Samaritan Medical Center on Tuesday, May 27th 1 p.m. to learn all about arthritis, risk factors, and treatment options, including physical activity, medications, diet and exercise, and joint replacement surgery. The program will be held at Liberty Senior Center, 3525 Resource Dr., Randallstown. Pre-registration is required. Call (410) 887-0780.

Ongoing

LOW-COST RABIES VACCINATION CLINICS

The Baltimore County Department of Health is offering rabies vaccination clinics at nine County sites this spring. The outdoor clinics are scheduled through Saturday, June 14. Vaccinations will cost $8 and are available to cats, dogs and ferrets owned by county residents. The clinics will be held rain or shine. A full schedule of the 2014 Rabies Vaccination Clinic schedule is available online at www.baltimorecountymd.gov/rabiesclinics.

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Health Studies Page

JUNE 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Therapy for hard-to-treat cancers studied By Carol Sorgen In the United States, more than 22,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year, and more than 14,000 will die of this disease. One reason the mortality rate is so high is because more than 70 percent of women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease (stage III or IV). The current standard of treatment for patients with advanced ovarian cancer is

cytoreductive surgery (CRS), which removes part of a malignant tumor that cannot be completely excised, followed by systemic chemotherapy, administered intravenously. Cancers of the appendix or lining of the abdominal cavity, which are biologically similar to ovarian cancer, are similarly hard to treat. Those cancers currently are treated with CRS plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) — a highly

BEACON BITS

May 28

REMAINING INDEPENDENT WITH LOW VISION

BrightFocus Foundation will host a live online chat on remaining independent despite low vision on Wednesday, May 28, from 1 to 2 p.m. Call toll-free 1-800-437-2423 to register or register online at www.brightfocus.org/TeleChat. Once you register, you will be called on the day and time of the event. You can also call into the live chat using this toll-free number and ID: 1-877229-8493, ID code 112435. BrightFocus Foundation is a nonprofit organization supporting research and providing public education to help eradicate brain and eye diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration and glaucoma.

May 27

concentrated, heated chemotherapy treatment that is delivered directly to cancer cells in the abdomen during surgery, allowing for higher doses of treatment. Heating the solution is intended to improve the absorption of chemotherapy drugs by tumors and to help destroy microscopic cancer cells that remain in the abdomen after surgery. Mercy Medical Center has been successful in treating these cancers in this way. Researchers at Mercy believe that patients newly diagnosed with advanced stage ovarian, peritoneal (abdominal cavity), or fallopian tube cancers may be successfully treated with CRS/HIPEC, with the addition of systemic chemotherapy over a period of 18 weeks. This treatment may decrease recurrence rates and improve overall patient survival without compromising long-term quality of life.

DEFEND YOURSELF

David Huya, certified self-defense instructor, will teach simple and easy ways to protect yourself at a program on Tuesday, May 27 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Pikesville Senior Center, 1301 Reisterstown Rd., Pikesville. For more information, call (410) 887-1245.

Patients sought for study Mercy is currently recruiting women with these types of cancer for a study designed to assess recovery related to surgery and chemotherapy, demonstrate improvement in overall survival, identify risk factors, determine prognoses and factors affecting treatment, and evaluate healthrelated quality of life. Forty-eight patients will be enrolled in the study. They will be randomly divided into two groups. Patients in the first group will undergo CRS alone followed by systemic chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel every 21 days for a total of six cycles.

Quality of life questionnaires will be administered throughout the study. Patients in the second, or experimental, arm of the study will undergo CRS with HIPEC, using carboplatin, administered for 90 minutes. Six weeks post-surgery, a systemic combination chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel will be given every 21 days for a total of six cycles. Quality of life questionnaires will also be conducted throughout the study. Gynecologic and general physical examinations, as well as the appropriate diagnostic tests, will be performed, and tumor response rate, disease progression and quality of life will be measured periodically over five years.

New patients welcome To enroll in the study, patients do not have to be current or prior patients of Mercy Medical Center. They may be selfor physician-referred. They cannot, however, have had any prior treatment for ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancers, including no prior cancer surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation treatments. There is no financial compensation for study participants. The patients’ insurance will be billed for all study portions, except the HIPEC portion, which will be paid for by the study. Patients will be responsible for any balance or co-pays that they would normally accrue. For more information, contact Michelle Sittig, RN, Mercy Medical Center research coordinator for surgical oncology, at (410) 783-5828, or msittig@mdmercy.com.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2014

Don’t have to play tennis to get its elbow By Dr. Howard LeWine Q: My doctor says my elbow pain is due to tennis elbow. But I don’t play tennis. Could you explain how this has come about and what I can do about it? A: “Tennis elbow” is a common term for a condition doctors call lateral epicondylitis. It’s caused by inflammation of the tendon that connects the extensor muscles of the wrist to the outside of the elbow. Probably fewer than 10 percent of people get this by playing tennis. The usual causes are recreational activities such as gardening, job-related lifting, using a screwdriver or wrist overuse. The medial epicondyle can also get inflamed. In this condition, called medial epicondylitis, the affected tendons connect the flexor muscles of the wrist to the inside of the elbow. It’s commonly called “golfer’s elbow” or “pitchers elbow.” Tightening and twisting the wrist from activities such as golfing or throwing a baseball can cause it. Most people with medial or lateral epicondylitis feel pain when their doctor applies direct pressure to the inflamed area. He or she might ask you to push your wrist against resistance, which could also cause pain. You might also feel pain with handshaking, lifting a briefcase or heavy pot, or similar activities.

Treatment options There is treatment for both conditions. You could wear a wrist splint or forearm brace to prevent overuse of the muscles of the forearm.

BEACON BITS

May 26

HONOR MILITARY MEMBERS ON MEMORIAL DAY

Each Memorial Day, Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens holds a public ceremony honoring members of the military with ties to Maryland who have been killed while serving. In addition to honoring the recently deceased, the ceremony will also pay tribute to those who gave their lives in Korea, Vietnam and World War II. The event typically attracts more than 1,000 people. This year’s ceremony will be held on Monday, May 26, at 10 a.m. Keynote speaker will Mary Gail Hare, retired staff writer for the Baltimore Sun. Music will be provided by the 229th Army Band, Maryland Army National Guard and Maryland Sings. Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens is located at 200 E. Padonia Rd. in Timonium. For more information, call (410) 666-0490 or visit www.dulaneyvalley.com.

You can also try a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID, such as ibuprofen or naproxen) and ice packs to help relieve symptoms. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy, especially if you need to return to a job or activity that caused the problem. Sometimes doctors recommend one or two steroid shots over the affected epicondyle. But there is some risk of tissue loss around the elbow with repeated shots. The symptoms of “tennis” or “golfer’s” elbow normally get better within a few months with conservative therapy. Once the symptoms disappear, you should begin gradual stretching and strengthening of the tendon and muscle attachments. Is a specific activity likely to have caused your condition? Try exploring a different swinging action or different equipment to avoid another episode.

Despite trying all the above, lateral or medial epicondylitis can sometimes persist for many months. If that happens, talk with your doctor about referral to an orthopedist. Howard LeWine, M.D., is a practicing internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital,

Boston, Mass., and Chief Medical Editor of Internet Publishing at Harvard Health Publications, Harvard Medical School. © 2014 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Diabetes Research Study 50-80 year old men & women with Type 2 Diabetes are needed to participate in an exercise research study at the University of Maryland/Baltimore VA Medical Center. Parking and compensation for your time will be provided. Call 410-605-7179. Mention code: EPC-DM.

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

JUNE 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

How to change the behavior of so-and-sos Dear Solutions: on it to change her habits. I guess she I have this friend who never arrives thinks if she’s there before it’s over, she’s anywhere on time. I wait for her and on time. then spend the rest of the What you have to do is stop appointment angry. If I’m indulging her, friend or not. the one who invited her to Tell her, loud and clear, this is join us at dinner or elsethe time we’re meeting. If where, I feel guilty when I you’re not there we will leave have to introduce her to (or eat or whatever) without the others waiting. you. I’m really tired of lying And do it, or her habit — to her about the time of for whatever reason — will these appointments, maknever change. ing it a half hour earlier in Dear Solutions: SOLUTIONS the hope that she’ll get I am the grandmother of By Helen Oxenberg, there on time accidentally. a lovely, unmarried 30MSW, ACSW She’s a good friend in year-old woman. other ways, but what to do? I was at an affair recently — Rose with people who know my family. First an Dear Rose: old uncle sat down next me and began When she finally does arrive, introduce asking about the family. He asked, “How her as “the late Mrs. so-and-so.” That come so-and-so isn’t married? Does this should throw her a little, but don’t count mean she’s never going to get married?

Have You Fallen? Seeking Men and Women to participate in a research study at the University of Maryland & Veterans aﬀairs of Baltimore to better understand balance and the prevention of falls in aging individuals.

you will receive: • Health evaluation • Balance, step, strength, and/or ﬂexibility exercises • Compensation for your time If interested call: 410-605-7179 & Mention code: LIFT Baltimore VA/University of Maryland Gerontology Recruitment Line *You must be at least 65 years old and in good health *Participants will be seen at the Baltimore VA Medical Center and University of Maryland School of Medicine *You will attend approximately 41 visits for 1 to 4 hours of time per visit

Is there something wrong with her?” I just said, “No there is nothing wrong with her, and she’ll decide when or if she’ll be married.” But inside I was furious. I know other people my age will ask the same thing when we meet and talk about our families. How do you answer this without being absolutely nasty? — Her Grandma Dear Her Grandma: To that uncle, or the next one, you might say, “Oh, Uncle so -and-so, she keeps looking for someone as perfect as you, and that’s hard to find, so I guess she just keeps putting it off.” And if it’s another grandma or old aunt: “She doesn’t like housework, so she’s said she’ll never be a “housewife” like we were, and so the rest is up to her. And thanks for being interested.” Enough said. Dear Solutions: I recently invited my daughter-inlaw’s young adult children from a former marriage to my vacation home in a warmer climate. I helped plan many activities for them, as well as making many meals both in and out. It’s true that they warmly thanked me for inviting them and for all the

meals and activities, but I still feel that I should have gotten a written thankyou note. Aside from appreciating the effort and thought that it would take, I think it would teach them a lesson in real manners, which is mostly gone today. Should I say anything to their mother, my new daughter-in-law? — Fannie Dear Fannie: You obviously did not weigh the enormous burden of writing a note against the burden of cooking, cleaning, planning and entertaining, or you would have decided that writing a note was too much to ask! Since their mother is your new daughter-in-law, I think you could tell her how you enjoyed and admired her children, and look forward to reading their thankyou notes — even on email, which would bring the old fashioned practice of thankyou notes into the modern world and make it easier for them. © Helen Oxenberg, 2014. Questions to be considered for this column may be sent to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915. You may also email the author at helox72@comcast.net. To inquire about reprint rights, call (609) 655-3684.

BEACON BITS

June 2

SINAI BARIATRICS INFORMATION SESSION Interested in losing weight? Join Sinai Hospital for a free information seminar to learn if bariatric surgery is right for you. Hosted

by Dr. Christina Li, division head of minimally invasive surgery at Sinai Hospital and advanced laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon, the session is for new patients in the Baltimore area. The next session will be held on Monday, June 2, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Zamoiski Auditorium at Sinai Hospital, 2435 W. Belvedere Ave. Registration is required. Call (410) 601-WELL.

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COMMUNITY AMENITIES • Beautiful club room with theatre • Indoor saltwater pool • Yoga studio & classes • Movie theatre & Billiards room 3305 Oak West Drive • Business center – 24 hours Ellicott City, MD 21043 • Incredible courtyard and meditation garden with koi pond and gazebo 855.446.1131 www.RegencySeniorApartments.com • Guest suites • Bingo, and many more planned activities

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2014

SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION

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Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

JUNE 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

A variety of affordable housing options By Carol Sorgen Mary Alice Madairy first learned of St. Mary’s Roland View Towers when she and her husband were living with his mother while trying to get back on their feet following her husband’s heart surgery. “I walked around the neighborhood looking for a job,” the 76-year-old Madairy recalled. She found one working at the front desk at the high-rise senior residences on Roland Avenue in Hampden. “From the very beginning, I liked the people, the building, and the neighborhood,” said Madairy. When the Madairys became old enough (62), they rented a one-bedroom apartment at Roland View. Sadly, Madairy’s husband died four months later, but she has stayed on. “I have everything I need here,” she

said, including convenient public transportation, nearby shopping, and activities both on- and off-site. “Everything is at my disposal,” said Madairy. “It’s like a neighborhood within a neighborhood.” St. Mary’s Roland View, where rent starts at $447 a month, is one of the many affordable residences for seniors throughout the Baltimore area. What follows is a brief sampling of the available options. Keep in mind that availability at individual communities can vary from immediate occupancy to short, or long, wait lists. It is always a good idea to explore the possibilities before you actually want or need to move. For a more complete list of affordable options, visit www.baltimorecountymd.gov/ Agencies/aging/housing/apartments.html

The Meadows of Reistertown offers the maintenance-free, independent lifestyle you’ve been looking for in a retirement community. • Social, Educational and Recreational Events • Patios or Balconies • Individual Climate Control • Convenient to Shopping, Banking and Restaurants

• Emergency Response System • Controlled-Access Entry • Hair Salon • Elevators • Smoke-Free • Small Pets Welcome

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930 Bay Forest Ct. • Annapolis, MD 21403

410-295-7557

7975 Crain Hwy. • Glen Burnie, MD 21061

410-969-2000

and www.baltimorehousing.org/public_ housing.asp. Park Heights Place 5430 Park Heights Ave. (410) 578-3445 www.enterprisecommunity.com Park Heights Place offers 83 affordable senior apartments in the Park Heights neighborhood. The four-story, T-shaped building features one-bedroom apartments of approximately 600 square feet. Standard features in each apartment include central heat and air conditioning, a fully equipped kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and living room. The development also features a large community room, TV room, laundry facility, lounge, wellness clinic and two outdoor patios. Fifty-eight percent of the apartments are dedicated for residents earning 40 percent or less of the area median income. Wayland Village Senior Apartments 3020 Garrison Blvd. (410) 542-4580 www.whetstonecompany.com Wayland Village is an independent living community designed exclusively for low- and moderate-income residents 62 and older. The 90-unit community has oneand two-bedroom apartments renting from $575 to $810 per month. Apartments feature fully-equipped kitchens, wall-to-wall carpeting, miniblinds, individually-controlled heating and air conditioning (included in rent), and emergency pendants for calling family or emergency services. The building features a telephone/card entry system for controlled building access, two convenient laundry facilities, community rooms and activities rooms, and highspeed Internet access. There are convenient options for public transportation and services. Bus #91 stops right out front. St. Mary’s Roland View Towers 3838 Roland Ave. (410) 889-8255 www.smrvt.com St. Mary’s Roland View Towers is a complex of two high-rise apartment buildings in the heart of Hampden. St. Mary’s Roland View Towers is one of the first suc-

cessful apartment facilities in the country constructed with federal funding (the 202 loan program) to provide housing for those who are 62 or older. There are 360 apartments at the property, including efficiencies, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms, ranging from $447 to $751 per month. Utilities are included in the rent. The restaurant on the top floor of 3838 is the highest point in Baltimore. It has a spectacular view of the city and is open to the public. Church services, social events and access to senior benefits are among community programs open to the tenants. Recent community activities include bus trips, cookouts, movie nights and bingo. Other features include 24/7 reception desk personnel on duty, 24/7 on-call maintenance, 24-hour library, beauty/barber shop and dining facilities. Weinberg Senior Housing www.chaibaltimore.org Since 1994, CHAI has acquired, renovated or developed 14 communities in northwest Baltimore City, Pikesville and Owings Mills. The buildings are owned by CHAI (an agency of the Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore), and managed by Edgewood Management. To qualify for an apartment home at Weinberg Senior Living, at least one member of the household must be age 62 or older. All household members must fall within the income limits set forth by the U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development: $17,250 to $34,500 for a one-person household, and $19,700 to $39,420 for a two-person household. Income requirements vary among the Weinberg properties. Rental rates for studio apartments range from $398 to $666 per month; one bedrooms range from $341 to $871; two bedrooms range from $597 to $1004. Floor plans and pricing may vary from property to property. Catholic Charities Senior Communities (443) 798-3423 www.catholiccharities-md.org/senior-housing/ See AFFORDABLE HOUSING, page B-3

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2014

Affordable housing From page B-2 Catholic Charities has been managing senior communities for more than 30 years in Baltimore City and Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Garrett and Harford Counties. Catholic Charities offers nearly 1,800 units of efficiency, one-bedroom and two bedroom apartments in 24 communities. In most communities, residents pay approximately 30 percent of their adjusted gross income for rent. Residents enjoy a variety of on-site services such as beauty and barber salons, laundry rooms, libraries, dining rooms, convenience stores,

computer centers, medical offices and professional assistance of on-site service coordinators. In addition, the Catholic Charities Senior Support Services Program is available to eligible residents at select communities at a reasonable cost. The program provides meals, and assistance with housekeeping, laundry, personal assistance and service management. The Village Crossroads I & II, the newest (and the first smoke-free) locations, are located in the South Perry Hall/Fullerton area of Baltimore County on Fitch Avenue between Rossville and Belair Roads.

The Village Crossroads I opened in July 2013, and has 94 units, including 47 taxcredit financed apartment units and 47 HUD-subsidized apartment units. Village Crossroads II, located adjacent to Village Crossroads I, opened in March. It offers 86 HUD-subsidized apartment units. Both communities serve those 62 and over. CSI Co-op Apartments 1-800-362-0548 www.csi.coop The mission of CSI is to use its unique cooperative management system to provide affordable senior housing communities in Maryland, California, Massachu-

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setts and Michigan. There are 11 co-op residential communities in Baltimore, Essex, and Randallstown. Detailed descriptions of each of the communities, including rents, can be found on the website. Living in a co-op means living in a building that is controlled by the resident members. Members vote on all major operating decisions, including writing the annual budget. The membership also includes privileges, such as serving in elected or appointed positions, voting in co-op elections, CSI board elections, corporate bylaw changes, or other matters coming before the members.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WEINBERG SENIOR LIVING

Weinberg Terrace in Pikesville offers large one-bedroom apartments for residents with low to moderate incomes. The community includes a game room, van transportation and an Eating Together program.

On the cover: Residents of St. Mary’s Roland View Towers gather in the lobby of community’s high rise building, whose top floor restaurant is the highest point in Baltimore. While there are million-dollar views, rent is affordable because the community was build with federal funds.

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JUNE 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Helping you stay in your own home longer Home healthcare and private duty care can help you maintain your independence in a familiar space. We all want to hold on to our independence for as long as possible. But what if you need help caring for yourself and you’re not ready to move to an assisted living facility? The answer for many people is to have someone come to the home and provide that care. “We always make an effort to keep people in their homes when it’s appropriate. It’s less expensive, provides more freedom, and keeps people from being exposed to infections in institutional settings,” said Dr. Eric Weil, director of the program that manages high-risk Medicare patients at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. The options for homecare are often

known as “private duty care” and “home healthcare,” though sometimes other terms are used. What’s important to remember is that there are two types of homecare, and each has a different purpose.

Home healthcare Home healthcare is a temporary service that brings nurses and therapists into your home to provide treatment. It’s intended for people who are recovering from illness, injury or surgery, with the goal of helping you get better and regain your independence. For example, a physical therapist can visit if you’ve had a stroke or joint replacement surgery, or a nurse can come to help with wound care. The professional who visits will provide only a specific skilled

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service, and won’t cook, perform light housework, or shop for you. This type of home healthcare is covered by Medicare, but you’ll have to meet certain eligibility requirements: a doctor must certify that you need the service, and also that you are homebound — unable to get to an appointment on your own; a doctor must review your home healthcare plan regularly; and the home health agency must be Medicare-certified. You can still qualify for home healthcare if you attend adult day care or if you have a caregiver who lives with you.

Private duty care Private duty care [also often called homecare, home support or personal care] provides the day-to-day help most people need to remain in their homes. Care is available for a few hours or up to 24 hours per day. Private duty care workers usually fall into two categories: licensed or registered. Both are able to offer homemaker services, such as housework, cooking, shopping, overseeing medication routines and transportation. The difference is that a licensed worker, such as a home health aide, will also be trained in body mechanics and able to provide hands-on physical care, such as help with bathing, eating, brushing teeth, and using the bathroom. Medicare does not pay for private duty care, but some long-term care insurance policies do. Costs range from $15 to $25 per hour, and most agencies require a minimum number of hours per visit [typically four]. Family members who intend to hire inhome help should start with a clear picture of the type of care that’s needed — such as assistance with bathing and dressing, light housework and transportation.

A checklist such as the “needs assessment worksheet” at www.caregiverslibrary.org can help. Using such a list, you can write a job description with the qualifications the caregiver should have, such as a driver’s license and car, or the ability to lift the senior.

Choosing a service When choosing a private duty service, think twice before working with an independent contractor or a registry that simply acts as an employment agency that matches workers with clients for a fee. In both cases, you’ll be the only one supervising the caregiver, and you’ll pay the worker directly. You will also be responsible for all payroll taxes and Social Security withholding. It is easier to go with a company that employs its workers. That way, you won’t be responsible for the caregiver’s taxes. You’ll also have the assurance that the caregiver’s company is monitoring his or her performance as well as the care you receive. [In addition, a company can replace a worker who doesn’t show up or does not satisfy your requirements.] Consumers who choose to go with an agency should ask about screening and hiring practices, including state and federal criminal background checks, drug testing and skill assessment. Ask to see a copy of all screening materials. Also be sure that caregivers are insured and bonded through the agency, which offers some protections in case of caregiver negligence or theft. Consumers hiring caregivers directly can and should conduct their own background check. Contact local law enforcement for information on how to conduct such a check. Be sure to hire a caregiver with approSee STAY AT HOME, page B-5

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2014

How to choose the right home stair lift Dear Savvy Senior: My wife is having an increasingly difficult time going up and down the stairs in our house. We are interested in purchasing a stair lift, but aren’t sure what to get or where to look. Can you help us? — Need a Lift Dear Need: A good home stair lift is a wonderful solution for those with mobility issues who have trouble with steps. A stair lift will carry your wife up and down the stairs in a safe seated position, giving her easy access to the second story or basement level of your home. But with so many options available, how do you choose one that best meets your needs and budget? Here are a few shopping tips, along with some good companies to consider.

Types of lifts There are two basic types of stair lifts that are sold today: straight and curved. The type you need will depend on the design of your staircase. A straight stair lift is one that travels in a straight line up a flight of stairs uninterrupted by landings, bends or curves. This type costs between $3,000 and $5,000 installed. Curved lifts, however, are much more elaborate and will go around corners, bends and changes in direction. Curved lifts are also much more expensive — typically running between $10,000 and $15,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the installation. Also available through certain companies are weatherproof lifts for outdoor

Stay at home From page B-4 priate training. There are no certification requirements for the most basic level of home care aides, who may provide help with household chores and personal care. Depending on a senior’s needs, consumers might seek out caregivers with more formal training, such as home health aides who can administer medications. If the person receiving care has dementia, look for caregivers with specialized education, such as Alzheimer’s Association training, said Christina Irving, family consultant with the Family Caregiver Alliance. Agencies should provide meaningful supervision, such as in-home visits at least monthly. If you’re hiring a caregiver independently and don’t live with the person receiving care, you might arrange for relatives or friends to stop by for random inhome checks.

Questions to ask When shopping for a homecare compa-

steps, and standing stair lifts (also called perch lifts) for those who have trouble bending their knees. You also need to know that all stair lifts mount to the stair treads, not to the wall. So they are very sturdy and can be installed in almost any home. If your wife is a large person, you may need to get her a heavy-duty lift with a wider seat and bigger lifting capacity — all companies offer them. Or, if she’s tall, find out about raising the seat height during installation. Most stair lifts available today also have seats, armrests and footplates that fold up out of the way, as well as swivel seats that make getting into and out of the chair easier. They also come with standard safety features, like seatbelts, breaking systems and footrest sensors, push-button or rocker-switch controls located on the armrest for easy operation, and “call/send” controls, which allow you to call or send the unit to the other end of the stairs. Make sure the lift you choose has all these features. Depending on the company, you may also have the option of choosing between an electric (AC) and a battery powered (DC) stair lift. Battery powered units charge at the base station (some recharge anywhere on the track), and are quieter and smoother than electric lifts. Also, they will work even if there’s a power failure in the home.

Where to shop While there are many companies that See STAIR LIFT, page B-7

ny, ask: • how long the agency been in business • which certifications it has from your state • what kind of background checks are performed on caregivers • what kind of training is required for caregivers • who will handle payments to the caregiver • whether a customized care plan will be created and updated • how closely the quality of care is supervised • who will be coming into the home — a team or just one person. Weil said it’s also important to have a caregiver who’s a good communicator. “Make sure the person or company has a reasonable understanding of basic health issues, and is comfortable reaching out to your health professionals if you need additional care.” © 2014 Copyright Harvard Health Publications and Kiplinger’s. Distributed by Trib-

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INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY ASSISTED LIVING

Glen Forest Senior Apartments 410-969-2000 7975 Crain Hwy Glen Burnie, MD 21061 www.ﬁrstcentrum.com

Glen Forest is centrally located to the numerous conveniences of the region, including Baltimore Washington International Airport, the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail and North Arundel Hospital. This independent living community for persons 62 years of age or better is also convenient to local shopping and dining that can be found throughout the Glen Burnie and Baltimore area. A shopping mall is located right across from the property that includes grocery, clothing and other shopping stores, banks and restaurants. While living at Glen Forest you will enjoy many activities hosted by the resident association, a senior center nutrition site that serves a hot lunch Monday through Friday for a nominal fee and carefree 24-hour emergency maintenance service. Come visit and see why our residents love it here at Glen Forest.

ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY

Meadows of Reisterstown Senior Apartments 410-526-3380 300 Cantata Court Reisterstown, MD 21136 www.ﬁrstcentrum.com Enjoy carefree leisure living at The Meadows — an affordable senior apartment community for seniors 62+. Each spacious one- and twobedroom apartment features a fully equipped kitchen, roomy closets and a balcony or patio. You can exercise the mind in the library and media room or the body in our fitness area. Keypad entry and the emergency response system provide peace of mind. The atmosphere is filled with gracious living. Here, you will appreciate not having to worry about maintenance chores. At the same time, you can take advantage of nearby shops, library, banks, postal services, grocery store and convenience to I-695. We invite you to tour The Meadows of Reisterstown.

ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY

The Greens at Logan Field 410-288-2000 3455 Dundalk Avenue Dundalk, MD 21222 www.GreensAtLoganField.com The Greens at Logan Field is a new community offering affordable one- and two- bedroom apartments for seniors 62+. The community has amenities including an arts and crafts room, laundry center, library, cyber café, fitness center and health suite for wellness check-ups and visiting doctors and a multipurpose room for social events and programs. The management staff coordinates all the services and social activities for the residents. The apartment homes feature open-concept floor plans with amenities such as washer and dryer hookups and a fullyequipped kitchen with Energy Star appliances. Handicap-accessible apartments are available. Located adjacent to the Logan Village Shopping Center and on two major bus routes, The Greens at Logan Field is convenient to shopping and entertainment. Rents from $685. Call today to schedule your tour! An Equal Housing Opportunity Community.

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INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Oak Crest 410-670-7244 8820 Walther Boulevard Parkville, MD 21234 www.ericksonliving.com Oak Crest in Parkville is nearly sold out. There’s only one way to make sure a place is waiting for you at this vibrant retirement community once you’re ready to move — join the Priority List today! Not only will your Priority List membership guarantee you an apartment home when one becomes available, it’s also your VIP pass to special events, provides you access to our on-site medical center and allows you to take advantage of our complimentary realty and moving services. Becoming a Priority List member is quick, easy and risk-free. Take the next step toward the maintenance-free retirement lifestyle you deserve. Call 410-670-7244 today to learn more!

ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY

The Greens at English Consul 410-789-3000 4120 Oak Road, Halethorpe, MD 21227 www.GreensAtEnglishConsul.com Located in Halethorpe, The Greens at English Consul offers a mix of affordable one- and two- bedroom apartments for seniors 62 +. The Greens at English Consul provides its residents with amenities including a fitness center, party room, beauty parlor, game room, library, cyber café, wellness room and community room. In addition, a calendar of social events and activities is planned each month for residents’ enjoyment. The thoughtfully designed apartment homes feature open-concept floor plans with modern, sought after amenities such as walk-in closets, washer and dryer hookups and Energy Star appliances. The neighborhood offers convenience and accessibility for senior citizens with churches, stores, restaurants, the MARC Train and major interstates all within a two mile radius of the community. Rents from $683. Don’t Wait, call for your tour today! An Equal Housing Opportunity Community.

ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY

Williamsburg Homes 410-997-8800 5485 Harper’s Farm Rd Columbia, MD 21044 www.williamsburgllc.com Osprey Landing offers a variety of rancher and two-story detached home plans, from 1500 to 2500 square feet, with first floor master suites, up to 4 bedrooms, two-car garages, gourmet kitchens and options for expansion space, and more. Grand Opening prices are from the mid $300’s. Skippers will appreciate the opportunity to lease a boat slip in the private community marina, and all residents enjoy the year-round splendor of Marley Creek. Hike or ride your bike on our nature trail. Launch your kayak, fish or cast your reel from our community pier. The choices for an active lifestyle are numerous! Easily reached from Baltimore and points north and east via Routes 2 and 100, Osprey Landing is close to everything and everywhere you want to be.

JUNE 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Books explore housing, caregiving By Barbara Ruben Looking for guidance on finding retirement communities, caregiving for an ill family member, or home safety modifications? A wide range of books can help inform and guide decisions, as well as offer coping advice. Below are some books that have been published in the last year. All are available in paperback from online booksellers such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Home safety and design In Living Safely, Aging Well: A Guide to Preventing Injuries at Home, consumer product safety expert Dorothy A. Drago spells out how to prevent injuries while cooking, gardening — and just walking around the house. The book explores how balance, cognition and senses can become less sharp with age, and how to accommodate for these changes. Living Safely, published by Johns Hopkins University Press, looks at such topics as falls, poisoning, fires, the yard and more, taking readers on a room-by room tour of the home to point out potential hazards and how to avoid them. Living Safely also includes information about driving more safely and deciding when to give up the keys. Sections of the book also look at the special concerns for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients at home. Line drawings help illustrate concepts, such as picture of a living room set-up that includes wall-to-wall carpet to avoid throw rugs, end tables around a sofa to provide an unobstructed path, and protective glass on a fireplace. Universal Design and Aging: Keeping Our Homes Safe, Accessible and Comfortable as We Age in Place, takes a look at features in the home that may need to be updated and modernized to make them suitable as residents age. The author, Steve Hoffacker, is a real estate broker, and he specializes in aging-in-place issues in books for both professionals and older adults From new light switches that sense motion or are illuminated for easy access in the dark, to stair lifts, dumb waiters and first-floor master suites to avoid stairs, Hoffacker reviews a range of potential changes in the home. One simple change is switching door knobs to lever handles to make opening doors easier. Residents can take advantage of technology by installing digital thermostats, automatic timers on lights, and using electronic keypads on doors. Hoffacker suggests changes for those with visual impairments, such as using contrasting color tiles as borders for floors and counters to more easily see their edges. “Toe kick” lighting on the floors illuminates what’s underfoot with the tap of a foot at a base board.

Retirement communities In the slim paperback, Where Will I

Live Now? Maryland author J. Anthony Burke examines a range of housing choices for boomers and their parents. The book begins with how to assess housing needs, and includes a questionnaire. Where Will I Live Now? includes information on active adult communities, naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs), assisted living, and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). The book includes a step-by-step checklist of how to assess a community, along with an extensive list of questions to ask an assisted living facility, and helpful tips for moving.

Caregiving Books on caregiving abound. The newly published third edition of How to Care for Aging Parents is updated and expanded to nearly 700 pages. The book is subtitled “A One-Stop Resource for All Your Medical, Housing and Emotional Issues.” The book gives advice for numerous difficult issues, including knowing when to intervene with a parent, getting power of attorney, paying for long-term care, sharing care with siblings, caregiving from a distance, and determining if home care or a nursing home is the right choice. New in this edition is information on the increasingly common issue of elder fraud, particularly identity theft, as well as details on the latest aging-in-place technologies — from iPad art therapy to sophisticated in-home monitoring systems. Fill-in worksheets offer easy ways to keep track of medications, caregivers’ names, schedules, doctors’ phone numbers and other information. In What to Do About Mama? A Guide to Caring for Aging Family Members, local author Barbara Trainin Blank and coauthor Barbara G. Matthews offer personal caregiving stories. They offer both their own and others’ experiences as examples. The book delves into the impact of caregiving on the family and how to share responsibility. It also looks at managing finances and the emotional toll caregiving can take. Blank’s mother and father had been married for 64 years, but soon after his death, she began to exhibit memory lapses and anxiety, asking the same questions again and again, as well as avoiding making decisions. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and then a year later with lung cancer. Blank writes about the difficulties of hiring and coordinating a patchwork of caregivers from a distance at the same time as helping out her young adult children. She also felt like she was shouldering more of the caregiving burden than her brother. At the same time, she (and other caregivers in the book) found positives from the experience, from becoming closer to their parents, to the satisfaction of helping make things more pleasant for them at an extremely difficult time.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2014

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Company helps seniors remain at home By Jennifer Waldera In recent years, Bel Air resident Lucille Morgan’s battles with COPD and diabetes have led to many complications, including an impaired ability to walk. Her medical conditions left her unable to leave her house without the assistance of family members. “Often she can’t use her legs,” said daughter Jenny, who moved in with her mother to help with her daily care and mobility. As Morgan’s medical conditions worsened, it became necessary to have several people at a time to help her to leave her mobile home, which had three steps. Fortunately, with the help of Baltimorebased Remain Home Solutions and its partner, Habitat for Humanity, the Morgan family was able to have Morgan’s entrance revamped, replacing the stairs with a ramp for a safe exit and entry space that would greatly reduce the need for as much assistance from family. “It increased our quality of life 100 percent,” said Jenny, who not only had to help her mother, but eventually had to deal with her own medical conditions as well. Having undergone a triple heart bypass last year, it was nearly impossible for Jenny alone to assist her mother in leaving the house. With the addition of the ramp, Morgan was able to leave the house in order to get to important doctor appointments and resume normal life activities. With services in all 50 states and Canada, Remain Home Solutions seeks to assist seniors facing the difficult decision of re-

maining in their own home or moving to an assisted living facility. That choice is often based on mobility and safety in the home.

Low-cost modifications Remain Home Solutions partners with providers who can assess the needs within the home and the potential cost. Dedicated to providing “programming that can help any senior, regardless of the ability to pay or financial status,” Remain Home Solutions helps seniors to age in place, thanks to accommodations and modifications that transform their home into a safer place. When Morgan’s family began the process of attempting to create a means for her to leave her house, Remain Home Solution’s partner, Habitat for Humanity, assessed the needs and, in just over a month, constructed the ramp at a very limited cost — far less than would be charged at the market rate. “I would rate them 8 or 9 on a scale of 1

to 10 in terms of smoothness of the process,” Jenny said. “I would certainly contact them again.” Paul Edwards’ father in Baltimore had a similar experience working through Habitat for Humanity’s partnership with Remain Home Solutions.

See COMPANY HELPS, page B-8

SMARTENERGY

heat

Stair lift From page B-5 make, sell and install stair lifts, the most respected in the industr y are Br uno (www.bruno.com, 1-866-345-7537) and Stannah (www.stannahstairlifts.com, 1-800877-8247), followed by Harmar (www.harmar.com, 1-800-833-0478) and Sterling (www.handicare.com, 1-866-276-5438). Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover stair lifts, but many states offer Medicaid waivers that will pay for lifts for those that qualify. Also, the VA offers cash grants to veterans with disabilities for home safety improvements. To save some money, you may want to consider purchasing a used or refurbished model. Or, if you need a stair lift for only a short period of time, consider renting one. Most companies offer these options, and many also offer financing. To get started, contact some stair lift companies who will put you in touch with a dealer in your area. All dealers provide free in-home assessments and estimates, and can help you choose an appropriate lift. Send your questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Edwards said that despite the fact that his father’s “health was failing (he has since passed away), he desperately wanted to stay in his home.” The elder Edwards consulted with Habi-

Take the out of your summer energy bills. What’s on your SummerReady checklist? Warm weather means your air conditioning system needs to work harder to make your home cool—and your energy bill may show it. What can you do now to make a difference?

✔

Adjust your thermostat up to 78°F. Every degree makes a difference in your cooling costs.

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Close blinds during the day to keep the sun from heating up your home. Schedule a cooling system tune up to keep your central air conditioner running efficiently.

Visit BGE.COM/SUMMERREADY, where you’ll find the tools and resources you need to handle the summer heat. Now that’s smart energy.

ENERGY WORKS SMARTER

together

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Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

From page B-7 tat for Humanity about transforming his home into a livable space for his condition at the time. With a grant from Home Depot, Habitat for Humanity rehabbed the home to include a variety of modifications to ensure his safety and ability to remain in his home — from putting grab bars in the basement bath, to installing chairlifts and replacing the hot water heater. Edwards said of his father’s experience with the process that “the combined efforts of all involved helped him [to remain at home].”

Many partners Remain Home Solutions aims to change the limitations faced by many seniors by using technology and construction through partnerships with architects, con-

tractors, healthcare system providers and payers, health technology companies, and aging/senior associations and government agencies. One of the many relationships that Remain Home Solutions enjoys is with the Center for Health Information and Decision Systems (CHIDS) at the University of Maryland. Remain Home Solutions’ president, Craig McBurney, said that this relationship helps “to leverage their thought leadership in research surrounding the design, adoption, use and value creation of information systems in the healthcare system.” Kenyon Crowley is the CHIDS Deputy Director and, according to McBurney, “has taken an active role in advising [RHS] on product development, and ensuring that we are positioned to fully integrate with the health system given its complex mix of strategic, policy and technical challenges.” Additionally, University of Maryland MBA

PHOTO COURTESY OF REMAIN HOME SOLUTIONS

Company helps

JUNE 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

students are helping to develop means of assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of Remain Home Solutions’ programs. While the organization’s mission is committed to helping those in need, giving back through volunteerism is important to Remain Home Solutions as well. They have built relationships with a variety of organizations, including Rebuilding Together and DC Falls Free Coalition. Additionally, Remain Home Solutions takes Wounded Warriors and others who have disabilities on sailing trips in boats specially fitted for their needs. In conjunction with Homes for Our Troops, Remain Home Solutions is applying the same knowledge and skills necessary to modify homes for sen- Remain Home Solutions, which provides low-cost home iors in order to build modifications, arranged for a ramp to make it easier for homes with suitable ac- Lucille Morgan, who has COPD and diabetes, to get in and out of her home. commodations for woundcenters and its various partner organizaed veterans. Remain Home Solutions identifies clients tions. To contact Remain Home Solutions dithrough referrals from throughout the rectly, visit www.remainhomesolutions.com healthcare system, as well as from senior or call (301) 795-5415.

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2014

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Housing Options

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FREE HOUSING AND OTHER INFORMATION For free information from advertisers in this special section, check off those that interest you and mail this entire page to the Beacon. Please do not request info if you are not interested. All replies will be entered into a random drawing to win $100 cash.

HOUSING COMMUNITIES ❑ Atrium Village . . . . . .B10 & B11 ❑ Bay Forest Senior Apartments . . . . . . .B2 and B15 ❑ Catholic Charities . . . . . . . . .B8 ❑ Charlestown . . . . .B12 and B15 ❑ Christ Church Harbor Apts . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B3 ❑ Glen Forest Senior Apts . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2 and B5 ❑ Manor Care . . . . . . . . . . . . .B14 ❑ Meadows of Reiserstown . . . . . . .B2 and B5 ❑ Oak Crest . . . . . . . .B6 and B12 ❑ Park Heights Place . . . . . . . .B2 ❑ Pickersgill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B3

❑ The Greens at English Consul . . . . .B6 and B8 ❑ The Greens at Logan Field . . .B5 ❑ Tudor Heights . . . . . . . . . . . .B4 ❑ Warren Place . . . . . . . . . . . .B13 ❑ Weinberg Senior Living . . . . . . . . . .B10 and B16 ❑ Weinberg Gardens . . . . . . . .B16 ❑ Weinberg House . . . . . . . . . .B16 ❑ Weinberg Manhattan Park . . .B16 ❑ Weinberg Manor East . . . . . .B16 ❑ Weinberg Manor West . . . . . .B16 ❑ Weinberg Park Assisted Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B16 ❑ Weinberg Place . . . . . . . . . .B16 ❑ Weinberg Terrace . . . . . . . . .B16

❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

Weinberg Village Community .B16 Weinberg Woods . . . . . . . . .B16 Westminster House Apts . . .B13 Willamsburg Homes . .B6 & B13

HOME CARE SERVICES ❑ Options for Senior America .B12 ❑ Home With You . . . . . .B4 & B10

MOVE ASSISTANCE ❑ Abilities Network . . . . . . . . . .B7 ❑ Easy Movers, Inc . . . . . . . . .B15

MISCELLANEOUS ❑ New Lifestyles . . . . . . . . . . . .B3 ❑ BGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B7

Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this entire coupon to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227. You may also include the free info coupon on page 5. One entry per household please. Name __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________E-mail_______________________________________________ City _______________________________________________________ State ______________________ Zip ____________________ Phone (day) _______________________________________________ (eve) ________________________________________________ BB 6/14

Please provide your telephone number and e-mail address so we may contact you promptly if you win the drawing.

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COMPANION CARE

Home With You Senior Care 443-218-7024 www.homewithyou.net As a leading companion care service provider, we ensure a better quality of life for our clients and their families by providing dependable and affordable care. Our caregivers are what make our service stand apart. All caregivers are licensed, bonded and insured and receive continuous training including a specialized certification program exclusive to Home With You. Whether help is needed with daily tasks, bathing/grooming, errands, driving, medication reminders or Alzheimer’s or dementia care, we offer compassionate, reliable and exceptional people who care as much as you do. Call us today for a free assessment and let’s discuss how we can help you or your loved one remain independent at home.

INDEPENDENT/ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY

Atrium Village 888-840-2214 4730 Atrium Ct Owings Mills, MD 21117 Atrium Village is conveniently located on the Northwest side of Baltimore, just minutes from shopping, restaurants and entertainment. Our community offers a variety of lifestyle options to meet your needs, whether it’s independent living, assisted living, or memory care. Take advantage of our resort-style atmosphere and enjoy fine dining, stimulating programs, and diverse entertainment. Our dedicated staff will provide you with the best care 24 hours a day, while our unique Quiet Care and emergency response system will keep you healthy and safe. We take care of your housekeeping, laundry and transportation so that you can spend your free time doing the things you love to do. Come unretire at Atrium Village.

INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING

Weinberg Senior Living 410-753-3976 Weinberg Senior Living provides quality, affordable apartments for people 62-plus and those younger than 62 with disabilities. Our communities have been designed from the ground up to meet the needs of our residents and provide them the opportunity to live an active and social lifestyle. Our communities feature amenities such as libraries, community rooms and dining areas where residents may enjoy meals, group activities and visits with friends and family. Additionally, our communities offer a variety of floor plan designs, services and programs that support Weinberg Senior Living’s mission to help people age in place, gracefully. Our staff members are friendly, supportive, professional and eager to assist residents. More than just employees, they enjoy what they do and take pride in the communities where they work.

JUNE 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Caregiving websites coordinate assistance By Meghan Streit When you’re caring for a sick spouse or parent, it can be difficult to find time to enjoy hobbies, exercise, or even schedule routine appointments such as dental checkups. As a result, caregivers sometimes suffer from depression, increased anxiety and deteriorating health. Diane Everett figured out a way to free up her time and reduce her stress. Her husband, Tom, was diagnosed in 2007 with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. A few years ago, Everett, 61, of Fredonia, N.Y., started using Lotsa Helping Hands (www.lotsahelpinghands.com) to streamline her communication with family and friends and to tap into her social network for help. Caregivers can use Lotsa Helping Hands to create personalized websites where they can post updates about a loved one’s medical condition, and request assistance with tasks such as driving to medical appointments or mowing the lawn. “Sometimes I will say, ‘I need a couple of meals this week, and Tom doesn’t eat onions, and he’s having trouble chewing red meat,’” Everett said.

Save time and energy When Everett posts a request for help, all the members of her Lotsa Helping Hands community receive an e-mail alert. Community members must be specifically invited by the caregiver, to ensure users’ privacy. If Everett’s family and friends can help with a specific task, they simply click a link to sign up. That lets the other community members know the request is fulfilled. “Now, I don’t have to make a million phone calls or leave messages,” Everett said. “It’s the most amazing time saver.” Lotsa Helping Hands is one of several sites that help caregivers coordinate care. Brooks Kenny, the site’s executive vicepresident, said 76,000 “caring communities” of family and friends lend help to caregivers. One reason the site is catching on, Kenny said, is that it enables caregivers to turn vague offers of help into practical, tangible assistance. When a well-meaning friend offers to help, most caregivers are reluctant to follow up. But a caregiver who

uses Lotsa Helping Hands can refer friends and relatives to her website. Kenny said the most common requests are for meal drop-off and transportation. Caregivers might ask for someone to walk the dog or shovel snow. Or the caregiver could ask for people to take turns visiting with the person who is ill so that the caregiver can attend her book club or hit the gym. “The caregivers we work with say, ‘I had no idea so many people cared,’ or ‘I had no idea it wouldn’t feel funny to have someone drop off a meal,’” Kenny said.

Other sites also offer help CareFlash (www.careflash.com) is similar to Lotsa Helping Hands. Founder Jay Drayer created the site in 2006 after his own caregiving experience. In addition to a calendar function where caregivers can ask for help, CareFlash includes a “social storytelling” module where family, friends and the ill person can upload photos and share personal stories in their own voices. Drayer said that it can be comforting for the sick person to listen to the stories, and the family can keep the module for posterity, should the person pass away. It’s also a way to preserve family history. “It’s a collaborative way to tell the story of someone’s life,” Drayer said. CaringBridge (www.caringbridge.org) is another popular site for caregivers. It was launched in 1997 primarily as a tool for people to update friends and family about a loved one’s illness or recovery. In 2012, CaringBridge added SupportPlanner, where caregivers can request assistance with chores. Many caregivers use CaringBridge to post medical updates and read well wishes from friends and family members, said Sona Mehring, the website’s founder and chief executive officer. “It’s a great communication tool to let people know what’s going on,” Mehring said. “Friends can leave messages to show their support as well as sign up for tasks. Being able to connect is very therapeutic for caregivers.” © 2014, Kiplinger. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

PEERS PROVIDE SUPPORT PEERS, Seniors in Partnership with the Mental Health Association

of Maryland, provides a network support group to help seniors in Baltimore County with mental health needs — depression, grief, anxiety and isolation. Volunteers make one phone call or visit per week to a senior who may be homebound, depressed, anxious, suffering a loss. For more information, call (410) 235-1178 or visit www.mhamd.org.

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How to select a real estate agent or Realtor By Eric Stewart You probably know the three major roles a real estate agent or Realtor typically performs when you sell a house: They help get your home ready for sale, market your house and assist with negotiations with buyers, and coordinate the escrow and closing. If you’re buying a home, an agent or Realtor helps you find homes that potentially meet your needs and coaches you through the buying process. (Keep in mind that a “buyer’s agent” represents you as a buyer, while other agents legally represent only the seller, though they may also help buyers find homes.) “Real estate agent” and “Realtor” are not always interchangeable terms. A real estate agent becomes a Realtor when he or she joins the National Association of Realtors and agrees to subscribe to its code of ethics. That can give you some added protections in the event you have a grievance or complaint, though all agents are under the governance of their state’s real estate commission and HUD.

What does this agent offer you that others don’t? Take note of whether this agent is asking enough questions to understand what you want and need. 2. What unique selling tools do you have that will help sell my home? Does the agent use media effectively to market listings? 3. How will you advertise my property on the Internet? Ask your agent how many websites your property will be marketed on. The number should be at least 50. 4. Describe your marketing strategy. Does the agent have a clear marketing plan for your house? You need to see marketing samples. If the agent does not have samples, he or she isn’t prepared for your appointment, and may not have a proven marketing plan. 5. How do you plan to advertise my property to the public?

Will the agent post signs in front of your house? How does the agent plan to direct traffic to your property? How will people find out that your property is available? 6. How long does it usually take to sell your listings? Any agent you interview should be able to provide you with this information. In a correcting market, this is critical. It should be statistically provable. 7. Do you have a reference list of clients I could contact? Ask to see this list, and then proceed to spot-call some of the names. 8. Does your broker control your advertising or do you? If your agent is not in control of his/her own advertising, then your home will be competing for advertising space not only with this agent’s other listings, but also with the listings of every other agent in the brokerage.

9. Have you sold any other homes in this area? An agent who is familiar with your neighborhood and its unique market is more likely to be successful. 10. In what price range do you usually sell homes? The agent should be familiar with how to market homes in your price bracket. If you have a million dollar home, you want to ensure that your agent has a marketing plan that will reach the right audience. If you ask these suggested questions, you will find that there are excellent agents working for firms both large and small, franchised and independent. The real decision must be made based on the competency of the individual agent you will be working with on a day-to-day basis. Eric Stewart heads the Eric Stewart Group with Long & Foster. His website is www.ericstewartgroup.com.

YOU’RE

WELCOME TO

10 questions to ask Before you hire an agent to help you sell your house, get recommendations from friends, family and neighbors, and do some research on the Web. As you narrow down your choice, meet with potential agents, explain your needs, and determine whether you would be comfortable working with them. Ask whatever questions you like, or simply explain your goals and listen carefully to what they propose to do for you. To assist you in the interview process, here are some general questions that you may want to start with: 1. Why should I hire you? What makes you different?

Stay & Play Welcome to our family. At Senior Lifestyle, we take family seriously. After all, we’re family-run, and have been for all of our 30 years. Live in our resort-style communities and you’ll be part of our family, too.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

TUTORS NEEDED Pathways is a com-

CALL 888-840-2214 TO LEARN MORE

munity outreach tutoring program of Towson United Methodist Church, dedicated to serving youth in the Greater Baltimore area. The group’s

Gracious Retirement Living Without the Large Entrance Fee.

primary mission is to provide for the academic betterment of young people, with an emphasis on tutoring, encouraging and mentoring. To learn more, call (410) 592-5442 or visit www.towsonumc.org/pathways.htm.

INDEPENDENT LIVING ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE 4730 ATRIUM COURT OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117 WWW.S E N I O R LI FESTYLE.CO M

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JUNE 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Tips for unmarried couples buying a home By Alex Veiga Married couples represent the majority of homebuyers, but more couples are teaming up to buy a home before they get hitched. If they ever do. Data from the National Association of Realtors show that, on average, married couples accounted for 61.6 percent of all homebuyers from 2001 to 2011. By comparison, unmarried couples made up an average 7.5 percent. Although still a small slice of homebuyers, some unwed couples see positives to buying a home together before getting married. Teresa Hung, a customs broker in Baltimore, decided to put off getting married in 2012. Instead she chose to buy a home with her boyfriend, James Woody, a retail executive. The couple wanted to take advantage of still-affordable home prices — rather than splurge on a wedding and continue paying rent for months or years. “I did want the wedding and all that,” said Hung. “It definitely wasn’t an easy decision.” Here are some tips unwed couples should follow when they commit to buying a home: 1. Swap financial history Before considering buying a home with your significant other, share all of your key financial statements. That includes bank

accounts, credit cards, student loans, retirement accounts and so on. Also share credit reports and FICO scores. You’ll need to know of any credit blemishes that could prevent you from obtaining the lowest rate on a home loan, or other potential red flags, such as a high debt-to-income ratio. 2. Agree on what you can afford Before you hit the first open house, determine how much each person can contribute, especially if you opt to apply for a home loan together. Bankrate Inc. offers online calculators to help estimate how much you can afford based on your income and expenses. See www.bankrate.com/calculators/mortgages/new-house-calculator.aspx. One rule of thumb: a house payment shouldn’t be more than 28 to 30 percent of a buyer’s monthly income. With an unwed couple, particularly if one person earns a lot more than the other, other approaches may be a better fit. John Porter and his partner, Horacio Alonso, are in the market to buy a home in Miami together. The couple has already made it a point to benchmark how much home they can afford based on a percentage of their individual income. “Our incomes are not equal,” said Porter, co-founder of an organic cocktail mixers company. He said splitting the costs of the home evenly would not be fair.

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As a result, the couple decided to base each person’s contribution on 30 percent of their individual earnings, Porter said. 3. Sign a contract Even if a falling out seems unimaginable, couples should enlist an attorney and draw up a purchase contract before buying a home. Such a pact should outline details of how much each person is contributing — whether it’s money, taking on a loan, or paying to cover maintenance and other costs. “It has to be very clear who is putting the money in, who is going to do the improvements, so they have a good understanding of ownership,” said Monica Rebella, a certified public accountant in Tustin, Calif. The pact should also set out how the couple wants to split any equity gained in the home. The contract should also specify how much of a financial interest each person has in the home in the event of a split, which could lead the home to be sold, or one person offering to buy out the other. “Many different things can happen after a relationship dissolves,” noted Jordan Clarke, an agent in San Diego with real estate brokerage Redfin. “It’s much better to think about it when heads are cool and everything is great in a relationship.” And such agreements don’t have any effect if the couple remains together, Clarke noted. 4. Understand ownership options Homebuyers have a couple of options on how to assign ownership on the title to the home. Specifics can vary by state, but generally the title can list one person as the sole owner, or more than one person as owners. Unwed homebuyers generally hold title as “joint tenants” or as “tenants in com-

mon.” The “joint tenants” option designates equal ownership interest. If a couple specifies right of survivorship to the title, then the interest in the home is transferred to the other person on the title in the event the other dies. With a “tenants in common” title, the homeowners spell out what percentage of the property each holds. That approach is more common with a group of investors buying a property together because it clarifies how much each investor gets from the sale of the property. It also lets each person sell their stake in the property individually. 5. Review tax implications One of the perks of homeownership is being able to deduct mortgage interest payments on your tax return. In the case of an unwed couple filing separate income tax returns, the IRS will allow both to take their home mortgage interest deduction as long as they each have a vested interest in the property, said Mark J. Kohler, a tax lawyer and CPA. A vested interest could be simply being on the title, or being a guarantor on the mortgage, akin to being a co-signer. For more details, check out the IRS website: www.irs.gov/publications/p936/ ar02.html 6. Reset wedding expectations Owning a home can come with unexpected expenses that make it hard to save money for a lavish wedding and honeymoon. Hung, who is not yet engaged, said the biggest shock of homeownership came when her home’s value was reassessed, resulting in an increase in her property taxes. “It really does set your plans back,” she said. “I thought within a year we would hopefully be able to afford a wedding, but it’s not as quick as we thought.” — AP

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American retirees flock to Latin America then in a village near the Panama Canal, and finally to Boquete, where he enjoys photography, hiking and bird watching. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Here we can live with less than $1,500 a month and go at least once a week to dinner at nice restaurants, something that cannot be done in America,â&#x20AC;? he said. Retirees also have easy access to healthy, organic food grown by local farmers. Every Tuesday, there is a farmers market, and McKee makes and sells soaps and creams made with coconut oil and lemon grass. Retirees cannot work in Panama, but they can have their own businesses. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everything is possible in Panama,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; AP

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In Boquete, a high-end development project called Hidden Valley includes residences, a small hotel and a golf course. The town of about 20,000, in a region where a popular Panamanian coffee is grown, has a cool climate, with frequent light rain. When the skies clear, there are breathtaking views of green and blue mountains. Town authorities estimate that about 3,000 retirees live in Boquete, mostly American. There are other communities of American retirees elsewhere in Panama, including near beaches. McKee and Carlson, a 57-year-old former contractor, say they have never considered going back to the United States, although they do miss friends and family in Florida. Between their pension and what they make working on a jungle conservation project in Rambala, about two hours from their home, they have enough to live comfortably. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We like that people are very quiet, and

An American haven

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U.S. retirees began arriving in droves to Latin America in the early 2000s, and the numbers have picked up since the U.S. economic crisis in 2008, tourism authorities said. As many as a million U.S. retirees live in Mexico, they said, and thousands in Ecuador, Costa Rica and Panama. Panamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s government has worked to attract them, making it simpler to qualify for permanent residency. The only requirement is that foreign retirees receive a pension of at least $1,000 a month. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With this, I can live here for an indefinite period. The process is very easy,â&#x20AC;? said

security is not a problem,â&#x20AC;? said McKee, whose son Daniel, 27, visits twice a year to surf on Panamanian beaches. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is our new country, our new life.â&#x20AC;? Renting their two-bedroom house in Boquete costs $550 per month. Dinner in a nice restaurant, with wine, usually costs about $30 for the two of them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fun,â&#x20AC;? said Carlson with a wide smile. As for medical care, there are several hospitals in David, a city about 45 minutes away by car. Panama City is less than an hour from there by plane. Braun, who had an Internet business until he retired 14 years ago, first traveled to Nicaragua, where he lived for five years before heading to Panama. He lived for several years in the seaside resort of Pedasi,

A wave of immigration

Robert Braun, 67, of Lincoln, N.H. He said he came to Panama for the fishing, the weather and safety. The U.S. dollar has been the local currency in Panama since it became an independent country in 1903, and there are dozens of banks that let foreigners manage their home accounts from here. Foreign retirees can bring in items valued at $10,000 or less tax free, and can bring in a car without having to pay taxes. Benefits include discounts of 25 percent on utility bills, and lower medical costs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;U.S. retirees come because they see Panama as a place where they can have good quality of life and low living costs â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a place that has everything,â&#x20AC;? said Ernesto Orillac, deputy administrator of the Panama Tourism Authority.

W ith

By Juan Zamorano With its miles of beaches, lush rainforests and welcoming colonial towns, Panama â&#x20AC;&#x201D; like much of Latin America â&#x20AC;&#x201D; has become a hot spot for American retirees. They come for the scenery, the weather and, perhaps more important, the low cost of living. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were looking for a simple, cheap life,â&#x20AC;? said Linda McKee, 61, of Bonita Springs, Fla. McKee is enjoying a glass of wine with her husband, Eric Carlson, on the porch of their home in Boquete, a mountain town in western Panama where many U.S. retirees live. The couple moved to Panama six years ago after first trying Costa Rica. International Living magazine, which for 30 years has published a ranking of the top 10 â&#x20AC;&#x153;havensâ&#x20AC;? for retirees, included six Latin American countries in its January ranking. Panama was No. 1, followed by Ecuador. Costa Rica was in fourth place, Colombia sixth, Mexico seventh and Uruguay ninth. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Panama is safe, stable and friendly,â&#x20AC;? the magazine said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It boasts the best healthcare and infrastructure in Central America ...Its wildlife is abundant, and its pristine natural setting is an eco-touristâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream.â&#x20AC;?

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JUNE 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Retire abroad for a lower cost of living By Ed Perkins “Retire in Pago Pago where you can buy a beachfront villa for less than $100,000 and live on Social Security income.” You’ve undoubtedly seen such a pitch somewhere. And whether you’re already approaching retirement age or just starting to plan for retirement, you may well be at least considering retiring overseas. A new website, Xpatulator.com, publishes detailed cost-of-living figures for just about any place you’d consider retiring — along with lots of places you would want to avoid. Although Xpatulator’s main focus is a for-pay service ($75) that calculates personalized reports, it posts lots of free cost-of-living rankings based on standard consumption “baskets” of goods and services.

Cheapest cities • The cheapest city, says Xpatulator, is Thimphu, Bhutan — not the first retirement center that comes to mind. • Cities making the “50 cheapest” list where you might actually think about retiring are Sofia, Bulgaria (number 4), Managua, Nicaragua (5), Bucharest, Romania (8) and Hyderabad, India (10). • Lowest-cost cities in Latin America — long a favorite area for expat retirees — in addition to Managua are La Paz, Bolivia (25), Quito, Ecuador (39), and Tegucigalpa, Honduras (50). (See “American retirees flock to Latin America” on page B-13.) • No European city made the cheapest 50 list, but it has lots of entries on the “most expensive” list, including Zurich (1), Geneva (4), Monaco (5), Oslo (10) and London (12).

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• Among the really cheap cities where you probably wouldn’t want to retire, no matter how low the costs, are Damascus, Islamabad, Algiers, Kabul and Cairo. • For comparison, the cheapest cities in the U.S. are Harlingen, Texas (number 24), Ft. Smith, Ark., (26) and Nashville-Franklin, Tenn. (28). In addition to raw rankings, the website posts a detailed report for each of almost 1,000 worldwide cities, showing thumbnails on the city’s economy, language(s), predominant religions, population, currency and annual inflation rate. They also provide narrative rundowns on costs for alcohol and tobacco, clothing, communication, education, furniture and appliances, groceries, healthcare, household accommodations, personal care, recreation and culture, restaurants and hotels, and transportation (plus notes on relative hardship). Whether or not you decide to use the forpay calculator, anyone considering overseas living — for retirement or seasonal living — should give Xpatulator a look.

More resources For years, International Living (internationalliving.com) has been the go-to source of guidance on overseas living and especially overseas retirement. It doesn’t do numerical ratings, but it does present lots of useful information on living costs, property costs, and the details about buying property and establishing residence. Basic membership in International Living, including a monthly magazine of the same name, is nominally $69 a year, but the current promotional rate is $49.

You get a lot of useful information for your basic subscription, but International Living puts a great deal of effort into selling you extra reports. Especially annoying are links to video blurbs promising lots of great info, but before you get to the good stuff — which usually costs extra — the video goes on and on about “what I’m going to tell you” with such mind-numbing near-repetition that I’ve never been able to watch one through to the end. Of course, you can get lots of information from the U.S. government without paying anything. Start with the State Department’s detailed “Country Specific Information” postings (www.travel.state.gov) for what seems to be the entire U.N. membership. Although the primary focus of these pages is on travelers, the information is vital to anyone considering permanent residence, too. Obviously, overseas retirement isn’t for everyone. English is the local language in only a few of the most favored places, although these days English gets you by almost everywhere. The bigger problem is healthcare: As you know, Medicare doesn’t cover you anywhere outside the U.S. Even though healthcare in most of the world is a lot less expensive than in the U.S. — and in many places, it’s quite good — you still may want to stick with your regular medical infrastructure. (See “Healthcare without Medicare” on page B-15.) But if you like the idea of cheap living in a beachfront villa, by all means take a closer look. Send e-mail to Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net. © 2014 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Healthcare with or without Medicare Most retirees who live abroad say that healthcare in other countries is cheaper, and often better, than it is in the States. That’s a good thing, because Medicare doesn’t cover healthcare outside of the U.S. If you move overseas, you may be able to pay out of pocket for most of your medical care. In many countries, even a hospital stay costs a fraction of what it would cost in the U.S. Beaty Fomby, who lives in Costa Rica with her husband, Ed, recently spent two nights in a San Jose hospital for abdominal pains. She had a sonogram, X-rays and a CAT scan. Total cost: $3,500 — probably less than the cost of an emergency-room visit in the U.S., Ed said. Some insurers, such as Aetna and Bupa International, provide health insurance policies for expatriates. An insurance broker who has experience with such policies can help you find one that will suit your needs. Once you’ve established residency, you may be eligible for the public health program in your adopted country. Premiums tend to be low: Expats Paul and Gloria Yeatman pay about $55 a month in premiums for Costa Rica’s government-run health insurance program. The drawback to government-run programs is that you may have to wait a long time to get an appointment. Many expats get around this problem

by using a combination of private and public insurance. In Costa Rica, for example, you can get private insurance through the government-affiliated Instituto Nacional de Seguros. Annual premiums run about $2,000 for policyholders between 55 and 65. In Spain, comprehensive private insurance for retirees from 55 to 60 ranges from $860 to $2,000 a year, according to the website International Living. For older retirees, premiums range from $1,560 to $3,000 a year.

Enroll in Medicare anyhow Don’t ignore Medicare, because you’ll need it if you return to the U.S. If you sign up for Social Security benefits before age 65, you’ll automatically be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B when you become eligible. But if you claim benefits at age 66, which is full retirement age, or after, you need to sign up for Medicare during the initial enrollment period, which covers the three months before you turn 65, the month you turn 65, and three months after that. If you miss that window and enroll later, you’ll pay an additional 10 percent for premiums. The penalty applies for twice the number of years that you were eligible for Medicare but failed to sign up. — Sandra Block © 2014 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

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Taking care of the animals may seem like the only glamorous job at the Maryland Zoo, but volunteers can be superstars by doing all sorts of other work too, from keeping gardens beautiful, to helping staffers stay ahead of the paperwork to leading tours. For more information, email volunteers@marylandzoo.org or call (443) 552-5266.

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The Pro Bono Counseling Project assures that all Maryland residents requesting mental health care, regardless of income, are linked with volunteer licensed mental health professionals. For more information, call (410) 825-1001, ext. 102 or visit www.probonocounseling.org.

June 17

HEALTHY AGING TALK

Learn how to maintain physical and mental skills, reduce risks of disease and injury and stay productive and engaged with life at a program featuring Dr. Roger Landry, president of Masterpiece Living, on Tuesday, June 17 at 1:30 p.m. at Turf Valley Resort, 2700 Turf Valley Rd., Ellicott City. Questions and reservations should be directed to the sponsor, the Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant in Ellicott City, via www.MillerGrant.org or by phone to 1877-900-6618.

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Bay Forest Senior Apartments 410-295-7557 930 Bay Forest Ct. Annapolis, MD 21403 www.ﬁrstcentrum.com Love to be close to the water? Then you will love it at Bay Forest Senior Apartments. An affordable independent community for persons 62 years of age or better! A beautifully landscaped country setting with plenty of parking for you and your visitors. Only 10 minutes from Annapolis Historic City Dock, which offers a variety of stores, restaurants, banks and the Watermark Cruises boat tours. Just a few minutes’ drive from the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and walking distance to the Quiet Waters Park. You’ll love the 24-hour emergency maintenance service, many activities hosted by the resident association and the convenience of joining fellow residents at the nutrition site located in the community room for a hot lunch Monday through Friday. Come visit Bay Forest soon. We’re waiting for you!!

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2014

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Money Law &

GOING FOR THE GOLD While gold prices tumbled in 2013, they are rising again. Is it time to buy, or is the precious metal headed for another fall? TAMING THE PAPER TIGER Some financial records can be thrown away (such as old utility bills or tax returns over three years old) or stored electronically to cut down on clutter

How higher interest rates will affect you By Nellie S. Huang Rising rates have been the talk of Wall Street — and Main Street — for months. The yield on 10-year Treasuries has climbed more than one-half percentage point over the past 12 months, to 2.7 percent. But not all rates are rising. What you earn on your savings accounts and money market funds hasn’t budged, and don’t hold your breath expecting that to change.

Short- and long-term views Short-term rates are “anchored” by the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy, said Warren Pierson, a fixed-income strategist at Robert W. Baird, an asset-management firm in Milwaukee. The Fed controls the federal funds rate — the rate that certain banks charge each other for overnight loans — which in turn guides other short-term rates.

That rate has been set at nearly zero since late 2008, and the Fed has said it will stick with its strategy “for a considerable time,” perhaps even beyond the point that unemployment falls below 6.5 percent, a trigger point it has previously suggested. Unemployment isn’t expected to reach that level until some time next year. Longer-term rates, however, are driven by the market. Until recently, the Fed’s purchases of Treasuries and mortgage bonds have successfully held down longterm rates. As the economy improves and those purchases continue to shrink, longterm rates will rise.

Investing and borrowing advice Here’s how the changing landscape will affect savers and borrowers. Investors. Rising rates can do damage to your bond assets because when rates

rise, bond prices fall. So with short-term rates stuck and long-term rates on the rise, the best place to invest is intermediateterm corporate and government bond funds with maturities of six to seven years, said Jeff Moore, a fixed-income fund manager at Fidelity. If the threat of rising rates still keeps you up at night, stick with short-term investment-grade bond funds, such as Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade (symbol VFSTX). Savers. Interest rates on money market accounts, savings accounts and shorterterm certificates of deposit will not climb much this year, if at all, said Greg McBride, of Bankrate.com. Boost yields without locking in low rates by laddering CDs with maturities of one to five years, with average yields ranging from 0.22 percent to 0.79 percent. Credit unions often

do better: The rate on a five-year CD from PenFed with a $1,000 minimum deposit is 2.0 percent. Borrowers. Mortgage rates will grind higher in 2014, said McBride. Kiplinger expects the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, recently averaging just over 4.4 percent, to rise to 5 or 5.5 percent by year-end. Consider locking in your rate once you have set your closing date. For credit cards and home-equity loans, 2014 could be the last hurrah for low rates, said McBride. Pay down your variable-rate debt before rates rise. Nellie S. Huang is a senior associate editor at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. Send your questions and comments to moneypower@kiplinger.com. And for more on this and similar money topics, visit Kiplinger.com. © 2014 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Follow Keynes to make money in market John Maynard Keynes is recognized as wealth, referenced in the book, that are one of the great historical economists. still valid today. Aside from his theoretical • Over time, stocks beat work, though, he accombonds: From 1926 to 2012, plished something few other large company stocks reacademic economists have: turned an average of 9.8 perHe was a successful investor. cent, and small-company Keynes used his expertise stocks 12 percent. Naturally, to build a multimillion dollar there will be periods in which fortune in the stock market stocks fall in value, but longwhile providing counsel to the term investors, even those in likes of Winston Churchill retirement, should maintain a and Franklin Roosevelt. significant percentage of their THE SAVINGS John Wasik, an award-winportfolios in stocks in one GAME ning columnist who has covform or other. By Elliot Raphaelson ered investor issues for many • Probability is not the years, has written an excellent same thing as certainty: Just book, Keynes’s Way to Wealth (McGraw because a stock went up in value last year Hill), which contains excellent advice for doesn’t mean it will go up this year. Don’t incurrent investors. The book has received vest on the assumption that past returns are a praise from writers and investors I respect, good predictor of future prices. including John Bogle, William Bernstein • Opposed risks will help balance and Larry Swedroe. your portfolio: You need a mix of assets David Swensen, who has managed Yale that are truly uncorrelated during market University’s endowment very successfully downturns to give you real diversification. since 1985, has used many of Keynes’ in- This means balancing stocks with bonds, vestment practices at Yale and has refer- real estate, Treasury Inflation-Protected enced them in the books he has written. Securities (TIPS) in periods of high inflation, and some alternatives. Swensen bePrimary principles lieves that this key is one of the significant Here are some of Keynes’ keys to reasons for his success.

• Take advantage of the value quotient: Keynes concentrated on a companies’ intrinsic value in the 1930s when markets were falling. He concentrated on factors such as worth if a company was broken up, earnings potential, rising dividends and low price/earnings ratio. A well-diversified portfolio should have a significant percentage of value stocks/funds/ETFs. • Dividends don’t lie. Keynes purchase a great deal of utility companies in the 1930s because of consistent dividends, and they performed well. Utilities continue to pay consistent dividends, and the stock prices are still reasonably priced. For several years, I have maintained a significant holding in utility funds, and the performance has been very good. • Don’t move with the crowd: Being a contrarian pays off. A significant percent of investors increase their purchase of stocks at market peaks, and sell at market bottoms. Many investors bailed out of stocks in 2008 at market bottoms and either never returned or returned at much higher stock values. Investors who utilize dollar-cost averaging consistently will do better than investors who try to time the market. • Invest for the long term: It is essential to have a long-term investment policy. Don’t invest based on what you perceive as

the current environment. Rebalance once a year. This will ensure you do not have too much invested in one asset class. In this way you will be taking some profits and investing in an asset class that may be currently undervalued. Use leverage sparingly if at all. If you have a good long-term investment policy, you don’t need leverage. Markets are too volatile. • Invest passively: Put most of your money in inexpensive index funds. You don’t need many of them to have a diversified portfolio. Remember, the index fund is the market. Purchasing index funds or index ETFs are the most cost-effective way to build a diversified portfolio. • Drink more champagne: Apparently this is said to be Keynes’s one regret — that he had not enjoyed life more. His point is that the objective of investing is to ensure prosperity, not become obsessed with making money. My investment philosophy is consistent with these keys. I believe that if you follow them, you will do better than the vast majority of investors. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at elliotraph@gmail.com © 2014 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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JUNE 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Ways to tackle clutter of financial records By Alex Veiga Tax season offered an opportunity to finally dig through that shoe box or file cabinet where you’ve amassed a trove of old receipts, bank statements, pay stubs and other personal financial information. Before it’s out of sight and out of mind again, here are some tips on how to thin out that clutter of financial records you may have accumulated over the years: 1. The 3-year rule A key reason to hold on to your past tax

returns and supporting documentation is so you can address any issues should the Internal Revenue Service question any entries on a previous tax return. In most cases, the IRS only has three years after the return was filed to conduct an audit. That means one generally needs to keep past tax returns for at least three years, said Jackie Perlman, principle tax research analyst at the H&R Block Tax Institute. “That does not mean when three years are up you should take your return and throw it

in the trash,” she said. “If you have some concern about being vulnerable to an audit, or you think the IRS might look at your return later, you might want to keep that longer.” In the event the IRS suspects you’ve under-reported your income by 25 percent or more, the agency can audit your returns going back six years. And if the agency believes you committed fraud, it can go audit your returns as far back as it wants. If you’ve filed your tax return electronically, you can retrieve a copy on the IRS website. But it’s best to consider that only a backup copy. 2. Consider future tax implications Some records, like weekly pay stubs, can be discarded after you’ve received your year-end pay statement. Even if you need to go back to a specific pay period, that stub can likely be recovered from your employer. Still, you should hold on to records that may be a factor in future tax returns. “Very often your tax return is your very best record of a lot of things you’ve done or haven’t done,” Perlman said. “You could want that information months or years later.” One example pertains to individual retirement accounts, or IRAs. If you make a non-deductible contribution to an IRA this year, for example, you might want to keep a record of that for years to come, when you begin to take distributions from the retirement account. At that point, such documentation could be necessary to establish that part of that future payout should be tax-free, Perlman noted. 3. Keep property records Financial records that apply to assets that could grow in value, such as a home, should be retained until you sell the asset. In addition, keep any records of major upgrades or additions, which can help establish the value of the property. 4. Know rules for employers

Own your own business or have employees? The IRS requires that you keep employment tax records at least four years after any taxes for a given year become due or are paid, whichever is later. For more details, see IRS Publication 15: www.irs.gov/publications/p15/index.html. 5. Consider going digital These days, banks, credit card issuers and most other businesses issue electronic statements, which you can retrieve at will online or retain as copies on your computer. For paper records, make digital copies and store them on your computer. “The original is the best evidence, but scanned copies will suffice for most purposes,” said Ted England, a tax attorney in Ventura, Calif. It’s critical that copies be legible. Should a dispute arise with the IRS over a deduction on a certain expense, the agency will be looking to determine that the receipt — whether digital or not — is credible and not tampered with or incomplete. Another consideration is where to store digitized documents. Computer hard drives can get damaged by viruses. Flash drives can become corrupted. CDs can malfunction. One option is to back up data online. Cloud-storage services such as Dropbox and those offered by Google and Microsoft, among others, provide online storage for free, as well as gigabytes of extra space for paid subscribers. But data stored in cloud services like these can potentially be susceptible to identity theft. Some cloud-storage services offer encryption features to ease such concerns. Among them: Spideroak, Tresorit and Wuala. For more guidance on how long to keep financial records, check out IRS Publication 17: http://bit.ly/irsrecords. — AP

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2014

Why you might give gold funds another go By Stan Choe Gold is back on the rise after dropping like lead last year. Although it has recovered just a portion of its steep loss from 2013, the shift in momentum has been enough to halt the stampede of investors from gold-related funds. The price of gold has jumped 14 percent this year, towering over the nearly flat performance of the Standard & Poor’s 500 index. The stocks of gold-mining companies have been even better. The FTSE Gold Mines index of miners around the

world has jumped 25 percent. It’s a welcome change for anyone who stuck with the precious metal throughout 2013, when its price sank 28 percent. It was the first down year for gold in more than a decade and its biggest loss since Muhammad Ali last boxed in 1981. To be sure, many analysts don’t expect gold’s mini-rebound to last. Barclays Capital, for example, projects gold will average $1,260 an ounce in the last three months of this year. At the end of April, an ounce was valued at $1,284.

BEACON BITS

June 4

ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHOP

Get the 411 on estate planning and learn about the changes in the law pertaining to powers of attorney at Seven Oaks Senior Center. The program will begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 4 and will be presented by PNC Bank. Free continental breakfast. Sign up in advance at the center, 9210 Seven Courts Dr., or call (410) 887-5192.

Ongoing

WEATHER ON CALL

Remember being able to call to get the weather? The service is back. Telecompute Corporation is offering free time and weather phone information. The report starts with a 15-second commercial that helps pay for the service, followed by current weather and forecasts. It also offers a menu to access weather in other locations, sports scores and lottery results. The number is (410) 235-1212.

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For more details, call 410-887-4200. Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities will be provided upon request. Call 410-887-4200 or e-mail dturek-hock@baltimorecountymd.gov no later than June 6 to request an accommodation. For sign language interpretation, please contact us by May 23.

Many of the conditions that led to last year’s decline are still in place: Inflation remains low, the Federal Reserve is slowing its bond-buying stimulus program, and the economy is making some progress, even if it’s less than hoped. Investors are nevertheless giving goldrelated funds another chance, albeit tentatively. The SPDR Gold Shares exchangetraded fund (GLD), one of the most popular ways to buy gold, now holds 26.1 million ounces for investors. That’s up from 25.7 million ounces at the end of 2013. Although that may not sound like a big change, it’s a sharp turnaround from last year. Over the course of 2013, the fund’s gold assets fell by 41 percent from 43.4 million ounces.

Choose mines, not metal Some managers of gold-related funds say shares of miners look to be a better choice than the metal itself. Mining stocks often swing more sharply than the price of gold — climbing faster in a rising market and falling more sharply during downturns — and miners were hit particularly hard last year. That leaves them more attractive than gold, managers say. The First Eagle Gold fund (SGGDX), rated five-stars by Morningstar, can buy either gold or the companies that pull it from the ground. The fund makes its choice based on whichever looks cheaper, and it has a big preference for miners: It has nearly See GOLD FUNDS, page 20

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Gold funds From page 19 80 percent of its assets invested in gold mining stocks versus 18 percent in gold bullion. “If you’re willing to buy gold in a vault, you should be willing to own it in the dirt,”

JUNE 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

said Matt McLennan, portfolio manager of the fund. “It’s been ugly, but there has been an opportunity to invest in the miners.” Another benefit is that gold-mining stocks often pay dividends, said Michael Bradshaw, senior portfolio manager at the

BEACON BITS

May 23

ENERGIZE YOUR SAVINGS

Learn about utility deregulation, reading your utility bill, selecting a third party supplier and more at this seminar at the Bykota Senior Center on Friday, May 23 at 10 a.m. The center is located at 611 Central Ave., Towson. For more information, call (410) 887-3094.

Ongoing

BALTIMORE BAR FOUNDATION ADVICE

Program staff and volunteer attorneys for the Baltimore Bar Foundation provide advice and consultation, direct representation and education/outreach services. Volunteers speak to senior groups about legal topics affecting the aging. Volunteers speak Spanish, Hebrew, Yiddish. Program staff and volunteers handle pro bono, non-fee generating civil cases, involving public benefits and pensions as well as consumer, health care, housing and credit-related problems. For more information, call (410) 396-5277 or email info@baltimorebar.org.

Wells Fargo Advantage Precious Metals fund (EKWAK). Each of the fund’s five biggest stock investments pays a dividend. The FTSE Gold Mines index had a 1.7 percent dividend yield at the end of February, while gold yields nothing. Investors are buying in, and mutual funds that own gold-mining stocks have attracted $358 million in net investment through February of this year, according to Morningstar. It’s a sharp turnaround from 2013, when investors pulled an average of $355 million from the group every two months. Many of the companies in gold-related stock funds are based outside the U.S., in countries such as Australia and South Africa. That raises concerns because changes in currency values can wipe out gains made by their stocks. But currencies from gold-producing countries often move in concert with gold’s price, limiting the risk, managers say. A bigger concern is the politics of mining abroad. Companies can run into troubles with labor groups or local governments.

Price fluctuations Another risk could be gold’s price

falling like it did in 2013. Gold’s descent accelerated last spring amid speculation that the Federal Reserve would pare back its $85 billion in monthly bond purchases. A wind down of the stimulus program means less demand from investors who had been worried that the Fed’s efforts would lead to higher inflation. Gold has traditionally been seen as an investment whose price will rise with inflation. The Fed has since begun to trim its monthly bond purchases, and inflation was relatively low at 1.6 percent in January. This year’s climb for gold has been due to the return of a familiar reason: fear. Investors often buy gold when they’re worried, and several weaker-than-expected reports on the economy heightened concerns. Tensions in Ukraine also drove increased interest in gold. First Eagle’s McLennan said that’s why investors should keep a portion of their portfolios in gold — say 5 to 10 percent. It provides insurance because it has tended to perform well when fear is high. “Ultimately,” he said, “gold’s value is the inverse of confidence.” — AP

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

LEGAL SERVICE FOR NURSING HOME ISSUES

Free legal information and representation in cases involving nursing homes is available through the Nursing Home Program, Legal Aid Bureau, Inc., 29 West Susquehanna Ave., Suite 305, Towson, MD 21204. For more information, call (410) 296-6705 or (800) 367-7563.

Ongoing

DONATE YOUR CAR TO SUPPORT KIDNEY HEALTH

Donate your outdated automobile to Kidney Cars and become eligible for a tax deduction while helping the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland get more mileage out of its education and prevention programs. All donated vehicles are either sold at auction or for parts. To make a donation, call (800) 488-CARS (2277) or visit www.kidneycars.org. NKF-MD will pick up used cars, trucks, motorcycles or boats in almost any condition free of charge.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2014

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Travel

Leisure &

The heart of the Amazon is full of wonders. See story on page 23.

From a bomb site to a beach destination

Uncrowded world-class beaches For many people, the greatest appeal is

what Vieques does not have. That includes streets lined by souvenir shops, a movie theater or even a traffic light. Instead of the likes of McDonald’s and Burger King, fast food means tortillas, empanadas, and grilled chicken and shrimp on skewers available from vendors like Sol Food. That rather ramshackle truck is permanently parked at the front gate of Camp Garcia, a former Navy compound. What the beaches lack are the crowds encountered on many better known Caribbean islands. That prompts the local tourist board to boast that “crowded” on Vieques can mean more than one group of people every 50 yards. It’s often possible to find a sandy seaside refuge to call your own for the day. (Another lack, which may partly explain the first, is that only one beach has restroom facilities.) The beaches range from broad, gently curving seashores overlooking sweeping bays, to tiny slivers of sand hidden at the end of narrow dirt roads punctuated by some of the most forbidding potholes I’ve encountered anywhere. The island has been ranked by TripAdvisor among the top 25 destinations in the world for outstanding beaches, and it doesn’t take long to understand why. Each beach has unique attractions, and together they offer something-for-everyone variety. Silver Beach (Playa Plata) is tucked away at the end of a motion-sickness-inducing road, which discourages many people from

PHOTO COURTESY OF VICTOR BLOCK

By Victor Block A jet plane bearing the identifying emblem of the U.S. Navy streaked low over a broad stretch of beach, dropped a bomb onto the island below and banked sharply to return to its base. The U.S. Navy was attacking a tiny corner of its own country — sort of. Today, a smattering of beach towels and colorful umbrellas dot the sand not far from where that bomb fell, and the only sounds are the surf and chatter of people enjoying a relaxing day in the sun. Welcome to Vieques island, just off the coast of Puerto Rico. If the name sounds familiar, that’s probably because you have read or heard about use of the destination by our country’s Navy as a place to conduct training exercises, including ship-toshore artillery fire and bombing runs. Beginning in 1941, large tracts of land at both ends of the 21-mile-long island were acquired for use by the U.S. military. One area was set aside as a storage depot, while the other was the site of a live impact zone. Since the Navy departed in 2003, after a series of protests over its use of the island, a trickle of vacationers has been making its way to Vieques to discover and enjoy its attractions. The beaches, some still called by the color-based code names given by the military, are a major draw.

Boats line a harbor on Vieques Island in Puerto Rico. The U.S. Navy used the island’s beaches for artillery fire and bombing exercises from 1941 until 2003. Today, wild horses and calm tourists roam the beaches.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VICTOR BLOCK

A food truck provides Vieques’ version of fast food: tortillas, empanadas, and grilled chicken and shrimp on skewers.

seeking it out. Those who do, however, find inviting shade in which to spread out a towel, and good offshore snorkeling. Navio Beach (Playa Navio) is framed by palm and sea grape trees, and nestled among rock cliffs interspersed by waves perfect for diving into or riding. The beach at Sun Bay is the only one on the island with restrooms and a small restaurant. It is also the only one that charges a fee to enter — but just $2 a car. It’s more than a mile wide, and, because it is the favorite among the Viequenses (as the locals are called), it can be somewhat crowded on weekends by local standards. Sun Bay has won the coveted Blue Flag designation, which is awarded to beaches around the world that meet strict criteria for water quality, environmental management and other standards.

Aquatic light show While the inviting, uncrowded beaches tempt sun-worshippers, swimmers and snorkelers, a more unusual and intriguing attraction appeals to those in search of a more dramatic experience. Picture this: You’re gliding over a shallow bay at night, with the sky lighted by a blanket of stars. Each time a canoe or kayak paddle dips into the water, an explosion of blue-green sparkles dances across the surface as if vying for attention with the light show overhead.

This is the extravaganza of nature found at the unfortunately, but accurately, named Mosquito Bay. The show is put on by microscopic single-celled organisms (dinoflagellates), for which the bay environment provides a perfect home. When agitated, they emit a bright burst of light as a defense mechanism that makes them seem larger to would-be predators. When conditions are at their best, the result resembles a mini-fireworks display in the sea. Even on nights that are less than perfect, you’re likely to have at least a hint of why this body of water has been declared by Guinness World Records to be the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world. Back on land, other forms of life show up, at times in unexpected places. That can present a challenge to anyone driving on the narrow streets, when a chicken or rooster suddenly decides to seek an answer to the eternal proverbial question by darting to the other side of the road, or an iguana finds a perfect spot to enjoy the sun at the edge of the pavement.

Wild horses, Spanish history Much more frequent are encounters with horses that roam free on the island, grazing wherever they please, and pleasing visitors with frequent sightings. They are genuine celebrities of Vieques island, and See VIEQUES, page 22

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Vieques From page 21 their ancestry is said to be traceable back to 16th century Spanish Conquistadores. Few places are off limits to them. I spotted a pony eyeing the swimming pool at the posh W Retreat & Spa, as if it were considering taking a cooling dip. Small groups of the animals often graze on the W’s perfectly manicured lawns, at times giving proof to signs posted for guests that warn, “Caution – Wild Horses Poop.” When the Conquistadors claimed Vieques after Columbus landed in Puerto Rico in 1493, they found it inhabited by the Taino people, one of the Arawak Indian tribes. A subsequent rebellion by the Taino resulted in most of them being killed, imprisoned or enslaved. Traces of the Taino culture remain in some place names, food and the use of medicinal plants. While not a treasure trove of historic sites, visitors to Vieques may discover sev-

JUNE 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

eral places that depict chapters of its past. Among artifacts recovered at the Puerto Ferro (iron fort) archeological site is a human skeleton buried with shells dated back to about 1900 B.C. A good place for a short course in island history is the El Fortin Conde de Mirasol (Count of Mirasol Fort), built 1845-1855 on a steep hill overlooking the town of Isabel II. It houses the Vieques Museum of Anthropology, History and Art. Exhibits range from archeological items to crossbows, swords and other early instruments of warfare. Isabel II (Isabel Segunda) is the larger of the two main towns on Vieques and is its administrative center, with a cluster of government offices. It was named for Queen Isabel II, who ruled Spain from 1843 to 1868. Esperanza, the only other town of any note, is little more than a gathering of casual restaurants, bars and modest guest houses that line the Malecon — a paved esplanade squeezed between the main

(and virtually only) street and the harbor. The town has a distinct dual personality. During the day, there’s so little activity a person could almost take a nap on the street through town. But that changes dramatically in the evening, especially on weekends. That’s when strings of colored lights brighten the setting, music blares from several establishments, and people crowd the streets and sidewalks chatting, laughing and sipping from paper cups. The relative hustle and bustle in Isabel II and Esperanza contrasts sharply with the tranquil, laid-back atmosphere that pervades most of Vieques. Men who gather to sip rum and exchange banter each day at the tiny bar in the El Encanto convenience store ignore the horses that sometimes graze near their cars parked outside. For the visitor to Vieques, these are among attractions that give the island diversity and appeal well beyond its small size.

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If you go The least expensive flight to San Juan, P.R. is $328 roundtrip on American Airlines from all three area airports. After flying to San Juan, the quickest way to reach Vieques is the 25-minute flight on Cape Air ($218 round-trip) or Vieques Air Line ($242 round-trip). The passenger ferry is much less expensive (round trip $4, patrons 60 to 74 $2, 75 and older free). But it can take close to two hours from San Juan to reach the departure dock in traffic, the crossing itself takes 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the weather, and it can be rough. In keeping with the island’s noncommercial persona, most accommodations on Vieques are in tiny inns, guest houses and rental properties. The major exception is the super-luxurious W Retreat & Spa, part of an upscale chain that boasts it caters to “jetsetters and local tastemakers.” The property’s 156 spacious rooms are scatted throughout a sprawling compound that offers the amenities one would expect in such an elegant setting. The resort’s two cozy beaches are as pleasant as most others on the island. Not surprisingly, all of this panache does not come inexpensively. Rates for a double room begin at $379. For more information, call (877) 946-8357 or log onto www.whotels.com. Typical of less grand, less costly housing that abounds on the island is the Ababor Suites, a four-unit guest house perched on a small beach just outside Isabel II. Its rooms are modestly furnished but clean, and include a fully equipped kitchen. Rates are $130 (up to four guests) and $150 (up to six people), and genial hostess Wanda Bermudez is a font of knowledge about the island. For more information, call (787) 435-2841 or log onto www.ababorsuites.com. While the Sorcé restaurant at the W is outstanding, with food and service in keeping with the luxurious setting, my wife Fyllis and I preferred to rub shoulders with locals at dinner time. Bili is typical of restaurants in Esperanza, a casual open-air spot that serves good food in ample portions. Popular dishes with regulars include turnovers filled with pork and cheese ($8) and chicken breast over a cassava pancake ($8). For more information, call (787) 741-1382 or log onto bilirestaurant.com. Overlooking the water in Isabel II, Al’s Mar Azul achieves its goal of capturing the fun and funky atmosphere of the island. Those who aren’t put off by the ambience, or rather lack of it, will feel welcomed by the friendly staff and other diners. The light fare includes a grilled chicken wrap ($6.50) and individual pizza ($5). For those who like their food spicy, the menu lists a dozen hot sauces rated by intensity, with names like the Ultimate Dragon and Passionate Frog. For more information, call (787) 741-3400. For information about visiting Vieques, call 1-800-866-7827 or log onto www.seepuertorico.com/en/destinations/culebraand-vieques.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

BALTIMORE BEACON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; JUNE 2014

Exploring the Amazonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many wonders By Fyllis Hockman I am a hiker. But at home in Maryland, no one uses a machete to blaze the trail prior to walking on it as did Souza, our Amazon guide. He created a path for us in the overgrown rainforest step by step. Slicing, swatting, swooping and chopping, no branch, bush, vine or twig was safe. The hike was one of four daily activities during our eight-day adventure exploring the Amazon rainforest. We traveled more than 200 miles along the River Negro in Brazil, calling the 16-passenger riverboat Tucano our home. For our daily excursions, we clambered aboard a small power launch that took us hiking, bird-watching and village hopping, as well as on night-time outings that dramatized the allure of the river not experienced in any other way. Souza demanded quiet during our launch rides, using all of his senses to read the forest. He would listen for the breaking of a branch or a flutter through the trees, sniff for animal odors, scan leaves above and below for motion, or the water for ripples, and then alert us at every junction of what he had discovered. On our

own, we would have heard, felt and discerned nothing.

A birderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paradise Souzaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most amazing talent was his ability to identify (and communicate with!) the multitudes of birds traversing the river and forest. He could replicate many of their calls precisely, imitating more birds than the most gifted comedian can impersonate celebrities. Like a modern-day Doolittle, he carried on such a long, intimate â&#x20AC;&#x153;conversationâ&#x20AC;? with a blackish gray antshrike that I think they became engaged by the time he was through. Then Souza, fickle male that he is, romanced a colorful blue-beaked trogon perched on a dead branch high in a tree. As one of my travel companions observed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like birds, you might as well take the next flight home.â&#x20AC;? Our forest walks with Machete Man also were a time for observation, not conversation. On a stop to view teca ants swarming over the bark, Souza wiped his hand across it, proceeding to rub the ants over his forearms. Instant mosquito repellant â&#x20AC;&#x201C;- a handy tool in the Amazon.

At one point, I looked down and saw a long brown twig draped across a log. Souza saw a snake. I looked again and still saw a twig, albeit one that now had an eye. I stepped more gingerly. And then there were the leaf cutter ants! A long assembly line of tiny leaves paraded up a hill, as synchronized as a marching band. A closer look revealed leaf cutter ants to be the burly carriers. Hard to believe something so fragile can carry so large and unwieldy a load as much as half a mile to its colony. Surprised at how much he learned about himself on the trip, a fellow traveler, Ritesh Beriwal, (a 23-year-old burned-out Wall Street trainee) said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realize how interested Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be in the little things, like how insects such as the leaf-carrying

ants build homes. Before it was just an ant; now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an ant with an entire life and work history.â&#x20AC;? Each day brought new revelations and insight into our surroundings, whether on land or water. Our visits to several villages, isolated from civilization with little if any modern conveniences, only reinforced that impression.

The Amazon after dark Although every day was an adventure, nothing compared with our nighttime jaunts. Our post-dinner sojourns pitched Souza and his searchlight against the dark horizon, scanning shoreline and trees, desSee AMAZON, page 24

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June 11

From page 23

DOWNTON COMES TO DELAWARE

Join Senior Box Office on Wednesday, June 11, for this trip to Winterthur, Del., to visit the premier museum of decorative arts and its current exhibit of costumes from “Downton Abbey.” Tickets are $53 per person. For more information, call (410) 882-3797.

June 12

CHRISTMAS IN JUNE IN PARADISE

Walk through life-sized nativity scenes at the National Christmas Center, visit Woolworth 5 & 10 and enjoy lunch at the Plain and Fancy Farm Restaurant in Paradise, Pa., on this trip sponsored by Seven Oaks Senior Center. Tickets are $85 per person. Call (410) 529-2341 to reserve a spot.

June 14+

COOL OFF IN WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA

Enjoy a two-hour boat cruise to Paul Bunyan’s Cook Shanty and an overnight stay in Wisconsin on this week-long trip sponsored by Liberty Senior Center. Then head to the Mall of America in Minneapolis for two days and another cruise to the Capri Casino Hotel. Tickets are $1,025 per double. Sign up now at (410) 887-0780.

perately searching for something to entertain his eager customers. An all-pervasive quiet loomed, magnifying whatever sounds were audible: dolphins snorting, fish jumping, caimans slithering, monkeys howling -– all vying for attention in the pitch blackness. Eventually, the flashlight, seemingly darting randomly above, below and beyond the trees, alighted (so to speak) on a caiman lizard in the brush, his whole snout protruding for a moment before slinking away. Or perhaps instead the light reflected off a kingfisher’s eyes, temporarily blinding him so that we could drift in almost close enough to touch. Then for an encore, we watched a spider grab a dragonfly from a crack in a tree directly in front of us -– and diligently devour it. Whereas during the day, the trills, tweets and twerps of the birds dominate the land-

scape, at night it’s the croaks, caws and throaty outpourings of the frogs and caimans. From our first launch at 6 a.m. to our final return sometime after 9 p.m., we pretty much spend our non-exploring time eating. The native foods, beautifully prepared and presented, are a pleasant surprise this far from civilization.

Waiting for the fish to bite As much as that is a typical day, there were also exceptions. One particular day we got to “sleep in” until 6 a.m., still early enough to watch the sun pull itself over the forest, and late enough to feel the already oppressive heat seep into my lightweight, washable, bug-repellant-treated blouse. We were going fishing. I sat with my Tom Sawyer fishing pole, thinking the Amazon’s a long way from the Mississippi. I attached the chunks of beef to the end of the line thinking this was strange bait, until I remembered our intended prey. Watching Souza rattle the water with his pole, I remembered that being quiet was the order of the day on most fishing expeditions. Still, I followed his lead — make the quarry think there’s a wounded fish thrashing about. Within a minute, I knew I had snagged the big prize: at the end of my line was the famed carnivorous (actually omnivorous) fish — a 6-inch piranha. Souza held it up to a tree and used its mouth like a scissors to cut a branch in two. Just looking at the piranha’s imposing teeth, we knew it came by its reputation honestly. Still, the predator gets a bad rap. The truth is, unless they’re starving, or you’re bleeding, humans aren’t really in their food chain. But they are in ours. The fried piranhas we had that night as appetizers were scrumptious, their tiny bones crunchy and the meat flaky, proving the wise adage that more people eat piranhas than piranhas eat people — at least in Amazonia. My trip was arranged through the travel company Latin American Escapes. The cost for the eight-day Tucano trip (one of many offered in the Amazon), starts at $3,450, plus airfare to Brazil. For more information on this and other trips, call 1-800-510-5999 or visit www.latinamericanescapes.com. Fyllis Hockman is a travel writer living in Montgomery Village, Md. She happens to be married to travel writer Victor Block.

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May 31

CULINARY CAPER TO CARLISLE

Roland Park Country School’s Kaleidoscope program hosts an excursion to Carlisle, Pa., on Saturday, May 31. Visit the nationally-acclaimed Kitchen Shoppe Cooking School for a food and wine demonstration, followed by lunch and browsing in the culinary emporium. Tickets are $139 per person. For more information and reservations, call (410) 323-5500 or visit www.rpcs.org.

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2014

Say you saw it in the Beacon

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Arts &

Jay Brazeau talks about his titular role in The Wizard of Oz. See story on p. 26.

Ventriloquist loves to make children laugh tracks again and pursue a career as an environmental lawyer. “I was interested in the environment,” she recalled, “and this seemed an easier route than becoming an environmental engineer.” Smalkin graduated, again cum laude, from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1977, and practiced law — happily so — until she met and married her husband, the Honorable Frederic N. Smalkin, a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.

A surprising affinity for kids After giving birth to her children — a son in 1982 and a daughter in 1984 — Smalkin was stunned to discover how much she adored not only her own children but preschool-age children in general. Eventually, her two loves, music and children, came together thanks to John “Kinderman” Taylor’s Emmy award-winning children’s television show, “It’s Kindertime.” Smalkin helped write and produce the show, and performed on it as well. The show aired on WMAR ABC TV-2 in the 1990s. Around the same time, Smalkin devel-

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By Carol Sorgen Children’s entertainer Valerie Leonhart Smalkin was never especially drawn to young children. Until she had her own, that is. “I didn’t think I liked children,” the 64year-old Cockeysville ventriloquist-musician-author said. “Then I had one, and I fell in love.” After Smalkin received a BA in philosophy cum laude from Goucher College in 1971, she found herself basically unemployable, and so headed off to Berklee College of Music in Boston to pursue her first love — music. Smalkin, a Baltimore native, came by her musical talent naturally. Her parents, aunts, uncles, sisters and brothers were all artistically inclined. Everyone played the piano, one brother the flute, another bass, and several siblings (there were six in all) played guitar. Every Sunday night, after dinner, they entertained parents, neighbors and visitors with their songs. However, the life of a pop musician in the early ‘70s wasn’t quite the easy path she had hoped for. So Smalkin, at the suggestion of her sister, decided to change

Ventriloquist Valerie Leonhart Smalkin entertains children with the help of puppet Silly Goose, which she made herself. Smalkin’s new book and jazzy CD combo “Springtime Dance” is being released this month.

oped an interest in ventriloquism. She said the first time she tried her hand — or rather her voice — at the skill was off the cuff. “We were [performing] on stage, and two brothers [in the audience] were having a fistfight,” she recalled. “You can’t be unpleasant in that situation, so I smiled, turned off my

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microphone, and said in a tough voice, ‘If you do that again, I will call the police!’” Apparently the ruse worked. “I thought to myself at the time, ‘I could be a ventriloquist!’”

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Catching up with the Wizard backstage Wizardly words of wisdom “This show is such a part of Americana,” said the Wizard himself, aka Jay Brazeau who, like Wade, is not American, but a born and bred Canadian. “The audiences have been having such a great time,” he added. Brazeau makes his home — when not in Oz or traveling with the show — in Vancouver. This is not Brazeau’s first experience performing in the Oz story. He played the Lion 35 years ago in London. Brazeau, now 60, joined the current tour in San Francisco in October, and has been making his way across the country. We caught up with him during the show’s stop in Chicago. Along the tour he has seen parts of the U.S. unfamiliar to him, such as Arizona and Texas. When he gives up Wizard status at the end of June in Detroit, he’ll be heading back to Vancouver and “real life,” where he’ll be directing a play written by his wife and making his agent happy, who likes to have him available for movie roles. Brazeau’s on-stage career highlights include Hairspray (so he’s especially looking forward to his first visit to Baltimore!), Drowsy Chaperone and Fiddler on the Roof. His film and TV credits include Watchmen, Double Jeopardy, Jinxed, “The West Wing” and “Supernatural.” He will also be appear-

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By Carol Sorgen Click your ruby heels together, and join Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Dorothy and, of course, Toto on their journey through the magical Land of Oz to meet the Wizard and find their hearts’ desires. You don’t even have to go as far as Oz. Just head down to the Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric, where Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 2011 production of The Wizard of Oz will be performed from Wednesday, May 28 through Sunday, June 1. The show stars Danielle Wade as Dorothy. Wade was chosen for the part through a Canadian television reality show, “Over The Rainbow,” judged by Lloyd Webber and others. The production will be familiar to anyone who’s seen the classic MGM film starring Judy Garland. It contains all the Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg songs you know so well from the Oscar-winning movie score, all the favorite characters and iconic moments, plus a few surprises — including new songs by Tim Rice and Sir Andrew. The Wizard of Oz had its North American premiere on December 20, 2012, in Toronto, where it ran through the following August. It is now on tour to six markets across the United States.

Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow, Lion and Tin Man are off to see the Wizard in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s version of The Wizard of Oz at the Modell Performing Arts Center May 28 to June 1.

ing in the upcoming film Horns, starring Daniel Radcliff (more familiarly known as Harry Potter). Brazeau is grateful for every role he has played, and credits his mentor, Canadian actor Len Cariou, with taking him under his wing and giving him his first job. But performing before a live audience holds a special appeal for him. “When you’re in a film, you give of yourself to the camera, but you don’t get any-

thing back,” he said. “But when you’re in a play, you take so much from the audience. You’re sharing the experience with them.”

Self-taught actor Brazeau is the son of a sign painter who wanted his son to follow in his footsteps. “I’d be out of work today if I’d done that,” said Brazeau, noting that that craft has See WIZARD, page 27

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2014

Ventriloquist From page 25 It took her about 20 years to perfect the art, and along the way she came up with her puppet sidekick, “Silly Goose.” She sewed it herself from a pattern. “I don’t even know why I chose [a goose],” she admitted. Among her accomplishments, Smalkin can point to composing and performing a musical version of Priscilla Cummings’ International Literacy Award-winning book, Chadwick the Chesapeake Crab (her musical is called Chadwick Sings: A Little Bay Music). She also composed Babel: The Or-

atorio, Signs: An Epiphany Musical, and Darrell: The Draggin’ Dragon. As Silly Goose & Val, she now tours schools, libraries and live stage theaters in the mid-Atlantic area with her puppets, marionettes, comedy and music.

New book and CD Last year, Smalkin wrote the song, “Springtime Dance,” and then happened to meet illustrator Kimberly Hopkins. The two collaborated on the book/CD combo, Springtime Dance, which is being published this month. According to Smalkin, the song “Springtime Dance” is not your typical children’s

ditty. It’s fast-paced and jazzy, written and sung by Smalkin in a style influenced by Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee and Diana Krall, among others. Musical accompaniment includes Buddy Larkin on piano, Chris Savage on drums, and Smalkin herself on bass. The book, with its colorful illustrations, reinforces the song, and both teaches and entertains youngsters about the wonders of springtime. Smalkin’s live shows are a combination of ventriloquism, comedy, sing-along (and dance-along) songs designed for 2- to 12year-old children and their parents (and grandparents).

But it’s the children who are her main delight. She said they are the ideal audience for her because “they don’t smoke; they don’t drink; they go to bed at 8 at night, like I do; and they like to work in the morning, like I do. They’re the perfect audience for me!” “They’re so lovely,” Smalkin continued. “I adore seeing them smile and making them laugh. Entertaining children is like drenching myself in loving-kindness. It’s addictive.” To find out more about Silly Goose and Val, or to order Smalkin’s new book, visit www.sillygooseandval.com or www.smallkinmusic.com.

BEACON BITS

Wizard From page 26 now been taken over by computers. Brazeau had no theatrical experience or inclination as a youth, until he was about 16 when he saw his first play. He walked into a theater workshop, liked what he saw, and told them he was interested in becoming an actor. “They gave me a hammer and nails and told me to start building the sets,” Brazeau recalled. But eventually the roles started coming, and have kept coming. “I’m fortunate,” said Brazeau. “I’ve never gone to drama school — I learned by watching — but I’ve had a good career

as a character actor. I guess there’s always room for overweight balding guys — or I’ve been fooling people all these years!” Brazeau has taken special delight in all the audience members who come dressed up as Dorothy — some young girls, some not so young, and, he chuckled, in San Francisco, some not girls at all. Tickets range from $49 to $69. They can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com, by calling (410) 547-7328, or by visiting the Modell Lyric Box Office, 140 W. Mt. Royal Ave., Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.modell-lyric.com or www.wizardofozthemusical.com.

BEACON BITS

June 17

ADULT SUMMER READING KICK-OFF

Three of Maryland’s best-selling writers — Sheri Booker, author of Nine Years Under: Coming of Age in an Inner City Funeral Home; Dan Fesperman, author of The Double Game; and Sarah Pekkanen, author of Catching Air — talk about their books and the writing life with Tom Hall of WYPR’s “Maryland Morning,” on Tuesday, June 17, at 7 p.m., in the Poe Room of the Enoch Pratt Free Central Library, 400 Cathedral St. Admission is free. For more information, call (410) 396-5430 or visit www.prattlibrary.org.

June 14

FLAG DAY CELEBRATION AT AVIATION MUSEUM

The Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum celebrates Flag Day on Saturday, June 14 with an Open Cockpit Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The museum is located at Martin State Airport in Middle River. Visitors can get into the aircraft, meet Rosie the Riveters who built airplanes and explore the museum’s exhibit “They Answered the Call”, a salute to the World War II employees of the Glenn L. Martin Company. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children. Parking is free.

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May 28+

TRIBES AT EVERYMAN

Tribes, a 2010 winner of the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play, is onstage at Everyman Theatre from May 28 to June 22. The play follows Billy — who is hearing impaired — on his path of self-discovery as he struggles to be heard and understood by the hearing world, including his loud, opinionated family. Tickets range from $32 to $60. Everyman is located at 315 W. Fayette St. For more information, call (410) 752-2208, or visit www.everymantheatre.org.

May 28+

A WILD TIME AT CENTERSTAGE

Life is looking pretty bleak for Gil, a would-be actor. His best friend decides a trip to the Magic Kingdom will restore Gil’s spirits, so off they go. Laugh along the way in Wild with Happy, from May 28 to June 29 at CenterStage, 700 N. Calvert St. Tickets range from $19 to $59. For more information, call (410) 332-0033, or visit www.centerstage.org.

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JUNE 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2014

From page 1 Arts Institute, and has worked as a chef for the past 28 years. Like Pellegrino, working in the kitchen was a departure from Tracey’s original pursuits. His first career involved repairing Saabs and Volvos. But his passion for creating food that is fresh and interesting led him into the culinary world. Tracey’s specialty is French cooking, which he feels offers the most creativity. He has worked in several notable Baltimore restaurants, including the Conservatory at the Peabody Court Hotel and the Polo Grill at the Inn at the Colonnade, in addition to the Ritz Carlton in Washington, D.C. Currently he works as executive chef for Roland Park Place Retirement Community, where he says his goal is to “elevate” the cuisine. Tracey says his greatest reward as a chef is making the guests smile. “I really feel that people need to know that food in retirement communities can be as exciting as at any five-star restaurant,” Tracey said. Having never competed previously, either locally or in a larger market, Tracey said he is very excited about the opportunity and honored to have been chosen to take part in the tournament.

Changing perceptions Among the challenges Tracey tends to meet in his current line of work are “stereotypes and personal biases people have about the food I make because of where I work,” he said, “as well as battling stereotypes people have about retirement communities and older adults in general. “People look at me and automatically assume things about the way I cook, what I cook, and who I cook for, because I work at a retirement community. I can’t wait to change everything that people think they

BEACON BITS

June 14+

HAVE A “HONEY” OF A TIME IN HAMPDEN

The “Bawlmer” term of endearment, Hon (short for Honey), has traditionally been bestowed upon neighbors and visitors alike by the city’s working women. HonFest is an annual celebration in honor of these women and has grown to be a nationally recognized festival that covers four city blocks in the neighborhood of Hampden (worth a visit on its own for its funky mix of vintage clothing stores, galleries, and restaurants). This year’s HonFest takes place Saturday, June 14, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, June 15, from noon to 6 p.m. There will also be a Saturday night concert on 36th Street from 7 to 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.honfest.net.

know about retirement communities and food in retirement communities.” To underscore his point, Tracey expressed great enthusiasm about the adventure of using different — perhaps unusual —ingredients, and cooking to themes such as Parisian or Southeast Asian. “Because I’m easily bored with food, I try to do different things for myself every day,” Tracey said. This helps him to create exciting new dishes, like a recent take on a chili dog that used spare ribs, homemade sauerkraut and jalapeno poppers. Tracey is also excited about using local ingredients for entertaining. One dish he would love to make for guests is an appetizer of “skinny dipper” oysters on the half shell, crispy fried soft shell crabs on a sweet corn pudding with fresh local asparagus and an old bay aioli, and crème brulee for dessert. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Tracey will open his own restaurant one day. He even has a concept in mind — French seafood, where everything is made from scratch and all ingredients, if possible, are locally sourced. For now though, Tracey is focused on the challenge of the upcoming competition and “trying to do food that impresses the other competitors.” Tracey will compete from 6 to 9 p.m. on July 14, the next-to-last week of the preliminary competition. While food culinary competitions draw big ratings, Folkart observed that televised shows can be somewhat “one dimensional.” In contrast, the Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament provides the added “ingredient” of being live, so that audience members can stand “truly inches away” from the chefs as they are cooking.

Those who purchase guest judge tickets will also be able to participate in the judging process, tasting the food alongside the expert judges, and having a vote in who moves forward in the tournament. For an additional twist, this year a last-minute secret ingredient reveal will also be implemented. The winner of the competition will not only earn the title of Master Chef, but will also take away a prize package worth about $8,000. Dishes are scored on plate presentation, creativity of recipe and taste.

FROM PAGE 30

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD S E A T E D C O R P S M A N

A C T E D T H E S E R T I S T S I N L E I M A S S D E G A S T S U M S E O M M A N D N A G I P L O D S E A A L S S A I L L I S S B Y A D M E N M E A T S I

Baltimore chef Jerry Pellegrino, owner of Waterfront Kitchen and new restaurant Farmstead Grill, will serve as a judge for the fifth annual Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament in June and July.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

SUMMER AT THE SYMPHONY BEGINS The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Summer 2014 concert sea-

son includes a variety of programs, from Michael Curtiz’s classic film Casablanca (June 12-14), to the annual “Star-Spangled Spectacular” at Oregon Ridge Park (July 3-4), “All-Baroque” (July 10-11), “All-Beethoven” (July 24-25) celebrations at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore and the Music Centre at Strathmore in N. Bethesda, and “Video Games Live” (July 26), an immersive concert event featuring music from an array of classic and contemporary video games at the Meyerhoff. For more details and tickets, visit www.BSOmusic.org

You be a judge

A R E A B E I G C O N N S A R A T T I C E O H I O T E N N I S P O O P E N N A T E R I M E T A D E N

Also, chefs must effectively utilize and highlight all of the required ingredients in the dishes. Last year’s winner was the team from the Fells Point restaurant Bond Street Social, which prepared an appetizer of wagyu (from a breed of Japanese cows by the same name) and foie gras dumpling in a star anise, lemongrass and sesame broth; an entrée of black pepper rubbed wagyu hangar steak with caramelized cipollini onion, blue cheese and bacon butter, with duck-fat fried pomme neuf potato; topped off with a dessert of old school sticky toffee pudding (a combination of pecan brittle, brandy cream and toffee sauce). To learn more about the Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament experience, visit www.masondixonmasterchef.com. General admission tickets are $25. Guest judging tickets are $45.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JERRY PELLEGRINO

Chefs

D O G L L E I G A M E S N T S E E R M I I N S G

D A N I S H

T R U E S T

N O E L

T W A S

L E E D O D

or call 1-877-BSO-1444.

JUNE 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Crossword Puzzle Daily crosswords can be found on our website:

www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus

State Starts 1

by Stephen Sherr

31 35

34 37

24 28

48 52

49 53

Across

Down

1. Regions 6. Cried crocodile tears 11. Banned pesticide 14. Like mocha ice cream 15. “With friends like ___ ...” 16. Pinta propeller 17. Waterbury watercolorists 19. Serengeti migrator 20. Prom dress fabric 21. Ornamental anagram for 22 Across 22. Dishonest anagram for 21 Across 23. Spilled the beans 25. Without some New Englanders 27. Soda fountain offering 28. Impressive impressionist 30. Like well-laced ice skates 31. State with only four letters 33. Grand total 34. Med. or Red 35. Product of Nashville’s General Assembly 41. The end of TV 42. Last fig. on the front of a 1040 form 43. Miss White’s first name 44. Hound’s trail 47. Walks wearily 49. Alternative to coffee and me 50. Ben Franklin, and buddies 52. Supporters of the arts 54. Gorged on gorgonzola 55. Distributer of 37% of US fed. expenditures 56. Further under the weather 57. Canyon’s edge 58. Just across the Ala. border 62. LAX prediction 63. Not free marketeers 64. Searched for shiny rocks 65. Comfy room 66. Ice-less drinks 67. Clapton ___ (1960’s graffiti slogan)

1. Fundamental 2. Vintage car 3. Genius whose name ends like it starts 4. “You strain out ___ but swallow a camel” (Matthew 23:24) 5. Inside the bumper car 6. Env. notation 7. Greek letter that looks looks like an “X” 8. Electric cars 9. ___ Park, Colo. 10. Abstained from 11. Golf course bend 12. Dessert tray option 13. Most accurate 18. Takes the bus 23. Run amok 24. Heart or tooth malady 25. Dogs and hogs, but not frogs 26. Actors Neeson and Hemsworth 29. Trident, for example 32. Stew ingredient 34. With a sneer 36. Extra on M*A*S*H 37. Sixth word of the Gettysburg Address 38. Walking down the red carpet 39. Christmas carol 40. Start of a Christmas carol 44. Converted the 7-10 split 45. Small and dainty 46. Band with a small payroll 47. Yellow part of blood 48. Cracker stacker 51. “All kidding ___...” 53. Final four games 56. Arab name parts 59. After ready; before go 60. Zodialogical sign of baseball’s Durocher 61. Actor Byrnes

Answers on page 29.

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2014

CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on the right. CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment. EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

Caregivers LICENSED, EXPERIENCED CNA/GNA seeks overnight and weekend caregiving position. Excellent references provided if interested. Call Millicent, 443-469-7694. CAREGIVER: EXPERIENCED, COMPASSIONATE, dependable and conscientious male GNA/CNA. Available overnight. Excellent references. Reliable transportation. Current GNA/CNA, CPR and First Aid. Call Chris, 706442-3818. CNA/CMT WITH CPR AND FIRST AID certifications, loving and caring, seeks employment to care for the sick or elderly at home or nursing home on Saturday or Sunday nights, 12 hour shifts. Call 443-9-29876. One on one only.

Financial Services ACCOUNTING, BOOKKEEPING, TAXES – conscientious CPA, 37 years experience, reasonable rates, looking for additional business, personal and eldercare clients. Call 410-653-3363.

For Rent WE BUY HOUSES FOR CA$H – Call today, 240-670-6797. Iwant2helpyou.com.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

For Rent OVERLEA – LARGE, CLEAN, QUIET BEDROOM + bath for rent on second floor of private home, utilities included. Reasonable. 410-485-1702.

For Sale ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA 1899 – Complete 30-volume set. $300 or best offer. Call Georgia, 410-323-6583.

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

TWO PLOTS, MORELAND MEMORIAL, Parkville. $1,500. 410-256-3506. After 3:00.

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

BEIGE RECLINER, METAL COMPUTER DESK, night stand, Kenwood Bookshelf component disk + duel tapes, 2 small speakers, Logitech X-220 subwoofer speakers. Call between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. 443-326-8169.

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

GOLF SET, RIGHT HAND plus bag and 6 balls. Excellent condition, $60. Tapes, large, variety, 55 total, $30. 410-529-7117. 2 GRAVESITES AND 2 VAULTS – Parkwood Cemetery, “Devotion” section, close to road, overlooking the pond. $4,000. 410-933-0038. DRUID RIDGE CEMETERY PLOT for sale. Valued at $3,705. Sell for $3,000. Call Dee at 410-599-2131. 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.

Home/Handyman Services BALTIMORE’S BEST JUNK REMOVAL – Clean Outs: Whole House, Emergency, Attics/Basements. Furniture and Junk Removal, Yard Waste Removal, General Hauling, Construction Debris Removal. Free estimates. 10% Senior Discount. Licensed, Bonded and Insured. Call Jesse, 443-379-HAUL (4285). SANFORD & SON HAULING & RECYCLING. Trash removal, house & estate clean-outs, garage clean-outs, demolition. Shed, fence & deck removal. Tree trimming & removal, yard work, etc. Licensed and insured. Free estimates over the phone. 7 days a week, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 410-746-5090.

Note: Each real estate listing counts as one business text ad. Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:

The Beacon, Baltimore Classified Dept. P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227 Wanted

Wanted

OLD AND NEW WE BUY Sterling Silver Flatware, Tea Sets, Single Pieces, Fountain Pens, Lighters, Tools, Cameras, Glassware, Art Work. Toys From Trains to Hotwheels to Star Wars. Call Greg, 717-658-7954.

MILITARY ITEMS Collector seeks: helmets, weapons, knives, swords, bayonets, webgear, uniforms, inert ordnance, ETC. From 1875 to 1960, US, German, Britain, Japan, France, Russian. Please call Fred 301-910-0783, Thank you. Also Lionel Trains.

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

CASH BUYER FOR OLD COSTUME JEWELRY – pocket and wrist watches (any condition). Also buying watchmaker tools and parts, train sets and accessories, old toys, old glassware & coins. 410-655-0412. VINYL RECORDS WANTED 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.

Thanks for reading!

Personal Services LEARN ENGLISH – SPANISH – ITALIAN – FRENCH – PORTUGUESE Conversational. Grammatical. Private lessons. Reasonable Rates. Tutoring students. 443-352-8200.

Wanted WE BUY OLD AND NEW JEWELRY, Coins, Silver and Gold, Paper Money Too. Watches, Clocks and Parts, Military Badges and Patches Old and New. Call Greg, 717-658-7954.

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BB6/14

JUNE 2014 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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FROM ADVOCACY TO AMUSEMENT, WE DO A LOT FOR YOU.

We work hard d to su upport familly caregiive erss, spur change in your comm munity an nd crreate fi fin nancial tools to help you u save for retirement. But what else we e’rre doing g might surprise you. We’’re hossting free movie e nigh hts, networkin ng events and d sociial opp portuniities alll arround Marylan nd. If you don n’t thiink “R Real Possibilities” when you think AARP P, then you do P, on’t know “aarp.” p”

Gett to know AARP in Maryland at aa aarp rp.o rp ..o org g//M MDSurpr p isess Real Possibilities is a trademark of AARP.

or 1-866-542-8163