July 2016 | Howard County Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

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John Bertulis, who served as an election judge for the first time at last April’s primary election, is more than eager to carry out the day-long duties again during the presidential elections. He said he found his experience “wonderful,” and can’t wait to do another 16-hour day at the polling site. “I knew it would be a long day — I have a friend who has been an election judge for over 20 years — so I had a good night’s sleep the day before, brought a nice lunch, and didn’t plan anything for the next

JULY 2016

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Looking forward to November

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More than 30,000 readers throughout Howard County

You, too, can be a judge for a day By Robert Friedman Come Nov. 8, some 1,000 Howard County residents will be working in the 100 area polling places where voters will cast ballots for Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump and whoever else becomes a bona-fide candidate for the White House, as well as for their senator, congressman, school board members and circuit court judge. Known as “election judges,” these volunteers will be paid from $165 to $220 for the long day’s journey at the polling stations (usually a 16-hour day). Sound enticing? You’re in luck: it’s not too late. Judges are still being recruited by the Howard County Board of Elections. Kimberly Phillips, the board’s judge staff recruiter, noted that the great majority of county election judges are 50 or older, adding that the board is trying to reach out to younger judges, particularly students in their last year of high school or in college. “We usually hire 1,500 judges per election cycle,” she said. “About 800 to 850 are coming back from the 1,100 we had during the primaries,” she said. “We need about 400 more.” “The no-returns mostly say that it was a longer day than they expected,” Phillips said. “We don’t do shifts.” Elections Board Director Guy Mickley said he expected a very high turnout for the presidential election in November. “The turnout could be 85 percent, or even 90 percent, of the 206,000 active registered voters” in the county, he said. Prospective voters still have until Oct. 18 to register — online, or at election offices, post offices and libraries.

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About 1,000 election judges are needed to work at the polls on election day in Howard County. Like these elections judges, shown at a polling location during April’s primary, most workers are at opposite ends of the age spectrum, either over 50 or in high school.

day,” said Bertulis, an Ellicott City resident who was assigned to a voting place near his home. The 63-year-old recently retired as ombudsman for the state’s foster care program. The duties, he said, consisted of handing out the appropriate ballot to the registered voter, explaining the new ballot — after some 15 years, Maryland has returned this year to paper ballots rather than touch-screen electronic voting — making sure the voter gets to the right booth, and that her or his ballot is inserted in the right machine. (The ballots are both scanned by the machine and stored in it.) The former child welfare worker said he became involved after getting information about becoming an election judge at last

year’s Howard County Fair. “The election process is very important, and we need people who are committed to the process,” Bertulis said. His on-the-job experience has taught him that an important part of the job is to ease the way for voters. “You want to make the process friendly, and expedite it as much as possible.”

Serving runs in the family Rebecca Dwyer has been an election judge for more than 20 years. She is now a chief judge, meaning she makes sure the polling place she is assigned to is running smoothly. See ELECTION JUDGES, page 23

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Columbia’s new film festival features local filmmakers; plus, Mavis Staples in the spotlight page 29

FITNESS & HEALTH 8 k A better treatment for insomnia k Keep your brain young THE 50+ CONNECTION 17 k Newsletter for Howard County Office on Aging and Independence LAW & MONEY k Small-cap stocks k Job search tips

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Nothing but the truth? Generally, we profess to love the truth and Research confirms the near universality to admire people who only speak the truth. of lying. Researchers find that we begin to We tend to parody or disparage lie around age 3, when we those “congenital liars” we befirst realize other people lieve to be frequently engaged don’t know what we’re thinkin falsification, calling them ing. By the age of 5, most of used car dealers, spin doctors, us are quite proficient at it. Madison Avenue types. We further develop these But if we are honest with skills of deception through ourselves, we should admit the experiences of our school that much of the time we shade years, often coached in them the truth, and that we like it by our parents and teachers, when others do so, too. In fact, though not always explicitly. on some level, we often consid- FROM THE Bella DePaulo, a psycholoer a person’s ability to fudge PUBLISHER gy researcher at the Universithe truth to be a sign of their By Stuart P. Rosenthal ty of California, Santa Barcompetence and normality. bara, taped volunteers’ conThink about people you’ve encountered versations for a week and found students who seem not to know how to lie, or don’t lied, on average, in every third conversaunderstand the subtle falsehoods of polite tion lasting at least 10 minutes. Adults lied conversation. in every fifth conversation. Maybe they find it difficult to tell white If it sounds like I’m being critical, or am lies, inadvertently insulting someone be- judging people harshly, or as if I’m excludcause that outfit really does make them ing myself, you misunderstand me. I truly look fat. Or they take you much too seri- think most of us believe this is the way of ously when you ask “how are you?” and the world, and that we basically like it this they proceed at great length to fill you in way, for the most part. on all their current problems. All of us need some help from time to Let’s face it: we often feel uncomfortable time marketing our personal brand, proaround those who can’t, or won’t, play the moting our company, or sprucing up our game. resume. Sometimes we need a good PR

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as the other fellow/lady, even if the fact checkers may find their arguments involve misrepresentations or quotes taken out of context. Similarly, if we have an interest in a certain law for personal or political reasons, we rush to contribute to special interest groups that will lobby the dickens out of Congress, and we may even lobby our representatives ourselves. Our end goal is seldom objective truth, but what we perceive to be the best result for us and those like us. And yet, despite all of this, I think it’s also true that people can sense when they or someone else crosses a line. At a certain point — either due to the number of falsehoods or their degree — we may start to wonder if we really understand another person or can trust them at all. And at that point, we have to either call them on it or end the relationship. While there are many occasions on which we really don’t want to speak or hear the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, we ought to still retain a way to recognize when the conversation has gone too far in the other direction. Reasonable people can differ on where the line is, and it may be a moving target as our public discourse evolves. But I think we have to agree that one exists, and that it should affect how we respond. If you have any thoughts on this subject you would like to share, I would like to hear them. Please email info@thebeaconnewspapers.com or write to me here at the Beacon. I really mean it!

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The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of Howard County, Md. and is privately owned. Other editions serve Greater Baltimore, Md., Greater Washington DC, and Greater Palm Springs, Calif. Subscriptions are available via third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. Maryland residents add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below. Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. • Publisher/Editor ....................Stuart P. Rosenthal • Associate Publisher..............Judith K. Rosenthal • Vice President, Operations........Gordon Hasenei • Director of Sales ................................Alan Spiegel • Assistant Operations Manager ..........Roger King • Managing Editor............................Barbara Ruben • Art Director ........................................Kyle Gregory • Advertising Representatives ........Doug Hallock, ......................Steve Levin, M.K. Phillips, Paul Whipple • Editorial Assistant ........................Rebekah Sewell

The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (410) 248-9101 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com Submissions: The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial and advertising is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 35 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions. © Copyright 2016 The Beacon Newspapers, Inc.

person or attorney who will vigorously defend us. Here, I’m not referring to intentional deception, but more to white lies that protect other people’s feelings, and presenting your case in the best possible light, which requires, at a minimum, certain sins of omission. Furthermore, there are many important and well-regarded professions — law enforcement, diplomacy, military intelligence and others — where the ability to lie convincingly at times is absolutely essential, even a matter of life and death. Where would we be if our military leaders, ambassadors, undercover spooks, treaty negotiators and the like were congenital truthtellers? We’d all be at risk. Closer to home, let’s talk about our dearest friends and family. We want them to be truthful with us, most of the time. But if we’ve shared intimate things about ourselves with them, we’d be horrified to find they didn’t keep our confidence because someone asked them about us and they couldn’t tell a lie. So you see, our entire social fabric requires that we know how and when to lie or withhold the truth. The same observations apply to the realm of politics. On the one hand, Americans say they hate lying politicians, and criticize Washington and its influence peddlers for promoting a culture of falsehood and corruption. On the other hand, we tend not to elect candidates who play nice, avoid attack ads, and only make promises they know they can deliver. We expect politics to be a somewhat dirty business, and want our guy to know how to get things done as well

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or e-mail to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Dear Editor: I read with interest “Healthcare headache” by Stuart Rosenthal (June, “From the Publisher”). He mentions everything except the precipitating factors. In my practice I have observed that in all cases of migraine, the emotional status of the patient is very important. Once I make them realize the various negative emotional triggers (anger, anxiety, etc.) that cause precipitation of an attack and suggest methods to alleviate the trigger, the frequency and number of attacks diminish. Seshubabu Gosala, M.D. India Dear Editor: I read your article “Healthcare headache” and was moved to share my nightmare with you. Mine also began 36 years ago, when I was working for Frank, Bernstein, Conaway and Goldman, supervising the word processing

for 240 attorneys. One day, as I entered a room to say hello, I was stopped in my tracks by what felt like a hatchet to my skull. There was no blood, just unimaginable pain and the beginning of the end of my life as I knew it. There were tests, machines, doctors and costly meds, which only subdued me to unconsciousness and never stopped the pain. I was convinced after two years to end my life. But I somehow wound up at the office of a doctor who took the place of another who had retired. There was something unusual about his quiet demeanor. He listened so intently and watched me so closely. After I had spun my tale of woe and cried myself dry, he leaned forward and said, “I think I have something that will help you.” He prescribed one dose of something I tried that very day, and within a half hour See LETTERS TO EDITOR, page 30

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Health Fitness &

MAKE THE MOST OF MENUS More menus now include calorie counts; a guide to what not to order NO MORE INSULIN A new study shows pancreas cell transplants can greatly help diabetics TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING Tylenol makes you feel better, but it’s easy (and dangerous) to take too much CHEW ON THIS Chewing gum may help some people lose weight, but probably not a lot

Exercise builds brain as well as brawn By Julie Corliss You probably know that regular exercise offers a wealth of benefits for your body, like staving off excess weight and chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. But mounting evidence suggests that exercise is also good for your brain. A study published in the journal Neurology links better cardiovascular fitness to improved thinking skills in older adults. The findings add to our understanding of how exercise benefits the brain, which seems to stem from several possible mechanisms, said Dr. John Ratey, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and author of Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. He said, “It’s not just about delivering more oxygen to the brain, although that’s part of it.” Having a fit, healthy cardiovascular system also protects against vascular dementia, which happens when blood vessels feeding the brain become blocked or

narrowed, leading to memory and other cognitive problems. But exercise also stimulates the growth of new blood vessels in the brain, as well as the growth and survival of new brain cells, said Ratey. Brain imaging studies suggest that key brain areas responsible for thinking and memory are larger in people who exercise than in those who don’t.

Stronger heart = younger brain The new study included 877 adults with an average age of 65. To assess their cardiovascular fitness, researchers used a standard measure known as VO2 max, which is defined as the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use while you’re exercising as hard as you can. (The V stands for volume, usually measured in milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute. O2 is for oxygen, and max is for maximum.) The participants also took a variety of tests to gauge their thinking skills, memo-

ry and executive function (a category of mental skills used to manage time, plan and organize, and remember details). When researchers divided the participants into four groups based on their VO2 max values, they found striking differences in executive function between those with the highest and lowest levels. In fact, the test score differences corresponded to an age difference of seven years, they estimated. They saw similar trends for both memory and overall thinking ability, corresponding to age differences of six and four years, respectively.

Slows brain’s aging In a study published last year in Neuroimage, participants underwent functional MRI testing, which tracks the changes that take place when a region of the brain responds during various tasks. The researchers found stronger connections between different regions of the brain

in people with higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness. Earlier research also correlated fitness levels with activation in the brain’s frontal lobe — the part of the brain responsible for executive function. Together, these findings suggest that exercise may help keep your brain young, or at least slow down the normal decline in age-related thinking skills. The government’s Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans are more than adequate for that purpose, said Ratey. For all adults, the weekly goals are: • Two hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, like brisk walking OR one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, like jogging. • Muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days per week. Julie Corliss is the executive editor of Harvard Heart Letter. © 2016. President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Try behavior therapy for chronic insomnia By Lauran Neergaard Tossing and turning night after night? Don’t automatically reach for the pill bottle. New guidelines say the first choice to treat chronic insomnia should be cognitive behavioral therapy — a way to condition your body to slumber again. It takes more time and effort than popping a pill, but the American College of Physicians says the method known as CBT can be effective and doesn’t carry the side effects of medication. The recommendation is intended to spur primary care doctors to prescribe CBT first. If it doesn’t work, then doctors could consider adding a drug. “Prescribing a sleeping pill is not the desirable first step,” said the group’s Dr. Thomas Tape, chief of general internal medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. There are challenges, including finding health workers who are trained to deliver CBT for insomnia. Nor is it always covered by insurance, notes an editorial published along with the recommendation in Annals of Internal Medicine. Here are some things to know:

How much sleep do you need? Adults ages 18 to 60 are supposed to sleep at least seven hours a night for good health. According to the National Sleep Foundation, those 65+ should get seven to eight hours of sleep. Cheating sleep can increase the risk of health problems — from high blood pressure, to obesity, to fatiguecaused car crashes. People often get too little sleep because of lifestyle or job circumstances. That’s different from trying to sleep and failing. Many bouts of insomnia that last several weeks to a month or two come about because of stress or an illness. But between 6 and 10 percent of adults meet the criteria for an insomnia disorder: They suffer daytime problems because of difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep at least three nights a week for three months or more, and it’s not explained by some other disorder. It’s more common among older adults and women.

How does CBT work? It’s far more than sleep hygiene — those common-sense tips to keep the bedroom

dark and cool and avoid too much caffeine. It’s all about reconditioning a brain and body away from now-habitual tossing and turning and back to normal sleep patterns, said Duke University clinical psychologist Meg Lineberger. A certified behavioral sleep medicine specialist, she wasn’t involved with the new guidelines but hopes they increase patients’ access to care. The hardest step is so-called sleep restriction. Say you average 5.5 hours of sleep a night — better some nights, worse others. Tack on an extra half-hour, and then count back the resulting six hours from the time you have to wake up. If the alarm goes off at 6 a.m., then midnight is your prescribed bedtime. Staying up that long builds the body’s natural drive for sleep so that once in bed, patients slumber right away, Lineberger explained. Gradually, patients move to an earlier bedtime. They also undergo a variety of other steps. For example, just as dieters might be told to eat only at the table and never in front of the TV, it’s important to strengthen the brain’s expectation that bed is for

sleep. If you can’t fall asleep, don’t read in bed — get up and go to another room to read until you’re drowsy and ready to try again.

What about medications? A variety of prescription sleep medications are available, but a scientific review published in Annals in May concluded they’re best used for shorter-term insomnia. Use beyond four to five weeks hasn’t been well studied. The new guidelines said when insomnia becomes chronic, there’s not enough information to directly compare medications and CBT — but that starting with the behavioral approach avoids medication side effects, some of which can be serious. Indeed, after reports of sleep-driving and other semi-awake activities, the Food and Drug Administration in recent years lowered recommended doses of Ambien, Lunesta and related drugs, saying they could linger in the bloodstream long enough to interfere with activities that reSee INSOMNIA, page 5

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 6

Take care of teeth, gums for overall health

See TEETH, page 6

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Typically, CBT involves four to six ap-

pointments several weeks apart. There also are some online options. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is a source for sleep specialists. But Duke’s Lineberger said other health professionals, such as nurse practitioners or social workers, can learn to perform CBT for primary care offices, freeing specialists for the toughest cases. For more information, see the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s website at www.aasmnet.org.

Besides regular dental visits, you can protect against gum disease by practicing better oral hygiene. Curbing certain lifestyle habits, such as drinking alcohol and using tobacco products, can lower your risk of gum disease and oral cancer. And even though you

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Finding care

The No. 1 move you can make to protect and improve oral health — and your future health — is to have a dental exam every six months. Besides cleaning your teeth and taking X-rays, your dental professional will do an oral cancer screening by looking at your throat, palate, cheeks, gums and tongue (on top and underneath) for any signs of cancer. “Even if [patients] do not have teeth, they should still visit a dentist regularly,” said Simon. “The dentist can ensure that their dentures still fit comfortably, and that there is no infection or disease of the tissues underneath the dentures.” Older adults are less likely to schedule regular visits, said Simon. One possible reason is that sometimes they do not connect their oral health with their overall well-being, so it is not seen as something that requires regular attention.

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quire alertness after the person wakes up. Still, the new guidelines say if CBT alone isn’t working, doctors should discuss with patients the pros and cons of adding a medication to the continuing behavioral therapy.

Brush, floss the right way Get regular cleanings

have been brushing your teeth since you were small, you still may not be thorough. Here are some tips: Brush at least twice a day with toothpaste containing fluoride. “A manual toothbrush is fine, but some people feel it is easier to use an electric toothbrush, since you will not need to use your wrist and arms to move the brush,” said Simon. Brush for at least two minutes. Divide your mouth into four sections, and spend 30 seconds on each. Replace your toothbrush every three

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“Yet all older adults should have recurring dental exams to identify, diagnose and treat potential problems before they become severe,” she said. “They should talk to their dentist about setting up reminders to make sure they keep regular appointments.”

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Insomnia

Gum disease is a problem in itself, but people with gum disease are almost twice as likely to have heart disease, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. The thinking is that low levels of inflammation from gingivitis may contribute to blood vessel problems.

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If you want a snapshot of your current and future health, then open wide. “The condition of your teeth and gums can often show warning signs of serious issues, from potential tooth loss to possible cardiovascular disease and cancer,” said Lisa Simon, D.M.D., instructor in oral health policy and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. The main issue with oral health is tooth decay, which strikes 90 percent of all adults, and gum disease, which affects approximately 40 percent of those 65 or older, said the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Gum disease — infection of the gums and surrounding tissues — develops when plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, builds up along and under the gum line. There are two forms of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis. With gingivitis, the gums become red and swollen, and are prone to bleeding. These are signs of inflammation from plaque and tartar deposited below the gum line. Left untreated, gingivitis can turn into periodontitis. This condition is more severe: it damages the soft tissues and bone that support your teeth, and may lead to infection and tooth loss.

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J U L Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

How to eat more healthfully at restaurants By Brierley Wright, R.D. Have you noticed calorie counts popping up on menus, from the coffee shop to the movie theater? Well — they’re here to stay. Per a ruling passed last year, U.S. chain restaurants with 20 or more locations will be required to list calorie information on their menus by December 2016. While it’ll be hard to avoid noticing those little numbers when you scan a menu before placing your order, the research on whether it will make us healthier is mixed. Some studies say labeling makes little to no difference, while others show that people use the calorie information to make better choices. However, experts seem to agree that women — particularly those who are health-

conscious — benefit the most from the new labeling laws, possibly because they’re generally more attuned to thinking about and calculating calories in food to begin with. “People who eat a healthy diet and care about the nutrient content of their food are more likely to use menu labeling,” said Rachel Johnson, professor of nutrition and food sciences at the University of Vermont.

Consider your whole day It also seems menu calorie counts are most effective when they’re put in context. In one study, people ordered 120 fewer calories when calorie counts were paired with a green, amber or red traffic-light symbol and a note explaining that the average person needs about 2,000 calories a day.

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That can be helpful when deciding between, say, a 400-calorie breakfast muffin and a 500-calorie entree. Both are in a similar calorie bracket, but if you’re planning to have yogurt and a coffee with cream alongside that muffin, you may want to consider how much of your daily calorie quotient you really want to allocate to the first meal of the day. That said, research suggests that seeing calorie counts on the menu may help you eat less later. People ate on average 250 fewer calories at night — dinner and snack — when they saw calorie counts on the menu (plus the 2,000-calories reminder) compared to people who didn’t see calories listed, revealed a study in the American Journal of Public Health. Perhaps the best news? The new regulations are leading food chains to healthy-up their menus. The largest U.S. chain restaurants slashed calories in new menu items by an average of 14 percent between 2012 and 2014, and it’s likely that other restaurants will follow suit in order to keep up with the demands of more health-conscious eaters. To really reap the benefits, know your daily calorie limit. For most people, it’s

about 2,000 calories a day (more or less if you’re exercising frequently or trying to lose weight). One caveat to keep in mind: The numbers include only what is listed with the menu item — extras like condiments or substitutions aren’t accounted for.

What not to eat While it may be easier to find calorie counts right on the menu and nutrition information on restaurants’ websites, some restaurants don’t offer that information. And, according to a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the average meal at an independent or small chain restaurant is 1,300 calories. So how can you avoid eating a whole day’s worth of calories at one meal? One of the easiest ways is to steer clear of items described using words that indicate ingredients or cooking techniques that are high in calories, saturated fat or added sodium or sugar. See next page for sidebar, “Words to avoid on menus.” EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at www.eatingwell.com. © 2016 Eating Well, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

the many companies that offer a discount to seniors who attend this class. For more information, call 1-800-350-7025 or visit events.hcgh.hopkinsmedicine.org.

Teeth From page 5 months or as soon as the bristles begin to fray, whichever comes first. Floss at least once a day to remove plaque and trapped food that can increase bacteria buildup. [Ask your dentist or their technician to show you the right way to floss. It can make a huge difference.] If you have been diagnosed with gum disease, your dentist may prescribe a mouthwash with antibiotics in it. Otherwise, regu-

lar mouthwash is not as effective as brushing and flossing to keep your mouth clean. Do not sleep in your dentures or partial — it increases your risk of an oral infection and even pneumonia, said a March 2015 study in the Journal of Dental Research. Brush them with a toothbrush in the morning and at night, and soak overnight with a cleanser. —Harvard Men’s Health Watch © 2016. President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed By Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 6

Words to avoid on menus Looking for ways to avoid unhealthful, high-calorie dining at restaurants? Here are some of the most common terms to avoid on menus: A la mode: In the U.S., this means topped with ice cream. Aioli: A fancy word for a flavored mayonnaise. Au gratin: Cooked with butter and/or cream and topped with cheese and/or breadcrumbs. Battered: Coated in batter and then typically deep-fried. Bechamel: The base of most white sauces, made by stirring milk into a butter-flour roux. Beurre blanc: “White butter”; this is a sauce made of a wine, vinegar and shallot reduction and butter. Bearnaise: Another butter-based sauce, thickened with egg yolks and flavored with white wine and tarragon. Bisque: A thick, rich soup usually made with cream. Breaded: Like “battered,” “breaded”

means the food is coated in breadcrumbs and fried. Confit: When used to describe a meat dish, it means the meat was salted and cooked in its own fat. Carbonara: A sauce that includes cream, eggs, Parmesan cheese and bits of bacon. Crispy: A nice-sounding way to describe something fried in oil. Crunchy: Like “crispy,” this usually means fried, unless it’s describing raw vegetables. Deep-fried: The food is cooked in hot fat (shortening, lard or oil) and submerged deeply enough to completely cover the item. En croute: Wrapped in pastry dough and baked. Fritters: A synonym for “battered” and “deep-fried.” Golden: This usually means fried. Hollandaise: A sauce made of butter, egg yolks and lemon juice. Pan-fried: This sounds like a health-

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ier choice, but depending on what your food is pan-fried in, it could easily be loaded with calories. Refried: Typically used to describe beans, in which case the beans (red or pinto) are mashed, then fried (usually in melted lard). Remoulade: A sauce made of mayonnaise and mustard, capers, gherkins, herbs and anchovies. Roux: A mixture of flour and fat (butter, drippings of pork or beef fat) that’s used to thicken mixtures, such as soups and sauces. Sauteed: This means it’s been cooked quickly in a little bit of oil or fat

over direct heat. Scalloped: Mostly used to describe potatoes. Scalloped potatoes are thinly sliced potatoes cooked in cream and butter and topped with cheese. Scampi: In the U.S., this is shrimp cooked in a garlic and butter sauce. Smothered: Usually this means covered in a heavy sauce or cheese. Stroganoff: Beef, onions and mushrooms are sautéed in butter and covered in a sour-cream sauce. Tempura: A Japanese version of batter-dipped and deep-fried. White sauce: A synonym for “cream — EatingWell sauce.”

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J U L Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Pancreas cell transplants help diabetics By Lauran Neergaard Transplants of insulin-producing pancreas cells are a long hoped-for treatment for diabetes — and a new study shows they can protect the most seriously ill patients from a life-threatening complication of the disease, an important step toward U.S. approval. These transplants are used in some countries, but in the U.S. they’re available only through research studies. Armed with the new findings, researchers hope to license them for use in a small number of people with Type 1 diabetes who are most at risk for drops in blood sugar so severe they can lead to seizures, even death. “Cell-based diabetes therapy is real and works, and offers tremendous potential for the right patient,” said study lead author Dr.

Bernhard Hering of the University of Minnesota, whose team plans to seek a Food and Drug Administration license for the therapy. In Type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys the pancreatic cells responsible for making insulin, a hormone crucial to converting blood sugar into energy. About 1 million Americans have Type 1 diabetes and depend on regular insulin shots to survive. But they can still experience complications due to swings in their blood sugar.

Minimally invasive Diabetics who get kidney transplants sometimes also receive pancreas transplants at the same time, essentially curing their diabetes. But it’s an uncommon and grueling operation, so scientists for years

have worked on a minimally invasive alternative: Infusing patients with just islet cells, the insulin factories inside the pancreas. The questions: How best to obtain those islet cells from deceased donors, and who benefits most from transplants? When glucose levels drop too low, most people with Type 1 diabetes experience early warning signs — slurred speech, tremors, sweating, heart palpitations — so they know to eat or drink something for a quick sugar boost. But even with optimal care, about 30 percent eventually quit experiencing those symptoms, a condition called hypoglycemia unawareness. They can be in grave danger if their blood sugar plummets when no one else is around to help.

Continuous glucose monitors can counteract that problem, but even those don’t help everyone. The National Institutes of Health targeted that fraction of highest-risk patients, funding a study that gave 48 people at eight medical centers at least one islet cell transplant. A year later, 88 percent were free of severe hypoglycemia events, had their awareness of blood sugar dips restored, and harbored glucose levels in near-normal ranges. Two years later, 71 percent of participants still were faring that well, concluded the study published by the journal Diabetes Care. See DIABETICS, page 11

BEACON BITS

July 2+

HOCO WALKS Visit a new park the first Saturday of every month with HoCo

Walks. On Saturday, July 2 at 9 a.m., participants will meet in Warfield Park, 14523 MacClintock Dr., Glenwood, to walk with Recreation and Parks Director John R. Byrd. For more information, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/hocowalks.

July 5

DIABETES COURSE Attend “Living Well with Diabetes” at Wellness Center Medical Pavilion, Suite 100, 10710 Charter Dr., Columbia on Tuesday, July

5 from 6 to 8 p.m. Learn about a range of topics, including nutrition, glucose monitoring, exercise, communicating with healthcare providers, as well as techniques to deal with pain and disease-related problem solving. The $28 course fee includes materials. For more information, call (410) 313-3506 or visit events.hcgh.hopkinsmedicine.org.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

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J U L Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Excess pain meds can harm liver, kidneys By Dr. Howard LeWine Q: A friend was recently hospitalized with liver damage. The doctors told her it was caused by the acetaminophen in the over-the-counter medicines she was taking for back pain. I always thought of Tylenol as a safe drug. Now I am scared to use it. Your thoughts, please. A: In general, acetaminophen is a safe drug, as long as you don’t take too much. Acetaminophen helps ease pain and reduces fever. It doesn’t dampen inflammation, like the NSAIDs ibuprofen or naproxen can. But acetaminophen has the benefits of being easier on the stomach and no risk of increased heart problems. I suspect that your friend unknowingly took

more than the recommended daily dose of acetaminophen. More than 600 products contain acetaminophen, and inadvertently combining them can nudge you into the red zone. People don’t realize that these doses all add up and before you know it, you’ve exceeded the recommended dose of acetaminophen. The body breaks down most of the acetaminophen in a normal dose and eliminates it in the urine. But some of the drug is converted into a byproduct that is toxic to the liver. If you take too much — all at once or over a period of days — more toxin can build up than the body can handle. For the average healthy adult, the generally recommended maximum daily dose is no more than 4,000 milligrams (mg.)

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from all sources. But in some people, doses close to the 4,000 mg. daily limit for adults could still be toxic to the liver. It’s safest to take only what you need, and to not exceed 3,000 mg. a day whenever possible, especially if you have a small body. Here are some general precautions for avoiding an accidental overdose of acetaminophen: • Cold and flu remedies count. When you reach for an over-the-counter cough, cold or flu product, take a look at the label. Does it contain acetaminophen? • Add up the amount in all your pills. Carefully examine the individual ingredients in all your medications, both prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Add up the total amount of acetaminophen. • Easy on the alcohol. Drinking alcohol causes the liver to convert more of the acetaminophen you take into toxic byproducts.

• Know if your medications interact. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if any of your prescription medications could interact badly with acetaminophen. Q: I recently had a blood test that showed my kidneys are not working like they used to. I have high blood pressure, but otherwise consider myself healthy. What can I do to help preserve my kidney function? A: Great question! Your situation is actually quite common. First, don’t be overly concerned. It’s very likely your kidneys will continue to do their job of filtering toxins from blood. But there are actions you can take now to help make sure that happens. I suspect you had a blood test called a creatinine level. Creatinine is one of the things that the kidneys filter from the blood. If kidSee PAIN MEDS, page 11

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

WALK TO THE OLDIES

Head to the Bain 50+Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia from 1 to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays to go for a walk. The group meets in the Great Room after lunch and walks a mile while listening to oldies. For more information, call (410) 313-7213.

July 5+

BRAIN AEROBICS

Workout your brain and enhance your memory with puzzles, word games and other tasks. Head to the Howard County Library Miller Branch, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City, on the first Tuesday of the month for brain aerobics and games from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, call (410) 313-1950.

July 13

TED TALK MARATHON

Head to the Howard County Library Miller Branch, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City, for a marathon of TED Talks viewings and discussions, featuring presentations on science, innovation and the modern world. The event will take place from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13. For more information, call (410) 313-1950.

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 6

Diabetics From page 8

No (or less) insulin needed The goal wasn’t insulin independence, which requires more functioning islet cells than merely restoring blood sugar awareness. But some patients — 52 percent after one year — no longer needed insulin shots and others used lower doses. “It’s just an amazing gift,” said Lisa Bishop of Eagle River, Wisconsin, who received new

Pain meds From page 10 ney function declines, creatinine rises. Every day, a healthy kidney filters a total of about 200 quarts of blood, removing waste products, excess water and certain chemicals. If the kidneys didn’t keep things in balance, you would slowly poison yourself. The kidneys have a remarkable ability to keep working despite changing conditions. The tiny filtering tubes in the kidney, called glomeruli, adapt in various ways. Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, high blood pressure and high blood sugar (diabetes) all harm the kidneys and can lead to chronic kidney disease. A heart-healthy lifestyle of regular exercise and a nutritious plant-based diet helps prevent that from happening. Here are five steps you can take now to

islet cells in 2010 and no longer needs insulin shots. Bishop recalls the terror of learning she’d become hypoglycemic unaware, and the difficulty of even holding a job. She hasn’t had hypoglycemia since the transplant, and says if her blood sugar occasionally dips a bit after exercise, “now my body senses it.” Another key: The transplants have long been used experimentally, but different hospitals use different methods to cull the islet cells from a donated pancreas and pu-

rify them — and it wasn’t clear which worked best, explained Dr. Nancy Bridges, chief of the transplant branch at NIH’s National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The FDA made clear that there had to be a standard method for islet cell transplants if they were ever to be approved — which is necessary for insurance coverage — so the researchers developed that recipe, Bridges said. Side effects include bleeding and infec-

tion, and recipients need lifelong immunesuppressing drugs to avoid rejecting their new cells. Even if given the OK for more routine use, donated pancreas cells are in limited supply. Still, “it’s a very beautiful study,” said Dr. Julia Greenstein of the diabetes advocacy organization JDRF, who wasn’t involved in the latest research. “For most people in the U.S., this was not an available choice, and this is the first step in making that an available choice.” — AP

protect your kidneys from more damage: 1. Keep your blood pressure and blood sugar within norms. This will help slow the decline in kidney function. 2. Lower your cholesterol. Taking a statin medication to lower “bad” LDL cholesterol may help to protect the kidneys. Also, individuals with reduced kidney function are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease, so reducing cardiac risk factors is important. 3. Consider medication. Certain medications can protect the kidneys. The two that physicians often prescribe are ACE inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs). They lower pressure in the kidney filters and limit further damage. 4. Limit protein intake. Eating too much protein can strain weak kidneys. Aim for a daily protein intake of 1 gram per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight.

5. Use NSAIDs with caution. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, interfere with kidney function. Taking them when you are also depleted of fluids can lead to kidney shutdown.

BEACON BITS

June 25

ANNUAL PICNIC Attend the Annual Clarksville Picnic on Saturday, June 25, and

enjoy kid’s games, pony and hay rides, face painting, as well as fair foods and sweets. There will also be music, a magic show, and auctions and sales. There is no charge to enter the picnic grounds. Tickets for dinner are $15 for adults, $6 for kids 5 to 10, and free for kids under 5. The picnic will take place from noon to 9 p.m. at St. Louis Church, 12500 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville. For more information, call (410) 531-6040. See a list of ways you can volunteer before and at the picnic at www.stlouisparish.org/fellowship/clarksville-picnic/.

FINALLY – Straight Talk About Sciatica Are you suffering from back pain or sciatica? Then it’s likely your biggest problem is pain. But there’s another major problem: bad information. To end sciatica misery you must have the right information. Pay close attention because I’m going to destroy sciatica myths and give you the facts. MYTH: Sciatica will just “go away” with some rest. FACT: If you are dealing with back pain, buttock pain or leg pain, then you must seek help from a sciatica specialist immediately. Left untreated, sciatica can lead to permanent nerve damage - and lifelong pain. MYTH: Pain is the only problem associated with sciatica. FACT: In severe cases, sciatica can lead to the inability to control your bowels or bladder. MYTH: You must take pain medications to deal with sciatica. FACT: Drugs like muscle relaxants, pain killers, narcotics, antidepressants, and anti-seizure medications have serious potential side-effects and do not cure the root cause of sciatica. MYTH: “I must have done something wrong to get sciatica.” FACT: Physical work or simply sitting at a desk for long periods can lead to sciatica. Accidents and trauma can also be the culprits. Pregnancy can cause sciatica. Sciatica can affect anyone - including superfit celebrities like Tiger Woods, and Sylvester Stallone. MYTH: Stop exercising and get several weeks of bed rest to overcome sciatica. FACT: Staying active can help to relieve sciatic pain and prevent the pain from getting worse. Staying inactive in bed could be the worst advice - based on a recent study in the Netherlands.

MYTH: Sciatica requires surgery. FACT: NO! There’s been a huge breakthrough in the treatment of sciatica and lower back pain. It’s a new procedure called Non-Surgical Re-Constructive Spinal Care. The excellent results from this treatment have been published in major medical journals. Success rates are up to 90%. MYTH: “There’s nothing anyone can really do. I’m just stuck with this for the rest of my life.” FACT: With the correct treatment from a healthcare professional who specialize in sciatica, you can find relief from the core cause - and the symptoms. MYTH: Getting sciatica properly diagnosed is expensive. FACT: Not true. Dr. Steve Silverston of World Class Chiropractic in Ellicott City, MD is currently offering an initial consultation and comprehensive examination for Just $43, this includes all tests and x-rays if necessary. Dr. Steve Silverston – In Ellicott City, MD has helped over the past 24 years thousands of patients find relief from agonizing back pain and sciatica. He uses Non-Surgical Re-Constructive Spinal Care. This procedure does not require a hospital stay, drugs or anything invasive. The focus is on finding - and correcting - the original cause of the back pain and sciatica. According to Dr. Silverston, “We use a combination of gentle, non-invasive, proven techniques, for precisely diagnosing and correcting the cause of your low back pain and sciatica. This means superior long-term results for most people.” Almost Immediate Relief from Pain! Because the treatment is non-surgical, safe, and easy, most patients report an almost immediate relief from their back pain. Patient Brad H. from Eldersburg, MD wrote, “For several years I saw numerous

doctors including chiropractors in an attempt to resolve unrelenting low back pain and sciatica from a serious motor vehicle injury. Nobody could help me resolve it and my work and life were suffering. Dr. Silverston was able to quickly identify my problem and within one week of beginning care, for the first time in years, I’m virtually pain free! Now, many years later, I am still better.” Take the Next Step - END the Suffering... Initial Consultation and Comprehensive Examination for Just $43. This includes all tests and x-rays if necessary. The first step is a thorough sciatic examination with Dr. Silverston. Call 410-461-3435 to schedule your appointment. Mention this article (CODE: 43TB716) and Dr. Steve Silverston will happily reduce his usual consultation fee to just $43! Only 50 reader consultations are available at this exclusively discounted rate. Call them now and get a full and thorough examination to pinpoint the cause of your problem for just $43. The normal cost of such an exam is $345 so you will save $302! Call them now on 410-461-3435 and cut out or tear off this valuable article and take it to your appointment. You’ll be on your way to safe, lasting relief! You can even call on the weekend and leave a message on their answering machine to secure your spot and they promise to return all calls. During the week staff can be very busy helping patients so if they don’t pick up straight away, do leave a message. Call 410-461-3435 NOW. If it’s the weekend or they’re away from the phone the staff at World Class Chiropractic promise they will get back to you. So call now on 410-461-3435 and quote this special discount code: 43TB716.

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J U L Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Health Studies Page

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Study seeks former smokers with COPD By Carol Sorgen Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) describes a set of progressive lung diseases that include emphysema, chronic bronchitis, non-reversible asthma and some forms of bronchiectasis (a widening of the airways that can lead to infection). Symptoms of the condition include in-

creased shortness of breath, frequent coughing (with and without sputum), wheezing and tightness in the chest. In the early stages of the disease, symptoms may be negligible. As the disease develops, the symptoms become more pronounced. COPD affects an estimated 24 million people in the U.S. However, more than half

Seeking Men and Women The University of Maryland & Veterans Aﬀairs of Baltimore are conducting a research study to better understand balance & prevent falls as we age. With your participation you will receive: • Health evaluation • Balance, step, strength, and/or flexibility exercises • Compensation for your time

For Information, please call the Baltimore VA/University of Maryland Gerontology Recruitment Phone Line

410-605-7179 Mention code: LIFT *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 for approximately 41 visits for 1 to 4 hours of time per visit

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Can better air quality help? Johns Hopkins University is currently conducting a study of air cleaners intended to improve indoor air quality and COPD health. The principal objective of the trial is to determine whether former smokers who have COPD and use an air cleaner at home will see an improvement in respiratory symptoms, quality of life and lung function. Approximately 120 participants are being recruited for the study, and the participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive a real air cleaner that has internal HEPA and carbon filters. The other will receive a sham air cleaner without those filters, but which will otherwise run normally, including similar noise, airflow and overall appearance. Participants will not know which type of air filter they receive. The air cleaners will be placed in the bedroom and the room where the participant reports spending the most time. Participants will be instructed to run the air cleaners continually during the course of the six-month study, and the units will be modified to prevent them from being turned off by the participants.

Taking part in the study The investigators will place air pollution monitors in participants’ homes to measure the air quality over five one-week periods (at three months and one week before placing the air cleaner, and at one week, three months and six months after doing so). During each week of monitoring, participants will be asked to keep a diary of their breathing and of how they are feeling every day. Participants will have five home visits and five clinic visits, as well as monthly telephone calls during this time to see how they are feeling. One week after each home visit, the monitoring equipment will be picked up. After the second monitoring period, active or sham air cleaners will be placed in the home. Participants must be 40 years old or older and have a physician’s diagnosis of COPD. They must be former smokers, who smoked at least a pack a day for 10 years or two packs a day for five years. They must have quit smoking at least a year ago. They cannot have other chronic lung diseases, such as asthma. Participants must also not plan to move during the study period. For more information, or to see if you qualify as a volunteer, contact Teresa L. Concordia at (410) 550-2449 or tconcor1@jhmi.edu, or Lilian Arteaga at (410) 550-9527 or larteag1@jhmi.edu.

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do not know that they have it. Many people assume that shortness of breath and coughing are a normal part of aging. COPD can be caused by smoking, environmental factors and genetics.

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J U L Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Does chewing gum help with weight loss? Q: Can chewing gum help you lose weight? A: It may help some people lose weight, but don’t count on it as an important strategy. There are several theories why chewing gum may support weight loss, but research doesn’t show strong results. One often-quoted study found that chewing gum may burn about 11 calories an hour. This could be compared to the small extra daily calorie burn found in people who tap their toes or otherwise “fidget”

all day, and it is unlikely to produce weight loss. Others propose that the act of chewing may lead to changes in digestive hormones that decrease hunger, thus making it easier to cut calories for weight loss. This makes sense in theory, but shortterm controlled trials haven’t shown the expected hormonal change. Chewing gum may aid weight loss by replacing overeating for some. Participants in one controlled study showed a 10 percent

BEACON BITS

Aug. 20+

CHARITY CYCLING EVENT

Registration for 24 Hours of Booty is now open. The 24-hour charity cycling event raises money for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults and the Livestrong Foundation. The event will take place from 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 to 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21. There is a $45 registration fee. For more information and to register, visit www.24hoursofbooty.org or call (877) 365-4417.

July 4

FESTIVAL AND FIREWORKS

Attend Howard County’s free annual 4th of July Festival and Fireworks celebration on Monday, July 4th at the Columbia lakefront. Live entertainment will be featured. The festival will be held from 5 to 10 p.m., with fireworks after dark. Visit www.howardcountymd.gov/rap for the celebration activities schedule. For more information, call (410) 313-4700.

drop in mid-afternoon snacking when they straight line, neither raising your bottom chewed gum 15 minutes each hour after in the air nor letting it sag. lunch. But in a controlled trial that followed Initially aim to hold this position for 10 overweight people for eight seconds, then relax, and reweeks, those who chewed gum peat a few times. As your 90 minutes a day did not lose muscles strengthen, increase weight any more successfully holding time and try a variety than those who didn’t chew of other positions (such as gum. side planks) to keep building Consider other strategies to muscle strength. avoid extra eating. Brushing Planks help strengthen abyour teeth immediately after a dominal muscles along with a meal helps some people. Try whole group of muscles that the tradition followed in India cover the front, back and of ending meals by chewing a NUTRITION sides of your abdomen, lower few fennel seeds. Or just enjoy WISE back and pelvis. These musBy Karen Collins, a nice cup of tea or coffee. cles are important to help If you find that chewing MS, RD, CDM maintain good posture and gum helps, that’s great, but balance, which are especially think of it as just one small part of chang- vital to reduce falls in older adults. ing eating habits to support weight loss. A strong core also provides stability to Q: I keep hearing about “planks” as avoid lower back pain and injury while peran exercise for waist and abs. What’s a forming sports and daily physical activiplank? ties. A: Planks are a great muscle-strengthMost people can do some form of planks ening exercise. They’ve become popular that is both safe and effective, but people because they need no special equipment with any spine or back conditions should and strengthen abdominal muscles — check with their doctor first. along with others — without the back A helpful visual guide from the Centers for strain that sit-ups can cause. Disease Control and Prevention is available The basic plank starts in a position like at www.nchpad.org/1391/6235/Planks~101. the “up” position of a push-up, except The American Institute for Cancer Rerather than moving up and down, plank ex- search offers a Nutrition Hotline, 1-800ercises strengthen muscles by holding a 843-8114, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday stable position. through Friday. This free service allows you If you are just starting doing planks, try to ask questions about diet, nutrition and resting on your forearms and knees in- cancer. A registered dietitian will return stead of hands and toes. There are a vari- your call, usually within three business days. ety of plank exercises, each targeting a Courtesy of the American Institute for slightly different part of the “core.” Cancer Research. Questions for this column Place your shoulders directly above may be sent to “Nutrition Wise,” 1759 R St. your elbows. It’s important to tighten ab- NW, Washington, DC 20009. Collins cannot dominal muscles, holding your back in a respond to questions personally.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 6

Giving advice when you could be wrong Dear Solutions: loves that we have fun together. I would like to be a “smart” grandWhy is the word or idea of commitma and help my grandson ment so scary, and what who’s asking for my opindo you think I should do ion. But I’m afraid of giving to get him to agree to us my opinion in case it’s being married or living towrong, so I’m asking for gether? yours. — Selma My grandson was given Dear Selma: an opportunity to try someOkay let’s examine the thing risky, which, if it had words. Now “fun” is a great worked out, would have word with great images, but been really great. He did what kind of word is “commitSOLUTIONS try, but it didn’t go well. He ment” anyway? It brings up exBy Helen Oxenberg, feels like a failure, but now amples such as “He was comMSW, ACSW he’s got another chance to mitted to an institution for the make a fresh start. criminally insane” or “She was He’s doing okay if he stays where he committed to the federal penitentiary beis, but if he takes a new risk and it cause she had committed manslaughter.” works, it would be great. I think he’s You know commitment is not a fun word young enough to make a fresh start, — so why would anyone want to “commit” but he’s afraid of falling down again. Should I tell him what I think? What if I’m wrong? — Smart (?) Grandma Dear Smart: Yes. Since he’s asking and values your opinion tell him what you think. Young or old, a “fresh start” can start any time he chooses to get up. Failure is not in the falling down. It’s in staying down. So be a “smart grandma.” Trust him to decide whether your opinion is right or wrong for him. Dear Solutions: We’re fairly young seniors. I’m widowed, he’s divorced, and we’ve been in a serious relationship for a while. But whenever I ask him for a commitment to either get married or move in together, he finds all kinds of excuses, even though he says he loves me and

him or herself to anything? First, make up your mind what you are willing to accept and not willing to accept in this relationship. Then be very clear. Express what you want in positive images: “We could have such fun together if we live together!” and give some examples (those examples are up to you to visualize, not to me). Be very clear that that’s what you want.

And if you won’t accept anything else, be clear and mean it. Good luck and, hopefully, lots of fun. © Helen Oxenberg, 2016. 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

July 19+

TUTOR A CHILD

A-OK (Assist Our Kids) Mentoring-Tutoring Inc. is seeking adult volunteers to mentor and tutor students in Howard County schools during the upcoming school year. Volunteers should be able to commit to one school year and must be available during weekday daytime hours. Learn more at the information session on Tuesday, July 19 at 11 a.m. or Wednesday, Aug. 10 at 1 p.m. at the Hawthorne Center, 6175 Sunny Spring, Columbia. For more information, email susan@aokmentor.org or visit www.aokmentor.org.

Maintenance-Free Living At Its Finest. Live Life. Lakeside.

SAVE MORE THAN $53,000 ON A MOVE-IN READY HOME.

BEACON BITS

June 27

A GRACEFUL AUTHOR

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Sarah L. Kaufman will discuss her book, The Art of Grace: On Moving Well Through Life on Monday, June 27 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Registration for this event is required. The event will take place at the Howard County Library Miller Branch, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. To register or for more information, call (410) 313-1950 or visit hclibrary.org/classes-events.

July 14

3D PRINTING DEMONSTRATION

See how objects are designed and fabricated, and watch a 3D printer at work. The Howard County Library Miller Branch, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City will be holding a 3D printer demonstration from 10:30 to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 14. For more information, call (410) 313-1950 or visit hclibrary.org/classes-events.

Plus, get up to $10,000 in closing cost assistance.*

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55-and-better condominium homes overlooking a beautiful 30-acre quarry lake. • Elevator-served, secured entrance buildings which provide extra security, peace-of-mind and low-maintenance living • Large, private one-car garages included with each condominium. In addition, a limited number of storage spaces are available for purchase in each building. • Resort-like community amenities including a clubhouse with fitness center and swimming pool, dog park, community garden, and more • Shopping, dining and modern conveniences planned minutes from your front door • One-mile walking path around the 30-acre quarry lake

Visit or contact us today: 410-630-1371

GET MORE IN A NEW HOME | BEAZER.COM *Offer valid on contracts executed between 6/1/2016 – 6/30/2016 that settle on or before 6/30/16. Offer is only available on Quick Move-In Homes at The Gatherings at Quarry Place. Actual savings will vary by home type and homesite. An incentive of up to $10,000 will be provided by Beazer Homes and issued as a closing cost credit to buyer at closing. This offer is subject to buyer satisfying their lender’s underwriting guidelines which are subject to change without notice and may limit third party contributions. Closing cost incentive may not be usable on all loan products; check with your lender for details. This offer is not redeemable for cash and may not be combined with any other offers. Available for owner-occupied homes only. The use of a preferred lender is required to receive closing cost incentive, however, Purchaser may use any lender of their choice. Pricing, features and availability subject to change without notice. See New Home Counselor for complete details. MHBR #93 ©2016 Beazer Homes. 6/16 132715

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J U L Y 2 0 1 6 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 6

Say you saw it in the Beacon

50+

THE

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

Connection

Department of Community Resources and Services

A Message from

Phyllis Madachy Director, Department of Community Resources and Services For over 40 years the Department of Citizen Services has served as Howard County’s human service agency. Many residents have come to know us through our Offices of Aging, Consumer Affairs, and Children’s Services. Beginning July 1, the County Executive will make it easier for you to find what you need at the newly named Department of Community Resources and Services, or DCRS. The new DCRS has expanded from three to seven offices, which are easier to locate and will reach more people. All offices share the same core values: to serve multiple generations, tailor services to different cultural values, and promote full inclusion for individuals with disabilities. For instance, if you need to find a certified child care provider, contact the Office of Children and Families. If you want to know your tenant rights or avoid scams, the Office of Consumer Protection can help. If you are an older adult or an adult age 18 or older with a disability who wants to remain independent in the community, the Office on Aging and Independence staff can show you ways to make that happen. Of the four new offices, the Office of Veterans and Military Families will focus services on the more than 20,000 veterans who call Howard County home, while the Office of ADA Coordination will reach out to those with disabilities to reduce barriers to full community inclusion, as set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act.

When you walk through any of the doors in Community Resources and Services, it is our goal to help you find just what you need to flourish in Howard County. The Office of Community Partnerships will channel county, state and federal funds to non-profit organizations so they can work together to address the needs of our most vulnerable residents, and a new Local Children’s Board office will develop policies and resources so children can thrive in their educational journey. That’s a lot of change, but luckily, you don’t have to remember it all, because of our unique “no wrong door” approach. When you walk through any of the doors in Community Resources and Services, it is our goal to help you find just what you need to flourish in Howard County.

Volume 6, No. 7 • July 2016

Name Changes Support No Wrong Door Approach

he Department of Community Resources and Services (DCRS) represents much more than just a new name for the former Department of Citizen Services. With its expanded reach and new offices, the department’s reorganization will make it easier for Howard County residents to find services and get connected to the programs they need to thrive in our community. The existing three offices — Aging, Consumer Affairs and Children’s Services — will also adopt new names and four additional offices will be added, providing vital human services which are more relevant to Howard County as it is today, and to anticipate residents’ future needs. These include the Offices of ADA Coordination, Aging and Independence, Children and Families, Community Partnerships, Consumer Protection, Local Children’s Board, and Veterans and Military Families. “By adopting new names and adding new offices, we want to make it clear that DCRS serves multiple generations, tailors services to different cultural values, and promotes full inclusion for individuals with disabilities,” said DCRS Director Phyllis Madachy. “Our office administrators and staff have embraced these changes as an opportunity to identify and reach out to those who need their services.” “Changing our name to the Office on Aging and Independence reflects our continuing commitment to offer a No Wrong Door approach to clients in the community, and brings to the forefront our desire for citizens to remain independent for as long as possible,” said Administrator Starr Sowers. A “no wrong door” approach means that regardless of which DCRS office you contact, you will find the programs and services you need to thrive in Howard County. “A no-wrong door approach will improve the delivery of human services to those who need help, particularly those dealing with complex issues that involve multiple agencies,” said County Executive Allan Kittleman earlier this year. “When agencies take a collaborative approach, it means that people won’t have to spend an entire day going from place to place to get support.” “No wrong door is about paying attention to our clients, listening deeply to the reasons they first contacted us,” said Madachy. For instance, if you are a veteran with a family and young children, you might call the Office of Children and Families. Upon learning that you are a veteran, they will ask if you would like to explore veteran’s services through the Office of Veterans and Military Families. Or, if you are over age 50 and call our Office of Aging and Independence because you are in danger of losing your home due to financial problems, you might be linked with non-profit agencies in the community that have eviction prevention services. Our goal is to make it easier for people to find vital human services and programs through our offices, or be connected to other community resources. When you are looking for something to make your life better, visit the Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services at www.howardcountymd.gov/communityresources.

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The 50+ Connection

Effective

July 1, 2016

J U L Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Tips to Avoid Investment Scams

rom emails promising huge sums of money, to callers offering too good to be true investments, scammers promise to make you money, while taking your money.

There’s No Such Thing as a “Free Lunch” and many scammers lure their victims with invitations to free luncheons where they pitch fraudulent investments. Swindlers like this promise high returns on your investments, which do not exist, and they will never be seen again once they’ve gotten hold of your money.

Howard County residents will now be able to more easily access needed services, programs and information at the newly named Department of Community Resources and Services (DCRS).

Beware of cold calls. Scammers often try to build friendships

by not being too aggressive and calling often. Once they feel like they’ve earned your trust, they will go after your money. At that point, they will disappear. Make sure the seller is licensed and in good standing by contacting the Securities Division of the Maryland

The seven newly expanded offices of the DCRS share the same core values: • to serve multiple generations; • tailor services to different cultural values; • promote full inclusion for individuals with disabilities

Attorney General’s Office online at www.oag.state.md.us/securities or by phone at 410-576-6360. Also, visit the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.investor.gov.

These newly named original offices include:

Don’t make a commitment until you feel comfortable with the investment professional as well as the investment.

• Aging and Independence (formerly Aging) • Consumer Protection (formerly Consumer Affairs) • Children and Families (formerly Children’s Services) The addition of the following offices provide expanded outreach to the community and streamline internal operations:

• Veterans and Military Families • Community Partnerships • Local Children’s Board • ADA Coordination Supporting Boards & Commissions create higher visibility for the work of community volunteers:

• Commission on Disability Issues • Commission for Women’s Issues • Commission on Aging • Local Children’s Board • Board to Promote Self Sufficiency • NEW NAME: Consumer Protection Advisory Board • NEW COMMISSION: Veterans and Military Families

Don’t be pressured into making an immediate decision on an investment, especially one you don’t understand.

Insist on receiving a prospectus or printed materials and read them. If you have questions, ask your accountant

and/or financial adviser to explain the investment. Also insist on receiving regular statements and monitor the activity on your account. Never be embarrassed to ask questions about trading activity that looks excessive or unauthorized. Remember that all investments involve risk. No one

can guarantee any kind of return, especially a high return. If you are promised or guaranteed earnings or profits of 25%, 50% (or more), these are VERY empty promises. Don’t throw good money after bad. Con artists know the

panic people feel after a sudden financial loss. Be on guard for offers to help you recover lost funds with another “sure thing” scheme. For more information on this and other consumer topics, or to obtain this information in an alternative format, contact the Office of Consumer Protection at consumer@howardcountymd.gov or by calling 410-313-6420 (voice/relay).

The 50+ Connection is published monthly by the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence. This publication is available in alternate formats upon request. To join our subscriber list, email kahenry@howardcountymd.gov 6751 Columbia Gateway Dr., Columbia, MD 21046 410-313-6410 (VOICE/RELAY) • www.howardcountymd.gov/aging Find us on

In Howard County, there is no wrong door when serving our community.

www.Facebook.com/HoCoCitizen

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

The 50+ Connection

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 6

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Quality of life services for older adults, their families, caregivers, and adults with disabilities.

Maryland Access Point SAME GREAT SERVICES WITH A NEW LOCAL PHONE NUMBER

410-313-1234 • • • • • • • •

Caregiver Support Long Term Supports Planning Medicare Counseling Guardianship/Ombudsman Home Modification/Repair 50+ Centers Social Day Programs Wellness Programs

VOICE/RELAY

844.627.5465 or 844-MAP-LINK SAME TOLL FREE NUMBER

YO U R LI NK TO H EA LT H & S UPPOR T SER VICES

www.howardcountymd.gov/aging

START LIVING WELL TODAY!

LOW-IMPACT EXERCISE PROGRAM • Low-impact physical activity program proven to reduce pain and decrease stiffness • Includes gentle range-of-motion exercises that are suitable for every fitness level and ability • Led by a trained program leader

Tuesdays • 9:30 a.m. Thursdays • 10:45 a.m. Bain 50+ Center 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia 21044

Contact Jennifer Lee 410-313-5940 (VOICE/RELAY) jlee@howardcountymd.gov

SENIOR DAY AT THE FAIR Howard County Fair 2016

Living Well with Diabetes Chronic conditions CAN be managed with our 6-week LIVING WELL program!

Medical Pavilion at Howard County Wellness Center, Roxbury Mills TUESDAYS • 6:00 – 8:30 PM

July 5, 12, 19, 26 AND August 2, 9 $

28 includes 15 hours of workshop and all materials

TOPICS COVERED: • • • • • • • • •

Techniques to Handle Pain, Fatigue, Frustration and Isolation Maintaining a Balanced Blood Sugar Nutrition & Healthy Eating Appropriate Exercise Communication Skills Stress Management Skin and Foot Care Glucose Monitoring Goal Setting

FREE ADMISSION for ADULTS 62+ Tuesday, August 9 • 10 am - 3 pm Visit the Activities Building for: • Healthy Aging Programs • Entertainment • Exhibits • Bingo • Games and Prizes • Helpful Information • Demonstrations Mark your calendar!

50+EXPO 2016 Monday, October 31 9 am - 4 pm

To register, request accommodations, or for more information, contact:

WENDY FARTHING

wfarthing@howardcountymd.gov 410-313-3506 (VOICE/RELAY)

www.howardcountymd.gov/livingwell

www.howardcountymd.gov/aging

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The 50+ Connection

J U L Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Howard County 50+ Centers

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS Go to www.howardcountymd.gov/50pluscenters for a complete list of events, programs and services.

Bain 50+ Center

Elkridge 50+ Center

Thursdays, July 21- August 25 • 2:30 to 4 p.m. — SENIORSTOGETHER BEREAVEMENT GROUP

Friday, July 1 • 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. — INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

If you are mourning the loss of a loved one, join us to explore life beyond grief. Nominal fee. Register with Karen Hull 410-313-7466 by July 19.

Enjoy our delicious salad bar with all of your favorite toppings, games and homemade ice cream treats. Donations accepted.

Fridays, July 8, 15, August 5, 12, 19 • 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. — THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE: THEN AND NOW DOES IT STILL NEED TO BE USED?

Thursday, July 7 • 10 - 11 a.m. — NUTRITION TIPS WITH RONA

In this Continuing Education Summer Series, Professor Patrick Heline focuses on the 2016 Presidential Election. Bring a bag lunch; coffee and tea will be provided. $43. Space is limited, register at the front desk.

Tuesday, July 12 • 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — OMEGA PHI PSI’S CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY PARTY Meet the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, enjoy live music, and a chance to win some great door prizes. Lunch available for a nominal fee. FREE. Register at 410-313-7213 by July 5.

Wed., July 20 • 10 to 11 a.m. — INTRO TO AROMATHERAPY Learn how the ancient art of aromatherapy can benefit your mind, body and spirit and how to safely use essential oils to alleviate pain and stress. FREE. Space is limited, register at the front desk.

East Columbia 50+ Center Wed., July 6 • 11 a.m. to noon — NUTS & BOLTS OF ESTATE PLANNING

Get healthy nutrition advice from Rona Martiyan, our certified nutrition expert. Enjoy a healthy snack and great conversation. FREE.

Glenwood 50+ Center Friday, July 22 • Noon — ANNUAL CRABCAKE LUNCHEON Lunch includes a large, homemade crabcake sandwich and fixings, coleslaw, chips and dessert. $15/person; carryout option is available.

Fridays, July 8, 15, 22 • 10 a.m. — HISTORY OF ADVERTISING Join Barbara Blumberg to learn about the history of advertising and 15 ads that changed the way we live (i.e., who became the first corporate face, when Michael Jordan became the face of Nike,® and more). FREE.

Thursday, July 14 • 10 a.m. — GENEALOGY Dottie Aleshire continues her monthly series with “Five Ways to Recharge Your Family Reunion.” FREE.

Monday, July 11 and Thursday, July 14 • 11 a.m. — HISTORY OF BROADWAY

How do you plan to financially retire? Learn what you can gift and how to preserve your family’s legacy with attorney Andre O. McDonald. FREE.

Steve Freidman presents, “Best Musical Revivals Ever” on July 11 and “The British Invasion” July 14. History and entertainment together! FREE.

Wed., July 6 • 1 to 2 p.m. — STAY IN TOUCH ELECTRONICALLY

North Laurel 50+ Center

Learn to communicate with Facebook, Skype, Messenger and which email messages you should never open. The Girl Scouts will assist you; bring your tablet, laptop or phone for individual attention. FREE.

Monday, July 11 • 1 to 2 p.m. — TALKIN’ BROADWAY: MUSICAL MILESTONES

Wed., July 27 • 12:30 to 2 p.m. — SUMMER BREEZE ICE CREAM SOCIAL

Follow the evolution of Broadway’s rich history through discussion and live song presentations. Call 410-313-0380 to reserve a seat. FREE.

Celebrate our new freezer! Cool down with a few games and some ice cream. Cost: donation to ice cream fund.

Tuesdays/Thursdays (ongoing) • 11:15 a.m. to noon — FAB FUSION EXERCISE CLASS

Ellicott City 50+ Center

This class includes light cardio and strength routines to increase range of motion, balance and flexibility; includes seated exercises and use of bands/weights. $48 for 8 classes. Call 410-313-0380 for current schedule.

Thursday, July 7 • 1 p.m. — MEET AUTHOR HEBER BOULAND Heber Bouland’s eyewitness account of the Great Depression “The Last Trolley Stop” gives a candid and honest examination of a pivotal time in American history. FREE.

Wed., July 27 • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION Join us for a summer grill out with live classic rock music by Pet Rock. $3 plus lunch contribution for those 60+. More information: 410-313-0380.

Thursday, July 14 • 1 p.m. — MARY KAY BEAUTY DAY Pamper yourself while learning beauty tips & tricks from an expert! Join Gina for a fun filled make-up lesson. FREE.

Tuesday, July 19 • 1 p.m. — BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF INDUSTRY: RADIO IN BALTIMORE The history of radio broadcasting in Baltimore from the 1920’s through the 60’s and beyond. Ed Hawkins presents this intriguing history, including personal stories from his time at WITH radio. FREE.

Thursday, July 21 • 12:30 p.m. — ROUNDHOUSE RAMBLERS This 3-piece string band plays oldies but goodies, cha-chas, polkas, waltzes, tangos, classic country and more. They once performed music on the railroad passenger excursion trains over the former B & O Railroad. FREE.

Share the

of Your 4-legged Friend

2016 PET EVALUATIONS AT 7:00 PM ON: July 7 • Aug 4 • Sept 1 • Oct 6 • Nov 10 • Dec 1 Bain 50+ Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia 21044

Ingrid Gleysteen PROGRAM COORDINATOR 410-313-7461 (voice/relay) igleysteen@howardcountymd.gov

PHONE EMAIL

To request accommodations to participate, contact the 50+ Center hosting the event one week in advance.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 6

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money

Law &

Learn from our new career coach how to develop a marketing plan and “brand” yourself to be competitive in the job market. See column on page 24.

Has the time come for small-cap stocks? By James K. Glassman A single dollar invested in a basket of large-capitalization stocks in 1926 and held, with dividends and capital gains reinvested, until the present would have grown to $511,502 by the end of February 2016. But even more dramatic is what would have happened had the dollar been invested in a basket of small-cap stocks. It would have grown to $2,490,588. Over the past 90 years, the typical smallcap stock has returned an annualized 11.9 percent — an average of two percentage points per year more than the typical largecap stock. The catch: Small caps are more volatile than large caps. That makes sense. In investing, you get more reward if you’re willing to take more risk. Over the past 20 years, small caps have been about one-fourth more volatile than large caps. In other words, small caps

bounce up and down in a more gut-churning way. If you’re willing to hang on for the ride, however, you’ll get paid more for the additional anxiety.

A good time to buy Small caps also tend to move in cycles. They beat large caps over some multiyear stretches, then lag for other stretches. These periods vary in length, so you can forget trying to time them precisely. Still, a particularly good time to buy small caps tends to be when they have been lagging large caps for a few years. And that’s where we happen to be right now. Capitalization refers to a stock’s value in the market. It’s calculated by multiplying the number of shares outstanding by the current share price. There is no precise definition of a small-cap stock, but the capitalization of the average company in the Russell 2000 index, a popular small-cap bench-

mark, is $1.8 billion; the largest stock in that index has a market cap of $5.5 billion. The average company in Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index, the traditional large-cap benchmark, has a capitalization of $37.4 billion; the largest — Apple (symbol AAPL) — has a $604 billion capitalization. (Returns and prices are as of June 13.) Small- and large-cap stocks sometimes seem as if they’re on two different planets. Over the past 12 months, for example, the S&P 500 has increased 1.7 percent, including dividends, but the Russell 2000 has fallen 8.8 percent. Over the past five years, the S&P 500 has returned an annualized 11.6 percent; the Russell 2000 has earned 7.2 percent annualized. That is the sort of divergence that a contrarian investor should love. Is there a good reason that large caps should be returning about half again as much as small caps? Not really. It’s just the way markets operate. Investors become enthusiastic

about one group, then lose interest and bestow their enthusiasm on the other.

Consider value stocks Not only do small caps appear to be cheap, but small-cap value stocks appear to be even cheaper. Again, a definition: Value stocks are those that are cheap in relation to profits, book value (assets minus liabilities), and other basic measures of corporate performance. Value stocks are typically those that are out of favor with investors when compared with growth stocks. The Russell 2000 Value index comprises stocks with an average price-to-book-value ratio of 1.3, compared with 3.5 for the Russell 2000 Growth index. The Value index also has a lower price-earnings ratio (P/E): 18, compared with 23 for the Growth index. A big reason for the difference is that See SMALL-CAP STOCKS, page 22

Alternatives for higher investment income I have often written that even conserva- Shares (VFIDX) for several years. This tive investors can’t afford to restrict their year (as of May 16) the fund has earned investments to low-paying alternatives 4.34 percent; three-year returns are 3.15 percent; five-year returns are such as certificates of deposit, 4.7 percent; 10-year returns money-market accounts and are 6.05 percent. The exTreasury bills. pense ratio is 0.10 percent. Even in retirement, I beThe current SEC 30-day anlieve a diversified portfolio nualized yield is 3.04 percent. that includes a significant inAnother option I have vestment in some form of used for many years is the common stocks and bonds is Vanguard Total Bond Marbest. (Although I have been ket Index Fund Admiral retired for about 20 years, I Shares (VBTLX), which is a still maintain about half of my THE SAVINGS little more conservative and portfolio in equities.) GAME also invests predominantly in Bond investors do not have By Elliot Raphaelson intermediate-term bonds. to restrict themselves to conThis year the fund has servative investments. There are several attractive options that, on an in- earned 3.78 percent; three-year returns termediate-term and long-term basis, will are 2.51 percent; five-year returns are likely outperform Treasury bills and other 3.41 percent; and 10-year returns are 4.96 percent. The expense ratio is 0.07 perconservative investments. cent. The 30-day SEC annualized yield is 2.45 percent. Intermediate-term bonds I invest in Vanguard because their funds One option I have used for many years is mutual funds (or ETFs) that invest in in- are generally managed conservatively and their expense ratios are generally low. (I termediate-term investment-grade bonds. I have invested in Vanguard Intermedi- prefer mutual funds over ETFs because I ate-Term Investment-Grade Fund Admiral regularly withdraw funds monthly and

reinvest earnings monthly.) Fund families other than Vanguard will have similar funds as well as ETFs. These alternatives are reasonable if you are willing to take some risk and are not investing short-term. If you expect to need to sell these investments soon, you should be investing in money-market funds, T bills or short-term CDs.

High-yield funds For the last 20 years, I have also maintained a significant portion of my bond portfolio in Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund Admiral Shares (VWEAX). Vanguard is more conservative than most of the other high-yield bond funds. Because of the company’s relatively conservative approach, the yield on this fund is a little lower than that of some competitors. However, when the value of highyield funds decreases because of anticipated increases in interest rates and pessimism about corporate earnings, Vanguard’s high yield fund will generally outperform its competitors in down markets. Year-to-date returns for this fund are 4.5 percent; three-year returns are 2.84 percent; five-year returns are 5.53 percent; 10-

year returns are 6.41 percent. SEC yield 5.54 percent. The expense ratio is 0.13. I do not recommend that you invest in high-yield funds unless you are a longterm investor and you will not sell when the value of the shares fall because of anticipated increases in interest rates or stock market doldrums. There is a high correlation between dramatic decreases in stock prices and the value of high-yield funds. However, the percentage decrease in the value of highyield funds is generally lower than the percentage decrease in common stock values during market downturns. I maintain a high percentage in high-yield bond funds because it allows me to invest less in the stock market. When the stock market does well, high-yield funds do well also, but there is much less volatility with the high-yield bond fund in comparison to the stock market in general. In addition, the yield from high-yield funds is generally much higher than the yield from mutual funds specializing in high-dividend stocks. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at elliotraph@gmail.com. © 2016 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Small-cap stocks From page 21 the earnings of companies in the Value index have grown by an annual average of 6.7 percent over the past five years, compared with 7.7 percent annualized for firms in the Growth index. (To determine which stocks fall under the value and growth rubrics, Russell uses a complicated formula that takes into account price-to-bookvalue ratios, forecast earnings growth and historic sales growth.) The appeal of value stocks is that investors pay relatively few dollars for each dollar of a firm’s profits or assets. Shares of value companies may continue to lag, of course, but they will often pick up steam as

a firm’s prospects — and profits — improve. The past decade has been a mediocre one for both large- and small-cap value stocks. In the small-cap segment, growth returned an annualized 5.4 percent over the past 10 years; value returned just 5.1 percent. But over long periods (20 years and more), history shows that small-cap value consistently beats growth — and does so with less risk. So I’m convinced that the single best sector for investors right now is small-cap value stocks. My timing may not be perfect, but after years of underperformance, it makes sense. If you don’t own small-cap stocks, buy them, and put the emphasis on slower growers with lower valuations.

BEACON BITS

July 5+

CIVIL AND FAMILY LAW SELF HELP

Howard County Library System is partnering with the Howard County Circuit Court to serve the needs of self-represented litigants in Howard County. Attorneys are available to provide free legal assistance for walk-in clients who are income-eligible. Stop by on Tuesdays starting July 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the East Columbia Branch, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. For more information, call (410) 313-2135 or visit hclibrary.org/classes-events.

June 23

TRY OUT AUGMENTED REALITY APPS

Watch a picture come to life right before your eyes using just an app, a picture, a video, and a smart device. HCLS will be demonstrating different Augmented Reality Apps used in education, gaming and business on Thursday, June 23 at the Howard County Library Miller Branch, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. For more information, call (410) 3131950 or visit hclibrary.org/classes-events.

J U L Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

Recommended buys Finding and analyzing individual smallcap stocks is not easy. Most of the companies aren’t household names, and fewer analysts follow them than large caps. That’s one reason small caps are ideal for buying through index funds. A good choice is iShares Core S&P Small-Cap (IJR), an exchange-traded fund based on an index maintained by S&P. The average capitalization of companies in the portfolio is $1.3 billion. The ETF has an expense ratio of only 0.12 percent, but you may have to pay a commission to buy and sell (most online brokers let you trade certain ETFs without commissions). The value-stock version, iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value (IJS), targets small-cap bargains. An example is Sanderson Farms (SAFM, $81), a poultry processor that is a longtime favorite of mine. Its P/E, based on average analyst profit estimates for the fiscal year that ends in October, is 15. (Stocks and funds in boldface are those I recommend.)

More mid caps If you prefer less risk and are willing to accept perhaps less reward, consider Vanguard Small-Cap Index (NAESX), a mutual fund whose portfolio of about 1,500 stocks, based on a benchmark developed by the Center for Research in Security Prices, at the University of Chicago, is larded with midsize firms.

Vanguard Small-Cap Value Index (VISVX), with mid caps making up about one-third of its portfolio, is geared toward the Russell 2000 Value index and, like Vanguard Small-Cap Index, has an expense ratio of 0.20 percent. The average market cap of stocks in the two funds is about twice that of the iShares offerings. If you want a human being to pick your stocks, consider Northern Small Cap Value (NOSGX), which charges 1 percent per year and has returned 9.4 percent annualized over the past five years, beating the Russell 2000 Value index by an average of 2.7 percentage points per year. Two other good choices: Queens Road Small Cap Value (QRSVX), a small fund with a low risk profile, and T. Rowe Price Small-Cap Value (PRSVX), a member of the Kiplinger 25 whose holdings lean a bit more toward growth than the other funds. Queens Road charges 1.24 percent a year; the Price fund charges 0.80 percent, an attractive figure for a managed fund. Whatever you pick, seriously consider small-cap value stocks now. The timing is exceedingly good. James K. Glassman, a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, is the author, most recently, of Safety Net: The Strategy for De-Risking Your Investments in a Time of Turbulence. All contents © 2016 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

EREADER TUESDAYS Stop by the Howard County Library Miller Branch, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City on Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11 a.m. for a refresh-

er course on downloading eBooks. Bring your questions and/or your device, and learn how to download library books to your eReader. For more information, call (410) 313-1950 or visit hclibrary.org/classes-events.

Frank, Frank

& Scherr, LLC

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 6

Election judges From page 1 That also means that she “can do everybody’s job, makes sure the laws are being followed, maintains the peace and comforts people.” Dwyer, 58, lives in Anne Arundel County, but works election days in Howard County, where she formerly lived. She will continue to do the judge’s job, she said, not only because she believes in

the system, but also because “women had to fight for the right to vote. I believe everyone has that right. As a woman and a citizen, I have to do my part. As long as I can, I want to give others the opportunity to vote.” And being an election judge has become a family affair, Dwyer said. Her oldest daughter Cara Brady, 37, has been watching over the voting for the past 10 years, and her youngest daughter, Dana Dwyer, 26, not only has been doing the judge stint for the past few years, but is also a fulltime employ-

Help out with the general election Under Maryland law, an election judge must be a registered voter in the state, physically and mentally able to work at least a 15-hour day, willing to work outside her or his home precinct, be able to sit or stand for extended periods, and be able to speak, read and write English. In addition to adults (defined as those 18 and older), 17-year-olds can also volunteer if a parent or guardian gives permission. Volunteers are trained for the judges’ job before Election Day. They are paid for that training day: $30 for regular

judges; $45 for chief judges. On the day of the election, judges are paid $165; chief judges $220. Candidates or holders of public or political office, as well as campaign officials, cannot serve as election judges. The polls open at 10 a.m. on early voting days and at 7 a.m. on Election Day, and close at 8 p.m. Those interested in becoming a judge can contact the Board of Elections at (410) 313-5820, or online at www.howard countymd.gov/Departments/Board-ofElections/Election-Judges.

ee of Howard County’s Board of Elections. Has Dwyer had any out-of-the-ordinary experiences while helping the voters? “During the last presidential election, at the Hammond High School gym (in Columbia), the lines were very long, and a pregnant woman standing there began to go into labor. We moved her up in the line. She voted and went on her way. No other drama that I can think of,” she said. Dwyer said she would recommend the one-day judgeship to, among others, those “who have the ability to sit for long periods, then walk around and sit again, and want to socialize, see neighbors, meet new people, make extra money. To them, I would say, ‘Give it a shot.’”

In it for the long haul Robert Sauers, 66, an engineer now into information technology, has been working at elections for the past 20 years. “It’s my way of giving back to the community,” he said. Sauers said many short-term volunteers

just don’t understand that they are in for a long day. “It’s not easy,” he said. “You have to bring everything you need — food, medicine.” He has been a judge at, among other places, the Clarksville Middle School. The board, he said, usually makes sure there is an even distribution of Democrats and Republicans, along with independents and others, as judges. Usually two chief judges — a Democrat and a Republican — are in charge. He noted that while the majority of the judges are “40 or over, there have been young people, in their 20s and teens, doing the job. That’s important. We have to train the next generation, get them involved in the process, and change the ratio from older to younger.” Sauers cautioned would-be volunteers that the job could be “long and tiring.” But, he added, “I am looking forward to it. It makes me a bigger part of the action.” See “Help out with the general election” for details on how to volunteer.

BEACON BITS MEDICARE PLAN FINDER

June 28

In this free class, learn to use the “Plan Finder” tool on www.medicare.gov. It can help you compare and review the Medicare Prescription Drug Plans available to you. The class is Tuesday, June 28 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Wellness Center Medical Pavilion, Suite 100, 10710 Charter Dr., Columbia. For more information, call (410) 740-7601 or visit events.hcgh.hopkinsmedicine.org.

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J U L Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

On a job search? How to market yourself By Judy Smith Our new career columnist Judy Smith, R.C.C. (a registered corporate coach), will answer reader questions on all aspects of employment searches, ranging from resume writing, to interviewing, to online job search and more. Q: I know job hunting has met with a number of changes over the years. As someone who is over 50, how do I go about getting a job in today’s marketplace?

A: Actually, the most significant aspect of a strong job search has not changed for any age group: It’s all about communication. It still depends on your ability to describe your advantages to a prospective employer in a compelling way. However, good communication in today’s marketplace has a somewhat challenging feature — a marketing tone. It’s no different than in the world of sales. Only now the product is you. Communication includes all means of

BEACON BITS

June 30

VISIT THE NATION’S CAPITAL

See the newest exhibits, visit a museum, and enjoy Washington, D.C. Take a bus trip to D.C., where you will be dropped off between the East and West buildings of the National Gallery of Art to enjoy a day on your own. The cost for this Parks and Recreation trip is $49. Meet for the bus at Bain 50+Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia at 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 30. For more information, call (410) 313-7279 or email viruss@howardcountymd.gov.

Ongoing

SUNSET SERENADES

Enjoy a variety of concerts on Wednesdays through Aug. 3 in Centennial Park South, 10000 Route 108, Ellicott City. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair and enjoy a free show at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be available for sale. For more information, call (410) 313-4635 or check out www.howardcountymd.gov/sunsetserenades for the complete schedule.

contact — both formal and social: ished product will be a terrific asset in • In your personal network (friends, so- your job search. cial groups, religious groups, When you’ve completed community, etc.), your inventory of skills, you • in your online network if will indeed know who you you have one (e.g., Linked In, are. Like other strong prodFacebook, etc.), ucts, you can become a • in your interviews, and “brand” in today’s market• in all your written inforplace. mation (resume, cover letters, Q: What does “brandthank you letters, etc.). ing” mean in a job search? In keeping with the marketA: As business manageing perspective, you (i.e., the ment expert Tom Peters said: “product”) must be able to de- CAREER COACH “To be out in today’s marketfine the value you can offer a By Judy Smith place, our most important job prospective employer (i.e., the is to be head marketer for the (“buyer”). You need to funnel that value brand called you.” into all your communication with all your It’s how Nike sells tennis shoes, Levi’s contacts — in writing, and in your personal sells jeans and Revlon sells lipstick. Why and professional interactions. should we buy their product and not a The ability to call attention to your spe- competitor’s? cific advantages in each separate setting Your brand is a promise of the value requires strong “product (or self) knowl- you’ll bring to a prospective employer. It’s edge.” To strengthen this knowledge the answer to every employer’s question, about yourself, start by creating an inven- “Why should I hire you?” tory of your skills. Temporarily put aside your previous job When you make this list, be sure to in- titles and position descriptions. Then, take clude accomplishments additional to those the time to review the success stories you you gained in work settings. Think of developed earlier. other situations — even as far back as Ask yourself: What did I do that added childhood — in which you were pleased measureable, distinctive value? What did I with what you accomplished. do that I am most proud of? What have I Develop success stories. Describe those done that I can plainly brag about? Write it positive situations in a bit of detail. Try to all down — and learn it so you can speak uncover skills you might have otherwise about it! overlooked. Don’t take any skills for grantIt’s actually pretty simple: ed either. • You are a brand. Think about: What the environment • You are in charge of your brand. was, what your role and contribution were, • There is no one right way to create what skills you used, and what made that the brand called “YOU.” Now, start today! particular experience meaningful to you. Send your job search questions to Smith Develop at least six or seven stories. It at smithjudit@gmail.com, or visit her webmay take a while, but I assure you, the fin- site at www.judysmith.solutions.

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H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 6

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Travel

Leisure &

Discount passes to major sites in big cities are often, but not always, a bargain. See story on page 27.

National parks and sites in our backyard

Parks galore Here’s just a sampling of what visitors and residents can find nearby: • The roaring waterfalls at Great Falls, in the 10,000-acre Potomac Gorge, “one of the most geologically diverse places on Earth,” according to the Maryland Nature Conservancy;

• 12 acres of 35 ponds filled with tropical water lilies, lotuses, and other aquatic plants at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens; • The only U.S. national park dedicated to the performing arts, Wolf Trap National Park; • A 1921 restored Dentzel carousel (rides: $1.25) — and a 7,500 square foot dance hall where the Dorsey Brothers, Woody Herman, and Bill Haley and the Comets once performed — both at Maryland’s Glen Echo Park; • Two national Civil War battlefields: the settings of the “battle that saved Washington,” Monocacy in Frederick County Maryland, and of two renowned conflicts at Bull Run, in Manassas, Virginia; • The fort supporting the flag that inspired the national anthem, Ft. McHenry in Baltimore; • The home of African American abolitionist Frederick Douglass, a National Historic Site (admission: $1.50); • And the newest — designated by President Barack Obama on April 12 — the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality Monument in Washington, headquarters of the National Women’s Party since 1929 and home to Susan B. Anthony’s desk. Other national parks we may encounter every day: the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Arlington National Cemetery, Ford’s Theater, the National Mall, the Washington Monument, the African American Civil War Memorial, and even the White House, locat-

PHOTO © NPS

By Glenda C. Booth Most joggers and picnickers at Fort Hunt Park in Alexandria, Va. don’t realize that Fort Hunt was a top-secret, World War II camp known only as P.O. Box 1142. It was the site of a military intelligence operation where U.S. officials interrogated over 3,500 German prisoners of war, unlocking secrets that helped us win the war. Hitler’s top spy against Russia ended up at P.O. Box 1142. And that’s just one among the large number of national parks and national historic sites situated in the Washington/Baltimore area. “We have so many parks within a short driving distance — like Dyke Marsh, Rock Creek Park, Fort Dupont, Greenbelt Park or Fort Marcy — that provide visitors that big park feel right in your backyard,” said Alexcy Romero, superintendent of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. “They tell important stories of our culture and history, and they provide a place of solace, inspiration or connection. They offer natural wonders and premier recreational opportunities.”

The waterfalls at Great Falls National Park, in Great Falls, Va., are part of the Potomac River. The park also includes part of the C&O Canal, which stretches from Georgetown to western Maryland.

ed in what’s known as President’s Park.

A centennial celebration

PHOTO © NPS

Nationally, the National Park Service manages 411 parks, natural areas, historic sites, monuments, battlefields, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails covering over 84 million acres spread throughout every state. The smallest park is .02 acres; the largest, 13.2 million. Ken Burns saluted our national parks in film, explaining, “For the first time in human history, land was set aside, not for the rich, but for everyone and for all time.” In 1916, Congress created the National Park Service (NPS) to manage the country’s special places “unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” Many parks are celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Ribbons of green

War of 1812 reenactors fire a cannon at Ft. McHenry in Baltimore. The fort’s flag inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner” in 1814. The poem, set to a popular English melody, was adopted as our national anthem in 1931.

The Potomac and Anacostia Rivers twist gently through metropolitan Washington, and Rock Creek tumbles through the city — green ribbons of nature at the heart of several national parks: the George Washington Memorial Parkway, Clara Barton Parkway, Anacostia Park, and Rock Creek Park among them. These green arteries, protected from development, provide many opportunities to explore the outdoors and the nation’s

cultural heritage. And historic sites managed by NPS are all around. Between Baltimore and Washington, D. C., the 29-mile, four-lane Baltimore-Washington Parkway is a national park connecting the two cities. NPS manages 19 miles starting at Fort Meade and going south. A major commuter route, the parkway passes through woodlands that block views of dense suburban development on both sides.

George Washington Memorial Parkway The 7,600-acre, 40-mile George Washington Memorial — and its extension, the Clara Barton Parkway, mostly paralleling the Potomac River shoreline — were hailed as “America’s Most Modern Motorway” when the first segment opened in 1932. Few commuters slogging along the gently winding, undulating road with low stone guard rails and arched bridges see these parkways as national parks. Planners designed the parkway with many sweeping vistas and 25 viewing sites along its way. Their aim was to preserve and enhance the Potomac River valley, and to pay tribute to the first U.S. President, George Washington, by creating a grand gateway to his home, Mount Vernon, at See NATIONAL PARKS, page 26

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

National parks From page 25 the southern terminus. Along the parkway, the heavily-forested Theodore Roosevelt Island honors another former president. The parkway also has tributes to war heroes, like the Iwo Jima Memorial, Robert E. Lee’s Arlington House, and the Waves and Gulls memorial, a tribute to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Among the 10 most visited places in the NPS system, the GW Parkway ranks sixth, with 7,286,463 recreational visits in 2015.

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal George Washington envisioned a canal to transport raw materials from the west to Washington. Only part of it was completed before railroads displaced it. Today a historic monument, the C&O Canal stretches 184.5 miles along the Potomac River’s eastern shore from Cumberland, Md., to Georgetown in Washington, D.C.

Visitors can study locks, lock houses, aqueducts, bridges, culverts, dams and weirs — all the work of talented stonemasons of the day. Its environs abound with wildlife, wildflowers and woodlands, and it is a popular walking and biking path, especially the stretch below Great Falls Tavern. Visiting Great Falls is a main attraction of the canals. The park has a flat $10 entry fee for a vehicle; $5 per person if arriving via bike, motorcycle or on foot. An unlimited annual pass is also available for $30.

Rock Creek Park Rock Creek Park, whose 1700-acres of woodlands stretches through northwest Washington, D.C., is twice the size of New York City’s Central Park. Native Americans hunted, fished and gathered nuts in this forest of pawpaws, ironwood, sycamores, tulip, white oak and beech trees. On the boundary of the coastal plain and the Piedmont (a plateau region in the eastern U.S.), it has snakes, turtles, birds,

J U L Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

chipmunks, deer, squirrels, foxes — and in the spring, plants like trout lilies, spring beauties and skunk cabbage. You can grab a trail map at the nature center and visit the 19th century, waterpowered gristmill along the creek, Peirce Mill. Or you might dissect a regurgitated owl pellet under a ranger’s supervision.

Wolf Trap Park for the Performing Arts The stage at Wolf Trap is front and center for performances, including the likes of Garrison Keillor, Ricky Martin, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, opera, dance and more. And there is more to explore outside the loge (the covered seating area). Performers often walk the 65 acres of undeveloped woodlands, streams and wetlands, and the three-mile hiking trail, to calm pre-performance jitters. There is no charge to visit Wolf Trap Park itself. Ticket fees vary depending on the show and seating.

Prince William Forest Park The 15,000-acre Prince William Forest Park in Virginia is the largest green space in the Washington metropolitan area. Here, the Civilian Conservation Corps built racially-segregated cabin camps in 1936 for inner-city children to have outdoor experiences, in order to build “a crop of sturdy citizens” and foster a “close communication with nature.” In the 1940s, the Central Intelligence Agency’s predecessor, the Office of Strategic Services, was located in the park, where future spies learned how to forge documents and send secret messages in their “shadow war” against the Axis powers. Today’s visitors camp, picnic and hike 37 miles of trails, and often happen upon turkeys, deer, foxes or maybe a grouse. The entrance fee is $7 per vehicle with fewer than 14 passengers, $5 per person in vehicles with over 14 passengers and for walk- or bike-in visitors. An annual pass costs $30.

Manassas National Battlefield Park “What is past is prologue,” said Jon James, the battlefield’s superintendent, borrowing a quote from Shakespeare. James has dedicated his NPS career to preserving history, and is now at Manassas National Battlefield, where Union and Confederate armies engaged twice in fierce battles recounted in the park’s film, “Manassas: End of Innocence.” Today’s visitors try to picture soldiers clashing on the park’s 4,000 acres of open fields, forests and gently rolling hills. But there’s more than war stories here. Fiftyfour species of birds breed in the park. Spotting flowers springing from empty ammunition boxes in 1865, then war correspondent Frank Leslie, wrote, “Nature covers even the battlegrounds with verdure and bloom.” Nature does so today, too.

Oxon Hill Cove Park and Farm Tucked away on a hillside in Prince Georges County, Maryland, overlooking the Potomac, and soon to be in the shadow of a $925 million MGM casino across the highway, Oxon Hill Cove Park and Farm introduces visitors to agriculture. You can milk a cow, feed chickens, shell corn, take a wagon ride, or hike two trails on the 512 acres. Admission and all programs are free.

Anacostia Park Captain John Smith came upon the Nacotchtank Indians on the Anacostia River’s eastern shore in 1608, but by the 1670s settlers had driven these Native Americans away. World War I veterans seeking bonuses from their wartime service built shanties here in 1932, and they too were removed against their will. Today, the 1,200-acre park has recreational areas, walking and biking paths, and a surprising diversity of wildlife along the river — including ospreys, bald eagles, songbirds, waterfowl, muskrats and turtles. See NATIONAL PARKS, page 28

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 6

Which city passes are worth the money? You’ve probably seen the promotions for passes that promise free admission to a handful of a major city’s top attractions — often bypassing ticket lines — for a fixed price that is a lot less than you’d pay for individual admission to all of them. I know of two major programs that sell passes for lots of different cities. And some individual cities organize their own passes. The idea is intriguing, both for the lower total cost and bypassing some lines.

Leisure Pass

If you’re headed for Europe, Leisure Pass (leisurepassgroup.com) issues passes for Berlin, Dublin, London, Paris, Stockholm, Vienna, and an “Omnia Card” pass for Rome. Each pass covers more attractions than CityPass, but pricing is higher and varies by length of validity. As an example, the London version includes admissions to “over 60” attractions, including such blockbusters as the Tower TRAVEL TIPS of London, Westminster Abbey By Ed Perkins CityPass and Windsor Castle, often with CityPass (citypass.com) issues passes “fast track” entry. In addition, it includes some for 12 cities/areas in North America: At- general sightseeing options, such as a hop-onlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, hop-off bus tour and a river cruise, but it also New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, includes quite a few attractions that probably Seattle, Southern California, Tampa Bay aren’t on your “must see” list, such as a tour of and Toronto, providing no-extra-cost admis- Arsenal Stadium. Prices range from 59 sion to a city’s mix of important museums pounds (about $84) for one day, 79 pounds for and major commercial tourist attractions. two days, up to 159 pounds for 10 days. • Each pass is valid for nine days after Pricing and attractions for the other Eufirst use. ropean cities are similar. And most offer • Each pass typically covers one-time ad- non-discounted, all-day local transit passes missions for four to six attractions from a as add-on options. total of six to eight alternatives. Leisure Pass also offers comparable • Prices range from $41 to $329 (for passes for Las Vegas and New Orleans. Southern California, including a big Dis- But, at least in my experience, the attracneyland package), depending on the city, tions in these areas are not as important as but most cost less than $100. in the European cities. • Pass prices claim to “save” 31 percent All in all, Leisure Pass is a tougher to 53 percent off the list prices for the at- proposition to recommend than CityPass. tractions they cover. Even the one-day prices are high, and you • In many cases, passes cover “no wait” pay a lot more for multiday validity. Most of admission, bypassing ticket lines. you could probably come out ahead using a All in all, my take is that the value of these Leisure Pass for a day or two of intensive passes varies among the individual cities: museum or commercial attraction visits, Some are great; others, not so much. but the CityPass formula is a lot better if The Southern California version is pret- you don’t want to cram all your museum ty good if you plan a three-day Disneyland and attractions visits into a short period. visit and one other attraction, for example. One of the main benefits of both pass But the Philadelphia pass does not include families is “fast track” admission to very the city’s most important museum. popular attractions. In busy seasons, that Overall, the formula is pretty obvious: If can avoid hours of tedious waiting in line. you plan to visit all or most of the attracOn the other hand, you can often find intions covered by each pass, it’s a good dependent city passes that may also be betdeal, but if you would otherwise visit only ter deals. For example, a Paris Museum Pass one or two, fuhggeddaboudit. Check out (en.parismuseumpass.com/) costs from 48 each pass online to decide. euros (about $53) for two days to 74 euros

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for four days, and covers all the main “usual suspects” venues. You can buy online or on arrival at De Gaulle or Orly airports. A three-day Berlin Museum Pass, which includes most of the key museums, costs just 24 euros. Do a Google search to find

independent passes for other cities you want to visit. Send e-mail to Ed Perkins at eperkins @mind.net. Also, check out Ed’s new rail travel website at www.rail-guru.com. © 2016 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

See useful links and resources at www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com

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National parks From page 26

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is the only national park devoted to water plants, with 12 acres of ponds surrounded by 44 acres of tidal wetlands. This watery wonderland

is known for the exotic, showy lotus plants sporting seedpods that resemble showerheads. Lotuses — like the Victoria cruzziana, a tropical water lily from the Amazon basin, and over 100,000 other flowering, aquatic plants — reach their height in the summer. You can also spot dragonflies, whirligig

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beetles, frogs, fish, toads, turtles, butterflies, dragonflies and many types of birds.

The entry fee is $10 for adults. Children 15 and younger visit for free.

Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail and Ft. McHenry

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

In the 19th century, the Chesapeake Bay was a center of maritime-related commerce, shipbuilding and government, and so a key target of the British military. Baltimore was famous for its pirates, including legal privateers licensed to attack the enemy in their private vessels. The Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail highlights several historic sites of the War of 1812 and many more historic sites around the Bay. A 560-mile land and water route, the trail connects sites in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, and traces American and British troop movements throughout the Chesapeake region. The “lynchpin” of the trail, in the heart of Baltimore, is the star-shaped Fort McHenry — birthplace of the national anthem and scene of the Battle for Baltimore. Marylander Francis Scott Key, aboard a ship eight miles away, watched the British bombard the fort continually for 25 hours. Finally, the Brits withdrew, leaving the fort standing, and Key saw that the flag was still there! He scribbled out the poem that became the U.S. national anthem in 1931. Today, visitors learn the story from videos, exhibits and ranger talks. The Fort McHenry Guard puts on drill, musket and artillery demonstrations in the summer.

NPS is one of the federal government’s lead agencies for preserving history — from prehistoric petroglyphs out west, to Ellis Island in New York, where 12 million immigrants came to America between 1892 and 1924, to memorials honoring major historic figures. The first memorial to honor an African American on or near the National Mall is the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial, part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks in West Potomac Park. Dedicated in 2011 on the 48th anniversary of the March on Washington, the park features a 30-foot sculpture of a reflective King emerging from a mountain, referencing his famous “I Have a Dream” speech from 1963: “With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.” Sculpted by Master Lei Yixin, the granite sculpture has several parts, including the Mountain of Despair and a Stone of Hope. The many entrances symbolize democracy’s openness. To learn more about each park, go to the National Park Service’s website, www.nps.gov, where you can search by park name or by state to find all national parks in each state.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 6

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Style

Arts &

Singer Mavis Staples will be appearing with Bob Dylan at Wolf Trap this summer, and was recently the subject of an HBO documentary. See story on page 30.

Columbia launches inaugural film festival

Varied offerings The 24 works chosen for screening are an eclectic mix, from the 34-second experimental 11th Hour, a very quick look at an end game in chess, to films of feature length. The shorts and longer films run the gamut from comedy, to crime, drama and science fiction.

Also scheduled are two feature length documentaries, including Since the Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, the story of the unjust treatment received by the families of the 270 victims aboard Pan Am Flight 103. The New York-bound jet, which took off in London, was blown up in flight by a terrorist’s suitcase bomb on December 21, 1988 over Lockerbie, Scotland. (The bomb was later determined to have been placed by Libyan intelligence. Libya’s ruler, Muammar Gaddafi, later accepted responsibility and paid compensation to the families of its victims.)

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLUMBIA FILM FESTIVAL

By Robert Friedman The Columbia Film Festival — the first of what organizers hope will be an annual event — gets underway Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25 with two dozen films from around the world screened at Howard Community College. The films, from movie makers as far away as Korea and Japan and as close to home as Ellicott City, helps winds up this summer’s Columbia Festival of the Arts, which got underway June 10. The last day of the festival, Sunday, June 26, will feature a live performance of the filmrelated play, Orson Welles/Shylock, which is described as “a roller coaster ride through time, space and the mind of Orson Welles.” Todd Olson, executive director of the arts festival, said he hopes to make the film festival a permanent, important part of Columbia’s yearly summer celebration of the arts and entertainment. The word has spread rapidly about the film festival, both in local and international cinema circles, Olson said. “We had 50 or 60 films submitted in just the first time out,” he said.

Local filmmakers Among the films by area filmmakers set for screening are: Lightyears, a “dark cerebral science fiction” short by Ellicott City filmmaker Matthew Myslinski, a 20-year-old University of Maryland student. Lightyears was screened earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival, though not in competition. Cordially Invited, an eight-minute “dark comedy” about a community considering a murder, was scripted by Jamie Nash, a 44year-old software engineer who also lives in Ellicott City. The work was chosen “Best of Baltimore” in the 2013 Baltimore 48Hour Film Project Contest. The film crews in the contest had a weekend to write, shoot, edit and score their works. The Recursion Theorem is a sci-fi “homage to the Twilight Zone,” the great TV series of the past. The 28-minute work

The black and white sci-fi film The Recursion Theorem pays homage to the classic television series “The Twilight Zone.” It is one of two dozen films — several by local filmmakers — being screened at the inaugural Columbia Film Festival, to be held on June 24 and 25 at Howard Community College.

was written, directed and produced by Ben Sledge, 39, a resident of Gaithersburg and a videographer, photographer and designer. My Brother is a Zombie is listed as an eight-minute, 48-second comedy-drama-

fantasy about a pre-teen girl and her zombie kid brother, who acts up, or down, at the breakfast table. Russell Yaffe, a 27See FILM FESTIVAL, page 33

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J U L Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

No quit in Mavis Staples, or in her voice

How it all started Her memory remains sharp, and she can

vividly recall the day Pops was excited to hear Mavis, her brother and two sisters sing together in their Chicago home. Pops took a guitar from the closet that he had bought at a pawnshop to accompany them. Mavis didn’t realize that her dad learned how to play while growing up in Mississippi. The Staple Singers built their career in black churches in the 1950s. Their freedom songs were part of the soundtrack to the civil rights movement. King liked their song “Why Am I Treated So Bad?” and invited them to perform when he had speaking engagements. Pops also noticed young Dylan’s songwriting, and the Staples performed “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Young Mavis and Dylan noticed each other, too. “We may have smooched,” she said with a smile. Staples and Dylan will be on tour tovgether this summer, with concerts at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Va., on July 5 and 6. The early 1970s represented the act’s commercial peak. Signed to the Stax label, a rhythm section was added, and classics like “Respect Yourself” and “I’ll Take You There” were made. Over time, changing styles and times pushed the Staples to the background. Mavis recorded two solo albums with Prince in the late 1980s, but they were victims of his record company battles at the time and given

little attention. One of Mavis’ heartbreaks is that Pops recorded his own album before his death in 2000, but did not live to see it released. With the help of fellow Chicagoan Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, that music made its way into the world. Tweedy was a benefactor, respecting Mavis’ history and still-formidable skills, and made two discs with her. It brought her music to a new generation. Mavis won Grammy Awards in 2010 and 2016; the Staple Singers never won. Her record company suggested Staples sing songs written specifically for her by young, rockoriented musicians for

her project “Livin’ on a High Note,” released in February. Staples spoke to each See MAVIS STAPLES, page 33

By David Bauder Mavis Staples is a walking, talking and — blessedly — still singing history book. The 76-year-old voice of the Staple Singers sang behind Martin Luther King, Jr., dated Bob Dylan, performed at “The Last Waltz,” recorded with Prince, and just released a disc with alternative rock hero M. Ward interpreting new songs by the likes of Nick Cave and Neko Case. HBO recently debuted the documentary Mavis! about her life. “I don’t feel like it’s time for me to sit in a rocking chair,” Staples said. “I don’t feel like it’s time for me to retire. I feel so frisky... I still have my gift that the Lord gave me and I intend to keep using it.” Staples’ deep, strong voice — and patriarch “Pops” Staples’ blues guitar — defined the Staple Singers. Her mom couldn’t sing but, unlike Pops, passed on a powerful voice to her daughter. Singer Bonnie Raitt describes it in Mavis! as sensuous without being salacious. “I used to sound like sister Mahalia Jackson,” Staples said. “I loved her so much. My father would tell me, ‘Get your own style. If you sound like Mahalia Jackson, people are going to talk about her.’”

At 76, Mavis Staples just released a new CD, has a new HBO documentary about her, and will be touring with Bob Dylan this summer.

Letters to editor From page 2 my pain was gone! The drug was a compound of 3 ingredients: butalbital, acetaminophen and caffeine, known as Fioricet. He ordered a full prescription of the generic that was inexpensive and lasted me a long time. I have taken this medication for 34 years with no ill effects. I have never abused it. In fact, it saved my life. Now that AETNA has jettisoned all of us in Columbia, I am with Kaiser Permanente. One of the young doctors there decided that Fioricet had to be taken away from me. First, I experienced panic, then hope for no pain. Now, as I write this, the pain is coming back.

I would say that the health“care” industry does not always care. What do you think? Joanne Calloway Columbia, Md. Editor’s Note: I assume the doctor’s reasoning is that butalbital is a barbituate, and Fioricet is currently a schedule III controlled substance that, in some people, can have serious side effects. Given that you have had success with the drug for over 30 years and have never abused it, I would like to think that your new young doctor, or perhaps his supervisor, could be convinced to restore the prescription for you. I encourage you to be a proactive healthcare consumer and to pursue this through any and all channels available to you at Kaiser. I wish you success!

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 6

Film festival From page 29 year-old film editor from Bethesda, will take the praise — or blame — for the film. All the entrants are up for one of three awards: Best of the Fest, Best Director and Audience Choice. The awards will be bestowed at the closing reception, taking place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on June 25. The films will be shown at the Monteabaro Theater in the Horowitz Center of

Mavis Staples From page 30 writer and requested upbeat songs. Staples had never met producer Ward, and was counseled by a friend that he was the quiet type. He was no match for a woman nicknamed “Bubbles.” “They said, ‘Mavis, you’re going to love him but he’s very shy,”‘ she said. “I thought, ‘If I could get Prince to talk, I’ll get him to talk.’ So we got along fine.” She sang “Purple Rain” as a tribute to Prince during her performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California on April 22, the day after the music legend’s death. During her performance, she said the world “lost an angel yesterday…I was on Prince’s label, Paisley Park, for seven years. During that seven years, I adopted him. He was the most beautiful spirit I ever met.”

Howard Community College, located at 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia. Admission is $15 for a one-day pass; $25 for both days. For a full schedule, go online to www.ColumbiaFestival.org.

Orson Welles play The play about Orson Welles will be performed by a cast from Syracuse, N.Y., hometown of the author, Matt Chiorini. The play is described as a “docu-fantasy radio play.” While Welles’ all-media-encomShe has a band that recalls, but doesn’t imitate, the sonic blueprint set by Pops, and she still sings with her sister Yvonne. “I’m proud that I have survived and I have been here for such a long time, and people still want to hear what I have to say,” she said. Put her in front of an audience, and it looks like she never wants to leave. Read more about Staples online at www.mavisfilm.com and http://livinonahighnote.com.

passing career is looked at, the play is centered on the Citizen Kane actor-director’s “life-long obsession with Shylock,” said festival director Olson. Somewhere in his many travels around Europe, Welles supposedly lost the reels of the film version he was making of The Merchant of Venice, in which he played the highly controversial Shakespeare character of the Jewish money lender. Part of the film has since been found, and a truncated version has been shown.

The play relates the many unsuccessful attempts by Welles to play the role. The dialogue includes language from quotes, interviews and reviews concerned with the effort. A festival release notes “the surprising and haunting ways” that Welles’ life overlapped with that of the Shylock character. The 90-minute performance will start at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 26, at the Studio Theater in the Horowitz Center. Tickets are $20.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

ARTISTS’ GALLERY “FAREWELL SHOW” The Artists’ Gallery presents its “Farewell Show,” as it prepares to move to a new location in Old Ellicott City. The show will be

held through Friday, July 1 in the gallery’s current location, The American City Building, 10227 Wincopin Circle, Columbia. Gallery hours are Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information, call (410) 740-8249 or visit www.artistsgallerycolumbia.com.

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Any deterioration that age has visited on her voice seems minor. While the low notes may be easier than the high ones, Staples believes she’s more seasoned and in control of her instrument.

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Crossword Puzzle

PUZZLE PAGE

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

48 54

HC7/16

10 16

Scrabble answers on p. 31.

By Stephen Sherr

49 56

Across

Down

1. Side effect of steroids 5. Finishes with powdered sugar 10. Abbreviation, abbreviated 14. Citizen Kane prop 15. Greek marketplace 16. Gin flavoring 17. Seeker of the Holy Grail 19. Heavenly glow 20. Broke off the affair 21. It turns fiction to fact 22. Destroy evidence 23. Improbable pie position 24. Crazed, as if by mercury poisoning (with 10 Down) 26. Hospital fluids 28. Bad place to store needles 33. Potty-mouthed 37. Half of a blackjack 38. Strange but ___ 39. Ford focus 40. Under a moonbeam 41. Inconsequential 42. He did not need to buy a Mother’s Day card 43. Blockhead 44. Assateague mystique 45. Rum-based drinks 48. Basil, basically 49. Alarm clock labels 50. Fever achiever 53. Engagement ring unit 56. Special FX technique 58. Civil War reenactment group 60. Good men count 61. Hallmarks of fun crossword puzzles 63. Create a Top 10 list 64. Doughnut demand 65. “___ course for adventure” (Love Boat theme lyrics) 66. Cons’ combatants 67. Gardening tool 68. Helen’s hometown

1. Numbskulls 2. Sound of two (champagne) flutes 3. Showing more interest in Klingons than humans 4. Outer border of a coin 5. NFC East foe of PHI and WAS 6. Landlocked African nation 7. Gentrified London district 8. Conduct business 9. In a funk 10. Conclusion of 24 Across 11. Make anonymous, on video 12. Be a poor motivational speaker 13. Enjoy Tolstoy 18. Cracks on the witness stand 22. Prom attendees 25. ___ fool can complain, and most fools do” (Ben Franklin) 27. Center of the storm 29. Israeli city 60 miles north of Tel Aviv 30. Still lifes and moving pictures 31. Adorable 32. Janitor’s collection 33. Swedish caar maaker 34. The eastern-most portion of BERMUDA 35. Below Idaho 36. Cruise missiles 40. Steakhouse specialty 41. The Marlon Brando of the animal kingdom 43. It makes a gondola go 44. Green eggs go-with 46. Attended a conference 47. Badly injured 50. More like silt than sand 51. Powerball, for example 52. “Once it’s said, you can’t __ it’ 53. Complain about the fishing prospects 54. In the distance 55. First female Attorney General 57. Palestinian city 60 miles south of Tel Aviv 59. Rat’s messy home 61. Movie trailers, essentially 62. “___ in a million”

Answers on page 31.

H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N — J U L Y 2 0 1 6

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

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

For Rent/Real Estate A ROOM AND BATHROOM available for rent in my three bedroom townhouse in Columbia. No pet or smoking allowed. Please call 240731-7585.

For Sale CEMETERY PLOTS AT MEADOWRIDGE PARK in Elkridge. Up to ten plots next to large pond, $2,000 each or best offer. Photos available. Call John Bowen at 703-533-3637 or bowenjm@verizon.net.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

For Sale “SATORI,” A SILK SCREEN PAINTING by Wes Yamaka (1979 10/37) contains Japanese calligraphy and a poem by Linda Silberstein. 23 x 26 inches, matted and framed, $299. A find for Zen enthusiasts or Columbia residents who knew Wes Yamaka. Can email photo. Call Jack at 301-305-2340. 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.

Free NEED LEGAL HELP in your Social Security Disability claim? Reserve a free phone consultation by texting “SSDI” to 22828. No fee unless you win.

TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED Deadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 5th of each month. Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question. Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards. Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $10 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word. Business Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing business enterprise. Each ad is $25 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word. Note: Each real estate listing counts as one business text ad. Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:

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

Health MOBILE EYE EXAMS – Comprehensive and/or low vision eye exams provided to Baltimore seniors with limited mobility. Visit www.HomeEyeOD.com or call 443-802-9920 for more information.

Home & Handyman Services HAULING AND JUNK – Low upfront pricing, free estimates, senior discounts. 365 days. Licensed and insured demolition. Attic Sweepers Hauling. 443-838-2353. www.atticsweepershauling.com. SANFORD & SON HAULING & RECYCLING. Trash + Junk removal, house & estate cleanouts, garage + basement cleanouts. Demolition – Shed, deck fence + pool removal. Licensed + insured. Free estimates over the phone. Call 7 days a week, 7 am to 7 pm. 410-746-5090. 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).

Wanted

WE BUY GOLD AND SILVER JEWELRY. Costume too. Gold and silver coins, paper money, military, crocks, old bottles and jars, etc. Call Greg, 717-658-7954.

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.

WE BUY STERLING SILVER FLATWARE, tea sets, single pieces of silver, large pieces of silver plate. Attic, basement, garage. You have something to SELL, we like to BUY. Call Greg, 717-658-7954. BUYING VINYL RECORDS from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201. BUYING ANTIQUES, ESTATES. 20-year Beacon advertiser. Cash paid for jewelry, gold, silver, old coins, pens, art, old toys, dolls, trains, watches, old comics, sports memorabilia, military guns, knives, swords, all collections. Tom, 240-476-3441. COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, rifles, shot guns, knives, swords, bayonets, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars and countries. Large quantities are okay. Will pay top prices for my personal collection. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-910-0783.

Thanks for Reading the Beacon!

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Research Studies

Fall Prevention Balance Study . . . . . .12

Housing

Alta at Regency Crest . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Events Buckingham’s Choice/Integrace . . . . .10 Charlestown/Erickson Living . . . . . . .12 Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Country Gardens Assisted Living . . . . .8 COGS Monthly Meeting . . . . . . . . . . .26 Fairhaven/Integrace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Gatherings at Financial Services Quarry Place/Beazer Homes . . . . . .15 Heartlands of Ellicott City . . . . . . . . . .9 PENFED Financial Services . . . . . . . . .23 Homecrest House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Moriarity Financial Services . . . . . . . .22 Olney Assisted Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Park View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Funeral Services Shriner Court/Quantum . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Somerford Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Harry H. Witzke’s Family Funeral Home, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Vantage House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Going Home Cremations . . . . . . . . . . .30 Sol Levinson & Bros., Inc. . . . . . . . . .28

Hearing Services

Miracle-Ear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Home Health Care

A-1 Action Nursing Care . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Homewatch Caregivers . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Options for Senior America . . . . . . . . .27

Legal Services

Frank, Frank & Scherr, LLC . . . . . . . .22 Law Office of Karen Ellsworth . . . . . .23

Medical/Health

Medical Eye Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 SentinelCare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 World Class Chiropractic . . . . . . . . . . .11

Real Estate

The Bob Lucido Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Retail/Services

Captioning Telephone . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Columbia’s Village Centers . . . . . . . . .24 HoCo Haulers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Homelife Remodeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Perfect Sleep Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Senior Services

The 50+ Connection . . . . . . . . . . . .17-20

Skilled Nursing & Rehab

CommuniCare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Subscription Services

The Beacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Theatre/Entertainment

Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Tour & Travel

Eyre Tour & Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

36 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

J U L Y 2 0 1 6 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N

July - August 2016

UPCOMING SEMINARS & EVENTS at Brooke at B ro o ke k e Grove G rov e retirement retirement v village ill a ag ge

Ass experts A p ts in senior care and d memory suppor support, rt, Brooke rt Brook ke Grove ke Grov ove Retirement Reti tiir irement Village Villlage is pleased plleasedd to offer offfer seminars i ev vents that tth hat promote promote physical, physiccaal, spiritual spiritual and and mental mental well-being. well-b being. All be All seminars semiin nars and and events events will wiilll be be held held ld at and events Brooke Brrooke k Grove Grove Rehabilitation Reh habilitation and and Nursing Nurssing i g Center, Center, located at 18131 18131 Slade Slad de School School Road Road on on the the Brooke Brook ke Grove Grovve G Retirement Retirementt Village Vil V iilllage campus. campus. Please Please register registeer with with h Toni To oni Davis Daviis at at 301-388-7209 301-388-7209 or or tdavis@bgf.org. tdavis@bgf.oorg. Support for the Caregiver Seminar: minar r: ome” “Providing Optimal Care at Home” July 12, 2-3 p.m.

Support for the Caregiver Seminar: “Winning Life’s Toughest Bat tles” August 23, 2-3 p.m.

Caring for a loved or dementia ove one with wiith w h Alzheimer’s h dem men nti tia at home is demanding challenging. emandi ding as well as challe ha eng ngin ingg. Learn L n how you can offer er an an ideal environment environ onment based bbas ased sedd on four fo f r aspects of care: Structure, are: Safety, S Struc truucture,, Stimulation Stimul mulaatiion and and Support. portt. FREE. Register Registe R ter byy July JJul ulyy 10. 10

Explore Explore the characteristics characteristic icss of those tho who w survive traumatizing trauma tra maati tizi zing ngg situations siituations and a focus focuus on ways wa to reshape suffering that suff ffferin ff in ng in order o d to to flourish. fl urish. Discover flo Disco scoover techniques te will will allow aall llooow you yyooouu to to care ca for for yourself y lf as you y experience the stress stre st ress sss of of caregiving. careegi ca g viing n . FREE. F EE FR EE. Register er by August 21.

Alzheimer’s support group July 20 & August 17, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association, this confidential group provides an opportunity for individuals and families to find support, gain understanding and share caregiving tips. FREE.

18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 301-260-2320 www.bgf.org

Independent living assisted living rehabilitation long-term care memory support